cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microgreens: A New Specialty Crop

Microgreens are young, tender greens that are used to enhance the color, texture, or flavor of salads, or to garnish a wide variety of main dishes. Harvested at the first true leaf stage and sold with the stem, cotyledons (seed leaves), and first true leaves attached, they are among a variety of novel salad greens available on the market that are typically distinguished categorically by their size and age. Sprouts, microgreens, and baby greens are simply those greens harvested and consumed in an immature state. This article offers production advice for greenhouse microgreen production.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1164 This is a minor revision of Treadwell, Danielle, Robert Hochmuth, Linda Landrum, and Wanda Laughlin. 2010. “Microgreens: A New Specialty Crop”. EDIS 2010 (3). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/118552.
Evidence Review for the American College of Surgeons Quality Verification Part I: Building Quality and Safety Resources and Infrastructure.

Decades of quality program development by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have identified the key components of a successful program for optimal surgical care and quality improvement. These key principles have been developed into a verification program—the ACS Quality Verification Program—to guide hospitals to improve surgical quality, safety, and reliability across all surgical specialties. The aim of this review was to synthesize the evidence supporting the first 4 of 12 ACS Quality Verification Program core principles of building quality and safety resources and infrastructure. MEDLINE was searched for articles published from inception to January 2019 for studies describing principles of leadership commitment to surgical quality and safety, a surgical quality officer, a surgical quality committee, and a culture of safety and high reliability. Two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion in a hierarchical fashion, extracted data, and summarized results in a narrative fashion. A total of 5,332 studies across the 4 principles were identified. After exclusion criteria, a total of 477 studies in systematic reviews and primary studies were included for assessment. Despite heterogeneous study design and lack of randomized controlled trials, the available literature supports the importance of committed top-level hospital leadership, mid-level leadership, and committee dedicated to surgical quality and culture of safety and high reliability. In conclusion, adequate resources and infrastructure integral to the ACS Quality Verification Program are critical to achieving safe and high-quality surgical outcomes.
Spinal anesthesia for ambulatory surgery: current controversies and concerns.

Purpose of review General anesthesia is a popular choice for ambulatory surgery. Spinal anesthesia is often avoided because of perceived delays due to time required to administer it and prolonged onset, as well as concerns of delayed offset, which may delay recovery and discharge home. However, the reports of improved outcomes in hospitalized patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty have renewed the interest in spinal anesthesia. This review article critically assesses the role of spinal anesthesia in comparison with fast-track general anesthesia for the outpatient setting. Recent findings The purported benefits of spinal anesthesia include avoidance of airway manipulation and the adverse effects of drugs used to provide general anesthesia, improved postoperative pain, and reduced postoperative opioid requirements. Improved postoperative outcomes after spinal anesthesia in hospitalized patients may not apply to the outpatient population that tends to be relatively healthier. Also, it is unclear if spinal anesthesia is superior to fast-track general anesthesia techniques, which includes avoidance of benzodiazepine premedication, avoidance of deep anesthesia, use of an opioid-sparing approach, and minimization of neuromuscular blocking agents with appropriate reversal of residual paralysis. Summary The benefits of spinal anesthesia in the outpatient setting remain questionable at best. Further studies should seek clarification of these goals and outcomes.
A Decision Support Framework to Enhance Performance in Resource Constrained Devices

The last few decades have seen an exponential increase in capabilities of smaller computing devices with an equally substantial decrease in their form factors. The first wave was ubiquitous mobile connectivity which paved the way for the widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm and its later incarnation: The Internet of Everything (IoE). However, many of these devices may not be able to fulfill all the requirements of applications that are designed to run on them. In this work, we explore mechanisms to optimize computing offloading decisions while minimizing transmission power to create a decision framework. Our simulations show that the framework can achieve substantial improvements in computing performance and power consumption.
Manipulating of Resonances in Conductance of an Electron Waveguide with Anti-Dots

A new scenario of quantum interference in open systems when a decaying (quasi-bound) state can interfere with the continuum is investigated. The resonant perturbation theory and numerical methods are applied to treat a scattering problem in an electron waveguide. Specifically, we use the Kapura and Peierls (KP) approach to extract resonances. In the waveguide with two and three anti-dots, we observe an interesting phenomenon: the interference between one subband of the quasi-bound states and background second subband, and the interference of resonant group states of different subbands. Our results show that the zero of Fano resonance, arising from the interference between the quasi-bound states and the continuum, is generally placed in the complex plane.
Effect of a Randomized, Controlled Trial on Surgery for Cervical Cancer.

