cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA Punch Cards: Encoding Data on Native DNA Sequences via Nicking

Synthetic DNA-based data storage systems (1-12) have received significant attention due to the promise of ultrahigh storage density and high stability. However, all proposed systems suffer from high cost, read-write latency and error-rates that render them impractical. One means to avoid synthesizing DNA is to use readily available native DNA. As native DNA content is fixed, one may adopt an alternative recording strategy that modifies the DNA topology to encode desired information. Here, we report the first macromolecular storage paradigm in which data is written in the form of nicks (punches) at predetermined positions on the sugar-phosphate backbone of native dsDNA. The platform accommodates parallel nicking on multiple orthogonal genomic DNA fragments, paired nicking and disassociation for creating toehold regions that enable single-bit random access and strand displacement. As a proof of concept, we used the programmable restriction enzyme Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute (13) to punch files into the PCR products of Escherichia coli genomic DNA. The encoded data is reliably reconstructed through simple read alignment.
Mouse models of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis have an early onset phenotype, the severity of which varies with genotype.

X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is an early-onset inherited condition that affects primarily males and is characterized by cystic lesions of the inner retina, decreased visual acuity and contrast sensitivity and a selective reduction of the electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave. Although XLRS is genetically heterogeneous, all mouse models developed to date involve engineered or spontaneous null mutations. In the present study, we have studied three new Rs1 mutant mouse models: (1) a knockout with inserted lacZ reporter gene; (2) a C59S point mutant substitution and (3) an R141C point mutant substitution. Mice were studied from postnatal day (P15) to 28 weeks by spectral domain optical coherence tomography and ERG. Retinas of P21-22 mice were examined using biochemistry, single cell electrophysiology of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and by immunohistochemistry. Each model developed intraretinal schisis and reductions in the ERG that were greater for the b-wave than the a-wave. The phenotype of the C59S mutant appeared less severe than the other mutants by ERG at adult ages. RGC electrophysiology demonstrated elevated activity in the absence of a visual stimulus and reduced signal-to-noise ratios in response to light stimuli. Immunohistochemical analysis documented early abnormalities in all cells of the outer retina. Together, these results provide significant insight into the early events of XLRS pathophysiology, from phenotype differences between disease-causing variants to common mechanistic events that may play critical roles in disease presentation and progression.
Mixed Reality Speaker Identification as an Accessibility Tool for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Users

People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) benefit from text captioning to understand audio, yet captions alone are often insufficient for the complex environment of a panel presentation, with rapid and unpredictable turn-taking among multiple speakers. It is challenging and tiring for DHH individuals to view captioned panel presentations, leading to feelings of misunderstanding and exclusion. In this work, we investigate the potential of Mixed Reality (MR) head-mounted displays for providing captioning with visual cues to indicate which person on the panel is speaking. For consistency in our experimental study, we simulate a panel presentation in virtual reality (VR) with various types of MR visual cues; in a study with 18 DHH participants, visual cues made it easier to identify speakers.
Femorotibial kinematics in dogs treated with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy for cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency: An in vivo fluoroscopic analysis during walking.

Objective To determine the ability of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) to address abnormal femorotibial kinematics caused by cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture during walking in dogs. Study design Prospective, clinical. Animals Sixteen dogs (20-40 kg) with unilateral complete CCL rupture. Methods Lateral view fluoroscopy was performed during treadmill walking preoperatively and 6 months after TPLO. Digital three-dimensional (3D) models of the femora and tibiae were created from computed tomographic (CT) images. Gait cycles were analyzed by using a 3D-to-2D image registration process. Craniocaudal translation, internal/external rotation, and flexion/extension of the femorotibial joint were compared between preoperative and 6-month postoperative time points for the affected stifle and 6-month postoperative unaffected contralateral (control) stifles. Results In the overall population, CCL rupture resulted in 10 ± 2.2 mm (mean ± SD) cranial tibial translation at midstance phase, which was converted to 2.1 ± 4.3 mm caudal tibial translation after TPLO. However, five of 16 TPLO-treated stifles had 4.1 ± 0.3 mm of cranial tibial subluxation during mid-to-late stance phase, whereas 10 of 16 TPLO-treated stifles had 4.3 ± 0.4 mm of caudal tibial subluxation throughout the gait cycle. Overall, postoperative axial rotational and flexion/extension patterns were not different from control, but stifles with caudal tibial subluxation had more external tibial rotation during mid-to-late stance phase compared with stifles with cranial tibial subluxation. Conclusion TPLO mitigated abnormal femorotibial kinematics but did not restore kinematics to control values in 15 of 16 dogs during walking. Clinical significance Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy reduces cranial tibial subluxation during walking, but persistent instability is common.
Paving the Road for Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosome Therapy in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Pulmonary Hypertension

