cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis of large aerosol particles of different shapes

Abstract The thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis of nonspherical aerosol particles is examined. The representative particle shapes studied are cylinders and oblate and prolate spheroids. Phoretic velocities are derived for these particles of different shapes for the case of large particles in the slip regime of flow. Results indicate that diffusiophoresis is independent of particle shape in contrast to thermophoresis which varies substantially with particles of different shapes. The thermophoresis of nonspherical particles also depends on its orientation with the thermal gradient.
Depositional architecture of a maar-pitted playa: sedimentation in the Hopi Buttes volcanic field, northeastern Arizona, U.S.A.

Abstract Primary and reworked tephra in the Mio-Pliocene Bidahochi Formation of northeastern Arizona was produced by, and partly preserved in, maar volcanoes and related hydrovolcanic structures. The temporal and geometric relationships among lithofacies of the Bidahochi Formation illustrate the dynamic interplay between volcanism and sedimentation in an essentially “closed” sedimentary system. Maar volcanism in the low-relief, basinal, environments of the Bidahochi appears to have resulted in little net aggradation, both because the total amount of magma erupted was relatively modest, and because the large maar volcano craters produced areas of lowered base level within the basin that formed sediment “sinks” for much of the newly erupted tephra. The volcanically “eroded” maar craters commonly contain deposits of lakes, multiple stream channels, and eolian dunes. They formed an integral part of the basin's overall depositional environment and affected sedimentation in the playa lake stream systems beyond the vents, both during and following the major eruptive period.
Limiting distribution of roots with differential rates of convergence

Abstract Some general results on the limiting distribution of the roots of | A (n) − λ B (n)| = 0 are given, incorporating differential rates of convergence of A (n) , B (n) , and the roots. The results are applied to the multivariate covariance component problem.
Capacitance method to determine the microbiological quality of raw shrimp (Penaeus setiferus)

Abstract The Bactometer monitoring system was used to determine the correlation between capacitance detection times and mesophilic and psychrotrophic plate counts of raw shrimp. Current methodologies to determine shrimp quality have problems with real-time analysis, which necessitates the need for development of more rapid, accurate, and “user-friendly” methods. Fresh raw shrimp were subjected to simulated retail display conditions at 5°C. The shrimp were sampled daily for one week for aerobic (APC) and psychrotrophic (PPC) plate counts and for Bactometer capacitance detection times. Capacitance detection times were highly correlated with APC (linear regression R =−0.91; polynomial regression R =−0.95) and PPC (linear regression R =−0.89; polynomial regression R =−0.95). This study suggests that capacitance detection times can be used as a rapid alternative method to measure shrimp microbial counts.
Local public goods, property values, and local public choice

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between the benefits and costs of local public good provision and local property values within the context of the Koopmans-Beckmann-Gale location-assignment model. Property values do not in general measure accurately the marginal net benefits of local public goods; special conditions sufficient for property values to measure or bound the marginal net benefits are stated, however. In addition, it is shown that under certain circumstances, households vote for property-value-enhancing levels of local expenditures. Under these conditions, a political equilibrium produces a Lindahl solution to the local public good problem.
Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

This panel is discussing research conducted as part of the Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Consortium with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. The panel has two researchers conducting low back research and two researchers performing upper extremity research. The goal of the panel is to inform the audience about the consortium and some of the state of the art research that is being conducted.
Single Active Switch Power Electronics for Kilowatt Scale Capacitive Power Transfer

The development of capacitive power transfer (CPT) as a competitive wireless/contactless power transfer solution over short distances is proving viable in both consumer and industrial electronic products/systems. The CPT is usually applied in low-power applications, due to small coupling capacitance. Recent research has increased the coupling capacitance from the pF to the nF scale, enabling extension of CPT to kilowatt power level applications. This paper addresses the need of efficient power electronics suitable for CPT at higher power levels, while remaining cost effective. Therefore, to reduce the cost and losses single-switch–single-diode topologies are investigated. Four single active switch CPT topologies based on the canonical Cuk, SEPIC, Zeta, and Buck-boost converters are proposed and investigated. Performance tradeoffs within the context of a CPT system are presented and corroborated with experimental results. A prototype single active switch converter demonstrates 1-kW power transfer at a frequency of 200 kHz with >90% efficiency.
384 Pilot study of taxotere in taxol-resistance metastatic breast cancer (TRMBC)

Ten patients (pts) with MBC who had primary/secondary resistance to Taxol (135−250 mg/m 2 over 3−24 hours) were treated with Taxotere 100 mg/m 2 every 21 days. Pts characteristics (10) Med age, 47 yrs (37–61); med Zubrod PS, 1 (0−2); med # sites 3 (2−5); disease sites: liver 9/10, bone 4/10, soft tissue/LN 7/10; med # of prior CT was 2 (1−3); 9/10 had prior anthracycline therapy. Results 10 pts were evaluable for response. Responses: 1 MR, 4 NC and 4 PD. Toxicity To date, 10 pts received 30 cycles. Hematological Med nadir granulocytes (×10 3 )/dl: 0.3, med nadir platelet count (× 10 3 )/dl: 236,000. 4 pts had 8 cycles complicated with neutropenic fever. Other toxicity (grade 2 or greater) by # pts f# cycles) stomatitis 3 (5), diarrhea 4 (5), fatigue 8 (14), myalgias 7 (12), skin 5 (9), paresthesias 7 (13). Conclusion The preliminary data of this ongoing trial showed that Taxotere has activity in TRMBC.
Misogyny and rule in Measure for Measure

