cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE RATIONAL SYMMETRIC SIGNATURE OF MANIFOLDS WITH FINITE FUNDAMENTAL GROUP

Let M be a closed, oriented manifold of dimension 2k. Poincart duality asserts that the rational intersection form (, )a : Hk@f; Q) x Hk(M; Q) -+ Q defined by (a, fl)o = (ctujl)[M] is a non-singular (- l)k-symmetric bilinear pairing. The isometry class of the rational intersection form is determined by the rank if k is odd and by the rank and signature if k is even. We wish to make a corresponding analysis of the equivariant intersection form in the case where M is the total space of a finite G-cover. Let G be a finite group and w: G + { f l} a homomorphism. A free (G, w)-manifold is a closed, oriented manifold M with a free G-action, so that for all g E G, g* [M] = w(g) [M]. If N is a closed manifold with finite fundamental group, its universal cover is a free (n,N, w,N)-manifold. The intersection form of a (G, w)-manifold satisfies the equivariance property (ga, g& = w(g)(m, &. The form has an invariant Lagrangian if there is a G-invariant subspace V c Hk(M; Q) so that I/ is equal to its orthogonal complement 1/l = {/?I (V, p>o = O}. S’ mce QG is semisimple, a form with an invariant Lagrangian admits a complementary Lagrangian, so is equivariantly hyperbolic. Our main result is:
A Cognitive Perspective on the Experience of Sexual Arousal

Much of the important research in human sexual functioning has consisted of surveys and descriptions of sexual acts or analyses of the biological components of the sexual response. This paper presents an analysis of cognitive factors that affect the way in which physiological and interpersonal events are defined and experienced as sexual. Research and theory from current social psychological investigations of emotions are discussed, and the implications for understanding sexual arousal are highlighted. An analysis of specific cognitive events relevant to sexual arousal is presented, including topics such as labeling of physiological arousal, monitoring of sexual arousal cues, varieties and consequences of self-observations, and the effects of expectations. The possiblities of gender and other individual differences are noted, and implications for understanding and treating sexual dysfunction are discussed.
Observed Field Tolerance of Caddisfly Larvae (Hesperophylax sp.) to High Metal Concentrations and Low pH

Abstract Tolerance of Hesperophylax sp. to a low pH mine tailings seep which contained high concentrations of heavy metals was documented in Lake County, Colorado.
Generalized Kähler Potentials from Supergravity

We consider supersymmetric \({\mathcal{N} = 2}\) solutions with non–vanishing NS three–form. Building on worldsheet results, we reduce the problem to a single generalized Monge–Ampere equation on the generalized Kahler potential K recently interpreted geometrically by Lindstrom, Rocek, Von Unge and Zabzine. One input in the procedure is a holomorphic function w that can be thought of as the effective superpotential for a D3 brane probe. The procedure is hence likely to be useful for finding gravity duals to field theories with non–vanishing abelian superpotential, such as Leigh–Strassler theories. We indeed show that a purely NS precursor of the Lunin–Maldacena dual to the β–deformed \({\mathcal{N} = 4}\) super–Yang–Mills falls in our class.
Bladder reconstitution with bone marrow derived stem cells seeded on small intestinal submucosa improves morphological and molecular composition.

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Tissue engineering has been used for bladder augmentations with small intestinal submucosa (SIS). Although favorable short-term outcomes have been reported, long-term followup has been poor. We investigate whether tissue engineering with stem cells improves the morphological and genetic composition.Materials and Methods:: A total of 33 Lewis rats (Harlan Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana) were used to investigate bladder augmentations with 4-layer SIS in certain groups, including the control group (sham operation), partial cystectomy with oversewn defect group (OG), augmentation with unseeded SIS group (USG) and augmentation with stem cell seeded SIS group (SSG). Bladders from 4 rats per group were harvested 1 and 3 months after surgery. Morphological analyses were performed using Masson’s trichrome and immunohistochemical staining with cytokeratin AE1/AE3, smooth muscle α-actin and S100. Gene expression was evaluated using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain ...
New tricks for an old measure: The development of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–Brief (BIS-Brief).

The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), a 30-item self-report measure, is one of the most commonly used scales for the assessment of the personality construct of impulsiveness. It has recently marked 50 years of use in research and clinical settings. The current BIS-11 is held to measure 3 theoretical subtraits, namely, attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness. We evaluated the factor structure of the BIS using full information item bifactor analysis for Likert-type items. We found no evidence supporting the 3-factor model. In fact, half of the items do not share any relation with other items and do not form any factor. In light of this, we introduce a unidimensional Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief (BIS-Brief) that includes 8 of the original BIS-11 items. Next, we present evidence of construct validity comparing scores obtained with the BIS-Brief against the original BIS total scores using data from (a) a community sample of borderline personality patients and normal controls, (b) a forensic sample, and (c) an inpatient sample of young adults and adolescents. We demonstrated similar indices of construct validity that is observed for the BIS-11 total score with the BIS-Brief score. Use of the BIS-Brief in clinical assessment settings and large epidemiological studies of psychiatric disorders will reduce the burden on respondents without loss of information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
A perforated plate stacked Si/glass heat exchanger with in-situ temperature sensing for joule-thomson coolers

