cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microdermabrasion for Enhanced Drug Delivery

The stratum corneum layer of the skin offers a significant barrier to diffusion of drugs into the skin. In this chapter we describe a relatively new approach called microdermabrasion to remove the stratum corneum layer rapidly and in a controlled fashion to aid in the delivery of topically applied drugs and vaccines across the skin. Microdermabrasion involves bombardment of the skin surface with sharp multifaceted microparticles that cut and remove skin layers. We describe the mechanism of microdermabrasion and the factors that affect microdermabrasion and summarize different in vitro and in vivo studies that have been performed with microdermabrasion. We also highlight microdermabrasion-induced biochemical changes that occur in the skin at the molecular level. The chapter ends with a discussion on challenges that need to be overcome to help develop microdermabrasion as a patient-friendly and economical device for skin-based drug and vaccine delivery.
Combination of digestibility marker and fiber affect energy and nitrogen digestibility in growing pigs

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate if (i) the coefficient of ileal apparent digestibility (CIAD) of gross energy (GE) or nitrogen (N) was influenced by the type of digestibility marker (DMr) and dietary fiber, and (ii) the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of GE or N was influenced by the type of method (i.e. total collection (TC) and DMr) and dietary fiber. Eighteen barrows fitted with a T-cannula at the end of the ileum were used in a 2-period randomized complete block design. Three corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated with corn starch, corn bran or oat bran at 100 g/kg. All 3 diets contained 3 DMr, which were chromic oxide (Cr), titanium dioxide (Ti), and acid-insoluble ash (AIA). The ileal digesta were collected for 3 days, and the CIAD of GE and N were determined by measuring Cr, Ti or AIA. The feces were collected by using TC method, and the CTTAD of GE and N were determined by using Cr, Ti, AIA, or TC method. There were interactions between diet and DMr (P
Abstract TP308: Annual Trends in Door to Needle Time in a Statewide Telestroke Program

Background and Purpose: The goals of telestroke programs are to provide safe and efficient stroke care to hospitals. An important marker of efficient acute stroke care delivery is door-to-needle (DTN) time, the time it takes from entrance into the emergency department to administration of alteplase. We sought to determine if DTN time was improving over time within our statewide telestroke network. Methods: From 5/4/2008-7/12/2015, we prospectively collected data on DTN time from consultations performed in our 18-hospital statewide telestroke network. DTN time was recorded on 765 of the 4985 consults where alteplase recommendations were documented. For all active hospital sites combined, the yearly mean DTN time was determined and compared by year with a one-way ANOVA and Tukey test. Results: Of the total 6116 consults performed over the time period, there was an average of 95.5 total consults/year among all 18 sites and an average of 8.3 consults/active site/year. The mean +/- SD DTN for all of the consults in all years was 85.4+/-42.0. As shown in the Figure, we found a significant decrease in DTN over time at (p Conclusions: Among a statewide Telestroke network, the mean DTN time continued to decrease over the last 7 years, reflecting more efficient delivery of acute stroke treatment. Since more efficient stroke care delivery is associated with better outcomes, this may be a contributing factor to the overall improved stroke mortality within the state.
Emerging technology for astronomical optics metrology

Abstract Next generation astronomical optics will enable science discoveries across all fields and impact the way we perceive the Universe in which we live. To build these systems, optical metrology tools have been developed that push the boundary of what is possible. We present a summary of a few key metrology technologies that we believe are critical for the coming generation of optical surfaces.
Adaptive control of an uncertain hammerstein actuator model in a variable cam timing system

We explore the use of adaptive control for a hydraulic actuator model in an engine with variable cam timing (VCT) system. The hydraulic actuator is modeled as a Hammer-stein system with an asymmetric, uncertain input nonlinearity followed by known time delay and linear dynamics. We begin the presentation by designing a fixed-gain baseline controller, which consists of a PI controller with high robustness margins, followed by a nonlinear-inverse lookup-table(LUT) controller. This baseline controller is shown to result in poor closed-loop performance in the presence of mismatch between the nonlinear-inverse controller and the input nonlinearity due to uncertainty. We formulate a recursive least-squares adaptation scheme that is applicable to piecewise-linear MISO LUTs, and apply the adaptation scheme to update the entries of the nonlinear-inverse LUT controller to handle the uncertainty in the nonlinearity. The adaptive system delivers superior closed-loop performance compared to the baseline architecture by self-tuning the nonlinear-inverse controller to the actual input nonlinearity.
Time-parallel simulation of air traffic networks

