cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Readmissions to Different Hospitals after Common Surgical Procedures and Consequences for Implementation of Perioperative Surgical Home Programs

BACKGROUND:We consider whether there should be greater priority of information sharing about postacute surgical resources used: (1) at skilled nursing facilities or inpatient rehabilitation hospitals to which patients are transferred upon discharge (when applicable) versus (2) at different hospitals
Epithelial integrity and cell division: Concerted cell cycle control.

Epithelia are uniformly polarized cell layers held together by specialized adhesion complexes. As the first level of multicellular order to develop during embryonic development, epithelia represent...
Response to Beyond the burn: psychosocial factors as well as inflammation moderate depression in psoriasis.

We read the letter to the editor by HS Butt and ST Butt titled “Beyond the burn: psychosocial factors as well as inflammation moderate depression in psoriasis,” which was written in response to our review titled, “Depression and suicidality in psoriasis: review of the literature including the cytokine theory of depression.” This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Matters of Dwelling: Releasing the Genetically Engineered Aedes Aegypti Mosquito in Key West

In 2011, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District’s (FKMCD) proposed to release a genetically engineered Aedes aegypti mosquito to fight the spread of dengue fever and chikungunya. This would be ...
Leveraging advanced predictive analytics to assess commercial cooling load in the U.S.

Abstract Commercial buildings account for over one-third of total electricity consumption and a significant fraction of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Commercial cooling load has significantly increased, with all its concomitant adverse environmental consequences. Characterizing the key drivers of cooling demand is critical for devising effectual policies to enhance operational management of commercial buildings. In this paper, we leveraged statistical and machine learning algorithms to identify the key predictors of cooling demand intensity, using the EIA CBECS data (2003, 2012). We compared consumption patterns over the two years to infer how cooling load has evolved. We found that while the mean and median values of demand intensity have increased modestly since the early 2000’s; there has been an extremely steep increase in maximum usage-intensity over that period. Moreover, demand intensity has increased more rapidly as a function of non-climatic conditions in 2012 relative to 2003. At a macro-level, our data-driven analysis identified climate and building type as the most important predictors of demand in both years. Food services and in-patient health care units were identified as the most energy intensive building types, with higher intensity in 2012 compared to 2003. Moreover, the South was found to have the highest demand, with higher intensity in 2012 relative to 2003.
AIR-BREATHING FISHES | The Biology, Diversity, and Natural History of Air-Breathing Fishes: An Introduction

The broad phyletic distribution of air breathing among bony fishes, the diversity of this group’s aerial-respiratory specializations, and the diverse ways that bimodal breathing has permeated the natural history of many species provide an important comparative perspective on the evolution and biological significance of this adaptation. The long-term view of fish air breathing emphasizes its importance in the evolutionary transition to vertebrate terrestriality; a key role in this process was played by the fishes which were the first air-breathing vertebrates. On the other hand, air breathing in most extant fishes has not led to terrestriality. Rather, auxiliary air breathing, which has evolved independently in many groups, enables a species to remain in or to exploit an aquatic habitat from which it would otherwise be excluded.
Multi-outcome Modeling and Decisions for Anesthesia Patients

This paper studies the problem of real-time monitoring, diagnosing, and predicting multiple outcomes of anesthesia patients. Anesthesia drugs have impact on multiple outcomes of an anesthesia patient. Most typical outcomes include anesthesia depth, blood pressures, heart rates, etc. Traditional diagnosis and control in anesthesia focus on a one-drug-one-outcome scenario. Our results show that consideration of multiple outcomes is necessary and beneficial for anesthesia managements.
Wind-induced increases in trophic state characteristics of a large (27 km 2), shallow (1.5 m mean depth) Florida lake

Nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations in Lake Newnan (27 km2, mean depth 1.5 m), Florida showed dramatic increases from 1991 to 1998. Historical data showed Lake Newnan never had sufficient aquatic macrophyte abundance for a shift in alternate stable states to account for increases in trophic state characteristics. External phosphorus and nitrogen loads from incoming streams were monitored from August 1997 to July 1998 to determine if external supplies of nutrients were responsible for increases in lake nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations. During the study period, external nutrient loading rates were not correlated to lake nutrient concentrations. Phosphorus and nitrogen models based on the external loading estimates predicted the lake total phosphorus and total nitrogen concentrations to be 370% and 680% less, respectively, than the observed lake total phosphorus and total nitrogen mean concentrations. Consequently, phosphorus and nitrogen exports were 280% and 540% greater, respectively, than stream input loading. Data during the study period revealed strong inverse relations between lake stage and total phosphorus (r=−0.78), total nitrogen (r=−0.71), and chlorophyll (r=−0.90) concentrations. Long-term data (1965–1998) also revealed inverse correlations (r=−0.48 to −0.52) between lake stage and total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll concentrations. Applying fundamental wave theory and using a bathymetric map, it is probable that as much as 70% of the lake bottom sediment could be subjected to resuspension 50% of the time when the lake stage falls below 19.9 m mean sea level (msl). Above a lake stage of 19.90 m msl, less than 20% of the lake bottom sediment can potentially be resuspended 50% of the time. A percent frequency distribution from 1991 to 1998 showed that over 30% of the lake stages fell below 19.9 m msl. However, from 1967 to 1990, only 8% of the lake stage values fell below 19.9 m msl. Increases in total phosphorus, total nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations in Lake Newnan were likely caused by an increased probability of internal loading due to decreased lake levels, and not to external loading of phosphorus and nitrogen.
A Compact Intrinsically Switchable Filter Bank Employing Multifunctional Ferroelectric BST

