cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Role of Teletriage in Healthcare Demand Management

Problem definition: Many healthcare providers and payers offer teletriage, a telemedicine service where concerned patients can get advice about their health condition. In theory, teletriage should ...
Roughening due to edge diffusion for irreversible aggregation

We show that fast edge diffusion in a simple kinetic Monte Carlo simulation for epitaxial growth enhances surface roughening for a model of irreversible aggregation. The reason for this is a simple, but rather subtle effect: Faster edge diffusion makes the islands more compact, leading to a significant adatom concentration on top of islands at earlier times. As a consequence, nucleation in higher layers occurs faster, increasing the surface roughness. We also demonstrate that fast edge diffusion can effectively contribute to diffusion of small clusters, and can produce unexpected scaling results.
Effect of gold nanoparticle incorporation into oil-swollen surfactant lamellar membranes

An oil-swollen surfactant membrane is employed to measure the effects of incorporated hydrophobically functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the structure and dynamics of the membranes. While maintaining an average AuNP diameter of approximately 5 nm, the membrane thickness was varied from 5 nm to 7.5 nm by changing the amount of oil in the membrane. The membranes become softer as the proportion of oil is increased, while the thickness fluctuations become slower. We attribute this to an increased fluctuation wavelength. Incorporation of AuNPs in the membrane induces membrane thinning and softening. Oil molecules surround the nanoparticles in the membrane and help their relatively homogeneous distribution. AuNPs significantly alter the membrane's structure and dynamics through thinning of the membrane, increased compressibility, and possible diffusion of AuNPs inside the membrane.
Induced Dimerization Tools to Deplete Specific Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates

Chemical dimerization systems have been used to drive acute depletion of polyphosphoinsitides (PPIns). They do so by inducing subcellular localization of enzymes that catabolize PPIns. By using this approach, all seven PPIns can be depleted in living cells and in real time. The rapid permeation of dimerizer agents and the specific expression of recruiter proteins confer great spatial and temporal resolution with minimal cell perturbation. In this chapter, we provide detailed instructions to monitor and induce depletion of PPIns in live cells.
Design of Tunable Analog Filters Using Memristive Crossbars

Tunable front-end filters are necessary in wireless systems that support multiple frequency bands. N-path filters have the potential for wide tuning ranges, but require multiple high-frequency mixing clocks and suffer from harmonic responses. Another option is digital filtering. However, this requires high-speed analog-to-digital converters and the time complexity to perform Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) and Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) operations using conventional digital computers is O(N2). Conversely, memristor crossbars have experimentally demonstrated the ability to perform various signal processing tasks, including Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), in one time-step. In this work, this has been taken a step further by presenting full DFT and IDFT operations using memristive crossbars and proposes the implementation of novel continuous-time tunable analog filters by applying filter coefficients in between these DFT and IDFT crossbars. This highly scalable new method of filtering leverages advantages found both in conventional digital and analog filters and allows any digital filter to be implemented in the analog domain with a filter order as large as half the utilized crossbar size. The proposed architecture allows for the generation of arbitrary filter functions with tunable corner (or center) frequencies and bandwidths from 0.2-20GHz. Stopband attenuation greater than 40dB is achieved with as low as 2-bit memristor precision, while close to 80dB is possible with 8-bit precision. The filter system consumes 106mW to support the 20GHz frequency range, resulting in a 5.3mW/GHz energy metric.
Synthetic strategy toward ineleganolide: A cautionary tale.

Abstract We present a case study to demonstrate how complex molecule synthesis can benefit from quantum mechanics (QM) calculations. Theory is applied in two contexts: testing the chemical intuition used in retrosynthetic planning, along with expediting the resolution of unexpected challenges encountered during the course of the synthesis. From a computational lens, we examine retrospectively the strategies employed and the decisions made during our synthetic efforts toward the diterpenoid natural product ineleganolide. Seemingly logical and robust hypotheses are found to be ill-fated after theoretical investigation. Prior knowledge of these issues may have potentially saved valuable time and resources during our synthetic efforts. This cautionary tale suggests that synthetic campaigns can benefit from computational evaluation of synthetic plans.
Quality of Life and Cost Considerations: Y-90 Radioembolization.

