cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaporation suppression from water surfaces

Techniques used for measuring the effect of monomolecular films to suppress evaporation from water surfaces are reviewed. A brief history of chemical studies and field testing of organic compounds is presented. Research in Illinois by the State Water Survey in­ dicates that normal evaporation may be reduced by as much as one-third by efficient use of monolayers.
Hydrologic investigations at Hanford

During the twelve-year history of the Hanford Plant, several hundred wells were drilled throughout the area in order to obtain hydrologic, geologic, and radiologic monitoring data. Hydrologic data obtained throughout the Hanford site show that due to discharge to ground of about 28 billion gallons of non-radioactive process cooling water, the water table has locally been raised approximately 80 feet and that 20 miles southeast of the disposal sites it has been raised 0.5 foot. Pumping-test data indicate that locally the underlying aquifers may transmit as little as 30,000 gpd/ft and as much as 3,000,000 gpd/ft. Such hydrologic and hydraulic data are used to assist evaluation of safe radioactive waste disposal practices and to estimate effects of large volume nonradioactive process cooling water disposal.
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES ON THE MIXED LYMPHOCYTE INTERACTION IN RATS VI. REACTIVITY OF LYMPHOCYTES FROM CONVENTIONAL AND GERMFREE RATS TO ALLOGENEIC AND XENOGENEIC CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS

The proliferative reactivity of lymphocytes from rat donors maintained under germfree or conventional conditions was examined in mixed lymphocyte cultures stimulated with allogeneic and xenogeneic cell surface antigens. The results show (a) that lymphocytes from conventionally maintained rats are less reactive to human, hamster, guinea pig, and mouse cell surface antigens than to the major H alloantigens, and (b) that lymphocytes from germfree rats display no demonstrable reactivity to xenogeneic cells, but are quantitatively normal in their response to allogenic cells. The conclusion drawn from these observations is that the circulating lymphocyte pool of an individual consists of a greater proportion of cells reactive to H alloantigens of other members of the same species than to the xenogeneic cellular antigens of members of other species and that this large number of cells is not generated by a mechanism involving immunization to cross-reactive environmental antigens.
Development of a Multi-layer SU-8 Process for Terahertz Frequency Waveguide Blocks

This paper presents the development of a multilayer SU-8 process for use in fabricating terahertz frequency waveguide blocks. This process consists of anisotropic silicon etching to form an octagonal horn antenna, lithographic definition of SU-8 layers, and planarization of those layers through lapping. A 1.6 THz waveguide block is fabricated using this process and compared with blocks formed using computerized numerically controlled (CNC) milling and laser-hardened polymer techniques. The SU-8 process demonstrates better accuracy with the advantage of batch processing when compared with these other techniques.
Validation of Mesoscale Precipitation in the NCEP Reanalysis Using a New Gridcell Dataset for the Northwestern United States

Abstract Precipitation fields from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis are validated with high-resolution, gridded precipitation observations over Oregon and Washington. The NCEP reanalysis is thought of as a proxy for an ideal GCM that nearly perfectly represents the synoptic-scale pressure, temperature, and humidity but does not resolve the complex topography of this region. The authors’ main goal is to understand how useful precipitation fields from such a model are for estimating temporal variability in local precipitation. The gridded observations represent area-averaged precipitation on a 50-km grid and have daily temporal resolution. They are calculated with a newly developed scheme, which explicitly takes into account the effect of the topography on precipitation. This gridding method profits from the already existing, high-resolution climatologies for the monthly mean precipitation in the United States, obtained from the Precipitation–Elevation Regressions on Indep...
Theoretical framework for final state production in deep inelastic lepton-hadron scattering

Abstract We propose a two step description of deep inelastic electroproduction and formulate here the ideas within the framework of the quark parton model. A generalization of the ideas of Mueller is used to describe the interaction of partons to form the final state hadrons. It is predicted that at ultra-highenergies (2 Mv + q 2 ) → 0(10 2 GeV 2 − 10 3 GeV 2 ). Bjorken scaling will be violated, but only by factors of ln(2 Mv + q 2 ). Predictions for inclusive current-hadron production are also given.
Experimental evaluation of predation as a facilitator of invasion success in a stream fish.

