cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanoelectrochemistry of soft electroactive materials via surface-tracked scanning electrochemical microscopy

Real time measurement of time-correlated ion transport and volumetric changes in electroactive materials is necessary to understand and model mechanoelectrochemistry. Reversible reduction and oxidation of soft electroactive materials such as conducting polymers result in the deformation of the material due to ion transport into and out of the polymer backbone. In cells, ion transport and volumetric expansion are collectively responsible for homeostasis that is essential for life functions and hence, mechanoelectrochemistry of cells is essential to understand cell and developmental biology. The characterization methods required to investigate mechanoelectrochemistry require nanoscale spatial resolution for the imaging of a redox active site in a polymer or a small group of transmembrane proteins in a single cell. Towards this goal, we present an imaging technique using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) hardware with shear-force (SF) feedback for high bandwidth mechanoelectrochemistry characterization. In this proceedings article, we demonstrate this technique referred to as surface-tracked scanning electrochemical microscopy technique (ST-SECM) that is realized by measuring the structural feedback of the glass electrode to position the electrode in 10s of nanometers above the surface of a polypyrrole membrane doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonate (PPy(DBS)). Two ultra-microelectrodes of controlled dimensions (of 20 μm and 30 μm glass diameter) were fabricated using a hydrofluoric acid etching technique and were used to generate a spatially correlated ion storage map of PPy(DBS). We compare the developed technique to a three-dimensional discrete scan over the surface and show that a ST-SECM technique produces a higher resolution and takes approximately 200 fewer minutes as compared to the conventional technique.
InCheck: An In-application Recovery Scheme for Soft Errors

An ideal solution for soft error tolerance should hide the effect of soft errors from user and provide correct results at expected time. Software solutions are attractive because they can provide flexible reliability without imposing any hardware modifications. Our investigation of state-of-the-art error recovery techniques reveals that they suffer from poor coverage (ability to detect and correctly recover from soft errors). This paper presents InCheck (In-application Checkpointing and Recovery) as an effective, safe and timely software technique for complete error coverage. The key features of InCheck are: verified register preservation, single memory location checkpoints, and safe & timely recovery. To evaluate the effectiveness of InCheck, we performed more than 210,000 fault injection experiments on different hardware components of an ARM cortex53-like processor running MiBench applications. The original and SWIFT-R (state-of-the-art) protected programs suffered from 8000 and 1800 instances of wrong outputs respectively, but when protected by InCheck, there was no failure.
A Rule Based 2-D Vision System to Determine Part Orientation

Abstract A simple method to determine part orientation is discussed. The degree of orientation of a part is defined as the angle of intersection formed between a vector a and the X axis of the vision system, where a is defined as the shortest side of a scalene triangle formed from three system generated points. The system triangle is constructed using either selected vertices from the orthogonal view of the part, or centroids of the internal features in the view. The procedure works well with parts having a wide variety of shapes. However, the system has some problems determining orientation of parts that are highly symmetrical about the axis of insertion.
Thyroid storm in a pediatric high voltage electrical burn injury

Abstract Thyroid storm can be triggered by trauma to the neck and upper chest. In the setting of a severe burn injury can be complex to diagnose and treat. In this case-report we discuss a case of a pediatric patient who suffered a high voltage electrical burn injury to his neck and chest and subsequently developed thyroid storm that was successfully treated with methimazole and corticosteroids. We discuss his medical course and treatment and outline strategies to diagnose and treat thyroid storm in the setting of a severe electrical burn injury.
Leakage kinetics of the liposomal chemotherapeutic agent Doxil: The role of dissolution, protonation, and passive transport, and implications for mechanism of action

Doxil, a liposomal formulation of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, is FDA-approved for multiple indications. Doxil liposomes are designed to retain doxorubicin in circulation, minimize clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system, and limit uptake in healthy tissue. Although pharmacokinetic data and survival statistics from clinical trials provide insight into distribution and efficacy, many details of the mechanism of action remain unresolved, despite the importance in translating liposome-based drug delivery systems to other molecules and cargo. Therefore, the objective of this study is to quantitatively assess the kinetics of doxorubicin leakage from Doxil liposomes. In contrast to previous studies, we consider three processes: dissolution of solid doxorubicin, protonation/deprotonation of soluble doxorubicin, and passive transport of neutral doxorubicin across the lipid bilayer of the liposomes. Experiments were performed for Doxil, Doxil-like liposomes, and Doxil-like liposomes with reduced cholesterol and pegylation. To mimic physiological conditions, we also performed experiments in serum and under slightly acidic conditions at pH5. We show that crystalline doxorubicin dissolution can be described by a first order rate constant of 1.0×10-9cms-1 at 37°C. Doxorubicin leakage can be described by first order rate constant for transport across the lipid bilayer with values in the range from 1 to 3×10-12cms-1 at 37°C. Based on these results we discuss implications for the mechanism of action, taking Doxil pharmacokinetics into account.
Enabling versatile analysis of large scale traffic video data with deep learning and HiveQL

