cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Analysis of Triterpenes from High-Salt Fermented Cucumbers Using Infrared Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Electrospray Ionization (IR-MALDESI).

High-salt samples present a challenge to mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, particularly when electrospray ionization (ESI) is used, requiring extensive sample preparation steps such as desalting, extraction, and purification. In this study, infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) coupled to a Q Exactive Plus mass spectrometer was used to directly analyze 50-μm thick slices of cucumber fermented and stored in 1 M sodium chloride brine. From the several hundred unique substances observed, three triterpenoid lipids produced by cucumbers, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and lupeol, were putatively identified based on exact mass and selected for structural analysis. The spatial distribution of the lipids were imaged, and the putative assignments were confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry performed directly on the same cucumber, demonstrating the capacity of the technique to deliver confident identifications from highly complex samples in molar concentrations of salt without the need for sample preparation.
Patterns and regulation of silicon accumulation in Synechococcus spp.

Six clones of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus, representing four major clades, were all found to contain significant amounts of silicon in culture. Growth rate was unaffected by silicic acid, Si(OH)4, concentration between 1 and 120 μM suggesting that Synechococcus lacks an obligate need for silica (Si). Strains contained two major pools of Si: an aqueous soluble and an aqueous insoluble Si pool. Soluble pool sizes correspond to estimated intracellular dissolved Si concentrations of 2 - 24 mM which would be thermodynamically unstable implying the binding of intracellular soluble Si to organic ligands. The Si content of all clones was inversely related to growth rate and increased with higher [Si(OH)4] in the growth medium. Accumulation rates showed a unique bi-linear response to increasing [Si(OH)4] from 1 to 500 μM with the rate of Si acquisition increasing abruptly between 80 - 100 μM Si(OH)4. Although these linear responses imply some form of diffusion-mediated transport, Si uptake rates at low Si (~1 μM Si) were inhibited by orthophosphate suggesting a role of phosphate transporters in Si acquisition. Theoretical calculations imply that observed Si acquisition rates are too rapid to be supported by lipid-solubility diffusion of Si through the plasmalemma; however, facilitated diffusion involving membrane protein channels may suffice. The data are used to construct a working model of the mechanisms governing the Si content and rate of Si acquisition in Synechococcus. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Convex Hulls in Three Dimensions

The focus of this chapter is algorithms for constructing the convex hull of a set of points in three dimensions (Section 4.2). We will also touch on related issues: properties of polyhedra (Section 4.1), how to represent polyhedra (Section 4.4), and a brief exploration of higher dimensions (Section 4.6). Finally, several related topics will be explored via a series of exercises (Section 4.7). The centerpiece of the chapter is the most complex implementation in the book: code for constructing the three-dimensional hull via the incremental algorithm (Section 4.3). POLYHEDRA Introduction A polyhedron is the natural generalization of a two-dimensional polygon to three-dimensions: It is a region of space whose boundary is composed of a finite number of flat polygonal faces, any pair of which are either disjoint or meet at edges and vertices. This description is vague, and it is a surprisingly delicate task to make it capture just the right class of objects. Since our primary concern in this chapter is convex polyhedra, which are simpler than general polyhedra, we could avoid a precise definition of polyhedra. But facing the difficulties helps develop three-dimensional geometric intuition, an invaluable skill for understanding computational geometry. We concentrate on specifying the boundary or surface of a polyhedron. It is composed of three types of geometric objects: zero-dimensional vertices (points), one-dimensional edges (segments), and two-dimensional faces (polygons). It is a useful simplification to demand that the faces be convex polygons, which we defined to be bounded (Section 1.1.1).
Assembly of Hybrid Pumps from Na,K-ATPase α Subunits and the H,K-ATPase β Subunit

The Na/K-ATPase (sodium pump) and the gastric H/K-ATPase (proton pump) are members of a structurally-related family of P-type ion transport proteins (Jorgensen and Andersen, 1988; Green and Stokes, 1992). The sodium pump and the proton pump are different from the other ion pumps, however, in that they require two subunits, α and β, for activity. The three isoforms of the a subunit of Na,K-ATPase (α1, α 2, α 3) all show ~85% amino acid sequence identity with one another, and the a subunit of H,K-ATPase is ~65% identical to Na,K-ATPase isoforms. In contrast, isoforms of the β subunit of these two pumps share only 30–35% amino acid sequence identity to one another. Although the importance of the β subunit for pump function is not known, the unique requirement of these ion pumps for a β subunit is intriguing since other pumps are capable of ATP hydrolysis and ion translocation with only an a subunit. In an effort to elucidate the role of the P subunit in Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase function, the activities of hybrid pumps assembled from α subunits of Na,K- ATPase and the P subunit of gastric H,K-ATPase were investigated. Because the amino acid sequences of the β subunit of gastric H,K-ATPase (HKp) and the β subunit of Na,K-ATPase (β1) are only about 30% identical, identification of differences in the biochemical properties of Na,K-ATPase and hybrid pumps may indicate functional features that depend upon the structure of the β subunit.
Diet Formulation and Manufacture

