cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probability and Fractals

In this chapter, we will consider some of the applications of probability theory to the study of fractals. The most important of these is the possibility of random fractals, that is, random sets (or random measures) that exhibit the irregularities (and regularities) characteristic of the sets and measures that we normally associate with the word “fractal.” The basic idea of self-similarity can be modified slightly to statistical self-similarity. A random set is said to be statistically self-similar if the set is made up of smaller parts, and each part is similar to an instance of the same random set. The parts are not actually similar to the whole, but they are similar to sets that might have been obtained for the whole if the random events had turned out differently. (More technically, the part is similar to a random set whose probability distribution is the same as the distribution of the whole set.)
Temperature Dependence of the Soft Mode for Structural Phase Transitions in Highly Anisotropic Systems

We describe here one result from an extensive molecular dynamics (MD) study of structural phase transitions [l]. The models which have been used for structural phase transition studies have a one-component displacement variable associated with each lattice site moving in a local double-well potential. This potential gives rise to two different excitations: phonons and domain walls. The frequency of the particular phonon with displacement pattern matching the distortion occurring at the transition decreases toward zero as the critical temperature Tc is approached (the “soft mode”). The domain walls separate correlated regions possessing short-range order. Nonlinear theory indicates that the phonon softening should not be complete and should reach its minimum at a temperature Ts greater than Tc. However for isotropic systems Ts and Tc are very close and phonon softening is almost complete. Therefore these major features expected from nonlinear theory can be probed more precisely by considering weakly coupled chains of double-well local potentials. In the limit of uncoupled chains, Tc = 0, whereas Ts is non-zero and depends on the energy to create a 1-d domain wall or soliton.
Principles of quantum computing

It has recently been recognized that computers could be profoundly more powerful, if the possibilities offered by the basic principles of quantum mechanics were exploited more completely in machine design. It is physically possible for the binary state of a computer itself to obey quantum mechanics, i.e., to evolve along a superposition of different (logical) pathways that could interfere with one another. This is what is meant by a quantum computer. It has recently been shown that such a computer can perform a class of computational problems, including prime factorization, very rapidly. Quantum computers will require an art that is radically different from any that the computer industry practices today. The bits of such a computer will have to be represented by the states of individual atoms. The use of one such atomic degree of freedom, the "spin", is illustrated below.
Biotransformations in Drug Metabolism

Metabolism can affect the spectrum of consequences of drug action including both the desired therapeutic effects and undesired effects. During the clinical studies and post-marketing stages, metabolism data can be used to promote safe use of a drug, including dosing adjustments or warnings about drug-drug interactions. This article discusses various stages of biotransformations in drug metabolism including functional group biotransformation and major P450 reactions. Keywords: drug metabolism; clinical studies; drug-drug interactions; biotransformation; drug dosage
Flattening the World of Legal Services? The Ethical and Liability Minefields of Offshoring Legal and Law-Related Services

This article examines offshore outsourcing of legal and law-related services as the newest twist in the international market for legal services. We consider the impact of offshore outsourcing on the profession generally and analyze the ethical issues raised by offshore outsourcing, both as it exists today and as the practice may develop in the future. The article begins by situating offshore outsourcing in the framework of relationships created in the context of delivery of legal services. This framework is used, in turn, to construct a structure of analysis for the ethical implications of offshore outsourcing. Lawyers who outsource to offshore providers must conduct an investigation to ensure that the referral is appropriate. We also consider the potential reputation and economic benefits and disadvantages to law firms and legal departments in outsourcing offshore. We find that offshore outsourcing creates new opportunities for non-U.S. lawyers without putting them on equal footing with lawyers trained and licensed in the U.S. Instead, as with many aspects of globalization, offshore outsourcing emphasizes the divisions already present in the legal profession.
Segmentation of biological volume datasets using a level-set framework

This paper presents a framework for extracting surface models from a broad variety of volume datasets. These datasets are produced from standard 3D imaging devices, and are all noisy samplings of complex biological structures with boundaries that have low and often varying contrasts. The level set segmentation method, which is well documented in the literature, creates a new volume from the input data by solving an initial-value partial differential equation (PDE) with user-defined feature-extracting terms. However, level set deformations alone are not sufficient, they must be combined with powerful initialization techniques in order to produce successful segmentations. Our level set segmentation approach consists of defining a set of suitable pre-processing techniques for initialization and selecting/tuning different feature-extracting terms in the level set algorithm. This collection of techniques forms a toolkit that can be applied, under the guidance of a user, to segment a variety of volumetric data.
The Closing Mechanism of DNA Polymerase I at Atomic Resolution.

