cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paraboloidal Shells of Revolution

De Silva [17.28] has considered the problem of axisymmetric loading of thin elastic paraboloidal shells of revolution which includes the effect of transverse shear deformation by using equations developed by Naghdi [19.1]. The transverse shear deformation is accounted for due to thickness considerations, and the material system considered is isotropic. That differs from the present theory which accounts for transverse shear deformation because of the large Eo/Goξ and Eθ/Gθξ ratios involved with many composite materials although the shell is geometrically thin. Therefore, the two theories are not identical.
Association of radioactive chromium with various components of hemoglobin.

1) When normal hemoglobin was labeled with Cr 51 by incubation of whole blood with Na 2 Cr 51 O 4 , or by incubation of hemolysates with either Na 2 Cr 51 O 4 or Cr 51 Cl 3 , most of the Cr 51 activity was associated with the electrophoretically rapid hemoglobin A 3 . The formation of a Cr 51 hemoglobin complex with an isoelectric point lower than that of hemoglobin was thought to be the most likely explanation of this finding. 4 2) The radioactivity of Cr 51 -labeled hemolysates containing hemoglobin S, C, and A was found to be associated with the more rapid electrophoretic components. This finding supports the hypothesis of a lower isoelectric point of a Cr-hemoglobin complex. 3) The association of Cr 51 activity with the polypeptide chains of hemoglobin was studied by two approaches: 1) determination of the labeling of components in hemolysates containing hemoglobin A (α A 2 β A 2 ) and hemoglobin H (β A 4 ), and 2) determination of the labeling of polypeptide chains of Cr 51 -labeled normal hemoglobin separated by the method of Huehns and co-workers. 12 Cr 51 activity was found in both the naturally occurring β chain component (hemoglobin H) and in the β chain component prepared by the method of Huehns and co-workers. 12 These findings support the hypothesis of others 5,6 that β chains of hemoglobin have a greater affinity for chromium than do α chains.
MicroRNA expression analysis of human skin fibroblasts treated with high-fluence light-emitting diode-red light.

Skin fibrosis is a chronic debilitating feature of several skin diseases that lead to characteristic increases in dermal fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition through upregulation in components of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B)/SMAD pathway. In contrast to ultraviolet phototherapy, high-fluence light-emitting diode-generated red light (HF-LED-RL, 633 ± 15 nm) is a safe, economic and non-invasive therapy with in vitro evidence that supports modulation of the key cellular characteristics involved in the pathogenesis of skin fibrosis. Limited data exists pertaining to the effects of HF-LED-RL on human skin fibroblast microRNA (miRNA). Herein, we explored the effects of HF-LED-RL on fibroblast miRNA levels using RNA-seq and miRNA expression analysis. Using RNA-seq analysis we found that HF-LED-RL at 320 and 640 J/cm2 increased transcription of key miRNA that are involved in skin fibrosis including miRNA-29, miRNA-196a and Let-7a, and decreased transcription of miRNA-21, miRNA-23b and miRNA-31. These microRNA findings provide insight into the molecular underpinnings of HF-LED-RL and highlight potential therapeutic targets of interest for the treatment of skin fibrosis. Additional research on the specific molecular mechanisms underlying HF-LED-RL effects on fibroblasts may provide further mechanistic insight into this therapy and may reveal additional future therapeutic targets for skin fibrosis.
Comparison Between Current Methods of Indoor Network Analysis for Emergency Response Through BIM/CAD-GIS Integration

The main mission of the fire service is protecting life, assets, and natural resources from fire and other hazardous incidents. Geographic Information System (GIS) is supposed to ideally decrease the required time for dispatching first responders to the incident site, while it has some deficiencies in showing and analyzing indoor space and routing. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a data-rich, potential source for finding the most efficient routes within a building. Researchers have developed the methods, algorithms, and platforms to make indoor navigation analysis easy and understandable for occupants. They have worked on different alternatives of indoor network analysis through a process of applying the different methods to a study model, but it has not been defined which method is more appropriate to first responders’ responsibilities. This paper reports on indoor networks analysis for first responders considering the importance of route finding in emergencies. We analyzed the similarities and differences of each method and algorithm, created an indoor network through ESRI’s Campus Viewer Tool and conducted interviews with a fire marshal and his team. Participants reviewed eight models, including the indoor network analysis model created by the researchers. Findings revealed the indoor network analyses most compatible with the 3D model, easy to read, and understood by first responders.
Spin dynamics of the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a kagome bilayer

