cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching Preclinical Medical Students Basic Acute Care Skills with Full-Scale Human Simulation

Simulation-based training and assessment have gained traction in medical education, though their usefulness to preclinical students remains unclear. Our objectives were to determine (1) the feasibility of a simulation module for teaching students with little or no previous experience in managing undifferentiated, acutely ill patients and (2) its impact on students’ knowledge and attitudes about critical care. Participants at two medical schools served as their own controls in a pre- and post-intervention design. Students were asked to independently manage an acutely ill patient, and after which, they received teaching on basic life support principles. We evaluated performance with a critical actions checklist, and knowledge and attitudes with a written test before intervention, immediately after, and 6 weeks later. A total of 41 students participated, of which 34 (83 %) were in their first year of medical school. Mean knowledge scores improved from 45.3 to 76.4 %, and retention remained higher than pre-test levels. Only 17 (41 %) students performed the majority of the critical actions in simulation, yet there was a significant improvement in students’ comfort level and self-reported understanding of critical care after the experience and upon retesting. Teaching preclinical students acute care skills with a high-fidelity simulator is feasible and promotes interest in critical care.
Simultaneous measurement of ventilation using tracer gas techniques and VOC concentrations in homes, garages and vehicles

Air exchange rates and interzonal flows are critical ventilation parameters that affect thermal comfort, air migration, and contaminant exposure in buildings and other environments. This paper presents the development of an updated approach to measure these parameters using perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) gases, the constant injection rate method, and adsorbent-based sampling of PFT concentrations. The design of miniature PFT sources using hexafluorotoluene and octafluorobenzene tracers, and the development and validation of an analytical GC/MS method for these tracers are described. We show that simultaneous deployment of sources and passive samplers, which is logistically advantageous, will not cause significant errors over multiday measurement periods in building, or over shorter periods in rapidly ventilated spaces like vehicle cabins. Measurement of the tracers over periods of hours to a week may be accomplished using active or passive samplers, and low method detection limits (<0.025 microg m(-3)) and high precisions (<10%) are easily achieved. The method obtains the effective air exchange rate (AER), which is relevant to characterizing long-term exposures, especially when ventilation rates are time-varying. In addition to measuring the PFT tracers, concentrations of other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are simultaneously determined. Pilot tests in three environments (residence, garage, and vehicle cabin) demonstrate the utility of the method. The 4 day effective AER in the house was 0.20 h(-1), the 4 day AER in the attached garage was 0.80 h(-1), and 16% of the ventilation in the house migrated from the garage. The 5 h AER in a vehicle traveling at 100 km h(-1) under a low-to-medium vent condition was 92 h(-1), and this represents the highest speed test found in the literature. The method is attractive in that it simultaneously determines AERs, interzonal flows, and VOC concentrations over long and representative test periods. These measurements are practical, cost-effective, and helpful in indoor air quality and other investigations.
Renal tubular epithelial clusters in voided urine: a potential diagnostic pitfall in renal transplant patients

Introduction Urine cytology is often used to screen for polyomavirus in renal transplant patients. There are qualitative cytologic differences between urine from transplant and nontransplant patients, particularly the presence of epithelial cell clusters, that can pose diagnostic difficulty. Materials and methods Voided urine cytology specimens from 100 renal transplant patients and 100 nontransplant patients were reviewed for cell clusters. Immunocytochemistry for renal cell carcinoma marker (RCC) and cytokeratin 7 was performed on 10 recent specimens. Clinical data was reviewed with a focus on evidence of graft dysfunction or malignancy. Results Eighteen patients (18%) in the renal transplant group and no nontransplanted patients (0%) exhibited cell clusters with characteristic morphology: 3-dimensional cohesive groups; high nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio; round, eccentrically placed nuclei with a prominent central nucleolus; and granular or vacuolated cytoplasm. Some had significant nuclear atypia. The groups were RCC–positive in 8 of 10 cases, and cytokeratin 7–positive in 6 of 10 cases, which is consistent with renal tubular epithelial clusters (RTECs). Clinical follow-up revealed that 88% (15 of 17) of those with RTECs developed graft dysfunction in a median of 65 days, compared with 6% (4 of 64) without RTECs (sensitivity 79%, specificity 97%, positive predictive value 88%, negative predictive value 94%). No patient developed a urinary tract malignancy. Conclusions RTECs are relatively common in urine cytology from transplant patients, but are rare in other urine specimens. Recognition is important as they can be mistaken for urothelial carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. There appears to be a strong association with later development of graft dysfunction. These cells are most likely evidence of renal tubular injury secondary to a variety of factors, including rejection.
Refinery scheduling of crude oil unloading, storage and processing using a model predictive control strategy