This paper reports a micromachined recuperative heat exchanger integrated with in-situ temperature sensors. In this design, numerous high-conductivity silicon plates, integrated with platinum resistance temperature detectors (Pt RTDs) are fabricated and stacked alternating with low- conductivity Pyrex spacers. The device is intended for use with Joule-Thomson (J-T) coolers. The fabricated versions of the device have a footprint of 1 x 1 cm2, and lengths of up to 2 cm. Tests at cryogenic temperatures (120-210 K) show that the effectiveness of the heat exchanger is as high as 0.785. In a preliminary J-T self-cooling test, the temperature at the expansion orifice dropped 13 K from the inlet temperature for an inlet pressure of 527 kPa (76 psia). The integrated Pt RTDs presented a sensitivity of 0.26%/K in the linear operational range of 150-300 K, but remained usable at temperatures below that range. Details regarding evaluation apparatus are discussed.
Solar Cells on Foreign Substrates Using Poly-Si Thin Films by Metal Induced Growth

The poly-Si film was deposited by using the metal-induced growth (MIG) method on tungsten substrates. By making Au/n-Si Schottky photo-diodes, doping density effect was studied by using three different doping level Si sputtering targets. Increasing the Si target resistivities from 0.02Ω-cm to 50Ω-cm, open-circuit-voltage (Voc) decreased from 0.22V to 0.14V while short-circuit-current density (Jsc) increased from 1.55mA/cm 2 to 2.42mA/cm 2 . C-V results revealed a high charge density in the device, which may be due to the oxygen thermal donor effects. Using an oxygen filter for the sputtering gas effectively reduced the charge densities and increased the Jsc value. The p/n junction solar cells were fabricated by using ion implantation at 10 13 ∼10 14 cm −2 dose and 100∼200keV. The cells with wider emitter layer by double-ion implantation gave higher Jsc and Voc values. Passivation of the Si film by using hydrogenation improved the Jsc, Voc and spectral response of the solar cells.
Multiplication of cellular radio capacity by blind adaptive spatial filtering

A scheme for cellular radio which greatly increases the allowable number of simultaneous users in each cell is proposed. The scheme employs space-division multiplexing by means of an adaptive antenna array at the base station (1) to separate the temporally and spectrally overlapping signals of users that arrive from different locations within the cell and to mitigate multipath fading and shadowing at the base station and (2) by reciprocity to transmit directively to minimize interfering signals arriving at the mobile units and to mitigate multipath fading and shadowing at the mobile units. A novel aspect of the proposed scheme is that no training signals are required for adaptation, nor are computationally intensive direction-finding methods required, nor is any calibration data required for the array. Results from computer simulations on the performance of the new scheme show that the proposed scheme can accommodate up to five times as many users as a proposed CDMA scheme using the same system bandwidth. >
Attenuation of ischemic liver injury by monoclonal anti-endothelin antibody, AwETN40 ☆

Abstract Background: Enhanced production of endothelin-1 (ET-1), vasoconstrictive 21 amino acids produced by endothelial cells during ischemia and after reperfusion of the liver, is known to cause sinusoidal constriction and microcirculatory disturbances, which lead to severe tissue damage. Using a 2-hour hepatic vascular exclusion model in dogs, we tested our hypothesis that neutralization of ET-1 by monoclonal anti-ET-1 and anti-ET-2 antibody (AwETN40) abates vascular dysfunction and ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver. Study Design: After skeletonization, the liver was made totally ischemic by cross-clamping the portal vein, the hepatic artery, and the vena cava (above and below the liver). Veno-venous bypass was used to decompress splanchnic and inferior systemic congestion. AwETN40, 5 mg/kg, was administered intravenously 10 minutes before ischemia (treatment group, n=5). Nontreated animals were used as controls (control group, n=10). Animal survival, hepatic tissue blood flow, liver function tests, total bile acid, high-energy phosphate, ET-1 levels, and liver histopathology were studied. Results: Treatment with AwETN40 improved 2-week animal survival from 30% to 100%. Hepatic tissue blood flow after reperfusion was significantly higher in the treatment group. The treatment significantly attenuated liver enzyme release, total bile acid, and changes in adenine nucleotides. Immunoreactive ET-1 levels in the hepatic venous blood of the control group showed a significant increase and remained high for up to 24 hours after reperfusion. Histopathologic alterations were significantly lessened in the treatment group. Conclusions: These results indicate that ET-1 is involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver, which can be ameliorated by the monoclonal anti-ET-1 and anti-ET-2 antibody AwETN40.
Differential Effects of Ethanol on Memory in Adolescent and Adult Rats

