cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Benzene and Trichloroethylene in Sooting Flames

The utility of resonance Raman spectroscopy as an analytical method is studied for application to multicomponent sooting flames. Far-ultraviolet resonance Raman spectra of benzene and trichloroethylene in methane diffusion flames have been obtained. The feasibility of flame temperature determination has been demonstrated for the benzene/methane flame. Resonance enhancement provides the sensitivity and selectivity required to detect low concentrations of aromatics and chlorinated hydrocarbons, in contrast to conventional spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, which suffers from low sensitivity and interference from laser-induced fluorescence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
A study of immunohistochemical differential expression in pulmonary and mammary carcinomas

The risk of developing a second primary cancer is increased in patients with breast cancer, and the lung is one of the major sites involved. Moreover, the lung is the major metastatic site for breast cancers. A distinction between metastatic breast cancer and primary lung cancer can be histologically difficult, and both show an overlapping CK7+/CK20- immunoprofile in a majority of cases. The degree of difficulty increases with poorly differentiated tumors. We investigated differential expressions of TTF-1, Napsin A, surfactant apoprotein A, estrogen receptor, GATA-3, mammaglobin, and GCDFP-15 immunostains in 197 pulmonary carcinomas (158 adenocarcinomas, 39 squamous) and 115 invasive mammary carcinomas (91 ductal, 24 lobular type). In mammary carcinomas, estrogen receptor, GATA-3, mammaglobin, and GCDFP-15 were expressed in 74, 72, 64, and 62%, respectively, whereas TTF-1, Napsin A, and surfactant apoprotein A were all negative. The expressions were diffuse in estrogen receptor and GATA-3, and variable in mammaglobin and GCDFP-15. For a combination of estrogen receptor/mammaglobin or GATA-3/mammaglobin, 83% of mammary carcinomas were positive, and the detection rate was not improved by using all three markers. All lung squamous cell carcinomas were negative for all markers studied. TTF-1, Napsin A, and surfactant apoprotein A were positive in 80, 77, and 45% of pulmonary adenocarcinomas. None of the TTF-1-negative tumors expressed surfactant apoprotein A. GCDFP-15 was focally expressed in 2.5% of pulmonary adenocarcinomas, and estrogen receptor was focally expressed in one case (1.2%) of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. When metastasis from breast cancer is suspected in the lung, a combination of either estrogen receptor/mammaglobin or GATA-3/mammaglobin as breast markers, and a combination of TTF-1 and Napsin A as lung markers may be helpful for differentiating between the two. Caution should be taken in the interpretation of GCDFP-15 due to its occasional expression in pulmonary adenocarcinomas.
Making Faces: Exploring Perceptions of Personality Based on Emotional Expressions:

Researchers at Wright State University have been working on modeling computer agents with personality. Perception of personality between humans is based on many factors, one of which includes facial expression. Many researchers have explored the ability to recognize emotion in faces, while other research focuses on perception of personality based on faces (physiognomy). The purpose of this study combines these two areas of research to determine how participant's rate different personality dimensions based on emotional expression. Participants rated ten static computer faces on the 30 personality subtraits from the Big Five Factor model of personality. The results show that participants did rate personalities differently depending on the facial expression. Participants perceived similar personality traits between the two different faces that expressed the same emotion. Results will be discussed along with future research directions.
Immuno-detection of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm on a cochlear implant.

A 46-year-old man suffering from progressive deafness since childhood received a Clarion 90 K cochlear implant with the HiRes® preformed electrode in his left ear in October 2006. A persistent Staphylococcus aureus infection failed to be treated with corticoids, amoxicillin/ clavulanate, ciprofloxaxin, and rifampin. The processor was removed on July 2007. The removed cochlear implant processor was treated with different reagents, with the aim of detecting a S. aureus and S. aureus biofilm: (1) fluorescein-coupled Fc of anti-human serum, (2) polyclonal anti-polysaccharide intercellular adhesion antibodies coupled to Alexa Fluor 568 goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin (Ig)G, (3) crystal violet, (4) methylene blue, (5) acridine orange, (6) Gram stain, and (7) live/dead fluorescent stain. S. aureus and the major constituent of the S. aureus biofilm, the polysaccharide intercellular adhesion, were detected on the surface of the implant. S. aureus was isolated after a simple contact between the implant and a solid growth medium. The ability of the isolated S. aureus strain to produce biofilm in vitro was confirmed. S. aureus biofilm was documented on the implant. Initial bacterial colonization could be related to the pocket of the removable magnet. Colonies of S. aureus without biofilm were found attached to the electrode wire. We report one case of a S. aureus biofilm infection documented on a cochlear implant, as assessed by immuno-microscopy. The biofilm was likely responsible for the persistent infection which manifested for many months after the implant surgery and could explain the unusual bacterial phenotypic resistance against administered antimicrobial agents.
Wear of steel by rubber