Air traffic management is widely studied in several different fields because of its complexity and criticality to a variety of stakeholders. However, the exploding amount of air traffic in recent years has created new challenges to ensure effective management of the airspace. A fast time simulation capability is essential to effectively explore the consequences of decisions of air traffic management. A new algorithm for simulating air traffic networks using a time-parallel simulation approach is proposed that distributes time segments of the simulation scenarios across different processors. A simulation model for the National Airspace System (NAS) is described and validated. The components of the simulator are described as well as the parallel simulation algorithms. Experimental results utilizing real-world traffic data for the continental U.S. are presented demonstrating the speed ups achieved by a prototype simulator. These results illustrate that time-parallel simulation can be used to significantly accelerate certain air traffic simulations.
Robotic-Assisted Pancreaticoduodenectomy: How We Do It

Improvements in surgical techniques and instrumentation have led to the advent of robotic surgery that is now considered to be the standard approach for multiple abdominal procedures. Adaptation of this technique to perform pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been slow due to several reasons, including complex anatomy, the need for multiple complex anastomoses, sparse data on the impact on short- and long-term oncological outcomes, and the lack of training facilities. However, some high-volume centers performing robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) have reported multiple benefits of this approach, including earlier postoperative oral intake, reduced operative blood loss, and decreased postoperative pain resulting in earlier recovery and shorter length of stay. Furthermore, RPD has been shown to have equivalent oncological outcomes as compared to the open approach in terms of number of resected lymph nodes and rates of negative margin resection. The technique of RPD remains heterogeneous varying from hybrid procedures to completely robotic PD. This chapter describes our surgical approach to performing a RPD and discusses patient selection and the current literature available on RPD.
Adolescent Boys and Anorexia Nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that primarily affects adolescent girls and young adult females, and is considered to be rare among males. It is estimated that one in 200 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years, the high risk group, develop anorexia nervosa with 90% of those affected being females. However, there has been a steady increase in the reported incidence of male anorectics, from approximately 5% (DSM III) in 1985, to as much as 10% in 1987 (NIMH, 1987). Since educators and counselors can serve a vital role in the early identification of this disorder, the young anorectic male has a better prognosis for recovery if they receive treatment during the early stages.
Comparing Thompson's Thatcher effect with faces and non-face objects

Senior Honors Thesis Project, April 6, 2007. Powerpoint poster by Elyssa Twedt, David Sheinberg, Isabel Gauthier accompanies thesis.
Simple Converse Theorem

We prove a simple form of the converse theorem for GL(n) over a function field F, “simple” referring to a cuspidal component. Thus a generic admissible irreducible representation π of the adele group GL(\(n, \mathbb{A}\)) with cuspidal components at a finite nonempty set S of places of F whose product L-function L(t, π ×π′) is a polynomial in t and has a functional equation for each cuspidal representation π′ of GL(\(n - 1, \mathbb{A}\)) whose components at S are cuspidal, is automorphic, necessarily cuspidal. The usual form of the converse theorem deals with the case where S is empty. But our simple form is sufficient for applications of the simple trace formula.
Roaming-like Mechanism for Dehydration of Diol Radicals.

Diol radicals (DRs) are important intermediates in biocatalysis, atmospheric chemistry, and biomass combustion. They are particularly generated from photolysis of halogenated diols and addition of hydroxyl radical to a double bond of unsaturated alcohols, such as lignols. The energized DRs further isomerize/decompose to form products, including water. Aqueous-phase dehydration in radiolytic and biomimetic systems typically occurs at low temperatures, with or without catalysis, whereas the gas-phase dehydration is usually considered energetically unfavorable. In the present study, we propose a new low-energy, roaming-like mechanism based on a detailed dispersion-corrected DFT and ab initio level analysis of the gas-phase dehydration of DRs obtained from the combination of OH radicals with allyl alcohol (AA, CH2═CHCH2OH)—the simplest relevant model of the unsaturated alcohols. The roaming pathways involve a nearly dissociated OH-group, which subsequently abstracts an H atom of the remaining fragment to form...
The Lifetime Reader

This is an exposition of the hardware and software hurdles that must be overcome to deploy a wearable sensor that collects all the text that it sees or hears. The text is uploaded to a standard private platform (a smartphone or a laptop) or to a cloud service for character and speech recognition followed by indexing. Selected segments are retrieved on demand. Compared to queries on the World Wide Web, searching the prospective microcosm of information is analogous to finding one's way in one's backyard instead of in a national forest.
Nonparametric Estimation of Search Costs for Differentiated Products: Evidence from Medigap

This article develops a method to estimate search frictions as well as preference parameters in differentiated product markets. Search costs are nonparametrically identified, which means our method...
NATIONWIDE READMISSIONS FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATION FOR ACUTE TYPE B AORTIC DISSECTION

Acute Type B aortic dissection (AD) can be managed medically (MM) or surgically (open repair vs thoracic endovascular aortic repair [TEVAR]). The burden of readmission following each treatment strategy has not been comprehensively explored. We identified admissions from 2010-2014 with a primary ICD
Enhancing classroom interaction: the integration of image-sharing projection software in social science and humanities classrooms

ABSTRACTFostering student-student and student–faculty interactions involves not only pedagogical design but also classroom technology. Image-sharing projection software, which allows multiple stude...
Rates and Risk Factors for Revision Hip Arthroscopy.

