cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Midterm Outcomes of a Fixed-Bearing Total Ankle Arthroplasty With Deformity Analysis.

Background:We present our results with an INBONE I (Wright Medical, Memphis, TN) prosthesis that have a minimum of 4 to 10 years of follow-up and include a preoperative deformity analysis on outcom...
Why Do Women Engineers Leave the Engineering Profession? Examining a Moderated Mediation Model

Building on limited research on occupational change, this study investigated the mechanism underlying the relationship between work family conflict (WFC) and women engineers' intention to leave the...
Improving Economic Growth

This paper discusses possible theories and ideas related to improving economic growth in countries. It examines three ideas in particular those being improving education, controlling the inflation rate, and examining financial structure. It discusses the ideas of Eric A. Hanushek and Ludger WoBmann and their thoughts on a country’s education level linked with economic growth. It also discusses Michael Sarels thoughts on inflation rate and economic growth along with examining Ross Levine’s study on financial structures linking to economic growth.
Is your assay stable? Using process stability and capability to evaluate assay performance.

Abstract Background Many laboratories are involved in efforts to increase precision and improve process capability. Metrics to evaluate performance, assess potential for improvement, and prioritize improvement projects would facilitate these efforts. We show how stability analysis can provide metrics to evaluate assay performance and indicate potential for improvement. We also show how stability analysis along with capability analysis can be used to prioritize assays for improvement. Stability reflects the degree to which a process is free of extrinsic sources of variation. Capability reflects the ability of a process to meet external requirements. Methods We used the SR test and analysis of variance to compare the short-term and long-term stability of two assays. We illustrate the analysis with detailed calculations for two assays. Results One assay (thyroid stimulating hormone) was stable and the other, (methotrexate) was unstable. Conclusion Stability analysis provides metrics that can be used evaluate assay performance and to prioritize process improvement efforts.
A unified computational methodology for dynamic thermoelasticity with multiple subdomains under the GSSSS framework involving differential algebraic equation systems

A novel and general computational methodology for thermal stress problems with multiple subdomains is presented under the unified generalized single-step single-solve (GSSSS) framework for first- a...
Association between e-cigarette and marijuana use in a national sample of 8th and 10th grade never-smokers of conventional cigarettes, 2014-2015

Introduction: Cigarette smoking often precedes marijuana use among adolescents. Although adolescent cigarette smoking prevalence is declining, e-cigarette use constitute newer threats to public health and safety. This study aims to examine the relationship between e-cigarette use and marijuana use in a national sample of adolescent never-smokers of conventional cigarettes. Methods: Nationally representative samples of 8th and 10th grade students from 2014-2015 were …
Editorial: Energy and Environmental Optics Express—an expanded publication venue for Optics Express

Editor-in-Chief James Leger announces that the Energy Express section of Optics Express is being expanded to include environmental optics, and introduces its newest Deputy Editor Svetlana Boriskina.
A 4-Year-Old Boy with Progressive Weakness, Difficulty Walking and Running, and Increased Falls

Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Patients with DMD present around 2–5 years of age with motor delays and non-motor delays in 1/3 of the patients. The most common motor delays are gait difficulties, toe walking, recurrent falls, inability to keep up with peers and proximal weakness. The non-motor complaints vary from autistic spectrum disorders to academic or behavioral difficulties. Physical examination reveals proximal muscle weakness, initially worse in the legs, pseudohypertrophy of the calves, lumbar lordosis, waddling gait, shortening of the Achilles tendon, hypotonia, hyporeflexia or areflexia and Gower’s sign. Laboratory investigations show elevated creatine kinase that is 10–20 times the upper limit of normal. Aldolase and other muscle enzymes such as aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) are also elevated. The majority of the mutations of the dystrophin gene are deletions of one or more exons, in approximately 60–65% of patients. Partial gene duplications, single nucleotide or splice variants are responsible for the other 35–40% of patients. Muscle biopsy with dystrophin protein analysis is useful to confirm the clinical diagnosis in rare “mutation-negative” cases. In those cases, a muscle biopsy reveals total absence of the dystrophin protein. Management involves steroids and multi-disciplinary care with neurology, cardiology, pulmonology and rehabilitation. New therapies that are being developed currently include gene transfer (micro-dystrophin), exon skipping, trans-splicing, genome editing, stop codon read-through and cell therapy.
Rethinking Communication in Multiple-kernel OSes for New Shared Memory Interconnects

