cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduction of nonspecific protein adsorption on cantilever biosensors caused by transverse resonant mode vibration.

We examine if vibration of millimeter-sized cantilever sensors can release nonspecifically adsorbed proteins. Integrated electrochemical and mass-change measurement as well as fluorescence assays showed transverse surface vibration released nonspecifically bound proteins in samples prepared at 0.2–3.6 mg bovine serum albumin (BSA) per mL. Extent of release was directly related to magnitude of excitation voltage (Vex) applied to the self-actuating lead zirconate titanate (PZT) cantilever over three log units (0, 10 mV, 100 mV, and 1 V). Vibration-induced release was not instantaneous, but had an apparent first-order rate constant (kapp) which ranged from 0.02–0.1 min−1. Results suggest significant serum albumin protein release could be achieved using excitation voltages of 1 V in millimeter-sized cantilever sensors. Complementary experiments with thiolated DNA, which binds to surface gold 〈111〉 sites with ∼ four times higher binding energy than BSA, showed negligible release under the same vibration magnitude. The results of the study suggest a direct correlation between surface-adsorbate binding energy and the effectiveness of vibration-induced release. We suggest that the release mechanism includes contributions from surface strain energy, body force, and acoustic streaming-associated hydrodynamic effects. The primary contribution of this study suggests that surface vibration of cantilever sensors may be useful in reducing nonspecific adsorption, especially for biosensing of analytes present in a complex background.
Magnetoresistance of Holes in Germanium and Silicon with Warped Energy Surfaces

The series-expansion method which has been described in an earlier paper has been used to obtain expressions for the magnetoconductivity coefficients in the case of warped energy surfaces and low magnetic fields. Using the experimental values of Hall coefficient and conductivity, and assuming a relaxation time of the form $\ensuremath{\tau}=l{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\lambda}}$, where $l$ is a temperature-dependent coefficient, $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ is the energy of the carriers, and $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is a parameter which most suitably represents the scattering processes, we have calculated the magneto-resistance coefficients in $p$-type germanium and silicon. The results of these calculations are used to interpret the experimentally derived directional magnetoresistance effects and also the variation of magnetoresistance with magnetic field in these materials.
Prostaglandin I2Analogue, Iloprost, Down Regulates Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases of Macrophages

Abstract Objective. Vascular endothelial cells (EC) play a pivotal role in diffuse organ injury seen in ARDS and MOFS. On exposure to cytokines or endotoxin (LPS), EC are stimulated to express adhesion molecules as well as proinflammatory and procoagulant activity. However, the potential feedback control of EC on macrophages (Mφ) is not clear. We studied the cellular mechanism of iloprost, a PGI 2 analogue, in regulation of TNF production by LPS-stimulated Mφ. Methods. Rabbit alveolar Mφ and mouse Mφ RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to Escherichia coli LPS in the presence of various concentrations of iloprost. TNF production was measured by L929 bioassays. To further study the cellular mechanism of iloprost on Mφ activation, RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated by LPS (10 μg/ml) in the presence of either iloprost or specific mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, either PD98059 or SB202190. P44/P42 and P38 MAPK activation were evaluated by Western blot assays with anti-phospho MAPK antibodies. Results. LPS induced Mφ TNF production, which was inhibited by iloprost. Iloprost also attenuated the activation of P44/P42 and P38 induced by LPS. Inhibition of P44/P42 with PD98059 or P38 with SB202190 significantly reduced TNF production by LPS-stimulated RAW cells. Conclusions. The regulatory mechanism of EC on Mφ activation is dependent on PGI 2 . The effect of PGI 2 on Mφ is, at least in part, mediated through inhibiting MAPKs.
Grothendieck spaces, II

Abstract If X is a compact Hausdorff space such that ( C ( X ), ∥ · ∥) is a Grothendieck space, and E is a Montel locally convex space, then C ( X , E ) with the uniform topology is a Grothendieck space.
Electromagnetic and optical behavior of two classes of dielectric lenses

Two families of spherically symmetric dielectric lenses are considered. Their optical properties are studied, and the radial eigenfunctions describing the electromagnetic field inside the lenses are found in terms of hypergeometric functions. Among the members of these two families are the Luneburg lens, the Maxwell fisheye, the isotropic lens of Eaton, and a lens that behaves like a metal reflector.
Impact of infection or vaccination on pre-existing serological memory.

Once established, serum antibody responses against a specific pathogen may last a lifetime. We describe a cohort of four subjects who received smallpox vaccination, and a single subject who received multiple vaccinations, with antibody levels to unrelated antigens monitored for 1–3 years. These immunizations provided the opportunity to determine if infection/vaccination and the resulting toll-like receptor stimulation would alter antigen-specific serological memory to other antigens, including bacterial toxins (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) and viruses (yellow fever virus, measles, mumps, rubella, Epstein-Barr virus, and varicella-zoster virus). Our results indicate that serum IgG levels are remarkably stable and infection or vaccination are unlikely to increase or decrease pre-existing antigen-specific antibody responses.
Temporal trends (1973-1997) in survival of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma in the United States: a glimmer of hope?

