cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Efficiency of Service Delivery Processes An Application to Retail Banking

This article presents a methodology that determines the role of design in calculating the efficiency of service delivery processes. The efficiency of these processes is first determined by using a variation of frontier estimation (data envelopment analysis [DEA]-like) techniques. The methodology is then applied to a particular service delivery process in retail banking. The methodology allows one to address the question of how much inefficiency in a business process is due to process-design choice and how much is due to process execution. In addition, the methodology determines which policy group offers the most potential for improvement for a particular firm. Consistent with expectations, the results show that no single process design dominates. However, the methodology demonstrates the trade-offs for a particular institution and offers specific recommendations for either improving an existing process or radically changing to a different design.
Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors of the Eyelid Dermis: A Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Analysis.

Purpose To determine the incidences, clinical features, and detailed histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of 10 peripheral nerve tumors (isolated neurofibromas, solitary circumscribed neuromas [SCNs], and schwannomas) localized to the eyelid dermis. Methods In this retrospective clinicopathologic study, clinical records and paraffin sections subjected to hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff, reticulin, and Alcian blue staining were critically reviewed from each case. Additional paraffin sections were immunoreacted for S100, neurofilament, CD34, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), glucose transporter-1 (glut-1), and calretinin. Results Ten patients with a median age of 57 years had solitary, small, flesh-colored papules, 70% at the eyelid margin. Microscopically, they were diagnosed either as a SCN or an isolated neurofibroma. SCN was diffusely S100-positive (and sometimes diffusely calretinin-positive) with myriad neurofilaments. Fascicles of cells were separated by CD34-positive septa, and the lesions were surrounded by a glut-1/EMA-positive capsule. Neurofibromas were calretinin-negative and had a moderate number of S100-positive cells, with widely scattered neurofilaments, many CD34-postive intermixed cells, and no capsule. No schwannomas were diagnosed. Conclusions Peripheral nerve tumors of the eyelid have a distinct clinical presentation at the eyelid margin. Careful histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies can reliably separate the entities in the categories of isolated neurofibroma, SCN, and schwannoma when the last occurs. These distinctions can have important systemic implications.
Expression of the low Mr isoform of CD45 (CD45RO) in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Abstract The CD45 antigen family consists of multiple molecular isoforms ranging from 180 to 220 relative molecular mass (Mr). The highest Mr isoforms are recognized by monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) designated CD45RA, while those recognizing the low Mr isoform are designated CD45RO. About half of the T-cells in peripheral blood express CD45RA while the remainder express CD45RO. A switch from the high to the low Mr isoform of CD45 has been found in association with the process of T-cell stimulation and acquisition of “memory.” B-cells normally express CD45RA, but not CD45RO. However, under stimulatory conditions, B-cells may be capable of undergoing an isoform switch and expressing CD45RO. The expression of this low Mr isoform of CD45 was investigated in lymphomas composed of monoclonal B-cells to determine if such a switch occurs in malignant B-cell populations. The vast majority ( 110 117 cases) of B-cell lymphomas expressed only CD45RA, while a very small number ( 7 117 cases) expressed CD45RO, but not CD45RA. There was no relationship between the CD45RO expression and the histologic subtype. The physiological significance of this unusual expression of CD45RO in a subpopulation of B-cell lymphomas is not clear. In that CD45RO, as defined by the MoAb UCHL 1, is typically used as a marker of T-cells in tissue sections, caution must be exercised in interpretation, since not all T-cells are reactive and some B-cell lymphomas are reactive.
A Fast lattice-based polynomial digital signature system for m-commerce

The privacy and data integrity are not guaranteed in current wireless communications due to the security hole inside the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) version 1.2 gateway. One of the remedies is to provide an end-to-end security in m-commerce by applying application level security on top of current WAP1.2. The traditional security technologies like RSA and ECC applied on enterprise's server are not practical for wireless devices because wireless devices have relatively weak computation power and limited memory compared with server. In this paper, we developed a lattice based polynomial digital signature system based on NTRU's Polynomial Authentication and Signature Scheme (PASS), which enabled the feasibility of applying high-level security on both server and wireless device sides.
Effects of pressure on phase equilibria and transformation in the iron-chromium system

Abstract The influence of pressures up to 40 kb on phase equilibria and athermal transformation structures in binary Fe-Cr alloys has been investigated with the principal objectives of determining the validity of computations of the pressure dependence of equilibria and the generality of current concepts of the solute dependence of martensitic structures. Phase equilibria were determined by means of a metallographic technique and by microprobe analysis of diffusion couples. The substructures of transformation products were studied by thin foil electron microscopy. Over a limited temperature range, a thennochemical model was found to agree reasonably well with the measured phase boundaries at high pressure. Agreement was also obtained between computed and experimental M s at 40 kb. Chromium was found to have a profoundly different influence on structure than that observed, for example, Ni in Fe-Ni alloys in that alloys quenched from the gamma loop at 40 kb exhibit structures of types which have not been observed previously. These are interpreted as resulting from the relaxation of transformation strains subsequent to the formation of wide laths. No internally twinned martensites were observed. These results point to the general need to take into account possible relaxation phenomena when interpreting martensitic structures to determine the mechanism of the formation.
Community and family perspectives on addressing overweight in urban, African-American youth.

