cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Density-Dependent Changes in Gangliosides and Sialidase Activity of Murine Neuroblastoma Cells

: Density-dependent changes in ganglioside composition, Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCN)-susceptible sialyl residues, and membrane- associated sialidase activity were determined for the cholinergic murine neuroblastoma cell line S20Y. A decrease in total ganglioside sialic acid and VCN-releasable sialic acid was observed with increasing cell density. GM3 was the major ganglioside component of preconfluent S20Y cells, whereas GDIA was predominant in postconfluent cells. Sialidase activity increased in confluent and postconfluent cells and may account for the reduction in total ganglioside sialic acid observed with increasing cell density. In contrast, while adrenergic N115 cells showed a decrease in VCN-susceptible sialic acid residues with increasing cell density, there was no significant change in ganglioside composition or ganglioside sialic acid levels.
Optimization of external beam radiation therapy

A criterion for optimal external beam radiation therapy and a method for generating the associated optimal dose distributions are presented. The optimal beam configuration is defined to be the one with a dose distribution which provides the best “least-squares fit” to the prescribed tumor contour, subject to constraints on the dose at nearby vulnerable sites. A FORTRAN program for the solution of this optimization problem has been constructed and several optimal treatment plans illustrating its application are given. In this program, a maximum of 72 coplanar beams may be accommodated with up to 4 different field sizes directed at a common axis from 18 different directions.
Zinc (II) selectively enhances the inhibition of coagulation factor XIa by protease nexin-2/amyloid β-Protein precursor

Abstract Protease nexin-2 (PN-2) is the secreted isoform of the Alzheimer's Amyloid β-Protein Precursor (AsPP) that contains the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor (KPI) domain. PN-2 AsPP is a potent inhibitor of coagulation factor XIa (FXIa) and is secreted in large quantities by activated platelets suggesting a normal function in regulating this protease at sites of vascular injury. In the present study, the effect of Zn2+ on the protease inhibitory properties of PN-2 AsPP was quantitatively investigated. Zn2+ (1 μM to 1 mM) had no effect on the inhibition of trypsin or chymotrypsin by PN-2 AsPP . In contrast, Zn2+ at concentrations >1 μM increased the inhibition of FXIa by PN-2 AsPP . Enhancement of FXIa inhibition was virtually saturated at ≈100 μM Zn2+ resulting in a final Ki ≈ 6.0 × 10−11 M. Zn2+ had no effect on the inhibition of FXIa by a purified, recombinant KPI domain of PN-2 AsPP indicating that the native protein is required for the potentiation of FXIa inhibition. Heparin and Zn2+ were found to further augment each other's ability to stimulate the inhibition of FXIa by PN-2 AsPP . Together, these findings suggest that the interaction of Zn2+ with PN-2 AsPP may be important for optimal inhibition of FXIa.
Priorities and Preferences in the Allocation of MPP Branded Funds to Agribusiness Firms

In 1993, legislation was passed that required the USDA to give priority in the allocation of its Market Promotion Program (MPP) branded funds to small firms, new-to-export firms, and firms facing exporting problems in foreign markets. However, the MPP is still criticized in the popular press and by the General Accounting Office as favoring large and existing exporting firms that do not face exporting problems. Using a unique firm-level data set, the effectiveness of the 1993 legislation is evaluated by analyzing the allocation of MPP funds according to firm characteristics and the priorities set in the 1993 legislation.
Can the Hare Win?: A PLEA FOR LESS HASTE IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING

M ANY articles have been written concerning the Army Specialized Training method of teaching foreign languages. These have given a real impetus to language learning and at the same time have shown proof of a certain "examen de conscience," of house clearing and rejuvenation in foreign language instruction. If in adopting the AST program with its emphasis on the oral approach universities have given a boost to the direct or Berlitz method, this is certainly a welcome sign in the opinion of those who have always believed that language learning should result in the acquisition of an active instrument of communication, and not in a mere passive reading knowledge. A report such as the Official Survey of the Special Committee on AST language program, which brought to general and professional attention the Army's emphasis on the oral approach to language study, the expediency of small classes, and numerous hours of drill, the use of the supplementary aids that Science has put within the reach of the language teacher, was bequeathing foreign language instruction a most precious document.
Glucose-dependent insulin modulation of oscillatory lipolysis in perifused rat adipocytes.

