cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hyperbole, Homunculi, and Hindsight Bias: An Alternative Evaluation of Conceptual Metaphor Theory

To its credit, conceptual metaphor theory (CMT) has drawn significant attention to the question of what figurative language can tell us about human concepts. However, the answers CMT theorists have offered are typically unsubstantiated by the empirical evidence, and occasionally unfalsifiable. This reply to Raymond W. Gibbs Jr.'s positive evaluation of the theory offers an alternative assessment that is more critical of its shortcomings. This critique summarizes four basic problems with CMT: The theory (a) is attributionally ambiguous about the locus of metaphoric motivation, (b) commits a form of the infamous “homunculus problem” in philosophy of mind, (c) employs circular reasoning to formulate hypotheses and interpret linguistic evidence, and (d) is not parsimonious. All of these problems are evident in Gibbs's piece, and thereby undermine his defense of CMT's explanatory value.
Critical Factors in the Collection of Precipitation for Chemical Analysis

Precipitation is currently collected by several methods, including several different designs of collection apparatus. This paper reports an investigation of the differing methods and designs to determine which gives the most representative sample of precipitation suitable for the determination of conductivity, pH, Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH4, NO3, SiO4, PO4, Cl, and SO4. The investigation leads to the following conclusions: 1. Precipitation samples must exclude dry deposition if accurate information on the chemical content of precipitation is required. 2. Substantial contamination results when glass and plastic collectors are used to sample precipitation for inorganic and organic components, respectively. 3. The inorganic components of precipitation samples of low pH (3.5-4.5), with the exception of PO4 and Cl exhibited no significant change in concentration when stored at 4°C for a period of eight months. This is probably due to the stabilizing influence of a large concentration of hydrogen ions. 4. If quantitative information on the chemical composition is required, precipitation samples should be collected at no longer than weekly intervals if immediate collection is not possible. There is little information available on the sampling of precipitation specifically to determine inputs into lakes. However, two current studies indicate that lake shore and lake buoy sampling stations are comparable except for dry deposition.
Enhancement of tumor cell killing in vitro by pre- and post-irradiation exposure to aclacinomycin A

Abstract Aclacinomycin A (ACM), a potent inducer of leukemic cell differentiation, significantly enhances the radiosensitivity of a human colon tumor cell line (Clone A) when cultures are exposed to 15-nM concentrations for 3 days before irradiation. We now demonstrate that incubation with ACM after irradiation can also enhance Clone A cell killing. The maximum increase in cell killing, based on colony-forming ability, occurred when Clone A cells were exposed for 1 h to 5 μM ACM added 1 or 2 h after irradiation. The post-irradiation ACM protocol reduced the terminal slope (as reflected by D0) of the radiation cell survival curve with no change in the low-dose, shoulder region of the curve (Dq value). In contrast, for pre-irradiation treatment with ACM (15 nM, 3 days), the shoulder region of the curve was reduced with no change in the terminal slope. For pre- and post-irradiation ACM treatment the dose enhancement factors at 0.10 survival were 1.22 and 1.28, respectively. When ACM was given both before and after irradiation both the shoulder and terminal slope values decreased to produce a dose enhancement factor at a surviving fraction of 0.10 of 1.50. These data suggest that the enhanced cell killing produced by pre- and post-irradiation treatment with ACM is achieved through different mechanisms.
Field observations of shear waves in the surf zone

[1] Alongshore propagating meanders of the mean alongshore current in the surf zone called shear waves have periods of a few minutes and wavelengths of a few hundred meters. Here shear wave properties are estimated with arrays of current meters deployed for 4 months within 300 m of the shoreline of a sandy beach. Shear wave velocity fluctuations are approximately horizontally isotropic, with root mean square values between 10 and 40% of the mean (3-hour-averaged) alongshore current V. Cross-shore variations of the time-averaged shear wave momentum flux are consistent with shear wave energy generation close to shore where the breaking wave-driven mean alongshore current V and current shear Vx are strong and with shear wave energy dissipation and transfer back to the mean flow farther offshore where V and Vx are weak. In case studies where V is a narrow jet near the shoreline the observed strong decay of shear wave energy levels seaward of the jet, and the cross-shore and alongshore structure of shear waves within the jet, are similar to predictions based on the linearly unstable modes of the observed V. Shear wave energy levels also are high in a marginally unstable case with a strong, but weakly sheared, V.
Resource-efficient delivery of on-demand streaming data using UEP codes

We propose and analyze a new multicast scheme for delivering on-demand streaming data using unequal protection codes. The scheme allows an end user to join only one multicast channel for a data stream at any time to play out the requested data stream from its beginning after a fixed initial playout delay. The scheme tolerates packet loss during transmission, and thus, significantly reduces the cost of implementing a reliable multicast network layer to ensure delivery of all packets. Meanwhile, resource usage of the scheme, including server computing bandwidth, network bandwidth, and client's buffer space, is determined only by the original data stream length and the initial playout delay, but is independent of either the number or the arrival pattern of individual end-user requests. Thus, the scheme is totally scalable with the number of end users, fully utilizing the data delivery efficiency of a multicast network. The scheme also uses resources efficiently, e.g., with an initial playout delays of 30 s and 60 s, multicasting a 2 h video using this scheme needs only about 5.5 and 4.8 times, respectively, the server computing bandwidth and network bandwidth of those for a single unicast delivery of the same original data stream.
On the malleability of ideology: Motivated construals of color blindness.

