cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Rational Principle of Subjectivity and the Outlet of Human Dilemmas

Some scholars think that the global problems or human dilemmas at present have their mere origin in the principle of subjectivity and anthropocentrism, and suggest that the principle of subjectivity should be deconstructed and the principle of objectivity should be restored.In fact, the global problems or human dilemmas are caused by manifold complicated factors. If we think that they are simply caused by the misleadingness of the principle of subjectivity and thus abandon it, we are to be found in some extreme of philosophical idea and in a certain retrogression of philosophical thinking. The deconstruction of the principle of subjectivity is never a good way to resolve the global problems. It is only by reflecting the traditional principle of subjectivity and rationalizing it while deleting the irrational part in it that we could hold in sight the light of hope from the outlet of human dilemmas.
Nutrition and celiac disease.

Celiac disease formerly was considered a malignant pediatric entity; however, careful diagnosis, dietary management and conscientious follow-up have eliminated much of its threat.The diet of the patient with celiac disease should be free of gluten, high in other proteins, moderately low in fat, particularly the saturated fats, and supplemented with vitamins.Investigation has shown that after a period of treatment three of four children with celiac disease tolerate gluten satisfactorily and grow at a normal rate.
The Strain Dependence of Tc in Sn and In Alloy Whiskers

We have measured the effect of alloying on the strain (e) dependence of the superconducting transition temperature T c of In and Sn whiskers. The effect was quite different in the two metals. The experimental techniques were similar to those used by Overcash et al.1
Enhancing State Medical Home Capacity through a Care Coordination Technical Assistance Model

Introduction A practice-based care coordination (CC) model was developed by Louisiana's Title V Children's Special Health Services (CSHS) program to meet the overwhelming needs of the New Orleans post-Katrina population. The pilot clinic demonstrated an improvement in medical home (MH) capacity over the course of 3 months. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the replicability of the model and sustainability of MH improvement over at least 2 years, while identifying factors that may modify the effect of the intervention. Methods The CSHS CC model utilizing a practice based care coordinator was implemented in 15 academic primary care pediatric clinics. Increase in MH capacity was determined using the MH Index-Short Version (MHI-SV) tool. Results The analysis of the MHI-SV scores for the ten clinics with >2 years of data demonstrated a significant improvement with each of the ten MHI-SV indicators. The mean clinic MHI-SV score improved from 19.70 to 34.15 on a scale of 10-50. Characteristics associated with the greatest MHI score improvement were rural geographic location, having an electronic health record, and using social workers or nurses as care coordinators. Characteristics associated with lower MHI scores were physician or care coordinator turnover and using stand-alone databases rather than tracking CC activities within the central patient record. Conclusion This study provides a flexible framework for implementing CC services in pediatric, family medicine, and medicine-pediatric practices, and demonstrates the value of CC as a driver for improvement in medical home capacity.
Computing generalized de Bruijn sequences

Abstract De Bruijn sequences of order n represent the set A n of all words of length n over a given alphabet A in the sense that they contain occurrences of each of these words (they actually contain exactly one occurrence of each of these words). Recently, the computational problem of representing subsets of A n by partial words, which are sequences that may have holes or don't-care symbols that match each letter of A, was considered and shown to be in NP . However, membership in P remained open. In this paper, we show that deciding if a subset S of A n is representable by a partial word can be done in polynomial time with respect to the size n | S | of the input. We also describe a polynomial-time algorithm that determines all integers h for representation by partial words with exactly h holes. Moreover, our algorithms construct representation words. Our approach is graph theoretical.
Heterogeneous Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Test-Bed Using Software-Defined Radios

In this paper we implement a cooperative spectrum sensing test-bed using software-defined radios with different sensing capabilities, e.g., sampling rates, RF characteristics, etc. Normalized energy detection is used for spectrum sensing due to its low implementation complexity. The proposed heterogeneous spectrum sensing test-bed is implemented using USRP N210s and RTL-SDRs within a controlled indoor laboratory environment. All signal processing is performed using GNU-Radio and post processing is conducted using MATLAB. Sensor units (SUs) are designed to generate the local test statistic L and transmit it to a Fusion Center for decision making. The Fusion Center (FC) is a base station that decides whether signal is present or not based on the data from all sensor units. We implement both soft and hard data fusion techniques and compare their performance in a practical fading channel scenario.
Tarsal-Conjunctival Graft or Flap and Skin-Muscle Transposition Flap in Lower Eyelid Reconstruction

Lower eyelid reconstruction requires multiple tools in an oculoplastic surgeon’s armamentarium. Although the tarsoconjunctival (Hughes) flap is reliable, the requirement of a second stage and closure of the eye are definite disadvantages to the procedure. In addition, some defects are in the gray zone between a primary closure with cantholysis and a Hughes flap. This chapter describes two different one-stage procedures for reconstruction of large full-thickness defects of the lower eyelid: one procedure employs a free tarsal graft, while the other uses a laterally based tarsoconjunctival flap.
On the Approximation Resiliency of Logic Locking and IC Camouflaging Schemes

