cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the impact of employing various network architectures on the performance of collaborative applications

Wireless networks are rapidly emerging to be the network architecture of choice due to their adaptability and scalability. However, the lack of acceptable Quality of Service (QoS) properties has prevented the widespread use of wireless networks in several time-critical applications. Hence, it has become increasingly important to understand the relative performance levels of different types of networks on real world applications. This paper aims at testing the suitability and the impact of different network modes and architectures on the performance of collaborative Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) applications. Collaborative GDSS applications support decision-making by connecting group of decision makers through computer network. These types of applications pose heavy demands on networks requiring minimum response time, minimum latency and maximum throughput for group collaboration. We propose a hybrid simulation approach used for the evaluation of key performance statistics of real world collaborative applications without the need for extensive resource investment spend on full application deployment in the target network. We implemented two network modes in three different network architectures by varying application loads. The obtained results shed the light on the impact of selecting different network architectures on the performance of GDSS applications.
Testing Optimal Timing in Value-Linked Decision Making

Influential theories of the decision making process hold that a choice is made once the cumulative weight of noisily sampled information reaches a desired level. While these theories were originally motivated as optimal solutions to statistical problems, the extent to which people optimally spend time deliberating is less well explored. I conduct an experimental test of optimality in a setting where the speed of information processing reflects the difference in value between options. In this case, spending a long time without having arrived at a conclusion signals both that the problem is hard and that the options are similar in value, so the confidence level required to trigger a decision should decline over time. I find that a recently developed theory of the optimal time-varying threshold improves model fit by accurately predicting observed truncation of response time tails. Principles of optimality may thus help account for patterns of choice and response time that characterize the process of deliberation.
Sugar and Fatty Acids Ack-celerate Prophage Induction.

Intestinal cues driving prophage induction in the microbiota are largely unknown. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Oh et al. (2018) reveal that dietary fructose- and microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids promote AckA-mediated acetic acid biosynthesis, triggering a stress response that facilities phage production.
Photonic Crystal Polaritons in 2D Materials

We demonstrate the important properties of transition-metal dichalcogenides strongly coupled to one-dimensional photonic crystals, including the design considerations and dispersions, as well as the possibility for creating multi-wavelength polariton devices on a single chip. © 2019 The Author(s)
‘As sure as I have a thought or a soul’: The Protestant Heroine in Shakespeare and Austen

Shakespeare and Austen have striking female comic characters in common: resourceful, frequently insightful, sharp of tongue and mind. For instance, Much Ado’s Beatrice and Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet have provoked inquiry into the degree to which each author critiques (or not) the gender politics of their respective moments. In spite of the heroines’ strength, they frequently must undergo a kind of chastening process, so that whatever romantic happiness is achieved must be preceded by repentance and renunciation. Yet, both authors have been readily assimilated to a secular, or sceptical, vision of religious identity. This essay proposes a religious origin prototype for the winning intellectual heroine, sourcing her to the martyrological writings of Anne Askew, John Bale and John Foxe. After examining the writings of Anne Askew, this chapter analyses Shakespeare’s and Austen’s Protestant heroines—in particular, Fanny Price. The chapter suggests that Shakespeare and Austen adapted these figures from martyrology in their writings, complicating merely ‘stock’ notions of character function so as to render nuanced representations of interiority.
Magnetic properties of Co c Mn 1 − c Cl 2 - FeCl 3 graphite bi-intercalation compounds

${\mathrm{Co}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$-${\mathrm{FeCl}}_{3}$ graphite bi-intercalation compounds (GBIC's) form superlattices with a c-axis stacking sequence of ${\mathrm{Gl}}_{1}$${\mathrm{Gl}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Gl}}_{1}$${\mathrm{Gl}}_{2}$. . ., where the ${\mathrm{Co}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ layer (=${\mathit{I}}_{1}$) and ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_{3}$ layer (=${\mathit{I}}_{2}$) alternate with a single graphite layer (=G). We have studied the magnetic properties of these compounds by low-field superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization, and ac and dc magnetic-susceptibility measurements. ${\mathrm{Co}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$-${\mathrm{FeCl}}_{3}$ GBIC's with 0\ensuremath{\le}c\ensuremath{\le}0.1 show a ferromagnetic behavior characterized by a positive Curie-Weiss temperature, an irreversible effect of SQUID magnetization, and a broad peak in the ac magnetic susceptibility. This ferromagnetic behavior can be explained in terms of either the ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor intraplanar exchange interaction of ${\mathrm{MnCl}}_{2}$ layers, or a possible competition of Ising ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$ spins and XY ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$ spins in the ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_{3}$ layers. For 0.25\ensuremath{\le}c\ensuremath{\le}0.7 the antiferromagnetic phase occurs in the ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_{3}$ layers. For 0.45\ensuremath{\le}c\ensuremath{\le}0.7 this antiferomagnetic phase coexists with a spin-glass-like phase occurring in the ${\mathrm{Co}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ layers below a characteristic temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{0}$ (\ensuremath{\approxeq}9 K). For 0.7c1 there occurs a cluster glass phase below a critical temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ in the ${\mathrm{Co}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ layers, where the spin directions of ferromagnetic clusters are frozen. The nature of this cluster glass phase is different from that for stage-2 ${\mathrm{Co}}_{\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$ GIC's with 0.8\ensuremath{\le}c\ensuremath{\le}1.
Updated thoughts on SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus therapies, fighting and surviving

