cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY IN FLOWERS

Phylogenetically significant floral features include number, order of initiation and position of appendages, symmetry, aestivation, degree of fusion, and loss of parts. These features can be studied ontogenetically, and the ontogenies compared among related taxa to yield information on the relative time during ontogeny when the feature is determined or manifested. The family Leguminosae has three subfamilies which differ in floral symmetry, aestivation, and in location and degree of fusion of organs. It is proposed that these kinds of features arise early in ontogeny (during organogeny) and that as a consequence they are considerably more stable than those features which arise at mid-stage (during form change and enlargement) or at late stages of ontogeny (those which involve differentiation of tissues and cells). The mid-stage-determined features include many which separate related genera, while those determined late in ontogeny tend to characterize and separate related species. For any one feature, advanced taxa tend to express the feature precociously. For example, zygomorphy can be expressed even before organ initiation as an oval rather than circular shape of the floral apex. In other flowers, zygomorphy may be expressed first at sepal, petal, or stamen initiation, or it may be delayed until enlargement of petals or stamens. The order of organ initiation also is an expression of symmetry; in many legumes, members of each whorl are initiated sequentially from one side of the floral apex to the opposite side rather than simultaneously or helically. Elucidation of developmental differences between similar or related taxa can provide a basis for understanding how subfamilial and tribal differences could have evolved in the Leguminosae.
A retrospective analysis of the market price response to distributed photovoltaic generation in California

Abstract Due to rapid growth of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the U.S., numerous “value of solar” studies have attempted to quantify avoided costs associated with distributed PV. One such avoided cost that has received little attention is the market price response, or how distributed PV generation reduces utilities’ procurement costs and, consequently, consumers’ costs through reduced wholesale electricity prices in the short-term. We quantify the reduction in day-ahead wholesale electricity prices to distributed PV generation in California (CA) from 2013 through 2015. Using a database of all distributed PV systems in the three CA investor owned utilities, we estimate historic hourly distributed PV generation using three methods that we validate with metered generation from 205 PV systems. Via multiple linear regression, we then estimate electricity price reductions due to distributed PV generation. Across the three methods used to estimate PV generation, distributed PV generation reduced hourly median (mean) wholesale electricity prices by up to $2.7–3.1/MWh ($2.9–3.2/MWh) ($2015), or by 7–8% (8–9%). Lower wholesale prices reduced utilities’ energy procurement costs in the day-ahead market by up to $650–730 million ($2015) from 2013 through 2015. These avoided costs are similar to other avoided costs commonly included in value of solar studies.
Developing an intersectionally-informed, multi-sited, critical policy ethnography to examine power and procedural justice in multiscalar energy and climate change decisionmaking processes

Abstract Historically, energy and climate research have failed to fully integrate research from the social sciences. This is problematic as the development of energy systems and the rapid acceleration of climate change are directly tied to human activity. When the social sciences are incorporated in energy and climate research, their scope is frequently economically oriented. Methodological approaches remain frequently quantitative in nature. While important, these approaches cannot fully capture the nuances of power, inequality, and justice within decisionmaking processes that create and constitute our energy systems and subsequent climate change impacts and outcomes. As energy decisions and policies continue to increasingly shape the extent to which the world is impacted by climate change, we must think precisely about the complexity of identity and who is involved in energy decisions; who benefits from, and who is burdened by particular sets of energy decisions and the impacts of climate change. In addition, we must examine how these burdens and benefits manifest differently based on individual and group identities. To ignore these questions creates a research field where social actors and organizations remain decoupled from their role and responsibilities in the construction of and participation in these energy systems; where the embeddedness of a system is taken for granted, remains unscrutinized and unchallenged, and acts as a path-dependent barrier to the envisioning and building of an alternative energy future. In order to strengthen energy and climate change research and policy we must engage in research methods that can better account for underlying issues of power and justice within the decisionmaking processes across multiple socio-political scales. More specifically in this paper, I argue that using qualitative methodological tools rooted in intersectional feminist theory, such as a multi-sited critical policy ehtnography, are a crucial way to do so.
Newton’s Great Insight

Newtonian indebtedness usually goes to Isaac. However, there’s another Newton to whom we owe a great deal: Newton Minow—a pioneer in the field of media crap detection.
Lebanon of the Jews: An Introduction

Being arguably the smallest of Lebanon’s ethno-religious communities, Lebanese Jews have not received adequate attention in the study of states and minorities in the Middle East. Moreover, as natural allies of Lebanon’s Maronites, the country’s most politically and culturally dominant group of the first half of the twentieth century, meant that interest in—and the station of—Lebanese Jewry would decline as the Maronites’ own dominance got eclipsed in the last fin de siecle era. This chapter brings to the fore a period in time when there had been a Levantine republic outside of Israel that Lebanese Jewry could call home.
Degradation Assessment of Fielded CIGS Photovoltaic Arrays

Copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) cell technology is a promising candidate to meet and exceed SunShot price targets. However, adoption of CIGS is hindered by significant uncertainties regarding longterm reliability and performance stability, as well as a lack of accurate modeling tools to predict CIGS system performance. Sandia has maintained a collection of instrumented grid-tied CIGS PV systems ranging in age from 2–5 years. Most of these arrays include modules that were thoroughly characterized prior to deployment. In this paper, we explore the medium-term reliability and performance stability of CIGS modules by analyzing real world performance and degradation rates of these systems. We observe two populations with respect to degradation in maximum power. One population of older products not representative of currently shipping products displayed a high degradation rate of 2% /year or greater while the second, contemporary population displayed degradation of less than 0.5%/year.
Novel Mutation in KIF5A Causing Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia with Axonal Sensorimotor Neuropathy (P2.444)

Objective: The Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias (HSP) are a rare, heterogeneous group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive lower extremity spasticity and weakness. Mutations of the kinesin family member 5A (KIF5A) gene lead to a spectrum of phenotypes ranging from spastic paraplegia type 10 (SPG10) to Charcot-Marie Tooth Disease Type 2. Background: A 31 year old male presented with ten years of progressive walking difficulties, stiffness in his arms and legs, and distal paresthesias. Family history is significant for a similar presenting neurologic syndrome in his father and paternal uncle. Neurologic exam revealed normal cognition, cranial nerve examination, and cerebellar examination. Sensory exam demonstrated a length dependent loss of pin prick and vibration in the hands and feet bilaterally. Motor examination revealed asymmetric weakness in the right iliopsoas, hamstring, and anterior tibialis. Tone was significantly increased in the bilateral lower extremities with sustained clonus at the ankles and bilateral extensor plantar responses. The patient’s gait was spastic with scissoring and bilateral foot inversion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain with and without contrast and MRI cervical spine without contrast were both normal. Laboratory analyses for myelopathy including HTLV-1, Vitamin B12, and Syphilis were negative. EMG/NCS demonstrated a distal symmetric axonal sensory motor neuropathy in all four extremities. Genetic testing for hereditary spastic paraplegia returned positive for a mutation in the KIF5A gene (c.610C>T), consistent with spastic paraplegia type 10. Design/Methods: N/A Results: N/A Conclusions: SPG10 is caused by a mutation in the KIF5A gene encoding neuron specific kinesin heavy chain 5A. KIF5A is expressed in all neurons, which may lead to its variety of presentations including axonal neuropathy, optic neuropathy, epilepsy, and ataxia. Although axonal neuropathy has been reported in many HSP patients, we have reported the first case of HSP10 with neuropathy attributable to a mutation at c.610C>T. Disclosure: Dr. Cuchanski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baldwin has nothing to disclose.
Determining the State of N Diodes in a Multi-Diode Network:

Many circuits appearing in pulse and digital electronics are multi-diode networks. In such networks diodes can typically be modeled as either on or off. Determining the states of all diodes can become quite challenging (and sometimes frustrating) for the undergraduate student who has not yet developed intuitive insight into the subject. In this paper a logical and systematic procedure for determining the state of all the diodes in a multi-diode network is presented to simplify the circuit analysis, ease the frustration, and help the student develop physical insight into the design and analysis of electronic circuits.
Voluntary wheel running activates Akt/AMPK/eNOS signaling cascades without improving profound endothelial dysfunction in mice deficient in α-galactosidase A

Fabry disease is caused by loss of activity of the lysosomal hydrolase α-galactosidase A (GLA). Premature life-threatening complications in Fabry patients arise from cardiovascular disease, including stroke and myocardial infarction. Exercise training has been shown to improve endothelial dysfunction in various settings including coronary artery disease. However, the effects of exercise training on endothelial dysfunction in Fabry disease have not been investigated. Gla knockout mice were single-housed in a cage equipped with a voluntary wheel (EX) or no wheel (SED) for 12 weeks. Exercised mice ran 10 km/day on average during the voluntary running intervention (VR) period. Despite significantly higher food intake in EX than SED, body weights of EX and SED remained stable during the VR period. After the completion of VR, citrate synthase activity in gastrocnemius muscle was significantly higher in EX than SED. VR resulted in greater phosphorylation of Akt (S473) and AMPK (T172) in the aorta of EX compared to SED measured by western blot. Furthermore, VR significantly enhanced eNOS protein expression and phosphorylation at S1177 by 20% and 50% in the aorta of EX when compared with SED. Similarly, plasma nitrate and nitrite levels were 77% higher in EX than SED. In contrast, measures of anti- and pro-oxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase and p67phox subunit of NADPH oxidase) and overall oxidative stress (plasma oxidized glutathione) were not different between groups. Although the aortic endothelial relaxation to acetylcholine was slightly increased in EX, it did not reach statistical significance. This study provides the first evidence that VR improves Akt/AMPK/eNOS signaling cascades, but not endothelial function in the aorta of aged Gla deficient mice.
HoloHome: An Augmented Reality Framework to Manage the Smart Home

