cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraretinal foreign bodies. Management and observations.

Abstract Foreign bodies embedded in the retina and choroid such that they cannot be extracted by a magnet and require vitreous surgical techniques for removal comprise a distinct sub-type of retained intraocular foreign body (IOFB). A retrospective evaluation of 16 such intraretinal foreign bodies (IRFBs), suggests that these injuries are frequently accompanied by extensive ocular damage, including corneal perforation, disruption of the lens, significant vitreous hemorrhage, retinal and choroidal hemorrhage and retinal detachment, all of which require immediate surgical attention. Delayed cataract and retinal detachment are often observed in these cases. More than 60% of this series developed macular pucker after IRFB removal. Visual outcomes were discouraging, with seven patients (44%) retaining only 20/200 or worse visual acuity. This review suggests that the structural and visual outcomes of such eyes are uncertain, are the products of complex processes involving numerous technical elements other than sophisticated surgery and prompt removal of the foreign body.
Formation and Action of Anticarcinogenic Fatty Acids

Conjugated dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid (referred to by the acronym CLA) constitute a newly recognized class of anticarcinogenic fatty acids. Of the eight major CIA isomere, the cis-9, trans-11 isomer alone is incorporated into phospholipid and may to be the most biologically relevant isomer. CLA exhibits potent antioxidant activity; evidence is presented indicating that CLA acts both as an in vitro and in vivo antioxidant. The formation of CLA in foods, and its possible biological significance in cell membranes, is discussed.
Above the Veil: Revisiting the Classicism of W. E. B. Du Bois

Studies of W. E. B. Du Bois typically emphasize his shift from an elitist devotion to European classics to a more radical promotion of African culture. These essays move beyond this simple dichotomy. We aim to demonstrate that throughout his life, Du Bois used classical ideas to challenge white Americans’ exclusive claims to power, even as he recognized and critiqued the role of Classics in sustaining racist hierarchies and institutions. Rather than focus exclusively on explicit citations of Greece and Rome in Du Bois’s writing, we use Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s model of Signifyin(g) and Lorna Hardwick’s conception of ‘fuzzy connections’ to trace and interrogate Du Bois’s elusive engagement with Classics. We provide detailed studies of three works: The Souls of Black Folk (1903), The Star of Ethiopia (1910s) and ‘Of the Ruling of Men’ (1920). The concluding essay situates Du Bois’s classicism in the wider context of African American literature and at the intersection of debates on education, humanism, and race in America. Throughout these papers, we examine Du Bois’s understanding of what is at stake for those who present themselves as the inheritors and interpreters of antiquity. By putting Du Bois back at the centre of ongoing scholarly conversations on black classicism, we hope to show that his inventive and political approach to the past provides a valuable model for reception studies today.
Harnessing the Noncovalent Interactions of DNA Backbone with 2D Silicate Nanodisks To Fabricate Injectable Therapeutic Hydrogels.

Injectable hydrogels present several advantages over prefabricated scaffolds including ease of delivery, shear-thinning property, and broad applicability in the fields of drug delivery and tissue engineering. Here, we report an approach to develop injectable hydrogels with sustained drug release properties, exploiting the chemical nature of the DNA backbone and silicate nanodisks. A two-step gelation method is implemented for generating a combination of noncovalent network points, leading to a physically cross-linked hydrogel. The first step initiates the development of an interconnected structure by utilizing DNA denaturation and rehybridization mechanism to form hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs of neighboring DNA strands. The anisotropic charge distribution of two-dimensional silicate nanodisks (nSi) makes them an active center in the second step of the gelation process. Silicate nanodisks create additional network points via attractive electrostatic interactions with the DNA backbone, th...
Construction of Vertical Scanner for Laser Analysis of Gel Samples

This paper is focused on the construction of vertical scanner with linear translation used for gel samples analysis via laser. Scanner construction is based on the construction of RepRap 3D printer. The paper describes the process of choosing this type of construction and then the construction itself. Advantages and disadvantages of this solution are recorded too.
The Need for a New Class of Information to Aid Public Policy Decision-Makers:

The purpose of this article is to suggest the need for a new class of marketing-type information in public policy decision-making. Justification for this need comes from analyzing the adequacy of c...
Management of Failed Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is becoming increasingly common as both a primary reconstructive option and a salvage procedure. As indications expand and utilization increases, management of the failed RSA will become increasingly important. The purpose of this chapter is to review the common presentation of a failed RSA, the appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and operative strategies. This chapter will focus on the special considerations of revision RSA such as infection, instability, glenoid-sided failure, and humeral-sided failure.
HEMIDIAPHRAGM PARALYSIS IN A PATIENT WITH PATENT FORAMEN OVALE RESULTS IN INTRACARDIAC SHUNT AND HYPOXIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE

PFO is mostly benign and does not cause right to left shunt. Elevated right hemidiaphragm can change direction of IVC flow towards the PFO and slightly increase right atrial pressure resulting in intracardiac shunting and hypoxic respiratory failure. High index of suspicion is needed to make
Mucus transport and distribution by steady expiration in an idealized airway geometry.

