cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Performance of White Masculinity in Boys Don't Cry: Identity, Desire, (Mis)Recognition:

Using a theoretical discussion of gender performance and border patrol/inspection to situate the analysis, this article examines the film Boys Don't Cry to investigate the performances of White masculinity and how Brandon Teena's body becomes constructed as a “contested site.” The author argues that the film reinscribes the normative nature of White masculinity by showcasing Brandon Teena's “failed” performance as a performance while allowing the “biological men” to just “be” men. The film was not able to allow Brandon to exist in the “borderlands,” a space where he did not have to be labeled outside of his own desires. The film contains Brandon, categorizes him as “lesbian.” We, as viewers of the film, are interpellated as border patrols and aid in the lesbianizing of Brandon.
Nanomanipulation Using Silicon Photonic Crystal Resonators

Optical tweezers have enabled a number of microscale processes such as single cell handling, flow-cytometry, directed assembly, and optical chromatography. To extend this functionality to the nanoscale, a number of near-field approaches have been developed that yield much higher optical forces by confining light to subwavelength volumes. At present, these techniques are limited in both the complexity and precision with which handling can be performed. Here, we present a new class of nanoscale optical trap exploiting optical resonance in one-dimensional silicon photonic crystals. The trapping of 48 nm and 62 nm dielectric nanoparticles is demonstrated along with the ability to transport, trap, and manipulate larger nanoparticles by simultaneously exploiting the propagating nature of the light in a coupling waveguide and its stationary nature within the resonator. Field amplification within the resonator is shown to produce a trap several orders of magnitude stronger than conventional tweezers and an order of magnitude stiffer than other near-field techniques. Our approach lays the groundwork for a new class of optical trapping platforms that could eventually enable complex all-optical single molecule manipulation and directed assembly of nanoscale material.
A Protein C Deficiency Exacerbates Inflammatory and Hypotensive Responses in Mice During Polymicrobial Sepsis in a Cecal Ligation and Puncture Model

During the systemic inflammatory state induced by sepsis, the potential for coagulopathy exists because of up-regulation of natural procoagulants and anti-fibrinolytics, and down-regulation of natural anti-coagulants, with protein C (PC) being a critical example of the latter case. PC functions as an anti-coagulant, profibrinolytic, and anti-inflammatory agent, and, thus, its administration or deficiency may affect the course and outcome of sepsis in patients. In this study, a cecal ligation and puncture model of septic peritonitis was applied to wild-type mice and littermates with a targeted heterozygous deficiency of PC (PC(+/-)) to characterize the importance of a PC-deficiency on polymicrobial sepsis. An enhanced mortality rate was found to accompany a PC deficiency. Plasma cytokines, as well as organ-specific expression of cytokine transcripts, were elevated in PC(+/-) mice. No signs of severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were observed in wild-type or PC(+/-) mice, as indicated by an increase in fibrinogen levels and the invariability of platelet counts after cecal ligation and puncture. Consumption of coagulation factors was similar in both genotypes and a decrease in the PC mRNA and protein levels was more prominent in PC(+/-) mice. Renal and organ muscle damage was enhanced in PC(+/-) mice, as shown by increases in plasma blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and creatinine kinase. Hypotension and bradycardia were more enhanced in PC(+/-) mice than in wild-type mice, thus provoking a more severe septic shock response. Thus, the hemodynamic role of PC during sepsis is of critical importance to the outcome of the disease.
Proton NMR Study of Oxo-Bridged Dimanganese(III) Complexes: Solution State Structures and an Isotropic Shift/Magnetic Exchange Correlation.

The (1)H NMR spectra of a series of manganese-oxo aggregates have been examined, and a characteristic signature was found for each complex. For the dimanganese(III,III) complexes [Mn(2)O(OAc)(2)(HB(pz)(3))(2)], [Mn(2)O(OAc)(2)(tacn)(2)](2+), [Mn(2)O(OAc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(bpy)(2)](2+), and [Mn(2)O(OAc)(2)(bpta)(2)](2+) (HB(pz)(3) = hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate; tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, and bpta = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-tert-butylamine), the (1)H NMR spectra reveal a resonance associated with acetate, found downfield between 58 and 80 ppm, and a generally well resolved set of terminal ligand resonances which can be divided into two classes: those resonances associated with pyridyl or pyrazolyl ring protons and those of methylene groups. A number of the pyridine ring resonances have been unambiguously assigned by the examination of methyl-substituted derivatives. Data for these derivatives also support a coordination geometry-dependent pathway for spin delocalization. Moreover, interpretation of the (1)H NMR spectra leads to the conclusion that the solution-state structures of all members of the series are the same as the reported solid-state structures. A strong linear correlation between the magnetic coupling constant (J) and the isotropic shift of the acetate resonance was observed within this series of {Mn(2)O(OAc)(2)}(2+) core complexes. Furthermore, comparisons of the acetate proton isotropic shift ratio (DeltaH(Mn)/DeltaH(Fe)) to the ratio of the squared effective magnetic moments m(eff)(2)(Mn)/ m(eff)(2)(Fe) for complexes with the {M(2)O(OAc)(2)}(2+) core (where M = Mn(3+) or Fe(3+)) revealed excellent agreement (within 10%) between these two quantities.
A cyclic symmetry approach to the structural dynamic analysis of bladed discs

