cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histo-morphologic characteristics of intra-osseous implants of WE43 Mg alloys with and without heat treatment in an in vivo cranial bone sheep model.

WE43 Mg alloy, composed of Mg, Yttrium, Rare Earth elements, and Zirconium, has proved to be a suitable candidate for production of resorbable osteosynthesis implants in both clinical and experimental settings. In a previous study we tested biocompatibility and degradation properties of untreated (as-cast) and artificially aged (T-5) WE43 Mg-alloys as subperiosteal implants on a maxillofacial sheep model. Both the alloy compositions showed excellent biocompatibility, however, with respect to degradation rate, the as-cast form showed increased degradability compared with the T-5. In the present study, we tested the same alloy composition (i.e. as-cast and T-5) to assess their biological behavior and degradation pattern when implanted as endosteal implants on a calvarial bone sheep model. Six implants in form of cylindrical discs were tested in 6 sheep, one per composition of each disc was placed in two monocortical cranial defect created with high speed trephine bur in the parietal bone. After euthanasia at 6 weeks histomorphological analysis of the bone/implant specimens was performed. WE43-as cast showed higher degradation rate, increased bone remodeling, gas pockets formation and osteolysis compared with the T5 alloy. WE43-T5 showed greater bone/implant interface stability, and seemed to be more suitable for fabrication of endosteal bone screws.
Atheistic Humanistic and Christian Humanistic Perspectives on the Human Condition

Alienation, estrangement, and in general the human condition of mankind is intimately related to the so-called myth of Adam and Eve. The Christian interpretation of the Adam and Eve story is contra...
EPIC-CoGe: managing and analyzing genomic data

Summary The EPIC-CoGe browser is a web-based genome visualization utility that integrates the GMOD JBrowse genome browser with the extensive CoGe genome database (currently containing over 30 000 genomes). In addition, the EPIC-CoGe browser boasts many additional features over basic JBrowse, including enhanced search capability and on-the-fly analyses for comparisons and analyses between all types of functional and diversity genomics data. There is no installation required and data (genome, annotation, functional genomic and diversity data) can be loaded by following a simple point and click wizard, or using a REST API, making the browser widely accessible and easy to use by researchers of all computational skill levels. In addition, EPIC-CoGe and data tracks are easily embedded in other websites and JBrowse instances. Availability and implementation EPIC-CoGe Browser is freely available for use online through CoGe (https://genomevolution.org). Source code (MIT open source) is available: https://github.com/LyonsLab/coge. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The influence of organization tenure on nurses’ perceptions of process improvement initiatives

A nurse’s optimism or skepticism towards an organization-mandated change initiative largely depends on their experience with similar change initiatives and their unit’s and organization’s track rec...
The Epidemiology of Bipolar and Nonbipolar Depression: Rates and Risks

The available English language data on the epidemiology of affective disorders are reviewed. Data on bipolar disorder and nonbipolar major depression are separated. While the nonbipolar group is heterogeneous, this distinction yields some international consistency in rates and risk factors.
Defending against Anarchy: From War to Peacekeeping in Afghanistan

If Washington does not reevaluate its current approach, Afghanistan's postwar stability might prove short‐lived. Here's a look at what kind of peacekeeping force is needed in Afghanistan, how it would best operate, and why the United States should lead it.
Facets of Incompleteness

Great intellectual discoveries, like fine gems held up before the eyes, continue to fascinate and to reveal new facets as they are beheld in the eye of the mind. As an example of this phenomenon, we may consider the Gődel incompleteness theorems, which, during the 55 years since their discovery, have repeatedly yielded new insights in the course of ongoing reinterpretation.
Multi Servers, Infinite Queue (M/M/k)

This chapter pertains to a multi-server, infinite capacity system with exponential inter-arrival and service times. Could be cars on an expressway arriving to a toll center with three tollbooths. The probability on n units, and the performance measures of the system are developed. The difference, equilibrium and reduced equations are listed, and examples are presented.
An exploration of the relationships among social psychological involvement, behavioral involvement, commitment, and future intentions in the context of birdwatching.

Using data collected from 517 visitors to a birding festival, interrelationship were investigated among two social-psychological measures of involvement (Laurent and Kapferer's IP and Zaichkowsky's...
Utilization of Hospice Care in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background:A significant percentage of terminally ill patients are discharged to hospice care following a devastating stroke.Objective:We sought to determine the factors associated with hospital di...
No Escalation of Treatment: Moving Beyond the Withholding/Withdrawing Debate.