The authors propose that the content of certain sociopolitical ideologies can be shaped by individuals in ways that satisfy their social motivations. This notion was tested in the context of color-blind ideology. Color blindness, when construed as a principle of distributive justice, is an egalitarian stance concerned with reducing discrepancies between groups’ outcomes; as a principle of procedural justice, however, color blindness can function as a legitimizing ideology that entrenches existing inequalities. In Study 1, White people high in antiegalitarian sentiment were found to shift their construal of color blindness from a distributive to a procedural principle when exposed to intergroup threat. In Studies 2, 3A, and 3B, the authors used manipulations and a measure of threat to show that antiegalitarian White people endorse color blindness to legitimize the racial status quo. In Study 3B, participants’ endorsement of color-blind ideology was mediated by increases in their preference for equal treatment (i.e., procedural justice) as a response to threat. In the Discussion section, the authors examine implications of the present perspective for understanding the manner in which individuals’ compete over the meaning of crucial ideologies.
A numerical study on instantaneous-phase evolution of femtosecond pulses in an erbium-doped fiber amplifier

Femtosecond pulse amplification using erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) is a critical technique for fiberoptic communications, supercontinuum generation as well as optical frequency comb technology. When designing an ultrafast fiber amplifier, it is necessary to understand the evolution of pulse properties, such as temporal intensity and phase and frequency chirp, during pulse propagation in the gain fiber. While a lot of previous numerical research has carefully studied various pulse property variations of femtosecond pulses inside EDFAs, little work has been seen to map out the instantaneous phase evolution throughout the amplification process with all the relevant dispersion and nonlinear effects considered. Here we present our numerical results on this topic.
Hepatitis B- and Hepatitis C-Related Hepatocellular Carcinomas in the United States: Similarities and Differences

Context Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C (HBV and HCV) infections are both major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, HCC caused by each of these two viruses has unique characteristics that should be studied independently to that of another one. While HBV- and HCV-related HCCs share similar host and environmental risk factors such as male gender, age above 50 years old, family history of HCC, cirrhosis, obesity, and concomitant alcohol/tobacco use, they differ in their viral risk factors.
The acute medical care costs of fall-related injuries among the U.S. older adults.

Summary Objectives: Falls in the older adults are a major public health concern. The growing population of adults 65 years or older, advances in medical care and changes in the costs of care motivated our study of the acute health care costs of fall-related injuries among the older adults in the United States of America. Design and settings: The MarketScan ® Medicare Supplemental database 1998 was used to estimate reimbursed costs for hospital, emergency department (ED), and outpatient clinic treatments for unintentional falls among older adults. Results: A fall on the same level due to slipping, tripping, or stumbling was the most common mechanism of injury (28%). Mean hospitalisation cost was US$ 17,483 (S.D.: US$ 22,426) in 2004 US$. Femur fracture was the most expensive type of injury (US$ 18,638, S.D.: US$ 19,990). The mean reimbursement cost of an ED visit was US$ 236 and US$ 412 for an outpatient clinic visit. Conclusion: The magnitude of the economic and social costs of falls in older adults underscores the need for active research in the field of falls prevention.
Fading statistics for intersatellite optical communication

The narrow beam widths associated with intersatellite optical communication links make such links susceptible to signal fading because of pointing jitter. Such fading can be aggravated by stationary offsets in pointing. We calculated the fade rates for the case of two spaceborne telescopes having Gaussian beam profiles, a pointing offset, and pointing jitter that can be described by Gaussian statistics. An integral solution is derived for the general case of a nonsymmetrical system, with and without pointing bias, and closed-form solutions are presented for the case of a symmetrical system (identical platforms and optics). These results show that, for a system with 3-dB margin, the rms pointing jitter must be held to less than 7% of the full beam width to keep the fade rate below once per year.
Investigating the effects of forest structure on the small mammal community in frequent-fire coniferous forests using capture-recapture models for stratified populations

