cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depositional environment and source rock quality of the Woodbine and Eagle Ford Groups, southern East Texas (Brazos) Basin: An integrated geochemical, sequence stratigraphic, and petrographic approach

X-ray fluorescence chemostratigraphy of the Cenomanian–Turonian Woodbine and Eagle Ford Groups in the southern parts of the East Texas Basin highlights significant mudstone chemical heterogeneities that commonly are difficult to observe or quantify at the macroscale. Several key elements, namely, Ca, Si, Mo, Mn, and Ni, were correlated to depositional conditions and used in a hierarchical cluster analysis to characterize five chemical facies (i.e., “chemofacies”) across 10 cored intervals of the Woodbine and Eagle Ford Groups: (1) argillaceous, organic-matter poor; (2) transitional, organic-matter poor; (3) transitional, organic-matter moderate; (4) calcareous, organic-matter rich; and (5) calcareous, organic-matter moderate. Characterizations of organic matter richness, mineralogy, and environmental conditions of deposition were established by correlating between key element abundances, total organic carbon measurements, x-ray diffraction measurements, and petrographic observations of lithologic composition, bioturbation, and sedimentary textures. Combined analysis of elemental geochemistry, stratigraphy, and petrographically observed sedimentary textures indicates that all chemofacies were deposited in an intrashelf basin above storm wave base. The most organic-rich chemofacies was deposited on a dominantly dysoxic distal shelf. Mudstone organic matter enrichment is driven dominantly by the minimization of siliciclastic dilution and secondarily enhanced by oxygen restriction. Regional correlations of chemofacies within a sequence stratigraphic framework developed from previous outcrop and subsurface work indicate a clear relationship between interpreted stratigraphy and chemofacies deposition. Generally, the highstand sequence sets of the Woodbine Group and upper Eagle Ford formation are dominated by mineralogically clay-rich, organic matter–lean, siliciclastic sedimentation and contain poor-quality source rock. Conversely, the transgressive sequence set of the lower Eagle Ford formation is dominated by organic matter–rich pelagic carbonate accumulation and contains excellent-quality source rock.
Low-Cost RFID Authentication Protocol Based on Elliptic Curve Algorithm

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is the fastest growing technology in the world today. Thus, wireless communication between tags and readers became an integral part of retail products, library books, personal identifications, and healthcare. The RFID system can provide security features to the data transferred along the network to maintain data privacy, integrity, and confidentiality. Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) is widely used in RFID authentication protocols to improve communication security. Zhao proposed an RFID authentication protocol using ECC where a unique access list for tags is generated with the reader identifier to elevate the security level. Although Zhao's protocol can withstand most of the RFID security attacks, it has a very high computation cost. The authors improve Zhao protocol and propose a new RFID authentication protocol by reducing the computation cost almost to the half of that in Zhao. The proposed protocol shows a significant improvement in the computation cost.
How to Do Constitutional Theory While Your House Burns Down

The events of the past five years, culminating in the 2020 election and the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, have posed a new and urgent set of questions for American constitutional theory. The first is constitutional diagnosis: What has gone wrong with our constitutional system? The second is constitutional repair: what can we do in the short run to repair the damage that has already occurred to our democracy? The third is constitutional reform: What reforms are necessary, either through constitutional amendment or sub-constitutional means, to strengthen our constitutional democracy for the long run? The fourth is constitutional maintenance: What institutions can we shore up or create to maintain our constitutional democracy as it meets the challenges ahead? These questions emerged for many different reasons: elite and popular polarization, the unravelling of the New Deal Settlement, increasing constitutional dysfunction, democratic backsliding, and accelerating constitutional rot. My recent book, The Cycles of Constitutional Time, engages with these new sets of questions, and especially the question of constitutional diagnosis. Its use of cycles is heuristic. It focuses on the rise and fall of constitutional regimes, increasing and decreasing political polarization, and episodes of constitutional rot and renewal in order to understand the interaction of political agency and political structure that generates constitutional development over time. The analysis in The Cycles of Constitutional Time ends in early 2020. The remainder of this essay discusses developments since the book was written: the old order's attempts to maintain political power through minority rule, and what it would take for a new constitutional regime to form. The essay briefly outlines three possible paths of future constitutional development. The cycle of rot and renewal in American constitutional history is not an iron law of politics. Rather, it is a sign of the remarkable durability of our constitutional system -- that it keeps bouncing back from the forms of democratic decay that have done in many other republics before it. Yet this durability comes with a price. It makes the system unwieldy and it prevents a great deal of potentially valuable change, including the very changes that might be necessary to reverse the growing decay in our institutions. A central question for constitutional theory is whether our system’s resistance to rapid change will finally be its undoing, or whether pent-up frustrations will produce mobilizations that successfully renew American democracy.
DeepMTL: Deep Learning Based Multiple Transmitter Localization

