cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bringing Power to Knowledge. Choosing Policies to Use Decentralized Knowledge

For most of my adult life, I have worked as a policy analyst, to advise the prince, to bring knowledge to power. That has often been a frustrating and morally challenging profession. That can also be a valuable and honorable profession. Most of this conference is focused on the challenge of improving the knowledge available to and used by our political leaders. That was also the focus of a similarly distinguished group of scholars and senior politicians at a symposium organized by the Library of Congress ten summers ago.’
Deprotonation studies in α-oxoketene dithioacetals. I.

Abstract Deprotonations of α-benzoyl ketene dithiomethylacetals with LDA/HMPA resulted in kinetic deprotonations at three different sites depending on the other α-substituents.
Secret information in communications networks

Some users of a communications network may have more information about traffic on the network than do others - and this fact may be secret. Such information would allow the possessor to tailor its own traffic to the traffic of others, sending a larger amount of traffic when congestion is low and a smaller amount of traffic when congestion is high; this would help the possessor of secret information and (might) harm others. To study the impact of secret information we formulate a flow control game with incomplete information where users choose their flows in order to maximize their (expected) utilities given the actions of others. In this environment, the natural baseline notion is Bayesian Nash equilibrium (BNE); we establish the existence of BNE in pure strategies. To capture the effect of secret information, we assume that there is a user who knows the congestion created by other users, but that the presence of this user is not known by other users; thus this user has secret information. For this environment, we define a new equilibrium concept: the Bayesian Nash Equilibrium with Secret Information (BNE-SI) and establish its existence. We establish rigorous estimates for the benefit and harm that result from secret information; both the benefit and the harm are smaller for large networks than for small networks. Simulations confirm the estimates of benefit and harm for networks of different sizes and demonstrate that secret information may in fact benefit all users. Secret information may also harm other users in other scenarios. This analysis can be used as a starting point for securing communications networks, both from the network manager and the user's perspectives.
Dimensions of adolescent career development: A multi-instrument analysis

Abstract Dimensions of adolescent career development were assessed by several well-established, objectively scored instruments. Attention was given to the correlations between measures of academic achievement and career development. Correlations among 19 scales administered to 237 eleventh graders revealed three clusters of converging scale pairs, labeled “Certainty,” “Decision-Making,” and “Activity.” Four orthogonal factors were identified and given the following heuristic labels: “Cognitive Resources for Decision-Making,” “Decision-Making Style,” “Systematic Involvement in Career Decision-Making,” and “Decision-Making Stage/Certainty.” Results are discussed in relation to practical problems of instrument selection and score interpretation and in the context of theories of adolescent career development.
Vision-Based Roadway Geometry Computation

Geometric data in transportation, such as roadway geometry, are important for asset management and for safety analysis. Traditional roadway geometric data are measured in the field, which is time consuming, costly, and dangerous. This paper proposes an algorithm to compute roadway geometric data, including roadway length, lane width, line width, and pavement marking size, from images. This paper makes two major contributions. First, the paper proposes a generalized roadway geometry computation algorithm using emerging vision technology based on two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) image reconstruction. The proposed algorithm consists of four steps, which are camera calibration from vanishing points, roadway vanishing line computation, homography computation and 2D/3D reconstruction, and, finally, roadway geometry computation. Second, the paper develops an error model, called roadway geometry error model (RGEM), to spatially quantify and visualize computation errors so that decision makers can choose measurement locations with an acceptable error. The geometric interpretation to RGEM is also presented in terms of roadway vanishing line. The proposed algorithm has been tested using two sets of images that were collected from the Georgia Tech campus and from actual video log images provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The roadway geometry was computed and the computation errors were analyzed. The test results show that the computation errors increase when the computation locations approach the roadway vanishing line. For the computation location with a distance of 190 pixels to the roadway vanishing line, the pavement lane width computation error is less than 3 cm. The experimental results also demonstrate that the proposed error model, RGEM, is able to reliably evaluate the roadway geometry computation errors. Applications of the proposed algorithm for modern and intelligent transportation system are also discussed.
Electrical characterization and alloy scattering measurements of LPE GaxIn1-xAs/InP for high frequency device applications

Abstract GaxIn1-xAs lattice matched to InP has been shown to have 50% higher mobility at 300 K than GaAs, and therefore is useful as an active layer for FET devices in either microwave or high speed logic applications. Results of Hall mobility characterization of GaxIn1-xAs epitaxial layers are presented showing a maximum measured mobility of μ300 = 13,800 cm2/V · s. Analysis of variable temperature Hall effect measurements (4–300 K) conducted on high purity material has allowed separation of the different scattering mechanisms. Results show that alloy scattering reduces the measured mobility by about a factor of two in high purity samples at 77 K and has a small, but noticeable (∼15%) effect at room temperature.
372. Electroconvulsive therapy: dowager or neophyte?

