cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimates on Green functions and Poisson kernels for symmetric stable processes

One of the most basic and most important subfamily of Levy processes is symmetric stable processes. A symmetric α-stable process X on Rn is a Levy process whose transition density p(t , x − y) relative to the Lebesgue measure is uniquely determined by its Fourier transform ∫ Rn e ix ·ξp(t , x )dx = e−t|ξ| α . Here α must be in the interval (0, 2]. When α = 2, we get a Brownian motion running with a time clock twice as fast as the standard one. Brownian motion plays a central role in modern probability theory and has numerous important applications in other scientific areas as well as in many other branches of mathematics. Thus it has been intensively studied. In this paper, symmetric stable processes are referred to the case when 0 < α < 2, unless otherwise specified. In the last few years there has been an explosive growth in the study of physical and economic systems that can be successfully modeled with the use of stable processes. Stable processes are now widely used in physics, operations research, queuing theory, mathematical finance and risk estimation. In some physics literatures, symmetric α-stable processes are called Levy flights, and they have been applied to a wide range of very complex physics issues, such as turbulent diffusion, vortex dynamics, anomalous diffusion in rotating flows, and molecular spectral fluctuations. In mathematical finance, stable processes can be used to model stock returns in incomplete market. For these and more applications of stable processes, please see the interesting book [14] by Janicki and Weron and the references therein and the recent article [15] by Klafter, Shlesinger and Zuomofen. In order to make precise predictions about natural phenomena and to better cope with these
Salmonids on the Fringe: Abundance, Species Composition, and Habitat Use of Salmonids in High-Gradient Headwater Streams, Southeast Alaska

Abstract We evaluated the species distribution, abundance, and habitat relationships of salmonids in small first- to second-order headwater streams in southeast Alaska. Streams were separated into three zones based on gradient and sampled during the spring, summer, and fall. Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma were found in all streams where fish were present. They were the dominant species in moderate- (mean gradient = 5.5%) and high-gradient (mean gradient = 12.9%) zones. Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch fry and parr were the dominant species in the low-gradient zone (mean gradient = 3.1%) but were present in higher-gradient zones. Small numbers of steelhead O. mykiss parr were present in all three zones in the spring and fall. Few were captured during the summer. Coastal cutthroat trout O. clarkii were found primarily in one stream and in all three zones. The density of all species decreased as gradient increased. Anadromous Dolly Varden in spawning condition were observed in the fall up to the highest acces...
Storage of Vitamin A in Chick Livers as a Criterion of Stability, Availability, and Dietary Level

Abstract OSBORNE and Mendel (1913) were the first to suggest that vitamin A was stored in the body. Davies and Moore (1934) and Guilbert and Hart (1935) have shown that the major portion of the vitamin A stored in the body is concentrated in the liver. Marcus (1931) noted an 85% loss of vitamin A from cod liver oil when added to a vitamin A free rat diet. Fraps and Kemmerer (1937) found that alfalfa leaf meal was a more stable source of vitamin A activity in stored feeds than was cod liver oil. Bethke et al. (1939) in a similar study could not differentiate between the stability of the two vitamin A sources. Baird (1939) found that vitamin A from cod liver oil did not undergo complete destruction when mixed in the diet and the latter stored at summer temperatures for 25 weeks; progressive destruction did occur as the period …
Trans insertion-splicing: ribozyme-catalyzed insertion of targeted sequences into RNAs.

A group I intron-derived ribozyme from Pneumocystis carinii has been previously shown to bind an exogenous RNA substrate, splice out an internal segment, and then ligate the two ends back together (the trans excision−splicing reaction). We demonstrate that this same ribozyme can perform a trans insertion−splicing (TIS) reaction, where the ribozyme binds two exogenous RNA substrates and inserts one directly into the other. Reactions were optimized for both yield and rate, with optimum reactions carried out in 10 mM MgCl2 for 2 h. Reaction products are stable, with no visible loss at extended times. The ribozyme recognizes the two substrates primarily through base pairing and requires an ωG on the ribozyme and an ωG on the sequence being inserted. We give evidence that the reaction mechanism is not the reverse of the trans excision−splicing reaction, but is composed of three steps, with intermediates attached to the ribozyme. Surprisingly, the internal guide sequence of the ribozyme is utilized to sequentia...
Intradural cranial congenital dermal sinuses: diagnosis and management

Objective The congenital dermal sinus (CDS) is a benign tumor-like entity that has unique anatomical and clinical features. We retrospectively examined our data to determine factors associated with adverse outcomes for cranial-based dermal sinuses.
Yeast Nα‐terminal acetyltransferases are associated with ribosomes