(1981). Misogyny and rule in Measure for Measure. Women's Studies: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 83-91.
Constant time algorithm for computing the Hough transform on a reconfigurable mesh

A constant time algorithm is given for the reconfigurable mesh which uses an O(p log2N × Np) reconfigurable mesh to compute the Hough transform of N edge pixels and p angles. This algorithm is the first constant time Hough transform algorithm for a 2D reconfigurable mesh.
Cervical screening test results associated with 265 histopathologic diagnoses of cervical glandular neoplasia.

Objectives: To document screening test histories of women with histopathologic cervical glandular neoplasia (CGN) in a large integrated health system using new methods of cervical screening. Methods: Cervical screening test results were reviewed for 265 patients with histopathologic diagnoses of CGN, including 168 adenocarcinoma in situ, 80 invasive cervical adenocarcinoma, and 17 invasive cervical adenosquamous carcinoma cases. Results: Among 222 cases with known triggers of diagnostic studies, 211 (95%) had recent abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) test results. Glandular cell abnormalities were the most common recent abnormal Pap test finding in 130 (61.6%) of 211; squamous cell abnormalities alone were documented in 81 (38.4%) of 211, reflecting coexisting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in 60% of CGN cases. Among 114 CGN cases with additional Pap tests more than 4 months to 3 years before CGN diagnosis, 70 (61.4%) had only earlier negative Pap test results. Among 72 CGN cases with recent human papillomavirus (HPV) test results, 70 (97.2%) tested HPV positive. Among 29 CGN cases with HPV test results more than 4 months to 3 years before CGN diagnosis, 25 (86.2%) tested HPV positive. Conclusions: Conservative cytologic screening practices and HPV cotesting can facilitate early diagnoses of CGN.
Error analysis in conjugate direction methods

Error propagation in conjugate direction methods is analyzed. Step size errors at any given iteration are propagated without change. Errors in search direction behave differently. Consider a series of n iterations and assume an error occurs in one search direction, dk. Then, the nth search direction dn, will have k components which deviate from the correct direction dn*.
Bioassay of rat metrial gland extracts for relaxin using the mouse interpubic ligament technique.

Extracts of rat metrial gland tissue were assayed for relaxin using the mouse interpubic ligament technique. Relaxin preparations from pregnant rat and sow ovaries as well as Warner-Lambert Reference Relaxin served as controls. Dose-response analysis revealed that the metrial gland apparently is not a significant source of bioactive relaxin in the pregnant rat. Sow ovary extracts prepared in this laboratory had a dose responsecurve similar to that of Warner-Lambert Reference Relaxin. The dose-response of rat ovary preparations was significantly different from that of the sow ovary. The results are discussed in relation to the primary source of relaxin in the pregnant rat. (Endocrinology 94: 567, 1974)
On the biosynthesis and optical activity of the flinderoles

Abstract A proposed biosynthesis of the flinderoles described herein would produce racemic compounds through nonenzymatic dimerization of borrerine. However, an initial report of optical activity for natural flinderoles is inconsistent with that hypothesis as well as the racemic production of similar natural products. Herein, pure enantiomers of flinderole B were obtained and the specific rotations thereof were found to be significantly different from those in the original report, which were taken at low concentrations. These new data remove the inconsistency arising from the original data.
Breakdown and ignition limits in LaB6 hollow cathode discharges

Summary form only given. Conventional BaO hollow cathodes used for satellite electric propulsion suffer from two major failure modes: emitter poisoning and heater failure. Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6 ) hollow cathodes are two orders of magnitude less sensitive to emitter poisoning, but require higher operating temperatures to attain similar emission current densities. As a result, higher heater currents are required to start a self-sustaining discharge, leading to thermal degradation of the heater insulation. Heaterless designs exist for BaO hollow cathodes, but not for LaB6. As a first step toward development of a heaterless LaB6 hollow cathode, we present results from a series of breakdown and ignition experiments with a LaB 6 hollow cathode. This Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) cathode design can maintain a self sustaining discharge at currents above 6 A. Disappearing wire pyrometry permits measurement of the pre-ignition LaB6 insert temperature as a function of the heater filament current and voltage. We plot breakdown voltage and discharge current growth (or decay) rates as a function of heater power and xenon mass flow rate. Heaterless breakdown voltage measurements as a function of xenon mass flow rate provide Paschen curves for the MAI electrode configuration. These results permit initial modeling of the insert thermal balance and the cathode breakdown characteristics, permitting semi-empirical design of a followon prototype heaterless LaB 6 cathode
Isotopic and chemical constraints on the petrogenesis of Blackburn Hills volcanic field, western Alaska