DNA polymerases must quickly and accurately distinguish between similar nucleic acids to form Watson-Crick base pairs and avoid DNA replication errors. Deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) binding to the DNA polymerase active site induces a large conformational change that is difficult to characterize experimentally on an atomic level. Here, we report an X-ray crystal structure of DNA polymerase I bound to DNA in the open conformation with a dNTP present in the active site. We use this structure to computationally simulate the open to closed transition of DNA polymerase in the presence of a Watson-Crick base pair. Our microsecond simulations allowed us to characterize the key steps involved in active site assembly, and propose the sequence of events involved in the prechemistry steps of DNA polymerase catalysis. They also reveal new features of the polymerase mechanism, such as a conserved histidine as a potential proton acceptor from the primer 3′-hydroxyl.
Cactus extract increases water infiltration rates in two soils

Abstract Polyacrylamides (PAM) and polysaccharides can be used as soil amendments to improve soil physical properties, including infiltration of water into soil. Mucilage from prickly pear cactus contains large polysaccharides. Two experiments were done to test the hypothesis that pretreating columns of soil with cactus extract would improve subsequent falling‐head ponded infiltration of water. One experiment tested samples from a loamy Alfisol, the other from a Vertisol. In both experiments we compared effects on infiltration between pretreatments of cactus extract, PAM used as a reference, and water as a control. In both experiments treatment effects were significant (P<0.05). Both cactus extract and PAM improved infiltration compared to the control. This is the first known report that cactus extract can be used to improve infiltration. Many questions remain regarding the mechanisms involved and the potential for practical use of cactus extract as a soil conditioner.
Dendritic branching and homogenization of actin networks mediated by Arp2/3 complex

The cytoskeleton of motile cells exploits accessory proteins to locally modulate its organization and micromechanics. Here, we demonstrate that the Arp2/3 complex plays the role, unique among other cytoskeleton proteins, of an actin network ‘‘homogenizer,’’ promoting the extremely rapid formation of homogeneous and stiff networks. Nanotracking of microspheres imbedded in F-actin networks reveals that the Arp2/3 complex promotes the formation of networks that are remarkably more homogeneous than control networks, a distinctive feature that coordinates a dramatic burst of elasticity. These results suggest that the Arp2/3 complex possesses a unique function of stabilizing membrane protrusions through the formation of homogeneous and stiff actin cytoskeleton at the leading edge of crawling cells.
Polanyi and the history of capitalism: Rejoinder to Blyth

Abstract Mark Blyth's rebuttal to our constructive critique of Polanyi “blithely” takes for granted the accuracy of Polanyi's now‐outdated historiography of capitalism—by means of a loose, overly expansive definition of capitalism that question‐beggingly equates it with modernity. Blyth emphasizes the need to view markets as “socially embedded,” with which we agree—but he appears not to take account of the individual self‐interest that is thus embedded. Similarly, he asserts a priori the role of ideas in history, in parallel to the economists he condemns (unfairly) for reading ideas out of history a priori. All of this poorly serves the cause of extracting Polanyi's welcome emphasis on social embeddedness and on the empirical from the ideological and methodological certitudes and errors in which The Great Transformation placed them.
Interpersonal Aspects of the Syndromes of Schizophrenia

Raters listened to interviews with schizophrenic patients and rated each participant using Wiggins’s Interpersonal Adjective Checklist-Revised, a measure of interpersonal behavior. It was predicted th
Cavus Foot Reconstruction in 3 Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a progressive genetic disorder that produces motor and sensory neuropathy that affects the legs, feet, and hands. A dorsally based closing wedge midfoot osteotomy at the apex of the cavus foot deformity combined with soft tissue and other osseous procedures are procedures performed for CMT patients at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital. The focus of this article is to present a prospective evaluation of 3 patients using radiographic assessment, static biomechanical and the malleolar valgus index (MVI), dynamic alignment, and function results using the F-scan. These results demonstrate that patients have improved function with a plantigrade foot and decreased pain. The Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) showed that there was a decrease in pain. There was a decrease in the MVI and improved function comparing the preoperative and postoperative F-scan in all patients. The midfoot osteotomy addresses the apex of the progressive cavus foot deformity and provides a plantigrade foot in 3 CMT patients. Level of Clinical Evidence: 4
Coronary sinus lead placement via the internal jugular vein in patients with advanced heart failure: a simplified percutaneous approach.

