cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organic Carbon Effects on Soil Physical and Hydraulic Properties in a Semiarid Climate

Increasing cropping intensity in the central Great Plains of the United States has the potential to increase organic carbon (OC) stored in the soil and lead to improved soil physical properties. A cropping systems study was started in 1990 at the Central Great Plains Research Station near Akron, CO. In 2005 soil samples were taken in six 95-mm increments to a depth of 370 mm to measure OC, water stable macroaggregates (water stable aggregates > 250 μm), bulk density (ρ b ), total porosity (φ total ), water storage porosity (φ ws ), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (k sat ). Samples were collected from permanent grass plots {45% smooth brome [Bromus inermis (Leyss.)], 40% pubescent wheat grass [Agropyrons trichophorum (Link) Richt.], and 15% alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]}, plots in a wheat {[Triticum aestivum (L.)]-corn [Zea mays (L.)]-millet [Panicum miliaceum (L.)]} rotation, and plots in a wheat-fallow rotation. Increased cropping intensity significantly increased OC, water stable macroaggregates, and k sat , but had no significant effect on ρ b , φ total , or ρ ws . Permanent grass increased OC compared with the annually cropped rotations, particularly deeper in the soil. Plots in permanent grass had greater k sat and this may indicate greater pore continuity and stability under saturated conditions. Organic carbon and water stable macroaggregates were poorly correlated. Water stable macroaggregates was negatively correlated with ρ b and positively correlated with k sat . Increasing soil OC may not immediately lead to changes in soil aggregation in a semiarid climate. Increased time and biological activity may be needed to convert the crop residues into organic compounds that stabilize aggregates and soil pore systems.
A re-evaluation of global plantgeographic provinces of the Late Paleozoic

Abstract A re-evaluation of the global plantgeographic maps for the Late Paleozoic, which have evolved through decades of paleobotanic investigations, is required in the light of plate tectonic studies. Advances in the computerization of palynologic data offer a new approach to this problem. Analyses based upon the palynologic data file of the Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, render better correlation analyses of the plantgeographic conditions in the Late Paleozoic possible and aid the construction of more precise climatological maps which will provide crucial evidence for current plate tectonic models. The plantgeographic reconstructions produced indicate that: 1. (1) the Euramerian flora was situated in tropical regions and extended northwards and southwards into belts of dry climate; 2. (2) the Angaran flora appears to have been located in northern temperate zones; 3. (3) the Gondwanan flora developed in the southern temperate zones. A discrepancy existed, however, in relation to the Cathaysian flora. If China formed a part of the Eurasian plate in the Late Paleozoic, then extensive areas of the Cathaysian flora occurring in the coalfields of China and Korea should, according to current geographic maps, have been located in northern arctic regions. However, paleobotanical and palynological criteria indicate that because the Cathaysian flora was closely related to the Euramerian flora, it must have occupied a tropical terrain. This independent paleobotanical evidence supports the case of those scientists who, for other reasons, expected that the China plate and the Indian plate were located further south in the Late Paleozoic and drifted to the north in Mesozoic times.
Compressive confocal microscopy

In this paper, a new framework for confocal microscopy based on the novel theory of compressive sensing is proposed. Unlike wide field microscopy or conventional parallel beam confocal imaging systems that use charge-coupled devices (CCD) as acquisition devices in addition to complex mechanical scanning system, the proposed compressive confocal microscopy is a kind of parallel beam confocal imaging system which exploits the rich theory of compressive sensing by using a single pixel detector and a digital micromirror device (DMD) to capture linear projections of the in-focus image. With the proposed system, confocal imaging of high optical sectioning ability can be achieved at sub-Nyquist sampling rates. Theoretical analysis, simulations and experimental results are shown to demonstrate the characteristics and potential of the proposed approach.
Multiple factors dictate target selection by Hfq‐binding small RNAs

Hfq-binding small RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria modulate the stability and translational efficiency of target mRNAs through limited base-pairing interactions. While these sRNAs are known to regulate numerous mRNAs as part of stress responses, what distinguishes targets and non-targets among the mRNAs predicted to base pair with Hfq-binding sRNAs is poorly understood. Using the Hfq-binding sRNA Spot 42 of Escherichia coli as a model, we found that predictions using only the three unstructured regions of Spot 42 substantially improved the identification of previously known and novel Spot 42 targets. Furthermore, increasing the extent of base-pairing in single or multiple base-pairing regions improved the strength of regulation, but only for the unstructured regions of Spot 42. We also found that non-targets predicted to base pair with Spot 42 lacked an Hfq-binding site, folded into a secondary structure that occluded the Spot 42 targeting site, or had overlapping Hfq-binding and targeting sites. By modifying these features, we could impart Spot 42 regulation on non-target mRNAs. Our results thus provide valuable insights into the requirements for target selection by sRNAs.
Transthecal digital block: Flexor tendon sheath used for anesthetic infusion