Wear of a steel blade used as a scraper to abrade rubber surfaces has been found to take place much more rapidly on a cis-polyisoprene (natural rubber) surface than on a cis-polybutadiene surface, and much more rapidly in an inert atmosphere than in air. These observations are attributed to the direct attack upon steel of free-radical species generated by mechanical rupture of elastomer molecules during abrasion.
Differenzierung von Relaxationsvorgängen durch chemische Substitution

Die Wirkung von Glutamat-Aspartat-Aminotransferase wird erheblich herabgesetzt, wenn die Erythro-β-Hydroxy-Asparaginsaure als Substratanalog eingesetzt wird. Eine Untersuchung der chemischen Relaxation dieses Systems mit einer Enzymkonzentration von 0,05 mM und einer Substratkonzentration von 2,0 mM bei pμ9 (Boratpuffer, Ionenstarke 0,1, anfangs 20 °C) ergab drei deutlich verschiedene Relaxationsprozesse mit den Relaxationszeiten τ1 = 60 ± 10 μs (einschlieslich einer Aufheizzeit-Konstanten von 20 μs), = 4,3 ± 0,4 ms. τ1 = 600 ± 40 ms. τ1 ist im Gegensatz zu τ2 und τ3 konzentrationsunabhangig. Fur die Reaktion wird ein Reaktionsschema vorgeschlagen und diskutiert. Das hier untersuchte System stellt ein Anwendungsbeispiel fur eine allgemeine Methode zur Aufklarung von Reaktionsmechanismen dar, die darauf beruht, das einzelne Geschwindigkeitskonstanten durch Einsatz substituierter Substrate verschoben werden. The action of glutamic aspartic aminotransferase is considerably slowed down, if the erythro-isomer of β-hydroxyaspartic acid is used instead of the natural substrate. An investigation of the chemical relaxation of this system at an enzyme concentration of 0.05 mM, a substrate concentration of 2.0 mM, and at pH 9 (borate buffer, ionic strength 0.1, 20°C initially) revealed three distinctly different relaxation processes with τ1 = 60 = 10 μs (including a heating time constant of 20 μs), τ2, = 4.3 ± 0.4 ms, τ3 = 600 ± 40 ms. τ1 is concentration-independent, while τ2 and τ3 are concentration-dependent The described system is an example of a general method to reveal details on enzyme mechanisms through shifting a velocity constant by the use of a chemically altered substrate.
Accelerated Degeneration of a Bovine Pericardial Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve in Children and Young Adults

Background—Experience with aortic valve replacement (AVR) with current-generation pericardial bioprostheses in young patients is limited. The death of a child with accelerated bioprosthetic aortic stenosis prompted enhanced surveillance of all such patients at our institution. Methods and Results—We reviewed records of 27 patients who had undergone AVR (median follow-up, 13.7 months) with a bovine pericardial bioprosthesis at ≤30 years of age. In the Mitroflow LXA valve group (n=15), freedom from valve failure was 100% at 1 year, 53% (95% confidence interval, 12–82) at 2 years, and 18% (95% confidence interval, 1–53) at 3 years. No Magna/Magna Ease valves (n=12) failed by 3 years. Among valve failure patients, median age at AVR was 12 years (range, 10–21 years). Life-threatening prosthetic aortic stenosis was detected at a median of 6 months after prior echocardiograms showing mild or less gradients. Patients with Mitroflow LXA compared with Magna/Magna Ease valves were smaller (median body surface area, ...
Evolutionary Expansion and Specialization of the PDZ Domains

PDZ domains are protein-protein interaction modules widely used to assemble membranous signaling complexes including those found in the neuronal synapse. PDZ-containing genes encoded in metazoan genomes vastly outnumber those in prokaryotes, plants, and fungi. By comparing 40 proteomes to track the evolutionary history of the PDZ domain, we observed that the variety of associations between PDZ and other domains expands greatly along the stem leading to metazoans and choanoflagellates. We asked whether the expansion of PDZ domains was due to random or specific sequence changes. Studying the sequence signatures of 58 PDZ lineages that are common to bilaterian animals, we showed that six common amino acid residues are able to classify 96% of PDZ domains to their correct evolutionary lineage. In PDZ domain-ligand cocrystals, four of these "classifying positions" lie in direct contact with the -1 and -3 residues of the ligand. This suggests coevolution of the more flexible regions of the binding interaction as a central mechanism of specialization inherent within the PDZ domain. To identify these positions, we devised two independent algorithms--a metric termed within-clade entropy (WCE) and an average mutual information (AvgMI) score--that both reached similar results. Extending these tools to the choanoflagellate, Monosiga brevicollis, we compared its PDZ domains with their putative metazoan orthologs. Interestingly, the M. brevicollis genes lack conservation at the classifying positions suggesting dissociation between domain organization in multidomain proteins and specific changes within the PDZ domain.
ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR GEOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS

We report on the development of a new software package for image reconstruction in threedimensional Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). Designed for large-scale computations, the software includes mesh generation utilities, a simulator of the quasi-static electrical potential fields based on finite elements and regularized inversion algorithms. We describe in brief some of its main functions and characteristics to demonstrate its utility and efficiency in handling high dimensional geophysical models.
Organizational learning: a guide for executives in technology–critical organizations

The focus of this article is on learning by technology–critical organizations, that is, organizations that are critically dependent on their knowledge of technology and that function in environments where technological change presents serious threats and opportunities. The article provides guidance to those managers who want their organizations to be learning organizations. It describes effective but often overlooked approaches for transforming everyday organizational experiences into organizational knowledge, and it introduces ideas for adding to the job responsibilities of managers and technical personnel the role of environmental sensor. In addition, it calls attention to the particular usefulness of information technology as a significant component of an organization's memory. Finally, through examples and suggestions, the article introduces the idea that everyday organizational activities can be transformed into learning opportunities.
Interface dipole effect on thin film ferroelectric stability: First-principles and phenomenological modeling

Utilization of the switchable spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric materials offers a promising avenue for the future of nanoelectronic memories and logic devices provided that nanoscale metal-ferroelectric-metal heterostructures can be engineered to maintain a bi-stable polarization switchable by an applied electric field. The most challenging aspect of this approach is to overcome the deleterious interface effects which tend to render ferroelectric polarization either unstable or unswitchable and which become ever more important as ferroelectric materials are produced thinner and thinner. Here we use first-principles density functional calculations and phenomenological modeling to demonstrate that a BaO/RuO${}_{2}$ interface termination sequence in SrRuO${}_{3}$/BaTiO${}_{3}$/SrRuO${}_{3}$ epitaxial heterostructures grown on SrTiO${}_{3}$ can lead to a nonswitchable polarization state for thin BaTiO${}_{3}$ films due to a fixed interface dipole. The unfavorable interface dipole at the BaO/RuO${}_{2}$ interface leads to a strong preference for one polarization state and, in thin film structures, leads to instability of the second state below a certain critical thickness, thereby making the polarization unswitchable. We analyze the contribution of this interface dipole to the energetic stability of these heterostructures. Furthermore, we propose and demonstrate that this unfavorable interface dipole effect can be alleviated by deposition of a thin layer of SrTiO${}_{3}$ at the BaO/RuO${}_{2}$ terminated interface. Our first-principles and phenomenological modeling predict that the associated change of the interface termination sequence to SrO/TiO${}_{2}$ on both sides of the heterostructure leads to a restoration of bi-stability with a smaller critical thickness, along with an enhancement of the barrier for polarization reversal. These results demonstrate that interface engineering is a viable approach to enhance ferroelectric properties at the nanoscale.
Management of Patients After Endovascular Interventions for Peripheral Artery Disease

Endovascular therapy to relieve intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia in patients with lower-extremity peripheral artery disease is now firmly established as an alternative to surgical revascularization.1 The advent of novel technologies allows percutaneous interventions of increasingly complex arterial disease previously reserved for surgical interventions.2 Although the durability of aortoiliac interventions rivals that of surgical bypass, restenosis after femoropopliteal interventions remains the Achilles’ heel of endovascular therapies. Despite the growth of endovascular procedures, the optimal postprocedural care is not well established. Moreover, it is not clear how surveillance strategies influence health resource use and whether they can prolong the durability of vascular interventions and affect the patient’s cardiovascular health. The following recommendations are therefore extrapolated from clinical experience gained in medical and surgical management of patients with peripheral artery disease and patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. In the absence of data derived from randomized, controlled trials, these recommendations necessarily reflect an interpretation of “best clinical practice” of an understudied clinical area. In this article, we attempt to outline a clinically sound strategy for long-term postprocedural care. Aggressive cardiovascular risk factor reduction is a key component of postprocedural care to prevent cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral artery disease such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Regular exercise should be an integral part of postprocedural care both because of its well-established clinical benefit and because it provides a gauge for detecting the progression of obstructive arterial disease. Formal exercise therapy is a potent treatment for claudication3 and may offer additional benefits after femoral artery revascularization.4 The details and justification for risk factor modification and regular exercise are discussed in published national guidelines.5–7 Postprocedural care and surveillance also aim to optimize the durability of endovascular procedures by combining appropriate pharmacotherapy, periodic assessment of vessel patency, and …
Progress in the Development of a Mechanical Properties Microprobe

