cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assigning spontaneous volunteers to relief efforts under uncertainty in task demand and volunteer availability

Abstract In the wake of a disaster, people from nearby areas often converge to assist the affected community. Spontaneous volunteers are not affiliated with relief agencies but are in a unique position to provide invaluable aid at a crucial point in the disaster cycle. Often, these volunteers are ineffectively used or refused altogether. Volunteer Reception Centers (VRCs) can benefit from improved strategies to integrate the influx of spontaneous volunteers. In this paper, a multi-server queuing model is formulated to represent the dynamics of assigning spontaneous volunteers to tasks in a post-disaster setting. In particular, we consider the case of stochastic arrival of demand for service and stochastic arrival of volunteers, whose time in service is also stochastic. These assumptions mimic disaster relief tasks such as distribution of relief items, where both beneficiaries and volunteers arrive randomly. An optimal policy for assigning volunteers to tasks is generated using a Markov Decision Process. We then use simulation to compare the optimal policy against several heuristic policies and discuss real world implications.
Admittance-Based Stability Analysis: Bode Plots, Nyquist Diagrams or Eigenvalue Analysis?

In the literature, Bode plots and Nyquist diagrams are used extensively in stability analysis for admittance-based models. In this letter, we demonstrate that eigenvalues obtained from the total admittance lead to accurate prediction of stability while Bode plots and Nyquist diagrams show limitations. A voltage source converter with weak grid interconnection is used as an illustrative example to demonstrate the pros and cons of the three methods applied to $dq$ -frame admittance matrices.
Parotid adenocarcinoma metastasis to the breast: a case report

Metastatic salivary gland tumors are rare clinical entities of the head and neck. Parotid gland carcinoma with distant metastases heralds a poor prognosis with a median survival of 4.3-7.3 months. The lungs, long bones, liver and brain are the most common sites of metastasis for parotid gland cancer, along with a few reported cases describing metastasis to the ileum, spleen and iliac crest. We present the first case to our knowledge of parotid adenocarcinoma metastasis to the breast.
Use of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

The use of stem cell therapy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction has been tested in both animal models and humans. The rationale for its use involves the regenerative properties of these cells to restore function to damaged cells and tissues via differentiation into healthy cells or to exert its paracrine effects to immunomodulate through secretion of cytokines and growth factors. We herein review the published data regarding effects of stem cells on erectile dysfunction and comment on the current state of clinical use/overuse of this treatment at the present time.
Development of the School Counselor Efficacy for College Knowledge Questionnaire

The present work describes the development of a new measure of school counselors’ perceived self-efficacy regarding their knowledge of information and processes necessary to effectively guide their...
A network approach to full core temperature analysis in advanced nuclear heat-pipe systems

Abstract Advanced heat-pipe systems are becoming more popular for micro-grid applications globally. With this increase in interest, methods for rapid analysis of the system are necessary for quick design iterations. The method proposed is bench marked against an OpenFOAM conduction approximation for two reactor like geometries. One geometry is a more traditional approach and the other geometry is a novel approach. The method is designed to rapidly attain heat-pipe power throughput to compare with characteristic limits of the heat-pipe design. For the traditional geometry the predicted peak temperatures were within 7% of the OpenFOAM solutions and the novel geometry is within 1% of the OpenFOAM solution giving high confidence that this can be used to rapidly evaluate and analyze new core geometries.
Medical Care during Civil Unrest, Protests and Mass Demonstrations

Physicians, nurses, and hospital administrators need to prepare for the unexpected. Civil unrest, protests, and mass demonstrations are increasingly familiar worldwide events, stressing all aspects of society. Dedicated preparation by hospitals and healthcare workers is critical in order to save lives during these challenging events.
Terrorism in the New Digital Era and the Role of Internet: A Case Study of Isis

This paper is a descriptive analysis of the transformation of terrorism in the modern era of technological advancement. The terrorist organizations often used the modern technology in an effective way and it remained a matter of concern for anti-terrorist authorities. The most recent case of the exploitation of internet and technology by terrorist organizations is the case of ISIS. ISIS used online sources and social media for creating terror and for getting attraction from people; they have adopted systematic way of recruiting fighters through online sources. The internet basically transformed the nature and scope of terrorism ideologically and on operational level. This is a serious matter of concern for counter-terrorist forces and technology firms to limit and reduce the negative use technology.
SentiLog: Anomaly Detecting on Parallel File Systems via Log-based Sentiment Analysis

