cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deep learning pipeline for cell edge segmentation of time-lapse live cell images

Abstract Quantitative live cell imaging has been widely used to study various dynamical processes in cell biology. Phase contrast microscopy is a popular imaging modality for live cell imaging since it does not require labeling and cause any phototoxicity to live cells. However, phase contrast images have posed significant challenges for accurate image segmentation due to complex image features. Fluorescence live cell imaging has also been used to monitor the dynamics of specific molecules in live cells. But unlike immunofluorescence imaging, fluorescence live cell images are highly prone to noise, low contrast, and uneven illumination. These often lead to erroneous cell segmentation, hindering quantitative analyses of dynamical cellular processes. Although deep learning has been successfully applied in image segmentation by automatically learning hierarchical features directly from raw data, it typically requires large datasets and high computational cost to train deep neural networks. These make it challenging to apply deep learning in routine laboratory settings. In this paper, we evaluate a deep learning-based segmentation pipeline for time-lapse live cell movies, which uses small efforts to prepare the training set by leveraging the temporal coherence of time-lapse image sequences. We train deep neural networks using a small portion of images in the movies, and then predict cell edges for the entire image frames of the same movies. To further increase segmentation accuracy using small numbers of training frames, we integrate VGG16 pretrained model with the U-Net structure (VGG16-U-Net) for neural network training. Using live cell movies from phase contrast, Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF), and spinning disk confocal microscopes, we demonstrate that the labeling of cell edges in small portions (5∼10%) can provide enough training data for the deep learning segmentation. Particularly, VGG16-U-Net produces significantly more accurate segmentation than U-Net by increasing the recall performance. We expect that our deep learning segmentation pipeline will facilitate quantitative analyses of challenging high-resolution live cell movies.
The case for establishing a blockchain research and development program at an academic medical center

<!-- named anchor --> Objective To develop a research and development program to study factors that will support research, education and innovation using blockchain technology for health in an effective and sustainable manner. We proposed to conduct qualitative research to generate insights for developing a market strategy to build a research lab for the promotion of blockchain technologies in health in academic environments. The team aimed to identify the key barriers and opportunities for developing a sustainable research lab that generates research, education, and application of blockchain in healthcare at an academic medical institution and test those strategies in a real-world scenario. <!-- named anchor --> Methods The research team identified potential customers and stakeholders through interviews and snowball sampling. The team conducted semi-structured interviews with 4 faculty researchers, 10 industry leaders, and 6 students from a variety of disciplines and organizations. The findings of these research activities informed our understanding of the needs of stratified customers and helped identify key assets and activities the lab will have to offer to meet those needs. <!-- named anchor --> Results The research insights from data analysis were used to build the business model for establishing a blockchain in health impact lab. This systematic study of areas where blockchain technology can impact health will guide the future development of research agenda for the researchers on campus. <!-- named anchor --> Conclusion Based on our learnings, we hope to design a Blockchain in Health Impact Lab to serve as a platform for students and faculty to come together with industry partners and explore current challenges of blockchain in healthcare. The academic medical center’s partnership with other healthcare providers will help create real-world opportunities to demonstrate and implement new technologies.
It’s Not What It Looks Like: How Claims of Self-Publishing Bias in Legal Scholarship Are Exaggerated

The unique transparency in law journal submissions invites criticism for both letterhead bias and self-publication bias. Letterhead bias is when editors use information about an author—prior publications, reputation, prestige of affiliated institution, etc.—as a proxy for article quality, thus adjusting the level of consideration given to their submission accordingly. Self-publishing bias is when student editors give preferential treatment to the submissions received by law professors at their same institution. Studies as early as 1983 have consistently and conclusively found that self-publishing rates among elite law schools can surpass 20%. However, the existence of high self-publishing rates does not necessarily prove self-publishing bias. This Article presents numerous, alternative explanations that do not implicate self-publishing bias. Unfortunately, current scholarship on the subject largely ignores these alternative explanations. This Article also highlights problems with self-publication proponents’ claims. These include how claiming “disproportionate” self-publishing levels is flawed because there is no “correct” self-publishing level from which to judge a deviation, the implication that the merits of submissions are objectively measurable, how the alleged harms from self-publishing are frequently overstated, and how proposed reforms would be largely ineffective at addressing these problems. The novel arguments provided in this Article serve to fill glaring gaps in the literature, thus providing a more complete view of the issue.
Encoding hierarchical assembly pathways of proteins with DNA

