cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-accidental trauma: A national survey on management.

Abstract Introduction Non-accidental trauma (NAT) has significant societal and health care implications. Standardized care has been shown to improve outcomes. The purpose of our study was to survey trauma centers and elucidate the continued variable management of NAT. Methods After institutional review board approval, an email survey was sent to Level 1 and 2 ACS verified trauma centers along with general and pediatric surgery training programs. Trauma hospital characteristics and NAT management were analyzed. Results A total of 493 emails were sent and 91 responses (18%) were received. There were 74 (81%) pediatric surgeons who responded and 15(17%) adult general surgeons. The most common location of respondents were children’s hospitals within academic/community hospitals (58%) followed by stand-alone children hospitals (42%), and adult only hospitals (9%). 51 (57%) providers reported using a screening tool; most commonly used by the emergency department (52%). 75% of providers reported utilizing management protocols in which 71% were initiated by trauma surgery. The most common consulting and admitting service for NAT was trauma surgery (86% and 84%). When comparing stand-alone and affiliated children hospitals, there was no difference in the use of a screening tool (54% vs. 59%; p = 0.84), and management protocol (70% vs. 85%; p = 0.19). However, those providers from pediatric trauma centers used a management protocol more often than providers from adult trauma centers (78% vs. 38%; p = 0.04). No providers from adult trauma centers had intentions to initiate a management protocol in the future. Conclusion Screening and management of non-accidental trauma continues to vary across the country. Future studies focusing on standardization and outreach/education to adult trauma centers is warranted.
Primary Care Vasculitis: Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are related inflammatory diseases of adults aged 50 years or older. The diagnosis of PMR is based on morning stiffness, proximal shoulder and pelvic girdle pain, and functional impairment. GCA is characterized by headache, jaw claudication, and visual disturbances. Constitutional symptoms and elevated inflammatory markers are common to both conditions. Temporal artery biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of GCA. Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone of therapy, with tapering regimens individualized to the patient. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to avert vision loss in GCA. Tocilizumab increases remission rates in GCA.
“Undocumented and Citizen Students Unite”: Building a Cross-Status Coalition through Shared Ideology

Social movement coalitions present unique opportunities and challenges for collective action as they bring together organizations, movements, and individuals who hold diverse interests and social positions. The literature suggests that collective identity and shared ideology both offer opportunities for bridging these differences, but few have addressed their relative utility. Drawing on a case study of a university-based coalition of undocumented and citizen students working to build support for the federal DREAM Act, I find that a social justice ideology was used to facilitate fast-paced recruitment, create simplified participation guidelines based on legal status, and allow for the strategic renegotiation of participation. I argue that building a cross-status coalition through a shared ideology has two key advantages: (1) it allows for fast-paced coalition formation and (2) it promotes the mobilization and commitment of organizations and individuals who occupy different identities and social locations. Additionally, I suggest that conflict among members can be best negotiated through the development of discursive and interactive spaces that allow individuals to engage across their different social locations.
Structural methods in pattern analysis

This chapter summarizes some of the contemporary work in structural pattern analysis which uses explicit or implicit representations of structure. The two major areas described are formal relational approaches and syntactic/semantic approaches. The techniques are illustrated with examples from the literature.
Lattice Methods in Computation of Sequential Markov Equilibrium in Dynamic Games

This paper uses lattice programming methods along with the extension of Tarski's fixed point theorem due to Veinott (1992) and Zhou (1994) to establish sufficient conditions for existence of sequential symmetric Markov equilibrium in a large class of dynamic games. Our method is constructive and we provide specific algorithms for computing equilibrium. These results are applied to the classic fishwar game in the context of a finite horizon.
Tritium Absorption in Type 304L Stainless Steel

Tritium absorption was determined in Type 304L austenitic stainless steel by analyzing concentration gradients obtained during prolonged exposures to high-pressure gaseous tritium. The calculated t...
Optimal Hypercube Algorithms for Labeled Images (Preliminary Version)

Optimal hypercube algorithms are given for determining properties of labeled figures in a digitized black/white image stored one pixel per processor on a fine-grained hypercube. A figure (i.e., connected component) is a maximally connected set of black pixels in an image. The figures of an image are said to be labeled if every black pixel in the image has a label, with two black pixels having the same label if and only if they are in the same figure. We show that for input consisting of a labeled digitized image, a systematic use of divide-and-conquer into subimages of n c pixels, coupled with global operations such as parallel prefix and semigroup reduction over figures, can be used to rapidly determine many properties of the figures. Using this approach, we show that in Θ(log n) worst-case time the extreme points, area, perimeter, centroid, diameter, width and smallest enclosing rectangle of every figure can be determined. These times are optimal, and are superior to the best previously published times of Θ(log2n).
Plasma cathelicidin and longitudinal lung function in current and former smokers.

