cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Search for the Ideal Fixation of Palatal Fractures: Innovative Experience with a Mini-Locking Plate

Fractures of the palate have defied conventional management, such that malrotation and disinclination of the palatal shelves occur in a significant number of patients after repair. The fractured palatal shelves of eight patients were first prealigned. To do so, one or more 205-mm ratchet clamps and two intermaxillary fixation (IMF) posts were used. Rigid fixation was then achieved by applying a 2.0-mm mini-locking titanium plate (across the palatal vault) and by applying an adaptation miniplate across the fracture line as it exited the anterior surface of the maxilla. Screws were passed directly through the mucoperiosteum, to engage the palatal shelves and to lock the locking plate into position. Lacerations in the mucoperiosteum were neither used to aid fixation nor used as portals for dissection; incisions and mucoperiosteal flaps in the palatal vault were avoided. Adjuncts, such as intraoral splints, have not been used in cases to date, and early mobilization was allowed. Reconstitution of the craniomaxillofacial buttresses was added in patients with more extensive maxillary injury. The palatal appliance and screws remained rigidly in position in the roof of the mouth, much like an external fixator, until their removal 8 to 12 weeks after the repair. No patient suffered erosion of the mucoperiosteum or other major morbidity, other than a transient fistula of the soft palate. The palatoalveolar segments remained in proper realignment and inclination, and pretraumatic occlusal patterns and the width and depth of the lower face appear to have been restored with one exception. The latter suffered a subtle posterolateral open bite that was corrected orthodontically. Prealignment of fractured palatal shelves with one or more large ratchet clamps and two IMF posts provides several points of forced reduction of the palatal shelves, along the dental arch. In addition, stabilization with mini-locking plate(s) in the palatal vault and an adaptation plate across the fracture line, as it exits the maxilla, appear to have merit, based on this preliminary report (n = 8). Outcomes seen on computed tomography and clinical examination during this 3-year experience have been favorable.
Effective Bloch equations for semiconductors

Generalized Bloch equations for laser-excited semiconductors are derived applying quantum-mechanical projection-operator techniques. The equations include phase-space filling and the many-body Coulomb effects. The coherent part of the equations is evaluated for the regime of ultrafast-pump-probe excitation and shown to reduce to the inhomogeneously broadened two-level Bloch equations for the different momentum states if the proper Coulomb enhancement in the density of states is taken into account. For the high-excitation quasithermal regime a generalization of the Elliott formula for the absorption spectrum is derived which is valid not only for bulk semiconductors, but also for quantum-well structures and other systems with reduced spatial dimensions.
Should Engineers Counteract Environmental Extremism

This paper argues that extreme environmentalism, akin to a religion, is causing the expenditure of massive amounts of limited resources of both money and attention to solve relatively unimportant problems. A crisis mentality in the news media has fostered a distorted view of environmental issues. The public perception of environmental problems is far removed from that of the scientific concensus. Environmental policy is now based more on emotion and debate than on facts and rational calculation. The attempt to reduce risk from man-made sources to zero, while ignoring much more substantial natural sources, diverts funds from real problems that could be addressed to alleviate suffering and disease. A moderate, rather than fearful, reaction to environmental concerns is urged. Engineers should promote quantitative solutions to environmental problems, and should appreciate the economics of pollution control and risk reduction. The inclusion of supplemental materials to support a rational concern for environmen...
Effects of norepinephrine on lung fluid flow rate in the chronically catheterized fetal lamb

The influence of norepinephrine on lung fluid flow rate was studied in seven chronically catheterized fetal lambs. Lung fluid was collected through a catheter inserted into the fetal trachea. In six experiments, continuous saline solution infusion for 1 hour followed by equivolumnar norepinephrine (3.0 µg/min) for 1 hour via the fetal jugular vein was carried out. In three additional experiments (two fetuses), a 3.0 mg intravenous bolus of propranolol was administered before norepinephrine infusion. Saline solution infusion did not influence the lung fluid flow rate or fetal biophysical and biochemical parameters. Norepinephrine increased fetal blood pressure by 22% and decreased lung fluid flow by 45% from control values. Lung fluid flow rate recovered within 2 hours after the end of the norepinephrine infusion. Pretreatment with propranolol did not alter the results. In addition to previous reports that demonstrated p-sympathomimetic agonist-enhanced reabsorption of lung fluid from fetal alveolar epithelial cells, our present results suggest that a reduction in fetal lung fluid secretion may be implemented as well through stimulation of α-sympathomimetic receptor sites in the pulmonary vasculature.
A STUDY OF UNTREATEI “FRÖHLICH’S SYNDROME WITHOUT BRAIN TUMOR”

