cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Innovating down on the farm: Communication networks that facilitate water quality practices

Meaningful conservation practices on upper Midwest grain farms cannot be effective without robust networks of farmer operators, landowners, advocacy groups, and conservation officials working together. These communication networks, which are currently weak or non-existent, require willing actors employing technical expertise to improve water quality by growing cover crops in Iowa. Technical communicators have the skills to play a role in this effort but are not currently engaged. In my paper I look specifically at the case of one relationship that includes landowner, farmer operator, government agencies, and advocacy groups.
Resale Price Maintenance: An Economic Analysis of its Anticompetitive Potential

A decade ago, Leegin overruled Dr. Miles and subjected RPM to rule-of-reason treatment, under which the potential for anticompetitive conduct should be analyzed (rather than automatically assumed to be present). In its Leegin decision, the Supreme Court identified four ways in which RPM could be used to retard competition and consequently reduce consumer welfare: The first two involve the well-known concerns that RPM could be used to support either a manufacturer cartel or a dealer cartel; the last two involve unilateral conduct designed to foreclose entry or hinder smaller rivals. In this paper, we analyze these potentially harmful uses of RPM. We conclude that RPM does not pose a substantial anticompetitive threat.
Adoptions and Eliminations of Economic Profit Plans and Internal Capital Markets Efficiency

Internal capital markets of diversified firms have been associated with inefficient allocation of investment funds across divisions, leading to value losses. Utilizing a sample of diversified firms that adopted or eliminated Economic Profit Plans (EPPs) between 1990 and 2009, we show that adoptions of those plans (that reward profitability, but penalize excessive capital investment) mitigate investment distortions and lead to value gains. Following the adoption of EPPs, diversified firms start allocating investment funds based on growth opportunities of their divisions. EPP adopters lower their divisional investment levels, especially in segments with below-average growth opportunities. The overall investment allocation efficiency improves, and the diversification discount diminishes after the adoption of EPPs. However, EPPs appear to be used only as temporary tools for assessing corporate performance. The plans are adopted primarily by firms expected to immediately generate plan bonuses for management, and they are frequently eliminated by firms with bad accounting performance, and low managerial bonuses. The study contributes to the literature on organizational efficiency, internal capital markets and on the importance of measures based on economic profits or residual income.
The Role of Transfusion Medicine Physicians

Abstract Physicians with interest or expertise in transfusion medicine must apply their clinical consultation and laboratory management skills to be accorded support for their activities. To establish credibility, efforts must initially be directed where patient benefit and financial gain can be documented. Focusing efforts on practice improvements and sharing the results of those efforts with physician colleagues and administrators can help ensure continued support. Transfusion medicine continues to play an important role in health care, particularly in an era of managed care and reduced resources. Investment in the activities of this discipline will pay off for patients, clinicians, and hospitals.
Reading in the Digital Age: A Review of ‘Words on Screen’

A book review of "Words on Screen" by Professor Naomi Baron. Professor Baron's book reveals that reading is a more complex activity than meets the eye. Individual reading strategies, the chosen platform, and the medium all play a role in how much students engage with the underlying ideas reflected in the text. Changing any of these variables can affect the reader’s relationship with the text which ultimately impacts their understanding and retention of the content. For legal research and writing professors, the value of Professor Baron’s book is that it can help us become more aware of the need to train students in a range of reading styles and platforms that they can learn to toggle between depending on the task at hand. For us and our students, being an effective reader in the digital age is about knowing how to pick right tool for each job.
Statistics in the big data era: Failures of the machine

Abstract There is vast interest in automated methods for complex data analysis. However, there is a lack of consideration of (1) interpretability, (2) uncertainty quantification, (3) applications with limited training data, and (4) selection bias. Statistical methods can achieve (1)-(4) with a change in focus.
O retorno ao “social”: estudos de teoria social e cultura da produção

In this article, I argue that studies of media production should use grounded case studies in order to evaluate and reformulate classic social theories of production in light of the new spirit of capitalism. To wit, I present fieldwork with reality television casting personnel in which casters fail to achieve their industrial production goals. In this case, instances of failure may illustrate how the social concept of alienation is lived through processes of television production.
Nonreciprocal Modulation via Intermodal Brillouin Scattering in a Silicon Waveguide

We report non-reciprocal optical modulation and mode conversion mediated by an optically-driven acoustic wave. Through this process, we experimentally demonstrate >20 dB of nonreciprocity over a >1 nm optical bandwidth in an integrated silicon waveguide.
Contraceptives for Special Populations

In 2004, the Department of Health and Human Services estimated that about 47% of female and 46% of male teenagers had had sexual intercourse at least once (1). Sexually active teenagers report that they use a contraceptive method only 75 to 90% of the time. Among the developed countries, the United States continues to have one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates (up to 90 per 1000).
Side-Channel Cryptanalysis: A Brief Survey

Traditionally, the mathematical cryptanalysis considers that the cryptographic device is an abstract machine and target primarily the weaknesses of the cryptographic algorithm by taking advantage of the input and output data. In Shannon’s 1949 paper on “Communication Theory of Secrecy Systems”, he defined what should be perfect secrecy:
Convergence between Rorschach and self-report: A new look at some old questions.

