cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What the World Needs Now: A Bold Plan for New Standards

Of the four major forms of capital (human, social, natural, and manufactured/property), three lack systems of standardized, uniform measuring units. Though "you manage what you measure" is a common mantra, myriad incommensurable surveys, tests, and ratings do not provide the quality of measurement needed for effective management. The implication is that over 90% of the capital in the global economy is unmeasured and so is also much more poorly managed than it could be. The rigor and practicality of advanced methods for calibrating tests, surveys, and assessments, for equating them to common metrics, and for adaptively administering them in mass customized applications all point to the viability and feasibility of an Intangible Assets Metrology System. The propagation of standards and values is today a means through which psychologists, sociologists, educators, health care researchers, and environmental quality researchers might reckon they could link their work with technical and economic projects elsewhere in their society. Properly configured instrumental ensembles could let these workers embody values in their laboratory routines that matter in their culture. We can no longer afford the intellectualist condescension of the past that has distracted us from these mundane practices, the technicians who perform them, and the work that makes research results meaningful in the wider world. On the contrary, we are in great need of leaders capable of formulating bold plans for economic revitalization from these complex but big ideas.
Lysozyme sorption by pure-silica zeolite MFI films

Abstract Nanostructured, porous materials, like zeolites, have been suggested as possible materials for biomedical applications in implantable device coatings, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems due to their unique interactions with biomolecules and biological environments. Here, the fundamental sorption interactions between a pure-silica zeolite (MFI) with lysozyme, a positively charged enzyme, are discussed. Lysozyme sorption is considered a model for innate immunological processes in the body; high lysozyme sorption has been correlated with materials that are naturally antibiotic and act as cell guardians. The impact of three different parameters on the sorption of lysozyme was evaluated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and bicinchoninic acid assays (BCA assays), including the orientation of the film’s crystal structure (b-oriented or randomly-oriented), the lysozyme incubation volume (200 μL, 400 μL, 600 μL, 800 μL), and the lysozyme incubation time (1, 6, and 24 h). Additionally, the films were characterized via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. In this work, we demonstrated that MFI films are capable of lysozyme sorption. Further, our observations suggested that, while crystal orientation did not play a significant role in the sorption process, incubation volume and time both impact sorption. The highest amounts of sorbed lysozyme were detected when films were incubated at intermediate volumes (400 and 600 μL) and shorter incubation times. The films’ ability to sorb differing amounts of lysozyme, depending on uptake parameters, make MFI films and coatings tailorable candidates for supports and/or coatings for implantable devices.
The Visibility of Authority Records, Researcher Identifiers, Academic Social Networking Profiles, and Related Faculty Publications in Search Engine Results

AbstractInformation about faculty and their publications can be found in library databases such as the Library of Congress Name Authority File, VIAF, WorldCat, and institutional repositories; in id...
Porphyrins with exocyclic rings. 14. Synthesis of tetraacenaphthoporphyrins, a new family of highly conjugated porphyrins with record-breaking long-wavelength electronic absorptions.

The Soret band for porphyrins is usually observed in the near-ultraviolet at approximately 400 nm, and few examples of “nonexpanded” porphyrins with this major absorption band at values above 500 n...
From Surrogacy to Adoption; From Bitcoin to Cryptocurrency: Debate Topic Expansion

When debating a controversial topic, it is often desirable to expand the boundaries of discussion. For example, we may consider the pros and cons of possible alternatives to the debate topic, make generalizations, or give specific examples. We introduce the task of Debate Topic Expansion - finding such related topics for a given debate topic, along with a novel annotated dataset for the task. We focus on relations between Wikipedia concepts, and show that they differ from well-studied lexical-semantic relations such as hypernyms, hyponyms and antonyms. We present algorithms for finding both consistent and contrastive expansions and demonstrate their effectiveness empirically. We suggest that debate topic expansion may have various use cases in argumentation mining.
Improving Viseme Recognition with GAN-based Muti-view Mapping

Speech recognition technologies in the visual domain currently can only identify words and sentences in still images. Identifying visemes (i.e., the smallest visual units of spoken text) is useful when there are no language models or dictionaries available, which is often the case for languages besides English; however, it is a challenge, as temporal information cannot be extracted. In parallel, previous works demonstrated that exploring data acquired simultaneously under multiple views can improve the recognition accuracy in comparison to single-view data. For many different applications, however, most of the available audio-visual datasets are obtained from a single view, essentially due to acquisition limitations. In this work, we address viseme recognition in still images and explore the synthetic generation of additional views to improve overall accuracy. For that, we use Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) trained with synthetic data and map from mouth images acquired in a single arbitrary view to frontal and side views – in which the face is rotated vertically at approximately 30°, 45°, and 60°. Then, we use a state-of-art Convolutional Neural Network for classifying the visemes and compare its performance when training only with the original single-view images versus training with the additional views artificially generated by the GANs. We run experiments using three audiovisual corpora acquired under different conditions (GRID, AVICAR, and OuluVS2 datasets) and our results indicate that the additional views synthesized by the GANs are able to improve the viseme recognition accuracy on all tested scenarios.
Inductive Thermal Effect of Ferrite Magnetic Nanoparticles

