cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast Descriptor Extraction for Contextless 3D Registration Using a Fully Convolutional Network

In recent years, numerous consumer devices have emerged that are capable of capturing 3D point data originating from depth images. Many computer vision tasks, such as object recognition, environment mapping, augmented reality, and more, rely on accurately registering 3D point sets. One method to compute this registration is to use 3D local feature descriptors for a coarse alignment, and to further refine the alignment with a variant of the Iterative Closest Point algorithm. While robust feature descriptors work well for this approach, online computation for all points in a single depth image is typically intractable. In this work, a method to facilitate real-time 3D registration by performing descriptor extraction on depth images using a Fully Convolutional Network (FCN) is presented. The input to this method is a raw depth image and results in a 33-bin descriptor for each pixel, enabling a general-purpose 3D registration process that doesn't require future network retraining and refinement. Experimental results on consumer hardware demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art in terms of computation time and approaches depth sensor frame capture times, with only a slight reduction in descriptiveness.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase limits host immunity to control disseminated Candida albicans infections in mice

Three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) occur in mammals. High levels of NO produced by NOS2/iNOS can protect against bacterial and parasitic infections, but the role of NOS in fungal innate immunity is less clear. Compared to wild type mice, Nos3-/- mice showed significantly higher survival of candidemia caused by Candida albicans SC5314. NOS3/eNOS is expressed by endothelial cells in the kidney, and colonization of this organ was decreased during the sub-acute stage of disseminated candidiasis. Nos3-/- mice more rapidly eliminated Candida from the renal cortex and exhibited more balanced local inflammatory reactions, with similar macrophage but less neutrophil infiltration than in infected wild type. Levels of the serum cytokines IL-9, IL-12, IL-17 and chemokines GM-CSF, MIP1α, and MIP1β were significantly elevated, and IL-15 was significantly lower in infected Nos3-/- mice. Spleens of infected Nos3-/- mice had significantly more Th2 and Th9 but not other CD4+ T cells compared with wild type. Inflammatory genes associated with leukocyte chemotaxis, IL-1 signaling, TLR signaling and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation pathways were significantly overexpressed in infected Nos3-/- kidneys, with Nos2 being the most strongly induced. Conversely, the general NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester increased virulence in the mouse candidemia model, suggesting that iNOS contributes to the protective mechanism in infected Nos3-/- mice. By moderating neutrophil infiltration, the absence of eNOS may reduce the collateral damage to kidney cortex, and Th-9 CD4+ cells may enhance clearance of the infection. These data suggest that selective eNOS inhibition could mitigate candidemia by a combination of systemic and local responses that promote a more effective host immune response.
A Meta-Cognitive Approach to Predicting Hurricane Evacuation Behavior

As hurricanes intensify and more people are at risk, there is a clear need to understand the evacuation behavior of coastal residents. Of particular relevance is the role of past experience in evac...
Postoperative opioid cessation rates based on preoperative opioid use: analysis of common orthopaedic procedures.

Aims The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between pre- and postoperative opioid use among patients undergoing common elective orthopaedic procedures Patients and Methods Pre- ...
Satisfaction with justice and desire for revenge in survivors of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York City’s World Trade Center

This study investigated gaps in existing knowledge on justice, desire for revenge, and associated factors in disaster research through data collected nearly three years post disaster on justice and...
Coordinated Analysis of Heterogeneous Monitor Data in Enterprise Clouds for Incident Response

During incident analysis and response, enterprise cloud administrators want to use as much of their generated monitor data as possible. However, the reality is that decisions are often dictated by the tools actually available to automatically process the monitor data, rather than by an understanding of the relevance of the data for incident response. The significant manual effort and domain expertise required to process diverse cloud monitors means that much monitor data remain unexamined. We propose a framework for simplifying the complexity of data analysis for incident response. Our framework enables coordinated analysis of both metric (numerical) data and log (semi-structured, textual) data and exposes salient features within those data. As a foundation for the framework, we define a taxonomy for fields within monitor data based on insights gained from analyzing logs and metrics collected from all levels of an experimental platform-as-a-service (PaaS) cloud (EPC). Using the taxonomy, we lay out a method for semi-automated feature extraction and discovery across heterogeneous monitors. We then describe a method for feature clustering to promote effective analysis of the data, and to remove redundant and uninformative features. We discuss the application of our framework for incident response within the EPC, including root cause analysis.
Hedged Language and Partisan Media Influence Belief in Science Claims

Sources of scientific information vary in partisanship and epistemic stance toward science. The current study examined how hedged language (certain vs. tentative) and partisanship of sources (liber...
Effect of Variable Outlets on the Nonreactive Flowfield of a Right-Cylindrical Cyclonic Chamber