Objective This study presents an examination of the influence of response format on convergence between performance-based and self-report assessments of similar mental health constructs, to determine if such method variance might account for prior findings of lack of relationship. Methods An online sample of 455 participants (57% male; average age, 35.5) completed a multiple-choice version of the Rorschach and two self-report instruments, the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) representation of the domain traits of the five-factor model (FFM). Results Several significant interrelationships emerged between the Rorschach Amplified Multiple Choice Test and the PAI and IPIP five-factor scales. Conclusions These findings suggest that the Rorschach can correlate meaningfully with similar constructs assessed using self-report methodology when comparable response formats are utilized.
Metabolic requirements of the nephron

The mammalian kidney is a complex organ that has several metabolically active cell types to aid in waste filtration, salt-water balance, and electrolyte homeostasis in the body. These functions are done primarily through the nephron, which relies on strict regulation of various metabolic pathways. Any deviations in the metabolic profile of nephrons or their precursor cells called nephron progenitors can lead to renal pathologies and abnormal development. Metabolism encompasses the mechanisms by which cells generate intermediate molecules and energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is required by all cells and is mainly generated through glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation. During kidney development, self-renewing or proliferating cells rely on glycolysis to a greater extent than the other metabolic pathways to supply energy, replenish reducing equivalents, and generate nucleotides. However, terminally differentiated cell types rely more heavily on fatty acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation performed in the mitochondria to fulfill energy requirements. Further, the mature nephron is comprised of distinct segments and each segment utilizes metabolic pathways to varying degrees depending on the specific function. This review will focus on major metabolic processes performed by the nephron during health and disease.
Denitrifying bioreactor response during storm events

Abstract Denitrifying bioreactors can be an effective management strategy to address excess nitrate from tile-drained fields. However, there has been minimal research on how bioreactors function during storm events, which can account for large portions of annual nitrate load. Storm events cause reduced hydraulic retention time and potentially temperature and flow path fluctuations that may disturb denitrifying microbial communities within the bioreactor. In this study, nitrate concentration and flow rate were monitored during baseflow and storm-induced flow in four denitrifying bioreactors treating agricultural tile drainage to compare removal rate (RR) and removal efficiency (RE) between flow conditions. Removal rate was higher in stormflow than baseflow for all the bioreactors, though this was only significant for two bioreactors. However, RR was lower on average following events compared with pre-storm rates. Lag time, the period between a parcel of water entering the bioreactor and exiting, ranged between 2 and 24 h for the observed storms. Calculations of RR and RE that account for lag time were significantly lower than standard calculations. The model of RR that included a variable of flow variation (coefficient of variation in flow over a 24-hour period) was most effective at describing observed data. This, along with differences in RR between baseflow and stormflow, suggests that bioreactor function in storms should be considered separately from baseflow. Decreased RR following storms also suggests that bioreactors may require additional design considerations to reduce disturbance, especially for fields where much of the annual nitrate runoff load is concentrated in storm-induced events.
Examples and the facilitation of student learning: should instructors provide examples or should students generate their own?

This study examined learning differences for students who were given instructor-provided examples during a lesson compared with student-generated examples. In an experiment, 348 students were expos...
Suppressor (CD8+/CD28-) T cells are increased in cancer patients and inhibit helper T-cell proliferation.

2169 Purpose: A dominant antitumor immune pathway is through cellular immunity. An effective immune response against tumor cells can be altered by proinflammatory and antagonistic pathways. Host anti-tumor immune responses can be attenuated by suppressor T cells of the phenotype CD8+/CD28- (Ts cells). We explored the presence and function of Ts cells in the peripheral blood compartment of melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. We hypothesized that cancer patients would exhibit higher percentages of Ts cells in peripheral blood compared to healthy volunteers. We further attempted to determine the function of circulating Ts cells and whether their function would be attenuated by IL-2. Experimental Design: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 41 cancer patients (29 RCC patients, 12 melanoma patients) and 24 healthy volunteers were isolated by Ficoll-Paque gradient centrifugation. We utilized flow cytometry to determine the percent of CD8bright+ cells that expressed the CD8+/CD28- phenotype. Differences in the percentage of CD8+/CD28- cells between healthy volunteers and cancer patients were analyzed using the unpaired t test. We determined Ts function using a CD4+ cell proliferation assay. We used peripheral blood samples from representative cancer patients to obtain purified populations of CD4+ and CD8+/CD28- cells through magnetic bead separation. Ts cell function was ultimately determined by suppression of proliferation as measured by [3H] thymidine incorporation. Cell proliferation assays were performed in the absence and presence of IL-2. Results: A significant difference in the percent of Ts cell was observed when comparing peripheral blood samples from cancer patients to healthy volunteers (36.85% vs. 21.32%, p
1167. Dialysis-Related Bloodstream Infections: A Pre- and Post-ClearGuard HD Cap Conception Study