The SAT-based attacks are extremely successful in deobfuscating the traditional combinational logic locking and IC camouflaging schemes. While several SAT-resilient protection schemes that increase the minimum query count of the attack have been proposed recently, none of them satisfy the output corruptibility (error) criteria. Therefore, most of them were combined with high corruptibility schemes to achieve both corruptibility and high query count. These “compound” schemes are successful since existing SAT attacks are agnostic to the corruptibility of the protection scheme. In this paper, we propose an approximate SAT-based attack framework which focuses on the iterative convergence of an attack toward a better solution. This helps our attack reduce a compound scheme to a standalone SAT-resilient scheme. In addition, we relate the problem of minimum query count to a well-known graph problem, and we propose a novel technique to increase the corruptibility of SAT-resilient protection schemes in a controllable manner. This creates protection schemes that have both high query count and corruptibility. Furthermore, due to the approximation resiliency property of these schemes, approximate attacks provide no advantage over exact attacks when attacking them.
Autonomic functions and orthostatic responses 24 h after acute intense exercise in paraplegic subjects

We tested the hypothesis that a bout of graded exercise designed to elicit maximal effort would increase the sensitivity of autonomically mediated baroreflexes and enhance blood pressure (BP) stability in subjects prone to postural hypotension. Therefore, we measured heart rate (HR), BP, forearm vascular resistance (FVR), and vasoactive hormone responses before and during 15 min of 70 degrees head-up tilt (HUT) in 10 paraplegic subjects (21-65 yr) on two occasions: 1) 24 h after maximal arm-crank exercise (postexercise) and 2) without exercise (control). During HUT, HR increased 30 beats/min in both postexercise and control, but the reduction in systolic BP (SBP) during control (-12.0 +/- 4.6 mmHg) was larger (P = 0.017) than that during HUT after exercise (-0.3 +/- 4.3 mmHg). The postexercise increase in FVR from supine to HUT of 17.0 +/- 2.4 to 24.8 +/- 3.2 peripheral resistance units (PRU) was greater (P = 0.042) than the increase observed during control (18.3 +/- 3.7 to 19.5 +/- 3.1 PRU). The gain of the carotid-cardiac baroreflex was also increased (P = 0.049) after exercise. Responses in norepinephrine, vasopressin, and plasma renin-angiotensin induced by HUT were similar for control and postexercise, and there was no difference in either leg compliance or plasma volume between the two conditions. Additionally, HR and SBP responses to phases II and IV of the Valsalva maneuver, indexes of integrated baroreflex sensitivity, were increased (P < 0.05) after maximal exercise compared with control. Thus acute intense exercise eliminated orthostatic hypotension in paraplegics, was associated with increased FVR and baroreflex sensitivity, and was independent of blood volume changes.
Aberrant regulation of the Akt signaling network by human cytomegalovirus allows for targeting of infected monocytes

Abstract Primary peripheral blood monocytes are responsible for the hematogenous dissemination of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) following a primary infection. In order to facilitate viral spread, HCMV extends the naturally short 48-h lifespan of monocytes by stimulating a non-canonical activation of Akt during viral entry, which leads to the increased expression of a specific subset of antiapoptotic proteins. In this study, global analysis of the Akt signaling network showed HCMV induced a more robust activation of the entire network when compared to normal myeloid growth factors. Furthermore, we found a unique interplay between HCMV-activated Akt and the stress response transcription heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) that allowed for the synthesis of both cap- and internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-containing antiapoptotic mRNAs such as myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), respectively. As generally a switch from cap-dependent to IRES-mediated translation occurs during cellular stress, the ability of HCMV to concurrently drive both types of translation produces a distinct milieu of prosurvival proteins needed for the viability of infected monocytes. Indeed, we found inhibition of XIAP led to death of ∼99% of HCMV-infected monocytes while having minimal effect on the viability of uninfected cells. Taken together, these data indicate that the aberrant activation of the Akt network by HCMV induces the upregulation of a unique subset of antiapoptotic proteins specifically required for the survival of infected monocytes. Consequently, our study highlights the possibility of exploiting these virus-induced changes to prevent viral spread in immunocompromised patients at high-risk for HCMV exposure.
Time-series analysis of binaural perception and uncertainty using eye movements

