cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The case for Modula-2 in CS1 and CS2

During 1984 and 1985 I was part of an ACM Task Force to update the recommended curricula for CSI and CS2, the first two courses in programming methods for computer science majors. Our findings were reported in the communications of the ACM (Koffman, 1984 and 1985). The objectives of CS1 and CS2 as stated in these reports follow.
Basic theory of dielectrophoresis and electrorotation

This article presents a concise, unifying treatment of the electromechanics of small particles under the influence of electroquasistatic fields and offers a set of models useful in calculating electrical forces and torques on biological particles in the size range from /spl sim/1 to /spl sim/100 /spl mu/m. The theory is used to consider DEP trapping, electrorotation, traveling-wave induced motion, and orientational effects. The effective dipole method, and its generalization to effective multipoles, makes it possible to treat multilayered concentric shells and particles exhibiting ohmic and dielectric loss. This method may be extended further to the case of nonspherical particles, where alignment torques can be considered. These capabilities are well suited to modeling DEP behavior of biological particles including cells. The models and methods presented in this review are sufficiently general to be of use in a broad range of applications for biological dielectrophoresis and particle electrokinetics. The range of validity can be stated confidently to cover particles having diameters approximately 1/spl mu/m and larger.
An adaptive multiuser detector with joint amplitude and delay estimation

A multiuser detector is developed in which the delays and amplitudes of the incoming waveforms are estimated recursively. The algorithm is an extension of the symbol-by-symbol detector of Abend and Fritchman, originally derived for intersymbol interference (ISI) channels, to the multiuser application. In order to make the multiuser detector adaptive, the likelihoods in the symbol-by-symbol metric update are approximated using a set of extended Kalman filter (EKF) innovations. The EKF's provide, in addition to the likelihoods, joint estimates of the signal delays and amplitudes. The resulting algorithm is quite complex, due to the large number of possible composite symbols corresponding to the multiple users. However, it is shown that the likelihood computations and EKF updates can be expressed it terms of a set of cross-correlation functions, which need only be computed for a subset of the possible symbols. The cross-correlator outputs are updated at the bit rate, and thus the EKF and metric update computations need be performed only at a function of the spread-spectrum chip rate. A metric pruning technique is proposed that further reduces the number of EKF delay/amplitude estimators required. Finally, an important sampling simulation strategy is used to obtain bit-error rate estimates for the adaptive multiuser detector. >
Radial glia development in the mouse olfactory bulb.

Radial glia are critical for cell migration and lamination of the cortex. In most developing cortical structures, radial glia, as their name suggests, extend processes from the ventricle to the pia in regular parallel arrangements. However, immunohistochemical labeling from several laboratories suggests that radial glia have a more branched morphology in the olfactory bulb. To investigate the morphology of radial glia in the mouse olfactory bulb we (1) labeled radial glia and olfactory receptor neuron axons at 24-hour intervals by immunohistochemistry; and (2) developed a novel method of generating and applying "nanocrystals" of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'- tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) to the ventricle surface such that the processes of single olfactory bulb radial glia are labeled in the embryonic olfactory bulb. We examined the structure and interactions of radial glia with ingrowing olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) axons in late embryonic olfactory bulb development. These results showed that olfactory bulb radial glia do not form straight parallel structures as do radial glia in the neocortex but rather have a convoluted trajectory from the ventricle to the bulb surface. Moreover, olfactory bulb radial glia consistently extend tangential branches at the level of the internal plexiform layer. Beginning at embryonic day 17.5, two types of radial glia can be distinguished: type I radial glia have a process that extends from the ventricle into the glomerular layer. These apical processes form highly restricted tufts, or "glial glomeruli" at the same time that ORN axons are forming "axonal glomeruli." In type II radial glia the apical process does not enter the glomerular layer but instead ramifies within the external plexiform layer. The tight spatiotemporal relationship between the glomerulization of radial glia processes and ORN axons during development suggest that radial glia processes could play a role in the formation and/or stabilization of mammalian glomeruli.
Connexin Expression and Turnover Implications for Cardiac Excitability

Electrical activation of the heart requires current transfer from one cell to another via gap junctions, arrays of densely packed intercellular channels. The extent to which cardiac myocytes are coupled is determined by multiple mechanisms, including tissue-specific patterns of expression of diverse gap junction channel proteins (connexins), and regulatory pathways that control connexin synthesis, intracellular trafficking, assembly into channels, and degradation. Many connexins, including those expressed in the heart, have been found to turn over rapidly. Recent studies in the intact adult heart suggest that connexin43, the principal cardiac connexin, is surprisingly short-lived (half-life approximately 1.3 hours). Both the proteasome and the lysosome participate in connexin43 degradation. Other ion channel proteins, such as those forming selected voltage-gated K(+) channels, may also exhibit rapid turnover kinetics. Regulation of connexin degradation may be an important mechanism for adjusting intercellular coupling in the heart under normal and pathophysiological conditions.
CYCLOOXYGENASE PRODUCTS STIMULATE CARBON MONOXIDE PRODUCTION BY PIGLET CEREBRAL MICROVESSELS

