cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overaction of the Superior Oblique Muscle: Some Nosologic Considerations

Mechanisms that underlie overdepression of the eye in adduction, the so-called superior oblique overaction, are multiple. The various pathophysiologic processes involved remain incompletely defined...
Evolution, the University, and the Social Construction of Conflict

How does evolution education play out across a middle-American college campus? In Chap. 6 we back our focus out to the campus environment as a whole. We will meet faculty in other departments for whom evolution (both for and against) is a rallying point by which the politics of evolution education on campus are played out. We will meet the Mason-Dixon University biology faculty and unpack how their own experiences do or do not make for a productive dialectic for evolution. Classroom discussion of evolution is analyzed for its rhetorical politics. In interviews with faculty, pedagogical tensions surrounding the teaching of evolution are explored, with faculty choosing to not mention human evolution in their courses.
Raptor: nifty tools

I wonder what visual picture comes to mind for any 40+ year-old Computer Scienc professors who were "forced" to use flowcharts for their introductory Computer Scienc courses. For me, the visual image is not a pretty one. Visions of crumpled pieces of paper flying in the air and landing in the closest trash can. Even at that young age, I could understand that flowcharts could be a very useful design tool, but the tool, the legendary flowchart template, did not have an acceptable man-machine interface.
An algorithm for ultrasonic tomography based on inversion of the Helmholtz equation

This paper describes a numerical method for reconstructing the function f(\(\bar r\)) = ω2[c(r)−2−c 0 −2 ], where \(c\left( {\bar r} \right)\) denotes the speed of sound in a bounded body, and c0 denotes the speed of sound in the medium surrounding the body, for both the case of plane wave excitation, \(e^{i\left( {\bar k \cdot \bar r - \omega t} \right)}\), and spherical wave excitation, \({{e^{ik\left| {\bar r - \bar r} \right.} s^{\left| { - i\omega t} \right.} } \mathord{\left/{\vphantom {{e^{ik\left| {\bar r - \bar r} \right.} s^{\left| { - i\omega t} \right.} } {\left[ {4\pi \left| {\bar r - \bar r_s } \right|} \right]}}} \right.\kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\left[ {4\pi \left| {\bar r - \bar r_s } \right|} \right]}}\). It is assumed that the body is located in the interior of a cylinder of radius a, having the z axis as its axis of symmetry, that the ultrasonic sound pressure is measured on the surface of this cylinder at the points (a cosϑj, a sinϑj, zp), where ϑj = jπ/(2N+1), zp = ph, p = 1,2,…,2N+5. We then describe the reconstruction of f(x,y,zp) = Fp(ρ,ϑ) in the form $$F_p \left( {\rho ,\theta } \right) = \sum\limits_{j = 1}^{2N + 1} {\sum\limits_{m = - 2N}^{2N} {F_{jm} } } S_j \left( \rho \right)e^{im\theta }$$ where the Fjm are complex numbers and the Sj(ρ) are "Chapeau" splines on a nonequi-spaced mesh. If h and aπ/(2N+1) are of the order of 1/k1/3, where k = ω/c0 = 2π/λ, then the constructed solution Fl satisfies Fp(ρ,ϑ) = f(ρ,ϑ,zp) + O(1/k2), where f denotes the exact solution to the Rytov approximation to the Helmholtz equation.
Central Auditory Pathways in Anamniotic Vertebrates

The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries witnessed rapid growth in descriptive neuroanatomy. This period of intensive study of nervous systems in a wide variety of vertebrates resulted in several hypotheses concerning the origin and subsequent evolution of the otic and lateralis systems. These hypotheses possess two common features: they are based on descriptive anatomical material and were not tested experimentally as the appropriate techniques did not yet exist; and they reflect certain supposed anatomical relationships among an amniotic vertebrates that were believed to form a linear series of increasingly complex groups.
Assessment of Adhesive Bond Strength from Ultrasonic Tone-Bursts

A model for the amplitude and phase of ultrasonic tone-bursts incident on adherend–adhesive interfaces is developed for both reflected and transmitted waves. The model parameters include the interfacial stiffness constants, which characterize the elastic properties of idealized adherend–adhesive interfaces having a continuum of bonds. The ultrasonic continuum model is linked to the more realistic physico-chemical model of adhesive bonding via a scaling equation that establishes the relationship between the interfacial stiffness constants of the ultrasonic continuum model and the fraction of actual bonds in the physico-chemical model. The link to the physico-chemical model enables a quantitative assessment of the absolute bond strength. The ultrasonic continuum model and scaling equation are applied to the simulation assessment of the absolute bond strength of two aluminum alloy adherends joined by an epoxy adhesive. Model input is obtained from the calculated phase of tone-bursts reflected from the adherend–adhesive interfaces as a function of the interfacial stiffness constants. The simulation shows that the reflected phase is dominated by the first interface encountered by the incident tone-burst with little contribution from the second interface. The simulation also shows that the accuracy in assessing the adhesive bond strength depends on the sensitivity of the reflected phase to variations in the interfacial stiffness constants, reflecting the nonlinearities in both the phase-stiffness constant relationship and scaling equation.
Extracellular vesicles show promise for cancer theranostics