Background Revision hip arthroscopy often serves as a measure for a failed primary hip arthroscopy procedure. The purpose of this study was to examine the rate, timing, and risk factors for revision hip arthroscopy using a large national database. Methods The Humana administrative claims dataset was reviewed from 2007 through the second quarter of 2015 to identify patients undergoing hip arthroscopy using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and laterality modifiers. Patients with subsequent ipsilateral revision hip arthroscopy were identified and the rate and timing of these revisions determined. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine effects of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), osteoarthritis diagnosis, and specific hip arthroscopy procedure on revision rates. Results There were 1807 hip arthroscopy procedures identified with a revision rate of 4% (total of 72 procedures). Of the revision procedures, 43% occurred within 6 months after the index procedure, and 86% occurred within 18 months. Age < 50 years was the only significant predictor of revision hip arthroscopy (OR 2.03, CI 1.173.53) with an even distribution across younger age groups. An osteoarthritis diagnosis, gender, and BMI did not represent significant risk factors for revision (OR 0.87, 0.98, 0.9 and CI 0.5-1.51, CI 0.6-1.59, CI 0.37-2.12, respectively). Chondroplasty was the most common procedure leading to revision (46%) followed by labral repair (37%). The most common revision procedures were chondroplasty (44%) followed by femoroplasty (38%). Conclusions Overall, 4% of hip arthroscopy procedures underwent revision arthroscopy over the 8-year period. Revision was associated with age < 50, and revisions were most frequently performed for femoroacetabular impingement. The majority of revisions occurred within 18 months after the index procedure.Level of Evidence: IV.
4 – Reference Electrodes

Publisher Summary The chapter gives a detailed description of reference electrodes. The composition of a good reference electrode (RE) remains effectively constant, unvarying for the duration of an experiment. It provides a stable potential for controlled regulation of the working electrode (WE) potential. The reaction at the RE can be reversible. It permits a potential to be calculated from the Nernst equation, as well as have the capability to recover its potential after a current stress. Proper experimental design prevents incompatible species present in an electrolyte from reacting with the RE materials. Species that are in an electrochemical cell can interfere with the performance of an RE by poisoning the controlling redox process or increasing the solubility of the reference couple. All REs consist of four essential parts: body, top seal, junction, and active component of the electrode. Many of these elements are interchangeable and can be tailored to meet a variety of experimental conditions. The active component of an RE defines the baseline potential that can be developed by the RE.
The Costs of Free Entry: An Empirical Study of Real Estate Agents in Greater Boston

This paper studies the real estate brokerage industry in Greater Boston, an industry with low entry barriers and substantial turnover. Using a comprehensive dataset of agents and transactions from 1998-2007, we find that entry does not increase sales probabilities or reduce the time it takes for properties to sell, decreases the market share of experienced agents, and leads to a reduction in average service quality. These empirical patterns motivate an econometric model of the dynamic optimizing behavior of agents that serves as the foundation for simulating counterfactual market structures. A one-half reduction in the commission rate leads to a 73% increase in the number of houses each agent sells and benefits consumers by about $2 billion. House price appreciation in the first half of the 2000s accounts for 24% of overall entry and a 31% decline in the number of houses sold by each agent. Low cost programs that provide information about past agent performance have the potential to increase overall productivity and generate significant social savings.
Neurocognitive performance differences between black and white individuals with HIV disease are mediated by health literacy.

OBJECTIVE Health disparities are evident for Black Americans with HIV disease, who are disproportionally affected by the epidemic in the United States. The current study investigated whether the higher rates of neurocognitive impairment in Black Americans with HIV disease may be at least partly attributable to health literacy, which is a potentially modifiable factor. Method: Participants were 61 White and 25 Black participants (ages 27-70) with HIV disease who were enrolled in studies at an urban academic center in Southern California. Neurocognitive function was assessed by an age-adjusted global score from the Cogstate battery. Health literacy was measured by a composite score derived from the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, Newest Vital Sign, and 3-Brief. Results: Bootstrap confidence interval mediation analyses showed that health literacy was a significant mediator of the relationship between race and neurocognition; that is, there were no direct ethnoracial differences in neurocognition after accounting for health literacy. A follow-up model to confirm the directionality of this association demonstrated that neurocognition was not a significant mediator of the relationship between race and health literacy. Conclusions: Low health literacy may contribute to the higher rates of neurocognitive impairment for Black Americans with HIV disease. Future studies might examine the possible mechanism of this mediating relationship (e.g., access to health information, health behaviors, socioeconomics) and determine whether culturally tailored interventions that improve health literacy also confer broader brain health benefits for Black Americans with HIV disease.
Physical exercise increases perceived musical pleasure: Modulatory roles of arousal, affect, or dopamine?:

Music’s ability to influence exercise performance is well known, but the converse, how exercise influences music listening, remains largely unknown. Exercise can elevate arousal, positive affect, a...
The Glauert-Prandtl Approximation for Subsonic Flows of a Compressible Fluid

RECENT INTEREST in the compressibility effects has encouraged various investigations in the field of hydrodynamics of compressible fluids, or gas dynamics. Because of the inherent complexity of the problem, the * main effort up until now seems to be concentrated in finding a satisfactory approximate solution. One of these approximations is the Glauert-Prandtl method. The only conditions required for its validity are the vanishing of vorticity and that the deviation from the undisturbed parallel flow must be small. It is realized, of course, that these conditions are not always satisfied. For instance, near the nose of a thin airfoil, the deviation from the undisturbed parallel flow is not small. Furthermore, the flow behind a detached shock wave is subsonic but not irrotational. However, there are many problems in airplane design and its related fields which can be treated by the Glauert-Prandtl method, at least in first approximation. The method itself is simple and is applicable to three-dimensional flows as well as two-dimensional flows. These features are not present in other more refined approximations, such as the hodograph method. The authors therefore believe that such a powerful method should have a wider recognition of its potentiality beyond its present restricted application to thin airfoil theory. The first part of the present paper gives a general formulation of the three-dimensional flow problem with application to the calculation of wall interference in wind-tunnel testing at high speeds. This part of the work is prompted by a paper of the late Wieselsberger, which seems to be erroneous. Prandtl himself has formulated the general problem arid applied the method to the three-dimensional wing theory. Kiissner in his general wing theory has also touched upon this question. However, both treatments are brief and use the concept of acceleration potential, which is, perhaps, not so well known as the,concept of trailing vortices. Hence, it seems desirable to re-examine the wing theory from the usual point of view. This, of course, involves the derivation of the Biot-Savart law for the compressible flow by the Glauert-Prandtl approximation. This investigation constitutes the second part of the present paper where the mistake in Husk's treatment of the down-wash problem will be pointed out. The first order effect of compressibility
5 Cording, Cord Factors, and Trehalose Dimycolate

This chapter has two purposes. The first is to review the chemistry, biosynthesis, biologic activity, and pathogenic function for trehalose dimycolate (TDM). The second purpose of the chapter is to review the history, genetic determinants, and biochemical basis of the cording morphology. The historical controversy about the relationship between cording and TDM has been partially clarified by recent studies, which are used as the basis for the attempts to summarize the importance of TDM and cording in mycobacterial pathogenesis. Cording must be distinguished from clumping, which is a general property of mycobacteria owing to their hydrophobic surface. Characterization of umaA2 null mutants of BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis revealed a strain that lacked the proximal cyclopropane ring of the alpha mycolic acid. Genetic analyses of the cording morphology in M. tuberculosis have identified multiple genes that are necessary for the expression of the cording morphology. Chemical characterization of the active compound revealed, a glycolipid whose common name became “cord factor” based on its derivation from Bloch’s petroleum ether extracts. A biochemical screen for the molecular basis for mycolic acid transfer from glucose monomycolate (GMM) to free trehalose identified antigen 85 A-C. Each of the proteins transferred a mycolic acid from glucose monomycolate to free trehalose or GMM to produce GMM or TDM respectively. TDM can be isolated from all mycobacteria that synthesize mycolic acids. Cording remains a reliable predictor of attenuation and in many cases is due to loss of specific cell envelope lipids.
Theoretical Models of Shock Waves in Molecular Clouds

The important physical processes acting in shock waves in molecular clouds are discussed. The magnetic field plays an important role in determining the structure of a shock wave in molecular gas. Because of the low fractional ionization, the magnetic field lines, together with the electron-ion plasma, can “slip” through the neutral gas; this “magnetic-ion-slip” can result in shock structures which are qualitatively different from nonmagnetic shock waves. The molecular processes acting in shock waves are reviewed, with attention to molecular excitation and dissociation, and a few important chemical reaction channels. The infrared spectra of C-type shocks are discussed, and theoretical models are compared to observations (in the BN-KL region of the Orion Molecular Cloud) of emission lines from vibrationally and rot at ion ally-excited H2, and rotationally excited CO and OH. Theoretical shock modelling is currently hindered by uncertainties in various cross sections for collisional excitation; some of these uncertainties are pointed out in hopes of stimulating further theoretical or laboratory work.
Use of bone age in predicting risk of incurring neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract Sixty per cent of infants with birth weights from 1,001 to 2,500 grams were found to have visible calcium in the secondary centers of ossification of their knees at birth. The incidence of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in its severest form was 4 per cent in the group with visible centers, compared with 20 per cent in the group without visible centers. None of the former group died as a result of their RDS, compared to a fatality rate of 20 per cent in the group without visible centers.
Exploring the reactivity of a ruthenium complex in the metathesis of biorenewable feedstocks to generate value-added chemicals