Previous studies have shown that ethanol inhibits memory-related synaptic activity and plasticity more potently in hippocampal slices from immature rats, compared with those taken from adults. We therefore hypothesized that ethanol would more potently attenuate the acquisition of spatial memory in adolescents, compared with adult rats. Adult (65 days of age) and adolescent (30 days of age) male rats were given five daily trials on a spatial memory task in a Morris Water Maze. The animals from each age group were subdivided into three subgroups. Each day, thirty minutes before training, the animals in each subgroup were given an intraperitoneal injection of 1.0 g/kg of ethanol, 2.0 g/kg of ethanol, or the saline vehicle. Training continued daily until the control animals had reached a performance criterion. Ethanol treatment significantly impaired spatial memory acquisition in the adolescent rats, but did not impair acquisition in adult rats. A separate experiment with identical treatment groups showed that ethanol did not impair acquisition of a nonspatial memory task in the water maze in animals from either age group. These experiments show that the acquisition of spatial, but not nonspatial, memory is more potently impaired by ethanol in adolescent animals, compared with adults.
Endovascular repair of descending thoracic aneurysms: results with "on-label" application in the post Food and Drug Administration approval era.

Background Most studies of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) published since the technology gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in March 2005 have included multiple applications including dissection, trauma, and "hybrid" approaches, all of which are currently "off-label." However, little post-approval data exist for the only FDA-approved application, namely descending thoracic aneurysm (DTA). The purpose of this study was to examine our experience with TEVAR for aneurysms limited to the descending thoracic aorta. Methods Between March 23, 2005 (date of initial FDA approval) and April 6, 2009, 210 TEVAR procedures were performed at our institution. Of these, 79 (38%) were for saccular (n = 31) or fusiform (n = 48) DTA and form the basis of this report. Patients requiring "hybrid" approaches other than carotid-subclavian bypass were excluded. Devices utilized were Gore TAG (W. L. Gore Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) (n = 67; 85%), Zenith TX2 (Cook Medical Incorporated, Bloomington, IN) (n = 10; 13%), and Medtronic Talent (Medtronic, Inc, Santa Rosa, CA) (n = 5; 6%); 3 (4%) patients received more than one type of device. Results Median patient age was 73 ± 4 years; 35 (44%) were female. Mean aortic diameter was 5.8 ± 1.8 cm. Twenty-four (30%) procedures were urgent-emergent. Thirty-day in-hospital rates of death, stroke, and permanent paraplegia-paresis were 5.1% (n = 4; 1.9% elective mortality), 2.5% (n = 2), and 1.3% (n = 1), respectively. The median postoperative length of stay was 3.0 days (25th and 75th percentiles=2 and 6, respectively). At a mean follow-up of 23 ± 17 months (range, 6 to 55), there were 2 (2.5%) late aortic deaths from graft infection (n = 1) and aneurysm rupture (n = 1). Overall actuarial midterm survival is 73% at 55 months, with an aorta-specific actuarial survival of 86% during this same time interval. Five patients (6.3%) required late (>30 days) secondary endovascular re-intervention for type I (n = 4) or type II (n = 1) endoleak; re-intervention was successful in 4 of 5. Conclusions Despite the advanced age, comorbid conditions, and significant incidence of urgent-emergent status of patients presenting with DTA, on-label application of TEVAR yields excellent 30-day and midterm outcomes, especially when compared with historic rates of morbidity and mortality with open repair. However, "on-label" applications represent a minority of current TEVAR use, likely due to the relative scarcity of DTA. These data appear to support the increasing utilization of TEVAR as a treatment strategy for this pathology.
Source-based QoS service routing in distributed service networks

Based on the distributed and composable services model, the QoS service routing/composition problem has emerged as the middleware support for multimedia applications. Different from the conventional QoS data routing, QoS service routing presents additional challenges caused by the service functionality, service dependency, resource requirement heterogeneity, and loop issues that make solutions for QoS data-routing inapplicable to QoS service routing. Existing solutions for addressing this problem are either not generic enough or not integrated, so that they either become inapplicable to new environments/metrics or the computed paths are sub-optimal. This paper presents a generic and integrated approach for computing optimal service paths, and shows an aggregate performance function - F- that optimizes several QoS metrics at the same time. Simulations show that F is superior, and integrating service configuration selection with service path finding is desirable.
TGFβ/activin/nodal signaling is necessary for the maintenance of pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) self-renew indefinitely and give rise to derivatives of all three primary germ layers, yet little is known about the signaling cascades that govern their pluripotent character. Because it plays a prominent role in the early cell fate decisions of embryonic development, we have examined the role of TGFβ superfamily signaling in hESCs. We found that, in undifferentiated cells, the TGFβ/activin/nodal branch is activated (through the signal transducer SMAD2/3) while the BMP/GDF branch (SMAD1/5) is only active in isolated mitotic cells. Upon early differentiation, SMAD2/3 signaling is decreased while SMAD1/5 signaling is activated. We next tested the functional role of TGFβ/activin/nodal signaling in hESCs and found that it is required for the maintenance of markers of the undifferentiated state. We extend these findings to show that SMAD2/3 activation is required downstream of WNT signaling, which we have previously shown to be sufficient to maintain the undifferentiated state of hESCs. Strikingly, we show that in ex vivo mouse blastocyst cultures, SMAD2/3 signaling is also required to maintain the inner cell mass (from which stem cells are derived). These data reveal a crucial role for TGFβ signaling in the earliest stages of cell fate determination and demonstrate an interconnection between TGFβ and WNT signaling in these contexts.
Practice Guidelines for Infectious Diseases: Rationale for a Work in Progress