Abstract A model predictive control (MPC) strategy is presented to determine the optimal control decisions for the short-term refinery scheduling problem. For cases where process disturbances occur or new plans need to be implemented during the scheduling period, the moving horizon strategy allows control decisions to be updated effectively to maintain an optimal operation. Furthermore, this strategy takes advantage of information regarding the system and disturbance prediction over the moving horizon to be used in obtaining the control decisions for the given time interval. To demonstrate the performance of the MPC strategy, especially for various moving horizon lengths, three different case studies concerning scheduling problem in a crude oil refinery were used. The refinery includes the shipping vessels, the storage and charging tanks, and the crude distillation units. Several disturbance scenarios regarding mixed oil demands were constructed to illustrate the performance of the proposed strategy.
A Unitary Model for Involutional Osteoporosis: Estrogen Deficiency Causes Both Type I and Type II Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women and Contributes to Bone Loss in Aging Men

We propose here a new unitary model for the pathophysiology of involutional osteoporosis that identifies estrogen (E) deficiency as the cause of both the early, accelerated and the late, slow phases of bone loss in postmenopausal women and as a contributing cause of the continuous phase of bone loss in aging men. The accelerated phase in women is most apparent during the first decade after menopause, involves disproportionate loss of cancellous bone, and is mediated mainly by loss of the direct restraining effects of E on bone cell function. The ensuing slow phase continues throughout life in women, involves proportionate losses of cancellous and cortical bone, and is associated with progressive secondary hyperparathyroidism. This phase is mediated mainly by loss of E action on extraskeletal calcium homeostasis which results in net calcium wasting and increases in the level of dietary calcium intake required to maintain bone balance. Because elderly men have low circulating levels of both bioavailable E and bioavailable testosterone (T) and because recent data suggest that E is at least as important as T in determining bone mass in aging men, E deficiency may also contribute substantially to the continuous bone loss of aging men. In both genders, E deficiency increases bone resorption and may also impair a compensatory increase in bone formation. For the most part, this unitary model is well supported by observational and experimental data and provides plausible explanations to traditional objections to a unitary hypothesis.
Electrochemical impedance study of initial lithium ion intercalation into graphite powders

A Johnson Matthey 287 (JM 287) graphite powder disks sandwiched between two nickel screens was used as working electrodes in 1.0 M lithium hexafluorophosphate in mixed carbonate ester electrolyte. Their intrinsic impedance and lithium intercalation kinetics were determined using several different electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) protocols. The thermal stability of the electrolyte was similarly studied using a floating palladium wire working electrode. Studies at 25°C and 65°C show that a first high frequency depressed semicircle, a second depressed semicircle, and a sloping line in the low frequency range are respectively related to the initial formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film, the charge-transfer reaction, and lithium diffusion in graphite. The intrinsic resistance is in series with the reaction impedance and effectively increases the latter. The charge-transfer semicircle at the open-circuit potential moves to the low frequency range, whereas the semicircle associated with the freshly formed SEI film moves to high frequency range as lithium insertion proceeds. The passivating SEI film formed at 25°C slows down co-insertion of the electrolyte into graphite when the electrode is cycled at 65°C, which increases the cycle life of graphite at elevated temperature.
Low Frequency Vibrations of Biological Solids: Terahertz, FTIR, INS, Raman, DFT, and BOMD Molecular Dynamics of the L-Serine Crystal

Molecular dynamics simulations provide our most realistic description of biological events at the molecular level. Motions below 200 wave-numbers are of particular interest since they contribute most of the vibrational entropy and probably infuence many biological processes. Measurements of the vibrational spectrum in this region yield direct information about the potential energy hyper-surface, and these measurements can be used to refine molecular mechanics potential functions. We present here a vibrational analysis of polycrystalline L-serine using experimental vibrational spectra,calculated inelastic neutron scattering (INS), and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations. Corrections are made to density functional theory (DFT) calculations for van der Waals interactions.Assignments and potential energy distributions are included for all 3N=336 normal modes of an eight molecule super-cell, including those for 48 non-bonded whole molecule translating and rotating vibrations,of which 3 are acoustic modes, usually not considered. Calculated and observed frequencies differ by an average 3 wave-numbers (s=4).The INS spectrum of these modes below 100 wave-numbers, calculated from energy second derivatives, show a remarkable similarity to the experimental 10K spectra. The calculated low frequency modes are insensitive to small changes in cell parameters and geometry.Power spectra of 13 ps BOMD trajectories at classical temperatures of 20K, 400K, and 500K are markedly similar to the experimental terahertz spectra at 77K and 298K.
Gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in monkey at high rotational frequencies