Small mammals comprise an important component of forest vertebrate communities. Our understanding of how small mammals use forested habitat has relied heavily on studies in forest systems not naturally prone to frequent disturbances. Small mammal populations that evolved in frequent-fire forests, however, may be less restricted to specific habitat conditions due to the instability of these resources in time and space. We investigate how canopy cover and the volume of coarse woody debris (CWD), covariates that are considered important for small mammals, impact abundance and body mass of eight small mammal species. Based on live-trapping data collected across 23 sites over three years in a frequent fire forest in the Sierra Nevada we apply capture-recapture models for stratified populations, a statistically rigorous, rarely used framework that allows joint modeling of detection, abundance and its response to covariates. Canopy cover had a strong negative association with the abundance of yellow-pine chipmunks and California ground squirrels, and a strong positive association with deer mice. CWD had a strong negative association with the abundance of golden-mantled ground squirrels, yellow-pine and long-eared chipmunks, and a strong positive association with deer mice. Whereas canopy cover influenced abundance and body mass similarly, CWD had a positive association with body mass and a negative association with abundance in some species. These patterns could arise if suitable habitat is monopolized by socially dominant individuals. Despite these habitat associations, the small mammal community in our study was dynamic and diverse, with spatial and temporal variation in dominant species suggesting that species were flexible in their use of habitat. This study suggests that it is important to understand the disturbance regimes when investigating habitat requirements, coexistence and evolutionary ecology of small mammal species.
Stimulatory effect of topical application of caffeine on UVB-induced apoptosis in the epidermis of p53 and Bax knockout mice.

Shaved male or female p53(−/−) C57BL/6J mice and their wild-type littermates were irradiated once with UVB (60 mJ/cm2). The UVB-induced increase in apoptotic sunburn cells in p53(−/−) mice at 6–10 h after exposure to UVB was only 10–30% of that observed after treatment of p53(+/+) mice with UVB. Topical applications of caffeine immediately after UVB irradiation in female p53(+/+) or p53(−/−) mice enhanced the UVB-induced increase in apoptotic sunburn cells 6 h later by 127% and 563%, respectively. In another study, shaved female Bax(−/−) C57BL/6J mice and their wild-type littermates were irradiated once with UVB (60 mJ/cm2). The UVB-induced increase in apoptotic sunburn cells in Bax(−/−) mice at 6 h after exposure to UVB was only 14% of that observed after treatment of Bax(+/+) mice with UVB. Topical application of caffeine immediately after irradiation of Bax(+/+) or Bax(−/−) mice with UVB enhanced the UVB-induced increases in apoptotic sunburn cells at 6 h by 214% and 467%, respectively, and topical application of caffeine immediately after irradiation of Bax(+/+) or Bax(−/−) mice with UVB enhanced the UVB-induced increase in caspase 3 (active form) positive cells at 6 h by 253% and 750%, respectively. The results indicate that UVB-induced increases in apoptosis in the epidermis of wild-type mice are predominantly (but not entirely) by p53- and Bax-dependent pathways and that topical application of caffeine can enhance UVB-induced increases in apoptosis by p53- and Bax-independent pathways.
Discrete Generation of Superoxide and Hydrogen Peroxide by T Cell Receptor Stimulation: Selective Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation and Fas Ligand Expression

Receptor-stimulated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been shown to regulate signal transduction, and previous studies have suggested that T cell receptor (TCR) signals may involve or be sensitive to ROS. In this study, we have shown for the first time that TCR cross-linking induced rapid (within 15 min) generation of both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion, as defined with oxidation-sensitive dyes, selective pharmacologic antioxidants, and overexpression of specific antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the data suggest the novel observation that superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide are produced separately by distinct TCR-stimulated pathways. Unexpectedly, TCR-stimulated activation of the Fas ligand (FasL) promoter and subsequent cell death was dependent upon superoxide anion, but independent of hydrogen peroxide, while nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) activation or interleukin 2 transcription was independent of all ROS. Anti-CD3 induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 required hydrogen peroxide generation but was unaffected by superoxide anion. Thus, antigen receptor signaling induces generation of discrete species of oxidants that selectively regulate two distinct redox sensitive pathways, a proapoptotic (FasL) and a proliferative pathway (ERK).
Whole Organism Genome Editing: Targeted Large DNA Insertion via ObLiGaRe Nonhomologous End-Joining in Vivo Capture

Targeted gene insertion is a goal of genome editing and has been performed in cultured cells but only in a handful of whole organisms. The existing method to integrate foreign DNA using the homologous recombination pathway is inherently low efficiency, and many systems are refractory to this method. Several additional manipulations have been developed to gain greater efficiency by suppressing the competing dominant repair pathway of nonhomologous end-joining. However, this can be laborious and in practice limits the range of hosts where the method is applicable. Here, we use the preferred pathway of nonhomologous end-joining (used previously to create indels for gene inactivation) for precise integration of large DNA into the specified genomic target site of an intact animal. Our method uses site-specific cleavage, end-capture of cohesive ends, and obligate ligation-gated recombination. This approach is straight-forward and yields high efficiency without additional gene manipulations; therefore it is easily applicable to a much broader range of organisms. We demonstrate its application to the fungus fly Sciara coprophila where a transformation system has not existed before. We integrated a 6.5 kb transgene precisely at the desired genomic target site of Sciara using this method. This provides the foundation for future experiments to explore the unique genetic features of this organism. Similarly, the method described here will allow insertion of large pieces of DNA into a diverse group of organisms for studies of their genetic attributes.
Loop formation in polynucleotide chains. II. Flexibility of the anticodon loop of tRNAPhe

