cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Octocorals, scleractinia, macroalgae surveys describing species abundance and distribution, as well as rainfall, temperature and hurricane data on St. John, USVI in 1987–2013 (St. John LTREB project, VI Octocorals project).

1. Dataset: Descriptions of hurricanes affecting St. John (doi:10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.664760 URL: http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/664267) 2. Dataset: Rainfall and temperature data (doi:10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.664755 URL: http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/664254) 3. Dataset: Octocoral abundance by genera (doi:10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.664750 URL: http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/664241) 4. Dataset: Coral and macroalgae abundance and distribution (doi:10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.664745 URL: http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/664223)
Argatroban for Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia during Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation with Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration.

Abstract Patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are at risk of circuit thrombosis due to constant contact between blood and the extracorporeal components. Unfractionated heparin has traditionally been used in this setting as a systemic form of anticoagulation to prevent thrombosis of the circuit. However, if a patient develops heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), an alternative anticoagulant would be required while the patient is maintained on ECMO. Unfortunately, the pharmacokinetic changes induced by ECMO and critical illness may potentially affect optimal drug dosing. In addition, other modalities, such as continuous renal replacement therapy, may further complicate dosing strategies. We report the case of a 27-year-old man with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome who developed HIT while on venovenous ECMO with continuous venovenous hemofiltration. We describe the successful use of an argatroban infusion in this setting at much higher doses than what has previously been reported in the adult literature.
Impact of 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists Guidelines on HER2 Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Testing in Breast Cancers : Experience From a National Reference Laboratory.

Objectives We compared the impact of 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO/CAP) guidelines on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing results on breast cancers. Methods HER2 FISH testing performed between May 2015 and April 2016 following 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines was included. HER2 to control probe ratios, mean HER2, and control probe copy numbers were used to reassign HER2 status using 2007 ASCO/CAP and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Results HER2 FISH results were available in 2,017 cases. A total of 342 (17.0%) cases were amplified, 301 (14.9%) were equivocal, and 1,374 (68.1%) were nonamplified. After additional testing with the alternate probe, amplified cases increased to 21.6%. HER2 positivity rates following the 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines were significantly higher compared with the 2007 ASCO/CAP and FDA guidelines. Conclusions The 2013 ASCO/CAP guidelines lead to a higher number of HER2 FISH positive and equivocal cases. In a reference laboratory setting where an alternative control probe was used to resolve equivocal FISH cases, 31.2% of patients with initial equivocal results became HER2 positive.
`Birds of a Feather' Playing `Duck, Duck, Goose'

Recent studies examining the direct impact of female managers on the career outcomes of their female subordinates find ambiguous results. Yet, these studies' narrow focus on wage inequality overloo...
Selective and Irreversible Induction of Necroptotic Cell Death in Lung Tumorspheres by Short-Term Exposure to Verapamil in Combination with Sorafenib

The presence of highly resistant cancer cells and the toxicity to normal cells are key factors that limit chemotherapy. Here, we used two models of highly resistant lung cancer cells: (1) adherent cells growing under prolonged periods of serum starvation (PPSS) and (2) cells growing as floating tumorspheres (FTs) to evaluate the effect of Verapamil (VP) in combination with Sorafenib (SF). Compared to cells growing under routine culture conditions (RCCs), PPPS cells or FTs were highly sensitive to short-term exposure (24 h) to VP 100 μM + SF 5 μM (VP100 + SF5). Recovery experiments exposing cells to VP100 + SF5 for 24 h followed by incubation in drug-free media for 48 h demonstrated that while PPSS as well as FT cells were unable to recover, cancer cells and the noncancerous cell line Beas-2B growing under RCCs were less sensitive and were also able to recover significantly. VP100 + SF5 induced significant changes in the expression of protein associated with apoptosis, autophagy, and to a lesser extent necroptosis. Coincubation experiments with z-VAD-FMK, necrostatin 1, or chloroquine showed evidence that necroptosis played a central role. Our data demonstrates that highly resistant cancer cells can be selectively eliminated by VP + SF and that necroptosis plays a central role.
Prohibitive pictorials:: Evaluations of different circle-slash negation symbols

Abstract To indicate a prohibited activity, pictorials are frequently overlaid with a red circle and 45° left-to-right slash. Previous research suggests that the combination of the slash and symbol may affect the overall identifiability of the warning. The purpose of the present research was to determine whether people's judgments of four types of the circle-slash (a slash over the symbol, a slash under the symbol, a partial slash, and a translucent slash) would differ in perceived effectiveness. Sixteen pictorials with semantically different message content (e.g., NO TRUCKS, DO NOT CLIMB TOWER), in both left-facing and right-facing orientations were viewed by 60 participants. The results revealed that the over and under slashes were preferred to the translucent or partial slashes. Both orientation and slash type influenced preference for a subset of nonsymmetrical symbols. Some of the pictorials with the over slash were given lower evaluations when critical features were concealed. The general preference for the over and under slashes may be due to familiarity and its concordance with Gestalt principles of good figures. Implications for the development of prohibitive pictorials are discussed. Relevance to industry Pictorials are increasingly being used to communicate safety information in cases where the target audience may use different languages. The present research examines different versions of the circle-slash negation symbol for the purpose of determining when critical pictorial elements may be obscured. Implications for pictorial recognition are discussed.
Competitive Binding of Organic Dyes between Cucurbiturils and Octa Acid.