This paper presents the development of a cyclic symmetric approach to the complete stress, free vibration, transient and stationary response analysis of rotating tuned bladed disc systems taking into account all the complications involved. Starting from Biezeno's approach to the analysis of individual blades and discs, the continuing development of different methodologies and their limitations as applied to practical systems are discussed. The advantages, versatility and usefulness of the present approach are demonstrated by means of the results obtained for a number of cases both by theoretical and experimental means.
Actinomycin D in Tetrahymena: Non-specific inhibition of RNA synthesis and primary and secondary effects on protein synthesis

The effects of actinomycin D on RNA and protein synthesis have been investigated in Tetrahymena pyriformis. The extent of inhibition of total RNA synthesis and the time before inhibition occurs are both dependent on the concentration of the drug over the range 0.5–10 μg/ml. In contrast to reports on mammalian systems, actinomycin D at low doses is not a selective inhibitor of rRNA synthesis in Tetrahymena; at all doses tested, poly(A+) RNA and poly(A−) RNA syntheses were reduced to similar extents. Finally, the action of actinomycin D was studied in conjunction with γ-radiation which alone causes a transient disaggregation of the polysomes. Actinomycin D partially inhibits the reassociation of polysomes in irradiated cells, but after recovery, the polysome content of the irradiated and drug-treated cells is greater than that of cells treated only with actinomycin D. The results support both a direct action of actinomycin D on translation and secondary effects resulting from inhibition of transcription. The effect of actinomycin D on protein synthesis was determined by two independent methods. 1. 1. Investigation of drug-induced alterations in polysome content showed that as the dose increases (a) the lag period before observable polysome dissociation decreases; (b) the rate of polysome dissociation increases; and (c) the final extent of polysome loss increases. 2. 2. By measuring the relative rates of incorporation of [35S]methionine into N-terminal and internal positions of nascent peptides, it was determined that actinomycin D inhibits initiation and elongation to similar extents.
Proteoglycan synthesis during intramembranous bone regeneration following avulsive wounding in guinea pig long bones.

Information on proteoglycan synthesis by bone cells and tissue is largely limited to studies of developing fetal bone. The present investigation focuses on proteoglycan synthesis during the intramembranous type of bone regeneration seen within avulsive (puncture-type) defects placed in guinea pig tibiae. [35S] Sulfate-labeled proteoglycans were extracted from tissue within regenerating tibial avulsive defects seven days following surgical wounding and also from xiphisternal cartilage utilized as an internal control. Labeled proteoglycans in 4M guanidine HCI extracts of rcgcncrating hone and cartilage were purified by DEAE-Sephaccl chromatography and further analyzed by chromatography and appropriate enzyme digestions. Regenerating bone tissue contained a protcoglycan relatively small in size (Kav = 0.56 following chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B) compared to protcoglycan from xiphisternal cartilage (Kav = 0.17). Alkaline borohydride treatment degraded this bone proteoglycan (Kav = 0.4 on Sepharose CL-6B)...
Application of optical interconnect technology at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Optical interconnects will be required to meet the information bandwidth requirements of future communication and computing applications. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we are involved in applying optical interconnect technologies in two distinct application areas: multi-Gigabit/sec computer backplanes and Gigabit/sec wide area networking using wavelength division multiplexing. We discuss our efforts to integrate optical interconnect technologies into prototype computing and communication systems.
3566 Endoscopic therapy of biliary and pancreatic disorders in children.

There is limited data on the role of ERCP in the pediatric population. We report our experience in this group during the last 5 years. Pts and Methods: From 1/94-9/99, 126 pediatric pts were evaluated by ERCP. There were 47 boys and 79 girls with a mean age of 12.1 yrs (range 0.1-17). There were 170 ERCPs performed (43 diagnostic and 127 therapeutic). Ninetytwo procedures were performed under general anesthesia and the remainder were under conscious sedation. A pediatric endoscope (diameter 8.5 mm) was used in 9 pts(all less than 2 yr)and a standard adult diagnostic endoscope (diameter 11 mm) was used in the remainder. Indications for ERCPs were: Idiopathic acute pancreatitis (n=15), recurrent acute pancreatitis (n=31), chronic pancreatitis (n=8), obstructive jaundice (n=40), suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) (n=22), and miscellaneous (n=10). The desired duct was visualized in 116 of 126 pts (92.1%). Results: Therapeutic techniques from 170 sessions are shown on the table. Disease findings were (some pts had more than one finding): bile duct stone(s) (n=18), SOD (n=24), biliary atresia (n=1), anomalous P-B junction (n=3), choledochal cyst (n=4), biliary fistula (n=5), PSC (n=5), chronic pancreatitis with strictures and stones (n=11) or without stones (n=5), pancreas divisum (n=18), pancreatic duct leak (n=5), benign biliary stricture (n=7), malignant biliary stricture (n=1) and normal (n=12). Twenty-four complications occurred in 21 pts (16.6% of 126 pts). Twenty pts developed acute pancreatitis graded mild in 14, moderate in 3, and severe in 3. Conclusion: ERCP is an effective diagnostic tool in the evaluation of biliary and pancreatic disorders in the pediatric population. It offers therapeutic application that can obviate surgery with an acceptable complication rate similar to the adult population.
Alternative techniques for augmentation cystoplasty.

