cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-resolution micro-OCT for endothelial cell visualization in the coronary arteries (Conference Presentation)

Coronary arteries are covered by a thin layer of endothelial cells (ECs). Impairment of ECs is at the origin of coronary atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations. However, the study of ECs in humans remains elusive because of a lack of an imaging tool with sufficient resolution. We have developed a light-based 1-µm-resolution microscopic imaging technology termed micro-optical coherence tomography (µOCT) that can be implemented in a coronary catheter. In this study, we investigated the capability of µOCT to visualize EC morphology. We stripped the endothelium from 36 fresh swine coronary segments with cyanoacrylate glue. Histology showed that the stripping procedure successfully removed ECs from the swine coronary arteries. Coronary segments were then imaged in 3D with µOCT, and were processed for histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). µOCT images of stripped vs. intact sites were volume rendered in 3D and visually compared. 3D-µOCT allowed visualization of EC pavementing on intact artery surfaces that was strongly correlated to that seen by SEM. EC pavementing disappeared, and surface roughness calculated by computed root mean squared error diminished significantly at the sites with stripped EC compared with intact sites. µOCT was also utilized in human cadaver coronary arteries, showing its capability of identifying EC morphology of human coronary plaque harboring leukocyte adhesion, EC stent strut tissue coverage, and lack of ECs at lesions with necrotic core or superficial nodular calcifications. In conclusion, µOCT enables EC visualization in coronary arteries, suggesting that it could be useful in patients with coronary artery disease to better understand the role of ECs in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.
Was Yosef on the Spectrum? Understanding Joseph Through Torah, Midrash, and Classical Jewish Sources (Introduction)

The story of Yosef (Joseph) presents some of the most challenging questions of all biblical narratives. Yosef’s behavior, interpersonal relationships, and personal journey and development are often difficult to understand, and at times seem to defy explanation. Leading commentators are repeatedly puzzled both by Yosef’s actions and by the events that surround him. This book attempts to achieve a coherent and cohesive reading of the story that offers a plausible understanding of Yosef’s behaviors toward others and those of others toward him, while at the same time accounting for both his successes and his failures. Toward that goal, the book suggests that a close reading of the biblical text paints a portrait of Yosef consistent with an individual on the autism spectrum. Although the primary goal of this project is focused on exploring a way to understand the character of Yosef and the events that surround him, with this understanding, the story may offer lessons for interactions with children and adults on the spectrum. If so, the fact that upon a close and careful reading the Torah contains such lessons, which are both current and timeless, is a further illustration of the principle: hafoch bah, v’hafoch bah, d’kula bah (“turn it and turn it, for everything is in it”).
Timing, acclimation period, and cupric hydroxide concentration alter growth responses of the Ohio production system.

Abstract Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) was used as a model system to determine the effects of reduced greenhouse and acclimation phases of the Ohio production system for use in the mid-southe...
High-Risk Phenotypes of Early Psychiatric Readmission in Bipolar Disorder With Comorbid Medical Illness.

Background Individuals with co-existing serious mental illness and non-psychiatric medical illness are at high risk of acute care utilization. Mining of electronic health record data can help identify and categorize predictors of psychiatric hospital readmission in this population. Objective This study aimed to identify modifiable predictors of psychiatric readmission among individuals with comorbid bipolar disorder and medical illness. This goal was accomplished by applying objective variable selection via machine learning techniques. Method This was a retrospective analysis of electronic health record data derived from 77,296 episodes of care from 2006 to 2016 within the University of California Health Care System. Data included 1,250 episodes of care involving patients with bipolar disorder and serious comorbid medical illnesses (defined by transfer between medicine and psychiatry services or concomitant primary medical and psychiatric admission diagnoses). Machine learning (classification trees) was used to identify potential predictors of 30-day psychiatric readmission across hospital encounters. Predictors included demographics, medical and psychiatric diagnoses, medication regimen, and disposition. The algorithm was internally validated using 10-fold cross-validation. Results The model predicted 30-day readmission with high accuracy (98% unbalanced model, 88% balanced model). Modifiable predictors of readmission were length of stay, transfers between medical and psychiatric services, discharge disposition to home, and all-cause acute health service utilization in the year before the index hospitalization. Conclusion Among bipolar disorder patients with comorbid medical conditions, characteristics of the index hospitalization (e.g., duration, transfer, and disposition) emerged as more predictive than static properties of the patient (e.g., sociodemographic factors and psychiatric comorbidity burden). Findings identified phenotypes of patients at high risk for rehospitalization and suggest potential ways of modifying the risk of early readmission.
Subjectivity "Demystified": Neurobiology, Evolution, and the Explanatory Gap.