While monocular roadside cameras have been widely deployed and used to monitor traffic conditions across the United States, the analysis of those video data are commonly implemented either manually or through commercial applications tailor-made for specific tasks. The goal of this project is to develop an efficient system that can meet dynamic content based video analysis needs and scale to large scale traffic camera video data. The proposed system utilizes deep learning methods to recognize objects in the video data. That information can then be processed and analyzed through an analysis layer implemented using Spark and Hive. The analysis layer supports HiveQL, which enables end users to conduct sophisticated analysis with customized queries. In this paper, we present the implementation of this prototype application in details. The application can utilize both GPU and multiple CPUs to accelerate its computation. We evaluated its performance and scalability with different hardware and parameter settings, including Intel Knights Landing, Intel Skylake, Nvidia K40 GPU, and Nvidia P100 GPU, for object recognition. To demonstrate its versatile, we show two practical use case examples: counting moving vehicles and identifying scenes including pedestrians and vehicles. We show the accuracy of the system by comparing vehicular counts produced by the analysis with manually annotated results. The comparison shows our methods can achieve over eighty percent accuracy comparing to manual results.
Autoignition of trans -decalin, a diesel surrogate compound: Rapid compression machine experiments and chemical kinetic modeling

Abstract Decahydronaphthalene (decalin), with both cis and trans isomers, is a bicyclic alkane that is found in aviation fuels, diesel fuels, and alternative fuels from tar sands and oil shales. Between the two decalin isomers, trans-decalin has a lower cetane number, is energetically more stable, and has a lower boiling point. Moreover, trans-decalin has often been chosen as a surrogate component to represent two-ring naphthenes in transportation fuels. Recognizing the importance of understanding the chemical kinetics of trans-decalin in the development of surrogate models, an experimental and modeling study has been conducted. Experimentally, the autoignition characteristics of trans-decalin were investigated using a rapid compression machine (RCM) by using trans-decalin/O2/N2 mixtures at compressed pressures of PC= 10–25 bar, low-to-intermediate compressed temperatures of TC= 620–895 K, and varying equivalence ratios of ϕ = 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. These new experimental data demonstrate the effects of pressure, fuel loading, and oxygen concentration on autoignition of trans-decalin. The current RCM data of trans-decalin at lower temperatures were also found to complement well with the literature shock tube data of decalin (mixture of cis + trans) at higher temperatures. Furthermore, a chemical kinetic model for the oxidation of trans-decalin has been developed with new reaction rates and pathways, including, for the first time, a fully-detailed representation of low-temperature chemical kinetics for trans-decalin. This model shows good agreement with the overall ignition delay results of the current RCM experiments and the literature shock tube studies. Chemical kinetic analyses of the developed model were further conducted to help identify the fuel decomposition pathways and the reactions controlling the autoignition at varying conditions.
Constitutive modeling of materials and contacts using the disturbed state concept: Part 1 – Background and analysis

Abstract Computer methods have opened a new era for accurate and economic analysis and design of engineering problems. They account for many significant factors such as arbitrary geometries, nonhomogeneities in material composition, complex boundary conditions, nonlinear material behavior (constitutive modeling) and complex loading conditions, which were difficult to include in conventional and closed form solution procedures. Constitutive modeling characterizes the mechanical behavior of solids and contacts (e.g. interfaces and joints), and plays perhaps the most important role for realistic solutions from procedures in computational mechanics. A great number of constitutive models, from simple to the advanced, have been proposed. Most of them account for specific characteristics of the material. However, a deforming material may experience, simultaneously, many characteristics such as elastic, plastic and creep strains, different loading (stress) paths, volume change under shear stress, microcracking leading to fracture and failure, strain softening or degradation, and healing or strengthening. Hence, there is a need for developing unified models that account for these characteristics. The main objective of these two papers is to present a brief review of the available constitutive models, and identify their capabilities and limitations; then a novel and unified approach, called the disturbed state concept (DSC) with hierarchical single surface (HISS) plasticity, is presented including its theoretical background, constitutive parameters and their determination, and validation at the test specimen and boundary value problem levels. The general capabilities of the DSC/HISS approach are emphasized by its application for a wide range of materials and contacts (interfaces and joints). Because of its generality, the DSC contains many previous models as special cases. The presentation is divided in two papers. This paper (Part 1) contains the review of various models, and then description of the DSC/HISS model and its analysis for issues such as mesh dependence and localization. Part 1 also contains the capability of the DSC/HISS model to define the behavior of both solids and contacts. Validations of the DSC/HISS model at the specimen and boundary value problem levels for a wide range of materials and contacts are included in the compendium paper, Part 2. The idea of the DSC is considered to be relatively simple, and it can be easily implemented in computer procedures. It is believed that the DSC can provide a realistic and unified approach for constitutive modeling for a wide range of materials and contacts.
Dispersion Energy from Atomic form Factors

A simple numerical scheme for the evaluation of the integrals encountered in the calculations of the second order dispersion energy for H-H and He-He diatoms using static form factors.
Sensitivity of Initial Thoracentesis for Malignant Pleural Effusion Stratified by Tumor Type in Patients with Strong Evidence of Metastatic Disease.

