cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Behavior of Cloud Systems in TOGA COARE and Their Interactions with Radiative and Surface Processes. Part III: Effects on the Energy Budget and SST.

Abstract Most atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs) and coupled atmosphere–ocean GCMs are unable to get the tropical energy budgets at the top of the atmosphere and the surface to simultaneously agree with observations. This aspect is investigated using a cloud-resolving model (CRM) that treats cloud-scale dynamics explicitly, a single-column model (SCM) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Climate Model that parameterizes convection and clouds, and observations made during Tropical Oceans and Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). The same large-scale forcing and radiation parameterizations were used in both modeling approaches. We showed that the time-averaged top-of-atmosphere and surface energy budgets agree simultaneously with observations in a 30-day (5 December 1992–3 January 1993) cloud-resolving simulation of tropical cloud systems. The 30-day time-averaged energy budgets obtained from the CRM are within the observational a...
Institutional diversity and local forest governance

Abstract Scholarship on common-pool resource governance suggests that collective outcomes vary with the strength of the local arrangements for compliance monitoring. Following Elinor Ostrom's approach to question panaceas, we explore the possibility that there are multiple institutional designs can help sustain forests. We test this argument with data from a sample of 200 forest user groups in Bolivia and find broad empirical support for our propositions: Local monitoring can be an important predictor of forest governance performance, but focusing on monitoring alone can be misleading. Sometimes other aspects of the local governance system, such as self-organized rule making and sanctioning, are more important in explaining why some groups govern their forests more effectively than others. We also find that the more governance functions that communities decide to organize themselves, the more likely it is that local forests are sustained.
Modeling of the densification rates of monosized and bimodal-sized particle systems during hot isostatic pressing (HIP)

Abstract The increasing importance of powder materials fabrication by use of the HIP has led to recent emphasis on analytical techniques for describing and understanding the process. Modeling of particle adhesion and consolidation during the HIP process has been achieved through the characterization of the particle system densiflcation behavior by the deformation of a representative particle due to forces transmitted through its interparticle contacts. Instead of assuming that all of these forces are equal, a model is developed based on forces which vary to produce a uniform rate of contraction (densiflcation) across a compact. Initial parameters of the systems are obtained from radial distribution data available for monosized and bimodal-sized particle systems. Deformation mechanism maps are predicted for superalloys under temperature conditions of 873–1373 K and pressure conditions of 1–1000 MPa by coupling the equations for athermal yield and power-law creep densification mechanisms. The deformation of large vs small particles in a bimodal-sized particle system is also analyzed and assumptions important in these models are discussed.
On-orbit performance of the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager

The Landsat 8 satellite was launched on February 11, 2013, to systematically collect multispectral images for detection and quantitative analysis of changes on the Earth’s surface. The collected data are stored at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center and continue the longest archive of medium resolution Earth images. There are two imaging instruments onboard the satellite: the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS). This paper summarizes radiometric performance of the OLI including the bias stability, the system noise, saturation and other artifacts observed in its data during the first 1.5 years on orbit. Detector noise levels remain low and Signal-To-Noise Ratio high, largely exceeding the requirements. Impulse noise and saturation are present in imagery, but have negligible effect on Landsat 8 products. Oversaturation happens occasionally, but the affected detectors quickly restore their nominal responsivity. Overall, the OLI performs very well on orbit and provides high quality products to the user community.
Feeding: Satiety Signal from Intestine Triggers Brain's Noradrenergic Mechanism

Noradrenergic neurons in the hypothalamus involved in feeding and satiety are activated by gastrointestinal receptors. In the unrestrained rat, sites were first identified at which norepinephrine injected in the medial hypothalamus caused spontaneous feeding, or in the lateral hypothalamus caused no response. The activity of in vivo norepinephrine at these two sites was characterized by localized push-pull perfusion. When a nutrient was infused directly into the rat's duodenum, the synaptic release of hypothalamic norepinephrine was enhanced at lateral sites insensitive to norepinephrine, but suppressed at medial sites reactive to norepinephrine. Thus, signals from duodenal receptors are conceivably sent to the rat's brain to end feeding by way of noradrenergic inhibitory neurons in the hypothalamus.
Electroreduction activity of hydrogen peroxide on Pt and Au electrodes.

Hydrogen peroxide electroreduction on both catalytically active Pt and inactive Au surfaces are studied by using both surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and density functional theory (DFT) ...
Oxidation of iodide by a series of Fe(III) complexes in acetonitrile.

