cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational irony: A survey and new perspectives

Irony is a fundamental rhetorical device. It is a uniquely human mode of communication, curious in that the speaker says something other than what he or she intends. Recently, computationally detecting irony has attracted attention from the natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) communities. While some progress has been made toward this end, I argue that current machine learning methods rely too heavily on shallow, unstructured, syntactic modeling of text to consistently discern ironic intent. Irony detection is an interesting machine learning problem because, in contrast to most text classification tasks, it requires a semantics that cannot be inferred directly from word counts over documents alone. To support this position, I survey the large body of existing philosophical/literary work investigating ironic communication. I then survey more recent computational efforts to operationalize irony detection in the fields of NLP and ML. I identify the disparities of the latter with respect to the former. Specifically, I highlight a major conceptual problem in all existing computational models of irony: none maintain an explicit model of the speaker/environment. I argue that without such an internal model of the speaker, irony detection is hopeless, as this model is necessary to represent expectations, which play a key role in ironic communication. I sketch possible means of embedding such models into computational approaches to irony detection. In particular, I introduce the pragmatic context model, which looks to operationalize computationally existing theories of irony. This work is a step toward unifying work on irony from literary, empirical and philosophical perspectives with modern computational models.
Equilibria and ligand binding kinetics of hemoglobins from the sharks, Prionace glauca and Carcharhinus milberti.

Abstract 1. 1. The functional behavior of the hemoglobins from two sharks (Prionace glauca and Carcharhinus milberti) obtained off-shore from Kealakakua Bay, Hawaii, has been examined. 2. 2. Neither hemoglobin shows an apparent Root effect. The binding properties in general are very similar to those of mammalian hemoglobins. 3. 3. The oxygen equilibria of the maternal and fetal hemoglobins from C. milberti have been compared. The results show that fetal hemoglobin has a slightly higher oxygen affinity in the absence of endogenous phosphate, but the affinities of fetal and maternal hemoglobins appear identical in 0·8 mM. ATP.
Profiling of Volatile Impurities in Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS) for Synthetic-Route Determination

Abstract This study investigated the feasibility of using volatile impurities from the rodenticide tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS) for the discrimination of TETS produced by three synthetic routes. Each route was used to make one batch of TETS by reacting sulfamide with one of three formaldehyde analogs in the presence of either trifluroacetic acid (TFA) or hydrochloric acid. Ten impurities useful for differentiating the three TETS batches were discovered and tentatively identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC × CG–MS). Of the ten identified impurities, the alkyl trifluoroacetate and alkyl chloride impurities distinguished TETS routes based on their use of either TFA or HCl as catalyst. On the other hand, four 6-carbon ketone impurities appeared to be batch specific rather than route specific and hence potentially useful for sample matching. Interestingly, 1,3,5-trioxane was not found in the TETS batch where it was used as a reactant, but instead was found in the two batches that did not have 1,3,5-trioxane as the reactant. In brief, the limited work discussed in this paper supports: (1) the feasibility of sampling and detecting volatile organic impurities from a solid chemical-threat agent, (2) the probable forensic benefit of catalysts acting as reactants in side reactions, (3) the uniqueness of a synthetic batch's impurity profile for potential sample matching, and (4) the possibility that some impurities, such as formaldehyde analogs, are not forensically helpful and may lead to an incorrect estimate about the synthetic route if not supported by sound chemical knowledge.
HIV and population dynamics: A general model and maximum-likelihood standards for East Africa

In high-prevalence populations, the HIV epidemic undermines the validity of past empirical models and related demographic techniques. A parsimonious model of HIV and population dynamics is presented here and fit to 46,000 observations, gathered from 11 East African populations. The fitted model simulates HIV and population dynamics with standard demographic inputs and only two additional parameters for the onset and scale of the epidemic. The underestimation of the general prevalence of HIV in samples of pregnant women and the fertility impact of HIV are examples of the dynamic interactions that demographic models must reproduce and are shown here to increase over time even with constant prevalence levels. As a result, the impact of HIV on population growth appears to have been underestimated by current population projections that ignore this dynamic.
5-HT and morphine interaction, effects on sensory input in caudate nucleus and substantia nigra.