Employing six cationic water-soluble organic dye molecules as probes, we have attempted to qualitatively understand the factors that govern the attraction between such molecules and the anionic water-soluble host, octa acid (OA). Examination of the competitive host–guest complexation between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and OA using absorption and emission spectroscopy revealed that the dye molecules included within CB[8] could be “pulled out” by OA. However, an order of magnitude higher concentration of OA was required to shift the equilibrium toward OA, suggesting that attraction between the anionic host OA and the cationic dye molecules such as cresyl violet perchlorate and methylene blue is weaker than the hydrophobic and cation–dipolar interaction between these dye molecules and CB[8]. The importance of Coulombic attraction between OA and dye molecules is also revealed by monomer-to-dimer conversion upon addition of OA to an aqueous solution of monomeric dye molecules. Under conditions where the dye-to-OA...
A Minimal Model of Sea Ice and Climate

A simple model of the Northern Hemisphere climate is presented that emphasizes the role of sea ice. The model is used to investigate the response of the climate to increased concentration of greenhouse gases, the predicted amplification of climatic warming in the arctic, the possibility of multiple equilibria, and the waiting times between transitions from one equilibrium to another.
1025-LBP: Identifying source of eye carcinoma biopsy

Aim Patient MS received a keratolimbal allograft from a deceased donor which did not function. He later received another keratolimbal allograft from his brother DS. Patient and brother are HLA identical. MS later developed a carcinoma of the eye. The Transplantation Immunology Department at the University of Cincinnati was asked to extract DNA from the biopsy of the eye carcinoma to determine the tissue source of the carcinoma (ie deceased donor, living donor, or recipient). Our lab received a sample from the biopsy from the eye and we were able to extract DNA from the sample. Note- our lab did not have a sample of the original deceased donor. Methods Qiagen EZ1 DNA Blood 350 uL Kit Qiagen’s Puregene Tissue Kit ABI AmpflSTR Identifiler Results We used the Qiagen EZ1 DNA blood kits to extract DNA from blood that was received on MS and DS. For the tissue sample, we extracted DNA using Puregene Tissue Kit and obtained DNA with a concentration of 132 ng/ul and a purity of 1.97. We performed STR on recipient MS, donor DS, and on the eye carcinoma biopsy. We were able to identify informative markers for DS. Conclusions Based on the STR results we concluded that the carcinoma source was NOT donor, DS. We concluded that the origin of the carcinoma source was from the patient and not transplanted from the deceased donor not the living donor.
An Overview of Cancer Pain: Epidemiology and Pathophysiology

Abstract Objective To present an overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of cancer pain related to disease and treatment. Data Sources Published manuscripts, Web sites, and textbook chapters. Conclusion Current knowledge of cancer pain epidemiology and pathophysiology widens and focuses the opportunities to prevent, limit, and treat cancer pain. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses’ knowledge of transduction, transmission, perception, and modulation in cancer pain pathophysiology outlines pathways for multimodal approaches to treat complex and diverse pain experiences. Use of standard vocabulary of pain terms and definitions facilitates pain assessment and management across different disciplines.
vIVA la DivIVA

Reproduction in the bacterial kingdom predominantly occurs through binary fission-a process in which one parental cell is divided into two similarly sized daughter cells. How cell division, in conjunction with cell elongation and chromosome segregation, is orchestrated by a multitude of proteins has been an active area of research spanning the past few decades. Together, the monumental endeavors of multiple laboratories have identified several cell division and cell shape regulators as well as their underlying regulatory mechanisms in rod-shaped Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, which serve as model organisms for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Yet our understanding of bacterial cell division and morphology regulation is far from complete, especially in noncanonical and non-rod-shaped organisms. In this review, we focus on two proteins that are highly conserved in Gram-positive organisms, DivIVA and its homolog GpsB, and attempt to summarize the recent advances in this area of research and discuss their various roles in cell division, cell growth, and chromosome segregation in addition to their interactome and posttranslational regulation.
Oral H1 Antihistamines as Add-on Therapy to Topical Treatment for Eczema.

