cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of petrochemical industrial emissions of reactive alkenes and NOx on tropospheric ozone formation in Houston, Texas

[1] Petrochemical industrial facilities can emit large amounts of highly reactive hydrocarbons and NOx to the atmosphere; in the summertime, such colocated emissions are shown to consistently result in rapid and efficient ozone (O3) formation downwind. Airborne measurements show initial hydrocarbon reactivity in petrochemical source plumes in the Houston, TX, metropolitan area is primarily due to routine emissions of the alkenes propene and ethene. Reported emissions of these highly reactive compounds are substantially lower than emissions inferred from measurements in the plumes from these sources. Net O3 formation rates and yields per NOx molecule oxidized in these petrochemical industrial source plumes are substantially higher than rates and yields observed in urban or rural power plant plumes. These observations suggest that reductions in reactive alkene emissions from petrochemical industrial sources are required to effectively address the most extreme O3 exceedences in the Houston metropolitan area.
External mass transfer in a biological film reactor

A method for calculating the mass transfer coefficient in a biological film system, under turbulent flow conditions, is presented. It is experimentally found that fluid velocity has a positive effect on the rate of substrate utilization when the system is operated in other than the kinetic regime. A correlation is developed which indicates a dependence of the mass transfer coefficient on the fluid velocity raised to the 0.7 power.
Ras-dependent Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Activation by G Protein-coupled Receptors CONVERGENCE OF Gi- AND Gq-MEDIATED PATHWAYS ON CALCIUM/CALMODULIN, Pyk2, AND Src KINASE

Many receptors that couple to heterotrimeric guanine-nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) have been shown to mediate rapid activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases Erk1 and Erk2. In different cell types, the signaling pathways employed appear to be a function of the available repertoire of receptors, G proteins, and effectors. In HEK-293 cells, stimulation of either alpha1B- or alpha2A-adrenergic receptors (ARs) leads to rapid 5-10-fold increases in Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Erk1/2 in response to stimulation of the alpha2A-AR is effectively attenuated by pretreatment with pertussis toxin or by coexpression of a Gbetagamma subunit complex sequestrant peptide (betaARK1ct) and dominant-negative mutants of Ras (N17-Ras), mSOS1 (SOS-Pro), and Raf (DeltaN-Raf). Erk1/2 phosphorylation in response to alpha1B-AR stimulation is also attenuated by coexpression of N17-Ras, SOS-Pro, or DeltaN-Raf, but not by coexpression of betaARK1ct or by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. The alpha1B- and alpha2A-AR signals are both blocked by phospholipase C inhibition, intracellular Ca2+ chelation, and inhibitors of protein-tyrosine kinases. Overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of c-Src or of the negative regulator of c-Src function, Csk, results in attenuation of the alpha1B-AR- and alpha2A-AR-mediated Erk1/2 signals. Chemical inhibitors of calmodulin, but not of PKC, and overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of the protein-tyrosine kinase Pyk2 also attenuate mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation after both alpha1B- and alpha2A-AR stimulation. Erk1/2 activation, then, proceeds via a common Ras-, calcium-, and tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway for both Gi- and Gq/11-coupled receptors. These results indicate that in HEK-293 cells, the Gbetagamma subunit-mediated alpha2A-AR- and the Galphaq/11-mediated alpha1B-AR-coupled Erk1/2 activation pathways converge at the level of phospholipase C. These data suggest that calcium-calmodulin plays a central role in the calcium-dependent regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptors in some systems.
Coastal impact ranking of small islands for conservation, restoration and tourism development: A case study of The Bahamas

Abstract An 11-year project to characterize, then assess, the health of coastal environments of The Bahamas ranked a total of 238 sites on ten different islands. Satellite images and aerial photography were used to characterize coastal types (e.g. substrate, geomorphology and wave energy to describe beaches, mangroves, or rocky shores), and then field assessments ranked four types of anthropogenic impacts that influence ecosystem function and coastal system services. The ranking of coastal health was based on physical alterations, destructive use of the coastal zone, coastal development and occurrence of Invasive Alien Species (IAS). The characterization and assessment methods were developed to serve as a rapid survey of coastal stability, biological diversity and quality of wildlife habitats. A system of coastal ranking is presented using numerical scores for four impact criteria along with terrestrial plant surveys to examine the intactness of the coastal environment. Some locations (Exuma and Great Guana Cay) were repeatedly monitored over time. Scores ranged from “0” for no human impacts or invasive coastal plants to “20” for highly altered with dredging, coastal development and loss of native vegetation. The mean impact rank for all sites across all islands was 5.7 ± 4.3, which indicates “Medium” ranks for at least two of the four human impact criteria. Only one uninhabited island (Cay Sal) had all coastal impacts scores of “None”. Over 77% of all the sites surveyed had abundant occurrences of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) coastal plants. The Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) was the more pervasive and the most wide-spread IAS in the coastal environment, and its abundance increased in all sites that were re-surveyed over time. Degradation of coastal function can signal greater risks to coastal property, flooding events or loss of wildlife populations. The coastal impact ranking protocol presented here helps identify target areas for conservation as well as identify areas with the greatest feasibility for coastal restoration.
Characterization and Formulation of Multiple Epitope-Specific Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for Passive Immunization against Cryptosporidiosis