The oxidations of iodide by [FeIII(bpy)2(CN)2]NO3, [FeIII(dmbpy)2(CN)2]NO3, [FeIII(CH3Cp)2]PF6, and [FeIII(5-Cl-phen)2(CN)2]NO3 at 25 °C, ionic strength of 0.10 M in acetonitrile, are catalyzed by trace levels of copper ions. This copper catalysis can be effectively masked with the addition of 5.0 mM 2,2‘-bipyridine (bpy), which permits the rate law of the direct reactions to be determined: −d[Fe(III)]/dt = 2(k1[I-] + k2[I-]2)[Fe(III)]. According to 1H NMR and UV−vis spectra, the products of the reaction are I3- and the corresponding Fe(II) complexes, with the stoichiometric ratio (Δ[I3-] /Δ[Fe(II)]) of 1:2. Linear free-energy relationships (LFERs) are obtained for both log k1 and log k2 vs E1/2 with slopes of 16.1 and 13.3 V-1, respectively. A mechanism is inferred in which k1 corresponds to simple electron transfer to form I• plus Fe(II), while k2 leads directly to I2-• . From the mild kinetic inhibition of the k1 path by [FeII(bpy)2(CN)2] the standard potential (E°) of I•/I- is derived: E° = 0.60 ± 0...
Retinal ganglion cell response to nerve growth factor in the regenerating and intact visual system of the goldfishCarassius auratus

Abstract Light and electron microscopic observations indicated that 1 μg NGF injected into the goldfish eye at the time of optic nerve crush initiated significant retinal ganglion cell body, nuclear and nucleolar hypertrophy when compared to controls at 7 days post-axotomy (7 DPA). In addition, the ultrastructural morphometric values for NGF-treated retinal ganglion cells at 7 DPA were not significantly different from the normal hypertrophy found in 14 DPA controls. Therefore, it appears that NGF treatment caused an acceleration of the normal cell body response to axotomy by about a week. These responses were found to be specific for the NGF molecule and dose-dependent over a 100–1000 ng NGF concentration range. In contrast to the lesioned state, NGF treatment had no significant influence on intact, non-lesioned retinal ganglion cell morphology as measured by morphometric analysis. These results strongly indicate that the responsiveness of the goldfish retinal ganglion cells to NGF is initiated by the axotomy. Eyes treated with NGF in the same manner that elicited the dramatic retinal ganglion cell morphological changes at 7 DPA could also be shown to significantly increase neurite outgrowth from retinal explants cultured at the same post-operative period (i.e. 7 DPA).
Excited state absorption in Bi4Ge3O12

Abstract Excited state absorption (ESA) spectra can sometimes be distorted by the dependence of ESA on probe beam intensity. An example of such a case is encountered in bismuth germanate, where severe distortion of ESA spectrum is caused by the strong increase of ESA with the intensity of the probe beam. We describe a method which extracts the true ESA spectrum and allows to ascribe the effect to concrete states. The method may be useful in other cases when strong dependence on probe beam intensity occurs.
Trends in High Performance Computing

The Annual Boole Lecture was established and is sponsored by the Boole Centre for Research in Informatics, the Cork Constraint Computation Centre, the Department of Computer Science, and the School of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics at University College Cork. The series is named in honour of George Boole, the first professor of Mathematics at UCC, whose seminal work on logic in the late 1800s is central to modern digital computing. To mark this great contribution, leaders in the fields of computing and mathematics are invited to talk to the general public on directions in science, on past achievements and on visions for the future.
Conditional Range Metric for Determining Wind Power Variability of Scarce or Noisy Data

Understanding the nature and characteristics of wind power variability is critical to improving power system operations. Using a relatively large volume of measured wind power time series, the conditional range metric (CRM) has successfully been employed to quantify intra-hour wind power variability. The objective of this paper is to extend the application of the CRM-based method to sparsely sampled wind power time series. To improve the accuracy and adaptability of the CRM, a gamma distribution is proposed to model the power-deviation series without introducing the joint probability density matrix. The shape and inverse scale parameters $\alpha$ and $\beta$ of the gamma distribution are calculated by the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) at each production level. Bayesian estimators (BEs) for $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are then developed as a posterior joint distribution to calculate their expectations by taking the mean value of the paired sample points via a modified rejection sampling strategy. The match between the two estimation results indicates a valid assumption of the likelihood distribution and exact estimated parameters. Applying data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and their down-sampled subsets, the efficacy of the proposed CRM with the gamma distribution approach is compared to that of the existing CRM with a quantile model.
Econometric health production functions: Relative bias from omitted variables and measurement error☆

