cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistence and diversity of directional landscape connectivity improves biomass pulsing in simulations of expanding and contracting wetlands

Abstract In flood-pulsed ecosystems, hydrology and landscape structure mediate transfers of energy up the food chain by expanding and contracting in area, enabling spatial expansion and growth of fish populations during rising water levels, and subsequent concentration during the drying phase. Connectivity of flooded areas is dynamic as waters rise and fall, and is largely determined by landscape geomorphology and anisotropy. We developed a methodology for simulating fish dispersal and concentration on spatially-explicit, dynamic floodplain wetlands with pulsed food web dynamics, to evaluate how changes in connectivity through time contribute to the concentration of fish biomass that is essential for higher trophic levels. The model also tracks a connectivity index (DCI) over different compass directions to see if fish biomass dynamics can be related in a simple way to topographic pattern. We demonstrate the model for a seasonally flood-pulsed, oligotrophic system, the Everglades, where flow regimes have been greatly altered. Three dispersing populations of functional fish groups were simulated with empirically-based dispersal rules on two landscapes, and two twelve-year time series of managed water levels for those areas were applied. The topographies of the simulations represented intact and degraded ridge-and-slough landscapes (RSL). Simulation results showed large pulses of biomass concentration forming during the onset of the drying phase, when water levels were falling and fish began to converge into the sloughs. As water levels fell below the ridges, DCI declined over different directions, closing down dispersal lanes, and fish density spiked. Persistence of intermediate levels of connectivity on the intact RSL enabled persistent concentration events throughout the drying phase. The intact landscape also buffered effects of wet season population growth. Water level reversals on both landscapes negatively affected fish densities by depleting fish populations without allowing enough time for them to regenerate. Testable, spatiotemporal predictions of the timing, location, duration, and magnitude of fish concentration pulses were produced by the model, and can be applied to restoration planning.
Ag+-Na+ exchanged channel waveguides in germanate glass

Singlemode and multimode Ag/sup +/-Na/sup +/ exchanged channel waveguides have been formed in germanate glass. The mode profiles and propagation losses of these channel waveguides at 1.55 /spl mu/m have been measured. The measured propagation loss is <2 dB/cm in channel waveguides.
Interplay of Driver, Mini-Driver, and Deleterious Passenger Mutations on Cancer Progression

Cancer is caused by the accumulation of a critical number of somatic mutations (drivers) that offer fitness advantage to tumor cells. Moderately deleterious passengers, suppressing cancer progression, and mini-drivers, mildly beneficial to tumors, can profoundly alter the cancer evolutionary landscape. This observation prompted us to develop a stochastic evolutionary model intended to probe the interplay of drivers, mini-drivers and deleterious passengers in tumor growth over a broad range of fitness values and mutation rates. Below a (small) threshold number of drivers tumor growth exhibits a plateau (dormancy) with large burst occurring when a driver achieves fixation, reminiscent of intermittency in dissipative dynamical systems. The predictions of the model, in particular the relationship between the average number of passenger mutations versus drivers in a tumor, is in accord with clinical data on several cancers. When deleterious drivers are included, we predict a non-monotonic growth of tumors as the mutation rate is varied with shrinkage and even reversal occurring at very large mutation rates. This surprising finding explains the paradoxical observation that high chromosomal instability (CIN) correlates with improved prognosis in a number of cancers compared with intermediate CIN.
The production of racial inequality within and among organizations

This article examines the production of racial inequality. Although most research concerned with racial inequality focuses exclusively on individuals, we argue that higher level actors, namely, organizations, contend with racial inequality in much the same way that people do. Using prior research on race and organizations, this paper illustrates that understanding how organizations produce and experience racial inequality is necessary. We argue that racial inequality regimes have the capacity to operate on people, but also among organizations.
An Analysis of Cepheid Distances Using Bayesian Statistics

We have applied an approximately Bayesian and a fully Bayesian analysis to the calculation of Cepheid distances, radii and absolute magnitudes using the surface brightness (Baade–Wesselink) method. Both methods successfully account for errors in the data, provide unbiased distance estimates, and provide objective model selection for the radial velocity curve. In addition, the fully Bayesian analysis objectively selects a model for the magnitude curve; averages over models of various Fourier orders, properly weighted by the posterior probabilities of the individual models; and includes a Lutz–Kelker correction. The approximately Bayesian method is that described by Jefferys & Barnes (1999) and Barnes & Jefferys (1999). It is a maximum likelihood approach with objective selection of the order of the Fourier series model of the radial velocities.
Grounded Globalization: Foreign Capital and Local Bureaucrats in China’s Economic Transformation

