cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Particle-in-cell simulation of glow discharges in complex geometries

We present a general numerical framework for modeling plasma processing devices. Based on the particle-in-cell method, in which any material can be represented by particles, we model plasmas, fluids, dust particles and structures, and their interactions. We define classes of particles, each of which represents a different material, and each of which is hosted by an independent code module. For example, an object module represents structures and imposes boundary conditions corresponding to complex geometries on to the plasma and fluid particles. We describe the formulation of PIC for a drift-diffusion model, calculate the interaction with dielectrics and conductors, compare the results of the code with calculations of DC discharges, and present an example that illustrates the geometric complexity that can be modeled. >
DiscLDA: Discriminative Learning for Dimensionality Reduction and Classification

Probabilistic topic models have become popular as methods for dimensionality reduction in collections of text documents or images. These models are usually treated as generative models and trained using maximum likelihood or Bayesian methods. In this paper, we discuss an alternative: a discriminative framework in which we assume that supervised side information is present, and in which we wish to take that side information into account in finding a reduced dimensionality representation. Specifically, we present DiscLDA, a discriminative variation on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) in which a class-dependent linear transformation is introduced on the topic mixture proportions. This parameter is estimated by maximizing the conditional likelihood. By using the transformed topic mixture proportions as a new representation of documents, we obtain a supervised dimensionality reduction algorithm that uncovers the latent structure in a document collection while preserving predictive power for the task of classification. We compare the predictive power of the latent structure of DiscLDA with unsupervised LDA on the 20 Newsgroups document classification task and show how our model can identify shared topics across classes as well as class-dependent topics.
Learning predictive state representations

We introduce the first algorithm for learning predictive state representations (PSRs), which are a way of representing the state of a controlled dynamical system. The state representation in a PSR is a vector of predictions of tests, where tests are sequences of actions and observations said to be true if and only if all the observations occur given that all the actions are taken. The problem of finding a good PSR. one that is a sufficient statistic for the dynamical system--can be divided into two parts: 1) discovery of a good set of tests, and 2) learning to make accurate predictions for those tests. In this paper, we present detailed empirical results using a gradient-based algorithm for addressing the second problem. Our results demonstrate several sample systems in which the algorithm learns to make correct predictions and several situations in which the algorithm is less successful. Our analysis reveals challenges that will need to be addressed in future PSR learning algorithms.
On thinking and Rodin's Thinker.

Although everyone knows what thinking is, there is no widely agreed upon definition of thought. Given how important thought processes are for all human endeavors, studies of thinking are at the core of many disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, biology, sociology and philosophy, just to mention a few. Contemplation and thought have inspired the world of art and sculpture as well. The accompanying sketch, made by the author, is
Hybrid carbon fiber/carbon nanotube composites for structural damping applications.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown on the surface of carbon fibers utilizing a relatively low temperature synthesis technique; graphitic structures by design (GSD). To probe the effects of the synthesis protocols on the mechanical properties, other samples with surface grown CNTs were prepared using catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). The woven graphite fabrics were thermally shielded with a thin film of SiO2 and CNTs were grown on top of this film. Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy revealed the grown species to be multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The damping performance of the hybrid CNT‐carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy composite was examined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Mechanical testing confirmed that the degradations in the strength and stiffness as a result of the GSD process are far less than those encountered through using the CCVD technique and yet are negligible compared to the reference samples. The DMA results indicated that, despite the minimal degradation in the storage modulus, the loss tangent (damping) for the hybrid composites utilizing GSD-grown MWCNTs improved by 56% compared to the reference samples (based on raw carbon fibers with no surface treatment or surface grown carbon nanotubes) over the frequency range 1‐60 Hz. These results indicated that the energy dissipation in the GSD-grown MWCNTs composite can be primarily attributed to the frictional sliding at the nanotube/epoxy interface and to a lesser extent to the stiff thermal shielding SiO2 film on the fiber/matrix interface. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
SAR ocean image decomposition using the Gabor expansion

Demonstrates the utility of the Gabor expansion as a new tool in geophysical research. The Gabor expansion provides good time-frequency (or space-wavenumber) localization and is ideally suited to represent nonstationary processes. The properties of this tool are demonstrated by expanding an FM-chirp waveform, and azimuth cuts taken from two different SAR ocean images. The effects of filtering in Gabor phase space are also investigated. >
COHERENCY AND COMPLETENESS OF STRUCTURAL MODELS CONTAINING A DUMMY ENDOGENOUS VARIABLE

