cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated Biomarker Profiling of Smokers with Periodontitis

In the context of precision medicine, understanding patient-specific variation is an important step in developing targeted and patient-tailored treatment regimens for periodontitis. While several studies have successfully demonstrated the usefulness of molecular expression profiling in conjunction with single classifier systems in discerning distinct disease groups, the majority of these studies do not provide sufficient insights into potential variations within the disease groups. Aim The goal of the present study is to discern biological response profiles of periodontitis and non-periodontitis smoking subjects using an informed panel of biomarkers across multiple scales (salivary, oral microbiome, pathogens and other markers). Materials and Methods The investigation uses a novel ensemble classification approach (SVA-SVM) to differentiate disease groups and patient-specific biological variation of systemic inflammatory mediators and IgG antibody to oral commensal and pathogenic bacteria within the groups. Results Sensitivity of SVA-SVM is shown to be considerably higher than several traditional independent classifier systems. Patient-specific networks generated from SVA-SVM are also shown to reveal cross-talk between biomarkers in discerning the disease groups. High-confidence classifiers in these network abstractions comprised of host responses to microbial infection elucidated their critical role in discerning the disease groups. Conclusions Host adaptive immune responses to the oral colonization/infection contribute significantly to creating the profiles specific for periodontitis patients with potential to assist in defining patient-specific risk profiles and tailored interventions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Construction of a Database of Collision Cross Section Values for Glycopeptides, Glycans, and Peptides Determined by IM-MS

An ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used to examine the gas-phase structures of a set of glycopeptides resulting from proteolytic digestion of the well-characterized glycoproteins bovine ribonuclease B, human transferrin, bovine fetuin and human α1-acid glycoprotein, the corresponding deglycosylated peptides, and the glycans released by the endoglycosidase PNGase F. When closely related glycoforms did not occur naturally, exoglycosidases were used to achieve stepwise removal of individual saccharide units from the nonreducing termini of the multiantennary structures. Collision cross sections (CCS) were calculated and plotted as a function of mass-to-charge ratio. Linear trendlines were observed for the glycoforms of individual N-linked glycopeptides, the deglycosylated peptides, and the released, deutero-reduced permethylated glycans. For the glycoforms of a given glycopeptide or set of derivatized glycans, the slope of the line connecting CCS values remained similar for the [M...
Analysis of outcomes in metastatic pancreatic cancer: Real-world experience in academic cancer centers.

458Background: FOLFIRINOX is an active regimen for metastatic pancreatic cancer demonstrating a median overall survival of 11.1 months at the expense of significant treatment-related toxicity. Dose modifications are routinely used in clinical practice however there is little data regarding impact on outcomes and use of second line therapy. In this study we report on the treatment course and outcomes of 92 patients treated at two academic centers. Methods: We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective cohort study of patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with first line FOLFIRINOX between 2011 and 2015. Hazard ratios were calculated by Cox proportional hazard models and median survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Results: 92 patients were identified with a median follow-up of 13.2 months (range 1.2-47.3 mo); 57 males (62%), ECOG 0/1 = 75 (82%). Fifty-four percent required dose reductions of >25% in at least one of three component drugs within the first 6 cycles [95% CI 0.44, ...
An Impediment to Finding Valuable Problem to Solve: Goal Misalignment

The problem-finding/problem solving perspective prescribes appropriate governance forms by matching the problem type for which solutions are sought with the coordination type that yields the most e...
Activation Energies for Electron Transfer from TiO2 to Oxidized Dyes: A Surface Coverage Dependence Correlated with Lateral Hole Hopping

Three ruthenium(II) sensitizers, [Ru(L)2(dcb)]2+, were anchored to mesoporous TiO2 thin films where the ligand L = 4,4′-(CH3)2-bpy (dmb), 4,4′-(C(CH3)3)2-bpy (dtb), and 4,4′-(CF3)2-bpy (bpyCF3) controls the thermodynamics and electronic coupling for self-exchange intermolecular RuIII/II “hole hopping”. Apparent electron difussion coefficients, Dapp, were reported to increase in the order bpyCF3 ≪ dtb < dmb. Nanosecond transient absorption measurements made over an 80° temperature range were conducted to abstract average charge recombination rate constants, kcr, under conditions of sub-percolation and saturated sensitizer surface coverages. For sensitizers [Ru(dmb)2(dcb)]2+ and [Ru(dtb)2(dcb)]2+, the kcr values at saturation coverages were significantly larger than those at low coverages, by a degree that followed the trend in Dapp. The inability of [Ru(bpyCF3)2(dcb)]2+ to introduce hole transport was afirmed by recombination kinetic data that were insensitive to the sensitizer surface converage. An Arrhen...
NERVE MEMBRANE SODIUM CHANNELS AS THE MAJOR TARGET SITE OF PYRETHROIDS AND DDT