The coccidian parasite Cryptosporidium parvum causes diarrhea in humans, calves, and other mammals. Neither immunization nor parasite-specific pharmaceuticals that are consistently effective against this organism are available. While polyclonal antibodies against whole C. parvum reduce infection, their efficacy and predictability are suboptimal. We hypothesized that passive immunization against cryptosporidiosis could be improved by using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) targeting functionally defined antigens on the infective stages. We previously reported that the apical complex and surface-exposed zoite antigens CSL, GP25-200, and P23 are critical in the infection process and are therefore rational targets. In the present study, a panel of 126 MAbs generated against affinity-purified CSL, GP25-200, and P23 was characterized to identify the most efficacious neutralizing MAb formulation targeting each antigen. To identify neutralizing MAbs, sporozoite infectivity following exposure to individual MAbs was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 126 MAbs evaluated, 47 had neutralizing activity. These were then evaluated individually in oocyst-challenged neonatal mice, and 14 MAbs having highly significant efficacy were identified for further testing in formulations. Epitope specificity assays were performed to determine if candidate MAbs recognized the same or different epitopes. Formulations of two or three neutralizing MAbs, each recognizing distinct epitopes, were then evaluated. A formulation of MAbs 3E2 (anti-CSL [alphaCSL]), 3H2 (alphaGP25-200), and 1E10 (alphaP23) provided highly significant additive efficacy over that of either individual MAbs or combinations of two MAbs and reduced intestinal infection by 86 to 93%. These findings indicate that polyvalent neutralizing MAb formulations targeting epitopes on defined antigens may provide optimal passive immunization against cryptosporidiosis.
What can the Thatcher illusion tell us about face processing in the brain? Commentary on Psalta, Young, Thompson, and Andrews (2014)

Three decades ago Thompson (1980) discovered what is now a classic visual demonstration in psychology: that inverting the eyes and mouth of Margaret Thatcher's face passes largely unnoticed when the face is presented upside-down, even though the face appears grotesque in the upright orientation. Recently, Psalta et al. (2014) used fMRI to identify the neural basis of the Thatcher illusion and found that the face-selective superior temporal sulcus (fSTS), but not the fusiform face area (FFA) or the occipital face area (OFA), tracked the grotesque appearance of upright but not inverted Thatcherized faces. Referring to fSTS, the authors conclude: “Our results demonstrate clear evidence for orientation-dependent sensitivity to changes in facial expression in a key component of the neural network underlying face perception.” While we agree that fSTS is involved in processing face expression (Haxby and Gobbini, 2011), based on conceptual and statistical issues we argue that the conclusion of Psalta et al. (2014) is not supported by the data.
Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus Replication In Vivo

Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a key role in innate immunity. To examine the ability of diverse TLRs to modulate hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, HBV transgenic mice received a single intravenous injection of ligands specific for TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, and TLR9. All of the ligands except for TLR2 inhibited HBV replication in the liver noncytopathically within 24 h in a α/β interferon-dependent manner. The ability of these TLR ligands to induce antiviral cytokines at the site of HBV replication suggests that TLR activation could represent a powerful and novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.
Theoretical insight on the S --> O photoisomerization of DMSO complexes of Ru(II).

Complexes of the type [Ru(tpy)(L)(dmso)]n+ (where tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine; L = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), n = 2; N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylene diamine (tmen), n = 2; acetylacetonate (acac), n = 1; oxalate (ox), n = 0; malonate (mal), n = 0) were investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The results do not support a promoting role for the dσ* ligand field (LF) states during excited state S → O isomerization. Instead, the calculations show that the formation of a Ru(III) center is important in the isomerization, along with the identity of the ancillary bidentate ligand. The present work shows that the orbital contributions from the bidentate ligand to the HOMO, which is typically centered on the ruthenium, plays an important role in the photochemical and oxidative reactivity of the complexes.
The Politics of Talk: Unconstrained Floor Time in the U.S. House of Representatives

One- and five-minute morning speeches and special orders at the end of the day provide members of the House of Representative the opportunity to express themselves to a national audience. We hypothesize that these opportunities for unconstrained floor time can be used either to further a member's electoral prospects or to shape the policy debate. Using data on House members' behavior during the One-hundred Third Congress, we show that the use of unconstrained floor time is more consistent with policy based than electorally based explanations. In particular, we demonstrate that unconstrained floor time is used disproportionately by ideologically extreme members and by members of the minority party--both of whom are on the outside when it comes to policy influence.
A bargaining model for social status in informal groups and formal organizations