This work focuses on the use of a finite-volume solver to describe the wall-bounded cyclonic flowfield that evolves in a swirl-driven thrust chamber. More specifically, a non-reactive, cold-flow simulation is carried out using an idealized chamber configuration of a square-shaped, right-cylindrical enclosure with eight tangential injectors and a variable nozzle size. For simplicity, we opt for air as the working fluid and perform our simulations under steady, incompressible, and inviscid flow conditions. First, a meticulously developed mesh that consists of tetrahedral elements is generated in a manner to minimize the overall skewness, especially near injectors; second, this mesh is converted into a polyhedral grid to improve convergence characteristics and accuracy. After achieving convergence in all variables, our three velocity components are examined and compared to an existing analytical solution obtained by Vyas and Majdalani (Vyas, A. B., and Majdalani, J., “Exact Solution of the Bidirectional Vortex,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 44, No. 10, 2006, pp. 2208-2216). We find that the numerical model is capable of predicting the expected forced vortex behavior in the inner core region as well as the free vortex tail in the inviscid region. Moreover, the results appear to be in fair agreement with the Vyas–Majdalani solution derived under similarly inviscid conditions, and thus resulting in a quasi complex-lamellar profile. In this work, we are able to ascertain the axial independence of the swirl velocity no matter the value of the outlet radius, which confirms the key assumption made in most analytical models of wall-bounded cyclonic motions. Moreover, the pressure distribution predicted numerically is found to be in fair agreement with both theoretical formulations and experimental measurements of cyclone separators. The bidirectional character of the flowfield is also corroborated by the axial and radial velocity distributions, which are found to be concurrent with theory. Then using parametric trade studies, the sensitivity of the numerical simulations to the outlet diameter of the chamber is explored to determine the influence of outlet nozzle variations on the mantle location and the number of mantles. Since none of the cases considered here promote the onset of multiple mantles, we are led to believe that more factors are involved in producing more mantles than one. Besides the exit diameter, the formation of a multiple mantle structure may be influenced by the physical boundary conditions, nozzle radius, inlet curvature, and length. In closing, we show that the latter plays a significant role in controlling the development of backflow regions inside the chamber.
Why There Should Be Fewer Articles Like this One: Law Professors Should Write More for Legal Decision-Makers and Less for Themselves

This article explains why law professors have an ethical responsibility to write scholarship that matters to lawyers and practitioners, not only themselves.
Crystal Structure of the [4Fe-4S] Cluster-Containing Adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate Reductase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is the deadliest infectious disease in the world. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the first committed step in sulfate assimilation is the reductive cleavage of adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (APS) to form adenosine-5'-phosphate (AMP) and sulfite by the enzyme APS reductase (APSR). The vital role of APSR in the production of essential reduced-sulfur-containing metabolites and the absence of a homologue enzyme in humans makes APSR a potential target for therapeutic interventions. Here, we present the crystal structure of the [4Fe-4S] cluster-containing APSR from M. tuberculosis (MtbAPSR) and compare it to previously determined structures of sulfonucleotide reductases. We further present MtbAPSR structures with substrate APS and product AMP bound in the active site. Our structures at a 3.1 A resolution show high structural similarity to other sulfonucleotide reductases and reveal that APS and AMP have similar binding modes. These studies provide structural data for structure-based drug design aimed to combat TB.
Fracture of a 40-mm BIOLOX Delta Femoral Head

Ceramic bearing surfaces have gained popularity in total hip arthroplasty as a result of the favorable mechanical properties and low wear rates. Despite the recognition as an attractive articulation, problems such as ceramic head fracture persist. Smaller heads and higher body mass indices are touted as risk factors for ceramic head fracture and are often associated with antecedent trauma. We present a case report of an 83-year-old male with a body mass index of 26.7 kg/m2 who suffered a fracture of a 40-mm ceramic femoral head. This occurred atraumatically 5 years from his index surgery. This patient underwent revision total hip arthroplasty which included debridement of ceramic debris and alteration of the bearing surface with femoral head and polyethylene liner exchange.
A Comparative Analyses of Current IoT Middleware Platforms

Technology is evolving exponentially, and researchers are seeking solutions to answer questions related to the benefits of using advanced IoT cloud computing platforms. There is a tremendous amount of research activity regarding cyberattacks on Internet of Things (IoT) devices. IoT ecosystems consist of physical objects or devices that interact with the environment, extract data, and communicate with a higher authority such as a cloud. Many IoT users are unaware of the underlying platforms that facilitate data collection. These platforms are also known as middleware, sit between the connectivity and application layers. There are more than 1000 IoT platforms on the market today, where many are open-source or commercial and provide services that include a device, data, and connection management. This paper presents a comparative analysis of some commercial and open-source IoT platforms such as Arm Pelion, Microsoft Azure cloud, ThingWorx, FIWARE, and ThingSpeak. We compare system architecture, management schemes, protocols, interoperability, and security. We used experimentation with real-world Internet of Things devices for the comparative study. We proposed a novel design architecture of a fully secure testbed that integrates critical components of an IoT platform. Hopefully, this study will motivate manufacturers to provide a better quality of service to help customers select the best IoT platform for their needs.
Regioselective synthesis of polysaccharide–amino acid ester conjugates