INTRODUCTION Cathelicidin (also known as LL-37 in humans) is an antimicrobial peptide secreted by epithelial and immune cells and regulated by vitamin D. The immunological roles of cathelicidin make it a putative biomarker to identify individuals at risk for reduced lung function. The objective of this study is to determine potential independent associations between low plasma cathelicidin and longitudinal lung function in current or former smokers without COPD. METHODS In a nested analysis of 308 participants from an observational cohort study, plasma cathelicidin and serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D measurements were obtained at baseline, years three and five. The independent association between lowest quartile cathelicidin (<35 ng/ml) and forced-expiratory-volume-in-1-second (FEV1) at baseline, six and 18 months from each cathelicidin measurement was assessed with generalized estimating equations after adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking status and intensity. The long-term stability of cathelicidin and relationship with vitamin D was evaluated. RESULTS The cohort was 91% African-American, mean age 48.6 years, 32% female, and 81% current smokers. Participants with low cathelicidin were more likely to be female and have lower FEV1. Low cathelicidin was not independently associated with baseline FEV1. There was an independent association between low cathelicidin and reduced FEV1 at six months [-72 ml (95% CI, -140 to -8ml); p = 0.027] and 18 months [-103 ml (95% CI, -180 to -27 ml); p = 0.007]. Cathelicidin was stable over time and not correlated with vitamin D level. CONCLUSION In current and former smokers with preserved lung function, low cathelicidin is associated with sustained lung function reductions at six and 18 months, suggesting that cathelicidin may be an informative biomarker to predict persistent lung function disparities among at-risk individuals.
Meetings: A Framework to Improve Effectiveness and Employee Satisfaction

Meetings are a necessary, but often unexamined part of organizational life. Meetings are used to make decisions, distribute information, brainstorm solutions, and report on progress. Meetings take up a massive part of a librarians or managers day, but we seldom talk about how effective meetings are, or how to properly run a meeting. This paper describes the role of meetings on employee satisfaction, employee attitude, and on meeting effectiveness. Drawing upon research and literature in the fields of business and LIS, the paper concludes with a framework and strategies to run more engaging and effective meetings.
Amikacin exposure and susceptibility of macrolide-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus

Mycobacterium abscessus is associated with antibiotic resistance and poor treatment outcomes. We described within-patient changes in M. abscessus resistance to clarithromycin and amikacin. Patients with amikacin exposure and a >50-month interval between M. abscessus isolates were identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on the first and last isolates by broth microdilution, and genetic markers of resistance were identified. 16 patients were identified with a median amikacin exposure of 2.3 years (range 0.6–8.6 years). 15 patients also received macrolides (median 7.2 years, range 1.3–10.7 years). All initial isolates were resistant to clarithromycin (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥8 µg·mL−1). Two patients had later susceptible isolates, which were of a different subspecies (M. abscessus subsp. massiliense) than the initial isolates (M. abscessus subsp. abscessus). All initial isolates were susceptible or intermediately resistant to amikacin, and only one patient had a resistant final isolate (MIC >64 µg·mL−1), accompanied by an A→G mutation at position 1408 of the 16S ribosomal RNA. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s decreased significantly over the study period, while smear quantity and the proportions of patients with elevated C-reactive protein or cavitary lesions all increased significantly. Despite prolonged, mostly inhaled amikacin exposure, development of amikacin resistance was uncommon in this patient population; however, disease progression continued.
Estrogen receptors differentially regulate intracellular calcium handling in human nonasthmatic and asthmatic airway smooth muscle cells.

Asthma is defined as chronic inflammation of the airways and is characterized by airway remodeling, hyperresponsiveness, and acute bronchoconstriction of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. Clinical ...
Neo-aortic Root Dilatation, Aortic Stiffness, and Ventricular interactions in Long-Term Follow-Up After the Ross Procedure in Childhood