Abstract The gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was measued in alert monkeys during sinusoidal oscillations of the animals over a frequency range extending from 0.5 to 6 Hz. In confirmation of the results of previous investigators the gain of the VOR was found to be consistently below unity in the dark at rotational frequencies up to 1 Hz. When visual information was present to augment the vestibular input the gain increased to a value of 1 over this same frequency range. In contrast, as the rotational frequency increased above 1 Hz, the gain in the dark increased steadily until it exceeded unity at about 2 Hz. Peak gain (mean = 1.3) was reached in the dark at about 4 Hz and declined sharply at higher frequencies to fall below one at 6 Hz. Gain in the presence of fixed visual images remained at one over this entire range of frequencies.
Work in progress: What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is generally recognized as an important skill, and one that is a primary goal of higher education. However, there is surprisingly little in the literature regarding critical thinking in engineering. This paper describes two pilot studies. A mixed methods study found that graduate engineering students performed worse than undergraduate students on a standard critical thinking instrument. This difference is explained through the two groups' familiarity with test-taking. In a qualitative study, engineering undergraduates were interviewed about how they use critical thinking. It was found that their descriptions were more complex than typical definitions in the literature. Overall, the results point to a need to further investigate what critical thinking means for engineering.
A sociolinguistic analysis of English borrowings in Japanese advertising texts

ABSTRACT: This paper reports a sociolinguistic analysis of English borrowings in Japanese television commercials and print advertising. The two hypotheses formulated and tested were: (1) the primary reason for loanword use in the language of advertising is to make the product seem more modern and sophisticated, and (2) there exists a relationship between loan functions and the audience characteristics (e.g. gender, age, occupation and background). The results have shown these to be true. The age and occupation/background of the audience turned out to be important factors in determining the frequency and distribution of loan functions. The positive attitude of students and a young and ‘more modern’ audience toward English and the international value these people associate with English seem to be skillfully used by advertisers to catch the audience's attention and to affect their desire to be cosmopolitan.
Middle market companies: reaching stakeholders through strategic communication

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a description and overview of the middle market which, by sales volume, lies between the small business and large business sectors and also identifies the implications for corporate communication in that sector. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature in corporate communication and related business and management topics formed the basis of the paper. Findings – The middle market was found to be a collection of businesses vastly ranging in size and structure and spanning numerous industries. Regardless of size, firms need to behave as if they were large corporations and well-staffed organizations as they engage and manage stakeholders and implement corporate communication strategic plans. Research limitations/implications – The findings, which could form the basis for a more comprehensive study, were based solely on secondary sources. Practical implications – Suggestions for addressing unique corporate communication issues in the middle mar...
Progressive Reform, Gender and Institutional Structure: A Critical Analysis of Citizen Participation in Detroit's Community Development Corporations (CDCs)

Summary. This article examines the institutional context in which community-based organisations are embedded. Two emergent themes in the literature on community development are examined critically: the woman-centred model for community organising; and the thesis concerning the community development industry system. The analysis is based upon data from field research with community development corporations (CDC) in Detroit, Michigan. The findings from this research indicate that the prospects for developing progressive community development strategies in grassroots organisations are constrained by barriers to financial resources and limited access to the policy-making process. As a result, recommendations are forwarded for the creation of autonomous funding sources, expanded democratic decision-making in communitybased organisations and the linking of progressive reform to broad-based coalition building and multiple oppression politics.
Fraction-free RNS algorithms for solving linear systems

This paper is concerned with overcoming the arithmetic problems which arise in the solution of linear systems with integer coefficients. Specifically, solving each systems using (integer) Gauss elimination or its variants usually results in severe growth in the dynamic range of the integers that must be represented. To alleviate this problem, a residue number system (RNS) can be utilized so that large integers can be represented by a vector of residues which require only short wordlengths. RNS arithmetic, however, cannot easily handle any divisions that are needed in the solution process. This paper presents fraction-free algorithms for the solution of integer systems. This does involve divisions, but only divisions where the result is known to be an exact integer. The other principal contribution of this paper is the presentation of an RNS division algorithm for exact integer division which does not require any conversion to standard binary form. It uses entirely modular arithmetic, perhaps including a step equivalent to RNS base extension.
Autism and Related Disorders

The Pervasive Developmental Disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that include Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), and Rett’s Disorder. All feature childhood onset with a constellation of symptoms spanning social interaction and communication and including atypical behavior patterns. The first three disorders (Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, and PDD-NOS) are currently referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders, reflecting divergent phenotypic and etiologic characteristics compared to Rett’s Disorder and CDD. This chapter reviews relevant research and clinical information relevant to appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment.
Identifying human faces in general appearances

