cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast Minimization of Region-Based Active Contours Using the Shape Hessian of the Energy

We propose a novel shape optimization algorithm for region-based active contour models. Region-based active contours are preferred for many segmentation problems, because they incorporate more global information by aggregating cues or statistics over the distinct regions defined by the contour configuration. This makes them effective in a diverse array of segmentation scenarios, also more robust to contour initializations, Unfortunately they are also more expensive computationally, because a significant part of the optimization involves repeated integrations of the image features over the regions through the many iterations of the contour updates. Accordingly, we aim to decrease the overall computational cost of region-based active contours by reducing the cost of an individual iteration, and the total number of iterations. To this end, we first develop a Lagrangian curve representation that is spatially adaptive and economical in terms of the number of nodes used. Then we perform the shape sensitivity analysis of the general form of the region-based segmentation energy. In particular, we compute the second variation or the shape Hessian of the energy, and we use this to compute fast descent directions for the contours to significantly reduce the computational cost. Our implementation builds on a finite element discretization of the whole framework, including the contours. This results in efficient velocity computations in linear time with respect to the number of contour nodes.
Redesigned High Schools for Transformed STEM Learning: Performance Assessment Pilot Outcome

This performance assessment pilot study was a major research component of the overall National Science Foundation funded Redesigned High Schools for Transformed STEM Learning Project. Secondary Earth/Environmental Science students’ abilities to translate cognitive knowledge into demonstrable performance-based proficiencies were specifically examined. Proficiencies assessed included evaluation, prediction, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning in the contexts of soil and water, clouds and weather, acid rain, and astronomy-based performance tasks. This manuscript presents research protocols, implementation process, and collective determination of proficiency rates among Project student participants. Results of the pilot study indicated that approximately 48 percent of student participants demonstrated performance-based proficiency of knowledge. Implications on evidence-based iterations of school models, state mandated assessment practices, and classroom factors in support of performance-based proficiencies are discussed.
Nobel Lecture: Single-molecule spectroscopy, imaging, and photocontrol: Foundations for super-resolution microscopy

The 2014 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was shared by Eric Betzig, Stefan W. Hell, and William E. Moerner. These papers are the text of the address given in conjunction with the award.
How Fitness Trackers Facilitate Health Behavior Change

Fitness trackers have broadened the healthcare ecosystem and made self-tracking everyday physical activities possible. Features like heart rate monitoring can help detect health ailments, yet there...
Experimental and analytical investigation of hydronic system retrofits in an urban high-rise mixed use building

Abstract As the size of buildings and demands on large centralized heating and cooling systems increases concurrent with rapid worldwide urbanization, the energy impact of hydronic distribution systems will become increasingly important in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Further, in the U.S., the growth in multi-family buildings and the share of residential units in large multifamily buildings is far outpacing single-family construction. This paper describes a study of the pumping energy requirements of an urban 23-story mixed-use, primarily multifamily residential building before and after a suite of energy conservation measures. The retrofit focused on waterside technologies: Variable frequency drives (VFDs), constant and variable speed pumps, and pressure-independent control valves. In the original building, the central pumping equipment was found to be responsible for 55% of total annual owner-metered electricity usage and 29% of all annual owner-paid utility bills. Using extensive in-situ monitoring and analytical models developed for this effort, the full retrofit was computed to achieve a 41% reduction in annual central pumping electricity, representing an annual savings of 12% of all owner-paid energy bills. The most significant energy impact is attributable to the VFDs, and it can be inferred that additional savings could be achieved by installing VFDs on constant speed pumps.
Sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability and feedback control of set dynamical systems

In this paper, stability properties for discrete-time dynamical systems with set-valued states are studied. We use previous results on detectability and invariance properties to present an extension of Krasovskii and Lyapunov stability results for set dynamical systems, under the assumption of outer semicontinuity of the set-valued maps that define the system's dynamics. We also propose a formulation for closed-loop control systems with state-feedback, within the framework of set dynamical systems. Examples illustrate the results.
Networking: the view from HEP

Networks have played a critical role in high-energy physics (HEP), enabling us to access and effectively utilize globally distributed resources to meet the needs of our physicists. National and global-scale collaborations that characterize HEP would not be feasible without ubiquitous capable networks.Because of their importance in enabling our grid computing infrastructure many physicists have taken leading roles in research and education (R&E) networking, participating in, and even convening, network related meetings and research programs with the broader networking community worldwide. This has led to HEP benefiting from excellent global networking capabilities for little to no direct cost. However, as other science domains ramp-up their need for similar networking it becomes less clear that this situation will continue unchanged.This paper will briefly discuss the history of networking in HEP, the current activities and challenges we are facing, and try to provide some understanding of where networking may be going in the next 5 to 10 years.
Presence of trauma and suicide risk: Personal control as a moderator.

