cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simple soil moisture scheme for regional climate simulations in the tropics

A regional climate model (RCM) is described which incorporates an improved scheme for soil moisture availability (SMA) compared to an earlier version. The improvement introduces a sensitivity of SMA to soil type, vegetation cover and ground albedo, making the model more adaptable to divers regions. In addition, the interactive SMA depends on past precipitation, ground temperature and terrain relief. Six RCM simulations of the monthly mean climate over southern Africa are performed at 0.5° grid spacing. Improvements in the RCM climate simulations compared to control runs are attributed to the newer SMA scheme. Only a slight improvement in skill results from driving the RCM with observational analyses as opposed to GCM “predicted” lateral boundary conditions. The high spatial resolution of the RCM provides a distinct advantage in the simulated spatial distribution of precipitation compared with a global model run at an effective grid spacing of 2.8°. The mesoscale precipitation signal in the RCM simulations is more dominant during the rather dry December 1982 than during December 1988. The improved SMA scheme contributed to a realistic partition between latent and sensible heat fluxes at the ground-atmosphere boundary and consequently a realistic diurnal cycle of ground temperature. Simulated differences in the spatial distribution of rainfall between December 1982 and December 1988 are more realistic with the improved scheme.
Children's Understanding of Promising, Lying, and False Belief

Understanding promising and lying requires an understanding of intention and the ability to interpret mental states. The author examined (a) the extent to which 4- to 6-year-olds focus on the sincerity of the speaker's intention when the 4- to 6-year-olds make judgments about promises and lies and (b) whether false-belief reasoning skills are related to understanding promising and lying. Participants watched videotaped stories and made promise and lie judgments from their own perspective and from the listener-character's perspective. Children also completed false-belief reasoning tasks. Older children made more correct promise judgments from both perspectives. All children made correct lie judgments from the listener's perspective. The author found that 1st-order false-belief reasoning was related to making judgments from the participant's perspective; 2nd-order false-belief reasoning was related to making judgments from the listener-character's perspective. Results suggest that children's understanding o...
Regulation of Foliar Plasticity in Conifers: Developmental and Environmental Factors

Foliar plasticity is widespread among woody plants, and historically most observations have been made in angiosperms. This review concentrates on examples from gymnosperms, particularly the Pinaceae, since there have been a number of recent studies on coniferous forest species. Foliar plasticity can be defined as variation in the morphology and physiological function of foliage produced over time and space within a single individual. For example, leaves produced in the sun have a higher leaf mass area (LMA) than leaves produced in the shade, and differ in their photosynthetic capacities. Sun and shade leaves are examples of heterophylly, or variation in leaf morphology in response to environmental variation in the immediate space surrounding the apical meristem producing the leaf primordia. The LMA of coniferous foliage also tends to increase with age, independently of the external environment, and this variation, called heteroblasty, appears to be a result of maturation of the apical meristem, which occu...
Electrostatic effects on electron-transfer kinetics in the cytochrome f-plastocyanin complex

In a complex of two electron-transfer proteins, their redox potentials can be shifted due to changes in the dielectric surroundings and the electrostatic potentials at each center caused by the charged residues of the partner. These effects are dependent on the geometry of the complex. Three different docking configurations (DCs) for intracomplex electron transfer between cytochrome f and plastocyanin were studied, defined by 1) close contact of the positively charged region of cytochrome f and the negatively charged regions of plastocyanin (DC1) and by (2, 3) close contact of the surface regions adjacent to the Fe and Cu redox centers (DC2 and DC3). The equilibrium energetics for electron transfer in DC1-DC3 are the same within approximately +/-0.1 kT. The lower reorganization energy for DC2 results in a slightly lower activation energy for this complex compared with DC1 and DC3. The long heme-copper distance (approximately 24 A) in the DC1 complex drastically decreases electronic coupling and makes this complex much less favorable for electron transfer than DC2 or DC3. DC1-like complexes can only serve as docking intermediates in the pathway toward formation of an electron-transfer-competent complex. Elimination of the four positive charges arising from the lysine residues in the positive patch of cytochrome f, as accomplished by mutagenesis, exerts a negligible effect (approximately 3 mV) on the redox potential difference between cyt f and PC.
Input-sensitive scalable continuous join query processing

This article considers the problem of scalably processing a large number of continuous queries. Our approach, consisting of novel data structures and algorithms and a flexible processing framework, advances the state-of-the-art in several ways. First, our approach is query sensitive in the sense that it exploits potential overlaps in query predicates for efficient group processing. We partition the collection of continuous queries into groups based on the clustering patterns of the query predicates, and apply specialized processing strategies to heavily clustered groups (or hotspots). We show how to maintain the hotspots efficiently, and use them to scalably process continuous select-join, band-join, and window-join queries. Second, our approach is also data sensitive, in the sense that it makes cost-based decisions on how to process each incoming tuple based on its characteristics. Experiments demonstrate that our approach can improve the processing throughput by orders of magnitude.
Department of Psychology Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey

(1946). Department of Psychology Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 3-16.
Hughlings Jackson and the role of the entorhinal cortex in temporal lobe epilepsy: from patient A to Doctor Z.

