cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robotic Arm for Automatic Sound Intensity Measurements

The characterization of the noise emitted by positive displacement machines serves as an important metric for the design of positive displacement machines and their corresponding systems. One method of characterizing the noise produced by positive displacement machines utilizes the two microphone-intensity probes at various locations surrounding the unit to approximate the total sound power generated by the machine in question.This paper proposes a method of utilizing a robotic arm to perform automatic sound intensity measurements (ASIM). This paper will explain the various theoretical motivations and justifications for the basic design concept as well as the specific implementation.All the necessary theoretical considerations and technical difficulties were accounted for in the successful design and manufacturing of an ASIM robot.To highlight the usefulness of the automatic measurement procedure, three case studies was performed to evaluate the robotic ASIM’s ability to measure sound power. A total of 1086 measurement locations were taken in order for each grid study to quantify the convergence of the field non-uniformity.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
A comparison between predicted and measured feedgas emissions for dynamic engine operation

Vehicle chassis dynamometer tests were performed to compare predicted and measured total feedgas emissions and fuel economy for dynamic operation of an engine. In general, the tests showed that predictions based on steady-state mapping data agreed well with measured values except for NOx emissions. Subsequent engine-dynamometer tests indicated that the discrepancy between predicted and measured NOx emissions was due to competing effects of combustion chamber wall temperature and dynamic EGR time response. A technique was developed which utilized the results of a simple transient test to improve the accuracy of predicting NOx emissions when EGR time response was not a factor. The effect of degraded EGR time response on both instantaneous and total NOx emissions was also explored.
Monoclonal Antibodies That Recognize Various Folding States of Pure Human Butyrylcholinesterase Can Immunopurify Butyrylcholinesterase from Human Plasma Stored at Elevated Temperatures.

Human plasma to be analyzed for exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors is stored at 4 °C or lower to prevent denaturation of human butyrylcholinesterase (HuBChE), the biomarker of exposure. Currently published protocols immunopurify HuBChE using antibodies that bind native HuBChE before analysis by mass spectrometry. It is anticipated that the plasma collected from human casualties may be stored nonideally at elevated temperatures of up to 45 °C for days or maybe weeks. At 45 °C, the plasma loses 50% of its HuBChE activity in 8 days and 95% in 40 days. Our goal was to identify a set of monoclonal antibodies that could be used to immunopurify HuBChE from plasma stored at 45 °C. The folding states of pure human HuBChE stored at 4 and 45 °C and boiled at 100 °C were visualized on nondenaturing gels stained with Coomassie blue. Fully active pure HuBChE tetramers had a single band, but pure HuBChE stored at 45 °C had four bands, representing native, partly unfolded, aggregated, and completely denatured, boiled ...
Flight Capacities and Diurnal Flight Patterns of the Ambrosia Beetles, Xyleborus glabratus and Monarthrum mali (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

We compared the flight activity of Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, vector and symbiont of the causal agent of laurel wilt disease (Raffaelea lauricola), with a native species Monarthrum mali (Fitch) using flight mills. Flight mills were operated either for 24 h or for three 3-h time intervals. During the 3-h interval experiment, the shortest time to flight initiation for X. glabratus occurred at 1600-1900 hours. The average flight time and total flying distance during 1600-2100 hours were also higher than those quantified during the other two recording times investigated. However, total flight duration and proportion of fliers was highest at 1000-1300 hours. We compared several flight parameters. About 64.0% of tested X. glabratus flew <20 m. During 24-h recording periods, M. mali flew longer distances than X. glabratus. Over 50.0% of M. mali flew over 100 m on the flight mill. Xyleborus glabratus flight activity was greatest between 1200 and 1800 hours, while M. mali flew most frequently between 1500 and 2100 hours. Monarthrum mali flew more than five times more frequently than X. glabratus, and their longest single flight distance (37.5 ± 12.5 m) and total flight distance (213.7 ± 85.5 m) were greater than those of X. glabratus. These data will be useful for development of species-specific control and monitoring protocols for these ambrosia beetles based on greater understanding of their flight capacities and associated invasion distance.
Fungal Musculoskeletal Infections

Fungi are rare but important causes of osteoarticular infections, and can be caused by a wide array of yeasts and molds. Symptoms are often subacute and mimic those of other more common causes of osteoarticular infection, which can lead to substantial delays in treatment. A high index of suspicion is required to establish the diagnosis. The severity of infection depends on the inherent pathogenicity of the fungi, the immune status of the host, the anatomic location of the infection, and whether the infection involves a foreign body. Treatment often involves a combination of surgical debridement and prolonged antifungal therapy.
Physical design of a 3D-stacked heterogeneous multi-core processor