Abstract The Blackburn Hills volcanic field is one of several Late Cretaceous and early Tertiary (75–50 Ma) volcanic fields in western Alaska that comprise a vast magmatic province extending from the Arctic Circle to Bristol Bay. It consists of andesite flows, rhyolite domes, a central granodiorite to quartz monzonite pluton, and small intrusive rhyolite porphyries, overlain by basalt and alkali-rhyolites. Most of the field consists of andesite flows which can be divided into two groups on the basis of elemental and isotopic composition: a group having lower ( 87 Sr 86 Sr )i, higher ( 143 Nd 144 Nd )i, and moderate LREE and HREE contents (group 1), and a group having higher ( 87 Sr 86 Sr )i, lower ( 143 Sr 144 Sr )i, and lower HREE contents. Basalts are restricted to the top of the stratigraphic section, comprise the most primitive part of group 1 [( 87 Sr 86 Sr ) i = 0.7033; ( 143 Nd 144 Nd ) i = 0.5129] , and have trace-element ratios that are similar to those of oceanic island basalts (OIBs). In contrast to the basalts, group 1 andesites have higher ( 87 Sr 86 Sr )i and lower ( 143 Nd 144 Nd )i, and represent interaction of mantle-derived magmas with the lower crust of Koyukuk terrane. Group 2 andesites have ( 87 Sr 86 Sr )i and ( 143 Nd 144 Nd )i that are near bulk-earth values and probably formed by partial melting of the lower crust of Koyukuk terrane. The central pluton and rhyolite porphyries are isotopically uniform ( 87 Sr 86 Sr ) i ≈ 0.704, ( 143 Nd 144 Nd )i ≈ 0.51275, and are interpreted to have formed by melting of young mafic to intermediate crustal rocks or by fractionation of group 1 andesites. The rhyolite domes have an isotopic range similar to that of the basalts and andesites [( 87 Sr 86 Sr ) i = 0.70355-0.70499; ( 143 Nd 144 Nd ) i = 0.51263–0.51292] , which suggests they formed by fractionation of the and site and basalt magmas. Although some workers have suggested that the volcanic field is underlain by old continental crust, none of the data require the presence of Paleozoic or Precambrian continental middle or upper crust under this part of the volcanic field. However, the ultimate source of some of the rocks in the Yukon-Koyukuk province that have high 87 Sr 86 Sr and low 143 Nd 144 Nd ratios may be old sub-continental mantle and/or lower crust, which was previously subducted beneath the Yukon-Koyukuk province during Early Cretaceous arc-continent collision.
Deposition of H15NO3 vapour to white oak, red maple and loblolly pine foliage : experimental observations and a generalized model

Nitric acid vapour enriched with {sup 15}N (H{sup 15}NO{sub 3}) was volatilized into the cuvette of an open-flow gas exchange system containing red maple (Acer rubrum L.), white oak (Quercus alba L.), or loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedling shoots to facilitate direct measurements of total foliar deposition, and subsequent assessments of the rate of HNO{sub 3} movement across the cuticle (transcuticular uptake). Total H{sup 15}NO{sub 3} vapour deposition to foliar surfaces ranged from <5 to 27 nmol m{sup -2} s{sup -1} the variability being largely accounted for by differences in HNO{sub 3} concentrations and leaf conductance. Mean whole-leaf conductance to HNO{sub 3} ranged between 0.9 and 3.4 mm s{sup -1} for hardwoods and between 6 and 34 mm s{sup -1} for loblolly pine. Of the total H{sup 15}NO{sub 3} vapour deposited to leaves, an average of 39 to 48% was immediately 'bound' into hardwood foliage whereas only 3% was bound to loblolly pine needles. This implies that rain events might extract greater amounts of HNO{sub 3}-derived nitrate in throughfall from conifer canopies as compared to hardwood canopies. Post-exposure H{sup 15}NO{sub 3} uptake rates across the leaf cuticle increased with surface nitrate concentrations, but were 1 to 2 orders ofmore » magnitude lower (O06 to 0.24 nmol m{sup -2} s{sup -1}) than total HNO{sub 3}, deposition during exposures. A generalized leaf-level model of HNO{sub 3} deposition to foliage capable of simulating deposition pathways to sorption sites on the leaf surface, and to the metabolically active leaf interior via transcuticular or stomatal pathways is formulated and suggested for use in planning future work on HNO{sub 3} deposition.« less
An Overview of US EPA’s Current Radioactive Waste Management and General Radiation Protection Efforts