AbstractPurpose: We discuss conventional intestinal cystoplasty and show how concern about potential complications has led to an interest in alternative methods for cystoplasty. Techniques such as gastrocystoplasty, ureterocystoplasty, vesicomyomectomy (autoaugmentation), seromuscular augmentation, alloplastic replacement and bioprosthetic materials are reviewed. Laboratory and clinical results of these techniques are examined critically to compare advantages, disadvantages and potential applications.Materials and Methods: Computer searches of available medical data bases were used to generate a list of relevant publications, including original contributions and review articles, which were then reviewed, compared and summarized.Results: Augmentation cystoplasty is used routinely for treatment of reduced bladder compliance and capacity secondary to infectious, inflammatory, neurogenic and congenital disorders. Sigmoidocystoplasty and ileocystoplasty have become standard techniques but there is renewed inte...
Far-out surface science: radiation-induced surface processes in the solar system

Interplanetary space is a cosmic laboratory for surface scientists. Energetic photons, ions and electrons from the solar wind, together with galactic and extragalactic cosmic rays, constantly bombard surfaces of planets, planetary satellites, dust particles, comets and asteroids. Many of these bodies exist in ultrahigh vacuum environments, so that direct particle–surface collisions dominate the interactions. In this article, we discuss the origins of the very tenuous planetary atmospheres observed on a number of bodies, space weathering of the surface of asteroids and comets, and magnetospheric processing of the surfaces of Jupiter’s icy satellites. We emphasize non-thermal processes and the important relationships between surface composition and the gas phase species observed. We also discuss what laboratory and computational modeling should be done to support the current and future space missions––e.g. the Genesis mission to recover solar wind particles, the Cassini mission to probe Saturn, the Europa Lander mission to explore the subsurface ocean hypothesis, and the Pluto/Kuiper Express to sample the outer reaches of the solar system. 2001Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Refinement of the Low Vision Independence Measure: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACTPurpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to improve clinical utility of the Low Vision Independence Measure (LVIM) and strengthen its content validity. Methods: A two-part qualitative emergent design was used. Low vision therapists’ opinions were collected first with a questionnaire and then with a focus group. Results: Findings indicated that clinical utility of the LVIM could be improved by adding comment sections and moving some of its items or subsections. The content validity of the LVIM could be strengthened through the additions of new items to some subsections, new subsections, and item lists, as well as rewording of some items. Therapists acknowledged current LVIM strengths of client-centeredness, ability to identify problem areas upon which to formulate a plan of care, versatility for use in different treatment settings, efficient administration, and cultural sensitivity. Conclusions: Further research is needed on the refined LVIM to establish its psychometric properties.
Carcinogen Risk Assessment in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

AbstractThis is a narrative account of the origins and development of carcinogen risk assessment in the U.S. EPA, which pioneered the field. It began in an era of high hopes that the regulation of carcinogens in the environment would make a major reduction in the heavy public health burden of cancer. The immediate cause for the development of carcinogen risk assessment was the need to respond to heavy criticism that the EPA was not using science in an unbiased way to defend its regulation of important pesticides as carcinogens. The formulation of the initial assessment guidelines is described as well as the rationale behind the assessment procedures that were developed by the EPA's Carcinogen Assessment Group. The issue of whether the original hopes of reducing cancer has been realized is discussed. Recent developments in molecular carcinogenesis point to the possibility of a revised view of the role of environmental carcinogens at low levels of exposure from that of causing cancerde novo to an accelerati...
MPLOT: A Transport Protocol Exploiting Multipath Diversity Using Erasure Codes

