cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopic Study of Carbon Fiber Surfaces. 23. Interfacial Interactions between Polyvinyl Alcohol and Carbon Fibers Electrochemically Oxidized in Nitric Acid Solution

The paper examines the interaction of a carbon fiber surface, surface-treated by galvanostatic electrochemical oxidation in nitric acid solution, with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The surface chemistry of the fiber before and after interaction was examined by core and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Various surface treatment conditions were applied, with the previously reported hydrogen-bridge oxide structure (HBS) being the predominant species under most conditions, with much smaller amounts of surface hydroxide, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups. The amount of surface roughening increased with the level of surface oxidation. The surface of the fibers became seriously damaged when the oxidation was conducted for prolonged periods of galvanostatic treatment (more than 60 s at 0.5 A). Interfacial chemical interaction was observed between the oxidized carbon fiber surface and the PVA, by examination of a film of PVA on the fiber surf...
Youth sport volunteer coach motivation.

Each year, over 20 million youth participate in sport (Ewing & Seefeldt, 2002). Public parks and recreation agencies are increasingly reliant on volunteers to deliver services (Silverberg, Backman, & Backman, 2000). These volunteers are especially vital to the delivery of youth recreation and sport programs (Twyam, Ferrell, & Johnston, 2002/2003). Volunteer positions in sport programs, especially coach positions, are difficult to fill (Cuskelly, Taylor, Hoye, & Darcy, 2006), and the retention of youth coaches is low (Paiement, 2007). The purpose of this study was to understand the motivations of youth sport coaches. A convenience sample of youth sport coaches completed the Volunteer Functions Inventory that measures motivations, along with demographic information. Results indicated that values were the most important function for youth sport coaches. A MANOVA revealed significant differences between first year and returning coaches for the functions of self-serving and personal growth but not for values a...
High-field hall effect and crystal orientation dependence of magnetoresistance in thin films of CeAl3

Abstract Thin films of CeAl3 on sapphire were prepared by metallic coevaporation and in vacuo annealing. Highly oriented growth with the hexagonal crystal basal plane parallel to the substrate lane was observed. The resistivity versus temperature curves of the best films were similar to bulk CeAl3, including a T2 dependence below 0.3 K. Transverse magnetoresistivity and Hall effect were measured in fields to 23 T and at temperatures down to 70 mK. Transverse magnetoresistivity was highly dependent on magnetic field orientation with respect to the basal plane. With the field perpendicular to the basal plane, the low-field magnetoresistivity became positive below 5 K, and the high-field magnetoresistivity exhibited a temperature-dependent maximum. With the field in the basal plane, the low-field magnetoresistivity remained negative down to 2 K, below which it exhibited a temperature-independent maximum at 1.8 T. The high-field Hall coefficient below 5 K decreased with field in a temperature-dependent manner, but was temperature-independent at all fields below 800 mK.
Utilization Rate of Bariatric Surgery in an Employee-Based Healthcare System Following Surgery Coverage

Incidence rates for obesity co-morbidities are high for individuals with class III morbid obesity. Bariatric surgery resolves/improves these co-morbidities, along with reduction in healthcare costs. Despite surgery benefits, payors are reluctant to provide coverage for fear of increased demand and costs. This study examines surgery utilization rates following coverage by an employee-based healthcare system. Bariatric surgery utilization rates were measured 1 year before and after healthcare coverage. The data show before coverage that 18 persons had bariatric surgery for a utilization rate of 1.71%. In the year after surgery, 16 persons elected to have bariatric surgery for a utilization rate of 1.42%. These findings should help to dispel the notion by employee-based insurers that coverage of bariatric surgery will lead to high utilization and associated costs in the early-coverage period.
A reinvestigation of murine cranial suture biology: microcomputed tomography versus histologic technique.

Background: Histology remains the standard form to analyze cranial suture in murine models, but this technique provides only limited “snapshots” of the entire suture and requires animal euthanasia with tissue destruction. Because of the bone complex microarchitecture, better methods are required to study the behavior of the cranial suture and its surrounding environment. The authors compared microcomputed tomography and histology as techniques to evaluate murine cranial sutures. Methods: A total of 360 microcomputed tomography images and 160 to 170 histologic sections were processed from a mouse at postnatal days 22 and 45, respectively. After euthanasia, the posterior frontal and sagittal sutures were imaged with a microcomputed tomography system and subsequently processed for histologic analysis. Quantitative analysis of two-dimensional images was performed to determine the percentage of bone in a 1-mm2 sample. Results: Quantitative analysis of the percentage of bone within the sutures showed identical patterns by microcomputed tomography and histology techniques. Both methods demonstrated the posterior frontal suture to have heavier fusion patterns in the anterior and endocranial portions, with variable skip areas of complete patency on the endocranial surface, ectocranial surface, or both at day 45. Conclusions: Cranial suture fusion in the murine model is not an “all-or-none” phenomenon. The posterior frontal suture, previously thought to be completely fused on day 45 by histological analysis, showed variable fusion along the length of the suture by both methods. Quantitative assessment of the percentage of bone within the posterior frontal and sagittal sutures and morphologic assessment of these sutures demonstrated similar findings by both methods. Whereas thorough histologic evaluation of an entire suture would be extremely labor intensive and impractical, these findings help to validate microcomputed tomography as a rapid and reliable method of examining the entire suture in murine models.
Personal approach: An empirical construct and some findings1

