cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eddy Resolution versus Eddy Diffusion in a Double Gyre GCM. Part I: The Lagrangian and Eulerian Description

Abstract The Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions of the flow in a double gyre, eddy-resolving numerical simulation are compared in the context of exploring the use of drifter arrays to describe ocean circulation. The parameterization of the unresolved scales of motion in large-scale numerical ocean models is analyzed through a combination of Lagrangian and Eulerian simulated fields. Here, in Part I, the Lagrangian and Eulerian description of the flow is presented with special emphasis on the description of the eddy diffusivity field. In Part II, the limitations that coarse spatial resolution imposes on the advective–diffusive equation are tested by comparing the evolution of a passive tracer field in high- and low-resolution numerical models. The number of “buoy days” used in the numerical experiment is similar to what is expected to be launched in the Atlantic Ocean during WOCE/TOGA surface velocity program. The parameters that determine the model ocean circulation were chosen such that the mean and edd...
Digestibility in male rats with lateral hypothalamic lesions

The body weight of male rats with lateral hypothalamic lesions remained approximately 20% below that maintained by nonlesioned controls. One month following surgery, both food intake and energy losses in feces and urine were measured in all animals for five days. The percentage of ingested food absorbed by the gut ("digestibility") was determined from calorimetric analysis of the feces to be slightly, though significantly, higher for the lesioned animals (79.7% vs 77.4%). Resorptive capacity, as indicated by the percentage of absorbed energy lost in the urine, was determined to be the same for the lesioned and control animals (4.8% vs 4.5%). These results indicate that the digestive, absorptive, and resorptive processes of LH-lesioned animals are at least as efficient as those of nonlesioned animals maintaining normal body weights. Thus, though LH-lesioned animals are reported to display various gastrointestinal dysfunctions, alterations in digestive or resorptive efficiency are apparently not responsible for their chronically-reduced body weights.
Electrostatic influence on ion transport through the αHL channel

The current-voltage relationship of a single Staphylococcus aureus α-hemolysin (αHL) channel is nonlinear, rectifying, and depends on the bulk pH and the ionic strength. The data are described qualitatively by a simple one-dimensional Nernst-Planck analysis in which the fixed charges inside and near the pore’s entrances affect the transport of ions through the channel. The distances of these fixed charges from one of the channel’s entrances are obtained from the channel’s crystal structure. The model demonstrates that rectification of monovalent ion flow through the αHL channel can be related to the asymmetry in the location of the ionizable amino acid side chains.
Effects of enzymatic degradation on the frictional response of articular cartilage in stress relaxation.

It was recently shown experimentally that the friction coefficient of articular cartilage correlates with the interstitial fluid pressurization, supporting the hypothesis that interstitial water pressurization plays a fundamental role in the frictional response by supporting most of the load during the early time response. A recent study showed that enzymatic treatment with chondroitinase ABC causes a decrease in the maximum fluid load support of bovine articular cartilage in unconfined compression. The hypothesis of this study is that treatment with chondroitinase ABC will increase the friction coefficient of articular cartilage in stress relaxation. Articular cartilage samples (n=34) harvested from the femoral condyles of five bovine knee joints (1–3 months-old) were tested in unconfined compression with simultaneous continuous sliding (±1.5 mm at 1 mm/s) under stress relaxation. Results showed a significantly higher minimum friction coefficient in specimens treated with 0.1 u/ml of chondroitinase ABC for 24 hours (μmin = 0.082 ± 0.024) compared to control specimens (μmin = 0.047 ± 0.014). Treated samples also exhibited higher equilibrium friction coefficient (μeq = 0.232 ± 0.049) than control samples (μeq = 0.184 ± 0.036), which suggest that the frictional response is greatly influenced by the degree of tissue degradation. The fluid load support was predicted from theory, and the maximum value (as a percentage of the total applied load) was lower in treated specimens (77 ± 12%) than in control specimens (85 ± 6%). Based on earlier findings, the increase in the ratio μmin/μeq may be attributed to the decrease in fluid load support.
Biosynthesis of glucuronosyl diglyceride by particulate fractions of Pseudomonas diminuta

Summary A 30,000xg particulate fraction from Pseudomonas diminuta catalyzed the incorporation of radioactivity from both UDP-glucuronic-14C acid and 1,2(2,3)-dipalmityl- sn -glycerol-14C into a lipid which was characterized as glucuronosyl diglyceride. The characterization was based on the techniques of 1) alkaline methanolysis to give glucuronosyl glycerol which on acid hydrolysis gave glucuronic-14C acid, and 2) methylation and reduction of the carboxyl group of glucuronosyl-14C-glycerol to give glucosyl-14C-glycerol which on acid hydrolysis yielded glucose-14C. Identification of the radioactive derivatives and hydrolysis fragments was carried out by chromatography and electrophoresis with standard compounds.
Construction of a bacterial artificial chromosome library containing large EcoRI and HindIII genomic fragments of lettuce.