N-terminal acetylation is one of the most common modifications, occurring on the vast majority of eukaryotic proteins. Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains three major NATs, designated NatA, NatB, and NatC, with each having catalytic subunits Ard1p, Nat3p, and Mak3p, respectively. Gautschi et al. (Gautschi et al. [2003] Mol Cell Biol 23: 7403) previously demonstrated with peptide crosslinking experiments that NatA is bound to ribosomes. In our studies, biochemical fractionation in linear sucrose density gradients revealed that all of the NATs are associated with mono- and polyribosome fractions. However only a minor portion of Nat3p colocalized with the polyribosomes. Disruption of the polyribosomes did not cause dissociation of the NATs from ribosomal subparticles. The NAT auxiliary subunits, Nat1p and Mdm20p, apparently are required for efficient binding of the corresponding catalytic subunits to the ribosomes. Deletions of the genes corresponding to auxiliary subunits significantly diminish the protein levels of the catalytic subunits, especially Nat3p, while deletions of the catalytic subunits produced less effect on the stability of Nat1p and Mdm20p. Also two ribosomal proteins, Rpl25p and Rpl35p, were identified in a TAP-affinity purified NatA sample. Moreover, Ard1p copurifies with Rpl35p-TAP. We suggest that these two ribosomal proteins, which are in close proximity to the ribosomal exit tunnel, may play a role in NatA attachment to the ribosome. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 492–508, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Avatars’ Informational Preferences in a Virtual World

There is a growing interest among educators in exploring multi- user-virtual environments (MUVEs), such as Second Life, as platforms for distance learning and other applications. Additionally, such virtual environments provide rich opportunities for constructivist approaches to teaching and learning. Yet, the notion that virtual worlds also provide an opportunity for writing instructors to teach about multimodal texts and new media literacies is an area that has received less attention. This study examined the informational preferences of avatars (students) who were members of a class that met online in the virtual world of Second Life. Specifically, the purpose was to assess avatars' informational preferences from among three different media: print articles, machinima, and direct exploration within Second Life while enrolled in a course studying the virtual world of Second Life. Study found that avatars expressed a greater preference for information gathered from machinima and information gathered first-hand from Second Life than print-based information, although their subsequent discussions about the information varied in specificity, depending on the medium they were referencing.
AMPK Mediates the Initiation of Kidney Disease Induced by a High-Fat Diet

The mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and progressive renal disease are not well understood. Exposure to a high-fat diet decreases levels of the cellular energy sensor AMPK in many organs, including the kidney, but whether AMPK contributes to the pathophysiology of kidney disease induced by a high-fat diet is unknown. In this study, we randomly assigned C57BL/6J mice to a standard or high-fat diet. After 1 week, mice fed a high-fat diet exhibited an increase in body weight, renal hypertrophy, an increase in urine H2O2 and urine MCP-1, and a decrease in circulating adiponectin levels and renal AMPK activity. Urine ACR progressively increased after 4 weeks of a high-fat diet. After 12 weeks, kidneys of mice fed a high-fat diet demonstrated a marked increase in markers of fibrosis and inflammation, and AMPK activity remained significantly suppressed. To determine whether inhibition of AMPK activity explained these renal effects, we administered an AMPK activator along with a high-fat diet for 1 week. Although AMPK activation did not abrogate the weight gain, it reduced the renal hypertrophy, urine H2O2, and urine and renal MCP-1. In vitro, AMPK activation completely inhibited the induction of MCP-1 by palmitic acid in mesangial cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that the energy sensor AMPK mediates the early renal effects of a high-fat diet.
Active Squamous Metaplasia of the Cervical Epithelium Is Associated With Subsequent Acquisition of Human Papillomavirus 16 Infection Among Healthy Young Women

Background. Vulnerability of younger women to human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) infection has been attributed to the predominance of ectocervical columnar epithelia in this age group. However, squamous metaplastic tissue may be more influential. We examined the extent of ectopy and metaplastic activity as risks for HPV16 acquisition in a prospective cohort. Methods. Participants were HPV16 negative at the first two visits. Follow-up occurred every 4 months. Ectopy was quantitatively measured on colpophotographs. We calculated metaplastic rate as the difference in ectopy between visits. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed, adjusting for several covariates. Results. Analyses included 198 women (mean baseline age 17 years) for 1734 visits. Mean follow-up was 4.4 years. Incident HPV16 was detected in 36 (18%) women. Metaplastic rate between the two visits before HPV16 detection was significantly associated with incident infection (hazard ratio [HR], 1.17; confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.33; P = .02). However, ectopy was not significant, whether measured before or concurrent to HPV16 detection (HR range, 0.99–1.00; CI range, .97–1.02; P range, .47–.65). Conclusions. Dynamic metaplasia rather than the sheer extent of ectopy appears to increase risk for incident HPV16 in healthy young women. This in vivo observation is consistent with the HPV life cycle, during which host cell replication and differentiation supports viral replication.
Predicting the Influence of Social Resources on African American Wife and Daughter Caregivers' Depressive Symptoms:

This study—on 100 African American wife and 258 daughter primary caregivers — uses a contextual approach in its examination of the relationship between social resources and caregiver depressive symptoms. At the bivariate level, significant differences in certain key characteristics of primary caregivers and care receivers underscore the generational differences between the caregiver samples. Using separate ordinary least squares regression models, the authors found that satisfaction with family functioning was a significant predictor for lower depressive symptoms for both wives' and daughters' depressive symptoms. However, social participation and availability of secondary help were negatively associated with depressive symptoms for daughters. Receipt of instrumental support was predictive of higher levels of depressive symptoms among daughters. The findings indicate the importance of accounting for the contextual differences in our understanding of depressive symptoms, specifically the differences in the...
An optical interconnect model for k-ary n-cube wormhole networks

This paper presents an optical interconnect model for k-ary n-cube network topologies based on free-space analysis. This model integrates relevant parameters inherent to optics with traditional network parameters to make it applicable for performance evaluation of parallel processor optical network designs. We apply this model to a free-space diffractive-reflective optical interconnect and compare our results with electronic-based networks.
Does Early Intervention Prevent Health-Risking Sexual Behaviors Related to HIV/AIDS?

Adolescence and young adulthood are developmental stages full of social and economic opportunities and challenges, as young people learn about themselves and experiment with adult behaviors and roles. Unfortunately for many in these age groups, involvement with drugs and associated health-risking sexual behaviors (HRSB) becomes part of these important life transitions, interrupting the course of healthy development. For decades, families, schools, and communities have struggled to find the best ways to raise adolescents and support young adults toward happy, healthy, and productive lives. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has also attended to this important public health issue through funding research dedicated to understanding the role of malleable risk and protective factors for drug use, abuse, and co-occurring mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) disorders and using that knowledge for research devoted to the testing of associated prevention intervention strategies. The results of these latter efforts have demonstrated that theory- and etiologically based interventions delivered in childhood can delay or prevent the onset of MEB disorders, including drug abuse and associated HRSB, among adolescents and young adults (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine 2009). NIH funding has benefited the field of prevention science leading to tremendous gains in biopsychosocial behavioral research over the past 30 years. This Supplemental Issue of Prevention Science presents research supported through the Prevention Research Branch (PRB) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) from its portfolio of theory-based, developmentally grounded prevention interventions. This portfolio covers the lifespan from the prenatal period through adulthood with interventions for universal, selective, and indicated levels of risk. The testing and replication of early childhood mental health and drug abuse prevention interventions have led to a growing body of long-term follow-up studies that examines differences in life-course outcomes of intervention and control group participants over time, some into late adolescence and adulthood. Evidence from this body of work indicates that (1) it is possible to intervene early in development on proximal risk and protective factors to have an impact on a broad array of distal outcomes; (2) interventions can have effects, some of which are unanticipated positive effects on outcomes not specifically targeted by the intervention; and (3) those at greatest risk can benefit the most from prevention interventions.
Parametric variations of the interatomic potential in atomistic analysis of nano-scale metal plasticity

Atomistic simulations of plastic deformation in nano-scale copper crystals are carried out. Attention is devoted to adjusting interatomic potential parameters with the objective of gaining fundamental insight into the crystal defect processes in FCC metals. An initial point defect is utilized in the molecular statics model to trigger plasticity in a controlled manner. Two different potential models have been employed: Morse and Embedded Atom Method. With the Morse potential, the interaction range has been parameterized to view dislocation slip behavior and/or phase transformation without the influence of an unstable surface state of the specimen. We focus on tensile loading along a low-symmetry orientation where single slip prevails upon yielding. When the Morse interaction distance is small, dislocation slip is seen to be the dominant deformation mechanism. A slight increase in the interaction range results in phase transition from the FCC structure to a BCC structure when using the Morse potential. Re-orientation of the BCC lattice also occurs at later stages of the deformation via a twinning operation. When the atomic interaction range is increased further, the effect of surface stress becomes increasingly important. Plastic yielding occurs in the form of partial slip which creates stacking faults. The initial point defect plays a less significant role and phase transition during deformation is suppressed. Detailed mechanisms of these atomistic features, as well as comparisons between the two potentials, are discussed.
Should there be a National Institute for Nursing