Objective To assess weight-related beliefs and concerns of overweight urban, African-American children, their parents, and community leaders before developing a family-based intervention to reduce childhood overweight and diabetes risk.
Controlling Destiny through Chemistry: Small-Molecule Regulators of Cell Fate

Controlling cell fate is essential for embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and the prevention of human disease. With each cell in the human body sharing a common genome, achieving the appropriate spectrum of stem cells and their differentiated lineages requires the selective activation of developmental signaling pathways, the expression of specific target genes, and the maintenance of these cellular states through epigenetic mechanisms. Small molecules that target these regulatory processes are therefore valuable tools for probing and manipulating the molecular mechanisms by which stem cells self-renew, differentiate, and arise from somatic cell reprogramming. Pharmacological modulators of cell fate could also help remediate human diseases caused by dysregulated cell proliferation or differentiation, heralding a new era in molecular therapeutics.
Modeling fluid-structure interaction by the particle finite element method in OpenSees

The OpenSees finite element software framework is extended for simulating fluid-structure interaction (FSI) by the particle finite element method (PFEM). At high levels of the framework, new classes handle meshing and interface detection of the fluid and structure domains and implement the fractional step method in order to solve the governing equations of linear momentum and mass conservation. At lower levels of the framework, new finite element and pressure constraint classes assemble fluid contributions to the global system of equations. Verification and validation examples are presented along with a demonstrative example of wave loading on a coastal structure modeled using geometrically nonlinear frame elements with material nonlinear fiber sections. The extension of OpenSees for FSI allows analysts to simulate the complex phenomena of wave loading on structural models as well as the response of these models to sequential natural hazards such as earthquake induced tsunamis.
Intraoperative localization of insulinoma and normal pancreas using invisible near-infrared fluorescent light.

Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas, such as insulinoma, are difficult to localize, and complete resection is essential for cure. Our hypothesis is that a near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore exhibiting uptake in insulinoma could provide high-sensitivity detection intraoperatively. The optical properties of methylene blue (MB) were measured in vitro in 100% serum at 37°C and in vivo after tissue uptake. MB was injected as a rapid intravenous bolus at doses ranging from 0.25 to 2 mg/kg into wildtype rats and pigs, and into insulinoma-bearing transgenic mice. The FLARE™ imaging system was used to acquire color video and NIR fluorescence images simultaneously and in real-time. The signal-to-background ratios (SBR) of tissues and tumors were quantified using FLARE™ software. When appropriately diluted, MB exhibits moderate NIR fluorescence emission peaking at 688 nm. At doses ≥1 mg/kg, certain normal tissues, such as pancreas, accumulate MB and remain NIR fluorescent for up to 1 h with an SBR ≥ 1.6. MB spectral properties are maintained after uptake into tissue. Interestingly, insulinoma exhibits even higher MB signal than normal pancreas, resulting in insulinoma-to-pancreas ratios of 3.7 and insulinoma-to-muscle ratios of 16.2. MB permitted high-sensitivity, real-time localization of primary, multicentric, and metastatic insulinoma and permitted differentiation among tumor, normal pancreas, and other abdominal structures. A single intravenous injection of a clinically available, commonly used NIR fluorophore provides prolonged intraoperative localization of normal pancreas and insulinoma using invisible NIR fluorescent light.
An off-line simulation system for development of real-timefortran programs

Implementation of an ISAfortran standard for executive functions and process input-output within a simulation system called MINIFOR provides a useful real-time program development tool for small single-function, dedicated minicomputers having afortran compiler but limited program development aids. Afortran based precompiler is used off-line to eliminate most compilation errors, while the run-time system is used off-line to eliminate most execution errors. The description of the structure and features of the MINIFOR system illustrates its capabilities and limitations. Attention here is directed toward the run-time system and an example of its use; detailed discussion of precompiler generation and use is treated elsewhere.
Preschool PTSD Treatment (PPT) for a Young Child Exposed to Trauma in the Middle East

This case study follows a 5-year-old biracial boy who presented with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), separation anxiety, and oppositionality. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) h...
A rare case of hidradenoma papilliferum: Report of a case and review of the literature

