cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conduction through Droplets during Dropwise Condensation

An experimental investigation was undertaken in which dropwise condensation was caused to occur on the upper side of a 0.001-in-thick horizontal copper condensing surface. The lower side of the condensing wall was convectively cooled, and the cooled-side temperatures under growing droplets were measured using infrared-radiation techniques. Temperature measurements showed good agreement with the results of a finite-element analysis of the droplet and condensing surface. Both experimental and analytical results pointed to the existence of an area of very high heat transfer right around the droplet perimeter, and to the importance of the condensing wall as a heat-diffusing mechanism in dropwise condensation.
Thermoeconomic optimization of sensible heat thermal storage for cogenerated waste-to-energy recovery

This paper investigates the feasibility of employing thermal storage for cogenerated waste-to-energy recovery such as using mass-burning water-wall incinerators and topping steam turbines. Sensible thermal storage is considered in rectangular cross-sectioned channels through which is passed unused process steam at 1,307 kPa/250 C (175 psig/482 F) during the storage period and feedwater at 1,307 kPa/102 C (175 psig/216 F) during the recovery period. In determining the optimum storage configuration, it is found that the economic feasibility is a function of mass and specific heat of the material and surface area of the channel as well as cost of material and fabrication. Economic considerations included typical cash flows of capital charges, energy revenues, operation and maintenance, and income taxes. Cast concrete is determined to be a potentially attractive storage medium.
The case-based radiology teaching conference for residents: beneficial effect of previewing cases and using answer sheets.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives Radiology residents often experience the case-based teaching conference as an inquisition, during which the moderator painfully extracts observations, conclusions, and facts from a discussant while other attendees passively observe. This experience is frequently disliked by all participants. The author hypothesized that such conferences could be improved by previewing cases and using answer sheets. Materials and Methods A bimonthly, 1-hour, case-based skeletal radiology teaching conference was modified so that residents previewed 20 single-image cases for 45 seconds each while completing answer sheets. Directed by a moderator, residents then took turns discussing their responses. Attendees completed evaluation forms. Results Five conferences were evaluated, and a total of 81 evaluation forms were received. The average response rate per conference was 90%. The evaluations indicated that the content was appropriate (96% [78 of 81 evaluations]), the format helped learning (98% [79 of 81]), the new format was preferred to the traditional format (98% [78 of 80]), and more such conferences were desired (99% [80 of 81]). Evaluations also suggested that the requirement to commit to a diagnosis was beneficial, greater participation and engagement were obtained from all attendees, and more cases were discussed. Conclusion Modifying case-based radiology teaching conferences by having participants preview cases and use answer sheets has positive educational benefits and is well received.
Real-time quantitative PCR detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and differentiation from other mycobacteria using SYBR Green and TaqMan assays.

Sensitive real-time sequence detection methods based on two different chemistries were developed for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), the causative agent of Johne’s disease in cattle. One is based on the detection of SYBR Green bound to PCR products and the second method is more specific, detecting the cleavage of a fluorogenic (TaqMan) probe bound to a target sequence during primer extension phase. Novel primers and probes that amplify small fragments (b80 bp) of the Map specific insertion sequence, IS900 were designed. Both the SYBR Green and TaqMan assays are sensitive, able to detect 4 fg of DNA extracted from Map strain ATCC19698. This amount of DNA corresponds to the detection of 0.8 cells. Map cells were quantified directly from 7H9 broth using the SYBR Green assay and compared to dilutions of DNA extracted from an equivalent number of cells. The SYBR Green assay of 7H9 broth resulted in a minimum detectable limit of 0.07 cells (equivalent to 0.34 fg of DNA). Media ingredients were not observed to interfere with the assay. Since no extraction step was necessary in the direct cell measurements, direct detection was ten-fold more sensitive than detection of extracted DNA. Both SYBR Green and TaqMan assays are highly specific for the detection of Map. They did not detect any closely related members of the avium complex, other species of mycobacteria, or related genera that are likely to be present in environmental samples. No reporter signal was detected during TaqMan assays performed with 100 pg of template DNA from the non-Map organisms. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Development and validation of a computer-based algorithm to identify foreign-born patients with HIV infection from the electronic medical record

