cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
George Orwell and the twilight of unions: a new labour process research problematic?

We discuss the nature of the new labour process and its relation to accounting, trade, and international organisations. The new labour process transcends all frontiers to pursue the cheapest cost of labour. Corporations have lost their nationality and identity; all what matters is to find the low-priced, poorly paid labour. We refer to Orwell’s 1984 here to understand the nature of the new management control over labour.
A type-B associahedron

The (type-A) associahedron is a polytope related to polygon dissections which arises in several mathematical subjects. We propose a B-analogue of the associahedron. Our original motivation was to extend the analogies between type-A and type-B noncrossing partitions, by exhibiting a simplicial polytope whose h-vector is given by the rank-sizes of the type-B noncrossing partition lattice, just as the h-vector of the (simplicial type-A) associahedron is given by the Narayana numbers. The desired polytope Q^B"n is constructed via stellar subdivisions of a simplex, similarly to Lee's construction of the associahedron. As in the case of the (type-A) associahedron, the faces of Q^B"n can be described in terms of dissections of a convex polygon, and the f-vector can be computed from lattice path enumeration. Properties of the simple dual Q^B^*"n are also discussed and the construction of a space tessellated by Q^B^*"n is given. Additional analogies and relations with type A and further questions are also discussed.
Solubilization of glucocerebrosidase from human placenta and demonstration of a phospholipid requirement for its catalytic activity.

Glucocerebrosidase, a membrane bound enzyme, can be solubilized by acetone precipitation and the resultant soluble enzyme activity demonstrated in the presence of acidic phospholipid, e.g. phosphatidylserine. This is the first report of the detergent-free solubilization of glucocerebrosidase.
Developing collective learning extension for rapidly evolving information system courses

Due to rapidly evolving Information System (IS) technologies, instructors find themselves stuck in the constant game of catching up. On the same hand students find their skills obsolete almost as soon as they graduate. As part of IS curriculum and education, we need to emphasize more on teaching the students `how to learn' while keeping the curriculum up to date. Toward this direction, we develop collective learning extension leveraging social media and implement in three IS courses at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Collective learning extension is adaptable to existing learning paradigms. Collective learning extension is not a new learning paradigm but it is supporting the existing learning paradigms. Collective learning extension creates a curriculum development strategy that produces a nimble curriculum adaptive to the rapidly evolving technologies. It encourages collaborative and participatory learning among students and promotes self-learning, critical thinking, and non-linear learning skills. Collective learning extension emphasizes teamwork, coordination, and strengthening interpersonal skills, preparing the students as the next-generation workforce. Collective learning extension uses social media technologies for learners. It encourages students for better collaboration. In this research, students experience is evaluated on collective learning extension and data is collected from formative and summative surveys in the class.
Cyclical Economic Conditions and School Attendance in Costa Rica.

Abstract In this paper, I examine the importance of declining economic conditions in school attendance decisions for households with teenagers aged 12–17 in Costa Rica. I estimate a reduced-form model for school attendance that includes variables to measure household labor market integration, other household factors, teenager characteristics, regional effects and year effects. The year effects — to measure cyclical factors — show a large drop in school attendance not otherwise explained by the household variables included between the years of macroeconomic recession (1981–1983). These changes coincide with fiscal austerity imposed towards the end of 1982. In addition, household labor market characteristics and teenager characteristics are significant determinants of teenager school attendance.
A Comparison of Abusive and Nonabusive Mothers of Abused Children

A majority of the approximately 240,000 children in this country who were physically maltreated in 1997 live with their mothers, regardless of whether their mothers committed the abuse. This study compared service use and functioning at intake for families of physically abused children as a function of the mother's offender status. Analyses found few differences in the initial functioning and subsequent services received by abusive and nonabusive mothers and their children. Abusive mothers did receive fewer services overall and were significantly less likely to receive individual parent services as compared to nonabusive mothers. This was true, despite abusive mothers receiving less positive parent ratings by their children at intake as compared to nonabusive mothers. Results from this study highlight the similarities among abusive families, whether or not the mother perpetrated the abuse. Future research should include abusive families in the control group to have the greatest impact on developing effective identification and prevention programs. These results also emphasize the importance of collecting data from multiple informants. The only significant difference in maternal functioning was found on a child-completed rating. Mothers involved in child protective services may be less likely to reveal negative information about their own functioning.
Self-Assembly of Synthetic Metabolons through Synthetic Protein Scaffolds: One-Step Purification, Co-immobilization, and Substrate Channeling

