cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Pacific shallow oxygen maximum, deep chlorophyll maximum, and primary productivity, reconsidered

Abstract In the open mid-latitude Pacific in summer, a subsurface oxygen maximum with saturation ratios reaching 120% or more is found below the maximum of primary productivity and above the deep chlorophyll maximum. This feature appears to arise from the photosynthetic production of oxygen, which is prevented from escaping to the atmosphere by a density cap created by surface warming during the summer. In high and low latitudes, or in areas where most photosynthesis takes place nearer the surface or where the density cap is weaker, this accumulation may not be so effective and the degree of saturation may be less, even though the primary productivity may be greater. The excess oxygen (above saturation) found in the subsurface maximum can be used to estimate minimal rates of primary productivity at those depths. Productivity estimated from oxygen accumulation is much greater than the primary productivity measured by the 14 C method. This suggests that the 14 C method substantially underestimates true productivity not only in these regions but generally.
Objective method for measuring VDU flicker

International standards require that VDU products should be flicker free to at least 90% of the user population. There have been many methods proposed to achieve this objective. However, it is extremely difficult to validate or compare data between the various methods because of the nature of subjective variability and the lack of a common quantifiable reference. This paper describes an objective flicker measurement technique that provides such a reference and also two subjective experiments designed to validate the measurement accuracy.
An SEM approach for the evaluation of intervention effects using pre-post-post designs

This study analyzes latent change scores using latent curve models (LCMs) for evaluation research with pre-post-post designs. The paper extends a recent article by Willoughby, Vandergrift, Blair, and Granger (2007) on the use of LCMs for studies with pre-post-post designs, and demonstrates that intervention effects can be better tested using different parameterizations of LCMs. This study illustrates how to test the overall mean of a latent variable at the time of research interest, not just at baseline, as well as means of latent change variables between assessments, and introduces how individual differences in the referent outcome (i.e., level-2 random effects) and measurement-specific residuals (i.e., level-1 residuals) can be modeled and interpreted. Two intervention data examples are presented. This LCM approach to change is more advantageous than other methods for its handling of measurement errors and individual differences in response to treatment, avoiding unrealistic assumptions, and being more powerful and flexible.
Modeling illumination-mode near-field optical microscopy of Au nanoparticles

We present a theoretical analysis of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) images of small Au particles made in the illumination mode. We model the metal-coated fiber tip as a thin disk consisting of a glass core and an aluminum coating. An external field locally illuminates the tip core. We solve for the local fields, including interactions between the tip and the Au particles, by use of the coupled dipole method and calculate the optical signal collected in the far field. We also determine the tip field, in the absence of the particle, for various tip sizes with different metal-coating thicknesses. Calculated tip fields and simulated images are compared with those obtained with the Bethe–Bouwkamp model, a commonly used simple model for the tip field. Calculated line scans of the NSOM images of Au particles depend strongly on the tip aperture size and metal-coating thickness. For blunt tips with a thick metal coating and sharp tips with a much thinner coating, our thin-disk model reproduces the key features of measured NSOM images. Line scans calculated with the Bethe–Bouwkamp model cannot describe the tip dependence of the experimental images. Tip fields obtained from the thin-disk model show significant enhancement beneath the metal coating and a broader field distribution perpendicular to the polarization. Tip fields obtained with the Bethe–Bouwkamp model do not show these effects. Differences in the line scans for these two models are correlated to the differences between the tip fields for the two models. These differences occur because only the disk model accounts for a finite metal coating.
LWIR Spectral measurements of volcanic sulfur dioxide plumes

This work examines the process of detecting and quantifying volcanic SO2 plumes using the Airborne Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (AHI) developed by the University of Hawaii. AHI was flown over Pu'u'O'o Vent of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii to collect data on SO2 plumes. AHI is a LWIR pushbroom imager sensitive to the 7.5 - 11.5 μ region. Spectral analysis and mapping tools were used to identify and classify the SO2 plume in both radiance and emissive space. MODTRAN was used to model the radiance observed by the sensor as it looked to the ground through an SO2 plume. A spectral library of radiance profiles with varying ground surface temperatures and SO2 concentrations was developed, and the AHI data fitted to the varying model profiles. Reasonable values of SO2 emission were obtained.
Inelastic Scattering of 500-Mev Negative Pions in Emulsion Nuclei

Inelastic scattering of 500-Mev negative pions has been investigated in 1700 meson-induced events in emulsion nuclei. Large energy losses and strong angular relationships of the emitted mesons have been observed, similar to those in experiments with lower energy mesons. The possible causes for this behavior are discussed. In 1-3 percent of the events, production of charged mesons has been found. The cross section for meson production on free nucleons is estimated to be between 3.5 and 10 mb, considering the possible absorption of one or both mesons. The angular and energy distributions of mesons and recoiling nucleons in events with meson production are discussed. Six events of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ production on free protons (or edge nucleons) have been found. The results are compared with observations on meson scattering and meson production in cosmic-ray experiments.
NF-κB in cancer—a friend turned foe