In perceiving or attempting to understand another person, our efforts are complicated by the fact that the object of otir perceptions is not a simple "object" at all, but is rather himself a perceiver with a perspectival orientation of his own within which he, most likely, is attempting to construct understandings —also his own. An understanding of another person may give more or less salience to this feature of the other's existence. It may accord more or less importance to the other's unique frame of reference in his personal world; in terms used in this report, the construction may vary along a dimension from personal to impersonal approach. The processes by which interpersonal constructions or perceptions are formed have received the attention of a considerable nimiber of researchers (see Tagiuri, 1969 for a recent summary). The studies reported here differ from recent dominant trends in that work in two main ways: a free description mode of response is sampled, and the writer's perspective (personal or impersonal) is the dimension of focus. Most recent research in person perception has focussed on various determinants (stimulus cues, interpersonal contexts, etc.) of perceptions, with the latter being measured by having subjects check a scale ranking the other on some provided trait or attributional dimension. This strategy has the advantage of ready quantifiability, but it also has the disadvantages, as pointed out by Peevers and Secord (1973), of artificially restrictive sampling of concepts and a loss of the concept's personal usage and degree
A Laboratory Method of Producing High Potentials

Details are given of the experimental arrangement by which, using Tesla coils in oil, very high potentials have been produced and measured. Excited at the rate of 120 sparks per second Tesla coils have been operated at 3,000,000 volts in ordinary transformer oil at atmospheric pressure. In oil under a pressure of 500 pounds per square inch, voltages as high as 5,200,000 have been produced with intermittent excitation. These voltages (peak values) are measured by a simple capacity-potentiometer, in which an insulated electrode "picks up" a known fraction of the total voltage, this fractional voltage being measured by means of a sphere gap. Measurements are given of the voltage-distribution along Tesla coils. Calculations and measurements of the efficiency and power-output of such coils show that at 120 sparks per second, a coil operating at 5,000,000 volts provides sufficient power, if used to accelerate helium nuclei in a suitable vacuum-tube, to yield the equivalent of about 2,600 grams of radium.
Three-dimensional laminar boundary layers with large cross-flow

The paper is concerned with the detailed formulation and evaluation of a previously proposed physical model and method of analysis for three-dimensional hypersonic laminar boundary layers. In this approach, the boundary layer is subdivided into two (inner and outer) regions characterized by widely different momentum fluxes per unit area. The subdivision leads to considerable simplifications in the statements of the inner and outer equations and in the determination of the associated solutions. An over-all description of the flow is obtained by matching the two solutions. The heuristic model and method of analysis are corroborated by comparing their predictions with those of "exact" numerical solutions of the complete boundary-layer equations. The family of self-preserving flows near a plane of symmetry is used as test problem. The two-layer model yields closed-form results for velocity and enthalpy profiles as well as for skin friction and wall heat transfer, in good agreement with the exact predictions. The application of the model to general three-dimensional flows is discussed in the context of this comparison and of the salient features of the analysis; interalia, the extension to moderate Mach number flows is indicated.
Methods for determining primary feed points

IN ORDER TO determine the future feed points that will be necessary to supply the primary system, the distribution planner must approach the problem with a realistic and logical sequence of steps. These steps would be: 1. determine the future load densities for the various areas of his system; 2. determine the number of feed points needed to supply these areas with several methods of primary feed arrangement, and 3. determine the most economical means of supplying these feed points.
Which facts, whose life?

The Facts of Life: Science and the Abortion Controversy. By Harold J. Morowitz and James S. Trefil. Oxford University Press: 1992. Pp. 179. $19.95.
Program note: applying the UN process indicators for emergency obstetric care to the United States

The United Nations Process Indicators for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) have been used extensively in countries with high maternal mortality ratios (MMR) to assess the availability, utilization and quality of EmOC services. To compare the situation in high MMR countries to that of a low MMR country, data from the United States were used to determine EmOC service availability, utilization and quality. As was expected, the United States was found to have an adequate amount of good-quality EmOC services that are used by the majority of women with life-threatening obstetric complications.
Surface effective-pair interactions in a model transition-metal alloy.