With the end of Dennard scaling, three dimensional stacking has emerged as a promising integration technique to improve microprocessor performance. In this paper we present a 3D-SIC physical design methodology for a multi-core processor using commercial off-the-shelf tools. We explain the various flows involved and present the lessons learned during the design process. The logic dies were fabricated with GlobalFoundries 130 nm process and were stacked using the Ziptronix face-to-face (F2F) bonding technology. We also present a comparative analysis which highlights the benefits of 3D integration. Results indicate an order of magnitude decrease in wirelengths for critical inter-core components in the 3D implementation compared to 2D implementations.
A survey on wireless sensor networks security issues and military specificities

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), driven from multiple engineering disciplines, provide a communication infrastructure for various types of critical and innovative applications. These kinds of miniaturised, autonomous, versatile, lightweighted and autoconfigurable networks have inherent issues that are considered as a very interesting research area. Even if the use of WSN is diverse it seems that they are favored within critical applications where life and safety are involved, such as military surveillance and health care. The sensitive nature of the data exchanged over these networks puts security aspects at the top of conceptual and implementation considerations. In fact this is due to the inherent WSN vulnerability issues that are caused by the hostile environments in which they are deployed. Moreover, limited energy and computing resources of connected wireless nodes add complexity to these issues. In this paper, we aim to describe the new challenges in securing data collection and exchange in WSN, by investigating major security threats and by presenting recent major research advances in this area, with a special focus on the specificities related to military applications.
Using rare earth elements to trace wind-driven dispersion of sediments from a point source

Abstract The entrainment and movement of aeolian sediments is determined by the direction and intensity of erosive winds. Although erosive winds may blow from all directions, in most regions there is a predominant direction. Dust emission causes the removal preferentially of soil nutrients and contaminants which may be transported tens to even thousands of kilometers from the source and deposited into other ecosystems. It would be beneficial to understand spatially and temporally how the soil source may be degraded and depositional zones enriched. A stable chemical tracer not found in the soil but applied to the surface of all particles in the surface soil would facilitate this endeavor. This study examined whether solution-applied rare earth elements (REEs) could be used to trace aeolian sediment movement from a point source through space and time at the field scale. We applied erbium nitrate solution to a 5 m2 area in the center of a 100 m diameter field 7854 m2 on the Southern High Plains of Texas. The solution application resulted in a soil-borne concentration three orders of magnitude greater than natively found in the field soil. We installed BSNE sampler masts in circular configurations and collected the trapped sediment weekly. We found that REE-tagged sediment was blown into every sampler mast during the course of the study but that there was a predominant direction of transport during the spring. This preliminary investigation suggests that the REEs provide a viable and incisive technique to study spatial and temporal variation of aeolian sediment movement from specific sources to identifiable locations of deposition or locations through which the sediments were transported as horizontal mass flux and the relative contribution of the specific source to the total mass flux.
CLOUDS, COMPUTERS AND COMPLEXITY

Modern computers are complex. But is it meaningful to say that a computer is complex when compared to a system as intricate as the brain? Is a miniature version of a computer more complex, more intricate—or just smaller? How can we begin to conceive of ever more complex systems if we lack the ability to describe them? Clearly, we need to add new terminology to our descriptive lexicon of complexity.
Hybrid Approach: Stent Implantation

Hybrid therapies that involve the cooperation between cardiothoracic surgeon and interventional cardiologist have increased significantly over the last 10 years [1]. A CCISC survey conducted by Dan Gruenstein 2 years ago documented that almost 75 % of centers were placing intraoperative stents using a hybrid approach. Most intraoperative stents are placed in the pulmonary arteries and a variety of articles have reported on institutional experiences of intraoperative stent therapy [1, 3]. While surgical patch angioplasty has often been considered the “gold standard,” results have frequently been disappointing, resulting in the need to evaluate other treatment modalities, such as hybrid therapy.
A New Tick Palsy: Case of Guillian-Barre Syndrome Associated with Lyme Disease (P5.136)

Objective: While there are many infections associated with GBS, the association with Lyme disease is uncommon. We aim through our case to highlight Borrelia burgdorferi as an important antecedent infection associated with the development of GBS. Background: Guillian-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune mediated polyradiculoneuropathy that often follows an upper or lower respiratory illness or gastroenteritis by 10 to 14 days. It presents as post-infectious ascending symmetrical paralysis and areflexia. Design/Methods: Case Report Results: A 70-year-old woman living in central Pennsylvania presented with vertical diplopia, tingling fingers, and unilateral cranial nerve VI and VII palsy. She was started on antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease after positive serology, with resolution of diplopia and facial weakness after 7 days. But while on therapy, she developed left hip aching pain with absent patellar reflexes and left iliopsoas and hamstring weakness, which spread to include the right hip and leg extensors and ultimately bilateral upper extremities. The lumbar puncture showed elevated protein, and no WBC. EMG and MRI at that time were unrevealing. IVIG was empirically started, which halted progression of her weakness. Repeat EMG, 1 week later, was consistent with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. On follow up, patient’s pain resolved but she continues to have paresthesia with residual leg weakness requiring a walker for ambulation. Conclusions: Lyme disease, classically presents as cranial neuropathies, skin rash, and arthralgia, is a rare instigating factor of GBS. There are few reported cases of Lyme induced GBS. Lyme induced GBS should be considered if the patient is not improving on antibiotic therapy, developing areflexia, or new weakness. Initiation of medical therapy with IVIG or plasmapheresis along with antibiotic therapy sometimes needed to stop the progression of neurological symptoms. Disclosure: Dr. Samaan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Venrooy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Botros has nothing to disclose. Dr. Puttagunta has nothing to disclose.
The One Health Approach to Zoonotic Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In light of the continuing threat of emerging infectious diseases, as exemplified by the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we must carefully consider the ethical implicati...
Semipolar InGaN blue laser diodes with a low optical loss and a high material gain obtained by suppression of carrier accumulation in the p-waveguide region