As core components of High-performance computing (HPC) platforms, parallel file systems (PFSes) grow quickly in scale and complexity, hence are subject to various failures and anomalies. Identifying their anomalies in runtime is critically helpful for HPC operators and administrators. Analyzing the runtime logs to detect the anomalies of large-scale systems has been proven effective in many recent studies. However, applying them to parallel file systems logs faces significant challenges due to the large volume and irregularity of PFSes logs. This study proposes SentiLog, a new approach to analyzing PFSes system logs for detecting anomalies. Unlike existing solutions, SentiLog works by training a general sentimental, natural language model based on the logging-relevant source code collected from a set of PFSes. In this way, SentiLog learns information embedded by developers from the source code. Our preliminary results show SentiLog is able to accurately predict anomalies and performs better than state-of-the-art log analysis solutions on two representative PFSes (Lustre and BeeGFS). This preliminary study shows sentiment analysis could be a promising method to analyze complex and irregular system logs.
Is image-guided core needle biopsy of borderline axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients clinically helpful?

Abstract Background When borderline axillary lymph nodes (bALN) are identified on ultrasound (US) for breast cancer (BC) patients, preoperative management is unclear. We aimed to evaluate if core needle biopsy (CNB) for bALN is clinically helpful or disruptive. Methods Retrospective review of BC patients with bALN from 2014 to 2019 was performed. Clinicopathologic data were compared for those who did and did not have CNB. Results CNB (n = 34) and no CNB (n = 31) were similar with respect to clinicopathologic factors. Surgical LN-positive rate was the same between cohorts (p = 0.26). CNB was disruptive in 58.8 %; all had CNB for pN0 disease. CNB was helpful in 34.2 %: 14.7 % proceeded directly to axillary dissection; 17.6 % had positive LN localized after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions CNB for bALN is more likely clinically disruptive and did not impact surgical LN positive rate. BC patients with bALN should undergo CNB only if it will change clinical management.
Association of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and early mortality following lung cancer surgery.

76Background: Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act is associated with gains in health insurance coverage and a shift towards earlier stage diagnosis among patients with cancer. However,...
The Cinematic Superhero as Other

The Cinematic Superhero as Other takes up Wonder Woman (2017) and Black Panther (2018) as self-conscious attempts to reflect on gender and race in restorative superhero fantasy. Critics and audiences alike have celebrated the diversity of both films which allowed diverse audiences to see themselves symbolized as characters of power and dignity in a mainstream superhero film for the first time. On closer inspection, however, Wonder Woman does not escape the male gaze of the cinematographic apparatus or the patriarchal social practices that inform it and the restorative cinematic superhero. Black Panther tells a story of Black power made safe for white culture by the power of fantasy and nostalgia as some critics have noted. The chapter explores the invited misrecognition at work in both films that makes diverse representation impossible under mainstream cinematic superhero fantasy conventions.
Is Function-as-a-Service a Good Fit for Latency-Critical Services?

Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) is becoming an increasingly popular cloud-deployment paradigm for serverless computing that frees application developers from managing the infrastructure. At the same time, it allows cloud providers to assert control in workload consolidation, i.e., co-locating multiple containers on the same server, thereby achieving higher server utilization, often at the cost of higher end-to-end function request latency. Interestingly, a key aspect of serverless latency management has not been well studied: the trade-off between application developers' latency goals and the FaaS providers' utilization goals. This paper presents a multi-faceted, measurement-driven study of latency variation in serverless platforms that elucidates this trade-off space. We obtained production measurements by executing FaaS benchmarks on IBM Cloud and a private cloud to study the impact of workload consolidation, queuing delay, and cold starts on the end-to-end function request latency. We draw several conclusions from the characterization results. For example, increasing a container's allocated memory limit from 128 MB to 256 MB reduces the tail latency by 2× but has 1.75× higher power consumption and 59% lower CPU utilization.
MO-E-213-00: What Is Medical Physics Without Radiation Safety?

The focus of work of medical physicists in 1980’s was on quality control and quality assurance. Radiation safety was important but was dominated by occupational radiation protection. A series of over exposures of patients in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and observation of skin injuries among patients undergoing interventional procedures in 1990’s started creating the need for focus on patient protection. It gave medical physicists new directions to develop expertise in patient dosimetry and dose management. Publications creating awareness on cancer risks from CT in early part of the current century and over exposures in CT in 2008 brought radiation risks in public domain and created challenging situations for medical physicists. Increasing multiple exposures of individual patient and patient doses of few tens of mSv or exceeding 100 mSv are increasing the role of medical physicists. Expansion of usage of fluoroscopy in the hands of clinical professionals with hardly any training in radiation protection shall require further role for medical physicists. The increasing publications in journals, recent changes in Safety Standards, California law, all increase responsibilities of medical physicists in patient protection. Newer technological developments in dose efficiency and protective devices increase percentage of time devoted by medical physicists on radiation protection activities. Without radiation protection, the roles, responsibilities and day-to-day involvement of medical physicists in diagnostic radiology becomes questionable. In coming years either medical radiation protection may emerge as a specialty or medical physicists will have to keep major part of day-to-day work on radiation protection. Learning Objectives: 1. To understand how radiation protection has been increasing its role in day-to-day activities of medical physicist 2. To be aware about international safety Standards, national and State regulations that require higher attention to radiation protection than in past 3. To be aware about possible emergence of medical radiation protection as a specialty and challenges for medical physicists.
Uniformly Accelerated Motion