Effect of a Trial on Surgery for Cervical Cancer The results of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer Trial, published in 2018, showed that in patients with cervical cancer, minimally invasi...
Patient Satisfaction Increases with Nipple Reconstruction following Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND Nipple reconstruction has been linked to patient satisfaction; however, there is debate about the validity of these findings in autologous breast reconstruction patients. This study hypothesized that satisfaction would increase with nipple reconstruction following autologous breast reconstruction. METHODS A comparison study was performed of autologous breast reconstruction patients. Patients completed a survey that included BREAST-Q and nipple satisfaction measures. A chart review identified reconstructive details. RESULTS A total of 191 patients completed the survey (48 percent response rate), with an average age of 53.7 ± 10.0 years and follow-up time of 2.8 ± 1.5 years. Nipple-areola complex reconstruction was completed in 33 percent of patients (63 of 191). Nipple-areola complex tattoos were used most frequently [n = 37 (58 percent)], followed by local flaps [n = 10 (16 percent)], free nipple-areola complex grafts [n = 9 (14 percent)], and a combination of local flaps and tattoos [n = 7 (11 percent)]. In comparison to women who did not undergo nipple-areola complex reconstruction, women who underwent any type of nipple reconstruction had a statistically higher BREAST-Q score for Sexual Well-Being (60 ± 24 versus 50 ± 22; p = 0.01), Postoperative Satisfaction with Breasts (65 ± 11 versus 61 ± 12; p = 0.01), and Satisfaction with Surgeon (97 ± 6 versus 93 ± 16; p = 0.009). The average nipple satisfaction score was 74 ± 19. There were correlations between the nipple satisfaction score and BREAST-Q scores for Sexual Well-Being (r = 0.50; p < 0.001), Psychosocial Well-Being (r = 0.43; p < 0.001), and Postoperative Satisfaction with Breasts (r = 0.43; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Reconstruction of the nipple-areola complex is an important part of autologous breast reconstruction, resulting in increased sexual well-being and satisfaction with reconstructed breasts.
Accurate Tensor Decomposition with Simultaneous Rank Approximation for Surveillance Videos

Canonical polyadic (CP) decomposition of a tensor is a basic operation in a lot of applications such as data mining and video foreground/background separation. However, existing algorithms for CP decomposition require users to provide a rank of the target tensor data as part of the input and finding the rank of a tensor is an NP-hard problem. Currently, to perform CP decomposition, users are required to make an informed guess of a proper tensor rank based on the data at hand, and the result may still be suboptimal. In this paper, we propose to conduct CP decomposition and tensor rank approximation together, so that users do not have to provide the proper rank beforehand, and the decomposition algorithm will find the proper rank and return a high-quality result. We formulate an optimization problem with an objective function consisting of a least-squares Tikhonov regularization and a sparse l 1 -regularization term. We also test its effectiveness over real applications with moving object videos.
Cost Simulations to Enable PPAC Aware Technology Development

industry standard practice for new technology definition by Power, Performance and Area (PPA) is evolving to add Cost (PPAC). The addition of cost will drive the need for new TCAD tools that can simulate cost as well as the structures and performance resulting from a process. In this paper the requirements for accurate process cost modeling will be presented along with the description of a commercial PPAC capable TCAD tool implementation.
Effects of Finite Element Resolution in the Simulation of Magnetospheric Particle Motion

This document describes research done in conjunction with a degree program. The purpose of the research was to compare particle trajectories in a specified set of global electric and magnetic fields; to study the effect of mesh spacing, resulting in an evaluation of adequate spacing resolution; and to study time-dependent fields in the context of substorm dipolarizations of the magnetospheric tail.
Educational Decentralization, Public Spending, and Social Justice in Nigeria

This study situates the process of educational decentralization in the narrower context of social justice. Its main object, however, is to analyze the implications of decentralization for strategies of equity and social justice in Nigeria. It starts from the premise that the early optimism that supported decentralization as an efficient and effective educational reform tool has been disappointed. The author maintains that decentralization — on its own — cannot improve education service delivery, the capacities of subordinate governments, or the integration of social policy in broader development goals. If the desired goals are to be met, public spending must be increased, greater tax revenues must be secured, and macro-economic stabilization must be achieved without re-instituting the welfare state.
Safeguarding Constitutional Rights: The Uses and Limits of Prophylactic Rules

The Supreme Court has adopted prophylactic rules to safeguard rights such as the freedom of speech under the First Amendment, the Fifth Amendment right to be free from compulsion to testify against oneself, and the right to be free from racial discrimination. In at least one instance, currently pending before the Supreme Court, the Congress has legislatively attempted to repeal a judicially fashioned prophylactic rule. This article explores the extent to which the Supreme Court may legitimately protect against the violation of constitutional rights by adopting measures designed to minimize the risk of such violations, even when those measures are not specifically authorized by the Constitution. It also addresses whether the adoption of such prophylactic rules threatens to subvert the Constitution by unduly enlarging the powers of the Court. Finally, it analyzes the extent to which Congress may legitimately alter prophylactic rules that the Court has adopted.
Predictive model to decouple the contributions of friction and plastic deformation to machined surface temperatures and residual stress patterns in finish dry cutting