OBJECTIVE: The incidence and mortality related to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has been rising in the United States. Meanwhile, the number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has increased in number and improved technologically. However, the impact of these advances on the survival of EAC in clinical practice remains unknown. METHODS: Patients with histologically proven EAC between 1973 and 1997 were identified in registries of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, and analyzed in 5-yr time periods. The observed and relative survival rates were calculated. The joint influence of the time of diagnosis, stage and grade of cancer, demographic features, surgical therapy, and radiotherapy were assessed in Cox proportional hazard survival analyses. RESULTS: Between 1973 and 1997, we identified 4835 patients with EAC. The 1-yr and 5-yr observed survival rates increased from 34% and 5% during 1973-1977 to 44% and 13% during 1993-1997 (p < 0.05). In the Cox survival analysis, the more recent year of diagnosis, early stage of tumor, younger age at presentation, receiving radiotherapy or surgery were independent predictors of reduced risk of mortality. The proportion of patients with in situ EAC and those with local spread increased progressively from 0.3% and 17.7% in 1973-1977 to 2.3% and 25.3%, respectively, in 1993-1997 (p < 0.05). The proportion of patients receiving radiation therapy either before or after surgery has increased from 7% in 1973-1977 to 16% in 1993-1997 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The short- and long-term survival of patients with EAC has improved slightly in the United States over the past 25 yr. Some of the improvement may be related to an increase in the number of younger patients, and in cases with in situ and localized cancers. However, the overall survival of patients with EAC remains dismal.
LABORATORY MEASUREMENT OF THE MILLIMETER WAVE PROPERTIES OF LIQUID SULFURIC ACID (H2SO4)

The methodology and the results of laboratory measurements of the millimeter wave properties of liquid sulfuric acid are presented. Measurements conducted at 30-40 and 90-100 GHz are reported, using different concentrations of liquid H2SO4. The measured data are used to compute the expected opacity of H2SO4 condensates and their effects on the millimeter wave emission from Venus. The cloud condensate is found to have an effect on the emission from Venus. The calculated decrease in brightness temperature is well below the observed decrease in brightness temperature found by de Pater et al. (1991). It is suggested that other constituents such as gaseous H2SO4 also affect the observed variation in the brightness temperature.
Abstract C113: ERBB3 independent activation of the PI3K pathway in EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinomas.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutant lung adenocarcinomas are sensitive to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib and erlotinib. EGFR is one member of a family of four receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3 and ERBB4) that can homo- and/or hetero-dimerize leading to activation of the RAS-MAPK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. In EGFR mutant lung cancer cell lines, ERBB3 has been implicated in activation of the PI3K pathway. However, the requirement for ERBB3 in the initiation, progression and therapeutic response of EGFR mutant tumors remains undetermined. Using genetically engineered mouse models we investigated the contribution of Erbb3 to the development of EGFR-induced lung adenocarcinomas and their response to TKIs. We found that upon conditional deletion of Erbb3 in the lungs of mice that express mutant EGFR tumorigenesis and erlotinib sensitivity were unaffected. In the absence of Erbb3, tumors retained activation of the Pi3k pathway via the adapter proteins Gab1 and Gab2. Acute loss of ERBB3 in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with sensitizing EGFR mutations had a modest effect on phosphorylation of AKT and cell viability that varied among cell lines. These data demonstrate that activation of the Pi3k pathway in EGFR mutant tumors is independent of Erbb3 and has implications for the potential of ERBB3 as a therapeutic target in lung cancer. Knowledge of the role EGFR heterodimerization partners play in mutant EGFR-driven lung cancer can help guide the selection of which EGFR family members to target in the treatment of this disease. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C113. Citation Format: Xiaoling Song, Pang-Dian Fan, Udayan Guha, David Threadgill, Harold Varmus, Katerina Politi. ERBB3 independent activation of the PI3K pathway in EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C113.
Mega-chondrules and large, igneous-textured clasts in Julesberg (L3) and other ordinary chondrites: vapor-fractionation, shock-melting, and chondrule formation

