cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equation of state of uranium dioxide

Abstract An equation for the free energy of formation of UO 2 (l) is derived. Using this equation, a new calculational method for estimating consistent values for the vapor pressure of a liquid compound has been applied to uranium dioxide. Equations for the partial pressure of all vapor species are calculated. Values of the liquid density to the critical point are presented.
Palaeobotanical evidence for a June 'impact winter' at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary

A LARGE bolide impact, such as that thought to have occurred at the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary, should produce large amounts of light-attenuating debris, thereby causing an 'impact winter'1–3. Because of thermal buffering in the oceans, evidence for a brief (1–2 months2–4) impact winter would be found only in terrestrial environments. Aquatic leaves in the K/T boundary section near Teapot Dome, Wyoming, preserve structural deformation that can be duplicated experimentally in extant aquatic leaves by freezing. Reproductive stages reached by the fossil aquatic plants at the time of death suggest that freezing took place in approximately early June. Both the existence of the structurally deformed plants and the high abundance of fern spores occur in a horizon containing sparse impact debris, but below the horizon containing abundant impact debris; I therefore suggest that the lower horizon represents debris and effects from a large, distant bolide impact, and the upper horizon represents a small, nearby bolide impact.
Inhibition of HIV-1 IIIb replication in AA-2 and NT-2 cells in culture by two ligands of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase: 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone and 5-iodo-6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone

The effects of two adenosine diphosphoribose transferase (ADPRT) enzyme inhibitory ligands, 6-amino-1,2-benzopyrone and its 5-iodo-derivative, were determined in AA-2 and MT-2 cell cultures on the replication of HIV-1 IIIb, assayed by an immunochemical test for the HIV protein p24, and syncytium formation, characteristic of HIV-infected cells. Intracellular concentrations of both drugs were sufficient to inhibit poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity within the intact cell. Both drugs inhibited HIV replication parallel to their inhibitory potency on ADPRT, but distinct differences were ascertained between the two cell lines. In AA-2 cells both p24 and syncytium formation were depressed simultaneously, whereas in MT-2 cells only syncytium formation was inhibited by the drugs, and the p24 production, which remained unchanged during viral growth, was unaffected. Both drugs only moderately depressed the growth rate of the AA-2 and MT-2 cells and there was no detectable cellular toxicity. Results suggest the feasibility of the development of a new line of ADPRT ligand anti-HIV drugs that fundamentally differ in their mode of action from currently used chemotherapeutics.
Supersymmetry breaking, heterotic strings and fluxes

Abstract In this paper we consider compactifications of heterotic strings in the presence of background flux. The background metric is a T2 fibration over a K3 base times four-dimensional Minkowski space. Depending on the choice of three-form flux different amounts of supersymmetry are preserved ( N = 2 , 1 , 0 ). For supersymmetric solutions unbroken space–time supersymmetry determines all background fields except one scalar function which is related to the dilaton. The heterotic Bianchi identity gives rise to a differential equation for the dilaton which we discuss in detail for solutions preserving an N = 2 supersymmetry. In this case the differential equation is of Laplace type and as a result the solvability is guaranteed.
Score-based intelligent home energy management (HEM) algorithm for demand response applications and impact of HEM operation on customer comfort

A home energy management (HEM) system plays an important role for residential demand response (DR) applications in the smart grid environment. Its role includes the ability to manage end-use electrical energy (kWh) and demand (kW) based on utility signals, load priorities and customer preference. This study presents a score-based intelligent HEM algorithm for residential DR applications and the impact of the HEM system operation on customer comfort in various HEM decision-making intervals (i.e. 1, 5, 10 and 15 min) at various DR requirements. The proposed algorithm manages selected household loads according to customers' preset comfort level settings and keeps the total household power consumption below a certain limit. Results indicate that the more stringent DR requirements lead to the higher level of customer comfort violations during a DR event. In addition, the longer HEM decision-making intervals may lead to the higher level of customer comfort violations.
A statistical approach to control porosity in silica-doped alumina supports

Abstract A split-plot statistical design was used to identify and systematically study the effects of synthesis variables on the pore properties of silica-doped alumina (SDA) from data obtained for 96 samples. Seven preparation variables (mixing method, time, environment; calcination ramp rate; drying temperature, environment; and alcohol concentration) were found to alter surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter over wide ranges, i.e. factors of 1.8, 1.4, and 3.3, respectively. Large pore diameters (>40 nm) were obtained by addition of excess alcohol. Large pore volumes (>2 cm3/g) were obtained by drying before calcination at 100 °C for 24 h. High surface area (>400 m2/g) was obtained when no alcohol was used. The gamma phase of all SDA samples was thermally stable to 1200 °C. Using split-plot statistical analysis of the experimental data, models were developed which predict quantitatively the relationship between surface properties (surface area, pore volume and pore diameters) and synthesis parameters. Based on these models, optimal conditions to produce SDA samples with large (40–60 nm) or medium (16–19 nm) pore diameters, high surface area (>250 m2/g) and large pore volume (>1 cm3/g) are quantitatively predicted. Model predictions of optimal conditions were accurately confirmed by follow-up experiments. The chemistry underlying these predictions is also addressed.
Invited Paper: Learning and Belief Based Trade