One-step purification of a multi-enzyme complex was developed based on a mixture of cell extracts containing three dockerin-containing enzymes and one family 3 cellulose-binding module (CBM3)-containing scaffoldin through high-affinity adsorption on low-cost solid regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC). The three-enzyme complex, called synthetic metabolon, was self-assembled through the high-affinity interaction between the dockerin in each enzyme and three cohesins in the synthetic scaffoldin. The metabolons were either immobilized on the external surface of RAC or free when the scaffoldin contained an intein between the CBM3 and three cohesins. The immobilized and free metabolons containing triosephosphate isomerase, aldolase, and fructose 1,6-biphosphatase exhibited initial reaction rates 48 and 38 times, respectively, that of the non-complexed three-enzyme mixture at the same enzyme loading. Such reaction rate enhancements indicated strong substrate channeling among synthetic metabolons due to the clos...
Assignment of eight loci to bovine syntenic groups by use of PCR: extension of a comparative gene map.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been combined with hybrid somatic cell technology to extend the bovine physical map. Eight bovine loci—glycoprotein hormone alpha (CGA), coagulation factor X (F10), chromogranin A (CHGA), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), human prochymosin pseudogene (CYM), oxytocin (OXT), arginine-vasopressin (ARVP), and cytochrome oxidase c subunit IV pseudogene (COXP)—were assigned to bovine syntenic groups with this approach. CGA was assigned to bovine syntenic group U2, F10 to U27, CHGA to U4 [bovine Chromosome (Chr) 21], LDLR to U22, CYM to U6, OXT and ARVP to U11, and COXP to U3 (bovine Chr 5). Seven of these genes, CGA, F10, CHGA, LDLR, OXT, ARVP, and CYM, further delineate regions of chromosomal conservation on human Chrs 6, 13, 14, 19, 20, 20, and 1, respectively. CHGA, OXT, and ARVP are unmapped in the mouse. Comparative mapping predicts the mouse CHGA will map to Chr 12, and mouse OXT and ARVP will map to mouse Chr 2. Furthermore, human CYM is predicted to be sublocalized to 1p32-q21. The primers developed for these eight loci will be useful for the development of hybrid somatic cell panels in the future as well as establishing a collection of bovine expressed sequence tags.
A review of Alfvén eigenmode observations in toroidal plasmas

In toroidal magnetically confined plasmas, eigenmodes of Alfven waves can be destablized by energetic ions with velocities comparable to the Alfven velocity. With the advent of tokamak experiments in which populations of energetic ions can be introduced by neutral beam injection, radio frequency wave heating or by fusion reactions, major advances have been made in Alfven eigenmode research in the past 10 years. After introducing the basic concepts on the Alfven eigenmode instability, data on this subject from various toroidal devices are described, emphasizing the interplay between experiment and theory. Experimental results on mode identification, instability drive, mode damping and saturation, and energetic ion redistribution are compared with theory.
Self, Identity, and the Natural Environment: Exploring Implicit Connections With Nature

Using the Implicit Association Test (IAT), we examined the tendency for people to associate self with natural or built environments, the malleability of these scores across context, and the relationship between these implicit associations and explicit attitudes about environmental issues. Five studies are reported using a handheld IAT administration in a variety of field contexts. The psychometric properties of the handheld administration were comparable to those obtained with laboratory administration. The cumulative results across the 5 studies suggest that implicit self–nature associations are malleable, but that change requires long-term or repeated experiences. Findings are interpreted within a model of environmental identity.
Printing multi-key touch interfaces

We present a technique for creating multi-key conductive ink touch user interfaces that can be printed on paper in a single pass. While 3D printing and open-source electronics platforms have led to enormous creativity in creating smart objects, the means for user interaction with such objects are often limited and require remote interaction through a smartphone app. Paper-based touch circuits are a convenient medium for exploring custom touch sensors that can be attached to numerous objects in our environment. The challenge lies in creating a reliable and customizable touch circuit that is easy to produce. Specifically, it should not require assembly of multiple layers and it should support multiple touch points without needing separate connections to a microcontroller for each touch point. We address this through a resistive touch sensor that exploits the inherently high resistance of printed traces to create multiple detectable touch points. The finger closes the circuit when in contact with the touch point and the sensor uses a polarity-switching technique to cancel out the effect of the unknown skin resistance. We evaluated the touch sensor using keypads with 10, 15 and 20 touch points and achieved 99.6%, 93.5%, and 91% touch detection accuracy, respectively. We also observed touch detection rates of up to 154 touches per minute.
Injectable carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels for soft tissue filler applications