Abstract Mucus clearance from the airways is vital to reduce the risk of infection and to improve pulmonary function. The removal of mucus is propelled either by a rhythmic ciliary motion or shear-induced by turbulent expiratory airflow. However, in chronic airway diseases, the mucociliary motion is impaired due to mucus hypersecretion and altered biophysical properties. As a result, the ciliary motion is insufficient to remove mucus from the airways and expiratory airflow plays the more dominant role. In this work, the role of expiratory airflow in pathologic mucus clearance was investigated in a three-dimensional idealized bifurcating lung geometry. The two-phase air-mucus annular flow was investigated using a homogeneous flow approach and the complex interface (free-surface) was tracked by employing the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method. Flow turbulence was modeled using the k − ω shear stress transport (SST) model to examine the role of mucus viscosity, airflow rate, gravity, and airway branching on mucus distribution. It was observed that a gravity dominated eccentric core-annular flow developed in the daughter branches. The eccentricity varied with the angle of inclination, curvature, airflow rate, and mucus viscosity, which affected the merging location of airflow from the daughter branches. A mucus secondary flow developed due to the curvature in the airways and caused a local redistribution of mucus reducing the eccentricity. In addition, it was also observed that the thickness of the mucus layer was affected by the secondary airflow in the parent branch. These results emphasize the importance of accurate modeling of mucus-lined airways and indicate that an effective clearance therapy can be devised by analyzing the distribution of mucus in the airway tree.
A first-principle mechanism for particulate aggregation and self-assembly in stratified fluids.

An extremely broad and important class of phenomena in nature involves the settling and aggregation of matter under gravitation in fluid systems. Here, we observe and model mathematically an unexpected fundamental mechanism by which particles suspended within stratification may self-assemble and form large aggregates without adhesion. This phenomenon arises through a complex interplay involving solute diffusion, impermeable boundaries, and aggregate geometry, which produces toroidal flows. We show that these flows yield attractive horizontal forces between particles at the same heights. We observe that many particles demonstrate a collective motion revealing a system which appears to solve jigsaw-like puzzles on its way to organizing into a large-scale disc-like shape, with the effective force increasing as the collective disc radius grows. Control experiments isolate the individual dynamics, which are quantitatively predicted by simulations. Numerical force calculations with two spheres are used to build many-body simulations which capture observed features of self-assembly. Aggregation of matter, common in stratified fluid systems, is essential to the carbon cycle and ocean ecology. Although the current understanding of aggregation involves only collision and adhesion, here Camassa et al. reveal a self-assembly phenomenon arising solely from diffusion-induced flows.
Case Studies in Fracture Healing and Nonunions

Fracture healing is a complex biological and biomechanical process that depends upon a sequence of factors to take place in an often-forgotten about biomechanical environment. Generally, fracture healing proceeds in one of two ways. When fracture fragments are brought directly into contact with each other and stabilized in a manner that limits motion, healing generally takes place by primary/direct bone healing. Primary bone healing includes both contact and gap healing, and in these scenarios fracture healing generally does not include callus formation. Secondary/indirect fracture healing generally occurs when the biomechanical environment during healing allows some motion at the fracture site. Secondary bone healing, unlike primary bone healing, includes the development of a soft callus comprised mostly of cartilage, followed by ossification of this soft callus, and eventually complete fracture healing and remodeling. When fractures fail to heal in the expected time frame, they are considered to be a nonunion. The multiple clinical examples in this chapter highlight the relationship between the biomechanical environment provided by external and internal means of fracture stabilization and the type of fracture healing to be expected. This chapter also includes a description of these types of fracture healing as well as a couple of examples of the approach and treatment of fracture nonunion.
An extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein-derived small peptide targeting triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 attenuates hemorrhagic shock.