Background: Placement of coronary sinus (CS) leads is usually achieved via the left cephalic-axillary-subclavian (CAS) venous system. In some cases, however, such as lack of venous access a right side approach is required. Cannulation of the CS via the right CAS vein is often technically difficult, leaving the right IJ vein as a suitable alternative. Objective: The feasibility of IJ vein as a conduit for transvenous left ventricular (LV) pacing in patients with heart failure (HF) has not been reported. Methods and Results: Between July 2002 and April 2004, we implanted 339 biventricular devices in patients with moderate-to-severe HF. In 15 patients with similar clinical characteristics, in whom the left CAS vein could not be used, the CS leads were placed via the right CAS venous system (n = 5) or the IJ vein (n = 10). The ten patients (6 men and 4 women; age 66 ± 15 years; LV ejection fraction .19 ± .07; QRS duration 183 ± 35 ms) who required IJ CS lead placement had no procedure related complications and all retained appropriate LV pacing and showed significant improvement in HF symptoms after a median follow-up of 12 months (6 to 22 months). Conclusions: Thus, in patients with HF for whom the traditional CAS venous approach cannot be used (left side) or is technically difficult (right side), CS leads can be deployed safely via the right IJ vein. In these situations, it seems appropriate to consider this approach prior to the more invasive epicardial approaches.
FRET-FCS detection of intralobe dynamics in calmodulin.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be coupled with Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to detect intramolecular dynamics of proteins on the microsecond time scale. Here we describe application of FRET-FCS to detect fluctuations within the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of the Ca(2+)-signaling protein calmodulin. Intramolecular fluctuations were resolved by global fitting of the two fluorescence autocorrelation functions (green-green and red-red) together with the two cross-correlation functions (green-red and red-green). To match the Forster radius for FRET to the dimensions of the N-terminal and C-terminal domains, a near-infrared acceptor fluorophore (Atto 740) was coupled with a green-emitting donor (Alexa Fluor 488). Fluctuations were detected in both domains on the time scale of 30 to 40 μs. In the N-terminal domain, the amplitude of the fluctuations was dependent on occupancy of Ca(2+) binding sites. A high amplitude of dynamics in apo-calmodulin (in the absence of Ca(2+)) was nearly abolished at a high Ca(2+) concentration. For the C-terminal domain, the dynamic amplitude changed little with Ca(2+) concentration. The Ca(2+) dependence of dynamics for the N-terminal domain suggests that the fluctuations detected by FCS in the N-terminal domain are coupled to the opening and closing of the EF-hand Ca(2+)-binding loops.
Where are the best opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food system (including the food chain)? A comment

In a recent paper Garnett (2011) examines the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the global food system. This paper builds on Garnett’s contribution by considering how high levels of food waste contribute to the food chain’s greenhouse emissions and how they can be reduced, something Garnett generally overlooks. The emissions that arise from food waste represent the emissions embedded in the production of food that is then wasted and the emissions that arise from the process of waste disposal. Food waste can also be split into pre-consumer and consumer waste. These distinctions give rise to four categories of food waste related emissions: pre-consumer embedded, pre-consumer waste disposal, consumer embedded and consumer waste disposal emissions. The levels of food waste in each category differ between economies, as do the causes of wastage. Policies to address food waste and the associated emissions need to promote a mixture of technological and behavioural change and be tailored to the economic, cultural and technological conditions in each country.
Renal gluconeogenesis: effects of quinolinic acid.

Abstract Quinolinic acid, a metabolic degradation product of tryptophan metabolism and a known inhibitor of hepatic gluconeogenesis in vivo, has been shown in the present studies to inhibit renal gluconeogenesis in vitro. At pH 7.4 quinolinic acid decreased glucose production from glutamine and glutamate by rat renal cortex by more than 50%. No effect of 0.5 mM quinolinic acid on glucose formation was observed when α-ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate, malate, citrate, glycerol, or fructose were used as substrates. Quinolinic acid inhibited the activity of the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase. Decreased glucose formation from glutamine and glutamate by renal cortex in the presence of quinolinic acid is probably due to inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenas.
Electrical detection of the spin resonance of a single electron in a silicon field-effect transistor

The ability to manipulate and monitor a single-electron spin using electron spin resonance is a long-sought goal. Such control would be invaluable for nanoscopic spin electronics, quantum information processing using individual electron spin qubits and magnetic resonance imaging of single molecules. There have been several examples1,2 of magnetic resonance detection of a single-electron spin in solids. Spin resonance of a nitrogen-vacancy defect centre in diamond has been detected optically3, and spin precession of a localized electron spin on a surface was detected4,5 using scanning tunnelling microscopy. Spins in semiconductors are particularly attractive for study because of their very long decoherence times6. Here we demonstrate electrical sensing of the magnetic resonance spin-flips of a single electron paramagnetic spin centre, formed by a defect in the gate oxide of a standard silicon transistor. The spin orientation is converted to electric charge, which we measure as a change in the source/drain channel current. Our set-up may facilitate the direct study of the physics of spin decoherence, and has the practical advantage of being composed of test transistors in a conventional, commercial, silicon integrated circuit. It is well known from the rich literature of magnetic resonance studies that there sometimes exist structural paramagnetic defects7 near the Si/SiO2 interface. For a small transistor, there might be only one isolated trap state that is within a tunnelling distance of the channel, and that has a charging energy close to the Fermi level.
Immunization of syngeneic mice against malignant melanoma with subcellular membrane fractions of a bromodeoxyuridine-grown variant

