cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser wire beam profile monitor in the spallation neutron source (SNS) superconducting linac

Abstract The spallation neutron source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is an accelerator-based, neutron-scattering facility. SNS uses a large-scale, high-energy superconducting linac (SCL) to provide high beam power utilizing hydrogen ion (H − ) beams. For the diagnostics of high-brightness H − beams in the SCL, nonintrusive methods are preferred. This paper describes design, implementation, theoretical analysis, and experimental demonstration of a nonintrusive profile monitor system based on photodetachment, also known as laser wire, installed in the SNS SCL. The SNS laser wire system is the world's largest of its kind with a capability of measuring horizontal and vertical profiles of an operational H − beam at each of the 23 cryomodule stations along the SCL beam line by employing a single light source. Presently 9 laser wire stations have been commissioned that measure profiles of the H − beam at energy levels from 200 MeV to 1 GeV. The laser wire diagnostics has no moving parts inside the beam pipe, causes no contamination on the superconducting cavity, and can be run parasitically on an operational neutron production H − beam.
Effective interaction potentials in colloidal dispersions from structure data

Abstract Methods for obtaining effective pair potentials in strongly interacting colloidal dispersions and in simple fluids at liquid densities are investigated. It is shown that an inversion method based on statistical mechanical perturbation theories leads to better predictions of the pair potentials from static structure factor data than is possible through integral equation theories. The location and the shape of the hard core, the location and the magnitude of the minimum in the potential, and the attractive tail have all been obtained with very good accuracy using the perturbation theory. Inclusion of thermodynamic consistency requirements and sensitivity analyses may lead to further improvements in the procedure and the results. The predictions of the above essential features of the interaction potential can then be used for predicting equilibrium and transport properties of dense dispersions from first principles.
Guidelines for identifying and mitigating thermal hazards of sustainable materials

Sustainable materials and technologies (a.k.a. “green”) are those that are “delivered with progressively less negative impact upon the Earth.” Thermal hazards such as self-heating, thermal runaway, fires, and explosions may be associated with a particular sustainable material or process technology. Thermal hazards are a result of the interaction between the exothermic reactivity of the material and the processing or storage conditions (e.g., environment, temperature, duration, size, and configuration). These materials and technologies may pose thermal hazards that only become apparent at large-scale production and storage levels. With the move toward developing sustainable materials and technologies, many potential new hazardous scenarios for established organizations or for start-up companies may be identified only during final developmental stages. For example, scaling processing up from pilot to full-scale may lead to large enough material volumes that thermal hazards that were not identified at the pilot level become significant. Another example may be the increased size of stockpiles of materials required for full-scale operations. This article aims to provide an overview of several sustainable materials and green technology areas with a discussion of the potential thermal hazards presented. The article will provide guidance for identifying potential thermal hazards in systems and for developing successful prevention and mitigation schemes against fires and explosions. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2011
Schistosomiasis: Overview of the history, biology, clinicopathology, and laboratory diagnosis

Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by small parasitic blood flukes, has afflicted humankind for thousands of years. It affects approximately 200 million people worldwide and is the cause of significant morbidity. Diagnosis used to rest on finding the characteristic eggs in stool or urine samples; however, techniques based on the detection of antibodies and schistosomal antigens have become more popular in recent years and are continuing to increase in both sensitivity and specificity. Molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, are also being applied to schistosomal genome research and methods of detection.
Differential binding of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing human spermatozoa to zona pellucida in vitro.

The sex of human offspring has been associated with the day in the mother's menstrual cycle on which insemination occurs, with male zygotes being formed earlier in the fertile period than female zygotes. Using an in vitro environment designed to mimic the in vivo milieu, we tested the hypothesis that Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa survive functionally longer than X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa, and that this differential functional survival is a contributing factor to the in vivo phenomenon. Donor semen was processed by swim-up and incubated at 37 degrees C in culture medium for 0, 24 and 48 h, with human zona pellucida (hemizona, HZ) being used to select functional spermatozoa. A second set of in vitro storage conditions, 4 degrees C in test-yolk refrigeration buffer, was used to determine whether changing the incubation conditions alters the process. The sex chromosome of the spermatozoa was determined using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). For spermatozoa incubated at 37 degrees C, the percentage of functional (HZ bound) Y-bearing spermatozoa was significantly increased (P < 0.05) at 48 h (55.4 + 2.9%) but not at 0 h (50.5 + 0.7%) or 24 h (52.8 + 3.1%) compared to swim-up spermatozoa (50.6 + 0.3%). No difference in the percentage of functional Y-spermatozoa was observed at any time-point with storage at 4 degrees C in refrigeration buffer. Thus, we demonstrated that significantly more Y-bearing spermatozoa were capable of zona binding than X-bearing spermatozoa at 48 h at 37 degrees C incubation, with an observed Y : X ratio of 1.15 for these zona-bound spermatozoa compared to 1.02 for post-swim-up spermatozoa. We conclude that a differential functional survival appears to exist between X-bearing and Y-bearing spermatozoa, with the latter exhibiting a longer functional survival under in vitro conditions.
Interventions to Address Chronic Disease and HIV: Strategies to Promote Exercise and Nutrition Among HIV-Infected Individuals