From late December 2019 a new human-adapted coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was observed and isolated in clustered patients in Wuhan, China. It has been proved to be able to transmit human-to-human and cause pneumonia, leading to about 2% fatality. Its genome characteristics, immune responses and related potential treatments, such as chemical drugs, serum transfusion and vaccines including DNA vaccines, are discussed in this review for a brief summary.
The role of diagnostic laparoscopy for trauma at a high-volume level one center.

The role of minimally invasive surgery in trauma has continued to evolve over the past 20 years. Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) has become increasingly utilized for the diagnosis and management of both blunt and penetrating injuries. While the safety and feasibility of laparoscopy has been established for penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma, it remains a controversial tool for other injury patterns due to the concern for complications and missed injuries. We sought to examine the role of laparoscopy for the initial management of traumatic injuries at our urban Level 1 trauma center. All trauma patients who underwent DL for blunt or penetrating trauma between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, indications for DL, injuries identified, rate of conversion to open surgery, and outcomes were evaluated. A total of 316 patients were included in the cohort. The mean age was 34.9 years old (± 13.7), mean GCS 14 (± 3), and median ISS 10 (4–18). A total of 110/316 patients (35%) sustained blunt injury and 206/316 patients (65%) sustained penetrating injury. Indications for DL included evaluation for peritoneal violation (152/316, 48%), free fluid without evidence of solid organ injury (52/316, 16%), evaluation of bowel injury (42/316, 13%), and evaluation for diaphragmatic injury (35/316, 11%). Of all DLs, 178/316 (56%) were negative for injury requiring intervention, which was 58% of blunt cases and 55% of penetrating cases. There were no missed injuries noted. Average hospital length of stay was significantly shorter for patients that underwent DL vs conversion to open exploration (2.2 days vs. 4.5 days, p < 0.05). In this single institution, retrospective study, the high volume of cases appears to show that DL is a reliable tool for detecting injury and avoiding potential negative or non-therapeutic laparotomies. However, when injuries were present, the high rate of conversion to open exploration suggests that its utility for therapeutic intervention warrants further study.
Area is the primary correlate of annual and seasonal patterns of avian species richness in urban green spaces

Abstract Urban green spaces (UGS) often support diverse bird assemblages. Current evidence suggests large UGS that are circular in shape and contain abundant tree canopy cover will support more bird species independent of UGS isolation. Here, we use bird occurrence information from the eBird citizen-science database over an 18-year period (2002–2019) to estimate annual and seasonal patterns of avian species richness in well-surveyed New York City green spaces. Area was the strongest correlate of annual (n = 102 UGS) and seasonal species richness (n = 43 UGS), whereas shape and isolation lacked significant relationships. Increasing area by 50% resulted in an 11.5% increase in annual and an 8.2% increase in seasonal species richness. There was no evidence that these relationships contained an upper limit. Tree canopy cover was weakly correlated with annual species richness. The richness of nocturnally migrating species was strongly correlated with area in the spring and autumn, especially for non-passerine species. The species richness of nocturnally migrating passerines was strongly correlated with tree canopy cover in the spring, where a 50% increase in canopy cover resulted in a 23.3% increase in species richness. Our findings emphasize the broad importance of area, the value of tree canopy cover for spring migrants, and the limited relevance of shape and isolation. Efforts to enhance area and tree canopy cover will increase the number of resident and migratory bird species, which will likely increase the number of other area-sensitive forest taxa that occur in urban environments.
Renal Athero-embolic Disease: An Underdiagnosed Entity in Cardiac Catheterization

