cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluxionality, substitution, and hydrogen exchange at eight-coordinate rhenium(V) polyhydride centers

Abstract Towards a better understanding of the dynamic processes within eight-coordinate rhenium pentahydride complexes, a set of eight-coordinate rhenium(V) pentahydride complexes supported by two triphenylphosphine ligands and either a bidentate amine with a pendant functional group (1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane, 2-aminoethanol) or by an unsymmetrically-substituted aromatic amine ligand (3-aminopyridine or 3-picoline) was prepared from thermolysis reactions of ReH7(PPh3)2. Variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy and simulation of those results indicate a previously uncharacterized exchange of hydrogen between the unique hydride ligand residing in a dodecahedral B site and hydrogen atoms from adventitious water. The same data also indicate two processes for hydride ligand fluxionality and a process for isomer interconversions of the complexes supported by an unsymmetrically substituted aromatic amine ligand. The hydride exchange process that exchanges A site hydride ligands also exchanges B site ligands. The likely mechanism for the A and B site atom exchanges involves concerted, successive, inversions of the A site ligands into B sites and concomitant inversions of B site ligands into A sites of the D2d dodecahedron. Values of ΔG‡, ΔH‡, and ΔS‡ for all of the dynamic processes were determined.
Limited Evidence Suggests That Vitamin D May Help Prevent and Treat Periodontal Disease in Adults.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Serum vitamin D levels and chronic periodontitis in adult, Caucasian population—a systematic review. Peric M, Cavallier E, Toma S, Lasserre JF. J Periodontal Res 2018; 53:645-56. Source of Funding Information not available/none declared. Type of Study/Design Systematic review.
Improving Correlations between Land Use and Air Pollutant Concentrations Using Wavelet Analysis: Insights from a Low-cost Sensor Network

ABSTRACT City-wide air pollution assessments have typically relied on a small number of widely separated regulatory monitoring sites or land use regression (LUR) models built using time-integrated samples to assess annual average population-scale exposure. However, air pollutant concentrations often exhibit significant spatial and temporal variability depending on local sources and features of the built environment. In 2016, the Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions (CACES) Air Quality Observatory was launched at Carnegie Mellon University to better understand urban spatial and temporal pollution gradients on the 8 h) above the regional background. Compared to the non-decomposed total pollutant signal, the short-lived or persistent enhancement pollutant signals, which should come from local sources, were better correlated with covariates used in LUR model construction. For example, Pearson r between total vehicle counts in a 100 m buffer and NO2 increased from 0.57 using the total pollutant signal to 0.83 using the persistent enhancement only. The findings from this study support building more accurate and higher time resolution (e.g., daily, hourly) LURs using low-cost sensors.
Comment on “Unbiased solar H2 production with current density up to 23 mA cm−2 by Swiss-cheese black Si coupled with wastewater bioanode” by L. Lu, W. Vakki, J. A. Aguiar, C. Xiao, K. Hurst, M. Fairchild, X. Chen, F. Yang, J. Gu and Z. J. Ren, Energy Environ. Sci., 2019, 12, 1088

A hybrid microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system recently reported by Lu et al. achieved a high photocurrent density of up to 23 mA cm−2 on the basis of area of a small photocathode matched to a larger bioanode. This current density number followed the tradition of photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems but didn’t report performance of the total system based on the cross-sectional area of the reactor, as preferred by researchers working on microbial electrochemical (MEC) systems. The overall current supplied by the bioanodes oxidizing organic matter in wastewater was 1.3–1.9 mA, which corresponded to 0.18–0.27 mA cm−2 based on cross-sectional area or 44–69 A m−3 based on catholyte volume. It is important to recognize that the performance of the system can be limited by either the electrodes or reactor configuration, so data presentations based on multi-parameters are necessary to advance similar interdisciplinary research.
Combination of retinoid and flavonoid controlled the growth of human malignant neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in culture as well as in xenografted athymic nude mice