Disease, trauma and aging all lead to deficits in soft tissue. As a result, there is a need to develop materials that safely and effectively restore areas of deficiency. While autogenous fat is the current gold standard, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are commonly used. However, the animal and bacterial origin of HA-based materials can induce adverse reactions in patients. With the aim of developing a safer and more affordable alternative, this study characterized the properties of a plant-derived, injectable carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) soft tissue filler. Specifically, methacrylated CMC was synthesized and crosslinked to form stable hydrogels at varying macromer concentrations (2-4% w/v) using an ammonium persulfate and ascorbic acid redox initiation system. The equilibrium Young's modulus was shown to vary with macromer concentration (ranging from ∼2 to 9.25kPa), comparable to values of native soft tissue and current surgical fillers. The swelling properties were similarly affected by macromer concentration, with 4% gels exhibiting the lowest swelling ratio and mesh size, and highest crosslinking density. Rheological analysis was performed to determine gelation onset and completion, and was measured to be within the ISO standard for injectable materials. In addition, hydrolytic degradation of these gels was sensitive to macromer concentration, while selective removal using enzymatic treatment was also demonstrated. Moreover, favorable cytocompatibility of the CMC hydrogels was exhibited by co-culture with human dermal fibroblasts. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the tunability of redox-crosslinked CMC hydrogels by varying fabrication parameters, making them a versatile platform for soft tissue filler applications.
Evaluation of CH4/NOx Reduced Mechanisms Used for Modeling Lean Premixed Turbulent Combustion of Natural Gas

This study has identified useful reduced kinetic schemes that can be used in comprehensive multidimensional gas-turbine combustor models. Reduced mechanisms lessen computational cost and possess the capability to accurately predict the overall flame structure, including gas temperatures and key intermediate species such as CH{sub 4}, CO, and NO{sub x}. In this study, four new global mechanisms with five, six, seven, and nine steps based on the full GRI 2.11 mechanism, were developed and evaluated for their potential to model natural gas chemistry (including NO{sub x} chemistry) in gas turbine combustors. These new reduced mechanisms were optimized to model the high pressure and fuel-lean conditions found in gas turbines operating in the lean premixed mode. Based on perfectly stirred reactor (PSR) and premixed code calculations, the five-step reduced mechanism was identified as a promising model that can be used in a multidimensional gas-turbine code for modeling lean-premixed, high-pressure turbulent combustion of natural gas. Predictions of temperature, CO, CH{sub 4}, and NO from the five- to nine-step reduced mechanisms agree within 5% of the predictions from the full kinetic model for 1 < pressure (atm) < 30, and 0.6 < {phi} < 1.0. If computational costs due to additional global steps aremore » not severe, the newly developed nine step global mechanism, which is a little more accurate and provided the least convergence problems, can be used. Future experimental research in gas turbine combustion will provide more accurate data, which will allow the formulation of better full and reduced mechanisms. Also, improvement in computational approaches and capabilities will allow the use of reduced mechanisms with larger global steps, perhaps full mechanisms.« less
Preparation and properties of uniform colloidal aluminum phosphate particles

Abstract Colloidal precipitates of varying morphologies were obtained by aging, at elevated temperature (98°C), acidic solutions containing Al(NO3)3 and Na2HPO4. Under certain conditions uniform crystalline spherical particles were generated whose composition, as established by chemical and X-ray analyses, was consistent with that of variscite [Al(OH)2H2PO4].
Clinical performance of chairside CAD/CAM restorations

ABSTRACT Background The CEREC system (Sirona Dental Systems GmbH, Bensheim, Germany) is marking its 20th year of clinical service. The author reviews the literature on the effectiveness of this chairside CAD/CAM system. Types of Studies Reviewed The author identified and reviewed clinical studies from 1985 through 2006 that included CEREC-generated inlays, onlays or crowns. These studies were conducted in both private practice and university settings. The author summarized the findings as they relate to postoperative sensitivity, restoration fracture, color match, margin adaptation and clinical longevity. Results Although postoperative sensitivity was reported, it was due to mainly occlusal interferences. Long-term postoperative sensitivity was not a reported problem. Similar to other ceramic restorations, restoration fracture is the primary mode of failure for CEREC-generated restorations. Although margin wear is detected consistently, consequences of the wear leading to restoration failure were reported rarely. The survival probability of CEREC-generated restorations was reported to be approximately 97 percent for five years and 90 percent for 10 years. Clinical Implications The low rate of restoration fracture and long-term clinical survivability document the effectiveness of the CEREC system as a dependable, esthetic restorative option for patients.
Supporting Your Claims: Recent Issues in Cardiovascular Drugs

Aside from technical problems which may impede the reviewing process, approval of a new drug depends on whether the clinical data support the claims of efficacy and safety. Using several recent new drug applications (NDAs) of cardiorenal drugs as examples, it is argued that to successfully support a claim, meeting minimal requirements in the current clinical guidelines may be necessary but not sufficient, and excessive dissection and manipulation of data must be avoided. In addition, assessment of safety and tolerability data is also required for formulating an efficacy claim. These important issues in packaging a successful application are discussed from the perspective of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secondary reviewer.
Home computing: For better or for worse