Abstract Tricyclohexylphosphine[4,5-dimethyl-1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene][2-thienylmethylene]ruthenium(II) dichloride proves active for the ring-closing metathesis of linalool and citronellene, the self-metathesis of eugenol, and to some extent the ethenolysis of methyl oleate. Microwave heating and continuous-flow processing have been used as tools for performing the reactions. For the ring-closing metathesis reactions, transition from batch to flow processing for scale-up of the reaction is possible but it proves problematic in the case of cross-metathesis.
Enhanced Accuracy Moment Invariants for Biometric Recognition and Cryptosystems

Numerical accuracy of moment invariants is very important for reliable feature extraction in biometric recognition and cryptosystems. This paper presents a novel approach to derive accuracy enhanced moment invariants that are invariant under translation, rotation, scaling, pixel interpolation and image cropping. The proposed approach defines a cosine based central moment and adopts a windowing mechanism to enhance accuracy of moment invariants under translation, rotation, scaling, pixel interpolation and image cropping. It derives moment invariants by extending the knowledge used in Hu's and Maitra's approaches. Simulation results show that the proposed moment invariants highly accurate than Hu's and Maitra's moment invariants.
A longitudinal examination of role overload and work-family conflict: The mediating role of interdomain transitions

Summary Through the lens of boundary theory, we examine whether the relationship between role overload and work– family conflict is explained by the use of interdomain transitions. With a sample of 250 working adults, we examined whether individuals respond to role overload by engaging in interdomain transitions and how the frequency of these transitions influences work–family conflict both concurrently and over time. Results support our expectation that at a given time, interdomain transitions function as an episodic coping mechanism with short-term costs (greater work–family conflict) and benefits (less role overload). Also, engaging in interdomain transitions was an explanatory variable linking role overload and work–family conflict. We expected that, over time, engaging in interdomain transitions would function as a preventive coping mechanism, serving to reduce role overload. Interestingly though, several of the longitudinal hypotheses were counter to prediction. Our findings provide further evidence for the use of boundary theory in examinations of the work–family interface. Insights on areas within the literature that require further theoretical development are discussed, along with a consideration of the application of emerging methodologies within our empirical designs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relational Communication and Understanding in Conversations about Hurtful Events Between Parents and Adolescents

This article examines how the severity of a hurtful event and discrepancies in perceptions of relational communication affect perceived understanding and empathic accuracy (EA) in parent–adolescent discussions about a hurtful event in their relationship. Results from a dyadic interaction study showed that the severity of the hurtful event was negatively associated with perceived understanding. Furthermore, discrepancies in perceptions of disaffiliation behaviors during a conversation about a child's hurtful event were also negatively associated with perceived understanding. Discrepancy in perceptions of adolescent's dominance corresponded negatively with parents' perceived understanding when discussing the child's hurtful event. There were no significant associations with EA. The implications for work on hurtful events, understanding, and relational framing theory are discussed.
Evaporation and Evapotranspiration Estimation Methods

Estimation in spite of measurement is the common approach to acquire ET data for most applications. Selection of a method for a specific application requires evaluation of methods with respect to the accuracy needed, available input data, and cost of data generation. Methods vary by complexity and input data requirement. In cases where simple methods provide reasonable estimates, adaptation of such methods could be a cost-effective way of acquiring ET data. In this chapter, several open water evaporation and ET estimation methods are provided with application to a region. Methods are organized from the simplest to the most complex with evaluation of input data requirements. Measured, derived, and estimated input parameters for the application of the Penman–Monteith method are presented in detail with experimental measurements of resistance terms.
Scalable Hybrid Implementation of Graph Coloring Using MPI and OpenMP

Graph coloring algorithms are commonly used in large scientific parallel computing either for identifying parallelism or as a tool to reduce computation, such as compressing Hessian matrices. Large scientific computations are nowadays either run on commodity clusters or on large computing platforms. In both cases, the current target platform is hierarchical with distributed memory at the node level and shared memory at the processor level. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid graph coloring algorithm and discuss how to obtain the best performance on such systems from algorithmic, system and engineering perspectives.
Absolute Heats of Formation of CHCl, CHF, and CClF. A Gas-Phase Experimental and G2 Theoretical Study