In children with eczema, there is no evidence to support the addition of oral H1 antihistamines to standard treatment regimens. In adults, the use of fexofenadine (Allegra), 120 mg per day, improves patient-assessed eczema symptoms compared with placebo (number needed to treat = 11; 95% CI, 5.5 to 255).
Leakage Current Mitigation of Non-Isolated Integrated Chargers for Electric Vehicles

Integrated chargers have the potential to reutilize the existing on-board, high power-rated electronic components for charging purposes to save costs. However, while electric vehicle (EV) chargers are traditionally isolated from the grid, the integration of isolation is impractical with the conventional power train. Large leakage current exists in non-isolated integrated chargers due to the lack of galvanic isolation and the coupling between the ac and dc side common mode (CM) filters. With realistic system parameters, such leakage current brings safety risks to both the end-users and the on-board electronics. The feasibility of various possible mitigation techniques are discussed and aided by simulation results. The analysis of one of the potential solutions, floating filters, are discussed in detail. With a baseline charger test setup, experimental results are presented to show the leakage currents at different switching frequencies, and the effectiveness of the improved filter topology.
The visual spectral sensitivity of the Chilean recluse spider Loxosceles laeta.

ABSTRACT Spiders are a large group of arthropods and nearly omnipresent in warm and temperate climates. They rely on tactile and visual information to hunt and breed, but compared with their mechanical senses, little is known about their visual systems. In this study, we analyzed the visual spectral sensitivity of the Chilean recluse spider Loxosceles laeta, a synanthropic species posing a significant threat to humans, using electroretinogram recordings of its three eye types and open field tests with localized chromatic illumination for behavioral analysis. The electroretinogram displayed two sensitivity peaks in the ultraviolet and green ranges, and no differences were observed between the three eye types and between male and female specimens. Selective chromatic adaptation reduced overall light sensitivity, but did not support the expression of more than one type of rhodopsin in photoreceptors. The open field tests revealed a preference for corners over side areas, and an increased exploration of open field areas illuminated by shorter wavelength (violet to green) light compared with non-illuminated areas, while no behavioral responses to red and near-infrared light were observed. These data suggest that L. laeta has monochromatic vision without spectral specializations in its three secondary eye pairs.
A fetal lamb model of temperature reduction through amniotic fluid

Objective To establish a fetal lamb model of temperature reduction through amniotic fluid and study the influence on the fetus and ewe. To search for an effective and safe method to change the body temperature of fetal lamb. Methods Six ewes at 120 to 140 days of gestation were anesthetized intramuscularly with katamine hydrochloride, incubated and ventilated with a respirator. Anesthesia was maintained with fentanyl and vecuronium. Transfusion of Lactated Ringer's solution and magnesium sulfate were made to maintain the mean blood pressure over 70 mmHg and uterine relaxation. A midline laparotomy was performed and the uterus was exposed. Fetal lamb received fentanyl and vecuronium anesthesia drugs intramuscularly via uterine. A hysterotomy was made after the disappear of fetal movement. A plastic tube was put into utero and the pipe was connected with the variable temperature unit and water tank, which could pump warm and cold normal saline into utero and change the temperature of amniotie fluid. Thus the temperature of the fetus could be regulated. The heart rate, blood pressure and arterial blood gas data of mothers and fetus were recorded. Results The average body weight of fetal lamb was (1.76±0.25) kg and that of maternal lamp was(25.00±5.90)kg. All the ewes and the fetal lambs were kept alive during the experiment.signs of ewes were stable. The heart rate and blood pressure were normal, and the data of arterial blood gas analysis were in their physiological level. The heart rate and blood pressure of fetal lambs were also stable during the experiment. The data of arterial blood gas analysis of fetal lambs were also in their physiological level. The pH value decreased significantly and PaCO2increased remarkably when the temperature decreased. When the nasopharyngeal temperature of fetal lambs reached 28℃, the pH value of arterial blood sample was 7.29±0.05, which was significantly lower than that before temperature reduction 7.41±0.03(P<0.05). The PaCO2 of arterial blood sample was(51.67±7.06)mmHg, which was significantly higher than that before temperature reduction (48.5±6.63) mmHg(P<0.05). All the above index could recover after the intrauterine temperature increase. However, these index could not reach the level as those before experiment. Conclusion Influence on ewes during the experiement is very little. The experiment would affect the metabolism of the fetal lamb. The temperature of fetal lamb can be regulated effectively and safely by amniotie fluid temperature changing. Key words: Model, animal; Fetus; Lamb
Machine learning enabled advanced manufacturing in nuclear engineering applications

