cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gestational hypertension in pregnancies supported by infertility treatments: role of infertility, treatments, and multiple gestations.

Objective To investigate the association between infertility treatments and gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Design Retrospective observational cohort. Setting General population, United States and Canada. Patient(s) Five thousand one hundred fifty-one women with nonmalformed infants participating in the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study between 1998 and 2006. Intervention(s) Women were interviewed within 6 months after delivery about sociodemographic and medical factors, about the onset of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, and about infertility treatments. Main Outcome Measure(s) We estimated relative risks and 95% confidence intervals by using unconditional logistic regression. Result(s) The incidence of gestational hypertension was 8.9% (423/4,762) among women without infertility treatments and was 15.8% (55/349) among women undergoing infertility treatments. Compared with spontaneous pregnancies, the crude relative risk for gestational hypertension in pregnancies resulting from infertility treatments was 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.4–2.6). Multivariate adjustment for parity and prepregnancy body mass index resulted in a relative risk of 1.6 (1.1–2.1). Further adjustment for multiple pregnancies, or restriction of the analyses to singleton pregnancies, moved the relative risk to 1.3. Each specific infertility procedure or drug was associated with a similarly elevated risk, which disappeared after adjustment for multiple gestations. Results were similar for preeclampsia. Conclusion(s) Pregnancies resulting from infertility treatments have a higher incidence of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia than do spontaneous conceptions. This increased risk is largely explained by the higher frequency of multiple gestations.
A new mammal skull from the Lower Cretaceous of China with implications for the evolution of obtuse-angled molars and 'amphilestid' eutriconodonts.

We report the discovery of Juchilestes liaoningensis , a new genus and species of eutriconodont mammal from the Lujiatun Site of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (123.2 ± 1.0 Ma; Lower Aptian). The holotype preserves a partial skull and full dentition. Among eutriconodonts, its lower dentition is similar to taxa formerly assigned to the paraphyletic group of ‘amphilestids’. Some have considered ‘amphilestid’ molars to represent the structural intermediate between the lower molars of the ‘triconodont’ pattern of cusps in alignment and the fully triangulate and more derived therian molars. However, ‘amphilestid’ taxa were previously represented only by the lower dentition. Our study reveals, for the first time, the upper dentition and skull structure of an ‘amphilestid’, and shows that at least some eutriconodonts have an obtuse-angled cusp pattern on molars in middle positions of the long molar series. Its petrosal is similar to those of other eutriconodonts and spalacotheroid ‘symmetrodonts’. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that (i) Juchilestes is most closely related to the Early Cretaceous Hakusanodon from Japan, in the same Eastern Asiatic geographic region; (ii) ‘amphilestids’ are not monophyletic; and (iii) eutriconodonts might not be a monophyletic group, although this hypothesis must be further tested.
Surfing the web by site

We provide a system for surfing the web at a high level of abstraction, which is an analogy of the web browser, but which displays entire sites at a time. It allows a principled investigation of what is present, based on an overview of all available information. We show a site's relation to other sites, the broad nature of the information contained and how it is structured, and how it has changed over time. Our current system maintains a continuously updated archive of 40 million sites representing 1.9 billion web pages, and enables real-time navigation through the sea of web sites.
Transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound in evaluating anal sphincter muscles.

Objectives To evaluate whether transperineal threedimensional (3D) ultrasound can be used to depict normal anal sphincter anatomy and to measure the thickness of muscle layers and the anteroposterior length of the levator hiatus. Methods The study included 22 normal nulliparous female volunteers. Transperineal 3D sonographic evaluation of the anal canal included assessment of sphincter shape, echogenicity, marginal definition and muscle thickness. Measurements of the thickness of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) and puborectalis muscle (PRM) were determined with the women at rest and during squeezing by two observers, and interobserver reliability was determined. The anteroposterior length of the levator hiatus at rest and during squeezing was measured. Results The proximal end of the anal canal (towards the rectum) consisted of overlapping IAS and PRM, and the distal end (towards the anus) consisted of overlapping IAS and external anal sphincter (EAS). At the PRM level, the mean ± SD IAS thickness was 2.3 ± 0. 5m m at rest and 2.5 ± 0.4 mm during squeezing, and at the midEAS level it was 2.9 ± 0. 5m m at rest and 2.8 ± 0.5 mm during squeezing. The PRM thickness was 6.5 ± 1.0 mm at rest and 6.4 ± 1.2 mm during squeezing. The difference in muscle thickness of the sphincter layers with the woman at rest and during squeezing was not significant. The anteroposterior length of the levator hiatus was 51.7 ± 5. 0 mm at rest and 47.4 ± 4. 1m m during squeezing (P < 0.01). Conclusion Transperineal 3D ultrasound may be useful in evaluating the anatomy of the anal canal. Copyright  2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polarization interferometry for real-time spectroscopic plasmonic sensing.