The nuclear factor of kappaB (NF-kappaB) family of heterodimeric transcription factors plays an instrumental role in immune, inflammatory, and stress responses. NF-kappaB induces the expression of diverse target genes that promote cell cycle progression, regulate apoptosis, and facilitate cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Given the ability of NF-kappaB to influence these cardinal features of neoplastic transformation, it is no surprise that tumor cells of almost every tissue type acquire the ability to constitutively activate NF-kappaB via a host of diverse genetic alterations and viral proteins. The activation of NF-kappaB not only enables malignant transformation and tumor progression, but also provides a mechanism by which tumor cells escape immune surveillance and resist therapy. NF-kappaB may be inhibited by targeting either the apical signaling proteins responsible for its activation in specific types of cancer, the downstream kinases (IkappaB kinase and casein kinase 2) at which NF-kappaB-activating signaling pathways converge, the proteasome-mediated degradation of the inhibitor of kappaB (IkappaB) proteins, or the transcriptional activity of Rel proteins. Since NF-kappaB inhibitors can sensitize tumor cells to apoptosis signaling pathways activated by death receptors, interferons, and immune effector cells, they hold enormous promise for the development of effective combinatorial regimens against a wide spectrum of hematologic and epithelial malignancies.
A comparison of two controlled-release delivery systems for the delivery of amiloride to control angiogenesis.

The diuretic amiloride has been reported to inhibit both Na+–H+ antiport and the urokinase-type plasminogen activator. As a consequence of these inhibitions, neovascularization may also be inhibited. We hypothesized that if amiloride could be effectively delivered in a site-specific manner, a system might be developed that could inhibit localized angiogenesis. In order to evaluate this possibility we conducted a study that compared two different controlled-release systems into which amiloride had been incorporated. The effectiveness of amiloride release from each delivery system was determined by quantitating angiogenic patterns in a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) system using a fractal analysis software program. The two delivery systems compared were sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) and calcium alginate. Initial HPLC laboratory tests confirmed that amiloride could be released from both SAIB and calcium alginate in vitro in a sustained manner for 72 h. The CAM studies confirmed that neither SAIB nor calcium alginate alone promoted or inhibited angiogenesis when compared to nontreated controls. The release of amiloride from each delivery vehicle resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of angiogenesis following both 24 and 48 h of release compared to controls. There was no difference in inhibition of angiogenesis, however, when comparing SAIB + amiloride treated CAMs with calcium alginate + amiloride treated CAMs. These data suggest that both SAIB and calcium alginate may be useful delivery vehicles for the localized application of amiloride to control angiogenesis. Such a system could potentially control tumor angiogenesis without systemic effects.
Vibroacoustography Imaging of Kidney Stones In Vitro

Vibroacoustography (VA) is an ultrasound-based modality sensitive to stiffness and free from speckle and possesses some advantages over conventional ultrasound imaging in terms of image quality. The primary objective here is to show its feasibility in detecting/imaging kidney stones (KSs) in vitro . In VA, two intersecting ultrasound beams driven at two different frequencies f1 and f2, respectively, are focused within a freshly excised porcine kidney attached to a solid frame with elastic rubber bands, while the amplitude of the acoustic emission pressure field produced at the difference frequency Δf = |f1 - f2| is detected by a low-frequency hydrophone. The received low-frequency signal is bandpass filtered and amplified, then digitized by a 14-bits/sample digitizer. The data are then recorded on a computer and processed numerically to construct the images. 2-D magnitude VA images are obtained at different depths within the kidney before and after stone implantation, showing kidney features and stones shapes. Experiments conducted in a water tank on a chalk sphere as well as a series of excised kidneys in which stones are artificially embedded show that all the implanted stones are detected at all chosen depths, when compared with an X-ray fluoroscopy taken to be the reference image. The resulting VA images, obtained from a nonionizing type of radiation (i.e., ultrasound waves) as compared to fluoroscopy, are speckle free unlike conventional ultrasound images. The results presented in this preliminary feasibility study show that VA allows imaging KSs in vitro, and provide the impetus to further develop and investigate VA imaging in a clinical setting for in vivo applications.
Cathodoluminescence characteristics of linearly shaped staggered InGaN quantum wells light-emitting diodes

Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growths of linearly-shaped staggered InGaN quantum wells lightemitting diodes are performed. The use of linearly-shaped staggered InGaN QWs leads to the shift of both electron and hole wavefunction toward the center of the quantum well region with enhanced momentum matrix element, which results in the enhancement of the spontaneous radiaitve recombination rate. The power-density-dependent cathodoluminescence measurements for both conventional and linearly-shaped staggered InGaN QW show 2.5-3.5 times increase in the integrated cathodoluminescence intensity by using the novel active region.
Authorial Intent and Historical Reporting: Putting Spong's Literalization Thesis To the Test