Abstract Hughlings Jackson’s insightful bedside observations of patients with epilepsy paved the way for the first effective surgical epilepsy treatments. Jackson’s most famous case, that of Doctor Z, concerned a medical doctor with partial complex seizures who was reported to have a discrete and circumscribed medial temporal lobe (mTL) lesion on autopsy. Although integral to Jackson’s argument for mTL resection, the case remains controversial due to inadequate pathological descriptions of Doctor Z’s lesion. This motivated us to describe the case of a patient, whom we call Patient A, who suffered from a form of epilepsy similar to that of Doctor Z, accompanied by a discrete and circumscribed mTL lesion in the exact same location. The lesion, a cavernous hemangioma, spared the hippocampus and was restricted to the lateral aspect of the entorhinal cortex. This finding validates Jackson’s original description and suggests that the entorhinal cortex can play a role in seizure genesis.
Exploring the Factors That Influence Nurse Practitioner Role Transition

The transition from registered nurse (RN) to nurse practitioner (NP) is often a stressful career change. Data are lacking on the factors affecting NP role transition. This study examined the relationships between NP role transition, prior RN experience, and a formal orientation. From a sample of 352 NPs, only a formal orientation contributed significantly to the regression model indicating a positive relationship with NP role transition (b = 6.24, p < .001). Knowledge of the factors that explain NP role transition is important to inform the discipline how best to support NPs during entry into practice.
Molecular dynamics simulations of helix denaturation.

.e peptide wa’s predominantly helical at low temperature in solution, while at intermediate temperatures the peptide spent the bulk of the time fluctuating between different conformations with intermediate amounts of helix, e.g. not completely helical nor entirely non-helical. Many of these conformations consisted of short helical segments with intervening non-helical residues. At high temperature the peptide unfolded and adopted various collapsed ur ,tructured states. The intrahelical hydrogen bonds that’ break at high temperature wtre not fully compensated by hydrogen bonds with water molecules in the partially unfolded forms of the peptide. Increases in temperature disrupted both the helical structure and the peptide-water interactions. Water pla.ved a major but indirect role in facilitating unfolding, as opposed to specificallv competing for the intrapeptide hydrogen bonds. The implications of our results to protein folding are discussed. helix-coil tra,nsitions; molecular dvnamics; protein folding; helix solvation; secondary structure fluctuations
Application of principal-components-based invariant display strategy to wide-area hyperspectral data

A principal components (PC)-based transformation was previously introduced for mapping high-dimensional hyperspectral imagery (HSI) into 3-dimensional colorimetric displays [Tyo, Diersen, and Olsen, SPIE vol. 4132, Descour and Shen, Eds., 2001, pp. 147-156]. In this study, the previous work is extended to examine the conical nature of HSI data in the PC-based space. Picturing the data as conical provides insight as to the location of the origin of the cone (which might not be included in the data) and the point of shade. Once the origin of the cone is located, the PC-based color transformation is more stable with respect to hue constancy. Strategies are introduced to make the method invariant, i.e. to ensure that important scene constituents appear with consistent and intuitive presentations.
Directional sensitivity along the upper limb in humans.

The capacity of four neurologically healthy young adults to distinguish opposing directions of cutaneous motion was determined at five different sites along the proximal-distal axis of the upper limb. Constant-velocity brushing stimuli (ranging from 0.5 to 32.0 cm/sec) were delivered through an aperture in a Teflon plate that was securely positioned in light contact with the skin. In one series of experiments, directional sensitivity in d' units was assessed at each site, using an aperture length of 0.75 cm. In a second series of experiments, the aperture length required to obtain the same criterion level of directional sensitivity at each site was determined.To attain the sensitivity reached at distal sites, a proximal stimulus had to traverse a longer chord of skin. Specifically, chords 5.9 times longer on average (range = 5.4-6.2) were required on the proximal forearm than on the index finger pad. This finding suggests that relative directional sensitivity increases sixfold from the proximal forearm to...
Models of influence in chronic liver disease.