A mechanical properties microprobe is an exciting concept. A system with the ability to evaluate the mechanical response of a sample with submicron spacial resolution would have an extremely wide range of applications. Recent developments in hardware and understanding have placed this goal within our grasp.In 1971, J.J.Gilman wrote the following in his article, “Hardness—A Strength Microprobe”:“Hardness measurements are at once among the most maligned and the most magnificent of physical measurements. Maligned because they are often misinterpreted by the uninitiated, and magnificent because they are so efficient in generating information for the skilled practitioner. They can quickly yield quantitative information about the elastic, anelastic, plastic, viscous, and fracture properties of a great variety of both isotropic and anisotropic solids. The tools that are used are simple and the sample sizes that are needed are typically small, sometimes submicroscopic. This makes it unnecessary to have large specimens in order to measure strength properties and makes it possible to measure the properties of various microscopic particles within the matrix phase of a polyphase metal, mineral, or ceramic material. This is why hardness may be considered to be a strength microprobe.”These statements are worth repeating for two reasons. First, they point out the largely untapped potential for microin-dentation tests to improve our understanding of the mechanical properties of materials. Second, it is the first mention of hardness tests in the context of a strength microprobe. In this article the more general term of microindentation tests will be used, since hardness is only one of many properties that can be measured with such tests. In addition, the term mechanical properties microprobe (MPM) will be used rather than strength microprobe-again, to note the wide variety of properties that can be measured.
In-Flight Receptivity Experiments on a 30-Degree Swept- Wing using Micron-Sized Discrete Roughness Elements

Micron-sized, spanwise-periodic Discrete Roughness Elements (DREs) were applied to the leading edge of a 30-degree swept-wing. The test article was attached vertically to the port wing of a Cessna O-2A aircraft and operated at a chord Reynolds number of 6.5 to 7.5 million. With a polished leading edge, 80% laminar flow was observed corresponding to Nfactors greater than 12. Critically spaced DREs were applied at the leading edge to excite the crossflow instability and move transition forward. In this case, calibrated, multi-element hotfilm sensors were used to measure disturbance wall shear stress. The roughness height was varied from 0 to 50 microns both in the positive (bumps) and negative (dimples) sense. Thus, the disturbance amplitude variations were determined as a function of modulated DRE heights.
Polypoid Sarcomas of the Esophagus: A Rare but Potentially Curable Neoplasm

Five patients with polypoid esophageal sarcoma are reported. All had dysphagia similar to that occurring in epithelial carcinoma of the esophagus. The clinical diagnosis of sarcoma was suspected when barium swallow showed a large polypoid lesion. Biopsy was often inconclusive concerning the nature of the lesion except to identify it as a neoplastic process. In spite of their large size, the tumors remained superficial within the esophageal wall. Nodal or distant organ metastasis was absent in 4 of the 5 patients. The histology of these tumors suggests that so-called carcinosarcoma is an epithelial carcinoma of the esophagus with varying amounts of spindle cell features and should be considered separately from sarcoma arising from mesenchymal tissue. Unlike carcinoma, esophageal sarcoma has a favorable prognosis following radical resection, and recent advances in esophageal surgery have decreased the mortality and morbidity of esophagectomy.
A case-based approach to intelligent information retrieval

We have built a hybrid Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) and Information Retrieval (IR) system that generates a query to the IR system by using information derived from CBR analysis of a problem situation. The query is automatically formed by submitting in text form a set of highly relevant cases, based on a CBR analysis, to a modified version of INQUERY’s relevance feedback module. This approach extends the reach of CBR, for retrieval purposes, to much larger corpora and injects knowledge-based techniques into traditional IR.
Radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap in maxillofacial and oromandibular reconstructions.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap is an excellent reconstructive modality for oromandibular and maxillofacial reconstruction in certain well-defined circumstances. The initial concern over donor site morbidity and the ability of the bone to reconstruct mandibular defects have led to only a few published series. Study Design: Retrospective study of the experience of two tertiary medical centers with radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap. Methods: Retrospectively, 52 patients were studied who underwent radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap reconstruction for cancer (49 cases) and trauma (3 cases). Bone length and skin paddle harvested, general morbidity (hematoma, wound infection, and dehiscence), recipient site morbidity (nonunion of neomandible, flap failure, and bone or plate exposure), and donor site morbidity (radius bone fracture, plate exposure, and skin graft failure) were reviewed. Results: The average skin paddle size was 55.1 cm2 (range, 15–112 cm2). The average radius bone harvest length was 6.3 cm (range, 2.5–11 cm). Donor site complications included tendon exposure (3 cases), radius bone fracture (1 case), and exposure of the plate (0). Recipient site complications included nonunion of the mandible (4), exposed mandible (1), exposed mandibular plates (2), exposed maxillary plates or bone (0), venous compromise (1), and flap failure (1). Two patients had perioperative deaths. Conclusion: Radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap is a valuable and viable option for oromandibular and maxillofacial reconstruction.
Strontium Isotope Composition of Amphibolite of the Cartersville–Villa Rica District, Georgia

Present-day 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios for a suite of 19 amphibolite samples from the Cartersville–Villa Rica district of Georgia range from 0.7044 to 0.7077, averaging 0.7063 ± 0.0009 (1 S.D.). Assuming an age of 600 m.y. for these rocks, the initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios range from 0.7033 to 0.7068, and average 0.7054 + 0.0010. These relatively low values suggest the rocks are of volcanic origin and contain strontium that may have originated predominantly in the upper mantle. Amygdular and pillow structures clearly substantiate a volcanic source and the chemical and mineralogic composition indicate that these amphibolites are meta-basalts. The amphibolite, part of the Ashland group, probably is correlative with the Ashe Formation of North Carolina and the Mount Rogers volcanic series.
Parenting, courtship, Disneyland and the human brain

