cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial pulsations in DB white dwarfs

Theoretical models of DB white dwarfs are unstable against radial pulsation at effective temperatures near 20,000-30,000 K. Many high-overtone modes are unstable, with periods ranging from 12 s down to the acoustic cutoff period of approximately 0.1 s. The blue edge for radial instability lies at slightly higher effective temperatures than for nonradial pulsations, with the temperature of the blue edge dependent on the assumed efficiency of convection. Models with increased convective efficiency have radial blue edges that are increasingly closer to the nonradial blue edge; in all models the instability persists into the nonradial instability strip. Radial pulsations therefore may exist in the hottest DB stars that lie below the DB gap; the greatest chance for detection would be observations in the ultraviolet. These models also explain why searches for radial pulsations in DA white dwarfs have failed: the efficient convection needed to explain the blue edge for nonradial DA pulsation means that the radial instability strip is 1000 K cooler than found in previous investigations. The multiperiodic nature of the expected pulsations can be used to advantage to identify very low amplitude modes using the uniform spacing of the modes in frequency. This frequency spacing is a direct indicator of the mass of the star.
Methane-derived marine carbonates of pleistocene age.

In some calcium carbonate-bearing sandstones from the edge of the continental shelf off the northeast United States, the δC 13 range is from -30 and -60 per mil for both aragonite and high-magnesium calcite. The δC 13 of co-existing shells of Modiolus sp. is normal (+ 1.7 to -2.7 per mil). The δO 18 values of around + 3.5 per mil in all samples suggest deposition at temperatures around 0°C. Quaternary methane oxidized either chemically or microbiologically to carbon dioxide is the probable source of carbon in these carbonates.
Expression and mechanism of spleen tyrosine kinase activation by angiotensin II and its implication in protein synthesis in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Syk, a 72-kDa tyrosine kinase, is involved in development, differentiation, and signal transduction of hematopoietic and some non-hematopoietic cells. This study determined if Syk is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and contributes to angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling and protein synthesis. Syk was found in VSMC and was phosphorylated by Ang II through AT1 receptor. Ang II-induced Syk phosphorylation was inhibited by piceatannol and dominant negative but not wild type Syk mutant. Syk phosphorylation by Ang II was attenuated by cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) inhibitor pyrrolidine-1 and retrovirus carrying small interfering RNAs (shRNAs) of this enzyme. Arachidonic acid (AA) increased Syk phosphorylation, and AA- and Ang II-induced phosphorylation was diminished by inhibitors of AA metabolism (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid) and lipoxygenase (LO; baicalein) but not cyclooxygenase (indomethacin). AA metabolites formed via LO, 5(S)-, 12(S)-, and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, which activate p38 MAPK, increased Syk phosphorylation. p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190, and dominant negative p38 MAPK mutant attenuated Ang II- and AA-induced Syk phosphorylation. Adenovirus dominant negative c-Src mutant abolished Ang II - and AA-induced Syk phosphorylation and SB202190, and dominant negative p38 MAPK mutant inhibited Ang II-induced c-Src phosphorylation. Syk dominant negative mutant but not epidermal growth factor receptor blocker AG1478 also inhibited Ang II-induced VSMC protein synthesis. These data suggest that Syk expressed in VSMC is activated by Ang II through p38 MAPK-activated c-Src subsequent to cytosolic phospholipase A2 and generation of AA metabolites via LO, and it mediates Ang II-induced protein synthesis independent of epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation (Ang II → cPLA2 → AA metabolites of LO → p38 MAPK → c-Src → Syk → protein synthesis).
Legislative issues related to breast cancer

Cancer is a political issue. Legislative decision-making as it relates to breast cancer must be driven by reliable scientific data and analysis. Carefully directed advocacy and responsible leadership can provide focus, resources, and enhancements for a beneficial impact on lives of breast cancer patients and potential patients.
Comparison of laboratory values obtained by phlebotomy versus saline lock devices.