Background & Aims: Liver disease is often characterized by an intricate network of multiple, simultaneously interacting factors with organ-specific, as well as systemic effects. The aim of the present study is to introduce a new mathematical model on how to weigh a variety of factors contributing to chronic liver disease by the relevance of their influence on the overall disease processes. Methods: Liver disease is modelled as the interaction of multiple internal and external factors. Each factor can potentially interact with any of the other factors in the model. The strength of interactions is expressed as per cent. The sum of all interactions contributing to each individual factor adds up to 100%. This model corresponds mathematically to a transposed Markov matrix. The analysis uses the two examples of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Results: Impaired liver function is the most influential factor and increases in relevance as the degree of hepatic fibrosis increases. The relative importance of treating the primary disease process (HCV or AIH) diminishes as fibrosis develops. Similarly, psychosocial factors become less important with disease progression. Liver transplant is most important for Child's C cirrhosis. It is relatively influential for the early phase of AIH but not HCV, reflecting the fact that some cases of non-cirrhotic AIH can progress rapidly to acute liver failure. Conclusion: In a disease process characterized by a large array of multiple interacting factors, the decision tool of a transposed Markov chain helps to sort the contributing factors by the magnitude of their influence.
New wrist bones of the Malagasy giant subfossil lemurs.

Recently discovered wrist bones of the Malagasy subfossil lemurs Babakotia radofilai, Palaeopropithecus ingens, Mesopropithecus dolichobrachion, and Megaladapis madagascariensis shed new light on the postcranial morphologies and positional behaviors that characterized these extinct primates. Wrist bones of P. ingens resemble those of certain modern hominoids in having a relatively enlarged ulnar head and dorsally extended articular surface on the hamate, features related to a large range of rotation at the inferior radioulnar and midcarpal joints. The scaphoid of P. ingens is also similar to that of the extant tree sloth Choloepus in having an elongate, palmarly directed tubercle forming a deep radial margin of the carpal tunnel for the passage of large digital flexors. In contrast, wrist remains of Megaladapis edwardsi and M. madagascariensis exhibit traits observed in the hands of extant pronograde, arboreal primates; these include a dorsopalmarly expanded pisiform and well-developed "spiral" facet on the hamate. Moreover, Megaladapis spp. and Mesopropithecus dolichobrachion possess bony tubercles (e.g., scaphoid tubercle and hamate hamulus) forming the carpal tunnel that are relatively similar in length to those of modern pronograde lemurs. Babakotia and Mesopropithecus differ from Megaladapis in exhibiting features of the midcarpal joint related to frequent supination and radioulnar deviation of the hand characteristic of animals that use vertical and quadrumanous climbing in their foraging behaviors. Comparative analysis of subfossil lemur wrist morphology complements and expands upon prior inferences based on other regions of the postcranial skeleton, and suggests a considerable degree of locomotor and postural heterogeneity among these recently extinct primates.
Violons en basse as Musical Allegory

An unusual type of orchestration sometimes called violons en basse is encountered in arias by French Baroque composers, including Couperin, Campra, and Rameau. In such pieces, the basse continue line is played by violins or violas notated in a high clef; the solo voice and any additional obbligato instruments remain in the treble register as well. This phenomenon has gone practically unnoticed by modern scholars and was seemingly unremarked upon by writers of the time, despite the striking color and lightness that it entails. A study of the texts of the arias in which violons are used en basse suggests that there are identifiable allegorical associations implicit in such pieces, and that they were clear to listeners of the time. Perhaps the most important and most frequent reference is to the pastoral, which is invoked by the texts and musical settings of a number of the airs . The pastoral can also be linked to the themes of peace and quiet delights present in other texts. Another important association shared with the pastoral is innocence, which is often conjoined with the idea of youth; youth is directly referred to in some texts, and also through several personages who sing them, such as Cupid (a boy), Diana (depicted in mythology as eternally young), and Hebe (the personification of youth). By identifying the allegorical use of violons en basse , we are able to add another texture and sonority to the common musical language of topics that was central to 18th-century musical rhetoric.
Unilateral frontal cortex ablation producing neglect causes time-dependent changes in striatal glutamate receptors

This study's goal is to identify adaptations involving striatal glutamate (GLU) or dopamine (DA) receptors that may contribute to recovery of function following cortical injury. Unilateral aspiration of the medial agranular region of frontal cortex (AGm) in rats produces neglect of contralateral stimuli. Pharmacological and immunocytochemical studies suggest that glutamatergic and dopaminergic processes within striatum may contribute to spontaneous recovery from this neglect. This study examined by autoradiography radioligand binding to striatal GLU and DA receptor subfamilies in AGm-ablated rats surviving 5 days (unrecovered) or 3 or more weeks (recovered) postsurgery. Density of radioligand binding was quantified in striatal subregions by computerized image analysis. Compared to striatal binding densities in the intact hemisphere, [3H]kainate binding and [3H]GLU binding to NMDA receptors were decreased in the lesioned hemisphere of unrecovered AGm-ablated rats, but normalized (for kainate) or increased (for NMDA) in the lesioned hemisphere of recovered rats. Ablation of AGm did not affect [3H]AMPA binding or the binding of [3H]SCH23390, [3H]spiperone, or [3H]mazindol to dopaminergic D1 or D2 receptor subfamilies, or to DA uptake sites, respectively. The results suggest that a small percentage of NMDA and kainate receptors are located on corticostriatal axon terminals, and that over time an upregulation of striatal NMDA and/or kainate receptors may offset the loss of cortical glutamatergic input caused by cortical injury. These time-dependent alterations in GLU receptors may contribute to the recovery of function and normalizations of immediate early gene expression seen weeks after AGm ablation. Upregulation of striatal dopamine receptors was not evident, and thus is unlikely to mediate recovery from neglect produced by cortical injury.
Regulation of blood vessel versus lymphatic vessel growth in the cornea.

