cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glaucon's Question Ignored: Republic 519a-521b

At Republic 519a-521b, Socrates claims that each guardian must return from his/her contemplation to run Kallipolis. Quite reasonably, Glaucon objects that they would be making the guardian's life worse than it could be. This is sometimes referred to as “the happy philosopher problem”. But rather than answering Glaucon, Socrates admonishes him that their focus is instead on the role of the class of guardians and the happiness of the whole city. It turns out this admonition is the last in a string of similar admonitions that Socrates gives to his interlocutors. This paper examines Socrates' admonition to Glaucon, and its relation to Socrates’ other warnings to focus on the happiness of the city. By examining these admonitions, we can defend Socrates' dismissal of Glaucon's question and the happy philosopher question at 519d. The paper concludes by examining a few strategies for interpreting Socrates’ reluctance to engage Glaucon’s question.
Salivary Osmolality, Function, and Hydration Habits in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hydration status as measured by salivary osmolality and personal hydration habits, selected demographic characteristics, and performanc...
How fascism works: the politics of us and them

Many of us in higher education are familiar with the history of fascism, but with the current rise of fascist ideology in America and Western Europe, Jason Stanley offers an excellent synopsis of c...
Who Are We? Reflections on Edward Weisband’s The Macabresque

[D]uring the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition called war; and such a war, as if of every man, against every man. … In such condition there is...
Travel modeling under foreseeable communications-and-mobility technologies: Part I (short-term view)

Abstract In recent years, one has witnessed rapid advances in communications and mobility technologies. These include breakthroughs in information and communications technology (ICT) on the one hand, and connected vehicles (CVs) on the other. I will review and track the evolution of these advances. Most importantly, I wish to map out the corresponding implications for travel modeling-and-simulation. The discussions will be carried out in two chapters. The current Part I chapter will paint a plausible projection of how the travel modeling community will respond to ICT and CVs as we see it today. The projection is based on existing data and observations, thus lending some credibility to the conjecture. The Part II chapter will speculate on the long-term view, where there is a lot more uncertainty when automated vehicles (AV) join the vehicular fleet. Together, the two chapters offer solid guidelines to deal with what is coming and to deal with uncertainties that are yet to come.
Retroactivity Affects the Adaptive Robustness of Transcriptional Regulatory Networks

Adaptation refers to the system's ability to respond transiently to an input signal and subsequently recover to the initial states. Adaptive robustness, the ability of a network to achieve adaptation, is subject to the loading effects arising from modular interconnections, known as retroactivity. Studying the effects of retroactivity on adaptive robustness facilitates the employment of retroactivity to improve circuit performance in synthetic biology. In this paper, we developed a framework for quantifying adaptive robustness via statistical model checking and used this framework to investigate the effects of retroactivity on adaptive robustness. We found that increasing retroactivity tends to raise adaptive robustness in networks where the output protein does not perform regulatory functions, such as incoherent feedforward loops.
Why Research Methods Matter: Essential Skills for Decision-Making by Susan Gooden and RaJade Berry-James

Gooden, S., & Berry-James, R. (2018). Why research methods matter: Essential skills for decision-making. Irvine, CA: Melvin and Leigh Publishers. $39.95 (Paperback) ISBN: 978-0-99923593-5
Structured illumination-based phase retrieval via Generative Adversarial Network

Structured-illumination (SI) is used for quantitative phase retrieval for improved contrast and sensitivity. However, the nonlinear nature of SI-based phase retrieval process, such as the spatial frequency biases and mixture of different spatial frequency components, usually leads to phase aberrations, in particular in the high spatial frequency components. Recent studies show that nonlinear inversion problems can be efficiently represented by deep neural networks in an end-to-end framework. In this study, we present a deep learning framework for SI-based quantitative phase imaging via the Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (cGANs). A series of structured images paired with the corresponding ground truth of phase images are used to train two competing networks of generator and discriminator. We demonstrate that the GAN-based approach produces sharp and accurate phase image and the structured illumination pattern simultaneously based on our simulation.
Compounding Clusters and Augmenting Trees

This chapter discusses some of the desirable characteristics of networks, and presents combinations and generalizations of the more powerful network structures. Arrays and tree are the basic structures and are widely used. Trees are compact, with simple and regular interconnection patterns, and reasonably good average and longest distances. In contrast, stars, flakes, n -cubes, and most other interconnection patterns are rather like trees that have been pared and stitched in more or less strange ways. However, a strict binary or n -ary tree is not satisfactory, because it does not have alternative paths for fault tolerance or alternative routings to level the load of messages and its diameter can be improved. Two-dimensional arrays with links to 4, 6, or 8 neighbors are not only appropriately connected for many kinds of programs, but also they have often acceptable network properties in terms of longest and average distances and ease of routing. When a converging or diverging flow of data is to be processed, pyramids may be most appropriate. However, a more general structure, especially for a large network that can multiprogram many users, would appear to be a lattice. Its near-neighbor connections can be varied in a number of ways and its overall shape can be carved, as deemed appropriate to bulging lattice, egg, or sphere.
Risk of Future Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients Developing Steroid-Induced Hyperglycemia During Hospitalization for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation

We evaluated the future risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in patient without T2DM who develop hyperglycemia with short-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy during hospitalization. Retrospective analysis was performed on charts of non-diabetic patients admitted with COPD exacerbation and treated with a course of high dose systemic corticosteroid during hospitalization. Patients with BMI over 40 kg/m2, endocrinopathy and on medications that could impair glucose tolerance were excluded. Patient data were collected for 1 year after initial hospitalization. Diagnosis of T2DM or IGT was based on the ADA criteria. 311 charts were reviewed, of which 64 patients met our inclusion criteria. Depending on the blood glucose readings during hospitalization, the patients were categorized into two groups: hyperglycemic (> 140 mg/dL; n = 42) and normoglycemic (≤ 140 mg/dL; n = 22). In the hyperglycemic group, 17/42 (40%) patients developed prediabetes and 5/42 (12%) developed T2DM on follow-up. Interestingly, none of the patients developed IGT or T2DM in the normoglycemic group. Both the groups were well matched in terms of family history of DM, history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, BMI > 25 kg/m2, weight change, tobacco and alcohol use, corticosteroid therapy duration, and cumulative steroid dose. After adjusting for all these risk factors, on logistic regression analysis, hyperglycemic patients had 37 times higher chance of developing IGT, compared to normoglycemic patients (p = 0.003). Our study suggests that patients without T2DM with acute exacerbation of COPD who develop steroid-induced hyperglycemia in response to systemic corticosteroid treatment have an increased risk for developing future IGT or T2DM. Bigger studies are needed to support our findings since results drawn from our study have the limitations of smaller sample size (wider confidence interval) in a single center.
A comprehensive assessment of heat loss mechanisms on the propagation of lean, premixed ethylene-oxygen flames in millimeter-scale tubes

Abstract Heat loss plays an important role on the flame propagation characteristics of premixed gas mixtures in small tubes. However, stringent spatial and temporal resolutions required to simulate these phenomena cause numerical investigations to resort to single-step global reaction mechanisms and ignore radiative losses. Both these restrictions are relaxed in this study where a skeletal 10-step mechanism and an optically thin radiation model are employed to study flame propagation in lean (Φ = 0.2) premixed ethylene/oxygen mixtures in millimeter-scale tubes (1 mm and 2 mm diameters). First, convergence in the spatial and temporal resolutions were ascertained and found to compare well with the characteristic reaction zone lengths and timescales determined from detailed reaction mechanisms. The accumulation of numerical errors over the simulation time frame was determined to be less than 0.06%. Radiative losses reduced the flame propagation velocities by 73% and 51% in the 1 mm diameter and 2 mm diameter tubes respectively and made the flames less concave. The flame velocities were moderately affected by the thermal boundary conditions (adiabatic versus isothermal walls). The radiant fractions were in the range 0.12–0.17. The slow CO oxidation reactions cause CO2 concentrations to be lower than those predicted from single-step mechanisms.
Iodine nutrition status and abnormal thyroid function of early pregnant women

Objective To investigate the prevalence of thyroid disease in early pregnancy women of Hangzhou,and further to discuss the necessity of screening thyroid function in early pregnant women.Methods From March to October 2013,1 165 cases of women in the center of community health service (or health) for routine prenatal care during early pregnancy were used as research subjects.Household salt,fasting morning urine and serum samples were collected.The salt iodine level was measured by direct titration of sodium thiosulfate.The urinary iodine level was measured by arsenic-cerium contact process method.The levels of serum TSH,FT4,and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were measured by chemiluminescence method.Results The median of urinary iodine of the early pregnancy women was 135.2 μg/L,and only 26.7％ of early pregnancy women' s iodine-nutrition status were optimal.These were no significant difference in median urinary iodine as well as the frequency distribution between urban and suburban(P＞0.05).The abnormal rates of TSH and FT4 in early pregnancy women with negative TPOAb were 6.8％ (71/1 039) and 8.9％ (92/1 039),and the abnormal rates of TSH and FT4 in suburban areas were higher than those in urban areas(P=0.035,P =0.001).The prevalences of hypothyroidism,subclinical hypothyroidism,and hypothyroxinemia in early pregnant women of Hangzhou were 0.3％ (3/1 165),2.0％ (23/1 165),and 4.8％ (56/1 165) respectively,and the prevalence of hypothyroxinemia in suburban areas was significantly higher than that in urban areas (6.1％ vs 3.5％,P =0.040).The positive rate of TPOAb was 9.9％ (114/1 153).The early pregnant women with positive TPOAb have an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction,the ratio of TSH over the reference values was significantly higher than that in the negative group and more prone to subclinical hypothyroidism (OR =3.34,95％ CI 1.29-8.65).Conclusion The early pregnant women in rural areas or with positive TPOAb have an increased risk of abnormal thyroid function,thyroid function and iodine nutrition screening or monitoring should be highlighted. Key words: Early pregnancy; Iodine nutrition; Thyroid function
A Closed-Form Analytical Estimation of Vertical Displacement Error in Pedestrian Navigation

