cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DE-FPCA: Testing Gene Differential Expression and Exon Usage Through Functional Principal Component Analysis

RNA-seq, next-generation sequencing (NGS) applied to RNA, is rapidly becoming the platform of choice for gene expression profiling. Existing methods, mostly parametric, describe the expression level of a gene or transcript by a single number that summarizes all reads mapped to that gene or transcript. However, assay noise often makes such parametric models unwieldy, non-intuitive, and difficult to implement. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a nonparametric approach, based on functional principal component analysis (FPCA), to differential expression estimation. Our approach, named DE-FPCA, represents the expression profile of a gene by a random curve, which is modeled as a linear combination of orthogonal functional principal components (FPCs), and tests differential expression between two groups of samples using a statistic defined by the FPC scores. We applied our method to 26 RNA-seq samples collected in Drosophila melanogaster. This application demonstrates that our new FPCA-based test statistic has substantial power to detect differential usage of exons and isoforms, in addition to gene-level differential expression, and is robust to random fluctuations in the RNA-seq data.
Impact of buses on the macroscopic fundamental diagram of homogeneous arterial corridors

ABSTRACTThis paper proposes a modification of the method of cuts to estimate the effect of bus operations on the macroscopic fundamental diagram of long arterial corridors with uniform signal parameters and block lengths. It is found that the impact of buses can be adequately captured by the theory of moving bottlenecks using only the bus average free-flow speed. This speed considers the effects of signals and stops but not traffic conditions and therefore can be calculated endogenously. A formulation is developed to approximate the bus average free-flow speed as a function of bus operational parameters. We also found that buses produce an additional capacity restriction that is similar to the ‘short block’ on networks without buses and that can severely reduce corridor capacity. The proposed method is validated with numerical approximations of the corresponding kinematic wave problem.
C/EBPβ-elafin pathway is involved in generation of cyclin E low molecular weight isoforms in breast cancer

421 Cyclin E is a positive regulator of the G1 to S phase transition of the cell cycle. Previously, we have reported that cyclin E is overexpressed and present in low molecular weight (LMW) isoforms in breast tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. The frequent appearance of the LMW forms of cyclin E is a very strong predictor of poor outcome in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, only tumor cells and not normal cells have the machinery to proteolytically cleave the full length cyclin E into these LMW forms through the action of the elastase. Elafin is an endogenous inhibitor of elastase, and plays a key role in inhibiting the synthesis of LMW cyclin E in normal cells. The elafin gene is transcriptionally downregulated through its promoter in most tumor cell lines but is consistently expressed in normal cells. Our previous promoter analyses raise a possibility that the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) beta could regulate the elafin gene. In this study, we demonstrate that C/EBPβ-elafin pathway is involved in generation of the LMW forms of cyclin E in breast tumors. We have two lines of evidence showing that there is cross-talk between C/EBPβ and elafin in human mammary epithelial cells. First, depletion of C/EBPβ by siRNA resulted in suppression of the elafin expression. Second, downregulation of elafin led to upregulation of C/EBPβ levels, suggesting that C/EBPβ could be induced to compensate for elafin loss. To investigate whether C/EBPβ regulates the transcription of elafin, cotransfection studies were carried out to test the effect of C/EBPβ on the elafin promoter in human breast cancer cells which do not express elafin. Wild-type elafin promoter activity was significantly stimulated with increasing amounts of C/EBPβ, whereas C/EBPβ mutant elafin promoter did not respond to a C/EBPβ overexpression plasmid. Furthermore, Northern blotting and RT-PCR revealed that overexpression of C/EBPβ enhanced the elafin mRNA levels. Taken together, these results suggest that C/EBPβ transactivates the elafin gene through the C/EBPβ binding sites of its promoter in human breast cancer cells. Lastly, the stable overexpression of C/EBPβ in human breast cancer cells results in the stable overexpression of elafin and inhibition of the LMW cyclin E generation. Our findings provide the evidence that C/EBPβ is an important transcription factor regulating the elafin gene, and that the C/EBPβ-elafin pathway plays a crucial role in inhibition of the cleavage of cyclin E LMW forms in breast tumor cells. These results suggest that methods to overexpress elafin can provide breast cancer patients with biological modulators of cyclin E.
Evidence of nanodiamond-self-assembly in a liquid crystal, and the consequent impacts on the liquid crystal properties

