cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When preparation meets opportunity: a case study exploring the feasibility of pursuing a career in biology for two Latina high school girls

The future of this country depends on utilizing human intellectual resources from varying viewpoints to make informed decisions on issues from conservation biology to biotechnology, or even bioengineering. An increase in Latina/o students in the biological sciences would bring a variety of viewpoints, as well as personal and cultural experiences that would advance the field. To insure that we have enough experts in biology that represent changes in demographic trends, we must look into utilizing the expertise of students in our current educational system to continue and complete careers in biology. In this study, a career in biology referred to careers that require an expertise in biology that is gained by completing a bachelor’s degree in biology or an affiliated field. Using case study methodology, I explored the experiences of two Latina students, one who is undocumented, and focused on the nature of the experiences and how they related to the young women’s decision to pursue a career in biology. This study is grounded on a theoretical framework of critical systems theory and the notion that there are systems and components within those systems that either facilitate or hinder students’ ability to pursue various pathways. Data were generated from semi-structured interviews, artifacts, life narratives, and cultural descriptors to gain an understanding of the girls’ past, present, and future decisions regarding the feasibility of pursuing a degree in biology. Four common themes emerged: (1) experiences that made a lasting positive or negative impact early in life; (2) an intrinsic desire to serve their community or people in need; (3) sociocultural support networks; and (4) opportunities or circumstances within the cultural commons associated with their legal status in the United States, which caused the girls to continue or to deviate from their path towards pursuing a career in biology.
A Covalent Intermediate in CD38 Is Responsible for ADP-Ribosylation and Cyclization Reactions

Human CD38 is an ectoenzyme expressed on the surface of B-cells that makes cyclic-ADP-ribose (cADPR) and ADP-ribose from NAD+ (nicotinamide diphosphate ribose, oxidized form). The compound cADPR is...
Isolation of a mouse DNA fragment with homology to a Drosophila ribosomal protein gene

Abstract A mouse genomic library in λCharon 4A was screened for putative ribosomal protein genes using a fragment of the gene encoding Drosophila ribosomal protein 49 as a hybridization probe under nonstringent hybridization conditions. A recombinant phage was selected and its restriction enzyme map determined. The major species of mouse poly(A)+ mRNA homologous to the putative gene is about 740 nucleotides long.
Variability of Response Location during Regular and Partial Reinforcement

4 pigeons were trained to peck an 8-location response strip for grain reinforcement and given 14-session exposures to variable interval and regular reinforcement schedules. Regardless of the sequence of reinforcement schedules, partial reinforcemen produced greater response-location variability along the topographical response continuum than did regular reinforcement.
Design analysis of lattice-matched AlInGaN-GaN QW for optimized intersubband absorption in the Mid-IR regime

Design analysis of III-Nitride based intersubband quantum well absorption in the mid-IR regime (l ~ 3-5 mm) is presented. The use of lattice-matched AlInGaN materials is advantageous because of its extremely fast intersubband relaxation time t rel ~ 150-fs. The ability to engineer lattice-matched AlInGaN layer with GaN should allow realization of multiple pairs of AlInGaN / GaN quantum well structures, which would otherwise be challenging due to the cracking issues that might develop in conventional multiple pairs AlGaN / GaN heterostructures. The large conduction band offset in III-Nitride heterostructures is also beneficial for minimizing dark current and thermal noise.
Disclosure as an Interaction: Why Lesbian Athletes Disclose Their Sexual Identities in Intercollegiate Sport

Over the years, the number of gay, bisexual, and lesbian athletes who have disclosed their sexual identities has been increasing. Given that sport has traditionally been defined as a heterosexist institution, this pattern is deserving of attention and investigation ( Anderson, 2001 ). In response, the present study examines why intercollegiate lesbian athletes disclose their sexual identities in the sport context. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 self-identified lesbian athletes who disclosed their sexual identities while participating in intercollegiate sport. Unlike most past literature on disclosure, the present study approaches disclosure as an interactional process that involves a discloser, an audience, and a context.
Transformation of trichloroethylene by sulfate-reducing cultures enriched from a contaminated subsurface soil.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) was reductively dechlorinated to cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE) by sulfate-reducing cultures enriched from a contaminated subsurface soil. The highest observed transformation rate of TCE was 213 μmol l−1 per day at 35° C. The predominant biotransformation product was cDCE. However, further dechlorination of cDCE was not observed in most of the cultures. Methane production was insignificant and active sulfate reduction was achieved by maintaining excess sulfate. A comparison of sodium sulfide and sodium dithionite for their effect on the transformation of TCE revealed that the latter is a better reducing agent. The extent of TCE transformation in 25 days was ca. 20% higher in the dithionite-amended cultures. A decrease in the rate and extent of TCE transformation was observed with an increase in the concentration of bromoethanesulfonate up to 50 mabetm.
Plasticity of the myelination genomic fabric.