Given past findings that have linked trauma and lack of personal control to greater suicidal risk in adults, the present study examined how trauma presence and personal control are uniquely involve...
Instrumentation of robotic grippers for dynamic control of robotic systems

With the rapid development of information technology (IT), manufacturing technologies have been greatly leveraged in terms of the intelligence level, productivity, flexibility, and capabilities of systems. The evolution trend in developing a modern manufacturing system is to adopt as many smart ‘things’ as possible to achieve a high level of functionalities, responsiveness, and flexibility in a cost-effective way. On the other hand, commonly-used functional modules in a system must be equipped with appropriate instrumentation, so that real-time data related to the states and operations of modules can be collected and utilized to support decision-making units at upper system levels. In this paper, we present a cost-effective solution as the instrumentation of generic robotic grippers. The requirement of real-time force measurement is discussed, low-cost strain-gauges are proposed as sensing elements, and the method for designing the layout and circuit of embedded instrumentation are presented. The design concept and methods have been implemented and validated via prototyping and experimenting. The proposed embedded design is applicable to other robotic modules where real-time force measurement is needed for a wide scope of the Internet of Things (IoT) based applications.
Prescribing a teratogenic medication.

Physicians should understand and be sensitive to all of the issues that affect patients when they prescribe the tertogenic medication isotretinoin for treatment of acne vulgaris. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Initial Crack Growth Tearing Resistance in Transformation Toughened Ceramics

Transformation toughened ceramics display a resistance to crack advance requiring an increasing level of applied stress intensity to advance the crack tip. In this paper the initial slope of the resistance curve is determined. Two material models are considered. In each, only a net dilatational transformation is considered. In one, the transformation is assumed to be triggered at a critical value of the mean stress. In the other, the transformation is assumed to take place when the maximum shear stress reaches a critical value.
Faculty requirements planning and course cycling in part-time, online degree programs

Many universities are moving toward the offering of part-time, online degree programs particularly at the graduate level. Typically the dean or another administrator is responsible for devising a course cycling plan along with adequate supporting faculty resources that enables students to progress and graduate within a reasonable and expected span of time. This problem is difficult to resolve due to uncertainty of demand for specific courses contained in the program. For example: (i) the program may be delivered with flexibility in time-to-completion, meaning that students are not assigned at admission to a specific cohort that proceeds in lockstep fashion toward graduation; (ii) the curriculum may contain elective courses which inject an element of choice; (iii) some courses may require the completion of other courses as prerequisites creating demand dependencies; and (iv) not every matriculated student successfully completes the program, and empirically observed retention rates will need to be factored in. Here we propose an approach for planning faculty requirements and course offerings that meets student flow and other constraints. The methodology combines linear programming with well-known operations management concepts such as material requirements planning and flow analysis.
Safety and Efficacy of Resident-Performed Functional Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty.

Purpose To determine the safety and efficacy of resident-performed functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Methods The authors retrospectively looked at functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery performed on 836 eyes of 448 patients under the supervision of one oculoplastic surgery attending at the University of California Davis Eye Center from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017. The primary surgeon was a resident on 427 eyes and was an attending on 409 eyes. Patients (73.5%) were female, and the mean age was 66.0 ± 10.0. All patients had at least 2 postoperative visits, and eyes that underwent other concurrent upper eyelid or brow procedures were excluded. The authors looked at major and minor complications, percentage of initially dissatisfied patients, and percentage of cases that required a revision procedure within 6 months. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results There were no major complications in either group. There was no difference in the rate of minor complications (10.8% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.11), percentage of patients who were initially dissatisfied with the procedure (3.5% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.17), or percentage of patients requiring a revision procedure (5.2% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.15). The most common minor complications were inclusion cysts (45, 5.4%), wound dehiscence (9, 1.1%), and hypertrophic scars (9, 1.1%), and the most common revision procedures were removal of inclusion cyst(s) (17, 2.0%) and suturing or placement of topical skin adhesive for wound dehiscence (9, 1.1%). Conclusions Ophthalmology residents can perform functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty safely and effectively under the supervision of an attending physician.Resident-performed functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty under the direct supervision of an attending is a safe and effective procedure with similar complication rate, number of revision procedures, and patient satisfaction to attending-performed functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty.
An Ultra-weak Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Schrödinger Equation in One Dimension

In this paper, we develop an ultra-weak discontinuous Galerkin method to solve the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Stability conditions and error estimates are derived for the scheme with a general class of numerical fluxes. The error estimates are based on detailed analysis of the projection operator associated with each individual flux choice. Depending on the parameters, we find out that in some cases, the projection can be defined element-wise, facilitating analysis. In most cases, the projection is global, and its analysis depends on the resulting $$2\times 2$$ block-circulant matrix structures. For a large class of parameter choices, optimal a priori $$L^2$$ error estimates can be obtained. Numerical examples are provided verifying theoretical results.
Structural insights for vanadium catecholates and iron‑sulfur clusters obtained from multiple data analysis methods applied to electron spin relaxation data.