The 298 K heats of formation of the singlet halocarbenes CHCl (1), CHF (2), and CClF (3) have been determined from measurements of the chloride dissociation energies of CHCl2- (1a), CHClF- (2a), and CCl2F- (3a) and the gas-phase acidities of CH2Cl2 (1b), CH2ClF (2b) and CHCl2F (3b), respectively. Analysis of the energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation cross sections for 1a, 2a, and 3a obtained with a flowing afterglow−triple quadrupole instrument gives the 298 K chloride dissociation enthalpies: 37.0 ± 2.7, 22.7 ± 2.2, and 25.2 ± 1.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Proton transfer equilibrium and acid−base bracketing measurements carried out in the flow tube give gas-phase acidities, ΔHacid, for 1b, 2b, and 3b of 377.6 ± 0.7, 385.9 ± 0.3, and 361.3 ± 2.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The chloride dissociation enthalpies and gas-phase acidities are combined in simple thermochemical cycles to derive 298 K heats of formation for 1, 2, and 3 of 80.4 ± 2.8, 34.2 ± 3.0, and 7.4 ± 3.2 kcal/mol, respectively. Critical ...
Presynthesis partitioning for hardware/software cosynthesis

A novel presynthesis algorithm for partitioning processes in distributed embedded computing systems is presented. The approach redesigns the task graph specification for a system to partition the processes that comprise the tasks into efficiently sized units of computation. Partitioning estimates the total system performance by estimating the final allocation of processes to processing elements. The algorithm tries to reduce process overhead while maintaining the parallelism necessary to achieve the required system performance. Experimental results show that the presynthesis technique can significantly improve both the CPU time and results obtained from cosynthesis.
An efficient methods for l∞ regression☆

Abstract Using a few very basic observations, we take full advantage of the special structure of the l ∞ regression problem to obtain a direct and finite algorithm for the computation of the l ∞ regression line. The complexity of the algorithm and the computational results showing the effectiveness of the algorithm will also be presented.
How to Develop Disability Awareness Using the Sport Education Model.

(2007). How to Develop Disability Awareness Using the Sport Education Model. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 78, No. 9, pp. 32-36.
The stereoselectivity of four hepatic glutathione S-transferases purifed from a marine elasmobranch (Raja erinacea) with several K-region polycyclic arene oxide substrates

Abstract Product analysis by HPLC demonstrated that three hepatic cytosolic glutathione S-transferases of little skate (E-2, E-3 and E-4) were highly stereoselective, if not stereospecific, for thiol reaction at the R-configured oxirane carbons of four K-region arene oxides; pyrene 4,5-oxide, (±)-benz[a]-anthracene 5,6-oxide, (±)-benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide and phenanthrene 9,10-oxide. A fourth transferase, E-5, exhibited no stereopreference with pyrene 4,5-oxide or phenanthrene 9,10-oxide. Immunological and electrophoretic evidence has shown that the three enzymes exhibiting stereospecificity have a common subunit which is absent from enzyme E-5. The high stereoselectivity of the three enzymes E-2, E-3, and E-4 was accompanied by effective catalysis of the reaction of GSH with these K-region epoxides, for example, the calculated turnover number for E-4 with benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide was 550.
Hovering Stability of Helicopters With Elastic Constraints

Aerial vehicles are difficult to stabilize, especially when acted upon by external forces. A hovering vehicle in contact with objects and surfaces must maintain flight stability while subject to forces imparted to the airframe through the point of contact. These forces couple with the motion of the aircraft to produce distinctly different dynamics from free flight. While external contact is generally avoided, extending aerial robot functionality to include contact with the environment during flight opens up new and useful areas such as perching, object grasping and manipulation. In this paper, we present a general elastic contact constraint model and analyze helicopter stability in the presence of those contacts. As an example, we evaluate the stability of a proof-of-concept helicopter system for manipulating objects using a compliant gripper that can be modeled as an elastic linkage with angular reaction forces. An off-the-shelf PID flight controller is used to stabilize the helicopter in free flight, as well as during the aerial manipulation task. We show that the planar dynamics of the object-helicopter system in vertical, horizontal and pitch motion around equilibrium are shown to remain stable, within a range of contact stiffnesses, under unmodified PID control.
In Vitro and in Vivo Analysis of the Binding of the C Terminus of the HDL Receptor Scavenger Receptor Class B, Type I (SR-BI), to the PDZ1 Domain of Its Adaptor Protein PDZK1