Objective: We showed glucose-dependent lipolytic oscillations in adipocytes that are modulated by free fatty acids (FFAs). We hypothesized that the oscillations are driven by oscillatory glucose metabolism that leads to oscillatory formation of α-glycerophosphate (α-GP), oscillatory removal of long-chain coenzyme A (LC-CoA) by α-GP to form triglycerides, and oscillatory relief of LC-CoA inhibition of triglyceride lipases. This study examined the effect of insulin on this hypothesis. Research Methods and Procedures: Samples were collected every minute from perifused rat adipocytes during the basal state followed by insulin (±glucose) or isoproterenol (±insulin; n = 4 each). Results: Insulin caused a significant increase in glycerol release (18%), with a concomitant significant decrease in FFA release (38%). Without glucose, insulin had no effect on glycerol release while still decreasing FFA release (35%). Insulin (5 μU/mL) attenuated the response of lipolysis to isoproterenol (∼3-fold increase with isoproterenol vs. 2-fold increase with insulin + isoproterenol). However, 1 mU/mL insulin amplified the lipolytic response (∼5-fold increase in glycerol release with insulin + isoproterenol), with a concomitant increase in FFA reesterification (no increase in FFA release compared with isoproterenol alone). Discussion: We interpret these results to be due to insulin's ability to increase glucose uptake and conversion to α-GP, thus removing LC-CoA inhibition of triglyceride lipases. While the physiological importance of lipolytic oscillations remains to be determined, we hypothesize that such an oscillation may play an important role in the delivery of FFAs to the liver, β cells, and other tissues.
Cellular metabolism in lymphocytes of a novel thioether-phospholipid-AZT conjugate with anti-HIV-1 activity.

Abstract We previously synthesized a thioetherphospholipid–AZT conjugate (3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-(1-hexadecylthio-2-methoxypropyl)-phosphothymidine, CP-102) with potent anti-HIV-1 activity and significant reduction in cell cytotoxicity compared to AZT alone. To study the cellular metabolism of the conjugate compound we synthesized a double-tritium-labeled thioetherphospholipid-AZT conjugate (3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-(1-[9, 10- 3 H]- S -octadecylthio-2- O -methoxypropyl)-phosphothymidine-[methyl- 3 H], [ 3 H]CP-102). The intracellular radioactive metabolic products of [ 3 H]CP-102 treated human lymphoblastoid CEM-SS cells were analyzed by HPLC and thin-layer chromatography. Results of this investigation provide evidence that a putative intracellular lipid cleavage enzyme metabolizes [ 3 H]CP-102 to form a thioetherdiglyceride compound that migrates with an authentic 1- S -octadecyl-2- O -methyl-thioglycerol standard on TLC. The thioetherdiglyceride metabolite did not react with the ninhydrin reagent indicating it did not contain a primary amine such as that found on serine or ethanolamine containing phospholipids. Also, the product did not contain a phosphatidic acid group based on migration characteristics in the TLC plate. The other major hydrophilic metabolite was 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine-[methyl- 3 H]-monophosphate (AZT–MP) with lesser amounts of AZT, AZT–DP and AZT–TP. In summary, the best interpretation of these data is that the thioetherphospholipid–AZT conjugate, [ 3 H]CP-102, is cleaved by a putative intracellular lipid cleavage enzyme to release a thioetherdiglyceride compound and AZT–MP. The resulting AZT–MP was either dephosphorylated to AZT or sequentially phosphorylated to AZT–DP and, ultimately, to AZT–TP, the known inhibitory metabolite against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Phospholipid–nucleoside conjugates may provide a unique approach for developing anti-HIV-1 prodrugs that do not have a strict requirement for a nucleoside kinase for initial activation of the prodrug to an antiviral form.
Modified Pyrimidines Specifically Bind the Purine Riboswitch

The purine riboswitch is a genetic regulatory element found in the 5‘-untranslated regions of Gram-positive bacteria that regulates expression of the mRNA specifically in response to either guanine or adenine. We report that the adenine-responsive RNA element is also capable of specifically recognizing pyrimidine compounds bearing modifications at the 6- or 5,6-positions in a fashion similar to that of purine compounds. Using isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography, the binding of these compounds is characterized.
Experimental investigation of the structure of large- and very-large-scale motions in turbulent pipe flow

Multi-point velocity measurements have been performed in turbulent pipe flow at ReD = 1.5 × 105 and combined with cross-spectral and proper orthogonal decomposition analysis to elucidate information on the structure of the large- and very-large-scale motions in the outer layer of wall-bounded flows. The results indicate that in the outer layer the large-scale motions (LSM) may be composed of detached eddies with a wide range of azimuthal scales, whereas in the logarithmic layer they are attached. The very-large-scale motions (VLSM) have large radial scales, are concentrated around a single azimuthal mode and make a smaller angle with the wall compared to the LSM. The results support a hypothesis that only the detached LSM in the outer layer align to form the VLSM.
Effectiveness of Prehospital Trauma Triage Guidelines for the Identification of Major Trauma in Elderly Motor Vehicle Crash Victims