Abstract Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) inversion recovery curves for vanadium catecholates and iron‑sulfur clusters were analyzed with three models: the sum of two exponentials, a stretched exponential, and a model-free distribution of exponentials (UPEN). For all data sets studied fits with a stretched exponential were statistically indistinguishable from the sum of two exponentials, and were significantly better than for single exponentials. UPEN provides insights into the structures of the distributions. For a vanadium(IV) tris catecholate the distribution of relaxation rates calculated with UPEN shows the contribution from spectral diffusion at low temperatures. The energy of the local mode for this complex, found from the temperature dependence of the spin lattice relaxation, is consistent with values expected for a metal-ligand vibration. For the [2Fe-2S]+ cluster in pyruvate formate lyase activating enzyme (PFL-AE) the small stretched exponential β values (0.3) at low temperature and the distributions calculated with UPEN reflect the contribution from a second rapidly relaxing species that could be difficult to detect by continuous wave EPR. The distributions in 1/T1 for the [4Fe-4S]+ clusters in Mycofactocin maturase were about a factor of four wider than for the three other systems studied. The very broad distribution of relaxation rates may be due to protein mobility and distributions in electronic energies and local environments for the clusters. UPEN provides insight into several situations that can result in low values of stretch parameter β including contributions from spectral diffusion, overlapping signals from distinguishable clusters, or very wide distributions.
Nifty examples in discrete mathematics: tutorial presentation

Good examples are powerful tools for enhancing student understanding of the important connections between the mathematics introduced in discrete math courses and fundamental ideas in computer science. The presenters will illustrate a number of nifty examples they have used effectively to supplement material found in typical discrete math texts, or to present a topic in a novel way. Participants in small groups will work through some of these examples and discuss what they have learned. In addition, participants will submit one or two examples they have used and will work to further improve and refine some of these examples. All materials presented, collected and developed will be posted on a web page to share with the computer science and mathematics education communities.
Idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome and radiation therapy: a case study, literature review, and discussion of mast cell disorders and radiotherapy

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is classified as an idiopathic mast cell disorder where inconsistent or unknown triggers release inflammatory mediators and cause a constellation of symptoms. Studies demonstrate mast cells increase histamine, tryptase, and inflammatory cytokine expression following ionizing radiation. Additionally, there are cases of cutaneous mastocytosis developing within the initial radiation field suggesting mast cells play a role in local tissue reactions. Literature is sparse on radiation induced toxicity in patients with mast cell disorders. A 62 year old female patient with a history of MCAS received breast conservation therapy for invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast initially AJCC 7th Stage IIB, pT3 pN0 M0. The patient underwent external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and received 4500 cGy to the left whole breast, followed by a 1000 cGy boost to the lumpectomy cavity. She developed grade 1 radiation dermatitis. Two years later she progressed distantly and received stereotactic body radiation therapy to a lumbar vertebrae lesion to a dose of 2400 cGy in a single fraction. She developed no in-field dermatologic or systemic flare in her MCAS symptoms during radiation therapy. To our knowledge there are no reported cases in the literature of patients diagnosed with MCAS or other idiopathic mast cell disorders undergoing radiation therapy. Idiopathic mast cell disorders such as MCAS and primary mast cell disorders alike should not be considered a contraindication to treatment with EBRT. This patient population appears to tolerate treatment without systemic flares in symptoms.
Challenges in the post-licensing stage of U.S. hydropower development: Current status and some potential solutions

Abstract The issuance of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license is an important milestone in the development process of new U.S. hydropower projects. The complexity and uncertain timeline of the licensing process have been often cited as a key deterrent to new hydropower installations in the United States. However, very little attention has been paid to post-licensing timelines and attrition rates. This article explores the challenges faced by developers in bringing their FERC-licensed hydropower projects to the construction stage. Post-licensing activities to be completed before starting construction include obtaining additional permitting from other federal or state agencies, completing the technical design, securing financing, and in most cases, negotiating a power purchase agreement. For the set of projects that obtained a FERC license between 2007 and 2018, we assembled a dataset—combining information from FERC dockets and responses from a questionnaire to developers—to calculate attrition rates and development timelines and to examine the reasons for delays and cancellations.
On Deployment of a Local Bioinformatics Cloud

The BioCloud project, a set of Bioinformatics tools being integrated into a cloud system, provides a web-based user interface to allow users to easily access these tools. However, as a cloud-based application, the BioCloud project will need the means for semi-autonomous deployment and dynamic resource usage. The purpose of this study is to document the best practices in deploying the BioCloud project to new clusters.
Renal Cell Carcinoma