Pyrethroids and DDT prolong the membrane sodium current thereby increasing the depolarizing after-potential which causes repetitive discharges. The kinetics of the slow sodium current differ markedly among the compounds tested including p, p′-DDT, tetramethrin, allethrin and phenothrin. Unlike these pyrethroids (type I), those containing a cyano group at the α position such as deltamethrin, cyphenothrin (S-2703) and fenvalerate (type II) cause a slow sodium current of smaller amplitude but much longer time constant. The slow sodium current caused by type II pyrethroids occurs at large negative membrane potentials. This accounts for membrane depolarization and repetitive discharges in certain types of neurons such as those in the sensory system. The symptoms of poisoning caused by pyrethroids and DDT are explicable on the basis of the modification of sodium channels. Recent studies using patch clamp techniques have clearly demonstrated an all-or-none modification of single sodium channels by tetramethrin.
Beijing’s Museums in the Context of the 2008 Beijing Olympics

During the months prior to the 2008 Olympic Games, the Beijing Folk Customs Museum (located within a contested space from “Old Beijing” recently redefined as a working Daoist temple) saw temple caretakers and museum professionals reframe cultural phenomena as national cultural heritage. By implementing state directives to showcase “New Beijing,” a capital city blending modern civilization with traditional Chinese culture, both the temple and the museum could pursue distinct long-term goals. This chapter highlights dynamics of state-society relations at the local level, changing Chinese ethnographic museum practices, and complexities of identifying and preserving intangible and other forms of cultural heritage.
Opioid Prescriber Education and Guidelines for Ambulatory Upper-Extremity Surgery: Evaluation of an Institutional Protocol

Purpose Recent studies demonstrated the overprescription of opioids after ambulatory hand surgery in the setting of a national opioid epidemic. Prescriber education has been shown to decrease these practices on a small scale; however, currently no nationally standardized prescriber education or postoperative opioid prescribing guidelines exist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prescriber opioid education and postoperative opioid guidelines on prescribing practices after ambulatory hand surgery. Materials and Methods This retrospective study was performed at an academic orthopedic hospital. In November, 2016, all prescribers were mandated to undergo a 1-hour opioid education program. Prescribing guidelines for the hand service were formulated based on literature review and expert opinion and were released in February, 2017. We reviewed all postoperative opioid prescriptions for patients who underwent ambulatory hand and upper-extremity surgery 4 months before the mandatory education (preeducation group) and 4 months (immediate postguideline group) and 9 to 11 months (intermediate postguideline group) after the guideline dissemination. Results A total of 1,348 ambulatory hand surgeries (435 in the preeducation, 490 in the immediate postguideline group, and 423 in the intermediate postguidelines groups) with postoperative opioid prescriptions met inclusion criteria. Mean reduction in total prescribed oral morphine equivalents was 52.3% after guidelines disseminated. The number of opioid pills prescribed to patients decreased significantly in the postguideline groups when stratified by procedure type and surgery level. Conclusions Prescriber education and postoperative opioid guideline dissemination led to significant decreases in the number of opioid pills prescribed after ambulatory hand surgery. Development and dissemination of nationally standardized prescriber education and opioid guidelines may significantly reduce the amount of opioid medications prescribed after hand surgery. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Readmissions With Dehydration After Ileostomy Creation: Rethinking Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND:Twenty-nine percent of postileostomy discharges are readmitted, most commonly because of dehydration. However, there is a lack of detailed data specifically evaluating factors associated with readmission with dehydration. In addition, patients with a history of an ileostomy have often bee
According to Plan? Examining the Intended and Unintended Treatment Effects of EL Classification in Early Elementary and the Transition to Middle School.

AbstractResearch has demonstrated that classification as an English learner (EL) is consequential for students, with important effects on educational achievement and attainment. Yet we know little ...
Analysis and Experimental Evaluation of Middle-Point Inductance's Effect on Switching Transients for Multiple-Chip Power Module Package

Middle-point inductance ${{\boldsymbol L}_{{\boldsymbol {\text{middle}}}}}$ can be introduced in multiple-chip power module package designs. In this paper, the effect of middle-point inductance on switching transients is analyzed first using a frequency-domain analysis. Then a dedicated multiple-chip power module is fabricated with the capability of varying ${{\boldsymbol L}_{{\boldsymbol {\text{middle}}}}}$ , and extensive switching tests are conducted to evaluate the middle-point inductance's impact. Experiment result shows that the active mosfet 's turn-on loss decreases at higher values of ${{\boldsymbol L}_{{\boldsymbol {\text{middle}}}}}$ , while its turn-off loss increases. Detailed analysis of this loss variation is presented. In addition to the switching loss variation, it is also observed that different peak voltage stresses are imposed on the active switch and antiparallel diode during the switching transients. Specifically, in the case of lower mosfet 's turn-off, the maximum voltage of the lower mosfet increases as ${{\boldsymbol L}_{{\boldsymbol {\text{middle}}}}}$ goes up; however, the peak voltage of the antiparallel diode decreases significantly. The induced voltage spikes during upper mosfet turn-on process is also evaluated, and an opposite trend is observed experimentally. Analysis of the voltage overshoot variation is discussed. Based on the experimental evaluation and analysis, a multiple-chip power module package design guideline is summarized considering the middle-point inductance's effect.
IDENTIFYING CARDIAC ARREST BY ICD CODES: THE ACCURACY OF DIAGNOSES