In this paper, we propose a novel transport protocol that effectively utilizes available bandwidth and diversity gains provided by heterogeneous, highly lossy paths. Our Multi-Path LOss-Tolerant (MPLOT) protocol can be used to provide significant gains in the goodput of wireless mesh networks, subject to bursty, correlated losses with average loss-rates as high as 50%, and random outage events. MPLOT makes intelligent use of erasure codes to guard against packets losses, and a Hybrid-ARQ/FEC scheme to reduce packet recovery latency, where the redundancy is adaptively provisioned into both proactive and reactive FECs. MPLOT uses dynamic packet mapping based on current path characteristics, and does not require packets to be delivered in sequence to ensure reliability. We present a theoretical analysis of the different design choices of MPLOT and show that MPLOT makes an optimal trade-off between goodput and delay constraints. We test MPLOT, through simulations, under a variety of test scenarios and show that it effectively exploits path diversity in addition to aggregating path bandwidths. We also show that MPLOT is fair to single-path protocols like TCP-SACK.
Engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum for isobutanol production

The production of isobutanol in microorganisms has recently been achieved by harnessing the highly active 2-keto acid pathways. Since these 2-keto acids are precursors of amino acids, we aimed to construct an isobutanol production platform in Corynebacterium glutamicum, a well-known amino-acid-producing microorganism. Analysis of this host’s sensitivity to isobutanol toxicity revealed that C. glutamicum shows an increased tolerance to isobutanol relative to Escherichia coli. Overexpression of alsS of Bacillus subtilis, ilvC and ilvD of C. glutamicum, kivd of Lactococcus lactis, and a native alcohol dehydrogenase, adhA, led to the production of 2.6 g/L isobutanol and 0.4 g/L 3-methyl-1-butanol in 48 h. In addition, other higher chain alcohols such as 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-butanol, and 2-phenylethanol were also detected as byproducts. Using longer-term batch cultures, isobutanol titers reached 4.0 g/L after 96 h with wild-type C. glutamicum as a host. Upon the inactivation of several genes to direct more carbon through the isobutanol pathway, we increased production by ∼25% to 4.9 g/L isobutanol in a ∆pyc∆ldh background. These results show promise in engineering C. glutamicum for higher chain alcohol production using the 2-keto acid pathways.
Overhead cost pool classification and judgment performance

This paper addresses the research question: does an organization's choice of overhead cost pool classification affect individuals' predictive judgments about overhead costs? I use psychology research to develop hypotheses about how overhead cost pool classification affects the expected accuracy of participants' predictions of a target overhead cost based on their estimation of the coefficients relating the target overhead cost to four predictor overhead costs. The predictor costs are located either within the same overhead pool as the target cost or in another pool. I vary relationships among the costs such that the larger predictor-target coefficient is either within a single cost pool or across different cost pools, and the relationships are positive or negative. I hypothesize that implicit coefficients on predictors within the same pool as the target cost will be estimated more accurately than implicit coefficients on predictors in a different pool. I also hypothesize that predictions of the target cost are affected by an interaction of the location of the stronger predictor and the sign of the relationships. As hypothesized, participants estimate implicit coefficients within a pool more accurately than coefficients across pools. Further, the location of the stronger predictor and the sign of the relations interact, such that the effect of the location of the stronger predictor on judgment accuracy is greater when relationships among costs are negative than when they are positive. I thus provide theory-consistent evidence of a cognitive effect of overhead cost pool classification in addition to informational effects modeled by the analytic literature.
Role of Scaffold Architecture and Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Scaffolds in Cell Seeding

Seeding a layer of cells at specific depths within scaffolds is an important optimization parameter for bi-layer skin models. The work presented investigated the effect of fiber diameter and its mechanical property on the depth of cell seeding for electro-spun fiber scaffold. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is used to generate scaffolds that are submicron (400nm) to micron (1100nm) using electro-spinning. 3T3 fibroblasts were seeded on the electro-spun fiber scaffold mat of 50-70 microns thickness in this study. In order to investigate the effect of fiber diameter on cell migration, first, the electrospun fiber scaffold was studied for variation of mechanical properties as a function of fiber diameters. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the Young’s modulus (E) values as a function of fiber diameter. It was identified that as the fiber diameter increases, the Young’s modulus values decreases considerably from 1.1GPa to 200MPa. The variation in E is correlated with cell seeding depth as a function of vacuum pressure. A higher E value led to a lower depth of cell seeding (closer to the surface) indicating that nanofibrous scaffolds offer larger resistance to cell movement compared to microfibrous scaffolds.
Comparison of surgically induced astigmatism between femtosecond laser and manual clear corneal incisions for cataract surgery