Abstract E. E. Learner (Amer. Econom. Rev. 75, 308–313, 1985; Econometrica 50, 725–736, 1982) and M. McAleer, A. R. Pagan, and P. A. Volker, (Amer. Econom. Rev. 75, 293–307, 1985) have shown how to assess omitted variable bias by computing extreme bounds of coefficient estimates. Far less attention has been focused on the potential bias from inclusion of variables that are mismeasured. S. Garber and S. Klepper (Econometrica 48, 1541–1546, 1980) derive the bias of the OLS estimator for correctly measured variables due to a single mismeasured variable. The evaluation of this bias is straightforward. However, a more reasonable presumption in many environmental economics problems is that most explanatory variables are mismeasured. In this case, S. Klepper and E. E. Learner (Econometrica 52, 163–183, 1984) show that measurement error bias is now a complex function of the sample covariances of all variables and the covariances of all measurement errors. Biases are harder to assess and may be greater than measured previously. Using the Bayesian diagnostics of Klepper and Learner, we find that bias due to omitted variables appears to be minimal for the OLS coefficient estimator of a frequently used work-days lost data set. However, this estimator is much more susceptible to bias from measurement error than indicated by the simple Garber-Mepper formula. Even small degrees of measurement error are troublesome due to high collinearity between environmental and personal attribute variables, and this problem likely plagues many other similar studies.
Undrained shear testing of jointed rock

Undrained Shear Testing of Jointed Rock Water pressures must change inside joints undergoing shear without perfect drainage. This paper describes a new direct shear machine in which jacketed samples with oriented joints can be tested under consolidated undrained conditions with pore pressure measurement. Triaxial compression techniques for such tests are also described and typical results with intact and jointed sandstone samples are compared with results from the direct shear tests. Whereas intact specimens displayed increasing pore pressure followed by dilatancy and pore pressure decline before peak loading, the pore pressure in jointed specimens continued increasing right up to the peak load.
Decreased concentration of protease inhibitors: possible contributors to allodynia and hyperalgesia in women with vestibulodynia.

Objective Women with vestibulodynia exhibit increased pain sensitivity to contact with the vaginal vestibule as well as with vaginal penetration. The mechanism(s) responsible for this effect remains incompletely defined. Based on reports of a possible role for proteases in induction of pain, we compared levels of proteases and protease inhibitors in vaginal secretions from women with vestibulodynia and controls. Study Design Vaginal secretions from 76 women with vestibulodynia and from 41 control women were assayed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the protease inhibitors, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and human epididymis protein-4 (HE-4), and the proteases, kallikrein-5 and cathepsins B and S. Concentrations between subjects and controls were compared and levels related to clinical and demographic variables. Results Concentrations of HE-4 and SLPI were markedly reduced in vaginal samples from women with vestibulodynia compared with controls ( P ≤ .006). All other compounds were similar in both groups. HE-4 ( P = .0195) and SLPI ( P = .0033) were lower in women with secondary, but not primary, vestibulodynia than in controls. Subjects who had constant vulvar pain had lower levels of HE-4 and SLPI than did healthy control women ( P ≤ .006) or women who experienced vulvar pain only during sexual intercourse ( P ≤ .0191). There were no associations between HE-4 or SLPI levels and event associated with symptom onset, duration of symptoms, age, number of lifetime sexual partners, or age at sex initiation. Conclusion Insufficient vaginal protease inhibitor production may contribute to increased pain sensitivity in an undefined subset of women with secondary vestibulodynia who experience constant vulvar pain.
On a Schröder equation arising in branching processes

It is shown that a 1-1 correspondence exists between the possible Yaglom conditional limits when a subcritical Galton-Watson process is initiated with an arbitrary probability distribution and the invariant measures of the process. This is proven by an examination of the relevant Schroder and Abel functional equations.
Politics and bias in risk assessment

Abstract Whereas formal risk assessments can rationalize decision making in organizations, political and other biases remain. This article examines the origins of risk analysis in conflicts of political interest. The history of probabilistic risk analysis in the nuclear industry illustrates the problem. This involves the nexus between experts and political judgment (focusing on expert behavior in the wake of Chernobyl), and the connection between risk analysis and ideology in decision making (focusing on the issue of deliberate deception in risk assessment).
Measurement of the NO metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, in human biological fluids by GC–MS☆

In this article we critically review the development and application of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques to the measurement of the nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, nitrite and nitrate, in human biological fluids. Our focus is on the issue of the fitness of any analytical strategy to its intended purpose and the validity of the analytical results generated. The accuracy, precision, recovery, selectivity and sensitivity of the various methods are evaluated and the potential pitfalls, both specific to the methods, and general to the area, are considered. Several examples of the applications of these techniques to clinical investigations of NO physiology are also critically evaluated.
Effects of temperature and salinity on survival of toxigenic"Vibrio cholerae" O1 in seawater

