cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Techniques for fast and accurate intrasurgical registration.

The goal of intra-surgical registration is to establish a common reference frame between pre-surgical and intra-surgical 3-D data sets that correspond to the same anatomy. This paper presents two novel techniques which have application to this problem: high-speed pose tracking, and intra-surgical data selection. In the first part of this paper, we describe an approach for tracking the pose of arbitrarily-shaped rigid objects at rates up to 10Hz. Static accuracies on the order of 1mm in translation and 1 degree in rotation have been achieved. We have demonstrated the technique on a human face using a high-speed VLSI range sensor; however, the technique is independent of the sensor used or the anatomy tracked. In the second part of this paper, we describe a general purpose approach for selecting near-optimal, intrasurgical registration data. Due to high costs associated with the acquisition of intra-surgical data, it is desirable to minimize the amount of data acquired, while ensuring that registration accuracy requirements are met. We synthesize near-optimal intra-surgical data sets, based upon an analysis of differential surface properties of pre-surgical data. We demonstrate, using data from a human femur, that discrete point data sets selected using our method provide superior pose refinement accuracy to those selected by human experts.
Anion and Cation Transference Numbers Determined by Electrophoretic NMR of Polymer Electrolytes Sum to Unity

The lithium ion transference number and anion transference number were determined for composite polymer electrolytes based on ethylene oxide and hydrophobic fumed silica. These transference numbers were measured using electrophoretic nuclear magnetic resonance (ENMR), which essentially is a rapid Hittorf method. We demonstrated the validity and power of the ENMR technique by independently measuring both and for a single sample and showed that (within experimental error). Measurement of is typically easier and more accurate than measurement of . ENMR is a powerful technique for characterizing polymer electrolytes without the need for assumptions, such as treatment of the electrolyte as an ideal solution, or for multiple measurements and regressions, as required by methods based on concentrated solution theory. ©2000 The Electrochemical Society
Investigations of the Bacteriological Factors in Clean Neurosurgical Wounds

A number of questions remained unanswered by the empirical success of antimicrobial prophylaxis for neurosurgical patients at The Mount Sinai Hospital during a 15-year period. Vancomycin (1 g intravenously) and tobramycin (80 mg intramuscularly) were administered in the induction room. Streptomycin (50 mg) was mixed into each liter of saline used to irrigate the surgical incision. A series of 45 consecutive clean neurosurgical operations were investigated. The potential sources of random contamination of the surgical wound that were studied included the following: 1) the patient's skin; 2) the flora of the skin and nares of the operating team; 3) the surgical apparel; 4) the surgeons' gloves; and 5) the airborne organisms in the operating theater. No wound infections were documented during a 4-month period between June and September of 1991. A remarkable 98% of the intraoperative cultures of the surgical wounds were free of bacteria. Positive cultures of glove imprints were found in 29% of the operations, and the bacterial source was traced to four different surgeons in four operations (9%). The surgeons' gloves were also a source of potential pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus) in two instances, but the bacterial species were also recovered from cultures of the environment. Based on individual biotyping of bacteria and antibiotic susceptibility testing, no consistent source or pattern could be uncovered for the bacteria in the surgical wound or the operating room air.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A framework for information quality assessment

One cannot manage information quality (IQ) without first being able to measure it meaningfully and establishing a causal connection between the source of IQ change, the IQ problem types, the types of activities affected, and their implications. In this article we propose a general IQ assessment framework. In contrast to context-specific IQ assessment models, which usually focus on a few variables determined by local needs, our framework consists of comprehensive typologies of IQ problems, related activities, and a taxonomy of IQ dimensions organized in a systematic way based on sound theories and practices. The framework can be used as a knowledge resource and as a guide for developing IQ measurement models for many different settings. The framework was validated and refined by developing specific IQ measurement models for two large-scale collections of two large classes of information objects: Simple Dublin Core records and online encyclopedia articles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Two Types of Resistance to the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Cabbage

Survival of larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) was reduced on several genotypes of cabbage from the breeding program at Geneva, N.Y. Polar fractions of ethanol extracts of partially resistant lines 2535 and 2503, when incorporated into diet, reduced survival of P. xylostella larvae by 14.9 and 19.0%, respectively. Whether this effect was due to reduced feeding or postingestive toxicity was not determined. Although survival on glossy-leafed line 2518 was very low in the field and larvae on this line failed to form visible feeding mines during the first 72 h after egg hatch, extracts from 2518 had no activity. Survival of larvae confined on leaf disks of 2518 in the laboratory was much greater (80% of controls) than it was on whole plants in the field (0.36% of controls). In the field, neonate P. xylostella dispersed two to three times more rapidly on the leaves of 2518 than on other lines. Resistance to P. xylostella in the lines investigated was therefore due to at least two mechanisms, (1) antibiosis or nonpreference due to extractable compounds present in normal bloom resistant cabbage genotypes, 2503 and 2535, and (2) possible nonpreference for glossy-leafed 2518 by neonate larvae, as suggested by the greater dispersal rates of neonates on these plants. Survival is relatively high on 2518 in leaf disk bioassays in the laboratory, suggesting that nonpreference in combination with environmental stresses to larvae in the field may produce P. xylostella resistance in the glossy 2518.
Passive-Microwave-Enhanced Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme

Abstract The formulation and testing of an enhanced Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) using new predictors derived from passive microwave imagery is presented. Passive microwave imagery is acquired for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins between 1995 and 2003. Predictors relating to the inner-core (within 100 km of center) precipitation and convective characteristics of tropical cyclones are derived. These predictors are combined with the climatological and environmental predictors used by SHIPS in a simple linear regression model with change in tropical cyclone intensity as the predictand. Separate linear regression models are produced for forecast intervals of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h from the time of a microwave sensor overpass. Analysis of the resulting models indicates that microwave predictors, which provide an intensification signal to the model when above-average precipitation and convective signatures are present, have comparable importan...
Gastric Emptying of Solid Food in Normal Man and After Subtotal Gastrectomy and Truncal Vagotomy with Pyloroplasty

Alterations in gastric emptying are considered contributory to many sequelae of peptic ulcer surgery. The application of a validated method of firmly tagging solid food has enabled the measurement of the rates and patterns of gastric emptying in normal subjects, subtotal gastrectomy, and vagotomy and pyloroplasty (VP (2) rapid emptying with exponential pattern and mean rate constant of 0.039 min−1, t1/2 of 17.7 min. The slow gastric emptying rate and slow passage of chyme through the small intestine in one-half of the V&P group presumably allows greater efficiency of digestion and absorption and may account for the over-all less severe nutritional disturbances after V&P.
Year in review 2009: Critical Care - infection

In 2009 Critical Care provided important and clinically relevant research data for management and prevention of infections in critically ill patients. The present review summarises the results of these observational studies and clinical trials and discusses them in the context of the current relevant scientific and clinical background. In particular, we discuss recent epidemiologic data on nosocomial infections in intensive care units, present new approaches to prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia, describe recent advances in biomarker-guided antibiotic stewardship and attempt to briefly summarise specific challenges related to the management of infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms and influenza A (H1N1).
Transaction repair for integrity enforcement

A transaction repair system detects erroneous transactions as they update the database, and for each erroneous transaction, it finds the necessary and sufficient changes to the transaction that would repair it. Detection and repair are the two essential components of semantic integrity maintenance since detection alone would leave the user with the difficult responsibility of manually correcting and reentering an erroneous transaction. Both detection and repair rely on incremental integrity maintenance techniques. The detection process takes advantage of the integrity of the database before the transaction, and detects only the new errors introduced by the transaction. The repair process takes advantage of the integrity before the transaction and integrity violation after the transaction but before the repair. Such a two-step incremental analysis produces the minimal repair necessary and sufficient to correct the transaction. All necessary and sufficient repairs are generated, for all first order constraints, and by using only substitution with no resolution search. Multiple constraints are repaired in parallel, with no sequencing of constraints, and no possibility of cycles. Extensions to recursive constraints and nondeterministic transactions are provided.
Convergence and Ordering of Kohonen's Batch Map

The convergence and ordering of Kohonen's batch-mode self-organizing map with Heskes and Kappen's (1993) winner selection are proved. Selim and Ismail's (1984) objective function for k-means clustering is generalized in the convergence proof of the self-organizing map. It is shown that when the neighborhood relation is doubly decreasing, order in the map is preserved. An unordered map becomes ordered when a degenerate state of ordering is entered, where the number of distinct winners is one or two. One strategy to enter this state is to run the algorithm with a broad neighborhood relation.
Derridada A Response to Weitzner

Acknowledging that deconstruction had failed to catch on as a research method among management scholars, Weitzner argues for reconsidering Derrida's potential contributions to management scholarshi...
A Missing Link in Body Weight Homeostasis: The Catabolic Signal of the Overfed State

Mammals regulate fat mass so that increases or reductions in adipose tissue mass activate responses that favor return to one's previous weight. A reduction in fat mass activates a system that increases food intake and reduces energy expenditure; conversely, overfeeding and rapid adipose tissue expansion reduces food intake and increases energy expenditure. With the identification of leptin nearly two decades ago, the central circuit that defends against reductions in body fat was revealed. However, the systems that defend against rapid expansion of fat mass remain largely unknown. Here we review the physiology of the overfed state and evidence for a distinct regulatory system, which unlike the leptin-mediated system, we propose primarily measures a functional aspect of adipose tissue and not total mass per se.
Microbial evolution in vivo and in silico: methods and applications