A small quantity of nanodiamonds (NDs) was dispersed in a nematic liquid crystal (LC), and the NDs were found to exhibit an anisotropic self-assembly along the nematic director. The anisotropic assembly of the NDs in the LC matrix was probed by measuring the dielectric anisotropy, Δe, of the LC+ND system, which showed a significant increase in Δe. Additional studies revealed that the presence of NDs reduced the rotational viscosity and the pretilt angle of the LC. The studies were carried out with several ND concentrations in the LC and the experimental results coherently suggest that there exists an optimal concentration of ND. Above this optimal ND concentration, the anisotropic assembly of the NDs was found to be not effective anymore. The rotational viscosity and the pretilt angle of the LC were found to increase above the optimal concentration of ND.
Insights into oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active sites for nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures (CNx) in acidic media

Abstract This study demonstrates promising bifunctionality of nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures (CNx) for ORR and OER in acidic medium. Although CNx catalysts are not as active as Pt/C in ORR and Ir/C in OER, they exhibit significantly lower combined overpotential for ORR and OER relative to those shown by the two commercial catalysts, which are highly active only for one of the two reactions, but not both. The effect of various nitrogen functionalities on the ORR and OER activity of CNx catalysts was also studied. CNx samples with higher pyridinic-N site density exhibited higher ORR and OER activity.
Impacts of a care process model and inpatient electrophysiology service on cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections: a preliminary evaluation.

Cardiovascular implantable electronic device infection (CIEDI) rates are rising. To improve outcomes, our institution developed an online care process model (CPM) and a specialized inpatient heart rhythm service (HRS). This retrospective review compared hospital length of stay (LOS), mortality, and times to subspecialty consultation and procedures before and after CPM and HRS availability. CPM use was associated with shortened time to surgical consultation (median 2 days post-CPM vs. 3 days pre-CPM, p = 0.0152), pocket closure (median 4 vs. 5 days, p < 0.0001), and days to new CIED implant (median 7 vs. 8 days, p = 0.0126). Post-HRS patients were more likely to have a surgical consultation (OR 7.01, 95% CI 1.56–31.5, p = 0.011) and shortened time to pocket closure (coefficient − 2.21 days, 95% CI − 3.33 to − 1.09, p < 0.001), compared to pre-HRS. The CPM and HRS were associated with favorable outcomes, but further integration of CPM features into hospital workflow is needed.
History of Social Skills

The development of modern approaches to social skills training dates to the 1970s (McFall & Twentyman, 1973). Initially, research was carried out using discrete behaviors considered to be components of appropriate assertiveness training. These early papers largely focused on typically developing adults (McFall & Lillesaud, 1971). These efforts helped to establish a methodology for training and to demonstrate the efficacy of learning-based methods to improve these skills.
Sharing the Expertise: Middle School Girls and Community Members as Solution and Communication Partners

The documentary lm Hicklin Lake: A Hopeful Future shows how middle school girls took on the roles of expert solution designers and communicators while partnering with multiple community members in an afterschool science club. Working towards justice for the future of a local toxic lake, the community members and girls co-investigated the complex story behind the lake’s toxicity and needed actions to clean it up for future generations. This lm is one product of a mutually bene cial experience between middle school girls and the community, where all learned about an unnatural problem that has natural solutions.
Executive forum:linking women’s growth-oriented entrepreneurship policy and practice: results from the Rising Tide Angel Training Program

AbstractThe Rising Tide Angel Training Program was launched to address the public policy priority of increasing the number of growth-oriented women-owned firms by expanding the entrepreneurial ecos...
Multi-spectral change detection methods: evaluation on simulated and real-world satellite imagery

The detection of temporal changes or new activity in large areas of satellite imagery have been of great interest in many applications ranging from meteorology, environmental-sensing, to defense and disaster monitoring. Automated change detection algorithms play a significant role in analyzing large volumes of satellite data, which otherwise would be a manually laborious task. This paper deals with the evaluation of various change detection methods for detecting both structured and unstructured changes in multi-spectral satellite imagery. A comparison of the algorithm performance on both real and simulated satellite imagery is presented here. The real-world dataset (WorldView-2) required accurate geometric registration and manual ground-truth labelling, while on the other hand, the simulated satellite imagery (generated with the RIT DIRSIG tool) has the advantage of prompt availability and included ground-truth. A variety of structural spatial and spectral changes were incorporated into the simulated images according to the required complexity and the ground truth generated together with the imagery. An array of algorithms were evaluated and compared, including conventional methods such as differencing, ratioing, image transformation techniques; statistical methods such as chronochrome, covariance equalization; linear/non-linear distribution-based methods such as point density, simplex volume/complexity, mean-shift/outlier metrics, and non-linear graph-based methods. The Receiver-Operating-Characteristic (ROC) curve and Area-Under-Curve (AUC) metrics were used to evaluate the algorithms. Finally, the performance of various algorithms on simulated vs real satellite images is also discussed, which may be helpful in further applications of the simulated imagery, such as for training deep-learning networks, where real imagery is not readily available.
Mind-Body Approaches to Prevention and Intervention for Alcohol and Other Drug Use/Abuse in Young Adults

