cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The systems thinker as revolutionary

The epoch of concern in this paper extends from about 1975 to about 2005: the phases of recession and depression of Kondratiev Cycle/Structure Number Four and the beginning of the phase of recovery of a possible fifth Kondratiev. During the past decade or so a number of meetings of international societies and a number of special issues of scientific and engineering journals have had themes like ‘science in the service of mankind’ and ‘engineering for peace’. Close examination of these themes suggests a high level of confirmation of the political, economic, and military status quo, and even the scientific and engineering status quo, coupled with a low level of novelty. This paper critically examines the traditional relationship between science and engineering on the one hand and policy-making and decision-making on the other. Systems theories like dissipative-structure theory, chaos theory, and the author's field and Kondratiev theories now provide a better understanding of the evolution, instability, and structural change of human societies and of natural environments than was the case in the recent past. These theories suggest a present window of opportunity that may not recur for a long time, if ever, for the implementation of bold, even radical and revolutionary ideas. History indicates a high level of incompetence during ‘normal’, stable times that contrasts with the emergence of highly capable leaders during times of crisis like the French Revolution and the US Civil War. There is a good match between these facts and the theory of the action of fluctuations in unstable systems far from equilibrium. In the past great political and politico-economic movements were shaped by the philosophical thinking of people like Voltaire and Hegel that preceded them. Now the questions must be forcefully addressed: can and should systems thinking best discharge its responsibilities through passive support and reconfirmation of a paradigm that provides major evidence for exhaustion? Or can and should systems thinking be directed actively and aggressively toward the implementation of a new paradigm? The author argues for the latter course. The Schumpeterian concept of creative destruction is extended. Means of accomplishing the newly defined goal are clarified.
The rebound of particles from natural surfaces

Abstract The basic theory behind particle rebound, developed by Dahneke [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 37, 342 (1971); 51, 58 (1975)], is reviewed and the results of various experiments reported. Biological and nonbiological particles (spores, pollen, and glass microspheres) rebound from surfaces at characteristic critical impact speeds, regardless of the surface type (smooth glass or rough leaf surfaces). These particles, of 20–40 μm diameter, are larger than those used in previous rebound experiments, but still support the general predictions of rebound theory. Estimated adhesion energies, calculated with Bradley-Hamaker theory, are too high by factors of 4–200 times, which is consistent with previous results for smaller nonbiological particles.
Performance enhancement in flow reversal flow injection using on-capillary detection

Abstract On-capillary absorbance detection is combined with flow reversal flow injection for automated determinations of glucose. The flow injection system used fused silica capillary tubing of 75 μm i.d. as the reactor tubing and a six-port injection valve to enable the sample zones to make multiple passes through a UV–Vis absorbance detector. Phenol red was used as the sample to characterize the amount of zone broadening due to the flow reversals. Results from a single zone making five passes by the detector showed a decrease in peak absorbance of only 6.1%, while the peak width (measured at half-height) increased by only 5.6%. This system was also applied to an enzyme-catalyzed kinetic determination of glucose where a calibration curve and a sample determination was performed in less than 6 min while the combined consumption of standard and sample was 300 nl.
A directed nucleotide-sequencing approach for single-stranded vectors based on recloning intermediates of a progressive DNA synthesis reaction.

Abstract A simple method for site-directed nucleotide sequencing is presented that uses a novel procedure for generating nested ‘deletions’ within inserts of single-stranded clones. In this method, single-stranded template, sequencing primer, and the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I are used to initiate progressive DNA synthesis of the entire insert of the clone. By time-dependent sampling and pooling of intermediates from the synthesis reaction a series of nested double-stranded DNA subfragments of the insert can be created. Nested subclones are then produced by S1-endonuclease treatment and oriented subcloning of this mixture. This method has significant advantages over current exonuclease-based directed sequencing methods. First, smaller quantities of template DNA can be used, equivalent to a fraction of a small DNA sequencing prep. Second, it works with single-stranded M13 phage DNA rather than requiring the preparation of double-stranded replicative form DNA as in ExoIII-based methods. Third, the ‘deletions’ it generates can span areas of simple nucleotide sequence or secondary structure that often halt digestion in the single-stranded exonuclease-based method. Last, the method is adaptable to a larger variety of insert cloning sites than the ExoIII-based method. The main disadvantage of the method is that, due to the lower efficiency of subcloning larger DNA fragments, subclone inserts larger than 3 kb are generated only infrequently.
Predicting the money multiplier

Abstract This paper develops a component approach to forecasting the money multiplier. It is found that time-series models of the individual money multiplier components yield forecasts of the multiplier which are more accurate than those produced by other regression methods or time series methods applied to the multiplier itself.
HCW 2012 Keynote Talk: Analyzing massive data using heterogeneous computing