The originator of guidelines is difficult to determine. I used to believe that it was Moses and his Ten Commandments, a set of rules that have not achieved full implementation. Instead, I believe it all began with Hammurabi, the Mesopotamian King of Babylon [1]. A statesman and codifier of traditions, he wrote a code of 282 laws and guidelines and posted them throughout his kingdom. He ruled during the Middle Bronze Age, between 1728 and 1686 B.C., or ~500 years before the Mosaic Code was promulgated. Examples of the medical guidelines in the Code of Hammurabi are as follows:
Denudation of the entire mucosa of the canine urinary bladder using the neodymium: YAG laser with the MTR 1.5 contact probe

Although the procedure of mucosal stripping or denudation of the urinary bladder was developed over 25 years ago to treat the potentially neoplastic mucosa in patients with low-grade superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, the procedure was abandoned because of serious complications, including short-term bladder hemorrhage and urinary extravasation and long-term severe bladder contracture, ureteral reflux, and hydronephrosis. In this study, we used the neodymium:YAG laser with the MTR 1.5 contact probe to denude the entire mucosa of the canine urinary bladder. Evaluation of our results showed that mucosal denudation by this technique can be performed simply and safely without complications. Specifically, we encountered no significant bladder hemorrhage, urinary extravasation, bladder contracture, ureteral reflux, or hydronephrosis. We believe that the denudation procedure may be useful as a surgical means of treating the entire bladder mucosa in patients with proliferative epithelial lesions of the bladder including multifocal carcinoma in situ.
Entity Clustering Across Languages

Standard entity clustering systems commonly rely on mention (string) matching, syntactic features, and linguistic resources like English WordNet. When co-referent text mentions appear in different languages, these techniques cannot be easily applied. Consequently, we develop new methods for clustering text mentions across documents and languages simultaneously, producing cross-lingual entity clusters. Our approach extends standard clustering algorithms with cross-lingual mention and context similarity measures. Crucially, we do not assume a pre-existing entity list (knowledge base), so entity characteristics are unknown. On an Arabic-English corpus that contains seven different text genres, our best model yields a 24.3% F1 gain over the baseline.
Gastrointestinal lymphatics in health and disease

Lymphatics perform essential transport and immune regulatory functions to maintain homeostasis in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Although blood and lymphatic vessels function as parallel and integrated systems, our understanding of lymphatic structure, regulation and functioning lags far behind that of the blood vascular system. This chapter reviews lymphatic flow, differences in lymphangiogenic and hemangiogenic factors, lymphatic fate determinants and structural features, and examines how altered molecular signaling influences lymphatic function in organs of the GI system. Innate errors in lymphatic development frequently disturb GI functioning and physiology. Expansion of lymphatics, a prominent feature of GI inflammation, may also play an important role in tissue restitution following injury. Destruction or dysregulation of lymphatics, following injury, surgery or chronic inflammation also exacerbates GI disease activity. Understanding the physiological roles played by GI lymphatics is essential to elucidating their underlying contributions to forms of congenital and acquired forms of GI pathology, and will provide novel approaches for therapy.
Protection against Pneumococcal Colonization and Fatal Pneumonia by a Trivalent Conjugate of a Fusion Protein with the Cell Wall Polysaccharide

Cell wall polysaccharide (CWPS), pneumolysin, and surface adhesin A (PsaA) are antigens common to virtually all serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), and all have been studied separately for use in protection. Previously we showed that protection against nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization by intranasal vaccination of mice with killed pneumococci is mediated by TH17 cells and correlates with interleukin-17A (IL-17A) expression by T cells in vitro; we have also shown that CWPS and other species-common antigens protect against colonization by a similar mechanism. Here we made a fusion protein of PsaA with the pneumolysin nontoxic derivative PdT and then coupled CWPS to the fusion protein, aiming to enhance immune responses to all three antigens. When given intranasally with cholera toxin adjuvant, the fusion conjugate induced higher serum antibody titers and greater priming for IL-17A responses than an equimolar mixture of the three antigens. The conjugate administered intranasally protected mice against experimental NP colonization by a strain of serotype 6B, while mice immunized with the mixture or with bivalent conjugates were not protected. Subcutaneous immunization with the conjugate and alum adjuvant likewise induced higher antibody titers than the mixture, primed for IL-17A responses, and reduced colonization. The conjugate, but not the antigen mixture, fully protected mice from fatal pneumonia caused by a highly virulent serotype 3 strain. Thus, a covalent construct of three antigens common to all serotypes exhibits protection with both mucosal and systemic administration.
Pharmacokinetic models of dermal absorption