Abstract Site-specific conjugation of polysaccharides with proteins is very challenging. Creating the ability to control chemo- and regioselective reaction between polysaccharides and amino acid derivatives can not only create potentially useful and bioactive natural polymer constructs, but should also provide useful guidance for the principles of polysaccharide–protein conjugate synthesis. In this work, we exploited regioselective bromination of the non-reducing end primary dextran hydroxyl using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and triphenylphosphine (Ph3P) in the dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and lithium bromide solvent system, thereby enabling a regio- and chemoselective synthetic strategic approach to a variety of polysaccharide-amino acid ester adducts. We demonstrated selective condensation of the α-amino groups of esters of the amino acids tyrosine and proline, displacing the single, terminal C6 bromides of 6-BrCA320S and 6-BrDextran with high conversion (71–96%). Histidine ester side group amines were found to react with 6-BrCA320S, while those of tryptophan ester did not. These results provide useful access to polysaccharide–amino acid ester adducts of various architectures, and guide us in designing new pathways to polysaccharide–protein copolymers.
Apparent reflectance modeling for camouflage pattern comparison metrics

Camouflage patterns consist of specified complex patterning where the reflectance, as a function of wavelength, of each pattern segment is specified. Camouflage complexity establishes a need to det...
Schwann Cells as Facilitators of Axonal Regeneration in CNS Fiber Tracts

Studies of human spinal cord injury by Richard Bunge and colleagues in The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis emphasize that, in most cases, gray matter loss is localized to one or only a few segments. Despite the limited loss of spinal cord neurons in those cases in which damage is localized linearly, extensive injury across the diameter of the cord abolishes much of the signalling required for motor functioning below the level of injury. In 35% of the 46 injured human cords studied to date, injury extends across the entire width of the cord (Bunge et al., 1993, 1996). Thus, the most debilitating aspect of these injuries derives from interruption of nerve fibers in the long ascending and descending tracts in the white matter, rather than from damage to the neuronal population. We, therefore, have attempted to create bridges for nerve fiber regrowth across areas of spinal cord injury to re-establish the requisite signalling. It is now well known that after injury the central neuron is able to regenerate its axon if the local environment is suitable. Requirements include an appropriate substratum for growth, sufficient quantities of specific neurotrophic factors, and the absence of neurite growth inhibitors such as myelin- and astrocyte-related proteins.
A Novel Account of Scientific Anomaly: Help for the Dispute over Low‐Dose Biochemical Effects

The biological effects of low doses of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals are currently a matter of significant scientific controversy. This paper argues that philosophers of science can contribute to alleviating this controversy by examining it with the aid of a novel account of scientific anomaly. Specifically, analysis of contemporary research on chemical hormesis (i.e., alleged beneficial biological effects produced by low doses of substances that are harmful at higher doses) suggests that scientists may initially describe anomalous phenomena in terms of multiple distinct “characterizations,” each of which is compatible with current empirical evidence. By focusing attention on this feature of scientific anomalies, philosophers of science can alleviate the controversy over low‐dose chemical effects in at least two ways: (1) they can pinpoint the significant ways in which particular characterizations frame the controversy, and (2) they can identify the methodological value judgments at stake in researcher...
Hydronephrosis of pregnancy: ultrasonographic study and classification of asymptomatic women.

Abstract Ultrasonographic examination of the upper urinary tract in 109 asymptomatic pregnant women was performed to determine the degree of dilatation, the time of onset, and the range of “physiologic” changes detectable by this method. Classification is established and prevalence and degree of dilatation are categorized by trimesters. The onset of dilatation is seen earlier than previously reported and the degree of obstruction is quite variable for the asymptomatic patient. The right side predominates, as expected. The finding of mild dilatation in a symptomatic patient would prompt a search for causes other than obstruction.
Experiments on Antiprotons: Antiproton-Nucleon Cross Sections