A new approach to achieve digital block by use of the flexor tendon sheath as an avenue introducing anesthetics to the core of the digit is described. Through centrifugal anesthetic diffusion all four digital nerves are anesthetized rapidly. This technique involves palmar percutaneous injection of 2 ml of lidocaine (Xylocaine) into the potential space of the flexor tendon sheath at the level of the palmar flexion crease with a 3 ml syringe and a No. 25-gauge hypodermic needle. Over the last 5 years, I have used this technique on 420 patients with no observable anesthetic complication. A repeat injection or local infiltration as a supplement was necessary only in four instances.
Therapeutic Approaches to Genital Warts

Although many treatments are available for genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), none are uniformly successful in the treatment of this disease. Most current treatment options work by destroying affected tissue, either by a cytotoxic or a physically ablative mode of action. Interferons have antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities, but these have not translated into a high level of cure rates against warts. With all current treatments, recurrent warts are common. Therapies currently being investigated include a 5-fluorouracil/epinephrine collagen gel that achieves high concentrations of 5-fluorouracil at the site of injection. Other new treatment modalities focus on activating the host's immune system or improving the delivery of therapeutic compounds to the affected site. Imiquimod, a novel immune-response modifier, induces interferon and a number of other endogenous cytokines. A cream formulation containing 5% imiquimod resulted in good total clearance rates and generally tolerable side effects in controlled clinical trials of patients with external genital warts. Perhaps the most effective means for managing HPV disease would be a vaccine that prevents the occurrence of genital warts. Although it is unlikely that such a vaccine will be introduced in the near future, preliminary studies indicate that it may be possible to develop suitable prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.
The Spectral Hospital: Eighteenth-Century Philanthropy and the Novel

Established in 1739 as a shelter for illegitimate children of the poor otherwise liable to be murdered by their parents or abandoned in the streets to certain death, the London Foundling Hospital loomed large in eighteenthcentury cultural imagination.1 It embodied both the noblest philanthropic aspirations of the British Enlightenment and some of its worst fears, namely that unchecked by the stigma of illicit maternity, women would gain an unprecedented control over their reputations and reproductive behavior. Straightforward praises, such as Henry Fielding’s “compliment to the present Age for [this] glorious [Benefaction],” mingled with such underhand commendations as the one voiced by a 1760 anonymous pamphlet that assured the “young Maids” that now they “may safely take a Leap in the dark with their Sweethearts; and if they should chance to be with child, . . . they may go to the Foundling Hospital and get rid of their Bantling, and pass for pure Virgins.”2 It was widely rumored, moreover, that the reason any man would champion the case of this charity was that he hoped to swindle the public into paying for the upkeep of his own bastards; a 1750 pamphlet claimed that the Hospital’s founding father, Captain Thomas Coram, worked so hard on behalf of illegitimate children because he “had many a Lass grappl’d under the Lee.”3 The institution’s vulnerability to slander notwithstanding, the visit to the beautifully appointed grounds of
Wait Until Dark? Daily Activity Patterns and Nest Predation by Snakes

Predation involves costs and benefits, so predators should employ tactics that reduce their risk of injury or death and that increase their success at capturing prey. One potential way that predators could decrease risk and increase benefits is by attacking prey at night when risks may be reduced and prey more vulnerable. Because some snakes are facultatively nocturnal and prey on bird nests during the day and night, they are ideal for assessing the costs and benefits of diurnal vs. nocturnal predation. We used automated radiotelemetry and cameras to investigate predation on nesting birds by two species of snakes, one diurnal and the other facultatively nocturnal. We predicted that snakes preying on nests at night should experience less parental nest defence and capture more adults and nestlings. Rat snakes (Pantherophis obsoletus) were relatively inactive at night (23–36% activity) but nearly always preyed on nests after dark (80% of nest predations). Conversely, racers (Coluber constrictor) were exclusively diurnal and preyed on nests during the times of day they were most active. These results are consistent with rat snakes strategically using their capacity for facultative nocturnal activity to prey on nests at night. The likely benefit is reduced nest defence because birds defended their nests less vigourously at night. Consistent with nocturnal predation being safer, rat snake predation events lasted three times longer at night than during the day (26 vs. 8 min). Nocturnal nest predation did not make nests more profitable by increasing the likelihood of capturing adults or removing premature fledging of nestlings. The disconnect between rat snake activity and timing of nest predation seems most consistent with rat snakes locating prey during the day using visual cues but waiting until dark to prey on nests when predation is safer, although designing a direct test of this hypothesis will be challenging.
Hetero associative neural network for pattern recognition