Objective Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) offers a minimally invasive and safe treatment option for primary and metastatic hepatic malignancies. The benefits of TARE are manifold including prolonged overall survival, low associated morbidities, and improved time to progression allowing prolonged treatment-free intervals. The rapid development of new systemic therapies including immunotherapy has radically changed the treatment landscape for primary and metastatic liver cancer. Given the current climate, it is critical for interventional oncologists to understand the benefits of TARE relative to these other therapies. Therefore, this report aims to review quality-of-life outcomes and the cost comparisons of TARE as compared with systemic therapies.
A single institutional study of neurology residents to evaluate the advantages of neuro-oncology didactics during training and understand field-specific attitudes (P1.020)

Objective: Assess retention of resident knowledge of neuro-oncology after formal didactics and survey resident attitudes about the field. Background: Neuro-oncology is an emerging subspecialty, yet neurology resident exposure to this field during training remains limited. Design/Methods: Neurology residents at the University of Minnesota participated in 8 hours of didactics covering basic topics in neuro-oncology with an accompanying pre- and post-test evaluating knowledge retention. This was in addition to a survey investigating attitudes about the field. Results: Seventeen year 1–4 residents were evaluated by completing a written 26 question test before and after the neuro-oncology didactic block. Year-1 residents demonstrated a 52.5% increase in scores, year-2 a 20.5% increase, year-3 a 2.7% decrease, and year-4 a 28.6% increase. Fourteen residents were surveyed regarding their attitudes of neuro-oncology and 93% agreed that neurology residents should learn to care for brain tumor patients as well as any neurologic complications of cancer, where 86% agreed that neurology-trained neuro-oncologists were best equipped to serve these patients. However nationally, 65/131 ACGME-accredited neurology residency programs offer a neuro-oncology rotation and 63/131 have a neuro-oncologist on staff. Additionally, most residents found the focus on collaboration with other specialists, outpatient work and deep personal discussions with patients positive aspects of neuro-oncology, while 93% reported the emotional challenge as a deterrent for entering the field. When asked to compare perceptions of their potential future neurology-subspecialty patient population with that of neuro-oncology, most residents chose similar descriptors/attributes. Conclusions: Our residents agreed that neuro-oncology is an important emerging subspecialty and field-specific didactics should be part of their training curriculum. Pre-to-post-test scores revealed a median increase from 12.5 to 15.5 (range 4–20 and 6–24) increase, demonstrating knowledge retention. When surveyed, most residents discovered that their future neurology-subspecialty had similar patient characteristics to that of neuro-oncology. Disclosure: Dr. Bruhnding has nothing to disclose. Dr. Neil has nothing to disclose.
Neurologic Complications of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing problem worldwide and is now being recognized as a global health burden particularly for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The incidence of stroke increases in the presence of CKD with a 3-fold increased rate reported in ESRD. Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke in CKD. There is conflicting observational evidence regarding benefit of anticoagulation in CKD for prevention of stroke in AF as risk of bleeding is high. Overall, anticoagulant in CKD may be beneficial in appropriate patients with meticulous monitoring of international normalized ratio (INR). Neurological manifestations related to electrolyte disorders, drug toxicity, and uremia are common in CKD. Appropriate drug dosing, awareness of potential side effects of medications, prompt diagnosis, and treatment are essential in preventing long-term morbidity and mortality.
G1-S Regulatory Promoter Elements and their Interacting Transcription Factors

Modulation of S-phase linked transcription in cell cycle regulated genes can be attributed to cis regulatory elements found in their promoters (Naeve et al., 1991; Johnson, 1992). Characterization of the factors that act through these elements provides the basic principle for understanding the mechanism that regulates the periodic transcription changes of cell cycle regulated genes. The G1/S border is a key regulatory point in the cell cycle that directs the fate of a cell to duplicate itself. As such, the events leading to this point must provide the appropriate signals for the replication machinery to be duplicated in anticipation for the division of a daughter cell. The signals for the transcriptional regulation of the replication-dependent genes are generated by what are proving to be multi-functional transcription factors. Our laboratory is interested in the target regulatory elements these factors act on in cell cycle regulated genes as studied in growth stimulated cells. The hamster histone H3.2 and human thymidine kinase genes contain characterized promoter elements that are known to be involved in their replication-dependent transcriptional increase. Current work is focusing on the identification and characterization of the factors that interact with these elements and to understand how they elicit their regulation.
Transient electrocardiographic changes simulating acute myocardial infarction; interpretation of their significance and report of a case.

Abstract A series of transient electrocardiographic changes are reported which simulate those obtained during experimental temporary coronary artery occlusion in animals. The patient in whom they were recorded was experiencing episodes of syncope and atypical anginal pain and displayed no signs of myocardial infarction. Similar fleeting electrocardiographic abnormalities suggesting myocardial infarction have been reported in the literature as occurring in angina pectoris. A review of the published data indicates that a more serious disturbance of the coronary circulation is responsible, best described as the syndrome intermediate in degree between transient myocardial ischemia responsible for angina pectoris and coronary occlusion producing myocardial infarction.
Control Volume Meshes Using Sphere Packing

We present a sphere-packing technique for Delaunay-based mesh generation, refinement and coarsening. We have previously established that a bounded radius of ratio of circumscribed sphere to smallest tetrahedra edge is sufficient to get optimal rates of convergence for approximate solutions of Poisson's equation constructed using control volume (CVM) techniques. This translates to Delaunay meshes whose dual, the Voronoi cells diagram, is well-shaped. These meshes are easier to generate in 3D than finite element meshes, as they allow for an element called a sliver.
Fighting for the Father(Land): Patriarchy and Pluralism in Eritrea and the DPRK