Multiple studies have emerged in recent years to define the biology of both clear cell and non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In parallel, there have been numerous pivotal trials that have introduced novel therapies for RCC. In the current chapter, we describe the intersection between these biological and clinical studies and offer a perspective on how to maximize value for patients with advanced RCC.
"The Difference between Plan b and ella®? They're Basically the Same Thing": Results from a Mystery Client Study

Pharmacy staff can serve an important role educating patients about emergency contraceptive pills (ECP), particularly ulipristal acetate (UPA), which requires a prescription. We conducted a secondary analysis of a previously completed mystery client study, assessing accuracy of information provided by pharmacy staffers to patients inquiring by telephone about filling a prescription for UPA. From the period December 2013 to July 2014, researchers used a mystery client methodology, contacting 198 retail pharmacies in Hawai'i. Researchers posed as patients or providers attempting to fill a prescription for UPA. During the course of the call, they asked about differences between UPA and levonorgestrel ECPs. Nearly half of all pharmacy staffers were unfamiliar with UPA. The majority of responses describing differences between the medications were incorrect or misleading, such as responses implying that UPA is an abortifacient. Lack of familiarity and incorrect information provided by pharmacy staffers may act as additional barriers in patient access to UPA. Health practitioners prescribing UPA should ensure patients receive evidence-based counseling at the time of prescription, while efforts should also be made to improve pharmacy staff familiarity with emergency contraceptive options.
Workplace Bullying and Ethical Issues

This chapter considers the ethical implications of workplace bullying, and whether it is worthwhile for management to pursue its positive aspects as a management control strategy. Ethical implications in terms of medical problems and psychological outcomes and its aftermaths in terms of quality of personal and family life are discussed in the context of workplace bullying and its negative consequences. Lack of healthy working environments and issues pertaining to emotional and physical safety of employees having to work in tension filled and harassing organizational cultures are scrutinized in detail. This chapter brings together theoretical and empirical evidence and strongly demands the need for fair, equitable, and stress-free workplaces where an employee can work with dignity with superiors, peers, and subordinates who are congenial and practice professionalism.
Tessa: A Novel MATLAB Program for Automated Tessitura Analysis.

Summary Objective Tessitura—the habitual pitch range of a musical piece or role—is widely accepted as a significant factor in determining whether a singer should perform a given piece or role. However, attempts to quantify tessitura have historically relied on laborious hand calculations. The current study introduces a novel MATLAB program (“Tessa”) that automates tessitura analysis of digital sheet music in the MusicXML format. This program will allow voice teachers and singing voice specialists to assess the appropriateness of musical pieces or roles for their students and clients. Methods Tessa converts sheet music in the open-source MusicXML (MXL or XML) format to a MATLAB-compatible structure array (MAT). Once converted, the program extracts pitch, duration, and lyric information from the structure file, then saves relevant arrays to the user's computer. Finally, Tessa performs analyses on the piece's tessitura data, including histogram, box plot, and descriptive statistical analyses. Variables such as tempo, score part number, and the piece's title are automatically saved in order to facilitate repeated analyses. Results A sample analysis of Franz Schubert's song cycle Winterreise, D.911 is presented, with specific reference to the songs “3. Gefrorne Tranen” and “4. Erstarrung” as examples of pieces with markedly different tessituras—and, consequently, markedly different levels of vocal demand. Discussion Tessa is hosted on a GitHub repository ( https://github.com/Allerseelen/Tessa ) and is intended for open-source use and modification under the GNU General Public License v3.0. Voice teachers, singing voice specialists, and musicians may compare Tessa's analyses with voice range profiles or other assessment tools in order to evaluate repertoire and plan pacing strategies for extended performances.
When “Following” the Leader Inspires Action: Individuals’ Receptivity to Discursive Frame Elements on Social Media

How political actors convey information–that is, the discursive frames they use–can alter individuals’ attitudes, preferences, and behaviors, especially during campaigns. Although scholars have sho...
Protection or Patriarchy? Gender Ideology and Support for Anti-pornography Legislation, 1988–2018