Products of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism by cyclooxygenase (Cox) are important in regulation of neonatal cerebral circulation. The brain and cerebral microvessels also express heme oxygenase (HO) that metabolizes hemeto carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin, and iron. The purpose of this study in newborn pig cerebral microvessels was to address the hypothesis that Cox products affect HO activity and HO products affect Cox activity. AA (2.0-20 μM) increased prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and also CO measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Further, 10 - 4 M indomethacin, which inhibited Cox, reduced both AA and heme-induced CO production. Conversely, neither exogenous 2 x 10 - 6 M heme, which markedly increased CO production, nor the inhibitor of HO, chromium mesoporphyrin, altered PGE 2 synthesis. Because AA metabolism by Cox generates both prostanoids and superoxides, we determined the effects of the predominant prostanoid and superoxide on CO production. Although PGE 2 caused a small increase in CO production, xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine, which produces superoxide, strongly stimulated the production of CO by cerebral microvessels. This increase was mildly attenuated by catalase. These data suggest that Cox-catalyzed AA metabolites, most likely superoxide and/or a subsequent reactive oxygen species, increase cerebrovascular CO production. This increase seems to be caused, at least in part, by the elevation of HO-2 catalytic activity. Conversely, Cox activity is not affected by HO-catalyzed heme metabolites. These data suggest that some cerebrovascular functions attributable to Cox activity could be mediated by CO.
Detonation in shocked homogeneous high explosives

We have studied shock-induced changes in homogeneous high explosives including nitromethane, tetranitromethane, and single crystals of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) by using fast time-resolved emission and Raman spectroscopy at a two-stage light-gas gun. The results reveal three distinct steps during which the homogeneous explosives chemically evolve to final detonation products. These are (1) the initiation of shock compressed high explosives after an induction period, (2) thermal explosion of shock-compressed and/or reacting materials, and (3) a decay to a steady-state representing a transition to the detonation of uncompressed high explosives. Based on a gray-body approximation, we have obtained the CJ temperatures: 3800 K for nitromethane, 2950 K for tetranitromethane, and 4100 K for PETN. We compare the data with various thermochemical equilibrium calculations. In this paper we will also show a preliminary result of single-shot time-resolved Raman spectroscopy applied to shock-compressed nitromethane.
Red Fork Sandstones (Lower Pennsylvanian) in Deeper Parts of Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma: ABSTRACT

Red Fork sandstones in the deeper part of the Anadarko basin are the downdip equivalents of fluvial and deltaic sandstones in the Cherokee Group. The sandstones have repetitive, ordered sequences of sedimentary structures in vertical section. Individual bedsets display sharp basal contacts, gradational tops, and contorted bedding. The characteristics indicate these basinal sandstones were deposited by turbidity currents. The sandstones occur as narrow, linear constructional channels that are dip-trending. The lateral change from channel-fill to overbank facies takes place abruptly. Channel sandstones display incomplete "AE" bedsets up to 12 ft (3.6 m) thick. Overbank deposits have thin "BE," "BCE," and "CE" Bouma sequences and generally are dominated by shale. The sandstones are very fine-grained litharenites with an average composition of 58% quartz, 8% feldspar, 17% rock fragments, 5% other grains, and 12% matrix. Cement consists mainly of calcite ranging from 2 to 40% of the bulk volume. Quartz content tends to decrease upward and matrix increases upward within bedsets. The compositional grading is accompanied by a decrease in grain size upward within bedsets, indicating deposition during a decreasing flow-regime. Red Fork sandstones are low-permeability reservoirs with an average porosity and permeability of 7.8% and 0.1 md, respectively. Natural gas reservoirs occur mainly in the thicker, channel sequences. The bedding character of the channel and overbank facies is reflected in gamma-ray log responses. Log characters of the two facies are used to interpret turbidite sections of uncored areas. The interpretations are adapted to the East Clinton field for prediction of constructional channel reservoirs. The interpretation of dip-trending turbidite deposits may aid in exploration and development of the Red Fork sandstones. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1328------------
Newcomer Programs for Linguistically Diverse Students

