cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
But Is It Sociology

This essay explores issues of trandisciplinarity through an autobiographical lens. Specifically, the essay attends to tensions between the discipline of sociology and interdisciplinary science, knowledge, and technology studies, with an emphasis on differing epistemic cultures in each. The author suggests the promise of border-crossings outweighs the challenges, and advocates for a reflexive practice that names our intellectual and political commitments. Eschewing traditional notions of objectivity, the author calls for transdisciplinary and public engagement.
Measurement of Temperature-Dependent Young’s Modulus at a Strain Rate for a Molding Compound by Nanoindentation

The mechanical properties of a molding compound on a packaged integrated circuit (IC) were measured by spherical nanoindentation using a 50 μm radius diamond tip. The molding compound is a heterogeneous material, consisting of assorted diameters of glass beads embedded in an epoxy. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine the representative volume element (RVE) size for a nanoindentation grid. Nanoindentation was made on the RVE to determine the effective viscoelastic properties. The relaxation functions were converted to temperature-dependent Young’s modulus at a given strain rate at several elevated temperatures. The Young’s modulus values at a given strain rate from nanoindentation were found to be in a good agreement with the corresponding data obtained from tensile samples at or below 90 °C. However, the values from nanoindentation were significantly lower than the data obtained from tensile samples when the temperature was near or higher than 110 °C, which is near the glass transition. The spatial distribution of the Young’s modulus at a given strain rate was determined using nanoindentation with a Berkovich tip. The spatial variation of the Young’s modulus at a given strain rate is due to the difference in nanoindentation sites (glass beads, epoxy or the interphase region). A graphical map made from an optical micrograph agrees reasonably well with the nanoindentation results.
Improving models of document cycling: Accounting for the less visible writing activities of an annual reporting process at a supercomputing facility

Conventional models of document cycling for periodic report writing in large organizations limit what is represented to the final stages of document manufacturing, such as drafting and editing, usually within an annual timeframe. This paper proposes a model of document cycling that represents a more diverse range of work activities across a broader range of timeframes, from hourly to annual. These activities include the inscription of data and the generation of reportable information. A more inclusive model of the document cycling process ascribes value to the less visible aspects of document cycling and visualizes how report writing activities are submerged into the regular operations of the facility. The data in this study was drawn from a larger ethnographic study of technical documentation and reporting processes at a federally funded supercomputing facility for scientific research.
Functional Genomics Identifies Tis21-Dependent Mechanisms and Putative Cancer Drug Targets Underlying Medulloblastoma Shh-Type Development.

We have recently generated a novel medulloblastoma (MB) mouse model with activation of the Shh pathway and lacking the MB suppressor Tis21 (Patched1+/-/Tis21KO ). Its main phenotype is a defect of migration of the cerebellar granule precursor cells (GCPs). By genomic analysis of GCPs in vivo, we identified as drug target and major responsible of this defect the down-regulation of the promigratory chemokine Cxcl3. Consequently, the GCPs remain longer in the cerebellum proliferative area, and the MB frequency is enhanced. Here, we further analyzed the genes deregulated in a Tis21-dependent manner (Patched1+/-/Tis21 wild-type vs. Ptch1+/-/Tis21 knockout), among which are a number of down-regulated tumor inhibitors and up-regulated tumor facilitators, focusing on pathways potentially involved in the tumorigenesis and on putative new drug targets. The data analysis using bioinformatic tools revealed: (i) a link between the Shh signaling and the Tis21-dependent impairment of the GCPs migration, through a Shh-dependent deregulation of the clathrin-mediated chemotaxis operating in the primary cilium through the Cxcl3-Cxcr2 axis; (ii) a possible lineage shift of Shh-type GCPs toward retinal precursor phenotype, i.e., the neural cell type involved in group 3 MB; (iii) the identification of a subset of putative drug targets for MB, involved, among the others, in the regulation of Hippo signaling and centrosome assembly. Finally, our findings define also the role of Tis21 in the regulation of gene expression, through epigenetic and RNA processing mechanisms, influencing the fate of the GCPs.
Economic theory and underdeveloped regions

I first encountered Gunnar Myrdal’s Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions (1957) as an undergraduate in Bristol University’s then-quantitative Geography Department in the early 1970s. We were ...
Lessons Learned from the Study of Multi-organizational Collaborations in Science and Implications for the Role of the University in the 21st Century

The chapter addresses forms of research which engage teams spread over one or more institutions. The practice to pool ‘brains’ has become evident since WWII; the subsequent fashion to build ‘science parks’ followed this tradition; and other forms of pooling became necessary when research depended on costly infrastructure.
An Application of Master-Slave ADALINE for State Estimation of Power System

This paper presents two-fold adaptive linear neural networks (ADALINE) to gain the current operating state of power system for a fast and accurate estimation. On the one hand, the Slave-ADALINE applies the fixed and larger step-size least mean square algorithm to accelerate the convergence speed of weights. On the other hand, the Master-ADALINE follows least mean square with a variable step-size factor to achieve the minimum of steady-state error. In this paper the IEEE-30 network of power system is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, and comparisons of simulation results with Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm and single ADALINE are also provided.
Complications of Head Immobilization Devices in Children: Contact Mechanics, and Analysis of a Single Institutional Experience.

