cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) against free radical damage to osteoblast-like bone cells (MC3T3-E1) and the proliferative effects of EGb 761 on these cells

Abstract An extract of Ginkgo biloba which contains several antioxidative polyphenolics may prevent bone loss and osteoporosis-related bone fractures. The effects of this Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 cells, an osteoblast-like cell line, have been examined. Cells were cultured for 24 hr and then incubated with 1000 μg/mL or 2000 μg/mL of EGb 761 extract for another 6 hr. To test the antioxidative effects of EGb 761, cells were exposed to the free radicals H 2 O 2 and FeSO 4 . The MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation was measured with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay, in which metabolically active cells reduce tetrazolium MTT. Cell morphology was visualized using BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine) labeling in order to establish necrosis as the mechanism of cell death. A significant increase by 3.72-fold in MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation was found with treatment of EGb 761 at 1000 μg/mL as compared to the control (vehicle) group and 3.86-fold with treatment of EGb 761 at 2000 μg/mL as compared to the control group. EGb 761 may act by facilitating glucose uptake and pyruvate concentrations by these bone cells which leads to increased cellular energy and, hence, proliferation. In summary, a dose-response of MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation was very positive for EGb 761. However, the antioxidative effects of EGb 761 against free radical damage showed a small but inconsistent protective effect. This study is the first to examine the antioxidative effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on osteoblast-like cells. These findings in cells in vitro may prove relevant to protecting against the loss of bone mass and the development of osteoporosis in human subjects.
Fast implementations of 3D PET reconstruction using vector and parallel programming techniques

The authors discuss methods for reducing the computation time for 3-D PET (positron emission tomography) reconstruction through the use of fast computer hardware, vector and parallel programming techniques, and algorithm optimization. The strengths and weaknesses of i860 microprocessor based workstation accelerator boards are investigated in implementations of 3-D PET reconstruction. One key issue in achieving speed on the SuperCard 2 has been minimizing memory accesses, and eliminating redundant calculations through approximations and look-up tables. This has allowed the calculation time to decrease from 20 minutes on the MicroVax 3200 to 146 seconds on a dual i860 system. >
A scalable, distributed middleware service architecture to support mobile internet applications

Middleware layers placed between user clients and application servers have been used to perform a variety of functions. In previous work we have used middleware to perform a new capability, application session handoff, using a single Middleware Server to provide all functionality. However, to improve the scalability of our architecture, we have designed an efficient distributed Middleware Service layer that properly maintains application session handoff semantics while being able to service a large number of clients. We show that this service layer improves the scalability of general client-to-application server interaction as well as the specific case of application session handoff. We detail protocols involved in performing handoff and analyse an implementation of the architecture that supports the use of a real medical teaching tool. From experimental results it can be seen that our Middleware Service effectively provides scalability as a response to increased workload.
CITYSCAPE: civil infostructure technology system for collaborative analysis, prediction, and evaluation

The goals of Project CITY (Civil Infostructure Technology) are to provide a technology demonstration of information infrastructure for civil infrastructure management and to demonstrate the Team Engineering Analysis and Modeling (TEAM) methodology in the analysis, design, and evaluation of that information infrastructure. The community of practice of Project CITY is the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) at a major Army installation. This paper focuses on the design of CITYSCAPE, the suite of software tools that have been developed for the DPW.
Identification of Broiler Breeders Congenitally Transmitting Avian Leukosis Virus by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Abstract Seventy-two female broiler breeders produced 500 pedigreed chicks that were classified as infected or free of avian leukosis virus (ALV) by assay for ALV in their meconia. The albumen of one egg produced by each dam was assayed for group-specific (gs) antigen by the complement fixation (CF) test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cloacal swabs of dams were assayed for gs antigen by ELISA. Assays on albumens differentiated between transmitting and nontransmitting dams slightly better than swabs. The ELISA was more sensitive than the CF test on albumens, but more nontransmitting dams were positive by ELISA. The ELISA and virus assay on the same samples of swabs and meconia were highly correlated.
Scanning tunneling microscopy of defect states in the semiconductor Bi 2 Se 3

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy images of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ doped with excess Bi reveal electronic defect states with a striking shape resembling clover leaves. With a simple tight-binding model, we show that the geometry of the defect states in ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ can be directly related to the position of the originating impurities. Only the Bi defects at the Se sites five atomic layers below the surface are experimentally observed. We show that this effect can be explained by the interplay of defect and surface electronic structure.
Plasma vertical stability and feedback control for CIT

The plasma vertical stability and vertical position feedback control are examined for the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT). The Tokamak Simulation Code (TSC) is used to determine the plasma growth times in the absence of control, and to simulate feedback control with realistic features to determine the requirements on the internal control coils and their power supplies. Numerical simulations have been carried out using TSC to assess the vertical stability and feedback control of the vertical position in the CIT. The stability calculations indicate this particular design has a vertical growth time of 16.5 ms, which is long enough to allow time-delays in the control and not require unreasonable power supply response times. Vertical position control can be achieved with either of the two internal controllers presented. The maximum vertical offset from the midplane that is expected to be controlled is 2 cm. With the most recent power-supply design, this can be achieved with a maximum current of 400 kA, a maximum voltage of 500 V, and a maximum time delay of under 4 ms. >
Near-field nonuniformities in angularly multiplexed KrF fusion lasers with induced spatial incoherence.