BABINSKI (i) in 1900 described the case of a girl with obesity and failure to mature sexually. These symptoms were associated with an intracranial expanding lesion in the region of the sella turcica. Frohlich (2) in 1901 described a boy with a similar clinical picture and diagnosed a tumor of the hypophysis. This syndrome of obesity and infantilism has come to be known as Frohlich’s syndrome or adiposogenital dystrophy. The early experimental ablations of the hypophysis carried out by Crowe, Cushing and Homans (3), and by Aschner (4), suggested a hypopituitary origin to this syndrome. However, Camus and Roussy (5) and Bailey and Bremer (6) pointed out that these early operations were invariably accompanied by damage to the hypothalamus. These workers claimed this latter injury was the true cause of the syndrome. The conflict remained unsettled until the fundamental work of P. E. Smith (7). Smith was able to remove the hypophysis without injury to the h y pothalamus and conversely, to produce a lesion in t...
Use of knowledge bases and QSARs to estimate the relative ecological risk of agrichemicals: a problem formulation exercise.

Abstract Ecological risk assessments can be used to establish the likelihood that an adverse effect will result from exposure to one or more chemicals. When evaluating contaminated sites with many chemicals present, risk assessors must grapple with the problem of quickly identifying the chemicals that are most likely to be of concern, based on effect and exposure assessment information. Many times data gaps exist and the risk assessor is left with decisions on which models to use to estimate the parameter of concern. In the present paper, a procedure is presented for ranking agrichemicals, utilizing the ASTER (ASsessment Tools for the Evaluation of Risk) system. The procedure was employed to rank the relative ecological risk of forty-nine pesticides historically used in agricultural sites in the Walnut Creek watershed near Ames, Iowa, USA. Empirical data from the ASTER system were used when available in the associated data-bases, and quantitative structure-activity relationships and expert systems were in...
Osmotic characteristics of mouse spermatozoa in the presence of extenders and sugars.

Abstract Successful cryopreservation requires cells to tolerate volume excursions experienced during permeating cryoprotectant equilibration and during cooling and warming. However, prior studies have demonstrated that mouse spermatozoa are extremely sensitive to osmotically induced volume changes. A series of three experiments were conducted 1) to test the efficacy of two commonly used extender media components, egg yolk (EY) and skim milk (SM), in broadening the osmotic tolerance limits (OTL) of ICR and B6C3F1 murine spermatozoa; 2) to determine if the extender components affected sperm plasma membrane permeability coefficients for water and cryoprotective agent (CPA) characteristics; and 3) to test the effects of permeating and nonpermeating CPA on mouse sperm morphology. In experiment 1, sperm samples were added to 150, 225, 300, 450, or 600 mOsm NaCl, EY, SM, sucrose, or choline chloride at 22°C and then returned to isosmotic conditions. In experiment 2, epididymal sperm were preequilibrated in 1 M g...
A dynamic constitutive and inducible binding of c-Cbl by PLCγ1 SH3 and SH2 domains (negatively) regulates antigen receptor-induced PLCγ1 activation in lymphocytes