In this paper, we address the problem of Multiple Transmitters Localization (MTL), i.e., to determine the locations of potential multiple transmitters in a field, based on readings from a distributed set of sensors. In contrast to the widely studied single transmitter localization problem, the MTL problem has only been studied recently in a few works. MTL problem is of great significance in many applications wherein intruders may be present. E.g., in shared spectrum systems, detection of unauthorized transmitters is imperative to efficient utilization of the shared spectrum.In this paper, we present DeepMTL, a novel deep-learning approach to address the MTL problem. In particular, we frame MTL as a sequence of two steps, each of which is a computer vision problem: image-to-image translation and object detection. The first step of image-to-image translation essentially maps an input image representing sensor readings to an image representing distribution of transmitter locations, and the second object detection step derives precise locations of transmitters from the image of transmitter distributions. For the first step, we design our learning model sen2peak, while for the second step, we customize a state-of-the-art object detection model YOLOv3-cust. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach via extensive large-scale simulations, and show that our approach outperforms the previous approaches significantly (by 50% or more) in accuracy performance metrics, and incurs an order of magnitude less latency compared to other prior works.
Longitudinal changes in brain activation underlying reading fluency

Reading fluency -- the speed and accuracy of reading connected text -- is foundational to educational success. The current longitudinal study investigates the neural correlates of fluency development using a connected-text paradigm with an individualized presentation rate. Twenty-six children completed a functional MRI task in 1st/2nd grade (time 1) and again 1-2 years later (time 2). There was a longitudinal increase in activation in the ventral occipito-temporal (vOT) cortex from time 1 to time 2. This increase was also associated with improvements in reading fluency skills and modulated by individual speed demands. These findings highlight the reciprocal relationship of the vOT region with reading proficiency and its importance for supporting the transition to fluent reading. These results have implications for developing effective interventions to target increased automaticity in reading.
Psychometric Properties of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale Among Low-Income Mexican American Mothers

The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) is one of the most commonly used self-report measures of parenting competence, yet there exists limited work documenting its psychometric properties among ethnically and culturally diverse populations of parents. We evaluated the factor structure and validity of the PSOC (administered in English and Spanish) among a sample of low-income, predominantly Spanish-speaking Mexican-origin mothers of infants in the United States. Two hundred and five women (mean age 27.8) reported on their parenting competence, parenting stress, depressive symptoms, and infant’s temperament at 12 months postpartum. A two-factor structure (parenting satisfaction and parenting self-efficacy) emerged as the best fit to the data. Both subscores demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and validity evidence. Findings extend existing work documenting a two-factor structure of the PSOC and provides preliminary validity support for use of the PSOC and Spanish-translated PSOC among Mexican American mothers.
Flood risk assessment and application of risk curves for design of mitigation strategies

Abstract A transportation network is a critical infrastructure system that serves everyday life, provides the backbone for economy, and is critical to national safety. Holistic design of such a system is required to ensure smooth operation under both operational and emergency conditions. However, with ever-changing climate, transportation systems are exposed to significant weather-related hazards. For example, flood events are proven to be a dominant hazard in the U.S. due to their frequency and intensity. While flood events affect state agencies by requiring direct tax-dollar investments to repair damages, they also adversely influence communities by producing substantial indirect losses. This motivates state agencies, asset owners, and planners to develop with cost-effective mitigation strategies. However, the uncertainty of flooding and the interdependency between assets within the transportation system (such as roads and bridges) and traffic users on one hand and limited budgetary resources on the other hand, challenge the design of a cost-effective risk mitigation strategy. This is exacerbated by the fact that the estimation of indirect losses associated with closures resulting from damaged assets is difficult to assess. To address such gaps, this paper develops an integrated risk assessment method that synthesizes various inputs, including hazards, geographic features, spatial distribution of assets, and traffic, to simulate the flood-induced risk to a real-life transportation system. This framework is capable of estimating actual physical infrastructure damages as well as quantitatively evaluating the indirect losses of traffic users such as traffic delays and opportunity costs closely associated with flood risk. The developed flood risk curves can be used by decision-makers to implement proper pre-event mitigation or post-event response plans.
Attitude-Consistent Health Messages About Electronic Cigarettes Increase Processing Time

Abstract. Online contexts are becoming a widely available space to disseminate health information and target specific populations for health campaigns. Limited evidence for health message engagemen...
Pluralist Establishment: Reflections on the English Experience

