cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of robust coupling techniques for planar waveguide immunosensors

We have analyzed and fabricated two different coupling schemes to meet the requirements for a convenient means of coupling into a planar waveguide immunosensor that is relatively insensitive to beam alignment. These are the `launch' coupler and the grating coupler. Each possesses advantages and disadvantages, depending mainly on the thickness (mode number) of the waveguide to be illuminated. For example, the launch coupler is best suited to a thick (highly multimode) waveguide and is less efficient for a thin (few mode) guide. Our experimental results verify predictions of a ray theory developed to give coupling efficiency for a variety of coupling parameters.
Potential Health Effects Associated with Dermal Exposure to Occupational Chemicals

There are a large number of workers in the United States, spanning a variety of occupational industries and sectors, who are potentially exposed to chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. Occupational skin exposures can result in numerous diseases that can adversely affect an individual's health and capacity to perform at work. In general, there are three types of chemical–skin interactions of concern: direct skin effects, immune-mediated skin effects, and systemic effects. While hundreds of chemicals (metals, epoxy and acrylic resins, rubber additives, and chemical intermediates) present in virtually every industry have been identified to cause direct and immune-mediated effects such as contact dermatitis or urticaria, less is known about the number and types of chemicals contributing to systemic effects. In an attempt to raise awareness, skin notation assignments communicate the potential for dermal absorption; however, there is a need for standardization among agencies to communicate an accurate description of occupational hazards. Studies have suggested that exposure to complex mixtures, excessive hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, high frequency of wet work, and environmental or other factors may enhance penetration and stimulate other biological responses altering the outcomes of dermal chemical exposure. Understanding the hazards of dermal exposure is essential for the proper implementation of protective measures to ensure worker safety and health.
Programmable controllers for industrial refrigerant plants

Abstract Microcomputers for control purposes are being used in the refrigeration industry in the form of programmable controllers (PCs). The function and use of PCs will be considered, together with an introduction to microcomputer control.
An Analysis of the Vertistat Gravity Gradient Satellite Orientation

The Vertistat is a device that passively orients a satellite in a near circular orbit into a specific alignment with the local earth vertical. Basically, it consists of three long, orthogonally placed rods. The vertical rod, which is longest, causes a restoring torque due to the slight change in gravitational force along it. The three rods are interconnected by a spring-damper arrangement to provide damping of the satellite librations. This paper covers two important Vertistat performance areas, small deviation stability, and orientation error due to orbit eccentricity. Stability results include an analytical method for selection of Vertistat parameter values yielding optimum results for all altitudes. Analog computer time history data are given for these values; the data indicate that the device can remove an initial small deviation error within an orbit. It is shown that orbit eccentricity induces an error of 1.5°/0.01 of orbit eccentricity at any altitude.
Shifting timestamps for concurrency control in an information hierarchy

Presentation de resultats theoriques sur une forme plus generale d'ordre partiel provoquant une serialisabilite plus sensible a la structure comme du systeme analyse, introduisant des notions de priorite entre classes de transactions
Complete characterization of the macroscopic deformations of periodic unimode metamaterials of rigid bars and pivots

Abstract A complete characterization is given of the possible macroscopic deformations of periodic non-linear affine unimode metamaterials constructed from rigid bars and pivots. The materials are affine in the sense that their macroscopic deformations can only be affine deformations: on a local level the deformation may vary from cell to cell. Unimode means that macroscopically the material can only deform along a one dimensional trajectory in the six dimensional space of invariants describing the deformation (excluding translations and rotations). We show by explicit construction that any continuous trajectory is realizable to an arbitrarily high degree of approximation provided at all points along the trajectory the geometry does not collapse to a lower dimensional one. In particular, we present two and three dimensional dilational materials having an arbitrarily large flexibility window. These are perfect auxetic materials for which a dilation is the only easy mode of deformation. They are free to dilate to arbitrarily large strain with zero bulk modulus.
Mandatory supervised antabuse therapy in an outpatient alcoholism program: a pilot study

We instituted a program of mandatory supervised antabuse therapy in an outpatient alcoholism clinic for patients who wish to remain connected to the clinic but who have continued to drink repeatedly. Almost 60% of 68 patients who agreed to this regimen achieved significant periods of sobriety. These preliminary findings suggest that a controlled trial of this approach is warranted.
Influence of Supplemental, Dietary Vitamin A on Retinol-Binding Protein Concentrations in the Plasma of Preruminant Calves,