Let y be a vector endogenous variables and let w be a vector of covariates, parameters and errors or unobservables that together are assumed to determine y. A structural model y = H(y,w)is complete and coherent if it has a well defined reduced form, meaning that for any value of w there exists a unique value for y. Coherence and completeness simplifies identification, and is required for many estimators and many model applications. Incoherency or incompleteness can arise in models with multiple decision makers such as games, or when the decision making of individuals is either incorrectly or incompletely specified. This paper provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the coherence and completeness of simultaneous equation systems where one equation is a binomial response. Examples are dummy endogenous regressor models, regime switching regressions, treatment response models, sample selection models, endogenous choice systems, and determining if a pair of binary choices are substitutes or complements.
CD28 Costimulation Mediates T Cell Expansion Via IL-2-Independent and IL-2-Dependent Regulation of Cell Cycle Progression

In the presence of TCR ligation by Ag, CD28 pathway mediates the most potent costimulatory signal for T cell activation, cytokine secretion, and T cell expansion. Although CD28 costimulation promotes T cell expansion due to IL-2 secretion and subsequent signaling via the IL-2 receptor, recent studies indicate that the dramatic T cell expansion mediated through the unopposed CD28 stimulation in CTLA4-deficient mice is IL-2 independent. Therefore, we sought to dissect the effects of CD28 and IL-2 receptor pathways on cell cycle progression and determine the molecular mechanisms by which the CD28 pathway regulates T cell expansion. Here we show that CD28 costimulation directly regulates T cell cycle entry and progression through the G1 phase in an IL-2-independent manner resulting in activation of cyclin D2-associated cdk4/cdk6 and cyclin E-associated cdk2. Subsequent progression into the S phase is mediated via both IL-2-dependent and IL-2-independent mechanisms and, although in the absence of IL-2 the majority of T cells are arrested at the G1/S transition, a significant fraction of them progresses into the S phase. The key regulatory mechanism for the activation of cyclin-cdk complexes and cell cycle progression is the down-regulation of p27kip1 cdk inhibitor, which is mediated at the posttranscriptional level by its ubiquitin-dependent degradation in the proteasome pathway. Therefore, CD28 costimulation mediates T cell expansion in an IL-2-independent and IL-2 dependent manner and regulates cell cycle progression at two distinct points: at the early G1 phase and at the G1/S transition.
Four indefensible phlebotomy errors and how to prevent them

The author identifies four errors in phlebotomy that are effectively indefensible in a court of law: patient misidentification, improper angle of insertion, improper vein selection, and ineffective training and evaluation of those performing venipunctures. Strategies to avoid these errors include the implementation and enforcement of specific administrative and procedural policies. A side bar on the "Ten Commandments of Phlebotomy Liability" accompanies this article.
Run-time disambiguation: coping with statically unpredictable dependencies

A technique called run-time disambiguation (RTD) is presented for antialiasing of indirect memory references that cannot normally be disambiguated at compile time. The technique relies on assumptions about the run-time behavior of a program to allow static transformations of the code, in an effort to extract parallelism. The importance of the technique lies in its ability to supplement (and even partially replace) more expensive fully static dependency analysis. RTD works even in situations where the fully static approach is completely ineffective. Evidence of the importance of memory disambiguation in general, and RTD in particular, for parallelizing compilers, is presented. The implementation and effectiveness of the technique in the context of the Bulldog compiler is discussed. >
On-chip networks from a networking perspective: congestion and scalability in many-core interconnects

In this paper, we present network-on-chip (NoC) design and contrast it to traditional network design, highlighting similarities and differences between the two. As an initial case study, we examine network congestion in bufferless NoCs. We show that congestion manifests itself differently in a NoC than in traditional networks. Network congestion reduces system throughput in congested workloads for smaller NoCs (16 and 64 nodes), and limits the scalability of larger bufferless NoCs (256 to 4096 nodes) even when traffic has locality (e.g., when an application's required data is mapped nearby to its core in the network). We propose a new source throttling-based congestion control mechanism with application-level awareness that reduces network congestion to improve system performance. Our mechanism improves system performance by up to 28% (15% on average in congested workloads) in smaller NoCs, achieves linear throughput scaling in NoCs up to 4096 cores (attaining similar performance scalability to a NoC with large buffers), and reduces power consumption by up to 20%. Thus, we show an effective application of a network-level concept, congestion control, to a class of networks -- bufferless on-chip networks -- that has not been studied before by the networking community.
A user‐oriented computer‐searchable library of mass spectrometric literature references

A computer-searchable library of mass spectrometric literature references based on the information compiled in the Mass Spectrometry Bulletin1 has been developed in this laboratory. The algorithms in use allow searching of the available mass spectrometric literature by two different methods. The first method enables search for specific literature references by subject classification, author and elements or any combination of these. The second method allows search for compounds described in the literature by compound type, elemental composition and molecular weight. Any combination of these parameters in specified ranges can be implemented.
Evolving artificial neural networks to control chaotic systems