Localized heat induction using magnetic nanoparticles under an alternating magnetic field is an emerging technology applied in areas including, cancer treatment, thermally activated drug release and remote activation of cell functions. To enhance the induction heating efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles, the intrinsic and extrinsic magnetic parameters influencing the heating efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles should be effectively engineered. This review covers the recent progress in the optimization of magnetic properties of spinel ferrite nanoparticles for efficient heat induction. The key materials factors for efficient magnetic heating including size, shape, composition, inter/intra particle interactions are systematically discussed, from the growth mechanism, process control to chemical and magnetic properties manipulation.
Compassionate Presence: YHWH and the Measure of Mercy

It was the rabbis’ challenge to expound YHWH’s biblical meaning. And so they did, by grounding that meaning in a broader hermeneutical approach to Scripture, as well as by articulating its halachic-legal significance. This chapter analyzes the rabbinic hermeneutical decision to identify the name YHWH with the divine measure of mercy (midat ha-rachamim, commonly yet erroneously translated as “attribute of mercy”). Here I trace the meticulous rabbinic effort to set YHWH aside as a privileged name for the divine, above all other biblical and rabbinic appellations. By securing YHWH’s special status, the descriptive choice to identify it with the measure of mercy became an assertion of God’s very nature. Examining the notion of mercy in rabbinic literature, the chapter argues that for the rabbis, God’s nature was understood in dialogical rather than metaphysical terms, and closely linked to divine concern and personhood. The midrash, I argue, fixed YHWH’s meaning as “He who can be addressed and would respond compassionately”.
Development and Validation of the Hospital for Special Surgery Anterior Cruciate Ligament Postoperative Satisfaction Survey.

Purpose To develop and validate a standardized patient satisfaction measurement tool for adult patients undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods A 4-phase iterative process that included item generation and pilot survey development, item reduction, survey readability, and survey validation was used. To develop and validate the Hospital for Special Surgery ACL Satisfaction Survey (HSS ACL-SS), 70 patients were included in the survey development phase and 77 patients were included in the validation phase. The HSS ACL-SS was compared with other currently used ACLR outcome measures including the International Knee Documentation Committee score, Tegner-Lysholm score, Short Form 12 (SF-12) Mental Component Score, and SF-12 Physical Component Score. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and floor and ceiling effects were assessed. Results The HSS ACL-SS consists of 10 items identified by patients as being important for satisfaction after ACLR. In the validation phase, the mean score on the HSS ACL-SS (of 50) among all patients was 37.9 ± 9.9 (range, 10-50). Statistically significant positive correlations were seen between the HSS ACL-SS score and the International Knee Documentation Committee score (r = 0.351, P = .002) and Tegner-Lysholm score (r = 0.333, P = .003). No statistically significant correlation was found between the satisfaction score and the SF-12 Mental or Physical Component Score. The lowest possible score (10 of 50 points) was achieved in 1 patient (1.3%) and the highest possible score (50 of 50 points) was achieved in 7 patients (9.1%), indicating no significant floor or ceiling effects of the instrument. Internal consistency for all 10 items was strong (Cronbach α, 0.995). The mean intraclass correlation coefficient between test and retest responses was 0.701, indicating moderate agreement. Conclusions The HSS ACL-SS is a validated and reliable patient-derived satisfaction measure with excellent psychometric properties for active adults undergoing ACLR. The results of this study show that the HSS ACL-SS may be a useful tool to measure postoperative patient satisfaction. Level of Evidence Level II, development of diagnostic or monitoring criteria in consecutive patients.
A Citation Analysis about Scholarship on Zines

INTRODUCTION Zine scholarship is a relatively new academic field that has emerged since the late 1990’s. Now that two decades have passed since the publication of Stephen Duncombe’s seminal text, Notes From Underground, it is possible to take a landscape view of how and why zine scholars have studied zines in peer-reviewed journal publications. Knowing how scholars have studied zines can teach us about how zines and zine culture have contributed to academic knowledge. We can also learn which subjects are understudied as zine scholars continue to investigate these curious ephemeral print objects. METHODS This study uses citation analysis to uncover how scholars have explored zines and zine culture as objects worthy of academic inquiry between the dates of 1990 and 2018. The purpose of this study is to examine whether (and how) zines have held influence as objects worthy of study over time, to determine which disciplines tend to treat zines as a valuable academic pursuit, and to reveal what subtopics those scholars tend to focus on. RESULTS& DISCUSSION This study analyzes 163 peer-reviewed articles published between 1990 and 2018, and finds that a) scholarly interest in zines has increased steadily and by 1,700% over 28 years; b) that scholars in the fields of Library Science, Education, Feminist Studies, and Media Studies are most likely to study zines; and c) that zine scholars pursue a wide and varied range of subtopics most prominently concentrated in “riot grrrl” studies, “collection development,” “music criticism,” and a suite of articles about aspects of art. More nuanced analysis based on discipline and subtopic are discussed in the findings. CONCLUSION This study makes clear that zines are influential and worthy objects of study, not just as a form of print media, but as educational and pedagogical tools in the classroom, as evidence of activism, political movements, third-wave feminism, cultural critiques, cultural movements, and much more. Future scholars may use this study to build upon more established topics as well as those that are understudied.
Abstract 13508: Left Ventricular Contractile and Kinetic Changes in Failing Human Myocardium Due to Anthracycline Toxicity