During the past fifteen years a great deal of speculation has accrued concerning the computer in the home. Much of it has idealized the impact of the computer. However, a contemporary look at the most popular software presents a different prospect for home computers, especially as they relate to children and adolescents. Questions are raised in this article concerning a number of issues. The characteristics of choice, imagination, gender distinction, access as a function of income and transcendental qualities of development are explored in relationship to home computing. The argument is put forth that there are many questions that need to be raised and answered, and a consciousness concerning these issues would help to make the implementation of home computing a positive attribute to the quality of life.
New Developments in the Illegal Provision of Growth Hormone for “Anti-Aging” and Bodybuilding

ACONSEQUENCE OF THE COMMITTEE ON OVERsight and Government Reform’s recent hearing on the Mitchell Report on steroid and growth hormone (hGH) use was recognition that the misguided use of hGH by professional athletes and entertainers contributes to the far more frequent and increasing problem of anti-aging clinics, Web sites, compounding pharmacies, and producers selling the drug to the general public for medically inappropriate uses. In the face of evidence of illegal distribution of hGH, in January 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an alert specifying that anti-aging, bodybuilding, and athletic enhancement are not approved indications for hGH. Systematic reviews have found that hGH supplementation does not significantly increase muscle strength or aerobic exercise capacity in healthy individuals. Clinical evidence does support the therapeutic administration of hGH for children and adults with appropriate clinical indications. However, extrapolating from this evidence to conclude that hGH improves health or longevity in normally aging individuals is not justified. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists suggests that hGH misuse might make insurance companies less likely to cover the cost of hGH treatment for approved indications. Age-related diseases and syndromes should not be confused with adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD). In fact, adult GHD is rare; the most common causes are pituitary adenoma or treatment of the adenoma with surgery or radiotherapy. In our review of the most recent package inserts of the 7 brands of hGH indicated for adult GHD at the FDA’s Web site (http://www.accessdata .fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm), since early 2007, the stated criteria for allowed provision of hGH for adult GHD are identical:
Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success

A review is presented of the book ‘Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege, and Success,’ by Art Kleiner.
Colimitation of phytoplankton growth by nickel and nitrogen

Axenic cultures of Thalussiosiru M;eissflogii need nickel when urea is the source of nitrogen for growth, but have no measurable Ni requirement when growing on NH,‘. This result is due to the Ni-containing enzyme, urease. which is necessary for urea catabolism in this diatom. In Ni-deficient cultures, where urea is the sole source of N, urease activity is low and growth rate is reduced. In Ni-replete cultures, urease activity is enhanced and the maximum growth rate achieved. Saturated uptake rates of Ni by urea-grown cells are faster than by NH,+-grown cells and are enhanced under Ni-limiting conditions. Ni-limited T. weiss&‘ogii cells are also N limited, even with high concentrations of urea in the medium, because they have insufficient urease activity to provide adequate N for growth. In these cultures, maximum growth rates are thus obtained by supplying either Ni or NH,+. These results demonstrate colimitation of T. M;eissflogjii growth by Ni and N under laboratory conditions and provide an archetypal example of a trace metal and macronutrient interaction that may be applicable to other nutrients.
Modeling of externally-induced/common-cause faults in fault-tolerant systems

Modeling fault behaviors such as fault occurrences and active/benign durations is an essential step to the design and evaluation of fault-tolerant controller computers. We use a beta-binomial distribution to model fault occurrences both in the presence and in the absence of environmentally-induced (thus common-cause) faults. A multinomial distribution is used to model fault active durations. The proposed model is validated by testing it against the data generated by a simulation program that mimics a common-cause fault environment. The model is then applied to the determination of an optimal time-redundancy recovery method for EMI-induced failures in an N-modular redundant controller computer, demonstrating its utility and power. >
Geographically dispersed Parallel Sysplex architecture using optical wavelength-division multiplexing

Since its introduction in 1994, the Parallel Sysplex architecture for mainframe computer systems has attracted a great deal of interest because of its high performance, continuous availability, scalability, and lower cost of ownership. Recently, it has become possible to interconnect the building blocks of a Parallel Sysplex (host processor, coupling facility, sysplex timer, and disk storage) at extended distances using fiber optic data links. In particular, optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) has been an enabling technology for the extension of this architecture to a geographically dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS). We describe the use of WDM in GDPS configurations, including distance limitations and typical performance considerations. Experimental results of testing a GDPS with WDM channel extensions up to 40 km are presented, and some test results on the IBM 9729 Optical Wavelength Division Multiplexer used in these configurations are also discussed.
Monitoring reachability in the global multicast infrastructure