Abstract The involvement of 5-HT in morphine-induced electrophysiological changes in the caudate nucleus and substantia nigra was examined in freely behaving rats. It was found that morphine treatment modified differently the sensory-evoked responses in these two structures. After tryptophan pretreatment, morphine induced in the substantia nigra the same responses as observed in the caudate nucleus after morphine alone. Cinanserin pretreatment blocked morphine-induced changes only in the substantia nigra, while PCPA had almost no effect in that site. In the caudate nucleus, the opposite phenomena were observed i.e. cinanserin pretreatment did not modify the morphine effect, although PCPA reversed the morphine-induced changes. An increase in morphine dosage overcame the PCPA effect on its action in both structures. These observations indicate that 5-HT plays an important role in morphine action. It can then be assumed that the caudate nucleus and substantia nigra have different functional properties in relation to morphine action that could be complementary or compensatory.
A Simplified Reaction Rate Model and its Application to the Analysis of Premixed Flames

Abstract A simple reaction rate model which eliminates much of the non-linearity associated with the Arrhenius model is suggested. The model is applied to one-dimensional flame problems: the unstrained flame at unity and non-unity Lewis numbers and the strained flame at unity Lewis number. Exact expressions for the temperature and species profiles and consumption rates are obtained; in thestrained flame, these require numerical evaluation. The solutions demonstrate that the model agrees in all essentials with the Arrhenius model and is much simpler mathematically. For the strained flame problem, the exact solution involves integral functions. Analytical temperature profiles and the consumption rate can be obtained for low and high strain rate. Many of the results obtained via activation energy asymptotics and numerical solution for the Arrhenius model are reproduced by the current model with much less analytical complexity. In the strained flame solutions one can identify two regimes of the flame response...
Preparation and reversible behavior of organized thiol monolayers with attached pentaminepyridineruthenium redox centers

Electroactive monolayers can be formed in which the redox centers are held at a fixed and controllable distance from the electrode. Thiols with attached redox centers (HS(CH2)n CONHCH2pyRu(NH3)52+/3+, n = 10, 11, 15) readily adsorb from acetonitrile solutions onto gold electrodes to form electroactive monolayers. Mixed monolayers are synthesized by co-adsorbing the electroactive thiols with diluent alkanethiols (HS(CH2)nCH3, n = 11, 15) and ω-mercaptoalkanecarboxylic acids (HS(CH2)nCOOH, n = 10, 11, 15). Cyclic voltammetry of the coated electrodes shows a stable redox wave near 0 V vs. SCE in pH 4 aqueous electrolyte. Coverage of the redox centers in mixed monolayers is controllable by adjusting the mole ratio of the electroactive thiol to the diluent thiol in the deposition solution. At sufficiently slow scan rates, cyclic voltammograms of the electroactive monolayers are nearly ideal (ΔEp = 0 mV and ΔEfwhm = 90 to 100 mV) for both diluent thiols and for all coverages of the redox centers. The evidence indicates that the monolayers are well ordered and that the redox centers reside at the interface between the aqueous phase and the hydrocarbon phase. These monolayers are suitable for the study of electron tunneling across the monolayer.
A common set of conserved motifs in a vast variety of putative nucleic acid-dependent ATPases including MCM proteins involved in the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication

A new superfamily of (putative) DNA-dependent ATPases is described that includes the ATPase domains of prokaryotic NtrC-related transcription regulators, MCM proteins involved in the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication, and a group of uncharacterized bacterial and chloroplast proteins. MCM proteins are shown to contain a modified form of the ATP-binding motif and are predicted to mediate ATP-dependent opening of double-stranded DNA in the replication origins. In a second line of investigation, it is demonstrated that the products of unidentified open reading frames from Marchantia mitochondria and from yeast, and a domain of a baculovirus protein involved in viral DNA replication are related to the superfamily III of DNA and RNA helicases that previously has been known to include only proteins of small viruses. Comparison of the multiple alignments showed that the proteins of the NtrC superfamily and the helicases of superfamily III share three related sequence motifs tightly packed in the ATPase domain that consists of 100-150 amino acid residues. A similar array of conserved motifs is found in the family of DnaA-related ATPases. It is hypothesized that the three large groups of nucleic acid-dependent ATPases have similar structure of the core ATPase domain and have evolved from a common ancestor.
Laser-excited ionic fluorescence spectrometry of rare-earth elements in the inductively-coupled plasma

Abstract A pulsed tunable dye laser pumped with an excimer laser is used to excite ionic fluorescence of the rare earth elements in the inductively-coupled plasma. Because several fluorescence lines were observed after laser excitation, it was possible to draw partial energy-level diagrams for most of the rare earths. Non-resonance fluorescence lines were used for all measurements in order to minimize spectral interferences. Detection limits at given excitation wavelengths are reported for each element. Laser-excited ionic fluorescence eliminates the problem of spectral interferences which has been associated with the determination of the rare earths by atomic emission spectrometry in the inductively-coupled plasma.
Trade Reform Under Partial Currency Convertibility: Some Suggestive Results

The macroeconomic implications of trade reform in the presence of capital account restrictions are discussed. Such restrictions are modeled by recognizing the prior constraints on free currency convertibility that are imposed under a multiple exchange rate system. The results indicate that the preferred sequence of liberalization need not be of the commonly advocated "current account first" variety, and that real depreciation rather than real appreciation is a more probable outcome following domestic tariff liberalization.
Maximum likelihood estimation of a stochastic compartment model of cancer latency: lung cancer mortality among white females in the U.S.