We obtained InGaN laser diodes (LDs) with a low optical loss (1.9 ± 0.6 cm−1) by utilizing an undoped In0.07Ga0.93N p-waveguide (p-WG) and a remote p-AlGaN electron blocking layer. This improvement, however, was accompanied by a low injection efficiency (37%) and a poor material gain. Electroluminescence measurements and energy band diagram simulations revealed excessive carrier accumulation in the p-WG region, which was suppressed by introducing an undoped indium-free GaN p-WG. This enabled LDs with a high material gain, a low optical loss (4.6 ± 0.7 cm−1), an improved injection efficiency (60%), and a peak light output power of 1.6 W at 1.5 A.
SIGACT news logic column 14

For this issue, James Cheney describes nominal logic, an approach to solve the problems involved with reasoning about bindings in formal languages that has been gaining in popularity in recent years, and surveys its major application areas.
Digital predistortion using quadrature delta-sigma modulation with fast adaptation for WLAN power amplifiers

Summary form only given, as follows. A low-power, low-complexity adaptive digital predistortion system is presented for linearizing WLAN PAs. Second-order quadrature delta-sigma modulation is employed with phase alignment and gain normalization for maintaining modulator stability. An experimental system linearizes a 2.4-GHz PA transmitting a 20.2-dBm WLAN signal with 10-MHz bandwidth. After 523-millisecond background adaptation, the experimental predistortion system improves the EVM of the unlinearized PA from 5.90% to 0.96%.
Exploring Casino Impact Perceptions of a Unique Population

Absract This study is an investigation of the impact perceptions of Social Service Providers, Law Enforcement Officers, and Economic Development Officers to acquire a wide spectrum of community views. In doing so, this study advances the literature by examining this unique population's perceptions of casino gambling impacts and factors driving those perceptions, and their support for casinos in general using the social exchange theory framework. The results suggest that officers who have worked with gamblers tend to agree more with the economic benefits. A partial support for social exchange theory is also noted. The results have important implications for the casino operators, casino opponents, and the policy makers.
Digital Control of Switching and Linear Integrated Voltage Regulators

This work presents a summary of the digital control techniques in todays advanced, state of the art IVRs and the role digital control is playing to enhance their key performance metrics. Examples from high switching frequency Buck converters, computationally controlled digital LDOs as well as digitally assisted analog and hybrid LDOs speaks not only to the growing popularity of digital control in a wide variety of applications but also demonstrates its suitability on advanced process nodes which is inherently tough on analog circuits.
Ionospheric Oxygen ions in the dayside magnetosphere

Abstract Prior to its discovery, O+ from the Earth's high-latitude ionosphere was not expected to be present in any significant amount in the magnetosphere. It is now known that O+ can dominate ionospheric outflow and dominate magnetotail composition during geomagnetically active times. Observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission are used here to illustrate properties of O+ in the dayside outer magnetosphere and to identify gaps in the knowledge of this ionospheric ion. When the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is southward, O+ from the high-latitude ionosphere convects to the magnetotail then from the magnetotail to the dayside. The two primary O+ populations observed in the dayside magnetosphere are the ring current and warm plasma cloak. They are sometimes distinguishable by their energy, although velocity-space distribution functions are often needed to make a true distinction. There are several sinks for these populations in the dayside magnetosphere. One important sink is the dayside magnetopause. While much is understood about O+ in the dayside magnetosphere, there are several open questions detailed in the final section of the paper.
Watershed‐scale vegetation, water quantity, and water quality responses to wildfire in the southern Appalachian mountain region, United States