This study aimed to quantify the influence of the astrocyte proximity on myelination genomic fabric (MYE) of oligodendrocytes, defined as the most interconnected and stably expressed gene web responsible for myelination. Such quantitation is important to evaluate whether astrocyte signaling may contribute to demyelination when impaired and remyelination when properly restored. For this, we compared changes in the gene expression profiles of immortalized precursor oligodendrocytes (Oli-neu), stimulated to differentiate by the proximity of nontouching astrocytes or treatment with db-cAMP. In a previous paper, we reported that the astrocyte proximity upregulated or turned-on a large number of myelination genes and substantially enriched the Ca2+-signaling and cytokine receptor regulatory networks of MYE in Oli-neu cells. Here, we introduce the “transcriptomic distance” to evaluate fabric remodeling and “pair-wise relevance” to identify the most influential gene pairs. Together with the prominence gene analysis used to select and rank the fabric genes, these novel analytical tools provide a comprehensively quantitative view of the physio/pathological transformations of the transcriptomic programs of myelinating cells. Applied to our data, the analyses revealed not only that the astrocyte neighborhood is a substantially more powerful regulator of myelination than the differentiating treatment but also the molecular mechanisms of the two differentiating paradigms are different. By inducing a profound remodeling of MYE and regulatory transcriptomic networks, the astrocyte–oligodendrocyte intercommunication may be considered as a major player in both pathophysiology and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases related to myelination.
Effects of planar inlet plenums on the hydrodynamically developing flows in rectangular microchannels of complementary aspect ratios

The effects of planar inlet plenum geometry on the developing flow fields in two rectangular microchannels of reciprocal aspect ratios (H/W ∼2.75 and ∼0.40) were investigated for ReD = 1–100 using micro particle image velocimetry (μPIV). These two microchannels were made by a precision sawing and silicon microfabrication techniques. Both the velocity profiles and centerline velocity developments were clearly resolved and extracted along the axial distance from μPIV results. The entrance lengths were found from the centerline velocities using a decaying exponential fitting function where the centerline velocity reaches 99% of the fully developed centerline velocity. The proposed fitting function showed excellent agreement with the experimental results. The planar plenum was shown to cause an upstream predevelopment resulting in the significant reductions in the entrance lengths. Two entrance length correlations were proposed in the forms of Atkinson et al.’s (AIChE J 15:548–553, 1969) and Chen’s (J Fluids Eng 95:153–158, 1973) correlations. The proposed entrance length correlations showed that acquired constant portion and slope of the entrance lengths showed 23–27 and 70–81% reductions for H/W = 2.75 while the entrance length correlation for H/W = 0.40 showed 69–73% increase and 41–63% decrease in the constant portion and slope, respectively.
Tuber Yield, Storability, and Quality of Michigan Cultivars in Response to Nitrogen Management and Seedpiece Spacing

Information is required on nitrogen (N) fertih'ty and seedpiece management for new cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Interactions amongst N fertilizer rate, genotype, and seedpiece spacing are complex, and can affect tuber yield, quality, and storability as well as N fertilizer efficiency. A field study was carried out in 2001 and 2002 at MSU Montcalm Research Farm in central Michigan. Tuber yields and post-harvest quality characteristics were evaluated for five potato genotypes (MSG227-2, MSEI92-8Rus, Jacqueline Lee, Liberator, and Snowden) in response to a factorial combination of three N levels (200 kg N ha -~, 300 kg N ha -1, and 400 kg N ha -~) and two seedpiece spacings, narrow (0.20 m or 0.25 m) and wide (0.33 m or 0.38 m). Narrow seedpiece spacing consistently produced the highest U.S. No. 1 yields in all genotypes tested (37 and 34 t ha -t, narrow vs wide spacing, respectively). There was a tradeoff between seedpiece spacing and N level in 2001 as tuber yields were enhanced by higher N levels at wide seedpiece spacing, but not at narrow spacing. In 2002, tuber yield was not enhanced, but petiole nitrate-N and tuber-N increased as N fertilization increased. Genotype was the major factor that influenced tuber quality characteristics at harvest and for stored tubers (e.g., specific gravity, internal defects, bruising, chip color rating, sucrose, and glucose). Spacing had minimal effects, whereas higher levels of N slightly reduced specific gravity both years, reduced internal defects in 2001 and enhanced sucrose at harvest in 2002. The cultivars tested demonstrated excellent storage characteristics for different N fertility levels and seedpiece spacing combinations. Overall, the recommended N fertilizer level for moderately longduration potato cultivars in Michigan (200 kg N ha -~) and a narrow seedpiece spacing optimized yield and tuber quality performance while conserving N fertilizer.
Compliance with automotive safety devices among adolescents

The present study was undertaken to examine the automotive safety practices of patients in a general adolescent clinic and to explore the possibility that psychosocial differences exist between adolescents who are compliant with helmet and seat-belt usage and those who are not.
Regional brain polyamine levels in permanent focal cerebral ischemia

