cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variational optimization for call center staffing

According to Koole and Mandelbauin (2001), almost 60 to 70 percent of the total costs for operating a call center involve wage and benefit expenses for personnel. It follows that determining the optimal amount of call center agents is of great interest to call center managers. This paper addresses both the staffing of agents and the provisioning of telephone lines by introducing a revenue and penalty structure. Our goal is to develop an approximate algorithm for designing a profit optimal staffing and provisioning schedule. Our method for determining the number of agents and telephone lines arises from variational optimization methods. First, we model the call center as a multiserver queue with additional waiting spaces and abandonment. This queueing system is a special case of a natural class of queueing network models for call centers called Markovian service networks. Now we add an economic structure to our queueing model for the call center. We assume that there is a reward for every successful service completion, a penalty for every abandoned call, and a cost for the number of agents and telephone lines used. We can then express the total profit for the call center as an integral functional of the time evolution for the number of customers in the system over a fixed time interval. We call this our profit functional. We then use variational calculus methods from the theory of optimal control to derive an optimal staffing and provisioning schedule from our analysis of the fluid approximation of the profit functional.
Combining fine needle aspiration with brushing cytology has improved yields in diagnosing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the diagnostic yields of combining fine needle aspiration (FNA) with brushing cytology (BC) in clinical work-up of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The study included a total of 97 patients who underwent both FNA and BC along with histologic/clinical follow-up (F/U). Cytologic diagnoses were categorized as negative for neoplasm (NEG), atypical/favor neoplasm (AN), and suspicious or positive for neoplasm (POS). Based on the cytologic diagnoses, the cohort was divided as follows: 23 had concordant FNA and BC diagnoses of POS/AN, all were neoplasms on F/U; 34 had disconcordant (POS/AN vs. NEG) FNA and BC diagnoses, all but 2 were neoplasms on F/U; The remaining 40 were NEG on both FNA and BC, F/U revealed that 10 were neoplasms and 30 were chronic pancreatitis. Overall, FNA rendered more true positive diagnoses than BC. However, BC but not FNA detected neoplasms in 10 patients. Most of the neoplasms identified on F/U were ductal adenocarcinoma (59 of 65). Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 69.2, 93.8, 95.7, 60, and 77.3% for FNA alone, 50.8, 100, 100, 50.0, and 67.0% for BC alone, and 84.6, 100, 100, 76.2, and 89.7% for combining FNA with BC. In conclusion, both EUS-guided FNA and BC are valuable modalities in the preoperative diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. When used in combination, the two modalities complement each other and achieve better diagnostic yield in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma than either FNA or BC alone.
Liquid Phase Methanol and Dimethyl Ether Synthesis from Syngas

The Liquid Phase Methanol Synthesis (LPMeOHTM) process has been investigated in our laboratories since 1982The reaction chemistry of liquid phase methanol synthesis over commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts, established for diverse feed gas conditions including H2-rich, CO-rich, CO2-rich, and CO-free environments, is predominantly based on the CO2 hydrogenation reaction and the forward water-gas shift reactionImportant aspects of the liquid phase methanol synthesis investigated in this in-depth study include global kinetic rate expressions, external mass transfer mechanisms and rates, correlation for the overall gas-to-liquid mass transfer rate coefficient, computation of the multicomponent phase equilibrium and prediction of the ultimate and isolated chemical equilibrium compositions, thermal stability analysis of the liquid phase methanol synthesis reactor, investigation of pore diffusion in the methanol catalyst, and elucidation of catalyst deactivation/regenerationThese studies were conducted in a mechanically agitated slurry reactor as well as in a liquid entrained reactorA novel liquid phase process for co-production of dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol has also been developedThe process is based on dual-catalytic synthesis in a single reactor stage, where the methanol synthesis and water gas shift reactions takes place over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts and the in-situ methanol dehydration reaction takes place over γ-Al2O3 catalystCo-production of DME and methanol can increase the single-stage reactor productivity by as much as 80%. By varying the mass ratios of methanol synthesis catalyst to methanol dehydration catalyst, it is possible to co-produce DME and methanol in any fixed proportion, from 5% DME to 95% DMEAlso, dual catalysts exhibit higher activity, and more importantly these activities are sustained for a longer catalyst on-stream life by alleviating catalyst deactivation.
QR Codes in Higher Ed: Fad or Functional Tool?.