John Shelby Spong's thesis that a post-canonical process of literalization caused episodes in the Gospels to be misunderstood as historical narratives when they had been intended by their authors and received by their original readers as purely metaphorical tales does not hold up to the scrutiny of either literary or historical analysis. It is also theologically unnecessary, motivated apparently by a drive to legitimate a reading of the texts that is better obtained through a recognition of the hermeneutical limits of authorial intent, an appreciation for polyvalence, and an adoption of postmodern reading strategies.
In vitro human cell line models to predict clinical response to anticancer drugs

In vitro human cell line models have been widely used for cancer pharmacogenomic studies to predict clinical response, to help generate pharmacogenomic hypothesis for further testing, and to help identify novel mechanisms associated with variation in drug response. Among cell line model systems, immortalized cell lines such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) have been used most often to test the effect of germline genetic variation on drug efficacy and toxicity. Another model, especially in cancer research, uses cancer cell lines such as the NCI-60 panel. These models have been used mainly to determine the effect of somatic alterations on response to anticancer therapy. Even though these cell line model systems are very useful for initial screening, results from integrated analyses of multiple omics data and drug response phenotypes using cell line model systems still need to be confirmed by functional validation and mechanistic studies, as well as validation studies ...
Effect of Temperature on Inhibition of Chicken Liver Fructose Diphosphatase by Adenosine 5′-Monophosphate

Abstract The extent of inhibition of chicken liver fructose diphosphatase (FDPase) by adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) was significantly reduced with an increase of temperature. The AMP concentrations required to inhibit 50% of the enzyme activity were about 0.03 and 0.12 mM at 30° C. and 42° C., respectively. The results of Hill plot indicate that the apparent n value was not altered by the change in temperature from 30° C. to 42° C. It was also observed that the sensitivity to AMP inhibition was greatly reduced by increasing pH. At 30° C. and with 0.2 mM AMP, the inhibition at pH 9.3 was only about 5% as compared with about 96% at pH 7.5. However, at 42° C. no inhibition was detected at pH 9.3 with AMP concentrations up to 0.4 mM.
Mapping Ceramic Compositional Variation and Prehistoric Interaction in Pacific Coastal Guatemala

Abstract Ceramic sourcing via neutron activation analysis is being used to investigate prehistoric regional interaction in Pacific coastal Guatemala. However, this effort is complicated by several circumstances. First, the lack of clear compositional contrasts in the region's argillaceous sediments means that compositional differences between the products of different workshops may be subtle. Second, ceramics appear to have been produced in numerous locations over the span of prehistory, so even a large sample of pottery is likely to contain just a few samples from many workshops. Finally, the near universal presence of volcanic sand or ash temper in the ceramics may mask the correspondence between ceramic and raw clay compositions. To help make sense of ceramic compositional data in the face of these challenging conditions, we have developed an approach that evaluates each individual analysed ceramic specimen as if it represented a unique source. Source zone maps are constructed by comparing raw materials either to real groups or to the hypothetical “groups” centred on each individual specimen. The individual-specimen provenance maps provide a basis for assessing similarity of source–zone usage among assemblages. The pattern of interassemblage similarities can be illustrated graphically following a principal components analysis. Application of this approach to Classic period serving vessels yields some surprising insights into political–economic relationships.
Münchner Silicontage 1992

Wenn sich ein deutsches Chemieunternehmen und die GDCh zusammenschliesen, um gemeinsam eine nationale Fachtagung der Siliciumchemie unter internationaler Beteiligung auszurichten, dann mus es einen ganz besonderen Anlas geben.
N-Decane-Air Droplet Combustion Experiments in the NASA-Lewis 5 Second Zero-Gravity Facility

The burning of single fuel (n-decane) droplets in a microgravity environment (below 0.00001 of the earth's gravity, achieved in the NASA-Lewis 5-Second Zero-Gravity Facility) was studied, as part of the development of the Droplet Combustion Experiment for eventual operation aboard either the Shuttle middeck or Spacelab. Special attention is given to the combustion equipment used and its operations and performance. Temporal analysis of the local burning rates in these tests showed increasing rates of change in the local burning as droplet combustion progressed. Result point to the need of studying large droplets, with long droplet combustion lifetimes as well as low gas/droplet motion to understand reasons for this unsteadiness.
Hormonal contraception: is it worth it?