Abstract A case of hidradenoma papilliferum of the post-auricular region of a male patient is described. This lesion, which presented clinically as a sebaceous cyst, is exceedingly rare in this situation, but it may be that similar lesions have been excised as sebaceous cysts and have been discarded without obtaining histopathological confirmation. Treatment was by local excision.
The impact of commercial computer software on undergraduate engineering education

Personal computers running with Intel 80286, 80386, 80486 and Pentium microprocessors, and those based on the Motorola 68000 line of microprocessors enjoy the lion's share of the home computer market. These are respectively IBM and compatible PCs, and the Apple computers. The dominance of these PCs in homes and in educational institutions-from as early as kindergarten through high school to college-is a direct result of the falling cost of the microprocessor chips and the competition among PC manufacturers. Commercial computer software packages addressing specific applications are sold by various vendors and are used by undergraduate engineering students, educators and engineers alike, often with no knowledge of the model limitations and the algorithms employed in developing and writing the software. This trend, if unchecked, will naturally produce future engineers and scientists who see computer results as infallible truth, rather than those who should rightly view the results as subject to the limitations of the models employed in building the software. This paper advocates increased computer literacy at the classroom level in the form of getting more involved in software analysis, development and algorithms than is currently practiced. Suggestions are provided to enhance engineering education.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome with diffuse cerebral vasculitis and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis

A 30-year-old black Haitian man with primary Sjogren's syndrome presented with minimal sicca symptoms, negative results of serologic testing, and predominant systemic involvement, including chronic bilateral lymphoplasmocytic pulmonary infiltrates and diffuse central nervous system vasculitis. This case illustrates the recognized fact that a paucity of sicca symptoms can be overshadowed by the predominance of other systemic manifestations, delaying the diagnosis of this disease. The angiographic results in this patient have not been reported before and support the role of vasculitis in the pathogenesis of the central nervous system manifestations in primary Sjogren's syndrome.
Fracture processes in polymeric materials. IV. Dependence of the fracture surface energy on temperature and molecular structure

The study of the influence of flaw size on the tensile strength of poly(methyl methacrylate) samples has been extended over the temperature range −190°C. to 50°C. The fracture surface energy increases with decreasing temperature, while the inherent flaw size of uncracked samples passes through a minimum at about −20°C. The fracture surface energy and inherent flaw size of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and 10 mole-% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate have been obtained at room temperature, by a similar method. These results are examined in the light of the hypothesis already put forward concerning the factors which govern the strength and fracture properties of glassy polymers.
A low γ t injection lattice for polarized protons in RHIC

Polarized protons are injected into the relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) just above transition energy. When installation of a cold partial Siberian snake in the AGS required lowering the injection energy by Δγ= 0.56, the transition energy in RHIC had to be lowered accordingly to ensure proper longitudinal matching. This paper presents lattice modifications implemented to lower the transition energy by Δγt = 0.8.
Prospective surveillance of antibiotic use in the neonatal intensive care unit: results from the SCOUT study.

Background:Prolonged or unnecessary antibiotic use is associated with adverse outcomes in neonates. Our objectives were to quantify all antibiotic use in a Level-III neonatal intensive care unit and to identify scenarios where their use could be reduced.Methods:Surveillance and evaluation of all ant
A type-theoretic interpretation of pointcuts and advice

This article defines the semantics of MinAML, an idealized aspect-oriented programming language, by giving a type-directed translation from a user-friendly external language to a compact, well-defined core language. We argue that our framework is an effective way to give semantics to aspect-oriented programming languages in general because the translation eliminates shallow syntactic differences between related constructs and permits definition of an elegant and extensible core language.The core language extends the simply-typed lambda calculus with two central new abstractions: explicitly labeled program points and first-class advice. The labels serve both to trigger advice and to mark continuations that the advice may return to. These constructs are defined orthogonally to the other features of the language and we show that our abstractions can be used in both functional and object-oriented contexts. We prove Preservation and Progress lemmas for our core language and show that the translation from MinAML source into core is type-preserving. Together these two results imply that the source language is type safe. We also consider several extensions to our basic framework including a general mechanism for analyzing the current call stack.
Startling technologies promise to transform medicine