The population of limited English proficient students is growing. Some of these students also lack core academic skills and knowledge in their first language. To assist recent immigrant students, newcomer programs have been implemented. This article describes the rationale for such programs, types of programs available, and their various features.
MMPI personality disorder scales and the MCMI: Concurrent validity

A set of DSM-III personality disorder scales recently were developed for the MMPI. The purpose of the present investigation was to provide data on the concurrent validity of these scales. Scores from both the overlapping and nonoverlapping MMPI personality disorder scales were compared against the criterion of the personality disorder scales of the MCMI in 47 psychiatric patients. In general, the MMPI personality scales correlated significantly with the corresponding MCMI scales. However, the antisocial (ANT), compulsive (CPS), and paranoid (PAR) scales of the MMPI failed to achieve adequate concurrent validity. For the ANT scale, this probably reflects conceptual differences between the Millon (1981) typology that underlies the MCMI and the DSM-III. The PAR scale appears to show some bias toward the assessment of paranoid and suspicious ideation, rather than paranoid personality characteristics.
Ultrasonic Power Output Measurement by Pulsed Radiation Pressure.

Direct measurements of time-averaged spatially integrated output power radiated into reflectionless water loads can be made with high accuracy using techniques which exploit the radiation pressure exerted by sound on all objects in its path. With an absorptive target arranged to intercept the entirety of an ultrasound beam, total beam power can be determined as accurately as the radiation force induced on the target can be measured in isolation from confounding forces due to buoyancy, streaming, surface tension, and vibration. Pulse modulation of the incident ultrasound at a frequency well above those characteristics of confounding phenomena provides the desired isolation and other significant advantages in the operation of the radiation force balance (RFB) constructed in 1974. Equipped with purposebuilt transducers and electronics, the RFB is adjusted to equate the radiation force and a counterforce generated by an actuator calibrated against reference masses using direct current as the transfer variable. Improvements made during its one overhaul in 1988 have nearly halved its overall measurement uncertainty and extended the capabilities of the RFB to include measuring the output of ultrasonic systems with arbitrary pulse waveforms.
CF6 fan performance improvement

A significant portion of the NASA-sponsored Performance Improvement Program for the CF6 engine was the development of an improved fan concept. This involved aerodynamic redesign of the CF6 fan blade to increase fan efficiency while retaining the mechanical integrity, operability, and acoustic characteristics of the existing blade. A further improvement in performance was obtained by adding a fan case stiffener ring to decouple blade-case vibrational characteristics, permitting a significant reduction in running tip clearance. Engine testing was performed to establish the performance, mechanical and acoustic properties of the new design relative to the current fan, and to establish power management characteristics for the CF6-50C2/E2 engine. A significant improvement in cruise power SFC of 1.8 percent was demonstrated in Sea Level testing projected to altitude flight conditions.
A technique to stabilize the output voltage level of an emitter follower

The emitter follower configuration, which is usually driven by another amplifier stage, is discussed. Together, the preceding and emitter follower stages are modified to provide constant-output DC levels. A design method to stabilize these voltage levels is presented. Several practical circuits are illustrated. Typical results show the output DC voltage to have a temperature coefficient of only 0.6-0.7 mV/ degrees C. This constant bias maximizes transistor performance, increases signal headroom, and improves circuit stability. >
Depository institution competition in the deregulated environment: the case of the large credit union

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of deregulation and enhanced competition on the costs and performance of large credit unions. Using a sample of large credit unions over the period 1979 through to 1985, we find no evidence that credit unions' average costs have risen, nor do we find evidence that credit unions have suffered adverse changes in operating margins. Large credit unions not only compete with other depository institutions, but appear to have responded well in the newly competitive environment.
Foreign Exchange Options: The Leading Hedge

Foreign exchange options (FXOs) can serve international financial managers in several ways. First, FXOs are essential to hedging “contingent” foreign exchange exposures – the kind of exposure which arises, for example, when a US contractor bids for a contract denominated in a foreign currency. Second, FXOs are used in active foreign exchange exposure management – that is, those cases in which management chooses to take a position on the direction or the volatility of currency movements. In this more speculative use, options can limit downside risk while retaining upside potential for profit. Forwards or futures, by contrast, do not allow the investor to take a view and cap losses at the same time. Third, using FXOs in portfolio management allows managers to construct portfolios according to the specific risk-return profile they desire. Conventional financial instruments allow managers to make tradeoffs only between the risk (or variance) and the return of a portfolio. FXOs, however, make possible the more complex trade-offs described later in this article.
ULTRAVIOLET-STIMULATED THYMIDINE INCORPORATION IN XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM LYMPHOCYTES.