Usamos la teoria del aprendizaje en juegos para demostrar que el resultado de ausencia de comercio (no-trade result) no requiere que las ganancias del comercio sean conocimiento comun o que el juego sea un equilibrio de Nash
Relaxation of optically excited carriers in graphene

We explore the relaxation of photoexcited graphene by solving a transient Boltzmann transport equation with electron-phonon (e-ph) and electron-electron (e-e) scattering. Simulations show that when the excited carriers are relaxed by e-ph scattering only, a population inversion can be achieved at energies determined by the photon energy. However, e-e scattering quickly thermalizes the carrier energy distributions washing out the negative optical conductivity peaks. The relaxation rates and carrier multiplication effects are presented as a function of photon energy, graphene doping, and dielectric constant.
Genomics: Variations in blood lipids

What is the new gold standard for genome-wide association studies? As exemplified by analyses of blood lipids, it is collaboration to amass huge sample sizes and functional studies of the genes identified.
Investigating the Dynamic Behavior of TCR Microclusters by a Gold Nanoparticle Array

T cell receptor (TCR) microclusters play an important role in early signaling in T cells, and their properties and dynamic behavior are the active target of research. TCR microclusters are, however, difficult to study because their size is too small for conventional fluorescence microscopy and too large for physicochemical methods that depend on proximity effect such as FRET. We developed a new platform for probing and manipulating TCR microclusters by mechanical means. A two-dimensional array of gold nanoparticles is embedded on the glass substrate. A supported membrane, which acts as a surrogate cell membrane that has laterally fluid ligand molecules for cells, was deposited on a glass substrate with a regular array of gold nanoparticles. The supported membrane interacted with T cells and the behavior of TCR microclusters on the T cell surface was effectively altered by the gold nanoparticles. This platform offers many opportunities for studying this poorly understood size regime of protein assemblies.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Human-aided and natural dispersal drive gene flow across the range of an invasive mosquito.

Human-aided transport is responsible for many contemporary species introductions, yet the contribution of human-aided transport to dispersal within non-native regions is less clear. Understanding dispersal dynamics for invasive species can streamline mitigation efforts by targeting routes that contribute disproportionally to spread. Because of its limited natural dispersal ability, rapid spread of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has been attributed to human-aided transport, but until now, the relative roles of human-aided and natural movement have not been rigorously evaluated. Here, we use landscape genetics and information-theoretic model selection to evaluate 52 models representing 9240 pairwise dispersal paths among sites across the US range for Ae. albopictus and show that recent gene flow reflects a combination of natural and human-aided dispersal. Highways and water availability facilitate dispersal at a broad spatial scale, but gene flow is hindered by forests at the current distributional limit (range edge) and by agriculture among sites within the mosquito's native climatic niche (range core). Our results show that highways are important to genetic structure between range-edge and range-core pairs, suggesting a role for human-aided mosquito transport to the range edge. In contrast, natural dispersal is dominant at smaller spatial scales, reflecting a shifting dominance to natural movement two decades after introduction. These conclusions highlight the importance of (i) early intervention for species introductions, particularly those with readily dispersed dormant stages and short generation times, and (ii) strict monitoring of commercial shipments for transported immature stages of Ae. albopictus, particularly towards the northern edge of the US range.
Critical Pulmonary Stenosis in Infants Less than Three Months of Age: A Reappraisal of Closed Transventricular Pulmonary Valvotomy

Sixteen patients less than 3 months of age underwent closed transventricular pulmonary valvotomy for critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum. There were 14 survivors; the 2 deaths were unrelated to the technique. Early and late results reveal good hemodynamics in all but 1 patient who underwent open valvotomy four years later for restenosis. We have used this technique exclusively, as it is safe, requires little preparation for operative relief in the very sick infant, and the early and late results are excellent.
Knee resistance during passive stretch in patients with hypertonia