We present an analytical expression for estimating the position error in the vertical direction in pedestrian navigation using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) aided by an altimeter. The analytical expression is found to be directly proportional to the altimeter resolution, the square root of the altimeter sampling rate, IMU Velocity Random Walk (VRW), and a ratio of time intervals in the stance phase and the swing phase during the gait cycle, and inversely proportional to the square root of IMU sampling rate. The analytical analysis was verified by numerical simulations and supported by experimental results. The numerical simulation of the ZUPT-augmented navigation aided by an altimeter was conducted based on a mathematically simulated foot motion trajectory. Experiments were implemented on a foot-mounted platform containing IMUs and altimeters. The results from both simulations and experiments matched our analytical prediction, with an error less than 20%.
The Improvement in Cardiovascular Risk Markers with Glimepiride in Pre-diabetic non-obese Subjects: Similar to Obese Cohort Treated with Metformin

Background: We recently documented better efficacy of glimepiride in non obese subjects for delaying progression from Pre diabetes to type 2 diabetes as compared to metformin in obese subjects over duration of 5-9 years (mean, 7.2±0.2). Metformin was the first-line therapeutic agent among newly diagnosed overweight patients with diabetes. Moreover, no deaths or adverse cardiovascular events occurred in either group and this finding may be attributed to beneficial changes in lipids and cardiovascular surrogate markers. However, the effects of interventions on lipids and cardiovascular surrogate markers were not reported. Objective: Therefore, Cardiovascular risk factors including Lipid fractions, e.g. serum Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDLC) and other markers, e.g. Homocysteine (HomC), highly sensitive C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Fibrinogen (FIBR) and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor1 (PAI1) were assessed prior to intervention and at interval of 6 months’ in subjects with Pre diabetes; lean treated with glimepiride and obese administered metformin. Subjects and Methods: 18 non obese subjects, 10 men and 8 women ages 27-78 years and 20 obese subjects, 10 men and 10 women with ages 32-81 years with Pre diabetes (fasting plasma glucose, 100 – 125 mg/dl and/or HbA1c, 5.7-6.4%) participated in the study. The study period was 5-9 years (mean, 7.2 ± 0.2). Non obese subjects received glimepiride and obese subjects were administered metformin. Subjects were counseled with lifestyle intervention (appropriate diet and exercise) at each visit during the study. Comparisons were conducted between lipids and CV markers at entry, at six months and at the last visit of the study for individual group as well as between groups for levels at baseline and at the end of the study period. Results: In glimepiride group, marked improvements occurred in all parameters following treatment (Post Rx) at 6 months and were sustained till the end of the study HbA1C (%): 6.2 ± 0.2, 5.5± 0.1*, 5.7 ± 0.1*; TC (mg/dl): 212± 15, 174 ± 13*,178 ± 14*; TG (mg/dl): 202± 32, 162± 28*, 178± 14*; LDLC: 130± 12, 105± 10*, 109± 9*; Non HDLC(mg/dl): 181 ± 24, 130 ± 14*,109± 9*; HomC (? Mol/l): 18± 3, 11± 2*, 12 ± 2*; CRP(Units): 13 ± 3, 6 ± 2*,5 ± 2*; FIBR (mg/dl): 403 ± 41, 296 ± 32*, 289± 28*; PAI1 (ng/ml): 18 ± 4, 13 ± 3*, 12 ± 4*; Post Rx vs. Pre Rx, p<0.05 for all values]. HDLC was not significantly altered. Similar changes were also noted in obese subjects treated with metformin. No significant differences were also noted between 2 groups at the entry, 6 months or the end of study. Conclusion: In subjects with Pre diabetes, glimepiride is as effective in improving lipid profiles and cardiovascular surrogate markers in nonobese when compared with metformin in obese subjects thus explaining similar cardiovascular outcomes in both groups.
Nanopore dwell time analysis permits sequencing and conformational assignment of pseudouridine in SARS-CoV-2