In this chapter we introduce certain vector quantities—position, displacement, velocity and acceleration—used to describe the motion of a body. We define these quantities and discuss the mathematical relations between them. We then derive specific functional relations between them and time (a scalar quantity) for the case where the object moves in a straight line with constant acceleration. The chapter concludes with a discussion of projectile motion, one of the simplest types of two-dimensional motion.
High performance storage system scalability: architecture, implementation and experience

The high performance storage system (HPSS) provides scalable hierarchical storage management (HSM), archive, and file system services. Its design, implementation and current dominant use are focused on HSM and archive services. It is also a general-purpose, global, shared, parallel file system, potentially useful in other application domains. When HPSS design and implementation began over a decade ago, scientific computing power and storage capabilities at a site, such as a DOE national laboratory, was measured in a few 10 s of gigaops, data archived in HSMs in a few 10 s of terabytes at most, data throughput rates to an HSM in a few megabytes/s, and daily throughput with the HSM in a few gigabytes/day. At that time, the DOE national laboratories and IBM HPSS design team recognized that we were headed for a data storage explosion driven by computing power rising to teraops/petaops requiring data stored in HSMs to rise to petabytes and beyond, data transfer rates with the HSM to rise to gigabytes/s and higher, and daily throughput with a HSM in 10 s of terabytes/day. This paper discusses HPSS architectural, implementation and deployment experiences that contributed to its success in meeting the above orders of magnitude scaling targets. We also discuss areas that need additional attention as we continue significant scaling into the future.
Gene expression of single articular chondrocytes

Although previous studies in the field of tissue engineering have provided important information about articular cartilage, their conclusions are based on population averages and do not account for variations in cell subpopulations. To obtain a precise understanding of chondrocytes, we investigated the effects of cartilage zone and seeding duration on single chondrocyte gene expression to select an optimal zone for tissue engineering (Phase I), followed by an evaluation of growth factor exposure on the zone selected in Phase I (Phase II). In Phase I, superficial and middle/deep bovine articular chondrocytes were seeded in monolayers for 3 or 18 h. In Phase II, middle/deep chondrocytes (selected in Phase I) received 100 ng/ml insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) for 3 h. Real-time reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the abundance of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and the relative abundances of aggrecan, collagens I and II, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). GAPDH varied zonally, but neither time nor IGF-I had an effect on it, suggesting that GAPDH is a suitable housekeeping gene for comparisons within each zone, but not across zones. IGF-I increased the expression of aggrecan and collagen II in middle/deep chondrocytes seeded for 18 h. TIMP-1 expression increased with time in control cells, suggesting that chondrocytes enter a matrix protective state after seeding. IGF-I diminished this effect, suggesting that treatment with IGF-I refocuses chondrocytes on matrix production rather than on protection from metalloproteinases. Concomitant to increasing TIMP-1, MMP-1 was detectable by 18 h in superficial cells, providing further evidence of a trend toward matrix degradation with time. Collagen I was undetected in all cells, and no differences were observed for COMP, confirming that no dedifferentiation or osteoarthritic changes occurred. Taken together, these results establish a unique understanding of individual chondrocyte behavior.
Isospectral sets of conformally equivalent metrics

Il existe des varietes M a metriques conformement equivalentes g et g' telles que g soit isospectrale a g'
Efficient simulation of shell forming by line heating

A simplified thermo-mechanical model for the prediction of angular deformations of metal plates due to line heating is presented. The model utilizes a semi-analytically determined temperature distribution, which incorporates the effects of heat loss and a distributed moving heat source, to find the dimensions of a critical heat-affected region. The dimensions of this region are used to find the angular deformation by an analytic solution method. Predicted values of angular deformation compare well with corresponding values from experimental results. This model is also compared with thermo-mechanical analysis based on the three-dimensional finite element method. The comparisons indicate that the simplified model is fairly accurate and much more efficient in comparison to the finite element solution.
Immobilization of the plasminogen activator streptokinase and its fibrinolytic effects vivo