Abstract Closed form maximum likelihood estimators are derived for a generalization of a model of cancer latency (Tolley, Burdick, Manton, and Stallard, Biometrics35, 1978) by making two assumptions. First it was assumed that the cancer hazard was a constant proportion of the force of mortality within an age interval. Second, it was assumed that the total force of mortality could be estimated externally to the model. With these two conditions it was possible to develop closed form solutions for the MLEs of the parameters of our stochastic compartment model conditional upon the total force of mortality. In addition it was assumed that susceptibility to tumor initiation was gamma distributed over the population of interest. Estimates of the distribution of susceptibility are thus obtained. The model was applied to vital statistics data on deaths due to lung cancer among white females in the U.S. in 1969. A fit was obtained and estimates of latency produced that accord well with clinical and epidemiological findings. Estimates of the parameters of the distribution of susceptibility indicate that the distribution is highly skewed explaining the rather marked downturn in the mortality hazard of lung cancer at advanced ages.
New time-domain technique for flutter boundary identification

A new methodology for flutter boundary identification in the time domain is presented. This technique is based on a single-input single-output deterministic ARMA model and an on-line parameter estimation procedure. It is capable of simultaneous identification of the aeroelastic modal parameters as well as the static offset term which represents the static deformation or state of the aeroelastic system. The capabilities of the method are illustrated by applying it to several examples, such as: damped free oscillations, a two degree of freedom NACA 64A010 airfoil in transonic flight, and a cantilevered rectangular wing in subsonic flow. Numerical implementations of the new methodology developed in this study demonstrates that it is a cost effective time-domain technique for flutter boundary identification.
Conceptual Framework to Optimize Building Energy Consumption by Coupling Distributed Energy Simulation and Occupancy Models

AbstractIn this paper, a conceptual framework that couples energy modeling with occupancy characteristics and energy use data is developed and tested to achieve two main objectives: (1) couple distinct and spatially distributed simulation models and synchronize their data exchange, and (2) illustrate the coupled model behavior through a hypothetical case study example of a building. This conceptual framework is developed using a distributed computing environment based on the principles defined in the high-level architecture (HLA). Thus, individual simulation models and control interfaces developed for their own purpose, called federates, are composed and coupled together in an HLA-compliant federation that allows federates to continuously communicate with one another and exchange relevant information at each time step to achieve the global objective of reducing the building’s energy use. A case study example of a typical commercial building illustrates how the model coordinates data synchronization and tr...
Comparison of the Effects of High and Low Voltage Electrical Stimulation on Quality-Indicating Characteristics of Beef Carcasses

Electrical stimulation, both high-voltage (HVES; 55OV) and low-voltage (LVES; 35V), resulted in brighter, more youthful appearing color of lean as compared to that of controls (not stimulated). There were no differences attributable to electrical stimulation for marbling or “heat-ring” score. Contrasts were made between LVES-A (35V), LVES-B (60V) and nonstimulated sides. LVES-A resulted in brighter color of lean but lower marbling scores than did LVES-B. LVES-B produced brighter lean color and lower “heat-ring” scores as compared to that of controls. Use of LVES-A resulted in higher marbling scores as compared to that of controls. “Shackled” sides of LVES (both A and B) carcasses had significantly higher incidences of iridescence and two-toning than did the “Free” sides and the controls.
OTIT: towards secure provenance modeling for location proofs

Personal mobile devices and location based services are gaining popularity every day. Since the location based services are often customized based on the location information, it is important to securely generate, preserve, and validate the claim of presence at a given location at a given time as well as location provenance - the history of locations for a mobile device user over a given time period. Location provenance needs to imply secure and chronological ordering of location proofs, which can be successfully verified at a later time. Otherwise, the location based services can be easily spoofed by falsified location history. In this paper, we present OTIT - a model for designing secure location provenance. We formalized the features and characteristics for the domain of secure location provenance schemes, using formal propositional logic and logical proofs. We also present several schemes, which can be used in various modes to provide secure location provenance services. Based on the characteristics defined in OTIT, we have analyzed different schemes to show their adherence to the desired features of secure location provenance. Furthermore, we present experimental results on the performance of the various schemes, in terms of time and storage, to show a comparative applicability analysis. We posit that OTIT will serve as a comprehensive benchmark framework to evaluate the models for secure location provenance.
Post-feeding Thermotaxis and Daily Vertical Migration in a Larval Fish

Many aquatic animals make daily vertical migrations, typically ascending into warm shallow strata for the night and descending to cooler, deeper layers of lakes or oceans for the day. Although some organisms may migrate to avoid predation1–3 researchers have also suggested that daily migration is a thermoregulatory strategy allowing ectotherms to lower their metabolic rates in cold, deep waters, thus conserving energy4,5. Tests of this hypothesis, however, have been equivocal6–8. Here we suggest an alternative hypothesis: that fish ascend into warmer water after feeding to stimulate digestion, thereby allowing greater feeding and growth. We tested this hypothesis using the Bear Lake sculpin (Cottus extensus) which feeds on the bed of the lake during the day, and at night migrates into the water column where temperatures are 10 °C warmer. The warmer temperatures promoted digestion and allowed the fish to feed and grow three times faster than if they had remained in the cold hypolimnion. Thus, daily vertical migration in this species is an adaptation allowing them to exploit thermal gradients in their environment9 to maximize energetic intake.
A comparison of diving and rotenone methods for determining relative abundance of fish