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic neonatal lung disease characterized by inflammation and arrest of alveolarization. Its common sequela, pulmonary hypertension (PH), presents with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance associated with remodeling of the pulmonary arterioles. Despite notable advancements in neonatal medicine, there is a severe lack of curative treatments to help manage the progressive nature of these diseases. Numerous studies in preclinical models of BPD and PH have demonstrated that therapies based on mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) can resolve pulmonary inflammation and ameliorate the severity of disease. Recent evidence suggests that novel, cell-free approaches based on MSC-derived exosomes (MEx) might represent a compelling therapeutic alternative offering major advantages over treatments based on MSC transplantation. Here, we will discuss the development of MSC-based therapies, stressing the centrality of paracrine action as the actual vector of MSC therapeutic functionality, focusing on MEx. We will briefly present our current understanding of the biogenesis and secretion of MEx, and discuss potential mechanisms by which they afford such beneficial effects, including immunomodulation and restoration of homeostasis in diseased states. We will also review ongoing clinical trials using MSCs as treatment for BPD that pave the way for bringing cell-free, MEx-based therapeutics from the bench to the NICU setting.
Techniques of Design-Oriented Analysis: Extra Element Theorems

Middlebrook’s Extra Element Theorem (EET) is a powerful technique of Design-Oriented Analysis that aids in the analysis of complex circuits and systems, with the goal of deriving tractable equations that are useful for design. As with the Feedback Theorem of Chap. 13, it is based on linear superposition and the null double injection analysis technique.
Combinatorial applications of Möbius inversion

In important work on the parity of the partition function, Ono [5] related values of the partition function to coefficients of a certain mock theta function modulo 2. In this paper, we use Mobius inversion to give analogous results which relate several combinatorial functions via identities rather than congruences.
Sexually transmitted disease clinics in the United States: Understanding the needs of patients and the capabilities of providers.

Abstract Reports of bacterial sexually transmitted infections are at the highest levels ever reported in the United States, and state and local budgetary issues are placing specialized sexually transmitted disease (STD) care at risk. This study collected information from 4138 patients seeking care at 26 STD clinics in large metropolitan areas across the United States with high levels of reported STDs to determine patient needs and clinic capabilities. Surveys were provided to patients attending these STD clinics to assess their demographic information as well as reasons for coming to the clinic and surveys were also provided to clinic administrators to determine their operational capacities and services provided by the clinic. For this initial study, we conducted univariate analyses to report all data collected from these surveys. Patients attending STD clinics across the country indicated that they do so because of the relative ease of getting an appointment; including walk-in and same-day appointments as well as the welcoming environment and expertise of the staff at the clinic. Additionally, STD clinics provide specialized care to patients; including HIV testing and counseling as well as on-site, injectable medications for the treatment of gonorrhea and syphilis in an environment that helps to reduce the role of stigma in seeking this kind of care. Sexually transmitted disease clinics continue to play an important role in helping to curb the rising epidemic of sexually transmitted infections.
Honey bee hives decrease wild bee abundance, species richness, and fruit count on farms regardless of wildflower strips.

Pollinator refuges such as wildflower strips are planted on farms with the goals of mitigating wild pollinator declines and promoting crop pollination services. It is unclear, however, whether or how these goals are impacted by managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) hives on farms. We examined how wildflower strips and honey bee hives and/or their interaction influence wild bee communities and the fruit count of two pollinator-dependent crops across 21 farms in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Although wild bee species richness increased with bloom density within wildflower strips, populations did not differ significantly between farms with and without them whereas fruit counts in both crops increased on farms with wildflower strips during one of 2 years. By contrast, wild bee abundance decreased by 48%, species richness by 20%, and strawberry fruit count by 18% across all farm with honey bee hives regardless of wildflower strip presence, and winter squash fruit count was consistently lower on farms with wildflower strips with hives as well. This work demonstrates that honey bee hives could detrimentally affect fruit count and wild bee populations on farms, and that benefits conferred by wildflower strips might not offset these negative impacts. Keeping honey bee hives on farms with wildflower strips could reduce conservation and pollination services.
Service Restoration Using Energy Donation in a Distribution System During Crisis

Extreme weather events cause widespread power outages that affect critical infrastructures and other communities alike. Microgrids donate or trade their surplus capacity that the grid can use to power up critical load and communities that do not have alternatives power arrangements. Service restoration based on energy donation during a crisis is a viable and highly effective option. We propose a novel service restoration framework using energy donation in an islanded distribution system involving multi microgrids. The proposed algorithm uses load priority and users' historical contribution for energy allocation using rationing and back-filling strategies. The algorithm employs an evolutionary optimization technique that simultaneously maximizes social welfare and minimizes losses while satisfying network constraints. The simulation results in the IEEE-33 bus system ascertain the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Levels of unreality : studies in structure and construction in Italian mural painting during the Renaissance