Abstract Streptokinase has been immobilized by covalent coupling to nylon. Subcutaneous implantation of the immobilized streptokinase into rabbits resulted in a three-fold increase in their blood clotting time, which was maintained for 150 days. The immobilized streptokinase lost little if any activity over this period and no evidence of antibody formation was found. Removal of the implanted nylon-streptokinase caused a return to normal clotting times within a few days. The preliminary results demonstrate a potential usefulness of immobilized streptokinase in the treatment of thrombotic occlusive disorders as well as in the prevention of such diseases.
Photoconversion using confocal laser scanning microscopy: A new tool for the ultrastructural analysis of fluorescently labeled cellular elements

Photoconversion, the method by which a fluorescent dye is transformed into a stable, osmiophilic product that can be visualized by transmission electron microscopy, is the most widely used method to enable the ultrastructural analysis of fluorescently labeled cellular structures. Nevertheless, the conventional method of photoconversion using widefield fluorescence microscopy requires long reaction times and results in low resolution cell targeting which limit its utility. Accordingly, we developed a photoconversion method that ameliorates these limitations by adapting confocal laser scanning microscopy to the procedure. We confirmed that photoconversion times were dramatically reduced when using a confocal laser scanning microscope in the photoconversion process. We also demonstrated that the region of interest scanning capabilities of a confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with an acousto-optical tunable filter represented a unique tool to facilitate the targeting of the photoconversion process to individual cellular or subcellular elements within a fluorescent field. Moreover, region of interest scanning greatly reduced the area of the cell exposed to light energy, ameliorating the ultrastructural damage common to this process when widefield microscopes are employed. The potential of this new methodology extends beyond the neurosciences to any scientific modality which requires ultrastructural analysis of fluorescently labeled specimens, especially those where discrete photoconversion on a cellular or subcellular basis could be beneficial.
The Neglected Role of Intonation in Communicative Competence and Proficiency.

RECENT RESEARCH ON DISCOURSE, BOTH in theoretical linguistics and in foreign language pedagogy, has focused on describing rules for the comprehension and production of coherent verbal interaction.1 The contributing elements of coherent interaction are not simply the rules of grammaticality in any given language, but also the pragmatic or functional rules which govern the use of utterances in spoken discourse.2 However, both the theorists and particularly the applied linguists have largely overlooked intonation when describing the functions of natural language, i.e., what is actually done by language rather than what is said, and in turn, language learners are not taught how to use intonation to signal discourse strategies (8). Intonation is fundamental to genuine communication because communicative competence is the ability not only to formulate grammatically correct utterances, but also to signal interactional strategies, such as interrupting, asking for clarification, taking the floor, changing the subject, concluding an argument, or constraining a hearer to reply. In this paper, I first discuss the theoretical foundations of discourse analysis and intonation. I then show how intonation heretofore has not received much attention either in the communicative
Magnetometers for space measurements over a wide range of field intensities

Fluxgate and Ru vapor magnetometers for space measurements over wide field intensities, reducing electronic phase shift and experiment weight
NF-kappaB activation by combinations of NEMO SUMOylation and ATM activation stresses in the absence of DNA damage

The inactive transcription factor NF-kappaB is localized in the cytoplasm and rapidly responds to a variety of extracellular factors and intracellular stress conditions to initiate multiple cellular responses. While the knowledge regarding NF-kappaB signaling pathways initiated by extracellular ligands is rapidly expanding, the mechanisms of activation by intracellular stress conditions are not well understood. We recently described a critical role for a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification of NF-kappaB essential modulator (NEMO), the regulatory subunit of the IkappaB kinase, in response to certain genotoxic stress conditions. One important unanswered question is whether the role of this modification is limited to the genotoxic agents or some other signaling pathways also employ SUMOylation of NEMO to regulate NF-kappaB activation. Here, we report that a variety of other stress conditions, including oxidative stress, ethanol exposure, heat shock and electric shock, also induce NEMO SUMOylation, thus demonstrating that DNA damage per se is not necessary for this NEMO modification to occur. Moreover, combinations of certain SUMO stress and ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) activation conditions lead to NF-kappaB activation without inducing DNA damage. Our study helps to conceptualize how individual or a combination of different stress conditions may funnel into this previously unappreciated signal transduction mechanism to regulate the activity of the ubiquitous NF-kappaB transcription factor.
Screening children for diabetes: what can ‘low-tech’ accomplish?