Purpose To assess the surgically induced corneal astigmatism (SIA) introduced by femtosecond laser–assisted clear corneal incisions (CCIs) for cataract extraction and to compare it with the SIA of manually created CCIs. Setting Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. Design Prospective nonrandomized comparative case series. Methods Eyes received femtosecond laser–assisted CCIs (Group 1) or manual CCIs (Group 2). The surgical plan included 1 primary and 1 secondary port; the sites of the incisions were the same in both groups and were diametrically opposed between the right eye and left eye. The SIA was assessed using the preoperative and 1-month postoperative keratometric values obtained from corneal topography examinations. Results This study included 72 eyes of 68 patients with a mean age of 69.0 years ± 9.87 (SD) (range 36 to 90 years). Thirty-six eyes received femtosecond laser–assisted CCIs (Group 1) and 36 received manual CCIs (Group 2). The mean preoperative topographic corneal astigmatism was −1.19 ± 0.68 diopters (D) (range 0 to 2.50 D) and −0.92 ± 0.63 D (range 0.10 to 2.45 D) for Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, whereas, 1 month after cataract surgery, it was −1.16 ± 0.63 D (range 0.20 to 2.57 D) and −0.95 ± 0.64 D (range 0.21 to 2.37 D), respectively. Multivariate vector analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups for preoperative astigmatism, postoperative astigmatism, and SIA (P > .05 for all comparisons between Group 1 and Group 2). Conclusion Femtosecond laser–assisted and manual corneal incisions for cataract surgery did not appear to significantly alter corneal astigmatism, whereas they showed comparable SIA. Financial Disclosure Drs. Yoo and Donaldson are speakers for and consultants to Alcon Surgical, Inc., and Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. No other author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Identification of tumor suppressor genes by large-scale profiling of cytosine-methylation in glioblastoma cell lines

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 260 Glioblastoma, the most aggressive and least treatable form of malignant glioma, is the most common human brain tumor. Although many regions of allelic loss occur in glioblastomas, relatively few tumor suppressor genes have been found mutated at such loci. The methylation status of MGMT has previously been shown to be closely linked to treatment outcome in brain tumors indicating an epigenetic involvement in the pathology of these tumors. We recently published a study in which we exposed triplicates of three short-term cultured glioblastomas to 5μM 5-aza-dC for 96 hours followed by cRNA hybridization to an oligonucleotide microarray (Affymetrix U133A). The results identified RUNX and TES as two genes with altered methylation patterns in glioblastoma. Here we present quantitative methylation data for a set of 16 additional genes. We used a novel method based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to perform large-scale quantitative methylation profiling. We found 4 genes to have identical methylation patterns between normal and tumor cell lines, 13 showed hypermethylation in glioblastoma cell lines and 1 gene showed hypomethylation. We also show a correlation between differential methylation and gene expression changes. The results shown here indicate a strong bias towards hypermethylation in glioblastoma cell lines. This bias should initiate further validation of non-cell line samples, validating epigenetic disregulation as an essential biological process in malignant glioma progression.
Point‐Counterpoint: Be Flexible in the Number of Talks per Speaker at Meetings!

Scott A. BonarIf you read AFS President Donna Parrish's April column, you saw that our meetings are becoming much more crowded. Therefore, as a professional society, we need to decide how we want t...
Sleep Duration and Subsequent Cortical Thinning in Cognitively Normal Older Adults.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between self-reported sleep duration and cortical thinning among older adults. METHODS: We studied 122 cognitively normal participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging with a mean age = 66.6 y (range, 51-84) at baseline sleep assessment and 69.5 y (range, 56-86) at initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Participants reported average sleep duration and completed a mean of 7.6 1.5-T MRI scans (range, 3-11), with mean follow-up from initial scan of 8.0 y (range, 2.0-11.8). RESULTS: In analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, race, and interval between sleep assessment and initial MRI scan, participants reporting > 7 h sleep at baseline had thinner cortex in the inferior occipital gyrus and sulcus of the left hemisphere at initial MRI scan than those reporting 7 h (cluster P < 0.05). In adjusted longitudinal analyses, compared to those reporting 7 h of sleep, participants reporting 7 h of sleep had higher rates of thinning in the superior frontal and middle frontal gyrus of the left hemisphere (cluster P < 0.05 for all). In sensitivity analyses, adjustment for apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 genotype reduced or eliminated some effects but revealed others. When reports of < 7 h of sleep were compared to reports of 7 or 8 h combined, there were no significant associations with cortical thinning. CONCLUSIONS: Among cognitively normal older adults, sleep durations of 7 h may increase the rate of subsequent frontotemporal gray matter atrophy. Additional studies, including those that use objective sleep measures and investigate mechanisms linking sleep duration to gray matter loss, are needed.
FEVER OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN.

A plan of management for the patient with fever of unknown origin is described. Diagnosis can be made within a week of onset of the fever in many cases, with basic observations consisting of a carefully taken and complete history, physical examination, blood cultures, urinalysis, complete blood cell count and chest x-ray. In an equally large fraction of cases the fever will disappear spontaneously without being diagnosed during this observation period. Only infrequently will it last more than a week. The longer a fever remains undiagnosed, the greater the likelihood that it is serious and the greater the necessity for additional studies. The use of antibiotics and other agents in therapeutic trials may be part of later studies but not of initial ones. Aspirin is generally the antipyretic of choice, but it has a number of limitations.
Study of 93 Nb Levels with the 96 Mo(p,α) 93 Nb Reaction