Many writers have dared to look into the future and, far more boldly, commit their vision to print. Readers, especially those graced with hindsight, can then assess the forecast and observe the inevitable inaccuracies. I have been asked to join those ranks and cheerfully accept the challenge of forecasting some startling new technologies that will change the practice of medicine. I will focus on existing technologies that are in various stages of development and on extensions of those technologies. The five areas of technological innovation that I think will change medicine in startling ways are molecular medicine and biometrics, nanotechnology, wave technology, fabricators, and robotics and simulation (box 1). These technologies already have had individual and collective effects on some aspects of medicine and their influence is increasing.1 Alvin Toffler was correct when he said, “Technology feeds on itself. Technology makes more technology possible.”2 Four brief scenarios illustrate the types of changes I envisage. #### Box 1 Categories of startling technologies John, who is 25 lb overweight, walks through a device that looks like an airport x ray scanner. When he emerges, about 5 lb of fat tissue has been “fried” by a laser.3 Through the normal purging processes, the fat will be gone from his body in about three days. He repeats the process every two weeks until all the extra weight is gone. No side effects are seen apart from the resizing of his wardrobe. Jane, who has hypertension and diabetes, has a barely visible radio frequency chip implanted just below the skin on her upper arm. This chip simultaneously monitors and transmits data on her heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and concentrations of blood sugar. The data are received in two places—a remote monitoring station in her general practitioner's …
Ultrastructure of The Mammillary Region of Low Puncture Strength Avian Eggshells

Abstract The mammillary region of poor quality avian egg shells displays a number of aberrant structural alterations not commonly observed in high quality egg shells. Three general categories of mammillary alterations were observed in radial sections of extremely low quality shells: 1) Shells with a proliferation of discrete rounded calcified bodies situated upon the shell membrane fibers; 2) shells with an extremely disorganized, multinucleate mammillary region without numerous calcified bodies; and 3) mammillary knobs possessing cavernous tips without mammillary core formations. Adhesion discs (fracture surfaces between adjacent calcified structures) were observed and classified into two types, small-rounded (Type I) adhesion discs between adjacent calcified bodies, or between calcified bodies and larger mammillary formations; and large oval (Type II) adhesion discs between adjacent mammillary knob formations. The nucleation zone or external surface of the outer shell membrane fibers, upon which calcium salts initially precipitate, was also observed to vary in low-quality shells. Waves or bulges in the nucleation zone were observed directly beneath the multinucleate unorganized mammillary knob formations. These findings suggest that the initial process of shell mineralization (mammillary knob formation) is responsible for the base upon which the palisade (main shell) layer is deposited. Disorganization of the basal calcified region may give rise to poorly indigitating calcite (palisade) columns and decreased intrinsic shell strength.
Responses of a remnant California native bunchgrass population to grazing, burning and climatic variation

This study examined the interactive effects of grazing intensity and burning on a remnant population of the California native bunchgrass Nassella pulchra. We measured growth, reproduction and mortality of permanently marked bunchgrasses and measured bunchgrass seedling recruitment and density in permanent quadrats. We burned half of the treatment plots in late spring 1998. Grazing treatments were implemented in 1998, 1999 and 2000 at four different intensities: ungrazed, light rotational grazing (31% average biomass removal), heavy rotational grazing (42% average biomass removal), and continuously grazed. Both burning and grazing affected the bunchgrass population. Bunchgrass mortality was 10% higher in burned vs. unburned plots but was not significantly different among grazing treatments. Seedling density was 100% higher in burned vs. unburned plots 2 years after the burn, however seedling densities never attained preburn levels. Seedling densities did not differ significantly among grazing treatments, but grazing reduced the height and reproduction of the mature bunchgrasses. Adult bunchgrass density did not differ significantly in any of the treatments but experienced a five-fold decrease over the 4 years of the experiment. Although the continuous grazing treatment reduced the number of culms produced per plant by 75% from the baseline year, the effect on culm production in the continuous grazing treatment was not consistently greater than the rotational grazing treatments. The interaction of grazing and burning had no significant impacts on the N. pulchra populations except on the diameter of adult bunchgrasses which was highest in the lightly grazed, unburned treatments 2 years following the burn. All response variables except bunchgrass height followed a similar pattern in time over the 4 years of the experiment regardless of treatment, peaking in 1998 and then declining in 1999 and 2000. We believe the above average rainfall and below average temperatures experienced late in the growing season in 1998 provided conditions that favored the native bunchgrasses. Overall, we found few interactive effects of grazing and burning but the separate treatments did affect bunchgrass growth, reproduction and mortality, and these effects were modulated by the ubiquitous effects of climatic fluctuations.
Regulation of the Crustacean Mandibular Organ1

Abstract The crustacean mandibular organ (MO) produces methyl farnesoate (MF), a juvenile hormone-related compound thought to have roles in crustacean reproduction and development. Therefore, the control of MF production by the MO has been of considerable interest. Current evidence indicates that the MO is negatively regulated by peptides present in the eyestalk (MO inhibiting factor, MO-IH). Several eyestalk neuropeptides have been identified that inhibit MF synthesis by MO incubated in vitro. The amino acid sequences of these MO-IH peptides are similar to peptides in the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) family of neuropeptides. In addition, there appears to be a compound in the eyestalk that lowers hemolymph levels of MF in vivo but does not directly affect the MO in vitro. The inhibition of MF synthesis by eyestalk peptides involves the inhibition of farnesoic acid O-methyl transferase, the last enzyme in the MF biosynthetic pathway. The activity of this enzyme is affected by cyclic nucleotides, ...
A Novel Estimation Approach for Mixture Transition Distribution Model in High-Order Markov Chains