The multicast infrastructure has transitioned to a topology that now supports hierarchical routing. Instead of a flat virtual topology originally called the Multicast Backbone (MBone) there now exists a hierarchy where routing information is exchanged between autonomous systems (ASes). In today's multicast infrastructure reachability problems are common. Unlike in the MBone, the possibility of limited connectivity between domains is now possible. We present a system called sdr-monitor. This tool collects session directory information from numerous places around the world and presents an application layer view of reachability. Using data collected over the last year, we present an analysis of long term reachability characteristics for the global multicast infrastructure. Our findings are that overall reachability is generally quite poor. However, having identified some of the reasons, we believe there is not a fundamental infrastructure problem, but rather protocol bugs and a lack of management tools.
Quantitative Reasoning for Filtering

How does one make inferences about the future, and how does one reason about the present? Reasoning requires that one relate, in some fashion, one event with another. Probability theory and predicate logic are the two most popular systems used to describe these relationships between states of nature. Probability theory can provide us with tools to compute the expected value of performance, the best guess as to the results that will occur.
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Base Stabilization Using Cement Kiln Dust

Laboratory and nondestructive field tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of cement kiln dust (CKD) as a stabilizer for a limestone base. The test results showed that CKD has promise as a stabilizer for the base material if it is used properly. The comparative performances of CKD and other traditional stabilizers such as lime, cement, and fly ash were also investigated during laboratory and field testing. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) increased substantially when the dosage of CKD was increased. The UCS also increased substantially over time because of the formation of more cementitious products through pozzolanic reactions and cementitious material hydrations. The dielectric value measured in the tube suction test is a good indicator of moisture susceptibility of base materials. It increased with increasing amounts of CKD after a short-term curing period; conversely, and beneficially, it decreased because of chemical reactions within specimens after a long-term curing period. Therefore, it appears that the tube suction test is not effective for evaluating moisture susceptibility of CKD-stabilized base materials. The seismic modulus increased substantially with addition of CKD for the same reasons the UCS increased. Conductivity and colorimetry tests indicated that sulfate content increased with the amount of CKD added. A low resistivity value of CKD-stabilized base materials indicated that they cannot be used as backfill material. The field pavement evaluation indicated that the lime-stabilized section exhibited the highest modulus, followed by the CKD-stabilized section. The other three sections yielded similar layer modulus values. In general, the modulus of all sections decreased over time.
Fructose: It’s “Alcohol Without the Buzz”

What do the Atkins Diet and the traditional Japanese diet have in common? The Atkins Diet is low in carbohydrate and usually high in fat; the Japanese diet is high in carbohydrate and usually low in fat. Yet both work to promote weight loss. One commonality of both diets is that they both eliminate the monosaccharide fructose. Sucrose (table sugar) and its synthetic sister high fructose corn syrup consist of 2 molecules, glucose and fructose. Glucose is the molecule that when polymerized forms starch, which has a high glycemic index, generates an insulin response, and is not particularly sweet. Fructose is found in fruit, does not generate an insulin response, and is very sweet. Fructose consumption has increased worldwide, paralleling the obesity and chronic metabolic disease pandemic. Sugar (i.e., fructose-containing mixtures) has been vilified by nutritionists for ages as a source of “empty calories,” no different from any other empty calorie. However, fructose is unlike glucose. In the hypercaloric glycogen-replete state, intermediary metabolites from fructose metabolism overwhelm hepatic mitochondrial capacity, which promotes de novo lipogenesis and leads to hepatic insulin resistance, which drives chronic metabolic disease. Fructose also promotes reactive oxygen species formation, which leads to cellular dysfunction and aging, and promotes changes in the brain’s reward system, which drives excessive consumption. Thus, fructose can exert detrimental health effects beyond its calories and in ways that mimic those of ethanol, its metabolic cousin. Indeed, the only distinction is that because fructose is not metabolized in the central nervous system, it does not exert the acute neuronal depression experienced by those imbibing ethanol. These metabolic and hedonic analogies argue that fructose should be thought of as “alcohol without the buzz.”
Generating attenuation maps using differential attenuation data

A method is proposed to estimate attenuation from differential attenuation information (DAI) contained solely in SPECT emission data produced by /sup 201/Tl or other multiple emission isotopes. The total attenuation along each projection line is shown to be related to the difference in attenuation for two emissions at distinct energies (low energy gamma rays are attenuated more than high energy gamma rays); this difference is reflected by the relative gamma-ray intensity detected at the two energies after compensation for Compton scatter. The feasibility of attenuation compensation using DAI was investigated using synthesized scatter-free data from an anthropomorphic digital phantom. Two approaches were investigated: (1) filtered backprojection reconstruction of sinograms pre-corrected for attenuation using a point-source approximation; and (2) incorporating the DAI into an iterative regularized image reconstruction algorithm using a more realistic distributed source model. Both these techniques improved image quality and reduced attenuation artifacts visible in uncorrected filtered backprojection images. However, Poisson noise presents a significant obstacle to practical application of this technique and several enhancements are required before it can be successfully applied to realistic imaging data.
Impacts of elevated CO2 concentration on the productivity and surface energy budget of the soybean and maize agroecosystem in the Midwest USA