Summary form only given. The keynote speach was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings. Only a professional biography of the speaker is presented.
The incidence of Campylobacter spp. on processed turkey from processing plants in the midwestern United States.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to determine the incidence of Campylobacter spp. on turkey, presented for processing at participating production plants located in the midwest region of the United States. Methods and Results: The two participating plants were visited on a monthly basis for a period of 1 year. Sampling of carcasses was carried out using a surface swab technique. Swabs were obtained from carcasses at two points on the production line – prechill and postchill. In addition, samples of chill water were also obtained for examination. Isolation and detection of Campylobacter was carried out using enrichment in Preston broth with recovery of the organism on blood free Campylobacter selective agar (CCDA). Isolates recovered were screened and identified using the API Campy® identification system. The study found that 34·9% of all samples tested were positive for Campylobacter spp. The overall, contamination rates observed for both plants were relatively similar (39·2% for plant A and 30·6% for plant B). Differences were observed in the incidence of Campylobacter spp. on prechill vs postchill carcasses (i.e. 40·8% prechill vs 37·6% postchill for plant A and 41·8% prechill vs 19·8% postchill for plant B). Campylobacter species most often isolated included Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli. Other species recovered were Camp. fetus fetus, Camp. upsaliensis and Camp. lari. Conclusions: The incidence of Campylobacter spp. on processed poultry was relatively common. Factors such as the processing plant examined, season and the farms presenting birds for processing influenced the incidence of the pathogen. Significance and Impact of the Study: Differences were observed in the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. isolated from the two plants examined. The study suggests a seasonal prevalence of Campylobacter in the cooler months with processing conditions also influencing the overall occurrence of the organism. The incidence, isolation and detection of Campylobacter spp. from processed poultry are discussed.
The critical importance of convolution function (algorithm) selection in the measurement of blood flow in small blood vessels by computed tomography scanning

In order to assess the capability for measuring blood flow in small vessels, the cardiac output was measured directly by either the microsphere reference sample technique or by obtaining blood samples simultaneously with the CT scan. The cardiac output was also measured in vivo by dynamic CT scanning and intravenous contrast as the indicator in an indicator dilution curve. Cardiac output was then calculated by two convolution back projection algorithms which optimized for either contrast or spatial resolution. The results of this study suggest that CT scanners are capable of accurately averaging intravascular changes in contrast density. Although it is good to optimize contrast resolution, the convolution back projection algorithm selected must have a pixel matrix which is much smaller than the vessel being analyzed.
The impact of microsatellite electromorph size homoplasy on multilocus population structure estimates in a tropical tree (Corythophora alta) and an anadromous fish (Morone saxatilis).

Microsatellite allelic states are determined by electrophoretic sizing of polymerase chain reaction fragments to define electromorphs. Numerous studies have documented that identical microsatellite electromorphs are potentially heterogeneous at the DNA sequence level, a phenomenon called electromorph size homoplasy. Few studies have examined the impact of electromorph size homoplasy on estimates of population genetic parameters. We investigated the frequency of microsatellite electromorph size homoplasy for 12 loci in the tropical tree Corythophora alta and 11 loci in the anadromous fish Morone saxatilis by sequencing 14–23 homozygotes per locus sampled from multiple populations for a total of 453 sequences. Sequencing revealed no homoplasy for M. saxatilis loci. Seven C. alta loci exhibited homoplasy, including single and compound repeat motifs both with and without interruptions. Between 12.5 and 42.9% of electromorphs sampled per locus showed size homoplasy. Two methods of correction for homoplasy in C. alta generally produced little or no change in single-locus estimates of RST, except for two loci in which some additional differentiation among populations was revealed. Twelve-locus estimates of RST (including the seven loci corrected for homoplasy) were slightly greater than estimates from uncorrected data, although the 95% confidence intervals overlapped. The frequency of methodological errors such as clerical mistakes or sample mislabelling per genotype scored was estimated at 5.4 and 7.3% for C. alta and M. saxatilis, respectively. Simulations showed that the increase in RST produced by homoplasy correction was only slightly larger than variation in RST estimates expected to be caused by methodological errors.
Normally Serially Monomial p-Groups

We study finite p-groups in which all of the irreducible characters may be linearly induced from subgroups belonging to a single normal series. Our main result is a calculation of the values of the character degrees and the multiplicities of the character degrees in terms of the orders of the derived subgroups of the terms of this normal series.
The nature of the conjugated estrone in human pregnancy urine.