This paper presents an intrinsically switchable and frequency reconfigurable FBAR filter based on ferroelectric barium strontium titanate (BST). Ferroelectric BST possesses elec-tric-field-induced piezoelectricity, enabling the design of voltage controlled thin film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs). In this paper, a triple band switchable filter bank consisting of three 1.5 stage filters based on BST FBARs is designed, fabricated. The bandpass filters have center frequencies of 1.78, 1.89, and 1.96 GHz and can be selected solely upon the external DC bias voltage applied to each filter. The footprint of the presented filter bank is notably small (an area of 0.055 mm2), due to the integration of both switching and filtering functionalities onto a single device.
The Myopic Property in Decision Models

We examine conditions under which decisions made in isolation provide an optimal strategy for the multiperiod problem. We focus on investment decisions with constant returns to scale. We first cons...
Elements of Optics

This introduction is a brief treatment of the concepts and tools of optics encountered in the following chapters. Standard textbooks on optics can be consulted for more information. The wave theory of light is sufficient to explain all the characteristics of moire. In what follows, we will describe a model of light consistent with the wave theory. A parallel beam of light propagating in the z direction is depicted at a given instant as a train of regularly spaced disturbances that vary with z as $$A = a\cos 2\pi \frac{z}{\lambda }$$ (2.1)
An Intelligent Approach to Detect Actuator Signal Errors Based on Remnant Filter

Linear electro-mechanical actuators are commonly found in a variety of critical dynamic systems including hazardous robotic applications and various aerospace applications, and are specifically designed on the basis of required operating functional parameters. The performance of electro-mechanical actuators significantly affects the performance of overall system. This paper works to improve the reliability of linear electro-mechanical actuators through analytical redundancy for critical applications. A fault diagnostic algorithm is designed based on dynamic mathematical model and a remnant filter is implemented to detect actuator faults. The remnant filter generates residual signal proportional to the induced fault. Fault detection thresholds are set and decision logic is established to compare residual signal with the lower and upper threshold constants. This designed diagnostic filter is tested experimentally on a fault diagnostic testing setup and results of designed model have been validated.
Evaluating line-broadening factors on a reference spectrum as a bucketing method for NMR based metabolomics.

Abstract Metabolomics based nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is widely used in disease mechanism analysis and drug discovery. One of the most important factors in NMR based metabolomics study is the accuracy of spectra bucketing which plays a critical role in data interpretation. Though various methods have been developed for automatic bucketing, the most popular approach is still the traditional rectangular bucketing method which is mainly due to the requirement of user expertise for the automatic bucketing methods. In this study, we developed a new automatic bucketing method that not only efficiently increases peak bucketing accuracy but also allows the bucketing process to be conveniently visualized and adjusted by the end-users. This method applied the line broadening (lb) factor to the average spectrum for a study set which serves as the reference spectrum, and the peak width of the reference spectrum was then set as the peak bucketing pattern. The approach to pick the bucket boundaries is simple but powerful after the line broadening factor was applied. The line broadening factors from 0 to 2 lb were tested using mouse fecal samples and the 1 lb method showed similar peak patterns and data interpretation results compared with a careful manual bucketing pattern. Besides this, the new method generated bucketing patterns could be easily visualized using the Amix software and revised by general users without excessive data science and NMR instrumentation expertise. In summary, our study showed a powerful and convenient tool in NMR peak auto bucketing with flexible visualization and adjustment ability for metabolomics studies.
Visual acuity and progression of macular atrophy in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF for age-related macular degeneration:

Purpose:Whether intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) cause retinal atrophy is still a subject of debate. We reported 13 eyes that received several injections of anti-VEGF f...
Design and Implementation of an Organic to Analytical CURE Sequence