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally occurring small membrane vesicles (30–150 nm), protected by a lipid bilayer, that originate from endosomes and are formed through the fusion of the plasma membrane with multivesicular endosomes (MVEs), and subsequently exocytosed (1). The roles of EVs are numerous and could be important in cancer biology and disease (2). A recent research topic highlights extracellular vesicles addressing the processes that they regulate in cancer and their potential therapeutic value.
Prevalence of Anxiety Symptoms and it Impact in People with Osteoarthritis: AnUpdate

Anxiety, a very common psychological syndrome in the aging population, is a potential moderating factor in the context of disabling osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder affecting the older population. This narrative review examines the extent to which anxiety may preside among adults with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, regardless of site, and its linkage to the disabling process. Drawn largely from English language peer reviewed publications over the last 35 years, articles that discussed the topic of anxiety among cases with osteoarthritis were examined to demonstrate that this correlate is very important to evaluate and is amenable to treatment. Although not well represented in the vast body of literature, ample evidence implies untreated anxiety is likely to produce excess pain, and less optimal outcomes than that which is treated. It is concluded that more attention to this correlate in the clinical realm is highly desirable to offset the deleterious outcomes associated with one or more forms of anxiety, regardless of joint site, or disease duration.
TTYL :-) … Nonverbal cues and perceptions of personality and homophily in synchronous mediated communication

Person perception is an integral aspect of human communication and is increasingly relevant in computer-mediated communication (CMC) because of the mobile and ubiquitous nature of mediated communic...
The Opioid Epidemic and Men's Sexual Health

Abstract The opioid epidemic, one of the worst drug crises in US history, has resulted in detrimental effects on men's sexual health, displayed by the increased incidence of opioid-induced androgen deficiency (OPIAD). OPIAD may present with symptoms such as fatigue, reduced sense of vitality, weight gain, and depressed mood. However, these nonspecific findings may often be overlooked or thought to be unrelated to opioid use, warranting a high clinical suspicion for OPIAD in patients being evaluated for infertility or sexual dysfunction. Symptomatic patients with a history of chronic opioid abuse should have testosterone, LH, and FSH levels obtained. Treatment options include opioid cessation, short-acting opioids, and testosterone replacement therapy. The current review highlights the importance of identifying and treating patients with this condition and further discusses the current opioid epidemic, pathophysiology and diagnosis of OPIAD, and treatment options for this patient population.
Having your cake and eating it too: Flexibility and power with mass univariate statistics for ERP data

ERP studies produce large spatiotemporal data sets. These rich data sets are key to enabling us to understand cognitive and neural processes. However, they also present a massive multiple comparisons problem, potentially leading to a large number of studies with false positive effects (a high Type I error rate). Standard approaches to ERP statistical analysis, which average over time windows and regions of interest, do not always control for Type I error, and their inflexibility can lead to low power to detect true effects. Mass univariate approaches offer an alternative analytic method. However, they have thus far been viewed as appropriate primarily for exploratory statistical analysis and only applicable to simple designs. Here, we present new simulation studies showing that permutation-based mass univariate tests can be employed with complex factorial designs. Most importantly, we show that mass univariate approaches provide slightly greater power than traditional spatiotemporal averaging approaches when strong a priori time windows and spatial regions are used. Moreover, their power decreases only modestly when more exploratory spatiotemporal parameters are used. We argue that mass univariate approaches are preferable to traditional spatiotemporal averaging analysis approaches for many ERP studies.
A simplified reflection-mode digital gradient sensing technique for measuring surface slopes, curvatures and topography

Abstract A simplified optical apparatus for reflection-mode Digital Gradient Sensing methodology (r-DGS) to perform full-field measurement of surface slopes is proposed. It eliminates the need for a beam splitter to record random speckles off a target and via the specular specimen normally. Instead, the target plane speckles reflected off the specimen surface are directly recorded at a known inclined angle. The simplification results in a highly efficient optical arrangement in terms of light loss intrinsic to the original apparatus that used a beam splitter. The simplified apparatus, however, requires altering the governing equations while interpreting the correlated speckle fields in the reference and deformed states. The details of these issues as well as successful demonstrations of simplified r-DGS to measure deflection of thin Si wafer subjected to flexure is reported. The modified approach is also demonstrated to study crack-tip deformations near an edge crack in a beam.
Using an interprofessional prenatal group care model to address disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes in a high risk population in a family medicine residency clinic

