cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simple device for closure of fasciotomy wounds

Early decompressive fasciotomy is essential in the prevention of the sequelae of compartment syndrome. Many techniques have been described for the closure of the fasciotomy wound, and controversy exists as to which method is the best. Primary closure is often impossible secondary to tissue retraction and edema. Split-thickness skin grafting leaves a thin, insensate, and often aesthetically unpleasing result. Gradual mechanical dermal apposition has been used with increasing frequency, and has been shown to be effective in the closure of fasciotomies, but often takes 7–10 days for closure. We present our experience with the STAR, a mechanical method of fasciotomy wound closure that is effective in 2–4 days, and is extremely simple to use.
Boundary conditions for dislocation core structure studies: application to the 90° partial dislocation in silicon

The effects of boundary conditions on studies of dislocation cores are examined, using the 90° partial dislocation in Si as an illustration. The relative stability of two possible reconstructions of the core are explored using periodic supercell calculations and cylindrical boundary conditions and the results compared. It is argued that the stable core structure depends systematically on the stress field experienced by the dislocation, and that this dependence can be quantified effectively using a combination of periodic supercells and elasticity theory.
EMX2 gene expression in the female reproductive tract and aberrant expression in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis.

EMX2 is a transcription factor necessary for reproductive tract development. Sex steroids regulate endometrial HOXA10 expression, which in turn negatively regulates EMX2. In this study, we characterize menstrual cycle-dependent expression of EMX2 in endometrium from women with and without endometriosis. In the absence of endometriosis, EMX2 mRNA levels declined 50% in periimplantation endometrium compared with levels in the proliferative phase. To determine whether the decrease in endometrial EMX2 expression was regulated by endogenous endometrial HOXA10, primary endometrial stromal cells were transfected with an EMX2-reporter construct containing a HOXA10 binding site. Acting via this site, we observed HOXA10-mediated repression of reporter expression. In the endometrium of patients with endometriosis, unlike normal endometrium, EMX2 levels were not decreased in the periimplantation period. We have previously shown that up-regulation of HOXA10 in periimplantation endometrium fails to occur in women with ...
A generalization of Alcock-Ross Integral of Motion of astrophysical maser-laser radiation

This paper provides a generalization of the Alcock-Ross Integral of Motion of astrophysical maser radiation. This is important to the study of astrophysical masers (lasers) and some other fields.
Microscopic processes accompanying A1+-ion implantation of nickel

Abstract Nickel substrates have been implanted at room temperature with Al + -ions accelerated through 180 kV, to fluences ranging from 1 × 10 15 ions/cm 2 to 4 × 10 18 ions/cm 2 . The composition-versus-depth profiles were determined as were the microstructures in the implanted layers. The implanted concentration reached ~75at.% Al at the highest fluence. Implanted profiles were calculated and compared to the experimentally measured profiles. This showed that the variation in sputtering yield with aluminum concentration controls the increase in aluminum concentration with fluence. Phases observed in the implanted layers included the nickel solid solution with extended aluminum solubility, an h.c.p. phase, β′-NiAl and an amorphous phase. It is suggested that both the h.c.p. and the β'-NiAl phases form martensitically. Neither Ni 2 Al 3 nor NiAl 3 , found under equilibrium conditions, are observed under implantation. Their replacements by β′ containing 60 at.% Al and an amorphous phase, respectively, result from the radiation damage that accompanies the implantation.
Intestinal absorption of selenite, selenate, and selenomethionine in the rat

Abstract Regional characteristics of intestinal absorption of selenocompounds under conditions of dietary selenium deficiency, intraluminal glutathione (GSH), and GSH depletion by buthionine [S,R] sulfoximine (BSO) treatment were studied. Absorption of 75Se from selenite, selenate, and selenomethionine (SeMet) was determined in ligated loops from duodena, jejuna, and ilea of selenium-deficient rats (0.009 ppm Se) or rats fed selenite-supplemented diets (0.20 ppm Se). Selenium deficiency had no effect on absorption of any selenocompound in any intestinal segment. SeMet was absorbed most rapidly from all segments. Selenate and selenite were most efficiently absorbed from the ileum. Substantial 75Se was retained within ileal tissue during selenite and SeMet absorption but was readily transferred to the body during ileal selenate uptake. Luminal GSH (50 μmol/L) had no effect on mucosal GSH levels nor on selenite uptake. BSO treatment decreased tissue GSH levels to 37%–54% of controls depressing 75Se-selenite uptake to 55%–64% and transfer to 29%–34% of controls. 75Se-SeMet absorption was not altered by 1 mmol/L intraluminal GSH or by mucosal GSH depletion. No evidence for homeostatic regulation of selenium absorption was obtained. Intracellular GSH appears to be involved in transepithelial transport of 75Se-selenite but not 75Se-SeMet.
DEVELOPMENT OF MWIR CONTINUOUS ZOOM WITH LARGE ZOOM RANGE

