cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Remote measurement of the transverse wind velocity component using a laser Doppler velocimeter.

The wind speed transverse to the line-of-sight of a laser Doppler radar has been measured using the intensity fluctuations of the returned signal. These measurements were made at a range of 100 m with a CO2 CW laser Doppler velocimeter, which was simultaneously performing its design function of determining the radial velocity component. The transverse component measurements are compared with those obtained using a u, v, w Gill propeller anemometer.
Automated delineation of dermal-epidermal junction in reflectance confocal microscopy image stacks of human skin.

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) images skin noninvasively, with optical sectioning and nuclear-level resolution comparable with that of pathology. On the basis of the assessment of the dermal–epidermal junction (DEJ) and morphologic features in its vicinity, skin cancer can be diagnosed in vivo with high sensitivity and specificity. However, the current visual, qualitative approach for reading images leads to subjective variability in diagnosis. We hypothesize that machine learning–based algorithms may enable a more quantitative, objective approach. Testing and validation were performed with two algorithms that can automatically delineate the DEJ in RCM stacks of normal human skin. The test set was composed of 15 fair- and 15 dark-skin stacks (30 subjects) with expert labelings. In dark skin, in which the contrast is high owing to melanin, the algorithm produced an average error of 7.9±6.4 μm. In fair skin, the algorithm delineated the DEJ as a transition zone, with average error of 8.3±5.8 μm for the epidermis-to-transition zone boundary and 7.6±5.6 μm for the transition zone-to-dermis. Our results suggest that automated algorithms may quantitatively guide the delineation of the DEJ, to assist in objective reading of RCM images. Further development of such algorithms may guide assessment of abnormal morphological features at the DEJ.
Orbis Cascade Alliance Distributed Print Repository: Organizing Collections at the Consortial Level

Journal print archives or repositories have been in existence for some time. More recently, the academic libraries in the United States Pacific Northwest that belong to the Orbis Cascade Alliance undertook the development of a distributed repository to preserve the print journals from the American Chemical Society and the JSTOR Arts and Sciences I & II collections. The project sought to identify two complete runs of each title held between the members of the consortium and assign responsibility for preserving the titles in perpetuity. The methodology, challenges, and benefits of this project are discussed.
Computational simulation of type-II superconductivity including pinning phenomena

A flexible tool, based on the finite-element method, for the computational simulation of vortex phenomena in type-II superconductors has been developed. These simulations use refined or newly developed phenomenological models including a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model, a variable-thickness thin-film model, simplified models valid for high values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter, models that account for normal inclusions and Josephson effects, and the Lawrence-Doniach model for layered superconductors. Here, sample results are provided for the case of constant applied magnetic fields. Included in the results are cases of flux pinning by impurities and by thin regions in films.
Effect of prominence of dissonance-associated stimuli during evaluation of the stimuli.

Abstract This experiment investigated the function of the prominence of stimuli that were associated with cognitive dissonance arousal in dissonance reduction. The question was thought to be of particular importance in research with children. The results showed that dissonance reduction occurred on a criterion task that contained the most direct representation of a stimulus that was in the arousal situation, but the effect did not appear on tasks in which such representation was less prominent. The mode of dissonance reduction predicted was the positive evaluation of stimuli associated with relatively low-rewarded experiences. The importance of identifying the critical properties of the mediating stimuli between the dissonance arousal and the dissonance reduction situations was indicated. Consistent with earlier findings of sex differences, boys tended to persist longer at a task following a low-rewarded than a high-rewarded experience, and girls showed the converse. Consequently, within the design of this experiment, the major part of the dissonance reduction effect was attributable to boys.
INVERSE EIGENVALUE PROBLEM : EXISTENCE OF SPECIAL MASS-DAMPER-SPRING SYSTEMS

Abstract We consider inverse eigenvalue problems for specially structured matrix polynomials which have interpretations to mass–damper–spring systems.
Comparing the performance of stochastic simulation on GPUs and OpenMP

Since stochastic computing performs operations using streams of bits that represent probability values instead of deterministic values, it can tolerate a large number of failures in a noisy system. However, the simulation of a stochastic implementation is extremely time-consuming. In this paper, we investigate two approaches to speed up the stochastic simulation: a GPU-based simulation and an OpenMP-based simulation. To compare these two approaches, we start with several basic stochastic computing elements SCEs and then use the stochastic implementation of a frame difference-based image segmentation algorithm as case study to conduct extensive experiments. Measured results show that the GPU-based simulation with 448 processing elements can achieve up to 119x performance speedup compared to the single-threaded CPU simulation and 17x performance speedup over the OpenMP-based simulation with eight processor cores. In addition, we present several performance optimisations for the GPU-based simulation which significantly benefit the performance of stochastic simulation.
Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for identifying effectors of α-synuclein misfolding and dopaminergic cell death associated with Parkinson's disease.