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Radiation Protection Division is the portion of EPA (or the Agency) that develops environmental standards for radioactive waste disposal in the United States. One current issue of concern is the disposal of low activity radioactive waste (LAW), including wastes that would be produced by a radiological dispersal device (RDD), for which current disposal options may be either inconsistent with the hazard presented by the material or logistically problematic. Another major issue is related to the resurgence in uranium mining. Over the past several years, demand for uranium for nuclear power plant fuel has increased as has the price. The increase in price has made uranium mining potentially profitable in the US. EPA is reviewing its relevant regulations, developed primarily in the 1980s, for potential revisions. For example, in-situ leaching (also known as in-situ recovery) is now the technology of choice where applicable, yet our current environmental standards are focused on conventional uranium milling. EPA has two actions in process, one related to the Clean Air Act, the other related to revising the environmental standards that implement the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA). Separately, but related, EPA has developed over the last several years uranium mining documents that address technologically enhanced natural occurring radioactive materials (TENORM) from abandoned uranium mines, and wastes generated by active uranium extraction facilities. Lastly, in 1977 EPA developed environmental standards that address nuclear energy, fuel fabrication, reprocessing, and other aspects of the uranium fuel cycle. In light of the increased interest in nuclear power and the potential implementation of advanced fuel cycle technologies, the Agency is now reviewing the standards to determine their continued applicability for the twenty-first century.
STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN GONADOTROPINS. III. COMPARISON WITH SHEEP FOLLICLESTIMULATING HORMONE

The essential biologic nature of human pituitary gonadotropin as found in urine (HPG) was further investigated by comparison with sheep folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) by means of assays employing the simultaneous response of the uterus and ovajy. The parameters of these assays showed that the ovarian response to HPG was three times that to FSH, and the uterine response to HPG was two and a half times that to FSH. The dose ratios showed that HPG was twice as effective as FSH in inducing secretion of estrogen. The ovarian response to both FSH and HPG was a linear function of the log of the dose; the uterine response to HPG also was a linear function of the log of the dose but the response to FSH was not. Tt was concluded that HPG is not identical with FSH and that the widespread use in clinical literature of the term “urinary FSH” for an assay of HPG is incorrect.
Parameter reduction for variability analysis by slice inverse regression method

With semiconductor fabrication technologies that have scaled below 100 nm, the design-manufacturing interface becomes more and more complicated. The resultant process variability causes a number of issues in the new generation integrated circuit (IC) design. One of the biggest challenges is the enormous number of process-variation-related parameters. These parameters represent numerous local and global variations and pose a heavy burden in today's chip verification and design processes. A new way of reducing the statistical variations (which include both process parameters and design variables) according to their impacts on the overall circuit performance is proposed. The new approach creates an effective reduction subspace and provides a transformation matrix by using the mean and variance of the response surface. With the generated transformation matrix, the proposed method maps the original statistical variations to a smaller set of variables with which variability analysis is processed. Thus, the computational cost because of the number of variations is greatly reduced. Experimental results show that by using the new method, 20%-50% parameter reduction with only <5% error on average can be achieved.
From trans-polyacetylene to zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons

Abstract A zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR) can be indexed by a width, N , which is the number of parallel trans-polyacetylene-like chains comprising the ribbon. Although ZGNRs with N = 4 or greater have been found to have an antiferromagnetic ground state and a ferromagnetic metastable state, how the ribbon makes the transition from N = 1 (namely, trans-polyacetylene – a one-dimensional, nonmagnetic semiconductor) to the wider ones is unclear. Using hybrid density functional theory, we show that N = 2 (polyacene) can be considered the narrowest ZGNR with an antiferromagnetic insulating ground state and a metastable, metallic ferromagnetic state.
The evolution of bankruptcy stigma

Historically, individuals who file for bankruptcy protection have been viewed harshly by society. The negative perception of bankrupts was manifested in the punitive measures employed against bankruptcy petitioners, in the degrading public rituals directed at them, and in the contemptuous discourse used by officials to refer to the bankrupts. This traditional negative image of bankrupts was shared in colonial America, and vigorously continued throughout the Victorian era and into the 20th century. By the 1960s, a number of critics began to voice their concerns about the dramatic rise in consumer bankruptcy filings in the United States. The critics have mostly attributed the increase in filings to an alleged decline both in morals and in the shame associated with bankruptcy. Charges of the fading stigma of bankruptcy have recently intensified. A number of recent studies have attempted to corroborate assertions of the declining stigma of bankruptcy through the use of indirect variables as proxies. These attempts to measure bankruptcy stigma have been roundly criticized. The disapproval centers mainly on the studies’ failure to directly measure changes in public perception of bankruptcy. This study attempts to measure the evolution of stigma in bankruptcy by addressing the methodological concerns attributed to previous empirical studies on this subject. Rather than measuring bankruptcy stigma through the examination of indirect bankruptcy stigma proxies or through the questioning of former petitioners, this study measures evolving public perceptions about bankruptcy by examining the expressed sentiments of the general public. To ascertain whether the negative image of bankrupts has eroded in the United States over the past century and a half, 171 newspaper articles published between 1864 and 2002 about personal bankruptcy were examined for content. Examination of the content of personal bankruptcy related newspaper articles provides valuable information about the evolution of public perceptions of bankrupts during that period. This study detected a noticeable shift, beginning in the 1960s, in public attitudes towards individuals filing for personal bankruptcy. However, it did not find that the changing public perception necessarily prompted an increase in the bankruptcy filings.
Releasing the nerve cell killers