Patients after the Ross procedure are at risk for right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction due to neo-aortic and pulmonary dysfunction. While neo-aortic root dilatation has been related to LV dysfunction, the potential contributions of aortic stiffness and ventricular interactions have not been evaluated. Patients status post Ross procedure up to age 18 years with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) exam from 2007 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was calculated from phase contrast and angiogram images. RV and LV peak global longitudinal (GLS) and circumferential strain (GCS) were measured using tissue tracking software. Multivariable regression was performed for variables associated with parameters of LV function. In 58 patients (median age 20.5 years at CMR exam), male gender, longer time since Ross procedure, aortic root dilatation, and lower RV ejection fraction (EF) were associated with decreased LV EF. There was no association with LV late gadolinium enhancement or neo-aortic or conduit regurgitation. LV GCS and GLS also correlated with RV GCS, RV GLS and PWV. In multivariable analysis, the relation of RV and LV systolic function, but not aortic measurements, remained significant. In conclusion, in long-term follow-up after pediatric Ross procedure, RV function rather than aortic root size or aortic stiffness most closely relates to LV function. Ventricular interactions may impact decision-making on timing of conduit intervention, which could differ from established criteria in populations with only aortic or pulmonary valve disease. Further study is warranted to evaluate possible association with clinical outcome.
Chapter 9 – Sulfhydryl Chemistry

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the sulfhydryl amino acids cysteine and cystine. Cystine is composed of two cysteine groups that have formed an S–S bond either in the same polypeptide chain—an intrachain bond—or between two different chains—an interchain bond. A reactive cysteine group is a part of the biochemical reaction center of an enzyme. A way to use the extreme reactivity of the sulfhydryl group is to modify it so that the protein contains a molecular probe compound that may be an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) reactive compound. Either of these can be used as a molecular probe. A marker attached to a sulfhydryl group is often easy to locate because of the group's reactivity and the relative scarcity of cysteine in most proteins. Cysteine may have a role as an antioxidant. Keratin is a protein with two major structures: α-helices and sulfhydryl cross-linkages. The numerous S–S links give it some of its strength and some of the functional properties so important to wool or hair.
User centered design and assessment of a wearable application for children with autistic spectrum disorder supporting daily activities

The paper presents the development and testing of a mobile and wearable solution for supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their carers (parents, specialists) in everyday living. The platform supports four main axes: location monitoring, communication, scheduling, physiological parameters monitoring. The application runs on Android Smartphones and Smartwatches with Wear OS. The research supports that an appropriate combination of the above features can effectively assist everyday life activities and facilitate the independent living of the targeted population. Forty-five subjects (twenty high-functioning children with autism and twenty-five parents/carers) participated in the study. The subjective evaluation of the solution revealed important considerations for further developments. Real-world applications, able to run in an open and uncontrolled environment are critical for this population. Based on the findings, it appears that the proposed solution can be proved valuable to children with ASD, making their lives and their carers' and parents' lives easier.
Variation-Aware Heterogeneous Voltage Regulation for Multi-Core Systems-on-a-Chip with On-Chip Machine Learning

Large-scale systems-on-a-chips (SoCs) have stringent power requirements to ensure adequate supply of power to on-die devices and prevent catastrophic timing violations. Heterogeneous voltage regulation (HVR) leveraging a combination of on-chip and off-chip voltage regulators has been advocated for ensuring power integrity with maximum efficiency. However, unavoidable process and temperature variations have not been considered in prior HVR work. In this paper, we present an in-depth evaluation of the impacts of process and temperature variations on HVR. Furthermore, we propose a systemic solution to incorporate variation awareness into the HVR system control policy to add a further improvement of up to 4.28% in system power efficiency with minimal hardware overhead.
A Multi-threaded Method to Assemble a Sparse Stiffness Matrix for Quasi-static Solutions of Linearized Bond-Based Peridynamics

Peridynamics is generally applied to obtain dynamic solutions of crack propagation problems where crack initiation, crack branching and usually fast fracture are involved. A fairly straightforward explicit time-stepping scheme is most commonly used. Quasi-static solutions can be obtained using an adaptive dynamic relaxation method or an energy minimization method applied to the dynamic equations of motion or by solving a linear system of equations in the case of linearized peridynamics for an implicit solution. A direct solution approach by forming a linear system of equations is advantageous as the implementation is fairly straightforward and does not require multiple iterations. However, memory requirements for storing full stiffness matrices scale quadratically with the number of degrees of freedom. For example, in 2D, a grid of nominal size, say 104 particles, would require memory of nearly 3 gigabytes when using double precision. This work presents detailed algorithms that use coordinate and neighbor information to directly generate the sparse matrices required to solve a peridynamic system of equations for quasi-static simulations. The algorithms are first prototyped in MATLAB®; and the stiffness matrix and solutions are verified by comparing with their counterparts obtained by assembling the full stiffness matrix. The algorithms are also implemented in a C++ code that is run on multiple threads and the performance is evaluated as a function of parameters such as problem size, horizon, and the number of threads used. The performance and solutions of two problems with a static crack and a propagating crack are compared with solutions obtained using more traditional methods. It is found that a massive computational gain can be achieved in terms of both memory and performance by taking advantage of multi-threading and sparse implementation simultaneously.
PERCEPTIONS OF NETWORK BASED RECRUITMENT FOR HEPATITIS C TESTING AND TREATMENT AMONG PERSONS WHO INJECT DRUGS: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION

Abstract Background Social network interventions that take advantage of existing individual and group relationships may help overcome the significant patient, provider, and system level barriers that contribute to low hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID). Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 HCV antibody positive PWID (15 male, 5 female) in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We utilized thematic analysis and employed both inductive and deductive coding techniques to assess perceptions of barriers and facilitators of social network interventions for HCV testing, linkage to care, and treatment among PWID. Results PWID perceived a high prevalence of HCV within their social networks, especially within injection drug use networks. Overwhelmingly, participants reported a willingness to discuss HCV and provide informational, instrumental, and emotional support to their network members. Support included sharing knowledge, such as where and how to access HCV care, as well as sharing lived experiences about HCV treatment that could help peers build trust within networks. Participants who were already linked into HCV care had an increased understanding of using social network interventions to provide peer navigation, by accompanying network members to HCV related appointments. Across interviews, drug use related stigma and feeling undeserving of HCV treatment due to previous negative experiences accessing the health care system emerged as a major barrier to linkage to HCV treatment and cure. Undeservingness was often internalized and projected onto network members. To overcome this, participants supported access to low-barrier HCV treatment in alternative locations such as community-based or mobile clinics and drug treatment centers. Conclusion Social network based interventions have potential to increase HCV treatment uptake among PWID. To be successful, these interventions will need to train peers to share accurate information and personal experiences with HCV testing and treatment and enhance their ability to provide support to network members who face significant stigma related to both HCV and drug use.
Pediatric Patient Traumatic Brain Injury Prediction 1

Existing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) mortality prediction models have not historically accounted for the low mortality rate of pediatric patients, causing class-imbalance problems and undermining classifier prediction performance. We minimize class-imbalance effects by separately implementing case-weighting and subsampling for eight supervised machine learning (ML) techniques, trained and evaluated on pediatric patient National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) data. The training set consists of pediatric TBI patient records between 2010 and 2014, where records from 2015 are used as the test set. Unweighted models, trained on data modified by Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) and Random Over-sampling Examples (ROSE), included Stacked Autoencoder Deep Neural Network (SAE-DNN), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Naive Bayes Classifier (NB), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Case-weighted models, trained on standardized data, included Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), C5.0 Decision Tree (C5.0), and Logistic Regression (LR). Preliminarily, XGB and C5.0 were best able to distinguish between classes. Models trained on SMOTE data maximized metrics accounting for class-imbalance and models trained on ROSE data tended to generally underperform.
Association of state social distancing restrictions with nursing home COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 outcomes

The COVID-19 poses a disproportionate threat to nursing home residents. Although recent studies suggested the effectiveness of state social distancing measures in the United States on curbing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among the general population, there is lack of evidence as to how these state orders may have affected nursing home patients or what potential negative health consequences they may have had. In this longitudinal study, we evaluated changes in state strength of social distancing restrictions from June to August of 2020, and their associations with the weekly numbers of new COVID-19 cases, new COVID-19 deaths, and new non-COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes of the US. We found that stronger state social distancing measures were associated with improved COVID-19 outcomes (case and death rates), reduced across-facility disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, but more deaths due to non-COVID-19 reasons among nursing home residents.
RETROSPECTIVE COMPUTER-ASSISTED IMAGE ANALYSIS OF DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN PULMONARY HYPERTENSION PATIENTS

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is diagnosed invasively by right heart catheterization (RHC), which determines patient’s mean and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP, sPAP) and pulmonary vascular ...
Meaningful messaging: Sentiment in elite social media communication with the public on the COVID-19 pandemic

Elite messaging plays a crucial role in shaping public debate and spreading information. We examine elite political communication during an emergent international crisis to investigate the role of tone in messaging, information spread, and public reaction. By measuring tone in social media messages from members of the U.S. Congress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we find clear partisan differences and a differential impact of tone on message engagement and information spread. This suggests that even in the midst of an international health crisis, partisanship and emotional rhetoric play a critical part in elite communications and contribute to the attention messages receive. The messaging on COVID-19 is polarized and fractured. The valenced messaging provokes divergence in public engagement, reaction, and information spread. These results have important implications for studies of representation, public opinion, and how government can effectively engage individuals in emergent situations or pivotal moments.
New Strategies for Groundwater Litigation in Texas