Though religious conservatives espousing patriarchal views have historically been on the forefront of anti-pornography efforts in the USA, the past few decades have witnessed an increasing secularization of the anti-pornography movement. This shift is characterized by greater rhetorical dependence on scientific studies, secular anti-pornography activist groups, and arguments surrounding the protection of women from exploitation or abuse. Using both aggregated and disaggregated data from the 1988–2018 General Social Surveys, we estimate a series of binary logistic regression models in order to examine the potentially changing connection between espousing a more patriarchal ideology and support for anti-pornography legislation, net of relevant correlates. Among Americans in general, embracing a more patriarchal ideology is positively associated with support for anti-pornography legislation across all survey years. Moreover, interactions indicate that Americans who adhere to a more egalitarian ideology, and particularly women, show a decline in their support for anti-pornography legislation over time. Despite the prominence of feminist anti-porn groups and arguments in past decades, findings contradict the idea that support for strict anti-pornography legislation among the general public has ever been discernibly driven by egalitarianism. Rather, it has been and remains robustly connected to patriarchal beliefs and values prescribing traditionalist gender roles. Findings elucidate the dominant underlying gender ideology present in both historic and contemporary attitudes toward sweeping anti-pornography legislation and demand scholars and policy-makers disentangle rhetoric (of protection) from reality (patriarchy).
Rebound and overshoot of donor-specific antibodies to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) during desensitization with plasma exchanges in hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation: A case report.

Background Donor-specific antibodies (DSA) to HLA have been associated with graft loss in hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation. Limited data associate therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) with desensitization and successful engraftment. We report an attempt of desensitization and observed overshooting of DSA during transplantation. Case report and results A 27-year-old female with cutaneous T cell lymphoma was scheduled for HPC transplantation from her HLA-haploidentical half-sister, who carried the HLA-DRB1*13:03:01 allele. The patient had the corresponding DSA. Lacking an alternative donor option at the time, we attempted a desensitization approach by immunosuppression with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Unexpectedly, DSA increased from a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of 1835 on day -63 to 9008 on day -7. The MFI increased further during 3 TPE procedures and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) until day -1. After transplantation, the DSA remained elevated despite 2 more TPE/IVIG procedures and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis with high-dose cyclophosphamide, sirolimus, and MMF. Flow cytometric crossmatch, initially negative, turned positive after transplantation. Primary graft failure occurred and was attributed to antibody-mediated rejection. A second transplantation from a 7/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor, not carrying DRB1*13:03 allele, resulted in successful engraftment. Conclusion Unexpected and rapid increases of a DSA can occur despite the use of current desensitization approaches. This is problematic when conditioning has already started, as such increases are unlikely to be overcome by TPE or other interventions for desensitization. Overshoot of DSA in HPC transplantation has rarely been reported. Its cause remains unclear and can include underlying disease, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or TPE.
Unveiling Our Scars: artist statement

Narrated through a layered account, Unveiling Our Scars weaves back and forth between reflections about the past and present, exploring Black masculine identity through the lens of intimate relatio...
Frequency Scanning Reflectarray Based on Composite Right/Left-Handed Transmission Lines

This paper presents a new design method, based on composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission lines (TLs), to realize frequency scanning reflectarrays. The proposed technique enables continuous steering of the reflected beam toward both positive and negative elevation angles, by simply connecting customizable progressive phase advance/delay lines to the existing delay lines of a broadband reflectarray. This unique feature would otherwise not be possible using conventional right-handed delay lines due to impractical physical lengths and lack of control over the phase slope. A small prototype array of 4 × 3 elements operating at a center frequency of 2.5 GHz is designed, fabricated, and measured to demonstrate the frequency scanning enhancement provided by the CRLH TLs.
Therapeutic Potential of Chemically Modified, Synthetic, Triplex Peptide Nucleic Acid–Based Oncomir Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy

MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is overexpressed in various types of lymphomas and leukemias, suggesting that targeting miR-155 could be a potential platform for the development of precision medicine. Here we tested the anti-cancer activity of novel, chemically modified, triplex peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based antimiRs compared to the current state-of-the-art conventional full length antimiRs. Next-generation modified PNAs that bound miR-155 by Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen domains possessed superior therapeutic efficacy in vivo and ex vivo compared to conventional full-length anti-miR-155. The efficacy of anti-miR-155 targeting in multiple lymphoma cell lines was comprehensively corroborated by gene expression, western blot analysis, and cell viability-based functional studies. Finally, preclinical testing in vivo in xenograft mouse models containing lymphoma cell lines demonstrated that treatment with the miR-155-targeting next generation antimiR resulted in a significant decrease in miR-155 expression followed by reduced tumor growth. These findings support the effective therapeutic application of chemically modified triplex PNAs to target miR-155 to treat lymphoma. Overall, the present proof-of-concept study further implicates the potential for next-generation triplex gamma PNAs to target other miRNAs for treating cancer.
Distributed and Quantized Online Multi-Kernel Learning

Kernel-basedlearning has well-documented merits in various machine learning tasks. Most of the kernel-based learning approaches rely on a pre-selected kernel, the choice of which presumes task-specific prior information. In addition, most existing frameworks assume that data are collected centrally at batch. Such a setting may not be feasible especially for large-scale data sets that are collected sequentially over a network. To cope with these challenges, the present work develops an online multi-kernel learning scheme to infer the intended nonlinear function ‘on the fly’ from data samples that are collected in distributed locations. To address communication efficiency among distributed nodes, we study the effects of quantization and develop a distributed and quantized online multiple kernel learning algorithm. We provide regret analysis that indicates our algorithm is capable of achieving sublinear regret. Numerical tests on real datasets show the effectiveness of our algorithm.
Enzymatic synthesis of glucocerebroside by a glucosyltransferase from embryonic chicken brain.