Apart from economic payoffs, social status (social rank) seems to be the most important incentive and motivating force of social behavior. This concern for social status is perhaps more conspicuous in those societies, like the American, where the ruling ideology encourages a striving for upward social mobility, for movement to higher social status positions. But it seems to be no less important in those societies, like the traditional Indian caste society, which prevent or strongly discourage upward mobility—for at least downward mobility is possible in every society as punishment for nonfulfillment or certain social obligations. Thus the only difference is that in such less mobile societies, people’s concern for social status will take the form of simply trying to maintain their existing status and caste positions and of avoiding all types of nonconformist behavior possibly endangering these positions.
Microarray gene expression data association rules mining based on JG-Tree

The main techniques currently employed in analyzing microarray expression data are clustering and classification. In this paper we propose to use association rules to mine the association relationships among different genes under the same experimental condition. These kinds of relations may also exist across many different experiments with various experimental conditions. In this paper, a new approach, called LIS-growth (Large ItemSet growth) tree, is proposed for mining the microarray data. Our approach uses a new data structure, JG-tree (Jiang, Gruenwald), and a new data partition format for gene expression level data. Each data value can be presented by a sign bit, fractions and exponent bits. Each bit at the same position can be organized into a JG-tree. A JG-tree is a lossless and compression tree. It can be built on fly, a kind of real-time compression for bits string. Based on these two new data structures it is possible to mine the association rules efficiently and quickly from the gene expression database. Our algorithm was tested using the real-life datasets from the gene expression database at Stanford University.
Morphological control in the adaptive ionic layer epitaxy of ZnO nanosheets

Abstract 2D nanomaterials such as graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, with their thickness at only one or a few atomic layers, have now been positioned at the research frontier of nanoscience and nanotechnology, thanks to their exotic physical properties dissimilar to their bulk counterpart and other dimensionalities. To date, the preparation of 2D nanomaterials with desirable thickness and appreciable size has been mostly limited to the naturally layered materials, also known as van der Waals solids. Although a number of nanosheets from non-van der Waals solids have also been prepared, the control over their size and thickness, as well as understandings of a general mechanism for 2D nucleation and growth, remain obstacles for the further development of 2D nanomaterials for various advanced applications. We recently prepared few nanometers thick, tens of microns sized ZnO nanosheets by a novel method, named adaptive ionic layer epitaxy (AILE), which employs the surfactant monolayer at the water–air interface and has the potential to become a robust and versatile strategy. In this work, we present a detailed study on the independent control over the size and thickness of nanosheets, and a revisit to our model on AILE with discussions on its relations to our experimental findings.
Documenting Reconquest and Reform: The Growth of Archives in the Medieval Crown of Aragon

A burst of intensive documentation activity related to the formation of the Crown of Aragon in northeastern Spain and the extension of the Reconquest south into Valencia during the twelfth century is explored to reveal the dramatic growth of medieval archives; archival management systems and records centers; the development of sophisticated methodologies such as simultaneous registration and formalized document production; indexing, tagging, heading, and classification techniques; rudimentary records management and conservation programs; and experimentation in codification, supraregional standardization, format control, multimedia, and improved communications through courier service, addressing, notarization, posting, and proclamation. The institutionalization of increasingly specialized archives distinct from libraries and other scribal enterprises is illustrated by early formation of the Archivo de la Corona de Aragon in Barcelona, and the transition between information technologies is shown in the famo...
Locating Purity within Corruption Rumors: Narratives of HPV Vaccination Refusal in a Peri‐urban Community of Southern Romania

This article locates the symbolic construction of "corrupted purity"-as a key assertion in Romanian parents' HPV vaccination refusal narratives-within a multiplicity of entangled rumors concerning reproduction and the state. Romania's unsuccessful HPV vaccination campaign is not unique. However, the shifting discourses around purity and corruption-through which some parents conveyed anxieties about their daughters being targeted for the vaccine-place a particular twist on the Romanian case of resisting the HPV vaccination. Parental discourses took the form of clusters of rumors about state medicine's failure to provide adequate reproductive health care, additive-laden foods, and exposure to radioactive contamination. In these rumors, corruption becomes literally embodied, through ingestion, consumption, contact, or inoculation. Parental discourses about what is being injected into their daughters' pristine bodies express their uncertainty around navigating the unsettled post-socialist medical landscape.
Solid-Phase Reagent Strip for Plasma and Urine Creatinine Measurements

A solid-phase reagent strip was evaluated for the measurement of creatinine concentrations in the plasma and urine of patients with various degrees of renal dysfunction. Results of these determinations, performed on the Seralyzer solid-phase chemistry system, were compared with results obtained using an AutoAnalyzer. The study involved 131 measurements of plasma creatinine, 114 measurements of urine creatinine, and the calculation of the creatinine clearance rate in 96 patients. No significant difference between the concentrations measured by the two methods could be demonstrated. Creatinine concentrations measured with the Seralyzer correlated well with those measured using the AutoAnalyzer.
HETEROZYGOSITY AND DEVELOPMENTAL RATE IN A STRAIN OF RAINBOW TROUT (SALMO GAIRDNERI).