In 2012, the Texas Supreme Court’s ruling in the Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Day established a vested right in groundwater in the surface owner. Since then, litigation has centered on the 5th Amendment rights of property owners who were denied a permit by a Groundwater Conservation District (GCD). Concerns about compensation obligations have made GCDs hesitate to promulgate or enforce policies that could result in costly litigation. This development serves to prioritize the property interests of those who wish to pump large quantities over property owners who value leaving water in place and threatens the management of the aquifers. Permitting based solely on a property right undermines the larger legal obligations of groundwater districts created by Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code. Requirements include protecting all property interests within the district, the aquifer itself, and associated natural resources. When viewed in a larger context of Districts’ authority and obligations, additional litigation avenues are possible that will balance the rights of all owners and better protect water resources. This paper explores the laws governing Districts including a detailed evaluation of their authority and a review of takings jurisprudence through a conservation lens.
Contingency Management and the Community Reinforcement Approach

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews how drug use within an operant framework is conceptualized as learned behavior that falls along a continuum ranging from light use with no problems to heavy use with many untoward effects. The same basic learning principles are assumed to operate across the drug-use continuum. The overarching goal of treatments based in this framework is to decrease the rate of reinforcement obtained through drug use and related activities by enhancing the material and social reinforcement obtained through an alternative, nondrug source of reinforcement, especially from participation in activities deemed to be incompatible with a drug-abusing lifestyle. Treatments developed within an operant framework are designed to reorganize the user's environment to systematically increase the rate of reinforcement obtained while abstinent from drug use and reduce or eliminate the rate of reinforcement obtained through drug use and associated activities.
Models in Linguistics and Models in General

Publisher Summary The term “model” is relatively new in linguistics and it is modeled after models in mathematics, but the use of what may reasonably be regarded as models is as old as the study of language. While linguists have consciously borrowed the concept of models from mathematics, they have not been uninfluenced by the use of models in the other sciences and by the various uses in everyday life. Everyday usage usually limits itself to models in the form of 3-dimensional spatial shapes, with or without additional features, such as the power supply used in driving toy models. Two-dimensional diagrams are not commonly called models. A piano arrangement of a symphony ordinarily is not considered a model of the symphony, because it is not in 3-dimensional space, even when in the form of printed music. The other use of models that is mentioned in the chapter is the programmed production processes in industry. Summarizing the usages by linguists and non-linguists, the chapter also provides the lists of synonyms or the characterizations of model and of non-synonyms or notions contrasted with model.
Decoherence, Quantum Zeno Effect, and the Efficacy of Mental Effort

Recent theoretical and experimental papers support the prevailing opinion that large warm systems will rapidly lose quantum coherence, and that classical properties will emerge. This rapid loss of coherence would naturally be expected to block any critical role for quantum theory in explaining the interaction between our conscious experiences and the physical activities of our brains. However, there is a quantum theory of mind in which the efficacy of mental effort is not affected by decoherence effects. In this theory the effects of mental action on brain activity is achieved by a Quantum Zeno Effect that is not weakened by decoherence. The theory is based on a relativistic version of von Neumann's quantum theory. It encompasses all the predictions of Copenhagen quantum theory, which include all the validated predictions of classical physical theory. In addition, it forges two-way dynamical links between the physical and experiential aspects of nature. The theory has significant explanatory power.
Ecohydrology of an outbreak: mountain pine beetle impacts trees in drier landscape positions first

Vegetation pattern and landscape structure intersect to exert strong control over ecohydrological dynamics at the watershed scale. The hydrologic implications of vegetation disturbance (e.g. fire, disease) depend on the spatial pattern and form of environmental change. Here, we investigate this intersection at Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest (TCEF), Montana, with a focus on the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) epidemic currently affecting the Rocky Mountains. We calibrated QuickBird remote sensing imagery with a leaf-level spectral library of local vegetation. We used this spectral library to determine diagnostic vegetation indices for differentiating stages of beetle infestation within the 37 km2 TCEF watershed. These indices formed the basis of a three-component mixing model to establish the extent and magnitude of beetle infestation across the TCEF watershed. We compared disturbance patterns with spatially distributed topography and vegetation variables derived from a light detection and ranging-based digital elevation model of TCEF. We determined that certain landscape characteristics (low vegetation density, south-facing slopes, steep slopes, locations with small contributing areas and locations with lower values of the topographic wetness index) were significantly more likely to exhibit the effects of beetle infestation. Our efforts to monitor vegetation mortality across space and time provide a context for assessing landscape susceptibility to initial mountain pine beetle infestation and how outbreak (i.e. landscape scale infestation) patterns may affect watershed ecohydrology via altered water and biogeochemical cycles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthetic Biology Approaches to Dissecting Multiple Motor Functions in Living Cells