We study the spin dynamics of a classical Heisenberg antiferromagnet with nearest-neighbor interactions on a quasi-two-dimensional kagome bilayer. This geometrically frustrated lattice consists of two kagome layers connected by a triangular-lattice linking layer. By combining Monte Carlo with precessional spin dynamics simulations, we compute the dynamical structure factor of the classical spin liquid in the kagome bilayer and investigate the thermal and dilution effects. While the low-frequency and long-wavelength dynamics of the cooperative paramagnetic phase is dominated by spin diffusion, weak magnon excitations persist at higher energies, giving rise to the half-moon pattern in the dynamical structure factor. In the presence of spin vacancies, the dynamical properties of the diluted system can be understood within the two-population picture. The spin diffusion of the ``correlated'' spin clusters is mainly driven by the zero-energy weather-vane modes, giving rise to an autocorrelation function that decays exponentially with time. On the other hand, the diffusive dynamics of the quasifree ``orphan'' spins leads to a distinctive longer-time power-law tail in the autocorrelation function. We discuss the implications of our work for the glassy behaviors observed in the archetypal frustrated magnet $\mathrm{Sr}{\mathrm{Cr}}_{9p}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{12\ensuremath{-}9p}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ (SCGO).
Aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangements

Abstract While the divinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement is well-known, and has been broadly applied in synthesis, examples of the aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement are less common and generally limited in scope or reaction yield. The aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement gives access to the benzocycloheptene scaffold, which is present in a variety of naturally occurring and medicinally relevant products. Herein we report a method to obtain either of two regioisomeric benzocycloheptene products via an aryl vinyl cyclopropane Cope rearrangement, featuring additive-controlled regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies indicate a dynamic equilibration of cyclopropane stereoisomers, followed by rearrangement of the cis diastereomer.
Zeolite-Supported Transition Metal Catalysts

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses zeolite-supported transit ion metal catalysts. In catalytic applications, zeolites are predominantly used in their acidic form. The most important process in this category is fluidized catalytic cracking, based on rare-earth-exchanged zeolites, mainly X and Y of the faujasite structure with small admixtures of ZSM-5. Another industrial process in this group is catalytic dewaxing using mordenite and ZSM-5. Within the vast group of zeolite catalysts, the focus in the chapter is on one subgroup: materials that contain reduced particles of a transition metal or several transition metals dispersed inside zeolite cavities. A majority of transition metal/zeolite catalysts are bifunctional, i.e., strong acid sites are present in the same zeolite. A process based on a zeolite-encaged metal in the absence of acid sites is the dehydrocyclization of small linear alkanes (such as n -hexane) to aromatics. NO x abatement by zeolite-supported Cu is mentioned briefly in the chapter that illustrates the potential for environmental catalysis; it also opens prospectives for stabilizing elements in unusual valence states, in addition to unusual states of aggregation and complexation.
International learning communities: What happens when leaders seek to learn across national boundaries?

The past decade has seen increasing international education activity and interest from policymakers and think tanks in looking to other countries for educational reform strategies. This “new isomorphism”—the notion of global best practices in education—has been the subject of intensive debate between advocates and critics. But missing from this debate is an empirical account of what actually happens when global leaders gather, whether these leaders accept or resist borrowing from abroad, and, more constructively, how such gatherings might be organized to promote productive learning. Given these gaps, our research examines the emergence of what we call International Learning Communities (ILCs), which are sustained efforts to support public education leaders in ongoing cross-national learning. In this paper, we describe the nature of these communities and re-evaluate their role in the new isomorphism. Drawing on observations of two such communities and interviews with 30 ILC participants, we conclude that this model offers three types of learning: borrowing, co-construction, and systems thinking. While we view each as useful, we suggest that systems thinking is critical if international lessons are going to be effectively assimilated into coherent, contextually-appropriate strategies. Our findings are relevant not only for the continued study and development of system-level international learning, but also for all who seek to learn from other nations’ educational policy and practice.
N-Heterocycle (tetrazole)-stabilized pseudocyclic λ3-iodane: Synthesis and reactivity

Abstract An N-heterocycle (tetrazole)-stabilized pseudocyclic λ3-iodane was synthesized and its thermal stability and redox activity were studied. Simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the polyvalent iodine compound started to degrade at 127 °C and showed a notable exothermic decomposition peak at 147 °C, which was markedly more pronounced than the parent tetrazole with monovalent iodine. The reduction potential was determined by cyclic voltammetry to be −0.38 V vs AgNO3|Ag in dimethyl sulfoxide at a scan rate of 0.02 V/s. The oxidative power of the polyvalent iodine compound was demonstrated by conducting oxidation of thioanisole to sulfoxide and oxidative dimerization of thiobenzamide to 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole.
Evaluation of dynamic uniformity and application efficiency of mobile drip irrigation