Identifying people in general appearances is a very practical, widely applicable, but extremely difficult problem, because it requires solutions to both automatic detection and recognition of human faces in arbitrary appearances and complex backgrounds. General appearances are referred to arbitrary variations in terms of face pose, orientation, expression, scale, background, as well as image contrast. A streamlined solution to face detection and face recognition in general appearances is proposed, which has the advantage of no requirement on normalizing image scales either in the stage of building up the face image library for recognition or in the stage of recognition per se. This is valuable in practice for it allows the application of this technique in many general scenarios in which general face appearances are expected under complex backgrounds. Experimental evaluations show that this method is a vital approach to many real applications.
Dynamic Platform Management for Configurable Platform-Based System-on-Chips

General-purpose System-on-Chip platforms consisting of configurable components are emerging as an attractive alternative to traditional, customized solutions (e.g., ASICs, custom SoCs), owing to their flexibility, time-to-market advantage, and low engineering costs. However, the adoption of such platforms in many high-volume markets (e.g. wireless handhelds) is limited by concerns about their performance and energy-efficiency. This paper addresses the problem of enabling the use of configurable platforms in domains where custom approaches have traditionally been used. We introduce Dynamic Platform Management, a methodology for customizing a configurable general-purpose platform at run-time, to help bridge the performance and energy efficiency gap with custom approaches. The proposed technique uses a software layer that detects time-varying processing requirements imposed by a set of applications, and dynamically optimizes architectural parameters and platform components. Dynamic platform management enables superior application performance, more efficient utilization of platform resources, and improved energy efficiency, as compared to a statically optimized platform, without requiring any modifications to the underlying hardware. We illustrate dynamic platform management by applying it to the design of a dual-access UMTS/WLAN security processing system, implemented on a general-purpose configurable platform. Experiments demonstrate that, compared to a statically optimized design (on the same platform), the proposed techniques enable upto 33% improvements in security processing throughput, while achieving 59% savings in energy consumption (on average).
Beyond Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness: Rethinking Best Practices

The concept of public health legal preparedness grew out of the public health emergency preparedness movement, but was conceptualized more broadly to be utilized to achieve full public health legal preparedness for all types of public health threats. This article analyzes the need to refocus public health legal preparedness to include all areas of public health law and presents a new model for the fourth core element that will aid in the development of legal benchmarks so public health systems can more effectively work towards attaining public health legal preparedness in all areas of public health practice.
A case of severe sprue-like enteropathy associated with valsartan

Olmesartan sprue-like enteropathy is an adverse drug reaction that mimics the appearance of celiac disease and is related to the use of olmesartan. We present the case of a 71-year-old female with severe enteropathy attributed to celiac disease for 5 years that improved only after valsartan cessation. This is the first case associating valsartan with sprue-like enteropathy.
A preliminary validation of preadolescents' self-reports using the Five-Factor Model of personality

Although self-reports using the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality have been used in both adult and adolescent populations, few studies have investigated preadolescents' ability to rate themselves using measures of the FFM. A total of 130 preadolescents (mean age = 10.79 years) rated their personalities using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). When standardized verbal prompts were used to clarify the vocabulary in the NEO-FFI, preadolescents were able to reliably rate themselves across all traits of the FFM. Preadolescents' self-ratings were found to moderately agree with mothers' ratings of their children's personalities, suggesting not only the potential utility of using other-reports of preadolescent personality but also the appropriateness of using self-reports.
An adaptable binary entropy coder

We present a novel entropy coding technique which is based on recursive interleaving of variable-to-variable length binary source codes. The encoding is adaptable in that each bit to be encoded may have an associated probability estimate which depends on previously encoded bits. The technique may have advantages over arithmetic coding. The technique can achieve arbitrarily small redundancy, and admits a simple and fast decoder. We discuss code design and performance estimation methods, as well as practical encoding and decoding algorithms.
FAMILIAL MAMMARY TUMORS IN THE RABBIT : IV. THE EVOLUTION OF AUTONOMY IN THE COURSE OF TUMOR DEVELOPMENT AS INDICATED BY TRANSPLANTATION EXPERIMENTS.