Abstract I used scuba and rotenone methods to determine the relative abundances offish in a cove at Beaver Reservoir, Arkansas. One day before rotenone was applied to a 1.2-hectare cove, divers swam nine transects to sample 944 m2. Divers observed 526 fish of nine species, whereas 8,700 fish of 21 species were documented with rotenone. There was a highly significant relationship (P < 0.001, r = 0.954) between the relative abundance of certain species of fish observed in scuba and rotenone samples. Significant correlations were also noted between size-classes of bass Micropterus spp. sampled by both methods.
Advancing Behavior Analysis in Zoos and Aquariums

Zoos, aquariums, and other captive animal facilities offer promising opportunities to advance the science and practice of behavior analysis. Zoos and aquariums are necessarily concerned with the health and well-being of their charges and are held to a high standard by their supporters (visitors, members, and donors), organized critics, and the media. Zoos and aquariums offer unique venues for teaching and research and a locus for expanding the footprint of behavior analysis. In North America, Europe, and the UK, formal agreements between zoos, aquariums, and university graduate departments have been operating successfully for decades. To expand on this model, it will be necessary to help zoo and aquarium managers throughout the world to recognize the value of behavior analysis in the delivery of essential animal health and welfare services. Academic institutions, administrators, and invested faculty should consider the utility of training students to meet the growing needs of applied behavior analysis in zoos and aquariums and other animal facilities such as primate research centers, sanctuaries, and rescue centers.
Piezoelectric actuators with Cu inner electrode

The piezoelectric material composition is PZT-SKN with a Li2CO3 flux. This system has been developed successfully for air-fired actuators in PSU with Ag-Pd alloyed inner electrodes. We tried to control the lead activity by adding higher excess PbO in the formulation. Samples were all sintered at 900°C for 6 hours in PO2 = 5.38×10?12 atm. With 3.0, 4.0wt% PbO excess addition, we note that density, micro-structure and permittivity are similar and there is a high electro-mechanical performance for example, the high field piezoelectric d33 was ~480pm/V. However, there is some decrease in d33 after the sintering in low PO2 and Rayleigh coefficients shows PO2 to slightly suppressing both the intrinsic and extrinsic contribution to piezoelectric properties. Multilayer actuators with copper inner electrode were successfully fabricated with the PZT-SKN after processing with techniques and materials that have low residual carbon.
Rheology of polycarbonate reinforcedwith functionalized and unfunctionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes

Nanocomposites of polycarbonate (PC) containing low concentrations of pristine and COOH and OH functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs, COOH-SWNTs and OH-SWNTs) were prepared by melt-mixing and analyzed using rheology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The steady state and linear viscoelastic behavior of each nanocomposite material is presented and compared to that of the neat PC. SEM analysis revealed that samples containing functionalized SWNTs were more dispersible than samples containing the pristine SWNTs.
Computed Radiography for Mammography: Operational Perspectives

Computed radiography represents an approach to full-field digital mammography in which, unlike direct radiography (DR), a latent image is physically transferred to an image reader for processing and interpretation. The approach is applicable to existing mammographic and other radiographic units. Costs and operation applications are more variable than DR.
Expression of the mast cell growth factor interleukin-3 in melanocytic lesions correlates with an increased number of mast cells in the perilesional stroma: implications for melanoma progression