Convulsive therapy is the treatment with longest history of continuous use in psychiatry, and its practitioners and researchers formed this society. Over this period, ECT can be credited with undoing the therapeutic nihilism that characterized biological psychiatry in the first half of the 20 century and setting the stage for the pharmacological revolution. However, until recent years, ECT administration centered only on the principle that the generalized seizure was necessary and sufficient for efficacy. This guiding belief has been proven wrong. Moreover, as a form of brain stimulation, the practice of ECT was out of keeping with knowledge about the neurophysiology of neuronal depolarization. It is now evident that generalized seizures can be reliably produced that lack therapeutic properties, that electrical dosage above threshold for seizure induction contributes to speed and likelihood of clinical response, and, perhaps most importantly, that seizure initiation in specific neural regions appears to be the key to efficacy. Consequently, there are opportunities to redefine ECT. New, physiologically-informed methods of electrical stimulation are being explored, as well as electrical and magnetic approaches to focal seizure induction. ECT remains our most effective antidepressant and antimanic treatment. These advances may extend its therapeutic potential.
Olfactory aversion therapy for homosexual behavior

Abstract This report describes the use of noxious olfactory stimuli—in particular, ampules of aromatic ammonia-as a relatively simple, inexpensive, and precise method for inducing controlled physical aversion in the counterconditioning treatment of behavior inducing controlled physical aversion in the counterconditioning treatment of behavior disorders which involve inappropriate stimulus attachments. The application of this procedure to a case of homosexual behavior is described. The method appears to offer a number of advantages over traditional aversive conditioning techniques, especially in those instances where the application of traditional procedures would be difficult or inadvisable.
Adrenergic activity of the avian oviduct in vivo

Abstract The effect of noradrenaline or isoproterenol, alone or in the presence of an alpha (phenoxybenzamine) or beta (propranolol) adrenergic blocking drugs on the oviducts of anesthetized laying hens was investigated. The results show that both alpha and beta adrenergic activity is present in the avian oviduct with the exception of the uterus which does not appear to have alpha excitatory activity. Norepinephrine induced a strong contraction followed by a brief relaxation period in the infundibulum, magnum and is thmus; administration of phenoxybenzamine blocked this response in all the three segments, indicating the presence of alpha adrenergic receptors. The uterus, however, exhibited an inhibitory response in the majority of the hens and this response was not affected by the administration of phenoxybenzamine. Isoproterenol always induced relaxation in all the four segments of the oviduct. This response was blocked by propranolol, a beta adrenergic blocker, indicating the presence of beta adrenergic receptors. The role of autonomic nerves innervating the reproductive tract in the regulation of reproduction is discussed.
Rate of release of medicaments from ointment bases containing drugs in suspension

An equation relating the rate of release of solid drugs suspended in ointment bases into perfect sinks is derived. The final expression is found to be surprisingly simple and convenient.
Abiotic interactions of natural dissolved organic matter and carbonate aquifer rock

Abstract Abiotic interactions between natural dissolved organic matter (NDOM) and carbonate aquifer rock may be controlling factors of biogeochemical processes and contaminant fate in carbonate aquifer systems. The importance and effects of these interactions were examined using batch adsorption experiments of soil NDOM and representative carbonate sorbents from the Floridan Aquifer. Adsorption of NDOM carbon to aquifer rocks was well-described using a modified linear model and was mostly reversible. Significant adsorption was observed at higher NDOM concentrations, while the release of indigenous organic matter from the rocks occurred at lower concentrations. Longer interaction periods led to more adsorption, indicating that adsorption equilibrium was not achieved. For relatively pure carbonate rock samples, sorbent surface area was found to be the most important controlling factor of adsorption, whereas the presence of indigenous organic matter and subdominant mineral phases were more important, when they occurred. Preferential adsorption of a high over low molecular weight and humic over fulvic components of NDOM onto carbonate sorbents was detected using liquid size exclusion chromatography and excitation–emission fluorometry, respectively. The presence of NDOM inhibited mineral dissolution, though this inhibition was not proportional to NDOM concentration as surface area and mineralogy of carbonate sorbents played additional roles. Though the NDOM–carbonate rock adsorption mechanism could not be completely determined due to the heterogeneity and complexity of NDOM and sorbent surfaces, it is speculated that both rapid and weak outer-sphere bonding and stronger but slower hydrophobic interaction occur. These results have important implications for groundwater quality and hydrogeologic projects such as aquifer storage and recovery.
Biosynthesis of Starch : ADPglucose Pyrophosphorylase, the Regulatory Enzyme of Starch Synthesis Structure-Function Relationships