The aims of the study were to determine by a portable method (1) whether velocity-dependent changes in knee resistance in patients with spastic paresis differ from those in non-disabled subjects, and (2) whether biomechanical measures of resistance can differentiate between neural and other factors that contribute to hypertonia (increased resistance). Biomechanical (hand-hold dynamometer, electrogoniometer) and bioelectrical (EMG) measures of resistance were evaluated under static (slow stretch) and dynamic (fast stretch) conditions in twenty patients with hypertonia and 19 non-disabled subjects. Measures calculated for non-disabled subjects (control limbs) were compared to those calculated for patients (spastic limbs). Biomechanical measures of resistance did not differ strongly between groups of spastic and control limbs and between spastic limbs having different origins of knee hypertonia (neural vs. other), due to substantial variability. In contrary the static and dynamic bioelectrical measures of muscles activation were substantially larger in spastic limbs than in control limbs (p < 0.05). The variability of biomechanical measures of resistance was due to varied patterns of muscle activation in response to stretch. We concluded that the biomechanical measures of hypertonia did not discriminate spastic patients from non-disabled subjects. To classify various types of knee hypertonia, the portable method should include not only analysis of biomechanical but also EMG characteristics of hypertonia. It is expected that the functional status of patients would be better predicted using clinical and quantitative measures of impairment if different classes of hypertonia (defined by different patterns of activation) were analyzed separately rather than analyzing the heterogeneous patient population as a whole.
Landscape and seasonal factors influence Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence in a rural mixed use watershed

Abstract Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence in stream networks of the Satilla River Basin (SRB) were monitored monthly from August 2007 to August 2009 to study relationships between these pathogens and land use, presence of poultry houses and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge. Salmonella and Campylobacter were detected at all 10 stream sites and the three sites at the sole wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the study area. In all, 43% (129/299) and 62% (96/156) of samples were positive for Salmonella and Campylobacter , respectively, with detection frequency increasing in downstream sites with more poultry production and influence of WWTP discharge. Both Salmonella and Campylobacter detection frequencies were positively associated with the number of poultry houses in the subwatersheds, but agricultural land use as a proportion of the watershed was not a significant predictor of either pathogen. Fecal indicator bacterial levels were assessed and evaluated for their ability to predict the presence of pathogens. Of those examined, enterococci was most predictive; of the 129 samples positive for Salmonella , 88% (113/129) were detected when enterococci were above EPA single sample threshold (61 CFU 100 ml -1 ); and of the 96 samples positive for Campylobacter , 90% (86/96) were detected when enterococci levels exceeded this level. Comparatively, Escherichia coli concentrations were above EPA single sample thresholds in 38% (49/129) of the positive Salmonella samples. Detection of the pathogens throughout the watershed indicated that there was potential for waterborne transmission especially in downstream areas that were more likely to have recreational users.
On the Design of Perspective Displays

Perspective displays are a form of information display which capture many of the geometric features of a real environment. How their representational and analytic functions may be balanced is illustrated in terms of informative geometric distortions that may be introduced to aid communication of specific spatial messages.
Enhancement of gap junctional intercellular communication in tumor promoter-treated cells by components of green tea.

Abstract Green tea ( Camellia sinensis ) has been reported to inhibit tumor promotion in vivo and in vitro. Many tumor promoters inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) which may be an important mechanism of promotion. In the present study, we hypothesized that green tea would enhance GJIC in promoter-treated cells. An aqueous extract of green tea (GTE) and several of its constituents were tested for their effects on GJIC in p,p′ -dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)-, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)- and dieldrin-treated WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. All three promoters inhibited GJIC in a dose-responsive manner at non-cytolethal concentrations. GTE (10–80 γ/ml) enhanced GJIC 20–80% in promoter-treated cells. (−Epigallocatechin gallate and (−)-epicatechin gallate also enhanced GJIC in DDT-treated cells, but no effects were seen with (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, (−)-epigallocatechin, caffeine, or theobromine. These data suggest GTE may inhibit tumor promotion by enhancing GJIC and that the most active components are the catechin gallates.
A postmodern feminist view of “reasonableness” in hostile environment sexual harassment

This standard has been endorsed by many authors.2 Yet, this standard poses problems for many femi nists. "Reasonableness" admits of a deconstruction that exposes the hegemony of the rational, the cognitive, over the emotional or affective in law. Reasonableness, particularly as incorporated in an "objective" standard for judging perceptions of or responses to sexual harassment, becomes a vehicle for the implicit use of the economically rational cost/benefit analysis, a way of "mediating the con tradiction between individual liberty and collective security."3 It allows the legal system to maintain a separation of, and preference for, public over private spheres of conduct. Reasonableness is often justified
Fixing the Semantics for Dynamic Controllability and Providing a More Practical Characterization of Dynamic Execution Strategies

Morris, Muscettola and Vidal (MMV) presented an algorithm for checking the dynamic controllability (DC) of temporal networks in which certain temporal durations are beyond the control of the planning agent.Their DC-checking algorithm is based on rules for inferring new constraints based on the real-time context within which execution decisions must be made. This paper presents a counter-example to demonstrate that some of the inference rules are, in fact, not sound.The paper fixes the problem by strengthening the definition of dynamic execution strategies to correctly capture the central prohibition against advance knowledge of future events. The new definition enables MMV's soundness proof to go through with minimal changes. It then uses the stronger definition to derive an equivalent, alternative characterization of dynamic execution strategies that highlights the real-time execution decisions that a planning agent must make. The procedural strategy used by MMV in their completeness proof is shown to satisfy the stronger definition,thus ensuring that the DC-checking algorithm is also complete with respect to the stronger definition. As a result, the paper puts MMV's DC-checking algorithm on a more solid theoretical foundation, while also providing a more practical characterization of dynamic execution strategies.
Glucose Utilization Is Essential for Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α-Dependent Phosphorylation of c-Jun

