cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STS markers linked to the Rf1 fertility restorer gene of cotton

Marker-assisted selection (MAS) can accelerate the process of plant breeding, and sequence-tagged site (STS) markers are highly specific for regions of DNA being used for MAS. The objective of this research was to develop STS markers tightly linked with Rf1, the fertility restoring gene for cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Bulked segregant analysis was employed to screen for Rf1-linked RAPD markers in a backcross population. Four RAPD markers were identified, three of which co-segregated with Rf1 (UBC147(1400), UBC607(500), and UBC679(700)). Another fragment, UBC169(800), co-segregated with the previously reported UBC169(700) in repulsion phase at a distance of 4.5 cM from Rf1. A marker published by others (UBC659(1500)) mapped to 2.7 cM from Rf1 and 1.8 cM from UBC169(800). Four sets of STS primer pairs were designed based on the RAPD fragment sequences. The primer pairs from the UBC147(1400) and UBC607(500) fragments both amplified a single fragment specific to fertile plants. The UBC679(700) and UBC659(1500) STS primer pairs each amplified one fragment specific to fertile plants and a monomorphic fragment. These four Rf1-linked STS markers were also present in the Rf1 donor species G. harknessii (D2-2). The three primer pairs that produced co-segregating STS markers also amplified fragments from G. trilobum (D8). However, the D8 fragment amplified by the UBC147(1400) STS primers was larger than that from D2-2, and G. trilobum does not restore fertility to CMS-D2-2 lines. These STS markers will be useful in the development of restorer parental lines in cotton CMS breeding efforts.
An experimental investigation of gas-particle flows through diffusers in the freeboard region of fluidized beds

Abstract The phenomenon of particulate loss (elutriation) from fluidized beds is important in many industrial processes. Results reported in Kale & Eaton (1984a) showed that very-wide-angle diffusers located in the freeboard above a fluidized bed substantially reduce elutriation—a result that was contrary to intuition. The present experiment was designed to explain these results. The same fluidized bed apparatus (Kale & Eaton 1984a) was used—150 mm square in cross section with a variable-angle diffuser in the freeboard region. Glass beads (nominally 50–100 μm in diameter) were fluidized by air at atmospheric pressure in the bubbling regime. Gas-phase velocity measurements were made using a single-component laser-Doppler anemometer. Four diffuser configurations (0, 20, 40 and 60° full opening angle) were studied. One set of measurements was made with the bed in place and a second set with the bed material removed. The flow structure was drastically altered by the presence of the fluidized bed below the diffuser. The single-phase flow was separated in the diffuser for the 20, 40 and 60° cases. However, the flow did not separate in the presence of the bed, and the peak fluid velocities were lower than those in the separated flow. This behavior is responsible for the decrease in the elutriation rate with increasing diffuser opening angle. A simple analysis suggests that suspended particles in the diffuser flow are responsible for the change in the flow structure. Momentum loss from the gas to the suspended particles reduces the pressure gradient, thereby eliminating the tendency to separate.
Transcendental meditation: A psychological interpretation

The authors suggest that Transcendental Meditation offers a great deal of promise for use in helping relationships. They also suggest that the technique might receive wider acceptance if it could be explained in other than a purely philosophical or mystical way. For that reason, in their article they offer a psychological interpretation of the TM process.
Catalytic homologation of cycloalkanones with substituted diazomethanes. Mild and efficient single-step access to alpha-tertiary and alpha-quaternary carbonyl compounds.

Though volatile, toxic, and unstable, diazomethane is an indispensable one-carbon reagent with manifold uses in chemical synthesis. In this work, known protocols for hydrazone oxidation were adapted to permit facile access to a range of mono- and disubstituted aryl- or alkyldiazomethanes in pure form in solution; such procedures proceed in 30−60% overall yield starting from inexpensive carbonyl compounds. More important is the discovery that commercial Sc(III) salts are efficient catalysts for net insertion of the diazoalkyl carbon in these nucleophiles into the carbonyl C−C bond of simple cycloalkanones. In a single step, these reactions (1) forge two new C−C bonds under mild conditions, (2) produce molecular nitrogen as the sole stoichiometric byproduct, and (3) afford high yields of complex α-tertiary and -quaternary cyclic ketones that are typically accessible only through multistep procedures.
Particle‐hole operators as state generators defects in the random phase approximation (as evidenced by calculations on the frozen‐K‐shell model of the B+ Ion)