Syngeneic C57BL/6 mice immunized with non-tumorigenic B16 melanoma cells and crude membrane fractions are able to reject challenge with the tumorigenic B559 parent clone. The immunogenic C3471 variant was derived from the malignant B559 clone by continuous growth in the presence of 1 μg 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)/ml. Fifty-one percent (35 of 69) of mice immunized by three inoculations of 106 cell equivalents of C3471 crude membranes (CM) isolated by nitrogen cavitation remained tumor-free for at least 50 days after challenge with a tumorigenic dose of B559 cells. This compares favorably with the virtually 100% protection evoked by 106 viable C3471 cells. For those CM-immunized mice failing to reject B559 challenge, the mean latent period for tumor formation was significantly increased (P≥0.001) over controls. In addition, mice immunized with cultured C3471 cells were able to reject, with equal efficiency, challenge with either cultured or tumor-derived B559 cells, indicating that the immunogen(s) present on C3471 cells and CMs was (were) not a tissue culture artifact. Freshly prepared syngeneic fascia cells and membranes as well as CM prepared from cultured malignant B559 cells had no tumor rejection activity. In vivo tumor rejection activity in plasma membrane vesicles prepared from C3471 cells by formaldehyde treatment also demonstrated tumor rejection activity. The host response to CMs, as to C3471 cells, could be transferred by lymphoid cells from mice immunized with C3471 CMs or cells. Co-injection of leucocytes from CM-immunized mice together with a tumorigenic dose of B559 cells into immunocompetent syngeneic mice resulted in abrogation of B559 tumorigenicity. The tumor rejection antigen(s) induced or increased by growth in BrdUrd has not yet been characterized biochemically, but is likely to involve a cell surface component common to both cell types and is retained by crude membrane fractions. The use of subcellular fractions from a spontaneous melanoma grown with BrdUrd, which elicits immunity against the malignant tumor, represents a model with immunoprophylactic potential for human neoplasia.
Self-posed behaviors of females and males in photographs

In a previous study, Ragan (1982) found systematic sex differences in the poses of persons photographed by professional photographers. In this study, 34 female and 34 male subjects posed themselves for a confederate, allegedly a photography student, who took the photographs from which data were drawn to assess sex differences in self-posed photographs. A MANOVA revealed overall significance with females smiling, canting, and orientating away from the camera more than males. An ANOVA produced significant sex differences for only the smiling data. Results are discussed in terms of Goffman's (1976) suggestion that photographers introduce their distortions into photographs and in terms of Duval and Wicklund's theory of objective self-awareness (1972).
Combined molecular dynamics-spin dynamics simulations of bcc iron

Using a classical model that treats translational and spin degrees of freedom on an equal footing, we study phonon-magnon interactions in BCC iron with combined molecular and spin dynamics methods. The atomic interactions are modeled via an empirical many-body potential while spin dependent interactions are established through a Hamiltonian of the Heisenberg form with a distance dependent magnetic exchange interaction obtained from first principles electronic structure calculations. The temporal evolution of translational and spin degrees of freedom was determined by numerically solving the coupled equations of motion, using an algorithm based on the second order Suzuki-Trotter decomposition of the exponential operators. By calculating Fourier transforms of space- and time-displaced correlation functions, we demonstrate that the the presence of lattice vibrations leads to noticeable softening and damping of spin wave modes. As a result of the interplay between lattice and spin subsystems, we also observe additional longitudinal spin wave excitations, with frequencies which coincide with that of the longitudinal lattice vibrations.
Paradoxes or theoretical failures? The jury is still out

We focus on two paradoxes of ecological theory: the paradox of enrichment and the enrichment response. Both are counterintuitive theoretical predictions that have received little empirical support. We argue that both enrichment paradoxes could be theoretical artifacts and suggest that further experimental work is necessary to determine whether these paradoxes deserve their current status as ecological axioms.
Surface Expressions of Structural Features on Eros

Abstract NEAR Shoemaker imaging of the asteroid Eros has revealed a variety of surface forms that probably reflect underlying structures. They range from global to local in scale. The most prominent positive topographic feature is a long ridge, Rahe Dorsum, which extends over 18 km and has the morphology of a thrust fault. Two large, ancient trough systems are also present. Grooves are ubiquitous, commonly occur in suborthogonal sets, and have linear or scalloped outlines. The grooves on Eros are similar in morphology and scale to those on other small bodies such as Gaspra, Ida, and Phobos and are likely to have a similar mode of origin, namely drainage of regolith into underlying fractures. Models that use groove dimensions as indicators of regolith thickness imply depths of up to several tens of meters. Many craters have been subjected to structural control, resulting in squared outlines. We find no evidence that specific groove sets are associated with individual impact events; however, evidence exists that preexisting structures have been reactivated by later impact activity. The large scale of Rahe Dorsum and many grooves on Eros's surface suggests that the asteroid is a largely coherent, but fractured body.
IS IT RATIONAL TO HAVE REASONS FOR NOT COMMITTING SUICIDE

