cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solution growth of ZnO microwires and grass architectures

Abstract In spite of extensive research in gold (Au) nanoparticles, it remains a challenge to synthesize structurally homogeneous sample-set with controlled morphologies. The latter critically affect the role of Au nanoparticles as a seed/catalyst for the growth of other nanostructures. Here, we systematically studied and quantified the growth of Au nanoparticles in a single-step chemical synthesis approach and observed the effects of growth temperature and duration, metal salt and surfactant concentration, and surfactant type. These parameters strongly influenced morphological evolution, distribution, and heterogeneities in the as-synthesized Au nanoparticles. Next, the synthesized Au nanoparticles were utilized for the growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) microwires in a solution growth approach. It was observed that Au nanoparticles on the substrate did not catalyze the growth of ZnO microwires but facilitated uniform dispersion of standing microwires. Supported by microscopic analysis, the proposed growth mechanism is heterogeneous nucleation of ZnO on the loosely bound Au nanoparticles on the substrates, favored by lattice match between the ZnO and Au. Based on this mechanism, Au nanoparticles only assisted in the initial stages of ZnO microwire growth. For longer growth duration (~10 h), over-deposition of ZnO from the solution on already grown wires led to their micron scale diameters as well as grass architectures and making the growth process independent of size and shape of the Au nanoparticles. The formation of ZnO grass architecture is due to attachment of Au nanoparticles on the growing microwire surface, which further served as a heterogeneous nucleation site for the ZnO growth. These Au nanoparticles detached from the Si wafer due to cleavage of Au S bonds or hydrolysis of Si O bonds on the thiolated Si wafer in presence of the ZnO growth precursor (hexamethylenetetramine) and conditions. As-synthesized Au nanoparticles and ZnO microwires were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Estimating traffic signal phases from turning movement counters

This work poses the problem of estimating traffic signal phases from a sequence of maneuvers recorded from a turning movement counter. Inspired by the part-of-speech tagging problem in natural language processing, a hidden Markov model of the intersection is proposed. The model is calibrated from maneuver observations using the Baum-Welch algorithm, and the trained model is used to infer phases via the Viterbi algorithm. The approach is validated through numerical and experimental tests, which highlight that good performance can be achieved when sufficient training data is available, and when diverse maneuvers are observed during each phase. The supporting codes and data are available to download at https://github.com/reisiga2/Estimating-phases-from-turning-movement-counts.
How formaldehyde interacts and reacts with chromium and chromium oxide surfaces: A model for chromium-polyimide binding

Abstract Chemical interactions of chromium and chromium oxide with carbonyl functional groups of a polyimide chain were investigated theoretically. Band calculations of the extended Huckel type were performed on model systems. The chromium (chromium oxide) surface was represented by a three-layered slab of material, and for computational economy, the polyimide carbonyls were represented by the formaldehyde molecule. Results suggested that while formaldehyde binds to Cr 2 O 3 via its oxygen lone pair electrons, it binds to metallic Cr in a π or η 2 (dihapto) fashion. Further, the calculations indicated that formaldehyde was susceptible to decomposition when bound to clean Cr, but was not susceptible to decomposition when bound to Cr 2 O 3 . These differences were attributed to the relatively lower Fermi energy of Cr 2 O 3 . By analogy, the imide groups in polyimide may be substantially decomposed at the polyimide/Cr interface, with strong covalent bonding between the metal and the fragmented polymer.
Absalom and the Ideal King

Presentation de l'histoire d'Absalom, fils de David, presente en II Samuel. Etude sur le langage du passage qui est tres metaphorique et qui definit une litterature tres suggestive avec peu de mots notamment en ce qui concerne les relations sexuelles, le viol et le mariage.
Bleeding Scrotal Arteriovenous Malformation

Abstract Background: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the scrotum has, to our knowledge, been reported fewer than 10 times in the medical literature. It may be of congenital or post-traumatic etiology and has been reported to present with spontaneous bleeding. Case Report: A case of a spontaneously bleeding scrotal AVM that developed after remote trauma is presented. The differential diagnosis of a scrotal vascular lesion includes varicocele, hemangioma, lymphangioma, and AVM. Although ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging play an important role in the evaluation, angiography is essential to fully delineate the feeder vessels, vascular takeoffs, and draining veins. Conclusion: Scrotal AVMs are rare vascular scrotal lesions that may present with scrotal enlargement and a bruit. Definitive therapy should be planned in concert with Interventional Radiology and surgical consultants.
Re-examination of cross-flow ultrafiltration for sampling aquatic colloids: evidence from molecular probes