Stratification of clinical risk factors for corneal graft rejection has identified recipient bed vascularity as the principal cause of earlier and more fulminant rejection episodes1–3 because blood vasculature is the conduit by which immune cells gain entry to the corneal matrix.4 However, lymphatic neovessels in the cornea may be as, or even more, important because these vessels provide alloantigen-bearing antigen-presenting cells effective access to regional lymph nodes. However, because the presence of lymphatic vessels is undetectable by clinical slit lamp examination, unlike blood neovessels, the importance of lymphangiogenesis in graft rejection may be underappreciated. Previous reports have demonstrated that suppression of the eye-lymphatic axis abrogates the induction of alloimmunity and potently augments graft survival.5,6 However, precise delineation of the differential regulation of hemangiogenesis (HA) and lymphangiogenesis (LA), the manner by which these distinct processes regulate transplant immunity, and a large number of diverse corneal inflammatory conditions have not been addressed. To this end, the study of HA and LA individually is particularly difficult because pathologic conditions stimulate angiogenic and inflammatory responses concurrently, leading to coincident HA and LA. With the use of corneal suture placement to induce inflammation-associated neovascularization, however, Bock et al.7 were able to selectively inhibit corneal lymphangiogenesis through systemic blockade of VEGFR3, and Dietrich et al.8 achieved a similar effect through the systemic blockade of α5 integrin. Alternatively, intrastromal micropellet implantation with low-dose FGF has been shown to selectively stimulate lymphangiogenesis and has been further shown to be amplified through the administration of exogenous soluble VEGFR-1.9,10 Thus, though FGF was initially characterized as the sole inducer of HA, its role in inducing LA has also been appreciated.11–13 In the present study, we developed two distinct angiogenic models, an HA-dominant phenotype, characterized by the presence of blood neovessels (BVs) and a relative absence of lymph neovessels (LVs) and an LA-dominant phenotype, characterized by the presence of LV with a paucity of BV. We used the micropocket assay to this end because it is considered a specific method to induce corneal neovascularization. Furthermore, micropellets were impregnated with high-dose (80 ng) basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). As described herein, this dose is important in stimulating a robust angiogenic response. This is relevant to the considerable interest that has recently emerged in further understanding the strong angiogenic responses associated with microbial keratitis in addition to high-risk corneal transplantation.14–18 Consequently, the development of in vivo models that can robustly, yet differentially, induce HA compared with LA dominance would be considerably useful in studying the disparate roles of blood and lymphatic vessels in a number of corneal immune-mediated and inflammatory abnormalities.
On the evolution of fungal and yeast cell walls.

Recent developments in genomics and proteomics provide evidence that yeast and other fungal cell walls share a common origin. The fibrous component of yeast cell walls usually consists of β-glucan and/or chitin. N-glycosylated proteins form an amorphous, cross-linking matrix as well as fibres on the outer surfaces of the walls. While the enzymes responsible for cross-linking walls into covalent complexes are conserved, the wall-resident proteins have diversified rapidly. These cell wall proteins are usually members of multi-gene families, and paralogues are often subject to gene silencing through epigenetic mechanisms and environmentally induced expression regulation. Comparative studies of protein sequences reveal that there has been fast sequence divergence of the Saccharomyces sexual agglutinins, potentially serving as a driver for yeast speciation. In addition, cell wall proteins show an unusually high content of tandem and non-tandem repeats, and a high frequency of changes in the number of repeats both among paralogues and among orthologues from conspecific strains. The rapid diversification and regulated expression of yeast cell wall proteins help yeast cells to respond to different stimuli and adapt them to diverse biotic and abiotic environments.
Link availability mapping in infrastructure-based overlay networks

Core networks are increasingly supporting overlay networks on top of an IP-WDM network. As network reliability is a growing concern, a major challenge in the survivable layered network design is the crosslayer survivable mapping problem that deals with QoS parameters such as availability, lightpath length, and many others. This work directly studies this problem and proposes matrix formulations of the NP-hard mapping problem, giving a detailed insight into the structure of the layered network as well as relationships between and among links, and some potential mapping extensions. Numerical experiments show availability gains at no expense, occasionally, to the routing cost.
Effects of dietary energy level on luteinizing hormone and adrenal function in the post partum beef cow.