Several studies for outcomes data regarding cardiac arrest use ICD-9 codes to establish study populations; however, the accuracy of this mode of data collection is unclear. This study evaluates institutional data for patients with cardiac arrest to determine precision and accuracy of the cardiac
Near room temperature antiferromagnetic ordering with a potential low-dimensional magnetism in AlMn 2 B 2

We present self flux growth and characterization of single crystalline ${\mathrm{AlMn}}_{2}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$. It is an orthorhombic (space group $Cmmm$), layered material with a platelike morphology. The anisotropic bulk magnetization data, electrical transport, and $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data revealed an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at $313\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. In the magnetization data, there is also a broad local maximum significantly above the AFM transition that could be a signature of low-dimensional magnetic interactions in ${\mathrm{AlMn}}_{2}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$.
An induced pluripotent stem cell line (TRNDi009-C) from a Niemann-Pick disease type A patient carrying a heterozygous p.L302P (c.905 T>C) mutation in the SMPD1 gene.

Abstract Niemann-Pick disease type A (NPA) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the SMPD1 gene, which encodes for the protein acid sphingomyelinase. A human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line was generated from dermal fibroblasts of a 21-fetal-week-old female patient with NPA that has a heterozygous mutation of a p.L302P variant (c.905 T > C) using non-integrating Sendai virus technique. This iPSC line offers a useful resource to study the disease pathophysiology and as a cell-based model for drug development to treat NPA.
An in vitro comparison of acid etched vs. nonacid etched dentin bonding agents/composite interfaces over primary dentin.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate acid etchant penetration on dentin bonding agents and its effect on the composite resin bond strength. Forty primary molars were mounted, then the buccal and lingual surfaces were prepared into dentin. The teeth were divided into four groups of 10, and four dentin bonding agents were placed on the buccal and lingual surfaces of exposed dentin, as recommended by the manufacturers. One surface of each tooth was etched randomly for 60 sec with 35% phosphoric acid. A standardized tube of composite resin was placed on each dentin surface and polymerized for 60 sec. The tubes were sheared off with an Instron ® Testing Machine. The specimens then were sectioned to be examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results demonstrated shear strengths (kg/cm2) of etched (e) and unetched (u) dentin bonding agents to be: Scotchbond ® (3M Dental Products, St. Paul MN) (e) 116.7+ 37.7, (u) 116.7+ 63.0; Scotchbond 2® (3M Dental Products, St. Paul, MN) (e) 112.0 + 40.6, (u) 127.0 + 38.7; Gluma ® (Bayer Dental, Leverkusen, Federal Republic of Germany) (e) 80.1 + 21.7, (u) 107.0 + 16.6; Bondlite ® (Kerr Manufacturing Co., Romulus, MI) (e) 53.4 + 34.7, (u) 79.1 + 26.3. The analysis of variance (ANO VA) demonstrated a statistical significance in variance at the P < 0.001 level. Scheffe" s Test indicated no statistically significant differences between the bond strengths of etched vs. nonetched dentin bonding agents and composite resin. SEM evaluation indicated that the acid etchant penetrated none of the dentin bonding agents. (Pediatr Dent 13:204-07, 1991)
Guidelines on the design, characterization, and operation of shape memory alloy knitted actuators

Textile actuators combine the intriguing mechanics of textile architectures with the multifunctional capabilities of active materials to provide large, distributed and three- dimensional deformations and forces. SMA knitted actuators, a type of textile actuator, are specifically alluring because of their high energy density and mechanical performance. The study of textile actuators in general, and SMA knitted actuators in specific, is currently conned to small parameter studies and application-driven research resulting in a scarcity of conclusive, universal guidelines and standards for the design, operation, and characterization of these compliant smart actuators. This paper identifies the predominant functional dependencies between the knitted actuator geometry, thermo-mechanical loading, and the knitted actuator performance to derive guidelines for the design, operation, and characterization of SMA knitted actuators. Through this first conclusive description of SMA knitted actuators, we significantly advance their research, design, and usability, while providing transferable insight into other active textile implementations and encouraging the standardization of language and procedures across this novel research field.
Integrating Social Dynamics Into Modeling Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use:

Background. The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) offers potential to facilitate cigarette smoking cessation, yet potentially increases risk of cigarette smoking initiation. This relations...
3 – Conceptual Modeling: First Steps

Publisher Summary Conceptual modeling portrays the application domain at a high level, using terms and concepts familiar to the application users, ignoring logical- and physical-level aspects (that is, the underlying database or programming structures used for implementation) and external-level aspects (that is, the screen forms used for data entry). This chapter discusses the desirable characteristics for any language to be used for conceptual modeling: expressibility, clarity, simplicity and orthogonality, semantic stability, semantic relevance, validation mechanisms, abstraction mechanisms, and formal foundation. With large-scale applications, the UoD can be divided into convenient modules. The conceptual schema design procedure (CSDP) is applied to each, and the resulting subschemas can be integrated into the global conceptual schema. This chapter explores three steps of CSDP: verbalizing familiar information examples as facts; refining these into formal, elementary facts, and applying quality checks; drawing the fact types, and applying a population check; and checking for entity types that should be combined. This object-role modeling approach has been used productively in industry for over 25 years.
Chapter 14 – Space Propulsion

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses propulsion of a rocket in outer space. The thrust or specific impulse is measured by the total impulse delivered by the engine per unit weight of propellant consumed. Electric propulsion systems have also been looked into. Jhan (1968) defines electric propulsion as the acceleration of gases for propulsion by electric heating and/or by electric and magnetic body forces. Thus electro-thermal, electrostatic, and electromagnetic propulsion devices can be considered for propulsion in space. Electro-thermal devices like arcjets are popular and find space in the study. Propellants for arcjets include hydrazine (N2H4), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen (H2). An arcjet using ammonia as the propellant produced a thrust of 2N at a specific impulse of 800 s. One-dimensional electrostatic thruster, ion stream speeds are also discussed. Hall thrusters are also studied. Under electromagnetic propulsion devices, the magneto-plasma-dynamic accelerator (MPD) is discussed in details.
The Imperative of Social Foundations to (Urban) Education Research and Practice.

This conceptual article aims to clarify the important relationship between the fields of social foundations of education (SFE) and urban education (UE). We argue that SFE (a) enables more precise u...
Mechanical behavior of SiNC layers on PDMS: effects of layer thickness, PDMS modulus, and SiNC surface functionality

Thin layers of nanomaterials on stretchable substrates have the potential to enable stretchable, bendable optoelectronic devices, wearable diagnostics, and more. Recently, our group reported on a novel method for finding the neo-Hookean coefficient of thin layers of silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Here we elaborate on that initial study by examining the effects of the SiNC layer thickness, PDMS neo-Hookean coefficient, and SiNC surface functionality on the neo-Hookean coefficient of the SiNC layers. We found that, while the layer thickness and PDMS neo-Hookean coefficient influence the behavior of the SiNC layers, layers of surface-functionalized SiNCs do not exhibit disparate behavior from layers of bare SiNCs.
A Top-Down Characterization of NiTi Single-Crystal Inelastic Properties within Confidence Bounds through Bayesian Inference

The inelastic deformation response of NiTi single crystals involves reversible phase transformation and dislocation slip, which is enhanced by the deformation incompatibility among the phases. The phase transformation–plasticity coupling results in decrease in performance, including reduced work output and early fatigue failure. The characterization of the inelastic properties in this material class is crucial for material assessment/ranking and robust performance predictions. Given that direct mesoscale measurements of (coupled) deformation mechanisms are in many cases impractical, top-down characterization of single-crystal properties from limited macroscopic experiments is mostly employed. Here, Bayesian inference and a micromechanics-based continuum single-crystal model are adopted for determining (i) material property values within confidence intervals that allow for a propagation of the quantified uncertainty onto performance predictions, which can be used toward a more efficient design methodology; (ii) ranking of the relative influence of the various material parameters on the deformation response that can further translate to the respective influence of the various deformation mechanisms conditional on the adopted material model; and (iii) a quantitative evaluation of the importance of the deformation incompatibility among the phases in the overall deformation response.
The Spirit of Inclusion : Facilitating Dialogue & Developing Strategies for Inclusion in Catholic Higher Education