Application of cross-flow ultrafiltration techniques to marine systems has greatly increased in recent years. However, the retention and permeation behavior of macromolecules and their associated trace elements during ultrafiltration is still . controversial. In addition, the optimum concentration factor CF and the possibility for a ''breakthrough'' of high molecular . . weight HMW dissolved organic carbon DOC during ultrafiltration are still a matter of contention. The permeation and retention behavior of natural DOC, standard macromolecules and selected metals was examined on a 1 kDa Amicon S10N1 ultrafiltration cartridge, using molecular probes and radioactive metals spiked to natural seawater. Laboratory results from . . molecular probes show that significant fractions ) 40% of low molecular weight LMW molecules 0.5 kDa rhodamine . 6G and 0.6 kDa glutathione are retained by a 1 kDa ultrafilter membrane, even under a CF of ; 50. Therefore, the retention of LMW molecules can give rise to an overestimate of the colloidal fraction, especially under lower CFs. The percentage of HMW molecules passing through the 1 kDa membrane decreases rapidly with increasing size or MW. On . average, ; 15% of vitamin B 1.3 kDa and ; 3% of a 3 kDa dextran pass through the 1 kDa membrane. However, 12 . permeation of a 10 kDa dextran through the 1 kDa membrane becomes negligible - 0.6% . Thus, the permeation of HMW molecules is minimal during ultrafiltration, even under high CFs. The ultrafiltration behavior of natural DOC and LMW metals can be well predicted by a permeation model, and consistently shows an increasing concentration in the permeate with increasing CFs. Standard dextrans, rhodamine 6G and natural DOC are recovered at 92-95%, while losses of glutathione and vitamin B to the membrane can be significant. Possible sorptive losses and overall mass balance of 12 molecules are thus dominated by their physicochemical properties but not by their MWs. Most retained LMW DOC can be further removed during diafiltration whereas loss of HMW DOC during diafiltration is minimal. Since retention of LMW .
Numerical study of stress and plastic strain evolution under compression and shear of a sample in a rotational anvil cell

The large-strain problem on the evolution of distribution of the components of stress tensor and plastic strain in a sample under compression and torsion in a rotational anvil cell was formulated and studied in detail using the FEM. Results are obtained for compression by different axial forces and torsion under two different constant axial forces. The effects of redistribution of the friction radial and torsional stresses and the load on a sample and gasket on the resultant fields are elucidated. Small pressure self-multiplication effect is revealed during torsion after compression below some critical force, and significant heterogeneity of all fields is found. Strong shear strain localization near the contact surface between sample and anvil is quantified. Results are compared with the simplified solution and available experiments. The results obtained are important for the determination of elastic and plastic properties of materials under high pressure and for the interpretation of kinetics of strain-i...
Linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals-coherent-potential-approximation studies of carbon vacancies in the substoichiometric refractory monocarbides Nb C x , Ta C x , and Hf C x

We have calculated the electronic densities of states and Bloch spectral functions of the refractory monocarbides $\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{C}}_{x}$, $\mathrm{Ta}{\mathrm{C}}_{x}$, and $\mathrm{Hf}{\mathrm{C}}_{x}$, $0.7\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}1.0$, using the coherent-potential approximation in a linear-combination-of-atomic-orbitals (LCAO) basis. The LCAO Hamiltonian is derived from self-consistent augmented-plane-wave calculations performed for the stoichiometric materials, $x=1.0$. We discuss the bonding and charge transfer in these compounds and show that the latter is crucial for interpreting the Fermi-level motion of the substoichiometric materials. In all cases the charge transfer is from the transition metal to carbon. We present results of the smearing of the Fermi surfaces for $xl1.0$ due to lifetime broadening of the electron quasiparticles, and we argue that the superconducting and phononic properties are greatly affected by this. Further comparisons are made between our results and Hall-effect, resistivity, specific-heat, and photoelectron-spectra measurements.
Reciprocity and Cooperation in Repeated Coordination Games: The Principled-Player Approach

Abstract Two long-lived players play a repeated coordination game. I show the restrictions on players' beliefs which imply that cooperation is optimal play. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: D83.
Automatic classification of images of an angiography sequence using modified shape context-based spatial pyramid kernels

Coronary angiography is routinely used to screen patients both prior to and during angioplasty. Each angiography study results in a collection of video sequences or “runs” that depict coronary arteries from different viewpoints. A key problem to be addressed in the automatic interpretation of coronary angiography videos is the identification of images depicting coronary arteries in these sequences. In this paper we present a classification approach to distinguish between the coronary arteries and background images using the shape context descriptor and the learning framework of spatial pyramid kernels. Specifically, we extract centerlines of coronary arteries and represent their intensity distributions and layouts using a Mercer kernel formed from the histograms of intensity and shape context. A multi-class support vector machine is then used to classify a new image depicting coronary arteries. Experimental results are presented that show a high degree of accuracy in artery classification using our approach even under variation in appearance due to viewpoint, coronary anatomy differences, disease-specific variations and changes in imaging conditions.
Role of the I7 Protein in Proteolytic Processing of Vaccinia Virus Membrane and Core Components