Future computer platforms will likely be built with a multitude of on-chip and off-chip processing units being potentially of different ISAs, OS-capable, and sharing memory with a form of consistency. Multiple-kernel OSes, from multikernels to single-system image OSes, have been demonstrated to mange such platforms efficiently, but they assume no shared memory between kernels as a founding principle. This position paper proposes a new multiple-kernel OS design, which leverages consistent shared memory across homogeneous and heterogeneous processing units in a machine. Among other benefits, this design enables porting commodity SMP OSes to such future platforms, capitalizing on their shared memory programming model, and extend them to multiple-kernel OSes. Herein we present such design, based on two new software primitives tackling the problem of sharing and data format differences between eventually heterogeneous computing units: typed shared memory and type-morphable executable code. We also describe an initial implementation built around Popcorn Linux for x86 and ARM.
The Flickering Consumer: New Materialities

To investigate possibilities for integrating recent interdisciplinary research on materiality, this chapter focuses on concepts of materiality, agency, and intention that mark a shift to a relational metaphysics in consumption contexts. Drawing from design theory, digital humanities, and philosophy, notions of flickering and witnessing evoke models of relations and interactions. A disciplinary proposition emerges: consumer research is a form of materiality studies wherein the consumer is designated an element of interest in the relationships and interactions that bring forth the world. The chapter makes several contributions: organizes and explicates often taken for granted concepts such as materiality, materialism, and agency, connects consumer research to high-level theorizations of materiality, and synthesizes diverse discussions in consumer culture theory with the possibilities of new materialities. An awareness of the fundamental role played by materiality-related assumptions may inspire concomitant animation and explication of a relational metaphysics, opening opportunities to recognize processes and practices previously obscured by prevailing interpretations governed by a singularly agentic, autonomous, and effective human subject. Power relations must not be ignored.
Hormonal Outcomes Following Hemithyroidectomy.

ObjectiveTo assess hormonal outcomes and thyroid hormone (TH) replacement after hemithyroidectomy (HT).Study DesignRetrospective chart review.SettingQuaternary care hospital system.MethodsA retrosp...
Comparing the Individual and Combined Effects of Ant Attendance and Wing Formation on Aphid Body Size and Reproduction

Species employ multiple strategies to deal with stressful environments, but these strategies often incur costs. Aphids frequently utilize multiple predator avoidance strategies, including attracting mutualist ants for protection and dispersing by producing winged forms. While both strategies can be physiologically costly, the magnitudes of these costs have not been previously compared. In this study, we experimentally manipulated ant attendance in the field and measured the individual and interactive effects of ant attendance and wing formation on body size and reproduction of the ant-tended aphid Cinara schwarzii (Wilson) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Aphid adult body size was smaller in the presence of ants (18%), but controlling for body size, there were no differences in embryo number or size. In contrast, wing formation did not affect adult body size but strongly reduced embryo number (46%) and size (8%). Although ant attendance reduced C. schwarzii wing formation, ant attendance and wing formation acted independently on aphid body size and reproduction. For comparison, we confirmed that the manipulation of ant presence had no effect on body size or reproduction of the untended co-existing congener Cinara solitaria (Gillette and Palmer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Complementing our empirical study, a meta-analysis of 78 responses from 24 publications showed that wing formation consistently and significantly reduces aphid body size and reproduction (37%), while the effects of ant attendance showed a mean positive effect (9%) that did not significantly differ from zero. Together, our empirical study and meta-analysis provide strong evidence for costs of wing formation but not ant attendance for aphids.
Incidence, predictors, and outcomes of post-thrombectomy seizures in the extended time window.

Abstract Mechanical thrombectomy 6–24 h after the last time where a patient was known to be without signs or symptoms of a stroke is the standard of care for patients with a stroke due to large vessel occlusion. This is referred to as thrombectomy within an extended time window. There have been very few studies looking at patients who had seizures within the first week (early post-stroke seizures) following mechanical thrombectomy in this extended time window. Our study suggests that this group of patients does not have a higher incidence of early post stroke seizures. Our findings do reveal however, that patients who do have early post-stroke seizures may have a less favorable functional outcome at 90 days than those who did not develop early seizures. Hence, rapid identification and subsequent treatment of seizures in these patients is important.
Acute and intermediate-term outcome of endovascular stenting of native aortic coarctation in adolescents and adult patients

Introduction Coarctation of aorta (CoA) is a common form of cardiac lesions requiring intervention. Recently, endovascular management with stent implantation has emerged as the preferred strategy. We aim to report our single-center experience of stenting in a wide range of patients using different types of stents and later on its complications. Patients and methods Between January 2012 and December 2017, 56 patients who underwent treatment with stents for CoA were retrospectively studied. All the patients underwent echocardiography and computed tomography scans at 6–12 months follow-up. Results There were 18 women and 38 men with a mean age of 23.24±15.75 years (range, 9–55 years). The median sheath size and balloon diameter were 12 mm (10–14 mm) and 14 mm (12–25 mm), respectively. We achieved an immediate success rate of 94.6% with only three cases recording major complications in the form of migration of stent, infective endarteritis, and stent fracture. At 1-year follow-up, no complications were noted in the computed tomography scans. Conclusion Stent implantation is a good choice for the treatment of CoA in adolescents and adults. It is associated with a low-residual gradient and a low rate of restenosis, both immediately and at mid-term follow-up. It has a relatively low incidence of complications.
Comparison of the effect of linear and two-step fast charging protocols on degradation of lithium ion batteries