Inclusion means developing a shared language and cultivating spaces that are adaptable for all learners. In higher education, a campus-wide adoption of inclusion is difficult due to limited time and resources. However, the presence of students with learning differences is increasing on college campuses and challenging traditional images of students and the classroom experience. As the student landscape of higher education continues to shift, developing an inclusive philosophy and increasing accessibility will become imperative. This paper seeks to frame its discussion of inclusion from a theological, relational-ethics lens in order to provide context, strategies and training for all educators.
Comparing telehealth with office-based visits for common pediatric otolaryngology complaints.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of telehealth visits and compare office-based visits for pediatric patients undergoing evaluation of recurrent acute otitis media or sleep-disordered breathing. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study compared telehealth patients with matched controls seen in the office. The feasibility of a thorough patient evaluation in a single telehealth visit without a follow-up office visit was assessed. Both groups were also compared for completeness of physical exam, management, follow-up recommendations, and correlation of physical exam findings with intraoperative findings. RESULTS: 100 children [mean age (SD) = 20.7 (15.6) months] with a chief complaint of recurrent acute otitis media and 128 children [5.4 (3.2) years] with a chief complaint of sleep-disordered breathing were evaluated. Recommendations for surgery, additional studies, or routine follow-up were similar between telehealth and office-based groups. Physical exam feasibility was significantly different for the nasal cavity, oropharynx, and middle ear (P < .001). Patients who underwent office-based consultation were much more likely to have findings of middle ear fluid at the time of tympanostomy tube placement (79.3% vs 39.3%, P = .002). There was no significant difference between preoperative and intraoperative tonsil size discrepancies (P = .749). CONCLUSION: Telehealth can be used successfully for the evaluation of pediatric patients with sleep-disordered breathing; however, reliance on history alone may result in unnecessary tympanostomy tube placement in patients with recurrent acute otitis media. Physical examination of the oropharynx, nasal cavity, and middle ear via telehealth presents a unique challenge in pediatric otolaryngology.
Social Network Analysis: Affiliations and Overlapping Subgroups

In this chapter we discuss methods for analyzing a special kind of twomode social network that represents the affiliation of a set of actors with a set of social occasions (or events). We will refer to these data as affiliation network data, or measurements on an affiliation variable. This kind of two-mode network has also been called a membership network (Breiger 1974, 1990a) or hypernetwork (McPherson 1982), and the affiliation relation has also been referred to as an involvement relation (Freeman and White 1993). Affiliation Networks Affiliation networks differ in several important ways from the types of social networks we have discussed so far. First, affiliation networks are two-mode networks, consisting of a set of actors and a set of events. Second, affiliation networks describe collections of actors rather than simply ties between pairs of actors. Both of these features of affiliation networks make their analysis and interpretation somewhat distinct from the analysis and interpretation of one-mode networks, and lead us to the special set of methods discussed in this chapter. Among the important properties of affiliation networks that require special methods and interpretations are: Affiliation networks are two-mode networks Affiliation networks consist of subsets of actors, rather than simply pairs of actors Connections among members of one of the modes are based on linkages established through the second mode Affiliation networks allow one to study the dual perspectives of the actors and the events We will return to these ideas throughout this chapter.
Location of the Mississippi Sound Oyster Reefs as Related to Salinity of Bottom Waters During 1973-1975

The relationship of producing natural oyster reefs of Mississippi Sound to the salinity regime of bottom waters is investigated. Extreme and average conditions were extracted from data taken at 87 stations over a 21-month period from June 1973 through February 1975. With one exception, the producing reefs were subjected tosalinity minimums of 2.0 to 4.0 parts per thousand (ppt), maximums of 18.0 to 22.0 ppt, with avcragc conditions being between 10.0 and 16.0 ppt. Salinity-suitable areas in the Sound not now inhabited by oysters are described.
Short-term memory trace decay in kinesthetically monitored force reproduction.

Abstract The decay of the memory trace for intervals of 1/2 min., 1 1/2 min., and 4 min. between the test stimulus and the reproduction trial was studied for a force reproduction task in which the amount of movement was very small, .13 in. The subject pushed against a handle attached to the top of a steel bar with the preferred hand. Sixty-three women volunteers from college physical education classes performed the experiment. For Part A all subjects first had four trials in which the reproduction was immediate (the control condition). Then they were divided randomly into three subgroups of 21, and each subgroup was assigned to one of the three retention intervals (experimental conditions) for four more trials. In Part B the whole experiment was repeated. For both absolute and algebraic error, analysis of covariance indicated no significant differences at the .05 level among the experimental conditons. Also, no significant differences were found comparing a condition in Part A with its respective conditio...
Charlier (Series) Distributions, Discrete

The Charlier series distribution (both univariate and bivariate) and some its properties are discussed. Keywords: charlier polynomial; convolution
Synthesis and characterization of new curcumin derivatives as potential chemotherapeutic and antioxidant agents.