Invited Commentary on ‘Screening for diabetes in schoolchildren in Trinidad, West Indies’, Batson et al.Batson and co-workers describe an ambitious study in which 125,000 schoolchildren in Trinidad...
Joining similar and dissimilar advanced engineered materials

The typically specialized property combinations associated with advanced materials, combined with a desire for monolithic structures to maximize efficiency and performance, requires their effective joining. Through proper joining process selection and parameter optimization, both similar and ultimately dissimilar combinations of materials can be joined to produce high-performance components and systems.
Dynamics of foam films in constricted pores

Hydrodynamics of foam films in a porous medium depend strongly on the pore geometry, foam quality, foam flow rate, surfactant formulation, rheological properties of the film, and the capillary pressure in the medium. These dynamics were studied numerically by simulating the behavior of a foam film as it traverses a periodically constricted sinusoidal pore. Different regions of film behavior exist depending on its rheological properties. For a film with rigid (immobile) surfaces, the entrainment effect leads to a thickening film consistent with related phenomena such as Bretherton's (1961) analysis of a bubble moving in a capillary tube. A film with mobile surfaces, however, stretches and thins while remaining uniform in thickness and may become unstable under certain conditions. The dependence of limiting capillary pressure on the foam flow rate and rheological properties is explained quantitatively.
Electrochemical methods for nanotoxicity assessment

Abstract The exponential increase of consumer goods containing nanoparticles (NPs) requires a comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with the use of these materials. Given the large number of nanotechnology products that require evaluation, there is a need to expand the repertoire of accessible nanotoxicity-measurement technologies to accelerate testing and screening of nanomaterials and their effects on the environment and biological systems. This article provides an overview of electrochemical approaches that can be used for risk assessment for nanotechnology. These include: (1) electrochemical quantification of potential nanotoxicity markers; (2) microelectrodes for real-time in-situ profiling of biochemical and physiological changes in cells, tissues and organs exposed to NPs; and, (3) electrochemical methods as screening tools for particle reactivity, dissolution behavior, catalytic properties and physicochemical parameters in various exposure scenarios. We cover potential applications and provide a critical discussion of future research needs and opportunities in nanotoxicity assessment.
Room-temperature synthesis of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes: kinetic isomers and reactive functionalities

Cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes have been prepared in high yields from base-assisted transmetalation reactions of cis-bis(aquo)iridium(III) complexes with boronated aromatic proligands. Reactions proceed at room temperature. Potassium hydroxide and potassium phosphate are effective supporting bases. Kinetic, meridional isomers are isolated because of the mildness of the new technique. Syntheses are faster with KOH, but the gentler base K3PO4 broadens the reaction's scope. Complexes of chelated ketone, aldehyde, and alcohol complexes are reported that bind iridium through formally neutral oxygen and formally anionic carbon. The new complexes luminesce with microsecond-scale lifetimes at 77 K and nanosecond-scale lifetimes at room temperature; emission quenches in air. Two complexes, an aldehyde and its reduced (alcohol) derivative, are crystallographically characterized. Their bonding is examined with density-functional theory calculations. Time-dependent computations suggest that the Franck–Condon triplet states of these complexes have mixed orbital parentage, arising from one-particle transitions that mingle through configuration interaction.
Solid State Stability of Some Crystalline Vitamin A Compounds

Theoretical and experimental studies relating the relative stability of solid vitamin A derivatives to their melting points have shown that, in general, resistance toward degradation increases with fusion temperature. This is attributed to the part that crystal lattice energy plays in stabilizing these compounds, and is supported by the fact that the solution stabilities of the derivatives appear to be generally comparable. Of the several compounds studied, vitamin A benzhydrazone and vitamin A succinate triphenylguanidine salt exhibited the greatest stability.
Functional and morphological affinities of the subadult hand (O.H. 7) from Olduvai Gorge.

Study of the O.H. 7 hand was based primarily on morphological comparisons with a large series of hand skeletons of extant hominoid primates. Most of the hand elements are fragmentary or have missing epiphyses and only comparisons based on qualitative morphological observations are possible. The distal phalanges are complete, however, and were analyzed metrically utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. To compensate for size differences among the Hominoidea a number of size adjustments were employed. None of the adjustments were totally satisfactory from theoretical and practical standpoints and none completely eliminated the influence of size. There is no entirely satisfactory procedure to eliminate size and it is advisable to use several techniques that are not closely related, to compare the results and interpret them with caution. In certain features the wrist and fingers resemble those of African apes; in others they are more like modern human hands; in still others they are unique. The scaphoid and the proximal articular surface of the trapezium retain apelike features, as do the proximal and middle phalanges. The pollical carpometacarpal joint and the distal phalanges are closer in morphology to those of modern humans. The scaphoid, proximal phalanges and middle phalanges of rays II-V indicate a hand capable of a strong power grip. A number of features of the thumb and the distal phalanges suggest that the O.H. 7 individual was capable of more precise manipulation than extant apes. FLK NN-A, a first distal phalanx, does not closely resemble the first distal phalanx of any of the living Hominoidea. Multivariate distance analysis indicates, however, that it is closest in overall morphology to the pollical distal phalanx of modern humans. In some features not included in the metric analysis, FLK NN-A also resembles the hallucial distal phalanx of modern humans.
Interference and Multiplicity Reactivation in Polîoviruses.