Existing bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vectors were modified to have unique EcoRI cloning sites. This provided an additional site for generating representative libraries from genomic DNA digested with a variety of enzymes. A BAC library of lettuce was constructed following the partial digestion of genomic DNA with HindIII or EcoRI. Several ex- perimental parameters were investigated and opti- mized. The BAC library of over 50,000 clones, repres- enting one to two genome equivalents, was constructed from six ligations; average insert sizes for each ligation varied between 92.5 and 142 kb with a combined aver- age insert size of 111 kb. The library was screened with markers linked to disease resistance genes; this identi- fied 134 BAC clones from four regions containing res- istance genes. Hybridization with low-copy genomic sequences linked to resistance genes detected fewer clones than expected from previous estimates of genome size. The lack of hybridization to chloroplast and mitochondrial sequences demonstrated that the library was predominantly composed of nuclear DNA. The unique EcoRI site in the BAC vector should allow the integration of BAC cloning with other technologies that utilize EcoRI digestion, such as AFLPTM markers and RecA-assisted restriction endonuclease (RARE) cleavage, to clone specific large EcoRI fragments from genomic DNA.
Analysis of a Fixed-Guided Compliant Beam With an Inflection Point Using the Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model Concept

This paper provides an efficient method of analysis for a fixed-guided compliant beam with an inflection point, subjected to beam end load or displacement boundary conditions, or a combination thereof. To enable this, such a beam is modeled as a pair of well-established pseudo-rigid-body models (PRBMs) for fixed-free compliant beam segments. The analysis procedure relies on the properties of inflection in developing the necessary set of static equilibrium equations for solution. The paper further discusses the multiplicity of possible solutions, including displacement configurations, for any two specified beam end boundary conditions, depending on the locations of the effecting force and/or displacement boundary conditions. A unique solution may exist when a third beam end boundary condition is specified; however, this selection is not unconditional. A deflection domain concept is proposed to assist with the selection of the third boundary condition in a more realistic manner.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
New mid-Cretaceous earwigs in amber from Myanmar (Dermaptera)

Two new genera and species of mid-Cretaceous earwigs are described and figured from Burmese (Myanmar) amber. Zigrasolabis speciosa Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is represented by a series of females in a single, large piece of amber. Toxolabis zigrasi Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is based on a single male. Two first-instar nymphs in the same piece as T . zigrasi may represent early stadia for this species. In addition, two further morphospecies of isolated nymphs are recorded. Both of the described genera belong to the Neodermaptera ( Zigrasolabis a labidurine, Toxolabis likely an anisolabidine) but can be excluded from the Eudermaptera clade, the latter of which likely originated and diversified in the Early Tertiary or latest Cretaceous.
Mechanistic Complexity in Organo–SOMO Activation

Singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) activation provides a pathway for asymmetric α-addition to aldehydes.[1] The scope of SOMO activation includes the allylation, enolation, vinylation, styrenation, chlorination, polyene cyclization, and arylation[2] of a range of aldehydes. This union of organocatalysis with single-electron oxidative coupling is an intricate process involving the complex balance of catalyst, oxidant, radicophile, base, temperature, heterogeneous reaction conditions, and H2O. To examine the role of each component in this complex process, a series of spectroscopic and kinetic studies were carried out to study the asymmetric allylation of 1 shown in Equation (1).[1a] The data described herein show three important features: 1) Oxidation of the intermediate enamine is rapid and preferential to oxidation of the catalyst, 2) H2O concentration is critical for catalytic efficiency, and 3) the kinetic role of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) is masked by a physical phase-transfer process.
The Fifth Column---An Exemplary Essay on Communication or Corporate Style, Corporate Substance, & The Sting

An essay about the importance of good communication skills and the corporate style of behavior.
Reliability and Validity of Estimating the NIH Stroke Scale Score from Medical Records

Background and Purpose—The aim of our study was to determine whether the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) can be estimated retrospectively from medical records. The NIHSS is a qua...
Welfare Economic Aspects of Capital Punishment

Abstract. Much has been written in recent years concerning the issue of capital punishment. The major argument on the side of the retentionists appears to revolve around deterrence. Using postulates from modern welfare economics the authors demonstrate that the deterrence question is largely irrelevant. Attention is also given to extracting materials from the writings of earlier economists from Petty to Mill which may be helpful in resolving the issue. The conclusion which emerges is that capital punishment is not justifiable on economic grounds.
Turbulence modulation in homogeneous dilute particle-laden flows