Induced spatial incoherence (ISI) has been proposed for KrF laser drivers to achieve the high degree of spatial beam uniformity required for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. Although ISI provides ultrasmooth illumination at the far field of the laser, where the target is located, it can still allow the beams in the quasi–near field to develop a time-averaged spatial structure. This speckle, which arises primarily from random-phase aberration, builds up as the laser beams propagate away from the pupil plane located at the final amplifier stage; it is distinct from any structure imposed by gain nonuniformities in the amplifiers. Because of the spatial incoherence, the speckle is significantly smaller than that experienced by coherent beams. Nevertheless, it remains a damage issue, especially for the long beam delay paths required in angularly multiplexed KrF lasers. We develop a novel algorithm for calculating the time-integrated intensities; compare simulations and measurements of the near-field speckle in the Nike KrF laser; and explore options, such as aberration reduction and optical relaying, for controlling the problem in future angularly multiplexed KrF drivers.
Engaging Students through a Virtual Live Case

Students are motivated to engage in their education when they understand how mastery of course content will translate to practical skills needed in the job market. In marketing education, live cases often are used to help students make a clear connection between course content and its application to real-world business problems. There are times, however, when a live case is not feasible or available. For these circumstances, the author has developed an innovative approach which approximates a live case. The approach combines components of a live case with historical analysis to have students perform an indepth market strategy analysis of an industry in real-time.
Runx transcription factors and the developmental balance between cell proliferation and differentiation

The runt box (Runx) is a highly conserved DNA binding and protein-protein interaction domain that defines a family of heterodimeric transcription factors with essential roles in metazoan development. The first member of this family to be identified was the Drosophila regulatory gene runt, which was named by virtue of its function in establishing segmentation patterns during embryogenesis, and subsequently discovered to have additional functions in sex determination and neurogenesis. A second Drosophila Runx gene, lozenge, is required for cell patterning in the eye and for hematopoiesis. The genome project has revealed the existence of two additional Drosophila Runx genes, which to date have not been functionally characterized. Other invertebrate species with well-characterized Runx transcription factors include the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, each of which apparently contains only a single Runx gene. There are three Runx genes in mammals; Runx1 is required for definitive hematopoiesis and is a frequently mutated gene in human leukemia, Runx2 is required for osteogenesis and is associated with cleidocranial dysplasia, and Runx3 controls neurogenesis in the dorsal root ganglia and cell proliferation in the gastric epithelium, and is frequently deleted or silenced in human gastric cancer. Studies using mammalian systems and sea urchins indicate that Runx proteins have essential functions in both cell proliferation and differentiation, and in mammals they are both proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Thus, a central question concerning the cell biology of Runx proteins is how are the opposing functions of this class of transcription factors regulated during development? Here I review current knowledge of Runx protein structure, function and regulation, and outline directions for future research aimed at understanding how Runx protein function is modulated during the transition from cell proliferation to differentiation in animal development.
Long Snakes in Powers of the Complete Graph with an Odd Number of Vertices

In (5) Abbott and Katchalski ask if there exists a constant c > 0 such that for every d 2 there is a snake (cycle without chords) of length at least c3 d in the product of d copies of the complete graph K3. We show that the answer to the above question is positive, and that in general for any odd integer n there is a constant cn such that for every d 2 there is a snake of length at least cnn d in the product of d copies of the complete graph Kn.
State Failure and Challenges to Democratization in Africa

Robert H. Bates's new book When Things Fell Apart seeks to make a contribution in two different areas. Explicitly, it joins a large literature on why state institutions collapsed in sub-Saharan Africa, especially why leaders drove one economy after the next into the ground. Less emphatically stated but clear enough from the book's content and its structure is an important contribution to political science's “culture wars” over the use of different types of evidence, especially the sometimes competing claims for the primacy of country knowledge, game-theoretic modeling, and large cross-national data sets. In particular, Bates uses a deductive approach, where game-theoretic approaches are married to national outcomes through a deep immersion in the literature and intuition (a concept he clearly seeks to rehabilitate) and then tested by the use of a significant and original database that is nonetheless relegated to an appendix. This is a particularly important approach because no one would accuse Bates of being at all hostile to large-scale quantitative analysis. Indeed, the significant data collection at Harvard's Africa Research Program ( http://africa.gov.harvard.edu ), which he helped found, is a service to the discipline.
Effective pelvic symptom control using initial chemoradiation without colostomy in metastatic rectal cancer.