Temperature on the machined surface is critical for surface integrity and the performance of a precision component. However, the temperature of a machined surface is challenging for in-situ measurement. Furthermore, the individual contribution of tool/work friction and plastic deformation of work materials to surface temperature is very difficult to quantify because the measured temperature is always the resultant temperature. This lack of understanding on the temperature distribution blocks the design of effective cutting tool geometries and materials to minimize surface temperature. This study provides a finite element method based on a predictive model to decouple the contributions of tool/work friction and material plastic deformation to surface temperature in a dry cutting process. The study shows that the plastic deformation of work material contributes to the majority of surface temperature, whereas the tool/work friction contribution is secondary. High temperatures are produced when more materials are plowed under the cutting edge. A large tool/work friction leads to higher surface temperatures, and the use of a cutting tool with physical properties in process simulation significantly improves the accuracy of predicted surface temperatures. Residual stress reversal from subsurface maximum residual to surface maximum residual stress may occur when tool/work friction increases.
The relationship between environment, efficacy beliefs, and academic achievement of low-income African American children in special education.

African American students are overrepresented in special education. Ecological systems theory, social cognitive theory, and a literature review demonstrate that children's environments, particularly school, and self-efficacy impact the educational outcomes of African American children. Interventions have aimed to improve children's environmental resources and efficacy. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of environment, efficacy beliefs, and the Nurse–Family Partnership intervention on the educational achievements of African American children in special education. A secondary data analysis of 126 African American children in special education found that self-efficacy and the number of hours spent in special education were associated with their academic achievement.
Employment and Health-Risk Behaviors Among Pregnant Adolescents

Abstract Study Objective To compare health-risk behaviors, maternal, and neonatal outcomes of pregnant adolescents less than 18 years old who reported employment more than 15 hours per week with those who did not report working. We hypothesized that working teens compared with nonworking adolescents would report higher rates of health-risk behaviors. Methods A structured interview was conducted at the first prenatal visit and the medical chart was reviewed to extract pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm labor with hospitalization, and preterm delivery) and neonatal outcomes (low birthweight, small for gestational age, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit). The study was conducted at an outpatient maternal and child health clinic at a university teaching hospital. A total of 384 white (n = 111), African An1erican (n = 151), and Mexican American (n = 99) adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, who initiated care between January 2, 1992, and December 31, 1994, and delivered an infant at our institution were consecutively sampled. A structured interview assessed various health-risk behaviors including age at first intercourse, substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and other illicit drug use), and nlunber of sexual partners. Medical records were reviewed to obtain information on pregnancy complications (pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm delivery, and preterm labor with hospitalization) and negative birth outcomes (infant birthweight and neonatal intensive care admission). Results Controlling for chronological age, logistic regression analyses found that adolescents reporting employment at their first prenatal visit (n = 40) compared with those not employed at this visit (n = 331) were more likely to be characterized by school enrollment, higher econon1icstatus, partner employment, partner alcohol use, and a longer relationship with the father of their baby. Multivariate logistic regression found that employed females were 4.6 times more likely to deliver a small-for-gestational-age infant. Conclusions Employment reported at the time of the first prenatal visit does not appear to be associated with an increase in health-risk behaviors or obstetric complications, but a relationship between working more than 15 hours and small-forgestational-age delivery was detected.
An allometric analysis of oxygen consumption rate and cardiovascular function in the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis.

Abstract The interrelationship of metabolic rate and cardiovascular function has been well documented in vertebrates through allometric analyses. However, similar studies are lacking in insects. Unlike vertebrates, the cardiovascular system of insects does not play a significant role in oxygen transport. A comparison of the interrelationship in insects and vertebrates might provide insight into the nature of the connection between metabolic rate and the cardiovascular system. Oxygen consumption, heart rate and heart dimensions were measured in the nymphs of the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis over a mass range of 0.03–5 g. Oxygen consumption rate scaled with an exponent of 0.83. The relationship between heart rate and body mass scaled negatively, however, it did not appear to be linear. Using measurements of heart widths, abdominal length and heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output were estimated. Cardiac output appeared to scale linearly with an exponent of 0.85, which was not significantly different from the exponent observed for the rate of oxygen consumption. Thus, the observed similarity between the exponents for oxygen consumption rate and cardiac output in vertebrates also appears to be present in insects.
Bladder endometriosis: Conservative management