A series of experiments is described in which fragments derived from two mammary tumors of distinct types were transferred at different developmental stages to the anterior chamber of the eye of normal rabbits. It was found that the ability to survive and to grow progressively after transplantation was not immediately related to anaplastic cellular changes. On the other hand, there existed a definite correlation between the success of transplantation and the morphological relationship of tumor cells and the normal cells of the host. Transplantation to normal animals could not be effected during stages of local tissue invasion but was successfully performed as soon as the tumor cells manifested the ability to invade foreign tissues or to metastasize in the spontaneous host. It was concluded, therefore, that neither anaplasia nor local tissue invasion represented autonomy but, rather, stages in its development and that the final attainment of this condition was only evidenced by metastasis or by invasion in foreign tissues. The tumors were successfully transplanted to normal animals during this series of experiments and have been carried by serial transfer to the present time. The most outstanding feature in the transplantation of the papillary type tumor was the marked difference in susceptibility exhibited by the two sexes. The acinar type tumor was distinguished by high transplantability, an extremely rapid growth rate and early regression.
Clonal restriction of T-cell receptor expression by infiltrating lymphocytes in inclusion body myositis persists over time. Studies in repeated muscle biopsies.

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized immunohistologically by prominent invasion of the non-necrotic, MHC-I class antigen-expressing muscle fibres by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. If the autoinvasive CD8+ T cells are recruited specifically to the muscle and play a primary pathogenetic role in the disease, a clonal restriction persisting over time should be anticipated. In this study, we analysed the T-cell receptor (TCR) gene usage by endomysial T lymphocytes in three sequential muscle biopsies from three different IBM patients over a 19–22 month period using immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequence analysis of the complementarity determining region (CDR3) of the amplified TCRs. We found that CD8+ T lymphocytes persist in the endomysial infiltrates in all biopsies during a 19–22 month period. The most frequently detected TCRs were the Vβ3, Vβ5.1, Vβ6.7 and Vβ13 gene families, and several of the autoinvasive CD8+ T cells expressed the TCRs Vβ6.7 and Vβ5.1. A restricted usage of the examined Vβ6 gene family was found to persist in the complementarity CDR3 determining region of the autoinvasive T cells over the 22 month period. Identical Vβ6 CDR3 gene arrangements were also found in the multiple muscle biopsies from two of the three IBM patients. The results indicate that in IBM there is a restricted expression of the TCR gene families among the autoinvasive T lymphocytes with homologies in the CDR3 region that persist over the course of the disease. A continuous, antigen-driven T-cell response is prominent in the muscle of patients with IBM.
Small Samples, Big Challenges: Studying Atypical Family Forms

We discuss the challenges of small-subsample sizes that family scholars often encounter when studying nontraditional or less common family types. We begin by identifying the general difficulties of using existing data in this line of research and then discuss potential solutions that may help researchers to avoid these problems. Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, we use the example of monoracial White, monoracial Asian, and Asian/White interracial families to illustrate these problems and available, albeit imperfect, solutions.
Public Reaction to the Death of Steve Jobs: Implications for Cancer Communication

The present study aimed to examine the public reaction to the death of Steve Jobs, focusing on general and cancer-specific information seeking and interpersonal communication. Shortly after Jobs's death, employees from a large university in the Southeastern United States (N = 1,398) completed a web-based survey. Every employee had heard about Steve Jobs's death, and 97% correctly identified pancreatic cancer as the cause of his death. General (50%) and pancreatic cancer-specific (7%) information seeking, as well as general (74%) and pancreatic cancer-specific (17%) interpersonal communication, took place in response to Steve Jobs's death. In multivariate logistic regression analyses controlling for demographics and several cancer-oriented variables, both identification with Steve Jobs and cancer worry in response to Steve Jobs's death significantly (p < .05) predicted pancreatic cancer information seeking as well as interpersonal communication about pancreatic cancer. Additional analyses revealed that cancer worry partially mediated the effects of identification on these outcome variables. Implications of these results for future research as well as cancer prevention and communication efforts are discussed.
A robust prognostic signature for hormone-positive node-negative breast cancer

Background Systemic chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting can cure breast cancer in some patients that would otherwise recur with incurable, metastatic disease. However, since only a fraction of patients would have recurrence after surgery alone, the challenge is to stratify high-risk patients (who stand to benefit from systemic chemotherapy) from low-risk patients (who can safely be spared treatment related toxicities and costs).
The transient corticospinal projection from the occipital cortex during the postnatal development of the rat