Levels of unreality : studies in structure and construction in Italian mural painting during the Renaissance
Histidine Kinases in Two-Component Signaling Pathways

Publisher Summary The main purpose of this chapter is to summarize the current understanding of histidine kinases: their domain organization, evolutionary diversity, structural architecture, and novel functional properties. Histidine kinases are found in most bacteria, archaea, and lower eukaryotic species such as slime molds, fungi, and plants where they function in two-component signal transduction pathways. The canonical two-component system (TCS) utilizes two distinctive signaling proteins, a membrane-bound sensor histidine kinase (HK) and a cytoplasmic response regulator (RR) protein. Signal transduction pathways involving a His-to-Asp phosphorelay regulate important cellular processes such as nutrient acquisition, adaptation to environmental stress, cell motility, development, virulence, and intercellular communication. Most histidine kinases are membrane-bound dimeric proteins with an N-terminal periplasmic sensory domain. However, some transmembrane HKs lack an extracellular sensory domain and presumably are responsive to membrane-associated signals. In addition, there are also HKs that are cytoplasmic proteins harboring sensory domains that detect intracellular changes. The core ATP-binding catalytic domains of HKs are recognizable due to a conserved set of sequence motifs designated as N, G1, F, and G2 boxes. These conserved sequences are essential for Mg2+- and ATP-binding. The mechanism of signal propagation of HKs remains elusive. Transmembrane signaling across biological membranes involves participation of the HK transmembrane helices. In the dimeric state, these are believed to be symmetrically arranged four-helix bundles. In general, sensory domains of HKs are highly divergent from one another in terms of sequence variability—a feature reflective of the wide range of stimuli that HKs are responsive to.
IBM Endicott CIM migration and implementation strategy

The authors describe the steps required for CIM (computer-integrated-manufacturing) implementation that meet the enterprise objectives. The commitments, organization and process being used to simplify the business processes in support of a CIM environment and the migration of the information systems architecture are also given. At IBM in Endicott, NY, detailed plans have been developed to assure integration of the factory using CIM products. Throughout the process of implementing CIM the following requirements are maintained: the migration must not disrupt business, tactical solutions must converge over time with the strategic products, and CIM solutions must coexist with current systems and processes. >
Enantioselective autocatalysis. V. The spontaneous resolution of tri-o-thymotide.

We have attempted to appraise experimentally the allegation that minute chemical and physical differences due to the parity violating energy difference (PVED) between enantiomers are, after suitable autocatalytic amplification, ultimately responsible for the homochirality of contemporary biomolecules. The autocatalytic amplification technique employed involved the spontaneous resolution under racemizing conditions (SRURC) of a conglomerate during crystallization, and the system studied was the known crystallization of P(+)- or M(–)-tri-o-thymotide (TOT) as its optically active inclusion compound (clathrate) with benzene. Our premise was that if a PVED effect were operative, there should be a strong and consistent bias favoring the crystallization of one enantiomer of the TOT-benzene clathrate. Repetitive preparations of the clathrate, however, yielded crystalline products showing random optical activity. These results thus afford no evidence whatsoever for stereoselective bias due to a PVED, and are in accord with earlier statistical studies demonstrating random SRURC in other conglomerate crystallizations, again indicating the inefficacy of PVEDs to promote a preferred chirality in such systems.
Pericardial heart disease: its morphologic features and its causes

An ideal classification of pericardial heart disease would take into account clinical, etiologic, and morphologic features of this condition, but a single classification combining these 3 components is lacking. Pericardial heart disease is relatively uncommon clinically. When present at necropsy, it usually had not been recognized during life. The term “pericarditis” is inaccurate because most pericardial diseases are noninflammatory. Morphologically, chronic pericardial heart disease symptoms are present; however, few patients develop evidence of cardiac dysfunction (constriction). When pericardial “constriction” occurs, it is the result of increased pericardial fluid or increased pericardial tissue or both. Increased fluid is treated by drainage; increased tissue is treated by excision. In most patients with chronic constrictive “pericarditis,” the etiology is not apparent even after histologic examination of pericardia.
Molecular mechanisms of cardiomyopathy phenotypes associated with myosin light chain mutations