In 1991 and 1992, the Latin American epidemic strain of Vibrio cholerae O1 was isolated from ballast water, bilge water, and sewage taken from cargo ships docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama. The findings raised questions regarding the organism's ability to survive long-term aboard ships and to withstand the exchange of ballast at sea. The effects of temperature (6, 18, and 30°C) and salinity (8, 16, and 32 ppt) on survival of V. cholerae O1 strains C6706 and C6707 and a ballast water isolate in sterile seawater were determined. The ballast water isolate, which had a D-value (number of days required to produce a 1 log10 reduction in colony-forming units per milliliter) of 240 days at 18°C, 32 ppt salinity, had the longest survival time. The range of D-values was 36–240 days at 18°C, 60–120 days at 30°C, and 5–20 days at 6°C. In sterile seawater short-term survival was temperature dependent, whereas long-term survival was salinity dependent. In raw seawater, survival time of the ballast water isolate was reduced to 12–27 days, implying the existence of biological influences. As also shown in our previous work, the organism appeared to be able to survive for several months under relatively stable conditions in ballast water aboard ships; however, viability may be reduced to only a few weeks after the organism is introduced into estuarine or marine environments.
Ultrastructure of synaptic vesicles and neurosecretory droplets in insect ganglia after controlled aldehyde fixation.

Abstract A method of classifying mammalian central nervous system synaptic vesicles by means of controlled aldehyde fixation was utilized on the sixth abdominal ganglion of the cricket Acheta domestica . Bodian's Class 1 Type was the only type of agranular synaptic vesicle seen. Four types of neurosecretory droplets were observed. This is the first time that one of these, the Type II droplet, has been described. Findings are discussed in the light of current invertebrate and vertebrate knowledge of neurotransmitters and neurosecretions.
Sex differences in bases of power in dating relationships

The relationships between relative and absolute contributions of resources and perceiving oneself as being powerful in the dating relationship were examined for 50 dating couples. Unlike past research examining resources as bases of power, a wide range of resources was examined—including more traditional “feminine” resources such as affection and companionship. Also unlike past studies, perceived contributions of resources, rather than the control of resources, were examined. How access to alternative relationships relates to power was also examined in this study. Contrary to research examining control of resources, it was found in this study that contributing more to the relationship tended to be negatively correlated with perceiving oneself as having power. Closer analysis revealed that this was particularly true for traditionally feminine resources. It was also found that the more men perceived themselves as having access to alternatives, the more powerful they perceived themselves. For women, on the other hand, an important basis of power appeared to be the control of the reciprocation of love in the relationship.
Monocyte HLA-DR expression as predictor of poor outcome in neonates with late onset neonatal sepsis.

Summary Objectives Down regulation of HLA-DR expression on monocytes has been reported in adult sepsis. The aims of this study were, first to evaluate monocyte HLA-DR expression in late onset neonatal infection and second to investigate the prognostic value of monocyte HLA-DR expression at onset of symptoms for the final outcome. Methods Peripheral blood samples were taken from neonates, who were classified into three groups: late onset neonatal sepsis group ( n =40); non-infective disorders group ( n =24) and the control group ( n =25). Monocyte expression of HLA-DR was determined by flow cytometry. Results The percentage of monocytes expressing HLA-DR was lower in neonates with late onset sepsis ( p Conclusion According to our findings, monocyte HLA-DR expression seems to be an early predictive marker for the prognosis in late onset neonatal sepsis.
The diffusion of holes in undoped amorphous Si :H

Abstract The diffusion length of holes in undoped a-Si : H has been measured by a modified surface-photovoltage method. The a-Si : H was deposited from a d.c. glow discharge in silane. Both field-free and field-assisted hole transport were observed, and could be distinguished by varying the width of the surface depletion layer using different illumination levels. Field-free (thermal) diffusion lengths vary from about 0·3 μm to about 1·1 μm, being a function of substrate temperature during film growth and of the details of the deposition procedure. The hole diffusion length increases with temperature in the range from -30°C to 60°C in the form of a Boltzmann factor with a characteristic energy of 0·22 eV for a film grown at 330°C and of 0·28 eV for a film grown at 250°C. Our results suggest that analyses of a-Si : H solar cells ought not to ignore field-free hole transport.
Local consensus ontologies for B2B-oriented service composition

Agents seeking to discover and compose needed Web services may face knowledge sharing interoperability problems due to differing ontologies. In practice, agents may not have a global consensus ontology that will facilitate knowledge sharing and integration of required services. We investigate a method for agents to develop local consensus ontologies to aid in the communication within a multi-agent system of business-to-business (B2B) agents. We compare variations of syntactic and semantic similarity matching to form local consensus ontologies with and without the use of a lexical database.
Maternal attachment and depressive symptoms in urban adolescents: the influence of coping strategies and gender