Summary How does a globalized context influence domestic development policies and the allocation of government resources in an authoritarian country like China? This study explores the coalitional politics in China’s transition from foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction to domestic technology upgrading, which created winners and losers in the local allocation of government resources. Drawing on comparative case studies, semi-structured interviews and newly compiled data at the city level, the study finds that the varied levels of government support for domestic upgrading are shaped by coalitions for or against the transition. The major obstacle for bureaucrats within a city government to garner resources for domestic technology does not directly depend on the overall level of FDI. Rather, it comes from the vested interest of international commerce bureaucrats. These bureaucrats are more likely to form a cohesive coalition when the export share of foreign firms is large. At the same time, such a coalition is more likely to gain political influence when industrial sales are concentrated in large firms. The direction and magnitude of foreign capital influence, therefore, is channeled and manifested through local bureaucratic coalitions. This study sheds light on the politics of implementing development policies in an era in which globalization has cultivated fragmented interests within the local bureaucracy.
Multiuser Simultaneous Two-Way Ranging

Location awareness will be crucial for many future wireless network applications, such as the Internet of Things and vehicular networks. Existing localization works typically propose sequential signaling schemes, where one pair of nodes communicates to range their distance at a time. This implies high ranging overhead for large networks, where many nodes are within range of each node. In this paper, a novel scheme is proposed which takes merely two frames of transmissions. In the first frame, all nodes transmit their respective signatures. In the second frame, all nodes basically repeat what they have received in the first frame multiplied by a scrambling sequence (assuming full duplexing). By the end of the second frame, every node can estimate not only its distance to all nodes within range, but also the distances between neighboring nodes which are within range of each other. It is shown that in a half-duplex setting the scheme can still be utilized to perform two-way ranging. Successive interference cancellation can also be leveraged with the scheme in order to improve performance for subsequent estimates in interference heavy scenarios. The proposed scheme is highly scalable, and is validated using simulation.
Waves and wave drag in stratified flows

Waves in a stratified flow are a prominent and dramatic feature in the lee of a mountain range that stands athwart the prevailing winds, such as the Sierra Nevada in California or the Southern Alps in New Zealand. These waves produce striking cloud patterns, have been responsible for world records and fatal crashes in sailplanes, and may be responsible for a significant fraction of the momentum exchange between the Earth and its atmosphere. They are basically gravity waves, in the sense that they owe their existence to the buoyant force of gravity in a stably stratified fluid, and are excited by flow over an obstacle in such a fluid. Examples of wave-induced clouds on the lee sides of the southern Andes, the Sierra Nevada, and Mount Fujiyama are shown in Figs. 1–3, in inverse order of scaleThe first two patterns are quasi-two-dimensional, whereas the third (Fujiyama) is essentially three-dimensional. The first is of continental scale, in consequence of which the Coriolis force associated with rotation of the Earth might be a significant factor.
Scalable planning for distributed stream processing systems

Recently the problem of automatic composition of workflows has been receiving increasing interest. Initial investigation has shown that designing a practical and scalable composition algorithm for this problem is hard. A very general computational model of a workflow (e.g., BPEL) can be Turing-complete, which precludes fully automatic analysis of compositions. However, in many applications, workflow model can be simplified. We consider a model known as the Stream Processing Planning Language (SPPL), applicable in stream processing and other related domains. SPPL replaces the notion of concurrency by timeless functional computation. In addition, SPPL defines workflow metrics of resource consumption and quality of service. Experiments have shown earlier that even a naive SPPL planning algorithm significantly outperforms existing metric PDDL planners on stream processing workflow composition problems. In this paper we describe an efficient and scalable algorithm for finding high-quality approximate solutions for large instances of SPPL problems. We demonstrate the scalability of the algorithm on synthetic benchmarks that are derived from practical problems. We also give an example of SPPL model for practical problems.
Teaching compassionate research in a global classroom

This essay challenges conventional understandings of how research methods courses are taught in the social sciences and the humanities. Currently, students in American Universities are trained in t...
Improving Power System Voltage Stability by Using Demand Response to Maximize the Distance to the Closest Saddle-Node Bifurcation

Temporal load shifting via demand response can be used to improve power system frequency stability. Recent work has shown that spatio-temporal load shifting can also be used to improve power system static voltage stability. However, the best static voltage stability metric is an open question. In this paper, we propose a method to improve power system static voltage stability by maximizing the distance to the closest saddle-node bifurcation of the power flow. Specifically, we formulate a nonlinear nonconvex optimization problem in which we choose loading patterns that maximize this distance while also constraining the total system loading to remain constant so that the actions do not affect frequency stability. We derive the KKT conditions and solve the resulting nonlinear system of equations using the Newton-Raphson method and check if the solution is a local minimum. Using a 4-bus system and the IEEE 9-bus system as our test cases, we explore the performance of the algorithm and the accuracy of the obtained solutions. We compare the solution to those obtained using other voltage stability metrics including the smallest singular value of the power flow Jacobian and the loading margin, finding that all approaches produce different solutions. Using Kundur's two area system, we also explore some algorithm convergence issues.
Chemistries and processes for the conversion of ethanol into middle-distillate fuels

