cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of remote sensing in the study of acid rain impact on aquatic systems

Results are presented of a study of the capabilities of image analysis of remotely sensed data in the evaluation of the present state and past history of lakes subject to acidification by acid precipitation. Analysis of surface sampling data from nine Adirondack lakes reveals lake pH and alkalinity to be reflected in parameters related to optical properties, exhibiting a positive correlation with chlorophyll and total solids and a negative correlation with Secchi depth. Aerial photographic measurements of lake volume spectral reflectance, when compared with a simple laboratory model of the dependence of chlorophyll, lignin and humic acid contents of water on its optical properties, are also found to correlate with the differences between the in situ lake properties. Finally, analysis of Landsat band 4, 5, and 7 data obtained in September 1972 and 1979 for 18 lakes demonstrates the potential of the data for the isolation of lakes with low alkalinity, and for monitoring the rate of acidification over time providing data is properly calibrated for atmospheric, illumination and sensor response effects. Results thus demonstrate considerable potential for remote sensing in monitoring the impact of acidification on lakes, and point up the need for further studies of multi-temporal Landsat datamore » and the techniques of aerial analysis.« less
Arterial injury promotes medial chondrogenesis in Sm22 knockout mice.

Aims Expression of SM22 (also known as SM22alpha and transgelin), a vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) marker, is down-regulated in arterial diseases involving medial osteochondrogenesis. We investigated the effect of SM22 deficiency in a mouse artery injury model to determine the role of SM22 in arterial chondrogenesis. Methods and results Sm22 knockout ( Sm22−/− ) mice developed prominent medial chondrogenesis 2 weeks after carotid denudation as evidenced by the enhanced expression of chondrogenic markers including type II collagen, aggrecan, osteopontin, bone morphogenetic protein 2, and SRY-box containing gene 9 (SOX9). This was concomitant with suppression of VSMC key transcription factor myocardin and of VSMC markers such as SM α-actin and myosin heavy chain. The conversion tendency from myogenesis to chondrogenesis was also observed in primary Sm22−/− VSMCs and in a VSMC line after Sm22 knockdown: SM22 deficiency altered VSMC morphology with compromised stress fibre formation and increased actin dynamics. Meanwhile, the expression level of Sox9 mRNA was up-regulated while the mRNA levels of myocardin and VSMC markers were down-regulated, indicating a pro-chondrogenic transcriptional switch in SM22-deficient VSMCs. Furthermore, the increased expression of SOX9 was mediated by enhanced reactive oxygen species production and nuclear factor-κB pathway activation. Conclusion These findings suggest that disruption of SM22 alters the actin cytoskeleton and promotes chondrogenic conversion of VSMCs.
Corticotropin release-inhibiting factor is preprothyrotropin-releasing hormone-(178-199)

ACTH is the major regulator of the body's adaptive response to stress and the physiological stimulus for glucocorticoid secretion. In addition to the known negative feedback regulation of ACTH by glucocorticoids, a hypothalamic corticotropin release-inhibiting factor (CRIF) that inhibits ACTH synthesis and secretion has been postulated, but not identified. We previously reported that transfection of prepro-TRH complementary DNA into the mouse anterior pituitary tumor cell line AtT-20 results in inhibition of basal and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-stimulated ACTH synthesis and secretion, suggesting that one or more of the cryptic peptides encoded within the prepro-TRH precursor has CRIF activity. To narrow the choice of peptides responsible for CRIF activity, we first deleted specific sequences within the prepro-TRH complementary DNA and transfected these constructs into AtT-20 cells. Deletion of sequences encoding amino acids 119-229 resulted in the loss of CRIF activity. Of the peptides encoded ...
Data and Variables II

Statistics is the science of reasoning from data, so a natural place to be¬gin your study is by examining what is meant by the term “data”. The most fundamental principle in statistics is that of variability. Indeed, if the world were perfectly predictable and showed no variability, there would be no reason to study statistics. Thus, you will also discover the notion of a variable and consider different classifications of variables. You will also begin to explore the notion of the distribution of a set of data measuring a particular variable.
Observation of the discrete electron energy states of an individual nanometer-size supported gold cluster.