Background: Thoracentesis with cytological examination of pleural fluid is the initial test of choice for evaluation of pleural effusions in patients with suspected malignant pleural effusion (MPE). There is limited data on the sensitivity of thoracentesis stratified by tumor type. A better understanding of stratified sensitivities is of clinical interest, and may guide early and appropriate referral for pleural biopsy. Objective: The primary objective was sensitivity of thoracentesis with pleural fluid cytology stratified by tumor type. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with a solid tumor malignancy with proven or strong suspicion for metastatic disease with new pleural effusions that underwent an initial thoracentesis. Only patients with metastatic disease were included. Results: Of the 725 patients examined, 63% had pleural fluid cytology positive for malignancy. Sensitivity of thoracentesis varied from a low of 0.38 (95% CI 0.13–0.68) in head and neck malignancy, 0.38 (95% CI 0.15–0.65) in sarcoma, and 0.53 (95% CI 0.34–0.72) in renal cancer to a high of 93 (95% CI 88–97) in breast cancer, and 100 (95% CI 0.82–100) in pancreatic cancer. Factors associated with an increased risk of MPE included larger amount of fluid drained (p = 0.014) and higher pleural fluid protein (p = 0.002). The only factor associated with decreased risk of MPE if first cytology was negative for malignancy was the presence of contralateral effusion (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Sensitivity of thoracentesis for solid tumors varies significantly depending on the type of tumor and is lowest in those with sarcomas, head and neck malignancies, and renal cell cancers.
Patterns of Care in Pediatric Craniopharyngioma: Outcomes Following Definitive Radiotherapy

Background/aim Few data are available on the utility of definitive radiation therapy (RT) for pediatric craniopharyngioma. This study sought to evaluate practice patterns and patient outcomes using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database from 2004-2014. Materials and methods Overall survival (OS) was compared between five treatment groups, definitive radiation therapy (RT), gross total resection (GTR), subtotal resection (STR), STR+RT, and observation/biopsy only, using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling determined variables independently associated with OS. Results A total of 373 patients met the study criteria. GTR and definitive RT conferred superior OS than observation/biopsy (p=0.008 and 0.029), but were equivalent to STR+RT (p=0.350 and 0.200). GTR was associated with a higher OS than STR (p=0.027). On multivariate analysis, STR+RT, GTR, and definitive RT were associated with statistically equivalent OS (p=0.990). Conclusion Definitive RT for pediatric craniopharyngioma affords similar outcomes to established modalities of therapy such as GTR and STR+RT.
Pediatric ear foreign body retrieval: A comparison across specialties.

Abstract Objectives To analyze what characteristics of patients and/or ear foreign bodies should prompt referral to otolaryngology with the goal to maximize successful removal and minimize complications. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients who presented for ear foreign body removal from January to December 2016 at a tertiary hospital center. Data collection included successful removal, major or minor complications, use of general or conscious sedation, use of otic or oral antibiotics, age of patient, comorbid behavioral disorders, and foreign body characteristics. Major complications included tympanic membrane perforation or ossicular damage. Minor complications included injury of the canal wall. Patients with retained or extruded tympanostomy tubes were excluded. Results Of 275 patients aged 1–18 years, 16% presented initially to otolaryngology (ENT), 48.4% presented to the emergency department (ED), 21.8% presented to a pediatrician, and 13.8% presented to ENT after prior attempts at removal. Rate of successful retrieval by ENT was significantly higher than by PCP (95.4% vs 75.0%) or by ENT after prior failed attempts (65.8%), but not when compared to removal in the ED (85.7%). Retrieval by ENT after prior failed attempts had the highest rate of minor complications (26.3% vs 2.3–6.0%). There were two tympanic membrane perforations that were noted by ENT after prior failed attempts. Rate of operative intervention was significantly higher in patients who presented to ENT after prior attempts compared to patients who presented initially to ENT (34.2 vs 4.6%, p = 0.001). Of the patients who presented to ENT after previous failed attempts, there was a higher rate of complications and operative intervention if the patient was age 5 or under or the foreign body was difficult to grasp. Conclusions Pediatric ear foreign body presentation is common. Repeated attempts at removal are associated with higher rates of minor complications and operative intervention. Early consultation to otolaryngology should be considered if the foreign body is deemed difficult to grasp such as a bead or stone, especially if the patient is age five or younger.
Derivation of endometrial gland organoids from term post-partum placenta