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) with greater heterozygosity at enzyme loci also have greater developmental stability, as measured by bilateral symmetry of five meristic traits. Fish with increased amounts of liver phosphoglucomutase activity have greater developmental stability and develop faster than fish with normal activity. These observations suggest that the differences in developmental stability between homozygotes and heterozygotes may be the result of differences in developmental rate. Faster developmental rates are expected to decrease the probability of accidents during critical periods of development, resulting in a more stable or uniform phenotype. As indicated by differences in hatching time, heterozygotes tend to develop more rapidly than homozygotes. This association is not strongly expressed within families at any locus except Pgm1-t. However, heterozygotes for Mdh3,4 and Hex hatched significantly sooner than homozygotes in a population sample. These results suggest that differences in developmental rate between homozygotes and heterozygotes may account for the positive association between developmental stability and heterozygosity in rainbow trout.
The Blizzard of 1987: A Year of Tax Reform Activity in the States

The year 1987 was the most active one in terms of state tax reform activity within recent memory. Most states responded to federal tax reform not only by conforming their income taxes to the new federal provisions but also by such actions as increasing their personal exemptions or credits, raising their standard deductions, and/or reducing marginal tax rates. The net result of these changes was to increase the progressivity of state income taxes. The most important development affecting other taxes was Florida's ultimately failed attempt to expand the sales tax to a broad range of services. Most states did not reform their corporation income tax, but that tax may receive more attention in the next few years. Despite the high level of activity in 1987 and the formidable obstacles to accomplishing significant tax reform, 1987 will probably be seen in retrospect as the beginning of a major period of state tax reform extending into the early 1990s.
Fine Structure of the Distal Sensory Setae on the First Antennae of Pleuromamma Xiphias Giesbrecht (Copepoda)

ABSTRACT An external (SEM, light microscopy) and internal (TEM, serial section) study of the distal segments and the setae of the first antenna in Pleuromamma xiphias, a deep-ocean calanoid copepod, is presented here. The morphological results indicate the presence of 9 identifiable setae on the distal tip of the first antenna. These include 5 dually innervated and 2 singly innervated mechanoreceptive setae. A single thin-walled chemoreceptive seta, innervated by multiple dendrites, was identified. A presumed bimodal mechano-/chemoreceptive seta has an apical pore and is innervated by 1 mechano- and 2 chemosensory dendrites. Two pores were found on the ventral surface of the distal segments of the first antenna: 1 near the base of the chemosensory seta, and the other proximal to the feathered seta. Internally, the mechanoreceptors are characterized by well-developed scolopale tubes and an extraordinary proliferation of dendritic microtubules (up to 3,000/dendrite). Externally, the setae vary in length (0.01-1 mm) and type (smooth versus plumose, stiff versus flexible, round versus laterally flattened). The setae are positioned in a single plane, pointing either anteriorly or posteriorly. The diversity in form and position suggests sensory specialization of individual setae.
Father's Migration and Leaving the Parental Home in Rural Mozambique

Migration is an increasingly common demographic phenomenon and has important implications for the well-being of family members left behind. Although extensive research has examined the impact of parental labor migration on school-age children, less is known about its effect on adolescents. In this study, the authors used longitudinal survey data collected in rural Mozambique (N = 515) to assess the association between father's migration and adolescent children's leaving the parental home, an important component of the transition to adulthood. The results showed that father's migration delays home-leaving for adolescent girls and that these effects are not mediated by school enrollment. The results for boys were inconclusive. The authors also found that remittances and longer durations of paternal migration were negatively associated with the transition out of the home. On the basis of the findings, they argue that father's migration delays girls' marriage.
Key points of acceptance check for instruments in disease control facilities

Objective: To explore how to strengthen acceptance check of instruments in disease control facilities in order to guarantee the entrance of instruments. Methods: The importance of acceptance check of instruments in disease control facilities was emphasized and the existing weakness in the acceptance check of instruments analyzed. Meanwhile, the route and method was elaborated to accomplish the acceptance check of instruments in disease control facilities through preparation, qualification check, performance test and archiving. Results: The acceptance check of instruments in disease control facilities is a scientific and practical professional work. Conclusion: It is necessary to carefully check the technical parameter and configuration of the instruments, judge whether the instruments really satisfy the relevant performance and technical qualification required by bidding document, technical document and procurement contract or not, which in turn to safeguard the application of the qualified instrument into the scientific research in disease control and prevention safely and effectively.
Calcium ion concentration and beta adrenergic activity Studies in the anesthetized, intact dog