Background Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is a damage-associated molecular pattern, which is released into the circulation after hemorrhagic shock (HS). Recently, we discovered that triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) serves as a new receptor of eCIRP to exaggerate inflammation. Here, we hypothesize that by inhibiting the interaction between eCIRP and TREM-1 with the use of a novel short peptide derived from human eCIRP known as M3, we can inhibit the inflammatory response and acute lung injury in HS. Methods Hemorrhagic shock was induced using C57BL/6 mice by cannulating both femoral arteries. One femoral artery was used for removal of blood while the other was used for continuous monitoring of mean arterial blood pressure. The mean arterial pressure of 25 mm Hg to 30 mm Hg was maintained for 90 minutes, followed by a resuscitation phase of 30 minutes with 1 mL of normal saline. The treatment group was given 10 mg/kg of M3 during the resuscitation phase. Four hours after resuscitation, serum and lungs were collected and analyzed for various injury and inflammatory markers by using colorimetry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results There was an increase in the serum levels of tissue injury markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase) as well as cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) when comparing the vehicle group versus the sham group. This increase was significantly inhibited in the M3-treated group. The mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and the chemokines MIP-2 and KC in lungs was significantly increased in the vehicle-treated HS mice, while their expression was significantly decreased in M3-treated HS mice. Finally, M3 treatment significantly decreased the lung injury score compared with vehicle-treated HS mice. Conclusion The novel eCIRP-derived TREM-1 antagonist (M3) can be a potential therapeutic adjunct in the management of hemorrhagic shock.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter

The artificial urinary sphincter may be considered one of the methods of choice for the treatment of neurogenic urinary incontinence. In paediatric practice, however, it should not be proposed gratuitously for patients with sphincteric deficits. Obtaining continence is simple if the indications and the technique of implantation are given their due consideration.
Spatiotemporal Assessment of Immunogenomic Heterogeneity in Multiple Myeloma

Introduction: Therapy and immune mediated processes are associated with clonal evolution in multiple myeloma (MM). In this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on plasma cells (PC) from bone marrow aspirates of the iliac crest (BM) and corresponding osteolytic lesions (OL) to investigate spatial heterogeneity in patients with newly diagnosed (NDMM) and relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Next generation flow (NGF) and T-cell receptor sequencing (TCRseq) were performed to investigate the immunogenomic landscape surrounding malignant PC. Methods: In a prospective trial, 18 patients (NDMM: n=10; RRMM: n=8) consented to an imaging-guided biopsy of an OL in addition to the regular BM sampling. At inclusion, 37 different locations were biopsied. Follow-up samples were obtained from 5 patients in remission after therapy. After CD138+ selection, PC were subjected to WES and scRNA-seq (Chromium, 10x genomics). TCRseq was performed using multiplex PCR (ImmunoSEQ, Adaptive biotechnologies) on the CD138- fraction. For scRNA-seq data analyses, Cell Ranger (v3.1.0) and the Seurat R toolkit (v3.1) were used. TCRseq data were analyzed with immunoSEQ ANALYZER (v3.0) and the immunarch R toolkit (v0.6.6.). NGF was performed to study subsets of T-, B-, NK- and dendritic cells (DC). Results: Median PC infiltration was higher in OL compared to random BM (50.0% vs 12.5%, p=0.041). WES revealed more mutations in RRMM compared to NDMM (median; range: 189;120-523 vs 71;23-136, p Conclusion: We report the first prospective clinical trial to investigate spatiotemporal immunogenomic heterogeneity in multiple myeloma as assessed by WES and scRNA-seq of PC and NGF and TCRseq of the non-PC compartment. We demonstrate spatial evolution and reduced TCR diversity especially in patients with RRMM and/or EMD. ScRNA-seq adds another layer of complexity compared to WES and helps identifying how PC create an immune suppressive BM niche. Disclosures Merz: Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Takeda: Honoraria. Block: GlaxoSmithKline LLC: Current Employment. McCarthy: Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Magenta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board , Research Funding is to Roswell Park, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Starton: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria. Hillengass: Adaptive, Amgen, BMS, Celgene, GSK, Janssen, Oncotracker, Takeda: Honoraria.
Categorization in infancy based on novelty and co-occurrence

Abstract Abstract categories (i.e., groups of objects that do not share perceptual features, such as food) abound in everyday situations. The present looking time study investigated whether infants are able to distinguish between two abstract categories (food and toys), and how this ability may extend beyond perceived information by manipulating object familiarity in several ways. Test trials displayed 1) the exact familiarized objects paired as they were during familiarization, 2) a cross-pairing of these same familiar objects, 3) novel objects in the same category as the familiarized items, or 4) novel objects in a different category. Compared to the most familiar test trial (i.e., Familiar Category, Familiar Objects, Familiar Pairings), infants looked longer to all other test trials. Although there was a linear increase in looking time with increased novelty of the test trials (i.e., Novel Category as the most novel test trial), the looking times did not differ significantly between the Novel Category and Familiar Category, Unfamiliar Objects trials. This study contributes to our understanding of how infants form object categories based on object familiarity, object co-occurrence, and information abstraction.
Xi- and omega distributions in hadron nucleus interactions

Strange baryons have long been known to exhibit a leading particle effect. A recent comparison of $\Xi^-$ production in $\pi^-$, $n$, and $\Sigma^-$ interactions with nuclei show this effect clearly. These data are supplemented by earlier measurements of $\Xi^-$ and $\Omega$ production by a $\Xi^-$ beam. We calculate the $\Xi^-$ and $\Omega$ $x_F$ distributions and nuclear dependence in $hA$ interactions using the intrinsic model.
Impact of tumor VEGF expression level on radiotherapy response.