Levels of $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ have been studied with the $^{96}\mathrm{Mo}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ reaction at 15-MeV incident energy. Angular distributions for transitions to a dozen prominent levels below 2 MeV have been measured with 30- to 40-keV experimental resolution over ${15}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\ensuremath{\le}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{L}\ensuremath{\le}{150}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$, and they have been compared with distorted-wave Born-approximation (DWBA) calculations. Angular distributions for $p\ensuremath{-}^{96}\mathrm{Mo}$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ elastic scattering have also been measured, and proton and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-optical-model potential parameter sets have been determined by a search procedure. Of the three sets of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-potential parameters, the one which best reproduced the measured ($p,\ensuremath{\alpha}$) angular distributions of known low-lying levels in $^{93}\mathrm{Nb}$ was chosen as the standard set for the rest of the ($p,\ensuremath{\alpha}$) calculations. The conventional triton-cluster form factor was used exclusively for the ($p,\ensuremath{\alpha}$) DWBA calculations which lead to ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ assignments. A semimicroscopic form factor was used in a few test cases in order to check the sensitivity of calculations to the choice of form factor. Reliable ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ assignments have been made for levels below 1.5 MeV based on the $j$ dependence for $l=1(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ transfers, as well as for higher angular momentum transfers observed in the present work; and they are in excellent agreement with those determined from recent Coulomb-excitation and $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}(\ensuremath{\alpha},p\ensuremath{\gamma})$ works. Dominant three-nucleon shell-model configurations to which the levels of interest belong have been proposed.
Applications of a minicomputer to clinical pharmacy services

The application of a minicomputer system to clinical services and administrative record keeping is described. All applications were designed and implemented by pharmacists. Programs were created to increase the efficiency of collecting workload statistics for clinical services and to perform pharmacokinetic analyses of patient-specific data. The time required to generate quarterly workload reports decreased from 15-18 hours to 20-30 minutes. The use of the minicomputer also permitted a substantial expansion in the scope of the information collected and reported. The pharmacokinetic programs required approximately two minutes to calculate patient-specific peak and trough concentrations. The minicomputer system has increased the pharmacy department's administrative efficiency and encouraged staff pharmacist involvement in clinical services.
Wind power integration through stochastic unit commitment with topology control recourse

We introduce a two stage stochastic unit commitment formulation in which the second stage recourse actions include possible reconfiguration of the power grid topology through transmission line switching. We conduct numerical test on IEEE 118 system to demonstrate the benefits of such adaptive topology control. Our results show that such recourse capability in response to realized uncertainty of intermittent renewable resources can mitigate such adverse variability and significantly improve unit commitment efficiency.
Exploring the nature of science through courage and purpose: a case study of Charles Darwin's way of knowing.

In 1836, Charles Darwin returned to England with finches classified and seemingly showing little resemblance. However, subsequent examination by John Gould revealed 13 closely related species endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Despite initial confusion, and Darwin’s overlooking to label these birds by island, some 100 years later they had become evolution’s icon. The same could be said of Darwin’s education and scientific pursuits, beginning in a rough, trial and error manner, lacking direction, but eventually benefitting from an unexpected opportunity that would lead to his theory of natural selection. This case study examines Darwin’s way of learning and the reserve of courage and perseverance that he would need to see his treatise on evolution and natural selection published. To do this, themes from studying the “Nature of Science” are used to examine how Darwin’s “way of knowing” advanced before and after his voyage upon HMS Beagle. Five themes from the “Nature of Science” were selected to illustrate Darwin’s struggles and triumph: creating scientific knowledge is a human endeavor, such knowledge can explain an order and consistency in natural systems, knowledge comes from a scientist’s way of knowing, is open to revision, and based on empirical evidence. The “Nature of Science” as applied to Charles Darwin is explored through the three above mentioned themes identified by the Next Generation Science Standards. Together, the themes help explain Darwin’s way of knowing, from boyhood to manhood. This explanation helps humanize Darwin, allows students to see how he arrived at his theories, how the time taken to do so wore on his health and safety, and the risk Darwin had to weigh from their eventual publication. Each theme ends with a summary and related extension questions to draw students into the case, and facilitate inquiry. They relate Darwin’s way of learning from the 1800s and his commitment to see his work published, to the learning environment of students today.
Epidemiology and Outcome in Neonatal and Pediatric Herpes Simplex Encephalitis: A 13-Year Experience in a Singapore Tertiary Children's Hospital