Uncertainty affects sensory perceptions, even for stimuli well above detection thresholds. Using an anticipatory eye-movement paradigm popularized in studies of linguistic perceptual certainty and competition, we measured perception of binaural cues in dichotic narrowband noises that varied by center frequency, bandwidth, envelope fluctuations and interaural correlation. Participant’s eye gaze served to mark detection of change in the ILD or ITD. We tracked the timing and direction of saccades, as well as the number of saccades (“guesses”) as a metric of perceptual uncertainty. Results showed gradually increasing performance accuracy for greater cue magnitude, coupled with fewer saccades overall. There was also a change in the distribution of saccade timings and number of saccades depending on whether cues were low-frequency ITD, high-frequency envelope ITD, correlated-noise ILD, or uncorrelated-noise ILD. All ILD results were consistent with a model of detection based on interaural envelope decorrelation; performance was particularly poorer, slower, and more variable for stimuli whose envelopes had greater fluctuation, but only when channels were uncorrelated. Comparison with behavioral accuracy and reaction time will be discussed. This study highlights the potential benefits of time-series analysis in psychoacoustic experiments in order to reveal some subtle effects of stimulus properties on perceptual judgments and certainty.
History and Overview

Clinical psychology has grown tremendously since 1896, the year Lightner Witmer founded the world’s first psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania (Reisman, 1976). While once associated merely with clinic-based evaluation and treatment of childhood learning problems, the field of clinical psychology has expanded into a wide range of client populations, clinical activities, and work settings.
Pranayama Yoga: Measuring Brainwaves via EEG

Differences in baseline electroencephalogram (EEG) activity have been found among long-time practitioners of meditation (3+ years) in comparison to novice meditators (<1 year). In the current study, 10 participants (5 experienced meditators; 5 novices) engaged in a series of weekly, 20-minute Open Heart Meditation (OHM) practices; 5 control participants (all novices) engaged in a 20-minute reading/study session. EEG activity was measured in all participants during the first and final sessions. While the differences did not reach statistical significance, there were differences in the expected direction, suggesting an increase in baseline mean frequency of EEG measurements within the beta range for experienced meditators in comparison to novices and controls, suggesting an increase in neurological engagement during meditation. These findings suggest that there are potential neurological gains of certain meditative practices, which should lead to further investigation into the merits of meditative practice as a form of therapy.
The characteristics of pemetrexed transport mediated by the high-affinity proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT); impact of the reduced folate carrier (RFC) and PCFT on the activities of pemetrexed and other antifolates

681 Pemetrexed (PMX) is a novel antifolate that acts primarily by inhibition of thymidylate synthase. PMX has high affinity for both the recently cloned PCFT and RFC that are ubiquitously expressed in normal and malignant human epithelial tissues. The objectives of this study were to: (i) characterize the properties of PCFT-mediated PMX transport in the HepG2 cell line stably transfected with PCFT cDNA, and to (ii) evaluate the impact of PCFT alone, or in comparison with RFC alone, on the activity of this drug and other antifolates using a novel cell line which lacks both transporters. [3H]PMX influx mediated by PCFT was optimal at pH 5.5 and decreased as the pH increased due to an increase in Km with only a small decrease in Vmax. However, substantial PMX transport activity was retained over pH 7.0 to 7.4, unlike what was observed for 5-formytetrahydrofolate (5-formylTHF). Uptake of PMX was highly concentrative at low extracellular pH but this decreased as the pH gradient was decreased. The PMX influx Km was 0.2 µM at pH 5.5 and 12.7 µM at pH 7.4. These values were far lower than the Ki/Km’s observed for other folates and antifolates, except for ZD9331 which was comparable to PMX. High-level expression of PCFT in HepG2 cells markedly enhanced PMX and ZD9931 growth inhibition but not the activities of ZD1694, PT523, or methotrexate (MTX). Further studies were undertaken to assess the relative contribution of PCFT or RFC, at levels comparable to their endogenous expression in Hela cells, to the growth inhibitory activities of antifolates. To achieve this, a highly stable RFC-null, PCFT-deficient HeLa cell variant was developed (R1-11) into which RFC or PCFT was stably transfected, driven by an SV40 promoter. Expression of PCFT, alone, restored PMX growth inhibitory activity in R1-11 cells to the same extent as the expression of RFC, alone, but without augmenting MTX, ZD1694 or PT523 activities in cells grown in medium with 25 nM 5-formylTHF. PCFT was far less efficient than RFC in reducing the growth requirement for 5-formylTHF, but was more efficient than RFC in reducing the growth requirement for folic acid. These results substantiate the key role that PCFT plays in the delivery of PMX to tumor cells and indicate that either PCFT or RFC, alone, is sufficient to sustain full PMX activity. Beyond its high affinity for PCFT, what distinguishes PMX transport from that of most other antifolates is the full preservation of activity even when RFC is absent due, in part, to the delivery of PMX to cells via PCFT. The data also indicate that PCFT represents a major route of folic acid transport into cells in the absence of RFC when folic acid is the growth substrate. (Supported by an NIH grant #CA82621)
Hydrodynamic interactions of filaments polymerizing against obstacles