Irrigation uniformity, application efficiency and seasonal irrigation uniformity of mobile drip irrigation (MDI) were compared to those of low elevation spray application (LESA) and low energy precision application (LEPA). A center pivot fitted with two sets of MDI (with dripper flow rates of 3.8 L/h and 7.6 L/h), LESA and LEPA was used in this study. Irrigation uniformity tests were conducted in accordance with the American Society of Agricultural Engineers’ standards. Application efficiency was computed as the ratio of depth of water retained in the root zone to that applied. Potential differences in season-long irrigation uniformity were evaluated by analysis of periodically acquired aerial vegetative index data. The coefficient of uniformity of the 3.8 L/h and 7.6 L/h MDI was 93.8% and 93.7%, respectively, and 95.1% for LEPA, and 83.8% for LESA. Application efficiencies for the 3.8 L/h and 7.6 L/h MDI, LEPA and LESA were 76.1, 96.8, 98.4 and 51.2%, respectively. There were no significant differences (p value = 0.5749) in the amount of water stored in the soil profile between MDI, LESA and LEPA, 72 h after irrigation. For three irrigation capacities of 6.2, 3.1 and 1.6 mm/day, there were no significant differences in mean seasonal Advanced Difference Vegetative Index (ADVI) between MDI, LESA and LEPA, with p value = 0.987, 0.999 and 0.999, respectively. A similar observation was made for Normalized Difference Vegetative Index, with p value = 0.998, 0.999 and 0.999, for MDI, LESA and LEPA, respectively. Higher coefficient of uniformity and higher application efficiency for MDI and LEPA indicate that they were more efficient than LESA. These results show that MDI can adapt the high efficiency of traditional drip irrigation to center pivot systems.
Risk factors for atypical hyperplasia and endometrial cancer in the infertility population: a case-control study.

Objective To estimate the incidence and identify risk factors for atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AH) and endometrial cancer (EC) in American women undergoing infertility evaluation. Design Case-control study. Setting Academic reproductive endocrinology and infertility practice. Patient(s) Female patients (18–50 years) seeking infertility evaluation from January 1, 2009 to December 1, 2018. Patients with known genetic predisposition to cancer or prior cancer diagnosis were excluded. Cases were defined as patients diagnosed with AH or EC during infertility workup (n = 22). Controls without AH or EC were randomly selected in a 10:1 ratio (n = 220) from all women undergoing infertility evaluation in the same year. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Incidence of AH or EC and odds of AH or EC accounting for age, race, body mass index (BMI), and ovulatory dysfunction. Result(s) Twenty-two cases of AH or EC were identified among 11,569 women undergoing infertility evaluation (incidence 2 per 1,000 women, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–2.9 per 1,000). Of these women, 68% had a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 compared with 25% of controls. In multivariable analyses, women with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 were 5.9 times more likely to be diagnosed with AH or EC (adjusted odds ratio 5.9, 95% CI 2.0–17.2). Women with ovulatory dysfunction were 3.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with AH or EC (adjusted odds ratio 3.4, 95% CI 1.1–10.1). Conclusion(s) The incidence of AH and EC in a population of women undergoing infertility evaluation is 10 times that in the general population of premenopausal women. Obesity is the strongest independent risk factor for AH and EC in women with infertility.
Contact Pressure between Digital Flexors and Plates for Distal Radius Approaches.

Background Flexor tendon irritation or rupture following open reduction and volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures can cause significant morbidity and necessitate additional surgical intervention. Objectives To compare the impact of the extended flexor carpi radialis (e-FCR) and standard flexor carpi radialis (FCR) approaches on contact pressures between the flexor tendons and volar distal radius plates. Methods Eight matched pairs of fresh frozen cadavers had each limb randomized to undergo either the e-FCR or standard FCR approach. After the approach, a locking plate was applied to the volar distal radius more distally than ideally to create a worst-case scenario for the digital flexor tendons. Electronic pressure sensors were secured to the volar aspect of each locking plate. Each wrist was pinned in 20 degrees of extension during testing. Using a computer-controlled stepper motor system attached to the digital flexor and extensor tendons, the digits were taken through 4,000 cycles simulating 12 weeks of active flexion and extension. Results There were no statistically or clinically significant differences when comparing the contact pressures of the e-FCR approach with the standard FCR approach at any time intervals. The e-FCR had statistically significantly higher radial-sided contact pressures than ulnar-sided contact pressures during early-to-intermediate testing intervals. These differences resolved at late and final testing intervals. Conclusions When comparing the standard FCR approach with the e-FCR approach, with the wrist in 20 degrees of extension, there is no significant difference in contact pressures that occur between the digital flexor tendons and volar distal radius plates. Clinical Relevance Further study and technique modifications may eventually lead to better methods of avoiding flexor tendon rupture during the volar plating of distal radius fractures.
The efficacy of Propess TM versus that of oxytocin for labor induction of full-term pregnancies

Objective To observe and compare the efficacy of PropessTM with that of oxytocin for cervical ripening and labor induction in pregnancies. Methods 80 pregnant women who gave birth during the period of January 2010 to October 2010 in our hospital were selected as the subjects. They were all full-term pregnant with induction indications and normal ultrasound images but no pregnancy complications. They were randomly assigned to receive PropessTM vaginal insert ( 40 women,study group )or low-dose oxytocin ( 40 women, control group ) for cervical ripening and induction. The Bishop scores and birth outcomes were compared between the two groups when the trial was finished. Results The PropessTM for cervical ripening rate was 95％,low-dose oxytocin was 42.5％. 28 cases of 40 in the PropessTM were vaginal delivery, vaginal delivery rate was 70％, however, the oxytocin group 17 cases of 40 subjects were vaginal delivery,the vaginal delivery rate was 42.5％. Conclusions Compared with low-dose oxytocin the PropessTM can dramaticaly promote cervical ripening in full-term singleton pregnant women,increase rates of vaginal delivery and it is better than low-dose oxytocin in the planned delivery, it's worthy of clinical use. Key words: The PropessTM Oxytocin; Labor induction
Numerical Simulation of Microscale Metallic Particle Impact Using Eulerian Approach

