cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical and medullary morphology of the tibia.

Bone resorption caused by stress shielding and insufficient bone-implant contact continues to be problematic for orthopedic endoprostheses that utilize osseointegration (OI) for skeletal fixation. Morphologic analyses have helped combat this issue by defining anatomic parameters to optimize endoprosthesis loading by maximizing bone-implant contact. These studies have not typically included diaphyseal medullary morphology, as this region is not pertinent to total joint replacement. To the contrary, percutaneous OI endoprostheses for prosthetic limb attachment are placed in the diaphysis of the long bone. This study examined the cortical and medullary morphology of 116 fresh-frozen human cadaveric tibia using computed tomography. Anatomic landmarks were selected and custom MATLAB scripts were used to analyze the cross-sectional cortical and medullary morphology normalized to biomechanical length (BML). BML measured the distance between the tibial plateau and the tibial plafond. Properties such as cortical thickness, medullary diameter, and circularity of the medullary canal were quantified. We tested the influence of sex and laterality on morphology, and examined variations along the length of the bone. Results showed that while both sex and laterality impacted the location of anatomic landmarks, only sex influenced cross-sectional morphology. Overall, morphology significantly affected shape along the length of the bone for all examined properties except medullary circularity. This analysis found that distal to 35% BML, the canal is conducive to a circular implant, with medullary diameter ranging from 13 to 32 mm between 20 and 80% BML. A large size range is necessary for sufficient implant contact in order to accommodate residual limb length after amputation.
Classical complement activation on human erythrocytes in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus and a history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

IntroductionAutoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a serious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In order to more fully understan...
Courting Justice: Tracing the Evolution and Future of Domestic Violence Courts:

Specialized domestic violence courts (DVCs) have been a popular judicial option for processing domestic violence (DV) offenders since the 1990s. While DVCs vary in structure, common core components...
Medical Injury Litigation and Compensation Systems in Japan

This chapter explains the essential aspects of formal and informal Japanese systems for assessing, compensating, and prosecuting medical practice-associated harm. Distinctive features of criminal law, civil law, and administrative compensation programs are explored. Criminal law: Notorious errors at hospitals of high repute around the turn of the century focused public attention on slipshod practices and dishonesty in the medical world. The criminal justice system, amplified by media reportage, sounded a wake-up call to a medical profession previously lacking in accountability mechanisms. The health ministry and organized medicine implemented measures to improve patient safety; the effectiveness of those measures is unknown. Prosecutors’ actions policing medical quality provoked reactions from medical providers eliciting public sympathy, contributing to a string of acquittals of medical defendants and clipping the prosecutors’ wings. Civil law: Civil Code provisions governing medical injury lawsuits are fault-based and similar to rules applied in North America and Western Europe. The burden of proof of causation is relaxed in informed consent and loss-of-chance cases. Procedural reforms, including creation of health care divisions in some metropolitan district courts, have speeded the pace of judicial proceedings. Damage awards appear not to differ greatly, on average, from awards in the United States, and are applied on a more consistent, standardized basis. The volume of claims filed in court, as well as extrajudicially, is considerably lower than North American levels but has been rising steadily, with some year-to-year variation. Most compensation payments are made outside, not within, the court system. Malpractice insurance premiums, uniform nationwide for physicians in private practice without regard to specialty or geography, are far cheaper than in the U.S. Administrative compensation programs: Building on a tradition of no-fault administrative compensation schemes for harm from pollution, defective drugs, vaccines, blood transfusions, and asbestos, Japan instituted in 2009 a no-fault compensation system for infants with severe birth-related brain injuries. Backed by the medical establishment, financed through public funding, administered by a quasi-public entity and offering substantial profit opportunities to private insurers, the obstetrical injury compensation system has achieved universal buy-in by childbirth facilities hoping for protection from future litigation.
Co-Design of a Fully Electric Hybrid Hydraulic-Electric Architecture (FE-HHEA) for Off-Road Mobile Machines

Off-road mobile machines, such as excavators and wheel-loaders, are typically actuated by hydraulics using internal combustion engines as their power sources. There is a trend towards fully electrifying these machines and improving their efficiencies due to environmental regulations and concerns. In this paper, a control co-design methodology is used to design a Fully Electrified Hybrid Hydraulic-Electric Architecture (FE-HHEA) for an excavator that drastically reduces energy consumption and minimizes the sizes of costly electric components. By optimizing both control operation and the physical design, the co-design methodology takes into account the interaction between these two aspects. The design methodology also illustrates how the system architecture evolves from the previously developed IC engine powered HHEA with the engine replaced by an electric motor to a seemingly very different architecture with fewer components. The optimized system reduces energy consumption by 71% over the baseline system and uses electrical components that are 1/3 the size of an alternate fully electric architecture.
CCT and CCT-like Modular Protein Interaction Domains in WNK Signaling.