Abstract Transport of retinol (vitamin A alcohol) from retinoid stores in the liver to target tissues is accomplished exclusively by a specific plasma protein, retinol-binding protein. Within individuals, retinol-binding protein concentrations in plasma are regulated and remain constant except in extremes of vitamin A nutriture or in disease. In the present study, retinol-binding protein concentrations in plasma from preruminant calves supplemented with 0, 1700 (i.e., current NRC requirement), 34,000, or 68,000 IU of vitamin A daily from birth to 27 d of age (n = 6/treatment) were quantified. Retinol-binding protein concentrations at birth averaged 21 μ g/ml (n = 24) or approximately 50% of concentrations in dairy heifers and cows. Plasma retinol and retinol-binding protein concentrations were correlated positively, corroborating the role of vitamin A nutriture in the regulation of retinol-binding protein secretion from the liver. In this regard, dietary vitamin A influenced positively retinol and retinol-binding protein concentrations and, as a consequence, the degree of saturation of retinol-binding protein with retinol. At 27 d of age, calves fed ≥34,000 IU of vitamin A had substantially higher retinol and retinol-binding protein concentrations than did calves fed ≤1700 IU of vitamin A, indicating that dietary vitamin A effects positively vitamin A status. The data also suggest that the current NRC requirement may not be sufficient to assure vitamin A adequacy in preruminant calves. Percent saturation of retinol-binding protein with retinol in all calves was
Methodology of Taguchi Optimization for Organic Rice Bran to Maximum Antioxidant Activity

The rice bran contains rich vitamin A, vitamin E, amino acid and niacin which are nutrient substances for the skin. These substances can keep moisture, prevent skin drying, postpone skin aging and prevent pigmentation effectively. This study used Taguchi method to plan experiment, and applied solvent extraction to extract organic rice bran concentrate, aiming to obtain the optimal beauty treatment quality. As the parameter setting is the key to the antioxidant activity quality of organic rice bran, it requires considerable costs of money, time and human experience. Therefore, this case study used L9(34) orthogonal array to plan the experimental parameters of solvent extraction which may influence the antioxidant activity of organic rice bran. The signal-to-noise ratio of experimental data was calculated to discuss the experimental results. Afterwards, the response graph was obtained by factor effects, so as to discuss the significant factors influencing the oxidation resistance quality, namely, the oxidation resistance quality characteristic of organic rice bran could be controlled effectively by controlling these factors. Finally, the confirmation experiment validated the reliability and repeatability of this experiment.
Sustained release of isomazole from matrix tablets administered to dogs.

Isomazole matrix tablet formulations, with various concentrations of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) hydrogel, were prepared and tested for sustained-release activity. Sustained-release activity was determined by administering isomazole test formulations orally to conscious dogs, instrumented with an indwelling left ventricular pressure transducer, and monitoring cardiac inotropic changes for 12 h thereafter. The HPMC hydrogel incorporated into the tablets at a concentration of 20–30% did not significantly change the magnitude of inotropic response or duration of action. Increasing the HPMC concentration to 40 and 42.5% in the formulations decreased the peak LVdP/dt60 response (cardiac inotropic activity) to isomazole, increased the response duration, and maintained the area under the curve (AUC) of LVdP/dt60 versus time. Higher concentrations of HPMC decreased both LVdP/dt60 peak activity and AUC without producing a sustained response. A very narrow range of HPMC concentration in the matrix tablet is thus required to achieve isomazole sustained-release activity.
Metformin mitigates the impaired development of skeletal muscle in the offspring of obese mice

Metformin mitigates the impaired development of skeletal muscle in the offspring of obese mice
Lung humoral response to Pseudomonas species.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is quantitatively the predominent immunoglobulin protein in the distal airway of the human host. IgG enters the distal lung from circulating pools and plasma cells located largely in the interstitium. Although all four IgG subclasses are present in human lung secretions, only subclasses G3 and, to a lesser degree, G1 attach to pulmonary macrophage membrane receptors. IgG opsonic antibodies are essential for the optimal clearance of a very troubling pathogen,Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nosocomial pneumonia caused by this gram-negative bacillus responds poorly to potent antimicrobial agents and is associated with a 70 % mortality. To a great extent the morbidity and mortality resulting from nosocomial pneumonia caused byPseudomonas spp. are attributable to ineffective humoral immune response to this bacterium. IgG2 antibodies in response to pseudomonal lipopolysaccharide are poorly opsonic in the macrophage system, and derepression of the potent pseudomonal elastase, an enzyme with broad substrate specificity, contributes to the disruption of other IgG antibodies.
Lutrochus arizonicus New Species, with Notes on Ecology and Behavior (Coleoptera, Dryopoidea, Limnichidae)

Lutrochus arizonicus , described from Yavapai County, Arizona, is morphologically and ecologically similar to L. luteus LeConte of Texas. Only adults have been taken. The microhabitat and some aspects of behavior are strikingly reminiscent of Psephenus , the beetles being found in fast streams at or near the water line on the moist downstream sides of stones or other objects protruding above the water surface. They are less agile than Psephenus both afoot and in flight, and creep beneath the water more readily than males of Psephenus . Little courtship, if any, appears to precede copulation. Details of ecology and behavior are essentially the same as in other species of Lutrochus ranging from Oklahoma to northern South America, but these details have not hitherto been published for any species of limnichid.
The Quantum Black-Box Complexity of Majority