This paper describes the design and implementation of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) sequence in chemistry that links a lower-division, organic chemistry course to an upper-division, analytical chemistry course. The focus of student research is on blood preservation using trehalose derivatives in order to mimic the tardigrade, a microscopic extremophile, which produces sugar molecules to survive desiccation and freezing. Students created a library of modified sugar molecules in the organic CURE and then evaluated the behavior of those molecules within membranes in the analytical CURE. The CURE sequence has been run with three student cohorts which were selected to match the demographics of all students in the course. This article details the student selection process, the course design, the faculty implementation, and revisions. Fidelity of the CURE is demonstrated with survey results. We also describe adaptation of the research courses to accommodate the COVID-19 restrictions.
Subleading corrections in N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 3 Gaiotto-Tomasiello theory

We study subleading corrections to the genus-zero free energy of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 3 Gaiotto-Tomasiello theory. In general, we obtain the endpoints and free energy as a set of parametric equations via contour integrals of the planar resolvent, up to exponentially suppressed corrections. In the particular case that the two gauge groups in the quiver are of equal rank, we find an explicit (perturbative) expansion for the free energy. If, additionally, both groups have equal levels, then we find the full expression for the genus-zero free energy, modulo exponentially suppressed corrections. We also verify our results numerically.
Response of Macular Capillary Blood Flow to Changes in Intraocular Pressure as Measured by the Blue Field Simulation Technique

The effect of induced elevations of intraocular pressure on the velocity of the leukocytes in the macular capillaries was studied in six normal subjects using a suction cup to elevate the intraocular pressure (IOP). Subjects were studied over a range of intraocular pressures from baseline to 45 mm Hg. The velocity of the leukocytes was measured using a computer simulation of the Blue Field Entoptic Phenomenon. The subjects compared and matched the speed of simulated particles displayed on a CRT screen to that of their own entoptically perceived leukocytes.
Mining Sensor Data Streams

In recent years, advances in hardware technology have facilitated new ways of collecting data continuously. One such application is that of sensor data, which may continuously monitor large amounts of data for storage and processing. In this paper, we will discuss the general issues which arise in mining large amounts of sensor data. In many cases, the data patterns may evolve continuously, as a result of which it is necessary to design the mining algorithms effectively in order to account for changes in underlying structure of the data stream. This makes the solutions of the underlying problems even more difficult from an algorithmic and computational point of view. In this chapter we will provide an overview of the problem of data stream mining and the unique challenges that data stream mining poses to different kinds of sensor applications.
Building Legislative Coalitions for Free Trade in Asia: Globalization as Legislation

Part I. Building Open Economy Coalitions: 1. Optimal use of pork, policy, and institutional reforms Part II. Empirical Evidence: 2. Use of pork as side-payment 3. Pro-loser policy during hard times 4. Helping losers survive elections: use of institutional reforms 5. Japanese legislators in rival regions 6. Thai legislators' position-taking on foreign retail investment Part III. Discussion: 7. Globalization as legislation: discussion.
The carbohydrate moiety of bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease.

Abstract Preceding experiments by Price and his associates establish that bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease is a glycoprotein which contains glucosamine and mannose. In order to determine the mode of attachment of the carbohydrate to the enzyme molecule, chromatographically purified deoxyribonuclease has been digested with Pronase. Gel filtration of the digest yielded a fraction containing all of the carbohydrate in association with a mixture of the dipeptide and tetrapeptide sequences Ser-Asp and Ser-Asp-Ala-Thr. Removal of serine by the Edman degradation demonstrated that all of the carbohydrate is in association with aspartic acid. Analyses of the glycopeptides showed 1 residue of ammonia, 2 residues of glucosamine, and 5 of mannose to be present per residue of aspartic acid. Since only 2 residues of glucosamine (assumed to occur as the N-acetyl derivative) are present in the parent molecule, it is concluded that the saccharide moiety is attached at a single position on the enzyme and through an aspartamido-hexose linkage.
Salt marsh–atmosphere exchange of energy, water vapor, and carbon dioxide: Effects of tidal flooding and biophysical controls

[1] The degree to which short-duration, transient floods modify wetland-atmosphere exchange of energy, water vapor, and carbon dioxide (CO2) is poorly documented despite the significance of flooding in many wetlands. This study explored the effects of transient floods on salt marsh–atmosphere linkages. Eddy flux, micrometeorological, and other field data collected during two tidal phases (daytime versus nighttime high tides) quantified the salt marsh radiation budget, surface energy balance, and CO2 flux. Analysis contrasted flooded and nonflooded and day and night effects. The salt marsh surface energy balance was similar to that of a heating-dominated sparse crop during nonflooded periods but similar to that of an evaporative cooling-dominated, well-watered grassy lawn during flooding. Observed increases in latent heat flux and decreases in net ecosystem exchange during flooding were proportional to flood depth and duration, with complete CO2 flux suppression occurring above some flood height less than the canopy height. Flood-induced changes in the salt marsh energy balance were dominated by changes in sensible heat flux, soil heat flux, and surface water heat storage. Parameters suitable for predicting the salt marsh surface energy balance were obtained by calibrating common models (e.g., Penman-Monteith, Priestley-Taylor, and pan coefficient). Biophysical controls on salt marsh–atmosphere exchange were identified following calibration of models describing the coupling of canopy photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in the salt marsh. The effects of flooding on salt marsh–atmosphere exchange are temporary but strongly affect the marsh water, carbon, and energy balance despite their short duration.
Does change in minority and women's representation on television matter?: a 30-year study of television portrayals and social tolerance