We present quantitative, spectroscopic polarization interferometry phase measurements on plasmonic surfaces for sensing applications. By adding a liquid crystal variable wave plate in our beam path, we are able to measure phase shifts due to small refractive index changes on the sensor surface. By scanning in a quick sequence, our technique is extended to demonstrate real-time measurements. While this optical technique is applicable to different sensor geometries—e.g., nanoparticles, nanogratings, or nanoapertures—the plasmonic sensors we use here consist of an ultrasmooth gold layer with buried linear gratings. Using these devices and our phase measurement technique, we calculate a figure of merit that shows improvement over measuring only surface plasmon resonance shifts from a reflected intensity spectrum. To demonstrate the general-purpose versatility of our phase-resolved measurements, we also show numerical simulations with another common device architecture: periodic plasmonic slits. Since our technique inherently measures both the intensity and phase of the reflected or transmitted light simultaneously, quantitative sensor device characterization is possible.
The construction of optimal histograms

In this note, a stopping rule is derived that gives the optimal histogram bin width to approximate a probability density function, The procedure minimizes the mean integrated square error between the density function and the histogram, and requires no prior knowledge of the density function.
Imprinted Genes and the Environment: Links to the Toxic Metals Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead

Imprinted genes defy rules of Mendelian genetics with their expression tied to the parent from whom each allele was inherited. They are known to play a role in various diseases/disorders including fetal growth disruption, lower birth weight, obesity, and cancer. There is increasing interest in understanding their influence on environmentally-induced disease. The environment can be thought of broadly as including chemicals present in air, water and soil, as well as food. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), some of the highest ranking environmental chemicals of concern include metals/metalloids such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. The complex relationships between toxic metal exposure, imprinted gene regulation/expression and health outcomes are understudied. Herein we examine trends in imprinted gene biology, including an assessment of the imprinted genes and their known functional roles in the cell, particularly as they relate to toxic metals exposure and disease. The data highlight that many of the imprinted genes have known associations to developmental diseases and are enriched for their role in the TP53 and AhR pathways. Assessment of the promoter regions of the imprinted genes resulted in the identification of an enrichment of binding sites for two transcription factor families, namely the zinc finger family II and PLAG transcription factors. Taken together these data contribute insight into the complex relationships between toxic metals in the environment and imprinted gene biology.
Generalized p-Center problems: Complexity results and approximation algorithms

Abstract In an earlier paper, two alternative p -Center problems, where the centers serving costumers must be chosen so that exactly one node from each of p prespecified disjoint pairs of nodes is selected, were shown to be NP-complete. This paper considers a generalized version of these problems, in which the nodes from which the p servers are to be selected are partitioned into k sets and the number of servers selected from each set must be within a prespecified range. We refer to these problems as the ‘Set’ p -Center problems. We establish that the triangle inequality (Δ-inequality) versions of these problems, in which the edge weights are assumed to satisfy the triangle inequality, are also NP-complete. We also provide a polynomial time approximation algorithm for the two Δ-inequality Set p -Center problems that is optimal for one of the problems in the sense that no algorithm with polynomial running time can provide a better constant factor performance guarantee, unless P = NP. For the special case ‘alternative’ p -Center problems, which we refer to as the ‘Pair’ p -Center problems, we extend the previous results in several ways. For example, the results mentioned above for the Set p -Center problems also apply to the Pair p -Center problems. Furthermore, we establish and exploit a correspondence between satisfiability and the dominating set type of problems that naturally arise when considering the decision versions of the Pair p -Center problems.
Ecological Succession and Community Dynamics

“Ecological Succession” is an ordered progression of structural and compositional changes in communities toward an eventual unchanging condition, the climax community 1 –3. The term “Community” is used in two ways 4. The “Abstract Community” refers to an abstract group of organisms that recurs on the landscape, a definition, which usually carries with it an implication of a level of integration among its parts that in extreme could be called organismal or quasi-organismal; the “Concrete Community” concept refers to the collection of organisms found at a specific place and time. These terms and their meanings are topics of significant debate among ecologists, both historically and today 5, 6. These differences in the meaning and cause of ecological succession strongly affect the formulation of policies for ecosystems management and restoration.
RURAL WOMAN ABUSE AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE: AN ETHICAL ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL DILEMMAS