This paper introduces the HoloHome, an Augmented Reality framework which aims to provide new means of interaction with the Smart Home and its components. HoloHome integrates multiple technological paradigms encompassing Internet of Things, Ambient Assisted Living, and Augmented Reality to offer the ultimate tailored comfort experience for the Smart Home’s inhabitants including frail elderlies and people with mild cognitive disabilities. The main purpose of the HoloHome is to provide a Mixed Reality environment implemented on the Microsoft HoloLens, to allow the user interaction with the Smart Home devices and appliances through the Augmented objects. HoloHome tackles the issue of real world locations of the objects and alignment of the virtual objects on the real objects within the spatial environment, using Vuforia image processing engine. It also defines the modality of the interconnection between the Mixed Reality application and the distributed network of smart devices through the communication channel of WiFi-enabled microcontrollers. Two use cases depict the HoloHome interaction methods and functionalities in two typical scenarios: regulating the domestic devices – such as turning on/off light – through the Augmented Reality framework, and providing visual hints and clues to help the users with mild cognitive impairments to find the objects they need easily.
The Application of M 3 C Based on Optimized Sorting in Fractional Frequency Transmission System

This paper focuses on the application of modular multilevel matrix converter (M3C) in fractional frequency transmission system (FFTS). In this paper, the structure and working principle of M3C are introduced, and the voltage-current cascade control and the nearest level modulation (NLM) strategy are used to control M3C. Aiming at the capacitor voltage sorting algorithm of M3C, this paper proposes an optimized sorting method, which reduces the computational complexity and improves the computational efficiency without affecting the switching frequency of the sub-module (SM). Finally, the simulation model of FFTS based on M3C is built in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and the effectiveness of the proposed optimization sorting method is verified.
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF): its role in caries management

Abstract Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) combines the antibacterial properties of silver and the remineralizing actions of fluoride in an alkaline solution that creates an unfavourable environment fo...
Statistical Mechanics of Deep Learning

The recent striking success of deep neural networks in machine learning raises profound questions about the theoretical principles underlying their success. For example, what can such deep networks...
Social Systems Design in Organizational Change

The pressing need for the continuous redesign of organizational operating models increases the demand for new approaches to conducting design. To manage this, a new approach must created that embeds the capability to redesign the organization at all levels, not just the in the offices of executives or process experts. Social Systems Design provides important underpinnings for how to architect such collaborations. Inherent to this approach is the realization that designing complex social systems is not just a construction or specification process, but rather a human knowledge development process. This paper outlines a design approach based on social systems design for constructing participatory design on a large scale. The approach shows how interweaving knowledge development, knowledge capture, and the appropriate levels of design can facilitate an evolutionary methodology. A brief case study of how the approach was applied in a major high tech corporation is give to illustrate the approach.
Transcriptome analysis of the plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum interaction with resistant and susceptible canola (Brassica napus) lines

Sclerotinia stem rot is an economically important disease of canola (Brassica napus) and is caused by the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This study evaluated the differential gene expression patterns of S. sclerotiorum during disease development on two canola lines differing in susceptibility to this pathogen. Sequencing of the mRNA libraries derived from inoculated petioles and mycelium grown on liquid medium generated approximately 164 million Illumina reads, including 95 million 75-bp-single reads, and 69 million 50-bp-paired end reads. Overall, 36% of the quality filter-passed reads were mapped to the S. sclerotiorum reference genome. On the susceptible line, 1301 and 1214 S. sclerotiorum genes were differentially expressed at early (8-16 hours post inoculation (hpi)) and late (24-48 hpi) infection stages, respectively, while on the resistant line, 1311 and 1335 genes were differentially expressed at these stages, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) categories associated with cell wall degradation, detoxification of host metabolites, peroxisome related activities like fatty acid s-oxidation, glyoxylate cycle, oxidoreductase activity were significantly enriched in the up-regulated gene sets on both susceptible and resistant lines. Quantitative RT-PCR of six selected DEGs further validated the RNA-seq differential gene expression analysis. The regulation of effector genes involved in host defense suppression or evasion during the early infection stage, and the expression of effectors involved in host cell death in the late stage of infection provide supporting evidence for a two-phase infection model involving a brief biotrophic phase during early stages of infection. The findings from this study emphasize the role of peroxisome related pathways along with cell wall degradation and detoxification of host metabolites as the key mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of S. sclerotiorum on B. napus.
Management of Recurrent or Progressing Skull Base Chondrosarcomas: Predictors of Long-Term Outcomes

