cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Content-based image retrieval utilizing explicit shape descriptors: applications to breast MRI and prostate histopathology

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems, in the context of medical image analysis, allow for a user to compare a query image to previously archived database images in terms of diagnostic and/or prognostic similarity. CBIR systems can therefore serve as a powerful computerized decision support tool for clinical diagnostics and also serve as a useful learning tool for medical students, residents, and fellows. An accurate CBIR system relies on two components, (1) image descriptors which are related to a previously defined notion of image similarity and (2) quantification of image descriptors in order to accurately characterize and capture the a priori defined image similarity measure. In many medical applications, the morphology of an object of interest (e.g. breast lesions on DCE-MRI or glands on prostate histopathology) may provide important diagnostic and prognostic information regarding the disease being investigated. Morphological attributes can be broadly categorized as being (a) model-based (MBD) or (b) non-model based (NMBD). Most computerized decision support tools leverage morphological descriptors (e.g. area, contour variation, and compactness) which belong to the latter category in that they do not explicitly model morphology for the object of interest. Conversely, descriptors such as Fourier descriptors (FDs) explicitly model the object of interest. In this paper, we present a CBIR system that leverages a novel set of MBD called Explicit Shape Descriptors (ESDs) which accurately describe the similarity between the morphology of objects of interest. ESDs are computed by: (a) fitting shape models to objects of interest, (b) pairwise comparison between shape models, and (c) a nonlinear dimensionality reduction scheme to extract a concise set of morphological descriptors in a reduced dimensional embedding space. We utilized our ESDs in the context of CBIR in three datasets: (1) the synthetic MPEG-7 Set B containing 1400 silhouette images, (2) DCE-MRI of 91 breast lesions, (3) and digitized prostate histopathology dataset comprised of 888 glands. For each dataset, each image was sequentially selected as a query image and the remaining images in the database were ranked according to how similar they were to the query image based on the ESDs. From this ranking, area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) was calculated and averaged over all possible query images, for each of the three datasets. For the MPEG-7 dataset bull's eye accuracy for our CBIR system is 78.65%, comparable to several state of the art shape modeling approaches. For the breast DCE-MRI dataset, ESDs outperforms a set of NMBDs with an AUPRC of 0.55 ± 0.02. For the prostate histopathology dataset, ESDs and FDs perform equivalently with an AUPRC of 0.40 ± .01, but outperform NMBDs.
Influence of Deformation-Induced Martensite on Fatigue Crack Propagation in 304-Type Steels

This research reports an investigation into the influence of mechanically induced martensitic transformation on the rate of fatigue crack growth in 304-type austenitic stainless steels. Two steels of different composition, 304L and 304LN, were used to test the influence of composition; two test temperatures, 298 and 77 K, were used to study the influence of test temperature; and various load ratios were used to determine the influence of the mean stress. It was found thadecreasing the mechanical stability of the austenite by changing composition or lowering temperature reduces the fatigue crack growth rate and increases the threshold stress intensity for crack growth. However, this beneficial effect diminishes as the load ratio increases, even though increasing the load ratio increases the extent of the martensite transformation. Several mechanisms that may influence this behavior are discussed, including the perturbation of the crack tip stress field, crack deflection, work hardening, and the relative brittleness of the transformed material. The perturbation of the stress field seems to be the most important; by modifying previous models, we develop a quantitative analysis of the crack growth rate that provides a reasonable fit to the experimental results.
Synthesis of 2-dialkylaminomethyl-1,4-benzoxathians

Some sulfur analogs of 2-dialkylaminomethyl-1,4-benzo-dioxans were synthesized and evaluated as aL-adrenergic blocking agents to observe the effect of substitution of sulfur for oxygen on adrenolytic activity. Reaction of 2-hydroxybenzenethiol with dialkyl-2,3-dibromopropylamines resulted in the formation of 2-dialkylaminotnethyl-1,4-benzoxathians. The structure of these compounds was proven by the use of NMR spectroscopy. In an effort to explore other synthetic routes, 2-hydroxybenzenethiol was reacted with ethyl 2,3-dibromopropionate to give an ethyl 1,4-benzoxathiancarboxylate, which was reduced to the corresponding alcohol and converted via the tosylate to various dialkylaminomethyl-1,4-benzoxathians. A study of the NMR spectra indicated these compounds were 2-dialkylaminomethyl-1,4-benzoxathians. Pharmacological evaluations using the rat vas deferens preparation demonstrated that the benzoxathians are partial agonists revealing a fundamental difference from the corresponding oxygen analogs, the benzodioxans, which are competitive antagonists to epinephrine.
Emergency medicine resident well-being: stress and satisfaction