Polymerization and depolymerization of cytoskeletal filaments against cellular structures can generate forces that are key to many cellular processes, such as cell motility and chromosomes movements during cell division. Motions generated by these forces induce global cytoplasmic flows and couple the dynamics of the polymerizing filaments and other bodies immersed in the fluid through their long-range hydrodynamic interactions (HIs). Previous theoretical and computational studies have largely ignored HIs. We use three dimensional discrete simulations to study the relationship between polymerization forces and their resulting flows and HIs. As a model system, we choose a filament that is polymerizing against an obstacle, and is embedded in a cylindrical array of parallel filaments of the same length. We consider three distinct mechanical scenarios for the filaments within the array: (a) all of the filaments are polymerizing with the same velocity; (b) they are all fixed in space, and (c) they are freely suspended. We show that each of these conditions produce their unique cytoplasmic flows and each result in differentiable polymerization forces and velocities. We also study the effect of buckling of filaments on polymerization forces and velocities and discuss the effect of HIs on the onset of buckling transition. Finally, we show that HIs result in the bundling of the buckled filaments within the array.
Can Photonic Computing be the Answer to Green and Sustainable Computing

For decades now, processing speed has been consistently rising. The top supercomputer, Summit, today, can perform 148,600 trillion calculations in one second (148.6 PF on LINPAC). Exascale supercomputers that can perform more than one million trillion (quintillion) calculations per second are planned for 2021. However, this smooth ride is almost over with the end of Moore’s Law and Dennard’s Scaling due to the increased power consumption and leakage. Scientists believe that we are reaching serious physical limits. Innovative ideas in device technology and architectures are a must for the next generation of computing. Photonic devices are characterized by their speed and ultra-low power. In this talk we examine the use of alternative Photonic computing architectures based on these devices, on the chip, to solve many critical science and engineering problems, including Partial Differential Equations (the basis for scientific and engineering simulations) and machine learning. We use this to examine the potential and progress needed to reap the full benefits of this technology and move it to becoming a main stream fast green computing alternative.
Molecular dynamics simulations suggest stabilizing mutations in a de novo designed α/β protein

Designing functional proteins that can withstand extreme heat is beneficial for industrial and protein therapeutic applications. Thus, elucidating the atomic-level determinants of thermostability is a major interest for rational protein design. To that end, we compared the structure and dynamics of a set of previously designed, thermostable proteins based on the activation domain of human procarboxypeptidase A2 (AYEwt). The mutations in these designed proteins were intended to increase hydrophobic core packing and inter-secondary-structure interactions. To evaluate whether these design strategies were successfully deployed, we performed all-atom, explicit-solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of AYEwt and three designed variants at both 25 and 100°C. Our MD simulations agreed with the relative experimental stabilities of the designs based on their secondary structure content, Cα root-mean-square deviation/fluctuation, and buried-residue solvent accessible surface area. Using a contact analysis, we found that the designs stabilize inter-secondary structure interactions and buried hydrophobic surface area, as intended. Based on our analysis, we designed three additional variants to test the role of helix stabilization, core packing, and a Phe → Met mutation on thermostability. We performed the additional MD simulations and analysis on these variants, and these data supported our predictions.
Stereotactic laser ablation for subependymal giant cell astrocytomas: personal experience and review of the literature

Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) are rare tumors typically found in tuberous sclerosis patients. They typically grow in the region of the foramen of Monro and can occlude it, leading to hydrocephalus. Currently, gross total resection is the standard of care, with low rates of recurrence but high rates of complication, especially with larger lesions. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a newly emerging treatment modality for a variety of pathologies. Here, we present a case series of SEGAs managed via LITT and endoscopic, stereotactic septostomy. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify three cases in which SEGAs were treated via LITT and septostomy. Stereotactic ablation was performed via magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry with laser output set to 69% for 2.5 min, with post-ablation scans for visualization of treatment area. Average age at surgery was 8.2 years. Pre-operative tumor volumes were 0.43, 1.51, and 3.88 cm3. Post-operative tumor volumes were 0.25, 0.21, and 0.68 cm3. Mean tumor volume reduction was 70%. No complications occurred. LITT with septostomy should be considered a viable primary or adjunct treatment modality for SEGAs.
Results from brief educational intervention and health screenings: A community health study of Latinos in Southwest Florida.

BACKGROUND: Latinos in the U.S., one of the fastest growing minority population, have low health-related knowledge and higher rates of diabetes and obesity. AIM: The study aims (1) to assess health-related knowledge levels and change in knowledge levels after brief educational intervention and (2) to assess undiagnosed diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia in adult Latinos residing in Immokalee, Florida. A total of 164 participants completed pre–posttests while 161 participants took part in health screenings comprising blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), blood glucose (BG), and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Health-related knowledge levels were assessed using 10 questions before and after the educational intervention via face-to face interviews. BP was measured using automated sphygmomanometer, BG and TC were measured using lipid and glucose analyzer, waist circumference using inch tape and BMI using digital scale. T test and Chi square were used to examine the differences in knowledge levels and distribution of screening results across demographic characteristics and self-reports respectively. RESULTS: Mean age was 40.1 ± 13.3 years; there were 77 males and 87 females. The knowledge levels based on 10 questions increased by 1.43 (0.42) after educational sessions (P CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension in Latinos and more Latino males than females to have hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Latinos' vulnerability to chronic diseases and associated complications is further confounded by limited health knowledge. However, the results of the brief educational program were encouraging and have implications in setting up structured educational interventions in health clinics and migrant education programs.
Finite-difference model for laser ablation with emphasis on the role of carbonization and explosive vaporization