As experience with the injectable progesterone contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) grows the benefits and risks of this hormonal contraception relative to the risks of unintended pregnancy and pregnancy-related health problems are being assessed. One of these health problems is bone mineral density loss. The literature is replete with evidence that DMPA lowers bone mineral density (BMD); only one small cross-sectional study did not find a strong association between DMPA use and BMD loss.45 This has led to concerns that DMPA-induced bone mineral density loss might lead to long-term risk of fractures. Of particular concern are adolescent women who have not yet attained their peak BMD. (excerpt)
The Interactive Role of Socioeconomic Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Birth Weight on Trajectories of Body Mass Index Growth in Children and Adolescents

This study assessed how socioeconomic status (SES), race/ethnicity, and birth weight interacted to predict differential patterns of body mass index (BMI) growth among U.S. children born in the earl...
The selection and infusion of autonomy for Mars rovers

How do you select autonomy, insure that it meets your needs, and arrives for launch in a reliable form? How do you ensure autonomy providers around the country meet these goals compliant with institutional practices and policies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for building space qualified reliable systems? Answers to these questions have resulted in a process we call autonomy infusion. This paper describes the process MSL is using to infuse autonomy into a rover, and describes attributes, and evaluation criteria and their use pertinent to autonomy technologies for Mars rovers in general.
Racial Comparisons of Diabetes Care and Intermediate Outcomes in a Patient-Centered Medical Home

OBJECTIVE To assess racial differences in diabetes processes and intermediate outcomes of care in an internal medicine, patient-centered medical home (PCMH) group practice. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1,457 adults with diabetes receiving care from 89 medical providers within a PCMH-designated academic practice between 1 July 2009 and 31 July 2010. We used mixed models to assess independent associations between patient race (non-Hispanic white or black) and 1) receipt of processes of care (A1C and LDL testing, foot and retinal examination, and influenza and pneumococcal vaccination) and 2) achievement of intermediate outcomes (LDL 9.0% [>75 mmol/mol]), controlling for sociodemographic factors, health status, treatment intensity, and clinical continuity. RESULTS Compared with non-Hispanic white patients, black patients were younger, were more often single, had lower educational attainment, and were less likely to have commercial insurance. In unadjusted analyses, fewer black patients received a retinal examination and influenza vaccination during the study period or any lifetime pneumococcal vaccination (P 9.0% (>75 mmol/mol) (P < 0.05 [all comparisons]). In multivariable models, black patients were less likely to receive A1C testing (odds ratio [OR] 0.57 [95% CI 0.34-0.95]) or influenza vaccination (OR 0.75 [95% CI 0.57-0.99]) or to achieve an LDL <100 mg/dL (OR 0.74 [95% CI 0.55-0.99]) or BP <140/90 mmHg (OR 0.64 [95% CI 0.49-0.84]). CONCLUSIONS Racial differences in processes and intermediate outcomes of diabetes care were present within this PCMH-designated practice, controlling for differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment factors.
Learning-Related Behaviors: Small Group Reading Instruction in the General Education Classroom.

Supplemental small group reading instruction is frequently provided in the general education setting to struggling students at elementary schools that use response to intervention frameworks. Altho...
A generalized construction of chromatic index critical graphs from bipartite graphs

We prove that any graph with maximum degree n which can be obtained by removing exactly 2n - 1 edges from the join K1 + Kn, n is n-critical. This generalizes special constructions of critical graphs by S. Fiorini and H. P. Yap, and suggests a possible extension of another general construction due to Yap.
Analysis of expressed sequence tags from Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum).

Gibberella zeae is a broad host range pathogen that infects many crop plants, including wheat and barley, and causes head blight and rot diseases throughout the world. To better understand fungal development and pathogenicity, we have generated 7996 ESTs from three cDNA libraries. Two libraries were generated from carbon-(C-) and nitrogen- (N-) starved mycelia and one library was generated from cultures of maturing perithecia (P). In other fungal pathogens, starvation conditions have been shown to act as cues to induce infection-related gene expression. To assign putative function to cDNAs, sequences were initially assembled using StackPack. The estimated total number of genes identified from the three EST databases was 2110: 1088 contigs and 1022 singleton sequences. These 2110 sequences were compared to a yeast protein sequence reference set and to the GenBank nonredundant database using BLASTX. Based on presumptive gene function identified by this process, we found that the two starved cultures had similar, but not identical, patterns of gene expression, whereas the developmental cultures were distinct in their pattern of expression. Of the three libraries, the perithecium library had the greatest percentage (46%) of ESTS falling into the ‘‘unclassified’’ category. Homologues of some known fungal virulence or pathogenicity factors were found primarily in the N- and C-libraries. Comparisons also were made with ESTs from the related fungi, Neurospora crassa and Magnaporthe grisea and the genomic sequence of N. crassa. 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Quantitative assessment of filter-based cDNA microarrays: gene expression profiles of human T-lymphoma cell lines.