Chaotic behavior in a dynamical system can be suppressed by periodically applying small, carefully chosen perturbations, often with the goal of stabilizing an unstable periodic orbit of the system @1‐3#. Control of this type has been successfully applied to many experimental systems @3‐7#. In this paper we demonstrate a robust method of training neural networks to control chaos. The method makes no assumptions about the system; the training algorithm operates without knowledge of either the dimensionality of the dynamics or the location of any unstable fixed points. The structure of the controller is not fixed and the neural network is free to adopt nonlinear forms. After reviewing previous work in Sec. II, we present the details of our method in Sec. III. We use a modified version of Symbiotic Adaptive Neuro-Evolution ~SANE!, developed by Moriarty and Miikkulainen @8‐10#. This method uses genetic algorithms to create neural networks with desirable characteristics, in this case the ability to stabilize unstable fixed point.
Self-management of type 2 diabetes: a survey of low-income urban Puerto Ricans.

PURPOSEthis study explored self-reported barriers to diabetes self-management in a population of urban, low-income Puerto Rican individuals.METHODSA cross-sectional exploratory survey was conducted...
Geographic Determinants of Stroke Mortality Role of Ambient Air Pollution

See related article, pages 869–877. Where survivors of stroke live may make a difference in their clinical outcomes, including long-term mortality. A large body of supportive evidence from epidemiological studies has demonstrated that a geographic difference in stroke mortality is nonartifactual, although both its presence and magnitude are likely scale dependent at different population levels.1 For instance, since at least the 1940s, there has been a consistent pattern of marked geographic variation in stroke mortality within the United States, with very high rates reported in the southeast Atlantic coastal plain and very low rates in the mountain census division.2 By the mid 1990s, despite minor geographic shifts, such regional differences in stroke mortality had persisted for more than half a century, yet the underlying causes of geographic disparities remained elusive.3 In 2001, the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study was launched.4 This landmark study aimed to examine whether the spatial variations in stroke risk factors, sociodemographic features, lifestyle variables, and psychosocial characteristics explain geographic differences in stroke. Although more definitive answers are pending, recent reports by the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke investigators5–7 and others using the Cardiovascular Health Study cohort data8 did not provide persuasive evidence to support the concept that the geographic variations in stroke mortality are largely attributable to variations in conventional cerebrovascular risk factors. As the search for the spatial determinants of the nonrandom distribution of stroke mortality continues, accumulating knowledge in the science of the effects of air pollution on health …
The Costs of Justice: Ideology, Efficiency, and Criminal Justice Reform

For several decades now, the history of American criminal justice, and penal reform in particular, has revolved around questions of ideology. The “real” history of the birth of the prison, often told as a tale of idealism sullied by darker, unspoken intentions, remains an area of uncertainty and conflict for legal historians. This paper takes a detour around these issues in search of a different perspective by looking at the on-the-ground experience of the early days of criminal justice reform in post-Revolutionary New York. In this story, prisons were born in a mood of optimism quickly dampened by the realities of rising costs and red-inked ledgers.
Atomistic Folding Simulations of the Five-Helix Bundle Protein λ6−85

Protein folding is a classic grand challenge that is relevant to numerous human diseases, such as protein misfolding diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Solving the folding problem will ultimately require a combination of theory, simulation, and experiment, with theory and simulation providing an atomically detailed picture of both the thermodynamics and kinetics of folding and experimental tests grounding these models in reality. However, theory and simulation generally fall orders of magnitude short of biologically relevant time scales. Here we report significant progress toward closing this gap: an atomistic model of the folding of an 80-residue fragment of the λ repressor protein with explicit solvent that captures dynamics on a 10 milliseconds time scale. In addition, we provide a number of predictions that warrant further experimental investigation. For example, our model’s native state is a kinetic hub, and biexponential kinetics arises from the presence of many free-energy basins separated by barriers of different heights rather than a single low barrier along one reaction coordinate (the previously proposed incipient downhill folding scenario).
Abstract P5-14-02: Immediate Breast Reconstruction: The Effect of Radiation