A thermal imaging zoom system has been developed for the mid wave infrared band with greater than 30X zoom range. The zoom system provides continuous changes in the field of view from the narrow field of view to the wide field of view. Athermalization was also a key feature included in the design. An active thermal compensation approach is being used to cover a broad thermal range. A preloaded rail approach is used to maintain boresight and vibration requirements. The final optical layout and mechanical design resulted in a system suitable for tactical and other harsh environments. The current design is very compact for the extremely large zoom range but, the lens layout also provides adequate space for folding. In this way the zoom system can be easily configured for applications with compact space claims such as small turrets or gimbals. The fundamental optical design has also been found to be capable of accommodating different camera formats (focal plane array size and F number).
Abstract LB-154: Nuclear export of CALM-AF10 is essential for leukemogenesis

Background: The t(10;11) chromosomal translocation gives rise to the CALM-AF10 fusion gene and is recurrently found in patients with aggressive and difficult-to-treat hematopoietic malignancies (AML and T-ALL). CALM-AF10 leukemias are characterized by upregulation of Hoxa cluster genes and a reduction in H3K79 methylation. The native AF10 protein localizes to the nucleus, while native CALM protein is found predominantly in the cytoplasm. It has been shown that the OM-LZ domain of AF10 interacts with the histone methyltransferase, Dot1L, and that this interaction is necessary for CALM-AF10-mediated transformation. Although it is known that CALM functions as an accessory endocytic protein, the precise role of CALM in leukemogenesis is unclear. Objective: To determine the role of CALM in CALM-AF10-mediated transformation in an effort to identify novel therapeutic targets. Results: Through structure-function analyses, we determined that a minimal region of CALM (aa 520-583) is critical for CALM-AF10-mediated transformation of murine hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Further analysis of this sequence identified a nuclear export signal (NES) encoded by CALM aa 544-553. The CALM NES mediates the cytoplasmic localization of CALM-AF10; point mutation of the CALM NES (NES*) results in exclusive CALM(NES*)-AF10 accumulation in the nucleus. In contrast to CALM-AF10, transduction of primary murine HPCs with CALM(NES*)-AF10 fails to cause in vitro transformation. Fusion of an 18 aa peptide that includes the CALM NES in frame with AF10 (NESCALM-AF10) is sufficient to induce transformation in vitro and leukemogenesis in vivo. Leukemias induced by NESCALM-AF10 recapitulated the phenotype of CALM-AF10 leukemias, including aberrant Hoxa cluster upregulation and decreased H3K79 methylation. Strikingly, fusion of the NES from different proteins, such as PKI-α and APC, to AF10 also conferred cytoplasmic localization and resulted in transformation in vitro. Finally, human CALM-AF10 leukemia cell lines (U937 and P31-FUJI) display increased sensitivity to a compound that inhibits nuclear export, Leptomycin B. Conclusions: We have determined that a CALM-derived nuclear export signal is both necessary and sufficient for CALM-AF10-mediated transformation. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which nuclear export of CALM-AF10 mediates leukemogenesis. We postulate that nuclear export inhibitor (NEI) compounds may offer new therapeutic possibilities for patients with aggressive CALM-AF10 leukemias. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-154. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-154
Restricted reassociation of heavy and light chains from hapten-specific monoclonal antibodies

Six murine monoclonal antifluorescyl antibody clones encompassing a defined range of affinities and containing kappa light chains with IgG1 or IgG2 heavy chains were examined. As the fluorescence of the ligand is quenched greater than 90% when fluorescein is bound by antifluorescyl antibodies, fluorescence quenching was assayed to monitor polypeptide reconstitution and active site formation on mixing of resolved heavy (H) and light (L) chains. Of 36 possible experimental combinations of H- and L-chain reaction mixtures, only homologous H and L chains (derived from the same parental immunoglobulin molecule) bound fluorescein. Results from fluorescence polarization studies, conducted independently of fluorescence quenching, confirmed the findings. Competitive inhibition and molecular sieve experiments showed that, despite preferential association of homologous H and L chains, several heterologous H and L chains associated to form intact 7S molecules, although no active site was constituted. Thus, polypeptide recombination and formation of functional antigen binding sites are two processes that immunocytes must regulate during cell differentiation and generation of diversity. A mechanism and underlying the observed preferential reassociation of specific H and L chains and a means of generating affinity maturation, as exhibited by the antifluorescein system, is proposed.
Geopolitics of gender and violence ‘from below’

Abstract This article examines geopolitical violence, gender and political constructions of scale from the site of the body to international discourse and politics. The political constructions of scale and body-politics analyzed in this study draw on feminist and political geographic analysis and an empirical study of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). This study includes an examination of state, military and paramilitary violence from below as articulated through the lens of RAWA's documentation and political framing. RAWA clandestinely used photographic and video technologies to document the corporeal results of state/military violence and politically constructed scale by way of linking this violence to international discourses and political action. A number of opportunities, challenges, and pitfalls are identified as part of RAWA's geopolitics of violence from below. The post 9-11-01 U.S.-led military invasion of Afghanistan demonstrates a significant shift in the management and manipulation of RAWA's documentation. Both the U.S. and RAWA politically constructed scale and drew upon western-led “universal” moralities and human/women's rights discourses for alternative purposes. This paper also discusses the use of gender politics and its various manipulations to resist, criminalize, or legitimize the use of violence in the name of human/women's rights.
Intussusception following rotavirus vaccination: an updated review of the available evidence