England's historical and current synthesis of Church and State differs greatly from other European and American experiences. It contrasts sharply with the path taken by most states, which chose to cope with religious pluralism by privatizing religion and by trying to base public life on secular views of human nature. This paper reviews the unique inception, and continuance, of the church-state throughout English history. It also reviews the unique manner in which England chose to deal with religious pluralism while maintaining its established church. After reviewing the English experience of establishment of religion, this paper concludes that the total wall of separation which the United States has placed between Church and State is neither necessary nor desirable. Allowing for some integration of Church and State firmly incorporates the universality of many human concerns into an otherwise secular culture and safeguards against denial of the transcendence of the human person.
Design Considerations for Computer Conferences

AbstractThis article describes a formative evaluation of computer conferences for preservice teachers during 5 semesters of implementation on a campuswide system. The successes and problems encountered by students in 24 sections of an upper-level undergraduate course on technology use in the classroom were evaluated by the 4-person research team. We used qualitative participant and observer research methods to understand why and how students participated in the computer conferences. Six design considerations emerged as we addressed challenges: (a) grading system, (b) grouping, (c) collaboration, (d) relevance, (e) learner control, and (f) technological preparation. During our study we made changes associated with all 6 design considerations. Finally, we examined students’ conference messages and their postcourse surveys from the first and the last semesters as we continued to evaluate the impact of the design considerations on the conferences.
Time as a flow cytometric parameter.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the technical elements that must be present to achieve successful continuous time-dependent analyses. Several innovative sample handling devices that shorten the mixing and delay time inherent in commercial flow cytometers are compared. Many applications in cell biology that have benefited from time-based analyses such as cell activation, functional studies, and molecular assemblies, are examined in the chapter. Improvements in hardware and software have extended the time flame of flow cytometric analysis of cellular and biochemical events from minutes to milliseconds. Flow cytometric time stamping of data was once only possible by collecting individual records at the interval of minutes. Improvements were made when a voltage ramp was applied, allowing measurements to be binned into time channels. Data storage standards have provided a mechanism to reconstruct real-time information from data collected at remote sites. However, with existing hardware, more improvements are possible. Present data collection software continues to bin cells. However, by using the computer clock to assign time values to each event, the time parameter for each cell can be unique, allowing time resolution to approach the computer clock speed.
Anne McLellan: new direction from a new minister?

Within days of being made federal health minister last January, Anne McLellan was off and running. On CTV's Question Period , the new minister broke a Liberal taboo by raising the possibility that companies could build and run private hospitals that might be allowed to operate within the Canadian
Space and Time Efficient Simulations and Characterizations of Some Restricted Classes of PDAs

In this paper we present some space/time efficient Turing machine algorithms for recognizing some subclasses of DCFL's. In particular, we show that the finite minimal stacking and “simple” strict restricted (a subclass of strict restricted) deterministic pushdown automata (FMS-DPDA's SSR-DPDA's, respectively) can be simulated by offline Turing machines simultaneously in space S(n) and time n2/S(n) for any tape function S(n) satisfying log n ≤ S(n) ≤ n which is constructable in n2/S(n) time. Related techniques can be used to give interesting characterizations of 2-head 2-way finite automata, both deterministic and nondeterministic. In particular we show that a 2-head 2-way deterministic finite automataton is equivalent to a simple type of 2-way deterministic checking stack automaton. This is in contrast to a result which shows that 2-way nondeterministic checking stack automata are equivalent to nondeterministic linear bounded automata. We also show that a language L is accepted by a 2k-head two-way nondetermistic finite automaton if and only if it is accepted by a k-head two-way nondeterministic pushdown automaton which makes at most one reversal on its stack.
Melanocortin Antagonists Define Two Distinct Pathways of Cardiovascular Control by α- and γ-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones

Melanocortin peptides and at least two subtypes of melanocortin receptors (MC3-R and MC4-R) are present in brain regions involved in cardiovascular regulation. In urethane-anesthetized rats, unilateral microinjection of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) into the medullary dorsal–vagal complex (DVC) causes dose-dependent (125–250 pmol) hypotension and bradycardia, whereas γ-MSH is less effective. The effects of α-MSH are inhibited by microinjection to the same site of the novel MC4-R/MC3-R antagonist SHU9119 (2–100 pmol) but not naloxone (270 pmol), whereas the similar effects of intra-DVC injection of β-endorphin (1 pmol) are inhibited by naloxone and not by SHU9119. Hypotensive and bradycardic responses to electrical stimulation of the arcuate nucleus also are inhibited by ipsilateral intra-DVC microinjection of SHU9119. γ-MSH and ACTH(4–10), but not α-MSH, elicit dose-dependent (0.1–12.5 nmol) pressor and tachycardic effects, which are much more pronounced after intracarotid than after intravenous administration. The effects of γ-MSH (1.25 nmol) are not inhibited by the intracarotid injection of SHU9119 (1.25–12.5 nmol) or the novel MC3-R antagonist SHU9005 (1.25–12.5 nmol). We conclude that the hypotension and bradycardia elicited by the release of α-MSH from arcuate neurons is mediated by neural melanocortin receptors (MC4-R/MC3-R) located in the DVC, whereas the similar effects of β-endorphin, a peptide derived from the same precursor, are mediated by opiate receptors at the same site. In contrast, neither MC3-R nor MC4-R is involved in the centrally mediated pressor and tachycardic actions of γ-MSH, which, likely, are mediated by an as yet unidentified receptor.
Cannabinoids activate an inwardly rectifying potassium conductance and inhibit Q-type calcium currents in AtT20 cells transfected with rat brain cannabinoid receptor

Rat brain cannabinoid receptor (CB-1) was stably transfected into the murine tumor line AtT-20 to study its coupling to inwardly rectifying potassium currents (Kir) and high voltage-activated calcium currents (ICa). In cells expressing CB-1 (“A-2” cells), cannabinoid agonist potently and stereospecifically activated Kir via a pertussis toxin- sensitive G protein. ICa in A-2 cells was sensitive to dihydropyridines and omega CTX MVIIC, less so to omega CgTX GVIA and insensitive to omega Aga IVa. In CB-1 expressing cells, cannabinoid agonist inhibited only the omega CTX MVIIC-sensitive component of ICa. Inhibition of Q- type ICa was voltage dependent and PTX sensitive, thus similar in character to the well-studied modulation of N-type ICa. An endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, activated Kir and inhibited ICa as efficaciously as potent cannabinoid agonist. Immunocytochemical studies with antibodies specific for class A, B, C, D, and E voltage-dependent calcium channel alpha 1 subunits revealed that AtT-20 cells express each of these major classes of alpha 1 subunit.
Efectos del reforzamiento sobre el aprendizaje de secuencias generadas por una gramática artificial del estado finito

En este articulo se revisa la relacion tradicional que se ha establecido entre el problema del orden serial (Lashley, 1951) y la insuficiencia de los modelos conductuales para escribir secuencias de comportamientos en terminos de reforzamiento (Millar, 1967). Se presenta evidencia empirica que muestra que este punto de vista tradicional puede estar equivocado. En el experimento, los participantes fueron entrenados activamente, utilizando un procedimiento en el cual digitaban cadenas de letras de acuerdo a una gramatica de estado finito. Los resultados sugieren que la retroalimentacion inmediata en un paradigma de aprendizaje activo puede fomentar una elevada proporcion de respuestas correctas en los ensayos de prueba. Por ultimo se presentan algunas posibilidades teoricas para desarrollar modelos conductuales del comportamiento secuencial
Semi-Markov Processes - Further Results†

Semi-Markov processes are useful generalizations of a class of stochastic processes commonly referred to as Markov jump processes in continuous time. In most of the applications of this class of processes in biostatistics and biology, the state space is chosen as a discrete set with finite or countable elements that have biological meaning. One of the properties of Markov processes is that it follows from the Markov property in continuous time that the sojourn time (holding time) in any state has an exponential distribution with a parameter depending on that state. Semi-Markov processes are a generalization of Markov jump processes in that the distribution of the sojourn time in any state can, in principle, be arbitrary. Furthermore, in semi-Markov processes the finite dimensional distributions of the sample paths of the process are modeled directly in terms of arbitrary distributions of sojourn times for each state and conditional distributions of a jump to another future state, given the present state. In many applications, this property makes it possible to set down a formula for the likelihood function of the data with relative ease. Briefly, the paper contains substantive examples and a description of the mathematical tools needed to work with semi-Markov processes. Keywords: state spaces; one-step transition matrices; renewal type integral equations; Laplace transforms
The effectiveness and complications of abortion by dilatation and vacuum aspiration versus dilatation and rigid metal curettage.