Background: Prior history of breast irradiation or anticipated need for postmastectomy radiation have been considered relative contraindications for immediate breast reconstruction. We evaluated the surgical outcomes between three groups of patients: patients without radiation exposure, those with radiation prior to immediate reconstruction, and those with radiation following immediate reconstruction to determine the differences in risk of post-surgical complications among groups. Methods: All patients undergoing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with either a tissue expander or implant between January 1, 2005 and June 30, 2009 were entered into an IRB-approved prospective database. Routine institutional protocol consisted of immediate reconstruction with tissue expander, expansion during the1-2 months following surgery, radiation if indicated, followed by implant exchange at 3-6 months after completion of radiation. All complications were collected and recorded within a week of the event, and all patients had a minimum follow-up period of 6 months after implant exchange to allow for sufficient monitoring of complications. Major complications included infection requiring IV antibiotics, unplanned return to surgery, and tissue expander/implant loss. Results: A total of 446 mastectomies were identified. Of these, 341 had no radiation history, 33 had prior ipsilateral breast radiation, and 72 had post-mastectomy radiation. Overall, there were 160 major complications (36%), including 50 (11%) expander/implant losses. Patient age, BMI, diabetes, and history of tobacco use were not associated with increased risk of major complications in this cohort. However, both prior and postoperative radiation was associated with higher risk of both major complications and implant loss. Conclusion: Immediate reconstruction with implant or tissue expander is associated with a 36% risk of major postoperative complications, with the greatest number seen in those patients with history of previous chest wall irradiation. However, most implants were salvaged even in the setting of complications, and the overall implant loss rate was only 8% in unirradiated patients and 22% in those patients with postoperative RT. Although radiation history is not a contraindication to immediate breast reconstruction, patients undergoing this procedure must be well informed of their substantial risk of postoperative complications. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-14-02.
Study of MoNbOy (y = 2–5) Anion and Neutral Clusters Using Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations: Impact of Spin Contamination on Single Point Calculations

Results of a study combining anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations on the heteronuclear MoNbOy– (y = 2–5) transition metal suboxide cluster series are reported and analyzed. The photoelectron spectra, which exhibit broad electronic bands with partially resolved vibrational structure, were compared to spectral simulations generated from calculated spectroscopic parameters for all computationally determined energetically competitive structures. Although computational results on the less oxidized clusters could not be satisfactorily reconciled with experimental spectra, possibly because of heavy spin contamination found in a large portion of the computational results, the results suggest that (1) neutral cluster electron affinity is a strong indicator of whether O-atoms are bound in M—O—M bridge positions or M═O terminal positions, (2) MoNbOy anions and neutrals have structures that can be described as intermediate with respect to the unary (homonuclear) Mo2Oy and Nb2Oy ...
Digital document delivery to the desktop: Distance is no longer an issue

Summary The Health Sciences Libraries, University of Wisconsin-Madison, are offering faculty, staff and graduate students an attractive alternative to traditional forms of document delivery. Based on high-speed transfer, Web-based access and reliable service, Library Express is the first phase of a larger continuum to provide easy and convenient access to local and worldwide collections. This successful program is a direct result of strong administrative support, careful planning, a staged implementation, continued attention to quality control, an emphasis on customer satisfaction and, above all, a well-trained and dedicated staff.
Modifying Air Fields To Improve Melt Blowing

An advanced model for melt blowing was used to predict the effects of modified air fields on fiber formation. The model, which was developed previously, involves the simultaneous solution of the momentum, energy, and continuity equations. Crystallization effects were included. The model equations were solved numerically. Simulations were done for two classes of modified air fields. The first class of modified air field has a plateau of constant velocity and temperature. For wide plateaus placed near the die face, the effect of the plateau is substantial. Fiber diameters are reduced (by up to two times) versus diameters for when there is no plateau. The second class of modified air field has a quench (or a plateau-quench). Quenching was simulated as a step drop in air temperature. The simulation showed that quenching can enhance online crystallinity, though fiber attenuation is reduced when quenching is used.
Effect of hepatitis B vaccination and epidemic characteristics of newborns in Lantian County of Shanxi from 2003-2010

[Objective]By analyzing the effect of hepatitis B vaccination in newborns in Lantian County,to evaluate the preventive effect and changes of epidemic characteristics before and after vaccination,provide the basis for developing the preventive measures in future.[Methods]The newborns received the first dose of hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours after birth by using 5 μg vaccination according to "0,1,6" immunity procedure.The data of hepatitis B from 2003-2010 were analyzed.χ2 test,period testing and Run test were applied on data processing.Analysis and evaluation were conducted with retrospective epidemiological method.[Results]During 2003-2010,a total of 94 716 person times were given hepatitis B vaccination in Lantian county,and 33 623 people completed the full course of immunization.The average timely vaccination rate of the first dose was 80.0%,which increased from 44.91% to 99.27%,and there was significant difference among different years(χ2=6 854.75,P0.01).The average whole course vaccination rate was 94.57%,which increased from 62.25% to 99.78%,and there was significant difference among different years(χ2=6 490.75,P0.01).Before and after hepatitis B vaccination in newborns,the average incidence of hepatitis B in 0-4 year-old age group was 23.82/lakh and 9.39/lakh respectively(χ2=11.18,P0.01),that in 5-9 year-old age group was 20.36/lakh and 5.89/lakh respectively(χ2=10.93,P0.01),and there were significant differences in incidence before and after hepatitis B vaccination between two age groups.The incidence of hepatitis B showed a downward trend,the cycle was 2 years(P0.01),and the downward range in children under 10 years old was remarkable.[Conclusion]The hepatitis B vaccination in newborns is an important strategy for reducing the incidence of hepatitis B.
Effect of ultrafine-hydrophobic SiO_2 on the rheological behavior of HTPB liner