Purpose: To assess pelvic chemoradiotherapy (CXRT) without colostomy as a component of the multidisciplinary management of patients presenting with metastatic rectal cancer. Methods and Materials: Eighty patients with synchronous distant metastases from rectal cancer were treated with initial CXRT. Hypofractionated radiotherapy was administered usually with concurrent 5-FU (92%, 300 mg/m2/day, M–F). Three-field belly-board technique was used in 89%. Group 1 had CXRT alone (n = 55). Group 2 (n = 25) patients were selected for primary disease resection, and sometimes HAI chemotherapy (n = 10) or hepatic resection (n = 5). Subsequently, 78% received systemic chemotherapy. Results: Symptoms from primary tumor resolved in 94%. Endoscopic complete clinical response rate was 36%. Two-year survival (11% vs. 46%, p < 0.0001) and symptomatic pelvic control (PC, 81% vs. 91%, p = 0.111) were higher in Group 2, but colostomy-free rate (CFR) was lower (79% vs. 51% p = 0.02). CFR was 87% in Group 1 patients managed initially without fecal diversion (n = 50). Examining all patients using multivariate analysis, pelvic pain at presentation (p < 0.00001), BED (biologic equivalent dose at 2 Gy/fraction) < 35 Gy (p = 0.077), and poor differentiation (0.079) predicted worse PC. Poor differentiation (p = 0.017) and selection for CXRT alone (p < 0.0001) predicted worse survival. There were 4 RTOG of Grade 3 or greater acute complications, 5 severe perioperative complications, and no significant late treatment-related complications. Conclusions: Durable PC can be safely achieved without colostomy in most patients presenting with primary rectal cancer and synchronous systemic metastases using hypofractionated pelvic chemoradiation. A BED greater than 35 Gy is recommended. Selected patients appear to benefit from resection of primary disease. Higher doses should be investigated in patients with pelvic pain.
Knowledge flows in marketing: An analysis of journal article references and citations:

Recent articles in Marketing Theory have criticized the cumulativeness and the diffusion of knowledge emanating from academic journals in marketing. The normative and the social exchange theories of citation propose that intellectual influence and knowledge transfer may be traced by examining relationships between references and citations of journal articles. Analysis of a sample of articles drawn from eight marketing journals suggests that marketing knowledge exhibits both cumulativeness and knowledge diffusion. For example, analysis of the sample of articles indicates that there is significant reciprocating influence between references and citations within a journal, across marketing journals, and across disciplinary boundaries. The influences of article references on citations are analyzed relative to the effect of the journal of publication on citations. Results indicate that the perceived quality of the journal rather than the accessibility of the journal is also influential on citations of articles.
Chytrid Diversity of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

Alabama is a biodiversity hotspot. The diversity of chytrid fungi, however, is underexplored. For this reason, we used standard bait-culturing techniques to sample habitats in Tuscaloosa County for chytrids. We cultured 100 isolates; the majority was assigned to 23 taxa belonging to 6 of the 7 recognized orders. Some could not be assigned to a currently described taxon. The majority of isolates belonged to one of three taxa: Chytriomyces hyalinus, Rhizoclosmatium globosum, and Boothiomyces macroporosum. This result demonstrates that chytrid communities in Tuscaloosa County, as elsewhere, are composed of a few common and many uncommon to rare taxa. The presence of unidentified chytrid isolates demonstrates the need for further sampling in Alabama, and the potential for this sampling to broaden our understanding of chytrid diversity.
Comparison of Electromagnetic and Conventional Launchers Based on Mauser 30-mm MK 30-2 Barrels

Electromagnetic railguns are similar to conventional guns in that both provide an accelerative force to the projectile while containing the loads on the bore. Each is subjected to extreme thermal and erosive environments. However, there are also fundamental differences due to the propulsion mechanisms. This paper compares these two types of launchers with emphasis on structural and material aspects.
The Regional MBA: Distinct Segments, Wants, And Needs

MBA Programs in top-tier school differ greatly from those in regional schools. A survey that aimed at assessing segmentation, pedagogy, and satisfaction in regional MBA programs was developed and administered in three universities of the Mid Atlantic, Midwest, and Southern regions. The results show four clearly distinguished segments that typically attend MBA regional programs: young, standard, manager, and executive. Results in terms of pedagogy and satisfaction reveal that to best meet these segments’ needs, regional programs need to design curriculums specifically tailored to their target segments. A one size fits all approach to the regional MBA fails to prepare the students to act in the workplace according to their goals and needs.
Managerial Decisions On Annual Earnings Announcement Timing

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mid-to-long term impacts of Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) on managerial decisions of annual earnings announcement dates. Empirical results indicate a significant negative effect of Regulation FD on the timing of firm’s information disclosure: first, the annual earning releasing time is delayed for both open-call and close-call firms after Regulation FD; second, an unexpected delay in earnings releasing is pronounced for closed-call firms than for open-call firms in the pre-FD period; moreover, a significant difference in disclosure timing made between the open-call and close-call firms does not disappear in the post-FD period. Our finding provides additional evidence of the unintended consequence of Regulation FD: a delay in annual earnings releasing time.
The effect of the plasticizer di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate on the survival of stored RBCs.

