cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deformation bands in nonwelded ignimbrites: Petrophysical controls on fault-zone deformation and evidence of preferential fluid flow

The impact of faults on fluid flow and transport through thick vadose zones depends in part on the nature of fault-zone deformation. Both fractures and deformation bands occur in ignimbrite sequences at Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Busted Butte, Nevada. The primary controls on mode of failure are grain-contact area and strength, which are directly related to degree of welding and crystallization and inversely proportional to porosity. Low-porosity welded units deform by transgranular fracture; high-porosity, glassy, nonwelded units deform by cataclasis within deformation bands. Moderately high porosity, nonwelded units that have undergone devitrification and/or vapor-phase crystallization form either deformation bands or fractures, depending on local variations in the degree and nature of crystallization. Grain- and pore-size reduction in deformation bands commonly produces indurated, tabular zones of clay-sized fault material. Many of these bands are locally rich in smectite and/or cemented by carbonate. Preferential wetting of deformation bands is inferred to promote alteration and cementation. We therefore interpret variably altered fault-zone material as evidence of preferential fluid flow in the vadose zone, which we infer to result from enhanced unsaturated permeability due to pore-size reduction in deformation bands.
Abstract LB-322: Cruciferous vegetable intake after diagnosis of breast cancer and survival: a report from the shanghai breast cancer survival study

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL BACKGROUND: Cruciferous vegetables are a major source of glucosinolate-derived bioactive compounds, such as isothiocyanates and indoles, which have been shown in animal studies and in vitro to inhibit cancer growth and progression. However, little is known regarding the role of cruciferous vegetables in breast cancer prognosis. Using resources from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival, a large population-based prospective cohort study of Chinese breast cancer survivors, we evaluated the association of cruciferous vegetable consumption after cancer diagnosis and breast cancer outcomes with repeated dietary assessments after diagnosis. METHODS: Women with incident breast cancer aged 20-75 years were recruited within 6-months of diagnosis during 2002-2006. In-person baseline interviews collected detailed data on clinic characteristics, socio-demographics, and lifestyle factors. Medical records were used to verify clinical data. The cohort has been followed-up by a combination of in-person follow-up surveys and record linkage to the Shanghai Vital Statistics Registry. Cruciferous vegetable intake (g/day) was reassessed at 18- and 36-months. Cox regression models were used to derive hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of cruciferous vegetables and breast cancer outcomes. Analyses include 4,886 women with stage I-IV breast cancer. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 587 deaths (496 breast cancer deaths) and 615 recurrences occurred. Cruciferous vegetable intake increased after diagnosis (mean (SD)=62.5 (44.5) at 6-months and 133.8 (93.3) at 36-months). After adjustment for socio-demographics, clinical characteristics including treatment and tumor characteristics, and lifestyle factors, cruciferous vegetable intake was associated with improved breast cancer survival in a dose-response pattern (P for trend < 0.01). The multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) across increasing quartiles (vs. Q1) were 0.73 (0.60-0.90), 0.51 (0.41-0.64), and 0.38 (0.29-0.49) for total mortality; 0.78 (0.62-0.97), 0.53 (0.41-0.68), and 0.38 (0.29-0.51) for breast cancer-specific mortality; 0.79 (0.63-0.98), 0.71 (0.57-0.88), and 0.65 (0.52-0.81) for recurrence. These associations persisted after excluding the first year of observation, although the association for recurrence was no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cruciferous vegetable intake after breast cancer diagnosis was associated with improved prognosis among Chinese women. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-322. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-322
Effect of vitamin A acid on the growth of keratinocytes in culture

The effect of vitamin A acid on the culture of guinea pig ear keratinocytes was investigated. Use of this agent and treatment of the plastic dishes with collagen solution facilitated attachment and growth. Vitamin A acid elicited a wave of DNA synthesis which was studied by incoporation of tritiated thymidine and quantitation of cellular DNA, particularly during the period 24–45 h after plating. During this period, thymidine incorporation into DNA was increased ten-fold by vitamin A acid and showed a complex pattern of peaks and shoulders which may represent the S phase of synchronous keratinocytes.
miR-181a is an intrinsic modulator of T cell sensitivity and selection

T cell sensitivity to antigen is intrinsically regulated during maturation to ensure proper development of immunity and tolerance, but how this is accomplished remains elusive. Here we show that increasing miR-181a expression in mature T cells augments the sensitivity to peptide antigens, while inhibiting miR-181a expression in the immature T cells reduces sensitivity and impairs both positive and negative selection. Moreover, quantitative regulation of T cell sensitivity by miR-181a enables mature T cells to recognize antagonists-the inhibitory peptide antigens-as agonists. These effects are in part achieved by the downregulation of multiple phosphatases, which leads to elevated steady-state levels of phosphorylated intermediates and a reduction of the T cell receptor signaling threshold. Importantly, higher miR-181a expression correlates with greater T cell sensitivity in immature T cells, suggesting that miR-181a acts as an intrinsic antigen sensitivity "rheostat" during T cell development.
Observing the complete solvation response of DCS in imidazolium ionic liquids, from the femtosecond to nanosecond regimes