Abstract Nanopore devices can directly sequence RNA, and the method has the potential to determine locations of epitranscriptomic modifications that have grown in significance because of their roles in cell regulation and stress response. Pseudouridine (Ψ), the most common modification in RNA, was sequenced with a nanopore system using a protein sensor with a helicase brake in synthetic RNAs with 100% modification at 18 known human pseudouridinylation sites. The new signals were compared to native uridine (U) control strands to characterize base calling and associated errors as well as ion current and dwell time changes. The data point to strong sequence context effects in which Ψ can easily be detected in some contexts while in others Ψ yields signals similar to U that would be false negatives in an unknown sample. We identified that the passage of Ψ through the helicase brake slowed the translocation kinetics compared to U and showed a smaller sequence bias that could permit detection of this modification in RNA. The unique signals from Ψ relative to U are proposed to reflect the syn-anti conformational flexibility of Ψ not found in U, and the difference in π stacking between these bases. This observation permitted analysis of SARS-CoV-2 nanopore sequencing data to identify five conserved Ψ sites on the 3’ end of the viral sub-genomic RNAs, and other less conserved Ψ sites. Using the helicase as a sensor protein in nanopore sequencing experiments enables detection of this modification in a greater number of relevant sequence contexts. The data are discussed concerning their analytical and biological significance.
Predicting third-grade academic achievement in low-socioeconomic children: developmental and socio-behavioural influences in kindergarten

Structural equation modelling was used to investigate the predictive associations between kindergarten developmental, socio-behavioural, and biotic influences on third grade achievement among a nat...
Blockchain and sustainable supply chain management in developing countries

Abstract Theoretical, empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that there are more violations of sustainability principles in supply chains in developing countries than in developed countries. Recent research has demonstrated that blockchain can play an important role in promoting supply chain sustainability. In this paper we argue that blockchain’s characteristics are especially important for enforcing sustainability standards in developing countries. We analyze multiple case studies of blockchain projects implemented in supply chains in developing countries to assess product quality, environmental accounting and social impact measurement. We have developed seven propositions, which describe how blockchain can help address a number of challenges various stakeholders face in promoting sustainable supply chains in developing countries. The challenges that the propositions deal with include those associated with an unfavorable institutional environment, high costs, technological limitations, unequal power distribution among supply chain partners and porosity and opacity of value delivery networks.
Three-dimensional modeling of the mitral valve for surgical planning in a pediatric patient: A case-based discussion of the technical challenges of segmentation and printing from 3D transthoracic echocardiographic datasets

Abnormal atrioventricular valve present great challenges to the surgeon in achieving a successful repair, and thus present a great opportunity for enhanced 3D imaging to guide pre- and intra-operative management. Spatial and temporal resolution of 3D echocardiography enables 3D printing of valve morphology. However, non-linearity, angle dependence, speckle, blur, and resampling complicate segmentation compared to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A case of complex mitral valve disease in a pediatric patient is therefore presented to illustrate the technical challenges of segmentation and 3D printing from echocardiographic data.
A Note on Sexual-Harassment Policy

Numerous reasons exist for businesses to have a comprehensive and well-monitored sexual-harassment policy. The first, and most self-interested, reason is that creating a strong program will significantly reduce the potential for and extent of liability for incidents of sexual harassment. Second, such a policy is likely to lead to a decrease in harassment, which will save a company considerable time, money, and effort and reduce the likelihood that the company's image/credibility will be damaged if incidents do occur. Third, as parties interested in creating a positive working environment, employers have reason to actively support such a policy. Finally, as moral agents, companies should support these efforts as part of their concern about the integrity of their companies and the well–being of their employees. Excerpt UVA-E-0080 A NOTE ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY Why Have a Policy Numerous reasons exist for businesses to have a comprehensive and well-monitored sexual–harassment policy. The first, and most self-interested, reason is that creating a strong program will significantly reduce the potential for and extent of liability for incidents of sexual harassment. Second, such a policy is likely to lead to a decrease in harassment, which will save a company considerable time, money, and effort (recall the figures from “A Note on Sexual Harassment” on the cost incurred by the federal government due to harassment incidents) and reduce the likelihood that the company's image/credibility will be damaged if incidents do occur. Third, as parties interested in creating a positive working environment, employers have reason to actively support such a policy. Finally, as moral agents, companies should support these efforts as part of their concern about the integrity of their companies and the well-being of their employees. How to Construct a Policy A number of steps are needed to create a good and effective sexual-harassment policy. First, an employer should make sure they have a formal, written policy clearly stating they will not tolerate sexual harassment. Specifically, this policy should detail such conduct and include stiff penalties for violating it. Second, the company should take time to educate all employees about the policy and about sexual harassment in general. As statistics cited in “A Note on Sexual Harassment” indicate, a good deal of misunderstanding exists about what constitutes a hostile work environment, and education would go a long way in clarifying some of the uncertainties and ignorance surrounding the subject. Education might include discussion of particular situations/cases that bring to light the concept of a hostile environment and the general differences between men and women in perceiving what constitutes such an environment. . . .
Software Package and Application Systems in Meat Quality Evaluation and Prediction for Live Animals and Carcasses

There are three economically important traits under the current U. S. Beef Grading System: the distribution and amount of intramuscular fat (or marbling), the subcutaneous fat thickness, and the ribeye muscle size. These traits are also major factors used in evaluating body composition for genetic improvement. The marbling scores are visually graded by certified inspectors under the current USDA Beef grading system. There is a increased demand for an objective quality evaluation system from livestock producers, meat industries, and consumers.
A flight simulator for advanced aircraft - Servo design to realization.