Publisher Summary Diet formulation and manufacture are exercises in compromise between the ideal and the practical. The perfect feed formulation that meets the nutritional needs of an animal or fish must always be modified to be less than ideal so that it can be manufactured. Diet formulation and manufacture are not independent activities. When feeds are formulated, the pelleting characteristics of mixtures are just as important as the nutritional content of the mixture. Production diets must be economical to manufacture, ship, store, and deliver to the fish. Pellets must remain intact in water until fish consume them. This ensures adequate intake of nutrients that might otherwise leach out of the pellets and minimize water pollution caused by disintegrating pellets. Thus, the way in which feed ingredients are chosen, prepared, combined, and processed is influenced by many factors, and compromise between the ideal and the practical is a necessity requiring a solid foundation of knowledge and experience. Rising concerns about the effects of fish farming on the aquatic environment, coupled with concerns about the dependence of fish feeds on fish meal produced from fully utilized or over-utilized wild fish stocks, have also influenced fish feed formulation and manufacture.
A Stochastic Map for Qubit Decoherence

In the presence of noise, pure states become mixed states. This process may be viewed as a stochastic map, taking an intial density operator ρ into another density operator Φ(ρ). We explicitly calculate a non-unital stochastic map with unequal damping eigenvalues and provide a geometrical picture of the effect of stochastic noise on the set of pure state qubit density operators.
Electrolyte cation length influences electrosorption and dynamics in porous carbon supercapacitors

Abstract We investigate the extent to which the alkyl chain on the cation of an imidazolium-based neat room-temperature ionic liquid influences mobility and electrochemical behavior in nanoporous supercapacitors. Changing the cation chain length from an ethyl (n = 2) to a butyl (n = 4) to a hexyl (n = 6) group affects the electrolyte dynamics and their accumulation densities under dynamic charge-discharge processes. We relied on molecular dynamics (MD) computational simulations and classical density functional theory (cDFT) calculations of our system to reinforce the experimental results obtained from electrochemical measurements and quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS). We contrast the different dynamics of ionic liquids in bulk and confined states and demonstrate the effect of the cation dimension on resulting arrangements of positive and negative ions in pores. We correlate these fundamental properties with device performance metrics in an effort to properly tailor high-performance carbon supercapacitor electrodes with non-flammable and electrochemically stable electrolytes.
Regional Models for Portfolio Diversification

Executive Summary. This research is an extension of earlier efforts to develop geographic diversification strategies based upon economic factors, particularly employment-related measures. A much broader set of measures is used to search for broad macroeconomic cycles. Seven groups of states, labeled “Capacity Clusters” due to the emphasis on economic and development capacity, are identified. Although there are clear signs of geographic influence, the clusters are not at all synonymous with “pure” geographic regions of contiguous states. Utilizing NCREIF property returns data, the ability to develop well diversified portfolios based upon the capacity clusters is tested. The results suggest that superior diversification benefits may be found with the Capacity Cluster approach.
Duraplasty Type as a Predictor of Meningitis and Shunting After Chiari I Decompression.

Background Expansile duraplasty is frequently performed during Chiari I decompression. Aseptic and bacterial meningitis are possible complications of this procedure. We sought to compare the rates of meningitis and subsequent need for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion with duraplasty using bovine pericardial (BPC) xenograft and allograft. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 112 patients who underwent Chiari I decompression. All patients underwent duraplasty with either allograft or BPC. Occurrence of postoperative lumbar punctures and associated data were recorded to determine rates of meningitis. Rates of subsequent shunting were also recorded. Results Overall, 112 patients were included in the study: 30 underwent duraplasty with allograft (27%) and 82 received BPC (73%). A total of 26 patients developed postoperative meningitis (23 cases of chemical meningitis and 3 of bacterial meningitis). Rates of meningitis were higher in patients who received BPC than patients who received allograft (28% vs. 10%, respectively; P = 0.047). The rate of shunting was greater in patients with meningitis compared with patients without meningitis (56.5% vs. 5.75%, respectively; P Conclusions We found that rates of total meningitis were greater in patients who underwent Chiari I decompression and duraplasty with BPC compared with an allograft. The rate of shunting was significantly higher for patients who developed meningitis after decompression compared with patients without meningitis.
Safety and efficacy of same-day administration of pegfilgrastim in patients (pts) receiving chemotherapy for gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.