Women who have experienced abuse are often offered individual and group psychotherapeutic interventions to help them overcome psychological aftereffects of abuse and avoid future abusive relationships. Clinical cases that are complicated by the existence of abuse and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) often involve ethical issues concerning patient privacy and legitimate breaches of confidentiality that can potentially harm the individual. There is little known about the experiences of abused rural women with STDs, underscoring the need for modification of existing interventions for this patient population. This paper presents the application of an ethical framework to an actual case involving an abused rural woman with an STD that utilizes the concepts of casuiStry, or case-based reasoning. A methodological tool for ethical analysis of the clinical dilemmas involving evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for abused rural women with STDs is used to apply the concepts of casuistry to the development of the taxonomy of cases for clinical practice.
Control Room Design Review Guidance: Technical Criteria Updates

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) evaluates the human factors engineering (HFE) of nuclear power plant design and operations to protect public health and safety. The HFE safety reviews encompass both the design process and its products. Detailed guidance for these reviews is provided in two key documents: the HFE Program Review Model (NUREG-0711) and the Human-System Interface Design Review Guidelines (NUREG-0700). The NRC is committed to the periodic update and improvement of the guidance to ensure that they remain state-of-the-art design evaluation tools. In this paper we will describe the guidance development and update methodology and the topics being addressed for both key documents. The guidance update program will improve document usability as well.
A gentle nudge towards safety: experimental validation of the potential field driver assistance system

This paper presents experimental validation of a driver assistance lanekeeping system based on a potential field framework. This system is implemented on a 1997 Corvette modified for steer-by-wire capability. This testbed has no mechanical connection between the hand wheel and road wheels, allowing the lanekeeping system to add control inputs independently from the driver. The potential field framework provides an intuitive approach for combining commands from the controller and driver. The state estimation and lane position errors are obtained using the Global Position System (GPS) and precision road maps. Preliminary experimental data shows that this control scheme performs extremely well for driver assistance and closely matches simulation results, verifying previous theoretical guarantees for safety.
Individuality in Cultural Context: The Case for Psychological Agency

In recent decades social science writing has given renewed attention to the notion of the self in human functioning. One tradition in social science writing has emphasized the importance of sociocultural influences on self-development, and some theorists seem to argue that such factors are primary in understanding the sense of individuality. This paper takes issue with the strong statement of this `social constructionist' view. While it is true that the content of personhood is fashioned in social context and varies across cultures, irreducible processes of individual human psychological agency also contribute to the development and functioning of the person. The universal capacity for `dialectical' thinking is discussed here as one such process. The importance of individual agency is highlighted in an example from a `sociocentrically' organized society. Both social and individual psychological perspectives are necessary to obtain a better grasp of the complexity of individuality.
Using research results for power system classroom education: A power flow and transient stability case study

This paper provides an example of how power system research could be applied in an undergraduate classroom setting. In particular, the paper looks at research performed to study the feasibility from a power flow and transient stability perspective of integrating a superconducting HVDC cable into the North American Eastern Interconnect.
The Morphology of Sedimentary Rocks

The formation of sedimentary rocks in sedimentary basins can be described as follows. Rock grains - formed by erosion, sand, dust, or skeletons of marine animals - fall to the bottom of a body of water overlying the sedimentary basin. This process of sedimentation buries earlier sediments which descend downward into the earth as the process continues. As burial and descent proceeds, the sediments are compacted into aggregates with an initial porosity ɸ, the volume fraction occupied by the pores between the grains. As the sediments descend further, the temperature and pressure increases, chemical reactions can take place, and, over long periods of time, the aggregates are transformed into rocks, sedimentary rocks with smaller ɸ.
Walrasian Equilibria as Limits of Noncooperative Equilibria. Part I: Mixed Strategies*

Abstract We examine the connection between Walrasian equilibria of a limit economy (with infinitesimal firms) and the noncooperative (Cournot) equilibria of approximating finite economies (with significant firms). Following earlier work of Novshek and Sonnenschein we allow for set-up cost and permit a minimal form of mixed strategies. We depart from them by requiring that the aggregate production set exhibits some degree (however small) of decreasing returns. Contrasting with their results, it is shown that a (regular) Walrasian equilibrium of a limit economy can always be approximated by a sequence of noncooperative equilibria for the tail of the approximating (finite) economies. Thus, there is a surprising qualitative discontinuity when one passes from the Novshek-Sonnenschein case of aggregate constant returns to scale of the decreasing returns case of this paper.
Engineering data summaries for space missions