Microbial evolution has been extensively studied in the past fifty years, which has lead to seminal discoveries that have shaped our understanding of evolutionary forces and dynamics. It is only recently however, that transformative technologies and computational advances have enabled a larger in-scale and in-depth investigation of the genetic basis and mechanistic underpinnings of evolutionary adaptation. In this review we focus on the strengths and limitations of in vivo and in silico techniques for studying microbial evolution in the laboratory, and we discuss how these complementary approaches can be integrated in a unifying framework for elucidating microbial evolution.
A critical balance : collaboration and security in the IT-enabled supply chain

Integration of information flows facilitated by advances in information technology (IT) has increased collaboration across supply chains. However, benefits of interconnectivity are not gained without risk, as IT has removed protective barriers around assets and processes. Thus, supply chains are better able to satisfy customer needs yet are potentially more vulnerable to disruption due to an array of IT-specific threats. Highly interconnected supply chains would appear to be especially prone to these hazards. Although supply chain risk and information technology risk have been studied in isolation, little has been done to define the impact of information security on supply chain management. This exploratory investigation addresses this deficiency in the literature by defining information security risk in the context of supply chain management. It identifies, categorizes, and validates information technology threats as sources of risk in the supply chain. It then establishes a conceptual framework for furt...
A National Study of Nonrenewal in High School Coaching

JOPERD • Volume 77 No. 7 • September 2006 L ike those who hear the catch phrase on Donald Trump’s TV reality show The Apprentice, many coaches are hearing those dreaded words “You’re fi red!” On the reality show, the stakes are high because the eventual winner receives a position overseeing one of Trump’s multimillion-dollar business ventures and a six-fi gure salary. While the stakes for high school coaches may seem small in comparison, their jobs are arguably more signifi cant because of a coach’s ability to affect the lives and futures of the nation’s youths. American coaches’ jobs hinge on the results of competitive activities that are highly spontaneous and unpredictable (Edwards, 1973). “What makes the position of coach even more unique is the fact that these competitive activities are highly visible and the results of the competitions are publicly reported and discussed” (Coakley, 1994, p. 194). Though Coakley was referring to college coaches, we believe the analogy holds true for high school coaches as well. Of course, not all high school coaches face the same degree of pressure. Pressure to win may vary depending on factors such as the sport, school size, level of competition, school tradition, level of administrative support or community support, or the degree of parental involvement. In today’s hyper-competitive environment, parent-coach confrontations are becoming much more prevalent. Apparently parents think it is their right to have regular, sometimes inappropriate, contact with coaches. More often these confrontations go beyond their original intent, at times leading to violence. In Connecticut, the parent of a high school softball player clubbed the coach in the back of the head with an aluminum bat for suspending his daughter for missing a game. A few days before the Connecticut incident, a girls high school rugby coach in California was punched and kicked unconscious by a group of parents when the coach tried to break up a fi ght between a parent and a referee (Pennington, 2005). In Texas, a 45-year-old father, who had been barred from attending the local high school football games for shoving and verbally abusing his son’s coaches, critically wounded the head coach/athletics director at his son’s high school (CNN.com, 2005). It seems that a win-at-all-costs attitude has become common in high school athletics. Based on anecdotal reports, fans and parents often seem to have unrealistic expectations for the coaches of their children. Because the pressure seems to be increasing, it is important to closely examine patterns of nonrenewal and the reasons for it in high school coaching.
Factor Analytic Support for Psychosocial and Vocational Mentoring Functions

Eight 50-word vignettes which portrayed either psychosocial or vocational mentoring functions were presented to 144 college students who rated the desirability of each function on a scale of 1 to 7. A principal axis factor analysis with oblique rotation yielded two factors, one on which the psychosocial functions loaded more heavily (and which accounted for 33.4% of the variance) and one on which the vocational functions loaded more heavily (and which accounted for an additional 5.9% of the variance). The results may help researchers formulate different questions about mentoring than the basic questions which have guided prior work.
An optimal internal clock synchronization algorithm

We propose an optimal convergence function for achieving fault-tolerant, internal clock synchronization in the presence of arbitrary process and clock failures. The differential fault-tolerant midpoint convergence function guarantees an optimal maximum correction, an optimal maximum drift rate, and an optimal maximum deviation. The proposed convergence function is simple and easy to compute. It bounds the maximum drift rate of correct clocks by the maximum drift rate of a correct hardware clock. The maximum correction is limited by the maximum drift between two correct hardware clocks during one round. The maximum deviation is approximately 4/spl Lambda/+4/spl rho/r/sub max/, where /spl Lambda/ is the maximum remote clock reading error, /spl rho/ is the maximum drift rate of a correct hardware clock and r/sub max/ is the maximum duration of a synchronization round.
IMPORTANT: a framework to systematically analyze the Impact of Mobility on Performance of Routing Protocols for Adhoc Networks