Predator–prey relationships in poikilotherms are often size dependent, such as when adults of two interacting species are capable of eating juveniles of the other species. Such bi-directional predation can be important during the establishment and spread of an invading species, but its role remains poorly understood. Using a combination of laboratory and mesocosm experiments and field introductions, we demonstrate that guppies, Poecilia reticulata, prey on juvenile killifish, Rivulus hartii, and thereby facilitate their establishment in the habitat of a potential predator. Laboratory studies found that mature guppies can consume larval Rivulus, and experimental stream studies showed that guppies reduced the number of Rivulus surviving from eggs. Growth trials found that interspecific competition, while significant, cannot account for the declines in the survival of juvenile Rivulus seen in field surveys. Finally, a field experiment, in which guppies were introduced into previously guppy-free stream reache...
Experimentally guided models reveal replication principles that shape the mutation distribution of RNA viruses

Life history theory posits that the sequence and timing of events in an organism's lifespan are fine-tuned by evolution to maximize the production of viable offspring. In a virus, a life history strategy is largely manifested in its replication mode. Here, we develop a stochastic mathematical model to infer the replication mode shaping the structure and mutation distribution of a poliovirus population in an intact single infected cell. We measure production of RNA and poliovirus particles through the infection cycle, and use these data to infer the parameters of our model. We find that on average the viral progeny produced from each cell are approximately five generations removed from the infecting virus. Multiple generations within a single cell infection provide opportunities for significant accumulation of mutations per viral genome and for intracellular selection.
Comparable Polyfunctionality of Ectromelia Virus- and Vaccinia Virus-Specific Murine T Cells despite Markedly Different In Vivo Replication and Pathogenicity

Vaccinia virus (VACV) stimulates long-term immunity against highly pathogenic orthopoxvirus infection of humans (smallpox) and mice (mousepox [ectromelia virus {ECTV}]) despite the lack of a natural host-pathogen relationship with either of these species. Previous research revealed that VACV is able to induce polyfunctional CD8(+) T-cell responses after immunization of humans. However, the degree to which the functional profile of T cells induced by VACV is similar to that generated during natural poxvirus infection remains unknown. In this study, we monitored virus-specific T-cell responses following the dermal infection of C57BL/6 mice with ECTV or VACV. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we measured levels of degranulation, cytokine expression (gamma interferon [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and interleukin-2 [IL-2]), and the cytolytic mediator granzyme B. We observed that the functional capacities of T cells induced by VACV and ECTV were of a similar quality in spite of the markedly different replication abilities and pathogenic outcomes of these viruses. In general, a significant fraction (≥50%) of all T-cell responses were positive for at least three functions both during acute infection and into the memory phase. In vivo killing assays revealed that CD8(+) T cells specific for both viruses were equally cytolytic (∼80% target cell lysis after 4 h), consistent with the similar levels of granzyme B and degranulation detected among these cells. Collectively, these data provide a mechanism to explain the ability of VACV to induce protective T-cell responses against pathogenic poxviruses in their natural hosts and provide further support for the use of VACV as a vaccine platform able to induce polyfunctional T cells.
Disposition and Metabolism of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran by Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)☆☆☆

Abstract The disposition and metabolism of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) was investigated in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) in order to better understand the metabolic and physiological factors that modulate the fate of this extremely toxic compound in rainbow trout compared to other species. The fish were dosed orally with [ 3 H]TCDF (1 μg/kg); fish were terminated at 1–19 days for the determination of whole body half-life or at 0.3–28 days for determination of tissue distribution. Unassimilated TCDF (51.5% of the dose) was eliminated with a half-life of 0.84 days. The assimilated body burden of TCDF equivalents decreased with a half-life of 14.8 days (determined between 3 and 19 days). Trout muscle showed a relatively high capacity to accumulate and retain (unmetabolized) TCDF, accounting, at 3 days, for 32% of the body burden of TCDF equivalents (half-life in muscle, 15.2 days). Trout liver, on the other hand, showed a relatively low capacity to accumulate and metabolize TCDF. At 3 days, the concentrations of TCDF equivalents in liver and bile were, respectively, 0.37 ng/g liver (0.88% of the body burden) and 4.8 ng/ml bile. The data suggest that the relatively high affinity of lipid-rich trout muscle for TCDF limits the ability of the liver to accumulate and metabolize TCDF. The major TCDF metabolites found in trout liver and bile were, respectively, 4-OH-TCDF and TCDF-4-O-glucuronide.
Transcriptional Control of Macrophage Polarization

Macrophages are key regulators of many organ systems, including innate and adaptive immunity, systemic metabolism, hematopoiesis, vasculogenesis, malignancy, and reproduction. The pleiotropic roles of macrophages are mirrored by similarly diverse cellular phenotypes. A simplified schema classifies macrophages as M1, classically activated macrophages, or M2, alternatively activated macrophages. These cells are characterized by their expression of cell surface markers, secreted cytokines and chemokines, and transcription and epigenetic pathways. Transcriptional regulation is central to the differential speciation of macrophages, and several major pathways have been described as essential for subset differentiation. In this review, we discuss the transcriptional regulation of macrophages.
Virtual CGH: an integrative approach to predict genetic abnormalities from gene expression microarray data applied in lymphoma

Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) is a molecular approach for detecting DNA Copy Number Alterations (CNAs) in tumor, which are among the key causes of tumorigenesis. However in the post-genomic era, most studies in cancer biology have been focusing on Gene Expression Profiling (GEP) but not CGH, and as a result, an enormous amount of GEP data had been accumulated in public databases for a wide variety of tumor types. We exploited this resource of GEP data to define possible recurrent CNAs in tumor. In addition, the CNAs identified by GEP would be more functionally relevant CNAs in the disease pathogenesis since the functional effects of CNAs can be reflected by altered gene expression. We proposed a novel computational approach, coined virtual CGH (vCGH), which employs hidden Markov models (HMMs) to predict DNA CNAs from their corresponding GEP data. vCGH was first trained on the paired GEP and CGH data generated from a sufficient number of tumor samples, and then applied to the GEP data of a new tumor sample to predict its CNAs. Using cross-validation on 190 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas (DLBCL), vCGH achieved 80% sensitivity, 90% specificity and 90% accuracy for CNA prediction. The majority of the recurrent regions defined by vCGH are concordant with the experimental CGH, including gains of 1q, 2p16-p14, 3q27-q29, 6p25-p21, 7, 11q, 12 and 18q21, and losses of 6q, 8p23-p21, 9p24-p21 and 17p13 in DLBCL. In addition, vCGH predicted some recurrent functional abnormalities which were not observed in CGH, including gains of 1p, 2q and 6q and losses of 1q, 6p and 8q. Among those novel loci, 1q, 6q and 8q were significantly associated with the clinical outcomes in the DLBCL patients (p < 0.05). We developed a novel computational approach, vCGH, to predict genome-wide genetic abnormalities from GEP data in lymphomas. vCGH can be generally applied to other types of tumors and may significantly enhance the detection of functionally important genetic abnormalities in cancer research.
Reliability assessment of multiple quantum well avalanche photodiodes

The reliability of doped-barrier AlGaAs/GaAs multi-quantum well avalanche photodiodes fabricated by MBE is investigated via accelerated life tests. Dark current and breakdown voltage were the parameters monitored. The activation energy of the degradation mechanism and median device lifetime were determined. Device failure probability as a function of time was computed using the lognormal model. Analysis using the electron-beam induced current (EBIC) method revealed the degradation to be caused by ionic impurities or contamination in the passivation layer.
Drug Interactions: Effects of Drugs and Chemicals on Drug Metabolism

Summary The rate of metabolism of drugs by certain hepatic enzymes can be decreased or increased. These changes in drug metabolism can occur rapidly or be delayed in onset, and can be of short duration or be maintained for several months. There is no good way to predict what will cause these changes in drug metabolism. Among chemicals affecting these hepatic enzymes, there is no one "active" structure. Whether such changes in drug biotransformation will affect the action of a subsequently administered drug depends upon the importance of metabolism to that drug's action. Three points deserve emphasis: (1) changes in drug metabolism can result from the administration of any of a variety of widely used chemicals and drugs; (2) an abnormal rate of drug metabolism can be associated with unusual drug reactions; and (3) these phenomena can occur in humans.
A hybrid extended pattern search/genetic algorithm for multi-stage wind farm optimization

This purpose of this work is to explore means of optimizing multi-stage wind farms using two derivative-free optimization methods: a hybrid Extended Pattern Search/Genetic Algorithm (capitalizing on the benefits of each), and a multi-objective Extended Pattern Search. Large onshore wind farms are often installed in discrete phases, with smaller sub-farms being installed and becoming operational in succession, creating the completed large wind farm in a piece-wise fashion over multiple years. Multi-stage wind farms present a complex and relevant optimization challenge in that in addition to accounting for the site-specific objectives of a wind farm (such as power development and profit), optimization of both the discrete sub-farms and the completed farm must be jointly considered. Two different problem formulations are explored: the first uses the optimal layout of a complete farm and then systematically “removes” turbines to create smaller sub-farms; the second uses a weighted multi-objective optimization over sequential, adjacent land that concurrently optimizes each sub-farm and the complete farm. For both problem formulations, two wind test cases are considered for both a square and a rectangular field: a constant wind speed from a predominant wind direction, and a multidirectional test case with three wind speeds and a defined probability of occurrence for each. The exploration of these resulting layouts indicates the value of the advanced multi-objective EPS and the hybrid EPS/GA, and gives insight into how to approach optimizing both completed wind farms and sub-farm stages. The behavior exhibited in these tests cases suggests strategies that can be employed by wind farm developers to facilitate predictable, optimal performance of multi-stage wind farms throughout their useful life.
Bidirectional Associations Between Externalizing Behavior Problems and Maladaptive Parenting Within Parent-Son Dyads Across Childhood.