The practice of nursing has progressed significantly since its beginning professionalization in 1873. Our greatest progress has occurred since World War I, due in large part to federal grants in aid for nursing programs. In recent years, federal support for nursing has diminished greatly, and future funding is uncertain. The Administration’s budget proposals have consistently eliminated or reduced funding for some program areas. Fortunately, Congress has restored some funds in each major category. Not only must we compete in broader arenas for dwindling resources, but demands for proof of our worth and unique contributions have intensified. Nursing’s ability to meet these challenges will rest largely upon our ability to demonstrate through research the impact of nursing in solving the nation’s health care problems. The interdependence of nursing education, nursing practice and nursing research has become apparent in our struggles to advance the profession to its rightful place. We have thus come to realize that a strong and effective commitment to strengthen our research capability, as well as our practice and educational programs, is crucial. Nurse educators and researchers have for the last several years appealed to congressional appropriations committees and subcommittees for adequate funding for research fellowships and projects. But the level of funding has been onlymodest; the resultant imbalance of resources, both material and symbolic, has been inadequate. And such imbalances reinforce one another. The report on the congressionally mandated study, Nursing and Nursing Education: Public Policies and Private Actions, conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), points out that of the 1.2 million nurses employed in
Japanese Honorifics as Emotive Definite Descriptions

Harada ( 1 976) identifies honorifics as one of "the salient features of the Japanese language" (p. 500) and provides an extensive overview of pressing syntactic is­ sues surrounding this system. But he remains noncommittal about the semantic contribution of these morphemes; the question of what honorifics mean, what they contribute to a discourse, is left unanswered. The present paper offers an answer to this question, in the form of a set of composition rules and interpretation principles that, taken together, can properly distinguish honorific-free forms like ( 1 a) from their honorific and antihonorific counterparts (( lb) and ( l c)) .
The Expert Witness in Medical Malpractice Litigation

Physicians may find serving as an expert witness to be interesting, intellectually stimulating, and financially beneficial. However, potential expert witnesses should be aware of the increased legal scrutiny being applied to expert witness testimony in medical malpractice litigation. In the past, expert witnesses received absolute immunity from civil litigation regarding their testimony. This is no longer the case. Expert witnesses may be subject to disciplinary sanctions from professional organizations and state medical boards. In addition, emerging case law is defining the legal duty owed by the expert witness to the litigating parties. Orthopaedic surgeons who serve as expert witnesses should be familiar with the relevant Standards of Professionalism issued by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Second Cistron in CACNA1A Gene Encodes a Transcription Factor Mediating Cerebellar Development and SCA6

The CACNA1A gene, encoding the voltage-gated calcium channel subunit α1A, is involved in pre- and postsynaptic Ca(2+) signaling, gene expression, and several genetic neurological disorders. We found that CACNA1A coordinates gene expression using a bicistronic mRNA bearing a cryptic internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). The first cistron encodes the well-characterized α1A subunit. The second expresses a transcription factor, α1ACT, which coordinates expression of a program of genes involved in neural and Purkinje cell development. α1ACT also contains the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract that, when expanded, causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). When expressed as an independent polypeptide, α1ACT-bearing an expanded polyQ tract-lacks transcription factor function and neurite outgrowth properties, causes cell death in culture, and leads to ataxia and cerebellar atrophy in transgenic mice. Suppression of CACNA1A IRES function in SCA6 may be a potential therapeutic strategy.
Putting growth and value-added models on the map: A national overview

BackgroundWithin the last few years, the focus on educational accountability has shifted from holding students responsible for their own performance to holding those shown to impact student perform...
Bayesian inference for categorical data analysis

This article surveys Bayesian methods for categorical data analysis, with primary emphasis on contingency table analysis. Early innovations were proposed by Good (1953, 1956, 1965) for smoothing proportions in contingency tables and by Lindley (1964) for inference about odds ratios. These approaches primarily used conjugate beta and Dirichlet priors. Altham (1969, 1971) presented Bayesian analogs of small-sample frequentist tests for 2 x 2 tables using such priors. An alternative approach using normal priors for logits received considerable attention in the 1970s by Leonard and others (e.g., Leonard 1972). Adopted usually in a hierarchical form, the logit-normal approach allows greater flexibility and scope for generalization. The 1970s also saw considerable interest in loglinear modeling. The advent of modern computational methods since the mid-1980s has led to a growing literature on fully Bayesian analyses with models for categorical data, with main emphasis on generalized linear models such as logistic regression for binary and multi-category response variables.
Neuronal degeneration in the limbic system of weanling rats exposed to saline, hyperthermia or d-amphetamine

