cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Innate Antiviral Immunity in the Skin

Barrier sites such as the skin play a critical role in immune defense. They must maintain homeostasis with commensals and rapidly detect and limit pathogen invasion. This is accomplished in part through the production of endogenous antimicrobial peptides and proteins, which can be either constitutive or inducible. Here, we focus particularly on the control of innate antiviral proteins and present the basic aspects of their regulation in the skin by interferons (IFNs), IFN-independent immunity, and environmental factors. We also discuss the activity and (dys-)function of antiviral proteins in the context of skin-tropic viruses and highlight the relevance of the innate antiviral pathway as a potential therapeutic avenue for vulnerable patient populations and skin diseases with high risk for virus infections.
A Review on Soil-Water Retention Scaling in Centrifuge Modeling of Unsaturated Sands

Centrifuge testing has been increasingly implemented to characterize the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of partially saturated soils. Common procedures include unsaturated flow and capillary ascending from an identified water table. The employment of these methods involves experimental challenges, including ways to generate, control, and measure water content and suction in soil as well as mapping the model results to their prototype values. This article summarizes and reviews the state-of-the-art in centrifuge testing of unsaturated soils and presents the results of a set of centrifuge experiments on unsaturated fine sand layers. The unsaturated condition was developed following two procedures, i.e., steady state infiltration and capillary rise from a saturated zone, and the results were presented in terms of volumetric water content and matric suction. Discharge velocity and centrifuge gravitational field were varied to obtain different uniform degrees of saturation profiles during the steady state flow. The capillary ascending was investigated at different g-levels where the specimen underwent a drying path from a fully saturated condition by consecutively lowering the water table. The results demonstrated a negligible influence of the g-level on the Soil Water Retention Curves. Significant hysteresis was observed during the tests involving steady state infiltration. Although, because of the capillary finger phenomenon, capillary ascending did not occur uniformly along the soil layers, the length scaling factor of 1/N was successfully employed to project prototype capillary height to its model value.
Studies on some strains of tobacco mosaic virus in orchids: I. Biological, chemical, and serological Studies☆

Seven isolates (01-07) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were obtained from commercial orchids. These isolates comprise at least five distinct strains of TMV (01, 02, 04, 05, and 06). Of the five strains, four (01, 04, 05, and 06) are serologically indistinguishable from common TMV, but are distinct from each other and from other TMV strains when symptoms in various tobaccos and amino acid analyses are compared. The orchid strains of TMV differ from common TMV either by only a few amino acid exchanges, or by numerous amino acid exchanges. Strains 01 and 04 possess a pair of exchanges represented by Ile, Val --> Ala, Thr. If these strains are assumed to have arisen from type TMV by spontaneous mutational events, then the observed results suggest that the mutations arose through amination of uracil to cytosine. Strain 06 differs from common TMV by three exchanges, two of which include histidine and methionine residues; both of these amino acids are absent in common TMV. Unlike most orchid TMV strains, strain 02 (isolates 02 and 07) infects few tobaccos and differs from TMV by some 15 amino acid exchanges. It shares antigenic determinants, which are absent in common TMV, with HR and U2 strains of TMV.
Examining the Work–Family Experience of Female Workaholics

This chapter explores the unique experiences of workaholic women, with an emphasis on how this extreme devotion to work can lead to high levels of work-family conflict. The chapter proposes that these negative effects are particularly keen for workaholic women, compared to their male counterparts. It begins with a brief description of workaholism, followed by a summary of the unique struggles of a workaholic woman, who struggles to reconcile societal expectations that she should be intensively committed to her family (schema of family devotion) with her inner drive to be heavily involved in work (workaholic tendencies). In addition to her internal struggles, the workaholic woman is likely to be chastised by family, friends, and others to the extent she is heavily involved with work at the expense of her family. Finally, the chapter briefly summarizes the results of an empirical study involving 215 working women, which examined how discrete emotions provide one mechanism through which a woman’s workaholic behavior can spill over and negatively affect functioning in another domain (i.e., work-to-family and family-to-work conflict). One of the more surprising and intriguing results of this study was that for these women, workaholism was positively related to anger at home, which in turn was related to greater family-to-work conflict. Implications of this study are discussed and integrated into the main ideas presented in the chapter. The chapter concludes with a summary of the main points and a proposed agenda for future research.
The Scientific Revolution and the Social Sciences

Ever since the great revolution which produced modern science there has been a hope that a science of society would be created on a par with the sciences of nature. Two early heroes of the Scientific Revolution, Galileo and Harvey, created radical transformations of science — respectively, a physics of motion and a physiology based on the circulation of the blood — which became paradigms for a new social science.1 Scientific precepts of Bacon and of Descartes were available as guides in this new venture. A primary challenge was to accommodate a new social science to mathematics: either to use classical mathematics for a non-traditional purpose or to introduce a kind of mathematics other than geometry on the Greek pattern. Would-be social scientists could thus find novel ways of dealing with their subject that would transfer to their endeavors the authority of mathematics and the new natural sciences.
Salt and Water Balance — Extrarenal Mechanisms