The WNK (with-no lysine (K)) kinases and their downstream effector kinases, OSR1 (oxidative stress responsive 1) and SPAK (SPS/STE20-related proline-alanine rich kinase), have well-established functions in the maintenance of cell volume and ion homeostasis. Mutations in these kinases have been linked to an inherited form of hypertension, neurological defects, and other pathologies. A rapidly expanding body of evidence points to the involvement of WNKs in regulating multiple diverse cellular processes as well as the progression of some forms of cancer. How OSR1/SPAK contribute to these processes is well understood in some cases, but completely unknown in others. OSR1 and SPAK are targeted to both WNKs and substrates via their conserved C-terminal (CCT) protein interaction domains. Considerable effort has been put forth to understand the structure, function, and interaction specificity of the CCT domains in relation to WNK signaling, and multiple inhibitors of WNK signaling target these domains. The domains bind RFxV and RxFxV protein sequence motifs with the consensus sequence R-F-x-V/I or R-x-F-x-V/I, but residues outside the core motif also contribute to specificity. CCT interactions are required for OSR1 and SPAK activation and deactivation as well as cation-chloride cotransporter substrate phosphorylation. All four WNKs also contain CCT-like domains that have similar structures and conserved binding residues when compared to CCT domains, but their functions and interaction specificities are mostly unknown. A better understanding of the varied actions of these domains and their interactions will better define the known signaling mechanisms of the WNK pathway as well as uncover new ones. Significance Statement WNK kinases and downstream effector kinases, OSR1 and SPAK, have been shown to be involved in an array of diverse cellular processes. Here we review the function of modular protein interaction domains found in OSR1 and SPAK as well as related domains found in WNKs.
The Potential of Censuses to Transform Categorization

State-centered approaches, which assign transformative capabilities to state-driven social classification schemes, dominate census scholarship. Simply put, from this perspective, states’ categories shape popular perceptions of social categories, including race. However, the Puerto Rican case challenges these positions. Fluid phenotypical and social characteristics underlie everyday racial categorization there, despite centuries of colonial and imperialist censuses that restricted racial categories to Black, White, and Brown. Thus, the Puerto Rican case exemplifies the need to recast successful official classification as a multidimensional, interactive state-society process. This chapter specifies some features of states and societies, such as a strong imperialist state, the familiarity of census categories, the engagement of social actors and institutions in information gathering, and local power relations that may help explain where and when censuses have these transformative effects. Using this approach, the transformative power of censuses can be evaluated empirically instead of unilaterally assumed.
The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program bariatric surgical risk/benefit calculator: 30-day risk.

Abstract Background There is increasing demand for data-driven tools that provide accurate and clearly communicated patient-specific information. These can aid discussions between practitioners and patients, promote shared decision-making, and enhance informed consent. The American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) sought to create a risk calculator for adult patients considering primary metabolic and bariatric surgery, with multiple prediction features: (1) 30-day risk; (2) 1-year body mass index projections; and (3) 1-year co-morbidity remission. Objectives To evaluate the 30-day risk estimation feature of this tool. Setting Not-for-profit organization, international bariatric surgery clinical data registry. Methods MBSAQIP data across 5.5 years, 925 hospitals, and 775,291 cases were used to develop the 30-day risk feature. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate postoperative risks for 9 outcomes across 4 procedures: laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Results The tool showed good discrimination for mortality and surgical site infection models (c-statistics, .80 and .70, respectively), and was slightly less accurate for the 7 other complications (.62–.69). Graphical representations showed excellent calibration for all 9 outcomes. Conclusions Overall, the 30-day risk models were accurate and well calibrated, with acceptable discrimination. The MBSAQIP bariatric surgical risk/benefit calculator is publicly available, with the intent to be integrated into healthcare practice to guide bariatric surgical decision-making and care planning, and to enhance communication between patients and their surgical care team.
Molecular Diagnostics of Hematopoietic Disorders

Publisher Summary This chapter serves as a practical guide for the use and interpretation of genetic testing in hematopoietic malignancies. It also discusses molecular genetic and cytogenetic information that has profoundly impacted the practice of hematopathology. Molecular genetic studies are required for the classification of most hematopoietic malignancies. Molecular genetic changes associated with various hematopoietic neoplasms are often present at low levels after therapy. In many cases, these findings do not correlate well with clinical relapse. It is reasonable to hypothesize that serial quantification of these molecular changes by quantitative PCR will provide more useful prognostic information. Molecular genetic testing is particularly illustrated by PCR-based clonality studies. The molecular genetic studies were useful in identifying a clonal lymphoma that mimicked a reactive condition. This increased knowledge coupled with improved testing methods has fostered the use of cytogenetic and molecular genetic assays in diagnosis, prognosis, and subsequent disease monitoring. The importance of genetic information is underscored by the prominent incorporation of these data into the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. It is emphasized that appropriate use of cytogenetic and molecular genetic testing requires judicious test ordering, proper sample collection and preparation, as well as correlation with available clinical and pathology data.
Impedance Matching and Baluns