Objective: To develop and validate an efficient and accurate method to identify foreign-born patients from a large patient data registry in order to facilitate population-based health outcomes research. Methods: We developed a three-stage algorithm for classifying foreign-born status in HIV-infected patients receiving care in a large US healthcare system (January 1, 2001-March 31, 2012) (n = 9,114). In stage 1, we classified those coded as non-English language speaking as foreign-born. In stage 2, we searched free text electronic medical record (EMR) notes of remaining patients for keywords associated with place of birth and language spoken. Patients without keywords were classified as US-born. In stage 3, we retrieved and reviewed a 50-character text window around the keyword (i.e. token) for the remaining patients. To validate the algorithm, we performed a chart review and asked all HIV physicians (n = 37) to classify their patients (n = 957).We calculated algorithm sensitivity and specificity. Results: We excluded 160/957 because physicians indicated the patient was not HIV-infected (n = 54), “not my patient” (n = 103), or had unknown place of birth (n = 3), leaving 797 for analysis. In stage 1, providers agreed that 71/95 foreign language speakers were foreign-born. Most disagreements (23/24) involved patients born in Puerto Rico. In stage 2, 49/50 patients without keywords were classified as US-born by chart review. In stage 3, token review correctly classified 55/60 patients (92%), with 93% (CI: 84.4, 100%) sensitivity and 90% (CI: 74.3, 100%) specificity compared with full chart review. After application of the three-stage algorithm, 2,102/9,114 (23%) patients were classified as foreign-born. When compared against physician response, estimated sensitivity of the algorithm was 94% (CI: 90.9, 97.2%) and specificity 92% (CI: 89.7, 94.1%), with 92% correctly classified. Conclusion: A computer-based algorithm classified foreign-born status in a large HIV-infected cohort efficiently and accurately. This approach can be used to improve EMR-based outcomes research.
Decreased Conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 Following Cholecalciferol Therapy in Patients with CKD

Background and objectives Elevated concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are postulated to promote 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) insufficiency in CKD by stimulating 24-hydroxylation of this metabolite, leading to its subsequent degradation; however, prospective human studies testing this relationship are lacking. Design, setting, participants, & measurements An open-label prospective study was conducted from October 2010 through July 2012 to compare the effect of 8 weeks of oral cholecalciferol therapy (50,000 IU twice weekly) on the production of 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 in vitamin D–insufficient patients with CKD ( n =15) and controls with normal kidney function ( n =15). Vitamin D metabolites were comprehensively profiled at baseline and after treatment, along with FGF23 and other mineral metabolism parameters. Results Vitamin D 3 and 25(OH)D 3 concentrations increased equivalently in the CKD and control groups following cholecalciferol treatment (median D 3 change, 8.6 ng/ml [interquartile range, 3.9–25.6 ng/ml] for controls versus 12.6 ng/ml [6.9–41.2 ng/ml] for CKD [ P =0.15]; 25(OH)D 3 change, 39.2 ng/ml [30.9–47.2 ng/ml] for controls versus 39.9 ng/ml [31.5–44.1 ng/ml] for CKD [ P =0.58]). Likewise, the absolute increase in 1 α ,25(OH) 2 D 3 was similar between CKD participants and controls (change, 111.2 pg/ml [64.3–141.6 pg/ml] for controls versus 101.1 pg/ml [74.2–123.1 pg/ml] for CKD; P =0.38). Baseline and post-treatment 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 concentrations were lower in the CKD group; moreover, the absolute increase in 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 after therapy was markedly smaller in patients with CKD (change, 2.8 ng/ml [2.3–3.5 ng/ml] for controls versus 1.2 ng/ml [0.6–1.9 ng/ml] for patients with CKD; P 2 D 3 for individuals with CKD; this association was negated after adjustment for eGFR by multivariate analysis. Conclusions Patients with CKD exhibit an altered ability to increase serum 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 after cholecalciferol therapy, suggesting decreased 24-hydroxylase activity in CKD. The observed relationship between baseline FGF23 and increments in 24,25(OH) 2 D 3 further refutes the idea that FGF23 directly contributes to 25(OH)D insufficiency in CKD through stimulation of 24-hydroxylase activity.
Effect of Furosemide Infusion on Renal Hemodynamics and Angiogenesis Gene Expression in Acute Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion

Loop diuretics are known to affect renal hemodynamics and possibly gene transcription, but the specific effect of furosemide on renal angiogenesis gene expression after acute ischemia is not known. We utilized an acute renal failure model in rats to test the hypothesis that furosemide improves renal hemodynamics and alters the transcriptional signature of acute ischemic nephropathy. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized by the intraperitoneal administration of 50 mg/kg urethane. Animals were divided into four groups (n = 6 each): (1) sham-operated group infused with saline; (2) sham-operated group infused with 30 μg/kg/hr furosemide (equivalent to a human dosage of 2 mg/hr); (3) unilateral renal ischemia (1 hr, left renal artery cross-clamping) followed by 6 hr of reperfusion; and (4) renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) with furosemide. Renal artery blood flow (RBF), renal cortical perfusion (RCP), and renal corticomedullary tissue oxygen tension (PO2) were recorded throughout. Following 6 h...
Fractionation of β-Glucosidases and Related Extracellular Enzymes from Aspergillus niger