Abstract Autoradiographic and liquid scintillation counting techniques were utilized to measure the ultraviolet (UV)-stimulated incorporation of radioactive thymidine during repair replication of the UV-damaged deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of irradiated peripheral blood lymphocytes from 4 patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XDP) and from normal donors. Lymphocytes from 3 of the 4 patients had a markedly decreased rate of incorporation soon after irradiation in comparison with the rate obtained with normal donors' lymphocytes. However, the duration of incorporation into these 3 patients' lymphocytes was prolonged, so that XDP lymphocytes appear eventually to incorporate as much total thymidine as normal lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from the fourth patient had a rate and duration of thymidine incorporation after irradiation similar to normal lymphocytes. This patient, therefore, may have a different genetic and biochemical defect from the other XDP patients.
Animal germplasm information systems

Information has been published by breed, research, and conservation organizations on numbers and locations of animals and, in some cases, measures of phenotypic performance. Literature searches can identify reports on characteristics of specific breeds, but published information is scant about many endangered breeds. Comprehensive information would be more readily available from data banks designed to document animal germplasm resources. Recent efforts to establish data banks have been made by European and African groups and by the United Nations. Information on the genetic merit of endangered livestock breeds generally is lacking because small numbers of animals preclude accurate genetic evaluations and because refined analytic procedures may be unavailable in the country where the animals are located. Information on previous research needs to be consolidated to avoid duplication of effort and promote further research. Care needs to be taken so that breeds are preserved with their true genetic uniqueness, not in name only. Increasing availability and application of computers should improve recording, preserving, and sharing of information. Ironically, accurate and objective information on genetic merit may hasten the demise of breeds or strains apparently less competitive under current conditions unless conservation measures are taken.
A Patent Saga: From Print to CD-ROM to the Internet

La recherche de brevets a evolue avec les technologies de l'information. Apres l'Index to the US Patent Classification, le Manual of Classification, les CD-ROM CASSIS ont commence a etre publies. Aujourd'hui des bases de donnees de brevets sont accessibles via Internet mais il faut se mefier des editeurs commerciaux d'information gouvernementale sur ce reseau
When multiple creators are worse than one: The bias toward single authors in the evaluation of art.

The present studies investigate whether people perceive the same work of art to be of lower quality if they learn that it was a collaborative work (resulting from the efforts of multiple artists) versus the work of a single artist. Study 1 finds that indeed, as the number of authors increases, the perceived quality of an artwork decreases. Study 2 finds that this effect occurs because people tend to assess quality in terms of the effort put forth by each author, rather than the total amount of effort required to create the work. Study 3 further demonstrates that this bias toward single authors appears to be driven by people’s beliefs, rather than by any inherent differences between individual versus collaborative work. These results broaden our understanding of how perceptions of effort drive evaluative judgments, and are consistent with a more general notion that art is not evaluated as a static entity, but rather as an endpoint in a “creative performance.”
Views on the Students' Study and the Innovation of Physical Teaching

The view of higher professional students' study is diversity and in the state of complex.This situation demand that the higher professional physical teaching must give consideration to the needs of professional position,competition of getting a job,examination of entering higher school and lifelong study.Forming the orientation of value and the teaching mechanism of training the ability of profession,the ability of developing and the ability of study.
Survey of pregnant women health-related quality of life and influencing factors

Objective To survey pregnant woman health-related quality of life and influencing factors.Methods Three hundred pregnant women were surveyed about sociodemographic characteristics,antepartum depression,health-related quality of life,sleep quality.Results BP score of pregnant metaphase was higher than late pregnancy(P0.05).All dimensions of health-related quality of life score,total score of psychological part,total score of physical part of antepartum depression group were lower than non-antepartum depression group(P0.01).All dimensions of health-related quality of life score,total score of psychological part,total score of physical part of non-sleep disorders group were higher than sleep disorders group(P0.01).Sleep quality was influencing factor of all dimensions of health-related quality of life score(P0.01).Conclusion Pregnant woman health-related quality of life relates to many factors.According these factors,antenatal care should be done well.
Gastric and pancreatic responses to jejunal distention. Effects of extracorporeal mesenteric vascular perfusion.