In 1999, the first rotavirus vaccine licensed in the USA was withdrawn 9 months after introduction due to an association with intussusception that was detected in post-licensure surveillance. This association prompted large clinical trials designed to ensure the safety of two current live oral rotavirus vaccines, RotaTeq and Rotarix, which have since been recommended for use worldwide. Following their introduction, post-licensure studies have focused not only on the effectiveness and impact of these vaccines, but also on continued surveillance for intussusception. Most recent evidence from several countries shows a small increased risk of intussusception following vaccination with Rotarix and RotaTeq within the context of their demonstrated benefits. This review summarizes the available data on the safety of rotavirus vaccines with regards to intussusception.
Photoacoustic FTIR spectroscopic study of undisturbed human cortical bone

Abstract Chemical pretreatment has been the prevailing sample preparation procedure for infrared (IR) spectroscopic studies on bone. However, experiments have indicated that chemical pretreatment can potentially affect the interactions between the components. Typically the IR techniques have involved transmission experiments. Here we report experimental studies using photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (PA-FTIR). As a nondestructive technique, PA-FTIR can detect absorbance spectrum from a sample at controllable sampling depth and with little or no sample preparation. Additionally, the coupling inert gas, helium, which is utilized in the PA-FTIR system, can inhibit bacteria growth of bone by displacing oxygen. Therefore, we used this technique to study the undisturbed human cortical bone. It is found that photoacoustic mode (linear-scan, LS-PA-FTIR) can obtain basically similar spectra of bone as compared to the traditional transmission mode, but it seems more sensitive to amide III and ν2 carbonate bands. The ν3 phosphate band is indicative of detailed mineral structure and symmetry of native bone. The PA-FTIR depth profiling experiments on human cortical bone also indicate the influence of water on OH band and the cutting effects on amide I and mineral bands. Our results indicate that phosphate ion geometry appears less symmetric in its undisturbed state as detected by the PA-FTIR as compared to higher symmetry observed using transmission techniques on disturbed samples. Moreover, the PA-FTIR spectra indicate a band at 1747 cm−1 possibly resulting from C O stretching of lipids, cholesterol esters, and triglycerides from the arteries. Comparison of the spectra in transverse and longitudinal cross-sections demonstrates that, the surface area of the longitudinal section bone appears to have more organic matrix exposed and with higher mineral stoichiometry.
Ganesa: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings

The elephant-headed god Gane'sa is one of the most important and popular gods throughout India and Hindu Southeast Asia - his image is found in virtually every Hindu home. In this first detailed and comprehensive study of Gane'sa, Paul Courtright looks at the mythology and the psychological meanings of this god, his rituals and festivals, and the part played by Gane'sa in contemporary Indian politics. The American Council of Learned Societies named Gane'sa the best first book in the history of religions published in 1985.
The birth of clinical accounting: A study of the emergence and transformations of discourses on costs and practices of accounting in U.S. hospitals

Abstract Accounting in U.S. hospitals has undergone a number of transformations, particularly at the turn of this century when an accounting based upon principles of cost reimbursement emerged, and then during the late 1960s and 1970s when accounting systems such as the Medicare diagnosis related group (DRG) prospective payment system informed by principles of cost control began to emerge. The purpose of the following analysis is to explore these transformations and the forms of accounting thought and practice which emerged. It is suggested that such an exploration requires the transformations to be placed in their social and historical contexts. This is necessary in order to reveal how changes in accounting thought and practice over the past 100 years are intertwined with changes in medical knowledge and practice, the establishment of hospitals as the primary site for medical treatment, the emergence of private insurance, changing forms of government regulation and changing social and political attitudes towards the cost and provision of health care.
Manual and oral stereognosis in patients with hypogeusia and hyposmia.

Tests of manual and oral stereognosis for 20 NIH forms were measured in patients with hypogeusia and hyposmia which followed influenza (n = 53), X-irradiation to the head and neck (n = 4), head trauma (n = 5), and surgical procedures not involving the head and neck (n = 3) and were compared with similar measurements made in a control group consisting of 50 adult normal volunteers. The mean number of forms correctly identified by the patients and the controls manually and orally and the mean time required to identify each form were compared and the significance of differences calculated by means of a Student t-test. Patients with hypogeusia and hyposmia which followed influenza or X-irradiation recognized the same number of forms manually as did the controls but took significantly longer to do so; they also recognized significantly fewer forms orally than did the controls. Patients with hypogeusia and hyposmia which followed head trauma or surgery did not perform in a significantly different manner from the controls with respect to recognition of either manual or oral forms. These results suggest that some patients with hypogeusia and hyposmia also exhibit abnormalities in the oral perception of form. The mechanisms by which these differences occur may be important to our understanding of the sensory modalities of taste and smell.
A LISREL Analysis of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Office Workers