Continuous-phase properties were studied for homogeneous dilute particle-laden flows caused by nearly monodisperse glass particles falling in a stagnant water bath. Test conditions included 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mm diameter particles (yielding particle Reynolds numbers based on terminal velocities of 38, 156 and 545) with particle volume fractions less than 0.01%. Measurements included mean and fluctuating velocities, as well as temporal spectra and spatial correlations of velocity fluctuations in the streamwise and cross-stream directions, using a two-point phase-discriminating laser velocimeter. Flow properties were also analysed using a stochastic method involving linear superposition of randomly-arriving particle velocity fields. For present test conditions, liquid velocity fluctuations varied solely as a function of the rate of dissipation of particle energy in the liquid. The flows were highly anisotropic with streamwise velocity fluctuations being roughly twice cross-stream velocity fluctuations. Correlation coefficients and temporal spectra were independent of both particle size and the rate of dissipation of particle energy in the liquid. The temporal spectra indicated a large range of frequencies even though particle Reynolds numbers were relatively low, since both mean and fluctuating velocities in the particle wakes contributed to the spectra because particle arrivals were random. The theory predicted many of the features of the flows reasonably well but additional information concerning the mean and turbulent structure of the wakes of freely moving particles having moderate Reynolds numbers in turbulent environments is needed to address deficiencies in predictions of integral scales and streamwise spatial correlations.
Dynamic Use of Closures and Imperfectly Enforced Quotas in a Metapopulation

The dynamic efficiency of closures in bioeconomic systems depends upon stock levels and in situ values that evolve over time, and on relative costs of implementation. A model of a harvested metapopulation is presented in which second-best reduction of harvest from open-access levels using input quotas balances monitoring costs against dynamic benefits of mitigating overharvesting. Temporary or permanent closures—though generally still second best—are preferable to quotas under certain conditions, as demonstrated for a representative patch and time period. Interactions between patches are discussed. Numerical solutions illustrate comparative dynamics of closure use, and show their potential benefits in a dynamic regulatory path.
Caspase Activation as a Versatile Assay Platform for Detection of Cytotoxic Bacterial Toxins

ABSTRACT Pathogenic bacteria produce several virulence factors that help them establish infection in permissive hosts. Bacterial toxins are a major class of virulence factors and hence are attractive therapeutic targets for vaccine development. Here, we describe the development of a rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput assay that can be used as a versatile platform to measure the activities of bacterial toxins. We have exploited the ability of these toxins to cause cell death via apoptosis of sensitive cultured cell lines as a readout for measuring toxin activity. Caspases (cysteine-aspartic proteases) are induced early in the apoptotic pathway, and so we used their induction to measure the activities of Clostridium difficile toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) and binary toxin (CDTa-CDTb), Corynebacterium diphtheriae toxin (DT), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PEA). Caspase induction in the cell lines, upon exposure to toxins, was optimized by toxin concentration and intoxication time, and the specificity of caspase activity was established using a genetically mutated toxin and a pan-caspase inhibitor. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of the caspase assay for measuring toxin potency, as well as neutralizing antibody (NAb) activity against C. difficile toxins. Furthermore, the caspase assay showed excellent correlation with the filamentous actin (F-actin) polymerization assay for measuring TcdA and TcdB neutralization titers upon vaccination of hamsters. These results demonstrate that the detection of caspase induction due to toxin exposure using a chemiluminescence readout can support potency and clinical immunogenicity testing for bacterial toxin vaccine candidates in development.
An experimental investigation of an interactive model of academic cheating among business school students.

Using an experimental design, we examined the interactive effect of situational (explicit presentations of an honor code reminder and of a realistic course warning) and individual (self-perceived c...
Responses of ‘resistant’ vertebrates to habitat loss and fragmentation: the importance of niche breadth and range boundaries

An ability to predict species' sens- itivities to habitat loss and fragmentation has important conservation implications, and numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain inter- specific differences observed in human-dominated landscapes. We used occupancy data collected on 32 species of vertebrates (16 mammals and 16 amphibians) in an agricultural landscape of Indiana, USA, to compare hypotheses that focus on different causal mechanisms underlying interspecific variation in responses to habitat
Computational electromagnetics from a user's perspective

Some of the more important issues in CEM (computational electromagnetics) are examined, focusing on the interplay of analysis and computation. EM codes are considered from both the developer's and user's perspectives, and code design for user-friendliness is discussed. It is concluded that CEM will become more accurate and efficient for all users by providing a single interface and problem-description language giving access to a variety of different codes, built-in input-data checking and error trapping, user-selectable optional validation checks, graphical and interactive output displays, and a convenient way to compare the results of different models. >
A timestamp-based selective invalidation scheme for multiprocessor cache coherence

Among all software cache coherence strategies, the ones that are based on the concept of timestamps show the greatest potential in terms of cache performance. The early timestamp methods suffer from high hardware overhead. Improvements have been proposed to reduce hardware overhead at the expense of either increasing runtime overhead or sacrificing cache performance. We discuss the limitations of the previous timestamp-based methods and propose a new software cache coherence scheme. Our scheme exploits the inter-level locality with significantly less hardware support than the early timestamp methods while introducing only constant runtime overhead for each epoch during the execution of a program. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme achieves higher performance than the previous schemes with comparable hardware overhead.
Protegrins: structural requirements for inactivating elementary bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis

We tested 20 protegrins against Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 (L2/434/Bu). Five of the protegrins had native structures; the others included nonamidated, enantiomeric, and truncated variants and peptides with <2 disulfide bonds. Antichlamydial activity resided principally in residues 5 to 15 of native protegrin PG-1, and optimal activity required both intramolecular disulfide bonds.
Removal of Perfluorooctane and Perfluorobutane Sulfonate from Water via Carbon Adsorption and Ion Exchange

This research investigated the removal of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) from water by Filtrasorb®400 granular activated carbon (GAC) and Amberlite®IRA-458 ion exchange resin. Kinetic experiments showed that the time required for the uptake equilibrium was ∼50 hours for the GAC and ∼10 hours for the resin. Sorption isotherms showed that PFOS and PFBS uptake was endothermic and was promoted by hydrophobic effects on the GAC, and by a combination of hydrophobic adsorption and ion exchange on the resin. The aqueous solubility of PFOS was highly dependent on the ionic composition of the solution. PFOS and PFBS uptake by the resin was hysteretic and nearly irreversible using conventional regeneration methods.
The Assembly of MreB, a Prokaryotic Homolog of Actin

MreB, a major component of the bacterial cytoskeleton, exhibits high structural homology to its eukaryotic counterpart actin. Live cell microscopy studies suggest that MreB molecules organize into large filamentous spirals that support the cell membrane and play a key shape-determining function. However, the basic properties of MreB filament assembly remain unknown. Here, we studied the assembly of Thermotoga maritima MreB triggered by ATP in vitro and compared it to the well-studied assembly of actin. These studies show that MreB filament ultrastructure and polymerization depend crucially on temperature as well as the ions present on solution. At the optimal growth temperature of T. maritima, MreB assembly proceeded much faster than that of actin, without nucleation (or nucleation is highly favorable and fast) and with little or no contribution from filament end-to-end annealing. MreB exhibited rates of ATP hydrolysis and phosphate release similar to that of F-actin, however, with a critical concentration of approximately 3 nm, which is approximately 100-fold lower than that of actin. Furthermore, MreB assembled into filamentous bundles that have the ability to spontaneously form ring-like structures without auxiliary proteins. These findings suggest that despite high structural homology, MreB and actin display significantly different assembly properties.
Modeling and prediction of time-series data by orthogonal search and canonical variate analysis

The authors investigate two general methods of modeling and prediction, the orthogonal search method and canonical variate analysis approach, to time-series data. Nonlinear autoregressive moving average (ARMA) and state affine models are adopted for approximation and developed as one step predictors. An unknown nonlinear time-invariant system is assumed to have the Markov property of finite order so that the one step predictors are finite dimensional. No special assumptions are made about the model terms, model order or state dimensions. Computer simulations are presented for Lorenz attractor.
PLOW: a collaborative task learning agent

To be effective, an agent that collaborates with humans needs to be able to learn new tasks from humans they work with. This paper describes a system that learns executable task models from a single collaborative learning session consisting of demonstration, explanation and dialogue. To accomplish this, the system integrates a range of AI technologies: deep natural language understanding, knowledge representation and reasoning, dialogue systems, planning/agent-based systems and machine learning. A formal evaluation shows the approach has great promise.
Extracting Web User Profiles Using a Modified CARD Algorithm

Clustering algorithms are widely used methods for organizing data into useful information. The Competitive Agglomeration for Relational Data (CARD) Algorithm is one such clustering algorithm that is designed to organize user sessions into profiles, where each profile would highlight a particular type of user. The CARD algorithm is a viable candidate for Web clustering; however, it does have limitations such as an extended execution time. In addition, the methods that prepare the input data for the CARD algorithm's use employs concepts which seem to be incomplete. These limitations of the CARD algorithm are explored and modifications are introduced to yield a more practical and efficient algorithm.
An operator interface for a robot-mounted, 3D camera system: Project Pioneer

The purpose of Project Pioneer is to develop an exploratory robot capable of creating a three-dimensional photo-realistic map of the inside of the damaged Chernobyl nuclear reactor, measure the environmental and radioactive conditions, and collect samples of concrete from the physical structure to determine its mechanical stability. This paper describes the virtual reality interface for Pioneer's three-dimensional mapping system. This interface addresses a wide variety of technical challenges, including several that are unique to the hostile Chernobyl environment.
Ionic forces in polymers

This paper has reviewed several studies, particularly those performed on the phosphate polymers, in which ionic forces were important in determining the properties or behavior of the material. Only very few properties were investigated; among these were 1) the glass transitions as a function of the molecular weight, the nature of the terminal group, and the nature of the counterion, 2) the viscoelastic properties as a function of the counterion and 3) the viscoelastic relaxation mechanism, with specific emphasis on the separation of the α and x mechanisms. In this treatment, a deliberate attempt was made to present pertinent theories, insofar as they exist, but it seems evident that here as much work remains to be done as on the experimental level, if not more.
JOhne's Disease Eradication and Control: Regulatory Implications