Transient global cerebral ischemia has been shown to induce marked changes in the polyamine pathway with a significant increase in putrescine, the product of the ornithine decarboxylase reaction. This study examined the relationship between tissue and extracellular polyamines and regional cerebral blood flow and brain edema. Six hours of focal ischemia in cats (n = 10) was produced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Extracellular polyamines were measured in extracellular fluid obtained by microdialysis. Regional cerebral blood flow using laser Doppler flowmetry and specific gravity, an indicator of brain edema, were measured in contralateral (non-ischemic), penumbra and densely ischemic brain regions. A significant increase in the tissue putrescine level was found in the penumbra but there was no difference in the putrescine levels between contralateral and densely ischemic regions. There was no significant change in the spermidine and spermine levels in the three regions. Extracellular levels of putrescine and spermidine were found to be significantly lower than the tissue levels and no change in polyamines was observed in any region. Significant edema formation was observed in densely ischemic and penumbra regions. This is the first demonstration that tissue putrescine is increased in the penumbra region, an area of incomplete ischemia that is developing brain edema.
Management and Tillage Influence Barley Forage Productivity and Water Use in Dryland Cropping Systems

Published in Agron. J. 107:551–557 (2015) doi:10.2134/agronj14.0421 Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ABSTRACT
A power series expansion and its applications

Using the power series solution of a differential equation and the computation of a parametric integral, two elementary proofs are given for the power series expansion of (arcsin x)2, as well as some applications of this expansion.
New thermodynamic functions for the C3 molecule.

When graphite is used as ablation material in heat shields, very often a prominent carbon species vaporized into the stream is C3. The thermodynamic properties of the C3 molecule are, therefore, important in calculating transport phenomena in the ablation flow field. The nature of the C3 thermodynamic functions has been in doubt because of the uncertain contribution of the bending mode vibrations to the total internal energy of the molecule. An approach for overcoming these difficulties is considered. The results of the computations are presented in the form of graphs and approximating functions.
Book allocations: The key to a plan for collection development

This article summarizes the development and execution of a system for collection development and materials control in an underfunded and understaffed college library. The Simmons College Library staff devised a plan for book budget allocations, evaluated its collection, and formulated a three-part collection development policy with working procedures. Its success requires a strong commitment from the library administration and draws on the collective abilities and participation of an entire library staff. It results in the more judicious expenditure of funds, enhanced communication with faculty, and a structure for long-term collection growth.
The effect of lubricant inertia in hydrostatic thrust-bearing lubrication

Abstract The customarily neglected effect on the load capacity of hydrostatic thrust-bearings of the lubricant inertia is examined here for both liquid and gaseous lubricants. It is found that for liquid lubricants load capacities calculated by neglecting inertia can be significantly in error even at normal operating speeds. For gaseous lubricants the effect is the same for low recess pressures but tends to lessen at higher recess pressures.
The Surprising and Rapidly Evolving Status of Marketing Education in the People's Republic of China: A Survey of Comprehensive Chinese Universities

Administrators at 15 universities in the People's Republic of China indicated that marketing was the weakest area within their rapidly growing and changing management education programs. While Chinese marketing programs are modeled after U.S. programs, some aspects of China's more applied orientation could be useful to U.S. universities.
Damaged Goods: Board Decisions to Dismiss Reputationally Compromised Directors

Prior research shows that directors generally lose some, but not all, of their board seats following their association with financial fraud. This study investigates why some boards are more likely ...
Mitochondrial dysfunction links ceramide activated HRK expression and cell death.

Purpose Cell death is an essential process in normal development and homeostasis. In eyes, corneal epithelial injury leads to the death of cells in underlying stroma, an event believed to initiate corneal wound healing. The molecular basis of wound induced corneal stromal cell death is not understood in detail. Studies of others have indicated that ceramide may play significant role in stromal cell death following LASIK surgery. We have undertaken the present study to investigate the mechanism of death induced by C6 ceramide in cultures of human corneal stromal (HCSF) fibroblasts. Methods Cultures of HCSF were established from freshly excised corneas. Cell death was induced in low passage (p<4) cultures of HCSF by treating the cells with C6 ceramide or C6 dihydroceramide as a control. Cell death was assessed by Live/Dead cell staining with calcein AM and ethidium homodimer-1 as well as Annexin V staining, caspase activation and TUNEL staining Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed by Mito Sox Red, JC-1 and cytochrome C release Gene expression was examined by qPCR and western blotting. Results Our data demonstrate ceramide caused mitochondrial dysfunction as evident from reduced MTT staining, cyto c release from mitochondria, enhanced generation of ROS, and loss in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Cell death was evident from Live -Dead Cell staining and the inability to reestablish cultures from detached cells. Ceramide induced the expression of the harikari gene(HRK) and up-regulated JNK phosphorylation. In ceramide treated cells HRK was translocated to mitochondria, where it was found to interact with mitochondrial protein p32. The data also demonstrated HRK, p32 and BAD interaction. Ceramide-induced expression of HRK, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death were reduced by HRK knockdown with HRK siRNA. Conclusion Our data document that ceramide is capable of inducing death of corneal stromal fibroblasts through the induction of HRK mediated mitochondria dysfunction.
Effect of the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb on the ovaries of queens of the red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The insect growth regulator, fenoxycarb, ethyl [2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)ethyl] carbamate, causes retrogression of the ovaries of mated queens of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Fenoxycarb completely suppresses growth of the follicular epithelium, nurse cells, and cytoplasm/yolkplasm. Most developing eggs are resorbed and no new workers are produced. Thus, prolonged exposure of the queen to the compound causes death of the entire colony. The ovaries return to normal if the queen is removed from exposure to the chemical.
“Love and Rage” in the Classroom: Planting the Seeds of Community Empowerment