Protein misfolding and aggregation are key pathological features observed in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, including the misfolding of α-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and β-amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease. While this phenomenon is widely observed, the etiology and progression of these diseases is not fully understood. Furthermore, there is a lack of therapeutic treatments directed at halting the progression and neurodegeneration associated with these diseases. This demands a need for an inexpensive, easy to manipulate multicellular organism to conduct both genetic and chemical screens within to identify factors that may play a pivotal role in the pathology of these diseases. Herein, we describe methodology involved in identifying genetic modifiers of α-syn misfolding and toxicity in the nematode roundworm, Caenorhabditis elegans. Transgenic nematodes engineered to express human α-syn in the body wall muscles or dopaminergic (DA) neurons result in formation of cytoplasmic puncta or DA neurodegeneration, respectively. Using these models, we describe the use of RNA interference (RNAi) and transgenic gene expression to functionally elucidate potential therapeutic gene targets that alter α-syn misfolding and DA neurotoxicity.
Optimal design of a parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle using multi-objective genetic algorithms

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) provide fairly high fuel economy with lower emissions compared to conventional vehicles. To enhance HEV performance in terms of fuel economy and emissions, subject to the satisfaction of driving performance, optimal powertrain component sizing is inevitable. This paper presents an efficient multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA), to optimize powertrain component sizes as well as fuel economy and emissions, including HC, CO, and NOx, for a parallel HEV. The main target is to find the trade-off solutions, known as pareto-optimal set, from among the objectives. Simulation results show the potential of the proposed optimization technique in terms of improved fuel economy and low emissions.
Sweat Testing for Heroin, Cocaine, and Metabolites

Although a variety of drugs have been detected in sweat, little information is available on the characteristics of drug excretion in sweat under controlled-dosing conditions. A series of clinical studies were designed to determine the identity, concentration, time course, dose dependency, and variability of drug and metabolite excretion in sweat following administration of single doses of cocaine and heroin to human subjects. Sweat was collected by means of a sweat patch that could be worn for a period of several days to several weeks at a time, resulting in accumulation of drug in the patch. Sweat patches were removed at specified times and frozen until analyzed by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. Cocaine and heroin were the major analytes excreted in sweat following their administration. Smaller amounts of cocaine metabolites were also detected following cocaine administration. 6-Acetylmorphine appeared rapidly after heroin administration and continued to increase while heroin content decreased, suggesting that heroin was undergoing hydrolysis in the sweat patch. Cocaine appeared in sweat within 1-2 hours and peaked within 24 hours in an apparent dose-dependent manner. Analysis of duplicate adjacent patches from individual subjects who had been administered cocaine provided similar quantitative results, suggesting that intrasubject variability was relatively low, whereas intersubject variability was high. These observations regarding the excretion of cocaine and heroin analytes in sweat have important forensic implications to other fields such as hair analysis. Sweat excretion could be an important mechanism by which drugs enter hair. These data also suggest that the sweat patch could serve as a useful monitoring device in surveillance of individuals in treatment and probation programs.
RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF PROCESSED MUSTARD. I: EFFECT OF MILLING TREATMENT

The influence of milling level on the rheological behavior of processed mustard was investigated using three different particle sizes (slightly-coarse, standard, and fine) prepared according to a standard formulation and pilot-plant replication of the commercial methodology. All samples showed unimodal population-based particle size distributions which were described by the population-mode (dpop). On a volume basis, all milling levels had well-defined bimodal distributions consisting of a smaller- and a larger-size group of particles described by their modes (d and D). The most important particle size index in relating milling level to rheological behavior was not the population mode (dpop) but the larger-size volume mode (D) from the bimodal distribution. The coarser the milling, the higher the larger-size volume mode (D), and higher the values of: a) Apparent viscosity of nonmixed samples (ηp), b) Bingham yield stress (o−o) and plastic apparent viscosity (σp), c) Shear stress constant (A) and coefficient of thixotropic breakdown (B) from the Weltman stress decay model, d) Yield stress (o−o) and consistency index (K) from the Herschel-Bulkley model, and e) Storage (G1) and loss (G”) moduli. As indicators of structure-texture relationship, the above rheological parameters can be profitably utilized to study the effect of manufacturing practices on long term storage stability of the product.
Harnessing the Benefits of Biobanks

We have a thriving biotechnology industry in the United States. There are over 1,450 biotechnology companies developing diagnostic and treatment technologies in medicine, creating more nutritional foods, and innovating new industrial processes. Yet this $28.5 billion sector of the economy is not without controversy. The “bio” in biotechnology comes from living, biological entities - people, plants, animals, and even bacteria. In the realm of biobanking, people are the source of the raw material for the discovery of genes for research, diagnosis, and therapy, raising a host of issues about rights and responsibilities, fiduciary duties and societal obligations.
Capturing, sharing, and using local place information