Undergraduate students, 37 men and 104 women (MaBe=23.6 yr., SD=5.8), were administered a test of irrational thinking (Lee. Hallberg. & Haase, 1979) and a measure of self-esteem (Rosenbaum & decharms, 1960). The Reasons for Staying Alive inventory (Linehan, Goodstein, Nielsen, & Chiles, 1983) ' and a question about suicidal ideation were completed by the subjects for how they felt at a time when they had the greatest personal difficulties. Only 73 of the subjects had considered suicide at that time. For these 73 subjects, irrational thinlung scores were positively associated with higher scores on survival and coping beliefs (partial r, controlling for age and gender=0.21, p<.05) and fear of suicide (r = .25, p< .05). Higher self-esteem scores were related to higher scores for survival and coping belieh (r = 31, p < .01) and responsibility to family (r = .24, p< .05). ' Thus, the present results indicate that irrational thinking is associated with belief in some reasons for staying alive. These beliefs may be as dysfunctional as the desire to commit suicide.
Differential Forms, the Early Days; or the Stories of Deahna's Theorem and of Volterra's Theorem

(2001). Differential Forms, the Early Days; or the Stories of Deahna's Theorem and of Volterra's Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 108, No. 6, pp. 522-530.
Affine layer segmentation and adjacency graphs for vortex detection

In This work we review and present different methods for the detection and characterization of vortices. Our algorithm works on the segmentation of the image into affine layers. These layers are computed using a parametric tensor voting and encoded in an adjacency graph. Paths are computed from the adjacency graph and are used for characterizing paths' properties such as: critical points and vortices. We illustrate the proposed approach to a satellite image sequence of water vapor in the atmosphere.
Elemental quantification based on argides, dimers, and doubly charged glow discharge ions

Abstract Argides, dimers, and doubly charged metal ions were investigated as possible species to use for elemental quantification in glow discharge mass spectrometry. These species showed a behavior similar to that of the metal ion when discharge power was varied, and similar to that of the metal atom when discharge pressure was varied. Quantification of several National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference samples was shown to be feasible using species with concentrations as low as a few parts per million in the gas phase. These species provided good quantification (better than 15% in most cases) for elements with concentrations of 0.1%, and above, in the sample. The practical utility of this analytical scheme was evaluated by analyzing a standard as an unknown surrogate. Relative errors of approximately 50% for the M + analyte, due to a plethora of polyatomic interferences, were reduced to errors of approximately 15% when the MAr + , M 2 + and M 2+ were used for quantification.
Can Small Victories Help Win the War? Evidence From Consumer Debt Management

Abstract The question of how people should structure goal-directed activity to maximize the likelihood of goal attainment is one of theoretical and practical significance. In particular, should people begin by attempting relatively easy tasks or more difficult ones? How might these differing strategies affect the likelihood of completing the overarching goal? The authors examine this question in the context of an important goal for a large number of consumers—getting out of debt. Using a data set obtained from a debt settlement firm, they find that (1) closing debt accounts is predictive of debt elimination regardless of the dollar balance of the closed accounts, whereas (2) the dollar balance of closed accounts is not predictive of debt elimination when controlling for the fraction of accounts closed. These findings suggest that completing discrete subtasks might motivate consumers to persist in pursuit of a goal. The authors discuss implications for goal pursuit generally and for consumer debt managemen...
TBX3 regulates splicing in vivo: a novel molecular mechanism for Ulnar-mammary syndrome

TBX3 is a member of the T-box family of transcription factors with critical roles in development, oncogenesis, cell fate, and tissue homeostasis. TBX3 mutations in humans cause complex congenital malformations and Ulnar-mammary syndrome. Previous investigations into TBX3 function focused on its activity as a transcriptional repressor. We used an unbiased proteomic approach to identify TBX3 interacting proteins in vivo and discovered that TBX3 interacts with multiple mRNA splicing factors and RNA metabolic proteins. We discovered that TBX3 regulates alternative splicing in vivo and can promote or inhibit splicing depending on context and transcript. TBX3 associates with alternatively spliced mRNAs and binds RNA directly. TBX3 binds RNAs containing TBX binding motifs, and these motifs are required for regulation of splicing. Our study reveals that TBX3 mutations seen in humans with UMS disrupt its splicing regulatory function. The pleiotropic effects of TBX3 mutations in humans and mice likely result from disrupting at least two molecular functions of this protein: transcriptional regulation and pre-mRNA splicing.
Strain-induced preferential dissolution of halite