A number of finite element (FE) models with Lagrangian formulation have been developed to simulate the high-speed particle impact. Although the Lagrangian formation-based FE models developed so far contributed significantly to unveiling the important questions on the mechanics of particle impact, they have a critical weakness. The Lagrangian models often diverge under large deformation due to mesh distortion. Recently, FE models based on Eulerian formation have been developed. This research describes a part of such efforts. A thin three-dimensional finite element model of high-speed impact of a micron-sized metallic particle was developed using Eulerian formulation. The meshes of a finite element model based on Eulerian formulation do not deform and therefore allow for dealing with a case with extreme plastic deformation. The two cases from the literature were reproduced to evaluate the validity of the developed model. After comparison, the model was used to simulate the impact of a stainless steel particle on a stainless steel substrate at an impact speed of 1000 m/s, which could not be readily simulated using the Lagrangian model.
Understanding factors influencing shared e-scooter usage and its impact on auto mode substitution

Abstract Shared e-scooter is a fairly new transportation mode that emerged in late 2017. Since then, it has gained popularity around the world; however, it also has spiraled into disarray in many cities due to the lack of e–scooter regulations and improper parking and riding behaviors. Limited understanding of shared e–scooters restrains policymakers from developing more effective regulations and promoting this sustainable transportation mode. This study takes a step towards understanding e-scooter user behaviors by investigating factors that influence e-scooter sharing usage and auto mode substitution. Survey data were collected from shared e-scooter users, and random parameter models were applied to explore the factors influencing e-scooter sharing usage and mode substitution. Factors considered in models include sociodemographic information, user behaviors, trip purposes, and health indicators. Model results identify several factors that significantly influence shared e-scooter usage, including user gender, helmet use, exposure to shared e-scooters, ownership of an e-scooter, riding locations, opinions on speed limits, and trip purposes. Contributing factors for auto substitution suggest that shared e-scooters potentially are competing with TNC/taxi, lower cost, and social/entertainment trip purpose, and user households with multiple vehicles contribute to private vehicle substitution. Research outcomes suggest that shared e-scooters could play a significant role in urban transportation sustainability . Insights related to better practices for e-scooter regulations and planning are discussed to help cities improve shared e-scooter program performance and make it a more sustainable transportation mode.
Generics and Bioequivalence

Statistical Methods in Bioequivalence (E. Ormsby). Role of Single- and Multiple-Dose Studies in the Estimation of Bioequivalency (A.J. Jackson). The Role of Metabolites in Bioequivalency Assessment (M.-L. Chen and A.J. Jackson). Analytical Aspects of Bioequivalency Testing (J. Leslie). Pharmacodynamics and Bioequivalence (N.H.G. Holford). In Vivo and In Vitro Correlations: Scientific and Regulatory Perspectives (V.P. Shah and R.L. Williams). Stereochemical Considerations in Bioavailability Studies (W.R. Ravis and J.S. Owen). Animal Models and Their Role in Bioequivalence Studies (W.J. Adams). Commentary I: Issues in Bioequivalence: An Industrial Scientist's Perspective (P.K. Narang). Commentary II: Progress in Harmonization of Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Standards (I.J. McGilveray).
Defense Responses of Nicotiana benthamiana 14-3-3 Genes in Virus-Induced Effector-Triggered Immunity

Plants possess multiple tiers of immunity, the most specific involving immune receptors that provide effector-triggered immunity (ETI). ETI is often associated with hypersensitive response (HR), a type of programmed cell death. The 14-3-3 gene family is conserved across eukaryotes and acts in myriad cellular processes, including plant immunity. We identified a Nicotiana benthamiana 14-3-3 isoform that interacted with the immune receptor Tm2-2 from Solanum lycopersicum using an HA epitope-tagged amino-terminal Tm2-2 fragment by affinity purification and tandem mass spectrometry. Tm2-2 confers resistance against Tobacco mosaic virus by recognition of the virus 30K movement protein (MP) and elicitation of defenses, including HR. Interaction between 14-3-3 proteins and Tm2-2 was verified by co-immunoprecipation with Flag epitope-tagged 14-3-3 proteins co-expressed with the HA-tagged Tm2-2 amino-terminal domain in N. benthamiana. Chemical inhibition of 14-3-3 activity in N. benthamiana using 5-aminoimidazole-4...
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug approval end points for chronic cutaneous ulcer studies