With new technology, people can share information about everyday places they go; the resulting data helps others find and evaluate places. Recent applications like Dodgeball and Sharescape repurpose everyday place information: users create local place data for personal use, and the systems display it for public use. We explore both the opportunities -- new local knowledge, and concerns -- privacy risks, raised by this implicit information sharing. We conduct two empirical studies: subjects create place data when using PlaceMail, a location-based reminder system, and elect whether to share it on Sharescape, a community map-building system. We contribute by: (1) showing location-based reminders yield new local knowledge about a variety of places, (2) identifying heuristics people use when deciding what place-related information to share (and their prevalence), (3) detailing how these decision heuristics can inform local knowledge sharing system design, and (4) identifying new uses of shared place information, notably opportunistic errand planning.
Influenza M2 proton channel activity selectively inhibits trans-Golgi network release of apical membrane and secreted proteins in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

The function of acidification in protein sorting along the biosynthetic pathway has been difficult to elucidate, in part because reagents used to alter organelle pH affect all acidified compartments and are poorly reversible. We have used a novel approach to examine the role of acidification in protein sorting in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. We expressed the influenza virus M2 protein, an acid-activated ion channel that equilibrates lumenal and cytosolic pH, in polarized MDCK cells and examined the consequences on the targeting and delivery of apical and basolateral proteins. M2 activity affects the pH of only a subset of acidified organelles, and its activity can be rapidly reversed using ion channel blockers (Henkel, J.R., G. Apodaca, Y. Altschuler, S. Hardy, and O.A. Weisz. 1998. Mol. Biol. Cell. 8:2477–2490; Henkel, J.R., J.L. Popovich, G.A. Gibson, S.C. Watkins, and O.A. Weisz. 1999. J. Biol. Chem. 274:9854–9860). M2 expression significantly decreased the kinetics of cell surface delivery of the apical membrane protein influenza hemagglutinin, but not of the basolaterally delivered polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. Similarly, the kinetics of apical secretion of a soluble form of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase were reduced with no effect on the basolaterally secreted fraction. Interestingly, M2 activity had no effect on the rate of secretion of a nonglycosylated protein (human growth hormone [hGH]) that was secreted equally from both surfaces. However, M2 slowed apical secretion of a glycosylated mutant of hGH that was secreted predominantly apically. Our results suggest a role for acidic trans-Golgi network pH in signal-mediated loading of apical cargo into forming vesicles.
Rho signaling mediates cytoskeletal re-arrangements in octopus photoreceptors*

Light sensitive rhabdoms in the octopus retina increase in cross-sectional area in the dark and shrink in the light. Growth in the dark is due to the formation of microvilli in an avillar region of the photoreceptor cell membrane and lengthening of rhabdomere microvilli already present. Diminution in the light is the result of the disassembly and shortening of the same microvilli. Each microvillus contains an actin filament core that must be assembled or disassembled in the dark or light, respectively. To understand the regulation of the construction and breakdown of rhabdomere microvilli in the light and dark, we used centrifugation to separate the rhabdom membranes followed by Western blotting and Rho pull-down assays to investigate the role of Rho GTPases in this process. Western blotting showed a difference in the distribution of Rho in rhabdom membrane and supernatant fractions. In the light, Rho was mostly present in the supernatant but in the dark it was found in the fraction enriched with rhabdom membranes. Complementing these results, pull-down assays showed that Rho is activated in the dark but in the light, Rho is mostly inactive. We believe that in the dark, activated Rho binds to the rhabdom membrane and initiates signaling pathways, leading to growth of rhabdomere microvilli. In the light, Rho is present in the soluble fraction, is inactivated, and is likely bound to a Rho GDI. Receptors involved in the activation of Rho in the dark are undetermined and may involve rhodopsin or another membrane protein.
Cerebral oxygenation during cardiopulmonary bypass in children

Abstract Objective: Previous work has found cerebral oxygen extraction to decrease during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in children. To elucidate cardiopulmonary bypass factors controlling cerebral oxygen extraction, we examined the effect of perfusate temperature, pump flow rate, and hematocrit value on cerebral hemoglobin-oxygen saturation as measured by near infrared spectroscopy. Methods: Forty children less than 7 years of age scheduled for cardiac operations with continuous cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly assigned to warm bypass, hypothermic bypass, hypothermic low-flow bypass, or hypothermic low-hematocrit bypass. For warm bypass, arterial perfusate was 37° C, hematocrit value 23%, and pump flow 150 ml/kg per minute. Hypothermic bypass differed from warm bypass only in initial perfusate temperature (22° C); hypothermic low-flow bypass and low-hematocrit bypass differed from hypothermic bypass only in pump flow (75 ml/kg per minute) and hematocrit value (16%), respectively. Cerebral oxygen saturation was recorded before bypass (baseline), during bypass, and for 15 minutes after bypass had been discontinued. Results: In the warm bypass group, cerebral oxygen saturation remained at baseline levels during and after bypass. In the hypothermic bypass group, cerebral oxygen saturation increased 20% ± 2% during bypass cooling ( p p = 0.05) and 10% ± 2% ( p Conclusions: In children, cortical oxygen extraction is maintained during warm cardiopulmonary bypass at full flow and moderate hemodilution. Bypass cooling can decrease cortical oxygen extraction but requires a certain pump flow and hematocrit value to do so. Low-hematocrit hypothermic bypass and low-flow hypothermic bypass can also alter cortical oxygen extraction after discontinuation of cardiopulmonary bypass. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;113:71-9)
Iron Imports. V. Transport of iron through the intestinal epithelium