The physical and chemical properties of ultrafine-hydrophobic SiO2(UF-SiO2) as well as its effect on the rheological behavior of HTPB liner were studied by FTIR,TGA,OM and rheology analysis.The results show that the treated ultrafine SiO2 with dimethyl silicone fluid could be dispersed in HTPB liner uniformly and formed networks,which improved the rheological behavior of HTPB liner remarkably.The area of thixotropic loop of HTPB liner became larger with increase of UF-SiO2,0.8 ～1.6 phr of which could offer HTPB liner with excellent forming technologies.In addition,there were not remarkable effects of 0 ～ 1.6 phr UF-SiO2 on mechanical and interfacial bonding properties of HTPB liner.
Vascular Impairment of Epineurial Arterioles of the Sciatic Nerve: Implications for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

This article reviews the impact of diabetes and its treatment on vascular function with a focus on the reactivity of epineurial arterioles, blood vessels that provide circulation to the sciatic nerve. Another focus is the relationship between the dysregulation of neurovascular function and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a debilitating disorder that occurs in more than 50 percent of patients with diabetes. The etiology involves metabolic, vascular, and immunologic pathways besides neurohormonal growth factor deficiency and extracellular matrix remodeling. In the light of this complex etiology, an effective treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy has not yet been identified. Current opinion postulates that any effective treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy will require a combination of life style and therapeutic interventions. However, a more comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to neurovascular and neural dysfunction in diabetes is needed before such a treatment strategy can be developed. After reading this review, the reader should have gained insight into the complex regulation of vascular function and blood flow to the sciatic nerve, and the impact of diabetes on numerous elements of vascular reactivity of epineurial arterioles of the sciatic nerve.
Diversity and Natural History

This chapter provides information on geographical distribution, ecology, and habitats of the air-breathing fishes. Air breathing is common among the primitive families but has often been acquired independently by the more modern families. In different families, air breathing ranges from rare-to-common-to-universal. This chapter offers details about air-breathing organ (ABO) structure, air-breathing behavior and physiology, and whether or not air breathing is obligatory. The chapter also describes diverse approaches brought to the study of air breathing in different species in order to bring to light the full spectrum of ideas and information embodied in this area of research. The chapter summarizes air-breathing fish diversity and discusses the species for which this specialization has been reported but not fully documented. The chapter suggests that categorizations of fishes based on ABO structure cannot differentiate homologous structures, as many air-breathing fishes lack ABOs. Therefore, a classification of the air-breathing fishes must be sufficiently broad to allow considerations of ABO structure and permit estimation of air-breathing fish diversity and the frequency of the independent origin of this specialization.
Abstract 2166: Targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to solid tumors via systemic Nano-diamino-tetrac

Covalently bound to a poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer via a linker, tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) as Nano-diamino-tetrac (NDAT) targets a specific cell surface receptor on the extracellular domain of integrin αvβ3. The integrin is primarily expressed by cancer cells and rapidly dividing endothelial cells. The conjugation of tetrac and linker to a 120 nm PLGA nanoparticles prohibits cell entry of NDAT and offers an opportunity to load the nanoparticle with a generic cancer chemotherapeutic agent for cancer-targeted delivery. Even without a payload, NDAT has anticancer and anti-angiogenesis properties. For the current studies, xenografts of human urinary bladder cancer (263JBV) cells and of human pancreatic cancer (SUIT-2) cells were established in the nude mouse. Tumor growth and tumor content of cisplatin (263JBV xenografts) and of paclitaxel (SUIT-2 xenografts) were compared in the following animal cohorts: 1) untreated controls; 2) controls treated with void PLGA nanoparticles (NPs), 3) daily treatment with chemotherapeutic agent (cisplatin, 1 mg/kg, or paclitaxel, 0.3 mg/kg), alone, 4) daily treatment with sub-maximal NDAT, alone (0.3 mg tetrac equivalent/kg), 5) daily treatment with chemotherapeutic agent encapsulated into PLGA NPs (no tetrac), and 6) daily treatment with chemotherapeutic agent loaded into NDAT. NDAT dose in group 5 was 0.3 mg tetrac/kg. Daily drug treatments were continued for 3 weeks after establishment of xenografts. Urinary bladder tumor weight at animal sacrifice decreased insignificantly vs. controls in animals that received cisplatin or cisplatin + PLGA. Submaximal dosing of NDAT, alone, induced a small, but significant, decreased in tumor weight. Tumors in animals treated with NDAT bearing a payload of cisplatin decreased in weight by 50% (P Citation Format: Thangirala Sudha, Dhruba J. Bharali, Noureldien HE Darwish, Melis Debreli-Coskun, Qishan Lin, Paul J. Davis, Shaker A. Mousa. Targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to solid tumors via systemic Nano-diamino-tetrac. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2166.
MxaY regulates the lanthanide-mediated methanol dehydrogenase switch in Methylomicrobium buryatense