The transient occipital cortical component of the pyramidal tract which we previously had identified during the postnatal development of the rat (Stanfield et al., '82) has been studied with anterograde as well as retrograde techniques. A continuous band of retrogradely labeled layer V neurons which spans the entire cortex including the occipital cortex is seen following injections of the fluorescent marker Fast Blue into the pyramidal decussation during the first postnatal week. No labeled cells are found in the occipital cortex following similar injections made on postnatal day 20 (P20), although such injections label many neurons in the more rostral cortical fields. However, if the Fast Blue injection is made on P2 and the animal is allowed to survive until P25 a large number of Fast Blue-labeled layer V neurons is found in the occipital cortex, even though an acute, second injection of the retrograde tracer Nuclear Yellow made into the pyramidal decussation shortly before the animal is killed results in no occipital cortical labeling. When Fast Blue injections confined to the mid- or upper-cervical spinal cord are made on P4 and the animals are killed on P9, again many retrogradely labeled neurons are found in the occipital cortex. Further, when injections of 3H-proline or wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) confined to the occipital cortex are made during the first 2 postnatal weeks, anterogradely transported label is seen within the pyramidal tract. At all stages examined the amount of such label and its caudal extent are less than that seen following similar injections into the parietal or frontal cortex. The greatest extent of the labeled occipital cortical fibers is reached at about the end of the first postnatal week and the number of these fibers seems to peak at about this same time. At this stage many of these labeled axons extend for a considerable distance down the spinal cord with some reaching as far caudal as lower lumbar levels, and at this stage some of these labeled occipital corticospinal fibers enter into the spinal gray. Over the next week the number of occipital cortical fibers in the pyramidal tract rapidly decreases and by P17 occipital cortical injections of 3H-proline or WGA-HRP result in virtually no transported label caudal to the pons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Coupled multi-disciplinary methods for structural reliability and affordability

A computational simulation method is presented for Non-Deterministic Multidisciplinary Optimization of engine composite materials and structures. A hypothetical engine duct made with ceramic matrix composites (CMC) is evaluated probabilistically in the presence of combined thermo-mechanical loading. The structure is tailored by quantifying the uncertainties in all relevant design variables such as fabrication, material, and loading parameters. The probabilistic sensitivities are used to select critical design variables for optimization. In this paper, results of the non-deterministic optimization are presented with probabilistic lower bounds of 0.001 and upper bounds of 0.999 © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of ICM11
Simplified gene synthesis: A one-step approach to PCR-based gene construction

PCR-based gene synthesis conventionally requires two steps: first, all overlapping oligonucleotides are assembled by self-priming; then an additional pair of primers is used to amplify the full-length gene product. Here we propose a simplified method of gene synthesis which combines these two steps into one. We have found that the efficiency of this one-step method, which we term "Simplified Gene Synthesis", is affected by multiple parameters of the PCR reactions. In particular, the choice of polymerase is critical for successful one-step assembly. Other important factors include the concentration of assembly oligonucleotides and amplification primers. Moreover, we offer a general method to estimate, given a known mutation rate, how many clones should be sequenced in order to be confident of obtaining at least one correct gene product. Having determined the accuracy of gene products synthesized under optimal conditions with Simplified Gene Synthesis, we show that our estimation works well. Overall, the simplified gene synthesis provides an easier and more efficient approach to gene synthesis, providing a further step towards the future goal of generalized automation for this process.
Library Research Skills and the Nursing Curriculum: Engaging Students in the Post-Brandon-Hill Era

ABSTRACT Health science librarians experience challenges when partnering with people from other professional backgrounds such as nursing and with people of different ages. In partnering with people of other backgrounds, it is helpful to recognize the changing nature of research skills and the fact that many 21st century college students lack a print-based concept of research. Helping students to succeed in understanding and participating in the research process is more important than ever due to changes in the nursing profession, the sheer mass of scholarly information, and the challenges of searching for information on the world wide web.
Using Rich Multimedia Case Studies: Developing a Scalable Authoring Platform for Academia and Industry

The use of case studies in teaching software engineering has been steadily growing in recent years. Rich opportunities exist in both academia and industry to capture project data and turn it into learning opportunities. Unfortunately, no easy-to-use tool exists to help authors with the task of transforming un-edited material into an assembled, pre-packaged case. A recent project at Carnegie Mellon University aims to overcome much of this challenge by developing an authoring platform for case studies. Its goal is to provide academics and industry professionals alike with a framework and tool set to create various types of multimedia case studies with enhanced user interaction and decision making capabilities. These cases may then appeal to a large diverse audience and in turn, by leveraging the internet as a distribution mechanism, help increase the reach of educational content globally.
Efficient deadlock-free wormhole routing in shuffle based networks

To provide deadlock-free wormhole routing in simple regular networks, virtual channels have recently been introduced. This paper presents a deadlock-free routing scheme for a class of shuffle-based directed and undirected networks. First, the network graph is partitioned into a predetermined number of subdigraphs such that there are no cycles in each subdigraph. This enables not only a deadlock-free routing for de Bruijn digraphs, generalized de Bruijn digraphs, generalized de Bruijn graphs and directed shuffle-exchange networks, but also helps in determining maximum virtual channel requirements per physical channel, which again substantiates that our strategy provides better results than existing schemes.
NEW YORK HARBOR OIL DRIFT PREDICTION MODEL