An inter-pattern association (IPA) neural network model is presented in which basic logical operations are used to determine the association among common and special features of reference patterns. Hetero- and auto-associative memory are synthesized by applying a generalized logical rule. Computer simulations for pattern recognition by using the IPA model have shown a better performance and a higher storage capacity than the Hopfield model. A 2-D adaptive optical neural network is used to perform parallel neurocomputations. Since the interconnection weight matrix for the IPA model has a tristate structure, the dynamic range imposed on a spatial light modulator is rather relaxed, and the interconnections are much simpler than for the Hopfield model. >
Gold nanoparticle-doped silk film as biocompatible SERS substrate

In this work, we present a novel rapid method for fabricating biocompatible, biodegradable gold nanoparticle-embedded silk films (AuNP–silk films) that have potential applications in bioengineering and biomedical research. Thin AuNP–silk films are prepared from a AuNP–silk nanocomposite and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy. Results indicate that the size and distribution of AuNPs can be well controlled in AuNP–silk films, which may have great significance in developing novel biosensors. As a proof of principle, we further demonstrate that the prepared AuNP–silk films can serve as an excellent substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering in trace analysis. Moreover, the solid-state NMR results show that the AuNP–silk films possess a structure similar to natural silk, indicating that the fabrication process has little effect on silk protein. Surface plasmon absorption study of AuNPs shows that the optical properties of AuNPs vary when embedded into silk films because of the higher refractive index of silk, which is demonstrated by theoretical simulation.
NEIGHBORHOOD FORECLOSURES AND PROPERTY TAX BURDEN: AN EXAMINATION OF CHANGE IN VALUATION STANDARD AND ASSESSMENT EQUITY

The quality of property tax assessment practices impacts the stability of local government revenue and the equity of property tax burden. This study examines the potential shift in property tax bur...
A Large Blood Pressure–Raising Effect of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition in Humans

In experimental animals, systemic administration of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors causes large increases in blood pressure that are in part sympathetically mediated. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which these conclusions can be extrapolated to humans. In healthy normotensive humans, we measured blood pressure in response to two NOS inhibitors, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the latter of which recently became available for use in humans. The major new findings are 3-fold. First, L-NAME produced robust increases in blood pressure that were more than 2 times larger than those previously reported in humans with L-NMMA and approximated those seen in experimental animals. L-NAME (4 mg/kg) raised mean arterial pressure by 24+/-2 mm Hg (n=27, P<0.001), whereas in subjects who received both inhibitors, a 12-fold higher dose of L-NMMA (50 mg/kg) raised mean arterial pressure by 15+/-2 mm Hg (n=4, P<0.05 vs L-NAME). Second, the L-NAME-induced increases in blood pressure were caused specifically by NOS inhibition because they were reversed by L-arginine (200 mg/kg, n=12) but not D-arginine (200 mg/kg, n=6) and because NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (4 mg/kg, n=5) had no effect on blood pressure. Third, in humans, there is an important sympathetic component to the blood pressure-raising effect of NOS inhibition. alpha-Adrenergic blockade with phentolamine (0.2 mg/kg, n=9) attenuated the L-NAME-induced increase in blood pressure by 40% (P<0.05). From these data, we conclude that pharmacological inhibition of NOS causes large increases in blood pressure that are in part sympathetically mediated in humans as well as experimental animals.
Seed dispersal by white-tailed deer: implications for long-distance dispersal, invasion, and migration of plants in eastern North America

For many plant species in eastern North America, short observed seed dispersal distances (ranging up to a few tens of meters) fail to explain rapid rates of invasion and migration. This discrepancy points to a substantial gap in our knowledge of the mechanisms by which seeds are dispersed long distances. We investigated the potential for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimm.), the dominant large herbivore in much of eastern North America, to disperse seeds via endozoochory. This is the first comprehensive study of seed dispersal by white-tailed deer, despite a vast body of research on other aspects of their ecology. More than 70 plant species germinated from deer feces collected over a 1-year period in central New York State, USA. Viable seeds included native and alien herbs, shrubs, and trees, including several invasive introduced species, from the full range of habitat types in the local flora. A mean of >30 seeds germinated per fecal pellet group, and seeds were dispersed during all months of the year. A wide variety of presumed dispersal modes were represented (endo- and exozoochory, wind, ballistic, ant, and unassisted). The majority were species with small-seeded fruits having no obvious adaptations for dispersal, underscoring the difficulty of inferring dispersal ability from diaspore morphology. Due to their broad diet, wide-ranging movements, and relatively long gut retention times, white-tailed deer have tremendous potential for effecting long-distance seed dispersal via ingestion and defecation. We conclude that white-tailed deer represent a significant and previously unappreciated vector of seed dispersal across the North American landscape, probably contributing an important long-distance component to the seed shadows of hundreds of plant species, and providing a mechanism to help explain rapid rates of plant migration.
Implementation of duty hour standards in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency training.

Objective To determine what impact, if any, of the recently implemented duty hour standards have had on otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency programs from the perspective of program directors. We hypothesized that the implementation of resident duty hour limitations have caused changes in otolaryngology training programs in the United States. Study design and setting Information was collected via survey in a prospective, blinded fashion from program directors of otolaryngology-head and neck residency training programs in the United States. Results Overall, limitation of resident duty hours is not an improvement in otolaryngology-head and neck residency training according to 77% of the respondents. The limitations on duty hours have caused changes in the resident work schedules in 71% of the programs responding. Approximately half of the residents have a favorable impression of the work hour changes. Thirty-two percent of the respondents indicate that changes to otolaryngology support staff were required, and of those many hired physician assistants. Eighty-four percent of the respondents did not believe that the limitations on resident duty hours improved patient care, and 81% believed that it has negatively impacted resident training experience. Forty-five percent of the program directors felt that otolaryngology-head and neck faculty were forced to increase their work loads to accommodate the decrease in the time that residents were allowed to be involved in clinical activities. Fifty-four percent of the programs changed from in-hospital to home call to accommodate the duty hour restrictions. Conclusions According to the majority of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery program directors who responded to the survey, the limitations on resident duty hours imposed by the ACGME are not an improvement in residency training, do not improve patient care, and have decreased the training experience of residents. Significance This study demonstrates that multiple changes have been made to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery training programs because of work hour limitations set forth by the ACGME.
Fault tolerant architectures for efficient realization of common DSP kernels

The authors propose combining traditional fault tolerant computer concepts with the inherent modularity of residue number system (RNS) arithmetic to provide failure resistance in high speed digital signal processing (DSP) systems. Triple modular redundancy and quadruple modular redundancy, both of which are used in commercial fault tolerant computers are combined with RNS modularity for realizing important DSP computational kernels. The combination of system level modularity and arithmetic level modularity offers a great deal of flexibility in designing efficient fault tolerant DSP kernels. >
Energy Localization and the Initiation of Explosive Crystals by Shock or Impact

The initiation of chemical reaction in explosive crystals during shock or impact is shown to be a solid state, quantum mechanical, process not accessible by a classical continuum approach. The process by which dislocations move in a solid is analyzed in terms of quantum mechanical tunneling. The motion of these dislocations significantly perturbs the lattice and creates phonons which, for low dislocation velocities can cause local ignition sites and for high dislocation velocities, can have energies sufficient to directly pump the internal vibrational modes of the explosive molecules and cause rapid molecular dissociation.
Privacy-Aware Location-Aided Routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) enable users in physical proximity to each other to exchange data without the need for expensive communication infrastructures. Each user represents a node in the network, and executes a neighbor discovery Typically, nodes broadcast beacon messages that are received by other participants within the sender’s communication range. Routing strategies are computed on-line based on the locations of nearby nodes, and geocasting is employed to deliver data packets to their destinations. However, mobile users may be reluctant to share their exact locations with other participants, since location can disclose private details about a person’s lifestyle, religious or political affiliations, etc. A common approach to protect location privacy is to replace exact coordinates with coarser-grained regions, based on the privacy profile of each user. In this paper, we investigate protocols that support MANET routing without disclosing exact positions of nodes. Each node defines its own privacy profile, and reports a cloaked location information to its neighbors. We adopt a novel strategy to advertise beacons, to prevent inference of node locations. We also propose packet forwarding heuristics that rely on cloaking regions, rather than point locations. Our extensive experimental evaluation shows that the proposed routing scheme achieves low delays and high packet delivery ratios, without incurring significant overhead compared to conventional MANET routing protocols.
RUBE: a customized 2D and 3D modeling framework for simulation

We present a system called RUBE, which allows a modeler to customize model components and model structure in 2D and 3D. RUBE employs open source tools to assist in model authoring, allowing the user to visualize models with different metaphors. For example, it is possible to visualize an event graph as a city block, or a Petri network as an organically-oriented 3D machine. We suggest that such flexibility in visualization will allow existing model types to take on forms that may be more recognizable to modeling sub-communities, while employing notation as afforded by inexpensive graphical hardware. There is also a possibility to create model types using entirely new notations.
Evaluation of the NCPDP Structured and Codified Sig Format for e-prescriptions.

Objective To evaluate the ability of the structure and code sets specified in the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs Structured and Codified Sig Format to represent ambulatory electronic prescriptions. Design We parsed the Sig strings from a sample of 20 161 de-identified ambulatory e-prescriptions into variables representing the fields of the Structured and Codified Sig Format. A stratified random sample of these representations was then reviewed by a group of experts. For codified Sig fields, we attempted to map the actual words used by prescribers to the equivalent terms in the designated terminology. Measurements Proportion of prescriptions that the Format could fully represent; proportion of terms used that could be mapped to the designated terminology. Results The fields defined in the Format could fully represent 95% of Sigs (95% CI 93% to 97%), but ambiguities were identified, particularly in representing multiple-step instructions. The terms used by prescribers could be codified for only 60% of dose delivery methods, 84% of dose forms, 82% of vehicles, 95% of routes, 70% of sites, 33% of administration timings, and 93% of indications. Limitations The findings are based on a retrospective sample of ambulatory prescriptions derived mostly from primary care physicians. Conclusion The fields defined in the Format could represent most of the patient instructions in a large prescription sample, but prior to its mandatory adoption, further work is needed to ensure that potential ambiguities are addressed and that a complete set of terms is available for the codified fields.
A compact low-power VLSI transceiver for wireless communication

A 3 V CMOS VLSI for dual-mode wireless communication systems has been designed and fabricated using the MOSIS scaleable CMOS technology. By using mixed analog and digital circuit design techniques, a single chip solution to baseband processing of data and supervisory audio tone signals in the analog transmission mode is possible. Key analog circuits include an anti-alias filter, two fifth-order low-pass filters, one sixth-order band-pass filter, an interpolator for sampling rate conversion, and two comparators. The digital modules perform data transmission and reception, error coding and decoding, as well as tone detection and regeneration. When implemented in the 2 /spl mu/m CMOS technology from the MOSIS Service for low-cost low-power applications, the transceiver chip consumes less than 6 mW at receive-only mode. It is also quite suitable for battery-powered devices, such as portable terminals. Design technologies can be applied to future high-speed wireless transceiver design. The architecture and circuits described in this chip can be used in aggressively scaled technologies even with the supply voltage reduced toward 1 V if the threshold voltage is proportionally decreased.
A general kinetic model for iron acquisition by eukaryotic phytoplankton

The conventional model of iron uptake in marine eukaryotic phytoplankton—the Fe 9 model—suggests a dependency of uptake rate on the concentration of unchelated iron species (Fe9), and not the concentration of total iron or iron chelated with organic ligands. However, iron in seawater is bound by strong organic ligands that buffer such low Fe9 concentrations that they should not support phytoplankton growth. Studies that show uptake and extracellular reduction of siderophore-bound iron by diatoms and provide indications that the iron uptake system of phytoplankton may be similar to that of yeast in which extracellular reduction is a prerequisite for uptake, call for revisions of the Fe9 model. In this paper we propose a new model for iron uptake by diatoms in which extracellular reduction of all Fe species is a necessary step for iron acquisition. Experiments verifying the predictions of the model are presented. In particular we show data supporting the fact that Fe(II) is formed as an intermediate during Fe uptake from all experimental media, including those buffered by Fe(III)EDTA. This model reconciles the standing Fe9 model with new data and concepts on reduction of iron chelates and provides a convenient framework for designing and interpreting iron uptake experiments in a variety of natural and artificial media.
Laparoscopic Palomo varicocelectomy in the adolescent is safe after previous ipsilateral inguinal surgery

Objective To evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic Palomo varicocelectomy (LPV) in young boys who had undergone previous ipsilateral inguinal surgery (in whom potentially the arterial supply to the testicles may be compromised) in an attempt to assess its safety for the collateral vascular supply in such cases. Patients and methods Over a 5-year period (1995–2000) 44 patients underwent LPV, where both the spermatic artery and vein were ligated high above the internal ring. Thirteen patients had undergone previous ipsilateral inguinal surgery, which included inguinal hernia repairs in five, orchidopexy in two, communicating hydrocele repair in three and previous varicocele repair in three. All patients were followed clinically at 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Results There were no complications related to laparoscopy or varicocele ligation. No patient developed ipsilateral testicular atrophy; moreover the testis size remained stable or was associated with compensatory growth in all patients. Conclusion Previous inguinal surgery involving the ipsilateral testicle does not appear to affect the collateral blood circulation to the affected testis in boys who undergo LPV mass ligation of the internal spermatic vein and artery. LPV for varicocele is safe in boys who have undergone previous inguinal surgery, suggesting that an adequate collateral blood supply is present.
Midwestern land-grant university scientists' definitions of sustainable agriculture: A delphi study

What scientists include among the essential attributes of sustainable agricultural systems can influence the development of agricultural research agendas and how research is done. Current perspectives on sustainability place varying emphasis on environmental and agrarian values and propose different amounts and kinds of change in agricultural production, agricultural science, and rural social institutions. In a delphi study, agricultural scientists at North Central region land-grant universities considered environmental management and development of new farming technologies as essential to a definition of sustainable agriculture, but gave little importance to social or scientific restructuring. With some qualifications, we characterize their view of sustainability as a stewardship perspective that does not include social considerations and explicitly rejects radical social change.
Philanthropy and the Character of the Public Research University: The Intersections of Private Giving, Institutional Autonomy, and Shared Governance

Educational scholars have examined the relationship of philanthropy and its contributions to the public university. Yet, there has been little discussion of the influence of philanthropy on the governance space of the public research university, and specifically as conditional philanthropy may affect academic integrity and shared governance. In this chapter, we consider these larger issues in the context of a study of a recent case. Drawing on public records, interviews, and university documents, the chapter examines conditional donation of The Charles G. Koch Foundation (CKF) to the Florida State University (FSU). We suggest that the Koch Foundation gift appears to illustrate a new model of governance based philanthropy. It has done so by tying donations to control or influence of the internal governing mechanics of an academic unit of a public university. This model has generated controversy. Though there was substantial faculty and student backlash, the model appears to be evidence of a new philanthropic relationship between the public university and substantial donors, one in which donors may change the nature of traditional shared governance relationships within the university. We maintain that instances of such “new” strategic philanthropy require greater focus on and sensitivity to shared governance and faculty input as a way to ensure accountability, especially to preserve the integrity of the academic enterprise and its public mission where donors seek to leverage philanthropy into choices relating to faculty hires, courses and programs traditionally at the center of faculty prerogatives in shared governance.
Inhibition of PARP prevents oxidant-induced necrosis but not apoptosis in LLC-PK1 cells.

Oxidant-induced cell injury has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several forms of acute renal failure. The present studies examined whether activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) by ...
Tuning Allostery in Random Spring Networks

Allostery in proteins is the process by which the binding of a ligand to one site affects activity at a second distant site. Inspired by this biological process, we have developed a method to tune random spring networks to exhibit allostery-like behavior. We show that allosteric communication does not require the transmission of stresses nor a single narrow communication pathway between sites. This communication also does not depend on the existence of a zero-frequency mode, although the displacements typically correspond to a single low-frequency mode for protein-scale system sizes. The behavior of these networks can be reproduced in macroscopic experimental systems in both two and three dimensions.
System-Level Modeling and Parametric Identification of Electric Impact Wrench

Electric impact wrench is an important tool used in manufacturing and maintenance services. It has complex mechanism and its operation involves dynamic events occurring at vastly different time scales, which poses challenges for efficient and accurate modeling to facilitate design optimization and control. This investigation establishes a first principle-based, system-level model of a representative impact wrench. The model explicitly incorporates the dynamic flexibility of gear transmission, spindle shaft, and impacting components into the kinematic relations that connect them together. The nonlinear impact and contact events, coupled with the rotational and translational motions of all components, are explicitly analyzed, and systematic parametric identification is performed based on a multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach. The model prediction is correlated with experimental studies.
A four class model for digital breast histopathology using high-definition Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging

High-definition (HD) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging is an emerging technique that not only enables chemistry-based visualization of tissue constituents, and label free extraction of biochemical information but its higher spatial detail makes it a potentially useful platform to conduct digital pathology. This methodology, along with fast and efficient data analysis, can enable both quantitative and automated pathology. Here we demonstrate a combination of HD FT-IR spectroscopic imaging of breast tissue microarrays (TMAs) with data analysis algorithms to perform histologic analysis. The samples comprise four tissue states, namely hyperplasia, dysplasia, cancerous and normal. We identify various cell types which would act as biomarkers for breast cancer detection and differentiate between them using statistical pattern recognition tools i.e. Random Forest (RF) and Bayesian algorithms. Feature optimization is integrally carried out for the RF algorithm, reducing computation time as well as redundant spectral features. We achieved an order of magnitude reduction in the number of features with comparable prediction accuracy to that of the original feature set. Together, the demonstration of histology and selection of features paves the way for future applications in more complex models and rapid data acquisition.
Spatial Dynamics and Sampling of Lyonetia speculella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), a Leafminer of Apple

The abundance of Lyonetia speculella Clemens larvae on each tree of a 1.25- ha apple orchard, planted in 1986, was determined monthly from June to September 1986 and May to September 1987. In both years, the abundance of L. speculella was low initially, increased in early summer, remained constant through midsummer, and increased again at the end of the summer. L. speculella abundance per tree was aggregated, but the distribution of infested trees was initially random, then regular for the remainder of each year. The initial increase in abundance was caused by an increase in the percentage of the trees infested and the late summer increase by an increase in aggregation on infested trees. There were differences in distribution of mines between ‘Northern Spy’ and ‘Red Delicious’ because of phenological and growth habit differences between the two cultivars. An application of oxamyl in 1986 temporarily altered the spatial distribution of L. speculella , increasing the aggregation and decreasing the percentage of the trees infested for the sample following oxamyl application. A graph of the relationship between sample size and sampling precision is provided to estimate required sample size for future studies. Random, systematic, random cluster, and systematic cluster sampling designs were all equally effective in simulated sampling from the field data
Acoustic Separation Control for a Laminar Flow Airfoil

Acoustic flow control is investigated on the NACA 643 − 618 laminar airfoil. This airfoil has received considerable interest of late for its unique stall characteristics and the opportunities it presents for the design of a robust active flow control mechanism. At low Reynolds numbers (6.4x10), the airfoil exhibits laminar separation, turbulent separation, and/or the presence of a re-attaching laminar separation bubble, depending on α. This presents a rich environment for the study of active flow control. The focus of this work is to study the effects of pure frequency excitation through the use of acoustics. Angles of attack of 10◦ and 22◦ are studied. In both cases, significant improvements in lift and drag are obtained. Conclusions are drawn about the opportunity to exploit instability frequencies through the use of more practical flow control methods.
Effect of calcium, sodium and isoproterenol on renin secretion from disaggregated rat renal cortical cells

A disaggregated cell system prepared from rat renal cortices has been developed to study the regulation of renin release in vitro. Cell suspensions were prepared by incubating minced renal cortical tissue in collagenase. The digested tissue was filtered sequentially through graded Teflon meshes of 125 and 44 mu, respectively. This preparation contained less than 2% intact glomeruli or tubules. Incubation of cell suspensions with the beta-adrenergic agonist L-isoproterenol (ISO) significantly increased the activity of renin released into the incubation media. Peak levels of renin activity were detected 10 to 15 min after the addition of ISO. The apparent ED50 for stimulation of renin release by ISO was 6 X 10(-8)M and the response was antagonized by the beta-adrenergic antagonist dl-propranolol. The spontaneous release of renin was also suppressed by increasing the concentration of extracellular calcium, whereas sodium ions had no effect on this process. These data have demonstrated that disaggregated renal cortical cell models are useful for studying the in vitro effects of pharmacologic agents and ions on renin secretion.
Gene therapy for cancer : from the laboratory to the patient

Gene therapy is a new form of therapeutic intervention with applications in many areas of medical treatment. There are still many technical difficulties to be overcome, but recent advances in the molecular and cellular biology of gene transfer have made it likely that gene therapy will soon start to play an increasing role in clinical practice and particularly in the treatment of cancer. The first clinical gene transfer in an approved protocol took place exactly 10 years ago, and it was for the transfer of gene-marked immune cells into patients with advanced cancer. Now there are 218 active clinical protocols in the United States, and they have involved over 2000 patients worldwide. Among the conditions and diseases for which gene transfer is being tried as treatment, cancer comes first with 130 clinical trials. Fundamental research in the mechanisms of cancer and the development of molecular biology tools are crucial for the success of the treatments in the future. The identification of tumor rejection antigens from a variety of cancers and the immune response that is defective in cancer patients are important topics for future studies. The evaluation of gene therapy combinations involving use of tumor suppressor genes and constructs that inactivate oncogenes is also another important area for future research. The future improvement of present viruses as well as the use of new viral vectors will likely expand the applicability and efficacy of gene therapy. During the next decade technological developments, particularly in the areas of gene delivery and cell transplantation, will be critical for the successful clinical practice of gene therapy.
Chemical Production of Excited States: Adventitious Biological Chemiluminescence of Carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The chemical production of electronically excited states in biological systems falls into several categories. The first and most prominent is Bioluminescence, a late evolutionary selection for “luciferase”-catalyzed monooxygenations of “luciferin” substrates to produce light for signalling with efficiencies (photons emitted per substrate molecule reacted) close to 100% [1], Second is the delayed luminescence of pre-illuminated chloroplasts at times (10−5 sec to 104 sec) too long for the process to be a primary fluorescence or slow fluorescence [2,3]. Delayed luminescence is thought to be the result of a back reaction (recombination) of photoreactants within the thylacoid that have undergone charge separation due to the primary illumination [3,4], and is, like the in vivo fluorescence of chlorophyll, non-functional. The third category which we have termed Adventitious Biological Chemiluminescence, ABC, is a non-functional, non-enzymatic light emission that occurs fortuitously and with low probability during aerobic metabolism. The literature is replete with observations, from the work of Gurwitsch beginning in the 1920’s through the present, of ABC emitted from whole tissues, from isolated cells and cell homogenates, from microsomal extracts and from purified flavoprotein oxidases and peroxidases [5–12].
Ion Sources and Sample Introduction