Coercive parent–child interaction models posit that an escalating cycle of negative, bidirectional interchanges influences the development of boys’ externalizing problems and caregivers’ maladaptive parenting over time. However, longitudinal studies examining this hypothesis have been unable to rule out the possibility that between-individual factors account for bidirectional associations between child externalizing problems and maladaptive parenting. Using a longitudinal sample of boys (N = 503) repeatedly assessed eight times across 6-month intervals in childhood (in a range between 6 and 13 years), the current study is the first to use novel within-individual change (fixed effects) models to examine whether parents tend to increase their use of maladaptive parenting strategies following an increase in their son’s externalizing problems, or vice versa. These bidirectional associations were examined using multiple facets of externalizing problems (i.e., interpersonal callousness, conduct and oppositional defiant problems, hyperactivity/impulsivity) and parenting behaviors (i.e., physical punishment, involvement, parent–child communication). Analyses failed to support the notion that when boys increase their typical level of problem behaviors, their parents show an increase in their typical level of maladaptive parenting across the subsequent 6 month period, and vice versa. Instead, across 6-month intervals, within parent-son dyads, changes in maladaptive parenting and child externalizing problems waxed and waned in concert. Fixed effects models to address the topic of bidirectional relations between parent and child behavior are severely underrepresented. We recommend that other researchers who have found significant bidirectional parent–child associations using rank-order change models reexamine their data to determine whether these findings hold when examining changes within parent–child dyads.
When Rate Constants Are Not Enough.

Real-world chemical systems consisting of multiple isomers and multiple reaction channels often react significantly prior to attaining a steady state energy distribution (SED). Detailed elementary reaction models, which implicitly require SED conditions, may be invalid when non-steady-state energy distributions (NSED) exist. NSED conditions may result in reaction rates and product yields that are different from those expected for SED conditions, although this problem is to some extent reduced by using phenomenological models and rate constants. The present study defines pragmatic diagnostics useful for identifying NSED conditions in stochastic master equation simulations. A representative example is presented for each of four classes of common combustion species: RO2 radicals, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkyl radicals, and polyaromatic radicals. An example selected from the seminal work of Tsang et al. demonstrates that stochastic simulations and eigenvalue methods for solving the master equation predict the...
RXR controlled regulatory networks identified in mouse brain counteract deleterious effects of Aβ oligomers

Bexarotene, a selective agonist for Retinoid X receptors (RXR) improves cognitive deficits and amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance in mice. Here we examine if the effect of bexarotene on RXR cistrome and transcriptomes depend on APOE isoform and Aβ deposition. We found bexarotene increased RXR binding to promoter regions in cortex of APOE3 mice. Rho family GTPases and Wnt signaling pathway were highly enriched in ChIP-seq and RNA-seq datasets and members of those pathways - Lrp1, Lrp5, Sfrp5 and Sema3f were validated. The effect of APOE isoform was compared in APOE3 and APOE4 mice and we found significant overlapping in affected pathways. ChIP-seq using mouse embryonic stem cells and enrichment levels of histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 revealed that, bexarotene induced epigenetic changes, consistent with increased neuronal differentiation and in correlation with changes in transcription. Comparison of transcriptome in APOE3 and APP/APOE3 mice revealed that amyloid deposition significantly affects the response to bexarotene. In primary neurons, bexarotene ameliorated the damaged dendrite complexity and loss of neurites caused by Aβ42. Finally, we show that the disruption of actin cytoskeleton induced by Aβ42 in vitro was inhibited by bexarotene treatment. Our results suggest a mechanism to establish RXR therapeutic targets with significance in neurodegeneration.
High performance organic field-effect transistors using ambient deposition of tetracene single crystals

Abstract Organic molecular crystals (OMCs) are of significant interest due to their potential use in transistors, photovoltaic devices, light emitting diodes, and other applications. However, conventional vacuum-based methods of growing crystalline OMC films are costly and provide limited control over crystal growth. In this study, we present a new method for preparing high performance single-crystal tetracene field-effect transistors under near-ambient conditions using organic vapor-liquid-solid (OVLS) deposition. We find that the mobility of OVLS-grown tetracene is comparable to high quality crystalline films prepared by physical vapor deposition. These results establish OVLS deposition as a relatively low cost, low substrate temperature, and ambient pressure method for growing high quality OMC films for device applications.
Synthesis and photoinduced electron transfer studies of a tri(phenothiazine)-subphthalocyanine-fullerene pentad.