Hypoxia and anoxia are important microenvironmental stresses that contribute to pathological events such as solid-tumor development. We have been investigating the effects of hypoxia and anoxia on expression of the proto-oncogene c-jun and the regulation of c-Jun/AP-1 transcription factors. In earlier work using genetically manipulated mouse embryo fibroblasts (mEFs), we found a functional relationship among c-jun expression, c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation, and the presence of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), the oxygen-regulated subunit of the HIF-1 transcription factor. Both the induction of c-jun mRNA expression and c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation in cells exposed to hypoxia or anoxia were found to be dependent on the presence of HIF-1 alpha, but this was not the case in cells exposed to less-severe hypoxia. Here we describe new findings concerning HIF-1-dependent c-Jun N-terminal phosphorylation in cells exposed to hypoxia or anoxia. Specifically, we report that hypoxia-inducible c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity, which involves JNKs or stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), is dependent on enhanced glucose utilization mediated by HIF-1. These results suggest a model in which hypoxia-inducible JNK activity is connected to oxygen sensing through increased glucose absorption and/or glycolytic activity regulated by the HIF-1 system. We also found that basal threonine and tyrosine phosphorylation (within the TEY motif) of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and the corresponding ERK1/2 activity were defective in hypoxic HIF-1 alpha-null mEFs but not in wild-type mEFs, independently of glucose uptake. Therefore, the activities of both JNKs/SAPKs and ERK1/2 are sensitive to HIF-1-dependent processes in cells exposed to hypoxia or anoxia.
Compile-time partitioning of iterative parallel loops to reduce cache coherency traffic

Adaptive data partitioning (ADP) which reduces the execution time of parallel programs by reducing interprocessor communication for iterative parallel loops is discussed. It is shown that ADP can be integrated into a communication-reducing back end for existing parallelizing compilers or as part of a machine-specific partitioner for parallel programs. A multiprocessor model to analyze program execution factors that lead to interprocessor communication and a model for the iterative parallel loop to quantify communication patterns within a program are defined. A vector notation is chosen to quantify communication across a global data set. Communication parameters are computed by examining the indexes of array accesses and are adjusted to reflect the underlying system architecture by compensating for cache line sizes. These values are used to generate rectangular and hexagonal partitions that reduce interprocessor communication. >
Hot summers in the Bighorn Basin during the early Paleogene

During the early Paleogene, climate in continental interiors is thought to have been warmer and more equable than today, but estimates of seasonal temperature variations during this period are limited. Global and regional climate models of the Paleogene predict cooler temperatures for continental interiors than are implied by proxy data and predict a seasonal range of temperature that is similar to today. Here, we present a record of summer temperatures derived from carbonate clumped isotope thermometry of paleosol carbonates from Paleogene deposits in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming (United States). Our summer temperature estimates are ∼18 °C greater than mean annual temperature estimated from analysis of fossil leaves. When coupled, these two records yield a seasonal range of temperature similar to that in the region today, with winter temperatures that are near freezing. These data are consistent with our high-resolution climate model output for the Early Eocene in the Bighorn Basin. We suggest that temperatures in continental interiors during the early Paleogene greenhouse were warmer in all seasons, but not more equable than today. If generally true, this removes one of the long-standing paradoxes in our understanding of terrestrial climate dynamics under greenhouse conditions.
Three High Mobility Group-like Sequences within a 48-Base Pair Enhancer of the Col2a1 Gene Are Required for Cartilage-specific Expression in Vivo

To understand the molecular mechanisms by which mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes, we have used the gene for an early and abundant marker of chondrocytes, the mouse pro-α1(II) collagen gene (Col2a1 ), to delineate a minimal sequence needed for chondrocyte-specific expression and to identify the DNA-binding proteins that mediate its activity. We show here that a 48-base pair (bp) Col2a1 intron 1 sequence specifically targets the activity of a heterologous promoter to chondrocytes in transgenic mice. Mutagenesis studies of this 48-bp element identified three separate sites (sites 1–3) that were essential for its chondrocyte-specific enhancer activity in both transgenic mice and transient transfections. Mutations in sites 1 and 2 also severely inhibited the chondrocyte-specific enhancer activity of a 468-bpCol2a1 intron 1 sequence in vivo . SOX9, an SRY-related high mobility group (HMG) domain transcription factor, was previously shown to bind site 3, to bend the 48-bp DNA at this site, and to strongly activate this 48-bp enhancer as well as largerCol2a1 enhancer elements. All three sites correspond to imperfect binding sites for HMG domain proteins and appear to be involved in the formation of a large chondrocyte-specific complex between the 48-bp element, Sox9, and other protein(s). Indeed, mutations in each of the three HMG-like sites of the 48-bp element, which abolished chondrocyte-specific expression of reporter genes in transgenic mice and in transiently transfected cells, inhibited formation of this complex. Overall our results suggest a model whereby both Sox9 and these other proteins bind to several HMG-like sites in the Col2a1 gene to cooperatively control its expression in cartilage.
Speaker verification using time cepstral principal components derived from a pole-zero model