Femtosecond Kerr-gated emission spectroscopy and picosecond time-correlated single photon counting are used to measured the full solvation response of 4-dimethylamino-4′-cyanostilbene in three imidazolium ionic liquids. The liquids studied are comprised of the 3-butyl-1-methylimidazolium cation ‘(Im41+)’ and the anions hexafluorophosphate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (‘Tf2N−’), and tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide (‘Tf3C−’). In all three liquids the solvation response is widely distributed in time with important contributions extending from 100 fs to 10 ns. The amplitude of the fastest (<1 ps) portion of the dynamics is correlated to the relative size and/or mass of the anion and it increases in the order Tf3C-<Tf2N-<PF6-.
Factors influencing the choice of a psychiatric residency program: a survey of applicants to the johns hopkins residency program in psychiatry.

The authors set out to determine what general factors are important in the selection of a psychiatric residency program, the views applicants have of several aspects of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Psychiatric Residency Program, and what relationships exist among these elements. A survey mailed to Johns Hopkins Hospital psychiatric residency-interviewed applicants asked applicants to rate six factors in relation to choosing a psychiatric residency program. A second section asked applicants to rate five factors more specific to the Johns Hopkins Hospital residency. The most important general factors in choosing a residency program included the perceived philosophical orientation of a psychiatric department, exposure to different psychotherapy modalities and the perceived prestige of the department. Several statistically significant correlations were evident among factors. Knowledge of applicants’ views could assist residency program directors in their assessment of factors influencing program choices.
The strange history of phage therapy.

Since the enlightenment, scientists have enjoyed a self-image as rational actors, guided only by reason, evidence and logic. When the Royal Society of London was founded in 1660 it chose as its motto “nullius in verba” (often translated as “on the word of no one”) a reference to Horace’s Epistles “Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri…” (being not obliged swear allegiance to any master). Similar to our 21st century contemporaries who embrace the “new evidenced-based medicine,” the “virtuosi” of the Royal Society proclaimed a new era in science based only on observation and direct experience.
Percutaneous retrieval of a retained Jackson-Pratt drain fragment.

A retained intraabdominal Jackson-Pratt drain fragment was percutaneously retrieved using an inflated angioplasty balloon that had been maneuvered inside of the drain lumen over a hydrophilic-coated steerable guidewire.
“Serendipitous” browsing versus library space

Purpose – The purpose of this column is to examine the issues between library space and the pursuit of serendipitous browsing.Design/methodology/approach – The approach is via a literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by colleague institutions.Findings – While library space is at a premium on every college and university campus, even in light of access to digital material, a considerable portion of the collection still must be available in print, thus necessitating traditional shelf space, so that searching the physical collection and browsing can occur. Balancing the two issues is a challenge to each and every institution in its forward planning cycle.Originality/value – The value in addressing this issue is to examine the issues of insufficient shelf space versus browsing the collection.
FKBP12 Is a Negative Regulator of Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor Internalization *

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family polypeptides regulate cell growth and differentiation by binding to single pass serine/threonine kinases referred to as TGF-beta type I and II receptors. Although interaction screens have shown that the immunophilin FKBP12 interacts with TGF-beta type I receptors, the role of FKBP12 in TGF-beta receptor action is presently unclear. Using a chimeric TGF-beta receptor system, we have shown a specific enhancement of internalization when FKBP12 binding to the type I receptor was prevented with rapamycin. Moreover, although earlier studies demonstrated that type II receptor kinase activity was required for optimal internalization in mesenchymal cells, we found that rapamycin functioned downstream of the type II receptor kinase. Thus, rather than modulating TGF-beta signaling, our data suggest a novel role for FKBP12 as a negative regulator of TGF-beta receptor endocytosis.
Analytical modeling of electrokinetic effects on flow and heat transfer in microchannels

A fundamental understanding of electrolytic flow in microchannels is essential for the design of microfluidic devices. Hence, an analytic investigation is presented on the effects of electrostatic potential in microchannels. Solving the Navier–Stokes equations, an expression for the CfRe product is presented. Solving the energy equation the Nusselt number for constant wall heat flux and constant wall temperature boundary conditions are presented with analytic expressions over a wide range of operating conditions. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Approximate behavior of the distribution of Winsorized t (Trimming/Winsorization 2)