Discussion of computer-aided design results obtained for a moving-base, three-man flight simulator. From a control viewpoint, the structure is discussed in terms of disturbance torques, damping ratios, natural frequencies, load acceleration, and smoothness. The use of inertia to achieve well-behaved structural transfer functions and smooth or high fidelity load accelerations is demonstrated. Transfer functions in the complex frequency domain, as well as time-dependent solutions to the system, are derived. The relative merits of using position and/or velocity as primary feedback, for a limited travel acceleration device, are discussed. Root locus plots, which were utilized in the control-system design, Bode plots, and time-dependent plots are drawn. In addition, the theoretical ratio of velocity to commanded input Bode plot is compared to the experimental results, and the dramatic effect on the load smoothness plot caused by selecting velocity over position as primary feedback is shown.
The Other Side of the Window

One morning early in December 1962 I received a call from David Beckler, executive assistant to Jerome Wiesner, who asked if I might be interested in joining Wiesner’s staff in the Office of Science and Technology (OST), part of the Executive Office of the President. The next week I traveled to Washington for discussions with Wiesner, Beckler, Edward Wenk, and David Z. Robinson. Wenk was staff specialist for oceanography as well as executive secretary of the Federal Council for Science and Technology, and Robinson was staff specialist for the physical sciences. They and about 14 other specialists were assistants to Wiesner, the president’s science advisor. The position proposed for me was as staff specialist in the atmospheric sciences, a new position created in response to the emphasis being placed on the atmospheric sciences and the growth of atmospheric research budgets of the various agencies. Responsibilities would include becoming informed on research and development programs of the agencies, attending meetings of the President’s Science Advisory Committee (PSAC) and serving as staff secretary for the PSAC Panel on the Atmospheric Sciences (chaired by John Tukey and known as the “Tukey Panel”). I also would serve as OST observer for the Interdepartmental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences (ICAS), the committee of the Federal Council charged with coordinating atmospheric research supported by the various agencies. Perhaps most important, I would act as liaison or consultant to the Bureau of the Budget on atmospheric issues. I also would attend meetings of the Interagency Committee for Oceanography (ICO) and assist Ed Wenk in advising on ocean research programs and budgets and preparing ICO reports.
Addressing the “elephant in the living room”

Purpose – To present systematic social observation (SSO) data concerning the work routines and citizen interactions of suburban police officers, including a detailed breakdown of how these officers spent time on their shift and the nature in which they interacted with citizens.Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents systematic social observation.Findings – In some ways, suburban police officers behave much like other types of officers, especially the manner in which they spend time alone on shift. There appears to be some degree of variability in terms of the nature of police‐citizen encounters both within the observed group of suburban officers and between them and other types of police.Research limitations/implications – Researchers interested in describing variations in police behavior across agencies should strive to include suburban agencies in their samples, so that it can be investigated whether or not, and to what degree, suburban community structures impact police behavior on the street...
Growth, capital shares, and a new perspective on production functions

Standard growth theory implies that steady-state growth in the presence of exponential declines in the prices of computers and other capital equipment requires a Cobb-Douglas production function. Conventional wisdom holds that capital shares are relatively constant, so that the Cobb-Douglas approach might be a good way to model growth. Unfortunately, this conventional wisdom is misguided. Capital shares exhibit substantial trends and fluctuations in many countries and in many industries. Taken together, these facts represent a puzzle for growth theory. This paper resolves the puzzle by (a) presenting a production function that exhibits a short-run elasticity of substitution between capital and labor that is less than one and a long-run elasticity that is equal to one, and (b) providing microfoundations for why the production function might take the Cobb-Douglas form in the long run.
Stabilometer trial length as a function of performance

Abstract Response strategies available for stabilometer performance were reduced by modifying trial length to a direct function of S's time in balance. Learning data for men and women were presented, and the results were discussed in relation to task modifications and uses.
Hyperosmotic urea increases transcription and synthesis of Egr-1 in murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cells