BACKGROUND Emergency medicine (EM) residents are exposed to many work-related stressors, which affect them both physically and emotionally. It is unknown, however, how EM residents perceive the effect of these stressors on their well-being and how often they use unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage stress. AIMS To evaluate EM residents' perceptions of stressors related to their overall well-being and the prevalence of various coping mechanisms. METHODS An online survey instrument was developed to gauge resident stress, satisfaction with current lifestyle, stress coping mechanisms and demographics. A stratified random sample of EM residents from three postgraduate years (PGY-I, PGY-II and PGY-III) was obtained. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare residents across PGY level. RESULTS There were 120 potential participants in each of the three PGYs. The overall response rate was 30% (109) with mean age of 30 and 61% were male. On a 0-4 scale (0 = completely dissatisfied), respondents in PGY-I reported significantly less satisfaction with lifestyle than those in PGY-II and III (mean rating: 1.29, 1.66 and 1.70, respectively; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in mean ratings between PGYs on each of the other stress categories: work relationships (1.37), work environment (1.10) and response to patients (1.08). Residents reported exercise (94%), hobbies (89%) and use of alcohol (71%) as coping methods. CONCLUSIONS Residents reported low satisfaction with current lifestyle. This dissatisfaction was unrelated to perceived work-related stress. Some undesirable coping methods were prevalent, suggesting that training programs could focus on promotion of healthy group activities.
COD: alternative architectures for high speed packet switching

Architectures for packet switches are approaching the limit of electronic switching speed. This raises the question of how best to utilize advances in photonic technology to enable higher speeds. The authors introduce cascaded optical delay line (COD) architectures. The COD architectures utilize an extremely simple distributed electronic control algorithm to configure the states of 2/spl times/2 photonic switches and use optical fiber delay lines to temporarily buffer packets if necessary. The simplicity of the architectures may also make them suitable for "lightweight" all-electronic implementations. For optical implementations, the number of 2/spl times/2 photonic switches used is a significant factor determining cost. The authors present a "baseline" architecture for a 2/spl times/2 buffered packet switch that is work conserving and has the first-in, first-out (FIFO) property. If the arrival processes are independent and without memory, the maximum utilization factor is /spl rho/, and the maximum acceptable packet loss probability is /spl epsiv/, then the required number of 2/spl times/2 photonic switches is O(log(/spl epsiv/)/log(/spl gamma/)), where /spl gamma/=/spl rho//sup 2//(/spl rho//sup 2/+4-4/spl rho/). If one modifies the baseline architecture by changing the delay line lengths then the system is no longer work conserving and loses the FIFO property, but the required number of 2/spl times/2 photonic switches is reduced to O(log[log(/spl epsiv/)/log(/spl gamma/)]). The required number of 2/spl times/2 photonic switches is essentially insensitive to the distribution of packet arrivals, but long delay lines are required for bursty traffic.
Using the BURKS 2 CD-ROM in a principles of programming languages course

In this paper, we describe the use of the BURKS 2 CD-ROM in a principles of programming languages course. The CD-ROM contains compilers and documentation for many programming languages. The course described in this paper emphasises principles and paradigms of languages rather than the details of one or two specific languages.
Action of external divalent ion reduction on sodium movement in the squid giant axon.

Voltage clamp measurements of the sodium potential have been made on the resting squid giant axon to study the effect of variations in external divalent ion concentration upon net sodium flux. From these measurements the intracellular sodium concentration and the net sodium inflow were calculated using the Nernst relation and constant activity coefficients. While an axon bathed in artificial sea water shows a slow increase in internal sodium concentration, the rate of sodium accumulation is increased about two times by reducing external calcium and magnesium concentrations to 0.1 times their normal values. The mean inward net sodium flux increases from a mean control value of 97 pmole/cm2 sec. to 186 pmole/cm2 sec. in low divalent solution. Associated with these effects of external divalent ion reduction are a marked decrease in action potential amplitude, little or no change in resting potential, and a shift along the voltage axis of the curve relating peak sodium conductance to membrane potential similar to that obtained by Frankenhaeuser and Hodgkin (1957). These results implicate divalent ions in long term (minutes to hours) sodium permeability.
InfoShape: high-level views of multidimensional information

Multidimensional visualization, which creates visual presentations for datasets of multiple variables, helps users to gain an insight of represented information from different perspectives. This paper presents a multidimensional information visualization technique called InfoShape that represents multidimensional information as a 3D sphere whose appearance denotes how much the provided information satisfies a pre-defined set of criteria. By comparing spheres representing different multiple information sets, overall content similarities and differences can be quickly captured at a glance by viewers. The InfoShape concept has been evaluated with a case analysis and an empirical study.
STAT3 as a central mediator of neoplastic cellular transformation