Iron absorption across the brush-border membrane requires divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), whereas ferroportin (FPN) and hephaestin are required for exit across the basolateral membrane. However, how iron passes across the enterocyte is poorly understood. Both chaperones and transcytosis have been postulated to account for intracellular iron transport. With iron feeding, DMT1 undergoes endocytosis and FPN translocates from the apical cytosol to the basolateral membrane. The fluorescent metallosensor calcein offered to the basolateral surface of enterocytes is found in endosomes in the apical compartment, and its fluorescence is quenched when iron is offered to the apical surface. These experiments are consistent with vesicular iron transport as a possible pathway for intracellular iron transport.
Potential for citizen time savings with 911 access

Much time and discussion is focused on the response time of public safety agencies during an emergency. Little or no time has been spent discussing the time it takes the citizen to access a public safety agency during an emergency. However, preliminary research indicates that after the citizen decides to call for help, substantial time may be spent by the citizen in trying to access the appropriate agency. Many agencies feel that three minutes is the maximum response time allowable in an emergency and consider citizen access time to be negligible. However, SRI International found that the average time spent by citizins for agency access is also three minutes. Many citizens spend substantially more time than the average, particularly when they have difficulty identifying the appropriate agency. The problems encountered by citizens while trying to locate and contact the appropriate agency are described. Areas where a single number, such as 911, is most useful, as well as those areas where it is less useful to the citizen, are discussed.
A brief guide to designing effective figures for the scientific paper.

In 1610, Galileo sent a letter to Cosimo de’ Medici (his patron) describing the fi rst telescopic observations. In his letter, Galileo included a small set of a large series of famous drawings depicting the earth’s moon. [ 1 ] Galileo employed these drawings to communicate his discoveries. In his book, Siderues Nuncios , additional illustrations of the moon were used as critical support for Galileo’s argument for a heliocentric system ( Figure 1 ). As a true Renaissance man, Galileo was able to make these drawings because in addition to studying science at the University of Pisa, he also studied the fi ne arts, or “Disegno”, even becoming an instructor at the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence. Nowadays, very few scientists send letters to the de’ Medici family, although we do send reports to funding agencies. Even fewer scientists study “Disegno” in Florence. However, contemporary scientists do still communicate their discoveries with fi gures in scientifi c papers. The use of illustrations in scientifi c publications is a longstanding tradition that predates Galileo considerably. As early as 4000 B. C. in ancient Egypt and later on in Greece, drawings were used to document advances in astronomy, geometry, agriculture, and medicine. The fi rst illustrated medical book Fasciculo de Medicina was printed in 1491 and is today considered the starting point of modern Western medicine. [ 3 ] In the 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment, illustrations were used broadly in scientifi c manuscripts to disseminate knowledge to the general public. [ 4 ]
Purification and characterization of glycine N-methyltransferase.

Abstract Glycine N-methyltransferase, an enzyme which methylates glycine in the N-position to yield sarcosine, has been purified to homogeneity from rabbit liver and partially characterized. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 123,500 as determined by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation and consists of 3 to 4 nonidentical subunits with molecular weights in the range of 27,000 to 33,000 as determined by mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. The apparent Michaelis constants for glycine and S-adenosylmethionine are 2.2 and 0.1 mm, respectively. The enzyme has a high percentage of aromatic amino acids, conferring a hydrophobic character upon it. It also contains carbohydrate in the form of sialic acid, 4 residues per mole of protein, and hexose, 2 residues per mole of protein, as well as 12 acetyl groups per mole of protein.
Energy-Conserving Dynamic Routing in Multi-sink Heterogeneous Sensor Networks

The success of various sensor network applications highly depends on the use of energy-conserving routing methods to prolong network lifetime. We present a heterogeneous sensor network architecture consisting of a small number of high-end sensors serving as sink nodes and a large number of low-end sensors responsible for environmental sensing. We propose a path bottleneck-oriented and energy cost-based routing scheme that uses a multi-objective function to optimize the balance of network-wide energy consumption. Within this routing scheme, we design (i) a centralized version for sensor networks with global topology information, (ii) a semi-distributed version to further improve energy efficiency, and (iii) a fully distributed version to support large-scale sensor networks. Extensive simulation results show that the proposed routing scheme outperforms existing routing algorithms in prolonging the lifetime of sensor networks.
Idiotypes of Ir Gene-Controlled Anti-GAT Response