ABSTRACT A major limitation of recently developed methods for the generation of endometrial gland organoids is their reliance on decidua isolated from endometrial biopsies or elective termination of pregnancies. Here we report the successful establishment of endometrial gland organoids from decidua isolated from term placental membranes, as well as the identification of potential survival factors for the co-culture of gland organoids and endometrial stromal fibroblasts. These modifications facilitate the generation of patient-specific endometrial gland organoids with known pregnancy outcomes, such as term vs. preterm birth.
Racial Disparities in Patient Selection for Liver Transplantation: An Ongoing Challenge

Ample evidence suggests continued racial disparities once listed for liver transplantation, though few studies examine disparities in the selection process for listing. The objective of this study, via retrospective chart review, was to determine whether listing for liver transplantation was influenced by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity. We identified 1968 patients with end-stage liver disease who underwent evaluation at a large, Midwestern center from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2012 (72.9% white, 19.6% black, and 7.5% other). Over half (54.6%) of evaluated patients were listed; the three most common reasons for not listing were medical contraindications (11.9%), patient expired during evaluation (7.0%), and psychosocial contraindications (5.9%). In multivariable logistic regressions (listed vs not listed), across the three racial categories, the odds of being listed were lower for alcohol-induced hepatitis (±hepatitis C), unmarried, more than one insurance, inadequate insurance, and lower annual household income quartile. Similar factors predicted time to transplant listing, including being identified as black race. Black race, even when adjusting for the above mentioned medical and socioeconomic factors, was associated with 26% lower odds of being listed and a longer time to listing decision compared to all other patients.
Anti-PD-1 therapy as monotherapy and the development of biomarkers for patient selection in gastroesophageal cancers

Abstract Gastroesophageal cancers, eg cancers of the stomach and esophagus, are a leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that these cancers are complex and heterogeneous diseases with emerging subtypes shown to influence response to treatment and survival. Immunotherapy is an advancing field and immune checkpoint inhibitors have become standard treatment options in numerous tumor types and is emerging therapy in gastroesophageal malignancies. Several immune checkpoint inhibitors have been examined in gastric and esophageal cancers, both as single agents and in combination with cytotoxic therapy. Tumors with deficiency in mismatch repair have demonstrated considerable activity with single agent immunotherapy. These tumors, typically characterized by loss or inactivation of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2, accumulate hundreds to thousands of mutations in the microsatellite regions of DNA during replication, mutations that would normally be repaired if the mismatch repair system were intact. These tumors are noted to have high lymphocytic infiltrates, and are primed for an anti-tumor immune response by host immunity, with high single agent immunotherapy activity of ∼50% response rates. However across several studies, particularly without patient selection or by selection based on PD-L1 expression alone, the response rates to anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapy in gastric and esophageal cancer is marginal, ranging from 5-15%. The most compelling and transformative aspect of immunotherapy is that the few patients who do respond have durable responses, often greater than 1 year, generally with minimal side effects. Our challenge is to better select patients who will benefit from single agent immunotherapy. We will discuss the emerging data examining immunotherapy in upper gastrointestinal malignancies across first, second, and third line studies and the development of biomarkers to improve patient selection.
Design of Filament-Wound Graphite/Epoxy Containment Shield for Jet Engines

The purpose of this study was to design and test a composite “Jet Engine Containment Ring” made by filament winding. The design process first involved the establishment of design parameters and geometry of a prototype on which all the future studies were based. The high velocity dynamic loading conditions and the resulting stresses on the composite containment ring structure were analyzed, and the maximum load and moment values in basic loading modes such as in-plane loading and pressurized vessel loading were interpreted next. The lay-up configurations, fiber/resin types, part thicknesses and the winding angles were optimized using the MIC-MAC ® composites design software. The modes of impact damage in the composite component were determined and analyzed using energy balance models for different modes. Scaledown was accomplished next based on the concept of constant energy per unit volume of the ring, and scale models were prepared by filament winding. These scale models were tested subsequently using falling dart impact tests.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Systemic Racism, Systemic Sexism, And The Embryological Enterprise

The core of systemic racism and sexism is not merely an emphasis about human differences and thinking that another group of people is inferior to one's own. Rather, the institutional nature of racism or sexism establishes a permanent group hierarchy that is believed to reflect the laws of nature or the decrees of God. It thus becomes the norm of a culture to think and behave according to these rules. Notions of hierarchy became solidified into the Great Chain of Being during the Middle Ages, as did views concerning hereditary racial and gender superiority. During the Enlightenment, such classifications became established by philosophy and science. Starting in the 1800s, embryology and anthropology were used to provide evidence for the unilinear progression of species and races. The first evolutionary schemes were not "branching trees." In these schemes, women and non-white races were seen as embryonic or juvenile forms of the adult white male, and they were often depicted as intermediaries between the fully human and the animals. Such linear schemes of evolution remain part of popular culture and even some science, promoting the racism and sexism associated with them.
Isolating key reaction energetics and thermodynamic properties during hardwood model lignin pyrolysis.