The structural and functional diversity of materials in nature depends on the controlled assembly of discrete building blocks into complex architectures via specific, multistep, hierarchical assembly pathways. Achieving similar complexity in synthetic materials through hierarchical assembly is challenging due to difficulties with defining multiple recognition areas on synthetic building blocks and controlling the sequence through which those recognition sites direct assembly. Here, we show that we can exploit the chemical anisotropy of proteins and the programmability of DNA ligands to deliberately control the hierarchical assembly of protein-DNA materials. Through DNA sequence design, we introduce orthogonal DNA interactions with disparate interaction strengths ("strong" and "weak") onto specific geometric regions of a model protein, stable protein 1 (Sp1). We show that the spatial encoding of DNA ligands leads to highly directional assembly via strong interactions and that, by design, the first stage of assembly increases the multivalency of weak DNA-DNA interactions that give rise to an emergent second stage of assembly. Furthermore, we demonstrate that judicious DNA design not only directs assembly along a given pathway but can also direct distinct structural outcomes from a single pathway. This combination of protein surface and DNA sequence design allows us to encode the structural and chemical information necessary into building blocks to program their multistep hierarchical assembly. Our findings represent a strategy for controlling the hierarchical assembly of proteins to realize a diverse set of protein-DNA materials by design.
SU-E-T-768: Treatment Time Nomogram for Strut-Based Accelerated Partial Breast Applicators

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to generate a tabular nomogram of treatment times for strut-based APBI applicators. The nomogram is intended to provide guidance and a quality assurance check for clinics establishing new treatment techniques or transitioning from balloon-based applicators. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 486 patients receiving APBI using strut-based applicators at three separate institutions. Strut-based applicators are composed of a central channel surrounded by 6 close-range (“mini”), 6 mid-range, 8, or 10 peripheral channels. Patient data was organized based on applicator size (a surrogate of treatment volume) and number of organs at risk. Three organs at risk categories were determined based on the proximity of the device to the patient’s skin and/or chest wall (0, 1, or 2 OARs). The proximity criterion was defined as being < 5 mm from the cavity wall/peripheral struts. A tabular nomogram of treatment time (based on nominal 10 Ci source strength) was generated from descriptive statistics of each combination of applicator size and organs at risk category. Results: The average treatment time was observed to be directly related to applicator size and, to a lesser extent, inversely related to the number of nearby organs at risk. Distributions of treatment times observed for each combination of applicator size and organs at risk category are depicted in Figure 1. The tabular nomogram featuring average treatment times with standard deviations is presented in Table 1. Conclusion: Strutbased APBI treatment times were observed to depend in a consistent manner on applicator size and number of nearby organs at risk. Information provided in the nomogram presented here represents several hundred treatments performed at multiple institutions. This data can serve as guidance or quality assurance for institutions with limited experience using strut-based APBI applicators.
Substrate binding to cytochrome P450-2J2 in Nanodiscs detected by nanoplasmonic Lycurgus cup arrays

Cytochrome P450s are the primary enzymes involved in phase I drug metabolism. They are an important target for early drug discovery research. However, high-throughput drug screening of P450s is limited by poor protein stability and lack of consistent measurement of binding events. Here we present the detection of substrate binding to cytochrome P450-2J2 (CYP2J2), the predominant P450 in the human heart, using a combination of Nanodisc technology and a nanohole plasmonic sensor called nanoplasmonic Lycurgus cup array (nanoLCA). The Nanodisc, a nanoscale membrane bilayer disc, is used to stabilize the protein on the metallic plasmonic surface. Absorption spectroscopy of seven different substrates binding to CYP2J2 in solution showed that they are all type I, resulting in shifting of the protein bands to lower wavelengths (blue shift). Detection on the nanoLCA sensor also showed spectral blue shifts of CYP2J2 following substrate binding. Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) electromagnetic simulation suggested that the blue shift on the nanoLCA is because of the hybridization of plasmon polariton Bloch wave and the electronic resonance of the heme group of CYP2J2. We found the plasmonic properties of the nanoLCA sensor to be highly reproducible, which allowed comparisons among the different substrates at different concentrations. Further, due to the unique spectral properties of the nanoLCA sensor, including the transmission of a single color, we were able to perform colorimetric detection of the binding events. These results indicate that a resonance plasmonic sensing mechanism can be used to distinguish between different substrates of the same binding type at different concentrations binding to P450s and that the nanoLCA sensor has the potential to provide consistent high-throughput measurements of this system.
The Effect of Oxygen Partial Pressure on the Wetting of SiC, AlN, and Si3N4 by Si and a Method for Calculating the Surface Energies Involved

The degree to which molten silicon wets a solid, and reacts chemically and physically with it, determines the solid’s usefulness as a die or container material. It is the purpose of this work to show that the oxygen partial pressure in the environment is an important factor in determining the degree to which solids are wetted by liquid silicon. Of particular interest is the PO2 range below where SiO2 is formed. In a recent study1 the authors have demonstrated that the oxygen activity in this range is very significant in determining both the chemical and physical interaction and the contact angle between liquid silicon and some refractory solids. The PO2 dependence of the contact angle is then used to calculate the solid surface energies.
Pharmacokinetics of tramadol and its major metabolites in alpacas following intravenous and oral administration

