cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracting knowledge about users' activities from raw workstation contents

A long-standing goal of AI is the development of intelligent workstation-based personal agents to assist users in their daily lives. A key impediment to this goal is the unrealistic cost of developing and maintaining a detailed knowledge base describing the user's different activities, and which people, meetings, emails, etc. are affiliated with each such activity. This paper presents a clustering approach to automatically acquiring such a knowledge base by analyzing the raw contents of the workstation, including emails, contact person names, and online calendar meetings. Our approach analyzes the distribution of email words, the social network of email senders and recipients, and the results of Google Desktop Search queried with text from online calendar entries and person contact names. For each cluster it constructs, the program outputs a frame-based representation of the conesponding user activity. This paper describes our approach and experimentally assesses its perfonnance over the workstations of three different users.
Complication Avoidance for Large and Giant Carotid Ophthalmic Aneurysms

The author describes the management and complications of 35 large and giant aneurysms of the carotid-opthalmic segment. 18 cases were treated with planned carotid occlusion with or without concomitant extracranial to intracranial bypass. There was a 33% major morbidity. 17 cases were treated with direct exposure and clip ligation, resulting in two ischemic injuries causing death (12%). Analysis of the two cases resulting in death revealed inadvertent narrowing of the segment of the parent artery adjacent to clip application. This has resulted in a subtle modification of the so-called “stacking-seating” technique, which is described in the manuscript.
Hierarchical plan representations for encoding strategic game AI

In this paper we explore the use of Hierarchical-Task-Network (HTN) representations to model strategic game AI. We will present two case studies. The first one reports on an experiment using HTNs to model strategies for Unreal Tournament® (UT) bots. We will argue that it is possible to encode strategies that coordinate teams of bots in first-person shooter games using HTNs. The second one compares an alternative to HTNs called Task-Method-Knowledge (TMK) process models. TMK models are of interest to game AI because, as we will show, they are as expressive as HTNs but have more convenient syntax. Therefore, HTN planners can be used to generate correct plans for coordinated team AI behavior modeled with TMK representations.
Laser diagnostics of a strongly coupled non-neutral ion plasma

We produced a strongly coupled non-neutral 9Be+ ion plasma. The ions were spatially confined by a Penning trap and cooled and compressed using laser cooling. Laser probe measurements were made of the plasma shape, rotation frequency, density, and temperature. We describe the experimental confinement geometry, laser cooling of ions, and experimental data, which are compared to theoretical predictions. Future experiments using lasers to measure the plasma static structure function and ion diffusion are discussed.
Review: Microscopically controlled surgery

Fur die operative Behandlung der kleinen superfiziellen und soliden nodularen Basaliome und kleinen superfiziellen Spinaliome, sind Kurettage und Electrodessication, chirurgisch operatives Vorgehen, die Chemochirurgie und die Kryochirurgie alle gleichermassen gute Methoden mit zufriedenstellenden Heilungsraten.
Engineering System Dynamics: A Unified Graph-Centered Approach, Second Edition

For today's students, learning to model the dynamics of complex systems is increasingly important across nearly all engineering disciplines. First published in 2001, Forbes T. Brown's Engineering System Dynamics: A Unified Graph-Centered Approach introduced students to a unique and highly successful approach to modeling system dynamics using bond g
EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY AND RECENT STRESS AFFECT RISK FOR DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN OLDER ADULTS.

The stress sensitization hypothesis (SSH) postulates that the psychological impact of stressful life events (SLEs) is greater for adults with childhood trauma than those without. Most prior research evaluating the SSH and depressive symptoms (DepSx) is based on younger adults in cross-sectional studies, which cannot rule out alternative explanations, including reporting bias (i.e., DepSx cause higher endorsement of SLEs). We address these limitations in a longitudinal study of a U.S. population-representative sample of adults aged 50 and older using “objective” SLEs, unlikely to be influenced by DepSx. Childhood adversity was collected from 12,119 participants in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (60% female; age mean=58). Current DepSx, assessed by a modified CES-D, and recent SLEs were obtained in biannual interviews conducted in 1994–2010, yielding 83,633 observations. Results from multi-level logit random effects models found individuals reporting early childhood adversity had much higher odds for DepSx, with a trend of declining strength of effect with increasing age. Odds for DepSx were higher in periods with recent SLEs than in periods without SLEs, with a stable effect through older age. Despite that higher depressive symptoms were independently associated with childhood trauma and recent stress, there was little evidence for the SSH; thus, childhood trauma did not amplify the effect of recent stress. In contrast to prior research, this lack of support found for the SSH is likely due to the sample age and greater methodological controls in this study.
Short term outcomes and unintended benefits of establishing a HPB program at a university-affiliated community hospital.