Increases in substantive portrayals of working women, racial groups, and sexual minorities on television are a common explanation for some of the observed increase in social tolerance over the last...
An Investigation of Methane Combustion in a Rectangular Shaped Meso Chamber

Hydrocarbon-based miniature power generators are promising any many application since hydrocarbon based fuels have higher power densities compared to conventional lithium batteries. A 40mm long meso-combustor of two different configurations, two-inlet and three-inlet, were used to investigate the combustion of methane in the meso-chamber. A non-premixed combustion of methane and oxygen was simulated numerically using a steady laminar flamelet model. The mesh generation and the CFD simulation were performed using ANSYS FLUENT software. A a finite volume approach was used for the simulation. The fuel-oxidizer mixing, thermal behavior and fuel burning efficiency were studied. An adequate mixing that supports the combustion was observed in certain locations. The exhaust gas was analyzed experimentally. The temperature distributions were also observed to predict the flame locations. According to the numerical analysis it was apparent that the flame would be anchored in the well mixed regions of the chamber the flames were found to be attached in two distinct locations. One in the upstream zone and the other one in the downstream zone. Another important finding was that the fuel lean condition produced higher efficiency than the fuel rich condition.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Atropos: a disk array volume manager for orchestrated use of disks

The Atropos logical volume manager allows applications to exploit characteristics of its underlying collection of disks. It stripes data in track-sized units and explicitly exposes the boundaries, allowing applications to maximize efficiency for sequential access patterns even when they share the array. Further, it supports efficient diagonal access to blocks on adjacent tracks, allowing applications to orchestrate the layout and access to two-dimensional data structures, such as relational database tables, to maximize performance for both row-based and column-based accesses.
Cerebral Blood Flow during Meditative Prayer: Preliminary Findings and Methodological Issues:

Meditative practices typically require several coordinated cognitive activities. This study measured changes in cerebral blood flow during "verbal" based meditation by Franciscan nuns involving the internal repetition of a particular phrase. These results are compared with those we previously described in eight Buddhist meditators who use a type of "visualization" technique. Three experienced practitioners of verbal meditation were injected via i.v. at rest with 260 MBq of Tc-99m HMPAO and scanned 30 min. later on a triple head SPECT camera for 45 min. Following the baseline scan, subjects meditated for approximately 40 min. at which time they were injected with 925 MBq of HMPAO while they continued to meditate for 10 min. more (total of 50 min. of meditation). The injection during meditation was designed not to disturb practice. Subjects were scanned 20 min. later for 30 min. Counts were obtained for regions of interest for major brain structures and normalized to whole-brain blood flow. Compared to baseline, mean verbal meditation scans showed increased blood flow in the prefrontal cortex (7.1%), inferior parietal lobes (6.8%), and inferior frontal lobes (9.0%). There was a strong inverse correlation between the blood flow, change in the prefrontal cortex and in the ipsilateral superior parietal lobe (p<.01). This study on a limited number of subjects demonstrated the feasibility of studying different types of meditation with neuroimaging techniques, suggested that several coordinated cognitive processes occur during meditation, and also raised important methodological issues.
A Primer on the Budget of the European Community

The integration of twelve Western European countries into a single market in 1992 will make the European Community (EC) a major force in world affairs. To familiarize the reader with the EC, this article examines the EC budget-how is it prepared, what it includes, and how it is financed. Some selected comparisons with U.S. institutions and processes are also offered in order to facilitate understanding.
Ab Initio Studies of the Antiviral Drug 1-(2-Fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-arabinofuranosyl) thymine

AbstractThe antiviral drug 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-arabinofuranosyl) thymine (FMAU) exhibits a high therapeutic index against a number of herpesviruses. As with other drugs which are nucleoside analogs, such as 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-ara-binofuranosyl)-5-iodocytosine and others, the activity seems to be strongly related to the presence of a fluorine atom in the sugar moiety, in the arabino position. Theoretical calculations, using quantum-chemical methods, are used to elucidate the role of the fluorine in the arabino position and to provide information about the sugar puckering. The results seem to indicate that the fluorine atom prevents the rotation of the base around the sugar-base bond, locking it into an anti structure (Fig. 2 A3) which might be related to its exposure to enzymatic attack. The sugar study confirms the endo position (above the plane) of the C'2 carbon as opposed to the endo position of the C'3 carbon.
Funding the future: setting our S&T priorities