Tramadol, a centrally acting opioid analgesic with monamine reuptake inhibition, was administered to six alpacas (43-71 kg) randomly assigned to two treatment groups, using an open, single-dose, two-period, randomized cross-over design at a dose of 3.4-4.4 mg/kg intravenously (i.v.) and, after a washout period, 11 mg/kg orally. Serum samples were collected and stored at -80°C until assayed by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. The mean half-lives (t(1/2)) i.v. were 0.85±0.463 and 0.520±0.256 h orally. The Cp(0) i.v. was 2467±540 ng/mL, and the C(max) was 1202±1319 ng/mL orally. T(max) occurred at 0.111±0.068 h orally. The area under the curve (AUC(0-∞)) i.v. was 895±189 and 373±217 ng*h/mL orally. The volume of distribution (V(d[area])) i.v. was 5.50±2.66 L/kg. Total body clearance (Cl) i.v. was 4.62±1.09 h; Cl/F for oral administration was 39.5±23 L/h/kg. The i.v. mean residence time (MRT) was 0.720±0.264. Oral adsorption (F) was low (5.9-19.1%) at almost three times the i.v. dosage with a large inter-subject variation. This may be due to binding with the rumen contents or enzymatic destruction. Assuming linear nonsaturable pharmacokinetics and absorption processes, a dosage of 6.7 times orally would be needed to achieve the same i.v. serum concentration of tramadol. The t(1/2) of all three metabolites was longer than the parent drug; however, O-DMT, N-DMT, and Di-DMT metabolites were not detectable in all of the alpacas. Because of the poor bioavailability and adverse effects noted in this study, the oral administration of tramadol in alpacas cannot be recommended without further research.
Polarization Control in Silicon Photonic Waveguide Components Using Cladding Stress Engineering

This chapter reviews the characteristics of SOI ridge waveguide birefringence, as governed by the waveguide cross-section geometry, the cladding stress level, and cladding thickness. Typical stress levels in dielectric cladding films such as silicon dioxide and silicon nitride are such that the stress-induced birefringence is of comparable magnitude to the waveguide geometrical birefringence. Therefore the total waveguide birefringence can be precisely controlled by counter-balancing these two factors. The application of this technique for achieving polarization independence in a variety of photonic components is described, as well as an example of polarization splitting. Passive and active tuning of the stress-induced birefringence is discussed. The use of birefringence tuning to enhance the efficiency in optical parametric processes and stress-induced Pockels electro-optic effect are also briefly addressed.
Meeting the criteria for a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in information assurance education

Information assurance is a critical topic in computer science curricula. Several publications in the educational literature address the development of curriculum and integration of information assurance into existing computer science programs. One objective measure of a successful program is to be designated by the government as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. To receive this designation, the applicant must meet documented criteria about their program and institution. Meeting these criteria can be challenging, especially for undergraduate-only institutions. This paper describes our institution's approach and experience in successfully meeting the necessary criteria for receiving the Center of Academic Excellence designation.
Institutional and individual influences on scientists' data sharing behaviors: a multilevel analysis

The objective of this research is to investigate the institutional and individual factors which influence scientists' data sharing behaviors across different scientific disciplines. Two theoretical perspectives, institutional theory and theory of planned behavior, are employed in developing a research model, which shows the complementary nature of the institutional and individual factors influencing scientists' data sharing behaviors. This research uses a survey method to examine to what extent those institutional and individual factors influence scientists' data sharing behaviors in diverse scientific disciplines. The national survey (with 1,317 scientists in 43 disciplines) shows that regulative pressure by journals; normative pressure at a discipline level; and perceived career benefit and scholarly altruism at an individual level have significant positive relationships with data sharing behaviors; and that perceived effort has a significant negative relationship. Regulative pressure by funding agencies and the availability of data repositories at a discipline level and perceived career risk at an individual level were not found to have any significant relationships with data sharing behaviors.
Direct and Indirect Searches for Low-Mass Magnetic Monopoles

Recently, there has been renewed interest in the search for low-mass magnetic monopoles. At the University of Oklahoma we are performing an experiment (Fermilab E882) using material from the old D0 and CDF detectors to set limits on the existence of Dirac monopoles of masses of the order of 500 GeV. To set such limits, estimates must be made of the production rate of such monopoles at the Tevatron collider, and of the binding strength of any such produced monopoles to matter. Here we sketch the still primitive theory of such interactions, and indicate why we believe a credible limit may still be obtained. On the other hand, there have been proposals that the classic Euler–Heisenberg Lagrangian together with duality could be employed to set limits on magnetic monopoles having masses less than 1 TeV, based on virtual, rather than real processes. The D0 collaboration at Fermilab has used such a proposal to set mass limits based on the nonobservation of pairs of photons each with high transverse momentum. We critique the underlying theory, by showing that the cross section violates unitarity at the quoted limits and is unstable with respect to radiative corrections. We therefore believe that no significant limit can be obtained from the current experiments, based on virtual monopole processes.
Impurity scattering with semiclassical screening in multiband quasi-one-dimensional systems