For a model transition-metal alloy, we find that changes in the third and fourth moments of the electronic density of states alter the effective-pair interaction (EPI) ordering range. The EPI dependence on concentration, single-site energy, and crystal face is explained by showing the dependence of the state-density third and fourth moments on these variables. Examples illustrating these effects are given for bcc and fcc surface EPI's. From this analysis, we find that bulk-clustering and surface-ordering behavior is more likely than bulk-ordering and surface-clustering behavior. In addition, we find that the presence of broken bonds tends to increase the ordering range.
Dynamic model of the radio-frequency plasma sheath in a highly asymmetric discharge cell

A self-consistent fluid model for the radio-frequency sheath at the powered electrode of a highly asymmetric discharge cell is developed and solved. The model assumes time-independent ion motion and inertialess electrons. The voltage on the powered electrode, assumed to be sinusoidal, is shared between the powered sheath and a series resistance that represents the remainder of the discharge. The model includes ion collisions, sheath conduction currents, and secondary electron emission from the electrode surface. Model results are compared with previous sheath models and with experiment. Current wave forms predicted by the model closely resemble the nonsinusoidal current wave forms measured in highly asymmetric cells. The model accurately predicts the shape of sheath voltage wave forms, but not their dc components. The magnitudes and phases of sheath impedances predicted by the model agree with experimental measurements performed in argon discharges at pressures of 4.0{endash}133 Pa. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Cannabis withdrawal in adolescent treatment seekers

A valid cannabis withdrawal syndrome has been demonstrated in controlled studies with adult marijuana abusers, yet few published reports have examined cannabis withdrawal among adolescents. Adolescents presenting for outpatient substance abuse treatment, whose primary substance of abuse was cannabis, completed a questionnaire reporting the presence and severity of withdrawal symptoms during past periods of cannabis abstinence. Nearly two-thirds of the sample indicated that they had experienced four or more symptoms, and over one-third reported four or more symptoms that occurred at a moderate or greater severity. The magnitude of withdrawal severity was positively correlated with current emotional and behavioral symptoms and self-reported problems with cannabis use. These findings are consistent with previous studies, though the prevalence and magnitude of withdrawal symptoms were lower than that observed in a similar study with adult treatment seekers [Budney, A.J., Novy, P., Hughes, J.R., 1999. Marijuana withdrawal among adults seeking treatment for marijuana dependence. Addiction 94, 1311-1322]. Further research is needed to elucidate associations between cannabis withdrawal effects, the initiation of cessation attempts, and relapse.
Asymmetry of Neutrons from Muon Caputre in Silicon, Sulfur, and Calcium

We have measured the asymmetry in the angular distribution of neutrons emitted following the capture of negative muons in silicon, sulfur, and calcium. The asymmetries, normalized to 100% muon polarization, varied from near zero for low neutron energies to +0.32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05, +0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08, and +0.20\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08 for energies greater than 15.6 MeV for silicon, sulfur, and calcium, respectively, in disagreement with the results of most other recent experiments.
The D+H2 reaction: Comparison of experiment with quantum-mechanical and quasiclassical calculations

Abstract We have measured the HD( v ′ = 1, J ′) rotational distribution from the D + H 2 reaction at a center-of-mass collision energy of about 1.05 eV. The experimental data are compared to distributions derived from two quantum-mechanical (QM) calculations and from a quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculation. We find essentially perfect agreement between experiment and the QM calculations, while the QCT results are too hot rotationally.
Power-line synchronization problems of hum and stability in television

Noise and instability in television pictures resulting from power-line synchronization are becoming a greater problem as networks expand. Some of the inherent difficulties and their causes are discussed in this article.
Low-Cost Ferrite PM-Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Machine for Electric Vehicles

An optimally designed ferrite permanent magnet (PM)-assisted synchronous reluctance machine (PMaSynRM) is presented to demonstrate its feasibility in electric vehicle applications. The Prius rare-earth interior PM machine is used as the benchmark, and through theoretical study and experimental testing, it is verified that the optimally designed PMaSynRM can achieve performance very close to that of the benchmark PM machine with much lower costs.
Structural analysis of the glycosylinositol phospholipid anchors of membrane proteins

We describe methods for the characterization of glycosylinositol phospholipid (GIPL) anchors of membrane proteins isolated from metabolically labeled cells. The analyses involve chemical and enzymatic fragmentation of metabolically labeled GIPLs, followed by the separate analysis of the glycan and lipid components.
DFT/Electrostatic Calculations of pKa Values in Cytochrome c Oxidase