Abstract Advanced manufacturing has gained tremendous interest in both research and industry in the past few years. Over nearly the same period of time, machine learning (ML) has made phenomenal advancements, finding its way into many aspects of manufacturing. For the nuclear engineering field, the adoption of advanced manufacturing is a compelling argument due to the ambitious challenges the field faces. The combination of advanced manufacturing with ML holds great potential in the nuclear engineering field, and even further development is needed to accelerate their deployment towards real-world applications. This review paper seeks to detail several key aspects of ML enabled advanced manufacturing that are used or could prove useful to nuclear applications ranging from radiation detector materials to reactor parts fabrication. The applications covered here include new material extrapolation, manufacturing defect detection, and additive manufacturing parameters’ optimization.
Greening the Belt While Paving the Road? China’s Environmental Diplomacy Challenge

The rise of China and the pollution in China have been two intertwined images of the 21st century. One of the challenges that China’s foreign policy faces in the 21st century revolves around its leadership in global and regional environmental initiatives. The policy shift on climate change at the 2016 Paris Climate Summit and the personal negotiations of Presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama showed a willingness to work cooperatively with the United States on achieving global goals toward limiting climate change. For China, the abrupt announcement of the Trump Administration that it is leaving the Paris Accord is an opportunity to assume a leadership role in climate policy. Seizing this opportunity, however, must also deal with China’s major program – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Careers of British Musicians, 1750–1850: A Profession of Artisans

The study of the social context of music must consider the day-to-day experiences of its practitioners; their economic, social, professional and artistic goals; and the material and cultural conditions under which these goals were pursued. This book traces the daily working life and aspirations of British musicians during the sweeping social and economic transformation of Britain from 1750 to 1850. It features working musicians of all types and at all levels - organists, singers, instrumentalists, teachers, composers and entrepreneurs - and explores their educational background, their conditions of employment, their wages, the systems of patronage that supported them, and their individual perceptions. Deborah Rohr focuses not only on social and economic pressures but also on a range of negative cultural beliefs faced by the musicians. Also considered are the implications of such conditions for their social and professional status, and for their musical aspirations.
Introduction to Partially Observed MDPs

In our cross-layer design, we use different models to capture the properties of different layers. As stated in Chap. 8, we can use an MDP model to capture the dynamical movements of the cyber layer. However, in the scenario, we assume that the defender can observe the cyber state at each cyber time instant. In real applications, it is challenging to obtain the full information of the cyber state directly. Hence, the MDP cannot capture the incomplete knowledge of the cyber states. In this chapter, we will introduce a Partially Observed Markov Decision Process (POMDP) to capture the uncertainty of the cyber state. In a POMDP, instead of observing the states, we have an observation, whose distribution depends on the state. Therefore, we use this information to build a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) filter, which can construct a belief of the states. Based on the belief, we aim to find an optimal policy to minimize an expected cost.
Islam, authoritarianism, and underdevelopment: a global and historical comparison: by Ahmet T. Kuru, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2019, 316 pp., $34.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-1108409476.

The urge to bring a comprehensive explanation to the problems in the Middle East has consumed a plethora of intellectuals. Not only the western scholarship, but also the Muslim intelligentsia has g...
Implementation of Multimodality Neurologic Monitoring Reporting in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Management

Multimodality neurologic monitoring (MMM) is an emerging technique for management of traumatic brain injury (TBI). An increasing array of MMM-derived biomarkers now exist that are associated with injury severity and functional outcomes after TBI. A standardized MMM reporting process has not been well described, and a paucity of evidence exists relating MMM reporting in TBI management with functional outcomes or adverse events. Prospective implementation of standardized MMM reporting at a single pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is described that included monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral oxygenation and electroencephalography (EEG). The incidence of clinical decisions made using MMM reporting is described, including timing of neuroimaging, ICP monitoring discontinuation, use of paralytic, hyperosmolar and pentobarbital therapies, neurosurgical interventions, ventilator and CPP adjustments and neurologic prognostication discussions. Retrospective analysis was performed on the association of MMM reporting with initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III) scores, duration of total hospitalization and PICU hospitalization, duration of mechanical ventilation and invasive ICP monitoring, inpatient complications, time with ICP > 20 mmHg, time with cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) 20 mmHg, time with CPP < 40 mmHg, use of tier 2 therapy, or 12-month GOS-E Peds scores. Implementation of MMM reporting in pediatric TBI management is feasible and can be impactful in tailoring clinical decisions. Prospective work is needed to understand the impact of MMM and MMM reporting systems on functional outcomes and clinical care efficacy.
Stewart Brand's radical environmentalism

The plenitude of Stewart Brand9s projects presents a challenge for any biographer or filmmaker, but the documentary We Are As Gods provides a compelling introduction to his life. Part biography and part meditation on the nature of time, the filmweaves together the disparate causes that Brand has championed over the past 60 years with his current fascination, the potential "de-extinction" of creatures such as the woolly mammoth and the American chestnut tree.
Race, Gender, and Perceived Employment Discrimination:

This study investigates the effects of race and gender on perceived employment discrimination using the 2016 General Social Survey that provides new data on perceived employment discrimination that...
Lessons on Race and Place-Based Participation from Environmental Justice and Geography

As scholars grapple with racism in Administrative Law, it is important to consider place-based scholarship from the perspectives of Environmental Justice and Geography. Both provide important insights into how administrative agencies can be instruments of strategic-structural racism and how administrative law can facilitate equity in regulation.
Dermatology on the Global Stage: The role of dermatologists in international health advocacy and COVID-19 research.