Abstract Background Minority women are at high risk for premature births and costly complications. Prenatal care interventions may be useful for addressing these disparities. Purpose To examine whether an interprofessional prenatal group care model is superior to a matched control group receiving traditional pregnancy care in minimizing pregnancy-related disparities (e.g., low birth weight, preterm delivery, low breastfeeding initiation). Methods Quasi-experimental study including African American women (n = 64) between the ages of 18–30 from low-income households who also attended a family medicine clinic. Results Results showed that pregnant women in prenatal group care attended significantly more prenatal and postpartum visits and were less likely to be smoking at delivery compared to the matched control group. Other biological measures (e.g., preterm delivery) trended in the right direction, but did not reach statistical significance. Measures collected only in the experimental group showed significant increases in pregnancy knowledge/confidence, decreased depressive and anxiety symptoms, and high satisfaction with providers and clinic services post-intervention. In addition, women attending prenatal groups identified via focus groups that prenatal group made them feel supported, understood, and listened to, that the care was high quality because of the interprofessional providers, and the group model helped them try new health behaviors (e.g., breastfeeding, stress reduction techniques). Conclusions Future research and clinical care may want to consider utilizing interprofessional prenatal group care models. In addition, future research using a randomized controlled trial should be conducted to confirm study findings.
Chemical Safety and Security Education in ACS-Approved Chemistry Programs

To date, chemical security education practices in postsecondary institutions are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to provide an initial understanding of the practices, attitudes, and barriers toward chemical security education for undergraduate and graduate programs in the United States (US) by surveying representatives of American Chemical Society (ACS)-approved programs. All programs with ACS-approved undergraduate chemistry programs (n = 691) were contacted for participation: 21% (n = 148) fully completed and 6% (n = 41) partially completed the survey for a combined total of 27% complete and/or partially complete surveys (n = 189). We observed that most programs currently teach chemical safety (undergraduate >99%, graduate 73%); however, only about one-third of programs teach chemical security at any education level (undergraduate 32%, graduate 34%). We also observed that safety education is provided more frequently than security education. Further, ACS-approved programs reported that their chemical safety culture was stronger than chemical security culture and felt that safety should be taught differently than security. The overwhelming majority of respondents (96%) indicated that chemical safety should be mandatory at some level, while only about half of respondents (57%) indicated that chemical security should be mandatory at some level. More efforts are needed by the chemistry community to raise awareness of the importance of chemical security education so that more institutions commit to training their faculty and students on the topic. The authors suggest that adoption of chemical security education could be increased if ACS were to advocate for chemical security by including it in its guidelines for educational program approval.
Early Vocabulary Profiles of Young Deaf Children Who Use Cochlear Implants

Purpose This study examined vocabulary profiles in young cochlear implant (CI) recipients and in children with normal hearing (NH) matched on receptive vocabulary size to improve our understanding ...
A Longitudinal Test of a Feminist Pathways Model Among Black Youth: Incorporating Racial Discrimination and School Difficulties:

This study addresses important gaps in previous quantitative tests of feminist pathways theory by utilizing longitudinal data from Black men and women and by incorporating racial discrimination and...
International perspectives on frameworks for mathematics teachers’ knowing and quality of mathematics instruction

In this Special Issue (SI), an international group of researchers presents current issues related to the design and development of measures of mathematics teacher knowledge and quality of instructi...
Ophthalmology Departments Remain Among the Least Diverse Clinical Departments at United States Medical Schools.

Purpose The current demographics of the ophthalmology workforce do not reflect the diverse United States population, which has implications for addressing health disparities. The demographics of ophthalmology department faculty may influence the recruitment of underrepresented students into the field. This study sought to determine how the racial and ethnic demographics of ophthalmology department faculty compare with those of other clinical departments at United States medical schools. Design Secondary data analysis of medical school faculty demographic data from the 2019 American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Roster. Participants Clinical faculty and department chairs at United States medical schools. Methods We analyzed the racial and ethnic demographics of clinical department faculty and department chairpersons using data from the 2019 AAMC Faculty Roster. We calculated the proportion of underrepresented minority (URM) faculty in ophthalmology and in 17 other clinical departments. We analyzed these data for statistically significant differences between ophthalmology and other clinical departments. In addition, we compared the percentage of URM ophthalmology faculty with the proportion of URM persons among graduating United States medical students and in the United States population using data from the Medical School Graduation Questionnaire and the United States census, respectively. Main Outcome Measures The proportion of URM persons, defined as Black, Hispanic or Latino, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander among clinical faculty and department chairs. Results Ophthalmology faculty are less racially and ethnically diverse than graduating medical students and the general United States population. When compared with 17 other clinical departments, ophthalmology has the third-lowest proportion of URM faculty, with only radiology and orthopedic surgery having a smaller proportion of URM faculty. These differences were statistically significant in most departments (12 of 18). No statistically significant difference was found in the proportion of URM department chairs in ophthalmology compared with most other clinical departments, although the absolute number of URM chairs in ophthalmology is low at only 8 chairpersons. Conclusions More work must be done to increase the recruitment of URM physicians into ophthalmology faculty positions to obtain parity with other clinical departments and with the diverse patient populations that physicians serve.
Computing Intrinsic LYα Fluxes of F5 V to M5 V Stars