Athero-embolic disease results from disruption of atheromatous plaque and subsequent migration of micro-fragments to distal vessels including the kidneys, resulting in an inflammatory response. The true incidence of renal athero-embolic disease is unknown, and it remains an underdiagnosed entity. Risk factors include male gender, age >60 years, white race, smoking history, diabetes mellitus, hypertension known atherosclerotic vascular disease, and femoral access route during cardiac catheterizations. Kidney injury follows an acute presentation or more commonly, a slow indolent course. Characteristic skin findings include the “purple toe” syndrome, livedo reticularis, and skin ulcerations. Typical findings on renal biopsy show the cholesterol emboli appearing as elongated, biconvex, needle-shaped clefts in the arteries or arterioles with inflammation surrounding the involved vessel. Treatment for this condition is mainly supportive. Given the increasing number of complex cardiovascular interventions for coronary artery disease and structural heart disease, recognizing athero-embolic disease risk factors prior to interventions and the occurrence of this entity after the procedure is key. Reducing athero-embolic disease risk prior to planned interventions should be part of a multidisciplinary cardionephrology assessment, given the limited therapeutic options that are available for this entity at this time.
Inflammation Drives MicroRNAs to Limit Hepatocyte Bile Acid Transport in Murine Biliary Atresia.

Abstract Background Biliary atresia (BA) is an inflammatory pediatric cholangiopathy with only surgical means for treatment. Many contributors to bile acid synthesis and transport have previously been reported to be downregulated in patients with BA; yet, the driving factors of the abnormal bile acid synthesis and transport in regard to BA have not been previously studied. Materials and methods Wild type or Ig-α-/- mice were injected with salt solution (control) or rotavirus on day of life 0, and analyses were performed on day of life 14. The mRNA levels of bile acid transporters/nuclear receptors and liver microRNAs (miRNAs) were compared between groups. A mouse hepatocyte cell line was used to examine the effects of innate cytokines on miRNA levels and bile acid transporter/nuclear receptor expression and miRNAs on bile acid transporter/nuclear receptor expression. Results BA mice had significantly increased mRNA expression of innate cytokines and miRNAs known to bind bile acid transporters/nuclear receptors (miRNAs -22-5p, -34a-5p, and -222-3p) and decreased mRNA expression of bile acid transporters and nuclear receptors. In vitro, TNF-α and IL-1β decreased BSEP and CYP7A1 while increasing miRNA-34a-5p and miRNA 222-3p. LXR, SHP, CYP7A1, NTCP, and MRP2 were decreased by miRNA-34a-5p, whereas miRNA-222-3p decreased NTCP and MRP4. TNF-α and IL-1β increased expression of miRNAs 34a-5p and 222-3p and these miRNAs then decrease expression of multiple bile acid transporters and nuclear receptors. Conclusions Loss of bile acid transporters increases hepatotoxicity via bile acid retention. Therapeutic agents that increase bile acid transport or nuclear receptor functioning should be investigated in BA.
The Evolution of the Intergalactic Medium Transmission to Redshift Six

We have measured the transmission of the Lyman alpha forest produced by neutral hydrogen scattering in the intergalactic medium between redshifts 2 and 6.3 using high signal to noise, high resolution (R > 5000) observations of 50 quasars spread over the redshift range. We use a uniform set of 15 Angstrom intervals covering Lyman alpha, Lyman beta, and Lyman gamma absorption regions to tabulate the forest transmission as a function of redshift. The transmitted fractions show a relatively smooth evolution over the entire range of redshifts, which can be modelled with a smoothly decreasing ionization rate. Previous claims of an abrupt change at a redshift of approximately 6 appear in part to be a consequence of an incorrect conversion of Lyman beta to Lyman alpha optical depths. The tabulated transmissions can be used to calculate the colors of objects with a specified input spectrum as a function of redshift. We calculate the colors of a flat f_nu galaxy with a large intrinsic continuum break, as an important example.
Data Retention and the Panopticon Society: The Social Benefits of Forgetfulness

Modern information systems not only capture a seemingly endless amount of transactional data, but also tend to retain it for indefinite periods of time. We argue that privacy regimes must address not only collection and access to transactional information, but also its timely disposal. One reason for this is that a unintended side-effect of data retention might be the dissapearance of social forgetfulness, that is, allowing individuals a second chance, the opportunity of a fresh start in life. We examine three arenas where society has explicitly recognized the importance of such a principle: bankruptcy, juvenile crime records, and credit reports. In each case, we frame the issue not solely in terms of individual privacy, but rather, in terms of the social benefits of forgetfulness. We underline features of transaction-generated information which seem to go against the principle of social forgetfulness, and examine how three privacy regime address the retention of such information. We conclude by arguing that we need to address data retention and disposal, not in piecemeal fashion, or as an afterthought, but as a fundamental characteristic of informational privacy.
Hacking Technology, Hacking Communities: Codes of Conduct and Community Standards in Open Source

In recent years, the free/libre and open source software (FLOSS) and hacking communities have engaged in lively debates about diversity and inclusion in their ranks. These conversations gained momentum when research showed that women’s rate of participation in FLOSS was shockingly low, even compared to academic computer science and industry. Participants questioned whether the commitment to “openness” in coding and technical activities extended to the communities themselves, and proposed changes to how their communities were governed. One change many communities instituted was to introduce codes of conduct, intended to formalize community standards for how people should behave when they collaborate. This case presents a 2015 example of an introduction of a code of conduct and the discussion surrounding it as a way to surface some of the tacit patterns in FLOSS communities. Communities continue to refine their values and how they wish to guide participation in coding and hacking.
Common genetic variation is associated with longitudinal decline and network features in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration.