Current theories of vertebrate evolution suggest that primitive fish-like vertebrates originally evolved in a freshwater habitat and that the appearance of marine forms resulted from a subsequent reinvasion of the sea. It appears that such a reinvasion followed two basic patterns — whilst the bony fish retained a relatively low osmotic concentration of their body fluids and developed in the sea as hypo-osmotic regulators, the early cartilagenous fish elevated the osmotic concentration of their body fluids so as to become isosmotic, or slightly hyperosmotic, to their marine environment. The elevation of body fluid osmotic concentration in the latter group was mainly achieved, however, not by large increases in inorganic ion concentrations, but by the accumulation and retention of certain organic nitrogenous compounds, such as urea and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO). The net result of this early divergence in osmoregulatory strategy means that the two major groups of marine fish, the teleosts and the elasmobranchs, are fundamentally different in their osmotic status, although they do both face broadly similar problems of ionic balance. For elasmobranchs, the basic problems of hydromineral regulation therefore centre on the retention of urea and related compounds, and the elimination of excess ions. This latter process involves an unusual organ, the salt-secreting rectal gland, which has attracted considerable interest, originally as an extremely rich source of the enzyme Na-K-ATPase (Hokin et al. 1973), and more recently as a model system for a particularly widespread, and medically highly important, transport process — the secondary active transport of chloride.
Overall survival for men with high risk prostate cancer and co-morbidities after treatment with external beam radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy.

e17047Background: For men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer (HRPC), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment approach. However, for m...
Performance and Accountability in a Time of Economic Crisis: Editor's Introduction

(2012). Performance and Accountability in a Time of Economic Crisis. Public Performance & Management Review: Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 485-488.
Understanding Transport in Heterojunction Contact Stacks by Simulating Silicon Heterojunction TLM Structures

Most modern silicon heterojunction solar cells use electron/hole-selective contacts in order to efficiently collect photogenerated carriers. Carrier-selective contacts are important as they block minority carriers and optimize the collection of majority carriers. However, these contact stacks contribute to the resistive loss of the solar cell which is detrimental to the overall device performance. In this paper we analyze the origin of these losses in a hole-collecting contact stack which consists of aSi:H(i)/a-Si:H(p)/ITO(n+)/Ag through experiments and simulations. We analyze how the contact resistivity of the structure varies with changes in the intrinsic amorphous silicon layer thickness, temperature and ITO(n+) doping. The transmission line method was used to characterize the resistive losses of the contact stack. The simulations were conducted using a commercial device simulator SILVACO. We include the ITO as a n-type semiconductor layer in our simulations.
Comparison of structural and optical properties of blue emitting In 0.15 Ga 0.85 N/GaN multi-quantum-well layers grown on sapphire and silicon substrates

Six periods of 2-nm-thick In0.15Ga0.85N/13-nm-thick GaN blue emitting multi-quantum-well (MQW) layers are grown on sapphire (Al2O3) and silicon (Si) substrates. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL), Micro-PL, and time-resolved PL are used to compare the structural and optical properties, and the carrier dynamics of the blue emitting active layers grown on Al2O3 and Si substrates. Indium clustering in the MQW layers is observed to be more pronounced on Al2O3 than those on Si as revealed through investigating band-filling effects of emission centers, S-shaped peak emission energy shifts with increasing temperature, and PL intensity-peak energy spatial nonuniformity correlations. The smaller indium clustering effects in MQW on Si are attributed to the residual tensile strain in the GaN buffer layer, which decreases the compressive strain and thus the piezoelectric polarization field in the InGaN quantum wells. Despite a 30% thinner total epitaxial thickness of 3.3 µm, MQW on Si exhibits a higher IQE than those on Al2O3 in terms of internal quantum efficiency (IQE) at temperatures below 250 K, and a similar IQE at 300 K (30% vs 33%). These results show that growth of blue emitting MQW layers on Si is a promising approach compared to those conventionally grown on Al2O3.
Body Mass Index and Clinical Outcomes in Large Vessel Occlusion Acute Ischemic Stroke after Endovascular Therapy.