A novel donor–acceptor pentad featuring subphthalocyanine and fullerene as the primary electron donor and acceptor, and three phenothiazine entities as secondary hole transferring agents, have been newly synthesized and characterized as an photosynthetic reaction center model compound. Occurrences of ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and slower charge recombination are witnessed in the pentad from the femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption studies.
Differences in DNA packaging genes and sensitivity to benzimidazole ribonucleosides between human cytomegalovirus strains AD169 and Towne.

The AD169 strain of human cytomegalovirus was approximately twofold more sensitive to poly-halogenated benzimidazole ribonucleosides than Towne strain. Sequence differences between the two strains have been identified in genes UL51, UL52, UL56, UL77, UL89 and UL104. Because these genes are involved in cleavage and packaging of viral DNA and the benzimidazole ribonucleosides inhibit this process, these sequence differences may be involved in the difference in drug sensitivity.
Blood transfusion after total shoulder arthroplasty: Which patients are at high risk?

Purpose: There are multiple reported risk factors and a wide range of reported blood transfusion rates for total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). There are no evidence-based guidelines for blood transfusions in TSA patients. Materials and Methods: We utilized the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to analyze 51,191 patients undergoing TSA between 1998 and 2011. The purpose was to describe the incidence and identify the preoperative factors that are independently associated with blood transfusion after TSA. In addition, we studied the association of blood transfusions with certain variables such as length of stay (LOS), total charges, and payer status. Results: The blood transfusion rate in our study was 6.1%. There was no difference in the rate of blood transfusions over the study period (P Conclusions: Our study found five clinically significant risk factors for blood transfusions for TSA: female gender, ischemic heart disease, deficiency anemia, coagulation disorder, and blood loss anemia. Patients with these risk factors should be considered higher risk for requiring a blood transfusion after TSA and counseled appropriately. Level of Evidence: Level II, retrospective cohort study, prognostic study.
Longitudinal examination of optimism, personal self-efficacy and student well-being: a path analysis

The present longitudinal study, based on existing theoretical tenets, explored a conceptual model that depicted four major orientations: optimism, self-efficacy, and academic well-being. An important question for consideration, in this case, involved the testing of different untested trajectories that could explain and predict individuals’ mastery-approach goal orientations. This research investigation, in particular, is of significance for its unexploratory nature, and its findings, we contend, would contribute to our understanding of individuals’ academic and learning patterns. Data were collected across six separate time points, and path analytical procedures were used to test the hypothesized relationships. MPlus 7.3 produced a number of notable findings, emphasizing mediating mechanisms and interesting trajectories, for example: (1) the impact of enactive learning experience on Time 1 optimism and Time 3 self-efficacy, (2) the positive impact of Time 1 optimism on Time 2 motivation towards learning, and on Time 3 self-efficacy, (3) the direct impact of Time 1 optimism on Time 6 mastery-approach goals, mediated by Time 4 optimism and then Time 5 motivation towards learning. This evidence, overall, is substantive in terms of making theoretical contributions, as well as informing sound pedagogical practices for consideration and implementation.
Laparoscopy in Pediatric Urology: Challenge and opportunity

The development of operative laparoscopic techniques in Pediatric Urology has been generally cautious. It is premature to attempt an assessment of the ultimate impact of laparoscopy in pediatric urology, yet several areas of application have significant potential. Diagnostic laparoscopy for cryptorchidism has evolved into operative laparoscopy for intra-abdominal testes, and a significant number of cases have been performed successfully, with the possibility of improved results over open techniques. Laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy have been spring-boards for complex reconstructive renal surgery, although it is clear that new tissue joining technologies are needed. Complex reconstructive surgery is just beginning, yet may have a role in practice. These developments and the current status of laparoscopy in pediatric urology will be reviewed.
Concentrations of histamine in brain of guinea pig and rat during dietary protein malnutration (Short Communication)

Protein malnutrition produced marked elevations in brain contents of histamine in guinea pigs (+142%) and rats (+257%) in comparison with findings in the control adequately fed animals. Associated with accumulation of this biogenic amine in each set of animals was an increase of similar magnitude in brain content of free histidine. It was concluded that the elevated brain content of histamine in protein malnutrition was due mainly to increased availability of the precursor amino acid, and that such alterations in amounts of neurotransmitter amines in the central nervous system might underlie some of the behavioural abnormalities seen in malnourished animals.
Acculturation of Immigrant Latinos into the U.S. Workplace: Evidence from the Working Hours-life Satisfaction Relationship