Abstract Background In hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery higher volumes are associated with improved outcomes; however, there are limitations to regionalization. Here we report our experience establishing multidisciplinary HPB program at a university-affiliated community hospital. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent HPB surgery between 2015 and 2017. Chief residents’ HPB case logs were collected. Results 61 pancreatic resections and 62 hepatic resections were performed. The morbidity, 30-day mortality and median length of stay following pancreatic resections were 27%, 1.5%, and 8 days, respectively. The morbidity, 90-day mortality, and median length of stay following hepatic resections were 24%, 3%, and 7 days, respectively. The median pancreatic and liver case volumes for graduating chief residents increased from 7 to 8 to 16 and 16, respectively (p Conclusion Our study demonstrates short-term outcomes comparable to high volume centers. Development of a HPB program had a positive impact on resident operative experience, increased multidisciplinary care and increased clinical trial enrollment.
Electrophysiological Recording in the ICU

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the electrophysiological recording in the intensive care unit (ICU). Monitoring in the ICUs has changed dramatically in the last few years. The electroencephalographic (EEG) findings in the normal waking and sleeping state are well defined. In the waking state, a rhythmic activity occurs in the posterior portions of the brain, which in the adult ranges from 9–11 cps. In the frontal regions, a low voltage, usually irregular but at times rhythmic, activity is seen that is much faster than that seen in the occipital regions. The EEG can frequently indicate whether the process producing coma is a localized or diffuse problem. The chapter discusses the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of electrophysiological recordings on patients in the neurological ICU. It also discusses the findings in coma and the criteria for the determination of electrocerebral silence. The chapter also describes the clinical and electrographic findings in the treatment of status epilepticus as well as the use of the six major anticonvulsant drugs.
Multiple poor sleep characteristics and metabolic abnormalities consistent with metabolic syndrome among white, black, and Hispanic/Latina women: modification by menopausal status.

Poor sleep is a potential risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS), and its relationship with MetS may vary by race/ethnicity and menopausal status among women. We used Sister Study enrollment data from 2003 to 2009 to investigate the cross-sectional associations between multiple subjective sleep characteristics and having ≥ 3 prevalent metabolic abnormalities consistent with MetS among white, black, and Hispanic/Latina women. Self-reported sleep characteristics included average sleep duration (short [< 7 h] vs. recommended [7–9 h]), sleep debt (≥ 2-h difference between shortest and longest sleep duration, napping ≥ 3 times/week, and insomnia symptoms (difficulty falling or staying asleep). We used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare MetS prevalence between women with poor sleep (e.g., short sleep, sleep debt, frequent napping, or insomnia symptoms [all yes vs. no]) and non-poor sleep within menopausal status categories (premenopausal or postmenopausal). We adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, and health behaviors. Among 38,007 eligible women (13,988 premenopausal, 24,019 postmenopausal), mean age was 55 ± 8.8 years, racial/ethnic composition was 86.63% white, 8.53% black, and 4.84% Hispanic/Latina, and 12% had MetS. Associations between certain poor sleep characteristics [i.e., short sleep (PRpremenopausal = 1.23 [95% CI 1.06–1.42], PRpostmenopausal = 1.09 [1.02–1.16], pshort sleep*menopause = 0.0070) and insomnia symptoms (PRpremenopausal = 1.21 [1.05–1.41], PRpostmenopausal = 1.11 [1.05–1.18], pinsomnia symptoms*menopause = 0.035)] and prevalent MetS were stronger among premenopausal compared to postmenopausal women, but did not vary by race/ethnicity. Associations between concurrent short sleep/insomnia symptoms and MetS were stronger among white and Hispanic/Latina postmenopausal women compared to their black counterparts. Menopausal status and race/ethnicity did not modify positive associations for other poor sleep characteristics. Poor sleep was positively associated with MetS prevalence. Associations between individual poor sleep characteristics (i.e., short sleep, insomnia symptoms) were stronger among premenopausal compared to postmenopausal women but did not vary by race/ethnicity.
Cysteamine induces cholecystokinin release from the duodenum: Evidence for somatostatin as an inhibitory paracrine regulator of cholecystokinin secretion in the rat

Abstract To determine whether cholecystokinin secretion is regulated by endogenous somatostatin, somatostatin deficiency was induced in vivo with cysteamine (250 mg/kg body wt, IV) or anti-somatostatin antiserum in anaesthetized rats and in vitro with cysteamine (30 μg/mL) in a rat duodenum-incubation system. cholecystokinin secretion was assessed in vivo by measuring amylase in duodenal perfusates collected at 10-minute intervals for 1 hour and in vitro by a carboxy-terminal radioimmunoassay. Cysteamine induced a marked decrease in duodenal immunoreactive somatostatin both in vivo (50%) and in vitro (60%). The rate of amylase secretion increased from 9.7 ± 2.1 U (mean ± SE) to 28.0 ± 4.8 U at 20 minutes ( P P P
A retrospective look at the common sense nutrition disclosure act: Small business lifeline or an impediment to informed consumer decision making?