Using classical electrostatic calculations (Popovic, D. M.; Stuchebrukhov, A. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 1858), earlier we examined the dependence of the protonation state of bovine cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) on its redox state. Based on these calculations, we have proposed a model of CcO proton pumping that involves His291, one of the CuB histidine ligands, which was found to respond to redox changes of the enzyme Fea3-CuB catalytic center (Popovic, D. M.; Stuchebrukhov, A. A. FEBS Lett. 2004, 566, 126). In this work, we employ combined density functional and continuum electrostatic calculations to evaluate the pKa values of His291 and Glu242, two key residues of the model. The pKa values are calculated for different redox states of the enzyme, and the influence of different factors on the pKa's is analyzed in detail. The calculated pKa values of Glu242 are between 9.4 and 12.0, depending on the redox state of the protein, which is in excellent agreement with recent experimental measurements. Assumi...
Helicobacter-induced Intestinal Metaplasia in the Stomach Correlates with Elk-1 and Serum Response Factor Induction of Villin

Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection results in serious sequelae, including atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric cancer. Intestinal metaplasia in the stomach is defined by the presence of intestine-like cells expressing enterocyte-specific markers, such as villin. In this study, we demonstrate that villin is expressed in intestine-like cells that develop after chronic infection with H. pylori in both human stomach and in a mouse model. Transfection studies were used to identify specific regions of the villin promoter that are inducible by exposure of the cells to H. pylori. We demonstrated that induction of the villin promoter by H. pylori in a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) required activation of the Erk pathway. Elk-1 and the serum response factor (SRF) are downstream transcriptional targets of the Erk pathway. We observed inducible binding of Elk-1 and the SRF after 3 and 24 h of treatment with H. pylori, suggesting that the bacteria alone are sufficient to initiate a cascade of signaling events responsible for villin expression. Thus, H. pylori induction of villin in the stomach correlates with activation and cooperative binding of Elk-1 and the SRF to the proximal promoter of villin.
Separating data and control: support for adaptable consistency protocols in collaborative systems

Consistency control is critical for the correct functioning of distributed collaboration support systems. A large number of consistency control methods have appeared in the literature with different design tradeoffs and usability implications. However, there has been relatively little work on how to accommodate different protocols and variations in one framework to address the dynamic needs of collaboration. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for supporting adaptable consistency protocols in collaborative systems. Our approach cleanly separates data and control, allowing consistency protocols to be dynamically attached to shared data at the object level. Protocols can be switched at run time without modifying source code.
Reflex regulation of gill water flow (ventilation) in Squalus acanthias.

THE factors regulating the volume flow of water through fish gills are obscure. This communication describes a mechanism which serves this function in the elasmo-branch.
A supratrigeminal region implicated in the classically conditioned nictitating membrane response

Abstract The dorsolateral pontine brain stem was investigated as a possible locus of neural elements mediating the classically conditioned nictitating membrane (NM) response in rabbit. Recording and brain stimulation were employed for this purpose. Low-impedance tungsten monopolar microelectrodes were chronically implanted into the pontine brain stem. Multiple-unit recording during classical conditioning revealed a conditioned increase in multiple-unit activity (MUA) which developed and extinguished concurrently with the acquisition and extinction of the behavioral conditioned response. Pseudoconditioning and conditioned inhibition controls indicated that the increase in MUA was an associative learning phenomenon. Histology indicated that electrode tips recording the CR-associated electrical activity were located mostly adjacent or dorsal to the motor trigeminal nucleus. Periocular shock pulses elicited short latency evoked responses throughout most of the dorsolateral pons, suggesting that information concerning the unconditioned stimulus is relayed to this region. Furthermore, electrical stimulation of this region produced a robust ipsilateral nictitating membrane response in a number of cases, suggesting that neural elements of the dorsolateral pons project to the motoneurons that produce membrane extension. A consideration of several criteria based on these experiments implicates a supratrigeminal zone [22] as containing the neural elements of dorsolateral pons most intimately associated with the conditioned NM response. Other interpretations, concerning fibers of passage through this region and its possible relationship to cerebellum [17] are discussed.
Parallel algorithms based on expander graphs for optical computing

We consider the task of interconnecting processors to realize efficient parallel algorithms. We propose interconnecting processors using certain graphs called expander graphs, which can provide fast communication from any group of processors to the rest of the network. We show that these interconnections would result in a number of efficient parallel algorithms for sorting, routing, associative memory, and fault-tolerance networks. As the interconnections based on expander graphs are global and irregular, we reason that optical interconnections are preferred to electronic and propose implementation of these interconnections using the programmable optoelectronic multiprocessor architecture.
CLUSTER observations of lower hybrid waves excited at high altitudes by electromagnetic whistler mode signals from the HAARP facility