Abstract This work compares the effect of linear and two-step fast charging protocols on degradation of the Li-ion battery due to the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) increase with the charging-discharging cycles based on an electrochemical and capacity fade coupled cell model. Since there is still a lack of knowledge regarding how the State of Charge (SOC) – dependent charging profile affects battery degradation, different slopes of the linear charging profile and different combinations of the charging current level for the two-step charging protocol are chosen as sample protocols representing the profiles varying with the SOC. The simulation results indicate that the two-step increasing charging protocol can achieve the lowest capacity fade ratio over 3000 cycles; the linear decreasing charging protocol can achieve the lowest charging voltage increase. The capacity fade due to the SEI layer increase in the negative electrode results in a shift of the stoichiometry coefficient cycling range and therefore a lower cell equilibrium potential and power performance.
Using School-Based Health Programs to Prevent Human Trafficking: The Mount Sinai Experience.

This article describes how school-based health centers can serve as human trafficking prevention sites. Setting: School-based health centers are available to all students attending a school and are often located in schools whose students have risk factors associated with human trafficking: those with a history of running away from home; unstable housing or homelessness; a history of childhood maltreatment or substance use; LGBTQidentification; physical or developmental disabilities, including students who have Individualized Education Programs and need special education; gang involvement; and/or a history of involvement in child welfare or the juvenile justice system. The Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center provides a model of the types of service school clinics can offer, including integrated medical, sexual, and reproductive health, health education, and behavioral and mental health. Activities: Identifying young people with risk factors and addressing those factors in our clinics in a timely way can disrupt the progression to human trafficking. In addition, if young people who are trafficked are attending schools that have a clinic, their health needs, such as care for sexually transmitted infections and mental health issues, can be addressed on-site. Lastly, some people go to school to recruit students for human trafficking. By raising awareness and addressing human trafficking in the school, students can become aware of this issue and perhaps gain the ability to ask for help if they are approached or know of other students being recruited by a trafficker. Implications: The location of easily-accessible, adolescent-friendly, trafficking-aware services in schools can prevent, identify and intervene in human trafficking.
Estimating heritability of disease resistance and factors that contribute to long-term survival in butternut ( Juglans cinerea L.)

For most wild species affected by exotic pests or pathogens, the relative importance of heritable genetic differences in determining apparent variation in disease resistance is unknown. This is true in particular for butternut, a North American hardwood affected by butternut canker disease and undergoing demographic contraction. Little is known about site effects on butternut decline, in part because long-term monitoring data are lacking. We collected detailed disease phenotypes and multilocus microsatellite genotypes for all surviving individuals in a large natural population of butternut in 2003 (n = 302) and 2012 (n = 113). Two analytical methods, correlations between pairwise phenotypic similarity and pairwise relatedness, and estimation of among-family variance, both indicated weak heritability of disease-related traits and no heritability for overall tree health in the population. Additionally, an analysis of spatial data collected in 2001 (n = 341) and 2012 (n = 113) demonstrated that drier, upland sites contribute to increased likelihood of survival. We conclude that genetic differences among wild butternut individuals contributed little to observed variance in survival over 10 years but fine-scale site differences were useful predictors of butternut mortality.
Embodied Skills and Travelling Savants

Blowpipe analysis was pioneered in Sweden in the eighteenth century. The blowpipe has secured a place in chemical hagiography by being an instrument with which Swedish chemists such as Axel Cronstedt and Carl Scheele isolated a number of elements including nickel, manganese, molybdenum, and tungsten. Other chemists, such as Gustaf von Engestrom, Torbern Bergman, and Jacob Berzelius, were well-known authors of chemical treatises which espoused the utility of blowpipe analysis. This instrument was valued because of the simplicity of the apparatus and its portability. It was small (capable of fitting into a pencil case) and inexpensive. hi design, it was a thin, curved metal tube, through which a practitioner would blow air in order to concentrate a candle flame onto a mineral specimen. The intense reducing flame caused rapid decomposition of the mineral, and, with the use of chemical reagents, the chemical constituents of the specimen could often be determined. Analysis could be performed on small mineral samples to provide instant results in the field.’ Economic, social, and political conditions in Sweden aided the development of this form of chemical analysis. Training in blowpipe analysis was an important dimension in the education of Swedish civil servants, who conducted on-site analyses to determine the location and nature of metals for the increasingly important mining industry.
Globalization, Scientific Lexicons, and the Future of Biology