Recent in vitro studies have shown that di-2-ethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP) inhibits the deterioration of RBCs during refrigerated storage in containers that use this compound as a plasticizer. The experiments described in this report were designed to assess whether this in vitro protective effect of DEHP would result in a prolonged in vivo survival of RBCs infused into normal human recipients. Whole blood collected from ten normal donors was stored for 35 days in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) anticoagulant contained in polyvinylchloride (PVC) bags plasticized with DEHP or a trimellitate compound that is known to have low leachability. Aliquots of RBCs from each container were then labeled with chromium-51 and were reinfused into the original donors. For blood stored in DEHP-plasticized PVC bags, 24% more red cells survived in vivo 24 hours after reinfusion than was observed when the blood had been stored in trimellitate-plasticized bags (P less than .001). Whole blood stored in glass bottles showed a similar improvement in in vivo survival when DEHP was added in weekly increments to mimic the accumulation of this plasticizer seen during storage in plastic containers. Survival of packed red cells stored in the presence of DEHP increased by 14% compared with storage in trimellitate-plasticized bags (P less than .05). In agreement with previous studies, hemolysis and microvesicle formation were also reduced in the presence of DEHP. These results suggest that proposed new storage systems lacking DEHP should be carefully evaluated to determine whether adequate post-transfusion survival of RBCs may be achieved.
Scratching the surface: Alterations of skin microbiota in the initiation of eczematous dermatitis

Alterations in the microbiome have been implicated in many diseases, including inflammatory skin disease. Despite a well-documented association of dysbiosis in atopic dermatitis, the chicken-or-egg relationship of dysbiosis and inflammatory skin disease has not been determined. To address this issue, Kobayashi and colleagues employ a mouse model using A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17)–deficient mice (Adam17fl/flSox9-Cre) in which microbiota alterations and disease expression mimic human atopic dermatitis. The authors assess differences in the microbiota and how specific altered bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium bovis ) affect immune dysregulation and initiation of inflammation. Here, the authors discovered that Adam17fl/flSox9-Cre mice exhibited eczematous lesions with lymphocytic and mast cell infiltration, increased barrier dysfunction, and increased serum IgE and Th2 cytokines, mimicking human atopic dermatitis. Compared with wild-type littermates, these mice exhibited significantly decreased skin bacterial diversity and emergence of S. aureus and C. bovis . Microbial differences were detected prior to the emergence of dermatitis, and treatment of the drinking water with antibiotics abrogated the development of skin inflammation. This suggests that alterations in the microbiota were causal in the development of inflammation. In mice with established disease, antibiotic treatment reduced serum concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-13, IL-17A, and IL-17F and reversed the dysbiosis. The authors showed that S . aureus alone was sufficient to elicit disease, but only if the host had preexisting epidermal dysfunction (Adam17 or FLG mutation). This suggests that a defective barrier may be required to allow persistent colonization with these bacteria and indicates an important of the host in this process. Together, these data suggest that dysbiosis occurs first and plays an important role in the initiation of inflammation with an altered epidermal barrier. The association of S. aureus in atopic dermatitis and other atopic diseases is well documented, but this paper is the first to illustrate that dysbiosis precedes disease expression in a mouse model. This work provides exciting insight into how humans with barrier dysfunction may acquire microbial differences leading to inflammation. T. Kobayashi et al. , Dysbiosis and Staphyloccus aureus colonization drives inflammation in atopic dermatitis. Immunity 4 , 756–766 (2015). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/immunity/abstract/S1074-7613%2815%2900128-4
Seasonal occurrence and abundance of waterbirds in sandpits and fishponds

Censuses of waterfowl at four fishponds and sandpits in the surroundings of Třeboň were carried out regularly during one season and theiroccurrence was compared with that recorded by other studies and information in the database of the Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area.Some waterfowl show a marked preference for fishponds during the breeding season. This can be due to many factors, presence of morefood, extent of the littoral growth of vegetation, fish stock, depth of water etc. However, sandpits are attractive to waterbirds in winter, whenthey serve as over wintering sites, meeting places for migrating birds or refuges from hunters.
Larval Diets Containing Dyes for Tagging Pink Bollworm Moths Internally