Introduction: Anthracyclines are used effectively to treat many cancers. However, cumulative and irreversible cardiotoxicity can limit anthracyclines’ clinical benefit. Mechanisms of cardiotoxicity...
Bamboo Fiber Processing, Properties, and Applications

Bamboo fiber is a cellulosic fiber that is regenerated from bamboo plant. It is a great prospective green fiber with outstanding biodegradable textile material, having strength comparable to conventional glass fibers. Bamboo used for fiber preparation is usually 3–4 years old. Fiber is produced through alkaline hydrolysis and multi-phase bleaching of bamboo stems and leaves followed by chemical treatment of starchy pulp generated during the process. Bamboo fiber has various micro-gaps, which make it softer than cotton and increase its moisture absorption. They are elastic, environment-friendly, and biodegradable. The fiber is bacteriostatic, antifungal, antibacterial, hypoallergenic, hydroscopic, natural deodorizer, and resistant against ultraviolet light. Furthermore, it is highly durable, stable and tough and has substantial tensile strength. Due to its versatile properties, bamboo fibers are used mainly in textile industry for making attires, towels, and bathrobes. Due to its antibacterial nature, it is used for making bandages, masks, nurse wears, and sanitary napkins. UV-proof, antibiotic and bacteriostatic curtains, television covers, and wallpapers and many other things are also prepared from bamboo fibers to lessen the effects of bacteria and harm of ultra violet radiations on human skin. Bamboo fibers are also used for decoration purpose.
When are Commercial Loans Secured

We analyze the factors that influence the decision to secure a commercial loan. We find evidence that variables reflecting adverse selection, moral hazard, and the prospects for default all affect the likelihood a loan will be collateralized. We find no evidence in favor of the predictions of certain theoretical models that high-quality firms signal by providing collateral. Our results also show that lenders with less risk protection in the form of equity capital are more likely to require collateral, but that banks themselves are less likely to secure loans than nonbanks. Certain loan characteristics also influence the collateralization decision.
Sex differences in US emergency department non-fatal visits for benzodiazepine poisonings in adolescents and young adults.

Abstract Background Benzodiazepine (BZD)-related overdose deaths have risen in the past decade and BZD misuse contributes to thousands of emergency department (ED) visits annually, with the highest rates in adolescents and young adults. Because there are gaps in understanding BZD poisoning in youth and whether differences occur by sex, we aimed to characterize BZD poisoning ED visits in young people by sex. Methods BZD poisoning visits were identified in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, among adolescents (12−17 years) and young adults (18−29 years). Stratified by sex and age, we described ED visits for BZD poisonings in 2016, including poisoning intent, concurrent substances involved, and co-occurring mental health disorder diagnoses. With logistic regression we examined the association between intent and concurrent substance. Results There were approximately 38,000 BZD poisoning ED visits by young people nationwide with annual population rates per 10,000 of 2.9=adolescents and 5.8=young adults. Depression was diagnosed in 40 % of female and 23 % of male BZD visits (p Conclusions The high proportion of BZD poisonings that are intentional and include mental health disorder diagnoses, especially among young females, underscore the importance of ED mental health and suicide risk assessment with appropriate follow-up referral.
Strategy Planning Inhibitors

Understanding the effectiveness of strategy planning process in large and small companies in a variety of industries yields seven inhibitors of the strategy planning process. A strategy planning inhibitor is an executive’s behavioral tendency or an element of the strategy process downplaying the role of scientific logic and quantitative analysis that integrates customer needs, operational metrics, and financial outcomes. Inevitably, a strategy planning process that is riddled with inhibitors leads to flawed strategy plans and doomed execution. The inhibitors are illustrated using the case studies, real-world observations from companies, and research-based evidence. A key insight is that the failures from strategy inhibitors cannot be mitigated by smarter decision-making, or through more stakeholder engagement, asking decision makers to de-bias their decision process, conflict management, or thoughtfulness.
US3 Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase from MDV-1, MDV-2, and HVT Differentially Regulate Viral Gene Expression and Replication.

Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2), commonly known as Marek’s disease virus type 1 (MDV-1), is an oncogenic avian alphaherpesvirus, and along with its close relatives—Gallid alphaherpesvirus 3 (GaHV-3) or MDV-2 and Meleagrid alphaherpesvirus 1 (MeHV-1) or turkey herpesvirus (HVT)—belongs to the Mardivirus genus. We and others previously showed that MDV-1 US3 protein kinase plays an important role in viral replication and pathogenesis, which could be partially compensated by MDV-2 and HVT US3. In this study, we further studied the differential roles of MDV-1, MDV-2 and HVT US3 in regulating viral gene expression and replication. Our results showed that MDV-2 and HVT US3 could differentially compensate MDV-1 US3 regulation of viral gene expression in vitro. MDV-2 and HVT US3 could also partially rescue the replication deficiency of MDV-1 US3 null virus in the spleen and thymus, as determined by immunohistochemistry analysis of MDV-1 pp38 protein. Importantly, using immunohistochemistry and dual immunofluorescence assays, we found that MDV-2 US3, but not HVT US3, fully compensated MDV-1 US3 regulation of MDV-1 replication in bursal B lymphocytes. In conclusion, our study provides the first comparative analysis of US3 from MDV-1, MDV-2 and HVT in regulating viral gene expression in cell culture and MDV-1 replication in lymphocytes.
A New Ceramic–Carbonate Dual-Phase Membrane for High-Flux CO2 Capture

High-temperature membrane-based electrochemical CO2 capture technology is advantageous in achieving high CO2 flux without selectivity constraint over its low-temperature counterparts. A high operat...
Using Hyperpolarized NMR to Understand Biochemistry from Cells to Humans

This chapter describes the development and preclinical testing of hyperpolarized 13C-labeled probes and the required steps necessary for their translation to patient studies, with an emphasis on the preclinical platforms and techniques necessary to achieve this goal. The chapter starts with a description of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic and biochemical techniques used for studying metabolism in human cells and tissues in order to identify pathways that could be probed using new hyperpolarized 13C-labeled probes, followed by a description of the in vitro and in vivo preclinical testing and optimization of new hyperpolarized probes along with a discussion of some of the biochemical questions that have been investigated using preclinical hyperpolarized 13C MRI. The role preclinical studies have played in the clinical translation of [1-13C]pyruvate and how they provided the motivation for several ongoing applications to pathologies in patients is also described. Finally, the role of preclinical studies for developing the best approaches for analyzing the dynamic hyperpolarized MR data and providing an understanding of the underlying biochemistry of the pathologies being studied is described. After reading this chapter and completing the associated problem set, the reader should have a basic knowledge of how hyperpolarized 13C MRI probes are developed, optimized, and used to investigate biomedical questions.
Bioassay Methods Guilding the Development of a Big Game Repellent

This paper describes bioassay techniques found useful to support the development of big game repellents and discusses the criteria for matching these techniques to specific tasks. The latter range from the preliminary screening of large numbers of potential repellents to the final selection of a small number of candidates which in repeated tests exceeded all established repellents and other candidates in degree and persistance of repellency. From this small number of candidates, the new, improved big game repellent is selected through field bioassays with the help of statistical analysis of their results. The bioassay techniques described here use a herd of wild deer held captive in a large pen under near natural conditions. They are simple multiple choice tests of preference, and no statistical methods are used for data analysis. Tests using the pen bioassay techniques for rapid screening of products are evaluated by gross ranking of browse counts; extended tests of promising candidates are evaluated via browse curves which show the increase in browsing with time. Established repellents are used as reference standard against which the performance of each product is compared.
Learning about Space

Spatial cognition is important in human learning, both in itself and as a major substrate of learning in other domains. Although some aspects of spatial cognition may be innate, it is clear that many important spatial concepts must be learned from experience. For example, Dutch and German use three spatial prepositions--op, aan, and omin Dutch--to describe containment and support relations, whereas English requires just one preposition--on--to span this range. How do children learn these different ways of partitioning the world of spatial relations? More generally, how do people come to understand powerful spatial abstractions like parallel, convergent, proportionate, and continuous? I suggest that two powerful contributors to spatial learning are analogical mapping--structural alignment and abstraction--and language, especially relational language, which both invites and consolidates the insights that arise from analogical processes. I will present evidence that (1) analogical processes are instrumental in learning new spatial relational concepts; and, further, that (2) spatial relational language fosters analogical processing. I suggest that mutual bootstrapping between structure-mapping processes and relational language is a major contributor to spatial learning in humans.
“inventory is useless now but just to say”: The Politics of Ambivalence in Dionne Brand’s Land to Light On

Despite previous critical work that has suggested otherwise, ambivalence in Dionne Brand's Land to Light On does infuse her views on language, identity, nation, and her sense of politics. Brand uses extensive inventories of contemporary and historical exploitations to describe a transnational network of oppressive power both impassive and impregnable, ultimately engaging in a side of identity politics neither its proponents nor its critics emphasize: the construction of the dominant oppressor against whom the recovered subject of oppression struggles. Land to Light On reflects Brand's political ambivalence through the expression of a contradictory political project: the simultaneous construction and subversion of collective identity as a political strategy.
Computer Tools for Interactive Mathematical Activity in the Elementary School