Food insecurity, micronutrient deficits, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and bone disorders complicate the treatment of HIV infection. Nutrition and exercise interventions can be effective in ameliorating these symptoms that are associated with HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART). In this literature review, we examine the most recent nutrition and exercise interventions for HIV-infected patients. Macronutrient supplementation can be useful in treating malnutrition and wasting. Multivitamin (vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and vitamin E) supplements and vitamin D may improve quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality. Nutritional counseling and exercise interventions are effective for treating obesity, fat redistribution, and metabolic abnormalities. Physical activity interventions improve body composition, strength, and fitness in HIV-infected individuals. Taken collectively, the evidence suggests that a proactive approach to nutrition and physical activity guidance and interventions can improve outcomes and help abrogate the adverse metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological consequences of HIV and its treatments.
A General Methodology Toward Drug/Dye Incorporated Living Copolymer−Protein Hybrids: (NIRF Dye-Glucose) Copolymer−Avidin/BSA Conjugates as Prototypes

Azide-terminated poly(tert-butyl acrylate) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Subsequent deprotection was performed to yield poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) possessing a reactive chain-end. A one-pot sequential amidation of the PAA with the amine derivatives of a near-infrared fluorescent dye (ADS832WS) and glucose produced NIRF dye-incorporated water-soluble copolymers. End-group modifications were performed to produce alkyne/biotin-terminated copolymers which were further employed to generate dye-incorporated polymer−protein hybrids via the biotin−avidin interaction with avidin or “click” bioconjugation with azide-modified BSA. We have overcome two fundamental limitations in the synthesis of bioconjugates: (a) the basic restriction in the diversity of copolymers which can be synthesized for producing bioconjugates, (b) the limitation in the number of dyes/drug molecules that can be attached per protein molecule. The copolymers possessed enhanced optical properties compared to the ...
Assembly of Vault-like Particles in Insect Cells Expressing Only the Major Vault Protein

Vaults are the largest (13 megadalton) cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein particles known to exist in eukaryotic cells. They have a unique barrel-shaped structure with 8-fold symmetry. Although the precise function of vaults is unknown, their wide distribution and highly conserved morphology in eukaryotes suggests that their function is essential and that their structure must be important for their function. The 100-kDa major vault protein (MVP) constitutes approximately 75% of the particle mass and is predicted to form the central barrel portion of the vault. To gain insight into the mechanisms for vault assembly, we have expressed rat MVP in the Sf9 insect cell line using a baculovirus vector. Our results show that the expression of the rat MVP alone can direct the formation of particles that have biochemical characteristics similar to endogenous rat vaults and display the distinct vault-like morphology when negatively stained and examined by electron microscopy. These particles are the first example of a single protein polymerizing into a non-spherically, non-cylindrically symmetrical structure. Understanding vault assembly will enable us to design agents that disrupt vault formation and hence aid in elucidating vault function in vivo.
Mechanisms of estrogen-induced vasodilation: In vivo studies in canine coronary conductance and resistance arteries

Objectives We sought to examine the immediate vasodilator effect of intracoronary estrogen on epicardial and resistance coronary arteries in 19 dogs. Background Although estrogen reportedly dilates coronary arteries in vitro, the site and mechanisms of its action have not been fully defined in vivo. Methods Epicardial coronary artery dimensions and coronary flow velocity were assessed using simultaneous intracoronary two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound. Results Estrogen (0.1 and 1 μmol/liter) induced a significant increase in coronary cross-sectional area, flow velocity and volumetric blood flow. Estrogen-induced vasodilation was not influenced either by pretreatment with Nω-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester ( l -NAME) (100 μmol/liter intracoronary), indomethacin (5 mg/kg body weight intravenously), propranolol (0.75 mg/kg intravenously) or the classic estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 (10 μmol/liter). Balloon denudation of the endothelium did not attenuate estrogen-induced epicardial vasodilation. Pretreatment with glibenclamide (10 μmol/liter) attenuated estrogeninduced vasodilation only in epicardial arteries, as did verapamil (0.1 μmol/liter). Estrogen had no effect on a phenylephrine dose-response curve in either epicardial coronary arteries or the microcirculation. Conclusions Acute estrogen-induced dilation in canine coronary arteries is endothelium independent and is not mediated by the classic intracellular estrogen receptor but through nongenomic mechanisms, presumably at the membrane level, which in epicardial arteries may include effects on adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium or calcium channels, or both.
Depression and heavy alcohol use among adolescents: concurrent and prospective relations.