Larvae of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) developed on diets containing Calco Oil Red N-1700® dye and produced moths that were visibly dyed throughout their lives. At concentrations of 0.015-0.00% dye (wt/v) in the diet, there were no effects on the rate of development or adult longevity, fecundity, or mating.
Percutaneous Renal Cyst Puncture: Unusual Results in 2 Cases

Percutaneous puncture and aspiration were used successfully in 2 cases: 1) a calcified benign renal cyst and 2) a grossly infected benign renal cyst. Percutaneous aspiration might be a useful procedure in either calcified or infected renal cyst. If percutaneous puncture is contemplated in a calcified ring lesion, preliminary angiography is strongly recommended to exclude possible renal artery aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation.
The Use of Lower Ipsilateral Ureteroureterostomy to Treat Vesicoureteral Reflux or Obstruction in Children with Duplex Ureters

During the last 4 years lower ipsilateral ureteroureterostomy was performed to treat vesicoureteral reflux and/or obstruction in 11 children with 13 completely duplicated systems. There was reflux only to the lower segment in 11 systems, obstruction only to the upper segment in 1 and reflux with obstruction in 1 system. The procedure is technically easier than ureteroneocystotomy, avoids cystotomy and permits a brief postoperative hospitalization. The postoperative excretory urogram demonstrated improved or stable hydronephrosis in all patients. Vesicoureteral reflux persisted in 1 system associated with a golf hole orifice. Caution should be exercised when children with reflux in duplex systems associated with a golf hole ureteral orifice are treated.
Application of MEG coherence in lateralization of mTLE

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive imaging method for localization of focal epileptiform activity in patients with epilepsy. This study investigates the cerebral functional abnormalities quantified by MEG coherence laterality in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). Resting state MEG data was analyzed using MEG coherence source imaging (MEG-CSI) method to determine the coherence in 54 anatomical sites in 12 adult mTLE patients and 12 age- and gender-matched controls. MEG coherence laterality, after Bonferroni adjustment, showed significant differences for right versus left mTLE in insular cortex and both lateral orbitofrontal and superior temporal gyri (p<0.025). None of these anatomical sites showed statistically significant differences in coherence laterality between right and left sides of controls. Coherence laterality was in agreement with the declared side of epileptogenicity in insular cortex (in 75% of patients) and both lateral orbitofrontal (83%) and superior temporal gyri (84%). Combining all significant laterality indices improved the lateralization accuracy to 92%. The proposed methodology for using MEG to investigate the abnormalities related to focal epileptogenicity and propagation can provide a further means of noninvasive lateralization.
Use of Emergency-Release, Uncrossmatched O Negative Red Blood Cells (RBCs) in a Tertiary Care Children’s Hospital

Abstract 4341 Background: Transfusion services must offer means of issuing blood products quickly for emergent transfusions. At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH), off-site refrigerators were installed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the LPCH operating room (OR) and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) inventoried with uncrossmatched O negative RBCs for immediate emergency use. Uncrossmatched O negative RBCs are also provided to children undergoing cardiac catheterization at the discretion of the Pediatric Cardiologist, since these patients commonly do not have type and screen samples drawn until large vessel venous cannulation via insertion of the catheter. Uncrossmatched blood products are also provided for children per our massive transfusion protocol (MTP). The purpose of this study was to assess the utilization of these uncrossmatched blood products in children and its impact on transfusion service (TS) inventory of O negative RBCs. Methods: Orders received for emergency-release uncrossmatched RBCs for patients ages 0 days to 18 years including MTPs from January 1 2011 to March 31 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. Variables collected include: patient demographic information and diagnosis; blood products ordered, released and transfused; location of the patient and location from where blood was dispensed (off-site refrigerator versus [vs] TS). Results: Median patient age was 3.46 years (range 0 days to 15.62 years), and 82% of the patients had congenital heart disease. Sixty four RBCs were issued to 33 patients during the 3-month study period. Of those, 32 RBCs were transfused, 8 RBCs were wasted because temperature parameters were exceeded before return to the TS, and 24 RBCs (38%) were not transfused and returned to TS inventory. Nineteen of the 32 RBCs were transfused, representing 2% of the total 964 O negative RBC units transfused at our institution for that time period. Nineteen (58%) units were for children in the cardiac catheterization suite. Seven patients were in the CVICU, five children were in the NICU, and two were in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Two units of O negative RBCs were dispensed from the emergency off-site refrigerator in the CVICU. Discussion: The majority of children (79%) who received emergency-release uncrossmatched O negative RBCs at LPCH were those with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization or being cared for post-operatively in the CVICU. There were 2 instances of children requiring RBCs from off-site refrigerators for an emergent transfusion. Emergency-release, uncrossmatched O negative RBCs at LPCH either from the TS or from three off-site refrigerators caused no undue strain on our supply and inventory of donor O negative RBCs. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
How to select cameras for machine vision