It was previously shown that when cells of renal epithelial origin are exposed to hyperosmotic urea in concentrations unique to the renal medulla, abundance of mRNA encoding the immediate-early gene product Egr-1 is up-regulated. This phenomenon appears restricted to cells of renal epithelial origin. In the present study, the newly isolated murine renal inner medullary cell line mIMCD3 was used to determine whether the urea-induced increase in Egr-1 mRNA abundance is associated with increased expression of functional protein product, and whether this increase is transcriptionally mediated. In Western analysis, urea (200 mM) increased Egr-1 immunoreactivity 3-fold relative to sham-treated cells. [35S]Methionine pulse-labeling followed by immunoprecipitation confirmed that this increased immunoreactivity was associated with increased de novo Egr-1 protein synthesis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that urea treatment induced a commensurate increase in specific DNA binding activity for the Egr-1 consensus sequence. In addition, the increase in Egr-1 mRNA expression accompanying urea treatment was a consequence of enhanced transcription, as determined by nuclear run-off assay. Taken together, these data indicate that hyperosmotic urea increases both Egr-1 transcription and new protein synthesis in renal epithelial cells in culture, and that this newly synthesized Egr-1 is a functional DNA-binding protein. To our knowledge, this is the first example of urea-inducible gene transcription. In addition, Egr-1 represents the first eukaryotic transcription factor transcriptionally activated by a hyperosmotic stressor.
Challenges in dietary guidance: A US perspective

Summary Good nutrition is essential to human health. But how do we define ‘good nutrition'? Nutritional needs vary greatly through the life cycle so a diet that promotes healthy growth and development for a child may not be optimal for the elderly. Also, humans are adaptable to a wide range of dietary patterns and food intakes and their varying cultural preferences must be considered when making dietary recommendations. This paper describes the history of the development of dietary guidelines in the US and discusses some of the complexities around the development of advice for an optimal diet at a population level. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been published every five years since 1980. The development of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010) involved an evidence-based review process to evaluate the strength of the relationships between food intake and disease outcomes. Unfortunately, many accepted relationships between food patterns and disease outcomes are not strongly based on evidence-based reviews. This creates a challenge for government agencies when developing population guidelines for dietary intake, as well as for future committees charged with agreeing on the basis of an optimal diet for ‘good nutrition’.
Geometric-mean interpolation for logarithmic number systems

A new hardware implementation of linear-Lagrange interpolation is proposed where the interpolation line is approximated as the geometric mean of the slopes at the endpoints of the interpolation interval. The geometric mean is easy to compute using the Logarithmic Number System (LNS). This paper suggests a novel method that replaces interpolation multiplication with addition of logarithms.
Fetal erythrocytes in the maternal circulation

Abstract The peripheral blood of 223 antepartum patients was examined for the presence of fetal erythrocytes by the use of a modified Kleihauer technique. Fetal cells were demonstrated in the circulation of 121 an incidence of 54.3 per cent. No statistically significant relationship could be found between the incidence of transplacental hemorrhage and the maternal age, parity, previous abortions, ABO or Rh blood types, or the period of gestation. A significant statistical correlation did exist between the estimated average volume of fetal blood and the length of gestation. Patients having greater than 0.5 c.c. of fetal blood present were scattered through the sample but the frequency of occurrence was too small to analyze statistically. From this study there does not appear to be a stage of pregnancy in which there is a peak risk for the occurrence of a significant transplacental hemorrhage, except that this is more likely to result as pregnancy progresses.
Task-induced content-familiarity, task-driven attention to form, and learner uptake of recasts : a preliminary inquiry

Recent SLA research has found that recasts on morphosyntactic features are more effective in form-focused classrooms than in meaning-based classrooms. Based on this understanding, it is hypothesized that there is a positive correlation between the effectiveness of recasts on morphosyntactic features and the amount of attention learners pay to form. This paper reports on a preliminary study that tests this hypothesis through administering a sequence of communicative tasks, designed to promote different degrees of attention to form and meaning. The tasks differed as to (a) the extent of learners’ familiarity with task content and (b) the intrinsic capacity of the task to draw attention to form. The study observed both learners’ uptake and perception of recasts through the tasks. The data collected consisted of transcripts of the participants’ task-based interactions and stimulated recall sessions. The results show that both the amount of uptake after recasts and the accurate perception of recasts are positively correlated with the amount of attention learners devote to form during task-based interaction. The preliminary study, therefore, suggests that learners’ familiarity with task content along with the intrinsic capacity of a task to promote attention to form can increase the effectiveness of form-focused recasts.
Temperature-dependent fretting damage of high strength stainless steel sheets

Abstract Changes in temperature can have a large effect on the fretting damage response for materials with properties that are highly temperature sensitive, such as austenitic stainless steel. The fretting damage response of thin sheets of AISI 301 stainless steel in the full hard condition in contact with AISI 52100 steel is investigated for temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 250 °C. Changes in material resistance to fatigue damage and wear are characterized by determination of mechanical properties and oxidation behavior with changing temperature. The drivers for wear and fatigue are evaluated via finite element analysis over a range of temperatures. The net effect of changes in the wear and fatigue damage drivers and resistance with changing temperature is discussed.
Life cycle assessment of biodiesel production from algal bio-crude oils extracted under subcritical water conditions.