Abstract Previous experiments on the effect of a fluid phase in deforming rock and rock analogue systems have failed to differentiate between the relative roles of stress and permanent strain in controlling preferential dissolution at fluid—grain boundary interfaces. Experiments are described here in which halite single crystals were loaded under dry conditions, followed by removal of load and immersion of the crystals in brine. A correlation between net dissolution rate and plastic strain of the adjacent crystalline material was then observed at free crystal surfaces. Calculation of the increase in free energy of the solid phase due to deformation indicates that plastic strain should play a greater part in controlling dissolution than elastic strain in the experimental design reported here. Although pressure gradients or differences in normal stress may dominate over strain energy terms in producing solution transfer or diffusion through disordered phases in natural rock systems, these halite-water experiments demonstrate that caution must be used in interpreting mechanisms from petrographic and other observations of the phenomena now commonly referred to as “pressure solution”.
A case study on reactive protocols for aircraft electric power distribution

We consider the problem of designing a control protocol for the aircraft electric power system that meets system requirements and reacts dynamically to changes in internal system states. We formalize these requirements by translating them into a temporal logic specification language describing the correct behaviors of the system, and apply formal methods to automatically synthesize a controller protocol that satisfies system properties and requirements. Through an example, we perform a design exploration to show the benefits and tradeoffs between centralized and distributed control architectures.
The effects of chromatin organization on variation in mutation rates in the genome

The variation in local rates of mutations can affect both the evolution of genes and their function in normal and cancer cells. Deciphering the molecular determinants of this variation will be aided by the elucidation of distinct types of mutations, as they differ in regional preferences and in associations with genomic features. Chromatin organization contributes to regional variation in mutation rates, but its contribution differs among mutation types. In both germline and somatic mutations, base substitutions are more abundant in regions of closed chromatin, perhaps reflecting error accumulation late in replication. By contrast, a distinctive mutational state with very high levels of insertions and deletions (indels) and substitutions is enriched in regions of open chromatin. These associations indicate an intricate interplay between the nucleotide sequence of DNA and its dynamic packaging into chromatin, and have important implications for current biomedical research. This Review focuses on recent studies showing associations between chromatin state and mutation rates, including pairwise and multivariate investigations of germline and somatic (particularly cancer) mutations.
A Possible Influence of the Spindle Fibre on Crossing-Over in Drosophila

The distribution of genes in the second and third chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster suggests that crossing-over may be influenced by the spindle fibre at least in neighboring regions. The disparity between the genetic and cytological maps of these chromosomes especially in the spindle fibre regions (Dobzhanzky 2,3) is consistent with such a view.
Using ensemble techniques to advance adaptive one‐factor‐at‐a‐time experimentation

Ensemble Methods are proposed as a means to extendbiAdaptive One-Factor-at-a-Time (aOFAT) experimentation. The proposed method executes multiple aOFAT experiments on the same system with minor differences in experimental setup, such as ‘starting points’. Experimental conclusions are arrived at by aggregating the multiple, individual aOFATs. A comparison is made to test the performance of the new method with that of a traditional form of experimentation, namely a single fractional factorial design which is equally resource intensive. The comparisons between the two experimental algorithms are conducted using a hierarchical probability meta-model and an illustrative case study. The case is a wet clutch system with the goal of minimizing drag torque. In this study, the proposed procedure was superior in performance to using fractional factorial arrays consistently across various experimental settings. At the best, the proposed algorithm provides an expected value of improvement that is 15% higher than the traditional approach; at the worst, the two methods are equally effective, and on average the improvement is about 10% higher with the new method. These findings suggest that running multiple adaptive experiments in parallel can be an effective way to make improvements in quality and performance of engineering systems and also provides a reasonable aggregation procedure by which to bring together the results of the many separate experiments. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resistance of spores of some thermophilic actinomycetes to high temperature

The spores of thermophilic actinomycetes were found to be resistant to high temperatures. Spores were more resistant to dry heat than were spores in sucrose solution. The maximum resistance to 100° C in sucrose solution varied from 10 minutes forPseudonocardia thermophila to 4 hours forThermoactinomyces vulgaris.Pseudonocardia thermophila was the most sensitive to dry heat, surviving one-half hour exposure to 100° C, and 3½ hours to 90° C. All of the others survived 6 hours of 100° dry heat, exceptThermoactinomyces vulgaris andT. glaucus, both of which survived 15 hours. The other thermophiles tested wereStreptomyces rectus, S. thermoviolaceus subsp.pingens, S. thermovulgaris, andThermomonospora curvata.
Medical high-frequency ultrasound imaging using Golay-coded pulse excitation