Abstract The T allele in rs1768208 located in or near the myelin oligodendrocyte basic protein gene (MOBP) is a risk factor for frontotemporal degeneration pathology. We evaluated the hypothesis that the presence of a T allele in rs1768208 will be associated with rate of cognitive decline in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD) related to compromised frontal networks. We studied 81 individuals clinically diagnosed with bvFTD who were genotyped for rs1768208 and coded using a dominant model reflecting the presence (i.e., MOBP +) or absence (MOBP −) of the T risk allele. Linear mixed-effects models assessed the association of genotype on neuropsychological performance over time. Regression analyses examined differences in network structure by MOBP genotype. We found a genotype by time interaction for declining cognitive performance, whereby MOBP + individuals demonstrated faster rates of decline in executive function. The presence of a MOBP risk allele was associated with degradation of white matter network features in the frontal lobe. These findings suggest that individual genetic variation may contribute to heterogeneity in clinical progression.
Application of Direct Current Potential Drop for the J-Integral vs. Crack Growth Resistance Curve Characterization

The direct current potential drop (DCPD) technique has been applied to derive the J-integral vs. crack growth resistance curve (J-R curve) for fracture toughness characterization of structural materials. The test matrix covered three materials including type 316LN stainless steels, Ni-based alloy 617, and one ferritic-martensitic steel, three specimen configurations including standard compact, single edge bending, and disk-shaped compact specimens, and temperatures ranging from 20 C to 650 C. When compared with baseline J-R curves derived from the ASTM normalization method, the original J-R curves from the DCPD technique yielded much smaller Jq values due to the influence of crack blunting, plastic deformation, etc. on potential drop. To counter these effects, a new procedure for adjusting DCPD J-R curves was proposed. After applying the new adjustment procedure, the average difference in Jq between the DCPD technique and the normalization method was only 5.2% and the difference in tearing modulus was 7.4%. The promising result demonstrates the applicability of the DCPD technique for the J-R curve characterization especially in extreme environments, such as elevated temperatures, where the conventional elastic unloading compliance method faces considerable challenges.
Enhanced dispersion and electronic performance of single-walled carbon nanotube thin films without surfactant: A comprehensive study of various treatment processes

A method for enhancing electronic performance of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thin films through enhanced dispersion of SWCNTs in aqueous solutions is presented. The best dispersion enhancement is obtained by covalent attachment of urea to the acid functionalized SWCNTs. Dispersion properties of urea treatment are compared to conventional chemical and physical treatment techniques, such as surfactants. The treatment type and time significantly influence SWCNT surface functionalization, which determines the dispersion effectiveness as described by the SWCNT aggregate size, morphology and stability. The findings suggest that urea-SWCNTs, as compared to surfactant dispersed-SWCNTs, resulted in the most effective dispersion method among chemical treatments, yielding the smallest monodispersed aggregates with the most rod-like morphology that were stable over the greatest range in pH. Thin films prepared with SWCNT samples were evaluated for their transparency and resistance, two metrics that are important for electronics device applications. The urea-SWCNT films exhibited superior optoelectrical properties compared to SWCNT films prepared with conventional chemicals as well as surfactants. This indicates a correlation between degree of dispersibility and optoelectrical properties.
The effect of epidural anesthesia on uterine activity and blood pressure

Because of the unresolved controversy regarding the effect of epidural anesthesia upon uterine contractility, it was decided to study its effect on a small number of patients. Intrauterine and intra-arterial continuous pressure, continuous fetal heart rate, and maternal heart rate recordings were obtained from at least 20 minutes before administration of the epidural anesthic until complete dilatation in these patients. Nineteen patients were in spontaneous labor, and 18 had labor stimulated with oxytocin. Plain lidocaine, 1 or 1.5%, was used in 12 patients (30 observations), and lidocaine with epinephrine, 1:200,000 was used in 26 patients (51 observations). Uterine contractions were calculated in Montevideo units for 60 minutes following the epidural anesthetic. The changes, if any, were compared in both groups. There was a significant decrease in uterine activity when epinephrine was added to the anesthetic solution, mainly a lessening of intensity. There were comparable decreases in systolic/diastolic blood pressure in both groups and compensatory tachycardia. In one case, severe hypertension was observed following administration of lidocaine epinephrine. It was concluded that the addition of epinephrine to the anesthetic solution predictably produces diminution of uterine activity, and it does not give "cardiovascular support" to the laboring patient.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Children and Adolescents

Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder that is associated with significant psychosocial and functional impairment. This chapter reviews the literature on pediatric OCD, including clinical characteristics and etiological theories. Assessment methods, available treatment modalities (psychopharmacological and behavioral approaches), methods of treatment augmentation, and directions for future research regarding treatment dissemination are discussed.
ORNL cross-section sensitivity analysis applications for radiation shielding

A review of the progress in cross-section sensitivity analysis of radiation shielding problems is presented. The sensitivity function used in this work is then defined. The information generated in this type of sensitivity analysis may be used to identify the most important cross sections for a given problem and to correlate integral experiments with design problems. These sensitivities may also be incorporated with estimated cross-section uncertainties to predict the resulting uncertainty in a calculation, and to indicate the need for evaluation and measurement of specific cross sections. The application of this approach for the identification of important cross sections is illustrated for a one-dimensional sodium-iron system and for a two-dimensional reactor vessel head streaming problem. An initial application of sensitivity analysis to the correlation of an integral experiment with a design problem is also presented.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Dizziness and Headache

Dizziness and headache are separately quite common. There are, ­however, a number of scenarios where the two can be interconnected. An area of significant clinical interest at this time is migraine-associated dizziness, in which the migraine generator produces vestibular symptoms. Also, there can be an overlap between orthostatic intolerance and migraine, with a spectrum of symptoms from palpitations and tachycardia to presyncope or actual syncope. A third important area of overlap is related to mechanical syndromes of the neck, cervicogenic headache, which may overlap, occurring with vestibular symptoms. There are also a number of systemic entities that can cause both dizziness and headache covered in this chapter.
The coming age of data-driven medicine: translational bioinformatics' next frontier

Last year, in 2011, we argued that biomedical informatics stands ready to revolutionize human health and healthcare using large-scale measurements on a large number of individuals.1 We anticipated that, with the coming changes in the amount and diversity of datasets, data-centric approaches that compute on massive amounts of data (often called ‘Big Data’2 ,3) to discover patterns and to make clinically relevant predictions would be increasingly common in translational bioinformatics. Given these trends, we programmed the 2012 Summit on Translational Bioinformatics to focus on research that takes us from base pairs to the bedside,4 with a particular emphasis on clinical implications of mining massive datasets, and bridging the latest multimodal measurement technologies with the large amounts of electronic healthcare data that are increasingly available. The coming year did turn out to be the year of Big Data for the Summit, with multiple submissions on managing and interpreting large datasets (figure 1). Among the 35 full paper submissions to the Summit, four stood out for their innovation, and hence the authors were invited to expand the work for this special issue of JAMIA —adding to the growing presence of translational bioinformatics in the journal.5–9 Figure 1 A tag cloud generated from the title and abstracts of the submissions made to the AMIA Translational Bioinformatics Summit 2012. The more frequently used the words are, the larger they appear. ‘Data’ was the most commonly mentioned word across all submissions for 2012. Liu et al 10 demonstrated how the ability to predict adverse drug reactions can be increased by integrating chemical, biological, and phenotypic properties of drugs. They demonstrated that prediction accuracy increased from 0.9054 (when only chemical structures were used) to 0.9524 (when chemical structures along with biological and phenotypic features were used). They conclude that data fusion … Correspondence to Dr Nigam H Shah, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1265 Welch Road, Room X-229, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; nigam{at}stanford.edu
Molecular Sieving by the Bacillus megaterium Cell Wall and Protoplast

Passive permeabilities of the cell wall and protoplast of Bacillus megaterium strain KM were characterized by use of 50 hydrophilic probing molecules (tritiated water, sugars, dextrans, glycols, and polyglycols) which varied widely in size. Weight per cent uptake values (R(w)) were measured at diffusional equilibrium under conditions that negated the influences of adsorption or active transport. Plots of R(w) for intact cells as a function of number-average molecular weight ( M(n)) or Einstein-Stokes hydrodynamic radius ( r(ES)) of the solutes showed three phases: a protoplast uptake phase with a polydisperse exclusion threshold of M(n) = 0.6 x 10(3) to 1.1 x 10(3), r(ES) = 0.6 to 1.1 nm; a cell wall uptake phase with a polydisperse exclusion threshold of M(n) = 0.7 x 10(5) to 1.2 x 10(5), r(ES) congruent with 8.3 nm; and a total exclusion phase. Isolated cell walls showed only the latter two phases. However, it became evident that the cell wall selectively passed only the smallest molecules in a heterodisperse polymer sample. When the molecular-weight distributions of polyglycol samples ( M(n) = 1,000, 1,450, and 3,350) were determined by analytical gel chromatography before and after uptake by intact cells or isolated cell walls, a quasi-monodisperse exclusion threshold was obtained corresponding to M(n) = 1,200, r(ES) = 1.1 nm. The permeability of isolated protoplasts was assessed by the relative ability of solutes to effect osmotic stabilization. An indefinite exclusion threshold, evident even with monodisperse sugars, was attributed to lengthwise orientation of the penetrating rod-shaped molecules. Altogether, the best estimate of the limiting equivalent porosity of the protoplast was 0.4 to 0.6 nm in radius and of the cell wall, 1.1 nm.
Injuries in Intercollegiate Wrestling A 5-year study