Background and purpose Several reports have described lower mortality rates in overweight or obese patients as compared to normal weight ones. In the past decade, several studies have investigated the phenomenon, commonly known as the obesity paradox, with mixed results thus far. We sought to determine whether outcomes differ between patients with large vessel occlusion strokes (LVOS) after endovascular therapy (ET) according to their body mass index (BMI). Methods We reviewed our prospectively collected endovascular database at a tertiary care academic institution. All patients that underwent ET for acute LVOS were categorized according to their BMI into 4 groups: (1) underweight (BMI 30). Baseline characteristics, procedural radiological as well as outcome parameters where compared. Results A total of 926 patients qualified for the study, of which 20 (2.2%) were underweight, 253 (27.3%) had a normal weight, 315 (34%) were overweight, and 338 (36.5%) were obese. When compared with normal weight (reference), overweight patients were younger, had higher rates of dyslipidemia and diabetes and higher glucose levels, while obese patients were younger, less often smokers, and had higher rates of hypertension and diabetes and higher glucose levels. Other baseline and procedural characteristics were comparable. The rates of successful reperfusion (modified treatment in cerebral ischemia, 2b-3), parenchymal hematomas, 90-day good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin scale, 0-2), and 90-day mortality were comparable between groups. On multivariate analysis, BMI was not associated with good outcomes nor mortality. Conclusion In patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy, BMI is not associated with outcomes. However, patients who are overweight or obese have more comorbidities and a higher stroke risk and, thus, should strive for a normal weight.
The Many Faces of Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Objectives The objective of this study was to review and illustrate the sometimes diagnostically challenging features of cardiac sarcoidosis. We emphasize variable phenotypes presented at explant and biopsy evaluation and review literature regarding ancillary clinical and pathologic studies to enhance diagnostic accuracy. Methods A literature review was performed and two cardiac sarcoidosis cases were illustrated. Results Our cases and literature review demonstrate the pathologic spectrum of cardiac sarcoidosis. Irregular left ventricular free wall involvement is most common, followed by the interventricular septum and right ventricle. Although granulomas are often composed of tight epithelioid macrophage aggregates, early granulomas comprise loosely associated macrophages with lymphocyte predominance. Chronic disease leads to fibrosis and end-stage heart failure. Sampling errors and variable histology cause low endomyocardial biopsy sensitivity. Conclusions Current guidelines use clinical, radiologic, and immunohistologic criteria for diagnosing cardiac sarcoidosis. Knowledge of these guidelines will assist pathologists in making accurate diagnosis of this disease.
From academic language to language architecture: Challenging raciolinguistic ideologies in research and practice

In this article, I argue that academic language is a raciolinguistic ideology that frames racialized students as linguistically deficient and in need of remediation. I propose language architecture...
Nitrogen and sulfur effects on hard winter wheat quality and asparagine concentration

Grain protein concentration and composition are key factors affecting winter wheat quality and are influenced by wheat genotype, available fertility, and growing conditions. These same parameters can affect free asparagine concentration in grain, and elevated asparagine can lead to acrylamide production in baked food products, which can be a health concern. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of genotype, nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) fertility on protein concentration, protein quality, dough rheology, and asparagine concentration in winter wheat grown on S-deficient soils. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 × 4 factorial design in 2017 and 3 × 2 × 5 factorial design in 2018. There were three levels of N (56, 101 and 146 kg ha⁻¹), two levels of S (0 and 22 kg ha⁻¹), four levels of genotype in 2017, and five levels of genotype in 2018. Protein composition was evaluated as the percent polymeric protein using size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography. In both years, the ratio of polymeric to monomeric protein was increased by sulfur fertilization. Solvent retention capacity (SRC) was evaluated using the whole grain lactic acid-sodium dodecyl sulfate test. In 2018, S application increased the SRC by 217%–308%. However, in 2017, SRC improvement was limited to two genotypes and was modest, likely a consequence of the reduced protein concentration in S-treated plots. Free asparagine concentration averaged 9.8 μmol/g and 20.9 μmol/g in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Asparagine concentration in grain was affected by N, S, genotype, and their interactions. Sulfur application substantially reduced asparagine concentrations in both years. Dough rheology was evaluated in the 2018 trial using the farinograph test. Sulfur application increased average farinograph stability from 9.2 min to 14.6 min. Farinograph stability was effectively predicted by the SRC test (R² = 0.78). These results demonstrate the importance of ensuring adequate S fertility in winter wheat production.
22 – Pile Hammers

Publisher Summary Driving a stick into the ground can be done by one person with a hammer. In earlier times, piles were driven by dropping a weight on the pile. The weight was lifted using various lever and pulley mechanisms. Guiding systems were developed to guide the weight so that it would fall vertically. Early engineers who used this simple mechanism found out that it is more productive to use a smaller fall height. If the fall height is increased, then the time taken for a blow also will increase. It was more productive to have many low-energy blows than few high-energy blows. It was noted that low-energy blows could also minimize damage to piles. The chapter discusses steam-operated pile hammers, diesel hammers, hydraulic hammers, and vibratory hammers. Vibratory hammers consist of three main components: gear case, vibration suppressor, and clamp. Highest amplitude occurs at the start-up and finish of a vibratory pile driver. At start-up, weights inside the vibratory driver accelerate to achieve a high velocity. This induces a high amplitude at the beginning. High amplitude can cause damage to nearby buildings.
Guide to Getting Reproductive Health Care Services for Women with Disabilities Under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