Background Skull base chondrosarcomas (CSA) are difficult tumors to cure and there is little data regarding salvage therapy. Objective This study aims to identify presentation and treatment-related factors which impact the progression free survival (PFS) and disease specific survival (DSS) for recurrent CSA, and to identify salvage treatment factors associated with successful restoration to the natural history following primary treatment. Methods This single-institution retrospective review included patients with recurrent/progressive CSA over a 25-year period. Survival analysis for factors impacting PFS and DSS was performed. Salvage treatment factors associated with achieving PFS ≥newly diagnosed median PFS were identified using univariate statistics. Analysis was performed on first recurrences and all recurrences combined. Results A total of 47 recurrence/progression events were analyzed from 17 patients (median two events/patient, range = 1–8). The overall PFS and DSS for the initial recurrence was 32 (range = 3–267) and 79 (range = 3–285) months, respectively. Conventional grade III or mesenchymal histology significantly predicted shorter PFS and DSS (p Conclusion In this series, high grade histology and prior radiation treatment negatively impacted salvage treatment outcomes, while GTR was associated with restoration to natural history following primary treatment. Careful consideration of histology, systemic disease status, previous treatments, and the anatomic extent of the skull base disease can optimize the outcomes of salvage intervention.
Nature-based education: using nature trails as a tool to promote inquiry-based science and math learning in young children

Nature trails can be used as a tool for young children to learn about inquiry-based science and math in an open and natural environment. A nature trail provides the opportunity for children to deve...
Allogeneic Decellularized Muscle Scaffold Is Less Fibrogenic and Inflammatory than Acellular Dermal Matrices in a Rat Model of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration.

BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle trauma can produce grave functional deficits, but therapeutic options remain limited. The authors studied whether a decellularized skeletal muscle scaffold would provide benefits in inducing skeletal muscle regeneration over acellular dermal matrices. METHODS Eighty-two rat muscle defects were surgically created and assigned to no intervention or implantation of AlloDerm, Strattice, decellularized rat muscle, or decellularized rat dermis to 30 or 60 days. Decellularized rat muscle and dermis were prepared using a negative pressure-assisted protocol. Assessment for cellularity, neovascularization, myogenesis, inflammation and fibrosis were done histologically and by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Histology showed relative hypercellularity of AlloDerm (p < 0.003); Strattice appeared encapsulated. Immunofluorescence for CD31 and myosin heavy chain in decellularized rat muscle revealed dense microvasculature and peripheral islands of myogenesis. MyoD expression in muscle scaffolds was 23-fold higher than in controls (p < 0.01). Decellularized rat muscle showed no up-regulation of COX-2 (p < 0.05), with less expression than decellularized rat dermis and Strattice (p < 0.002). Decellularized rat muscle scaffolds expressed tumor necrosis factor-α less than Strattice, AlloDerm, and decellularized rat dermis (p < 0.01); collagen-1a less than decellularized rat dermis and Strattice (p < 0.04); α-smooth muscle actin 7-fold less than AlloDerm (p = 0.04); and connective tissue growth factor less than Strattice, AlloDerm, and decellularized rat dermis (p < 0.02). CONCLUSION Decellularized muscle matrix appears to reduce inflammation and fibrosis in an animal muscle defect as compared with dermal matrices and promotes greater expression of myocyte differentiation-inducing genes.
Epoxidation ofLesquerella andLimnanthes (Meadowfoam) oils

Lesquerella gordonii (Gray) Wats andLimnanthes alba Benth. (Meadowfoam) are species being studied as new and alternative crops. Triglyceride oil from lesquerella contains 55–60% of the uncommon 14-hydroxy-cis-11-eicosenoic acid. Meadowfoam oil has 95% uncommon acids, includingca. 60%cis-5-eicosenoic acid. Both oils are predominantly unsaturated (3% saturated acids), and have similar iodine values (90–91), from which oxirane values of 5.7% are possible for the fully epoxidized oils. Each oil was epoxidized withm-chloro-peroxybenzoic acid, and oxirane values were 5.0% (lesquerella) and 5.2% (meadowfoam). The epoxy acid composition of each product was examined by gas chromatography of the methyl esters, which showed that epoxidizedL. gordonii oil contained 55% 11,12-epoxy-14-hydroxyeicosanoic acid, and epoxidized meadowfoam oil contained 63% 5,6-epoxyeicosanoic acid, as expected for normal complete epoxidation. Mass spectrometry of trimethylsilyloxy derivatives of polyols, prepared from the epoxidized esters, confirmed the identity of the epoxidation products and the straightforward nature of the epoxidation process. Synthesis and characterization of these interesting epoxy oils and derivatives are discussed.
Patient and surgeon experiences with video visits in plastic surgery-toward a data-informed scheduling triage tool.