Abstract Neuronal degeneration was detected in the tenia tecta and other regions of the anterior limbic system of male weanling rats 3 days after four doses of 5 mg/kg d -amphetamine (4×5 mg/kg AMPH) when seizures occurred during AMPH exposure. Neurodegeneration in the parietal cortex, loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the caudate-putamen (CPu) and decreases in CPu tissue dopamine levels in weanlings was much less than those previously observed in adults. The neurotoxicity seen in the parietal cortex and CPu of the weanlings was much less than previously seen in adults even though severe hyperthermia and the behavior of retrograde propulsion occurred during AMPH exposure. Neurodegeneration was not detected in any of the previously mentioned brain regions in controls and weanlings made hyperthermic by a warm environment. However, signs of spontaneous neurodegeneration were seen in the posterior piriform cortex (Pir), posteriolateral cortical amygdaloid nucleus (PLCo), and the amygdalopiriform transition area (APir) of control weanlings. The doses of AMPH and the degree of hyperthermia necessary to induce seizures were substantially lower in weanlings compared to those previously observed in adult rats. Further studies will be necessary to determine if the susceptibility of weanlings to AMPH-induced seizures is related to or dependent on the same processes involved in producing degeneration in the posterior limbic system of saline controls.
Thermodynamic and Hydrological Impacts of Increasing Greenness in Northern High Latitudes

Abstract Satellite remote sensing data indicate that greenness has been increasing in the northern high latitudes, apparently in response to the warming of recent decades. To identify feedbacks of this land-cover change to the atmosphere, the authors employed the atmospheric general circulation model ARPEGE-CLIMAT, an adaptation of the Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle model for climate studies, to conduct a set of control and sensitivity modeling experiments. In the sensitivity experiments, they increased the greenness poleward of 60°N by 20% to mimic the manifestation of vegetation changes in the real world, and by 60% and 100% to represent potential aggressive vegetation change scenarios under global warming. In view of the direct exposure of vegetation to sunlight during the warm seasons, the authors focused their study on the results from late spring to early fall. The results revealed significant thermodynamic and hydrological impacts of the increased greenness in northern high latit...
Dual Wavelength Spectrophotometry. Determination of 1,2,4-Benzenetricarboxylic Acid and Benzenepentacarboxylic Acid

Abstract Dual wavelength ultraviolet spectrophotometry was utilized for the determination of 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic and benzenepentacarboxylic acids in their simultaneous solution.
In vitro model system to predict efficacy of estrogens to prevent versus treat Alzheimer’s disease

activity in such isolated secretory vesicles was subjected to extensive purification and identified by peptide sequencing. Conclusions: Results demonstrated two distinct proteolytic pathways consisting of (a) cathepsin B cleavage of the Abeta-secretase site, and (b) cathepsin L cleavage adjacent to the Abeta-secretase site at Lys-Met, followed by methionine aminopeptidase. Colocalization of cathepsins B and L with Abeta peptides in regulated secretory vesicles was illustrated by electron microscopy. Efficient cleavage of the wild-type Abeta-secretase site by cathepsins B and L was illustrated by kcat/Km kinetic constants of 31,700 and 8,620 M-1s-1, respectively, with little cleavage of the Swedish mutant Abetasecretase site. Since the majority of Alzheimer’s patients express wild-type APP, proteases with specificity for the normal Abeta-secretase site are relevant to the disease. In contrast, BACE 1 shows poor catalytic efficiency for the wild-type Abeta-secretase site. Significantly, the selective cathepsin B inhibitor CA074 blocked Abeta production in regulated secretory vesicles isolated from neuronal chromaffin cells. These findings implicate the cysteine proteases cathepsin B and cathepsin L in the regulated secretory pathway as important new therapeutic targets for protease inhibitor drugs to Abeta of Alzheimer’s disease.
An ionic bottle for high-speed, long-retention memristive devices

We propose a new type of bipolar resistive switch or memristive device, based on an ionic bottle, which is characterized by both low switching energy and high state retention time. The ionic bottle is engineered such that image charges on metallic electrodes trap ions inside a semiconducting film when there is no applied bias voltage, but an external field can drive ions through one of the electrodes into an adjacent semiconducting film to accomplish a nonvolatile resistance change.
A Rhetorical Perspective on the 1997 British Party Manifestos

This article discusses the British political system's reliance on party manifestos and suggests that they deserve study as rhetorical texts. The magazine-like 1997 manifestos of the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat Parties are analyzed with respect to their iconic structure, the priority of policy domains in their social critiques, their historical narratives, and their narratives on the central issue of economics. Results suggest that all three parties focused on British history since 1979 and on economic issues. The Conservative Manifesto subordinated people to icons and graphs, concentrated on economic analyses, and portrayed the party's policies as successful. Labour and Liberal Democrats emphasized economic failures; the Liberal Democrats sought wide-ranging populist reforms, while "New" Labour ran against the Tory record and the historic radicalism of "Old" Labour.
Pharmacy student preferences on instructional strategies in a mental health elective