This study of over 1,000 adolescents focused on common and distinctive correlates of four subgroups—no problem, depressed only, heavy drinking only, and mixed (depressed and heavy drinking). Correlates were evaluated from the domains of personal dispositions (e.g., temperament), interpersonal relations (e.g., parent and peer), stressful life events, and other problem behaviors (e.g., delinquency, substance use). The no-problem subgroup differed from the other three subgroups in the direction of healthier functioning on almost all measures. The mixed subgroup reported the most pervasive, low levels of functioning, with the highest levels of childhood externalizing problems and stressful life events, the lowest levels of family social support, and high levels of delinquency and substance use. The depressed-only subgroup reported a more internalized pattern characterized by childhood avoidance problems, a difficult temperament (e.g., inflexibility, withdrawal, low task orientation), interpersonal stressors, and poor coping strategies. The heavy-drinking-only subgroup was characterized by higher drinking levels by primary caregivers and lower levels of family cohesion as reported by primary caregivers. The 1-year prospective findings were generally consistent with the concurrent findings in that variables that were associated with transitions toward and away from depression and heavy drinking were associated with specific transitions (e.g., childhood externalizing problems were associated with the transition from no problem to heavy drinking).
Skewed Rotation Symmetry Group Detection

We present a novel and effective algorithm for affinely skewed rotation symmetry group detection from real-world images. We define a complete skewed rotation symmetry detection problem as discovering five independent properties of a skewed rotation symmetry group: 1) the center of rotation, 2) the affine deformation, 3) the type of the symmetry group, 4) the cardinality of the symmetry group, and 5) the supporting region of the symmetry group in the image. We propose a frieze-expansion (FE) method that transforms rotation symmetry group detection into a simple, 1D translation symmetry detection problem. We define and construct a pair of rotational symmetry saliency maps, complemented by a local feature method. Frequency analysis, using Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), is applied to the frieze-expansion patterns (FEPs) to uncover the types (cyclic, dihedral, and O(2)), the cardinalities, and the corresponding supporting regions, concentric or otherwise, of multiple rotation symmetry groups in an image. The phase information of the FEP is used to rectify affinely skewed rotation symmetry groups. Our result advances the state of the art in symmetry detection by offering a unique combination of region-based, feature-based, and frequency-based approaches. Experimental results on 170 synthetic and natural images demonstrate superior performance of our rotation symmetry detection algorithm over existing methods.
Characterization of the Pyoluteorin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5

Ten genes (plt) required for the biosynthesis of pyoluteorin, an antifungal compound composed of a bichlorinated pyrrole linked to a resorcinol moiety, were identified within a 24-kb genomic region of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5. The deduced amino acid sequences of eight plt genes were similar to the amino acid sequences of genes with known biosynthetic functions, including type I polyketide synthases (pltB, pltC), an acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) dehydrogenase (pltE), an acyl-CoA synthetase (pltF), a thioesterase (pltG), and three halogenases (pltA, pltD, and pltM). Insertions of the transposon Tn5 or Tn3-nice or a kanamycin resistance gene in each of these genes abolished pyoluteorin production by Pf-5. The presumed functions of the eight plt products are consistent with biochemical transformations involved in pyoluteorin biosynthesis from proline and acetate precursors. Isotope labeling studies demonstrated that proline is the primary precursor to the dichloropyrrole moiety of pyoluteorin. The deduced amino acid sequence of the product of another plt gene, pltR, is similar to those of members of the LysR family of transcriptional activators. pltR and pltM are transcribed divergently from the pltLABCDEFG gene cluster, and a sequence with the characteristics of a LysR binding site was identified within the 486-bp intergenic region separating pltRM from pltLABCDEFG. Transcription of the pyoluteorin biosynthesis genes pltB, pltE, and pltF, assessed with transcriptional fusions to an ice nucleation reporter gene, was significantly greater in Pf-5 than in a pltR mutant of Pf-5. Therefore, PltR is proposed to be a transcriptional activator of linked pyoluteorin biosynthesis genes.
Lead and Cadmium in California Raw Milk

Abstract An atomic absorption procedure for the simultaneous measurement of lead and cadmium in raw whole milk has been developed and tested. A 100g sample is dry ashed at a temperature not exceeding 425C. The ash then is dissolved in hydrochloric acid and neutralized with ammonium hydroxide to pH 8.5 in the presence of ammonium citrate. Potassium cyanide is added to complex interfering ions followed by addition of ammonium pyrrolidino carbo dithioate to complex lead and cadmium. After the ammonium pyrrolidino carbo dithioate complexes are extracted in isoamylacetate, the lead and cadmium are measured in the extract by atomic absorption. Mean recoveries of lead and cadmium added to raw whole milk were 92.1±2.9% and 97.5±2.5%. A statewide survey showed that the mean concentration of lead in 350 raw milk samples was 91 μ g/kg; 222 of the samples were below 100 μ g/kg. The mean concentration of cadmium in 315 raw milk samples was 6.0 μ g/kg; 40 samples had 1.0 μ g/kg or less, and 255 of the samples were below 10.0 μ g/kg.
Convergence and stability in numerical relativity