10112Background: Pegfilgrastim is typically administered 24 hours after chemotherapy per package insert; however some pts are unable or unwilling to return for this additional visit due to work or ...
RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN APPLICATION OF BIO-BASED OILS IN ELASTOMERS

ABSTRACT Bio-based oil is an emerging oil source to replace petroleum oil products in elastomers as a plasticizer. It is renewable, low cost, and has many advantages over conventional petroleum pla...
Timescales of secondary organic aerosols to reach equilibrium at various temperatures and relative humidities

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) account for a substantial fraction of air particulate matter, and SOA formation is often modeled assuming rapid establishment of gas–particle equilibrium. Here, we estimate the characteristic timescale for SOA to achieve gas–particle equilibrium under a wide range of temperatures and relative humidities using a state-of-the-art kinetic flux model. Equilibration timescales were calculated by varying particle phase state, size, mass loadings, and volatility of organic compounds in open and closed systems. Model simulations suggest that the equilibration timescale for semi-volatile compounds is on the order of seconds or minutes for most conditions in the planetary boundary layer, but it can be longer than 1 h if particles adopt glassy or amorphous solid states with high glass transition temperatures at low relative humidity. In the free troposphere with lower temperatures, it can be longer than hours or days, even at moderate or relatively high relative humidities due to kinetic limitations of bulk diffusion in highly viscous particles. The timescale of partitioning of low-volatile compounds into highly viscous particles is shorter compared to semi-volatile compounds in the closed system, as it is largely determined by condensation sink due to very slow re-evaporation with relatively quick establishment of local equilibrium between the gas phase and the near-surface bulk. The dependence of equilibration timescales on both volatility and bulk diffusivity provides critical insights into thermodynamic or kinetic treatments of SOA partitioning for accurate predictions of gas- and particle-phase concentrations of semi-volatile compounds in regional and global chemical transport models.
Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy

Pituitary adenomas are common. The impact of pituitary tumors on fertility are mainly caused by oversecretion and/or undersecretion of pituitary hormones or compression of pituitary stalk and normal pituitary tissue by the tumor. Diagnosing and managing pituitary tumors during pregnancy involve many challenges, including the effect of hormone excess or deficiency on pregnancy outcome, changes in the pituitary or pituitary-related hormones, changes in tumor size, and the impact of various treatments of pituitary tumors on maternal and fetal outcomes. This article discusses the diagnosis and treatment of patients with prolactinomas, acromegaly, Cushing disease, and other pituitary tumors during pregnancy.
Deep Learning-Based Automatic Endometrium Segmentation and Thickness Measurement for 2D Transvaginal Ultrasound

Endometrial thickness is closely related to gyneco-logical function and is an important biomarker in transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) examinations for assessing female reproductive health. Manual measurement is time-consuming and subject to high inter- and intra- observer variability. In this paper, we present a fully automated endometrial thickness measurement method using deep learning. Our pipeline consists of: 1) endometrium segmentation using a VGG-based U-Net, and 2) endometrial thickness estimation using medial axis transformation. We conducted experimental studies on 137 2D TVUS cases (74/63 secretory phase/proliferative phase). On a test set of 27 cases/277 images, the segmentation Dice score is 0.83. For thickness measurement, we achieved mean absolute error of 1.23/1.38 mm and root mean squared error of 1.79/1.85 mm on two different test sets. The results are considered well within the clinically acceptable range of ±2 mm. Furthermore, our phase-stratified analysis shows that the measurement variance from the secretory phase is higher than that from the proliferative phase, largely due to the high variability of the endometrium appearance in the secretory phase. Future work will extend our current algorithm toward different clinical outcomes for a broader spectrum of clinical applications.
Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Some Bacterial Vaginosis Pathogenic Markers Using Real-Time PCR

Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal condition characterized by an abnormal vaginal discharge due to an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina. Women with bacterial vaginosis also have fewer than the usual population of vaginal bacteria, i.e lactobacilli. In this study vaginal samples from 75 women were taken to detect and quantify two putative positive-indicator of bacterial vaginosis namely, Atopobium vaginae and Megasphaera type1, in addition to a negative-indicator of bacterial vaginosis (Lactobacillus crispatus) using real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was 34.66% according to scoring system, the most dominant species in patients and in women without the syndrome was L. crispatus (80.76 and 79.59% respectively), but its concentration of 16S rRNA genes was significantly higher in bacterial vaginosis negative women (2.8×108 vs. 4.74×107 copy/swab). In bacterial vaginosis patients, the highest rDNA concentration was for Megasphaera1 (3.10×108 16S rRNA copy/swab).
High Sensitivity Label-Free Imaging with Doppler Raman Microspectroscopy

We present Doppler Raman, a novel detection technique for coherent Raman scattering microscopy that offers improved sensitivity and readily detects low frequency modes from 10cm−1 to 1500cm−1, for use in studying label-free biological systems.
Administrative Data Censuses in US States