This paper explores the working hours-happiness relationship of Latinos living in the United States and compares it with that of the host society. We find that immigrant Latinos have adopted American work-happiness relationships while having lower levels of subjective well-being. Acculturation plays an important role not only with respect to work attitudes, but also to social status, and it is the latter that affects the well-being of Latinos of color. Future quality-of-life research needs to analyze whether the dichotomy between work attitude and social status will persist or whether this vibrant and increasing group of immigrants who are so vital to the U.S. economy will both adapt to host society values and begin to introduce positive change in those values in a society where multiculturalism is on the rise.
Molecular Diagnosis of HIV Infection

Although in specific instances PCR may offer some advantages over serologic techniques, efforts to capacitate more laboratories to perform PCR techniques should not replace efforts to maintain laboratories that are able to perform reliable serologic diagnosis of HIV. Even though numerous laboratories in major African cities are currently executing highly sophisticated laboratory protocols, including PCR-based assays, they are too few to keep pace with the scale of the HIV epidemic on the African continent. Several physical, human, and supply requirements must be fulfilled by any laboratory setting to consistently and accurately perform PCR-based tests. If laboratory personnel have a clear understanding of the detection power of PCR, guidelines designed to avoid cross-contamination and false negatives are more likely to be closely followed. It is difficult, time consuming, and extremely expensive to solve problems caused by inappropriate handling of samples, plasmid, or amplified products.
10B and 11B NMR Study of Elemental Boron

Elemental boron typically exists in either of two states: crystalline or amorphous. In the synthesis of boron-based superhard materials, such as WB4, elemental boron is in some instances a side product that is difficult to separate from the desired superhard material. In the present study, both crystalline and amorphous boron are characterized by 10B and 11B nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a prelude for the study of boron-based superhard materials. The 11B spectrum of a static sample reflects both bulk magnetic susceptibility and second-order quadrupolar line shapes of quadrupolar frequencies ranging from 0 to 680 kHz. The 10B spectrum of a static sample shows quadrupolar frequencies ranging from 0 to 142 kHz. In contrast to the previous literature indicating relaxation of quadrupolar origin, the variable temperature spin–lattice relaxation data indicate that the 11B relaxation at 248 K and below is dominated by spin diffusion from paramagnetic centers. Above 248 K, relaxation is dominated by a...
Keyword search support for automating scientific workflow composition

Keyword search is indispensable for locating relevant documents the web. Yet, at the same time, we have also grown aware of its limitations. It is often difficult to reach esoteric information obscured deep within various domains. For example, consider an earth science student who needs to identify how much a certain area in a nearby park has eroded since 1940 for a school project. Certainly, if this exact erosion information had previously been published onto a web page, a search engine could probably locate it effortlessly. But due to the exactness of this query, the likelihood that such a web page exists is slim. However, avenues for obtaining this information exist in the form of scientific workflows, which can be implemented using web service composition.
Sociology-Four Images of Organized Diversity

Although Wirth’s statement has been extensively quoted, much of the impact of its imagery of the city has been overlooked. The words that have been italicized in the quotation point to a particular urban imagery that has led to an emphasis on certain types of research and to a deemphasis on other approaches to the city.
Housing Price Fundamentals through the Business Cycle

We examine the fundamental determinants of nominal home price growth from 1995 to 2012 across 300 metropolitan areas in the U.S. This sample period provides a trough-to-trough time period that allows for analysis through a complete business cycle. By using a supply-to-demand ratio for home price appreciation, we identify a straightforward and powerful method for predicting home price appreciation across markets. We suggest an alternative and simple method for addressing endogeneity in house prices and include a comprehensive measure of human capital. We find five significant factors: home supply growth, personal income growth, human capital, an ocean dummy, and geographic constraint.
Speculations and Conclusions

In 1969 it was suggested that serum binding proteins might direct hormonal signals toward target organs with protein-permeable vascular beds (Keller et al., 1969). Subsequently estrogens were shown to promote the accumulation and retention of serum albumins within the uterus without effecting similar increases in nontarget tissues (Peterson and Spaziani, 1971). In 1973 we demonstrated that cytoplasmic levels of 3H-estradiol at equilibrium after in vitro incubation in the presence of serum albumins are 50 percent greater for the uterus than for the diaphragm, a difference which did not result on incubation of these tissues with 3H-estradiol in the absence of serum albumins (Peck et al., 1973a). Thus, serum-binding proteins, an example of low affinity estrogen receptive or binding sites, may function to increase hormone concentrations preferentially in target organs with protein-permeable vascular beds and in this manner maintain the concentration of total hormone at a level required for hormonal stimulation.
Final results of a phase II trial of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with Child-Pugh class A (CPC-A).