A finite-difference model provides computer simulations of laser ablation, depicting a dynamic process of surface dessication, temperature rise, carbonization, and explosive subsurface vaporization, which repeats cyclically. The model considers the role of changing tissue optical properties, thermal diffusion, surface water evaporation, water diffusion, tissue dessication, transient carbonization, subsurface explosive vaporization. The parameters of the model were adjusted to yield an ablation velocity, v abl (mm/s), which matched a typical experimental value from the literature. Then the effect of each parameter on v abl was examined by plotting v abl versus variation in that one parameter while holding all other parameters constant. The major factors influencing v abl appear to be the threshold for explosive vaporization [Q the (J/cm 3 )] and the rate of carbonization expressed in terms of its optical absorption [(delta) (mu) a.carb /(delta) t(cm -1 s -1 )]. The ablation process is dynamic not constant, but the average ablation velocity can be adequately modeled as the simple boiling of water caused by heat deposition in a 2-5-micrometers time-averaged thickness of carbonized tissue.
Electronic-structure methods for twisted moiré layers

When single layers of 2D materials are stacked on top of one another with a small twist in orientation, the resulting structure often involves incommensurate moire patterns. In these patterns, the loss of angstrom-scale periodicity poses a significant theoretical challenge, and the new moire length scale leads to emergent physical phenomena. The range of physics arising from twisted bilayers has led to significant advances that are shaping into a new field, twistronics. At the moire scale, the large number of atoms in these systems can make their accurate simulation daunting, necessitating the development of efficient multiscale methods. In this Review, we summarize and compare such modelling methods — focusing in particular on density functional theory, tight-binding Hamiltonians and continuum models — and provide examples spanning a broad range of materials and geometries. When single layers of 2D materials are stacked on top of one another with a small twist, the resulting moire pattern introduces new electronic properties. This Review surveys and compares the modelling techniques used in this emerging field of twistronics.
The Short Course as a Model for Teaching STEM Graduate Student Instructors About Course Design

This chapter describes a short course model of pedagogical training for graduate student instructors that offers a primer on course design. Participants engage in an intensive community‐based program and gain knowledge and confidence in implementing evidence‐based teaching approaches.
Scaling patch analysis of turbulent planar plume

Proper scaling in turbulent planar plumes is investigated here using a scaling patch approach. Based on the scaled boundary conditions, a proper velocity scale for the mean axial flow is the plume centerline velocity U ref = U ctr, and a proper temperature scale for the temperature excess is Θ ref = T ctr − T ∞, where Tctr is the plume centerline temperature and T ∞ is the ambient fluid temperature. By seeking an admissible scaling, a key concept in the scaling patch approach, for the mean continuity, mean momentum, and mean energy equations, respectively, the following is found: (1) a proper scale for the mean transverse flow is V ref = ( d δ / d x ) U ctr, where d δ / d x is the growth rate of the plume width. (2) A proper scale for the Reynolds shear stress is R vu , ref = U ctr V ref = ( d δ / d x ) U ctr 2, a mix of the scales for the mean axial and transverse flows. (3) A proper scale for the turbulent heat flux is R v θ , ref = V ref Θ ctr, a mix of the scales for the mean transverse flow and mean temperature excess. The mean transverse flow thus plays a critical role in the scaling of turbulent planar plumes. Approximate functions are developed for the scaled mean transverse flow, Reynolds shear stress, and turbulent temperature flux, and are found to agree favorably with experimental and numerical simulation data. The integral analysis of the mean momentum equation yields a Richardson number Ri, which remains invariant in the axial direction. The Richardson number is defined as Ri = def g β Θ ctr δ t / ( U ctr V ref ) ≈ 1 / 2, where g is the gravitational acceleration, β is the thermal expansion coefficient, and δt is the plume half-width based on the mean temperature profile. This Richardson number arises directly from the scaling patch analysis of the mean momentum equation, including both the streamwise and transverse velocity scales.
Epigenetic and transcriptional control of interferon-ß.