Objectives To assess the utility of a peripheral saline lock device (SLD) as an alternative to a second venipuncture for obtaining selected blood samples. Methods This prospective study used a comparative design and was conducted in an urban emergency department (ED). Adult patients with an existing SLD in place who required serial phlebotomy were eligible for inclusion in the study. Each subject had blood samples obtained by venipuncture (control) with a Vacutainer adapter according to standard protocols. Within 5 minutes of obtaining the control samples, a sample was obtained from the patients' SLDs; a tourniquet was applied proximal to the intravenous line, a 5-mL waste portion was obtained, and a Vacutainer adapter was placed to draw specimens for testing. Each of the paired samples was analyzed for hematocrit, electrolytes, and cardiac enzymes. The Bland-Altman method was used to analyze the concordance between each pair of measurements. Paired t-tests for each of the eight laboratory tests were used to assess whether the values were statistically different from each other. The 95% limits of agreement around the mean differences were calculated. Differences between SLD aspirates and venipuncture aspirates also were compared with the federal regulatory standards that ensure reliable and accurate laboratory testing. Results Eighty-one patients were eligible for the study; in 73 (90.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 81.5% to 95.6%) of the patients, the SLD could be aspirated for testing. The paired t-tests indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the mean values of the two methods of testing. Of the 584 paired values analyzed, 35 (6.0%; 95% CI = 4.3% to 8.2%) exceeded the Bland-Altman limits of agreement, and 43 (7.4%; 95% CI = 5.4% to 9.8%) fell outside the acceptable range determined by the federal regulation of clinical laboratories. Of those values that exceeded the acceptable Bland-Altman limits of agreement, none would have resulted in clinical intervention. Conclusions Aspirating blood via an SLD is an acceptable method of obtaining serial laboratory values in a group of stable, consenting adult ED patients.
Preservation and preemption in Japan’s Shirakami Sanchi World Heritage Area

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine developments in Japan with regard to protected-area management. The focus is on ecological protection, citizen engagement, and the traditional users of the Shirakami Sanchi World Heritage Area. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on an extensive review of literature, interviews with key actors, and field observations. Findings – This study of Shirakami Sanchi World Heritage Area, an area of ancient beech forest in northern Japan whose ecological integrity was threatened by construction of a forest road in the 1980s, points to a successful case of ecological preservation and an expanded governmental commitment to citizen engagement in protected-area planning, accompanied by a marginalization of the small number of remaining traditional users of the forest’s resources. Research limitations/implications – This study points to the challenges inherent in balancing civic engagement, ecological protection, cultural heritage, and administrative expedi...
Salesperson Slotting Allowance Authority in Manufacturer-Retailer Negotiations

Over the past 30 years, slotting allowances have played an important, albeit contentious, role in manufacturer-retailer relationships. As the debate over this practice continues, little attention is being paid to the role of salespeople in slotting allowance negotiations. The current study addresses this shortcoming in the literature by investigating the delegation of slotting allowance authority to salespeople in the context of manufacturer-retailer negotiations. A structural model is tested using data collected from retail managers. The analysis indicates that delegating slotting allowance authority to salespeople positively impacts the salesperson's influence over customer decisions and enhances selling performance. The results also suggest that a salesperson's trustworthiness increases his or her influence and performance with the customer. Overall, the findings suggest that manufacturers are likely to benefit from delegating slotting allowance authority to the sales force and training salespeople to ...
COMPUTER CODES AND THEIR APPLICATION CORRELATION COEFFICIENT AND CONFIDENCE INTERVAL ESTIMATION BETWEEN SENSORY AND OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENTS UNDER DESTRUCTIVE TESTING USING COMPUTER SIMULATION

Estimation of correlation between sensory and instrumental data for food products is used in research and industrial applications. Often the measurement techniques destroy the sample making it impossible to collect more data on the same item. This results in a correlation based not on individual observations but rather on the average of the data, leading to an erroneous and artificially high correlation. A method using maximum likelihood techniques and conditional simulation is proposed for estimating the correlation in this case.
Characterization of Optical Diffraction and Crystal Structure in Monodisperse Polystyrene Colloids

Bragg diffraction of laser light from crystalline aqueous colloids of polystyrene spheres is examined to determine crystal structure, orientation, and elasticity. A new technique using Kossel rings is described which simultaneously measures structure, lattice spacings, and crystallite orientation. The monodisperse polystyrene sphere latex dispersions crystallize into large single crystals, which, depending on sphere concentration, are either face-centered or body-centered cubic. The interparticle spacings in the crystals are many times larger than the sphere diameter (0.109 μm). The use of tunable lasers to easily determine crystal structure is described, and the technique is further illustrated by the experimental determination of the bulk modulus. The bulk modulus is a macroscopic physical constant which can be used to monitor intersphere potentials and the screening of the particle charges by electrolytes in the solution. Data are presented which suggest that crystallite orientation occurs with the closest packed sphere layers parallel to the sample cell quartz walls.
PROGRESSIVE DESCENDING INFLUENZA INFECTION IN MICE DETERMINED BY IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE.