Estriol, the most abundant of the estrogens in human pregancy urine, has been shown to be largely present as sodium estriol monoglucuronidate (Cohen and Marrian, 1936; Cohen, 1950a). The isolation of estrone sulfate from pregnant mares’ urine by Schachter and Marrian (1938) led to the general supposition that the estrone conjugate of human pregancy urine was also a sulfate. Support for this concept has come from two groups of workers. Butenandt and Hofstetter (1939) claimed that a similarity in the properties of concentrates of the human urine estrone conjugate and of estrone sulfate indicated that the two conjugates were indeed identical. Cohen and Bates -1949 reported that a large percentage of both the estrone-estradiol and estriol fractions of human pregnancy urine were freed from their conjugates by a preparation of phenolsulfatase, Mylase P. This preparation was devoid of glucuronidase activity as measured by the procedure of Fishman et al. (1948).
LOSS MECHANISMS OF A LOW TEMPERATURE PLASMA ACCELERATOR

Abstract : Any comparison of the performance of various thrust devices must incorporate an analysis of loss mechanisms involved. The occurrence of large losses due to dissociation and ionization in high performance thermal thrust devices has led to considerable interest in low temperature plasma accelerators. The principle loss mechanisms in these accelerators are those due to the electrode boundary layer and to Hall current effects. An experimental and theoretical investigation has been carried out, using argon seeded with potassium, operating at a free stream temperature of 3000 K and at a pressure of about one atmosphere. (Author)
The biology and ethics of banking fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells for in utero transplantation

Abstract Background/Purpose: Transplantation of fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in utero has the potential to treat a variety of hematologic, immunologic, and metabolic diseases. One prerequisite for broad clinical application is the establishment of a bank of fetal liver HSC tissue. The authors describe their methods for processing fetal liver free of known human pathogens while maximizing HSC activity after cryopreservation. Methods: The authors developed a protocol that separates the abortion decision from the donation decision and preserves confidentiality between donor and recipient. Human fetal livers (12 to 14 weeks' gestation) were procured from aborted specimens and the light-density hematopoietic cells isolated by density centrifugation. Total viable cell count increased with gestational age and averaged from 4.36 × 10 7 cells for 12-week livers to 2.0 × 10 8 cells for 14-week livers. Results: Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the presence of early progenitors in fresh and thawed specimens and a low number of T cells in each group. The functional capacity of fetal liver progenitors was assessed with colony-forming assays before and after cryopreservation. Thawed specimens showed an average 63% recovery rate for the high-proliferative potential colony-forming cells, a primitive subset of progenitors thought to include HSC. However, the more mature fraction of low-proliferative potential colony-forming cells had a recovery rate of only 35%. These data suggest that fetal liver HSC maybe more resistant to the detrimental effects of cryopreservation than mature progenitors. The fetal liver was screened for bacterial, fungal, and viral contaminates and the serum from donor mothers was screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A, B, and C, human T-cell lymphoma virus (HTLV III), rapid plasma reagent (RPR), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and toxoplasmosis IgM. The bacterial contamination rate was 14% (n = 28). The maternal serum was positive for CMV in 78% of cases, and positive for hepatitis C in 0.7% of cases (n = 28). However, all fetal liver specimens were culture negative for CMV. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that human fetal liver HSCs can be procured ethically and processed to ensure a safe graft with a small number of T-cells, and a high yield of progenitors after cryopreservation. A bank of fetal liver HSC will prove useful in treating a variety of genetic diseases before birth by in utero HSC transplantation.
Active contours for visual tracking: a geometric gradient based approach

In this note, we analyze geometric active contour models from a curve evolution point of view and propose some modifications based on gradient flows relative to certain new metrics. This leads to a novel snake paradigm in which the feature of interest may be considered to lie at the bottom of a potential well. Thus the snake is attracted very naturally and efficiently to the desired feature. Moreover, we consider some 3-D active surface models based on these ideas.
Parents’ divorce proneness: The influence of adolescent problem behaviors and parental efficacy:

Early adolescents’ problem behaviors were examined as predictors of parents’ divorce proneness in a community-based sample of 416 families across a 4-year time span. Using family systems theory, it was hypothesized that adolescents’ problems are linked to parents’ divorce proneness through parents’ lower perceived parenting efficacy. Results indicated that adolescents’ externalizing problems were associated with wives’ increased divorce proneness, but not directly with husbands’ increased divorce proneness. Adolescents’ problem behaviors were linked with husbands’ increased divorce proneness through lower paternal efficacy. In terms of crossover effects, adolescents’ problem behaviors were linked with spouses’ increased divorce proneness through their spouses’ lower parenting efficacy. These results specified the family systems precept of interdependence by explicating transmission patterns across family members and subsystems.
Killing and Equality

Although the belief that killing is normally wrong is as universal and uncontroversial a moral belief as we are likely to find, no one, to my knowledge, has ever offered an account of why killing is wrong that even begins to do justice to the full range of common sense beliefs about the morality of killing. Yet such an account would be of considerable practical significance, since understanding why some killings are wrong should help us to determine the conditions in which killing is not wrong. For, in those cases in which the reasons why killing is wrong do not apply, killing may be permissible or, if there are positive reasons that favour it, even morally required.
Non-Gaussian Atmospheric Noise in Binary-Data, Phase-Coherent Communication Systems