The physiological response of vegetation to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2 ]) modifies productivity and surface energy and water fluxes. Quantifying this response is required for assessments of future climate change. Many global climate models account for this response; however, significant uncertainty remains in model simulations of this vegetation response and its impacts. Data from in situ field experiments provide evidence that previous modeling studies may have overestimated the increase in productivity at elevated [CO2 ], and the impact on large-scale water cycling is largely unknown. We parameterized the Agro-IBIS dynamic global vegetation model with observations from the SoyFACE experiment to simulate the response of soybean and maize to an increase in [CO2 ] from 375 ppm to 550 ppm. The two key model parameters that were found to vary with [CO2 ] were the maximum carboxylation rate of photosynthesis and specific leaf area. Tests of the model that used SoyFACE parameter values showed a good fit to site-level data for all variables except latent heat flux over soybean and sensible heat flux over both crops. Simulations driven with historic climate data over the central USA showed that increased [CO2 ] resulted in decreased latent heat flux and increased sensible heat flux from both crops when averaged over 30 years. Thirty-year average soybean yield increased everywhere (ca. 10%); however, there was no increase in maize yield except during dry years. Without accounting for CO2 effects on the maximum carboxylation rate of photosynthesis and specific leaf area, soybean simulations at 550 ppm overestimated leaf area and yield. Our results highlight important model parameter values that, if not modified in other models, could result in biases when projecting future crop-climate-water relationships.
Sufficient conditions for power flow insolvability considering reactive power limited generators with applications to voltage stability margins

For the non-linear power flow problem with PQ and reactive power limited slack and PV buses, we present two sufficient conditions under which the specified set of nonlinear algebraic equations has no solution. The first condition uses a semidefinite programming relaxation of the power flow equations along with binary variables to model the generators' reactive power capabilities. As a byproduct, this condition yields a voltage stability margin to the power flow solvability boundary. The second condition formulates the power flow equations, including generator reactive power limits, as a system of polynomials and uses real algebraic geometry and sum of squares programming to create infeasibility certificates which prove power flow insolvability.
Adult Son-Parent Relationships and Their Associations With Sons' Psychological Distress

The relationship between the quality of adult sons' experiences in their current relationships with their mothers and fathers and the sons' psychological distress was examined in a random sample of 285 sons, aged 25 to 40. Quality of experience in the son role was assessed separately for the son-mother and son-father relationships. Sons who reported a positive relationship with their mother or father also reported low psychological distress. The presence or absence of female siblings moderated the association between both the son-mother and son-father relationship quality and sons' distress. This association was also moderated by the parents' age, and, among sons with fathers, this association was moderated by the sons' education.
A neural-type network for solving minimal energy path in real time

An analog neural type network is developed, which computes a minimal energy path in real-time under two-point boundary conditions. The network has many simple interconnected nodes operating concurrently in an asynchronous fashion. The energy equilibrium state of the network provides the solution. A mathematical formulation by the variational approach is first described. Then a mapping function is defined to convert the problem from a time domain to a spatial domain suitable for analog computing. A transfer function is derived and a node-connection weight matrix governing the evolution process of the network states is developed. Resistive building blocks and the structure of the network are designed which are suitable for analog VLSI implementation. Comparisons to the digital parallel computing are performed. >
The existence of supervisory policies that enforce liveness in discrete event dynamic systems modeled by partially controlled Petri nets is undecidable

We consider discrete-state plants represented by controlled Petri nets (CPN). A supervisory policy can be thought as an implicitly defined table that lists the transitions permitted to fire for each reachable marking. The set of transitions in a CPN is partitioned into controllable and uncontrollable transitions. Any transition in a CPN is state-enabled at a given marking if every input place to the said transition has a nonzero token-load. Similarly, a transition in a CPN is control-enabled at a given marking if the supervisory policy permits the firing of the said transition. Uncontrollable transitions are always control-enabled, while controllable transition can be control-disabled, if deemed necessary. The transition in a CPN has to be state-enabled and control-enabled to fire. A transition in a CPN is live if for every marking reachable under supervision, there exists a valid firing sequence that results in a marking under which the said transition is control-enabled and state-enabled. A supervisory policy enforces liveness if every transition in the CPN is live under supervision. In this paper we show that the existence of a supervisory policy that enforces liveness for an arbitrary CPN is undecidable.
Increased susceptibility to the pathogenic effects of wild-type and recombinant herpesviruses in MPS VII mice compared to normal siblings