Motivation: While the use of cDNA microarrays for functional genomic analysis has become commonplace, relatively little attention has been placed on false positives, i.e. the likelihood that a change in measured radioactive or fluorescence intensity may reflect a change in gene expression when, in fact, there is none. Since cDNA arrays are being increasingly used to rapidly distinguish biomarkers for disease detection and subsequent assay development (Wellman et al., Blood, 96, 398-404, 2000), the impact of false positives can be significant. For the use of this technology, it is necessary to develop quantitative criteria for reduction of false positives with radioactively-labeled cDNA arrays. Results: We used a single source of RNA (HuT78 T lymphoma cells) to eliminate sample variation and quantitatively examined intensity ratios using radioactively labeled cDNA microarrays. Variation in intensity ratios was reduced by processing microarrays in side-by-side (parallel mode) rather than by using the same microarray for two hybridizations (sequential mode). Based on statistical independence, calculation of the expected number of false positives as a function of threshold showed that a detection limit of log 2 R‖ > 0.65 with agreement from three replicates could be used to identify up- or down-modulated genes. Using this quantitative criteria, gene expression differences between two related T lymphoma cell lines, HuT78 and H9, were identified. The relevance of these findings to the known functional differences between these cell types is discussed.
Surfin' the World Wide Web with Japanese

Previously, we have developed Speech-Aware Multimedia (SAM) which controls a WWW browser using English speech. We have extended its capability to use Japanese speech to browse Japanese pages, and developed a prototype using speaker-independent, continuous speech recognition with Japanese context-dependent phonetic models. Some challenges not seen in English include: segregation of Japanese text into word units for optional silence insertion, Japanese text to phone conversion and accommodation of English link names embedded in Japanese pages. In order to accomplish the first two, we modified a public-domain dictionary look-up tool for segmentation and to accommodate the heuristics required for improved text-to-phone conversion accuracy. Preliminary tests show that the conversion result contains the correct phone sequence over 97% of the time, and the prototype correctly understands the input speech 91.5% of the time.
“NATIONALISM” AND KURDISH NOTABLES IN THE LATE OTTOMAN–EARLY REPUBLICAN ERA

The era culminating in World War I saw a transition from multinational empires to nation-states. Large empires such as the Austro-Hungarian and the Ottoman searched for ways to cope with the decline of their political control, while peoples in these empires shifted their political loyalties to nation-states. The Ottoman Empire offers a favorable canvas for studying new nationalisms that resulted in many successful and unsuccessful attempts to form nation-states. As an example of successful attempts, Arab nationalism has received the attention that it deserves in the field of Middle Eastern studies.1 Students have engaged in many complex debates on different aspects of Arab nationalism, enjoying a wealth of hard data. Studies on Kurdish nationalism, however, are still in their infancy. Only a very few scholars have addressed the issue in a scholarly manner.2 We still have an inadequate understanding of the nature of early Kurdish nationalism and its consequences for the Middle East in general and Turkish studies in particular. Partly because of the subject's political sensitivity, many scholars shy away from it. However, a consideration of Kurdish nationalism as an example of unsuccessful attempts to form a nation-state can contribute greatly to the study of nationalism in the Middle East.
HeRMES: high-performance reliable MRAM-enabled storage

Magnetic RAM (MRAM) is a new memory technology with access and cost characteristics comparable to those of conventional dynamic RAM (DRAM) and the non-volatility of magnetic media such as disk. Simply replacing DRAM with MRAM will make main memory non-volatile, but it will not improve file system performance. However, effective use of MRAM in a file system has the potential to significantly improve performance over existing file systems. The HeRMES file system will use MRAM to dramatically improve file system performance by using it as a permanent store for both file system data and metadata. In particular, metadata operations, which make up over 50% of all file system requests [14], are nearly free in HeRMES because they do not require any disk accesses. Data requests will also be faster, both because of increased metadata request speed and because using MRAM as a non-volatile cache will allow HeRMES to better optimize data placement on disk. Though MRAM capacity is too small to replace disk entirely, HeRMES will use MRAM to provide high-speed access to relatively small units of data and metadata, leaving most file data stored on disk.
Marginal leakage of class V cavity preparations

Dentin-bonding materials, ferric oxylate (FO), addition reaction between N-phenylglycine and glycidyl methacrylate (NPG-GMA), and addition reaction product of pyromellitic acid dianhydride and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PMDM), were tested together for their ability to inhibit marginal leakage in Class V composite restorations in vitro. Sixteen experimental teeth were pretreated with FO, NPG-GMA, PMDM, and restored with composite. Sixteen control teeth were treated conventionally with composite. The teeth were then thermally cycled (5 and 55 degrees C) for 7 days, silver stained, and evaluated blindly for degree of marginal leakage on a scale of 0 (no leakage) to 7 (leakage into the pulp). The experimental group displayed significantly greater leakage values (p less than 0.01) than controls. The results of this study support the hypothesis that FO, NPG-GMA, and PMDM, together with composite inhibit marginal leakage.
Remote Sensing of Ocean Salinity: Results from the Delaware Coastal Current Experiment