As consumer lifestyles have changed over recent decades, people have increasingly turned to meals prepared away from home. A major consequence of this shift in eating patterns has been a concomitant rise in obesity rates worldwide. Research has consistently documented that consumers tend to make less healthy choices when purchasing prepared meals away from home. In part, this can be attributed to inadequate information at the time of purchase; both nutrition experts and lay consumers tend, for example, to underestimate calories in food purchased away from home and thus portion sizes tend to be larger. Thus, by requiring restaurants and other purveyors of prepared foods to provide the calorie content and other nutrition information at the point of purchase, consumers should be able to make more informed decisions and public health should be improved. The often maligned Affordable Care Act (i.e., “Obamacare”) addressed this issue in a mandate calling for compulsory nutrition labeling of prepared foods at the point of sale. In response to this effort, conservatives in Congress introduced the “Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act” (CSNDA) which, if enacted, would have effectively eviscerated the menu labeling provisions mandated by the Affordable Care Act. The stated rationale behind this legislation: to protect small business and prevent job loss resulting from overly‐burdensome federal regulations. This article provides a historical look at the evolution of federally mandated menu labeling in the United States with particular emphasis on opposition to its passage. The position is taken such that this legislation is beneficial, warranted, and long overdue, and its opposition, as reflected in the CSNDA, points to the need for new metrics when evaluating public policy.
The underdog invader: Breeding system and colony genetic structure of the dark rover ant (Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr)

Ants are among the most successful species at invading new environments. Their success undeniably comes from their various modes of reproduction and colony breeding structures, which influence their dispersal ability, reproductive potential, and foraging strategies. Almost all invasive ant species studied so far form supercolonies, a dense network of interconnected nests comprising numerous queens, without aggression toward non-nestmates. This strategy results in invasive colonies that are able to grow extremely fast and large while avoiding intraspecific competition, allowing them to monopolize environmental resources and outcompete native species. Here, we developed and used 10 microsatellite markers to investigate the population structure and breeding system of the dark rover ant Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr in its introduced range. We determined whether this species exhibits a supercolonial structure by assessing whether different nests belonged to the same genetic colony. We inferred its dispersal ability by investigating isolation by distance and estimated the numbers of queens per colonies and mating per queen through parent-offspring inferences. We found that most of the colonies of B. patagonicus were comprised of a single nest, headed by a single queen. Each nest was distinct from one another, without isolation by distance, which suggests strong dispersal ability through nuptial flights. These features are commonly observed in noninvasive and native ant species, but they are surprising for a successful invasive ant, as they strongly differ from other invasive ants. Overall, we discuss how this seemingly unfavorable strategy for an invasive ant might favor the invasive success of the dark rover ant in the United States.
Choosing STEM Majors

Drawing on findings from the interview study and SALG survey, this chapter focuses on the factors underlying students’ interest in STEM and their initial choice of STEM major and the relationship between these factors and eventual attrition from STEM fields. Interest, enjoyment, prior achievement, and career aspirations were the primary reasons that students initially selected STEM majors. Altruism and a desire to make a difference were important motivations for a small group of students, notably women and students of color. Students’ selection of STEM was also rooted in parental influence and, to a lesser extent, inspiring K-12 teachers. Parental influence contributed to switching when the influence was perceived as pressure, rather than support or encouragement, to major in a STEM field. A significant group of students were largely uninformed about their initial choice of STEM major in terms of the degree program and pathways and the career options within the discipline. Uninformed students were more likely to switch to a non-STEM major or to relocate to another, more suitable STEM field. Engineering students were the most likely to be uninformed about their initial major because of a lack of exposure to engineering fields in their prior schooling.
Next-generation polymers: Isosorbide as a renewable alternative

Abstract With increasing interest in developing sustainable polymers for a broad range of applications, isosorbide has emerged as an attractive renewable feedstock for high-performance materials. Developments in the production scale and cost of isosorbide have further stimulated research interest. Step-growth polymerization of isosorbide has yielded polymers with excellent properties and applications ranging from packaging to automobile parts to biomedical devices. However, challenges associated with direct use of isosorbide in step-growth polymerization remain, demanding new synthetic strategies for producing tailored polymers from this building block. In this trend article, recent advances in isosorbide production, polymerization, and applications will be highlighted with a focus on new step- and chain-growth strategies to synthesize isosorbide-based polymers.
The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Guidelines for the Definitive Surgical Management of Thyroid Disease in Adults