Abstract. We describe a quantum black-box network computing the majority of N bits with zero-sided error ɛ using only $\frac{2}{3} N + O(\sqrt{\smash{N \log (\varepsilon^{-1} \log N)}}})$ queries: the algorithm returns the correct answer with probability at least 1 - ɛ , and ``I don't know'' otherwise. Our algorithm is given as a randomized ``XOR decision tree'' for which the number of queries on any input is strongly concentrated around a value of at most 2/3N . We provide a nearly matching lower bound of $\frac{2}{3} N - O( \sqrt{{\smash{N}}})$ on the expected number of queries on a worst-case input in the randomized XOR decision tree model with zero-sided error o(1) . Any classical randomized decision tree computing the majority on N bits with zero-sided error 1/2 has cost N .
Magnetic properties of a contained plasma

A plasma is frequently described as being diamagnetic. We examine this hypothesis and some of its conclusions.
Modeling and Analysis of Connectivity in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks with Misbehaving Nodes

Mobile ad hoc networks are vulnerable to malicious attacks and failures due to their unique features, such as node mobility and dynamic network topology. The design and evaluation of routing protocols and topology control require sound analysis on network connectivity and node behaviors. However, little work has been done on how node misbehaviors affect network connectivity. Modeling and analysis of node misbehavior involves many challenges such as multiple failures caused by selfishness, mobility, and potential Denial of Service attacks. Thus, we propose a novel model to characterize node misbehaviors based on a semi-Markov process. In particular, we analyze the impact of node misbehavior on network connectivity in a mobile ad hoc network stochastically. Numerical results based on analysis and simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and results.
Supporting Concurrent Task Deployment Wireless Sensor Networks

Deploying large-scale sensor networks involves the programming of many devices based on a desired mission. Techniques for reprogramming devices in situ have been investigated to mitigate the effort required when program updates are required or when the mission of the system changes. We consider a technique that is intended to support multiple concurrent missions by the system by exploiting available resources of the sensor network. In essence, our model is based on a tasking scheme, a common framework for the interchange and instantiation of tasks on multiple devices, and the use of attributes defining the resources in the system. A prototype system has been implemented to demonstrate and validate the concepts using the Imote2, a 32-bit mote architecture that has been configured with embedded Linux enabled with Java. Several applications have been rendered as tasks that are injected into a multi-node sensor network. Results demonstrate the support of concurrent overlaid applications in the system permitting task injection, maintenance, and termination. Performance evaluation of the scheme indicates benefits over an epidemic model of code dissemination.
Catecholamines, cocaine toxicity, and their antidotes in the rat.

AbstractAcute lethal cocaine intoxication in the rat induces significant increases of plasma dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine concentrations associated with cardiac functional and morphologic changes. Nitrendipine (a calcium channel antagonist) administered 5 min following cocaine administration lowers catecholamine concentration and restores cardiovascular function to normal, while preventing lethality, and so does enalaprilat (an enzyme-converting inhibitor) administration with diazepam. Cocaine cardiac toxicity in the rat appears to be associated with a significant stimulation of the sympathoadrenal and a sustained elevated plasma concentration of epinephrine. The renin angiotensin system also appears to be activated.
Gas-phase backmixing in bubble-column reactors

Gas-phase backmixing and holdup for the air-water system were measured in 0.15- and 0.25-m-dia. bubble columns. Novel experimental and analytical techniques were used to analyze the gas-phase residence time distribution. A Levenberg-Marquardt-type optimization scheme was used to obtain the two reactor model parameters: Peclet and Stanton numbers. Operating variables included the column diameter and the superficial gas- and liquid-phase velocities. A two-bubble-class hydrodynamic model has been proposed to predict the gas-phase backmixing in bubble column reactors. The model assumes a bimodal distribution of the gas phase with large bubbles flowing in a plug-flow manner and the small bubbles partially backmixed. The model only needs easily measurable parameters and has been validated by comparing experimental as well as literature data on gas-phase backmixing with the model predictions. The model is more realistic than the conventional single-bubble-class model and provides a rational approach to predict the gas-phase backmixing in scaling-up bubble-column reactors.
Controlling residual dipolar couplings in high-resolution NMR of proteins by strain induced alignment in a gel