Using evidence drawn from the Southern California tourist industry, Geoffrey Miller argues that creativity, storytelling, humour, wit, music, fantasy, and morality, evolved as forms of courtship behaviour. Although he refers to the 'mind as amusement park' he fails to include in his analysis the most famous amusement park in the world, Disneyland, which is one of the most dense concentrations in the world of exactly those aspects of culture (art, creativity, storytelling, humour, wit, music, fantasy, and morality) that he claims have evolved as courtship displays. Yet, Miller's hypothesis cannot account for the fact that Disneyland is devoted to children. Disneyland, and other similar amusement parks, instead support the alternative hypothesis that the aspects of the human brain involved in these activities evolved in the context of parents influencing their offspring, and offspring responding to their parents, not in the context of courtship.
Influence of upper-air conditions on glaciers in Scandinavia

A simple model using once-daily US National Centers for Environmental Prediction/US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) re-analysis upper-air values estimates winter balance, summer balance and net balance at ten glaciers in Norway and two in Sweden with 0:37 � r 2 � 0:90: The October-May Arctic Oscillation (AO), an index of sea-level pressure (SLP) in the Northern Hemisphere, correlates with winter balance and net balance with 0:09 � r 2 � 0:82, lower than the model in all but 3 of the 24 cases. The October-May North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), an SLP gradient in the North Atlantic, has lower correlations than the AO for all but 5 of the 24 cases. At all ten glaciers with records beginning before 1987, net balance became more positive after 1988, owing mainly to increased winter balance, with summer balance changing little. Although winter temperatures increased, they were still well below freezing, so the rain-snow division of the precipitation was only slightly affected. Increase in winter balance was due to increased precipitation caused by a change in atmospheric circulation, resulting in more frequent westerly flow concurrent with the warming. At 850 hPa, westerly flow is � 2:5 � C warmer than easterly flow; westerly flow warmed by � 0:3 � C, easterly by � 0:7 � C. Both the AO and NAO, with which winter balance is positively correlated at all 12 glaciers, were more positive after 1988.
Mechanisms of summertime upper Arctic Ocean warming and the effect on sea ice melt

[1] In this study, we use a numerical sea-ice-ocean model to examine what causes summertime upper ocean warming and sea ice melt during the 21st century in the Arctic Ocean. Our first question is, “What causes the ocean to warm in the Pacific Sector during the summer”? We find that about 80% of total heating over this region comes from ocean surface heat flux, with the remaining 20% originating in ocean lateral heat flux convergence. The latter occurs mostly within a few hundred kilometers of the northwest Alaskan coast. In the summer of 2007, the ocean gained just over twice the amount of heat it did over the average of the previous 7 years. Our second question is, “What causes sea ice to melt in the Pacific Sector during summer”? Our analysis shows that top melt dominates total melt early in the summer, while bottom melt (and in particular, bottom melt due to ocean heat transport) dominates later in the summer as atmospheric heating declines. Bottom melt rates in summer 2007 were 34% higher relative to the previous 7 year average. The modeled partition of top versus bottom melt closely matches observed melt rates obtained by a drifting buoy. Bottom melting contributes about 2/3 of total volume melt but is geographically confined to the Marginal Ice Zone, while top melting contributes a lesser 1/3 of volume melt but occurs over a much broader area of the ice pack.
Increase of Fluorescence Anisotropy Upon Self‐Assembly in Headgroup‐Labeled Surfactants

The change in fluorescence anisotropy upon micellization in headgroup-labeled surfactants is investigated. After eliminating the likelihood of depolarizing RET, anisotropy is shown to increase upon self-assembly due to increased rotational correlation times of the fluorophore. This is shown using two surfactant-fluorophore systems. Anisotropy in NBD-labeled phospholipids is studied both in chloroform (unaggregated) and in water (unilamellar vesicles), while in tryptophan-containing peptide-amphiphiles, the variation of anisotropy with concentration leads to a reasonable measurement of CAC. Anisotropy increase is shown to be largely the product of increased rotational correlation times for the fluorophore, relative to its tau. These results serve as a basis for future work that measures the amount of depolarizing energy transfer, characterizing distances between similar fluorescent headgroups on mixed micelles.
Dynamic intercept and manipulation of objects using a novel pneumatic robot hand