Many studies have used pharmacokinetic (compartment) models for skin to predict or analyze dermal absorption of chemicals. Comparing these models is difficult because the relationships between rate constants and the physicochemical parameters were not always defined clearly, simplifying assumptions built into models sometimes were not stated, and which skin layers were included often were not specified. In this paper we review and compare published one- and two-compartment models for which rate constants were expressed in terms of the physicochemical and physical properties of the skin (i.e., diffusion coefficients, partition coefficients and thickness). Nine one-compartment and two two-compartment models are presented with a consistent nomenclature and clearly defined assumptions. In addition, methods used for estimating the physicochemical parameters required by the various are summarized. These eleven compartment models are compared with calculations from a two-membrane skin model that corresponds better with skin function. Many of the compartment models do not predict key characteristics of the two-membrane skin model, especially the effect of blood flow on skin concentration and penetration rates, even when the same input parameters were used. The compartment models developed by Kubota and by McCarley are better predictors of the two-membrane model results, because these models were developed to match characteristics of the membrane model. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1699–1719, 2001
A search for properties which produce discrimination between cannabinoid psychoactivity and analgesic activity

One long-range goal of our work has been the design of cannabinoid analgesics with reduced psychopharmacological liability. We review here the progress we have made toward this goal. When we began our work on the cannabinoids, no cannabinoid analgesic had been reported that did not also possess significant psychoactivity. We approached the cannabinoid problem by calculating molecular reactivity characteristics (MRCs) of template molecules for each activity: (-)-trans-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) for psychoactivity, and (-)-9-nor-9-betahydroxyhexahydrocannabinol (9-nor-9β-OH-HHC) for analgesic activity
An exploration of Bloom's knowledge, skills, and affective-based goals in promoting development of freshmen engineering students' professional identities

Engineering educators rely on taxonomies such as Bloom's taxonomy to create learning objectives used to develop course syllabi and activities. Many times, faculty use these learning objectives to assess student attainment of engineering competencies as they relate to Engineering Accreditation Criteria (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology-ABET) purposes. One flaw to this approach is that it fundamentally assumes that student performance and completion of an engineering course will reflect the level or extent of professional development by the engineering student. Furthermore, it assumes that through development of a professional competency, students will more readily identify with the engineering profession. The purpose of this work is to explore the extent by which Bloom's taxonomy promotes development of freshmen engineering students' professional identities in an entry level undergraduate engineering course. A lower-level engineering course was selected as studies suggest that attrition and drop-out tends to occur between the first and second year of an engineering degree. From this work, we will begin to shed light on the needs and areas of improvement for freshmen engineering curriculum design (specifically related to selection of curriculum objectives) to promote persistent and committed professional identities in engineering students.
A Serotype-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction for Identification of Pasteurella multocida Serotype 1

SUMMARY. A serotype-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for detection and identification of Pasteurella multocida serotype 1, the causative agent of avian cholera in wild waterfowl. Arbitrarily primed PCR was used to detect DNA fragments that distinguish serotype 1 from the other 15 serotypes of P. multocida (with the exception of serotype 14). Oligonucleotide primers were constructed from these sequences, and a PCR assay was optimized and evaluated. PCR reactions consistently resulted in amplification products with reference strains 1 and 14 and all other serotype 1 strains tested, with cell numbers as low as 2.3 cells/ml. No amplification products were produced with other P. multocida serotypes or any other bacterial species tested. To compare the sensitivity and further test the specificity of this PCR assay with traditional culturing and serotyping techniques, tissue samples from 84 Pekin ducks inoculated with field strains of P. multocida and 54 wild lesser snow geese collect...
The finals stretch: exams week library outreach surveyed

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explore the outreach programming and support services offered at academic libraries during final exams week. The article discusses the need to provide this specialized programming, and its impact on the role of the librarian, and the use of library space. Design/methodology/approach – A 21-question online survey was sent to nine library listservs. Respondents were asked about their library’s planning, implementation and assessment of their programming. Participants described their library’s final exams week outreach activities and offerings. Findings – The survey garnered 279 responses. Nearly 40 per cent of respondents collaborate with campus and non-campus partners to provide programming. Most common offerings include extended library hours; therapy animals; as well as games; and arts and crafts. Nearly 90 per cent of respondents reported utilizing virtual media outlets for communication of final exams week events. Most common challenges included lack of fundi...
On the Computation of Multiphase Flows

This paper presents an assessment of various models that can be used for the multidimensional analysis of single and multiphase flows in nuclear reactor systems. In particular, a model appropriate ...
Broken Symmetry, Emergent Properties, Dissipative Structures, Life