We present a calculation of screened impurity scattering in multiband GaAs one‐dimensional systems. The influence of background impurities is extended to a domain outside the wire within a phenomenological model. Screening effects are evaluated in the semiclassical Thomas–Fermi approximation. A feature of our model is the consideration of level degeneracy which enhances carrier occupation and screening in higher subbands. For confinement conditions corresponding to subband separation equal to the thermal energy, we found that this effect equalizes the different scattering rates in each subband.
Gene expression profiling and machine learning to understand and predict primary graft dysfunction

Lung transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage pulmonary diseases. A limited donor supply has resulted in 4000 patients on the waiting list. Currently, 10-20% of donor organs are deemed suitable under the selection criteria, of which 15-25% fails due to primary graft dysfunction (PGD). In this study, we attempt to further our understanding of PGD by observing the changes in gene expression across donor lungs that developed PGD versus those that did not. Our second goal is to use a machine learning tool - support vector machine (SVM), to distinguish unsuitable donor lungs from suitable donor lungs, based on the gene expression data. Classification results for distinguishing suitable and unsuitable lungs for transplantation using a SVM were promising. This is the first such attempt to use human lungs used for transplantation and combine the identification of a molecular signature for PGD, with machine learning methods for donor lung prediction.
OPTICAL-CELL EVIDENCE FOR SUPERHEATED ICE UNDER GAS-HYDRATE-FORMING CONDITIONS

We previously reported indirect but compelling evidence that fine-grained H2O ice under elevated CH4 gas pressure can persist to temperatures well above its ordinary melting point while slowly reacting to form methane clathrate hydrate. This phenomenon has now been visually verified by duplicating these experiments in an optical cell while observing the very slow hydrate-forming process as the reactants were warmed from 250 to 290 K at methane pressures of 23 to 30 MPa. Limited hydrate growth occurred rapidly after initial exposure of the methane gas to the ice grains at temperatures well within the ice subsolidus region. No evidence for continued growth of the hydrate phase was observed until samples were warmed above the equilibrium H2O melting curve. With continued heating, no bulk melting of the ice grains or free liquid water was detected anywhere within the optical cell until hydrate dissociation conditions were reached (292 K at 30 MPa), even though full conversion of the ice grains to hydrate requ...
Effect of Forming on Behavior of UOE Pipe Material

The worldwide share of oil&gas produced from offshore sources is constantly increasing. Accordingly, deep and ultra-deep water projects go to ever increasing depths. Large diameter pipes for this type of projects are often manufactured by the UOE process. After the cold work associated with UOE forming, mechanical properties of pipe material are different from those of the original plate. In particular, the circumferential compression behavior is markedly affected by the Baushcinger effect which develops after the last expansion step, and this is a key property for the resistance to collapse under external pressurization. Standard formulas for the assessment of the collapse pressure pc variedly account for this effect. For instance, DNV OS-F101 penalizes the SMYS of the pipe with a fabrication factor αfab that reduces the pc rating of UOE pipes.Understanding the effect of deformation history on final material properties becomes desirable for a proper identification of processing strategies. A testing program was developed aimed at evaluating the effect of UOE forming on final transverse compression behavior, as it is relevant for collapse resistance. Work softening (i.e., the Bauschinger effect) and hardening were quantified under a variety of deformation operations.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Predicting human papillomavirus vaccine uptake in young adult women: comparing the health belief model and theory of planned behavior.

Although theories of health behavior have guided thousands of studies, relatively few studies have compared these theories against one another. The purpose of the current study was to compare two classic theories of health behavior—the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)—in their prediction of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. After watching a gain-framed, loss-framed, or control video, women (N = 739) ages 18–26 completed a survey assessing HBM and TPB constructs. HPV vaccine uptake was assessed 10 months later. Although the message framing intervention had no effect on vaccine uptake, support was observed for both the TPB and HBM. Nevertheless, the TPB consistently outperformed the HBM. Key predictors of uptake included subjective norms, self-efficacy, and vaccine cost. Despite the observed advantage of the TPB, findings revealed considerable overlap between the two theories and highlighted the importance of proximal versus distal predictors of health behavior.
Insights into microstructure based corrosion mechanism of high pressure die cast AM50 alloy

Abstract Corrosion mechanism of high pressure die cast (HPDC) AM50 magnesium alloy from a planar microstructure context is discussed. The progress of corrosion is mapped by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, microscopy, and by elemental composition distribution analysis. Corrosion resistance of the alloy surface increased on prolonged exposure to the electrolyte (1.6 wt.% NaCl solution), which is attributed to the selective dissolution of Mg-rich alpha phase, and to the evolution of Al-rich surface comprising of Mg 17 Al 12 (beta) and Al-containing eutectic phases. A comparative study between HPDC and sand cast AM50 alloys revealed superior corrosion performance of die cast alloy.
Ultrafine particle infiltration into passenger vehicles. Part II: Model analysis