This paper combined the coded excitation with the technique of ophthalmic high-frequency ultrasonic imaging, and proposed a new high-velocity data detection and signal processing method. 16-bit Golay complementary sequences were produced by FPGA, which excited the probe to produce ultrasonic waves. Data detection circuit achieved the digitalized of the 15 MHz high-frequency ultrasonic echo signals in real time. Sampling rate was 120MHz, and sampling bit was 14 bit. Decoded compression arithmetic was realized by FPGA in real time, in which A code compression was alternated with B code compression. The return echo was correlated with the corresponding decode filter A and filter B respectively, and then the echo was delayed and summed to complete the decoding process. The experiment indicated that coded excitation can effectively increase the range of mainlobe and decrease the range of sidelobe. This technique can effectively raise the signal-to-noise ratio, and has significant research value in advancing the ophthalmic ultrasonic image quality and raising the safety of the equipment.
Process- Versus Function-Based Hierarchies

I consider a firm's choice between having people who carry out complementary tasks report to the same manager and having them report to separate, function-based managers. Even supposing that the former enhances coordination, the latter may be preferred because it improves the firm's control over employees. I show that, because switching from a function-based hierarchy to a process-based hierarchy reduces the firm's direct control, it raises the attractiveness of making the employee pay more sensitive to performance. Also, this switch tends to raise the profitability of fostering altruism between employees. I extend the analysis so that it deals with the relative benefits of IT- and M-form organizations. I show that the M form becomes more profitable as the firm gets large.
Using an Event-Detection Measure to Assess Drivers' Attention and Situation Awareness

In this paper we describe an event-detection measure for assessing drivers' attention and situation awareness during driving, and present data from a study using this measure. In this study, drivers detected traffic events directly in front of them most frequently, events in an oncoming front lane less frequently, and events behind them least often. Drivers also detected swerve events more frequently than deceleration events. We compare the event-detection measure to other measures of attention and situation awareness used to assess driving: the SAGAT technique (Endsley, 1995), implicit-performance measures (Durso & Gronlund, 1999), and the flicker paradigm (Richard, Wright & Ee, 2002). Each of the above measures has advantages and disadvantages, and no single measure is optimal. However, we argue that the eventdetection measure has some advantages over other techniques in answering questions regarding mechanisms of attention allocation and attention capture and how these two mechanisms interact during dr...
The Use of Problem Solving Skills in Computer-Aided Instruction: An Evaluation.

When computer programs are designed to elicit problem solving skills by the user, this basic premise should be tested in an objective manner. The Health and Fitness Assessment program was evaluated as an interactive program with a substantial emphasis on the problem solving process. A method of analysis known as protocol analysis was used to demonstrate that 72% of the interpretive statements made by users verified the use of higher level mental functions to interact with the computer. Other evaluative data aided in improving the design of the program.
Assessing Health Literacy in Renal Failure and Kidney Transplant Patients

Context—A report released in 2004 by the Institute of Medicine estimated that as many as 90 million Americans do not have the necessary skills required to manage complex treatment regimens or navigate through current health care systems successfully.Objectives—To identify the level of health literacy in patients seen at a suburban transplant center by using the Newest Vital Sign tool to assess health literacy.Design and Setting—This descriptive study used survey methods. The convenience sample included 44 adult patients, both English and Spanish speaking, who attended a routine clinic visit at a suburban transplant center.Methods—The Newest Vital Sign tool was administered during routine outpatient medical visits. Demographic information collected included age, sex, highest level of education, and whether or not the participant was on dialysis or received a kidney transplant. Descriptive statistics were completed for each answer on the tool. Chisquare analyses were done to determine whether demographic fa...
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Airway Hyperresponsiveness

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is a common health concern despite legislation to limit its presence, especially in public environments. ETS exposure is associated with changes in lung development and morphology, airway hyperresponsiveness and obstruction and development of asthma and its increased severity. However these effects of ETS exposure are not universally supported. Clinical data as well as studies in laboratory animals report ETS exposure may even attenuate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Therefore, we lack complete understanding of ETS effects on pulmonary function as well as its mechanism of action. Disparate clinical and laboratory reports likely result from variables of ETS exposure, degrees of atopy and mechanisms of sensitization. The present review addresses the effects of ETS on AHR reported in humans and animal models. ETS role as an adjuvant to AHR as well as it contribution to development of antigenic tolerance is also reviewed. Possible neurogenic, cellular and intracellular mechanisms of ETS-induced ARH are proposed based on the existing literature. Enhanced understanding of the effects and mechanism of ETS will enhance therapy strategies in treatment of ARH and related disease such as COPD as well as enhancing public presentation of convincing evidence to avoid ETS.
Recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer.