Objective:To develop evidence-based recommendations for safe, effective, and appropriate thyroidectomy.Background:Surgical management of thyroid disease has evolved considerably over several decades leading to variability in rendered care. Over 100,000 thyroid operations are performed annually in th
Survey and analysis on the epidemic situation of brucellosis in Zaodian Village of Jiaozuo City.Henan Province in 2007

Objective To investigate the status of infection of brucellosis in Zaodian village of Jiaozuo City,Henan Province and to analyze sources of intection and route of transmission.Methods The general information was collected through interview to search for cases and relevant information through census.infection stains of key crowd was determined through tube agglutination test(SAT)serum examination.Case-control method was used to analyze sources of infection and route of transmission.The risk factors were analyzed using logistic regressioa.Results Infectious rate of key crowd in Zaodian Village was 6.26%(27/431).Among 32 cases found since 2003,the proportion Was 7:1 between female and male.Brucellosis mainly occurred in the crowd aged 30 and 40[34.38%(11/32)].Most of them engaged in raising and slaughtering sheep.Contacting dead lamb.internal organs,meat,and blood were the main route of transmission,Contacting dead lamb,raising,and slaughtering were the risk factors showed by the logistic regression analysis(OR=8.28,5.85,2.96,P＜0.05).Condusions,Theprimary cause of brucellosis infection in Zaodian Village is due to failure of the necessary quarantine and immune on animals.The diseased animal as a constant source of infection,lack of self-protection awareness lead to continuous occurrence of the disease. Key words: Brucellosis; Epidemic situation; Epidemiologic studies
Anticoagulation use and Hemorrhagic Stroke in SARS-CoV-2 Patients Treated at a New York Healthcare System.

While the thrombotic complications of COVID-19 have been well described, there are limited data on clinically significant bleeding complications including hemorrhagic stroke. The clinical characteristics, underlying stroke mechanism, and outcomes in this particular subset of patients are especially salient as therapeutic anticoagulation becomes increasingly common in the treatment and prevention of thrombotic complications of COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with hemorrhagic stroke (both non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage and spontaneous non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage) who were hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and May 15, 2020, within a major healthcare system in New York, during the coronavirus pandemic. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke on admission and who developed hemorrhage during hospitalization were both included. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients with hemorrhagic stroke and COVID-19 to those without COVID-19 admitted to our hospital system between March 1, 2020, and May 15, 2020 (contemporary controls), and March 1, 2019, and May 15, 2019 (historical controls). Demographic variables and clinical characteristics between the individual groups were compared using Fischer’s exact test for categorical variables and nonparametric test for continuous variables. We adjusted for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni method. During the study period in 2020, out of 4071 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19, we identified 19 (0.5%) with hemorrhagic stroke. Of all COVID-19 with hemorrhagic stroke, only three had isolated non-aneurysmal SAH with no associated intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Among hemorrhagic stroke in patients with COVID-19, coagulopathy was the most common etiology (73.7%); empiric anticoagulation was started in 89.5% of these patients versus 4.2% in contemporary controls (p ≤ .001) and 10.0% in historical controls (p ≤ .001). Compared to contemporary and historical controls, patients with COVID-19 had higher initial NIHSS scores, INR, PTT, and fibrinogen levels. Patients with COVID-19 also had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (84.6% vs. 4.6%, p ≤ 0.001). Sensitivity analyses excluding patients with strictly subarachnoid hemorrhage yielded similar results. We observed an overall low rate of imaging-confirmed hemorrhagic stroke among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Most hemorrhages in patients with COVID-19 infection occurred in the setting of therapeutic anticoagulation and were associated with increased mortality. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19.
The end-of-life experience for adults with congenital heart disease: Resource utilization, functional decline, and circumstances surrounding death

Abstract Background Advance care planning is essential for patient-centered care at the end of life, yet little is known about the end-of-life experience for adults with congenital heart disease. Methods/Results In order to characterize the end-of-life experience for this population, a retrospective case series was performed including 86 patients followed at a single referral center, of whom 61 (71%) died at the study institution. Cyanotic heart disease was common (n = 33, (39%)). Median age at death was 41 years (range 20–89). The majority had living parents and 19 (35%) identified a parent as their medical proxy. Hospitalizations and office visits both tended to increase in frequency during the last year of life, but 44% of patients experienced no decline in NYHA functional class during that time. The most common causes of death were circulatory failure (36%) and arrhythmia (22%). Invasive procedures were common in the last year of life. 59 (69%) deaths occurred in an intensive care unit and 34 (40%) occurred after operation or transcatheter intervention. The provision of advance care planning was infrequent. Conclusions These data provide a framework for providers to use when counseling their patients about end-of-life issues. They also reinforce the need for early advance care planning for adults with congenital heart disease, especially for those with complex anatomy and those undergoing surgery or transcatheter intervention.
Novel Use of Premixed Dialysate Bags during Water Supply Interruption in Acute Hospital Setting