In this paper experiments a r e reported on annihilation and scattering of antiprotons in H{sub 2}O , D{sub 2}O, and O{sub 2}. From the data measured i t i s possible to obtain an antiproton-proton and a n antiproton-deuteron c r o s s section a t 457 Mev (lab). Further analysis gives the p-p and p-n c r o s s sections a s 104 mb for the H-p reaction c r o s s section and 113 mb for the p-n reaction c r o s s section. The respective annihilation cross sections a r e 89 and 74 mb. The Glauber correction necessary in order to pass from the p-d to the p-n c r o s s section by subtraction of the p-p c r o s s section i s unfortunately large and somewhat uncertain. The data a r e compared with the p-p and p-n c r o s s sections and with other results on p - p collisions.
Bioinformatics applications for introductory computer science: tutorial presentation

The need for novel interdisciplinary approaches to computer science education is increasing as the computer science discipline is changing to encompass specialties in fields like bioinformatics, social networks, computational chemistry, and geographic information systems. The ACM Computing Curricula 2001 Report lists bioinformatics and computational biology as two of the scientific areas that are a "vital part of the discipline" [1], yet many computer science faculty have little or no knowledge of these areas. In the current scientific environment, it is critical to provide future generations of computer scientists with the ability to think about problems in an interdisciplinary context. Bioinformatics provides one context through which to introduce students to interdisciplinary applications of computer science. This tutorial is designed for instructors of computer science and related fields, with no background in the bioinformatics field, who are interested in integrating interdisciplinary examples of computer science applications into their introductory computer science courses. A brief overview of the bioinformatics discipline will be presented along with references to additional information. In addition to providing background information about the bioinformatics field, this tutorial will focus on specific example problems that can be discussed in an introductory computer science or data structures course. The presented examples are designed for introductory students because research on retaining computer science students has shown that majority of students who leave the computer science discipline, do so by the end of their freshmen year [7]. Research also suggests that by focusing on rich interdisciplinary subfields of the computing discipline, computer science courses will be more appealing to women and other underrepresented groups[2,3,5,6]. By introducing problems of a rich, interdisciplinary nature early in the computer science course sequence, enrollment may increase in computer science courses.
Adaptive object tracking in a sensor network

We address multiple object tracking in a system that has feedback from the fusion center to a wireless sensor network, where nodes transmit to the fusion center using random access. The feedback is used to adapt the sensing rate and, assuming that the sensors can move, to modify their positions. The variation in the position and the sensing rate of the sensors has the goal of providing higher accuracy of tracking and lower energy consumption. Simulations results are presented to demonstrate the benefits of feedback, which are notable when the network suffers from congestion. When the number of nodes is high the variable-rate approach is shown to provide a reduction of 2 dB in the location error and 44% less power consumed by the sensors. With mobile sensors, the accuracy of tracking is improved as the network is able to zoom in on the objects of interest.
Engineering and technology management education: Faculty and students RISE to the challenge

• Engineering and technology management professionals increasingly find themselves living and learning in a world characterized by the need to: • Solve unscripted problems • Work in globally interconnected environments • Help to improve the conditions of disadvantaged citizens • Translate theory into practice • Too often, however, the education of engineering and technology management students fails to adequately equip them with the knowledge, skills, experiences, and perspectives necessary to meet such needs • In addition to discipline-specific knowledge, there exist several innovative pedagogies to better prepare students to meet the present and emerging realities of the profession • At IUPUI, we have organized and branded an educational approach known as RISE: • Research experiences for undergraduates • International study abroad programs • Service learning • Experiential education • RISE engages students in immersive learning while equipping them with employer and graduate-school desired preparation, skills, and experiences
Amidst a Rough Neighborhood: Stable Jordan Making a Case for Increased FDI

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, more commonly known as Jordan, resides on the East Bank of the River Jordan. It is one of the more stable nations in the Middle East and is experiencing a general trend of economic growth despite the Arab Spring, a whirlwind of uprisings taking place in Arab countries in Jordan’s general vicinity. This study takes a closer look at Jordan’s some of Jordan’s closest neighbors in order to analyze their relationships with Jordan, the effects of those relationships, and the resulting implications for firms considering investing in Jordan.
Late urinary toxicity modeling after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the definitive treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Background. Late urinary symptom flare has been shown to occur in a small subset of men treated with ultra- hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to use normal tissue complication probability modeling in an effort to derive SBRT specific dosimetric predictor's of late urinary flare.Material and methods. Two hundred and sixteen men were treated for localized prostate cancer using ultra- hypofractionated SBRT. A dose of 35–36.25 Gy in 5 fractions was delivered to the prostate and proximal seminal vesicles. Functional surveys were conducted before and after treatment to assess late toxicity. Phenomenologic NTCP models were fit to bladder DVHs and late urinary flare outcomes using maximum likelihood estimation.Results. Twenty-nine patients experienced late urinary flare within two years of completion of treatment. Fitting of bladder DVH data to a Lyman NTCP model resulted in parameter estimates of m, TD50, and n of 0.19 (0–0.47), 38.7 Gy (31....
Incidence of ionized hypocalcemia in septic dogs and its association with morbidity and mortality: 58 cases (2006-2007).