A survey of 2,346 office computer users was analyzed using structural equation modeling to identify self-report individual, work characteristics, technology, and postural risk factors, determined by observation, for self-reports of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort for the neck, shoulders and arms/hands and also somatic symptoms (eyestrain, headache). The final structural equations were Somatic symptoms= 0.68*Individual factors + 0.14*Postural risk factors, with an error variance of 0.89 and explained variance of 11%; and Discomfort = 0.64*Somatic symptoms with an error variance of 0.25 and explained variance of 62%. Analysis showed that somatic symptoms mediate the effects of individual and postural risk factors on musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms.
Role of T lymphocytes in hypertension

Accumulating evidence indicates that the immune system plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. Mice lacking T lymphocytes are resistant to blood pressure elevation, suggesting a key contribution of T lymphocytes to hypertension. However, the individual T cell subsets, including CD8+, Th1, Th17, and T regulatory T cells have shown widely discrepant effects on blood pressure and target organ damage in this disorder. Moreover, the activation state of a T lymphocyte population exerts considerable influence over its role in hypertension. In turn, activated T cells regulate blood pressure through the elaboration of reactive oxygen species and vasoactive cytokines, altering the inflammatory milieu in the vascular wall and the kidney. Recent GWAS studies similarly point to a role for T lymphocytes in human hypertension.
Minimizing the Lennard-Jones potential function on a massively parallel computer

The Lennard-Jones potential energy function arises in the study of low-energy states of proteins and in the study of cluster statics. This paper presents a mathematical treatment of the potential function, deriving lower bounds as a function of the cluster size, in both two and three dimensional configurations. These results are applied to the minimization of a linear chain, or polymer, in two-dimensional space to illustrate the relationship between energy and cluster size. An algorithm is presented for finding the minimum-energy lattice structure in two dimensions. Computational results obtained on the CM-5, a massively parallel processor, support a mathematical proof showing an essentially linear relationship between minimum potential energy and the number of atoms in a cluster. Computational results for as many as 50000 atoms are presented. This largest case was solved on the CM-5 in approximately 40 minutes at an approximate rate of 1.1 32-bit gigaflops.
Protoporphyrinogen oxidation, an enzymatic step in heme and chlorophyll synthesis: Partial characterization of the reaction in plant organelles and comparison with mammalian and bacterial systems

High rates of oxidation of protoporphyrinogen to protoporphyrin were demonstrable in etioplasts, chloroplasts, and mitochondria from young barley shoots. Much lower rates were observed in chloroplasts from older barley or mature spinach, in mitochondria from potatoes or rat liver, and in membranes from the bacteria Escherichia coli and Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. The presence of high activity in cells capable of rapid synthesis of large amounts of chlorophyll suggests a role for this activity in chlorophyll synthesis. Characteristics of the plant protoporphyrinogen-oxidizing activity were compared to the activity in rat liver mitochondria. The activity in spinach chloroplasts exhibited a pH optimum of 7, which was lower than that of the mammalian enzyme. The plant activity was more sensitive to inhibition by glutathione or excess detergent, and was more readily inactivated at room temperature. The plant activity exhibited less specificity toward porphyrinogen substrates, oxidizing mesoporphyrinogen as rapidly as protoporphyrinogen. The mammalian enzyme oxidized mesoporphyrinogen slowly, and neither system oxidized coproporphyrinogen or uroporphyrinogen. Both the plant and the mammalian activity were bound to organelle membranes, but could be extracted with detergents. In contrast, activity from membranes of the bacteria E. coli and R. spheroides was inactivated by detergent treatment. The plant extracts could be fractionated with ammonium sulfate and retained activity after dialysis or Sephadex G-25 treatment, suggesting no readily dissociable cofactor. The activity extracted from spinach chloroplasts was mostly inactivated by trypsin digestion, which was additional evidence for the protein nature of the plant activity.
Effects of Unsaturated Zone on Aquifer Test Analysis in a Shallow-Aquifer System