SummaryA specific immunofluorescent (IF) technique was developed for swine influenza virus using fluorescein conjugated immune globulins. IF technique was employed to study the progressive pathogenesis of S-15 virus in mice. IF was detected in bronchial epithelium 8 hours after inoculation. Fluorescence, at this stage, was mostly cytoplasmic, however both cytoplasmic and nuclear fluorescence occurred in a few cells. IF reached a peak on the second and third day in the bronchi and usually spread to alveoli by the second day post inoculation. After the fourth day post inoculation, IF diminished in the alveoli and bronchi and disappeared after the 7th day. IF indicated that both cytoplasm and nuclei of infected cells are involved in the synthesis of viral antigens. IF was limited to macrophages and epithelial cells of bronchi, alveoli, and turbinates. It was concluded that influenza virus progressively infects bronchi, bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli during the course of infection.
R&D toward neutrino factories and muon colliders

R&D aimed at the production, acceleration, and storage of intense muon beams is under way in the U.S., in Europe, and in Japan. Considerable progress has been trade in the past few years toward the design of a "Neutrino Factory" in which a beam of 20-50 GeV /spl mu//sup -/ or /spl mu//sup +/ is stored. Decay neutrinos from the beam illuminate a detector located roughly 3000 km from the ring. Here, we briefly describe the ingredients of a Neutrino Factory and then discuss the current R&D program and its results. A key concept in the design is "ionization cooling," a process whereby the muon emittance is reduced by repeated interactions with an absorber material followed by reacceleration with high-gradient rf cavities. Plans to test this concept in the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment (MICE) are well along and are described briefly.
Optimal Design of Trade Agreements in the Presence of Renegotiation

We study the optimal design of trade agreements when governments can renegotiate after the resolution of uncertainty but compensation between them is inefficient. In equilibrium, renegotiation always results in trade liberalization, not protection. The optimal contract may be a “property rule” or a “liability rule.” High uncertainty favors liability over property rules, while asymmetries in bargaining power favor property over liability rules. Moreover, optimal property rules are never renegotiated. With a cost of renegotiation, property rules are favored when this cost is higher, reversing a central conclusion of the law-and-economics literature. (JEL C78, D86, F13, F15, K12)
The Relationship Between Major Depression and Nonsuicide Mortality for U.S. Adults: The Importance of Health Behaviors

Objectives. We aim to elucidate the role of health behaviors and health conditions in the association between depres sion and mortality. First, we examine the relationship between major depression and nonsuicide mortality among U.S. adults aged 50 and older. Second, we examine the relationship between major depression and cardiovascular disease and cancer, by baseline disease status. Third, we examine the role of health behaviors as potential mediators of the asso ciation between major depression and cause-specific mortality. Methods. We use data from the 1999 National Health Interview Study linked to the 2006 National Death Index (N = 11,369; M age = 65, deaths = 2,162) and Cox proportional hazards models to describe the relationships among major depression, health behaviors (alcohol use, cigarette smoking, physical activity), and nonsuicide mortality. We examine cause-specific mortality (cardiovascular and cancer) by baseline disease status. Results. Major depression remains associated with a 43% increase in the risk of death over the follow-up period, after we account for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and health conditions. Major depression is associ ated with 2.68 times the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among those who did not have cardiovascular disease at baseline and 1.82 times for those with baseline cardiovascular disease. Health behaviors reduce the hazard ratio by 17% for all nonsuicide mortality, 3% for cardiovascular disease mortality, and 12% for cancer mortality. Discussion. Our results provide evidence of the important role of health behaviors and health conditions in the depres sion–mortality relationship and highlight the importance of identifying risk factors for depression among aging adults.
Plug-In Electric Vehicles in California: Review of Current Policies, Related Emissions Reductions for 2020, and Policy Outlook

California's emissions reduction goals for criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) have encouraged policies that support plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). This paper explores current and planned policies that promote PEVs, potential emissions benefits from PEV adoption in California by 2020, and future policy directions. The reviewed policies include the zero-emission vehicle regulations, the low-carbon fuel standard, and the clean car standards, which all require GHG reductions. Policies prompted by the California Public Utilities Commission Alternative-Fueled Vehicle Rulemaking decision and existing and planned PEV incentive programs are among the forthcoming and expected policies that are discussed. An analysis was conducted to estimate and to value GHG and CAP emissions reductions from PEVs in California by 2020. Results of this analysis show that the reduction in tailpipe emissions dominate any added power plant emissions and value the benefits at $750 to $1,500 per vehicle in an e...
Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 pX-I and pX-II Open Reading Frames Are Dispensable for the Immortalization of Primary Lymphocytes

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects and transforms CD4+ T-lymphocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Although the Tax protein of HTLV-1 has been strongly implicated as a transforming agent, other virally encoded proteins may also play a role in the transformation process. In addition to the rex and tax genes, the pX region of the HTLV-1 genome contains two open reading frames (pX-I and pX-II) which encode the putative viral accessory proteins known as p12I, p30II, and p13II. Mutations in the ACH molecular clone of HTLV-1 that are predicted to abrogate the expression of p12I, p13II and p30II were constructed. These mutations had no effect on viral replication or the immortalization of primary lymphocytes. Although these proteins are dispensable for viral replication and immortalization in vitro, it remains possible that they alter infection in vivo.
Lyapunov-based robust adaptive control of a quadrotor UAV in the presence of modeling uncertainties