Abstract To evaluate the efficacy and complications of dilatation and curettage (D&C) and vacuum aspiration (VA), pertinent data on 4,463 patients at seven to 19 weeks' gestation undergoing artificial abortion were analyzed. Before nine weeks' gestation VA appears to be safer than D&C, but after 12 weeks' gestation VA is associated with higher rates of uterine injury and excessive blood loss. At nine to 12 weeks' gestation there is little difference in the over-all complication rates of the two procedures. Data on 614 patients undergoing suction curettage within two weeks of a missed menstrual period (a time when pregnancy cannot be reliably diagnosed) were analyzed. The morbidity was lower in this group than in any group undergoing abortion. Thus, the earlier the abortion is performed the lower the morbidity. The need for secondary procedures, anesthesia, or cervical dilatation is infrequent for early VA when compared to abortion by D&C and VA at later stages of gestation.
Post-larval development of five deep-sea ophiuroids

Abstract Sequential growth stages of Ophiura ljungmani Lyman, Ophiomusium lymani Wyv. Thomson, Amphiophiura bullata Wyv. Thomson and Amphilepis ingolfiana Mortensen, are described and figured, based on specimens obtained from depths between 1330 to 3834 m, in the western North Atlantic. A second species of the genus Ophiura is compared with O. ljungmani at an early growth stage, indicating that young of at least two species within one genus may be distinguished quite early in post-larval development.
Imagery instructions improve memory in blind subjects

Instructing subjects to make images of word pairs greatly improves their memory for these pairs. It is commonly assumed that the memory improvement results from some advantage in memory of visual images over words. We show that the typical improvement in memory with imagery instructions that occurs in normal subjects also occurs in congenitally and totally blind adults. Hence, the mnemonic imagery effect cannot be explained with reliance on a mechanism that specifically relies on vision. We also demonstrate that the results cannot be explained in terms of imagery in nonvisual modalities.
Specialization versus diversification as a venture capital investment strategy

Abstract Much important work has informed us of rates of return earned by venture capitalists, the importance of venture capitalists to the “going public” process, and the criteria venture capitalists use to evaluate deals. This paper seeks to add to the literature by testing hypotheses, based upon both the finance and strategic management literature, regarding certain venture capitalist investment practices. Venture capitalists seek to control or manage risk (Driscoll 1974; MacMillan, Siegel, and SubbaNarasimha 1985). Financing structure and investment strategy provide several means for venture capitalists to do this. Tools available to the venture capitalist include portfolio diversification to spread risk across different industries, firms, or hot/cold IPO markets to minimize unsystematic or investment-specific risk. Information sharing, networking, and specialization can also be used to control unsystematic risk. Several hypotheses are developed from these conflicting perspectives. Data used to test the hypotheses are derived from responses to a survey of venture capitalists. Three hundred surveys were mailed to venture capitalists; 98, or 32.7%,returned usable responses. Portfolio diversification is a well-known means to control risk exposure by reducing unsystematic or specific risks. However, Bygrave (1987, 1988), as well as financial intermediation theorists, argues that maintaining a high degree of specialization is useful for controlling risk as well as for gaining access to networks, information, and deal flow from other venture investors. The analyses of this paper build upon Bygrave's work. We construct more rigorous tests to resolve the conflict between the diversification and information-sharing hypotheses. Our hypothesis tests were usually resolved in favor of the information-sharing view. For example, venture capitalists in the sample that were heavily involved in seed round financing were diversified across fewer numbers of firms and industries. Further evidence in favor of information sharing is seen in investment patterns across different financing stages. Diversification would imply maintaining a portfolio of investments across the different investment stages. The information sharing/specialization view would argue that it is best to stay focused on a single stage or several “connected” stages. The empirical evidence from the sample once again favors the specialization perspective. This research provides information of use to venture capitalists, as they seek information on how best to control risk; to entrepreneurs, as they learn of the factors venture capitalists consider in determining their investment strategy; and to academicians, as such studies provide insight to general industry practice and thus help to form the basis of classroom discussion and future research endeavors.
Mechanical properties of talc- and CaCO3-reinforced high-crystallinity polypropylene composites

Toughening mechanisms and mechanical properties of two high-crystallinity polypropylene (hcPP)-based composite systems, hcPP/talc and hcPP/CaCO3, are investigated. Significant improvement in tensile modulus is observed in the PP/talc composite, but only a moderate improvement is found for hcPP/CaCO3. The introduction of CaCO3 nanoparticles to hcPP helps nucleate a measurable amount of β-phase crystals and results in a significant drop in crystallization temperature, suggesting a possible retardation of hcPP crystallization. In addition, the hcPP/CaCO3 nanocomposite shows more pronounced damping characteristics than that of hcPP/talc, throughout the temperature range studied. A detailed investigation of fracture mechanisms suggests that well-dispersed, highly oriented talc particles cause embrittlement of hcPP. Only when the crack extends toward the edges of the specimen will the crack deflection/bifurcation and microcracking mechanisms initiate. In the case of hcPP/CaCO3, the CaCO3 nanoparticles help trigger massive crazing and shear yielding if the testing speed is in quasi-static. The presence of β-phase crystals around the CaCO3 particles could facilitate the formation of crazes throughout the hcPP matrix. Approaches for toughening hcPP are discussed.
Evaporation rates and surface profiles on heterogeneous surfaces with mass transfer and surface reaction