Abstract Introduction: Undertriage of older trauma victims has been a persistent and serious problem. Because of physiologic changes and pre-existing disease, blunt trauma in older persons is often covert. Prehospital trauma triage guidelines developed for use with a general adult population may not be sensitive enough to detect covert injuries in elderly trauma patients. This study examined the sensitivity and specificity of one state's prehospital trauma triage guidelines for adults, with a particular focus on the triage of elderly persons. Methods: This retrospective study used patient discharge data to examine the sensitivity (a measure of undertriage) and specificity (a measure of overtriage) of the adult prehospital trauma triage guidelines in 3 counties with level I trauma centers. Sensitivity and specificity of young and middle-aged adults was compared with that of older adults. Results: Undertriage was 8% for young and middle-aged men, 12% for young and middle-aged women, 18% for older men, and 15% for older women. Overtriage was present in all age groups, indicating that many motor vehicle crash victims who were admitted to trauma centers could have been admitted to nontrauma center hospitals. Discussion: Low sensitivity and specificity of trauma triage guidelines results in undertriage and overtriage. These guidelines should include age as a decision point to avoid placing older persons at risk for undertriage. Although some degree of overtriage is unavoidable without increasing undertriage, efforts should be made to minimize this costly occurrence.
Causal inference and nonrandom samples.

Wainer (1989) confuses two conceptually distinct problems in his discussion of the problems of statistical adjustment. Clarity would be served by distinguishing these problems. The first and stated main problem of the paper is that of making "causal inferences" about the impacts of "treatments" or "interventions" when persons self-select or are selected into treatment categories. The second problem is that of recovering population distributions from nonrandom samples. The paper is likely to confuse most readers because it switches from the first problem to the second problem in the "Modeling Nonresponse" section. A solution to the second problem in no way guarantees a solution to the first.
Beyond multicultural man: complexities of identity

Abstract In 1977, Peter Adler characterized the experience of what he called ‘multicultural man’, a man with a self-consciousness especially suited to working across cultures. His seminal article described commonalities among four multicultural men and suggested the capacities and challenges inherent in their essentially ‘homeless’ minds and commitments to human unity. This paper challenges the assumptions of his article and of the constructivist view of the self articulated more recently by Milton Bennett and offers a review of current literature in this area and an analysis of a small research study of the experiences of multicultural people, based on papers written in a course in cultural identity and extensive interviews with twenty women and men whose experiences have included minority status, all of whom have lived extensively in at least three cultures and are bi- if not multilingual. The author suggests that the social constructionist view of multicultural identity can complement and extend the work of Adler and Bennett to one which goes beyond that of enhanced cognitive awareness to a view of identity development which is interactive, highly dependent on context, and ultimately rooted in gender, race, ethnicity and religion.
Differential patterns of infection and life-history expression in native and invasive hosts exposed to a trematode parasite

Non-indigenous species (NIS) are well-recognized as threats to biodiversity worldwide. Yet the interaction between NIS and disease emergence in native habitats remains poorly understood. Bithynia tentaculata is an invasive aquatic snail which is now found in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR). A key concern with this snail is that it harbors trematode parasites (such as Sphaeridiotrema spp.) that have been associated with waterfowl mortality in the region. In this study, we used a combination of field collections and laboratory experiments to better understand the roles that infection competency and host life-history responses play in disease transmission in the UMR. Results from the field and laboratory showed that B. tentaculata infected with Sphaeridiotrema spp. grew to a larger size than uninfected individuals. Although infection was not observed in a number of native species, results from this study suggest that they may still suffer exposure costs (such as reduced growth). Moreover, variability in infection competency between NIS and native snails may dilute or amplify host infection risk. This study reinforces the importance of considering both host life-history responses and competency in systems involving NIS, and provides insight into the factors potentially modulating waterfowl disease in the UMR.
Local Enforcement and Better Forests

Summary Current studies of local resource management examine many factors thought to be associated with good resource conditions. Despite the number of studies and the importance of such resources to millions of people worldwide, a lack of theory and hypothesis testing beyond the case level limits the lessons empirical studies offer. We argue that regular monitoring and sanctioning of rules—rule enforcement—is a necessary condition for successful resource management. We test our theory using data regarding 178 user groups and by pairing rule enforcement with other important factors: social capital, formal organization, and dependence on forest products.
A hydrophilic lamin-binding domain from the Drosophila YA protein can target proteins to the nuclear envelope.

are sufficient for both lamin Dm0 interaction and the targeting of GFP-NLS to the nuclear periphery. This region of YA is hydrophilic and lacks any transmembrane domain or known membrane-targeting motifs. We propose that the localization of YA to the nuclear lamina involves interaction with polymerized lamin Dm0 mediated by the lamintargeting domain of YA. This hydrophilic YA domain might provide a useful molecular tool for targeting heterologous non-membrane-associated proteins to the nuclear envelope. Summary
Determining size, shape, and orientation of non-spherical scatterers using the fiber optic interferometric two-dimensional scattering (FITS) system