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) misuse is highly prevalent among young adults and creates myriad long-term problematic social, economic, and health consequences. Current treatments aimed at preventing or alleviating AOD misuse have demonstrated fairly inconsistent and weak effectiveness and, thus, are far from a complete solution. In this review, we describe the current state of AOD interventions for young adults and present an alternative emotion regulation framework for understanding AOD use/misuse. We then describe implications of this framework for interventions to promote healthier emotion regulation to successfully reduce AOD use/misuse. In particular, we assert that mind–body approaches, such as meditation, distress tolerance, and yoga, may promote emotion regulation skills that allow young adults to manage their stressful experiences and distressing emotions without AOD use. We review the available literature on mind–body interventions targeting AOD use/misuse in young adults and offer suggestions for future intervention development and research.
Two Auction-Based Protocols for Fair and Fast Resource Assignment in Wireless PCS

The Resource Auction Multiple Access (RAMA) protocol was recently proposed for fast resource assignment in wireless PCS networks. The protocol assigns communication resources to subscribers using a collision resolution method based on subscriber ID‘s. In each auction cycle, the subscriber with the highest ID will obtain the resource. Thus the RAMA protocol encounters the unfairness problem since subscribers with lower ID‘s might be delayed forever. In this paper, we propose two modifications to the RAMA protocol to solve the unfairness problem. The first modification forces the RAMA protocol to process requests in bursts, i.e., new requests are not processed until the current burst of requests are all satisfied. The second modification asks the base station to select subscribers randomly instead of the one with the highest ID. We derive mathematical models to compare the performances of proposed and original protocols. Performance results indicate that the modification of random selection is fairer than other protocols in terms of the waiting time distribution.
Geriatric Dizziness: Evolving Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for the Emergency Department

Dizziness affects one in five people over the age of 65 years and is associated with substantial healthcare costs. Serious causes of dizziness are found in 20% of patients over 50 years. The approach to the patient with dizziness is challenging as physical exam and diagnostic tests have suboptimal sensitivities. The risk of vascular events is higher in the first 30 days than after, suggesting some missed diagnoses. Medications and vestibular rehabilitation may serve as treatment options for dizziness, but data on their efficacy in older patients is lacking.
Medical management and diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis: A survey of treatment patterns by United States otolaryngologists.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to identify current patterns of diagnostic criteria and medical treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by otolaryngologists in the United States. METHODS: A 15-item survey was mailed to a random sample of 200 members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 40.0%. Of respondents, 73% defined CRS as lasting >12 weeks. Seventy-three percent also believed radiological imaging was necessary for definitive diagnosis, but only 30% believed nasal endoscopy was necessary. Regarding treatment, respondents reported use of oral antibiotics (94%) and nasal corticosteroids (94%) as part of maximum medical management; oral decongestants, oral mucoevacuants, and allergy testing were used only by about one-half of the respondents, and less frequently topical decongestants (38%), oral corticosteroids (36%), and oral antihistamines (27%) were used. Oral corticosteroids were more likely to be used by specialists that self-classified as rhinologists than by other otolaryngologists (p = 0.005), but rhinologists were less likely to use radiological imaging (p = 0.04) as a diagnostic criterion. Pediatric otolaryngologists used allergy testing in medical management more frequently than other otolaryngologists (p < 0.001). Overall, the basis for choice of maximal medical management was personal clinical experience (74%), rather than clinical research results or expert recommendations. CONCLUSION: We had a fairly small sample of returned surveys; therefore, our findings may not be generalizable to the entire population of U.S. otolaryngologists. Nevertheless, in our survey, U.S. otolaryngologists agree on the use of oral antibiotics and nasal corticosteroids as part of maximal medical management for CRS but do not agree on other adjuvant therapies or on the use of endoscopy as a diagnostic criterion.
Antiinflammatory Sesquiterpene Lactones from the Flower of Vernonia cinerea.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the hexane extract from the flowers of Vernonia cinerea (Asteraceae) leads to the isolation of two new sesquiterpene lactones (I) along with several known structurally related substances.
Relationship between Motor Performance and Arousal

Abstract Forty male subjects were tested on a motor learning task called a stabilometer. Skin conductance was taken prior to the introduction of the task and immediately after each of the learning trials. Subjects were then dichotomized on the basis of initial conductance, final conductance, total change in conductance, conductance after trial one, and changes in conductance from rest to trial one. There was no difference in performance between groups when subjects were divided on the basis of initial conductance, but for all other measures performance was significantly better for the group with higher conductance. These results lend support to the concept of an arousal continuum as proposed by Duffy and Malmo.
Producing “T-shaped” Engineering Graduates: The Impact of Student Clubs as Learning Communities