An operational predictive oil slick movement model was developed and applied to New York Harbor. The simulation uses hourly tidal currents combined with river flow and continuous wind data to predict oil slick movement. Slick spreading is accomplished using a conservative form of the diffusion-advection equation. The shape of the slick and its possible separation into multiple slicks due to current divergence is predicted. Time steps on the order of 3 min and grid spacing of 200 m allow short-term, small-scale slick position and shape predictions to facilitate quick response for location of sites for containment or cleanup activities. Hindcasting features allow for possible source location of the initial spill.
Template-Free Synthesis of a Highly Porous Benzimidazole-Linked Polymer for CO2 Capture and H2 Storage

A highly porous benzimidazole-linked polymer (SABET 1172 m2/g) exhibits very high gas selectivity CO2/N2 (70) and CO2/CH4 (10) and can store CO2 (19 wt %, 273 K, 1 bar) and H2 (1.9 wt %, 77 K, 1 bar) with Qst values of 26.7 and 7.9 kJ/mol, respectively.
Attenuation and attenuation-anisotropy in laminated rocks

Summary Elastic contrast in porous rock with fluid leads to irreversible seismic energy loss. This occurs in laminated intervals with individual layers much smaller than the seismic wavelength, even if the intrinsic attenuation in each single layer is zero. The proposed theoretical loss mechanism is macroscopic cross-flow between porous layers with differing elastic properties. A passing seismic wave creates deformation difference in this elastically heterogeneous body, hence encouraging viscous cross-flow and accompanying energy loss. Both the elastic and inelastic properties of this layered medium are anisotropic. The results indicate that the attenuation is larger in the direction perpendicular to the layers than parallel to the layers. Application of this theory to a gas hydrate well shows considerable attenuation anisotropy due to large contrast of elastic properties between hydrate-filled sand and surrounding shale.
Recognition Systems in the Social Insects

Constrained by definitions and limited in scope, the study of recognition remains an undeveloped science. A growing number of researchers are now abandoning these constraints in favor of a holistic, ‘wide-angle’ approach to recognition. Here, we illustrate this approach with examples from the lives of the social insects and demonstrate how ants, honeybees, wasps, and termites rely on recognition systems to survive and reproduce. Specifically, we show how the wide-angle view frames our study of four seemingly unrelated behaviors: selecting nest sites, choosing mates, recognizing relations, and detecting parasites.
A comparison of time-reversal and inverse-source methods for the optimal delivery of wave energy to subsurface targets

Abstract Elastic wave stimulation of targets embedded in heterogeneous elastic solids has potential applications in medicine (treatment of tumors, lithotripsy), petroleum engineering, environmental engineering, hydro-geology, etc. Systematic methodologies for designing the wave sources that focus optimally the emitted energy into the target zone are important for ensuring the efficiency of the wave energy delivery process. In this article, we compare two methodologies that could be used for designing wave sources that maximize wave-based stimulation of the target region: a time-reversal (TR) approach and an inverse-source (IS) approach. The former relies on the linearity and reciprocity admitted by the governing physics, and the latter is an optimization-based framework that attempts maximization of a wave motion metric in the target zone. Whereas closed cavity problems are easier to treat, here we concentrate on the challenging problem of wave energy focusing to subsurface geo-formations using motion actuators placed on the ground surface. We formulate the underlying wave propagation problem for two-dimensional, semi-infinite, elastic, heterogeneous domains. We define motion metrics to measure the energy expended by the wave sources, and the kinetic energy delivered to the target formation. We conduct numerical experiments and compare the relative performance of the wave sources designed using the TR and the IS approaches. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages: for remote targets in well-characterized formations IS is preferred; whereas TR is preferable when a source can be embedded in the target. Both methods have similar efficiency.
Lymphoepithelial cyst of pancreas: spectrum of radiological findings with pathologic correlation.