Performance evaluation of a binary-data phasecoherent system is presented for the case when interference is confined to the non-Gaussian component of atmospheric noise. As a first step, a mathematical model of the non-Gaussian component of atmospheric noise in narrow bandwidths is formulated which, for high instantaneous noise voltages, coincides exactly with the empirical atmospheric noise data. Second, the upper and lower bounds on the average bit errors of a phase-coherent system perturbed by the non-Gaussian noise component are derived as functions of the noise parameters. Third, a technique is developed whereby the effects of the entire atmospheric noise can be approximated by a combination of the non-Gaussian and Gaussian components with different power densities.
Quantitative modeling of dielectrophoretic traps

We present quantitative modeling software for simulating multiple forces acting on a single particle in a microsystem. In this paper, we focus on dielectrophoretic (DEP) trapping of single cells against fluid flow. The software effectively models the trapping behavior for a range of particles including beads, mammalian cells, viruses, and bacteria. In addition, the software can be used to reveal useful information about the DEP traps – such as multipolar DEP force effects, trap size-selectivity, and effects from varying the flow chamber height. Our modeling software thus serves as a predictive tool, enabling the design of novel DEP traps with superior performance over existing trap geometries. In addition, the software can evaluate a range of trap dimensions to determine the effects on trapping behavior, thus optimizing the trap geometry before it is even fabricated. The software is freely available to the scientific community at: http://www.rle.mit.edu/biomicro.
Speed, power, and yield comparison of thin bonded SOI versus bulk CMOS technologies

As it becomes more difficult to increase MOSFET current drive through standard scaling techniques, other methods to improve performance are being pursued. One such technique is to use silicon-on-insulator (SOI) starting wafers. Performance enhancements using SOI have been demonstrated by a number of authors. Most of the reported work has used SIMOX material. Bonded SOI material is an alternative to SIMOX, which potentially has lower material defect density. The purpose of this work was to compare bonded SOI performance and yield to that of bulk CMOS.
Safety and efficacy of flexible ureterorenoscopy and holmium:YAG lithotripsy for intrarenal stones in anticoagulated cases.

Purpose: We compared perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing ureterorenoscopy and Ho:YAG lithotripsy for renal calculi with or without anticoagulation.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients undergoing flexible ureterorenoscopy and Ho:YAG lithotripsy for renal calculi at 2 institutions from 2001 to 2007. We identified 37 patients on anticoagulation with Coumadin®, clopidogrel or aspirin in whom anticoagulation therapy was not discontinued before surgery. Data on the anticoagulation group were retrospectively compared to those on a contemporary matched cohort of 37 controls without anticoagulation who underwent a similar operative procedure. The 2 groups were compared with regard to the stone-free rate, and intraoperative and postoperative complications with specific reference to bleeding and thromboembolism.Results: The 2 groups were matched for stone size, stone location, number of stones, bilateral procedures and concomitant ureteral stones. Anticoagulation group patients we...
Feedback stabilization of semiconductor laser arrays

We develop a feedback-control law for a coupled diode-injection laser stripe array system and propose a driver circuit capable of implementing this law. The feedback-control law is of a particularly simple form, permitting the array designer to phase lock on the lowest-order supermode (all elements operating in phase).
Selectively deposited nickel film for via filling

A selective deposition process is used to fill vias in VLSI multilevel interconnection. Ni film is chosen as the via-filling material because of its compatibility with the underlying Al film. The vias are filled with a thin Pd film first and a thick Ni film. The deposited Ni film is uniform and smooth in the via regions. This film is not attacked by the plasma etch used in subsequent Al patterning; therefore, the design rule of overlapping the second metal on vias can be relaxed. The specific via resistance of this process is 4*10/sup -9/ Omega -cm/sup 2/. The via resistance increases about 30% after an exposure to 450 degrees C for 8 h. >
Imaging of Atmospheric Air Breakdown Caused by a High-Power 110-GHz Pulsed Gaussian Beam

We present the images of regular filamentary plasma arrays produced upon the breakdown of air at atmospheric pressure at the focal region of a high-power 110-GHz pulsed Gaussian beam. The source of the millimeter wave beam is a gyrotron that can generate up to 1.5-MW output power with 3-mus pulselength. This unique plasma structure exists only at high pressures. With decreasing pressure, the structure changes into layers of curved plasma sheets and into more familiar diffuse plasma. A main cause of the formation of the regular array structure appears to be the reflection from filaments. The successive generation of conductive filaments modifies the incident field pattern and creates local hot spots upstream of the existing filaments with regular spacing of roughly a quarter wavelength.
Materials and Techniques of Thai Painting