While life in general can be explained by the mechanisms of physics, chemistry and biology, to many scientists and philosophers it appears that when it comes to explaining consciousness, there is what the philosopher Joseph Levine called an “explanatory gap” between the physical brain and subjective experiences. Here we deduce the living and neural features behind primary consciousness within a naturalistic biological framework, identify which animal taxa have these features (the vertebrates, arthropods, and cephalopod molluscs), then reconstruct when consciousness first evolved and consider its adaptive value. We theorize that consciousness is based on all the complex system features of life, plus the even more complex features of elaborate brains. We argue that the main reason why the explanatory gap between the brain and experience has been so refractory to scientific explanation is that it arises from both life and from varied and diverse brains and brain regions, so bridging the gap requires a complex, multifactorial account that includes the great diversity of consciousness, its personal nature that stems from embodied life, and the special neural features that make consciousness unique in nature.
Anatomy of phonon-induced spin relaxation processes in silicon

We present a methodology to systematically and analytically treat phonon-induced spin relaxation of conduction electron in silicon. All leading order contribution from all phonon modes and scattering processes are considered and the results for spin-flip matrix elements and spin lifetime are summarized. We show the explicit dependence of matrix elements on the electron wavevectors, spin orientation and phonon polarization. These results are shown to be powerful especially under symmetry-breaking conditions when an averaging rough evaluation of the matrix elements is not sufficient. Corrections due to the special two-band degeneracy in the X point (near the conduction valley minima) are also discussed. Numerical calculation are used to confirm the analytical results.
Short-term repeatability of electrocardiographic criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a marker of cardiac end-organ damage and a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although clinical trials and cohort studies commonly use the electrocardiogram (ECG) for LVH assessment, the repeatability of ECG-LVH criteria has not been sufficiently examined. Therefore, we evaluated the repeatability of ECG-LVH criteria. METHODS Participants (n = 63) underwent two standard ECGs at each of two visits, two weeks apart. The ECGs were processed centrally to calculate Cornell voltage (CV) LVH, Cornell voltage product (CVP) LVH, Sokolow-Lyon (SL) LVH, and Sokolow-Lyon product (SLP) LVH. We also used the waveforms measurements contributing to these LVH criteria as continuous variables, referred to here as CV-index, CVP-index, and SL-index. We calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), minimal detectable change (95% confidence), and the prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK). RESULTS ICCs (95% confidence intervals (CI)) were 0.97 (0.96, 0.98) for CV-index, 0.97 (0.95, 0.98) for CVP-index, and 0.93 (0.90, 0.96) for log of SL-index. Minimal detectable change between repeat measures of CV-index, CVP-index, and log of SL-index were ≥236.7 mV, ≥26.7 mV, and ≥0.09 mV, respectively. The within-visit PABAK was 1 for all ECG-LVH criteria, except for the first visit SLP-LVH (PABAK = 0.93). Between-visit PABAK ranged from 0.83 to 0.97 across LVH criteria. CONCLUSIONS CV, CVP, and SL ECG-LVH as continuous variables have excellent repeatability, and as binary variables have excellent within-visit agreement and good between-visit agreement. These results alleviate concerns about the repeatability the ECG-LVH use in clinical trials and epidemiologic studies.
Cultural Perspectives in ASD

There are cultural aspects of diagnosing autism that affect access to care and a family’s response to a diagnosis.
Toward Optimum Quantification of Pathology-Induced Noises: An Investigation of Information Missed by Human Auditory System

Clinical diagnosis of voice disorder and evaluation of therapy outcome heavily rely on accurate quantification of voice quality, which is closely tied to the physiology and function of the laryngeal mechanism. Considering the evaluation methodology of the voice, two main categories of auditory-perceptual assessment and acoustic analysis can be identified. This article presents a new approach for acoustic analysis of voice quality, which brings several advantages to the field. The proposed approach is non-parametric in the sense that it does not require the estimation of the fundamental frequency or spectral response of the vocal tract. This reduces the computational complexity of the measurement and reduces the possible errors due to inaccurate estimation of those parameters. Additionally, the method does not make any assumption about the phonetic context and hence has the potential to be applied to connected speech. The proposed method benefits from the multiresolution structure of the wavelet analysis for estimating the noisy component of a voice in the spectro-temporal domain. The informativeness of the estimated noise for voice quality distinction is examined based on different noise-quantification approaches. It is shown that deviation from the model of the human auditory system (HAS) leads to performance improvement. Through several analyses, it is argued that using models of HAS for quantification of the noise leads to significant loss of information relevant to voice quality. Findings from this article suggest that perception-based measures of voice quality are highly restricted in capturing important aspects of acoustic that could assist with voice quality distinctions. This characteristic is inherent to HAS and cannot be alleviated, highlighting a significant limitation of perception-based measures.
Inaccurate point‐of‐care blood glucose measurement in a dog with secondary erythrocytosis