Ethanol is presently the most common liquid fuel derived from biomass. One way of meeting the growing demand for heavier middle-distillate fuels — diesel and jet fuels comprising hydrocarbons of typically 8–22 carbon atoms — is to derive these from ethanol. This Review describes the chemistries and processes involved in the conversion of ethanol into diesel and jet fuel drop-in replacements and blendstocks. This conversion of ethanol relies on reactions including dehydration (to olefins), dehydrogenation (to aldehydes), hydrogenation (of C=C and C=O bonds), acid-catalysed olefin oligomerization, metal-catalysed olefin oligomerization, aldolization and ketonization. We discuss the thermodynamics, kinetics, process integration and catalyst development of different approaches. Some routes, particularly those based on olefin oligomerization, have been realized on the pilot scale. Other routes are currently in laboratory stages. This Review provides a framework for understanding how to convert ethanol into distillate-range molecules and the key research problems to be addressed. Ethanol has emerged as a potential alternative feedstock for the synthesis of middle-distillate transportation fuels. This Review describes the chemistry of ethanol-to-distillate processes and challenges associated with improving current technologies and implementing new ones.
Twistable Pharmaceutical Crystal Exhibiting Exceptional Plasticity and Tabletability

We report here the first pharmaceutical twistable hydrogen-bonded two-dimensional plastic hydrate crystal of a well-known psychoactive drug, caffeine (CAH). The availability of two pairs of plastic...
A User Study of Semi-Autonomous and Autonomous Highway Driving: An Interactive Simulation Study

The aim of this study is to explore user acceptance of semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles on a highway through the use of an interactive simulator. Participants were asked to experience driving modes with three different levels of autonomy and complete questionnaires with items selected from traditional and automotive-specific technology acceptance models. The three levels of automation included manual driving (no-automation as a baseline condition), semi-autonomous driving where drivers were able to indicate lane change decisions, and fully autonomous driving. Results indicate that within the limited experience of the interactive simulation, users grew to like the automated system as much as manual control during later portions of the study. Overall, this work suggests that the driver will quickly grow to like automated driving features and may rapidly become less anxious about the loss of control experienced.
Peripheral and Central Mechanisms of Visceral Pain Modulation

Visceral pain is a negatively perceived sensation conveyed by organ systems due to stretch, inflammation, ischemia, and other mechanisms of organ damage. This experience can be modulated by central acting mechanisms which can inhibit ascending pain signals, or by peripherally acting mechanisms such as local peptide release. Understanding the mechanisms of visceral pain and its modulation are vital in the creation and application of therapies which reduce the response to painful stimuli. This chapter covers several of these well-studied processes and their role in the perception of pain.
At Least Bias Is Bipartisan: A Meta-Analytic Comparison of Partisan Bias in Liberals and Conservatives

One form of partisan bias is the tendency to more readily accept the validity of information that affirms one’s political beliefs than information that challenges those beliefs. Both liberals and conservatives accuse their political opponents of partisan bias, but is there empirical evidence that one side of the political aisle is indeed more biased than the other? To address this question, we meta-analyzed the results of 41 experimental studies of partisan bias involving over 12,000 participants who identified their political ideology. Based on previous literature, two hypotheses were tested: an asymmetry hypothesis (predicting greater partisan bias in conservatives than liberals) and a symmetry hypothesis (predicting equal levels of partisan bias in liberals and conservatives). Overall partisan bias was robust (r = .254) and there was strong support for the symmetry hypothesis: liberals (r = .248) and conservatives (r = .247) showed nearly identical levels of bias across studies. Several methodological features moderated the degree of overall bias, and the relative magnitude of bias in liberals and conservatives differed across political topics. Implications of the current findings for the ongoing ideological symmetry debate, and partisan bias’ role in scientific discourse and political conflict are discussed.
Robotic versus laparoscopic elective colectomy for left side diverticulitis: a propensity score-matched analysis of the NSQIP database.

Robotic surgery might have an advantage over conventional laparoscopy for colonic diverticulitis. We intend to compare both approaches in the elective management of left side diverticulitis. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2012–2014) was surveyed for patients undergoing elective left/sigmoid colectomy for diverticulitis. Patient demographics, co-morbidities, disease complexity, and intraoperative details were matched on propensity scores derived from logistic regression model. We identified 441 robotic and 6584 laparoscopic cases. Mean age was 56.8 years. Mean BMI was 29.5, and 46.5% of patients were males. Low preoperative albumin (< 3.5 mg/dl, 11.1% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.003), splenectomy (0.45% vs. 0.05%, p = 0.002), and enterotomy repair (1.1% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.029) were higher in the robotic group than the laparoscopic group. Hand assistance (35.8% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.003), splenic flexure takedown (41.5% vs. 49.2%, p = 0.002), and ureteric stent placement (18.6% vs. 23.5%, p = 0.017) were less common in the robotic group than the laparoscopic group. Case-matched analysis showed that robotic surgery was associated with shorter hospital stay (3.89 ± 2.18 days vs. 4.75 ± 3.25 days, p < 0.001), lower conversion rate (7.5% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.001), and longer operative time (219.2 ± 95.6 min vs. 188.8 ± 82.3 min, p < 0.001) than laparoscopic surgery. Robotic approach was associated with lower overall morbidity in multivariate analysis (OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55–0.96), but not in case-matched analysis (14.4% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.058). Robotic surgery is associated with shorter hospital stay and lower conversion rate and may offer lower overall morbidity than laparoscopy after elective left side colectomy for diverticulitis. Controlled prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Deformable Synthesis Model for Emotion Recognition