Background 25% of patients on hemodialysis receive therapy via a tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC). Bacteremia is one of the most feared complications with an all-cause mortality rate of 12–25%, Medicare spending costs amounting nearly $600 million annually and average hospital length of stay of 12 days per episode. The ClearGuard HD chlorhexidine impregnated catheter (ClearGuard cap) has recently shown potential to significantly reduce rates of bacteremia.
High-throughput screening fluorescence polarization assay for tumor-specific Hsp90

LB-301 Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that has emerged as an important target in cancer and several other diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, etcnerve injuries, inflammation and infection. Discovery of novel agents that inhibit Hsp90 and have drug-like properties is therefore, a major focus in several academic and industrial laboratories. Here we describe the development and optimization in 384-well format of a novel assay for the identification of Hsp90 inhibitors using fluorescence polarization. It measures competitive binding of red-shifted fluorescently labeled geldanamycin (GM-cy3B) to Hsp90 found in the NCI-N417 small cell lung carcinoma cells. GM-cy3B binds with high affinity and specificity to cellular Hsp90. The assay results in excellent S:N (>10) ratios and Z9 values (>0.75) at tracer concentrations above 4 nM and 1μg/well of total NCI-N417 protein, indicating a robust assay. It also equilibrates after 5 h incubation at RT and remains stable for up to 24 h. Furthermore, it is a simple mix-&-read format that is cost effective and uses only low amounts of fluorophore and cell lysates. A study using over 15,000 compounds from the NIH Molecular Libraries Screening Center Network (MLSCN) was performed to validate its performance in a high-throughput screening format.
EARLY PREDICTION OF SURVIVAL WITH PRESERVED NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION FOLLOWING OUT-OF-HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARREST

Early, accurate and rapid risk stratification of patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) could facilitate clinical decision making. We sought to develop a risk model to predict survival to hospital discharge with preserved neurological function following OHCA based on
Comparing DNA Extraction and 16s Amplification Methods for Plant-Associated Bacterial Communities

Abstract Plant-associated microbes play important roles in global ecology and agriculture. The most common method to profile these microbial communities is amplicon sequencing of the bacterial 16s rRNA gene. Both the DNA extraction and PCR amplification steps of this process are subject to bias, especially since the latter requires some way to exclude DNA from plant organelles, which would otherwise dominate the sample. We compared several common DNA extraction kits and 16s rRNA amplification protocols to determine the relative biases of each and to make recommendations for plant microbial researchers. For DNA extraction, we found that, as expected, kits optimized for soil were the best for soil, though each still included a distinct “fingerprint” of its own biases. Plant samples were less clear, with different species having different “best” options. For 16s amplification, we find that using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) clamps provides the least taxonomic distortion, while chloroplast-discriminating primers are easy and inexpensive but present significant bias in the results. We do not recommend blocking oligos, as they involved a more complex protocol and showed significant taxonomic bias in the results. Further methods development will hopefully result in protocols that are even more reliable and less biased.
Spectral Gap Optimization of Divergence Type Diffusion Operators

In this paper, we address the problem of maximizing the spectral gap of a divergence type diffusion operator. Our main application of interest is characterizing the distribution of a swarm of agents that evolve on a bounded domain in ℝ d according to a Markov process. A subclass of the divergence type operators that we introduce in this paper can describe the distribution of the swarm across the domain. We construct an operator that stabilizes target distributions that are bounded and strictly positive almost everywhere on the domain. Optimizing the spectral gap of the operator ensures fast convergence to this target distribution. The optimization problem is posed as the minimization of the second largest eigenvalue modulus (SLEM) of the operator (the largest eigenvalue is 0). We use the well-known Courant-Fisher min-max principle to characterize the SLEM. We also present a numerical scheme for solving the optimization problem, and we validate our optimization approach for two example target distributions.
Laser polishing for improving fatigue performance of additive manufactured Ti-6Al-4V parts