BACKGROUND: Point‐of‐care (POC) portable blood glucose meters (PBGMs) are convenient and inexpensive tools for assessing patient blood glucose concentrations. They are often used to quickly diagnose hypoglycemia or collect serial glucose readings in diabetic patients. However, POC meters have been previously identified in human and veterinary literature to be inaccurate when utilized in patients with abnormal HCT. This problem may not be reflected in manufacturer guidelines referenced by practitioners in the POC setting. KEY FINDINGS: A 1.5‐year‐old dog, previously diagnosed with multiple congenital cardiac malformations, right‐to‐left cardiac shunting and secondary erythrocytosis, presented to a veterinary emergency center minimally responsive and without detectable pulses. PBGM measurement identified hypoglycemia. Following stabilization of the dog, serial glucose assessments showed discordant results between PBGMs and the reference laboratory biochemistry analyzer. A pathological cause for hypoglycemia was not identified and PBGM readings were determined to be erroneously low due to the dog's abnormally high HCT. SIGNIFICANCE: This case demonstrates the limitations of using PBGMs to assess blood glucose in a dog with secondary erythrocytosis. The report emphasizes the need for judicious use of PBGMs in critically ill patients and that these glucometers may not be reliable in patients with abnormal HCT values.
DEXmedetomidine compared to PROpofol in NEurocritical Care [DEXPRONE]: A multicenter retrospective evaluation of clinical utility and safety.

Abstract Purpose Although guidelines recommend dexmedetomidine (DEX) or propofol (PRO) as preferred sedatives in critically ill adults, comparisons in neurocritical care (NCC) are limited. We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility and safety of DEX compared with PRO in NCC setting. Materials and methods This retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort study conducted at three tertiary academic hospitals with Level 1 Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center designations, compared the clinical indication and safety of DEX vs PRO in patients in NCC setting. Results 179 patients were included (94 DEX and 85 PRO), median age of 58, 49% were male (DEX) and 58% were male (PRO). PRO was more commonly used to manage agitation. DEX was more commonly used for facilitating extubation, alcohol withdrawal, and sedation during frequent neurologic assessments. Mean Glasgow Coma Scale scores were higher in DEX group (11 vs. 9; p = .04). The duration of either infusions, mechanical ventilation, and lengths of stay were similar. No difference was observed in hypotension or bradycardia rates. Death was significantly higher with PRO (DEX 10% vs. PRO 22%; p = .02). Conclusions DEX and PRO were used for distinct indications in our cohort. Adverse effect profiles and clinical outcome, in the cohorts are largely similar.
Trigonal Bipyramidal V3+Complex as an Optically Addressable Molecular Qubit Candidate

Synthetic chemistry enables a bottom-up approach to quantum information science, where atoms can be deterministically positioned in a quantum bit or qubit. Two key requirements to realize quantum technologies are qubit initialization and read-out. By imbuing molecular spins with optical initialization and readout mechanisms, analogous to solid-state defects, molecules could be integrated into existing quantum infrastructure. To mimic the electronic structure of optically addressable defect sites, we designed the spin-triplet, V3+ complex, (C6F5)3trenVCNtBu (1). We measured the static spin properties as well as the spin coherence time of 1 demonstrating coherent control of this spin qubit with a 240 GHz electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer powered by a free electron laser. We found that 1 exhibited narrow, near-infrared photoluminescence (PL) from a spin-singlet excited state. Using variable magnetic field PL spectroscopy, we resolved emission into each of the ground-state spin sublevels, a crucial component for spin-selective optical initialization and readout. This work demonstrates that trigonally symmetric, heteroleptic V3+ complexes are candidates for optical spin addressability.
Biologically-inspired rib designs for captured powder damping in additive manufacturing

Abstract This paper describes the design and impact testing of laser powder bed fusion 316L stainless steel walls with captured powder cores. The purpose is to determine the effect of biologically-inspired internal ribs on the mode shapes and damping ratios. Comparison is made between five designs: solid and powder core with {no ribs, vertical ribs, hatched ribs, and bat wing ribs}. The powder core increases damping ratios by factors of 2 to 58 depending on the mode number and design. Mode shape and modal parameter evaluations show that the ribbed powder core designs enable tailored dynamics relative to the solid wall.
Learning about history in immersive virtual reality: does immersion facilitate learning?