We discuss here the potential mechanisms of action associated with hypertrophic (HCM) or dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy causing mutations in the myosin regulatory (RLC) and essential (ELC) light chains. Specifically, we focus on four HCM mutations: RLC-A13T, RLC-K104E, ELC-A57G and ELC-M173V, and one DCM RLC-D94A mutation shown by population studies to cause different cardiomyopathy phenotypes in humans. Our studies indicate that RLC and ELC mutations lead to heart disease through different mechanisms with RLC mutations triggering alterations of the secondary structure of the RLC which further affect the structure and function of the lever arm domain and impose changes in the cross bridge cycling rates and myosin force generation ability. The ELC mutations exert their detrimental effects through changes in the interaction of the N-terminus of ELC with actin altering the cross talk between the thick and thin filaments and ultimately resulting in an altered force-pCa relationship. We also discuss the effect of mutations on myosin light chain phosphorylation. Exogenous myosin light chain phosphorylation and/or pseudo-phosphorylation were explored as potential rescue tools to treat hypertrophy-related cardiac phenotypes.
The Pre-Medical Sciences Master’s program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: training better medical students (534.9)

The TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has developed a 2-year non-thesis Pre-Medical Sciences Master’s program (http://www.ttuhsc.edu/gsbs/mspremedsci.aspx) designed for students who need additional preparation for medical school or whose goal is anatomical education. Students are indistinguishably immersed with incoming medical students and participate alongside medical students in class, lab, and small group activities in the first year curriculum. During the second year, students participate as teaching assistants and take an Advanced Cell Biology course with PhD students. In addition, students design and carry out an education project including either the development of self-directed learning units or the creation of novel educational materials. This program has exceeded expectations. It greatly promotes inter-professional teamwork, stimulates independent learning, helps meet the teaching mission in light of reduced numbers of anatomical educators, and provides a better educational environm...
Proposed Mechanisms for the Regulation of Growth Hormone Action in Poultry: Metabolic Effects

Growth hormone (GH) administration to nonruminant red meat animals markedly alters carcass composition so that dramatic reductions in adipose tissue accretion and enhancement of lean tissue growth occur. These repartitioning effects of GH in the pig are reported to reflect antagonism of the lipogenic effect of insulin on adipose tissue, the primary site of fatty acid synthesis in this species, so that glucose disposal and utilization by adipose tissue are markedly reduced, and substrate availability to muscle is increased. In poultry, a significant positive response to GH administration is not consistently achieved, and factors such as posthatch period of development and the pattern of tissue exposure to GH are important determinants of the response to GH enhancement. This may relate to the status of target tissue GH receptors that appear subject to down regulation in the adult chicken. Sensitivity of the bird to the appetite-suppressive effects of GH and interaction between this effect and energy intake have recently been demonstrated and need to be further explored. Growth hormone clearly influences hepatic lipogenesis and net lipid deposition in the broiler chicken. However, future research emphasis on the regulation of GH receptor binding activity and gene expression and their relationship to GH action, as well as on newer components of the GH axis such as GH-binding proteins, will help to clarify controlling mechanisms in poultry.
Superquadric nanostructures for enhanced absorption in solar cells

In the recent past, nanostructured photovoltaics research has gathered significant momentum due to the promise of high efficiency solar cell designs. In lieu of this nascent technology, this paper investigates the electromagnetic performance of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) superquadric nanostructures for future solar cell designs. The superquadric function allows for the investigation of different shapes ranging from hexagonal nanopyramid to a hexagonal nanopillar array. The presence of nanostructures reduces the optical reflection and increases absorption as compared to conventional flat cell geometries. Different superquadric nanostructures are compared for their reflection performance properties. The elliptical superquadric nanostructures are used as a baseline for different parametric studies and some observations are made.
Meteorological Mechanisms Explaining Thunderstorm-Related Asthma

Associations between thunderstorms and asthma morbidity have been identified in multiple locations around the world. The most prominent hypotheses for thunderstorm-related asthma are linked with bioaerosols, and involve the roles of rainwater in promoting the release of respirable allergens from pollen and fungi and downdraft winds spreading the allergens near the surface. Other hypotheses that are independent of bioaerosols involve the production of irritant gases and charged particles by lightning as well as rapid cooling of air temperatures, each of which may promote an asthmatic response. A major limitation of existing studies is the use of meteorological data with poor spatial resolution and a lack of appropriate air quality data to explicitly support and/or refute any of the specific meteorological hypotheses. Increased interdisciplinary collaboration between health scientists and geographers, climatologists, atmospheric and exposure scientists will aid in discerning the factors linking thunderstorms and asthma.
The Americanization of France: Searching for Happiness after the Algerian War Barnett Singer. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2013.