Background Over the last decade there has been a surge in interest and funding for global health dermatology. Skin conditions are now recognized to be the fourth leading cause of nonfatal disease burden worldwide in disability-adjusted life years. Dermatologists are uniquely positioned within global health, given that skin conditions are often the presenting sign of severe illnesses such as neglected tropical diseases and COVID-19. Methods We review four major areas of work by dermatologists within global health: i) characterizing global burden of skin disease, ii) advocacy for dermatologic therapies on the WHO's Essential Medicines list, iii) advancements in global programming for skin-related tropical diseases, and iv) the role of the dermatologists in COVID-19 pandemic. For each area of work, the significance and impact on the health of women and girls is briefly highlighted. Results Dermatologists have led the efforts to quantify and evaluate the global burden of skin disease, the burden of which is disproportionately shared by women. The dermatology community has also championed global efforts in the elimination of skin-related neglected tropical diseases such as scabies. Through national and international policy advocacy, dermatologists have pushed for more dermatologic therapies in the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines, helping to secure better care for patients suffering from skin disease throughout the world. As of 2020, the dermatology community worked collaboratively in the fight against COVID-19, establishing a worldwide registry for cutaneous manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 and pursuing research that has allowed colleagues in the house of medicine to better understand this landmark disease. Conclusion Through the study and promotion of global health, dermatologists have an important role in the house of medicine.
Evaluation of Skin Biopsy Samples Using Acoustical Microscopy and Comparison with Conventional Pathological Studies and Light Microscopy

The present study examines representative disorders of the skin using a commercially available scanning acoustical microscope, and seeks to determine whether or not the acoustical images (in general, made from unstained samples) have sufficient detail to render an effective diagnosis. In all cases the acoustical images were compared to results obtained from a conventional pathological analysis.
Irregular-Shaped Plates with Singularities

For irregular-shaped plates loaded by either a uniform transverse load or point loads with singularities resulting from either loading or corner conditions, a solution that exactly represents the singularity is obtained by polar eigenfunctions with equilibrium identically satisfied and conditions along part of the boundary approximated and the error minimized by numerical orthogonalization. Solutions to the reentrant corner plate built-in at the reentrant corner and with various boundary conditions along the outer edge are presented graphically and in tabular form. The maximum error in approximated boundary conditions is 1%. Comparison is made with finite difference solutions.
SU‐E‐J‐72: Dosimetric Study of Cone‐Beam CT‐Based Radiation Treatment Planning Using a Patient‐Specific Stepwise CT‐Density Table

Purpose: To assess dose calculation accuracy of cone-beam CT (CBCT) based treatment plans using a patient-specific stepwise CT-density conversion table in comparison to conventional CT-based treatment plans. Methods: Unlike CT-based treatment planning which use fixed CT-density table, this study used patient-specific CT-density table to minimize the errors in reconstructed mass densities due to the effects of CBCT Hounsfield unit (HU) uncertainties. The patient-specific CT-density table was a stepwise function which maps HUs to only 6 classes of materials with different mass densities: air (0.00121g/cm3), lung (0.26g/cm3), adipose (0.95g/cm3), tissue (1.05 g/cm3), cartilage/bone (1.6g/cm3), and other (3g/cm3). HU thresholds to define different materials were adjusted for each CBCT via best match with the known tissue types in these images. Dose distributions were compared between CT-based plans and CBCT-based plans (IMRT/VMAT) for four types of treatment sites: head and neck (HN), lung, pancreas, and pelvis. For dosimetric comparison, PTV mean dose in both plans were compared. A gamma analysis was also performed to directly compare dosimetry in the two plans. Results: Compared to CT-based plans, the differences for PTV mean dose were 0.1% for pelvis, 1.1% for pancreas, 1.8% for lung, and −2.5% for HN in CBCT-based plans. The gamma passing ratemore » was 99.8% for pelvis, 99.6% for pancreas, and 99.3% for lung with 3%/3mm criteria, and 80.5% for head and neck with 5%/3mm criteria. Different dosimetry accuracy level was observed: 1% for pelvis, 3% for lung and pancreas, and 5% for head and neck. Conclusion: By converting CBCT data to 6 classes of materials for dose calculation, 3% of dose calculation accuracy can be achieved for anatomical sites studied here, except HN which had a 5% accuracy. CBCT-based treatment planning using a patient-specific stepwise CT-density table can facilitate the evaluation of dosimetry changes resulting from variation in patient anatomy.« less
Repeatability and Reproducibility