α-synuclein promotes apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons – those most affected in Parkinson disease. New research suggests that in these neurons, α-synuclein may sequester the 14-3-3 protein, freeing up proteins that promote cell death. ( pages 600–606 )
Large Angle Scattering and the Interchange Force

A composite model of hadrons is used to discuss high-energy, large-angle scattering for elastic and quasielastic reactions. Arguments are given that constituent interchange should be the dominant interaction at large angles (both $|t|$, $|u|\ensuremath{\gg}{m}^{2}$), rather than gluon exchange. Using the asymptotic behavior of the electromagnetic form factors of the hadrons, predictions are made for the energy and angular dependence of a large number of processes. Detailed numerical comparisons with experiment are given for several reactions. A general discussion of the qualitative behavior of large-angle quasi-two-body processes is given. It is shown that data in this region can determine the quantum numbers and wave functions of the constituents.
Towards securing network management agent distribution and communication

Network management applications using distributed software agents require secure techniques for agent distribution and communication. Although there are several popular mobile agent environments written in the Java programming language that contend to offer these functions, these packages are generally heavyweight and do not provide a framework for authenticating agent responsibilities within agent systems. This paper describes an agent distribution and communication framework for Java-based software agents. The framework has several key features: (1) a secure mechanism for dispatching agents to selected nodes from secured agent repositories; (2) an operating environment for each agent that depends upon its role-based authenticated security level; (3) object-based, peer-to-peer and peer-to-many communication; (4) provision for encrypted communication; (5) a low-overhead distributed naming directory of agents populating the network; (6) proactive agent monitoring for secure operations; (7) tools for reflective monitoring of agent contents and communication; (8) a lightweight environment that is easy to use while keeping the agents small in size.
Concordance between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV diagnoses of substance use disorders in adolescents

Abstract Except for cannabis and alcohol, concordance between DSM-III-R and DSM-IV substance use disorder diagnoses has not been reported in adolescents. We assessed a clinical sample of 102 adolescents using CIDI-SAM. Prevalence of either an abuse or dependence diagnosis was lower with DSM-IV than DSM-III-R except for cannabis and alcohol, and concordance rates were better for dependence than for abuse. For most substances, rates of DSM-IV withdrawal were lower than in DSM-III-R, but rates of DSM-IV physiological dependence remained high. Changes in DSM-IV criteria appear to have impacted diagnoses in these adolescents, particularly for the substances they use most — i.e. alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.
A simple lower bound for reliability of k-out-of-n:G systems

Application of Boole's inequality results in a simple lower bound for system reliability in terms of reliabilities of subsystems for a k-out-of-n:G system. No assumptions regarding statistical dependence or independence of the outcomes (success or failure) for the subsystems are used. The no assumption lower bound for pure series or parallel systems has been previously published, but the more general case of the title has been overlooked. On the other hand, using the assumption of association of the outcomes, the lower bound in this paper can be improved upon slightly as shown in Barlow and Proschan (1981). >
Geometry and the quest for theoretical generality

This paper reconsiders scale-theoretical ideas from the standpoint of voice leading. I begin by showing that Clough and Douthett's definition of ‘maximal evenness’ makes covert reference to voice-leading distances, albeit disguised by the form of their equations. I then argue that theirs is a special case of the broader problem of quantizing continuous chords to a scale, deriving some new results in this more general setting – including an analogue of the ‘cardinality equals variety’ property. In the second part of the paper, I show how Clough and Douthett's ‘J-function’ began as a device for generating maximally even collections, only later evolving into a tool for studying the voice leadings between them. Particularly important here are Julian Hook's ‘signature transformations’, which I generalize to a wider range of collections. I conclude with a few remarks about history and methodology in music theory.
Gaze nystagmus and blood alcohol.

Forty-six patients in an emergency room (ER) setting and 159 people suspected of driving while intoxicated (DWI) had their blood alcohol concentrations estimated by the angle of onset of horizontal gaze nystagmus and confirmed by blood alcohol analysis or breath-alcohol analysis (BAA) tests. In the ER group, 25/26 (96%) of legally intoxicated patients (blood alcohol concentration greater than or equal to .10% w/v) had an estimation consistent with intoxication. There were no cases in which the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was incorrectly estimated to be greater than .10% w/v in the absence of other drugs. In DWI suspects there was a correlation of .878 between estimated BAC and BAA results. Three subjects were incorrectly classified as intoxicated. No subjects with estimated BAC less than .10% w/v were legally intoxicated by BAA testing. Alcohol gaze nystagmus is presented as an effective tool for estimating the BAC in pure alcoholic intoxication.
Novel roles of intracrine angiotensin II and signalling mechanisms in kidney cells