How may student clubs contribute to the attainment of “T-shaped” engineering education outcomes – graduates who are able to “succeed in a team-driven, culturally and ethnically diverse, and globally oriented workforce”? This study, which focuses on 300 engineering student clubs at 13 colleges of engineering, describes how these learning communities (i.e., student clubs) contribute to the attainment of the requisite (T-shaped) knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) or competencies. These competencies include design project and competition skills in applied or real world contexts together with mentoring, tutoring, and engineering career preparedness. The contribution of student clubs to entrepreneurship skills, STEM pipeline problem, international engineering education, and diversity is also highlighted.
Introduction: Cities and Entrepreneurship

This chapter introduces the volume contributing to a stream of literature inspired by Chinitz’s (Am Econ Rev 5(2):279–289, 1961) challenge to economic orthodoxy of the time that presumed, “the supply schedule of entrepreneurship is identical at all locations”. The chapter explains various measurements of entrepreneurship, distinguishing traits of the entrepreneur and factors that spur or stifle innovation in urban settings. The agglomeration of talent, capital and firms is a catalyst for growth and gives rise to civilizations, revolutions and scientific developments. Considering the importance of cities to host these agglomerations, the chapter identifies key gaps for further research in the area of urban studies and entrepreneurship.
The origin and nature of the complex autoantibody profile in cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract The present study demonstrates, using human protein microarrays and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained pre-surgically and simultaneously from 46 hip fracture repair patients, that CSF exhibits an extraordinarily complex IgG autoantibody profile composed of thousands of autoantibodies. We show that the pattern of expression levels of individual autoantibodies in CSF closely mimics that in the blood, regardless of age, gender or the presence or absence of disease, indicative of a blood-based origin for CSF autoantibodies. In addition, using five longitudinal serum samples obtained from one healthy individual over a span of nine years, we found that blood autoantibody profiles are remarkably stable over a long period of time, and that autoantibody profiles in both blood and CSF show features that are common among different individuals as well as individual-specific. Lastly, we demonstrate that an elevated CSF/plasma autoantibody ratio is more common in elderly hip fracture repair patients that experienced post-operative delirium than in non-delirium subjects, thus highlighting the crucial role that blood-brain and/or blood-CSF barrier compromise may play in the development of post-operative delirium.
The cost of synchronization

Synchronization of biochemical oscillators that are responsible for biological rhythms costs free energy. This theoretical result suggests that part of the adenosine triphosphate molecules consumed by a Kai oscillator is necessary for synchronization.
Alcohol expectancies mediate the association between the neural response to emotional words and alcohol consumption.

Abstract Background Both positive expectancies regarding the effects of alcohol and internalizing problems, including negative emotionality and deficits in emotion regulation, are known risk factors for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The current study is the first to investigate how neural response to emotional stimuli may impact alcohol expectancies and risk for AUD. Methods Functional neuroimaging data was collected during an emotional word task from 168 emerging adults (M age = 19.65; 66% male). Activation to negative versus neutral words and positive versus neutral words was extracted for analyses. Participants also reported on their alcohol expectancies and information regarding alcohol use and problems was collected prospectively throughout adolescence and into adulthood (up to age 30). Results Decreased activation in the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) to negative versus neutral words was associated with increased post-scan alcohol consumption, measured as average drinks per year. There was a significant indirect effect of positive alcohol expectancies on the association between IFG activation and post-scan alcohol consumption, even when controlling for quantity of alcohol consumption prior to the scan. Conclusions These results are the first to provide evidence that positive alcohol expectancies account for variance shared between brain regions associated with emotion processing and increased drinking behaviors. Alcohol expectancies may provide a modifiable target for treatments to decrease the link between deficits in emotion regulation and increased alcohol use.
Recreation conflict, coping, and satisfaction: Minnesota grouse hunters’ conflicts and coping response related to all-terrain vehicle users, hikers, and other hunters

Abstract Studying conflict and coping in recreation is important because some coping strategies may provoke distress, while others may lead to positive emotional changes. Building on applications of the transactional stress coping model to park visitors, anglers, and other recreation participants, we explored how Minnesota grouse hunters responded to interference by all-terrain vehicle (ATV)/off-highway vehicle (OHV) users, deer hunters, other grouse/bird hunters, general other hunters, hikers, and bear hunters. We examined relationships among interference, coping, and satisfaction for grouse hunters, and examined how hunter beliefs about ATV use related to perceptions of conflict with ATV users. Encounters with ATV users, deer hunters, other grouse hunters, and hikers lead to problem- and emotion-focused coping, including displacement, confrontive coping, and psychological distancing. Interpersonal conflict with ATVs was positively related to perceptions of interference from ATV users, while no/limited conflict was negatively related. Conflict and coping had a minimal effect on satisfaction. Management implications Although reported levels of interference from other user groups was relatively low, grouse hunters reported moderate interference from ATV users and the use of confrontive coping in response to interactions with ATV riders. Confrontive coping has been associated with increased distress, and deserves attention. However, interference from ATV users was low to moderate and most grouse hunters in the study personally use ATVs for recreation, so there is limited need for management to address conflicts between grouse hunters and ATV riders. Nevertheless, zoning for ATV-free grouse hunting could be tested in areas with reported conflicts between hunters and ATV riders.
Teaching Faster Braille Reading in the Primary Grades