The three classes of interferons (IFNs) share the ability to inhibit viral replication, activating cell transcriptional programs that regulate both innate and adaptive responses to viral and intracellular bacterial challenge. Due to their unique potency in regulating viral replication, and their association with numerous autoimmune diseases, the tightly orchestrated transcriptional regulation of IFNs has long been a subject of intense investigation. The protective role of early robust IFN responses in the context of infection with SARS-CoV-2 has further underscored the relevance of these pathways. In this viewpoint, rather than focusing on the downstream effects of IFN signaling (which have been extensively reviewed elsewhere), we will summarize the historical and current understanding of the stepwise assembly and function of factors that regulate IFNβ enhancer activity (the "enhanceosome") and highlight opportunities for deeper understanding of the transcriptional control of the ifnb gene.
SU-E-T-512: Intrinsic Characteristics of the Nine Detectors and Evaluation of Their Performance in Non-Equilibrium Radiation Dosimetry

Purpose The aim for the study was to compare intrinsic characteristics of the nine detectors and evaluate their performance in non-equilibrium radiation dosimetry. Methods The intrinsic characteristics of the nine detectors that were evaluated are based on the composition and size of the active volume, operating voltage, initial recombination of the collected charge, temperature, the effective cross section of the detectors. The shortterm stability and collection efficiency has been investigated. The minimum radiation detection sensitivity and detectors leakage current has been measured. The sensitivity to changes in energy spectrum as well as change in incident beam angles were measured an analyzed. Results The short-term stability of the measurements within every detector showed consistency in the measured values with the highest value of the standard deviation of the mean not exceeding 0.5%. Air ion chamber detectors showed minimum sensitivity to change in incident beam angles while diode detectors underestimated measurements up to 16%. Comparing the slope of the tangents for detector’s sensitivity curve, diode detectors illustrate more sensitivity to change in photon spectrum than ion chamber detectors. The change in radiation detection sensitivity with increase in dose delivered has been observed for semiconductor detectors with maximum deviation 0.01% for doses between 1 Gy and 10 Gy. Leakage current has been mainly influenced by bias voltage (ion chamber detectors) and room light intensity (diode detectors). With dose per pulse varying from 1.47E−4 to 5.1E−4 Gy/pulse the maximum change in collection efficiency was 1.4% for the air ion chambers up to 8% for liquid filled ion chamber. Conclusion Broad range of measurements performed showed all the detectors susceptible to some limitations and while they are suitable for use in broad scope of applications, careful selection has to be made for particular range of measurements.
Quaker Lobbying on Behalf of the New START Treaty in 2010: A Window into the World of the Friends Committee on National Legislation

This essay explores the work of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), the oldest religious lobby in Washington, D.C., founded in 1943. Its legislative policies are discerned on the basis of areas where Quakers are in agreement. While it was founded to further the goal of a non-military world, its policies have expanded to include U.S. domestic issues and improving federal government policies toward Native Americans. The essay chooses one of FCNL’s successful lobbying campaigns, the lobbying for U.S. Senate ratification of the New START Treaty, which would reduce the number of nuclear weapons held by both Russia and the United States. FCNL determined that it would need to embark on state campaigns to win ratification of this treaty, so it engaged in campaigns in several states where moderate Republicans held Senate seats. It also engaged in building coalitions among other Washington, D.C. lobbyists on behalf of ratification. This work paid off with most Republican Senators lobbied by FCNL joining with all Democratic Senators to ratify the treaty by a 71-26 vote on December 22, 2010. FCNL continues to work on nuclear disarmament, but with the election of more conservative Republicans in 2010 and 2012, FCNL staff worries that the nation’s progress on this issue could be slowing. It is certain that the kind of patient organizing in crucial states that were critical to the success of the New START treaty ratification will be the most likely route to further treaty ratifications in the area of nuclear disarmament.
Fundamentals of MOF Thin Film Growth via Liquid-Phase Epitaxy: Investigating the Initiation of Deposition and the Influence of Temperature.

Thin films can integrate the versatility and great potential found in the emerging field of metal–organic frameworks directly into device architectures. For fabrication of smart interfaces containing surface-anchored metal–organic frameworks, it is important to understand how the foundational layers form to create the interface between the underlying substrate and porous framework. Herein, the formation and morphology of the first ten cycles of film deposition are investigated for the well-studied HKUST-1 system. Effects of processing variables, such as deposition temperature and substrate quality, are studied. Sequences of scanning probe microscopy images collected after cycles of alternating solution-phase deposition reveal the formation of a discontinuous surface with nucleating and growing crystallites consistent with a Volmer–Weber growth mechanism. Quantitative image analysis determines surface roughness and surface coverage as a function of deposition cycles, producing insight regarding growth and ...
Pharmacology and Clinical Use of Mexiletine