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 provided the impetus for unprecedented adoption of telemedicine. This study aimed to understand video visit adoption by plastic surgery providers; and patient and surgeon perceptions about its efficacy, value, accessibility, and long-term viability. A secondary aim was to develop the proposed ‘Triage Tool for Video Visits in Plastic Surgery’ to help determine visit video eligibility. Methods This mixed-methods evaluation assessed provider-level scheduling data from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford Health Care to quantify telemedicine adoption and semi-structured phone interviews with patients (n = 20) and surgeons (n = 10) to explore stakeholder perspectives on video visits. Results During the 13-week period after the local stay-at-home orders due to coronavirus disease 2019, 21.4% of preoperative visits and 45.5% of postoperative visits were performed via video. Video visits were considered acceptable by patients and surgeons in plastic surgery in terms of quality of care but were limited by the inability to perform a physical examination. Interviewed clinicians reported that long-term viability needs to be centered around technology (eg, connection, video quality, etc) and physical examinations. Our findings informed a proposed triage tool to determine the appropriateness of video visits for individual patients that incorporates visit type, anesthesia, case, surgeon’s role, and patient characteristics. Conclusion Video technology has the potential to facilitate and improve preoperative and postoperative patient care in plastic surgery but the following components are needed: patient education on taking high-quality photos; standardized clinical guidelines for conducting video visits; and an algorithm-assisted triage tool to support scheduling.
Surgical Management of an Obstructive Müllerian Anomaly in a Patient with Anorectal Malformation.

Mullerian duct anomalies are rare in the general population, occurring in less than 3% of women, but much more prevalent in female patients with anorectal malformation, occurring in up to 30% of these patients. Unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary non-communicating horn is a congenital anomaly of Mullerian development which can be seen in isolation or in conjunction with other anomalies, with several case reports described in patients with VACTERL association. These anomalies may be asymptomatic until the patient develops dysmenorrhea or devastating obstetrical complications. We describe the successful surgical management of an obstructive Mullerian anomaly in a post-pubertal female patient with anorectal malformation.
Near Continuum Flows Over a Rotating Disk

We analyze the near continuum flow created by a rotating disk facing a stagnant gas. The flow-field properties change from the traditional continuum solutions, due to the introductions of new velocity-slip and temperature-jump boundary conditions. To compute the velocity profiles, a self-similar transformation simplifies the Navier-Stokes equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. The introduction of new boundary conditions generates new parameters which can be adjusted at different degrees of rarefaction. Shooting methods are adopted to solve the differential equations with the new boundary conditions. Based on the solved velocity profiles, exact solutions for the temperature distribution are obtained. The gas temperature at the disk surface shifts towards the free stream temperature, while the heat flux between the gas and surface is reduced. Stream function solutions for the flow at the disk surface are presented to demonstrate the effects of the slip boundary conditions. The torque generated by the disk is obtained with different disk rotating speed, and the gas at the disk surface has different slip velocities.
Holonomic Systems for Period Mappings

Abstract Period mappings were introduced in the sixties [4] to study variation of complex structures of families of algebraic varieties. The theory of tautological systems was introduced recently [7] , [8] to understand period integrals of algebraic manifolds. In this paper, we give an explicit construction of a tautological system for each component of a period mapping. We also show that the D-module associated with the tautological system gives rise to many interesting vanishing conditions for period integrals at certain special points of the parameter space.
Drug Stories--of Origins and Uses

Pills, Potions and Poisons How Drugs Work. Trevor Stone and Gail Darlington. Oxford University Press, New York, 2000. 492 pp. $27.50, £18.99. ISBN 0-19-850403-9. Stone and Darlington provide a non-technical survey of how chemicals act in the body. Their chapters on major groups of medicines (organized around common disorders from allergies to schizophrenia), recreational drugs, and animal venoms are leavened with anecdotes on the people and research behind the discovery of various drugs.
Mutation and selection at silent and replacement sites in the evolution of animal mitochondrial DNA