Abstract Additive manufacturing of metallic materials is rapidly growing due to the possibility of constructing customized products with complex geometries. The mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts often show inconsistent performance when compared against their wrought counterparts. The fatigue performance is often severely undermined by the presence of process-induced defects and in particular surface roughness, hence requiring a post-processing method to treat the surface of additively manufactured metallic parts. In this study, laser polishing is presented as a fast, efficient, and precise approach for post-processing of additively manufactured parts. The alpha-beta titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) specimens were fabricated by laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) method and subsequently surface-treated by a continuous wave fiber laser in a controlled environment. A comprehensive study was performed to determine the optimum process parameters of laser polishing. Results indicated that the high cycle fatigue lives of the laser polished parts were somewhat longer than the as-built specimens due to reduced surface roughness. Inevitable residual stresses were introduced by laser polishing; however, it was successfully relaxed by a secondary stress relief process. Moreover, the laser polished and secondary stress relieved specimens had improved fatigue strengths at all life regimes.
Decline in Rehab Transfers Among Rehab-Eligible Stroke Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize differences in disposition arrangement among rehab-eligible stroke patients at a Comprehensive Stroke Center before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a prospective registry for demographics, hospital course, and discharge dispositions of rehab-eligible acute stroke survivors admitted 6 months prior to (10/2019-03/2020) and during (04/2020-09/2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary outcome was discharge to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) as opposed to other facilities using descriptive statistics, and IRF versus home using unadjusted and adjusted backward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 507 rehab-eligible stroke survivors, there was no difference in age, premorbid disability, or stroke severity between study periods (p>0.05). There was a 9% absolute decrease in discharges to an IRF during the pandemic (32.1% vs. 41.1%, p=0.04), which translated to 38% lower odds of being discharged to IRF versus home in unadjusted regression (OR 0.62, 95%CI 0.42-0.92, p=0.016). The lower odds of discharge to IRF persisted in the multivariable model (aOR 0.16, 95%CI 0.09-0.31, p<0.001) despite a significant increase in discharge disability (median discharge mRS 4 [IQR 2-4] vs. 2 [IQR 1-3], p<0.001) during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Admission for stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significantly lower probability of being discharged to an IRF. This effect persisted despite adjustment for predictors of IRF disposition, including functional disability at discharge. Potential reasons for this disparity are explored.
Using Modal Projection Error to Evaluate

Expansion techniques are powerful tools that can take a limited measurement set and provide information on responses at unmeasured locations. Expansion techniques are used in dynamic environments specifications, full field stress measurements, model calibration, and other calculations that require response at locations not measured. However, the process of modal expansion techniques such as SEREP (System Equivalent Reduction Expansion Process) has error with the projection of the measurement set of degrees of freedom to the expanded degrees of freedom. Empirical evidence has been used in the past to qualitatively determine the error. In recent years, the modal projection error was developed to quantify the error through a projection between different domains. The modal projection error is used in this paper to demonstrate the use of the metric in quantifying the error of the expansion process and to quantify which modes of the expansion process are the most important.
Evaluating Risk Assessments Using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Analysis: Rationale, Advantages, Insights, and Limitations

The last two decades have witnessed major changes in the way that mental health professionals assess, describe, and think about persons’ risk for future violence. Psychiatrists and psychologists have gone from believing that they could not predict violence to feeling certain they can assess violence risk with well-above-chance accuracy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis has played a central role in changing this view. This article reviews the key concepts underlying ROC methods, the meaning of the area under the ROC curve (AUC), the relationship between AUC and effect size d, and what these two indices tell us about evaluations of violence risk. AUC and d provide succinct but incomplete descriptions of discrimination capacity. These indices do not provide details about sensitivity-specificity trade-offs; they do not tell us how to balance false positive and false negative errors; and they do not determine whether a diagnostic system is accurate enough to make practically useful distinctions between violent and nonviolent subject groups. Justifying choices or clinical practices requires a contextual investigation of outcomes, a process that takes us beyond simply knowing global indices of accuracy.
Piping Potential of Weak Zones Under Concrete Dams

A method is presented for evaluating the piping potential of shear zones crossing the foundation of a concrete dam from upstream to downstream. The steps described for this method involves determination of the exit gradient for the zone in question, determination of the exit gradient for the zone under reservoir conditions, and comparison of the exit gradient under reservoir conditions to the critical exit gradient for determining required foundation treatment.
Subpicosecond Coherent Manipulation of X‐Rays

The Takagi‐Taupin theory is synthesized with the eikonal theory in a unified space‐time approach, based upon microscopic electromagnetism. It is designed specifically to address x‐ray diffraction in crystal structures being modified within down to a few femtosconds. Possible applications in the subpicosecond coherent manipulation of x‐rays are given.
Fibrillar Amyloid: Thinking Globally, Not Acting Locally (P5.021)