Background Head immobilization devices (HIDs) are a staple of neurosurgical procedures, including in the intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) operating rooms (ORs) where material modifications were necessary for compatibility with the magnets utilized. Objective To present the experience in this OR environment and discuss the multifactorial nature of the observed adverse events. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed, utilizing the Department of Neurosurgery and iMRI OR databases to identify patients who suffered complications related to HIDs between November 2007 and March 2016. A literature review was also done to identify the magnitude of the problem and the availability of safety guidelines. Results Nine hundred and forty patients underwent surgery in the iMRI OR requiring head immobilization. Seven (0.7%) suffered complications related to the HID-depressed skull fractures (n = 7) and epidural hematomas (n = 6). Age at surgery ranged from 1.6 to 10.3 yr. All patients had posterior fossa neoplasms and associated obstructive hydrocephalus. Four patients (57%) suffered permanent neurological deficits. Six patients (86%) underwent a surgical procedure to evacuate the epidural hematomas and repair the depressed skull fracture. In contrast, 1 out of 445 patient (0.2%) suffered HID-related adverse events in the conventional ORs, aged 10.2 yr. Conclusion HIDs are important to provide stability and support during neurosurgical procedures. Modifications in the material or the shape of the pins can significantly change the pressure exerted. Most of these complications are preventable if certain precautionary measures are taken especially in certain high-risk patients, and the overall benefits of HIDs continue to outweigh the risks. There is a need for consensus on guidelines for the safe use of these devices.
Health-aware hierarchical control for smart manufacturing using reinforcement learning

Manufacturing facilities are laid out in a natural hierarchy of assembly lines, work cells, machines, and components. Currently, prognostics and health management (PHM) information is confined to the lowest levels of this hierarchy and finds primary use in decisions and control policies for machine maintenance and replacement. For the smart manufacturing systems of the future, however, PHM information should be passed to all levels of the hierarchy and incorporated into high level decision making about production quantities, rates, and locations. This paper proposes a hierarchical control methodology that passes PHM health estimates up the hierarchy and optimization objectives down the hierarchy. Individual nodes in the hierarchy are modeled as Markov decision processes (MDPs) and reinforcement learning is used to estimate optimal policies. This work makes several contributions to the PHM community. First, we propose a novel model of a control system that makes uses of health information throughout the manufacturing hierarchy. Second, we define a reinforcement learning based approach to solving the MDPs for optimal or near-optimal policies. Third, we illustrate the method on a numerical example based on a simulation of a real-world manufacturing environment.
A conformal rotman lens

One of the challenges of designing UAVs is the limited amount of interior space for components. The communication, navigation, and radar systems all compete for this limited space. Phased array antenna systems, in turn, save space, weight, and power by steering the antenna electrically versus mechanically. Rotman lens devices (Fig. 1) are a particularly efficient means providing the correct amplitude and phase waveform inputs to a phased array antenna to allow this steering. However, the elongated, flat shape of a Rotman lens makes it cumbersome to fit the confines of a UAV.
Creation of Proverbial Wisdom in the Laboratory

This study represents an initial attempt to elicit the creation of proverbial statements in the laboratory. The cultural view of proverbs emphasizes their traditionality and social currency, while the cognitive view emphasizes their basic psychological functions (e.g., categorization). Using the cognitive framework, three experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, participants rated how well the moral of a brief story matched a cognitive-ideal (moral), where the stories either confirmed or disconfirmed an ideal. In Experiment 2, participants were instructed to express the moral for these stories (generalize group), or express it so that others could use their wisdom (wisdom group). In Experiment 3, only the cognitive-ideals were presented, and per instruction, participants attempted to express them concretely, using examples (models). In general, the results indicated that moderately proverbial statements were generated most of the time and highly proverbial ones 10% of the time (Experiment 2) or 23% of the time (Experiment 3). There was a tendency for disconfirming stories to yield more proverbiality, particularly under the wisdom instruction. The nature of the stories, the mental set, and the accessibility of linguistic models all play a role in the production of proverbiality. Both the cognitive and cultural views are needed to explicate the overall proverb creation process.
Theory without practice is empty; Practice without theory is blind: The inherent inseparability of doctrine and skills