“No escalation of treatment” (NoET) is a routine practice in the intensive care unit (Morgan et al. 2014, Lautrette et al. 2015). NoET is variably known as “do not escalate,” “no escalation of care...
STBUR: Sleep trouble breathing and unrefreshed questionnaire: Evaluation of screening tool for postanesthesia care and disposition

Background The Snoring, Trouble Breathing, and Un-Refreshed (STBUR) questionnaire is a five-question screening tool for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing and risk for perioperative respiratory adverse events in children. The utility of this questionnaire as a preoperative risk-stratification tool has not been investigated. In view of limited availability of screening tools for preoperative pediatric sleep-disordered breathing, we evaluated the questionnaire's performance for postanesthesia adverse events that can impact postanesthesia care and disposition. Methods The retrospective study protocol was approved by the institutional research board. The data were analyzed using two different definitions for a positive screening based on a five-point scale: low threshold (scores 1 to 5) and high threshold (score of 5). The primary outcome was based on the following criteria: (a) supplemental oxygen therapy following postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay until hospital discharge, (b) greater than two hours during phase 1 recovery, (c) anesthesia emergency activation in the PACU, and (d) unplanned hospital admission. Results About 6025 patients completed the questionnaire during the preoperative evaluation. And 1522 patients had a low threshold score and 270 had a high-threshold score. We found statistically significant associations in three outcomes based on the low threshold score: supplemental oxygen therapy (negative-predictive value [NPV] 0.97, 95% CI 0.97-98), PACU recovery time (NPV 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-0.99) and escalation of care (NPV 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.98). Positive-predictive values were statistically significant for all outcomes except anesthesia emergency in the PACU. Conclusion The Snoring, Trouble Breathing, and Un-Refreshed questionnaire identified patients at higher risk for prolonged phase 1 recovery, oxygen therapy requirement, and escalation of care. The questionnaire's high-negative predictive value and specificity may make it useful as a screening tool to identify patients at low risk for prolonged stay in PACU.
Chromosome 1 abnormalities and clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents.

8044Background: Abnormalities of chromosome 1 (C1A) are common genetic mutations in patients (pts) with Multiple Myeloma (MM). While several small studies have reported worse outcomes for C1A, the ...
Benchmarks of Duration and Magnitude of Opioid Consumption After Common Spinal Procedures: A Database Analysis of 47,823 Patients.

Study Design.A retrospective cohort study performed in a nationwide insurance claims database.Objective.This study aimed to examine duration and magnitude of postoperative opioid prescriptions following common spinal procedures.Summary of Background Data.Postoperative opioid prescription practices v
Benchmarking metagenomic marine microbial growth prediction from codon usage bias and peak-to-trough ratios

Growth rates are fundamental to all organisms and essential for characterizing microbial ecologies. Despite this, we do not know the instantaneous nor maximum growth rates of most naturally-occurring microorganisms. Recent reports indicate DNA replication rates can be estimated from metagenomic coverage, and maximum growth rates can be estimated from genomic characteristics. We tested these approaches with native marine bacteria (<0.6 um size fraction) as 10% inoculum grown in unamended virus-free seawater from the San Pedro Channel, California. This allowed microbial growth without grazing and with greatly reduced viral infection. At multiple time points up to 48 h, we sampled for cell abundances and metagenomic analyses. We generated 101 unique Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) including Proteobacteria, Flavobacteria, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Marine Group A/SAR406, MGII archaea, and others. We tracked the growth of each as the fraction of total metagenomic reads mapped to each MAG normalized with length, completeness, and total cell counts. Some MAGs did not grow appreciably, but those we could estimate had growth rates ranging from 0.08 to 5.99 d-1; these are the first reported growth rates for several of the groups. These metagenome-determined growth rates, which often changed within experiments, were compared to (a) DNA replication estimates from the peak-to-trough ratio (PTR) as determined by three different approaches, and (b) maximum growth rates predicted from codon usage bias (CUB). For the large majority of taxa, observed growth rates were not correlated to PTR indices (r ~ -0.26 - 0.08), with exceptions being rapidly growing Oceanospirillales and Saccharospirillaceae (r ~ 0.63 - 0.92). However, CUB was moderately well correlated to observed maximum growth rates (r = 0.57). This suggests that maximum growth rates can be reasonably well-estimated from genomic information alone, but current PTR approaches poorly predict actual growth of most marine planktonic bacteria in unamended seawater.
Deep least-squares methods: An unsupervised learning-based numerical method for solving elliptic PDEs

Abstract This paper studies an unsupervised deep learning-based numerical approach for solving partial differential equations (PDEs). The approach makes use of the deep neural network to approximate solutions of PDEs through the compositional construction and employs least-squares functionals as loss functions to determine parameters of the deep neural network. There are various least-squares functionals for a partial differential equation. This paper focuses on the so-called first-order system least-squares (FOSLS) functional studied in [3] , which is based on a first-order system of scalar second-order elliptic PDEs. Numerical results for second-order elliptic PDEs in one dimension are presented.
Rats are protected from the stress of chronic pressure overload compared with mice.