4103 Background: After confirming the safety and appropriate radiation dose in phase I dose escalation trial, a phase II trial was completed to evaluate the efficacy of SBRT for HCC in CPC-A patien...
Slow and steady wins the race: an examination of bacterial persistence

Bacterial persistence is a state of metabolic dormancy among a small fraction (<1%) of a genetically identical population of cells that, as a result, becomes transiently resistant to environmental stressors. Such cells, called persisters, are able to survive indeterminate periods of exposure to challenging and even hostile environmental conditions, including nutrient deprivation, oxidative stress, or the presence of an antibiotic to which the bacterium would normally be susceptible. Subpopulations of cells having the persister phenotype is also a common feature of biofilms, in which limited space, hypoxia, and nutrient deficiencies all contribute to the onset of persistence. Microbiologists have been aware of bacterial persistence since the early days of antibiotic development. However, in recent years the significance of this phenomenon has been brought into new focus, as persistent bacterial infections that require multiple rounds of antibiotic treatment are becoming a more widespread clinical challenge. Here, we provide an overview of the major features of bacterial persistence, including the various conditions that precipitate persister formation and a discussion of several of the better-characterized molecular mechanisms that trigger this distinctive mode of bacterial dormancy.
World Vaping Day: Contextualizing Vaping Culture in Online Social Media Using a Mixed Methods Approach:

Few studies have demonstrated the use of mixed methods research to contextualize health topics using primary data from social media. To address this gap in the methodological literature, we present research about electronic nicotine delivery systems, using Twitter data from “World Vaping Day.” To engage with the quantitative breadth and qualitative depth of 5,149 collected tweets, we utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods framework, integrating thematic prevalence estimates with phenomenological contextualization. Sentiment was more positive than negative across all categories except policy related. A total of 23% of tweets were promotional and relatively few tweets related to tobacco use (4.9%) or health concerns (4.2%). Salient themes included modifying or upgrading electronic nicotine delivery systems devices, and general mistrust of public health advocates and tobacco companies.
Intercomparison of model response and internal variability across climate model ensembles

Characterization of climate uncertainty at regional scales over near-term planning horizons (0–30 years) is crucial for climate adaptation. Climate internal variability (CIV) dominates climate uncertainty over decadal prediction horizons at stakeholders’ scales (regional to local). In the literature, CIV has been characterized indirectly using projections of climate change from multi-model ensembles (MME) instead of directly using projections from multiple initial condition ensembles (MICE), primarily because adequate number of initial condition (IC) runs were not available for any climate model. Nevertheless, the recent availability of significant number of IC runs from one climate model allows for the first time to characterize CIV directly from climate model projections and perform a sensitivity analysis to study the dominance of CIV compared to model response variability (MRV). Here, we measure relative agreement (a dimensionless number with values ranging between 0 and 1, inclusive; a high value indicates less variability and vice versa) among MME and MICE and find that CIV is lower than MRV for all projection time horizons and spatial resolutions for precipitation and temperature. However, CIV exhibits greater dominance over MRV for seasonal and annual mean precipitation at higher latitudes where signals of climate change are expected to emerge sooner. Furthermore, precipitation exhibits large uncertainties and a rapid decline in relative agreement from global to continental, regional, or local scales for MICE compared to MME. The fractional contribution of uncertainty due to CIV is invariant for precipitation and decreases for temperature as lead time progresses towards the end of the century.
Monitoring the dispersal of contaminants by wildlife at nuclear weapons production and waste storage facilities

Professor of wildlife biology in the department of biological sciences, California State University. Dr K. Shawn Smallwood is a systems ecologist and may be contacted at 109 Luz Place, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Dr Jan Beyea is a physical scientist with Consulting in the Public Interest, 53 Clinton Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530, USA. The US Government produced and acquired approximately 111 t of plutonium in support of its nuclear weapons programme. Verified reports of the loss of nuclear material into the environment, including loss by animals, has raised questions regarding the monitoring programmes in place on the nuclear facilities. Given these concerns regarding the fate of stored nuclear waste, the authors conducted a review of the wildlife monitoring programme used at nuclear weapons and storage facilities by (1) reviewing the key facets of the monitoring used at the facilities, (2) evaluating published and unpublished data from the facilities and (3) incorporating data from personal site visits. The study concentrated on the Department of Energy's Hanford Reservation in rural south–central Washington and the Rocky Flats Plant in central Colorado. Based on the review, it is concluded that an improved and rigorous environmental surveillance and monitoring programme is needed at both locations. The site surveys identified frequent instances of intrusion into burial sites by animals, most of which had gone unreported by Hanford and Rocky Flats personnel. It was apparent that a significant source of potential contamination was not being adequately monitored at the nuclear waste sites. It is recommended that the development of a systematic, well-planned programme of monitoring animal intrusion on burial sites be considered, coupled with improved training for responsible personnel.
How to co-exist with nonexistent expectations