The electron energy distribution from a single 1-nm-diam. Au cluster supported on a W(110) field-emission tip has been studied using energy-resolved field-emission microscopy. The emitted electrons provide information on the quantum electron energy states of the supported cluster and demonstrate that these states survive after deposition onto a substrate. A model that accounts for the salient features in the energy distribution is described.
Percutaneous image-guided core breast biopsy

Percutaneous image-guided core biopsy is an accurate, fast, minimally invasive, and less expensive alternative to surgery for the diagnosis of breast lesions. Percutaneous core biopsy is usually performed under stereotactic or ultrasound guidance, using an automated needle or vacuum-assisted biopsy probe. Use of percutaneous core biopsy spares the need for surgery in most women with benign disease and expedites treatment in women with breast cancer. This article reviews advantages, limitations, controversies, and future directions in percutaneous image-guided core breast biopsy.
Applications of the Flexible Wing Concept at Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have seen a rapid development due to increased miniaturisation of technology, and their multiple usages in both military and civilian fields, thus making this business very profitable. Although the small UAVs are high enabling capabilities, they are still single-role (one flight, one mission). The present paper will present a comparative analysis of the solutions on flexible wing concept and will analyze the possibilities to use the morphing concept at small UAVs.
THE EFFECTS OF SHORT PERIODS OF WATER STRESS ON THE GROWTH OF SUGAR BEET IN POTS

Summary Sugar beet, broad beans and lettuce growing in soil in pots were subjected to repeated short periods of water stress up to a maximum PF of 4.0. In some experiments the leaf areas of such plants were lower than those of plants grown under conditions of minimum water stress, but there was no significant effect of water stress on dry matter production or Net Assimilation Rate. The loss of water per unit leaf area was not affected by the water regime, but the cumulative water loss from pot and plant over the experiments was greater under the wet regime, partly because the leaf area was greater. In pot culture experiments, where the total amount of water within the root zone is relatively small, it is impossible to impose stress conditions above wilting point for long enough to produce detectable effects on growth. The results of water stress experiments may depend as much on the duration and timing of the periods of stress as on the level of stress imposed.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Determination of Surface Relaxivity in Permeable Media

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments are used to characterize microscopic pore structures in permeable media. NMR relaxation distributions are determined from inversion−recovery experiments, and the surface relaxivity is used to scale relaxation to pore size. The surface relaxivity can be estimated from PFGSTE (pulsed field gradient stimulated echo) experiments. The current methods for determining surface relaxivities from NMR experiments are based on asymptotic approximations to time-dependent apparent diffusivity. However, experimental observations within ranges of time for which such approximations are valid might not be possible. We present a new method for determining surface relaxivity from PFGSTE experimental data that is free from such restrictions on experimental times.
Competence in Everyday Activities as a Predictor of Cognitive Risk and Mortality

This study examined the association of a performance-based measure of everyday functioning with clinically meaningful outcomes. Elderly participants in a prospective study of dementia were assessed at two occasions on the Everyday Problems Test for Cognitively Challenged Elderly (EPCCE), a performance-based measure of everyday functioning. Older adults who remained cognitively intact performed approximately 0.66 SD units higher on the EPCCE at both occasions than elders rated as impaired, when covarying on age, education, gender, and cognitive status. Relative to the nonimpaired participants, decline in EPCCE performance over a 2-year interval was significantly greater for impaired participants and those participants who transitioned from nonimpaired to impaired over the course of the study. Increased risk of mortality was associated with lower baseline scores and decline in EPCCE performance even after controlling for demographic variables and performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Given the clinical importance of identifying "at risk" elders for impairment, the findings from this study provide initial evidence for the predictive utility of performance-based measures of everyday functioning.
Variations in Learning, Motivation, and Perceived Immediacy between Live and Distance Education Classrooms

One‐hundred and twenty lower division and 49 upper division undergraduate students enrolled in a small Midwestern university were randomly assigned to three experimental educational settings: a live classroom, a video classroom, and an audio with Powerpoint display classroom. The lower division students viewed a brief lecture presented in the live classroom and simulcast to the other two settings. The upper division students viewed a 45 minute lecture presented in the live classroom and simulcast to the other two settings. The impact of the settings on participant learning, motivation, and perceived teacher immediacy was assessed in both studies. Perceived instructor immediacy was significantly higher for the live setting. For the longer lecture, motivation, perceived learning, affect toward the instructor, and willingness to enroll with instructor all varied significantly and were highest in the live setting. Actual short‐term learning varied significantly and was highest for the Powerpoint classroom. St...
The Neverending Saga of Library Theft

Abstract Perhaps one of the most condoned of crimes in the community and on campus is mutilation and theft of library materials. The work of artful thieves is costing libraries millions of dollars yearly. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) indicate how monumental the problem of library theft is, (2) to highlight some major perpetrators of library crimc-their personalities and motivations (biographical method) as well as their’ legal defenses when apprehended and prosecuted, (3) to review current research on campus to deter library theft, and (4) to make recommendations on proactive, well planned programs to deter theft and how to react when thefts occur. Highlighted will be studies of “typical” college library Ihieves, good and poor library security programs, and how libraries need to have better theft avoidance techniques.
DNA FRAGMENTATION CAUSED BY REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN VIVO WITHOUT INCREASED 8-OH-dG CONTENTS. • 458

Administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of diquat to Fischer-344 rats causes acute hepatic necrosis by mechanisms that appear to involve increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The oxidation of biological molecules should be pivotal in the expression of the injury, but the specific targets critical to expression of this injury are not known. Hepatic DNA fragmentation (% of total) was increased in diquat-treated animals (6.7±0.3 vs. 24.9±5.1 at 2 h; 4.6±0.3 vs. 57.2±4.1 at 6 h, P<0.001) and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of hepatic DNA was observed. However, 8-OHdG contents in hepatic DNA were not increased by diquat (35.3±6.2 mol 8OHdG/106 mol dG) over controls (28.3±2.6). We assessed protein thiol status by derivatization of subcellular fractions with monobromobimane and separation of the fluorescent derivatives by SDS-PAGE. No differences from saline-treated controls were seen in animals 2 or 6 h after diquat, despite documentation of oxidant stress by contents of glutathione disulfide and of hepatic injury by elevation of plasma transaminase activities. Plasma ammonia concentrations increased in diquat-treated rats from 49±9 in controls to 170±22 μM 6 h after diquat(P<0.002). Hepatic glutamine synthetase activities were lower in diquat-treated rats (39.7±3.0 mU/mg pro) than in controls(65.8±3.4, P<0.001), but activities of carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I, which is a mitochondrial enzyme, were not decreased significantly. Supported by NIH grants GM44263 and GM39338.
Trends in age verification among U.S. adolescents attempting to buy cigarettes at retail stores, 2000-2009.

Objective This study assessed trends in age verification prior to cigarette sales to U.S. middle and high school students, and refusal to sell cigarettes to students aged < 18 years during 2000–2009. Method Data were obtained from the 2000–2009 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Trends during 2000–2009 were assessed using binary logistic regression (p < 0.05). Result The proportion of all students, who reported being asked to show proof of age prior to a cigarette purchase in the past 30 days did not change significantly between 2000 (46.9%) and 2009 (44.9%) (p = 0.529 for linear trend). No significant trend in the proportion of students aged < 18 years who were refused a sale when attempting to buy cigarettes was observed between 2000 (39.8%) and 2009 (36.7%) (p = 0.283 for linear trend). Refusal of a cigarette sale was significantly higher among under-aged boys compared to girls (adjusted odds ratio = 1.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.28–1.70). Conclusion About half of U.S. middle and high school students who reported making a cigarette purchase were not asked for proof of age, and about three of five under-aged buyers successfully made a cigarette purchase in 2009. Intensified implementation and enforcement of policies requiring age verification among youths is warranted to reduce access and use of tobacco products.
Effect of boundary layer transport on the fixation of carbon by the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera

The uptake of inorganic carbon into the thallus of Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. requires first that the inorganic carbon pass through the water medium to the plant surface. This transfer of inorganic carbon to the thallus must take place through a boundary layer. Experiments in water tunnels indicate that the boundary layer adjacent to the M. pyrifera blade may be turbulent in water speeds as low as 1 cm sec-1. Photosynthetic output of the blade can be increased by a factor of 300% by increasing water speeds over the blade surface from 0 to 4 cm sec-1. This is consistent with a decrease in the thickness of the boundary layer. Above 4 cm sec-1, the assimilation of carbon was limiting. The assimilation of carbon is generally known to follow Michaelis-Menten-like kinetics. Combining the two uptake steps into an overall model of carbon uptake agrees well with photosynthetic data obtained from M. pyrifera under varying conditions of water speed and bicarbonate concentrations in the laboratory. The ecological and morphological consequences of these findings are discussed.
Immunochemical characteristics of urinary proteoses associated with streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

The immunologic uniqueness of the urinary α1-acid glycoprotein, proteose, is compared to its serum counterpart, orosomucoid. It is shown that the urinary proteins may display a patient specificity not seen in the serum proteins. The role of sialic acid and its effect on proteose immunogenicity as well as antigenicity is discussed.
Trabecular carcinoma of the skin. An ultrastructural study

We report the electron microscopic studies of three trabecular carcinomas of the skin. The presence of neurosecretory granules in all three tumors suggests that trabecular carcinoma originates from one of the neurocrest derivatives, most probably, Merkel cells. The ultrastructural findings confirm Toker's original concept that trabecular carcinomas comprise a distinct group of skin tumor. The recognition of these tumors would enable one to make such a diagnosis on frozen section, which, in turn, might provide an opportunity for more specific cytochemical and immunofluorescent characterization.
Interferon produced by cultures of calf kidney cells.