Abstract Science and technology are often linked in the budget process. However, science and technology have different roles in the creation of a concept and the development of a useable product or discovery.The US government’s funding priorities establish the pathway for future research and development which, in turn, will impact the course of our society and culture. Non-defense research and development funding in the current presidential budget request has decreased in the budgets of seven out of ten of the major agencies that fund science and technology. The budget request generally shows a bias toward medical research at the expense of supporting physical sciences. Even the National Institutes of Health budget, which has increased significantly over the last three years, demonstrates a bias in funding for a few diseases that have captured the public’s attention at the expense of other critical research. Funding must be far-sighted and balanced to attract the future researchers and technicians that will invigorate scientific and technological advances.
Abstract 3303: Engineering of highly controlledin vitroco-culture model to study the mesenchymal stem cells mediated signaling in breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) mediated signaling in breast cancer cells (BCCs) are critical for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. The mutual interactions between tumor cells and MSCs via direct contact or paracrine interaction through the recruitment of growth factors, cytokines and chemokines are thought to modulate tumor growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Therefore, the cell-cell interactions that control the behaviour of cancer cells are targets with as much potential for the development of effective therapies as the tumor cells themselves. To this end, co-culture of BCCs with MSCs is critical to understand the role of MSCs on breast cancer progression. However, establishing co-culture of these cells with BCCs is challenging as the variation in culture condition can compromise the viability and functionality of co-cultured cells. In the present study, we have developed an in vitro co-culture method for controlling the interaction of BCCs with MSCs using biocompatible synthetic materials. We used cationic and anionic polymers to create stable and consistent surfaces. After that, these polymers were screened for the selective adhesion of cells, to create the patterned co-culture of BCCs and MSCs. Unlike other synthetic and natural polymers, one of the greatest advantages of screened polymers is that they are biologically inactive material for BCCs and MSCs cells, thus, do not alter the gene or protein expression profile of BCCs and MSCs. Therefore, the results obtained using this method provide true interaction of BCCs with MSCs in co-culture system without interference of interaction of cells with matrix. In addition, the in vitro co-culture model established in this study provides advantage on random co-culture by spatially organise cells in definite patterns, thereby, controlling the number and interaction of BCCs with MSCs. Also, provides an opportunity to study direct (through E-cadherin) and indirect (through cytokines) interaction in a single system which is important to study collective response of interaction BCCs and MSCs on breast cancer biology. After established co-culture model, we investigated MSCs mediated signaling in BCCs. qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunostaining data suggested that MSCs induce the expression of oncogene, increased proliferation of BCCs and up or downregulate the gene related to the drug resistance. Citation Format: Amita Daverey, Allison Drain, Karleen Crone, Srivatsan Kidambi. Engineering of highly controlled in vitro co-culture model to study the mesenchymal stem cells mediated signaling in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3303. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3303
Unipolar depression does not moderate responses to the Sweet Taste Test.

Background The Sweet Taste Test (STT) measures hedonic responses to sweet tastes and has been linked to both alcoholism and to a family history of alcoholism. However, STT response profiles in unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD), a disorder characterized by anhedonia, have been minimally investigated.
Bidirectional subwavelength slit splitter for THz surface plasmons

We have conducted a feasibility study of a frequency splitter operating at THz frequencies, based on a bidirectional subwavelength slit simulated using two-dimensional finite difference time domain (FDTD) techniques. The near-field wave emanating from the narrow slit serves as a subwavelength-scaled excitation source. By placing two optimized grating structures on the opposite sides of the slit, the THz waves at different frequencies are guided in the two desired directions. Confinement of the optical field is illustrated for different surface structures.
Applicability of Smolyak's algorithms to certain banach spaces of multivariate functions

We investigate the applicability of Smolyak's algorithm to tensor product problems on certain Banach spaces of multivariate functions. First, we show that the algorithm can be efficiently used for the integration problem on these function classes. For approximation problems on the Sobolev space W1,γr1,...,rd we prove that the algorithm is applicable as well; the range spaces can be any Banach spaces of functions, provided that the tensor product of these spaces is natural. On the other hand, if the range spaces are the univariate smooth function classes Cγkrk, the same conclusion can be drawn for approximation problems on any natural tensor products of Banach spaces of functions. Applications are illustrated for the integration problem on Wpr1,...,rd([0, 1]d).
Regulation of Carbonate Calcification by Organic Matrix