This paper is a preliminary investigation of the construction of gender, reproduction and militarism in propaganda from the highly militarized countries of Eritrea and the DPRK (North Korea). I closely inspect both countries’ depictions of women as revolutionary fighters, heroic labourers, and mothers of the nation. Patriotic music videos broadcast on the state-run television and available online are my primary data source, although I also draw from feature films and written content on the official government websites. Women appear most often in the Eritrean patriotic music videos as combatants. North Korea has comparatively few videos featuring women; most instead exalt Kim Jong-il and his deceased father, Kim Il-sung. When women do appear, they are usually heroic labourers and self-sacrificing mothers, eager to provide the country’s next generation of workers and soldiers. A feminist might at first read the valorisation of women in these country’s videos as positive, but closer scrutiny reveals that the propaganda about women’s contributions to the nation does not really represent an effort to promote female empowerment. Instead, pressuring the already overburdened and impoverished North Korean and Eritrean women to work harder and in more capacities than ever serves to bolster the power base of each country’s patriarch.
Gastric operations and glucose homeostasis.

Intravenous glucose challenge elicited similar glucose disappearance rates and integrated insulin responses in partial gastrectomy subjects, age- and weight-matched pyloroplasty subjects, and similarly matched controls, suggesting that pancreatic islet cell responsiveness was unaltered by either operation. After oral or intrajejunal glucose, gastrectomy subjects exhibited higher integrated glucose responses than controls, P
Curvature-dimension inequalities and Li-Yau inequalities in sub-Riemannian spaces

In this paper we present a survey of the joint program with Fabrice Baudoin originated with the paper [6], and continued with the works [7, 8, 9] and [10], joint with Baudoin, Michel Bonnefont and Isidro Munive.
Origin of a superlattice observed in L i 0.9 M o 6 O 17 by scanning tunneling microscopy

We use scanning tunneling microscopy to study the lithium molybdenum purple bronze $(\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{i}}_{0.9}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{o}}_{6}{\mathrm{O}}_{17})$ at room temperature. Our measurements allow us to identify the single-crystal cleave plane and show that it is possible to obtain clean cleaved surfaces reflecting the crystal structure without the complications of nanoscale surface disorder. In addition to the crystal lattice, we observe a coexisting discommensurate superlattice with wave vectors $\mathbit{q}=0.5{\mathbit{a}}^{*}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.25{\mathbit{b}}^{*}$. We propose that the origin of the superstructure is a surface reconstruction that is driven by cleaving along a crystal plane that contains in-plane $\mathrm{Mo}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ tetrahedra connected to out-of-plane $\mathrm{Mo}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ octahedra through corner-sharing oxygens. When combined with spectroscopic measurements, our studies show a promising avenue through which to study the complex physics within $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{i}}_{0.9}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{o}}_{6}{\mathrm{O}}_{17}$.
Nonperturbative Topological Model of Synergistic Phase of 2D Electron Gas Induced by Microwave Excitation

The synergistic formation of ``zero'' (exponentially small or thermally activated) resistance states (ESRS) in high mobility two-dimensional electron systems (2DES) in a static magnetic field B and exposed to strong microwave radiation has attracted great interest. Strong (glassy) disorder apparently stabilizes the new synergistic phase, which can be exactly described by a nonperturbative (nonpolynomial) microscopic topological filamentary model. The model contains many novel features that arise from strong correlations, nanoscopic phase separation, and quasi-one dimensional back scattering.
CHAPTER ELEVEN – Design of Membrane-Separation Systems

This chapter provides an overview of the use of membrane-separation systems for environmental applications. The chapter mainly focuses on the reverse osmosis (RO) systems which can be used for membrane-separation technologies. Pressure-driven membrane technologies are categorized and modeling and design techniques are discussed for reverse osmosis as a representative membrane technology. The most common membrane systems are driven by pressure. The essence of a pressure-driven membrane process is to selectively permeate one or more species through the membrane. Pressure-driven membrane systems include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, pervaporation, and gas/vapor permeation. The operating principles, modeling of hollow-fiber reverse-osmosis "HFRO" system, and system designs for multiple RO modules are also discussed. RO has gained significant commercial acceptance; it finds its application in a number of fields such as water purification, demineralization, and environmental applications. In most industrial applications, a reverse-osmosis network (RON) is employed for the separation task. The problem of synthesizing a system of RO modules and a systematic procedure for designing an optimal RON are also described in the chapter.
Characteristics of an Intracellular Proteinase System of a Trichosporon Species Isolated from Trappist-Type Cheese