This paper presents the development of a robust adaptive controller for the dynamics of a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the presence of linear-in-the-parameter uncertainties and bounded exogenous disturbances. The controller is designed to asymptotically track a desired position and yaw angle trajectory via a modular adaptive update law and a robust integral sign of the error (RISE) feedback term. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis is used to prove asymptotic tracking of the desired states and to ensure all closed-loop signals remain bounded.
The Effect of Individuals’ Organization Affiliation on Their Internet Donations:

Based on a national representative sample of U.S. internet users, this article examines the impact of associational participation on the likelihood of making an online donation to a charity. The re...
AIR TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION AT THE MILLENNIUM

This article examines air transportation policy and administration at the millennium. It reviews and analyzes major problem areas and focuses on issues that have to be dealt with to streamline the policy and administration in the field as it becomes more integrated in our increasingly intermodal transportation system. The first part of the article sets the stage for the changes experienced after deregulation: It utilizes an analytical model to examine: airports; airline industry management; terrorism and security; and safety, equipment and human resources. The second part of the article focuses more specifically on a policy and administration analysis itself. It demonstrates how we have evolved into a customer model more aligned with the market place, efficiency, and risk taking; while moving away from a safer and less entrepreneurial period identified as the citizen model period. With the canage of models, we find trust diminished. Passengers, customers and citizens, become more disenchanted and cynical, to the point of organizing through elected officials to promote an airline passenger bill of rights and reform the system.
Measurement of blood flow to the adrenal capsule, cortex and medulla in dogs after hemorrhage by fluorescent microspheres.

Abstract Changes in adrenal medullary and total cortical blood flow after hemorrhage have been described using radioactive microspheres. To assess changes in adrenal capsular and in intracortical adrenal blood flow, a method was used based on microscopic detection of non-radioactive microspheres. Injection of microspheres labelled with fluorescent dyes permitted multiple determinations of blood flow. Pentobarbital anesthetized dogs ( n = 6) were prepared acutely with left ventricular and aortic catheters for injection and collection of microspheres, respectively. Adrenal denervation was done unilaterally by cutting the thoracic splanchnic nerve. Injections of 16-μm spheres were made prior to and immediately after 18 ml/kg hemorrhage done over 6 min. Dogs were killed with KCI and adrenals were removed, fixed and sectioned at 80 μm. Using fluorescence microscopy, microspheres were counted in the adrenal capsule, zona glomerulosa, inner cortex (zona facsiculata and reticularis), and the medulla. The majority (95%) of microspheres in the adrenal cortex were trapped in the zona glomerulosa, precluding an independent estimate of blood flow to the inner cortex. Thus, total cortical blood flow was determined by summing the number of 16-μm microspheres in the zona glomerulosa and inner cortex. Prior to hemorrhage, blood flow was greater in the capsule (5.4 ± 1.6 ml/min/g) compared to the cortex (1.8 ± 0.9 ml/min/g) and the medulla (2.9 ± 1.8 ml/min/g). Splanchnicotomy did not change blood flow in the resting state. Following hemorrhage, in innervated glands, medullary blood flow increased to 8.6 ± 3.1 ml/min/g, whereas blood flow to other zones was unchanged. Since the mean arterial pressure observed after hemorrhage varied among dogs, the relationship between blood flow in each adrenal zone and the mean arterial pressure in individual dogs was assessed by regression analysis. After hemorrhage, blood flow and vascular conductance in each adrenal zone were inversely proportional to mean arterial pressure. In the medulla, splanchnicotomy abolished sensitivity of blood flow to mean arterial pressure, whereas in capsule and cortex splanchnicotomy did not affect sensitivity of blood flow to mean arterial pressure. These findings support earlier work showing that the distribution of adrenal blood flow changes after hemorrhage and is influenced by splanchnic innervation. In addition, these findings suggest that blood flow to the adrenal capsule and cortex may be maintained during hypotension independently of thoracic splanchnic innervation.
Droplet accretion during rime growth and the formation of secondary ice crystals

Laboratory experiments have been performed to study rime growth and its relation to secondary ice crystal production (the Hallett-Mossop process). The rime was grown in a wind tunnel on a fixed vertical fibre 0.5 mm in diameter. The range of conditions extended from −1.0°C to −13°C in temperature, from 20cms−1 to 200cms−1 in air speed, and liquid water content up to 1.5 gm−3. The droplet size distributions were 5 to 25 μm and 8 to 50 μm, peaking at diameters of 9 and 22 μm respectively. Under conditions favourable for secondary ice production, the accreting droplets spread out on the ice surface; individual frozen droplets formed only at the lower temperatures. A separate experiment showed that supercooled water droplets froze as cones on a flat surface above −10.°C. At temperatures between −1. and −4.°C the spreading ratio of supercooled droplets on the basal surface of ice was less than on other faces, with lower molecular packing density. It is hypothesized that spreading takes place in a quasi-liquid layer which is thinner on the basal surface. Splinter formation by pressure build-up inside individual frozen droplets is therefore unlikely to be responsible for shatter; a new model is suggested in which thermal gradients give stresses leading to an ice crack at about − 5°C.
Invited Commentary: Understanding Bias Amplification