5313 Since angiogenesis is an important process in the growth and survival of tumors, the present studies were conducted to examine the role of tumor VEGF expression on tumor response to radiotherapy. Clonal cell lines of two tumor types, a human colon carcinoma (HT29) and a murine squamous cell carcinoma (SCCVII), were created via infection with a recombinant adeno-associated virus containing the gene for human VEGF. Three clones were then chosen for each tumor model: the first clone expressed VEGF at a level comparable to the parental (non-infected) cell line, the second expressed VEGF at an intermediate level (20 fold greater), and the third clone expressed VEGF at an approximate 60 fold greater concentration. The in vitro growth kinetics and the inherent radiation sensitivities of the clonal cell lines did not significantly differ from that of the parental cell line. However, in vivo, differences in growth rate and response to radiotherapy were observed. In the radiation studies, tumors derived from the various VEGF clones were irradiated with a 10 Gy dose of radiation when the tumors reached a size of ∼200 mm3. The time taken for each tumor to grow to 1000 mm3 was then determined and the growth delay calculated. The results showed that tumors from the highest expressing VEGF clonal cell line demonstrated an enhanced response to radiation (increased growth delay when compared to the parental cell line; 19 vs 10 days in the HT29 tumor model and 16 vs 2 days in the SCCVII tumor model). The results from this investigation therefore imply that a tumor’s angiogenic potential may play an important role in its response to radiation. One possible explanation for these results is that increased angiogenesis may result in improved tumor oxygenation. Indeed, preliminary data have shown that those tumors resulting from the highest expressing VEGF clonal cell lines have a two to three-fold increase in vascular density, as determined by CD31 staining. The level of hypoxia and the proliferation rate of the neoplastic cells in these tumor models are currently being investigated.
Concentration of Patient Care Among Buprenorphine-Prescribing Clinicians in the US

Drawing on national retail pharmacy data, researchers identified and categorized clinicians who prescribed buprenorphine for OUD at least once between January 2017 and December 2018.
Aptamer-functionalized hydrogels: An emerging class of biomaterials for protein delivery, cell capture, regenerative medicine, and molecular biosensing

Molecular recognition is essential to the development of biomaterials. Aptamers are a unique class of synthetic ligands interacting with not only their target molecules with high affinities and specificities but also their complementary sequences with high fidelity. Thus, aptamers have recently attracted significant attention in the development of an emerging class of biomaterials, that is, aptamer-functionalized hydrogels. In this review, we introduce the methods of incorporating aptamers into hydrogels as pendant motifs or crosslinkers. We further introduce the functions of these hydrogels in recognizing proteins, cells, and analytes through four applications including protein delivery, cell capture, regenerative medicine, and molecular biosensing. Notably, as aptamer-functionalized hydrogels have the characteristics of both aptamers and hydrogels, their potential applications are broad and beyond the scope of this review. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Nucleic Acid-Based Structures Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.
Heir of the Prophets: Veneration of Ḥusayn b. ‘Alī and the Socio-Religious Positioning of Twelver Shiism

This article explores veneration of Ḥusayn b. ‘Alī (d. 61/680) and the place of his ritual visitation (ziyārah) and pilgrimage to his tomb in Karbala in the construction of Twelver Shī‘ī socio-religious identity. Following the theoretical approach of social identity theory, I argue that Twelver Shī‘ī veneration of Ḥusayn operates not only vertically, that is, to appeal to the divine, but also horizontally, that is, to secure a prominent socio-religious lineage for Twelver Shī‘īs vis-a-vis the non-Shī‘ī Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions. Through close reading and analysis of reports (ḥadīths/akhbār) compiled by Ibn Qūluwayh (d. 368-9/978-9) in his Kāmil al-Ziyārāt (The Complete Visitations), a fourth/tenth- century text devoted entirely to the theme of ritual pilgrimage, I conceptualize three levels of Twelver Shī‘ī socio-religious positioning. First, reports in this text encourage veneration of Ḥusayn and pilgrimage to his tomb as an indispensable feature of individual and communal Twelver Shī‘ī identity. Second, reports express veneration of Ḥusayn and his burial site as a marker of rivalry vis-a-vis the non-Shī‘ī Muslim tradition. Finally, the socio-religious place of Twelver Shī‘īs is further enhanced through reports depicting major figures from the Jewish and Christian traditions as participating in the veneration of Ḥusayn.
Cooperative Phenomena in Physical Networks