The Ly? emission line dominates the far-ultraviolet spectra of late-type stars and is a major source for photodissociation of important molecules including H2O, CH4, and CO2 in exoplanet atmospheres. The incident flux in this line illuminating an exoplanet's atmosphere cannot be measured directly as neutral hydrogen in the interstellar medium (ISM) attenuates most of the flux reaching the Earth. Reconstruction of the intrinsic Ly? line has been accomplished for a limited number of nearby stars, but is not feasible for distant or faint host stars. We identify correlations connecting the intrinsic Ly? flux with the flux in other emission lines formed in the stellar chromosphere, and find that these correlations depend only gradually on the flux in the other lines. These correlations, which are based on Hubble Space Telescope spectra, reconstructed Ly? line fluxes, and irradiance spectra of the quiet and active Sun, are required for photochemical models of exoplanet atmospheres when intrinsic Ly? fluxes are not available. We find a tight correlation of the intrinsic Ly? flux with stellar X-ray flux for F5?V to K5?V stars, but much larger dispersion for M?stars. We also show that knowledge of the stellar effective temperature and rotation rate can provide reasonably accurate estimates of the Ly? flux for G and K stars, and less accurate estimates for cooler stars.
Representation Theorem for Matrix Product States.

In this work, we investigate the universal representation capacity of the Matrix Product States (MPS) from the perspective of boolean functions and continuous functions. We show that MPS can accurately realize arbitrary boolean functions by providing a construction method of the corresponding MPS structure for an arbitrarily given boolean gate. Moreover, we prove that the function space of MPS with the scale-invariant sigmoidal activation is dense in the space of continuous functions defined on a compact subspace of the $n$-dimensional real coordinate space $\mathbb{R^{n}}$. We study the relation between MPS and neural networks and show that the MPS with a scale-invariant sigmoidal function is equivalent to a one-hidden-layer neural network equipped with a kernel function. We construct the equivalent neural networks for several specific MPS models and show that non-linear kernels such as the polynomial kernel which introduces the couplings between different components of the input into the model appear naturally in the equivalent neural networks. At last, we discuss the realization of the Gaussian Process (GP) with infinitely wide MPS by studying their equivalent neural networks.
Brushless Doubly-Fed Induction Machine with Feed-Forward Torque Compensation Control

Compared to Doubly-Fed Induction Machines (DFIMs), the dynamic and steady-state behavior of the Brushless Doubly-Fed Induction Machine (BDFIM) is more complicated. This fact is due to the coexistence of the undesirable asynchronous torques (disturbance torques) with the expected synchronous torque. In this paper, first, an analytical relationship between Control Machine (CM) currents, regarded as the system's input, and the total output torque, regarded as the system's output is derived. The relationship is expressed in both frequency and time domains to have a more clear vision of the BDFIM dynamic behavior. In the introduced equations, all types of torques that coexist in the BDFIM are considered. Then, by examining the obtained relationship, a motor drive with Feed-forward torque compensation is proposed that actively predicts the dynamic behavior of the BDFIM and attempts to eliminate undesirable dynamic responses. The dynamic behavior of the BDFIM with and without torque compensation method are compared for both open-loop and closed-loop torque control drive schemes, and the simulation results are presented. Field oriented control assumptions are made to obtain a suitable dynamic model for the BDFIM.
On generalizations of Schur's inequality on sums of products of differences of real numbers

Schur's inequality for the sum of products of the differences of real numbers states that for x,y,z,t≥0, xt(x−y)(x−z)+yt(y−z)(y−x)+zt(z−x)(z−y)≥0. In this paper, we study a generalization of this i...
Approach to Facial Weakness.

Facial palsy is a common neurologic concern and is the most common cranial neuropathy. The facial nerve contains motor, parasympathetic, and special sensory functions. The most common form of facial palsy is idiopathic (Bell's palsy). A classic presentation requires no further diagnostic measures, and generally improves with a course of corticosteroid and antiviral therapy. If the presentation is atypical, or concerning features are present, additional studies such as brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis may be indicated. Many conditions may present with facial weakness, either in isolation or with other neurologic signs (e.g., multiple cranial neuropathies). The most important ones to recognize include infections (Ramsay-Hunt syndrome associated with herpes zoster oticus, Lyme neuroborreliosis, and complications of otitis media and mastoiditis), inflammatory (demyelination, sarcoidosis, Miller-Fisher variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome), and neoplastic. No matter the cause, individuals may be at risk for corneal injury, and, if so, should have appropriate eye protection. Synkinesis may be a bothersome residual phenomenon in some individuals, but it has a variety of treatment options including neuromuscular re-education and rehabilitation, botulinum toxin chemodenervation, and surgical intervention.
Cerebellar Granule Cells in Normal and Neurological Mutants of Mice