Abstract A comparison is presented of remote and shipboard measurements of sea surface salinity made in the vicinity of the Delaware coastal current, a low salinity band with its source in the mouth of Delaware Bay. The remote sensing measurements were made from an aircraft with the Electronically Scanned Thinned Array Radiometer. The shipboard measurements were made with a thermosalinograph on board the R/V Cape Henlopen. On 29–30 April 1993, the R/V Cape Henlopen sailed from the mouth of Delaware Bay south toward Chesapeake Bay in an east–west zig-zag pattern, repeatedly crossing the coastal current. The aircraft, a NASA P-3, flew the same lines on the afternoon of 30 April. Both thermosalinograph- and microwave radiometer–derived salinity maps clearly show the freshwater signature of the coastal current and generally are in agreement to within about 1 psu.
Generative models and Bayesian model comparison for shape recognition

Recognition of hand-drawn shapes is an important and widely studied problem. By adopting a generative probabilistic framework we are able to formulate a robust and flexible approach to shape recognition which allows for a wide range of shapes and which can recognize new shapes from a single exemplar. It also provides meaningful probabilistic measures of model score, which can be used as part of a larger probabilistic framework for interpreting a page of ink. We also show how Bayesian model comparison allows the trade-off between data fit and model complexity to be optimized automatically.
Concurrent simulation with entity life modeling: an airport simulator using Ada

The authors present the design and implementation of an airport simulator based on the entity-life model. The concurrency features of Ada, combined with the design principles of the entity-life model, are shown to be very appropriate to the airport simulation problem, which is inherently concurrent. The tasks resulting from the design based on the entity-life model were mostly isomorphic to the real-world entities they represent and thus helped make the design simpler in addition to capturing real-world concurrency which is so vital to many applications. The modern language features of Ada, particularly its concurrency mechanisms, and design principles such as entity-life modeling clearly demonstrate the viability of Ada as a language for simulation. >
Role of myeloid differentiation factor 88 in Rhesus rotavirus-induced biliary atresia.

Abstract Background Biliary atresia (BA) is a unique neonatal disease resulting from inflammatory and fibrosing obstruction of the extrahepatic biliary tree. Previous studies have demonstrated the critical role of innate immunity and the Th1 response to activated inflammatory cells and overexpressed cytokines in the pathogenesis of BA. Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is a critical adaptor molecule that has been shown to play a crucial role in immunity. We investigated the role of MyD88 in the inflammatory response and development of cholangiopathy in murine BA. Methods MyD88 knockout (MyD88−/−) and wild-type (WT) BALB/c pups were injected with Rhesus rotavirus or saline on day 1 of life. The mice were monitored for clinical symptoms of BA, including jaundice, acholic stools, bilirubinuria, and death. The liver and extrahepatic bile ducts were harvested for histologic evaluation and the quantification of viral content, determination of cytokine expression, and detection of inflammatory cells. Results Rhesus rotavirus infection produced symptoms in 100% of both MyD88−/− and WT pups, with survival of 18% of WT and 0% of MyD88−/− mice. Histologic analysis demonstrated bile duct obstruction in both MyD88−/− and WT mice. Viral titers obtained 7 d after infection and expression of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α at day 3, 5, 8, and 12 after infection revealed no significant differences between the WT and MyD88−/− mice. Flow cytometry demonstrated similar levels of activated CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells. Conclusions The pathogenesis of murine BA is independent of the MyD88 signaling inflammatory pathway, suggesting alternative mechanisms are crucial in the induction of the model.
High current transmission line pulse (TLP) and ESD characterization of a silicon germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor with carbon incorporation

Electrostatic discharge robustness of an epitaxial-base pseudomorphic Silicon Germanium Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) device with Carbon incorporation is shown for the first time. Experimental results show that incorporation of Carbon in the base of a SiGe HBT device improves power-to-failure variation by improved control of the base width and base width distribution.
Digital Signal Processing Without Arithmetic Using Regression Trees

This paper discusses the possibility of performing digital signal processing tasks such as filtering without doing arithmetic, i. e. addition and multiplication, by relying on the approximating capabilities of regression trees. Regression trees map a vector of inputs to a scalar output using only comparison (greater than, less than) operations. Therefore, regression trees can approximate the value of a given function without doing arithmetic offering a computational savings. This paper demonstrates the performance of regression trees on simple FIR filtering problems.
Hypothesis for the Role of Nutrient Starvation in Biofilm Detachment

A combination of experimental and theoretical approaches was used to investigate the role of nutrient starvation as a potential trigger for biofilm detachment. Experimental observations of detachment in a variety of biofilm systems were made with pure cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These observations indicated that biofilms grown under continuous-flow conditions detached after flow was stopped, that hollow cell clusters were sometimes observed in biofilms grown in flow cells, and that lysed cells were apparent in the internal strata of colony biofilms. When biofilms were nutrient starved under continuous-flow conditions, detachment still occurred, suggesting that starvation and not the accumulation of a metabolic product was responsible for triggering detachment in this particular system. A cellular automata computer model of biofilm dynamics was used to explore the starvation-dependent detachment mechanism. The model predicted biofilm structures and dynamics that were qualitatively similar to those observed experimentally. The predicted features included centrally located voids appearing in sufficiently large cell clusters, gradients in growth rate within these clusters, and the release of most of the biofilm with simulated stopped-flow conditions. The model was also able to predict biofilm sloughing resulting solely from this detachment mechanism. These results support the conjecture that nutrient starvation is an environmental cue for the release of microbes from a biofilm.
Adapting to remapped auditory localization cues: a decision-theory model.