The Americanization of France: Searching for Happiness after the Algerian War Barnett Singer. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2013.The French Ministry of Culture has formed a "General Commission for Terminology" to monitor and preserve an authentic French language from American linguistic intrusions. With counsel from the Academie Francaise, the Ministry has introduced five hundred Gallic equivalents to modern American English words that have insinuated themselves into spoken French, for example, "supermodel," "take-away," "low-cost, "email," "blog" and "fast-food." While some Americans might smile at this seeming overreaction, Barnett Singer's The Americanization of France: Searching for Happiness after the Algerian War shows the French Ministry of Culture is on to something. Singer tells the story of how the decline of the French colonial empire, and especially the loss of Vietnam and Algeria, was accompanied by a malaise and a looking westward for new American cultural forms to fill a spiritual void.Singer acknowledges Richard F. Kuisel's Seducing the French: The Dilemma of Americanization (1993) and Kristin Ross's Fast Cars, Clean Bodies: Decolonization and the Reordering of French Culture (1995) and seeks to bring the subject up to date with additional sources and more emphasis on the influence of the Algerian War, a field in which he has published substantial work. He does this by first setting postWorld War II political, economic, military, and diplomatic context, followed by chapters focusing on subsequent French cultural history. "Since the days of grappling with the all-consuming Algerian War," he writes, "France has undergone a remarkable sea change in terms of its relationship with America, and the influences it has succumbed to quite massively from over the Atlantic; and all that really began in the 1960s, a kind of French watershed" (4). Singer sees this "sea change" resulting from a collective loss of will among Frenchmen, who then succumbed to the allure of what he terms a "happiness revolution" (137) replete with American cultural productions.The Americanization of France is a broad interdisciplinary work devoid of post-structuralist and postcolonialist studies mantra. Singer's method blends political and socio-cultural history by interweaving biographical sketches of scores of Frenchmen who purvey and consume popular culture. Singer is widely read in secondary scholarly monographs and articles written in both French and English, and the book's oral history bibliography includes his own interviews with French Algerian pied noir, Algerian War military commanders (e. …
Influence of adrenalectomy, castration, and light cycle on steroid hydroxylase activity in the adult male rat liver.

The contribution of the adrenals, thetestes, and a light/dark cycle to the regulation ofhepatic steroid hydroxylases was studied in vitroby measuring transformation rates (nmol/mg protein/min) of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA). Normaland adrenalectomized male rats were kept in 12h light: 12 h dark (12L:12D) or in constant light(CL) for 1 week. Normal and castrated rats werekept in 12L:12D for 3 weeks. Rats were killedat 4-h intervals over a 36-h period, hepatic microsomalfractions were incubated with [4-14C]DHA,and C-7 and C-16-oxygenated products were quantitated. The overall mean rate of 7α-hydroxylation decreasedin normal rats exposed to CL. Rates ofboth 7α- and 16α-hydroxylation were significantlygreater in normal rats than in the respective groupof treated rats, except for the 7α-hydroxylase incastrated rats. These results indicate that 16α-hydroxylaseactivity is both gonadal- and adrenaldependent,whereas 7α-hydroxylase activity isadrenal-dependent only. Both enzymes are sensitiveto light/dark modulati...
Kinetic and structural characterization of urease active site variants.

Klebsiella aerogenes urease uses a dinuclear nickel active site to catalyze urea hydrolysis at >1014-fold the spontaneous rate. To better define the enzyme mechanism, we examined the kinetics and s...
PHYSICAL FITNESS AND INCIDENT HYPERTENSION: THE FIT PROJECT

Increased physical fitness plays a role in cardiovascular disease prevention. We hypothesized that increased fitness would be inversely associated with incident hypertension (HTN). We examined the association of fitness with incident HTN in 22,109 participants from The FIT (Henry Ford ExercIse
Prospective Influence of Music-Related Media Exposure on Adolescent Substance-Use Initiation: A Peer Group Mediation Model

The present study tests prospective effects of music-related media content (from television, Internet, and magazines) on youth alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use initiation. Indirect effects through association with substance-using peers were tested in a 4-wave longitudinal data set (2,729 middle school students for the alcohol model, 2,716 students for the cigarette model, and 2,710 students for the marijuana model) from schools across the United States. In so doing, the authors examine theoretical claims regarding socialization mechanisms for effects of popular music listenership on substance use initiation. Results supported direct effects on alcohol and cigarette uptake, and indirect effects through association with substance-using peers on all 3 substances. This research, in combination with prior studies by several research teams, suggests elevated popular music involvement is a risk factor with respect to younger adolescents' substance use behavior. This influence is in part explained by the role of music-related media content in socialization to substance-using peer groups.
Expression of a rapid, low-voltage threshold K current in insulin-secreting cells is dependent on intracellular calcium buffering.