3084 Neuroblastoma is a malignant cancer, especially, in children older than 1 year . These patients do not respond to any currently available therapeutic regimen and eventually die. Thus, there is an urgent need for development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of malignant neuroblastoma. We examined the efficacy of retinoids and flavonoids alone and in combination setting for controlling the growth of human malignant neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in culture as well as in xenografted athymic nude mice. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with a retinoid such as 1 μM all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), 1 μM 13-cis retinoic acid (13-CRA), or 0.5 μM N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR) for 8 days caused astrocytic differentiation, as evidenced by in situ methylene blue staining. Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed a decrease in cell viability with an increasing dose of a flavonoid such as apigenin (APG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), or genistein (GST). Wright staining identified morphological features of apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells following exposure to 50 μM APG, 50 μM EGC, 50 μM EGCG, or 100 μM GST for 24 h. A combination treatment strategy involving 0.5 μM 4-HPR for 8 days and then 50 μM GST for 24 h produced significant amounts of apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells in culture. The efficacy of this combination of 4-HPR and GST was subsequently evaluated in nude mice with SH-SY5Y xenografts. For xenotransplantation of neuroblastoma, 6 weeks-old nude mice (about 20 g each) were subcutaneously (sc) injected with a (1:1) mixture of exponentially growing SH-SY5Y (6 million cells/mouse) and Matrigel and allowed to develop the tumors. Animals with the 3 to 4 weeks-old xenografts were randomly assigned to 4 different groups: control, 4-HPR alone, GST alone, and 4-HPR plus GST . Animals in control group did not receive any therapy. Each animal in other group received intraperitoneal (ip) injection of a daily dose of 4-HPR (1 μg/kg), GST (75 μg/kg), or 4-HPR (1 μg/kg) plus 4 h later GST (75 μg/kg) for 8 days before tumors from all groups were collected for evaluation of therapeutic outcomes. Histopathological examination of tumor sections following H&E staining showed that tumors of control group maintained characteristic growth of neuroblastoma, treatment with 4-HPR alone caused differentiation of tumor cells, GST alone induced apoptosis, and treatment with 4-HPR plus GST produced significant amounts of apoptosis in tumors. In situ TUNEL and double immunofluorescent labeling of tumor sections demonstrated an increase in calpain expression in apoptotic cells. Taken together, these results suggested that treatment with a combination of the retinoid 4-HPR and the flavonoid GST could control the growth of malignant neuroblastoma. This investigation was supported in part by the R01 grants from the NCI and NINDS, and also a grant from the State of SC.
The people have spoken: Post-materialism and ballot measure voting on physician aid in dying (PAD).

For decades, public opinion polls have shown that most Americans favor physician aid in dying (PAD) but little is known about those who support PAD ballot measures. With its emphasis on self-fulfil...
Parasitic Capacitance Cancellation Technique by Using Mutual Inductance and Magnetic Coupling

This paper presents a technique for improving the performance of inductor at high-frequency through mitigating the effects caused by the parasitic capacitance. This technique adds a small capacitor to the coupled windings of the inductor to cancel the parasitic capacitance of the inductor. This technique can also be used to improve the coupled windings with leakage inductance. The relationship between the parasitic capacitance, magnetic coupling coefficient, and the small capacitor is introduced. The method to determine the value of the small capacitor is described in this paper. The results of applying this technique with different value of magnetic coupling coefficient $k$ show that an improvement of the inductor impedance by around 20–45 dB depending on k. MATLAB software is used to verify the technique.
Estimating the obstetric co‐morbidity burden using administrative data: The impact of the pregnancy‐related assessment window

Background Despite increased research using large administrative databases to identify determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality, the extent to which these databases capture obstetric co-morbidities is unknown. Objective To evaluate the impact that the time window used to assess obstetric co-morbidities has on the completeness of ascertainment of those co-morbidities. Methods We conducted a five-year analysis of inpatient hospitalisations of pregnant women from 2010-2014 using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. For each woman, using discharge diagnoses, we identified 24 conditions used to create the Obstetric Comorbidity Index. Using various assessment windows for capturing obstetric co-morbidities, including the delivery hospitalisation only and all weekly windows from 7 to 280 days, we calculated the frequency and rate of each co-morbidity and the degree of underascertainment of the co-morbidity. Under each scenario, and for each co-morbidity, we also calculated the all-cause, 30-day readmission rate. Results There were over 3 million delivery hospitalisations from 2010 to 2014 included in this analysis. Compared with a full 280-day window, assessment of obstetric co-morbidities using only diagnoses made during the delivery hospitalisation would result in failing to identify over 35% of cases of chronic renal disease, 28.5% cases in which alcohol abuse was documented during pregnancy, and 23.1% of women with pulmonary hypertension. For seven other co-morbidities, at least 1 in 20 women with that condition would have been missed with exclusive reliance on the delivery hospitalisation for co-morbidity diagnoses. Not only would reliance on delivery hospitalisations have resulted in missed cases of co-morbidities, but for many conditions, estimates of readmission rates for women with obstetric co-morbidities would have been underestimated. Conclusions An increasing proportion of maternal and child health research is based on large administrative databases. This study provides data that facilitate the assessment of the degree to which important obstetric co-morbidities may be underascertained when using these databases.
Direct and Indirect Associations of Food Insecurity, Adolescent–Parent Relationship, and Adolescent Future Orientation:

This cross-sectional study on Ghanaian adolescents examined the direct and indirect associations of food insecurity, parent–adolescent relationship, and adolescent future orientation. We used struc...
Interaction effects of race and gender in elementary CS attitudes: A validation and cross-sectional study