Objective – To determine the incidence rate and prognostic significance of ionized hypocalcemia (iHCa) among septic dogs. Design – Retrospective study Setting – Veterinary teaching hospital Animals – Fifty-eight septic dogs that were presented to Cornell University Hospital for Animals between January 2006 and December 2007. Procedure – Cases were diagnosed with sepsis if they exhibited 2 or more criteria of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome with a concurrent documented infectious focus. Cases were excluded if diagnosed with a concurrent illness reportedly associated with calcium derangements. Lowest, mean, and highest blood ionized calcium concentrations were recorded and statistically analyzed for an association with morbidity, as measured by duration of hospitalization and number of blood product transfusions, and outcome. In addition, the incidence rate of iHCa was recorded. Results – Of the 58 cases included in this study, iHCa was documented in 4 of 6 (67%) patients that died, 5 of 19 (26%) euthanized patients and 5 of 33 (15%) patients that survived to discharge, with an overall incidence of 24%. Dogs that died during hospitalization had more severe iHCa than patients that were discharged or euthanized as well as significantly lower mean ionized calcium concentrations than patients who were discharged. Severity of iHCa was also associated with a longer duration of hospitalization. The highest ionized calcium concentration was not associated with outcome. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance – This study is the first to document the incidence of iHCa among septic dogs. Because both low mean ionized calcium and the lowest documented ionized calcium concentration are associated with poor outcome, it is likely that both the severity and duration of hypocalcemia are important in these patients. Further prospective studies investigating the prognostic significance, etiology and treatment of iHCa among septic veterinary patients are needed to better understand its role in sepsis.
FRITS - a microprocessor functional BIST method

This paper describes a novel functional Built-in-Self-Test (BIST) method for microprocessors. This technique is based on the fundamental principle that complex chips have embedded functionality that can be used to implement a comprehensive self-test strategy. Functional testing has generally been associated with expensive testers. In order to lower the cost of test, there is a general trend to adopt structural test techniques like scan that enable the use of low cost testers. One of the key advantages of the test method described here is that it enables functional testing of microprocessors on low cost testers. Detailed implementation of this technique, the test generation methodology, the fault grade methodology and silicon results on Intel/sup /spl reg// Pentium/sup /spl reg// 4 and Itanium/spl trade/ family microprocessors are presented.
Historical Events That Spawned the Field of Plasmid Biology

This chapter revisits the historical development and outcome of studies focused on the transmissible, extrachromosomal genetic elements called plasmids. Early work on plasmids involved structural and genetic mapping of these molecules, followed by the development of an understanding of how plasmids replicate and segregate during cell division. The intriguing property of plasmid transmission between bacteria and between bacteria and higher cells has received considerable attention. The utilitarian aspects of plasmids are described, including examples of various plasmid vector systems. This chapter also discusses the functional attributes of plasmids needed for their persistence and survival in nature and in man-made environments. The term plasmid biology was first conceived at the Fallen Leaf Lake Conference on Promiscuous Plasmids, 1990, Lake Tahoe, California. The International Society for Plasmid Biology was established in 2004 (www.ISPB.org).
Muscle-reflex control of robust swing leg placement

Swing leg placement is vital to dynamic stability in legged robots and animals. The most common approaches to generating swing leg motions in robotics use either position or impedance tracking of defined joint trajectories. While these approaches suffice in humanoids, they severely limit swing leg placement under large disturbances in prosthetic limbs, for which stabilizing reactions cannot be planned centrally. We previously identified a control for a conceptual double-pendulum swing leg that does not require predefined trajectories to robustly place the leg into target points on the ground in the presence of large disturbances. We here develop a more detailed neuromuscular model of the human swing leg and interpret the identified control with local muscle reflexes. The resulting reflex control robustly places the swing leg into a wide range of landing points observed in human walking and running, and it generates similar patterns of joint torques and muscle activations. While we plan to take advantage of the comparison between the neuromuscular model and humans to further improve robust swing leg placement, the current results suggest an alternative to existing swing leg controls in humanoid and rehabilitation robotics which does not require central processing.
Daytime Sleeping, Sleep Disturbance, and Circadian Rhythms in the Nursing Home