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the cerebellar granule cells in normal and neurological mutants of mice. The cerebellum is probably the most comprehensively studied area of the brain. The cerebellar cortex is characterized by a trilaminar—granule, Purkinje, and molecular—structure and contains only five different neuronal cell classes, namely, granule, Purkinje, basket, stellate, and Golgi, that interconnect in a rigid geometry of repeating groups presumed to be responsible for specific information processing. The development of this highly organized area of the brain has received a great deal of attention, partly because of its well-defined physiology, cell types, and architecture, and partly because of the availability of mouse mutations that perturb the normal sequence of development, allowing analysis of individual events. The chapter presents two neurological mutants, namely, staggerer (sg/sg) and weaver (wv/wv), in which granule cells degenerate almost completely. It focuses on the approaches that lead to information on what is transpiring at the cellular level in the mutant cerebella and, by inference, on what may be happening in the normal case. In addition to the microscopic structure of brains perfused in vivo, the chapter also highlights studies that use newer techniques for dissection of cellular processes.
The Role of Oxygen in the Photoexcited Luminescence of Bacterial Luciferase

Abstract Irradiation of bacterial luciferase results in a long lived luminescence which is qualitatively similar to the chemically induced bioluminescence. It has been found that oxygen is required for the emission of photoexcited bioluminescence, but that it need not be present during irradiation. Oxygen must be added promptly, however, for the intermediate has a relatively short lifetime. In the absence of oxygen still another long lived luminescence has been observed. This is a phosphorescence-like emission which is strongly quenched by oxygen. The observations indicate that this emission involves intermediate states which are distinct and different from those involved in bioluminescence.
Diffusion in a turbulent phase space

We introduce a novel stochastic process, called a Levy Walk, to provide a statistical description of motion in a turbulent fluid. The Levy Walk describes random (but still correlated) motion in space and time in a scaling fashion and is able to account for the motion of particles in a hierarchy of coherent structures. When Kolmogorov's -5/3 law for homogeneous turbulence is used to determine the memory of the Levy Walk, then Richardson's 4/3 law of turbulent diffusion follows in the Mandelbrot absolute curdling limit. If, as suggested by Mandelbrot, that turbulence is isotropic, but fractal, then intermittency corrections follow in a natural fashion.
Using Graphs to Understand PDL

This paper begins with the problem of sharpening our understanding of PDL. The position we take here is that PDL, which is ordinarily defined using regular operations on programs, is better understood in terms of finite state automata. Accordingly we rederive some basic PDL results (finite model, deterministic exponential satisfiability) in terms of automata. As corollaries to this we obtain answers to the following open questions. (i) What is the time complexity of satisfiability for propositional flowgraph logic? (ii) Can regular expressions be axiomatized equationally as succinctly as they can be represented with automata? We also show how converse and test relate to flowgraph operations.
Knowledge-based experiment design in molecular genetics

A system to produce practical experimental plans in the domain of molecular genetics is in development. It makes use of a large, expert-entered knowledge base containing object-level and strategy knowledge about the domain. The system works by refining general strategies or "skeletal plans," to the level of detail desired by the system user.
Potassium exaggerates vasopressin response in Sus scrofa models of hemorrhagic shock but not endotoxic shock (859.4)

We recently reported a novel role of vasopressin (VP) in regulating renal potassium (K+) excretion in severe hemorrhage where hyperkalemia develops within minutes of blood loss. The VP response to hemorrhagic shock is higher than the VP response in endotoxic shock. We hypothesized that the higher VP responsiveness in hemorrhage is due to K+ stimulation of VP release. Thus, in anesthetized Yorkshire cross piglets (8.2 + 0.2 kg) we compared the VP responses to comparable hypotension induced by rapid hemorrhage (30 ml/kg over 20 minutes, n=5) or i.v. injection of E. coli endotoxin (n=5). Despite similar mean arterial pressures (45 + 5 and 47+ 4 mm Hg, respectively), plasma VP (pVP) in endotoxic shock was 148 + 23 pg/ml vs 373 + 81 pg/ml in hemorrhage. Multiple regression analysis examining the influence of hemodynamic, endocrine, and electrolyte factors on pVP showed that in endotoxic shock, pVP was mainly related to central venous pressure (r=0.92, p<0.01) whereas in hemorrhagic shock, pVP was overwhelmingl...
Specificity and Other Properties of Lysosomal Lipase of Rat Liver

Abstract The pH profile obtained for enzymes in rat liver homogenate which hydrolyze glycerol esters of decanoic acid shows two distinct peaks of activity, one at pH 5 to 5.2 and the other at pH 8.6 to 9. The activity at acid pH is associated with lysosomes, and that at alkaline pH with microsomes. Glycerol tri-, 1,2-di-, and 1-monodecanoate are hydrolyzed by lysosomes in decreasing order of activity, and by microsomes in increasing order of activity. When soluble lysosomal lipase hydrolyzed glycerol tri(oleate-1-14C), the percentage of radioactivity recovered in the products was as follows: oleic acid, 40%; glycerol 1,2-dioleate, 52%; glycerol 1,3-dioleate, 8%; and glycerol monooleate, 0%. Complete solubilization of lysosomal lipase is achieved by suspending the lysosomal pellet in 0.05 m sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. Lysosomal lipase is strongly inhibited by certain sulfhydryl reagents. A comparison of lipase activity in liver lysosomes with that in Triton WR 1339-filled liver lysosomes, as well as the limitations imposed by the use of Triton-filled lysosomes, is discussed.
Monitoring temperature-sensitive vaccines and immunologic drugs, including anthrax vaccine.