Abstract Computer science (CS) initiatives for elementary students, including brief Hour of Code activities and longer in- and after-school programs that emphasize robotics and coding, have continued to increase in popularity. Many of these initiatives are intended to increase CS exposure to students who historically have been underrepresented in CS academic trajectories, including women and students of color. This study aimed at examining the gender and race difference in elementary students’ attitudes toward CS. To that end we developed and validated a survey instrument called Elementary Computer Science Attitudes (E-CSA) which consisted of the constructs of CS self-efficacy and outcome expectancy, through a combination of classical test theory and item response theory. The target audience for this instrument and study was upper elementary students (grades 4 and 5, ages 8 to 11). The E-CSA was found to be a gender and race bias-free instrument. A two-way ANOVA test was then used to answer research questions. We found no significant interaction effect between gender and race in the two constructs of CS Attitudes. We also did not see a significant difference based on race. However, a significant difference was found in both CS attitudes constructs based on gender, whereby male students had higher CS attitudes than female students. We discuss our findings from the perspective of the equity issue in CS education. Furthermore, we believe the E-CSA instrument can inform classroom-based interventions, the development of curricular materials, and reinforce findings from cross-sectional CS studies.
A patient education intervention improved rates of successful video visits during rapid implementation of telehealth.

IntroductionThe need to rapidly implement telehealth at large scale during the COVID-19 pandemic led to many patients using telehealth for the first time. We assessed the effect of structured pre-v...
Study on the Influence of Large-scale New Energy Connect to the Operation Characteristics of Ultra-high Voltage Sending end Network with Weak Synchronization Support

In recent years, new energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaic have entered a period of rapid development at home and abroad. The unbalanced distribution of energy and load determines the main characteristics of large-scale development and centralized delivery of new energy in China. Therefore, large capacity and long-distance UHV transmission technology has become an important carrier of intensive and efficient development and large-scale allocation and consumption of clean energy. However, due to its characteristics of weak inertia, large output fluctuation and poor reactive power support, new energy seriously affects the safe and stable operation of the power grid, especially for the sending end grid with weak synchronization support, the large-scale access of new energy will have a inestimable impact on the transmission capacity and operation characteristics of UHV, and the reliability of power supply is difficult to be guaranteed. In this paper, PSASP (power system analysis software package) simulation software is used to study the transmission end power grid of Ximeng UHV AC / DC transmission project, the simulation analysis of the system strength, stability level, power transmission capacity and other operation characteristics of the power grid in the region after the planned new energy access is carried out, the impact of large-scale new energy on the safe and stable operation of UHV AC-DC hybrid power grid is analyzed in depth, and the corresponding effective prevention and control measures are proposed.
Interpretable models for high-risk neuroblastoma stratification with multi-cohort copy number profiles

Abstract Although high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) is clinically heterogeneous, it is treated in a similar fashion without additional risk stratification. Based on the 4 copy-number profiles with 556 HR-NB subjects and 14 potential risk factors of neuroblastoma, we develop an interpretable machine learning model with L 0 penalized global AUC summary ( L 0 GAUCS) maximization, and identify 6 and 4 molecular factors associated with overall and event-free survivals (OS and EFS) of HR-NB, respectively. We further construct a six-factor model for OS and a four-factor model for EFS, and categorize HR-NB patients into 4 subtypes (Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor) for both OS ( P = 1 . 59 e − 11 ) and EFS ( P = 1 . 73 e − 06 ). Particularly, 14.05% and 6.75% HR-NB patients are in the Excellent (I) and Poor subtype (IV) with median OS times of 137. and 14.5 months, respectively. Patients from such distinct subtypes may be assigned to different experimental therapies in future trials. Furthermore, although it is well known that infants (children less than 1 year) has significantly better prognosis in neuroblastoma, we discover that infants with MYCN amplification (MNA+) has unfavorable OS and EFS in HR-NB. Infants with MNA+ have the hazard ratio of 2.9 (95% CI: 1 . 33 − 6 . 34 ) and P value of 3 . 67 e − 06 for OS, and hazard ratio of 2.61 (95% CI: 1 . 05 − 6 . 48 ) and P value of 0.0007 for EFS. The unexpected but important finding that the survival of infants with MNA+ has significantly worse prognosis in HR-NB may have clinical implications.
On Association between Absolute and Relative Zigzag Persistence.