Depolarization-activated outward currents ranging in amplitude from 100–1000 pA were studied in cultured, insulinsecreting HIT cells and mouse B-cells using the whole-cell patch clamp. Outward current was identified as a K current since it was blocked by K channel blockers and its tail current reversed nearEK. The K currents of HIT cells dialyzed with internal solutions containing 0.1–10mm EGTA with no added calcium (Ca), or 10mm EGTA with 2mm added Ca, activated rapidly with depolarization. However, the stronger Ca buffer BAPTA (5mm; no added Ca) blocked the rapidly activating current to reveal an underlying more slowly activating K current. With intracellular EGTA, application of the Ca channel blocker cadmium mimicked the effect of intracellular BAPTA. These data suggest that the rapid K current was mediated by low-voltage threshold, Ca-activated K channels while the slower K current was mediated by high threshold delayed rectifier K channels. Mouse B-cells also had both K current components. Dialyzing these cells with either BAPTA (5mm, no added Ca) or high EGTA (10mm with 2mm Ca) blocked the rapid Ca-activated K current observed when cells were filled with 0.1 to 1mm EGTA. It is concluded that the extent of Ca-activated K current activation in either HIT or adult mouse B-cells depends on the degree of intracellular Ca buffering.
An application of search technique in truss configurational optimization

Abstract A hypothesis of unimodality and an efficient algorithm called iterative search technique are proposed in optimizing the configurations of determinate and indeterminate trusses under multiple loading conditions. Some of the results may be compared with Michell Structure and show good agreement.
The Greisen equation explained and improved

Analytic description of the evolution of cosmic ray showers is dominated by the Greisen equation nearly five decades old. We present an alternative approach with several advantages. Among the new features are a prediction of the differential distribution, replacing Greisen's form which fails to be positive definite. Explicit comparison with Monte Carlo simulations shows excellent agreement after a few radiation lengths of development. We find a clear connection between Monte Carlo adjustment of Greisen's form and underlying physics, and present a concise derivation with all steps explicit. We also reconstruct the steps needed to reproduce Greisen's approximate formula, which appears not to have been published previously.
What do Players (Think They) Learn in Games

Abstract The goal of this study is to contribute to the growing literature on games and learning. We will discuss results from an exploratory study where we asked gamers’ opinions about learning in games. The data was collected as part of a larger survey study on a variety of topics about games (N = 769). Four themes emerged from the data: 1) players learn about and from game mechanics, 2) players learn from game narratives, 3) players learn from each other, and 4) players learn by becoming interest ed in an in-game topic and expand their knowledge by studying outside resources.
Bisphosphonates stimulate an endogenous nonselective cation channel in Xenopus oocytes: potential mechanism of action.

The mechanisms of action of bisphosphonates (BPs) have been poorly determined. Besides their actions on osteoclasts, these agents exhibit gastrointestinal complications. They have also recently bee...
WLCp1-15: Optimal Transmission Range with Delay Constraints for Mobile Wireless Networks

Assuming that all mobile nodes (MNs) have the same transmission range, the actual hop count between any two MNs is proportional to the distance between them. Based on the found relation between distance and hop count, the required hop count between two MNs can be accurately estimated, given the distance between them. Using the distribution of distance between MNs, this paper also suggests the optimal transmission range of MNs, which can guarantee delay constraints of a requested ratio of connections in an entire network.
TH-C-214-02: MRI for Radiation Treatment Planning

The advantages of MRI for radiation treatment planning, such as soft tissue discrimination and multi‐contrast capability, are well recognized. It is routine practice to use MRI for tumor target definition of braintumors, with or without a corresponding CT scan. Superior soft tissue visualization has led to the emergence of MRI‐guided brachytherapy for cervical and prostate cancers. In addition, functional and physiological MR imaging can aid assessment of tumor and normal tissue response for adaptive RT as well as pre‐treatment boost target definition. Several past limitations of MRI have hindered its wide application in radiation therapy, including concerns about geometric accuracy, high resolution volumetric acquisition, acquisition speed, motion‐sensitivity, small bore size, and lack of definition of bony structures and electron density. Many of these shortcomings have been overcome or will be overcome by new MRI technologies. This lecture will provide an overview on new MRI technologies and their application for radiation treatment planning. The limitations of these techniques will also be discussed. Learning objectives: 1. Understand new MRI technologies that are relevant to radiation treatment planning; 2. Understand the influence of imaging parameters on image quality and contrast. 3. Understand clinical applications and limitations.
Qualitative Characteristics of Memories for Real, Imagined, and Media-Based Events

People's memories must be able to represent experiences with multiple types of origins—including the real world and our own imaginations, but also printed texts (prose-based media), movies, and television (screen-based media). This study was intended to identify cues that distinguish prose- and screen-based media memories from each other, as well as from reality- and imagination-based memories. Using a modified Memory Characteristics Questionnaire, the study asked people to rate memories of these 4 types on sensory, cognitive, and contextual elements. Overall, prose-based media have a greater resemblance to imagination, whereas screen-based media have a greater resemblance to reality. Media as an overarching category are not distinguished by any particular pattern of characteristics, except for relatively low frequency of consideration after the event. However, the cue patterns that mark particular media, as well as content cues, may help to explain the ease with which people generally identify memories f...
Understanding the training needs of department chairs