Certain core and membrane proteins of vaccinia virus undergo proteolytic cleavage at consensus AG/X sites. The processing of core proteins is coupled to morphogenesis and is inhibited by the drug rifampin, whereas processing of the A17 membrane protein occurs at an earlier stage of assembly and is unaffected by the drug. A temperature-sensitive mutant with a lesion in the I7L gene exhibits blocks in morphogenesis and in cleavage of core proteins. We found that the mutant also failed to cleave the A17 membrane protein. To further investigate the role of the putative I7 protease, we constructed a conditional lethal mutant in which the I7L gene was regulated by the Escherichia coli lac repressor. In the absence of an inducer, the synthesis of I7 was repressed, proteolytic processing of the A17 membrane protein and the L4 core protein was inhibited, and virus morphogenesis was blocked. Under these conditions, expression of the wild-type I7 protein in trans restored protein processing. In contrast, rescue did not occur when the putative protease active site residue histidine 241 or cysteine 328 of I7 was converted to alanine. The mutation of an authentic AG/A and an alternative AG/S motif of L4 prevented substrate cleavage. Similarly, when AG/X sites of A17 were mutated, I7-induced cleavages at the N and C termini failed to occur. In conclusion, we provide evidence that I7 is a viral protease that is required for AG/X-specific cleavages of viral membrane and core proteins, which occur at early and late stages of virus assembly, respectively.
Mycotic aneurysms: a critical diagnosis in the emergency setting

This pictorial essay reviews the pathophysiology and causes of mycotic aneurysms, their typical imaging appearances, mimics of mycotic aneurysms on CT, and treatment options. Correctly diagnosing mycotic aneurysms is critical for patient morbidity and mortality, as infected aneurysms are at extremely high risk of rapid growth and sudden rupture. The presence of a constellation of suggestive imaging features, as well as concerning patient symptomatology, should raise the possibility of a mycotic aneurysm.
Determining optimal loading frequencies for bone formation on joints using Finite Element Methods

Osteoporosis has been widely known as a reoccurring issue with the increase of age. By understanding key mechanical properties of bone, researchers can better understand methods to induce bone growth as a possible method for osteoporosis reversal. This study uses image modeling to characterize the natural frequency of normal bone by using Finite Element Methods (FEM). Results indicate that the natural frequency for a mouse femur sample is 23.574 Hz (bending mode 1) along with a natural frequency of 12.085 Hz (bending mode 1) for a mouse tibia sample. Ultimately, this data may be used as target loading frequencies for joint loading to optimally enhance bone growth.
Influence of phase feeding available phosphorus on egg production characteristics, carcass phosphorus content, and serum inorganic phosphorus levels of three commercial layer strains.

Abstract An experiment was conducted to obtain information on the concept of progressively decreasing dietary phosphorus levels (phase feeding) on the performance of three different commercial layer strains. Dietary available phosphorus (AP) levels of .15, .30, or .45% were fed continuously from 22 to 70 weeks of age. Concurrently, a diet containing .35, .25, and .15% AP was phase-fed during age intervals of 22 to 34, 34 to 50, and 50 t o 70 weeks, respectively. Dietary AP levels did not significantly affect egg production except the .15% AP level, which significantly reduced egg production when compared with the other three dietary AP treatments. Efficiency of feed utilization was significantly superior for hens phase-fed AP compared with hens fed the other AP treatments. There were no differences in egg weight or mortality due to dietary AP. Eggshells were significantly thicker when hens received .15% AP. The .15% AP and phase-fed regimen resulted in hens with significantly lower body weights at the end of the experiment. Hens fed .30% AP and phase-fed AP had significantly lower carcass ash and phosphorus levels. Serum phosphorus levels corresponded directly to dietary AP levels. There were no significant differences in egg production due to strain nor were there any strain by dietary treatment interactions that influenced production traits. Significant strain differences were noted in feed efficiency, egg weight, carcass ash, and carcass phosphorus.
HACCP: A re-emerging approach to food safety

Abstract After its introduction in the early 1970s, the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) approach to controlling food safety concerns was, initially, quickly adopted for use in the manufacture of low-acid canned foods. Since that time, there has been little industry-wide application of the technique. However, the situation is changing rapidly, as regulatory agencies contemplate the incorporation of HACCP techniques into their programs. The HACCP approach may become the most important method of dealing with food safety issues during the 1990s.
A Review of “Starring New York: Filming the Grime and the Glamour of the Long 1970s”

As most New York City residents are aware, filming happens around them at all times. Whether witnessing the production of blockbusters, avoiding the tangle of electrical cables for television shows...
Functional status of patients during subacute recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background Patients recovering from coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery are particularly vulnerable to impaired functional status because in addition to the direct effects of heart disease on cardiac performance, many surgical factors may contribute to loss of function. Objectives The purposes of this study were to describe functional status across multiple domains using performance-based and self-report assessments and to determine the relationship among different domains of functional status in patients recovering subacutely ( Methods The participants in this study (n = 25) had undergone CAB surgery in the past 6 months. This cross-sectional descriptive study measured functional status in several domains using self-report and performance-based assessments. Results The study results indicate that participants had deficits in health-related quality of life, activities of daily living performance, endurance/aerobic capacity, and cognitive/memory ability. Several correlations between the scores for outcome measures in different domains were found in this study. Conclusions Impaired functional status occurs in patients recovering subacutely from CAB surgery. Different aspects of functional status are related, and an understanding of these relationships may help to improve the medical management of patients after CAB surgery.
Stochastic analysis of neutrally stratified cirrus layer

