cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new method to estimate the critical distortion of random fields

It was shown by C.M. Newman and G.A. Baker (1991) that the critical distortion d/sub c/ of the Ising model on z/sup k/ is related to the radius of convergence R of the classical Mayer series by d/sub c/=R/(1+R). An approach from statistical mechanics to estimate R as well as d/sub c/ by using the matrix representation of Mayer series is found. >
Tools for Teaching Gas Separation Using Polymers

This article describes analytical and web-based models of gas separation using polymer membranes. Emphasis is placed on using simple analytical models to develop physical insight and a more powerful, web-based simulation tool to addres realistic examples of gas separation using polymer membranes. Several examples are provided to serve as in-class exercises or homework problems.
Linkages among project management maturity, PMO, and project success

In spite of growth in project management profession and publications, project success is not a common occurrence. Conventional approaches to improve project success are to consider project performance factors that would contribute project success and to aim for organization project management maturity. This research effort is aimed to examine linkages among project success, project performance factors, and organization project management maturity. This research results suggest that organizations with project portfolio management are likely to complete projects within budget. Further, customer satisfaction is considered an important project success indicator compared to completing project within cost and time.
Munchausen syndrome by proxy and sleep disorders medicine

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a factitious disorder of childhood in which a parent fabricates medical history or produces signs of illness in a child to keep the child in a sick role. Since approximately half of all cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy are presentations of central nervous system illness, such as excessive daytime sleepiness and near-miss sudden infant death syndrome, sleep disorders centers are likely diagnostic consultants for the evaluation of children involved in this disorder. We review characteristics that may suggest that a particular case has an increased likelihood of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The recent presentations of two cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy to sleep disorders centers are discussed as examples.
Contemporary Management of Acute Aortic Occlusion Has Evolved but Outcomes Have Not Significantly Improved

Background Most existing series of acute aortic occlusion (AAO) predate the changes in surgical and endovascular therapy of the last 2 decades. We examined the contemporary management and outcomes of AAO. Methods We reviewed consecutive patients with AAO at a tertiary referral center from 2004 to 2012. Outcomes were stratified and compared according to etiology and procedure performed. Results AAO in 29 patients was due to in situ thrombosis in 21 (72%) and embolism in 8 (28%) patients. Vascular patients with embolism were on average older (77 ± 7 vs. 66 ± 12 years, P = 0.02) and had higher rates of atrial fibrillation (100% vs. 20%, P = 0.0002) and congestive heart failure (75% vs. 0%, P = 0.0001) in comparison with those with in situ thrombosis. Neurologic deficit was present in 16 (55%) patients. Six patients (21%) presented with bilateral paresis/paralysis secondary to spinal cord or lumbosacral plexus ischemia, and primary neurologic etiology was investigated before vascular consultation was obtained in 4 of these 6 patients. Of the 29 patients, 28 (97%) underwent revascularization including transfemoral embolectomy (n = 6), transperitoneal aortoiliac thrombectomy (n = 2), axillobifemoral bypass (n = 10), aortobifemoral bypass (n = 6), and endovascular therapy including thrombolysis, angioplasty ± stenting (n = 4). In-hospital mortality was 31% and did not vary significantly according to etiology (embolism 38% vs. in situ thrombosis 29%, P = 0.67). In-hospital mortality varied widely according to procedure (transfemoral embolectomy 50%, aortoiliac thrombectomy 100%, axillobifemoral bypass 30%, aortobifemoral bypass 0%, and endovascular therapy 25%, P = 0.08). Major morbidity (59%), length of stay (8.6 ± 8.0 days), and discharge to a rehabilitation facility (50%) did not vary by etiology or procedure. At a media follow-up of 361 ± 460 days (range 3–2014), overall survival was 42%. There were no amputations among 20 survivors of initial hospitalization. Conclusions AAO is now more commonly caused by in situ thrombosis rather than embolism. A high index of suspicion for AAO is required for prompt diagnosis and treatment, particularly when patients present with profound lower extremity neurologic deficit. In comparison with previous reports, the contemporary management of AAO includes increased use of axillobifemoral bypass and now involves endovascular revascularization, although a variety of open surgical procedures are utilized. However, the in-hospital mortality and morbidity of AAO has not decreased significantly over the last 2 decades and mid-term survival remains limited. Further study is required to identify strategies that improve outcomes after AAO.
Selecting instrumentation for physician's office testing.