The flexibility of hairpin loops containing n bases (residues) has been examined using a theoretical model [N. L. Marky and W. K. Olson (1982), Biopolymers, 21, 2329–2344] of oligonucleotide loop closure. The study is based on correlated probabilities of chain separation and terminal residue orientation as outlined previously. The probabilities are calculated using standard statistical mechanical methods as functions of local conformational changes of the chain backbone. Our results for an RNA chain of 9 residues suggest that the anticodon loop is a dynamic structure capable of assuming a variety of different spatial conformations. Free energy values related to the various conformations span a narrow range of values (2–4 kcal/mole) and compare well with experimental observations in aqueous solution. Conformational transitions between the loop conformations are within less than 0.5 kcal/mole in free energy. The different spatial loop conformations and the likely pathways between them may have potential relevance to the molecular translation of the genetic code.
Passive listening to preferred motor tempo modulates corticospinal excitability

Rhythms are an essential characteristic of our lives and auditory-motor coupling affects a variety of behaviors. Previous research has shown that neural regions associated with motor system processing are coupled to perceptual rhythmic processing, such that the perception of rhythmic stimuli can entrain motor responses. However, the degree to which individual preference modulates the motor system is unknown. Recent work has shown that passively listening to metrically strong rhythms increases corticospinal excitability, as indicated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Furthermore, neuroimaging evidence suggests that premotor activity increases while listening to tempos occurring within a preferred tempo category. Preferred tempo (PT) refers to the rate of a hypothetical endogenous oscillator that may be indicated by spontaneous motor tempo (SMT) and preferred perceptual tempo (PPT) measurements. The present study investigated whether listening to a rhythm at an individual's PT preferentially modulates motor excitability. SMT was obtained in human participants through a tapping task, in which subjects were asked to tap a response key at their most comfortable rate. Subjects listened to tone sequences at 11 log-spaced tempos and rated their preference for each (PPT). SMT and PPT measurements were correlated, indicating that preferred and produced tempos occurred at a similar rate. Crucially, single-pulse TMS delivered to left M1 during PPT judgments revealed that corticospinal excitability, measured by motor-evoked potentials, was modulated by tempos traveling closer to individual PT. However, the specific nature of this modulation differed across individuals, with some exhibiting an increase in excitability around PT and others exhibiting a decrease. These findings suggest that auditory-motor coupling induced by rhythms is preferentially modulated by rhythms occurring at a preferred rate, and that individual differences can alter the nature of this coupling.
Adoption, Best Interests, and the Arkansas Constitution

This article addresses the constitutionality (under the Arkansas Constitution) of a referendum initiative that precluded anyone cohabiting with a non-marital partner from acting as a foster parent or from adopting. Such policies are not supported by the empirical evidence regarding the welfare of children and the history of this particular initiative suggested that it was adopted to impose a burden on members of the LGBT community.
Mechanisms of depolarizing inhibition at the crayfish giant motor synapse. I, Electrophysiology

1. Mechanisms of depolarizing synaptic inhibition were investigated at the crayfish giant motor synapse with the use of two-electrode current- and voltage-clamp techniques. Depolarizing inhibitory ...
Deformity of the radius produced by an aneurysm.

The presence of this aneurysm, which produced uniform deformity of the radius, was not suspected prior to operation. From the case, the following conclusions may be drawn: 1. Uniform deformity of a comnminuted bone should make one suspect the presence of an aneurysm. 2. The deformity achieves maximum size almost immediately after injury. 3. The two lesions may be corrected successfully at the same time.
Chronic EtOH effects on putative measures of compulsive behavior in mice

Addictions, including alcohol use disorders, are characterized by the loss of control over drug seeking and consumption, but the neural circuits and signaling mechanisms responsible for the transition from controlled use to uncontrolled abuse remain incompletely understood. Prior studies have shown that 'compulsive-like' behaviors in rodents, for example, persistent responding for ethanol (EtOH) despite punishment, are increased after chronic exposure to EtOH. The main goal of the current study was to assess the effects of chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) exposure on multiple, putative measures of compulsive-like EtOH seeking in C57BL/6 J mice. Mice were exposed to two or four weekly cycles of CIE and then, post-withdrawal, tested for progressive ratio responding for EtOH, sustained responding during signaled EtOH unavailability and (footshock) punished suppression of responding for EtOH. Results showed that mice exposed to CIE exhibited attenuated suppression of EtOH seeking during punishment, as compared with air-exposed controls. By contrast, CIE exposure affected neither punished food reward-seeking behavior, nor other putative measures of compulsive-like EtOH seeking. Ex vivo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of brain tissue found reduced sensitivity to punished EtOH seeking after CIE exposure was accompanied by a significant increase in gene expression of the GluN1 and GluN2A subunits of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, specifically in the medial orbitofrontal cortex. Moreover, slice electrophysiological analysis revealed increased N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated currents in the orbitofrontal cortex after CIE exposure in test-naive mice. Collectively, the current findings add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that chronic exposure to EtOH fosters resistance to punished EtOH seeking in association with adaptations in cortical glutamatergic transmission.
Feeding, molting, and egg production in Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) fed repeatedly on the same Swiss mouse hosts.