Abstract The purposes of this study included (1) a review of students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of instructional activities to improve knowledge of issues surrounding mental illness and (2) an assessment of students’ perceptions of instructional tools to de-stigmatize issues surrounding mental health issues. A non-experimental survey design study was conducted between 2008 and 2012 to identify students’ attitudes. The results of this study found significant differences in students’ perceptions of instructional strategies for improving knowledge and for de-stigmatizing mental health issues. The results of this study detailed students’ predilection toward authentic experiences in the form of patient speakers to improve learning about mental illness and to de-stigmatize issues surrounding mental illness. The use of motion pictures was also highly valued as instructional tools for teaching and de-stigmatizing issues surrounding mental health issues. In conclusions, personal narratives were presented in a variety of modalities including text (books), audiovisual (motion pictures), and the face-to-face first and second person accounts of patients and family members. Students’ perceptions of the instructional strategies corresponded with the delivery modality, ranking live experiences higher than multimedia and textual representations of personal narratives.
Analytical expression for velocity profiles and flow resistance in channels with a general class of noncircular cross sections

This article discusses how to derive a closed-form analytical solution describing the profile of unidirectional flow through a class of noncircular tubes. The cross sections of the conduits are a slightly distorted version of regular shapes, like triangles or trapeziums or rectangles, that are commonly seen in microfluidic or heat pipe applications. Hence, the study leads to approximate but useful expression for velocity profiles as well as resistivity for the aforementioned channels. Moreover, the paper shows how to extend the fundamental idea to other arbitrary geometries, providing simple expressions for flow fields that can be used subsequently in various hydrodynamic calculations. The analysis also gives an estimate of error in such a mathematical treatment that is found to be adequately accurate. Thus, the findings will be especially relevant in a number of fields, including microfluidic separation, heat pipe design, and capillary transport optimization.
Routine Infant Circumcision: Vital Issues that the Circumcision Proponents may be Overlooking

Circumcision is not a mild, neutral medical intervention like a vaccination, but a culturally-loaded amputation of a highly significant and functionally valuable body part that the medical profession should be working to protect against pathological conditions. Instead, a small, vocal, influential group is calling for universal amputation of the foreskin, comparing it to a vaccination. While the average adult is willing to get himself vaccinated against diseases, the vast majority of adult males are not willing to get circumcised. Falling rates of circumcision in the United States may have prompted a surge in circumcision promotion. Demonstrating a circumcision benefit in the United States has been disappointing, so the research moved to Africa, where the latest health crisis, the AIDS epidemic, was at its zenith. Armed with a few studies performed by a handful of investigators, circumcision proponents (CPs) are saturating the medical literature with their opinions and calling on national medical organization to recommend universal infant male circumcision. Policies and recommendations should be evidence-based rather than relying on opinion pieces with selective bibliographies and a narrowly focused perspective (Schoen 2006; Flynn et al. 2007; Dickerman 2007; Morris 2007a; Weiss et al. 2008; Morris et al. 2006; Golden and Wasserheit 2009; Rennie et al. 2007; Gostin and Hankins 2008; Clark et al. 2007; Morris 2007b; Morris 2008; Sawires et al. 2007; Newell and Barnighausen 2007a; Sullivan et al. 2007; Brusa and Barilan 2008; Katz and Wright 2008; Potts et al. 2006). The purpose of this chapter is to address the issues that the CPs have failed to mention, such as bioethics, human rights, the function of the foreskin, and conflicting information, to present the information their bibliographies selected out, and to itemize the barriers to making a convincing case for universal circumcision.
The Timing of Breast Irradiation in Two‐Stage Expander/Implant Breast Reconstruction

Certain patients who initiate expander/implant (E/I) reconstruction following mastectomy may require radiation therapy (XRT). XRT may be delivered during the tissue expander (TE) expansion process or after exchange for a permanent implant (PI). We studied a series of women treated with E/I reconstruction and XRT to determine whether there is a difference in complication rates between those who had XRT to the TE versus PI. All two-stage E/I reconstructions at our institution from April 2005 to January 2013 were reviewed to identify patients who underwent XRT after TE placement. Our database was queried for reconstructive details, oncologic treatment, and complications. Statistical analyses were performed to establish significance of complication rate differences. Fifty-two patients underwent XRT after TE placement, 42 of which had XRT to the TE and 11 of which had XRT to the PI. The major complication rates (complications requiring emergent reoperation/readmission) were 27% versus 0% (p = 0.05) for XRT to the TE versus XRT to the PI, but there were no significant differences in minor complication rates (outpatient complications). Specifically, the rates of Grade 3/4 capsular contracture were similar between the two groups, 27% for the XRT to the TE group and 36% for the XRT to the PI group. Radiation of the PI versus radiation of the TE did not result in significant differences in overall surgical complication rates but had fewer major complications and no implant failures. Other factors must also be considered, such as patient preference, risk of cancer reoccurrence, and cosmesis. It is essential for a patient to have a team of a plastic surgeon and radiation, surgical, and medical oncologists working together to achieve each patient's goals.
Identifying the Distribution of Heterogeneous Anisotropic Elastic Properties in Cerebral Aneurysms