Wildfires are landscape scale disturbances that can significantly affect hydrologic processes such as runoff generation and sediment and nutrient transport to streams. In Fall 2016, multiple large drought‐related wildfires burned forests across the southern Appalachian Mountains. Immediately after the fires, we identified and instrumented eight 28.4–344 ha watersheds (four burned and four unburned) to measure vegetation, soil, water quantity, and water quality responses over the following two years. Within burned watersheds, plots varied in burn severity with up to 100% tree mortality and soil O‐horizon loss. Watershed scale high burn severity extent ranged from 5% to 65% of total watershed area. Water quantity and quality responses among burned watersheds were closely related to the high burn severity extent. Total water yield (Q) was up to 39% greater in burned watersheds than unburned reference watersheds. Total suspended solids (TSS) concentration during storm events were up to 168 times greater in samples collected from the most severely burned watershed than from a corresponding unburned reference watershed, suggesting that there was elevated risk of localized erosion and sedimentation of streams. NO₃‐N concentration, export, and concentration dependence on streamflow were greater in burned watersheds and increased with increasing high burn severity extent. Mean NO₃‐N concentration in the most severely burned watershed increased from 0.087 mg L⁻¹ in the first year to 0.363 mg L⁻¹ (+317%) in the second year. These results suggest that the 2016 wildfires degraded forest condition, increased Q, and had negative effects on water quality particularly during storm events.
Precursors to CDA and Important Foundational Concepts

This chapter describes precursors to CDA, and important foundational concepts and theories. We first review briefly the ideas of the British linguist, John Rupert Firth, and his anthropologist colleague, Bronislaw Malinowski, and then discuss Michael Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) and Language as Social Semiotic (SocSem) and some ideas originated by James Martin—including his stratal-functional model, notions of text and context (and register and genre), the three metafunctions, grammatical metaphor and ‘appliable linguistics’. Next, we describe critical linguistics (CritLing): its relation to other approaches, its definition, important works such as Language and Control and Language as Ideology, its interdisciplinarity and ‘useability’ as an approach, and its further development in Kress (1985b/1989), Linguistic Processes in Sociocultural Practice. We then discuss the complex relationship between CritLing and SocSem, the further development of SocSem in Hodge and Kress (1988) and especially in Kress and Theo van Leeuwen’s work on the ‘grammar’ of visual design in Reading Images (1996), including the three metafunctions and other facets of the visual. We conclude with the development of multimodality—and a short discussion of Kress and van Leeuwen’s Multimodal Discourse in relation to CritLing, SocSem, and CDA.
Galactic merger implications for eccentric nuclear discs: a mechanism for disc alignment

The nucleus of our nearest, large galactic neighbor, M31, contains an eccentric nuclear disk--a disk of stars on eccentric, apsidally-aligned orbits around a supermassive black hole (SMBH). Previous studies of eccentric nuclear disks considered only an isolated disk, and did not study their dynamics under galaxy mergers (particularly a perturbing SMBH). Here, we present the first study of how eccentric disks are affected by a galactic merger. We perform N-body simulations to study the disk under a range of different possible SMBH initial conditions. A second SMBH in the disk always disrupts it, but more distant SMBHs can shut off differential precession and stabilize the disk. This results in a more aligned disk, nearly uniform eccentricity profile, and suppression of tidal disruption events compared to the isolated disk. We also discuss implications of our work for the presence of a secondary SMBH in M31.
Efficacy of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles for enhancing solid-state anaerobic co-digestion: Focus on reactor performance and retention time.

The influence of magnetite nanoparticle (nFe3O4) concentrations (20, 50, and 75 mg/L) on reactor performance and retention time was investigated for the first time in an initially upset solid-state anaerobic batch (SSAB) reactor. nFe3O4 mitigated acidification threat, enhanced reactor stability, ensured rapid volatile fatty acids bioconversion, and modified microbial community. The impacts reduced retention time by 27 days relative to the control. Of the nFe3O4 concentrations, 20 mg/L had the highest hemicellulose degradation (93%) and methane yield (191.2 L/kg VS) with no threat to anaerobic microbes. Besides, existing kinetic models, novel models equally well-described methane yield with low root mean square errors (RMSE) 98%, therefore could be used for downstream applications. This study provides useful information on the impact of nFe3O4 on reactor stability and reactor performance in an initially upset SSAB reactor.
How Do Disruptive Technologies Evolve and Shape Dynamics of Technological Cycle

A vast literature exists on disruptive technologies; however, some fundamental questions are unknown, such as: how is the speed of disruptive technologies in competitive markets? How is the pathway of technological cycle of disruptive technologies? The study confronts these questions here by developing a theoretical and empirical analysis, which endeavors to explain the behavior of disruptive technologies, called here killer technologies, that generate industrial and corporate change. To explore the behavior of disruptive technologies, a simple model is proposed to analyze and predict how these technologies destroys and substitute established technologies. Empirical evidence of this theoretical framework is based on the evolution of some technologies in U.S. recorded music industry. Theoretical framework and empirical evidence hint at general properties of the behavior of disruptive technologies: 1) disruptive technology has a disproportionate growth in markets in relation to the established technology; 2) technological cycle of disruptive technology has upwave phase longer than downwave phase (asymmetric path of technological cycle). Overall, then, the proposed theoretical framework of disruptive technologies and empirical evidence here can explain the behavior of new technologies that generate technological and industrial change, and support best practices for technology management of firms and innovation policy of nations.
Stochastic Dominance Without Tears