Once a coil is tuned to the Larmor frequency, it will need to be “matched” to the system impedance, which is 50 Ω. Matching techniques come largely from radio-frequency (RF) engineering dating back to the 1940s and are included in modern textbooks. An optimal match increases the receiver sensitivity, which is a very important factor in NMR and MRI. Another method for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio is the addition of cable traps onto the coaxial shield of the coil cables, which reduces common mode currents. These methods result in a better-engineered MRI coil and are important for system and sample safety. Keywords: matching; baluns; cable traps; coils; general techniques
Regulation of aflR and Its Product, AflR, Associated with Aflatoxin Biosynthesis

We studied the role of the regulatory gene aflR and its product, AflR, in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin in Aspergillus. Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses revealed that aflatoxin B1 accumulation was directly related to AflR expression and was regulated by various environmental and nutritional conditions, including temperature, air supply, carbon source, nitrogen source, and zinc availability. Expression of an aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway structural gene, omtA, was regulated by the presence of AflR. Induction patterns for aflR mRNA and AflR were correlated with that for omtA mRNA in an aflatoxin-producing strain of Aspergillus parasiticus. Analysis of non-aflatoxin-producing strains of A. flavus, A. sojae, and A. oryzae grown in medium suitable for aflatoxin B1 production showed that both aflR mRNA and AflR production were present; however, omtA mRNA production was not detected in any of these examined strains. AflR in the A. oryzae strain was regulated by carbon source and temperature in a manner similar to that seen with A. parasiticus.
Redesigning Credit Derivatives to Better Cover Sovereign Default Risk

We propose a redesign of sovereign Credit Default Swaps (CDS). Under our proposal, a notional CDS position of €100 can be settled by the delivery of whatever package of instruments a sovereign gives in exchange for legacy bonds with a face value of €100. To illustrate, suppose a European sovereign restructures its debt by forcibly exchanging each €100 principal of legacy bonds for €50 principal of new bonds. In this case, our proposal would allow a notional CDS position of €100 to be settled by the delivery of new bonds with a principal of €50. We show that CDS protection payouts would then reflect actual losses to bondholders. We explain why the current CDS contract design fails this test, sometimes perversely, with adverse consequences for hedging performance and price discovery. Published by Risk.net
Stability Analysis of FitzHugh-Nagumo with Smooth Periodic Forcing

Alan Lloyd Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley received the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology for their work describing the propagation of action potentials in the squid giant axon. Major analysis of their system of differential equations was performed by Richard FitzHugh, and later by Jin-Ichi Nagumo who created a tunnel diode circuit based upon FitzHugh’s work. The resulting differential model, known as the FitzHugh-Nagumo (FH-N) oscillator, represents a simplification of the Hodgkin-Huxley (H-H) model, but still replicates the original neuronal dynamics (Izhikevich, 2010). We begin by providing a thorough grounding in the physiology behind the equations, then continue by introducing some of the results established by Kostova et al. for FH-N without forcing (Kostova et al., 2004). Finally, this sets up our own exploration into stimulating the system with smooth periodic forcing. Subsequent quantification of the chaotic phase portraits using a Lyapunov exponent are discussed, as well as the relevance of these results to electrocardiography.
Novel chirped fiber grating utilizing a thermally diffused taper-core fiber

Summary form only given. The usual fabrication method of the chirped grating is the phase-mask method using an expensive chirped phase mask. In this paper, we propose a novel fabrication technique of chirped gratings by using a standard unchirped phase mask.
Citation searching and bibliometric measures Resources for ranking and tracking

The avenues to evaluate citation tracking and journal ranking have greatly increased in the past six years. Bibliometrics, the application of mathematical and statistical analysis to books, journals, and other publications, 1 allows us to choose journal collections, assist with applications for research funding, evaluate journal status, and find significant contributors in a subject area. Most importantly, the expertise librarians have in this area can be used to help our faculty prove their scholarly contribution and achieve success in their tenure process.
Adaptive regulation of time varying disturbances via weighted Robust Estimation and Automatic Controller Tuning

This paper proposes a methodology to adaptively reduce time varying and narrow band harmonic disturbances via the estimation of a feedback controller transfer function parameterized in a Youla-Kucera parametrization. The proposed adaptive feedback regulation simultaneously minimizes the variance of a performance (output) signal and a control (input) signal in real-time. Uncertainty on the plant dynamics is taken into account by including a frequency weighting on the control signal and the solution is formulated as a Recursive Least Squares minimization. The methodology is applied to a mechanical vibration control benchmark that is part of a collaborative invited session at the conference to demonstrate how the proposed adaptive feedback regulation can effectively reduce unknown harmonic disturbances with time-varying frequency contents.
The Weapon Focus Effect in Target‐Present and Target‐Absent Line‐Ups: The Roles of Threat, Novelty, and Timing