Computational studies on the pyrolysis of lignin using electronic structure methods have been largely limited to dimeric or trimeric models. In the current work we have modeled a lignin oligomer consisting of 10 syringyl units linked through 9 β-O-4′ bonds. A lignin model of this size is potentially more representative of the polymer in angiosperms; therefore, we used this representative model to examine the behavior of hardwood lignin during the initial steps of pyrolysis. Using this oligomer, the present work aims to determine if and how the reaction enthalpies of bond cleavage vary with positions within the chain. To accomplish this, we utilized a composite method using molecular mechanics based conformational sampling and quantum mechanically based density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our key results show marked differences in bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE) with the position. In addition, we calculated standard thermodynamic properties, including enthalpy of formation, heat capacity, entropy, and Gibbs free energy for a wide range of temperatures from 25 K to 1000 K. The prediction of these thermodynamic properties and the reaction enthalpies will benefit further computational studies and cross-validation with pyrolysis experiments. Overall, the results demonstrate the utility of a better understanding of lignin pyrolysis for its effective valorization.
Psychological predictors of vaccination intentions among U.S. undergraduates and online panel workers during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective Availability of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 is critical for controlling the pandemic, but herd immunity can only be achieved with high vaccination coverage. The present research examined psychological factors associated with intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccination and whether reluctance towards novel pandemic vaccines are similar to vaccine hesitancy captured by a hypothetical measure used in previous research. Method Study 1 was administered to undergraduate students when COVID-19 was spreading exponentially (February-April 2020). Study 2 was conducted with online panel workers toward the end of the first U.S. wave (July 2020) as a pre-registered replication and extension of Study 1. In both studies, participants (total N = 1,022) rated their willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and to vaccinate a hypothetical child for a fictitious disease, and then responded to various psychological measures. Results In both studies, vaccination intentions were positively associated with past flu vaccine uptake, self-reported vaccine knowledge, vaccine confidence, and sense of collective responsibility. Complacency (not perceiving disease as high-risk), anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs, perceived vaccine danger, and mistrust in science/scientists were negative correlates of vaccination intentions. Constraints (psychological barriers), calculation (extensive information-searching), analytical thinking, perceived disease vulnerability, self-other overlap, and conservatism were weakly associated with vaccination intentions but not consistently across both studies or vaccine types. Additionally, similar factors were associated with both real and hypothetical vaccination intentions, suggesting that conclusions from pre-COVID vaccine hesitancy research mostly generalize to the current pandemic situation. Conclusion Encouraging flu vaccine uptake, enhancing confidence in a novel vaccine, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility are particularly important as they uniquely predict COVID-19 vaccination intentions. By including both actual pandemic-related hesitancy measures and hypothetical hesitancy measures from past research in the same study, this work provides key context for the generalizability of earlier non-pandemic research.
Novel MHC class I full-length allele and haplotype characterization in sooty mangabeys

Sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) are natural SIV hosts and the presumed source of HIV-2 and SIVmac, which makes them a valuable model for HIV/SIV research. However, like other African primates, little is known about their major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetics. In this study, we used Roche/454 and Illumina MiSeq deep sequencing in order to determine the MHC class I transcripts in a cohort of 165 sooty mangabeys from the Yerkes National Primate Research Center (YNPRC). We have characterized 121 functionally full-length classical (Ceat-A and Ceat-B) and non-classical (Ceat-F and Ceat-I) alleles and have also identified 22 Ceat-A/Ceat-B haplotype chromosomal combinations. We correlated these Ceat-A/Ceat-B haplotype combinations to recently described microsatellite haplotypes from the YNPRC colony. These newly identified alleles and haplotypes establish a resource for studying cellular immunity in sooty mangabeys and provide a framework for rapidly cataloging MHC class I sequences in an understudied, yet important, nonhuman primate species.
Report on NSF/ARO/ONR Workshop on Distributed Camera Networks: Research Challenges and Future Directions