Angle-resolved scattering measurements have shown promise as a method of detecting neoplasia and analyzing cellular structure. Recently we have developed new systems for interferometric measurement of two-dimensional, depth resolved scattered fields with excellent depth resolution and polarization sensitivity. We present inverse analysis of oriented ensembles of micro-spheroidal phantoms and cells showing sub-wavelength accuracy in size and shape determination, and additionally precise estimates of scatterer orientation. Finally we show that inverse fits provided are essentially free of multiple solutions over a wide range of possible scatterer sizes and shapes.
Flash Photolysis of H2O2 Vapor in the Presence of D2, Ar, and H218O

The flash photolysis of H2O2 by itself, and in the presence of D2, Ar, and H218O, was studied by the technique of kinetic absorption spectroscopy. The only observable primary products were OH(2Π½) and OH(2Π32). These ground‐state levels were populated in a ratio of ∼1:1, respectively, conforming to what is observed with the halogens.The contribution of Reaction (a) to the primary process was shown in a direct way to be no more than 20% of that of (b). Reaction (c) followed by (d) was shown to make no significant contribution to the OH concentration during the time of our experiments (<200μ sec): H2O2(singlet)→ lim hνH2O(1A1)+O(1D), →2OH(2Π), →H2O(3A1)+O(3P), O(3P)+H2O2 (singlet)→OH(2Π)+HO2 (doublet), OH(2Π)+H2O2 (singlet)→H2O(1A1)+HO2 (doublet). Thus, this technique is a convenient one for directly observing reactions of OH. An upper limit to the rate constant of (e) at room temperature was determined to be 5.8±1.8×10−14 cm3 molecule−1·sec−1.Conditions for generating vibrationally hot molecules in the pri...
AN APPLICATION OF RANK-ORDER STATISTICS TO THE JOINT SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF METEOROLOGICAL ELEMENTS

Abstract Principal components or empirical orthogonal functions are virtually the sole statistical tool used to date for investigations of space-time variability of meteorological elements. Maximum statistical efficiency and possible physical interpretation of empirical orthogonal functions derives from the assumptions of stationarity and homoscedasticity of the scalar variables in space and time. In this study, a rank table technique is given in which temporal data from a number of stations is ranked time-wise, and rank sums for each time obtained by summing ranks over the total number of stations. The technique offers some advantages for investigations of joint space-time variability. First, it is nonparametric; second, analysis of variance schemes are simplified; and third, a test of homoscedasticity can easily be performed. Networks of streamflow and precipitation data over the conterminous 48 States are used to illustrate the use of the technique. As a result, streamflow and precipitation data are sh...
Probable RBD is Increased in Parkinson’s Disease But Not in Essential Tremor or Restless Legs Syndrome

Objective Compare the frequency of REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD), restless legs syndrome (RLS), essential tremor (ET), and control subjects.
Electrical modeling of wirebonds in stacked ICs using cylindrical conduction mode basis functions

This paper discusses an efficient method for simulation and modeling of three-dimensional (3-D) interconnections such as wire bonds and through-hole vias. The proposed method is based on the volume electric field integral equation (EFIE), and approximates current density distribution with cylindrical conduction mode basis functions (CMBF). The geometrical fitness and orthogonal property of the basis functions are found useful in capturing skin effect and current crowding in cylindrical conductors. The Analyses of wire bonds using the proposed method demonstrate various 3-D coupling issues including wire bending effect, vertical coupling, and ground wiring.
Prospective radiographic followup after en bloc ligation of the renal hilum.

Purpose: We determined the risk of arteriovenous fistula after en bloc ligation of the renal hilum.Materials and Methods: A prospective evaluation of all patients who underwent en bloc ligation of the renal hilum during nephrectomy for malignant disease was performed. Pertinent operative data were recorded and patients were followed for clinical evidence of arteriovenous fistula formation, including hypertension, abdominal bruit and new onset congestive heart failure. Patients with at least 12 months of followup underwent computerized tomographic arteriography to assess arteriovenous fistula formation.Results: A total of 94 patients underwent en bloc renal hilar ligation during open (43) and laparoscopic (51) nephrectomy using a 45 mm titanium endovascular stapler. Of this cohort 11 patients were lost to followup and 3 died of disease. The remaining 80 patients were followed an average of 35.2 months with no clinical evidence of arteriovenous fistula formation. Specifically there was no statistically sign...
MASmote &#8211; A Mobility Node for MAS-net (Mobile Actuator Sensor Networks)