The rising costs of caring for chronic cutaneous ulcers (CCUs) and recent appreciation of the mortality of CCUs have led to consideration of the reasons for the failure to have new drug therapies. No new chemical entities to heal CCUs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in over a decade, in part due to an inability to reach the FDA accepted end point of "complete wound closure." The frequent failure to reach the complete closure end point brings forward the question of the relevance of other healing end points such as improved quality of life, or partial healing. Because CCUs carry a prognosis and mortality rate worse than many cancers, it is reasonable to compare the FDA trial end points for cancer drug approval with those for CCUs. And the difference is quite striking. While there is only one end point for CCUs, there are five surrogate and three direct end points for cancers. In contrast to cancer, surrogate end points and partial healing are not acceptable for therapies aimed at CCUs. For example, making tumors smaller is an acceptable end point, but making CCUs smaller is not and improvement in the signs and symptoms of cancer is an acceptable end point for cancers but not CCUs. As CCUs carry a prognosis and mortality rate worse than many cancers, we believe a reconsideration of end points for CCUs is highly warranted.
Isotopic scaling of heavy projectile residues from the collisions of 25 MeV/nucleon 86 Kr with 124 Sn, 112 Sn and 64 Ni, 58 Ni

The scaling of the yields of heavy projectile residues from the reactions of $25\mathrm{M}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{n}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{n}{ }^{86}\mathrm{Kr}$ projectiles with ${}^{124}\mathrm{Sn},$ ${}^{112}\mathrm{Sn}$ and ${}^{64}\mathrm{Ni},$ ${}^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ targets is studied. Isotopically resolved yield distributions of projectile fragments in the range $Z=10--36$ from these reaction pairs were measured with the MARS recoil separator in the angular range $2.7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}--5.4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}.$ For these deep inelastic collisions, the velocities of the residues, monotonically decreasing with Z down to $Z\ensuremath{\simeq}26--28,$ are employed to characterize the excitation energy. The ratios ${R}_{21}(N,Z)$ of the yields of a given fragment $(N,Z)$ from each pair of systems are found to exhibit isotopic scaling (isoscaling), namely, an exponential dependence on the fragment atomic number Z and neutron number N. The isoscaling is found to occur in the residue Z range corresponding to the maximum observed excitation energies. The corresponding isoscaling parameters are $\ensuremath{\alpha}=0.43$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}=\ensuremath{-}0.50$ for the $\mathrm{Kr}+\mathrm{Sn}$ system and $\ensuremath{\alpha}=0.27$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}=\ensuremath{-}0.34$ for the $\mathrm{Kr}+\mathrm{Ni}$ system. For the $\mathrm{Kr}+\mathrm{Sn}$ system, for which the experimental angular acceptance range lies inside the grazing angle, isoscaling was found to occur for $Zl~26$ and $Nl~34.$ For heavier fragments from $\mathrm{Kr}+\mathrm{Sn},$ the parameters vary monotonically, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ decreasing with Z and $\ensuremath{\beta}$ increasing with N. This variation is found to be related to the evolution towards isospin equilibration and, as such, it can serve as a tracer of the $N/Z$ equilibration process. The present heavy-residue data extend the observation of isotopic scaling from the intermediate mass fragment region to the heavy-residue region. Interestingly, such high-resolution mass spectrometric data can provide important information on the role of isospin and isospin equilibration in peripheral and midperipheral collisions, complementary to that accessible from modern large-acceptance multidetector devices.
Motors and Membrane Trafficking

One hallmark of eukaryotic cells is that they contain many functionally distinct membrane-bounded compartments, or organelles. Each organelle carries out highly specialized functions because it possesses its own unique combination of biochemical components. Organelles can additionally be identified by their characteristic organization or topology and, in some cases, by their distinct localization in cells. Although each organelle has a unique molecular composition, proteins and lipids are continuously shuttled between compartments via transport vesicles that move in the secretory and endocytic membrane trafficking pathways. Organelles, transport vesicles and macromolecular complexes in eukaryotic cells move along the underlying cytoskeleton the microtubules and actin filaments. These movements are crucial for cell division, cell polarity, cell migration, embryonic development, and the formation of specialized cellular structures such as axons and dendrites, gap and tight junctions, and cilia and flagella. Both microtubules and actin filaments are polar structures with a defined orientation of their plus(fast growing) and minus(slow growing) ends within cells. Microtubules are generally oriented with their minus-ends anchored in the cell center at the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and their plus-ends pointed to the cell periphery although there are exceptions (Fig. 16.1). Actin filaments do not show such general polarity but are concentrated in the cell periphery and may display localized polarity, for example at the leading edge of a migrating cell. The many organelles and transport vesicles that need to be carried to different destinations in the cell use molecular motors to move along the microtubule and actin tracks. Indeed, the study of these motor proteins has implicated them in a wide range of cellular functions, particularly in vesicular transport during interphase and in spindle formation, chromosome segregation and cytokinesis during mitosis and meiosis. Genetic and molecular analysis has demonstrated that the kinesins and myosins each comprise a large superfamily whose members exhibit extensive homology in their mechanical (motor) domains but little homology
Human rights, cultural practices, and state policies: Implications for global social work practice and policy