A greater yield of the active principle was obtained when the cells were allowed to autolyze than when mechanical methods of cell disruption were used. A marked increase in activity was obtained when the crude cell extracts were held for 18 hr at 25 C after acidification to pH 5.0. The activated enzyme was partially purified by precipitation with 95% ethanol. This partially purified extract was most active at pH 5.8, and showed activity over a temperature range of 10 to 42 C. Its rate of activity was markedly decreased by sulfhydryl-binding agents. It exhibited its greatest degree of thermostability at pH 5.0.
Entropy-constrained SBPVQ for image coding

An entropy-constrained algorithm for a type of finite-state vector quantizer called sliding-block predictive vector quantization (SBPVQ) is presented. This coding algorithm searches small codebooks to achieve high performance at low coding rates. Results from training the coder on a set of monochrome images and then testing it on an image outside the training set are presented. Also, three parallel entropy-constrained SBPVQ coders are used to code 24-b/pixel color images. A total rate of less than 0.5 b/pixel is achieved with good performance by using this vector predictor variant. >
Bacterial Infections: Management by Acute and Critical Care Nurses

Bacterial infections contribute to illness, prolong hospital stays, increase treatment costs, and contribute to the morbidity and mortality rates of hospitalized patients. Each year, more than 14,000 patients die in American hospitals because several strains of bacteria have become antibiotic resistant. In developing countries, bacterial infectious diseases continue to cause pervasive mortality. Bacterial classifications, defenses against infection, common bacteria that cause infection, pathophysiology, and prevention and treatment modalities are reviewed. Nursing assessment and patient care management strategies are examined.
SPACE PHOTOGRAPHY: A NEW ANALYTICAL TOOL FOR THE SEDIMENTOLOGIST

SUMMARY Geologists increasingly concerned with detailed laboratory analyses at times overlook space-age techniques that promise the collection of valuable sedimentological data. Orbital remote sensing, and particularly space photography, can provide synoptic environmental data for geoscientists including those familiar with applying aerial photography to the analysis of sedimentary environments. Color space photographs obtained incident to the Gemini Program provide unique tools for analyzing sedimentary environments and processes and provide data that cannot be duplicated by conventional aerial photographic techniques. The principal advantages of orbital geoscience data collection include frequency of coverage leading to environmental analysis within the full spectrum of seasonal contrasts, and opportunities for environmental syntheses by synoptic observations. Gemini space photography is an available source of semi-quantitative data concerning changing environmental phenomena and mechanisms of sediment distribution. It also enables the survey and inventory of global sedimentary landforms. With the application of advanced sensors, increased system resolution, and repetitious photographic coverage, speedier and more reliable quantitative sedimentological analyses can be performed.
Hysteretic trapping and relative permeability of CO2 in sandstone at reservoir conditions

Abstract Hysteretic nonwetting phase trapping behavior is predicted to be a significant factor determining long term immobilization of injected CO2. This paper presents results from an experimental investigation of hysteresis in residual trapping and relative permeability of CO2 in a CO2/water system at 50 °C and 9 MPa in a Berea sandstone core. Carbon dioxide saturation data were collected using the steady-state method in a horizontal core-flooding apparatus with X-ray computed tomography. Three flooding cycles were completed at a constant total volumetric flow rate by incrementally increasing and decreasing the fractional flow rates of supercritical CO2 and water. The fractional flow rates were chosen such that the maximum CO2 saturation of each cycle was greater than that of the previous cycle. During the injection stage of a cycle, CO2 displaced water in a wetting-phase drainage process (water saturation decrease). Following injection, water displaced CO2 in a wetting-phase imbibition process (water saturation increase). The fractional flow of CO2 was then increased during the next cycle. Results showed the CO2 saturations trapped during wetting-phase imbibition increased with the maximum CO2 saturations reached during each cycle. The residually trapped CO2 saturation is a hysteretic function, depending on the maximum saturation reached by the core before imbibition. A linear model with coefficient 0.5 describes the nonwetting trapping relationship. The experimental relative permeability data for CO2 fit a single bounding primary drainage curve while CO2 saturations increased, but followed three different scanning curves during wetting-phase imbibition. The CO2 relative permeability data can be fit by making a minor modification in the Van Genuchten–Burdine relative permeability data to account for hysteresis.
The impact of experience‐based MBA educational programs on international career mobility

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically whether teaching methodologies that emphasize international experiential learning have a significant role in fostering or encouraging greater international mobility. To that end, it assesses whether MBA programs that emphasize experience‐based learning in the form of international travel, exchanges and internships have more internationally mobile graduates than programs that do not. It also discusses the broader role of experiential learning in teaching students skills relevant to international business.Design/methodology/approach – This study uses data from the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings and the A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy Globalization Index to assess whether international experiential learning is conducive to the future international mobility of graduates. It employs a multivariate data analysis methodology to examine whether the international experience and exposure received during an MBA is a predictor of subsequent international ...
Managing vegetation in surface-flow wastewater-treatment wetlands for optimal treatment performance