Cerebral aneurysms are focal dilatations of the intracranial arterial wall, whose rupture risk is likely related to pressure induced wall stress. Fundamental to stress and strain prediction in aneurysms is the constitutive behavior of wall tissue. However, delineating the constitutive equation of aneurismal tissue, in particular, experimental determination of the material parameters, presents some significant challenges due to the nonlinear, anisotropic and heterogeneous nature of the aneurysmal tissue.© 2009 ASME
Supervision Essentials for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Supervision Essentials for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy , Supervision Essentials for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy , کتابخانه مرکزی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی ایران
Tales from the transneptunian sea

Our knowledge of the outer solar system has changed dramatically in the last decade and we now know of several hundred small bodies that exist there. These objects range in size from 50 to 2000km across and have remarkably diverse orbits. However, none of these objects have properties that are as extreme as that of "Sedna", which was recently discovered by Mike Brown and coworkers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). This object is currently three times further away than Neptune, making it the most distant body ever observed in the solar system, but how it got there is puzzling astronomers.
Sampling and recovery of MRI data using low rank tensor models

In this paper we investigate the utility of several low-rank models for recovery of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data from limited sampling in the k — t space for dynamic imaging. In particular, for 3D temporal (2D space + time) MRI data we employ several tensor factorization techniques and assess the degree of dimensionality reduction, or compressibility, that can be obtained. This algebraic approach is more data adaptive, in contrast to existing compressed sensing (CS) based methods that exploit sparsity in a transform domain, such as wavelets or total variation. Further, we compare these tensor factorization approaches in recovering temporal MRI data under limited sampling. Respecting traditional MRI data acquisition methods, the sampling process is restricted to be uniformly random along only one k space direction. Experimental results on synthetically sub-sampled MRI data show promise in using tensor factorization for sampling and recovery of MRI data.
ΣΔ modulators for low-power digitally intensive radio transmitters

Digitally enhanced wireless transmitters are gaining prominence due to their promise of greater integration, flexibility to adapt to varying SNR conditions, and performance and area benefit that comes with CMOS feature size reduction. One of the drawbacks of digitally assisted linear RF modulators has been the high power consumption in the digital core. This results from the use of high sample rates in the ΣΔ modulators and RFDACs at the end of the transmitter (Tx) chain. The alternative to ΣΔ modulation is to use high resolution, high-speed RFDAC in the Tx chain. In this work we discuss a new approach that increases the order of ΣΔ modulation and reduces the sample rate without compromising the overall system integration or stability. The proposed approach leads to significant reduction in the number of quantization levels as well as the sample rate of operation. Based on power simulation results, it is shown that this approach results in significant power savings of up to 1.7x when compared to state-of-the-art linear modulators that use ΣΔ modulation.
Interconnection of Flexible Electronic-Optical Circuit Board Module

A flexible active E/O local bus module using multi-mode optical transmission performs an interconnection of flexible electronic-optical circuit board in board-to-board level. The proposed E/O module is compatible with traditional electrical interface in printed circuit board(PCB) and can be directly used in high speed module interconnection. A 17 cm long prototyping of the proposed E/O local bus module is developed here to demonstrate the feasibility of short reach optical interconnection in board level applications by using total-internal-reflect (TIR) mirror. Some reliability tests of the waveguides are also included here. By using the precise positioning stages, we can measure the propagation loss of the optical waveguide and assemble the optical waveguide and VCSEL/PD by active alignment. Using different processes to fabricate optical waveguides also pass 10 Gbps eye diagram test and some reliability tests
Making a Formal Oral Presentation

This chapter discusses preparing your slides, scoping out the room and facilities, using a microphone and laser pointer, mastering the mechanics of an effective oral presentation, stepping through your presentation, and handling nervousness. Stepping through your presentation considers the time sequence from being introduced as the speaker and then generating interest in your subject through to ending your presentation and handling questions, even those you cannot answer! Several ways of handling and mitigating nervousness are given. The multicultural aspects of using humor and eye contact are discussed. The importance of developing your own unique presentation style is underscored.
Review: Concrete from Archeology to Invention 1700–1769: The Renaissance of Pozzolana and Roman Construction Techniques, by Roberto Gargiani