When does an entire income distribution f(x2) dominate f(x1)? When can we comprehensively say that f(x2) is ``richer'' than f(x1)? Anderson (1996) proposed a nonparametric quantification for pair-wise welfare-ordering of two countries by their entire income distributions. His algorithm readily computes index values for stochastic dominance of orders 1 to 4, denoted as SD1 to SD4. This paper fills a gap in the literature by providing a simple ranking of n densities by suggesting two new SD-type algorithms, both avoiding pair-wise comparisons. The first new algorithm is exact because it replaces Anderson's trapezoidal approximations subject to truncation errors by exact areas under step-functions defined by empirical cumulative distribution functions, ECDF(xj). Our second new SD-type algorithm uses four orders of differencing of time series data. We use monthly return data on Apple, Microsoft, and Google stocks over the latest 14 years to illustrate. We provide intuitive derivations and include 95% bootstrap confidence intervals for inference on estimated SD-type indexes
Statistical analysis of effective electro-mechanical properties and percolation behavior of aligned carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposites via computational micromechanics

Abstract CNT (carbon nanotube) embedded polymer nanocomposites exhibit significant variation in their electro-mechanical properties depending upon factors such as CNT volume fraction, CNT dispersion, CNT alignment and properties of the polymer. Of interest is electrical percolation where the electrical conductivity of the CNT/polymer nanocomposite increases several orders of magnitude with increase in CNT volume fraction. Estimates and distributions for the electrical conductivity and piezoresistive coefficients of the CNT/polymer nanocomposite are obtained and analyzed with increasing CNT volume fraction and varying barrier potential, a parameter that controls the extent of electrical tunneling. The barrier potential is seen to play a key role in determining electrical percolation in terms of the CNT volume fractions that correspond to this percolation transition. The effect of CNT alignment is analyzed by comparing the electro-mechanical properties in the alignment direction versus the transverse direction, where it is found that the properties in the alignment direction are larger than that of the transverse direction. Estimates of piezoresistive coefficients are converted into gage factors and discussed in the context of experimental sources in literature. The methodology for this work involves generating several semi-random 5 μ m × 5 μ m computational realizations for different CNT volume fractions with randomized CNT seeding. These realizations are then analyzed using finite elements to obtain volume averaged effective values, which are then subsequently used to generate estimates (mean from several realizations) for mechanical stiffness, electrical conductivity and piezoresistive coefficients. The distribution in these properties is also studied using measures of coefficient of variation, skewness and kurtosis. It is found that electrical percolation can be captured by the transition of these measures of variation from low to high and back down to low values with increase in CNT volume fraction.
Management of atopic dermatitis in the inpatient setting

Despite the significant burden of inpatient hospitalization for AD, there are few reviews of inpatient management of AD. In this review, we address common indications for hospitalization in AD patients, the role of dermatology consultation, treatment considerations, and discharge planning. There are significant socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities that lead to increased risk of hospitalization and readmission for AD. A significant burden of mental health disorders in patients with AD can result in psychiatric emergencies and hospitalization in AD patients. The mainstay of hospital treatment for severe or refractory AD remains topical corticosteroid wet wraps. Dermatology should be consulted early in the hospital course. In order to prevent readmission, patients with AD need to be discharged with timely outpatient follow-up to ensure both short-term and long-term disease control. Finally, patients hospitalized for AD may benefit from a multidisciplinary team that can also address their other health conditions and barriers to care.
New aspects of glutathione metabolism and translocation in mammals.

An appreciable fraction of the sulphur present in the mammal occurs in the form of glutathione, whose concentration in various tissues ranges from about 0.8 to about 8 mM; the extracellular concentration of glutatione (largely present as the disulphide) is in the micromolecular range. The synthesis of glutathione and its utilization take place by the reactions of the gamma-glutamyl cycle, which include those catalysed by gamma-glutamylcysteine and glutathione synthetases, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, cysteinylglycinase, gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferease, and 5-oxoprolinase. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase catalyses transpeptidation (with amino acids and dipeptides) and hydrolysis reactions with both blutathione and its disulphide. The transpeptidase is membrane-boudn, apparently to the outer surface of the cell, and is found in certain epithelial cells in anatomical sites that are involved in transport and secretory activities (e.g., renal tubule, jejunal villi, choroid plexus, ciliary body). Evidence that the reactions of the gamma-glutamyl cycle take place in vivo has come from studies with labelled metabolites and selective enzyme inhibitors, and on inborn errors of metabolism associated with specific enzyme deficiencies. Inhibition in vivo of gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase and 5-oxoprolinase leads, respectively, to decreased and increased renal levels of 5-oxoproline. Administration of a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, such as buthionine sulphoximine, leads to a rapid decline in the glutamylcysteine synthetase, such as buthionine sulphoximine, leads to a rapid decline in the glutathione level of the kidney and other tissues, reflecting the appreciable rate of glutathione utilization. When gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase is inhibited in vivo by injection of L- or D-gamma-glutamyl-(o-carboxy)phenylhydrazide, there is extensive glutathionuria and the blood plasma level of glutathione increases. Studies in which inhibitors of glutathione synthesis and transpeptidation were given to mice showed that transport of intracellular glutathione to membrane-bound transpeptidase is a discrete step in the gamma-glutamyl cycle, and that the level of plasma glutatione reflects (a) synthesis of glutathione and its export by liver, muscle, and other tissues and (b) utilization of glutatione by kidney and other tissues. Studies on several lymphoid cell lines show that these cells also actively translocate glutathione out of the cell. A summary scheme is given for the metabolism of glutathione in which glutathione is translocated to the cell membrane where it may be utilized as such or oxidized to glutathione disulphide. Oxidation is inhibited, and transpeptidation is promoted by the presence of amino acids that are substrates of the transpeptidase. Glutathione exported from cells that have membrane-bound transpeptidase may be recovered by the cell transport of gamma-glutamyl amino acids and free amino acids...
Snakes and ladders: patterns in Heapsort