A transformation is proposed to convert the nonlinear constraints of the parameters in the mixture transition distribution (MTD) model into box-constraints. The proposed transformation removes the difficulties associated with the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) process in the MTD modeling so that the MLEs of the parameters can be easily obtained via a hybrid algorithm from the evolutionary algorithms and/or quasi-Newton algorithms for global optimization. Simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate MTD modeling by the proposed novel approach through a global search algorithm in R environment. Finally, the proposed approach is used for the MTD modelings of three real data sets.
Design of maximum permeability material structures

This paper extends recent advances in the topology optimization of fluid flows to the design of periodic, porous material microstructures. Operating in a characteristic base cell of the material, the goal is to determine the layout of solid and fluid phases that will yield maximum permeability and prescribed flow symmetries in the bulk material. Darcy’s law governs flow through the macroscopic material while Stokes equations govern flow through the microscopic channels. Permeability is computed via numerical homogenization of the base cell using finite elements. Solutions to the proposed inverse homogenization design problem feature simply connected pore spaces that closely resemble minimal surfaces, such as the triply periodic Schwartz P minimal surface for 3 � d isotropic, maximum permeability materials.
The Cut of His Coat: Men, Dress, and Consumer Culture in Britain, 1860–1914 – By Brent Shannon

In his review of the 1846 Paris Salon, Charles Baudelaire pondered the state of modern masculine dress. To his discerning eye, the dark frock coats suggested a state of “perpetual mourning,” but he...
Boolean factoring with kernels and rectangle covering

A technique for factoring Boolean expressions which extends standard factorization algorithms by utilizing Boolean and topological information directly during the factorization process is presented. A representation for Boolean functions is introduced, and efficient algorithms for constructing this representation are given. Examples of the techniques are given, and the results of experiments using these methods to factor functions from the MCNC logic synthesis benchmark set are reported. Preliminary experimental results show improvements of up to 20% in literal count compared to MISII algebraic factoring. >
BCGosis: case report of intravesicular bacille Calmette-Guérin causing upper tract granulomas simulating a renal mass without evidence of ipsilateral vesicoureteral reflux.

Very rarely, dissemination of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guerin for superficial bladder cancer treatment can lead to a complication in the upper urinary tract. Two mechanisms for dissemination have been proposed: vesicoureteral reflux and hematogenous spread. We report a case of "BCGosis" with the clinical appearance of multifocal renal masses in a patient without ipsilateral reflux. This case highlights the importance of obtaining a renal biopsy in all patients previously treated with bacille Calmette-Guerin presenting with a renal mass. Furthermore, the findings from the present case suggest that vesicoureteral reflux might not be the only mechanism responsible for dissemination of bacille Calmette-Guerin to the upper urinary tract.
Comparisons of Relative Activities of Maize Adh(1) Alleles in Heterozygotes-analyses at the Protein (Crm) Level.

The method of high-resolution electrophoresis was employed to compare the relative amounts of enzyme produced by the Adh1F and Adh1S alleles in heterozygotes at different stages of development. The results are in complete agreement with those obtained from enzymatic analyses and support the competition hypothesis for the regulation of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene.
Theory of Active Suspensions

Active suspensions, of which a bath of swimming microorganisms is a paradigmatic example, denote large collections of individual particles or macromolecules capable of converting fuel into mechanical work and microstructural stresses. Such systems, which have excited much research in the last decade, exhibit complex dynamical behaviors such as large-scale correlated motions and pattern formation due to hydrodynamic interactions. In this chapter, we summarize efforts to model these systems using particle simulations and continuum kinetic theories. After reviewing results from experiments and simulations, we present a general kinetic model for a suspension of self-propelled rodlike particles and discuss its stability and nonlinear dynamics. We then address extensions of this model that capture the effect of steric interactions in concentrated systems, the impact of confinement and interactions with boundaries, and the effect of the suspending medium rheology. Finally, we discuss new active systems such as those that involve the interactions of biopolymers with immersed motor proteins and surface-bound suspensions of chemically powered particles.
Downregulation of hepatocyte P2-purinoceptor binding capacity after trauma-hemorrhage/resuscitation