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) remains one of the most devastating infections of the central nervous system in children despite available antiviral therapy. Our aim was to determine the clinical epidemiology and long-term neuro-developmental outcome of neonates and children admitted to our hospital with proven HSE. Patients with HSE during November 1998 to December 2011 were identified from discharge and laboratory records and data collection was done by retrospective review of their case notes. HSE was proven by culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or by a positive Herpes simplex virus (HSV)–specific intrathecal antibody. We identified 13 patients during the study period: nine neonates and four older children, all of whom were treated with intravenous acyclovir. In the neonatal cohort, three (33%) presented with seizures and only four (44%) had vesicles. The initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) HSV PCR was positive in seven (78%) and HSV type 2 was the most common. Repeat CSF study showed HSV positivity of 100%. Two (22%) neonates died and three (43%) had long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. Developmental delay, focal neurological deficit, and cognitive deficit were among the most frequent neurological sequelae noted. In the pediatric cohort, three children (75%) had positive CSF HSV PCR and seizures. One (25%) died and two of the three survivors (67%) had neurodevelopmental sequelae. Early CSF studies may be negative in HSE, so a repeat CSF analysis should be considered, particularly in neonates. Early administration of acyclovir could prevent adverse outcomes in HSE.
State Administrative Constitutionalism

“Administrative constitutionalism” has been the subject of much rich scholarship in recent years. Although the term is employed in a range of distinct (though related) ways, this essay is primarily concerned with administrative constitutionalism in its most literal sense: that is, administrative agencies' interactions with the constitution — and here I mean both state and federal constitutions — when they engage in the work of ordinary law implementation, interpretation, and rulemaking.While the existing “administrative constitutionalism” literature focuses almost exclusively on federal agencies, this piece asks what we can learn from examining state agencies’ interactions with constitutional norms and principles. That is, how do state administrative actors conceive of the role and function of constitutional principles within the work they do, and what can we learn from the output of state administrative processes about the creation of constitutional meaning outside the courts?
Brain signal analytics from graph signal processing perspective

This paper presents methods to analyze functional brain networks and signals from graph spectral perspectives. The notion of frequency and filters recently generalized to irregular graph domains defines brain graph frequencies associated with different levels of spatial smoothness across the brain regions. Brain network frequency also enables the decomposition of brain signals into pieces corresponding to smooth or rapid variations. The methods are utilized to analyze brain networks and signals as subjects master a simple motor skill. We observe that brain signals corresponding to different graph frequencies exhibit different levels of contribution to active learning. Specifically, we notice a strong association between graph spectral properties of brain networks and the level of exposure to tasks performed, and recognize the most contributing and important frequency signatures at different task familiarity.
Tunable, Liquid Resistant Tip Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Probes: Toward Label-Free Nano-Resolved Imaging of Biological Systems

Tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) has been established as a powerful, noninvasive technique for chemical identification at the nanoscale. However, difficulties, including the degradation of probes, limit its use in liquid systems. Here TERS probes for studies in aqueous environments have been demonstrated using titanium nitride coatings with an alumina protective layer. The probes show enhancement in signal intensity as high as 380% in liquid measurements, and the probe resonance can be tuned by varying deposition conditions to optimize performance for different laser sources and types of samples. This development of inexpensively produced probes suited for studies in aqueous environments enables its wider use for fields such as biology and biomedicine in which aqueous environments are the norm.
Female breast shape categorization based on analysis of CAESAR 3D body scan data

In this study we explore the variation in female breast shape across the younger (age: 18–45), non-obese (BMI < 30) North American Caucasian population, a population that has not previously been we...
Identity Research and the Psychosocial Formation of One's Sense of Spiritual Self: Implications for Religious Educators and Christian Institutions of Higher Education:

Utilizing Erikson's (1963) psychosocial ego identity development theory 28 qualitative interviews with religiously devout Americans are analyzed to determine different patterns of adult spiritual i...
Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Using SINCERA Pipeline

Genome-scale single-cell biology has recently emerged as a powerful technology with important implications for both basic and medical research. There are urgent needs for the development of computational methods or analytic pipelines to facilitate large amounts of single-cell RNA-Seq data analysis. Here, we present a detailed protocol for SINCERA (SINgle CEll RNA-Seq profiling Analysis), a generally applicable analytic pipeline for processing single-cell data from a whole organ or sorted cells. The pipeline supports the analysis for the identification of major cell types, cell type-specific gene signatures, and driving forces of given cell types. In this chapter, we provide step-by-step instructions for the functions and features of SINCERA together with application examples to provide a practical guide for the research community. SINCERA is implemented in R, licensed under the GNU General Public License v3, and freely available from CCHMC PBGE website, https://research.cchmc.org/pbge/sincera.html .
Social vigilantism and the extremity, superiority, and defense of attitudes toward climate change