The goal of this investigation was to compare the effects of chronic (4 wk) transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6J mice. TAC, after 1 day, induced similar left ven...
A quantitative model for oral administration of living therapeutics

As medicine shifts toward precision-based and personalized therapeutics, utilizing more complex biomolecules to treat increasingly difficult and rare conditions, microorganisms provide an avenue for realizing the production and processing necessary for novel drug pipelines. More so, probiotic microbes can be co-opted to deliver therapeutics by oral administration as living drugs, able to survive and safely transit the digestive tract. As living therapeutics are in their nascency, traditional pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) models for evaluating drug candidates are not appropriate for this novel platform. Using a living therapeutic in late-stage clinical development for phenylketonuria (PKU) as a case study, we adapt traditional oral drug delivery models to properly evaluate and inform the engineering of living therapeutics. We develop the adapted for living therapeutics compartmental absorption and transit (ALT-CAT) model to provide metrics for drug efficacy across nine age groups of PKU patients and evaluate model parameters that are influenced by patient physiology, microbe selection and therapeutic production, and dosing formulations.
Significance of Nodal Metastasis in Parotid Gland Acinar Cell Carcinoma

Objectives To evaluate the rate of lymph node metastasis in parotid gland acinar cell carcinoma, to identified factors associated with increased risk of metastasis, and to evaluate the effect of nodal metastasis on survival. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from a large population-based cancer database. Data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database. The study cohort included patients with parotid gland acinar cell carcinoma diagnosed between 2000 and 2015. Results The overall rate of lymph node metastasis was 6.8%. T3/T4 (OR 6.17, 95% CI, 3.03 to 13.16) disease along with High Grade (OR 15.95) disease were associated with increased risk of nodal metastasis. Non-white, non-Black race was associated with decreased risk. Age and sex were not associated with nodal metastasis. Nodal metastasis was associated with worse OS (HR 6.27, 95% CI, 3.85 to 10.20) and DSS (HR 6.96, 95% CI, 3.81 to 12.73) after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion Parotid gland acinar cell carcinoma carries a low risk of nodal metastasis. Both advanced T stage and high grade are associated with increased risk of nodal metastasis. Nodal metastasis is associated with decreased overall survival. Level of evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 131:E1125-E1129, 2021.
Utility of lavage in addition to native fluid collection during fluoroscopically guided joint aspiration in infection diagnosis.

Image-guided prosthetic joint aspirations have been criticized in the literature as having poor sensitivity and specificity. Native fluid is typically analyzed for the presence of infection. Joint lavage during fluoroscopically guided aspiration of prosthetic joints is not routinely performed, and the lavage aspirate is not typically analyzed unless native fluid could not be aspirated for culture. This study aims to determine if concordance of culture results from native fluid and an additional joint lavage sample improves sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection by fluoroscopically guided joint aspiration. A retrospective review of the fluoroscopically guided joint aspirations at our institution between December 2007 and December 2009 was performed. Data collected from the electronic medical record included culture results for both native fluid and lavage aspirate, histopathology results, final clinical diagnosis, as well as clinical/surgical management. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and likelihood ratio for infection were calculated for the following culture analysis scenarios: native fluid alone; lavage aspirate alone; native fluid; and lavage aspirate. Five hundred sixty-three aspirations, mostly prosthetic joints, were identified in the reviewed time period, of which 397 were sent for both native fluid and lavage aspirate analysis. Concordance between positive culture results from native fluid and joint lavage aspirate markedly increased the likelihood ratio for infection from 23.8 to 138.7 and improved specificity and PPV of fluoroscopically guided joint aspiration, with similar sensitivity and NPV to that of native fluid culture alone.
Simple Nonparametric Approach to Derivative Security Valuation

A simple completely nonparametric approach to the valuation of derivative securities (e.g. options) is advocated as an alternative to existing parametric models when the latter fail or are too computationally costly. In contrast to parametric models and tree models, what I call "canonical valuation" requires only historical times series of user-designated primary asset returns, and is thus distribution- free. These data are resampled to produce the required distribution of primary assets prices at any date in the future. Then an axiomatically-rationalized procedure is used to produce risk-neutral probabilities that correctly price the primary assets, as well as any pre-designated subset of derivative securities whose payoffs occur at this date. Valuation of any other derivative security then proceeds by the familiar calculation of the risk-neutral expected value of its risklessly-discounted payoff. This method is illustrated by applying it to the valuation of S&P 500 index options. It is well-established that the Black-Scholes model has badly failed to price these options since the Crash of 1987. Because canonical valuation depends on historical index returns, the impact of the Crash on canonical option prices can be evaluated. It is shown that time series of returns must include the Crash era in order to produce canonical option prices that don't suffer from the documented errors in Black-Scholes prices.
The effect of a web-push survey on physician survey responses rates: a randomized experiment.