The synthesis of starch is believed to involve 3 enzymes, ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPGIc PPase, [EC 2.7.7.27] ; reaction 1), starch synthase, (EC 2.4.1.21) ; reaction 2) and branching enzyme ([EC 2.4.1.18] ; reaction 3). (1) α-glucosyl-l-P + ATP ↔ ADPGIc + PPi (2) ADPGIc + (glucosyl) n → ADP + (glucosyl) n+1 (3) Linear α-1, 4-glucosyl chain of α-glucan→Amylopectin (a-1, 6 and 1, 4-glucan) There are many genetic studies to indicate that all three reactions contribute to the synthesis of both starch components, amylose and amylopectin. Maize amylose extender (ae) mutants, containing more amylose and less amylopectin than normal maize have been shown to be defective in one of the branching enzyme isoforms (Plant Physiol., 67, 1141-1145 (1981)). Maize waxy (wx) mutants which contain no amylose are deficient in the starch granule bound starch synthase (Plant Physiol., 62, 383-386 (1978)) indicating that the granule bound starch synthase is involved in amylose synthesis. Starch deficient mutants of pea (Plant Physiol., 89, 1279-1284 (1989)), maize (Science, 151, 343-348 (1966)) and Arabidopsis (Plant Physiol., 86, 1131-1135 (1988)) are deficient in ADPGIc PPase activity. Thus, genetic and biochemical evidence in plants strongly indicate that ADPglucose (ADPGIc) is synthesized predominantly, if not solely, via ADPGIc PPase catalysis. The cyanobacterial, algal and higher plant enzymes are activated by 3-P-glycerate (3PGA) and inhibited by orthophosphate. An algal mutant in which the regulatory sites of the ADPGIc PPase have been affected (Planta, 185, 17-26) (1991) and control analysis (Kacsar-Burns) of the plant ADPGIc PPase, indicate that the allosteric regulation observed of the enzyme in plants reflects the in vivo regulation of plant starch synthesis. Thus, the above studies empha-size the importance of the ADPGIc PPase in starch synthesis and the need for understanding the structure-function relationships of the regulatory and catalytic domains of the ADPGIc PPase. A number of chemical modification and site-directed mutageneses studies have identified the active and substrate binding sites both in the spinach leaf and bacterial enzymes. There is considerable conservation between the bacterial and higher plant enzymes particularly at the substrate binding sites. High conservation is also observed for the 3PGA activator sites of the cyanobacterial and higher plant ADPGIc PPases. These results suggest that the two subunits of the higher plant ADPGIc PPase evolved from the bacterial enzyme subunit. Transformation of the plant systems with the bacterial enzyme gene results in an appreciable increase in starch synthesis ranging from 1.25-to 1.6-fold in potato tubers to 10-fold in tobacco calli. These results confirm that the ADPGIc PPase activity in plants is rate-limiting for starch synthesis and that the allosteric regulation is functional in the plant.
Comparison of IAEA 1987 and AAPM 1983 protocols for dosimetry calibration of radiotherapy beams.

The IAEA 1987 protocol is an international protocol which has made a number of improvements over the AAPM 1983 protocol for calibration of high‐energy photon and electron beams. We present a detailed numerical comparison between the two protocols by calculating (i) N gas and N D for PTW (PMMA wall), Capintec (air‐equivalent plastic wall) and NEL (graphite wall) Farmer type ionization chambers for 60Co γ rays; (ii) dose‐to‐water with chamber in waterirradiated by 4‐ or 25‐MV x rays; (iii) dose‐to‐water with chamber in water, PMMA, and polystyrene phantoms irradiated by 5‐ and 10‐MeV electrons; and (iv) dose‐to‐water with chamber in waterirradiated by 20‐MeV electrons. For photons, the IAEA protocol gives results which are in good agreement with the AAPM protocol; on average the IAEA results are 0.6% smaller than the AAPM results while discrepancies between the two are in the range of −0.4% to −1.2%. For 10‐MeV electrons also, the IAEA protocol gives results which are in excellent agreement with the AAPM protocol; on average the IAEA results are 0.3% smaller than the AAPM results while discrepancies between the two are in the range of −1.0% to +0.5%. In contrast to the above, for 5‐MeV electrons, the IAEA protocols give results smaller than the AAPM protocol by 2.0% on average with discrepancies between protocols ranging from −4.1% to −0.7% depending upon the ionization chamber and phantom material used. For 5‐MeV electrons, the discrepancies are particularly large for polystyrene phantom; the average discrepancies being −1.4%, −1.1%, and −3.6% for water, PMMA, and polystyrene, respectively. If data for 5‐MeV electrons with polystyrene phantom are excluded, then the overall agreement between the two protocols for photons and electrons is within the range of −1.9% to +0.5%. Principal reasons for the observed discrepancies are (i) IAEA uses the correct expression for N D resulting in up to +0.8% correction; (ii) IAEA uses the most recent stopping power ratio for graphite‐to‐air resulting in up to +0.5% correction; (iii) IAEA uses a correction of up to +0.8% for the central electrode which AAPM ignores; (iv) the present estimates of the percent depth doses which arise from the differences in measurement depths in the two protocols; and (v) IAEA uses measured values of the fluence correction factor while AAPM uses a theoretical estimate resulting in corrections of up to −2.2%.
Lipid bilayer heterogeneities and modulation of phospholipase A2 activity.

The regulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity toward synthetic vesicular substrates is a model for the modulation of enzyme function by biological membranes. PLA2's catalytic rate toward membrane phospholipids can be modified by several orders of magnitude by altering the membrane's composition and structure. The physical basis of this sensitivity is the subject of this report. The results described here imply that the salient features of membrane-structure which modulate PLA2 activity include: compositional phase separation; membrane curvature and, possibly, curvature-associated defects; and dynamic product inhibition due to limitations imposed by the rate of lateral diffusion of lipid in the membrane. Furthermore, it is shown that the effects of membrane structure on the catalytic rate are not exerted merely by enhancing association of PLA2 with the membrane surface: a membrane-bound inactive state is spectroscopically identified. Finally, these results are discussed in the context of some published models for the role of membrane structure in the regulation of membrane-bound enzymes.
Nonlinear optical and electro-optic properties of organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gels doped with chromophores

We report a systematic investigation on organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gels doped with nonlinear optical chromophores. The host is based on photosensitive sol-gels prepared from precursor of 3-(methacryloxy)propyl trimethoxysilane-zirconium (or aluminum) oxide (MAPTMS-Zr(Al)) hybrid system. The chromophores are incorporated into the hybrid sol-gels as both guest and side-chain. Second harmonic generation experiment has been conducted to optimize the poling parameters for the active sol-gel films and examine the stability of the second-order nonlinear optical coefficients. Electro-optic channel waveguides have been fabricated by direct ultra-violet (UV) exposure, direct blue laser writing, and reverse-mesa methods. Electro-optic effect of the waveguides is measured at 1550 nm. All the results show that the hybrid sol-gels are promising media for electro-optic devices for integrated optics in both performance and fabrication flexibility.
Limitations of the free-volume sieving model for diffusion of gases in polymers

Calcul de la distribution des tailles des trous dans un polymere a l'aide de la theorie du volume libre et evaluation du modele en utilisant les donnees experimentales de Van Amerongen sur le caoutchouc naturel. Desaccord avec la distribution du volume libre calculee a partir de considerations thermodynamiques
Phase insensitive ultrasonic attenuation coefficient determination of fresh bovine liver over an extended frequency range

The ultrasonic attenuation coefficient of fresh bovine liver was determined by the phase insensitive techniques of the radiation force balance at 1.37, 4.15, 6.90, and 9.65 MHz, and the scanning laser acoustic microscope (SLAM) at 100 MHz. A least squares fit of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient (in Np/cm) vs ultrasonic frequency (in MHz) to the 1–10 MHz data yields A = 0.043 f 1.266 (r**2 = 0.895) and to the 1–100 MHz data yields A = 0.043 f 1.270 (r**2 = 0.954). The following observations can be made: the greatest frequency range (2 decades) over which ultrasonic frequency has been determined for the same specimens. (2) This is the first time it has been shown that the frequency dependence of attenuation remains essentially unchanged over this large frequency range. (3) The frequency dependence is slightly greater than has been observed from the various literature compilations. (4) The attenuation coefficient magnitudes are the lowest values yet determined for fresh liver. (5) The attenuation magnitudes are from 1.3 to 2.2 times greater than the ultrasonic absorption values in the same tissue.
Analysis of unbalanced mixed model data: A case study comparison of ANOVA versus REML/GLS

Major transition has occurred in recent years in statistical methods for analysis of linear mixed model data from analysis of variance (ANOVA) to likelihood-based methods. Prior to the early 1990s, most applications used some version of analysis of variance because computer software was either not available or not easy to use for likelihood-based methods. ANOVA is based on ordinary least squares computations, with adoptions for mixed models. Computer programs for such methodology were plagued with technical problems of estimability, weighting, and handling missing data. Likelihood-based methods mainly use a combination of residual maximum likelihood (REML) estimation of covariance parameters and generalized least squares (GLS) estimation of mean parameters. Software for REML/GLS methods became readily available early in the 1990s, but the methodology still is not universally embraced. Although many of the computational inadequacies have been overcome, conceptual problems remain. Also, technical problems with REML/GLS have emerged, such as the need for adjustments for effects due to estimating covariance parameters. This article attempts to identify the major problems with ANOVA, describe the problems which remain with REML/GLS, and discuss new problems with REML/GLS.
Key agreement for wireless networks in the presence of active adversaries

In this work we consider key agreement in a distributed wireless network in which adversarial nodes may exist in the network. Two practical scenarios are studied, i.e., path-key establishment and key pool bootstrapping. For both scenarios, previous work mainly focuses on preventing adversarial eavesdropping attacks. When the adversarial nodes can both eavesdrop and change the packets in the network, we show that an optimal scheme (in terms of error correction capability) can be obtained by using techniques from the literature of network error correction codes. In particular, for the path-key establishment problem, which has a particular topological structure, we propose a lightweight scheme with lower error probability and computational complexity than existing network error correction codes. For the key pool bootstrapping scenario, we show a connection with multisource network error correction coding, and show that network coding is necessary for optimal resilience against adversarial attacks.
Crosslinguistic and experimental evidence for non-number plurals*