As higher education grapples with addressing the 21st century needs of learners, technology is a pervasive concern. Waters (2012) painted a picture of three historical “screens,” namely the television screen, the computer monitor, and today's mobile device screen. As mobile devices become increasingly commonplace in the workplace and on the street, educators are faced with challenges to staying updated, infusing relevant use, and engaging students who are both media-savvy and device-dependent (Edson & Gradel, 2011; Gradel, 2012). Quick Response (QR) codes—easy-to-use links from offline to online content—may be functional “hooks” to making mobilism more relevant to student learning and engagement in higher education. This article addresses: basics about QR codes, popular and research literature, and recommended cross-discipline applications and efficiencies in higher education.
Learning Real-Life Lessons From Online Games

Games have received increased scholarly attention due to the economic value they generate. Yet, some studies still conceptualize games as ‘‘virtual’’ realms that are theoretically distinct from ‘‘real world’’ experiences. Based on an ethnographic investigation of two online, text-based gaming environments, this study analyzes dynamics such as technical acculturation, access to technical knowledge, and opportunities for self-expression by studying social interaction that occurred in non-revenue-generating games. Frameworks that focus on dynamics such as in-game conversation in broader game-centric domains or ecologies should be considered to accommodate a wider variety of gaming forms and related interdisciplinary research questions. Different games have different consequences, and it is important to understand the varying consequential contexts that games afford. Whether or not the consequences may be measured economically, it is nevertheless important to consider how social interactions may complicate fo...
The R576 IL-4 receptor α allele correlates with asthma severity☆☆☆★

Abstract Background: Atopic disorders, including asthma, are very prevalent, affecting up to 40% of populations, and their incidence is on the rise. Although environmental factors are important in the development of atopy, there is a strong genetic predisposition. Several genes and chromosomal regions have been linked to atopy and asthma, supporting the polygenic nature of these disorders. IL-4 and IL-13 are T H 2 cytokines with numerous activities that contribute to allergic inflammation and asthma. Both IL-4 and IL-13 use the IL-4 receptor α chain (IL-4Rα) as a component of their respective receptor systems. Allelic variants of IL-4Rα have been reported, and the R576IL-4Rα allele was recently shown to be a risk factor for atopy. Objective: We sought to determine whether the R576 allele was associated with the prevalence or clinical severity of asthma. Methods: We developed a rapid, reliable, PCR-based assay to screen individuals for the R576IL-4Rα allele and used this assay to genotype prospectively recruited individuals with asthma (n = 149) and control subjects (n = 57). Results: There was a strong association of R576IL-4Rα with the prevalence and clinical severity of asthma. In a prospective cohort, homozygosity for R576 was significantly increased in individuals with asthma (n = 149, P = .03; relative risk 8.2) compared with controls (n = 57). Furthermore, 1 or 2 copies R576IL-4Rα correlated with asthma severity establishing a genotype-phenotype relationship and suggesting a gene dosage effect. Conclusions: Thus R576IL-4Rα acts as an allergic asthma susceptibility and disease-modifying gene and may serve as a clinically useful marker of asthma severity. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:1008-14.)
Atmospheres, Chemical Compositions, and Evolutionary Histories of Very Metal-Poor Red Horizontal-Branch Stars in the Galactic Field and in NGC 7078 (M15)

We have conducted spectrum analyses of 24 field metal-poor ([Fe/H] 30°) brighter than V = 15 exceeds those identified in extant objective-prism surveys by more than an order of magnitude. Finally, we deduce the effective temperature of the fundamental red edge of the metal-poor RR Lyrae instability strip, log Teff(FRE) = 3.80 ± 0.01, from the interface between the temperature distributions of metal-poor field RHB stars and the RR Lyrae stars of similar [Fe/H] in five metal-poor globular clusters.
Intrusive rocks in the Blue Ridge plateau, Virginia

An injection complex of early pre-Cambrian age is exposed in the Elk Creek anticline in Grayson County, Virginia. There, sedimentary rocks and diorite have been intruded by the Striped Rock and the Carsonville granites. The granites have metamorphosed, injected, reacted with, and replaced the older rocks to form many mixed types. This injection complex is part of a large area of similar rocks that form the core of the Catoctin Mountain-Blue Ridge uplift in Virginia, and is much older than the overlying volcanic series of later pre-Cambrian age.
Multisubstrate biodegradation kinetics of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene mixtures.

Biodegradation kinetics of naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene were studied in sole-substrate systems, and in binary and ternary mixtures to examine substrate interactions. The experiments were conducted in aerobic batch aqueous systems inoculated with a mixed culture that had been isolated from soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Monod kinetic parameters and yield coefficients for the individual parameters and yield coefficients for the individual compounds were estimated from substrate depletion and CO{sub 2} evolution rate data in sole-substrate experiments. In all three binary mixture experiments, biodegradation kinetics were comparable to the sole-substrate kinetics. In the ternary mixture, biodegradation of naphthalene was inhibited and the biodegradation rates of phenanthrene and pyrene were enhanced. A multisubstrate form of the Monod kinetic model was found to adequately predict substrate interactions in the binary and ternary mixtures using only the parameters derived from sole-substrate experiments. Numerical simulations of biomass growth kinetics explain the observed range of behaviors in PAH mixtures. In general, the biodegradation rates of the more degradable and abundant compounds are reduced due to competitive inhibition, but enhanced biodegradation of the more recalcitrant PAHs occurs due to simultaneous biomass growth on multiple substrates. In PAH-contaminated environments, substrate interactions may be very largemore » due to additive effects from the large number of compounds present.« less
Canopy-scale relationships between foliar nitrogen and albedo are not observed in leaf reflectance and transmittance within temperate deciduous tree species