# Background Achieving a high response rate for physicians has been challenging, and with response rates declining in recent years, innovative methods are needed to increase rates. An emerging concept in survey methodology has been web-push survey delivery. With this delivery method, contact is made by mail to request a response by web. This study explored the feasibility of a web-push survey on a national sample of physicians. # Methods A total of 1,000 physicians across six specialties were randomly assigned to a mail-only or web-push survey delivery. Each mode consisted of four contacts including an initial mailing, reminder postcard, and two additional follow-ups. Response rates were calculated using the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s response rate 3 calculation. Data collection occurred between Febuary and April 2018; data were analyzed March 2019. # Results Overall reponse rates for the mail-only versus web-push survey delivery were comparable (51.2% vs. 52.8%). Higher response rates across all demographics were seen in the web-push delivery, with the exception of pulmonary/critical care and physicians over the age of 65. The web-push survey yielded a greater response after the first mailing, requiring fewer follow-up contacts resulting in a more cost-effective delivery. # Conclusions A web-push mail survey is effective in achieving a comparable response rate to traditional mail-only delivery for physicians. The web-push survey was more efficient in terms of cost and in receiving responses in a more timely manner. Future research should explore the efficiency of a web-push survey delivery across various health care provider populations.
Effects of Public Health Insurance Expansions on the Non-Healthcare Consumption Expenditures of Low-Income Households

I explore patterns of non-healthcare consumption in targeted U.S. households due to public health insurance expansions. Specifically, I investigate the effects of the recent Medicaid expansions on eligible low-income households’ recurring food and other preventative non-healthcare consumption expenditures. I use a consumer panel data that deploys at-home scanner technology to track grocery purchases. Using an event-study design, and a triple difference-in-differences framework, I find that the Medicaid eligible households from expansion states spent less on fresh produce per adult and more on health and beauty products after the Medicaid expansion. Almost all the increase in the health and beauty product expenditure is due to an increase in expenditure on over-the-counter medications and remedies, which are more responsive and palliative than preventative in nature. The robust reduction in fresh produce expenditures and increase in expenditures on over-the-counter medications and remedies suggests that while expanded public health insurance increases formal healthcare activity and it decreases informal preventative non-healthcare expenditures. These new patterns of non-healthcare consumption may occur because of improved finances due to subsidized healthcare, changes in relative costs of healthcare and non-healthcare consumption, or the substitution between healthcare and preventative non-healthcare consumption. These findings may begin to shift the focus in the literature on the unintended consequences of Medicaid expansion from sins of commission, i.e., moral hazard responses such as increased smoking, alcohol use and junk food consumption, to sins of omission, i.e., responses in which preventative health habits erode.
Lagrangian analysis for turbulent transport in variable-density turbulence

It is shown that the basis functions of gradient transport theory are different when there is an additional materially conserved variable. The turbulent fluxes now depend on the mean density gradient indicating the possibility of counter gradient transport from first principles as seen in some laboratory experiments. It is shown that arguments by analogy from constant density transport for the Favre fluxes are not consistent with the Lagrangian results.
Long-term results of low-intensity chemotherapy with clofarabine or cladribine combined with low-dose cytarabine alternating with decitabine in older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

Background The treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using intensive chemotherapy is associated with treatment intolerance and poor survival. We evaluated two new lower-intensity regimens with clofarabine (n=119) or cladribine (n=129) combined with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) alternating with decitabine. Methods We reviewed response rates by subgroup and long term outcomes of 248 patients with newly diagnosed non core-binding-factor AML treated on two clinical trials investigating double nucleoside-analogue therapy (DNT) alternating with HMA from October 2008 to April 2018. Results Of 248 patients with a median age of 69 years (range, 49-85 years), 102 patients (41%) were ≥ 70 years, and 108 (44 %) had adverse karyotype. Overall, 164 patients (66%) responded:147 (59%) complete remission (CR) and 17 (7%) CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi). With a median follow up of 60 months, median relapse-free and overall survival (OS) were 10.8 months and 12.5 months, respectively. The two-year OS was 29%. Among patients with normal karyotype, the CR/CRi rate was 79 % and the median OS 19.9 months. High response rates and OS were observed in patients with mutations in NPM1, FLT3, IDH2, and RUNX1. The 4- and 8-week mortality rates were 2% and 11%, respectively. Conclusion The backbone of clofarabine or cladribine and LDAC alternating with decitabine was effective and safe for the treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed AML. Incorporating targeted therapies could extend the efficacy of this approach and provide more curative therapeutic options in this AML population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Eco-Cosmologies: Renewable Energy

Prehistoric stone circles found throughout Europe offer challenges to interpretation. The Beltany Stone Circle, located on a prominent hilltop near to the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, has long attracted speculative interpretations. This chapter reconsiders the ecological concerns that may have underlain the arduous construction of monuments linked to a number of other significant sites tracing out related pathways of cosmological power in the landscape. All of these sites are on hilltops, suggesting that power was thought to be transmitted from hill to hill. Similar ritual landscapes of power are found in Papua New Guinea, where powerful knowledge was transmitted ritually across groups and was held to stimulate fertility, especially after environmental setbacks, such as floods and landslides. In all of these cases, religious practices turn out to be essentially ecological in character, designed to cope with the perturbations of adverse environmental episodes.
External Ventricular Drain Placement