Preclinical Research The purpose of this work was to synthesize a series of symmetrical analogs (CA2–CA7) of curcumin and determine their efficacy as antioxidant and anticancer agents in vitro. The six analogs were successfully synthesized and characterized, one of which, CA6, had not been previously reported in the literature. With the exception of CA2, the analogs had lower predicted aqueous solubilities and higher partition coefficients than curcumin. Two analogs, CA2 and CA3, had lower potencies as anticancer agents compared with curcumin, while CA6 had a slightly higher IC50 value. Two different trends in the antioxidant capabilities of curcumin and its analogs were determined when assessed in vitro or in cell culture. The in vitro DPPH assay clearly showed curcumin as the strongest antioxidant as compared with the analogs when tested at the same concentration or at their IC50 value. The cell culture-based reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species assay indicated that CA3 and CA6 were equal to curcumin in their free radical scavenging ability at the same concentration, but when curcumin and its analogs were tested at their respective IC50 values, CA4 and CA5 showed excellent antioxidant capacities. These results indicate that in cell culture, the ability of these analogs to produce antioxidant effects may be tied to their downstream effects.
Angle routing protocol: location aided routing for mobile ad-hoc networks using dynamic angle selection

A mobile ad-hoc network consists of hosts that may often move. Location based routing between the mobile hosts require three phases: (1) getting the location of the destination host (2) discovering the route to the destination and (3) forwarding the packet to the given destination. This paper introduces a scheme to reduce the overhead involved in the route discovery to the destination knowing its location information. The flooding of the packets to the intermediate nodes is reduced since the route discovery packets are only forwarded to certain nodes, which fall into a determined region (calculated using an angle, which can dynamically change for the nodes). From a node, the packet is forwarded only to two nodes in the region determined. These 2 nodes are selected based on the location of the final destination and the location of the intermediate node, which needs to select the 2 nodes. This reduces the number of packets flooded into the network and also reduces the processing time, since the nodes involved into the forwarding of packets are reduced. This protocol is a variation of the LAR (location-aided routing in mobile ad-hoc networks), in the sense that, it limits the search for the destination to a much smaller (area wise) and focused (shorter path) region. The protocol also introduces a concept of dynamic angle selection at each node, which helps in optimizing the flooding, processing time and enabling the chances of finding the intermediate nodes with a better probability.
Regulation of Metabolite Transport in Rat and Guinea Pig Liver Mitochondria by Long Chain Fatty Acyl Coenzyme A Esters

Abstract Long chain fatty acyl coenzyme A esters were found to be potent inhibitors of adenine nucleotide translocation in both rat and guinea pig liver mitochondria. There was a positive correlation of inhibition with the carbon chain length and carnitine-dependent oxidation of the fatty acyl-CoA esters. Octanoyl-CoA was completely ineffective at concentrations up to 50 µm. Esters containing a greater number of carbon atoms produced significant inhibition at concentrations as low as 5 µm. Both saturated and unsaturated acyl-CoA esters were effective inhibitors, although there was some difference in effectiveness depending upon the concentration. Palmitoyl-CoA was shown to inhibit binding competitively with ADP in both nucleotide depleted mitochondria and Lubrol membrane fragments. The mode of inhibition and sensitivity of adenine nucleotide translocase to the acyl-CoA esters appeared to be similar to that produced by atractylate. Under conditions studied, the concentration of carnitine acyltransferase enzyme(s) did not influence the inhibition produced by the acyl-CoA esters. Phosphoenolpyruvate, known to be transported on the tricarboxylate carrier, also was found to be transported by the adenine nucleotide translocase in both rat and guinea pig liver mitochondria. In addition the tricarboxylate as well as adenine nucleotide translocator was inhibited by atractylate as well as long chain fatty acyl-CoA esters. These results suggest an important function of long chain fatty acyl-CoA esters in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolite transport.
Demographic efficiency : concept and estimation.

The concept of ‘demographic efficiency’ is proposed and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is introduced as a method for determining which countries are demographically efficient. While the purpose of the paper is primarily to introduce the concept and the method, several simple examples are used for purposes of illustration. The first two explore how efficiently countries have converted their level of development (the ‘input’) into male and female life expectancy at birth (the ‘outputs’). The second two reverse the postulated relationship, treating life expectancies as inputs reflecting general health status of a population, and level of development as the output. Countries are said to be efficient if they have achieved the maximum output observable for a given level of input, or if they have minimized the inputs needed to achieve a prescribed level of output. Together, the efficient cases form an ‘efficiency frontier.’ DEA, a form of linear programming, also permits the degree of inefficiency of countries lying behind this frontier to be measured by calculating the extent of the ‘output slacks’ that are present. Output slacks are the shortfalls in the level of performance that could have been achieved given the inputs available, and may themselves be treated as independent variables in explorations of the sources of demographic inefficiency. One example of such an exploration is offered—an attempt to account for shortfalls in female life expectancy, given levels of development.
Formalizing Multiple Location