The molecular events responsible for tumor progression in human cutaneous malignant melanoma remain unclear; however, critical to the process is the dysregulated proliferation of tumor cells and the development of new vascular channels which allow further growth and dissemination. Connective tissue mast cells (MC) have been implicated in tumor progression because they concentrate around tumors (including melanomas) prior to the formation of new blood vessels, and because they contain many chemical mediators, including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), known to have mitogenic and angiogenic effects. Several MC chemotactic and mitogenic factors have been described including interleukin-3 (IL-3). In order to determine whether there is a differential expression of this MC chemotactic/mitogenic factor with tumor progression in vivo, we evaluated by immunohistochemistry 85 melanocytic lesions including primary invasive malignant melanoma (PIMM), melanoma in situ (MMIS), and ordinary intradermal benign melanocytic nevi (BMN) for expression of IL-3. Nucleic acid in situ hybridization also was used to evaluate the melanocytic lesions for IL-3-specific mRNA transcripts. Intracellular IL-3 protein was detected in 29/33 (88%) PIMM and 15/25 (60%) MMIS, but was not detected in any (0/27; 0%) BMN (p < 0.0001). IL-3-specific mRNA transcripts were present in 3/4 PIMM and 2/10 MMIS in which IL-3 protein was not identified, but were not detected in any BMN. IL-3 mRNA or protein was not detected in normal melanocytes present in the perilesional epidermis of any of the specimens studied. Immunohistochemistry also was used to confirm the presence of IL-3 alpha-specific receptors on human cutaneous MC. As demonstrated by others, a significantly increased number of MC was present in the perilesional stroma of PIMM and MMIS vis a vis BMN (p < 0.0001). The results suggest that melanoma cells may attract MC in vivo by producing MC chemotactic/mitogenic factors such as IL-3. The recruitment of MC and the subsequent release of their potent mitogenic and angiogenic factors such as bFGF may thus represent a tumor-host interaction which favors tumor progression. Reed JA, McNutt NS, Bogdany JK, Albino AP. Expression of the mast cell growth factor interleukin-3 in melanocytic lesions correlates with an increased number of mast cells in the perilesional stroma: implications for melanoma progression.
Effect of BAX499 aptamer on tissue factor pathway inhibitor function and thrombin generation in models of hemophilia

Introduction In hemophilia, thrombin generation is significantly suppressed due to decreased factor (F)X activation. Clinical studies and experiments with transgenic mice have suggested that the severity of hemophilia is substantially reduced by tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) deficiency.
Improving Response to Foodborne Disease Outbreaks in the United States: Findings of the Foodborne Disease Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE), 2010-2012.

CONTEXT Each year foodborne diseases (FBD) affect approximately 1 in 6 Americans, resulting in 128 000 hospitalizations and 3000 deaths. Decreasing resources impact the ability of public health officials to identify, respond to, and control FBD outbreaks. Geographically dispersed outbreaks necessitate multijurisdictional coordination across all levels of the public health system. Rapid response depends on rapid detection. OBJECTIVE Targeted resources were provided to state and local health departments to improve completeness and timeliness of laboratory, epidemiology, and environmental health (EH) activities for FBD surveillance and outbreak response. DESIGN Foodborne Disease Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE) centers, selected through competitive award, implemented work plans designed to make outbreak response more complete and faster in their jurisdiction. Performance metrics were developed and used to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of activities. PARTICIPANTS Departments of Health in Connecticut, New York City, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. RESULTS From the first year (Y1) of the program in October 2010 to the end of the second year (Y2) in December 2012, the centers completed molecular subtyping for a higher proportion of Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and Listeria (SSL) isolates (86% vs 98%) and reduced the average time to complete testing from a median of 8 to 4 days. The centers attempted epidemiologic interviews with more SSL case-patients (93% vs 99%), and the average time to attempt interviews was reduced from a median of 4 to 2 days. During Y2, nearly 200 EH assessments were conducted. FoodCORE centers began documenting model practices such as streamlining and standardizing case-patient interviewing. CONCLUSION Centers used targeted resources and process evaluation to implement and document practices that improve the completeness and timeliness of FBD surveillance and outbreak response activities in several public health settings. FoodCORE strategies and model practices could be replicated in other jurisdictions to improve FBD response.
Unoccupied energy bands, exchange splitting, and self-energy of iron.

Unoccupied energy bands of iron are mapped by inverse photoemission from Fe(100), Fe(110), and Fe(111). The ferromagnetic exchange splitting \ensuremath{\delta}${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{ex}}$ of the uppermost d band is measured for the ${\mathrm{H}}_{25}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ point, where the minority- and majority-spin subbands are both empty (\ensuremath{\delta}${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{ex}}$=1.8 eV with ${\mathrm{H}}_{25\mathrm{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ at 1.9 eV and ${\mathrm{H}}_{25\mathrm{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ at 0.12 eV above ${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{F}}$). Several other critical points are determined, such as the minority-spin ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}}_{12}$ and ${\mathrm{P}}_{3}$ points, the majority-spin ${\mathrm{N}}_{3}$ point, and the higher-lying ${\mathrm{H}}_{15}$,${\mathrm{H}}_{1}$ points of s,p character. Critical points and exchange splitting are compared with first-principles, local-density calculations. The real part of the self-energy is obtained from this comparison, and the imaginary part by measuring the liftime broadening. In the d-band region, the self-energy causes a 10% compression of the bands and a linear broadening \ensuremath{\Gamma}(E)\ensuremath{\approx}0.6|E-${\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{F}}$|.
ENHANCED FLUORESCENCE IMAGING WITH DMSO-MEDIATED OPTICAL CLEARING