Strong positive correlations between the maximum rate of canopy photosynthesis, canopy-averaged foliar nitrogen concentration, and canopy albedo have been shown in previous studies. While leaf-level relationships between photosyn- thetic capacity and foliar nitrogen are well documented, it is not clear whether leaf-level relationships between solar- weighted reflectance and nitrogen underlie the canopy-scale patterns. Using an integrating sphere, we measured the reflec- tance and transmittance (350-2500 nm) of both individual leaves and multileaf stacks. Samples were collected from 12 broadleaf species at the Harvard Forest in central Massachusetts, USA. Across all species, foliar nitrogen (both mass-based nitrogen concentration and area-based nitrogen content) and leaf mass / area ratio were negatively, rather than positively, correlated with solar-weighted reflectance and transmittance in ultraviolet-visible and near-infrared wavelength bands (350- 700 nm and 700-2500 nm, respectively). Leaf-level anatomy and biochemistry, therefore, do not appear to drive the can- opy-level association between increasing foliar nitrogen content and increasing canopy albedo. This suggests that interac- tions between leaf optical properties and structural canopy-scale traits that correlate with nitrogen content (perhaps some combination of crown shape, leaf area index, leaf angular distribution, or other structural characteristics of the canopy), may instead underlie the previously observed relationship between nitrogen and canopy-level shortwave albedo.
The cytoskeletal organizing protein Cdc42-interacting protein 4 associates with phosphorylase kinase in skeletal muscle.

Abstract Phosphorylase kinase is a key enzyme in regulating glycogenolytic flux in skeletal muscle in response to changing energy demands. In the present study, we sought to identify interacting proteins of phosphorylase kinase by yeast two-hybrid screening. Screening a rabbit skeletal muscle cDNA library with the exposed C-terminus of the α subunit (residues 1060–1237), we identified eight independent, yet overlapping, constructs of cdc42-interacting protein 4 (CIP4). Immunocytochemistry indicated that CIP4 colocalized with phosphorylase kinase in vivo, and the cognate binding domain on CIP4 was determined to lie between residues 398 and 545. While this region of CIP4 does contain a known src homology 3 domain, transient transfections and coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that this domain is not responsible for the dimeric interaction. Based upon sequence analysis the association is inferred to be mediated by two proline-rich sequences in CIP4, residues 436–439 and 441–444, that bind to a cognate WW domain found between residues 1107 and 1129 of PhKα.
A High Content Drug Screen Identifies Ursolic Acid as an Inhibitor of Amyloid β Protein Interactions with Its Receptor CD36

A pathological hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD) is deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain. Aβ binds to microglia via a receptor complex that includes CD36 leading to production of proinflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic reactive oxygen species and subsequent neurodegeneration. Interruption of Aβ binding to CD36 is a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. To identify pharmacologic inhibitors of Aβ binding to CD36, we developed a 384-well plate assay for binding of fluorescently labeled Aβ to Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing human CD36 (CHO-CD36) and screened an Food and Drug Administration-approved compound library. The assay was optimized based on the cells' tolerance to dimethyl sulfoxide, Aβ concentration, time required for Aβ binding, reproducibility, and signal-to-background ratio. Using this assay, we identified four compounds as potential inhibitors of Aβ binding to CD36. These compounds were ursolic acid, ellipticine, zoxazolamine, and homomoschatoline. Of these compounds, only ursolic acid, a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, successfully inhibited binding of Aβ to CHO-CD36 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The ursolic acid effect reached a plateau at ∼20 μm, with a maximal inhibition of 64%. Ursolic acid also blocked binding of Aβ to microglial cells and subsequent ROS production. Our data indicate that cell-based high-content screening of small molecule libraries for their ability to block binding of Aβ to its receptors is a useful tool to identify novel inhibitors of receptors involved in AD pathogenesis. Our data also suggest that ursolic acid is a potential therapeutic agent for AD via its ability to block Aβ-CD36 interactions.
VENTRAL SURFACE SPECIALIZATIONS OF CONOCEPHALUM CONICUM

THE THALLOID liverworts with limited tissue specialization are peculiarly dependent upon external conduction of water. A study has been made of Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dumort. with particular attention to its ventral differentiations in their relation to capillarity. This paper presents an analysis of these organs with respect to their number, position, and surface area, as well as consideration of their interrelations. OBSERVATIoNs.-The thallus of Conocephalumn conicum is differentiated into a conspicuously thickened midrib and thin lateral wings. The midrib ranges from 1.0 to 1.4 mm. wide or one-eighth to one-tenth of the thallus width. It is about 0.35 mm. in vertical thickness in contrast to the thallus wings which taper from about 0.2 mm. near the midrib to a single row of cells at the margin of the thallus. Except for a few scattered rhizoids on the wings (more common in certain growth forms), the ventral appendages are localized on the under side of the midrib.
Award prediction with temporal citation network analysis