In this paper, I find support for the idea that plural marking shows variation across languages but can still be captured in a universal syntax (Wiltschko 2008, 2011). The proposal that the plural morpheme heads the Number Phrase (Ritter 1991; Bernstein 1991; Valois 1991; inter alia) is not adequate to account for plural marking in all languages. Wiltschko (2008) proposed that plurals may merge either as heads or adjuncts to various projections along the spine of the Determiner Phrase (DP, NumP, nP and the root). I provide syntactic, semantic and experimental evidence that the plural morpheme in Yucatec Maya is adjoined to the DP. I highlight evidence from other language types for variation in the syntax of plural marking, and I discuss how this variation might be constrained in particular ways. The implication of these findings is that identity of function does not imply identical syntax or semantics. Keywords:﻿﻿ plural marking; Number Phrase; Determiner Phrase; Yucatec Maya; sentence production; morphosyntactic priming
Prospects for imaging-related biomarkers of human epileptogenesis: a critical review.

To facilitate the study of epileptogenesis in humans, noninvasive biomarkers of epileptogenesis are required. No validated biomarker is currently available, but brain imaging techniques provide many attractive candidates. In this article we examine the imaging features of temporal lobe epilepsy, focusing on those that may precede the onset of epilepsy and correlate with epileptogenesis. Hippocampal volumetry and T2 relaxometry are proposed as candidate biomarkers of epileptogenesis in temporal lobe epilepsy following febrile status epilepticus. Preliminary data suggest that these have promise, and the ongoing Consequences of Prolonged Febrile Seizures in Childhood (FEBSTAT) study will provide more conclusive evidence as to their validity. At this time there are no other clear candidates for imaging-related biomarkers of epileptogenesis in human studies.
Theory and Practice of Tropospheric Sounding by Radar

Studies of tropospheric sounding by pulsed radio waves have been extended from the original medium-frequency phase to include the use of modern high-powered, sharply beamed microwave radar systems. The apparent detection of discrete echoes from entire air-mass boundaries and from thick regions of relatively high values of dielectric gradient at vertical incidence is indicated by experimental results attained on medium frequencies during the period from 1935 to 1942. On certain occasions, the indicated heights embraced almost the entire troposphere. Sample results are illustrated. More recently, continuous photographic records have been made by vertical beam-sounding techniques which involved the use of modified SCR-584 and AN/CPS-1 (MEW) microwave radar systems. In addition to the familiar scattering reflections from raindrops, snowflakes, and ice particles from heights up to about 50,000 feet, continuous records of "dot," "line," and other unusual weak echo signals are obtained in some form at all times, up to heights of at least 30,000 feet, when sufficient power and sensitivity are available in the radar system. Samples of these photographic recordings are shown, and a simultaneous radiosonde plot is provided for comparison. References are cited to show additional supporting experimental evidence which seems to indicate more strongly that the origins of many of these echo patterns are in the fine structures of the dielectric transition layers of air-mass boundaries and airturbulence and mixing regions.
Observations of drifter dispersion in the surfzone: The effect of sheared alongshore currents

reaching a local maxima of approximately 1.5 m 2 s � 1 between 160 and 310 s, before decreasing to about 1 m 2 s � 1 at 1000 s. The alongshore diffusivity kyy increased monotonically to 1000 s and was variable between the 5 days. For times greater than 30 s, the alongshore diffusivity is greater than the cross-shore diffusivity, consistent with previous observations. The observed diffusivities are fit to analytic functional forms, from which asymptotic diffusivities and Lagrangian timescales are determined. The asymptotic alongshore diffusivity ^yy varies between 4 and 19 m 2 s � 1 , and this variation is ½�
Short communication: Correcting aggregate energy consumption data to account for variability in local weather

There is a growing need in the atmospheric modeling community for city-scale energy consumption data to estimate the magnitude of waste heat emissions in urban areas. While energy consumption data are widely available at aggregate space and time scales they are often difficult to obtain at the finer scales needed in such applications. Simply assuming that local consumption patterns mirror those at coarser scales can lead to significant errors. We, therefore, present a method for correcting coarse-resolution energy data for use at the urban scale. The method is developed and validated using state and city-scale electricity data from cities in the US. Our approach develops regression models relating state-level sector-specific energy consumption to statewide temperature variables. These relations are then applied to temperature data for the city of interest to estimate city-scale consumption. This approach has been validated using residential electricity consumption data for three US cities - Houston, Los Angeles and Seattle. The fine scale weather correction scheme was found to be superior to the alternative of using the aggregate (state-level) data, reducing root mean square errors in estimated consumption by 8-40%. Much of the remaining error is believed to be a result of the assumption that the state-level building infrastructure (including heating and cooling equipment) is similar to that in each of the cities.
Improved separation of modified nucleosides from tRNA hydrolysates: the patterns of tRNA methylation in rat tissues.