OBJECTIVE: Analyze regional patterns of amyloid deposition and glucose metabolism in the same subjects, using florbetapir and FDG PET, respectively. BACKGROUND: The amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) holds that fibrillar deposits of amyloid are an early, driving force in pathological events leading ultimately to neuronal death. The advent of amyloid imaging necessitates a critical re-analysis of this hypothesis. DESIGN/METHODS: We obtained structural T1-weighted MRI scans and date-matched florbetapir and FDG PET scans for N=676 subjects from the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database (healthy control: 230; mild cognitive impairment: 446). Voxelwise gray matter (GM) density was computed using the VBM8 toolbox and corrected for intracranialvolume (ICV). PET data were analyzed in subject space by projecting regions-of-interest (ROIs) from MNI space to subject space using SPM8. PET intensity values were re-scaled to a joint pons-vermis ROI (FDG) or whole cerebellum ROI (florbetapir). Average GM density and PET intensities were extracted for 499 functionally-defined ROIs. For each ROI, we modeled FDG intensity as a linear function of florbetapir intensity, GM density, age, disease status and ICV. We tested for a significant contribution of the florbetapir tracer retention. P-values were Bonferroni corrected for 499 tests. Further, we tested for regional specificity by comparing the effect of florbetapir intensity on FDG intensity in the same ROI to the effect of florbetapir intensity in any of the 498 ROIs on FDG in that ROI. RESULTS: A significant “harmful”, hypometabolic effect of amyloid was detected in posterior cingulate, precuneus, and parietal regions, i.e., default mode network (DMN) regions. A significant “beneficial” positive association was found in bilateral hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex. After correcting for regional specificity, positive associations remained while negative associations in the DMN largely disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Regional fibrillar amyloid deposition has little to no association with regional glucose metabolism. Disclosure: Dr. Altmann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Landau has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jagust has received personal compensation for activities with Genentech Inc., Synarc, Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, TauRx, and Siemens as a consultant. Dr. Greicius has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer Inc., GLG Pharma, Genetech, Biogen Idec, Synarc, and Perceptive.
Rainbow Connection of Sparse Random Graphs

An edge colored graph $G$ is rainbow edge connected if any two vertices are connected by a path whose edges have distinct colors. The rainbow connectivity of a connected graph $G$, denoted by $rc(G)$, is the smallest number of colors that are needed in order to make $G$ rainbow connected. In this work we study the rainbow connectivity of binomial random graphs at the connectivity threshold $p=\frac{\log n+\omega}{n}$ where $\omega=\omega(n)\to\infty$ and ${\omega}=o(\log{n})$ and of random $r$-regular graphs where $r \geq 3$ is a fixed integer. Specifically, we prove that the rainbow connectivity $rc(G)$ of $G=G(n,p)$ satisfies $rc(G) \sim \max\{Z_1,\text{diam}(G)\}$ with high probability ( whp ). Here $Z_1$ is the number of vertices in $G$ whose degree equals 1 and the diameter of $G$ is asymptotically equal to $\frac{\log n}{\log\log n}$ whp . Finally, we prove that the rainbow connectivity $rc(G)$ of the random $r$-regular graph $G=G(n,r)$ whp satisfies $rc(G) =O(\log^{2\theta_r}{n})$ where $\theta_r=\frac{\log (r-1)}{\log (r-2)}$ when $r\geq 4$ and $rc(G) =O(\log^4n)$ whp when $r=3$.
How Fiscal Sociology Brings Society Back In

The Wealth of States: A Comparative Sociology of International Economic and Political Change by John M. Hobson
Understanding new “exploratory” biomarker data: a first look at observed concentrations and associated detection limits

This editorial is the first of a series that each explains one practical aspect of statistics specifically tailored for biomarker data. Each editorial is focused on a very specific concept and give...
Beam-based phase monitoring and gradient calibration of Jefferson Laboratory RF systems

Beam-based monitoring was instituted at Jefferson Lab in December of 1994 to correct the RF system phase setpoints against drifts of the master oscillator system, while running transparently to normal beam setup and delivery operations. As then implemented, the master oscillator distribution was subject to large thermal drifts, but no means existed of tracking the distribution of drifts, nor of identifying phase errors for individual cavities following maintenance activities. The background process implemented is capable of cresting each of the 312 cavities in the linacs to within approximately /spl plusmn/2 degrees. In addition, during dedicated system measurement operations, the RF cavity gradients have been calibrated with beam to within a tolerance of approximately /spl plusmn/5%. These beam-based results are in many cases more than 20% different from commissioning results using RF measurement techniques.
Reasons for Silence: A Case Study of Two Korean Students at a U.S. Graduate School

This article explores the perception and reasons for Korean students’ silence and low levels of oral participation in U.S. graduate programs. It analyzes a case study conducted with two Korean students currently attending graduate school in urban settings. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with the participants, using a constant comparisons method for data analysis. The study shows that the participants perceived themselves to be the quietest members of their classes. Reasons for silence included poor command of the English terms relevant for their discipline, influence of Korean classroom mannerisms, and face saving. However, the participants had a strong desire to contribute, which was revealed when they actively worked on an online discussion board. This implies the need for pedagogical tools to encourage and help these students actively speak up in U.S. classrooms.
Interaction of Tobamovirus Movement Proteins with the Plant Cytoskeleton