Regulatory aspects of a national Johne's disease control and certification program are discussed. The value of industry participation and support is stressed, along with the need for a more focused effort on Johne's disease control in the United States.
Simultaneous Optimization of Property-Based Water-Allocation and Heat-Exchange Networks with State-Space Superstructure

A novel mathematical model for simultaneous optimization of a property-based water-allocation and heat-exchange network (WAHEN) is presented in this work, where both linear and nonlinear dependent properties are taken into account. Specifically, state-space representation is modified to capture the structural characteristics of the property-based WAHEN, and a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is formulated correspondingly to minimize the total annualized cost (TAC) of the network. In the proposed model, not only are property and energy integrations carried out simultaneously, but all possible waste regeneration opportunities are considered as well. To enhance the solution quality, sampling and spectral clustering techniques are introduced to capture the common characteristics of classes of good networks and guide the refined search toward a potential global optimum. Three examples are presented in this work to demonstrate the validity and advantages of the proposed approach.
Postpartum blood pressure and insulin sensitivity in African-American women with recent preeclampsia.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia are relatively common in nulliparous, inner-city, African-American, pregnant women and contribute to considerable maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality in that population. Recently, insulin resistance has been related to the development of hypertension in young African-Americans and hyperinsulinemia and elevated insulin-to-glucose ratios, suggesting insulin resistance, have been demonstrated in women with preeclampsia. To investigate whether insulin resistance existed postpartum and, therefore, independently of the pregnant state, the hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic technique was used 3 to 6 months postpartum to assess insulin sensitivity in 10 young, black, primiparous, inner-city women with recent preeclampsia and seven age-, weight- and body-mass-index-matched black women with healthy pregnancies. The age, weight, body-mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, the duration since parturition, and fasting plasma glucose and insulin were similar in the preeclamptic and control groups. During the clamp procedure, the insulin levels and mean diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were also similar for both groups; however, the mean systolic blood pressure of the preeclamptic group (123 +/- 3 mm Hg) was higher than that of the control group (114 +/- 2 mm Hg) (P < .05). Insulin-stimulated glucose disposal was not different between the preeclamptic (5.6 +/- 0.3 mg/kg/min) and control groups (5.7 +/- 0.7 mg/kg/min). This suggests that the elevation in postpartum systolic blood pressure may reflect a persistent abnormality of blood pressure homeostasis which is not associated with insulin resistance.
Fluid therapy for diarrheic calves. What, how, and how much.

The pathophysiologic consequences of neonatal diarrhea in calves are presented. A brief discussion of intestinal nmction, nutrient absorption, and osmolar effects follows. A rationale for appropriate fluid therapy is presented, and comparisons of some currently marketed products are made.
Community and Consensus in Islam: Muslim Representation in Colonial India, 1860-1947

The model of Muslim political action participation or representation? the colonial model for India, 1860-1990 Mughals and Muslims - Muslim attitudes to representation, 1860-1900 the quest for community - Muslims and the demand for separate electorates, 1900-1909 representation and consensus - the Muslim league, 1909-1939 Muslims and non-Muslims - the logic of parity, 1937-1947.
Current concepts on the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli meningitis: implications for therapy and prevention.

Purpose of reviewNeonatal Escherichia coli meningitis continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. The major contributing factors to this mortality and morbidity include our incomplete knowledge on its pathogenesis and an emergence of antimicrobial-resistant E.
Positive Position Feedback Vibration Control of a Composite I-Beam With Fuzzy Gain Tuning

Positive position feedback (PPF) control is widely used in active vibration control of flexible structures. To ensure the vibration is quickly suppressed, a large PPF scalar gain is often applied in a PPF controller. However, PPF control with a large scalar gain causes initial overshoot, which is undesirable in many situations. In this paper, a fuzzy gain tuner is proposed to tune the gain in the positive position feedback control to reduce the initial overshoot while still maintaining a quick vibration suppression. The fuzzy system is trained by the desired input-output data sets by batch least squares algorithm so that the trained fuzzy system can behave like the training data. A 3.35 meter long I-beam with piezoceramic patch sensors and actuators is used as the experimental object. The experiments include the standard PPF control, standard PPF control with traditional fuzzy gain tuning, and PPF control with batch least squares fuzzy gain tuning. Experimental results clearly demonstrate that PPF control with batch least squares fuzzy gain tuner behaves much better than the other two in terms of successfully reducing the initial overshoot and quickly suppressing vibration.© 2002 ASME
USE OF MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT LEADING TO HEART TRANSPLANT IS ASSOCIATED WITH STROKES IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-TRANSPLANT PERIOD: ANALYSIS OF 59,170 HEART TRANSPLANTS FROM THE UNOS DATABASE