In the spirit of former winter workshops at the “Frontier Between Physics and Biology” organized at Les Houches, the first talk is an overview of the physics of the chosen topic and is intended to be an introduction into the methods used by physicists.
Effect of Fiber-Matrix Bond Strength on the Crack Resistance of Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites

Fiber matrix bond characteristics can be changed by treatments of the fiber surface. The effect of such treatments on the fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) tension-softening behavior and crack resistance is studied in this paper. Various R-curve behaviors are predicted based on a simple double cantilevered beam (DCB) model using the experimentally derived tensionsoftening curves. The result suggests that fiber surface treatments can substantially alter the composite fracture resistance as measured by the R-curve.
Multi-threshold transistors cell for low voltage integrated temperature sensing application in digital deep submicron process

The rapid shrinking of feature sizes in CMOS processes has enabled high density integration of multi-core systems. However, the corresponding increase in component and local power densities induces thermal stress that can severely affect the reliability of the integrated circuits. To improve the power and thermal management for multi-core systems, an array of temperature sensors is now used to locally monitor the die temperature and provide feedback to the controller for efficient load management and/or load balancing. These temperature sensors must be very small (minimum area overhead) and low power, must have low supply sensitivity, and must provide accurate temperature measurements over a limited operating range. This thesis provides fundamental analysis of a CMOS Widlar reference generator and the synthesis of a P-Type reverse Widlar temperature sensor. This is followed by the introduction of a 4-transistor multiple threshold voltage (multi-VT) based temperature sensor. Power supply sensitivity analysis and noise analysis are provided for both the 5-transistors reverse Widlar structure and the 4-transistors multi-VT structure. A full design example of a cascoded multi-VT temperature sensor based upon the low-voltage 4-transistor temperature sensor core is also presented. The cascoded structure includes self-bias generators for biasing of the cascode transistors. The proposed cascode multi-VT temperature sensor based upon the 4-transistor temperature sensor core is implemented in a digital 65nm process with a 1.2V supply voltage. The circuit expresses the threshold voltage directly at the output, does not require a start-up circuit, and provides temperature measurement over an extended operating range. In this
Production of organometallic polymers by the interfacial technique. XIX. Effect of leaving group in the synthesis of poly(stannylalkylenediamines)

A study has been made of the function of X and R on the interfacial synthesis of poly(stannylalkylenediamines) of the below form: Molecular weight and yield are constant as X is varied. The molecular weight of the polymer increases as the steric hindrance of R decreases. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed. Der Einflus von X und R bei der Grenzflachenpolykondensation zur Herstellung von Poly(stannylalkylendiaminen) folgender Struktur wurde untersucht: Das Molekulargewicht und die Ausbeute ist dabei unabhangig von X. Das Molekulargewicht der Polymeren steigt mit abnehmender sterischer Hinderung durch R. Mogliche Reaktionsmechanismen werden besprochen.
Trends in ECL array technology

Trends for future ECL (emitter-coupled logic) gate-array circuits and the technology developments needed to support new products are described. Trends are determined by analyzing product life cycles together with active process development and circuit design research projects. Subjects covered include projected logic densities, array architectures, performance levels, power handling, and memory requirements. Developments are underway in all these areas to keep ECL the technology of choice for high-performance system design. >
Communicating about opioids for chronic pain: a qualitative study of patient attributions and the influence of the patient-physician relationship.

Background Chronic pain poses numerous challenges for patients and providers, particularly when opioid treatment is discussed. Despite accounts of antagonistic patient–provider communication, little is known about how communication about opioids unfolds during clinic visits and, importantly, how the relationship history of a patient and physician shapes this communication. This study's objective was to advance understanding of communication about opioid treatment by recording primary care clinic visits and conducting in-depth interviews with patients to gain insight into the patient–provider relationship and its influence on clinical communication. Methods Forty patients with chronic pain were audio recorded during their primary care clinic appointments and then interviewed about their pain care and relationships with their providers. Ten patients were excluded from analysis because pain was not discussed during the clinic visit. Results Qualitative analysis revealed that patients responded in markedly different ways to similar physician treatment decisions about opioids. Some patients attributed limiting or denying opioids to physicians' distrust or lack of caring. Others attributed these limitations to acting out of genuine concern for patients' health. These attributions appeared to be shaped by features of the patient–physician relationship as described by patients. Results are discussed within the framework of attribution theory. Conclusions Understanding how patients and providers discuss opioid treatment is critical for optimal pain treatment. Physicians might be able to improve communication by re-framing treatment discussions about opioids around external factors, such as benefits and harms, and engaging in communication that fosters a strong therapeutic alliance and emphasizes concern for the patient.
Almost integral polyhedra related to certain combinatorial optimization problems

Abstract The notion of an almost integral polyhedron is introduced and used to obtain a new proof of the characterization of perfect zero-one matrices which relies only on standard arguments from linear algebra and convexity. The characterization of perfect zero-one matrices in terms of forbidden submatrices is then used to derived the perfect-graph theorem due to Fulkerson and Lovasz. Furthermore, a characterization of antiblocking pairs of zero-one matrices by means of a strengthened version of the max-max inequality due to Fulkerson is obtained which entails Lovasz's recent characterization of perfect graphs.
Isolation and substrate specificity of an adenine nucleoside phosphorylase from adult Schistosoma mansoni.