In previous studies, we have shown that a herpesvirus vector can transfer a therapeutic cellular gene (beta-glucuronidase) from peripheral sites of inoculation into the central nervous system in mice with a model neurodegenerative disease caused by a deficiency of this enzyme (mucopolysaccharidosis type VII, Sly disease). The vector corrects the enzymatic deficiency in transduced cells but the number of cells corrected is too low to alter the pathology of the disease. The recombinant vector virus, which has the foreign gene substituted into the viral LAT locus, had reduced pathogenicity after corneal inoculation compared to the wild-type virus from which it was derived (HSV-1 strain 17+). We therefore attempted to increase the number of corrected cells in the MPS VII brain by increasing the inoculating dose of the vector. However, the vector was acutely pathogenic in the diseased mice at doses that were non-pathogenic in normal littermates. The pathogenic effect of the vector virus in the mutants could be blocked by passive immunization with human gamma-globulin containing anti-HSV-1 antibodies on the day of infection but not when given at the peak of viral replication (day 4). However, effective protection also blocked transduction by the vector, thereby abrogating the effects of increased vector dosage. The effect was virus specific because inoculation of a high dose of a non-pathogenic variant of strain 17+ virus (1716) directly into the brains of MPS VII mice was not lethal. We found no apparent differences in the acute inflammatory response in mutant versus normal animals. These data suggest that the increased susceptibility to vector virulence was related to the overall compromised state of health of the diseased animals, which is further supported by the observations that the mutant mice are more sensitive to stress and to anesthetics than normal littermates. These findings indicate that adverse effects of gene transfer vectors for genetic diseases may not be fully apparent when tested in normal animals.
Histone modifications predispose genome regions to breakage and translocation

Chromosome translocations are well-established hallmarks of cancer cells and often occur at nonrandom sites in the genome. The molecular features that define recurrent chromosome breakpoints are largely unknown. Using a combination of bioinformatics, biochemical analysis, and cell-based assays, we identify here specific histone modifications as facilitators of chromosome breakage and translocations. We show enrichment of several histone modifications over clinically relevant translocation-prone genome regions. Experimental modulation of histone marks sensitizes genome regions to breakage by endonuclease challenge or irradiation and promotes formation of chromosome translocations of endogenous gene loci. Our results demonstrate that histone modifications predispose genome regions to chromosome breakage and translocations.
Digital Laws Evolve

An essay from Wired Magazine (UK)'s special volume, "The Wired World in 2015." The essay argues that although digital laws have lagged behind technological advances, they are starting to catch up, and this trend will continue in 2015. When it comes to privacy and technology, the law is catching up all over the world.
ESTIMATING SOIL LOSS FROM MEDIUM-SIZE DRAINAGE BASINS

No perfect method exists for estimating historical soil loss from medium-size watersheds. One approach to maximizing the accuracy for soil-loss estimates is to use a variety of different methods and compare their results for convergence. This paper compares four different methods to estimate soil loss from two medium-sized, fifth-order watersheds in southeastern Minnesota. The four comparative methods are the soil-survey and soil-truncation method (including a reevaluation of a Soil Conservation Service (SCS) study), gully-erosion estimates, reservoir-sedimentation measurements combined with estimated sediment-delivery ratios, and estimates derived from the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Although each method uses different data and procedures, their estimates of historical soil loss are comparable, excepting those for gully erosion. The estimates converged around the USLE estimate, ranging from 44 to 128% of the USLE. The soil survey and soil truncation method produced the lowest estimates, ranging ...
Capturing Turn-by-Turn Lexical Similarity in Text-Based Communication

Speakers often come to use similar words during conversation; that is, they come to exhibit lexical similarity. The extent to which this occurs is associated with many positive social outcomes. However, existing measures of lexical similarity are either highly labor intensive or too coarse in their temporal resolution. This limits the ability of researchers to study lexical similarity as it unfolds over the course of a conversation. We present a fully automated metric for tracking lexical similarity over time, and demonstrate it on individual conversations, explore general trends in aggregate conversational dynamics, and examine differences in how similarity tracks over time in groups with differing social outcomes.
Tool for Small Office Buildings Energy Consumption Estimation