A Monte Carlo study of the distribution of (symmetrically) Winsorized t shows that when the population is normally distributed Winsorized t behaves, to a satisfactory approximation, like a multiple of Student's t with the degrees of freedom that would be assigned intuitively. The approximate multiplier of t is (n – l)/(h – l), where h of the original n observations were not touched by the symmetrical Winsorzation, and the degrees of freedom are h – 1. This approximation is precise enough for most routine uses. More precise values are tabulated.
Does The Sale Of Nonprofit Hospitals Threaten Health Care For The Poor

Much of the controversy over for-profit ownership in health care focuses on a recent wave of acquisitions of nonprofit hospitals by investorowned corporations. Nonprofits have been joining investor-owned corporations to obtain the financial resources they need tomaintain their viability in an increasingly competitive industry environment. Investor-owned corporations see the acquisition of nonprofit hospitals as an opportunity to build market share and to expand their provider networks. Through these acquisitions, investor-owned corporations are beginning to penetrate new health care markets. An issue central to the controversy is how the acquisition of a nonprofit hospital by an investor-owned corporation affects the community the hospital serves. Investor-owned corporations have long been accused of placing the bottom line before the community’s welfare. A specific concern is that investorowned hospitals are less willing than nonprofits are to provide services to persons who are unable to pay for their care. Several studies have compared investorowned and nonprofit hospitals in terms of the amount of uncompensated care they provide, yet relatively little research has been done to examine how specific communities are affected when a nonprofit hospital is acquired by an investor-owned corporation. Comparative studies suggest that nonprofits provide on average more uncompensated care than do their investor-owned counterparts, but this difference appears to reflect the locations where investor-owned corporations choose to build and buy hospitals. Investorowned corporations tend to locate in relatively affluent communities. However, when a nonprofit hospital is acquired by an investorowned corporation, the hospital continues to serve the same community; only the ownership status of the institution changes. Thus, it is important to measure the provision of uncompensated care by the same hospital in the same community, before and after acquisition. Here we examine how the acquisition of nonprofit hospitals by investor-owned corporations affects acquired hospitals’ provision of uncompensated care. We focus on acquisitions in California between 1980 and 1992, because of the long presence of investor-owned hospitals there.
Differential effects of tryptophan photoproducts and H2O2 on the growth of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

. Exposure of dilute solutions of L-tryptophan in balanced salt mixtures to near-ultraviolet light (ca. 320–390nm) yield several photoproducts capable of inhibiting the growth of cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Recent literature suggested a need to test the possibility that the major toxic photoproduct is hydrogen peroxide, and therefore several lines of experimentation were pursued. On the basis of chemical and morphological studies and an analysis of the uptake of 3H-thymidine by these cells and its incorporation into their DNA, it is concluded that sufficient hydrogen peroxide could not be generated without the addition of high concentrations of oxygen to influence the growth or DNA synthesis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Binomial moments for divisible self-dual codes

For self-dual codes with all weights divisible by an integer greater than one, the minimum distance is bounded by the Mallows-Sloane upper bounds and by their improvements due to Krasikov-Litsyn and Rains. We obtain the improved upper bounds from short relations with constant coefficients on suitable binomial moments of the codes. In this approach, the Mallows-Sloane bounds are analogues of the Singleton bound and the improved bounds are analogues of the Plotkin bound.
Beyond Community Participation? Alternative Routes to Civil Engagement and Development in South Africa

Although community participation still enjoys a high level of support across various sectors in South Africa, its practice is fraught with conceptual and practical difficulties. This paper starts out by examining some of the problems and limitations associated with community participation, including the heterogeneity and fragmentation of many poor communities, the lack of social and material resources and community members' expectations of receiving a return from their involvement in development projects. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) or participatory learning and action (PLA) is used as an example to illustrate some of the conceptual and theoretical limitations that characterise most approaches to participatory development. In particular it is argued that approaches such as PRA/PLA lack the theoretical basis for effectively getting to grips with the problems of participatory development. What is needed is a conceptual framework not only to understand the responses of communities, but also to locate...
The limitation of individual cells to the production of a single specificity of antibody in response to a coupled hapten-antigen complex.