Abstract A sensitive and reproducible method for the isolation of minor nucleosides derived from tRNA is described. The nucleosides obtained from enzymatic digestion of tRNA are separated into several groups using a QAE Sephadex column and increasing concentration of boric acid in a step-wise manner. The nucleosides in each group are separated by isocratic elution from a preparative Partisil 10-SCX column and high-performance liquid chromatography at ambient temperature. With this method we have determined the patterns of tRNA methylation in vitro with extracts from rat bone, liver, kidney and adrenal glands. Although different tissues appear to contain the same tRNA methyltransferases, the patterns of methylated nucleosides are different.
Living Dogma and Marriage

The decision to get married, as well as choosing whom to marry, is of the utmost importance to most people. This decision consists of many amoral considerations, but an ethical relationship arises when a promise is made, especially a vow that binds for a lifetime and affects oneself, one’s spouse, one’s children, and society. This essay provides an account of ideal romantic marriage, arguing that John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty provides an excellent foundation for constructing such an account. Neither dead dogma nor living truth is a healthy model for marriage, so a hybrid model of marriage, living dogma, is developed. The importance of the marital vow becomes apparent as the living dogma account is revealed, and this examination yields a model for how to decide when and whom to marry.
Rare earths vs. rare earths: spectral storage in f-d and f-f materials

Analysis of a spectral hole burning memory design implementing high oscillator strength absorbers is reported. While retaining excellent area bit density, potential I/O bandwidth is significantly enhanced while required optical power and energy decrease. Model parameter values that derive from materials recently fabricated and characterized by collaborators indicate excellent data storage system performance.
The SVD System for First-Order Linear Systems

This brief presents theoretical guarantees for stability and performance for the singular value decomposition (SVD) system with subsystems that are linear and first order. The SVD system reduces the dimension of the control input. It is used to meet the rank-one input constraint imposed by the row–column structure. The row–column structure reduces the number of inputs required to control $\mathbf {mn}$ subsystems to ${m+n}$ . Although the subsystems are linear and first order, they can be dynamically coupled and are coupled nonlinearly by the SVD of the control input. Thus, the entire system is of order $\mathbf {mn}$ and nonlinear. Lyapunov stability and performance analysis demonstrates the effect of the SVD dimension reduction through comparisons to a system with full-rank inputs. The analysis also provides convenient methods for control design. Simulation examples demonstrate the use of the SVD system, theoretical results, and the SVD system’s robustness with respect to noise and nonlinearities.
Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of rigid and membranous cuticles and epidermis from the elytra and hindwings of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

The insect cuticle is a composite biomaterial made up primarily of chitin and proteins. The physical properties of the cuticle can vary greatly from hard and rigid to soft and flexible. Understanding how different cuticle types are assembled can aid in the development of novel biomimetic materials for use in medicine and technology. Toward this goal, we have taken a combined proteomics and transcriptomics approach with the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, to examine the protein and gene expression profiles of the elytra and hindwings, appendages that contain rigid and soft cuticles, respectively. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis revealed distinct differences in the protein profiles between elytra and hindwings, with four highly abundant proteins dominating the elytral cuticle extract. MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry identified 19 proteins homologous to known or hypothesized cuticular proteins (CPs), including a novel low complexity protein enriched in charged residues. Microarray analysis id...
Graphical method for force analysis: Macromolecular mechanics with atomic force microscopy

We present a graphical method for a unifying, quantitative analysis of molecular bonding-force measurements by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The method is applied to interpreting a range of phenomena commonly observed in the experimental AFM measurements of noncovalent, weak bonds between biological macromolecules. The analysis suggests an energy landscape underlying the intermolecular force and demonstrates that many observations, such as "snaps-on," "jumps-off," and hysteresis loops, are different manifestations of a double-well energy landscape. The analysis gives concrete definitions for the operationally defined "attractive" and "adhesive" forces in terms of molecular parameters. It is shown that these operationally defined quantities are usually functions of the experimental setup, such as the stiffness of the force probe and the rate of its movement. The analysis reveals a mechanical instability due to the multistate nature of molecular interactions and provides new insight into macromolecular viscosity. The graphical method can equally be applied to a quantitative analysis of multiple unfolding of subunits of the giant muscle protein titin under AFM.
Management of patients at high risk of sudden death