We have studied the influence of beta blockade on calcium bolus-induced alterations in hemodynamic function in intact, halothane-anesthetized dogs. We measured blood calcium ion concentration ([Ca++]), mean arterial (MAP), right atrial, and pulmonary artery balloon-occluded pressures, cardiac output, and heart rate immediately prior to and following rapid intravenous infusion of calcium chloride (CaCl2, 12 mg/kg) both prior to and following beta blockade with propranolol (0.5 mg/kg). An increase in [Ca++] was associated with increased MAP of short duration without significant alterations in cardiac output, right atrial pressure, or pulmonary artery balloon-occluded pressure. Thus, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was transiently increased. In the presence of beta blockade, administration of the same dose of CaCl2 infused over the same period was associated with a substantially greater rise in [Ca++]. The hemodynamic response was similar except for a transient rise in cardiac output, recorded 15 seconds after CaCl2 infusion. Fifteen minutes after CaCl2 infusion, recorded hemodynamic variables were not different from control despite persistent elevation of [Ca++]. Thus the data suggest that calcium bolus infusion is of limited value to increase cardiac output or decrease left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) in the presence of beta blockade. These data also demonstrate that the effects of calcium bolus infusion are short-lived.
Proving the Role of Entropic Elasticity in Protein Folding

Force-spectroscopy has been an essential tool for understanding how proteins fold and unfold, and their involvement in regulating cell responses to mechanical stimuli. Hence, it is of significance to establish an accurate free energy model of proteins under force capable of describing the mechanisms of protein folding. Even though numerous models have been proposed, the role of polymer physics and the changes in entropy involved in protein elasticity are still controversial. We have developed a model to construct the free energy of elastic proteins under force based on protein folding and polymer physics. The model is constructed by combining Morse and Gaussian potentials describing the enthalpic interactions in the folded state, and the freely jointed-chain (FJC) energy model accounting for the entropic changes during unfolding and stretching. The free parameters of each component are dependent on the protein and thus regulate its mechanical properties [J. Valle-Orero et al, BBRC 460 (2015)]. Here we aim to prove the accuracy of the model by reproducing force-spectroscopy data of a model protein, protein L (B1 domain from Peptostreptococcus magnus). We experimentally fit the force dependent extension of unfolded domains with the FJC using a contour length of 16.3 nm and a Kuhn length of 1.1 nm. The Morse depth of 2 kBT was established by measuring the probability that a domain folds at a given force. A Gaussian barrier of 10.5 kBT was chosen by comparing the experimental unfolding kinetics to those obtained using Brownian dynamics on our energy model. The excellent agreement of our model with experimental data validates and reinforces the theoretical foundations of our physics model. Furthermore, we demonstrate that changes in entropy during extending or collapsing a protein results in departure from simple Bell-like models.
Testicular cytotoxicity of intravenous doxorubicin in rats.

Abstract Although the testicular cytotoxicity of many chemotherapeutic drugs has been evaluated in mice, their small size can pose technical problems. In this report, we describe doxorubicin-induced testicular toxicity in a larger animal model, the Sprague-Dawley rat. Fifty-three rats were used for this study. On day 0, rats in the treatment groups were anesthetized and given different single intravenous doses of doxorubicin (0.1 to 30 mg./kg.). On day 56 ± 2, all surviving rats were killed and necropsied. Testicular toxicity was evaluated qualitatively by histology and quantitatively by testicular weight, sperm head count, repopulatipn index and epididymal index. The histologic effects of doxorubicin on the heart, liver and kidney were qualitatively evaluated. Progressive dose-dependent testicular atrophy and oligospermia occurred at low and intermediate dosages of doxorubicin (0.1 to 5 mg./kg.). Marked testicular atrophy, oligospermia and germinal aplasia were observed at high dosage of doxorubicin (10 mg./kg.). LD 50 for animal mortality at day 56 ± 2 for doxorubicin appears to be 10 mg./kg. These findings are similar to those reported in mice. The rat is a suitable model for the study of techniques to avoid drug-induced testicular damage.
Teaching under the Accountability Umbrella

Samantha, a teacher in a modified setting in an urban elementary school, is clearly concerned with the big picture: teaching literacy strategies that will allow the children in her classroom to become confident, independent, engaged, and fluent readers and writers. She wants her students to think critically and creatively but believes that taking time away from her regular instructional program to teach to the test discourages what she is trying to develop. In fact, her students now want instruction that does not demand them to engage in critical and creative thought. Because of the demands of teaching to the test, Samantha is in her discomfort zone.
Smooth Muscle Cell Function from the Clinical Perspective: Overview

Publisher Summary A central concern among clinicians engaged in the care of patients with arteriosclerosis and other forms of obstructive cardiovascular disease is the rate at which arterial reconstructions develop luminal occlusion and lose the capacity to act as conduits for blood. This loss of function occurs regardless of the approach used to restore circulation; over a period of 5 years, a vein bypass graft is just as likely to fail as a small artery treated with balloon angioplasty. In large measure, the loss of function of the graft or the angioplastied artery is the consequence of altered smooth muscle cell mass, function, or both. These changes must be understood in detail if one is to prolong the patency of these vessels after mechanical intervention. Smooth-muscle cell mass increases rapidly in acutely damaged or hypertensive vessels. The molecular mechanisms controlling these processes are being discovered.
The prospects for high yield ICF with a Z -pinch driven dynamic hohlraum