This paper describes work underway to conduct administrative data censuses in several US states. We are helping states identify sources that, when combined, reflect their entire population, and introduce approaches to efficiently and routinely integrate their data. The national 2020 Census of Population and Housing faces numerous challenges. Operationally, there are concerns about self-response, inadequate technology integration and testing, hacking and data manipulation of this first online census, and the application of differential privacy to published results. This project’s main aim is to support population benchmarking in states to ensure correct counts affecting federal funding and political representation. This capacity-building has spillover effects for states: it can support their program administration, emergency preparedness, and policymaking. We describe our plan and results to date. We have developed governance approaches and templates and proposed schema to de-duplicate individuals across data sources. We established a secure project workspace designed for cross-institution collaboration to design approaches for states to clean and standardize identifiers, to link across and de-duplicate files, to determine or impute relationships, and to resolve discrepancies observed between sources on residence and demographic characteristics. We have assessed operational readiness in the states and gathered the concerns and recommendations of state integrated data system owners, demographers, advocacy groups, and program administrators. This stakeholder engagement was critical to design workflows and planned products. We need to report on the coverage, completeness, and overlap of data sources, and of the linked data. Next we will work with states to determine what population measures they need from this new capacity: what demographic characteristics and levels of geography are desired for tables and maps. The project aims to build trust in the data and process from the ground up. We will develop training materials and offer technical assistance to help other states adopt this population benchmarking capacity.
Athletic Training Educators' Perceptions of Using Standardized Patients in Teaching

Context Standardized patients (SPs) are commonly used in health care education to teach and evaluate the skills of students. Although this has been a common practice among other health care program...
Annals Clinical Decision Making: Incorporating Perspective Into Clinical Decisions.

Increasingly, physicians are required to consider the implications of clinical decisions beyond those for the patient. This article in the Annals Clinical Decision Making series provides guidance o...
Measurements of the viscosity of compressed gaseous and liquid nitrogen + methane mixtures

The shear viscosity coefficients of three compressed gaseous and liquid nitrogen + methane mixtures have been measured at temperatures between 100 and 300 K and at pressures to about 30 MPa (4350 psia) with a piezoelectric quartz crystal viscometer. The precision of the measurements ranges from about 0.5% at high densities to about 1% at low densities. The estimated experimental error ranges from about 2% at high densities to about 4% at densities near the critical density and at supercritical temperatures near the critical temperature. The measurements have been compared with an extended corresponding states model, previously proposed for calculating the viscosities of fluid mixtures. Differences between the measured and calculated viscosities are discussed.
Obesity among Nursing Home Residents: Association with Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations.

Abstract Background/Objectives Studies show that in nursing homes (NHs), the prevalence of moderate-to-severe obesity has doubled in the last decade and continues to increase. Obese residents are often complex and costly, and this increase in prevalence has come at a time when NHs struggle to decrease hospitalizations, particularly those that are potentially avoidable. This study examined the association between obesity and hospitalizations. Design We linked 2011-2014 national data using Medicare NH assessments, hospital claims, and the NH Compare. Setting and Participants Individuals aged ≥65 years, newly admitted to NHs, who became long-term residents between July 1, 2011 and March 26, 2014. The analytical sample included 490,086 residents. Methods NH-originating hospitalization was the outcome; a categorical variable defined as no hospitalization, potentially avoidable hospitalization (PAH), and other hospitalization (non-PAH). The main independent variable was body mass index (BMI) defined as normal weight (30 >BMI ≥18.5 kg/m2), mildly obese (35 >BMI ≥30 kg/m2), or moderately-to-severely obese (BMI ≥35 kg/m2). Covariates included individual and NH characteristics. Multinomial models with NH random effects and state dummies were estimated. Results After adjusting for individual level covariates, the risk of non-PAH for the mildly and moderate/severely obese was not different from normal weight residents. But the risk of PAH remained significantly higher for the moderate/severely obese (relative risk ratio = 1.055; 95% confidence interval 1.018, 1.094). Several NH-level factors also influenced hospitalization risk. Conclusions and Implications Obese residents are more likely to experience PAH but not non-PAH. Efforts to improve care for these residents may need to broadly consider the ability of NHs to commit additional resources to fully integrate care for this growing segment of the population.
Growth Disturbance Following Intra-articular Distal Radius Fractures in the Skeletally Immature Patient.