Each year many ACM SIG communities will recognize an outstanding researcher through an award in honor of his or her profound impact and numerous research contributions. This work is the first to investigate an automated mechanism to help in selecting future award winners. We approach the problem as a researchers' expertise ranking problem, and propose a temporal probabilistic ranking model which combines content with citation network analysis. Experimental results based on real-world citation data and historical awardees indicate that some kinds of SIG awards are well-modeled by this approach.
Magnetic field investigation of the acoustic impedance resonance near 2Δ(T) in 3He-A

Abstract The acoustic impedance resonance near 2Δ( T ) in 3 He-A has been studied in magnetic fields up to H = 0.72 T with Hq . It now appears that the resonance reported by Meisel et al. is independent of Ĥ , q orientation and satisfies ω ( T ) = a ξ Δ ( T ), where Δ( T ) is the maximum in the weak coupling axial state gap and a ξ = 1.8.
Translational regulation of ferritin synthesis in rat spleen: effects of iron and inflammation.

Abstract Translational control of ferritin synthesis was studied in rat spleen, and compared with that for liver, heart and brain, in response to iron and inflammation. Spleen concentrations of total RNA in the ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) fraction was comparable to that for liver, while polyribosomal RNA was less. Both fractions were ten-fold lower in heart and brain. In untreated animals, the mRNP fraction of all tissues had the largest portion of the ferritin mRNA, as determined by slot blot hybridization with32P-labeled cDNA for the L subunit. Acute treatment with ferric ammonium citrate shifted the spleen ferritin mRNA to the polyribosome fraction. This was also so in liver but not in the heart and brain which took up much less iron. The findings were confirmed by hybridization studies of mRNPs and polyribosomes separated in sucrose gradients. Turpentine-induced inflammation also caused a shift in ferritin mRNA from the mRNP to the polyribosome fraction of spleen and liver, over 12 h. We conclude that as in liver, spleen ferritin synthesis is under translational control by iron, and that both tissues also respond to inflammation by shifting of ferritin mRNA to the polyribosomes.
Judging personality from dialect

This study investigated the effect of regional dialect on judgments of personality from voice. Thirty-one female college students, all natives of Buffalo, evaluated the personality characteristics of 12 female speakers, 6 speaking with a New York City dialect and 6 with a Buffalo dialect. The semantic differential procedure was used to obtain ratings of the speakers. As hypothesized, there was a significant difference between the ratings of the Buffalo and New York speakers. A significant interaction indicated that the Evaluative and Activity ratings were modified by content and paralanguage. The results confirm the findings of previous research, and it was concluded that regional dialect is a signficant factor in judging personality from voice.
Synthesis of an Acid‐Labile Diacrylate Crosslinker for Cleavable Michael Addition Networks

A novel acid-cleavable diacrylate crosslinker, DCDA, was used as a difunctional Michael acceptor in the synthesis of acid-cleavable crosslinked networks via base-catalyzed Michael addition of telechelic poly(ethylene glycol) bis(acetoacetate). Michael addition networks containing DCDA were degraded in the presence of catalytic quantities of acids to form soluble polymeric products. Michael addition networks of non-degradable diacrylate crosslinkers were chemically unchanged under identical reaction conditions and remained insoluble. Thermal degradation of DCDA-containing networks was also investigated using TGA, which confirmed the thermal reactivity and concentration of the acid-labile crosslink points.
Regulation of molt and gonadal development in the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus (Crustacea: Palinuridae): Effect of eyestalk ablation

Abstract 1. 1. Eyestalk-ablated spiny lobster, Panulirus argus develop gonads larger than their intact controls. Eyestalk-ablated lobsters molt faster than intact controls and both groups survive ecdysis without mortality. 2. 2. Those eyestalk-ablated lobsters exhibiting an accelerated molting cycle show correspondingly small gonadal development while those showing great gonadal growth do not exhibit accelerated molting. Therefore, the phase relationship of the two processes appears to be regulated in an antagonistic manner. 3. 3. Boiled eyestalk extract injected into either eyestalk-ablated P. argus or Uca pugilator restored gonadal inhibition. The sinus gland apparently possesses a heat-stable factor inhibiting gonadal growth.
Water-induced surface rearrangements of poly(dimethylsiloxane-urea-urethane) segmented block copolymers

An investigation of the surfaces of linear, segmented block copolymers of poly(dimethylsiloxane−urea−urethanes) by dynamic contact angle analysis is reported. The polymer films are immersed in water, the time-dependent advancing and receding contact angles are observed, and the contact angle hysteresis is reported. The initially hydrophobic polymer surfaces are observed to become more hydrophilic with long-term exposure to water. The advancing contact angles are relatively constant with immersion time; the receding contact angles decrease to some equilibrium value after a few days' exposure to water. It is proposed that the surfaces reorganize by a mechanism in which the hard block urethane−urea domains migrate through the soft block silicone to the polymer−water interface. The surface reorganization kinetics are discussed in terms of the effects of annealing as well as the average molecular weight of the soft block.
Plasma oscillation effects on nested Hall thruster operation and stability