Large-scale video networks are becoming increasingly important for a wide range of critical applications. The development of automated techniques for aggregating and interpreting information from multiple video streams in large-scale networks in real-life scenarios is very challenging. Research in video sensor networks is highly interdisciplinary and requires expertise from a variety of fields. The goal of this effort was to organize a two-day nationally recognized workshop in the domain of camera networks that brings together leading researchers from academia, industry and the government. The workshop was held at the University of California at Riverside on May 11–12, 2009. The workshop was attended by 75 participants. The workshop was sponsored by the US National Science Foundation, US Army Research Office and US Office of Naval Research. The workshop addressed critical interdisciplinary challenges at the intersection of large-scale video camera networks and distributed sensing, processing, communication and control; distributed video understanding; embedded real-time systems; graphics and simulation; and education. The recommendations of the workshop are summarized in the following order of topics: A. Video Processing and Video Understanding B. Simulation, Graphics, Cognition and Video Networks C. Wireless Video Sensor Networks, Communications and Control D. Distributed Embedded Cameras and Real Time Video Analysis E. Applications F. Educational Opportunities and Curriculum Development We include the workshop report in this book with the hope that it will catalyze a research agenda and interdisciplinary collaborations in large-scale camera networks—an emerging field with significant and exciting scientific and technological challenges, which will set the stage for potentially transformative breakthroughs.
The Long and the Short of Ethnographic Research among the Nahua of Northern Veracruz, Mexico

SUMMARY Long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Mexico provides the basis for a critical evaluation of commitment to a single research site over decades. We discuss positive and negative features of this strategy as well as its effect on understanding of basic anthropological concepts.
Endothelial focal adhesions and barrier function

Focal adhesions composed of integrins provide an important structural basis for anchoring the endothelial lining to its surrounding matrices in the vascular wall. Complex molecular reactions occur at the endothelial cell–matrix contact sites in response to physical and chemical stress present in the circulatory system. Recent experimental evidence points to the importance of focal adhesions in the regulation of microvascular barrier function. On one hand, the adhesive interaction between integrins and their extracellular ligands is essential to the maintenance of endothelial barrier properties, and interruption of integrin–matrix binding leads to leaky microvessels. On the other hand, focal adhesion assembly and activation serve as important signalling events in modulating endothelial permeability under stimulatory conditions in the presence of angiogenic factors, inflammatory mediators, or physical forces. The focal responses show distinctive patterns with different temporal characteristics, whereas focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a central role in initiating and integrating various signalling pathways that ultimately affect the barrier function. The molecular basis of focal adhesion-dependent microvascular permeability is currently under investigation, and advances in the technologies of computerized quantitative microscopy and intact microvessel imaging should aid the establishment of a functional significance for focal adhesions in the physiological regulation of microvascular permeability.
Identification and partial characterization by chemical cross-linking of a binding protein for tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) on rat hepatoma cells. A plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1-independent t-PA receptor.

Plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is cleared rapidly in vivo by the liver. Previous studies with the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 have identified a clearance system for t-PA modulated by plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). In the present study, a rat hepatoma cell line MH1C1 is shown to contain a PAI-1-independent t-PA clearance system. At 4 degrees C, binding of 125I-t-PA to MH1C1 cells was rapid, specific, and saturable. Scatchard analysis of the binding data yielded a mean estimate of 105,000 high affinity binding sites per cell (Kd = 4.1 nM). When the bound ligand was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the majority (about 90%) of the specific binding was in the form of uncomplexed 125I-t-PA. This is in contrast to HepG2 cells in which specific binding was mainly in the form of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable 125I-t-PA.PAI-1 complex. When availability of matrix-associated PAI-1 was blocked by preincubation with anti-PAI-1 antibody or removed by elastase treatment, specific 125I-t-PA binding to MH1C1 cells was unaffected, whereas most of the specific 125I-t-PA binding to HepG2 cells was abolished. Furthermore, when the active site of t-PA was inactivated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate, the diisopropyl fluorophosphate-t-PA specifically competed for binding of 125I-t-PA to MH1C1 cells, but failed to block specific 125I-t-PA binding to HepG2 cells. At 37 degrees C, PAI-1-independent t-PA binding to MH1C1 cells was followed by ligand uptake and degradation with kinetics similar to that seen in HepG2 cells. Chemical cross-linking of t-PA to MH1C1 cells revealed a specific t-PA binding protein with a molecular mass of about 500,000 daltons. Ligand-receptor complexes generated by chemical cross-linking were immunoprecipitable by anti-t-PA antibody but not by anti-PAI-1 antibody, further supporting the finding that binding of t-PA to MH1C1 cells is PAI-1-independent.
Biological Applications of EPR, ENDOR, and ESEEM Spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has the special feature that it selectively detects only paramagnetic species, and reveals information about the immediate environment and dynamics of that paramagnetic species, even when it is part of a much larger complex species. Hence EPR powerfully ignores, for example, the bulk of a metalloprotein and reveals the metal and its immediate environs. There are many EPR protocols with their own names. Two that have been particularly powerful for biological systems, ENDOR and ESEEM, will be discussed in this chapter in addition to continous wave (cw) EPR.
DICOM Data Warehouse: Part 2.