It is often the case in numerical relativity that schemes that are known to be convergent for well posed systems are used in evolutions of weakly hyperbolic (WH) formulations of Einstein's equations. Here we explicitly show that with several of the discretizations that have been used through out the years, this procedure leads to non-convergent schemes. That is, arbitrarily small initial errors are amplified without bound when resolution is increased, independently of the amount of numerical dissipation introduced. The lack of convergence introduced by this instability can be particularly subtle, in the sense that it can be missed by several convergence tests, especially in 3+1 dimensional codes. We propose tests and methods to analyze convergence that may help detect these situations.
Is the unemployment rate in Sweden really 17 percent

In 2006 the McKinsey Global Institute published an analysis of the Swedish economy, with the finding that the "de facto" unemployment rate in 2004 was 15 to 17 percent, about three times higher than the official unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. These estimates were cited in the media as part of critiques of recent Swedish economic performance. To arrive at the 15 to 17 percent "de facto" unemployment rate, McKinsey included "people who don't work, even though they should be able to" in the pool of the unemployed. The analysis reported here accepts the McKinsey methodology and applies it to the United States. The resulting "de facto" unemployment rate for the United States is 13.8 percent, compared with the 5.5 percent official U.S. unemployment rate, and the estimated 15.5 percent "de facto" Swedish unemployment rate. If the two countries' prison and jail populations are also included in the "de facto" unemployment rate, the U.S. rate rises to 15.2 percent, just 0.5 percentage points lower than what McKinsey's equivalent figure would be for Sweden--15.7 percent.
SUBDIVISION ON ARBITRARY MESHES: ALGORITHMS AND THEORY

This survey is based on a series of lectures presented at the IMS-IDR-CWAIP Joint Workshop on Data Representation at the National University of Singapore in August 2004. Our primary goal is to present a brief introduction to the algorithms and theory related to subdivision surfaces from basic facts about subdivision to more recent research developments. This tutorial is intended for a broad audience of computer scientists and mathematicians. While not being comprehensive by any measure, it aims to provide an overview of what the author considers the most important aspects of subdivision algorithms and theory as well as provide references for further study. A large variety of algorithms and a comprehensive theory exist for subdivision schemes on regular grids, which are only briefly mentioned in this survey. Subdivision on regular grids, being closely related to wavelet constructions, has an important applied role in many applications. However, ability to handle arbitrary control meshes was one of the primary reasons for the rapid increase in popularity of subdivision for computer graphics and geometric modeling applications during the last decade. This motivates our focus on schemes designed for such meshes. We start with a brief survey of applications of subdivision in computer graph-
Observation of an intensity dependent minimum and harmonic dependent linewidths in the high harmonic spectrum of N 2

We observe an intensity dependent minimum and harmonic dependent linewidths in the high harmonic spectrum of N2. The quantum mechanical origin of these features and their relevance to molecular orbital reconstruction is discussed.
Bioterrorism, Fear, and Public Health Reform: Matching a Policy Solution to the Wrong Window

During the 1990s, terrorist actions using biological weapons and the fear that rogue states possessed such weapons placed bioterrorism on the political agenda, a policy window widened by the September 11 attacks. Advocates for improving the U.S. public health infrastructure attempted to use this window to obtain the resources necessary for modernization. This article examines those efforts and identifies significant problems arising from a mismatch between the goals of public health policy entrepreneurs and the policy window used to address them. By defining bioterrorism as a security rather than a public health issue, policy entrepreneurs squander the opportunity to institute broad-based reforms that would improve not only the ability to manage a terrorist incident, but also meet other public health needs. The bioterrorism program proves a useful case study in how the goals of policy entrepreneurs can be displaced by attaching policy preferences to the wrong policy stream.
Oxidation of acetic acid solutions in a trickle-bed reactor

Rates of oxidation of dilute, aqueous solutions of acetic acid were measured at 252° to 286°C and 67 atm in liquid full and trickle-bed reactors packed with ferric oxide catalyst particles. Predicted global rates and conversions indicated that localized vaporization and liquid channeling could affect trickle-bed performance.
The Relationship between Alternate Language Exposure and English Comprehension in Infants