CERTAIN influenza A viruses multiply readily in bovine kidney cells1. Calf kidney cells infected with the influenza A strain WS produce virus continuously for about 2 days and then cease to do so. Few cells degenerate. After a few more days influenza virus begins to appear again (Fig. 1). Periods in which the amount of virus formed rises and falls may alternate in this way for up to three months. Cultures, infected 6–12 days previously, which were yielding no detectable influenza virus haemagglutinins, were found to be resistant to superinfection with Sendai virus. No haemagglutinin was produced and no degeneration occurred.
Radar research on thunderstorms and lightning

Applications of Doppler radar to detection of storm hazards are reviewed. Normal radar sweeps reveal data on reflectivity fields of rain drops, ionized lightning paths, and irregularities in humidity and temperature. Doppler radar permits identification of the targets' speed toward or away from the transmitter through interpretation of the shifts in the microwave frequency. Wind velocity fields can be characterized in three dimensions by the use of two radar units, with a Nyquist limit on the highest wind speeds that may be recorded. Comparisons with models numerically derived from Doppler radar data show substantial agreement in storm formation predictions based on information gathered before the storm. Examples are provided of tornado observations with expanded Nyquist limits, gust fronts, turbulence, lightning and storm structures. Obtaining vertical velocities from reflectivity spectra is discussed.
A Method-of-Moments Estimation Procedure for Categorical Quality-of-Life Data with Nonignorable Missingness

Abstract Quality-of-life outcomes collected during clinical trials often have considerable amounts of missing data, which, if not appropriately accounted for, may lead to bias in inferences. We introduce a method-of-moments (MM) estimating procedure for a model designed to handle nonignorable missingness arising in categorical data measured on independent populations. The missingness mechanism is assumed to be the same across the populations. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the identifiability of the model and fit the model to quality-of-life data collected as part of a breast cancer clinical trial. We compare the MM estimator to the maximum likelihood estimator in a simulation study.
Religion in the Workplace: Correlates and Consequences of Individual Behavior

Religion is an increasingly important aspect of diversity management. However, while much scholarly work exists regarding spirituality, little addresses relationships between religiosity and individual outcomes that may affect organizational functioning. Reviewing past research from psychology and management literatures, this paper describes correlates of religiosity that may affect individual behavior in the workplace, such as physical and mental health, coping, concern for others, creativity, commitment, ethical behavior, prejudice, intelligence and personality. Recommendations for future research call for theory-based conceptualizations with well-articulated measures conducted in organizational samples.
Plasminogen and Plasminogen Activator Assembly on the Human Endothelial Cell

Through assembly of plasminogen and its activators, the endothelial cell surface may provide a favorable environment for constitutive generation of plasmin. This system may be regulated at multiple levels. Abundant expression of a 40-kDa protein with dual ligand-binding capacity may promote cell surface plasmin formation by colocalizing t-PA and plasminogen in a catalytically favorable configuration. Conversion of Glu-PLG to the preactivated form Lys-PLG, in the vicinity of the cell surface, may also precede plasmin formation. Physiologic concentrations of Lp(a), furthermore, may serve to modulate plasminogen activation at the cell surface by competing for binding sites, whereas elevated levels of Lp(a) might suppress this mechanism and lead to a subclinical prothrombotic state. Finally, cell surface binding sites for both plasmin and t-PA appear to protect these molecules from their physiologic antagonists, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor and plasminogen activator inhibitor, type-1, respectively. Plasmin formation may contribute to the nonthrombogenicity of the blood vessel wall.
Diamond homoepitaxy by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Gem-quality single crystals of diamond were grown by homoepitaxy using microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition. Raman spectra of the (001) films show very low background and the narrowest width at half maximum of the 1332 cm −1 peak was 1.7 cm −1 . A prism crystal 1.2 mm high was grown in the 〈110〉 direction at 1200°C and 1% CH 4 in H 2 . Its Raman peak has a width of 2.7 cm −1 . Homoepitaxy is a tool used to study growth processes by analyzing the geometrical details of surfaces morphologies. Growth steps on the (001) surface develop in the 〈110〉 directions while triangular plates appear on the (111) surface. The (110) atomic plane does not appear in the 〈110〉 growth direction with microfaceted (111) and (111) planes present instead. Crystal structure of diamond grown on the (001), (111), (110) substrates, as well as growth sectors developed in conjunction with this epitaxy, were studied by X-ray diffraction techniques: Laue, oscillation and rotation methods. Atomic force microscopy reached atomic resolution on the (001) surface. The presence of a 2.12 A reflection demonstrates distortion of cubic symmetry and deformation of carbon tetrahedra in the case of (111) epitaxy. In the 〈110〉 growth sector a polytype/superstructure network with periodicity three times larger than that of the cubic form was determined. In general it is possible to form tetrahedral carbons with the sequence of tetrahedra different from that of cubic and hexagonal diamonds.
Development and future use of the echelon-cross-echelle spectrograph on SOFIA