Abstract A life cycle assessment study is performed for the energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions in an algal biodiesel production system. Subcritical water (SCW) extraction was applied for extracting bio-crude oil from algae, and conventional transesterification method was used for converting the algal oil to biodiesel. 58 MJ of energy is required to produce 1 kg of biodiesel without any co-products management, of which 36% was spent on cultivation and 56% on lipid extraction. SCW extraction with thermal energy recovery reduces the energy consumption by 3–5 folds when compared to the traditional solvent extraction. It is estimated that 1 kg of algal biodiesel fixes about 0.6 kg of CO2. An optimized case considering the energy credits from co-products could further reduce the total energy demand. The energy demand for producing 1 kg of biodiesel in the optimized case is 28.23 MJ.
Stopping of directed energetic electrons in high-temperature hydrogenic plasmas.

From fundamental principles, the interaction of directed energetic electrons with a high-temperature hydrogenic plasma is analytically modeled. The randomizing effect of scattering off both plasma ions and electrons is treated from a unified point of view. For electron energies less than $3\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}$, electron scattering is equally important. The net effect of multiple scattering is to reduce the penetration from $0.54\phantom{\rule{0.5em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.5em}{0ex}}0.41\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{g}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ for $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}$ electrons in a $300\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{g}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ plasma at $5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$. These considerations are relevant to ``fast ignition'' and to fuel preheat for inertial confinement fusion.
The Vanishing Public Domain: Antibiotic Resistance, Pharmaceutical Innovation and Intellectual Property Law

Penicillin and other antibiotics were the original wonder drugs and laid the foundation of the modern pharmaceutical industry. Human health significantly improved with the introduction of antibiotics. By 1967, the U.S. Surgeon General declared victory over infectious diseases in the United States. But pride goes before a fall. The evolutionary pressure of antibiotic use selects for resistant strains. Effective drugs should be used. But when they are used, no matter how carefully, evolutionary pressure for resistance is created. The problem is not limited to antibiotics. Variants of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) develop resistance to anti-retroviral drugs. Antifungal agents face similar challenges. Even cancer cells may develop resistance to pharmaceuticals. Tens of thousands of Americans are dying every year from drug-resistant infections. Some pharmaceutical knowledge is therefore exhaustible, and after patent expiration the public domain may receive a drug which is no longer useful. For these drugs, the public domain vanishes.
Large cast, but no plot

Macromolecular Structures 1991/1992. Edited by Wayne A. Hendrickson and Kurt Wuthrich. Current Biology: 1991/ 1992. Pp. 286/369. £±50, $260 (institutional); £90, $150 (personal); £60, $105 (student).Protein Architecture: A Practical Approach. By A. M. Lesk. Oxford University Press/IRL: 1991. Pp. 287. £32.50, $65 (hbk); £22.50, $45 (pbk).
Manipulation of terahertz radiation using metamaterials

During the past decade electromagnetic metamaterials have realized many exotic phenomena that are difficult or impossible using naturally occurring materials. It is their resonantly enhanced interaction with electromagnetic waves that underpins their attractive qualities, which are increasingly important in the terahertz frequency range. Passive and active terahertz metamaterials and devices have enabled novel functionality and unprecedented terahertz device performance. These demonstrations prove their potential to address the so-called terahertz gap, a technology vacuum associated with the deficiency of natural materials with a desirable terahertz response.
Orientation toward natural and artificial grassbeds by swimming bay scallops, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck, 1819)

Abstract The orientation of swimming in bay scallops was studied in the field using natural and artificial grassbeds as potential directional cues. Scallops released on sand 25 cm from a natural grassbed swam toward the grassbed regardless of the grassbed's direction relative to the scallop's facing direction. When tested with an artificial grassbed, scallops released on sand 25 cm away also swam toward the grassbed; however, the swimming of scallops released 50 cm away from the artificial grassbed was randomly oriented, as was also true for control scallops released on sand 4 m away. Under natural conditions, bay scallops appear able to orient their swimming based on visual information, as well as the direction where chemical stimuli are contacted, as previously reported.
H2O2 generation during the redox cycle of mitomycin C and dna-bound mitomycin C.

Abstract Reduction of mitomycin C by NaBH 4 or by NADPH in the presence of a cell extract followed by exposure to air results in the generation of H 2 O 2 . This phenomenon occurs not only with free mitomycin but also with mitomycin irreversibly bound to DNA. In view of these findings, the antibiotic activity of mitomycin was tested in two bacterial systems: a facultative aerobic bacterium grown in the presence or absence of oxygen and an obligate anaerobic bacterium. No oxygen effect could be demonstrated in either case in the growth-inhibitory and bactericidal activity of the drug. Nevertheless, the H 2 O 2 generating capacity of mitomycin-DNA complexes inside the nucleus may play a role in the drug-induced biological damage to the genetic material of cells.
Change of lossless natural frequencies due to capacitor addition