Most language acquisition research to date focuses on monolingual infants. In American society there is a burgeoning population of bilingual families where infants must learn the nuances of two languages simultaneously. To extend understanding of language development to this population, research specific to bilingual infants is needed. This study investigates 19-20 month old infants’ abilities to understand English when exposed to varying levels of alternate languages, including Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Punjabi, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, and Urdu. Participants included 26 babies whose language exposure consisted of at least 99% English, and 22 babies exposed to English and at least 15% of an alternate language. Infants’ English noun comprehension was measured using the Intermodal Preferential Looking Paradigm. During a four minute session, infants’ gazes were tracked while they looked at simultaneous images, one of which corresponded to a spoken English noun. Before or afterwards, parents identified which of the 16 trial words they believed their infants were able to understand and say. Comparisons were made through two-tailed t-tests that assumed unequal variances. Results showed that infants whose daily language exposure consists of 15-39% of an alternate language understood more English nouns than infants exposed to 40-90% of an alternate language and more than monolinguals. Comparisons of parental reports of infants’ speech similarly showed that infants exposed to higher levels of alternate language said fewer English nouns than infants exposed to lower levels of alternate language and fewer than monolingual infants. Validity of parental reports was evaluated through comparisons of parental estimations and experimental results. Monolingual parents reported higher levels of English comprehension than infants showed in the experimental task, while parents of bilinguals did not demonstrate this effect. Possible explanations for these results are discussed in light of past research and implications for English acquisition of bilingual children are considered.
A Measure of Perceived Environmental Uncertainty in Hospitals

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the preliminary psychometric properties of the Perceived Environmental Uncertainty Questionnaire (PEUQ). Environmental uncertainty (EU) refers to times when within the organization unanticipated events and problems occur withfrequency and cannot be predicted by members of the organization due to a lack of critical information. The PEUQ was designed as a measure of EU and was tested with 375 patient-care and nonpatient-care hospital employees. Internal consistency as measured by Cronbach 's alpha was .81. Confirmatory factor analysis supported two of the PEUQ 's hypothesized three factors: state and effect EU. These twofactors accountedfor 61. 1% of the variance in subjects 'level of uncertainty. Factor analysis failed to confirm response uncertainty as a subconstruct of EU. Contrasted group analysis found expected differences in the level of perceived EU between workers on different hospital units (t = -5.02, p < .001). This study provides evidence of the PEUQ s be...
Additions to the flora of Rhode Island

The recent checklist of Rhode Island plants (Gould et al. 1998) pro vides an excellent documentation of the state's vascular flora. Although geographically distant, I have continued to maintain an interest in the flora of my home state since my first publication on the subject (Tucker 1978). Over the past several years, I have made a few collections that are new records for the state flora. Most are non-native species, and are enumerated below by family.
Femtosecond pulse shaping and multiple-pulse spectroscopy

Summary form only given. There has been considerable interest recently in femtosecond pulse shaping techniques in which a single ultrashort pulse is converted into a tailored optical wave form. In this presentation, we present recent results of our continued efforts in femtosecond pulse shaping and its application to multiple-pulse spectroscopy and optical control over material responses.
Body image and personality predictors of eating disorder symptoms during the college years

Objective: Women entering college (N = 118) were longitudinally followed for 3 years with assessments of eating pathology (Restraint and Bulimia). Method: Measures taken at Time 1 included timing of onset of puberty, Figure Dissatisfaction, Ineffectiveness, Public Self-Consciousness, and mood states (Profile of Mood States). Measures were evaluated as predictors of changes in Restraint and Bulimia scores across the three-year period. Results: Both Restraint (r = .69) and Bulimia (r = .50) were quite stable across the 3 years. Mean weight gain of 5.4 pounds (p <.001) was paralleled by an increase in "ideal weight" of 4.7 pounds. Hierarchical regressions controlling for Time 1 levels of eating disorder symptoms revealed that changes in Bulimia (R 2 = .38, p <.0001) were related to the psychological measures and to Figure Dissatisfaction. Changes in Restraint (R 2 = .61, p <.0001) were significantly related to Figure Dissatisfaction. Discussion: Findings are discussed in the context of the value of longitudinal designs in identifying risk factors. Dissatisfaction with one's figure seems to be consistently related to worsening eating pathology. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 30: 28-36, 2001.
Summary and Discussion for Experimental Design Considerations in Drug Development