The experience of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center, Europe (USAMMCE), in monitoring temperature-sensitive vaccines and immunologic drugs, including anthrax vaccine, during storage and shipment is discussed. USAMMCE uses an electronic monitoring device to monitor and archive the time-temperature history of shipments of various vaccines, immunoglobulins, and other drugs requiring refrigeration. Using these monitors, USAMMCE can track its carriers' performance, reduce product loss, and validate quality. USAMMCE trains people to pack refrigerated items and to activate and place the monitoring device inside the packing container. Over 1200 temperature-monitor readings from 44 U.S. military logistical depots, hospitals, and clinics located outside the United States are evaluated annually by the USAMMCE pharmacist; each reading represents one shipment or packed box. When deactivated during unpacking, the device flashes green for a successful shipment (all temperature readings within the ideal range) or red for a potentially problematic shipment. From January through October 1998, the device was used in 750 temperature-sensitive shipments; 72% of the devices were returned to USAMMCE in green condition and the remainder in red. Of the red-flashing monitors, 15% were determined to signal that the drugs were received in unacceptable condition. USAMMCE successfully shipped more than 26,000 vials of anthrax vaccine from February through October 1998 within the manufacturer's guidelines for storage temperature. Temperature monitoring is essential for proper storage and transport of vaccines and immunologic drugs.
Comparison of Laparoscopic and Open Partial Nephrectomy for Tumor in a Solitary Kidney

Purpose: We compared the postoperative and renal functional outcomes of patients undergoing open or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for tumor in a solitary functioning kidney.Materials and Methods: Between 1999 and 2006, 169 open and 30 laparoscopic partial nephrectomies were performed for 7 cm or smaller tumors in a solitary functioning kidney. Data were collected in an institutional review board approved registry and median followup was 2.0 years. Preoperative and postoperative glomerular filtration rates were estimated with the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation.Results: By 3 months after open or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, the glomerular filtration rate decreased by 21% or 28%, respectively (p = 0.24). Postoperative dialysis was required acutely after 1 open partial nephrectomy (0.6%) and 3 laparoscopic partial nephrectomies (10%, p = 0.01), and dialysis dependent end stage renal failure within 1 year occurred after 1 open partial nephrectomy (0.6%) and 2 laparoscopic pa...
Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in common barn-owls (Tyto alba) and pigeons (Columba livia) in New Jersey.

Abstract In southwestern New Jersey during 1986 and 1987, common barn-owls and pigeons were captured on farmsteads and tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by a modified direct agglutination test. In 1986, 3 28 (10.7%) adult and 0 124 nestling owls tested positive at titers of ≥1:40. Additionally, 2 34 (5.9%) pigeons tested had T. gondii antibodies at titer of 1:320. In 1987, 9 38 (27.3%) adult and 18 80 (22.5%) nestling owls tested positive at titers of ≥1:25; this includes 3 38 (7.9%) adult and 1 80 (1.3%) nestling owls that tested positive at a titer of 1:50.
Excluded Volume of EF-Tu Greatly Reduces the Barrier to Accommodation for aa-tRNA in the Ribosome

Functional rearrangements in biomolecular assemblies result from diffusion across an underlying energy landscape. During the process of accommodation in the ribosome, aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) displaces the encoded amino acid ∼90 A from outside of the ribosome (A/T state) to the peptidyltransferase center (A/A state), where it is added into the nascent protein chain. This process takes place after an initial selection step consisting of GTP hydrolysis of ternary complex (aa-tRNA/EF-Tu/ GTP), which releases aa-tRNA from EF-Tu. High-resolution ribosomal crystal structures allow for atomistic models that accurately account for the configurational entropy of the aa-tRNA as it undergoes accommodation constrained by the excluded volume of both the accommodation corridor of the ribosome and EF-Tu. These structural models can be combined with approximate energy landscapes (structure-based models SBM) that encode the accommodated state as the global energy minimum. We have performed extensive characterization of the interplay between configurational entropy and effective enthalpy during the accommodation process through umbrella sampling of the aa-tRNA elbow displacement. These simulations highlight a structural role for EF-Tu in accommodation beyond initial selection. The excluded voume of EF-Tu reduces the stability of the A/T basin, lowering the barrier to aa-tRNA elbow accommodation by as much as 10kBT, depending on parameterization, and shifts the equilibrium towards to the A/A basin. This result, along with results showing that near-cognate aa-tRNA raises the accommodation barrier relative to cognate, suggests the possibility that the kinetic proofreading step is closely tied to EF-Tu dissociation.
Is it Better to Give than Receive? Exchange Relationships between Firms & An Open Source Community