Much of the focus in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of tumors has centered on kinases that are activated in cancer. However, cancers driven by a diversity of activated kinases may have very similar pathological and clinical properties. This likely relates to the fact that the biological characteristics of a tumor are driven by the pattern of gene expression in that tumor, and that a wide spectrum of activating events at the cell surface and in the cytoplasm converge on a relatively small number of transcription factors that regulate the expression of key target genes. One transcription factor that has been found to be activated inappropriately in a wide range of human cancers is STAT3. STAT3 target genes are involved in fundamental events of tumor development including proliferation, survival, self-renewal, invasion, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that STAT3 is critical for these processes, in that inhibition of STAT3 by a variety of means can exert an anti-cancer effect. Since normal cells are relatively tolerant of interruption in STAT3 signaling, these findings suggest that STAT3 may also be an excellent target for the molecular therapy of cancer.
Color Segmentation and Color Correction Using Lighting and White Balance Shifts

A method was developed to segment an image foreground and background based on color content. This work presents an alternative to the standard blue-screen technique (weather man method) by exploiting the color shifts of light sources and filtering each camera lens and correcting white balances for each camera. we compressed the colors of the scene background into a chromaticity subspace to make the foreground-background segmentation easier to perform. The segmentation is singular decomposition (SVD) based.
980-nm Monolithic Passively Mode-Locked Diode Lasers With 62 pJ of Pulse Energy

Passively mode-locked 980-nm slab-coupled optical waveguide lasers have been demonstrated with pulse energies as high as 62 pJ and average powers of 489 mW at 7.92 GHz from a 5-mm device with a 300-mum absorber. Mode-locking has been observed with devices ranging from 3 to 10 mm in length
Psoriasis: To Cut or Not to Cut, What Say You?

BACKGROUNDA common problem facing patients suffering from psoriasis is the need for surgery that requires incision through active psoriatic skin. Many patients have been denied surgery because of the fear of an increased risk of infection, decreased wound healing ability, and worsening of the psoria
A Redescription of an Eimerian Coccidian From the Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans, Designating it Eimeria parasciurorum nov. sp.

SUMMARY. An eimerian coccidian is described from the flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans, in Florida. It is identified as the same eimerian described by Roudabush from the flying squirrel in Iowa as Eimeria sciurorum. Evidence is presented that Roudabush incorrectly identified the organism. It is renamed as E. parasciurorum nov. sp. Mature oocysts have mean measurements of 29 × 16°, an index of 1.82, are cylindrical with rounded ends, have a dual membrane, and no extra residual body. Oocysts are without micropyle. Four egg-shaped, mature sporocysts in the oocyst have mean measurements of 11.2 × 6.2°, an index of 1.81, contain an oval, granular, intraresidual body and two pyriform sporozoites 10 × 3.2°, index 3.11.
A set of genes critical to development is epigenetically poised in mouse germ cells from fetal stages through completion of meiosis

In multicellular organisms, germ cells carry the hereditary material from one generation to the next. Developing germ cells are unipotent gamete precursors, and mature gametes are highly differentiated, specialized cells. However, upon gamete union at fertilization, their genomes drive a totipotent program, giving rise to a complete embryo as well as extraembryonic tissues. The biochemical basis for the ability to transition from differentiated cell to totipotent zygote is unknown. Here we report that a set of developmentally critical genes is maintained in an epigenetically poised (bivalent) state from embryonic stages through the end of meiosis. We performed ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis on flow-sorted male and female germ cells during embryogenesis at three time points surrounding sexual differentiation and female meiotic initiation, and then extended our analysis to meiotic and postmeiotic male germ cells. We identified a set of genes that is highly enriched for regulators of differentiation and retains a poised state (high H3K4me3, high H3K27me3, and lack of expression) across sexes and across developmental stages, including in haploid postmeiotic cells. The existence of such a state in embryonic stem cells has been well described. We now demonstrate that a subset of genes is maintained in a poised state in the germ line from the initiation of sexual differentiation during fetal development and into postmeiotic stages. We propose that the epigenetically poised condition of these developmental genes is a fundamental property of the mammalian germ-line nucleus, allowing differentiated gametes to unleash a totipotent program following fertilization.
Large area synthesis of conical carbon nanotube arrays on graphite and tungsten foil substrates

Conical carbon nanotube (CCNT) arrays were synthesized over a large area of approximately 1 cm 2 or more on graphite and tungsten foil substrates. Experimental observations reveal that nucleation is caused by catalyst metal cluster in the initial stages, but the tapered morphology occurs due to the difference in the rates of vertical growth by attachment carbon atoms at edges of growing graphene sheets and radial growth with epitaxial nucleation of new graphene layers near bottom at the substrate. The above mechanism is supported through re-growth experiments on straight multi-walled nanotubes and growth kinetics data, which suggest a linear relationship between the growth rate and ratio of diameter to length (d/l) of CCNT.
A 5.2Gb/p/s GDDR5 SDRAM with CML clock distribution network

A 1 Gb density, 5.2 Gbps/s/pin data rate GDDR5 SDRAM was developed using 66 nm DRAM process. It uses traditional Core architecture, 8-bit pre-fetch with 16-banks, but the clocking and interface topology are fully changed for operating more than 4 Gbps without using differential signaling. Major barrier to achieving high data bandwidth is the clock jitter. To overcome this limitation, this project utilizes a CML clocking scheme.
The Bridge From Then to Now: Tibetan Elders Living in Diaspora