Many methylotrophs, microorganisms that consume carbon compounds lacking carbon-carbon bonds, use two different systems to oxidize methanol for energy production and biomass accumulation. The MxaFI methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) contains calcium in its active site, while the XoxF enzyme contains a lanthanide in its active site. The genes encoding the MDH enzymes are differentially regulated by the presence of lanthanides. In this study, we found that the histidine kinase MxaY controls the lanthanide-mediated switch in Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1C. MxaY controls the transcription of genes encoding MxaFI and XoxF at least partially by controlling the transcript levels of the orphan response regulator MxaB. We identify a constitutively active version of MxaY, and identify the mutated residue that may be involved in lanthanide sensing. Lastly, we find evidence to suggest that tight control of active MDH production is required for wild-type growth rates.
Relationship of Radiographic and Clinical Parameters With Hallux Valgus and Second Ray Pathology.

Background:Hallux valgus is frequently associated with additional forefoot pathologies, including hammertoes and midfoot osteoarthritis (OA). However, the pathogenesis of these concurrent pathologies remains to be elucidated. We sought to determine whether there is a relationship between demographic and radiographic parameters and the incidence of secondary pathologies in the setting of a bunion, with an emphasis on second tarsometatarsal (TMT) OA and hammertoes.Methods:A total of 153 patients (172 feet) who underwent reconstruction for hallux valgus were divided into 3 groups: (1) bunion only (61 patients), (2) bunion with hammertoe without second TMT joint OA (78 patients), and (3) bunion with second TMT joint OA (14 patients). Preoperative age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) as well as hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), metatarsus adductus angle (MAA), ratio of second to first metatarsal length, and Meary’s angle were recorded. One-way analysis of variance (normality demonstrated) ...
Single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy analysis of size and number concentration in mixtures of monometallic and bimetallic (core-shell) nanoparticles.

Abstract It is challenging to separate and measure the physical and chemical properties of monometallic and bimetallic engineered nanoparticles (NPs), especially when mixtures are similar in size and at low concentration. We report that single particle inductively coupled mass spectroscopy (SP-ICP-MS), alongside field flow fractionation (FFF), has allowed for the accurate measurement of size and particle number concentrations of mixed metallic nanoparticles (NPs) containing monometallic NPs of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) and a bimetallic core-shell structured NP (Au@Ag) of equivalent size. Two sets of these NPs were measured. The first contained only 60 nm particles, where the Au@Ag NP had a 30 nm core and 15 nm shell to make a total diameter of 60 nm. The second contained only 80 nm particles (Au@Ag NP core particle of 50 nm with a 15 nm shell). FFF separation was used here as a sizing technique rather than a separation technique. It was used to confirm that suspensions containing either individual or mixtures of the Au 60 nm, Ag 60 nm and AuAg 60 nm suspensions eluted together and were of the same size. Similarly, FFF was used to show that suspensions containing individual or mixtures of the equivalent 80 nm, eluted together and were of the same size. Although the 60 nm and 80 nm suspensions did not elute at the same time they were not run together. SP-ICP-MS is then used to identify the size and concentration of the particles within the suspension. Successful separation of the NPs was effected and the limits of the instrument were obtained.
Sales and Marketing: From the Top

Sales and marketing are two critical components of any organization involved in business, without them, the very existence of an organization is not conceivable. Despite of their significance, the precise differences between the two always remain under a cloud of confusion. Therefore, this article presents a detailed account on the differences between sales and marketing. The differences are described in a three step manner: 1) From a historical perspective 2) By definitions available in the literature and 3) Functionality of both the components in an organizational setting. It is also indicated that both the components should have a certain amount of independency from one another with regards to daily operations however, at the same time, sales and marketing must be completely integrated for planning and development of strategy. Finally, also mentioned are the differences which impart a positive impact on the organization and those, which can be deleterious to the organization.
Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling for Nontractional Diabetic Macular Edema