The current study examined coping strategies as mediators of the relation between maternal attachment and depressive symptoms in a sample of urban youth. Participants included 393 adolescents (M age = 12.03, SD = .85) participating in a larger study of the impact of stressful life experiences on low-income urban youth. Participants completed self-report measures of maternal attachment, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms at two time points. Results indicated that attachment was not a significant predictor of depression over time. Path analyses demonstrated limited support for a model in which higher maternal attachment predicted higher active coping, which in turn predicted fewer depressive symptoms at Time 2. Maternal attachment was a significant predictor of higher support-seeking coping, avoidant, and distraction coping. Higher maternal attachment predicted greater use of active coping strategies for boys but not for girls, and greater use of active coping strategies predicted fewer depressive symptoms for girls but not for boys.
Discovery of 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(2,2-difluoropropyl)-6,7-dihydro-2H-pyrazolo[3,4-f][1,4]oxazepin-8(5H)-one (PF-514273), a novel, bicyclic lactam-based cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist for the treatment of obesity.

We report the design, synthesis, and structure−activity relationships of novel bicyclic lactam-based cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonists. Members of these series are potent, selective antagonists in in vitro/in vivo efficacy models of CB1 antagonism and exhibit robust oral activity in rodent models of food intake. These efforts led to the identification of 19d, which has been advanced to human clinical trials for weight management.
Effect of Differential Teaching Techniques on Achievement, Attitude, and Teaching Skills:

This study was designed to investigate the effect of differential teaching techniques on achievement, attitude, and teaching skills of 125 college students enrolled in elementary music education classes. Five teaching techniques included contingency-managed instruction (CMI), independent study, CMI-lecture discussion, contact control, and delay contact control groups. The five treatment groups were taught the same instructional materials, pretested, and posttested on modular units pertainingto the elementary music education competencies and teaching skills. Analyses of the data showed no significant differences among groups on pretests, while CMI groups performed better on posttests and the CMI-lecture discussion group best on teaching skills. CMI groups generally demonstrated higher attitude responses. It was concluded that CMI is effective in teaching elementary music education concepts and skills, and that the combination CMI-lecture discussion method includes the benefits of CMI while adding teacher m...
Improving automatic interface generation with smart templates

One of the challenges of using mobile devices for ubiquitous remote control is the creation of the user interface. If automatically generated designs are used, then they must be close in quality to hand-designed interfaces. Automatically generated interfaces can be dramatically improved if they use standard conventions to which users are accustomed, such as the arrangement of buttons on a telephone dial-pad or the conventional play, stop, and pause icons on a media player. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a system to determine where to apply design conventions because each appliance may represent its functionality differently. Smart Templates is a technique that uses parameterized templates in the appliance model to specify when such conventions might be automatically applied in the user interface. Our templates easily adapt to existing appliance models, and interface generators on different platforms can apply appropriate design conventions using templates.
The-rate of dissemination of virulent tubercle bacilli in normal and immune guinea-pigs

Summary (1) In normal non-immune guinea-pigs tubercle bacilli, inoculated intracutaneously or subcutaneously, are carried almost immediately (within an hour) from the portal of entry by the lymphatics. (2) Within three or four days they have made the circuit of the body. (3) In immune animals their transmission is greatly retarded. (4) They remain fixed at or near the portal of entry for about seven days. (5) They do not reach the regional lymph nodes until two weeks after infection. (6) They do not become generalised throughout the body until three or four weeks after infection. (7) The Btudies are presented herewith for whatever bearing they may have on any discussion of the fundamental nature of tuberculous infections or the mechanism of the immune state.
The use of LabVIEW and data acquisition unit to monitor and control a bench‐top air‐to‐water heat pump

A bench-top air-to-water heat pump was designed, developed, and constructed by a multidisciplinary capstone senior design team. This experimental apparatus is currently being used to demonstrate to undergraduate students some thermodynamics and heat transfer concepts and principles. A PC-based control system which consists of LabVIEW and data acquisition (DAQ) unit is employed to monitor and control this experimental laboratory apparatus. This paper provides details about the integration of the electrical/electronic component and the control system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 83–91, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20122
Technical considerations and patient comfort in total colonoscopy with and without a transparent cap: initial experiences from a pilot study.