Distention of the proximal jejunum in dogs anesthetized with chloralose and urethane produced an increase in gastric secretion from the intact stomach. In dogs equipped with pancreatic cannulas and given a constant background infusion of commercial secretin, similar distention of the jejunum caused increased protein output in the pancreatic secretion. When the blood supply of the jejunum and ileum were isolated and perfused extracorporeally (the autonomic nerves remaining intact as verified by electrical stimulation), distention of the jejunum produced no increase in gastric acid or pancreatic protein output. In 6 dogs, upon discontinuing the extracorporeal perfusion, the blood supply was successfully reconstituted. Distention of the jejunum again produced an increase in gastric acid or an increase in pancreatic protein output. Ileal absorption of glucose against a concentration gradient remained unaltered throughout. Histology of the bowel was normal. It is concluded that long nervous reflex arcs did not play a significant role in eliciting the gastric or pancreatic response when the small intestine was stimulated by distention under chloralose-urethane anesthesia. Such effects were humoral and were compatible with those of gastrin or cholecystokinin-pancreozymin .
Benchmarking to close the credibility gap: A computational BioEM benchmark suite

The dearth of verification, validation, and performance benchmarks is identified as a roadblock to further progress in computational electromagnetics. The necessary ingredients for a useful benchmark suite are an application-specific list of problems, reference solutions, performance (error and computational cost) measures, and online databases publicizing comparisons. Computational cost comparisons are particularly difficult, rare, and important. As a case study, a benchmark suite for comparing existing and future computational bioelectromagnetics methods is developed.
Estimation of parameters in linear control systems

1. There is now a wealth of literature on the problem of optimal control of linear systems under a variety of conditions, constraints, and performance indexes. Whatever the criterion or performance index, however, the optimal control law invariably depends on the physical and statistical parameters of the system. These parameters are at best only partially known to the controller, so the problem of statistical estimation of the parameters, consistent with the over-all performance index, is a natural and significant problem for study. 2. Since modern control theory provides the motivation for this paper, let us quickly review some of its aspects for the unversed reader.
Changes in DNA Methylation of Repetitive Elements during the Progression of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

Epigenetic changes are a common finding in cancer, and promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes leads to aberrant gene silencing. In contrast to gene promoter hypermethylation, global hypomethylation is also a well-described phenomenon in cancer. Measurement of total 5-methylcytosine in the DNA show decreases in cancer despite increases in gene specific methylation. This discrepancy can be accounted for by the decrease of DNA methylation found in DNA repetitive elements, which make up approximately over half of the human genome. Decreases in repetitive element DNA methylation are a sensitive surrogate marker of global methylation, and have been used to measure DNA methylation changes induced by chemotherapy, dietary folate and environmental exposure. Decreases in LINE1 methylation have been described in numerous human cancers. In CML decrease in LINE1 methylation has been associated with progression to blast crisis. We investigated the DNA methylation changes of DNA repetitive elements in CML during the progression of CML from chronic phase to accelerated phase and finally blast crisis. We used a previously described assay (Yang et al. 2004) employing Bisulfite-PCR Pyrosequencing to quantitatively study the DNA methylation changes associated with the LINE1, Alu, D4Z4, and NBL-2 repetitive elements (See table). LINE1 and Alu hypomethylation was significantly associated with the progression of CML. Surprisingly, we found that NBL-2 and D4Z4 hypermethylation significantly increased during the progression of CML. Interestingly, these two repetitive elements were found to be specifically hypomethylated in immunodeficiency, centromeric instability and facial abnormalities (ICF) syndrome which is caused by a germline mutation of DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) (Kondo T et al, 2000). This result suggests that DNMT3b may be involved in the progression of CML.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lip-A Review of Squamous Cell Carcinogenesis of the Mucosal and Cutaneous Junction.

Background The lip is an anatomic junction for 2 disparate groups of cancer. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common malignancy with a favorable prognosis, whereas oral-mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (omSCC) is associated with significantly higher rates of nodal disease and worse outcomes. The squamous cell carcinoma of the lip (lip SCC) is more aggressive than cSCC but less aggressive than omSCC. However, work-up and treatment vary between specialties. Objectives The authors sought to review and compare the risk factors and clinical behavior of cSCC, omSCC, and lip SCC, review tumor biology of squamous cell carcinoma, and compare work-up and treatment algorithms for lip SCC. Methods A comprehensive PubMed and MEDLINE database search was performed with comparison of primary literature on cSCC, omSCC, and lip SCC. Results Lip SCC exhibits rates of nodal metastasis and death that are intermediate between cSCC and omSCC, and shares many similar biologic mechanisms. There are variations in the treatment guidelines between dermatology and otolaryngology for lip SCC. Conclusion Lip SCC is an overlapping entity that poses many challenges to clinicians. Specialists should be aware of current staging modalities as well as imaging and treatment recommendations to optimize patient outcomes.
Low Volume Vertebral Augmentation with Cortoss® Cement for Treatment of High Degree Vertebral Compression Fractures and Vertebra Plana

This is a retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of patients undergoing vertebroplasty and vertebral augmentation in an outpatient setting for high degree osteoporotic vertebral fractures or vertebra plana using consistently low volumes (less than 3 cc) of Cortoss® cement, rather than polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The results in these patients demonstrate that it is both technically feasible to do vertebroplasty on these patients and using a low volume hydrophilic silica-based cement is effective in providing diffuse vertebral body fill with minimal complications. There was no increased risk of complications, such as cement leakage, displacement of bone fragments, or progression of the angulation. Specifically, with over a 24-month follow-up, the preoperative collapse or angulation did not worsen and none of the patients developed adjacent level fractures or required further surgery at the involved vertebral level.
Fatigue in long-term non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors.