Effective practice in a global world requires knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures. Most social workers around the world are committed to values and policies that enhance the well-being of especially vulnerable populations and that protect their human rights. However, not all cultural practices or policies place the same value on human rights and the protection of vulnerable populations, a situation that may result in conflicts for social workers, who have an ethical obligation to advocate for human rights as well as to be sensitive to their clients' cultural contexts. Based on multidisciplinary research and contemporary examples of gender discrimination, forced marriages, child labor, and female genital mutilation, this article proposes resolutions to this conflict. It concludes by suggesting practices and policies that might help social workers to strike an effective balance between cultural diversity and the promotion of human rights. Key Practitioner Message: ● Social workers are best placed to understand individuals and communities within their various cultural contexts; ● Social work practice and policy should be sensitive to cultural practices that may undermine human rights and the well-being of vulnerable populations; ● Guided by professional values and ethics, social workers can assume the roles of educator and advocate in enhancing the rights of individuals.
Liability Insurance at the Tort-Crime Boundary

This essay explores how liability insurance mediates the boundary between torts and crime. Liability insurance sometimes separates these two legal fields, for example through the application of standard insurance contract provisions that exclude insurance coverage for some crimes that are also torts. Perhaps less obviously, liability insurance also can draw parts of the tort and criminal fields together. For example, professional liability insurance civilizes the criminal law experience for some crimes that are also torts by providing defendants with an insurance-paid criminal defense that provides more than ordinary means to contest the state's accusations. The crime-tort separation in liability insurance cannot be explained by economic incentives, alone. Morality matters, too. The fact that liability insurance sometimes provides coverage for criminal defense costs suggests that liability insurance institutions could cover a broader swath of crime torts than they do, providing further support for the claim that consequentialist reasoning, alone, cannot explain the observed relationship between liability insurance, torts, and crime. The tort-crime separation reflects and reinforces a concept of liability insurance as protection for defendants, rather than as a fund for victims. In turn, this concept of insurance reflects and reinforces an understanding of tort claims as encounters between particular plaintiffs and defendants, rather than as a price setting or loss spreading insurance mechanism.
Cimetidine elimination from the cerebrospinal fluid of the rat.

The major goal of this study was to develop a small animal model that could be used to assess quantitatively the clearance of cimetidine from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) under relatively physiologic conditions. In addition, we addressed questions related to the pathways involved in the elimination of cimetidine from the CSF. We administered high and low bolus doses of cimetidine together with inulin, as a marker of bulk flow, into the lateral ventricle of anesthetized rats and sampled CSF from the cisterna magna. Principles of linear pharmacokinetic systems were applied to the data to obtain clearances from the CSF. The clearance of inulin was 2.02 ± 0.22 µl/min, which is in excellent agreement with the CSF production rate of 2.2 µl/min in anesthetized rats. The clearance of cimetidine from the CSF following the administration of a low dose was 11.8 ± 3.1 µl/min, which is in good agreement with the cimetidine CSF clearance in the rat obtained previously in studies using the technique of ventriculocisternal perfusion. A 32% decrease in the CSF clearance of cimetidine (P < 0.05) was observed when the high dose was administered, suggesting that CSF elimination is saturable. The clearance of inulin was unaffected by the high dose of cimetidine. This study demonstrates that the technique of lateral ventricle injection and sampling from the cisterna magna is useful in quantitatively assessing the elimination of compounds from the CSF in the rat under relatively physiologic conditions.
Nano-gap enhanced surface plasmon resonant gratings for fluorescence sensing applications

Development of surface plasmon resonance enhancing surfaces can lead to improvements in fluorescence-based chemical and biological sensing schemes. The motivation of this research is to have a method for easily fabricating plasmonic surface features on silver films which can be controlled by altering the physical properties of sub-layers under the silver film. Here, we report on preliminary work towards fabrication and control of such films through the use of soft lithographic micro-contact printing techniques for the formation of diffraction patterns, and the use of high surface area, low surface energy nanoporous films to drive the formation of nano-scopic gaps within the silver film. Florescence microscopy imaging of fabricated surfaces shows promising results, though further research will be needed to fine tune the surface to produce strong fluorescence emission.
Reducing the probability of common-mode failure in the fault tolerant parallel processor

The Fault Tolerant Parallel Processor (FTPP) has been designed in strict accordance with the theory of Byzantine Resilience and meets all the known requirements for tolerating arbitrary random hardware faults. We have broadened our scope to provide very high coverage for common mode faults (CMFs). A layered defense approach against CMFs has been developed that consists of fault avoidance, fault removal and real-time fault tolerance that can be applied during the requirements specification, design and development phases test and validation phases and operational phases, respectively. This paper provides a taxonomy of common-mode faults and describes the layered defense approach against CMF being used in the FTPP. >
The impact of correlated noise on galaxy shape estimation for weak lensing