Purpose: We evaluate the characteristics of women with bladder endometriosis successfully treated with hormonal therapy.Materials and Methods: The records of 14 patients with a mean age of 48.7 years (range 26 to 71) diagnosed with bladder endometriosis on cystoscopic evaluation were reviewed for presenting complaints, findings and response to therapy.Results: The most frequent presenting complaints were urgency (78%), frequency (71%), suprapubic pain (43%), urge incontinence (21%) and dyspareunia (21%). Of the patients 86% did not have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections, 6 (42%) had a history of endometriosis, including 3 who were previously treated with hysterectomy/oophorectomy and 8 (57%) were on some form of therapy for estrogen deficiency. In all patients endometrial implants were identified on cystoscopic examination. In 2 patients the endometrioma correlated to lesions on the serosal surface of the bladder during laparoscopic evaluation. Of the patients 13 were treated either with low...
Where Motorola goes next

Abstract Mario Di Prizio, director of engineering and product development for Motorola’s Worldwide Smartcard Solutions Division, outlines Motorola’s strategy in an interview with Card Technology Today editor David Jones.
Amber red- mutants of phage lambda.

Abstract A positive selection procedure for obtaining recombination-deficient ( red − ) mutants of bacteriophage lambda has been used to isolate and partially characterize a series of amber red − mutants.
LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF RESERPINE ON THE ADRENAL MEDULLA OF THE GUINEA PIG.

Abstract The secretory granules in the normal medullary cells appear dense and are comprised of a compact arrangement of microgranules. Two to 4 hr after the administration of reserpine, the density of the secretory granules appeared decreased with a less compact arrangement of the microgranules. The possibloe mechanism of action of reserpine on the adrenal medulla is discussed.
The role of small GTP-binding proteins in leukocyte function

Recent progress in understanding the regulation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase by the Rac GTP-binding protein(s) provides the first detailed glimpse into the mechanisms of leukocyte regulation by a small GTP-binding protein. Studies over the past year indicate that the activity of NADPH oxidase can be modulated by regulation of the GTP- versus GDP-bound state of Rac. Additional proteins of the Ras superfamily are likely to be involved in a variety of normal leukocyte functions.
Capillary Liquid Chromatography Coupled with an Ion Trap Storage/Reflectron Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer for Structural Confirmation of Three Recombinant Protein Isoforms

Packed-capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was successfully coupled with an ion trap storage/reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC/IT/reTOFMS) through an electrospray ionization interface for protein structural elucidation. Using the total-ion storage capabilities of the trap over a broad mass range and the high sensitivity from the packed capillary column with i.d. as small as 250 microns, high sensitivity peptide mapping in the low picomole range was demonstrated for the structural confirmation of three recombinant human nucleoside diphosphate kinase isoforms (NDPK, E.C. 2.7.4.6). A strategy combining chemical/enzymatic digestions as well as collisionally-induced dissociation (CID) in the electrospray source was successfully employed to infer the minor primary structural differences among the three recombinant proteins. This high sensitivity was achieved while also maintaining a resolution of nearly 1500 for mass identification using the capabilities of the IT/reTOF device. A point mutation of serine 120 to glycine was verified between the wild-type NDPK A and its mutant (delta m = 30 u) by both selected-ion monitoring and ion-source CID of the protein fragment containing the mutation site. For the structural confirmation of the sequence of NDPK A and B (88% homology), two sets of chemical/proteolytic digests were generated independently and followed by LC/MS analysis of the molecular weight of each protein-generated fragment. The complementary information from the two chromatographic analyses allowed for sequence verification of the two protein isoforms. The experiments clearly demonstrated that the high concentration sensitivity of the capillary high-performance liquid chromatographic separation together with the advantages of the IT/reTOF mass spectrometer could provide a low-cost, high-performance facility for protein analysis.
Jessie Bernard: The Unfolding of the Female World*

Cet article passe en revue l'oeuvre de Jessie Bernard sur la famille et les relations familiales sur une periode de plus de 40 ans. Il identifie son changement paradigmatique d'une orientation fonctionnaliste vers une forte perspective feministe. A travers ses chroniques de la vie des femmes au cours des annees, J. Bernard a trouve un nouvel angle d'approche de la famille et de la question feminine, au point que l'auteur de l'article estime qu'elle est une des premieres sociologues a pouvoir etre qualifiee de feministe
High Resolution Top-Down MS/MS Reveals Single Amino Acid Sequence Polymorphisms in Rat Cardiac Troponin