[1] We report new observations from the CLUSTER spacecraft of strong excitation of lower hybrid (LH) waves by electromagnetic (EM) whistler mode waves at altitudes ≥20,000 km outside the plasmasphere. Previous observations of this phenomenon occurred at altitudes ≤7000 km. The excitation mechanism appears to be linear mode coupling in the presence of small scale plasma density irregularities. These observations provide strong evidence that EM whistler mode waves are continuously transformed into LH waves as the whistler mode waves propagate at high altitudes beyond L ∼ 4. This may explain the lack of lightning generated whistlers observed in this same region of space.
Catalytic Site Conformations in Human PNP by 19F-NMR and Crystallography

Summary Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a target for leukemia, gout, and autoimmune disorders. Dynamic motion of catalytic site loops has been implicated in catalysis, but experimental evidence was lacking. We replaced catalytic site groups His257 or His64 with 6-fluoro-tryptophan (6FW) as site-specific NMR probes. Conformational adjustments in the 6FW-His257-helical and His64-6FW-loop regions were characterized in PNP phosphate-bound enzyme and in complexes with catalytic site ligands, including transition state analogs. Chemical shift and line-shape changes associated with these complexes revealed dynamic coexistence of several conformational states in these regions in phosphate-bound enzyme and altered or single conformations in other complexes. These conformations were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Specific 19 F-Trp labels and X-ray crystallography provide multidimensional characterization of conformational states for free, catalytic, and inhibited complexes of human PNP.
Intravital imaging of anti-tumor immune response and the tumor microenvironment

Tumor growth, invasiveness, and metastasis are dynamic processes involving cancer interactions with the extracellular matrix, the vasculature, and various types of non-cancerous host cells that form the tumor stroma. An often-present stromal component is the immune cells, such as tumor-associated myeloid and lymphocytic infiltrates, yet endogenous anti-tumor immune responses are typically ineffective in tumor rejection and may even contribute to the progression of some cancers. How exactly cancer cells interact with the stroma and invade healthy tissues while avoiding anti-tumor immune responses, and which interactions should be targeted for anti-tumor therapy, can now be studied by minimally invasive observation using multiphoton and other low impact confocal microscopy techniques and fluorescent animal tumor models. Intravital video microscopy has already been instrumental in defining the roles and modes of cellular motility in the angiogenic process and during tissue invasion at the tumor margin. In the hands of cancer immunologists, intravital video microscopy is beginning to unravel the complexity of effector and suppressory lymphocytic interactions in tumors and in the draining lymphoid organs. As the intravital microscopy approach is beginning to move beyond fundamental description and into analyzing the molecular underpinnings of cell's dynamics, future technical advances will undoubtedly provide yet deeper insight while stitching together a systems dynamics view of cancer-host interactions that will keep on inspiring cancer researchers and therapists.
VIPER: A 25-MHz, 100-MIPS peak VLIW microprocessor

The design and implementation of a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor are described. The VIPER (VLIW integer processor) contains four pipelined functional units and can achieve 100 MIPS peak performance at 25 MHz. The processor is capable of performing multiway branch operations, two load/store operations, and up to four ALU (arithmetic and logic unit) operations in each clock cycle, with full register file access to each functional unit. The processor is integrated with an instruction cache controller and a data cache, requiring 450,000 transistors and a die size of 12.9 by 9.1 mm in a 1.2 /spl mu/m technology. The small, simple control paths are a distinct advantage over the significantly more complex control found in superscalar architectures due to run-time scheduling hardware.
Simulation of Non-Synchronous Blade Vibration of an Axial Compressor Using a Fully Coupled Fluid/Structure Interaction

In this paper non-synchronous vibration (NSV) of a GE axial compressor is simulated using a fully coupled fluid/strcuture interaction (FSI). Time accurate NavierStokes equations are solved with a system of 5 decoupled structure modal equations in a fully coupled manner. A 3rd order WENO scheme for the inviscid flux and a 2nd order central differencing for the viscous terms are used to resolve nonlinear interaction between vibrating blades and fluid flow. 1=7th annulus is used with a time shifted phaselag (TSPL) boundary condition to reduce computational efforts. A fully conservative rotor/stator sliding boundary condition is employedto accuratelycaptureunsteady wakepropagation between the rotor and stator blades. The predicted dominant frequencies using the blade tip response signals are not harmonic to the engine order, which is the NSV. The blade vibration is torsionally coupled with highly oscillating blade pressure and is not damped out during the NSV. No resonance to the blade natural frequencies is found. The instability of tornado vortices in the vicinity of the rotor tip due to the strong interaction of incoming flow, tip vortex and tip leakage flow is the main cause of the NSV observed in this study.
Indicators of information and communication technology adoption in the nonprofit sector: Changes between 2000 and 2004