The open innovation perspective maintains that there are three distinct exchange relationships between a firm and its external environment: outside-in, inside-out, and coupled (Enkel et al., 2009; ...
EFFECTS OF LIQUID VISCOSITY ON RHEOLOGY OF CONCENTRATED SUSPENSIONS

ABSTRACT This paper presents the experimental results on the effects of liquid viscosity on the rheology of concentrated suspensions of solid particles in Newtonian liquids. Specifically, the relative viscosity of a pseudoplastic suspension decreases as the viscosity of the suspending liquid increases, indicating excess energy dissipation in a less viscous liquid. In contrast, the relative viscosity of a Newtonian suspension is only slightly affected by the liquid viscosity. It is in excellent agreement with the value predicted from the rigid sphere model which neglects nonhydrodynamic interactions, and assumes zero particle-to-liquid relative velocity. The flow behavior indices of both concentrated suspensions are independent of the liquid viscosity.
An Examination of the Robustness of the General Utility Function.

Two important parameters of the general utility function-SD,, the standard deviation of job performance, and 4/p, predictor performance-were examined in terms of their sensitivity to departures from underlying mathematical assumptions. Integral calculus was used to assess the effects of statistical violations of the assumptions underlying these parameters. The standard deviation of job performance was found to be robust, while the selection ratio was more grossly affected by departures from normality. The combined effects of these two parameters were assessed by simultaneously examining the effects of varying selection standards and varying job performance on the expected per-person increase in standardized job performance. It was found that such effects were nonsymmetrical and depended on base rates of job performance. Implications for the practical implementation of the utility function are discussed.
Biocompatible, micro- and nano-fabricated magnetic cylinders for potential use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging ☆

Abstract This paper reports novel MEMS and NEMS-based fabrication processes for biocompatible, hollow cylindrical ferromagnetic structures for potential use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared to previous works on Ni-based cylindrical-nanoshells and Fe-based double-disk particles, biocompatibility and yield issues were strongly considered in this development of a simplified fabrication process incorporating iron oxide thin films. The novel, simplified fabrication processes developed herein yield robust, reproducible fabrication methodologies for the further development of this new class of MRI contrast agents. Specifically, both micron- and nano-scale hollow cylindrical agents were successfully fabricated, the size regimes of which enable a wide array of potential imaging applications. The use of top-down engineering approaches to MRI contrast agent design such as reported herein offers the capacity for multiplexed imaging which may dramatically potentiate the capabilities of MRI imaging.
Evaluation of probabilities for the noncentral distributions and the difference of two T-variables with a desk calculator

It is demonstrated that integrals of the noncentral chi-square, noncentral F and noncentral T distributions can be evaluated on desk calculators. The same procedure can be used to compute probabilities for the distribution of the difference of two T-variables with equal degrees of freedom. The proposed method of computation can be used with any computer which yields probabilities for the chi-square and F distributions.
Painlevé is theorem on automorphic functions

It is proved that a certain type of third order algebraic differential equations defined over ℂ which are satisfied by Schwarz triangle functions, cannot be reduced to first order.
Envelope Variable Region 4 Is the First Target of Neutralizing Antibodies in Early Simian Immunodeficiency Virus mac251 Infection of Rhesus Monkeys

A major goal of AIDS vaccine development is to design vaccination strategies that can elicit broad and potent protective antibodies. The initial viral targets of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) early after human or simian immunodeficiency virus (HIV/SIV) infection are not known. The identification of early NAb epitopes that induce protective immunity or retard the progression of disease is important for AIDS vaccine development. The aim of this study was to determine the Env residues targeted by early SIV NAbs and to assess the influence of prior vaccination on neutralizing antibody kinetics and specificity during early infection. We previously described stereotypic env sequence variations in SIVmac251-infected rhesus monkeys that resulted in viral escape from NAbs. Here, we defined the early viral targets of neutralization and determined whether the ability of serum antibody from infected monkeys to neutralize SIV was altered in the setting of prior vaccination. To localize the viral determinants recognized by early NAbs, a panel of mutant pseudoviruses was assessed in a TZM-bl reporter gene neutralization assay to define the precise changes that eliminate recognition by SIV Env-specific NAbs in 16 rhesus monkeys. Changing R420 to G or R424 to Q in V4 of Env resulted in the loss of recognition by NAbs in vaccinated monkeys. In contrast, mutations in the V1 region of Env did not alter the NAb profile. These findings indicate that early NAbs are directed toward SIVmac251 Env V4 but not the V1 region, and that this env vaccination regimen did not alter the kinetics or the breadth of NAbs during early infection.
The subcellular location of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of the protein defective in the juvenile form of Batten disease.