Heterotrimeric cardiac troponin (cTn) is a critical component of the thin filament regulatory complex. Two of the three subunits, cTnI and cTnT, are expressed only in cardiac muscle and are widely used in the clinic as serum biomarkers of cardiac injury. cTnI and cTnT are subject to extensive post-translational modification such as proteolysis and phosphorylation, but linking modification patterns to function remains a major challenge. In order to obtain a global view of the state of post-translational modification of cTn, we are performing high resolution top-down mass spectrometry on cTn subunits isolated from native tissues. Whole cTn complexes affinity purified from a single rat heart were analyzed in a 7 Tesla Thermo LTQ-FT-ICR mass spectrometer equipped with an ESI source. High resolution MS spectra of cTn from healthy adult rats showed molecular ions for intact cTnT and cTnI as well as phosphorylation and acetylation patterns similar to human cTnI (Zabrouskov et al., 2008 Mol Cell Proteomics, in press). ‘Shadow peaks’ of similar intensity to parent peaks were detected exhibiting masses of cTnI + 16 Da and cTnT + 128 Da, suggestive of single amino acid polymorphisms. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis by ECD and CAD fragmentation of intact and protease-digested cTn subunits localized an Ala/Ser polymorphism at residue 7 of cTnI, and an additional Gln within a 3 residue alternative splice site beginning at residue 192 of cTnT. High resolution top-down MS/MS has revealed intriguing heterogeneity not only in the extent of phosphorylation, but also in amino acid sequences of cTnI and cTnT even within a single rat heart. Supported by NIH, AHA, UW-CVRC & Wisconsin Partnership for a Healthy Future.
Second-rank equilibrium and transport properties of fibrous composites: Effective predictions and bounds

Abstract A direct approach to the evaluation of the effective permeability, permittivity and transport properties of an arbitrary composite is presented in terms of gradient and flux-density concentrators. A set of requirements are presented, which are imposed on the effective properties and ultimately result in conditions of admissibility for the concentrators. In the scope of bi-constituent, poly-phase composites, two approximate choices for the concentrators are discussed in detail: the Hatta-Taya theory and the poly-inclusion theory. The Hatta-Taya formulation is shown, in general, to yield an effective property which is unsymmetric and which depends on the matrix properties at unitary volume fraction of the embedded material. The poly-inclusion theory is here applied for the first time to second-rank properties. Regardless of the constitution, morphology and texture of the inhomogeneities, the poly-inclusion approach is shown to satisfy all admissibility requirements with the exception of consistency here defined to indicate form identity of mutually inverse properties. A proof is presented which infers relationships between the symmetry group of the orientation distribution function and the symmetry group of the effective properties for special classes of composites. Bounds of order n are presented for macroscopically homogeneous and isotropic composites comprised of an arbitrary number of anisotropic constituents. The case of n = 2 corresponds to the Hashin-Shtrikman bounds which to date appear to have only been calculated for composites with isotropic constituents. Application of the effective properties to the analysis of functionally graded materials (FGMs) is addressed.
Primary structural dynamics in graphite

The structural dynamics of graphite and graphene are unique, because of the selective coupling between electron and lattice motions and hence the limit on electric and electro-optic properties. Here, we report on the femtosecond probing of graphite films (1–3 nm) using ultrafast electron crystallography in the transmission mode. Two time scales are observed for the dynamics: a 700 fs initial decrease in diffraction intensity due to lattice phonons in optically dark regions of the Brillouin zone, followed by a 12 ps decrease due to phonon thermalization near the Г and K regions. These results indicate the non-equilibrium distortion of the unit cells at early time and the subsequent role of long-wavelength atomic motions in the thermalization process. Theory and experiment are now in agreement regarding the nature of nuclear motions, but the results suggest that potential change plays a role in the lateral dynamics of the lattice.
Discovery of a new 'dynasore'.

Dynamin is a large GTPase that participates in the severing of membrane-bound vesicles. A small-molecule inhibitor specific for the dynamin family of GTPases has been identified and reveals new aspects of membrane dynamics.
Invasive matrix degradation at focal adhesions occurs via protease recruitment by a FAK–p130Cas complex

Tumor cell migration and the concomitant degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) are two essential steps in the metastatic process. It is well established that focal adhesions (FAs) play an important role in regulating migration; however, whether these structures contribute to matrix degradation is not clear. In this study, we report that multiple cancer cell lines display degradation of ECM at FA sites that requires the targeted action of MT1-MMP. Importantly, we have found that this MT1-MMP targeting is dependent on an association with a FAK–p130Cas complex situated at FAs and is regulated by Src-mediated phosphorylation of Tyr 573 at the cytoplasmic tail of MT1. Disrupting the FAK–p130Cas–MT1 complex significantly impairs FA-mediated degradation and tumor cell invasion yet does not appear to affect invadopodia formation or function. These findings demonstrate a novel function for FAs and also provide molecular insights into MT1-MMP targeting and function.
The development of spatial relation representations: evidence from studies of cerebral lateralization.