In mice, the immune response to the synthetic polypeptide GAT, a random linear polymer, poly(L-Glu60,L-Ala30,L-Tyr10), is under the control of immune response (Ir) genes localized in the Iregion of the major histocompatibility complex.(1) Mice bearingH-2 p,q,s haplotypes are nonresponders. This nonresponsiveness can be bypassed by immunization with GAT complexed with methylated bovine serum albumin (GAT-MBSA).(2)Prior injection of GAT into nonresponder strains induces a population of suppressor T cells that specifically suppress the anti-GAT response to a subsequent immunization with GAT-MBSA.(3) Furthermore, factors generated from GAT-specific suppressor T cells can specifically suppress the GAT-specific plaque-forming cell response to GAT-MBSA.(4)Subsequent studies demonstrated that these antigen-binding T-cell factors lack immunoglobulin constant region determinants and possess MHC-coded determinants.(5) Because immunoglobulins presently comprise the only known system which exhibits antigen specificity and diversity among its members, it is possible that T-cell factors possess a structure equivalent to an immunoglobulin variable (V) region, associated with an MHC product, thus conferring T-cell receptors with antigen-specificity, diversity, and functional activity. This hypothesis, which has important implications for the nature of T-cell receptors if proven correct, prompted us to carry out systematic and extensive analyses on the idiotypes on anti-GAT antibodies. This effort has resulted in the identification of several related, and distinct anti-GAT idiotypic families. More importantly, we have used well-characterized anti-idiotypic reagents to study the serological relationship between antigen-specific T-cell receptors and antibodies.(6–8) The purpose of this chapter is to review the immunochemical properties of murine anti-GAT idiotypic families. Each family will be discussed separately and focus will be centered on the methods of identification as well as the common and the unique properties of each idiotypic family.
Testing and management strategies for effective beef and dairy herd BVDV biosecurity programs.

Elements of a bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) biosecurity program, associated costs and benefits, and criteria veterinarians and producers can use in considering whether to adopt a program are described in this report. Protection against BVDV infections includes proper immunization, identification and elimination of persistently infected (PI) carrier cattle, and prevention of exposure of cattle at risk to BVDV. The decision to implement a BVDV biosecurity program must be based on a herd-by-herd cost-benefit analysis. Costs include diagnostic testing as well as costs imposed by constraints on production practices, which are necessary to implement the program. Benefits include reduced disease loss, potential added value of replacement breeding animals which can be marketed as test-negative for PI infection, and pregnant females at low risk of carrying a PI fetus. Various herd-level diagnostic strategies have been devised to screen herds for the presence ofBVDV, identify and eliminate PI carrier cattle, or help prevent new exposure of the herd to BVDV. No universally applicable protocol exists for herd level BVDV biosecurity. The specific biosecurity methods used in each herd depend on the type of livestock production system involved. Important variables to consider are the number of animals in the herd, livestock concentration, distribution of animal groups, and desired level of biosecurity assurance. When BVDV virus is known to exist in a herd, control of new infections must take into account the possible presence of PI animals. A single PI animal can serve as the source of virus for a herd, and a stringent herd testing program may be required to identify and eliminate PI animals. Producers must understand the risks of re-exposure occurring in a BVDV-free herd and the importance of continuous management to prevent contact with cattle from other herds. In BVDV-free herds, it is essential to annually test and confirm the BVDV PI-free status of all calves born. Purchased animals should be isolated and tested before being added to the herd to avoid introduction of transiently infected animals. It is strongly recommended that bred heifers from outside sources not be added to the BVDV-free herd. Purchasing tested, non-pregnant replacement heifers is less risky than buying tested pregnant females. If tested, pregnant cattle are purchased, then the offspring must also be tested to confirm their BVDV PI-free status before introduction into the herd.
Novel Nanocarbons: Global Topology and Curvature Perspectives