239 Background: Fatigue is a common and distressing effect of cancer and its treatment, potentially affecting quality of life (QOL) for years after treatment. However, the prevalence and persistence of fatigue among long-term survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains unknown. We aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and psychosocial risk factors for persistent fatigue in this population. Methods: In 2010, surveys were mailed to 682 NHL survivors who participated in a study 5 years earlier; respondents were, on average, 10.4 years post diagnosis. Standardized measures of QOL, symptoms, medical history, and demographic variables were reported at both time points. We defined significant fatigue conservatively as 0.5 standard deviations below the SF-36 scale’s cutoff for fatigue, and we defined persistent fatigue as significant fatigue at both time points. Chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression were used to determine risk factors and predictors for persistent fatigue. Results: 30.8% (n = 172) a...
Identification of Edible Oils by Principal Component Analysis of 1H NMR Spectra

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a statistical method widely used in chemometric studies to analyze large, correlated sets of data. An undergraduate laboratory experiment involving PCA of 1H NMR spectral data is described. Students collect NMR spectra of an unknown oil sample, are provided with spectra of six oil standards (canola, corn, olive, peanut, sesame, and sunflower oil), and are asked to identify the unknown oil using score plots based on the PCA results. This laboratory experiment gives students hands-on experience collecting NMR spectra, performing NMR spectral processing, and utilizing freely available, web-based software to subject the data to PCA and to prepare the subsequent scoring plots.
Identification and Characterization of the Major Porin of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Due in large part to their ability to facilitate the diffusion of a diverse range of solutes across the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria, the porins represent one of the most prominent and important bacterial membrane protein superfamilies. Notably, for the Gram-negative bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, a model organism for studies of sulfate-reducing bacteria, no genes for porins have been identified or proposed in its annotated genome. Results from initial biochemical studies suggested that the product of the DVU0799 gene, which is one of the most abundant proteins of the D. vulgaris Hildenborough OM and purified as a homotrimeric complex, was a strong porin candidate. To investigate this possibility, this protein was further characterized biochemically and biophysically. Structural analyses via electron microscopy of negatively stained protein identified trimeric particles with stain-filled depressions and structural modeling suggested a β-barrel structure for the monomer, motifs common among the known porins. Functional studies were performed in which crude OM preparations or purified DVU0799 was reconstituted into proteoliposomes and the proteoliposomes were examined for permeability against a series of test solutes. The results obtained establish DVU0799 to be a pore-forming protein with permeability properties similar to those observed for classical bacterial porins, such as those of Escherichia coli Taken together, these findings identify this highly abundant OM protein to be the major porin of D. vulgaris Hildenborough. Classification of DVU0799 in this model organism expands the database of functionally characterized porins and may also extend the range over which sequence analysis strategies can be used to identify porins in other bacterial genomes.IMPORTANCE Porins are membrane proteins that form transmembrane pores for the passive transport of small molecules across the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. The present study identified and characterized the major porin of the model sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, observing its preference for anionic sugars over neutral ones. Its predicted architecture appears to be novel for a classical porin, as its core β-barrel structure is of a type typically found in solute-specific channels. Broader use of the methods employed here, such as assays for channel permeability and electron microscopy of purified samples, is expected to help expand the database of confirmed porin sequences and improve the range over which sequence analysis-based strategies can be used to identify porins in other Gram-negative bacteria. Functional characterization of these critical gatekeeping proteins from divergent Desulfovibrio species should offer an improved understanding of the physiological features that determine their habitat range and supporting activities.
Conical dispersion of Lamb waves in elastic plates

Guided elastic waves in homogeneous isotropic plates exhibit conical dispersion at zero wave number for discrete values of Poisson's ratio where accidental degeneracy between longitudinal and transverse thickness resonances occur. Waves excited at the coincidence frequency have the infinite phase velocity associated with thickness mode resonances, but the group velocity remains finite. This leads to propagating waves that oscillate in time but are spatially uniform over the plate surface. Here, accidental degeneracy is induced in an aluminum plate by cooling the plate to tune the Poisson's ratio through the degenerate point. We measure linear dispersion in the transition from forward to backward propagating waves near zero wave number. In addition, we demonstrate that waves generated near the coincidence frequency exhibit spatially uniform phase over the plate surface, and show angle independent mode conversion upon encountering the free edge of the plate. We propose that elastic plates offer a simple system to explore the physics of conical dispersion at zero wave number, and that this phenomenon may find application in acoustic devices and nondestructive testing.
Pediatric Headache and Sleep Disturbance: A Comparison of Diagnostic Groups