The Echelon-cross-Echelle Spectrograph (EXES) will provide the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) with high spectral resolution capabilities in the mid-infrared. EXES will have a maximum spectral resolving power of 100,000 along with lower resolution options (R=10,000; R=3000). EXES on SOFIA will provide sensitivity and spectral resolution never before available from an orbital or sub-orbital platform. Because of the wealth of molecular features in the EXES spectral range, 4.5 to 28.3 μm, and the dramatic reduction in telluric atmospheric interfence provided by SOFIA, EXES will be particularly relevant for studies of the solar system, star formation and the interstellar medium. We report on the EXES design and current status, provide descriptions of observing modes and sensitivity estimates, discuss the calibration and likely data products, and describe the potential gains of incorporating a 1024 × 1024, low-background, Si:As detector array.
A Hybrid-Systems Based Algorithm for Optimal Trajectory Generation with Obstacle Avoidance for an MAV Swarm

ight path optimization is presented. Both the obstacle avoidance algorithm and the ight path optimization method have been simulated and the results show that both of the proposed algorithms give high performance while being computationally ecient.
The status of Clarkia australis (Onagraceae)

Clarkia australis and C. virgata grow on the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada of California. Clarkia australis was established to accommodate populations of C. virgata from south of the Tuolumne River that could not be successfully hybridized to populations north of the river. Although the species is maintained in the new Jepson Manual, its validity has been questioned because only two populations were originally tested, and they had no useful morphological traits that distinguished them from C. virgata. We report here the results of a large program of interpopulation hybridizations that show that C. australis is distinct and that its reproductive isolation from C. virgata is complete and absolute and reflects a compatibility block that apparently causes abortion of hybrid seeds in early development. Both species include populations north and south of the Tuolumne River and, in general, those of C. australis occupy higher elevations. Morphologically, the species are extremely similar though the mean values of several dimensions of the petals are different. However, significant variation among their populations has the consequence that, at present, the only certain way to assign particular populations to species is to test their compatibility with previously tested populations. Prior to the present use of molecular evidence to infer phylogenetic relationships among plant species, the most convincing evidence generally resulted from cytogenetic analyses of interspecific F1 hybrids that revealed chromosomal homologies. In cases in which there was an aneuploid change in chromosome number, it was often possible to ascertain the direction of evolution and show that a Species A gave rise to Species B (Tobgy, 1943; Sherman, 1946; Lewis and Roberts, 1956; Small, 1971a; Jackson, 1962; Kyhos, 1965; Smith, 1974; Carr, 1975, 1980). Small (1971a) studied the diploid species of Clarkia sect. Myxocarpa, native to the northern and central Sierra Nevada of California. At the start of his analyses, only two diploid species were known in the section: C. mildrediae (n
Fandom and male privilege: Seven years later

In 2005, clashes by male comics fans entering spaces created by (predominantly female) slash fans led to an essay exploring the role of male privilege in media fandom. Despite many changes both in fandom and media texts, the essay continues to be relevant today.
Examining Factors Associated with IT Disaster Preparedness

Despite its importance, IT disaster recovery and preparedness remains an under researched topic. The purpose of this paper is to explore variables associated with different levels of disaster preparedness. Evidence from a survey of U.S. organizations supports the notion of viewing disaster recovery in a strategic role where organizational commitment and support are critical for all levels of preparedness. In companies that are not legally obligated to have a disaster recovery plan, a more innovative technology strategy was significantly related to greater disaster preparedness. Finally, the role of top management resistance was evident in a comparison of organizations that regularly updated their plans versus those that did not. The research also showed the need for an approach that links disaster recovery planning research to specific business strategies and objectives when examining reliance on IT. Both operational as well as strategic reliance were significant antecedents of disaster preparedness in this study.
Capability Traps? The Mechanisms of Persistent Implementation Failure 1

Many countries remain stuck in situations of low productivity (and hence lower GDP per capita and widespread poverty). This has been both well documented as a fact and has attracted many explanations, both of the deep structural causes of such stagnation as well as the more proximate mechanisms that allow and facilitate persistent slow growth. Economic growth is only one dimension of development; another is the expansion of the administrative capability of the state, the capability that allows governments to affect the course of events by implementing policies and programs. We document that many countries in the world remain in "state capability traps" in which the capability of the state to implement is both severely limited and improving (if at all) only very slowly: at their current pace of progress such countries would take hundreds (if not thousands) of years to reach the levels of high capability countries. We then explore how this can be so. That is, we do not attempt to explain why countries remain in capability traps - this would require a historical, political and social analysis - and an analysis that was unique to each country. Rather we focus on how countries manage to engage in the domestic and international logics of "development" and yet fail to acquire capability. What are the techniques of failures? Two stand out. First, 'big development' encourage progress through importing standard responses to predetermined problems. This encourages isomorphic mimicry as a technique of failure: the adoption of the forms of other functional states and organizations which camouflages a persistent lack of function. Second, an inadequate theory of developmental change reinforces a fundamental mismatch between expectations and the actual capacity of prevailing administrative systems to implement even the most routine administrative tasks. This leads to premature load bearing in which wishful thinking about the pace of progress and unrealistic expectations about the level and rate of improvement of capability lead to stresses and demands on systems that cause capability to weaken (if not collapse). A companion paper (Andrews, Pritchett and Woolcock 2010) explores how to create conditions for progress by sabotaging the techniques of failure.
Three-dimensional computational prediction of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the human brain