A speaker verification approach is presented that integrates pole-zero cepstral coefficients with a speech parameterization technique that utilizes time cepstral principal components (TCPC's). TCPC analysis utilizes static and dynamic speaker characteristics, and the pole-zero cepstral coefficients emphasize the formants. Results are compared for the same approach using cepstral coefficients derived from higher order LP analysis (20th order) using a Gaussian mixture model for verification. Results indicate that the TCPC approach using pole-zero cepstral coefficients improves the verification accuracy over the same approach using cepstral coefficients derived from higher order LP analysis.
Effects of a Prescribed Fire on Understory Vegetation, Carbon Pools, and Soil Nutrients in a Longleaf Pine-Slash Pine Forest in Florida

ABSTRACT: We quantified fire-driven loss and post-fire recovery of understory and soil carbon (C) and nutrient pools for one to three years following a single prescribed fire in a naturally regenerated longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) forest located in north central Florida. Fire immediately reduced total aboveground understory C and nitrogen (N) pools, but these pools recovered to pre-fire levels after three years. Our results also showed that the effect of fire on the understory composition and structure was only short-lived. Prescribed fire significantly reduced total C and N pools in the forest floor (F and H horizons), and this effect persisted for at least one year postfire. Available NH4+, PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2, and K+ concentrations in the forest floor decreased immediately after fire, but increased in the surface mineral soil (O to 5 cm depth); Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+ remained elevated for the first year after fire. Fire immediately reduced total ecos...
A spectral scheme for Kohn-Sham density functional theory of clusters

Starting from the observation that one of the most successful methods for solving the Kohn-Sham equations for periodic systems - the plane-wave method - is a spectral method based on eigenfunction expansion, we formulate a spectral method designed towards solving the Kohn-Sham equations for clusters. This allows for efficient calculation of the electronic structure of clusters (and molecules) with high accuracy and systematic convergence properties without the need for any artificial periodicity. The basis functions in this method form a complete orthonormal set and are expressible in terms of spherical harmonics and spherical Bessel functions. Computation of the occupied eigenstates of the discretized Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian is carried out using a combination of preconditioned block eigensolvers and Chebyshev polynomial filter accelerated subspace iterations. Several algorithmic and computational aspects of the method, including computation of the electrostatics terms and parallelization are discussed. We have implemented these methods and algorithms into an efficient and reliable package called ClusterES (Cluster Electronic Structure). A variety of benchmark calculations employing local and non-local pseudopotentials are carried out using our package and the results are compared to the literature. Convergence properties of the basis set are discussed through numerical examples. Computations involving large systems that contain thousands of electrons are demonstrated to highlight the efficacy of our methodology. The use of our method to study clusters with arbitrary point group symmetries is briefly discussed.
Differential Impact of Pulmonary Regurgitation on Patients With Surgically Repaired Pulmonary Stenosis Versus Tetralogy of Fallot.

Patients with repaired pulmonary stenosis (PS) or tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) both develop pulmonary regurgitation (PR) leading to right ventricular (RV) dilatation and dysfunction. We aimed to characterize differential effects of chronic PR in these populations. Patients with surgically repaired PS were matched 1:2 by age and PR fraction with patients with TOF. Patients with previous pulmonary valve replacement were excluded. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance data were compared; peak longitudinal and circumferential systolic strain by feature tracking were compared to evaluate differential contribution of the RV sinus and outflow tract, respectively. PS (n = 24, 41 ± 13 years old) and TOF (n = 47, 39 ± 13 years old) patients did not differ in RV end-diastolic volume (153 ± 45 vs 154 ± 45 ml/m 2 , p = 0.99) or diastolic function. However, patients with PS had preserved RV ejection fraction (54.3 ± 4.4% vs 48.0 ± 7.1%, p
Fine-mapping of the 5p15.33, 6p22.1-p21.31, and 15q25.1 Regions Identifies Functional and Histology-Specific Lung Cancer Susceptibility Loci in African-Americans