Abstract Constructed wetlands that mimic natural marshes have been used as low-cost alternatives to conventional secondary or tertiary wastewater treatment in the U.S. for at least 30 years. However, the general level of understanding of internal treatment processes and their relation to vegetation and habitat quality has not grown in proportion to the popularity of these systems. We have studied internal processes in surface-flow constructed wastewater-treatment wetlands throughout the southwestern U.S. since 1990. At any given time, the water quality, hydraulics, water temperature, soil chemistry, available oxygen, microbial communities, macroinvertebrates, and vegetation each greatly affect the treatment capabilities of the wetland. Inside the wetland, each of these components plays a functional role and the treatment outcome depends upon how the various components interact. Vegetation plays a uniquely important role in water treatment due to the large number of functions it supports, particularly with regard to nitrogen transformations. However, it has been our experience that vegetation management is critical for achieving and sustaining optimal treatment function. Effective water treatment function and good wildlife quality within a surface-flow constructed wetland depend upon the health and sustainability of the vegetation. We suggest that an effective tool to manage and sustain healthy vegetation is the use of hummocks, which are shallow emergent plant beds within the wetland, positioned perpendicular to the water flow path and surrounded by water sufficiently deep to limit further emergent vegetation expansion. In this paper, we describe the use of a hummock configuration, in conjunction with seasonal water level fluctuations, to manage the vegetation and maintain the treatment function of wastewater-treatment wetlands on a sustainable basis.
The challenges and opportunities in extending Internet2 middleware tools in medical information systems

Abstract This paper explores the significant challenges and opportunities in extending Internet2 middleware tools such as Shibboleth, Signet and Grouper, in a medical information environment. Shibboleth is an open-standards-based solution that meets the requirements of organizations that need secure federated authentication and authorization services to protect the privacy of their information. Signet is a tool used to store and manage authorization data across an enterprise or virtual organization. Grouper is a tool used to create and manage group information used in a wide variety of information system contexts. These tools emerged out of middleware initiatives funded by the National Science Foundation and Internet2 to solve problems common in inter-institutional application environments. Middleware initiatives seek to enable organizations that need to exchange information including higher education, scholarly information service providers, medical research and health care institutions, digital content providers, federal agencies and others that interact in higher education and medical environments. The presenter is engaged with a team of researchers at Georgetown's Imaging Science and Information Systems (ISIS) Center, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and the District of Columbia Department of Health to extend Internet2 middleware tools in Project Sentinel computing environments. Project Sentinel is a multiyear bio-surveillance and bio-terrorism defense research project, funded by the National Library of Medicine. The Project Sentinel Collaboratory contains web services-based, client/server and GRID-based information systems. Extension of Internet2 toolsets in each of these environments comes with a varying degree of technical complexity but also with functional and organizational issues that must be resolved. Successful extension of these tools brings the promise of noteworthy inter-organizational data sharing and analysis in the context of well architected strategies and policies that are scaleable and address information security, authentication and authorization issues in meaningful ways.
VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PERSONAL VIOLENCE (SUICIDE AND HOMICIDE)

In a sample of 28 nations, the extent of human rights violations was associated with homicide rates but not with suicide rates.
Cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions

mbc.E13-11-0671 Molecular Biology of the Cell Volume 25 Page 731 MBoC is pleased to publish this summary of the Minisymposium “Cell−Cell/Cell−Matrix Interactions and Intracellular Signaling” held at the American Society for Cell Biology 2013 Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, December 15, 2013.
Anastomosis of the Ascending Aorta to the Main Pulmonary Aorta

Abstract The difficulties encountered in the performance of the Blalock-Taussig 1 and Potts 2 anastomoses in certain children led to the development 3 and popularization in the United States 4,5 of intrapericardial anastomosis between the ascending aorta and the right pulmonary artery. Although this shunt is applicable to almost all patients, an occasional patient has an anatomic arrangement that does not allow this anastomosis. In such an instance it may be possible to create a shunt between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery.
Three new 5,10-epoxygermacranolides from Liatris chapmanii and Liatris gracilis☆

Abstract Examination of Liatris chapmanii (T + G) Kuntze led to the isolation of two new germacranolides, chapliatrin ( 1 a) and isochapliatrin ( 1 b). Liatris gracilis Pursh gave chapliatrin and acetylchapliatrin 1 c). The stereochemistry assigned to C-3, C-4 and C-10 is tentative. All three compounds possess the hitherto-unreported 5,10-oxygen linkage. L. gracilis also gave the benzofuran euparin ( 2 ) and the flavones hispidulin (dinatin, 3 a and 3′,6-dimethoxy-4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone ( 3 b). L. chapimanii also gave 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone ( 3 c).
NUPACK: Analysis and design of nucleic acid systems