Abstract Two cirrus cloud systems observed during the winter of 2001 at the Southern Great Plains site of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurements program in Oklahoma, USA are studied because of the distinct neutrally stratified layers formed within the clouds. Observations are obtained with 35 GHz millimeter-wave radar and backscattering cross-section η ( t ) signals within radar-reflectivity restricted sublayers of the clouds are analyzed. The neutrally stratified layers of cirrus clouds are known to be associated with the existence of generating cells. The statistics of radiative properties within the neutrally stratified layers is obtained to be non-Gaussian and time-dependent. The purpose of this research is to derive a model of the cloud-generating cells layer in cirrus based on the statistics of observations. The Fokker–Planck equation approach provides suitable framework to treat non-Gaussian, time-dependent probability density functions (pdfs) such as those found for the η ( t ) signals. It is shown that the deviations from Gaussianity of radiative properties of the neutrally stratified generating cells layer in cirrus can be modeled by linear stochastically perturbed dynamics with multiplicative noise statistics. Because the multiplicative noise is often identified with state-dependent variations of stochastic feedbacks from unresolved system components it is expected that derived stochastic model will be useful for parameterization of cirrus in global circulation models (GCMs).
Older patients/older donors: choosing wisely

Two lingering problems regarding transplantation in older adults have been how to select patients appropriately and whether to use older sibling donors. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) of older patients may result in long-term survival due to GVL, but the data remain observational and mostly restricted to those 50 to 69 years of age. Patients with excellent performance status and low comorbidity have the best long-term survival after HCT. Novel measures of health status such as self-report or performance-based functional measures allow "staging the age" and may inform candidacy for less robust patients. Older matched sibling donors should be preferred over matched unrelated donors (MUDs) because outcomes are equivalent to superior for matched sibling donors compared with MUD. However, MUDs also achieve acceptable outcomes and long-term disease control. An alternative donor can be considered based on institutional protocols and expertise. Very limited information is available in patients or related donors 70 years of age and older. Future efforts to more completely characterize patient health status before transplantation will allow better application of HCT in older adults.
CT Positive Brain Injury in Mild TBI Patients Presenting With Normal SAC Scores

ABSTRACT Introduction: Traumatic brain injury accounts for over 1 million U.S. emergency department visits annually. A significant percentage of patients undergo CT scans to exclude intracranial bleeds. The Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC) is designed to rapidly determine whether a concussion has occurred, (0–30 scale, where ≥25 is considered normal). Although not intended to be used in isolation, results in the normal range are considered an indication of low suspicion of brain injury. This study evaluated the relationship between CT findings of structural injury (CT+) and performance on the SAC. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study on mild head-injured patients presenting to the emergency department who underwent CT scans and had SAC evaluations. Results: We enrolled 368 patients, of which 66 were read by a neuroradiologist as positive (CT+), with an average age of 46.7, and an average Glasgow Coma Scale of 14.85. 38.2% of these CT+ patients had a SAC score ≥25. There were ...
The modulo time plot-a useful data aquisition diagnostic tool

This paper illustrates the use of the Modulo Time Plot to facilitate diagnosis of data acquisition systems and components. While conventional techniques, involving spectral analysis and histograms, provide certain useful and necessary measures of performance, the use of reordered sample sets has gained considerable popularity in recent work aimed at characterizing analog-to-digital converter error mechanisms. Examples show that the Modulo Time Plot is useful for quick visual inspection of system performance including dynamic range, distortion and error plots, the detection of random bit errors, and timing errors between the test signal and the sample clock.
Can procalcitonin distinguish infectious fever from tumor-related fever in non-neutropenic cancer patients?

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as a marker of infection and was studied in neutropenic patients. This study investigated its role in non-neutropenic febrile cancer patients (NNCPs). METHODS: Between July 2009 and July 2010, a total of 248 NNCPs with fever were studied. PCT was measured in plasma within 24 hours of fever onset and 4 to 7 days thereafter, using a Kryptor system with a lower limit of quantitation of 0.075 ng/mL. Patients' clinical, microbiological, and radiological data were reviewed to make the diagnosis and were correlated with PCT levels. RESULTS: This study included 30 patients with bloodstream infection (BSI), 60 with localized bacterial infection, 141 with no documented infection, and 8 with tumor-related fever. Most patients (98%) were inpatients or admitted to the hospital during the study. Patients with BSI had significantly higher PCT levels than did those with documented localized infections (P = .048) and no documented infection (P = .011). PCT levels were significantly higher in septic patients than in those without sepsis (P = .012). Patients with stage IV disease or metastasis had significantly higher baseline PCT levels than did those with early stages of cancer (P < .05). PCT levels dropped significantly in patients with bacterial infections in response to antibiotics (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline PCT levels are predictive of BSI and sepsis in NNCPs. They may be predictors of metastasis and advanced cancer. Subsequent decrease in PCT levels in response to antibiotics is suggestive of bacterial infection. Larger trials are needed to confirm the results of this pilot study. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Short hairpin RNA screen indicates that klotho beta/FGF19 protein overcomes stasis in human colonic epithelial cells