In choosing covariates for adjustment or inclusion in propensity score analysis, researchers must weigh the benefit of reducing confounding bias carried by those covariates against the risk of amplifying residual bias carried by unmeasured confounders. The latter is characteristic of covariates that act like instrumental variables-that is, variables that are more strongly associated with the exposure than with the outcome. In this issue of the Journal (Am J Epidemiol. 2011;174(11):1213-1222), Myers et al. compare the bias amplification of a near-instrumental variable with its bias-reducing potential and suggest that, in practice, the latter outweighs the former. The author of this commentary sheds broader light on this comparison by considering the cumulative effects of conditioning on multiple covariates and showing that bias amplification may build up at a faster rate than bias reduction. The author further derives a partial order on sets of covariates which reveals preference for conditioning on outcome-related, rather than exposure-related, confounders.
Human Reliability Analysis in Spaceflight Applications

Predicting and mitigating human error in manned spaceflight can be the difference between mission success and lost vehicle or crewmember. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has used the Cognitive Reliability Error Analysis Model analysis developed by the nuclear industry during the last 30 years of manned spaceflight to predict human error. Although the analysis has proven to be reliable, it does not take into account operations specific for long duration spaceflight such as crew training and ground support. This article first explains the principles of the Cognitive Reliability Error Analysis Model and how it is used at NASA. Then, the probability for error for an International Space Station ingress procedure is calculated using standard performance shaping factors developed for the nuclear power industry. Lastly, the environmental and operational constraints of space flight are used to develop new performance shaping factors specific to a NASA-operated spacecraft. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The burden of blindness in adult males in the savanna villages of West Africa exposed to onchocerciasis

Abstract Cross-sectional surveys for the prevalence of blindness in West African savanna villages misrepresent the actual burden which blindness imposes on communities. High mortality in the blind, resulting in a shorter life expectancy as compared to non-blind, is associated with high incidence rates and with a rapid turn-over in the blind population. Data collected in Burkina Faso indicate that, in hyperendemic villages, 46% of males and 35% of females aged 15 are likely to become blind before they die. Respective rates in mesoendemic villages are 14% in males and 9·8% in females. The results presented in this paper reinforce the conclusion that blindness, especially onchocerciasis associated blindness, is of greater social and economic significance than usually estimated.
Fast and Robust Background Updating for Real-time Traffic Surveillance and Monitoring

Background updating is an important aspect of dynamic scene analysis. Three critical problems: sudden camera perturbation, sudden or gradual illumination change and the sleeping person problem, which arise frequently in realworld surveillance and monitoring systems, are addressed in the proposed scheme. The paper presents a multi-color model where multiple color clusters are used to represent the background at each pixel location. In the proposed background updating scheme, the updates to the mean and variance of each color cluster at each pixel location incorporate the most recently observed color values. Each cluster is assigned a weight which measures the time duration and temporal recurrence frequency of the cluster. The sleeping person problem is tackled by virtue of the observation that at a given pixel location, the time durations and recurrence frequencies of the color clusters representing temporarily static objects are smaller compared to those of color clusters representing the true background colors when measured over a sufficiently long temporal history. The camera perturbation problem is solved using a fast camera motion detection algorithm that allows the current background image to be registered with the background model maintained in memory. Sudden illumination changes are handled by using an adaptive histogram template whereas gradual illumination changes are automatically resolved with the adaptive background model. The background updating scheme is shown to be robust even when the scene is very busy and also computationally efficient, making it suitable for realtime traffic surveillance and monitoring systems. Experimental results on real traffic monitoring and surveillance videos are presented.
The Immune System: A Model for Differentiation in Higher Organisms

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the specific patterns of the immune system that afford insights into various genetic and evolutionary mechanisms. It discusses the genetics and cellular patterns of immunoglobulin systems, a genetic mechanism for differentiation: two genes, one polypeptide chain, evolution of immunoglobulin variable and constant genes, and theories of antibody diversity. The immune system provides profound insights into two of the most basic questions of development: (1) how is information stored in the vertebrate genome, and (2) how is this information usefully expressed. There are two general possibilities for information storage in the immune system and in other complex systems. First, all of the information may pre-exist in the germ line; a separate antibody gene may be present in the germ line for each antibody polypeptide chain the organism can elaborate. Since all the information is contained in the germ line, proposals of this general nature are designated germ line theories. Second, information may be generated from a limited number of germ line genes through some type of mutational or recombinational process that operates during somatic differentiation.
Metropolis-Hastings Algorithm and Continuous Regression for finding Next-State Models of Protein Modification using Information Scores