For well over a century, temporality has played little more than a fleeting role in most of our biological sciences, and perhaps especially in genetics. For too long we have tried to build our unde...
Remarks on Machines, Sets, and the Decision Problem

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the remarks on machines, sets, and the decision problem. The basic distinction between monogenic and polygenic systems corresponds to the contrast of calculations with proofs, functions with relations, and machines with production systems. In calculations, there is generally a fixed procedure, such that the answer is completely determined by the question. In addition, in looking for a proof of a given statement in a given formal system, there are an unbounded number of choices at each stage. A monogenic proof procedure—such as the Herbrand expansion procedure for the predicate calculus—need not give a decision procedure. On the other hand, a monotone system, such that by some criterion the conclusion is always longer or more complex than the premises, is always decidable when there are finitely many rules only.
Plant development, and N and P use of winter barley: I. Evidence of water stress-induced P deficiency in an eroded toposequence

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. ‘Kamiak’) was grown at three landscape positions of a representative toposequence in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. This region is typified by rolling topography marked by severe erosion of steep slope positions that has altered soil productivity in the landscape. The objectives of this research were to identify soil factors which limit plant development and nutrient use efficiency in the eroded slope positions, and to suggest potential management practices for overcoming these limitations. Direct drilling into cereal stubble resulted in retardation of early plant development of winter barley. Lower N and P accumulation by early tillering under no-till conditions were related these effects on dry matter. These reductions were generally overcome by anthesis. Comparison of tillage systems demonstrated that direct drilling into crop residues increased yields by 16% over conventional tillage at an eroded ridgetop position of one of the two toposequences examined. Benefits derived in the no-till system under the high N rates occurred during grainfilling, as indicated by greater numbers of heads and higher kernel weights at final harvest. Tillage system had no effect on grain production at other landscape positions that featured higher overall yields under either tillage system. Short-term benefits of no-till systems may be most evident at slope positions where water use is most limited.
Coral Reef Biodiversity--Habitat Size Matters

Ecologists have long realized that the biodiversity of coral reef species declines dramatically with increasing distance from the epicenter of diversity in the Indo-Australian Pacific. In her Perspective, Knowlton discusses a new analysis by Bellwood and Hughes that reveals the importance of habitat area in maintaining diversity, a finding that underscores the need for reef conservation.
A data and query model for streaming geospatial image data

Most of the recent work on adaptive processing and continuous querying of data streams assume that data objects come in the form of tuples, thus relying on the relational data model and traditional relational operators as basis for query processing techniques. Complex types of objects, such as multidimensional data sets or the vast amounts of raster image data continuously streaming down to Earth from satellites have not been considered. In this paper, we introduce a data and query model as a comprehensive and practically relevant basis for managing and querying streams of remotely-sensed geospatial image data. Borrowing basic concepts from Image Algebra, we detail a data model that reflects basic properties of such streams of imagery. We present a query model that includes stream restrictions, transforms, and compositions, and provides a sound basis for formulating expressive and practically relevant queries over streams of image data. Finally, we outline how the data and query model is currently realized in a data stream management system for geospatial image data that supports geographic applications.
TOPOLOGICAL RUBBER GLOVES

This paper introduces the concept of a topological rubber glove and gives several examples. In particular, we prove that the knot 817 and the molecular graph of a single stranded DNA figure eight knot are topological rubber gloves. Then, we present an embedded graph which is not only a topological rubber glove, but has the additional property that no embedding of the graph can be rotated to its mirror image
Rotary Valve Revolution

Rotary valves should pose a credible threat to other mechanical valve systems-such as poppet valves-but they have been unable to infiltrate the automotive market. Using Axiomatic Design we have identified significant design problems with existing rotary valves which have prevented their wide-spread use. In addition, we have proposed an innovative solution which removes some couplings in existing rotary valve systems and could potentially be used in automotive applications, although further work must still be performed.
On the formation, ventilation, and erosion of mode waters in the North Atlantic and Southern Oceans