Although P2-purinoceptors play an important role in the regulation of liver metabolism under normal conditions, it is not known if trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation have any effects on such receptors. To study this, we performed a 5-cm midline laparotomy (i.e., trauma induced) on rats and then bled them to and maintained them at a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg until 40% of maximum bleedout volume was returned in the form of Ringer lactate (RL). The animals were then resuscitated with 3x the volume of shed blood with RL over 45 min followed by 2x RL over 95 min. Hepatocytes were isolated at the time of maximum bleedout or at 0, 4, 17, and 27 h after the completion of crystalloid resuscitation. P2-purinoceptor binding characteristics were determined in the isolated hepatocytes by using [alpha-35S]ATP. Scatchard analysis revealed high- and low-affinity components of P2-purinoceptors in hepatocytes from sham-operated as well as hemorrhaged and resuscitated animals. The maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of the high-affinity receptor component decreased at the time of maximum bleedout and at 4, 17, and 27 h after resuscitation. In addition to this, the Bmax of low-affinity receptor components also decreased at 4-27 h after resuscitation. In contrast, the dissociation constants of both receptor components were not altered. Because hemorrhagic shock produces abnormalities in glucose metabolism, the downregulation of hepatocyte P2-purinoceptor Bmax may be responsible for the altered glucose homeostasis under such conditions.
Crosslinked dendronized polyols as a general approach to brighter and more stable fluorophores

Fluorescent, aqueous-soluble, crosslinked dendronized polyols (CDPs) are obtained through a sequential process involving ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), intra-chain ring-closing metathesis (RCM), and hydrolysis. This general strategy improves the quantum yields (QYs), brightness, and photostability of five common fluorophores whose emission wavelengths cover 150 nm. Additionally, the availability of the polymeric fluorophore to the cytosomes opens the door to applications in bioimaging and intracellular delivery.
Microstrip reflectarray

In order for a reflectarray to have a thin flat-plate structure, microstrip patches with microstrip transmission delay lines are proposed to form the microstrip reflectarray antenna. The results of a theoretical analysis and evaluation of this antenna are presented. It is shown that, with proper designs, this antenna can have many significant advantages over a conventional parabolic reflector. >
Neuronal protection and destruction by NO