The state-generating properties of particle-hole operators are analyzed for the 2-fermion case, and applied to the analysis of approximation procedures of the random phase approximation (RPA) type. Calculations were performed on the frozen-K-shell model of the B$sup +$ ion (a quasi 2-electron system). These calculations are used to analyze the validity of the assumptions and approximations made by the RPA. It is found that the ''(ls$sup 2$2s2p)'' $sup 1$P/sub odd/ and $sup 3$P/sub odd/ states and the (1s$sup 2$2s3s) $sup 3$S state could be moderately well described by the standard PRA. The (1s$sup 2$2s3d) $sup 1$D and $sup 3$D states require the use of a correlated ground state and ''killer- condition''-satisfying particle-hole operators not of the standard RPA type, if they are to be adequately described by a method of the RPA family. The (1s$sup 2$2s3d) $sup 1$S state requires, in addition, the use of non-''killer-condition''- satisfying particle-hole operators (''number'' operators) in order to be adequately described by a particle-hole method. Such number operators are not supported by methods of the RPA family, as they cannot be sustained by the particle-hole inner projection of the Fourier-transformed polarization more » propagator (causal Green's function). The analysis of the particle-hole operators also leads to the definition of particle-hole wave functions that represent their associated states in forming scalar products. The form of these wave functions is also presented here. (auth) « less
Arsenite Exposure of Cultured Airway Epithelial Cells Activates κB-dependent Interleukin-8 Gene Expression in the Absence of Nuclear Factor-κB Nuclear Translocation

Airway epithelial cells respond to certain environmental stresses by mounting a proinflammatory response, which is characterized by enhanced synthesis and release of the neutrophil chemotactic and activating factor interleukin-8 (IL-8). IL-8 expression is regulated at the transcriptional level in part by the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-κB. We compared intracellular signaling mediating IL-8 gene expression in bronchial epithelial cells culturedin vitro and exposed to two inducers of cellular stress, sodium arsenite (AsIII), and vanadyl sulfate (VIV). Unstimulated bronchial epithelial cells expressed IL-8, and exposure to both metal compounds significantly enhanced IL-8 expression. Overexpression of a dominant negative inhibitor of NF-κB depressed both basal and metal-induced IL-8 expression. Low levels of nuclear NF-κB were constitutively present in unstimulated cultures. These levels were augmented by exposure to VIV, but not AsIII. Accordingly, VIV induced IκBα breakdown and NF-κB nuclear translocation, whereas AsIIIdid not. However, both AsIII and VIV enhanced κB-dependent transcription. In addition, AsIII activation of an IL-8 promoter-reporter construct was partially κB-dependent. These data suggested that AsIII enhanced IL-8 gene transcription independently of IκB breakdown and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in part by enhancing transcription mediated by low levels of constitutive nuclear NF-κB.
How to minimize perceptual error and maximize expertise in medical imaging

Visual perception is such an intimate part of human experience that we assume that it is entirely accurate. Yet, perception accounts for about half of the errors made by radiologists using adequate imaging technology. The true incidence of errors that directly affect patient well being is not known but it is probably at the lower end of the reported values of 3 to 25 %. Errors in screening for lung and breast cancer are somewhat better characterized than errors in routine diagnosis. About 25% of cancers actually recorded on the images are missed and cancer is falsely reported in about 5% of normal people. Radiologists must strive to decrease error not only because of the potential impact on patient care but also because substantial variation among observers undermines confidence in the reliability of imaging diagnosis. Observer variation also has a major impact on technology evaluation because the variation between observers is frequently greater than the difference in the technologies being evaluated. This has become particularly important in the evaluation of computer aided diagnosis (CAD). Understanding the basic principles that govern the perception of medical images can provide a rational basis for making recommendations for minimizing perceptual error. It is convenient to organize thinking about perceptual error into five steps. 1) The initial acquisition of the image by the eye-brain (contrast and detail perception). 2) The organization of the retinal image into logical components to produce a literal perception (bottom-up, global, holistic). 3) Conversion of the literal perception into a preferred perception by resolving ambiguities in the literal perception (top-down, simulation, synthesis). 4) Selective visual scanning to acquire details that update the preferred perception. 5) Apply decision criteria to the preferred perception. The five steps are illustrated with examples from radiology with suggestions for minimizing error. The role of perceptual learning in the development of expertise is also considered.
Individual variation in male vocal traits and female mating preferences in Bufo americanus.

We investigated the amount of variation in mating behaviour between and within individual male and female American toads, because both sources of trait variation can influence the course of sexual selection. Males varied in all four call parameters investigated (dominant call frequency, pulse rate, call rate and call duration). Individual males lowered the dominant frequency of their call when they interacted vocally with nearby males. Dominant call frequency was more highly correlated with body size in vocally interacting males than in non-interacting males. Pulse rate of calls primarily varied with water temperature. Call rate and call duration showed the most variation of the four call properties, but this variation was unrelated to male morphology or social interactions. Females varied in three aspects of mating behaviour: two measures of pair formation and their preference for dominant frequency of male calls. The body size of paired males varied between females both in pairings initiated by either sex and in pairings initiated only by females. Males chosen by females were usually larger than average, although age and prior breeding experience of females did not affect mate choice. Playback experiments indicated that female preference for calls of low dominant frequency depended on the temporal patterning of alternative calls presented. Each of the four male vocal properties showed significant repeatability, but only one of the three aspects of female mating behaviour was repeatable. We discuss how different degrees of repeatability in sexual traits of males and females may influence the action and detection of sexual selection in this and other species.
Volatilization of ketones