This paper presents a new mobile robot platform (MASmote) acting as a sensing or actuation node with mobility in mobile actuator sensor networks (MAS-net). The hardware components and software architecture of MASmote are introduced in detail. The dynamic model of the MASmote is described and a low-level controller is designed to make the motion of these MAS-net nodes reliable and flexible. MASmote is built from commercial off-the-shelf components. Its small size, low cost, solid structure, and software modularity make it suitable for large-scale distributed mobile actuator and sensor network. The application of MASmote and MASmote system is exemplified in a scenario of diffusion process boundary tracing
Results of an observational study on sketching

W e present the results of an observational study on sketching. Artists were asked to sketch a small number of objects and comment on how and why they made the marks they did. We summarize these findings, from lowlevel details on individual marks through the drawing construction order. Based on these observations we provide suggestions for future research directions in 3D sketching.
CHAMACOS, A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study: Lessons from the Fields

In the year 2000, the US Congress passed the Children’s Health Act directing the nation to conduct a national birth cohort study of environmental influences on children’s health and development. In anticipation of the National Children’s Study, lessons can be learned from current smaller birth cohort studies. For example, NIEHS and EPA have funded 12 Centers for Children’s Environmental Health Research, a number of which are conducting longitudinal birth cohort studies to understand the environmental impact on children’s health. The Center at the University of California, Berkeley, known as CHAMACOS (Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas) is a communityuniversity partnership studying pesticide and allergen exposures to pregnant women and their children, and the potential effects of these exposures on growth, neurodevelopment, and respiratory disease. This paper describes the research activities of CHAMACOS and some lessons that have been learned, including the importance of building a strong community infrastructure. Although the challenges of collecting longitudinal data may be greatest in minority or impoverished communities, these communities are most at risk for exposure to environmental hazards and should be represented in the National Children’s Study.
The Martian paleoclimate and enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide

Current evidence indicates that the Martian surface is abundant with water presently in the form of ice, while the atmosphere was at one time more massive with a past surface pressure of as much as 1 atm of CO2. In an attempt to understand the Martian paleoclimate, a past CO2-H2O greenhouse was modeled and global temperatures which are consistent with an earlier presence of liquid surface water are found in agreement with the extensive evidence for past fluvial erosion. An important aspect of the CO2-H2O greenhouse model is the detailed inclusion of CO2 hot bands. For a surface pressure of 1 atm of CO2, the present greenhouse model predicts a global mean surface temperature of 294 K, but if the hot bands are excluded, a surface temperature of only 250 K is achieved.
2007 IXA Presidential Address. Progress toward an ideal source animal: opportunities and challenges in a changing world.

: Xenotransplantation holds great promise for the treatment of end-stage organ failure and tissue injury. Recent advances in our understanding of the immunological hurdles to xenotransplantation and the development of genetic modification approaches to overcome them increase the likelihood of success. Exciting advances in these areas were presented at the Joint Congress of the IXA, the Cell Transplant Society and the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association in Minneapolis in September, 2007. However, in order to minimize infectious risks and encourage positive public perception of xenotransplantation, clinical trials should be initiated with appropriate monitoring and oversight procedures in place and only when there is high expectation of clinical benefit.
On the Representation of the Quaternary and Late Tertiary Geomagnetic Fields in Terms of Dipoles and Quadrupoles

Summary Methods of computing relative values of the first eight Gauss coefficients of the geomagnetic field from directional data only are described. The purpose is the analysis of the palaeomagnetic directions for which intensity data are normally lacking and which are characteristically subject to considerable experimental uncertainty of the order of 5°. Four solutions have been derived of the basic equations of degree n≤ 2 involving declination D and inclination I by combining (i) the X and Y, (ii) the Z and Y, (iii) the Z and X, and (iv) the Z and H field components. Various populations of Quaternary and Neogene palaeomagnetic directions have been analysed in this way. Improved fits of computed to observed field directions are obtained by grouping the directions derived from individual palaeomagnetic studies to form regionally averaged control points which are more uniformly distributed geographically. The Z-H and Z-X solutions give notably better fits to the observations than the X - Y solutions. Our results are expressed in terms of a single eccentric dipole, the position of which may be obtained from the values of the first eight Gauss coefficients of degree n≤ 2. Analysis of different populations of Quaternary and Neogene data yield a persistent and systematic displacement of the eccentric dipole into the Pacific and northern hemispheres by some 150 km. Analyses of sub-populations of data corresponding to northern, southern, Pacific and ‘continental’ hemispheres reveal appreciable differences in the position of the eccentric dipole suggesting (i) that the Quaternary field cannot be well represented by a single-point source of dipoles and quadrupoles, and (ii) that harmonics of degree n > 2 have been persistently stronger in the continental than in the Pacific hemisphere throughout the Quaternary, just as for historic epochs.
Complementary, Integrative, and Holistic Care in Emergency Nursing