The purpose of the study was to investigate imaging features as well as pathologic and clinical findings of lymphoepithelial cyst (LEC) of pancreas. Ten patients with surgically resected and pathologically proven LEC, found in a single institution database between 2000 and 2015, were evaluated in a retrospective fashion. Patients’ demographics, clinical presentation, co-morbidities, imaging features, cytology and histopathology results, and serum/aspirate biomarkers levels were recorded. Eighty percent of patients were male with median age of 59. All lesions were exophytic, with median size of 36 mm. 80% were classified as complex cystic lesions, showing enhancing septa or enhancing rim without measurable enhancing solid component. 80% were located in tail or body. In one patient with MRI, the lesion was mildly T1 hyperintense and markedly T2 hyperintense. All cases were anechoic or hypoechoic on EUS, and majority of them showed posterior acoustic enhancement. Of patients with available fluid aspirate analysis, 3 out of 4 had CEA level > 192 ng/mL and 1 out of 3 had elevated (>250 IU/ml) amylase level. Four out of 7 patients had elevated serum CA 19-9 levels (>37 U/mL); one patient with a value of 361 U/mL had co-existing pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Round shape, mild complexity, and exophytic location in pancreatic body and tail can be suggestive of LECs. These features however are not specific and may be seen with other cystic pancreatic lesions. CT findings should be used in conjunction with EUS, cytology, and tumor marker studies to secure the diagnosis of LEC.
A tripodal aminothioether ligand scaffold: Synthesis and coordination to zirconium and hafnium

Abstract The heptadentate ligand, tris-(2-(2-(methylthio)phenylamino)ethyl)amine (2), has been synthesized from the condensation of nitrilotriacetyl chloride with 2-(methylthio)aniline, to generate 2,2′,2″-nitrilotris(N-(2-(methylthio)phenyl)acetamide) (1), followed by a lithium aluminum hydride reduction. The zirconium (3) and hafnium (4) complexes of this ligand were generated via transamination reactions. Both complexes are isostructural, exhibiting a hexadentate N4S2 coordination from the ligand, with one diethylamido ligand also bound. The solid state structures of all compounds are reported.
International inter-sectoral collaboration in university research centres: innovation systems in the United States and beyond in comparative perspective

University research centres often involve a mix of inter-sectoral and international collaboration. Although the contributions of federally-funded research centres to the United States economy have ...
Metabolic determinants in Listeria monocytogenes anaerobic listeriolysin O production.

Listeria monocytogenes is a human pathogen and a facultative anaerobe. To better understand how anaerobic growth affects L. monocytogenes pathogenesis, we first showed that anaerobic growth led to decreased growth and changes in surface morphology. Moreover, compared to aerobically grown bacteria, anaerobically grown L. monocytogenes established higher level of invasion but decreased intracellular growth and actin polymerization in cultured cells. The production of listeriolysin O (LLO) was significantly lower in anaerobic cultures—a phenotype observed in wild type and isogenic mutants lacking transcriptional regulators SigB or CodY or harboring a constitutively active PrfA. To explore potential regulatory mechanisms, we established that the addition of central carbon metabolism intermediates, such as acetate, citrate, fumarate, pyruvate, lactate, and succinate, led to an increase in LLO activity in the anaerobic culture supernatant. These results highlight the regulatory role of central carbon metabolism in L. monocytogenes pathogenesis under anaerobic conditions.
Meta-analyses of oil yield in Cuphea PSR23

Oil content and composition of Cuphea seed are of special economic value as raw materials for industrial and food applications. The inherent unpredictability in determining and predicting Cuphea’s oil yield is attributed, in part, to the indeterminate growth habit and the persistence of the domestication syndrome of this semi-domesticated potential oilseed crop. Meta-analysis using multivariate statistical modeling, computer simulations, and custom profiling was carried out on a database collated from several studies carried out in growth chamber, greenhouse and field experiments. Meta-analyses identified the importance of, and quantified direct and indirect relationships and tradeoffs between and within functional traits classified within five interrelated plant modules. Several multivariate statistical analyses procedures were employed in predicting oil content and oil yield, as performance measures of Cuphea at the plant and population levels of integration. The most parsimonious partial least squares regression model identified plant-, capsule-, and seed-based traits that can be used in reconstructing the best configuration needed for high agronomic performance at the individual plant and population levels. Variance-based structural equation modeling suggested that the variation in relative growth rate was strongly linked to differences in specific leaf area and leaf mass ratio; both traits expressed large positive direct and indirect effects on oil yield, but not oil content. Results of custom profiling suggested that seed yield, oil% and oil yield can be optimized by trait adjustments within the phenotypic and metabolic modules. Adjustments to thousand-seed weight and protein content would influence seed yield, oil yield and oil%, in a decreasing order. Improvements in eco-physiological traits, nutrient ratios and structural traits would lead to a slightly higher oil% and eventually higher oil yield.
Duty to Warn and Dissociative Identity Disorder

How to treat a patient with a dissociative identity disorder and how to manage a threat made by one of the patient's personalities. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Sequential therapy with sorafenib and sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma

5106 Background: Sunitinib and sorafenib are two small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that have been shown to have antitumor activity in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the...