Selecting instrumentation for physician’s office testing requires a stepwise approach. Evaluation criteria that should be emphasized include ease of use, cost-effectiveness, analytic reliability, and test menu. Some examples of analyzers designed for physician’s office testing are discussed.
Methods for Computational Gene Prediction: Machine-learning methods

Quite a few of the techniques described in the foregoing chapters could be said to qualify as machine-learning methods. In this chapter we consider a number of other popular machine-learning algorithms and models which either have seen limited use in gene finding, or would seem to offer possible avenues for future investigation in this arena. Most of the methods which we describe are relatively easy to implement in software, and nearly all are available in open-source implementations (see Appendix). While the current emphasis in the field of gene prediction seems to be on Markovian systems (in one form or another), an expanded role for other predictive techniques in the future is not inconceivable. Overview of automatic classification Perhaps the most typical setting for machine-learning applications is that of N -way classification (Figure 10.1). In this setting, a test case (i.e., a novel object) is presented to a classifier for assignment to one of a fixed number of discrete categories. The test case is typically encoded as a vector of real-valued or integer-valued attributes (i.e., random variables – section 2.6), though since we will generally treat all attributes as being real-valued; thus the attributes of a single test case are drawn from, for some integer m . The categories to which test cases are to be mapped are typically encoded as integer values in the range.
Reexamining political correctness through feminist rhetoric in the stand up of George Carlin

ABSTRACTIn 2015, comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Bill Maher, and several others took to their respective media platforms to voice their frustration with the institution of political correctness. Of course, no one would argue that having less tolerance, understanding, and inclusivity would be a good thing for America or any other nation. Nonetheless, a point appears to be emerging in which a person's taste in humor is becoming an extension of their political identity. In other words, it is not funny unless it meets the taste requirements as prescribed by a political paradigm. Inspired by the ongoing debate started by Seinfeld and Rock, this article offers a textual analysis of the comedy of George Carlin in an effort to demonstrate his ‘politically incorrect’ speech actually espoused highly progressive values. Furthermore, the downside to political correctness is that it sometimes produces impulsive, mechanical reactions to certain key words, phrases, and topics. And these reactions occur at the expe...
Endoscopic resection of nasal schwanomma as a diagnostic and therapeutic adjunct in the treatment of a rare disorder: A case report with literature review

AbstractIsolated nasal schwannomas are rare lesions that can be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific characteristics. We report a unique case of a patient with a polypoid mass abutting the lacrimal sac found to be a nasal schwanomma. A 66-year-old male with a history of previously resected nasal polyposis returned to the office complaining of symptoms suggestive of rhinosinusitis. Endoscopy was significant for a polypoid mass superior to the inferior turbinate. CT imaging revealed a 2 × 1.8 × 1.3 cm lesion in the right nasal cavity with bony erosion overlying the lacrimal sac. Following endoscopic resection, pathologic analysis revealed a nasal schwanomma based on S100 and Ki-67 staining patterns. The patient has been doing well for over 6 months without recurrence. Although rare, nasal schwanomma should be kept in the differential of any nasal mass, and endoscopic resection can serve as a useful tool in the management of this disorder.
The Radiance of the Jewish National Home: Technocapitalism, Electrification, and the Making of Modern Palestine

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the history of the Palestine mandate and its power relations were not determined solely by a series of legal measures, beginning with the 1917 Balfour Declaration and ending with the UNGA partition resolution of 1947. Rather, the emergence of modern Palestine was a process significantly guided by global technocapitalism. Palestine was constituted on the basis of a successful Zionist pitch for the area as an economically viable territory—as an area of production and consumption and crucially also as an entity locatable in the global circulation of capital and commodities. A central vehicle for this technocapitalist vision in Palestine—proposed by the Zionists, and enthusiastically adopted by the British—was a hydroelectrical megasystem in the Jordan Valley. Significant portions of the mandate's borders were mapped onto the station's technical blueprint, and conceiving of and building the powerhouse created not just borders, but also “Palestine,” a bounded entity with a distinct political and economic character. While the electrification, like Zionism in general, was justified in a language of egalitarian universalism, the power system and the “free-market” capitalist system it helped create in Palestine generated familiar kinds of political and economic inequality. Specifically, it conjured a political-economic order based on a Jewish national scale in which the Arabs were expected to supply the menial labor power in return for the economic development that was to lift all boats.
Patient-Reported Usefulness of Acute Cancer Rehabilitation