Industrial concentrates from Aspergillus niger culture filtrates were fractionated by ion-exchange and adsorption chromatography. Several other types of hydrolases were completely removed. Eight partially purified components were obtained. Using specific activity as an estimate of purification, one aryl-beta-glucosidase was purified 35-fold. Another component showed 147-fold purification using a viscosimetric assay with carboxymethylcellulose as substrate. The aryl-beta-glucosidase was distinctly more thermolabile than the carboxymethylcellulase.
Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Tigecycline in Subjects with Secondary Bacteremia: Pooled Results from 8 Phase III Clinical Trials

Background Tigecycline is effective in the treatment of complicated skin/skin-structure infection (cSSSI), complicated intraabdominal infection (cIAI), and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CAP), but its efficacy in subjects with secondary bacteremia is unknown. Methods Pooled data from subjects enrolled for treatment of cSSSI, cIAI, or CAP presenting with bacteremia from 7 double-blind and 1 open-label trial of tigecycline compared with vancomycin-aztreonam, imipenem-cilastatin, levofloxacin, vancomycin, or linezolid were analyzed. The primary efficacy end point was the clinical cure rate at the test-of-cure assessment. Results A total of 170 subjects were identified (91 tigecycline recipients and 79 recipients of the comparator agent). Clinical cure rates were 81.3% and 78.5% for tigecycline and the comparator, respectively (P = .702). Analysis by sex, age, creatinine clearance, infection site, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, and Fine score demonstrated no significant between-group differences. Clinical cure rates for the most commonly represented pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and gram-negative species) were also not significantly different between treatment groups. No decrease in the rate of cure was found in organisms with increasing tigecycline minimum inhibitory concentrations. Nine subjects treated with tigecycline and 1 subject treated with comparator were found to have persistent bacteremia. No clinically significant differences in safety parameters were identified. Conclusions Tigecycline was generally safe and well tolerated in the treatment of secondary bacteremia associated with cSSSI, cIAI, and CAP; cure rates were similar to comparative standard therapies.
A Tabular Method for the Synthesis of Multithreshold Threshold Elements

This paper presents a tabular method for synthesizing Boolean functions having four or less variables with multithreshold threshold elements. The method is similar to that used for conventional single-threshold threshold elements. All 224 functions of four variables are divided into 221 equivalence classes by variable complementations and/or permutations and/or function complementation. Each equivalence class is characterized by a subset of its corresponding Rademacher-Walsh coefficients, the size of the subset being determined by the number of thresholds required to realize that equivalence class. An arbitrary Boolean function of four or less variables is synthesized by systematically calculating subsets of its Rademacher-Walsh coefficients until, through simple equivalence operations, the equivalence class of the function is found in a table of the 221 equivalence classes. The table indicates a multithreshold realization of the given function. The table shows that any 4-variable function can be realized with at most five thresholds, or by a network of conventional, or single-threshold, threshold elements with at most three gates in which each gate has the identical weight vector for the four input variables.
Intergranular corrosion in nuclear systems

The occurrences of intergranular stress-corrosion cracking in nuclear power plant components made of austenitic alloys are discussed. Cracks of this type have occurred in sensitized Types 304 and 316 austenitic stainless steels in a variety of components at various stages of fabrication. Historically, cracking in early reactors occurred in heavily sensitized material or were related to the presence of chlorides or caustic ions. More recently, a rash of cracks were found in boiling water reactor piping adjacent to welds. This problem is evaluated. Wastage and intergranular cracking of Inconel 600 alloy tubing of steam generators has occurred in the secondary side in plants that have used either sodium phosphate or all volatile water treatment. Design and environmental factors have had a pronounced influence on the tube degradation. The significance of these conditions is discussed, as is action taken by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission relating to this problem.
Human time perception and its illusions

Why does a clock sometimes appear stopped? Is it possible to perceive the world in slow motion during a car accident? Can action and effect be reversed? Time perception is surprisingly prone to measurable distortions and illusions. The past few years have introduced remarkable progress in identifying and quantifying temporal illusions of duration, temporal order, and simultaneity. For example, perceived durations can be distorted by saccades, by an oddball in a sequence, or by stimulus complexity or magnitude. Temporal order judgments of actions and sensations can be reversed by the exposure to delayed motor consequences, and simultaneity judgments can be manipulated by repeated exposure to nonsimultaneous stimuli. The confederacy of recently discovered illusions points to the underlying neural mechanisms of time perception.
Lack of Gender Influence on Cortical and Subcortical Gray Matter Development in Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia

Background: Progressive cortical gray matter (GM) abnormalities are an established feature of schizophrenia and are more pronounced in rare, severe, and treatment refractory childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) cases. The effect of sex on brain development in schizophrenia is poorly understood and studies to date have produced inconsistent results. Methods: Using the largest to date longitudinal sample of COS cases (n 5 104, scans 5 249, Male/Female [M/F] 5 57/47), we compared COS sex differences with sex differences in a sample of matched typically developing children (n 5 104, scans 5 244, M/F 5 57/47), to determine whether or not sex had differential effects on cortical and subcortical brain development in COS. Results: Our results showed no significant differential sex effects in COS for either GM cortical thickness or subcortical volume development (sex 3 diagnosis 3 age interaction; false discovery rate q 5 0.05). Conclusion: Sex appears to play a similar role in cortical and subcortical GM development in COS as it does in normally developing children.
Dietary composition and spatial patterns of polar bear foraging on land in western Hudson Bay

Flexible foraging strategies, such as prey switching, omnivory and food mixing, are key to surviving in a labile and changing environment. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in western Hudson Bay are versatile predators that use all of these strategies as they seasonally exploit resources across trophic levels. Climate warming is reducing availability of their ice habitat, especially in spring when polar bears gain most of their annual fat reserves by consuming seal pups before coming ashore in summer. How polar bears combine these flexible foraging strategies to obtain and utilize terrestrial food will become increasingly important in compensating for energy deficits from lost seal hunting opportunities. We evaluated patterns in the composition of foods in scat to characterize the foraging behaviors that underpin the diet mixing and omnivory observed in polar bears on land in western Hudson Bay. Specifically, we measured diet richness, proportions of plant and animal foods, patterns in co-occurrence of foods, spatial composition and an index of temporal composition. Scats contained between 1 and 6 foods, with an average of 2.11 (SE = 0.04). Most scats (84.9%) contained at least one type of plant, but animals (35.4% of scats) and both plants and animals occurring together (34.4% of scats) were also common. Certain foods, such as Lyme grass seed heads (Leymus arenarius), berries and marine algae, were consumed in relatively higher proportions, sometimes to the exclusion of others, both where and when they occurred most abundantly. The predominance of localized vegetation in scats suggests little movement among habitat types between feeding sessions. Unlike the case for plants, no spatial patterns were found for animal remains, likely due the animals’ more vagile and ubiquitous distribution. Our results suggest that polar bears are foraging opportunistically in a manner consistent with maximizing intake while minimizing energy expenditure associated with movement. The frequent mixing of plant-based carbohydrate and animal-based protein could suggest use of a strategy that other Ursids employ to maximize weight gain. Further, consuming high rates of certain vegetation and land-based animals that may yield immediate energetic gains could, instead, provide other benefits such as fulfilling vitamin/mineral requirements, diluting toxins and assessing new foods for potential switching.
The Politics of Financial Crisis Response in Japan and the United States

We examine the politics of financial crisis response in Japan and the United States. Many existing accounts of Japan's ‘lost decade’ of the 1990s have emphasized Japan-specific factors, such as structural problems, policy errors, and political dysfunction. We argue that Japan may have been subject to a form of first-mover disadvantage. Like innovation in the private sector, developing effective solutions to novel policy problems requires a messy process of discovery, experimentation, and repeated failure. Much as late-industrializing countries adapted the methods and technologies of early developers, second-movers can apply effective policies demonstrated by first-movers in a more targeted, efficient, and rapid manner. We show that the behavior of Japan and the United States during their respective financial crises is broadly consistent with this theory. In addition, policy adoption in the United States most clearly reflected lessons from Japan in areas where the lessons were considered clear and implementation was less politicized.
Evolving Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus in the United States

The impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on health and medical care in the United States is a major problem for infectious disease physicians. Although the incidence of HCV infection has declined markedly in the past 2 decades, chronic infection in 3 million or more residents now accounts for more disease and death in the United States than does human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. Current trends in the epidemiology of HCV infection include an apparent increase in young, often suburban heroin injection drug users who initiate use with oral prescription opioid drugs; infections in nonhospital healthcare (clinic) settings; and sexual transmission among HIV-infected persons. Infectious disease physicians will increasingly have the responsibility of diagnosing and treating HCV patients. An understanding of how these patients were infected is important for determining whom to screen and treat.
A Field Study of the Role of Big Five Personality in Applicant Perceptions of Selection Fairness, Self, and the Hiring Organization

Although there is a growing applicant reactions literature, relatively little work has addressed the role of personality in applicant perceptions. Using a sample of actual law enforcement applicants (N 5120), we studied the relationship between Big Five personality measured before a written test and applicants’ post-test fairness perceptions, perceptions of themselves, and perceptions of the hiring organization. Personality was related to applicant perceptions after controlling for gender and test score. Personality also accounted for significant variance in self-perceptions and perceptions of the hiring organization beyond that accounted for by fairness perceptions. Neuroticism and agreeableness were the most consistent predictors of applicant perceptions. Our discussion focuses on the consideration of individual differences in applicant reactions research.
Performance Analysis of GPS Receivers in Non-Gaussian Noise Incorporating Precorrelation Filter and Sampling Rate