Background: Genome-wide association studies of European and East Asian populations have identified lung cancer susceptibility loci on chromosomes 5p15.33, 6p22.1-p21.31, and 15q25.1. We investigated whether these regions contain lung cancer susceptibly loci in African-Americans and refined previous association signals by using the reduced linkage disequilibrium observed in African-Americans. Methods: 1,308 African-American cases and 1,241 African-American controls from 3 centers were genotyped for 760 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) spanning 3 regions, and additional SNP imputation was carried out. Associations between polymorphisms and lung cancer risk were estimated using logistic regression, stratified by tumor histology where appropriate. Results: The strongest associations were observed on 15q25.1 in/near CHRNA5 , including a missense substitution [rs16969968: OR, 1.57; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–1.97; P , 1.1 × 10−4) and variants in the 5′-UTR. Associations on 6p22.1-p21.31 were histology specific and included a missense variant in BAT2 associated with squamous cell carcinoma (rs2736158: OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.48–0.85; P , 1.82 × 10−3). Associations on 5p15.33 were detected near TERT , the strongest of which was rs2735940 (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73–0.93; P , 1.1 × 10−3). This association was stronger among cases with adenocarcinoma (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.65–0.86; P , 8.1 × 10−5). Conclusions: Polymorphisms in 5p15.33, 6p22.1-p21.31, and 15q25.1 are associated with lung cancer in African-Americans. Variants on 5p15.33 are stronger risk factors for adenocarcinoma and variants on 6p21.33 associated only with squamous cell carcinoma. Impact: Results implicate the BAT2, TERT , and CHRNA5 genes in the pathogenesis of specific lung cancer histologies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(2); 251–60. ©2012 AACR.
The use of resin hemoperfusion in the treatment of acute drug intoxication.

(1972). The Use of Resin Hemoperfusion in the Treatment of Acute Drug Intoxication. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 331-335.
Accurately positioning events in a high-resolution PET system that uses 3D CZT detectors

We are investigating the use of cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) for high-resolution PET. The 3-D position of individual interactions can be read out from the detector. For the purpose of image reconstruction, an estimate for the first interaction is sufficient. However, it is also desirable for other applications (such as Compton PET, random correction) to sequence the secondary interactions as well. We first compare six basic event positioning algorithms, and then investigate the potential improvement of using a more advanced estimation technique based on the kinematics of Compton scatter.
Dangerous liaisons: On the systemic self‐production of codependent identities

Abstract This essay uses Anthony Wilden ‘s semiotically‐based communication theory and Kenneth Gergen's concept of social saturation to explain the resilience of codependency discourse. Its resilience is attributed, in part, to an “autopoietic”; (self‐producing) logic, internal to codependency discourse itself, which produces the idea of “codependent identities”; by radically separating “self”; from “other”;. In turn, the exclusivity that this separation creates is orchestrated by the manner in which the concept “boundary”; is defined throughout the discourse. It is argued that the exponential increase in the codependency phenomenon rests on the ability of its discourse to ironically confer a clear sense of identity. This clarity simultaneously codes the experience of interpersonal ambiguity associated with the transition from modernist to postmodern consciousness as pathological and thus in need of repair and control.
Friendly object tracking and foreign object detection and localization with an SDAC wireless sensor network

This paper presents a proof-of-concept wireless sensor network for detecting and tracking friendly objects and detecting and localizing foreign objects. The network incorporates a novel sensor network methodology to sense its surroundings, decide in-network what the situation in its surroundings is, act on this decision, and communicate its results to a user (SDAC). The system also performs in-network data fusion and data reduction and demonstrates the use of an adaptable hardware and software platform. The end user is presented with a geographical information systems (GIS) viewer showing when and where objects are detected. The viewer is able to display tracking information about friendly objects by searching a database for events involving specific friendly objects.
VideoRoadMap: a system for interactive classification and indexing of still and motion pictures

The large scale proliferation of multimedia data necessitates the use of sophisticated techniques for accessing the information based on the content. VideoRoadMap is a new content-based video indexing system for retrieving video clips and images from multimedia databases. The system indexes the audio-visual information using spatio-temporal features and information modeling methods. The proposed system employs adaptive similarity measurements based on content of media objects resulting in accurate retrieval. In addition, VideoRoadMap includes a powerful multi-faceted querying mechanism, which allows queries to be formulated and presented in a variety of modes, including query by example (image and/or video), query by sketch, query by object motion trajectory.
Revising the Horizontal Merger Guidelines: Lessons from the E.U. and the U.S.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have embarked on an effort to revise and update the U.S. Horizontal Merger Guidelines. here is substantial overlap between the U.S. and E.U. Guidelines, which makes a proposal for U.S. revisions immediately applicable to the E.U. and elsewhere. The U.S. Merger Guidelines can be revised in light of the learning of economists and lawyers in the past two decades to emphasize the importance of competitive effects analysis in merger evaluation and the forces that drive innovation. The Guidelines should also note that once a competitive effects analysis has been completed, it is possible to “back out” a relevant market (or markets) that is consistent with that competitive effects analysis.
W. Richard Bowen’s Engineering Ethics: Challenges and Opportunities