A relatively new technology being used to deliver academic lessons is immersive virtual reality (IVR). This study examined whether IVR is a more effective instructional medium than other multimedia, such as a video on a computer monitor. Additionally, this study explored the underlying affective and cognitive mechanisms of learning in an immersive environment. Participants viewed a history lesson in IVR or a 3D interactive video display on a desktop monitor. The results showed that participants who viewed the video lesson outperformed those who viewed the IVR lesson on transfer tests. The IVR lesson caused higher emotional arousal based on self-report and heart rate measures, and lower cognitive engagement based on electroencephalogram (EEG) measures. The results suggest that immersive environments may create excessive positive emotions, which distract form the necessary cognitive processing during the lesson, thereby harming performance on subsequent tests of learning outcomes.
Evaluation of soil state representation in the NCAR ensemble analysis system

Abstract Accurate characterization of soil state is imperative for weather and climate research, hydrological modeling, agriculture, water resources management, and drought monitoring. Limited-area data assimilation (DA) systems can provide high-resolution real-time soil state analyses. However, soil state representations from regional continuously cycling DA systems have not been examined. This study evaluates soil moisture and temperature estimates and spread characteristics from a real-time, limited-area, continuously-cycling ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation (DA) system run at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) for 2.7 years over the conterminous United States (CONUS). Soil moisture and temperature data from both the EnKF and operational Global Forecast System (GFS) analysis are compared against the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS-2) soil state estimates. Results demonstrate the continuously-cycling EnKF was generally able to represent the spatial and temporal characteristics of soil moisture and temperature across the CONUS, demonstrating the feasibility of using limited-area continuously cycling EnKFs as a method to improve simulations of soil moisture and temperature. Soil state estimates from the NCAR ensemble exhibited lower Bias and RMSE compared to GFS analyses over west and southeast CONUS. Additionally, the ensemble spread characteristics suggest that future limited-area continuously cycling EnKF systems could successfully assimilate both in situ and remotely-sensed soil moisture and temperature observations to further improve soil state analyses.
Rescripting Shakespeare: The editor as rescripter

“Here's a change indeed!” Othello , 4.2.106 In the process of rescripting directors often take on the role of editors, whether to reconfigure the horse-courser scene in Doctor Faustus , the Christopher Sly material in The Taming of the Shrew , the final scenes of Othello and Coriolanus , or supernatural elements in Macbeth and The Tempest . Conversely, an editor wrestling with a problematic passage or stage direction may consciously or inadvertently take on the role of a director and make choices according to a sense of how X could be, should be, or would have been staged. As noted in chapter 6, E. A. J. Honigmann has argued in favor of an editor's prerogative to make necessary changes in stage directions in keeping with the “responsibility: to see the plays … as we would wish to direct them ourselves.” Clearly, decisions must be made: that is what editors do and what many readers want. The danger is that in seeking to clarify a situation for a first-time reader that editor may in fact be closing down an equally valid option, especially for a potential user in the theatre. In the past many editors may have ignored or even scorned the theatrical facets of their work, but more recent practitioners are far more knowledgeable and sympathetic about such matters. Indeed, in the 1980s and 1990s one sub-group of editions exhibits a performance orientation by including accounts of production choices, photographs, stage history, additional stage directions, and other ancillary material to enhance a reader's awareness of a theatrical dimension that extends beyond the printed page.
A rank independent flotation process for combined cycle gasifiers, intrinsic bubble flotation

Abstract This paper reports work which is part of a joint international research project. The objective is to investigate methods of providing clean feedstocks for gasification. Precleaning the coal could minimize the problems associated with the mineral components such as clinkering, corrosion, erosion, catalyst poisoning, costly flue gas cleanup. In order to remove the inorganic portion of the coal, the mineral components must be liberated using ultrafine grinding. In order to overcome the problems associated with ultrafine particle flotation, a new approach to coal cleaning, known as Intrinsic Bubble Flotation (IBF), has been under development at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC) over the past several years. This process utilizes the natural porosity of the organic coal particles and the lack of porosity of the inorganic mineral particles. Air trapped under pressure in the pores of the organic particles form bubbles on the surface of those particles upon depressurization. The information reported in this paper is a portion of the data generated to move the IBF process closer to commercialization.
Improved methods for liquid scintillation assay of (A) C14-compounds on paper chromatograms and (B) C14-protein.

Assay of C14-labeled compounds isolated from metabolic experiments has been greatly aided by the high counting efficiency of liquid scintillation spectrometers and the ease of preparing samples for such assay. Difficulties arise, however, in liquid scintillation assay of (A) compounds isolated on paper chromatograms and (B) protein, because it is not easily soluble in most scintillation mixtures. The present report deals with improved methods for liquid scintillation assay of C14-compounds isolated by paper chromatography and of C14-labeled protein.
Molecular sieves as subtractors in gas chromatographic analysis : III. The secondary effect of the molecular sieve trap column

Abstract Using molecular sieves as trap column for specific adsorption of individual components from mixtures, a secondary effect was observed in the case of organic compounds containing carbonyl or hydroxyl groups. As a result of this secondary reaction, the substance which would pass the column is retarted under the influence of the adsorbed component. This effect might probably be attributed to an aldol condensation or formation of secondary hydrogen bonds. These reactions could promote the basic character of the molecular sieves. In the case of hydrocarbons, no secondary adsorption effect has been noted.
The expression of prostacyclin synthase is decreased in the small pulmonary arteries from patients with emphysema.