A type of specification used in acceptance sampling of a lot of items involves the use of tolerance intervals. The producer is required to make the following type of statement about a lot, "With 100% confidence at least 100P% of the items in the lo..
Use of RNA Yeast Polymerase II Mutants in Studying Transcription Elongation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the application of 6-Azauracil (6AU) and mycophenolic acid (MPA)-sensitivity as a genetic assay and will provide procedures for the purification of RNA polymerase II for use in in vitro transcription assays. 6-AU is an inhibitor of IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH), the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo GTP synthesis. Treatment of cells with 6AU, results in depletion of intracellular nucleotide pools. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) has also become useful to assay for mutations in the elongation machinery. This drug is a well-characterized and specific inhibitor of IMPDH. One of the limitations of the 6AU-sensitivity assay is that cells must be tested on uracil-free media since uracil competes with and neutralizes the drug's effect. MPA is effective in rich medium or synthetic dropout medium. However, it is somewhat unstable, so it is recommended that plates be poured as close to use as possible, and that stock solutions are made fresh prior to addition to liquid media. Once a candidate RNA polymerase II mutant has been identified by the drug-sensitive phenotype, the enzyme can be readily purified and subjected to in vitro transcription assays.
Simulation evaluation of transition and hover flying qualities of a mixed-flow, remote-lift STOVL aircraft

Using a generalized simulation model developed for piloted evaluations of STOVL aircraft, an initial fixed-base simulation of a mixed-flow, remote-lift configuration has been completed. Objectives were to evaluate the integration of the aircraft's flight and propulsion controls to achieve good flying qualities throughout the low-speed flight envelope; to determine control power used during transition, hover, and vertical landing; and to evaluate the transition flight envelope considering the influence of thrust deflection of the remote-lift component. Pilots' evaluations indicated that Level 1 flying qualities could be achieved for deceleration to hover in instrument conditions, for airfield landings, and for recovery to a small ship when attitude and velocity stabilization and command augmentation control modes were provided. Level 2 flying qualities were obtained for these same tasks when only the attitude command mode was used, leaving the pilot to perform the task of thrust management required to control the flight-path and speed in transition and the horizontal and vertical translational velocities in hover. Thrust margins were defined for vertical landing as a function of ground effect and hot-gas ingestion.
Trans-Interface Optical Communication (TIOC)

Abstract : The goal of our work is to develop a system for optical communications through the sea-air interface and to provide a predictive performance model for the system for different environmental conditions, source power levels, receiver range, etc. The scientific objectives of the project involve understanding the spectral and temporal effects of water constituents and surface characteristics on trans-interface communication. This involves the development of a system that utilizes several, separated, redundant, sources to reduce the data drop-out rate due to wave refraction. Engineering objectives of the project are the design and development of an intelligent optical receiver that can identify the positions of redundant sources within video imagery and control a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device to direct radiance from only those sources to a high-speed sensor for demodulation. This spatial filtering should reduce interference from surface reflection of skylight.
Factors affecting the outcome of artificial insemination using cryopreserved spermatozoa in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Artificial insemination (AI) is an important component of captive breeding programs for endangered species, such as the giant panda. The panda has been the subject of increasingly successful captive breeding programs involving a compilation of assisted breeding techniques, including AI using cryopreserved spermatozoa. AI implementation is currently hampered by a lack of understanding of the factors that may cause failure. We investigated factors influencing the probability of success of AI for 14 giant panda females housed at the China Center for Research and Conservation of the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) inseminated in a total of 20 instances using cryopreserved spermatozoa from 11 males currently residing in 6 different captive breeding institutions. One of the pandas was the oldest giant panda female to ever successfully conceive from AI (20.5 years old). The success of AI was significantly affected by the timing of AI in relationship to both timing of peak urinary estrogen of the female and percent decline in urinary estrogen between the peak level and the first AI attempt. Our results suggest that the window for successful AI in giant pandas may be narrower than previously suspected, although individual differences in rates of decline in urinary estrogen may reflect some degree of variation in this crucial window across females. Our results are consistent with recent research on pandas and other species that demonstrates the efficacy of cryopreserved spermatozoa for AI and highlights the need for more in-depth analysis of factors related to female physiology that may influence its success.
Forging a partnership to achieve competitive advantage: the CIM challenge

Computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) could well become the most important application of information technology for achieving competitive advantage. Recent advances in manufacturing and information technologies present promising new strategic alternatives for designing business systems. CIM enables firms to respond quickly to market changes, achieve economies of scope, and manage the complexity of a multi-product environment. Attaining the strategic benefits of CIM requires decision support to integrate marketing with design, design with manufacturing, and manufacturing with strategic positioning. This emerging technology requires a partnership of executives in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and MIS who share a common vision of how CIM makes possible new approaches to designing business systems.
Effect of Urea on the Circular Dichroism of Lysozyme