Abstract Volatilization fluxes of seven ketones were measured over a range of temperatures. Gas-film coefficients were calculated from these volatilization fluxes and related to the gas-film coefficient for the evaporation of water. These relations, when combined with an equation for estimating the gas-film coefficient for evaporation of water from a canal, permit estimating gas-film coefficients for the volatilization of ketones from streams and rivers.
Quality Control and Flux Sampling Problems for Tower and Aircraft Data

Abstract A series of automated tests is developed for tower and aircraft time series to identify instrumentation problems, flux sampling problems, and physically plausible but unusual situations. The automated procedures serve as a safety net for quality controlling data. A number of special flags are developed representing a variety of potential problems such as inconsistencies between different tower levels and the flux error due to fluctuations of aircraft height. The tests are implemented by specifying critical values for parameters representing each specific error. The critical values are developed empirically from experience of applying the tests to real turbulent time series. When these values are exceeded, the record is flagged for further inspection and comparison with the rest of the concurrent data. The inspection step is necessary to either verify an instrumentation problem or identify physically plausible behavior. The set of tests is applied to tower data from the Riso Air Sea Experiment and...
Power in Numbers: A Call for Analytical Generosity toward New Political Strategies

This paper is a methodological and epistemological reflection on the power of numbers to contribute to the debate over the potential and limitations of market politics as a regulatory force in the ...
Tensile, Creep Properties and Microstructural Correlations in an Extruded Ti-48Al Alloy

In this study, new combinations of heat treatment and extrusion conditions was employed to produce fine-grained, nearly lamellar microstructures in a binary Ti-48 at.% Al alloy. The effect of subsequent heat treatment on microstructure was studied and room temperature tensile properties were determined for some representative microstructures with relatively high volume fractions of lamellar grains. High tensile strengths and ductilities (upto 2.3%) were obtained and microstructural factors thought to be responsible for these are discussed. Constant load tensile creep properties for the same microstructures were evaluated in the temperature range of 700 to 815°C for stresses from 103 to 241 MPa. This data was used to determine minimum creep rates, activation energies and stress exponents and their dependence on microstructure. A significant effect of microstructure, particularly volume fraction of lamellar grains on the creep rates was observed, and creep rates comparable to those reported in quarternary Ti-48Al alloys with similar microstructures were obtained. The various results suggest that it is possible to obtain an attractive and balanced combination of room temperature ductility and high temperature creep resistance in these materials by suitably varying thermomechanical processing and heat treatment conditions.
The role of physicians' recommendations in medical treatment decisions

Background. A shift away from the medical paternalism of the past has occurred, and today, the law and ethics advocate that physicians share decision-making responsibility with their patients. It is unclear, however, what the appropriate role of physicians’ recommendations ought to be in this new shared decision-making paradigm. One way to approach this question is to assess the influence of physicians’ recommendations.Objective. In this study, the authors examine the influence of physicians’ recommendations on hypothetical treatment decisions. Do physicians’ recommendations influence treatment decisions in scenarios where the decision that maximizes health is obvious and apparent to subjects? Do recommendations pull subjects away from the treatment choice that they otherwise prefer (based on their decision when unaware of the physicians’ recommendation)?Design. An experimental web questionnaire presented hypothetical medical treatment scenarios in which the treatment choice that maximized health was obvi...
Birth Order and Relative Effectiveness of Social and Nonsocial Reinforcers

Undergraduates were administered a probability learning task to determine the relationship between birth order and the relative effectiveness of social and nonsocial reinforcers. Firstborn individuals performed better than later-born Ss under social reinforcement conditions. Over-all, social reinforcers enhanced performance more than nonsocial reinforcers. Findings were interpreted as supporting greater social dependence of firstborns.
A rosebud-like retrograde view of the duodenal bulb.

n 87-year-old man was referred to our departAment for an expert opinion regarding a video capsule finding of suspected postbulbar duodenal stenosis. He had undergone small bowel examination, with video capsule endoscopy indicated for the evaluation of obscure occult gastrointestinal bleeding. According to our assessment, the capsule entered the duodenal bulb headfirst and immediately turned around, allowing an unusual “rosebud-like” retrograde view of the pylorus. As shown in the images (Figures A, B, and C), the flat pyloric mucosa protrudes into the duodenum surrounded by the villi-covered bulbar epithelium. Of importance, this rare duodenal aspect of the pylorus should not be misinterpreted as a mass or stenosis. The absence of such a finding was subsequently confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Lipoprotein Electrophoresis Should Be Discontinued as a Routine Procedure