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a collection of wireless mobile nodes forming a temporary network without using any existing infrastructure. Since not many MANETs are currently deployed, research in this area is mostly simulation based. Random waypoint is the commonly used mobility model in these simulations. Random waypoint is a simple model that may be applicable to some scenarios. However, we believe that it is not sufficient to capture some important mobility characteristics of scenarios in which MANETs may be deployed. Our framework aims to evaluate the impact of different mobility models on the performance of MANET routing protocols. We propose various protocol independent metrics to capture interesting mobility characteristics, including spatial and temporal dependence and geographic restrictions. In addition, a rich set of parameterized mobility models is introduced including random waypoint, group mobility, freeway and Manhattan models. Based on these models several 'test-suite' scenarios are chosen carefully to span the metric space. We demonstrate the utility of our test-suite by evaluating various MANET routing protocols, including DSR, AODV and DSDV. Our results show that the protocol performance may vary drastically across mobility models and performance rankings of protocols may vary with the mobility models used. This effect can be explained by the interaction of the mobility characteristics with the connectivity graph properties. Finally, we attempt to decompose the routing protocols into mechanistic "building blocks" to gain a deeper insight into the performance variations across protocols in the face of mobility.
Mass Spectrometry of an Intact Virus

these limitations for the analysis of whole viruses. Charge-detection mass spectrometry is a relatively new technique that circumvents limitations associated with detecting large, highly charged ions by making a simultaneous measurement of charge (z) and mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio for individual ions. The detection technique permits the mass analysis of electrospray ions with virtually unlimited mass [10‐14] and has been performed on both Fourier-transform ioncyclotron resonance [14] and time-of-flight [11‐13] mass analyzers. The electrospray ionization source used in these studies [11] produced an aerosol of highly-charged virus particles in the ion-evaporation region of the electrospray ion source at atmospheric pressure. Virus ions pass one at a time through a small metal flight tube attached to a charge-sensitive preamplifier that captures their image current, the magnitude of which is proportional to the ions charge. In addition, by measuring the time-of-flight [15] of each ion through the flight tube the m/z value can be determined. The mass of each ion is obtained from a combination of both the charge and m/z value, where the ion charge can typically be determined with a precision of better than 75 z (as demonstrated in previous experiments with microparticles). A more complete description of the experiments and the system is published else
A series of tests of small- and medium-scale computers commonly used for computations by solid-state theorists and quantum chemists

In this article we report a series of benchmark calculations on a series of small- and medium-scale computers of interest to solid-state theorists and quantum chemists. These computers include Digital Equipment Corpation VAX 11–730, 11–750, 11–780, 2040, 2060, and 11/23 computers. In addition, some test results on an IBM 3033N and a CDC Cyber 175 are included by means of a control. Finally, a series of studies on the new Floating Point Systems FPS-164 attached processor under the SJE operating system are also included. It is concluded from these studies that for an environment in which one is running many lengthy batch programs of a number-crunching-type, that a small computer such as a VAX augmented by an FPS-164 attached processor (or its equivalent) is a cost effective and convenient way to achieve high performance computing power.
Assessing the effects of tariff reform on U.S. food manufacturing industries: the role of imperfect competition and intermediate inputs

Recent work indicates that the joint effects of intermediate input and final output tariff reforms on equilibrium in the differentiated final products sector are analytically ambiguous. This issue is addressed empirically for disaggregate, imperfectly competitive U.S. food manufacturing industries. The input tariff effect dominates in most industries, leading to increases in the number of U.S. firms and total industry output as a result of tariff reform. This provides evidence that the existing U.S. tariff profile discriminates against domestic food manufacturers, as input tariff effects outweigh the protection offered by output tariffs. This conclusion is robust to changes in the degree of interfirm rivalry (monopolistic competition or cournot oligopoly).
Characterization of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteasomal ATPase homologue

A screen for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) mutants sensitive to reactive nitrogen intermediates identified transposon insertions in the presumptive proteasomal ATPase gene mpa (mycobacterium proteasome ATPase; Rv2115c). mpa mutants are attenuated in both wild type and nitric oxide synthase 2 deficient mice. In this work, we show that attenuation of mpa mutants is severe, and that Mpa is an ATPase associated with various cellular activities (AAA) ATPase that forms hexameric rings resembling the eukaryotic complex p97/valosin-containing protein (VCP). Point mutations in the conserved Walker box ATPase motifs of Mpa greatly reduced or abolished ATPase activity in vitro and abrogated protection of Mtb against acidified nitrite. A mutant Mpa protein missing only its last two amino acids retained ATPase activity, yet failed to protect Mtb against nitrite. The corresponding strain was attenuated in mice. Thus, Mpa is an ATPase whose enzymatic activity is necessary but not sufficient to protect against reactive nitrogen intermediates.
Medication-indication knowledge bases: a systematic review and critical appraisal.