Samples from Thai manuscripts and banner paintings dated from the late 17th to the early 20th centuries were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the materials used. This revealed a chronological change in palette with the introduction of imported pigments in the later 19th and 20th centuries. In the late 17th and 18th centuries, the main green used on the manuscripts was an organic copper salt with malachite used on the banner paintings and on only one manuscript. Both the organic copper salt and malachite were replaced by emerald green and mixtures of Prussian blue plus gamboge on both manuscripts and banner paintings and of Prussian blue with chrome yellow or zinc yellow (zinc potassium chromate) on some manuscripts. Similarly, indigo in the late 17th and 18th century manuscripts and banner paintings was replaced by Prussian blue and then synthetic ultramarine in the 19th century. Chrome yellow was used in addition to gamboge in one later 19th century manuscript. The organic copper salt used in the 18th century was identified as a copper citrate phase. This has not been identified previously as an artist’s material although its use has been postulated based on historic texts. Copper citrate was synthesized to provide reference material for comparison with the phase found in the Thai manuscripts. The color of these synthesized copper citrates varies from deep blue-green to light blue depending on hydration. The most hydrated form is closest in color but is not identical to the deep green phase found on the Thai manuscripts. Lead white was the main white pigment in all but one manuscript, which contained huntite, a magnesium calcium carbonate. Huntite also occurred in mixtures with other pigments in two other manuscripts. In all the works studied, red lead, vermilion and red earths were used for red, orange and pink shades and red earth used in brown areas.
Neurotoxicity of FIV and FIV envelope protein in feline cortical cultures.

Abstract The neurotoxic effects of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and FIV envelope proteins were measured in primary cultures of feline cortical neurons. Envelope protein from the FIV-PPR strain promoted neuronal swelling and death, whereas envelope protein from the FIV-34TF10 isolate produced intermediate or negligible toxicity. No effect was observed in control cultures treated with envelope protein from the Epstein–Barr virus. A concentration–effect curve showed that FIV-PPR protein produced maximal toxicity at 200 pM protein and decreased toxicity at higher concentrations, which is consistent with previous reports of the HIV-1 surface glycoprotein, gp120. These effects required the presence of low concentrations of glutamate. Using the natural host cells as targets, the effects of envelope protein and infectious virions were directly compared. All of the toxic activity could be attributed to non-infectious interactions between the viral envelope and target cells. Addition of 1 μM tetrodotoxin failed to block the effects of FIV-PPR in the presence of 20 μM glutamate. Toxicity would appear to involve two steps in which the envelope protein first sensitizes neurons through non-synaptic interactions (TTX insensitive) thereby setting the stage for enhanced synaptic activation via glutamate receptors (TTX sensitive).
Family Sex Communication and the Sexual Desire, Attitudes, and Behavior of Late Adolescents

Parental sex education might promote healthy sexual behavior among adolescents, but some parents assume that family communication about sex will lead to sexual activity. Family sex communication has been studied with a limited range of adolescent sexual behaviors but not sexual fantasy or desire. Two measures of family sex communication were compared and examined in relation to measures of sexual fantasy, desire, attitudes, and behavior among a sample of 522 females and males in their late adolescence. An expanded range of sexual behaviors was assessed. Family sex communication was not associated with level of sexual fantasy, desire, attitudes, or most sexual behaviors. Causal inferences cannot be made, but parents might consider talking openly with their children about sexual matters without fearing that such communication will ignite their sexual desire or prompt sexual behavior.
> 360 W and > 70% efficient GaAs-based diode lasers

High power GaAs-based high power diode bars produce wavelengths in the range of 780 to 980 nm and are widely used for pumping a broad range of rare earth doped solid-state lasers. As the markets for these laser systems mature, diode lasers that operate at higher power levels, greater overall efficiency, and higher reliability are in high demand. In this paper we report efficiencies of over 70% in the 9xx-nm band, continuous wave power levels over 340 Watts in the 8xx-nm band, and reliability data at or above 100 Watts. We will also review the latest advances in performance and detail the basic physics and material science required to achieve these results.
Abca1 Deficiency Affects Alzheimer's Disease-Like Phenotype in Human ApoE4 But Not in ApoE3-Targeted Replacement Mice