The reverse engineering of protein modification networks from protein modification time sequence data is an important and challenging problem. We utilize continuous regression-based techniques to generate next-state models. Three statistical diagnostics are applied to test the stationary Markov, the equal time interval influence, and the continuous regression assumptions. The standard Metropolis-Hastings algorithm is modified to use a focused model initialization based on Pearson correlations. Additionally, an infrequent step forcing multiple changes, as opposed to the predominate single change, is incorporated into the standard Metropolis-Hastings algorithm which improves the opportunity to escape local minima of information criterion scores. Both Bayesian and corrected Akaike information criteria are used in conjunction with the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. Real protein modification data often involves only a small number of proteins which allows a direct computation of some models. Our techniques and diagnostics are applied to two sets of time course protein modification data to produce models which score optimally with respect to information criteria. These techniques and diagnostics lend themselves to applications with similar data sets.
Immunotherapeutic Approaches Targeting Amyloid-β, α-Synuclein, and Tau for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Disease-modifying alternatives are sorely needed for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, a group of diseases that afflict approximately 50 million Americans annually. Immunotherapy is one of the most developed approaches in this direction. Vaccination against amyloid-β, α-synuclein, or tau has been extensively explored, specially as the discovery that these proteins may propagate cell-to-cell and be accessible to antibodies when embedded into the plasma membrane or in the extracellular space. Likewise, the use of passive immunization approaches with specific antibodies against abnormal conformations of these proteins has also yielded promising results. The clinical development of immunotherapies for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and other neurodegenerative disorders is a field in constant evolution. Results to date suggest that immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases that progress with the accumulation and prion-like propagation of toxic protein aggregates. Here we provide an overview of the most novel and relevant immunotherapeutic advances targeting amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease, α-synuclein in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and tau in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.
Childhood Determination of Hodgkin lymphoma among U.S. servicemen

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma in young adults is inexplicably linked to economic development. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study of the 656 servicemen with Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed between ages 17 to 32 while on active duty in the U.S. military during 1950–68. Controls, chosen randomly from the servicemen on duty at the time, were matched on service, birth year, and induction date. Information came from preinduction records and military records for the period ending at onset or the equivalent date. Results: Risk was independently increased with small sib-ship size [OR, 2.3; confidence interval (CI), 1.6–3.5], low birth order (OR, 1.9; CI, 1.4–2.6), and an interval of at least 5 years between birth and that of a previous or subsequent sibling (OR, 2.1; CI, 1.5–3.1). Other factors independently and significantly associated with elevated risk of Hodgkin lymphoma were: tallness, high body mass index, more education (but not higher income) in the county of birth, BB or AB blood type, and past infectious mononucleosis (but a deficit of other childhood viral infections). Early fatherhood conveyed high risk (OR, 2.6; CI, 1.4–4.8), especially if with a high-risk sibling configuration. Factors unrelated to risk included personal education, preinduction or military occupation, induction test score, and rank. Findings were similar for nodular sclerosis and mixed cell histologic subtypes. Conclusions: Protection from the environment in childhood, but not in adulthood, increases the likelihood of young adult Hodgkin lymphoma, which may result from nonspecific isolation from early infections and/or exposure to late infection by a specific but unidentified ubiquitous childhood virus. Impact: Events in childhood protect against later Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(11); 1707–15. ©2015 AACR .
The Relationship Between Law School and the Bar Exam: A Look at Assessment and Student Success

Law schools have a moral and ethical obligation to society - and, to an even greater degree, to their students - to adequately prepare the students to succeed as professionals. Ultimate success for law students is measured by the ability to competently practice in the legal profession, which requires passing the bar exam. A recent downward trend in national bar passage rates highlights the need for law schools to address the factors negatively affecting bar passage rates. Based on research conducted at the University of Colorado School of Law, this article discusses methods to reform new attorney licensure and also highlights strategies to improve bar passage. It suggests ways to minimize the effects of the bar exam's negative factors and recommends ways to better prepare law students.
Control of internal temperature threshold for active cutaneous vasodilation by dynamic exercise.

Exercise induces shifts in the internal temperature threshold at which cutaneous vasodilation begins. To find whether this shift is accomplished through the vasoconstrictor system or the cutaneous ...
Cryogenic hydrogen release research.