Abstract Background Cancer survivors often have unmet needs, and cancer rehabilitation is becoming an integral part of the continuum of care. Understanding the needs and satisfaction of patients undergoing cancer rehabilitation is important for the development of effective programs. Objective To determine the overall perception of acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation usefulness. Design Prospective study. Setting Acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation unit at a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center. Participants Patients admitted to the acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation unit from September 2014 to July 2015 were approached, and 200 patients enrolled with completed surveys. Methods Patients meeting study criteria were asked to complete a survey about their perception of the rehabilitation received; their attitudes and beliefs on their condition, treatment, functional independence; and their attitudes and beliefs on obtaining health information and psychosocial issues. Main Outcome Measures Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, FIM efficiency, and results from an anonymous survey with a 22-item Likert-type scale at the end of patients' rehabilitation stay were analyzed. Results Of 327 patients admitted, 239 patients (73%) were approached, and 200 patients (84%) were enrolled with completed surveys. Patients agreed or strongly agreed that rehabilitation helped with improving physical function (n = 193, 97%), regaining physical independence (n = 181, 91%), and preparing to deal with self-care tasks (n = 183, 94%). Patients agreed that rehabilitation improved hope (n = 187, 94%), mood (n = 176, 84%), anxiety (n = 180, 90%), and spirituality (n = 182, 94%). FIM score improvements (from admission to discharge) and FIM efficiency (change in FIM score / length of stay) were significant in all functional domains. Overall, respondents believed that their rehabilitation stay was extremely good (n = 128, 64%) or very good (n = 60, 30%). Conclusions Patients perceived their rehabilitation stay as beneficial in multiple respects. Significant improvements in FIM measurements were also found. Level of Evidence IV
Central Bank Control Over Interest Rates: The Myth and the Reality

Many believe that central banks, such as the Federal Reserve (Fed), have almost total control over some critical interest rates. Serious monetary economists are more sophisticated. They realize that central bank control over interest rates is very far from complete. Nonetheless, central bank officials and many economists are largely responsible for the popular misapprehension. This is because they persistently and misleadingly describe central bank policy as if it determined interest rates. Their focus on interest rates as both the target and indicator of monetary policy stems from the fact that even those holding the sophisticated view of how monetary policy works tend to overestimate the strength and significance of a central bank’s limited effect on real interest rates. There is no denying that central banks have some impacts on interest rates, in both the short run and the long run. However, this working paper argues that not only is the popular belief in precise central bank management of interest rates simply wrong, but also even the sophisticated view of central bankers and mainstream monetary economists turns out to be overstated. In fact, continued targeting of interest rates by central banks has even led to some confusion and policy errors.
Highlights From the 2017 Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Clinical Symposium.

The Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing Clinical Symposium had a successful program at the American Heart Association's (AHA's) 2017 Scientific Sessions. Since its inception, the goal of the symposium is to disseminate knowledge on cardiovascular and stroke care as well as provide clinical nurses and
Effects of temperature on Veronaea botryosa infections in white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus and fungal induced cytotoxicity of fish cell lines

Veronaea botryosa is a melanized mold and cause of systemic fungal infections in cultured sturgeon (Acipenser spp.). Mortality in adult female sturgeon caused by this emergent pathogen results in significant economic losses for the caviar industry. Little is known regarding environmental conditions conducive to V. botryosa infection. This study evaluated the effect of temperature on V. botryosa infectivity and dissemination following intramuscular injection challenge of white sturgeon maintained at 13 or 18 °C for 40 days. Daily mortality was recorded and persistence of the fungus in the livers of moribund and surviving fish was investigated using culture and histopathological analysis. Fish maintained at 18 °C developed systemic phaeohyphomycosis and had significantly greater mortality than controls and fish maintained at 13 °C (p < 0.05). Challenged fish, regardless of temperature, exhibited lesions in multiple organs. However, muscle lesions, angioinvasion, and systemic dissemination were more severe and widespread in fish challenged at the higher temperature. In vitro cytotoxicity of V. botryosa was evaluated in white sturgeon skin (WSSK-1) and epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cell lines inoculated at spore:cell ratios of 1:10, 1:1 and 10:1, then incubated 15, 20 and 25 °C. Cytotoxicity, as indicated by quantifying the release of lactate dehydrogenase into culture supernatants, increased with increasing spore dose and incubation temperature in both fish cell lines. Findings suggest that temperature significantly influences the development of systemic V. botryosa infection in white sturgeon and that WSSK-1 and EPC cells are suitable in vitro models for the study of host-pathogen interactions between V. botryosa and fish epithelial cells.
Cardiac Dysfunction, Monitoring, and Management

Cardiac dysfunction is common in patients in the NCCU Incidence varies with disease Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH ∼70% of patients have abnormal ECG or elevated cardiac troponin I (cTI) ∼15–20% have systolic BP <100, requiring vasopressors ∼15% have pulmonary edema ∼5–10% have dysarrhythmia
The Structural Biology of NF-κB

The mechanisms underlying activation and DNA binding of the transcription factor NF-κB are central to our understanding of the cellular response to stress, development and apoptosis, among other key physiological processes (Baeuerle & Henkel, 1994; Siebenlist et al., 1994; Baeuerle & Baltimore, 1996; Baldwin, 1996; Ghosh et al., 1998; Gilmore, 1999; Silverman & Maniatis, 2001). Central to gene regulation by NF-κB is its release from inhibition by IκB and subsequent recognition of specific promoters of inducible genes. Three-dimensional structures of NF-κB proteins in complex with κB DNA or IκB inhibitors have provided new insights into the complexities of the NF-κB-signaling pathways and NF-κB-mediated gene regulation. In this review, we shall focus on the structural features of NF-κB/DNA and IκB/NF-κB complexes, as well as on the relation of these structures to biological function.
Helmholtz, Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von (1821–1894)