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) transporter regulates cholesterol efflux and is an essential mediator of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) formation. In amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice, Abca1 deficiency increased amyloid deposition in the brain paralleled by decreased levels of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE). The APOEe4 allele is the major genetic risk factor of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we reveal the effect of Abca1 deficiency on phenotype in mice expressing human ApoE3 or ApoE4. We used APP/E3 and APP/E4 mice generated by crossing APP/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice to human APOE3- and APOE4-targeted replacement mice and examined Abca1 gene dose effect on amyloid deposition and cognition. The results from two behavior tests demonstrate that lack of one copy of Abca1 significantly exacerbates memory deficits in APP/E4/Abca1(-/+) but not in APP/E3/Abca1(-/+) mice. The data for amyloid plaques and insoluble amyloid-β (Aβ) also show that Abca1 hemizygosity increases Aβ deposition only in APP/E4/Abca1(-/+) but not in APP/E3/Abca1(-/+) mice. Our in vivo microdialysis assays indicate that Abca1 deficiency significantly decreases Aβ clearance in ApoE4-expressing mice, while the effect of Abca1 on Aβ clearance in ApoE3-expressing mice was insignificant. In addition, we demonstrate that plasma HDL and Aβ42 levels in APP/E4/Abca1(-/+) mice are significantly decreased, and there is a negative correlation between plasma HDL and amyloid plaques in brain, suggesting that plasma lipoproteins may be involved in Aβ clearance. Overall, our results prove that the presence of functional Abca1 significantly influences the phenotype of APP mice expressing human ApoE4 and further substantiate therapeutic approaches in AD based on ABCA1-APOE regulatory axis.
Infrared study of oxidation of elastomers

Infrared absorption spectra were used to study the structural changes resulting from oxidation in a number of unvulcanized, purified polymers under a variety of experimental conditions. The results showed that as oxidation progressed, the structural changes which were detected were qualitatively the same for all of the polymers under all of these experimental conditions. Correlation of volumetric measurements with spectral data indicated that considerably more oxygen was absorbed by the polymer samples before structural changes could be detected than the minimum amount required for the initial detection of the hydroxyl and carbonyl structures. From the interpretation of information from the absorption spectrum, it is believed that the structural evidence is in substantial agreement with current theories on autoxidation. Although the initial hydroperoxide formation is not observed in the spectrum, it is quite probable that this reaction takes place with almost immediate decomposition which results in a net hydroperoxide concentration so low as to make infrared methods insensitive for its detection. Correlation of physical properties with structural studies indicate that little change in these properties take place until the hydroxyl and carbonyl structures become evident in the infrared spectrum.
An Epidemic Model for News Spreading on Twitter

In this paper, we describe a novel approach to understand and explain news spreading dynamics on Twitter by using well-known epidemic models. Our underlying hypothesis is that the information diffusion on Twitter is analogous to the spread of a disease. As mathematical epidemiology has been extensively studied, being able to express news spreading as an epidemic model enables us to use a wide range of tools and procedures which have been proven to be both analytically rich and operationally useful. To further emphasize this point, we also show how we can readily use one of such tools -- a procedure for detection of influenza epidemics, to detect change of trend dynamics on Twitter.
Reproductive endocrinology: Don't be so quick to stop hormone-replacement therapy.

Finnish women <60 years old have an increased risk of death from cardiac events or stroke within a year of stopping hormone-replacement therapy (HRT), compared with women who have not had HRT and with those on current therapy. The safety of the practice of annual discontinuation of HRT should be questioned.
Notch signaling in postnatal joint chondrocytes, but not subchondral osteoblasts, is required for articular cartilage and joint maintenance

Summary Objective Notch signaling has been identified as a critical regulator in cartilage development and joint maintenance, and loss of Notch signaling in all joint tissues results in an early and progressive osteoarthritis (OA)-like pathology. This study investigated the targeted cell population within the knee joint in which Notch signaling is required for normal cartilage and joint integrity. Methods Two loss-of-function mouse models were generated with tissue-specific knockout of the core Notch signaling component, RBPjκ. The AcanCre ERT2 transgene specifically removed Rbpjκ floxed alleles in postnatal joint chondrocytes, while the Col1Cre(2.3kb) transgene deleted Rbpjκ in osteoblast populations, including subchondral osteoblasts. Mutant and control mice were analyzed via histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), X-ray, and microCT imaging at multiple time-points. Results Loss of Notch signaling in postnatal joint chondrocytes results in a progressive OA-like pathology, and triggered the recruitment of non-targeted fibrotic cells into the articular cartilage potentially due to mis-regulated chemokine expression from within the cartilage. Upon recruitment, these fibrotic cells produced degenerative enzymes that may lead to the observed cartilage degradation and contribute to a significant portion of the age-related OA-like pathology. On the contrary, loss of Notch signaling in subchondral osteoblasts did not affect normal cartilage development or joint maintenance. Conclusions RBPjκ-dependent Notch signaling in postnatal joint chondrocytes, but not subchondral osteoblasts, is required for articular cartilage and joint maintenance.
Investigating the Benefits of Participatory Action Research for Environmental Education

Environmental education (EE) continues to focus on enhancing people's ecological knowledge to encourage sustainable actions. This deficit approach presumes that once informed about environmental ha...
Medical oncology in a sophomore medical student pathophysiology course.