A three-dimensional model of the human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces is presented. Patient-specific brain geometries were reconstructed from magnetic resonance images. The model was validated by comparing the predicted flow rates with Cine phase-contrast MRI measurements. The model predicts the complex CSF flow patterns and pressures in the ventricular system and subarachnoid space of a normal subject. The predicted maximum rostral to caudal CSF flow in the pontine cistern precedes the maximum rostral to caudal flow in the ventricles by about 10% of the cardiac cycle. This prediction is in excellent agreement with the subject-specific flow data. The computational results quantify normal intracranial dynamics and provide a basis for analyzing diseased intracranial dynamics.
Female Genito-urethroplasty and Submucosal Periurethral Collagen Injection as Adjunctive Procedures for Continence in the Exstrophy-epispadias Complex Preliminary Results

Continence is the main goal in the treatment of patients with bladder exstrophy and prognosis is necessarily long-term. Over an 8-year period, 44 patients presented with bladder exstrophy and/or incontinent epispadias. Twenty-five bladder closures (7 secondary), 23 male urethroplasties, 19 bladder neck (BN) reconstructions and 6 bladder augmentations were performed in these patients. In 18 children 2 additional procedures were employed in the last 3 years: female genito-urethroplasty (15) and submucosal periurethral collagen injection (11). Eight children underwent both procedures. Genito-urethroplasty and collagen injection were performed before BN reconstruction in 6 and 5 cases respectively, in order to increase bladder outlet resistance. The submucosal injection was performed at 3, 9 and 12 o'clock in the BN or sphincteric urethra, using 0.75 to 2.5 ml of cross-linked bovine collagen. Continence in the children who underwent the complete staged reconstruction was good in 58%, fair in 32% and poor in 11%. Following female genito-urethroplasty and periurethral collagen injection, bladder capacities increased by 25%. These complementary procedures are effective in increasing outlet resistance and bladder capacity in patients with exstrophy and/or epispadias; they may improve continence and lessen the need for further bladder augmentation.
Control-oriented modeling of diesel engine gas exchange

Modeling and control of the gas exchange process in modern diesel engines is critical for the promotion and control of advanced combustion strategies. However, most modeling efforts to date use complex stand-alone simulation packages that are not easily integrated into, or amenable for the synthesis of, engine control systems. Simpler control-oriented models have been developed, however in many cases they do not directly capture the complete dynamic interaction of air handling system components and flows in multi-cylinder diesel engines with variable geometry turbocharging and high pressure exhaust gas recirculation. This paper describes a simple, low order model of the air handling system for a multi-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with cooled exhaust recirculation, validated against engine test data.
Stearoyl-Coenzyme A Desaturase 1 Gene Expression Increases after Pioglitazone Treatment and Is Associated with Peroxisomal Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Responsiveness

Context and Objective: Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD1) is the rate-limiting enzyme that converts palmitoyl- and stearoyl-coenzyme A to palmitoleoyl- and oleoyl-cownzyme A, respectively. SCD-deficient mice are protected from obesity, and the ob/ob mouse has high levels of SCD. This study was designed to better characterize SCD1 gene and protein expression in humans with varying insulin sensitivity. Design, Participants, and Setting: In a university hospital clinical research center setting, SCD1 gene expression was measured in sc adipose and vastus lateralis muscle of 86 nondiabetic subjects; 10 wk of pioglitazone (45 mg daily) and metformin (1000 mg twice daily) treatment were assessed in 36 impaired glucose-tolerant subjects. Adipocytes were treated with pioglitazone, and SCD1 expression was attenuated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to examine other adipocyte genes. Results: There was no significant relationship between adipose or muscle SCD1 mRNA and either body mass index or insulin sensitivity. After pioglitazone (but not metformin) treatment, there was a 2-fold increase in SCD1 mRNA and protein in adipose tissue. Pioglitazone also increased SCD1 in vitro. There were significant positive correlations between SCD1 and peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) as well as other PPARγ-responsive genes, including lipin-β, AGPAT2, RBP4, adiponectin receptors, CD68, and MCP1. When SCD1 expression was inhibited with a siRNA, lipin-β, AGPAT2, and the adiponectin R2 receptor expression were decreased, and adipocyte MCP-1 was increased. Conclusions: SCD1 is closely linked to PPARγ expression in humans, and is increased by PPARγ agonists. The change in expression of some downstream PPARγ targets after SCD1 knockdown suggests that PPARγ up-regulation of SCD1 leads to increased lipogenesis and potentiation of adiponectin signaling.
An Absorption Approach to Modeling the US Current Account