Solid state (CCD, CID, or multiplexed photosensor) television cameras are the most widely used input devices in machine vision, because they are relatively inexpensive, rugged, and reliable. However, the design, specification, and testing of these cameras typically are geared to their primary use in producing images that will ultimately be observed by humans; the intended applications for these cameras are as diverse as parking lot security and home entertainment. Because the video information produced by the camera is not used in the same ways by people and machine vision systems, there is no a priori reason to expect that a camera designed for one use will be optimal for another. In our work we have examined what makes a camera suitable for machine vision use. This paper describes which characteristics are important to the camera's performance machine vision applications and why. We show how these characteristics can be measured and standardized using simple tests suitable for production screening or more extensive tests suitable for use in the laboratory. Tests for important camera characteristics, including transfer function, noise, and resolution, are described and test results for representative solid state cameras are presented. Finally, we discuss how such measurements can be useful in designing or selecting the components of a machine vision system: the video capture systems, the cameras, and the image processing algorithms.
On Becoming Empowered

Empowerment is another term for finding one’s own voice. In order to speak, we must know what we want to say; in order to be heard, we must dare to speak. Coming to know and coming to dare, being empowered, are all part of a complicated process. Part of that process happens through the biological course of growing up. Another part is affected by the reception we find in this world of ours.
Asymptotic analysis for close evaluation of layer potentials

Abstract We study the evaluation of layer potentials close to the domain boundary. Accurate evaluation of layer potentials near boundaries is needed in many applications, including fluid-structure interactions and near-field scattering in nano-optics. When numerically evaluating layer potentials, it is natural to use the same quadrature rule as the one used in the Nystrom method to solve the underlying boundary integral equation. However, this method is problematic for evaluation points close to boundaries. For a fixed number of quadrature points, N, this method incurs O ( 1 ) errors in a boundary layer of thickness O ( 1 / N ) . Using an asymptotic expansion for the kernel of the layer potential, we remove this O ( 1 ) error. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for interior and exterior problems for Laplace's equation in two dimensions.
Synchronization of a micromechanical oscillator in different regimes of electromechanical nonlinearity

In this letter, we investigate the dynamics of injection-locking a nonlinear micromechanical oscillator operating in different regimes of electromechanical nonlinearity to an external tone generated by a secondary oscillator. The micromechanical oscillator exhibits a combination of mechanical and electrostatic nonlinearities that were tuned using a bias voltage to adjust the relative importance of third-order and fifth-order stiffness nonlinearities. While it is well-known that third-order stiffness (Duffing) nonlinearity results in a synchronization range that increases with an oscillator's amplitude, little is known about the impact of other nonlinearities. We show that when using Duffing nonlinearity cancellation, higher order nonlinearities dominate, the synchronization range is smaller but has a greater rate-of-increase with oscillation amplitude. When both mechanical stiffness-hardening and electrostatic stiffness-softening nonlinearities are present, the frequency response follows an “s-curve” and, unlike the other conditions, the synchronization range does not increase monotonically with amplitude but instead reaches a minimum when both nonlinearities have similar magnitude. We develop a nonlinear resonator model and show that this model achieves good quantitative prediction of the measured synchronization range in all nonlinear operating regimes studied.
Situating Islam: The Past and Future of an Academic Discipline

Situating Islam argues that knowledge of Islam has never been innocent or about the collection of facts. The specific ways in which Islam has been interpreted have always been subject to broader currents, such as the reform of Judaism, Orientalism, the identity politics of the 1960s, the response to 9/11, and the creation of a liberal Islam. Whereas previous scholarship highlighted the influence of Orientalism and the construction of an essentialized Islam, Situating Islam argues that the opposite approach - the construction of an authentic Islam that fits with Western values - has now become equally problematic. The book demonstrates how Islamic Studies has shaped how Islam is now studied, represented and understood in both scholarship and the media.
Removal of Trace Elements from Aqueous System: Comparison of Two Fly Ash Materials

A comparative study was initiated to assess the feasibility of using fly ash FA for the removal of selected trace elements from wastewater and industrial effluents. The specific objectives of this study were to (i) determine the feasibility of using FA to remove Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Mn from aqueous medium by using mixed trace element solution and (ii) to identify the optimum conditions for the maximum removal of Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Mn by FA from mixed trace element solution. Two FA materials with contrasting characteristics from a coal-fired power plant in Port Wentworth PWW-FA, and McIntosh McInt-FA in Savannah, GA were used in this study. Results of this study indicated that both FA materials were very efficient (∼100%) in removing most of the elements studied when 5 mg L−1 mixed trace element solution was equilibrated with 200 g L−1 FA material for 8 hours. However, when the concentrations of mixed elements were increased up to 25 mg L−1, PWW-FA was very efficient in removing about 100% of Cr, and Pb and about 45% of Cu at 8 h contact time from aqueous medium. Similar increasing trend was observed only for Pb with 60% removal but not for Cr and Cu with adsorbent McInt-FA. Results also indicated that FA material with greater carbon content depicted greater removal of trace elements from aqueous solution containing mixture of trace elements. This study suggests that FA could be successfully used as an adsorbent to remove wide variety of trace elements, which are commonly found in contaminated aquatic habitats.
Photoluminescence of Amorphous 2 As 2 Te 3 · As 2 Se 3 Films