Dissecting how the coordination of cytoskeletal motor proteins, (kinesin, dynein and myosin) has become increasingly important to characterizing various transport processes in eukaryotes. Most subcellular commodities (ribonucleoprotein, particles, organelles, vesicles etc.) are driven by “teams” of motor proteins that are composed of multiple copies of the same motors or even mixtures of different motors that move in opposite directions, with different velocities, or along different types of filament tracks. Consequently, numerous intracellular transport processes and regulatory mechanisms depend fundamentally on how these collections of similar and dissimilar motors either cooperate or compete with one another. Understanding these behaviors are important to elucidating various disease pathologies stemming from motor and other transport-related protein mutations since their impact on cargo transport will ultimately depend on the extent to which they perturb the composite dynamics of motor systems that also contain wild type motors. Our work has focused on developing genetically engineered cells that can be used to characterize endogenous cargo transport and trafficking response to variation in motor number, type and ratio and cargo size. While integrating multiple genetic control elements, these cells also exploit drug- and light-dependent protein dimerization switches to allow competitions between different types of wild-type and mutant motors to be adaptively regulated. We are also developing micro-fabrication techniques to pattern these cells into defined shapes as a way to control the organization of their cytoskeleton and facilitate direct comparisons of transport responses within the cell population. Given these unique handles, these cells provide a powerful platform to examine fundamental mechanisms of intracellular transport regulation and assess the impact of disease-related motor mutations.
The enemy is still at the gates: threats to information security revisited

In this paper the authors examine modern threats to information security and compare their findings to a 2003 study. The study also examines current risk management methods, metrics and preferred security standards that influence organizational information security efforts.
Multiphase Flow Concentration Characterization in Slurries During Pulse Jet Mixing

Obtaining real-time, in situ slurry concentration measurements during unsteady mixing can provide increased understanding into mixer performance. During tests of an operating pulse jet mixing system, an ultrasonic attenuation sensor was inserted into a mixing vessel to measure the slurry concentration during unsteady mixing in real time. Pulse jet mixing tests to suspend noncohesive solids in Newtonian liquid were conducted at three geometric scales. To understand the solids suspension process and resulting solids distribution, the concentration of solids in the cloud was measured at various elevations and radial positions during the pulse jet mixer cycle. This paper presents transient concentration data obtained at three scales at the tank center to provide insight into pulse jet mixer performance.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The microchannel plate as vertex detector in high energy physics experiments

Abstract The properties of a microchannel plate exposed to a high energy hadron beam have been studied. When the beam was passed through the plate transverse to the microchannel axes, about 2 microchannels per millimeter were excited and an rms error of less than 10μm was obtained. Prospects for improvement are discussed.
Strategies in Articular Cartilage Restoration—Present Advances in Biologic Intervention for Adult Knee Problems

Although a number of new methods have improved our ability to treat articular injuries of the knee, no procedures have yet been proven to restore injured hyaline cartilage to its original state. Multiple techniques are used to address full-thickness chondral or osteochondral defects. This review briefly examines surgical options for this pathology. If amenable, all attempts should be made to repair osteochondral injuries. If unable to do so, preoperative anatomic factors, such as alignment, ligamentous stability, and meniscal integrity, should be carefully considered. Additionally, indications for surgery and patient factors must be thoroughly reviewed to identify appropriate candidates for treatment. Size and previous attempts at treatment often dictate care, which may include microfracture, osteochondral transplantation (osteoarticular transfer system and mosaicplasty), or autologous chondrocyte implantation. Upcoming advances intend to minimize surgical morbidity while improving cartilage regeneration and articular incorporation. Despite the new developments surrounding this field, much is still unknown, and novel treatments should be addressed with caution.
Frequency-domain texture features for classifying SAR images

A method for segmenting synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images has been developed which operates primarily in the frequency domain. Though based on a similar technique developed by Stromberg, this method has some computational advantages and may be readily adapted to optical implementation.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dispersion-related multimode instabilities and self-sustained oscillations in nonlinear counterpropagating waves

We show that two linearly polarized counterpropagating waves in a Kerr nonlinear medium with linear dispersion can exhibit multimode temporal instability. We find the boundary of the unstable regime and demonstrate that the fully developed instability results in self-sustained oscillations and the onset of chaos.
Multiaxial high-cycle fatigue criterion and life prediction for metals

A new high-cycle fatigue criterion based on the critical plane approach is proposed in this paper. Unlike most of the other multiaxial fatigue criteria based on the critical plane approach, the critical plane is directly correlated with the fatigue fracture plane. The proposed criterion has a wide range of applicability from very ductile metals to extremely brittle metals. Mean stress effect is also included in this criterion. The new fatigue criterion is then extended to a fatigue life prediction model. The results of the proposed fatigue criterion and fatigue life prediction model are validated with experimental results from the literature.
An Ethical Analysis of Ojibway Objections to Genomics and Genetics Research on Wild Rice