External ventricular drain placement is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in patients with a variety of intracranial pathologies. Ventriculostomy still remains the gold standard for ICP monitoring. It allows for measurement of ICP as well as drainage of CSF. Even with the availability of image-guided techniques using stereotaxis, endoscopy, or ultrasound, external ventriculostomy drain placement is still routinely performed with a freehand pass technique using surface anatomical landmarks. This can be done in intensive care unit, emergency room, or operating room. Though it is widely accepted that EVD placement may be a lifesaving intervention in most scenarios, the benefits can be offset by procedural and catheter-related complications, such as hemorrhage along the catheter tract, catheter malposition, and CSF infection. This chapter explains the indications and contraindications of external ventricular drain, detailed step by step explanation of procedure and most common complications that may present.
A Comparison of Radiation Exposure Readings of Thermoluminescent Dosimeter Ring Badges When Worn in Different Positions

3064 Purpose: The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether the position of a thermoluminescent dosimeter crystal (TLD) results in different exposure rates. Methods: Nine subjects wore two TLD badges (one inward facing and one outward facing) for two months. Both TLDs were worn on the dominant hand on the middle finger with the TLD facing inward placed on the bottom and the outward facing TLD placed on top. At the end of the first month both TLDs were turned in and they were given two new TLDs. Combined results from the badges for the two months were recorded in millisieverts. A paired t-test with two sample means was performed comparing positions, for general nuclear medicine and PET/CT subjects, with an alpha of 0.05. Results: For all subjects and for general nuclear medicine and PET/CT groups, mean exposure was greater on the inward-facing TLD. Conclusions: Maximum extremity exposure readings for TLDs worn on the dominant hand are seen when the TLD is worn facing in toward the palm.
Thermal Dissipation Approach Comparison and Evaluation for SiC Surface Mount Devices

Surface-mount packages offer Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFETs with many advantages, including highly reduced parasitic inductance, smaller size, and reduced manufacturing cost. However, in high power applications, the thermal performance of the discrete surface-mount device (SMD) is concerning compared to through-hole counterparts. This paper seeks to evaluate various surface mount cooling approaches. Topside heat sink, thermal via, metal core printed circuit board (MC PCB), and aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramic inlay approaches are considered and evaluated in detail based on introduced thermal resistance and heat dissipation capacity. Mathematical analysis, and experimental verifications are provided to support the conclusion.
Clinical Importance of Anatomic Variation of the Nerves of the Upper Extremity

Appreciation of nerve variation is essential for clinical practice. It provides insight into the variability of patient presentation and mechanisms of injury. Awareness facilitates surgical safety and efficacy. Clinically significant anatomic variation can be divided into two main heuristics: variability in the course or distribution of a nerve and variability of structures that may physically impinge on a nerve. This chapter illustrates these two patterns and details the specifics of the more common variations that need to be understood by clinicians and surgeons.
A Role for MYC in Lithium-Stimulated Repair of the Colonic Epithelium After DSS-Induced Damage in Mice

Chronic inflammation disrupts the colonic epithelial layer in patients afflicted by ulcerative colitis (UC). The use of inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase three beta (GSK3β) has proven efficacious to mitigate disease symptoms in rodent models of UC by reducing the pro-inflammatory response. Less is known about whether these inhibitors promote colonic regeneration by stimulating proliferation of colonic epithelial cells. We investigated whether delivery of the GSK3β inhibitor, lithium chloride (LiCl), during the recovery period from acute DSS-induced colitis in mice promoted colonic regeneration and ameliorated disease symptoms. We also tested whether the c-MYC transcription factor (MYC) was involved in this response. Acute colitis was induced by administration of 2.5 % dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to wild-type C57BL/6 mice for 5 days. During the recovery period, mice received a daily intraperitoneal (IP) injection of LiCl or 1X PBS as a control. Mice were weighed, colon lengths measured, disease activity index (DAI) scores were assessed, and histological analyses were performed on colonic sections. We analyzed transcripts and proteins in purified preparations of the colonic epithelium. We delivered the MYC inhibitor 10058-F4 via IP injection to assess the role of MYC in colonic regeneration. Lithium treatments promoted recovery from acute DSS-induced damage by increasing expression of Myc transcripts, MYC proteins, and expression of a subset of Wnt/MYC target genes in the colonic epithelium. Inhibiting MYC function with 10058-F4 blunted the lithium response. By inducing Myc expression in the colonic epithelium, lithium promotes colonic regeneration after DSS-induced colitis. Therefore, the use of lithium may be of therapeutic value to manage individuals afflicted by UC.
Incorporating Molecular Signature Descriptors in Reverse Problem Formulations