The Nucleic Acid Package (NUPACK) is a growing software suite for the analysis and design of nucleic acid systems. The NUPACK web server (http://www.nupack.org) currently enables: •Analysis: thermodynamic analysis of dilute solutions of interacting nucleic acid strands. •Design: sequence design for complexes of nucleic acid strands intended to adopt a target secondary structure at equilibrium. •Utilities: evaluation, display, and annotation of equilibrium properties of a complex of nucleic acid strands. NUPACK algorithms are formulated in terms of nucleic acid secondary structure. In most cases, pseudoknots are excluded from the structural ensemble.
Surface characterization of ion-beam sputter-deposited Ca-P coatings after in vitro immersion

Abstract The surface properties of ion-beam sputter-deposited calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coatings on titanium (Ti) substrates were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The Ca-P coatings showed columnar growth with AFM. Although FTIR analyses revealed structural changes as a result of the coating process, negligible changes in the structural integrity of the coatings were observed after immersion in an alpha-modification of Eagle's Medium (α-MEM). This finding was confirmed by XPS and AES analyses, indicating constant binding and kinetic energies for P 2p and O 1s spectra, and O KLL and P LVV Auger lines, respectively, for all controls and samples immersed in α-MEM solutions. Although XPS analyses indicated no significant change in the P concentration, a reduction in the Ca concentration was observed, thereby resulting in a decrease in the Ca/P ratio from 2.3 to 1.5 after 12 days of immersion.
A compiler-hardware approach to software protection for embedded systems

Because of their rapid growth in recent years, embedded systems present a new front in vulnerability and an attractive target for attackers. Their pervasive use, including sensors and mobile devices, makes it easier for an adversary to gain physical access to facilitate both attacks and reverse engineering of the system. This paper describes a system - CODESSEAL - for software protection and evaluates its overhead. CODESSEAL aims to protect embedded systems from attackers with enough expertise and resources to capture the device and attempt to manipulate not only software, but also hardware. The protection mechanism involves both a compiler-based software tool that instruments executables and an on-chip FPGA-based hardware component that provides run-time integrity and control flow checking on the executable code. The use of reconfigurable hardware allows CODESSEAL to provide such security services as confidentiality, integrity and program-flow protection in a platform-independent manner without requiring a redesign of the processor. Similarly, the compiler instrumentation hides the security details from software developers. Software and data protection techniques are presented for our system and a performance analysis is provided using cycle accurate simulation. Our experimental results show that protecting instructions and data with a high level of security can be achieved with low performance penalty, in most cases less than 10%.
Anxiety Sensitivity, Asthma Control, and Quality of Life in Adults with Asthma

Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in terms of asthma control and asthma-related quality of life in a sample of adults with a physician-verified diagnosis of asthma. Methods. Self-report measures assessing psychological and asthma symptoms were mailed to 368 asthma patients from a community allergy and asthma office who had been seen for a physician follow-up visit between 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010. Participants in the current study were 127 asthma patients (74% female; Mage = 43.4 years, SD = 12.3) who completed and returned the self-report measures. Results. The results indicated that, after controlling for gender, age, negative affect, and number of comorbid medical problems, the physical concerns factor of AS (AS-Physical Concerns) significantly predicted asthma control and all domains of asthma-related quality of life (symptoms, activity limitations, emotional functioning, and environmental stimuli). Conclusions. These findings replicate and e...
Uniform Asymptotics for the Linear Kelvin Wave in Spherical Geometry

Abstract The Kelvin wave is the gravest eigenmode of Laplace’s tidal equation. It is widely observed in both the ocean and the atmosphere. In the absence of mean currents, the Kelvin wave depends on two parameters: the zonal wavenumber s (always an integer) and Lamb’s parameter ϵ. An asymptotic approximation valid in the limit s2 + ϵ ≫ 1 is derived that generalizes the usual “equatorial wave” limit that ϵ → ∞ for fixed s. Just as shown for Rossby waves two decades ago, the width of the Kelvin wave is (ϵ + s2)−1/4 rather than ϵ−1/4 as in the classical equatorial beta-plane approximation.
Shape of the human cardiac ventricles