Two patterns are presented that illustrate the interaction of mutation and selection in the evolution of animal mtDNA: 1) variation among taxa in the ratio of polymorphism to divergence (rpd) at silent and replacement sites in protein-coding genes, and 2) strand-differences in polymorphism and divergence at ‘silent’ sites that suggest a mutation-selection balance in the evolution of codon usage. Cytochrome b data from GenBank show that about half of the species pairs tested have a significant excess of amino acid polymorphism, relative to divergence. The remaining half of species pairs do not depart from neutrality, but generally do show an excess of amino acid polymorphism. Sequences from Drosophila pseudoobscura displaying a signature of an expanding population show a slight, but non-significant, deficiency of amino acid polymorphism suggestive of recently intensified selection on mildly deleterious mutations. Genes whose reading frames lie on the major coding strand of Drosophila mtDNA show a preponderance of T → C substitutions, while genes encoded on the minor strand experience more A → G than T → C substitutions between species at both silent and replacement sites. However, silent mutations at third codon positions are introduced into the population in proportions opposite to those observed as fixed differences between species (e.g., an excess of T → C polymorphisms are found at the ND5 gene on the minor coding strand). The high A+T content of insect mtDNAs imposes strong codon usage bias favoring A-ending and T-ending codons resulting in a distinct mutation-selection balance for genes encoded on opposites strands. Thus, at both replacement and silent sites, mutations that appear to be constrained in terms of divergence between species are in excess within species. The data suggest that mildly deleterious mutations are common in mitochondrial genes. A test of this, and a competing, hypothesis is proposed that requires additional sequence surveys of polymorphism and divergence. An important challenge is to tease apart the impact of mutation and selection on levels of polymorphism versus divergence in a genome that does not generally recombine.
Ceramics, Ceramic Processing

In the manufacture of ceramic components, chemical composition and microstructure are specified to optimize the properties (eg, mechanical, electrical, and magnetic) of the finished product for a given application. Optimum properties are achieved by developing and refining processes to produce a target microstructure, and by controlling processes to minimize the concentration and scale of the defects in the finished part. The tolerance of the finished ceramic to defects determines the degree of control that must be exercised during processing. Ceramic component fabrication involves simultaneously optimizing multiple processes ranging from raw materials beneficiation to post-sinter machining. To manufacture reliable ceramic components with reproducible properties, process–microstructure–property relationships must be understood and controlled during processing. These relationships can be determined by characterizing the ceramic raw materials, mixes, and the formed ceramic body intermittently during the various stages of processing and after final thermal consolidation. Established relationships between processing, microstructure, and properties can be applied to control manufacturing processes and optimize properties, and to identify and correct process deficiencies when less than optimal properties are obtained. Keywords: Ceramics processing; Raw materials; Powders; Beneficiation; Forming additives; Processing aids; Batching; Mixing; Fabrication; Drying; Presinter thermal processing; Sintering; Thermal treatment; Postsintering; Microstructure
Space-time signaling and frame theory

Wireless systems with multiple transmit and receive antennas (MIMO systems) provide high capacity due to the plurality of modes available in the channel. Previous code designs for MIMO systems have focused primarily on multiplexed signaling for high data rate or diversity signaling for high link reliability. Based on Ganesan and Stoica (2000) and Hassibi and Hochwald (2000), and using results from frame theory, we present a MIMO space-time code design which bridges the gap between multiplexing and diversity and performs well both in terms of ergodic capacity as well as error-probability. In particular, we demonstrate that designs performing well from an ergodic capacity point of view do not necessarily perform well from an error probability point of view. Simulations illustrate performance of the proposed codes in narrowband MIMO Rayleigh fading channels.
Impact of internal mammary lymph node drainage identified by preoperative lymphoscintigraphy on outcomes in patients with stage I to III breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Involvement of internal mammary (IM) lymph nodes is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with breast cancer. This study examined the effect of drainage to IM nodes identified by lymphoscintigraphy on oncologic outcomes. METHODS: A prospectively maintained breast cancer patient database at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was used to identify patients with stage I to III breast cancer who underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with peritumoral injection of colloid and intraoperative lymphatic mapping from 1996 to 2005. Medical records were reviewed of 1772 patients who had drainage to any lymph node basin on lymphoscintigraphy but who did not undergo IM nodal biopsy. Patients with IM drainage, with or without axillary drainage, were compared with patients without IM drainage. Local-regional recurrence, distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival were evaluated. RESULTS: We identified IM drainage in 334 patients (18.8%). Patients with IM drainage were significantly younger, less likely to have upper outer quadrant tumors, and more likely to have smaller and medial tumors than patients without IM drainage. Rates of IM irradiation did not differ between the 2 groups. The median follow-up time was 7.4 years. On multivariate analysis, IM drainage was significantly associated with a worse DDFS (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.6; P ¼ .04) but not local-regional recurrence or overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: IM drainage on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was found to be significantly associated with worse DDFS. Further study is needed to determine the role of lymphoscintigraphy in the personalization of breast cancer staging and therapy. Cancer 2012;118:6287-96. V C 2012 American Cancer Society.
Microscopic calculations of liquid and solid neutron star matter