The photoluminescence of amorphous 2${\mathrm{As}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Te}}_{3}$\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}${\mathrm{As}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ films has been measured from 2 to 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K with niobium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser excitation. The external quantum efficiency is estimated to be 20%. A typical spectrum consists of a broad band peaked at 0.61 eV with a half-width of 0.15 eV. The energy value for the luminescence peak supports the concept of a recombination gap in amorphous semiconductors.
Extension/outreach implications for America's family forest owners

The increasing number of family forest owners presents a challenge to effedive outreach. Family woodland in some parts of the country represents the dominant ownership type. Sustained provision of a host of greater socialgoods and services depends on functional forest land-scapes, yet framentation and parcelization of family woodlands pose a threat. Segmentation of the family owner audience into different types, and targeting of outreach toward two specific decisionmaking junctures, may improve our ability to reach this important audience.
Strategies and Identities by Mobilization Context

Identities and strategies both emerge amidst uncertainties. Strategies grow out of their sitings, but at the same time the outcomes of strategies cumulate to shape topology of sitings, the interlockings in network control among identities. Conjectures are offered for interrelations of internal structures and policies of organizations in each of two topologies for economic and governmental systems. Interpretive mechanisms of social mobilization go with a third alternative topology. Principal distinctions drawn are segregate vs companionate in network aggregation, together with levels of scope, and parallelism vs. specialization within a level. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Identitaten entstehen aus Turbulenzen. Strategien nutzen Spannungen zwischen neuem und routinisiertem Handeln aus und rechnen damit, das sie eine soziale Mobilisierung auslosen, wahrend derer sich Identitaten und ihre Verbindungen neu formieren. Der Aufsatz geht der Frage nach, welche Topologien aus der Kumulation von Strategien entstehen. Diese Topologien bilden den Kontext fur Handlungsstrategien, die im Widerspruch zu determinierten Strukturen stehen. Strategien verhandeln neu uber ganze strategische Felder und verandern somit Kontrollmoglichkeiten und Strukturen. Unterschiedliche Formen von Ehen dienen als Vorbild fur die Ableitung und Verallgemeinerung von Topologien, die unterschiedliche Grade von Absonderung beziehungsweise Vergemeinschaftung der Partner aufweisen. Interessant ist, das die Vergemeinschaftung mit einem durchaus boshaften Ranking der Partner einhergeht. Wahrend Strategien entgegen ihrer eigenen Rhetorik meist nichts mit Planung zu tun haben, ist ihre Rolle im Kontext von sozialer Mobilisierung um so bedeutsamer. Diese Mobilisierung nutzt Differenzen zwischen Funktionen und Generationen. Der Aufsatz unterscheidet zwischen Strategien in Organisationen, in denen Identitaten aufgerufen und gegeneinander ausgespielt werden, und Strategien einer Zivilgesellschaft, in denen es eher darauf ankommt, Unabhangigkeit (eine Form des Bezugs) trotz Freiheit zu behaupten. In letzterer ebenso wie in klassischen Tauschmarkten und multinationalen Unternehmen kommt es auf die Einfuhrung von Strategien hoherer Ordnung an, die ihre Mobilisierungseffekte aus Inkonsistenzen gegenuber den Strategien niederer Ordnung gewinnen. Spatestens diese Differenzierung zwischen Strategien verschiedener Ordnung zeigt, das es nicht genugt, Organisationen nur anhand ihres Grades an Dezentralisierung beziehungsweise Konzentration zu unterscheiden. Strategisch entscheidend sind verschiedene Formen der Vernetzung zwischen niederen und hoheren Ebenen.
Blast Testing of Three Types of Panels with External Strengthening Systems

This research investigated the behavior of hybrid, plain, and steel fiber-reinforced concrete panels coated with various polyurea systems under blast loading. Four coatings were assessed including two plain polyureas and two discrete fiber-reinforced polyurea systems. Chopped E-glass fibers were discretely integrated in with the polyurea to develop a fiber-reinforced polyurea system. The addition of glass fiber to a polymer coating provides improved stiffness and strength to the composite system while the polyurea base material provides ductility. Seventeen panels were tested at the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s experimental mine using a charge weight of 1.36 kg of C4 at a 305 mm standoff distance. Hybrid panels demonstrated higher blast mitigation performance compared to plain and steel fiber-reinforced concrete panels. Addition of plain polyurea or discrete fiber-reinforced polyurea system on the tension side improved panel performance by containing fragmentation during a blast event. Discrete fiber-reinforced polyurea systems exhibited less bulging compared to the plain polyureas due to higher stiffness.
The CG Mars Lander