Abstract A glucosyltransferase that catalyzes the synthesis of glucosylceramide (glucocerebroside) from ceramide (N-acylsphingosine) and UDP-glucose was isolated from 13- to 14-day-old embryonic chicken brain. The reaction is the following: Ceramide + UDP-glucose → glucosylceramide (+ UDP) Ceramide was the most effective lipid acceptor, and a variety of potential donors could not replace UDP-glucose. The Km values for ceramide and UDP-[14C]glucose were 0.08 mm and 0.12 mm, respectively. Metal ions did not stimulate the reaction, and it was not inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The particulate preparation of UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase showed an absolute requirement for detergent, and optimal activity was obtained with a mixture of Cutscum and Triton X-100. The glucosyltransferase was detectable in brains from chick embryos as early as 7 days old; maximal activity was detected between 13 and 17 days of embryonic development. The enzyme catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of gangliosides.
¿«Pachamámicos» versus «Modérnicos»?

«?A donde nos lleva el pachamamismo?» e «Indianismo y pachamamismo», de Pablo stefanoni, pueden ser analizados desde muchos puntos de vista – desde su ajuste o no a la realidad hasta las posiciones politicas que pareciera adoptar. En esta breve nota me referire a un angulo sin duda menos evidente, cual es el de la posicion de sujeto que subyace la voz que los escribe. Por posicion de sujeto quiero decir la voz social que los habla (la configuracion de conocimiento o «episteme» del que provienen y, mas alla de esta, la ontologia o premisas basicas sobre el mundo que conlleva). Esto tambien quiere decir que los comentarios que siguen no son tanto sobre el «Pablo stefanoni» de carne y hueso (y quien espero me perdone el atrevimiento de todas formas) como sobre una identidad historicamente constituida que, por falta de un mejor termino, llamare «los modernicos» (y aqui me perdonaran que use el masculino solamente). Estas notas, de este modo, bien podrian llamarse «Pachamamicos» versus «Modernicos», y tendre que decir, a modo de advertencia general, que las cosas no son tan simples, pues aun dentro de estas posiciones de sujeto hay gran variedad de posibilidades de discurso. Mi propio comentario, como no faltara quien observe al finalizar su lectura, es mas modernico que pachamamico, aunque deriva su fuerza mas intima de esta ultima alternativa. Finalmente, aclaro que mi comentario no toma como referente el caso boliviano,
Traversability Analysis and Path Planning for a Planetary Rover

A method of analyzing three-dimensional data such as might be produced by stereo vision or a laser range finder in order to plan a path for a vehicle such as a Mars rover is described. In order to produce robust results from data that is sparse and of varying accuracy, the method takes into account the accuracy of each data point, as represented by its covariance matrix. It computes estimates of smoothed and interpolated height, slope, and roughness at equally spaced horizontal intervals, as well as accuracy estimates of these quantities. From this data, a cost function is computed that takes into account both the distance traveled and the probability that each region is traversable. A parallel search algorithm that finds the path of minimum cost also is described. Examples using real data are presented.
2-D magnetohydrodynamic model for a dense helium plasma focus

Summary form only. Results have been obtained from the two-dimensional, two-temperature computer code MHRDR (Magneto-Hydro-Radiative-Dynamics Research), which describes the performance of the University of Maryland dense plasma focus device. These calculations represent the first analysis of a helium plasma produced in such a device. A comparative analysis of the data from the model and the experiment has been made. >
Competition and Fraud in Online Advertising Markets

An economic model of the online advertising market is presented, focusing on the effect of ad fraud. In the model, the market is comprised of three classes of players: publishers, advertising networks, and advertisers. The central question is whether ad networks have an incentive to aggressively combat fraud. The main outcome of the model is to answer this question in the affirmative.
Homophobia, Irrationality, and Christian Ideology: Does a Relationship Exist?