[1] The mean residence times, subduction rates, and formation rates of Subtropical Mode Water (STMW) and Subpolar Mode Water (SPMW) in the North Atlantic and Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW) in the Southern Ocean are estimated by combining a model and observations of chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11) via Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA), a statistical technique that weights model estimates according to how close they agree with observations. Subduction rates are estimated in two different ways to investigate the non-advective contribution to thermocline ventilation, which in turn are compared to formation rate estimates. One subduction rate estimate is based on entrainment/detrainment velocities and the other subduction rate estimate allows ventilation to be both an advective and diffusive process instead of a purely advective one by using transit-time distributions (TTDs). It is found that the subduction of all three mode waters is mostly an advective process, but up to about one-third of STMW subduction likely owes to non-advective processes. Also, while the formation of STMW is mostly due to subduction, the formation of SPMW is mostly due to other processes. About half of the formation of SAMW is due to subduction and half is due to other processes. A combination of air-sea flux, acting on relatively short timescales, and turbulent mixing, acting on a wide range of timescales, is likely the dominant SPMW erosion mechanism. Air-sea flux is likely responsible for most STMW erosion, and turbulent mixing is likely responsible for most SAMW erosion.
Reactions of a putative metabolite of the model antitumor drug 2‐(4‐aminophenyl)benzothiazole with purines and pyrimidines

Derivatives of 2-(4-aminophenyl)benzothiazole, 1, are being investigated as antitumor drugs, and for other medicinal applications. Although drug development has proceeded rapidly, little is known about the basis for the activity of these drugs. We have previously shown that the putative N-acetoxy metabolite of 1, 8, decomposes in water to generate a long-lived nitrenium ion, 11 (530 ns at room temperature). The kinetics of reaction of 8 with monomeric purines and the pyrimidine cytosine in aqueous solution are consistent with trapping of 11 after rate limiting ionization of 8. This is equivalent to the behavior of similar metabolites of carcinogenic polycyclic arylamines that have also been shown to react with deoxyribonucleic acid bases via a nitrenium ion mechanism. Selectivities of 11 and the nitrenium ion 13, derived from the carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl, for individual purines and pyrimidines are comparable, with both ions showing a marked preference for reaction with 2′-deoxyguanosine and xanthosine, and much lower selectivity for inosine, adenosine, and the pyrimidine cytosine (C). Products of the reactions of the two nitrenium ions with the individual purines are similar, although there are some notable differences. The product of the reaction of 11 with C is similar to the product of the reaction of N-acetoxy-3,5-dimethylaniline with 2′-deoxycytidine (d-C). These results indicate that 11 is not unique among arylnitrenium ions in its reactions with deoxyribonucleic acid bases. The basis for selective antitumor activity of 1 and its derivatives is not due to an unusual property of the nitrenium ion. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maintenance of Residential Rental Property: An Empirical Analysis

The maintenance costs of 137 residential rental properties in northwestern South Carolina are analyzed. The results show that maintenance cost per square foot increases with property age, tenant tu...
Integrated computer-assisted process management

Managing a manufacturing process involves monitoring, diagnosis, and control. An architecture that merges existing data collection and analysis systems with AI-based pattern-detection, interpretation, and decision-making facilities is described. Functions are performed by agents that distribute tasks and control in a way that can be closely tailored to the manufacturing environment. Technical principles and the development strategy are discussed, together with experiences on already operating components. >
Does it Matter if Ticker Symbols are 3 or 4 Characters on NASDAQ

In July 2007 the SEC granted a proposal by the NASDAQ stock exchange to allow firms relisting on the NASDAQ to retain their 3-digit ticker. We examine whether the length of a ticker symbol on NASDAQ matters by comparing stocks that transfer their listing from AMEX to NASDAQ with 3-digit tickers, which previous signaled a listing on the AMEX or the NYSE, to stocks that list on NASDAQ with the historical 4-digit symbol. Our results suggest that ticker lengths for NASDAQ listed stocks do not matter to traders. After moving from AMEX to NASDAQ, the number of trades and trading volume shift from AMEX to NASDAQ. We also find some evidence that trading activity on ARCA decreases after relisting on NASDAQ.
Development, validation, and results of a risk-standardized measure of hospital 30-day mortality for patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND Despite its large clinical and economic significance, measuring and improving the outcomes of patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is only beginning to emerge as a national priority for policy makers and payers. OBJECTIVE To facilitate the public reporting of hospital outcomes, we developed a risk-standardized measure of hospital 30-day mortality for patients admitted with exacerbation of COPD. DESIGN Hierarchical logistic regression model. SETTING/PATIENTS Medicare Part A and Part B claims in a random sample of half of all admissions for patients admitted to acute care hospitals in 2008 (development cohort) and remaining 2008 admissions (validation cohort). We also assessed model performance and predictive ability in 2007 and 2009 data. MEASUREMENTS Hospital risk-standardized 30-day mortality rates. RESULTS The model development sample consisted of 150,035 admissions at 4537 nonfederal acute care US hospitals, with a mean unadjusted hospital 30-day mortality rate of 8.6%. The mean risk-standardized mortality rate was 8.6% and ranged from 5.9% to 13.5%. The development and validation models had good discrimination (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.72 and 0.72, respectively) and predictive ability (predicted mortality at the 1st and 10th deciles 1.5%, 23.7%, and 1.6%, 23.8%, respectively) and showed no evidence of over-fitting. CONCLUSIONS A 30-day mortality model based on administrative claims had similar discrimination to other public reporting models and can be used to compare risk-adjusted outcomes for patients with exacerbations of COPD and to track changes in outcomes over time. The high mortality and variation in rates across institutions suggest opportunities to improve quality of care. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:428–435. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine
The missing link: the role of interhemispheric interaction in attentional processing.