Duality results connecting persistence modules for absolute and relative homology provides a fundamental understanding into persistence theory. In this paper, we study similar associations in the context of zigzag persistence. Our main finding is a weak duality for the so-called non-repetitive zigzag filtrations in which a simplex is never added again after being deleted. The technique used to prove the duality for non-zigzag persistence does not extend straightforwardly to our case. Accordingly, taking a different route, we prove the weak duality by converting a non-repetitive filtration to an up-down filtration by a sequence of diamond switches. We then show an application of the weak duality result which gives a near-linear algorithm for computing the $p$-th and a subset of the $(p-1)$-th persistence for a non-repetitive zigzag filtration of a simplicial $p$-manifold. Utilizing the fact that a non-repetitive filtration admits an up-down filtration as its canonical form, we further reduce the problem of computing zigzag persistence for non-repetitive filtrations to the problem of computing standard persistence for which several efficient implementations exist. Our experiment shows that this achieves substantial performance gain. Our study also identifies repetitive filtrations as instances that fundamentally distinguish zigzag persistence from the standard persistence.
Vascular KATP channel structural dynamics reveal regulatory mechanism by Mg-nucleotides

Vascular tone is dependent on smooth muscle KATP channels comprising pore-forming Kir6.1 and regulatory SUR2B subunits, in which mutations cause Cantu syndrome. Unique among KATP isoforms, they lack spontaneous activity and require Mg-nucleotides for activation. Structural mechanisms underlying these properties are unknown. Here, we determined cryogenic electron microscopy structures of vascular KATP channels bound to inhibitory ATP and glibenclamide, which differ informatively from similarly determined pancreatic KATP channel isoform (Kir6.2/SUR1). Unlike SUR1, SUR2B subunits adopt distinct rotational "propeller" and "quatrefoil" geometries surrounding their Kir6.1 core. The glutamate/aspartate-rich linker connecting the two halves of the SUR-ABC core is observed in a quatrefoil-like conformation. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal MgADP-dependent dynamic tripartite interactions between this linker, SUR2B, and Kir6.1. The structures captured implicate a progression of intermediate states between MgADP-free inactivated, and MgADP-bound activated conformations wherein the glutamate/aspartate-rich linker participates as mobile autoinhibitory domain, suggesting a conformational pathway toward KATP channel activation.
Technology Adoption: Residential Solar Electric Systems

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adoption and aggregated diffusion of solar electric systems in the residential sector. The goal of this paper is to try answer the following questions using an Agent-Based Model (ABM): 1. Is there evidence of a delay in the aggregate adoption of solar electric systems? If so, how can the adoption be improved? 2. What is the relationship between increasing electricity prices, price preference, and rate of adoption? 3. What impact does changing the incentive structure have on the overall electricity savings?
A Study of the Bottom Boundary Layer of the Florida Current

This is a report of an experiment designed to study the bottom boundary layer of the Florida Current at a representative site in the Straits of Florida. The objectives of the experiment were 1) to ...
Cancer Stem Cells

Researchers have made stunning advances over the last fifty years in characterizing the oncogenic mutations that lead to cancer. However, we are just beginning to understand the complex consequences of these mutations and how they result in neoplastic transformation at the cellular level. Most cancers arise in tissues that contain a stem cell population, such as gut, breast, prostate, lung, and bone marrow. Stem cells are defined by three critical properties: the ability to divide and give rise to a new stem cell (self-renewal), the ability to give rise to the differentiated cells of an organ, and the genetic constraints on expansion of the cell population. It is known that cancer results from the accumulation of mutations in a single target cell, sometimes over a period of many years. Since stem cells are the only long-lived cells in most tissues, this suggests that they are the cells in which early mutations leading to cancer accumulate. Additionally, stem cells are the only normal cells that share cancer cells' intrinsic ability to self-renew. Taken together, these two facts suggest that, in some cases, stem cells may be the target cells for neoplastic transformation. Presently, therapeutic targets are selected on the basis of the assumption that all of the cancer cells within a particular tumor are equivalent in that they are all capable of driving tumorigenesis and metastasis. New data suggests that, in at least some cancers, a small, phenotypically distinct subset of the cancer cells (tumorigenic cells, or cancer stem cells) has the exclusive ability to form tumors. The rest of the cells, which form the bulk of the tumor, are unable to self-renew or sustain tumorigenesis. Tumorigenic and nontumorigenic cancer cells can be identified on the basis of cell surface-marker expression, utilizing the same tools used in normal stem cell biology. This suggests that therapies could be made more effective by targeting the tumorigenic cell population. The ability to identify tumorigenic cancer cells should therefore allow the identification of new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, better evaluation of candidate therapeutics, and more accurate determination of therapeutic efficacy. Keywords: Cancer Stem Cell; Self-renewal; Tumorigenic Cell
The effects of the industrialization of US livestock agriculture on promoting sustainable production practices