Abbreviations: PG prostaglandin; PGIS prostaglandin I2 synthase; VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor T here is growing evidence that the microvessels of the lung are involved in the pathobiology of emphysema and that the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which has a vascular protective role, is decreased in the pulmonary arteries of patients with severe emphysema. The vascular protective effects of VEGF can be mediated through endothelial cell production of nitric oxide and prostacyclin (prostaglandin [PG] I2). PGI2 production in the lungs of patients with emphysema could be reduced as a consequence of reduced VEGF expression and/or other mechanisms. We wondered whether the expression of the gene encoding the critical enzyme PGI2 synthase (PGIS) was reduced in human emphysema lungs. We postulate that the decreased production of PGI2 is associated with the pulmonary vascular dysfunction observed in patients with emphysema. 6-keto-PGF1, the stable metabolite of PGI2, was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in whole-lung tissue extracts. The expression of PGIS protein was measured by Western blotting in whole-lung tissue extracts and was assessed by immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded tissues. The messenger RNA expression of PGIS was measured by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. 6-keto-PGF1 levels were significantly decreased in patients with emphysema. The main site of decreased expression by immunohistochemistry were small pulmonary arteries. The expression of PGIS protein measured by Western blotting was decreased in patients with emphysema compared to that in healthy lungs. The messenger RNA expression of PGIS was also decreased in the lungs of patients with emphysema. Decreased PGIS expression may contribute to pulmonary vascular dysfunction in patients with emphysema and may also signal a premalignant condition. The molecular mechanism by which PGIS messenger RNA expression is down-regulated in patients with emphysema needs further evaluation.
Analysis of platelets in nonhuman primates: II. Effects of varying dietary fatty acid ratios on platelet ultrastructure and function.

Abstract The effects of varying dietary fatty acid composition on in vitro aggregation and ultrastructure of African green monkey platelets are reported. Platelets from animals maintained on either a control diet (30% calories from fat; polyunsaturated:saturated:monounsaturated = 1:2.3:2.7) or a diet approximating that suggested by the Senate Select Commuttee on Nutrition and Human Needs (P:S:M = 1:1:1) aggregated maximally with 20 μ M ADP to a level of 65%. With lesser amounts of ADP, the maximum aggregation decreased proportionally to a low of 25% when using 3 μ M ADP. This aggregation pattern was signficantly altered when the animals were switched to a safflower oil-enriched diet which provided more polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (P:S:M = 2:1:1). With the high PUFA diet, platelet aggregation using ADP increased to a range of 45–85% depending upon the concentration of aggregating agent used. Thrombin-induced aggregation was unaltered by dietary change. The ADP hypersensitivity in platelets with the PUFA diet paralleled a significant drop in plasma HDL. Concomitantly, large lipid-like droplets were consistently observed in the cytoplasm of platelets obtained during the high-PUFA diet period. Platelet aggregation and ultrastructure and plasma HDL levels returned to normal with resumption of the control diet. The platelet hypersensitivity to ADP aggregation and the cytoplasmic lipid were again observed when the animals were returned to a PUFA diet containing 40% calories from fat. Results substantiate the suggestion that under certain conditions dietary PUFAs alter circulating platelets. The biochemical mechanism for the alterations remains to be elucidated.
Government information policy in the era of big data

Reliable public sector information serves as a pivotal source for big data. Government postal codes, for instance, have been crucial for predicting demographics. Confidentiality, however, may be at risk when combined with other sources. Public sector information not only describes government activity but contains material, such as campaign finance filings, produced by outside sources. How does information production impact policy concerns if material is reused for big data projects? Information production is analyzed using a framework of five methods of production. The framework considers information that the public sector writes, publishes, manages, produces through research, and compiles through legal mandates. This paper examines the policy implications of using U.S. federal public sector information in big data projects.
Investigation of the urge-to-cough sensation in healthy volunteers.

Background and objective: Recently, there has been interest in the sensation of irritation that precedes the motor act of coughing, which has been termed the urge-to-cough (UTC). The aim of this study was to perform the largest evaluation to date of the UTC threshold (Cu) in a healthy population. The specific aims were to investigate the relationship between Cu and cough reflex sensitivity, to evaluate gender differences in the UTC and to assess the reproducibility of measurements of Cu. Methods: Standard capsaicin cough challenge methodology was employed to measure cough reflex sensitivity in 100 healthy adult non-smokers (50 females) with the additional measurement of Cu. A subgroup of 40 subjects (20 males) underwent repeat cough challenges after 1 week to examine the reproducibility of the measurements. Results: All 100 subjects demonstrated motor cough in response to capsaicin. Twenty-one subjects (10 females) did not show a discernible Cu, as the motor cough event preceded a UTC sensation unaccompanied by cough. Although cough reflex sensitivity, as measured by the concentration of capsaicin inducing five or more coughs (C5), was enhanced in women, there was no gender difference in Cu. Similar to standard cough reflex sensitivity measurements, the measurement of Cu was highly reproducible. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the UTC threshold can be effectively and reproducibly measured using a modification of standard cough challenge methodology. Given its clinical significance as a prevalent symptom, UTC, as measured by Cu, represents an additional relevant end point for studies investigating the effects of pharmacological and other interventions in cough and cough reflex sensitivity.
Discovery of protein-protein interactions using a combination of linguistic, statistical and graphical information.