In this paper, we propose a deformable synthesis model that can be used to synthesize data to train deep neural networks for the task of emotion recognition. This model is created through the use of 3D facial landmarks, which are then projected to the 2D image plane for training a deep network. We show that this model can accurately recognize a range of emotions that include happiness, sadness, and fear. We test the efficacy of our proposed approach on three publicly available 3D face databases, namely BU4DFE, BP4D, and BP4D+. We show that the proposed method can accurate recognize emotion when training and testing on the same database, as well as cross-database training and testing on all 3 databases. We show the proposed method results in accurate recognition of emotion using deep neural networks outperforming current state of the art on each of the tested databases.
Beneficial effects of Lactobacillus reuteri 6475 on bone density in male mice is dependent on lymphocytes

Oral treatment with probiotic bacteria has been shown to prevent bone loss in multiple models of osteoporosis. In previous studies we demonstrated that oral administration of Lactobacillus reuteri in healthy male mice increases bone density. The host and bacterial mechanisms of these effects however are not well understood. The objective of this study was to understand the role of lymphocytes in mediating the beneficial effects of L. reuteri on bone health in male mice. We administered L. reuteri in drinking water for 4 weeks to wild type or Rag knockout (lack mature T and B lymphocytes) male mice. While L. reuteri treatment increased bone density in wild type, no significant increases were seen in Rag knockout mice, suggesting that lymphocytes are critical for mediating the beneficial effects of L. reuteri on bone density. To understand the effect of L. reuteri on lymphocytes in the intestinal tissues, we isolated mesenteric lymph node (MLN) from naive wild type mice. In ex vivo studies using whole mesenteric lymph node (MLN) as well as CD3+ T-cells, we demonstrate that live L. reuteri and its secreted factors have concentration-dependent effects on the expression of cytokines, including anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Fractionation studies identified that the active component of L. reuteri is likely water soluble and small in size (<3 kDa) and its effects on lymphocytes are negatively regulated by a RIP2 inhibitor, suggesting a role for NOD signaling. Finally, we show that T-cells from MLNs treated with L. reuteri supernatants, secrete factors that enhance osterix (transcription factor involved in osteoblast differentiation) expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Together, these data suggest that L. reuteri secreted factors regulate T-lymphocytes which play an important role in mediating the beneficial effects of L. reuteri on bone density.
Partial Observability Analysis of an Adversarial Swarm Model

This paper introduces a new concept of partial observability for nonlinear systems. This new approach enables a quantitative analysis on the observability of an individual state variable and unknow...
Unsustainable hospital charges are incurred in the treatment of Medicare beneficiaries admitted with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Introduction: Rising medical care expenditures and the unchanging Medicare reimbursements have placed restraints on the health care delivery system. Objective: The goal of this study is to identify the magnitude and determinants of discrepancy between hospitalization charges and Medicare re-imbursement observed in the management of Medicare beneficiaries admitted with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the United States. Methods: Patients entered in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2002 and 2010, with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm who underwent either surgical or endovascular treatment were included in the study. Factors associated with higher discrepancy between hospitalization charges and Medicare re-imbursement were identified. Results: Discrepancies in hospital charges and Medicare reimbursement associated with endovascular and surgical treatment have increased over the decade. The median discrepancy per patient for Medicare patients aged 65 years and older treated surgically or endovascularly for a ruptured aneurysm from 2009-2010 was $177,380. The predictors of higher than median discrepancy(charges versus reimbursement), included Hispanic ethnicity (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.9, p = 0.02),urinary tract infection (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-2.8, p = <0.001), pneumonia (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.8-4.8, p = <0.001), deep vein thrombosis (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.2, p = 0.02), and pulmonary embolism (OR 18, 95% CI 2.0-169, p = 0.01). Conclusions: There is a growing gap between hospital charges and Medicare reimbursement. If hospitals continue to be reimbursed at significantly lower rates than charges incurred, this current system may be unsustainable due to losses incurred by hospitals.
Neuromodulation in Post-stroke Aphasia Treatment