A comparison between two hypothetical flow models of an unconfined aquifer, one saturated and the other variably saturated, indicates that the variably saturated model which explicitly models drainage from the unsaturated zone provides a better conceptual framework for analyzing unconfined aquifer test data and better estimates of the lateral and vertical hydraulic conductivity in fine-grained sands. Explicitly accounting for multiple aquifers, well-bore storage, and the effects of delayed drainage from the unsaturated zone increases confidence in aquifer property estimates by removing some assumptions and allowing for the inclusion of early time data and water-table observations in an aquifer test analysis. The inclusion of the unsaturated zone expands the number of parameters to be estimated, but reasonable estimates of lateral and vertical hydraulic conductivity and specific storage of the unconfined aquifer can be obtained. For the cases examined, only the van Genuchten parameter a needed to be determined by the test, because the parameters n and 9r had a minimal effect on the estimates of hydraulic conductivities, and literature values could be used for these parameters. Estimates of lateral and vertical hydraulic conductivity using MODFLOW were not as good as the VS2DT based estimates and differed from the known values by as much as 30 percent. The hydraulic properties of a surficial aquifer system were estimated through a series of aquifer tests conducted at Cecil Field Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. Aquifer test results were analyzed by calibrating a variably saturated, radial flow model to the measured drawdowns. Parameter estimation was performed by minimizing the difference between simulated and measured drawdowns with an optimization routine coupled to VS2DT and was constrained by assuming that the hydraulic properties of each aquifer or confining unit were homogeneous. Given the hydrogeologic conditions at the field site, estimating the hydraulic properties of the aquifers and confining units with analytically derived type curves would have been inappropriate. Estimates of the lateral hydraulic conductivity from the VS2DT solution were more consistent with the observed geology than estimates from Theis analyses, which ranged from 20 to 80 percent more than the final estimates. The unsaturated zone affected an aquifer test conducted in a leaky aquifer about 100 feet below land surface more than the other two aquifer tests because about half of the pumped water came from the overlying, unconfined aquifer.
Trends in the crowdfunding of educational technology startups

This article presents an analysis of active crowdfunding campaigns posted on ten crowdfunding platforms in May 2013 to provide a glimpse of the recent trends in the crowdfunding of educational technology startups. We describe the characteristics of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns in educational technology and identify the most popular crowdfunding platforms. This research provides important implications for educational technology entrepreneurs. Top performing educational technology fund raisers tend to a) request a modest but reasonable amount for each phase of the project, b) focus on the informal, out-of-school, rather than formal contexts of learning, c) attract supporters with a tiered system of rewards, and d) communicate with supporters and inform the public of the status of the project through periodic updates and progress reports. Directions for future research include conducting an in-depth content analysis of archived data and exploring the perspectives of successful educational technology entrepreneurs using qualitative interviews.
The lower hybrid current drive system for steady-state operation of the Vulcan tokamak conceptual design

Abstract The steady-state current drive system for the Vulcan tokamak concept has been designed, taking into account requirements of high field, small size, and high operational wall temperature (B0 = 7 T, R0 = 1.2 m, Twall > 800 K). This lower hybrid current drive system allows steady-state operation by utilizing high field side launch, high RF source frequency (8 GHz), and dedicated current drive ports. An iterative MHD and current drive solver is used to determine the ideal launching spectra and location to assure strong single pass absorption. It is found that with nominal Vulcan operational parameters (ne ≈ 4 × 1020 m−3, Te ≈ 2.8 keV, Ip = 1.7 MA, PLHCD = 19.8 MW) bootstrap currents of ∼70% and lower hybrid current drive efficiencies of 1.16 × 1019 A W m−2 could be achieved. The optimized solution yielded advanced tokamak profiles with q values on-axis above 2. A conceptual design of the system is presented, which takes into account space, power, cooling, and launched spectrum requirements. The system is found to be compatible with the vacuum vessel design and requires cooling power of
A simple assay for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using coated test-strips

ABSTRACT Immunoassay test strips utilizing ascending chromatography have been devised for the detection of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). This test is inexpensive, requires no instrumentation, and relies on the application of antibodies to 2,4-D adsorbed onto colloidal gold particles. The assay, although not completely optimized is capable of detecting 0.02 µg/mL. The format for this assay involves addition of the unknown sample to a small test tube that contains 0.25 mL buffer and anti-2,4-D colloidal gold conjugate followed by addition of the test strip. The anti-2,4-D gold conjugate co-migrates with the sample past pre-adsorbed bovine albumin labeled with 2,4-D (BSA-2,4-D). If 2,4-D is present in the unknown sample at concentrations above the threshold value, then the colloidal gold-labeled anti-2,4-D antibody will not bind to the BSA-2,4-D adsorbed to the nitrocellulose strip but will continue to migrate toward the top of the strip. To determine the presence of the analyte, the colloidal gold...
Quasiparticle Excitations and Charge Transition Levels of Oxygen Vacancies in Hafnia

We calculate the quasiparticle defect states and charge transition levels of oxygen vacancies in monoclinic hafnia. The charge transition levels, although they are thermodynamic quantities, can be critically dependent on the band gap owing to localized defect states. These quasiparticle defect level effects are treated using the first principle GW approximation to the self energy. We show that the quality and reliability of the results may be evaluated by calculating the same transition level via two physical paths and that it is important to include the necessary electrostatic corrections in a supercell calculation. Contrary to many previous reports, the oxygen vacancies in monoclinic hafnia are found to be a positive U center, where U is the defect electron addition energy. We identify a physical partitioning of U in terms of an electronic and structural relaxation part.
An observational study of emergency department utilization among enrollees of Minnesota Health Care Programs: financial and non-financial barriers have different associations.