ABSTRACT Objective To discuss the risk of recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and emphasize the importance of risk-group stratification. Methods Common risk factors associated with recur rent thyroid cancer are outlined, and appropriate manage ment strategies are reviewed. Results The overall prognosis in patients with dif ferentiated thyroid cancer is excellent. Factors associated with recurrent thyroid cancer include extrathyroidal exten sion of the primary tumor, bulky nodal metastatic lesions, macroscopic local invasion, and aggressive histologic subtypes. The locoregional recurrence and mortality are higher in patients with high-risk thyroid cancers. Patients initially presenting with locally aggressive and advanced thyroid cancer have a higher incidence of recurrent disease in the thyroid bed or nodal metastasis. These patients also have a high incidence of distant metastatic lesions. Locally recurrent thyroid cancer may be seen in more than 25% of patients with aggressive differentiated thyroid cancer. Recurrent disease in the thyroid bed can be a difficult prob lem to manage because of the proximity of the tumor to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, visceral structures in the central compartment, and occasional involvement of the trachea or larynx. External beam radiation therapy after surgical treatment may be important for better local control in the thyroid bed region, especially in patients with poorly dif ferentiated histologic features. The role of additional radio iodine therapy remains undefined at this stage. Conclusion Management of patients with recur rent thyroid cancer necessitates a true multidisciplinary approach. These patients require close follow-up, with cross-sectional imaging and positron emission tomo graphic scanning in selected individuals. (Endocr Pract. 2012;18:600-603)
Mass transfer resistance in narrow-bore columns packed with 1.7 μm particles in very high pressure liquid chromatography

Surprisingly, the mass transfer kinetic properties of columns packed with superficially porous particles are markedly different from those of columns packed with fully porous particles. The performances of 2.1mmx150mm columns packed with a new type of sub-2microm particles, the superficially porous 1.7microm Kinetex-C(18), and with the classical 1.7microm BEH-C(18) fully porous particles were measured and are discussed. The sample was naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene; the use of different mobile phase compositions allowed a comparison between data measured with retention factors of k(') approximately 2 and k(') approximately 20. The minimum reduced height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) of the two columns were similar, at h(min)=2.0. However, this minimum HETP was observed at a markedly shorter reduced linear velocity for the column packed with totally porous particles, between 5 and 7 for BEH, than for the one packed with shell particles, between 8 and 10 for Kinetex. This result is explained by the combination of (1) a 35% smaller B term for the Kinetex column than for the BEH column, due to the 37% lower porous volume of the former; (2) a larger reduced A term for the Kinetex column (1.6), showing a relatively poorly packed column with significant trans-column velocity biases than for the BEH column (ca. 1.0); and (3) a much lesser dependance of the efficiency on the mobile phase velocity at high velocities for the Kinetex than for the BEH column, when these columns are placed in the oven of the instrument under still-air conditions. The heat friction affects significantly more the efficiency of the BEH column than that of the Kinetex column. This unexpected result is accounted for by the three times smaller heat conductivity of the BEH bed (lambda(BEH) approximately 0.25 W/m/K) than that of the Kinetex bed (lambda(Kinetex) approximately 0.75W/m/K).
Experimental oxygen-induced retinal detachment in the newborn Wistar rat

We conducted an extensive histological study of the retinas of newborn rats that had been exposed to hyperoxic conditions. Our aim was to verify whether it is possible, using oxygen alone, to induce retinal detachment, a lesion that is characteristic of the more advanced stages of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Eight litters (total number of animals: 64) of newborn, albino Wistar rats were used. Four litters (32 rats) were exposed to 80% oxygen for the first ten days of life. Some of these rats were then removed to room-air environments where they were kept for two, three or four more weeks. The other four litters (32 rats) were maintained for the entire period in room-air. On the 11th, 25th, 32nd and 39th days of life rats from both the exposed and control groups were sacrificed and 5 micron sections of their in toto eyeballs were submitted to histological evaluation and immunohistochemical studies. Folding of the internal retinal layers was observed in some of the animals exposed to hyperoxia, as well as those kept in room air. These folds did not alter the overall thickness of the retina itself and were probably congenital. Retinal folds and microdetachments were seen in many of the retinas from the exposed group of rats. Extensive detachment was observed in one of the rats sacrificed after two weeks of room-air recovery, in two of those recovered for three weeks and in two exposed to four weeks of room air. The sections containing these areas of retinal detachment showed marked increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in immunocytochemical studies, suggesting that Muller cells might play a role in the pathogenesis of retinal detachment.
A Framework for Assessing Incentives in Results‐Based Management

Many governmental results-based management systems have not produced the expected positive effects. This article analyzes the reasons for this common disappointment by looking at three components of results-based management—results-specific information, capacities, and incentives—and concludes that incentives are often the least developed. It then synthesizes a simple framework for evaluating the efficacy of results-oriented incentives. To be successful, results-specific incentives must be tailored to fit four program characteristics: timeliness, political environment, clarity of the cause-and-effect chain, and tightness of focus. This framework suggests that some systems put too exclusive an emphasis on budgetary incentives and could be strengthened by emphasizing personnel-system rewards, especially those that look beyond business models.