This paper aims to review non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) methods to augment speech and language therapy (SLT) for patients with post-stroke aphasia. In the past 5 years, there have been more than 30 published studies assessing the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for improving aphasia in people who have had a stroke. Different approaches to NIBS treatment have been used in post-stroke aphasia treatment including different stimulation locations, stimulation intensity, number of treatment sessions, outcome measures, type of aphasia treatment, and time post-stroke. This review of NIBS for post-stroke aphasia shows that both tDCS and TMS can be beneficial for improving speech and language outcomes for patients with stroke. Prior to translating NIBS to clinical practice, further studies are needed to determine optimal tDCS and TMS parameters as well as the mechanisms underlying tDCS and TMS treatment outcomes.
RNA-activated protein kinase differentially modulates innate immune response mediated by supraphysiological concentrations of thyroid hormone:

Nuclear hormone receptor ligands are known to modulate innate immunity by dampening the immune response induced by pathogens. Here, we report that unlike other ligands, 3,3′,5-triiodo-l-thyronine (...
Love, Death, and Carbon

This chapter concludes the section on heterodox thoughts. It begins with a meditation on the paradox of loving and killing, which is the dynamic of intergenerational justice and climate change. “Love, Death, and Carbon” then summarizes the orthodoxy in terms of the iron law of climate policy, which states that economic growth is indisputable. The chapter invites the reader to wonder whether that is sane or foolish. It ends with a story of climbing a mountain with a YouTuber to illustrate just how lopsided and narrow our sense of energy has become.
Presence of the HPPD Inhibitor Sensitive 1 Gene and ALSS653N Mutation in Weedy Oryza sativa Sensitive to Benzobicyclon.

Benzobicyclon has shown varying results in controlling weedy rice, including those with imidazolinone (IMI) resistance. Tolerance to benzobicyclon in cultivated japonica rice, but not indica or aus-like cultivars, is conferred by a fully functional HPPD Inhibitor Sensitive 1 (HIS1) gene. Herein, a diagnostic Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assay was developed to predict the HIS1 genotype of weedy rice plants from 37 accessions and correlated to their response to benzobicyclon in the field. Two-thirds of the 693 weedy rice plants screened were tolerant to benzobicyclon (371 g ai ha−1, SC formulation) at 30 days after treatment (DAT). Thirty-four percent of plants were homozygous for the HIS1 allele and 98% of these plants exhibited field tolerance. However, the his1 genotype did not always correlate with field data. Only 52% of his1 plants were considered sensitive, indicating that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) chosen in the KASP assay are not a reliable tool in predicting his1 homozygous plants. In an additional experiment, 86% of the 344 plants with at least one copy of the ALSS653N trait harbored a HIS1 allele, suggesting fields infested with IMI herbicide-resistant weedy rice are unlikely to be controlled with benzobicyclon.
Experimental plant research and the discovery of carbon dioxide-mediated global greening: a tribute to Wilhelm Pfeffer (1845–1920)

One century ago, the German chemist and botanist Wilhelm Pfeffer (1845–1920) died, shortly after finishing his last lecture at the University of Leipzig. Pfeffer was, together with Julius Sachs (1832–1897), the founder of modern plant physiology. In contrast to Sachs, Pfeffer’s work was exclusively based on the principles of physics and chemistry, so that with his publications, notably the ca. 1.600 pages-long Handbuch der Pflanzenphysiologie (2. ed., Vol. I/II; 1897/1904), experimental plant research was founded. Here we summarize Pfeffer’s life and work with special emphasis on his experiments on osmosis, plant growth in light vs. darkness, gravitropism, cell physiology, photosynthesis and leaf movements. We document that Pfeffer was the first to construct/establish constant temperature rooms (growth chambers) for seed plants. Moreover, he pioneered in outlining the carbon-cycle in the biosphere, and described the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2)-enhancement on assimilation and plant productivity. Wilhelm Pfeffer pointed out that, at ca. 0.03 vol% CO2 (in 1900), photosynthesis is sub-optimal. Accordingly, due to human activities, anthropogenic CO2 released into the atmosphere promotes plant growth and crop yield. We have reproduced Pfeffer’s classical experiments on the role of CO2 with respect to plant development, and document that exhaled air of a human (ca. 4 vol% CO2) strongly promotes growth. We conclude that Pfeffer not only acted as a key figure in the establishment of experimental plant physiology. He was also the discoverer of the phenomenon of CO2-mediated global greening and promotion of crop productivity, today known as the “CO2-fertilization-effect”. These topics are discussed with reference to climate change and the most recent findings in this area of applied plant research.
Management of Excessive Weight Loss Following Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Clinical Algorithm and Surgical Techniques.