Emergency department (ED) use is costly, and especially frequent among publicly insured populations in the US, who also disproportionately encounter financial (cost/coverage-related) and non-financial/practical barriers to care. The present study examines the distinct associations financial and non-financial barriers to care have with patterns of ED use among a publicly insured population. This observational study uses linked administrative-survey data for enrollees of Minnesota Health Care Programs to examine patterns in ED use—specifically, enrollee self-report of the ED as usual source of care, and past-year count of 0, 1, or 2+ ED visits from administrative data. Main independent variables included a count of seven enrollee-reported financial concerns about healthcare costs and coverage, and a count of seven enrollee-reported non-financial, practical barriers to access (e.g., limited office hours, problems with childcare). Covariates included health, health care, and demographic measures. In multivariate regression models, only financial concerns were positively associated with reporting ED as usual source of care, but only non-financial barriers were significantly associated with greater ED visits. Regression-adjusted values indicated notable differences in ED visits by number of non-financial barriers: zero non-financial barriers meant an adjusted 78% chance of having zero ED visits (95% C.I.: 70.5%-85.5%), 15.9% chance of 1(95% C.I.: 10.4%-21.3%), and 6.2% chance (95% C.I.: 3.5%-8.8%) of 2+ visits, whereas having all seven non-financial barriers meant a 48.2% adjusted chance of zero visits (95% C.I.: 30.9%-65.6%), 31.8% chance of 1 visit (95% C.I.: 24.2%-39.5%), and 20% chance (95% C.I.: 8.4%-31.6%) of 2+ visits. Financial barriers were associated with identifying the ED as one’s usual source of care but non-financial barriers were associated with actual ED visits. Outreach/literacy efforts may help reduce reliance on/perception of ED as usual source of care, whereas improved targeting/availability of covered services may help curb frequent actual visits, among publicly insured individuals.
Dependence of avidity on linker length for a bivalent ligand-bivalent receptor model system.

This paper describes a synthetic dimer of carbonic anhydrase, and a series of bivalent sulfonamide ligands with different lengths (25 to 69 A between the ends of the fully extended ligands), as a m...
A method for detection of differential gene expression in the presence of inter-individual variability in response

Motivation: Many stimuli to biological systems result in transcriptional responses that vary across the individual organism either in type or in timing. This creates substantial difficulties in detecting these responses. This is especially the case when the data for any one individual are limited and when the number of genes, probes or probe sets is large. Results: We have developed a procedure that allows for sensitive detection of transcriptional responses that differ between individuals in type or in timing. This consists of four steps: one is to identify a group of genes, probes or probe sets that detect genes that belong to a molecular class or to a common pathway. The second is to conduct a statistical test of the hypothesis that the gene is differentially expressed for each individual and for each gene in the set. The third is to examine the collection of these statistics to see if there is a detectable signal in the aggregate of them. The final step is to assess the significance of this by resampling to avoid correlational bias. Availability: Software in the form of R code to perform the required test is available from the first author or from his website http://www.idav.ucdavis.edu/~dmrocke/software; however the procedures are also easily performed using any standard statistical software. Contact: dmrocke@ucdavis.edu Supplementary information: Datasets used in this paper may be obtained from the first author's website http://www.idav.ucdavis.edu/~dmrocke/software
Bankruptcy Decisionmaking: An Empirical Study of Continuation Bias in Small Business Bankruptcies

Over half of all small businesses reorganizing under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code are ultimately liquidated. Little is known about this shutdown decision and about the factors that increase or reduce the amount of time a firm spends in bankruptcy. It is widely suspected, however, that the Chapter 11 process exhibits a "continuation bias," allowing non-viable firms to linger under the protection of the court. This paper tests for the presence of continuation bias in the docket of a typical bankruptcy court over the course of a calendar year. A variety of tests are employed, including the extent to which entrenched managers dominate the bankruptcy process, the accuracy and speed with which viable and nonviable firms are distinguished, and the extent to which the hazard of shutdown is consistent with the implications of a simple, formal model of the optimal Chapter 11 process. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the paper finds that continuation bias is either absent or empirically unimportant.
Interleukin-27 Priming of T Cells Controls IL-17 Production In trans via Induction of the Ligand PD-L1

Summary Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a key immunosuppressive cytokine that counters T helper 17 (Th17) cell-mediated pathology. To identify mechanisms by which IL-27 might exert its immunosuppressive effect, we analyzed genes in T cells rapidly induced by IL-27. We found that IL-27 priming of naive T cells upregulated expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1)-dependent manner. When cocultured with naive CD4 + T cells, IL-27-primed T cells inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells in trans through a PD-1-PD-L1 interaction. In vivo, coadministration of naive TCR transgenic T cells (2D2 T cells) with IL-27-primed T cells expressing PD-L1 inhibited the development of Th17 cells and protected from severe autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Thus, these data identify a suppressive activity of IL-27, by which CD4 + T cells can restrict differentiation of Th17 cells in trans .
Bilayer Segmentation of Live Video