The computer tools for interactive mathematical activity (TIMA) were designed to provide children a medium in which they could enact their mathematical operations of unitizing, uniting, fragmenting, segmenting, partitioning, replicating, iterating and measuring. As such, they are very different from the drill and practice or tutorial software that are prevalent in many elementary schools. The TIMA were developed in the context of a constructivist teaching experiment focused on children's construction of fractions. They were used to promote cognitive play that could be transformed into independent mathematical activity. Teaching interventions were often critical in bringing forth mathematical activity. Students' interactions were also important provocations for mathematical reasoning with the TIMA. The TIMA do not, by themselves define a microworld. Rather it is the children's activity and their interpretations of the results of that activity, while interacting with others, that bring forth a microworld of mathematical operations. Designers of computational environments for children need to take into account the contributions children need to make in order to build their own mathematical structures. For teachers to make effective use of software such as the TIMA they need to understand (and share) the views of learning that shaped the development of the software.
Cardboard Boat Regatta: a creative design experience for an introductory engineering course

The introduction to engineering experience at the University of the Pacific has been enhanced through implementation of a freshman design project that goes beyond the traditional design competition approach to introductory design. In addition to gaining hands-on knowledge of the design process, development of teamwork skills, communication skills, and enjoyment have become integral parts of the experience through implementation of the annual "Cardboard Boat Regatta." Student communication skills are enhanced through project-integrated memo, progress report, formal report, and formal presentation assignments that are based on the students' boat designs. The regatta has become the pinnacle course event based on the variety of innovative design concepts and the reality that all of the boats eventually sink and watching them go down is quite entertaining.
Adaptive filtering with averaging

Adaptive filtering algorithms are considered in this work. The main effort is devoted to improve the performance of such algorithms. Two classes of algorithms are given. The first one uses averaging in the approximation sequence obtained via slowly varying gains, and the second one utilizes averages in both the approximation sequence and the observed signals. Asymptotic properties-convergence and rate of convergence are developed. Analysis to one of the algorithms is presented. It is shown that the averaging approach gives rise to asymptotically optimal performance and results in asymptotically efficient procedures.
Multiphoton ionization of lead monofluoride resonantly enhanced by the X{sub 1} {sup 2}{pi}{sub 1} at {sub {approx}}{sub sol{approx}} at {sub 2}{yields}B {sup 2}{sigma}{sub 1} at {sub {approx}}{sub sol{approx}} at {sub 2} transition

Resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization of the ${X}_{1}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{1∕2}$ state of lead monofluoride $(^{208}\mathrm{Pb}^{19}\mathrm{F})$ via the $B\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{1∕2}$ state is demonstrated. The ionization potential is observed to be $7.54(1)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. Limits on the lifetime of the $B$ state are found to be consistent with that reported by Chen et al. The transition dipole moment for the ${X}_{1}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}B$ transition is found to be $0.005(1)\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{a.u.}$ Limits on the ionization cross section of the $B$ state are found.
Hematogenous Candidiasis in Critically Ill Adult Patients: Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Management:

Hematogenous candidiasis is a life-threatening infection that occurs in critically ill patients. The incidence has increased dramatically over the past decade and Candida species are currently the ...
Perceptions of academic integrity among nursing students.

Purpose Academic dishonesty is growing among nursing students. Reasons for this growth can be categorized into student, faculty, and system factors. Nursing faculty designed a study to explore this problem. Conclusions We identified three themes: characteristics of students with academic integrity, patient safety, and professional outcomes. Exploring student perceptions of academic integrity can help faculty design measures to prevent dishonesty in these three areas. Practice Implications We recommend fostering culture change through strategies that target students, faculty, and systems. These strategies include peer mentoring, role modeling integrity, enhancing awareness of what constitutes cheating, and developing policies that promote honesty.
Asymptotic integration of nonoscillatory differential equations: a unified approach

We consider the equation [r(t)x?]??+?f(t)x?=?0 as a perturbation of the equation [r(t)y?]??+?g(t)y?=?0, where the latter is assumed to be nonoscillatory at infinity. The functions r and g are real-valued, r is positive, and f is complex-valued. The problem of the asymptotic integration of the perturbed equation in comparison with solutions of the unperturbed equation has been studied by many mathematicians, including Hartman and Wintner, Trench, ?Sim?sa, Chen, and Chernyavskaya and Shuster. Here we apply a unified approach. Working in a matrix setting, we use preliminary and so-called conditioning transformations to bring the system in the form $$ \vec{z} = \left[ {\Lambda (t) + R(t)} \right]\vec{z} $$ , where ? is a certain diagonal matrix and R is an absolutely integrable perturbation. This allows us to use Levinson's fundamental theorem to find the asymptotic behavior of solutions and, in addition, to estimate the error involved. This method allows us to derive these known results in a more unified setting and to weaken the hypotheses in some instances.
Photoreversible DNA condensation using light-responsive surfactants.