Abstract At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, a Medical Oncology unit was first included in the Sophomore Medical Student Pathophysiology Course (MED 6000) in the academic year 1985‐1986. Cancer education is important in the preclinical curriculum, because medical students and physicians in most specialties will encounter a significant number of patients with cancer, the second leading cause of death in the United States. Described here is the development of the Medical Oncology unit in MED 6000, how both the mechanics and objectives of the course have changed, and how these changes have affected the student evaluation of the course.
Research on Process Testing of Heat Treatment for Precision Forming Die Materials

In order to meet the requirements of light alloy ausforming die,by choosing H13 steel die materials rationally,different heat treatment processes such as annealing,quenching and tempering are applied to samples.The hardness,shock toughness and metallographic structure will be chosen as the basis for H13 steel die process.The test results show that the surface of H13 steel can obtain the optimum performance at temperature of complete annealing,quenching and tempering.
Prostaglandins, cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, and thromboxane synthetase inhibitors in the pathogenesis of multiple systems organ failure.

This review will highlight the role of the various cyclo-oxygenase products in the pathogenesis of sepsis and MSOF. We will also discuss the effectiveness of specific blockers in the prevention and/or treatment of these injuries.
General hospitals and the severely mentally ill: changing patterns of diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE The author's goal is to determine whether there has been a recent change in the number and proportion of severely ill psychiatric patients treated in general hospitals. METHOD He analyzed the discharge data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey for the years between 1970 and 1987, focusing particularly on the discharges of patients with psychiatric versus nonpsychiatric diagnoses. The number and proportion of discharges of patients with psychiatric diagnoses in four major diagnostic groups (depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and other psychoses) were determined. RESULTS Between 1970 and 1987, discharges of patients with psychiatric diagnoses from general hospitals increased by a factor of 0.8. The percentage of discharges of patients with the diagnoses of depression (18.0%-22.7%), schizophrenia (9.4%-13.6%), and paranoid or other nonorganic psychoses (3.1%-4.0%) remained relatively constant. The percentage of discharges of patients with the diagnosis of nondepressed bipolar disorder increased from 0.6% in 1970 to 3.2% in 1987. CONCLUSIONS Although there has been a recent absolute increase in the number of general hospital patients with severe psychiatric diagnoses, the increase has been tempered by a concomitant increase in the number of patients with nonsevere diagnoses. Changes in classification systems (DSM-II or ICDA-8 to DSM-III or ICD-9-CM) and questions regarding the rigor with which the nosologic changes have been incorporated into practice complicate the interpretation of these findings.
The Insects: Legs and locomotion

Introduction Insects typically have three pairs of jointed legs, one pair on each of the thoracic segments. The legs are moved by sets of extrinsic and intrinsic muscles, and are furnished with a range of sensory receptors, as well as with other mechanical structures such as hairs, spines and adhesive pads. In most insects, the primary function of the legs is to enable walking on land, but modifications of their structure allow them to be used in other kinds of locomotion, including jumping, swimming and walking on water. The legs are also specialized for a range of other tasks in different insects, including grasping, grooming, pollen collection and silk production. This chapter is divided into five sections. Section 8.1 describes the structure of the legs, considering their segments, musculature, sensory apparatus and attachment devices. Section 8.2 discusses maintenance of stance and the movements and coordination of the legs in walking and running. Section 8.3 considers other mechanisms of terrestrial locomotion, including jumping and crawling. Section 8.4 describes the mechanism and function of the legs in aquatic locomotion, both in walking on the surface or the bottom, and in swimming. Section 8.5 discusses modifications of the legs for functions other than locomotion.
Conjunctive Water Management in Hydraulically Connected Regions in the Western United States

Abstract Conjunctive management often includes policies for conjunctive administration, which seek to reconcile separate property rights systems for surface water and groundwater in regions where the two resources are hydraulically connected. Hydraulic connectivity between surface and groundwater implies that the extraction of water from one source influences the availability of water for extraction from the other source. This chapter develops a hydroeconomic model that integrates dynamic surface water–groundwater relationships with a model of irrigator decision-making to evaluate conjunctive administration policies. We show that the economic efficiency of alternative policies depends on the interaction of three factors that vary across space: the hydrologic dependencies between surface water and groundwater, the pattern of initial water rights ownership, and the productivity of water by farms.
Modeling Residual Lifetime of an IC Considering Spatial and Inter-Temporal Temperature Variations

In today's CMOS technology, reliability of integrated circuits is a significant concern. Higher temperatures during circuit operation accelerates the device aging. Power dissipation in an IC exhibits both spatial and inter-temporal variations, hence various blocks age differently. However, endusers only care about the reliability of the IC as a whole - specifically, they are only concerned about the residual life of the IC. Several aging monitoring sensors have been proposed to track aging of an IC. However, current solutions are built around detection of aging of a single critical path. Reliability modeling of ICs considering spatial and inter-temporal temperature variations have not received adequate attention in the literature. In this paper, we propose an analytical model to predict the residual lifetime of an IC, considering spatial and intertemporal temperature variations. This model can dynamically re-compute residual lifetime with changes in operating temperature of various blocks. The most substantial integrated circuit aging mechanisms are electromigration, time dependent dielectric breakdown, hot carrier injection and negative bias temperature instability. For this study, we focus on residual lifetime modeling based on electromigration. Unlike prior work, we consider the effect of both spatial and inter-temporal temperature variations and propose a generalized model for calculating the residual lifetime.
Fundamentals of RESTful APIs