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus remains the leading cause of blindness among working age Americans with diabetic macular edema being the most common cause for moderate and severe vision loss. OBJECTIVE To investigate the anatomical and visual benefits of pars plana vitrectomy with inner limiting membrane peeling in patients with nontractional diabetic macular edema as well as correlation of integrity of outer retinal layers on spectral domain optical coherence tomography to visual outcomes. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 42 diabetic patients that underwent vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for nontractional diabetic macula edema. The integrity of outer retinal layers was evaluated and preoperative central macular thickness and visual acuity were compared with data at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. The student t-test was used to compare the groups. RESULTS 31 eyes were included. While no differences were seen at 1 and 3 months, there was significant improvement of both central macular thickness and visual acuity at the 6 months follow up visit compared to preoperatively (357, 427 microns; p=0.03. 20/49, 20/82; p=0.03) . Patients with intact external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone had better preoperative vision than patients with outer retinal layer irregularities (20/54, 20/100; p=0.03) and greater visual gains postoperatively (20/33, p<0.001 versus 20/81; p=non-significant). CONCLUSION Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling can improve retinal anatomy and visual acuity in patients with nontractional diabetic macular edema. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography may help identify patients with potential for visual improvement.
From Seeing to Observing: How Parents and Children Learn to See Science in a Botanical Garden

How do children begin to make the transition from seeing the natural world to scientifically observing the natural world? This study explored how differences in parent conversational strategies and disciplinary knowledge impact children’s experience observing biological phenomena during shared informal learning. A total of 79 parent–child pairs with children ages 6–10 participated in a controlled study in which half of the parents used their natural conversational style and the other half were trained to use 4 conversational strategies during family observations of pollination in a botanical garden. Parents were also assigned to high- and low-knowledge groups according to their knowledge of pollination biology. Findings suggest that parents who received training used the conversational strategies more than parents who used their natural conversational style. Parents and children who knew more about pollination at the start of the study exhibited higher levels of disciplinary talk in the garden. However, t...
Race, insurance status, and traumatic brain injury outcomes before and after enactment of the Affordable Care Act

Background The Affordable Care Act aims to improve patient outcomes. Race/ethnicity and insurance status impact outcomes after traumatic brain injury. We sought to gauge the Affordable Care Act's effect on outcomes after traumatic brain injury, as graded by race/ethnicity and insurance status. Methods The National Trauma Data Bank was utilized to identify traumatic brain injury patients before and after the Affordable Care Act. Patient outcomes comprised of hospital duration of stay, in-hospital mortality, discharge to rehabilitation, and surgical procedures. Using regression analysis, we evaluated the impact of race/ethnicity and insurance status on traumatic brain injury outcomes, then compared them before and after the Affordable Care Act. Results Mortality decreased for blacks (odds ratio = 0.96 [confidence interval 0.83–1.10] to odds ratio = 0.79 [confidence interval = 0.70–0.89], and Hispanics (odds ratio = 1.03 [confidence interval = 0.90–1.17] to odds ratio = 0.79 [confidence interval = 0.70–0.89]). Mortality increased for the uninsured (odds ratio = 1.28 [confidence interval = 1.11–1.47] to odds ratio = 1.40 [confidence interval = 1.24–1.58]). Medicaid patients underwent decreased duration of stay, (coefficient = 2.75 [confidence interval = 2.49–3.02] to coefficient = 2.17, [confidence interval = 1.98–2.37]), discharge to rehabilitation (odds ratio = 1.15, [confidence interval = 1.04–1.26] to odds ratio = 0.95 [confidence interval = 0.87–1.03]), and surgical procedures (odds ratio = 1.28 [confidence interval = 1.13–1.45] to odds ratio = 1.18, [confidence interval = 1.07–1.30]), while mortality remained unchanged. Conclusion After the Affordable Care Act traumatic brain injury mortality decreased for blacks and Hispanics, but increased for the uninsured. Decreasing trends in resource consumption were also evident, especially for Medicaid patients. These results may illustrate altered delivery of care.
How to Use a Graft in Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: A Literature Review Update of Interposition and Superior Capsule Reconstruction Techniques.

To introduce the challenges in addressing irreparable rotator cuff tears and examine the surgical options, specifically interposition grafting and superior capsule reconstruction. Interposition grafting of rotator cuff tears shows promising results in reducing pain and improving function postoperatively and one study demonstrated that it performs significantly better than partial repair alone. Superior capsule reconstruction has become popular rapidly, but given the novelty of the procedure, there is currently a paucity of outcomes data to review. Irreparable rotator cuff tears are a challenging condition with a variety of surgical options available. Two such options—interposition and superior capsule reconstruction—both employ grafts in an attempt to restore joint stability and function. In the past 3 years, literature discussing interposition grafting has explored the different types of grafts, and mostly employed pre-post analysis. The recent superior capsule reconstruction articles strictly used human dermal allograft and offer a variety of surgical techniques without quantitative data.
False-Positive Monospot in a Returning Traveler with Dengue Fever