Patients on dialysis are exposed to large amounts of water during conventional intermittent hemodialysis; hence, there are strict regulations regarding the quality of water used to prepare dialysate. Occasionally, water systems fail due to natural disasters or structural supply issues, such as water-main breaks or unplanned changes in municipal or facility water quality. It is critical to regularly monitor and immediately recognize such a failure and take steps to avoid exposing the patients to contaminants. In addition to the recognition of the problem, the ability to pivot and continue to provide safe treatment to inpatients who are dependent on dialysis is essential, both from an ultrafiltration and a clearance standpoint. At our hospital, an unforeseen water disruption occurred and we were able to continue to provide KRT with premade, bagged dialysate to mitigate the effect on our patients on dialysis. This is a novel method using available machines and dialysate, which we normally stock for continuous KRT, for short dialysis sessions. The methodology is similar to that which has been widely used for short daily home hemodialysis with low dialysate flow rate. Because this situation occurred in the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we had to be mindful of dialysate volumes and staffing time. Here, we present our investigation into the cause of the water-system failure and how we quickly implemented the alternative dialysis method. Short dialysis with low-flow dialysate will not deliver the same Kt/V per session as standard dialysis; however, this method was successfully implemented and tailored with adjustments for patients requiring higher clearance for specific indications, such as severe hyperkalemia.
The risk transmission of COVID-19 in the US stock market

This paper studies volatility transmission effects between the US stock market and the COVID-19. Using BEKK-multivariate GARCH model, we find the US stock market volatility depends both its own pas...
The autocratic roots of social distrust

Abstract This paper presents evidence that autocratic culture adversely affects social trust and political participation. We find that individuals whose ancestors migrated from countries with higher autocracy levels are less likely to trust others and to vote in presidential elections in the U.S. The impact of autocratic culture on trust can last for at least three generations while the impact on voting disappears after one generation. These impacts on trust and voting are also significant across Europe. We further access the robustness of our findings concerning selection into migration and other confounders such as home countries’ economic conditions, human capital stocks, and the strength of family ties.
Anti-Inflammatory Steroids

We know today that structural changes in steroids can bring about potency alterations in animal pharmacology through a number of mechanisms. The processes that are affected include pharmacokinetic parameters such as drug absorption and drug distribution, as well as drug metabolism to more or less active metabolites. There is now a large body of literature dealing with these phenomena that makes predictive thinking possible in these areas. Other mechanisms that are involved in the effect of structural changes on pharmacological activity in steroids include the effect of steroid structure on receptor affinity and the manner in which changes in the steroid agonist affect intrinsic activity through alterations in gene expression. These and other concepts relating to anti-inflammatory steroids are discussed in this chapter. Keywords: anti-inflammatory steroids; clinical use; adverse effects; absorption; drug distribution; glucocorticoid biosynthesis; drug receptor affinity; structural change; antiglucocorticoids; nonsteroidal glucocorticoids
The politics of evaluation research: A case study of community development block grant funding for human services

Abstract This paper examines the ramifications of conducting evaluation research within a very politically sensitive area. The evaluation project discussed in this paper involved an assessment of six human service agencies within a city that were receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public service funds. The city's Office of Policy Planning and Management (OPPM) contracted for this research in order to evaluate the CDBG funded agencies and to provide technical assistance so they could make informed policy decisions concerning the allocation of the Seventh Year Community Development public service funds. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had stipulated that there be a 20% limitation in CDBG public service funding. The city involved in this study had allocated over 25% of its CDBG funding to public services. Thus, the city was over the stipulated limitation and was therefore requested by HUD to either justify the expenditure or cut back its allocation of funds to the 20% level. As a result of this mandate by HUD, the city requested and received a technical assistance grant from HUD. This paper provides a specific example of how the conduct of evaluation can become entwined in the politics of human service agencies and their funding sources, Moreover, the implications of this experience for evaluation as a field of endeavor are explored.
The Myth and Reality of 'Shari'a' Courts in Canada: A Delayed Opportunity for the Indigenization of Islamic Legal Rulings