Abstract Experimental studies showed that infiltration and passive ventilation are important air exchange mechanisms inside vehicles but previous mathematical models did not consider either one. In this study, we incorporated infiltration and passive ventilation to advance the existing mathematical models and evaluated how different transport mechanisms affect passenger exposures at increasing speeds. Infiltration was formulated using Bernoulli’s equation and passive ventilation was derived empirically. The new model describes ultrafine particle (UFP) and carbon dioxide (CO2) transport for a wide range of driving speed under any ventilation conditions. Unlike statistical models, this mathematical model can also provide vehicle-specific and transport mechanism-specific information. The model predictions were in a good agreement with data collected from 10 different vehicle models with an average discrepancy of less than 16% for UFPs and less than 3% for CO2. Under outdoor air (OA) mode, when the fan is off, the model simulation showed that the infiltration and passive ventilation can substantially increase the UFP I/O (in-cabin/on-road concentrations) ratio from 0.15 at 0 km/h to 0.57 at 130 km/h. At medium fan setting, mechanical ventilation dominates and UFP I/O stays at 0.58 regardless of driving speed. Under recirculation (RC) mode, infiltration increases and the RC-mode filtration only removed 44% and 69% of the infiltrated particles at the lowest and medium fan settings, respectively. Model simulations under OA mode show that infiltration starts to occur above 115 km/h with the lowest fan setting; whereas, medium and higher fan settings prevent infiltration up to 145 km/h.
Laser-assisted synthesis of diamond-like carbon from cyclohexane liquid

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were synthesized by KrF excimer laser irradiation of single-crystal Si substrates immersed in a cyclohexane liquid. The deposition process was performed with a peak laser power density of about 10 8 W/cm 2 in open atmosphere at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies showed diamond-like characteristics of the deposited films. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of laser-induced plasmas of cyclohexane indicated decomposition of the cyclohexane molecules. A mechanism based on the dissociation of the cyclohexane molecules and condensation of energetic carbon atoms into diamond-like films was proposed to explain the process.
Spinal Microglial and Perivascular Cell Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Activation Reduces Behavioral Hypersensitivity without Tolerance after Peripheral Nerve Injury

NEUROPATHIC pain, resulting from nerve injury, is often the most difficult pain to treat. Gabapentin, tramadol, local lidocaine patches, opioids, and tricyclic anti-depressants are first-line medications for neuropathic pain. However, their modest effectiveness, physical dependence, significant side effects, or lack of universal efficacy limit their clinical use.1 Therefore, new strategies for better treatment of pain are needed. Cannabinoids are potential analgesic agents and are thought to exert most of their effects by binding to G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor (CBR) types 1 and 2. CBR1 exist in neural structures and are expressed in brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.2-6 Alternatively, CBR2 are expressed in immune cells7 and keratinocytes8 and have recently been shown to exist in the central nervous system (CNS).9,10 In accord with the role of CBR2 in immune cells, CBR2 are expressed in microglia and perivascular cells in normal human and rat brain11,12 and in microglia and astrocytes, especially during inflammation.13,14 These findings suggest that the cannabinoid system may have immune modulatory functions also in the CNS. Microglial and astrocytic activation, defined as an increase in the expression of specific surface antigens and functional cellular proteins, is involved in the initiation and maintenance of hypersensitivity in neuropathic pain.15-18 Peripheral nerve injury induces CBR2 expression in peripheral fibers and spinal cord.19-21 In addition, although CBR2 are presumably increased in microglia after peripheral nerve injury,20 no conclusive CBR2 expression in glial cells has been shown in vivo thus far. Central CBR1 activation induces antinociception in several pain models, but neurologic side effects and antinociceptive tolerance limit its clinical use as a potential analgesic. In spite of this, CBR1 have been extensively studied, whereas the function of spinal cord CBR2 has not been fully described in the processing of nociceptive information.22 We have previously demonstrated that spinal CBR2 are functional and that their activation reduces paw incision-induced pain in association with a reduction of microglial and astrocytic activation without inducing neurologic side effects. Herein, we test the hypothesis that CBR2 are expressed in glial cells after peripheral nerve injury and that their activation reduces peripheral nerve injury-induced microglial activation and hypersensitivity. Because chronic activation of spinal CBR2 in neuropathic pain has not been assessed, a second hypothesis was tested in the current study, that chronic spinal CBR2 activation does not induce antinociceptive tolerance.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic binding energy shifts due to matrix in alloys and small supported metal particles