Reviewing our five-year experience with more than 1000 lipid profiles (assays for cholesterol and triglycerides In plasma of fasting patients and lipoprotein electrophoresis of their plasma lipoproteins), I conclude that lipoprotein electrophoresis is superfluous for routine clinical laboratory use, being generally redundant to the other parts of the profile. This conclusion is also prompted in part by recent information that changes our conceptions of lipoprotein metabolism and the clinical expressions of genetic hyperlipoproteinemia. A different approach to lipid profiling is suggested.
Virotherapy Using a Novel Chimeric Oncolytic Adenovirus Prolongs Survival in a Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenograft Model

Introduction Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy. Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) are modified genetically to target tumor cells while sparing normal cells. We modified the knob domain of the Ad serotype 5 with a serotype 3 knob domain and incorporated the CXCR4 promoter to regulate Ad E1A gene expression (Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A). These modifications were made to efficiently infect and lyse pancreatic tumors. Methods Human pancreatic cancer lines CFPAC-1, PANC-1, AsPC-1, and BxPC-3 were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Efficiency of Ad infection in the cells was determined by the use of an Ad construct expressing the green fluorescence protein (GFP) marker in place of the E1A gene (Ad5/3-CXCR4-GFP) and quantified by flow cytometry. Oncolytic activity in the pancreatic cancer cells was determined with the Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A oncolytic Ad by a crystal violet staining method. To determine the oncolytic effect in vivo, pancreatic cancer cells were implanted on the flanks of 40 SCID mice (4 groups). Tumors were injected intratumorally for 3 days with Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A, Ad5 wild-type (a positive control), or phosphate-buffered saline (a no virus control). Tumor size, overall survival, and body condition scale score were recorded. Statistical analyses included the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the log-rank test, and one-way analysis of variance. Results The serotype 3 fiber-modified Ad with the CXCR4 promoter (Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A) was most efficient in infecting and lysing pancreatic cancer cells compared with an Ad containing an unmodified fiber knob (Ad5-CXCR4-E1A). Treatment of pancreatic tumor xenografts in vivo with Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A group resulted in smaller tumors ( P = .001), greater body condition scale score ( P = .01), and greater survival time ( P = .04) than the other treatment groups. Conclusion Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A treatment significantly prolonged survival in SCID mice pancreatic tumor xenografts. This novel construct represents a potential new therapy against pancreatic cancer.
In situ Evidence for the role of Glucose oxidase in the biocontrol of verticillium wilt by Talaromyces flavus

Two lines of evidence are presented that support the theory of glucose oxidase involvement in the biocontrol of Verticillium wilt of eggplant by Talaromyces flavus isolate Tf‐1. Purified glucose oxidase from Tf‐1 significantly reduced the growth rate of Verticillium dahliae in the presence, but not in the absence, of eggplant roots. This suggested that glucose from the roots was metabolized by glucose oxidase to form hydrogen peroxide which is toxic to V. dahliae. Isolate Tf‐1‐np, a single‐spore variant of isolate Tf‐1 (which produced 2% of the level of glucose oxidase activity produced by Tf‐1), did not control Verticillium wilt of eggplant in a greenhouse experiment using non‐sterile field soil. In contrast, isolate Tf‐1 significantly reduced the incidence of wilt.
Adapting price predictions in TAC SCM

In agent-based markets, adapting to the behavior of other agents is often necessary for success. When it is not possible to directly model individual competitors, an agent may instead model and adapt to the market conditions that result from competitor behavior. Such an agent could still benefit from reasoning about specific competitor strategies by considering how various combinations of these strategies would impact the conditions being modeled. We present an application of such an approach to a specific prediction problem faced by the agent TacTex-06 in the Trading Agent Competition's Supply Chain Management scenario (TAC SCM).
Understanding Changes in High Density Lipoproteins During the Acute Phase Response

During infection and inflammation there is a cascade of reactions that occurs in the host collectively known as the acute-phase response (APR).1 Besides alterations in acute-phase reactants (plasma proteins), the APR is also associated with changes in lipoproteins.2 Increasing evidence suggests that high density lipoproteins (HDL) are a critical part of the acute phase response (APR) of the innate immune system.3 During infection and inflammation, there is a reduction in levels of several plasma proteins involved in HDL-mediated reverse cholesterol transport and inhibiting plasma lipid oxidation, such as lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), cholesterol ester transfer protein, phospholipid transfer protein, hepatic lipase, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and paraoxonase (PON).2 Moreover, the composition of circulating HDL during an APR, also known as acute-phase HDL, is altered. Analysis of the lipid composition shows that acute-phase HDL is depleted in cholesterol ester but enriched in free cholesterol, triglyceride, and free tty acids.4 Changes in the phospholipid content of acute-phase HDL was shown to be more variable, having increased in one study5 but decreased in another.6 The levels of apolipoprotein J (apoJ or clusterin) and serum amyloid A (SAA) increase several fold in …
Local, stochastic release of Ca2+ in voltage‐clamped rat heart cells: visualization with confocal microscopy.