Mexiletine is an antiarrhythmic agent with structural and electrophysiologic properties similar to those of lidocaine. Mexiletine decreases ventricular automaticity while shortening both action potential duration and effective refractory period. The drug may be administered orally or intravenously. Hepatic metabolism is the major route of elimination. The elimination half-life is approximately 10 hours, but longer in patients with acute myocardial infarction, chronic congestive heart failure or hepatic insufficiency. Mexiletine suppresses ventricular ectopy in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. The drug is effective for some patients in whom lidocaine has failed. It suppresses chronic ventricular ectopy and is well tolerated in approximately two-thirds of stable outpatients treated with this agent. In that population, mexiletine is comparable in efficacy to quinidine, procainamide and disopyramide. It is effective in 30-50% of patients with ventricular arrhythmias refractory to other antiarrhythmic drugs. In patients with refractory arrhythmias, the efficacy of mexiletine may be enhanced by combination with propranolol, quinidine or amiodarone. Adverse reactions limit use of mexiletine in approximately 20% of patients. Gastrointestinal and central nervous system side effects are the most common. Mexiletine does not depress myocardial function. Aggravation of arrhythmias is uncommonly observed. The usual intravenous dose of mexiletine is 150-250 mg over at least 10 minutes. Long-term oral dosages are usually 200-300 mg 3 or 4 times daily.
Un corpus anotado de 100.000.000 de palabras del español histórico y moderno.

The first annotated corpus of historical and modern Spanish - the 100.000.000 word Corpus del Espanol - is now online at http://www.corpusdelespanol.org. Unlike other corpora of historical Spanish, the Corpus del Espanol allows searches by 35 grammatical categories, 20.000 lemmata, and 30.000 groups of synonyms and antonyms, in addition to searches by etymology, frequency, and by user-defined semantic and syntactic categories. All of this allows searches as complex as pronominal direct object + all forms of any synonym of querer + inifinitive, which occurs in the 1900s but not in the 1700s or 1800s. It is also possible to easily produce complete lists of collocations. The flexibility and power of the corpus (as well as the speed - 2-3 seconds for nearly all searches) are due to the innovative architecture of the corpus - several relational databases that are linked together and which contain annotation for the 45.000.000 distinct n-grams in the corpus
Rate coefficients for O(1D) + H2, D2, HD reactions and H atom yield in O(1D) + HD reaction

Abstract Rate coefficients, in units of 10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 , for the O( 1 D) reactions with H 2 , D 2 and HD at 298 K were determined to be 1.2 ± 0.1, 1.1 ± 0.1, and 1.2 ± 0.1, respectively. The H atom yield in the O ( 1 D ) + HD reaction, relative to that in the O ( 1 D ) + H 2 reaction, was measured to be 0.57 ± 0.03. The temporal profiles of O( 3 P) and H( 2 S), following pulsed photolytic generation of O( 1 D), were measured using cw resonance fluorescence detection to determine the rate coefficients and product yield.
Crossing Borders, Organizations, Levels and Technologies: IS Collaboration in Humanitarian Relief

In this article, we present a preliminary analysis of four case studies of collaborative information systems (IS) projects initiated by two collaboration bodies within the humanitarian action sector. Collaboration bodies are groups of organizations brought together with the purpose of improving collaboration of their activities. Our goal is to theoretically explore collaborative IS projects as a “gateway” to collaboration among large, international humanitarian organizations. Our findings suggest that: 1) hierarchical relations help overcome technical barriers to collaboration; 2) collaborative IS projects that funnel resources from higher to lower levels of the hierarchy will likely have to deal with the implications of multilevel governance; and 3) collaboration efforts at higher levels of the organizational hierarchy may facilitate collaboration at lower levels, improving collaboration with partners at multiple organizational levels.
Monkey Cutaneous SAI and RA Responses to Raised and Depressed Scanned Patterns: Effects of Width, Height, Orientation, and a Raised Surround

Blake, David T., Kenneth O. Johnson, and Steven S. Hsiao. Monkey cutaneous SAI and RA responses to raised and depressed scanned patterns: effects of width, height, orientation, and a raised surroun...
Hepatic mitochondrial energy production in rats with chronic iron overload

Abstract Background: Iron overload results in impaired hepatic mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. The current experiments evaluated the effects of iron overload on enzyme activities in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, on hepatic adenine nucleotide levels, and on hepatocellular oxygen consumption. Methods: Hepatic iron overload was produced in rats using dietary carbonyl iron. Hepatic adenine nucleotides were assessed after freeze-clamping, mitochondrial enzyme activities and oxygen consumption were measured in isolated mitochondria, and oxygen consumption in isolated hepatocytes was determined. Results: At a mean hepatic iron concentration of 4630 μg/g, there were no changes in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-cytochrome c reductase activity (complex I–III), but there was a 35% reduction in succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity (complex II–III), and a 70% decrease in cytochrome c oxidase activity (complex IV). With mild iron loading (2060 μg/g), there was a 28% decrease in hepatic adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) levels with no change in adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) levels, whereas, at a higher hepatic iron concentration (3170 μg/g), there was a 40% reduction in ATP levels, a 22% decrease in ADP levels, with no change in AMP levels. There was a 48% reduction in oxygen consumption in isolated iron-loaded hepatocytes. Conclusions: Chronic iron overload decreases hepatic mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity, hepatocellular oxygen consumption, and hepatic ATP levels.
Using step and path selection functions for estimating resistance to movement: pumas as a case study