Abstract Models incorporating surface reaction and diffusion of volatile products through a boundary layer are developed to calculate effective rates of evaporation and local surface profiles on surfaces having active and inactive regions. The coupling between surface heterogeneities with respect to a particular reaction and external mass transfer may provide a mechanism of the surface rearrangement and metal loss of catalysts encountered in several systems of practical interest. Calculated transport rates for the volatilization of Pt in oxidizing environments and the rearrangement of this metal during the ammonia oxidation reaction are found to agree well with experimental data.
“Self-checking” psychrometer system for gradient and profile determinations near the ground

Abstract An assembly of aspirated psychrometers for gradient and profile determinations using differential thermopiles of copper-constantan with temperature resolution (dry and wet) of 0.013°C is described. The design permits automatic checking of instrument function and accuracy by periodically moving all sensors to a horizontal position. Measurements of dry and wet thermocouple temperature are made in this position and deviations from uniformity between sensors caused by instrument imbalance are used to correct subsequent measurements when the psychrometers are vertically arranged. The sensors employ cotton wicks, aspiration rates are easily regulated and the assemblies are easily and cheaply constructed. In a field comparison with an Assmann psychrometer the thermocouple system underestimated absolute dry and wet bulb temperatures by about 0.5°C. Sources of the discrepancy are considered.
Are we any closer to genetic testing for common malignancies

Simple cost-effective strategies for genetic testing of HNPCC are proposed (pages 169−174), but many questions must be answered before testing for inherited forms of common cancers becomes a widespread reality.
Unpaired genes do not silence their paired neighbors.

During meiotic chromosome pairing, a loop of unpaired DNA induces the silencing of all paired and unpaired homologous DNA via meiotic silencing, an RNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene-silencing mechanism. To test the effect of unpaired DNA on adjacent genes, we constructed strains containing the DNA of a transformation marker integrated immediately downstream of the Ascospore maturation-1 (Asm-1) gene and tested whether this unpaired DNA silences asm-1 +. We conclude that unpaired downstream DNA has no effect on Asm-1 expression during meiosis or ascospore development, which suggests that the silencing signal produced by unpaired DNA does not propagate onto adjacent paired regions.
On eddy diffusion profiles in oceanic bottom boundary layers associated with cold eddies and filaments

The oceanic bottom boundary-layer model of Weatherly and Martin (1978) is used to study the vertical structure of the eddy diffusivity in a region with initially imposed bottom mixed-layer thickness. Because of near-bottom oceanic features, such as the Cold Filament (Weatherly and Kelley, 1982) and cold eddies (Ebbesmeyer et al., 1988), the bottom mixed-layer thickness is not the sole result of boundary-layer mixing; this is the incentive for this study. For a given geostrophic forcing and imposed mixed-layer depth, a formula for the eddy diffusion coefficient is found. This parameterization of the eddy diffusivity improves previous formulas used in oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers in the upper portion of the boundary layer. A simple model of a Cold Filament-like feature demonstrates the structure of the bottom boundary layer, the bottom mixed layer, and the relation between the two. A lens-like cross section of cold blobs, often used in analytical models, may be inappropriate if bottom friction is important.
Antibiotic Therapy of Experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis Endocarditis

Endocarditis was produced in rabbits with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis isolate. Subpopulations resistant to other semisynthetic penicillins and cephalosporins were detected in the isolate. Their presence was probably responsible for the increase in minimum bactericidal concentrations and minimum inhibitory concentrations when tests with high inocula, rather than low inocula were pursued. Rabbits were treated for either 2 or 7 days with nafcillin, cephalothin, cefamandole, vancomycin, rifampin, or gentamicin. Spontaneous death was uncommon in either controls (84% survival) or treated animals (80 to 94% survival). There was no significant difference in the number of bacteria in vegetations of rabbits treated for 7 days with cephalothin, cefamandole, nafcillin, or no antibiotic (control). There was a significant reduction in total bacteria in vegetations of rabbits given vancomycin, gentamicin, or rifampin for 7 days as compared with cephalothin, cefamandole, nafcillin or control. Gentamicin or rifampin sterilized significantly more vegetations after 7 days than cephalothin, cefamandole, nafcillin, or control; rifampin was more effective in sterilizing vegetations than either gentamycin or vancomycin after 2 days. Mutants resistant to 10 mug of rifampin per ml comprised the total bacterial population cultured from vegetations of 2 of 17 rabbits treated with this antibiotic for 7 days; there was no change in the susceptibility of vegetation isolates to other antibiotics. Rifampin, vancomycin, or gentamicin may prove to be more effective in humans than cephalosporins or semisynthetic penicillins in the treatment of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis endocarditis.
What's New—What's Hot in Clinical Science: American Transplant Congress 2004