We investigated the structural requirements for c-Cbl-mediated inhibition of Ag receptor-induced PLCgamma1 activation. Analysis of site-specific c-Cbl mutants indicated that tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Cbl was required for down-regulation of the PLCgamma1/Ca2+ pathway. Coprecipitation experiments indicated that c-Cbl and PLCgamma1 constitutively interact through a PLCgamma1 SH3 domain-dependent mechanism and that c-Cbl and PLCgamma1 can inducibly interact through the SH2(C) domain of PLCgamma1. Additional data indicate that the SH3 domain of PLCgamma1 binds to both canonical and noncanonical SH3 domain-binding sites in the proline-rich region of c-Cbl. Overexpression of c-Cbl in a PLCgamma-deficient B cell line, P10-14, stably reconstituted with wild-type PLCgamma1 led to a significant decrease in B cell receptor-induced NF-AT-dependent transcription, a PLCgamma- and Ca(2+)-dependent event. In contrast, c-Cbl overexpression in P10-14 cells reconstituted with a PLCgamma1 SH3 domain mutant had little effect on receptor-induced NF-AT activation. These data suggest that c-Cbl-mediated regulation of PLCgamma1 requires an interaction between c-Cbl and PLCgamma1 that is primarily mediated by the SH3 domain of PLCgamma1. The interaction of c-Cbl with PLCgamma1 may negatively effect events required for PLCgamma1 activation.
Inhibition of protein synthesis in cultured tobacco cells by ultraviolet radiation.

— Ultraviolet (254 nm) irradiation of liquid-cultured tobacco cells strongly and quickly inhibited their ability to incorporate labeled amino acids into protein. An incident dose of only 388 J/m2 reduced incorporation to 37 per cent of the original rate. The effect on amino acid incorporation did not seem to depend on inhibition of amino acid uptake, inhibition of the supply of nucleoside triphosphates, or inhibition of the supply of messenger RNA to cytoplasmic ribosomes.
Cloudifying source code repositories: how much does it cost?

Cloud computing provides us with general purpose storage and server hosting platforms at a reasonable price. We explore the possibility of tapping these resources for the purpose of hosting source code repositories for individual projects as well as entire open source communities. An analysis of storage costs is presented, and a complete hosting solution is built and evaluated as a proof-of-concept.
Organizing for Homeland Security after Katrina: Is Adaptive Management What’s Missing?

Government response to Hurricane Katrina revealed organizational and performance issues, which the author analyzes. He also analyzes and reviews federal government organizational changes related to homeland security, and examines several proposals, made in Katrina's aftermath by policymakers, for reorganization. A management approach for use in homeland security organizing's ongoing process is presented that is rooted in adaptive management.
Color2Gray: salience-preserving color removal

Visually important image features often disappear when color images are converted to grayscale. The algorithm introduced here reduces such losses by attempting to preserve the salient features of the color image. The Color2Gray algorithm is a 3-step process: 1) convert RGB inputs to a perceptually uniform CIE L*a*b* color space, 2) use chrominance and luminance differences to create grayscale target differences between nearby image pixels, and 3) solve an optimization problem designed to selectively modulate the grayscale representation as a function of the chroma variation of the source image. The Color2Gray results offer viewers salient information missing from previous grayscale image creation methods.
Determining an optimum reject allowance

An optimum scrap allowance, a*, is defined as that value of a which maximizes the return function where n is the nominal lot requirement, x the number of scrapped units, μ the cost per unit of surplus, arid o the penalty cost which results when the actual scrap exceeds the allowance. The value a* is determined by an algorithm for which the computing problem is viewed as a multiple-stage problem, as in dynamic programming. Numerical examples are given for the cases where the scrap probabilities are binominal or Poissonian.
Research Priorities for Mental Health Counseling With Youth: Implications for Counselor Preparation, Professional Development, and Research

Counselors encounter the needs of youth (3–17 years) in a variety of settings; however, outside of school counseling, the profession faces a lack of preparation, professional development, and research focused on mental health practice with youth. Using the Delphi method, 12 counselor educators and 15 practicing counselors were polled regarding research priorities for mental health counseling with youth. Research that considers how varying developmental stages and systems (e.g., families, schools, communities) affect the mental health of youth was identified as a priority. Implications for counselor preparation, professional development, and research are offered on the basis of these results.
Roles of LcrG and LcrV during Type III Targeting of Effector Yops by Yersinia enterocolitica