Abstract The effect of the protein denaturant urea upon the circular dichroism spectrum of lysozyme in aqueous solution has been determined. The near-ultraviolet spectrum of native lysozyme in water contained a prominent negative plateau centered at 258 nm. In the spectrum of lysozyme in 8 m urea this plateau was replaced by a broad shoulder with a value for the molar ellipticity at 258 nm 50% less negative. The shape and intensity of the negative plateau were, however, nearly identical for lysozyme in water or 8 m acetamide, an amide of poor denaturing ability. Thus the extent of change in this plateau correlates directly with change in the stability of lysozyme's disulfides toward reduction in aqueous urea or acetamide (Warren, J. R., and Gordon, J. A. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 4097). Alteration in the near-ultraviolet spectrum of lysozyme in urea solutions was unaccompanied by equivalent change in the far-ultraviolet spectrum of the protein. In contrast, both the near- and far-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra of bovine serum albumin were altered upon exposure of the protein to increasingly concentrated urea solutions. These circular dichroic data are consistent with the following conclusions: (a) the negative plateau in the near-ultraviolet spectrum of native lysozyme arises primarily from the intramolecular disulfide bonds of the protein; (b) upon interaction of urea with lysozyme a conformational rearrangement occurs around the disulfide bond or bonds with, unlike serum albumin, little or no disruption of α helical structure; (c) lysozyme is not resistant to the denaturing action of urea, although unfolding appears to be restricted to nonhelical portions of the lysozyme molecule.
President Obama, Congress and International Agreements: An Initial Assessment

In this paper, we summarize recent research on the domestic politics of international agreements. We then examine President Obama‘s use of executive agreements and treaties as he pursued his foreign policy agenda during his first three years in office. President Obama has used the treaty mechanism far less than his predecessors and continues to rely a great deal on executive agreements as a foreign policy tool. Our analysis of two case studies — the New START treaty with Russia and the US-Iraqi agreements of 2008 — suggests that domestic political considerations may play an important role in Obama‘s decisions to use treaties or executive agreements when completing major diplomacy. Whether Obama‘s limited use of the Article II treaty represents an important change in US foreign policymaking is discussed.
Jerne, Niels Kaj (1911–1994)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Jerne, Niels Kaj (antibodies and lymphocytes network)
Lower-Semicontinuity of Variational Integrals and Compensated Compactness

We consider variational integrals\( I(u) = \int_\Omega {f(Du(x))dx}\) defined for (sufficiently regular) functionsu: Ω →R m . Here Ω is a bounded open subset ofR n ,Du(x) denotes the gradient matrix ofu atx, andf:Mm×n →R is given,Mm×n denoting the space of real (m ×n)-matrices. We are interested in the casem, n ≥ 2.
Search for Low-Dimensional Chaos in Observational Data

We introduce the reader to the "global flow reconstruction method". The purpose of the method is to see if a given temporal sequence has been generated by a low dimensional dynamics, and to determine that dimension and other properties of the dynamics. The method is shown to work very well on the well known Roessler system. An application of the method to the observational data of the light curve of the irregular variable star R Scuti is presented. This light curve is shown to have been generated by a 4 dimensional dynamics. From the functional form of the flow we find that the Lyapunov dimension is close to 3.1.
Signal conditioning for Fabry-Perot sensor

In this paper, a Fabry-Perot based spectrometer and some of its advantages and applications are discussed. The CMOS fabrication processing steps for a MEMS design of a Fabry-Perot and a companion photodiode are shown. This companion photodiode of Fabry-Perot converts the filtered light intensity into an electrical signal. A CMOS integrated circuit is designed for the signal conditioning and processing of photodiode electrical signal. Using the CMOS integrated circuit, the analog signal is converted into a digital form and is available in an 8-bit bus for further processing.
Multiple case study of nerd identity in a CS1 class

This paper discusses two case studies of students observed in an introductory computer science (CS1) course. Observations reinforce notions of the potential benefits of culturally and personally relevant instruction in the computer science (CS) classroom and call into question the stigmatization of 'nerd' culture within the literature of CS education. As this study is qualitative and exploratory in nature, it does not provide definitive, statistically generalizable findings -- however, it does unearth nuanced and potentially beneficial pathways of investigation for CS educators and researchers that many quantitative methods might miss. Specifically, observations highlight potential benefits of supporting students' perceptions of more diverse CS identities including broader understandings of the "CS nerd" identity.
Chronic pelvic pains represent the most prominent urogenital symptoms of "chronic prostatitis".