High-power Hall thrusters capable of throughput on the order of 100 kW are currently under development, driven by more demanding mission profiles and rapid growth in on-orbit solar power generation capability. At these power levels the nested Hall thruster (NHT), a new design that concentrically packs multiple thrusters into a single body with a shared magnetic circuit, offers performance and logistical advantages over conventional single-channel Hall thrusters. An important area for risk reduction in NHT development is quantifying inter-channel coupling between discharge channels. This work presents time- and frequency-domain discharge current and voltage measurements paired with high-speed video of the X2, a 10-kW class dual channel NHT. Two “triads” of operating conditions at 150 V, 3.6 kW and 250 V, 8.6 kW were examined, including each channel in individual operation and both channels in joint operation. For both triads tested, dual-channel operation did not noticeably destabilize the discharge. Partial coupling of outer channel oscillations into the inner channel occurred at 150 V, though oscillation amplitudes did not change greatly. As a percentage of mean discharge current, RMS oscillations at 150 V increased from 8% to 13% on the inner channel and decreased from 10% to 8% on the outer channel from single- to dual-channel operation. At 250 V the RMS/mean level stayed steady at 13% on the inner channel and decreased from 7% to 6% on the outer channel. The only mean discharge parameter noticeably affected was the cathode floating potential, which decreased in magnitude below ground with increased absolute cathode flow rate in dual-channel mode. Rotating spokes were detected on high-speed video across all X2 operating cases with wavelength 12–18 cm, and spoke velocity generally increased from single- to dual-channel operation.
miR-122 stimulates hepatitis C virus RNA synthesis by altering the balance of viral RNAs engaged in replication versus translation.

Summary The liver-specific microRNA, miR-122, stabilizes hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genomes by recruiting host argonaute 2 (AGO2) to the 5′ end and preventing decay mediated by exonuclease Xrn1. However, HCV replication requires miR-122 in Xrn1-depleted cells, indicating additional functions. We show that miR-122 enhances HCV RNA levels by altering the fraction of HCV genomes available for RNA synthesis. Exogenous miR-122 increases viral RNA and protein levels in Xrn1-depleted cells, with enhanced RNA synthesis occurring before heightened protein synthesis. Inhibiting protein translation with puromycin blocks miR-122-mediated increases in RNA synthesis, but independently enhances RNA synthesis by releasing ribosomes from viral genomes. Additionally, miR-122 reduces the fraction of viral genomes engaged in protein translation. Depleting AGO2 or PCBP2, which binds HCV RNA in competition with miR-122 and promotes translation, eliminates miR-122 stimulation of RNA synthesis. Thus, by displacing PCBP2, miR-122 reduces HCV genomes engaged in translation while increasing the fraction available for RNA synthesis.
Improving automatic sound-based fall detection using iVAT clustering and GA-based feature selection

Falls represent an important health problem for older adults. This issue continues to generate interest in the research and development of fall detection systems. In previous work we proposed an acoustic fall detection system (acoustic-FADE) that employs an 8-microphone circular array to automatically detect falls. Acoustic-FADE has achieved encouraging results: 100% detection at 3% false alarm rate in laboratory tests. In this paper, we use a dataset from previous work to investigate how to further improve AFADE performance. To analyze the relationship between fall and non-fall signatures we used the improved visual assessment of tendency (iVAT) clustering algorithm in conjunction with a nearest neighbor based distance to find the most challenging false alarms. Then, we employed a genetic algorithm (GA) framework to perform feature selection and find the mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) that improve the classification performance. We found that using only three MFCC coefficients (1, 28, 29) instead of our previous choice (1,2,3,4,5,6) improves the classification performance.
On spectral controllability of multi-input time-delay systems☆

Abstract It is proved that under certain verifiable conditions, spectral controllability of a linear system with commensurate state delays and with m inputs, m > 1, implies the existence of an n × 1 vector b contained in the image of the control matrix B such that the system with B replaced by b is spectrally controllable. Both the necessity and the sufficiency of these conditions are shown, a procedure to construct b is given, and an example is discussed.
Seizure outcomes following the use of generic versus brand-name antiepileptic drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The automatic substitution of bioequivalent generics for brand-name antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has been linked by anecdotal reports to loss of seizure control.
Theme paper: Low-rise structures--Wind loading and flow field

Abstract This session containing sixteen papers deals with research concerning wind loads on and ventilation in low-rise buildings. The two areas relate to different types of wind; wind loads area of concern during strong winds while the ventilation of buildings is of interest during periods of no winds or low prevailing winds. A majority of the papers deal with experiments in wind tunnels though a few papers discribe field observations and computational methods. The theme paper surveys the papers in the session and challenges the researchers to be cognizant of the realities of wind in nature.
Demyelination in peroxisomal diseases