Objective This study reports the frequency of abnormal daytime sleeping and identifies factors related to daytime sleeping, nighttime sleep disturbance, and circadian rhythm abnormalities among nursing home residents. Methods The authors conducted secondary analysis of data collected under usual care conditions within a nonpharmacologic sleep intervention trial. All residents from four Los Angeles nursing homes were screened for daytime sleeping (asleep ≥15% of observations, 9:00 am–5:00 pm). Consenting residents with daytime sleeping had two nights of wrist actigraphy to assess nighttime sleep disturbance (asleep Results Sixty-nine percent of 492 observed residents had daytime sleeping, of whom 60% also had disturbed nighttime sleep. Sleep disturbance and daytime sleeping were rarely documented in medical records. Residents spent one-third of the day in their rooms, typically in bed, and were seldom outdoors or exposed to bright light. More time in bed and less social activity were significant predictors of daytime sleepiness. Ninety-seven percent of residents assessed had abnormal circadian rhythms. More daytime sleeping and less nighttime sleep were associated with weaker circadian activity rhythms. Later circadian rhythm acrophase (peak) was associated with more bright light exposure. Conclusion Daytime sleepiness, nighttime sleep disturbance, and abnormal circadian rhythms were common in nursing home residents. Modifiable factors (e.g., time in bed) are associated with sleep/wake abnormalities. Mental health specialists should consider the complexity of factors causing sleep problems in nursing home residents.
Fine annealing of optical glass for low residual stress and refractive index homogeneity.

A discussion is presented on both the theoretical and practical aspects of fine annealing. The role of the glass transformation range in determining refractive index through thermal history is discussed. Necessary conditions of thermal history during annealing which lead to low residual thermal stress and high homogeneity of refractive index are outlined. Two types of annealing, rate and soak, are described and the advantages of rate annealing in achieving better homogeneity and economy of time are emphasized. A practical scheme for rate annealing of large optical glass disks is described. The use of high conductivity metal plates and peripheral heaters reduces troublesome temperature gradients. For mixed alkali glasses, a low temperature ionic structural reorganization suggests the use of an intermediate cooling rate between the glass transformation range and 150°C.
High density lipoprotein exchange reactions

The term human serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) represents a range of lipid-protein complexes which are identified by their density and hence their relative lipid-protein content. Because HDL composition is variable, any proposed mechanisms for lipid and protein exchange must account for this variability. More importantly, since HDL has been repeatedly shown to be a negative risk factor in atherosclerosis, physical interactions have to be put in a physiological context. In this review, the lipid and protein exchange reactions of HDL with other lipoproteins, phospholipid vesicles, lipid-coated glass beads and isolated cells, will be considered. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of the two major apoproteins of HDL, namely apo A-I and apo A-II, in these exchange reactions and a model will be presented to explain how these apoproteins might mediate lipid exchange, interconversions of lipoprotein particles, and the egress and excretion of lipid from cells.
On energy-based coupled elastoplastic damage theories: Constitutive modeling and computational aspects

Abstract Novel energy-based coupled elastoplastic damage theories are presented in this paper. The proposed formulation employs irreversible thermodynamics and internal state variable theory for ductile and brittle materials. At variance with Lemaitre's work on damage-elastoplasticity, the present formulation renders rational thermodynamic potential and damage energy release rate. In contrast to previous work by Simo and Ju (featuring an additive split of the stress tensor), current formulation assumes an additive split of the strain tensor. It is shown that the “strain split” damage-elastoplasticity formulation leads to more robust tangent moduli than the “stress split” formulation. The plastic flow rule and hardening law are characterized in terms of the effective quantities; viz. the effective stress space plasticity . This mechanism is both physically well-motivated and computationally efficient. Further, a fourth-order anisotropic damage mechanism is proposed for brittle materials. Rational mechanisms are also presented to account for the microcrack opening and closing operations as well as the strain-rate dependency of microcrack growth. Efficient computational algorithms for proposed elasloplaslic damage models are subsequently explored by making use of the “operator splitting” methodology. In particular, new three-step operator split algorithms are presented Application is made to a class of inviseid and rate-dependent cap-damage models for concrete and mortar. Experimental validations are also given to illustrate the applicability of the proposed damage models.
A Librarian by Any Other Name: The Role of the Informationist on a Clinical Research Team

In 2012, the Lamar Soutter Library (LSL), University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), successfully collaborated with two principal investigators from UMMS, as well as their research team, to receive a supplemental grant from the National Library of Medicine. The grant, an “NLM Administrative Supplements for Informationist Services in NIH-funded Research Projects,” was one of eight awarded nationally. It provides funding to support an informationist – or in-context information specialist – who serves the research team by offering expertise in the areas of data and information management. For 18 months, the informationist is serving as a member of the research team on the grant, “Promoting Breast Cancer Screening in NonAdherent Women” (R01 CA-132935, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health), working to develop data management tools, providing an in-depth literature review, and report on the issues facing researchers and internet technology professionals when building and implementing research tools. They will also assist with a systematic review on the effectiveness of telephone intervention protocols for preventive screenings, and will instruct members of the team in advanced searching techniques and bibliographic management. This role serves as a new model of embedded librarianship for the LSL. It also provides opportunities for new services from the Library in the role of data and information management. Further, the acceptance of an informationist into a well-funded research team demonstrates a level of commitment by researchers to receiving research support from the Library that it has not experienced to date. This brief paper describes the study and the accomplishments to date.
Disruption of sensitization to methylphenidate by a single administration of MK-801