A 5-year study of the injuries sustained by a single intercollegiate wrestling team is presented. The total number of injuries, a description of the injuries classified according to anatomical distribution, and mechanism of injury are given. A high incidence of upper body injuries is noted, and comments are made concerning protective measures that can be taken.
Towards vision-based control of a handheld micromanipulator for retinal cannulation in an eyeball phantom

Injecting thrombolytic drugs such as t-PA into tiny retinal vessels thinner than a human hair is a challenging procedure, especially since the vessels lie directly on top of the delicate and easily-damaged retina. Various robotic aids have been proposed with the goal of increasing safety by removing tremor and increasing precision with motion scaling. We have developed a fully handheld micromanipulator, Micron, that has demonstrated reduced tremor when cannulating porcine retinal veins in excised retina, unenclosed by the eyeball. In this paper, we present work toward more realistic handheld robotic cannulation methods using vision-based virtual fixtures to guide the tip of the cannula to the vessel. Using a realistic eyeball phantom, we address sclerotomy constraints, eye movement, and non-planar retina. Preliminary results indicate that a handheld robot aided by visual control is a promising approach to retinal vessel occlusion.
Reduced serum 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 levels in prednisone-treated adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus.

. The serum levels of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 were assayed in samples from 12 adolescent patients with SLE. Subnormal levels were observed in 7 of these 12 patients. Low levels of the metabolically active polar metabolite of vitamin D3 may contribute to the development of osteopenia observed in this disease. The cumulative effects of the osteoporotic and anti vitamin D effects of long term steroid therapy in children with SLE may require the cautious administration of supplemental vitamin D.
Genetically Encoded Sensors for Metabolites

Background Metabolomics, i.e., the multiparallel analysis of metabolite changes occurring in a cell or an organism, has become feasible with the development of highly efficient mass spectroscopic technologies. Functional genomics as a standard tool helped to identify the function of many of the genes that encode important transporters and metabolic enzymes over the past few years. Advanced expression systems and analysis technologies made it possible to study the biochemical properties of the corresponding proteins in great detail. We begin to understand the biological functions of the gene products by systematic analysis of mutants using systematic PTGS/RNAi, knockout and TILLING approaches. However, one crucial set of data especially relevant in the case of multicellular organisms is lacking: the knowledge of the spatial and temporal profiles of metabolite levels at cellular and subcellular levels. Methods We therefore developed genetically encoded nanosensors for several metabolites to provide a basic set of tools for the determination of cytosolic and subcellular metabolite levels in real time by using fluorescence microscopy. Results Prototypes of these sensors were successfully used in vitro and also in vivo, i.e., to measure sugar levels in fungal and animal cells. Conclusions One of the future goals will be to expand the set of sensors to a wider spectrum of substrates by using the natural spectrum of periplasmic binding proteins from bacteria and by computational design of proteins with altered binding pockets in conjunction with mutagenesis. This toolbox can then be applied for four-dimensional imaging of cells and tissues to elucidate the spatial and temporal distribution of metabolites as a discovery tool in functional genomics, as a tool for high-throughput, high-content screening for drugs, to test metabolic models, and to analyze the interplay of cells in a tissue or organ. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Elderly Patients Are at Higher Risk for Poor Outcomes After Intra-Arterial Therapy

Background and Purpose— Conflicting data exist regarding outcomes after intra-arterial therapy (IAT) in elderly stroke patients. We compare safety and clinical outcomes of multimodal IAT in elderly versus nonelderly patients and investigate differences in baseline health and disability as possible explanatory factors. Methods— Data from a prospectively collected institutional IAT database were analyzed comparing elderly (80 years or older) versus nonelderly patients. Baseline demographics, angiographic reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale score 2–3), rate of parenchymal hematoma type 2, and 90-day modified Rankin Scale scores were compared in univariate and multivariate analyses. Results— There were 49 elderly and 130 nonelderly patients treated between 2005 and 2010. Between the 2 cohorts, there was no significant difference in Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2 to 3 reperfusion (71% vs 75%; P =0.57), time to reperfusion ( P =0.77), or rate of parenchymal hematoma type 2 (4% vs 7%; P =0.73) after IAT. However, elderly patients had significantly lower rates of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2: 2% vs 33%; P <0.0001) and higher mortality (59% vs 24%; P <0.0001) at 90 days. Atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidema, and baseline disability were significantly more common in elderly patients. Adjusting for baseline disability, stroke severity, and reperfusion, elderly patients were 29-times more likely to be dependent or dead at 90 days (odds ratio, 28.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.2–255.7; P =0.003). Conclusions— Despite comparable rates of reperfusion and significant hemorrhage, elderly patients had worse clinical outcomes after IAT, which may relate, in part, to worse baseline health and disability. The use of IAT in the elderly should be performed after a careful analysis of the potential risks and benefits.
Picosecond imaging of photoexcited carriers in quantum wells: Anomalous lateral confinement at high densities.