Water-soluble biological macromolecules can be weakly aligned by dissolution in a strained, hydrated gel such as cross-linked polyacrylamide, an effect termed `strain-induced alignment in a gel' (SAG). SAG induces nonzero nuclear magnetic dipole-dipole couplings that can be measured in high-resolution NMR spectra and used as structural constraints. The dependence of experimental 15N-1H dipolar couplings extracted from two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra on several properties of compressed polyacrylamide, including the extent of compression, the polyacrylamide concentration, and the cross-link density, is reported for the B1 immunoglobulin binding domain of streptococcal protein G (protein G/B1, 57 residues). It is shown that the magnitude of macromolecular alignment can be widely varied by adjusting these properties, although the orientation and asymmetry of the alignment tensor are not affected significantly. The dependence of the 15N relaxation times T1 and T2 of protein G/B1 on polyacrylamide concentration are also reported. In addition, the results of 15N relaxation and HSQC experiments on the RNA binding domain of prokaryotic protein S4 from Bacillus stearothermophilus (S4 Δ41, residues 43–200) in a compressed polyacrylamide gel are presented. These results demonstrate the applicability of SAG to proteins of higher molecular weight and greater complexity. A modified in-phase/anti-phase (IPAP) HSQC technique is described that suppresses natural-abundance 15N background signals from amide groups in polyacrylamide, resulting in cleaner HSQC spectra in SAG experiments. The mechanism of protein alignment in strained polyacrylamide gels is contrasted with that in liquid crystalline media.
Dissolution of Plutonium Metal Using Nitric Acid Solutions Containing Potassium Fluoride

Abstract The deinventory and deactivation of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) FB-Line facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS) required the disposition of approximately 2000 items from the facility's vaults. Plutonium (Pu) scraps and residues which do not meet criteria for conversion to a mixed oxide fuel will be dissolved and the solution stored for subsequent disposition. Some of the items scheduled for dissolution are composite materials containing Pu and tantalum (Ta) metals. The preferred approach for handling this material is to dissolve the Pu metal, rinse the Ta metal with water to remove residual acid, and burn the Ta metal. The use of a 4 M nitric acid (HNO3) solution containing 0.2 M potassium fluoride (KF) was initially recommended for the dissolution of approximately 500 g of Pu metal. However, prior to the use of the flowsheet in the SRS facility, a new processing plan was proposed in which the feed to the dissolver could contain up to 1250 g of Pu metal. To evaluate the use of a larger b...
Adjuncts for Tissue stasis

SUMMARY Despite advances in surgical tools and techniques and the development of rapid transport systems to highly specialized medical centers, mortality rates from exsanguination due to injuries sustained in military and civilian trauma have not improved appreciably in the last 150 years. Scientists and clinicians, motivated by the promise of new hemorrhage control adjuncts, have recently increased research and development in an effort to combat this problem. This review describes the epidemiology of hemorrhagic death in both the military and civilian populations, the research implications of these injury patterns, and some of the most promising products – whether already in use or under evaluation – for the control of bleeding. A survey of fibrinogen-based products, recombinant factor VIIa, antifibrinolytic agents, products containing poly-N-acetyl glucosamine and other novel agents are presented. Preclinical and clinical data of products are outlined and the physical properties, mechanisms of action, and safety issues for each hemorrhage-control agent are discussed.
Dynamic association of p300 with the promoter of the G protein-coupled rat delta opioid receptor gene during NGF-induced neuronal differentiation.

Abstract The G protein-coupled delta opioid receptor (DOR) plays a critical role in pain control. Emerging evidence shows that DOR also plays a role in neuronal differentiation and survival. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to be critical for the development and maintenance of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Our previous studies have shown that sustained activation of NGF/PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling is essential for NGF-induced dor gene expression during neuronal differentiation and that the epigenetic modifications at histone 3 lysine 9 temporally correlate with the dor gene transcription. In this study, we cloned the rat dor gene promoter and identified an NGF-responsive region similar to that from the mouse dor gene promoter. We further identified p300, a known NF-κB binding partner with intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity, to be dynamically associated with the dor gene. We also found that assembling of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) at the promoter took place before NGF stimulation, indicating that p300 could only interact with preassembled Pol II at the promoter after NGF stimulation. Taken together, these results implicate that preassembly of the Pol II preinitiation complex, sustained activation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling, and dynamic p300 association at the promoters sequentially is one of the mechanisms of induction of the late phase genes during NGF-induced neuronal differentiation.
The COSMO-LEPS mesoscale ensemble system: validation of the methodology and verification

Abstract. The limited-area ensemble prediction system COSMO-LEPS has been running every day at ECMWF since November 2002. A number of runs of the non-hydrostatic limited-area model Lokal Modell (LM) are available every day, nested on members of the ECMWF global ensemble. The limited-area ensemble forecasts range up to 120h and LM-based probabilistic products are disseminated to several national and regional weather services. Some changes of the operational suite have recently been made, on the basis of the results of a statistical analysis of the methodology. The analysis is presented in this paper, showing the benefit of increasing the number of ensemble members. The system has been designed to have a probabilistic support at the mesoscale, focusing the attention on extreme precipitation events. In this paper, the performance of COSMO-LEPS in forecasting precipitation is presented. An objective verification in terms of probabilistic indices is made, using a dense network of observations covering a part of the COSMO domain. The system is compared with ECMWF EPS, showing an improvement of the limited-area high-resolution system with respect to the global ensemble system in the forecast of high precipitation values. The impact of the use of different schemes for the parametrisation of the convection in the limited-area model is also assessed, showing that this have a minor impact with respect to run the model with different initial and boundary condition.
Microfluidic channels fabricated from poly(vinylmethylsiloxane) networks that resist swelling by organic solvents