With the knowledge that information and communication technology (ICT) has brought about significant changes in the structure and functioning of businesses, this research provides information about the changes that have occurred in ICT adoption in nonprofit organizations between 2000 and 2004. Using archival data, it specifically investigates various indicators of ICT adoption and adoption readiness factors. Results illustrate that nonprofit organizations are beginning to position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities provided by ICT adoption.
MOEMS acoustic sensors for Structural Health Monitoring

MOEMS (Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems) acoustic sensors are employed to detect acoustic emissions (AE) for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Acoustic sensing cantilevers (∼ 200 × 100 × 50 µm) with variable frequency response, directionality and dynamic range can be fabricated in large quantity using a novel non-silicon process. The packaged sensors are low-cost, easy-to-install and EMI free during operation. The acoustic sensors' broadband sensitivity is demonstrated by standard structural break tests.
Cholesterol in β-cell Dysfunction: The Emerging Connection Between HDL Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes

β-cell dysfunction is a critical step in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms responsible for β-cell death and dysfunction remain incompletely understood, but include glucolipotoxicity, the deleterious metabolic milieu created by high plasma concentrations of glucose and lipid species. Recently, an important role has emerged for cholesterol in this process. In this article, we review recent advances in our understanding of the role of ABCA1 and cholesterol metabolism in β-cell function, with particular attention to insights gained from human studies.
A congestion control algorithm for max-min resource allocation and bounded queue sizes

This paper deals with the congestion control problem in computer networks, which is viewed as a resource allocation problem constrained by the additional requirement that the queue sizes need to be bounded. We propose a distributed algorithm, which converges to the max-min fair allocation of resources among the users of the network and at the same time ensures that the buffers are either empty or track a reference queue size. The problem is formulated mathematically and the proposed algorithm is shown analytically to fulfill the design objectives. The local asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point is established. The problem can be viewed as a hybrid system with changing affine dynamics in different regions of the state space. The transient performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through simulations using Matlab. The algorithm can form the basis for the development of an end-to-end communication protocol since it requires no maintenance of per flow states within the network.
Antimicrobial properties of porphyrins

A large number of natural and synthetic porphyrins of diverse chemical compositions and characteristics can be isolated from nature or synthesised in the laboratory. Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of porphyrins are based on their ability to catalyse peroxidase and oxidase reactions, absorb photons and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and partition into lipids of bacterial membranes. Light-dependent, photodynamic activity of natural and synthetic porphyrins and pthalocyanines against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria has been well demonstrated. Some non-iron metalloporphyrins (MPs) possess a powerful light-independent antimicrobial activity that is based on the ability of these compounds to increase the sensitivity of bacteria to ROS or directly produce ROS. MPs mimic haem in their molecular structure and are actively accumulated by bacteria via high affinity haem-uptake systems. The same uptake systems can be used to deliver antibiotic-porphyrin and antibacterial peptide-porphyrin conjugates. Haemin, the most well known natural porphyrin, possesses a significant antibacterial activity that is augmented by the presence of physiological concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or a reducing agent. Natural and synthetic porphyrins have relatively low toxicity in vitro and in vivo. The ability for numerous chemical modifications and the large number of different mechanisms by which porphyrins affect microbial and viral pathogens place porphyrins into a group of compounds with an outstanding potential for discovery of novel agents, procedures and materials active against pathogenic microorganisms.
Group SCAD regression analysis for microarray time course gene expression data

Motivation: Since many important biological systems or processes are dynamic systems, it is important to study the gene expression patterns over time in a genomic scale in order to capture the dynamic behavior of gene expression. Microarray technologies have made it possible to measure the gene expression levels of essentially all the genes during a given biological process. In order to determine the transcriptional factors (TFs) involved in gene regulation during a given biological process, we propose to develop a functional response model with varying coefficients in order to model the transcriptional effects on gene expression levels and to develop a group smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) regression procedure for selecting the TFs with varying coefficients that are involved in gene regulation during a biological process. Results: Simulation studies indicated that such a procedure is quite effective in selecting the relevant variables with time-varying coefficients and in estimating the coefficients. Application to the yeast cell cycle microarray time course gene expression data set identified 19 of the 21 known TFs related to the cell cycle process. In addition, we have identified another 52 TFs that also have periodic transcriptional effects on gene expression during the cell cycle process. Compared to simple linear regression (SLR) analysis at each time point, our procedure identified more known cell cycle related TFs. Conclusions: The proposed group SCAD regression procedure is very effective for identifying variables with time-varying coefficients, in particular, for identifying the TFs that are related to gene expression over time. By identifying the TFs that are related to gene expression variations over time, the procedure can potentially provide more insight into the gene regulatory networks. Contact: hli@cceb.upenn.edu Supplementary information: http://www.cceb.med.upenn.edu/~hli/gSCAD-Appendix.pdf
Successful ELF Communications and Implications for ELT: Sequential Analysis of ELF Pronunciation Negotiation Strategies