This article maintains that the so-called theory-practice divide in legal education is not only factually false but semantically impossible. As to the divide's falsity, practitioners have of course performed excellent scholarship and academics have excelled in practice. As to the divide's semantic impossibility, this article examines, among other things: (1) the essential role of experience in meaning, (2) the resulting inseparability of theory and practice in the world of experience, (3) problems the divide shares in common with debunked Cartesian dualism, and (4) modern cognitive psychology’s notions of embodied meaning which further underscore the semantic impossibility of separating theory from practice in the world of experience. Using insights from such examinations, this article also explores implications of a debunked theory-practice divide for, among other things, law school curriculums and law school faculty hiring standards.
Explainable machine learning prediction of synergistic drug combinations for precision cancer medicine

Although combination therapy has been a mainstay of cancer treatment for decades, it remains challenging, both to identify novel effective combinations of drugs and to determine the optimal combination for a particular patient9s tumor. While there have been several recent efforts to test drug combinations in vitro, examining the immense space of possible combinations is far from being feasible. Thus, it is crucial to develop data-driven techniques to computationally identify the optimal drug combination for a patient. We introduce TreeCombo, an extreme gradient boosted tree-based approach to predict synergy of novel drug combinations, using chemical and physical properties of drugs and gene expression levels of cell lines as features. We find that TreeCombo significantly outperforms three other state-of-the-art approaches, including the recently developed DeepSynergy, which uses the same set of features to predict synergy using deep neural networks. Moreover, we found that the predictions from our approach were interpretable, with genes having well-established links to cancer serving as important features for prediction of drug synergy.
The Role of Radionuclide Techniques in the Evaluation of Patients with Silent Myocardial Ischemia

Silent myocardial ischemia has been increasingly recognized and shown to be of prognostic importance. While most emphasis in the evaluation of patients with silent ischemia has been on the use of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring there is also an important role for radionuclide techniques. Radionuclide techniques are of value in: 1) The detection of myocardial ischemia; 2) in investigating pathophysiologic mechanisms; 3) determining prognosis; 4) evaluating the effect of therapeutic interventions. This discussion will emphasize the role of radionuclide techniques in patients entering trials to determine the effect of therapeutic interventions in patients with silent myocardial ischemia.
Low-Bit-Rate VQ: A Projection Based Approach

In this paper, we present an image decompression scheme that emphasizes visual perception rather than objective signal integrity between the orginal and the reconstructed images. The decoding scheme is developed in the context of vector quantization (VQ). The technique includes a projection based image recovery algorithm as part of the decoding process. The quantized blocks are classified into edge and shade blocks. The edge blocks are filtered using optimized templates while the shade blocks are left unaltered. The method can be considered as a constrained smoothing of edges, which does not cause any degradation to the shade (background) regions in the decoded image. The result is a reconstruction that is subjectively better than a simple look-up table decoding.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-sexual Minorities in International Perspective: Overview

This article provides a discussion about the origin and goals of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) and sexual minority section of the encyclopedia, the importance of terminology that is inclusive of all of those who are same-sex involved for achieving those goals, and the need for an international perspective on these issues. This article also includes a description of the creation of the section, and discussion of four themes that appear across the articles: social construction of sexual minority categories; patterns of cultural discrimination; discrimination: consequences and responses; and future directions.
A saturation kinetic model to teach balance of essential fatty acids in nutrition education.

New computer software provides educators and students with dramatic capabilities for teaching theory in the classroom (Hargrove, 1998; Wastney et al., 1999). Computers confer the ability to create scenarios that facilitate hypothesis testing, and they can be used to explore change over time when the balance of a system is altered. Most hypotheses lead to quantitative predictions that can be stated as one or more equations, and computers allow these to be solved as part of classroom presentations even when the underlying equations appear difficult. This paper shows how to use software for modeling to make predictions about the tissue effects of dietary essential fatty acids. Using STELLA® Research software, we converted a set of equations that predicts the effect of dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids on membrane lipids into a dynamic model. The outcomes can be used to discuss the consequences of consuming balanced or imbalanced patterns of essential fatty acids.
Aging and Degenerative Diseases