This paper describes the use of poly(vinylmethylsiloxane) (PVMS) networks for fabricating microfluidic channels that resist swelling in the presence of organic solvents, thus providing a versatile alternative to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). In particular, we demonstrate that in contrast to PDMS microchannels, the UV-treated PVMS structures exhibit high resistance to swelling by toluene.
Processing and Properties of Strontium Bismuth Vanadate Niobate Ferroelectric Ceramics

The processing conditions, microstructure, and dielectric properties of strontium bismuth niobate vanadate ceramics, SrBi2(VxNb1−x)2O9 (SBVN, with 0 ≤x≤ 0.3), were systematically studied. A relative density of >90% was obtained for all the samples using a two-step sintering process. XRD showed that a single phase with the layered perovskite structure of SrBi2Nb2O9 (SBN) was formed with a vanadium content of up to 30 at.%. SEM revealed that the average grain size decreased gradually with an increase in vanadium content. The Curie point was found to gradually increase from ∼418°C for SBN to ∼459°C for SBVN with 30 at.% vanadium. Dielectric constants at room temperature and their respective Curie points were found to peak at a composition with 10–15 at.%; vanadium. Moreover, a high concentration of vanadium (>5 at.%) resulted in a significant increase in tangent loss at low frequencies (<1000 Hz). The relationships between chemical composition, processing condition, microstructure, and dielectric properties of SBVN ferroelectric ceramics are discussed.
Finding Parts in Very Large Corpora

We present a method for extracting parts of objects from wholes (e.g. "speedometer" from "car"). Given a very large corpus our method finds part words with 55% accuracy for the top 50 words as ranked by the system. The part list could be scanned by an end-user and added to an existing ontology (such as WordNet), or used as a part of a rough semantic lexicon.
THE EFFECT OF DENSITY-DEPENDENT INSECT VISITS, FLOWERING PHENOLOGY, AND PLANT SIZE ON SEED SET OF THE ENDANGERED VERNAL POOL PLANT POGOGYNE ABRAMSII (LAMIACEAE) IN NATURAL COMPARED TO CREATED VERNAL POOLS

Pollinator activity, flowering phenology, plant size, and seed set of an endangered annual plant, Pogogyne abramsii, were compared in natural and created vernal pools on Del Mar Mesa, San Diego County, California, USA. The purpose was to test the hypothesis that an artificial habitat would have fewer or less effective pollinator visits than natural vernal pools and that, as a result, the plants would have lower fecundity The effect of differences in flowering phenology and plant size among pool types on pollinator visitation and seed set was also evaluated. The most frequent insect visitors to P. abramsii flowers were the Eurasian honey bee, Apis mellifera, two anthophorid bees, Exomalopsis nitens and E. torticornis, and three species of bee flies, of which Bombylius facialis was by far the most abundant. All species of insect visitors displayed density-dependent foraging on P. abramsii, with greater numbers of visits per unit area where flower density was greater. Nevertheless, visits per flower were negatively correlated with flower density. Flowering phenology of P. abramsii was delayed in most created compared to natural vernal pools, which affected the frequency by species of insect visitors to created compared with natural vernal pools. Peak flower densities were significantly lower in created than in natural vernal pools. The created pools had more visits per flower. Plants were smaller in created pools compared to natural pools, and seed production was positively correlated to plant size. Seed set in P. abramsii was greater than one per plant in both created and natural pools but was significantly lower in created vernal pools. Most of this difference could be attributed to the larger size of plants in the natural pools. We conclude that pollinator limitation should not preclude the sparser populations of smaller plants in the created pools from having a positive growth rate. Subsequent establishment and persistence of populations in a majority of created basins on this site confirms this assertion.
Impact of a Wilderness Orientation Program on College Student's Life Effectiveness

Wilderness based outdoor orientation programs have been offered at colleges and universities to incoming freshmen since the 1930s. Although these programs appear to impact students in a positive way (e.g. self-efficacy), little research has documented whether these programs facilitate change on college student perceptions of life effectiveness. This exploratory study examined a 4-day wilderness based program at a university in the southeastern United States. Three groups of students were studied over the course of a semester using the Life Effectiveness Questionnaire (LEQ) (Neill, Marsh & Richards, 2003). When compared to a control group, the two groups of students who participated in the wilderness oriented program had higher scores on six of the eight LEQ dimensions (e.g. time management, emotional control) and overall total than students who did not participate at both the beginning and end of their first semester of college. Conclusions and implications for practice are made to promote proactive planning measures for improving outdoor orientation programs.
Sparse hidden markov models for surgical gesture classification and skill evaluation