This essay reviews W. Richard Bowen’s 2014 book Engineering Ethics: Challenges and Opportunities .
Neo-aortic valvar function after the arterial switch

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to assess the prevalence and progression, during childhood and adolescence, of dilation of the neo-aortic root, and neo-aortic valvar regurgitation, and to identify risk factors for such dilation and regurgitation, after the arterial switch operation. Methods: We included all patients who had undergone an arterial switch operation at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and had been followed for a minimum of 4 years, and had at least 2 postoperative echocardiograms. Neo-aortic valvar regurgitation was quantitatively assessed, and measurements were made of the neo-aortic root at the level of the basal attachment of the leaflets, mid-sinusal level, and the sinutubular junction. Results: We found 82 patients who satisfied the criterions for inclusion, of whom 52 patients had transposition with an intact ventricular septum, and 30 had either an associated ventricular septal defect or double outlet right ventricle. The median follow-up time was 8.8 years (4.1 to 16.4 years). The neo-aortic valve had been replaced in 1 patient. Of the patients, 3 had moderate, 66 had trivial to mild, and 12 had no neo-aortic valvar regurgitation at their most recent follow-up. The regurgitation had progressed by at least 1 grade in 38 of the 82 patients (46.4%). Neo-aortic dilation was noted at the basal attachment of the leaflets, and at mid-sinusal level, which was out of proportion to somatic growth. Conclusions: At mid-term follow-up, significant neo-aortic valve regurgitation is present in 3.7%, and trivial to mild regurgitation in 81.4% of patients. The regurgitation progressed in almost half of the patients over time. We also noted progressive dilation of the neo-aortic root out of proportion to somatic growth.
Applied mathematics as an interdisciplinary subject

It is always a bit difficult to predict the future and it is particularly difficult to predict the future of applied mathematics because it is hard to even define what is meant by applied mathematics. It is even more difficult to attempt to lay out a future that will fit all departments and all of the practitioners of the art of applied mathematics. At any meeting of applied mathematicians or engineers we see many different aspects of applied mathematics and many ways of practicing the art. I will simply try to explain what we are doing at Texas Tech and present this approach as one possibility for the future of applied mathematics. I don’t believe that everything that we are doing at TTU will fit every other group in the country, but some of what we are doing could serve as a paradigm for any applied mathematics department in the United States.
Changing pressure–wind relationships for tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and northeastern Pacific

Using the National Hurricane Center's best track data, pressure–wind relationships within tropical cyclones are examined for 35 years in the North Atlantic Ocean and 26 years in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. In both ocean basins, statistically significant temporal trends exist, suggesting that storms of equal pressure have lower wind speeds today than in the past. Likewise, storms of equal wind speed have lower pressures today. Strong temporal changes in pressure–wind relationships exist among a wide range of storm strengths in the Atlantic but only for weaker storms in the Pacific. An examination of surface pressure anomalies across the two ocean basins reveals that a shifting pressure gradient is likely responsible for these observations, possibly due to macroscale pattern changes such as the North Atlantic Oscillation.
Decoding the Mystery of the Internet of Things

System primitives allow formalisms, reasoning, simulations, and reliability and security risk-tradeoffs to be formulated and argued. In this work, six core primitives belonging to most distributed systems are presented. These primitives apply well to systems with large amounts of data, scalability concerns, heterogeneity concerns, temporal concerns, and elements of unknown pedigree with possible nefarious intent. These primitives form the basic building blocks for a Network of 'Things' (NoT), including the Internet of Things (IoT). This keynote offers an underlying and foundational science to IoT. To my knowledge, the ideas and the manner in which the science underlying IoT is presented here is unique. Further, this talk reflects my personal viewpoints and not those of NIST.
Does Takeover Increase Stockholder Value

Does takeover increase stockholder value? - Yes. We modify the calendar-time portfolio regressions (CTPRs) approach to measure the abnormal returns of a takeover portfolio composed exclusively of successful bidders and targets from 1963 to 1995. This technique balances the positive announcement-period stock price effects against the alleged post-announcement drift that is commonly thought to accompany takeovers. By regressing the takeover portfolio returns on asset-pricing factors with GARCH(1,1) error specification, our methodology overcomes a number of limitations that would otherwise confound this approach. Studying 3,467 successful takeover events, we find that value weighted portfolios earn a highly significant 72 basis points a month in abnormal returns. Equally weighted results are even more dramatic. We extend the analysis to study mergers within and across industry boundaries. Using method of payment as a proxy for pooling versus purchase accounting, we also examine the impact of accounting choice on performance.
The Effect of Basic Instruction on Problem Solving Skills over an Extended Period of Time