Experimental design is a fundamental component of nearly all phases of drug development. These phases include studies dealing with carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicology in animals, clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability, as well as those concerning efficacy and safety for human beings in Phases I–III and beyond. For all of these areas, statistical methodology can play an important role through its capabilities for the management of sources of variation. Many of the ways in which effective statistical involvement strengthens experimental designs are presented in the papers in this volume. Unifying concepts and issues for those papers are considered in this paper.
Novel Oral Anticoagulant Use Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalized With Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Background—Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been shown to be at least as good as warfarin for preventing stroke or transient ischemic attack in patients with atrial fibrillation, yet diffusion of these therapies and patterns of use among atrial fibrillation patients with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack have not been well characterized. Methods and Results—Using data from Get With The Guidelines-Stroke, we identified a cohort of 61 655 atrial fibrillation patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack hospitalized between October 2010 and September 2012 and discharged on warfarin or NOAC (either dabigatran or rivaroxaban). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with NOAC versus warfarin therapy. In our study population, warfarin was prescribed to 88.9%, dabigatran to 9.6%, and rivaroxaban to 1.5%. NOAC use increased from 0.04% to a 16% to 17% plateau during the study period, although anticoagulation rates among eligible patients did not cha...
Functional comparison of logic designs for VLSI circuits

A method is described for circuit equivalence which proceeds by reducing the question of whether two circuits are equivalent to a number of a more easily answered questions concerning the equivalence of smaller, related circuits. The primary technical contribution is a technique for discovering internal equivalences and using them to show the equivalence of the outputs. The method involves the use of signatures to reduce the number of potentially equivalent signals, and the use of the min-cut algorithm to reduce the original problem to related problems with fewer independent inputs. The method can be used to extend the power of any given equivalence checking algorithm. The authors report the result of experiments evaluating their technique. >
Practice parameter: Anticonvulsant prophylaxis in patients with newly diagnosed brain tumors Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology

The Quality Standards Subcommittee seeks to develop scientifically sound, clinically relevant practice parameters for the practice of neurology. Practice parameters are strategies for patient management that assist physicians in clinical decision making. A practice parameter is one or more specific recommendations based on analysis of evidence on a specific clinical problem. These might include diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, or procedure evaluation. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) members have requested the publication of a practice parameter on the use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Physicians often administer anticonvulsant medication prophylactically to patients with brain tumors, despite the lack of definitive evidence that prophylactic anticonvulsant therapy is effective in preventing first seizures.1-4 If anticonvulsant medications were free of side effects, their prophylactic use might be attractive even without such evidence. However, discomfort, expense, and inconvenience result from drug treatment and periodic monitoring of serum drug concentrations. Typical anticonvulsant-induced side effects, including cognitive impairment, myelosuppression, liver dysfunction, and dermatologic reactions (ranging from minor rashes to life-threatening Stevens–Johnson syndrome), appear to occur more frequently in patients with brain tumors than in other patient groups,3,5-16 although direct comparison studies have not been published. A spectrum of side effects unique to patients with brain tumors must also be considered. Phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital reduce the efficacy of corticosteroids,17-21 which are administered almost universally to brain tumor patients. In addition, the ability of these anticonvulsants to stimulate the cytochrome P450 enzyme system results in markedly accelerated metabolism of a wide spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents including nitrosoureas, paclitaxel, cyclophosphamide, topotecan, irinotecan, thiotepa, 9-aminocampothecin, adriamycin, and methotrexate.22-34 As a result, inadequate chemotherapeutic dosing of brain tumor patients has been identified recently as a widespread and critically important problem.35 Conversely, …
Conditions for the Validity of the Angular Spectrum of Plane Waves

The representation of the electromagnetic field as an angular spectrum of plane waves is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of certain problems in physical optics. In this paper the equivalence of the angular-spectrum representation and of one of Rayleigh’s integral transforms is demonstrated. Making use of conditions under which the Rayleigh integral formula exists as the unique solution to a certain class of boundary-value problems, conditions under which the angular-spectrum representation is valid are discussed.
Spatially Distributed Networks

In the previous chapters, we focused generally on single neurons, small populations of neurons, and the occasional array of neurons. With the advent of multielectrode recording, intrinsic imaging, calcium imaging, and even functional magnetic resonance imaging, it is becoming possible to explore spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity. This leads to a wealth of interesting fodder for the mathematically inclined and it is the goal of this chapter to provide some examples of this type of analysis. In Chap. 6, we looked at the propagation of action potentials down an axon; this is modeled as a partial differential equation. By looking for traveling waves, we were able to reduce the equations to a set of ordinary differential equations. When neurons are coupled together with chemical synapses, the natural form of coupling is not through partial derivatives with respect to space, but rather through nonlocal spatial interactions such as integral equations. In Sect. 8.4, we also looked at such models under the assumption that there is a single spike wave, much like an action potential. As with the partial differential equations, it is possible to look for specific forms of a solution (such as traveling waves or stationary patterns), but the resulting simplified equations do not reduce to ordinary differential equations. Thus, new techniques must be developed for solving these equations and (if desired) proving their existence and stability.
Intraoperative Adductor Canal Block for Augmentation of Periarticular Injection in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cadaveric Study.