Abstract The development of procedures for infecting suspensions of animal cells under controlled conditions has made possible a study of intracellular interactions of polioviruses. Any poliovirus type is capable of interfering with the multiplication of a heterotypic superinfecting poliovirus in a majority of cells, but polioviruses inactivated by ultraviolet light (UV) lose their interfering ability. Multiplicity reactivation (MR), the release of active virus from cells adsorbing several UV-inactivated viruses, is exhibited to a limited extent by type 1 polioviruses. This MR is a function of the UV-inactivated particle, not of nonviral agents in the lysate, heat-inactivated viruses, originally uninfectious particles, or anomalies of adsorption. At large UV doses the fraction of multiple-infected cells releasing active virus decreases at the same rate as the virus itself is inactivated.
Head-guided wheelchair control system

Many individuals using a wheelchair do not have the use of their hands, thereby impeding their ability to control a motorized wheelchair. Available systems that accomplish wheelchair control utilize potentially inhibitive peripheral devices. The purpose of this project was to design a system that allows individuals to control a motorized wheelchair with simple head movements. This system consists of a self-designed program, headset, and a control module that interfaces with a motorized wheelchair joystick.
Synthesis of (.+‐.)‐Diospongin A: A Hetero‐Diels—Alder and C‐Glycosylation Approach.

The stereoselective synthesis of title compound (VII) is based on the Diels—Alder reaction catalyzed by ACC and a final anchimeric assistance-controlled C-glycosylation of the acetate (V).
The world of work: A site for mental health promotion

Most adults spend about half their waking hours in the world of work. Can mental health providers really achieve prevention without becoming involved in that world?
Blast overpressure modeling enhancements for application to risk-informed design of human space flight launch abort systems

This paper describes recent enhancements to the engineering-level analysis tools used by the simulation assisted risk assessment (SARA) project (Ref. 1) at NASA Ames Research Center in evaluating the blast overpressure risk to the crew. The primary enhancements to the model include incorporation of vapor cloud explosion (VCE) curve fits for propellant explosions, development of an improved model for the effects of vehicle velocity on blast propagation, improvement in the representation of blast/vehicle interaction effects, and incorporation of pressure vs. impulse (P-I) failure criteria to better represent structural failure modes. High-fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, using the Overflow2 (Ref. 2) code, played a crucial role in the development of some of these enhancements. A subset of the high-fidelity results is presented.
Iron mediated nitrenoid transfer: [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2(THF)]+[BF4]− catalyzed aziridination of olefins

Abstract The iron Lewis acid catalyst, [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2(THF)]+[BF4]−, has previously been found to catalyze a growing array of synthetic transformations. Building upon these precedents, the utility of the catalyst has now been extended to catalytic reaction involving olefins and (N-(p-tosyl)imino)phenyliodinane, PhI=NTs, which serves as a nitrenoid precursor, to produce aziridines with yields up to 85%.
Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Lobectomy for Stage I Lung Cancer

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is an appealing alternative to thoracotomy for lobectomy in patients who have stage I lung cancer. The success of laparoscopy in the 1980s and improved endoscopic video systems and endoscopic staplers led thoracic surgeons to apply this technology to the chest cavity. Since the first VATS lobectomy with anatomic hilar dissection performed in 1992, investigators from around the world have published small series that report the safety and advantages of this approach. This article reviews the current literature of VATS lobectomy for stage I lung cancer.
Restricted-oriented convex sets

Abstract A restricted-oriented convex set is a set of points whose intersection with any line, in a given set of orientations, is either empty or connected. This notion generalizes both orthogonal convexity and normal convexity. The aim of this paper is to establish a mathematical foundation for the theory of restricted-oriented convex sets. To this end, we prove the restricted-oriented analogs of some basic properties of convex sets and also present a decomposition theorem for them.
Characterization of biodegradable drug delivery vehicles with the adhesive properties of leukocytes

The site-specific expression of selectins (E- and P-selectin) on endothelial cells of blood vessels during inflammation provides an opportunity for the targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs to inflammatory sites. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that artificial capsules with the adhesive properties of leukocytes can be made by attaching leukocyte adhesive ligands to polystyrene microspheres. In this work, we have adapted this technology to create a targeted delivery system using biodegradable, poly lactic-co-glycolic-acid (PLGA) microspheres. Biotinylated-Sialyl Lewisx (sLex), a carbohydrate that serves as a ligand to selectins, was attached to the surface of avidin-linked PLGA microspheres. These carbohydrate-coated microspheres mimic the adhesive behavior of leukocytes on selectins in flow chambers, displaying slow rolling under flow. The rolling velocities displayed by sLex-coated microspheres were similar to those displayed by leukocytes rolling on P- or E-selectin coated surfaces, and these rolling velocities, which relate to the residence time of the capsules, can be tuned by changing the density of carbohydrate residues on microsphere surfaces. We have also demonstrated that these microspheres will release model drugs on a time scale of several days. Therefore, we have made a targeted drug delivery vehicle that mimics the adhesive properties of leukocytes and is biodegradable.
World War I: The genesis of craniomaxillofacial surgery?