Abstract A petrographic-microprobe study of large, metal-poor, igneous-textured objects in Julesberg (L3) and other ordinary chondrites suggests that they can be classified into two petrographic types: mega-chondrules and large lithic clasts; and into two chemical types: Na-poor and Na-rich. Mega-chondrules show textural evidence of having solidified as freely-floating melt droplets, whereas lithic clasts formed by the fragmentation of larger objects, possibly still larger mega-chondrules. Barred-olivine or barred-olivine-pyroxene textures are most common for mega-chondrules, whereas a variety of textures occur in large lithic clasts. The two petrographic types cannot be distinguished on the basis of modal, bulk, or phase compositions. Sodium-poor objects are characterized by (1) plagioclase or glass with mainly bytownite composition (An70-90 typical), (2) subchondritic Na/Al ratios and typically subchondritic volatile-element (Na, K, and Mn) abundances, and (3) bulk-chemical trends that resemble those expected for vapor-fractionation processes. Some Na-poor objects may have formed by the melting of precursors that formed as condensates or vaporization residues; others may have formed by the melting of precursors that formed by fractional condensation or fractional vaporization. Following vapor-fractionation, Na-poor objects or their precursors appear to have reequilibrated at lower temperatures, which raised the bulk Na content of the objects, but not to the levels seen in Na-rich objects. Enrichments of Fe2+, Na, K, and P on the margins of some Na-poor objects suggest that they partly reacted with volatile-rich surroundings, both before and after brecciation. Sodium-rich objects are characterized by (1) plagioclase or glass with oligoclase or albite composition (An2-25), (2) roughly chondritic Na/Al ratios and volatile-element (Na, K, Mn) abundances, and (3) bulk-chemical trends similar to those shown by melt-pocket glasses in ordinary chondrites. Sodium-rich melt objects could have formed by the shock-melting of chondritic precursors. Feldspathic compositions for some Na-rich melt objects can be explained by preferential shock-melting of feldspar or feldspathic glass in chondritic target materials. Literature data imply that the same two chemical populations of objects, Na-poor and Na-rich, occur among smaller, normal-sized chondrules in Type 3 ordinary chondrites, suggesting that the same processes that affected large melt objects also affected chondrules.
Glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 and 67 expression in the lateral septum is up-regulated in association with the postpartum period in mice

The postpartum period in mammals undergoes a variety of physiological adaptations, including metabolic, behavioral and neuroendocrine alterations. GABA signaling has been strongly linked to various emotional states, stress responses and offspring protection. However, whether GABA signaling may change in the lateral septum (LS), a core brain region for regulating behavioral, emotional and stress responses in postpartum mice has not previously been examined. In this study, we tested whether the expression of two isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), GAD65 (GAD2) and GAD67 (GAD1), the rate-limiting enzyme for GABA synthesis, exhibits altered expression in postpartum mice relative to nonmaternal, virgin mice. Using microdissected septal tissue from virgin and age-matched postpartum females, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were carried out to assess GAD mRNA and protein expression, respectively. We found both protein and mRNA expression of GAD67 in the whole septum was up-regulated in postpartum mice. By contrast, no significant difference in the whole septum was observed in GAD65 expression. We then conducted a finer level of analysis using smaller microdissections and found GAD67 to be significantly increased in rostral LS, but not in caudal LS or medial septum (MS). Further, GAD65 mRNA expression in rostral LS, but not in caudal LS or MS was also significantly elevated in postpartum mice. These findings suggest that an increased GABA production in rostral LS of the postpartum mice via elevated GAD65 and GAD67 expression may contribute to multiple alterations in behavioral and emotional states, and responses to stress that occur during the postpartum period. Given that rostral LS contains GABA neurons that are projection neurons or local interneurons, it still needs to be determined whether the function of elevated GABA is for local or distant action or both.
The timing of nitrogen fertilizer application: the case of cotton production in the United States

This paper concerns factors affecting a farmer's decision about the timing of nitrogen fertilizer application. These factors include expected nitrogen loss associated with different application times, expected seasonal fluctuations in nitrogen fertilizer prices and operating costs, and the perceived risk of not being able to apply nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season. The analysis indicates that a split application of nitrogen fertilizer is an optimal strategy for both a risk-neutral and a risk-averse cotton farmer if the farmer perceives that he or she may be unable to apply nitrogen fertilizer after planting.
In-plane vibration of a simply supported circular ring segment*

Summary An analytical study is made of the in-plane vibration of a simply supported circular ring segment. The Raleigh—Ritz techniquo is used in conjunction with Lagrangian multipliers to obtain natural frequency equations in the form of infinite series. Symmetric and anti-symmetric mode shapes are considered for both inextensional and extensional vibration. Other aspects discussed arc the accuracy of the inextensional approximation and frequency cross-over between symmetric and anti-symmetric mode shapes.
CHEMICAL CHANGES OF IRON IN FOOD AND DRYING PROCESSES

Various iron sources used in food fortification are analysed for their distribution of iron forms, or “iron prof”le,” using previously described methodology. The effect of reaction with a beverage containing ascorbate, concomitant with freeze and spray drying processes, are investigated. The iron profile of certain sources are shown to change as a result of reaction with the beverage matrix during 3 days storage. These changes may be accelerated by spray-drying but not by freeze-drying. Thus the iron used in foods may not be in the original form after storage or processing as is often concluded when fortifying foods.
Genetic Interactions between Chromosomes 11 and 18 Contribute to Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Mice