Most current dexterous robot hands are expensive and heavy, which limits the possibility of putting them on industrial robots because the maximum payload that an industrial robot can carry is small. Additionally, current robot hands are not very adaptable. Most grasping research doesn't include vision. A few works incorporate visual sensing, however, these concentrate on stationary objects. In this work, we present a novel pneumatic three-finger hand and use our earlier work in model based dynamic intercept to allow the hand to grasp semi-randomly moving objects. Experimental results show that this novel three-finger hand is simple, light and effective
Functional outcomes in young, active duty, military personnel after submuscular ulnar nerve transposition.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to report on the results of submuscular ulnar nerve transposition (SMUNT) for treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome in a young, active duty, military population. Methods Twenty patients (20 extremities) were evaluated retrospectively a minimum of 12 months after surgery. Outcome analyses were performed using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Bishop-Kleinman rating scales, physical examination, return-to-work analysis, evaluation of complication rate, and overall patient satisfaction. Results At an average follow-up evaluation of 24 months (range, 12–38 mo), 19 patients had returned to full military active duty work status. The average duration of limited work capacity after surgery was 4.8 months (range, 3–7 mo). The DASH scores improved from an average of 32.5 points before surgery to 6.2 points after surgery. In 19 patients the functional outcome evaluated with the Bishop-Kleinman rating system was excellent. There were no poor outcomes using this rating score. Statistically significant improvements in both key pinch and grip strength were noted. Complications included one permanent and 2 transient neuropraxias of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve. Overall 19 of 20 patients were satisfied with the procedure and would have the surgery again if required. Conclusions Submuscular ulnar nerve transposition for cubital tunnel syndrome provides a reliable rate of return to full active duty work in military personnel with good patient satisfaction and minimal complications.
The Adenovirus E3 RID Complex Protects Some Cultured Human T and B Lymphocytes from Fas-Induced Apoptosis

Human group C adenoviruses cause an acute infection in respiratory epithelia and establish a long-term or persistent infection, possibly in lymphocytes. The mechanism by which this persistence is maintained is unknown; however, it would require that persistently infected lymphocytes not be deleted. The adenovirus genome encodes proteins that prevent the immune system from eliminating the virus-infected cell, including the E3 receptor internalization and degradation (RID) complex. The RID complex prevents death of infected cells by blocking apoptosis initiated through death domain-containing receptors of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily, including TNFR1 (L. R. Gooding, T. S. Ranheim, A. E. Tollefson, L. Aquino, P. Duerksen-Hughes, T. M. Horton, and W. S. Wold, J. Virol. 65:4114-4123, 1991), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptors (TRAIL-R1 and -R2) (C. A. Benedict, P. S. Norris, T. I. Prigozy, J. L. Bodmer, J. A. Mahr, C. T. Garnett, F. Martinon, J. Tschopp, L. R. Gooding, and C. F. Ware, J. Biol. Chem. 276:3270-3278, 2001; A. E. Tollefson, K. Toth, K. Doronin, M. Kuppuswamy, O. A. Doronina, D. L. Lichtenstein, T. W. Hermiston, C. A. Smith, and W. S. Wold, J. Virol. 75:8875-8887, 2001), and Fas (J. Shisler, C. Yang, B. Walter, C. F. Ware, and L. R. Gooding, J. Virol. 71:8299-8306, 1997). Here, we test the ability of RID to protect human lymphocytes from apoptosis induced by ligation of Fas, a mechanism important for regulating lymphocyte populations. Using a retrovirus expressing RID to infect six human lymphocyte cell lines, we found that RID functions in the absence of other viral proteins to downregulate surface Fas on some, but not all, cell lines. Total cellular levels of Fas decrease as measured by Western blotting, and this loss of Fas correlates with protection from apoptosis induced by ligation of Fas in every cell line tested. Although in some cases, RID causes loss of only a fraction of surface Fas, the presence of RID completely blocks the immediate events downstream of Fas ligation (i.e., Fas-FADD association and caspase-8 cleavage) in susceptible cell lines. Nonetheless, the ability of RID to block Fas signaling is independent of the Fas signaling pathway used (type I or type II). Interestingly, among the four T-cell lines tested, RID caused loss of Fas in the two T-cell lines bearing a relatively immature phenotype, while having no activity in T cells with mature phenotypes. Collectively, these data suggest that RID functions to prevent apoptosis of some human lymphocytes by internalizing surface Fas receptors. It is possible that the expression of RID facilitates long-term infection by preventing Fas-mediated deletion of persistently infected lymphocytes.
Helping Secondary Market Workers Overcome Journey-To-Work Transportation. Difficulties: a General Model

Food service firms have begun to experience labor shortage at entry level positions, attributable to the declining number of teenagers in the population. One available strategy that responds to this problem is to recruit from among currently underutilized labor groups. Persons living below the poverty line (so- called "secondary market workers") are one such group; however, members of this group, face barriers to obtaining and retaining employment. Prominent among those barriers is a lack of transportation to and from work. This article presents and discusses a general model of how employers can decide whether (and how) to help potential employees with this problem.
Optical “tractor beams” with nonconservative forces

We demonstrate that, for an entire class of optical beams, nonconservative forces can point in a direction opposite to propagation wavevector. The properties of these forces are examined in the Rayleigh and geometrical optics limits.
Identification of new inhibitors for low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase isoform B