We have measured the in-plane motion of photoexcited carriers in semiconductor quantum wells and have discovered several surprising results. The effective diffusivity of the carriers at densities below $n=2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ is found to depend upon the excitation level, possibly indicating defect-limited diffusion or phonon-wind effects. Above this density the spatial profiles exhibit two distinct components with widely differing diffusivities. We postulate that the slowly diffusing component represents carriers which are "thermally confined" to a phonon hot spot.
Toward an Integration of Ideas About the Self for the Practice of Clinical Social Work

This paper presents ideas for understanding the self that is responsive to contemporary trends in professional practice. In addition to psychosocial factors, which have been associated historically with the practice of clinical social work, the paper integrates neurobiological factors into the discussion. The intent of the paper is to offer practitioners a conceptual framework for thinking biopsychosocially about clients. The framework underscores diagnostic understanding as the basis for the choice of specific interventive modes and techniques, and the centrality of a therapeutic relationship as the vehicle through which a new sense of self may emerge for clients.
The Past, Present, and Future of Health Development Campaigns: Reflexivity and the Critical-Cultural Approach

In contemporary society, health issues have gained increasing urgency in both political and academic spheres. Looking back at the failure of the modernist development initiatives, there is the need to realize that we live in a time of increasing sociopolitical complexity. The present moment is perhaps best understood in terms of a complex tension and linkage between the past and present, global and local, modern and postmodern. The critical-cultural approach to health campaigns is an approach that, through the reflexive interrogation of modernist assumptions underlying health communication campaigns, attempts to foreground the tensions inherent in the practice of health campaigns. This essay discusses the manner in which the critical-cultural approach interrogates modernist assumptions and provides an alternative paradigm for approaching the theory and practice of health campaigns by suggesting the necessity for reflexivity. Specifically, we discuss how the perspective interrogates the role of the media i...
Purification of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using a Supercritical Fluid Extraction Method

Metal catalyst used in the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can be effectively removed from the as-grown nanotubes by an in situ chelation/supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction method. A pretreatment procedure using bulk electrolysis with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid significantly improves the efficiency of supercritical fluid extraction probably by removing the amorphous carbon associated with the metal from the SWNTs. More than 98% of the iron impurity can be removed from the as-grown SWNTs using this two-step purification method without obvious damage to the nanotube structures according to our spectroscopic data.
Hardware implementation of a high-throughput 64-PPM serial concatenated turbo decoder

The hardware implementation of a high throughput Max Log Map Serial Concatenated Convolutional Code (SCCC) turbo decoder for an optical channel employing 64 Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) is described. The Max Log MAP turbo decoder is in contrast to a corresponding optimal log MAP turbo decoder. The Max log MAP decoder is the preferred turbo decoder for applications requiring high throughput. The performance of both the max log MAP decoder and log MAP decoder are compared to the theoretical performance values. Tradeoffs used in the implementation of the high throughput Max Log Map 64 PPM decoder are discussed.
Modeling immunogenetic specificities

Abstract The mathematical definitions of specificity due to Hirschfeld, to Nau, Markowsky, Woodbury and Amos, and to Wohlgemuth are shown to be essentially equivalent. A natural correspondence is given whereby it is possible to obtain results on specificity in each of these models from corresponding results in others.
Traceview: a trace visualization tool

The design, development, and application of Traceview, a general-purpose trace-visualization tool that implements the trace-management and I/O features usually found in special-purpose trace-analysis systems, are described. The aspects of trace visualization that can be incorporated into a reusable tool are identified. The tradeoff in general-purpose design versus semantically based, detailed trace-data analysis is evaluated. Display methods and Traceview applications are discussed. >
An in vivo tracer study of noise-induced damage to the reticular lamina.