Abstract Patients who experience malignant ventricular arrhythmias (i.e., ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia with syncope or with hemodynamic compromise) are at high risk of sudden death. Such patients can now be protected from recurrent arrhythmias by the use of conventional and experimental drugs. Drug therapy must be individualized, and this requires a system of testing to expedite the selection of the most efficaclous and least toxic agent. In 85% of these patients, the frequency and advanced grades of ventricular premature beats exposed either by Holter monitoring or by maximal exercise stress testing provide an adequate target for assessing drug action. Only 15% of patients require invasive electrophysiologic studies to guide antiarrhythmic therapy. In 10% of instances, antiarrhythmic drugs cause aggravation of arrhythmias. When drug therapy is individualized, an effective program can be achieved for 80%, with less than a 3% incidence of sudden death annually.
Estimating semantic content: an a priori approach

We present our research into the use of the logical structure of natural language discourse to generate estimates of the quantity of semantic content contained within a passage. These estimates of the degree of meaningfulness are recovered from the logical form of the passage, without actually recovering its meaning or necessitating real understanding. We first consider analysis of statements in the propositional calculus, then consider analysis of the logical structure within propositions, as formalized by the predicate calculus. Along the way, we consider several questions related to logic and meaning and introduce several interesting results. the theory and methodology we develop has potential application to a natural language preprocessor for a priori skimming and the production of abstracts, although for now the input should be specified in logical form, rather than in a natural language.
Results of the NIST National Ball Plate Round Robin

Abstract : This report examines the results of the ball plate round robin administered by NIST. The round robin was part of an effort to assess the current state of industry practices for measurements made using coordinate measuring machines. Measurements of a two-dimensional ball plate (240 mm by 240 mm) on 41 coordinate measuring machines were collected and analyzed. Typically, the deviations of the reported X and Y coordinates from the calibrated values were within plus or minus 5 microns, with some coordinate deviations exceeding 20.0 microns. One of the most significant observations from these data was that over 75% of the participants failed to correctly estimate their measurement error on one or more of the ball plate spheres.
Display enhancement for seismic interpretation

To aid in the interpretation of seismic data received from a marine subbottom profiler, a number of digital signal processing techniques are applied. A quadrature bandpass filter with a Guassian response is used to obtain a display representative of the reflected energy in selected windows within the source pulse spectrum. This type of filtering reveals frequency-dependent features of the sediment without introducing artificial layering because of a ripple-free response. Subsequent processing, differentiation or peak detection further enhance the image for the human interpreter.
A 95 GHz Dual Six-Port Network Analyzer

A dual six-port network analyzer operating over the frequency range of 94-96 GHz in WR-10 waveguide is described. The system is used for calibrating one and two-port devices for power, reflection coefficient, attenuation and phase shift.
The nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis modulates the cardiopulmonary responses to central and peripheral drives related to exercise.

Abstract It is known that muscle afferents and the hypothalamic locomotor region (HLR) both project to the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NGC) and that the NGC is capable of influencing cardiovascular and respiratory variables. Therefore, the role of NGC in the cardiovascular and respiratory response to exercise-related signals was investigated in anesthesized cats. These signals were generated by stimulation of: (1) spinal ventral roots to induce hindlimb muscle contraction (MC) and (2) the HLR. Bilateral electrolytic lesion of the NGC at the pontomedullary border caused tidal volume, respiratory frequency and heart rate responses to HLR stimulation to be greater than the responses recorded prior to lesioning. Lesioning had no effect on the ventilatory or cardiovascular responses to MC but did decrease phrenic responsiveness; lesion had no effect on any resting values. In this preparation, the pontomedullary NGC acts as an inhibitory influence on tidal volume, breathing frequency and heart rate responses to the central command for exercise. In addition, NGC modulation of ventilation would appear to be selective for certain respiratory muscle groups.
Building High School Foreign Language Programs: The Illinois State University Outreach Project.

In order to strengthen foreign language instruction on all levels it is imperative that colleges and universities amplify their activities in order to help area elementary and secondary school foreign language teachers in their work. The direction that such outreach activities should take must be planned in cooperation with the teachers themselves, who, in the final analysis, are the best judges of what they need. Central Illinois contains a number of small, mainly rural, and fairly isolated, school districts. Even in the cities, the number of foreign language teachers is small, and contact with foreign culture relatively low in comparison with other areas of the country and even with the more densely populated metropolitan areas of the state. In 1981, the Department of Foreign Languages of Illinois State University, desiring to help raise the level of foreign language instruction in the region and to offer support and assistance to area foreign language teachers, instituted a six-point outreach program. While some of the elements of this program are tailored to the regional situation, the method by which it was developed and the individual elements thereof may serve as a model for other institutions interested in instituting similar local programs.
Epigenetic changes to human umbilical cord blood cells cultured with three proteins indicate partial reprogramming to a pluripotent state