Engorgement time and the interval between engorgement and 1st defecation were measured for 5th-instar nymphs and adult male and female Rhodnius prolixus that fed upon control, “primed,” or repeatedly exposed Swiss mice. Primed mice were those fed upon by adult bugs 7 days before daily test feedings. Repeatedly exposed mice were similarly primed, but had also served as hosts for several weeks prior to the priming exposure. Engorgement times for nymphs and adults that fed on repeatedly exposed primed hosts were less than those for bugs that fed on primed or control hosts. Initiation of defecation was not affected by differences in host type. Nymphs (5th instar) molted to adults after the same time interval following engorgement regardless of whether nymphs had fed on control, primed, or repeatedly exposed primed hosts. While egg viability, as measured by hatch rate, was unaffected by the source of the maternal blood meal, female bugs that fed on control mice produced 1.7 times as many eggs as females that fed on primed or repeatedly exposed primed mice. The results indicate that egg production by female bugs is significantly reduced if females feed on mice on which bugs have previously fed.
Are There Really Instantaneous Velocities

Zeno argued that since at any instant an arrow does not change its location, the arrow does not move at any time, and hence motion is impossible. I discuss the following three views that one could take in view of Zeno's argument: 1. the “at-at” theory, according to which there is no such thing as instantaneous velocity, while motion in the sense of the occupation of different locations at different times is possible, 2. the “impetus” theory, according to which instantaneous velocities do exist but these are only contingently and causally related to the temporal developments of positions, 3. the “no instants” theory, according to which instants in time do not exist, and hence instantaneous velocities do not exist, while motion, in the sense of different areas occupied during different time intervals, is possible. I argue that, despite the fact that there have been interesting and relevant developments in mathematics and physics since the time of Zeno, each of these views still has serious drawbacks.
The Challenging World of Research in a Digitized and Computerized Age

T he early 2014 deadline to attest to the meaningful use of electronic medical records (EMRs) has come and gone, so U.S. public and private healthcare providers and other eligible professionals are transforming paper medical records into EMRs to maintain their existing Medicaid and Medicare
Relationship between high-frequency oscillations and spikes in a case of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective The aim of this case report was to study the relationship between high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), spikes, and seizures in a patient with temporal lobe epilepsy.
Impact of Molinate Exposure on Male Courtship Behavior and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Zebrafish, Danio rerio

Abstract: Molinate, a thiocarbamate herbicide, is used to control broad-leaf and grassy weeds. Studies have shown that molinate alters a range of animal behaviors to produce the following symptoms following exposure: lethargy, erratic swimming, and tremors. Fish, in particular, showed variability in sensitivity to molinate. Possible mechanism of action in such observed behavior is alteration in the cholinergic nervous system responsible for messenger transmission in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. The current study examined the possible disruption of spawning behavior in zebrafish (Danio rerio) following molinate exposure. Findings indicate that while various forms of spawning behavior were not altered significantly in fish exposed to molinate, a significant difference was observed in the total number of eggs produced; control fish produced approximately twice as many eggs compared to molinate-treated fish. Furthermore, significantly higher levels of acetylcholinesterase activity...
Modeling Percentile Rank of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Across the Lifespan.

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to create an equation for continuous percentile rank of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) from ages 20 to 99. Methods We used a two-staged modeling approach with existing normative data from the American College of Sports Medicine for VO2 max. First, we estimated intercept and slope parameters for each decade of life as a logistic function. We then modeled change in intercept and slope as functions of age (stage two) using weighted least squares regression. The resulting equations were used to predict fitness percentile rank based on age, sex, and VO2 max, and included estimates for individuals beyond 79 years old. Results We created a continuous, sex specific model of VO2 max percentile rank across the lifespan. Conclusions Percentile ranking of VO2 max can be made continuous and account for adults aged 20 to 99 with reasonable accuracy, improving the utility of this normalization procedure in practical and research settings, particularly in aging populations.
Blood platelet monoamine oxidase activity in psychiatric patients.