Summary When an eyewitness suffers an impairment of memory for a perpetrator because the criminal used a weapon during the crime, this impairment is called the weapon focus effect. The literature is split on how this arises: Some implicate the narrowing of attentional cues to the weapon because the arousal of the victim increases, whereas others claim that the weapon is a novel object in most everyday contexts, and novel objects demand more attention than contextually appropriate ones. The current study employed a simulated crime paradigm featuring a normal, novel, or threatening object. Timing of the object's presentation was manipulated such that it was visible before, after, or during the time when the culprit's face was visible. Target-present and target-absent line-ups as well as retrospective questions were administered. Both the novel object and the weapon resulted in increased mistaken identifications in target-absent line-ups. Structural equation modeling suggested that object novelty mediated this effect. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trends in Augmented Feedback Research and Tips for the Practitioner

(2001). Trends in Augmented Feedback Research and Tips for the Practitioner. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 32-36.
Optimal power flow in tree networks

The optimal power flow (OPF) problem seeks to control power generation/demand to optimize certain objectives such as minimizing the generation cost or power loss. It is becoming increasingly important for tree distribution networks due to the emerging distributed generation and controllable loads. The OPF problem is nonconvex. We prove that after modifying the OPF problem, its global optimum can be recovered via a second-order cone programming (SOCP) relaxation for tree networks, under a condition that can be checked in advance. Empirical studies justify that the modification is “small”, and that the condition holds, for the IEEE 13-bus network and two real-world networks.
Laser emission from solutions and films containing semiconducting polymer and titanium dioxide nanocrystals

Abstract We report laser emission from solutions and dilute blend films containing a semiconducting polymer, poly(2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene) (MEH-PPV), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocrystals under pulsed optical excitation at 532 and 435 nm. The TiO2 nanoparticles multiply scatter photons in the active polymer medium such that gain exceeds loss above a critical excitation threshold. Above threshold, the emission spectrum narrows significantly. Solid state lasing is observed from free standing films of MEH-PPV and TiO2 in polystyrene. This is the first demonstration of lasing with a semiconducting polymer in the solid state as the active medium.
A first‐principles study of diatomic NiAl: Ground state, structure, and spectroscopic constants

A computational study of diatomic NiAl is reported. Molecular properties evaluated include the equilibrium bond length (re), equilibrium stretching frequency (ωe), doublet-quartet energy splitting, and nickel-aluminum bond strength. Several interesting conclusions have resulted from this research. First, convergence in calculated properties is smoother with recently reported correlation consistent basis sets than earlier basis sets for Ni and Al. Second, with the exception of bond strength, basis set limit properties extrapolated using correlation basis sets are in agreement with reported data. Third, this research suggests that caution may be needed with regard to the use of DFT for developing interatomic potentials for larger scale simulations. For example, B97-1 showed better agreement with reported re for 2NiAl than B3LYP. However, the situation was reversed for the calculation of ωe. With respect to bond strength, the situation is unclear due to the scatter among experiment and calculations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
B72-21 Data Structures and Management

I. Flores has written a number of books on computers encompassing a broad spectrum of topics from logical design and system architecture to software and programming. This book on data structure and management examines the subject of data management in computer systems and gives a comprehensive treatment of the many facets of data; their encoding schemes, their representations in computer storage, the access and maintenance techniques for data structures and the related system-control operations to carry out data access and maintenance. The book starts from the fundamentals of data and data structures and places special emphasis on the reality of business data processing. The basic notions are then developed into thorough treatment of data management functions in both hardware and software, primarily in the context of IBM/ 360 type of systems. Despite the complexity of the subject matter, the material in the book is organized in a reasonably simplified manner to facilitate comprehension. The book can be used by students who major in computer systems and is also a good reference for practitioners in the data processing profession. For those readers who are information specialists but not involved in programming or managing computer systems, the book is a valuable text to gain understanding of the problems of data management.
Effects of development time, biomass and ferromanganese oxides on nickel sorption by stream periphyton.