The robust estimation of the tiny distortions (shears) of galaxy shapes caused by weak gravitational lensing in the presence of much larger shape distortions due to the point-spread function (PSF) has been widely investigated. One major problem is that most galaxy shape measurement methods are subject to bias due to pixel noise in the images ("noise bias"). Noise bias is usually characterized using uncorrelated noise fields; however, real images typically have low-level noise correlations due to galaxies below the detection threshold, and some types of image processing can induce further noise correlations. We investigate the effective detection significance and its impact on noise bias in the presence of correlated noise for one method of galaxy shape estimation. For a fixed noise variance, the biases in galaxy shape estimates can differ substantially for uncorrelated versus correlated noise. However, use of an estimate of detection significance that accounts for the noise correlations can almost entirely remove these differences, leading to consistent values of noise bias as a function of detection significance for correlated and uncorrelated noise. We confirm the robustness of this finding to properties of the galaxy, the PSF, and the noise field, and quantify the impact of anisotropy in the noise correlations. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the pixel noise model and its impact on detection significances when correcting for noise bias on weak lensing.
Inferring 3D chromatin structure using a multiscale approach based on quaternions

The knowledge of the spatial organisation of the chromatin fibre in cell nuclei helps researchers to understand the nuclear machinery that regulates dna activity. Recent experimental techniques of the type Chromosome Conformation Capture (3c, or similar) provide high-resolution, high-throughput data consisting in the number of times any possible pair of dna fragments is found to be in contact, in a certain population of cells. As these data carry information on the structure of the chromatin fibre, several attempts have been made to use them to obtain high-resolution 3d reconstructions of entire chromosomes, or even an entire genome. The techniques proposed treat the data in different ways, possibly exploiting physical-geometric chromatin models. One popular strategy is to transform contact data into Euclidean distances between pairs of fragments, and then solve a classical distance-to-geometry problem. We developed and tested a reconstruction technique that does not require translating contacts into distances, thus avoiding a number of related drawbacks. Also, we introduce a geometrical chromatin chain model that allows us to include sound biochemical and biological constraints in the problem. This model can be scaled at different genomic resolutions, where the structures of the coarser models are influenced by the reconstructions at finer resolutions. The search in the solution space is then performed by a classical simulated annealing, where the model is evolved efficiently through quaternion operators. The presence of appropriate constraints permits the less reliable data to be overlooked, so the result is a set of plausible chromatin configurations compatible with both the data and the prior knowledge. To test our method, we obtained a number of 3d chromatin configurations from hi-c data available in the literature for the long arm of human chromosome 1, and validated their features against known properties of gene density and transcriptional activity. Our results are compatible with biological features not introduced a priori in the problem: structurally different regions in our reconstructions highly correlate with functionally different regions as known from literature and genomic repositories.
The Problem With DCDD Is the Dead Donor Rule.

Overby and colleagues (2015) make a cogent argument that current consent practices are inadequate with respect to organ donation following circulatory death. Particular concerns include premortem i...
CASE-a lazy version of an SECD machine with a flat environment

CASE is an abstract machine which supports applicative programming and is a variation of Landin's classical SECD machine (P.J. Landin, 1964). Its environment is organized in a novel way which makes variable access more efficient by removing the overhead of following a static chain or of setting up a display as in more conventional stack architectures. The CASE machine also has features allowing the execution of code to reflect lazy evaluation semantics. A description is given of the architecture of the machine, its operational semantics and code generated by a typical compiler for some sample programs. Also discussed are some optimizations made to facilitate efficient code generation on real hardware and some measurements of the efficiency of the machine. >
Short-term forecasting of traffic delays in highway construction zones using on-line approximators

Highway construction zones are often the cause of traffic delays. This is a natural consequence of the high congestion and nonuniform traffic flow conditions in construction zones. Most of the current algorithms for computing traffic delays are accurate for low density traffic conditions, and address the estimation of current travel time only. This paper presents a method for short-term forecasting of traffic delays in highway construction zones using data from presence detectors. The method is based on a modular approach wherein data from adjacent detectors is processed for estimating the travel time between the two detectors. The travel time estimates are then considered as time-series data, and the problem of short-term forecasting of traffic delay is formulated as a time-series evolution problem. A generic structure referred to as an on-line approximator is used for the prediction of travel time based on current and past travel time estimates. Simulation examples are used to illustrate the traffic delay forecasting algorithm.
Addition of Infliximab to Standard Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis following Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Cell Transplantation