In 2010, the DICOM Data Warehouse (DDW) was launched as a data warehouse for DICOM meta-data. Its chief design goals were to have a flexible database schema that enabled it to index standard patient and study information, modality specific tags (public and private), and create a framework to derive computable information (derived tags) from the former items. Furthermore, it was to map the above information to an internally standard lexicon that enables a non-DICOM savvy programmer to write standard SQL queries and retrieve the equivalent data from a cohort of scanners, regardless of what tag that data element was found in over the changing epochs of DICOM and ensuing migration of elements from private to public tags. After 5 years, the original design has scaled astonishingly well. Very little has changed in the database schema. The knowledge base is now fluent in over 90 device types. Also, additional stored procedures have been written to compute data that is derivable from standard or mapped tags. Finally, an early concern is that the system would not be able to address the variability DICOM-SR objects has been addressed. As of this writing the system is indexing 300 MR, 600 CT, and 2000 other (XA, DR, CR, MG) imaging studies per day. The only remaining issue to be solved is the case for tags that were not prospectively indexed—and indeed, this final challenge may lead to a noSQL, big data, approach in a subsequent version.
Radical abdominal trachelectomy for stage IB1 cervical cancer at 15-week gestation.

Abstract Objective The management of stage IB1 cervical cancer at 15 weeks pregnancy remains a significant challenge from both the oncologic and obstetrical standpoints. Abdominal trachelectomy has been recently described as a potential option in patients who have a very strong desire to attempt preservation of pregnancy and treat the cancer without delay. Case: A 37-year-old female, presented for prenatal care in the first trimester and was diagnosed with a FIGO stage IB1 poorly differentiated lymphoepithelioma like cervical cancer on conization. After extensive counseling she underwent a radical abdominal trachelectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and placement of permanent cerclage at 15 weeks gestation. Final trachelectomy pathology revealed 7/19 mm invasion with no lymphovascular invasion, negative margins and nodes. She successfully carried the pregnancy to 39 weeks gestation and delivered a healthy female infant by elective planned cesarean hysterectomy. The patient remains without evidence of disease at the time of this report. Conclusion Recent advances in fertility-sparing surgery for stage IB1 cervical cancer lead to the successful utilization of radical abdominal trachelectomy during the early second trimester of pregnancy. This approach in early gestation is feasible and resulted in a favorable oncologic and obstetrical outcome. Radical trachelectomy may broaden the treatment options for pregnant women with stage IB1 cervical cancer who have a strong desire to avoid definitive pregnancy termination and commence treatment without delay.
Structural characteristics of electron cyclotron resonance-chemical vapor deposition SiC coatings

Abstract SiC films 0.2-2.0 μm thick have been characterized structurally by X-ray diffraction techniques. The films were deposited by electron cyclotron resonance-chemical vapor deposition techniques. No evidence of crystallinity was observed for films with thickness less than 1 μm; these are presumed to be amorphous. Thicker films were found to have crystallized predominantly in the α phase of SiC.
Evaluating new product decision processes

Abstract The development of a new product is often a sequential-decision process with many available stages at which the product may take any one of a number of alternate courses of action. This paper identifies an efficient algorithm for solving this sequential-decision process. A computer program, involving the algorithm, has been written to solve problems containing up to one thousand stages. Input into the program includes the subjective probabilities of success for each decision branch, the cost associated with each decision stage and level, the rate for discounting all monetary values to the present plus an indicator for each decision stage and level of the desired decision criterion. The algorithm utilizes the dynamic-programming solution approach. The output of the algorithm contains the minimum, or maximum, expected discounted decision values for each stage and level of the network. The algorithm and computer program have been primarily utilized in the pharmaceutical industry. An illustrative, exemplary use of the algorithm in this industry is presented.
Evolution and development of Hertwig's Epithelial Root Sheath

Periodontal regeneration and tissue engineering has re-awakened interest in the role of Hertwig's Epithelial Root Sheath (HERS), an epithelial tissue layer first discovered in amphibians more than a century ago. Using developmental, evolutionary, and cell biological approaches, we have, therefore, performed a careful analysis of the role of HERS in root formation and compared our data with clinical findings. Our developmental studies revealed HERS as a transient structure assembled in the early period of root formation and elongation and, subsequently, fenestrated and reduced to epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM). Our comparative evolutionary studies indicated that HERS fenestration was closely associated with the presence of a periodontal ligament and a gomphosis-type attachment apparatus in crocodilians and mammals. Based on these studies, we are proposing that HERS plays an important role in the regulation and maintenance of periodontal ligament space and function. Additional support for this hypothesis was rendered by our meta-analysis of recent clinical reports related to HERS function.
Experimental support for physisorbed positronium at the surface of quartz.