A means to control DNA compaction with light illumination has been developed using the interaction of DNA with a photoresponsive cationic surfactant. The surfactant undergoes a reversible photoisomerization upon exposure to visible (trans isomer, more hydrophobic) or UV (cis isomer, more hydrophilic) light. As a result, surfactant binding to DNA and the resulting DNA condensation can be tuned with light. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were used to follow λ-DNA compaction from the elongated-coil to the compact globular form as a function of surfactant addition and light illumination. The results reveal that compaction occurs at a surfactant-to-DNA base pair ratio of approximately 7 under visible light, while no compaction is observed up to a ratio of 31 under UV light. Upon compaction, the measured diffusion coefficient increases from a value of 0.6 × 10-8 cm2/s (elongated coil with an end-to-end distance of 1.27 μm) to a value of 1.7 × 10-8 cm2/s (compact globule with a hydrodynamic radius of...
Outcome and assessment after the modified Fontan procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

BACKGROUND We reviewed the outcome of 76 consecutive patients (age range, 5 months to 6 years; median age, 19 months) who underwent a modified Fontan procedure after initial palliative surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) between January 1984 and December 1989. METHODS AND RESULTS Modifications of the Fontan procedure included transatrial baffle of pulmonary venous return to the tricuspid valve (n = 10) or inferior vena cava baffle within the right atrium to the superior vena caval-pulmonary artery anastomosis, with pulmonary artery augmentation (n = 66). Actuarial survival rates were 74% (1 month), 58% (12 months), 56% (2 years), and 52% (4 years). Of the 43 survivors, 25 patients have returned for postoperative cardiac catheterization at a medium of 13 months after the Fontan procedure. Mean +/- SD hemodynamic values were cardiac index, 2.8 +/- 0.6 l/min/m2; right arterial pressure, 11 +/- 2 mm Hg; pulmonary artery wedge pressure, 6 +/- 3 mm Hg; and arterial oxygen saturation, 94 +/- 3%. No patient had significant tricuspid or native pulmonary valve insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS Survival after the Fontan procedure in patients with HLHS is comparable to survival after a Fontan procedure in patients with other complex congenital heart lesions. In the subgroup of patients with HLHS who survived both reconstructive surgery and a Fontan procedure and have been evaluated by cardiac catheterization after a Fontan procedure, the use of the right ventricle as the systemic ventricle yielded excellent intermediate results for Fontan physiology.
Experimental investigation of tube length effect on nucleate pool boiling heat transfer

The effect of a vertically installed tube length on the nucleate pool boiling heat transfer coefficient under atmospheric pressure has been empirically obtained using various combination of major parameters for application to advanced light water reactor design. The experimental data for q″ versus ΔT test are counted as 1,063 points and can cover the extent of D = 9.7 ∼ 25.4 mm, ϵ = 15.1 ∼ 60.9 nm, H = 5.25 ∼ 30.93, and q″ ≤ 160 kW/m2. The experimental results show that a shorter tube is more efficient to increase heat transfer rate due to smaller bubble slug formation on the tube surface. The effect of tube length is greatly observed before H(=LD) gets 50. After that, the heat flux decreases linearly with H increase. To quantify tube length effect, a new empirical correlation has been developed based on the experimental data bank for pool boiling heat transfer and some parametric studies have been done using the newly developed empirical correlation to broaden its applicability. The newly developed empirical correlation has the form of q″ = 0.019ϵ0.570 ΔT4.676(D1.238H0.072) and can predict the experimental data within ±20% bound. Heat transfer characteristics can be changed with tube length variation and the transition point is H ≈50. Before the transition point, bubble coalescence is active and heat transfer rate gets rapidly decreased with increasing tube length. After that, heat transfer gets somewhat slowly decreased since bubble coalescence effect gets nearly equilibrium with liquid agitation effect.
Improving ERP Usability Through User-System Collaboration

Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have unintuitive user interfaces that hinder usability, frustrate users, and ultimately interfere with their successful adoption and utilization in organizations. Despite the huge costs associated with poorly implemented systems, ERP usability has received little attention from the IS and HCI research communities. We argue in this article that existing theories on usability should be extended in order to address the unique challenges resulting from the size, complexity, and integrated functionality of these industrial behemoths. We believe that collaboration theory is a new and beneficial way to conceptualize the relationship between the user and the system. This theory has the potential to provide a foundation for user-system interaction that enhances user performance and satisfaction with ERP systems.
Reaction of the zinc sensor FluoZin-3 with Zn7-metallothionein: Inquiry into the existence of a proposed weak binding site