New paradigms in spacecraft design are leading to radical changes in spacecraft operations. Increased constraints on resource usage and greater focus on operations costs require new approaches. One such method, beacon-based health monitoring, automates the task of routine health monitoring and migrates the process from the ground to the spacecraft. The performance of this automated method is further improved by a supplemental approach that monitors the long-term health of the spacecraft. Called "engineering data summarization", this process has the responsibility of creating an on-board summary of the spacecraft state of health, tracking notable sensor values and trends as appropriate. Every few weeks, the summary is transmitted to ground operators. The purpose of the summary is to provide operators with context about the spacecraft's state. Building on the systems for spacecraft operations being developed at Stanford's Space Systems Development Laboratory, this paper is the first step in developing a methodical study of engineering data summarization. Five simple solutions are proposed and each is examined using newly-established competitive metrics. Analysis of the solutions characteristics leads to a definition of the problem's "solution space". These results point to the next steps needed for a thorough characterization of the engineering data summarization problem.
Complex Service Management in a Hybrid Cloud

This architectural feasibility study focuses on transforming a complex service management application to take advantage of the economies of scale and convenience afforded by cloud computing. We study a financial analytics application and system and enumerate the following characteristics: (a) highly compute intensive, (b) memory intensive, (c) storage i/o intensive, (d) collaborative, (e) interactive with low latency (propagation of changes must take place at speeds comparable to those of the spreadsheets that the application replaces in order to satisfy user responsiveness requirements) and (f) involves sensitive data for which it must maintain a high level of data security. We see two major challenges to operating such an application from the cloud: (1) achieving low latency interaction and (2) protecting sensitive data. In this paper we will explore alternative potential solutions to each of these challenges. To have any significant economic advantage, we must transform the architecture from heavy client and light server to light client and heavy server, running directly into challenge (1). It appears likely that any solution will involve a hybrid cloud, at least part of which provides high levels of data security (with consequent lowering of the economic advantage) in order to meet challenge (2). In our industrial research context, we are inclined to tackle one challenge at a time and to develop our new system in two phases, the first phase producing a new client server architecture that allows for multiple types of light clients, the second phase moving the server side into a hybrid cloud, from which multiple applications of the same type could be offered as web services to multiple clients.
A model of the uptake, translocation, and accumulation of lead (Pb) by maize for the purpose of phytoextraction

Abstract Phytoextraction is a remediation technology that uses plants to remove heavy metals from soil. Effective implementation requires an understanding of plant processes that control uptake and translocation of metals from the soil. These processes are poorly understood. The purpose of this work is to gain insights on the plant mechanisms that control uptake and translocation of lead (Pb) from the soil and how these mechanisms interact to control levels of Pb accumulation in the plant. A mechanistic system dynamics modeling approach was used, simulating extraction and translocation of Pb by a maize plant. Confidence in the model structure was achieved through application of classical system dynamics validation procedures. Results of model simulations suggest that precipitation of Pb as a Pb-phosphate is one of the most important mechanisms in this system. Maximum saturable uptake rate of Pb and effective root mass may also be key plant parameters. The model may also be used to test phytoextraction management scenarios, two of which were tested in this study.
CFTR : MECHANISM OF ANION CONDUCTION

Dawson, David C., Stephen S. Smith, and Monique K. Mansoura. CFTR: Mechanism of Anion Conduction. Physiol. Rev. 79, Suppl.: S47–S75, 1999. — The purpose of this review is to collect together the re...
Singularity properties of the bubble diagrams ofS-matrix theory

A general discussion is given of singularity properties arising from the «contraction» of internal lines of the «bubble diagrams» ofS-matrix theory, such as the terms of unitarity equations. The circumstances in which one may contract such internal lines are described and an argument is given for deciding what part of the resulting curve is actually singular. The relevance of these results to the derivation of singularity properties of scattering amplitudes from unitarity is discussed.
Synodic and semiannual oscillations of argon‐40 in the lunar exosphere

The neutral mass spectrometer on the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft collected a trove of exospheric data, including a set of high-quality measurements of radiogenic Ar-40 over a period of 142 days. Data synthesis studies, using well-established exosphere simulation tools, show that the LADEE argon data are consistent with an exosphere-regolith interaction that is dominated by adsorption and that the desorption process generates the Armand distribution of exit velocities. The synthesis work has uncovered an apparent semiannual oscillation of argon that is consistent with temporal sequestration in the seasonal cold traps created at the poles by the obliquity of the Moon. In addition, the LADEE data provide new insight into the pristine nature of lunar regolith, its spatially varying sorption properties, and the influence of sorption processes on the synodic oscillation of the argon exosphere.
Effect of chlorothiazide on renal blood flow in the conscious dog.