Abstract Core level binding energies of metals in the following alloys and metal-dispersed or -implanted materials have been studied: AuAg, PtAg, PtC and AuSiO 2 . Their shifts from the binding energies of pure species (referenced to the Fermi level) are interpreted to consist of a matrix shift resulting from differences in crystal field potential, relaxation energy and work function as well as a chemical shift due to differences in valence electron density. By estimating the matrix shift using implanted Ar in the related pure materials, the chemical shift could be isolated from the observed binding energy shift. In all cases studied, the matrix shift is greater than the chemical shift and its contribution to the binding energy shifts is in the opposite direction.
Oxidative changes to nitrate and boron in marine pore waters

Reported changes in the composition of marine pore water on contact with air1–4 led us to investigate whether air-exposure of marine sediment might alter its interstitial concentrations of nitrate and boron. Nitrate should be a good indicator of changes in the oxidation state of marine sediments5,6, and interstitial boron should reflect changes in the reactivity of sedimentary components because it bonds to clays7,8 and sediments in a temperature-sensitive manner. We report here that interstitial nitrate concentrations can increase considerably during air exposure of marine sediment and that interstitial boron can be scavenged from some reducing sediment. Sedimentary boron scavenging may affect oceanic boron, but the process may be influenced by interstitial components that prevent the uptake of boron onto freshly formed hydrous ferric oxides.
Sparse Real Estate Ranking with Online User Reviews and Offline Moving Behaviors

Ranking residential real estates based on investment values can provide decision making support for home buyers and thus plays an important role in estate marketplace. In this paper, we aim to develop methods for ranking estates based on investment values by mining users' opinions about estates from online user reviews and offline moving behaviors (e.g., Taxi traces, smart card transactions, check-ins). While a variety of features could be extracted from these data, these features are Interco related and redundant. Thus, selecting good features and integrating the feature selection into the fitting of a ranking model are essential. To this end, in this paper, we first strategically mine the fine-grained discrminative features from user reviews and moving behaviors, and then propose a probabilistic sparse pair wise ranking method for estates. Specifically, we first extract the explicit features from online user reviews which express users' opinions about point of interests (POIs) near an estate. We also mine the implicit features from offline moving behaviors from multiple perspectives (e.g., Direction, volume, velocity, heterogeneity, topic, popularity, etc.). Then we learn an estate ranking predictor by combining a pair wise ranking objective and a sparsity regularization in a unified probabilistic framework. And we develop an effective solution for the optimization problem. Finally, we conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation with real world estate related data, and the experimental results demonstrate the competitive performance of both features and the proposed model.
Commercially Viable Strategies for Enhancing Coal Quality

ABSTRACT The focus of this research is on coal quality enhancement, which includes reduction in the sulfur content and increase in heating value through simple, innovative, and commercially viable coal cleaning strategies. These strategies involve fine coal cleaning, plant optimization, partial coarse coal liberation, and multiple product generation. Evaluations on five mines in Illinois have indicated a potential to reduce the sulfur dioxide emission potential of these coals by up to 20%, while increasing the product heating value by up to 250 kcal/kg (450 BTU/lb). In addition, increases in coal yield by 2–6% are predicted depending on the specific conditions at the evaluated mine.
Coping with Dialect Differences in Reading Instruction.

One of the most perplexing problems in education is accommodating the different ways that children learn. The most perplexing of all is the child with reading disabilities. It has been estimated that 8 million elementary and secondary children in America will not learn to read adequately (8). The reasons for these reading disabilities are numerous. Among all the factors that are possible causes of reading disability, language development and dialect have become of increasing concern. Because the educational system is geared toward middle class subject matter and vocabulary (standard English), the child who has never experienced these is at a disadvantage. Hence, it has been observed that students whose lan-
Intrauterine Growth Retardation - A Developmental Model of Type 2 Diabetes.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes later in life and the mechanisms underlying this phenomena are unknown. Epidemiological studies in humans show a distinct link with the exposure to an intrauterine insult that results in low birth weight and the development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. IUGR can be induced in rodent models by exposing the pregnant rat to a low protein diet, total calorie restriction, high dose glucocorticoids or inducing uteroplacental insufficiency, all which result in abnormalities in glucose homeostasis in the offspring later in life. Animal models of IUGR allow for a better characterization of changes in glucose homeostasis and corresponding changes in gene expression that can provide insight in the mechanisms by which IUGR leads to type 2 diabetes.
A toxin from Pasteurella multocida serogroup D enhances swine herpesvirus 1 replication lethality in vitro and in vivo

In swine, the nasal turbinate epithelium is both a site of swine herpesvirus 1 (pseudorabies virus, PRV) replication and a tissue affected by toxin fromPasteurella multocida serogroup D. We examined the effects of exposure to PRV and exposure to toxin in mice, swine, and nasal turbinate cell cultures. Increased mortality in mice was observed when nonlethal doses of PRV (1000 or 100 plaque-forming units, PFU) were administered along with nonlethal doses (60–200 ng/kg) of toxin. In swine, clinical disease and death in adult pigs was observed after an intradermal injection of toxin (20 ng/kg) and intranasal exposure to 1000 PFU/kg of PRV. Nasal turbinate cell cultures incubated with toxin and PRV had increased protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, and increased recovery of virus particles. These findings indicate that a toxin fromP. multocida serogroup D enhances swine herpesvirus 1 replication and lethality in cell cultures and animal models.
Acute effect of fluoride on 45-calcium dynamics in osteoporosis.