This study investigated the relationship between homophobia, irrational beliefs, and religious ideology. The sample consisted of 154 students enrolled in a Health and Wellness course at a southern US university. Students anonymously and voluntarily completed Ellis' Irrational Beliefs Scale, the Homophobia Scale, and the Doctrinal Label Scale of Christian Ideology. The results showed a significant positive correlation between both conservative Christian ideology and irrational beliefs with the Homophobia Scale. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between conservative Christian ideology and irrational beliefs. Of all the studied variables, conservative Christian religious ideology was the best predictor of homophobia. Personal interaction with homosexual individuals was associated with less homophobia.
Human embryonic stem cells: Derivation, culture, and differentiation: A review

The greatest therapeutic promise of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) is to generate specialized cells to replace damaged tissue in patients suffering from various degenerative diseases. However, the signaling mechanisms involved in lineage restriction of ESC to adopt various cellular phenotypes are still under investigation. Furthermore, for progression of hESC-based therapies towards clinical applications, appropriate culture conditions must be developed to generate genetically stable homogenous populations of cells, to hinder possible adverse effects following transplantation. Other critical challenges that must be addressed for successful cell implantation include problems related to survival and functional efficacy of the grafted cells. This review initially describes the derivation of hESC and focuses on recent advances in generation, characterization, and maintenance of these cells. We also give an overview of original and emerging differentiation strategies used to convert hESC to different cell types. Finally, we will discuss transplantation studies of hESC-derived cells with respect to safety and functional recovery.
Anatomic Analysis of Blood Vessels in Germinal Matrix, Cerebral Cortex, and White Matter in Developing Infants

The germinal matrix (GM) located in the thick subependymal cell layer of the thalamostriate groove is a major site of cerebral hemorrhage in premature infants. Comparing the morphology of vasculature among GM, gray and white matter of the brain may help in understanding the pathogenesis of GM hemorrhage and also of periventricular leukomalacia. The objective of the present study was to determine the morphology of blood vessels in the GM, gray matter, and white matter and to examine maturational changes in the morphology of these vessels as a function of gestational age. We measured vessel density, percentage of blood vessel area, mean surface area, length, breadth, perimeter, radius, and shape of blood vessels in coronal sections of the GM, gray matter, and white matter in postmortem human brain samples for 17 fetuses and premature infants of gestational age 16-40 wk and 2 adults. We performed immunohistochemical staining using anti-laminin primary antibody, confocal microscopy to acquire images, and analysis using Metamorph version 6.1. Vessel density and the percentage of blood vessel area increased as a function of gestational age in the GM, gray matter, and white matter (p < 0.001 each). The blood vessel density and the percentage of blood vessel area were largest in the GM followed by gray matter and then white matter in all of the gestational age categories (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Increased vascularity of the GM compared with gray and white matter may play a role in GM hemorrhage, whereas a relatively low vascularity of white matter may increase the propensity for the occurrence of periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants
The Influence of Weather on Flight Operations at the Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport

Abstract The impact of various types of weather on aircraft operations for one airline for 3 yr at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport is investigated. Impacts are expressed as delays defined in terms of the difference between the actual flight time and that projected by the air traffic control system assuming an accurate weather forecast. The impacts of weather events were measured as the difference between these delays in clear conditions and in various types of inclement weather. Fog and thunderstorms create delays in various phases of each flight. The resultant delays at Atlanta alone create costs amounting to over $6 million annually for the airline. More accurate forecasts have the potential to reduce these costs by allowing more accurate flight planning. Decreases in the number and length of delay over time suggest that improvements in forecasts have already had an economic benefit to the airline. Delays associated with three snowstorms were also investigated. Early morning storms, even when f...
Research in progress / teaching systems analysis and design: what do students really need to know?

This research in progress describes a survey instrument and includes preliminary analysis results of responses from IS/IT professionals regarding Systems Analysis and Design (SA&D) course content and coverage. Questions focus on the skills, tools, development practices, and development methodologies considered most important for a new employee to know and have in their tool kit. We consider our findings in light of the IS 2010 Curriculum Guidelines, with an eye toward how our information can assist in course and curriculum design. We present preliminary results with next steps.
Patients with Higher Fat Mass Have Longer Survival in Heart Failure