Nitric oxide (NO)-related species include different redox states of the NO group, which have recently been reported to exist endogenously in biological tissues including the brain. The importance of these different NO-related species is that their distinct chemical reactivities can influence the life and death of neurons in response to various insults. In the case of NO+ equivalents (having one less electron than NO.), the mechanism of reaction often involves S-nitrosylation or transfer of the NO group to the sulfhydryl of a cysteine residue (or more properly to a thiolate anion) to form an RS-NO; further oxidation of critical thiols can possibly then form disulfide bonds from neighboring cysteine residues. We have mounted both physiological and chemical evidence that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity and caspase enzyme activity can be decreased by S-nitrosylation, as can other signaling molecules involved in neuronal apoptotic pathways, to afford neuroprotection. Over the past 5 years, beginning with our report on the NMDAR, evidence has accumulated that S-nitrosylation can regulate the biological activity of a great variety of proteins, in some ways akin to phosphorylation. Thus, this chemical reaction is gaining acceptance as a newly-recognized molecular switch to control protein function via reactive thiol groups, such as those encountered on the NMDAR and in the active site of caspases. One method of producing S-nitrosylation of the NMDAR and caspases is the administration of nitroglycerin, and nitroglycerin can be neuroprotective in acute focal ischemia/reperfusion models via mechanisms other than increasing cerebral blood flow. In contrast, NO* itself does not appear to react with thiol under physiological conditions. In fact, the favored reaction of NO* is with O2*- (superoxide anion) to form ONOO- (peroxynitrite), which can lead to neurotoxicity. A third NO-related species with one added electron compared to NO* is nitroxyl anion (NO-). NO- -unlike NO* but reminiscent of NO+ transfer - reacts with critical thiol groups of the NMDA receptor to curtail excessive Ca2+ influx and thus provide neuroprotection from excitotoxic insults.
Abstract 4999: Glutamate receptors in cancer: Stable expression of GluR6 induces growth arrest and senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma HCC 7703 cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Applying a functional strategy, we identified a gene, SEN6A, located at 6q21, which restores senescence in breast tumor cells. Human genome database search identified SEN6A as GluR6, a kainate type - ionotropic glutamate receptor gene. Kainate receptors constitute a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors that plays a role in the rapid synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. Glutamate receptors have been implicated in several pathophysiological conditions including Epilepsy, Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. We cloned the GluR6 gene by RT-PCR and investigated the structure, splicing pattern and its role in the cell senescence and cancer. We show that GluR6A, a splice variant is specifically expressed in brain, and four other variants; namely, GluR6B, GluR6C, GluR6D and GluR6E are expressed in other tissues and fibroblast cell lines. Genomic analysis and cloning of the sequence preceding the transcribed region led to the identification of two tissue specific promoters designated as neuronal promoter Pn and non-neuronal promoter Pnn. GluR6 is expressed in most tissues and its expression is elevated in late passage cells, relative to young human cells. The gene is either turned off or expressed at a reduced level in a large number of tumor cell lines. The chromosomal location of GluR6 at 6q21, a LOH hot spot in multiple cancers, points to its potential role in the etiology of cancer. The analysis for mutations in 22 cancer cell lines revealed a point mutation in exon 15 and deletion of exon 6 in two hepatoma cell lines. Open reading frame of GluR6 was cloned in a retroviral expression vector, in frame with EGFP tag, where EGFP is added after the signal peptide. In this vector GluR6-EGFP gene is expressed as a single transcript, from a CMV promoter, along with puromycin gene for selection. Ecotopic expression of GluR6 (variants A-E) induces growth arrest and senescence in hepatoma HCC7703 cells, and induce premature senescence in normal fibroblasts. Clones of GluR6 transfer cells display doubling time of 72-96 hours that gradually increases to 3-4 days ending in complete growth arrest and senescence. In contrast the transfer of empty vector or a construct carrying truncated GluR6 gene did not affect the growth of HCC7703 or normal cells. These result show that GluR6 is involved in the cascade of signaling circuits that govern cell growth and differentiation. Future studies are designed to investigate signaling pathways responsive to the expression of GluR6 gene. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4999.
Diffusion-Derived Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measures of Longitudinal Microstructural Remodeling Induced by Marrow Stromal Cell Therapy after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and an animal model of traumatic brain injury (TBI), we investigated the capacity and sensitivity of diffusion-derived measures, fractional anisotropy (FA), and diffusion entropy, to longitudinally identify structural plasticity in the injured brain in response to the transplantation of human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs). Male Wistar rats (300–350g, n = 30) were subjected to controlled cortical impact TBI. At 6 h or 1 week post-injury, these rats were intravenously injected with 1 mL of saline (at 6 h or 1 week, n = 5/group) or with hMSCs in suspension (∼3 × 106 hMSCs, at 6 h or 1 week, n = 10/group). In vivo MRI measurements and sensorimotor function estimates were performed on all animals pre-injury, 1 day post-injury, and weekly for 3 weeks post-injury. Bielschowsky's silver and Luxol fast blue staining were used to reveal the axon and myelin status, respectively, with and without cell treatment after TBI. Based on image data and histological observa...
The extensive re-checking analysis of acute infectious disease reporting network in Shenzhen, 2012

Objective To analyze the results of extensive re-checking of Shenzhen network report of infectious diseases in2012, andverity the number of duplicate cards and to improve re-checking work of Shenzhen network reporting of infectious diseases. Methods Acute infectious disease reporting cards were collected through Management System of Infectious Disease Reporting System and were re-checked by different combination of re-checking conditions. ROC curve was used to compare the performance of different re-checking methods. Results The duplicate card rate was estimated as0.72% in 2012. The duplicate card rates of infectious diarrhea, hand-foot-mouth disease, hepatitis B and mumps were1.28%, 0.80%, 0.36% and 0.35%, respectively. The combination of "name, disease and phone number " had the best performance for re-checking, compared with other methods. Conclusion Duplicate cards could not be searched completely by combination of 6 conditions which required by Management System of Infectious Disease Reporting System. Therefore it is necessary to carry out extensive re-checking to ensure the accuracy of infectious diseases incidence.
Cardiac autonomic control is inversely related to blood pressure variability responses to psychological challenge

Blood pressure exhibits variability (BPV) at low (0.02- to 0.07-Hz), mid (0.07- to 0.15-Hz)-, and high (0.15- to 0.50-Hz) frequencies. Evidence suggests that BPV responses to challenge are inversely related to cardiac autonomic control. We tested this hypothesis by examining the BPV responses to psychological stressors in 22 normal subjects who differed in cardiac control, operationalized as resting heart period variability (HPV). HPV and BPV were measured noninvasively or a beat-to-beat basis. The stressors produced a significant increase in heart rate and a small but significant increase in diastolic blood pressure. As predicted, the changes in BPV in response to the stressors were inversely related to resting HPV. The results are interpreted in terms of a model of cardiovascular control that holds that BPV originates from feedforward effects of central control of the heart, feedback effects mediated through the baroreflexes, and direct sympathetic vascular effects.
A Pediatric Division Solves Its House Staff Problem