Abstract The recently introduced concept of reverse problem formulation has been helpful for the solution of integrated process and product design problems from a properties perspective. A new algorithm has been developed that utilizes molecular property operators based on molecular signatures to obtain the molecular structures corresponding to the property targets estimated during the process design step. The algorithm allows property models based on different Topological indices (TI) and group contribution models to be represented on the same property platform.
The effect of unilateral naris occlusion on cell dynamics in the developing rat olfactory epithelium

The effect of unilateral naris occlusion on the cellular dynamics of developing olfactory epithelium was investigated in postnatal rats. Nares of rat pups, at 1, 5, and 10 d postnatally, were cauterized; after a 30 d survival period, the olfactory mucosa was examined histologically, and quantitative estimates were made of total number of receptor neurons (together with basal cells), supporting cells, and epithelial thickness. In each group, there were significant differences between occluded and patent sides in total numbers of neurons and in epithelial thickness but no difference in number of supporting cells. The differences were greater in the animals that had been occluded for 1–30 d than in the 5–35 or 10–40 d groups, suggesting that the earlier postnatal days are more sensitive to the effects of occlusion. We evaluated the number of mature olfactory neurons by staining immunohistochemically with an antibody against olfactory marker protein. There were no differences in the number of mature receptor neurons between the occluded and non-occluded sides, indicating the effect of naris occlusion was on the neurons in the immature and/or the “almost mature” population. Using 3H-thymidine autoradiography, we determined that there was a 40% reduction in the rate of neurogenesis in the animals occluded 1–30 d after birth. Further, the rate of cell proliferation in nasal respiratory epithelium declined by approximately the same amount.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
New experimental evidence for a new interpretation of flavor SU(3)

Present experimental data require a refinement of the Cabibbo model in which SU(3) is interpreted as spectrum generating group.
THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF BIOTIN IN MICROORGANISMS. III. THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF (+)-BIOTIN FROM DESTHIOBIOTIN AND ITS CONTROL IN ESCHERICHIA COLI,

Abstract : The conversion of desthiobiotin to (+)-biotin by Escherichia coli has been studied. Desthiobiotin is converted to (+)-biotin, as identified by bioautography by both growing and resting cells of a biotinless mutant strain of E. coli. The conversion is also demonstrable in resting cells of a wild-type strain of E. coli. No converting activity was found in either the mutant or wild-type strains which had been grown in the presence of exogenous (+)-biotin. Oxybiotin and desthiobiotin did not cause such repression. The results are in agreement with previous findings that biotin synthesis from glucose is repressed by (+)-biotin, and supports the role of this converting step as the functioning biosynthetic route to the vitamin. (Author)
Role of modifications in tyrosine transfer RNA. II. Ribothymidylate-deficient tRNA.

Abstract The ability of suppressor tyrosine transfer RNA to participate in protein synthesis was studied in an E. coli mutant unable to synthesize ribothymidylate. Sequence analysis has shown that uracil replaces thymine in the common TψCG sequence. This transfer RNA is able to support protein synthesis at a rate equivalent to that observed with normally methylated transfer RNA.
BUSINESS STRATEGY IN THE WIRED WORLD: COMPETING FOR MARKET LEADERSHIP AND MIND SHARE

This paper examines how firms use the Internet and the emerging "globalinfostructure" to improve key processes and competitive capabilities. Itproposes the widespread diffusion of the emerging "infostructure" willdramatically reduce transaction costs, leading to growth in electroniccommerce and productivity while reducing the profit opportunities ofinefficient firms. In this wired world characterized by low transaction costsand noisy environments, firms will have to re-focus their strategies toachieve market leadership and capture mind share for competitiveadvantage. To achieve market leadership firms must seek advantage fromeconomies of scale, scope, or externalities. Alternatively they mustdifferentiate themselves through unique merchandise and innovation ordevelop specialized customer relations. To capture mind share firms mustdevelop integrated cross media marketing programs. These programs willpush products through various online or related promotions or developstrong brand identities for products. Thus this paper identifies competitiveissues in a wired world and outlines various foci for strategic responses to theabove challenges.
Intergroup Threat Theory

Over the past several decades, a growing number of social scientists have become interested in the role that threats play in intergroup conflict. Threats are believed to be a major cause of conflict as well as an impediment to peace and reconciliation. In this essay we explore these two issues using the intergroup threat theory as a framework. We also discuss psychological processes and techniques involved in reducing intergroup threats. Keywords: intergroup threat; intergroup emotions; cognitive biases; threat reduction
Predicting international Facebook ties through cultural homophily and other factors

This study describes the structure of the international Facebook friendship network and its determinants using various predictors, including physical proximity, cultural homophily, and communication. Network analysis resulted in one group of nations, with countries that bridge geographic and linguistic clusters (France, Spain, United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirates) being the most central. Countries with international Facebook friendship ties tended to share borders, language, civilization, and migration. Physical distance, shared hyperlinks, use of common websites, telephone traffic, cultural similarity, and international student exchange were either weakly or not significantly related to international Facebook friendships.
Direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens in a clinical laboratory by polymerase chain reaction.