Background: Obesity is commonly thought of as a risk factor for heart failure (HF); however studies have shown that higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are associated with improved prognosis in HF. This has been termed the obesity paradox. However, the role of body composition components such as lean body mass (LBM) and body fat mass (BFM) is unknown. Hypothesis: Using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to assess body composition in HF will help determine whether fat and/or lean mass are contributing to the obesity paradox. Methods: BIA assessment of body composition in 354 HF patients was performed using InBody 520 (Biospace Inc, CA), an 8-point tactile electrode system employing 5, 50, and 500 kHz . BFM and LBM were indexed by body surface area (BSA). The cohort was stratified based on median BFM indexed to BSA (BFMi, 12.5 kg/m) and LBM indexed to BSA (LBMi, 28.9 kg/m). Results: The mean age of patients studied was 56614 and the mean LVEF was 386 16. Baseline characteristics between all groups were compared and were similar (see Table below). When comparing 2 year survival from urgent transplant or death, patients with higher BFMi had improved survival over patients with lower BFMi (96% vs. 87%, p.005). There was a trend towards improved 2 year event free survival of patients with higher LBMi when compared to patients with lower LBMi, however this was not significant (93% vs. 90%, p 0.5). Two year survival was also compared in the following 4 categories of body composition: a combination of low LBMi and LBFMi (85.1%), low LBMi and high BFMi (94%), high LBMi and low BFMi (89%) and high LBMi and BFMi (100%, p 0.036). The low LBMi and BFMi category trended towards worse survival; whereas the high LBMi and BFMi category trended towards a better 2 year survival. Conclusions: Our data suggest that while higher fat mass is protective in HF, higher lean mass may be protective in HF, but not significantly. Our data also suggest that a body composition of low LBMi and low BFMi is the least protective in HF, whereas high LBMi and high BFMi is most protective in HF. For a more complete understanding of the obesity paradox in HF, further investigations of body composition and outcomes in HF are warranted.
Solvolysis of Caryophyllen-8β-yl Derivatives: Biomimetic Rearrangement−Cyclization to 12-Nor-8α-presilphiperfolan-9β-ol

The solvolyses of caryophyllen-8β-yl p-nitrobenzoate (14-OpNB) and 15-norcaryophyllen-8β-yl tosylate (15-OTs) were investigated as potential model reactions for the biogenesis of the tricyclic presilphiperfolanol sesquiterpenes. Buffered solvolysis of 14-OpNB in 60% aqueous acetone at 125 °C afforded caryophyllene (3) as major product, accompanied by small amounts of caryophyllen-8β-ol (14-OH) and 5,8-cyclocaryophyllen-4α-ol (16). In contrast, 15-OTs underwent a stereospecific rearrangement−cyclization to 12-nor-8α-presilphiperfolan-9β-ol (17) upon solvolysis in 60% aqueous acetone at 75 °C. The structure and stereochemistry of this trans,cis,trans-tricyclo[6.2.1.05,11]undecane derivative were established by NMR correlation spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Two different mechanisms (paths A and B) for the conversion of 15-OTs to 17 by initial 1,2-migration of either the external or internal cyclobutane ring bonds (C10 and C1) followed by π−σ cyclization onto the trans double bond are discussed.
Animation and control of breaking waves

Controlling fluids is still an open and challenging problem in fluid animation. In this paper we develop a novel fluid animation control approach and we present its application to controlling breaking waves. In our Slice Method framework an animator defines the shape of a breaking wave at a desired moment in its evolution based on a library of breaking waves. Our system computes then the subsequent dynamics with the aid of a 3D Navier-Stokes solver. The wave dynamics previous to the moment the animator exerts control can also be generated based on the wave library. The animator is thus enabled to obtain a full animation of a breaking wave while controlling the shape and the timing of the breaking. An additional advantage of the method is that it provides a significantly faster method for obtaining the full 3D breaking wave evolution compared to starting the simulation at an early stage and using solely the 3D Navier-Stokes equations. We present a series of 2D and 3D breaking wave animations to demonstrate the power of the method.
Wnt5a Induces Simultaneous Cortical Axon Outgrowth and Repulsive Turning Through Distinct Signaling Mechanisms

Wnt5a is thought to propel cortical axons down the corticospinal tract and through the corpus callosum by repulsive mechanisms. We cultured dissociated early postnatal cortical neurons from hamsters and exposed them to a gradient of Wnt5a as a model for studying the mechanism of Wnt5a effects. Turning assays indicated that cortical axons were repelled away from a point source of Wnt5a. Surprisingly, during the 1-hour turning assay, axons exposed to Wnt5a also increased their growth rates by almost 50%. Ryk receptors but not Frizzled (Fz) receptors were required for Wnt5a-promoted axon outgrowth, whereas both Ryk and Fz receptors were required for repulsive growth-cone turning. Both Ryk and Fz receptors mediated calcium (Ca 2+ ) signaling, which is required for axon outgrowth and repulsive turning. Treatments with pharmacological inhibitors revealed that distinct Ca 2+ signaling mechanisms were involved in Wnt5a-dependent axon outgrowth versus repulsive guidance. Ca 2+ release from intracellular stores through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors was required for Wnt5a-induced axon outgrowth but not for repulsive turning. In contrast, Ca 2+ entry through transient receptor potential channels was required for both repulsive growth-cone turning and Wnt5a-increased axon outgrowth. Taken together, these results showed that a guidance cue can induce increased rates of axon outgrowth simultaneously with repulsive guidance and may provide an understanding of how cortical axons may be repelled down the spinal cord in vivo. Moreover, we demonstrate that previously unidentified Wnt signaling pathways differentially mediate these growth-cone behaviors.