Objective Medication-indication information is a key part of the information needed for providing decision support for and promoting appropriate use of medications. However, this information is not readily available to end users, and a lot of the resources only contain this information in unstructured form (free text). A number of public knowledge bases (KBs) containing structured medication-indication information have been developed over the years, but a direct comparison of these resources has not yet been conducted. Material and Methods We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify all medication-indication KBs and critically appraised these resources in terms of their scope as well as their support for complex indication information. Results We identified 7 KBs containing medication-indication data. They notably differed from each other in terms of their scope, coverage for on- or off-label indications, source of information, and choice of terminologies for representing the knowledge. The majority of KBs had issues with granularity of the indications as well as with representing duration of therapy, primary choice of treatment, and comedications or comorbidities. Discussion and Conclusion This is the first study directly comparing public KBs of medication indications. We identified several gaps in the existing resources, which can motivate future research.
Teaching for Creativity: Domains and Divergent Thinking, Intrinsic Motivation, and Evaluation

There is not yet consensus among creativity researchers about how domain-specific creativity may be, but domain specificity has huge implications for activities designed to nurture divergent thinking. I will explain why assuming domain generality poses large risks that creativity training may be ineffective if domain generality is wrong, whereas assuming domain specificity poses no such risks even if domain specificity were completely mistaken. I will also suggest ways to avoid some of the negative effects of evaluation on intrinsic motivation and creativity and describe ways to balance teaching for skills and content knowledge with teaching for creativity.
An experimental test of duet function in a fairy-wren (Malurus) with moderate cuckoldry rates

Birds often sing together in duets, but we do not know exactly why, especially in species where pair members are often unfaithful. We expect these species may duet to keep partners faithful (i.e., mate guard). We used an experiment to test if duets are used for territory defense or acoustic mate-guarding. We broadcast male song, female song, and duets on territories and found most support for territory defense because pairs showed strongest responses to duets.
Nonviral gene delivery to human breast cancer cells by targeted Ad5 penton proteins

The capsid proteins of adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) are key to the virus’ highly efficient cell binding and entry mechanism. In particular, the penton base plays a significant role in both viral internalization and endosome penetration. We have produced an adenovirus penton fusion protein (HerPBK10) containing moieties for DNA transport and targeted delivery to breast cancer cells. HerPBK10 binds DNA through a polylysine appendage, while the EGF-like domain of the heregulin-α1 isoform is used as the targeting ligand. This ligand binds with high affinity to HER2/3 or HER2/4 heterodimers, which are overexpressed on certain aggressive breast cancers. In addition, this ligand is rapidly internalized after binding, thus adding to the utility of heregulin for targeting. HerPBK10 binds MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells in a receptor-specific manner, and mediates the entry of a reporter plasmid in MDA-MB-453 cells in culture. Delivery can be competed by excess heregulin peptide, thus confirming receptor specificity. Importantly, the penton segment appears to contribute significantly to enhanced delivery. Complexes containing HerPBK10 and DNA have been optimized to provide targeted gene delivery to breast cancer cells in vitro. We demonstrate that delivery can be accomplished in the presence of serum, thus suggesting a potential use for in vivo delivery.
Effect of sedormid on the developing chick embryo.

SummaryThe inoculation of Sedormid into the yolk sacs or allantoic cavities of 8-day-old embryonated eggs results in the prompt appearance in their allantoic fluids of materials exhibiting red fluorescence in ultraviolet light. These fluorescent materials appear to accumulate progressively with time. The results of quantitative estimations suggest that coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin are responsible for this fluorescence. Treated embryos are smaller than the controls and exhibit red fluorescence of the kidneys, sternum, and long bones under ultraviolet light. Further interpretation of these data must await isolation and characterization of the fluorescent substances.
Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis of a transient species formed during water oxidation catalyzed by the complex ion [(bpy)2Ru(OH2)]2O(4+).