Blockade of sensitization to methylphenidate by a single injection of MK-801 was investigated using a computerized activity monitoring system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in test cages and motor activity was recorded continuously for 16 days. After 2 days of baseline recording and a saline injection on day 3, the rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups. All received 2.5 mg/kg of methylphenidate (s.c.) once a day from days 4 to 9, then after five days of no treatment, they were re-challenged with 2.5 mg/kg of methylphenidate on day 15. One group received only methylphenidate, while the other three groups also received a single i.p. injection of MK-801 (0.30 mg/kg) either 24 h (day 3) or 1 h prior to the first of the six methylphenidate injections (day 4), or 1 h prior to the second methylphenidate injection (day 5). A single injection of MK-801 on day 4 (1 h prior to methylphenidate) blocked the development of sensitization to methylphenidate, since a sensitized response could not be elicited six days after cessation of repeated methylphenidate administration (day 15). However, sensitization to methylphenidate still occurred in the groups receiving MK-801 (0.30 mg/kg) on day 5, indicating that the mechanism by which a single injection of MK-801 disrupts sensitization to methylphenidate is sensitive to timing and is not a direct long-term effect. In conclusion, a single injection of MK-801 persistently blocks the development of sensitization to methylphenidate only if it is given with methylphenidate on the first day of the repetitive treatment phase.
Do High School Athletes Get Better Grades During the Off-Season?

A great deal of recent research has employed instrumental variables to estimate the effect of participation in athletics on academic or labor market outcomes, finding evidence of small positive effects from participation. This research proposes several theories of how participation affects success but cannot distinguish between them. I ask a fundamentally different question, whether an athlete performs better or worse, academically, during the season in which they participate in sports, focusing on the time allocation theory of participation. Time spent on sports may substitute from time on academics or negative leisure activities, causing academic performance to improve or decline in-season, respectively. This paper finds a small negative and significant in-season effect on academic performance for varsity athletes and a small positive and significant in-season effect on academic performance for junior varsity (JV) athletes. Decreases in in-season grade point average (GPA) for varsity athletes occur thro...
Crown ethers as actinide extractants in acidic aqueous biphasic systems : partitioning behavior in solution and crystallographic analyses of the solid state

Abstract The partitioning behavior of UO 2 2+ , Pu 4+ , Th 4+ , and Am 3+ has been investigated in aqueous biphasic systems formed by the addition of polyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 2000 (PEG-2000) and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . Water-soluble crown ethers 18-crown-6 and 15-crown-5 have been utilized as extractants. A positive correlation has been observed between crown ether concentration and metal ion partitioning with D An decreasing in the order UO 2 2+ > Pu 4+ > Th 4+ > Am 3+ . A distribution ratio above unity, however, has only been observed for UO 2 2+ at very high (1.25 M) concentrations of 18-crown-6. In general the distribution ratios for 15-crown-5 are all lower. Matrix ions introduced as NH 4 NO 3 , H 2 SO 4 , or HNO 3 drastically reduce the observed distribution ratios and level the extractant dependencies.
Fabrication and Encapsulation of a Short-Period Wire Grid Polarizer with Improved Viewing Angle by the Angled-Evaporation Method

A wire grid polarizer (WGP) is fabricated by using a simplified approach with a combination of nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and angled metal deposition. The period of the imprinted polymer nanograting used in this study is 180 nm. The WGP is formed by two consecutive angled aluminium evaporation processes, essentially halving the period for the aluminium (Al) nanograting. The fabricated WGP shows good optical properties for polarized light. More importantly, because of the slight reduction of the period of the nanograting as compared with previous results, the viewing angle, which is one of the most important characters in display equipment, is extended greatly. Encapsulation of the WGP using poly(methyl methacrylate) is conducted for practical application of the WGP. The thickness of the coating is controlled to be less than 1 μm, to prevent the degradation of the optical properties of the WGP.
Immunomodulatory therapy in the management of viral infections in patients with HIV infection.