Although interhemispheric interaction via the callosum is most often conceived as a mechanism for transferring sensory information and coordinating processing between the hemispheres, it will be argued here that the callosum also plays an important role in attentional processing. Experiments will be presented that support this viewpoint, both when attention is conceptualized as a resource and when it is conceptualized as a selective mechanism for gating sensory information. Interhemispheric interaction is posited to aid attentional processing because it allows for a division of labor across the hemispheres, and allows for parallel processing so that operations performed in one hemisphere can be insulated from those executed in the other. Given this additional role for interhemispheric processing, it is suggested that the corpus callosum should be considered a component in the network of neural structures that underlie attentional control.
308 Fetal Lung Cells: Protein Growth Factor Control of Commitment to DNA Synthesis

The effect of protein growth factors on DNA synthesis of primary cultures of Type II epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells from day 19 fetal rat lung was examined. The cells were plated in multiwell plates, then made quiescent in serum-free minimal essential media. The cells were tested using the Balb-C 3T3 cell model of the sequential action of competence (PDGF, 25 ng/ml) and progression (EGF, 100ng/ml and SmC, 10 ng/ml) factors for G0/G1 cells to enter S phase. Single purified growth factors, combinations of these, or 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) were incubated with the fetal lung cells and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA determined 18 hours later. For each cell type, 10% FCS increased DNA synthesis. A unique pattern of response to the growth factors or their combinations was observed with each cell type. A single growth factor was capable of stimulating DNA synthesis for each cell type, PDGF for the Type II and endothelial cell and EGF for the fibroblast. This suggests that the Type II and endothelial cell are capable of endogenous production of progression factors and that the fibroblast endogenously produces competence and progression factors, each acting in an autocrine fashion. It is possible that the endogenous factors might act in a paracrine fashion, leading to coordinated control of proliferation of specific lung cell types during development. This study supported by grants from the American Lung Association and NIH -HL-33069.
Factors influencing successful peer-reviewed publication of original research presentations from the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO)

Abstract Objective To analyze factors associated with progression of an original scientific presentation at the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) Annual Meeting to publication in a peer-reviewed journal. A dataset of presenters was created to enable prospective follow-up to assess early impressions regarding publication success with longer-term publication outcomes. Methods Prior to the Annual ASPO meeting in 2013, a survey consisting of 10 questions was e-mailed to all 59 presenters. Questions were designed to assess presenter expectations on publication, barriers to publishing, and experience in presenting, publishing and clinical practice. A second survey was sent 12 months later to those respondents of the first survey who were amenable to follow-up. Results Overall, 46 of 59 (78%) presenters responded to the initial survey prior to their ASPO 2013 presentation. Of these, 34 agreed to participate in a longer-term follow-up of their presentation to publication experience. Of these 34, there were 17 who participated in the follow-up survey 1 year later. Just under half of the original respondents were residents (46%). All presenters (100%) planned to re-submit a revised manuscript if initially rejected. However, 35% of follow-up respondents did not make initial submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Results of a descriptive analysis suggest that more experienced researchers expect their submitted manuscript to be accepted for publication within a shorter time frame than those that have published fewer papers. Time was ranked as the greatest barrier to publication (60%) of those surveyed both in the initial prospective survey and for those who did not publish a paper in the follow-up survey (83%). Conclusion This study suggests a strong desire and expectation of publishing ASPO presentations. Despite this expectation, past research and this data set suggest this expectation often does not materialize. “Time constraints” were the most commonly identified barrier to publication. To enhance dissemination of new findings from ASPO meetings, institutions and individuals should examine methods that facilitate and incentivize publication of findings in peer-reviewed publications.
PHYSICAL MECHANISMS IN DIVERTORS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE CORE

The magnetic separatrix in a diverted tokamak determines the boundary between closed and open magnetic field lines. Even though the main influences on the physics of SOL and core regions may be different and shift from the plasma-neutral coupling and impurity radiation in the scrape-off layer (SOL) to anomalous plasma transport in the core, the influence of this boundary persists over some width, both into the core region and into the SOL. We give a short review of the progress in the divertor-SOL physics and discuss the links between edge core and SOL plasmas which are likely to have an important role in different edge-plasma phenomena.
Verification of a simple point dose calculation method for a dual energy linear accelerator with asymmetric jaws