Background The rapid publication of important research in the biomedical literature makes it increasingly difficult for researchers to keep current with significant work in their area of interest.
Parallel implementation of 3D FMA using MPI

The simulation of N-body systems has been used extensively in biophysics and chemistry to investigate the dynamics of biomolecules, and in astrophysics to study the chaotic characteristics of the galactic system. However, the long-range force calculation has a time complexity of O(N/sup 2/), where N is the number of particles in the system. The fast multipole algorithm (FMA), proposed by Greengard and Rokhlin (1987), reduces the time complexity to O(N). Our goal is to build a parallel FMA library which is portable, scalable and efficient. We use the Message Passing Interface (MPI) as the communication back-end. Also, an effective communication scheme to reduce the communication overhead and a partitioning technique to obtain good load balancing among the processors were implemented into the library.
Bilingualism as Conceptualized and Bilingualism as Lived: A Critical Examination of the Monolingual Socialization of a Child with Autism in a Bilingual Family

This is an ethnographic and discourse analytic case study of a bilingual, minority-language family of a six-year-old child with autism whose family members were committed to speaking English with him. Drawing on family language policy, the study examines the tensions between the family members' stated beliefs, management efforts, and their actual practices around language use with their child. The findings show that many assumptions held by family members about language use and bilingualism were inconsistent with their everyday language practices. A practice and discourse-analytic approach to bilingualism offers a theoretical and methodological lens through which to investigate these discrepancies and to recast the interactional achievements between the child and his parents as situated bilingual practices.
DNA replication and transcription programs respond to the same chromatin cues

DNA replication is a dynamic process that occurs in a temporal order along each of the chromosomes. A consequence of the temporally coordinated activation of replication origins is the establishment of broad domains (>100 kb) that replicate either early or late in S phase. This partitioning of the genome into early and late replication domains is important for maintaining genome stability, gene dosage, and epigenetic inheritance; however, the molecular mechanisms that define and establish these domains are poorly understood. The modENCODE Project provided an opportunity to investigate the chromatin features that define the Drosophila replication timing program in multiple cell lines. The majority of early and late replicating domains in the Drosophila genome were static across all cell lines; however, a small subset of domains was dynamic and exhibited differences in replication timing between the cell lines. Both origin selection and activation contribute to defining the DNA replication program. Our results suggest that static early and late replicating domains were defined at the level of origin selection (ORC binding) and likely mediated by chromatin accessibility. In contrast, dynamic domains exhibited low ORC densities in both cell types, suggesting that origin activation and not origin selection governs the plasticity of the DNA replication program. Finally, we show that the male-specific early replication of the X chromosome is dependent on the dosage compensation complex (DCC), suggesting that the transcription and replication programs respond to the same chromatin cues. Specifically, MOF-mediated hyperacetylation of H4K16 on the X chromosome promotes both the up-regulation of male-specific transcription and origin activation.
Spaces of surface group representations

Let $$\Gamma _g$$ denote the fundamental group of a closed surface of genus $$g \ge 2$$ . We show that every geometric representation of $$\Gamma _g$$ into the group of orientation-preserving homeomorphisms of the circle is rigid, meaning that its deformations form a single semi-conjugacy class. As a consequence, we give a new lower bound on the number of topological components of the space of representations of $$\Gamma _g$$ into $${{\mathrm{Homeo}}}_+(S^1)$$ . Precisely, for each nontrivial divisor $$k$$ of $$2g-2$$ , there are at least $$|k|^{2g} + 1$$ components containing representations with Euler number $$\frac{2g-2}{k}$$ . Our methods apply to representations of surface groups into finite covers of $${{\mathrm{PSL}}}(2,\mathbb {R})$$ and into $${{\mathrm{Diff}}}_+(S^1)$$ as well, in which case we recover theorems of W. Goldman and J. Bowden. The key technique is an investigation of stability phenomena for rotation numbers of products of circle homeomorphisms using techniques of Calegari–Walker. This is a new approach to studying deformation classes of group actions on the circle, and may be of independent interest.
Elevated temperature tribology of cobalt and tantalum-based alloys