Looking at a scatter plot of a permutation of the numbers from 1 to N as they are sorted gives great insight into how a sorting algorithm works. We describe a vivid pattern that emerges when using Heapsort to sort a sorted array. This pattern provides an engaging way to discuss important attributes of Heapsort and other good sorts.
An Empirical Assessment of the Employee Free Choice Act: The Economic Implications

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which is pending before the US Congress, would provide for union representation when an employee majority has signed union authorization cards and would create a system of mandatory arbitration if a collective bargaining agreement is not reached approximately 130 days after a union is newly certified. I critically assess the arguments presented for passing EFCA and consider the likely unintended consequences it will generate, should it be passed. I find that while card checks could be expected to increase union membership as hoped by EFCA proponents, EFCA is unlikely to achieve its main goal of improving social welfare, which should take into account possible consequences not only for union members but for all individuals. In particular, my quantitative analysis indicates that passing EFCA would likely increase the US unemployment rate and decrease US job creation substantially. The precise effect on unemployment will depend on the degree to which EFCA increases union density, but for every 3 percentage points gained in union membership through card checks and mandatory arbitration, the following year's unemployment rate is predicted to increase by 1 percentage point and job creation is predicted to fall by around 1.5 million jobs. Thus, if EFCA passed today and resulted in an increase in unionization from the current rate of about 12% to 15%, then unionized workers would increase from 15.5 to 19.6 million while unemployment a year from now would rise by 1.5 million, to 10.4 million. If EFCA were to increase the percentage of private sector union membership by between 5 and 10 percentage points, as some have suggested, my analysis indicates that unemployment would increase by 2.3 to 5.4 million in the following year and the unemployment rate would increase by 1.5 to 3.5 percentage points in the following year.
Suppression of tumor-cell COX-2 in hormone refractory prostate cancer causes G1 arrest, inhibition of tumor growth and enhances chemotherapy response

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 4880 Introduction: Increased expression of the inducible, pro-inflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with cancer, but its role in h ormone r efractory p rostate c ancer (HRPC) is less clear and the direct involvement of tumor derived COX-2 is still lacking. We investigated the consequences of suppression of COX-2 by a silencing of tumor cell expression of COX-2, via Tetracycline-inducible antisense cDNA. Methods: Clones of PC-3ML cells, conditionally expressing COX-2 antisense, were created by transfecting PC-3ML cells with a plasmid containing Tetracycline-regulated COX-2 cDNA in antisense orientation (Tet-ON COX-2-Off). Commercial ELISA kits were used to assay COX-1 and COX-2 activity (prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) production), apoptosis, IL-1β, IL-8, bFGF and VEGF-1 secretion. Cell cycle analysis was determined by flow cytometry. Invasive activity was determined in vitro bythe Matrigel invasion assay.Cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs was evaluated by by clonogenic and MTT assay. Tumor growth and response to antitumor drugs were evaluated in xenografts of PC-3ML or Tet-ON COX-2-Off tumor cells by measuring tumor volumes in athymic mice. Apoptotic cells in tumor sections were enumerated in explanted tumors by TUNELassay. Results: Suppression of tumor cell COX-2 expression by antisense cDNA(Tet-ON COX-2-Off clones) caused a significant decrease in COX-2 activity (87%) and ∼60% decrease in the COX-2 protein level as compared to PC-3ML cells. Cell-cycle arrest at G1 was observed in COX-2-OFF clones (+44%). Also, significant decreases in VEGF-1 (58%); bFGF-1 (30%) and IL-8 (80%) were observed in COX-2-OFF clones. The invasive activity of COX-2-Off cells decreased significantly (80%) as compared to PC-3ML cells. A 52% reduction in the tumor growth rate was observed in mice injected with COX-2-OFF cells as compared to the mice injected with PC-3ML cells. The incidence of apoptotic cells in COX-2-Off tumors was 8-fold higher than that of control. Treating mice bearing PC-3 COX-2OFF tumors, with Docetaxel (2.3 mg/kg, IP,3 x wk.) further slowed tumor growth by 93%. Conclusion: We provide a direct evidence for the involvement of COX-2 in HRPC tumor growth. Inhibition of tumor COX-2 activity significantly reduces tumor growth and increases the efficacy of established antitumor drugs, such as Docetaxel. Direct inhibition of tumor cell COX-2 activity promises to be of greater efficacy than that by systemic COX-2 inhbition,using COX-2 inhibitors. [Funded by NIH grant 2R01 CA 061038 and US Army Grant DAMD 179818526 (BLL)] ![Figure][1] [1]: pending:yes
Dryland Soil Chemical Properties and Crop Yields Affected By Long-Term Tillage and Cropping Sequence