Abstract Procedurally defined periphyton frequently includes substantial quantities of hydrous iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides. As these oxides are strong sorbers of heavy metals, their presence may complicate estimation of metal bioaccumulation by periphyton. We examined the relationship between nickel (Ni) sorption and the development time, biomass, and Fe and Mn oxide content of stream periphyton. Development time, the time during which periphyton accrued on submerged tile substrata, was used to provide variation in biomass, Fe and Mn levels. Stream periphyton from four development times was exposed to Ni for 2 h in the laboratory, and then ashed. Development time was significantly associated with ash-free dry mass (AFDM), Fe and Mn levels (ANOVA, P ⩽0.003). Ni extracted by a mild reductant (hydroxylamine hydrochloride) was significantly associated with development time, and with AFDM, Fe and Mn levels (linear models, P ⩽0.0002). A subsequent acid digestion yielded similar associations with the same variables (linear models, P ⩽0.0001). For both extractions, AFDM was significantly and positively correlated with Fe ( r =0.68 and 0.89) and with Mn ( r =0.77 and 0.93) (Spearman rank, P ⩽0.005). These data demonstrate the importance of periphyton development time in influencing both metal sorption and levels of biomass and ferromanganese oxides. The data also suggest that metal contaminant levels in periphyton should not be attributed automatically to biotic sorption. Periphyton metal-accumulation studies conducted where ferromanganese oxide concentrations are elevated should address the potential metal-sorbing roles of Fe and Mn oxides within the periphyton matrix.
A multi-purpose language processing laboratory

This paper describes the design and implementation of a tool for creating language processors, in particular, translator generators. The purpose of this tool is to allow the fast implementation of (non-production quality) translators for any language, however exotic, for which a grammar can be written, and to generate compiler phases with “hooks” which show the compiling process in action for use in compiler construction courses. The emphasis is on a user-friendly metalanguage which is consistent for the various phases of the parameterized tool. Use of the tool in a graduate compiler construction course revealed the strengths of this metalanguage as well as providing a test site for other improvements and further development of the tool.
Methylene blue for neutralization of heparin

Abstract Patients with protamine allergy present a difficult dilemma when reversal of heparin is required for excessive bleeding. Premedication with steroids and antihistamines has not been shown to effectively prevent anaphylactic reactions in patients with hypersensitivity to protamine. Other heparin antagonists are either not available or are too toxic for human use. This report describes a patient in whom methylene blue was used effectively to neutralize heparin and decrease bleeding due to heparinization. In vitro testing was then done to further define the interaction of heparin and methylene blue. This testing demonstrated that methylene blue neutralized heparin levels of 1 u/ml as well as 10 u/ml. Methylene blue acted as an anticoagulant when present at levels of 3000 μg/ml. However, it acted as a coagulant when present in intermediate levels of 800 μg/ml and 1600 μg/ml. The plasma levels necessary for neutralization of heparin levels of 1 unit/ml (the levels achieved in patient therapeutically anticoagulated) are easily achieved using doses routinely used in treatment of methemoglobinemia. Although the toxicity of methylene blue has been well defined at the lower doses of 2–4 mg/Kg, work still needs to be done to determine safety of the drug at the higher doses necessary to neutralize heparin levels achieved in bypass patients.
A DoD Perspective on Left Handed Negative Index Materials and Potential Applications

In the quest for ever smaller, lighter weight, and conformal components and devices for radar and communication applications, researchers in the RF community have increasingly turned to artificially engineered, composite structures (or “metamaterials”) in order to exploit the extraordinary electromagnetic response these materials offer. One particularly promising class of metamaterials that has recently received a great deal of attention are “left-handed” or negative index materials. Because these metamaterials exhibit the unique ability to bend and focus light in ways no other conventional materials can, they hold great potential for enabling a number of innovative lens and antenna structures for a broad range of commercial and DoD relevant applications. Exploring the possible implementation of negative index materials for such applications will require significant enhancements in the properties of existing Negative Index Materials (NIM) (bandwidth, loss, operational frequency, etc.), as well as improved understanding of the physics of their electromagnetic transport properties. For this reason the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) has initiated a program that seeks to further develop and demonstrate NIM for future DoD missions including, but not limited to, the following: 1) lightweight, compact lenses with improved optics; 2) sub wavelength/high resolution imaging across the electromagnetic spectrum; 3) novel approaches to beam steering for radar, RF, and/or optical communications; and 4) novel approaches for integrating optics with semiconductor electronics. A brief overview of the salient properties of NIM will be presented as well as a general discussion of a few of their potential applications.
Reporting of adverse events.