1. Confocal microscopy and the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fluo-3 (K+ salt) were used to measure cytosolic free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]) during excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in single, voltage-clamped, rat cardiac ventricular cells. 2. Local [Ca2+]i transients were measured nearly simultaneously in different, separate, subcellular volumes of approximately 2.0 microns 3. During depolarization, local [Ca2+]i transients were distinctly different from each other and from whole-cell [Ca2+]i transients. These differences were particularly apparent during small depolarizations, and were substantially reduced by ryanodine. 3. Components of the local [Ca2+]i transients, particularly those evoked by small depolarizations, were closely similar, in time course and amplitude, to spontaneous local [Ca2+]i transients, or ‘sparks’ (which have been shown previously to be Ca2+ released from sarcoplasmic reticulum). 4. Analysis of local [Ca2+]i transients in the spatial frequency domain (power spectrum) revealed that high power at spatial frequencies of 0.05-0.2 microns-1 was always associated with spontaneous calcium ‘sparks’ and with local [Ca2+]i transients evoked by small depolarizing pulses (e.g. to -31 mV). Evoked local [Ca2+]o transients in the presence of ryanodine, and those evoked by depolarization to very positive clamp-pulse potentials (+45 mV), were associated with considerably lower power at this frequency. 5. The results suggest that whole-cell [Ca2+]i transients evoked by voltage-clamp depolarization, and thus by L-type Ca2+ current, are comprised of local [Ca2+]i transients that are similar to the spontaneous calcium ‘sparks’. At very positive clamp-pulse potentials, however, the electrically evoked local [Ca2+]i transients may be smaller, perhaps as a result of smaller unitary L-type Ca2+ current.
Deadlock detection algorithms in distributed database systems

In this paper, a centralized deadlock detection algorithm with multiple outstanding requests (CDDMOR) is proposed for use in distributed database systems and transaction-processing systems. This algorithm allows a process to request many resources simultaneously. While a centralized scheme is superior to a completely distributed scheme in terms of performance, a major problem of such a scheme is congestion. Therefore, an important extension to the basic CDDMOR, a partially distributed scheme, is proposed to alleviate the problem of congestion, as well as to take advantage of the result presented by several researchers that global (multisite) deadlocks are infrequent. It takes care of the local (single site) deadlocks without involving other sites and uses centralized deadlock detection only when there is a possibility of global deadlock.
Plant-pest interactions in time and space: A Douglas-fir bark beetle outbreak as a case study

A conceptual model of Douglas-fir bark beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) dynamics and associated host tree mortality across multiple spatial and temporal scales was developed, then used to guide a study of the association between the occurrence of beetle- killed trees and factors that might render trees more susceptible to attack. Long-term records of beetle kill showed that beetle epidemics were associated with windstorms and drought at statewide and local spatial scales. At the landscape scale, beetle kill was associated with (i) portions of the landscape that were potentially drier (southern aspects, lower elevations) and (ii) portions of the landscape that had more mature and old-growth conifer vegetation. The patches of beetle-killed trees were aggregated with respect to other patches at scales of approximately 1 and 4 km. At the scale of the individual tree, there was not a strong relationship between beetle kill and resistance to attack measured by tree growth rate prior to attack. Our results show that landscape-scale phenomena and temporal patterns were more strongly correlated with beetle-kill events than was recent growth history at the scale of individual trees. We suggest that the multi-scale approach we employed is useful for elucidating the relative roles of fine- versus coarse-scale constraints on ecological processes.
Age-related declines in car following performance under simulated fog conditions

The present study examined age-related differences in car following performance when contrast of the driving scene was reduced by simulated fog. Older (mean age of 72.6) and younger (mean age of 21.1) drivers were presented with a car following scenario in a simulator in which a lead vehicle (LV) varied speed according to a sum of three sine wave functions. Drivers were shown an initial following distance of 18 m and were asked to maintain headway distance by controlling speed to match changes in LV speed. Five simulated fog conditions were examined ranging from a no fog condition (contrast of 0.55) to a high fog condition (contrast of 0.03). Average LV speed varied across trials (40, 60, or 80 km/h). The results indicated age-related declines in car following performance for both headway distance and RMS (root mean square) error in matching speed. The greatest decline occurred at moderate speeds under the highest fog density condition, with older drivers maintaining a headway distance that was 21% closer than younger drivers. At higher speeds older drivers maintained a greater headway distance than younger drivers. These results suggest that older drivers may be at greater risk for a collision under high fog density and moderate speeds.
Multiview extensive partition operators for semantic video object extraction

Occlusion/disocclusion is one of the fundamental problems for semantic video object (SVO) extraction, where pixel-wise accuracy is required. This issue is critical because the degradation in tracking due to object occlusion/disocclusion significantly increases the amount of user interaction required in off-line video editing applications. We present an approach based on the application of an extensive operator on a lattice of partitions, which exploits information from various views of the scene, based on a probabilistic formulation. Our multiview operator builds on the regional application of the maximum a posteriori principle, by integrating a single-view region classification stage with a multiview stage that improves classification for those disoccluded regions labeled as uncertain. Results on several real sequences show that our approach improves the SVO tracking compared to the single-view case and that, as a result, increases the quality of the extracted SVOs and reduces the total amount of user interaction.
A novel network module for medical devices