Carbon nanotubes (both the single- and multi-walled), in the family of nanostructured carbons, are of great interest because of several unsurpassable physical properties and it needs to be shown that they are physically stable and structurally unaltered when subjected to radiation. In addition to testing them for space applications, when exposed to high energy electron beam from transmission electron microscopy, the results seem quite promising in terms of nano-engineering/ nano-manufacturing for producing novel nanocarbons [1-3]. Experimental studies of effects of electron beam irradiation on carbon nanotubes show that multi-walled ones tend to be relatively more robust than their single-walled kins. The increased exposure on an individual bundle of single-wall nanotubes promoted graphitization, pinching, and cross-linking analogous to polymers forming an intra-molecular junction (IMJ) within the area of electron beam focus, possibly through aggregates of amorphous carbon [2,3]. Formation of novel nanostructures (nano-ring and helix-like) due to irradiation are observed. These studies shed light on the dynamics of nanomanufacturing and a regime of possible relevance of these materials for: (i) short-term space missions; (ii) radiation hard programmable logic circuits; and (iii) radiation pressure sensors. It is suggestive that a local reorganization occurs. Through resonance Raman spectroscopy and related techniques we also elucidate an important notion of global topology and curvature at nanoscale which points to an emergent paradigm of Curvature/Topology → Property → Functionality in these technologically important geometries of carbons: nanotubes, fullerenes, nanorings, nanocones, nanohorns and nanodisks. To this end, we have determined the variation in first order high frequency Raman band which indicates a strong electron-phonon coupling. These concepts also apply to nanostructures of other “topological materials” such as BN nanotubes and nanotori, helical gold nanotubes as well as Mobius conjugated polymers.
Assessing Home Health Care Pharmacists' Knowledge of Cytochrome P450 Pharmacogenetics

Objective:Genetic code governs cytochrome P450 activity as a consequence, it may influence an individual's response to medications metabolized by these enzymes. Pharmacists have a prominent role in providing education concerning adverse drug reactions and variability in drug response. This investigation assessed the knowledge of a group of pharmacists regarding cytochrome P450 pharmacogenetics.Methods:This observational, cross-sectional study presented a Web–based questionnaire available for completion by pharmacists contacted via E-mail. Fifty-two pharmacists involved with a nationwide home-care facility participated in the study on a volunteer basis. The main outcome measure was percentage score on a 10-question examination.Results:Fifty-two of 171 contacted pharmacists participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 30%. The mean percentage questionnaire score ± SD was 17.5 ± 15.1. Scores were slightly higher for pharmacists with 2 or more pharmacokinetic classes in their formal education (p < 0...
Disability and Exposure to High Levels of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Effect on Health and Risk Behavior.

Background Health disparities among persons with disabilities have been previously documented. However, there is little research specific to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in this population and how ACE exposure affects health outcomes in adulthood. Methods Data from the 2012 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey were analyzed to compare the prevalence of ACEs between adults with and without disabilities and high ACE exposure (3-8 ACEs). Adjusted risk ratios of health risks and perceived poor health by disability status were calculated using predicted marginals. Results A higher percentage of persons with disabilities (36.5%) than those without disabilities (19.6%) reported high ACE exposure. Among those with high ACE exposure, persons with disabilities were more likely to report several ACE categories, particularly childhood sexual abuse. In adjusted analyses, persons with disabilities had an increased risk of smoking (relative risk [RR] = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.10-1.51), poor physical health (RR = 4.34; 95% CI, 3.08-6.11), poor mental health (RR = 4.69; 95% CI, 3.19-6.87), and doctor-diagnosed depression (RR = 2.16; 95% CI, 1.82-2.56) compared to persons without disabilities. Limitations The definition of disability derived from the BRFSS survey does not allow for those with disabilities to be categorized according to physical disabilities versus mental or emotional disabilities. In addition, we were unable to determine the timing of ACE exposure in relation to disability onset. Conclusions A better understanding of the life course associations between ACEs and disability and the impact of exposure to multiple types of childhood adversity on disability and health is needed to inform research and services specific to this vulnerable population.
Multi-scale segmentation of neurons based on one-class classification.

Abstract Background High resolution multiphoton and confocal microscopy has allowed the acquisition of large amounts of data to be analyzed by neuroscientists. However, manual processing of these images has become infeasible. Thus, there is a need to create automatic methods for the morphological reconstruction of 3D neuronal image stacks. New method An algorithm to extract the 3D morphology from a neuron is presented. The main contribution of the paper is the segmentation of the neuron from the background. Our segmentation method is based on one-class classification where the 3D image stack is analyzed at different scales. First, a multi-scale approach is proposed to compute the Laplacian of the 3D image stack. The Laplacian is used to select a training set consisting of background points. A decision function is learned for each scale from the training set that allows determining how similar an unlabeled point is to the points in the background class. Foreground points (dendrites and axons) are assigned as those points that are rejected as background. Finally, the morphological reconstruction of the neuron is extracted by applying a state-of-the-art centerline tracing algorithm on the segmentation. Results Quantitative and qualitative results on several datasets demonstrate the ability of our algorithm to accurately and robustly segment and trace neurons. Comparison with existing method(s) Our method was compared to state-of-the-art neuron tracing algorithms. Conclusions Our approach allows segmentation of thin and low contrast dendrites that are usually difficult to segment. Compared to our previous approach, this algorithm is more accurate and much faster.
Brief analysis the difference on the good clinical practice in ICH and China

According to the apprehension of good clinical practice(GCP) issued by China in 2003 and International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use(ICH) GCP.The author compares each chapter of Chinese GCP with ICH GCP and discusses the similarities and differences between them to expect to impel the development and innovation of Chinese GCP's institution.
A Profile of Those Who Use Hallucinogenic Mushrooms