Abstract The effects of dietary energy and suckling on adrenal function and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were investigated in primiparous postpartum cows. Ten heifers were assigned at calving to either high (22.8 Mcal/day) or low (15.2 Mcal/day) energy diets. Blood samples were collected every 15 minutes for 8 hours on 28, 42, and 56 days post partum. Calves were allowed to suckle ad libitum during sampling periods. Serum samples were analyzed by radioimmunoassay for LH and cortisol. Concentrations of catecholamines were quantified by reverse-phase HPLC. Body weights were decreased (P
Cardiovascular responses to metabolic and respiratory acidosis and anesthesia in larval Ambystoma tigrinum

Larval Ambystoma tigrinum were examined to determine their cardiovascular responses to three types of acidosis: metabolic acidosis via NH4Cl gavage; respiratory acidosis via hypercapnia; and anesthetic-induced acidosis, via triacine methanesulphonate. In addition, another group of (metabolic acidosis) animals were tested to determine the role of β-mediated catecholamine control on cardiovascular and acid-base regulation. The metabolic and respiratory acidoses produced typical amphibian responses. Anesthesia produced a significant mixed acidosis with respiratory and metabolic components. The cardiovascular responses to metabolic and respiratory acidosis were increased heart rate and pulse pressure. There were no significant changes in diastolic pressure, however, systolic pressure increased as a result of the increased pulse pressure. Animals subjected to metabolic acidosis via β-blockade with propranolol did not display the increased heart rate and pulse pressure and the acidosis was deepened and prolonged. Anesthesia resulted in a cardiac slowing and increased pulse pressure, probably explained by the Frank-Starling relationship. There was no change in diastolic pressure. Anesthetized animals had depressed blood O2 tension and elevated blood lactate.
Differential effects of carbohydrate intake on cardiac myosin isoform expression in normal weanling and adult rats.

Dietary manipulations involving high carbohydrate feeding increase VI cardiac myosin isoform expression in hormonally deficient rats. The purpose of this study was to determine if extremes in dietary carbohydrate availability could alter cardiac myosin isoform patterns in normal weanling and adult rats. Three and six weeks of dietary manipulations (either high or low carbohydrate diets) failed to change calcium-activated myofibril ATPase activity, calcium regulated myofibril ATPase activity, or the myosin isoform distribution in the adult. In contrast, a four week, high carbohydrate diet reduced calcium activated myosin ATPase activity by 33%, calcium regulated myofibril ATPase activity by 10%, and Vl isoform expression by 66% in weanling rats. Although the low carbohydrate diet caused no change in the myosin ATPase properties, it decreased VI isoform expression by 17%. These results show that carbohydrate availability can alter cardiac myosin isoform expression in normal rats, but only at weanling age. The reason for this age-related contrast in response to dietary manipulations is unknown at this stage. The dietary manipulations may have acted directly on the heart by creating a state of malnutrition, or indirectly, by altering some developmental process which links maturation of the sympathetic nervous system with myosin isoform expression.
Schwannomin inhibits tumorigenesis through direct interaction with the eukaryotic initiation factor subunit c (eIF3c)

The neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor protein, schwannomin or merlin, is commonly lost upon NF2 gene mutation in benign human brain tumors. We identified the p110 subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3c) as a schwannomin interacting protein. The eIF3 complex consists of approximately 10 subunits whose functions are only recently becoming known. Interaction between schwannomin and eIF3c suggests a role for schwannomin in eIF3c-mediated regulation of proliferation related to changes in protein translation. We found that schwannomin was most effective for inhibiting cellular proliferation when eIF3c was highly expressed. When we examined these proteins in 14 meningiomas, we observed high eIF3c abundance in those that had lost schwannomin expression but low eIF3c abundance in those retaining schwannomin. Consequently, eIF3c appears to be involved in NF2 pathogenesis and deserves to be investigated as a prognostic marker for NF2 and target for treatment of NF2 patient tumors.
Novel In Vivo-Degradable Cellulose-Chitin Copolymer from Metabolically Engineered Gluconacetobacter xylinus

Despite excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties, the poor in vitro and in vivo degradability of cellulose has limited its biomedical and biomass conversion applications. To address this issue, we report a metabolic engineering-based approach to the rational redesign of cellular metabolites to introduce N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues into cellulosic biopolymers during de novo synthesis from Gluconacetobacter xylinus. The cellulose produced from these engineered cells (modified bacterial cellulose [MBC]) was evaluated and compared with cellulose produced from normal cells (bacterial cellulose [BC]). High GlcNAc content and lower crystallinity in MBC compared to BC make this a multifunctional bioengineered polymer susceptible to lysozyme, an enzyme widespread in the human body, and to rapid hydrolysis by cellulase, an enzyme commonly used in biomass conversion. Degradability in vivo was demonstrated in subcutaneous implants in mice, where modified cellulose was completely degraded within 20 days. We provide a new route toward the production of a family of tailorable modified cellulosic biopolymers that overcome the longstanding limitation associated with the poor degradability of cellulose for a wide range of potential applications.
The Editor’s Roundtable: Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