Peroxisomal disorders that display neurologic involvement usually show a variety of abnormalities in white matter of the central nervous system (CNS). Adult Refsum’s disease primarily exhibits a hypertrophic (onion bulb) demyelinating neuropathy. The changes in CNS white matter vary greatly between these diseases, but basically can be divided into three types of lesions: (1) a nonspecific reduction in myelin volume or myelin-staining with or without reactive astrocytosis (hypomyelination); (2) noninflammatory dysmyelination; and (3) inflammatory demyelination. Areas of myelin pallor and oligodendrocytic loss with or without reactive astrocytes have been seen in Zellweger syndrome (ZS), neonatal adreno-leukodystrophy (NALD), infantile Refsum’s disease (IRD), rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, and probably oxidase deficiency and bifunctional enzyme deficiency (BFD). Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) patients most commonly have shown at autopsy areas of myelin pallor with scant interstitial PASpositive macrophages. Neither lymphocytes nor reactive astrocytes are present in such lesions [1]. These lesions are most likely due to the incorporation of the signature saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) into several myelin components, particularly proteolipid protein, gangliosides, and phosphatidyl choline; and are considered to be dysmyelinative in nature. Dysmyelination has been defined by Poser (reviewed in Ref. [2]) as an abnormality in which bmyelin is not formed properly, or in which myelin formation is delayed or arrested, or in which the maintenance of already formed myelin is disturbed.Q On the other hand and even in the same patient, however, one can see the more typical inflammatory demyelinative lesions of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). The inflammatory (i.e., immune mediated) demyelination of ALD is the prototype and has been the most intensively studied. Confluent and bilaterally symmetrical loss of myelin typical of most leukodystrophies involves the cerebral and cerebellar white matter. The cerebral lesions usually begin in the parieto-occipital regions and progress more asymmetrically toward the frontal and temporal lobes. A topographic progression has not been recognized in the cerebellum, and the cerebellar lesions generally are less severe and lag behind the cerebral lesions. Arcuate fibers are generally spared, except in chronic cases. The loss of myelin exceeds that of axons, but there is considerable axonal loss. Lamellae have been identified rarely within cells consistent with oligodendrocytes; lamellar inclusions are commonly observed within CNS macrophages containing myelin debris. Spicular or trilaminar inclusions, more typical of ZS-NALD-IRD, also may be found within CNS macrophages [3,4].
Autonomic Nervous System Changes in Men With Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Purpose: We investigated the role of the autonomic nervous system in the chronic pelvic pain syndrome by studying blood pressure changes, power spectral analysis of heart rate variability, and hand and foot sympathetic skin responses in men with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome and healthy controls.Materials and Methods: We recruited 22 men with the chronic pelvic pain syndrome and 20 controls. The subjects underwent 5-minute resting and standing blood pressure readings as well as electrocardiogram recordings. Heart rate variability was evaluated using the low frequency (sympathetic) and high frequency (parasympathetic) components of power spectral analysis. We recorded sympathetic skin responses with surface electrodes placed on the dorsal and ventral sides of both hands and feet, measuring amplitude and latency.Results: Mean blood pressure readings for supine and standing were higher in the chronic pelvic pain syndrome group. Between group comparisons revealed no differences in low or high power spectra...
GJ 1214b and the prospects for liquid water on super Earths

GJ 1214b is one of the first discovered transiting planets having mass (6.55 M ⊕ ) and radius (2.678 R ⊕ ) smaller than Neptune. To account for its low average density (1870 kg m −3 ), GJ 1214b must have a significant gas component. We use interior structure models to constrain GJ 1214b's gas envelope mass, and to explore the conditions needed to achieve within the planet pressures and temperatures conducive to liquid water. We consider three possible origins for the gas layer: direct accretion of gas from the protoplanetary nebula, sublimation of ices, and outgassing from rocky material. Despite having an equilibrium temperature below 647 K (the critical temperature of water) GJ 1214b does not have liquid water under most conditions we consider. Even if the outer envelope is predominantly sublimated water ice, in our model a low intrinsic planet luminosity (less than 2 TW) is needed for the water envelope to pass through the liquid phase; at higher interior luminosities the outer envelope transitions from a vapor to a super-fluid then to a plasma at successively greater depths.
Caffeine, maximal power output and fatigue.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of caffeine ingestion on maximal power output and fatigue during short term, high intensity exercise. Nine adult males performed 15 s maximal exercise bouts 60 min after ingestion of caffeine (7 mg.kg-1) or placebo. Exercise bouts were carried out on a modified cycle ergometer which allowed power output to be computed for each one-half pedal stroke via microcomputer. Peak power output under caffeine conditions was not significantly different from that obtained following placebo ingestion. Similarly, time to peak power, total work, power fatigue index and power fatigue rate did not differ significantly between caffeine and placebo conditions. These results suggest that caffeine ingestion does not increase one's maximal ability to generate power. Further, caffeine does not alter the rate or magnitude of fatigue during high intensity, dynamic exercise.
Indentation Fractography: A Measure of Brittleness.