Psilocybin-containing hallucinogenic mushrooms have been consumed for a variety of purposes throughout history. This review explores three common reasons that they are consumed, and discusses the typical user and motivations for use within each category. The three reasons for use are recreational, self-medication, and accidental. Recreational users typically use mushrooms for the first time in their late teens, and they report “curiosity” and desire “to get high” as the primary reasons for trying them. Lifetime incidence of hallucinogenic mushroom use among college students is roughly 25%. Those who use mushrooms to self-medicate claim that these mushrooms treat a variety of afflictions, including migraines, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and drug addiction. Finally, many hallucinogenic mushrooms are consumed accidentally. These cases include young children who consume a mushroom in a natural setting, and adults who seek to forage wild mushrooms, make a mistake, and inadvertently consume hallucinogenic mushrooms. In this review, we describe and characterize users of hallucinogenic mushrooms based upon reports and assessments in order to create a profile of users.
Ins(1,4,5)P3 activates Drosophila cation channel Trpl in recombinant baculovirus-infected Sf9 insect cells

The trp-like (trpl) gene product (Trpl) is thought to form a nonselective cation channel important for signal transduction in Drosophila photoreceptor cells. This channel may be the insect homologue of mammalian channels involved in Ca2+ signal transduction. To determine the mechanism of receptor-mediated activation of Trpl, whole cell membrane currents were examined in Sf9 insect cells after infection with recombinant baculovirus. Stimulation by bradykinin increased whole cell Trpl currents three- to fivefold. Similar activation of Trpl was observed by inclusion of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] in the pipette solution during whole cell recordings. These currents were 1) not seen in noninfected cells or in cells expressing only the B2 receptor, 2) mimicked by D-myo-inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate, and 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, 3) not seen with D-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate or D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, and 4) blocked by heparin, but not by de-N-sulfated heparin. In contrast, Trpl currents were unaffected by thapsigargin. These results demonstrate that the Trpl cation channel is activated by Ins(1,4,5)P3 in a heparin-sensitive fashion. Regulation of channel activity by Ins(1,4,5)P3 may occur by a number of mechanisms, including direct binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to the Trpl channel or direct physical interaction between the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor/Ca(2+)-release channel of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Trpl protein.
Assessing Community Interest in a Health Risk Appraisal Program

This paper reports the research efforts of a county health department serving a community of some 650,000 citizens. The department’s officers needed "hard figures" that might answer these five questions: 1) Was the community "health conscious"; 2) was the community interested in health risk appraisal programs; 3) what agency or business did the citizenry believe should offer such a program; 4) would the community respond to the offering of a "self-help" guide to health counselling services available in the county; and 5) what prices would be acceptable to the community in the health appraisal service and the guide?
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) Imaging

Magnet is “always on” and therefore ANY ferromagnetic material entering the magnet room will be attracted to the bore of the magnet and potentially be a lethal projectile.
Theory of Belief Functions: History and Prospects

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the origins and basic elements of the Dempster-Shafer (DS) theory of belief functions. The theory is described as a tool that scientists can use to formalize subjective uncertainties about objectively formalized unknowns. The future of the theory depends on the development of models that capture common situations and are amenable to modern computational methodologies. A fundamental mechanism for controlling subjectivity is to apply the methods of mathematical science to reasoning itself. All reasoning is subjective in the sense that it is the work of human minds. At the same time, reasoning is itself amenable to precise mathematical modeling, providing useful tools for the practical scientist. A basic formulation that is highly relevant for quantifying specific uncertainties combines propositional logic with probability has been developed. Analyses that adopt this logic with realistic model assumptions are gradually becoming computationally feasible over broad areas of application, often in ways that are close to Bayesian methods, while taking limited but essential steps that extend Bayes to DS methods when circumstances appear to warrant.
Some Results on Pareto Optimal Choice Sets for Estimating Main Effects and Interactions in 2 n and 3 n Factorial Plans

Choice-based conjoint experiments are used when choice alternatives can be described in terms of attributes. The objective is to infer the value that respondents attach to attribute levels. This method involves the design of profiles on the basis of attributes specified at certain levels. Respondents are presented sets of profiles called choice sets, and asked to select the one they consider best. Information Per Profile (IPP) is used as an optimality criteria to compare designs with different numbers of profiles. The optimality of connected main effects plans based on two consecutive choice sets, S l and S l+ 1, has been examined in the literature. However, the optimality of non-consecutive choice sets has not been examined. In this paper we examine the IPP of non-consecutive choice sets and show that IPP can be maximized under certain conditions. Further, we show that non-consecutive choice sets have higher IPP than consecutive choice sets for n ≥ 4. In addition, we examine the optimality of connected first-order-interaction designs based on three choice sets and show that non-consecutive choice sets have higher IPP than consecutive choice sets under certain conditions. Further, we check the D-, A- and E-optimality of best consecutive and non-consecutive PO choice sets with maximum IPP. Finally, we consider 3 n choice experiments. We look for the optimal PO choice sets and examine their IPP, D-, A- and E-optimality, as well as comparing consecutive and non-consecutive choice sets.
Anti-thermal mobility in the Σ3 [111] 60° {11 8 5} grain boundary in nickel: Mechanism and computational considerations