Abstract Background Function is often sacrificed for pain control after total knee arthroplasty. Motor-sparing blocks, including adductor canal block (ACB) and periarticular injection (PAI), have gained interest to address this compromise. Our study evaluates the anatomic feasibility, accuracy, and safety of intraoperative ACB as an adjunct to PAI by analyzing 3 different injection orientations and needle configurations. Methods Eleven cadaveric knees underwent a standard medial parapatellar arthrotomy. Blunt dissection through the suprapatellar recess was performed. Using a 10-mL syringe, various colors of dyed liquid gelatin were injected toward the proximal and distal adductor canal (AC) using 3 needle configurations. Medial dissection of the knee for each specimen was performed. The position of each needle and location of injected dye was identified and described relative to the AC. Results Accuracy of each injection orientation and/or needle configuration was different: 86% for a blunt needle in the distal AC, 57% for blunt needle in the proximal AC, and 14% for a spinal needle in the proximal AC. Puncture of the femoral artery was observed with the spinal needle 43% of the time and had the closest average proximity to the femoral artery with a distance of 5.9 mm. There were no vascular punctures using blunt needles, and the average distance from the femoral artery with proximal and distal orientation was 10.2 mm and 15.4 mm, respectively. Conclusion Intraoperative ACB augmentation of PAI appears to be anatomically feasible and safe. There was decreased accuracy and increased risk of vascular puncture using a 3.5-inch spinal needle. A blunt 1.5-inch needle directed toward the distal AC had the highest accuracy while minimizing vascular injury.
Improved half-life measurement of {sup 224}Pa and its {sup 209}Bi({sup 18}O,3n){sup 224}Pa production cross section

${}^{224}\mathrm{Pa}$ was produced via the ${}^{209}{\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}(}^{18}\mathrm{O},3n)$ reaction at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron and the half-life was determined to be 850\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}20 ms by measuring its alpha decay using our rotating wheel system. Our value is consistent with a previously reported half-life of 950\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}150 ms for ${}^{224}\mathrm{Pa}$ produced via the ${}^{205}{\mathrm{T}\mathrm{l}(}^{22}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{e},3n)$ reaction, but its much more precise. The cross section for the ${}^{209}{\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}(}^{18}\mathrm{O},{3n)}^{224}\mathrm{Pa}$ reaction was measured to be 0.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 mb for 87--89 MeV ${}^{18}{\mathrm{O}}^{5+}$ projectiles incident on the target.
Constructing a Language Problem: Status-based Power Devaluation and the Threat of Immigrant Inclusion

Opposition to immigrant inclusion is often grounded in a “Latino threat” narrative that portrays Latino immigrants and their descendants as incapable of assimilation and “undeserving” of the benefi...
Lithographically Patterned Nanoscale Electrodeposition of Plasmonic, Bimetallic, Semiconductor, Magnetic, and Polymer Nanoring Arrays

Large area arrays of magnetic, semiconducting, and insulating nanorings were created by coupling colloidal lithography with nanoscale electrodeposition. This versatile nanoscale fabrication process allows for the independent tuning of the spacing, diameter, and width of the nanorings with typical values of 1.0 μm, 750 nm, and 100 nm, respectively, and was used to form nanorings from a host of materials: Ni, Co, bimetallic Ni/Au, CdSe, and polydopamine. These nanoring arrays have potential applications in memory storage, optical materials, and biosensing. A modified version of this nanoscale electrodeposition process was also used to create arrays of split gold nanorings. The size of the split nanoring opening was controlled by the angle of photoresist exposure during the fabrication process and could be varied from 50% down to 10% of the ring circumference. The large area (cm2 scale) gold split nanoring array surfaces exhibited strong polarization-dependent plasmonic absorption bands for wavelengths from ...
Abstract PL01-01: The role of telomeres and telomerase in aging and cancer

One of the fundamental differences in the behavior of human normal versus tumor cells is that most normal cells divide for a limited number of times (Hayflick Limit) whereas tumor cells can proliferate indefinitely (one of the hallmarks of cancer). It is widely believed that the biological function of cellular aging (senescence) is to serve as a mechanism for restricting cancer progression. It is now established that almost all advanced cancers express telomerase, and this provides the molecular mechanism for the bypass of both telomere-associated senescence. The following topics/questions will be discussed in this lecture. 1. Evidence that the telomere-based mechanism of cellular aging in human cells has held the test of time 2. The role of telomerase in bypassing telomere-based replicative senescence proves that the growth arrest of human cells with critically short telomeres is a key molecular basis of human cell aging 3. Progress in using telomerase inhibitors in targeting cancer 4. Development of accurate methods to quantitatively measure the shortest telomeres 5. Methods for safely using telomerase or telomerase activators for identifying and treating telomere diseases associated with aging? Goals and Objectives 1. To review the evidence that telomeres are a biomarker that is important in human aging and cancer. 2. To review the evidence that introduction of telomerase into normal cells does not lead to an increased risk of cancer and inhibition of telomerase can lead to cancer cell death 3. To review human diseases associated with telomere dysfunction and approaches to identifying and treating telomeropathies Citation Format: Jerry W. Shay. The role of telomeres and telomerase in aging and cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PL01-01.
Delayed voices: Intertextuality, music and gender in The Hole