This study presents how older Tibetan refugees have adapted to changing social and economic conditions in India. Participant observation and open-ended interview questions were used to explore life experiences of 14 older Tibetans living in India who participated in this study. Findings revealed that, after having to abandon familiar environments, these participants underwent harsh times in India but have adapted well. They have secured meaningful lives for themselves. Availability of children and institutional resources has proved beneficial at old age. Participants with children perceived that they were well cared for, which added to their satisfaction with present circumstances. However, those without children did not have any source of support and were dissatisfied. Religious activity was important for these participants. The ability to freely practice religion contributed to their satisfaction in exile. These findings are instructive for the treatment and acceptance of refugees throughout the world by contributing to the field of refugee aging and adaptation.
Interaction of capillary waves with longer waves. Part 1. General theory and specific applications to waves in one dimension

A Hamiltonian formulation is used to investigate irrotational capillary wave dynamics. Dissipation is accounted for by putting the wave system in contact with a ‘heat bath’. The generation of short waves by longer waves is studied. It is found that millimetre-wavelength waves tend to be created on the forward face of a steep longer wave, while centimetre waves tend to form near the crest. Generation of capillary waves by wind waves is investigated. The results are compared with predictions of the Hasselmann transport equation. It is found that off-resonance interactions lead to significant corrections to the transport theory. The relative importance of three-wave and four-wave interactions is studied, as well as the role of triad resonances. For the capillary phenomena studied here, the four-wave terms in most cases lead to quantitative, but not qualitative, corrections to the three-wave only calculations. However, restricting interactions to the neighbourhood of triad resonances can give quite erroneous results. Use of a canonical transformation to pseudo-wave variables can greatly reduce numerical computation times.
Saccadic eye movement latencies to multimodal stimuli. Intersubject variability and temporal efficiency.

Abstract The saccadic latencies to multimodal stimuli of 10 subjects were studied to determine the range of intersubject variations and to derive values which are representative of the normal population. Responses to simple step and pulse-step stimuli were measured where the target mode and pulse width were randomized. A matrix notation was introduced to describe all of the relevant latency variables without ambiguity. In comparing our results with other studies, we emphasized the importance of considering differing experimental conditions. We concluded that: (1) intersubject variation is a significant factor in data interpretation; (2) temporal efficiency is inherent in saccadic decision making; and (3) new visual information is continuously available to alter the latency or cause the cancellation of the initial saccade.
A guide to clinically relevant drug interactions in oncology

This paper presents an overview of new information on clinically relevant drug-drug interactions, particular focuses on negative drug interactions in oncology. We have generated a concise table of drug-drug interactions that provides a synopsis of the clinical outcome of the interaction along with a recommendation for management. We have also generated other tables that describe specific interactions with methotrexate and dosing guidelines for cytotoxic drugs in the presence of renal or hepatic dysfunction. Since warfarin is one of the non-anticancer drugs that is commonly used in cancer patients for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism, its interactions with other anticancer drugs that have been reported in literatures were also reviewed in this paper. In general, drug interactions observed in cancer patients may be categorized into pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and pharmaceutic interactions. Pharmacokinetic interactions involve one drug altering the absorption, distribution, metabol...
Characterization of 1H NMR spectroscopic data and the generation of synthetic validation sets

Motivation: Common contemporary practice within the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics community is to evaluate and validate novel algorithms on empirical data or simplified simulated data. Empirical data captures the complex characteristics of experimental data, but the optimal or most correct analysis is unknown a priori; therefore, researchers are forced to rely on indirect performance metrics, which are of limited value. In order to achieve fair and complete analysis of competing techniques more exacting metrics are required. Thus, metabolomics researchers often evaluate their algorithms on simplified simulated data with a known answer. Unfortunately, the conclusions obtained on simulated data are only of value if the data sets are complex enough for results to generalize to true experimental data. Ideally, synthetic data should be indistinguishable from empirical data, yet retain a known best analysis. Results: We have developed a technique for creating realistic synthetic metabolomics validation sets based on NMR spectroscopic data. The validation sets are developed by characterizing the salient distributions in sets of empirical spectroscopic data. Using this technique, several validation sets are constructed with a variety of characteristics present in ‘real’ data. A case study is then presented to compare the relative accuracy of several alignment algorithms using the increased precision afforded by these synthetic data sets. Availability: These data sets are available for download at http://birg.cs.wright.edu/nmr_synthetic_data_sets. Contact: travis.doom@wright.edu Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Intrauterine contraception: impact of provider training on participant knowledge and provision.