The objective of this project was to devolop a plan for modifying the Turbulent Combustion Laboratory (TCL) with the necessary infrastructure to produce a cold (near liquid temperature) hydrogen jet. The necessary infrastructure has been specified and laboratory modifications are currently underway. Once complete, experiments from this platform will be used to develop and validate models that inform codes and standards which specify protection criteria for unintended releases from liquid hydrogen storage, transport, and delivery infrastructure.
College Students and Blogging Activity during the 2008 and 2012 Elections

While college students traditionally exhibit low levels of political participation, their greater familiarity with online forms of engagement potentially lowers their barriers for political involvement. In this paper, we focus on one particular form of online participation that is well-known to young adults: blogging or posting one’s political views online. We examine the precursors to posting among college students and how these differ from those of more traditional forms of participation. Using data from surveys of undergraduates at a large Midwestern master’s level university taken right before the 2008 and 2012 elections, we find blogging is positively connected with higher levels of offline civic engagement, even though the mechanisms for explaining blogging and more traditional forms of behavior differ.
Countercurrent enzymatic saccharification of cellulosic biomass

Abstract At pH 4.8 and 50 °C, semi-continuous countercurrent saccharification was performed using α-cellulose. Every second day, solids and liquids were transferred countercurrently and liquid samples were taken to determine sugar concentration in each stage. Train 1 (5 mg protein/g biomass, 8 stages) achieved 87.8% glucose conversion and 102 g/L total sugar. Train 2 (2 mg/g, 8 stages) achieved 56.1% glucose conversion and 65 g/L total sugar. Train 3 (2 mg/g, 16 bottles) achieved 73.6% glucose conversion and 67 g/L total sugar. Compared to 5-day batch saccharification, to achieve the same glucose conversion, enzyme requirements were reduced by factors of 16.8, 8, and 20.5 for Trains 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Further improvements can be realized by changing the enzyme addition point and increasing the number of stages.
RDHWT/MARIAH II Energy Addition Modeling and Experiments Review

The viability of the Radiatively-Driven Hypersonic Wind Tunnel (RDHWT)/ MARIAH II project rests on our ability to controllably and predictably add energy to a supersonic air flow downstream of the throat with a high power electron beam. Experiments conducted at Sandia National Laboratories during the Spring of 2003 deposited over 800 KW of power into the flow in a successful demonstration of that concept. A detailed analysis of the streamwise pressure distribution and other flow variables led to several quantitative disagreements with the predictive models that are currently being used. Much of this disagreement appears to have arisen because the electron beam was clipped by apertures inside the accelerator, leading to large fluctuations in beam current during the run. Recent models suggest that, in addition to electron beam loss at these apertures, scattering may have introduced helicity into the trajectory of the electrons in the electron beam, leading to reduced penetration depth.
Clinical features and follow-up of surreptitious laxative users

Surreptitious laxative use may mimic several organic diarrhea syndromes, including inflammatory bowel disease and secretory diarrhea. Seventeen cases of surreptitious laxative use were uncovered within five years at the Cleveland Clinic. Characteristic features included diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. Findings on physical examination were nonspecific, and laboratory and roentgenographic studies were not helpful. Two patients were also covertly taking diuretics. The diagnosis was made by stool analysis for phenolphthalein and by room search. Psychiatric treatment, although not always accepted or helpful, was recommended in each case. Follow-up indicated that about half the patients had improved once the diagnosis was established.
Preparation and characterization of photoactive antimicrobial graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) films

Photoactive films derived from nanostructured samples of metal-free, intermediate band gap semiconductor graphitic carbon nitride (ns-g-C3N4) have been synthesized and characterized for their particle properties and antimicrobial activity. Physical characterization reveals that these materials are composed of discrete nanoparticles whose dimensions range from 200 nm to 700 nm. Investigation of the photochemical reactivity of ns-g-C3N4 using coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (3-CCA) indicates that this material produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) under visible radiation. When irradiated with 0.31 J visible light, ns-g-C3N4-based materials reduced the viability of both Gram-negative Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus by approximately 50%. Nearly complete inactivation of both strains of microorganisms was achieved upon administration of a 0.62 J dose of visible radiation. Importantly, no biocidal activity was observed for non-irradiated samples, indicating that the g-C3N4-derived films are not inherently toxic in the absence of visible light. The results of this study suggest that materials and, by extention, films and coatings derived from g-C3N4 may present a novel route for controlling pathogenic microorganisms on surfaces in the environment, and could be useful in reducing incidents of hospital-acquired infections.
The Empire of Tamerlane as an Adaptation of the Mongol Empire: An answer to David Morgan, “The Empire of Tamerlane: An Unsuccessful Re-Run of the Mongol State?”