We report temperature-dependent positronium (Ps) emission from a single crystal of ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ using a monoenergetic positron beam. Slow positrons (${e}^{+}$) from an electrostatic beam system were injected with variable energy (0\char21{}1600 eV) into the ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ target and Ps emission from the target surface was studied as a function of incident ${e}^{+}$ energy (E) as well as target temperature (T). Our data suggest a physisorbed Ps surface state which is temperature activated into a ``slow'' Ps emission with an activation energy of \ensuremath{\sim}0.15 eV. In addition, a large Ps yield (40% of the incident positrons are emitted as Ps at 400 eV) is observed even for T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0, attributed to ``fast'' Ps produced by the bulk Ps formed within the ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ target and diffusing to the surface. From the Ps yield vs E we find a bulk Ps diffusion constant of 0.047\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.013 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. We also observe a slow ${e}^{+}$ reemission yield of (15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2)% at 400-eV incident ${e}^{+}$ energy.
The problem of choosing between logic programming and general-purpose automated reasoning

This article is the thirteenth of a series of articles discussing various open research problems in automated reasoning. Here we focus on finding criteria for correctly choosing between using logic programming and a more general automated reasoning approach to attack a given assignment. The problem proposed for research asks one to find criteria that classify problems as solvable with a well-focused algorithm or as requiring a more general search for new information. We include suggestions for evaluating a proposed solution to this research problem.
Single ventricle with truncus arteriosus in siblings

Abstract Single ventricle and truncus arteriosus (TA) are relatively uncommon congenital cardiac defects. Keith et al. 1.2 reported these lesions to occur, respectively, in 1.1% and 0.4% of children with congenital cardiac defects. The occurrence of TA with a single left ventricle (LV) often has been theorized as a developmental stage but not previously described. This report describes siblings with the unique association of single LV with rudimentary right ventricular (RV) outflow chamber, TA type I, ostium primum atrial septal defect (ASD), and common atrioventricular (AV) valve.
Analytic computation of some integrals in fourth order quantum electrodynamics

Abstract A program for the analytic evaluation of some parametric integrals which occur in fourth order QED calculations is described.
In the image of the market: the Chilean model of water resources management

Chile's free-market Water Code turned 20 years old in October 2001. This anniversary was an important milestone for both Chilean and international debates about water policy, because Chile has become the world's leading example of the free-market approach to water law and economics and water resources management - the textbook case of treating water rights, not merely as private property, but also as a fully marketable commodity. This approach is often referred to as the "Chilean model". This paper summarises key aspects of the Chilean experience since 1981, in order to draw lessons for international discussions about how to reform water laws, policies, and economics. The Chilean model of water resources management shows the need for a more institutional and interdisciplinary approach to the economics of water.
Effect of driver's age and side of impact on crash severity along urban freeways: A mixed logit approach

Abstract Introduction This study identifies geometric, traffic, environmental, vehicle-related, and driver-related predictors of crash injury severity on urban freeways. Method The study takes advantage of the mixed logit model’s ability to account for unobserved effects that are difficult to quantify and may affect the model estimation, such as the driver’s reaction at the time of crash. Crashes of 5 years occurring on 89 urban freeway segments throughout the state of Florida in the United States were used. Examples of severity predictors explored include traffic volume, distance of the crash to the nearest ramp, and detailed driver’s age, vehicle types, and sides of impact. To show how the parameter estimates could vary, a binary logit model was compared with the mixed logit model. Results It was found that the at-fault driver’s age, traffic volume, distance of the crash to the nearest ramp, vehicle type, side of impact, and percentage of trucks significantly influence severity on urban freeways. Additionally, young at-fault drivers were associated with a significant severity risk increase relative to other age groups. It was also observed that some variables in the binary logit model yielded illogic estimates due to ignoring the random variation of the estimation. Since the at-fault driver’s age and side of impact were significant random parameters in the mixed logit model, an in-depth investigation was performed. It was noticed that back, left, and right impacts had the highest risk among middle-aged drivers, followed by young drivers, very young drivers, and finally, old and very old drivers. Impact on Industry To reduce side impacts due to lane changing, two primary strategies can be recommended. The first strategy is to conduct campaigns to convey the hazardous effect of changing lanes at higher speeds. The second is to devise in-vehicle side crash avoidance systems to alert drivers of a potential crash risk. Conclusions The study provided a promising approach to screening the predictors before fitting the mixed logit model using the random forest technique. Furthermore, potential countermeasures were proposed to reduce the severity of impacts.