ABSTRACT The acute effect of sodium fluoride on calcium metabolism and 45calcium kinetics in bone has been studied in 7 patients with osteoporosis and 1 patient with Paget's disease. Fluoride produced no significant change in calcium retention during 3 weeks of treatment. Nitrogen balance improved in 7 patients during treatment. Kinetic studies with 45calcium revealed that fluoride reduces the total exchangeable calcium significantly, without a significant reduction in bone formation or resorption rates.
DIETARY EFFECTS ON ANEMIA PLUS HYPOPROTEINEMIA IN DOGS I. SOME PROTEINS FURTHER THE PRODUCTION OF HEMOGLOBIN AND OTHERS PLASMA PROTEIN PRODUCTION

Doubly depleted dogs (anemic and hypoproteinemic) respond favorably to all the diet proteins used in the above experiments. Egg products (whole egg, albumin, or egg yolk) are well utilized by these dogs. Egg proteins favor the production of plasma protein and in some experiments the output of plasma protein is actually more than the output of hemoglobin. In contrast fresh beef muscle favors hemoglobin production—the output being 3 or 4 times that of plasma protein. The processed egg albumin fed in Table 4 was not well utilized and there was weight loss. Beef muscle (fresh or processed) gives a total blood protein output about twice that with egg feeding and there is a striking preponderance of hemoglobin output. Beef heart and salmon muscle show a pattern much like beef muscle. The total blood protein output is below that due to beef muscle.
Stimulus-induced S-Nitrosylation of Syntaxin 4 Impacts Insulin Granule Exocytosis

Glucose-stimulated insulin release from pancreatic islet β-cells involves increased levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Although this is normal, under pathophysiological conditions such as chronic hyperglycemia and inflammation, insulin exocytosis fails, and yet the mechanistic reason for failure is unclear. Hypothesizing that exocytotic proteins might be targets of S-nitrosylation, with their dysfunction under conditions of nitrosative stress serving as a mechanistic basis for insulin secretory dysfunction, we identified the t-SNARE protein Syntaxin 4 as a target of modification by S-nitrosylation. The cellular content of S-nitrosylated Syntaxin 4 peaked acutely, within 5 min of glucose stimulation in both human islets and MIN6 β-cells, corresponding to the time at which Syntaxin 4 activation was detectable. S-Nitrosylation was mapped to Syntaxin 4 residue Cys141, located within the Hc domain predicted to increase accessibility for v-SNARE interaction. A C141S-Syntaxin 4 mutant resisted S-nitrosylation induced in vitro by the nitric oxide donor compound S-nitroso-l-glutathione, failed to exhibit glucose-induced activation and VAMP2 binding, and failed to potentiate insulin release akin to that of wild-type Syntaxin 4. Strikingly, S-nitrosylation of Syntaxin 4 could be induced by acute treatment with inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IFNγ), coordinate with inappropriate Syntaxin 4 activation and insulin release in the absence of the glucose stimulus, consistent with nitrosative stress and dysfunctional exocytosis, preceding the cell dysfunction and death associated with more chronic stimulation (24 h). Taken together, these data indicate a significant role for reactive nitrogen species in the insulin exocytosis mechanism in β-cells and expose a potential pathophysiological exploitation of this mechanism to underlie dysfunctional exocytosis.
Some computational results of using the Ahrens--Finke method for handling degeneracy in fixed charge transportation problems

In a recent paper, Ahrens and Finke present a procedure for resolving degeneracy in the fixed cost transportation problem by perturbing the supplies and demands. This paper presents computational results of using that procedure in both vertex ranking and branch-and-bound algorithms for the fixed charge transportation problems as compared to using previously available methods for resolving degeneracy in those algorithms.
An Analysis of Feed Efficiency among Breeds of Chickens and Its Relationship to Rate of Growth

Abstract A GENERAL observation has been that the more rapid the growth the higher the feed efficiency or body weight increase per unit of feed. This has been explained on the basis of the slower growing individuals possessing a proportionately larger maintenance tax. There is also some evidence in poultry, although meager and conflicting, that feed efficiency per se, independent of the rate of growth is inherited. Hess and Jull (1948) reviewed much of the previous information concerned with the genetic aspects of the efficiency complex. They indicated that in general, the faster the growth, the greater the efficiency. However, they observed some evidence that feed efficiency is inherited independently of growth. Lush (1936) described the Danish system of progeny testing swine on the basis of rate of gain and also food requirements per unit of gain. An analysis of the yearly progress from 1922 to 1929 was made and it …
Project 8: Update on a radiofrequency tritium spectrometer