Abstract Recent success with the Sandia Z machine has renewed interest in utilizing fast Z -pinches for ICF. One promising concept places the ICF capsule internal to the imploding Z -pinch. At machine parameters relevant to achieving high yield, the imploding Z -pinch mass has sufficient opacity to trap radiation giving rise to a `dynamic hohlraum'. Our concept utilizes a 12 MJ, 54 MA Z -pinch driver producing a capsule drive temperature exceeding 300 eV to realize a 550 MJ thermonuclear yield. We present the current high-yield design and its development that supports high-yield ICF with a Z -pinch driven dynamic hohlraum.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhance Lubrication of Engineered Meniscus Through Lubricin Localization in Collagen Gels

Abstract This study evaluated the role of cell source in the boundary lubrication of engineered meniscus tissue. To accomplish this, both primary meniscal fibrochondrocytes (FCC) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were obtained from neonatal bovine, seeded in high density collagen gels (20 mg/mL collagen with 25 × 106 total cells/mL) at various MSC:FCC ratios, and cultured for two weeks. After culture, the boundary friction coefficient, mechanical properties, surface roughness, and lubricin localization were all evaluated for engineered constructs. A strong correlation between MSC content and boundary friction coefficient was found (R2 = 0.948). Aggregate modulus, permeability, and surface roughness revealed insignificant trends with MSC content; however, lubricin localization was highly correlated with increasing MSC content (R2 = 0.902). Similarly, boundary friction coefficient had no significant trends with modulus, permeability, or roughness, but lubricin localization was significantly correlated with the boundary friction coefficient (R2 = 0.800). Collectively, these data revealed a structure-function relationship in meniscus tissue engineering that is dictated by cell source. Specifically, the connection between MSC content, lubricin localization, and boundary friction coefficient reveal a method through which tuning the lubricating properties of engineered tissue is possible.
THE IDENTIFICATION OF BUILDING STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS I. THE LINEAR CASE

This paper investigates the response of structural systems to strong earthquake ground shaking by utilizing some concepts of system identification. After setting up a suitable system model, the Weiner technique of nonparametric identification has been introduced and its experimental applicability studied. The sources of error have been looked into and several new results have been presented on accuracy calculations stemming from the various assumptions in the Wiener technique. The method has been applied in studying the response of a 9-story reinforced concrete structure to earthquake excitation as well as ambient vibration testing. The linear contribution to the total roof response during strong ground shaking has been identified, and it is shown that a marked nonlinear behavior is exhibited by the structure during the strong-motion portion of the excitation.
FDG PET/CT Findings in Benign Bone Lesions

1270 Objectives FDG PET/CT is the standard of care in the management of cancer. Metabolically active lesions in the bone upstage malignancies and alter subsequent management. Identifying benign bone lesions correctly, with or without FDG uptake, will increase the accuracy of staging. The purpose of this educational exhibit is to familiarize nuclear medicine and radiology physicians with the FDG PET/CT appearance of common benign osseous lesions. Characteristic findings associated with routinely encountered benign lesions are displayed with particular attention to anatomic location, patient population, CT characteristics, and degree of FDG avidity. In certain cases, long term follow up imaging, histopathological and MRI findings are presented to augment educational value. Methods The FDG PET/CT departmental teaching files from a tertiary care university hospital, a major metropolitan county hospital, and a large regional Children9s hospital were queried for high quality instructive examples of a representative sample of commonly encountered benign bone lesions. Results The examples included in this exhibit are as follows: enchondroma, fibrous dysplasia, hemangioma, osseous sarcoid, normal anatomy (femoral fovea, physeal plates in children, herniation pit), osteoid osteoma, osteomyelitis, Paget’s disease, Schmorl’s node, and multiple stages of fracture. A detailed description of clinical scenario, common imaging findings (Radiographic, CT, MRI), and a focused differential diagnosis will be presented for each case shown. Conclusions Given the incidence of benign bone lesions, it is important for PET/CT readers to be familiar with characteristic imaging features of common benign bone lesions in order to accurately stage malignancies. Facility with the entities displayed herein may help interpreting physicians (particularly trainees) differentiate a benign lesion from a focus of osseous metastatic disease, which is of the utmost importance in the oncology patient population commonly imaged with FDG PET/CT. RESEARCH SUPPORT: None $$graphic_87F3DDE8-464A-408F-A3B5-FE1918B2544D$$
Metastructures for Photonics Applications