Although no one unified anarchist theory exists, educational approaches can be taken to support the full liberation of the self and the construction of an interconnected community that strives to rid itself of eco-sociocultural oppressions. An anarchist pedagogical approach could be one that is rooted in a love/rage unit of analysis occurring along a spectrum of various types of actions and contributions within a community. Anarchism as a violent destruction of the state is a stereotypical view that has perhaps led to its own early demise as a social movement. Anarchism that embraces adaptation through more inclusive forms of resistance, including a reconstruction for the K–12 classroom context, is one that stands a chance in evolving a society toward love, justice, and empowerment. This article explores those possibilities aiming for accessibility while still honoring core anarchist calls for strong, localized democratic participation and decision-making outside of permanent hierarchies.
RATIONAL CAPACITY AS A CONDITION ON BLAME

Suppose that a particular woman intentionally takes a drink. To provide an evaluative context, suppose she ought not to have another because she will then be unfit to fulfill some of her obligations. Preanalytically, most of us would insist on the possibility and significance of the following three descriptions of the case: (1) the reckless or self-indulgent case; (2) the weak case; and (3) the compulsive case. In (1), the woman knows what she is doing but accepts the consequences. Her choice is to get drunk or risk getting drunk. She acts in accordance with her judgment. In (2) the woman knowingly takes the drink contrary to her (conscious) better judgment; the explanation for this lack of self-control is that she is weak-willed. In (3), she knowingly takes the drink contrary to her better judgment, but she is the victim of a compulsive (irresistible) desire to drink. (41–42) Distinguishing these three categories is important, because they are thought to license different responses to the drinker. While we blame both the reckless drinker and the weak-willed drinker, we do so in different ways, or for different things; the compulsive drinker, on the other hand, is excused in virtue of her compulsion. Although matters of moral importance thus hang on distinguishing these cases, providing a way to distinguish them proves difficult. Watson believes that both the weak-willed and the compulsive drinker act contrary to their better judgment. This distinguishes them from the reckless drinker. Distinguishing them from one another proves more difficult. In a natural first attempt, one might claim that the weak-willed drinker could have resisted the temptation while the compelled drinker could not have—she was compelled. This is a preprint. The final version can be found in Philosophical Books 48, no. 2 (April 2007): 109–123.
Micropyle and oocyst wall changes associated with chemically mediated in vitro excystation of Eimeria stieda1 and Eimeria tenella

Abstract Scanning and transmission EM techniques revealed wall structural features and changes associated with chemically mediated alteration of oocyst walls (phase 1) in the process of excysting in vitro the sporozoites of Eimeria stiedai and Eimeria tenella. SEM showed the excystation sequence to be (a) sinking of the micropyle, (b) wall rupture, mainly around the micropylar lid, but sometimes radiating down the outer wall from the micropyle and (c) infolding or inrolling of the lid. Freeze-fracture and thin section preparations showed crosssection and surface features of walls and intra-oocyst components. Oocysts were incubated in CO2 and cysteine hydrochloride before microscopic examination.
An exploration of how psychotic-like symptoms are experienced, endorsed, and understood from the National Latino and Asian American Study and National Survey of American Life

Objective. To examine racial-ethnic differences in the endorsement and attribution of psychotic-like symptoms in a nationally representative sample of African-Americans, Asians, Caribbean Blacks, and Latinos living in the USA.Design. Data were drawn from a total of 979 respondents who endorsed psychotic-like symptoms as part of the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) and the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). We use a mixed qualitative and quantitative analytical approach to examine sociodemographic and ethnic variations in the prevalence and attributions of hallucinations and other psychotic-like symptoms in the NLAAS and NSAL. The lifetime presence of psychotic-like symptoms was assessed using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) psychotic symptom screener. We used logistic regression models to examine the probability of endorsing the four most frequently occurring thematic categories for psychotic-like experiences by race/ethnicity (n ...
Some cues are stronger than others: The (non)interpretation of 3rd person present —s as a tense marker by 6- and 7-year-olds

This article describes two experiments examining how 6- and 7-year-old Standard American English-speaking children interpret 3rd person present —s as a tense marker, as compared to lexical items and past tense —ed. Because —s corresponds to multiple meanings, unlike —ed, it may result in later acquisition. Using an offline picture-choice task (Experiment 1), the study found that while all children successfully comprehended —ed, only the 7-year-olds successfully comprehended —s. Eye-tracking measures (Experiment 2) revealed that the 6-year-olds are actually sensitive to —s, but that it is not yet a particularly strong cue for them. The article argues that offline tasks may underestimate children's developing knowledge.
Low-Temperature Densification of Zirconium Diboride Ceramics by Reactive Hot Pressing