Abstract It has been reported that Zn 7 -metallothionein (MT), contains one weak binding site for Zn 2+ . To test this conclusion, rabbit liver MT isolated at pH 7 was reacted with chelating agents of modest affinity for Zn 2+ . Contrary to the previous study, no evidence was found for Zn 2+ stoichiometrically bound to the protein with an apparent stability constant of about 10 8 . Indeed, stability constant measurements based upon competition between Zn 7 -MT and ligands of known stability with Zn 2+ showed that all of the protein bound Zn 2+ displayed the same stability constant at pH 7.4 and 25 °C of (1.7 ± 0.6) × 10 11 . Brief reaction of Zn 7 -MT with strong acid converted it into MT * and upon reneutralization into Zn 7 -MT * , which demonstrated reactivity of about 1 Zn 2+ /mol MT with competing ligands. Acid titration of Zn 7 -MT to pH 2 or below rapidly resulted in the formation of Zn 7 -MT * that displayed biphasic titration with base, revealing the rebinding of lower affinity Zn 2+ between pH 5 and 7. Since MT is commonly acidified during preparation, care must be taken to document which form of the protein is present in subsequent experiments at pH 7.
Contesting Faith, Truth, and Religious Language at the Creation Museum: A Historical-Theological Reflection

AbstractThe Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, attempts to demonstrate the flaws in contemporary science and to offer an alternative explanation of human origins and biological complexity rooted in a specific reading of the biblical narrative. This effort, however, is paradoxically rooted in the worldview of modern science and the Enlightenment. This article will examine the Creation Museum's definitions of faith, truth, and religious language and will compare these definitions to those of mainline Protestant Christianity to uncover the historical and theological presuppositions of Creationist and mainline Protestant engagements with contemporary science.
On the calculation of the probability of current family-planning status in a cohort of women

Abstract The problem of developing a methodology for calculating the probability of current family planning status in a cohort of women is of importance in the management of a family-planning program. In this paper, the theory of a class of absorbing, age-dependent, semi-Markov processes with a finite state space is applied in an effort to develop a framework capable of yielding solutions to the problem. The most novel development in the paper is that of proposing a scheme for linking models from this class of stochastic processes together in such a way that turning points in a sequential decision process may be taken into account. Roughly speaking, a turning point in a sequential decision process is an event that determines the subsequent history of the process.
SU-E-T-571: Microdosimetric Characterization of Proton Biological Effectiveness

Purpose: The knowledge of cell repair kinetics is critical in order to understand relevant aspects of proton therapy such optimal fractionation. High LET radiation induces larger proportions of more complex DSBs that might not be resolved in standard interfractional times (24h). We propose a method to characterize the cell repair kinetic at different positions within the spread-out Bragg peak (i.e. as a function of proton LETd) and use this information to model normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) as a function of LETd Methods: Repair kinetics curves will be obtained using U251-glioblastoma cells plating over microscope slides that are immersed in culture-medium that will be exposed along the axis of a proton-beam (10cm in range, 2cm modulation) of 1Gy. Culture is immersed within a solid-water block to place the distal edge of the proton-beam within the slide. gamma-H2AX foci along the slide in the beam axis is imaged with a microscope at different positions in order to correlate number of gamma-H2AX foci with dose and LET, where dose is obtained from a strip of gafchromic film placed on the side of the slide. Each slide is fixed at different time points. Results: We will present the correlation between an increase of LET and the increase of the gamma-H2AX along the depth within the proton beam, at different post-irradiation times and doses. Different fractions of unrepaired damage at 24h after irradiation will be presented at each depth of the proton beam, with larger fractions at the distal edge of the beam, where normal tissue exist. Larger values of NTCP are therefore observed at the distal edge. Conclusion: Slower repair kinetics is observed at the distal edge of a proton beam, and this study shows a method to obtain such information and the correlation between increased LET and increased NTCP. This research is supported by the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as a pilot project.
Which finite simple groups are unit groups

Abstract We prove that if G is a finite simple group which is the unit group of a ring, then G is isomorphic to: (a) a cyclic group of order 2; or (b) a cyclic group of prime order 2 k − 1 for some k ; or (c) a projective special linear group PSL n ( F 2 ) for some n ≥ 3 . Moreover, these groups do all occur as unit groups. We deduce this classification from a more general result, which holds for groups G with no non-trivial normal 2-subgroup.
Isomorphic designs that are not multiplier equivalent