Information on the effect of long-term management on soil nutrients and chemical properties is scanty. We examined the 30-year effect of tillage frequency and cropping sequence combination on dryland soil Olsen-P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, SO4–S, and Zn concentrations, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) at the 0–120 cm depth and annualized crop yield in the northern Great Plains, USA. Treatments were no-till continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NTCW), spring till continuous spring wheat (STCW), fall and spring till continuous spring wheat (FSTCW), fall and spring till spring wheat–barley (Hordeum vulgare L., 1984–1999) followed by spring wheat–pea (Pisum sativum L., 2000–2013) (FSTW-B/P), and spring till spring wheat-fallow (STW-F, traditional system). At 0–7.5 cm, P, K, Zn, Na, and CEC were 23–60% were greater, but pH, buffer pH, and Ca were 6–31% lower in NTCW, STCW, and FSTW–B/P than STW-F. At 7.5–15 cm, K was 23–52% greater, but pH, buffer pH, and Mg were 3–21% lower in NTCW, STCW, FSTCW, FSTW–B/P than STW-F. At 60–120 cm, soil chemical properties varied with treatments. Annualized crop yield was 23–30% lower in STW-F than the other treatments. Continuous N fertilization probably reduced soil pH, Ca, and Mg, but greater crop residue returned to the soil increased P, K, Na, Zn, and CEC in NTCW and STCW compared to STW-F. Reduced tillage with continuous cropping may be adopted for maintaining long-term soil fertility and crop yields compared with the traditional system.
Biventricular thrombi and pulmonary emboli complicating idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: diagnosis with cardiac ultrafast CT

6. Foxe AN. Fenestrations of the semilunar valves. Am J Path01 1929;5:179-82. Proudfit WL, McCormack LJ. Rupture of the aortic valve. Circulation 1956;13:750-3. Friedman B, Hathaway BM. Fenestrations of the semilunar cusps, and “functional” aortic and pulmonic valve insufficiency. Am J Med 1958;24:549-58. Marcus FI, Ronan J, Misanik LF, Ewy GA. Aortic insufficiency secondary to spontaneous rupture of a fenestrated leaflet. AM HEART J 1963;66:675-8. Moran SV, Casanegra P,Maturana G, Dubernet J. Spontaneous rupture of a fenestrated aortic valve. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1977;73:716-8. Symbas PN, Walter PF, Hurst JW, Schlant RC. Fenestration of aortic cusps causing aortic regurgitation, J Thorac Cardiovast Surg 1969;57:464-70.
Exploring Perceptions of Smoking Cessation among High School Smokers: Input and Feedback from Focus Groups

Abstract Background.Despite many approaches to smoking cessation for youths, few programs have been thoroughly evaluated and found successful. To help the American Medical Association develop, implement, and evaluate an effective program, formative research was conducted. Methods.Four focus groups were conducted with high school smokers in the Chicago area to obtain input into interventions. Subsequently, five similar focus groups were conducted in Delaware and Denver, and a focus group of school health providers was conducted as well, to obtain feedback on a draft protocol and ideas. Results.Participants did not consider quitting smoking serious or urgent. They are unfamiliar with the idea of a smoking cessation program. People they would trust to help them quit include people who care about them, successful quitters, and psychologists. They had mixed reactions to physicians. They did not trust school personnel and locations. Participants found it hard to imagine what might draw them to a cessation program, except money, small enticements, and short sessions. They might keep coming to progress toward their own objectives or for interesting activities. Lecturing, nagging, and preaching would repel them. They doubted that a program would do anything else. They were highly sensitive about confidentiality. Conclusions.Attracting participants is critical. Program component ideas include personal physicians; adding other topics for a more attractive bundle; ensuring confidentiality; and ensuring no lecturing, preaching, or nagging.
Climatic Variability at Ten Stations Across the United States