Summary and ConclusionsThe effect of chlorothiazide on renal blood flow was assessed in conscious dogs in which flow transducers and pressure cannulas were chronically implanted. The results show that chlorothiazide (5 mg/kg, intravenously) increased renal vascular resistance and consequently decreased renal blood flow. It appears that a small drug-induced increase in renal vascular resistance can produce a rather substantial decrease in renal blood flow. It also appears that conscious animals may be more susceptible to the renal vasoconstricting action of the thiazides than anesthetized animals. The drug-induced decrease in renal blood flow lasted less than 30 min whereas the drug-induced increase in sodium excretion was still near maximal at 60 min.
Taming Log Files From Game/Simulation-Based Assessments: Data Models and Data Analysis Tools

Extracting information efficiently from game/simulation-based assessment (G/SBA) logs requires two things: a well-structured log file and a set of analysis methods. In this report, we propose a generic data model specified as an extensible markup language (XML) schema for the log files of G/SBAs. We also propose a set of analysis methods for identifying useful information from the log files and implement the methods in a package in the Python programming language, glassPy. We demonstrate the data model and glassPy with logs from a game-based assessment, SimCityEDU.
Metabolism of Human Leukocytes in vitro V. Inhibition by Human Serum of Formate and Glycine Incorporation.

SummaryThe presence of one or more chemical substances in normal and pathological human sera capable of decreasing the rate of incorporation of formate and glycine into human leukemic leukocytes in vitro has been shown. Human leukemia sera as a group demonstrated a slightly subnormal inhibitor activity.
Study on time-effect of PCNA,RAD6B and RAD18 mRNA expression induced by hydroquinone in L-02 hepatic cells

Objective To explore the time-effect of PCNA,RAD6B and RAD18 mRNA expressions induced by hydroquinone(HQ) in L-02 hepatic cells,and the molecular mechanism of toxic effects of HQ in L-02 hepatic cells.Methods L-02 hepatic cells were exposed to 40 μmol/L HQ for 6,12,24 and 48h respectively,then the total cellular RNA was isolated from L-02 hepatic cells using Trizol reagent and inversely transcripted to cDNA.Expression of PCNA,RAD6B and RAD18 mRNA in L-02 hepatic cells were measured by RT-qPCR in different time-points.Results Levels of expression of PCNA,RAD6B and RAD18 mRNA in L-02 hepatic cells treated with HQ were higher significantly than that of the control(0 μmol/L).The expression of PCNA mRNA in L-02 hepatic cells were increased along with time within 0—24 h in both treated groups(40 μmol/L) and control group,which reached the maximum at 24h.The expressions of RAD6B and RAD18 mRNA in control group were all increased time-dependently,which reached 2.66 and 4.32 at 48 h,respectively;while the expression of RAD6B and RAD18 mRNA in treated group were decreased at 48h.Conclusion HQ might induce the up-regulation of expressions of RAD6B,RAD18 and PCNA mRNA,and with some time-dependent manner.
Intra-arterial Stroke Treatment prior to the Stent-Retriever Era: High Mortality and Lack of Volume-Outcome Association.

Background Mechanical thrombectomy for acute large-vessel occlusive stroke is beneficial when performed with stent-retriever devices; however, little is known about real-world experience with intra-arterial treatment (IAT). We aimed to clarify how hospitals influence outcomes for Medicare thrombectomy patients to inform future delivery of effective mechanical thrombectomy treatment. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study that includes a Medicare fee-for-service patient population. Patients with a primary stroke discharge (ICD-9-CM 433.x1, 434.x1, 436) were included; billing codes were used to identify patients receiving IAT, intravenous thrombolytics (IVT), or a combination of these treatments. Characteristics of treated patients were summarized using descriptive statistics; long-term mortality was summarized via Kaplan–Meier curves; and multilevel logistic regression models with random hospital-level intercept were built to determine hospital influence on outcome and whether a volume–outcome association existed. Results A total of 4557 patients received IAT at 544 hospitals. The mean age of IAT patients was 76 years. IAT patients had longer hospital stay (9.7 versus 6.8 days), longer stay in the ICU (5.5 versus 3.3 days), and greater probability of intubation (36.7% versus 9.5%) compared with IVT patients. Ninety-day mortality was 46% IAT versus 26% IVT. Hospitals had little influence on outcomes (intraclass correlation coefficient, Conclusions IAT for 2007-2010 was associated with higher patient mortality than recent and prior clinical trials. Treated Medicare patients were considerably older than clinical trial populations. Hospitals had little influence on mortality, and increased hospital volume was not associated with lower mortality. Future real-world experience should monitor these parameters as use of stent retrievers disseminates.
Adenocarcinoma of the Lung and Bronchus