The organic matrix of calcium carbonate structures can be involved in the formation of the biomineral by regulating various stages of crystal growth. The preponderance of evidence suggests that matrix can act as an initiator of crystal growth at the mineralizing front. The mechanism for this initiation is not known. However, the matrix may provide a template for the crystal lattice, or more likely, a surface that can simply stabilize the critical nucleus of calcium and carbonate. The degree of specialization of the nucleation sites is uncertain; however, they are hypothesized to be a class of soluble, acidic, calcium-binding polymers which are present in matrix extracted from biomineral. Recent studies have revealed that similar soluble components of extracted matrix have the capability of inhibiting nucleation and crystal growth in vitro and biomineralization in organisms exposed to the extracts. Further, crystals grown in vitro in the presence of extracted matrix have a morphology distinct from those of crystals grown without matrix. These findings generally support the hypotheses generated either a priori or from morphological observations which suggest that matrix must limit crystal growth and may well influence structure of biomineral. Hypotheses which explain a dual function of the soluble matrix have these components periodically released to the mineralization front where they can associate with more insoluble forms of matrix and sequentially initiate or inhibit growth. There also exists evidence to suggest that soluble regulatory components are intra-crystalline in orientation and thus may be released continuously
HEURISTIC VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION USING INDUCTIVE SIGNATURES ON FREEWAYS

Vehicle classification is the process of separating vehicles according to various predefined classes. Vehicle-classification information can be used in many transportation applications, including road maintenance, emissions/pollution estimation, traffic modeling and simulation, traffic safety, and toll setting. An example of a classification scheme using the following seven vehicle classes is presented: cars, sport-utility vehicles/ pickups, vans, limousines, buses, two-axle trucks, and trucks with more than two axles. This system uses vehicle inductive signatures collected from existing loop-detector infrastructure. It also uses a heuristic-discriminant algorithm for classification and a multi-objective optimization for training the heuristic algorithm. Feature vectors obtained by processing inductive signatures are used as inputs into the classification algorithm. Three different heuristic algorithms were developed, yielding encouraging results of 81 to 91 percent overall classification rates. The resul...
Security constrained optimization for power systems

Secure power system operation is obtained, to a large extent, by on-line monitoring of the system assessing its security, and providing control action to improve its security level. Traditionally, the economy of system operation was the overriding factor. By combining economy with security, the problem becomes quite complex from the points of view of: (a) Methodology of security assessment (b) Overall objectives of system optimization, and (c) Computational feasibility for on-line analysis. In this paper, an overview of the application of optimization theory to this problem is examined. A critical analysis of a selected subset of methodologies is provided.
Empirical research on moral distress: issues, challenges, and opportunities.

Studying a concept as complex as moral distress is an ongoing challenge for those engaged in empirical ethics research. Qualitative studies of nurses have illuminated the experience of moral distress and widened the contours of the concept, particularly in the area of root causes. This work has led to the current understanding that moral distress can arise from clinical situations, factors internal to the individual professional, and factors present in unit cultures, the institution, and the larger health care environment. Corley et al. (2001) was the first to publish a quantitative measure of moral distress, and her scale has been adapted for use by others, including studies of other disciplines (Hamric and Blackhall 2007; Schwenzer and Wang 2006). Other scholars have proposed variations on Jameton’s core definition (Sporrong et al. 2006, 2007), developing measures for related concepts such as moral sensitivity (Lutzen et al. 2006), ethics stress (Raines 2000), and stress of conscience (Glasberg et al. 2006). The lack of consistency and consensus on the definition of moral distress considerably complicates efforts to study it. Increased attention by researchers in disciplines other than nursing has taken different forms, some problematic. Cultural differences in the role of the nurse and understanding of actions that represent threats to moral integrity also challenge efforts to build a cohesive research-based understanding of the concept. In this paper, research efforts to date are reviewed. The importance of capturing root causes of moral distress in instruments, particularly those at unit and system levels, to allow for interventions to be appropriately targeted is highlighted. In addition, the issue of studying moral distress and interaction over time with moral residue is discussed. Promising recent work is described along with the potential these approaches open for research that can lead to interventions to decrease moral distress. Finally, opportunities for future research and study are identified, and recommendations for moving the research agenda forward are offered.
Differential activation of amygdala Arc expression by positive and negatively valenced emotional learning conditions

Norepinephrine is released in the amygdala following negatively arousing learning conditions. This event initiates a cascade of changes including the transcription of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) expression, an early-immediate gene associated with memory encoding. Recent evidence suggests that the valence of emotionally laden encounters may generate lateralized, as opposed to symmetric release of this transmitter in the right or left amygdala. It is currently not clear if valence-induced patterns of selective norepinephrine output across hemispheres are also reproduced in downstream pathways of cellular signaling necessary for memory formation. This question was addressed by determining if Arc expression is differentially distributed across the right and left amygdala following exposure to positively or negatively valenced learning conditions respectively. Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to groups exposed to the Homecage only, five auditory tones only, or five auditory tones paired with footshock (0.35 mA) during Pavlovian fear conditioning. Western blot analysis revealed that Arc expression in the right amygdala was elevated significantly above that observed in the left amygdala 60 and 90 min following fear conditioning. Similarly, subjects exposed to a negatively valenced outcome consisting of an unexpected reduction in food rewards showed a greater level of Arc expression in only the right, but not left basolateral amygdala. Presenting a positively valenced event involving an unexpected increase in food reward magnitude following bar pressing, resulted in significantly greater Arc expression in the left, but not right basolateral amygdala (p < 0.01). These findings indicate that the valence of emotionally arousing learning conditions is reflected at later stages of synaptic plasticity involving the transcription of immediate early genes such as Arc.
An exposition of the material derivative approach for structural shape sensitivity analysis

Abstract The material derivative approach for structural shape design sensitivity analysis is described in a unified manner using the continuum formulation. Both the direct differentiation and adjoint methods are derived and computer implementation aspects are discussed. The basic purpose of the paper is to present the shape design sensitivity analysis as an application of the material derivative concept of continuum mechanics, and the calculus of variation procedures for taking variations of integrals over the variable domains. It is also shown that the use of a recently developed variational principle for design sensitivity analysis greatly simplifies derivation of the adjoint method. The indicial notation is used and expressions derived by different authors are related to each other. A basic understanding of the material derivative approach of shape sensitivity analysis has been gained which can lead to insights for computer implementations of the method.
Repair of major defect of the upper extremity with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap: a case report

Summary The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was first used by Tansini in 1896 and in recent years has been increasingly used for a wide range of surgical reconstructions, particularly as a free flap transfer. We report a case in which an extensive defect of the left arm and shoulder was resurfaced with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap prior to orthopaedic reconstruction of a large defect in the humeral shaft.
Utilizing GDSS technology: final report on a recent empirical study

Abstract In recent years, Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) technology has attracted considerable research interest. Proponents argue that GDSS can improve group decisions by supporting face-to-face conferencing, remote site teleconferencing, and remote/local computer conferencing. Emerging capabilities in telecommunications technology have enhanced these prospects. A survey of 135 randomly-selected organizations determined that GDSS are gradually being incorporated into the organization's information system (IS) portfolio. Apparently organizations are increasing their commitment to GDSS and current implementations are heaviest in the remote/ local computer conferencing arena, especially in electronic mail. A factor analysis of respondent data showed that GDSS usually involves planning, administrative, and data analysis tasks. Usage also varies significantly with certain organizational size variables.
Light in hellas: how German classical philology engendered gay scholarship.

Abstract Beginning in the latter part of the eighteenth century, German classical philology acquired a hegemonic status that made it the envy of scholars in other nations. Among the tasks embraced by this great endeavor was the study of what is known of same-sex behavior in ancient Greece. Remarkably, the German philologists chose to present their findings straight for wardly in modern German, accessible to every educated reader. The deposit of this inquiry is the basis of our contemporary knowledge of ancient Greek homo sexuality. Moreover, by providing models of homosexual behavior that were more positive than those prevalent in Europe at the time, the research fostered the emergence of the German Gay Movement in 1897.
Stability Analysis of a Computer Controlled Linear Hydraulic Control System

A complex linear hydraulic antenna control system which has a digital computer in the control loop is analyzed. The computer's effect on the system stability is analyzed, and it is shown how approximation techniques can be used to determine the computer sampling rate. These results are compared with results obtained by using z-transform analysis.
Height Gain Measurements at VHF and UHF Behind a Grove of Trees

Results are reported of horizontally polarized signal strength measurements at frequencies of 82, 210, 633, 1280, and 2950 mcps. The measurements were height-gain runs made behind a grove of liveoak and hackberry trees in full leaf. The site was selected so that propagation took place over approximately the same path near the receiver terminal at all frequencies. Measurements were repeated at several distances behind the grove of trees. Theoretical analyses are reported for several assumed cases for comparison with the field measured data. Exceptionally good agreement was found in many cases.
Lead Optimization of Dual Tubulin and Hsp27 Inhibitors