Normal human colonic epithelial cells (HCECs) are not immortalized by telomerase alone but also require CDK4. Some human cell types growth-arrest due to stress- or aberrant signaling-induced senescence (stasis). Stasis represents the consequences of growth conditions culture that are inadequate to maintain long-term proliferation. Overexpressed CDK4 titers out p16 and allows cells to ignore the growth arrest signals produced by stasis. To identify factors contributing to the inadequate culture environment, we used a 62,000-member shRNA library to knock down factors cooperating with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in the immortalization of HCECs. Knockdown of Klotho gamma (KLG; also known as KLPH and LCTL) allowed hTERT to immortalize HCECs. KLG is one isoform of the Klotho family of factors that coordinate interaction between different FGF ligands and the FGF receptor. We also found that knockdown of KLG induced another member of the Klotho family, Klotho beta (KLB). Induction of KLB was maintained and could activate ERK1/2 in immortalized cells. Supplementation of the culture medium with the KLB ligand FGF19 had a similar effect on hTERT-expressing HCECs as knockdown of KLG regarding both immortalization and down-regulation of the tumor suppressor Klotho alpha. Together, these data suggest that KLB is an important regulator in the immortalization of HCECs by facilitating FGF19 growth factor signaling.
An efficient static analysis algorithm to detect redundant memory operations

As memory system performance becomes an increasingly dominant factor in overall system performance, it is important to optimize programs for memory related operations. This paper concerns static analysis to detect redundant memory operations and enable other compiler transformations to remove such redundant operations.We present an extended global value numbering algorithm to detect redundant memory operations. The key of the new algorithm is a novel SSA-based representation for memory state which allows accurate reasoning about memory state. Using this representation, the algorithm can trace values through memory operations to detect equivalence in the same way that it traces them through register-based scalar operations. Thus it discovers both redundancy involving scalar values and redundancy involving memory operations. The redundancy relation detected by the algorithm can then be used by traditional redundancy elimination transformations to remove those redundant operations.Experiments using a suite of realistic applications demonstrate the algorithm is powerful and fast. In practice, it has essentially linear time complexity.
Antenatal hydronephrosis as a predictor of postnatal outcome: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE.Antenatal hydronephrosis is diagnosed in 1% to 5% of all pregnancies; however, the antenatal and postnatal management of hydronephrosis varies widely. No previous studies define the risk of postnatal pathology in infants with antenatal hydronephrosis. Our objective was to review the current literature to determine whether the degree of antenatal hydronephrosis and related antenatal ultrasound findings are associated with postnatal outcome. METHODS. We searched Medline (1966–2005), Embase (1991–2004), and the Cochrane Library databases for articles on antenatal hydronephrosis. We required studies to have subjects selected on the basis of documented measurements of antenatal hydronephrosis and followed to a postnatal diagnosis. We excluded case reports, review articles, and editorials. Two independent investigators extracted data. RESULTS. We screened 1645 citations, of which 17 studies met inclusion criteria. We created a data set of 1308 subjects. The risk of any postnatal pathology per degree of antenatal hydronephrosis was 11.9% for mild, 45.1% for moderate, and 88.3% for severe. There was a significant increase in risk per increasing degree of hydronephrosis. The risk of vesicoureteral reflux was similar for all degrees of antenatal hydronephrosis. CONCLUSIONS. The findings of this meta-analysis can potentially be used for prenatal counseling and may alter current postnatal management of children with antenatal hydronephrosis. Overall, children with any degree of antenatal hydronephrosis are at greater risk of postnatal pathology as compared with the normal population. Moderate and severe antenatal hydronephrosis have a significant risk of postnatal pathology, indicating that comprehensive postnatal diagnostic management should be performed. Mild antenatal hydronephrosis may carry a risk for postnatal pathology, but additional prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal management of these children. A well-defined prospective analysis is needed to further define the risk of pathology and the appropriate management protocols.
Biomolecular Applications of Poisson–Boltzmann Methods