Zirconium diboride–silicon carbide ceramics with relative densities in excess of 95% were produced by reactive hot pressing (RHP) at temperatures as low as 1650°C. The ZrB2 matrix was formed by reacting elemental zirconium and boron. Attrition milling of the starting powders produced nanosized (<100 nm) Zr particulates that reacted with B below 600°C. The reaction resulted in the formation of nanoscale ZrB2 crystallites that could be densified more than 250°C below the temperatures required for conventional ZrB2 powder. Because of the low-temperature densification, the resulting ZrB2 grain sizes were as small as 0.5±0.30 μm for specimens densified at 1650°C and 1.5±1.2 μm for specimens densified at 1800°C. Vickers hardness, elastic modulus, and flexure strength of fully dense materials produced by RHP were 27, 510, and 800 MPa, respectively.
Comparisons of methods of myocardial hypothermia for cardiac transplantation

Background. Myocardial hypothermia of less than 10°C is an essential component of preservation of donor hearts before implantation. Here we report temperature changes and comparison of methods for maintenance of myocardial hypothermia during implantation. Methods. Twenty patients were prospectively randomized into two equal groups. In one cohort myocardial hypothermia was maintained by the "Stanford method" of continuous lavage of the pericardium and left atrium with refrigerated saline solution. In the other a cooling jacket was used without saline lavage. Temperatures at multiple sites were measured at 30-second intervals from initiation of cardiac suturing until aortic cross-clamp removal. Comparisons were made between groups at each temperature site. Results. The cooling jacket group temperatures were significantly lower at the left ventricular epicardium and endocardium than those of the Stanford method group. Conclusions. During cardiac implantation maintenance of myocardial hypothermia with a cooling jacket resulted in significantly deeper and more consistent hypothermia of the left ventricle than pericardial and left atrial lavage with refrigerated saline solution. Blood loss from aspirated saline lavage and perfusate dilution by the saline solution were eliminated.
A Coupled Approach for Plasma-Based Flow Control Simulations of Wing Sections

Abstract : Numerical experiments in two- and three-dimensions, performed with a high-fidelity algorithm, are employed to explore plasma-actuator-based control of flow past a stalled NACA 0015 wing section. The time accurate force field from a self-consistent asymmetric-electrode arrangement at 5kHz (continuous wave) is coupled to the Navier-Stokes equations at a nominal Reynolds number of 45, 000 and angle-of-attack of 15o. When the actuator is placed slightly downstream of the separation point, the mean and asymptotic flow response include formation of a wall-jet and inhibition of separation. Features of the unsteadiness directly associated with the forcing, as well as that due to shedding occurring near the trailing edge are delineated. The results suggest that both streamwise and normal (towards the wall) components of force play important roles. A simpler phenomenological model is also employed to examine flow control in the full 3-D setting. At higher Reynolds number, 90, 000, the flow becomes turbulent immediately downstream of the leading edge and remains attached in the mean. The effect of the actuator in this situation is to laminarize the flow together with the formation of a wall-jet. When the actuator location is moved to the point of maximum thickness, laminar separation is induced near the leading edge with subsequent breakdown to turbulence. When stall is observed, at 18 deg angle of attack, placing the actuator near the leading edge yields the anticipated laminar wall jet on the upper surface. The effect of actuator force strength on separation suppression is examined in terms of the combined effect of transition to turbulence and near wall momentum enhancement. Finally, the effect of pulsing is documented at Reynolds number 45, 000 with 20%duty cycle and interpulse periods of 0.7 and 0.25 characteristic times respectively.
Aluminum pack cementation of Mo-Si-B alloys

The application of a pack cementation coating of aluminum on Mo-rich Mo–Si–B alloys prior to oxygen exposure yields a significant improvement in the oxidation resistance over a wide temperature range (732–1372 °C). Upon exposure to oxygen, the Mo3Al8-rich layer that forms during the aluminum pack cementation treatment develops a protective Al2O3 layer on the surface that can be maintained by inhibiting Al diffusion into the substrate.
Repairing and meshing imperfect shapes with Delaunay refinement

As a direct consequence of software quirks, designer errors, and representation flaws, often three-dimensional shapes are stored in formats that introduce inconsistencies such as small gaps and overlaps between surface patches. We present a new algorithm that simultaneously repairs imperfect geometry and topology while generating Delaunay meshes of these shapes. At the core of this approach is a meshing algorithm for input shapes that are piecewise smooth complexes (PSCs), a collection of smooth surface patches meeting at curves non-smoothly or in non-manifold configurations. Guided by a user tolerance parameter, we automatically merge nearby components while building a Delaunay mesh that has many of these errors fixed. Experimental evidence is provided to show the results of our algorithm on common computer-aided design (CAD) formats. Our algorithm may also be used to simplify shapes by removing small features which would require an excessive number of elements to preserve them in the output mesh.
Letter by Reed et al regarding article, "Proteomic analysis implicates translationally controlled tumor protein as a novel mediator of occlusive vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension".