Recent studies have reported considerable success in teaching the visually handicapped techniques of rapid reading. Most of the braille readers participating in these studies had been reading for s...
Machine learning glass transition temperature of styrenic random copolymers.

Abstract For styrenic random copolymers, the glass transition temperature, Tg, is an important thermophysical parameter, which is sometimes difficult to measure and determine by experiments. Approaches based on data-driven modeling provide alternative methods to predict Tg in a fast and robust way. The Gaussian process regression (GPR) model is investigated to present the statistical relationship between important quantum chemical descriptors and glass transition temperature for styrenic random copolymers. 48 samples with Tg that have been measured experimentally are explored, which range from 246 K to 426 K. The modeling approach demonstrates high accuracy and stability, and provides a novel and promising tool for efficient and low-cost estimations of copolymer Tg values.
Psychiatry Clinical Skills Evaluation: a Multisite Study of Validity

Since 2007, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) has required that residency programs conduct a specific clinical skills evaluation (CSE) of physician-patient interaction, psychiatric interview and mental status examination, and case presentation on a directly observed patient interview as a prerequisite for certification. The authors examined a multisite database of CSE assessments to investigate the validity of the evaluation. The authors collected 1156 CSE assessments from 4 residency programs conducted over a 6-year period, compared scoring patterns among the programs, score improvement over 4 years of residency, time and number of CSEs required to meet ABPN requirements, and patterns of scoring for individual faculty evaluators. The distribution of scores within each of the 4 programs showed similar, but nonidentical patterns. The number of CSEs required to meet the ABPN standards (3.5) and the point in training at which this was completed (late PGY-2) were the same in all programs. CSE scores were highly correlated with year of training but were not correlated with performance on an unrelated cognitive examination. Individual faculty members tended to stay within a moderate range of scores over multiple residents, partially attributable to year of training. Taken together, these findings support the validity of the CSE as a measure of residents’ clinical skills in the specified areas and demonstrate a moderate-high degree of consistency in the scoring of the CSE across these 4 programs.
Engineering transient hyperbolic metamaterials using InAsSb-based semiconductor

The authors demonstrate the ability to create an ultrafast hyperbolic momentum state using metallic InAsSb alloys embedded within dielectric GaSb and explore the possibility of transient modification of metamaterials to control the optical properties of photon emission. Properly engineered quantum well structures were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and Si-doped in order to convert the InAsSb layers from dielectric to metallic at infrared frequencies. The carrier excitation scheme of the engineered hyperbolic stacks was investigated in a variety of excitation levels using pump–probe measurements. The photo-excited carriers in the structure with a metal fraction of ∼0.5 showed a polarization dependent reflectivity change, which indicates a transient hyperbolic metamaterial state in the heterostructure induced by the pump laser.
Storm loads of culturable and molecular fecal indicators in an inland urban stream

Elevated concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria in receiving waters during wet-weather flows are a considerable public health concern that is likely to be exacerbated by future climate change and urbanization. Knowledge of factors driving the fate and transport of fecal indicator bacteria in stormwater is limited, and even less is known about molecular fecal indicators, which may eventually supplant traditional culturable indicators. In this study, concentrations and loading rates of both culturable and molecular fecal indicators were quantified throughout six storm events in an instrumented inland urban stream. While both concentrations and loading rates of each fecal indicator increased rapidly during the rising limb of the storm hydrographs, it is the loading rates rather than instantaneous concentrations that provide a better estimate of transport through the stream during the entire storm. Concentrations of general fecal indicators (both culturable and molecular) correlated most highly with each other during storm events but not with the human-associated HF183 Bacteroides marker. Event loads of general fecal indicators most strongly correlated with total runoff volume, maximum discharge, and maximum turbidity, while event loads of HF183 most strongly correlated with the time to peak flow in a hydrograph. These observations suggest that collection of multiple samples during a storm event is critical for accurate predictions of fecal indicator loading rates and total loads during wet-weather flows, which are required for effective watershed management. In addition, existing predictive models based on general fecal indicators may not be sufficient to predict source-specific genetic markers of fecal contamination.
Study of the Reactions π + p-->K + Σ + and π + p-->K + Y *+ (1385) Between 3.5 and 14 GeV/c