Throughout the 1990s, biomolecular simulation has become increasingly commonplace in biology and has gained acceptance as an important biophysical method for understanding molecular structure, dynamics, and function. The energetic properties of a biomolecule are determined by a combination of both shortand long-range forces. Short-range forces include several components, such as van der Waals, bonding forces, angular forces, and torsional interactions. Long-range forces, on the other hand, are typically dominated by electrostatic interactions. Because of their slow decay over distance, electrostatics cannot be neglected or truncated in biomolecular modeling; these forces contribute significantly to molecular interactions at all length scales. As such, methods that enable the accurate and efficient modeling of these interactions are of central importance in molecular simulation. The exact behavior of electrostatic interactions in a simulation is generally determined by four factors: molecular charge distributions, solute atomic radii, mobile ionic species, and solvent. Molecular charge distributions are
Materials International Space Station Experiment 5 Polymer Film Thermal Control Experiment

It is known that polymer films can degrade as a result of space environmental exposure, but the magnitude of the mechanical property degradation and the degree to which the different environmental factors play a role is not well understood. An experiment was flown on the Materials International Space Station Experiment 5 to determine the change in tensile strength and percent elongation of some typical polymer films exposed in a nadir-facing environment on the International Space Station and, where possible, compare with similar ramand wake-facing experiments flown on theMaterials International Space Station Experiment 1 to get a better indication of the role the different environments play in mechanical property change. It was found that the majority of the polymers tested experienced some loss in tensile/yield strength and percent elongation with polytetrafluroethylene Teflon having the greatest change.Where comparisons could be made with theMaterials International Space Station Experiment 1, it appears that the loss in percent elongation is dependent on the radiation level while the loss in tensile strength is not as sensitive to the level of radiation.
Experimental Tests of Priority Effects and Light Availability on Relative Performance of Myriophyllum spicatum and Elodea nuttallii Propagules in Artificial Stream Channels

Submersed macrophytes have important ecological functions in many streams, but fostering growth of beneficial native species while suppressing weedy invasives may be challenging. Two approaches commonly used in management of terrestrial plant communities may be useful in this context: (1) altering resource availability and (2) establishing desirable species before weeds can invade (priority effects). However, these approaches are rarely used in aquatic systems, despite widespread need for sustainable solutions to aquatic weed problems. In artificial stream channels in California, USA, I conducted experiments with asexual propagules of non-native invasive Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) and native Elodea nuttallii (western waterweed) to address the questions: (1) How does light availability affect relative performance of the two species?; (2) Does planting the native earlier than the invasive decrease survival or growth rate of the invasive?; and (3) Do light level and priority effects interact? The relative performance between E. nuttallii and M. spicatum had an interesting and unexpected pattern: M. spicatum had higher growth rates than E. nuttallii in the zero and medium shade levels, but had similar performance in the low and high shade levels. This pattern is most likely the result of E. nutallii’s sensitivity to both very low and very high light, and M. spicatum’s sensitivity to very low light only. Native priority did not significantly affect growth rate or survival of M. spicatum, possibly because of unexpectedly poor growth of the E. nuttallii planted early. This study suggests that altering light levels could be effective in reducing growth of an invasive macrophyte, and for changing the competitive balance between a native and a non-native species in the establishment phase. Further investigations into the use of priority effects and resource alteration for submersed macrophyte management are warranted, given their mixed results in other (limited) studies.
Ultrasound contrast agents affect the angiogenic response

Cardiovascular diseases affect one-quarter of men and women between the ages of 20 and 39 years; this number more than doubles after the age of 40 years.1 These statistics include ischemia affecting the heart, brain, kidney, and limbs, due to atherosclerosis or diabetes. Current treatments are contraindicated for certain populations due to their invasiveness. For that reason, ultrasound (US) has been explored as a new strategy for myocardial and limb ischemia over the past decade. Ultrasound has been cited to cause upregulation of angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibro - blast growth factor,2,3 decreased wound healing time,4 in addition to the induction of angiogenesis in hind limb ischemia.5 Recently, microbubbles have been explored as a means of drug delivery in an effort to treat ischemia.6–8 Studies have shown that US and ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) induce neovascularization9,10 and arteriogenesis11,12 and improve cardiac function8 in ischemic models. However, an equal amount of literature details the ability of US and UCAs to create damage to various tissues. Ultrasound and UCAs have been documented to create undesired bioeffects, including premature ventricular contractions,13 hemorrhage,14,15 capillary disruptions,16 and lesions17 in normal animal models. Bioeffects studies focus on 0-day effects in normal models, while methods to induce angiogenesis focus on 3 to 28 days after US exposure, typically with ischemic models. Acute (0-day) and effect days are rarely addressed in the same study. As such, little is known about the mechanism of US-UCA–induced angiogenesis. One of the reasons for the disconnect between US’s biological effects and therapy is that there is a lack of understanding of mechanisms initiating the angiogenic response. Literature shows a wide range of US peak rare - factional pressures (Prs) has been used5,8,11,18,19 with no dose-effect examination of the therapy. A relatively low Pr (0.25 MPa) was demonstrated to induce an angiogenic response,7 while Fuji et al19 found a much higher Pr (4.5 MPa) to be beneficial. When UCAs are used, Pr is the exposure quantity of particular importance because it affects the behavior of the UCA. As incident Pr increases, the UCA becomes less stable and eventually collapses.20,21 The UCAs behavior affects the vasculature and initiation of a biological response.22,23 Therefore, in an effort to connect the 0-day (day of exposure) bioeffects with subsequent therapeutic responses, this study seeks to examine the role of the UCAs, and relate the physical mechanism by which US-UCA interaction induces angiogenesis, via a dose-effect study on Pr.
Violent Protest and Heterogeneous Diffusion Processes: The Spread of U.S. Racial Rioting From 1964 to 1971

