cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Disrupted Extensor Mechanism After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background Disruption of the extensor mechanism after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a debilitating complication that results in extension lag, limited range of motion, difficulty walking, frequent falls, and chronic pain. This study presents the clinical and radiographic results of reconstruction after extensor mechanism disruption TKA patients. Methods Consecutive patients with allograft reconstruction of extensor mechanism after TKA were identified retrospectively from an academic tertiary center for revision TKA. Results Sixteen patients with a mean age of 61 ± 14 years at extensor mechanism reconstruction with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were included. The mean follow-up was 3.3 ± 2.2 years. Knee Society score (KSS), pre- and final follow-up extension lag, range of motion, and radiographic change in patellar height were reviewed. There were statistically significant improvements between pre-operative and final follow-up KSS (p < 0001). [KSS for pain, pre-operative 40 ± 14 points to final follow-up 67 ± 15 points (P<0.001)] [KSS for function, pre-operative 26 ± 21 points to final follow-up 48 ± 25 points (P<0.001)]. The extension lag was also reduced from 35 ± 16 degrees preoperatively to 14 ± 18 degrees (P<0.001) at final follow-up. There was an average proximal patellar migration of 8 ± 10 mm. Five (31%) cases had extensor lag of greater than 30° or revision surgery for repeat extensor mechanism reconstruction, infection, or arthrodesis. Conclusion Our ten-year experience using allografts during extensor mechanism reconstruction demonstrates reasonable outcomes, but failures are to be anticipated in approximately one third of patients.
Emerging trends in pancreatic cancer and diabetes.

e13077Background: Risk factors for cancer and diabetes mellitus (DM) include aging, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity. Present studies conflict on the role of DM in cancer pathogenesis; how...
Abstract 572: Inhibition of IDO1 with epacadostat enhances anti-tumor efficacy of PD-1 blockade in a syngeneic glioblastoma (GBM) model

Purpose: To determine if epacadostat, an oral indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) inhibitor has therapeutic benefit against GBM when administered as single agent and with PD-1 blocking antibody. Methods: An initial survival experiment was performed to assess efficacy and was followed by an identical repeat experiment for validation. 1X10 5 luciferized GL261 cells, a murine GBM tumor line derived from intracerebral methylcholanthrene implantation, were stereotactically implanted intracranially in albino syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. Mice with increasing bioluminescence on days 3 and 6 were randomized (n=8/group) to receive treatment beginning on day 6: anti-PD-1 (332.8H3, mouse IgG1; 500 μg intraperitoneal (IP) on day 6, 250 μg q 3 days X 7); epacadostat (Incyte Corporation, orally dosed at 300 mg/kg/day for 5 days on/2days off for 3 weeks); anti-PD-1 + epacadostat; and control therapy (isotype IgG antibody IP and 0.5% methocel in water). Tumor response assessments were performed by quantifying bioluminescence and survival. A re-challenge experiment was performed in long-term survivors to assess for tumor immune responses capable of preventing relapse. All long-term surviving mice (defined as ≥ 100 days) from the efficacy experiment were injected with 1X10 5 GL261 cells in the contralateral hemisphere and followed for survival. Results: In both preclinical efficacy experiments, median survival in the epacadostat monotherapy group did not differ from controls (approximately 30 days). Four of 8 mice (50%) treated with anti-PD-1 were long-term survivors in both efficacy experiments. In the epacadostat plus anti-PD-1 combination group, 81% of the mice were long-term survivors (7 of 8 in experiment 1 and 6 of 8 in experiment 2). Of note, none of the long-term surviving mice developed evidence of tumor; thus the median survival among the anti-PD-1 and epacadostat plus anti-PD-1 combination groups were both > 100 days. In the re-challenge study, all of the mice who underwent GL261 re-inoculation survived > 100 more days with no evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusions: IDO1 inhibition with epacadostat increased the eradication rate of anti-PD-1 therapy in an orthotopic syngeneic GBM model and long term survivors rejected tumor following orthotopic re-challenge. Further combinatorial studies incorporating IDO inhibitor therapy for GBM, including mechanistic studies, are warranted. Citation Format: David A. Reardon, Prafulla C. Gokhale, Sarah R. Klein, Kristen L. Jones, Paul T. Kirschmeier, Maria Speranza, Holly Koblish, Peggy Scherle, Lance Leopold, Robert Newton, Gordon J. Freeman. Inhibition of IDO1 with epacadostat enhances anti-tumor efficacy of PD-1 blockade in a syngeneic glioblastoma (GBM) model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 572. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-572
Error diffusion on simplices: The structure of bounded invariant tiles

Abstract This is a companion paper to Adleret al. (in press, 2015). There, we proved the existence of an absorbing invariant tile for the Error Diffusion dynamics on an acute simplex when the input is constant and “ergodic” and we discuss the geometry of this tile. Under the same assumptions we prove here that said invariant tile (a fundamental set of the lattice generated by the vertices of the simplex) which is a finite union of polytopes have the property that any union of the intersections of the tile with the Voronoi regions of the vertices is a tile for a different, explicitly defined lattice.
Parametric Comparison and Optimization of Process Parameters In Tig Welding With And Without Use Of Flux For SS 316 A Review Paper

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the specific fluxes used in tungsten inert gas process. Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG) is welding process which is used in those applications requiring a high degree of quality and accuracy. Effect of current, voltage, and gas flow rate on weld penetration on 7mm thick stainless steel 316 plate.Cr2O3 and TiO2 oxide powder were used to investigate the effect of activating flux on TIG weld penetration depth of 316 stainless steel. A-TIG welding was carried out with different process parameters are used like welding current (160-200A), voltage (10-14V), gas flow rate (5-15L/min).
Specific heat and the influence of hydrostatic pressure on the phase transitions in Ni50Mn35In14.25B0.75

Abstract The magnetic properties, magnetocaloric effects, and martensitic transition in Ni50Mn35In14.25B0.75 have been investigated using specific heat and magnetic measurements as a function of hydrostatic pressure. A shift in the martensitic transition temperature (TM) toward room temperature (by 35 K to higher temperature) was observed with the application of pressure (P = 0.54 GPa). The isothermal entropy changes obtained from magnetization and heat capacity measurements were found to be in good agreement. A large inverse adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad) of 2.7 K was determined from heat capacity data at TM for a magnetic field change of 1.8 T. The density of states and the Debye temperature were found to be 4.9 states/eV/f.u. and 322 K, respectively. The magnetic entropy analysis agrees fairly well with the theoretical maximal magnetic entropy, R ln(2J + 1).
Arguing Toward a More Active Citizenry: Re-envisioning the Introductory Civics Course via Debate-Centered Pedagogy

AbstractAs engaging citizens in political activity and debate becomes increasingly difficult, American universities have been encouraged to take the lead in spurring civic discussion and debate, de...
An Archaeological Overview of the Maros Group

The Maros Group is a deceptively easy archaeological culture to know, with a record of excavations going back more than 100 years and a rich archaeological literature. Under its various appellations, it has been the subject of major archaeological syntheses in all three of the countries where it is known: Hungary (Banner 1931; Bona 1965, 1975), Yugoslavia S.R. (Garasanin 1983; Giric 1984, 1987), and Romania (Sandor-Chicideanu and Chicideanu 1989; Soroceanu 1984). These syntheses compile a wealth of data concerning what is known archaeologically of the Maros group and present varying models to account for its distinctive character and origins. The intent of this chapter is not to duplicate these syntheses, but rather to present sufficient summary data on the Maros villages to allow the detailed analysis of the cemetery remains to be placed into a context, both as elements in the larger culture of the Maros peoples and as one of several ethnic cultures occupying the eastern Carpathian Basin during the Early Bronze Age.
A Questionnaire Study concerning the Development of Co-Education in College Physical Education

(1950). A Questionnaire Study concerning the Development of Co-Education in College Physical Education. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 216-229.
Hydralazine-associated Amenorrhea in a Premenopausal Patient With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Abstract Purpose Several antihypertensive medications have been associated with various forms of sexual dysfunction. We present a case report of a premenopausal patient with hydralazine-associated amenorrhea. Methods The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale was used to assess causality. We also performed a literature search on PubMed to find publications that report hydralazine-associated amenorrhea. Results The Naranjo scale generated a score of 6, suggesting a probable relationship between amenorrhea and hydralazine therapy. No publications associating hydralazine with amenorrhea were identified. Implications A probable relationship exists between hydralazine and the development of amenorrhea.
Extrarenal manifestations of the hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC HUS)

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is commonly caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Up to 15% of individuals with STEC-associated hemorrhagic diarrhea develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC HUS). Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a disorder comprising of thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and acute kidney injury. The kidney is the most commonly affected organ and approximately half of the affected patients require dialysis. Other organ systems can also be affected including the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal, cardiac, and musculoskeletal systems. Neurological complications include altered mental status, seizures, stroke, and coma. Gastrointestinal manifestations may present as hemorrhagic colitis, bowel ischemia/necrosis, and perforation. Pancreatitis and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction resulting in both acute and chronic insulin dependant diabetes mellitus can occur. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in cardiac microvasculature and troponin elevation has been reported, and musculoskeletal involvement manifesting as rhabdomyolysis has also been described. Extrarenal complications occur not only in the acute setting but may also be seen well after recovery from the acute phase of HUS. This review will focus on the extrarenal complications of STEC HUS. To date, management remains mainly supportive, and while there is no specific therapy for STEC HUS, supportive therapy has significantly reduced the mortality rate.
What Is in a Definition? The How and When of Special Education Subgroup Analysis in Preschool Evaluations:

There are unique challenges to estimating causal effects of preschool for students with special needs that have not received attention in the literature. We revisit the Head Start Impact Study (HSI...
Network Adaptations Under Cascading Failures for Mission-Oriented Networks

In the network science domain, a larger size of the giant component (i.e., the largest cluster of nodes) represents higher network resilience in terms of maximizing network availability in the presence of attacks. However, this does not necessarily represent how well the network provides promised services under attacks and/or failures. We aim to improve network resilience by introducing network adaptability (i.e., reconfiguration of a network topology), in addition to fault-tolerance. We develop a suite of strategies adopting processes from percolation theory, describing the process to percolate into a medium, for a tactical, mission-oriented network. This network is service-oriented, characterized by a number of task teams where each resource-restricted node aims to maximize resource utilization while completing multiple tasks without failure. We investigate how node failures can trigger overloads, leading to cascading failures. We consider various attack behaviors (infectious, non-infectious, random, or targeted) and analyze their effects. Through extensive simulations, we show the outperformance of the proposed adaptation strategy compared with the performance of the existing counterparts in terms of the size of the giant component, the utilization of resources, the number of alive task teams (or mission success ratio), and the adaptation cost for a large-scale, mission-oriented network under attack.
Alarm Fatigue and a Proposal to Bring Meaning Back to the Noise

Introduction: Alarm safety is an important element of intensive care unit management. The Emergency Care Research Institute has deemed alarms to be the number one hazard in medical technology and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has mandated alarm management to be a priority of hospitals with a plan for management in place by January 2016. There are limited data on reducing false and nuisance alarms in …
The Nature and Power of Conceptualizations of Learning

Metaphors are at the core of conceptualizations from which actions and practices in teaching and learning emerge. Much of the literature in the learning sciences and educational psychology research is based on assumptions emergent from conceptualizations of learning grounded in a construction metaphor of learning: meaning is individually, collaboratively, and collectively constructed in situationally mediated contexts. The literature also argues that people outside these domains tend to have conceptualizations of learning grounded in a transfer/acquisition metaphor of learning which sees knowledge as consisting of discrete entities and learning as the transfer of those entities into the minds of learners. Practices grounded in these conceptualizations are inextricably tied to issues of agency and empowerment. This article explores these issues from a critical theory perspective using a new theoretical framework for analyzing conceptualizations and briefly presents three illustrative empirical studies of conceptualizations of learning in society, educational policy, and educational psychology.
Joint Growth Trajectories of Bullying Perpetration and Victimization Among Korean Adolescents: Estimating a Second-Order Growth Mixture Model–Factor-of-Curves With Low Self-Control and Opportunity Correlates:

Joint growth trajectories of bullying perpetration and victimization were examined using 5-year panel data (2004–2008) from a sample of 2,844 South Korean adolescents between the ages of 11 and 15 ...
Recent Development in UAV-based Antenna Pattern Characterization for Weather Radars

The evaluation and testing of the radiation characteristics of antennas are performed in antenna ranges, and in this context, in-situ measurements provide a means to verify the performance of the antenna such that its intrinsic radiation patterns are not substantially modified by its operational environment. Conventional outdoor range facilities are limited by space and cost constraints, and it would be impractical to develop such facilities for a single radar, let alone a network with a large number of radars. Continuing advances and the availability of relatively inexpensive commercially-off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicle systems allow the development of insitu antenna measurement systems for a wide variety of operating frequencies. Such unmanned aerial vehicle-based antenna ranges are important for polarimetric radars, and in particular for polarimetric calibration since a complete control of the measuring instrument is possible. This paper presents an update of the current in-situ antenna characterization and calibration of a radar system using an unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Advanced Radar Research Center at The University of Oklahoma.
Stochastic Computational Mechanics in Brittle Fracture and Fatigue

The probabilistic finite element method (PFEM), which is based on a second-order perturbation is developed for non-linear problems. In order to incorporate the probabilistic distribution for the compatibility condition, constitutive law, equilibrium, domain, and boundary conditions into the PFEM, the probabilistic Hu-Washizu variational principal is applied. The first- and second- order moments of the response variable are determined from the statistics of the random parameters and loads. The fusion of the PFEM and the first order reliability analysis provides a means for determining fatigue life and its stochastic nature which results from the randomness in the load, crack length, crack location and orientation, and crack growth parameters. A stochastic damage model is employed to explore the brittle fracture of advanced materials. The model, based on the macrocrack-microcrack interaction, incorporates uncertainties in locations and orientations of microcracks. The statistical nature of the fracture toughness is compared with the Neville function, which gives correct fits to sets of experimental data from advanced materials. Finally, a stochastic approach to the curved fatigue crack growth reliability is outlined.
Yield Loss Reduction and Test of AI and Deep Learning Accelerators

With data-driven analytics becoming mainstream, the global demand for dedicated AI and Deep Learning accelerator chips is soaring. These accelerators, designed with densely packed Processing Elements (PE), are especially vulnerable to the manufacturing defects and functional faults common in the advanced semiconductor process nodes resulting in significant yield loss. In this work, we demonstrate an application-driven methodology of binning the AI accelerator chips, and yield loss reduction by correlating the circuit faults in the PEs of the accelerator with the desired accuracy of the target AI workload. We exploit the inherent fault tolerance features of trained deep learning models and a strategy of selective deactivation of faulty PEs to develop the presented yield loss reduction and test methodology. An analytical relationship is derived between fault location, fault rate, and the AI task's accuracy for deciding if the accelerator chip can pass the final yield test. A yield-loss reduction aware fault isolation, ATPG, and test flow are presented for the multiply and accumulate units of the PEs. Results obtained with widely used AI/deep learning benchmarks demonstrate that the accelerators can sustain 5% fault-rate in PE arrays while suffering from less than 1% accuracy loss, thus enabling product-binning and yield loss reduction of these chips.
The chemokine X-factor: Structure-function analysis of the CXC motif at CXCR4 and ACKR3.

The human chemokine family consists of 46 protein ligands that induce chemotactic cell migration by activating a family of 23 G protein–coupled receptors. The two major chemokine subfamilies, CC and CXC, bind distinct receptor subsets. A sequence motif defining these families, the X position in the CXC motif, is not predicted to make significant contacts with the receptor, but instead links structural elements associated with binding and activation. Here, we use comparative analysis of chemokine NMR structures, structural modeling, and molecular dynamic simulations that suggested the X position reorients the chemokine N terminus. Using CXCL12 as a model CXC chemokine, deletion of the X residue (Pro-10) had little to no impact on the folded chemokine structure but diminished CXCR4 agonist activity as measured by ERK phosphorylation, chemotaxis, and Gi/o-mediated cAMP inhibition. Functional impairment was attributed to over 100-fold loss of CXCR4 binding affinity. Binding to the other CXCL12 receptor, ACKR3, was diminished nearly 500-fold. Deletion of Pro-10 had little effect on CXCL12 binding to the CXCR4 N terminus, a major component of the chemokine-GPCR interface. Replacement of the X residue with the most frequent amino acid at this position (P10Q) had an intermediate effect between WT and P10del in each assay, with ACKR3 having a higher tolerance for this mutation. This work shows that the X residue helps to position the CXCL12 N terminus for optimal docking into the orthosteric pocket of CXCR4 and suggests that the CC/CXC motif contributes directly to receptor selectivity by orienting the chemokine N terminus in a subfamily-specific direction.
The Past, Present, and (Near) Future of Gene Therapy and Gene Editing

Gene therapy and gene editing could have profound effects on the health care system — and these impacts are only just beginning.
Seeing like students: what Nairobi youth think about politics, the state and the future

While Kenyan youth comprise the majority of the Kenyan electorate, they are typically either stereotyped as criminals or marginalized, rather than taken seriously as politically important actors. T...
Calibration approach and range of observed sap flow influences transpiration estimates from thermal dissipation sensors

Abstract Calibrating thermal dissipation (TD) sap flow sensors has become increasingly important to accurately estimate whole-tree transpiration, but it is unclear how the calibration approach itself influences the resulting coefficients and estimates. Here, we compare the two most common calibration approaches, gravimetric and potometric, using TD sensors inserted into Eucalyptus benthamii tree stems. The gravimetric approach uses an excised stem segment devoid of branches and leaves and pushes water through the stem using gravity, a positive force. The potometric approach uses a severed stem containing an intact canopy placed upright in a reservoir where water is pulled through the stem via transpiration, a negative force. We hypothesized that the positive pressure associated with gravimetric calibration would overestimate conductive sapwood area relative to that estimated from potometric calibration and that coefficients from these different approaches would result in different estimates of transpiration when applied to intact trees. We also predicted that calibrations could improve transpiration estimates by targeting the range of observed sap flow rates (i.e., K values) in intact trees. Conductive sapwood area was higher under gravimetric calibrations and resulting estimates of transpiration were lower compared to potometric calibrations. Segmented calibration curves, which fit two separate curves for the relationship between sap flux density (Fd) and sap flux index (K) based on the range of sap flow rates observed in intact trees, increased transpiration estimates from both gravimetric and potometric coefficients and diminished the magnitude of difference in transpiration estimates between approaches. Researchers should be aware that calibration approach and range of observed sap flow profoundly influences transpiration estimates from TD sensors and this likely applies to calibrations of other heat-based sap flow sensors.
Mobile health strategies for blood pressure self-management in urban populations with digital barriers: systematic review and meta-analyses.

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies improve hypertension outcomes, but it is unknown if this benefit applies to all populations. This review aimed to describe the impact of mHealth interventions on blood pressure outcomes in populations with disparities in digital health use. We conducted a systematic search to identify studies with systolic blood pressure (SBP) outcomes located in urban settings in high-income countries that included a digital health disparity population, defined as mean age ≥65 years; lower educational attainment (≥60% ≤high school education); and/or racial/ethnic minority (<50% non-Hispanic White for US studies). Interventions were categorized using an established self-management taxonomy. We conducted a narrative synthesis; among randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with a six-month SBP outcome, we conducted random-effects meta-analyses. Twenty-nine articles (representing 25 studies) were included, of which 15 were RCTs. Fifteen studies used text messaging; twelve used mobile applications. Studies were included based on race/ethnicity (14), education (10), and/or age (6). Common intervention components were: lifestyle advice (20); provision of self-monitoring equipment (17); and training on digital device use (15). In the meta-analyses of seven RCTs, SBP reduction at 6-months in the intervention group (mean SBP difference = −4.10, 95% CI: [−6.38, −1.83]) was significant, but there was no significant difference in SBP change between the intervention and control groups (p = 0.48). The use of mHealth tools has shown promise for chronic disease management but few studies have included older, limited educational attainment, or minority populations. Additional robust studies with these populations are needed to determine what interventions work best for diverse hypertensive patients.
“The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”: racial differences in the effects of changes in religiosity and hope in later life

Religious or spiritual approaches to life that promise human fulfillment requires an understanding of hope, defined as feelings of confidence that things will turn out well in the future. Drawing o...
Inventores prolíficos, conocimiento tecnológico y patentes: México y Corea

La reflexion economica sobre la importancia de la produccion de nuevo conocimiento como factor estrategico para el crecimiento y el desarrollo tecnologico, y la funcion que desempenan los inventores prolificos en las economias como agentes clave en el proceso de innovacion, constituyen los temas centrales de este articulo. Se estudia a los inventores prolificos como agentes dinamicos en la produccion de nuevas ideas y como gestores tecnologicos que estimulan a los grupos de investigacion en los que participan al registrar un notorio aumento de sus patentes. Se analiza comparativamente el grado de las patentes de los inventores prolificos de Mexico y Corea durante el periodo 1978-2006, identificando a los que mas lo hacen y los campos tecnologicos en los que estos se especializan.
Production cost structure in US outpatient physical therapy health care.

SUMMARY This paper investigates the technology cost structure in US physical therapy care. We exploit formal economic theories and a rich national data of providers to tease out implications for operational cost efficiencies. The 2008–2009 dataset comprising over 19 000 bi-weekly, site-specific physical therapy center observations across 28 US states and Occupational Employment Statistics data (Bureau of Labor Statistics) includes measures of output, three labor types (clinical, support, and administrative), and facilities (capital). We discuss findings from the iterative seemingly unrelated regression estimation system model. The generalized translog cost estimates indicate a well-behaved underlying technology structure. We also find the following: (i) factor demands are downwardly sloped; (ii) pair-wise factor relationships largely reflect substitutions; (iii) factor demand for physical therapists is more inelastic compared with that for administrative staff; and (iv) diminishing scale economies exist at the 25%, 50%, and 75% output (patient visits) levels. Our findings advance the timely economic understanding of operations in an increasingly important segment of the medical care sector that has, up-to-now (because of data paucity), been missing from healthcare efficiency analysis. Our work further provides baseline estimates for comparing operational efficiencies in physical therapy care after implementations of the 2010 US healthcare reforms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating association rules and decision trees to predict multiple target attributes

Association rules and decision trees represent two well-known data mining techniques to find predictive rules. In this work, we present a detailed comparison between constrained association rules and decision trees to predict multiple target attributes. We identify important differences between both techniques for such goal. We conduct an extensive experimental evaluation on a real medical data set to mine rules predicting disease on multiple heart arteries. The antecedent of association rules contains medical measurements and patient risk factors, whereas the consequent refers to the degree of disease on one artery or multiple arteries. Predictive rules found by constrained association rule mining are more abundant and have higher reliability than predictive rules induced by decision trees. We investigate why decision trees miss certain rules, why they tend to have lower confidence and the possibility of improving them to match constrained association rules. Based on our experimental results, we show association rules, compared to decision trees, tend to have higher confidence, they involve larger subsets of the data set, they are better for multiple target attributes, they work better with user-defined binning and they are easier to interpret.
StarLogo TNG : the convergence of graphical programming and text processing

StarLogo TNG is a robust graphical programming environment for secondary students. Despite the educational advantages of graphical programming, TNG has sustained criticism from some who object to the exclusion of a textual language. Recognizing the benefits of text processing and the power of controlling software with a keyboard, I sought to incorporate text-processing techniques into TNG's graphical language. The key component of this work is an innovation dubbed "Typeblocking," by which users construct block code through the use of a keyboard.
Subwavelength-thick Lenses with High Numerical Apertures and Large Efficiency Based on High Contrast Transmitarrays

Flat optical devices thinner than a wavelength promise to replace conventional free-space components for wavefront and polarization control. Transmissive flat lenses are particularly interesting for applications in imaging and on-chip optoelectronic integration. Several designs based on plasmonic metasurfaces, high-contrast transmitarrays and gratings have been recently implemented but have not provided a performance comparable to conventional curved lenses. Here we report polarization-insensitive, micron-thick, high-contrast transmitarray micro-lenses with focal spots as small as 0.57 λ. The measured focusing efficiency is up to 82%. A rigorous method for ultrathin lens design, and the trade-off between high efficiency and small spot size (or large numerical aperture) are discussed. The micro-lenses, composed of silicon nano-posts on glass, are fabricated in one lithographic step that could be performed with high-throughput photo or nanoimprint lithography, thus enabling widespread adoption.
[17]In vitro assays for characterization of RNA-protein complexes involved in pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA translation

Summary Although we have chosen to illustrate the utility of these techniques in the characterization of RNA-binding proteins that are involved in translation, these techniques are also useful in characterizing RNA-binding proteins that have other functional roles within the cell, such as the processing and transport of RNA. In particular, these techniques are being utilized to characterize RNA-binding proteins involved in the subcellular distribution of RNAs as well as those thought to be involved in regulating the course of various neurological diseases. Once the specificity of an RNA-protein interaction has been characterized by these methods, one can isolate the protein(s) involved by the use of a direct cloning approach via a Northwestern hybridization screen ( 20 , 21 ) or by biochemical purification techniques that take advantage of RNA affinity chromatography ( 22 , 23 ).
Modeling the effects of tidal loading on mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems

[1] Tidal signals are observed in numerous time-series measurements obtained from mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems. In some instances these tidal signals are clearly the result of ocean currents, but in other instances it appears that the signals may originate in the subseafloor formation. In order to explore the effect of ocean tidal loading on mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems, we apply a one-dimensional analytical model of tidal loading on a poroelastic half-space and develop a two-dimensional numerical model of tidal loading on a poroelastic convection cell. The one-dimensional models show that for a reasonable range of fluid, elastic, and hydrological properties, the loading efficiency may vary from near zero to near unity and the diffusive penetration depth for tidal pressure signals may vary from tens of meters to kilometers. The two-dimensional models demonstrate that tides may generate significant vertical and horizontal pressure gradients in mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems as a result of spatial variations in fluid temperatures and the elastic and hydrological properties of the crust. These continuum models predict that outflow temperature perturbations will be very small (<10−4°C), but in real systems where the continuum hypothesis does not always apply, the perturbations may be on the order of ∼0.1°C. The models predict relatively large perturbations to fluid velocity at the seafloor. For high-temperature vents the outflow perturbations normalized to the mean flow velocity increase as the permeability decreases. Flow reversals at the seafloor are predicted in some regions of net low-temperature outflow and net inflow during the tidal cycle. In the subseafloor, tidally induced flow perturbations are likely to significantly enhance mixing and fluid exchange below the seafloor in regions of slow flow and in regions where there are strong gradients in temperature or in the mechanical and hydrological properties of the crust. Tidally enhanced mixing and fluid exchange may significantly influence the extent and character of microbial production in the subseafloor.
Ideology and Referral Categories in Employee Assistance Program Research

Practitioners tend to employ cultural referral categories when classifying what has motivated clients to enter employee assistance programs (EAPs). These categories are rooted in ideology and used in ways that often conceal the diverse factors leading troubled employees to seek help. In particular, application of the term “self-referral” has grown dramatically while application of the term “supervisory referral” has declined, which may reflect practitioners' underlying beliefs about how employees ought to use EAPs. The article discusses some studies of alcohol treatment efforts for which the use of cultural referral categories made interpretation of the findings difficult. Following a review of the medical and psychiatric literaure on seeking help, the authors call for construction of a grounded theory based on qualitative research, and recommend that EAPs develop more accurate classifications for labeling cases.
Calcium Transport by a Calmodulin-Regulated Ca-ATPase in the Enamel Organ

Using aldehyde-fixed rat incisor enamel organ, we localized Ca-ATPase activity ultracytochemically in the plasma membranes, the mitochondrial inner membranes, and the Golgi membranes of secretory ameloblasts and the cells of stratum intermedium at the secretory stage and papillary layer cells at the maturation stage, but not in maturation ameloblasts. This Ca-ATPase activity was totally dependent on substrate ATP, the enzyme activator CaCl2, and also sensitive to the specific calmodulin blocker trifluoperazine (TFP) in the incubation media. Specific antigenic sites of endogenous calmodulin were demonstrated in polyribosomes, the nucleus, mitochondria, and the cytoplasmic matrix along the plasma membranes of secretory ameloblasts, by the protein A-immunogold technique using sheep antiserum against bovine testis calmodulin. All other enamel organ cells-such as stratum intermedium, papillary layer cells, and maturation ameloblasts-were also weakly immunoreactive. In control sections incubated with antiserum ...
The Making of an American Communist: William Z. Foster

Analyses the career of William Zebulon Foster, a leader of the American Communist Party, and a three‐time candidate for President of the United States under that party′s banner. Foster rose from the slums of Philadelphia to earn the reputation of an accomplished labour organizer and then to embrace communist ideology. The poverty of his immigrant parents, and the endless series of dreary jobs he was forced to enter, beginning at age ten, nurtured his rebellious spirit and cultivated an antagonism towards capitalism. Emphasizes the evolution of his ideology from socialism to syndicalism and finally Marxism‐Leninism. William Foster found his vocation as an organizer of trade unions on behalf of the Communist movement. He was a prolific propagandist for and historian of the Party. Never deterred by tortuous twists and turns of the party line, he followed it faithfully and inflexibly until his death in Moscow in 1961.
Identification, Ecology and Reproduction of Microtus in Ohio

In 1941 Bole and Moulthrop described a new subspecies of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster ohioensis . The range of this subspecies extends that of the prairie vole to central southern and southwestern Ohio. The meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus , is found in suitable habitat throughout Ohio. At the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, eight miles northeast of Dayton, Greene County, Ohio, both M. ochrogaster ohioensis and M. pennsylvanicus occur in the same immediate area. An attempt was made to collect Microtus from this area and compare the ecology and reproduction of the two species. Between June of 1953 and July of 1954, 680 specimens of Microtus were collected. The measurements, weight, condition of the reproductive organs, and usually the habitat of each animal were recorded. The skull of each specimen was saved, and study or flat skins of 225 animals were preserved for future reference. Mice were collected by using standard snap-back traps or rarely by hand. Peanut butter and oatmeal flakes were rarely used for bait; the majority of the traps were placed un-baited across runways or in burrows. The author expresses his thanks to Dr. W. J. Hamilton, Jr. for his helpful suggestions during the course of this work and to both Dr. John T. Emlen and Dr. Hamilton for comments on the manuscript. The feature that distinguishes M. o. ohioensis from the other subspecies of Microtus ochrogaster is the absence of any buffy color on the belly. This character is also the most obvious external difference between the other subspecies of the prairie vole and the meadow mouse. Hence, other less convenient characters must be used in order to distinguish the two species in Ohio. The hypothesis that M. pennsylvanicus has six plantar tubercles and M. ochrogaster only five has been discussed and discarded by Bole and …
A political geography of revolution: China, Vietnam, and Thailand:

location and elimination of guerrilla forces and their leaders. It is the significance of the location of such guerrilla bases that is the focus for this paper. The consistency of locational elements in the guel~rilla bases in the cases of China and Vietnam (and ap
Ontogeny of aerodynamics in mallards: comparative performance and developmental implications

Wing morphology correlates with flight performance and ecology among adult birds, yet the impact of wing development on aerodynamic capacity is not well understood. Recent work using chukar partridge ( Alectoris chukar ), a precocial flier, indicates that peak coefficients of lift and drag ( C L and C D) and lift-to-drag ratio ( C L: C D) increase throughout ontogeny and that these patterns correspond with changes in feather microstructure. To begin to place these results in a comparative context that includes variation in life-history strategy, we used a propeller and force-plate model to study aerodynamic force production across a developmental series of the altricial-flying mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ). We observed the same trend in mallards as reported for chukar in that coefficients of vertical ( C V) and horizontal force ( C H) and C V: C H ratio increased with age, and that measures of gross-wing morphology (aspect ratio, camber and porosity) in mallards did not account for intraspecific trends in force production. Rather, feather microstructure (feather unfurling, rachis width, feather asymmetry and barbule overlap) all were positively correlated with peak C V: C H. Throughout ontogeny, mallard primary feathers became stiffer and less transmissive to air at both macroscale (between individual feathers) and microscale (between barbs/barbules/barbicels) levels. Differences between species were manifest primarily as heterochrony of aerodynamic force development. Chukar wings generated measurable aerodynamic forces early (<8 days), and improved gradually throughout a 100 day ontogenetic period. Mallard wings exhibited delayed aerodynamic force production until just prior to fledging (day 60), and showed dramatic improvement within a condensed 2-week period. These differences in timing may be related to mechanisms of escape used by juveniles, with mallards swimming to safety and chukar flap-running up slopes to take refuge. Future comparative work should test whether the need for early onset of aerodynamic force production in the chukar, compared with delayed, but rapid, change in the mallard wing, leads to a limited repertoire of flight behavior in adult chukar compared with mallards. * A : cross-sectional area C D : coefficient of profile drag C H : coefficient of horizontal force C L : coefficient of lift C L,max : maximum coefficient of lift C R : coefficient of resultant force C V : coefficient of vertical force d.p.h. : days post hatching EI : flexural stiffness E : Young's modulus F a : applied force I : second moment of area l : effective beam length Q : air flow Re : Reynolds number T : microscale transmissivity U : wing velocity U r : local air velocity α : active (aerodynamically loaded) angle of attack δ : feather displacement Δ P : pressure differential across the feather
A MEMS-enabled biodegradable battery for powering transient implantable devices

Active implantable medical devices (IMD) for the monitoring and treatment of transient disease states have garnered increasing interest in the medical research community. In order for these technologies to be fully viable, they require a similarly biodegradable energy source. This study presents a series of MEMS-enabled biodegradable batteries comprising Mg anodes and Fe cathodes in a 0.1 M MgCl2 electrolyte. The anode was fabricated by electroplating Mg from a non-aqueous solution and passivated with either polycaprolactone or poly(glycerol-sebacate). Mg anodes coated with the biodegradable polymers hindered parasitic corrosion of the biodegradable anode and significantly enhanced the performance of the battery. The batteries demonstrated a capacity and power delivery capability of up to 0.7 mAh and 26 μW, respectively, which are sufficient for powering MEMS-based IMD systems.
Early detection of apoptosis in living cells by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Early detection of apoptotic cells via caspase activity is demonstrated with fast response time. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is used to identify the presence of a cleaved fluorogenic probe based on the fluorescence of rhodamine 110 in Jurkat cells. FCS curves are shown to be markedly different for autofluorescent (non-apoptotic) cells, whereas cells with cleaved probe showed diffusion and molecular brightness characteristic of rhodamine 110. Using FCS measurements, cells were identified as apoptotic on the basis of the presence of autocorrelated fluorescence, average molecular brightness (eta), and molecular dwell time (tau (D)). Apoptotic cells identified in this manner were detected as early as 45 min after induction. Unlike other methods with similar identification times, such as western blotting and electron microscopy, cells remain viable for further analysis. This multi-parameter approach is rapid, flexible, and does not require transfection of the cells prior to analysis, enabling apoptosis to be identified early in a wide variety of cell types.
The Student‐teacher Review Process in Profiling: an initial investigation into possibilities and limitations

Abstract If the student‐teacher review process is to play a meaningful part in the overall educational development of the student, it is vital that the process becomes a ‘real’ act of genuine communication. Active negotiation is a prerequisite if the student is to be allowed the opportunity to become an energetic, discriminating and meaningful citizen. The author analyses the implications of a survey of 134 students on their experiences of being ‘profiled’. The relevance of the profiling exercise as perceived by the students give a clear indication as to why the process of ‘genuine communication’ is currently rarely achieved.
Names for Nuclear Science

In these extracts from his study The Language of Nuclear Science (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1968) Dr Kertesz traces the origin of some of the strange names that have been given to materials and equipment by nuclear scientists.
Pertinent CT Anatomy of the Neck for Interpreting PET/CT

The rise of combined positron emission tomography (PET)/CT has stimulated the need for radiologists who are familiar with both nuclear medicine and anatomic imaging techniques, so that a single interpreting physician can provide a consistent report. To provide patients with a high level of accuracy in PET/CT readings, a correspondingly high level of expertise is needed in each of the contributing modalities. The purpose of this article is to provide guidance for physicians who have experience with nuclear medicine techniques, but are becoming more familiar with CT of the neck, and, in particular, with the imaging of cervical lymph nodes.
Thrombin Receptor Polymorphism in Chinese Hamster

We report the existence of a new Chinese hamster thrombin receptor allele, characterized by an in-frame insertion of three nucleotides at position 250 of the published sequence. As a consequence, an additional proline is inserted into a proline-rich region of the extracellular amino-terminal domain of the receptor. A corresponding proline at this position is also found in the rat thrombin receptor. A silent base-pair change is found in the cytoplasmic tail of the receptor gene. Single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis indicate this new receptor allele is present in several cell lines derived from different individual Chinese hamsters. Embryonic CHEF IIC9 cells and primary culture cells are homozygous for this new allele. In contrast, the CCL39 lung fibroblast cell line is heterozygous for both the new and old alleles. Both alleles are transcribed into mRNA and code for functional receptors. Given the allelic distribution and sequence alignment with thrombin receptors from other species, we propose that the new sequence represents the actual predominant allele in Chinese hamster.
The total stereostructure of (-)-isozingiberene dihydrochloride

Abstract The stereochemistry and absolute configuration of (-)-isozingi- berene dihydrochloride have been determined and the latter has been correlated with the cadalenic sesquiterpene, (-)-epizonarene.
A mechanism for incorporation of carbonate into apatite

Octacalcium phosphate (Ca8H2(PO4)6·5H2O) is considered to be a precursor in the formation of apatite in bones and teeth; a crucial step for incorporation of impurities appears to occur during its hydrolysis. The present study examines the role that octacalcium phosphate plays in the process of incorporation of carbonate into apatite. Chemical, X-ray diffraction, and infrared techniques were used.