Global positioning system (GPS) receivers find growing applications in indoor and outdoor communication environments, including urban and rural areas. Interference and noise sources for GPS receivers may assume Gaussian or non-Gaussian distributions. The GPS receiver performance under Gaussian additive noise has been studied. Non-Gaussian noise may equally contaminate the GPS satellite signals and disturb the receiver delay lock loops (DLL), producing significant tracking errors. These sources include impulsive noise, ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and impulse and noise radar signals for target tracking and indoor imaging applications. This paper considers non-Gaussian noise of finite variance and examines its effect on the discriminator outputs for the commercial GPS receiver that uses the coarse acquisition (C/A) code. The correlator noise output components are produced from the correlation between the noise sequence and the early, late, and punctual reference C/A code. Due to the long time averaging, which is characteristic of the GPS correlation loops, these components assume Gaussian distributions. The discriminator tracking error variance is derived, incorporating the effect of noise, the front-end precorrelation filter, and the sampling rate.
THE HISTOGENESIS OF BASEMENT MEMBRANES

A parietal yolk sac carcinoma of the mouse that secretes large quantities of basement membrane-like material has been used to study the formation of basement membranes. Suitably characterized fluorescein-labeled antibodies against this material stained basement membranes of epithelial structures and vessels, as well as reticulin. When absorbed with reticulin and vascular basement membranes of the spleen until these structures no longer fluoresced, the antibody still stained the basement membrane-like material of the tumor, its normal embryonic counterpart (Reichert's membrane), and the basement membranes at the bases of epithelial cells. The observation made previously that parietal yolk sac cells secreted, in the absence of connective tissue and reticulin, the basement membrane (Reichert's membrane) upon which they rested has been confirmed through the localization of ferritin-labeled antibody to the endoplasmic reticulin of the secreting cells. Since a basement membrane proven to be an epithelial secretion is antigenically similar to basement membranes at the bases of all epithelial cells studied but antigenically different from connective tissue elements, it is postulated that the basement membranes at the bases of epithelial cells in general are an epithelial secretion, and are not a condensation of ground substance as is commonly believed.
Strong Laws for Dependent Heterogeneous Processes

This paper presents maximal inequalities and strong law of large numbers for weakly dependent heterogeneous random variables. Specifically considered are Lr mixingales for r > 1, strong mixing sequences, and near epoch dependent (NED) sequences. We provide the first strong law for Lr-bounded Lr mixingales and NED sequences for 1 > r > 2. The strong laws presented for α-mixing sequences are less restrictive than the laws of McLeish [8].
Deletion of XPC leads to lung tumors in mice and is associated with early events in human lung carcinogenesis

Chromosome 3p and 1p deletions are among the most frequent genetic changes in human lung cancer and although candidate tumor suppressor genes have been identified in these regions, no causative correlations have been drawn between deletion or mutation of these and lung carcinogenesis. We identify XPC and Gadd45a as genes within each of these regions involved in lung tumor initiation and progression, respectively. One hundred percent of XPC-/- mice develop multiple spontaneous lung tumors with a minority progressing to non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma, occasionally with metastasis to adjacent lymph nodes. Deletion of Gadd45a alone does not lead to increased lung tumors in mice, but coupled with an XPC deletion, it results in lung tumor progression. Analysis of published data indicated allelic loss of XPC in most human lung tumors and allelic loss of Gadd45a in some human lung and other cancer types. Because DNA repair capacity is compromised in XPC+/- cells, it is possible that the loss of a single XPC allele in the human lung might confer a mutator phenotype. Coupled with cigarette carcinogens, decreased DNA repair would lead to additional mutations in genes such as p53 that are frequent targets in lung cancer.
Non-cell Autonomous RNA Trafficking and Long-Distance Signaling

A wide range of proteins and RNA molecules in plants have been recently identified as non-cell autonomous, phloem-mobile molecules and suggested to play important roles in physiological and developmental processes. Systemic movement of both protein-coding mRNAs and non-coding small RNAs is shown to correlate with the epigenetic changes brought about across grafting junctions, supporting their potential roles as long-distance signaling molecules. Plants appear to have evolved this unique RNA-based signaling mechanism to control systemic regulation of various responses to environmental stimuli and challenges such as photoperiods, nutrient availabilities, and pathogen attacks. This mechanism may have been exploited by viroids, non-coding RNA pathogens, to spread infection cell to cell and through phloem. A model describing potential molecular mechanisms by which the systemic RNA trafficking occurs will be presented.
The two faces of heterologous immunity: protection or immunopathology