This paper describes a model of adaptation to remapped auditory localization cues that is based on previous decision-theory models of psychophysical performance. The present model extends earlier work by explicitly assuming that past experience affects subject perception and by quantifying how training causes subjects’ responses to evolve over time. The model makes quantitative predictions of total sensitivity, bias, and resolution for subjects involved in experiments investigating spatial auditory adaptation. One assumption of the model is that subjects cannot adapt to nonlinear rearrangements of localization cues, which is consistent with previous experimental reports in both audition (Shinn-Cunningham, Durlach, & Held, 1998b) and vision (Bedford, 1993). The model assumes that, in spatial adaptation experiments, subjects learn to interpret a continuous internal decision variable differently than normal; they do not learn to associate discrete stimulus-response pairs. This view is consistent with previous analyses of results from experiments investigating adaptation to visual rearrangement, as well as with the McCullough effect in vision (Bedford, 1993,1995).
Molecular weight distribution in thermal polymerization of styrene

The molecular weight distribution in thermal polymerization, for which the termination rate is comparable with the transfer rate, is analyzed by assuming that (1) the termination rate is independent of chain length; (2) the rate is translational diffusion-controlled; and (3) the rate is influenced by the excluded volume. The theoretical distribution, based on the assumption that the rate is translational diffusion-controlled, is the best fit to the experimental data at high temperature. The dependence of the rate on chain length is stronger at higher temperature (>80°C). The ratio of the termination rate to the transfer rate increases with increasing temperature.
Labile and Paroxysmal Hypertension: Common Clinical Dilemmas in Need of Treatment Studies

Although “labile hypertension” is regularly encountered by clinicians, there is a paucity of information available to guide therapeutic decisions. This review discusses its clinical relevance, the limitations of current knowledge, and possible directions for future research and clinical management. Results of studies that assessed measures of blood pressure variability or reactivity are reviewed. The limited information about effects of antihypertensive drugs on blood pressure variability is discussed. Two different clinical presentations are differentiated: labile hypertension and paroxysmal hypertension. Labile hypertension remains a clinical impression without defined criteria or treatment guidance. Paroxysmal hypertension, also called pseudopheochromocytoma, presents as dramatic episodes of abrupt and severe blood pressure elevation. The disorder can be disabling. Although it regularly raises suspicion of a pheochromocytoma, such a tumor is found in <2 % of patients. The cause, which involves both emotional factors and the sympathetic nervous system, and treatment approaches, are presented.
Rapid Fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se $_{2}$ Thin Films by the Two-Step Selenization Process

Two-step processes currently used for the industrial Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) module production require a long process time of several hours for the CIGS absorber formation. In this paper, we are studying the reaction pathway to rapid selenization of stacked metal precursors in elemental Se vapor. The objective is to understand the reaction kinetics to find the best precursor structure and the optimal selenization conditions to form high-quality CIGS films with proper Ga depth profiles. In addition to stacked metal precursors, the effect of the use of Se-containing precursors was also examined. As expected, the stacking order of themetal precursors influences the properties of the resultingCIGS absorbers. The Cu amount deposited for the precursor formation critically affected the final film and cell properties, as well.We also found that the formation of CIGS films with large grain sizes and flat Ga depth profiles was possible even for [Cu]/([In] + [Ga]) < 1 conditions with the use of particular precursor structures and selenization conditions. The results suggest that the selenization reaction pathway can be dictated with the precursor structure, and further improvements are expected by controlling reaction kinetics with precursor structure modification.
Smooth muscle relaxation and local hydraulic impedance properties of the aorta