Abstract Background In California’s Medicaid family planning expansion, the Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment (Family PACT) Program, only 1.9% of contracepting women received intrauterine contraception (IUC) in 2006. Ten skills-based IUC provider trainings were offered from 2007 to 2010. Objective The objective was to evaluate the impact of these trainings on participant knowledge of the broad range of appropriate IUC candidates and measure changes in IUC provision following training. Study Design We evaluated changes in provider knowledge using a nine-item IUC Candidate Selection Scale on pre- and posttraining surveys. Changes in provision of IUC following the training were measured using Family PACT claims data. We compared changes in insertions posttraining to pretraining levels as well as to matched comparison sites that did not send trainees. Results Most participants at the training were advanced practice clinicians (70%) specializing in general primary care (77%) and practicing at community clinics (45%). Training participants increased their understanding of appropriate candidates (mean change in raw summary score=8.6, p Conclusions This study shows that skills-based training is an important strategy for the increase of IUC provision.
Mechanism for Pre-B Cell Loss in VH-Mutant Rabbits

Pre-BCR signaling is a critical checkpoint in B cell development in which B-lineage cells expressing functional IgH μ-chain are selectively expanded. B cell development is delayed in mutant ali/ali rabbits because the a-allotype encoding VH1 gene, which is normally used in VDJ gene rearrangements in wt rabbits, is deleted, and instead, most B-lineage cells use the a-allotype encoding VH4 gene [VH4(a)], which results in a severe developmental block at the pre-B cell stage. We found that VH4(a)-utilizing pre-B cells exhibit reduced pre-BCR signaling and do not undergo normal expansion in vitro. Transduction of murine 38B9 pre-B cells with chimeric rabbit-VDJ mouse-Cμ encoding retroviruses showed VH4(a)-encoded μ-chains do not readily form signal-competent pre-BCR, thereby explaining the reduction in pre-BCR signaling and pre-B cell expansion. Development of VH4(a)-utilizing B cells can be rescued in vivo by the expression of an Igκ transgene, indicating that VH4(a)-μ chains are not defective for conventional BCR formation and signaling. The ali/ali rabbit model system is unique because VH4(a)-μ chains have the capacity to pair with a variety of conventional IgL chains and yet lack the capacity to form a signal-competent pre-BCR. This system could allow for identification of critical structural parameters that govern pre-BCR formation/signaling.
A Cysteine Protease is a Target for the Enzyme Structure-Based Design of Antiparasitic Drugs

Proteases have been shown to be factors in the pathogenicity of many parasitic diseases, either by inducing tissue damage and facilitating invasion or by enabling the parasites to salvage metabolites from host proteins. To study genes encoding cysteine proteases of parasites, a general method for cloning fragments of thiol protease genes was developed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with degenerate oligonucleotide primers. Subsequently, a PCR-amplified gene fragment of the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, was used to isolate a full-length gene encoding a cysteine protease. At least six copies of the gene are organized in the genome as a tandem array. The high degree of sequence identity with the papain family of enzymes suggested the name “cruzain.” A copy of the gene was expressed in bacteria as an inactive, insoluble fusion polypeptide. Subsequently, the fusion protein was solubilized in urea and refolded to produce a polyprotein which processed autocatalytically to yield active, recombi...
Assessing coronary target lesion length: the Goldilocks approach

The fact that coronary artery disease is a diffuse process [1] poses a challenge to the coronary interventionalist. Should we strive for a ‘normalto-normal’ stent implantation, whereby culprit plaque is completely trapped beneath stent struts and stent edges are embedded in relatively healthy segments of vessel? In the bare metal era, longer stents were associated with greater risk of restenosis [2], making a strategy of ‘spot stenting’ more appealing. Early-generation drug-eluting stents markedly reduced restenosis, but increasing stent length was associated with higher rates of stent thrombosis [3–5]. Conversely, incomplete longitudinal coverage of target lesions is associated with higher frequency of stent edge dissection [6] and restenosis [7]. In the absence of guideline recommendations or randomized trial data supporting routine ‘spot-stenting’ or ‘normal-to-normal’ approaches, decisions regarding stent length are often individualized for different patients and lesions. Direct coronary imaging can supplement the angiographic lumenogram by accurately assessing the true extent of plaque, allowing the operator to cover diseased vessel without implanting excessive length of stent. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) readily identifies plaque in the wall of the artery, which may expand outward long before it encroaches on the lumen and is detectible by angiography [8]. It has been estimated that less than 10% of ‘normal’ reference segments by invasive coronary angiography are free of plaque burden by IVUS [9]. Employing IVUS to guide stenting decisions improves patient outcomes. Early and late stent failure can potentially be averted with the detection of major edge dissections and malappo sition, which may be invisible by invasive coronary angiography [10,11]. A large, retrospective study of nearly 3500 patients found that the use of IVUS to optimize stenting resulted in significant reductions in myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularization, largely attributed to the use of longer or more appropriately sized stents [12]. Taking IVUS guidance a step further, Morino et al. achieved a very low rate of drug-eluting stent edge restenosis by implanting stent edges in reference segments containing plaque burden <50% [13]. Plaque composition may also influence stent outcomes. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)
Performance enhancement of super-resolving biomimetic antenna arrays