Abstract As the first step to a microscopic determination of the solidification density of neutron star matter, we perform variational calculations for both liquid and solid phases using a very simple model potential. The potential, containing only the repulsive part of the Reid 1So interaction, together with Boltzmann statistics defines a “homework problem” which several groups involved in solidification calculations have agreed to solve. The results were to be compared for the purpose of checking calculational techniques. For the solid energy we find good agreement with Canute and Chitre. Both our liquid and solid energies are much lower than those of Pandharipande. We show that for this oversimplified model, neutron star matter will remain solid down to ordinary nuclear matter density.
Interactive problem-solving: an experimental study of "lockout" effects

One danger inherent in computer system design and management is an ever-present temptation to consider computer system performance as an end in itself, rather than as a means to better serve people. Such "performance improvement" methods as universal use of one language, large blocking of data input and output, and intricately designed code and procedures can increase machine productivity. However, it costs users an abnormally high effort to achieve any results. On the other hand, text editors, extended debugging aids, and conversational programming systems tend to reduce user-time investments at the expense of machine efficiency.
3d modeling of a deepwater EM exploration survey

Analysis of a current offshore prospect employed 3D numerical modeling of a controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) exploration system. The analysis considers the sensitivity of data presentations to assumptions about the background model. The numerical simulations show that false anomalies and significant distortion to anomaly magnitude can be caused by normalization of the observed electric fields by reference fields calculated from an incorrect or oversimplified background model. Bathymetry effects on the measured electric fields, if not accounted for, can produce anomalies as large as those of target sands. The maximum sensitivity to oil-water contacts or other strong lateral variations within the modeled channel sands is achieved by profiling along the length of the channel. Profiles run offset from a simulated oil-water contact by as little as 2 km show a response below the expected noise levels. Good background models can be constructed by taking advantage of the magnetotelluric data recorded by m...
In-office permanent denture base correction technique.

Abstract A repair compound made by mixing pink denture base acrylic resin polymer and methyl-2-cyanoacrylate makes it possible to accomplish many denture corrections permanently as in-office procedures. The resulting repairs display color stability and strength that make them virtually indistinguishable from the original denture base. All necessary materials are readily available, and time consuming laboratory processing for repairs can be avoided. This procedure is easily adapted to correct errors such as a complete denture not in centric relation due to incorrect mounting or faulty records, improper vertical dimension of occlusion, alteration of anterior tooth arrangement required to change esthetics, and a broken denture base.
Sex differences in occupational values.

In order to examine sex differences in occupational values, college women and men rated the importance of 18 job characteristics for their career choice. In addition, they indicated which three were the most important and which three were the least important. The findings showed that, in comparison to males, females attached greater importance to a large variety of values, and these results are discussed in relation to career choice.
Hematocrit, Erythrocyte, and Hemoglobin Values for Male and Female Guineas at Various Ages

Abstract Hematocrits, erythrocyte counts, and hemoglobin values were determined for male and female guineas 2, 3, 8, 12, and 24 months of age. Values for males were greater than for females for all parameters. Values for two and three month old birds were lower than the other three age groups.
Complete Spontaneous Regression of Multiple Basal Cell Carcinomas in the Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome: The Possible Role of Transepithelial Elimination

A 36-year-old Latin American man with the basal cell nevus syndrome had multiple, soft, hairless, depressed scars of the face, scalp, neck, and back, ranging in size from 0.3 × 0.5 cm to 3.5 × 3.9 cm. These areas had never been treated and previously were sites of basal cell carcinomas that underwent complete spontaneous regression 4–5 years from the date of onset. Pathology of these spontaneously regressed sites was consistent with the criteria established by Curson and Weedon (1979). Type III transepithelial elimination was demonstrated for a basal cell carcinoma. Type III transepithelial elimination may play a role in the spontaneous regression of basal cell carcinomas.
Development of primary glaucoma classification technique using optic cup & disc ratio

Glaucoma is Eye dieses & one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. It is due to the increase in intra ocular pressure within the eyes. The detection and diagnosis of glaucoma is very important. Here we present an algorithm which works on two different data base for the same purpose to calculate optic cup to disc ratio. For this purpose we use DRIONS-DB high resolution fundus images. From these high resolution RGB images we are going from preprocessing to ROI extraction steps i.e. our optic disc & cup detection. For that purpose we use K-means clustering for detection & measure area of disc & cup then, calculate ratio. After calculating ratio we apply that same method on another database i.e. RIM-I 64 healthy images & we got healthy CDR between 0.2 to 0.6. By the combination of two data base DRIONS-DB & RIM-Il, overall 97% result is achieved.
Totally laparoscopic abdominal wall reconstruction: lessons learned and results of a short-term follow-up.