Introduction The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence of growth disturbance following intra-articular distal radius fractures in skeletally immature patients and to assess early radiographic and functional outcomes. Methods A retrospective investigation of pediatric patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures between 1997 and 2012 at a single institution was performed. Pathologic fractures and fractures in patients with closed physes were excluded. In total, 28 patients (24 males, 4 females), with a mean age of 13.8 years and mean follow-up of 31.7 months, met inclusion criteria. Fractures were categorized according to the Salter-Harris classification, and all radiographs were assessed for evidence of physeal disturbance. Information regarding treatment and early clinical results were obtained from a medical record review. Functional outcomes using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS) were collected. Fisher exact test was used to compare the incidence of physeal arrest in the study population to previously published rates of physeal arrest in extra-articular fractures involving the distal radius. Because the data were not parametrically distributed, the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was used to compare those who did and did not develop physeal arrest. Results Of the 28 patients, 9 (32%) sustained Salter-Harris III fractures and 19 (68%) sustained Salter-Harris IV fractures. Growth disturbance occurred in 12 (43%) patients, comprised of 3 Salter-Harris III fractures and 9 Salter-Harris IV fractures; 7 of these patients underwent surgical intervention to address deformity. All 4 children age 10 years or younger had growth arrests that underwent subsequent procedures for a skeletal rebalancing of the wrist. No significant differences in DASH or MMWS were seen in the short term between patients who did or did not have physeal arrest. Conclusions Intra-articular distal radius fractures in skeletally immature patients have a considerably higher rate of physeal growth arrest than extra-articular physeal fractures. Following acute management aimed at restoring and preserving anatomic physeal and articular alignment, follow-up radiographs should be obtained to evaluate for physeal arrest in skeletally immature children. Patients and families should be counseled regarding the high rate of growth disturbance and the potential need for deformity correction in the future, particularly in younger children. Level of evidence IV-case series.
Themes of Worry Among Psychiatric Inpatients That Persist Through Acute Hospitalization.

INTRODUCTIONProblems that worry patients throughout hospitalization are complex and varied, but they fall within the scope of safe, effective, patient-centered care. To our knowledge, there is no e...
Cell Communication Network factor 4 promotes tumor-induced immunosuppression in melanoma

Immune cell composition within the tumor microenvironment is regulated by tumor-derived factors. Cell Communication Network factor 4 (CCN4/WISP1) is a matricellular protein secreted by cancer cells that promotes metastasis by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. While metastatic dissemination limits patient survival, the absence of anti-tumor immunity also associates with poor patient outcomes with recent work suggesting these two clinical correlates are linked. Motivated by finding that CCN4 was associated with a dampened anti-tumor immune contexture in patients diagnosed with primary melanoma, we tested for a direct causal link by knocking out CCN4 (CCN4-KO) in the B16F0 and YUMM1.7 mouse models for melanoma. Tumor growth was significantly reduced when CCN4-KO melanoma cells were implanted subcutaneously in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice but not in immunodeficient NSG mice. Correspondingly, the frequency of total CD45+ tumor-infiltrating leukocytes was significantly increased in CCN4-KO tumors, with increased natural killer (NK) and effector CD8+ T cells and reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Additionally, the absence of tumor-derived CCN4 was associated with an impaired splenic generation of suppressive granulocytic MDSC. Among mechanisms linked to local immunosuppression, we found CCN4 directly suppressed antigen-induced IFNγ release by CD8+ T cells, promoted glycolysis and consequent lactate release by melanoma cells, and enhanced tumor secretion of MDSC-attracting chemokines like CCL2 and CXCL1. Finally, CCN4- KO in B16F0 and YUMM1.7 melanoma cells potentiated the anti-tumor effect of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Overall, our results suggest that CCN4 promotes tumor-induced immunosuppression and is a potential target for therapeutic combinations with ICB.
SP rTaTME: initial clinical experience with single-port robotic transanal total mesorectal excision (SP rTaTME)

The technical difficulty and steep learning curve of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has limited widespread adoption. The single-port (SP) daVinci robot is designed to facilitate single-incision and natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). This paper describes the first clinical experience of single-port robotic taTME (SP rTaTME). This was a prospective study on consecutive patients with rectal cancer who underwent SP rTaTME proctosigmoidectomy with handsewn coloanal anastomosis in December 2018 and January 2019. The primary outcome was technical feasibility of the procedure. The secondary outcomes include blood loss, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stay, quality of the TME specimen, short- and long-term morbidity and mortality, as well as short-term oncologic follow -up. There were two patients, a 48-year-old male and a 38-year-old female. Both operations were completed successfully without complications or conversion. Estimated blood loss was 200 mL and 130 mL. In both cases the TME was completed transanally using the SP robot. In the first patient, the abdominal portion was completed through an abdominal single-incision; in the second patient the operation was entirely performed transanally as a pure NOTES procedure. In both cases, the final pathology report showed a complete TME with negative margins. Patients were discharged on postoperative day 3 and 4,respectively. There was no long-term morbidity or mortality. SP rTaTME is feasible and can be safely performed. It provides excellent optics and dexterity to work in a limited space. Future studies are required to further define the safety profile and the ultimate utility of the SP robot for taTME.
QECV: Quantum Error Correction Verification