US livestock agriculture hasdeveloped and intensified according to a strictproductionist model that emphasizes industrialefficiency. Sustainability problems associatedwith this model have become increasinglyevident and more contested. Traditionalapproaches to promoting sustainable agriculturehave emphasized education and outreach toencourage on-farm adoption of alternativeproduction systems. Such efforts build on anunderlying assumption that farmers areempowered to make decisions regarding theorganization and management of theiroperations. However, as vertical coordinationin agriculture continues, especially in theanimal agriculture sectors, this assumptionbecomes less valid. This paper examines how thechanging industrial structure in four USlivestock sectors (poultry, hogs, beef, anddairy) affects possibilities in each forpromoting more sustainable productionpractices. Comparisons between the sectors arebased on the relative ability to employ anintensive pasture or alternative (deep-bedded)housing system, which are widely seen assustainable livestock alternatives. While thehighly integrated poultry sector appearsimpregnable to traditional sustainableagriculture approaches, the cow-calf sub-sectorof the beef industry, non-feedlot dairyoperations, and small parts of the hogindustry, especially in the Midwest, stillretain some potential for effectively targetingthe farmer. Building on the presentation ofbarriers and opportunities in the fourlivestock sectors, the paper concludes byevaluating several structurally-orientedapproaches to promoting a more sustainablelivestock agriculture that should complementmore traditional approaches. They includedeveloping alternative coordinated networks inlivestock agriculture, pressing integrators topermit more sustainable production practices,and working for legislation that shifts moredecision-making within integrated systemstowards growers.
2-Adic Shift Registers

Pseudorandom sequences, with a variety of statistical properties (such as high linear span, low autocorrelation and pairwise cross-correlation values, and high pairwise hamming distance) are important in many areas of communications and computing (such as cryptography, spread spectrum communications, error correcting codes, and Monte Carlo integration). Binary sequences~ such as m-sequences, more general nonlinear feedback shift register sequences, and summation combiner sequences, have been widely studied by many researchers. Linear feedback shift register hardware can be used to relate certain of these sequences (such as m-sequences) to error correcting codes (such as first order Reed-Muller codes). In this paper a new type of feedback register, feedback with carry shift registers (or FCSRs), will be presented. These relatively simple devices can be used to relate summation combiner sequences, arithmetic codes, and 1/q sequences. We describe an algebraic framework, based on algebra over the 2-adic numbers, in which the sequences generated by FCSRs can be analyzed, in much the same way that algebra over finite fields can be used to analyze LFSR sequences. As a consequence of this analysis, we present a method for cracking the summation combiner [9] which has been suggested for generating cryptographicaily secure binary sequences. In general, one must consider this "2-adic span" as a measure of security along with ordinary linear span. At the same time, FCSRs are a new, general, and therefore exciting, mechanism for generating sequences with enough structure for analysis. Many of the methods of nonlinearization that have been applied to linear feed back shift registers (LFSRs) can be applied to FCSRs, and some of these possibilities are be described here. Hopefully, they will result in sequences with greater cryptologic security. The many threads that are brought together by our analysis have analogues in the theory of LFSRs. In an LFSR, certain register cells are "tapped", their contents are added modulo 2 (using exclusive OR gates) and the sum is returned to the first cell of the shift register. Any periodic binary sequence may be realized as the output sequence from some LFSlZ with appropriate taps. Recall some of the well known concepts and consequences which are derived from this point of view.
Mitomycin C versus 5-Fluorouracil in High-risk Glaucoma Filtering Surgery: Extended Follow-up

Purpose: To compare the outcome of filtering surgery in high-risk patients using intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) versus postoperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, the use of postoperative subconjunctival injections of 5-FU in 19 eyes of 19 patients was compared with a single intraoperative application of MMC in 20 eyes of 20 patients. All eyes were at high risk for failure of glaucoma filtering surgery. Results: Follow-up ranged from 26 to 38 months (mean, 32.0 months). Three eyes in the MMC-treated group and two eyes in the 5-FU-treated group required subsequent surgery to control the IOP. Excluding these patients, intraocular pressure (IOP) averaged 9.0 ± 4.9 mmHg in the MMC-treated eyes versus 16.3 ± 4.6 mmHg in the 5-FU-treated eyes at the patient's last visit ( P = 0.0003). Of the MMC-treated eyes, 81.3% had IOPs less than or equal to 12 mmHg compared with 26.7% of eyes in the 5-FU group ( P = 0.0023). In the MMC-treated group, the average number of medications for IOP control at last visit was 0.5 ± 0.8 compared with 1.6 ± 1.3 in the 5-FU-treated group ( P = 0.01). Late postoperative complications (those occurring more than 3 months after surgery) were similar for the two groups, with the exception of formation of a Tenon cyst in three of the eyes treated with MMC compared with none of the 5-FU-treated eyes. Conclusions: Eyes treated with MMC have lower IOP on fewer medications than eyes treated with 5-FU. Late postoperative complications are similar with the exception of an increased incidence of Tenon cyst formation in the MMC-treated eyes.
Massive data sets issues in earth observing