L'indentation est l'une des plus puissantes techniques de test permettant l'etude systematique des deformations et des fissures dans les materiaux fragiles. Les indentations peuvent etre utilisees pour evaluer les parametres mecaniques critiques (module elasticite, durete) d'une facon simple et tres precise
Forgiveness and the bottle: Promoting self-forgiveness in individuals who abuse alcohol

In the current article, the authors explore the efficacy of a 4-hour self-forgiveness intervention. Participants (n = 79) undergoing a routine alcohol treatment protocol were randomly assigned to an intervention or treatment as usual condition. Those in the intervention condition completed the self-forgiveness intervention. All participants completed measures of self-forgiveness, drinking refusal self-efficacy, and guilt and shame over an alcohol-related transgression. Participants in the intervention condition reported more positive gains on measures of self-forgiveness and drinking refusal efficacy, as well as guilt and shame over alcohol-related offenses. Implications of the self-forgiveness intervention for individuals who misuse alcohol are discussed.
General Relayless Networks: Representation of the Capacity Region

Using an Information-Spectrum approach, a limiting expression for the capacity region of a general network without relays combined of M transmitters observing K input messages, and L receivers, is found. This general setup accounts for the broadcast channel with common messages, the general interference channel, and the multiple access channel as special cases. It is demonstrated how the limiting expression can be used to yield a single-letter tight outer bound for the case of a two-user stationary memoryless degraded broadcast channel.
Fluctuations of critical current and phase slippage in Josephson junctions

The effect of critical current noise on the phase-slip- rate in an overdamped Josephson junction is calculated. A significant increase of the Kramers escape rate is predicted for submicron metal-insulator-metal junctions. The temperature dependence of the rate shows deviations from the Arrhenius law at low temperatures if the junction conductance fluctuations are produced by quantum ionic tunneling processes in the junction barrier. Implications for magnetization decay in high-${T}_{c}$ superconductors are discussed.
A review and evaluation of catchment transit time modeling

Transit time is a fundamental catchment descriptor that reveals information about storage, flow pathways and source of water in a single characteristic. Given the importance of transit time, little guidance exists for the application of transit time modeling in complex catchment systems. This paper presents an evaluation and review of the transit time literature in the context of catchments and water transit time estimation. It is motivated by new and emerging interests in transit time estimation in catchment hydrology and the need to distinguish approaches and assumptions in groundwater applications from catchment applications. The review is focused on lumped parameter transit time modeling for water draining catchments and provides a critical analysis of unresolved issues when applied at the catchment-scale. These issues include: (1) input characterization, (2) recharge estimation, (3) data record length problems, (4) stream sampling issues, (5) selection of transit time distributions, and (6) model evaluation. The intent is to promote new advances in catchment hydrology by clarifying and formalizing the assumptions, limitations, and methodologies in applying transit time models to catchments.
Microbial Intervention in Trace Element-containing Industrial Process Streams and Waste Products

Microorganisms are important agents in solubilization, precipitation, accumulation, and alkylation-dealkylation reactions involving heavy elements in environments associated with industrial process streams and wastes. Such microbial processes may be harmful or beneficial. Microbial resistance to toxic heavy elements often involves metabolic mechanisms causing chemical species transformation. With certain bacteria heavy elements may serve as metabolic energy sources. The presence of chemical species of trace elements in these environments is critical for understanding the mechanisms of microbial heavy-element transformations and optimizing or inhibiting these processes for industrial application and environmental assessment.
Lord, hear our prayer: Prayer, Social Support, and Well-Being in a Catholic Convent

This article examines intercessory prayer, specifically, petitions to the divine as they are performed in Mass and in prayer groups at a Catholic convent in the midwestern United States. It demonstrates that these petitions function on multiple levels. Petitions are designed primarily as a form of communication with the divine, intended to elicit divine aid. In addition to functioning as requests to the divine, the petitions function on a number of socio-communicative levels: first, as an index of the presence of the divine; second, as a means for individuals to communicate social support to copresent participants; and third, as a mode of peer socialization. Finally, these multiple functions of prayer provide spiritual and social support that may contribute, in the context of the convent, to the inhabitant nuns’ documented success in achieving physical and mental well-being throughout their lives.
Donald R. Nielsen New WRR Editor

Bridging the gap between the disciplines of engineering and agriculture is a major goal for Water Resources Research (WRR), says Donald R. Nielsen, who was appointed to a 4-year term as WRR editor, effective January 1, 1985. Nielsen succeeds Stephen J. Burges as the WRR editor for hydrology, physical, chemical, and biological sciences. Ronald G. Cummings, at the University of New Mexico, is the WRR editor for policy sciences, including economics, systems analysis, sociology, and law.
Hypertension in Autosomal-Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: Early Occurrence and Unique Aspects

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a systemic hereditary disorder characterized by renal and extrarenal involvement with cystic and noncystic manifestations ([1][1]). Hypertension is an early and frequent finding of ADPKD, occurring in approximately 60% of the patients before
Which sets contain multiple points of Brownian motion

In 1950, Dvoretzky, Erdos and Kakutani [2] showed that in ℝ3 almost all paths of Brownian motion X have double points, or self-intersections of order 2 (there are no triple points [4]); later the same authors proved that almost all sample paths of Brownian motion in the plane have points of arbitrarily high multiplicity (a point x in ℝ2 is a k-tuple point for the path ω, or a self-intersection of order k, if there are times tl < t2 < … < tk such that x = X(t1, ω) = X(t2, ω) = … X(tk, ω)).
Intertester reliability and concurrent validity of fluid-based and universal goniometers for active knee flexion.