Measurements of the differential cross section for the reactions ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{Y}^{*+}(1385)$ are reported at 3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5.0, 6.0, 10.0, and 14.0 GeV/c. Polarization in ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$ is also reported at 6.0, 10.0, and 14.0 GeV/c. At small $|t|$, the cross section for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$ is well described by an exponential $A{e}^{\mathrm{bt}}$ with slopes in the range $b\ensuremath{\approx}8\ensuremath{-}10$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$; for $|t|g0.5$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ this slope decreases considerably. The cross section for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{Y}^{*+}(1385)$ is well described for $|t|g0.2$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ by a single exponential of slope about half that for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$; there is no break near $|t|g0.5$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$. We observe a dip in this cross section near $t=0$. The polarization in ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}$ is consistent with zero for $|t|l0.4$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ and becomes large and positive for larger $|t|$.
Management by Wandering Around

Summary Reference rovering is a method for eliminating the barrier of the reference desk which is between the librarian and the patron. This concept very closely parallels the business concept of Management By Wandering Around (MBWA). This paper looks at the literature examining the history and techniques of both MBWA and reference rovering. The techniques for how to conduct reference rovering are explored. Both the advantages and disadvantages of reference rovering are examined.
Quantifying White Matter Structural Integrity With High-Definition Fiber Tracking in Traumatic Brain Injury

ABSTRACTThere is an urgent, unmet demand for definitive biological diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) to pinpoint the location and extent of damage. We have developed High-Definition Fiber Tracking, a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging–based diffusion spectrum imaging and tractography analysis protocol, to quantify axonal injury in military and civilian TBI patients. A novel analytical methodology quantified white matter integrity in patients with TBI and healthy controls. Forty-one subjects (23 TBI, 18 controls) were scanned with the High-Definition Fiber Tracking diffusion spectrum imaging protocol. After reconstruction, segmentation was used to isolate bilateral hemisphere homologues of eight major tracts. Integrity of segmented tracts was estimated by calculating homologue correlation and tract coverage. Both groups showed high correlations for all tracts. TBI patients showed reduced homologue correlation and tract spread and increased outlier count (correlations > 2.32 SD below control mean). On a...
Performance driven MCM routing using a second order RLC tree delay model

An algorithm for performance-driven routing is presented. It is based on a new second-order propagation delay model for RLC interconnection trees, which is more suitable than the Elmore time-constant model. Experimental results show that by using the new delay model instead of the first-order model, the performance-driven routing algorithm can generate routing with significantly smaller signal delays. >
The role of surface states in a-axis GaN nanowires

GaN nanowires have been the subject of intense research lately, due to the many potential ultraviolet applications and interesting properties that they possess. Because GaN has an anisotropic wurtzite crystal structure, many of its properties are dependent upon crystal orientation. For example, the photoluminescence (PL) of GaN nanowires with growth direction along the a-axis is blue-shifted relative to the PL of wires with growth direction along the c-axis. However, the origin of the difference in PL between nanowire samples of different growth directions remains unclear. To determine if surface states play a role in the dependence of GaN nanowire photoluminescence on crystal orientation, we use time-integrated photoluminescence (TIPL) and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) to study the PL from GaN nanowire samples of different crystallographic orientations. We observe temporal dynamics of the blue-shifted PL feature in the a-axis GaN nanowires that is suggestive of a surface trapping process occurring, where some fraction of electron-hole pairs are prevented from recombining via the band edge emission process because carriers diffuse to the surface where they are trapped before carrier relaxation to the band edge is complete. Once a carrier is trapped and localized at a surface trap state, light emission primarily occurs only when the complementary carrier diffuses to the same surface trap. We envision that a thin oxide layer forming at the surface introduces surface traps that cause the blue emission, and that the surfaces of the a-axis GaN nanowires are more susceptible to this oxidation than the c-axis GaN nanowire surfaces.
Contributions of the I and EF Hand Domains to the Divalent Cation-dependent Collagen Binding Activity of the α2β1 Integrin

The alpha2beta1 integrin binds collagen in a Mg2+-dependent manner that is inhibited by Ca2+. Like the intact integrin, purified recombinant proteins containing the alpha2 integrin I domain, either alone or with variable numbers of alpha2 integrin EF hand metal binding sites, bound collagen in a Mg2+-dependent manner, and Ca2+ did not support binding. However, unlike the intact integrin, Ca2+ did not inhibit the Mg2+-dependent binding of any of the fusion proteins to collagen. Binding to collagen was saturable and blocked by the alpha2beta1 function blocking antibody 6F1. Deletional analysis demonstrated that residues present within the amino-terminal 35 amino acids contribute to the 6F1 epitope and are required for Mg2+-dependent collagen binding. The results indicate that the I domain contains a Mg2+ binding site that is essential for collagen binding and that the I domain alone is sufficient for collagen binding. Binding is markedly enhanced in a divalent cation-dependent manner by the addition of the first EF hand motif. Mutation of the EF hand to an inactive form completely abrogated the effect. The sites necessary for Ca2+ inhibition are not present within the I domain or the adjacent region containing the three EF hand sites.
Experimentally Validated Computational Simulation of Lumbar Spine Intervertebral Disc Puncture