r. Friedewald has no relevant financial relationships to isclose. Dr. Boehmer has received honoraria for consulting rom Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts, Medtronic, inneapolis, Minnesota, and St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, innesota. Dr. Kowal has received honoraria for speaking rom Medtronic. Dr. Saxon has received fees for consulting rom Boston Scientific and Medtronic. Dr. Yancy has reeived fees for consulting and grant/research support from edtronic. Dr. Roberts has received honoraria for speaking rom Merck, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, Schering lough, Kenilworth, New Jersey, Pfizer, New York, New ork, AstraZeneca, Wilmington, Delaware, and Novartis, ast Hanover, New Jersey.
“Facilis descensus averni est”: The Allied Bombing of Germany and the Issue of German Suffering

Contemplating with dread the slide toward war between Japan and the United States in the autumn of 1941, Joseph Grew, the American ambassador to Tokyo, noted gloomily in his diary: “Facilis descensus averni est”—the descent into Hell is easy. Events in Europe and China had already given eloquent testimony to that grim axiom, confirming all too clearly that among the first casualties of war are peacetime notions of morality. Grew's foreboding was more than justified. Before the Second World War would come to a close in the summer of 1945, it had become the most destructive conflict in human history, with fifty-five million dead, millions more broken, either physically or psychologically, thirty million refugees, and still millions more who had simply vanished. Continents had been ravaged, great cities laid waste, and a tidal wave of destruction left behind a landscape of unparalleled human suffering. A war that began with the major powers pledging to refrain from “the bombardment from the air of civilian populations or unfortified cities”—Hitler piously committed Germany to conduct the war “in a chivalrous and humane manner”—ended with a mushroom cloud over Nagasaki.
Organizing the unorganized - employing IT to empower the under-privileged

Various sectors in developing countries are typically dominated by the presence of a large number of small and micro-businesses that operate in an informal, unorganized manner. Many of these are single person run micro-businesses and cannot afford to buy and maintain their own IT infrastructure. For others, easy availability of cheap labour provides a convenient alternative even though it results in inefficiency, as little or no records are maintained, and only manual, paper-based processes are followed. This results in high response times for customers, no formal accountability and higher charges. For the businesses this translates to lower earnings and losses due to inefficiencies. In this paper, we look at few such micro-business segments and explore their current models of operation, while identifying existing inefficiencies and pain points. We build upon the findings and propose an approach for delivering benefits of IT solutions to such micro-business segments. Finally, we present technology that realizes the proposed approach in the specific context of two such segments.
An Overlay Framework for QoS Management in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

For a delay-sensitive application, it is important to maintain the probability that the end-to-end delay is greater than a certain threshold as small as possible. In order to satisfy such a constraint, a shortest path in terms of hop-count is generally chosen. However, hop-count is a very crude measure of the path latency and also if the shortest path breaks before the end of the transmission, it is likely that the delay constraint will not be met. In this paper, we propose an overlay framework that considers both delay and mobility to satisfy the QoS requirements of the delay-sensitive application. Also, we propose network and application layer QoS and mobility management schemes which utilize both reactive and proactive methods.
Anthropogenic Degradation of the Southern California Desert Ecosystem and Prospects for Natural Recovery and Restoration.

/ Large areas of the southern California desert ecosystem have been negatively affected by off-highway vehicle use, overgrazing by domestic livestock, agriculture, urbanization, construction of roads and utility corridors, air pollution, military training exercises, and other activities. Secondary contributions to degradation include the proliferation of exotic plant species and a higher frequency of anthropogenic fire. Effects of these impacts include alteration or destruction of macro- and micro-vegetation elements, establishment of annual plant communities dominated by exotic species, destruction of soil stabilizers, soil compaction, and increased erosion. Published estimates of recovery time are based on return to predisturbance levels of biomass, cover, density, community structure, or soil characteristics. Natural recovery rates depend on the nature and severity of the impact but are generally very slow. Recovery to predisturbance plant cover and biomass may take 50-300 years, while complete ecosystem recovery may require over 3000 years. Restorative intervention can be used to enhance the success and rate of recovery, but the costs are high and the probability for long-term success is low to moderate. Given the sensitivity of desert habitats to disturbance and the slow rate of natural recovery, the best management option is to limit the extent and intensity of impacts as much as possible.KEY WORDS: Mojave Desert; Colorado Desert; California; Human impacts; Recovery; Restorationhttp://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00267/bibs/24n3p309.html
Manganese Uptake and Distribution in the Brain after Methyl Bromide-Induced Lesions in the Olfactory Epithelia

Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient with potential neurotoxic effects. Mn deposited in the nose is apparently transported to the brain through anterograde axonal transport, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. However, the role of the olfactory epithelial cells in Mn transport from the nasal cavity to the blood and brain is not well understood. We utilized the methyl bromide (MeBr) lesion model wherein the olfactory epithelium fully regenerates in a time-dependent and cell type-specific manner over the course of 6-8 weeks postinjury. We instilled (54)MnCl(2) intranasally at different recovery periods to study the role of specific olfactory epithelial cell types in Mn transport. (54)MnCl(2) was instilled at 2, 4, 7, 21, and 56 days post-MeBr treatment. (54)Mn concentrations in the blood were measured over the first 4-h period and in the brain and other tissues at 7 days postinstillation. Age-matched control rats were similarly studied at 2 and 56 days. Blood and tissue (54)Mn levels were reduced initially but returned to control values by day 7 post-MeBr exposure, coinciding with the reestablishment of sustentacular cells. Brain (54)Mn levels also decreased but returned to control levels only by 21 days, the period near the completion of neuronal regeneration/bulbar reinnervation. Our data show that Mn transport to the blood and brain temporally correlated with olfactory epithelial regeneration post-MeBr injury. We conclude that (1) sustentacular cells are necessary for Mn transport to the blood and (2) intact axonal projections are required for Mn transport from the nasal cavity to the olfactory bulb and brain.
Comparison of thresholds for high-speed drifting vernier and a matched temporal phase-discrimination task.

For rapidly translating targets, vernier thresholds correspond to millisecond asynchronies between targets. The ‘temporal hypothesis’ is that these thresholds reflect the limiting sensitivity of asynchrony detectors. Previous studies showed that temporal thresholds are generally higher than vernier thresholds, but failed to reject the ‘temporal hypothesis’ because stimuli had differing spatiotemporal characteristics, and temporal thresholds depend strongly on stimulus and task. Here we use matched grating stimuli to test — and reject — the temporal hypothesis. Expressed as asynchrony, temporal phase discrimination was typically 10-fold poorer than vernier thresholds, and differed in dependence on spatial frequency, temporal frequency, contrast, and susceptibility to stroboscopic masks. © 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Evaluation of Oxyrase® enrichment method for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from inoculated foods

Recovery limits were evaluated for Campylobacter jejuni in an existing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enrichment broth (EB) formula supplemented with Oxyrase enzyme. Cultures of Camp. jejuni were inoculated into EB or EB containing 10% raw milk, raw oysters, crabmeat or mushrooms. After 24 and 48 h of enrichment, Camp. jejuni was isolated on four selective agars. No significant differences in recovery rates for Camp. jejuni were observed in the Oxyrase enrichment under normal atmosphere or in the existing FDA method under modified atmosphere. Increase of enrichment time from 24 to 48 h did not improve the recovery rates. However, the Oxyrase enrichment was cost effective, less time consuming, and simpler to perform than the established method.
Influence of modeling assumptions on the seismic response of multi-span simply supported steel girder bridges in moderate seismic zones

Steel girder bridges are one of the most common bridge types in the central and south-eastern United States (CSUS). An understanding of their seismic response and assessment of their seismic risk has become a focus of the earthquake engineering community due to the increased awareness of the seismic hazard in the region. Analytical assessment of this seismic risk requires an evaluation of typical seismic responses and more of an understanding of the modeling parameters that significantly affect those responses. A seismic evaluation of a typical configuration for a multi-span simply supported steel girder bridge is performed for an approximate hazard level of 2% in 50 years using a nonlinear three-dimensional (3-D) analytical model. The results show significant vulnerabilities in the reinforced concrete columns and in the steel fixed and expansion bearings. Although the longitudinal loading of the bridge results in much larger demands compared with the transverse loading, some components of the bridge may still have appreciable damage under the transverse loading case. An analytical design-of-experiments screening study shows that modeling parameters such as loading direction and damping ratio are the most important in determining seismic response. Fixed bearing stiffness, among others, also significantly affects the response and should be considered carefully.
Optical Fiber Waveguides In Radiation Environments

A review of the behavior of state-of-the-art low loss optical fiber waveguides in both pulsed and steady state radiation environments is given. The influence on radiation-induced transmission loss due to experimental parameters such as total dose, dose rate, time after irradiation, temperature, wavelength, injection conditions, light intensity and radiation history, and materials parameters such as OH and impurity content and dopant type and concentration is described. Data are reported for both step and graded index doped silica core fibers and glass clad and polymer clad silica core fibers. Candidate fibers for deployment in certain specific, limited nuclear environments are identified.
Alternating flow model for mass and heat dispersion in packed beds