We consider the problem of classifying surgical gestures and skill level in robotic surgical tasks. Prior work in this area models gestures as states of a hidden Markov model (HMM) whose observations are discrete, Gaussian or factor analyzed. While successful, these approaches are limited in expressive power due to the use of discrete or Gaussian observations. In this paper, we propose a new model called sparse HMMs whose observations are sparse linear combinations of elements from a dictionary of basic surgical motions. Given motion data from many surgeons with different skill levels, we propose an algorithm for learning a dictionary for each gesture together with an HMM grammar describing the transitions among different gestures. We then use these dictionaries and the grammar to represent and classify new motion data. Experiments on a database of surgical motions acquired with the da Vinci system show that our method performs on par with or better than state-of-the-art methods.This suggests that learning a grammar based on sparse motion dictionaries is important in gesture and skill classification.
Surface and groundwater dynamics of rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan, India: A GIS and tracer approach

As the largest and driest state in India, Rajasthan is faced with a daunting task of meeting many different water demands every year. In light of this water scarcity, rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been widely promoted in Rajasthan as a means to increase surface water supplies, as well as to recharge local groundwater. In the midst of widespread adoption, a knowledge gap exists in the understanding of the hydrologic impacts. In order to close this gap, a rainwater harvesting study was carried out from May-July 2006 in the Wakal River Basin, Rajasthan, India. Within this study, geographic information system (GIS) and tracer tools were utilized to investigate the surface water and groundwater dynamics of rainwater harvesting. Results of this study provide evidence that most of the RWH structures in the study will fill up annually, even under the most conservative scenarios. Furthermore, the hydraulic gradient provides evidence that groundwater flows from the RWH structures toward downstream wells. Finally, the use of delta18O and Cl- as geochemical tracers of water provides evidence of harvested rainwater in these nearby wells.
PROVIDER ADHERENCE TO CHOLESTEROL GUIDELINES FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATION FOR ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME OR STOKE

The 2013 (“new”) ACC/AHA guidelines for cholesterol management represent a paradigm shift from the ATP III (“old”) guidelines, changing the focus from LDL targets to a risk assessment model to guide therapeutic choices, with emphasis on statin therapy. Evaluation of statin prescribing
Evaluation of Computational Method of High Reynolds Number Slurry Flow for Caverns Backfilling

The abandonment of salt caverns used for brining or product storage poses a significant environmental and economic risk. Risk mitigation can in part be address ed by the process of backfilling which can improve the cavern geomechanical stability and reduce the risk o f fluid loss to the environment. This study evaluate s a currently available computational tool , Barracuda, to simulate such process es as slurry flow at high Reynolds number with high particle loading . Using Barracuda software, a parametric sequence of simu lations evaluated slurry flow at Re ynolds number up to 15000 and loading up to 25%. Li mitations come into the long time required to run these simulation s due in particular to the mesh size requirement at the jet nozzle. This study has found that slurry - jet width and centerline velocities are functions of Re ynold s number and volume fractio n The solid phase was found to spread less than the water - phase with a spreading rate smaller than 1 , dependent on the volume fraction. Particle size distribution does seem to have a large influence on the jet flow development. This study constitutes a first step to understand the behaviormore » of highly loaded slurries and their ultimate application to cavern backfilling.« less
Tools and techniques to ensure innovative management education in India

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline tools and techniques to ensure innovative management education in India. Design/methodology/approach – The paper addresses the challenges in the present Indian management education and outlines a blueprint with innovative solutions. Findings – It calls for support from all stakeholders including industry, educators, students, educational institutions, government and thought leaders to innovate Indian management education as per the global standards to create world class managers and leaders. Practical implications – These tools and techniques can be customized in other countries to ensure quality management education. Social implications – The social implications of this research suggests that stakeholders must strive to ensure innovative management education to create effective managers and leaders globally. Originality/value – It overhauls Indian management education as per international standards. It explains management education from the perspective of...
Introduction to simian virus 40: getting by with more than a little help from its host cell.