Current and next decade global Earth observing, other remote sensing and related climate analysis data collected by space and operational U.S. agencies such as NASA and NOAA, the European ESA, the Japanese NASDA and other international agency missions of India, China, Russia, etc. will reach unprecedented data volumes, exceeding many petabytes. This is rushing in a new era in Earth system science. Along with the technology and data volumes afforded by remote sensing, there has been an unprecedented increase of capabilities in distributed data systems in the last few years. The existence of the Internet and the World Wide Web afford users access to data at diverse distributed sites that would had been very difficult in the past and only available to specialists. These data can be accessed by a variety of scientists, applications experts and the general public. Yet, the unprecedented large volumes of such missions are also presenting formidable challenges to wide user access and require both higher bandwidths of future Internet systems as well as more focused, user-centered data productions. Specialized data productions are best achieved in federated data systems. The large data volumes present a challenge of access, storage and distribution. What is most important is not just the volume of the data itself but the information they contain. A data system's usefulness is related to the ease that its users can search and access products and as such obtain information on the actual content of data before proceeding to order large volumes of data sets which may or may not serve their needs. Here we explore different functionalities in distributed Earth observing data systems and associated interoperability options. As an example, we examine options in the Earth Science Information Partners Federation (ESIPs) funded by NASA to extend the usage of NASA remote sensing data holdings. Results of several interoperability options applicable to federated systems are also presented. We also examine challenges presented by the use of regional remote sensing missions such as hyperspectral imaging.
High-performance AlInAs/GaInAs/InP DHBT X-band power cell with InP emitter ballast resistor

We report for the first time large-signal performance of a multi-finger AlInAs/GaInAs/InP DHBT power cell with epitaxial InP emitter ballast resistors. The region of safe operation is extended using epitaxial InP emitter resistor structures. The thermal stability of power cells with this structure is increased compared with devices with similar layer structures but without the ballast epi-resistors. The power cell consists of ten 2-/spl mu/m/spl times/30-/spl mu/m emitter fingers. Under DC bias, the device is unconditionally stable up to J/sub c/=5/spl times/10/sup 4/ Acm/sup -2/ at V/sub ce/=6 V, and the upper range of bias is limited by burn-out (on unthinned wafer) rather than by current hogging. An output power of 1.6 W, corresponding to a high power density of 5.3 W/mm, and a power-added efficiency of 62% were measured on wafer at 9 GHz at V/sub cc/=12 V under class B CW operation. The output power can be increased at the expense of PAE. At a PAE of 54%, an output power of 1.9 W, corresponding to an impressive power density of 6.3 W/mm is obtained.
The Bishop in the Bedroom: witnessing Episcopal sexuality in an age of reform.

a bishop should revere and constantly review the lord’s command: “let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning” [luke 12:35]. He who wishes to carry burning lamps in his hands along with the wise virgins [Matthew 25:1–12], let him gird his loins. For if no one shall see God without chastity, how much more is this true for a bishop? For a bishop who is not chaste in mind and body, although he may appear to live, yet is dead and buried. —Bonizo, bishop of Sutri and piacenza
Leukocytic Response in Monkeys Challenged with Staphylococcal Enterotoxin

Abstract Sugiyama, H. (University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.), and E. M. McKissic, Jr. Leukocytic response in monkeys challenged with staphylococcal enterotoxin. J. Bacteriol. 92:349–352. 1966—The feeding of staphylococcal enterotoxin to monkeys elicited a leukocytosis which was evident within 0.5 hr of challenge. The peak neutrophilic leukocytosis was reached in 3 hr, and then subsided so that leukocyte counts were normal within 28 hr. Each of the three serological types of enterotoxin tested induced the same effects. Intravenous injection of enterotoxin slightly above the emetic ed50 level produced an initial leukopenia followed by a neutrophilic leukocytosis which was maximal 9 or more hr postinjection. With smaller intravenous challenges, some animals responded with a leukopenia followed by a leukocytosis, some with only a leukocytosis, and others with no significant change in total leukocyte counts. The reversal of normal lymphocyte-to-neutrophile ratio toward a neutrophile-predominant white blood cell population occurred in all animals.
A phylogenetic study of Dermestidae (Coleoptera) based on larval morphology

Abstract. The results of a phylogenetic analysis of Dermestidae (Coleoptera) based on the morphology of immature stages are presented and implications for the classification of the family are discussed. The monophyly of ((Orphilus) + (Dermestidae) + (Endecatomidae (Bostrichidae + Anobiidae))) is strongly supported. Dermestidae, excluding Orphilus Erichson, forms a monophyletic group. The phylogenetic position of the Orphilinae remains enigmatic. The hypothesized relationships of the remaining dermestid subfamilies are (Thorictinae (Dermestinae (Attageninae (Megatominae + Trinodinae)))). Phylogenetically informative morphological characters of larvae and pupae are illustrated and described. Character state transformations implied by the phylogenetic hypothesis are discussed. New morphological observations are provided, including the first records of the presence of gastric caeca in the larva of Dermestes L., and the first report of the number of Malpighian tubules and the number of abdominal ganglia in Dermestidae, Bostrichidae, Anobiidae, Nosodendridae and Derodontidae. The form of the mandibular base is described for the first time for Thylodriini Beal and Trinodini Beal. The fossil record and distribution of extant Dermestidae are discussed in the light of the phylogenetic hypothesis. The origin of the family is hypothesized to be in the Late Cretaceous.
Brain stem auditory, visual and somatosensory evoked potentials in leukodystrophies