In order to allow medical devices to upload the vital signs to a server on a network without manually configuring for end-users, a new network module is proposed. The proposed network module, called Medical Hub (MH), functions as a bridge to fetch the data from all connecting medical devices, and then upload these data to the server. When powering on, the MH can immediately establish network configuration automatically. Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal is also supported by the MH with the UPnP Internet Gateway Device (IGD) methodology. Besides the network configuration, other configuration in the MH is automatically established by using the remote management protocol TR-069. On the other hand, a mechanism for updating software automatically according to the variant connected medical device is proposed. With this mechanism, newcome medical devices can be detected and supported by the MH without manual operation.
A basis for interactive schema merging

The authors present a technique for merging the schemas of heterogeneous databases that generalizes to several different data models, and show how it can be used in an interactive program that merges entity-relationship diagrams. Given a collection of schemas to be merged, the user asserts the correspondence between entities and relationships in the various schemas by defining 'isa' relations between them. These assertions are then considered to be elementary schemas, and are combined with the elementary schemas in the merge. Since the method defines the merge to be the join in an information ordering on schemas, it is a commutative and associative operation, which means that the merge is defined independent of the order in which schemas are presented. They briefly describe a prototype interactive schema merging tool that has been built on these principles. >
Basic property study of power system topological spaces and the mappings on them

The basic properties of the power system topological spaces (PSTSs) are investigated. Power system equations, the topological structure of PSTS, the PSTSs and the mappings on them, and application examples are presented. Based on several assumptions, PSTS is proven to be a manifold and the PSTSs for different study domains are related as a space and its contractible kernel. The solutions introduced by the vector field on different PSTSs are homotopic. >
Policing Fish at Boston's Museum of Science: Studying Audiovisual Interaction in the Wild.

Boston's Museum of Science supports researchers whose projects advance science and provide educational opportunities to the Museum's visitors. For our project, 60 visitors to the Museum played “Fish Police!!,” a video game that examines audiovisual integration, including the ability to ignore irrelevant sensory information. Players, who ranged in age from 6 to 82 years, made speeded responses to computer-generated fish that swam rapidly across a tablet display. Responses were to be based solely on the rate (6 or 8 Hz) at which a fish's size modulated, sinusoidally growing and shrinking. Accompanying each fish was a task-irrelevant broadband sound, amplitude modulated at either 6 or 8 Hz. The rates of visual and auditory modulation were either Congruent (both 6 Hz or 8 Hz) or Incongruent (6 and 8 or 8 and 6 Hz). Despite being instructed to ignore the sound, players of all ages responded more accurately and faster when a fish's auditory and visual signatures were Congruent. In a controlled laboratory setting, a related task produced comparable results, demonstrating the robustness of the audiovisual interaction reported here. Some suggestions are made for conducting research in public settings.
BaTiO3 Coated CoFe2O4–Core-Shell Magnetoelectric Nanoparticles (CSMEN) Characterization

Multiferroic behavior of magnetoelectric nanoparticles exhibiting both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric properties find significance in various applications. In this study, core-shell magnetoelectric nanoparticles (CSMEN) have been fabricated by coating CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with BaTiO3 by weight using hydro-thermal method. The core-shell structure was confirmed by electron microscopy and topographic scanning probe microscopic measurements were performed for further structural analysis. While magnetic force microscopy and ferromagnetic hysteresis loop measurements substantiated ferromagnetic behavior of the core, piezo response force microscopy confirmed ferroelectric behavior and single crystalline nature of BaTiO3 shell. As analyzed by TEM diffraction pattern both core and shell are in cubic phase with their respective diffraction spots depicting their single crystalline nature.
Effectiveness of Due Process Requirements in Standard Setting

The rationale for mandating due process procedures for federal agencies is applied to private standard setting organizations. Elements of this rationale are used to develop criteria to evaluate the success of due process procedures in meeting their intended goals, such as access to information and more meaningful participation in agency decision-making. Many private standard setting organizations following due process requirements that are similar to those mandated for federal agencies. Two case studies, based on qualitative interviews of participants in the creation of public and private standards, compare the success of due process requirements according to the criteria. Interviews focus on participants’ understanding of the reasons for outcomes and perceptions of whether their concerns or evidence they presented had any effect on outcomes.
Tolerance of the small bowel to therapeutic irradiation: a focus on late toxicity in patients receiving para-aortic nodal irradiation for gynecologic malignancies