Background and study aims Even though colonoscopy was introduced 30 years ago, endoscopists still leave a small percentage of the colonic mucosal surface unexamined because of the limitations of the procedure, so there is still room for technical improvements. The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of attaching a transparent cap to the tip of the colonoscope, partly to gather basic data and experience for planning a larger randomized study, and partly to evaluate any technical advantages or disadvantages, and also to appraise the patients' experiences. Patients and methods In 50 consecutive patients examined by a single experienced endoscopist, a prospective pilot study was carried out comparing the use of a colonoscope fitted with a transparent cap (in half of the colonoscopies) with the use of an ordinary colonoscope without a cap (in the remaining 25 patients). The following parameters were recorded: indication for colonoscopy, time to reach the cecum, total time for the colonoscopy, findings, diagnosis, type of colonoscopy (diagnostic or therapeutic, partial or total, ileal intubation), the amount of analgesia and sedation given during the endoscopy, and complications. At the end of the examination and also before leaving the hospital, the patients were asked by a nurse to estimate pain experienced during the colonoscopy, using a visual analogue scale. Results The time for the procedure, the ability to perform a complete colonoscopy (including ileal intubation when it was medically relevant), and the complication rate turned out to be similar in both groups. There were no differences between the amounts of analgesia and sedation given during the endoscopy or between the patients' estimations of the pain experienced. Conclusions The time to reach the cecum and the total time for the colonoscopy is the same with or without the cap, which is well tolerated by patients. Using the cap greatly facilitates the possibility of finding small polyps behind folds in the colon, because the folds can be straightened, thereby improving the view, although in this small pilot study it could not be proven that the number of polyps found was greater using a cap-fitted colonoscope.
Group sparse canonical correlation analysis for genomic data integration

The emergence of high-throughput genomic datasets from different sources and platforms (e.g., gene expression, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), and copy number variation (CNV)) has greatly enhanced our understandings of the interplay of these genomic factors as well as their influences on the complex diseases. It is challenging to explore the relationship between these different types of genomic data sets. In this paper, we focus on a multivariate statistical method, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) method for this problem. Conventional CCA method does not work effectively if the number of data samples is significantly less than that of biomarkers, which is a typical case for genomic data (e.g., SNPs). Sparse CCA (sCCA) methods were introduced to overcome such difficulty, mostly using penalizations with l-1 norm (CCA-l1) or the combination of l-1and l-2 norm (CCA-elastic net). However, they overlook the structural or group effect within genomic data in the analysis, which often exist and are important (e.g., SNPs spanning a gene interact and work together as a group). We propose a new group sparse CCA method (CCA-sparse group) along with an effective numerical algorithm to study the mutual relationship between two different types of genomic data (i.e., SNP and gene expression). We then extend the model to a more general formulation that can include the existing sCCA models. We apply the model to feature/variable selection from two data sets and compare our group sparse CCA method with existing sCCA methods on both simulation and two real datasets (human gliomas data and NCI60 data). We use a graphical representation of the samples with a pair of canonical variates to demonstrate the discriminating characteristic of the selected features. Pathway analysis is further performed for biological interpretation of those features. The CCA-sparse group method incorporates group effects of features into the correlation analysis while performs individual feature selection simultaneously. It outperforms the two sCCA methods (CCA-l1 and CCA-group) by identifying the correlated features with more true positives while controlling total discordance at a lower level on the simulated data, even if the group effect does not exist or there are irrelevant features grouped with true correlated features. Compared with our proposed CCA-group sparse models, CCA-l1 tends to select less true correlated features while CCA-group inclines to select more redundant features.
A person-artefact-task (PAT) model of flow antecedents in computer-mediated environments

Flow theory has been applied to computer-mediated environments to study positive user experiences such as increased exploratory behavior, communication, learning, positive affect, and computer use. However, a review of the existing flow studies in computer-mediated environments in Psychology, Consumer Behavior, Communications, Human-Computer Interaction, and Management Information Systems shows ambiguities in the conceptualization of flow constructs and inconsistency in the flow models. It thus raises the question of whether the direct adoption of traditional flow theory is appropriate without a careful reconceptualization to consider the uniqueness of the computer-mediated environments. This paper focuses on flow antecedents and identifies the importance of separating the task from the artefact within a computer-mediated environment. It proposes a component-based model that consists of person (P), artefact (A), and task (T), as well as the interactions of these components. The model, named the PAT model, is developed by understanding the original flow theory, reviewing existing empirical flow studies within computer-mediated environments, and analysing the characteristics of computer-mediated environments. A set of propositions is constructed to demonstrate the predictive power of the model.
Hydraulic conductivity changes and influencing factors in longwall overburden determined by slug tests in gob gas ventholes