The authors compare symmetry-breaking in thermodynamic equilibrium systems (leading to phase change) and in systems far from equilibrium (leading to dissipative structures). They conclude that the only similarity between the two is their ability to lead to the emergent property of spatial variation from a homogeneous background. There is a well-developed theory for the equilibrium case involving the order parameter concept, which leads to a strong correlation of the order parameter over macroscopic distances in the broken symmetry phase (as exists, for example, in a ferromagnetic domain). This correlation endows the structure with a self-scaled stability, rigidity, autonomy, or permanence. In contrast, the authors assert that there is no developed theory of dissipative structures (despite claims to the contrary) and that perhaps there are no stable dissipative structures at all! Symmetry-breaking effects such as vortices and convection cells in fluids—effects that result from dynamic instability bifurcations—are considered to be unstable and transitory, rather than stable dissipative structures.
Osteomalacia associated with aluminum intoxication in a patient with chronic renal failure

Renal osteodystrophy and continual bone pain developed after excision of hyperplastic parathyroid glands in a 51-year-old woman with chronic renal failure. She was found to have osteomalacia associated with aluminum, which was identified at the boundary between mineralized bone and osteoid on biopsy of the iliac crest. Potential use of bone biopsy in such cases is discussed.
Does Gold as a Substituent Accelerate [3,3] Sigmatropic Shifts?

Quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)-LANL2DZ) were used to assess whether AuL groups attached directly to the π-bonds of 1,5-hexadienes and heterosubstituted analogues lead to a rate ac...
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN POPULATIONS OF THE PINK SALMON, ONCORHYNCHUS GORBUSCHA, POSSIBLE EVIDENCE FOR THE NEUTRAL MUTATION-RANDOM DRIFT HYPOTHESIS

Within the last ten years our knowledge of the amount of genetic variability present in diploid organisms has increased as the result of the us,e of electrophoretic techniques. In a modest spectrum of diploid organisms, the proportion of polymorphic loci per population has been found to range from 20% to 54%. This high level of genetic variability poses a dilemma for if, as is commonly assumed, many of the loci are maintained polymorphic by balancing selection (like overdominance) an intolerable genetic load will result (Lewontin and Hubby, 1966). Several authors (e.g., Milkman, 1967; Sved et al., 1967) have suggested, based on particular selection models, that high levels of genetic variability need not necessarily result in large loads. Kimura (1968), on the other hand, proposed a hypothesis for maintaining high levels of protein variability in populations without incurring a genetic load at all-the neutral mutation-random drift hypothesis. According to, his hypothesis, many of the protein polymorphisms are the result of selectively neutral mutations established by random genetic drift in populations of finite size. Recently, several investigators (Prakash et al., 1969; O'Brien and Maclntyre, 1969; Selander et al., 1969) have admirably attempted to discern whether the observed patterns of protein polymorphism in natural populations are more compatible with a selection, or with the neutral mutationrandom drift, hypothesis. These attempts have been frustrated to a large measure, in my opinion, by a critical lack of information on the rate of migration (gene flow) between populations. Kimura and Maruyama (1971) have demonstrated mathematically, assuming a stepping-stone model, that moderate rates of migration can be effective in equalizing gene frequencies between populations. Thus, similar gene frequencies in distantly spaced populations may be due to similar balancing selection pressures or to random drift of neutral alleles equalized in frequency by gene flow. The present work is similar to the ones cited above in that it also attempts to explain the observed pattern of protein polymorphisms in natural populations. However, this work differs from them in that between certain populations the rate of migration is zero and the selection intensities can very logically be assumed to, be equal. Between other populations, the rate of migration is suspected to, be great and selection intensities may or may not be equal. Presented in this paper are the patterns of variability of several polymorphic enzymes obtained from 32 North American populations (2,500 individuals) of the pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha. The results, I believe, are compatible with the neutral mutation-random drift hypothesis.
Synthetic Polymer Hybridization with DNA and RNA Directs Nanoparticle Loading, Silencing Delivery, and Aptamer Function.

We report herein discrete triplex hybridization of DNA and RNA with polyacrylates. Length-monodisperse triazine-derivatized polymers were prepared on gram-scale by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization. Despite stereoregio backbone heterogeneity, the triazine polymers bind T/U-rich DNA or RNA with nanomolar affinity upon mixing in a 1:1 ratio, as judged by thermal melts, circular dichroism, gel-shift assays, and fluorescence quenching. We call these polyacrylates “bifacial polymer nucleic acids” (bPoNAs). Nucleic acid hybridization with bPoNA enables DNA loading onto polymer nanoparticles, siRNA silencing delivery, and can further serve as an allosteric trigger of RNA aptamer function. Thus, bPoNAs can serve as tools for both non-covalent bioconjugation and structure–function nucleation. It is anticipated that bPoNAs will have utility in both bio- and nanotechnology.
Application of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in diagnosis and treatment of tumors