Abstract Examination of 6·1 million spleen cells from five immunized with arsanilazo pigeon red blood cells yielded a total 5675 anti-pigeon and 6990 antiarsanilazo plaques in a mixed arsanilazo sheep red blood cell plus pigeon red blood cell test system. Concentric lysis of both types of red blood cells was observed in twenty-one of these 12,665 plaques. This is less than the number of cross reacting plaques to be expected in the absence of any cells producing antibodies against both pigeon and arsanilazo determinants. The number of overlapping but non-concentric plaques was shown to be n o greater than the number calculated from geometric considerations. It is concluded that we found no evidence for there being any antibody-forming cells which produced detectable amounts of antibodies against both the pigeon rbc and the attached arsanilazo groups similtaneously, and the quantitative limitations on this conclusion are discussed.
Donor–acceptor biaryl lactones: pH induced molecular switches with intramolecular charge transfer modulation

Abstract The physical properties of biaryl-containing compounds are known to be highly dependent on molecular geometry. We report the syntheses and fundamental spectroscopic study of two donor–acceptor biaryl lactone (6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one) pH-driven switches. These compounds have been determined to rapidly and efficiently switch between two geometric states upon cycling of acidic or basic stimuli. The planar lactone state exhibits enhanced intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) between the donor and acceptor units which is instantly attenuated upon addition of basic stimuli. The resulting lactone cleavage enables aryl–aryl bond rotation thus decreasing the extent of conjugation between the rings. Each state is readily identifiable by the significant changes that occur in their respective UV–vis spectra and luminescent character, indicative of the facile modulation of extended conjugation by pH.
Direct assessment of engineering programs at the City College of New York

Assessment of student performance beyond exam grades and grade point averages is essential to the continuous improvement of engineering education. Detailed assessment results allow faculty to easily determine which program areas need improvement and which are successfully achieving educational objectives and course outcomes. Direct assessment is the most effective method of evaluating student performance as it involves direct examination or observation of specific student knowledge. Evaluation of “soft” outcomes is challenging and often inadequate. Direct assessment procedures were adopted by engineering programs at the City College of New York in preparation for a 2010 re-accreditation visit by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The four programs presented in this paper used similar direct assessment processes based on development of performance criteria and rubrics to assess outcomes. Some of the unique aspects of the various assessment methods include: weighting courses based on their contribution to a particular performance criterion; modifying department-wide rubrics in response to the needs of individual courses; and reviewing the instructor's assessment by a faculty panel to ensure objectivity. This paper discusses the challenges outcomes assessment poses for engineering programs.
Modeling power grids

We present a method to construct random model power grids that closely match statistical properties of a real power grid. The model grids are more difficult to partition than a real grid.
Lineage Tracing Reveals a New Model for Tendon Growth and Elongation During Development

Tendons are dense, fibrous tissues connecting muscle to bone, and their primary function is to transmit muscle forces to the appropriate skeletal elements, thereby enabling movement. In the limb, flexion and extension of the hand (autopod) and wrist are controlled by long tendons that insert into muscles in the arm (zeugopod) [1]. Although tendons are critically important in mediating joint movement, the cellular and molecular events underlying tendon formation remain largely unknown. Using the transcription factor Scleraxis (Scx), which labels all tendon progenitors, we previously showed that in the mouse limb bud, Scx-expressing tendon progenitors are first induced in the mesenchyme underneath the ectoderm at E10.5; at E12.5, progenitors are loosely organized between the cartilage condensations and developing muscles, condensing to form distinct tendons by E13.5 [2]. By E14.5, limb tendon patterning is largely complete, with continued elongation and deposition of matrix from this stage onward.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Determination of lateral diffusivity in single pixel X-ray absorbers with implications for position dependent excess broadening

An ideal microcalorimeter is characterized by a constant energy resolution across the sensor's dynamic range. Any dependence of pulse shape on the position within the absorber where an event occurs leads to a degradation in resolution that is linear with event's energy (excess broadening). In this paper we present a numerical simulation that was developed to model the variation in pulse shape with position based on the thermal conductivity within the absorber and between the absorber, sensor, and heat bath, for arbitrarily shaped absorbers and sensors. All the parameters required for the simulation can be measured from actual devices. We describe how the thermal conductivity of the absorber material is determined by comparing the results of this model with data taken from a position sensitive detector in which any position dependent effect is purposely emphasized by constructing a long, narrow absorber that is readout by sensors on both ends. Finally, we present the implications for excess broadening given the measured parameters of our X-ray microcalorimeters.
Hydrodynamic constraints on evolution of chemically mediated interactions between aquatic organisms in unidirectional flows.

Two hydrodynamic habitats can be defined in unidirectional flow: (1) A boundary where molecular diffusion dominates is found within roughly 1 mm of solid substrates. The actual thickness of this diffusion boundary is a function of current velocity and topography of the substrates. (2) A zone of turbulent flow is present outside the diffusion boundary where chemicals are rapidly diluted and transported downstream. The mode of chemically mediated interaction between organisms in streams is constrained differently depending on which of these two habitats they occupy. Within a diffusion boundary, reciprocal interaction between small organisms is possible because mixing is low, diffusion flux high, and organisms “share” the same water. Outside a diffusion boundary, in unidirectional flow, organisms unable to move effectively against flow are only chemically influenced by upstream organisms and can only influence downstream organisms. Organisms that are able to move upstream can interact reciprocally with other organisms, even if one or both organisms are found primarily in areas of turbulent mixing.
TRAINING AND TRANSFORMING STUDENTS THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION: THE INTERSECTION OF LAW AND PSYCHOLOGY