Hermann von Helmholtz, born in 1821, studied medicine at the Royal Friedrich-Wilhelm Institute for Medicine and Surgery in Berlin because his parents could not afford to pay for an education in the natural sciences. He attended lectures in physics and chemistry and educated himself in mathematics and music. His doctoral thesis under Johannes Muller was on neuronal connections of ganglion cells and strongly advocated a basis for physiology in the natural sciences, rejecting vitalism. A few years later he published the paper ‘On the conservation of force,’ which gained him a chair of physiology at Konigsberg at the age of 28. He went on to invent the ophthalmoscope in 1851, which accorded him an international reputation, and published a major work with Physiological optics, elaborating among others his theory of trichromatic color vision. Next he took a chair of anatomy in Bonn and a chair of physiology in Heidelberg, where he also published his book On the sensations of tone. After moving to Berlin he became chair of physics, rector of Friedrich-Wilhelm University, and founding director of the Physico-Technical Institute in Berlin-Charlottenburg. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society and was elevated to nobility by Kaiser Wilhelm I. Helmholtz is one of the most important scientists of all times and had many famous students and collaborators, among them Wilhelm Wundt, the founder of experimental psychology.
Is Antibiotic Prophylaxis Cost-effective for Dental Patients Following Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Introduction:Routine antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) to prevent prosthetic joint infection remains controversial. The lack of prophylaxis guideline consensus from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Su...
Characterization of all-terrain vehicle–related chest injury patterns in children

To evaluate chest injury patterns in pediatric patients involved in all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accidents. Retrospective review of patients 0–18 years old admitted to a level I trauma institute following an ATV-related incident from 2004 to 2013 was performed. Chest injury type, accident mechanism, driver/passenger status, and demographic and clinical data were compared between patients with and without chest injury. Chest injury was present in 102 (22%) of total 455 patients. The most common chest injuries were pulmonary contusion (61%), pneumothorax (45%), and rib fracture (34%). There were no cardiac, esophageal, or tracheobronchial injuries. Pulmonary lacerations, hemothoraces, and scapular fractures were predominantly not detected on radiography and recognized on CT only (86–92%). Patients with chest injury had longer median hospital stays (3 days vs 2 days, p = 0.0054). There was no significant difference in admission to intensive care after controlling for injury severity scores in patients with chest injury compared to those without (17 vs 9). Eight patients with chest injury died (8%) compared to 2 patients without chest injury (0.6%) (p = 0.0002). Chest injuries are common in children following ATV accidents and may be a marker of more severe trauma. Increased public awareness of these potentially devastating injuries and continuing safety efforts are needed.
Rhematization as Etiology in the Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Current psychiatric nosology emphasizes observable symptoms as the central schema by which mental illnesses should be classified; patients are identified as depressed or schizophrenic by virtue of observed behavior or reported experiences, rather than theoretical underlying causes that may lead to an array of diverse presentations. Within this schema, the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is somewhat an outlier—its identification relies not only on overt symptomatology, but also the identification of a particular etiology from traumatic moment to current distress. That is, symptoms diagnosed as PTSD not only index that diagnostic category, but also a previous pathogenic trauma. This indexicality is bolstered by an act of rhematization, the transformation of indexical relationships into iconic links, whereby PTSD symptoms are understood as resembling a pathogenic trauma, thus distinguishing PTSD from disorders whose presentations carry no such resemblance to trauma. This paper was only possible through the generous feedback and reference suggestions by Kira Hall, Kathryn Goldfarb, and Chase Raymond.
Photo-uncaging of BODIPY oxime ester for histone deacetylases induced apoptosis in tumor cells

A new class of BODIPY-based oxime ester photo-uncaging group was designed to release carboxylic acids. The mechanism and kinetics of the photo-uncaging procedure were studied. Further, we constructed a photo-uncaging drug delivery system to release valproic acid (VPA), which can inhibit the histone deacetylases and induce apoptosis in tumor cells.
Associations between lifetime stress exposure and prenatal health behaviors