ABSTRACTThe idea of delayed cinema offers a lens through which to explore Tsai Ming-liang's approach to intertextuality. As much as intertextuality for Tsai functions in the mode of homage or a self-conscious play with genre conventions, it also demands to be understood as a historically meaningful gesture. This article looks at The Hole's references to Grace Chang and post-war Mandarin popular cinema, taking up the question of why the music of Grace Chang. Is there more to the intertextual dialogue that the film establishes with her songs, beyond what many commentators have framed as a relation of counterpoint or ironic contrast? The entanglement of music, femininity and an ideal of cosmopolitan modernity within the figure of the songstress opens up provocative angles on the gender and identity politics of Tsai's work.
Energy-Performance as a driver for optimal production planning

Abstract In this paper, we present energy-aware production planning using a two-dimensional “Energy-Performance” measure. With this measure, the production plan explicitly takes into account machine-level requirements, process control strategies, product types and demand patterns. The “Energy-Performance” measure is developed based on an existing concept, namely, “Specific Energy” at machine level. It is further expanded to an “Energy-Performance” profile for a production line. A production planning problem is formulated as a stochastic MILP with risk-averse constraints to account for manufacturer’s risk averseness. The objective is to attain an optimal production plan that minimizes the total loss distribution subject to system throughput targets, probabilistic risk constraints and constraints imposed by the underlying “Energy-Performance” pattern. Electricity price and demand per unit time are assumed to be stochastic. Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) of loss distributions is used as the manufacturer’s risk measure. Both single-machine and production lines are studied for different profiles and electricity pricing schemes. It is shown that the shape of “Energy-Performance” profile can change optimal plans.
REGIONAL STUDIES OF CARBON CYCLES IN CHINA:PROGRESS AND PERSPECTIVES

Both China's terrestrial and marginal sea systems represent important components of the global carbon cycle. While the Chinese terrestrial ecosystems have been relatively well studied, carbon cycles in Chinese marginal seas are to be better understood. Chinese marginal seas including Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea represent a major component of the world ocean margin. This paper is attempting to provide an overview of the researches on the cycling of carbon in both Chinese terrestrial systems and marginal seas. Emphases are given to identify key processes that may be responsible for the carbon cycles. Based upon a regional carbon cycle box model that we compiled from updated data sets available, we conclude that there exist substantial unknowns and uncertainties in terms of both fluxes and processes. While we generally lack studies that integrate regional atmospheric-ocean margin land system processes, carbon cycling studies in Chinese marginal seas are particularly needed.
FAM83 proteins: Fostering new interactions to drive oncogenic signaling and therapeutic resistance

// Courtney A. Bartel 1 , Neetha Parameswaran 1 , Rocky Cipriano 1 and Mark W. Jackson 1,2 1 Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America 2 Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America Correspondence to: Mark W. Jackson, email: // Keywords : FAM83, EGFR, Oncogene, resistance Received : November 18, 2015 Accepted : May 11, 2016 Published : May 21, 2016 Abstract The FAM83 proteins were recently identified as novel transforming oncogenes that function as intermediaries in EGFR/RAS signaling. Using two distinct forward genetics screens, the Bissell and Jackson laboratories uncovered the importance of the FAM83 proteins in promoting resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and therapies targeting downstream EGFR signaling effectors. The discovery of this novel oncogene family using distinct genetic screens provides compelling evidence that the FAM83 proteins are key oncogenic players in cancer-associated signaling when they are overexpressed or dysregulated. Consistent with a role in oncogenic transformation, the FAM83 genes are frequently overexpressed in diverse human cancer specimens. Importantly, ablation of numerous FAM83 members results in a marked suppression of cancer-associated signaling and loss of tumorigenic potential. Here, we review the current knowledge of the FAM83 proteins’ involvement in cancer signaling and discuss the potential mechanisms by which they contribute to tumorigenesis. Both redundant activities shared by all 8 FAM83 members and non-redundant activities unique to each member are highlighted. We discuss the promise and challenges of the FAM83 proteins as novel points of attack for future cancer therapies.
Mandible and Tongue Development

The tongue and mandible have common origins. They arise simultaneously from the mandibular arch and are coordinated in their development and growth, which is evident from several clinical conditions such as Pierre Robin sequence. Here, we review in detail the molecular networks controlling both mandible and tongue development. We also discuss their mechanical relationship and evolution as well as the potential for stem cell-based therapies for disorders affecting these organs.