The American Transplant Congress 2004, held in Boston last May, was the biggest conference in the history of the event, with over 4000 attendees. A wide variety of clinical topics were presented and discussed, all advancing the field of solid organ transplantation. This manuscript will attempt to summarize the presentations at the meeting. Particularly ‘hot’ clinical topics included the recent passage of a law to increase organ recovery, the use of expanded criteria kidney donors, a new model for the allocation of deceased donor lungs, survival following liver transplantation and its potential effect on liver allocation and the use of novel immunosuppressive drugs.
The "Femassist": a new device for the treatment of female urinary incontinence.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken in order to determine if the “Femassist” device is a safe and effective treatment for women with the diagnosis of urinary incontinence. Methods: The Femassist is a medical-grade silicon dome-shaped device, worn over the urethra and held securely via suction and a commercially available adhesive lotion. Women with a chief complaint of urinary incontinence responding to local newspaper advertisements were screened for inclusion. Potential candidates underwent medical history, physical (including gynecologic) examination, Papanicolaou test, urine culture and cytology, and multichannel urodynamic testing (including abdominal leak-point pressure measurements). A total of 38 women with documented genuine stress urinary incontinence (GSUI) or mixed incontinence were ultimately recruited into the study and fitted with either the standard or petite-sized Femassist device, according to their individual anatomy. Subjects were assessed before and after 1 month’s use. Subjective assessment included quality of life questionnaires, daily voiding and activity diaries, as well as ongoing patient comments retrieved through daily telephone contact with the study nurse. Objective assessment included blinded evaluation of bacteriuria and urinary infection rates and vulvar irritation and ulceration rates. Results: To date, of the 38 women who have completed the study, over 50% reported an improvement in their quality of life including comfort, convenience, and overall satisfaction. In total for all patients studied, the device was worn for a total of 886 days; 82% of these were dry days. Similar results were obtained for women with GSUI and mixed incontinence. Factors associated with successful experience with the device included degree of tissue estrogenization (either naturally or via a topical estrogen preparation), manual dexterity, and degree of motivation. One in five women reported vulvar irritation or urethral discomfort at some point; this was not correlated with percentage of dry days. There have been no reported significant increases in bacteriuria or urinary tract infection rates over patients’ baseline experiences. Conclusion: Our preliminary study suggests that the Femassist device is a safe and effective method for the management of female urinary incontinence.
Flip-Flopping to the Membrane

Excitatory synapses that use the neurotransmitter glutamate are highly dynamic, constantly changing their character in an activity-dependent manner. In this issue of Neuron, Penn et al. (2012) describe a novel mechanism that changes the fidelity of glutamate signaling to maintain homeostatic synaptic plasticity.
Analysis and Application of Information Security Evaluation Abilities Based on Power Control Systems

With the widely application of power control systems and acceleration of the information modernization process of the power industry, the connection between power control system products and information security is closer and closer. This paper, through the analysis of the safety standard on power control systems, the combination with the existing power information system evaluation and the integration of the idea of full life cycle, research on the safe evaluation environment and the standards, processes and contents of evaluation technology in power control systems. It shows that to analysis and application of information security testing evaluation which is based on power control systems is meaningful and necessary.
Time-weighted averages, peaks, and other indices of exposure in occupational epidemiology.

Dose surrogates commonly used in occupational epidemiology are exposure intensity, exposure duration, and cumulative exposure. The appropriateness of any of these measures as dose indicators depends on the nature of the induction process for the disease under consideration. Peak exposure intensity is often associated with acute health outcomes, whereas cumulative exposure is generally more relevant for diseases with long induction times, i.e., "chronic" diseases. However, there may be situations where peak exposure is etiologically relevant in chronic disease induction, such as might occur with nonlinear rates of damage during brief intervals of very high exposure. An approach is described for evaluating the effect of peak exposures in which peaks may be defined on a relative basis for each worker, or with respect to an absolute value, such as the permissible occupational exposure limit. The analytic strategy is illustrated with data from a case-control study of silicosis in relation to quantitative estimates of silica exposure. In this example, relative peak exposures and average non-peak exposures appear to be better predictors of silicosis risk than cumulative exposure.
The role of patch testing for chemical and protein allergens in atopic dermatitis