This article describes a developing interdisciplinary approach to training legal students and psychology students at Indiana University–Bloomington (IU) to work at the intersection of their disciplines. The approach provides strong clinical training while emphasizing the necessity to scientifically evaluate interventions with separating couples. The training includes a combined academic course and clinical training program in divorce mediation offered through the IU Maurer School of Law, and a series of graduate-level seminars and clinical practica through the IU Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. The manuscript reviews the historical settings for the pedagogical approaches and interdisciplinary opportunities, details the offerings and rationale for the training components, and discusses ongoing research projects stemming from the interdisciplinary collaboration, including research designed to test the effectiveness of the interdisciplinary training for students in both disciplines.
Bilingual Education Students Reflect on Their Language Education: Reinventing a Classroom 10 Years Later

Ten years ago, an ethnographic study in a bilingual whole-language third-grade classroom identified conditions that defined the classroom as a learning community: a high level of intellectual expectation, symmetric power and trust relationships, authenticity, and additive bilingualism and biliteracy. The students' insights strengthened the authors' determination to advocate for authentic, holistic, and transformative language and literacy instruction. This article reports findings from follow-up interviews with those third graders, now young adults, who reflect on their experiences. A particular finding is the indication that nonschool contexts for language and literacy (e-mail, television, communication with friends and family in Mexico, and restaurant work) had more influence on these students' Spanish maintenance than did school contexts. This study compels us to renew the fight for bilingual education for all students beyond the point when English-language learners are deemed to have acquired sufficient English competence to participate in school. The voices of the four students and their parents that are reported here affirm for the authors the benefits of whole language theory and pedagogy, the critical value of bilingual education for all students (not just English-language learners), and the essential nature of fostering community in classrooms.
PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND ACIDITY OF A SILICA GEL/TUNGSTEN OXIDE SOLID ACID

Solid acidity is measured by simultaneously solving data from a calorimetric titration and an adsorption isotherm measurement to provide the amount, equilibrium constant, and enthalpy for each acid...
The interface between fluid-like and solid-like behaviour in two- dimensional granular flows

The effective phase change from fluid behaviour to solid behaviour, that too often occurs in granular flow and brings with it such unwelcome events as funnel flows in hoppers and clogging of other material handling devices, is studied using a discrete particle computer simulation of a Couette flow with gravity. This simulation exhibits the full range of granular flow behaviour, from a stagnant solid-like material, through a quasi-static transition zone, to a rapid granular flow. The most important result is that the first movement in the material just above the static bed occurs in a quasi-static mode at a fixed value of the stress ratio τxy/τyy. Thus, it appears that the primary transition from solid to fluid behaviour is a yield-like phenomenon and can be described by a Mohr-Coulomb-type failure criterion.
Background Subtraction for Temporally Irregular Dynamic Textures

In the traditional mixture of Gaussians background model, the generating process of each pixel is modeled as a mixture of Gaussians over color. Unfortunately, this model performs poorly when the background consists of dynamic textures such as trees waving in the wind and rippling water. To address this deficiency, researchers have recently looked to more complex and/or less compact representations of the background process. We propose a generalization of the MoG model that handles dynamic textures. In the context of background modeling, we achieve better, more accurate segmentations than the competing methods, using a model whose complexity grows with the underlying complexity of the scene (as any good model should), rather than the amount of time required to observe all aspects of the texture.
Design and Fabrication of Multifunctional Structure-Power Composites for Marine Applications

Various subsystems in marine applications, especially unmanned underwater vehicles, compete for space. Multifunctional structure-battery (SB) composites combine structure and power functions through the use of high-performance fiber reinforced polymer layers and lithium ion cell batteries, to create volumetric opportunities for increase in overall power generation capacity and/or payload. This paper focuses on the design and fabrication aspects of the SB composites. The design objectives are to achieve or exceed structural performance of traditional marine composites while attaining a volumetric energy density of 50 Wh/L with similar buoyancy levels and dimensional sizes. The design process reveals that all four objectives can be achieved only if the components related to energy storage have the same mechanical and physical properties as the material being replaced. With commercially available batteries, at least three out of four objectives are met for the proposed SB designs. Selection of materials and fabrication methods are heavily influenced by the temperature limit of the battery cells, cell surface preparation for adhesion and load transfer, and power bussing layout. A companion paper addresses multifunctional performance characterization of these composites.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
An Experimental Technique for Calibration Uncertainty Analysis