We used two-dimensional quantitative trait locus analysis to identify interacting genetic loci that contribute to the native airway constrictor hyperresponsiveness to methacholine that characterizes A/J mice, relative to C57BL/6J mice. We quantified airway responsiveness to intravenous methacholine boluses in eighty-eight (C57BL/6J X A/J) F2 and twenty-seven (A/J X C57BL/6J) F2 mice as well as ten A/J mice and six C57BL/6J mice; all studies were performed in male mice. Mice were genotyped at 384 SNP markers, and from these data two-QTL analyses disclosed one pair of interacting loci on chromosomes 11 and 18; the homozygous A/J genotype at each locus constituted the genetic interaction linked to the hyperresponsive A/J phenotype. Bioinformatic network analysis of potential interactions among proteins encoded by genes in the linked regions disclosed two high priority subnetworks - Myl7, Rock1, Limk2; and Npc1, Npc1l1. Evidence in the literature supports the possibility that either or both networks could contribute to the regulation of airway constrictor responsiveness. Together, these results should stimulate evaluation of the genetic contribution of these networks in the regulation of airway responsiveness in humans.
Quickly Home Please: How Connected Vehicles Are Revolutionizing Road Transportation

Connected vehicles and driverless cars are bringing an end to road transportation as we know it today. Autonomous cars will gain access to other vehicles' sensors; advanced navigation systems will enable greener and more efficient driving; and cars will form dynamic clouds, enabling a new generation of on-demand services in the fashion of today's cloud computing. Here, the author takes a glimpse at the road ahead.
Homogeneous AlGaN/GaN superlattices grown on free-standing (11¯00) GaN substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

Two-dimensional and homogeneous growth of m-plane AlGaN by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy has been realized on free-standing (11¯00) GaN substrates by implementing high metal-to-nitrogen (III/N) flux ratio. AlN island nucleation, often reported for m-plane AlGaN under nitrogen-rich growth conditions, is suppressed at high III/N flux ratio, highlighting the important role of growth kinetics for adatom incorporation. The homogeneity and microstructure of m-plane AlGaN/GaN superlattices are assessed via a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The predominant defects identified in dark field TEM characterization are short basal plane stacking faults (SFs) bounded by either Frank-Shockley or Frank partial dislocations. In particular, the linear density of SFs is approximately 5 × 10−5 cm−1, and the length of SFs is less than 15 nm.
Differential Expression of Members of the Annexin Multigene Family in Arabidopsis

Although in most plant species no more than two annexin genes have been reported to date, seven annexin homologs have been identified in Arabidopsis, Annexin Arabidopsis 1-7 (AnnAt1--AnnAt7). This establishes that annexins can be a diverse, multigene protein family in a single plant species. Here we compare and analyze these seven annexin gene sequences and present the in situ RNA localization patterns of two of these genes, AnnAt1 and AnnAt2, during different stages of Arabidopsis development. Sequence analysis of AnnAt1--AnnAt7 reveals that they contain the characteristic four structural repeats including the more highly conserved 17-amino acid endonexin fold region found in vertebrate annexins. Alignment comparisons show that there are differences within the repeat regions that may have functional importance. To assess the relative level of expression in various tissues, reverse transcription-PCR was carried out using gene-specific primers for each of the Arabidopsis annexin genes. In addition, northern blot analysis using gene-specific probes indicates differences in AnnAt1 and AnnAt2 expression levels in different tissues. AnnAt1 is expressed in all tissues examined and is most abundant in stems, whereas AnnAt2 is expressed mainly in root tissue and to a lesser extent in stems and flowers. In situ RNA localization demonstrates that these two annexin genes display developmentally regulated tissue-specific and cell-specific expression patterns. These patterns are both distinct and overlapping. The developmental expression patterns for both annexins provide further support for the hypothesis that annexins are involved in the Golgi-mediated secretion of polysaccharides.
A study of the 1999 monsoon rainfall in a mountainous region in central Nepal using TRMM products and rain gauge observations

Raingauge data from the 1999 monsoon were compared with precipitation derived from the precipitation radar (PR) and the microwave imager instruments on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite. The raingauges are part of a new hydrometeorological network installed in the Marsyandi river basin, which extends from the edge of the Tibetan Plateau to the Gangetic basin. TRMM-derived precipitation showed better detection of rain at low altitude stations as compared with high elevation stations, with good scores for the PR product for rain rates >0.5 mm/hr. The 3D PR rain rates suggest strong interaction between mesoscale convective systems and steep terrain at elevations of 1–2 km, which is consistent with the very high rainfall measured at those locations. Analysis of the raingauge data shows that even at altitudes as high as 4,000 m the cumulative monsoon rainfall is comparable to the highest amount recorded in the Indian subcontinent.
Expression and function of phospholipase C in breast carcinoma

that differ in theirtissue expression patterns and mechanisms of regulation (Fig. 1), not including numerous splicedvariants (Suh et al., 2008). A common catalytic core comprises a TIM barrel structure that is almostalways linked directly to a C2 domain. Additional domains, speciﬁc to each group have been identiﬁedthat confer a range of regulatory interactions with phosphoinositides, small or large GTP-binding (G)proteins, protein kinases, or other proteins that either modulate, or are modulated by, PLC. For thepurposes of this discussion, the most notable are the PH domains of PLC
What Differentiates ACOAs and Non-ACOAs on a Black College Campus?