The Ontario government’s passage of the Family Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005 ostensibly precluding the enforcement of faith-based decisions issued by arbitration panels pursuant to the Arbitrations Act, 1991, in the area of family law, brought to the fore a debate that has been raging in liberal democracies for some time. Those opposed to allowing the use of religious principles in resolving family disputes using the Arbitrations Act, 1991, raised some legitimate concerns about gender rights within religious communities. They also questioned the role of religion in secular society and opposed what they saw as privatization of the legal system. Opponents contended that religious groups should be able to govern their lives according to their conscience within the parameters of law if the constitutional right to freedom of religion and association is to have any real value. Consenting and informed adults, they argued, must be able to make religious choices even if others do not believe these are “correct” choices. The issues, of course, transcend dispute resolution and tug at fundamental tensions surrounding multiculturalism and national identity, the limits of accommodation and legal pluralism within a liberal democracy and the separation of church and state. I argue that Ontario lost a timely opportunity to devise a way to balance these competing rights and interests in a manner that respects all parties and protects the vulnerable. The controversy was a prime case to examine whether Islamic law and liberal democracy can co-exist within a liberal constitutional framework. Moreover, I also argue that Ontario also delayed an opportunity to indigenize or Canadianize Islamic law rulings in a manner that would help in the integration process of its Muslim citizens.The Flow Chart for this paper is available at the following URL: http://ssrn.com/abstract= 2501095
TIRF of salt and surface effects on protein adsorption: II. Kinetics

Abstract Total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy was used to determine the kinetics of protein adsorption on modified (butylated or aminopropylated) quartz surfaces. The effects of surface characteristics and solution salt strength (concentration of NaCl or (NH4)2SO4) were studied on the rates of lysozyme and chymotrypsinogen A adsorption, with experimental data obtained in the form of fluorescence intensity as a function of time in response to a step input of protein. Since the observed changes in surface concentration reflect transport as well as kinetic limitations, kinetic data were extracted using a detailed model of the hydrodynamics and mass transfer in the TIRF flow cell. Because of uncertainty regarding constitutive relations for the adsorption process, the predictions of three different adsorption rate laws were compared in order to obtain bounds on the adsorption rate constant. Salt strength was found to have an appreciable effect on the adsorption rate, and the rate constant under a given set of conditions appeared to be correlated with the ultimate extent of adsorption observed under those conditions.
In vitro and in situ gross primary and net community production in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre using labeled and natural abundance isotopes of dissolved O2

We measured gross primary productivity (GPP) in vitro and GPP and net community production (NCP) in situ on four cruises to the Hawaii Ocean Time series (HOT) station ALOHA during 2002-2003. In vitro GPP, determined by 18 O labeling, yielded integrated production (0-100 m) that was on average 1.5 times the 14 C integrated production. Mean integrated productivity from two winter and two summer cruises was 575 mg C m -2 d -1 . and 930 mg C m -2 d -1 , respectively. In situ GPP, determined from the triple-isotope composition of dissolved O 2 , averaged 910 mg C m -2 d -1 in the winter and 1225 mg C m -2 d -1 in the summer/fall, with an uncertainty of ±40%. The NCP/GPP ratio, determined using O 2 /Ar gas ratio and oxygen isotope measurements, was around 0.1 in the summer, close to the canonical f-ratio for the open ocean, indicating station ALOHA is a net autotrophic system during summer months. The consistently higher gross carbon production measured by the in situ method, which integrates production over the ∼2-week residence time of O 2 in the mixed layer, suggests that aperiodic bursts of production contribute significantly to time-averaged mean productivity at station ALOHA.
Issues in the timing of integrated early interventions: contributions from nutrition, neuroscience, and psychological research

A central issue when designing multidimensional biological and psychosocial interventions for children who are exposed to multiple developmental risks is identification of the age period(s) in which such interventions will have the strongest and longest lasting effects (sensitive periods). In this paper, we review nutritional, neuroscientific, and psychological evidence on this issue. Nutritional evidence is used to identify nutrient-sensitive periods of age-linked dimensions of brain development, with specific reference to iron deficiency. Neuroscience evidence is used to assess the importance of timing of exposures to environmental stressors for maintaining neural, neuroendocrine, and immune systems integrity. Psychological evidence illustrates the sensitivity of cognitive and social-emotional development to contextual risk and protective influences encountered at different ages. Evidence reviewed documents that the early years of life are a sensitive period when biological or psychosocial interventions or exposure to risk or protective contextual influences can produce unique long-term influences upon human brain, neuroendocrine, and cognitive or psychosocial development. However, the evidence does not identify the early years as the sole sensitive time period within which to have a significant influence upon development. Choice of age(s) to initiate interventions should be based on what outcomes are targeted and what interventions are used.
Remeasurement of 241Pu half life by gamma-ray spectrometry

Abstract The half life of 241 Pu has been remeasured to be 14.355 y with an estimated standard deviation of 0.040 y (a mean tropical year of 365.242 d) by a new method based on high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. During 10 y, 156 sets of normalized spectral full-energy peak-area ratios (proportional to 241 Pu/ 239 Pu mass ratios) from 13 plutonium samples were obtained by γ-ray spectrometry. The 241 Pu half-life value was extracted by an appropriate statistical analysis of the measured ratios. In the method used, the measured ratios are essentially independent of plutonium sample properties, of counting geometry, and of detector efficiency as well as of pile-up and deadtime. The much longer-lived 239 Pu served as a monitor by which differences in detection efficiency between 241 Pu/ 239 Pu γ-ray pairs were normalized, and by which implicit corrections for electronic counting losses were made.
Do technology alliances create more value than marketing alliances