Immunity to previously encountered viruses can alter responses to unrelated pathogens. This phenomenon, which is known as heterologous immunity, has been well established in animal model systems. Heterologous immunity appears to be relatively common and may be beneficial by boosting protective responses. However, heterologous reactivity can also result in severe immunopathology. The key features that define heterologous immune modulation include alterations in the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell compartments and changes in viral dynamics and disease progression. In this review, we discuss recent advances and the current understanding of antiviral immunity in heterologous infections. The difficulties of studying these complex heterologous infections in humans are discussed, with special reference to the variations in HLA haplotypes and uncertainties about individuals' infection history. Despite these limitations, epidemiological analyses in humans and the data from mouse models of coinfection can be applied toward advancing the design of therapeutics and vaccination strategies.
Trajectory tracking for a flexible one-link robot using a nonlinear noncollocated output

We introduce a method that provides a nonlinear noncollocated output for trajectory tracking of a flexible one-link robot. The link is modeled as a finite-order Lagrangian system obtained from truncated modal analysis. This noncollocated output is derived based on viewing a flexible link robot arm as an underactuated mechanical system and then applying an appropriate change of coordinates that transforms the system into a cascade nonlinear system with a minimum-phase zero dynamics. The output is the angle of rotation augmented with the (generalized) saturation of the weighted amplitudes of the deflection modes of the flexible link.
Influence of Nest Hole Selection on Sex Ratio and Progeny Size in Osmia lignaria propinqua (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

The effect on sex ratio and size of progeny produced was examined for a greenhouse population of the gregarious bee Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson under conditions of unlimited nest holes of four diameters. Significantly more female progeny (the larger sex) were produced in wide-diameter holes than in narrow-diameter holes. Progeny of both sexes were significantly larger in wider holes than in narrow holes. A significant interaction of sex and straw diameter suggests that females increased in size more than males with increasing hole diameter. Females made little selection based on hole diameter with two exceptions: few nests were made in the narrowest hole diameter (5 mm); and there was a minor, but statistically significant tendency for larger bees to make a greater proportion of their nests in the widest hole sizes (7 and 8 mm), but this trend accounted for only 17% of the variance. Possible reasons for the lack of specialization by females are discussed. Workers who want to use this bee as a commercial pollinator should provide them with nesting holes of 7 and 8 mm diameter.
Optimal Exit From A Deteriorating Project With Noisy Returns

We consider the problem of determining when to exit an investment whose cumulative return follows a Brownian motion with drift m and volatility σ2. After an unobserved exponential amount of time, the drift drops from mH > 0 to mL < 0. Using results from stochastic differential equations, we are able to show that it is optimal to exit the first time the posterior probability of being in the low state falls to p*, where the value of p* is given implicitly. We effect a complete comparative statics analysis; one surprising result is that a decrease in mL is beneficial when |mL| is large.
Conifer expansion reduces the competitive ability and herbivore defense of aspen by modifying light environment and soil chemistry

Disturbance patterns strongly influence plant community structure. What remains less clear, particularly at a mechanistic level, is how changes in disturbance cycles alter successional outcomes in plant communities. There is evidence that fire suppression is resulting in longer fire return intervals in subalpine forests and that these lengthened intervals increase competitive interactions between aspen and conifer species. We conducted a field and greenhouse study to compare photosynthesis, growth and defense responses of quaking aspen and subalpine fir regeneration under light reductions and shifts in soil chemistry that occur as conifers increase in dominance. The studies demonstrated that aspen regeneration was substantially more sensitive to light and soil resource limitations than that of subalpine fir. For aspen, light reductions and/or shifts in soil chemistry limited height growth, biomass gain, photosynthesis and the production of defense compounds (phenolic glycosides and condensed tannins). Biomass gain and phenolic glycoside concentrations were co-limited by light reduction and changes in soil chemistry. In contrast, subalpine fir seedlings tended to be more tolerant of low light conditions and showed no sensitivity to changes in soil chemistry. Unlike aspen, subalpine fir increased its root to shoot ratio on conifer soils, which may partially explain its maintenance of growth and defense. The results suggest that increasing dominance of conifers in subalpine forests alters light conditions and soil chemistry in a way that places greater physiological and growth constraints on aspen than subalpine fir, with a likely outcome being more successful recruitment of conifers and losses in aspen cover.
Mesoscale Air Motions Associated with a Tropical Squall Line

Abstract Composites of radar and wind observations in a coordinate system attached to a moving tropical squall line confirm that such a squall system is composed of two separate circulation features: a convective squall-line region and a stratiform anvil region. The squall-line region is characterized by mesoscale boundary-layer convergence, which feeds deep convective updrafts, and mid-to-upper-level divergence associated with outflow from the cells. The anvil region is characterized by mid-level convergence, which feeds both a mesoscale downdraft below the anvil and a mesoscale updraft within the anvil cloud. Before this study, the mesoscale updraft in the anvil cloud of the tropical squall system had been somewhat speculative, and both the anvil updraft and downdraft had been inferred only qualitatively. The occurrence of the anvil updraft is now proven and quantitative profiles of the mesoscale anvil updraft and downdraft have been obtained.
Characterizing Algebraic Invariants by Differential Radical Invariants