Abstract This study was designed to determine the prevalence of alcoholic children of alcoholics (ACOAs) on a Black college campus, compare functioning in the family of origin and the availability of social support, and determine the factor that best differentiates ACOAs from non-ACOAs. Nineteen percent of the population studied were classified as ACOAs. Little difference was found in family functioning and social support for ACOAs compared with non-ACOAs, except in the support they received from their mothers. The factor that best differentiated the ACOAs from the non-ACOAs was their drinking level.
Synthesis using ring closure metathesis and effect on nucleoside transport of a (N)-methanocarba S-(4-nitrobenzyl)thioinosine derivative.

A new synthetic route to ring-constrained (N)-methanocarba nucleosides and nucleotides is presented. Ring closure of a diene intermediate using Grubbs catalyst provides a new avenue for the prepara...
Strongly anisotropic media: the THz perspectives of left-handed materials

We demonstrate that non-magnetic (μ≡1) left-handed materials can be effectively used for waveguide imaging systems. We also propose a specific THz realization of a non-magnetic left-handed material based on homogeneous, naturally occurring media.
The Fiction of Congressional Elections as Presidential Events

Contemporary research suggests that voters often base midterm congressional election choices on their evaluations of the president. In short, midterm congressional elections are seen as referenda o...
Viscosities of concentrated polymer solutions. II. Polyisobutylene

Abstract The steady-flow viscosities of solutions of eight samples of polyisobutylene (four unfractionated, three rough fractions, and one sharp fraction), ranging in viscosity-average molecular weight from 0.32 to 4.0 million, have been measured in three resolvents: five samples in xylene, three in Decalin, and one in a mixture of Decalin and cyclohexanol. The logarithm of the viscosity is not quite a linear function of the reciprocal absolute temperature. The apparent heat of activation for viscous flow at 25°C. increases with concentration in each solvent, approximately linearly with c 2 (grams of polymer per cubic centimeters of solution) above c 2 = 0.1. The dependence of viscosity in poises at 25° on concentration, molecular weight ( M ), and solvent viscosity ( η 0 ) can be expressed by the empirical equation log η = log η 0 − 11.0 + 5.0 log c 2 + 3.4 log M , over a range of log η from 0 to 6. The relations between this equation and other empirical viscosity expressions are discussed.
Dynamic Effects in Optical Forces Produced by Adiabatic Rapid Passage

Numerical studies of large optical forces produced by adiabatic rapid passage on two-level atoms have been extended beyond our previous work and show strong sensitivity to sweep direction and relative optical phase.
Electron diffraction and microscopy study of oxygen ordering in YBa2Cu3O7−δ

Electron-diffraction techniques have been used to study the ordering of oxygen atoms within the Cu(1)O1-δ plane of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. The results show that ordering along a single axis and ordering along two orthogonal axes both occur and alternate systematically across the composition range 0.06 < δ < 0.75. Where the ordering is restricted to a single axis, it is found to be the crystallographic a axis. Various models of oxygen ordering are proposed to explain the observed diffraction phenomena. In addition to the ordering of oxygen atoms that give the diffuse diffraction spots at (h∗/2,0,0) and (0, k∗/2,0), a second type of ordering reflection that occurs at (h∗/3,0,0) and (0,k∗/3,0) was also observed. These sharper and more strongly streaked diffraction maxima are explained in terms of a defect in the cation sublattice.
Base Changeable Sets and Mathematical Simulation of the Evolution of Systems

We introduce the notion of base changeable sets and study the principal properties of these sets. Base changeable sets are required for the construction of the general theory of changeable sets. The problem studied in our paper is closely connected with the famous sixth Hilbert problem.
Deposit Insurance Altered the Composition of Bank Suspensions during the 1920s: Evidence from the Archives of the Board of Governors

Eight states established deposit insurance systems between 1908 and 1917. All abandoned the systems between 1921 and 1930. Scholars debate the costs and benefits of these policy experiments. New data drawn from the archives of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors demonstrate that deposit insurance influenced the composition of bank suspensions in these states. In typical years, suspensions due to runs fell. Suspensions due to mismanagement rose. During the penultimate year of each system, the bank failure rate rose to an unsustainable height and the system ceased operations.
Fusing well-crafted feature descriptors for efficient fine-grained classification

As citizen science projects become more popular and engage an increasing number of volunteers, smartphones are turning into commonly used sensors in the biodiversity environment. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for classification of subordinate categories such as plant and insect species that is fast and suitable for use in mobile devices. In particular, we show that a combination of carefully designed features, including a robust shape descriptor to capture fine morphological structures of objects, as well as traditional color and texture features, is essential for obtaining good performance. A novel weighting technique assigns different costs to each feature, taking into account the inter-class and intra-class variation between species. We tested our proposed method in the popular Oxford Flower Dataset and in the Leeds Butterfly Dataset. We are able to achieve state-of-the-art accuracy while proposing an efficient approach that is suitable for mobile applications and can be applied to different species.
Individual rights and organizational theory

Rights are very important concepts in everyday life. And they are especially important to participants in organizations. Yet, our theories of organization and management have largely ignored rights — stressing, instead, other concepts, such as goals, roles, etc. This article describes the historical significance of rights and their relevance in understanding social behavior. The advantages of a right-based organizational theory (versus traditional goal-based theories) are discussed.
Bleeding complications associated with warfarin treatment in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study.