In this study twelve undergraduate students were exposed to sixteen weeks of BASIC instruction. A repeated measures design was set up to measure changes in problem solving and computer anxiety at the 0-week, 4-week, 9-week, and 16-week intervals. Language competency measures were also collected and related to problem solving. Results include a significant increase in problem-solving skills from pretreatment to posttreatment, with the greatest increase occurring during the 4-week to 16-week interval. Related to this finding was a significant decrease in computer anxiety from pretreatment to posttreatment, with the greatest decrease occurring during the 0-week to 4-week interval. Based on these two findings, we have inferred that student programmers need first to accommodate system-related anxiety before they can adequately learn features of the BASIC programming language that affect problem solving. We also related problem-solving skills and language competency measures and found significant, positive corr...
Formulation of a beam structure with induced strain actuators based on an approximated linear shear stress field

Many applications based on the implementation of intelligent material systems and structures have employed induced strain actuators as the energy input devices or actuating elements. In order to use the actuation mechanisms of integrated strain actuators effectively, the actuator/substructure coupling effects must be completely understood and modeled accurately. In this paper, a new analytical model refered to as the linear shear stress variation model (LSSVM), is developed based on an approximated through-the-thickness linear shear stress field. The LSSVM captures the physics of the induced stress field that all other existing models have not been able to describe. Closed-form solutions for the entire stresslstrain field distributions as well as the actuation-induced structural behavior are obtained. The formulation of the model is presented in detail in this paper along with an example of its capability.
Form and Function in a Legal System – A General Study: Forms of Institutions – Legislative

“[T]here must be some sort of organization for making the laws. It cannot just be left to a large public meeting.” – K. C. Wheare INTRODUCTION In this and in the next five chapters, we will systematically concentrate on a selection of paradigms of functional legal units in developed Western legal systems. One general type of unit is institutional, and includes: legislatures, courts, administrative agencies, other entities such as state corporations, and special bodies that administer sanctions, and deploy other enforcive devices. To demonstrate how it is possible to advance understanding of legal institutions through the study of their overall forms and the imprints and other effects of these forms and to reveal the types of credit that may be due such forms when well-designed, we will illustratively analyze the overall form of a single major variety of institution – that of the centralized legislature with substantial nationwide jurisdiction. Although the analysis that follows is addressed generally to an abstract paradigm of centralized legislatures in developed Western systems and although there are variations in how these legislatures converge on this paradigm, the analysis here can be readily applied, by extrapolation, to particular legislative institutions in these systems. The analysis can also be readily applied, mutatis mutandis to courts, administrative agencies, and still other institutions. Much of what may already be familiar will be presented anew here in the idiom of form and formal.
Design and Analysis of Profiled Universal Joint for Compound Loading

The universal joint is used to connect two offset shafts.As the cross-axis universal joint existing in the current market can not meet the particular compound loading for engineering application,a profiled universal joint is proposed,which has advantages of simple design,easy access to installment and flexible connection.The DOF and motion characteristics of the profiled universal joint are analyzed,and its advantages is evaluated comparing with the traditional cross-axis universal joint.Its motion is simulated in terms of ADAMS.Additional moment which is changed with the rotation of the shaft is observed.A method is proposed to select an optimal initial installation angle,which make the value of the additional moment minimized in the compound loading.
Nonsurgical management of threatened upper urinary tracts and incontinence in children with myelomeningocele

The 2 major urological objectives in treating the child with myelomeningocele are to preserve renal function and achieve continence. We report our success in managing these cases with nonsurgical therapy. From 1981 to 1991, 45 patients with myelomeningocele 1 to 15 years old were evaluated urodynamically before and after initiating nonsurgical treatment. Pretreatment urodynamics identified 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 31 patients with leak point pressure of 40 cm. water or more of whom 10 had grades II to V/V vesicoureteral reflux and 4 had moderate or severe hydronephrosis. Group 2 consisted of 14 incontinent patients with leak point pressure of less than 40 cm. water and no reflux or hydronephrosis. Both groups were treated with intermittent catheterization, anticholinergic medications and fluid restriction. Within a mean followup of 5.5 years nonsurgical intervention resulted in lowering maximum detrusor pressure at maximum cystometric capacity to less than 40 cm. water in 22 of 31 group 1 patients (71%), and in resolving vesicoureteral reflux in 7 of 10 (70%) and hydronephrosis in 3 of 4 (75%) group 1 patients. Of 4 patients in group 1 with persistent high grade vesicoureteral reflux or severe hydronephrosis 3 (10%) required augmentation cystoplasty. With nonsurgical management 18 patients (40%) were completely continent, 18 (40%) required 2 or less pads daily and 9 (20%) required more than 2 pads daily. Nonsurgical management alone was effective in preserving the upper urinary tract in 90% of patients and it provided satisfactory continence in 80%. Surgical management should be reserved for the minority of patients whose upper tract changes do not resolve and for those whose degree of continence is not satisfactory with nonsurgical management.