Prenatal health behaviors can strongly influence risk of poor pregnancy birth outcomes. Although stress has been implicated in structuring the likelihood that individuals will engage in various prenatal health behavior patterns, no studies to date have examined life stress exposure occurring across the entire lifespan, and few have investigated how different types of stressors are comparatively associated with these outcomes. To address these issues, we interviewed 164 women at one of two large Midwestern, urban hospitals after delivering their first infant. We used the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) to assess women's lifetime stress exposure severity and ordinary least squares regression models to examine associations between participants' life stress exposure and prenatal health behaviors. As hypothesized, greater lifetime stress exposure was associated with engaging in more negative prenatal health behaviors and fewer positive prenatal health behaviors while controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors and current perceived stress levels. These effects were stronger for negative versus positive health behaviors, and they differed substantially as a function of stressor type, exposure timing, and primary life domain. Stressors occurring over the life course thus have negative consequences for prenatal health behaviors, but these effects are not uniform across different types of life stress exposure.
Loss of Sensitivity to Rewards by Dopamine Neurons May Underlie Age-Related Increased Probability Discounting

Normative aging is known to affect how decisions are made in risky situations. Although important individual variability exists, on average, aging is accompanied by greater risk aversion. Here the behavioral and neural mechanisms of greater risk aversion were examined in young and old rats trained on an instrumental probability discounting task. Consistent with the literature, old rats showed greater discounting of reward value when the probability of obtaining rewards dropped below 100%. Behaviorally, reward magnitude discrimination was the same between young and old rats, and yet these same rats exhibited reduced sensitivity to positive, but not negative, choice outcomes. The latter behavioral result was congruent with additional findings that the aged ventral tegmental neurons (including dopamine cells) were less responsive to rewards when compared to the same cell types recorded from young animals. In sum, it appears that reduced responses of dopamine neurons to rewards contribute to aging-related changes in risky decisions.
Solid Electrolytes for Li-S Batteries: Solid Solutions of Poly(ethylene oxide) with LixPON- and LixSiPON-Based Polymers.

We report here efforts to synthesize free-standing, dry polymer electrolytes that exhibit superior ionic conductivities at ambient for Li–S batteries. Co-dissolution of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (...
The biological basis of sex and its role as a determinant of myocardial function in health and disease

Abstract While we probably all agree that sex is important in life, there is far less agreement on why it is important. From a biological point of view, it is a major driver of genetic diversity, preventing disease and allowing rapid adaptation to a changing environment. In this chapter, we will discuss the biological basis of sex determination and the major mechanism of steroid signaling. Experimental strategies to analyze the biological effects of sex steroids and the use of animal models to study the influence of sex on cardiac function in health and disease will be discussed. Finally, we also look into the biological causes for functional sex-specific diversity in cardiac function and disease susceptibility.
Changes in Racial Disparities in Mortality After Cancer Surgery in the US, 2007-2016.

Importance Racial disparities are well documented in cancer care. Overall, in the US, Black patients historically have higher rates of mortality after surgery than White patients. However, it is unknown whether racial disparities in mortality after cancer surgery have changed over time. Objective To examine whether and how disparities in mortality after cancer surgery have changed over 10 years for Black and White patients overall and for 9 specific cancers. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional study, national Medicare data were used to examine the 10-year (January 1, 2007, to November 30, 2016) changes in postoperative mortality rates in Black and White patients. Data analysis was performed from August 6 to December 31, 2019. Participants included fee-for-service beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A who had a major surgical resection for 9 common types of cancer surgery: colorectal, bladder, esophageal, kidney, liver, ovarian, pancreatic, lung, or prostate cancer. Exposures Cancer surgery among Black and White patients. Main Outcomes and Measures Risk-adjusted 30-day, all-cause, postoperative mortality overall and for 9 specific types of cancer surgery. Results A total of 870 929 cancer operations were performed during the 10-year study period. In the baseline year, a total of 103 446 patients had cancer operations (96 210 White patients and 7236 Black patients). Black patients were slightly younger (mean [SD] age, 73.0 [6.4] vs 74.5 [6.8] years), and there were fewer Black vs White men (3986 [55.1%] vs 55 527 [57.7%]). Overall national mortality rates following cancer surgery were lower for both Black (−0.12%; 95% CI, −0.17% to −0.06% per year) and White (−0.14%; 95% CI, −0.16% to −0.13% per year) patients. These reductions were predominantly attributable to within-hospital mortality improvements (Black patients: 0.10% annually; 95% CI, −0.15% to −0.05%;P Conclusions and Relevance These findings offer mixed news for policy makers regarding possible reductions in racial disparities following cancer surgery. Although postoperative cancer surgery mortality rates improved for both Black and White patients, there did not appear to be any narrowing of the mortality gap between Black and White patients overall or across individual cancer surgery procedures.
Stay-at-Home Orders and the Willingness to Stay Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Stated-Preference Discrete Choice Experiment