The ruthenium “blue dimer” [(bpy)2Ru(OH2)]2O4+—the first well-defined molecular complex able to catalyze water oxidation at low overpotentials—has been the subject of numerous experimental and computational studies. However, elements of the reaction mechanism remain controversial. Of particular interest is the nature of the O–O bond-forming step. Herein, we report the first advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies of a high-valent intermediate that appears under conditions in which the catalyst is actively turning over. Results from previous studies have suggested that this intermediate is derived from [(bpy)2RuV(O)]2O4+, denoted {5,5}. Under photooxidizing conditions, the corresponding EPR signal disappears at a rate comparable to the turnover rate of the catalyst once the illumination source is removed. In the present work, the electronic and geometric structures of this species were explored using a variety of EPR techniques. Continuous wave (CW) EPR spectroscopy was used to...
Modification of Photocarcinogenesis by Chemical Agents

The evidence is long standing and compelling that chemical agents can modify the carcinogenic effects of light. Various types of chemical-light interaction are discussed, and events in chemical photocarcinogenesis, chemically enhanced photocarcinogenesis, and promotion of photocarcinogenesis are described. Specific examples of each type of process are given, and the importance of interaction of various wavelengths of UV radiation for these processes is stressed.
23 AN UNUSUAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ARRHYTHMOGENIC RIGHT VENTRICULAR DYSPLASIA AND ANOMALOUS CORONARY ARTERY.

The etiology of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is not well understood. There appears to be a genetic component, with an autosomal dominant pattern, although a much rarer autosomal recessive inheritance pattern has also been seen. In most cases, ARVD is believed to be caused by a nonischemic injury that leads to thinning and fatty infiltration of the right ventricular muscle cells, with sparing of the left ventricle. The fatty infiltrate is the cause of the arrhythmias. Individuals with ARVD usually have a normal right coronary artery. Two unusual cases of this disease are associated with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (ARC) from the left coronary cusp with an anomalous course between the aorta and pulmonary artery. One is a 17-year-old male who had multifocal PVCs. After ECHO suggested ARC, an MRI was diagnostic for both ARVD and ARC. The other is a 33-year-old airline pilot who developed ventricular tachycardia (VT). EP study documented two foci of inducible VT, which were ablated. When VT continued and cardiac catheterization showed ARC, he underwent bypass surgery. The arrhythmias continued to occur and further workup yielded the diagnosis of ARVD. Neither of these patients have a family history of ARVD. The potential relationship between coronary flow and developmental myocardial abnormalities will be discussed.
Mathematical Model of Evolution of Brain Parcellation

We study the distribution of brain and cortical area sizes [parcellation units (PUs)] obtained for three species: mouse, macaque, and human. We find that the distribution of PU sizes is close to lognormal. We propose the mathematical model of evolution of brain parcellation based on iterative fragmentation and specialization. In this model, each existing PU has a probability to be split that depends on PU size only. This model suggests that the same evolutionary process may have led to brain parcellation in these three species. Within our model, region-to-region (macro) connectivity is given by the outer product form. We show that most experimental data on non-zero macaque cortex macroscopic-level connections can be explained by the outer product power-law form suggested by our model (62% for area V1). We propose a multiplicative Hebbian learning rule for the macroconnectome that could yield the correct scaling of connection strengths between areas. We thus propose an evolutionary model that may have contributed to both brain parcellation and mesoscopic level connectivity in mammals.
Time-dependence of ion charge State distributions of vacuum arcs: an interpretation involving atoms and charge exchange collisions

Experimentally observed charge state distributions are known to be higher at the beginning of each arc discharge. Until know, this has been attributed to cathode surface effects in terms of changes in temperature, chemical composition, and spot mode. Here it is shown that the initial decay of charge states of cathodic arc plasmas may be at least in part due to charge exchange collisions of ions with neutrals. Neutrals gradually fill the discharge volume, and therefore, the effect of charge exchange shows delayed onset after arc initiation. Besides desorbed gases, sources of neutrals may include evaporated atoms from macroparticles and still-hot craters of previously active arc spots. More importantly, atoms are also produced by energetic condensation of the cathodic arc plasma. Self-sputtering is significant, and additionally, ions have a low sticking probability when impacting at oblique angle of incidence. Estimates show that the characteristic time for filling the discharge volume agrees well with the charge state decay time, and the likelihood of charge exchange is reasonably large to be taken into account.
From Adaptation to Transformation: An Extended Research Agenda for Organizational Resilience to Adversity in the Natural Environment:

This article aims to encourage research into how organizations can manage their resilience in response to adverse conditions stemming from the natural environment (ecological adversity). While firm...
Gender, University Authority, and the French Royal Court

When Jean Gerson, the son of a carpenter from a village owned by the Benedictine monastery at Reims, traveled to Paris at the age of 14 in 1377, he embarked upon a career that would be built almost entirely upon his intellectual prowess. This situation differentiated him from those upon whom he would depend for his success and general good fortune, namely those whose claim to power lay in their noble blood, financial resources, military skill, and family connections. Gerson entered Paris as a scholarship student and a potential client.1 His ability to craft a reputation that allowed him to influence the debates that coursed through that city and the wider context of the church attests to his successful negotiation of multiple social situations and institutional settings as much as it reflects his command of the scholastic tradition.2
Impedance Imaging of Chemical and Biochemical Systems