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes disease by infecting lymphocytes and progressively destroying critical regulatory and effector cells of the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to a number of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. Facial herpes (herpes simplex virus-1 [HSV-1]), genital herpes (HSV-2), herpes zoster (varicella zoster virus), oral hairy leukoplakia (Epstein-Barr virus), Kaposi's sarcoma (HHV-8), molluscum contagiosum, condyloma acuminata (human papillomavirus [HPV-6, HPV-11]), plantar warts (HPV-1), and facial warts and flat warts (HPV-5) are some of the cutaneous viral diseases most commonly seen in HIV-infected patients. Two immunomodulatory agents, imiquimod (Aldara), shown to be safe and effective in the management of genital warts, and alitretinoin gel, shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma, may offer a new therapeutic approach to treatment of cutaneous viral diseases. There is a strong scientific rationale to suggest that imiquimod and alitretinoin gel may be useful in the treatment of a variety of cutaneous viral diseases that have been shown to respond to immunomodulatory drugs. This represents a new approach in the therapeutic treatment paradigm for treatment of cutaneous viral diseases at their site of infection. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:S27-30.)
Wheat Gluten−Thiolated Poly(vinyl alcohol) Blends with Improved Mechanical Properties

A multifunctional macromolecular thiol (TPVA) obtained by esterification of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with 3-mercaptopropionic acid was characterized by a combination of NMR, IR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and was used as a wheat gluten (WG) reactive modifier. The effect of TPVA molecular weight (M(w) = 2000, 9500, 50 000, and 205 000) and blend composition (5, 20, and 40% w/w TPVA/WG) on the mechanical properties of compression-molded bars indicates that TPVA/WG blends increase the fracture strength by up to 76%, the elongation by 80%, and the modulus by 25% above WG. In contrast, typical WG additives such as glycerol and sorbitol improve flexibility but decrease modulus and strength. Preliminary investigations of suspension rheology, water uptake, molecular weight distribution and electron microscopy of TPVA/WG and PVA/WG blends illustrate the different protein interactions with PVA and TPVA. Further work is underway to determine whether TPVA and WG form protein conjugates or microphase-separated morphologies.
A uterocervical anomaly (Uterus bicorpor bicollis) in a mare, and the manual disruption of early bilateral pregnancies.

Abstract A developmental anomaly, resulting from partial segmental aplasia of the Mullerian ducts, was present in a Clydesdale mare. She had complete double cervices and a divided uterine body. In this mare, bilateral pregnancies were destroyed in sequence by squeezing them per rectum 25 and 29 days after insemination.
Limitations of the uncoupled, RVE-based micromechanical approach in the analysis of functionally graded composites

Abstract A new class of materials, called functionally graded composites, has recently evolved in which the microstructure is tailored to meet specific applications. This is accomplished by distributing the reinforcement phases in a nonuniform manner, resulting in statistically inhomogeneous composites. The standard micromechanical approach used to analyse the response of this class of materials is to decouple the local and global effects by assuming the existence of a representative volume element at every point within the composite. Recently, a new micromechanical theory, which couples the local and global effects, has been developed and applied to functionally graded composites. Herein, this theory is used to assess the limits of applicability of the standard micromechanical approach in predicting local stresses in the fiber and matrix phases of functionally graded composites subjected to a thermal gradient. It is shown that the simplified uncoupled approach is inaccurate when the dimension of the reinforcement phase is large relative to the dimension of the composite.
A new high strength alloy for hydrogen fueled propulsion systems

This paper describes the development of a high-strength alloy (1241 MPa ultimate and 1103 MPa yield, with little or no degradation in hydrogen) for application in advanced hydrogen-fueled rocket engines. Various compositions of the Fe-Ni-Co-Cr system with elemental additions of Cb, Ti and Al are discussed. After processing, notched tensile specimens were tested in 34.5-MPa hydrogen at room temperature, as the main screening test. The H2/air notch tensile ratio was used as the selection/rejection criterion. The most promising alloys are discussed.
Novel preparation and properties of conductive polyaniline/Nafion® film

Abstract A unique method was employed for making a composite with polyaniline and Nafion®, a strong-acid-containing polymer. The composite was made by reacting aqueous HCl/aniline and oxidizing agent solutions which were diffused in a Nafion® film. The method should be applicable to other insoluble, acid containing polymers. The highest conductivity achieved from the composite films was 0.01 S/cm. The conductive polyaniline composite was more stable thermally than HCl-doped polyaniline and it retained the same level of conductivity after immersion in water for six hours. Although ammonium hydroxide deactivated the conductive polyaniline, the conductivity could be recovered by immersing the ammonium hydroxide treated composite film in water.
Factors influencing nonlinear static response prediction and test-analysis correlation for composite panels

Abstract Factors influencing the nonlinear response prediction of composite panels are described. The role of these factors in performing test-analysis correlation for composite panels is discussed and demonstrated using selected configurations for which experimental data have been previously published. Advanced formulations and analysis methods are providing structural analysts with better tools to aid the development of understanding the complexities associated with composite structural design and analysis.