More than three decades of research on simian vacuolating virus 40 (SV40) have generated a richly detailed picture of the viral genome, the events in infection, and the functions of the viral proteins in the host cell. This contribution briefly reviews our current understanding of SV40 biology as an introduction to this symposium volume on its role as a possible human polyoma-virus.
Book Review: Molina, How Race is Made in America: Immigration, Citizenship, and the Historical Power of Racial Scripts, by Michael Omi

Pacific Historical Review How Race Is Made in America: Immigration, Citizenship, and the Historical Power of Racial Scripts. By Natalia Molina. (Berkeley, University of California Press, 2014. xv þ 207 pp. $65 cloth, $27.95 paper, $27.95 digital) While the title of the book suggests a sweeping and definitive account of the social construction of race, the specific focus of this study is Mexican immigration from 1924 to 1965. Bookended by major immigration acts, the historical period is characterized by shifting immigration regimes that constructed, and reconstructed, Mexicans as a race. Examining extensive Immigration and Natural- ization Service (INS) archives at both the national and regional branch levels, Molina argues and convincingly demonstrates that ‘‘Immigration laws are perhaps the most powerful and effective means of constructing and reordering the social order in the United States’’ (p. 11). Molina insists on what she calls a relational approach to studying race and citizenship. A comparative approach to the study of different racial/ethnic groups, by contrast, often fails to recognize that racia- lization is a mutually constitutive process. Throughout the book, Molina illustrates how the racial category of Mexican is constructed, situated, and hierarchically positioned in relation to groups such as Indian, Asian American, and African American. Such an emphasis considerably broadens the scope of her study and is central to the core concept of racial scripts that she compellingly advances. Shaping cultural representations as well as institutional structures and prac- tices, racial scripts highlight the connections among racialized groups across time and space. Molina notes that ‘‘once attitudes, practices, customs, policies, and laws are directed at one group, they are more readily available and hence easily applied to other groups’’ (p. 7). While such scripts are usually imposed from ‘‘above’’ by dominant institutions and social actors, racialized groups themselves often advance their own scripts and counterscripts that enable seem- ingly unlikely alliances and expressions of solidarity among different groups. The book is divided into two parts with Part I examining efforts to exclude Mexicans from citizenship in the 1920s and 1930s, and Part II focusing on policies and practices in the 1940s and 1950s to render Mexicans subject to deportation. While much of the material in Part I, including attempts to nullify Mexican eligibility for citizen- ship through racial reclassification or the suspension of birthright citizenship, has been covered in other studies, Molina makes us think about this material in new and generative ways. Through the
National nursing and midwifery legislation in countries of South-East Asia with high HIV burdens.

This paper analyses nursing and midwifery legislation in high HIV-burden countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region, with respect to global standards, and suggests areas that could be further examined to strengthen the nursing and midwifery professions and HIV service delivery. To provide universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, sufficient numbers of competent human resources for health are required. Competence in this context means possession and use of requisite knowledge and skills to fulfil the role delineated in scopes of practice. Traditionally, the purpose of professional regulation has been to set standards that ensure the competence of practising health workers, such as nurses and midwives. One particularly powerful form of professional regulation is assessed here: national legislation in the form of nursing and midwifery acts. Five countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region account for more than 99% of the region’s HIV burden: India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. Online legislative archives were searched to obtain the most recent national nursing and midwifery legislation from these five countries. Indonesia was the only country included in this review without a national nursing and midwifery act. The national nursing and midwifery acts of India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand were all fairly comprehensive, containing between 15 and 20 of the 21 elements in the International Council of Nurses Model Nursing Act. Legislation in Myanmar and Thailand partially delineates nursing scopes of practice, thereby providing greater clarity concerning professional expectations. Continuing education was the only element not included in any of these four countries’ legislation. Countries without a nursing and midwifery act may consider developing one, in order to facilitate professional regulation of training and practice. Countries considering reform to their existing nursing acts may benefit from comparing their legislation with that of other similarly situated countries and with global standards. Countries interested in improving the sustainability of scale-up for HIV services may benefit from a greater understanding of the manner in which nursing and midwifery is regulated, be it through continuing education, scopes of practice or other relevant requirements for training, registration and licensing.
Combinatorial and Network Algorithms

We shall discuss three classes of algorithms: (A) Network algorithms which can be adapted to solve various cost functions. (B) Auction-type algorithms most suitable for parallel and distributed computations. (C) Stochastic algorithms such as simulated annealing and its siblings.
Ideal Quantum Gases

Although the noninteracting BE and FD gases are not in themselves suitable representations for their quantum liquid counterparts, the ideal-gas model serves in both instances as a necessary starting point for theoretical investigations of the liquids. An appreciation of the features of the ideal gases is indeed indispensable if we are to attempt an understanding of the real fluids, and for this reason we include here a brief summary of some of the more important properties of ideal BE and FD systems. There are several approaches in statistical mechanics that may be appropriately applied to these problems to achieve essentially the same results. The philosophy and much of the mathematics of these methods will be omitted here but may be found in standard texts of statistical physics [see, for example, Eyring et al. (1) and Huang(2)]. For the present purposes, it will be convenient to develop simultaneously some preliminary results for the BE and FD systems and then later to distinguish between the two in greater detail. In order to achieve a degree of consistency with at least one standard text, the notation used here will to a large extent follow that of Huang (2). However, the elegant discussion of the BE gas by London (3) ought not to be overlooked.
Antigen-specific T cell Redirectors: a nanoparticle based approach for redirecting T cells