Objective The recently published Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) recommends dose constraints for acute small-bowel toxicity but does not fully address dose constraints for late small-bowel toxicity and the maximum dose tolerance of the small bowel. Radiation oncologists in practice frequently face a challenge when deciding what maximum point dose to accept in a patient’s treatment plan. Given this lack of guidance for maximum radiation dose tolerance on the small bowel, we performed a literature search on the topic. Methods We searched PubMed for English language publications up to December 2012 on pelvic and para-aortic lymph node (PALN) irradiation for gynecologic malignancies. The search was performed using the following key words: late small-bowel toxicity, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, gynecologic malignancies, pelvic irradiation, PALN irradiation, extended-field radiation therapy. Relevant references were selected, and full articles were obtained for review. The predetermined criteria for deciding which studies to include were used. Results With photon irradiation, the incidence of grade 3 or greater late small-bowel toxicity, including small-bowel obstruction, is 9% ± 7% after a median follow-up of 5 years and with mean pelvic and para-aortic/whole abdominal prescription doses of 50 ± 5 Gy and 40 ± 10 Gy, respectively. Our estimate for the small-bowel T10/5 would be the maximum point dose of 55 Gy. Conclusions If possible, it is prudent to try to keep the maximum point dose to the small bowel at 55 Gy or less. Given the lack of substantial data to make firm guidelines, further studies are needed to clarify the dose-volume relationship for late toxicity. Dose escalation to PALN should continue to be used with caution.
Optimization of a Hydrogenation Process using Real-Time Mid-IR, Heat Flow and Gas Uptake Measurements

This paper describes using real-time mid-IR, heat flow, and gas uptake data to optimize the hydrogenation of a nitroaromatic to an aniline that had been difficult to control during a previous campaign in the pilot plant. A bimetallic Pt/V catalyst was identified that eliminated the buildup of reaction intermediates and consequently resulted in an inherently more controllable process. The real-time analytics were then used to rapidly optimize the reaction conditions and develop strategies for controlling the reaction rate in the plant should an unexpected deviation occur.
Density Functional Theory Study of Nucleation and Growth of Pt Nanoparticles on MoS2(001) Surface

The dispersion of Pt metallic nanoparticles on different supports is of high relevance for designing more efficient and less expensive catalysts. In order to understand the nucleation and epitaxial growth of Pt nanoparticles and thin films on MoS2 monolayers, we have systematically analyzed, by first-principles density functional calculations, the evolution of morphology and atomic structure of supported (Pt)n nanoparticles (NPs) on MoS2(001) for n ≤ 12. We find that n = 5 is the cluster size where the growth of the NPs transforms from two- to three-dimensional (2D to 3D). Owing to the topography of MoS2(001), the 2D NPs mostly attach to the support via direct bonding with Mo atoms that sit in the troughs of the surface, while the 3D NPs are bonded to the sulfur atoms that are more extended in the vacuum region. Furthermore, we find that Pt is sufficiently mobile on the surface where the number of hopping events per second is ≈103 s–1 along [101] and ≈10 s–1 along [110] at room temperature. The somewhat...
That May Be All Right in Practice, but It Doesn't Work in Theory: Comments on “Is Federalism Compatible with Prefectorial Administration?”

Histories of philosophy attest to the fact that Immanuel Kant once wrote an essay with the marvellous title, "That May Be All Right in Practice, but it Doesn't Work in Theory." I have never been able to find the essay, and I have never met anyone who has read it; perhaps he stopped with the title, feeling that it could stand on its own. In any case, I must admit that as I read the article by Professor Elazar and the comments of some of the other authors, I found myself in that situation. I am in full agreement with the practical aspects of Professor Elazar's article: there is a constant centralizing pressure on government; it is unrelenting, but not unopposed; and that pressure along with many other forces endangers noncentralized federalism. But I differ with Professor Elazar in the theoretical development of his position-or at least some aspects of it. For example, Professor Elazar speaks favorably of the authors of The Federalist and their desire to give an example to the world "of establishing good government from reflection and choice" rather than by "accident and force." In opposition to this, he refers to "organic" notions of politics, and he connects organic development and accident as at least twins, if not identical. I am almost as much a devotee of federalism as Professor Elazar, and definitely as much as he, am I a devotee of political liberty and security of civic rights, which I see as made secure, to the extent that may be possible, by the separation of powers and other constitutional devices of noncentralization. Nevertheless, I have trouble with the way it works out in theory, because the existence of the states at the time of the writing of the Constitution was the least alterable fact, the feature most unlikely to delete or ignore, the least a product of reflection
Temperature shock in human spermatozoa.