APIs are not new. They’ve served as interfaces that enable applications to communicate with each other for decades. But the role of APIs has changed dramatically in the last few years. Innovative companies have discovered that APIs can be used as an interface to the business, allowing them to monetize digital assets, extend their value proposition with partner-delivered capabilities, and connect to customers across channels and devices. When you create an API, you are allowing others within or outside of your organization to make use of your service or product to create new applications, attract customers, or expand their business. Internal APIs enhance the productivity of development teams by maximizing reusability and enforcing consistency in new applications. Public APIs can add value to your business by allowing third party developers to enhance your services or bring their customers to you. As developers find new applications for your services and data, a network effect occurs, delivering significant bottom-line business impact. For example, Expedia opened up their travel booking services to partners through an API to launch the Expedia Affiliate Network, building a new revenue stream that now contributes $2B in annual revenue. Salesforce released APIs to enable partners to extend the capabilities of their platform and now generates half of their annual revenue through those APIs, which could be SOAP-based (JAX-WS) and, more recently, RESTful (JAX-RS).
Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of the Polio Endgame: Lessons for the Future

The Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis certified the eradication of type 2 poliovirus in September 2015, making type 2 poliovirus the first human pathogen to be eradicated since smallpox. The eradication of type 2 poliovirus, the absence of detection of type 3 poliovirus worldwide since November 2012, and cornering type 1 poliovirus to only a few geographic areas of 3 countries has enabled implementation of the endgame of polio eradication which calls for a phased withdrawal of oral polio vaccine beginning with the type 2 component, introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine, strengthening of routine immunization in countries with extensive polio resources, and initiating activities to transition polio resources, program experience, and lessons learned to other global health initiatives. This supplement focuses on efforts by global partners to successfully launch polio endgame activities to permanently secure and sustain the enormous gains of polio eradication forever.
A More National Technology

Over the past several decades, many computer societies have begun to focus on IT, leaving computer science behind.
Assessment of heavy metals in raw food samples from open markets in two African cities

Abstract The present study was performed to assess the level of biologically potent metallic elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb and Zn), metalloid (As) and non-metal (Se) in different raw food from open markets in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Johannesburg (South Africa). Hundred twenty different food samples comprising of cabbage, bean, beef and fish were collected, digested in the microwave system and analysed for trace metals using ICP-OES, ICP-MS and mercury analyser. The obtained results were used to evaluate the health risk of these elements via consumption of foods. The investigation revealed that the mean level of trace elements ranged Al: 1.62 ± 0.32 to 52.10 ± 3.45, As: 1.62 ± 0.32 to 5.33 ± 1.04, Cd: 0.16 ± 0.09 to 3.93 ± 0.12, Cr: 0.58 ± 0.24 to 17.29 ± 2.03, Cu: 0.69 ± 0.15 to 15.70 ± 1.67, Hg: 1.53 ± 0.1 to 2.94 ± 0.23, Mn: 5.34 ± 1.37 to 18.31 ± 3.45, Pb: 0.16 ± 0.09 to 4.14 ± 1.08, Se: 0.18 ± 0.08 to 1.41 ± 0.97, Zn: 5.47 ± 1.83 to 75.12 ± 5.67 mg kg−1. The average values of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se and Zn in raw foods collected from Johannesburg market were significantly higher (p
PTRE-seq reveals mechanism and interactions of RNA binding proteins and miRNAs

RNA binding proteins (RBP) and microRNAs (miRNAs) often bind sequences in 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs, and regulate stability and translation efficiency. With the identification of numerous RBPs and miRNAs, there is an urgent need for new technologies to dissect the function of the cis-acting elements of RBPs and miRNAs. We describe post-transcriptional regulatory element sequencing (PTRE-seq), a massively parallel method for assaying the target sequences of miRNAs and RBPs. We use PTRE-seq to dissect sequence preferences and interactions between miRNAs and RBPs. The binding sites for these effector molecules influenced different aspects of the RNA lifecycle: RNA stability, translation efficiency, and translation initiation. In some cases, post-transcriptional control is modular, with different factors acting independently of each other, while in other cases factors show specific epistatic interactions. The throughput, flexibility, and reproducibility of PTRE-seq make it a valuable tool to study post-transcriptional regulation by 3'UTR elements.
Computation of elastic equilibria of complete Möbius bands and their stability

Determining the equilibrium configuration of an elastic Mobius band is a challenging problem. In recent years numerical results have been obtained by other investigators, employing first the Kirchh...