This is a qualitative study of nonnative English speakers who speak English as a lingua franca (ELF) in their graduate student dormitory in the United States, a community of practice (Wegner, 2004) comprised almost entirely of second language users. Using a sequential analysis (Koshik, 2002; Markee, 2000; Sacks, Schegloff, & Jefferson, 1974; Schegloff, Koshik, Jacoby, & Olsher, 2002), the study investigates how these ELF speakers successfully manage their intercultural communication through accommodation strategies (e.g., Jenkins, 2000, 2006) used to address differences in pronunciation and familiarity with a range of ELF speech styles. Drawing on my own experience as a member of this community, I investigate how speakers display equality and legitimacy as English language users in the ELF community in face-to-face interactions when they negotiate understanding in spite of their different accents. ELF speakers exhibit a wide variety of pronunciations as a result of first language cross-linguistic influence, and those phonological differences may hamper intercultural communication, more than any other linguistic feature. For this reason, I have chosen to focus on phonological issues for this study. I argue that sequential analysis of the interactions among speakers of English as a lingua franca may provide useful examples of successful communication among these groups. Data from such analysis should be included in English language teaching as a model of successful interaction strategies directed toward students who will face these situations. The analysis of this ELF data will also be useful as a model for the study of other languages that are often used as lingua francas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Off-bottom suspension of thin sheets

We propose theoretical backgrounds for off-bottom suspension of thin, flat sheets in turbulent mixing and we test experimentally the effects of major particle dimension, particle thickness, density difference, scale-up, impeller type, vessel geometry and solid concentration. We also offer a correlation for the impeller speed required for off-bottom suspension, and recommandation for the design and scale-up of mixing equipment
Modeling and detection techniques for Counter-Terror Social Network Analysis and Intent Recognition

In this paper, we describe our approach and initial results on modeling, detection, and tracking of terrorist groups and their intents based on multimedia data. While research on automated information extraction from multimedia data has yielded significant progress in areas such as the extraction of entities, links, and events, less progress has been made in the development of automated tools for analyzing the results of information extraction to “connect the dots.” Hence, our Counter-Terror Social Network Analysis and Intent Recognition (CT-SNAIR) work focuses on development of automated techniques and tools for detection and tracking of dynamically-changing terrorist networks as well as recognition of capability and potential intent. In addition to obtaining and working with real data for algorithm development and test, we have a major focus on modeling and simulation of terrorist attacks based on real information about past attacks. We describe the development and application of a new Terror Attack Description Language (TADL), which is used as a basis for modeling and simulation of terrorist attacks. Examples are shown which illustrate the use of TADL and a companion simulator based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) structure to generate transactions for attack scenarios drawn from real events. We also describe our techniques for generating realistic background clutter traffic to enable experiments to estimate performance in the presence of a mix of data. An important part of our effort is to produce scenarios and corpora for use in our own research, which can be shared with a community of researchers in this area. We describe our scenario and corpus development, including specific examples from the September 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta and a fictitious scenario which was developed in a prior project for research in social network analysis. The scenarios can be created by subject matter experts using a graphical editing tool. Given a set of time ordered transactions between actors, we employ social network analysis (SNA) algorithms as a filtering step to divide the actors into distinct communities before determining intent. This helps reduce clutter and enhances the ability to determine activities within a specific group. For modeling and simulation purposes, we generate random networks with structures and properties similar to real-world social networks. Modeling of background traffic is an important step in generating classifiers that can separate harmless activities from suspicious activity. An algorithm for recognition of simulated potential attack scenarios in clutter based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) techniques is presented. We show performance examples, including probability of detection versus probability of false alarm tradeoffs, for a range of system parameters.
Intercontinental influence of NOx and CO emissions on particulate matter air quality

Anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx h NO þ NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) affect particulate matter (PM) air quality on an intercontinental scale by changing background concentrations of oxidants (OH, ozone, H2O2) and thus increasing the oxidation rate of sulfur dioxide (SO2) to sulfate and NOx to nitrate. We conduct sensitivity simulations with the GEOSeChem chemical transport model and find that these intercontinental influences of NOx and CO emissions on PM can be greater than those from SO2 emissions (a direct PM precursor). The intercontinental impact of oxidant precursors is greatest in receptor regions with high domestic SO2 ,N Ox, and ammonia emissions and hence already high levels of PM. US NOx and CO emissions increase annual mean PM in northern Europe and eastern China by up to 0.25 m gm �3 . The increase in Europe is mostly as sulfate, whereas in China it is mostly as nitrate. East Asian NOx and CO emissions have a weaker intercontinental influence (w0.2 m gm �3 in northern Europe, w0.1 m gm �3 in the eastern US). These intercontinental effects of NOx and CO emissions on PM
Personality and Classroom Seating