A greatly improved teaching program, backed by topflight staff, competitive salaries, and attention to personal needs of interns and residents, such as housing and recreation, was the key to resolving an intolerable situation at Los Angeles County General Hospital. Without such a comprehensive approach, the authors say, an excellent effort to solve any one part of the problem may well be frustrated.
A model to teach non-rival and excludable goods in undergraduate microeconomics

Abstract Non-rival and excludable goods, often referred to as artificially-scarce goods or club goods, are discussed in principles of microeconomics textbooks, but they are not given a rigorous graphical analysis. This paper presents a model for non-rival and excludable goods that aligns with the intuition conveyed in introductory microeconomics textbooks. The model enables students to develop a rigorous understanding of the theory of non-rival and excludable goods, and it includes an allocatively efficient outcome, a private outcome, and a second-best solution outcome to exhibit the relative prices, quantities, profits, and welfare results that emerge in different regulatory frameworks. A numerical exercise solidifies the concepts presented in the theoretical model.
Feasibility envelopes for metric temporal logic specifications

Designing control policies from complex specifications has drawn significant attention in recent years. Metric temporal logic (MTL) is a specification formalism for describing a wide range of temporal properties with specific timing constraints. In this paper, we focus on discrete time linear control systems and specifications given as MTL formulas over linear predicates in the states. We present a method based on polyhedral projection to find the set of all initial states from which all trajectories satisfying MTL formulas can be generated. An illustrative example is included.
HES machine: Harmonic equivalent state machine modeling for cyber-physical systems

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are composed of computation, networking, and physical processes. Model-based design is a powerful technique to apply mathematical modeling in CPS design. A model of a physical system is the description of variations in some aspects and properties of the system such as motion, velocity, and pressure. The variations of physical quantities such as motion, velocity, and pressure as a function of time or space may be captured as a set of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE). As such, system engineers model physical problems using mathematical equations, and then solve these equations to study the behavior of the target system. Therefore, fast executable models of physical systems are required especially for Model-based Predictive Control (MPC) algorithms or real-time Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) simulations. A complex physical model may comprise thousands of ODEs which pose scalability, performance and power consumption challenges. One approach to address these model complexity challenges are model-to-model transformation, and frameworks and tools that automate their implementation and development. In this paper, we present a framework to generate a Harmonic Equivalent State (HES) Machine model of the physical systems. One of the merits of the proposed state machine-based model is that the state machines can eliminate execution of compute-intensive and iterative tasks for describing the behavior of the physical systems. The model accommodates reconfigurable parameters that allow the user to have tradeoff between accuracy and execution time in CPS design. For validation purposes, we compare our model performance with state-of-the-art models in terms of execution time and accuracy. The simulation results indicate that our generated HES model executes 38% faster than ODE-based equivalent model with same level of model accuracy.
Correlation of EEG with Intercranial Pressure and Cerebral Hemodynamics during Burst-Supression

The physiological relationship between electroencephalography (EEG), intercranial pressure (ICP), and cerebral hemodynamics is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate work in correlating EEG with hemodynamic responses during burst-suppression states in non-human primates.
Space-based active optical remote sensing of carbon dioxide column using high-energy two-micron pulsed ipda lidar

Modeling of a space-based high-energy 2-μm triple-pulse Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) lidar was conducted to demonstrate carbon dioxide (CO2 ) measurement capability and to evaluate random and systematic errors. A high pulse energy laser and an advanced MCT e-APD detector were incorporated in this model. Projected performance shows 0.5 ppm precision and 0.3 ppm bias in low-tropospheric column CO2 mixing ratio measurements from space for 10 second signal averaging over Railroad Valley (RRV) reference surface.
Hydrogel-Tissue Chemistry: Principles and Applications.

Over the past five years, a rapidly developing experimental approach has enabled high-resolution and high-content information retrieval from intact multicellular animal (metazoan) systems. New chem...
Managing Ovarian Tumors of Childhood and Adolescence

The term childhood or adolescent gynecologic tumor is used to indicate any new growth (benign or malignant) that develops between birth and age 16. It implies the growth of newly formed cells derived from normal body cells or that preceding the developmental cells of origin. Benign neoplasm indicates a tumor that does not itself destroy the host, whereas a malignant neoplasm, if left untreated, does destroy the host.
Interest is high in improving quality control for clinical metabolomics: setting the path forward for community harmonization of quality control standards

Up to now, quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) in metabolomics are procedures that most labs did using their own in-house developed procedures and rules since there was no consensus or minimum requirement. Now there is a lot of enthusiasm for developing standardization of QA and QC procedures.
Why Evaluation Theory Should Be Used to Inform Evaluation Policy

Many organizations now have evaluation policies. Because formal evaluation policies intend to frame evaluation practice, it is important to understand the aims of policies and their influence on pr...