Angiotensin II (Ang II) has powerful sodium-retaining, growth-promoting and pro- inflammatory properties in addition to its physiological role in maintaining body salt and fluid balance and blood pressure homeostasis. Increased circulating and local tissue Ang II is one of the most important factors contributing to the development of sodium and fluid retention, hypertension and target organ damage. The importance of Ang II in the pathogenesis of hypertension and target organ injury is best demonstrated by the effectiveness of angiotensin- converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and AT1-receptor antagonists in treating hypertension and progressive renal disease including diabetic nephropathy. The detrimental effects of Ang II are mediated primarily by the AT1-receptor, while the AT2-receptor may oppose the AT1-receptor. The classical view of the AT1-receptor-mediated effects of Ang II is that the agonist binds its receptors at the cell surface, and following receptor phosphorylation, activates downstream signal transduction pathways and intracellular responses. However, evidence is emerging that binding of Ang II to its cell surface AT1-receptors also activates endocytotic (or internalisation) processes that promote trafficking of both the effector and the receptor into intracellular compartments. Whether internalised Ang II has important intracrine and signalling actions is not well understood. The purpose of this article is to review recent advances in Ang II research with focus on the mechanisms underlying high levels of intracellular Ang II in proximal tubule cells and the contribution of receptor-mediated endocytosis of extracellular Ang II. Further attention is devoted to the question whether intracellular and/or internalised Ang II plays a physiological role by activating cytoplasmic or nuclear receptors in proximal tubule cells. This information may aid future development of drugs to prevent and treat Ang II-induced target organ injury in cardiovascular and renal diseases by blocking intracellular and/or nuclear actions of Ang II.
Challenging the Spacetime Structuralist

Structural realist interpretations of generally relativistic spacetimes have recently come to enjoy a remarkable degree of popularity among philosophers. I present a challenge to these structuralist interpretations that arises from considering cosmological models in general relativity. As a consequence of their high degree of spacetime symmetry, these models resist a structuralist interpretation. I then evaluate the various strategies available to the structuralist to react to this challenge.
Streaming algorithms for estimating entropy

We give a method for estimating the empirical Shannon entropy of a distribution in the streaming model of computation. Our approach reduces this problem to the well-studied problem of estimating frequency moments. The analysis of our approach is based on new results which establish quantitative bounds on the rate of convergence of Renyi entropy towards Shannon entropy.
Feature extraction and shape classification of 2-D polygons using a neural network

A neural-network architecture for classification of 2-D polygonal objects is developed. The architecture is restricted to simple and viable neural mechanisms, based on those known to exist in biological neural systems. Some low-level parts of the architecture are based on the boundary contour system model of S. Grossbert (1987). The object recognition subsystem exhibits aspects of both structural/relational and decision-theoretic pattern recognition. Two key aspects of the architecture are: (1) the ability to extract and aggregate features in a hierarchical manner, such that a large number of object classes and subclasses can be recognized; and (2) the ability to transition from location-dependent feature information to location-independent feature information, such that rotational-, scale-, and translational-invariant classification is possible. Computer simulation results for one sample object are detailed. >
A Bayesian approach to forecast intermittent demand for seasonal products

This paper investigates the forecasting of a large fluctuating seasonal demand prior to peak sale season using a practical time series, collected from the US Census Bureau. Due to the extreme natural events (e.g. excessive snow fall and calamities), sales may not occur, inventory may not replenish and demand may set off unrecorded during the peak sale season. This characterises a seasonal time series to an intermittent category. A seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA), a multiplicative exponential smoothing (M-ES) and an effective modelling approach using Bayesian computational process are analysed in the context of seasonal and intermittent forecast. Several forecast error indicators and a cost factor are used to compare the models. In cost factor analysis, cost is measured optimally using dynamic programming model under periodic review policy. Experimental results demonstrate that Bayesian model performance is much superior to SARIMA and M-ES models, and efficient to forecast seasonal and intermittent demand.
Metabolic rate is canalized in the face of variable life history and nutritional environment

Summary Despite its central importance in organismal physiology, we have poor understanding of how metabolic rate is influenced by two key factors – food nutritional content and an organism's physiological characteristics. We examined how variation in nutrients and physiological aspects of life history affect standard metabolic rate in Gryllus firmus cricket morphs that differ dramatically in flight capability and early-age fecundity. Newly moulted female morphs were fed one of 13 diets that differed in concentrations of protein and carbohydrate. Carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratios (RERs), nutrient intake and mass and lipid levels were measured. CO2 production and RERs increased to a similar degree in both morphs as food macronutrient content increased. In contrast, no difference in whole-organism O2 consumption was observed across the protein–carbohydrate landscape or between morphs. Both morphs similarly increased food intake as nutrient concentration – particularly protein – decreased, but differed in mass and lipid gains, across the diets. Modulation of the substrate used for respiration coupled with compensating aspects of morph-specific metabolism appears to buffer the effects of variable nutrient intake and life history on standard metabolic rate. That is, respiration rate can be highly canalized in the face of dramatic variation in both the external nutritional environment and internal aspects of intermediary metabolism.
Characterization of a linear filter-based model to extend Optical Cochlear Implant measurements