This analysis of the diffusion of racial rioting in the United States applies recently developed extensions of event history analysis to the spread of rioting from 1964 to 1971. Contrary to early analyses of riot diffusion, the results demonstrate that diffusion is a critical force behind the pattern of rioting. The analysis identifies several types of diffusion in the riot cycle, demonstrating that contagious influence from riots decays over time, is mitigated by geographic distance, and is conditional on riot severity. Methodologically, the analysis produces extensions of prior event-history diffusion models that facilitate their use with collective violence and protest data. for comments on earlier drafts, Gregg Carter for providing his riot data, and Victoria Myers for assistance locating and retrieving original data.
Mechanisms of Resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Therapeutic Approaches: An Update

Resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is mediated by two major mechanisms namely secondary mutation T790M in EGFR and cMET amplification. Other molecular mediators which contribute towards TKI resistance include the activation of compensatory growth signaling, epithelial mesenchymal transition and microRNAs regulating EGFR and cMET levels. In this chapter, we have included the major mechanisms which contribute towards EGFR TKI resistance in NSCLC. Several therapeutic approaches to overcome TKI resistance are also presented which include second and third generation EGFR TKI inhibitors and cMET inhibitors. Further, the rationale to utilize the combination therapies to simultaneously target EGFR and other major oncogene addictive pathway such as ERBB2 and AXL kinase is outlined. Another promising approach to overcome TKI resistance is to potentiate EGFR protein for degradation. These studies will best be utilized when we can identify the oncogene addictions in an individual patient and tailor the therapy/therapies accordingly for the maximum benefits.
Celebrating 40 years of ACM's commitment to community colleges

2015 December • Vol. 6 • No. 4 acm Inroads 33 THE 2016 SIGCSE TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM in Memphis, TN promises to be a special time for the ACM Committee for Computing Education in Community Colleges (CCECC). The Committee will be celebrating its silver anniversary as a standing committee of the ACM Education Board, as well as the ruby anniversary of ACM’s commitment to community colleges. Before reflecting upon the 25-year milestone, we must first travel back 40 years to 1975 for the complete historical picture—to the Committee’s seminal roots and her passionate champion, ACM Fellow Joyce Currie Little.
Implementation Using FPGAs

The focus of this chapter is to demonstrate that field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) can be used to perform digital signal processing (DSP). The chapter also explores that from their origins as custom logic and interface functions, FPGAs have grown to include nearly every function that can be implemented digitally. FPGAs are able to interface to virtually any other type of system using nearly any protocol at a wide range of data rates. FPGAs are frequently used to interface analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters, and also backplanes. The FPGA fabric is composed of configurable logic elements and programmable routing — that permit any digital function to be built — including multipliers, adders, accumulators, shifters, registers, and any other functions that might be found in a DSP processor. With the addition of multi-port memories and dedicated DSP compute blocks, FPGAs became a very efficient platform for digital signal processing, supplanting DSP devices in most cases. Even mid-range FPGAs can perform in excess of 1000 GMACs per second and over 1000 GFLOPS per second.
Magnetic susceptibility study of hydrated and nonhydrated Na x CoO 2 ·y H 2 O single crystals

We have measured the magnetic susceptibility of single crystal samples of nonhydrated ${\mathrm{Na}}_{x}{\mathrm{CoO}}_{2}$ $(x\ensuremath{\simeq}0.75,0.67,0.5,0.3)$ and hydrated ${\mathrm{Na}}_{0.3}{\mathrm{CoO}}_{2}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}y{\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ $(y\ensuremath{\simeq}0,0.6,1.3)$. Our measurements reveal considerable anisotropy between the susceptibilities with $H\ensuremath{\parallel}c$ and $H\ensuremath{\parallel}ab$. The derived anisotropic $g$-factor ratio $({g}_{ab}∕{g}_{c})$ decreases significantly as the composition is changed from the Curie-Weiss metal with $x=0.75$ to the paramagnetic metal with $x=0.3$. Fully hydrated ${\mathrm{Na}}_{0.3}{\mathrm{CoO}}_{2}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}1.3{\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ samples have a larger susceptibility than nonhydrated ${\mathrm{Na}}_{0.3}{\mathrm{CoO}}_{2}$ samples, as well as a higher degree of anisotropy. In addition, the fully hydrated compound contains a small additional fraction of anisotropic localized spins.
Review - Constitutional Conscience: The Moral Dimension of Judicial Decision, by H. Jefferson Powell, and How Judges Think, by Richard A. Posner