There are no clinical guidelines or published studies addressing excessive weight loss and protein calorie malnutrition following a standard Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) to guide nutritional management and treatment strategies. This study demonstrates the presentation, clinical algorithm, surgical technique, and outcomes of patients afflicted and successfully treated with excessive weight loss following a standard RYGB. Three patients were successfully reversed to normal anatomy after evaluation, management, and treatment by multidisciplinary team. Lowest BMI (kg/m2) was 18.9, 17.9, and 14.2, respectively. Twelve-month post-operative BMI (kg/m2) was 28.9, 22.8, and 26.1, respectively. Lowest weight (lbs) was 117, 128, and 79, respectively. Twelve-month post-operative weight (lbs) was 179, 161, and 145, respectively. Pre-reversal gastrostomy tube was inserted into the remnant stomach to demonstrate weight gain and improve nutritional status prior to reversal to original anatomy. We propose a practical clinical algorithm for the work-up and management of patients with excessive weight loss and protein calorie malnutrition after standard RYGB including reversal to normal anatomy.
Certain Common Complaints of Prospective STAPP Patients

If one of the most important aspects of STAPP has to do with the selection of appropriate candidates according to criteria clearly specified during the psychiatric evaluation, it is important, first of all, to describe the kinds of problems which most of these patients complain about and which are often encountered among individuals in a psychiatric clinic population.
Sources of Polarized Electrons

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the current state of the art of polarized electron sources and discusses a collection of polarized electron sources diverse enough to fulfill most needs. Each source is described in detail following a general discussion of source characteristics, the sources are compared, and their various merits are discussed in the chapter. The choice of the optimum source for a given application depends upon a great many interrelated factors. The ability to optically reverse the polarization direction is a very significant advantage for most applications, and the majority of the sources use this technique. The chapter presents a review of the current state-of-the-art technology for producing beams of polarized electrons. Progress toward this goal has been steady and in the past few years highly accelerated. High polarization is needed most by the high energy community and there are experiments that require substantially larger currents. It is expected that source development will be enhanced by the increase in the number of people working in this area, but it is tempered by the fact that there is so much good science possible with the new technology that is now available.
Josh White: Society Blues

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Elijah Wald Year: 2000 Pages: xvii + 336 Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press Prices: $22.95
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION IN U.S. SHIPYARDS

Abstract : This implementation Plan for Flexible Automation in U.S. Shipyards commissioned by panel SP-lO of the Ship Production Committee surveys current design and building practice in the shipbuilding industry and recommends a systematic approach to productivity improvement through flexible automation. Flexible automation in this context is not limited either to robots or fabrication issues. It covers any technique that can deal with a class of similar jobs. It can be applied to associated automation opportunities in design Production Planning outfit Planning measuring data analysis process improvement and other crucial areas that support fabrication account for a large part of construction cost and can benefit from automation, New construction overhaul repair and ship modernization can all benefit. To prepare the ground for automation it is essential to gain increased understanding of planning and fabrication processes and to rationalize design fabrication and outfitting. The best roadmap for accomplishing this lies in zone design/construction and the concept of the interim product. Following this roadmap will encourage the necessary coupling between customer designer planner and fabricator. An essential feature of enhanced productivity and a requirement for automation is rationalization of designs and Processes. Even if there is little or no actual automation this rationalization itself will save money and time direct and indirect labor initial work time and rework time.
Nodulin-24 Follows a Novel Pathway for Integration into the Peribacteroid Membrane in Soybean Root Nodules*

Nodulin-24 is a nodule-specific protein of the peribacteroid membrane (PBM) in soybean. It has an apparent molecular mass of 33 kDa while its full-length cDNA encodes a polypeptide of only 24 kDa. In vitro transcription of nodulin-24 cDNA followed by translation resulted in a peptide translocated into microsomal membranes with cleavage of a signal sequence. The cleavage site of the signal sequence in nodulin-24 was determined to be between Ala (A25) and Arg (R26) by microsequencing of the [3H]leucine-labeled processed peptide. Fusion of the signal sequence of nodulin-24 with the beta-glucuronidase peptide prevented co-translational cleavage of the signal sequence although the translocation of the fused protein into microsomes occurred co-translationally. Trypsin treatment of membrane-translocated nodulin-24 did not result in any alteration in size suggesting that the newly synthesized peptide is fully protected in the membrane vesicle. Fusion of nodulin-24 with beta-glucuronidase also showed no change in size following trypsin treatment, suggesting that nodulin-24 has no membrane-spanning region. In addition, in vitro synthesized nodulin-24 was present in the supernatant fraction after sonication of microsomal membranes. Mature nodulin-24, on the other hand, is not solubilized from PBM by sodium carbonate (pH 11) or EGTA and is soluble only in detergent. These data suggest that nodulin-24 is synthesized as a lumenal protein in the endoplasmic reticulum and post-translationally attached to the membranes en route to the PBM. This processing results in a significant increase in the apparent molecular mass of nodulin-24 which may be due to the attachment of membrane lipids as this protein shares characteristics with membrane lipoproteins of many pathogenic bacteria.
Pharmaceutical patent challenges — time for reassessment?

For nearly 15 years after the passage of the Hatch-Waxman Act in 1984, generics drug companies took little advantage of its provisions, which provided financial incentives to them for challenging the patents of branded pharmaceutical products. However, during the past 3-5 years, generics manufacturers have dramatically increased the number of patent challenges. Although these challenges can certainly benefit consumers and payers, the number of challenges puts many innovator companies at risk, which they argue is detrimental to future R&D spending. If many of the challenges are successful, then the increase in challenges could in turn be detrimental to generics, and the system itself might therefore be due for a re-balance.
DNA repair. Gatekeepers of recombination.