Totally Laparoscopic Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (TLAWR) combines the laparoscopic component separation and the laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, with the purpose of further increasing the benefits of a minimally invasive procedure. However, neither the patient selection criteria nor the long-term results of this technique have been reported. Our objective is to discuss our experience with five patients who received a TLAWR. All patients with a midline incisional hernia who underwent a TLAWR from September 2008 to October 2009 were retrospectively reviewed for early and late postoperative complications. A total of five patients underwent the procedure, with a mean age of 48.6 ± 7.9 years. The mean length of stay was 9.2 ± 5.4 days, and follow-up was 12.3 ± 6.8 months. The mean defect size was 175.8 ± 56.2 cm2. There were no early or late wound complications. Two patients had an early respiratory complication, and one patient developed a port site hernia and small bowel obstruction early after procedure, which required a re-operation. Three patients (60 %) experienced a recurrence. Possible risk factors for recurrence include previous failed hernia repair, loss of domain, large hernias and close proximity to bony structures. Although TLAWR is feasible and improves wound complications, it may be associated with higher recurrence. Appropriate patient selection is imperative in order for the patient to benefit from this technique.
Exploring the relationship between rationality and bounded rationality in medical knowledge-based systems

If our goal in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) is to engineer systems health-care providers will both use and, in the process, improve their performance, we must concentrate on the development of causal theories of knowledge and problem solving. One broad direction in pursuing this goal is understanding the relationships between existing models of rationality and bounded rationality for similar tasks. Models of rationality refer to those approaches in which the optimal properties of the models are deductively provable, i.e. in which the processing is rational. Representative models of rationality used in AIM are deductive logical models, statistical models such as Bayesian inference models, and decision-analytic models. Models of bounded rationality are those which do not guarantee such optimal properties nor yield to deductive correctness proofs. These models have their roots in cognitive psychology. In this article we show how explicating the relationship between models of rationality and bounded rationality might be done in the case of abductive tasks in medicine. This is done by positioning these modeling approaches within the same framework (an abstract computational model) and interpreting in this context both computational complexity results concerning the nature of the task and empirical results from studies of human problemsolving behavior.
Analyzing the role of tags as lightweight traceability links

Tagging offers a traceability mechanism for software development by connecting artifacts in a meaningful way. Our integrated courseware, SEREBRO, provides a framework of tools that capture conversation and artifact creation and modification throughout the software development lifecycle by student team members developing non-trivial software products in a Software Engineering course. Using a data driven approach, we investigate the use of lightweight tagging mechanisms applied by student software project teams and present some preliminary results of this investigation.
Calculation of resonances in near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra using the constant chemical potential local density approximation method

Known prescriptions for the implementation of exchange and correlation potentials fail to reproduce the near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectrum for a test case of a gas-phase acetylene molecule using computer simulations. A new constant chemical potential-local density approximation (CCP-LDA) calculation method has been developed which ensures the constancy of the chemical potential throughout the molecule for which the calculation is performed within the framework of the local density approximation. A Hedin-Lundqvist potential is used to represent the exchange and correlation potential of the excited state. This method provides excellent agreement between theory and experiment for a range of small gas-phase molecules including acetylene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and oxygen.
The effect of first clinical clerkship on medical students' specialty choices.

Summary. Few studies of the effects of clinical clerkship sequence on specialty choice have been performed, and results of such studies have been conflicting. The effect of the first clinical rotation on specialty choice has not been examined. Transcripts of 569 graduates of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine were reviewed to determine the sequence of required clerkships and ultimate specialty choices. Actual residency choices for the five required specialties were compared to the predicted numbers of specialists for the cohorts of students taking each clerkship as a first rotation. No significant differences from the predicted values were found. Our data support the contention that the sequence of medical school clerkships has no effect on ultimate specialty choice.
Electrochemistry of 4-Picoline Complexes of Hemin

Abstract Cyclic voltammetry and polarography were used to investigate the complexes formed between hemin and 4-picoline in aqueous ethanol solutions. The number of ligands and the effect of pH on the polarographic wave were determined and used to elucidate the mechanism of the electrode reactions. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed the proposed mechanisms. Equilibrium constants were determined where possible.
Scriven on The Logic of Cause

In a recent article entitled, ‘The Logic of Cause’ Scriven has presented a series of formidable arguments against the possibility of explicating the concept of cause in terms of the concepts of sufficient condition and necessary condition. Some of his main arguments center on the difficulties of capturing the asymmetry of cause and effect and of handling a certain kind of over-determination he calls linked overdetermination. Scriven's contention that there is no way to capture the asymmetry of cause and effect will be countered by constructing a definition of the concept of causal priority in terms of the concepts of sufficient condition and necessary condition. Scriven's contention that the existence of linked overdetermination undermines the necessary condidition feature of the definition will be countered by distinguishing two senses of necessary conditionship. My rebuttal of Scriven's arguments, if successful, indicates that the ‘common sense’ view of the cause as a necessary and sufficient condition of its effects may yet prove to be at least roughly accurate.