We describe a novel technique for measuring the energies of beta decay electrons. The technique relies on the detection of coherent radiation emitted by an electron in a cyclotron orbit in a strong magnetic field. Since the frequency of cyclotron orbit depends on the particle Lorentz boost, the detection and measurement of the coherent radiation emitted is tantamount to measuring the kinetic energy of the electron. As the technique inherently involves a nondestructive frequency measurement, it can in principle achieve a high resolution and accuracy. A new experimental effort, known as Project 8, will apply this technique to a sensitive measurement of the beta endpoint of tritium, which is sensitive to the absolute mass scale of the neutrino. In this paper we describe experimental progress towards demonstrating the Project 8 technique, and present the configuration of a pilot experiment.
Magnetohydrodynamic cellular automata

A generalization of the hexagonal lattice gas model of Frisch, Hasslacher and Pomeau is shown to lead to two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics. The method relies on the ideal point-wise conservation law for vector potential.
Radial glia produce and align the ligand fibronectin during neuronal migration in the developing chick brain

We demonstrated previously that α8β1 integrin regulates the migration and survival of immature neurons during development of the chicken optic tectum; however, the potential extracellular ligand was unknown. We used immunohistochemistry to determine if several potential ligands (fibronectin, tenascin, vitronectin, and osteopontin) were expressed during neuronal migration along radial glia (RG). Fibronectin was localized in a pattern relevant to radial migration and survival of neurons; it was present before and during neuronal migration and appeared oriented along RG fibers by conventional fluorescence microscopy. Confocal microscopy confirmed that fibronectin was localized along RG cells during radial migration. It was more concentrated in some superficial laminae, which might support directional movement. Fibronectin was present after formation of definitive tectal laminae, but was diffuse and not aligned along RG, which persist. Flow cytometry analysis of dissociated optic tectum cells revealed that almost all RG were positive for fibronectin. Short-term cell culture experiments using an exocytosis inhibitor revealed that fibronectin accumulated in most RG cells. Thus, fibronectin is produced by RG and is aligned along their surfaces before and during migration. Fibronectin, therefore, is a potential ligand for general radial neuronal migration in the chick optic tectum. Its predominant source appears to be RG, in contrast with developing mammalian cortex, where fibronectin was not found in a pattern that could guide widespread radial migration and where neurons are the predominant producers of fibronectin during migration. J. Comp. Neurol. 468:441–451, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Strategic change within the pharmaceutical industry: the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription medicines

Advertising prescription medicines directly to consumers is a controversial practice. At present, only two economically developed countries, the USA and New Zealand, allow complete direct to consumer advertising. The positive side is that consumers have access to greater levels of information about new and leading products. The negative side is the imbalance in presentation of benefits and risks via advertising. In this paper, we review the pros and cons of this practice and discuss its impact on product development and performance.
Supervisory Control of a Multilegged Robot

Motion-planning algorithms to provide for 3-axis joystick control of a multilegged robot over planar terrain are presented. Three different modes of operation are developed: cruise (for motion along the circular arc whose radius varies with joystick position), side-stepping, and turn-in-place. In each of these modes, the trajectories of the body and the feet are generated. The overall cycling of the legs defines a "wave" gait pattern. The algorithms have been implemented on a PDP-11/45 minicomputer, and results for the control of the OSU Hexapod are given.
Intraoperative Interventions: American College of Chest Physicians Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery

A comprehensive evidence review was conducted of the medical literature regarding the relationship between intraoperative interventions and the incidence of postoperative atrial arrhythmias, including, most commonly, atrial fibrillation (AF). Fifteen randomized, controlled studies and one large-scale concurrent cohort study were identified that reported on the following issues: systemic temperature during surgery (one report); "beating heart" surgery vs conventional bypass surgery (three reports); type of myocardial protection (five reports); the use of adjunctive posterior pericardiotomy (one report); the use of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) [two reports]; the use of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solutions (two reports); and the use of heparin-coated circuits for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) [two reports]. Based on a systematic review of the reported data and an analysis of the quality of the reported data, we recommend the following: (1) that mild hypothermia, rather than moderate hypothermia, may be effective in reducing the frequency of postoperative AF; (2) the use of posterior pericardiotomy may be a useful adjunct to reduce the frequency of postoperative AF; and (3) the use of heparin-coated CPB circuits is associated with less postoperative AF. Because of conflicting or inadequate data, we cannot conclude that the frequency of postoperative AF is affected by (1) the use of beating-heart techniques, (2) the type of myocardial protection strategy used, (3) the use of TEA, or (4) the use of GIK solutions perioperatively.