Quantum Error Correction (QEC) is essential for fault-tolerant quantum copmutation, and its implementation is a very sophisticated process involving both quantum and classical hardware. Formulating and verifying the decomposition of logical operations into physical ones is a challenge in itself. In this paper, we propose QECV, a verification framework that can efficiently verify the formal correctness of stabilizer codes, arguably the most important class of QEC codes. QECV first comes with a concise language, QECV-Lang, where stabilizers are treated as a first-class object, to represent QEC programs. Stabilizers are also used as predicates in our new assertion language, QECV-Assn, as logical and arithmetic operations of stabilizers can be naturally defined. We derive a sound quantum Hoare logic proof system with a set of inference rules for QECV to efficiently reason about the correctness of QEC programs. We demonstrate the effectiveness of QECV with both theoretical complexity analysis and in-depth case studies of two well-known stabilizer QEC codes, the repetition code and the surface code.
Neuropsychology of Perception

Perceptual science occupies a rather interesting position within the cognate areas of neuropsychology. It is perhaps the only discipline that is, at once, both widely applied in neuropsychology and yet seems to have had no major impact in the way of producing a transfer of constructs and influencing the conceptual basis of neuropsychological assessment. Consider how current constructs from memory research such as “depth of processing” or “episodic memory” have worked their way into neuropsychological analysis. Parallels from perception are hard to find. Given the long history of research and theory construction in perception and, indeed, its central position in the history of psychology, one would expect a tremendously active and very current use of perceptual constructs in neuropsychology. Perhaps one source of perceptual science’s lack of vigorous input into neuropsychology is the immediacy of the content, the apparent face validity of any construct that one uses, at any level of analysis. Consider the example of “visual closure.” People do tend to fill in open forms as the Gestalt law of closure aptly demonstrates. It is not surprising, therefore, that Colarusso and Hammill (1972) examine this “basic” skill as one of five types in their Motor-Free Visual Perception Test. Here the child must choose the correct (closed) form from various figures drawn incompletely with gaps within one or more line elements.
Miniature Multi-Electrode Electrochemical Cell in LTCC

The miniaturization of analytical instruments and packaging of novel sensors is an area that has attracted significant research interest and offers many opportunities for product commercialization. Electrochemical sensors have been used to detect a wide variety of compounds including toxic gases. A miniature electrochemical cell has been designed, constructed, and tested for functionality. The cell will be used in identifying and selecting chemical species in solutions. The cell was constructed of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material using gold for the electrodes. Tests performed in sulfuric acid and sea water solutions show that the cell is functioning based on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Miniaturization allows the cell to be deployed as a sensor in many different environments.
Suicidal Co-Degradation of the Phytochrome Interacting Factor 3 and Phytochrome B in Response to Light

Since the discovery of the founding member of the Phytochrome Interacting Factors (PIF3), PIFs have been shown to be ‘hubs’ for multiple signaling pathways and have taken center stage in many conferences and publications (Leivar and Monte, 2014). PIF3 was originally discovered from a yeast two-hybrid screen using the C-terminal domain of a class of photoreceptor called phytochromes (phys) that specifically sense the red and far-red regions of ambient sunlight (Leivar and Quail, 2011). The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes five phytochromes (phyA–phyE) and seven PIFs (PIF1, PIF3–PIF8) (Leivar and Quail, 2011).
Nucleic Acid Packaging of DNA Viruses

Bacteriophages are viruses whose hosts are bacteria. Bacteriophages are the most numerous and genomically diverse form of life in the environment. Many bacteriophage genes have either (1) no detectable homology to any other bacteriophage/cellular gene or (2) homology to extremely diverged bacteriophage genes of presumably similar function. When infecting a host bacterial cell, a double-stranded DNA bacteriophage produces proteins that package progeny DNA genomes in a protein container (capsid) that protects its genome when the bacteriophage is outside of a cell. The energy requirement for DNA packaging is approximately 0.5 kcal mol−1 of packaged nucleotide pair. The capsid and accessory proteins join to form an ATP-fueled motor that drives the DNA molecule into a cavity in the capsid. The motor packages the DNA molecule via end-first motion through a portal ring also called the connector. An accessory protein/ATPase is at least the spark plug of the motor. Bacteriophage DNA packaging motors are investigated as a prototype for understanding other biological motors. Testing for feedback control of the motor is an important current objective. Investigations of both bacteriophage DNA packaging and bacteriophage capsid assembly have produced in vitro systems that are complex. One strategy for analysis of such complex systems is observation at the level of single events (single-particle analysis). Single-particle analysis has already revealed surprising cooperativity among DNA packaging events and has also revealed a comparatively strong motor capable of generating about 40 to 70 pN of force while intermittently hesitating. Bacteriophage DNA packaging systems are useful for further developing procedures for single-particle analysis of complex biochemical systems. Keywords: Bacterial Lysis; Bacteriophage Plaque; Bacterial Transduction; Bacteriophage Therapy; Capsid of a Bacteriophage; Concatemer; Connector (Portal Ring); DNA Packaging Motor; Lytic Bacteriophage; Lysogenic Bacteriophage; Nanometry; Prophage; Procapsid; Sodium Dodecylsulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDSPAGE); Tail of a Bacteriophage; Terminase; Transcription; Translation
Fabrication and characterization of a liquid-metal micro-droplet thermal switch