The authors measured monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in blood platelets of normal control subjects, patients with schizophrenia, and patients with other psychiatric diagnoses. No differences were ...
A convex atomic-norm approach to multiple sequence alignment and motif discovery

Multiple Sequence Alignment and Motif Discovery, known as NP-hard problems, are two fundamental tasks in Bioinformatics. Existing approaches to these two problems are based on either local search methods such as Expectation Maximization (EM), Gibbs Sampling or greedy heuristic methods. In this work, we develop a convex relaxation approach to both problems based on the recent concept of atomic norm and develop a new algorithm, termed Greedy Direction Method of Multiplier, for solving the convex relaxation with two convex atomic constraints. Experiments show that our convex relaxation approach produces solutions of higher quality than those standard tools widely-used in Bioinformatics community on the Multiple Sequence Alignment and Motif Discovery problems.
Precision measurements with twin beams of light

The generation of twin beams of light from an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) pumped by the second harmonic of a mode-locked and Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser has recently been reported.1 The intensity noises on the direct- detected signal and idler beams at the output of the OPA were observed to be correlated by more than 15 dB, and the subtracted noise fell below the quantum limit by up to 7 dB (80%). With the same OPA it is much harder to generate and detect a highly squeezed beam of light.
Effects of Additives on Crystallization in Thin Organic Films

Controlling the shape and growth of crystals in molecular organic solids has ramifications impacting diverse fields, but remains challenging to fully exploit. Here, crystal shapes in organic thin films are manipulated from aspect ratios of 1 to over 50, with corresponding growth rates decreased by an order of magnitude simply by mixing a structurally dissimilar minority species into the film. These effects are mapped with composition and temperature in mixtures of two model small-molecular-weight organic compounds, revealing a continuous variation in crystal shape and growth rate. Other combinations of molecules are discussed, showing additive shape selection in multicomponent mixtures and enabling customization of crystal shape.
Abstract 132: In-hospital Versus Out-of-hospital Code Stroke: Iv Tpa Rate And Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Patients with Code Stroke alert in the hospital may have different risk factors, demographics and differential diagnoses than patients who are admitted with Code Stroke Alert to the ED. Hospitals and health care systems use considerable resources to provide 24/7 acute stroke care access to in-hospital Code Stroke alerts. Most of the utility analyses are based on data from out-of-hospital stroke. We analyzed the frequency of IV tPA use and the likelihood of home discharge in patients with Code Stroke alert in the hospital versus out-of-hospital. Methods: All adult patients with Code Stroke alerts in the UCSD SPOTRIAS Database from 2004 to 2011, excluding patients transferred from acute care facilities; grouped into 1: out-of-hospital Code Stroke alerts (EMS or ED) and 2: in-hospital (all inpatient units) and analyzed by baseline demographics; time to treatment decision; frequency of IV tPA use; diagnosis (Acute Ischemic Stroke, SAH, ICH, TIA, mimic, unknown); discharge disposition (home versus other), 90 day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and adjusted for multiple co-variables. Results: We identified 2,699 Code Stroke alerts; 2,498 in group 1 and 201 in group 2. Patients in group 2 were younger (63.6±15.5 vs 66.8±16.8 years of age, p=0.005), more likely to have diabetes (27.9 vs 21.3%, p=0.03), had higher baseline NIHSS (11.6±11.6 vs 9.0±10.0, 0.007) and likelihood to have a pre-stroke mRS >1 (35.8 vs 27.4%, p=0.01); had fewer acute ischemic strokes (38.8 vs 46.6%), but more stroke mimics (39.8 vs 29.5%), p=0.01,had shorter time from stroke onset to treatment decision (202.2±282.3 vs 275.2±423.1 min, p Conclusion: In-hospital are less likely to lead to IV tPA treatment than out-of-hospital Code Stroke alerts. Patient outcome based on discharge disposition and 90-day mRS is not significantly different from out-of-hospital Code Stroke.
Genital injuries acute evaluation and management

Genital trauma may result in external injuries to the labia, vulva or vagina, urethra and anus and internal injuries to the bony pelvis, bladder, bowels and reproductive organs. Worldwide, the most common cause of genital trauma in reproductive age women is injury sustained during childbirth, but in this chapter we will focus on accidental genital injuries as well as those arising from sexual violence, and female genital mutilation. While genital injuries alone rarely result in death; if not properly managed, chronic discomfort, dyspareunia, infertility, or fistula formation may result. Clinicians need to be able to recognize these injuries and provide initial management, and assure that the patient's mental, emotional and physical needs are addressed.
Forces Shaping an Erythrocyte

Of all cells in living systems the mammalian erythrocyte is structurally the simplest. It consists of an elastic membrane and a liquid interior that is principally a Newtonian solution of hemoglobin with a viscosity of approximately 0.6 centipoise at a concentration of 0.31 kg/1 (Cokelet and Meiselman 1968). Because the interior is liquid, all of the elastic character of the cell resides in the membrane. Therefore, the shape of the cell comes from the natural shape of the membrane and the elastic response of the cell is determined by the elasticity of the membrane. Because of its simple structure and the dominance of the membrane in determining the cellular response to external forces, the erythrocyte has served as a model system for the study and characterization of the mechanical properties of biological membranes (Evans and Skalak 1979).
Dimensions of color: creating high-diffusion layers with composite resin.