This paper presents an algorithm capable of real-time separation of foreground from background in monocular video sequences. Automatic segmentation of layers from colour/contrast or from motion alone is known to be error-prone. Here motion, colour and contrast cues are probabilistically fused together with spatial and temporal priors to infer layers accurately and efficiently. Central to our algorithm is the fact that pixel velocities are not needed, thus removing the need for optical flow estimation, with its tendency to error and computational expense. Instead, an efficient motion vs nonmotion classifier is trained to operate directly and jointly on intensity-change and contrast. Its output is then fused with colour information. The prior on segmentation is represented by a second order, temporal, Hidden Markov Model, together with a spatial MRF favouring coherence except where contrast is high. Finally, accurate layer segmentation and explicit occlusion detection are efficiently achieved by binary graph cut. The segmentation accuracy of the proposed algorithm is quantitatively evaluated with respect to existing groundtruth data and found to be comparable to the accuracy of a state of the art stereo segmentation algorithm. Foreground/ background segmentation is demonstrated in the application of live background substitution and shown to generate convincingly good quality composite video.
Potential for Bioremediation of Xenobiotic Compounds by the White-Rot Fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The white-rot fungi produce an unusual enzyme system, characterized by a specialized group of peroxidases, that catalyzes the degradation of the complex plant polymer lignin. This ligninolytic system shows a high degree of nonspecificity and oxidizes a very large variety of compounds in addition to lignin. Among these compounds are numerous environmental pollutants. Thus, the white-rot fungi show considerable promise as bioremediation agents for use in the restoration of environments contaminated by xenobiotic molecules. One white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, has been studied in great detail with regard to ligninolytic enzymes and the degradation of anthropogenic chemicals. It has been widely promoted as a bioremediation agent. This article examines literature concerning the degradation of xenobiotic compounds by Phanerochaete chrysosporium and attempts to critically assess this organism's real potential as a bioremediation tool.
An inexpensive and portable drill rig for bedrock groundwater studies in headwater catchments

Bedrock groundwater dynamics in headwater catchments are poorly understood and poorly characterized. Here, we present an inexpensive and portable bedrock drilling system designed for use in remote locations. Our system is capable of drilling bedrock wells up to 11 m deep and 38 mm in diameter in a wide range of bedrock types. The drill consists of a lawn mower engine adapted to rotate a diamond tipped coring bit, a small water pump to cool and flush the drill bit and a scaffolding platform for stable footing on steep slopes. The complete drilling assembly costs under $2000 USD. Here, we show proof-of-concept of our approach with 40 successful wells drilled in different geological substrates, including a conglomerate at the Maimai experimental catchment in New Zealand, volcanic breccias at the HJ Andrews experimental watershed in Oregon, USA, sandstone and siltstone at the Alsea watershed in Oregon, USA, and basalt at the Los Gavilanes experimental watershed in Veracruz, Mexico. We also present a transparent comparison between our design and other portable bedrock drilling systems and outline the strengths and weaknesses of each system. Copyright  2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shuttle Vector Expression in Thermococcus kodakaraensis: Contributions of cis Elements to Protein Synthesis in a Hyperthermophilic Archaeon

Shuttle vectors that replicate stably and express selectable phenotypes in both Thermococcus kodakaraensis and Escherichia coli have been constructed. Plasmid pTN1 from Thermococcus nautilis was ligated to the commercial vector pCR2.1-TOPO, and selectable markers were added so that T. kodakaraensis transformants could be selected by DeltatrpE complementation and/or mevinolin resistance. Based on Western blot measurements, shuttle vector expression of RpoL-HA, a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope-tagged subunit of T. kodakaraensis RNA polymerase (RNAP), was approximately 8-fold higher than chromosome expression. An idealized ribosome binding sequence (5'-AGGTGG) was incorporated for RpoL-HA expression, and changes to this sequence reduced expression. Changing the translation initiation codon from AUG to GUG did not reduce RpoL-HA expression, but replacing AUG with UUG dramatically reduced RpoL-HA synthesis. When functioning as translation initiation codons, AUG, GUG, and UUG all directed the incorporation of methionine as the N-terminal residue of RpoL-HA synthesized in T. kodakaraensis. Affinity purification confirmed that an HA- plus six-histidine-tagged RpoL subunit (RpoL-HA-his(6)) synthesized ectopically from a shuttle vector was assembled in vivo into RNAP holoenzymes that were active and could be purified directly from T. kodakaraensis cell lysates by Ni(2+) binding and imidazole elution.
Cell Cycle-dependent Expression of Thyroid Hormone Receptor-β Is a Mechanism for Variable Hormone Sensitivity

Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are ligand-regulatable transcription factors. Currently, little is known about the expression of TRs or other nuclear hormone receptors during the cell cycle. We thu...
Fast food perceptions: a pilot study of college students in Spain and the United States