This paper presents the Optical Cochlear Implant Simulator (OCIS), a linear filter-based model which extends laboratory measurements of optical cochlear implant performance to allow investigation of the design space for these new devices which are an alternative to traditional cochlear implants utilizing electrode arrays. In order to determine the bandpass for each channel of the optical cochlear implant for a specific center frequency, a Monte Carlo simulation is employed to simulate photon absorption by the cochlear tissue. The simulation results matches experimental data obtained previously by Izzo et al for a given point on the cochlea. OCIS employs a variable bandpass for each filter bank element correlating with the location of the center frequency band to the tonotopic map of the cochlea. OCIS synthesizes spectrally reduced speech simulating multi-channel optical cochlear implant output waveforms. Example time domain and spectrogram plots of simulated spectrally reduced speech are included.
Measures of Satisfaction With Consultation-Liaison Services

1. Roberts JL, Ostapchuk M, Miller KH, Ziegler CH: What residents know about health care reform and what we should teach them. J Grad Med Educ 2011; 3:155–161 2. American Medical Association. CPT Changes 2013: An Insider's View. Chicago: American Medical Association; 2013 3. Office of Healthcare Systems. Relative Value Units (RVU) for CPT Codes Most Frequently Used by Psychiatrists. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2013 (Accessed, June 2013). 〈http://www.psychiatry.org/File %20Library/Practice/Managing%20a %20Practice/CPT/2013-RVUs-CodesMost-Freq-Used-by-Psychiatrists.pdf〉 4. Kunkel EJ, Del Busto E, Kathol R, et al: Physician staffing for the practice of psychosomatic medicine in general hospitals: a pilot study. Psychosomatics 2010; 51:520–527 5. Bronheim HE, Fulop G, Kunkel EJ, et al: The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine practice guidelines for psychiatric consultation in the general
Sex allocation in the monoecious herb Begonia semiovata

Sex-allocation models predict that the evolution of self-fertilization should result in a reduced allocation to male function and pollinator attraction in plants. The evolution of sex allocation may be constrained by both functional and genetic factors, however. We studied sex allocation and genetic variation for floral sex ratio and other reproductive traits in a Costa Rica population of the monoecious, highly selfing annual Begonia semiovata. Data on biomass of floral structures, flower sex ratios, and fruit set in the source population were used to calculate the average proportion of reproductive allocation invested in male function. Genetic variation and genetic correlations for floral sex ratio and for floral traits related to male and female function were estimated from the greenhouse-grown progeny of field-collected maternal families. The proportion of reproductive biomass invested in male function was low (0.34 at flowering, and 0.07 for total reproductive allocation). Significant among-family variation was detected in the size (mass) of individual male and female flowers, in the proportion of male flowers produced, and in the proportion of total flower mass invested in male flowers. Significant among-family variation was also found in flower number per inflorescence, petal length of male and female flowers, and petal number of female flowers. Except for female petal length, we found no difference in the mean value of these characters between selfed and outcrossed progeny, indicating that, with the possible exception of female petal length, the among-family variation detected was not the result of variation among families in the level of inbreeding. Significant positive phenotypic and broad-sense genetic correlations were detected between the mass of individual male and female flowers, between male and female petal length, and between number of male and number of female flowers per inflorescence. The ratio of stamen-to-pistil mass (0.33) was low compared to published data for autogamous species with hermaphroditic flowers, suggesting that highly efficient selfing mechanisms may evolve in monoecious species. Our results indicate that the study population harbors substantial genetic variation for reproductive characters. The positive genetic correlation between investment in male and female flowers may reflect selection for maximum pollination efficiency, because in this self-pollinating species, each female flower requires a neighboring male flower to provide pollen.
The inner edge of Saturn's B ring

The sharp, 90-km wide transition from an optical depth of 0.2 in the C ring to 1 in the B ring begins at 91,970 km from Saturn's center. This radius is found to be almost exactly at the inward stability limit of charged particles launched in the ring plane at the local Kepler velocity, provided these particles have large charge to mass ratio. The zonal harmonic models of Saturn's magnetic field from the Voyager data and the gravitational field model from Pioneer data are essential to get the very close agreement between theory and observation. The theoretical stability limits are 91,973 + or - 145 km from Voyager 1 magnetic field data and 91,991 + or 145 km from Voyager 2 magnetic data. The zonal harmonic magnetic field lines are not perpendicular to the ring plane. Therefore, in addition to the magnetic mirror, gravitational, and centrifugal forces, an unknown force must be postulated to produce equilibrium in the ring plane and make the stability calculation meaningful.
Incorporating Electronics in the Architecture Track of Computer Science, a Comparative Study