The heterophile antibody (Monospot), initial test of choice for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis, is both sensitive (70-92%) and specific (96-100%). False positives have been demonstrated in cases of viral hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rubella. We present a case of a 46-yr-old male who developed fever, chills, headaches, myalgia, fatigue, and photophobia 1 d after returning from the Philippines. He demonstrated a mild transaminitis and significant thrombocytopenia (12,000 cells/μL). His initial evaluation revealed a positive heterophile antibody test. Without a classic EBV presentation, a fever in returning traveler evaluation was instituted resulting in a positive dengue test by direct fluorescence IgM (8.82 IU) and IgG (7.13 IU), respectively. Both his EBV DNA polymerase chain reaction and IgM by viral capsid antigen were negative. Dengue, an RNA flavivirus, and the dengue antibody have demonstrated cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses including Japanese encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, and St. Louis encephalitis. However, EBV is a double-helix DNA herpesvirus and structurally very different. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of cross-reactivity between dengue and EBV that describes a potential false positive for the heterophile antibody test.
Marketing Costs and Imperfect Competition in General Equilibrium

General equilibrium theory has made substantial progress in untangling the logic of how a market can coordinate individual actions. This progress has been based, however, on a pristinely abstract concept of a ‘market.’ This ‘ethereal construct’ [1, p. 3] was some sort of wondrous void (or black box) from which sprang prices to which all agents had equal access. This paper makes a tentative effort to enlarge the notion of a market in this theory. It extends earlier efforts (e.g. [6] and [8]) to make transactions and merchandising costs explicit in general equilibrium models. More basically, it attempts to allow explicitly for the fact that markets, too, are controlled by optimizing agents. In so doing, it is impossible to avoid the problem of how to describe imperfectly competitive solutions. Thus these agents may maintain more than one market in which to trade some commodity and the same ‘good’ may have different prices in different markets in equilibrium — both because of price discrimination and because of differing merchandising costs for different types of traders. In summary, this paper starts work on a model which permits the simultaneous determination of the nature of trading arrangements and of prices. The next section of this paper describes the types of markets allowed for in this model. Section 3 presents the formal definition of this paper’s model of markets. Section 4 makes a translation of this model into the standard Arrow-Debreu model of equilibrium. This is useful technically and it makes apparent the way in which this model extends the Arrow-Debreu analysis. Finally, Section 5 discusses a new solution concept which is suggested by this model.
Cultural Differences in “Saving the Best for Last”:

We examined cross-cultural differences in preferences for sequences of realistic stimuli. Prior research on predominantly European American (EA) samples has found that people typically show a prefe...
GreenDB: Energy-Efficient Prefetching and Caching in Database Clusters

In this study, we propose an energy-efficient database system called GreenDB running on clusters. GreenDB applies a workload-skewness strategy by managing hot nodes coupled with a set of cold nodes in a database cluster. GreenDB fetches popular data tables to hot nodes, aiming to keep cold nodes in the low-power mode in increased time periods. GreenDB is conducive to reducing the number of power-state transitions, thereby lowering energy-saving overhead. A prefetching model and an energy saving model are seamlessly integrated into GreenDB to facilitate the power management in database clusters. We quantitatively evaluate GreenDB’s energy efficiency in terms of managing, fetching, and storing data. We compare GreenDB’s prefetching strategy with the one implemented in Postgresql. Experimental results indicate that GreenDB conserves the energy consumption of the existing solution by up to 98.4 percent. The findings show that the energy efficiency of GreenDB can be optimized by tuning system parameters, including table size, hit rates, number of nodes, number of disks, and inter-arrival delays.
Accumulating phones: Aid and adaptation in phone access for the urban poor:

This study draws on participant observation and interviews with low-income adults in Chicago to show how the poor stay connected to phone service and mobile Internet through the possession of multi...
Ghanaian Skilled Return Migration and the Gendered Politics of 'Readjustment'

This paper explores the interplay of gendered power dynamics and multiple obligations that shape the return experiences of highly skilled Ghanaian migrants. In recent years, increasing numbers of the highly skilled and professionals are opting to return to their home countries, where the economies are expanding and creating new opportunities, as Western economies are experiencing a crisis. Drawing on in-depth, ethnographic interviews with highly educated and highly skilled Ghanaian women and men who returned to Ghana in their prime productive years, this paper examines the challenges of readjusting to Ghanaian society. In particular, this paper seeks to shed light on how socio-spatial and cultural processes operate to underpin and refigure everyday experiences in different spheres of life  home, work place, community  for these skilled return migrants. I suggest that their engagements are shaped by the intentions of permanent return. Yet, while migration allowed most to earn Western undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and valuable skills and work experience  salient forms of cultural capital  their return constitute and engender challenges that involve renegotiations and reworking of power relations and identities. I highlight how these negotiations are multifaceted and shaped by the social milieu in which the return migrants must navigate.