Brain stem auditory (BAERs), visual (VEPs) and somatosensory evoked responses (SEPs) were recorded in 12 patients with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher leukodystrophy (PMD), three with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and three with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). All the 3 evoked responses were abnormal in all patients except normal VEPs and SEPs in a patient with early ALD. In most patients wave I with and without wave II were the only components of the BAERs that remained, subsequent components (waves III-VII) were absent. VEPs were severely altered; either no identifiable response to flash or pattern reversal stimuli could be recorded or the major components were significantly delayed in latency. Short latency SEPs following median nerve stimulation usually showed a normally recorded Erb's potential (N10), but an absence or marked attenuation of cervical (N14) and early scalp components (N19 and P22) or the occurrence of the scalp components with a significant delay. Multimodality evoked responses provide more information regarding the functional integrity of several afferent systems in patients with white matter disorders.
Reinforcement mechanisms in putamen during high frequency STN DBS: A point process study

Despite a pivotal role in the motor loop, dorsolateral striatum (putamen) has been poorly studied thus far under Parkinsonian conditions and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). We analyze the activity of the putamen in a monkey by combining single unit recordings and point process models. The animal received DBS (30-130Hz) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) while at rest and recordings were acquired both before and after treatment with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which induced Parkinsonian-like motor disorders. 141 neurons were collected and, for each neuron, a point process model captured DBS-evoked discharge patterns. In the normal animal, spike trains at rest had Poisson like distribution with non-stationary recurrent patterns (RPs) of period 3–7ms and were mildly changed by low frequency (LF, i.e., &#60;100Hz) DBS (i.e., &#60;20% of neurons affected). With high frequency (HF, i.e., 100–130Hz) DBS, instead, up to 59% of neurons were affected, the DBS history significantly impacted the neuronal spiking propensity, and the RPs and the post-stimulus activation latency decreased. MPTP evoked inter-neuronal dependencies (INDs) at rest and, compared to normal, LF DBS of the MPTP animal increased RPs and INDs, while HF DBS elicited a faster and wider post-stimulus activation. Overall, HF DBS reduced ongoing non-stationary dynamics by regularizing the discharge patterns both in MPTP and normal putamen, while the combination of MPTP and LF DBS enhanced such dynamics.
Regional Patterns of Cerebral Cortical Differentiation Determined by Diffusion Tensor MRI

The morphology of axonal and dendritic arbors in the immature cerebral cortex influences the degree of anisotropy in water diffusion. This enables cortical maturation to be monitored by the noninvasive technique of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI). Herein, we utilized DTI of postmortem ferret brain to quantify regional and temporal patterns in cortical maturation. We found that diffusion anisotropy within the isocortex decreases over the first month of life, coinciding closely in time with expansion of axonal and dendritic cellular processes of pyramidal neurons. Regional patterns consist of differences between allocortex and isocortex, a regional anisotropy gradient that closely parallels the transverse neurogenetic gradient, and differences between primary and nonprimary isocortical areas. By combining the temporal and regional factors, the isocortical developmental gradient magnitude corresponds to a 5-day difference in maturity between relatively developed rostral/caudal isocortex at the gradient source and less mature isocortex at the occipital pole. Additionally, the developmental trajectory of primary areas precedes nonprimary areas by 2.7 days. These quantitative estimates coincide with previous histological studies of ferret development. Similarities in cerebral cortical diffusion anisotropy observed between ferret and other species suggest the framework developed here is of general potential relevance.
Sequential extrusion-ozone pretreatment of switchgrass and big bluestem

Pretreatment is one of the biggest challenges in utilizing lignocellulosic feedstocks to meet the mandatory requirements for biofuels around the world. Earlier researchers evaluated extrusion and ozone pretreatment separately and found that sugar recovery can be improved significantly from 15–20 to 40–75 % for different feedstocks. To further improve sugar recoveries, extrusion-ozone sequential pretreatment was explored. Accordingly, optimal extruded switchgrass (176 °C, 155 rpm, 20 % moisture, and 8 mm) and big bluestem (180 °C, 155 rpm, 20 % moisture, and 8 mm) at 25–75 % moisture content were exposed to an ozone flow rate of 37–365 mg/h for 2.5 to 10 min. Pretreated samples were then subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis to determine sugar recovery. Statistical analyses confirmed significant effects of the independent variables and their interactions on sugar recoveries for both feedstocks. Maximum glucose, xylose, and total sugar recovery of 66.4, 82.3, and 70.4 %, respectively, were obtained when a low-moisture (25 %) extruded switchgrass was ozonated for 2.5 min at a flow rate of 37 mg/h. Respectively, this represents increases of 3.42, 5.01, and 3.42 times that of the control. When big bluestem at 25 % moisture was extruded and then ozonated for 2.5 min at a flow rate of 365 mg/h, resulting glucose, xylose, and total sugar recoveries of 90.8, 92.2, and 87.5 %, respectively, were obtained. These represent increases of 4.5, 2.7, and 3.9 times than that of the control. It is also noteworthy that furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural were not detected in any of the pretreatments, and only low levels (0.14–0.18 g/l) of acetic acid were measured. The results show that sequential pretreatment using extrusion and ozone is an efficient way to improve sugar recovery from herbaceous biomass feedstocks.
Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on root decomposition in a scrub oak ecosystem