Abstract Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, has shown activity against steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). We conducted a prospective trial of infliximab for the prophylaxis of aGVHD. Patients older than 20 years undergoing myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for hematologic malignancies were eligible. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of infliximab given 1 day prior to conditioning and then on days 0, +7, +14, +28, and +42, together with standard cyclosporine (CSA) and methotrexate (MTX). Nineteen patients with a median age of 53 years were enrolled. All patients received peripheral blood allografts from matched sibling (n = 14) or unrelated donors (n = 5). Results were compared with a matched historic control group (n = 30) treated contemporaneously at our institution. The cumulative incidences of grades II-IV aGVHD in the infliximab and control groups were 36.8% and 36.6%, respectively (P = .77). Rates of chronic GVHD were 78% and 61%, respectively (P = .22). Significantly more bacterial and invasive fungal infections were observed in the infliximab group (P = .01 and P = .02, respectively). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 2-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) for patients receiving infliximab were 42% and 36%, respectively. The corresponding numbers for patients in the control group were 46% and 43%, respectively. The addition of infliximab to standard GVHD prophylaxis did not lower the risk of GVHD and was associated with an increased risk of bacterial and invasive fungal infections.
Thermopower and resistivity in ferromagnetic thin films near room temperature

We present measurements of thermopower (Seebeck coefficient) and electrical resistivity of a wide selection of polycrystalline ferromagnetic films with thicknesses ranging from 60--167 nm. For comparison, a copper film of similar thickness was measured with the same techniques. Both the thermal and electrical measurements, made as a function of temperature from 77--325 K, are made using a micromachined thermal isolation platform consisting of a suspended, patterned silicon-nitride membrane. We observe a strong correlation between the resistivity of the films and the thermopower. Films with higher resistivity and residual resistivity ratios, indicating a higher concentration of static defects such as impurities or grain boundaries, with rare exception show thermopower of the same sign, but with absolute magnitude reduced from the thermopower of the corresponding bulk material. In addition, iron films exhibit the pronounced low-temperature peak in thermopower associated with magnon drag, with a magnitude similar to that seen in bulk iron alloys. These results provide important groundwork for ongoing studies of related thermoelectric effects in nanomagnetic systems, such as the spin Seebeck effect.
Effect of raloxifene on urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective To estimate the effect of 3 years of treatment with raloxifene on urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. Methods We used measures of urinary incontinence severity, frequency, and type in the Multiple Outcomes of Raloxifene trial, a multicenter randomized, controlled trial of women who were at least 2 years postmenopausal with osteoporosis. At 10 U.S. sites of this trial, 963 women randomly assigned to raloxifene or placebo completed questionnaires about incontinence at baseline and 3 years later. We analyzed the odds of worsening severity and frequency of incontinence and type of incontinence after 3 years of treatment with raloxifene. Results The mean age of our subjects was 68.3 +/- 7 years. After 3 years of treatment, there was no significant difference between raloxifene and placebo groups in urinary incontinence severity (multivariable odds ratio [OR] 1.02; 95% [CI] 0.78, 1.34). The majority of the women (60%) had no change in urinary incontinence episodes from baseline to year 3. The odds of worsening urinary incontinence severity after 3 years of raloxifene treatment were 1.05 (95% CI 0.75, 1.48). Similarly, the odds of developing new onset incontinence were 0.95 (95% CI 0.59, 1.52). Finally, raloxifene did not effect the odds of having stress (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.71, 1.43) or urge (OR 1.20; 95% CI 0.86, 1.68) incontinence after 3 years of use. Conclusion In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, 3 years of treatment with raloxifene had no effect on urinary incontinence. Level of evidence I
Endoscopic endocrine neck surgery with carbon dioxide insufflation: the effect on intracranial pressure

Background The endoscopic approach to the thyroid and parathyroid glands requires insufflation with carbon dioxide at 10–15 mmHg. This may decrease the cerebral venous return and increase intracranial pressure (ICP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide neck insufflation on ICP and haemodynamic variables. Methods Twelve 25-kg pigs underwent endoscopic thyroid dissection using carbon dioxide insufflation at 0 mmHg (sham), 10 mmHg (G10), 15 mmHg (G15) and 20 mmHg (G20). Three pigs were used in each group. ICP, mean arterial pressure, central venous blood pressure (CVP), cardiac output and blood gas were measured at baseline, 30, 60 and 120 min. Results There were no differences in mean ICP between the sham group and G10. However, ICP significantly increased in G15 and G20. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide was similar in G10 and G15 (mean(s.d.) 49·8(2·4) and 49·8(5·2) mmHg respectively at 120 min), while it was dramatically increased in G20 (63·1(6·9) mmHg at 120 min). Haemodynamic parameters were stable in all groups except for G20 in which CVP significantly increased with respect to baseline (8·5(2·1) versus 1·3(1·5) mmHg; P < 0·01). Jugular vein collapse occurred during endoscopic dissection at all insufflation pressures, but pigs operated at 10 mmHg were able to maintain an intermittent blood flow. Conclusion A severe increase in ICP occurs with insufflation pressures higher than 15 mmHg, possibly owing to decreased cervical venous blood flow. Carbon dioxide insufflation up to 10 mmHg does not alter ICP, and is recommended for clinical application in endoscopic endocrine neck surgery. © 2000 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd