cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Should we overcome the resistance to bioelectrical impedance in heart failure

Heart failure is associated with increased neurohormonal activation that results in changes in body composition including volume overload and the loss of skeletal muscle, body fat, and bone density...
Estimating the Earnings from Peer-to-Peer Carsharing for Vehicle Owners on the Turo Platform using Anonymized Data:

Peer-to-peer carsharing, in which “hosts” (i.e., vehicle owners) make their vehicles available for a fee, has grown markedly in recent years. Little is known about how activity in this sector is di...
Postoperative Analgesia in Neonates and Infants Using Epidural Chloroprocaine and Clonidine

Introduction In neonates and infants, epidural analgesia has gained popularity as a means of providing postoperative analgesia, limiting opioid-related adverse effects and improving the postoperative course. In addition to a local anesthetic agent, adjunctive agents may be added to further augment analgesia. Clonidine is an α2-adrenergic agonist that is frequently added to single-shot caudal analgesia, but there are limited data regarding its use in a continuous epidural infusion, especially in patients ≤12 months of age. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of neonates and infants who received postoperative epidural infusions with 2-chloroprocaine, and clonidine was identified over a 4-year period. Results The study cohort included 52 neonates and infants ranging in age from 0 to 12 months and in weight from 2.1 to 10.1 kilograms. The catheters were dosed with either 1.5% 2-chloroprocaine (n=47) or 3% 2-chloroprocaine (n=5) with clonidine (median concentration 0.2 µg/mL) infused at a median rate of 0.72 mL/kg/hour. Pain scores were uniformly ≤3 at all evaluation points during the first 72 postoperative hours with a limited need for supplemental systemic opioids. No serious adverse effects were noted. Conclusion With the recognized limitations of a retrospective study, these preliminary data demonstrate the safety of adding clonidine to an epidural infusion of 2-chloroprocaine in neonates and infants less than 12 months of age. Future studies are needed to determine its analgesic efficacy compared to 2-chloroprocaine alone and the optimal clonidine concentration for postoperative epidural infusions.
Who Rides the High Speed Rail in the United States: The Acela Express Case Study

In this study, we focus on the Acela Express, and try to find out how selected internal and external factors affect the Acela Express’s ridership. A two-stage least square regression model is introduced in order to eliminate the endogeneity problem caused by price and ridership. Also the Cochrane-Orcutt Procedure is adopted to solve autocorrelation. The result shows that ticket price and train on-time performances, which are used to being thought as important factors affect ridership become insignificant, while other factors like employment of business and professional in the Northeast Corridor areas have higher influence on high speed train ridership. The broader objective of this research is to provide policy suggestions for building of an efficient high-speed rail network that can both be profitable and solve practical problems that the contemporary transportation system faces.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Most Discouraged Mycenaeans: Performing Emotion and Death in Late Bronze Age Tanagra, Greece

The paper examines the famous Tanagra terracotta coffins (larnakes) as loci of enduring memory that contributed to the construction of funerary place and sought to prescribe affect within the heter...
Enhanced recovery pathway after open pancreaticoduodenectomy reduces postoperative length of hospital stay without reducing composite length of stay.

Abstract Background/Purpose There is no data regarding the impact of enhanced recovery pathways (ERP) on composite length of stay (CLOS) after procedures with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, such as pancreaticoduodenectomy. Methods Patients undergoing open pancreaticoduodenectomy before and after implementation of ERP were prospectively followed for 90 days after surgery and complications were severity graded using the Modified Accordion Grading System. A retrospective analysis of patient outcomes were compared before and after instituting ERP. 1:1 propensity score matching was used to compare ERP patient outcomes to those of matched pre-ERP patients. CLOS is defined as postoperative length of hospital stay (PLOS) plus readmission length of hospital stay within 90 days after surgery. Results 494 patients underwent open pancreaticoduodenectomy – 359 pre-ERP and 135 ERP. In a 1:1 propensity-score-matched analysis of 110 matched pairs, ERP patients had significantly decreased superficial surgical site infections (5.5% vs 15.5% p = 0.015) and significantly increased rates of urinary retention (29.1% vs 7.3% p Conclusion ERP may reduce PLOS but might not impact the total postoperative time spent in the hospital (i.e. CLOS) within 90 days after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Observations of the near-wall accumulation of suspended particles due to shear and electroosmotic flow in opposite directions.

On the basis of previous studies, the particles in a dilute (volume fractions φ∞ < 4 × 10-3 ) suspension in combined Poiseuille and electroosmotic "counterflow" at flow Reynolds numbers Re ≤ 1 accumulate, then assemble into structures called "bands," within ∼6 μm of the channel wall. The experimental studies presented here use a small fraction of tracer particles labeled with a different fluorophore from the majority "bulk" particles to visualize the dynamics of individual particles in a φ∞ = 1.7 × 10-3 suspension. The results at two different near-wall shear rates and three electric field magnitudes E show that the near-wall particles are concentrated about 150-fold when the bands start to form, and are then concentrated about 200-fold to a maximum near-wall volume fraction of ∼0.34. The growth in the near-wall particles during this accumulation stage appears to be exponential. This near-wall particle accumulation is presumably driven by a wall-normal "lift" force. The observations of how the particles accumulate near the wall are compared with recent analyses that predict that suspended particles subject to shear flow and a dc electric field at small particle Reynolds numbers experience such a lift force. A simple model that assumes that the particles are subject to this lift force and Stokes drag suggests that the force driving particles toward the wall, of O(10-17 N), is consistent with the time scales for particle accumulation observed in the experiments.
Crafting accountability policy: Designing offices of inspector general

Abstract Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) promise increased accountability from governmental actors. OIGs do so by monitoring governmental programs and operations and providing their findings to legislative or executive decision makers and/or the public. These offices have enjoyed a particular popularity in the United States in the last 40 years; however a close examination of these OIGs demonstrates that, particularly on the state and local levels, there is vast variation in their designs. Using both original qualitative and quantitative data this paper examines the extent to which OIGs on the state and local levels vary from an archetypal OIG. The paper demonstrates that while design variations occur as the new institution is adopted in new places, sometimes deviations from the archetype are attributable to an intentional effort, based on a recognition of and reaction to the potential power of an OIG structured according to a theoretically ideal model, to restrict the office in ways that have the potential to undercut effectiveness.
Reporting of Bariatric Surgery Outcomes

Morbid obesity is rapidly increasing globally and is the leading cause of preventable cause of death in the United States. The only effective and enduring treatment for morbid obesity remains bariatric surgery. Both the growth in the prevalence of obesity and the success of weight loss surgery has led to truly spectacular growth in utilization of bariatric surgery. Outcomes have driven both the rise and fall of bariatric surgery over time. A clear reason for the recent growth of bariatric surgery was the 2004 approval of weight loss surgery by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which was driven by outcomes studies. In the 1970s, serious adverse outcomes associated with jejunal-ileal bypass led to its ultimate demise, uniquely becoming the only operation to be banned by the FDA. Currently, both strong consumer and insurer interest in weight loss surgery and increased societal awareness of patient safety have directed intense interest in the outcomes of bariatric surgery. Standardization of outcomes reporting in bariatric surgery has long been an issue of contention; however, recent events have demonstrated that bariatric surgery is entering a watershed in outcomes reporting.
The Genomics of Escherichia coli and Beyond

The primary motivation for the switch from generating sequence data to analyzing sequence data was the pace at which genomic information became available, and this chapter focuses on a few of the findings that emerged from the comparative genomics of E. coli. Based on disease potential in humans, E. coli strains can be broadly classified as (i) harmless commensals, (ii) intestinal pathogens, and (iii) those capable of infecting extraintestinal sites. An active region of genome evolution is the mutS-rpoS intergenic region. Both the mutS and rpoS genes are highly conserved among strains, but the intergenic region between them can vary from 9.8 kb in some enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strains to 6.9 kb in K-12 and some extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains to 3.7 kb in O157:H7 strains. The polymorphism in this genomic segment is likely related to the high frequency of mutations observed in both mutS and rpoS. In addition to the substantial role that gene acquisition has played in the evolution and formation of pathogenic lineages, mutations that alter or abolish protein functions have also been implicated in the accelerated adaptation of E. coli to diverse environments. The most extensive study of E. coli comparative genomics to date includes 20 E. coli/Shigella strains and one Escherichia fergusonii strain. In summary, the genomes of E. coli and other bacteria have been influenced by numerous factors, but in the case of their overall size and complexity, nonadaptive processes, such as mutation and genetic drift, appear to be more important.
Position/force control of a robot manipulator over an unknown surface

The position and force degrees of freedom are specified for unknown constraint surfaces, depending on the type of contact. Three types of contact (point, line, and plane) are considered. The determination of the type of contact is based on the point of contact, which is calculated from information received from a wrist force/torque sensor. An example is presented to demonstrate the technique. >
The relative effect of analgesia and anesthesia in the production of asphyxia neonatorum

Abstract A series of 975 consecutive unselected deliveries by one operator are analyzed from the standpoint of factors which might produce asphyxia in the newborn. A slight preponderance of deliveries under general anesthesia was noted. Of the entire group 90.6 per cent required no resuscitation. Five and two-tenths per cent were revived simply by aspiration of the trachea and the administration of oxygen and 5 per cent carbon dioxide. One and three-tenths per cent required artificial respiration, and 1.9 per cent were stillborn. None of the 18 stillbirths could be attributed to the means of delivery or the use of either analgesics or anesthetics. A total of 95.4 per cent of those in the local anesthesia group and 88.3 per cent of the general anesthesia group breathed spontaneously. Severe asphyxia occurred in the same percentage in the entire series; namely, 1.3 per cent. The chief difference between general and local anesthesia lies in Group 3 (asphyxia livida). Reasonably definite causes of the asphyxia can be shown in about two-thirds of all cases of delayed respiration other than the exhibition of analgesics or anesthetics. Among the local anesthetics there was no difference in the respiratory response whether analgesia was insufficient to produce amnesia or whether it was prolonged beyond the degree usually found sufficient to result in amnesia in the average normal labor. In this series dystocia by itself apparently had no influence on asphyxia.
Using Cash-To-Cash To Benchmark Service Industry Performance

The cash-to-cash (C2C) metric is a measurement tool which may be used to bridge the management of firms and functions in a supply chain. C2C can be used by management to improve firm liquidity position and overall firm value. Measuring C2C also offers a consistent measure across time, helps to identify the greatest leverage points and opportunities for improvement, serves as a means to set goals for improvement within the supply chain, and can help to optimize the entire supply chain, instead of sub-optimizing individual portions. In t his study, the authors illustrate the calculation of cash-to-cash, investigate changes in C2C between product and service industries to identify key differences, review and discuss key leverage points of C2C, and provide insights for today’s service industry managers to understand the C2C metric from both accounting and supply chain management perspectives. Data in this study can also be used for benchmarking purposes.
Charge transfer and transition-metal cluster: Boron bonding in the bct superconducting Y(Rh1-xRux)4B4 system

An analysis of the bonding and charge transfer as a function of transition-metal concentration is presented for the bct superconducting system Y(Rh/sub 1-x/Ru/sub x/)/sub 4/B/sub 4/. A sharp drop in the superconducting critical temperature T/sub c/ from 9.5 K to below 1.0 K near a critical concentration is not reflected in the smooth, linear variation of the single-crystal lattice parameters and B-B interatomic distances. Analysis of the boron KVV Auger data indicates the boron p-like states near the Fermi energy are increasingly populated in a continuous manner with increasing x. We find no evidence of any abrupt changes in the electronic structure near x/sub cr/.
Clinical practices in neonatal oxygenation: where have we failed? What can we do?

Oxygen is among the most frequently used therapies in neonates worldwide. Nevertheless, many times it is used unnecessarily. Neonatal practices have changed over the last several years; treatments originally believed to be beneficial have been discarded. Oxygen utilized ‘just in case’ or ‘prophylactically’ can lead to great damage previously ignored and/or unseen by healthcare providers. It is imperative to improve education on neonatal oxygenation and saturation monitoring. It is also important not to depend on old assumptions, which were not based on evidences. The potential for unseen damage at the cellular and tissue levels cannot be ignored. Therapies that prove to be outdated or even dangerous must be eliminated while further research and confirmation of the best practices are determined. Freedom to choose can come at a price.
Resolved magic-angle spinning of anisotropic samples in inhomogeneous fields

Abstract The chemical shift spectrum of a liquid embedded in a porous sample spinning at the magic angle has been recovered in the presence of static field and rf gradients. Field inhomogeneity and susceptibility broadening are averaged by a procedure that combines magic-angle turning with a train of z -rotation pulses. The experiment emulates the situation encountered in `ex situ' NMR in which the sample is located away from the field sources. Given the equivalence of field and sample spinning, the results suggest that the use of a rotating magnetic field and refocusing pulses might enable the study of samples such as solids or fluids in porous materials external to the magnet.
BioMOCA: A Transport Monte Carlo Model for Ion Channels

Ion channels are proteins that form natural water-filled nanotubes in the membranes of all biological cells. They regulate ion transport in and out of the cell thereby maintaining the correct internal ion composition that is crucial to cell survival and function. Every channel carries a strong permanent charge, which plays a critical role in the conduction mechanisms of the open channel. Many channels can selectively transmit or block a particular ion species and most have switching properties similar to electronic devices. These device-like features are appealing to the electronics community for their possible application in the design of novel bio-devices. Here we describe a three-dimensional (3-D) transport Monte Carlo ion channel simulation, BioMOCA, based on the approach taken in semiconductor device simulations. Since ion diameters are comparable with channel dimensions a physical model of the volume of the ions must also be included.
Strategies for deploying theory of mind in adults: theory vs simulation is not either/or

Finding measures of theory of mind (ToM) that are robustly related to contemporary measures of personality, we developed 10 scenarios reflecting either folk theory or simulation approaches to ToM deployment. Participants responded to scenarios in one of three formats: (1) by endorsing different descriptions representing possible thought processes of a scenario's protagonist, (2) by guessing whether protagonists had used folk theory or simulation strategy, or (3) by rating the protagonist's use of both strategies using Likert scales. Persons who used the second two rating formats received descriptions of the concepts of folk theory and simulation. Females and those rating possible thought processes, specifically format (1), had significantly greater tendency to endorse folk theory models than did males or those who simply selected theory or simulation (2). Moreover, participants who had more siblings or who fell late in family birth order were more inclined to select folk theory strategies. Individually, s...
Charles Evans Hughes and the speech heard 'round the world

Charles Evans Hughes presented one of the most significant conference speeches in American history. Yet his address of November 12, 1921, to the Conference on the Limitation of Armament, receives only occasional mention in our literature. This paper discusses the background, occasion, reaction to, and significance of that address.
NOx and N2O in lean-premixed jet-stirred flames

Abstract This study examines NOx/N2O formation mechanisms that are relevant to lean-premixed combustion in practical high-intensity combustors. Both experiments and kinetic modelling are presented. The experimental system for examining high-intensity, lean-premixed combustion is a 1-atm jet-stirred reactor. The reactor burns CH4 and CO/H2 over a fuel-air equivalence range of 0.41 to 0.67, a reactor mean residence time of 1.7–7.4 ms, and measured reactor temperature of 1415 to 1845 K. The CO/H2 fuel is used to eliminate the effects of hydrocarbon attack on the nitrogen system. The NOx mole fraction (wet) measured for the CH4 experiments correlates well with measured temperature (K) and reactor mean residence time τ (s) as follows: XNOx = τ(1.28 × 104)exp(−27230/T). Because of the enhanced O-atom concentration, the NOx mole fraction for the CO/H2 combustion is about threefold higher than for the CH4 combustion. Furthermore, because the free radical behavior in the CO/H2 experiments is complex near blowout, a simple correlation is not available. For the CH4-air experiments, chemical reactor modeling indicates that the approximate percentages of NOx production by the nitrous oxide, Zeldovich, and prompt mechanisms vary from 65:25:10 at 1650 K to 35:50:15 at 1850 K. For the CO/H2-air experiments the nitrous oxide to Zeldovich contributions vary from 95:5 at 1500 K to 65:35 at 1725 K.
Mechanism of tissue heating during high intensity focused ultrasound pulmonary vein isolation: implications for atrial fibrillation ablation efficacy and phrenic nerve protection.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine tissue temperatures around pulmonary veins (PVs) during high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) balloon ablation for atrial fibrillation. The thermodynamics and extent of PV and phrenic nerve (PN) heating during HIFU ablation have not been established. Methods and Results: Tissue temperatures were recorded from epicardial thermocouples at right superior (RS) PV orifice and PN in eight dogs undergoing 51 RSPV HIFU ablations (40 seconds, 40 W). Maximum tissue temperatures, reflected by 288 recording profiles, were negatively correlated with distance from balloon surface (r =–0.79, P < 0.001). Average maximum RSPV temperature was 56.8 ± 16.8 °C (distance: 6.6 ± 4.1 mm), resulting in full-thickness, circumferential PV isolation in 7 of 8 animals. Direct local mechanical heating restricted to the focused ultrasound zone showed temperature rise to ≥50°C within 10 seconds to a maximum temperature of 82.6 ± 8.9°C (n = 31). Apparent conductive heating showed gradual heating patterns (<50°C within 10 seconds) at greater distance. PN temperature at all recording sites was 45.0 ± 11.3°C (distance: 9.2 ± 5.0 mm). Intentional PN injury (10 of 51 [19.6%] ablations), occurred at 63.7 ± 16.0°C with closest distance of 4.4 ± 2.5 mm, which was closer than in PNs without injury (7.3 ± 4.3 mm, P = 0.005). Conclusions: HIFU ablation is highly effective in generating temperatures needed for full-thickness, circumferential ablation through rapid direct mechanical heating. Gradual heating of surrounding tissue supports the presence of conductive heating. This study also discloses direct HIFU effects as the mechanism of PN injury occurring within 4–7 mm from balloon surface.
A δ-function model of facets

Abstract Facets or planar surfaces appear often on crystalline solids, and need to be accurately modeled in studying surface evolution. Previous models of facets prescribe the surface free energy γ as a function of crystallographic orientation θ . However, when the anisotropic is strong, the reduced surface energy γ +d 2 γ /d θ 2 can become negative, which may induce ill-posedness in surface evolution problems. Here, we prescribe the reduced surface energy instead of the surface energy. This approach allows arbitrarily strong anisotropy, but avoids the ill-posedness. Further, a facet is represented by the Dirac delta function. This is the first time that the delta function is used to model facets. The new approach is demonstrated by modeling two-dimensional equilibrium square crystals.
A classical mean space charge model for solvation

Abstract Polar contribution of non-nearest neighbor solvent to attenuation of intracavity solute interactions are modeled in terms of classical electrostatic theory. Bounds analysis suggests linearization of the Poisson—Boltzmann equation for the external field should usually be appropriate for generation of potentials and the effective dielectric constants they imply.
Introducing a vertical viral infection method for solving problems with evolutionary programming

Compared to standard search algorithms, which can become unwieldy as the solution space expands, genetic algorithms can often provide a near-optimal solution in fraction of the time. However, genetic algorithms add additional complications, such as stalling at local maxima or minima in the solution space, that can sometimes return an inferior candidate solution.Many resolutions to these problems have been proposed to introduce variation in candidate solutions in order to provide a nudge to genetic algorithms when they become stuck. An alternative that has gained acceptance in recent years is "viral infection," which provides a simple method of introducing new material into the solution space. In contrast to mutation, which introduces new information vertically, that is, in subsequent generations, viral infection allows the horizontal propagation of new information into the current host population through infection of members of the population by a "virus."The approach to viral infection presented in this paper departs dramatically from previously published implementations by incorporating viral infection into the genetic algorithms vertically, which can produce better candidate solutions in less time. This paper will examine several variations to the alternative viral infection method described and will compare and contrast their results on a simple problem space.
Mapping the first stages of mesoderm commitment during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

Our understanding of how mesodermal tissue is formed has been limited by the absence of specific and reliable markers of early mesoderm commitment. We report that mesoderm commitment from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is initiated by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as shown by gene expression profiling and by reciprocal changes in expression of the cell surface proteins, EpCAM/CD326 and NCAM/CD56. Molecular and functional assays reveal that the earliest CD326−CD56+ cells, generated from hESCs in the presence of activin A, BMP4, VEGF, and FGF2, represent a multipotent mesoderm-committed progenitor population. CD326−CD56+ progenitors are unique in their ability to generate all mesodermal lineages including hematopoietic, endothelial, mesenchymal (bone, cartilage, fat, fibroblast), smooth muscle, and cardiomyocytes, while lacking the pluripotency of hESCs. CD326−CD56+ cells are the precursors of previously reported, more lineage-restricted mesodermal progenitors. These findings present a unique approach to study how germ layer specification is regulated and offer a promising target for tissue engineering.
Audit Probabilities and the Tax Evasion Decision: An Experimental Approach

In this study, an attempt is made to examine the nature of the relationship between the probabilities of a tax audit and the tax evasion decision using an experimental approach. While a number of survey studies have reported negative correlations between the perceived audit probability and tax evasion (Spicer and Lundstedt 1976; Mason and Calvin 1978) such correlations do not provide unambiguous evidence of a causal relationship. The experimental approach to studying tax evasion allows for greater control over the introduction of independent variables than is possible in survey research and hence permits a clearer demonstration of causal relationships. Also, by studying tax evasion behavior in a laboratory setting rather than real world evasion, the experimental approach circumvents the problem of how to obtain from individuals honest responses on behavior that is illegal and to some extent socially undesirable. The obvious shortcoming of the approach lies in the artificiality of the laboratory setting which may make it more difficult to generalize results to tax evasion in the real world. Nonetheless, social psychologists, such as Thibaut et al. (1974), have made use of games and simulations in studying compliance with rules. Also, the experimental approach to studying tax evasion has been taken by Friedland et al. ( 1978) and by Spicer and Becker (1980). Friedland et al. found that large fines may be more effective deterrents than frequent
The proapoptotic factor Nix is coexpressed with Bcl-xL during terminal erythroid differentiation.

Transcriptional profiles of cultured primary human erythroid cells were examined to identify those genes involved in the control of erythroid growth during the terminal phase of maturation. Our in silico screening strategy indicated that a hypoxia-inducible proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 gene family called Nix is expressed during erythropoiesis. We next performed Northern blot analyses and determined that the 1.4-kb Nix transcript is expressed at lower levels in erythroleukemia cells than reticulocytes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based transcriptional patterning confirmed the increased expression of Nix during human erythropoiesis with a pattern similar to that of Bcl-xL and glycophorin A and opposite that of Bcl-2 . Western blot analyses revealed Nix protein levels that were lower than expected due to increased proteosomal degradation. The expression of Nix and Bcl-xL proteins decreased relative to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) control on the removal of erythropoietin (EPO) from the culture medium. Immunocytochemical analyses demonstrated a similar perinuclear mitochondrial expression pattern for both proteins in hemoglobinized precursors. On the basis of these data, we propose that the proapoptotic factor Nix is a highly regulated effector of growth during terminal erythroid maturation.
Chowkidar: Reliable and scalable health monitoring for wireless sensor network testbeds

Wireless sensor network (WSN) testbeds are useful because they provide a way to test applications in an environment that makes it easy to deploy experiments, configure them statically or dynamically, and gather performance information. However, WSNs are typically composed of low-cost devices and tend to be unreliable, with failures a common phenomenon. Accurate knowledge of network health status, including nodes and links of each type, is critical for correctly configuring applications on WSN testbeds and for interpreting the data collected from them.In this article we present a stabilizing protocol, Chowkidar, that provides accurate and efficient network health monitoring in WSNs. Our approach adapts the well-known problem of message-passing rooted spanning tree construction and its use in propagation of information with feedback (PIF) for the case of a WSN. The Chowkidar protocol is initiated upon demand; that is, it does not involve ongoing maintenance, and it terminates with accurate results, including detection of failure and restart during the monitoring process. Chowkidar is distinguished from others in two important ways. Given the resource constraints of WSNs, it is message-efficient in that it uses only a few messages per node. Also, it tolerates ongoing node and link failure and node restart, in contrast to requiring that faults stop during convergence.We have implemented the Chowkidar protocol as part of enabling a network health status service that is tightly integrated with a remotely accessible wireless sensor network testbed, Kansei, at The Ohio State University. We present experimental results from this testbed that validate the correctness and performance of Chowkidar. We also report on initial experiences and lessons learnt from the integration of Chowkidar with Kansei, including feedback from both testbed users and administrators who have found Chowkidar to be a useful tool for improving the accuracy and efficiency of testbed experimentation and maintenance, and the need for well-defined policies to address issues such as minimizing interference with concurrently running experiments. Finally, we discuss extensions that enhance the functionality and usability of Chowkidar.
Alu elements within human mRNAs are probable microRNA targets

Recently, we reported that four microRNAs show perfect complementarity with MIR/LINE-2 elements within human mRNAs. This finding raises the question of whether microRNAs might also target other genomic repeats and transposable elements. Here, we demonstrate that almost 30 human microRNAs exhibit typical short-seed complementarity with a specific site within Alu elements that is highly conserved within 3′ untranslated regions of human mRNAs. The results suggest that at least some Alu elements within human mRNAs serve as microRNA targets.
Tissue addition theory of radial keratotomy: A geometric model

Abstract We examined the use of a geometric model to explain the effects of radial keratotomy (RK) on corneal topography based on wound gape of radial incisions. Histopathologic studies of healed human RK incisions revealed incision gape in Bowman's membrane and anterior stroma, with intervening epithelial ingrowth or fibrous scarring. For six human RK incisions examined centrally, mid-peripherally, and peripherally, the linear separation of the cut ends of Bowman's membrane averaged 0.012 mm, 0.018 mm, and 0.027 mm, respectively. The effect on postoperative corneal flattening of the “addition of tissue” within incisions was mathematically predicted by calculating the effects of inducing radial gape on a spherical shell. The predicted change in corneal curvature agreed closely with data from a human case report. The “tissue addition” theory may partly explain the change in corneal topography following RK and subsequent wound healing.
Prognostic implications of vascular complications following PCI.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of vascular complications (VC) on the adjusted risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or death following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at 1 year in a large contemporary cohort. Background: Peri-procedural bleeding increases the risk of adverse clinical outcomes at 1 year. Whether access site VC's identify patients at high risk or independently alter the risk of adverse clinical outcomes at 1 year, however, is uncertain. Methods: 3,931 PCI procedures performed via a femoral access at a single site (WFUBMC) were evaluated. Access and nonaccess site post procedural bleeding were assessed. The adjusted risk of access site VC's association with 1-year clinical outcomes was evaluated by Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results: Any VC occurred in 1.7%, and any TIMI bleeding in 6.7% after PCI. The hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for baseline and procedural covariates for any VC of nonfatal MI or all cause death at 1 year was 1.68 (1.00–2.81), P = 0.049 and 1.69 (0.92–3.09), P = 0.088 for all cause death alone. However, after adjusting for any TIMI bleeding, the HR for nonfatal MI or death was 0.84 (0.49–1.45), P = 0.527, and for death alone 0.75 (0.39–1.41), P = 0.369. Conclusions: The occurrence of VC following PCI was an independent predictor of nonfatal MI or death at 1 year, but only if accompanied by TIMI major or minor bleeding. A vascular complication without TIMI bleeding did not alter prognosis at 1 year. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Kainate induces the expression of the DNA damage-inducible gene, GADD45, in the rat brain

The expression of the novel growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene GADD45 was examined in kainate-induced epileptic brain damage in the rat using in situ hybridization, northern blot analysis, western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Systemic administration of kainate resulted in DNA damage and neuronal degeneration in vulnerable neurons of limbic regions, including the amygdala and hippocampal pyramidal layers, as shown by in situ DNA nick end-labelling and histological staining. GADD45 messenger RNA was transiently increased in non-vulnerable neurons (2-8 h after kainate injection) but was persistently elevated in vulnerable neurons (up to 24 h after injection) after kainate injection. GADD45 protein was elevated in both vulnerable and non-vulnerable neurons at 4 h, but levels decreased in vulnerable neurons thereafter, suggesting that translational blockage of GADD45 protein occurred in these cells. GADD45 protein was overexpressed in non-vulnerable neurons up to 72 h after kainate injection. Because GADD45 may participate in the DNA excision repair process and because it has been shown to be overexpressed in neurons that survive focal cerebral ischaemia, these results support the hypothesis that GADD45 may have a protective role in the injured brain.
Prevention of back injuries in healthcare workers

Abstract A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate five different manual techniques (two-person lifting; rocking and pulling the patient using a gait belt with two persons; walking belt with handles with one and two persons; and a patient handling sling with cutouts with one person) for transferring patients from wheelchair to toilet and toilet to wheelchair. In addition, three different mechanical hoists (H, T and A) were studied for transferring patients from toilet to wheelchair. Six female nursing students with prior patient transfer experience served both as nurses and passive patients. The mean trunk flexion moments, erector spinae muscle forces and compressive forces for the four manual pulling methods ranged from 93 to 133 Nm, 1861 to 2653 N and 1974 to 2745 N, respectively, as compared to about 200 Nm, 4100 N and 4800 N for two-person manual lifting. Manual lifting was perceived to be the most stressful by the nurses and the least comfortable and secure by the patients. Hoist A was perceived to be the least stressful and the most comfortable and secure. Hoists H and T were perceived to be more stressful, less comfortable and less secure than the walking belt. An intervention study was conducted in two units of a nursing home (140 beds and 57 NAs) to determine the effectiveness of ergonomic changes. Nursing assistants (NAs) in the two units of the nursing home were trained in the use of selected devices and shower rooms and toilets were modified. The mean acceptability rates for walking belt and hoist A were 81% and 87%, respectively. The reported incidence and severity rates for back injuries over 13 months decreased from 83 to 43 and from 634 to 0, respectively, after the intervention. Nursing assistants perceived their job as “very light” after the intervention as compared to between “somewhat hard” and “hard” before intervention.
All Your Screens Are Belong to Us: Attacks Exploiting the HTML5 Screen Sharing API

HTML5 changes many aspects in the browser world by introducing numerous new concepts, in particular, the new HTML5 screen sharing API impacts the security implications of browsers tremendously. One of the core assumptions on which browser security is built is that there is no cross-origin feedback loop from the client to the server. However, the screen sharing API allows creating a cross-origin feedback loop. Consequently, websites will potentially be able to see all visible content from the user's screen, irrespective of its origin. This cross-origin feedback loop, when combined with human vision limitations, can introduce new vulnerabilities. An attacker can capture sensitive information from victim's screen using the new API without the consensus of the victim. We investigate the security implications of the screen sharing API and discuss how existing defenses against traditional web attacks fail during screen sharing. We show that several attacks are possible with the help of the screen sharing API: cross-site request forgery, history sniffing, and information stealing. We discuss how popular websites such as Amazon and Wells Fargo can be attacked using this API and demonstrate the consequences of the attacks such as economic losses, compromised account and information disclosure. The objective of this paper is to present the attacks using the screen sharing API, analyze the fundamental cause and motivate potential defenses to design a more secure screen sharing API.
Congenital absence of the nose: a case report

Congenital absence of the nose (arhinia, congenital nasal atresia) is a rare anomaly which is infrequently described in the literature. Herein we present a case of congenital absence of the nose recently evaluated and treated at Children's Hospital Medical Center (CHMC), Cincinnati, OH. CT and MRI studies were obtained. To our knowledge, no such radiographic evaluations have been described in patients with congenital absence of the nose. In addition to complete absence of the anterior soft tissues of the nose, thin anterior and thick posterior atretic plates were present. MRI was useful in defining the nature of the soft tissue mass which filled the single hypoplastic nasal cavity. The lip, alveolus, and palate were remarkably well developed. A thorough investigation revealed no other congenital defects. At 15 days of life, because of the airway support required and the associated feeding difficulties, a nasal airway was created using a combination of sublabial, transpalatal and percutaneous approaches. Frequent home dilation of the surgically created opening has been successful in maintaining nasal patency thus allowing the patient to go without continuous stenting.
Electro-optic coefficients of lithium tantalate at near-infrared wavelengths

The unclamped linear electro-optic coefficients r13 and r33 for lithium tantalate are known at only one wavelength, 632.8 nm, whereas the clamped coefficients are also known at 3.39 μm. In the unclamped mode the effects of mechanical changes caused by piezoelectric and elasto-optic effects are accounted for in the electro-optic coefficient. We demonstrate a novel technique that uses a ferroelectric domain micropatterned electro-optic deflector to measure the unclamped linear electro-optic coefficients r13 and r33 at any wavelength. Using this method, we have determined these values for lithium tantalate at 980, 1330, and 1558 nm.
Alternative substrates of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate/α-ketoglutarate dioxygenase

Abstract 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetate/α-ketoglutarate dioxygenase (TfdA), the first enzyme in the catabolic pathway for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), oxidizes α-ketoglutarate (α-kG) to CO2 and succinate while hydroxylating 2,4-D to yield an unstable hemiacetal that decomposes into 2,4-dichlorophenol and glyoxylate. In an effort to extend the potential biotechnological utility of this enzyme, a variety of non-phenoxyacetate compounds were examined as potential substrates. 2-Naphthoxyacetic acid was the best alternative substrate tested, followed by benzofuran-2-carboxylic acid, 2,4-dichlorocinnamic acid, 2-chlorocinnamic acid, 1-naphthoxyacetic acid, and 4-chlorocinnamic acid. TfdA appeared to oxidize the olefin bond of the cinnamic acids and benzofuran-2-carboxylate to form the corresponding epoxides. Whole cells were observed to also catalyze a TfdA-dependent oxidation of 2,4-dichlorocinnamic acid. Based on the ability of TfdA to metabolize chlorinated cinnamic acids, we speculate that tfdA-like sequences present in 2,4-D non-degrading natural isolates may function in metabolism of substituted cinnamic acids. These results support the use of TfdA and related enzymes in the specific oxidation of non-phenoxyacetate substrates.
Separation of condensed phosphates using capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV detection

A capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separation of ortho-, pyro- and tripolyphosphate anions using a phthalate buffer and indirect UV detection is described. Advantages of a CZE method for phosphates include speed, efficiency and unique selectivity. Quantitative parameters and application to the analysis of a commercial sample are presented.
Mechanism of interaction between the general anesthetic halothane and a model ion channel protein, III: Molecular dynamics simulation incorporating a cyanophenylalanine spectroscopic probe.

A nitrile-derived amino acid, PheCN, has been used as an internal spectroscopic probe to study the binding of an inhalational anesthetic to a model membrane protein. The infrared spectra from experiment showed a blue-shift of the nitrile vibrational frequency in the presence of the anesthetic halothane. To interpret the infrared results and explore the nature of the interaction between halothane and the model protein, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used to probe the structural and dynamic properties of the protein in the presence and absence of one halothane molecule. The frequency shift analyzed from MD simulations agrees well with the experimental infrared results. Decomposition of the forces acting on the nitrile probes demonstrates an indirect impact on the probes from halothane, namely a change of the protein's electrostatic local environment around the probes induced by halothane. Although the halothane remains localized within the designed hydrophobic binding cavity, it undergoes a significant amount of translational and rotational motion, modulated by the interaction of the trifluorine end of halothane with backbone hydrogens of the residues forming the cavity. This dominant interaction between halothane and backbone hydrogens outweighs the direct interaction between halothane and the nitrile groups, making it a good “spectator” probe of the halothane-protein interaction. These MD simulations provide insight into action of anesthetic molecules on the model membrane protein, and also support the further development of nitrile-labeled amino acids as spectroscopic probes within the designed binding cavity.
Semi-synthetic analogs of cytochrome c at positions 67 and 74

Abstract New semi-synthetic peptide analogs of horse heart cytochrome c have been prepared by replacing tyrosine at position 67 by phenylalanine and L-parafluorophenylalanine. The former has 56% biological activity in the succinate oxidase system whereas the parafluorophenylalanine analog is totally inactive. The tyrosine at position 74 has also been replaced by leucine. It shows a high level of biological activity (58%), which demonstrates that the presence of an aromatic residue at this position is not required for electron transfer.
Mechanism of E1A-Induced Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) Resistance in Mouse Keratinocytes Involves Repression of TGF-β Type II Receptor Transcription

Cellular transformation driven by the E1A oncogene is associated with the development of cellular resistance to the growth inhibitory effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). We demonstrate that development of resistance occurs simultaneously with decreased expression of TGF-β type II receptor (TGF-β RII) mRNA and protein. To determine whether changes in transcriptional regulation are responsible for the decreased receptor expression in E1A-transformed cells, a series of mobility shift assays was performed utilizing nuclear extracts from E1A-transformed and untransformed murine keratinocytes using radiolabeled positive regulatory elements (PRE1 and PRE2) of the TGF-β RII promoter. The results from these assays suggest that E1A-transformed cells express markedly lower levels of nuclear proteins that bind specifically to PRE1 and PRE2. Transfection of both E1A-transformed and untransformed cell lines with a series of mutant promoter constructs confirmed that both PREs contribute significantly to basal expression of TGF-β RII and that inactivation of either element leads to markedly reduced promoter activity. We conclude that development of TGF-β resistance in E1A-transformed cells is achieved in part through transcriptional down-regulation of the TGF-β RII gene and that this down-regulation is the result of decreased expression of unidentified transcription factor complexes that interact with PRE1 and PRE2.