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on fine root decomposition over a 828-day period were investigated using open top chambers with both ambient and elevated (700 ppm) CO2 treatments in an oak–palmetto scrub ecosystem at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Carbon dioxide enrichment of the chambers began 15 May 1996. The experiment included roots grown in ambient and elevated carbon dioxide. Vertical litterbags installed in September 1996 in each elevated and ambient chamber incubated from December 1996 to December 1998 showed no significant treatment effect on fine root or rhizome mass loss. Initial fine root percentage mass loss varied from 10.3% to 13.5% after three months; 55.5% to 38.3% of original mass had been lost after 828 days. A period of nitrogen immobilization occurred in both fine roots and rhizomes in the elevated CO2 incubation, which is a potential mechanism for nitrogen conservation for this system in an elevated CO2 world.
Granulocyte colony stimulating factor reduces brain injury in a cardiopulmonary bypass-circulatory arrest model of ischemia in a newborn piglet

Ischemic brain injury continues to be of major concern in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery for congenital heart disease. Striatum and hippocampus are particularly vulnerable to injury during these processes. Our hypothesis is that the neuronal injury resulting from CPB and the associated circulatory arrest can be at least partly ameliorated by pre-treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Fourteen male newborn piglets were assigned to three groups: deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), DHCA with G-CSF, and sham-operated. The first two groups were placed on CPB, cooled to 18 °C, subjected to 60 min of DHCA, re-warmed and recovered for 8-9 h. At the end of experiment, the brains were perfused, fixed and cut into 10 µm transverse sections. Apoptotic cells were visualized by in situ DNA fragmentation assay (TUNEL), with the density of injured cells expressed as a mean number ± SD per mm(2). The number of injured cells in the striatum and CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus increased significantly following DHCA. In the striatum, the increase was from 0.46 ± 0.37 to 3.67 ± 1.57 (p = 0.002); in the CA1, from 0.11 ± 0.19 to 5.16 ± 1.57 (p = 0.001), and in the CA3, from 0.28 ± 0.25 to 2.98 ± 1.82 (p = 0.040). Injection of G-CSF prior to bypass significantly reduced the number of injured cells in the striatum and CA1 region, by 51 and 37 %, respectively. In the CA3 region, injured cell density did not differ between the G-CSF and control group. In a model of hypoxic brain insult associated with CPB, G-CSF significantly reduces neuronal injury in brain regions important for cognitive functions, suggesting it can significantly improve neurological outcomes from procedures requiring DHCA.
Catholic women's college students' constructions of identity: influence of faculty and staff on students' personal and professional self-understanding

This article investigates the influence of faculty and staff on women student’s constructions of their personal and professional identities. Situated in two Catholic women’s colleges, this qualitative study analyzes the ways in which in-class and out-of-class interactions among students, faculty, and staff helped students envision their future intentions. Students described ways in which college personnel served as career role models, modeled a work/family balance, and advised them as they planned for their futures. This study’s implications for the empowerment of women at both Catholic women’s colleges and nonreligiously affiliated coeducational institutions relate to the benefits of college personnel who model a personal and professional life balance, the need to consider both service and leadership in learning experiences, and the ways in which Catholic women’s institutions articulate their missions to students.
Data security in a distributed services medical imaging network

The paper discusses the role of agents to convey and protect both data and code within a closed community of clients in a distributed medical imaging environment.
Intelligent Automated Quality Control for Computational Simulation

Computational simulation of physical systems generally requires human experts to set up a simulation, run it, evaluate the quality of the simulation output, and repeatedly invoke the simulator with modified input until a satisfactory output quality is achieved. This reliance on human experts makes use of simulators by other programs difficult and unreliable, though invocation of simulators by other programs is critical for important tasks such as automated engineering design optimization. Presented is a framework for constructing intelligent controllers for computational simulators that can automatically detect a wide variety of problems that lead to low-quality simulation output, using a set of evaluation methods based on knowledge of physics and numerical analysis stored in a data/knowledgebase of models and simulations. An experimental implementation of this framework in an intelligent automated controller for a widely used computational fluid dynamics simulator is described.