Connie Chang-Hasnain is Associate Dean for Strategic Alliances of College of Engineering and Whinnery Distinguished Chair Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, at the University of California, Berkeley. She has been the Founding Co-Director of Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute since 2015. She is also the Chief Academic Officer of Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS) and Proram Leader of BEARS’ SinBeRISE (Singapore Berkeley Research Initiative on Sustainable Energy) program since April 2015. Prof. Chang-Hasnain received her Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 1987. Prior to joining the Berkeley faculty, Dr. Chang-Hasnain was a member of the technical staff at Bellcore (1987–1992) and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University (1992–1995).
Big data transfer optimization based on offline knowledge discovery and adaptive sampling

The amount of data moved over dedicated and non-dedicated network links increases much faster than the increase in the network capacity, but the current solutions fail to guarantee even the promised achievable transfer throughputs. In this paper, we propose a novel dynamic throughput optimization model based on mathematical modeling with offline knowledge discovery/analysis and adaptive online decision making. In offline analysis, we mine historical transfer logs to perform knowledge discovery about the transfer characteristics. Online phase uses the discovered knowledge from the offline analysis along with real-time investigation of the network condition to optimize the protocol parameters. As real-time investigation is expensive and provides partial knowledge about the current network status, our model uses historical knowledge about the network and data to reduce the real-time investigation overhead while ensuring near optimal throughput for each transfer. Our novel approach is tested over different networks with different datasets and outperformed its closest competitor by 1.7x and the default case by 5x. It also achieved up to 93% accuracy compared with the optimal achievable throughput possible on those networks.
Phase Conjugation in OAM fiber modes via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

We report the first demonstration of phase conjugation in OAM fiber modes via SBS. Acoustic and optical angular-momentum selection rules facilitate this even for monomode launch, in contrast to the traditional need for multimode inputs.
Unsettled earthquake nucleation

Detailed analyses of the source characteristics of two earthquake sequences lead to seemingly contradictory interpretations: one study concludes that each earthquake triggers subsequent ones, while the other favours a slow-slip trigger.
A Distinguished Family of Unitary Representations for the Exceptional Groups of Real Rank = 4

In this note, we will construct three small unitary representations for each of the four simply-connected exceptional Lie groups G of real rank = 4. We will describe the restrictions of these representations to a maximal compact subgroup K of G, and will show they are multiplicity-free. The method of construction is by a continuation of the “quaternionic discrete series” for G. This works in more generality, and we will treat it fully in another paper, so we have only sketched the proofs here.
Quantum Complex Matter Space

In this article, a new fundamental views on matter will be presented and the paradigm will be shifted from real or pure imaginary particle to Complex Matter Space. A new assumption will be imposed that matter has two intrinsic components, mass and charge. The mass will be measured by a real number and charge by an imaginary unit. We review some results and effects of the Complex Matter Space Theory on Special Relativity theory and hope that this approach helps a relativistic quantum view of energy and momentum in Complex Matter Space.
Effect of 8-Br cGMP on aqueous humor dynamics in monkeys.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of 8-bromo cGMP (Br cGMP) on aqueous humor flow rate and outflow facility in monkey eyes. METHODS. Aqueous humor flow rate was measured fluorophotometrically after topical, intracameral, or intravitreal administration of Br cGMP in one eye and normal saline in the other eye. Outflow facility was determined by two-level constant pressure perfusion after intracameral bolus injection of Br cGMP in one eye and Barany's solution in the other eye. RESULTS Aqueous humor flow rate decreased by 15% to 20% after intravitreal administration of 10 or 30 micrograms of Br cGMP. There was no flow response to smaller or larger intravitreal doses nor to drugs administered via other routes. Outflow facility increased by 25% to 30% after intracameral infusion of 100 or 300 g Br cGMP, but not after smaller doses. CONCLUSIONS cGMP may be involved in the regulation of aqueous humor formation and outflow facility and their responses to pharmacologic agents.
Catalase Content in Peanut Milk as Affected by Growth of Aspergillus parasiticus

Changes in catalase content and pH of peanut milk in which Aspergillus parasiticus was cultured were monitored over a 10-d period at 30°C. A 3- to 10-fold increase in catalase content was detected after 6 d of incubation, while the content in uninoculated (control) peanut milk decreased by about 50% after 3 d of incubation. The pH of uninoculated catalase-supplemented peanut milk increased from 6.7 to 9.2, whereas the pH of inoculated peanut milk remained essentially unchanged. Production of catalase by A. parasiticus and perhaps other molds could be a basis for developing a hydrogen peroxide treatment for separating mold-contaminated kernels from sound kernels.
Fiduciary Principles in Banking Law