Cigarette smoking causes adenocarcinoma of the lung, as it does other forms of lung cancer, although the causal association is weaker than it is for squamous cell or small cell lung cancer. It has been linked in particular to filter cigarettes, possibly because adenocarcinomas appear at the outer ends of the bronchioles, and to get a satisfactory dose of smoke from a filter cigarette requires more vigorous inhalation, thus possibly distributing the smoke more widely. Now the most common form of lung cancer, adenocarcinoma has long been known to be especially common in women, particularly in China and Israel, and for unknown reasons to be generally increasing, not decreasing, in world-wide frequency. The oil vapors produced by cooking with unrefined rapeseed oil have been thought partly responsible for the higher rates among women in China. Adenocarcinomas also constitute the majority of cases found in association with scars from previous lung disease. Because this form of lung cancer is known to be increasing among women, and to be more common among those with higher income and education, a different geographical distribution was predicted. Because the high-risk among female residents of the upper west side of the city cannot be explained by social class alone, the pattern suggests that wealthy women in that area have different smoking habits, or some other different exposure, than wealthy women in other parts of the country.
Early Pregnancy Complications

Pregnant patients often present to the emergency department with chief complaints of abdominal pain and/or vaginal bleeding in the first trimester. Complications of early pregnancy are common and include miscarriage and ectopic and heterotopic pregnancy. Missing a life-threatening diagnosis such as ectopic pregnancy is fraught with risk to both patient and provider. The reliability of the discriminatory zone, used to aide in the diagnosis of early pregnancy complications, has recently been called into question. Assisted reproductive technologies to achieve pregnancy are also becoming increasingly common and present unique diagnostic challenges. Emergency physicians must be prepared to evaluate and manage the various complications of early pregnancy.
The Nature, Antecedents, and Impacts of Visuo-Spatial Mental Models of Web Interface Design

This paper develops an integrated theoretical framework that links visuo-spatial mental models of Web interface design to user satisfaction, and reports on a controlled experiment aimed at investigating the nature of these mental models. Using data from more than 500 subjects in conjunction with both graphical and statistical analyses, we find that Web users possess a strongly cohesive shared mental model of the way in which a Web interface should be designed. In addition to describing and quantifying this shared visuo-spatial mental model, this paper also shows how both experience and the physiological properties of the human visual system give rise to such models, and discusses the implications of the results for organizational website design, scientific theory, and future research in this area.
Einstein's Genie: Spacetime out of the Bottle, by Graham Nerlich

This is a book that everyone interested in understanding Relativity should read. In it, Graham Nerlich argues, lucidly and with minimum technicality, that Special and General Relativity are best un...
Mouse Models of Acute Lung Injury

Acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS remains a devastating complication of critical illness, resulting in significant annual morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures. Although much is known about the physiology of ARDS, many aspects of its pathogenesis remain incompletely understood, and no effective pharmacologic therapies have been identified to date. Because of this, research focused on ARDS and its preclinical animal model correlate, acute lung injury, remains a priority for scientists focused on lung diseases, critical illness, and trauma. Mouse model systems allow the use of genetic models and a wide range of reagents to pursue highly mechanistic studies into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute lung injury. However, the challenges of using mice to study acute lung injury include identifying appropriate, clinically relevant models and integrating cellular and molecular data with physiological measurements of lung injury. This chapter provides a brief review of the advantages and challenges of mouse models and reviews different models of acute lung injury. It also includes practical information on specific methods to help the new investigator develop mouse models of acute lung injury in his or her laboratory.
A refined, self-consistent Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) model for electrically induced transport of multiple ionic species through concrete

Abstract A fundamental re-look of the use of Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) model for predicting electrically accelerated ionic transport through concrete is carried out. The PNP model is augmented with concentration-based diffusion coefficients and explicit considerations of transport path in the formulations since the electric field is distributed only along the connected pore path. The geometric tortuosity obtained from electrical property measurements is modified with a multiplicative correction factor that is a function of the ratio of dominant pore sizes in the specimen. Idealized models of the pore structure are used to arrive at this correction factor, which ranges between 1.5-to-3.0 for typically used concretes. Time-dependent changes in boundary conditions induced by the electrode reactions are also accounted for. The effect of chloride binding as a time-dependent process during the test, is also ascertained. The model is verified on a series of concretes of different water-to-cement ratios and containing different cement replacement materials (fillers and/or reactive materials) subjected to the non-steady state migration test.
A phase I study with an expansion cohort of the combination of ipilimumab and brentuximab vedotin in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma: A trial of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (E4412).