Data pertaining to the incidence of perioperative stroke in patients placed on mechanical circulatory support (MCS) leading to heart transplantation (HT) is limited. We sought to determine the association between the use of different types of pre-HT MCS and the incidence of stroke following HT. We
Urine Toxicology Screen

Urine toxicology screen is a potentially useful tool in monitoring the patient’s adherence to treatment. It is underutilized is many settings but may also be overutilized in others. This chapter summarizes the reasons and recommended frequency for this test. It also discusses the various types of urine toxicology screen, the expected results based on medication’s metabolism, as well as potential drawbacks such as false positives and negatives.
Changes of serum homocysteine and plasma platelet granule membrane protein 140 in type 2 diabetic nephropathy

Objective:To investigate the changes and the relationship of serum homocysteine and platelet granule membrane protein 140 in patients with diabetic nephropathy(DN).Methods: Fifty cases of healthy persons were enrolled as the control group.One hundred and fifty cases with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into three groups,including normal albuminuria group,microalbuminuria group and clinical proteinuria group,each containing 50 cases.Their serum levels of homocysteine and plasma platelet granule membrane protein 140 were measured.Results: In all patients with diabetes,the serum homocysteine and the plasma platelet granule membrane protein 140 levels were significantly higher than the healthy control group(P0.01);these levels in micro-albuminuria group and clinical proteinuria group were also higher than normal albuminuria group and healthy control group(P0.01),while that in clinical proteinuria group was higher than the microalbuminuria group(P0.01).The serum homocysteine level was positively correlated with the plasma platelet granule membrane protein 140 levels.Conclusion: The serum homocysteine level and the plasma platelet granule membrane protein 140 level are higher in DN patients,which have correlation with each other.
Who'S Who in Mineral Names: Wendell Eugene Wilson, Jr. (1946-), Ignacio Domeyko (1802–1889),

(1988). Who'S Who in Mineral Names: Wendell Eugene Wilson, Jr. (1946-), Ignacio Domeyko (1802–1889), Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 63, No. 5, pp. 400-404.
Study of scintillation crystal array parameters for an advanced PET scanner dedicated to breast cancer imaging

We present measurements and simulation to determine the optimal crystal array parameters for an advanced PET scanner dedicated to breast imaging. We compared LSO versus LYSO arrays, measured different crystal sizes and various surface finishes and array configurations. We conclude that an 8 × 8 array of 1 × 1 × 1 mm3 LYSO crystals with a specular (VM2000) foil on all sides of each individual crystal except the diffuse exit window gives the optimal results for our configuration.
Essential Concepts and Techniques in Molecular Biology

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are macromolecules that convey genetic information. Both DNA and RNA are made up of nucleotides, molecules that in turn are composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. There are five nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil. Adenine, guanine, and cytosine are found in both DNA and RNA; thymine is found only in DNA and uracil is found only in RNA. A second difference between DNA and RNA is the sugars that are incorporated into the nucleotides. The sugar in the nucleotides of DNA is deoxyribose, RNA nucleotides contain ribose. Finally, DNA molecules are double-stranded, while RNA molecules are usually single-stranded.
Improving and Quantifying the Process Window

Femtosecond lasers bring numerous process-enabling advantages to precision microprocessing applications. However, taking a new, ultrafast laser-based application from a first demonstration to full-blown manufacturing at market-enabling throughput rates is usually more difficult than for longer pulsewidth lasers. This is because processes utilizing nanosecond (and longer) pulsewidth lasers can rely on a massive knowledge base, built up by laser manufacturers, systems builders and end users, over decades of application. In contrast, femtosecond laser processing is very much in its infancy, with a limited body of proven applications (or even research and development) to draw on. In this article, we describe how a process window was defined, improved, and finalized in the specific case of precision cutting of thin glass panels for display applications.
NANOG Restores Contractility of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Senescent Microtissues.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively used in the field of tissue engineering as a source of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). However, recent studies showed deficits in the contractile function of SMCs derived from senescent MSCs and there are no available strategies to restore the contractile function that is impaired due to cellular or organismal senescence. In this study, we developed a tetracycline-regulatable system and employed micropost tissue arrays to evaluate the effects of the embryonic transcription factor, NANOG, on the contractility of senescent MSCs. Using this system, we show that expression of NANOG fortified the actin cytoskeleton and restored contractile function that was impaired in senescent MSCs. NANOG increased the expression of smooth muscle α-actin (ACTA2) as well as the contractile force generated by cells in three-dimensional microtissues. Interestingly, NANOG worked together with transforming growth factor-beta1 to further enhance the contractility of senescent microti...
Lost in the city: Yes's ‘Heart of the Sunrise’ and the expansion of musical expression in rock

Yes's ‘Heart of the Sunrise’ addresses one of the primary concerns of the counterculture: the alienation of the individual from humanity by the dominant consumerist, ‘plastic’ culture, represented by the city. In their expression of the effects of alienation, Yes expanded the musical vocabulary of rock, for while the allusive imagery of the song's text relates the locus of the protagonist and his being ‘lost’ amid the population of the city, the arrangement of the song and the purely instrumental passages lay bare the frustration of an individual unable to establish intimate, human relationships. Contemporary commentary on hippie perceptions of, and reactions to, mainstream culture provides a background to an analysis that demonstrates the descriptive power of the instrumental passages in this 1971 work.
Integrative Medicine for Insomnia.

Difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep is a common issue. Patients experiencing insomnia symptoms frequently self-treat their symptoms with sleep medications. However, there remains concern regarding the short- and long-term health impacts of sleep medications. This article discusses the evidence supporting integrative approaches to insomnia treatment, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and mind-body therapies (mindfulness meditation, yoga, tai chi), as well as emerging data for use of other less well supported approaches (dietary supplements, acupuncture).
An Active and Robust Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalyst through Carbon‐Free Hierarchical Functionalization

A hierarchically functionalized hybrid electrode for Zn-air batteries is discussed that requires no carbon. Instead, an oxygen evolution reaction (OER)-active, porous, conductive, and corrosion-resistant nitride Ni3 FeN is used as a support for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)-active ordered intermetallic Fe3 Pt NPs. The porosity in the Ni3 FeN substrate is an important enabling factor for the high OER activity.
SearchBots: User Engagement with ChatBots during Collaborative Search

Popular messaging platforms such as Slack have given rise to hundreds of chatbots that users can engage with individually or as a group. We present a Wizard of Oz study on the use of searchbots (i.e., chatbots that perform specific types of searches) during collaborative information-seeking tasks. Specifically, we study searchbots that intervene dynamically and compare between two intervention types: (1) the searchbot presents questions to users to gather the information it needs to produce results, and (2) the searchbot monitors the conversation among the collaborators, infers the necessary information, and then displays search results with no additional input from the users. We investigate three research questions: (RQ1) What is the effect of a searchbot (and its intervention type) on participants» collaborative experience' (RQ2) What is the effect of a searchbot»s intervention type on participants» perceptions about the searchbot and level of engagement with the searchbot' and (RQ3) What are participants» impressions of a dynamic searchbot? Our results suggest that dynamic searchbots can enhance users» collaborative experience and that the intervention type does not greatly affect users» perceptions and level of engagement. Participants» impressions of the searchbot suggest unique opportunities and challenges for future work.
The Grounds of Tort, Part I: Private Wrongs and Practical Reasoning

Tort theory is widely thought to split cleanly into two seams. Some trace tort's foundations to a deontic form of morality; others to an instrumental, policy-oriented system of loss allocation. Civil Recourse Theory (CRT) resists this binary. It argues that torts comprise a basic legal category, and that this category constitutes an autonomous domain of normativity. But while the theory rightly rejects the binary between corrective justice theory on the one hand and the law-and-economics framework on the other, its insistence on tort law's deontic character is more difficult to sustain, and ultimately cannot be vindicated by doctrinal, historical, or institutional arguments considered apart from their philosophical foundations. Using the familiar question whether tort directives are guidance rules or liability rules as a kind of lens, or prism, this paper shows how requirements of practical reasoning undermine CRT's account of private wrongs. If tort's directives are reasons for action, placing them within the normative domain is not something we can do for free: if we are going to claim that they exert robust normative force, we must account for the grounds of this force and why we need to posit it in the face of simpler, less extravagant explanations of a relatively straightforward system of dispute resolution. CRT tries to satisfy its explanatory burden by co-opting Hart's internal point of view, but this leveraging strategy cannot succeed. The internal point of view interprets legal directives as guides to action, but in tort law, as in private law more generally, legal directives merely demand conformity, not compliance. With the connection between its interpretation of tort directives and the internal point of view thus severed, CRT faces a dilemma: it is either critically incomplete in its account of the grounds of private wrongs, or it is insufficiently responsive to the realities of legal practice. In closing, I suggest that the theory's proponents do better by resisting the temptations of middle-of-the-road metaphysics and instead recognize either the moral or the positivist roots of private wrongs.
Development and Evaluation of a Social Media Health Intervention to Improve Adolescents' Knowledge About and Vaccination Against the Human Papillomavirus.