The prediction of actual selected seating location in a classroom from some personality characteristics of students was examined. 34 women and 16 men, enrolled in an undergraduate psychology class, were studied. Seat location in a traditional rectangular classroom was designated by depth as front, middle, and back. Personality traits were measured by the 18 scales of the California Psychological Inventory. A discriminant function analysis was used to identify personality variables related to classroom seat selection. Two discriminant functions were identified which led to 88% correct classification. The first one (discriminated between those sitting in the middle and the front) showed that those sitting in the middle exhibited adaptive personal and social behaviors, personal intellectual achievement, and responsiveness to the inner states of others. The second function (discriminated between front and back) suggested that students at the front tended to be externally oriented, controlling of self and othe...
A new scalable service discipline for real-time traffic: The framed-deadline scheduler

Quality of Service (QoS) support in a scalable and low-complexity fashion is important in high-speed networks carrying real-time traffic. There are service disciplines that can provide end-to-end bandwidth and delay guarantees. However, they are designed to operate with expensive output queuing switches or with combined input-output queuing (CIOQ) switches that require very complicated fabric schedulers. We propose a novel service discipline, the Framed-deadline Scheduler (FDS), for connection oriented networks. FDS can work with a CIOQ packet switch to provide the same end-to-end QoS guarantees as service disciplines that only work with output queuing switches. The fabric scheduler of the CIOQ switch is simple and the implementation of FDS has O(1) complexity. Hence, FDS is a scalable service discipline that can provide end-to-end QoS guarantees for real-time traffic in high-speed networks.
Luminescent Polymer Composite Films Containing Coal-Derived Graphene Quantum Dots

Luminescent polymer composite materials, based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), as a matrix polymer and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) derived from coal, were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions. The coal-derived GQDs impart fluorescent properties to the polymer matrix, and the fabricated composite films exhibit solid state fluorescence. Optical, thermal, and fluorescent properties of the PVA/GQD nanocomposites have been studied. High optical transparency of the composite films (78 to 91%) and excellent dispersion of the nanoparticles are observed at GQD concentrations from 1 to 5 wt %. The maximum intensity of materials photoluminescence has been achieved at 10 wt % GQD content. These materials could be used in light emitting diodes (LEDs), flexible electronic displays, and other optoelectronic applications.
Chapter 26 – Informational Resources for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Research

The field of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) has flourished since the early years of the twenty-first century. While previous chapters provide an extensive summary of the data to date, it is presumed that the information presented will in time become outdated with the escalating pace of this field. Therefore, those that are interested in DOHaD need to be cognizant of the various resources to keep abreast of advancements in this field. This chapter details the current DOHaD-related resources, including: (1) scientific societies where DOHaD is the central theme or those where it is a sub-part but still integral to the mission of the organization, (2) scientific meetings, where unpublished and published data in the DOHaD field are presented, (3) scientific journals, where DOHaD may be the primary or related focus, and (4) social media resources on DOHaD that are springing up and are likely to become even more plentiful in coming years as a primary means to disseminate current findings. As with any resource, readers need to consider the reliability of the information and whether findings are anecdotal or based on rigorous testing in an animal model or large human datasets, with the resulting manuscript subjected to peer review. To aid the reader in judging the merits of the information presented, the last section of this chapter discusses such issues. This chapter provides existing external resources to learn more about DOHaD and to stay informed on developments in this area that likely have far-reaching implications for noncommunicable diseases in humans and animals.
Localization from semantic observations via the matrix permanent

Most approaches to robot localization rely on low-level geometric features such as points, lines, and planes. In this paper, we use object recognition to obtain semantic information from the robot's sensors and consider the task of localizing the robot within a prior map of landmarks, which are annotated with semantic labels. As object recognition algorithms miss detections and produce false alarms, correct data association between the detections and the landmarks on the map is central to the semantic localization problem. Instead of the traditional vector-based representation, we propose a sensor model, which encodes the semantic observations via random finite sets and enables a unified treatment of missed detections, false alarms, and data association. Our second contribution is to reduce the problem of computing the likelihood of a set-valued observation to the problem of computing a matrix permanent. It is this crucial transformation that allows us to solve the semantic localization problem with a polynomial-time approximation to the set-based Bayes filter. Finally, we address the active semantic localization problem, in which the observer's trajectory is planned in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the localization process. The performance of our approach is demonstrated in simulation and in real environments using deformable-part-model-based object detectors. Robust global localization from semantic observations is demonstrated for a mobile robot, for the Project Tango phone, and on the KITTI visual odometry dataset. Comparisons are made with the traditional lidar-based geometric Monte Carlo localization.