An experimentally based technique for characterizing calibration uncertainty is presented. The approach described calculates uncertainty metrics at the output of the calibration processing chain as opposed to the input. In doing so, this method replaces the complexities of error propagation with the computational effort associated with performing numerous calibrations. Practical applications are demonstrated for a variety of scenarios focused on one-port calibration, illustrating the versatility of the technique. An open-source implementation has been made publicly available as part of the Python module scikit-rf.
Kinect-based Universal Range Sensor and its Application in Educational Laboratories

Traditional data acquisition (DAQ) systems for obtaining 3-D range information consist of sensors, DAQ measurement hardware and a processor with software. This kind of DAQ system is adapted and calibrated for various applications, thus imposing significant up-front costs that hamper its broad usage in educational laboratories. The low-cost Microsoft Kinect has become a promising alternative solution that has already been widely adopted by consumers and offers a wide variety of opportunities for being used in many other areas. The Kinect’s cameras are capable of producing high quality synchronized video that consists of both color and depth data. This enables the Kinect to compete with other sophisticated 3-D sensor DAQ systems in terms of performance criteria such as accuracy, stability, reliability and error rates. One of the most noticeable Kinect-based applications is the skeleton-based tracking of humans, which is made possible by its built-in human skeleton recognition functions. Other common usages of the Kinect are 3-D surface/scene reconstruction and object classification/recognition. However, Kinect-based developments that focus on the tracking of arbitrary objects have rarely been reported, mainly due to a lack of mature algorithms. In the first part of this paper, a three-stage approach for capturing general motions of objects will be introduced. This approach consists of point cloud pre-processing with a focus on computational efficiency, object tracking employing recognition and post-processing including motion analysis. This approach can be tailored to special cases, namely the algorithms focus more on computation efficiency when the objects of interest have simple shapes or colors, and they focus more on reliability for objects with complex geometries or textures. The second part of this paper describes the integration of the proposed DAQ system into a multi-player game-based laboratory environment. In this implementation, a physical experiment is triggered by the game avatars and the experimental data acquired by the Kinect and analyzed by the proposed algorithms are then fed back into the game environment and used to animate the experimental device.
Religion and Evolution in Progressive Era Political Economy: Adversaries or Allies?

Evangelical Protestantism and evolutionary science comfortably coexisted in Progressive Era American political economy. Leading progressive economists, many of them evangelicals attached to the Social Gospel movement, routinely assimilated ideas borrowed from evolutionary science—heredity, selection, fitness, and race—into their religiously motivated project of economic reform. The Social Gospel economists' merger of evolutionary ideas and Protestant belief was enabled by two key features of Progressive Era thought: one, the Social Gospel was itself already (in part) an accommodation to the implications of post-Darwinian evolutionary thought, and, two, Progressive Era evolutionary science was protean, fragmented, and plural, enabling economists to enlist evolutionary ideas in support of diverse, even opposing, positions in political economy.
Physician extenders for cost-effective management of hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of elevated cholesterol levels reduces morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease in high-risk patients, but can be costly. The purpose of this study was to determine whether physician extenders emphasizing diet modification and, when necessary, effective and inexpensive drug algorithms can provide more cost-effective therapy than conventional care.
Retroactive phantasies: discourse, discipline, and the production of race

The present inquiry considers how the practice and notion of race can be figured as a type of discipline that functions to achieve the subjection of the individual – to form the individual as a racial subject. Focusing on the constructions of blackness and whiteness within US racial rhetoric, and engaging the work of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler, I propose that racial identity is a retroactive phantasy that is always conditional on the subject enacting the very power that marks them: the formation and maintenance of subjectivity is premised on the individual being formed and forming themselves in relation to a normalized identity site and is, thus, always an action. Precisely due to this necessity to act, and to the incoherence of power, innovative acts of anti-discipline re-negotiate the ways in which racial subjectivity is lived and realized.
The State of Energy and Performance Benchmarking for Enterprise Servers

To address the server industry's marketing focus on performance, benchmarking organizations have played a pivotal role in developing techniques to determine the maximum achievable performance level of a system. Generally missing has been an assessment of energy use to achieve that performance. The connection between performance and energy consumption is becoming necessary information for designers and operators as they grapple with power constraints in the data center. While industry and policy makers continue to strategize about a universal metric to holistically measure IT equipment efficiency, existing server benchmarks for various workloads could provide an interim proxy to assess the relative energy efficiency of general servers. This paper discusses ideal characteristics a future energy-performance benchmark might contain, suggests ways in which current benchmarks might be adapted to provide a transitional step to this end, and notes the need for multiple workloads to provide a holistic proxy for a universal metric.
Non-invasive PET Imaging of PARP1 Expression in Glioblastoma Models