This paper describes the friction and wear behavior of a Co–Cr alloy sliding on a Ta–W alloy. Measurements were performed in a pin-on-flat configuration with a hemispherically tipped Co-base alloy pin sliding on a Ta–W alloy flat from ambient to 430°C. Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to identify the friction-induced changes to the chemistry and crystal structure in the subsurface regions of wear tracks. During sliding contact, transfer of material varied as a function of the test temperature, either from pin-to-flat, flat-to-pin, or both, resulting in either wear loss and/or volume gain. Friction coefficients (μ) and wear rates also varied as a function of test temperature. The lowest friction coefficient (μ=0.25) and wear rate (1×10–4 mm3/N•m) were observed at 430°C in argon atmosphere. This was attributed to the formation of a Co-base metal oxide layer (glaze), predominantly (Co, Cr)O with Rocksalt crystal structure, on the pin surface. Part of this oxide film transferred to the wear track on Ta–W, providing a self-mated oxide-on-oxide contact. Once the oxide glaze is formed, it is able to provide friction reduction for the entire temperature range of this study, ambient to 430°C. Furthermore, the resultsmore » of this study indicate that glazing the surfaces of Haynes alloys with continuous layers of cobalt chrome oxide prior to wear could protect the cladded surfaces from damage.« less
The teaching alliance: A perspective on the good teacher and effective learning

Teaching is a part of nearly every professional's activities and, for some, it is a career. At its core, psychotherapy itself is a teaching activity and its therapeutic alliance can provide a useful concept from which to consider the teacher student relationship. From this perspective, the teaching alliance is the fundamental relationship between teacher and student. Here, the teacher establishes a learning context, communicates with a particular student, and develops an educational diagnosis. The reactions of teacher and student to each other and to the learning context can become barriers to the development of the teaching alliance. For the "good teacher", teaching is not a display of knowledge. Rather it is a process which includes identifying an area for learning and deciding on the interventions that will foster learning.
Real-Time Robotic Transrectal Ultrasound Navigation During Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: Initial Clinical Experience

Objective To describe a novel robotic transrectal ultrasound platform for real-time navigation during robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) and to report its early clinical application. Methods Five men undergoing RALPs at our Institution agreed to participate in this Institutional Review Board-approved pilot study. All of them were eligible for a bilateral nerve sparing procedure. Before docking the da Vinci robot, a transrectal ultrasound tri-plane side-fire probe was placed. A modified ViKY Endoscope Holder was used during RALPs to move the probe thanks to a remote control placed under the console surgeon's control during RALPs. During each procedure, attempt was made to estimate prostate volume, define 12 reference points, and to precisely identify location of the neurovascular bundles using Doppler ultrasound. The TilePro was used during the procedures to allow real-time ultrasound imaging to guide robotic instruments during dissection. Results Median robotic transrectal ultrasound probe holder (R-TRUS) setup time was 11 minutes (interquartile range [IQR], 10-14). Prostate volume calculation, reference point definition, neurovascular bundle identification, and instrument tip visualization were successful in all men. In 1 patient with a large prostate (120 mL), R-TRUS was withdrawn during recto-prostatic dissection. There were no rectal injuries. Conclusion R-TRUS during RALPs is feasible and safe. It allows real-time TRUS navigation and guidance. Further studies are needed to evaluate its impact on oncological and functional outcomes.
Nanoscale laser processing and diagnostics

The article summarizes research activities of the Laser Thermal Laboratory on pulsed nanosecond and femtosecond laser-based processing of materials and diagnostics at the nanoscale using optical-near-field processing. Both apertureless and apertured near-field probes can deliver highly confined irradiation at sufficiently high intensities to impart morphological and structural changes in materials at the nanometric level. Processing examples include nanoscale selective subtractive (ablation), additive (chemical vapor deposition), crystallization, and electric, magnetic activation. In the context of nanoscale diagnostics, optical-near-field-ablation-induced plasma emission was utilized for chemical species analysis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Furthermore, optical-near-field irradiation greatly improved sensitivity and reliability of electrical conductance atomic force microscopy enabling characterization of electron tunneling through the oxide shell on silicon nanowires. Efficient in-situ monitoring greatly benefits optical-near-field processing. Due to close proximity of the probe tip with respect to the sample under processing, frequent degradation of the probe end occurs leading to unstable processing conditions. Optical-fiber-based probes have been coupled to a dual-beam (scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam) system in order to achieve in-situ monitoring and probe repair.
Induction of β-A activin expression by synaptic activity and during neocortical development