Redirection of T cells to target and destroy tumors has become an important clinical tool and major area of research in tumor immunology. Here we present a novel, nanoparticle-based approach to selectively bind antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTL) and redirect them to kill tumors, termed ATR (Antigen-specific T cell Redirectors). ATR were generated by decorating nanoparticles with both an antigen-specific T cell binding moiety, either peptide loaded MHC-Ig dimer or clonotypic anti-TCR antibody, and a model tumor cell binding moiety, anti-CD19 antibody to engage CD19+ tumor cells. ATR stably bind tumor cells and CTL in a dose dependent fashion and stimulate antigen-specific conjugate formation between those cells. ATR induced redirected lysis of tumor cells in vitro, as demonstrated by 51Cr-release killing. In vivo ATR administration led to reduced tumor growth in a SCID/beige human lymphoma treatment model. In summary, ATR represent a novel, nanoparticle based approach for redirecting antigen-specific CTL to kill tumors.
Safety and efficacy of the keystone and rhomboid flaps for immediate reconstruction after wide local excision of non-head and neck melanomas.

Background After wide local excision of cutaneous melanoma, large defects not amenable to simple primary closure are often covered with skin grafts. We report our experience using the rhomboid and keystone flaps to immediately close large axial and extremity wounds after potentially curative surgery for non-head and neck melanomas.
Complete versus target vessel revascularization in ST-elevation myocardial infarction-analysis of results from published meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

We thank Weng et al . for their interest in our recent paper where we performed an updated meta-analysis of the benefits of non-culprit revascularization during an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (1). The authors used trial sequence analysis (TSA) to further explore the results of our meta-analysis. The results of their TSA (2) confirmed the lower incidence of major adverse cardiac events and repeat revascularization among patients undergoing non-culprit lesion intervention. They also hypothesized that our finding of similar all-cause mortality may be a type II error (false negative) and the demonstration of lower myocardial infarction may be a type 1 error (false positive).
Intellectual Humility & Higher Education

Recent sociological studies show that the majority of emerging adults who constitute the bulk of college and university students doubt whether questions about value, meaning, and importance fall within the domain of rational inquiry. Many hold that deciding what constitutes a life well lived is left to the individual and that personal opinions are not subject to evaluation. Consequently, they are reluctant to engage life’s big questions, because, as they see it, there is nothing about meaning, value, and purpose that warrants discussion. In this essay, Echelbarger contends that in order to reengage students in an examination of what is true, good, and beautiful, stewards of the academy must encourage practicing the virtue of intellectual humility. With the help of Plato’s philosophy of education, Echelbarger begins by arguing that skepticism about our ability to rationally discuss matters of value is, ironically, the product of intellectual hubris. In light of this conclusion, he then draws upon Fides et Ratio and Paul Griffiths’ Intellectual Appetite to outline two sources of intellectual humility that can help us to adopt an appropriate vision of reason’s role in the exploration of life’s most important questions.
Optimization of segmented thermoelectric generator using Taguchi and ANOVA techniques

Recent studies have demonstrated that segmented thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can operate over large thermal gradient and thus provide better performance (reported efficiency up to 11%) as compared to traditional TEGs, comprising of single thermoelectric (TE) material. However, segmented TEGs are still in early stages of development due to the inherent complexity in their design optimization and manufacturability. In this study, we demonstrate physics based numerical techniques along with Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Taguchi optimization method for optimizing the performance of segmented TEGs. We have considered comprehensive set of design parameters, such as geometrical dimensions of p-n legs, height of segmentation, hot-side temperature, and load resistance, in order to optimize output power and efficiency of segmented TEGs. Using the state-of-the-art TE material properties and appropriate statistical tools, we provide near-optimum TEG configuration with only 25 experiments as compared to 3125 experiments needed by the conventional optimization methods. The effect of environmental factors on the optimization of segmented TEGs is also studied. Taguchi results are validated against the results obtained using traditional full factorial optimization technique and a TEG configuration for simultaneous optimization of power and efficiency is obtained.
Adrenal myelolipoma: report of a case and review of the literature

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare benign tumor composed of mature lipomatous and hemopoietic tissue. Although it is often discovered as an incidental finding on imaging of the abdomen for some other reason or at autopsy, adrenal myelolipoma has been reported to present with symptoms such as flank pain resulting from tumor bulk, necrosis, or spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Myelolipomas are hormonally inactive but have also been reported to coexist with other hormonally active tumors of the adrenal gland. They are usually unilateral but may be bilateral and may also develop in extraadrenal sites like the retroperitoneum, thorax, and pelvis. We report a patient with symptomatic adrenal myelolipoma diagnosed on computed tomography scan and confirmed on computed tomography-guided biopsy. The patient underwent surgical resection for symptomatic relief. We also review the literature to evaluate the presentation and optimal management of this rare adrenal tumor that is not encountered by most general surgeons and therefore not well known to most surgeons.