Abstract In this paper interesting families of designs are constructed and studied. First, a family of cyclic 2-(4n, 3, 2) designs is constructed with the property that each design has two different cyclic structures. This appears to be the first example of any cyclic τ-(ν, κ, γ) designs which are isomorphic but not isomorphic by a multiplier. A related family of 1-rotational 2-(2·4n + 1, 3, 2) designs is also constructed with each having two different 1-rotational structures.
The potential of continuous emission monitoring of hazardous waste incinerators using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The testing of stack gas from hazardous waste incinerators is required during trial burns and in on going process monitoring. This paper discusses the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) as a continuous emission monitor (CEM) for stack gas. Currently, the principal organic hazardous constituent (POHC) in stack gas is not monitored continuously. During a trial burn, the POHC from the waste, often carbon tetrachloride or chloroform, is sampled on sorbent cartridges by a volatile organic sampling train (VOST) followed by lab analysis using thermal desorption GC/MS. Results are typically available in a few weeks. Hence, the demonstration of 99.99% destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) cannot be done in real time. A CEM would provide instant feedback when upsets occur and allow corrective action to be initiated immediately. This should result in reduced public concern about hazardous waste incineration, quicker approval of incineration sites, and rapid growth of total incineration capacity. Due to advances in instrumentation, cell design, and software, FTIR has great potential for use as a CEM of vapor phase components. Although infrared spectroscopy was first used over 20 years ago to identify vapor phase components, it is only now, as a result of these advances, thatmore » vapor samples can be characterized qualitatively and quantitatively for multiple components at ppB levels. FTIR also has a large dynamic measurement range, which is important, since upsets may introduce sudden large increases in POHCs. 11 refs., 3 tabs.« less
Multiple calcium phosphate stones occupying a caliceal diverticulum.

A 71-year-old man presented with nephrolithiasis. Six months previously he was evaluated elsewhere for gross hematuria. Examination at that time revealed adenocarcinoma of the bladder dome and a left renal upper pole caliceal diverticulum containing more than 1,000 small stones (fig. 1). Two weeks later left flank pain developed. Radiographs showed the diverticulum had spontaneously opened, filling the collecting system and upper ureter with stones (fig. 2). A nephrostomy tube and ureteral stent were placed to relieve the obstruction. The patient subsequently underwent planned partial cystectomy. After a recovery period 3 percutaneous nephrolithotomies were performed through a lower pole access. At presentation significant numbers of stones remained in the diverticulum and there were concerns about safe access through the upper pole into the diverticulum. An additional 5Fr angiographic catheter was placed through the diverticulum, which permitted direct percutaneous stone extraction. Using both nephrostomy accesses, the entire stone burden was removed. Two sessions were required due to a significant amount of bleeding. The diverticular mouth was noted to be 4 mm wide and urine was actively refluxing from the upper pole calix into the diverticulum. At the end of the second procedure the neck of the diverticulum was dilated to 30Fr.
Hypnotic Self-Regulation of Chronic Pain

Abstract A more diverse conceptualization of pain including the motivational-affective, cognitive-evaluative, as well as sensory components has resulted in a greater emphasis on “central” factors in pain and the development of comprehensive treatments directed at these various components. This study is one such treatment program. Eight patients with chronic pain (mean duration of 8.8 years) were trained in a hypnotic self-regulation procedure to modify pain. Pre and post measures were collected on a series of indices relevant to the pain experience. The post-treatment evaluation indicated significant reductions in: (1) daily pain intensity, (2) the degree to which pain, interferred with major life areas (e.g., sleep and social activity), (3) life dissatisfaction and suffering, (4) personality characteristics relevant to chronic pain and (5) percentage of self-administered pain medication. Despite the lack of a no-treatment comparison and placebo-attention controls, the chronicity of pain and the lack of e...
Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Oncological Outcomes at 10 Years or More

Purpose: We present oncological outcomes at a followup of 10 years or greater after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for cancer.Materials and Methods: Between February 1994 and March 1999 a total of 73 laparoscopic radical nephrectomies were performed by 2 surgeons for pathologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma. Data were obtained from patient charts, radiographic reports, telephone followup and a check of the Social Security Death Index.Results: Mean followup was 11.2 years (range 10 to 15). Each patient completed a minimum 10-year followup. Mean patient age at surgery was 60 years. Mean tumor size on computerized tomography was 5 cm (range 1.7 to 13). Pathological stage was pT1a in 41% of cases, pT1b in 30%, pT2 in 15%, pT3a in 10%, pT3b in 3% and pT4 in 1%. High grade tumors (Fuhrman 3 or greater) were present in 18 cases (28%). A positive surgical margin occurred in 1 case. Actual 10-year overall, cancer specific and recurrence-free survival rates were 65%, 92% and 86%, respectively. Overall, cance...
Properties of Water in Prestretched Recast Nafion

Uniaxially prestretched recast Nafion membranes exhibited an unusual combination of properties (a proton conductivity equal to that of commercial Nafion but with a lower methanol permeability) which make them ideal candidates for use in a direct liquid methanol fuel cell. To better understand the function and underlying morphology of the prestretched membranes, water uptake and mobility data were collected and analyzed for draw ratios ranging from 1 to 7. Macroscopic (gravimetric) water uptake and the water self-diffusion coefficient (measured by NMR) were found to be invariant with membrane elongation and essentially identical to those measured in a commercial Nafion 117 film (a similar behavior was observed for proton conductivity). The ratio of freezable/nonfreezable water in prestretched recast Nafion, the water electro-osmotic drag coefficient, and the spin−lattice relaxation time constant of deuterated water, however, decreased with increasing film elongation, up to a draw ratio of 4. The functional...