For women with disabilities, obtaining reproductive health care services from physicians is not always easily accomplished. There are non-physical barriers such as: 1) physicians' attitudes that dehumanize women with disabilities, and treat them as asexual: 2) women with disabilities' lack of knowledge about sexuality and reproduction; and 3) physicians' unfamiliarity in treating women with disabilities. There are physical and architectural barriers as well, such as: 1) physicians' offices that are inaccessible; and 2) patients' difficulties in communicating with their physicians if they have a visual or hearing impairment. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed by Congress in 1990, and this statute generally and specifically prohibits physicians, both in their private offices and in state and locally-funded health care clinics, from engaging in certain actions that may prevent women with disabilities from obtaining reproductive health care services. Physicians cannot deny services, cannot give unequal treatment, and cannot give separate treatment to women with disabilities who are covered under the Act. The ADA encourages physicians to integrate patients with disabilities with patients without disabilities. Specifically, the ADA prohibits: 1) eligibility criteria that screen out patients with disabilities; 2) not modifying policies, practices, and procedures to accommodate the needs of women with disabilities; 3) not using auxiliary aids and services or an alternative means of communication with patients with disabilities, unless it is an undue burden; and 4) not removing architectural and communication barriers that are structural in nature, if readily achievable. For violations of the ADA, complaint procedures are listed in this article, as well as sources of information from which women with disabilities and others can obtain more knowledge about the ADA.
Early Outcomes of Multivisceral Transplant Using Hepatitis C-Positive Donors.

Abstract Background In the era of direct-acting antiviral therapies, hepatitis C positive organs offer a strategy to expand the donor pool. Heart failure patients with concomitant renal insufficiency benefit from combined heart/kidney transplant. In 2017, we began utilizing organs from hepatitis C donors for heart/kidney transplants. Methods Characteristics and outcomes of heart/kidney transplants were collected at our institution from 2012 through 2019. We determined patient cohorts by donor hepatitis C antibody status, antibody positive (HCV+) versus antibody negative (HCV-). Outcomes of interest include survival, postoperative allograft function, and waitlist time. Summary and descriptive statistics, as well as survival analyses, were performed. Results Thirty-nine patients underwent heart/kidney transplantation from 2012-2019. Twelve patients received HCV+ organs, while 27 patients received HCV- organs with minimal differences in donor and recipient cohort characteristics. Recipients who consented to receive HCV+ organs had a shorter median waitlist time. HCV+ and HCV- groups had similar perioperative and early postoperative cardiac function and similar rates of delayed renal graft function. HCV+ recipients demonstrated higher creatinine levels at 3-months post-transplant compared to HCV- recipients, but by 1-year post-transplant, creatinine levels in both groups were similar. The groups had similar 30-day and 1-year survival. Conclusions This study is the first and largest single-center series of combined heart/kidney transplants using HCV+ donors. When the potential increased risk of early postoperative renal dysfunction is balanced against similar survival and decreased waitlist time, the results suggest that HCV+ donors are an important source of transplantable organs for heart-kidney transplantation.
Evaluation of K-wireless robotic and navigation assisted pedicle screw placement in adult degenerative spinal surgery: learning curve and technical notes

Background K-wireless robotic pedicle screw instrumentation with navigation is a new technology with large potential. Barriers to adoption are added registration time with robotic-navigated system and reliable screw positioning. Understanding the learning curve and limitations is crucial for successful implementation. The purpose of this study was to describe a learning curve of k-wireless robotic assisted pedicle screw placement with navigation and compare to conventional techniques. Methods A retrospective review of prospectively collected data of 65 consecutive adult patients underwent robotic-navigated posterior spinal fusion by a single spine surgeon. Registration, screw placement, and positioning times were recorded. All patients underwent intra-operative 3D fluoroscopy and screw trajectory was compared to pre-operative CT. Results A total of 364 instrumented pedicles were planned robotically, 311 (85.4%) were placed robotically; 17 screws (4.7%) converted to k-wire, 21 (5.8%) converted to freehand, and 15 (4.1%) planned freehand. Of the 311 robotically placed pedicle screws, three dimensional fluoroscopic imaging showed 291 (93.5%) to be GRS Grade A in the axial plane (fully contained within the pedicle) and 281 (90.4%) were GRS Grade A in the sagittal plane. All breached screw deviations from plan were identified on 3D fluoroscopy during surgery and repositioned and confirmed by additional 3d fluoroscopy scan. Reasons for conversion included morphology of starting point (n=18), soft tissue pressure (n=9), hypoplastic pedicles (n=6), obstructive reference pin placement (n=2), and robotic arm issues (n=1). Seventeen (5.5%) critical breaches (≥2-4 mm) were recorded in 11 patients, 9 (2.9%) critical breaches were due to soft tissue pressure causing skive. Two patients experienced 6 (1.9%) critical breaches from hypoplastic pedicles, and 3 (0.9%) unplanned lateral breaches were found in another patient. One patient (0.3%) experienced skive due to morphology and spinal instability from isthmic spondylolisthesis. Imaging showed 143 screws placed medially to plan (1.2±0.9 mm), 170 lateral (1.2±1.1 mm), 193 screws caudal (1.0±0.6 mm) and 117 cranial (0.6±0.5 mm). No adverse clinical sequelae occurred from implantation of any screw. Conclusions The learning curve showed improvement in screw times for the first several cases. Understanding the learning curve and situations where the robotic technique may be suboptimal can help guide the surgeon safe and effectively for adoption, as well as further refine these technologies.
Sieve: scalable in-situ DRAM-based accelerator designs for massively parallel k-mer matching