Systems for reporting adverse events can reduce medical errors by uncovering remediable problems in processes of care; however, current reporting systems are neither widely used nor highly effective. Reporting systems work best when they are confidential and easy to use, provide expert analysis of reports, and give timely feedback.
Neuropeptide Y injection into the fourth cerebroventricle stimulates c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus and other nuclei in the forebrain: effect of food consumption

Injection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) into the cerebroventricular system of the rat results in a robust feeding response. In this study, we observed that NPY injection into the fourth ventricle augmented feeding and Fos-like immunoreactivity (FLI) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and in other neighboring nuclei in the forebrain previously implicated in stimulation of feeding. Since the rostral transport of NPY in cerebrospinal fluid after injection into the fourth ventricle is unlikely and the topography of FLI as well as feeding behavior seen in this study are similar to those observed previously after NPY injection into the lateral cerebroventricle, these findings are in accord with the view that feeding induced by NPY injection into the fourth ventricle may also be mediated by NPY receptive elements in the forebrain.
Prion Diseases of Yeast: Amyloid Structure and Biology

Prion "variants" or "strains" are prions with the identical protein sequence, but different characteristics of the prion infection: e.g. different incubation periods for scrapie strains or different phenotype intensities for yeast prion variants. We have shown that infectious amyloids of the yeast prions [PSI+], [URE3] and [PIN+] each have an in-register parallel β-sheet architecture. Moreover, we have pointed out that this amyloid architecture can explain how one protein can faithfully transmit any of several conformations to new protein monomers. This explains how proteins can be genes.
TRANSPORT THROUGH DIRTY LUTTINGER LIQUIDS CONNECTED TO RESERVOIRS

It is shown that the conductance of a weakly disordered Luttinger-liquid quantum wire connected to non-interacting leads is affected by electron-electron interactions in the wire. This is in contrast to the case of a perfect wire the conductance of which is given by $e^2/h$ regardless of interactions in the wire. The disorder-induced correction to the conductance scales with temperature and/or the wire length, the scaling exponent being determined only by the interaction strength in the wire. These results explain recent experiments on quasi-ballistic GaAs quantum wires.
The Role of the Left Parietal Lobe in the Mediation of Intra-and Cross-Modal Associations

Summary The present study assesses the role of the dominant angular gyrus region in the mediation of intra- and cross-modal associations. Patients with dominant parietal lobe damage (as defined by brain scan and behavioral deficits) were impaired on auditory-visual, tactual-visual and visual-tactual cross-modal matching tasks. Some parietal patients were also impaired on tactual-tactual matches, but this intra-modal deficit was dissociable from the cross-modal deficiencies. Patients with frontal-temporal lesions were as a group unimpaired on all intra- and cross-modal tasks. Deficits on auditory-visual matches were closely associated with reading disabilities suggesting that this associative capacity serves as a prerequisite for reading.
Analysis of Melting in a Mixed Metal Powder Bed With Finite Thickness Subjected to Constant Heat Flux Heating

Melting of a subcooled powder bed with the finite thickness that contains a mixture of two metal powders with significantly different melting points is investigated analytically. Shrinkage induced by melting is taken into account in the physical model. The temperature distributions in the liquid and solid phases were obtained using an exact solution and an integral approximate solution, respectively. The effects of porosity, Stefan number, and subcooling on the surface temperature and solid-liquid interface are also investigated. The present work built solid foundation to investigate the complex three-dimensional selective laser sintering (SLS) process.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
A Multi-Scalar Examination of Law for Sustainable Ecosystems

The loss of resilience in social-ecological systems has the capacity to decrease essential ecosystem services, posing threats to human survival. To achieve sustainability, we must not only understand the ecological dynamics of a system, such as coral reefs, but must also promulgate regulations that promote beneficial behavior to address ecological stressors throughout the system. Furthermore, laws should reflect that systems operate at multiple spatial and temporal scales, thus requiring management across traditional legal jurisdictions. In this paper, we conducted a multi-scalar examination of law for sustainable ecosystems and how law pertains to coral reef ecosystems in particular. Findings indicate that, in order to achieve sustainability, we must develop new or reform existing legal mechanisms to protect ecosystems.
Use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign GI diseases

Background: The self-expandable metallic stent is of proven benefit in patients with malignant disease; however, its use in patients with benign disease is not well established. There are few data available regarding long-term complications and outcomes with use of self-expandable metallic stents in benign disease and virtually none regarding attempted removal once the acute problem is resolved. Methods: Thirteen patients who had a self-expandable metallic stent placed for benign GI disorders were included in a retrospective analysis. Data collected included patient demographics, indication for procedure, type of stent used, complications, and patient outcomes. Results: Thirteen patients (7 women, 6 men; mean age 67 years, range 34–84 years) had one or more self-expandable metallic stents placed for benign disease and were followed for a mean of 3.4 years (3 weeks to 10 years). Of the 13 patients, 8 had esophageal stents, 4 biliary stents, and 1 had dual stents placed in the pancreaticobiliary tree. Complications developed in 8 (62%) patients; 4 (31%) ultimately died, either from the primary disease process (3) or from stent-related complications (1). Conclusions: Self-expandable metallic stent placement is effective treatment for benign esophageal leaks, providing the stent can be removed. It also may be used in either the esophagus or biliary tree in patients who are poor candidates for surgery and short expected survival. However, a self-expandable metallic stent should not be placed in a patient with a benign GI disorder who has a significant life expectancy and is a good candidate for surgery.
Effect of Radio Frequency Inhomogeneity Correction on the Reproducibility of Intra‐Cranial Volumes Using MR Image Data

The volumes of total brain, white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid in normal volunteers were determined using a supervised nonparametric feature map segmentation of dual-contrast MR images after correcting for the radio frequency (RF) inhomogeneity. Reproducibility of the segmentation was evaluated in terms of inter-observer and scan-to-scan variations. A comparison with the published results indicates that the scan-to-scan and inter-observer variabilities in the determination of tissue volumes are substantially reduced following the RF inhomogeneity correction.
PTHrp comes full circle in cancer biology.