Recently, it was demonstrated that the super-resolving characteristics of a biomimetic antenna array (BMAA) that mimics the sense of directional hearing of the parasitoid fly Ormia Ochracea come at the expense of its available output power. In this paper, we show that for any given desired response, an optimum BMAA implementation exists that results in maximum available output power. This optimum implementation will significantly enhance the range of a super-resolving BMAA. We also prove that strong mutual coupling between the antennas can be exploited to further enhance the available output power. Thus, unlike conventional arrays, mutual coupling is very beneficial in BMAAs. Measurement results of a fabricated prototype are presented and experimentally verify these theoretical findings.
Skeletal deterioration induced by RANKL infusion: a model for high-turnover bone disease

RANKL was administered continuously to rats for 28 days to investigate its potential as a disease model for the skeletal system. Bone turnover rates, bone material, structural and mechanical properties were evaluated. RANKL infusion caused overall skeletal complications comparable to those in high bone-turnover conditions, such as postmenopausal osteoporosis. RANKL is an essential mediator for osteoclast development. No study has examined in detail the direct skeletal consequences of excess RANKL on bone turnover, mineralization, architecture, and vascular calcification. We, therefore, administrated soluble RANKL continuously into mature rats and created a bone-loss model. Six-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to three groups (n = 12) receiving continuous administration of saline (VEH) or human RANKL (35 μg/kg/day, LOW or 175 μg/kg/day, HI) for 28 days. Blood was collected routinely during the study. At sacrifice, hind limbs and aorta were removed and samples were analyzed. High dose RANKL markedly stimulated serum osteocalcin and TRAP-5b levels and reduced femur cortical bone volume (−7.6%) and trabecular volume fraction (BV/TV) at the proximal tibia (−64% vs. VEH). Bone quality was significantly degraded in HI, as evidenced by decreased femoral percent mineralization, trabecular connectivity, and increased endocortical bone resorption perimeters. Both cortical and trabecular bone mechanical properties were reduced by high dose RANKL. No differences were observed in the mineral content of the abdominal aorta. Continuous RANKL infusion caused general detrimental effects on rat skeleton. These changes are comparable to those commonly observed in high-turnover bone diseases such as postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Signal-quality consideration for dynamic connection provisioning in all-optical wavelength-routed networks

We investigate new connection-provisioning algorithms to efficiently provide signal-quality-guaranteed connections in an all-optical WDM mesh network. In the all-optical network, signal degradations incurred by non-ideal transmission medium accumulate along a lightpath. When the signal degradation reaches a certain level, the connection is not usable and is blocked due to transmission impairments in the physical layer. To ensure high service quality of provisioned connections, it is essential to develop intelligent routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithms which can combat the effects of impairments when setting up a connection. For this purpose, we propose two impairment-aware RWA algorithms, namely impairment-aware best-path (IABP) algorithm and impairment-aware first-fit (IAFF) algorithm. The optical signal-to-noise raito (OSNR) requirement and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) effect are used as signal-quality constraints to avoid setting up a connection with unacceptable quality due to the effects of transmission impairments. With the signal-quality consideration, as compared to algorithms that are not impairment aware in a realistic optical network, our proposed impairment-aware algorithms efficiently provide signal-quality-guaranteed connection while significantly reducing connection-blocking probability, better utilizing network resources, and having a reasonable computational requirement. Also, the effect of channel bit rate is studied in this paper.
The absence of Indigenous Histories in Ken Burns's the National Parks: America's Best Idea

Abstract The National Parks begins in 1851 and ends with Alaska in the 1970s, yet almost entirely erases Indigenous history from the landscape, allowing Native Alaskans, Indigenous Hawaiians, and American Indians no foothold or voice in the modern story of the parks. This is remarkable, considering that all of the parks were established on Indigenous homelands and that Native people and politics continue to be intertwined with the recent history of the parks. The experiences of Ojibwe people in the Great Lakes suggest that the creation of national parks in their homeland was part of a broader colonial history of appropriating Indigenous lands and resources, and extended the damaging policies of the Indian assimilation and allotment era farther into the twentieth century.
SELECTED CHALLENGES IN JET AND ROCKET ENGINE COMBUSTION RESEARCH

This invited paper reviews several worthy challenges related to combustion in liquid-fueled turbojet and ramjet engines or in liquid-propellant rocket engines. Recent researches on highpressure combustion processes, the burning of metals and metal slurries, and combustion processes in accelerated flows are considered. Their priority for selection here is based upon their potential for causing a quantum leap in technology and upon the authors' personal experience with the subjects.
Field and Growth Chamber Inoculations Demonstrate Persea indica as a Newly Recognized Host for the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea laurciola