Objective To examine whether sleep disturbance differs by headache diagnosis in a pediatric sample, and whether this effect remains when other factors affecting sleep are included. Background Primary headache disorders can be severe and disabling, impacting a child's functioning and quality of life. Many children and adolescents with chronic headaches also experience sleep difficulties, and there is likely a bidirectional relationship between headaches and sleep difficulties. Sleep problems may intensify functional and developmental difficulties in youth with chronic headaches. Despite this, research on sleep has largely been conducted only on those with migraines, with a dearth of studies including samples with tension-type headache (TTH) or new daily persistent-headache (NDPH). Methods This retrospective chart review included 527 patients, ages 7-17 years, with a primary headache diagnosis of migraine (n = 278), TTH (n = 157), and NDPH (n = 92). Patients completed measures of disability, anxiety, and depression and their parents completed measures of sleep disturbance. Results Sleep disturbance was greater in patients with TTH (10.34 ± 5.94, P = .002) and NDPH (11.52 ± 6.40, P < .001) than migraine (8.31 ± 5.89). Across patient groups, greater sleep disturbance was significantly associated with higher levels of functional disability (rs ≥ .16), anxiety (rs ≥ .30), and depression (rs ≥ .32). Additionally, higher pain levels were significantly associated with greater sleep disturbance among TTH patients (r = .23), with this association non-significant among the other headache groups. When simultaneously examining demographic, pain-related, and emotional distress factors, older age, higher levels of disability and depression, and NDPH diagnosis were all significant predictors of greater sleep disturbance (r2 = .25). Conclusions Assessment and treatment of sleep problems in pediatric patients with chronic headache is important with several contextual and headache diagnostic factors influencing the severity of sleep disturbance.
Subcostal Trocar Approach Using Four 5-mm with Exclusive Removal (STAUFFER): An Efficient and Useful Technique for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is commonly performed in patients who can pose technical challenges, such as obesity, prior surgery, and subsequent incisional hernias. A new technique, the subcostal trocar approach using four 5-mm with exclusive removal (STAUFFER) LC, was developed to diminish these impediments and is highly advantageous. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of medical records for 389 patients who underwent LC from June 2011 through December 2016. STAUFFER LC involves (1) steep patient positioning, (2) visualized 5-mm trocar entry in the right abdomen, (3) use of three additional right subcostal trocars, and (4) gallbladder extraction from the high right lateral trocar site. Patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes were analyzed and compared. Results: STAUFFER LC was used in 255 patients (65.6%), and standard four-trocar LC (SLC) was performed in 134 patients (34.4%). Overall indications for surgery included chronic cholecystitis (71.7%), ac...
Simplified reliability analysis of multi hazard risk in gravity dams via machine learning techniques

Abstract Deterministic analysis does not provide a comprehensive model for concrete dam response under multi-hazard risk. Thus, the use of probabilistic approach is usually recommended which is problematic due to high computational demand. This paper presents a simplified reliability analysis framework for gravity dams subjected to flooding, earthquakes, and aging. A group of time-variant degradation models are proposed for different random variables. Response of the dam is presented by explicit limit state functions. The probability of failure is directly computed by either classical Monte Carlo simulation or the refined importance sampling technique. Next, three machine learning techniques (i.e., K-nearest neighbor, support vector machine, and naive Bayes classifier) are adopted for binary classification of the structural results. These methods are then demonstrated in terms of accuracy, applicability and computational time for prediction of the failure probability. Results are then generalized for different dam classes (based on the height-to-width ratio), various water levels, earthquake intensity, degradation rate, and cross-correlation between the random variables. Finally, a sigmoid-type function is proposed for analytical calculation of the failure probability for different classes of gravity dams. This function is then specialized for the hydrological hazard and the failure surface is presented as a direct function of the dam's height and width.
Order, Disorder, and Temperature-Driven Compaction in a Designed Elastin Protein.