GPS telemetry collars and their ability to acquire accurate and consistently frequent locations have increased the use of step selection functions (SSFs) and path selection functions (PathSFs) for studying animal movement and estimating resistance. However, previously published SSFs and PathSFs often do not accommodate multiple scales or multi-scale modeling. We present a method that allows multiple scales to be analyzed with SSF and PathSF models. We also explore the sensitivity of model results and resistance surfaces to whether SSFs or PathSFs are used, scale, prediction framework, and GPS collar sampling interval. We use 5-min GPS collar data from pumas (Puma concolor) in southern California to model SSFs and PathSFs at multiple scales, to predict resistance using two prediction frameworks (paired and unpaired), and to explore potential bias from GPS collar sampling intervals. Regression coefficients were extremely sensitive to scale and pumas exhibited multiple scales of selection during movement. We found PathSFs produced stronger regression coefficients, larger resistance values, and superior model performance than SSFs. We observed more heterogeneous surfaces when resistance was predicted in a paired framework compared with an unpaired framework. Lastly, we observed bias in habitat use and resistance results when using a GPS collar sampling interval longer than 5 min. The methods presented provide a novel way to model multi-scale habitat selection and resistance from movement data. Due to the sensitivity of resistance surfaces to method, scale, and GPS schedule, care should be used when modeling corridors for conservation purposes using these methods.
HMPL: A Pipeline for Identifying Hemimethylation Patterns by Comparing Two Samples

DNA methylation (the addition of a methyl group to a cytosine) is an important epigenetic event in mammalian cells because it plays a key role in regulating gene expression. Most previous methylation studies assume that DNA methylation occurs on both positive and negative strands. However, a few studies have reported that in some genes, methylation occurs only on one strand (ie, hemimethylation) and has clustering patterns. These studies report that hemimethylation occurs on individual genes. It is unclear whether hemimethylation occurs genome-wide and whether there are hemimethylation differences between cancerous and noncancerous cells. To address these questions, we have developed the first-ever pipeline, named hemimethylation pipeline (HMPL), to identify hemimethylation patterns. Utilizing the available software and the newly developed Perl and R scripts, HMPL can identify hemimethylation patterns for a single sample and can also compare two different samples.
Iterative solution and finite difference approximations to 3D microscale heat transport equation

Numerical techniques are proposed to solve a 3D time dependent microscale heat transport equation. A second-order finite difference scheme in both time and space is introduced and the unconditional stability of the finite difference scheme is proved. A computational procedure is designed to solve the resulting sparse linear system at each time step with a few iterative methods and their performances are compared experimentally. Numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the finite difference scheme and the efficiency of the proposed computational procedure.
Separation of methylated bases of ribonucleic acid by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography

Abstract The separation of fourteen methylated purine and pyrimidine bases that have been reported to occur in transfer RNA was investigated by thin-layer chromatography using two solvent systems and five adsorbants containing various percentages of Silica Gel GF and Avicel microcrystalline cellulose. By increasing the amount of cellulose in the adsorbant, disproportionate decreases in the RF values of the methylated bases were observed in both solvent systems. From these data a two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic system has been developed that satisfactorily resolves a mixture of the fourteen methylated bases employed in this investigation.
THE EFFECT OF ARGININE ON COAGULATION AND FIBRINOLYSIS IN VITRO

Abstract Arginine is added to commercially-available recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) to promote its solubility. However, arginine is also known to inhibit certain proteases. To explore the possibility that arginine inhibits the highly concentrated rtPA in commercial formulations, we tested the amino acid in assays of rtPA function. Although arginine was found to inhibit rtPA cleavage of a chromogenic substrate, it did not interfere with rtPA-mediated fibrinolysis. However, whole-blood clotting time and thrombin clotting time of purified fibrinogen were prolonged by arginine. Therefore, the concentration of arginine in commercial preparations of rtPA appears to have an anticoagulant effect but does not retard fibrinolysis.
Biomass yield, fiber composition and persistence of cool-season perennial grasses

Abstract Perennial herbaceous grasses have not been adequately evaluated to determine their productivity and persistence under management systems suitable for biomass production. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) were established under a two-harvest management system, with a factorial combination of three N rates (0, 168 and 336 kg ha−1), and five first-harvest dates at two-week intervals. Reed canarygrass persisted well and was very productive under the two-harvest management system, regardless of the time of the first harvest. Reed canarygrass averaged 10·6 Mg ha−1 dry matter yield over two years with no N fertilization. Tall fescue stands were reduced by 30% with high N fertilization, but were not affected by delaying the first-harvest date. Orchardgrass stands were eliminated by the two-harvest management system. All neutral detergent fiber concentrations were above 550 g kg−1 and permanganate lignin concentrations were generally above 40 g kg−1.