cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Human Biospecimens for Research

Tissue and body fluids samples obtained from patients represent biospecimens that are essential for research efforts aimed at identifying molecular pathways for disease development and the identification of new targets for therapeutic intervention. The manner in which biospecimens are obtained, processed, and annotated with important clinical and pathological data impacts the quality and accuracy of research results. Biospecimen collections must be carefully planned, coordinated, and documented using ‘best practice’ guidelines. Institutional centralization of biorepository operations can facilitate optimizing and standardizing collection and processing procedures, providing dedicated personnel, improving annotation of data and specimen requests through an ‘honest broker’ system, and improve cost efficiency. The basic flow of biospecimen collection, processing, and distribution is presented along with a discussion of the types and limitations of human biospecimens for research purposes.
High-throughput Biotinylation of Proteins

One of the more useful tags for a protein in biochemical experiments is biotin, because of its femtomolar dissociation constant with streptavidin or avidin. Robust methodologies have been developed for other the in vivo addition of a single biotin to recombinant protein or the in vitro enzymatic or chemical addition of biotin to a protein. Such modified proteins can be used in a variety of experiments, such as affinity selection of phage-displayed peptides or antibodies, pull-down of interacting proteins from cell lysates, or displaying proteins on arrays. We present three complementary approaches for biotinylating proteins in vivo in Escherichia coli or in vitro using chemical or enzymatical reactions all of which can be scaled up to tag large numbers of proteins in parallel.
Computers and Curriculum Change in Mathematics

Computers have entered the fabric of modern society so thoroughly that they have become pervasive in everyday affairs. Their entry into schools, however, has been slow, and even slower has been their entry into mathematics classrooms. “While electronic computation has been in the hands of mathematicians for four decades, it has been in the hands of teachers and learners for at most two decades, mostly in the form of time-shared facilities. But the real breakthrough of decentralized and personalized microcomputer-based computing has been widely available for less than one decade” (Kaput 1992, p. 515).
Dealing with the loss of a resident: An analysis of burnout rates in a reduced complement training program.

BACKGROUND Residents in all fields of medicine experience high levels of burnout and less job-related satisfaction due to the stress experienced during training. Reduced complement residency classes often experience increased workloads due to the need to compensate for the fewer number of classmates. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to examine whether residency classes of reduced size experience higher levels of burnout. METHODS The Maslach Burnout Inventory Survey was distributed to all orthopaedic residents at our institution for four consecutive years. Emotional exhaustion≥27 and depersonalization≥10 correlate with high levels of burnout. At our institution, two residents were lost during their second year of training. Group 1 (n = 56) consisted of residents with reduced-size classes, while group 2 (n = 60) consisted of residents with full complement classes. RESULTS Mean emotional exhaustion (29 vs. 30) and depersonalization (17 vs. 17) scores were comparable between reduced and full complement classes. The Maslach data from our study showed no statistical difference in burnout levels between classes of full complement and reduced complement. CONCLUSIONS When compared to a previous study on burnout conducted in large orthopaedic residency programs, our entire residency program did demonstrate similar levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.
Influenza Vaccination Can Broadly Activate the HIV Reservoir During Antiretroviral Therapy.

Author(s): Christensen-Quick, Aaron; Chaillon, Antoine; Yek, Christina; Zanini, Fabio; Jordan, Parris; Ignacio, Caroline; Caballero, Gemma; Gianella, Sara; Smith, Davey
Protecting Information with Cybersecurity

Virtually every system today confronts the cybersecurity threat, and the system architect must have the ability to integrate security features and functions as integral elements of a system. In this chapter, we survey this large, complex, and rapidly evolving subject with the goal of giving the reader a level of understanding that will enable incorporation of cybersecurity within an MBSE process and effective interaction with security experts. We begin by introducing the subject and describing the primary aspects of the current cybersecurity environment. We define fundamental terminology and concepts used in the cybersecurity community, and we describe the basic steps to include cybersecurity risk in an overall risk management process, which is a central SE responsibility. We then list some of the primary sources of information, guidance, and standards upon which a systems engineer can and should draw. Next, we summarize the major aspects of incorporating security controls in a system architecture and design to achieve an acceptable level of security risk for a system. We extend this to the increasingly important world of service-oriented, network-based, and distributed systems. We conclude with a brief presentation of the application of MBSAP to the specific issues of cybersecurity and summarize the characteristics of a Secure Software Development Life Cycle aimed at creating software with minimum flaws and vulnerabilities. We illustrate the application of cybersecurity principles and practices using the Smart Microgrid example. Chapter Objective: the reader will be able to apply the MBSAP methodology to systems and enterprises that require protection of sensitive data and processes against the growing cybersecurity threat and to work effectively with cybersecurity specialists to achieve effective secure system solutions.
Thermal degradation process of semi-synthetic fuels for gas turbine engines in non-aeronautical applications

This article concerns the issue of thermal degradation process of fuels, important from the perspective of the operation of turbine engines, especially in the context of new fuels/bio-fuels and their implementation. The studies of the kerosene based jet fuel (Jet A-1) and its blends with synthetic components manufactured according to HEFA and ATJ technology, were presented. Both technologies are currently approved by ASTM D7566 to produce components to be added to turbine fuels. Test rig investigations were carried out according to specific methodology which reflects the phenomena taking place in fuel systems of turbine engines. The mechanism of thermal degradation process was assessed on the basis of test results for selected properties, IR spectroscopy and calculation of activation energy. The results show that with the increase of the applied temperature there is an increment of the content of solid contaminants, water and acid for all tested fuels. Thermal degradation process is different for conventional jet fuel when compared to blends, but also semi-synthetic fuels distinguished by different thermal stability depending on a given manufacturing technology.
Numerical simulation and experimental corroboration of galvanic corrosion of mild steel in synthetic concrete pore solution

Abstract Corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete is one of the most prevalent deterioration mechanisms affecting reinforced concrete structures. While there have been significant advances in modeling the initiation stage of corrosion, corrosion kinetic models for predicting the rate of corrosion after depassivation of steel are scarce, and models with experimental corroboration under controlled experimental conditions are virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, the sensitivity of corrosion kinetic models to the uncertainty of their input parameters is not understood. The objective of the present work is to model active corrosion of steel in synthetic solution, experimentally corroborate the modeling approach under controlled conditions, and study the effect of uncertainty of the input parameters on the model predictions. To this end, a two-dimensional finite element method is used to solve the coupled system of Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations subjected to electroneutrality constraint. To corroborate the modeling approach, the results of computations are compared against one-dimensional and two-dimensional galvanic corrosion of stainless/carbon steel in dilute and non-dilute NaCl electrolytes as well as two synthetic concrete pore solutions. The modeling parameters, including electrode polarization behaviors and electrolyte properties, are obtained experimentally. Monte Carlo simulations are used to understand the effect of uncertainty of polarization parameters on the predicted corrosion rate.
Sleep & Circadian Health are Associated with Mood & Behavior in Adolescents with Overweight/Obesity

Rates of overweight/obesity and insufficient/delayed sleep are high among adolescents and are also unique risk factors for mood/behavior difficulties. This study aimed to evaluate relationships bet...
Estimating energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions from energy rating and disclosure policies

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions from energy rating and disclosure policies in New York City. During the first six year of the policy, the City saw a cumulative energy savings of 10.8% and cumulative GHG reductions of 8.5%. However, these gross changes cannot necessarily be attributed to the benchmarking and transparency policies. In order to estimate the “counterfactual” scenario – what would have happened if the policy was not implemented, we use a combination of Difference-in-Difference Estimation and Propensity Score Matching. Based on this model, we conclude that the disclosure of Energy Star Scores to the public did not have a significant effect on energy savings and GHG emissions reductions for multifamily buildings.
Randomized trial of a collaborative palliative and oncology care intervention to improve communication about end-of-life care in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

1008Background: Studies have demonstrated the benefits of early, integrated palliative care in improving quality of life (QOL) and end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with poor prognosis cancers. H...
Using Demographics to Predict Palliative Care Access in Inpatient Facilities in Rural North Carolina.

PURPOSE For individuals with cancer, palliative care improves quality of life, mood, and survival. Rural residents experience limited access to palliative care. In eastern North Carolina, a rural area, little is known about access to inpatient cancer-related palliative care. This study describes access to inpatient palliative care and developed a predictive model of who was most likely to be admitted to an inpatient facility without a palliative care provider. METHODS A descriptive, exploratory design was used to examine demographics, clinical variables, and inpatient admissions from 2017 and 2018, in a major regional teaching hospital system that included 8 hospitals (7 rural hospitals). Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression were used to analyze data. FINDINGS The mean age was 62.2 years (N = 2,161, range: 18-88, SD = 15.52): 49.4% were female, 54% lived in a rural county, and 44.4% were black. The outlying rural hospitals, with no palliative care providers on staff, had 388 admissions (18%). Only gender (P = .0128), county (P < .0001), and age (P < .05) contributed to the logistic model. The predicted probability of being admitted to an inpatient facility with a palliative care provider is higher for younger males living in urban counties. That probability decreases with age regardless of the gender or type of county. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the limited availability of inpatient palliative care for those with cancer. Women, older adults, and rural residents are more likely to be admitted to 1 of the 7 rural hospitals with no palliative care provider on staff.
Clinical, radiology, pathologic patterns and outcomes of vaping related pulmonary injury in a single institution; A case series

Since March 2019, E-cigarette or Vaping product associated lung injury (EVALI) has become an ongoing epidemic with more 2600 cases reported in the span of a few months in the United States. EVALI is defined as acute lung injury that develops secondary to the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products within the previous 90 days after exlusion of other possible inciting factors. Vitamin E acetate is believed to play a significant role in its pathogenesis. Treatment involves use of corticosteroids and further avoidance of these products. We describe a case series of 8 patients with EVALI, their clinical course and outcomes. All patients showed an excellent response to corticosteroids. In our experience, prognosis of EVALI is excellent, with complete resolution of symptoms in patients who followed up at 8 weeks.
Optical Generation of Pulsed Microwave Signals with High-Power Photodiodes

Pulsed microwave signals with record high peak power of 44.2 dBm (26.3 W), 41.6 dBm (14.5 W) and 40.6 dBm (11.5 W) at 10 GHz, 17 GHz and 22 GHz, respectively, were generated using modified uni-travelling-carrier (MUTC) photodiodes.
Maps from a surface into a compact Lie group and curvature

This is a brief note on curvature properties of Sobolev Lie groups of maps from a Riemann surface into a compact Lie group K. Freed showed that, in a necessarily qualified sense, the quotient space $$W^{1/2}(S^1,K)/K$$ is a (nonnegative constant) Einstein “manifold” with respect to the essentially unique $${\hbox {PSU}}(1,1)$$ -invariant metric, where $$W^{s}$$ denotes maps of $$L^2$$ Sobolev order s. In a similarly qualified sense, and in addition making use of the Dixmier trace/Wodzicki residue, we show that for a Riemann surface $$\Sigma $$ , $$W^1(\Sigma ,K)/K$$ is a (nonnegative constant) Einstein “manifold” with respect to the essentially unique conformally invariant metric. Because of the qualifications involved in these statements, in practice it is necessary to consider curvature for $$W^s(\Sigma ,K)$$ for s above the critical exponent, and limits.
Approximate multiplication in young children prior to multiplication instruction.

Abstract Prior work indicates that children have an untrained ability to approximately calculate using their approximate number system (ANS). For example, children can mentally double or halve a large array of discrete objects. Here, we asked whether children can perform a true multiplication operation, flexibly attending to both the multiplier and multiplicand, prior to formal multiplication instruction. We presented 5- to 8-year-olds with nonsymbolic multiplicands (dot arrays) or symbolic multiplicands (Arabic numerals) ranging from 2 to 12 and with nonsymbolic multipliers ranging from 2 to 8. Children compared each imagined product with a visible comparison quantity. Children performed with above-chance accuracy on both nonsymbolic and symbolic approximate multiplication, and their performance was dependent on the ratio between the imagined product and the comparison target. Children who could not solve any single-digit symbolic multiplication equations (e.g., 2 × 3) on a basic math test were nevertheless successful on both our approximate multiplication tasks, indicating that children have an intuitive sense of multiplication that emerges independent of formal instruction about symbolic multiplication. Nonsymbolic multiplication performance mediated the relation between children’s Weber fraction and symbolic math abilities, suggesting a pathway by which the ANS contributes to children’s emerging symbolic math competence. These findings may inform future educational interventions that allow children to use their basic arithmetic intuition as a scaffold to facilitate symbolic math learning.
Introducing a Framework for Assessing the Moral Limits of Sovereignty and Sovereign Discretion

In Chaps. 3 and 4, two different approaches to understanding the moral limits to the legitimate zone of sovereign discretion were identified and explicated, those inherent to the notion of sovereignty itself and those implied by an instrumental moral justification for sovereignty. These limitations are the grounding for a framework to be used to assess the moral limits to the legitimate zone of sovereign discretion and, by implication, the moral limits of state sovereignty.
Social Responsibility and the World of Nature: an interdisciplinary environmental studies course for inspiring whole system thinking and environmental citizenship

Environmental educators face many challenges in university settings, including improving students’ capacity for systems thinking, the effective use of educational technology, and supporting a sense of agency for participation in social change. This article presents a model for teaching “Social Responsibility and the World of Nature,” an undergraduate-level civic engagement course designed to address these challenges in a context of interdisciplinary environmental studies. The model draws upon strategies from the authentic learning sciences to support co-created, collaborative learning, formative evaluation, and a personally relevant, “affective awareness” of environmental issues. These strategies are combined with case studies on environmental ethics, ecological sciences, and social entrepreneurship to inform a social-ecological design project through which students can express a personal definition of environmental citizenship. A key in application is implementing a reflective teaching practice that questions the role of absolute knowledge in the classroom. The analysis draws upon a case study approach, informed by four semesters implementing and refining the model, to illustrate its use in practice while examining student outcomes to elicit insights on effectiveness. The results support trends in the learning sciences that can transform the teaching and learning of environmental studies in higher education, particularly, the role of personally relevant learning experiences in developing a sense of agency for social and environmental change. This study contributes to these trends, while offering forward-looking insights for environmental educators and researchers in a variety of learning settings.
Sarkas: A Fast Pure-Python Molecular Dynamics Suite for Non-Ideal Plasmas

Molecular Dynamics (MD) is a powerful tool for simulating complex dynamical systems. MD is used across several disciplines and their sub-fields, e.g. biology, chemistry, material science. As a matter of fact for each of these research fields we can find MD codes, open-source or proprietary, optimized for the simulation of their respective dynamical systems. No such code exists for Non-Ideal Plasmas. This generates several difficulties for researchers. On one hand researchers are forced to modify existing codes and/or write their own. This requires an extensive knowledge of computing as all of the available codes have been developed in low-level languages, e.g. C or Fortran. Furthermore, the codes have been optimized for the simulation of systems other than non-ideal plasmas and as such are often difficult to modify. On the other hand most MD codes provide only a code for the simulation phase and lack pre-processing and/or post-processing analysis tools. Several open-source packages are available for post-processing, but again they are specific to systems other than non-ideal plasmas and are often developed in interpretative languages, e.g. Python.
Dynamic bayesian network-based fault diagnosis for ASHRAE guideline 36: high performance sequence of operation for HVAC systems

A dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) is proposed in this study to diagnose faults for building heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems that are controlled based on American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)'s Guideline 36: High Performance Sequence of Operation for HVAC (hereinafter Guideline 36). Guideline 36 provides recommendations on supervisory-level control. HVAC systems that adopt these strategies have more comprehensive setpoint reset schedules and more advanced control logics than typical HVAC systems. It is hence of interest to understand how faults might affect the performance of HVAC systems that are controlled based on Guideline 36 and whether we can develop strategies to diagnose and isolate faults even for systems with such comprehensive control sequences. Contrarily to a Bayesian Network (BN), DBN method incorporates the temporal dependencies of fault nodes between time steps using temporal conditional probabilities. This allows fault beliefs to accumulate over time and thus improves diagnosis accuracy. In this study, the accuracy and scalability of the proposed method is evaluated using the data from a Modelica-based simulated testbed. Overall, the developed DBN shows good potential in diagnosing and isolating the root fault causes for HVAC systems that are controlled based on the Guideline 36 control sequence.
Nontradables Inflation and Macroeconomic Policy Mix: A Model with Policy Application to Transition Economies

How a price increase in the nontradables sector of a transition economy affects the exchange rate, relative prices, wages, and, indirectly, the movement of factors of production. Polackova analyzes the macroeconomic effects of inflation in the nontradables sector of a small open economy to suggest how different macroeconomic policies would facilitate structural adjustment after price liberalization in a transition economy. She uses a Mundell-Fleming rational expectations model of a two-sector economy to study how inflation in the nontradables sector affects the exchange rate, relative prices, wages, and, indirectly, the movement of factors of production. She applies the analysis to a cut in producer subsidies in the nontradables sector and assesses how macroeconomic policies involving the management of supply and demand might affect government objectives for the economy and redistribution. She concludes that to alleviate the transitory negative effects of a cut in producer subsidies, targeted household transfers combined with a tax cut, if possible, are superior to expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Making the tax cut less than the cut in subsidies and financing targeted lump-sum household transfers from government savings reduce the risk of poverty and external imbalances. The potential benefits from exchange rate management depend greatly on the level of wage discipline. This paper - a product of the Country Operations Division, Europe and Central Asia, Country Department II - is part of a larger effort in the department to support countries in continuing and sustaining social and economic growth.
International Proscription Against Torture and the United States’ Categorical and Qualified Responses

Although the prohibition against torture is a jus cogens and proscribed by multiple international treaties and United States law, such bans did not prevent the torture of detainees in United States’ custody. For a state truly to protect people from torture, it must rely less on definitions and prohibitions and turn to leadership and policy; proscriptions by themselves cannot stop torture—only leadership and policy can. In the case of detainees held by the United States during the war on terror, presidential leadership created an environment that allowed torture, and it was not curtailed until presidential leadership stopped it.
IMAGINABILITY, CONCEIVABILITY, POSSIBILITY AND THE MIND-BODY PROBLEM

L'A. defend le materialisme du type contre la ligne de pensee developpee par Kripke a partir de la manifestation de la douleur, dans son etat physique et dans son etat cerebral defini en termes de stimulation de la fibre-C. Examinant les notions de separabilite et imagination chez T. Nagel, et la faculte de concevoir le possible (desincarnation, zombie), l'A. montre que la position de Kripke ne met en question que l'ensemble des intuitions modales a posteriori qui se forment independamment de l'information concernant les faits empiriques
Generative modeling: an approach to high-level shape design for computer graphics and CAD

Generative modeling is an approach to computer-assisted geometric modeling. The goal of the approach is to allow convenient and high-level specification of shapes, and provide tools for rendering and analysis of the specified shapes. Shapes include curves, surfaces, and solids in 3D space, as well as higher-dimensional entities such as surfaces deforming in time, and solids with a spatially varying mass density. Shape specification in the approach involves combining low-dimensional entities, especially 2D curves, into higher-dimensional shapes. This combination is specified through a powerful shape description language which builds multidimensional parametric functions. The language is based on a set of primitive operators on parametric functions which include arithmetic operators, vector and matrix operators, integration and differentiation, constraint solution and global optimization. Although each primitive operator is fairly simple, high-level shapes and shape building operators can be defined using recursive combination of the primitive operators. The approach encourages the modeler to build parameterized families of shapes rather than single instances. Shapes can be parameterized by scalar parameters (e.g., time or joint angle) or higher-dimensional parameters (e.g., a curve controlling how the scale of a cross section varies as it is translated). Such parameterized shapes allow easy modification of the design, since the modeler can interact with parameters that relate to high-level properties of the shape. In contrast, many geometric modeling systems use a much lower-level specification, such as through sets of many 3D control points. Tools for rendering and analysis of generative models are developed using the concept of interval analysis. Each primitive operator on parametric functions has an inclusion function method, which produces an interval bound on the range of the function, given an interval bound on its domain. With these inclusion functions, robust algorithms exist for computing solutions to nonlinear systems of constraints and global minimization problems, when these problems are expressed in the modeling language. These algorithms, in turn, are developed into robust approximation techniques to compute intersections, CSG operations, and offset operations.
In Situ Hybridization

Afascinating property of DNA is the complementarity of the nucleotide bases in its two anti-parallel strands, with G always pairing with C and A always pairing with T. This does not involve strong covalent chemical bonds but weak hydrogen bonds. There are three hydrogen bonds between G-C pairs and two between A-T pairs, so strand separation is easier in AT-rich DNA than in GC-rich DNA. Mild heating breaks these hydrogen bonds and is one way to separate the two strands, called denaturation or dissociation. Reducing the temperature under the right salt conditions leads to renaturation (reassociation or reannealing) of the two strands by reconstitution of the hydrogen bonds. The rate of renaturation depends on the frequency of collision between complementary sequences, which depends on their concentration. The concentration and time required for renaturation determines the Cot value (concentration × time). If a high concentration of labeled probe DNA is used, hybridization to complementary nucleic acid sequences in the target preparation can be achieved in a reasonably short time. These properties of DNA are extremely important, because they make it possible to detect specific DNA sequences (such as genes) on a nitrocellulose filter (molecular hybridization) or in cytological preparations (in situ hybridization) by using labeled DNA or RNA probes.
On the complexity of hilbert’s 17th problem

Hilbert posed the following problem as the 17th in the list of 23 problems in his famous 1900 lecture: Given a multivariate polynomial that takes only non-negative values over the reals, can it be represented as a sum of squares of rational functions? In 1927, E. Artin gave an affirmative answer to this question. His result guaranteed the existence of such a finite representation and raised the following important question: What is the minimum numberof rational functions needed to represent any non-negative n-variate, degree dpolynomial? In 1967, Pfister proved that any n-variate non-negative polynomial over the reals can be written as sum of squares of at most 2n rational functions. In spite of a considerable effort by mathematicians for over 75 years, it is not known whether n+2 rational functions are sufficient! In lieu of the lack of progress towards the resolution of this question, we initiate the study of Hilbert’s 17th problem from the point of view of Computational Complexity. In this setting, the following question is a natural relaxation: What is the descriptive complexityof the sum of squares representation (as rational functions) of a non-negative, n-variate, degree dpolynomial? We consider arithmetic circuits as a natural representation of rational functions. We are able to show, assuming a standard conjecture in complexity theory, that it is impossible that every non-negative, n-variate, degree four polynomial can be represented as a sum of squares of a small (polynomial in n) number of rational functions, each of which has a small size arithmetic circuit (over the rationals) computing it.
Sources in Portuguese and Goan (India) Archives and Libraries (1500-1755)

Abstract Portuguese and Goan (India) archives and libraries contain a wealth of early modern sources (1500-1755). Outlined here are three relevant collections in Minnesota, seventeen in Portugal, and three in Goa. Special emphasis is on early-modern Portugal and Portuguese Asia; in particular, sources for social, legal, women's, and maritime history are discussed. The article lists current archival guides, sketches the holdings in each institution, and concludes with a review of published early modern documents and bibliographies pertinent to the Portuguese in Asia.
Differential tissue expression of three 35-kDa annexin calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins.

Abstract We have purified three 35-kDa calcium- and phospholipid-binding proteins from rat liver. These three calcimedins bind to phosphatidylserine in a calcium-dependent manner and have been termed 35 alpha, 35 beta, and 35 gamma based on their relative charge as determined by isoelectric focusing. Purification of the three 35-kDa calcimedins is achieved by phenyl-Sepharose, ion exchange, and gel filtration chromatography. Antibody was produced against the annexin consensus peptide, Lys-Ala-Met-Lys-Gly-Leu-Gly-Thr-Asp-Glu, which was derived from the sequence of several Ca2+/phospholipid-binding proteins including calpactin, lipocortin, endonexin II, 67-kDa calelectrin, lymphocyte 68-kDa protein, and protein II. Recognition of each 35-kDa calcimedin by anticonsensus sequence antibody places them in this protein family. Antibodies against each 35-kDa calcimedin were raised and purified by antigen-affinity chromatography. Each antibody is monospecific for the respective 35-kDa calcimedin. Immunological cross-reactivity defines 35 alpha, 35 beta, and 35 gamma as lipocortins III, IV, and V, respectively. Surveys by immunoblot analysis using these monospecific antibodies demonstrate a markedly different tissue expression pattern for each 35-kDa calcimedin. Furthermore, the levels of 35 alpha, 35 beta, and 35 gamma are differentially regulated in maturing rat ovary and uterus. Each calcimedin has been localized by indirect immunofluorescence within specific cell types. These results support the concept that mediation of the intracellular calcium signal can occur via multiple pathways through several related yet independent mediator proteins.
The sharp Sobolev inequality and the Banchoff-Pohl inequality on surfaces

Let (M, g) be a complete two dimensional simply connected Riemannian manifold with Gaussian curvature K < -1. If f is a compactly supported function of bounded variation on M, then f satisfies the Sobolev inequality 47rl f2dA+ (JIf IdA) < (JMlVf dA)Conversely, letting f be the characteristic function of a domain D C M recovers the sharp form 47rA(D) + A(D)2 < L(aD)2 of the isoperimetric inequality for simply connected surfaces with K < -1. Therefore this is the Sobolev inequality "equivalent" to the isoperimetric inequality for this class of surfaces. This is a special case of a result that gives the equivalence of more general isoperimetric inequalities and Sobolev inequalities on surfaces. Under the same assumptions on (M, g), if c: [a, b] -* M is a closed curve and wc(x) is the winding number of c about x, then the Sobolev inequality implies 4J7r w2dA+ (I weIdA) < L(c)2, which is an extension of the Banchoff-Pohl inequality to simply connected surfaces with curvature <-1.
Salinization and Saline Environments

This chapter provides an overview of global salinization phenomena and investigates the different mechanisms and geochemical processes that are associated with salinization. The overview includes salinization of rivers, lakes, and groundwater from different parts of the world. Special emphasis is given to the distinction between natural processes and anthropogenic forcing that generates salinity, such as wastewater contamination and agricultural runoff. As such, two anthropogenic salinization cycles are introduced – the agricultural and the domestic. The role of the unsaturated zone in shaping the chemical composition of dryland salinization is also discussed. An overview of the effects of salinity on the occurrence of health-related contaminants such as fluoride, oxyanions (arsenic, selenium, boron), radionuclides, trihalomethanes, and fish-kill algae is presented. Some useful geochemical and isotopic fingerprinting tracers are introduced for elucidating the salinity sources. Finally, the chemical and isotopic compositions of man-made ‘new water’ that is produced from desalination are analyzed with implications for predicting the chemical and isotopic compositions of future water resources in the Anthropocene Era.
Beam clean-up utilizing spatial optical solitary waves in KTP

Summary form only given. Since the first demonstration of spatial solitary waves in a quadratic nonlinear optical material, such materials have been studied for potential all-optical applications. Beam clean-up measurements were conducted with use of a 1-cm-long bulk KTiOPO/sub 4/ (KTP) crystal oriented to an SHG phase mismatch. The source used was a Q-switched, modelocked, Nd:YAG system.
Isolated human and animal stratum corneum as a partial model for the 15 steps of percutaneous absorption: emphasizing decontamination, part II

Cutaneously directed chemical warfare agents can elicit significant morbidity and mortality. The optimization of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions counteracting these agents is crucial, and the development of decontamination protocols and methodology of post dermal exposure risk assessments would be additionally applicable to common industrial and consumer dermatotoxicants. Percutaneous (PC) penetration is often considered a simple one-step diffusion process but presently consists of at least 15 steps. The systemic exposure to an agent depends on multiple factors and the second part of this review covers absorption and excretion kinetics, wash and rub effects, skin substantivity and transfer, among others. Importantly, the partitioning behavior and diffusion through the stratum corneum (SC) of a wide physicochemical array of compounds shows that many compounds have approximately the same diffusion coefficient which determines their percutaneous absorption in vivo. After accounting for anatomical variation of the SC, the penetration flux value of a substance depends mainly on its SC/vehicle partition coefficient. Additionally, the SC acts as a 'reservoir' for topically applied molecules, and tape stripping methodology can quantify the remaining chemical in the SC which can predict the total molecular penetration in vivo. The determination of ideal decontamination protocols is of utmost importance to reduce morbidity and mortality. However, even expeditious standard washing procedures post dermal chemical exposure often fails to remove chemicals. The second part of this overview continues to review percutaneous penetration extending insights into the complexities of penetration, decontamination and potential newer assays that may be of practical importance.
Fluorescence analysis of denaturation and reassembly of dansylated creatine kinase

Abstract Upon exposure of rabbit muscle creatine kinase (ATP: creatine N -phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3.2) that has been dansylated at the two reactive lysines to 8 M urea, the maximum emission of the extrinsic fluorophore shifts 4 nm towards the blue, this being accompanied by a small decrease in intensity. The fluorescence emission and excitation spectra of the reassembled and native proteins are the same. Denaturation is accompanied by a rapid decrease in fluorescence which is complete in 10 s. This suggests that denaturation is accompanied by an early disorganization at the catalytic center, where the reactive lysines are located. Reassembly is associated with a rapid increase in dansyl fluorescence followed by a slower decrese that is complete in 6 min. Since reactivation is not complete until 20 min, minor additional structural changes are needed for the reacquisition of catalytic activity. The intrinsic protein fluorescence (eight tryptophans per dimer) of dansylated creatine kinase is approximately 60% less than that of the unlabelled enzyme, which may be attributed to resonance energy transfer, indicating that the reactive lysine is located near one or more of the tryptophans. A more limited quenching of intrinsic fluorescence is observed when dansylated creatine kinase is exposed to 8 M urea. Reassembly, monitored by a decrease in intrinsic fluorescence, reveals that the dansylated protein achieves its final fluorescence after 18 min of renaturation compared with 30 min for unlabelled enzyme. The powerful quenching by the dansyl group may limit the ability to monitor changes in the tryptophan environment. Kinetics of fluorescence polarization changes during denaturation are consistent with a mechanism involving rapid dissociation, followed by a subunit disorganization and possible aggregation. Reassembly would appear to involve first a refolding of the disorganized monomers and subsequent association. These results correspond to our previous observations that subunit renaturation precedes dimerization.
DNA strand breakage after kidney storage

Abstract Ischemia and storage cause single-stranded DNA breaks. The breaks become evident after 30 min of warm storage or after only 4 hr of cold storage. The number of breaks increases with increasing ischemia time. The DNA damage was detected by alkaline sucrose gradient analysis of the DNA.
Interpolation between non-commutative BMO and non-commutative Lp-spaces

Abstract We prove that for 1⩽p [BMO,L p ] p q =L q holds in the setting of a finite von Neumann algebra M , equipped with an increasing filtration ( M n ) n⩾1 of von Neumann subalgebras. We also obtain the corresponding results for the real method of interpolation. We discuss the appropriate operator space matrix norms and show that these interpolation results hold in the category of operator spaces.
Application of an extended RISM equation to dipolar and quadrupolar fluids

A generalization of the RISM integral equation for site–site pair correlation functions previously proposed by us is discussed and applied to model liquids composed of strongly polar diatomic molecules. The nonuniform molecular charge distribution is represented by the introduction of charged interaction sites. The generalization consists of applying closure conditions analogous to those which are known to be reasonable for the description of atomic ionic fluids, and the corresponding renormalization of the contributions arising from long range forces. We discuss both the symmetry properties of the pair correlation functions in special cases and the dielectric properties implied by theory. Applications are presented for three two‐site models which differ substantially in the degree of asymmetry of the non‐Coulombic potential between the two sites, and for three three‐site models for Br2. The two sites models are compared to computer simulation results, and those for Br2 to experimental results. The analysis shows that the integral equation is well balanced in that in every case the qualitative features of the liquids structure which are introduced by polarity are well represented, even in cases where the site–site potentials are individually much larger than kBT. In cases where the molecular shape and polar forces are in competition, the results are of comparable accuracy to the corresponding theory for nonpolar systems. In the extreme case where changes in orientational structure can occur without interfering with packing requirements, the results appear quantitatively less reliable.
WE‐G‐134‐05: Acceleration of Monte Carlo CBCT Scatter‐Projection Estimates Via Importance Sampling‐Based Weight Windowing

Purpose: To increase the efficiency of Monte Carlo (MC) estimation of cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scatter projections by incorporating systematic importance sampling‐into an application‐specific code. Methods: An already optimized in‐house Monte Carlo CBCT scatter‐projection simulator, PTRAN, was modified to incorporate importance sampling via the weight windowing WW technique. In summary, the weight window uses Russian roulette and particle splitting to ensure that W, (the particle weight) has a value within a specified interval about target value I(P) for a phase‐space location P. The WW center, I(P), is set equal to the inverse of the relative importance, defined as the ratio between the expected contribution to the detector score from particles in P, including their progeny, and the average detector score from all particles. I(P) is computed on‐the‐fly and is updated periodically throughout the simulation. This technique was used to compute the scatter projections in full fan mode for a simulated head phantom and in half fan mode for a simulated body phantom using a 160×120 array of 2.5 mm square detector pixels. The efficiency of importance‐sampling PTRAN relative to standard PTRAN was assessed. Results: The average efficiency gains for the simulated head and body phantom cases were 13.9±6.4 and 17.4±10.2, respectively. On a single core, the CPU time required for an average 5% standard deviation was reduced from 60 to 5 minutes (head) and 79 to 5.0 minutes (body). Conclusion: The on‐the‐fly importance sampling technique dramatically improves Monte Carlo simulation efficiency and has the potential to make patient‐specific CBCT scatter projection estimation clinically feasible.
Work function of Pt(111).

The work function of the Pt(111) surface was measured in ultrahigh vacuum with use of the photoelectron-threshold-yield technique, resulting in a value of \ensuremath{\Phi}=6.10\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06 eV.
Energy spilling by thermophilic aerobes in potassium-limited continuous culture

Abstract Multiple continuous-flow reactors were operated at 55°C under potassium-limited conditions to investigate energy spilling metabolism during thermophilic aerobic biological wastewater treatment. Energy spilling metabolism has been previously shown to reduce the observed cell growth yield at short mean cell residence times, which could potentially be used to promote autothermal operation during the biological treatment of high-strength wastewater. Under the potassium-limited conditions imposed during these experiments, cell yields decreased at lower residence times, commensurate with the characteristic pattern of energy spilling conditions. The minimum growth yield measured was 0.19 mg TSS per mg COD removed, which was believed to be too high to promote autothermal reactor operation for thermophilic treatment. These results suggest that operation of conventional biological treatment processes under energy spilling conditions could be used to reduce the net production of residual biomass.
Research Spotlight: New method could improve hurricane surge forecasting

[1] In recent years, hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, including Katrina and Ike, caused some of the highest surges on record and significant flooding, highlighting the need for good surge forecasts that can be used for early warning and evacuation. However, current approaches for surge forecasting use models that take too much computational time or have spatial resolution too low to provide adequate forecast accuracy. Irish et al. propose a new method for determining probabilistic maximum hurricane surge forecasts. Their approach is based on calculations of surge response functions, which are derived from numerical simulations, along with analysis of meteorological forecasts. They applied the method to data from Hurricane Ike and found that they could accurately compute surge forecast probabilities within seconds, given publicly available meteorological forecast data. The method can provide a forecast of how surge would vary along the coast and identify areas most vulnerable to high surges. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2010GL046347, 2011)
Teaching the 6th Edition of APA Style of Writing in Counselor Education

The development of professional voice takes practice. At present, little literature exists to aid counselor educators helping students develop their writing style and adjust to APA style in academic writing. The author provides practical suggestions for teaching APA to counselors-intraining and offers a teaching resource for use in the classroom. Suggestions include: addressing why APA style is used in the profession, joining with colleagues to emphasize the importance of writing style, modeling strong style, requiring the use of APA, providing feedback specific to style, using style focused peer review, and providing examples of strong APA style.
SOX2 Reprograms Resident Astrocytes into Neural Progenitors in the Adult Brain

Glial cells can be in vivo reprogrammed into functional neurons in the adult CNS; however, the process by which this reprogramming occurs is unclear. Here, we show that a distinct cellular sequence is involved in SOX2-driven in situ conversion of adult astrocytes to neurons. This includes ASCL1+ neural progenitors and DCX+ adult neuroblasts (iANBs) as intermediates. Importantly, ASCL1 is required, but not sufficient, for the robust generation of iANBs in the adult striatum. These progenitor-derived iANBs predominantly give rise to calretinin+ interneurons when supplied with neurotrophic factors or the small-molecule valproic acid. Patch-clamp recordings from the induced neurons reveal subtype heterogeneity, though all are functionally mature, fire repetitive action potentials, and receive synaptic inputs. Together, these results show that SOX2-mediated in vivo reprogramming of astrocytes to neurons passes through proliferative intermediate progenitors, which may be exploited for regenerative medicine.
Positive outcome after intentional overdose of dabigatran.

Introduction Dabigatran (Pradaxa™), an orally active direct thrombin inhibitor, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation in October 2010. Life-threatening consequences from dabigatran therapy include hemorrhage and bleeding complications, but they typically occur after renal impairment. We describe the first case report of intentional, acute overdose with dabigatran.