We read with great interest the paper by Lavoie et al1 and congratulate the authors on this important and pioneering study. The paper shows encouraging evidence which adds to that from our lab2 and others,3 showing that vascular cells derived from adult stem cells (in this paper, blood outgrowth endothelial cells [BOECs]) can be used …
Stability of Two-Destimensional Growth of a Packed Body of Proteins on a Solid Surface

Adsorption of proteins from the bulk is at times accompanied by a rearrangement which leads to the formation of closed packed bodies, that may or may not be crystalline. Mass transfer of protein molecules on a surface is modeled. Forced diffusion by van der Waals and electrostatic forces leads to segregation, which is eventually a different phase that is assumed to be thermodynamically favored. The net effective force in two-dimensions has been modeled approximately and shown to be much stronger and more long ranged than in the bulk: that is, under the same conditions, the protein molecules may not aggregate in the bulk they may aggregate on a surface. These forces have been used only indirectly but equivalently as an adsorption−desorption step at the interline. Eventually, a linear stability analysis of the growing body shows it to be unstable and would give rise to whiskers that are one molecule thick. This is what is observed experimentally. The conditions that give rise to the instability have been de...
The use of silver-zinc-allantoin powder for the prehospital treatment of burns

We describe our experimental studies of a powder formulated to treat serious burn wounds on-the-scene. The wound powder comprises two parts silver-citro-allantoinate, two parts zinc allantoinate and 96 parts pure allantoin. The back skin of 62 rats was shaved and exposed to actively boiling water for ten seconds, resulting in third degree burns of 20% of the total body surface. Immediately, 1 ml of a culture containing 2 × 10 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa was applied to the burn. The animals were isolated. Of the 30 control rats, six were powdered with allantoin only. Thirty-two rats were dusted with the silver-zinc-allantoin powder within 15 minutes of burning. Cultures were taken at 48 hour intervals. Eighty-seven percent of the control animals died an average of six days postburn. In the treated animals, the mortality was 15%. A mean of 27% of the applied silver (0.35 gm) became incorporated in the eschar. In all control rats, sepsis was detected under the eschar. In treated animals, bacterial concentration fell from an initial average of 5 × 10 4 at 48 hours postburn to 6 × 10 2 at 96 hours.
A method for concurrent diazomethane synthesis and substrate methylation in a 96-sample format

In the emerging field of metabolomics, there is an increasing need for improving sample derivatization reactions for gas chromatographic-mass spectral analysis of metabolites with large numbers of samples. This protocol details the safe direct derivatization of organic acids using diazomethane in a 96-sample format. Diazomethane is a highly reactive gas that readily forms methyl esters with carboxylic functionalities, with minimal side products or nonvolatile reaction residues. However, diazomethane's reactivity and explosive potential make it hazardous to store and work with. In this procedure, diazomethane is generated in situ and used concurrently to methylate up to 96 samples simultaneously, thus reducing concerns about reagent stability and obviating the need for storage of solutions of the highly reactive gas. Once the diazomethane generator has been assembled, processing 96 samples takes 2-3 h using this procedure.
Simplicial slices of the space of minimal $$SU(2)$$ -orbits in spheres

Let \((\mathcal{M }_3^k)^{SU(2)}\) denote the DoCarmo–Wallach moduli space of \(SU(2)\)- equivariant spherical minimal immersions of the three sphere \(S^3\) of degree \(k\). Although the complexity of these moduli increases rapidly with \(k\) (for example, \(\dim (\mathcal{M }_3^k)^{SU(2)} = \mathcal{O}(k^2)\)), we show here that they possess linear slices that are simplices of dimension \(\mathcal{O}(k)\). The construction of these simplicial slices depend on the DeTurck–Ziller classification of 3-dimensional spherical space forms imbedded into spheres as minimal \(SU(2)\)-orbits. The existence of these slices enables us to give asymptotically sharp estimates on a sequence of Grunbaum type measures of symmetry of these moduli.
Prevalence, predictors, and service utilization of patients with recurrent use of Veterans Affairs substance use disorder specialty care

Abstract Although substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic conditions for many patients, the prevalence, predictors, and health care utilization patterns of those who reenter SUD specialty care are understudied. We identified 1,640 patients who initiated SUD specialty care at 1 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center and categorized them, using their subsequent 24 and prior 60 months receipt of VA SUD care, as index episode only (35.7%, 33.5–38.1), index and prior episode(s) (24.6%, 22.5–22.7), and index and postindex episodes (39.6%, 37.3–42.0). Compared with the index episode-only group, the postindex episode(s) group had modestly higher percentages of men, divorced/separated, and alcohol use, cocaine use, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorders. Patients with postindex episodes averaged 2 times more postindex emergency visits and mental health hospitalizations than patients with an index only episode. Results document the prevalence, overall health care utilization, and limited predictability of SUD treatment reentry and support development of new models of care for these complex patients.
Convective heat and mass transfer in the stagnation region of a laminar planar jet impinging on a moving surface