Impedance detection of chemical and biochemical events has been performed using an array of microfabricated capacitors [1]. Originally developed for fingerprint acquisition, the modified sensor has a 256 × 364 array of elements, each 50 × 50 µm in size. This sensor can be adapted for various types of sensing applications involving conductivity or impedance of samples. Spatial resolution has been studied using pollen of different size ranges. Biofilms of chicken embryo heart cells have been imaged. The sensor has several adjustable electrical parameters for different ranges of conductivity. Calibration curves have been constructed to determine the effect of each parameter on the response. This new sensor has the capacity for simultaneous optical and chemical observation of multiphase samples in real time.
Highly stable organic field-effect transistors with engineered gate dielectrics(Conference Presentation)

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) have the potential to lead to low-cost flexible displays, wearable electronics, and sensors. While recent efforts have focused greatly on improving the maximum charge mobility that can be achieved in such devices, studies about the stability and reliability of such high performance devices are relatively scarce. In this talk, we will discuss the results of recent studies aimed at improving the stability of OFETs under operation and their shelf lifetime. In particular, we will focus on device architectures where the gate dielectric is engineered to act simultaneously as an environmental barrier layer. In the past, our group had demonstrated solution-processed top-gate OFETs using TIPS-pentacene and PTAA blends as a semiconductor layer with a bilayer gate dielectric layer of CYTOP/Al2O3, where the oxide layer was fabricated by atomic layer deposition, ALD. Such devices displayed high operational stability with little degradation after 20,000 on/off scan cycles or continuous operation (24 h), and high environmental stability when kept in air for more than 2 years, with unchanged carrier mobility. Using this stable device geometry, simple circuits and sensors operating in aqueous conditions were demonstrated. However, the Al2O3 layer was found to degrade due to corrosion under prolonged exposure in aqueous solutions. In this talk, we will report on the use of a nanolaminate (NL) composed of Al2O3 and HfO2 by ALD to replace the Al2O3 single layer in the bilayer gate dielectric use in top-gate OFETs. Such OFETs were found to operate under harsh condition such as immersion in water at 95 °C. This work was funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Bay Area Photovoltaics Consortium (BAPVC) under Award Number DE-EE0004946.
Differential Expression of VEGF Receptors on Human T Cell Subsets

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and their receptors (VEGFR) deliver important signals that controlling the angiogenesis of growing, injured, and malignant tissues. Expression of VEGF receptors has been described on a variety of normal and malignant leukocytes, and presumably plays a role in their trafficking to injured tissue. Differential expression of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) has been described as a marker of regulatory T cells (Treg) in mice, and may be expressed on human thymocytes, but expression on human Tregs has not been confirmed. Moreover, earlier reports of Treg-specific markers in humans were based on the CD4+CD25+ subset, which is not as reliable for Treg identification as it is in mice. We used cell sorting to obtain pure populations of human Tregs (using the more stringent criteria of CD4+CD25+CD125−) and T helper cells (Th) (CD4+CD25−CD127+). We compared expression in these subsets of VEGFR-1, -2, -3, and NRP-1 and -2 using flow cytometry and quantitative RT-PCR, and NRP-1 splice isoforms by RT-PCR using isoform-specific primers. We were not able to identify any NRP-1 expression in Tregs by any of these methods. In contrast, there was marked differential expression of VEGFR-2 (Flk-1) and -3 (Flt-4), both of which exhibited up to 16-fold higher expression in Tregs than in Th. These findings suggest a role for VEGF in recruiting Tregs to sites of tissue growth as a mechanism for blunting potential autoimmunity to neoexpressed antigens, and thus may also explain the accumulation of Tregs in tumors.
The best laid plans: Educational innovation in elementary teacher generated integrated STEM lesson plans