I analyze Ojibway objections to genomics and genetics research on wild rice. Although key academic and industry participants in this research have dismissed their objections out of hand, my analysis supports the conclusion that the objections merit serious consideration, even by those who do not share the Ojibway’s religious beliefs.
Optimization of Gradient Profiles in Ion-Exchange Chromatography for Protein Purification

Gradient elution chromatography plays a very important role in the large-scale separation of biomolecules. The major problem with gradient elution is that the development, scaleup, and optimization of the process depend on trial and error. This is usually time-consuming and expensive, especially for large-scale processes. Using chemical engineering concepts, the optimization of gradient elution chromatography consisted of two parts. In the first part, rate parameters and gradient correlations were determined according to experimental data from isocratic elution runs. In the second part, which is the main focus of this study, the optimization strategy of gradient elution chromatography based on the resolution optimization factor was developed. The resolution optimization factor considered not only the product purity and yield but also the operating time and product dilution. The methodology of optimizing gradient profiles for elution chromatography was demonstrated for protein purification.
Supporting teaching across the elementary curriculum

This issue of Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice began with an invitation to focus on elementary education. Many months later, we have a special issue, but its content is likely to be seen ...
An Unsupervised Feature Selection Framework for Social Media Data

The explosive usage of social media produces massive amount of unlabeled and high-dimensional data. Feature selection has been proven to be effective in dealing with high-dimensional data for efficient learning and data mining. Unsupervised feature selection remains a challenging task due to the absence of label information based on which feature relevance is often assessed. The unique characteristics of social media data further complicate the already challenging problem of unsupervised feature selection, e.g., social media data is inherently linked, which makes invalid the independent and identically distributed assumption, bringing about new challenges to unsupervised feature selection algorithms. In this paper, we investigate a novel problem of feature selection for social media data in an unsupervised scenario. In particular, we analyze the differences between social media data and traditional attribute-value data, investigate how the relations extracted from linked data can be exploited to help select relevant features, and propose a novel unsupervised feature selection framework, LUFS, for linked social media data. We systematically design and conduct systemic experiments to evaluate the proposed framework on data sets from real-world social media websites. The empirical study demonstrates the effectiveness and potential of our proposed framework.
Making Highly Conductive ZnO: Creating Donors and Destroying Acceptors

We obtain room-temperature resistivities as low as ρ =1.4 x 10 -4 Ω-cm in transparent Ga-doped ZnO grown on Al 2 O 3 by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at 200 °C in 10 mTorr of pure Ar and then annealed in a Zn enfivironment. Donor N D and acceptor N A concentrations are calculated from a recently developed scattering theory that is valid for any degenerate semiconductor material and requires only two input parameters, mobility μ and carrier concentration n measured at any temperature in the range 5 - 300 K. By comparison with SIMS and positron annihilation measurements, it has been shown that the donors in these samples are mostly Ga Zn , as expected, but that the acceptors are point defects, Zn vacancies V Zn . PLD growth in Ar at 200 °C produces a high concentration of donors [Ga Zn ] = 1.4 x 10 21 cm -3 , but V Zn acceptors are produced at the same time, due to self-compensation. Fortunately, a large fraction of the V Zn can be eliminated by annealing in a Zn environment. The theory gives N D and N A , and thus [Ga Zn ] and [V Zn ], at each step of the growth and annealing process. For convenience, the theory is presented graphically, as plots of μ vs n at various values of compensation ratio K = N A /N D . From the value of K corresponding to the experimental values of μ and n, it is possible to calculate N D = n/(1 - K) and N A = nK/(1 - K).
Dielectronic recombination and related resonance processes

Abstract We review recent progress in understanding of the atomic process known as dielectronic recombination (DR). Currently applied schemes for the calculation of DR cross sections and rate coefficients are described in detail. Methods of dealing with such problems as cascade correction, configuration interaction, and angular momentum coupling are considered. Both two-electron and multi-electron systems are treated. Results obtained by these methods are presented for ions of the He, Li, B, F, Na, Mg, and K isoelectronic sequences. Other results are referenced. Semiempirical formulas for DR rate coefficients are discussed. The recently discovered electric field effect in DR is described. The connection to DR of other resonance processes such as photo-Auger ionization, resonance transfer excitation, and resonance excitation is explained.
Synthesis and evaluation of 10β-substituted 4-estrene-3,17-diones as inhibitors of human placental microsomal aromatase