There are two main pathways by which chromosomal double-strand breaks are repaired — nonhomologous end-joining and homologous recombination. The 'gatekeeper' for the first of these processes is the Ku protein, and the warden of the second has now been identified as Rad52. The authors propose a model in which Rad52 and Ku compete to channel the broken ends down their respective pathways.
Severity of neurological signs and degree of inflammatory lesions in the brains of rats with Borna disease correlate with the induction of nitric oxide synthase.

Abstract The putative role of nitric oxide in the neuropathogenesis of Borna disease was investigated by determining changes in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and constitutively expressed NOS (cNOS) mRNA in brains of Borna disease virus (BDV)-infected rats. iNOS mRNA was not detected in normal rat brain but was identified in BDV-infected brain at 14 days postinfection (p.i.), reaching maximum levels at 21 days p.i., when neurological signs and inflammatory reactions in the brain were also at a peak. cNOS mRNA was expressed in both normal brain and infected brain, increasing markedly at 17 days p.i. and reaching a peak at 21 days p.i. In situ hybridization analysis revealed iNOS mRNA in some, but not all, BDV-infected regions of the brain, particularly in the basolateral cortex and the hippocampus. iNOS-positive cells, as identified immunohistologically, were preferentially localized in perivascular areas of the hippocampus and in outer cortical layers. These iNOS-positive cells resembled monocytes/macrophages in morphology and distribution pattern but were significantly fewer. The correlation of iNOS and cNOS mRNA expression with the development of neurological disease, as well as the enhanced expression of iNOS within brain regions with inflammatory lesions, strongly suggests that NO may contribute to pathogenesis of Borna disease.
Expression of rab11a N124I in gastric parietal cells inhibits stimulatory recruitment of the H+-K+-ATPase.

Stimulation of the gastric parietal cell results in a massive redistribution of H+-K+-ATPase from cytoplasmic tubulovesicles to the apical plasma membrane. Previous studies have implicated the smal...
Sources of Protection: A Case Study of the Evolution of the Common Law and Statutory Journalist's Privilege

Abstract This is a case study of one state's enactment of a shield law to protect journalists from being subpoenaed unnecessarily to disclose information they have compiled in the course of newsgathering. Florida enacted its privilege statute for journalists in 1998. Later in the same year, the state Supreme Court also gave its assistance to the press when it decided in favor of reporters in three separate cases involving the much-litigated issue of protection for nonconfidential information. The privilege statute and the court rulings culminated a hard—fought battle for press privilege in the Sunshine State. Earlier this decade, two reporters went to jail—the first time this has happened since at least 1950—rather than respond to subpoenas to testify. This article reviews the history of the common—law journalist's privilege in Florida and analyzes the shield law that was created to codify and strengthen the common-law privilege.
Behavioral training for increasing preschool children's adherence with positive airway pressure: a preliminary study.

Behavioral training was implemented to increase adherence with positive airway pressure (PAP) in 4 preschool children. The training employed distraction, counterconditioning, graduated exposure, differential reinforcement, and escape extinction. A non-concurrent multiple baseline experimental design was used to demonstrate program effects. Initially, the children displayed distress and escape–avoidance behavior when PAP was attempted. With training, all 4 children tolerated PAP while sleeping for age appropriate durations. For the 3 children with home follow-up data, the parents maintained benefits. The results are discussed in relation to behavior principles, child health, and common barriers to PAP adherence.
Fetal alcohol syndrome in families

A retrospective study of the clinical literature of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) was conducted to determine the incidence of FAS among younger and older siblings of a patient with FAS. The incidence of the disorder among older sibs was 170 per 1,000 whereas among younger sibs the incidence was 771 per 1,000. Since the risk for FAS in the general population is 1.9 per 1,000, these results clearly indicate the high risk of FAS among siblings if one sib is diagnosed as FAS.
Mild thickening of the aortic wall: subtle intramural hematoma?

UNLABELLED Recently published criteria for the diagnosis of intramural hematoma (IMH) of the ascending aorta by transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) include the presence of a crescent-shaped thickening of the aortic wall of more than 7 mm with an echolucent space. We report a patient whose clinical presentation suggested aortic dissection but whose TEE failed to meet the conventional criteria for such a diagnosis. TEE showed a uniform intimal thickening suspicious of IMH but less than 7 mm in thickness and with no echofree space. One week later, the patient developed frank aortic dissection. CONCLUSION IMH can present with a subtle echo appearance. The diagnosis should not be totally discounted in the absence of a 7-mm crescentic wall thickness and an echofree space if the clinical presentation is suggestive of dissection.
Estimation of supercritical fluid-liquid solubility parameter differences for vegetable oils and other liquids from data taken with a stirred autoclave