Background Bleeding events are the major obstacle to the widespread use of warfarin for secondary stroke prevention. Previous studies have not examined the use of risk stratification scores to estimate lifetime bleeding risk associated with warfarin treatment in a population-based setting. The purpose of this study is to determine the lifetime risk of bleeding events in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing warfarin treatment in a population-based cohort and to evaluate the use of bleeding risk scores to identify patients at high risk for lifetime bleeding events. Methods The resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project Medical Linkage System were used to identify acute ischemic stroke patients with AF undergoing warfarin treatment for secondary stroke prevention from 1980 to 1994. Medical information for patients seen at Mayo Clinic and at Olmsted Medical Center was used to retrospectively risk-stratify stroke patients according to bleeding risk scores (including the HAS-BLED and HEMORR 2 HAGES scores) before warfarin initiation. These scores were reassessed 1 and 5 years later and compared with lifetime bleeding events. Results One hundred patients (mean age, 79.3 years; 68% women) were studied. Ninety-nine patients were observed until death. Major bleeding events occurred in 41 patients at a median of 19 months after warfarin initiation. Patients with a history of hemorrhage before warfarin treatment were more likely to develop major hemorrhage (15% versus 3%, P = .04). Patients with baseline HAS-BLED scores of 2 or more had a higher lifetime risk of major bleeding events compared with those with scores of 1 or less (53% versus 7%, P 2 HAGES scores of 2 or more had a higher lifetime risk of major bleeding events compared with those with scores of 1 or less (52% versus 16%, P = .03). Patients with an increase in the HAS-BLED and HEMORR 2 HAGES scores during follow-up had a higher remaining lifetime risk of major bleeding events compared with those with no change. Conclusions Our findings indicate high lifetime bleeding risk associated with warfarin treatment for patients with ischemic stroke. Risk stratification scores are useful to identify patients at high risk of developing bleeding complications and should be recalculated at regular intervals to evaluate the bleeding risk in anticoagulated patients with ischemic stroke.
Representations of simple lie groups

Abstract We prove the equivalence of the following conditions for a compact simple Lie group G : (1) G admits complex representations; (2) the center of G contains elements of order higher than two; (3) G has Casimir invariants of odd order; (4) the expansion of G in real homology spheres H ∗ ;(G; R ) = H ∗ ;(S 3 × S 2k 2 +1 ×…× S 2k l +1 ; R ) contains exponents of order 4 n + 1. Besides, either of these conditions implies also that G has outer automorphisms, but not vice versa. We also characterize quaternionic representations by the fact that the center is not trivial but contains only involutions ( z 2 = e ).
Monolithically integrated InP-based tunable wavelength conversion

In this work, we describe tunable wavelength converters based on a photodiode receiver integrated with a tunable laser transmitter. Devices are fabricated on a robust InP ridge/InGaAsP waveguide platform. The photodiode receiver consists of an integrated SOA pre-amplifier and a PIN diode to improve sensitivity. The laser transmitter consists of a 1550 nm widely tunable SGDBR laser modulated either directly or via an integrated modulator outside the laser cavity. An SOA post-amplifier provides high output power. The integrated device allows signal monitoring, transmits at 2.5 GB/s, and removes the requirements for filtering the input wavelength at the output. Integrating the SGDBR yields a compact wavelength agile source that requires only two fiber connections, and no off-chip high speed electrical connections. Analog and digital performance of directly and externally modulated wavelength converters is also described.
Concurrent hippocampal induction of MHC II pathway components and glial activation with advanced aging is not correlated with cognitive impairment