The subject of occlusal pit-and-fissure caries diagnosis elicits controversy and multiple opinions, depending on the clinician being questioned. The literature, however, points to which direction the profession should be headed in this field, as did the views expressed by the National Institutes of Health's "Consensus Development Conference on Caries Prevention and Management," held in March 2001, showing the need for more diagnostically specific caries management protocols and methods. Many clinicians have been surprised by the extent and severity of the carious involvement of a specific tooth, particularly when radiological as well as clinical examination indicates that little or no carious process should be present. It is unfortunate that at the stage when an explorer finally detects an occlusal catch, the degree and extent of demineralization and compromised tooth structure is already far advanced. This leads to the removal of large amounts of tooth structure to achieve a functional restoration. The consequential structural weakening of the tooth could have been prevented if the carious lesion had been detected earlier in its clinical course. Finite, quantitative, and reliable early diagnosis of carious occlusal lesions has remained elusive until now. Intercepting the carious process at an early stage leads to a conservative cavity preparation that preserves sound tooth structure and increases the structural integrity of the tooth. This article reviews the literature related to this topic and describes a relatively new diagnostic methodology that uses a laser fluorescence device (KaVo's DIAGNOdent). It is hoped that this article will serve as a catalyst for adopting a science-based approach to detecting and diagnosing occlusal pit-and-fissure caries at an early stage. The cases presented demonstrate the clinical efficacy and simplicity of this method of caries diagnosis, as well as show how invasive and destructive this "hidden caries" phenomenon can be.
Non-interactive zero-sharing with applications to private distributed decision making

We employ the new primitive of non-interactive zero-sharing to realize efficiently and privately various “distributed decision making” procedures. Our methodology emphasizes non-interactiveness and universal verifiability. Non-interactiveness suggests that there is no bilateral communication between the active participants; instead decision making is achieved by unilateral communication between active participants and a security-wise non-trusted server that participates faithfully in the protocol. Universal verifiability suggests that the participants’ actions produce a public audit trail ensuring publicly that they have followed the protocol’s specifications. Based on non-interactive zero-sharing, we present constructions for a private veto protocol, a protocol for simultaneous disclosure of information and a privacy-enhancing “plug-in” tool for electronic voting that can be incorporated in homomorphic-encryption based schemes.
Mental Abnormality, Personal Responsibility, and Tort Liability

This essay will explore the applicability of tort liability to the mentally defective or abnormal. The common law holds that the mentally defective are at fault for their torts. Does this rule, however, square with our ordinary conceptions of justice and personal responsibility? My view is that it does, for the most part, and, moreover, that it ought to, since in general the common law rule makes good sense. I will argue that there is a perfectly defensible analysis of the concept of fault according to which many categories of the mentally impaired are justly held liable for their faulty behavior. While I will argue that mental abnormality in general ought not defeat an ascription of fault in torts, I will also contend that considerations of mental deficiency ought not to be abandoned entirely in determining liability. My view is that mental deficiency may surface as a defense in torts not to deny fault, but to deny that the minimal conditions of agency or action have been satisfied. First I want to argue that neither the traditional nor the prevailing accounts of fault can explain the common law rule.
The horizons of an interdisciplinary synthesis in experimental gerontology

This review summarizes the main points of an interdisciplinary, theoretically established approach to the problem of cell senescence, called membrane hypothesis of aging (MHA). The main knowledge and some new suggestions regarding the damaging and sometimes useful roles of the oxygen free radicals is outlined. The most important experimental results are listed, which harmonize with the MHA. It is emphasized that MHA is not an alternative to the other aging hypotheses but represents a synthesis of most of them. It is pointed out that the new drug design based on the MHA resulted in a useful new molecule which is able to improve the key cell parameters deteriorated by advancing age. The necessity of a closer international cooperation is emphasized, in order to achieve a breakthrough in experimental gerontology within this century.
A more radical human resource development: the time is now

The world is changing and so must human resource development (HRD). A cursory review of the scholarship in the four journals sponsored by the Academy of HRD revealed less than 10% of our discipline...
Do Vaccines Cause Hearing Loss

Natural infections with viruses such as measles and mumps have been associated with both transient and permanent hearing loss. Thus, measles and mumps vaccines prevent such hearing loss by protecting against natural infection. Vaccines currently routinely recommended to the general population in the U.S. have not been shown to cause hearing loss.
Complications of Solid Organ Transplantation: Cardiovascular, Neurologic, Renal, and Gastrointestinal