This is a short review of two new books on judging - Constitutional Conscience: The Moral Dimension of Judicial Decision, by H. Jefferson Powell, and How Judges Think, by Richard A. Posner. Although both books examine the same topic, and both focus largely on judicial decision making by Supreme Court Justices in the area of constitutional law, their approaches diverge significantly. Powell takes a page from virtue ethics in offering an expansive and ruminative vision of the ethical virtues and vices that characterize the judge in a constitutional case. Posner brings his economist's toolkit, supplemented by a variety of disciplinary adjuncts and a bracing dose of pragmatism, to many of the same questions. Their goals are somewhat different, and their conclusions, despite some common ties, present a striking contrast. These books may be read as complementary and not just competitive accounts. Nevertheless, I suggest that Posner's account is far more descriptively accurate, although Powell leads us, commendably, to think about the ways in which we might reconsider and revive the kinds of constitutional virtues that are at the heart of his romantic account.
Drosophila Vision Depends on Carcinine Uptake by an Organic Cation Transporter.

Summary Recycling of neurotransmitters is essential for sustained neuronal signaling, yet recycling pathways for various transmitters, including histamine, remain poorly understood. In the first visual ganglion (lamina) of Drosophila , photoreceptor-released histamine is taken up into perisynaptic glia, converted to carcinine, and delivered back to the photoreceptor for histamine regeneration. Here, we identify an organic cation transporter, CarT (carcinine transporter), that transports carcinine into photoreceptors during histamine recycling. CarT mediated in vitro uptake of carcinine. Deletion of the CarT gene caused an accumulation of carcinine in laminar glia accompanied by a reduction in histamine, resulting in abolished photoreceptor signal transmission and blindness in behavioral assays. These defects were rescued by expression of CarT cDNA in photoreceptors, and they were reproduced by photoreceptor-specific CarT knockdown. Our findings suggest a common role for the conserved family of CarT-like transporters in maintaining histamine homeostasis in both mammalian and fly brains.
Writing Disabilities and Reading Disabilities in Elementary School Students: Rates of Co-Occurrence and Cognitive Burden

This longitudinal study was conducted to determine (a) the rate of co-occurrence of reading disabilities (RDs) in a writing disability (WD) population of students followed from first grade to fourth grade and (b) the cognitive burden that is assumed by having a WD and a RD (WD + RD). The sample included 137 first-grade students from a single school district who initially were placed into three groups based on the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test–Second Edition (WIAT-II) Written Expression subtest: Typically Developing (TD; n = 83), WD-Only (n = 38), and WD + RD (n = 16). Results indicated that the rate of a WD + RD increased with advancing grades, ranging from 30% in first grade to 47% in fourth grade. This increase was secondary to the instability of group membership across all three groups. The number of students with a WD + RD remained relatively constant over the 4 years, with about 50% of first-grade students with a WD + RD continuing to manifest this co-occurrence through the fourth grade. There...
Influence of Dietary Fluoride Restriction on Regulation of Plasma and Soft Tissue Fluoride Contents

The adjustments in total fluoride concentration in plasma, bones, liver, and muscle were examined when rats were given a diet of very low fluoride content following a dietary regimen of elevated fluoride intake. The animals received a diet containing 34 ppm of fluoride and water with 50 ppm added fluoride in the 28-day initial period and in the depletion period they were given a diet containing only 0.21 ppm of fluoride and distilled water. The findings indicated a 12-fold increase in the fluoride content of the humeri after 28 days of high-flurodie intake with a greater increment by the epiphyses than by the diaphyses. During 21 days of the depletion period the skeletal fluoride was reduced by only 7.7% indicating a marked retention of fluoride during processes of bone remodeling and growth. The plasma, muscle, and liver total fluoride contents were significantly increased at the end of the period of high-fluoride intake, but these concentrations were found to be restored to base-line levels in 3-7 days of the depletion period. By comparison of the distribution of total fluoride with injected radiofluoride between tissue and plasma waters, it was concluded that muscle and liver contain bound fluoride that does not exchange completely with ionic fluoride.
Can “Cooling-off Laws” Really Protect the Consumer?

Recent interest in consumer protection has focused on the fradulent or unethical practices of some direct sellers. This paper examines one legislative response to these practices, that of “cooling-...
Analysis on the Problems in Biomass Power Generation Boiler & its Treatment

In accordance with the character of biomass fuel,design operation of biomass power generation boiler,the problems in fuel combustion system of biomass boiler are analyzed,and methods are proposed which can supply technical reference for the design,operation,maintenance of biomass boiler.
Clinical studies of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease at the National Eye Institute, NIH, USA.

Les malades atteints de cette affection semblent avoir des autoanticorps retiniens diriges contre la zone des photorecepteurs de la retine et non contre l'antigene-S retinien