Abstract Objectives To refine and standardize evaluation of current symptoms in men with "chronic prostatitis." Methods We reviewed the literature, developed a symptom index, and evaluated the clinical utility of this tool in 50 patients with chronic prostatitis and 75 control patients (25 with benign prostatic hyperplasia [BPH] and 50 with sexual dysfunction). Results Patients with prostatitis reported more perineal, lower abdominal, testicular, penile, and ejaculatory pain than patients with BPH ( P P P = 0.07) or among men with sexual dysfunction ( P Conclusions Pain symptoms were the predominant urologic manifestations of chronic prostatitis. The symptom index may prove valuable for evaluating patients and describing clinical results.
Combined natural convection and volumetric radiation in a horizontal annulus : Spectral and finite volume predictions

Combined natural convection and radiation in a two-dimensional horizontal annulus filled with a radiatively participating gray medium is studied numerically by using a control volume based finite difference method and a spectral collocation method coupled with an influence matrix technique. The mathematical model includes the continuity equation, the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, the energy equation, and the radiative transfer equation (RTE), which is modeled using the P{sub 1} differential approximation. Computed results for two Rayleigh numbers, Ra = 10{sup 4} and Ra = 10{sup 5}, for several combinations of the radiation-conduction parameter, N, and the optical thickness, {tau}, are presented. The differences observed in the predicted flow structures and heat transfer characteristics are described. Furthermore, an unusual flow structure is studied in detail, and multiple solutions are found. Finally, particular focus is placed on the potential benefits of applying spectral methods to problems involving radiative heat transfer.
Low-voltage ionization of air with carbon-based materials

Polycrystalline diamond and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit excellent vacuum field emission properties, characterized by low turn-on voltage and high current density. Their atmospheric field emission and ionization capabilities are reported in this paper. Highly graphitic polycrystalline diamond (HGPD) film was grown in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition process, and its ability to ionize atmospheric air was characterized and compared against CNTs. The HGPD sample was activated by applying a moderate voltage bias (340 V) for an extended period across a 10 µm electrode gap. After activation, a turn-on voltage of 20 V and a sustainable current of 10 µA were observed with the same gap. Results also indicate that field emission helps to create a moderate ionization effect without catastrophic air breakdown. A hydrogen plasma treatment is shown to restore emission current back to or even exceeding the original level, which suggests an important role of surface termination in the electron emission process. CNTs were grown and tested but did not perform as well under similar conditions.
First Record of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Senegal

SUMMARY An invasive pest of South American origin, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a devastating pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), is reported for the first time in Senegal in 2012. It was first reported in Spain in 2006 and since then it has spread to most of Europe and Mediterranean region. Its occurrence in Senegal is a serious concern as it is likely to spread from there to the rest of West and Central Africa in the near future.
Understanding the Stabilization of Liquid-Phase-Exfoliated Graphene in Polar Solvents: Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Kinetic Theory of Colloid Aggregation

Understanding the solution-phase dispersion of pristine, unfunctionalized graphene is important for the production of conducting inks and top-down approaches to electronics. This process can also be used as a higher-quality alternative to chemical vapor deposition. We have developed a theoretical framework that utilizes molecular dynamics simulations and the kinetic theory of colloid aggregation to elucidate the mechanism of stabilization of liquid-phase-exfoliated graphene sheets in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), γ-butyrolactone (GBL), and water. By calculating the potential of mean force between two solvated graphene sheets using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we have found that the dominant barrier hindering the aggregation of graphene is the last layer of confined solvent molecules between the graphene sheets, which results from the strong affinity of the solvent molecules for graphene. The origin of the energy barrier responsible for repellin...
The Scarcity Fallacy

For the first time in human history, the world is home to more than one billion hungry people. New data from the United Nations suggest that a higher proportion of the Earth's people are hungry now...
A system for sharing routine surgical pathology specimens across institutions: the Shared Pathology Informatics Network

This report presents an overview for pathologists of the development and potential applications of a novel Web enabled system allowing indexing and retrieval of pathology specimens across multiple institutions. The system was developed through the National Cancer Institute's Shared Pathology Informatics Network program with the goal of creating a prototype system to find existing pathology specimens derived from routine surgical and autopsy procedures ("paraffin blocks") that may be relevant to cancer research. To reach this goal, a number of challenges needed to be met. A central aspect was the development of an informatics system that supported Web-based searching while retaining local control of data. Additional aspects included the development of an eXtensible Markup Language schema, representation of tissue specimen annotation, methods for deidentifying pathology reports, tools for autocoding critical data from these reports using the Unified Medical Language System, and hierarchies of confidentiality and consent that met or exceeded federal requirements. The prototype system supported Web-based querying of millions of pathology reports from 6 participating institutions across the country in a matter of seconds to minutes and the ability of bona fide researchers to identify and potentially to request specific paraffin blocks from the participating institutions. With the addition of associated clinical and outcome information, this system could vastly expand the pool of annotated tissues available for cancer research as well as other diseases.