The movement protein of tobacco mosaic tobamovirus and related viruses is essential for the cell-to-cell spread of infection and, in part, determines the host range of the virus. Movement protein (MP) was fused with the jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP), and a modified virus that contained this MP:GFP fusion protein retained infectivity. In protoplasts and leaf tissues, the MP:GFP fusion protein was detected as long filaments shortly after infection. Double-labeling fluorescence microscopy suggests that the MP interacts and coaligns with microtubules. The distribution of the MP is disrupted by treatments that disrupt microtubules, but not by cytochalasin B, which disrupts filamentous F-actin. Microtubules may target the MP to plasmodesmata, the intercellular channels that connect adjacent cells.
Thrombin antagonists and antiplatelet agents

The clinical benefits of thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of myocardial infarction are recognized widely. However, 2 major limiting factors have become evident: (1) 20-25% of coronary arterial thrombi are resistant to lysis; and (2) coronary reocclusion occurs in 10-15% of patients. There is increasing evidence that both phenomena are caused by heightened procoagulant activity localized primarily at the site of atheromatous plaque rupture. Thrombin, the pivotal enzyme in all coagulation processes, is activated, stimulating fibrin formation and platelet aggregation. Platelet activation, by thrombin- and nonthrombin-mediated mechanisms, occurs as well, further increasing thrombotic tendency. Thus, a potent and well-localized procoagulant state may be continuously amplified, increasing both during and frequently after thrombolytic therapy. Current treatment strategies are designed to enhance fibrinolytic and anticoagulant activity, while neutralizing the expression of procoagulant factors. Thrombin antagonism and platelet inhibition, primarily with heparin and aspirin, respectively, form the mainstay of conjunctive therapy. Their benefits have been recognized, decreasing thromboembolic events and patient mortality. However, intrinsic limitations suggest that more potent and selective agents will be required to overcome effectively the problems of thrombolytic resistance and coronary reocclusion. In experimental models, specific thrombin antagonists and antiplatelet agents have shown superiority over heparin and aspirin. Further investigation to define the overall safety and efficacy profile of these newer agents will be required, however, prior to their widescale implementation in clinical practice.
Supersonic Aerothermoelastic Nonlinear Flutter Study of Curved Panels: Frequency Domain

T HIS Note is a continuation of the study [1] that addresses the development of a finite element (FE) formulation and a corresponding solution procedure to investigate the nonlinear supersonic aerothermoelastic flutter response of curved panels. In this Note, a finite element time-domain method is presented for studying the pre/post-flutter-onset behavior of curved panels subjected to a simultaneous aerodynamic and thermal loading. The raised skin temperature, which is a characteristic part of the supersonic flight regime, induces thermal in-plane forces and transverse bending moments, which may cause many instabilities such as the preflutter buckling/bowing, limit cycle oscillations, periodic and nonperiodic dynamic motion, and chaos. A frequencydomain solution of the flutter phenomenon accurately predicts the panel behavior till the flutter onset, however, it lacks the capability to predict the post-flutter-onset panel response. Hence, the work presented in this Note aims at developing a computationally costeffective time-domain solution procedure for supersonic nonlinear post-flutter-onset analysis of curved panels. The formulation in this overall study is based on the building blocks of the vonKarman nonlinear strain-displacement relation, the Marguerre curved-plate theory, the first-order shear deformation theory, the quasi-steady piston theory, and the quasi-static thermoelasticity. In the time-domain part of the solution scheme, a finite element procedure is developed to predict the preflutter and, most important, the post-flutter-onset panel response. The system equations of motion (EOM) in structural degrees of freedom (DOF) are transformed into modal coordinates and solved by a fourth-order Runge–Kutta numerical scheme. Time-history responses, phase plots, power spectral density plots, and bifurcation diagrams are studied for a better understanding of the fluttering curved-panel system. II. Finite Element Formulation and Solution Procedure
Apoptotic cell death induced by baccatin III, a precursor of paclitaxel, may occur without G(2)/M arrest.

Purpose: Paclitaxel has been demonstrated to possess significant cell-killing activity in a variety of tumor cells by induction of apoptosis, but the mechanism by which paclitaxel leads to cell death and its relationship with mitotic arrest is not entirely clear. In this study, baccatin III, a synthetic precursor of paclitaxel, was used to analyze whether paclitaxel-induced apoptosis can be a separate event from microtubule bundling and G2/M arrest. Methods: Several different methods including DNA fragmentation, flow cytometric analyses, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and time-lapse video microscopy were used to analyze apoptotic cell death induced by baccatin III and its possible correlation with cell cycle distribution. Results: Our results demonstrated that baccatin III could also cause apoptotic cell death in both BCap37 (a human breast cancer cell line) and KB cells (derived from human epidermoid carcinoma), but had less effect on microtubule bundling and G2/M arrest. Furthermore, we demonstrated that most apoptotic events induced by baccatin III were not coupled with G2/M arrest. Instead, these apoptotic events occurred predominantly in the cells in other phases of the cell cycle. Conclusion: Baccatin III, which contains the core taxane ring, is the fundamental piece of paclitaxel structure. The finding of baccatin III-induced apoptosis independent of cell cycle arrest, on the one hand, implies that the core taxane ring may play a critical role in inducing cell death and, on the other hand, suggests that paclitaxel might induce apoptosis from other phases of the cell cycle by a similar mechanism.
Plasma metabolites and nitrogen balance in Lama glama associated with forage quality at altitude