With excellent biocompatibility,nano-hydroxyapatite has been widely used as a repair material.Recently,the application of nano-hydroxyapatite in diagnosis and treatment of tumor has drawn more and more attention.
Protease receptors in Hodgkin's disease : Expression of the factor Xa receptor, effector cell protease receptor-1, in Reed-Sternberg cells

The expression of a cellular receptor for the blood-clotting protease factor Xa, designated effector cell protease receptor-1 (EPR-1), was investigated in lymphoma. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated prominent reactivity of monoclonal antibodies to EPR-1 with Reed- Sternberg cells in 30 of 35 cases of nodular-sclerosis, lymphocyte- depletion, and mixed-cellularity Hodgkin9s disease (HD). In contrast, several non-Hodgkin9s lymphomas, or the nonneoplastic cellular components of HD, did not react with anti-EPR-1 monoclonal antibodies. A single molecular species of approximately 62 kD, consistent with the size and structural organization of EPR-1, was immunoblotted by an anti- EPR-1 monoclonal antibody from tissue samples of HD, but not from normal lymph nodes. Expression of EPR-1 transcripts in Reed-Sternberg cells was demonstrated by in situ hybridization with an antisense EPR-1 riboprobe, and by amplification of reverse-transcribed HD RNA with EPR- 1-specific primers. These findings identify the factor Xa receptor, EPR- 1, as a novel marker of Reed-Sternberg cells, and suggest its potential role in the histopathogenesis of HD.
Maternal and fetal distribution of drugs in pregnancy.

The disposition of drugs in the maternal-placento-fetal unit is influenced by several inter-reacting processes. Placental transfer of pharmacologically active molecules is modulated by characteristics of the drugs (e.g., lipid solubility, degree of ionization at physiologic pH, molecular weight) and properties of the placenta (e.g., maternal and fetal blood flow, drug metabolism, placental age). The distribution of drugs in the fetus may be determined by differences in permeability of specialized membranes (blood-brain barrier, renal tubule), binding to specific cellular constituents (binding proteins), selective distribution of the fetal circulation, and active secretion of drugs by the yolk sac. In a general sense the pattern of drug distribution in the fetus frequently resembles that of the mother; however unique differences in absolute tissue concentrations of drugs may occur as a result of increased drug transfer rates into specific tissues. Many compounds crossing the placenta initially concentrate in the fetal liver so that levels in systemic fetal blood may be Significantly different from umbilical venous concentrations. Consequently, the detection of unusual patterns of drug distribution in the fetus that may prove useful in assessing the potential hazards of maternal drug therapy will require more comprehensive data than can be provided by umbilical vessel blood concentrations alone.
QoE Inference Without Application Control

Network quality-of-service (QoS) does not always directly translate to users' quality-of-experience (QoE), e.g., changes in a video streaming app's frame rate in reaction to changes in packet loss rate depend on various factors such as the adaptation strategy used by the app and the app's use of forward error correction (FEC) codes. Therefore, knowledge of user QoE is desirable in several scenarios that have traditionally operated on QoS information. Examples include traffic management by ISPs and resource allocation by the operating system (OS). However, today, entities such as ISPs and OSes that implement these optimizations typically do not have a convenient way of obtaining input from applications on user QoE.To address this problem, we propose offline generation of per-application models mapping application-independent QoS metrics to corresponding application-specific QoE metrics, thereby enabling entities (such as ISPs and OSes) that can observe a user's network traffic to infer the user's QoE, in the absence of direct input. In this paper, we describe how such models can be generated and present our results from two popular video applications with significantly different QoE metrics. We also showcase the use of these models for ISPs to perform QoE-aware traffic management and for the OS to offer an efficient QoE diagnosis service.
Diabetes as a Disease of Aging, and the Role of Oxidative Stress

Abstract Life expectancy has increased significantly worldwide but the epidemic of diabetes and cardiovascular complications has also soared simultaneously, particularly in the elderly population. Type 2 diabetes is a predominant factor for aging and is closely associated with the degeneration of different organs in the human body. Breakdown of cellular homeostasis, and oxidative stress, play a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes, and they also contribute to the aging process. Impairment of glucose metabolism as a result of type 2 diabetes also generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues; ROS eventually damage cellular organelles and accelerate aging in diabetic patients. Type 2 diabetes may not be the sole factor for aging but it promotes the process in association with other macrovascular and microvascular complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive impairment. Healthy living in older age requires systematic prevention of diabetes and better management of oxidative stress-induced and associated complications known as ‘metabolic syndrome’.
Are Pre-Assembly Shared Work Experiences Useful for Temporary-Team Assembly Decisions? A Study of Olympic Ice Hockey Team Composition