Age-related cognitive dysfunction, including impairment of hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory, affects approximately half of the aged population. Induction of a variety of neuroinflammatory measures has been reported with brain aging but the relationship between neuroinflammation and cognitive decline with non-neurodegenerative, normative aging remains largely unexplored. This study sought to comprehensively investigate expression of the MHC II immune response pathway and glial activation in the hippocampus in the context of both aging and age-related cognitive decline. Three independent cohorts of adult (12-13 months) and aged (26-28 months) F344xBN rats were behaviorally characterized by Morris water maze testing. Expression of MHC II pathway-associated genes identified by transcriptomic analysis as upregulated with advanced aging was quantified by qPCR in synaptosomal fractions derived from whole hippocampus and in hippocampal subregion dissections (CA1, CA3, and DG). Activation of astrocytes and microglia was assessed by GFAP and Iba1 protein expression, and by immunohistochemical visualization of GFAP and both CD74 (Ox6) and Iba1. We report a marked age-related induction of neuroinflammatory signaling transcripts (i.e., MHC II components, toll-like receptors, complement, and downstream signaling factors) throughout the hippocampus in all aged rats regardless of cognitive status. Astrocyte and microglial activation was evident in CA1, CA3 and DG of intact and impaired aged rat groups, in the absence of differences in total numbers of GFAP+ astrocytes or Iba1+ microglia. Both mild and moderate microglial activation was significantly increased in all three hippocampal subregions in aged cognitively intact and cognitively impaired rats compared to adults. Neither induction of MHCII pathway gene expression nor glial activation correlated to cognitive performance. These data demonstrate a novel, coordinated age-related induction of the MHC II immune response pathway and glial activation in the hippocampus, indicating an allostatic shift toward a para-inflammatory phenotype with advancing age. Our findings demonstrate that age-related induction of these aspects of hippocampal neuroinflammation, while a potential contributing factor, is not sufficient by itself to elicit impairment of spatial learning and memory in models of normative aging. Future efforts are needed to understand how neuroinflammation may act synergistically with cognitive-decline specific alterations to cause cognitive impairment.
Regional Loss of Cytochrome Oxidase (CytOx) Activity Occurs in Neonatal Rat Brain Following Perinatal Iron Deficiency

Regional Loss of Cytochrome Oxidase (CytOx) Activity Occurs in Neonatal Rat Brain Following Perinatal Iron Deficiency
Chemical Characterization of 24 Strawberry Cultivars and Selections

Abstract Fruit quality of 24 selected strawberry cultivars and selections was evaluated. Early season genotypes were: ‘Earliglow,’ NJUS 8219-2, ‘Delmarvel,’ ‘Northeaster,’ MDUS4987, ‘Mohawk;’ mid-season genotypes: ‘Lester,’ ‘Chambly,’ MEUS 16, MEUS 12, MEUS 9, MEUS 8, MDUS 5016, ‘St. Williams,’ ‘Settler,’ ‘Prime-time’ (MDUS 5069), ‘Allstar’; and late season genotypes: ‘Scotland,’ ‘Governor Simcoe,’ ‘Selkirk,’ MDUS 5036, ‘Lateglow,’ ‘Jewel,’ and ‘Latestar’ (MDUS 5084). Soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), sugars, organic acids, and ascorbic acid varied greatly among the cultivars and selections, reflecting primarily genetic differences. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose were the three primary sugars, comprising > 65% of fruit total soluble solids. Fruit contained lower amounts of sucrose compared to fructose and glucose, whereas leaves contained similar amounts of fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Citric acid was the major organic acid in fruit and leaves, and showed high correlation to ...
Microfluidic passive-cavity interferometer-based biosensor

A microfluidic passive cavity interferometer based biosensor was developed in this work. Polystyrene microspheres were used to test the device performance. Measured transmission spectra of single microspheres were compared to the modeled results.
Service composition for advanced multimedia applications

By composing distributed, autonomous services dynamically to provide new functionalities, service composition provides an attractive way for customized multimedia content production and delivery. Previous research work has addressed various aspects of service composition such as composibility, QoS-awareness, and load balancing. However, most of the work has focused on applications where data flow from a single source is processed by intermediate services and then delivered to a single destination. In this paper, we address the service composition problem for advanced multimedia applications where data flows from multiple content sources are processed and aggregated into a composite flow, which is then delivered to one or more destinations, possibly after being customized for each receiver. We formally define the problem and prove its NP hardness. We also design a heuristic algorithm to solve the problem. Our algorithm has the following attractive features: (1) it is effective at finding low cost composition solutions; (2) it has the ability to trade off computation overhead for better results; (3) it is efficient and can scale to relatively large number of network nodes and component services.
Intertextual Connections to “A Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing”

Carolyn Miller's “A Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing” serves as an example of text that has influenced the knowledge-making activities within technical communication. The 68 references, or intertextual connections, to “Humanistic Rationale” between 1979 and 1995 demonstrate its influence and show the evolution of technical communication and the issues important to technical communication professionals. The authors respond to questions of the purpose of technical communication, the influence of the canons of rhetoric, the importance of audience, and the impact of social constructionism on technical communication. This analysis of the academic prose surrounding “Humanistic Rationale” reveals part of the discipline's discussions and the “communal rationality” (617) that shapes the activities of its members.
The composition of the caudal skeleton of teleosts (Actinopterygil: Osteichthyes)