Over the past 9 years, a large number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been linked to human degenerative diseases. Clinical manifestations that have been identified in mtDNA disease patients include vision loss, deafness, dementia, movement disorders, seizures, strokes, myopathy, cardiomyopathy, endocrine disorders, and renal failure. One of the striking features of many mtDNA diseases is that they have a delayed onset and progressive course and that many of the symptoms seen in mitochondrial disease patients are also common features of the aging process. This has led to the hypothesis that many of the age-related degenerative diseases of humans as well as aging itself are related to defects in the mitochondrial bioenergetic pathway: oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) (Wallace, 1992a, 1992b, 1994, 1995, 1997).
Multi-rate Collaborative Timing Simulation for Active Distribution Network Cyber Physical System

with the development of information technology, automation and intellectualization of distribution network, distribution network has gradually developed into a typical cyber physical system (CPS). In distribution network CPS, the information flow and energy flow is mixed, the discrete state and the continuous process interweave, and the dynamic process of conduction mechanism between cyber system and physical system are complex, these brings difficulty for simulation of distribution network CPS. In this paper, the coupling relationship between physical system and cyber system in active distribution network CPS is analyzed. A distribution network communication service model of communication node, link and process based on OPNET are constructed. A framework of information flow and energy flow fusion calculation is proposed, and a multi-rate cooperative timing simulation method based on trigger synchronization is adopted. A prototype system based on distribution network simulation module and OPNET is realized. The effectiveness and correctness of the model and algorithm are verified by a practical example from a CPS demonstration project.
G17 Quality improvement techniques used by a multi-disciplinary diabetes team, to improve patient care by targetted focus on service development

We are a large multidisciplinary team of specialist nurses, dietitians, psychologists, assistant and data practitioners, managers, youth and play team, and doctors, providing a service for 250 patients with diabetes. We embarked on a quality improvement (QI) collaboration, completed in July 2018, to improve outcome as measured by HbA1c, by enhancing self-management skills, and encouraging patients to be proactive experts using all available technology. We changed regularity, structure and rules of whole team meetings, leading to improved participation of all members, a faster pace of decision making and progress on a unified quality focus. We now employ quality improvement techniques, such as fishbone analyses, plan, do, study, act (PDSA) cycles and regular data scrutiny to measure success and work flow. Within a short time period we made significant improvements in a number of areas: Redesign of insulin pump service for delivery by only those team members with opportunity to provide community support. Decline in patients9 recall over time, led to provision of advanced curriculum modules in a staged manner, and only after initial experience of basic concepts. Introduction of an expert pump programme for those not demonstrating improved control, to revisit education and review most appropriate ongoing treatment regime. Introduction of ward training and resources to enable carbohydrate counting ratios to be initiated before discharge at diagnosis. PDSA analysis has shown that HbA1c reduction compared to controls is not sustained long term, so mandatory refresher training has been introduced 6 months post diagnosis. Development of pre and post clinic communication proforma has improved the dissemination of pertinent information between team members prior to consultation and has resulted in near 100% reliability of task completion by key worker in between clinic visits. In six months we have actively assisted more than 90% of patients to access home software to enable them to review their own blood glucose data, and upload for accurate remote review by hospital team. Interim requests for blood glucose reviews have risen by 150% leading to provision of daily email review clinics.
Toxoplasmosis in non-cardiac solid organ transplant recipients: A case series and review of literature.

The risk of toxoplasmosis in high-risk cardiac transplant recipients is well recognized prompting universal donor and candidate screening with administration of targeted post-transplant chemoprophylaxis in high-risk (D+/R-) cardiac transplant patients. In contrast, until recently, there have been neither well-defined recommendations nor consensus regarding toxoplasmosis preventive strategies among non-cardiac solid organ transplant recipients. We report 3 cases of post-transplant toxoplasmosis in non-cardiac transplant recipients (one lung and two liver); all 3 infections presumed to be donor-derived. Not surprisingly, pre-transplant Toxoplasma serology was negative in all the patients. None of the patients were on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) prophylaxis at the time of diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The median time from transplant to onset of infection was 90 days (range: 30-120 days). Clinical presentations included cerebral (n = 1) and disseminated infections (n = 2). Two of the 3 patients, both with disseminated infection died (mortality ~ 67%).
Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Guide to Diagnosis and Management

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a neurologic condition that develops insidiously over time as degenerative changes of the spine result in compression of the cord and nearby structures. It is the most common form of spinal cord injury in adults; yet, its diagnosis is often delayed. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis, and management of CSM with a focus on the recommended timeline for physicians suspecting CSM to refer patients to a spine surgeon. Various processes underlie spondylotic changes of the canal and are separated into static and dynamic factors. Not all patients with evidence of cord compression will present with symptoms, and the progression of disease varies by patient. The hallmark symptoms of CSM include decreased hand dexterity and gait instability as well as sensory and motor dysfunction. magnetic resonance imaging is the imaging modality of choice in patients with suspected CSM, but computed tomography myelography may be used in patients with contraindications. Patients with mild CSM may be treated surgically or nonoperatively, whereas those with moderate-severe disease are treated operatively. Due to the long-term disability that may result from a delay in diagnosis and management, prompt referral to a spine surgeon is recommended for any patient suspected of having CSM. This review provides information and guidelines for practitioners to develop an actionable awareness of CSM.
Urban-scale variation in pollen concentrations: A single station is insufficient to characterize daily exposure.