When are banks fiduciaries of their customers and clients? This question is of more than theoretical interest given the organizational structure of modern financial institutions and the broad-ranging functions they perform. In this chapter of the Oxford Handbook of Fiduciary Law, I canvass fiduciary principles in banking law. I consider when fiduciary duties exist and what they require, the range of remedies available for breach, and the various techniques banks use to exclude or modify fiduciary duties. One puzzling feature of the legal landscape is that clients bring actions less often than banks’ size and conduct might suggest, which contributes to legal uncertainty. Fiduciary law nevertheless constrains banks’ activities: courts have cast banks as fiduciaries in all of the major commercial and investment banking functions, including making loans and accepting deposits, advising on merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, and underwriting securities offerings, although banks face greater risk in some areas than others. Banks have responded by disclaiming fiduciary duties and using information barriers/Chinese walls, and yet recent judicial decisions refuse to accept these measures as automatically effective for avoiding fiduciary liability. Courts insist that they, rather than the parties themselves, determine whether fiduciary duties exist and what they require. The law thus diverges from some theoretical accounts of fiduciary doctrine, posing challenges for banks and new questions for scholars.
Trust and cooperation at a confluence of worlds: An experiment in Xinjiang, China

Abstract We study trust and willingness to cooperate among and between Uyghur and Han college students in Xinjiang, China. In our incentivized laboratory-style decision-making experiment, within and between group interactions occur among identifiable participants without traceability of individual decisions and without explicitly referencing ethnicity. We find that members of each ethnicity show favoritism towards those of their own ethnicity in both trust and cooperation and that communication enhances inter-ethnic cooperation significantly. Other results include that Uyghur and Han subjects behave differently in their willingness to cooperate relative to willingness to trust, consistent with a conjecture about cultural persistence and centuries-old differences in lifeway.
Uconn Coach's 'Just Cause' Dismissal Gets Sticky in a Hurry

On the morning of March 10, the University of Connecticut announced it had initiated disciplinary procedures to terminate men’s basketball coach, Kevin Ollie, for “just cause.” UConn stated it would have no further comment until both the university’s disciplinary process and the ongoing NCAA investigation were over, and further declined to explain why it fired Ollie or why it intends to fire him for cause. The “just cause” classification indicates a finding of dishonorable or unethical conduct and, though rarely used to fire coaches, it would likely relieve the university of an obligation to pay Ollie the nearly $11 million remaining in his employment contract. As a union member, Ollie is provided with certain procedural rights through a negotiated grievance process and, with the assistance of the union and his attorneys, Ollie can use the grievance hearings, arbitration and possibly litigation to fight the termination.
Bedside Nurse Acceptance of Intensive Care Unit Telemedicine Presence

Since 2010, health care organizations have rapidly adopted telemedicine as part of their health care delivery system to inpatients and outpatients. The application of telemedicine in the intensive care unit is often referred to as tele-ICU In telemedicine, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and other health care professionals provide patient monitoring and intervention from a remote location. Tele-ICU presence has demonstrated positive outcomes such as increased adherence to evidence-based care and improved perception of support at the bedside. Despite the successes, acceptance of tele-ICU varies. Known barriers to acceptance include perceptions of intrusiveness and invasion of privacy.
Validation of the positive and negative affect scale in the Chilean population and its application on migrant people

Introduction Although the positive and negative affect scale proposed by Mroczek and Kolarz has not been as widely used as other instruments, the adequate psychometric properties reported and the simplicity of the application, make it an adequate instrument to measure the hedonic component of subjective well-being. Thus, the scale validation in Chile will allow researchers to have a short and reliable instrument available in order to measure subjective well-being. Objective The initial objective of this study was to in Chile the "Positive and negative affect scale" proposed by Mroczek and Kolarz. Methods A non-probabilistic sample of 155 Chileans and a sample of 308 adult immigrants residing in Chile from Colombia, Peru and Venezuela were recruited. The sample of Chileans was used to validate the scale. The construct validity (Cronbach's Alpha and exploratory factor analysis) and the concurrent validity through bivariate correlations with other measures were estimated. Finally, the differences in affect expression by Chileans in comparison with migrants people were evaluated. Results The reliability index was Alpha = 0.92 for the positive affect sub-scale and Alpha = 0.75 for the negative affect sub-scale. The exploratory factor analysis reproduced in the same way the factorial loadings proposed in the original instrument with saturations greater than 0.35 per item. Colombian and Venezuelan migrants show greater expression of positive affect than Chileans, while this difference is not observed when comparing Chileans with Peruvians. Conclusion The positive and negative affect scale has adequate psychometric properties to measure the expression of affect (hedonic well-being) in the Chilean population.
Power-Law Noises over General Spatial Domains and on Nonstandard Meshes

Power-law noises abound in nature and have been observed extensively in both time series and spatially varying environmental parameters. Although recent years have seen the extension of traditional stochastic partial differential equations to include systems driven by fractional Brownian motion, spatially distributed scale-invariance has received comparatively little attention, especially for parameters defined over nonstandard spatial domains. This paper discusses the extension of power-law noises to general spatial domains by outlining their theoretical underpinnings as well as addressing their numerical simulation on arbitrary meshes. Three computational algorithms are presented for efficiently generating their sample paths, accompanied by numerous numerical illustrations.