The rapid influx of biosequence data, coupled with the stagnation of the processing power of modern computing systems, highlights the critical need for exploring high-performance accelerators that can meet the ever-increasing throughput demands of modern bioinformatics applications. This work argues that processing in memory (PIM) is an effective solution to enhance the performance of k-mer matching, a critical bottleneck stage in standard bioinformatics pipelines, that is characterized by random access patterns and low computational intensity. This work proposes three DRAM-based in-situ k-mer matching accelerator designs (one optimized for area, one optimized for throughput, and one that strikes a balance between hardware cost and performance), dubbed Sieve, that leverage a novel data mapping scheme to allow for simultaneous comparisons of millions of DNA base pairs, lightweight matching circuitry for fast pattern matching, and an early termination mechanism that prunes unnecessary DRAM row activation to reduce latency and save energy. Evaluation of Sieve using state-of-the-art workloads with real-world datasets shows that the most aggressive design provides an average of 326x/32x speedup and 74X/48x energy savings over multi-core-CPU/GPU baselines for k-mer matching.
Pancreas cancer and BRCA: A critical subset of patients with improving therapeutic outcomes.

Background Patients with germline/somatic BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations (g/sBRCA1/2) comprise a distinct biologic subgroup of pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods Institutional databases were queried to identify patients who had PDAC with g/sBRCA1/2. Demographics, clinicopathologic details, genomic data (annotation sBRCA1/2 according to a precision oncology knowledge base for somatic mutations), zygosity, and outcomes were abstracted. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results In total, 136 patients with g/sBRCA1/2 were identified between January 2011 and June 2020. Germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2) mutation was identified in 116 patients (85%). Oncogenic somatic BRCA1/2 (sBRCA1/2) mutation was present in 20 patients (15%). Seventy-seven patients had biallelic BRCA1/2 mutations (83%), and 16 (17%) had heterozygous mutations. Sixty-five patients with stage IV disease received frontline platinum therapy, and 52 (80%) had a partial response. The median OS for entire cohort was 27.6 months (95% CI, 24.9-34.5 months), and the median OS for patients who had stage IV disease was 23 months (95% CI, 19-26 months). Seventy-one patients received a poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor (PARPi), and 52 received PARPi monotherapy. For maintenance PARPi, 10 patients (36%) had a partial response, 12 (43%) had stable disease, and 6 (21%) had progression of disease as their best response. Six patients (21%) received maintenance PARPi for >2 years. For those with stage IV disease who received frontline platinum, the median OS was 26 months (95% CI, 20-52 months) for biallelic patients (n = 39) and 8.66 months (95% CI, 6.2 months to not reached) for heterozygous patients (n = 4). The median OS for those who received PARPi therapy was 26.5 months (95% CI, 24-53 months) for biallelic patients (n = 25) and 8.66 months (95% CI, 7.23 months to not reached) for heterozygous patients (n = 2). Conclusions g/sBRCA1/2 mutations did not appear to have different actionable utility. Platinum and PARPi therapies offer therapeutic benefit, and very durable outcomes are observed in a subset of patients who have g/sBRCA1/2 mutations with biallelic status.
An Update on Neonatal and Pediatric Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is among the most common ophthalmic conditions found in neonatal and pediatric patients. It has a wide range of clinical presentations and outcomes, ranging from self-limiting hyperemia to blindness and life-threatening systemic illness. This review explores the epidemiology, etiology, and diagnosis of conjunctivitis in the neonatal and pediatric population. In addition, it explores recent trends in transmission across different populations and evidence-based approaches that clinicians may use in treating neonatal and pediatric conjunctivitis.
Comfort versus discomfort in interracial/interethnic interactions: Group practices on campus

Purpose – Responding to findings of psychological discomfort impeding interracial/interethnic attitude and skill development, the purpose of this paper is to investigate group-level factors as possible antecedents to individuals’ comfort in interracial/interethnic interactions. Among individuals experiencing diversity during a key developmental stage in life, college students, the study inquires whether group practices that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion among all members differentiate comfortable from uncomfortable interracial/interethnic interactions. As part of the analysis, the construct interracial/interethnic comfort is developed and tested as a measure of interactions that are experienced with ease and confidence. Design/methodology/approach – Scale development methods and structural equation modeling were used to analyze survey data from 360 members of a voluntary service organization at 50 US colleges. Findings – The structural equation analyses indicate that the group practices – shar...
Experiences with Building Disaster Recovery for Enterprise-Class Clouds