The National Cancer Institute Diversity Set II (1356 compounds) and Diversity Set III (1597 compounds) were screened via in silico methods as potential inhibitors of low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LWM-PTP) isoform B (EC 3.1.3.48). Those candidates that demonstrated comparable or better docking scores than that of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), one of the most potent known inhibitors of LMW-PTP with a competitive inhibitor dissociation constant (Kis) of 7.6μM (pH 5.0), were analyzed via in vitro kinetic assays against LMW-PTP isoform B. While none of the compounds tested in vitro was significantly better that PLP, five compounds showed comparable inhibition. These five compounds are very diverse in structure and represent new therapeutic leads for inhibition of this isozyme.
Dielectrophoretic Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles in Nanoscale Junctions for Rapid, Miniature Chemiresistor Vapor Sensors

A method for fabricating integrated arrays of nanoscale chemiresistor vapor sensors using functionalized gold nanoparticles is presented. Controlled placement of nanoparticles was accomplished with dielectrophoresis, achieving localized nanoparticle assembly between 50-nm-thick, 100-nm-wide nanofabricated electrodes with 50 nm spacing. Each individual sensor comprises an assembly of thiol-functionalized 10-nm-diameter gold nanoparticles, making a total active sensing volume with thickness of 30 to 40 nm and area dimension 50 nm × 50 nm. The small electrode spacing enables contiguous films of just 3 to 4 layers of nanoparticles. Combination of top-down lithographic fabrication and bottom-up directed assembly allows multiple sensors spaced by 200 μm to be fabricated on a single chip. A second set of chemiresistor sensors with larger 20 μm electrode spacing and 200–300 nm film thickness were fabricated for comparison. Nanoscale sensors fabricated using 4 different types of thiolated capping ligands exhibited...
Application of High Performance Computing for Studying Cyclic Variability in Dilute Internal Combustion Engines

Combustion instabilities in dilute internal combustion engines are manifest in cyclic variability (CV) in engine performance measures such as integrated heat release or shaft work. Understanding the factors leading to CV is important in model-based control, especially with high dilution where experimental studies have demonstrated that deterministic effects can become more prominent.Observation of enough consecutive engine cycles for significant statistical analysis is standard in experimental studies but is largely wanting in numerical simulations because of the computational time required to compute hundreds or thousands of consecutive cycles. We have proposed and begun implementation of an alternative approach to allow rapid simulation of long series of engine dynamics based on a low-dimensional mapping of ensembles of single-cycle simulations which map input parameters to output engine performance.This paper details the use Titan at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility to investigate CV in a gasoline direct-injected spark-ignited engine with a moderately high rate of dilution achieved through external exhaust gas recirculation. The CONVERGE™ CFD software was used to perform single-cycle simulations with imposed variations of operating parameters and boundary conditions selected according to a sparse grid sampling of the parameter space. Using an uncertainty quantification technique, the sampling scheme is chosen similar to a design of experiments grid but uses algorithms designed to minimize the number of samples required to achieve a desired degree of accuracy. The simulations map input parameters to output metrics of engine performance for a single cycle, and by mapping over a large parameter space, results can be interpolated from within that space. This interpolation scheme forms the basis for a low-dimensional ‘metamodel’ (or model of a model) which can be used to mimic the dynamical behavior of corresponding high-dimensional simulations.Simulations of high-EGR spark-ignition combustion cycles within a parametric sampling grid were performed and analyzed statistically, and sensitivities of the physical factors leading to high CV are presented. With these results, the prospect of producing low-dimensional metamodels to describe engine dynamics at any point in the parameter space will be discussed. Additionally, modifications to the methodology to account for nondeterministic effects in the numerical solution environment are proposed.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Diode-Pumped 1.34-5 mm Nd:YAlO3 Laser

Nd3+ in YAlO3 is a useful source of laser light tunable over a range of about 0.5 nm near 1341 and 1080 nm. It has strong absorption lines at 796, 807, and 812nm, where diode pump lasers are readily available.
Effect of cortisone on experimental fractures in the rabbit.

Summary1. Sixteen rabbits were subjected to fractures of the femur. Eight of these were under treatment with cortisone.2. One control and one treated animal were sacrificed serially for eight days following fracture.3. Gross healing of the fracture and absorption of the hematoma were greatly delayed in the animals receiving cortisone.4. Histologically, the chief differences were seen following the fourth post-fracture day when retardation of all phases of healing were noted in the cortisone-treated animals. At the fourth day, new blood vessels began to appear in both control and cortisone-treated rabbits, but were more numerous in the control animals.5. Failure of connective tissue regeneration following the fourth post-fracture day in the cortisone-treated rabbits may have been the result of poor tissue nutrition due to an inadequate blood supply or may have been due to the action of a circulating material possibly cortisone itself, brought to the area through new vessels.
Photographs and Descriptions of Cup-Fungi—XXXIX. A New Helotium

(1945). Photographs and Descriptions of Cup-Fungi—XXXIX. A New Helotium. Mycologia: Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 267-269.
Mitochondrial pyruvate transport: a historical perspective and future research directions