Despite improvements in overall graft function and patient survival rates after solid organ transplantation, complications can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular complications include heart failure, arrhythmias leading to sudden death, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and allograft vasculopathy in heart transplantation. Neurologic complications include stroke, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, infections, neuromuscular disease, seizure disorders, and neoplastic disease. Acute kidney injury occurs from immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors or as a result of graft failure after kidney transplantation. Gastrointestinal complications include infections, malignancy, mucosal ulceration, perforation, biliary tract disease, pancreatitis, and diverticular disease. Immunosuppression can predispose to infections and malignancy.
Theoretical studies of surface diffusion: Self‐diffusion in the fcc(100) system

Surface self‐diffusion constants for the fcc(100) Lennard–Jonesium system were calculated using classical molecular dynamics methods. Self‐diffusion Arrhenius parameters calculated using pair potentials derived from bulk thermodynamic data were found to be in good agreement with reported Rh(100) experimental values.
Specificity of Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases in the Biosynthesis of the Pseudomonas virulence factor

The Pseudomonas virulence factor (pvf) biosynthetic operon has been implicated in bacterial virulence and signaling. We identified 308 bacterial strains containing pvf homologues that likely produce signaling molecules with distinct structures and biological activities. Several homologues of the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), PvfC, were biochemically characterized and shown to activate l-Val or l-Leu. The amino acid selectivity of PvfC and its homologues likely direct pvf signaling activity. We explored the natural diversity of the active site residues present in 92% of the adenylation domains of PvfC homologues and identified key residues for substrate selection and catalysis. Sequence similarity network (SSN) analysis revealed grouping of PvfC homologues that harbor the same active site residues and activate the same amino acids. Our work identified PvfC as a gatekeeper for the structure and bioactivity of the pvf-produced signaling molecules. The combination of active site residue identification and SSN analysis can improve the prediction of aliphatic amino acid substrates for NRPS adenylation domains.
Inhibition of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica virulence factors by benzyl isothiocyanate.

Abstract Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica are foodborne pathogens with major public health concern in the U.S. These pathogens utilize several virulence factors to initiate infections in humans. The antimicrobial effect of seven glucosinolate hydrolysis compounds against Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 was investigated by the disc diffusion assay. Among the tested compounds, benzyl isothiocyanate (BIT), which exerted the highest antimicrobial activity, was evaluated for its anti-virulence properties against these pathogens. The effect of BIT on motility of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 and Shiga toxin production by E. coli O157:H7 was determined by the motility assay and ELISA procedure, respectively. Confocal and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) procedures were used to determine bacterial damage at the cellular level. Results revealed that sub-inhibitory concentrations (SICs) of BIT significantly inhibited the motility of both bacteria (P
Don't Mention It? Analyzing User-Generated Content Signals for Early Adverse Drug Event Warnings

Post-marketing surveillance entails monitoring, assessing, and detecting adverse events once drugs are approved and released into the market. User-generated content channels such as social media and search query logs are increasingly being leveraged as complementary data sources to traditional databases for post-marketing drug surveillance. However, the existing body of knowledge has leveraged diverse sets of channels, adverse event types, and modeling methods, resulting in varying results and diverging conclusions regarding the viability and efficacy of various online user-generated channels and accompanying modeling methods. The objective of this study is to examine the efficacy and impact of different online user-generated content channels, event characteristics, and event modeling strategies on early detection of adverse drug events. We incorporate a large test bed encompassing millions of tweets, forums postings, and search query logs pertaining to 143 adverse events. We also propose a novel heuristic-based event modeling method capable of improving precision, recall, and timeliness of alerts. Preliminary results shed light on the interplay between user-generated channels and event types, as well as the potential for more robust event modeling methods that go beyond basic mention models. Several current and future research directions are also discussed. The preliminary results reported have important implications for various stakeholder groups, including regulatory agencies, post-marketing monitoring teams, healthcare hedge fund managers, and third-party consumer advocacy groups.
Audit Quality and Readability of the Annual Reports

The purpose of this article is to examine the effects of audit quality, as proxied by Big 4 auditors and industry specialization, on the readability of the annual reports. Assuming that higher audit quality is associated with better readability, the authors empirically test whether (1) the readability enhances if audited by the Big 4 auditor and (2) the readability enhances if audited by the industry-specialized auditor. The authors find that the firms audited by Big 4 firms have less readable annual reports. The industry specialization does not affect readability, though Big 4 industry specialists are positively associated with less readable annual reports. The results also indicate that longitudinally the annual reports are becoming less readable, and the determinants of readability of the annual reports are changing and evolving, as our results differ from Li (2008)'s study. The authors believe that in the opposing forces of plain English movement and evolving and changing financial environment, certainly, the latter is winning.
Topological and vortex optics for machine vision

We introduce a topological, phase-multiplicative transform for low-light imaging and low-cost image reconstruction. The hybrid, single-shot system solves the phase problem and provides a favorable trade-off, effectively boosting signal-to-noise by lowering resolution and sensitivity.