This paper derives and estimates a current account model based on the absorption approach (which views the current account balance as the difference between domestic saving and investment). This approach provides a framework which allows drivers of cross-border financial flows and other determinants of saving and investment to be included in a current account model, an advantage not offered by the elasticity approach (which views the current account balance as the sum of net exports, net investment income, and net unilateral transfer). We estimate and compare vector error-correction models of the absorption and elasticity approaches, with the absorption model nesting the elasticity model. We find that (1) the restrictions imposed by the elasticity model are rejected; and (2) the mean-squared prediction errors of the absorption model are significantly smaller than those of the elasticity model.
Inflammation, mitochondria, and the inhibition of adult neurogenesis

The process of neurogenesis continues throughout life, with thousands of new neurons generated every day in the mammalian brain. Impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis has been suggested to be involved in neurodegenerative conditions, including the cognitive decline associated with aging, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ionizing radiation. These neurodegenerative conditions are all characterized by proinflammatory changes and increased numbers of activated microglia. Activated microglia produce a variety of proinflammatory factors, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide, all of which are antineurogenic. These same factors have also been shown to suppress mitochondrial function, but the role of mitochondria in neurogenesis remains barely investigated. This brief review summarizes the findings of several studies that support a role for mitochondrial impairment as part of the mechanism of the reduction of neurogenesis associated with inflammation.
Sentence Dependency Tagging in Online Question Answering Forums

Online forums are becoming a popular resource in the state of the art question answering (QA) systems. Because of its nature as an online community, it contains more updated knowledge than other places. However, going through tedious and redundant posts to look for answers could be very time consuming. Most prior work focused on extracting only question answering sentences from user conversations. In this paper, we introduce the task of sentence dependency tagging. Finding dependency structure can not only help find answer quickly but also allow users to trace back how the answer is concluded through user conversations. We use linear-chain conditional random fields (CRF) for sentence type tagging, and a 2D CRF to label the dependency relation between sentences. Our experimental results show that our proposed approach performs well for sentence dependency tagging. This dependency information can benefit other tasks such as thread ranking and answer summarization in online forums.
Interspecific- and Acclimation-Induced Variation in Levels of Heat-Shock Proteins 70 (hsp70) and 90 (hsp90) and Heat-Shock Transcription Factor-1 (HSF1) in Congeneric Marine Snails (Genus Tegula ): Implications for Regulation of hsp Gene Expression

In our previous studies of heat-shock protein (hsp) expression in congeneric marine gastropods of the genus Tegula, we observed interspecific and acclimation-induced variation in the temperatures at which heat-shock gene expression is induced (T(on)). To investigate the factors responsible for these inter- and intraspecific differences in T(on), we tested the predictions of the 'cellular thermometer' model for the transcriptional regulation of hsp expression. According to this model, hsps not active in chaperoning unfolded proteins bind to a transcription factor, heat-shock factor-1 (HSF1), thereby reducing the levels of free HSF1 that are available to bind to the heat-shock element, a regulatory element upstream of hsp genes. Under stress, hsps bind to denatured proteins, releasing HSF1, which can now activate hsp gene transcription. Thus, elevated levels of heat-shock proteins of the 40, 70 and 90 kDa families (hsp 40, hsp70 and hsp90, respectively) would be predicted to elevate T(on). Conversely, elevated levels of HSF1 would be predicted to decrease T(on). Following laboratory acclimation to 13, 18 and 23 degrees C, we used solid-phase immunochemistry (western analysis) to quantify endogenous levels of two hsp70 isoforms (hsp74 and hsp72), hsp90 and HSF1 in the low- to mid-intertidal species Tegula funebralis and in two subtidal to low-intertidal congeners, T. brunnea and T. montereyi. We found higher endogenous levels of hsp72 (a strongly heat-induced isoform) at 13 and 18 degrees C in T. funebralis in comparison with T. brunnea and T. montereyi. However, T. funebralis also had higher levels of HSF1 than its congeners. The higher levels of HSF1 in T. funebralis cannot, within the framework of the cellular thermometer model, account for the higher T(on) observed for this species, although they may explain why T. funebralis is able to induce the heat-shock response more rapidly than T. brunnea. However, the cellular thermometer model does appear to explain the cause of the increases in T(on) that occurred during warm acclimation of the two subtidal species, in which warm acclimation was accompanied by increased levels of hsp72, hsp74 and hsp90, whereas levels of HSF1 remained stable. T. funebralis, which experiences greater heat stress than its subtidal congeners, consistently had higher ratios of hsp72 to hsp74 than its congeners, although the sum of levels of the two isoforms was similar for all three species except at the highest acclimation temperature (23 degrees C). The ratio of hsp72 to hsp74 may provide a more accurate estimate of environmental heat stress than the total concentrations of both hsp70 isoforms.
Structural concepts for disordered inorganic solids. Modern NMR approaches and strategies. Invited review