This paper presents the development of a liquid metal micro-droplet array for use as a thermal switch. A method of producing arrays of mercury micro-droplets on a silicon substrate, which is compatible with batch manufacturing, is detailed. A technique for examining the deformation of the micro-droplets under an applied load is offered. For 30 /spl mu/m diameter droplets under deformation, contact diameters ranging from 0-30 /spl mu/m, and forces of 0-0.10 mN are examined. Predicted values of thermal contact resistance and experimental values of normalized heat transfer are presented as a function of applied load to the switch. Both predictions and experiment indicate that a thermal switch whose thermal resistance and heat transfer change by a factor of ten can be fabricated.
Amyloid protein of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (Indiana kindred) is an 11 kd fragment of prion protein with an N-terminal glycine at codon 58.

Abstract Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease is a familial neurological disorder pathologically characterized by amyloid deposition in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The GSS amyloid is immunoreactive to antisera raised against the hamster prion protein (PrP) 27-30. This is a proteinase K-resistant glycoprotein of 27-30 kd that is derived from an abnormal isoform of a neuronal glycoprotein of 33-35 kd designated PrPSc and is a molecular marker of amyloid fibrils isolated from animals with scrapie and humans with related disorders. We have purified and characterized proteins extracted from amyloid plaque cores isolated from two patients of the Indiana kindred of GSS disease. We found that the major component of GSS amyloid is an 11 kd degradation product of PrP, whose N-terminus corresponds to the glycine residue at position 58 of the amino acid sequence deduced from the human PrP cDNA. In addition, amyloid fractions contained larger PrP fragments with apparently intact N-termini and amyloid P component. These findings suggest that the disease process leads to proteolytic cleavage of PrP, generating an amyloidogenic peptide that polymerizes into insoluble fibrils. The N-terminal cleavage of PrP in GSS disease occurs at a tryptophan-glycine peptide bond identical to that cleaved by proteinase K in vitro to generate PrP 27-30 from hamster PrPSc at codon 90. Since no mutations of the structural PrP gene have been found in the Indiana family of GSS disease, it is conceivable that factors other than the primary structure of PrP play a crucial role in the process of amyloid formation and the development of clinical neurologic dysfunction.
Public attitudes and knowledge about ecosystem management on Department of Defense land in Florida.

New ecosystem management policies at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, emphasize the need for public education and involvement in the changing focus of natural resource practices. To collect baseline information for ecosystem management, we measured and compared the knowledge, attitudes, and interests of critical Eglin audiences: recreational users and neighboring citizens. Factor analysis of surveys of 700 permitted recreational users and 1000 neighboring citizens revealed four content areas for measuring knowledge and attitudes: (1) native and endangered species, (2) fire ecology, (3) forest resources, and (4) ecosystem management. Overall, both audiences lacked basic ecological knowledge and held neutral to slightly positive attitudes toward the key content areas. Recreational users were significantly more knowledgeable than general citizens about native and endangered species, fire ecology, and forests. However, citizens held significantly more positive attitudes toward native and endangered species conservation and ecosystem management concepts. Eglin’s consumptive recreationists (hunters and anglers) held the most negative views. Sociodemographic information from the surveys suggest that the recreational users and neighboring citizens are a stable, educable population that would respond positively to programs aimed at improving knowledge of and attitudes toward ecosystem management goals at Eglin. Las nuevas politicas de manejo de ecosistemas en la Base Eglin de la Fuerza Area en Florida, hacen enfasis en la necesidad de educacion al publico y su involucramiento en el cambio de enfoque de las practicas de manejo de recursos naturales. Para colectar informacion base para manejo de ecosistemas, se midio y comparo el conocimiento, actitudes e intereses de audiencias criticas de Eglin: usuarios recreacionales y vecinos. Analisis de factores de encuestas a 700 usuarios con permiso y 1000 veccinos revelan cuatro ares para medir el conocimiento y las actitudes: (1) especies nativas y en peligro de extincion, (2) ecologia de incendios, (3) recursos forestales y (4) manejo de ecosistemas. En general, ambos grupos carecieron de conocimientos ecologicos basicos y mantener una actitud neutral o ligeramente positiva cor respecto a las areas clave. Los usuarios de areas de recreo tuvieron ligeramente un poco mas de conocimiento que los vecinos en lo que respecta a especies nativas y amenazadas, ecologia de incendios y bosques. Sin embargo, los vecinos mantuvieron actitudes mas positivas con respecto a la conservacion de especies nativas y amenazadas y hacia los conceptos ole maneho de ecosistemas. Los usuarios recreacionales de Eglin (cazadores y pescadores) mantienen las opiniones mas negativas. Informacion sociodemografica de las encuestas sugiere que los usuarios y vecinos son una poblacion estable y educable, que responderia positivamente a programas que pretendan mejorar el conocimiento de y actitudes hacia metas de manejo de ecosistemas en Eglin.
Technique for the automated analysis and grinding of desired profiles in materials