Artificial minielastin constructs have been designed that replicate the structure and function of natural elastins in a simpler context, allowing the NMR observation of structure and dynamics of elastin-like proteins with complete residue-specific resolution. We find that the alanine-rich cross-linking domains of elastin have a partially helical structure, but only when capped by proline-rich hydrophobic domains. We also find that the hydrophobic domains, composed of prominent 6-residue repeats VPGVGG and APGVGV found in natural elastins, appear random coil by both NMR chemical shift analysis and circular dichroism. However, these elastin hydrophobic domains exhibit structural bias for a dynamically disordered conformation that is neither helical nor β sheet with a degree of nonrandom structural bias which is dependent on residue type and position in the sequence. Another nonrandom-coil aspect of hydrophobic domain structure lies in the fact that, in contrast to other intrinsically disordered proteins, th...
The association between HSD3B1 genotype and steroid metabolism in normal and prostate cancer (PCa) tissue.

TPS155Background: The common germline variant HSD3B1(1245C) encodes for a gain-of-function in 3βHSD1 which is associated with a shorter duration of response to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and more rapid disease progression to castration resistant PCa (CRPC) as shown previously in 5 independent cohorts. Therefore, evaluating the effect of such genotype variation on the level of steroid metabolites and the intratumoral dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentration in benign and tumor tissue of men on ADT is of significant importance. We hypothesize that patients with homozygous HSD3B1 (1245C) genotype (HZ) will have a sustained androgen synthesis from extragonadal precursor steroids and higher concentrations of DHT compared to patients with wild-type HSD3B1 (1245A) (WT) inheritance in the context of testosterone suppression. In addition, it is expected that heterozygous HSD3B1 (1245C) patients (HTZ) will have intermediate levels of DHT. We also hypothesize that treatment with androgen receptor (AR) antagon...
The Development of a Framework for Assessing Dynamic Geometry Task Quality

This study documents the development of a Framework (the Dynamic Geometry Task Analysis Framework) to be used to indicate the relative quality of tasks produced for dynamic geometry software. Its purpose is to assist curriculum writers and teachers in evaluating and creating dynamic geometry tasks. To produce it, numerous tasks submitted by secondary mathematics teachers as part of a year-long professional development program were analyzed, before creating three dynamic geometry mathematics tasks that, according to the Framework, were ranked as low, medium and high in quality. Semi-structured interviews with twelve high school students were conducted and analyzed to examine relationships between the quality of tasks as specified by the Framework and the quality of student argumentation. Results showed the Framework effectively reflects task quality based on student mathematical activity and argumentation.
Functional Problems Following Colorectal Surgery

Functional problems following colorectal surgery are common and will potentially increase in frequency as new paradigms and procedures for treating colorectal disease preserve intestinal continuity. Postoperatively patients may experience diarrhea, urgency, incontinence, and evacuation difficulties in varying degrees of severity, with corresponding negative effects on postoperative quality of life. Treatment for these conditions includes dietary modification, medical treatment, and an increasing number of surgical options. Understanding the potential functional consequences of colorectal procedures is critical for preoperative counseling, and selecting the appropriate approach to treatment can have a substantial impact on the patient’s quality of life.
Pervasive Cation Vacancies and Antisite Defects in Copper Indium Diselenide (CuInSe2) Nanocrystals

Copper indium diselenide (CuInSe2) is a prototype ternary compound and group I–III–VI semiconductor with useful optoelectronic properties. CuInSe2 nanocrystals have been of significant interest because of their size-tunable optical properties and lack of toxic heavy metals. Because of the particular vacancy and antisite substitutional point defects in CuInSe2, large stoichiometric deviations can be tolerated, sometimes leading to the so-called ordered vacancy compounds (OVCs). Here, we use Raman spectroscopy of oleylamine-capped CuInSe2 nanocrystals and ab initio lattice dynamics modeling to study the concentration and arrangements of (2vCu– + InCu2+) defect pairs in the nanocrystals. The nanocrystals have randomly distributed defect pairs that become mobile under light excitation and accumulate, as in OVCs, along the [100] direction. Because the high concentration of vacancies in CuInSe2 nanocrystals is compensated by InCu2+ antisite defects, these nanocrystals do not exhibit an optical plasmon resonance...
The effects of trust and influence on the spreading of low and high quality information

Abstract In this work, we employ a minimal agent-based model to explore the mechanisms that regulate competition between memes that spread online. We investigate the case in which each piece of information has a quality, and the higher is the quality the higher are the chances of being transmitted. The model allows us to study the impact of influential nodes on the spreading behavior. We show that meme’s quality does not guarantee virility, but there is a strong correlation between the meme’s success and the influence of the agent who introduced it. When trust is incorporated into the model and the agents can decided whether or not to accept a meme, we show that both lifetime and popularity distributions have broad power-law tails indicating that only a few memes spread virally through the population reproducing perfectly the broad distributions obtained from empirical data.