Abstract The mutation responsible for the juvenile form of Batten disease was mapped to a single gene, Cln3 (T. J. Lerneret al.(1995)Cell82:949–957). Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has an open reading frame, BTN1 (YHC3), that encodes the putative homologue of Cln3p. Primary structure comparison indicates that the human Cln3p and yeast Btn1p are 59% similar and 39% identical and they have similar hydropathy profiles. Gene disruption of BTN1 in yeast has no apparent effect on growth or viability of the cells under a variety of conditions. Gene fusion protein constructs of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Btn1p, with GFP at the amino and carboxyl ends of Btn1p, localize to the vacuole in yeast. These data indicate that BTN1 is a nonessential gene under most growth conditions which functions in the vacuole in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Nano-scale electron energy-loss spectroscopy of the oxygen K edge in Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+δ

Abstract We demonstrate, for the first time, that even in highly anisotropic, quasi-two-dimensional Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8+δ, electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) performed in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a very valuable technique for understanding local changes in the oxygen-hole density on a nanometer scale. After optimizing both the scattering angle of the incident beam and the collection angle of the spectrometer for a particular crystal orientation, a TEM-EELS experiment is capable of documenting local (∼ several nm) variations in strength of the pre-peak of oxygen absorption K edge spectrum. This investigation reveals the hole-concentration profile across grain boundaries, and hence, furthers understanding of the superconducting behavior of the grain boundary in this technologically important material.
Using Organizational Structure to Overcome Uncertainties in Technology

Technology can be a formidable multiplier when used as a tool in accomplishing a goal or task especially during its initial deployment as operators become acclimated to using it. The uncertainties, though, in its use and the information it provides can provide a distorted picture of an emerging situation. This is especially true in the military environment when new technologies for supporting decision making are introduced. A classic example of this paradigm is the deployment and use of radar by the British during the Battle of Britain. The technology was very new, very primitive, and very fuzzy in the data it provided. But the RAF (Royal Air Force)recognized this and used a very tight organizational structure for the filtering, analysis and dissemination of the interpretations of the data provided by radar. Without their organizational structure, radar would have been of little value as a force multiplier given the inherent uncertainties in the data it provided. This paper will use radar in the Battle of Britain as a historical example to examine how the organizational structure in which the technology was deployed can be used to manage the uncertainty associated with it.
Automatic laser frequency locking to gas absorption lines

An electronic circuit is developed for automating the implementation of a laser frequency-locking technique based on wavelength modulation spectroscopy. The locking scheme uses a zero-crossing as a reference point to line center generated by a derivative-like error signal. Prior implementations have suffered from a limitation in that the zero-crossing must be manually distinguished from the zero signal encountered when the laser is tuned far from line center. This disadvantage is eliminated by developing a circuit that automatically searches the laser's tuning range for an absorption peak and then engages the frequency lock. Both solid state and diode lasers are locked to absorption lines of gases including water vapor and carbon dioxide, with a long-term stabilization to within a few percent of the absorption linewidth.
News Flash: Old Mother Hubbard Reports the Cupboard is Bare… Time for the FDA to Let Droperidol Out of the (Black) Box:

A quick way for a clinical pharmacist to eliminate himself or herself from “employee of the month” consideration is to mention the term medication shortage. Even with training geared toward maximizing resources, the cumulative disappearance of a plethora of medications for the treatment of nausea, vomiting, and/or primary headaches is almost too much for emergency medicine physicians to manage. With prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, promethazine, and ondansetron in increasingly short supply, it is time for the Food and Drug Administration to revisit droperidol's black box warning driven by Q Tc interval prolongation, given its questionable validity, and restore droperidol's place in the armamentarium of emergency medicine physicians.
Optical properties of films, quantum wells, and superlattices grown by pulsed laser deposition

We discuss optical properties of semiconductor thin films, quantum wells and superlattices grown by pulsed laser deposition. A comparison with semiconductor structures grown by other techniques, such as MBE and CVD, is carried out to evaluate the applicability of laser ablation in the preparation of high quality materials. The discussion is focused on II-VI semiconductor compounds, however other electronic materials, such as CuInSe 2 and SiGe, are also briefly mentioned. The emphasis is placed on photoluminescence as the characterization technique.
Measurement of thermal stress in Pd2Si film on Si(111) by absorption edge contour mapping

Abstract The film stress due to thermal mismatch between the Si(111) substrate and the overlying epitaxial Pd2Si thin film has been measured by a novel technique named absorption edge contour (AEC) mapping using synchrotron radiation. The thermal expansion coefficient for Pd2Si has been determined to be 23 × 10−6K−1. Stress relaxation was observed after prolonged annealing at temperatures greater than 200°C.
Grain refinement of cast titanium alloys via trace boron addition

Abstract The grain size of as-cast Ti–6Al–4V is reduced by about an order of magnitude from 1700 to 200 μm with an addition of 0.1 wt.% boron. A much weaker dependence of reduction in grain size is obtained for boron additions from >0.1% to 1.0%. Similar trends were observed in boron-modified as-cast Ti–6Al–2Sn–4Zr–2Mo–0.1Si.