Abstract An in vivo tracer was used to determine if the reticular lamina and/or the cell membranes abutting the endolymphatic space are temporarily disrupted after intense noise exposure (4-kHz OBN, 108-dB SPL, 1.75 h). Using a double-barreled micropipette, the endolymphatic potential (EP) was recorded and artificial endolymph containing 10% carbon particles was injected into the endolymphatic space either 0 days or 28 days post-exposure. The cochleae were fixed 30–45 min post-injection, then dehydrated, embedded in plastic and dissected as flat preparations. Damage in the organ of Corti (OC) was quantified, the location of carbon was determined, and some OC segments were then sectioned radially. EP averaged 72±5 mV in five controls. These cochleae had carbon tracer in the endolymphatic space only. Four of five noise-exposed chinchillas examined 3–4 h post-exposure had a low EP (30±6 mV). The cochleae from these 0-day animals had several focal lesions in which nearly all outer hair cells had just degenerated. At these lesions, carbon was attached to cell membranes and debris between the reticular lamina and basilar membrane. By transmission electron microscopy, discontinuities were found in the apical membranes of sensory and supporting cells. Carbon particles were found in the cytoplasm of these cells. Four of five animals examined at 28 days had an average EP of 70±11 mV. The cochleae from these animals had multiple lesions in the basal turn, all of which were healed by phalangeal scars or squamous epithelial cells. In these cochleae, no carbon was found within the OC. Acute disruption of the reticular lamina and the apical membranes of sensory and supporting cells from noise appears to be a major mechanism to account for degeneration in the cochlea that spreads or continues for days to weeks post-exposure.
Some hydroxylated derivatives of chlorpromazine

As part of a program to determine the metabolic fate of chlorpromazine [2-chloro-10-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)phenothiazine] (I), the synthesis of several hydroxylated derivatives of I was undertaken. This paper reports the preparation and structural verification of the 1- and 6-hydroxy and the desdimethyl 3-hydroxy derivative, and summarizes unsuccessful attempts to prepare the 4-hydroxy derivative of I.
The Use of Passive Initiation Aids in Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis

A modification to initiation aid-assisted ignition in bomb calorimetry that involves systemically blending boron and potassium nitrate adjacent to, and within, a bulk structural energetic elemental power blend was developed. Linear regression was used to estimate the nominal heat of reaction for the primary reaction. The technique was applied to the synthesis of TiB2 as a validation study to see if proximity to the literature values could be achieved. X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the product phases of the reactions to determine the extent and the identity of the product phases and any by-products that may have formed as a result of adding the initiation aid. The experimental data indicate the technique approximates the heat of reaction value for the synthesis of TiB2 from Ti/B powder blends and the formation of TiB2 is supported by volume fraction analysis by X-ray diffraction. Some experimental uncertainty remains as X-ray diffraction revealed that the commercially labeled amorphous boron reactant exhibited some crystalline character and may be semicrystalline, as opposed to being completely amorphous.
Equine motor neuron disease is not linked to Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase mutations: sequence analysis of the equine Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase cDNA

Abstract The cDNA encoding the equine copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was cloned from leukocyte total RNA from healthy horses and its nucleotide (nt) sequence was determined. We further sequenced the SODI gene from 16 horses diagnosed with equine motor neuron disease (EMND) and eight unrelated, clinically normal horses to determine if this disease, similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in humans, is linked to SODI mutations. The 465-bp SOD1 coding region in the horse encodes 153 amino acid (aa) residues. Equine SOD1 exhibited 81.8 and 79.9% sequence identity to the human homolog at the nt and aa levels, respectively, with only five distinct aa in the two loops that constitute the active site of the enzyme. None of the human SODI mutations found in the familial form of ALS were detected in SODI of the 16 affected horses. Although DNA sequence analysis identified three potential polymorphisms in equine SOD1, these were silent and were found in both normal and EMND-afflicted horses. At this time, there is no conclusive evidence for EMND linkage to SOD1 mutations.
Rules of conduct for the cystic fibrosis anion channel.

Improper ion balance resulting from defects in the ion channel CFTR underlies cystic fibrosis. Separate control mechanisms are now shown to regulate the flux of chloride and bicarbonate through this channel.
Travel advice for the immunocompromised traveler: prophylaxis, vaccination, and other preventive measures.

Immunocompromised patients are traveling at increasing rates. Physicians caring for these complex patients must be knowledgeable in pretravel consultation and recognize when referral to an infectious disease specialist is warranted. This article outlines disease prevention associated with international travel for adults with human immunodeficiency virus, asplenia, solid organ and hematopoietic transplantation, and other immunosuppressed states. While rates of infection may not differ significantly between healthy and immunocompromised travelers, the latter are at greater risk for severe disease. A thorough assessment of these risks can ensure safe and healthy travel. The travel practitioners’ goal should be to provide comprehensive risk information and recommend appropriate vaccinations or prevention measures tailored to each patient’s condition. In some instances, live vaccines and prophylactic medications may be contraindicated.