Abstract β-A activin is a member of the transforming growth factor-β family and has been implicated in nerve cell survival and inhibition of differentiation in vitro [Hashimoto M. et al. (1990) Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 173, 193–200; Schubert D. et al . (1990) Nature 344, 868–870]. In our studies to identify genomic mechanisms involved in long-term neuronal responses to synaptic activity, we have determined that β-A activin messenger RNA is rapidly and transiently induced in neurons of the adult rat brain by excitatory synaptic input. Synaptic mechanisms involved in β-A activin messenger RNA induction were examined in adult hippocampus and cortex using the long-term potentiation paradigm. β-A activin messenger RNA is induced in granule cell neurons of the hippocampus by high-frequency synaptic stimuli that produce long-term potentiation, and this induction is blocked by the N -methyl- d -aspartate type glutamate receptor antagonist, dizocilpine, β-A activin messenger RNA is expressed at basal levels in neurons of layers II/III and V/VI, and this expression rapidly decreases following sensory deafferentation of the visual cortex or systemic administration of dizocilpine, suggesting that β-A activin expression is regulated by physiological excitatory synaptic activity. In developing brain, β-A activin is expressed in the neocortex and neostriatum beginning at embryonic day 17. β-A activin expression in late fetal cortex is enriched in postmitotic neurons at the lower boundary of the dense cortical plate. As development progresses, β-A activin expression continues to be enriched in neurons at the boundary between the hypercellular cortical plate and the subjacent, more mature deep layers. This inside-out progression of β-A activin expression follows the well-characterized radial gradient of cortical development. Expression of β-A activin messenger RNA is rapidly regulated in early postnatal cortex and striatum by GABA and glutamate antagonists, suggesting that β-A activin is also regulated as a rapid response gene in developing brain, and that the high basal levels reflect a steady-state response to developmental signals. Since activin receptors are enriched in neurons of developing and adult brain [Cameron V. A. et al . (1994) Endocrinology 134, 799–808; Roberts V. J. and Barth S. L. (1994) Endocrinology 134, 914–922], our observations suggest a role for activin signaling in neuronal responses to synaptic and developmental activity. In this study, we analyse the induction of expression of β-A activin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β family of secreted peptides, in response to synaptic activity and in the developing brain. The elevated and specific expression of β-A activin during fetal and early postnatal neocortical development and its later regulation by excitatory activity postnatally and in the adult suggests that the activin signaling pathway functions at multiple developmental stages in the neuroplastic response.
Double-difference waveform inversion of 4D ocean bottom cable data: Application to Valhall, North Sea

Changes in reservoir properties resulting from extracting hydrocarbons and injecting fluid are critical to optimize production. These properties can be characterized using waveform inversions of time-lapse seismic data. The conventional approach for analysis using waveform tomography is to take the difference of seismic inversion obtained using baseline and subsequent time-lapse datasets that are imaged independently. By contrast, double-difference waveform inversion (DDWI) jointly inverts time-lapse seismic datasets for reservoir changes. We use a 2D synthetic example to demonstrate the advantage of DDWI in mitigating spurious estimates of property changes. We then apply both conventional full waveform inversion(FWI) and DDWI to time-lapse datasets collected by ocean bottom cables (OBC) in the Valhall field in the North Sea. The data sets are acquired one year apart. DDWI gives a cleaner and more easily interpreted image of the model changes, as compared to that obtained with the conventional FWI scheme.
The source location and beaming of broadband bursty radio emissions from Uranus

A rotationally-dependent occurrence pattern is identified for the b-bursty emissions observed with Voyager 2 during its 1986 encounter with Uranus. Certain features of this pattern, such as its extension to the highest frequencies and a 40-min signal gap, were sometimes recognizable on individual rotations despite the bursty character of the signals. This pattern is interpreted in terms of Voyager's passing from the inside of a broad, hollow emission cone coming from the southern hemisphere to the outside, and then back in, as a result of planetary rotation. The emission gap then corresponds to the times when Voyager was outside the cone.
Factors Likely to Influence Tort Litigation in the European Union

As the European Union moves towards harmonization in a variety of business, political, and regulatory settings, an opportunity exists to influence the form of tort liability found in these nations. The opportunity should not be missed, with rising concern that U.S. influences will set into motion costly litigiousness, particularly as EU member nations pull back on the level of social programmes available to cover costs typically included in tort claims. To assist policymakers in their deliberations about European Union tort directives, this paper provides discussion of the frequently cited key differences between the U.S. tort systems and what is found in most EU member nations. The discussion is focused on available evidence regarding the influences of these differences as well as important areas of future research. The most important areas seem to be (1) the need to enforce European Law when no defined regulatory body exists for this purpose; (2) the connection between government social programmes and the need for tort liability compensation; (3) and the influence of rules governing payment of legal costs and lawyer fees.
Impact of socioeconomic status on guideline-recommended care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the United States

Abstract Disparity in the quality of care for cardiovascular conditions as it relates to income level is well established. Our analysis of the publicly available data from the Department of Health and Human Services Hospital Compare initiative suggests that this problem also pertains to the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Our analysis revealed a direct correlation between the income level and the proportion of patients meeting the ACC/AHA Guideline recommended door-to-balloon (D2B) time of 90 min or less and door-to-needle (D2N) time of 30 min or less, for primary PCI (PPCI) and fibrinolytic administration, respectively. More importantly, hospitals as a group fail to meet these guideline-recommended standards. Further work is needed in this area to better understand this disparity.