The emergence of epidemic multiple-drug-resistant (MDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in conjunction with an increase in the number of reported cases of tuberculosis (TB) represents a major public health problem. In light of a recent outbreak of MDR M. tuberculosis at our center, we began the development of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary TB using two sets of primers, one based on the IS6110 repeated sequence of M. tuberculosis and the other based on the protein antigen b (PAB). Reaction conditions were first optimized as to the appropriate extraction protocol and the concentrations of primer pairs, nucleotides, and MgCl2. Following a preliminary evaluation of the assay with clinical specimens, extraction and amplification procedures were further modified. PAB and IS6110 primers detected between 2 and 23 and 0.023 and 0.23 CFU of M. tuberculosis, respectively, in pooled, M. tuberculosis-negative sputa by our optimized PCR assay. After routine processing for mycobacteria, 734 specimens were subsequently amplified. DNA for amplification was obtained by boiling and beating the sediments with Tween 20. For each reaction, DNA (10 microliters) was added to an amplification mixture containing 12 pmol of IS6110 primers, 20 pmol of PAB primers, 2 mM MgCl2, 200 microM nucleotides, and 2.5 U of Taq polymerase and the mixture was then amplified for 40 cycles. The sensitivity and specificity of our PCR assay were 87.2 and 97.7%, respectively. We were unable to interpret the results for seven specimens (1%). In our experience, PCR proved to be a useful rapid diagnostic test for TB in a clinical setting and a valuable epidemiological tool for determining exposure groups in the hospital setting. Our findings also underscore the need for the systematic optimization of PCR assay conditions. Images
Challenging an Ice-Core Paleothermometer

Temperatures measured in a borehole in the Greenland ice sheet can offer clues about the past history of the Earth9s surface temperature and climate. MacAyeal in his Perspective provides background and commentary to accompany a research report by Cuffey et al. which challenges previous climate histories derived from ice-core oxygen isotope data, and offers a new calibration of this “paleothermometer” based on a climate history derived from borehole temperatures.
Cyclicity of vocal activity increases during conversation: support for a nonlinear systems model of dyadic social interaction

Chapple's model of dyadic face-to-face social interaction describes how conversation partners develop mutually entrained activity cycles over time. Past applications of frequency domain analysis to noncontent vocal activity in adult conversations document that vocal activity and other behavioral and physiological processes do tend to vary cyclically during social interaction, as Chapple's theory predicts. However, the observed cycles in amount of talk are irregular, and it has been suggested that they represent only a stochastic variation rather than the operation of deterministic mechanisms. The present study demonstrates that cyclicity in amount of talk increases over time as a conversation progresses, possibly because of mutual entrainment between partner activity rhythms. Periodogram analysis of 83 conversations in opposite sex adult stranger dyads indicated that the average percent of variance due to cyclicity increased from 37% in the first ten minutes to 42% in the last ten minutes of forty-minute get-acquainted conversations; this increase was statistically significant, p < .05. No gender differences in cyclicity were found. Results were interpreted as support for Chapple's nonlinear systems model of social interaction, which describes dyadic social interaction as a loosely coupled ensemble of physiological and behavioral rhythms.
Creating New Types of Carbon-Based Membranes

Carbon-based membranes ( 1 ) for gas separations, which can be produced by pyrolysis of various precursor polymers, have had limited commercial use to date, in part because of their high cost and fragile mechanical nature. In this issue, unusual permeation behavior is reported for membranes made from two quite different forms of carbon that make them attractive for molecular separations or perhaps other uses. On page 442, Nair et al. ( 2 ) describe extremely rapid permeation of water through graphene oxide (GO) membranes that are essentially impermeable to other liquids and to helium, while on page 444, Karan et al. ( 3 ) report ultrafast permeation of organic solvents through diamond-like carbon nanosheets that reject larger dissolved molecules.
A versatile and inexpensive XRD specimen holder for highly radioactive or hazardous specimens

Two XRD sample holders have been designed for use with highly radioactive samples. An injection mold that allows us to produce the holders inexpensively has been constructed for one of the holders. These holders are suitable for single-time use. The ease of use and the disposable nature have resulted in a dramatic reduction in personnel exposure and an uncontaminated XRD unit. A second holder, based on the design of the first, is used to obtain XRD patterns from powders where preferred orientation is an issue and from clays. Both holders result in negligible background, since the sample is essentially levitated in the x-ray beam. This is a benefit over other methods, such as collodion, that introduce significant background to the XRD pattern.
Physical cyber social computing for human experience