An adenine nucleoside phosphorylase (ANP, EC none) activity was identified and partially purified from extracts of Schistosoma mansoni by chromatofocussing column chromatography and molecular sieving. The enzyme is distinct from purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP, EC 2.4.2.1). ANP is specific for adenine nucleosides which includes adenosine analogs modified in the aglycone, pentose or both moieties. (e.g. 2′-deoxyadenosine, 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine, 5′-deoxy-5′-iodo-2-fluoroadenosine, etc.) The enzyme is also distinct from the mammalian 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP, EC 2.4.2.28) in that it is able of the phosphorolysis of 2′-deoxyadenosine while mammalian MTAP cannot. Because of ANP unique substrate specificity, the enzyme could play a role as a target for chemotherapy of these parasites. Cytotoxic analogs may be designed as subversive substrates that are selectively activated only by the schistosomal ANP.
Low-temperature decoherence in disordered Pt nanowires

Abstract We study the electrical properties of Pt nanowires, formed on SiO2 substrates by focused-ion-beam deposition. Their magneto-resistance shows evidence for weak-antilocalization at temperatures below 10 K , with a phase-breaking length of ∼100 nm , and a temperature dependence suggestive of quasi-one-dimensional interference. Studies of their temperature-dependent resistance at low temperatures reveal a significant contribution due to electron-electron interaction as well as weak anti-localization. A switching behavior in the temporal resistance signals suggests two metastable states exist in local lattice configurations of the systems, which might be the source of saturation of phase-breaking length at low temperatures.
A novel putative lipoprotein receptor (CasLpR) in the hemocytes of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: Cloning and up-regulated expression after the injection of LPS and LTA

The full-length cDNA encoding a putative lipoprotein receptor (CasLpR) was isolated from the hemocytes of Callinectes sapidus using 5′ and 3′ RACEs. The open reading frame for CasLpR contains a precursor of putative CasLpR consisting of 1710 amino acid residues including 22 amino acid residues of the signal peptide (22 amino acids). Mature CasLpR (1688 amino acids with 5.6% of phosphorylation sites) has multiple, putative functional domains: five low-density lipoprotein receptor domains in the N-terminus, and a G-protein-coupled receptor proteolysis site domain and a 7 transmembrane receptor (secretin family) domain in the C-terminus. To date, there are no proteins with a similar domain structure in the GenBank. The expression pattern of CasLpR was exclusive in hemocytes among all tested tissues obtained from a juvenile female at intermolt stage: brain, eyestalk ganglia, pericardial organs, and thoracic ganglia complex (nervous system); hepatopancreas (digestive system); heart, artery and hemocytes (circulatory system); gill and antennal gland (excretory system), hypodermis; and Y-organ (endocrine organ). There was no CasLpR expression in the ovary of an adult female. A putative function of CasLpR was examined after challenges of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in vivo using qRT-PCR assays. Animals at 24 h after injection of LPS or LTA up-regulated the expression of CasLpR in hemocytes by ∼3.5 and 1.4 folds, respectively, compared to the controls that received saline injection. LPS challenge also caused the greatest increment (∼55 folds) of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression in these samples. These data indicate that putative CasLpR and CasHsp90 may be involved in the defense system or the stress response of C. sapidus.
Driver identification of landmarks and traffic signs after a stroke

A study was done to assess the ability for visual search and recognition of roadside targets and safety errors during a landmark and traffic sign identification task in drivers with stroke, that is, drivers who have had a stroke. Visual search for roadside targets during automobile driving can compete for a driver's cognitive resources and may impair driving, especially in drivers with cognitive impairment caused by stroke. Thirty-two drivers with stroke and 137 neurologically normal older adults underwent a battery of visual, cognitive, and motor tests and were asked to report sightings of specific landmarks and traffic signs along a segment of an experimental drive. The drivers with stroke identified significantly fewer landmarks and traffic signs and showed a tendency to make more at-fault safety errors during the task than did control subjects. Roadside target identification performance and safety errors were predicted by scores on standardized tests of visual, cognitive, and motor function. Drivers w...
A direct decoupling approach for efficient reliability-based design optimization