TPS8602 Background: E4412 is a phase 1 study with an expansion cohort of the combination of brentuximab vedotin (BV) and ipilumumab in patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). D...
Malicious co-residency on the cloud: Attacks and defense

Attacker VMs try to co-reside with victim VMs on the same physical infrastructure as a precursor to launching attacks that target information leakage. VM migration is an effective countermeasure against attempts at malicious co-residency. In this paper, we first undertake an experimental study on Amazon EC2 to obtain an in-depth understanding of the side-channels an attacker can use to ascertain co-residency with a victim. Here, we identify a new set of stealthy side-channel attacks which, we show to be more effective than currently available attacks towards verifying co-residency. Based on the study, we develop a set of guidelines to determine under what conditions victim VM migrations should be triggered given performance costs in terms of bandwidth and downtime, that a user is willing to bear. Via extensive experiments on our private in-house cloud, we show that migrations using our guidelines can limit the fraction of the time that an attacker VM co-resides with a victim VM to about 1 % of the time with bandwidth costs of a few MB and downtimes of a few seconds, per day per VM migrated.
Bio-inspired immobilization of casein-coated silver nanoparticles on cellulose acetate membranes for biofouling control

Abstract This study shows the results of low-biofouling nanocomposite membranes, loaded with casein-coated silver nanoparticles (casein-Ag-NPs). Membranes were cast and imbedded with Ag-NPs using two approaches, physical blending of Ag-NPs in the dope solution (PAg-NP/CA membranes) and chemical attachment of Ag-NPs to cast membranes (CAg-NP/CA membranes), to determine their biofouling control properties. The functionalization of Ag-NPs onto the CA membranes was achieved via attachment with functionalized thiol groups with the use of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and cysteamine chemistries, which was inspired by the affinity of silver to the thiol groups of cysteine proteins in bacteria. The immobilization chemistry successfully prevented leaching of silver nanoparticles during cross-flow studies. Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula in brackish water was used for dead-end filtration, where CAg-NP/CA membranes displayed lower a significant reduction in the accumulation of bacterial cells, likely due to the more dispersed nanoparticles across the surface.
Targeting Apoptosis Pathways for Cancer Therapy

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death (PCD), is a highly organized physiologic event that plays an essential role in controlling cell number in many normal processes, ranging from fetal development to adult tissue homeostasis. The process of apoptosis is tightly regulated by a number of gene products that promote or block cell death at different stages of apoptosis. Abnormal regulation of apoptosis has been implicated in the onset of a wide range of diseases, including cancer. Approaches to resensitize cancer cells to apoptosis represent an important future strategy for cancer treatment, which include restoring lost apoptosis intermediates, inactivating antiapoptotic proteins, triggering apoptosis pathways that remain intact in cancer cells, and inducing apoptosis by targeting specific tumorigenic lesions. This chapter discusses recent advances in this field and highlights novel therapeutic approaches exploiting apoptotic pathways for cancer treatment.
Report on Special Session on Future X-Ray Microscope Facilities

A special evening session was held to discuss ways of developing x-ray microscopy facilities in the future with particular emphasis on new synchrotron radiation x-ray sources such as the Berkeley Advanced Light Source. Almost all the conference participants were present and a lively discussion was held. This report is a distillation of the material presented both by the 14 speakers and members of the audience. The speakers in order of presentation were: S.Rothman, University of California, San Francisco, USA. T.Ford, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, UK. A.Stead, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, UK. J.Elliott, London Hospital Medical College, UK. G.Schmahl, University of Gottingen, FRG. P.C.Cheng, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA. D.Shinozaki; University of Western Ontario, Canada. F.Polack, LURE, Universite Paris-Sud, France. H.Rarback, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, USA. E.Lattman, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. S.Fan, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA. S.Richards, University of Keele, UK. C.Buckley, State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA. G.Nyakatura, University of Gottingen, FRG.
Comparing phospholipid profiles of mitochondria and whole tissue: Higher PUFA content in mitochondria is driven by increased phosphatidylcholine unsaturation

Phospholipids content in cellular and mitochondrial membranes is essential for maintaining normal function. Previous studies have found a lower polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in mitochondria than whole tissue, theorizing decreased PUFA protects against oxidative injury. However, phospholipids (PPLs) are uniquely difficult to quantify without class separation and, as prior approaches have predominately used reverse-phase HPLC or shotgun analysis, quantitation of PPL classes may have been complicated due to the existence of numerous isobaric and isomeric species. We apply normal-phase HPLC with class separation to compare whole tissue and mitochondrial PPL profiles in rat brain, heart, kidney, and liver. In addition, we establish a novel method to ascertain PPL origin, using cardiolipin as a comparator to establish relative cardiolipin /PPL ratios. We report a higher PUFA content in tissue mitochondria driven by increased phosphatidylcholine unsaturation, suggesting mitochondria purposefully incorporate higher PUFA PPLs.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood; overview, diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a childhood-onset problem of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsiveness that may persist into teen years and even beyond, affecting girls as well as boys. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
SHAIP: Secure Hamming Distance for Authentication of Intrinsic PUFs