The ability to recover from disasters is an important requirement for many enterprises. With enterprise-class workloads increasingly hosted on the cloud, cloud customers have come to expect disaster recovery (DR) as a necessary feature from cloud platforms. This paper identifies key challenges in providing DR as a service on enterprise cloud platforms, and portrays DR solutions for a managed cloud platform. In particular, we present the reference architecture for DR solutions, and describe our practical experiences in providing a portfolio of DR solutions for the cloud platform. The solutions cover diverse target recovery sites, such as an equivalent cloud site, a dedicated recovery site, and a customer-owned site. From the experiences, we provide insights into and lessons on implementing DR for enterprise-class clouds.
Robot learning and error correction

We describe a learning paradigm designed to improve the performance of a robot in a partially unpredictable environment. The paradigm was suggested by phenomena observed in animal behavior and it models aspects of that behavior. (See FI for details.) An implementation as a working program is under way, intended for incorporation in the now operational JPL robot. Rieger's CSA system is the implementation language and includes a plan synthesizer (RI). A brief overview of the robot's existing system organization is given in Thompson's paper on robot navigation in these proceedings (TI).
Generalizations of Quandle Cocycle Invariants and Alexander Modules from Quandle Modules

This paper is a brief overview of some of our recent results in collaboration with other authors. The cocycle invariants of classical knots and knotted surfaces are summarized, and some applications are presented.
Parallel URANS Simulations of an Axisymmetric Jet in Cross-Flow

An Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) solver - WIND is employed to compute the flow field of an axisymmetric synthetic jet in cross-flow. This flow field corresponds to case 2 of NASA Langley Research Center Workshop "CFD validation of synthetic jets and turbulent separation control" held at Williamsburg, VA in March 2004. Parallel Three-dimensional simulations have been performed by employing the appropriate boundary conditions at the diaphragm of the actuator using Shear-Stress Transport (SST), Spalart-Allamaras (SA) and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) turbulence models. The numerical simulations are compared with the experimental data; fair agreement is obtained.
Contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography to diagnose pulmonary thromboembolism in an awake dog with pyothorax.

Objectives To (1) describe the use of contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (CE-MDCT) for identifying pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in an awake dog with pyothorax, (2) report the first documented case of PTE associated with pyothorax in veterinary medicine, and (3) review diagnostic imaging modalities and therapeutic options for PTE. Case Summary A 5-year, 4-month-old female neutered Labrador Retriever was presented for respiratory distress secondary to a pyothorax. The dog underwent thoracic exploratory surgery in which no underlying etiology was identified. Aerobic bacterial culture grew Streptococcus canis. The patient remained hypoxemic despite thoracocentesis and surgery. CE-MDCT was performed without general anesthesia and showed luminal-filling defects in the right cranial and right and left caudal lobar primary pulmonary arteries consistent with PTE. Anticoagulant therapy using unfractionated heparin was initiated. The dog responded well and was discharged 3 days postoperatively. New or Unique Information Provided To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of PTE diagnosed in a dog with pyothorax using CE-MDCT.
Self-assembling methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(carbonate-co-L-lactide) block copolymers for drug delivery.

Abstract Bicalutamide is the most widely used non-steroidal antiandrogen for treating early stage prostate cancer, but suffers variable oral absorption due to its limited aqueous solubility. Thus, our objective was to synthesize novel biodegradable copolymers for the systemic micellar delivery of bicalutamide. Flory–Huggins interaction parameter ( χ FH ) was used to assess compatibility between bicalutamide and poly( l -lactide) or poly(carbonate-co-lactide) polymer pairs. Polyethylene glycol-b-poly(carbonate-co-lactide) [PEG-b-P(CB-co-LA)] copolymers were synthesized and characterized by NMR and gel permeation chromatography. These micelles had average diameter of 100 nm and had a smooth surface and distinct spherical shape. Drug loading studies revealed that adding the carbonate monomer could increase bicalutamide loading. Among the series, drug loading of micelles formulated with PEG-b-P(CB-co-LA) copolymer containing 20 mol% carbonate was about four-fold higher than PEG-b-PLLA and aqueous solubility of bicalutamide increased from 5 to 4000 μg/mL. CMC values for PEG-b-P(CB-co-LA) copolymers was up to 10-fold lower than those of PEG-b-PLLA. In vitro release experiments showed PEG-b-P(CB-co-LA) copolymers to be more efficient in sustaining the release of bicalutamide compared to PEG-b-PLLA. Bicalutamide-loaded PEG-b-P(CB-co-LA) micelles showed significant inhibition of LNCaP cell growth in a dose-dependent manner which was similar to the methanol solution of free drug.
Angular distribution of diffusely transmitted light

The angular dependence of light diffusely transmitted through an opaque medium is shown to depend directly on the reflective nature of the sample boundary, independent of scattering anisotropy. Experimental data are presented for glass frits and for liquid samples, such as colloidal suspensions and aqueous foams, contained in glass cells and placed in either air, water, or glycerin baths. Results compare well with a simple theoretical prediction based on the diffusion approximation and also with random walk simulations. The importance of this work is not only in providing a simple quantitative explanation of a complex transport problem, but in establishing the proper treatment of boundary conditions for diffusion theory analyses of multiple light scattering experiments.
Development of a universal glycosyltransferase assay amenable to high-throughput formats