Commentary on: Kir S, White JP, Kleiner S, Kazak L, Cohen P, Baracos VE, Spiegelman BM. Tumour-derived PTH-related protein triggers adipose tissue browning and cancer cachexia. Nature 2014;513:100–104.
Seed dispersal by pulp consumers, not "legitimate" seed dispersers, increases Guettarda viburnoides population growth.

We examined the effect of seed dispersal by Purplish Jays (Cyanocorax cyanomelas; pulp consumers) and the Chestnut-eared Aracari (Pteroglossus castanotis; ''legitimate'' seed dispersers) on population growth of the small tree Guettarda viburnoides (Rubiaceae) in northeastern Bolivian savannas. Because each bird species differs with respect to feeding and post-feeding behavior, we hypothesized that seed dispersal by each species will contribute differently to the rate of increase of G. viburnoides, but that seed dispersal by either species will increase population growth when compared to a scenario with no seed dispersal. To examine the effects of individual dispersers on the future population size of G. viburnoides, we projected population growth rate using demographic models for G. viburnoides that explicitly incorporate data on quantitative and qualitative aspects of seed dispersal by each frugivore species. Our model suggests that seed dispersal by C. cyanomelas leads to positive population growth of G. viburnoides, whereas seed dispersal by P. castanotis has a detrimental effect on the population growth of this species. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report negative effects of a ''legitimate'' seed disperser on the population dynamics of the plant it consumes. Our results stress the importance of incorporating frugivore effects into population projection matrices, to allow a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of different dispersers for plant population dynamics.
Radical Production and Energy Transfer in Radiation Chemistry and in Photochemistry

The excited states of benzene that are involved in radical production and energy transfer io CCl/sub 4/ were determined by comparing radical production by optical excitation and by ionizing excitation particularly in the crucial region of low CCl/sub 4/ concentration. It was determined that radical production when benzene is irradiated with light in the presence of CCl/sub 4/ is caused by energy transfer from the flrst excited tate of benzene to a CCl/sub 4/ molecule. Under excitation by ionizing radiation the first electronic state of benzene is also excited, but since this excitation amounts to not more than 3%, its contribution to radical production is insignifiment compared to that by higher excited states. (M.C.G.)
Electrical behavior of oxidized metal powders during and after compaction

The electrical behavior during compaction of tantalum and aluminum powders was characterized before and after thermal oxidation. The resistivity of unoxidized powders decreased by >106 over a narrow range of stress between 1 and 10 MPa. Thermal oxidation of the powders to produce submicrometer thick oxide layers on the particles increased the precompaction electric breakdown strength from 5 kV/cm but did not have a significant effect on the low field resistivity of the powders during compaction. At higher fields, the decrease in resistivity during compaction occurred at lower stresses and over a much narrower stress range since catastrophic electrical breakdown occurred once a certain level of stress was reached. The breakdown field at constant stress also decreased as the stress was increased for the oxidized powders. These effects are caused by the cracking of the brittle oxide coatings at the contact points between the particles during compaction.
Field detection of organochlorine pesticides by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Abstract Thermal desorption gas chromatographymass spectrometry (TDGCMS) was evaluated for field detection of organochlorine pesticides in soil/sediment and water. Rapid, 3 min/sample, TDGCMS selected ion monitoring (SIM) yielded detection limits of 50 ng/g and 40 ng/l pesticide in soil (2 g) and water (500 ml), respectively, with measurement precision
Non-Azygos Accessory Fissure in Right Upper Lobe Associated with Superior and Inferior Accessory Fissures in Right Lower Lobe

Accessory fissures in the lungs are common congenital variations, usually detected as incidental findings in radiographs or CT scan. Accessory fissures can act as an anatomic barrier to the spread of inflammatory or neoplastic disease, as well as due to the variant anatomy, mimic lesions. It is important to recognize the presence of accessory fissures, as they affect surgical planning of pulmonary lobectomy and segmentectomy. Accessory fissure in the right upper lobe other than due to the anomalous course of azygos vein is very rare. We report a case of non-azygos accessory fissure, between the apical and the anterior segments of right upper lobe, along with superior and inferior accessory fissures in the right lower lobe.
The ATLAS Semiconductor Tracker