The chapter describes sample introduction and ionization. It includes common ionization techniques, such as electrospray and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, and the advantages and disadvantages of each for biomolecule analysis. It also includes a description of the vacuum system and calibration methods. The sample inlet is the interface between the sample and the mass spectrometer. In order to analyze by mass spectrometry, a sample at atmospheric pressure is introduced into the instrument such that the vacuum within remains relatively unchanged. A sample can be introduced several ways, the most common being with a direct insertion probe or by infusion through a capillary column. The sample is placed on a probe, which is then inserted, usually through a vacuum lock, into the ionization region of the mass spectrometer. The sample can then be heated to facilitate thermal desorption or undergo any number of high-energy desorption processes used to achieve vaporation and ionization. An efficient pumping system is required to maintain a high vacuum while the condensed phase solutions or gases at atmospheric pressure are introduced into the ionization chamber. This is accomplished with the mechanical pumps used in conjunction with diffusion, turbo molecular, or cryogenic pumps.
A phase I trial of cabozantinib and gemcitabine in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background Cabozantinib and gemcitabine improve tumor control in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in preclinical models through c-Met inhibition. We sought to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of this combination in patients with advanced PDAC. Methods Patients with ≤1 prior treatment and adequate performance status were eligible. Cabozantinib was given orally once daily, beginning day (-)7 and continued with gemcitabine given intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. Dose level was assigned using Time to Event Continual Reassessment Method (TITE-CRM). Primary endpoint was MTD, defined as the highest dose level at which ≤25 % of patients incurred a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Secondary endpoints included response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and urinary biomarker assessment. Results Twelve patients were enrolled and treated with 10 patients evaluable for DLT. The probability of DLT was >25 % for all dose levels tested, and thus an MTD was not determined. DLTs included grade 3 ALT/AST elevations and thrombocytopenia. Three patients had partial responses, but each discontinued therapy due to toxicity. Median PFS and OS were 4.7 (95 % CI: 1.4-9.7) and 10.1 months (95 % CI: 3.6-20.6). Exploratory biomarker analysis showed correlation of c-Met and VEGF levels with response. Conclusions An MTD for the combination was not established. Cabozantinib and gemcitabine appear impractical for further development due to DLT at low doses and continuing toxicities with ongoing therapy. Acknowledging the small sample size, responses were seen suggesting further investigation of c-Met inhibition in PDAC may be warranted.
In Silico Approaches to Identify Mutagenesis Targets to Probe and Alter Protein–Cofactor and Protein–Protein Functional Relationships

When performing site-directed mutagenesis experiments to study protein structure-function relationships, ideally one would know the structure of the protein under study. It is also very useful to have structures of multiple related proteins in order to determine whether or not particular amino acid residues are conserved in the structures either in the active site of an enzyme at the surface of a protein or at a putative protein-protein interface. While many protein structures are available in the Protein Data Base (PDB), a structure of the protein of interest may not be available. In the study of reversible and often transient protein-protein interactions it is rare to have a structure of the complex of the two interacting proteins. In this chapter, methods are described for comparing protein structures, generating putative structures of proteins with homology models based on the protein primary sequence, and generating docking models to predict interaction sites between proteins and cofactor-protein interactions. The rationale used to predict mutagenesis targets from these structures and models is also described.
A programming framework for mobilizing enterprise applications

Mobile applications often need to synchronize their data with backend servers. Synchronization semantics have typically been set at the level of backend datastores. This is a major hindrance for enterprise applications that cannot assume a uniform storage model. In this paper, we present the SodaSync framework that provides a generic synchronization model for mobile enterprise applications that use heterogeneous backend stores. SodaSync exploits a unifying higher-level data model of service data objects (SDO) and introduces a persistence and synchronization framework for the model. It allows application programmers to express data and consistency requirements in terms of the SDO model and thereby emancipates them from the replication nuances of various backend stores. We present the major features of SodaSync, its architecture, and the status of our implementation.