Back pain is a debilitating medical condition, often with an unclear source. Over time, back pain can affect the work and lifestyle of an individual by reducing job productivity and time spent on enjoyable activities. Discography of the intervertebral disc (IVD) is often used to diagnose pathology of the disc and determine if it may be a source for chronic back pain. It has recently been suggested that discography may lead to IVD degeneration, and has been a cause of controversy among spine care physicians. Using the results from a cadaveric experimental model, a finite element model was first validated. Then, a study was conducted to better understand the changes caused by discography on human spine mechanics. An anatomically accurate L3-L5 lumbar spine model was developed using computed tomography scans. Discography was simulated in the model as an area in the disc affected by needle puncture. The material properties in the nucleus pulposus were adjusted to match experimental data both before and after puncture. The results show that puncture of the IVD leads to increased deformation as well as increased stresses in the disc. Pressure in the nucleus pulposus found to decrease after puncture, and was calculated in the course of this study. Puncturing the IVD changes disc mechanics and may lead to progressive spine issues in the future such as disc degeneration. While discography has been the gold standard to determine if the disc was a source of back pain in patients for many years, the potential long-term degenerative effects of the procedure are only now coming into light, and must be closely examined.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of corticosterone in rat plasma using selected ion monitoring.

A simple and fast yet highly sensitive and specific method based on HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been developed for the quantitation of corticosterone in rat plasma. After extraction of rat plasma (100 microl) with diethyl ether using 5-pregnen-3beta-ol-20-one-16alpha-carbonitrile (Sigma) as internal standard, HPLC was performed on a short C8 column (Zorbax-Eclipse, 50x4.6 mm I.D.) using a steep methanol-water gradient (methanol 54% to 90% in 6 min). Detection was performed on a single quadruple mass spectrometer in selected ion monitoring mode (m/z 369 for corticosterone and 364 for the internal standard). The detection limit of the assay was 9 fmol (3 pg) of corticosterone on column. In vitro data were subjected to curve fitting (cubic, r2=0.9999). Recovery of corticosterone after extraction ranged from 81 to 93%. The relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-assay precision ranged from 0.8 to 3.6% and 5.2 to 12.9%, respectively. Corticosterone did not undergo any appreciable degradation when stored in plasma at -20 degrees C for 2 months. The assay is routinely used in our laboratory to examine corticosterone levels as a marker of stress in rats and may also be used for the determination of 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone.
Effects of light and temperature on duckweed photosynthesis

Abstract Rates of photosynthesis of Lemna minor L. and Spirodela punctata (G.F.W. Meyer) Thompson, two aquatic angiosperms, were measured at different temperatures and light intensities. Photosynthesis was measured both as oxygen evolution and 14CO2 fixation. At temperatures ranging from 15 to 35°C, light saturation of photosynthetic O2 evolution of Lemna occurred from 300–600 μE m−2 s−1, while in Spirodela photosynthetic O2 evolution was light saturated at 600–1200 μE m−2 s−1. Photosynthetic O2 evolution of both species was photoinhibited at lightintensities greater than 1200 μE m−2 s−1. The optimal temperature for Lemna photosynthetic O2 evolution was 30°C, while the optimal temperatures for 14CO2 fixation were from 20 to 30°C. For Spirodela maximum photosynthetic O2 evolution occurred at 35°C, while maximum 14CO2 fixation was at 30°C.
Image processing applications in C++ on a hypercube multicomputer

Abstract This paper describes the object-oriented implementation of a number of low-level image processing algorithms on the Intel iPSC/2 hypercube multicomputer. They include noise reduction using local averaging, edge detection using the Sobel operator, image thinning and line detection using the Hough transform. The objective is to parallelize these algorithms using the object-oriented language C++, and to measure the speedup using 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 processors vs using 1 processor. Also, the speedup is found for performing all of the algorithms in a row, vs separately. A 512 × 512 binary image is processed, and a maximum speedup of 5.88 is found when performing all of the algorithms in a row, including communication of the input data file from the host, and the results from the nodes to the host. The speedup for processing when including only interprocessor communication is 17.25. The reasons behind the speedups are discussed, as well as suggestions to obtain better performance.
Environmental Opportunities and Limits for Development