Computing has a critical role in solving some of the grand challenges spanning health and wellbeing, sustainability, and prevention of crime. Traditionally, computing has focused on a single narrow view of the problem to provide solutions ignoring the essential human experience component. The availability of low-cost sensors and mobile devices leading to simultaneous and continuous access to events spanning physical, cyber, and social worlds demands rethinking of the traditional computational approaches. We propose Physical-Cyber-Social (PCS) computing, that takes a human centric and holistic view of computing by analyzing observations, knowledge, and experiences from physical, cyber, and social worlds. We exemplify real-world problems that demands the approach of PCS computing and outline the research challenges in building algorithms and techniques for PCS computing.
Social modeling as a determinant of drinking behavior: implications for prevention and treatment.

Abstract The consumption of alcohol has often been described as a socially mediated activity (MacAndrew & Edgerton, 1969). Social-learning approaches of alcohol use endorse this view and conceptualize drinking habits as being on a continuum from abstinence to problem drinking. On such a continuum the “social drinker” represents a moderate level of alcohol use. Moderate drinking habits are said to develop via the laws of learning, including the influence of social processes such as modeling. Since we learn adaptive styles and levels of alcohol use via such social influence processes it seems likely that the use of techniques such as modeling should be a highly effective strategy for preventing and treating the development of maladaptive drinking habits.
Influence of mevinolin on experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits

Summary Two groups of eight rabbits each were fed an atherogenic diet (2% cholesterol in 6% corn oil) for eight weeks. One group was given a daily oral dose of 2.5 mg/kg of mevinolin, a potent inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. The test compound was given by gavage dissolved in 0.5 ml of dimethyl-sulfoxide. The control group was given the vehicle alone. Rabbits treated with mevinolin exhibited significantly lower serum cholesterol levels and significantly less severe atherosclerosis.
Discussion of “Reserve constrained multi-area economic dispatch employing differential evolution with time-varying mutation” by Manisha Sharma et al. “International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems”, 33 March (2011) 753–766

Abstract This short communication presents a discussion of “Reserve constrained multi-area economic dispatch employing differential evolution with time-varying mutation” by Manisha Sharma et al. “International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems”, 33 March (2011) 753–766. The discussed paper presented a multi-area economic dispatch solution for a large 40-unit system having complexities like valve point loading effects, ramp rate constraints, prohibited operating zones and transmission constraints for a large 40-unit system. Multi-area economic dispatch for such a large and complex system was not reported before in available literature. However in the reported results one unit is violating the constraints. In this communication, corrected results with lesser costs than reported in the discussed paper are presented.
Ca2+-dependent cell surface protein phosphorylation may be involved in the initiation of DNA synthesis.

Incubating T51B rat liver cells in Ca/sup 2 +/-deficient, serum-rich medium containing only 0.02 mM Ca/sup 2 +/ strikingly decreased the phosphorylation of several trypsin-removable cell surface proteins and arrested the cells in late G/sub 1/ phase. Raising the Ca/sup 2 +/ concentration in the Ca/sup 2 +/ -deficient medium from 0.02 mM to 0.5 mM or adding 80 nM TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate), a protein kinase C activator, stimulated the phosphorylation of a certain set of surface proteins within 5 min and the initiation of DNA replication within the next 2 hr. By contrast, incubation in the same Ca/sup 2 +/-deficient medium, which does not affect the proliferation of neoplastic T51B-261B cells, did not reduce the phosphorylation of cell surface proteins. These observations suggest that the stimulation of a Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent protein kinase (possibly protein kinase C) directly or indirectly phosphorylates certain cell surface proteins that might be part of the mechanism that triggers the Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent G/sub 1/ ..-->.. S transition of normal cells. They also suggest that an alteration of this Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent protein kinase might be the reason for neoplastic cells being able to proliferate in the face of an external Ca/sup 2 +/ shortagemore » that would stop the proliferation of normal cells.« less
Research productivity and scholarly accomplishment of college teachers as related to their instructional effectiveness: A review and exploration

This analysis reviews the research that has been done on the connection between research productivity or scholarly accomplishment of faculty members and their teaching effectiveness (as assessed by their students). On average, there is a very small positive association between the two variables. To understand this relationship better, extant research was explored for factors that might mediate either positive or inverse associations between research productivity and teaching effectiveness and those that possibly could be common causes of them. Pedagogical practices and dispositions of faculty members, as well as certain course or class characteristics (size of class, electivity of course), were examined as potential mediating factors. Potential common causes investigated were academic rank and age of faculty members, their general ability, their personality characteristics, and the amount of time or effort they spend on research activities. The association between research productivity and teaching effectiveness was explored further by considering whether its size and direction varies by career stage of faculty members, their academic discipline, and the type of college or university in which they teach.