Pyruvate is the end-product of glycolysis, a major substrate for oxidative metabolism, and a branching point for glucose, lactate, fatty acid and amino acid synthesis. The mitochondrial enzymes that metabolize pyruvate are physically separated from cytosolic pyruvate pools and rely on a membrane transport system to shuttle pyruvate across the impermeable inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). Despite long-standing acceptance that transport of pyruvate into the mitochondrial matrix by a carrier-mediated process is required for the bulk of its metabolism, it has taken almost 40 years to determine the molecular identity of an IMM pyruvate carrier. Our current understanding is that two proteins, mitochondrial pyruvate carriers MPC1 and MPC2, form a hetero-oligomeric complex in the IMM to facilitate pyruvate transport. This step is required for mitochondrial pyruvate oxidation and carboxylation–critical reactions in intermediary metabolism that are dysregulated in several common diseases. The identification of these transporter constituents opens the door to the identification of novel compounds that modulate MPC activity, with potential utility for treating diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and other common causes of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the present review is to detail the historical, current and future research investigations concerning mitochondrial pyruvate transport, and discuss the possible consequences of altered pyruvate transport in various metabolic tissues.
Isolation of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein from polymorphonuclear leukocytes by reversible binding to target bacteria.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) play a prominent role in host defense in mammals against invading bacteria (1,2). Among the essential attributes of these highly specialized cells are the elaboration of an array of cytotoxic peptides and polypeptides that can be targeted at bacterial prey. This includes the bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), a cytotoxic protein that at nM concentrations acts selectively against many Gram-negative bacteria. The principal determinant of the target-cell selectivity and potency of BPI is its ability to bind avidly to lipopolysaccarides (LPS), abundant glycolipids found uniquely in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of these bacteria (3,4). Binding of BPI to bacterial outer membrane LPS not only initiates antibacterial cytotoxicity but also blocks the potent pro-inflammatory activity of this bacterial product (5). Host responses to LPS fuel the delivery of host defenses (e.g., PMN) to sites of infection but can also lead to profound inflammatory injury if inadequately regulated (4,6). By contributing to the eradication of the bacteria that produce LPS and by blocking the activity of LPS already present, BPI can play a major role in elimination of invading Gram-negative bacteria and in downregulating further host responses to these bacteria.
Funny farm: Sexuality, neoliberalism and the refashioning of American rural life

This essay examines the operation of neoliberal logic in The Fabulous Beekman Boys, a reality television show that premiered on the now rebranded Planet Green network during the summer of 2010. The...
How primates (including us!) respond to inequity.

Purpose – Responding negatively to inequity is not a uniquely human trait. Some of our closest evolutionary ancestors respond negatively when treated less well than a conspecific. Comparative work between humans and other primates can help elucidate the evolutionary underpinnings of humans’ social preferences. Methodology/approach – Results from studies of nonhuman primates, in particular chimpanzees and capuchin monkeys, are presented in comparison to human results that have been collected during economic game studies in humans, such as in the Ultimatum Game or Impunity Game. Findings – Among nonhuman primates, a frequent behavioral reaction to inequity is to refuse to continue the interaction. While in some cases this response appears to be caused by the inequitable distribution, in others, it seems to be caused by another individual's inequitable behavior. While these reactions are similar to those of humans, this reaction does not appear to be a sense of fairness in the way that we think of it in humans. Neither nonhuman primate species alters their behavior when they are the benefited individual, and in an experimental situation, chimpanzees do not alter their behavior to obtain food for their partner as well as for themselves. Originality/value of the chapter – Although there are differences between human and nonhuman primate responses, such studies allow us to better understand the evolution of our own responses to inequity. Given the strong behavioral reactions that even monkeys show to inequitable treatment, it is not surprising that humans are concerned with equity. Such comparisons increase understanding of issues such as healthcare disparities in humans.
Faces of Hate

Anti-Semitic hate groups using the Internet have grown dramatically since the mid-1990s. During that time they have developed three main approaches in getting out their message, “in your face,” “fa...
How to innovate: The essential guide for fearless school leaders, by Mary Moss Brown and Alisa Berger

Brown and Berger paint a glum picture of the status of United States' schools in the introductory section of How to innovate. They cite dropout rates, a pedantic approach to classroom instruction, ...
A Critical Look at the Impact of Cybercrime on Consumer Internet Behavior

The development of the Internet and World Wide Web has both a positive and negative impact consumer behavior. While these technologies provide many consumer “conveniences,” they also generate many consumer “threats” that take form as cybercrimes. While researchers have focused on the economic ramifications of cybercrime, little is known about its impact on Internet behavior. This paper explores the behavioral ramifications of cybercrime on the informational value of the Internet, the likelihood of repeat purchases, and overall attractiveness of the Internet as a channel-of-choice. The results showed that even the weakest form of cybercrime (Spamming) can decided alter consumer Internet behavior, thus eroding the attractiveness of the Internet as a viable marketing channel.