Abstract Twenty-four- 5-year-olds and 24 7-year-olds completed two divided-visual-field tasks; one task required subjects to categorize a dot as above or below a line, whereas the other required subjects to determine whether the dot was within 3 mm of the line. There was a relative left-hemisphere advantage for the above/below task and a relative right-hemisphere advantage for the distance task. The results indicate that distinct processing subsystems compute different kinds of visuo-spatial relations as early as 5 years of age.
Enhancement of light extraction efficiency of InGaN quantum well light-emitting diodes with polydimethylsiloxane concave microstructures

Improvement of light extraction efficiency of InGaN light emitting diodes (LEDs) using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) concave microstructures arrays was demonstrated. The size effect of the concave microstructures on the light extraction efficiency of III-Nitride LEDs was studied. Depending on the size of the concave microsturctures, ray tracing simulations show that the use of PDMS concave microstructures arrays can lead to increase in light extraction efficiency of InGaN LEDs by 1.4 to 1.9 times. Experiments utilizing 1.0 μm PDMS concave microstructures arrays demonstrated 1.60 times improvement in light extraction, which is consistent with simulated improvement of 1.63 times. The enhancement in light extraction efficiency is attributed to increase in effective photon escape cone due to PDMS concave microstructures arrays, and reduced Fresnel reflection within the photon escape cone due to the grading of refractive index change between GaN / PDMS / air interface.
Neonatal Aortic Arch Thrombosis Masquerading as Coarctation of the Aorta

We report two neonates with thrombosis of the aortic arch and isthmus diagnosed by echocardiography. Neonatal transient protein C deficiency was present in one patient and the other patient had severe perinatal asphyxia. Both patients presented with markedly reduced left ventricular function and severe aortic obstruction. In one infant, the thrombus was successfully removed surgically, and the second infant died due to serious complications of perinatal asphyxia.
The role of SIRT3 in regulating cancer cell metabolism

Background Sirtuins are a family of NAD-dependent deacetylase, deacylase, and/or mono-ADP ribosyltransferase enzymes involved in regulation of many biological processes. Mammals contain seven sirtuins, three of which are localized to the mitochondria (SIRT3-5). SIRT3 has been shown to be the major mitochondrial deacetylase that regulates metabolic enzymes and promotes oxidative metabolism and energy production. Loss of one copy of the SIRT3 gene is observed in various human cancers. Thus, we examined the role of SIRT3 in regulating metabolism in cancer cells.
MODELLING COHESIVE SEDIMENT TRANSPORT IN ESTUARIAL WATERS

Abstract Cohesive sediment related problems in estuaries include shoaling in navigable waterways and water pollution. A two-dimensional, depth-averaged, finite element (FE) cohesive sediment transport model, CSTM-H, has been developed and may be used to assist in predicting the frequency and quantity of dredging required to maintain navigable depths and the fate of adsorbed pollutants. Algorithms which describe the processes of erosion, dispersive transport, deposition, bed formation and bed consolidation are incorporated in CSTM-H. The Galerkin weighted residual method is used to solve the advection-dispersion equation with appropriate source/sink terms at each time step for the nodal suspended sediment concentrations. The model yields stable and converging solutions. Partial verification was carried out against a series of erosion-deposition experiments in the laboratory using kaolinite and a natural mud as sediment. Model applications under prototype conditions are described.
An analysis of the Mars–van Krevelen rate expression

Abstract An analysis of the “mechanism” and the assumptions incorporated into the derivation of the Mars–van Krevelen rate expression for heterogeneously catalyzed oxidation reactions reveals a number of inconsistencies. The expression as derived is properly applicable only for a reaction involving molecular oxygen adsorbed on a single site; however, the model assumes that lattice O ions (or atoms) react with the substrate being oxidized. Furthermore, the steps describing the model are not elementary steps and, in addition, the competitive adsorption of intermediates and products is not considered. Consequently, the original derivation is incorrect and this rate expression must be viewed only as a mathematical data-fitting function. Alternative Langmuir–Hinshelwood, Hougen–Watson-type catalytic sequences can typically provide similar, and sometimes identical, rate equations which can fit rate data better than, or at least as well as, the Mars–van Krevelen expression. These latter models also provide rate parameters that can be evaluated for thermodynamic consistency.
A kernel of order 2k-clogk for vertex cover

In a recent paper Soleimanfallah and Yeo proposed a kernelization algorithm for vertex cover which, for any fixed constant c, produces a kernel of order 2k-c in polynomial time. In this paper we show how their techniques can be extended to improve the produced kernel to order 2k-clogk, for any fixed constant c.
Co-worker trust and knowledge creation: A multilevel analysis

Abstract Prior research on trust and knowledge creation has primarily focused on organisational or team-level knowledge creation and the dyadic nature of trust without considering social contexts. This study explores how the extent to which team members are trusted by teammates in their networks (co-worker trust) is associated with the creation of new knowledge in a knowledge-intensive team setting. In addition, the study investigates the moderational effects of task interdependence on the relationship between co-worker trust and knowledge creation. Using a sample of 194 research scientists working in 48 knowledge-intensive teams, our results reveal that team members who are highly trusted by co-workers are more likely to create new knowledge. The positive relationship between co-worker trust and knowledge creation was strongest under conditions of high task interdependence. The discussion addresses the importance of understanding the role of co-worker trust in enhancing knowledge creation and highlights ...
Comparing the Microsoft Kinect to a traditional mouse for adjusting the viewed tissue densities of three-dimensional anatomical structures