Due to the inexact science of grinding, a technique was desired to automate the grinding process in order to complete a finished profile with a closed loop control. A desired finished shape, or profile, is input to the system. The closed loop control plans the optimal grinding process, and drives the machine controllers to complete the task. This technique can be applied to many types of surface grinding applications such as optical grinding, precision surface grinding for coordinate measuring systems, complex curve grinding, as well as many others. The example illustrated is the closed loop application of railway rail grinding. Vista (vision based transverse analyzer) was intended as a solution to the difficult problem of railroad rail grinding. Due to complexities in analysis, and measurement limitations, rail grinding had evolved as an inexact art. Vista was created to refine the analysis techniques, and to automate the process of rail grinding. The intent was to design and produce a system fully capable of grinding railroad rails efficiently without the aid of human intervention. Vista is comprised of two parts; a rail measurement system (RMS), and an expert system. These devices become the host controller of present day rail grinding machinery, increasing efficiency and accuracy in the rail grinding environment.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Relationship of Turkey Eggs Showing Parthenogenetic Development to Those Containing Embryos or Hatching

Abstract INTRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT of a strain of Beltsville Small White (BSW) turkeys for a high incidence of parthenogenesis has been underway at this station for a number of years. Three categories of development have been recognized: 1) Membranes only, 2) Membranes and Blood, and 3) Embryos including some that survive to hatching. The incidence of parthenogenesis of all categories for all eggs tested since 1952 increased from a level of 16.7% (original stock) to a high of 46% in 1962. The percentage of well-developed embryos increased from a level of 0.2% in 1952 to a high of 13.0% in 1963 (Olsen, 1965). This increase has been attributed to two factors: (1) Selection of breeding stock on a hen family basis for a high incidence of parthenogenesis and (2) A vaccination program whereby birds are vaccinated twice yearly with fowl pox vaccine. In spite of intensive selection under these conditions (largely on…
Education: Cracks in the ivory tower: Academics are beginning to flee a deteriorating campus environment for jobs in industry ¿ A trend threatening the U.S. technological base

Call him John Smith. It's not his real name, but that's not important. What is important is his story, which is true.
Contact solutions for a circular orthotropic beam accounting for transverse normal strain

Abstract A higher order orthotropic circular beam theory, which accounts for radial and circumferential normal strain, as well as deformations due to transverse shearing and bending, is developed using the principle of virtual work. As such, the governing differential equations are expressed in terms of the four independent stiffness quantities, EA1, EA2, GA and EI. Special cases that can be obtained by appropriate limits include a Timoshenko beam (GA, EI) and an Euler beam (EI) with or without axial extension (EA2). Using these equations the frictionless contact problem of a compressed ring is solved analytically and the significance of transverse normal strain is studied by comparing with solutions from the more elementary beam theories. Furthermore, the limitations of these theories are studied through comparison with plane elasticity solutions obtained using finite elements. The effect of the radial stiffness (EA1) on the contact pressure is quantified and shown to be important for many practical problems, such as a tire that includes the effect of a tread.
Corporate-Sponsored Research: An Opportunity for Educators

A recurring theme in many marketing and business journals is the need to integrate theory with practice. In the current economic environment, business is finding it exceedingly difficult to achieve corporate profit objectives. With tax revenues severely reduced or stagnant, many universities are experiencing substantial difficulty funding academic programs. The opportunity for joint practitioner/educator involvement has never been greater. This article describes the advantages and disadvantages of industry sponsorship of university research projects, as well as an actual example of this type of joint effort.
Profiling Preference for Employment in Family‐Owned Firms

This article summarizes findings from an exploratory investigation of factors related to preference for employment in family-owned firms. The sample for the study consists of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in business management classes. Discriminant analysis was used to identify life history and job characteristic variables that distinguish between groups of individuals who expressed a high and low preference for working in a family-owned firm. Additional findings from the study are summarized, and implications for the management of family firms are discussed.