Manufacturing processes frequently employ impinging jets to cool or dry a material. Materials are often in motion since many manufacturing processes are designed to produce large quantities of a product. In some cases, the surface velocity can exceed or be comparable to the jet impingement velocity. In this study, the stagnation region of a laminar, planar jet is considered where surface motion is directed perpendicular to the jet plane. A similarity solution to the Navier-Stokes equations is formulated to determine the flow velocity in the stagnation region. Heat and mass transfer distributions are determined from numerical solutions to the conservation equations for energy and species, where velocity components are calculated from the similarity solution. Restrictions regarding the use of heat and mass transfer correlations, which are commonly developed with experimental apparatuses where the impingement surface is stationary, are provided.
Electrocardiographic Abnormalities as Potential Contributors to Premature Mortality in Patients With Mental Illness in a Psychiatric Day Treatment Program

Objective: Because patients with mental illness can die prematurely, we sought to determine if undetected cardiovascular disease might be present in a psychiatric day treatment population. Method: We studied 96 patients in a day treatment program seen between February 2011 and August 2012. Data were obtained through an electronic medical record database. Electrocardiographic diagnoses were assigned by 1 investigator (M.L.). Medications were categorized into classes, and problem lists revealed comorbid diagnoses. Fisher exact test (2-tailed) and analysis of variance were used to compare findings between patient groups. Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings were the primary outcome measure. Results: Ninety-two ECGs were performed in 37 patients. Of these 37 patients, 70% were women, 65% were 50 years of age or younger, and 54% were people of color. ECGs were performed mainly for chest pain/dyspnea (46%) and overdose/altered mental status (27%). Of these 37 patients, 20 (54%) had abnormal ECGs, 7 (19%) had borderline findings, and 10 (27%) had normal studies. When compared with the larger group of 59 patients without ECG testing, those with abnormal ECGs were more likely to be older (mean age = 47 vs 37 years, P < .001) and have more comorbid conditions (mean no. = 10.0 vs 3.8, P < .0001). The most common abnormalities were conduction disorders (prolonged QRS ≥ 105 ms, or prolonged QTc ≥ 450 ms in men or ≥ 460 ms in women), coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias. Conclusions: In psychiatric outpatients who underwent ECG testing, mainly for chest pain or altered mental status, over 50% had concerning findings. Older patients with multiple comorbidities were at higher risk of having abnormal ECGs. Generalizability of these findings depends on validation in larger samples in multiple settings.
Some comments on dislocation bowing and partial separation during in-situ straining of γ'Ni3Al

Abstract Some results of transmission electron microscopy in-situ straining of single-phase boron-doped Ni3Al are presented which suggest that superdislocation partials can become rather widely separated (50 nm) and bowed (scalloped) along their length. The significance of these observations to in-situ straining experiments on superalloys of γ/γ′ is discussed.
On the Interpretation of the Relativity Wave Equation for Two Electrons

In the general non-relativity quantum dynamics that has been developed by Dirac and others, the motion of a dynamical system is described by a wave function ψ (ξ1 ... ξ n ; t ); and one interprets this wave function by postulating that |ψ (ξ1' ξ2' ... ξ n ' ; t ) |2 d ξ1' ... d ξ n ' is the probability that, at time t ξ r ' ≤ ξ r ≤ ξ r ' + d ξ r ' ( r = 1 ... n ). The relativity wave function for a single electron can be interpreted in a similar manner. If ψ( xyzt ) be the wave function, and φ the conjugate function, then φψ ( xyzt ) dx dy dz : is the probability that the electron will be found, at time t , in the volume element dx dy dz .
Structural evolution of a major Appalachian salient-recess junction: Consequences of oblique collisional convergence across a continental margin transform fault

Most orogenic belts exhibit broadly arcuate regional map-view trends of structural patterns. Commonly, the inflection between opposing curves (recesses and salients) is a transverse zone marking a linear array of along-strike contrasts in regional structure and stratigraphy. Analysis of such transverse zones can provide insight into the processes affecting orogenic curvature. Curvature is especially distinctive along the west flank of the Appalachians, where the tightest salient/recess juncture is a thinned-skinned transverse zone in Georgia, separating the Alabama recess and Tennessee salient, and extending entirely across the width of deformed Laurentian cover rocks. This zone's most notable feature is a large oblique hanging-wall ramp within the frontal metamorphic allochthon formed during Alleghanian collisional events. The basal decollement steps several kilometers stratigraphically upward across this ramp from Proterozoic basement and its overlying Late Proterozoic rift sequence (Tennessee salient), southwestward into basal Cambrian and younger rocks (Alabama recess). This ramp resulted from oblique sinistral displacement of the allochthon against an earlier, east-facing, dextral continental margin transform fault that initially separated adjacent rifted margins of opposite polarity. Differences in the distribution, thickness, and facies of units indicate that important variations in basin geometry existed across the curvature inflection before Paleozoic deformation, suggesting that the orogenic curvature in part results from an inherited basin architecture. Translation of the allochthon over the ramp caused deflection of the tectonic transport trajectory, major cross folding, and rotation of earlier structures. Associated out-of-plane deformation propagated outward across the foreland, producing the array of thinned-skinned transverse structures aligned into the transverse zone.
Growth of GaN without Yellow Luminescence