Recent studies have demonstrated that topical application of glycerol on intact skin does not affect its optical scattering properties. Investigators from our research group recently revisited the use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an agent with optical clearing potential. We address the use of optical clearing to enhance quantitation of subsurface fluorescence emission. We employed both in vitro and in vivo model systems to study the effect of topical DMSO application on fluorescence emission. Our in vitro experiments performed on a tissue-simulating phantom suggest that DMSO-mediated optical clearing enables enhanced characterization of subsurface fluorophores. With topical DMSO application, a marked increase in fluorescence emission was observed. After 30 min, the fluorescence signal at the DMSO-treated site was 9× greater than the contralateral saline-treated site. This ratio increased to 13× at 105 min after agent application. In summary, DMSO is an effective optical clearing agent for improved fluorescence emission quantitation and warrants further study in preclinical in vivo studies. Based on outcomes from previous clinical studies on the toxicity profile of DMSO, we postulate that clinical application of DMSO as an optical clearing agent, can be performed safely, although further study is warranted.
A Dedicated Research Program Increases the Quantity and Quality of Orthopaedic Resident Publications

Background Programs seek to expose trainees to research during residency. However, little is known in any formal sense regarding how to do this effectively, or whether these efforts result in more or better-quality research output.
Performance analysis of several back-end database architectures

The growing acceptance of database systems makes their performance increasingly more important. One way to gain performance is to off-load some of the functions of the database system to aback-end computer. The problem is what functions should be off-loaded to maximize the benefits of distributed processing.Our approach to this problem consisted of constructing several variants of an existing relational database system. INGRES, that partition the database system software into two parts, and assigning these two parts to two computers connected by a local area network. For the purposes of this experiment, six different variants of the database software were constructed to test the sir most interesting functional subdivisions. Each variant was then benchmarked using two different databases and query streams. The communication medium and the communication software were also benchmarked to measure their contribution to the performance of each configuration.Combining the database and network measurement results, various conclusions were reached about the viability of the configurations, the desirable properties of the communications mechanisms to he used, the operating system interface and overhead, and the performance of the database system. The variants to be preferred depend on the hardware technology, operating system features, database system internal structure, and network software overhead.
Two-dimensional capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays for a miniature integrated volumetric ultrasonic imaging system

We have designed, fabricated, and characterized two-dimensional 16x16-element capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays. The CMUT array elements have a 250-μm pitch, and when tested in immersion, have a 5 MHz center frequency and 99% fractional bandwidth. The fabrication process is based on standard silicon micromachining techniques and therefore has the advantages of high yield, low cost, and ease of integration. The transducers have a Si3N4 membrane and are fabricated on a 400-μm thick silicon substrate. A low parasitic capacitance through-wafer via connects each CMUT element to a flip-chip bond pad on the back side of the wafer. Each through wafer via is 20 μm in diameter and 400 μm deep. The interconnects form metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) junctions with the surrounding high-resistivity silicon substrate to establish isolation and to reduce parasitic capacitance. Each through-wafer via has less than 0.06 pF of parasitic capacitance. We have investigated a Au-In flip-chip bonding process to connect the 2D CMUT array to a custom integrated circuit (IC) with transmit and receive electronics. To develop this process, we fabricated fanout structures on silicon, and flip-chip bonded these test dies to a flat surface coated with gold. The average series resistance per bump is about 3 Ohms, and 100% yield is obtained for a total of 30 bumps.
Rhythm and blues: Animal models of epilepsy and depression comorbidity

Clinical evidence shows a strong, bidirectional comorbidity between depression and epilepsy that is associated with decreased quality of life and responsivity to pharmacotherapies. At present, the neurobiological underpinnings of this comorbidity remain hazy. To complicate matters, anticonvulsant drugs can cause mood disturbances, while antidepressant drugs can lower seizure threshold, making it difficult to treat patients suffering from both depression and epilepsy. Animal models have been created to untangle the mechanisms behind the relationship between these disorders and to serve as screening tools for new therapies targeted to treat both simultaneously. These animal models are based on chemical interventions (e.g. pentylenetetrazol, kainic acid, pilocarpine), electrical stimulations (e.g. kindling, electroshock), and genetic/selective breeding paradigms (e.g. genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs), genetic absence epilepsy rat from Strasbourg (GAERS), WAG/Rij rats, swim lo-active rats (SwLo)). Studies on these animal models point to some potential mechanisms that could explain epilepsy and depression comorbidity, such as various components of the dopaminergic, noradrenergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic systems, as well as key brain regions, like the amygdala and hippocampus. These models have also been used to screen possible therapies. The purpose of the present review is to highlight the importance of animal models in research on comorbid epilepsy and depression and to explore the contributions of these models to our understanding of the mechanisms and potential treatments for these disorders.
Use of membrane filters for soil algal bioassays