The latest draft report of the ACM/IEEE Joint Task Force on computer science makes several recommendations 1 . Of these, for computer architecture: a) a shift towards more use of Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), and b) more emphasis on the study of power constraints. While the shift towards use of PLDs requires minimal electrical knowledge, the study of power constraints requires better understanding of the electrical topics. With further constraints placed on the number of credit hours, detailed study the electrical topics may be skipped. The contribution of the paper is to propose a set of electrical topics compiled so as to include under curricula constraints and offer pedagogy of teaching the topics. In addition, the paper presents a comparative study of the electronics topics found in digital design texts 2 .
Promoting Active Learning Using Individual Response Technology in Large Introductory Psychology Classes

Individual response technology (IRT), in which students use wireless handsets to communicate real-time responses, permits the recording and display of aggregated student responses during class. In comparison to a traditional class that did not employ IRT, students using IRT performed better on exams and held positive attitudes toward the technology. IRT appears to be a promising technology for increasing active learning in the classroom and enhancing students' mastery of course content.
Environmental Health Promotion Interventions: Considerations for Preparation and Practice

Interventions to address current, future, and potential public health dilemmas, such as air pollution, urban sprawl, brown field reclamation, and threats of intentional toxic exposures would benefit from a synergy between the disciplines of environmental health and health education. A comparison between the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health and the PRECEDE-PROCEED model used in health education illustrates some similarities and differences in terminology, assessment procedures, intervention design, and types of evidence used by the two disciplines. Promising intervention strategies draw on the expertise of both fields and include social action, policy and media advocacy, coalition building, organizational change, lay health advisers, risk communication, and tailored educational messages. Appropriate targets of change can range from the equitable distribution of resources to individual behavior change. Significant interdisciplinary evaluation research is necessary to accelerate the identification of successful models for reducing the burden of environmental health problems in communities.
Recognition-processing systems for speech enhancement: application to frequency lowering

A method is presented for recoding high-frequency speech components into a low-frequency region, to increase audibility for certain sensorineural-loss listeners. The method, called recognition processing (RP), is based on a combination of disparate earlier work on frequency lowering using real-time speech processing and low-frequency signal synthesis. The RP system produced 800-Hz lowpass-filtered speech augmented with additive low-frequency noise signals during obstruent segments. Different low-frequency noise properties were chosen for each obstruent type; the noise signals were introduced at times determined by prior time-aligned phonemic transcription. Normal-hearing subjects listened to CV syllables processed by this technique and using a reference system. RP generally resulted in slightly higher identification scores. >
RNA sequencing of pancreatic circulating tumour cells implicates WNT signalling in metastasis

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) shed into blood from primary cancers include putative precursors that initiate distal metastases. Although these cells are extraordinarily rare, they may identify cellular pathways contributing to the blood-borne dissemination of cancer. Here, we adapted a microfluidic device for efficient capture of CTCs from an endogenous mouse pancreatic cancer model and subjected CTCs to single-molecule RNA sequencing, identifying Wnt2 as a candidate gene enriched in CTCs. Expression of WNT2 in pancreatic cancer cells suppresses anoikis, enhances anchorage-independent sphere formation, and increases metastatic propensity in vivo. This effect is correlated with fibronectin upregulation and suppressed by inhibition of MAP3K7 (also known as TAK1) kinase. In humans, formation of non-adherent tumour spheres by pancreatic cancer cells is associated with upregulation of multiple WNT genes, and pancreatic CTCs revealed enrichment for WNT signalling in 5 out of 11 cases. Thus, molecular analysis of CTCs may identify candidate therapeutic targets to prevent the distal spread of cancer.
Probabilistic Elastic Part Model for Unsupervised Face Detector Adaptation

We propose an unsupervised detector adaptation algorithm to adapt any offline trained face detector to a specific collection of images, and hence achieve better accuracy. The core of our detector adaptation algorithm is a probabilistic elastic part (PEP) model, which is offline trained with a set of face examples. It produces a statistically aligned part based face representation, namely the PEP representation. To adapt a general face detector to a collection of images, we compute the PEP representations of the candidate detections from the general face detector, and then train a discriminative classifier with the top positives and negatives. Then we re-rank all the candidate detections with this classifier. This way, a face detector tailored to the statistics of the specific image collection is adapted from the original detector. We present extensive results on three datasets with two state-of-the-art face detectors. The significant improvement of detection accuracy over these state of-the-art face detectors strongly demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed face detector adaptation algorithm.
Parametric studies in industrial distillation: Part I. Design comparisons

Minimum cost surfaces compare eight distillation systems separating ternary feeds. The regions of optimality for various designs depend upon the species separated, but changes in feed composition have characteristic effects on the relative costs. These characteristic effects can be used to generate heuristics in the form of expected regions of optimality, based on composition and simple physical properties. The expected effects, however, are somewhat uncertain, because the costs of designs depend upon many variables in a complex way. Of all factors considered, the vapor requirements for a tower are perhaps the most important, but the tower operating pressure and the required tower should also be considered.