ABSTRACTStudents need to be prepared for the 21st century by developing the literacy skills necessary for participating in the age of synthesis—an age that requires a progressive set of skills and knowledge. The authors identified nine educational innovations that are perceived to be effective for preparing students for the 21st century age of synthesis society. They coded a collection of 39 teacher-generated Grade 3–5 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lesson plans to document the extent to which the teachers included these nine educational innovations their STEM lesson planning. The authors found practices such as project-based and student-centered learning (which are common established approaches to teaching STEM) to be strongly represented in the plans, whereas practices such as family involvement and place-based learning (which have not been traditionally used in STEM instruction) were less evident in the plans. In their discussion they explore the implications for STEM teaching...
Effect of the Abdominal Hollowing and Bracing Maneuvers on Activity Pattern of the Lumbopelvic Muscles During Prone Hip Extension in Subjects With or Without Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of abdominal hollowing (AH) and abdominal bracing (AB) maneuvers on the activity pattern of lumbopelvic muscles during prone hip extension (PHE) in participants with or without nonspecific chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods Twenty women with or without CLBP participated in this cross-sectional observational study. The electromyographic activity (amplitude and onset time) of the contralateral erector spinae (CES), ipsilateral erector spinae (IES), gluteus maximus, and biceps femoris muscles was measured during PHE with and without abdominal maneuvers. A 3-way mixed model analysis of variance and post hoc tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Between-group comparisons showed that the CES onset delay during PHE alone was greater ( P = .03) and the activity level of IES, CES, and biceps femoris in all maneuvers ( P P = .01) and CES ( P = .02) muscles. In participants with CLBP, IES muscle AMP was lower during PHE + AH compared with PHE + AB and PHE alone. With regard to onset delay, the results also showed no significant difference between maneuvers within either of the 2 groups ( P > .05). Conclusions Performance of the AH maneuver decreased the erector spinae muscle AMP in both groups, and neither maneuver altered the onset delay of any of the muscles in either group. The low back pain group showed higher levels of activity in all muscles (not statistically significant in gluteus maximus during all maneuvers). The groups were similar according to the onset delay of any of the muscles during either maneuver.
Characterizing motility dynamics in human RPE cells

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are vital to health of the outer retina, however, are often compromised in ageing and ocular diseases that lead to blindness. Early manifestation of RPE disruption occurs at the cellular level, but while in vivo biomarkers at this scale hold considerable promise, RPE cells have proven extremely challenging to image in the living human eye. Recently we addressed this problem by using organelle motility as a novel contrast agent to enhance the RPE cell in conjunction with 3D resolution of adaptive optics-optical coherence tomography (AO-OCT) to section the RPE layer. In this study, we expand on the central novelty of our method – organelle motility – by characterizing the dynamics of the motility in individual RPE cells, important because of its direct link to RPE physiology. To do this, AO-OCT videos of the same retinal patch were acquired at approximately 1 min intervals or less, time stamped, and registered in 3D with sub-cellular accuracy. Motility was quantified by an exponential decay time constant, the time for motility to decorrelate the speckle field across an RPE cell. In two normal subjects, we found the decay time constant to be just 3 seconds, thus indicating rapid motility in normal RPE cells.
Spatializing and Materializing the Teaching of Muslim Issues in U.S. Undergraduate Geography Courses

This research note is a sympathetic response to Ronald Runeric, “A Strategy for Approaching the Sensitive Topic of Islamic Fundamentalism in Cultural Geography Courses for American Undergraduates,” The Arab World Geographer 14(4), 2011. Using Runeric's emphasis on analogy as a teaching strategy, we point out a limitation and then show how it can be redeployed effectively by contextualizing Muslim practices and focusing on their materiality. We want to suggest that by contextualizing and materializing concepts such as fundamentalism, otherness, and terrorism, for example, we build students’ ability to critique the problem of stereotyping that more generalized treatments leave unaddressed. We provide two alternative analogical approaches that have been effective classroom models.
Born Poor? Racial Diversity, Inequality, and the American Pipeline:

The authors examine racial disparities in infants’ exposure to economic disadvantage at the family and local area levels. Using data from the 2008–2014 files of the American Community Survey, the a...
Testing Urey's carbonate–silicate cycle using the calcium isotopic composition of sedimentary carbonates

Abstract Carbonate minerals constitute a major component of the sedimentary geological record and an archive of a fraction of the carbon and calcium cycled through the Earth's surface reservoirs for over three billion years. For calcium, carbonate minerals constitute the ultimate sink for almost all calcium liberated during continental and submarine weathering of silicate minerals. This study presents >500 stable isotope ratios of calcium in Precambrian carbonate sediments, both limestones and dolomites, in an attempt to characterize the isotope mass balance of the sedimentary carbonate reservoir through time. The mean of the dataset is indistinguishable from estimates of the calcium isotope ratio of bulk silicate Earth, consistent with the Urey cycle being the dominant mechanism exchanging calcium among surface reservoirs. The variability in bulk sediment calcium isotope ratios within each geological unit does not reflect changes in the global calcium cycle, but rather highlights the importance of local mineralogical and/or diagenetic effects in the carbonate record. This dataset demonstrates the potential for calcium isotope ratios to help assess these local effects, such as the former presence of aragonite, even in rocks with a history of neomorphism and recrystallization. Additionally, 29 calcium isotope measurements are presented from ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) Site 801 that contribute to the characterization of altered oceanic crust as an additional sink for calcium, and whose distinct isotopic signature places a limit on the importance of this subduction flux over Earth history.
Equal Justice: Examining the Effects of Citizenship, Documentation Status, and Country of Origin on Carceral Punishment Across Federal Districts

Empirical analysis of the disproportionate application of carceral punishment has traditionally targeted race and class inequality while omitting noncitizens as a systematically disadvantaged popul...