Advancements in medical image visualization in recent years have enabled three-dimensional (3D) medical images to be volume-rendered from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans. Medical data is crucial for patient diagnosis and medical education, and analyzing these three-dimensional models rather than two-dimensional (2D) slices would enable more efficient analysis by surgeons and physicians, especially non-radiologists. An interaction device that is intuitive, robust, and easily learned is necessary to integrate 3D modeling software into the medical community. The keyboard and mouse configuration does not readily manipulate 3D models because these traditional interface devices function within two degrees of freedom, not the six degrees of freedom presented in three dimensions. Using a familiar, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) device for interaction would minimize training time and enable maximum usability with 3D medical images. Multiple techniques are available to manipulate 3D medical images and provide doctors more innovative ways of visualizing patient data. One such example is windowing. Windowing is used to adjust the viewed tissue density of digital medical data. A software platform available at the Virtual Reality Applications Center (VRAC), named Isis, was used to visualize and interact with the 3D representations of medical data. In this paper, we present the methodology and results of a user study that examined the usability of windowing 3D medical imaging using a Kinect™ device compared to a traditional mouse.
Slurry-phase ozonation for remediation of sediments contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of toxic, persistent, bioaccumulating organic compounds containing two or more fused aromatic rings. They are listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants because of their carcinogenicity and toxicity. Employing ozonation as a remediation technique, this work investigated the treatability of a sediment sample from a freshwater boat slip subjected to coal tar contamination over a long period. The contaminated sediment sample contained high levels of PAHs in the forms of naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[a]pyrene, among other byproducts present in the humic and solid phases of the sediment. The objectives of this work were to examine (1) the degradation of PAHs in the contaminated sediment as treated by ozonation in the slurry form, (2) the effects of ozonation upon the soil matrix and the biodegradability of the resultant PAH intermediates, and (3) the feasibility of a combined technique using O3 as a pretreatment followed by biological degradation. The sediment was made into 3% w/w soil slurries and ozonated in a 1.7-L semi-batch, well-stirred reactor equipped with pH control and a cold trap for the gaseous effluent. Samples were collected after different ozonation durations and tested for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), UV absorbance, and toxicity, along with quantitative and qualitative determinations of the parent and daughter intermediates using gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID), GC/mass spectrometry (MS), and ion chromatography (IC) techniques. The GC/MS technique identified 16 compounds associated with the humic and solid phases of the sediment. Intermediates identified at different ozonation times suggested that the degradation of PAHs was initiated by an O3 attack resulting in ring cleavage, followed by the intermediates' oxidation reactions with O3 and the concomitant OH radical toward their mineralization. Results suggested that ozonation for 2 hr removed 50-100% of various PAHs in the solid and liquid phases (as well as the aqueous and gaseous media resulting from the treatment process) of the sediment sample and that organic and inorganic constituents of the sediment were also altered by ozonation. Measurements and comparisons of BOD, COD, UV absorbance, and toxicity of the samples further suggested that ozonation improved the bioavailability and biodegradability of the contaminants, despite the increased toxicity of the treatment effluent. An integrated chemical-biological system appeared to be feasible for treating recalcitrant compounds.
Tuberculosis : is the past once again prologue ?

Tuberculosis has been considered the result of hereditary susceptibility, miasmas in the environment, and contact with contagious patients. During most of the latter half of this century, tuberculosis control efforts have concentrated almost exclusively on contagion by treating patients to make them noninfectious, treating latent tuberculosis to prevent reactivation, and in some countries, vaccinating uninfected persons to protect them from the consequences of infection. With the resurgence of tuberculosis in 1985, interest in all methods of tuberculosis control has been rekindled. Much remains to be discovered and much needs to be done. If renewed efforts succeed in again forcing tuberculosis rates downward, will we have the wisdom to eliminate tuberculosis in the United States, or will we relax and bring about another resurgence?
Seed Quality of Maize Inbred Lines with Different Composition and Genetic Backgrounds