Abstract This study presents the results of core-log analyses from the exploration boreholes, the analyses of face advance rates, and the results of downhole monitoring studies performed in gob gas ventholes for calculation of changes in hydraulic properties in the longwall overburden at a mine site in southwestern (SW) Pennsylvania section of Northern Appalachian Basin. In the first part of the study, coal measure rocks in overburden strata were analyzed and the locations where possible fractures and bedding plane separations would occur were evaluated. In the second part, the hydraulic conductivities were computed by two different slug test analyses methods using the water level changes measured in gob gas ventholes as longwall face approached. Hydraulic conductivities were analyzed with respect to the changes in overburden depth, the locations of the borehole, and mine face advance rates. These data were used to interpret the potential productivities of the gob gas ventholes as a result of fracturing and changes in hydraulic conductivities. The general results showed that the probability of fracturing and bedding plane separations in the overburden increase between strong and weak rock interfaces. Also, the probability of bedding plane separations increases as the interface is close to the extracted coal seam. Evaluation of slug tests showed that the hydraulic conductivity developments in the boreholes and their potential production performances are affected by the underground strata and the roof materials. In situations where the roof material is stiff and thick, the development of high permeability fractures around the borehole will be less. Results also indicated that borehole location with respect to face position affects the fracturing time and permeability evolution as well. Greater overburden depths generally cause earlier fracturing as longwall face approaches, but eventually result in lower hydraulic conductivities and potentially less effective boreholes. Increasing mining rates also resulted in generally lower hydraulic conductivities in the overburden. The results of this study were intended to improve the interpretation of gob gas venthole performance and to provide better siting of these boreholes.
Human CD1d associates with prolyl-4-hydroxylase during its biosynthesis

Recent studies have shown that the CD1 family of proteins present various glycolipid antigens to subsets of T cells. CD1d is expressed on human intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and exists in two biochemical forms: 37-kDa, beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) independent, nonglycosylated, and 47-kDa, beta2m dependent, glycosylated forms. The biosynthetic pathways and the mechanisms of generation of these two biochemically distinct forms of CD1d in human IEC are unknown. Using a human colonic cell line, T84, transfected with CD1d, the biosynthesis of CD1d was investigated. Pulse-chase metabolic labeling studies of T84 transfected with wild type CD1d demonstrated that CD1d was a stable protein over a 4-day chase period. During the first 24 h of the chase, a novel 65-kDa glycoprotein was co-immunoprecipitated with CD1d. Microsequencing of this protein identified the glycoprotein as the alpha and beta subunits of the resident endoplasmic reticulum protein, prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4H), an enzyme responsible for hydroxyl modification of proline residues. To study if either one or both biochemical forms of CD1d contained hydroxyproline residues, amino acid composition analysis of the 37 and 48 kDa was performed, and demonstrated that only the 37-kDa, but not the 48-kDa form of CD1d, contained hydroxyproline residues. These studies demonstrate that CD1d exhibits a prolonged association with P4H and that the 37-kDa form contains hydroxyproline residues. This suggests that P4H association with CD1d during its biosynthesis results in a novel post-translational modification of CD1d.
Descartes and some predecessors on the divine conservation of motion

Here I reexamine Duhem's question of the continuity between medieval dynamics and early modern conservation theories. I concentrate on the heavens. For Aristotle, the motions of the heavens are eternally constant (and thus mathematizable) because an eternally constant divine Reason is their mover. Duhem thought that impetus and conservation theories, by extending sublunar mechanics to the heavens, made a divine renewer of motion redundant. By contrast, I show how Descartes derives his law of conservation by extending Aristotelian celestial dynamics to the earth. Descartes argues that motion is intrinsically linear, not circular. But he agrees that motion is mathematically intelligible only where divine Reason moves bodies in a constant and eternal motion. Descartes strips bodies of active powers, leaving God as the only natural mover; thus both celestial and sublunar motions are constant, and uniformly mathematizable. The law of conservation of the total quantity of motion is an attempt to harmonize the constancy derived a priori with the phenomenal inconstancy of sublunar motions.
US academic librarians and community service: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of community service in academic librarianship in the USA and models for developing local community service programs that encourage participation from academic librarians.Design/methodology/approach – After providing a review of literature related to academic librarianship and community service in the USA, a description of community service opportunities for librarians at Mississippi State University is presented. Suggestions are made regarding development of similar opportunities at other institutions.Findings – Community service is an important element of academic librarianship, and the service opportunities available to Mississippi State University librarians offer a variety of long‐ and short‐term projects that allow for active participation.Originality/value – It is hoped that this case study – dealing with community service opportunities for academic librarians – will be used as a model by other librarians who wish to develop service options...
The thrombophilic state in cancer part II: Cancer outcomes, occult malignancy, and cancer suppression