Comparing survey data of college students from Spain and the United States provides insight into how perceptions about fast food are culture and gender-specific. More American college males (61%) considered value (amount of food for the money) to be a priority than did other respondents (35%) and relatively few American college males (29%) cited nutritional status as important (versus 60% of other college respondents). Convenience of fast food is more important to Americans (69%) than Spaniards (48%) while more Spanish college students (49%) than Americans (18%) objected to the proliferation of fast food establishments in their own countries.
Seeing the bigger picture: a multi-method field trial of google maps for mobile

This case study discusses a 2-week field trial of Google Maps for Mobile with 24 participants (in London, Manchester, Hamburg, Munich). The field trial served as a pilot, because it combined many methods previously used individually: group briefing sessions, recorded usage, multiple telephone interviews for additional context around recorded use, and 1:1 debriefs in a lab setting with the development team observing. In this paper we describe our approach, as well as substantive and methodological findings. Insights were gained along several dimensions: user experience at different levels of product familiarity (e.g. from download/install to habitual use); specific usability fixes (100+) as well as product strategy drivers; and hurdles to user experience arising from the mobile eco-system (e.g. carrier and handset platforms).
Signal detection theory and vestibular perception: III. Estimating unbiased fit parameters for psychometric functions

Psychophysics generally relies on estimating a subject's ability to perform a specific task as a function of an observed stimulus. For threshold studies, the fitted functions are called psychometric functions. While fitting psychometric functions to data acquired using adaptive sampling procedures (e.g., "staircase" procedures), investigators have encountered a bias in the spread ("slope" or "threshold") parameter that has been attributed to the serial dependency of the adaptive data. Using simulations, we confirm this bias for cumulative Gaussian parametric maximum likelihood fits on data collected via adaptive sampling procedures, and then present a bias-reduced maximum likelihood fit that substantially reduces the bias without reducing the precision of the spread parameter estimate and without reducing the accuracy or precision of the other fit parameters. As a separate topic, we explain how to implement this bias reduction technique using generalized linear model fits as well as other numeric maximum likelihood techniques such as the Nelder-Mead simplex. We then provide a comparison of the iterative bootstrap and observed information matrix techniques for estimating parameter fit variance from adaptive sampling procedure data sets. The iterative bootstrap technique is shown to be slightly more accurate; however, the observed information technique executes in a small fraction (0.005 %) of the time required by the iterative bootstrap technique, which is an advantage when a real-time estimate of parameter fit variance is required.
Some Historical Treatments should not be Forgotten: A Review of Cast Wedging and A Trick to Normalize Non-Standardized Digital X-rays.

Cast wedging is a simple and reproducible method of manipulating a sub-optimally reduced fracture producing a correction and a final alignment that is amenable to definitive closed treatment. Multiple successful techniques have been previously described in the literature (opening wedge, closing wedge and combination). We present a simple reproducible method of templating and executing a proper cast wedging technique using digital imaging systems that are not controlled for magnification with an illustrative case.
Active Vibration Control of Axially Moving Continua

Axially moving continua are basic elements in such diverse mechanical systems as computer tape drives, paper tapes, band saws, power transmission chains and belts, aerial cable tramways, textile and fiberglass fibers, pipes conveying fluids, and oil lines (Mote, 1972). Vibration of axially moving continua limits their utility in many applications, and particularly high speed, precision systems. Flutter of a computer tape causes track misregistration, poor resolution in signals, or even loss of data. Excessive vibration of a band saw results in poor cutting accuracy and raw material waste. Oscillation of a drive belt superimposes pulley oscillation onto its nominal speed, often rendering the drive unsatisfactory in a precision machine. In nearly every instance, vibration leads to operational problems.
High-Resistivity Semi-insulating AlSb on GaAs Substrates Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Thin-film structures containing AlSb were grown using solid-source molecular beam epitaxy and characterized for material quality, carrier transport optimization, and room-temperature radiation detection response. Few surface defects were observed, including screw dislocations resulting from shear strain between lattice-mismatched layers. Strain was also indicated by broadening of the AlSb peak in x-ray diffraction measurements. Threading dislocations and interfacial misfit dislocations were seen with transmission electron microscopy imaging. Doping of the AlSb layer was introduced during growth using GaTe and Be to determine the effect on Hall transport properties. Hall mobility and resistivity were largest for undoped AlSb samples, at 3000 cm2/V s and 106 Ω cm, respectively, and increased doping levels progressively degraded these values. To test for radiation response, p-type/intrinsic/n-type (PIN) diode structures were grown using undoped AlSb on n-GaAs substrates, with p-GaSb cap layers to protect the AlSb from oxidation. Alpha-particle radiation detection was achieved and spectra were produced for 241Am, 252Cf, and 239Pu sources. Reducing the detector surface area increased the pulse height observed, as expected based on voltage–capacitance relationships for diodes.
A clonogenic study of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and temozolomide (TMZ) together and in combination with radiation therapy (RT) in a human glioma cell line

11506 Background: ATO is effective in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, but its role in the management of solid tumors has yet to be defined. Post-operative therapy consisting of TMZ w...