The spread of COVID-19 in the Spring of 2020 prompted state and local governments to implement a variety of policies, including stay-at-home (SAH) orders and mandatory mask requirements, aimed at reducing infection rates and the severity of the pandemic’s impact. We implement a discrete choice experiment survey in three major U.S. States - California, Georgia, and Illinois - to empirically quantify individuals’ willingness to stay (WTS) home, measured as the number of weeks of a potential new SAH order, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease and explore factors leading to their heterogeneous WTS. Our results demonstrate broad support for statewide mask mandates. In addition, the estimate of WTS to lower new positive cases is quite large, approximately five and half weeks, even though staying home lowers utility. We also find that individuals recognize the trade-offs between case reduction and economic slowdown stemming from SAH orders when they decide to stay home or not. Finally, pandemic related factors such as age, ability to work from home, and unemployment status are the major drivers of the heterogeneity in individuals’ WTS.
The Endokernel: Fast, Secure, and Programmable Subprocess Virtualization.

Commodity applications contain more and more combinations of interacting components (user, application, library, and system) and exhibit increasingly diverse tradeoffs between isolation, performance, and programmability. We argue that the challenge of future runtime isolation is best met by embracing the multi-principle nature of applications, rethinking process architecture for fast and extensible intra-process isolation. We present, the Endokernel, a new process model and security architecture that nests an extensible monitor into the standard process for building efficient least-authority abstractions. The Endokernel introduces a new virtual machine abstraction for representing subprocess authority, which is enforced by an efficient self-isolating monitor that maps the abstraction to system level objects (processes, threads, files, and signals). We show how the Endokernel can be used to develop specialized separation abstractions using an exokernel-like organization to provide virtual privilege rings, which we use to reorganize and secure NGINX. Our prototype, includes a new syscall monitor, the nexpoline, and explores the tradeoffs of implementing it with diverse mechanisms, including Intel Control Enhancement Technology. Overall, we believe sub-process isolation is a must and that the Endokernel exposes an essential set of abstractions for realizing this in a simple and feasible way.
Multiple Losses of MSH1, Gain of mtMutS, and Other Changes in the MutS Family of DNA Repair Proteins in Animals.

MutS is a key component of the Mismatch Repair (MMR) pathway. Members of the MutS protein family are present in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses. Six MutS homologues (MSH1-6) have been identified in yeast, of which three function in nuclear MMR, while MSH1 functions in mitochondrial DNA repair. MSH proteins are believed to be well conserved in animals, except for MSH1-which is thought to be lost. Two intriguing exceptions to this general picture have been found, both in the class Anthozoa within phylum Cnidaria. First, an orthologue of the yeast-MSH1 was reported in one hexacoral species. Second, a MutS homologue (mtMutS) has been found in the mitochondrial genome of all octocorals. To understand the origin and potential functional implications of these exceptions, we investigated the evolution of the MutS family both in Cnidaria and in animals in general. Our study confirmed the acquisition of octocoral mtMutS by a horizontal gene transfer from a giant virus. Surprisingly, we identified MSH1 in all hexacorals and several sponges and placozoans. By contrast, MSH1 orthologues were lacking in other cnidarians, ctenophores, and bilaterian animals. Furthermore, while we identified MSH2 and MSH6 in nearly all animals, MSH4, MSH5, and, especially, MSH3 were missing in multiple species. Overall, our analysis revealed a dynamic evolution of the MutS family in animals, with multiple losses of MSH1, MSH3, some losses of MSH4 and MSH5, and a gain of the octocoral mtMutS. We propose that octocoral mtMutS functionally replaced MSH1 that was present in the common ancestor of Anthozoa.
A Systematic Exploration of the Feature Space for Relation Extraction

Relation extraction is the task of finding semantic relations between entities from text. The state-of-the-art methods for relation extraction are mostly based on statistical learning, and thus all have to deal with feature selection, which can significantly affect the classification performance. In this paper, we systematically explore a large space of features for relation extraction and evaluate the effectiveness of different feature subspaces. We present a general definition of feature spaces based on a graphic representation of relation instances, and explore three different representations of relation instances and features of different complexities within this framework. Our experiments show that using only basic unit features is generally sufficient to achieve state-of-the-art performance, while overinclusion of complex features may hurt the performance. A combination of features of different levels of complexity and from different sentence representations, coupled with task-oriented feature pruning, gives the best performance.
Axon decussation and midline glia in the developing ferret auditory hindbrain.