We prove that any invariant algebraic set of a given polynomial vector field can be algebraically represented by one polynomial and a finite set of its successive Lie derivatives. This so-called differential radical characterization relies on a sound abstraction of the reachable set of solutions by the smallest variety that contains it. The characterization leads to a differential radical invariant proof rule that is sound and complete, which implies that invariance of algebraic equations over real-closed fields is decidable. Furthermore, the problem of generating invariant varieties is shown to be as hard as minimizing the rank of a symbolic matrix, and is therefore NP-hard. We investigate symbolic linear algebra tools based on Gaussian elimination to efficiently automate the generation. The approach can, e.g., generate nontrivial algebraic invariant equations capturing the airplane behavior during take-off or landing in longitudinal motion.
Comparative analysis of clinical profile: Chronic cough vs paradoxical vocal fold motion

Background Ongoing contention surrounding typical demographic and clinical attributes of chronic cough (CC) and paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) impedes timely diagnosis and optimum patient care. Designed to reduce preventable patient morbidity through improved recognition and differentiation, the current study aimed to determine representative clinical profiles for CC and PVFM, with identification of distinctive attributes from the general population and risk factors associated with each diagnosis.
Experimental Investigation and Modeling of the Performance of Pure and Mixed Surfactant Inhibitors: Partitioning and Distribution in Water-Oil Environments

A critical model of water-oil surfactant distribution has been developed and validated for the evaluation of mixed surfactant partitioning and distribution in water-oil environments. The surfactant distribution model, which is a combination of surfactant partitioning sub-model, partitioning coefficient calculation method, and a developed critical micelle concentration (cmc) prediction sub-model based on previous work, provides a very powerful tool to evaluate the partitioning of mixed surfactants in water-oil environments. Different methods to calculate partitioning coefficients are introduced, which includes transfer free energy method and group contribution method. The partitioning data from model prediction and from experiment agree very well. The mixed micelles start to form in water-oil environments only after the apparent cmc is reached during partitioning. The selective partitioning of one particular surfactant in mixed surfactants can be explained by its apparent cmc which is interpreted as one characteristic of the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of that surfactant in water-oil environments. It is believed that the partitioning and distribution of non-homologous mixed surfactants in oil-water environments are evaluated theoretically and experimentally for the first time. The effect of partitioning on corrosion inhibition of mixed surfactants was initially evaluated by modified Langmuir adsorption and by electrochemical measurements. The corrosion inhibition efficiency from model prediction and from experimental measurements is comparable. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any
Abstract PR09: A systems biology approach to elucidate novel drug targets in KRAS mutant tumors

Mutations of RAS GTPase family oncogenes affect more than 20% of human cancers. Of the three major RAS isoforms (HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS), KRAS is the most frequently mutated, affecting 57% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas, 33% of colorectal cancers, 17% of lung adenocarcinomas, and many other tumor subtypes. Most RAS mutations abrogate its GTPase activity, thus activating aberrant downstream signals associated with worst prognosis and tumor resistance to both chemotoxic and targeted therapy. Therapies against RAS have failed, in part, because of our limited understanding of RAS-mediated signal transduction pathways. Therefore, we hypothesize that the systematic and complete dissection of RAS relevant regulatory interactions can help elucidate druggable mechanisms to abrogate its aberrant activity or elicit synthetic lethality in RAS mutated tumors. Here, we have employed computational systems biology approaches to begin to dissect KRAS regulatory pathways. Specifically, we reverse-engineered a cell context specific KRAS regulatory network from TCGA transcriptome-wide expression data. The KRAS regulatory network was used to predict KRAS activation levels across all colon and lung adenocarcinoma samples available in TCGA in order to generate a patient-by-patient estimate of KRAS activity. Genome-wide somatic mutations and copy-number variations were then tested for significant association with the predicted KRAS activity. Consistent with known KRAS biology, samples harboring KRAS or BRAF activating mutations were significantly associated with increased KRAS activity. However, we also observed that mutations in the DEAD box helicase DDX6 and the Glycolipid Transfer-domain protein GLTPD2 to be significantly associated, suggesting that these proteins may be involved in KRAS pathways. We dissected the effects of KRAS mutations on the activity of all transcription factors, identifying those more closely activated or repressed in a KRAS-specific context. KRAS is activated by its own mutations, along with known KRAS interactors, such as SOS1 and RAPGEF6. Interestingly, we found that these activating KRAS mutations significantly correlate with increased activities of the Rho-associated kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2. Moreover, the protein-protein interaction database PrePPI predicts KRAS to homodimerize, and surprisingly, to interact with ROCK1/2 through a new PPI interface. We are currently confirming these results through biochemical and biophysical analyses. This abstract is also presented as Poster B34. Citation Format: David A. Wah, Federico M. Giorgi, Donald Petrey, Mariano J. Alvarez, Tonya Silkov, Josh Broyde, Gabrielle E. Rieckhof, Barry Honig, Andrea Califano. A systems biology approach to elucidate novel drug targets in KRAS mutant tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR09. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-PR09
Do rhythms exist in elbow flexor torque, oral temperature and muscle thickness during normal waking hours?