The association between malignancy and thrombosis has long been appreciated but remains incompletely understood. This is the second of a two-part review of the complex, integral relationship between these two entities, and addresses the specifics of cancer outcomes, occult malignancy in the presence of thrombosis, and the possibilities of cancer suppression by modulating thrombogenesis.
Pleural Fluid pH as a Predictor of Survival for Patients With Malignant Pleural Effusions

Study objectives: To assess the accuracy of pleural fluid (PF) pH in predicting duration of survival of patients with malignant pleural effusions. Design: Analysis of patient-level data from nine sources retrieved from a MEDLINE search and correspondence with primary investigators. Study selection: Published and unpublished studies that report PF pH values and duration of survival of patients with malignant pleural effusions. Data collection and analysis: Primary investigators supplied patient-level data (n 5 417), which was examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, logistic regression, and survival time modeling to determine the utility of PF pH for predicting survival compared with other clinical factors. The primary investigations were graded for study design. Measurements and results: Median survival (n 5 417) was 4.0 months: PF pH (p < 0.0039) was an independent predictor of survival duration. A PF pH test threshold < 7.28 had the highest accuracy for identifying poor 1-, 2-, and 3-month survivals. The predictive accuracies of PF pH (area under the ROC curve range, 0.571 to 0.662) and a PF pH‐ high-risk tumor (lung, soft tissues, renal, ovary, gastrointestinal, prostate, and oropharynx) model (odds ratio range, 2.91 to 6.67), however, were modest for predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-month survival. Only 54.4% and 62.7% of patients identified by PF pH < 7.28 or the PF pH‐ high-risk tumor model to die within 3 months were correctly classified. Weaknesses of the primary data were identified. Conclusions: PF pH has insufficient predictive accuracy for selecting patients for pleurodesis on the basis of estimated survival. (CHEST 2000; 117:79 ‐ 86)
Bayesian Updating and Model Class Selection for Hysteretic Structural Models Using Stochastic Simulation

System identification of structures using their measured earthquake response can play a key role in structural health monitoring, structural control and improving performance-based design. Implementation using data from strong seismic shaking is complicated by the nonlinear hysteretic response of structures. Furthermore, this inverse problem is ill-conditioned for example, even if some components in the structure show substantial yielding, others will exhibit nearly elastic response, producing no information about their yielding behavior. Classical least-squares or maximum likelihood estimation will not work with a realistic class of hysteretic models because it will be unidentifiable based on the data. It is shown here that Bayesian updating and model class selection provide a powerful and rigorous approach to tackle this problem when implemented using a recently developed stochastic simulation algorithm called Transitional Markov Chain Monte Carlo. The updating and model class selection is performed on a previously-developed class of Masing hysteretic structural models that are relatively simple yet can give realistic responses to seismic loading. The theory for the Masing hysteretic models, and the theory used to perform the updating and model class selection, are presented and discussed. An illustrative example is given that uses simulated dynamic response data and shows the ability of the algorithm to identify hysteretic systems even when the class of models is unidentifiable based on the data.
An empirical torque relation for supercritical flow between rotating cylinders

An empirical relationship for the torque transmitted by fluid friction to an outer cylinder as a function of the angular velocity of the inner cylinder has been obtained by analysis of experimental data published by Wendt, Taylor and Donnelly. With one exception it is found that the torque G has the functional form where Ω1 is the angular velocity of the inner cylinder and a and b are constants determined from the data. The formula applies to a range of values of Ω1 above the onset of instability extending to about 10 times the critical angular velocity. The experiments also show that the finite amplitude analysis recently advanced by Stuart gives the correct variation of torque over a short range above the critical speed. At speeds well beyond critical it is found that G varies approximately as Ω1.51, and that the variation of torque with gap width can be expressed as a simple power law with exponent about 0.31. In an appendix Dr G. K. Batchelor shows that these latter relations are consistent with the supposition that the flow is steady and consists of inviscid cores surrounded by boundary layers.
Three Factors in Language Design

The biolinguistic perspective regards the language faculty as an “organ of the body,” along with other cognitive systems. Adopting it, we expect to find three factors that interact to determine (I-) languages attained: genetic endowment (the topic of Universal Grammar), experience, and principles that are language- or even organism-independent. Research has naturally focused on I-languages and UG, the problems of descriptive and explanatory adequacy. The Principles-and-Parameters approach opened the possibility for serious investigation of the third factor, and the attempt to account for properties of language in terms of general considerations of computational efficiency, eliminating some of the technology postulated as specific to language and providing more principled explanation of linguistic phenomena