This study was designed 1) to determine the intertester reliability of the universal goniometer and the fluid-based goniometer and 2) to establish the concurrent validity of the fluid-based goniometer. Two testers measured active knee flexion of 20 healthy subjects (15 women, 5 men) using both instruments. The subjects had a mean age of 24.8 years ( s = 5.5) and reported no previous history of pathological conditions of the right lower extremity. Using a correlational design, high intertester reliability was established for each instrument (universal goniometer, r = .87; fluid-based goniometer, r = .83). The concurrent validity of the fluid-based goniometer was also good for both testers (tester A, r = .83; tester B, r = .82). When the data were subjected to t tests, significant differences were found between the instruments for each tester ( p < .05). The results suggest that similar measurements will be obtained between therapists using the universal and fluid-based goniometers; however, the two instruments cannot be used interchangeably in the clinic.
GENDER, FEAR, AND PROTECTIVE HANDGUN OWNERSHIP*

Nonrecursive models which have been used to assess the potentially reciprocal relationship between fear of crime and handgun ownership may suffer on two accounts: (a) the use of “weak” instrumental variables: and (b) the measurement of household (versus personal) handgun ownership. Data from the 1980 NORC General Social Survey are used in this study to minimize these problems in examining the relationships among fear of crime, victimization, and protective handgun ownership among males and females. Significant effects of fear and victimization on personal gun ownership are found among men but not among women. These results are discussed in light of two concerns. First, earlier research is confirmed that finds gender differences in the factors influencing gun ownership. Second, a clear need is emphasized for further research addressing questions of both conceptualization and measurement in the study of fear of crime and its effects on protective handgun ownership.
Clinicopathologic factors and adjuvant treatment effects on survival in adult head and neck synovial cell sarcoma

Background Synovial cell sarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinicopathologic factors and management on survival in primary synovial sarcoma of the head and neck. Methods We conducted a retrospective case series of medical records. Standard Kaplan–Meier survival analyses and accompanying log-rank tests were used. Results Twenty-eight patients were identified. All patients had surgery in attempt to remove the primary lesion. Nine patients received adjuvant radiation therapy, 2 received chemotherapy, and 14 received chemoradiation therapy postoperatively. Metastases on initial presentation and tumor size >4 cm decreased survival. No significant effect on overall survival or local tumor recurrence with histologic subtype, lymph node involvement at diagnosis, tumors >5 cm, or when comparing adjuvant therapy types. Conclusion Although surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, our results do not suggest that adding chemotherapy to postoperative radiotherapy confers a survival or control benefit. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 375–380, 2015
Adhesion of Monocytes to Arterial Endothelium and Initiation of Atherosclerosis Are Critically Dependent on Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Gene Dosage

- Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1/Vcam1) is a cytokine-inducible member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily that is expressed by arterial endothelial cells in regions predisposed to atherosclerosis and at borders of atherosclerotic plaques. To determine whether VCAM-1 expression regulates atherosclerotic lesion formation, we crossed Vcam1 domain 4-deficient (D4D) mice, which partially circumvent the embryonic lethality of Vcam1 null mice, with apolipoprotein E null (Apoe(-/-)) mice, which spontaneously develop hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. In the Apoe(-/-) background, mice homozygous for the Vcam1 D4D allele had markedly reduced arterial VCAM-1 expression, monocyte adherence in the aortic root, and fatty streak formation. Heterozygous Vcam1 D4D mice revealed a Vcam1 gene-dosage effect and had intermediate, yet significant, reductions in these parameters. Our data demonstrate that VCAM-1 plays a pivotal role in the initiation of atherosclerosis in Apoe(-/-) mice.
SYSTEMATICS OF MYOTIS OCCULTUS (CHIROPTERA: VESPERTILIONIDAE) INFERRED FROM SEQUENCES OF TWO MITOCHONDRIAL GENES

The systematic relationship between Myotis lucifugus carissima and Myotis occultus has been the subject of multiple studies. Although several studies, including a recent allozyme study, concluded that M. occultus is a subspecies of M. lucifugus, this view has not been universally accepted. We reexamined the relationships of these 2 taxa by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome-b (cyt-b) and cytochrome oxidase II (COII) genes of specimens from the allozyme study. The results suggest that M. occultus represents an evolutionarily distinct monophyletic lineage and provide support to arguments that M. occultus is a distinct species.