The purpose of this study was to investigate if pre-assembly shared work experiences among temporary team members facilitate individual and team performance. Archival data from the 2014 Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament (12 teams, 25 players each) was used in the study. Measures of social network centrality were computed based on the pre-assembly shared work experiences among national team members derived from professional and amateur affiliations. These measures were used to predict objective individual and team performance criteria. Players’ closeness centrality scores, from pre-assembly shared work experience networks, positively predicted their goals, assists, and being involved in more positive than negative plays. Teams with less centralized pre-assembly shared work experience network structures tended to perform better than teams with more centralized pre-assembly shared work experience network structures. Temporary teams are commonly used by organizations to perform tasks that are specific, important, and of short duration. Because temporary teams have little time to develop the shared properties required for effective team functioning, assembly decisions are of paramount importance. The results from this study suggest that centrality measures derived from pre-assembly shared work experiences are useful to consider when assembling temporary teams. Few studies have investigated the impact of pre-assembly shared work experiences on individual and team performance. Using objective data, this study provides evidence that pre-assembly shared work experiences relate to individual and team performance in temporary teams, supporting the need for expanded research in this area.
Auto-magnetizing liners for magnetized inertial fusion

The MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion) concept [Slutz et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 056303 (2010)] has demonstrated fusion-relevant plasma conditions [Gomez et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 155003 (2014)] on the Z accelerator using external field coils to magnetize the fuel before compression. We present a novel concept (AutoMag), which uses a composite liner with helical conduction paths separated by insulating material to provide fuel magnetization from the early part of the drive current, which by design rises slowly enough to avoid electrical breakdown of the insulators. Once the magnetization field is established, the drive current rises more quickly, which causes the insulators to break down allowing the drive current to follow an axial path and implode the liner in the conventional z-pinch manner. There are two important advantages to AutoMag over external field coils for the operation of MagLIF. Low inductance magnetically insulated power feeds can be used to increase the drive current, and AutoMa...
The Relationship Between Cardiac Radiation Dose and Mediastinal Lymph Node Involvement in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Abstract Purpose The results from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0617, a dose escalation trial that compared treatment with 60 Gy versus 74 Gy for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), suggested that in these patients, the heart dose from radiation therapy correlates with survival. In particular, the study noted that patients with a high heart V5 and V30 had a poorer overall survival; however, the exact cause of this correlation is not known. We hypothesize that heart dose may be a surrogate for mediastinal nodal involvement, which has prognostic value in NSCLC. This study evaluates the relationship between heart dose and involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with stage III NSCLC treated with radiation therapy. Methods and materials A total of 56 patients were identified and treated with definitive radiation therapy from 2007 to 2014. The heart was recontoured for every patient by a single physician, per the RTOG 1106 contouring atlas. We assessed lymph node station involvement using pretreatment data, and nodal coverage was confirmed on plan review. Results Mean heart dose was found to be significantly higher in patients with multinodal station and level 7 involvement. On Spearman's rank correlation, level 7 was significantly associated with all heart parameters tested ( P Conclusions Our findings suggest that heart dose may be a surrogate for other prognostic factors in stage III NSCLC rather than an independent predictor of outcome.
Additively Manufactured RF Components and Modules: Toward Empowering the Birth of Cost-Efficient Dense and Ubiquitous IoT Implementations

In this review, the particular importance and associated opportunities of additively manufactured radiofrequency (RF) components and modules for Internet of Things (IoT) and millimeter-wave ubiquitous sensing applications is thoroughly discussed. First, the current advances and capabilities of additive manufacturing (AM) tools are presented. Then, completely printed chipless radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems, and their current capabilities and limitations are reported. The focus is then shifted toward more complex backscattering energy autonomous RF structures. For each of the essential components of these structures, that encompass energy harvesting and storage, backscattering front ends, passive components, interconnects, packaging, shape-chaging (4-D printed) topologies and sensing elements, current trends are described and representative stateof- the-art examples reported. Finally, the results of this analysis are used to argue for the unique appeal of AM RF components and systems toward empowering a technological revolution of costefficient dense and ubiquitous IoT implementations.
Cervical Facet Injection/Medial Branch Block

64490: Zygapophyseal joint (or nerves innervating that joint) with image guidance, cervical or thoracic; single level
Immersion, Reflection, Failure: Teaching Graduate Students to Teach Writing Online

A common challenge facing those who prepare graduate students to teach writing online is the need to help those students connect online writing instruction (OWI) theory with their classroom practic...
Pragmatic instruction may not be necessary among heritage speakers of Spanish: A study on requests

This paper studies the pragmatic competence of U.S. heritage speakers of Spanish in an attempt to determine (a) the degree of pragmatic transfer from English to Spanish experienced by heritage speakers when producing different types of requests in Spanish; and (b) how to best teach pragmatics to students of Spanish as a Heritage Language (SHL). Additionally, the study compared the differences and similarities between the development of the pragmatic competence in SHL students and in students of Spanish as a second language (L2). Oral and written discourse completion tasks were used to assess requests in Spanish HL/L2 pragmatics. The results indicate that the pragmatic interventions only helped the Spanish L2 group, and that the Spanish HL group was already aware of the pragmatic principles that regulate requests in Spanish. Furthermore, no cases of negative pragmatic transfer were found in the Spanish HL data, so the study concluded that there is no need to teach heritage students pragmatic norms.