In this article, we present SHAIP, a secure Hamming distance–based mutual authentication protocol. It allows an unlimited number of authentications by employing an intrinsic Physical Unclonable Function (PUF). PUFs are being increasingly employed for remote authentication of devices. Most of these devices have limited resources. Therefore, the intrinsic PUFs are most suitable for this task as they can be built with little or no modification to the underlying hardware platform. One major drawback of the current authentication schemes is that they expose the PUF response. This makes the intrinsic PUFs, which have a limited number of challenge-response pairs, unusable after a certain number of authentication sessions. Moreover, these schemes are one way in the sense that they only allow one party, the prover, to authenticate herself to the verifier. We propose a symmetric mutual authentication scheme based on secure (privacy-preserving) computation of the Hamming distance between the PUF response from the remote device and reference response stored at the verifier end. This allows both parties to authenticate each other without revealing their respective sets of inputs. We show that our scheme is effective with all state-of-the-art intrinsic PUFs. The proposed scheme is lightweight and does not require any modification to the underlying hardware.
Multiple Representations in Physics: Deliberate Practice Does Not Improve Exam Scores

Physics problem solving requires the use of verbal, pictorial, diagrammatic, and mathematical representations in order to translate a problem into its underlying mathematical components. This study investigated the effect of explicit deliberate practice on representation skills in introductory physics at the University of Louisville. In a controlled, randomized design, physics students received either deliberate practice or traditional solve-though practice weekly throughout the semester. The deliberate practice instruction focused on translating from verbal to diagrammatic and diagrammatic to mathematical representations. The deliberate practice problem solving intervention had no impact on exam performance or an encoding task developed to measure facility with diagrammatic representations of physics problems. However, performance on the encoding task positively predicted exam performance across conditions. These results suggest that deliberate practice on multiple representations did not demonstrably improve exam scores. However, the ability to encode problem features predicts exam performance more generally.
Impaired Chylomicron Assembly Modifies Hepatic Metabolism Through Bile Acid–Dependent and Transmissible Microbial Adaptations

The mechanisms by which alterations in intestinal bile acid (BA) metabolism improve systemic glucose tolerance and hepatic metabolic homeostasis are incompletely understood. We examined metabolic adaptations in mice with conditional intestinal deletion of the abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) gene microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (Mttp-IKO), which blocks chylomicron assembly and impairs intestinal lipid transport. Mttp-IKO mice exhibit improved hepatic glucose metabolism and augmented insulin signaling, without weight loss. These adaptations included decreased BA excretion, increased pool size, altered BA composition, and increased fibroblast growth factor 15 production. Mttp-IKO mice absorb fructose normally but are protected against dietary fructose-induced hepatic steatosis, without weight loss or changes in energy expenditure. In addition, Mttp-IKO mice exhibit altered cecal microbial communities, both at baseline and following fructose feeding, including increased abundance of Bacteroides and Lactobacillus genera. Transplantation of cecal microbiota from chow-fed Mttp-IKO mice into antibiotic-treated wild-type recipients conferred transmissible protection against fructose-induced hepatic steatosis in association with a bloom in Akkermansia and increased Clostridium XIVa genera, whose abundance was positively correlated with fecal coprostanol and total neutral sterol excretion in recipient mice. However, antibiotic-treated Mttp-IKO mice were still protected against fructose-induced hepatic steatosis, suggesting that changes in microbiota are not required for this phenotype. Nevertheless, we found increased abundance of fecal Akkermansia from two adult ABL subjects with MTTP mutations compared to their heterozygous parents and within the range noted in six healthy control subjects. Furthermore, Akkermansia abundance across all subjects was positively correlated with fecal coprostanol excretion. Conclusion: The findings collectively suggest multiple adaptive pathways of metabolic regulation following blocked chylomicron assembly, including shifts in BA signaling and altered microbial composition that confer a transmissible phenotype.
Calibration of the US Geological Survey National Hydrologic Model in Ungauged Basins Using Statistical At-Site Streamflow Simulations

AbstractIn the absence of measured streamflow, statistically simulated daily streamflow can be used to support the ability of physical models to represent hydrologic processes at ungauged locations...