The development of a general 1-Zn(II) nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) sensor assay for rapid evaluation of glycosyltransferase (GT) activity is described. The 1-Zn(II) NDP sensor assay offers submicromolar sensitivity, compatibility with both purified enzymes and crude cell extracts, and exquisite selectivity for NDPs over the corresponding NDP-sugars. Thus, the 1-Zn(II) NDP sensor assay is anticipated to offer broad applicability in the context of GT engineering and characterization.
Tutorial on color science

The principles of tristimulus colorimetry are presented in tutorial fashion. The classic color matching experiments are described with an emphasis on the assumptions that are implicit in these tests and on the units of measure which should be used to record the results. The transformation to alternative sets of primaries is derived and the geometry of the resulting color spaces is illustrated. An annotated bibliography of relevant literature is also provided.
The afferent projection of mesothoracic bristle hairs in the cricket, Acheta domesticus

One of the sensory systems of the thoracic segments of the cricket,Acheta domesticus, was investigated by using cobalt to stain the axonal arborizations of bristles of various types and locations. The results demonstrate that a variety of hair-like receptors project to the ventral areas of thoracic neuropil previously called ventral association center (VAC) and ventralmost ventral association center (vVAC). Bristles located on the dorsal thorax or wings arborize in or near VAC, while those on the ventral thorax and legs arborize in vVAC. Within the area of neuropil occupied by thoracic bristle afferents, the axonal arborizations are distributed according to the position of the parent receptor at the body surface; thus, medial afferents arborize medially and lateral ones more laterally. For leg afferents, the location of the axonal arborization is also correlated with the various leg segments of origin of the parent receptor and its circumferential location on that segment (Fig. 9).
Vibrations of rectangular laminated plates with embedded sensors and actuators

We use the 3D linear theory of elasticity to analyze the steady state vibrations of a simply supported rectangular linear elastic laminated plate with PZT sensors and actuators. It is assumed that there is perfect bonding between different layers. Numerical results for a plate containing one embedded actuator layer and one embedded sensor layer are presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of temperature and inhibitors on sporulation and the calcium accumulation system in Bacillus megaterium

Abstract 1. 1. Incubation at 37°C seems to prevent the formation of the calcium accumulation system during sporulation in Bacillus megaterium . 2. 2. The temperature sensitive period for the formation of the calcium accumulation system was approximately at the end of growth. 3. 3. KCN inhibited not only the formation of the calcium accumulation system but also calcium uptake, whereas chloramphenicol inhibited the formation of the calcium accumulation system alone.
Retro-MACHOs: π in the Sky?

Shine a flashlight on a black hole, and one is greeted with the return of a series of concentric rings of light. For a point source of light, and for perfect alignment of the lens, source, and observer, the rings are of infinite brightness (in the limit of geometric optics). In this manner, distant black holes can be revealed through their reflection of light from the Sun. Such retro-MACHO events involve photons leaving the Sun, making a π rotation about the black hole, and then returning to be detected at the Earth. Our calculations show that although the light return is quite small, it may nonetheless be detectable for stellar-mass black holes at the edge of our solar system. For example, all (unobscured) black holes of mass M or greater will be observable to a limiting magnitude , at a distance given by 0.02 pc × [10(M/10 M☉)2]1/3. Retro-MACHOs offer a way to directly image the presence of black holes and would be a stunning confirmation of strong-field general relativity.
Corrosion of oxygen-doped tantalum by lithium

The increase in the penetration of tantalum by liquid lithium with increasing oxygen content of tantalum results from the ability of lithium to extract oxygen from tantalum oxides and/or from regions of high oxygen concentrations, accompanied by the creation of minute channels. At low oxygen concentration, oxides are present primarily at the grain boundaries and the lithium penetration is primarily intergranular. At high oxygen concentration, oxides and/or regions of high oxygen concentration are present both at the grain boundaries and within the grains; lithium penetration is both intergranular and transgranular. For a specific oxygen concentration, the severity of corrosion decreases with increasing temperature because (1) the oxygen solubility increases with temperature, decreasing the number of oxide particles and/or regions of high oxygen concentration, and (2) the diffusivity of oxygen in tantalum increases, allowing more rapid oxygen removal at the tantalum lithium interface.
Norms as a tool of analysis in the economics of education: A contribution of Massy and Zemsky

Abstract This paper suggests how Massy and Zemsky's concept of decision-making norms has promise as a tool to support the modeling of economic choices within educational organizations. This concept's practical value would be supported by: analysis of how informational economies are achieved through the delegation of certain relatively routine decisions reflected in norms to administrative personnel; developing criteria for inferring whether observed deviations from decision-making norms are permanent or transitory; and, most important, the development of informationally efficient mechanisms for making norms forward looking in terms of changes in the environment affecting the organization's productivity and financing.
Antivirals and antibiotics for influenza in the United States, 1995--2002.