Abstract Certain fundamental dosimetrical parameters involving the applications of asymmetric jaws were investigated. The nominal accelerating potentials (NAPs) were found to decrease from 5.1 to 4.2 and from 18.0 to 13.4 for the 6 and 18 MV beams, respectively, as the off-axis distance (OAD) increases from 0.0 to 15.0 cm. The relative beam intensity increases from 1.00 to 1.07 at OAD of 15.0 cm for the 6 MV beam, and to 1.02 at OAD of 7.0 cm for the 18 MV beam. The percentage depth doses (PDDs) for half-blocked fields of 4 × 4 cm, 10 × 10 cm and 20 × 20 cm were found to deviate from those of corresponding symmetric fields by less than 2% down to the depth of 35.0 cm. The field size factor (FSF) for the asymmetric field from 4 × 4 cm to 20 × 20 cm deviates less than 1.0% from those of the corresponding symmetric fields. The equivalent square concept was found to be applicable to asymmetric fields within 1% error if the jaw exchange effect is taken into consideration. The measured point doses for half-blocked fields of 4 × 4 cm, 10 × 10 cm and 20 × 20 cm for both 6 and 18 MV were within 3% of the calculated dose based on a published dose calculation method which employs symmetric field beam parameters, such as field size factor (FSF), percentage depth dose (PDD), and off-axis correction factors (OAFs). The efficacy of this point dose calculation method is discussed.
Antibody array profiling reveals serum TSP-1 as a marker to distinguish benign from malignant prostatic disease.

BACKGROUND Blood protein markers that provide more accurate or earlier diagnosis of prostate cancer should have a positive impact on prostate cancer treatment and management. METHODS Serum samples from control subjects and patients with benign or malignant prostatic disease were analyzed on antibody arrays targeting multiple candidate prostate cancer markers and detected with two-color, rolling-circle amplification (TC-RCA). The measurements of certain antibodies were validated using immunoblots, immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry, and sandwich immunoassays. RESULTS Several potential disease-associated protein alterations were uncovered. The most significant was thrombospondin-1, which was strongly elevated in patients with benign prostatic disease and repressed in patients with prostate cancer. Thrombospondin-1 levels did not correlate with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and differentiated benign from malignant disease with 79% sensitivity and 81% specificity. CONCLUSIONS The measurement of thrombospondin-1 could be used to assist the decision to obtain a biopsy in men with suspected prostate cancer, which could lead to a reduction in the number of unnecessary prostatic biopsies. Prostate 67:255–267, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Selective ordering of surfactant modified gold nanoparticles in a diblock copolymer

Ordered aggregation of thiol-passivated Au nanoparticles in a diblock copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) has been observed. The morphology of the diblock copolymer/Au-nanocomposite was dependent on the composition of the thiol modifier. For the thiol modifier that does not preferentially interact with one of the blocks, a perpendicular (relative to the substrate) lamellar morphology is maintained. However, for a thiol with a surfactant structure similar to one of the blocks, we observed a parallel lamellar morphology and speculate that the nanoparticles have localized at the microdomain interface. These conclusions are based on transmission electron microscopy, angle-dependent X-ray photoelectron microscopy and tensiometry. These results are consistent with theoretical predictions on the hybrid systems composed of block copolymers and nanoparticles.
Erratum to: Stochastic Dynamics of Membrane Protrusion Mediated by the DOCK180/Rac Pathway in Migrating Cells

In our previously published article, we described a computational model and analysis investigating the stochastic dynamics of cell protrusion during cell migration. In that work, we presented results of stochastic simulations plotted in two-dimensional parameter space. To supplement this analysis, the associated region of model bistability was identified by analysis of the deterministic model equations, and this region was plotted on the same graphs (panels a & b in each of Figs. 2–6). Since publication of our article, we became aware that certain parameter combinations thought to lie in the bistable region are, in fact, monostable. We wish to thank Dr. Michael Savageau (Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis), who studied our model during the preparation of his review article, for bringing the matter to our attention. We traced the error to the use of incorrect values of certain parameters in the bistability analysis. Whereas the values reported in the paper are correct for the stochastic model results, the bistability analysis was performed using three incorrect parameter values as shown in Table C1. Shown below as Fig. C1 are the corrected figure panels, which now show the bistability regions using the correct parameter values as used in the stochastic simulations. One of our previous conclusions concerned the lack of a definitive relationship between phenotypic switching in the stochastic simulations and model bistability. This conclusion was based, in part, on stochastic simulations for parameter sets that were supposed to lie in regions of bistability (Fig. 2e and Fig. 5e of the paper). Since the corrected results show that the parameter sets in question do not lie in the bistable regime, we have performed additional simulations to confirm that the original conclusions are valid (Figure C2). In these simulations, the analysis shown in Fig. 5 of the original paper was repeated with a larger value of the Cs parameter in order to expand the region of bistability. Comparison of stochastic runs on either side of the bistability region, as originally intended, confirms that although switching between protrusion and adhesion phenotypes is likely to occur in regions of parameter space that are close to the region of bistability, model bistability is not required for this behavior. As explained in the original article, bistable regions of parameter space usually lie between those regions that give monostable low and monostable high protrusion, and in the vicinity of the interface between the two, the stochastic model readily produces transient departures from the stable state.
Exploiting location awareness toward improved wireless system design in cognitive radio