Little empirical research has focused specifically on the process of identifying comprehensive training needs for department chairs and school directors in public universities. A case study is presented to demonstrate the systematic design and implementation of a program to comprehensively assess the training needs of department chairs and school directors in a public university. Findings from a six‐step process revealed that budgets and funding, faculty issues, legal issues and professional development of chairs and directors were rated as the highest priority training needs. Advantages of this approach, strategies for overcoming obstacles to implementation, potential limitations and avenues for future research are discussed.
Target position and velocity estimation for track declaration using air-to-air radar

In this paper, target position and velocity estimation is investigated for track declaration using an air-to-air radar. A post-Kalman filtering processing method is proposed to improve the filtering accuracy and thus to improve the target position and velocity estimation accuracy. The proposed method passes the outputs of the Kalman filters (KFs) within a sliding window through a weighted least squares (WLS) estimator to refine the estimates of current target position and velocity and their variances. It is therefore referred to as the post-KF-WLS method. The post-KF-WLS estimates of the current target position and velocity are utilized to project the target position in a future time of interest. The uncertainty of the target position projection is derived and a closed-form solution is formulated. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by using Monte Carlo simulations. Impacts of contributing factors to the target position projection uncertainty are quantified via simulations and the dominating factor is identified as well.
Assessment of electromagnetic characteristics of the Willeford Central Auditory Processing Test Battery.

Electromagnetic characteristics of eight tape recordings of the Willeford Central Auditory Processing Test Battery were assessed. Measurements indicate that when recording levels are referenced to ...
Probing semiconductor carrier kinetics with ultrafast nonlinear Faraday rotation

We demonstrate that in semiconductors with strong Coulomb exchange correlations, transient nonlinear Faraday rotation spectroscopy (FRS) more accurately probes the ultrafast carrier relaxation than the widely used differential transmission spectroscopy (DTS). We calculate nonlinear FRS and DTS by solving the six-band semiconductor Bloch equations for magnetic ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}\mathrm{Te}$ and CdTe quantum wells. We show that for highly excited carriers, nonlinear FRS rotation spectra closely monitor the ultrafast thermalization of the carrier distribution, unlike DTS signals. We further show that the magnetic band tuning capabilities (giant Zeeman splitting) of dilute magnetic semiconductors allows one to investigate the electron kinetics in selective bands.
Materials Needed for the Library

The Rutgers University Library lacks the files of the Journal of the Proceedings of the Legislative Council of the State of New Jersey.Â
Minimal persistent inflammation, an emerging concept in the nature and treatment of allergic rhinitis: the possible role of leukotrienes.

Objective To review the emerging concept of minimal persistent inflammation in allergic rhinitis and its implications for therapy. Data Sources Relevant clinical studies in the English language were reviewed. Study Selection Material was taken from academic/scholarly journals. Results Accumulating evidence suggests that allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease instead of a disease of acute symptoms. An approach to the therapy for allergic rhinitis should consider that even when symptoms are absent, a minimal level of persistent inflammation may persist. To prevent unexpected exacerbations, the treatment strategy may need to include managing subclinical persistent inflammation. Therapeutic options addressing the major inflammatory elements in allergic rhinitis, including eosinophils, the cysteinyl leukotrienes, and histamine, must be evaluated as management strategies that can achieve effective control. Traditional medications include intranasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, and immunotherapy. Recently, a leukotriene receptor antagonist has been approved for major rhinitis symptoms (congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and pruritus), suggesting a new option for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Conclusions Because of the possible presence of a minimal persistent inflammation during rhinitis patients' asymptomatic periods, it is important to consider a prophylactic approach to treating allergic rhinitis to prevent or reduce exacerbations during an acute increase in allergen. In light of the advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, agents must be considered based on their safety, efficacy, and ability to deal with underlying inflammation as well as symptom relief.
Do institutions for collective action evolve

In this paper I will provide an overview of our findings from studying irrigation systems in the field so that readers who are not familiar with our prior research gain at least an initial sense of these findings. I will provide a second short overview —this time of the institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework offering a general method for doing institutional analysis. I will then introduce the possibility of looking at the change of rules as an evolutionary process. The method for studying the evolution of rules will be based on the IAD framework and on our long-term study of rules related to irrigation systems. In the conclusion, I return to the question as to why it is important to authorize resource users’ relative autonomy in the development of their own rules and to learn from the resulting institutional diversity.
GPM: A graph pattern matching kernel with diffusion for chemical compound classification