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of forage quality on blood metabolites and nitrogen balance in mature, intact male llamas (n = 4, 36 ± 4.4 months, 87 ± 17 kg) at high altitude (4267 m Letanias, Bolivia). Llamas were randomly fed barley hay (B), 80% barley/20% alfalfa hay (BA) and fresh cut grass pasture (P). Animals were housed in metabolism crates and diets were fed for a 7-day adjustment period followed by a 5-day collection period. Feed, feed refusal, feces and urine were collected, dried and N content determined by combustion analysis. Venous blood samples were collected on day 12 at 30 min intervals over a 6 h period. Plasma was harvested and analyzed for electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, Ca, Ca2+, P, Mg) and metabolites (glucose, NEFA, urea N, creatinine, albumin, total protein (TPP), osmolality (Osm)). Plasma electrolytes (Na, K, Mg, P, Cl) and metabolites (glucose, Osm, albumin, creatinine, TPP) were unaffected by forage treatment. Dry matter digestibility was greater for the B and BA than P forage, and N digestibility was significantly higher for BA than either the B or P forages. Nitrogen balance varied significantly between diets. N intake was significantly different between each diet (P
Acoustic analysis of the interaction of choral arrangements, musical selection, and microphone location.

Summary Acoustic differences were evaluated among three choral arrangements and two choral textures recorded at three microphone locations. A choir was recorded when singing two musical selections of different choral texture, one homophonic and one polyphonic. Both musical selections were sung in three choral arrangements: block sectional, sectional-in-columns, and mixed. Microphones were placed at the level of the choristers, the conductor, and the audience. The recordings at each location were analyzed using long-term average spectrum (LTAS). The LTAS from the mixed arrangement exhibited more signal amplitude than the other arrangements in the range of 1000–3500 Hz. When considering the musical selections, the chorus produced more signal amplitude in the region of 1800–2200 Hz for the homophonic selection. In addition, the LTAS produced by the choir for the homophonic selection varied across the microphone locations. As for the microphone location, the LTAS of the signal detected directly in front of the chorus had a greater slope than the other two locations. Thus, the acoustic signal near the choristers differed from the signals near the conductor and in the audience. Conductors may be using acoustic information from the region of the second and third formants when they decide how to arrange a choir for a particular musical selection.
Prevalence of prehospital hypoxemia and oxygen use in trauma patients.

ABSTRACTObjective: This study estimates the prevalence of injured patients requiring prehospital supplemental oxygen based on existing recommendations, and determines whether actual use exceeds those recommendations. Patients and Methods: Prehospital oxygen use and continuous peripheral oxygen saturation measurements were prospectively collected on a purposive sample of injured civilians transported to an urban level 1 trauma center by paramedics. Structured chart review determined injury characteristics and outcomes. Supplemental oxygen administration indications were hypoxemia (peripheral oxygen saturation ≤ 90%), hemorrhagic shock (systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg), or paramedic suspicion of traumatic brain injury. Results: Paramedics enrolled 224/290 screened subjects. Median (range) age was 34 (18–84) years, 48.7% were nonwhite, 75.4% were male, and Injury Severity Score was 5 (1–75). Half (54.5%) were admitted; 36.2% sustained a penetrating injury. None underwent prehospital endotracheal intubatio...
Integration of Atomic Layer Deposition-Grown Copper Seed Layers for Cu Electroplating Applications

A plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) copper process, using Cu(II) acetylacetonate and atomic hydrogen, was developed for Cu seed applications in nanoscale semiconductor processing. In this paper, the integration characteristics of PEALD Cu with electroplated Cu for advanced interconnect applications were investigated. Superconformal electroplated [electrochemical deposition (ECD)] copper was demonstrated on PEALD Cu-seeded high aspect ratio patterned structures. The filling characteristics of ECD/PEALD-grown Cu were compared with those of a conventional ECD/physical vapor deposition (PVD)-grown Cu stack. Void-free electroplated Cu was demonstrated on 60 and 35 nm patterned via structures using both atomic layer deposition Ru/TaN and conventional PVD Ta/TaN liner/barrier structures coupled with PEALD Cu seed layers. The resulting integration characteristics suggest that electroplated/PEALD Cu is a promising integration approach for emerging complementary metal oxide semiconductor metallization applications.
Does a Plastic Drape Reduce Incidence of Heterotopic Ossification After Hip Resurfacing