We report the growth and photoluminescence characterization of GaN grown on different substrates and under different growth conditions using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The deep-level yellow luminescence centered at around 2.2eV is attributed to native defect, most possibly the gallium vacancy. The yellow luminescence can be substantially reduced By growing GaN under Ga-rich condition or doping GaN with Ge or Mg.
Diffuse Filiform Polyposis With Unique Histology Mimicking Familial Adenomatous Polyposis in a Patient Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Filiform polyposis is an uncommon entity that is most often encountered in the colon of patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Filiform polyposis is characterized by a large number of "wormlike" polyps lined by histologically normal colonic mucosa. These polyps can mimic adenomatous polyps. Only rare cases without a history or evidence of IBD have been reported. Neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma of the small bowel is a rare, focal disorder characterized by disorganized smooth muscle fascicles throughout the submucosa accompanied by fibrosis, nerve fibers, ganglion cells, and vessels. To our knowledge, there is only one report of this lesion in the large bowel (cecum), where it presented as a mass. Here we report the case of a 50-year-old man with no known history or symptoms of IBD presenting with filiform polyposis involving the entire colon, clinically mimicking familial adenomatous polyposis, and showing histologic features similar to neuromuscular and vascular hamartoma of the small bowel.
Science to practice: do mural attenuation and thickness at contrast-enhanced CT enterography correlate with endoscopic and histologic findings of inflammation in Crohn disease?

Summary: Endoscopy is frequently used as the reference standard in the evaluation of inflammation. However, endoscopy enables visualization of the mucosa only, has a limited reach, and has difficulty in anatomic orientation. Therefore, it is not a stand-alone diagnostic procedure. Imaging is needed if one is to visualize the entire intestinal wall, define the extent of disease, and categorize disease subtypes. Bodily et al in this issue of Radiology have described an objective, more reliable, and hopefully reproducible method of measuring active inflammation of a segment of bowel by quantifying mural enhancement in patients examined with CT enterography. Their results showed good correlation with ileoscopic and histologic findings of active inflammation.
Sequence Planning to Minimize Complexity in Mixed-Model Assembly Lines

Sequence planning is an important problem in assembly line design. It is to determine the order of assembly tasks to be performed sequentially. Significant research has been done to find good sequences based on various criteria, such as process time, investment cost, and product quality. This paper discusses the selection of optimal sequences based on complexity introduced by product variety in mixed-model assembly line. The complexity was defined as operator choice complexity, which indirectly measures the human performance in making choices, such as selecting parts, tools, fixtures, and assembly procedures in a multi-product, multi-stage, manual assembly environment. The complexity measure and its model for assembly lines have been developed in an earlier paper by the authors. According to the complexity models developed, assembly sequence determines the directions in which complexity flows. Thus proper assembly sequence planning can reduce complexity. However, due to the difficulty of handling the directions of complexity flows in optimization, a transformed network flow model is formulated and solved based on dynamic programming. Methodologies developed in this paper extend the previous work on modeling complexity, and provide solution strategies for assembly sequence planning to minimize complexity.
Recent development of high energy density polymers for dielectric capacitors

High energy density dielectric materials are desirable for capacitors and other energy storage systems. Two approaches were developed to achieve high electric energy density: explore high dielectric constant (K) materials and improve high operation electric field. Relaxor ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based copolymers P(VDF-HFP), P(VDF-CTFE) and terpolymer P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) have been proven to possess high electric energy density. An energy density of over 25 J/cm3 has been achieved in PVDF-based polymers, which represents the state of art in high energy density polymers. Aromatic polyurea thin films were developed through vapor phase deposition, exhibiting relatively high dielectric constant, low loss, high breakdown field (>800 MV/m) and consequently high energy density (>12 J/cm3). Its thermal stability up to 200°C and high charge-discharge efficiency (>90%) make it attractive for high temperature capacitors. Investigation through SEM, AFM and other experiments indicated unbalanced aromatic polyurea could exhibit apparent high-K (~15) due to the non-uniformity of film thickness and surface morphology. This article reviews the recent development of these high performance polymers.
Thompson, W.A. et al. Decimative Multiplication of Entropy Arrays, with Application to Influenza. Entropy, 2009, 11, 351-359

The sentence sixth line from the end of paragraph two on page 355, “The second synonymous mutation was another G=>A transition at position 600 that converted the CAG codon to CAA, without change of encoded amino acid.”