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of a series of new 10β-substituted 4-estrene-3,17-dione analogs ( 1–8 ). These compounds, together with a number of known analogs ( 9–14 ), have been evaluated as reversible or irreversible inhibitors of human placental microsomal aromatase. The best reversible inhibitor is the 10β-vinyl compound ( 9 ). The only compounds causing irreversible inhibition of aromatase are the 10β-propargyl compound ( 1 ) and the 10β-difluoromethyl compound ( 12 ).
Bond bending and hybridization

Abstract Electronegative atoms are expected to prefer to be bonded to orbitals with relatively high p-character. However, observed bond angles are frequently not in accord with this expectation. It is shown that bent bonds are a common occurrence and that the angles between the bond paths are in good accord with common hybridization arguments.
AEROELASTIC OPTIMIZATION OF A COMPOSITE TILT ROTOR

Composite tilt rotor aeroelastic optimization is performed by using a mixed variational formulation based on exact intrinsic equations of motion for moving beams and a finite-state dynamic inflow theory. A composite box-beam model is used to represent the principal load carrying member of the rotor blade. The blade is discretized using finite elements. Each wall used to model the box beam is made of 24 laminated orthotropic composite plies. For the optimization, design variables are blade twist, box width and height, horizontal and vertical wall thicknesses, the ply angles of the laminated walls and nonstructural mass. The rotor is optimized for the figure of merit in hover and the axial efficiency in forward flight while keeping the same thrust levels in both flight modes. Blade weight, autorotational inertia, geometry, and aeroelastic stability are considered as constraints. The feasible direction technique is used for optimization. Results are presented for effects such as extension-twi st coupling, choice of layups, and cross-sectional geometry of the blade. Significant improvements in the objective function are shown to be possible.
Image Reconstruction from List-Mode Data in an Emission Tomography System Having Time-of-Flight Measurements

List-mode data collected in a positron-emission tomography system having time-of-flight measurements are three dimensional, but all algorithms which have been published to date operate on two-dimensional data derived from these three-dimensional data. We argue in this paper that the additional information present in the three-dimensional data is useful for improving reconstructions of images.
EFFECT OF ADRENALECTOMY ON PATHOLOGIC CHANGES IN RATS FORCE-FED A THREONINE-DEVOID DIET.

Abstract Young adrenalectomized rats maintained on cortisone acetate and intact rats were force-fed a purified diet devoid of threonine for 3 days. Animals of both groups developed atrophy of the pancreas, submaxillary gland, stomach, thymus and spleen, and a fatty liver with a periportal distribution of lipid and an increase in hepatic glycogen. The results indicate that biochemical and anatomical changes found in intact rats force-fed a diet devoid of threonine may also be found in adrenalectomized rats receiving constant doses of cortisone and the threonine-free diet. Although the hepatic changes in rats force-fed the threonine-devoid diet are similar to those obtained in normal rats treated with cortisone, the present results indicate that the pathologic changes found in animals with threonine deficiency are not due to increased adrenocortical corticosterone secretion.
Significance of cochlear dose in the radiosurgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma: controversies and unanswered questions.

Background Cochlear dose has been identified as a potentially modifiable contributor to hearing loss after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for vestibular schwannoma (VS). Objective To evaluate the association between computed tomography-based volumetric cochlear dose and loss of serviceable hearing after SRS, to assess intraobserver and interobserver reliability when determining modiolar point dose with the use of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, and to discuss the clinical significance of the cochlear dose with regard to radiosurgical planning strategy. Methods Patients with serviceable pretreatment hearing who underwent SRS for sporadic VS between the use of Gamma Knife Perfexion were studied. Univariate and multivariate associations with the primary outcome of time to nonserviceable hearing were evaluated. Results A total of 105 patients underwent SRS for VS during the study period, and 59 (56%) met study criteria and were analyzed. Twenty-one subjects (36%) developed nonserviceable hearing at a mean of 2.2 years after SRS (SD, 1.0 years; median, 2.1 years; range 0.6-3.8 years). On univariate analysis, pretreatment pure tone average, speech discrimination score, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hearing class, marginal dose, and mean dose to the cochlear volume were statistically significantly associated with time to nonserviceable hearing. However, after adjustment for baseline differences, only pretreatment pure tone average was statistically significantly associated with time to nonserviceable hearing in a multivariable model. Conclusion Cochlear dose is one of many variables associated with hearing preservation after SRS for VS. Until further studies demonstrate durable tumor arrest with reduced dose protocols, routine tumor dose planning should not be modified to limit cochlear dose at the expense of tumor control.