Fujishiro and Hildebrand developed a procedure for determining the solubility parameter difference between the components of a partially miscible binary mixture, knowing the molar volumes of the components and the composition of each phase. Using this procedure, the solubility parameter differences between supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) and each of three vegetable oils and four hydrogen bonding liquids have been determined. For the vegetable oils the solubility parameter differences at 72 C over the pressure range 5,000–10,000 psi were low, of the order of 2.0, and decreased only slightly with increasing pressure. For the hydrogen-bonding liquids at 52 C, over the same pressure range, the solubility parameter differences were much larger, of the order of 4 to 7 units, and independent of pressure except for ethylene glycol for which the difference increased from 5.7 to 6.7 from 5,000 to 10,000 psi.
Refocusing of defocused images using SAR2 algorithm

This paper utilizes the methodology of SAR2 algorithm, a two dimensional variant of the ω-k algorithm, to refocus out-of-focus images. Refocusing of images may be necessary in machine vision as a preprocessing step before edge detection or image segmentation in the imaging and manipulation of 3D objects. The SAR2 algorithm generates a complex amplitude distribution and the corresponding point spread function in a manner similar to Fraunhofer diffraction distribution model and its point spread function as seen in Fourier optics. The matched filter utilized in the SAR2 algorithm has a focus-in-altitude interpretation and may be varied to increase or decrease the radius of out-of-focus blur associated with a particular point spread function of scatterers of various heights. This paper demonstrates focusing of a line object L={1 : x=y;-≤x≤63; -64≤y≤63}. Although a rectangular aperture is used in the refocusing process, other apertures may also be used such as circular or Gaussian.
Fabrication options and operation principle for single-crystal silicon vibratory ring gyroscope

Four different approaches for the construction of a single crystal silicon vibratory ring gyroscope were investigated. All of them require deep trench etching (DRIE)of silicon, anodic bonding of silicon structures to a glass wafer, and a dissolve silicon wafer process. In the first approach, regular single crystal silicon was used as the starting sensor structural material. Heavy boron diffused silicon (B ++ Si) was formed followed by anodic bonding to the glass plate. The undoped silicon was then dissolved and the device structure was fabricated by deep trench etching of the B++Si. Due to the slow boron diffusion process, this approach severely limits the attainable thickness of the device structure. In the second approach, deep trench etching was carried out first followed by boron diffusion. In order to reduce RIE lag and boron diffusion time, the larger features were subdivided into smaller ones before DRIE process. We found that RIE lag still existed which had a detrimental effect on the sensor performance. In the third approach, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer was used and the sensor structures were built in the Si-epi layer by DRIE. Because of the very slow etch rate of SiO 2 in the DRIE process, RIE lag can be avoided. However, the associated footing problem makes the device dimensional control difficult. In the fourth approach, a layer of epi-GeB ++ Si on silicon wafer was used to build the sensor structures. The fabrication process was similar to that used in the third approach. Both RIE lag and footing problems were avoided. In the operation of the vibratory ring gyroscope, it is highly desirable of having the resonant frequencies around the ring to be isotropic. In this work, theoretical and experimental studies were conducted aiming at achieving the isotropy of the resonant frequency of the single crystal silicon ring, which has an orientation dependent modulus of elasticity. We found that for odd flexural vibration modes, the resonant frequencies of the ring were isotropic, whereas, for even modes they became anisotropic.
Nose–Hoover thermostat length effect on thermal conductivity of single wall carbon nanotubes

Abstract Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are used to determine the thermal conductivities of single wall carbon nanotubes. By fixing opposing ends of an armchair single wall carbon nanotube with a Nose–Hoover thermostat, the length dependence of thermal conductivities of single wall carbon nanotubes were studied in a vacuum. Specifically, single wall carbon nanotubes of 12.3 nm, 24.6 nm, and 36.9 nm lengths with varying fixed end temperatures were analyzed to determine thermal conductivities. In addition, the fixed end temperature lengths of single wall carbon nanotubes were varied to see convergence of the temperature profiles.
The Keats and Hopkins Dialectic in Seamus Heaney's Early Poetry: “The Forge”

As Michael Cavanagh has recently argued, the question of influence for Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney is a difficult one not only because he often does not own up to particular influences, ...
H abstraction dynamics by crossed-beam velocity map imaging: Cl+CH3OH → CH2OH+HCl

Abstract The crossed-beam reaction of ground state Cl ( 2 P 3/2 ) atoms with CH 3 OH have been studied using the technique of velocity map imaging (VELMI). The hydroxymethyl (CH 2 OH) radical was detected via single-photon ionization using 157 nm laser light. The full double-differential cross-sections were obtained at a collision energy of 8.7 kcal/mol. The angular distribution was predominantly in the sideways-backward direction with respect to the incoming alcohol beam, suggesting direct abstraction dynamics. The average translational energy release was 6.1 kcal/mol, out of 15.1 kcal/mol available. The technique of vacuum ultraviolet one-photon ionization in conjunction with VELMI promises to be useful for studying the reaction dynamics for many polyatomic systems.