The alternating flow model (AFM) views dispersion in packed beds as a sequence of streamline plugs that must repeatedly split and merge as the bulk fluid traverses the vessel. Thus, the flow in the AFM is ordered, as opposed to the random flow implied by the Fickian analogy. For mass dispersion only, model parameters arise from a priori considerations of packing geometry. Steady state and transient data (5.6 < Dt/dp < 54.4, 100 < Rep < 1,000, gases and liquids) show the AFM to surpass the Fickian analogy (based on correlations for dispersion coefficients) in most cases. Further, it can describe well the radial velocity profile trends in packed beds. For heat dispersion, two additional parameters (heat transfer coefficients) arise that are not functions of packing geometry. Simple correlations for these parameters and the justifications are given. Most of the comparisons made with the literature experimental results show the AFM to be at least as good as the back-fit Fickian analogy. The AFM should be most useful for packed beds with a relatively small Dt/dp.
Adaptive Disturbance Tracking Control for Large Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines in Variable Speed Transition Operation

Renewable energy is becoming more important all over the world, and wind energy is the most important role in renewable energy right now. Many countries are producing and building wind turbines, and the turbine size is becoming larger. The larger a turbine is, the more expensive it will be. However, wind turbines will fail when overspeeding. So we need control algorithms to protect the turbine and to develop power output efficiency. The study concerns the implementation of adaptive control on a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT). This paper focuses on the implementation of adaptive control in the Transition Region between Region 2 and Region 3. For Region 2, Adaptive Disturbance Tracking Control (DTC) with a certain tracking ratio will ensure the wind turbine has maximum power capture. Using the same Adaptive DTC in the Transition Region, but with a switching mechanism for different tracking ratios, the wind turbine will have smooth performance for connecting Region 2 and Region 3.
Current efficacy of open and endovascular interventions for advanced superficial femoral artery occlusive disease

Background There has been a marked paradigm shift in the treatment of symptomatic femoro-popliteal disease with a shift from open to endoluminal therapy. The consequence of this shift in therapy is poorly described. The aim of this study is to examine the clinical efficacy of this shift in treatment strategies. Methods A database of patients undergoing open (OPEN) and endoluminal (ENDO) intervention for TASC II C and D femoro-popliteal lesions between 1990 and 2010 was retrospectively queried. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess time-dependent outcomes. Factor analyses were performed using a multivariant Cox proportional hazard model for time-dependent variables. Results A total of 2593 limbs underwent either OPEN or ENDO treatment for symptomatic and anatomically advanced femoro-popliteal disease over a 20-year period. There was a two-fold rise in endovascular interventions between the first and second decade. In the first decade, 80% of the interventions were OPEN, while in the second decade, 61% of the interventions were ENDO. There were equivalent comorbidities in both groups, and survival was also equivalent. Endoluminal therapy was more commonly performed on claudicants. Thirty-day mortality was equivalent, but major morbidity was higher in OPEN compared with ENDO. Cumulative patency was equivalent in both groups with a similar reintervention rate. In contrast, clinical efficacy (freedom from recurrent symptoms, maintenance of ambulation, and avoidance of major amputation) was significantly higher in the OPEN group (P = .002). The presence of critical limb ischemia, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, and poor tibial runoff were predictors of poor anatomic and functional outcomes in both groups. Conclusions There has been a marked shift in treatment modality for advanced femoro-popliteal disease with a lowering of the symptomatic threshold for intervention over 2 decades, likely spurred by the ease of endoluminal interventions. Although peri-procedural and anatomic outcomes for both procedures are equivalent, it appears that open surgery carries a superior long-term clinical efficacy. This superiority is negatively influenced by poor preoperative ambulation status, high modified Cardiac Risk Score, worse presenting symptoms, the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events, poor tibial runoff, the absence of hemodynamic success, and occlusion of the original bypass.
Correlations for the quiescent crystallization kinetics of isotactic polypropylene and poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract The Nakamura equation is used to generate a direct relation (first-order differential equation) between the Avrami and Ozawa crystallization rate constants. As a result, it is possible to compare isothermal and constant-cooling-rate crystallization data in a consistent manner. This is done for isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate), based upon data available from the literature. Resulting correlations are obtained for these two materials at atmospheric pressure as well as for i-PP at elevated pressure. The results corroborate that the maximum crystallization rate occurs approximately midway between the glass-transition and melting temperatures. In addition, the results imply that there is no need to explicitly incorporate an induction time when the modelling is based upon the Nakamura equation.
Preclinical Studies Using Mouse Models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Most therapeutic agents used in clinical practice today were originally developed and tested in animal models so that drug toxicity and safety, dose–responses, and efficacy could be determined. Retrospective analyses of preclinical intervention studies using animal models of different diseases demonstrate that only a small percentage of the interventions reporting promising effects translate to clinical efficacy. It is becoming increasingly appreciated that the failure to translate therapeutic efficacy from bench to bedside may be due, in part, to selection of an animal model that may not recapitulate the immunopathologic features of the human disease under investigation. This is especially true for preclinical investigations using mouse models of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD; Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis). One potential strategy for improving our ability to discover new therapeutics that may have a reasonable chance of success in clinical trials is to identify the most immunologically relevant mouse models of human IBD. This chapter presents a critical evaluation of the different mouse models of IBD and discusses their utility in preclinical studies.