Abstract Synthetic driving force molecular dynamics simulations were performed to examine anti-thermal mobility in the incoherent Σ3 [111] 60° {11 8 5} grain boundary in a model FCC metal. This boundary is faceted, and motion occurs by the movement of the {110} facets via the glide of sets of three Shockley partial dislocations. We explore several consequences of this motion mechanism, and show how additional factors must be taken into consideration when simulating this boundary.
Utility of MDCT findings in predicting patient management outcomes in renal trauma.

The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of computed tomography (CT) in predicting clinical outcomes in renal trauma. This retrospective study was IRB approved and HIPAA compliant; informed consent was waived. One-hundred-sixty-two, trauma-related renal injuries (157 adults) from January 01, 2006 to December 31, 2013 were included in this retrospective study. CT findings of vascular and collecting system (CS) injuries were recorded, and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) renal injury grades were assigned. Fisher’s exact test evaluated correlations between AAST grade and active hemorrhage, AAST grade and surgical/endovascular therapy, active hemorrhage and surgical/endovascular therapy, and size of perinephric hematomas and CS injuries. The unpaired t test correlated to the size of perinephric hematomas in CS injuries diagnosed on initial versus repeat imaging. AAST grades were as follows: 120 grades I–III and 42 grade IV/V. Active hemorrhage was diagnosed in 25 (15%) patients and CS injury in 22 (14%) patients. Seven (8%) patients received surgical/endovascular therapy. There were statistically significant correlations between AAST grade and active hemorrhage (p = 0.003), active hemorrhage and surgical/endovascular therapy (p 2 cm) and CS injuries (p < 0.0001). There was no significant correlation between AAST grade and surgical/endovascular therapy (p = 0.08). Of the CS injuries (50%), 11/22 had no evidence of CS injury on initial imaging, being detected on follow-up CT. These “masked cases” demonstrated significant differences in perinephric hematoma size when compared to CS injuries diagnosed on initial imaging (p = 0.01). Active hemorrhage in renal trauma is a significant predictor of surgical/endovascular therapy, in contradistinction to the AAST grade. In collecting system injuries, a large fraction was not detectable on initial CT, supporting the need for repeat imaging in cases with large perinephric hematomas.
Yield-per-recruit modeling of two piscivores in a Midwestern reservoir: A Bayesian approach

Abstract Walleye Sander vitreus and hybrid striped bass Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis fisheries are supported by annual stockings in many US midwestern reservoirs. To maximize return to the angler, yield-per-recruit models are often used to evaluate expected yield and assist managers to determine which regulation to implement, generally length or bag limits. However, yield-per-recruit models are typically formulated with point estimates of life history parameters, which ignore uncertainty. Our objective was to estimate yield from yield-per-recruit models of walleye and hybrid striped bass under various harvest strategies (e.g., alternative minimum length limits and conditional fishing mortality rates) while incorporating uncertainty about the input model parameters. We estimated parameters of age and growth and weight-length models simultaneously using Bayesian inference. The full posterior distribution of these model parameter estimates were then used to estimate yield. We found that yield differed among length limits for both species at high conditional fishing mortality. We also found yield decreased for both species as minimum length limits increased for low conditional fishing mortality. Finally, we presented a probabilistic framework to determine how changing minimum length limits and conditional fishing mortality affects the probability of achieving 70–90% of the maximum yield. Our results provide insight on the expected yield under different minimum length limits and bag limits, while incorporating uncertainty in the model inputs, and add to the sparse literature on hybrid striped bass population dynamics.
Electrodiagnostic Evaluation of Lumbar Spine Problems

Electrodiagnostic studies are often an integral part of the evaluation of patients with lumbar spine problems. A thorough understanding of the sequence of changes that occur with nerve injury, the specific electrophysiologic techniques used, and their usefulness and limitations is helpful. Suggested guidelines for when to get (and not to get) electrodiagnostic studies in patients with lumbar spine problems are outlined.
Multivariate Regressed Scores

Recall from Section 5.5.2 that Kelley’s regressed score estimates of true score are easily extended to estimates of universe score in univariate gen-eralizability theory. The basic equation is $${\hat \mu _p} = (1 - E{\rho ^2})\mu + E{\rho ^2}{\bar X_p}$$ (12.1) where p stands for an object of measurement. The principal way in which univariate generalizability theory extends Kelley’s work is through the many different D study designs and universes of generalization that may be employed to characterize Eρ 2 and arrive at an estimate of it.