Summary1. Human semen in the presence and absence of glycerol was cooled at various rapid rates above the freezing temperature in order to ascertain whether or not the spermatozoa exhibited temperature shock. It was found that these cells, unlike the majority of other mammalian cells, are not susceptible to this phenomenon. It is indicated, therefore, that the death of spermatozoa, which occurs when human semen is exposed to extremely low temperatures, is associated with ice formation. 2. Spermatozoa in human semen in the presence and absence of glycerol showed no deleterious effects when they were rapidly re-warmed above the freezing temperature. Therefore, if death occurs during the thawing of frozen human semen, then most likely it too is associated with ice formation. 3. The possible role of glycerol in temperature shock is discussed.
Lensing of Fast Radio Bursts as a Probe of Compact Dark Matter

Gravitational lensing of fast radio bursts around compact dark matter objects larger than twenty solar masses could be detected in upcoming experiments allowing constraints to be placed on the fraction of dark matter they contain.
Reconstruction of the new atrial septum in the Senning operation: New technique

A new technique incorporating the left atrial appendage for the reconstruction of the new atrial septum is described as a modification of the original Senning operation for transposition of the great arteries. In reconstruction of the atrial septal flap, the balloon septostomy defect is closed by approximating the inverted left atrial appendage to the anterior margin of the flap. This technique completely eliminates the necessity for foreign material in the repair of the new atrial septum of the Senning operation and has been used in 21 patients with good results.
Chemical thermometry in miniature HRRST using 1,1,1-trifluoroethane dissociation

The decomposition of 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (C2H3F3), was measured in a 12.7 mm bore high repetition rate miniature shock tube (7.8 < P5 < 10.6 bar and 1250 < T5 < 1600 K) using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy and chemical modeling. The concentration of HF produced from the dissociation of 1,1,1-C2H3F3 was simulated using the rate coefficients of Matsugi et al. (2014) in conditions near the high pressure limit, in a chemical thermometry test. Modeling of the post-reflected shock wave conditions properly included the temperature rise from non-ideal gas dynamic effects in the small shock tube. Excellent agreement between simulations and experimental profiles of HF concentration was obtained with thermometry temperatures near those calculated by the normal shock relations. Below 1400 K, the initial post-reflected shock temperature agreed with the normal shock relations within the experimental uncertainty but was approximately 40–60 K lower for 1450 < T5 < 1600 K.
Effects of orness and dispersion on WOWA sensitivity

The WOWA operator is an aggregation operator that generalizes the weighted mean and the OWA operator. In this paper we study the sensitivity of this operator with respect to the interpolation method used in its calculation. We analyze the sensitivity with respect to the orness and dispersion (entropy) of the weighting vector.
Deadly Politics: Elections, Medical Spending, and Mortality

Death and disease exacts a heavy toll on citizens in many democracies. I argue that the funding and distribution of health policy in democracies are subject to political economic distributive pressures. Patterns of partisanship, strategic importance, and quality of legislative representation condition the provision of public health funding within countries. In turn, public health spending alters district mortality outcomes. I assemble administrative district level data for late Third Republic France and model its health funding and mortality rates. Political importance, not need, plays a prominent role in determining who lives and dies in democracies. In an environment analogous to modern developing countries but absent international political pressures, my results demonstrate that poor health is not just a consequence of lack of funding but also domestic political economy incentives.
Spatio-Temporal Variation in Age Structure and Abundance of the Endangered Snail Kite: Pooling across Regions Masks a Declining and Aging Population.

While variation in age structure over time and space has long been considered important for population dynamics and conservation, reliable estimates of such spatio-temporal variation in age structure have been elusive for wild vertebrate populations. This limitation has arisen because of problems of imperfect detection, the potential for temporary emigration impacting assessments of age structure, and limited information on age. However, identifying patterns in age structure is important for making reliable predictions of both short- and long-term dynamics of populations of conservation concern. Using a multistate superpopulation estimator, we estimated region-specific abundance and age structure (the proportion of individuals within each age class) of a highly endangered population of snail kites for two separate regions in Florida over 17 years (1997–2013). We find that in the southern region of the snail kite—a region known to be critical for the long-term persistence of the species—the population has declined significantly since 1997, and during this time, it has increasingly become dominated by older snail kites (> 12 years old). In contrast, in the northern region—a region historically thought to serve primarily as drought refugia—the population has increased significantly since 2007 and age structure is more evenly distributed among age classes. Given that snail kites show senescence at approximately 13 years of age, where individuals suffer higher mortality rates and lower breeding rates, these results reveal an alarming trend for the southern region. Our work illustrates the importance of accounting for spatial structure when assessing changes in abundance and age distribution and the need for monitoring of age structure in imperiled species.
Missing link between the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults.

The next major earthquake to strike the ~7 million residents of the San Francisco Bay Area will most likely result from rupture of the Hayward or Rodgers Creek faults. Until now, the relationship between these two faults beneath San Pablo Bay has been a mystery. Detailed subsurface imaging provides definitive evidence of active faulting along the Hayward fault as it traverses San Pablo Bay and bends ~10° to the right toward the Rodgers Creek fault. Integrated geophysical interpretation and kinematic modeling show that the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults are directly connected at the surface—a geometric relationship that has significant implications for earthquake dynamics and seismic hazard. A direct link enables simultaneous rupture of the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults, a scenario that could result in a major earthquake (M = 7.4) that would cause extensive damage and loss of life with global economic impact.