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on formalizing the idea of multiple locations that provides a person with a more concrete conceptual approach to the realities of the physical world. The problems relating to the formalizing process discussed in the chapter are as follows. Classical set theory lends itself too naturally to interpretation in terms of simple location. Elements in a set are clearly distinguished from one another and all are related externally to the set that gathers them together through membership—a relationship that unavoidably performs a radical selection from the elements' many properties. One cannot collect the entities of a physical field into a set without doing violence to the wealth of concrete relationships that those entities have among one another. Current point set topology is of no help because it is a form of applied set theory. From formalizing multiple locations, it follows that no figure has a single geometric structure—an absolute appearance—to use a paradoxical expression that describes the ordinary, naive idea of form. The chapter discusses a set theory based on inclusion, elementhood, and membership, Cartesian product, functions, cardinality, order, the topology of multiple location, closure, derived set, boundary, homeomorphism, connectedness, compactness, axioms, and theorems.
Chronic pain in neurorehabilitation populations: Prevalence, severity and impact.

Abstract Extensive data document the adverse impact chronic pain can have on physical and psychosocial functioning. However, only recently has chronic pain received attention as a secondary complication in neurorehabilitation populations such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. It is not unreasonable to expect that chronic pain might exacerbate impairments already present due to a chronic, disabling condition. The current paper reviews what is known about the prevalence, severity, and psychosocial impact of chronic pain in neurorehabilitation populations. Although there is variation among different conditions, available data suggest that considerable proportions of these patient populations experience chronic pain and associated sequelae similar to that reported in the extant chronic pain literature (e.g., psychological distress). Research needs to continue investigating the impact of chronic pain in neurorehabilitation populations and work toward development of effective interventions to manage pain and disability in these patients. It is likely that effective pain management will lead to more effective rehabilitation and improved quality of life.
Ultrasound stimulates formation and release of vasoactive compounds in brain endothelial cells

Stroke outcome is improved by therapeutic ultrasound. This benefit is presumed to be from ultrasound-mediated thrombolysis. We show that cerebrovascular endothelial cells release vasodilator compou...
Isolation enhancment of two planar monopole antennas for MIMO wireless applications

This paper presents a planar slotted meander line structure to reduce the mutual coupling between two microstrip fed planar monopole patch antennas. The array provides a relative operating bandwidth of 98 % (1.37–4.00) GHz matched at a reflection coefficient S11 and S22 less than −10 dB with a total realized gain of 3.9, 4.66, and 4 dB at 1.85, 2.4, and 3.5 GHz respectively. The isolation level has been reduced to less than −20 dB for a wide frequency band of 85 % (1.46–3.64) GHz. The design represents a good candidate for modern wireless standards utilizing MIMO techniques including 3GPP LTE, WiMAX, WiFi, as well as systems utilizing ISM spectrum equipped with multiple antennas.
Impaired control over alcohol use: An under-addressed risk factor for problem drinking in young adults?

Impaired control over alcohol use may be defined as "a breakdown of an intention to limit consumption in a particular situation" (Heather, Tebbutt, Mattick, & Zamir, 1993, p. 701) and has long been considered an important feature of alcohol dependence. Evidence suggests impaired control is highly relevant to young adult problem drinking. In the natural history of problem drinking, impaired control tends to develop early and may predict alcohol-related problems prospectively in undergraduates. Impaired control over alcohol use may be a facet of generalized behavioral undercontrol specifically related to drinking. In particular, impaired control is theoretically and empirically related to impulsivity. The question of whether impaired control represents a facet of impulsivity or a related but separate construct requires further study. However, theoretical arguments and empirical evidence suggest that there are unique qualities to the constructs. Specifically, existing data suggest that self-report measures of impaired control and impulsivity over alcohol use relate distinctly to problem drinking indices in young adults. Several lines of future research concerning impaired control are suggested, using the impulsivity literature as a guide. We conclude that impaired control is a valuable construct to the study of young adult problem drinking and that measures of impaired control should be included in more young adult alcohol studies. The extent to which impaired control over the use of other substances and impaired control over engagement in other addictive behaviors are clinically relevant constructs requires additional study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Alginate hydrogels as synthetic extracellular matrix materials

Alginate hydrogels are used extensively in cell encapsulation, cell transplantation, and tissue engineering applications. Alginates possess many favorable properties required in biomaterials, but are unable to specifically interact with mammalian cells. We have therefore covalently modified alginate polysaccharides with RGD-containing cell adhesion ligands utilizing aqueous carbodiimide chemistry. The chemistry has been optimized and quantified with reaction efficiencies reaching 80% or greater. The concentration of peptide available for reaction was then varied to create hydrogels with a range of ligand densities. Mouse skeletal myoblasts were cultured on alginate hydrogel surfaces coupled with GRGDY peptides to illustrate achievement of cellular interaction with the otherwise non-adhesive hydrogel substrate. Myoblasts adhere to GRGDY-modified alginate surfaces, proliferate, fuse into multi-nucleated myofibrils, and express heavy-chain myosin which is a differentiation marker for skeletal muscle. Myoblast adhesion and spreading on these GRGDY-modified hydrogels was inhibited with soluble ligand added to the seeding medium, illustrating the specificity of adhesion to these materials. Alginate may prove to be an ideal material with which to confer specific cellular interactive properties, potentially allowing for the control of long-term gene expression of cells within these matrices.
When the Third World Comes to the First: Ethical Considerations When Working With Hispanic Immigrants