By introgressing exotic germplasm into elite maize in the USA, breeders have developed lines with wider variability for seed oil and protein contents than in U.S. adapted lines. Seed quality of these introgressed lines has not been evaluated. The objectives of the study were (i) to characterize introgressed inbred lines for seed quality, (ii) to assess the effects of oil and protein contents on seed quality, and (iii) to determine whether the interaction between genetic background and production location was significant. The lines used in the study were developed by crossing elite lines of Stiff Stalk and non-Stiff Stalk heterotic background with St. Croix and Argentina germplasm. They were grown at four locations of the U.S. Corn Belt. Seed quality was measured by standard germination test, a series of vigor tests, and an inbred quality index. Genotype x location interactions were significant. Genotypic differences were observed for all the traits measured within each location. Seed composition and genetic background did not affect germination, however production location did. Standard germination ranged from 56 to 93% in Iowa, 48 to 89% in Missouri, 53 to 91% in Illinois, and 52 to 89% in Nebraska. High protein inbred lines had a saturated cold test of 64%, averaged across locations, while the low protein line averaged 49%. Inbred lines with St. Croix background and lines produced in colder locations (Iowa and Nebraska) had high cold test percentage. Inbred lines with St. Croix background, all having low oil contents, had the lowest accelerated aging test results (49%), whereas inbred lines with Argentina background had the highest (65%). The low protein inbred line had low accelerated aging results (49%), whereas high protein inbred lines averaged 62%. Because seed composition affects seed quality of the inbred, it is important that breeders evaluate new germplasm for seed quality early in the breeding program.
Effect of defect imbalance on void swelling distributions produced in pure iron irradiated with 3.5 MeV self-ions

Abstract Ion irradiation has been widely used to simulate neutron-induced radiation damage. There are a number of features of ion-induced damage that differ from neutron-induced damage, however, and these differences require investigation before ion data can be confidently used to predict behavior arising from neutron bombardment. In this study 3.5 MeV self-ion irradiation of pure iron was used to study the influence on void swelling of the depth-dependent defect imbalance between vacancies and interstitials that arises from various surface effects, forward scattering of displaced atoms, and especially the injected interstitial effect. It was observed that the depth dependence of void swelling does not follow the behavior anticipated from the depth dependence of the damage rate. Void nucleation and growth develop first in the lower-dose, near-surface region, and then moves to progressively deeper and higher-damage depths during continued irradiation. This indicates a strong initial suppression of void nucleation in the peak damage region that is eventually overcome with continued irradiation. Using the Boltzmann transport equation method, this phenomenon is shown to be due to depth-dependent defect imbalances created under ion irradiation. These findings demonstrate that void swelling does not depend solely on the local dose level and that this sensitivity of swelling to depth must be considered in extraction and interpretation of ion-induced swelling data.
Electrochemical (Corrosion) Behavior of Amorphous/Microcrystalline Ion Plated Fe-Cr Alloy Films

Abstract Amorphous and microcrystalline thin films of chromium-bearing iron alloys produced by ion plating exhibit high resistance to localized (pitting) corrosion in neutral NaCl aqueous solutions...
Qualitative detection of corticosteroids in equine biological fluids and the comparison of relative dexamethasone metabolite/dexamethasone concentration in equine urine by micro-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract Several important corticosteroids were qualitatively determined in the plasma and urine of horses by micro-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (micro-LC—MS). The sensitivity and specificity of micro-LC—MS are demonstrated as is the ability of micro-LC— MS to deal with endogenous interferences. In turn, the relative amount of dexamethasone and its major unconjugated metabolite were determined in equine urine by micro-LC—MS; the conclusions drawn are reported.
Coproduct of Vector Fields on the Quantum Lorentz Group

We use properties of the L± matrices, specific to the case of the q-deformed Lorentz group, to derive expressions for the coproduct of its bicovariant vector fields.
Chemical synthesis of β-ketooctanoyl coenzyme A

Abstract β-Ketooctanoyl coenzyme A was synthesized from ethyl β-ketooctanoate. β-Ketooctanoyl-S-thioglycolic acid, a crystalline intermediate that was converted to the coenzyme A ester by an ester interchange reaction, was shown to have properties similar to those of other β-keto thiolesters previously described. Synthetic β-ketooctanoyl coenzyme A was shown to be enzymically active with β-ketothiolase, which catalyzed its coenzyme A-dependent conversion to caproyl coenzyme A and acetyl coenzyme A.
Determinants of protein–ligand complex formation in the thyroid hormone receptor α: A molecular dynamics simulation study

Abstract The thyroid hormone receptors (TR) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that regulate growth, development, and metabolic processes in a ligand-dependent manner. Because of their involvement in many aspects of human health, TRs are emerging as important therapeutic targets with thyroid hormone analogues having potential applications in atherosclerosis and obesity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of binding between the TR and its ligands is thus of fundamental importance for its implications for regulation of gene activity and for its applications in the pharmacological industry. In this work we have carried out atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of three protein–ligand complexes formed between the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the TRα and three different ligands: the thyroid hormone T3, the natural thyroid hormone analogue Triac, and the synthetic ligand GC1. The conformational fluctuations of the protein and ligands, the microscopic properties of the surrounding water molecules, and direct and water-mediated ligand–protein interactions have been studied in detail. Our results reveal that the formation of the protein–ligand complex is associated with the loss of flexibility of the individual molecules and the presence of highly structured dynamically restricted water molecules in the ligand-binding cavity of these complexes.