Roberto Gargiani Concrete from Archeology to Invention 1700–1769: The Renaissance of Pozzolana and Roman Construction Techniques Lausanne, Switzerland: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (distributed by Routledge), 2013, 404 pp., 300 color and 16 b/w illus. $115.95, ISBN 9782940222643 This book is part of a series titled Treatise on Concrete, which is edited by Roberto Gargiani and published by his university, the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. Concrete from Archeology to Invention 1700–1769 , authored by Gargiani, is the first of a group of works within the series that focus on the development of concrete during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Europe. In the preface, Gargiani states that the book's goal is to document the evolution of construction techniques through archival research. Indeed, he presents a tremendous amount of material from treatises, old journals, personal letters, and state entities that are otherwise not easily accessible. In fact, large portions of the text consist of quotations (translated into English) from the archival sources. On the one hand, this is a useful service, but on the other, any sort of narrative is lost in the minutiae. The author's interest in the people who wrote the documents is reflected in his choice to index only proper names and not places or subjects. Nevertheless, the volume contains a wealth of valuable information if one is willing to mine for it. The book begins with an exploration of the period when researchers were trying to discover the secret of the longevity of Roman concrete. Vitruvius's treatise offered a starting point, with its formulas for creating hydraulic mortar with pulvis (powder) from the Bay of Naples (Pliny the Elder's pulvis Puteolanus , powder from Puteoli—i.e., volcanic ash), but many people at the time believed that ancient craftsmen long before Vitruvius had created a type of mysterious artificial stone, pierre fondue (11–14). Gargiani notes that developments during the eighteenth century were marked by “an extraordinary mixture of scientific research and fantastic interpretation of sources and ruins” (11). One might even see these competing approaches as …
Abstract 207: Differential Regulation of Monocyte/Macrophage Atherogenic Properties by Adiponectin: Role of Macrophage Polarization and Adiponectin Receptors

Adiponectin, an adipocytokine produced by the adipose tissue, exerts metabolic, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects to ameliorate diabetes and cardiovascular disease and is a potentially important therapeutic target. However, mechanisms of adiponectin vascular actions and the regulation of macrophage adiponectin receptor expression under inflammatory/atherogenic activation remain unclear. Our studies with human monocytes/macrophages revealed differential adiponectin receptor regulation in subjects with insulin-resistance. Here, we investigated adiponectin regulation of macrophage gene expression under pro- and anti-inflammatory conditions. We addressed the hypothesis that differential activation of macrophages into the classical (M1) or alternative (M2) program alters their adiponectin receptor (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) expression. The microarray gene expression analyses in human monocytes exposed to TNF-α showed that adiponectin inhibited several inflammatory/atherogenic genes. Our studies revealed that adiponectin itself induces AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression in macrophages. We further investigated the effects of macrophage polarization (M1 or M2) on adiponectin receptor expression in bone marrow-derived and peritoneal macrophages. These studies demonstrated that M1 activation (IFN-γ and LPS) significantly reduced AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression. In contrast, M2 activation of (IL-4 or IL-10) maintains a significantly higher level of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. In M2 activation, adiponectin receptor expression was more substantial in IL-10 than IL-4-polarized macrophages. These results provide important evidence that macrophage polarization profoundly alters their adiponectin receptor expression and thus functional responses to adiponectin. Thus, adiponectin-mediated macrophage functions are regulated by adiponectin receptor expression which is modulated by the macrophage polarization which controls their inflammatory and atherogenic properties.
Delayed Diagnosis of TSH-Secreting Adenoma Attributed to Worsening Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Military Veteran Because of Provider Anchoring Bias.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Anchoring bias occurs when clinicians hold on to previously known information about a patient, with failure to consider the full realm of possibilities to explain new findings. We present a case of delayed diagnosis of thyroid-stimulating-hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma (TSHoma), a rare disorder, in a military veteran whose symptoms were misconstrued as being caused from worsening of his prior diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anchoring bias in this case led to 2-year delay in the correct diagnosis. Methods: The clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and pathologic results are presented. Results: We report a case of a 44-year-old retired male Army soldier with a prior diagnosis of PTSD who was evaluated for new symptoms including headaches, blurry vision, palpitations, and anxiety. These symptoms were considered by multiple services as worsening of his PTSD, with acknowledgment of normal thyroid hormone levels from 2 years prior, but with no levels at the time of th...
Agent-based microscopic pedestrian interaction with intelligent vehicles in shared space

Looking out for pedestrians has long been one of the most important issues for intelligent vehicles. Sometimes, intelligent vehicles have to cope with a large crowd of pedestrians. This is extremely common in shared spaces such as campus, shopping mall, or transportation station. In this paper, a vehicle-pedestrian interaction simulator is introduced to help intelligent vehicles, especially automated vehicles in The Smart Mobile Operation: OSU Transportation Hub (SMOOTH), achieve better decision making and local path planning. This simulator integrates different characteristics of pedestrians, and is capable of easily configuring and simulating different scenarios. Fundamental simulations have been completed to verify the simulator effectiveness for a pilot four-passenger golf cart. The results show that the simulator can effectively reflect the interaction behavior between vehicles and pedestrians.