Many patients who present for evaluation of allergic contact dermatitis have an atopic diathesis. Although the immunologic basis of atopic dermatitis differs from that of allergic contact dermatitis--and patients with atopic dermatitis are less easily sensitized under experimental conditions--atopic patients do develop allergic contact dermatitis, and patch testing is a valuable part of their medical care. Delayed (7-day) patch test readings are especially important in atopic patients to distinguish allergy from irritancy and to evaluate for steroid allergy. The utility of atopy patch tests to aeroallergens such as dust mite is increasingly recognized; aeroallergens may be the cause of a type of protein contact dermatitis.
Human factors issues in the intensive care unit

In the context of an aging population, more critically ill patients, and a change in intensive care unit (ICU) services stemming from advances in technology, prevalent medical errors and staff burnout in the ICU are not surprising. The ICU provides ample opportunity for human factors experts to apply their knowledge about the strengths and weaknesses of human capabilities to design more effective care delivery. Human factors experts design work processes, technology, and environmental factors to effectively and constructively channel the attention and behavior of those providing care; a few areas of focus can have marked impacts on care delivery and patient outcomes. In this review, we focus on these 3 areas and investigate the solutions and problems addressed by previous research.
On K-BKZ and other viscoelastic models as continuum generalizations of the classical spring-dashpot models

An alternate constitutive formulation for visco-elastic materials, with particular emphasis on macromolecular viscoelastic fluids, is presented by generalizing Maxwell's idealized separation of elastic and relaxation mechanisms. The notion ofrelative rate of change of elastic stress is identified, abstracted, and formulated with the help of the established theory of finitely elastic isotropic materials. This given a local rate-type constitutive relation for an elastic mechanism in a simple material. For the simplest class of viscoelastic polymer melts, the notion of rate of change of elastic stress and its damped accumulation is identified and formulated. Under conditions of moderate strain rates, this scheme implies the reliable K-BKZ model for a class of polymer melts. An obvious extension generalizes the remaining classical spring-dashpot models.
HEMI-T POUCH MODIFICATION FOR PEDIATRIC URINARY DIVERSION

ABSTRACTPurpose: When the appendix is unavailable, there are limited reliable methods for continent urinary diversion. After successful application of double-T pouch urinary diversion in adults we modified the technique for bladder augmentation and continent diversion.Materials and Methods: A 10-year-old male underwent bladder augmentation and continent urinary diversion with a hemi-T augment. Modifications of the T pouch technique are described in detail. We also reviewed the literature on tapered ileal diversions, such as the Yang-Monti procedure.Results: One year after surgery the patient was continent. He was free of infection and bilateral hydronephrosis resolved. Urodynamics demonstrated a continent 350 ml reservoir without reflux.Conclusions: For patients who require concomitant bladder augmentation and continent diversion a hemi-T augment is a suitable option when the appendix is unavailable. It is especially true when there is minimal bladder available for implantation of a Yang-Monti conduit.
Clinical outcome of IR drainage of breast seroma following mastectomy with reconstruction

Purpose To report the authors’ experience of breast seroma drainage following mastectomy with reconstruction. Materials and Methods Retrospective review of patients who underwent breast seroma drainage following mastectomy with reconstruction using breast expanders between January 2007 and September 2012 was performed. 879 mastectomies with breast expanders placement were performed during this period. 30 primary drainages in 28 patients were identified. Patient characteristics, clinical presentation, surgical technique, seroma size, seroma bacterial culture and outcomes of drainage were reviewed. Results All patients were women mean age of 51.5 years old who underwent breast seroma drainage following mastectomy with reconstruction. The median time between surgery and drainage was 35 days (range 4 to 235 days). Erythema (n=21, 67.7%) and swelling (n=16, 51.6%) were the most common presenting symptoms. 73% of the drainage procedures (n=22) had a formal breast ultrasound study prior to the drainage procedure. The median initial fluid drainage volume was 70 mL (range 5 to 900 mL). The median duration of drainage was 14 days (range 6 to 34 days). Eleven out of 30 cases (37%) were shown to have a positive fluid culture, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common organism (n=7, 64%). The white blood cell count within seven days of the drainage procedure did not predict the presence or absence of abnormal fluid culture. In the majority of the cases (n=21, 70%), the seromas were successfully treated by the drainage and required no further intervention. Six cases (20%) required additional surgeries and three cases (10%) required additional drainage procedures. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the clinical outcome of IR drainage of breast seroma. At our institution, 70% of the cases were successfully treated by IR drainage. Only 37% of the cases were found to have a positive bacterial fluid culture. In conclusion, IR drainage resulted in symptom relief and salvage of the breast reconstruction for the majority of patients treated with this technique.