Many technologically interesting materials properties are caused by intrinsic structural or dynamic disorder phenomena in solids. For this reason, the structural characterization of disordered states constitutes a central aspect of materials science. Within the past decade, nuclear magnetic resonance techniques have made increasingly significant and detailed contributions to this subject. The present review will portray some of the more common methods employed and discuss several important applications to problems in various inorganic materials areas.
Modeling Perceptual Similarity Measures in CT Images of Focal Liver Lesions

Motivation: A gold standard for perceptual similarity in medical images is vital to content-based image retrieval, but inter-reader variability complicates development. Our objective was to develop a statistical model that predicts the number of readers (N) necessary to achieve acceptable levels of variability. Materials and Methods: We collected 3 radiologists’ ratings of the perceptual similarity of 171 pairs of CT images of focal liver lesions rated on a 9-point scale. We modeled the readers’ scores as bimodal distributions in additive Gaussian noise and estimated the distribution parameters from the scores using an expectation maximization algorithm. We (a) sampled 171 similarity scores to simulate a ground truth and (b) simulated readers by adding noise, with standard deviation between 0 and 5 for each reader. We computed the mean values of 2–50 readers’ scores and calculated the agreement (AGT) between these means and the simulated ground truth, and the inter-reader agreement (IRA), using Cohen’s Kappa metric. Results: IRA for the empirical data ranged from =0.41 to 0.66. For between 1.5 and 2.5, IRA between three simulated readers was comparable to agreement in the empirical data. For these values , AGT ranged from =0.81 to 0.91. As expected, AGT increased with N, ranging from =0.83 to 0.92 for N = 2 to 50, respectively, with =2. Conclusion: Our simulations demonstrated that for moderate to good IRA, excellent AGT could nonetheless be obtained. This model may be used to predict the required N to accurately evaluate similarity in arbitrary size datasets.
A regiospecific total synthesis of ellipticine via nitrene insertion

Abstract Ellipticine, a 6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole alkaloid, has been regiospecifically synthesized by a general route which should allow for the preparation of a number of derivatives. The approach employs a versatile coupling reaction between phenylboronic acid and a substituted bromoisoquinoline followed by carbazole ring formation via a nitrene insertion reaction to give ellipticine.
Predictors of medication nonadherence among patients with diabetes in Medicare Part D programs: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objectives: This study examined the prevalence of nonadherence with oral hypoglycemic agents, antihypertensive drugs (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEIs] and angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARBs]), and statin medications among Medicare Part D enrollees with diabetes and analyzed the potential demographic and clinical factors that predict medication nonadherence. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare Part D enrollees with diabetes from 6 states (Alabama, California, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Ohio). Adherence was calculated as the proportion of days covered (PDC; number of days with medication on hand/number of days in the specified time interval). A PDC was derived for each of the 3 categories of medications for patients who had at least 1 claim for the same class of medication. A comorbidity measure was created for each beneficiary using the Deyoadapted Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Associations between nonadherence and patient characteristics including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and Deyo-adapted CCI were examined. Logistic regression models were constructed to identify predictors of nonadherence. Results: The study included 1,888,682 patients with diabetes. The mean (SD) age was 71.6 (11.6) years, and 59.5% (1,123,220/1,888,682) were female. A total of 66.4% (1,254,538/1,888,682) were white, 16.3% (308,158/1,888,682) were black, and 7.8% (147,498/1,888,682) were Hispanic. Estimated rates of non-adherence for oral hypoglycemic agents, ACEIs/ARBs, and statins were 35.1% (386,666/1,101,533), 41.8% (449,561/1,075,285), and 46.4% (447,106/962,877), respectively. In unadjusted analyses, patients aged P Conclusions: In this study of Medicare Part D enrollees with diabetes, patients aged
Solution of von-Kármán dynamic non-linear plate equations using a pseudo-spectral method

Abstract The von-Karman non-linear, dynamic, partial differential system over rectangular domains is solved by the Chebyshev-collocation method in space and the implicit Newmark-β time marching scheme in time. In the Newmark-β scheme, a non-linear fixed point iteration algorithm is employed. We monitor both temporal and spatial discretization errors based on derived analytical solutions, demonstrating highly accurate approximations. We also quantify the influence of a common modeling assumption which neglects the in-plane inertia terms in the full von-Karman system, demonstrating that it is justified. A comparison of our steady-state von-Karman solutions to previous results in the literature and to a three-dimensional high-order finite element analysis is performed, showing an excellent agreement. Other modeling assumptions such as neglecting in-plane quadratic terms in the strain expressions are also addressed.
Filter model for lightness and brightness on different backgrounds.

A filter model is proposed to account for the effects of background luminance on perceived brightness or lightness, of a target area. Special attention is focused on a crispening effect describable as a local increase of the rate of change of brightness with target luminance, as target luminance passes through the level of background luminance. The model is based on the assumption of competition, in the form of mutual-shunting-feedback inhibition, between target and surround.