It is shown that the addition of passive capacitors to a passive LC structure cannot increase the natural frequencies of the structure.
Scale, Sovereignty, and Strategy in Environmental Governance

Close examination of the scalar politics of environmental organizations engaged in contesting the terms of neoliberal globalization highlights four limitations of current theorizations of scale in radical geography. First, this body of work has paid little attention to environmental NGOs and movements as important actors in scalar politics. This is not only an empirical gap, but a theoretical one: taking environmental actors and issues into account requires rethinking the ontologies and dynamics in scale theory. Second, recent attention to social reproduction in scale debates must be extended to the reproduction of environmental conditions. Third, sharp analytical distinctions between scalar structuration and the production of nature are untenable and reproduce a culture/nature dualism. Fourth, sharp distinctions between politics within or about established scales, versus politics among scales, are unstable and miss the precise strategies pursued in some politics of scale. These arguments are illustrated and explored via case material drawn from current struggles over efforts to define environmental governance as a form of regulatory expropriation in international trade agreements.
Dynamic Information Fusion Driven Design of Urban Sensor Networks

How does network centric organization of sensors affect time critical fusion of dynamic spatial-temporal events in urban environments? This question has become more pertinent today as sensor networks enable automation that holds the promise of monitoring and localizing terrorist threats in complex urban environments by harnessing the power of many inexpensive electromechanical devices like cameras, chemical and IR sensors. This paper presents innovative methods for exploiting the existing urban infrastructure to design and operate flexible sensor network topologies that utilize constrained resources effectively to support dynamic fusion needs. As a network of physically embodied intelligent agents that interact physically with the sensed phenomena, the cognitive abilities of the sensors are constrained by the laws of physics. As goal directed agents they evolve in real world operations to adapt to change in their physical environment and to collaboratively improve task performance. We present formal models and methods to adaptively reconfigure the urban network design space, in-situ, to capture the statistical characteristics of emerging change in the information dynamics. Building on this framework, we present several challenging urban area applications that require adaptive sensor networks to dynamically cluster sensing, processing and communications resources in space-time neighborhoods of emergent hotspots for progressively fine grained sampling and prediction, and collaborate with other dynamic clusters for event tracking. The urban sensor network can, thus, support high predictability of microscopic and macroscopic dynamic events.
Influence of Sources on Plutonium Mobility and Oxidation State Transformations in Vadose Zone Sediments

Well-defined solid sources of Pu(III) (PuCl3), Pu(IV) (Pu (NO3)4 and Pu (C2O4)2), and Pu(VI) (PuO2(NO3)2) were placed in lysimeters containing vadose zone sediments and exposed to natural weather conditions for 2 or 11 years. The objective of this study was to measure the release rate of Pu and the changes in the Pu oxidation states from these Pu sources with the intent to develop a reactive transport model source-term. Pu(III) and Pu(IV) sources had identical Pu concentration depth profiles and similar Pu release rates. Source release data indicate that PuIV(C2O4)2 was the least mobile, whereas PuVIO2(NO3)2 was the most mobile. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (SXRF) revealed that Pu was very unevenly distributed on the sediment and Mn concentrations were too low (630 mg kg-1) and perhaps of the wrong mineralogy to influence Pu distribution. The high stability of sorbed Pu(IV) is proposed to be due to the formation of a stable hydrolyzed Pu(IV) surface species. Plutonium X-ray absorption near-edge spectros...
Scheduling research in multiple resource constrained job shops: a review and critique

Over the past several years, a number of survey, classification, and review articles have focused on scheduling research in machine [only] constrained job shops. Barring the work of Treleven (1989), there is no reported research that presents a detailed review of the issues related to scheduling and sequencing in job shops with multiple resource constraints. In his article, Treleven reviewed the research in job shops constrained by machines and labour. Job shops are not only constrained by machines and labour, but by auxiliary resources (in the form of tooling, etc.) as well. This paper extends the work of Treleven by reviewing the literature on scheduling in job shops constrained by more than one resource and comparing the scheduling research in auxiliary resource-constrained job shops with that of labour-constrained job shops. In addition, this article raises some issues for future scheduling research in multiple resource-constrained job shops.
Endoluminal treatment of varicose veins.

Introduction Chronic venous insufficiency treatment options have changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Rapid endorsement of minimally invasive techniques has led to a proliferation of vein centers and growth in the number of venous procedures. Traditional treatment of venous insufficiency with high ligation and stripping is a time-tested and successful procedure that has been used worldwide. The transition to minimally invasive techniques, however, has progressively changed the treatment for this disease. Patients who previously would have had surgery in the hospital operating room under general anesthesia now commonly have a clinic-based procedure with local anesthetics only. The techniques that have enabled this transition utilized ablation of the vein with endoluminal techniques rather than physical removal of the diseased veins. The various ablative techniques share a common mechanism — injury to the vessel wall with an energy source — that results in progressive fibrosis of the vessel and occl...