Building energy consumption analysis is a difficult task because it depends on the characteristics and interaction among the building, the heating/cooling system, and the surroundings (weather). Since building energy profiles are usually required on an hourly basis, which often is not available for existing buildings, the hourly energy consumption must be estimated or predicted. The dynamic behavior of the weather conditions and building operation makes computer simulations a good practice for reliable solutions. However, energy building computer simulations require considerable amount of detailed input data and user time, which is a drawback for a cost-effective solution. Therefore, simplified models based on statistics or a combination of statistics and simulations may be a better solution with reasonable uncertainty. This paper presents the tool Small Office Hourly Energy Consumption Estimator (SOHECE). The tool estimates hourly building energy consumption for small office buildings. The proposed tool has been developed in Microsoft Excel and it uses simulation data from EnergyPlus benchmark models to convert monthly energy consumption from utility bills into hourly energy consumption. Since benchmark models were developed by the U.S. government to provide a consistent baseline of comparison, energy consumption data from simulations of the benchmark models are considered reasonable representations of energy consumption profiles. Results account for baseline and variable energy consumption for electricity and fuel. The site weather conditions, for which the energy consumption is estimated, are considered using the sixteen climate zones of the U.S. benchmark models. The tool has been applied to a hypothetical building placed in Meridian, MS, and errors obtained for the estimated hourly energy consumption are mainly lower than ten percent.© 2010 ASME
Abstract 4143: Discrete clones cooperate to promote tumor progression through a non-cell-autonomous mechanism in intestinal cancers

Background: The process of tumor evolution has often been described as a single initiated cell propagating a tumor with subclones of that cell acquiring distinct molecular changes and competing for dominance within the tumor. However, colon tumors are now known to often be derived from multiple initiated progenitor cells. Distinct initiated clones might cooperate or alternatively compete during tumorigenesis, progression, and therapy. Methods: Mice carrying the Min allele of Apc and expressing an oncogenic form of PI3K in a subset of colonic epithelial cells develop multiple adenomas and adenocarcinomas in the colon. We utilized cell lineage tracing to follow the progeny of individual progenitor cells through tumor establishment, progression, and treatment with GDC 0941, a PI3K inhibitor. Results: Nearly half (44%; 30/68) of the tumors were derived from at least two progenitor clones, one of which expressed the oncogenic form of PI3K and one of which did not. The presence of both types of clones correlated to an increased frequency of either clone becoming invasive (p = 0.0002). Additionally, the presence of both clones appeared to protect susceptible clones from targeted therapy. Conclusions: Taken together, these data indicate that genetically distinct tumor progenitors can establish a single lesion, and moreover cooperation amongst diverse clonal populations provides a fitness advantage during tumor progression and therapy. Citation Format: Alyssa A. Leystra, Amanda M. Wisinger, Christopher D. Zahm, Kristina A. Matkowskyj, Chelsie K. Sievers, Alex Schwartz, Dawn M. Albrecht, Linda Clipson, Dustin A. Deming, Michael A. Newton, Richard B. Halberg. Discrete clones cooperate to promote tumor progression through a non-cell-autonomous mechanism in intestinal cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4143. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4143
Nonlinear Acoustics and Its Role in the Sedimentary Geophysics of the Sea

A theoretical and experimental exposition of the principal nonlinear acoustic phenomena is presented and interpreted in the light of applications to the sediments.
Development of Device Isolation Structures

New isolation structure utilizing CeO2 as an insulating material was proposed and examined. SrTiO3/YBa2Cu3O7-X (STO/YBCO) multilayer was deposited and patterned by an Ar ion milling using photo resist masks. CeO2 film was then deposited at relatively low temperature and processed by a lift-off technique to form buried isolation regions. CeO2 film has the breakdown voltage of 15V and the relative dielectric constant of around 10 at between 10K and the room temperature. Lateral diffusion of the constituent elements of CeO2 film is negligible, therefore the ridge structure of 5 µm width has the Tc value of higher than 50K. This isolation structure proved to have the properties capable of improving breakdown characteristics of superconducting devices, such that to increase the trans-conductance of a superconducting field effect transistor.
Finite Stability Is Not Generic

Publisher Summary This chapter shows that finite stability is not generic. Recently Sotomayor conjectured that generically diffeomorphisms are finitely structurally stable, that is, for each f in a residual subset R of Diff r ( M ), there exists a neighborhood η f of f in Diff r ( M ), an integer n , and a C 1 embedding of the n -dimensional unit cube into η f J f : I n → such η f , such that every g ∈ η f is conjugate to some J f (χ) for χ ∈ I n . The chapter discusses that this conjecture is false.
A Lesion-Based Response Prediction Model Using Pretherapy PET/CT Image Features for Y90 Radioembolization to Hepatic Malignancies

We present a probabilistic approach to identify patients with primary and secondary hepatic malignancies as responders or nonresponders to yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy. Recent advances in computer-aided detection have decreased false-negative and false-positive rates of perceived abnormalities; however, there is limited research in using similar concepts to predict treatment response. Our approach is driven by the goal of precision medicine to determine pretherapy fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging parameters to facilitate the identification of patients who would benefit most from yttrium-90 radioembolization therapy, while avoiding complex and costly procedures for those who would not. Our algorithm seeks to predict a patient’s response by discovering common co-occurring image patterns in the lesions of baseline fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans by extracting invariant ...