Epidemiological analyses of airborne allergenic pollen often use concentration measurements from a single station to represent exposure across a city, but this approach does not account for the spatial variation of concentrations within the city. Because there are few descriptions of urban-scale variation, the resulting exposure measurement error is unknown but potentially important for epidemiological studies. This study examines urban-scale variation in pollen concentrations by measuring pollen concentrations of 13 taxa over 24-h periods twice weekly at 25 sites in two seasons in Detroit, Michigan. Spatiotemporal variation is described using cumulative distribution functions and regression models. Daily pollen concentrations across the 25 stations varied considerably, and the average quartile coefficient of dispersion was 0.63. Measurements at a single site explained 3–85% of the variation at other sites, depending on the taxon, and 95% prediction intervals of pollen concentrations generally spanned one to two orders of magnitude. These results demonstrate considerable heterogeneity of pollen levels at the urban scale and suggest that the use of a single monitoring site will not reflect pollen exposure over an urban area and can lead to sizable measurement error in epidemiological studies, particularly when a daily time step is used. These errors might be reduced by using predictive daily pollen levels in models that combine vegetation maps, pollen production estimates, phenology models, and dispersion processes, or by using coarser time steps in the epidemiological analysis.
Thermal expansion, heat capacity and magnetostriction of RAl3 (R = Tm, Yb, Lu) single crystals

We present thermal expansion and longitudinal magnetostriction data for cubic RAl3 (R = Tm, Yb, Lu) single crystals. The thermal expansion coefficient for YbAl3 is consistent with an intermediate valence of the Yb ion, whereas the data for TmAl3 show crystal electric field contributions and have strong magnetic field dependences. de Haas–van Alphen like oscillations were observed in the magnetostriction data for YbAl3 and LuAl3, several new extreme orbits were measured and their effective masses were estimated. Specific heat data taken at 0 and 140 kOe for both LuAl3 and TmAl3 for T≤200 K allow for the determination of a crystal electric field splitting scheme for TmAl3.
Elevating Twitter-Based Journal Club Discussions by Leveraging a Voice-Based Platform: #HemepathJC Meets Clubhouse

Social media-based scientific journal clubs provide an opportunity to promote published literature to a broader audience and allow robust multi-disciplinary and inter-professional discussion. Hematopathology Journal Club (#HemepathJC) on Twitter has successfully conducted monthly sessions since November 2019, covering topics related to lymphoma and leukemia. To enhance connectivity, multitasking, and productivity, we present our experience of leveraging the voice-based platform Clubhouse concurrent with Twitter. The Twitter and Clubhouse partnership for #hemepathJC holds the potential to increase dissemination of scientific knowledge and further promote journal club format discussion.
Immunodiffusion Analyses Useful in Clinical Chemistry

Publisher Summary Considering the proved value in biomedical research, immunodiffusion tests are startlingly underemployed for monitoring health and helping control disease. This chapter shows particular interest in clinical chemistry to carefully selected examples of this lost information that could be most useful to them. Immunodiffusion tests detect, measure, identify, or compare antigens or antibodies better than other techniques, because they use each to study the other specifically and individually. Detecting one kind of antigen among several with similar biochemical activities (e.g., enzymes) illustrates the most unique and valuable capability of immunodiffusion, that of using reagents (i.e., antibodies) tailored to analytic objectives.Identifying antigen is one way of identifying disease. In addition to using antiserum specificity to study antigens, immunodiffusion can compare antigens with each other to identify them. It is being used with increasing in immunoelectrophoresis and 2-D electroimmunodiffusion (EID) analyses. There are methods for enhancing antigen-antibody reactions these include denaturing protein, intensifying antigen-antibody complexes semispecifically or specifically, staining proteins in the complexes, detecting by their own activities enzyme antigens that have been fixed in gel by antibodies, tagging antigens with radioactivity, fluorescence, or enzymes, even cutting sections from the gel to look for the complexes under an electron microscope. Citing specific, practical examples of typical applications, discussion compares the mechanisms and merits of most commonly used immunodiffusion tests.
What is a Central City in the United States? Applying a Statistical Technique for Developing Taxonomies

We test the null hypothesis that municipalities defined as central cities by the US Bureau of the Census in 1990 are homogeneous-a hypothesis we reject. Rather, we find that US central cities consist of 2 distinct subsets of municipalities that are aggregated from 13 cluster groupings. The article has two purposes. The first is methodological. We develop a method that uses cluster analysis to group US central cities; then we employ discriminant analysis to establish the statistical validity of those groups. We also develop techniques to minimise the role of judgement in selecting the appropriate cluster solution. The second purpose of the article is to test the substantive null hypothesis. Our rejection of the homogeneity assumption raises the spectre of specification error in research and public policies that assume homogeneity among central cities.
Studies on the kinetic mechanism and allosteric nature of bovine brain hexokinase.