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of “time” on isometric elbow flexion torque, body temperature and muscle size without interrupting the sleep wake cycle in college aged males. Two hours following the participants normal wake time, oral temperature was measured, followed by muscle thickness of the upper and lower body using ultrasound, as well as elbow flexor torque via a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Measurements were repeated every 2 h for 12 h (Time points 1–7). To examine the repeatability of the rhythm, participants returned and completed the same procedures as before within 14 days of their first circadian visit (Circadian visit 2). There was no time × day interaction for body temperature (p = 0.29), nor were there main effects for time (p = 0.15) or day (p = 0.74). For MVC, there was no time × day interaction (p = 0.93) or main effect for day (p = 0.50), however, there was a main effect for time (p = 0.01). MVC at time points 1 (86.4 ± 6.4 Nm) and 2 (87.1 ± 6.2 Nm) was greater than time points 4 (84.2 ± 6.6 Nm) and 6 (83.4 ± 6.8 Nm, p 0.05), however, there were some individual rhythms noted for muscle thickness and strength. Results suggest that, when accounting for an individuals normal wake time, circadian rhythms of strength, temperature and muscle thickness are not apparent in most individuals.
Glucose and amino acid metabolism in chronic renal failure: effect of insulin and amino acids.

The effects of hyperinsulinemia and hyperaminoacidemia on glucose and amino acid metabolism were examined in 16 control and 13 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients under two conditions: 1) euglycem...
Study on Immunogenicity of HIV-1 gag/ IFNα-2b Expression Product

[Objective]To construct the expression plasmid of HIV-l gag and IFNα-2b fusion gene,observe the effect of co-expression of it and vaccinia virus,and study its significance. [Methods]By using gene recombination technique,IFNα-2b gene fragment was inserted into nt 531 site of gag gene,and the recombinant virus was selected by liposome transfection and screening of hemagglutinin negative plaque.The expression product was examined by immunofluorescence,Western blot and Dot ELISA. [Results]The indirect immunofluorescence assay showed that there was green fluorescence in the surface of cell with recombinant plasmid.The results of Western blot and Dot ELISA showed that there was gag/IFNα-2b protein in lysates of cell with recombinant plasmid. [Conclusion]The recombinant eukaryotic cells expression plasmid is successfully constructed,and expression protein has good immunogenicity and immune reactivity.
Ashkenazic Talmudic Interpretation and The Jewish–Christian Encounter

This study looks anew at the interactions and possible influences between the monastic and cathedral school masters in Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and the leading contemporary scholars of the Talmud in northern France and Germany known as the Tosafists. By focusing on significant commonalities in interpretational methods and institutional structures, as well as on the formulations of various critics, the contours of these interactions can be more precisely charted and assessed.
Some axiomatic limitations for consensus and supertree functions on hierarchies

Consensus trees and supertrees are regularly used in systematic biology in order to obtain a summary for the common agreement of the evolutionary relationships among a collection of phylogenetic trees (hierarchies). When every tree is defined on the same set of taxa then consensus functions are used, while if the trees are defined on different sets then supertree functions are used. For both of these situations we will consider some of the limitations that might arise from the placing of singularly reasonable and apparently innocuous conditions on the functions. Previous work is reviewed together with new material. In particular, we consider the impact of axioms requiring that the removal or addition of a tree that contains no, or no new, branching information should not affect the outcome.
Growth of InAs quantum dots on vicinal GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Previous work shows the benefits of using vicinal substrates but there is currently a gap in the experimental studies of the effects under different MBE growth conditions. To fully realize controllable growth while using a vicinal substrate, we systematically explore and discuss the mechanism behind the dependence of the optical characteristics of MBE grown InAs QD ensembles with different growth parameters on a vicinal substrate. In addition, the potential improvement in optical quality with a vicinal substrate over an on-axis is demonstrated and an investigation into applying a two-step growth procedure on a vicinal substrate is conducted. Photoluminescence of the grown QD ensembles shows that increasing V/III ratio increased wavelength and decreased FWHM. Decreasing substrate temperature increased wavelength and FWHM. Utilizing the two-step growth method increased both wavelength and FWHM with increased interruption time.