Tubulin and heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) are well-characterized molecular targets for anti-cancer drug development. We previously identified lead compounds that inhibited both Hsp27 and tubulin. These compounds exhibited extensive anti-cancer activities against the proliferation of various human cancer cell lines. In the current study, a systematic ligand based structural optimization led to new analogs that significantly inhibited the growth of a panel of breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the most potent compounds were examined with tubulin polymerization assay and Hsp27 chaperone activity assay. The compounds showed potent tubulin polymerization inhibition but no Hsp27 inhibitory effect. The structural optimization dissected the dual activity and improved the selectivity of the compounds for tubulin. The results revealed several structural moieties of the lead compounds that are critical for Hsp27 inhibition. The modification of these structural fragments eliminated Hsp27 inhibition, but did not harm tubulin-targeting effects of the compounds. This result further defined the structure-activity relationship between the tubulin and Hsp27 effects of these compounds.
The genetics of colored sequence synesthesia: Evidence of linkage to chromosome 16q and genetic heterogeneity for the condition

Synesthesia is a perceptual condition in which normal sensory stimulation can trigger anomalous sensory experiences. For example, synesthetes may experience colors in response to sounds, tastes in response to words, or smells in response to touch. We here focus on colored sequence synesthesia, in which color experiences are triggered by learned ordinal sequences such as letters, numbers, weekdays and months. Although synesthesia has been noted in the scientific literature for over a century, it is understood only at the level of the phenomenology, and not at the molecular and neural levels. We have performed a linkage analysis to identify the first genetic loci responsible for the increased neural crosstalk underlying colored sequence synesthesia. Our analysis has identified a 23 MB region on chromosome 16 as a putative locus for the trait. Our data provide the first step in understanding neural crosstalk from its molecular basis to its behavioral consequences, opening a new inroad into the understanding of the multisensory brain.
Conserved Cues for Axon and Dendrite Growth in the Developing Cortex

The cellular and molecular mechanisms that guide axonal and dendritic differentiation in the cerebral cortex are just beginning to be defined. Many of the molecular signals that guide axons also, and sometimes simultaneously, influence dendritic growth. Whitford et al. (2002 [this issue of Neuron]) demonstrate that in addition to their roles in axon guidance and cell migration cue, Slit proteins can also regulate dendritic growth.
Perioperative Growth Hormone Improves Wound Healing and Immunologic Function in Rats Receiving Adriamycin

Administration of perioperative growth hormone may reverse alterations in wound healing and immunologic function in animals receiving chemotherapy. F344 rats were randomized into three groups : Control (n = 12), Chemo (n = 13), and Chemo + GH (n = 12). Human growth hormone (GH) (3 mg/kg sc bid) was begun on Day 0 and continued for 2 weeks. On Day 7, all animals underwent a standardized midline laparotomy, gastrotomy, and placement of a subcutaneous wound sponge. In addition, a single dose of adriamycin (5 mg/kg iv) was administered to those animals receiving chemotherapy. On Day 12, right hindlimb footpads were challenged with 50 μg of dinitrochlorobenzene. On Day 14, bursting strengths of the laparotomy and gastrotomy were measured. The wound sponge and gastric anastomosis were analyzed for hydroxyproline (OH-Pro) content. Animal spleens were weighed and splenocytes harvested for NK cell activity. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) is reported as percentage of hindlimb foot pad swelling (%FPS). Data are expressed as means ± SD and comparisons by ANOVA. The laparotomy bursting strength (mm Hg) in the Chemo + GH group (81 ± 14) was significantly higher than that in the Chemo group (66 ± 15, P < 0.05). The anastomotic tissue OH-Pro levels (μmole/g dry tissue) in the Chemo + GH group (107.9 ± 15.2) were significantly higher than those in the Chemo group (62.9 ± 8.5, P < 0.001). GH increased splenic weights (mg) over those of Chemo (0.50 ± 0.13 vs 0.37 ± 0.05, P < 0.05). NK cell activity (% killing) was significantly elevated in the Chemo + GH group compared to that in Chemo. DTH (%FPS) was significantly depressed in the Chemo group compared to that in the Chemo + GH group (18 ± 7 vs 28 ± 7, P < 0.05). Perioperative GH attenuates most chemotherapy-induced defects in wound healing and immunologic status. © 1995 Academic Press, Inc.
The effects of topological charge change in heavy ion collisions: “Event by event P and CP violation”

Abstract Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) contains field configurations which can be characterized by a topological invariant, the winding number Q w . Configurations with non-zero Q w break the charge-parity ( CP ) symmetry of QCD. We consider a novel mechanism by which these configurations can separate charge in the presence of a background magnetic field—the “chiral magnetic effect”. We argue that sufficiently large magnetic fields are created in heavy ion collisions so that the chiral magnetic effect causes preferential emission of charged particles along the direction of angular momentum. Since separation of charge is CP -odd, any observation of the chiral magnetic effect could provide a clear demonstration of the topological nature of the QCD vacuum. We give an estimate of the effect and conclude that it might be observed experimentally.