Initial rate studies were carried out using solubilized bovine brain hexokinase. Both ATP4− and β,γ-5′-adenylyl methylene diphosphonate are competitive inhibitors of MgATP2− and mixed inhibitors of the sugar substrate, while N-acetylglucosamine, a competitive inhibitor of fructose, is a mixed inhibitor of MgATP2−. These results are consistent with a random Bi Bi mechanism for the brain enzyme. Purine nucleotides, with the exception of ATP, bind at the catalytic site as well as at an allosteric site on the enzyme. ATP and pyrimidine nucleotides bind only at the catalytic site of brain hexokinase. All allosteric effectors were found to be inhibitory. These include: ADP, AMP, GTP, GDP, ITP, IDP, IMP, 3′,5′-cyclic AMP, and 3-phosphoglycerate. The most potent inhibitor of the enzyme appears to be ADP. The hexokinase reaction was reversed using 14C-glucose-6-P, ADP, and elevated levels of Mg2+.
Radon transform computations using DSP chips: an evaluation and comparison

A description is given and a comparison is made of different interpolation schemes for the computation of the Radon transform and backprojections. The nearest neighbor method is fastest, but the resulting reconstructed image is not very good. For D=1 the best method to use is linear interpolation because its performance is virtually identical to the line-length method at a reduced computational complexity. If D>1, the best reconstruction is obtained using the line-length method. The authors compared implementations of these procedures on two DSP chips. Although the DSP 16 clock cycle time is only 55 ns, which is 3.6 times faster than the TMS32020 200-ns clock cycle time, it performs backprojection computations only about 1.8 times faster than the slower TMS32020 chip. The 60-ns cycle-time TMS320C30 is capable of performing the Radon and inverse transforms faster than the 55-ns DSP16, due to the differences in instruction sets and architectures of the chips. >
Initial Resection of Potentially Viable Tissue is not Optimal Treatment for Grades II–IV Pancreatic Injuries

This study was designed to ascertain the optimal therapy and diagnostics for children with pancreatic injury. From January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2007, all children (newborn to 17 years) who presented to this Level I trauma center with demonstrated pancreatic injury were prospectively entered into the TRACS IV system and reviewed for injury type, diagnostics, therapy, demographics, and outcome. Fourteen children sustained grade II or higher pancreatic injury during this period. CT scan was performed for diagnosis in all cases. There were 11 boys and 3 girls, and mean age was 6.9 (range, 2–16) years. There were five grade II injuries, four grade III injuries, four grade IV injuries, and one grade V injury. All grade II injuries were treated successfully nonoperatively with observation. The nine grade III–IV injuries all underwent operative external drainage without pancreatectomy or stent placement. The single grade V injury died of multiple associated injuries after operative intervention. No pseudocysts developed in these children. All children have normal pancreatic function, and all except one have normal anatomy on follow-up scans. Early exploration and drainage directly reduces length of stay. Grade II pancreatic injuries do not require routine surgical exploration in children. Grade III and IV injuries in this series were treated with expeditious drainage of the pancreatic bed and did not require routine pancreatectomy or endoscopic stint placement as some have recommended. Early drainage shortens hospital stay, and outcomes from this therapy are excellent. Pancreatic resection of exocrine defunctionalized segments of pancreas may be performed safely electively after acute injury if necessary, but anecdotal information from this series indicates that too may not be necessary. Grade V injuries often are accompanied by multiple other organ injuries and are associated with a significant mortality rate. A multi-institutional investigation is warranted to reassess optimal therapy for pancreatic injury in children.
Characterizing and Patterning Polyacrylamide Substrates Functionalized with N-Hydroxysuccinimide

Polyacrylamide is a widely used material in cell mechanobiology research. Here, we validate and optimize a method to activate polyacrylamide substrates for protein patterning, resulting in a system with precise and independent control over the geometric and mechanical factors that cells perceive. Acrylic acid incorporated into the hydrogel provides functional sites for activation with N-hydroxysuccinimide, which in turn forms covalent bonds with proteins printed in microscale patterns. To validate and optimize substrate fabrication, we demonstrate that acrylic acid incorporates into the polymer, that is has no effect on Young’s modulus at up to 0.4 wt%, and that increasing concentrations of acrylic acid result in substrates with increasing amounts of protein bound to them. Finally, we demonstrate that cells attach and spread to substrates with protein patterned with electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing. The method represents an improvement over the most-widely used method to chemically activate polyacrylamide with sulfo-SANPAH. With further refinement, truly independent control over ligand density and stiffness is possible. These substrates are powerful platforms for exploring the interacting influence of substrate stiffness and ligand density on cell behavior.
Metabolism of 1,2-(1-14C) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine in the developing brain