Abstract Previous studies suggest that intramural myocardial architecture is arranged to maximize the efficiency of contraction. To examine the topography of the cardiac ventricles for a possible similar functional economy, measurements were made of the heart weight and ventricular wall curvature, thickness, chamber volumes and axial diameters in 80 hearts, with and without ventricular dilatation or hypertrophy, or both, that had normal coronary arteries and no myocardial lesions. Hearts in various positions of contraction were studied after postmortem arteriography and fixation in distension. Indexes of curvature-thickness were calculated from the measurements using the Laplace relation. The ventricles consist of three mutually intersecting curved partitions, right and left free walls and interventricular septum, which are segments of prolate spheroids. The septum usually curves so as to function as part of the left ventricle but is thinner and flatter than the free wall. Indexes of curvature-thickness showed that in the distended position ventricles are more globular and thin-walled; in the contracted position they are more cylindrical and thicker. The left ventricular free wall index showed greater change between distension and contraction than the other components. The results suggest that ventricular configuration is a compromise between a spherical shape that would need the least energy for diastolic ventricular filling and a tubular shape that would permit maximal conversion of systolic myocardial muscle cell tension into cavitary pressure increase. Ventricular topography probably develops as that geometry that requires the minimal energy expenditure in the overall economy of the circulation. Clinical determination of curvature-thickness indexes, similar to the postmortem indexes studied here, may find practical implementation in the assessment of cardiac diseases with two dimensional echocardiography and radionuclide imaging.
Histone acetylation and heterochromatin content of cultured Peromyscus cells.

Abstract In order to explore the relationship between unacetylated arginine-rich histones and condensed chromatin structure, the extent of histone acetylation was examined in cultured cell lines derived from three species of deer mice. These species differ considerably in their genomic content of heterochromatin but contain essentially the same euchromatin content. Cells of Peromyscus eremicus, containing 34–36% more constitutive heterochromatin than Peromyscus boylii or Peromyscus crinitus cells were found to contain 28–35% more unacetylated histone H4, 22–29% more unacetylated histone H3, and 18–22% more unacetylated histone H2B. This relationship between unacetylated histones and heterochromatin content was further explored by inducing hyperacetylation of P. eremicus and P. boylii histones through treatment of cells with 15 mM sodium butyrate for 24 h. It was found that the percentages of unacetylated histones H3 and H4 remaining after butyrate treatment were proportional to the amount of constitutive heterochromatin in the genome. These data support the concept that a small core of histones in constitutive heterochromatin is inaccessible to acetylation. It was also found that the acetylated state of isolated histones was sensitive to the method of histone extraction. Thus concern must be given to preparative procedures when studying histone acetylation in order to minimize these acetate losses.
The IPO window of opportunity for digital product and service firms

Recognizing the window of opportunity to go public for digital product and service (DPS) firms is especially critical because they have high fixed-to-variable cost (FCVC) ratios and winner-take-all industry competition. Too early and their very risky nature means a steep discount to their stock. Too late and they may not be able to sell stock or it may be too late to take advantage of a new product or service. We find that the size of the run-up in stock price at the IPO is higher (lower) for DPS firms the earlier (later) they go public and significantly more than for traditional firms. We also find that the DPS firms that go public earlier or later outside the window of opportunity are more likely to fail. This result is also stronger for DPS firms than for traditional firms.
The recurrence of new age typology

Abstract This essay examines the recurrence of New Age typologies in different ages and different cultures. The archetype is defined as the revolutionary idealist who is intellectual, declasse, an experimenter and a seeker after truth. The essay then proceeds to compare and contrast key intellectual and spiritual figures to establish the extent to which they conform to the archetype: Percy Shelley and Otto Gross, Mahatma Gandhi and St. Francis of Assisi. It concludes with an examination of the career and ideas of John Middleton Murry and argues the case for him to be seen as a New Age archetype — the New Age man of letters.
Digital Tomography Fulcrum Height Programmer And Error Correction

Recent investigations in digital tomography modalities utilizing conventional tomographic x-ray equipment have required the use of image intensifier (11)/TV imaging systems. The retrofitting of these systems presented certain geometric problems, one of which was the discrepancy between the mechani-cal fulcrum position and the true anatomical cutting plane due to the rigid mounting of the 11/TV system to the conventional film cassette Bucky. An electronic module was designed that corrects for this discrepancy, affords automatic fulcrum height programming features, and displays the correct position. The module is suitable to many similar applications with some minor modification.
Prostaglandin E2 induces IL-23 production in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Interleukin-23, a recently described cytokine produced by activated antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells, is a p19/p40 heterodimer. The p40 subunit is shared with IL-12, the major Th1-driving cytokine, while p19 is distantly related to IL-12 p35. IL-23 has pro-inflammatory actions, inducing IL-17 secretion from activated CD4+ T cells, and stimulating the proliferation of memory CD4+ T cells. Here, we examined the effects of PGE2, a well-known immunomodulator, on the production of IL-23 by bone marrow- derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs). Our results indicate that PGE2 increases the production of functional IL-23 from immature BM-DCs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. PGE2 induces both the expression of p19 and p40, without affecting p35 expression. The effect of PGE2 is mediated through the specific receptors EP2/4 and is mimicked by cAMP-inducing agents, such as forskolin and dbcAMP. Although PGE2 also induces IL-1beta and IL-6 expression in non-stimulated DCs, the stimulatory effect of PGE2 on IL-23 production is not mediated through IL-1beta or IL-6. GM-CSF, the pro-inflammatory cytokine required for the generation of BM-DCs, amplifies the IL-23 inducing activity of PGE2 in a synergistic manner. Recent studies described both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects of PGE2, and our results suggest an additional mechanism for its pro-inflammatory role, particularly significant for autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The Mef2 Transcription Network Is Disrupted in Myotonic Dystrophy Heart Tissue, Dramatically Altering miRNA and mRNA Expression