The diural caudal skeleton of teleostean actinopterygians develops phylogeneticaily and ontogenetically from a polyural skeleton. The reduction of the polyural anlage to four, three, two or fewer centra in the adult caudal skeleton takes different pathways in different genera (e.g. compare Elops and Albula) and groups of teleosts. As a result, ural centra are not homologous throughout the teleosts. By numbering the ural centra in a homocercal tail in polyural fashion, one can demonstrate these and the following differences. The ventral elements (hypurals) always occur in sequential series, whereas the dorsal elements (epurals and uroneurals) may alter like the ural centra. The number of epurals, five or four in fossil primitive teleosts, is reduced in other primitive and advanced teleosts, but the same epurals are not always lost. The number of uroneurals, seven in fossil teleosts, is reduced in living teleosts, but it has not been demonstrated that the first uroneural is always derived from the neural arch of the same ural centrum. The landmark in the homocercal tail is the preural centrum I which can be identified by (1) bifurcation of the caudal artery and vein in its ventral element, the parhypural, (2) its position directly caudal to the preural centrum (PU2) which supports the lowermost principal caudal ray with its haemal spine, (3) carrying the third hypaxial element ventral to the course of arteria and vena pinnalis, and (4) by carrying the first haemal spine (parhypural) below the dorsal end of the ventral cartilage plate. The study of the development of the vertebral column reveals that teleosts have different patterns of centrum formation. A vertebral centrum is a complete or partial ring of mineralized, cartilaginous or bony material surrounding at least the lateral sides of the notochord. A vertebral centrum may be formed by arcocentrum alone, or arcocentral arcualia and chordacentrum, or arco-, chorda- and autocentrum, or arcocentral arcualia and autocentrum. This preliminary research demonstrates that a detailed ontogenetic interpretation of the vertebral centra and of the caudal skeleton of different teleosts may be useful tools for further interpretations of teleostean interrelationships.
Should paroxysmal atrial fibrillation be treated during cardiac surgery

Objectives Randomized controlled trials of permanent atrial fibrillation ablation surgery have shown improved outcomes compared with control patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery. Little has been reported regarding patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized that treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during cardiac surgery would not adversely affect the perioperative risk and would improve the midterm outcomes. Methods From April 2004 to June 30 2012, 4947 patients (excluding those with transcatheter aortic valve implants, left ventricular assist devices, trauma, transplantation, and isolated atrial fibrillation surgery) underwent cardiac surgery, and 1150 (23%) had preoperative atrial fibrillation. Of these, 552 (48%) had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Three groups were compared using propensity score matching: treated (n = 423, 77%), untreated (n = 129, 23%), and no atrial fibrillation (n = 3797). Results The treated patients had 30-day mortality similar to that of the untreated patients and those without atrial fibrillation. They had fewer perioperative complications (26% vs 46%, P = .001), greater freedom from atrial fibrillation at the last follow-up visit (81% vs 60%, P = .007), and lower mortality (hazard ratio 0.47, P = .007) compared with the untreated patients. Compared with those without atrial fibrillation, the treated patients had fewer perioperative complications (25% vs 48%, P P = .001), and similar mortality. Conclusions Concomitant surgical ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was not associated with increased perioperative risk. The treated patients had greater late freedom from atrial fibrillation and midterm survival compared with the untreated patients, and similar midterm survival compared with the patients without atrial fibrillation. These results suggest that paroxysmal atrial fibrillation warrants treatment consideration in select patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
The Long and the Short of Global Politics in the Twenty-first Century: An Evolutionary Approach

Forecasting the future of world politics requires both some acquaintance with possible alternatives, and a definite theoretical foundation. We first consider five other sets of arguments (associated with Waltz, Huntington, Kennedy, Fukuyama, and Wallerstein), and use them, collectively and individually, as contrasts with our own positions. Based on an evolutionary perspective that emphasizes the mechanisms of variation, selection, cooperation, and amplification, a model of global politics in the past millennium is employed for making a projection of institutional developments into the twenty-first century. These changes are expected to coevolve with developments in the world economy, democratization, and public opinion. Over the next two to three phases of global politics, the possibilities for expanded global organization evolving around a United States-European Union nucleus are considerable but yet tempered by some likelihood of the repetition, in the coming century, of earlier patterns of intensive global conflict over leadership selection.
Experimental measurements of pressure waves generated by impulsive heating of a surface

The first quantitative, reproducible experimental results are presented for the compressive wave generated in a gas by a rapid rise in the temperature of a bounding solid surface. When a resistive-capacitive electrical circuit rapidly heats a thin foil constituting one end of a closed polyacetal cylindrical tube to a high temperature, the amplitude of the initial traveling peak in pressure is proportional to the maximum rise in temperature of the heated surface and depends critically on the heating rate. This amplitude is twice as high for argon as for helium, and is intermediate and essentially the same for nitrogen and air. For all conditions, the wave celerity is slightly greater than the adiabatic acoustic velocity. The waves have a very sharp front and a long region of decay, which is contradictory to the sinusoidal waves postulated by Rayleigh and the nearly symmetrical ones predicted by all prior numerical solutions as well as by the asymptotic solution of Trilling. Such compressive waves and their reflections increase the transient heating rate of a confined gas, may produce unsuspected and unwanted disturbances in otherwise static systems, and offer a possible means of remote detection of excursions in the temperature of a surface.