The current study presents [18F]PARPi as imaging agent for PARP1 expression. [18F]PARPi was generated by conjugating a 2H-phthalazin-1-one scaffold to 4-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid. Biochemical assays, optical in vivo competition, biodistribution analysis, positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography, and PET/magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed in subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse models of glioblastoma. [18F]PARPi shows suitable pharmacokinetic properties for brain tumor imaging (IC50 = 2.8 ± 1.1 nM; logPCHI = 2.15 ± 0.41; plasma-free fraction = 63.9 ± 12.6 %) and accumulates selectively in orthotopic brain tumor tissue. Tracer accumulation in subcutaneous brain tumors was 1.82 ± 0.21 %ID/g, whereas in healthy brain, the uptake was only 0.04 ± 0.01 %ID/g. [18F]PARPi is a selective PARP1 imaging agent that can be used to visualize glioblastoma in xenograft and orthotopic mouse models with high precision and good signal/noise ratios. It offers new opportunities to non-invasively image tumor growth and monitor interventions.
Optimization of rapamycin-loaded acetalated dextran microparticles for immunosuppression

Abstract Immunosuppressive drugs can treat autoimmune disorders and limit rejection with organ transplants. However, delivering immunosuppressants like rapamycin systemically can have harmful side-effects. We aim to potentially reduce these toxic side-effects by encapsulating rapamycin in a polymeric microparticle to passively target phagocytes, the cells integral in immunosuppression. Acetalated dextran (Ac-DEX) is a recently described, biocompatible polymer which undergoes tunable burst degradation at the acidic conditions present in the phagosome (pH 5) but slower degradation at extracellular conditions (pH 7.4), thereby making it an ideal candidate for immune applications. Rapamycin-loaded microparticles were fabricated from Ac-DEX through a single emulsion (water/oil) technique. Optimized microparticles were determined by varying the chemical and physical parameters during particle synthesis. Microparticles synthesized from Ac-DEX with a molecular weight of 71k had higher encapsulation efficiency of rapamycin and slower overall degradation than microparticles synthesized from 10k Ac-DEX. To evaluate the ability of rapamycin-loaded Ac-DEX microparticles to reduce a pro-inflammatory response, they were incubated with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW macrophages. RAW macrophages treated with rapamycin-loaded microparticles exhibited reduced nitric oxide production and favorable cell viability. Overall, we have shown optimization of immunosuppressive rapamycin-loaded microparticles using the novel polymer Ac-DEX. These particles will be advantageous for future applications in immune suppression therapies.
Consistent spin-two coupling and quadratic gravitation.

A discussion of the field content of quadratic higher-derivative gravitation is presented, together with a new example of a massless spin-two field consistently coupled to gravity. The full quadratic gravity theory is shown to be equivalent to a canonical second- order theory of a massive scalar field, a massive spin-two symmetric tensor field and gravity. The conditions showing that the tensor field describes only spin-two degrees of freedom are derived. A limit of the second-order theory provides a new example of massless spin-two field consistently coupled to gravity. A restricted set of vacua of the second-order theory is also discussed. It is shown that flat-space is the only stable vacuum of this type, and that the spin-two field around flat space is unfortunately always ghost-like.
Reliability of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Sensorimotor Recovery Following Cerebrovascular Accident

This study establishes intratester reliability for all components of physical performance and intertester reliability for the total scores of upper and lower extremity motor performance in a cumulative numerical scoring system devised by Fugl-Meyer et al. Intertester reliability was found to be high for the total scores of upper and lower extremity motor performance. All intratester and intertester reliability coefficients were high and statistically significant. Establishing the reliability of the Fugl-Meyer method of assessing recovery of function following cerebrovascular accident has increased the usefulness of this method for clinical assessment and as a tool for the comparative analysis of the effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions.
Evolution of Photoreceptors

This essay will endeavor to demonstrate the relevance to photoreceptors of the Darwinian dictum: descent with modification. Considering the critical importance of radiant energy for almost all living organisms, it may be assumed that organelles adapted for activation by photons arose very early, perhaps not long after the evolution of the cell itself. These first photoreceptors, which made possible a new way of life, autotrophism, were probably elaborations of the cell membrane, similar perhaps to the vesicles or stacks of lamellae, rich in bacteriochlorophyll, found in the purple bacterium Rhodospirillum (Cohen-Bazire and Kunisawa, 1963; Gibbs, Sistrom, and Worden, 1965). From that point in time, thousands of millennia ago, to the present day most animal and plant photoreceptors have been membranous structures. This feature is the common evolutionary theme (the descent aspect of the dictum) upon which nature has played many variations (the modifications).
Factors influencing hematopoietic spleen colony formation in irradiated mice. V. Effect of foreign plasma upon colony forming cell kinetics.