Cardiac dysfunction is the second leading cause of death in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), primarily because of arrhythmias and cardiac conduction defects. A screen of more than 500 microRNAs (miRNAs) in a DM1 mouse model identified 54 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in heart. More than 80% exhibited downregulation toward the embryonic expression pattern and showed a DM1-specific response. A total of 20 of 22 miRNAs tested were also significantly downregulated in human DM1 heart tissue. We demonstrate that many of these miRNAs are direct MEF2 transcriptional targets, including miRNAs for which depletion is associated with arrhythmias or fibrosis. MEF2 protein is significantly reduced in both DM1 and mouse model heart samples, and exogenous MEF2C restores normal levels of MEF2 target miRNAs and mRNAs in a DM1 cardiac cell culture model. We conclude that loss of MEF2 in DM1 heart causes pathogenic features through aberrant expression of both miRNA and mRNA targets.
Evaluation of a technique for predicting volume reverberation from biological scatterers in the ocean

This paper describes a technique for predicting the scattering strengths of biological scatterers in the ocean. An attempt was made to predict the seasonal variations in the biomass and volume reverberation (at various frequencies) in the Arctic. A dynamic biological population production model has been constructed which converts environmental input parameters into a prediction of the density and size distributions of the biological population as a function of space and time. This output is then converted to a prediction of the volume scattering strength by use of theoretical and empirical relationships between organism size and distribution and acoustic scattering phenomena. We have used a simple model to describe the intertrophic population dynamics of the biological scatterers. The model simulates relationships between the nutrient concentration and the population density of the various organisms. The feasibility of monitoring the biomass by acoustic techniques coupled with computer simulation is also discussed.
A Kinetic Study Using Evaporation of Different Types of Hand-Rub Sanitizers

Alcohol-based hand-rub sanitizers are the types of products that hospital professionals use very often. These sanitizers can be classified into two major groups: those that contain a large quantity of thickener, and thus are a gel, and those that contain a small quantity of thickener, and thus remain a liquid. In an effort to create a laboratory experiment that is relevant to nursing students and other allied health students taking a general−organic−biochemistry (GOB) course, the rate of mass loss due to evaporation of two different types of alcohol-based hand-rub sanitizers has been developed into a kinetics experiment. It was found that the gel has a slower rate of evaporation than the liquid. When the data are plotted using first-order kinetics, a straight line is obtained for each type of sanitizer.
Extinction cross sections and albedos for particles with very rough surfaces

Using the full wave approach, the scattering cross sections for finitely conducting particles with very rough surfaces are expressed as weighted sums of specular point (physical optics) and diffuse scattering cross sections. Through judicious use of the forward-scattering theorem and the observation that for large particles the forward-scattered “shadow forming wave is the same for all surfaces which have the same shadow line,” the albedos and the extinction cross sections for particles with rough surfaces are evaluated. These computations are essential to solve the equation of radiative transfer for the specific intensities (Stokes parameters) in media consisting of random distributions of particles with rough surfaces. The particle surface roughness has a significant effect on the diffuse specific intensities.
Changing the System: Innovations in the Interactive Social System of Scientific Communication

Abstract Science is described as a social system of which interactive communication is the salient feature. Implications of this view of scientific communication are considered for the planning of innovations in the system, It is suggested that (a) innovation itself be seen as a process, (b) the dual role of the active research scientist (who is at once producer/disseminator and consumer/user of scientific information) be considered and (c) innovators take cognizance of the fact that alterations of the system may not always affect the desired changes in scientists' behavior unless the goals of the innovation are compatible with the individual and aggregate goals of the scientific community. Finally, a demonstration of the approach suggested is simulated, and its effect on the system of scientific communication is examined. Based on this simulation, a supplemental innovation is designed which overcomes faults in the major innovation while retaining the original goal.
Dynamics of water transport in the corneal stroma.

The rate at which corneal stroma imbibes water is shown to be related to the flow conductivity and the slope of the imbibition pressure-hydration relationship. The equation that gives imbibition rate in terms of these static (time invariant) properties was obtained previously from a purely physicochemical treatment of water movement in a swelling membrane. A new experimental procedure to obtain imbibition pressure and flow conductivity as a function of hydration is described. The new procedure is more rapid and economical of tissue material needed than are previous methods. Flow conductivity appears to be related only to the physical properties of the stroma whereas imbibition pressure is related to both physical and chemical properties. The rate of water imbibition, therefore, is related to both the physical and chemical properties of the stroma.