Abstract Public polarization toward the issue of climate change has increased in recent years. SV is the extent to which individuals believe their opinions are superior to others' and should be impressed onto others. We assert social vigilantism (SV) may provide important explanation of attitudes toward, as well as the resistance to and perceptions of those who challenge individuals' attitudes toward, climate change.' SV has been previously shown to predict more extreme attitudes toward climate change and other political issues. We found SV predicted the extremity, strength, and superiority of attitudes toward climate change, and resistance to attitude challenges (Study 1). We then manipulated whether an individual agreed or disagreed with the participant in a vignette and measured participants' perceptions of the other individual. We found higher levels of SV were associated with more positive perceptions of the other individual (Study 2). Interestingly, this finding was independent of whether the other individual agreed with or disagreed with the participant. This may be because the other individual was still discussing political issues, providing participants the opportunity to impress their own beliefs. These findings may indicate future discussions about climate change, while contentious and sometimes hostile, may inspire respect, even for opposing viewpoints.
Direct Pulse Position Modulation of a 410 nm Semipolar GaN Laser Diode for Space Optical Communications

A semipolar GaN laser was characterized for space optical communications, achieving a peak power of 160 mW. Periodic and random M-ary pulse position modulation sequences with pulse widths of 5 ns and 10 ns were demonstrated.
The Cold War: A World History

Editorial note: Arne Westad is one of Cold War History’s editors. He has not been involved in the board’s decision to commission a roundtable and has not been involved in the procurement or editing...
MRD in HCL: does it matter?

In this issue of Blood, Kreitman and colleagues update results of a study of moxetumomab pasudotox in patients with relapsed hairy cell leukemia (HCL), demonstrating a high response rate among the 33 patients reported. Among the 32 patients who had minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment in their bone marrow specimens using flow cytometry, median complete remission (CR) duration was significantly longer in the patients who became MRD negative (median 42.1 months vs 13.5 months in the MRD-persistent patients, P
Introduction and Simple Examples

The purpose of a mathematical model is to explain or predict some phenomenon in the “real world.” This real world is the one in which measurements and observations are made. These, in turn, may be informal such as the observation that a traffic jam always forms on a certain corner, or they may consist of precise measurements of the outcome of a physics experiment. By themselves, any measurements are meaningless; they must be put into some context to give them sense. This context is a model. Sometimes the model is in form of a verbal or visual model, but often it is, in fact, the mathematical model in question and assumes the form of equations. These equations may then be solved to obtain desired predictions. Of course, there are many cases in which the equations cannot be solved, but are used instead to derive properties of the solutions.
Tiny Things with Enormous Impact: Nanotechnology in the Fight Against Infectious Disease

Nanoparticles have exceptional properties that make them outstanding candidates for improving diagnostics and the treatment of infectious disease. Their small size, distinctive intrinsic properties, and ability to be decorated with a variety of complex functionalities make them uniquely capable of detection and targeting of certain diseases. Nanotechnology has the ability to increase the sensitivity of detection methods, the potency and ease of treatment, and the effectiveness of vaccinations. However, major challenges remain to their application in low-resource settings due in large part to the sensitivity of these particles to their local environment, a property that makes them both exceptional for detection and prone to complications or failure during synthesis and utilization. These challenges are likely to be solved only by continued and enhanced communication across scientific disciplines, for example, medical doctors and diagnosticians providing information about what is needed in new technologies. This information will enable materials scientists and engineers to rapidly address the corresponding technical challenges, such as the scalable and reproducible generation of nontoxic and stable, yet responsible nanoparticles.
Extended Uncertainty Principle black holes

Abstract An Extended Uncertainty Principle inspired Schwarzschild metric that allows for large scale modifications to gravitation is presented. At a new fundamental length scale L ⁎ , the usual black hole characteristics (horizon radius, ISCO, and photosphere) deviate from their general relativistic counterparts by an additional term proportional to G 3 M 3 L ⁎ 2 for ħ = c = 1 . If the scale is L ⁎ ∼ 10 13 m, EUP modifications become relevant for black holes of mass M ≥ 10 6 M ⊙ . This would affect the characteristics of most known supermassive black holes, and thus presents a unique set of experimental signatures that could be tested by the Event Horizon Telescope and similar future collaborations. The Newtonian potential is similarly modified, and it is shown that for values of L ⁎ in the range considered, the effect will emerge at about 1 kpc from the galactic center, coincident with the flattening of the Milky Way's rotation curve. This suggests that the EUP could contribute to dark matter effects.
Direction-specific impairments of limits of stability in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Objectives Impaired postural control in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with falls. The objective was to evaluate the direction-specific limits of stability in people with MS. Methods Balance control of 18 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS and 18 healthy controls was assessed using instrumented (Limits of Stability (LOS) test) and clinical (Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale) tests. Results There were significant differences in reaction time, movement velocity, endpoint excursion, maximum excursion, and directional control measures of the LOS test between individuals with MS and healthy controls. The BBS and ABC clinical balance measures were significantly lower in individuals with MS compared to control subjects. The directional control impairment was seen in the right side and backward diagonals (backward-right and backward-left) directions. A significant difference between the fallers and non-fallers was found on all the components of the LOS test. There was a significant correlation between the BBS and ABC scores and different components of the LOS test. Conclusions Direction-specific impairment of limits of stability components was observed in individuals with MS. This information could be used in balance rehabilitation of people with MS.