I write this article in the spirit of the Persian poetic tradition, in which an answer to an earlier work takes off from the original and charts its own course. I will suggest that Tamerlane's recreation of the Mongol Empire was symbolic, and was part of his successful creation of a regional state which was at once Turco-Mongolian and Perso-Islamic. His experiment was continued and elaborated by his successors, and the resulting state provided a highly useful model for later dynasties in the Middle East and Central Asia. Through my long engagement with Mongols and Turks, David Morgan's influence and aid have been a constant advantage and his friendship a recurring pleasure. Our acquaintance began in 1987 with a kind letter he sent me after reading the manuscript for The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane for the Cambridge University Press. Since then I have profited from his scholarship, have used his two books to teach generations of students, and have called on him for uncountable letters of recommendation, always generously given. I also want to thank David for asking me to write the Mongol chapter for the New Cambridge History of Islam, and thus attracting me into the Mongol period. It may seem odd to express my gratitude by writing an answer to David's article which is not entirely in agreement with his conclusions. I trust in the well-known openness of his mind and assume that he will take this in the spirit in which it is offered, as the continuation of many years of discussion.
Pathogenic Bacteria and Immunologic Mechanism of Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infection in Children

Objective To explore the pathogenic bacteria and immunologic mechanism of recurrent respiratory tract infection(RRI) in children.Methods The observation group included 50 children with RRI,26 cases were boys and 24 cases were girls, in Department of Respiratory Medicine of Wuhan Children′s Hospital were enrolled from Apr.2007 to Apr.2008.These children were divided into 3 subset groups:28 cases in 6 months-2 years old group,15 cases in 3-5 years old group,and 7 cases in 6-12 years old group.The healthy control group included 50 healthy children aged 6 months -12 years.The specimens were gathered on the next morning after the children entered hospital.The secretions of noses and pharynxes were gathered with clean and aseptic tampon from children with upper respiratory tract infection and placed in aseptic vessel,and were immediately detected with the pathogenic bacteria.The secretions of lower respiratory tract were gathered with suction method from children with lower respiratory tract infection and placed in aseptic vessel, and were immediately detected with the pathogenic bacteria,the number of superinfection with some kind of pathogenic bacteria was calculated.The children in observation group and healthy control group were exsanguinated of vein when the children were hungry to detect the cellular immunity(CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+) and humoral immunity(IgA,IgM,IgG,C3,C4).Results Three hundred and two specimens in 6 months-2 years old group were detected,and 135 pathogenic bacteria were separated,the ratio of positive was 42.2%,and the number of superinfection was 25.One hundred and thirty-seven specimens in 3-5 years old group were detected,and 47 pathogenic bacteria were separated,the ratio of positive was 34.3%,and the number of superinfection was 7.Fifty-four specimens in 6-12 years old group were detected,and 16 pathogenic bacteria were separated,the ratio of positive was 29.6%,and the number of superinfection was 2.The top 5 kinds of bacteria that those children with RRI were easily infected were Ps.aeruginosa,K.pneumoniae,S.aurens,E.coli and streptococcus pneumoniae.The CD3+,CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ of cellular immunity in the observation group were obviously lower than those in the healthy control group(Pa0.05).The IgM,IgG and C3 of humoral immunity were lower than those in the healthy group(Pa0.05).Conclusions The immunity of the children with RRI is very low,so these children are very easy to be infected with the same pathogenic bacteria.If the child is younger,the possibility of superinfection is greater.
Air Gap Breakdown Mechanism of Model AC Transmission Line Under Forest Fires

With the development transmission system construction in China,many power transmission channels are across mountain areas and occurrence of fire under transmission lines is responsible for a great number of line trips and interruptions.Consequently,the influences of electrode,flame temperature,alkali metal salts KCl,solid particle and air gap filled with smoke and flame on the conductor-plane gap breakdown features are studied by fire of crib.Experimental results show that,AC breakdown voltage is reduced to one-third that of conductor plane gaps under standard conditions;when particles are on the surface of conductor,the breakdown voltage is reduced;the flame conductivity is increased after alkali metal salts are added into the flame and flashover voltage is 33% lower than that in the flame.So transmission line forest fire induced flashover is attributed to flame temperature,electrons and ions and solid particles.
The Effect of Visual Appearance on the Performance of Continuous Sliders and Visual Analogue Scales

Sliders and Visual Analogue Scales (VASs) are input mechanisms which allow users to specify a value within a predefined range. At a minimum, sliders and VASs typically consist of a line with the extreme values labeled. Additional decorations such as labels and tick marks can be added to give information about the gradations along the scale and allow for more precise and repeatable selections. There is a rich history of research about the effect of labelling in discrete scales (i.e., Likert scales), however the effect of decorations on continuous scales has not been rigorously explored. In this paper we perform a 2,000 user, 250,000 trial online experiment to study the effects of slider appearance, and find that decorations along the slider considerably bias the distribution of responses received. Using two separate experimental tasks, the trade-offs between bias, accuracy, and speed-of-use are explored and design recommendations for optimal slider implementations are proposed.
Pain Descriptors Used by Military Personnel Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan Following Combat-Related Blast Experience.

Pain complaints are highly prevalent among military personnel of the combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, due, in part, to blast-related injuries. Further, pain often co-occurs with condition...