Nearly half of all patients who present to the Emergency Department (ED) daily are using some form of complementary, alternative, or integrative medicine (CAIM). Emergency nurses will increasingly encounter clients who use CAIM or want holistic care. The integration of CAIM and holistic nursing principles into current emergency nursing practice can reenergize nursing and give ED nurses additional care methods to use with their clients. CAIM and holistic care can also provide ED clients with the kind of health care that they are currently seeking outside of the mainstream medical world.
National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop: The Role of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain

This National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pathways to Prevention Workshop was cosponsored by the NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), the NIH Pain Consortium, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. A multidisciplinary working group developed the workshop agenda, and an evidence-based practice center prepared an evidence report through a contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to facilitate the workshop discussion. During the 1.5-day workshop, invited experts discussed the body of evidence, and attendees had opportunities to provide comments during open discussion periods. After weighing evidence from the evidence report, expert presentations, and public comments, an unbiased, independent panel prepared a draft report that identified research gaps and future research priorities. The report was posted on the ODP Web site for 2 weeks for public comment. This article is an abridged version of the panel's full report, which is available at https://prevention.nih.gov/programs-events/pathways-to-prevention/workshops/opioids-chronic-pain/workshop-resources#final report.
Illumination-invariant Statistical Shape Recovery with Contiguous Occlusion

Spherical harmonics (SH) has been an attractive fit for illumination modeling in shape recovery after the conclusion drawn by Basri and Jacobs [1]. The main challenge is the computation of the spherical harmonics projection (SHP) images to be robust against imaging conditions other than illumination. Occlusions due to wearing apparel and makeup, or even incompliance to the requirement of the statistical model introduce errors in the reconstructed SHP images which in turn has a direct impact on the recovered shape. In this paper, we propose to cast errors introduced due to occlusion as: (1) statistical outliers which are determined and rejected using robust statistics and (2) local spatial erroneous continuous regions where Markov Gibbs random field with the homogenous isotropic Potts model is adopted to model the occlusion's spatial interaction. Our results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in handling high levels of contiguous occlusion compared to one of the state-of-the-art statistical illumination invariant shape-from-shading [18]. In particular, MGRF and robust estimation using Geman-McClure function outperform the singular value decomposition (SVD) performance approach which is very sensitive to the presence of occlusion even at low levels. In the meantime, the performance of Lorenztian function approaches SVD due to the presence of errors caused by basis of different identity than the shape to be reconstructed. We provide empirical validation of our conclusions by simulations and real experiments.
Simulating availability outlook for e-commerce business of personal computer sales

For newly designed or transformed business processes, accurately predicting business performances such as costs and customer services before actual deployment is very important. We have successfully developed and used a simulation model for the IBM's Personal Computer Division by modeling multiple, discrete events such as customer order arrival, replenishment planning and availability data refresh, and uncertainty of demand forecast, order size and customer preference of product feature. Using the model we were able to predict dynamics of availability, ship dates and accuracy of ship date, and identified other opportunities for improvement. We have also studied how different inventory policies, supply planning policies and sourcing policies affect business performance metrics such as inventory and customer services.
Mesh for Anterior Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Where Do We Go Now?

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair using native tissue has a significant risk of failure, especially for anterior compartment repair. Surgical techniques using a variety of mesh grafts and approaches have been developed to decrease the risk of recurrence and improve overall outcomes. Some, but not all, studies have demonstrated that synthetic mesh grafts and mesh kits improve objective outcomes. However, reports of complications with the use of synthetic mesh grafts and mesh kits have been emerging. Such reports have stirred the interests of physicians, medical societies, the media, and regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which in July 2011 issued a Safety Communication updating a 2008 statement warning about synthetic mesh and mesh kit complications associated with POP repair. This article discusses current and future directions using synthetic mesh for anterior compartment POP repair in the context of the recent FDA communication.
Novel negative Vt shift program disturb phenomena in 2X∼3X nm NAND flash memory cells

A novel program disturb phenomena of “negative” cell-Vt shift has been investigated for the first time in 2X∼3X nm Self-Aligned STI cell[1,2] of NAND flash memory. The negative Vt shift occurs on an inhibited cell adjacent to a cell being programmed in the WL direction. The magnitude of the shift becomes larger when the programming voltage (V Pgm ) is higher, thinner field oxide and slower program speed of the adjacent cell. The mechanism of negative Vt shift is attributed to hot holes that are generated by FN electrons, injected from channel / junction to the control gate (CG) along the isolation. This phenomenon will become worse with scaling since hot hole generation is increased by increasing electron injection due to narrower FG space. Therefore, this negative Vt shift phenomenon is one of the new NAND flash memory cell scaling limiter, that needs to be managed for 2bits and 3bits/cell in 2X nm and beyond.
Decolonization or National Liberation: Debating the End of British Colonial Rule in Africa