A culture technique for eucaryotic and procaryotic soil algae involving the use of membrane filters superimposed on the surface of inorganic nutrient agar is described. Nostoc commune grew exponentially when cultured in this manner. No significant differences in biomass production or nitrogenase activity were detected among culture subsets within replicate experiments run under standard conditions. Estimates of daily growth rates (0.340), culture doubling time (48.9 h), and nitrogenase activity (14.54 nM C2H2 reduced µg−1 chl a h−1) were consistent with laboratory and field estimates reported for several planktonic species of Anabaena and strains of Nostoc commune isolated from diverse terrestrial habitats. Therefore, the filter-culture technique is an alternative which may be superior to traditional liquid culture methodology for studies involving certain soil procaryotic and eucaryotic algae.
A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR CORRECTION OF THE HIDDEN PENIS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS

AbstractPurpose: A phenomenon known as hidden penis has numerous origins, including congenital buried penis and obesity with descent of the escutcheon. No previous report to our knowledge mentions abnormal hypermobility of ventral skin and dartos fascia, which is a major cause of surgical treatment failures. Because the skin and dartos fascia are inadequately attached to Buck's fascia, the corporeal bodies telescope proximally inside the scrotum and pubis. Therefore, the subdermis of the penoscrotal junction must also be tacked to the tunica albuginea ventrally to stabilize the proximal penile skin and prevent the penis from retracting into the scrotum. The surgical technique for correction of the hidden penis in adult and pediatric patients with adequate penile shaft skin is described.Materials and Methods: Surgery for hidden penis from multiple causes was performed in 6 adults and 7 children. Tacking sutures were taken from the subdermis of the ventral penoscrotal junction to the tunica albuginea in all...
On the transport of moisture in polythermal glaciers

Abstract We reconsider the problem of formulation of a model for polythermal glaciers, focussing attention in particular on the temperate zone where ice and water can coexist at the melting temperature. The energy equation for the ice-water mixture in this zone introduces a moisture flux, and a constitutive law for this flux is required. By analogy with the flow through a porous medium, we use Darcy's law (i.e. the second momentum equation of a two-phase flow model with “porous” geometry), and then require a mechanical constitutive relation relating the water pressure p w to the average ice pressure p i . Experience in two phase flows suggests that p w =p i may be problematical, and experience in soil mechanics suggests it is inaccurate. A constitutive relation is therefore presented based on work of Nye (1976), and its effect on the well-posedness of the model is examined. Considerations of the sort presented here have clear relevance in the formulation of similar problems in other geophysical situations...
Damage to the inferior alveolar nerve as the result of root canal therapy.

ABSTRACT Background Endodontic treatment of mandibular molar teeth has the potential to damage the inferior alveolar nerve via direct trauma, pressure or neurotoxicity. Methods The author reviewed all cases of involvement of the inferior alveolar nerve resulting from root canal therapy in patients seen in a tertiary referral center during an eight-year period (1998 through 2005). The author had encouraged practitioners to refer patients immediately to a university clinic. Results The author saw 61 patients during the eight-year period. Eight patients were asymptomatic and received no treatment. Forty-two patients exhibited only mild symptoms or were seen more than three months after undergoing root canal therapy, and they received no surgical treatment. Only 10 percent of these patients experienced any resolution of symptoms. Eleven patients underwent surgical exploration. Five of these patients underwent exploration and received treatment within 48 hours, and all recovered completely. The remaining six patients underwent surgical exploration and received treatment between 10 days and three months after receiving endodontic therapy. Of these patients, four experienced partial recovery and two experienced no recovery at all. Conclusions Early surgical exploration and debridement may reverse the side effects of endodontic treatment on the inferior alveolar nerve. Clinical Implications If the radiograph obtained after endodontic therapy shows sealant in the inferior alveolar canal, then immediate referral to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is indicated if the patient has continued symptoms of paresthesia or pain once the local anesthetic should have worn off. Immediate surgical exploration and debridement may provide satisfactory results.
Spontaneous Histologic Lesions of the Adult Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) A Retrospective Survey of Lesions in a Zoo Population

Naked mole rats (NMRs; Heterocephalus glaber) are highly adapted, subterranean, eusocial rodents from semiarid regions of the eastern horn of Africa and the longest-living rodent known with a maximum life span of up to 30 years. They are a unique model for aging research due to their physiology, extreme longevity, and, when compared to mice and rats, resistance to cancer. Published surveys of disease in NMRs are sparse. Captive colonies in zoological collections provide an opportunity to monitor spontaneous disease over time in a seminatural environment. This retrospective study describes common lesions of a zoo population over a 15-year period during which 138 adult NMRs were submitted for gross and histologic evaluation. Of these, 61 (44.2%) were male, 77 (55.8%) female, 45 (32.6%) died, and 93 (67.4%) were euthanized. The most frequent cause of death or reason for euthanasia was conspecific trauma (bite wounds) and secondary complications. Some common histologic lesions and their prevalence were renal tubular mineralization (82.6%), hepatic hemosiderosis (64.5%), bite wounds (63.8%), chronic progressive nephropathy (52.9%), and calcinosis cutis (10.1%). In sum, 104 (75.4%) NMRs had more than one of the most prevalent histologic lesions. No malignant neoplasms were noted; however, there was a case of renal tubular adenomatous hyperplasia with nuclear atypia and compression that in rats is considered a preneoplastic lesion. This retrospective study confirms the NMR's relative resistance to cancer in spite of development of other degenerative diseases and highlights the utility of zoological databases for baseline pathological data on nontraditional animal models.
VSP measurement of shear-wave velocities in consolidated and poorly consolidated formations