Herbert Moran enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps early in World War I. His autobiography captures the impact of contemporary experience of wartime gunshot wounds, seen in vast numbers and with little understanding of the requirements of wartime surgery. Wounds of the face and brain were numerous, especially in trench fighting. In France, Germany, Britain and elsewhere, surgeons and dentists collaborated to repair mutilated faces and special centres were set up to facilitate this. The innovative New Zealand surgeon Harold Gillies developed his famous reconstructive techniques in the Queen's Hospital at Sidcup, with the help of dental surgeons, anaesthetists and medical artists. The treatment of brain wounds was controversial. Many surgeons, especially on the German side, advocated minimal primary operative surgery and delayed closure. Others advocated early exploration and immediate closure; among the first to do so was the Austro-Hungarian otologist Robert Barany. In 1918, the pioneer American neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing published well-documented proof of the desirability of definitive operative management done as soon as possible. Few World War I surgeons developed their knowledge of plastic surgery, neurosurgery and oral surgery in post-war practice. An exception was Henry Newland, who went on to pioneer the development of these specialties in Australasia. After World War II, the French plastic surgeon Paul Tessier created the multidisciplinary subspecialty of craniomaxillofacial surgery, with the help of his neurosurgical colleague Gerard Guiot, and applied this approach to the correction of facial deformities. It has become evident that the new subspecialty requires appropriate training programs.
Modeling insect dispersal and estimating parameters when mark-release techniques may cause initial disturbances

We consider the problem of quantitatively modeling movements of marked flea beetles in cultivated arrays of the cole crop, collards (Brassica oleraceae). Methods for the estimation of temporally and spatially dependent parameters in general dispersal models are outlined and a summary of our findings using these methods with flea beetle data is given.
Differences in the Vocational Interests of Research and Development Managers versus Technical Specialists.

Abstract This study compared the occupational interests of a sample of research and development managers and technical specialists. The samples were matched to be similar with regard to age, educational area, educational level, occupational tenure, and proportions engaged in research versus development. Discriminant analysis on the general occupational themes and basic interest scales of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory indicated the social, enterprising, and conventional areas predicted managerial group membership, whereas the artistic area predicted technical specialist membership. This was discussed in terms of career systems in research and development organizations.
Morphology of the pineal organ in the salamander Ensatina eschscholtzi.

The pineal organ of Ensatina eschscholtzi, a terrestrial and secretive species of salamander of the family Plethodontidae, is a photoreceptive structure lying on the dorsal surface of the diencephalon. The pineal is flattened with a broad lumen and consists of three cell types: photoreceptors, supportive cells, and neurons. Pineal photoreceptors are typical vertebrate photoreceptors and possess outer segment formations which, however, are frequently contorted and disorganized. Sloughing of apical portions of outer segments and vesiculation along the lateral edges of outer segment membrane disks are consistently observed and presumed to represent mechanisms of outer segment membrane recycling. Photoreceptors have basal processes which synapse with neural dendrites. Synapses between photoreceptor basal processes are occasionally observed. All synapses are characterized by synaptic ribbon structures of variable number, size, and configuration. Dense-core vesicles are occasionally observed mingled with clear synaptic vesicles within photoreceptor basal processes. Supportive cells within the pineal function in phagocytosis and recycling of shed outer segment membrane material, and neurons are localized at the lateral margins of the organ. The latter send axons into the ipsilateral side of the dorsal diencephalon. The pineal organ of Ensatina shows marked variation in overall size (cell total), cell type proportions, absolute neuron number, and ratio of photoreceptor number to neuron number for individual pineals. None of these morphological parameters is correlated with body size, sex, or season, and it is assumed that such variability represents significant variation in photosensory capabilities. It is suggested that the pineal organ of Ensatina is a partially degenerate photoreceptive structure.
Effects of Backbone and Endgroup on the Decomposition Mechanisms of PFPE Lubricants and Their Tribological Performance at the Head-Disk Interface