Classifying chemical compounds is an active topic in drug design and other cheminformatics applications. Graphs are general tools for organizing information from heterogeneous sources and have been applied in modelling many kinds of biological data. With the fast accumulation of chemical structure data, building highly accurate predictive models for chemical graphs emerges as a new challenge . In this paper, we demonstrate a novel technique called Graph Pattern Matching kernel (GPM). Our idea is to leverage existing frequent pattern discovery methods and explore their application to kernel classifiers (e.g. support vector machine) for graph classification. In our method, we first identify all frequent patterns from a graph database. We then map subgraphs to graphs in the database and use a diffusion process to label nodes in the graphs. Finally the kernel is computed using a set matching algorithm. We performed experiments on 16 chemical structure data sets and have compared our methods to other major graph kernels. The experimental results demonstrate excellent performance of our method.
Peripheral nerve at extreme low temperatures 1: effects of temperature on the action potential.

Abstract Hypothermia is an important means of neuroprotection. Understanding the effects of temperature on a physiologic measurement such as the nerve action potential (NAP) is important in monitoring its effects. The effects of hypothermia on the NAP amplitude, conduction velocity, and response to paired pulse stimulation were quantified in a rat sciatic nerve preparation from 37 to 10 °C. The time course of temperature related changes and the effect of repeated cycles of cooling and rewarming are explored using the following measures of the NAP: peak-to-peak amplitude, conduction velocity, duration, area under the curve and response to paired pulse stimuli. The NAP amplitude initially increases as temperature is reduced to 27 °C and then drops to roughly 50% of its baseline value by 16 °C while the area under the curve increases gradually until it begins to decline at 16 °C. Permanent loss of the NAP appears only after cooling below 10 °C for extended periods. Although the dependence of amplitude on temperature is approximately sigmoidal, the conduction velocity declines linearly at a rate of 2.8 m/s/°C. The response to paired pulse stimulation is strongly dependent on both temperature and the interstimulus interval with the responses at shorter interstimulus intervals being more temperature sensitive. With repetitive cycles of cooling and rewarming, the NAP amplitude declines by roughly 4% with every cycle without changes in the temperature at which the NAP amplitude reaches 50% of baseline. Only minor differences in conduction velocity are seen during cooling and rewarming.
A modification of the Mayfield horseshoe headrest allowing pin fixation and cranial immobilization in infants and young children.

Objective Pin fixation and rigid immobilization of the head is desirable in many neurosurgical procedures. However, these techniques are associated with complications in infants and young children. A simple modification of a commonly used cranial fixation system allows rigid, safe immobilization of the head in infants and children. Instrumentation A standard Mayfield horseshoe headrest and cranial fixation system was adapted to allow simultaneous use of the headrest and three-point pin fixation. The system is compatible with most neuronavigational systems. Results The combined horseshoe and pin system was used successfully in more than 30 patients ranging in age from 6 months to 14 years. No complications were encountered. Conclusions Rigid immobilization is achievable in the pediatric population, facilitating intracranial and frameless stereotaxy procedures.
Enuresis: Current concepts

Incontinence disorders are an important group of problems that clinicians manage in children and adolescents. This paper reviews the physiology of micturition, the epidemiology of enuresis, etiologic concepts of incontinence disorders, a general clinical approach to enuretic patients, laboratory evaluation and general principles of management. Neurological and nephrological concepts of enuresis are emphasized in this discussion.
Stacked-widget visualization of scheduling-based algorithms

We present a visualization system to assist designers of scheduling-based multi-threaded out-of-core algorithms. Our system facilitates the understanding and improving of the algorithm through a stack of visual widgets that effectively correlate the out-of-core system state with scheduling decisions. The stack presents an increasing refinement in the scope of both time and abstraction level; at the top of the stack, the evolution of a derived efficiency measure is shown for the scope of the entire out-of-core system execution and at the bottom the details of a single scheduling decision are displayed. The stack provides much more than a temporal zoom-effect as each widget presents a different view of the scheduling decision data, presenting distinct aspects of the out-of-core system state as well as correlating them with the neighboring widgets in the stack. This approach allows designers to to better understand and more effectively react to problems in scheduling or algorithm design. As a case study we consider a global illumination renderer and show how visualization of the scheduling behavior has led to key improvements of the renderer's performance.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for tangent plane continuity of Be´zier surfaces

Abstract Sets of conditions are derived that are necessary and sufficient for tangent plane continuity between two polynomial or rational Bezier surfaces. The patches may be given in either triangular or rectangular form, and no assumptions are made concerning the relative degrees of the patches; the only assumption is that the patches share common boundary control points (and weights in the case of rational surfaces). The conditions are shown to be minimal in the sense that they are, in general, independent.