Mode conversion in the subsurface can generate shear waves with sufficient amplitude so that they can be used to measure shear‐wave propagation effects. Significant mode conversion can occur even at near vertical incidence if there is sufficient contrast in Poisson’s ratio across the interface. This can be exploited to measure shear‐wave velocities in the underlying section in the course of vertical seismic profile (VSP) acquisition. The technique is effective even in poorly consolidated formations with low shear‐wave velocities where sonic waveform logging fails. Where shear‐wave velocity data are available from sonic waveform logs, the VSP data can be used to verify the wireline data and to calibrate these data to seismic frequencies. The technique is illustrated with a case study from the North Slope, Alaska, in which several shear‐wave events are observed propagating downward through the subsurface. The seismic source is a vertical‐motion vibrator; shear waves are generated via mode conversion in the ...
Spectral laws for the energy cascade in a two-dimensional turbulence

We give a Von Karman-type model for the inertial transfer to develop a generalized spectral law for the inverse energy cascade in a forced two-dimensional turbulence that is in agreement with the experimental observations (Sommeria, 1986) of the inverse energy cascade in a statistically steady two-dimensional turbulence. We also demonstrate that the transfer of turbulent kinetic energy at small wave numbers can be modeled as a stationary continuous spectral cascading process. The equipartition spectrum for two-dimensional turbulence is demonstrated to be viscous in character and to differ radically from the equipartition spectrum for three-dimensional turbulence which is inviscid in character.
Hierarchical Authority and Decision-Making in Pr ofessional Organizations: An Empirical Analysis

Organizational researchers have attacked the rational, or bureaucratic, model of organizations and have sought to replace it with a number of different perspectives that stress informal influence, ...
Current Status and Evolution of Preclinical Drug Development Models of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and the fifth most common cause of female cancer death in the United States. Although important advances in surgical and chemotherapeutic strategies over the last three decades have significantly improved the median survival of EOC patients, the plateau of the survival curve has not changed appreciably. Given that EOC is a genetically and biologically heterogeneous disease, identification of specific molecular abnormalities that can be targeted in each individual ovarian cancer on the basis of predictive biomarkers promises to be an effective strategy to improve outcome in this disease. However, for this promise to materialize, appropriate preclinical experimental platforms that recapitulate the complexity of these neoplasms and reliably predict antitumor activity in the clinic are critically important. In this review, we will present the current status and evolution of preclinical models of EOC, including cell lines, immortalized normal cells, xenograft models, patient-derived xenografts, and animal models, and will discuss their potential for oncology drug development.
Taper slot phased array antenna mobile platform integration for 60GHz wireless applications

This work presents the experimental studies on the 60 GHz tapered slot phased array antenna within mobile platform chassis integration including two metal and a plastic window. In addition the plastic cover properties and placement will be examined to observe the impact on the performance of the antenna. The goal is to demonstrate the tuning capability to optimize the system performance.
Syntactic parsing of clinical text: guideline and corpus development with handling ill-formed sentences

Objective To develop, evaluate, and share: (1) syntactic parsing guidelines for clinical text, with a new approach to handling ill-formed sentences; and (2) a clinical Treebank annotated according to the guidelines. To document the process and findings for readers with similar interest. Methods Using random samples from a shared natural language processing challenge dataset, we developed a handbook of domain-customized syntactic parsing guidelines based on iterative annotation and adjudication between two institutions. Special considerations were incorporated into the guidelines for handling ill-formed sentences, which are common in clinical text. Intra- and inter-annotator agreement rates were used to evaluate consistency in following the guidelines. Quantitative and qualitative properties of the annotated Treebank, as well as its use to retrain a statistical parser, were reported. Results A supplement to the Penn Treebank II guidelines was developed for annotating clinical sentences. After three iterations of annotation and adjudication on 450 sentences, the annotators reached an F-measure agreement rate of 0.930 (while intra-annotator rate was 0.948) on a final independent set. A total of 1100 sentences from progress notes were annotated that demonstrated domain-specific linguistic features. A statistical parser retrained with combined general English (mainly news text) annotations and our annotations achieved an accuracy of 0.811 (higher than models trained purely with either general or clinical sentences alone). Both the guidelines and syntactic annotations are made available at . Conclusions We developed guidelines for parsing clinical text and annotated a corpus accordingly. The high intra- and inter-annotator agreement rates showed decent consistency in following the guidelines. The corpus was shown to be useful in retraining a statistical parser that achieved moderate accuracy.