Thirteen-day-old rats were divided into two groups; one group received 1,2-(1-14C) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and the other 1-14C palmitic acid in the form of an intraperitoneal injection. One half of the total number of rats in each group was sacrificed 24 hr after injection, and the other half was allowed to survive for 17 days after the injection. Radioactivity incorporated into brain and liver total lipids and into individiual polar lipid components of the brain was determined at both intervals. Phosphatidylcholine was isolated and partially deacylated with phospholipase A2 fromCrotalus Admanteus venom. The ratio of radioactivity FA 2/FA 1 (fatty acid attached to 2 and 1 carbon of the glycerol moiety) 24 hr after the injection was 8.3, when the tracer was radioactive phosphatidylcholine, compared to only 0.7 when radioactive palmitate was injected. From this different labeling ratio and different pattern of labeling the polar lipid components, it was concluded that the radioactive phosphatidylcholine was not deacylated completely before being taken up directly into the brain. Possibilities are discussed to show that the observed radioactive ratio could result from direct uptake of intact phosphatidylcholine, with little or no restriction from the blood brain barrier system, followed by partial degradation by phospholipase A1 in the brain itself.
Immediate memory for word lists and sentences in a patient with deficient auditory short-term memory.

This study of a patient with a mild conduction aphasia again traces impaired repetition to faulty auditory short-term memory. In serial recall, for example, the normal recency effect was absent with auditory but not visual lists. The patient's behavior in immediate memory tasks was in some ways more characteristic of delayed recall, suggesting that an intact long-term memory was responsible for the residual short-term performance. The patient also showed a remarkable ability to paraphrase sentences he could not repeat verbatim, a result which has implications for the role of auditory memory in language comprehension.
Confirmation of the safety of Lagenidium giganteum (Oomycetes: Lagenidiales) to mammals.

Lagenidium giganteum Couch, a fungal parasite of mosquito larvae, is considered a promising agent for operational control. Quantitative reisolation of the fungus from rodent blood and tissue is easily accomplished because the cell walls are much more persistent than those of mammalian cells. The mycelium forms discrete, septate cells very early in its development, in marked contrast to filamentous fungi. The fungus is rapidly cleared from mice following intraperitoneal injection of large quantities of mycelium and oospores. More than 95% of viable cells are cleared within 24 h. Mortality following intravenous injection of mycelium in tail veins of mice is caused solely by embolism of heart and lung tissue. Recently revised U.S. Environmental Protection Agency protocols for testing of microbial pest control agents may have to be altered further to accommodate physically large microbial agents such as L. giganteum .
Handling incrementally specified boolean queries: a comparison of inverted and signature file organizations

Abstract Most discussions of file organizations consider only completely specified queries. However, queries to information retrieval systems are often incrementally specified as a result of user interaction with the system. Organizations that are advantageous for completely specified queries are not necessarily so for incrementally specified queries (and vice versa). The issues involved in the choice of file organizations to support such incremental specification are discussed. The performance of inverted files and signature files in handling incrementally specified Boolean queries to information retrieval systems is compared.
One-dimensional correlations and the phase diagram of CoTAC

Abstract The experimental data for the low-dimensional metamagnet CoTAC are compared to the predictions of a new generalized molecular field theory which treats intrachain correlations exactly. Predictions for the Neel temperature and phase diagram near the zero field limit agree with experimental values with no adjustable parameters.
Developmental cues and persistent neurogenic potential within an in vitro neural niche.

Background Neurogenesis, the production of neural cell-types from neural stem cells (NSCs), occurs during development as well as within select regions of the adult brain. NSCs in the adult subependymal zone (SEZ) exist in a well-categorized niche microenvironment established by surrounding cells and their molecular products. The components of this niche maintain the NSCs and their definitive properties, including the ability to self-renew and multipotency (neuronal and glial differentiation).
Transit system network design

This article formulates a transit network design model for determining frequencies of each transit line in a network. This transit network design model requires a mode-split assignment model with distinct transit lines, each with its own specified frequency, to capture the mode split effects of increases or decreases in individual transit line frequencies. It is shown how to refine conventional mode-split assignment models to include this feature. The resulting model includes more precise measures of transit access and transfer delays, so that it more accurately predicts mode choices and link flows. This variation of the mode-split assignment model uses Dial's transit loader to solve Frank-Wolfe subproblems, using frequencies of individual transit lines to find fastest transit paths, considering access time, ride time, and any transfer delays. Computational shortcuts using the standard Hooke-Jeeves algorithm are demonstrated.
Derivatization patterns among starch chain populations assessed by ion-exchange chromatography: a model system approach.