We have previously reported the existence of a subpopulation of cells from human umbilical cord blood capable of differentiating into oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, bone, muscle, and endothelial cells despite their origins as CD45-positive cells. These stem cells (called FSFl cells) arise only after a period in vitro in medium containing FGF4, SCF, and Flt-3 ligand (FSFl medium) during which they express the pluripotency genes Oct4 and Nanog. The objective of this study was to determine if the novel expression of these pluripotency genes coupled with the newly acquired ability of these cells to differentiate into all three germ layers was the result of epigenetic changes to these cells after reprogramming in FSFl medium. We confirm that CD45-derived FSFl cells express Oct4 protein at levels similar to that observed among undifferentiated embryonic stem cells, during which time acetylated histones H3 and H4 display increased binding at the promoter region of Oct4. Changes to binding of acetylated histones at Oct4 when these cells are in a differentiated state (either prior to FSFl culture or after in vitro differentiation into neural cells) and when they are undifferentiated suggest that this is one way by which these cells acquire their pluripotency. While DNA hypermethylation at this gene region as well as the continued H3 and H4 acetylation at the CD45 promoter region among FSFl cells indicate this is only a partial reprogramming event, this is a significant step toward non-transgene reprogramming of somatic cells.
Theoretical Treatment of Ellipsometry

Exact expressions are obtained in closed form for the phase and amplitude of the reflected light when a light beam is incident upon a multilayer of a number of homogeneous media. The assumption is made that Maxwell’s equations and Ohm’s law hold. These equations are applied to the special case of dielectric coated metals and the results are compared to ellipsometry measurements made in chromium slides covered with barium stearate films of known thickness. When the conductivity and the dielectric constant of the metal are allowed to assume complex values, and when precautions are taken to reduce the inaccuracy introduced by the residual oxide and gas layer on the metal, the agreement is good.
Neurotrophic factors and regulation of mood: Role of exercise, diet and metabolism

Results from basic and clinical studies demonstrate that stress and depression decrease neurotrophic factor expression and neurogenesis in brain, and that antidepressant treatment blocks or reverses these effects, leading to a neurotrophic hypothesis of depression. Neurotrophic factor expression and neurogenesis are also decreased during aging and could be risk factors for depression. In contrast, exercise and enriched environment increase neurotrophic support and neurogenesis, which could contribute to the blockade of the effects of stress and aging and produce antidepressant effects. A brief overview of this work and the specific neurotrophic factors involved are discussed in this review.
Histologic and autoradiographic evaluations of long term gingival wound sites in adult rats

Eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were injured at the gingival papillae mesial to the maxillary left first molars. Groups of these rats and controls were sacrificed 9 and 12 months after injury. Prior to sacrifice, all animals received 0.5μc of tritiated thymidine per gram body weight by intraperitoneal injection. Jaws were dissected out and prepared for histologic and autoradiographic analysis. Measurements at the wound and respective control sites indicated accelerated gingival recession at the sites of injury. Labeling indices, however, were similar at both areas examined. Within the limits of the experiment, the observations suggest similar functional demands at both sites regardless of the position of the marginal gingiva, but do not determine the reason for accelerated gingival recession at the wound sites with time.
Reclamation of saline organic soil

Reclamation of saline, organic soils in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California was accomplished by both sprinkling and continuously ponding water on the soil surface. The reclamation data support the generalized guideline established for saline, organic soil.
Abstract 4749: Cyclophosphamide induces dose dependent apoptosis of CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells relative to CD4+FoxP3- effector T cells in breast cancer patients.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) accumulate at tumor sites and within the peripheral blood of patients with a variety of cancers. Tregs suppress antigen-specific immune responses, and represent a major barrier to the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. We previously conducted a dose-ranging study of low dose Cyclophosphamide (0, 200, 250, and 350 mg/m2) given one day prior to a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-secreting HER-2+ breast cancer vaccine in 28 patients with metastatic breast cancer. We found that vaccine-induced HER-2-specific immunity was best optimized by 200 mg/m2 CY, and that doses of CY higher than 200 mg/m2 suppressed antigen-specific immunity. To further explore the pharmacodynamic impact of CY on immune priming, we analyzed Tregs and effector CD4+ T cells present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected pre- and post-vaccination with or without CY by flow cytometry. We found that the percentage of CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs in PBMC did not change with vaccination alone. Conversely, CY at doses of either 200 or 250 mg/m2 selectively induced the apoptosis of CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs relative to CD4+FoxP3− effector T cells, and CY at 350 mg/m2 induced apoptosis of both CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs and CD4+FoxP3− effector T cells. Finally, CY at all doses selectively decreased CCR7−CD45RA− effector memory Tregs and increased CCR7+CD45RA+ naive Tregs relative to vaccine alone. Collectively, these data suggest that low dose CY selectively induces apoptosis of CD4+FoxP3+ Tregs relative to CD4+FoxP3− effector T cells, providing a window for more efficient induction of vaccine-induced HER-2-specific immunity. Citation Format: Gang Chen, James M. Leatherman, Melek Erdinc Sunay, Leisha A. Emens. Cyclophosphamide induces dose dependent apoptosis of CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells relative to CD4+FoxP3- effector T cells in breast cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4749. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4749