The name of the system is “THE CG MARS LANDER”, which stands for Type Hierarchy Enhanced CG Matching And Retrieval System Linear Associative N-tuple Deductive Embedded Representation. The application is text retrieval. The technique involves translation of text fragments into an informationally ordered form (CGs) and retrieval on the induced subsumption ordering. This application is a linearized CG, NLP, query, matching and retrieving system. English discourse is converted into CGs which are stored in an associative database. The hierarchical database is guided by content morphology and associated ontological type hierarchy, to produce a partially ordered “more general than” hierarchy based on subgraph containment. Due to the nature of the ADB a query is answered by being inserted into the DB. The query's successors in the DB are the answers to the query, as well as the (more specific) retrieved relevancies.
Platyhelminthes: Molecular Dissection of the Planarian Innate Immune System

Multicellular organisms rely on their immune system to fight pathogens, maintain homeostasis, and repair tissues. Different environments and evolutionary paths have contributed to a myriad of strategies by which animals activate their immune system in response to body demands. Thus, invertebrate organisms lacking an adaptive immunity eliminate pathogenic microbes and heal tissues from injuries by activating the innate immune system. Planarians are invertebrates, members of the phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms) and a classical model for studies of tissue regeneration. Recent work in planarians revealed an astonishing capacity to effectively recognize and eliminate a wide spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, planarians and humans display evolutionary conservation of signaling pathways and components associated with the microbiome that together contribute to the innate immune system. Organismal changes in the composition of commensal bacteria have important effects in tissue maintenance and repair of planarian tissues. Here, we focus on the planarian model system as a tractable paradigm to identify evolutionarily conserved mechanisms of innate immunity that can be further exploited in clinical settings to induce rapid clearance of pathogenic bacteria and modulation of regenerative events. We also propose the use of planarians as a reference organism for studies of comparative immunology.
Women’s response to state‐mandated language in dense breast notification

Many states require radiologists to notify women of dense breast status. Our aim was to elicit women's response to state-mandated dense breast notification language. Of respondents, 82% report that current notification does not inform them of additional screening studies available, and 41% report notification does not inform them of next steps. Open-ended responses indicate three main areas of patient concern: Decisional Needs, Decision Quality, and Decision Support. We modified an existing Decision Support framework to capture additional themes specific to dense breast decisions. The developed framework can be used to revise and improve current breast density reporting methods.
Adolescent Test Anxiety: An Examination of Intraindividual and Contextual Predictors.

The purpose of this study was to examine intrapersonal and contextual variables in relation to test anxiety among adolescents. Participants (n = 297) were students (male = 165; female = 132) in grades seven (n = 120) and eight (n = 177) from a public, suburban, middle school in the Midwest. All seventh and eighth graders at the participating school were invited to participate via information sheets mailed out to their families. The suburban middle school from which participants were sampled was chosen because of the school district’s reputation of high academic demand and its relative closeness to U.S. census information. Parents could opt their adolescent out of the study by contacting the examiners. All student responses were gathered in the form of questionnaires administered at the school campus. Academic self-concept was not found to mediate the relation between academic performance (as measured by GPA) and test anxiety. Effortful control and perceived threat of tests were found to significantly predict test anxiety in the sample. School climate, however, was not found to be a significant predictor. Implications for school psychologists are discussed. The study provides support for the importance of intrapersonal variables in predicting test anxiety among adolescents.
Advancing the State of Prospective Materials Criticality Screening: Integrating Structural Commodity Market and Incentive Price Formation Insights

Broad, screening-style assessments of criticality highlight economically important materials facing significant threats to secure, sustainable supply. The studies identify many valuable metrics influencing the likelihood and impact of constraint; however, approaches to aggregating these metrics vary and lack unifying, causally grounded strategies. The present work seeks to advance the state of criticality screening by targeting this gap with structural commodity market insights. Grounded in the principle of price as indicative of economic scarcity, the model uses a small number of high-level metrics to drive changes in future incentive price (i.e., cost of opening new mines) by influencing structural markets elements in different ways (i.e., shape of long-run supply, demand, and incentive curves). Metrics like resource cover, ore grade loss, barriers to entry, secondary supply, end-use substitution and dematerialization rates, and all help to approximate changing supply–demand balance and inform criticality. The approach balances strengths of rapid, broad screening with insights of more detailed market modeling.