Abstract Reaction patterns of wheat starch derivatized with a fluorescent probe (model reaction system) were investigated over the course of a reaction period (0.5, 4, 12, or 24 h). Debranched derivatives were fractionated into three populations (Unbound, Bound-1, Bound-2) based on charge density via anion-exchange chromatography, with each ion-exchanged fraction further analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography (refractive index [RI] and fluorescence [FL] detection) to assess proportions and patterns of reaction on amylose (AM) and amylopectin (AP) long (LC), medium (MC), and short (SC) branch chains. Approximately 11–12% of the total chains accounted for 63–75% of the FL recovered in the two bound fractions. FL peaks representing AM, AP-LC, AP-MC, AP-SC, and intermediate material (eluted with AM based on molecular size, but reacted more akin to AP-LC) were monitored over the reaction period. Fractionation behaviors varied amongst starch chains, attributable to the impact of the granule structure on molecular reaction patterns.
Balloon-based, circumferential, endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of Barrett's esophagus: 1-year follow-up of 100 patients

Objective To assess the dose-response, safety, and efficacy of circumferential endoscopic ablation of Barrett's esophagus (BE) by using an endoscopic balloon–based ablation device (HALO 360 System). Design This study was conducted in 2 serial phases (dosimetry phase and effectiveness phase) to evaluate a balloon-based ablation device that delivers a pre-set amount of energy density (J/cm 2 ) to BE tissue. The dosimetry phase evaluated the dose-response and the safety of delivering 6 to 12 J/cm 2 . The effectiveness phase used 10 J/cm 2 (delivered twice [×2]) for all patients, followed by EGD with biopsies at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. A second ablation procedure was performed if BE was present at 1 or 3 months. Patients received esomeprazole 40 mg twice a day for 1 month after ablation, and 40 mg every day thereafter. Postablation symptoms were quantified by using a 14-day symptom diary (scale, 0-100). A complete response (CR) was defined as all biopsy specimens negative for BE at 12 months. Setting Eight U.S. centers, between September 2003 and September 2005. Patients Patients were 18 to 75 years of age, with a diagnosis of BE (without dysplasia), with histopathology reconfirmation of the diagnosis within 6 months of enrollment. Results In the dosimetry phase, 32 patients (29 men; mean age, 56.8 years) were enrolled. Median symptom scores returned to a score of 0 of 100 by day 3. There were no dose-related serious adverse events, and the outcomes at 1 and 3 months permitted the selection of 10 J/cm 2 (×2) for the subsequent effectiveness phase of the study. In the effectiveness phase, 70 patients (52 men, 18 women; mean age, 55.7 years) were enrolled. Median symptom scores returned to a score of 0 of 100 by day 4. At 12 months (n = 69; mean, 1.5 sessions), a CR for BE was achieved in 70% of patients. There were no strictures and no buried glandular mucosa in either study phase (4306 biopsy fragments evaluated). Conclusions Circumferential ablation of nondysplastic BE by using this balloon-based ablation device can be performed with no subsequent strictures or buried glands and with complete elimination of BE in 70% of patients at 1-year follow-up.
Spatial multiplexing gains for realistic sized ad hoc networks with directional antenna arrays

We concentrate on an ad hoc network model with nodes on integer lattice points over a 2D plane. We examine the limits of ad hoc network performance for systems with antenna arrays capable of allowing both spatial multiplexing and directional processing. Two cases are considered. In the first case, we consider "perfect" directional antenna arrays, in other words, each node can form beams of infinitesimally narrow beamwidth. In this case, the throughput capacity of an ad hoc network is independent of the network size. In the second case, we consider a more practical system where each node can form a fixed number of beams of finite beamwidth. Our results show that the spatial multiplexing gains depend on the system size, antenna beamwidth, and number of antenna beams. Furthermore, we show that spatial multiplexing gains offsetting the interference-related performance degradation can be achieved in ad hoc networks with thousands of nodes.
Effect of cyclic and static tensile loading on water content and solute diffusion in canine flexor tendons : an in vitro study

This study was designed to determine the effects of various loading conditions (no load and static and cyclic tensile load) on the water content and pattern of nutrient diffusion of canine flexor tendons in vitro. Region D (designated by Okuda et al.) of the flexor digitorum profundus was subjected to a cyclic or static tensile load of 100 g for times ranging from 5 minutes to 24 hours. The results demonstrated a statistically significant loss of water in tendons subjected to both types of load as compared with the controls (no load). This loss appeared to progress with time. However, neither static nor cyclic loading appeared to alter the diffusion of 3H-glucose into the tendon over a 24-hour period compared with the controls. These results suggest that any benefit in tendon repair derived from intermittent passive motion is probably not a result of an increase in the diffusion of small nutrients in response to intermittent tensile load.