Background High rates of heterotopic ossification have been associated with hip resurfacing as compared to THA. Bone debris from femoral head reamings is cited as one of the risk factors linked to increased rates of heterotopic ossification.
On fuzzy random sets and their mathematical expectations

Abstract In this article, we construct an embedding of the space of fuzzy sets into a normed linear space. We then discuss several classes of random sets which take values either in the space of classical subsets or in the space of fuzzy subsets. The mathematical expectations of random sets are discussed. The embedding provided here can also be applied to study the calculus of set-valued functions and fuzzy functions.
Acoustic impedance and interface phonon scattering in Bi 2 Te 3 and other semiconducting materials

We present first-principles calculations of the phonon dispersions of Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$ along with calculations of the sound speed anisotropy for a number of materials, and we discuss these in relation to acoustic phonon interface scattering in ceramics. The Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$ phonon dispersions show agreement with what is known from neutron scattering for the optic modes, while we find a difference between the generalized gradient approximation and local density results for the acoustic branches. This is a consequence of an artificial compression of the van der Waals bonded gaps in the Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$ structure when using the generalized gradient approximation. As a result, local density approximation calculations provide a better description of the phonon dispersions in Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$. A key characteristic of the acoustic dispersions in several materials studied is the existence of a strong anisotropy in the velocities. Such an anisotropy may be a significant consideration in the reduction of lattice thermal conductivity by nanograin boundary scattering. This is a well-known technique commonly employed to improve thermoelectric performance. We develop a model to quantify the effect of this anisotropy for this interface scattering in ceramics, and we apply this to Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$ and compare with PbTe and several other semiconductors.
A Lagrange multiplier method for the finite element solution of frictionless contact problems

This article proposes a novel Lagrange multiplier-based formulation for the finite element solution of the quasi-static two-body contact problem in the presence of finite motions and deformations. The main idea rests in the interpretation of the two-body contact as a composition of two simultaneous Signorini-like problems, which naturally yield geometrically unbiased approximations of the kinematics and kinetics of frictionless contact. A two-dimensional finite element is introduced that exactly satisfies the impenetrability constraint and allows for the direct computation of consistent pressure distributions on the interacting surfaces.
Internal e-consultations in an integrated multispecialty practice: a retrospective review of use, content, and outcomes

E-consultations are being offered within clinic walls as an option for specialist advice without a face-to-face consultation appointment. In a six month time frame, nearly 100% of primary care internists and family medicine providers in a multispecialty practice had used an e-consultation at least once. Specialists also used e-consultations for advice from other specialists. E-consultations were often questions about interpreting images or laboratory tests, or questions about management of chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, hypertension, or headaches. Although e-consultations were offered as an alternative to face-to-face specialty consultations, 1,111 of 5,334 e-consultations eventually did receive face-to-face appointments in the same specialty. Within 30 days of the e-consultation 11.5% had a specialty face-to-face visit and 17.7% had seen a specialist face-to-face within 90 days of the e-consultation. The conversions of e-consultations to face-to-face consultations depended on the specialty providing the e-consultation (fewer for gastroenterology and infectious disease), patient distance from the clinic (fewer for international patients and those living greater than 800 kilometers from the clinic), and experience of specialist responding to the e-consultation (lower conversions for specialists providing 15 or more e-consultations).
Assessment of Early Developing Phonological Awareness Skills: A Comparison of the Preschool Individual Growth and Development Indicators and the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening–PreK

Research Findings: Assessing the development of early literacy skills is necessary in order to identify children with delays, provide appropriate intervention, and monitor progress. The purpose of the current study was to compare the data obtained from 2 curriculum-based assessments of phonological awareness skills in a sample of low-income, urban preschoolers. Participants included 227 children from Head Start and other community-based preschool classrooms located in a midwestern city. The Preschool Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDIs) and the Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening–PreK (PALS-PreK) were administered in the fall and spring of the year. Results suggested that the PALS-PreK was more advantageous than the IGDIs in terms of providing meaningful data for this group of children. The IGDIs appeared to be more appropriate for developmentally advanced preschoolers in this population. Practice or Policy: There remains a critical need for assessments of emergent literacy that ...
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) for Pixel Purity Index Using Blocks of Skewers for Endmember Extraction in Hyperspectral Imagery

Pixel purity index (PPI) is a popular endmember extraction algorithm because of its availability in the ENVI software. Recently, its hardware implementation has been explored by the so-called block of skewers (BOS) that can be used to generate desired skewers required by the PPI with significantly reduced computational complexity. This paper investigates the feasibility of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) design for the BOS of a modified PPI (called automatic PPI), referred to as BOS-APPI in high speed computation. Several block designs based on cube, pyramid, square and tetrahedron are also developed for the BOS-APPI along with their FPGA implementations as new reconfigurable systems to perform fast and onboard processing of hyperspectral imagery. Finally, the proposed FPGA designs are realized and substantiated by simulations.