Dozens of articles have addressed the challenge that gambles having undefined expectation pose for decision theory. This paper makes two contributions. The first is incremental: we evolve Colyvan’s “Relative Expected Utility Theory” into a more viable “conservative extension of expected utility theory” by formulating and defending emendations to a version of this theory that was proposed by Colyvan and Hajek. The second is comparatively more surprising. We show that, so long as one assigns positive probability to the theory that there is a uniform bound on the expected utility of possible gambles (and assuming a uniform bound on the amount of utility that can accrue in a fixed amount of time), standard principles of anthropic reasoning (as formulated by Brandon Carter) place lower and upper bounds on the expected values of gambles advertised as having no expectation–even assuming that with positive probability, all gambles advertised as having infinite expected utility are administered faithfully. Should one accept the uniform bound premises, this reasoning thus dissolves (or nearly dissolves, in some cases) several puzzles in infinite decision theory.
A Blockwise Consistency Method for Parameter Estimation of Complex Models

The drastic improvement in data collection and acquisition technologies has enabled scientists to collect a great amount of data. With the growing dataset size, typically comes a growing complexity of data structures and of complex models to account for the data structures. How to estimate the parameters of complex models has put a great challenge on current statistical methods. This paper proposes a blockwise consistency approach as a potential solution to the problem, which works by iteratively finding consistent estimates for each block of parameters conditional on the current estimates of the parameters in other blocks. The blockwise consistency approach decomposes the high-dimensional parameter estimation problem into a series of lower-dimensional parameter estimation problems, which often have much simpler structures than the original problem and thus can be easily solved. Moreover, under the framework provided by the blockwise consistency approach, a variety of methods, such as Bayesian and frequentist methods, can be jointly used to achieve a consistent estimator for the original high-dimensional complex model. The blockwise consistency approach is illustrated using high-dimensional linear regression with both univariate and multivariate responses. The results of both problems show that the blockwise consistency approach can provide drastic improvements over the existing methods. Extension of the blockwise consistency approach to many other complex models is straightforward.
Brillouin Light Scattering: Development of a Near Century-Old Technique for Characterizing the Mechanical Properties of Materials

Brillouin light scattering (BLS), a technique theoretically described nearly a century back by the French physicist Leon Brillouin in 1922, is a light-scattering method for determining the mechanical properties of materials. This inelastic scattering method is described by the Bragg diffraction of light from a propagating fluctuation in the local dielectric. These fluctuations arise spontaneously from thermally populated sound waves intrinsic to all materials, and thus BLS may be broadly applied to transparent samples of any phase. This review begins with a brief historical overview of the development of BLS, from its theoretical prediction to the current state of the art, and notes specific technological advancements that enabled the development of BLS. Despite the broad utility of BLS, no commercial spectrometer is currently available for purchase, but rather individual components are assembled to suit a specific application. Central to any BLS spectrometer is the interferometer, and its performance characteristics-scanning or non-scanning, multi-passing, and stabilization-are critical considerations for spectrometer design. Consistent with any light-scattering method, the frequency shift is a key observable in BLS, and we summarize the connection of this measurement to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials. With emphasis toward pharmaceutical materials analysis, we introduce the traditional BLS approach for single-crystal elasticity, and this is followed by a discussion of more recent developments in powder BLS. We conclude our review with a perspective on future developments in BLS that may enable BLS as a novel addition to the current catalog of process analytical technologies.
Russian Industrial Enterprises in 2007

This paper was prepared using data of monthly business surveys conducted by the Gaidar Institutefor Economic Policy (IEP) among managers of industrial enterprises since September 1992. The surveys are based on the European harmonized methodology and encompass the entire territory of the Russian Federation. The size of the panel is about 1100 enterprises that employ over 15% of the total number of employed in industry. The panel is biased towards large enterprises in each of the selected sub-industries. The rate of response to questionnaires ranges from 65% to 70%.
Interoperability of home automation systems as a critical challenge for IoT

The spread of enabling technologies for the Internet of Things allows the creation of new scenarios in which home automation plays a significant role. Platforms for smart cities and communities, which must include applications for energy efficiency, health, mobility, security, etc., cannot ignore the use of data gathered directly from homes. In order to implement such scenarios, all the related technological infrastructure and home systems must be able to understand each other and exchange information. In this work, we present a new platform that achieves interoperability between heterogeneous home automation systems. It allows different, incompatible technologies to cooperate inside and outside the home, thus creating a single ecosystem. In order to achieve tins goal, specific problems need to be solved to be able to construct “bridges” between the various home automation networks currently in use. In this regard, some specific solutions adopted for integrating two different technologies (KNX and MyHome) within a home automation platform are illustrated.