Foreign plasma injection induces a profound and somewhat complex change in the size and location of the colony forming unit (CFU) cell compartment. Injection of foreign plasma before irradiation induces an increase in CFU cells as judged by endogenous colonies as well as by a modification of the endogenous method which excludes spleen colony formation from in situ spleen cells. However, the enlargement does not take place in the most populous CFU cell areas, the spleen and marrow. The concentration and/or total number of CFU cells in spleen and marrow was not increased by plasma injection whether judged by the number of transplantable cells or by the number of migrating endogenous cells. These studies emphasize the complexity of this cellular system and suggest that the use of but one type of stem cell assay may yield results which do not reflect changes within the total compartment. Evidence for cell damage in vitro as a factor influencing results in studies involving transplantation was searched for but was not forthcoming.
Transverse shear failure of cross-ply short beam test specimens

Abstract The behavior of cross-plied laminates of collimated continuous graphite fiber/epoxy matrix composites in short beam shear has been studied. Failure was by transverse shear of the transverse laminae with the formation of many characteristic microcracks. The shear strength was closely related to the transverse tensile strength but was insensitive to the resin type used. Precautions necessary in using the test for quality control purposes have been suggested.
Three-dimensional Hybrid Simulation Study of Anisotropic Turbulence in the Proton Kinetic Regime

Three-dimensional numerical hybrid simulations with particle protons and quasi-neutralizing fluid electrons are conducted for a freely decaying turbulence that is anisotropic with respect to the background magnetic field. The turbulence evolution is determined by both the combined root-mean-square (rms) amplitude for fluctuating proton bulk velocity and magnetic field and by the ratio of perpendicular to parallel wavenumbers. This kind of relationship had been considered in the past with regard to interplanetary turbulence. The fluctuations nonlinearly evolve to a turbulent phase whose net wave vector anisotropy is usually more perpendicular than the initial one, irrespective of the initial ratio of perpendicular to parallel wavenumbers. Self-similar anisotropy evolution is found as a function of the rms amplitude and parallel wavenumber. Proton heating rates in the turbulent phase vary strongly with the rms amplitude but only weakly with the initial wave vector anisotropy. Even in the limit where wave vectors are confined to the plane perpendicular to the background magnetic field, the heating rate remains close to the corresponding case with finite parallel wave vector components. Simulation results obtained as a function of proton plasma to background magnetic pressure ratio β p in the range 0.1-0.5 show that the wave vector anisotropy also weakly depends on β p .
Dietary calcium and phosphorus requirements of Oreochromis aureus reared in calcium-free water

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the dietary calcium and phosphorus requirements of fingerling Oreochromis aureus reared in calcium-free water. A casein basal diet was supplemented with graded levels of either calcium or phosphorus and fed for 12 weeks. Dietary calcium concentrations ranged from 0.17 to 1.00% and dietary phosphorus concentrations ranged from 0.20 to 1.00%. Weight gain and feed conversion data indicated that 0.70% dietary calcium was optimum for good growth. Whole-body, bone or scale minerals did not clearly reflect the calcium requirement as established by growth. Weight gain and feed conversion data indicated that 0.30% dietary phosphorus was adequate for good growth. However, bone ash, phosphorus, and calcium data indicated that 0.50% dietary phosphorus was required for normal bone mineralization.
Influence of Secondary Flow on Turbine Erosion

This work presents the results of an investigation conducted to study the effect of secondary flow on blade erosion by coal ash particles in axial flow gas turbines. The particle dynamics and their blade impacts are determined from a three-dimensional trajectory analysis within the turbine blade passages. The blade material erosion behavior and the particle rebound characteristics are simulated using empirical equations derived from experimental measurements
An Unusual Presentation of Chiari I Malformation

The most typical symptom of Chiari malformation type I in children is headache. The authors describe a 14-year-old girl who presented with a 3-year history of gait decline and no headache, which is...
Analysis of the magnetic vector in a single rock specimen

Introduction On reading a recent issue of the Geophysical Journal, I came across two papers which led me to believe that certain easily applied methods of statistical analysis are not being routinely used in palaeomagnetic work. These analytical methods are those which should be used where components of magnetization in individual specimens have been measured more than once, a standard practice with most palaeomagnetic laboratories. Lowrie & Alvarez (1977) state that after using a six spin technique on a spinner magnetometer, giving 12 individual readings (four for each axis), it is possible to obtain 12 complete determinations of intensity and direction, using information from two spins. However, there are only four independent determinations of the magnetic vector, since each axis is only measured four times. Channell (1977) used a cryogenic magnetometer which measures alI three axes simultaneously. Two measurements will only give two estimates of the direction, and not eight, as Channell claims. Thus in both papers, the impression is given that more estimates of direction and intensity are available than is in fact the case. The following analysis shows a more rigorous way of obtaining an idea of the error in determining the direction or intensity of magnetization.