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the Axon decussation and midline glia in the developing ferret auditory hindbrain. The timing of trapezoid body fiber out growth in relation to the timing of medial superior olive (MSO) and lateral superior olive (LSO) cell migration to the ventral hindbrain, the apparently changing distribution of glycoconjugates in relation to trapezoid body formation, and the distribution of midline glia in the hindbrain. Pioneer fibers from the cochlear nucleus reach the midline before the cells of the superior olivary complex complete migration to the ventral hindbrain. These fibers may be guided to their site of decussation, as are spinal cord commissural neurons, by netrin diffusing from the floor plate. Subsequently, the superior olivary complex begins to release a local chemotropic factor, resulting in the collateralization of cochlear nucleus fibers and projection of those fibers into their target nuclei. As the cochlear nucleus projection in the trapezoid body continues to increase, contralaterally projecting fibers are guided through the midline by a combination of extracellular matrix and glial guidance cues. Inappropriate fibers are prevented from crossing the midline by both the molecular and structural characteristics of the midline glia.
Identification of differentially expressed genes between developing seeds of different soybean cultivars

Soybean is a major source of protein and oil and a primary feedstock for biodiesel production. Research on soybean seed composition and yield has revealed that protein, oil and yield are controlled quantitatively and quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for each of these traits. However, very limited information is available regarding the genetic mechanisms controlling seed composition and yield. To help address this deficiency, we used Affymetrix Soybean GeneChips® to identify genes that are differentially expressed between developing seeds of the Minsoy and Archer soybean cultivars, which differ in seed weight, yield, protein content and oil content. A total of 700 probe sets were found to be expressed at significantly different (defined as having an adjusted p-value below or equal to 0.05 and an at least 2-fold difference) levels between the two cultivars at one or more of the three developmental stages and in at least one of the two years assayed. Comparison of data from soybeans collected in two different years revealed that 97 probe sets were expressed at significantly different levels in both years. Functional annotations were assigned to 78% of these 97 probe sets based on the SoyBase Affymetrix™ GeneChip® Soybean Genome Array Annotation. Genes involved in receptor binding/activity and protein binding are overrepresented among the group of 97 probe sets that were differentially expressed in both years assayed. Probe sets involved in growth/development, signal transduction, transcription, defense/stress response and protein and lipid metabolism were also identified among the 97 probe sets and their possible implications in the regulation of agronomic traits are discussed. As the Minsoy and Archer soybean cultivars differ with respect to seed size, yield, protein content and lipid content, some of the differentially expressed probe sets identified in this study may thus play important roles in controlling these traits. Others of these probe sets may be involved in regulation of general seed development or metabolism. All microarray data and expression values after GCRMA are available at the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) at NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo), under accession number GSE21598.
A importância de uma filosofia para a enfermagem

The present study is the result of a conclusion essay on the Philosophy in Nursing subject, Doctor’s Degree in Nursing Course. It contains reflections based on the debates during classes and deepened in complementary readings. It has as main objective questioning the value of philosophy for nursing and giving the perception that the philosophical thought leads us to search, question more, and that the essence of any philosophical question is that it may not be presented as the only truth. In this study, philosophy’s three main elements: onthology, epistemology and ethics guided the reflections.
An Improved Procedure for the Determination of Serum Ethanol by Gas Chromatography

A modification of the gas chromatographic procedure of Natelson and Stellate has been developed which enables analyses of serum ethanol to be performed with increased sensitivity, precision, and convenience. Serum (50 µl.) is dehydrated by injection onto anhydrous copper sulfate in a stoppered tube at 80° in a water-jacketed rotary mixing apparatus. After 2 min., ethanol vapor is swept by a stream of helium into a gas chromatographic column packed with a mixture of Flexol 8N8, diisodecylphthalate, propyleneglycol 600, and firebrick C-22. Ethanol emerges from the column after a mean retention time of 6.7 min. and is measured by a hydrogen-flame ionization detector. The coefficient of variation of replicate analyses is 2.0%. The recovery of ethanol added to serum is 98.7 ± 3.8%. The limit of sensitivity for the detection of ethanol in serum is 0.1 mg./100 ml., and assay can be made in the presence of constituents which are normally present in serum, and volatile compounds which are commonly encountered in clinical toxicology. Analyses of serum ethanol by gas chromatography provide close correlations with measurements by the alcohol dehydrogenase reaction.
Models of Impaired Lexical Access in Speech Production

Abstract Two computational models of lexical access in aphasic speakers are compared. Both are derived from an interactive two-step theory of retrieval based on spreading activation. The weight-decay model (Dell et al., 1997) associates patients with deviant values of two parameters, global connection weight and global decay rate. The new semantic-phonological model characterizes patients by two different parameters, semantic weight and phonological weight. We provide a detailed analysis of the properties of both models and show that the semantic-phonological model is a serious competitor to the earlier model. Not only does it fit existing patient data as well as the weight-decay model does but it also has closer ties to other facts and theories in cognitive neuropsychology and psycholinguistics.
ASSESSMENT OF ENDO‐1,4‐BETA‐D‐GLUCANASE ACTIVITY BY A RAPID COLORIMETRIC ASSAY USING DISODIUM 2,2′‐BICINCHONINATE