This paper develops an efficient methodology to perform reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) by decoupling the optimization and reliability analysis iterations that are nested in traditional formulations. This is achieved by approximating the reliability constraints based on the reliability analysis results. The proposed approach does not use inverse first-order reliability analysis as other existing decoupled approaches, but uses direct reliability analysis. This strategy allows a modular approach and the use of more accurate methods, including Monte-Carlo-simulation (MCS)-based methods for highly nonlinear reliability constraints where first-order reliability approximation may not be accurate. The use of simulation-based methods also enables system-level reliability estimates to be included in the RBDO formulation. The efficiency of the proposed RBDO approach is further improved by identifying the potentially active reliability constraints at the beginning of each reliability analysis. A vehicle side impact problem is used to examine the proposed method, and the results show the usefulness of the proposed method.
Sidewall thermometry perturbations to nonlinear heat transport near the λ transition in4He

Abstract The effect of a sidewall thermometry probe on heat transport measurements in liquid 4 He very close to the superfluid transition is simulated numerically. The effective thermal position of the probe changes with closeness of approach to the superfluid transition. The radial heat flux induced by the sidewall probe is calculated for specific probe designs.
Cost Functions and Efficiency Estimates of Midwest Bus Transit Systems

Short-run variable cost functions are estimated with the use of a sample of 68 bus systems in the U.S. Midwest operating in the 1996 to 2002 period. Variable costs are specified as functions of outputs, input prices, bus stocks, and network size. Various output, input price, network, capacity, and disturbance specifications are examined. The cost functions are estimated with the use of ordinary least squares, switching regression, seemingly unrelated regression, and stochastic frontier cost models. The results indicate constant returns with vehicle outputs, increasing returns with passenger outputs, inelastic input demands, and substantial technical efficiencies that vary by firm and by state.
Risk Factors for Substance Use among High School Students: Implications for Prevention

To identify salient risk factors for drug use that could be targeted for modification in prevention programs, a survey was administered to a sample of 1,091 urban and suburban 10th grade students. Substantial proportions of students reported alcohol alcohol and cigarette use in the past year, and around 10% reported heavy use of these substances. In general, the measured risk factors most strongly associated with the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana were those derived from the socialization model of substance use; however, certain factors derived from the stress/strain and disaffiliation models also were related to increased drug use risk.
Complexity and facial resemblance as determinants of response to facelike stimuli by 5-and 10-week-old infants

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether infants at 5 and at 10 weeks of age respond to facelike drawings on the basis of stimulus complexity or on the basis of degree of resemblance to the human face. Twenty-four Ss at each age were shown four patterns in which these two dimensions were varied orthogonally. Fixation time was recorded using the successive, single stimulus procedure. Results provided no evidence of response to the facial resemblance dimension at either age level. However, there was a significant complexity component in the responses of both groups. The 5-week-old infants preferred an intermediate level of stimulus complexity. Those at 10 weeks showed a linear preference for increasing levels of the complexity dimension.
The pathogenesis of infective endocarditis

Three aspects of our current understanding of the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis are reviewed: the size of the infected vegetation, host defence mechanisms and conditions which determine the outcome of experimental infection. Animal studies have been conducted with anticoagulants in which fatal infective endocarditis was produced without macroscopic evidence of endocardial vegetations. Detection of such lesions in man would change our perception of the epidemiology and clinical course of the disorder. It is probable that polymorphonuclear leucocytes are important in limiting the development of infected vegetations throughout the vascular system and, because of their ineffectiveness in the left side of the heart, are probably responsible for the preponderance of infections within that particular part of the circulation. Furthermore, polymorphonuclear leucocytes may also contribute to the pathogenesis of valve perforation. Finally, the size of the bacterial challenge, and the duration of catheterization of the heart to induce infection, have been shown to significantly influence the natural history of experimental infection and also the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics. Any comparison of the effectiveness of different prophylactic measures will require careful standardization of these conditions. It is difficult to determine the optimal size of the bacterial inoculum in animal studies since so little is known about this factor in man. Peripheral infections in animals may disseminate sufficient bacteria to produce endocardial infection and yet not be easily, if at all, detectable in the circulating blood.
Premature failure of a spiral bevel pinion in a turbine condenser gear reducer

Abstract Within several months of service, a spiral bevel pinion inside a gear reducer failed resulting from serious pitting and associated tooth breakage. The failure was investigated using metallographic, scanning electronic microscopic techniques, and microhardness testing. The study indicates that the pinion suffered surface contact fatigue initially due to the repeated contact stresses, and later normal fatigue under the repeated bending stresses. Misalignment (or spiral angle error) of the pinion with the mating gear could cause the premature failure of the spiral bevel pinion, not due to materials deficiencies and/or poor mechanical properties. The alignment of the pinion should be checked carefully after assembly. This could be done by applying “engineering blue” to the gear teeth and manually rotating the gears to check the contact pattern.
Mechanical properties of ZnO nanowires