When discussing the end of British colonial rule in Africa, many historians have highlighted the role of postwar international relations and the impact of domestic imperial politics on decolonization and have failed to recognize the role of African nationalists. This article argues that such a viewpoint is flawed because it conceives of colonial policy makers as isolated and autonomous entities impervious to changes taking place in the colonies. The national liberation movements in Ghana, Central Africa, Kenya, and other regions of East Africa are explored in this article to illustrate the central role that colonial subjects played in the British decolonization of Africa. While dominant scholarship on the failures of the post-colonial state has made studies of decolonization and African nationalism less fashionable, it is becoming increasingly clear that our understanding of the nature and mechanics of the crises that beset the continent requires taking fresh stock of the record of European colonial rule ...
Milk and Social Media Online Communities and the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes

Background:The advent of social networking sites and other online communities presents new opportunities and challenges for the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding. This study examines the presence of infant formula marketing on popular US social media sites, using the World Health Organization International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (the Code) as a framework.Methods:We examined to what extent each of 11 infant formula brands that are widely available in the US had established a social media presence in popular social media venues likely to be visited by expectant parents and families with young children. We then examined current marketing practices, using the Code as a basis for ethical marketing.Results:Infant formula manufacturers have established a social media presence primarily through Facebook pages, interactive features on their own Web sites, mobile apps for new and expecting parents, YouTube videos, sponsored reviews on parenting blogs, and other financial rela...
New compounds: N-1, N8-bis(2, 3-dihydroxybenzoyl)spermidine and analogs as potential iron-chelating drugs

N-1, N8-Bis(2, 3-dihydroxybenzoyl)spermidine was synthesized and evaluated as an iron-chelating drug. Homologs were prepared and evaluated together with a series of N,1, N′-Bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-α,ω-diaminoalkanes. Analogous 2-hydroxybenzoyl compounds also were synthesized and evaluated.
The Independence of International Organizations: Concept and Applications

Despite its widespread use in studies of domestic political institutions, the concept of “independence” has not been systematically applied to the study of international institutions. Most arguments regarding the ability of international organizations (IOs) to promote cooperation and mitigate conflict rely on the implicit assumption that such institutions possess some independence from states, and yet the field has failed to conceptualize—let alone measure—this institutional characteristic. Extracting insights from the theoretical literatures on both international and domestic institutions, the authors distill several design features that lend independence to political institutions and then generate coding rules for measuring the independence of IOs. Based on an original data set of regional integration arrangements, the authors then use regression analysis to test several propositions for explaining variation in IO independence, shedding light on some important theoretical and empirical puzzles in intern...
Diagnostic nonlinear analysis of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in stirred-tank slurry reactors

Multiplicity of steady states was experimentally observed, somewhat sporadically, for Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis in stirred tank slurry reactors in the reactor originally at the wax-producing (normal) steady state suddenly jumping to a high-temperature (methane-producing) steady state for some time and eventually returning to the normal steady state. A diagnostic nonlinear analysis showed a plausible interpretation of this nonlinear behavior under two settings: 1. assuming that the controlled system is stable and motivated by simplicity, as it obviates the inclusion of an energy balance for the cooler, thus reducing the dimension of the problem; 2. examining the more realistic problem by discarding the foregoing assumption, thus having to increase the analysis level. The first approach showed that the Stanton number for heat transfer (StH) and the Damkohler number (Da) could be two key process parameters accounting for the observed multiplicity characteristics of FT synthesis. The decrease in StH, attributable to deteriorating performance of the cooler, is the likely cause for the sudden jump of the reactor from the normal to high-temperature steady state. The eventual recovery of the original steady state is, spurred by a decrease in Da, possibly attributable to catalyst deactivation. Depending on the initial conditions and/or startup history from the initial to the target conditions, the multiplicity behaviors of FT synthesis may or may not be observed, which is why the observation of multiplicity is sporadic. The second approach incorporating the cooler's energy balance increases the region of multiplicity over that with the first. Simple proportional control law is applied to the system to examine the effect of the control parameter settings on reactor behavior. Except for this feature, the findings from the two analysis modes are in harmony.
A Basic-Systems Approach to Autobiographical Memory