It is widely accepted that viscometric assays are the most sensitive methods for evaluation of endoglucanase activities, because of the preferential attack of these enzymes on internal bonds of the substrate. However, due to the high sensitivity of the disodium 2,2′-bicinchoninate assay, we could measure, in a onestep method, the initial stages of the degradation of cellulose derivatives by endo-1,4-β-D-glucanases, by determining the reducing end-groups released. We report the applicability of the method for the determination of activity, and the Km for the endoglucanase-I from Trichoderma reesei. This assay can be extended to the evaluation of reducing groups released by the action of many other carbohydrases, either with endo- or exo-type activity.
Spitz nevi and other Spitzoid lesions: Part I. Background and Diagnoses

Spitz nevi are melanocytic proliferations that are characterized by spindled and/or epithelioid nevomelanocytes. First interpreted as juvenile melanoma, these lesions were later characterized as benign and were observed to affect all age groups. Today, contrasting opinions persist regarding the fundamental benignancy versus malignancy within the spectrum of Spitz tumors. Beyond clinical outcome, this controversy has also been fueled by complex and sometimes convoluted classification schemes based on pathologic characteristics. More recently, immunophenotypic and molecular analyses have begun to clarify the etiologic nature of these tumors. Recent evidence suggests that histopathologic features that suggest more aggressiveness in Spitz tumors relate to mitoses and inflammation.
Constant density visualizations of non-uniform distributions of data

The cartographic Principle of Constant Information Density suggests that the amount of information in an interactive visualization should remain constant as the user pans and zooms. In previous work, we presented a system, VIDA (Visual Information Density Adjuster), which helps users manually construct applications in which overall display density remains constant. In the context of semantic zoom systems, this approach ensures uniformity in the z dimension, but does not extend naturally to ensuring uniformity in the x and y dimensions. In this paper, we present a new approach that automatically creates displays that are uniform in the x, y, and z dimensions. In the new system, users express constraints about visual representations that should appear in the display. The system applies these constraints to subdivisions of the display such that each subdivision meets a target density value. We have implemented our technique in the DataSplash/VIDA database visualization environment. We describe our algorithm, implementation, and the advantages and disadvantages of our approach.
Gallium containing glass polyalkenoate bone cements: Glass characterization and physical properties

Gallium (Ga) glasses were developed to formulate a Glass Polyalkenoate Cement (GPC) series with both E9 and E11 polyacrylic acid (PAA) at 50, 55 and 60wt% additions. Working times (T w ), setting times (T s ), compression (σ c ), and biaxial flexural (σ f ) strength testing were evaluated to determine the GPCs potential use in orthopedics.
Successive Linear Approximation Procedure for Generalized Fixed-Charge Transportation Problems

In this paper, we develop a new heuristic procedure for solving a generalization of the fixed-charge transportation problem in which there are resource losses in addition to the fixed charges. The losses may be evaporation losses when the commodity is a liquid, heat losses in an electrical distribution network, or deterioration losses in distribution networks involving perishable commodities such as, for example, food items. The proposed procedure consists of solving a sequence of pro-rated problems. It is different from heuristic procedures that have been developed for solving the standard fixed charge transportation problem, in that it is not based on extreme point enumeration. We experiment with problems involving up to 2100 arcs with fixed charges and resource losses. The results show that the proposed approach is viable for solving medium-to-large sized problems.
Solid State NMR of Membrane Proteins: Towards Complex Structural and Functional Information for Bacterial ABC Class Importers

Despite the wealth of protein structural data available today, membrane protein structural characterization continues to pose a significant challenge in structural biology. Choosing the membrane mimetic is a challenge and often detergent micelles are employed. However, detergents are prone to induce distortions in the protein structure. An emerging technique, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), provides a path to structural characterization using an environment similar to the native one, liquid crystalline lipid bilayers.Static solid state NMR experiments on proteins determine the orientation of the peptide planes with respect to the magnetic field. All 15N-1H dipolar couplings and anisotropic 15N chemical shifts observed in two dimensional separated local field experiments (PISEMA) lie within a butterfly shape in the spectrum. Special patterns called PISA wheels arise for uniformly aligned protein samples which directly reflect the orientation of protein secondary structure. Using these wheels the tilt angle of each helical axis from the magnetic field and membrane normal can be determined without complete structure determination. Consequently, a single data set allows for characterization of secondary structure in the membrane mimetic as well as providing a set of high resolution peptide plane orientations that can be used directly in structural refinement.Uniform alignment has been achieved for multiple proteins in our laboratory. Still, studies on larger membrane proteins are required to make solid state NMR a generally applicable technique for membrane protein structure characterization. One excellent example is SugAB, the transmembrane domain of an ABC importer from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These transport proteins contain at least 10 transmembrane helices. This makes SugAB an excellent target for determining the utility of solid state NMR to structurally characterize large membrane proteins.