This article briefly reviews concerns related to the “cultural colonialism” of applying Western biomedical models of research ethics to non-Western groups. The feasibility of alternate ethical models is discussed and found wanting. In practical terms, many academic researchers in the United States are funded by federal agencies and are required to adhere to Title 45, Part 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations, legislation that is clearly grounded in the Western biomedical research tradition. Consequently, the question is not whether this system of ethics should be applied but rather how it can be applied most sensitively, appropriately, and wisely. The remainder of this article discusses of how the authors have attempted to do so in each stage of their own research with Hispanic immigrants to the United States.
Synthesis of sample paths of wind power through factor analysis & cluster analysis

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize sample paths of wind power from a wind farm in a certain location by considering the wind power variability in that location. In order to achieve this purpose, factors driving wind power variability are extracted from wind power time series through factor analysis. Then, wind farms with similar factor loadings are clustered through an agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis. In those two processes, the number of factors and clusters are decided heuristically. The seasonal variation of wind farm clusters is also analyzed, and the relative variability among wind farms is plotted in a dendrogram of wind farm clusters. The factor loadings and statistical characteristics of wind power in the selected cluster are used to synthesize the future sample path of a wind farm in that cluster. Finally, the synthesized wind power is verified by testing whether the distribution of the minute by minute difference between wind power data follows the Laplace distribution.
Preparing students for future architectures with an exploration of multi- and many-core performance

The recent progression of modern computer architectures from serial to multi-core to many-core has raised numerous questions about the placement of parallel computing topics in undergraduate computer science curricula. While several papers have explored how programming and algorithms courses might introduce parallel programming topics, there has been very little discussion of the changes needed in computer organization and architecture coursework to help students understand key issues about the behavior of these platforms. To increase the relevance of these courses and to tackle more modern architectural issues, we propose extending the performance coverage of a traditional computer organization course to include an exploration of the quantitative characterization of a program's performance on a variety of architectural platforms, including modern GPU hardware.In this paper, we outline the changes made to the Computer Organization and Design course at University of Wisconsin -- Eau Claire. These modifications included a 3 week unit on the basics of parallel and GPU architectures, along with a tiered project on program optimization.
A new theory of equilibrium selection for games with complete information

Abstract In an earlier paper, the author proposed a new theory of equilibrium selection for games with complete information. In this paper he proposes an extension of this theory to games with incomplete information. A mathematical model is suggested for measuring the strength of the incentives that each type of any player has to use any particular strategy in the case he represents this player in the game. Then, these incentive measures are used for estimating the theoretical probability for any given Nash equilibrium to emerge as the outcome of the game. The solution of the game is defined as the Nash equilibrium with the highest theoretical realization probability when this equilibrium is unique. The problems posed by non-uniqueness are also discussed. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: C72.
Parallel-processing a large scientific problem

We discuss a parallel-processing experiment that uses a particle-in-cell (PIC) code to study the feasibility of doing large-scale scientific calculations on multiple-processor architectures. A multithread version of this Los Alamos PIC code was successfully implemented and timed on a UNIVAC System 1100/80 computer. Use of a single copy of the instruction stream, and common memory to hold data, eliminated data transmission between processors. The multiple-processing algorithm exploits the PIC code's high degree of large, independent tasks, as well as the configuration of the UNIVAC System 1100/80. Timing results for the multithread version of the PIC code using one, two, three, and four identical processors are given and are shown to have promising speedup times when compared to the overall run times measured for a single-thread version of the PIC code.
Updating Bridge Reliability Based on Bridge Management Systems Visual Inspection Results

Bridge management systems have become increasingly sophisticated over the past decade and provide valuable information about the structural condition of all bridges in the national database. At the same time, reliability methods have gained increasing prominence and are used to forecast life-cycle performance over many decades of structural life. Such reliability analyses need to be updated based on the results of inspections. Specifically targeted nondestructive evaluations are the preferred solution, but are not always available for every bridge. This paper examines how the visual inspection data provided from bridge management systems already in place can be used to update the reliability of a bridge. The limitations and necessary modifications to current practice are discussed. The superstructure of a Colorado highway bridge deteriorating due to corrosion is used as an example.