Abstract Ten stations are chosen for a study of climatic variability in the continental United States, using as the main criteria good geographical distribution, long-period records (since before 1900), and available daily, monthly and annual values of maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation. Regression lines of decadal variances calculated from annual temperature indicate significant trends of variances, and thus variability, at several stations. A slight increase in precipitation variability is evident across the entire region. Analyses of ranked monthly maximum and minimum temperatures reveal several distinct discontinuities in the data. In most instances, station relocations coincide with the discontinuities.
DISCOV (DImensionless Shunting COlor Vision): A neural model for spatial data analysis

The DISCOV (DImensionless Shunting COlor Vision) system models a cascade of primate color vision neurons: retinal ganglion, thalamic single opponent, and cortical double opponent. A unified model derived from psychophysical axioms produces transparent network dynamics and principled parameter settings. DISCOV fits an array of physiological data for each cell type, and makes testable experimental predictions. Binary DISCOV augments an earlier version of the model to achieve stable computations for spatial data analysis. The model is described in terms of RGB images, but inputs may consist of any number of spatially defined components. System dynamics are derived using algebraic computations, and robust parameter ranges that meet experimental data are fully specified. Assuming default values, the only free parameter for the user to specify is the spatial scale. Multi-scale analysis accommodates items of various sizes and perspective. Image inputs are first processed by complement coding, which produces an ON channel stream and an OFF channel stream for each component. Subsequent computations are on-center/off-surround, with the OFF channel replacing the off-center/on-surround fields of other models. Together with an orientation filter, DISCOV provides feature input vectors for an integrated recognition system. The development of DISCOV models is being carried out in the context of a large-scale research program that is integrating cognitive and neural systems derived from analyses of vision and recognition to produce both biological models and technological applications.
LONG-TAILED DISTRIBUTIONS AND NON-UNIFORM EXPANSION IN THE ANALYSIS OF LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURE

Abstract This article presents two caveats for the analysis of large-scale structure. Within distances for which the fractal structure of the distribution of galaxies obtains, fluctuations may be on the scale of the measurements themselves, as is typical of fractals. Second, within this region it is doubtful that the asymptotic recession velocity has been reached. Given the evidence of fractal structure to large distances, these caveats have serious implications for measurements of the Hubble constant.
Vortex pinning by meandering line defects in planar superconductors

To better understand vortex pinning in thin superconducting slabs, we study the interaction of a single fluctuating vortex filament with a curved line defect in $(1+1)$ dimensions. This problem is also relevant to the interaction of scratches with wandering step edges in vicinal surfaces. The equilibrium probability density for a fluctuating line attracted to a particular fixed defect trajectory is derived analytically by mapping the problem to a straight line defect in the presence of a space and time-varying external tilt field. The consequences of both rapid and slow changes in the frozen defect trajectory, as well as finite size effects are discussed. A sudden change in the defect direction leads to a delocalization transition, accompanied by a divergence in the trapping length, near a critical angle.
Rapid changes in soybean root membrane lipids with altered temperature

Abstract In soybean roots, as temperature was increased between 15° and 30°, palmitic and stearic acids increased, and oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids decreased in both plasmalemma and mitochondrial membrane fractions. As temperature was decreased, the reverse trend occurred. Membranes in both the mitochondria and plasmalemma responded with a significant shift in fatty acid composition in 48 hr, often in 24 hr. Mitochondria responded more quickly than the plasmalemma, particularly at the lower temperature.
Baby universes in 4D dynamical triangulation

Abstract We measure numerically the distribution of baby universes in the crumpled phase of the dynamical triangulation model of 4D quantum gravity. The relevance of the results to the issue of an exponential bound is discussed. The data are consistent with the existence of such a bound.
Modelling the Spatial Distribution of Suburban Crime

This paper examines the spatial distribution of crime among Chicago's suburbs by completing a spatial autocorrelation and regression analysis of crime occurrence rates. The results suggest that there is little interjurisdictional spillover of violent crime among the suburbs of Chicago. Rather, the clustered spatial pattern of crime and its decay with distance to the city of Chicago reflects the nonrandom spatial distribution of offender rates. The distribution of property crime exhibits neither spatial autocorrelation nor a relationship with distance to Chicago. Instead, it is closely associated with the location of retail and manufacturing activities. This suggests that the journey to property crime extends many miles and crosses suburban boundaries.
Optimal Co-Operative Advertising Decisions in Direct-Mail Operations

This paper considers optimization of vertical co-operative promotion decisions in a direct mail operation. After presenting our model, we demonstrate that it is likely that a vertical co-operative direct mail promotional effort can result in a situation in which both the direct mailer and the manufacturer increase profits, compared with the situation where the direct mailer makes ‘optimal’ direct mail decisions without regard to any involvement with the manufacturer. We next show that the manufacturer can optimize his own profitability by agreeing to a specific (quantitatively determined) contribution to mail order costs. Finally, we illustrate how the manufacturer and direct mailer can co-operate (move away from their individual optimal decision variables), reaching an integrative, rather than a distributive solution, and jointly set the values of these decision variables, so that the total profit generated by the operation is higher than the sum of the individual profits of the two parties.