Smooth muscle relaxation is expected to yield beneficial effects on hydraulic impedance properties of large vessels. We investigated the effects of intravenous diltiazem infusion on aortic wall stiffness and local hydraulic impedance properties. In seven anesthetized, closed-chest dogs, instantaneous cross-sectional area and pressure of the descending thoracic aorta were measured using transesophageal echocardiography combined with acoustic quantification and a micromanometer, respectively. Data were acquired during a vena caval balloon inflation, both at the control condition and with diltiazem infusion. At the operating point, diltiazem reduced blood pressure in all dogs but did not alter aortic dimensions or wall stiffness. Over the observed pressure range, aortic area-pressure relationships were linear. Whereas diltiazem affected the slope of this relationship variably (no change in 3 dogs, increase in 1 dog, decrease in 3 dogs), the zero-pressure area intercept was significantly increased in every case such that higher area was observed at any given pressure. When comparisons were made at a common level of wall stress, wall stiffness was either increased or unchanged during diltiazem infusion. In contrast, diltiazem decreased wall stiffness in every case when comparisons were made at a common level of aortic midwall radius. Aortic characteristic impedance and pulse wave velocity, components of left ventricular hydraulic load that are determined by aortic elastic and geometric properties, were affected variably. A comparison of wall stiffness at matched wall stress appears inappropriate for assessing changes in smooth muscle tone. Because of the competing effects of changes in vessel diameter and wall stiffness, smooth muscle relaxation is not necessarily accompanied by the expected beneficial changes in local aortic hydraulic impedance. These results can be reconciled by recognizing that components other than vascular smooth muscle (e.g., elastin, collagen) contribute to aortic wall stiffness.
Does this Tweet make me look fat? A content analysis of weight stigma on Twitter

Weight stigma involves stereotyping individuals based on body size. Individuals with obesity face weight stigma in many areas of their lives, and consequences can include impairment of mental and physical health, relationships, and academic performance. Weight-stigmatizing messages are pervasive in mass media, but the degree and characteristics of its presence within new-media social environments remain comparatively unknown. This study examined weight stigma on Twitter by coding Tweet content that included the word “fat” within a 4-h timeframe (N = 4596). Coding marked demographic characteristics represented in content, messages about weight, and perceived intent of the message. Of all messages, 56.57 % were negative and 32.09 % were neutral. Of those containing weight-stigmatizing messages (n = 529), themes relating to fatness included: gluttonous (48.58 %), unattractive (25.14 %), not sexually desirable (2.65 %), sedentary (13.80 %), lazy (5.86 %), and stupid (4.16 %). Weight-stigmatizing messages are evident in the increasingly important arena of social media, and themes appear similar to those that emerge in other forms of media. Prevention and intervention body image programs should consider targeting social networks to help individuals manage societal messages.
Screening methods for thyroid hormone disruptors.

The U.S. Congress has passed legislation requiring the EPA to implement screening tests for identifying endocrine-disrupting chemicals. A series of workshops was sponsored by the EPA, the Chemical ...
ON THE DYNAMICS SCALING OF FORCED UNSTEADY SEPARATED FLOWS

The active control of separated flows in turbulent boundary layers was achieved experimentally using the periodic oscillations of a spoiler-like flap inside the separated zone. Results were obtained for three heights of the separation generator, using several freestream velocities and numerous forcing frequencies. The dynamical scaling analysis of reattachment control as a function of reduced frequency revealed the existence of at least two distinct mechanisms controlling flow reattachment. At low reduced frequencies (k < 0.04) , the primary mechanism corresponds to the momentum exchange induced by the modulation of the separated shear layer, and leads to the periodic shedding of the Separation bubble. This mechanism scales with the characteristic height of the separation region. For larger values of the reduced frequency parameter, the dominating mechanism is the formation and shedding of energetic vortices caused by the oscillation of the flap. This mechanism scales with the reduced frequency based an the flap height.
EVALUATION OF INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF SOIL INSECT PESTS IN SWEET POTATOES, 2013

A field experiment was conducted at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research Station in Alexandria, LA, to evaluate insecticides for management of sweetpotato soil insect pests, including BCB and SCB. In addition to an untreated check, three insecticide treatments were assessed in a RCB design with four blocks and one replicate per block. Plots were three rows wide (38-inch centers) and 35 ft long. A CO2-pressurized backpack sprayer calibrated to …
Application of Active Disturbance Rejection Control to Micro-Electro-Mechanism System Transducers

Active disturbance rejection control(ADRC) is an emerging robust control technology. It improves the performance of micro-electro-mechanism system(MEMS) sensors and actuators and increases their measurement and displacement accuracies through effectively compensating the imperfections in micro-fabrications and environmental variations. The applications of an ADRC to MEMS gyroscopes and electrostatic actuators are introduced in this paper. The ADRC facilitates accurate sensing of both constant and time-varying rotation rates for MEMS gyroscopes. In addition, an alternative ADRC is initially applied to an electro-static actuator. The alternative ADRC is constructed based on partially known model information. It drives and stabilizes the displacement output of an electrostatic actuator to 99% of full capacitor gap despite of the presence of disturbance. The alternative ADRC also has better noise rejection capability than traditional ADRC. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the robustness, effectiveness and feasibility of the ADRC in MEMS area.
Self-Assembly and Self-Construction.

The spontaneous increase of complexity in nature from the formation of elements, followed by the formation of compounds, both inorganic and organic, leading to the emergence of life -from a single cell to multi-cellular organisms -and the later formation of communities followed by the emergence of new technologies where complex structures are created by a humans is probably the most important property of matter.