Marc A. Hughes, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; Gurpreet Brar, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; Randy C. Ploetz, Department of Plant Pathology, Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031; and Jason A. Smith, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
Exocytosis of Alphaherpesvirus Virions, Light Particles, and Glycoproteins Uses Constitutive Secretory Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Many molecular and cell biological details of the alphaherpesvirus assembly and egress pathway remain unclear. Recently we developed a live-cell fluorescence microscopy assay of pseudorabies virus (PRV) exocytosis, based on total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and a virus-encoded pH-sensitive fluorescent probe. Here, we use this assay to distinguish three classes of viral exocytosis in a nonpolarized cell type: (i) trafficking of viral glycoproteins to the plasma membrane, (ii) exocytosis of viral light particles, and (iii) exocytosis of virions. We find that viral glycoproteins traffic to the cell surface in association with constitutive secretory Rab GTPases and exhibit free diffusion into the plasma membrane after exocytosis. Similarly, both virions and light particles use these same constitutive secretory mechanisms for egress from infected cells. Furthermore, we show that viral light particles are distinct from cellular exosomes. Together, these observations shed light on viral glycoprotein trafficking steps that precede virus particle assembly and reinforce the idea that virions and light particles share a biogenesis and trafficking pathway. IMPORTANCE The alphaherpesviruses, including the important human pathogens herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), are among the few viruses that have evolved to exploit the mammalian nervous system. These viruses typically cause mild recurrent herpetic or zosteriform lesions but can also cause debilitating herpes encephalitis, more frequently in very young, old, immunocompromised, or nonnatural hosts. Importantly, many of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of viral assembly and egress remain unclear. This study addresses the trafficking of viral glycoproteins to the plasma membrane, exocytosis of light particles, and exocytosis of virions. Trafficking of glycoproteins affects immune evasion and pathogenesis and may precede virus particle assembly. The release of light particles may also contribute to immune evasion and pathogenesis. Finally, exocytosis of virions is important to understand, as this final step in the virus replication cycle produces infectious extracellular particles capable of spreading to the next round of host cells.
The influence of geomorphic unit spatial distribution on nitrogen retention and removal in a large river

Fluvial geomorphic features drive nutrient dynamics in river systems that have only recently begun to be incorporated into conceptual and numerical models designed to predict nutrient yields and flux. The role of channel geomorphic units (pools, riffles, etc.) and their associated aquatic communities in determining nitrogen retention and removal in aquatic ecosystems is understudied. Here we study the effects of the spatial distribution of geomorphic features on within-channel nitrate dynamics. We developed an agent-based model that simulates biological and hydrological processes involved in nitrate retention and removal occurring in a river segment of the 6th order Cahaba River, AL (USA). We simulated nitrate retention and removal under three scenarios in which the total area of geomorphic units were held constant while their longitudinal distributions were manipulated under low and high nitrate supply levels (relative to biological demand). High nitrate supply simulations suppressed any effect caused by differing longitudinal sequence of geomorphic units/aquatic communities. In contrast, low nitrate supply simulations demonstrated differences in total potential nitrate retention and removal for the study segment based on the spatial distribution of geomorphic units/aquatic communities. Our findings suggest that the spatial arrangement of geomorphic units and their associated aquatic communities can be an important control on nitrogen dynamics in large rivers, demonstrating that fluvial geomorphic features merit consideration when nutrient retention and removal in rivers is examined. Thus, measures of channel geomorphology employed in water quality management, biogeochemical studies, and to evaluate the efficacy of restoration efforts on nutrient levels should be broadened to include characterization of the spatial configuration of geomorphic units and their associated aquatic communities.
Acoustical Aspects of the Environmental Spectrum

Acoustics pertains to the effect of sound on hearing. The environmental spectrum with which we are concerned includes any space which may be successfully occupied by man. For the sake of time and specificity, this discussion will be limited to the more mundane aspects of excessive noise exposure. That is, those aspects measurably affecting the most people in their ordinary occupational, avocational, and recreational pursuits. The psycho-acoustical effects of noise will not be discussed, but rather the noise intensities loud enough to produce temporary or permanent threshold shifts in human hearing acuity will be considered. Temporary threshold shifts (TTS) and permanent threshold shifts (PTS) may be illustrated by the idealized scheme shown in Figure 1. Here we see tne hypothetical build-up of a cumulative effect due to repeated insults.
Learning Styles of Students and Faculty in Selected Health Care Professions