The PDZ1 domain of the four PDZ domain-containing protein PDZK1 has been reported to bind the C terminus of the HDL receptor scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), and to control hepatic SR-BI expression and function. We generated wild-type (WT) and mutant murine PDZ1 domains, the mutants bearing single amino acid substitutions in their carboxylate binding loop (Lys14-Xaa4-Asn19-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Phe-Leu24), and measured their binding affinity for a 7-residue peptide corresponding to the C terminus of SR-BI (503VLQEAKL509). The Y20A and G21Y substitutions abrogated all binding activity. Surprisingly, binding affinities (Kd) of the K14A and F22A mutants were 3.2 and 4.0 μm, respectively, similar to 2.6 μm measured for the WT PDZ1. To understand these findings, we determined the high resolution structure of WT PDZ1 bound to a 5-residue sequence from the C-terminal SR-BI (505QEAKL509) using x-ray crystallography. In addition, we incorporated the K14A and Y20A substitutions into full-length PDZK1 liver-specific transgenes and expressed them in WT and PDZK1 knock-out mice. In WT mice, the transgenes did not alter endogenous hepatic SR-BI protein expression (intracellular distribution or amount) or lipoprotein metabolism (total plasma cholesterol, lipoprotein size distribution). In PDZK1 knock-out mice, as expected, the K14A mutant behaved like wild-type PDZK1 and completely corrected their hepatic SR-BI and plasma lipoprotein abnormalities. Unexpectedly, the 10–20-fold overexpressed Y20A mutant also substantially, but not completely, corrected these abnormalities. The results suggest that there may be an additional site(s) within PDZK1 that bind(s) SR-BI and mediate(s) productive SR-BI-PDZK1 interaction previously attributed exclusively to the canonical binding of the C-terminal SR-BI to PDZ1.
Microbiology of drugs for treating multiply drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria

Several new antimicrobials demonstrate in vitro activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and other Gram-positive bacteria. Data from large surveys indicate that linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline are almost universally active against MRSA. Linezolid and tigecycline inhibit both Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis at low concentrations; daptomycin is somewhat more potent against the latter. The investigational agents dalbavancin and telavancin are more potent than vancomycin against vancomycin-susceptible organisms. Dalbavancin inhibits vanB type VRE at low concentrations, but is not active against vanA type VRE. Telavancin is less active against VRE than against vancomycin-susceptible enterococci, but minimum inhibitory concentrations are lower than those of vancomycin against VRE. With continued careful use of available antimicrobials, the vast majority of these organisms should remain susceptible to 1 or more of the agents discussed for the foreseeable future.
Research on aging in Latin America: Present status and future directions

This essay examines the status of aging research in Latin America. It presents a profile of the aging population in the Region in relation to societal institutions, illustrating how the aged are only marginally served by them. Most of the available information is derived from secondary sources and comes from international and national agencies, and private organizations. Data-based research includes small-sample studies of specific issues and country-specific investigations by both U.S. and Latin American researchers. Paradigms used emphasize successful/productive aging, functional ability, and, to a lesser extent, work focused on health conditions or specific situations such as poverty. The best sources of contextual information are often unpublished or not published in the mainstream literature. Future directions recommended include organizing existing data to inform policy, identifying, with Latin American researchers, the most critical research questions, formalizing collaborative relationships, and holding a working conference of those involved in Latin American aging research to develop a future agenda.
Identification of T-DNA tagged Arabidopsis mutants that are resistant to transformation by Agrobacterium.

We have identified T-DNA tagged Arabidopsis mutants that are resistant to transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens (rat mutants). These mutants are highly recalcitrant to the induction of both crown gall tumors and phosphinothricin-resistant calli. The results of transient GUS (β-glucuronidase) assays suggest that some of these mutants are blocked at an early step in the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation process, whereas others are blocked at a step subsequent to translocation of T-DNA into the nucleus. Attachment of Agrobacterium to roots of the mutants rat1 and rat3 was decreased under various incubation conditions. In most mutants, the transformation-deficient phenotype co-segregated with the kanamycin resistance encoded by the mutagenizing T-DNA. In crosses with susceptible wild-type plants, the resistance phenotype of many of these mutants segregated either as a semi-dominant or dominant trait.
STRUCTURE IN VITREOUS SILICATES AS SHOWN BY LOW-ANGLE SCATTERING OF X-RAYS

VITREOUS substances have been characterized by wide-angle X-ray methods as random, three-dimensional networks possessing no long-range order. Some recent experiments at the lower limits of resolution of the electron microscope1 have cast doubt on the correctness of this description and suggest that there are regions of different amounts of order in many vitreous silicates.
A matter of chance: the emergence of probability and the rise of public relations

Abstract Public relations became modern in the nineteenth century, when it was lifted off its rhetorical foundations by the force of revolutionary ideas in science, mathematics, and philosophy. One of these transformative ideas was probability, a mathematically oriented logic that originated in the seventeenth century, when science itself became modern. In the two centuries leading up to the emergence of a public relations industry in post-Civil War America, probabilistic conjecturing, particularly in Europe, altered the physical sciences and spawned and quantified the social sciences—the antecedents of modern public relations. Bursting into modernity, public relations absorbed probability’s relationalistic and pragmatic outlook, if not always its rigorous methodology. This metahistorical essay, which is indebted to a methodology known as the history of ideas, explores the ways that probabilistic reasoning shaped the epistemology of modern public relations. The essay concludes that an explanation for the remarkable pervasiveness of public relations may be found not only in the oft-repeated spread of mass media, but in the way PR expresses and addresses the accidental nature of events and the contingent quality of perception and opinion.
Increased content of cytochrome P-450 and 4-methylpyrazole binding spectrum after 4-methylpyrazole treatment

4-Methylpyrazole is a potent inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase and of ethanol metabolism. In vitro, 4-methylpyrazole was shown to inhibit microsomal oxidation of drugs and alcohols. Treatment of rats with 4-methylpyrazole at doses ranging from 0 to 300 mg per kg body wt per day for three days resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the content of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450. There was no change in the activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. 4-Methylpyrazole interacted with control microsomes to produce a type II binding spectrum, with a peak at 429 nm, and a trough at 392 nm. The magnitude of this spectral change was increased after 4-methylpyrazole treatment. Kinetic experiments indicated that the 4-methylpyrazole treatment lowered the dissociation constant (Ks) for 4-methylpyrazole. The maximal binding (Vs) was increased when expressed per mg microsomal protein, but not per nmol cytochrome P-450. Therefore, 4-methylpyrazole treatment can affect the microsomal mixed-function oxidase system in several ways, including binding to P-450 as well as inducing P-450.
Stress‐responsive microRNAs in Populus

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a group of small non-coding RNAs, have recently become the subject of intense study. They are a class of post-transcriptional negative regulators playing vital roles in plant development and growth. However, little is known about their regulatory roles in the responses of trees to the stressful environments incurred over their long-term growth. Here, we report the cloning of small RNAs from abiotic stressed tissues of Populus trichocarpa (Ptc) and the identification of 68 putative miRNA sequences that can be classified into 27 families based on sequence homology. Among them, nine families are novel, increasing the number of the known Ptc-miRNA families from 33 to 42. A total of 346 targets was predicted for the cloned Ptc-miRNAs using penalty scores of </=2.5 for mismatched patterns in the miRNA:mRNA duplexes as the criterion. Six of the selected targets were validated experimentally. The expression of a majority of the novel miRNAs was altered in response to cold, heat, salt, dehydration, and mechanical stresses. Microarray analysis of known Ptc-miRNAs identified 19 additional cold stress-responsive Ptc-miRNAs from 14 miRNA gene families. Interestingly, we found that individual miRNAs of a family responded differentially to stress, which suggests that the members of a family may have different functions. These results reveal possible roles for miRNAs in the regulatory networks associated with the long-term growth of tree species and provide useful information for developing trees with a greater level of stress resistance.
Integrating empirical–modeling approaches to improve understanding of terrestrial ecology processes

Recent decades have seen tremendous increases in the quantity of empirical ecological data collected by individual investigators, as well as through research networks such as FLUXNET (Baldocchi et al., 2001). At the same time, advances in computer technology have facilitated the development and implementation of large and complex land surface and ecological process models. Separately, each of these information streams provides useful, but imperfect information about ecosystems. To develop the best scientific understanding of ecological processes, and most accurately predict how ecosystems may cope with global change, integration of empirical and modeling approaches is necessary. However, true integration - in which models inform empirical research, which in turn informs models (Fig. 1) - is not yet common in ecological research (Luo et al., 2011). The goal of this workshop, sponsored by the Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program, was to bring together members of the empirical and modeling communities to exchange ideas and discuss scientific practices for increasing empirical - model integration, and to explore infrastructure and/or virtual network needs for institutionalizing empirical - model integration (Yiqi Luo, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA). The workshop included presentations and small group discussions that coveredmore » topics ranging from model-assisted experimental design to data driven modeling (e.g. benchmarking and data assimilation) to infrastructure needs for empirical - model integration. Ultimately, three central questions emerged. How can models be used to inform experiments and observations? How can experimental and observational results be used to inform models? What are effective strategies to promote empirical - model integration?« less
Artificial neural network analysis for evaluation of peptide MS/MS spectra in proteomics.

The aim of the work was to explore usefulness of artificial neural network (ANN) analysis for the evaluation of proteomics data. The analysis was applied to the data generated by the widely used protein identification program Sequest, completed with several structural parameters readily calculated from peptide molecular formulas. Proteins from yeast cells were identified based on the MS/MS spectra of peptides. The constructed ANN was demonstrated to classify automatically as either “good” or “bad” the peptide MS/MS spectra otherwise classified manually. An appropriately trained ANN proves to be a high-throughput tool facilitating examination of Sequest's results. ANNs are recommended as a means of automatic processing of large amounts of MS/MS data, which normally must be considered in the analysis of complex mixtures of proteins in proteomics.
Crossing species boundaries and making human-nonhuman hybrids: moral and legal ramifications.

(2003). Crossing Species Boundaries and Making Human-Nonhuman Hybrids: Moral and Legal Ramifications. The American Journal of Bioethics: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 20-21.