Strategic alliances play a prominent role in firm competitiveness. While the number of strategic alliances formed increases year after year, the research evidence on alliance success is conflicting. This study compares marketing and technology alliances during the technology era, 1996–2003. The sample size for the two groups is 91 and 109, respectively. On the basis of the Fama-French three-factor model, we find that the stock market considers the announcement of marketing and technology alliances to be a zero NPV project (whether alliance partners are considered individually or not). Also, we find that between alliance partners the larger firms exhibit better bargaining in technology alliances than in marketing alliances.
An occult cervical spine fracture.

A 16-year-old athlete developed brief neck pain after being dropped on his head with his neck flexed while recreationally wrestling. Initial cervical spine radiographs were negative, but he continued to have neck and arm pain, especially after heading a wet soccer ball. Two months after the initial injury, he had a positive Spurting test; cervical spine CT then revealed a parasagittal linear fracture through the body of C-7. The patient avoided contact and collision activities and had no further physical problems. For patients who suffer cervical spine trauma, adequate visualization of the cervical spine can help prevent catastrophic outcomes.
Kapitza resistance between silicon and helium-4

By simultaneously measuring the phonon scattering at or near a silicon surface and the phonon transmission from it into liquid helium, we have correlated quantitatively these two processes. For a clean polished silicon surface, the scattering of thermal phonons below 0.3 K becomes very small, and the transmission probability in this case approaches the prediction of the acoustic mismatch theory, which is 0.27%. The transmission probability increases, i.e. the thermal boundary resistance decreases, as the diffuse scattering increases either as a result of increasing the phonon frequency or the disorder at the surface. In the limit of completely diffuse scattering, the phonon transmission probability exceeds 30%, and the thermal boundary resistance approaches the value predicted by the diffuse mismatch model to within a factor of three.
Customizing model-view-controller design pattern for Web controlled household appliances and devices

The tendency is that in the next few years the number of networked home appliances will increase. These appliances will be accessed remotely either directly or through a home gateway.Many different manufacturers produce home appliances using different hardware platforms. At the same time, the user interface and the logical operation of appliances of the same class are the same to some extend, even when the appliances are produced from different manufacturers.This paper presents generalized system architecture of home appliances derived by customizing the Model-View-Controller design pattern.
RNAi Targeting an Animal Virus: News from the Front

Although many eukaryotic organisms exhibit RNA interference, its role as an antiviral pathway is established only for plants. A recent paper demonstrates that it also acts in animals, and reveals a viral suppressor of this process.
Universal ac conduction in large area atomic layers of CVD-grown MoS2

Here, we report on the ac conductivity $[{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\ensuremath{\omega});10\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{mHz}l\ensuremath{\omega}l0.1\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}]$ measurements performed on atomically thin, two-dimensional layers of MoS${}_{2}$ grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ is observed to display a ``universal'' power law, i.e., ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\omega}}^{s}$ measured within a broad range of temperatures, 10 K $lTl$ 340 K. The temperature dependence of `$`s$'' indicates that the dominant ac transport conduction mechanism in CVD-grown MoS${}_{2}$ is due to electron hopping through a quantum mechanical tunneling process. The ac conductivity also displays scaling behavior, which leads to the collapse of the ac conductivity curves obtained at various temperatures into a single master curve. These findings establish a basis for our understanding of the transport mechanism in atomically thin, CVD-grown MoS${}_{2}$ layers.
Interactions of harmonics in reflection holograms

Multilayer thin-film calculations are used to assess the reflectance of volume phase reflection holograms at harmonics of the expected playback frequency. Significant harmonic reflectance is found even when the profile of the local dieleciric constant is a pure sine wave.
Expression of scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor is regionally correlated with the initiation of sperm motility in murine male genital tract : is scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor involved in initiation of sperm motility ?