Tribo-chemical studies of the lubricant endgroup effect on the tribology of the head-disk interface were conducted using carbon disks coated with PFPE lubricant. The studies involved drag tests with uncoated and carbon-coated Al 2 O 3 -TiC sliders in an ultrahighvacuum (UHV) tribochamber. The UHV drag tests show that a good lubricant should have one active OH endgroup and one nonactive endgroup. The active one insures the lubricant is adsorbed very well onto the disk carbon surface, resulting in a lower removal rate of the lubricants during the contact sliding. The nonactive one prevents the catalytic decomposition of the lubricant in the presence of the Al 2 O 3 surface of the uncoated slider. The studies also demonstrate that the catalytic degradation process of ZDOL in the presence of Lewis acid occurs most readily at the acetal units (-O-CF 2 -O) within the internal backbones (CF 2 O and CF 2 CF 2 O) instead of the endgroup functionals. Therefore, demnum, without any acetal units, experiences less catalytic degradation with the uncoated Al 2 O 3 /TiC sliders as compared to ZDOL.
Testing Of VLSI Devices Using Electro-Optic Effects In Silicon

The Kramers-Kronig relations have been used to determine the change in index of refraction for crystalline Silicon (Si) from absorption data. The Franz-Keldysh effect and the presence of free carriers both have an effect on the index of refraction of the pn junction diode. The results have been used to predict the sensitivity of a technique for measuring on-chip voltages in VLSI devices. A difference in sensitivity for PMOS and NMOS on a single substrate is calculated, in contrast to the simple theoretical result.
Effects of prior knowledge on memory for new information.

Three experiments examined the effects of prior knowledge on the learning and retention of new information. Subjects learned varying amounts of prior knowledge about individuals referred to by first name/last name combinations. In the first two experiments, subjects more rapidly learned new information about individuals for whom they were given prior knowledge, retrieved this information more slowly, and showed smaller interference (fan) effects. This complex of results is predicted by a spreading activation model in which we assume subjects try to integrate the prior knowledge with the new information in a network fashion. The third experiment, in addition to including conditions of prior vs. no prior experimental knowledge, included well-known names like Ted Kennedy, about which subjects have a great deal of preexperimental prior knowledge. The relationships between conditions of experimental prior knowledge and no prior knowledge obtained in Experiments 1 and 2 were replicated, but the well-known names did not behave simply like the extreme of experimental prior knowledge. In particular, subjects showed the fastest verification of new facts learned about the well-known names, rather than the slowest, as predicted from the spreading activation network model.
Jumping the hurdles: barriers to mentoring for women in organizations

There is an explosion of interest in programmes to help women gain mentors in organizations. Despite the haste to jump on the “mentoring bandwagon”, there is little information on the barriers women face in obtaining a mentor. Discusses these barriers and the results of a study addressing this issue. Presents practical implications for organizations.
On the effects of surface roughness in the hydrodynamic lubrication theory of a short journal bearing

Abstract The effect of roughness of the surfaces of a journal bearing on the pressure development, load-carrying capacity, attitude and friction is studied. Roughness is treated as a random quantity, characterized by a probability density function which can be determined experimentally. If, for example, a beta distribution is assumed, which by the way can be made to approximate a Gaussian distribution very closely, results can be obtained in closed form. A numerical example is given.
Distributed stochastic search and distributed breakout: properties, comparison and applications to constraint optimization problems in sensor networks

This research is motivated by some distributed scheduling problems in distributed sensor networks, in which computational and communication resources are scarce. We first cast these problems as distributed constraint satisfaction problems (DisCSPs) and distributed constraint optimization problems (DisCOPs) and model them as distributed graph coloring. To cope with limited resources and restricted real-time requirement, it is imperative to use distributed algorithms that have low overhead on resource consumption and high-quality anytime performance. To meet these requirements, we study two existing DisCSP algorithms, distributed stochastic search algorithm (DSA) and distributed breakout algorithm (DBA), for solving DisCOPs and the distributed scheduling problems. We experimentally show that DSA has a phase-transition or threshold behavior, in that its solution quality degenerates abruptly and dramatically when the degree of parallel executions of distributed agents increases beyond some critical value. We also consider the completeness and complexity of DBA for distributed graph coloring. We show that DBA is complete on coloring acyclic graphs, coloring an acyclic graph of n nodes in O(n^2) steps. However, on a cyclic graph, DBA may never terminate. To improve DBA's performance on coloring cyclic graphs, we propose two stochastic variations. Finally, we directly compare DSA and DBA for solving distributed graph coloring and distributed scheduling problems in sensor networks. The results show that DSA is superior to DBA when controlled properly, having better or competitive solution quality and significantly lower communication cost than DBA. Therefore, DSA is the algorithm of choice for our distributed scheduling problems and other distributed problems of similar properties.