The purposes of this study were to determine if students and faculty in nursing and allied health demonstrate a predominant learning style, if there is an association between a specific learning style (converger, diverger, accommodator, or assimilator) and self-directed learning readiness for these groups, if these learning characteristics can predict academic success, and if a discipline-specific learning style can be identified. Marshall and Merritt's (1986) Learning Style Questionnaire and Guglielmino's (1978) Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) were administered to 301 generic BSN students, 188 RN-BSN students, 110 allied health students, and 30 nursing faculty from one southwestern university. There were no significant differences in learning style between students and faculty; the converger style was the predominant learning style for all subjects. Faculty were more self-directed than students; although, overall, students scored high on the SDLRS. Self-directed learning readiness appears to affect learning style. Convergers were significantly more self-directed than either the accommodators, assimilators, or divergers. Academic success, as determined by program completion, could not be predicted on the basis of learning style or self-direction.
A Comparative Study of Natural Antimicrobial Delivery Systems for Microbial Safety and Quality of Fresh‐Cut Lettuce

Nanoencapsulation can provide a means to effectively deliver antimicrobial compounds and enhance the safety of fresh produce. However, to date there are no studies which directly compares how different nanoencapsulation systems affect fresh produce safety and quality. This study compared the effects on quality and safety of fresh‐cut lettuce treated with free and nanoencapsulated natural antimicrobial, cinnamon bark extract (CBE). A challenge study compared antimicrobial efficacy of 3 different nanoencapsulated CBE systems. The most effective antimicrobial treatment against Listeria monocytogeneswas chitosan‐co‐poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (chitosan‐PNIPAAM) encapsulated CBE, with a reduction on bacterial load up to 2 log10CFU/g (P< 0.05) compared to the other encapsulation systems when fresh‐cut lettuce was stored at 5 °C and 10 °C for 15 d. Subsequently, chitosan‐PNIPAAM‐CBE nanoparticles (20, 40, and 80 mg/mL) were compared to a control and free CBE (400, 800, and 1600 μg/mL) for its effects on fresh‐cut lettuce quality over 15 d at 5 °C. By the 10th day, the most effective antimicrobial concentration was 80 mg/mL for chitosan‐PNIPAAM‐CBE, up to 2 log10CFU/g reduction (P< 0.05), compared with the other treatments. There was no significant difference between control and treated samples up to day 10 for the quality attributes evaluated. Chitosan‐PNIPAAM‐CBE nanoparticles effectively inhibited spoilage microorganisms’ growth and extended fresh‐cut lettuce shelf‐life. Overall, nanoencapsulation provided a method to effectively deliver essential oil and enhanced produce safety, while creating little to no detrimental quality changes on the fresh‐cut lettuce. There is an immediate need in the food industry for antimicrobial treatments for fresh produce safety that effectively eliminate foodborne pathogens. Nanoencapsulation can provide a means to effectively deliver antimicrobial compounds and enhance the safety of fresh produce. This comparative study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of free and nanoencapsulated natural antimicrobial systems against a foodborne pathogen, while monitoring their effect on fresh‐cut produce quality. Overall, nanoencapsulation provided a method to effectively deliver essential oil and enhanced produce safety, while creating little to no detrimental quality changes on the fresh‐cut produce. This study provides a side‐by‐side comparison among nanoencapsulation systems and their effect(s) on foodborne pathogen inhibition and also produce quality throughout shelf‐life that could be used for other natural antimicrobials with similar properties and fresh produce applications.
The Strength of Strong Ties Reconsidered: Social Ties and Collective Power in a Gentrifying Community:

Widespread gentrification has increasingly been accompanied by community-based conflicts between newer and long-established residents. These conflicts raise questions about the strategies long-time...
Equal respect, capabilities and the moral limits of market exchange: denigration in the EU internal market

The EU's central task is to improve the lives of European citizens. The EU acts out that task by enhancing its internal market, on the assumption that market exchanges are a primary way individuals pursue their own conceptions of the good life. While the EU aims to enable market exchange through its legal structures, it does not demarcate the moral limits of its internal market. As such, the EU approach to the internal market has decoupled market logic from morality. However, justice requires that European citizens are treated with equal respect and that the exchanges they wish to pursue are subject to a generalisable normative standard. This paper explores the question of how and where the moral limits of the internal market are drawn as a question of justice, and argues that the current European approach to this question fails to safeguard European citizens from denigration.
A tunable-resonance faraday device for dual cardiac sensing and energy harvesting

Efficient energy harvesting from the mechanical energy of cardiac motion is an attractive means to avoid the use of batteries in implantable sensors for non-life sustaining applications. Ideally, a single device would integrate both sensing and energy harvesting functionality. This work describes a novel electromagnetic system that achieves high sensitivity sensing of cardiac signals while simultaneously providing adaptive and efficient energy harvesting capability utilizing tunable resonance. The harvested mechanical energy can then be deployed for myriad purposes including self-sustaining sensor operation, trickle charging of other nearby battery-powered devices (e.g. pacemakers), data logging, or periodic telemetry. Although some harvested energy is required adaptively tune a mechanical resonant frequency, this energy expenditure occurs at a relatively low frequency and is minimized with the chosen design concept. A prototype design is constructed and tested to demonstrate the viability of the approach.