Purpose To measure the rates of antiviral and antibiotic prescribing for patients diagnosed with influenza in the United States. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of visits to ambulatory clinics and emergency departments in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) with a diagnosis of influenza that occurred in seven influenza seasons between 1 October 1995 and 31 May 2002 (n = 1216). Results There were an estimated 22 million visits (95%CI, 17–26 million visits) with a diagnosis of influenza to community ambulatory clinics (88% of visits), hospital ambulatory clinics (3%) and emergency departments (9%) in the United States between the 1995–1996 and the 2001–2002 influenza seasons, inclusive. The sample was 63% adults, 44% male and 84% white. Physicians prescribed antivirals in 19% of visits and antibiotics not associated with an antibiotic-appropriate diagnosis in 26% of visits. In multivariable modeling, independent predictors of antiviral prescribing were adult age (OR, 2.1; 95%CI, 1.1–4.0) and Medicare insurance (OR, 0.1 compared to private insurance; 95%CI, 0.0–0.6). Antiviral prescribing was marginally associated with influenza season (OR, 1.2 per influenza season; 95%CI, 1.0–1.4). Independent predictors of antibiotic prescribing were influenza season (OR, 0.8 per influenza season; 95%CI, 0.7–0.9), male sex (OR, 0.6; 95%CI, 0.4–0.9), adult age (OR, 2.3; 95%CI, 1.2–4.2) and emergency department visits (OR, 0.5 compared to community ambulatory visits; 95%CI, 0.3–0.8). Conclusions Physicians prescribed antiviral medications to 19% of patients they diagnosed with influenza; the proportion that would have been clinically appropriate is unknown. In contrast, physicians prescribed apparently inappropriate antibiotics to 26% of these same patients, a rate that, encouragingly, decreased over time. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Precipitation and irradiation damage in proton-irradiated palladium-chromium alloys

Irradiation damage of Pd-Cr alloys containing 15, 20 and 25 at % Cr was studied over the temperature range 100 to 550° C, primarily in samples irradiated to a dose of 0.7 d.p.a. The solubility limit in this range of temperatures varies from 22 to 38% Cr, and precipitation of a phase having the L12 crystal structure was observed in unirradiated samples of the 25% Cr alloy aged at temperatures as low as 100° C. Octahedrally shaped voids, with faces parallel to {1 1 1}, were found only in the 25% Cr alloy irradiated from 350 to 550° C, but not in the other alloys at any temperature. The undersized chromium atoms migrate to point-defect sinks during irradiation, resulting in solute segregation and, eventually, precipitation under certain conditions. The precipitation of the L12 phase, which is the thermodynamically stable phase at higher chromium contents, was irradiation-induced at dislocation loops, voids and grain boundaries in the more concentrated undersaturated alloys. This irradiation-induced precipitation was observed in the mid-range and surface regions of the samples containing 20 and 25% Cr, but not in those containing 15% Cr. The behaviour of these alloys is compared with Pd-Fe and Ni-Si alloys, which have also been proton-irradiated in this laboratory, and the similarities and differences are noted and discussed.
Des lead-in to use of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogs in treatment of metastatic carcinoma of prostate

Abstract Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs have been shown to be an effective alternative endocrine treatment of metastatic prostatic carcinoma. After a transient stimulation of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) during the first week of therapy, continued administration of LHRH analogs has reliably suppressed serum androgens to castrate levels. About 10 per cent of previously untreated patients begun on LHRH therapy will experience transient worsening of disease symptoms corresponding to the initial rise in androgen levels. In an attempt to eliminate the early rise of T and DHT, 9 patients with metastatic prostatic carcinoma were pretreated with diethylstilbestrol (DES), 3 mg/day, for one week prior to the initiation of LHRH therapy. Following this, both DES and LHRH were given concomitantly for a week, after which DES was discontinued. LHRH was then continued as long as patients experienced clinical benefit. T and DHT levels were performed pre-study and on days 4, 8–11, 13, 15, and 29 of study. Results indicate that pretreatment with DES did not completely prevent the rise in T and DHT seen during the first week of LHRH therapy, although T and DHT levels rose to only slightly above baseline during the first four days. T and DHT levels then markedly decreased, and castrate levels were achieved by day 29 of treatment.
Observations on Trichosphaerium platyxyrum sp. n.

SYNOPSIS. Trichosphaerium platyxyrum sp. n., a marine testate rhizopod, is described. The schizont is ∼ 67 /μm in diameter, sheathed with a membranous test of fibrils and matrix covered with thin, straight, blade-shaped calcitic spicules. The gamont is ∼ 63 μm in diameter with a membranous test devoid of spicules. The tests of both stages contain circular apertures through which extend short dactylopodia. Locomotion is by lobopodia. Both the schizont and gamont are multinucleate with a mean of 38 nuclei/schizont and 23/gamont. Observed reproduction in both is by binary fission with variations described for the gamont. The type locality is the reef flat of Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. It is suggested, but not confirmed, that Schaudinn's description of the life cycle of Trichosphaerium sieboldi may be extended to other species of Trichosphaerium.