Let us return to people and food, and another simple equation. The number of people per hectare of arable land, calculated over large regions, looks like a climatic distribution. I guessed at the form of the equation, calculated what the population per arable hectare was on the basis of climate, and compared it with the situation as observed. The correlation between them is 0.998. ( See Fig. 8.) It is an almost perfect relationship. The equation relates population per arable hectare to rainfall and temperature, and ultimately to sunlight and water. If one enters Fig. 9, which is a graph of the equation, with the temperature, and finds the intersection with the appropriate rainfall curve, one can see how many people are currently fed from an arable hectare.
A study of salt-water encroachment in the Galveston Area, Texas

A survey of the ground-water resources of the region in which Houston and Galveston are situated was started in December 1930 by the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with the Texas Board of Water Engineers. In connection with this survey a special study is being made of the geochemical relations of the ground-waters of an area about 25 miles wide and 90 miles long, extending from Galveston northwestward through Houston. This study considers the influence on the ground-waters of the age and degree of weathering of the outcrop formations, base-exchange materials, salt-domes, and salt-water encroachment. In this paper, however, attention is confined to salt-water encroachment along the line from Galveston to Houston (Fig. 1).
Authors' response to “Acute kidney injury, hyperosmolality and metabolic acidosis associated with lorazepam”

Authors' response to “Acute kidney injury, hyperosmolality and metabolic acidosis associated with lorazepam”
Neuronal polarization: old cells can learn new tricks

Regeneration was once thought to be exclusive to young neurons. Now, a new study shows that functional and interconnected hippocampal neurons have the potential to quickly recover from losing an axon. They do so by signaling a dendrite to change its specification and replace the missing axon by rearranging the microtubule cytoskeleton.
Truth, plausibility, and the virtues of narrative at the millennium

While it is widely understood that medieval historiographers employed the techniques of rhetorical invention in their work, less attention has been paid to the way in which the standard of plausibility, upon which rhetorical invention was premised, could be reconciled with the historian's traditional obligation to tell the truth. This paper examines the ways in which the rhetorical doctrine of narratio probabilis was understood and put into practice by three authors active around the turn of the millennium: Richer of Saint-Remi, Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and Adalbero of Laon. All three had been trained in the schools of northern Francia in the late tenth century and all reveal a sophisticated understanding of the doctrines of Ciceronian rhetoric, according to which plausible inventions were not seen to be incompatible with historical truth.
TeV scale leptogenesis, θ13 and doubly charged particles at LHC

Abstract We explore a realistic supersymmetric SU ( 2 ) L × SU ( 2 ) R × U ( 1 ) B − L model spontaneously broken at around 10 12 GeV . The presence of D- and F-flat directions gives rise to TeV mass doubly charged particles which can be found at the LHC. We implement TeV scale leptogenesis and employing both type I and II seesaw, the three light neutrinos are partially degenerate with masses in the 0.02–0.1 eV range. The effective mass parameter for neutrinoless double beta decay is 0.03–0.05 eV. We also find the interesting relation tan 2 θ 13 ≃ sin 2 θ 12 tan 2 θ 23 ( Δ m ⊙ 2 Δ m atm 2 ) ≲ 0.02 .
Functional expression of TREK-2 K+ channel in cultured rat brain astrocytes

Abstract Background K+ channels whose subunit contains four transmembrane segments and two pore-forming domains (4TM/2P) have been cloned recently. We studied whether 4TM/2P K+ channels are functionally expressed in astrocytes that are known to have a large background (resting) K+ conductance and a large resting membrane potential. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis showed that, among five 4TM/2P K+ channels examined, TASK-1, TASK-3 and TREK-2 mRNAs were expressed in cultured astrocytes from rat cortex. In cell-attached patches, we mainly observed three K+ channels with single-channel conductances of 30, 117 and 176 pS (−40 mV) in symmetrical 140 mM KCl. The 30 pS channel was the inward rectifying K+ channel that has been previously described in astrocytes. The 117 pS K+ channel also showed inward rectification and was insensitive to 1 mM tetraethylammonium and 1 mM 4-aminopyridine. The 176 pS channel was the Ca2+-activated K+ channel. The 117 pS K+ channel was determined to be TREK-2, as judged by its electrophysiological properties and activation by membrane stretch, free fatty acids and intracellular acidosis. In ∼50% of astrocytes in culture, whole-cell K+ current increased markedly following application of arachidonic acid. The number of TREK-2 channels in these cells was estimated to be ∼500–1000/cell. Our results show that TREK-2 is functionally expressed in cortical astrocytes in culture, and suggest that TREK-2 may be involved in K+ homeostasis of astrocytes during pathological states.