Rapid advances in digital technology allow people to have a single wireless device that has multiple functions such as communication, computing, and entertainment. These functions are generally embedded into the devices as add-on hardware components such as sensors, digital cameras, and so on. Currently, the functions operate independent of each other, since there is no unit that controls and coordinates the add-on hardware. However, with the aid of a cognitive engine, CR can take advantage of each component to improve its communications. In this work, location awareness is exploited to improve the wireless communication system design in CR. It is shown that several crucial wireless channel parameters are environment-dependent. In order for CR to relate a corresponding empirical model with an environment, the classification of propagation environments is outlined as well. The methods of characterizing the propagation environment for CR are also discussed. In addition, it is described how CR can carry out all these steps with the aid of a KRS along with RKRL and complete its adaptation cycle. CR networks are also discussed, including disseminating the location awareness information, propagation characteristics, and their effects on the network itself.
Developmental and reading ability differences in accessing information from semantic memory

A categorical judgment task was utilized to investigate the relationships between word recognition skills and reading achievement at several grade levels. In the first experiment skilled and unskilled readers from Grades 2, 4, and 6 made cognitive decisions about pairs of words using either graphemic, lexical, or semantic information. In Experiment 2 skilled, average, and unskilled readers from Grades 1, 3, and 5 made semantic decisions about word or picture pairs. The speed and accuracy of word encoding, lexical access, and semantic memory access processes varied as a function of reading ability. These results suggest that inefficient word recognition skills can contribute to reading deficiencies as can deficiencies in semantic memory organization.
Positive correlation between cytosolic free calcium and surfactant secretion in cultured rat alveolar type II cells.

Abstract To determine whether increases in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ((Ca2+]i) accompany agoniststimulated surfactant secretion by cultured alveolar type II cells, we measured the [Ca2+]i of quin2-loaded cells isolated from adult rats before and after cells were stimulated with ionomycin, terbutaline or tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA). To determine whether increases in [Ca2+]i are necessary for stimulated surfactant secretion to occur, we measured secretion in cells after [Ca2+]i had been reduced by loading cells with quinl in medium containing low [Ca2+]. Ionomycin increased [Ca2+]i and stimulated surfactant secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Reductions in [Ca2+]i correlated with reductions in secretion stimulated by ionomycin, terbutaline or TPA. Ionomycin-stimulated secretion was most sensitive to reductions in [Ca2+]i; terbutaline-stimulated secretion was more sensitive than TPA-stimulated secretion. When [Ca2+]i was less than 65 nM, all stimulated secretion was blocked. Restoration of [Ca2+]i to greater than 100 nM restored ionomycin-stimulated secretion. We conclude that ionomycin increases [Ca2+]i and stimulates surfactant secretion in cultured alveolar type II cells, and that increased [Ca2+]i appears to be necessary for ionomycin-stimulated secretion to occur. Terbutaline-stimulated surfactant secretion seems to be more easily inhibited by a reduction in [Ca2+]i than does TPA-stimulated secretion.
Two-step processes for bimodal N concentration profiles in ultra-thin silicon oxynitrides

The presence of nitrogen in the dielectric films is known to impart highly desirable properties in the ultra-large-scale-integration era; the position, amount and concentration profiles of nitrogen are of great interest. In this work, we have studied two-step processes leading to bimodal nitrogen concentration profiles, with one nitrogen peak near the Si ydielectric interface and the other at the dielectric surface. Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy and Angled Resolved X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy studies suggest that an ammonia nitridation step (at 1000 8C and 1 atm) following silicon oxynitridation in N O (or possibly following 2 oxidation in O ) at the same conditions results in a bimodal nitrogen profile when short nitridation times are used; increasing the 2 duration of the nitridation step is found to completely nitridate the initially grown oxynitride (or oxide). Post nitridation of NOgrown oxynitrides that are not found to result in bimodal N concentration profiles at the conditions studied. The experimental findings are in agreement with theoretical predictions of preliminary modeling studies. The engineering of desired bimodal nitrogen concentration profiles in nano-dielectric materials of interest becomes, therefore, possible through two-step processes. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.