Based upon findings that the scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) has strong mitogenic and motogenic properties, and that the sperm cell acquires its fertilizing capacity and motility in the distal parts of mammalian epididymis, the present study was conducted to investigate the role of SF/HGF in initiation of sperm cell motility. This was investigated by determining the expression of SF/HGF in various regions of the murine male genital tract by scatter and cell tracking assays using MDCK epithelial cells, Western blot procedure, and the immunohistochemical procedure using paraffin sections of various regions of the male genital tract. The findings from all these assays indicate that SF/HGF is differentially expressed in various parts of the male genital tract with slight or no expression in the testes, caput epididymis, and vas deferens, and with the highest expression in cauda and corpus (distal) epididymis followed by expression in the corpus (proximal) epididymis. This region-specific SF/HGF expression pattern coincides with the pattern of acquiring the fertilizing capacity and motility by the sperm cell during its transit through the male genital tract. However, wherever SF/HGF was expressed in the male genital tract, its molecular weight was slightly higher (Mr, 82 kD), compared to the SF/HGF expressed in various other somatic tissues (Mr, 78 kD), indicating that the genital tract SF/HGF may be a different molecular species that shares some immunoreactive epitopes with the somatic cell SF/HGF. Incubation of immotile sperm from caput epididymis with the purified human placental SF/HGF of 78 kD initiated motility in 5-15% of sperm population. These results strongly suggest that the SF/HGF-like activity is expressed in the male genital tract in a region-specific manner, and this activity may have a role in initiation of sperm motility acquired during its transit through the epididymis in mammals.
En quoi les marchés du travail corporatistes diffèrent-ils? Régimes du marché du travail et chômage dans les pays de l'OCDE

Resume. Les etudes empiriques relatives aux effets des institutions du marche du travail sur le chomage donnent des resultats contradictoires. Une explication est que ces institutions affectent differemment le chomage selon le regime dans lequel elles operent. Elles ont des effets specifiques dans les regimes corporatistes grâce a de bonnes relations professionnelles, des complementarites institutionnelles et des compromis entre flexibilite interne et externe. S'appuyant sur un panel de vingt pays de l'OCDE entre 1985 et 2008, l'auteur constate que sur les marches du travail corporatistes une protection rigoureuse de l'emploi reduit le chomage et que les allocations de chomage n'ont pas d'effet negatif. Il montre aussi que lors des recessions le chomage est aggrave par des taux d'interet reels eleves, une faible accumulation du capital et l'austerite budgetaire.
Lateral magma flow within rifted Icelandic crust

Draining of high-level magma reservoirs of central volcanoes during rifting episodes can result in up to 70 km lateral magma flow within the crust and caldera collapse.
Linear recursive state estimators under uncertain observations

For linear systems with uncertain observations, we investigate the existence of recursive least-squares state estimators. The uncertainty in the observations is caused by a binary switching sequence γ k , which is specified by a conditional probability distribution and which enters the observation equation as z_{k} = \gamma_{k} H_{k} x_{k}+\upsilon_{k} . Conditions are established which lead to a recursive filter for x k , and a procedure for constructing a mixture sequence {\gamma_{k}} that satisfies these conditions is given. Such mixture sequences model the transmission of data in multichannels as in remote sensing situations as well as data links with random interruptions. They can also serve as models for communication in the presence of multiplicative noise.
Near-optimal sensor placement for health monitoring of civil structures

In this paper we focus on the optimal placement of sensors for state estimation-based continuous health monitoring of structures using three approaches. The first aims to minimize the static estimation error of the structure deflections, using the linear stiffness matrix derived from a finite element model. The second approach aims to maximize the observability of the derived linear state space model. The third approach aims to minimize the dynamic estimation error of the deflections using a Linear Quadratic Estimator. Both nonlinear mixed-integer and relaxed convex optimization formulations are presented. A simple search-based optimization implementation for each of the three approaches is demonstrated on a model of the long-span New Carquinez Bridge in California.
Effect of diffusion-thermal processes on the high-latitude topside ionosphere

The extent to which diffusion-thermal heat flow affects H(+) temperatures in the high-latitude topside ionosphere is studied. Such a heat flow occurs whenever there are H(+)-O(+) relative drifts. From our study we have found that at high-latitudes, where H(+) flows up and out of the topside ionosphere, diffusion-thermal heat flow acts to reduce H(+) temperatures by 500-600 K at altitudes above about 900 km.
34th Annual Symposium on Biomedical and Health Informatics (AMIA 2010) conference report

This conference report summarizes events and activities of the 34th AMIA Annual Symposium on Biomedical and Health Informatics held in Washington, DC, November 13--17, 2010. This conference is the premier educational event AMIA presents each year. The review process for the conference includes peer review from at least 3 reviewers. There were 958 submissions. 192 papers, 364 posters, and 66 panels were presented over 102 sessions. There were approximately 2,400 attendees. The next AMIA Annual Symposium will be held in Washington, DC, October 22--26, 2011.
Human chromosome structure as revealed by an immunoperoxidase staining procedure

Abstract An indirect immunoperoxidase technique has been used to visualize specific chromosome banding patterns produced by antinucleoside antisera. The patterns were observed with ultraviolet-irradiated chromosomes which were subsequently exposed to antibodies specific for 5-methylcytosine. Binding occurred mainly in the regions of constitutive heterochromatin on chromosomes 1, 9, and 16, on the short arm of chromosome 15 and the midportion of the Y. The patterns were comparable to those observed by indirect immunofluorescence, but the immunoperoxidase technique appears to give greater resolution and sensitivity.