Abstract The technical design of the silicon tracking system for ATLAS is described. It contains 61 m2 of strip detectors, must function after integrated doses in excess of 1014 protons/cm2, and maintain mechanical tolerances characteristic of silicon detector resolutions over scales in excess of 1 m.
Outcome of cirrhotic patients undergoing cholecystectomy: Applying Bayesian analysis in gastroenterology

Background and Aim: Cholelithiasis is a common finding in patients with cirrhosis. Previous studies showed that open cholecystectomy (OC) carries a high risk of postoperative complications and deaths in cirrhotic patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has significantly decreased hospital stay and postoperative morbidity in non-cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of cirrhotic patients after LC and OC in a tertiary center. Methods: The outcomes of 33 cirrhotic patients matched by age and sex to 66 non-cirrhotic controls who underwent cholecystectomy were assessed using Bayesian analysis. Both non-informative and informative priors were used to calculate posterior distributions for parameters under investigation. Results: Twenty-four (72%) cirrhotic patients had LC and 9 (27%) OC. A similar percentage of patients in the control group underwent LC (78%) and OC (21%). Emergent cholecystectomy was not different between cirrhotic and controls (95% credible interval [CrI]−0.35, 0.02). Mean blood loss, duration of surgery and conversion rate was not different between cirrhotic and controls, but cirrhotic patients had a longer length of hospital stay than controls (CrI 0.88, 4.71). Cirrhotic patients undergoing LC had lower volume of blood loss (CrI −363.85 mL, −49.28 mL), shorter duration of surgery (CrI −79.82 min, −19.74 min), lower amount of intravenous fluid during surgery (CrI −1532.9 mL, −495.4 mL) and shorter hospital stay (CrI −11.14 days, −1.20 days) than cirrhotic patients undergoing OC. Child–Pugh class B class and admission diagnosis of biliary pancreatitis were associated with a longer hospital stay. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective alternative to OC in Child–Pugh class A and B cirrhotic patients undergoing elective or emergent cholecystectomy. Although outcomes of cirrhotic patients undergoing LC and OC in a tertiary center are not different, LC is associated with less intraoperative bleeding, shorter duration of surgery and fewer days of in-hospital care.
Progressive saturation NMR relaxation

The NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate, ${T}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}1},$ can be measured precisely by progressive saturation. This efficient technique is useful when ${T}_{1}$ is long and the NMR signal is weak. We derive the quasiequilibrium spin response to excitation in the case of a Zeeman spectrum in the presence of quadrupolar interactions. Exact solutions for the recovery of magnetization under the influence of purely magnetic fluctuations for $I=\frac{1}{2},$ $\frac{3}{2},$ and $\frac{5}{2}$ are presented. This is the general solution to a problem that has been previously solved only for the $I=\frac{1}{2}$ case. An important example for the application of this technique is ${}^{17}\mathrm{O}$ NMR in cuprate superconductors $(I=\frac{5}{2}).$ We show comparisons of the theory with the relaxation measured for high-temperature superconducting materials and the NMR-rates measured by this technique across the vortex-broadened spectrum at low temperature.
Behavior of an adaptive bio-inspired spider web

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of an artificial adaptive spider web with comparable behavior to a real spider web. First, the natural frequency and energy absorption ability of a passive web is studied. Next, a control system that consists of stepper motors, load cells and an Arduino, is constructed to mimic a spider’s ability to control the tension of radial strings in the web. The energy related characteristics in the artificial spider web is examined while the pre-tension of the radial strings are varied. Various mechanical properties of a damaged spider web are adjusted to study their effect on the behavior of the web. It is demonstrated that the pre-tension and stiffness of the web’s radial strings can significantly affect the natural frequency and the total energy of the full and damaged webs.
A method for preparing brain casts.

Permanent molds and casts of properly perfused formalin-fixed whole brain specimens can be prepared in a manner that faithfully reproduces their shape, size, and surface morphological features. The method involves several steps: (a) removal of surface vessels or arachnoid tissue from fissural margins; (b) preparation of a plaster casing with a cavity of a size and shape which will accommodate both the elastic impression material and the portion of the brain to be cast; (c) pouring a silicone rubber-catalyst mixture into this cavity in two stages, to produce first a lining, and then a rubber pool into which the brain is immersed; (d) removing the brain from the mold; (e) pouring an acrylic-catalyst mixture into the hardened rubber mold and allowing it to polymerize to form a brain cast. Both mold and cast are durable, and repeated casting from a given mold can be carried out. Such brain casts provide a permanent record of three dimensional characteristics, as well as certain external morphological features which are otherwise irretrievably lost in a brain specimen that is to undergo histological processing, sectioning, staining, and mounting. The educational value of a comparative collection of such brain casts is inestimable.