This study describes the formative research, execution, and evaluation of a social media health intervention to improve adolescents’ knowledge about and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HP...
Genetic programming with statically scoped local variables

This paper presents an extension to genetic programming to allow the evolution of programs containing local variables with static scope which obey the invariant that all variables are bound at time of use. An algorithm is presented for generating trees which obey this invariant, and an extension to the crossover operator is presented which preserves it. New genetic operators are described which abstract sub-expressions to variables and delete variables. Finally, extensions of this work to iteration and functional constructs are discussed.
The formal reconstruction and speedup of the linear time fragment of Willard's relational calculus subset

We demonstrate how several programming language concepts and methods can be used economically to obtain an improved solution to a difficult algorithmic problem. The problem is to compile a subset RCS of Relational Calculus defined by Willard (1978) in a novel way so that efficient run-time query performance is guaranteed. Willard gives an algorithm to compile each query q belonging to RCS so that it executes in O(n log d n + o) steps and O(n) space, where n and o are respectively the input and output set sizes, and d is a parameter associated with the syntax of query q. Willard’s time bounds are based on the assumption that hashing unit-space data takes unit time.
3-D Fabrication Technology for Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering typically involves the combination of cells and biomaterials to form tissues with the goal of replacing or restoring physiological functions lost in diseased organs. The biomaterial scaffolds are designed to provide mechanical support for the cells; however, in practice, the simple addition of cells to porous scaffolds often does not recapitulate sufficient tissue function. Scaffold design previously focused on the incorporation of macroscale features such as interconnected pores for nutrient transport and tissue remodeling. One strategy to further augment the function of tissue-engineered constructs is to mimic the in vivo tissue microarchitecture and cellular microenvirnment. Tissues in the body are divided into repeating functional units (e.g., nephron, islet) [1], whose 3-D architecture coordinates the processes of multiple types of specialized cells. Further, the local environment of these cells presents biochemical and physical stimuli that specifically modulate both cellular functions, e.g. biosynthesis and metabolism, and cellular fate processes such as differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Thus, the fabrication of functional 3-D tissue constructs that incorporate both microscale features for appropriate cell functions and macroscale mechanical and transport properties demands control over chemistry and architecture over multiple length scales.
Diseases: Old and New

The pathogens infecting a widely distributed host species must either: (i) have an alternative host; (ii) be able to survive in a dormant state; or (iii) be non-destructive to their host. For pathogens of diploid hosts that have an obligatory sexual mode of reproduction, a particularly effective strategy is that of being sexually transmitted and the movement of the host allows the pathogen to disperse. There are two major problems with this STD type of strategy: First, a sexually transmitted disease must be, at least relatively, a “gentle pathogen” or a “prudent predator” and remain as such and not evolve towards greater virulence. The secon, and quite important problem is that such a pathogen must, to a large extent, be able to avoid destroying its host’s offspring.
Genetic Architecture of Human Obesity Traits in the Rhesus Macaque

Objective Whereas the metabolic consequences of obesity have been studied extensively in the rhesus macaque, corollary genetic studies of obesity are nonexistent. This study assessed genetic contributions to spontaneous adiposity in this species. Methods Phenotypic variation by age class and sex for BMI, waist to height ratio, waist to thigh ratio, and waist circumference was assessed in 583 macaques. Total and sex-specific heritability for all traits was estimated, including waist to thigh ratio adjusted for BMI, as well as genotypic and phenotypic correlations. In addition, functional genetic variation at BDNF, FTO, LEP, LEPR, MC4R, PCSK1, POMC, and SIM1 was assessed in four animals with extreme spontaneous adiposity. Results Trait heritability in the combined sample was low to moderate (0.14-0.32), whereas sex-specific heritability was more substantial (0.20-0.67). Heritability was greater in females for all traits except BMI. All traits were robustly correlated, with genetic correlations of 0.63 to 0.93 indicating substantial pleiotropy. Likely functional variants were discovered in the four macaques at all eight human obesity genes, including six missense mutations in BDNF, FTO, LEP, LEPR, and PCSK1 and, notably, one nonsense mutation in LEPR. Conclusions A moderate polygenic contribution to adiposity in rhesus macaques was found, as well as mutations with potentially larger effects in multiple genes that influence obesity in humans.
Patient-Reported Outcomes: Toward Better Measurement of Patient-Centered Care in CKD.

The term “patient-centered,” first used by Enid Balint in a lecture in 1968, is poorly understood by many in health care and overused by more.[1][1] Enshrined by the Institute of Medicine as an element of health care quality, to some it means that the needs of the patient come first. To others,
Analysis of Feature Visibility in Non-Line-Of-Sight Measurements

We formulate an equation describing a general Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging measurement and analyze the properties of the measurement in the Fourier domain regarding the spatial frequencies of the scene it encodes. We conclude that for a relay wall with finite size, certain scene configurations and features are not detectable in an NLOS measurement. We then provide experimental examples of invisible scene features and their reconstructions, as well as a set of example scenes that lead to an ill-posed NLOS imaging problem.
Rate of Improvement in Outcomes Measures After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Longitudinal Study With 2-Year Follow-up:

BackgroundFew studies report rate of improvement following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in a single cohort. The purpose of this study was to compare functional scores following RTSA a...