Memory for complex everyday events involving vision, hearing, smell, emotion, narrative, and language cannot be understood without considering the properties of the separate systems that process and store each of these forms of information. Using this premise as a starting point, my colleagues and I found that visual memory plays a central role in autobiographical memory: The strength of recollection of an event is predicted best by the vividness of its visual imagery, and a loss of visual memory causes a general amnesia. Examination of autobiographical memories in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggests that the lack of coherence often noted in memories of traumatic events is not due to a lack of coherence either of the memory itself or of the narrative that integrates the memory into the life story. Rather, making the traumatic memory central to the life story correlates positively with increased PTSD symptoms. The basic-systems approach has yielded insights into autobiographical ...
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Summary In 1.59 patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, the chief manifestation of the disease was hemorrhage (89 per cent), with epistaxis being most common (81 per cent). The telangiectatic lesions were located primarily on the face, mucous membranes of the head, and hands. Local treatment of the lesions and occasional estrogen therapy were of some benefit. Systematic replacement of iron and transfusion of blood were the most helpful forms of treatment. Twenty-one of the 159 patients (13 per cent) had significant gastrointestinal bleeding; 20 of these had melena and 10 had hematemesis. The bleeding occurred primarily during and after the fourth decade of life. Only rarely could the typical lesions of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia be visualized at operation on the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroscopic examination occasionally demonstrated them. Surgical resection of portions of the gastrointestinal tract for bleeding was almost universally unsuccessful, probably because of the diffuse nature of this disease.
A Theory of the Effects of Pressure on Finite Elastic Shear

Often the theory of finite deformations of an elastic medium is used with the added restriction of incompressibility of the medium. This restriction makes possible the solution of several classes of problems in terms of an unspecified strain-energy potential, however, it excludes the possibility that the elastic material properties depend on pressure. In this paper, a general theory of materials whose mechanical properties depend on pressure will be derived from the unrestricted theory and the condition for incompressibility of the medium will be added as an approximation.
Summaries in Legal Writing, Part 2

Every legal document should begin with a summary of some kind. In part 2 on this subject I highlight the importance of up-front summaries by quoting the experts and then offering advice based on three before-and-after examples.
EDB fibronectin specific peptide for prostate cancer targeting

Extradomain-B fibronectin (EDB-FN), one of the oncofetal fibronectin (onfFN) isoforms, is a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein that mediates cell adhesion and migration. The expression of EDB-FN is associated with a number of cancer-related biological processes such as tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we report the development of a small peptide specific to EDB-FN for targeting prostate cancer. A cyclic nonapeptide, CTVRTSADC (ZD2), was identified using peptide phage display. A ZD2-Cy5 conjugate was synthesized to accomplish molecular imaging of prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. ZD2-Cy5 demonstrated effective binding to up-regulated EDB-FN secreted by TGF-β-induced PC3 cancer cells following EMT. Following intravenous injections, the targeted fluorescent probe specifically bound to and delineated PC3-GFP prostate tumors in nude mice bearing the tumor xenografts. ZD2-Cy5 also showed stronger binding to human prostate tumor specimens with a higher Gleaso...
Advanced Simulation and Computing Business Plan

To maintain a credible nuclear weapons program, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA’s) Office of Defense Programs (DP) needs to make certain that the capabilities, tools, and expert staff are in place and are able to deliver validated assessments. This requires a complete and robust simulation environment backed by an experimental program to test ASC Program models. This ASC Business Plan document encapsulates a complex set of elements, each of which is essential to the success of the simulation component of the Nuclear Security Enterprise. The ASC Business Plan addresses the hiring, mentoring, and retaining of programmatic technical staff responsible for building the simulation tools of the nuclear security complex. The ASC Business Plan describes how the ASC Program engages with industry partners—partners upon whom the ASC Program relies on for today’s and tomorrow’s high performance architectures. Each piece in this chain is essential to assure policymakers, who must make decisions based on the results of simulations, that they are receiving all the actionable information they need.
Nitrogenase: Electron Transfer and Allocation and the Role of ATP

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some aspects of the steady state and presteady state kinetics of the nitrogenase system. Dinitrogenase reductases from different organisms are generally similar in their physical properties. Dinitrogenase reductase has an electron paramagnetic resonance signal as it is isolated in the presence of dithionite. Bergersen and Turner (1973) implicated dinitrogenase in the role of substrate reduction, while dinitrogenase reductase served in an effector role. One known role of dinitrogenase reductase is to serve as a specific, ATP-dependent reducing agent for dinitrogenase. Dinitrogenase alone is responsible for the reduction of substrates, whereas dinitrogenase reductase participates only indirectly. The dissociation of the two nitrogenase proteins after each electron transfer suggests that reduced dinitrogenase is responsible for the reduction of substrates.
High-performance nylon fibers

Abstract Nylon is one of the most important polymers for production of high-performance fibers. High tenacity, high elasticity, good adhesion to rubber, and resistance to heat, abrasion, and chemicals make it possible for nylon filaments/yarns to be used widely in various technical products such as tire cords, industrial threads, climbing ropes, and fishing nets. This chapter first reviews the recent developments in spinning and treatment methods of high-performance nylon fibers. These techniques affect different elements inside the fiber structure, improving the tensile, thermal, and chemical properties. To understand such effects the morphology and the physical and chemical characteristics of the filaments are explained in detail. Finally, this chapter provides some suggestions for future production of technical nylon fibers.