One-dimensional solids like nanowires and nanotubes are potential materials for future nanoscale sensors and actuators. Due to their unique length scale, they exhibit superior mechanical properties and other length scale dependent phenomena. In this paper, we report experimental investigations on the mechanical properties of ZnO nanowires. We have designed a MEMS test-bed for mechanical characterization of nanowires. The MEMS device exploits the mechanics of post-buckling deformation of slender columns to achieve very high force and displacement resolution. The small size of the test-bed allows for in situ experimentation inside analytical chambers, such as SEM and TEM. We present microscale version of pick-and-place as a generic specimen preparation and manipulation technique for experimentation on individual nanostructures. We performed experiments on ZnO nanowires inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and estimated the Young's modulus to be about 21 GPa and the fracture strain to vary from 5% to 15%.
Religion and deviance: Exploring the impact of social control elements

This study explored, from a social control perspective, the relationships between religiosity and various acts of self‐reported deviance. As an extension of social control theory, this study sought to assess the importance of religion relative to other forms of social control in explaining deviance. In doing so, unidimensional and multidimensional measures of religiosity were employed. Findings from this study are twofold: (1) In the regression model, neither multidimensional measures nor unidimensional measures of religiosity are significant variables for explaining variance in self‐reported deviance; and (2) The significant variables were moral beliefs, family attachment, and respect for authority. If religion affects deviance, it might do so indirectly. This highlights a need to employ advanced research methodologies and statistical techniques that are capable of clarifying the path of religiosity in impacting deviance.
Neue Erkenntnisse zum Mischen und Dispergieren von Flüssigkeiten mit großen Viskositätsunterschieden in statischen Mischern

Etudes du melangeage de liquides a viscosite elevee avec des additifs solubles, de la dispersion de liquides insolubles et du melangeage de liquides non miscibles
Estimation of Mixture Models Using Cross-Validation Optimization: Implications for Crop Yield Distribution Modeling

A critical issue in identifying an appropriate characterization of crop yield distributions is that the best‐fitting distribution in an in‐sample framework is not necessarily the best choice out‐of‐sample. This study provides a methodology for estimating flexible and efficient mixture models using cross‐validation that alleviates many of these associated model selection issues. The method is illustrated in an application to the rating of group risk insurance products. Results indicate that nonparametric models often fit best in‐sample but are inefficient and consistently overstate true rates, and vice versa for parametric models. The proposed model provides unbiased rates and also has desirable efficiency properties.
Crash Test Software Analysis

The development of highly advanced computer simulation software packages has enabled design engineers to more effectively integrate safety features into their designs. Designs can be tested long before any physical construction ever begins. This saves money, allowing more extensive testing to be performed, and it also saves time, expediting the process of moving concept to reality. In the automotive industry, such software can be especially useful, since computer simulations can be run over and over again, making it possible to observe the effects of adjusting single variables in dynamic situations. This has opened the door for testing of non-typical occupants. Restraints and safety devices are no longer designed to suit the needs of the average person; they can be tailored to account for all body types, or even for the disabled.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Testing in a Prespecified Subgroup and the Intent-to-Treat Population

In many settings, testing has been proposed to assess the effect of an experimental regimen within a biomarker-positive subgroup where it is biologically plausible that benefit is stronger in such patients, and in the overall population that also includes biomarker-negative subjects less likely to benefit from that regimen. A statistically favorable result in the biomarker-positive subgroup would lead to a claim for that subgroup, whereas a statistically favorable result for the overall population would lead to a claim that includes both biomarker subgroups. The latter setting is problematic when biomarker-negative patients truly do not benefit from the experimental regimen. When it is prespecified that biomarker-negative patients should not be included in the primary analysis of treatment effect in biomarker-positive patients because of the likelihood that treatment effects would differ between the 2 subgroups, it is logically inconsistent to include biomarker-positive patients in the primary analysis of treatment effect in biomarker-negative patients.
The Relationship Between Identity and Intimacy in Early Adulthood

Abstract This investigation examined the relationship between identity and intimacy in young adults and determined whether prior measures of identity and intimacy status would be useful with subjects in this age range. Fifty 22- to 35-year-old men and women participated in structured interviews designed to assess identity and intimacy status. They also completed the Identity Status Incomplete Sentences Blank for Adults and several other paper-and-pencil inventories: the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, the Inventory of Psychosocial Development, the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire, and the Yufit Intimacy-Isolation Scale. Results suggest that there is a relationship between identity status and intimacy in adults, that the interviews and the Identity Status Incomplete Sentences Blank for Adults are more closely related to each other than to other measures of theoretically similar constructs, and that these measures of identity and intimacy are useful with adults. In supplementary analyses few sex ...