Yersinia enterocolitica target effector Yop proteins into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells by a mechanism requiring the type III machinery. LcrG and LcrV have been suggested to fulfill essential functions during the type III targeting of effector Yops. It is reported here that knockout mutations of lcrG caused mutant yersiniae to prematurely secrete Yops into the extracellular medium without abolishing the type III targeting mechanism (Los phenotype [loss of type III targeting specificity]). Knockout mutations in lcrV reduced type III targeting of mutant yersiniae but did not promote secretion into the extracellular medium (Not [no type III targeting]). However, knockout mutations in both genes caused ΔlcrGV yersiniae to display a Los phenotype similar to that of strains carrying knockout mutations in lcrG alone. LcrG binding to LcrV resulted in the formation of soluble LcrGV complexes in the bacterial cytoplasm. Membrane-associated, bacterial-surface-displayed or -secreted LcrG could not be detected. Most of LcrV was located in the bacterial cytoplasm; however, small amounts were secreted into the extracellular medium. These data support a model whereby LcrG may act as a negative regulator of type III targeting in the bacterial cytoplasm, an activity that is modulated by LcrG binding to LcrV. No support could be gathered for the hypothesis whereby LcrG and LcrV may act as a bacterial surface receptor for host cells, allowing effector Yop translocation across the eukaryotic plasma membrane.
Organic oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in a porcine controlled dietary study

Controlled feeding studies have been useful in assessing the relationship between isotope values from dietary sources and consumer tissues. We report the organic oxygen and hydrogen values of animal tissue from a porcine controlled dietary study. A complex mixture of fractionation and incorporation is revealed. In both δD and δ18O, differences in the absolute values and the amount of variation between and within consumer tissue are documented. Significant differences in δD and δ18O are observed between protein sources such as keratin and collagen. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of deterministic deconvolution of ground-penetrating radar data in a study of carbonate strata

Abstract We successfully applied deterministic deconvolution to real ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data by using the source wavelet that was generated in and transmitted through air as the operator. The GPR data were collected with 400-MHz antennas on a bench adjacent to a cleanly exposed quarry face. The quarry site is characterized by horizontally bedded carbonate strata with shale partings. In order to provide groundtruth for this deconvolution approach, 23 conductive rods were drilled into the quarry face at key locations. The steel rods provided critical information for: (1) correlation between reflections on GPR data and geologic features exposed in the quarry face, (2) GPR resolution limits, (3) accuracy of velocities calculated from common midpoint data and (4) identifying any multiples. Comparing the results of deconvolved data with non-deconvolved data demonstrates the effectiveness of deterministic deconvolution in low dielectric-loss media for increased accuracy of velocity models (improved at least 10–15% in our study after deterministic deconvolution), increased vertical and horizontal resolution of specific geologic features and more accurate representation of geologic features as confirmed from detailed study of the adjacent quarry wall.
A faculty learning community's reflection on implementing service- learning goals

Implementing service-learning is challenging in light of issues such as changes in student demographics and pressure from existing curricula goals. However, closer community engagement is increasingly important in the long-term goals of our universities. Members of a faculty learning community at an open-access college reflect on the process of implementing the official university definition of service-learning in their English program. The implications of using servicelearning as a teaching tool are critically discussed.
Improving estimates of critical lower percentiles by induced censoring

In this article, we present an approach based on induced censoring for improving the estimation of critical lower percentiles. We validate this technique via simulation results and practical industrial insights. Data from product components that have at least two aging periods (e.g., bathtub failure rate) is investigated. When such data are improperly fit by certain reliability distributions, estimates of lower percentiles are impacted by longer-lasting failures, resulting in larger root mean square errors (RMSE) and bias. In lieu of utilizing a more complex bathtub model, we propose induced right censoring of data at various points to substantially reduce RMSE and bias of lower percentile estimates. A technique for finding optimal or near optimal censoring points is discussed and two real world examples illustrate how this works in practice.
Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk: the importance of early prevention

Strategies aimed at primary prevention provide an outstanding opportunity for reducing the onset and burden of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Lipid abnormalities, including high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), are associated with an increased risk of CV events, thereby serving as contributors to this process. By consensus, lowering LDL-C, generally with statin therapy, is the primary target of lipid-lowering therapy. However, statin therapy may be insufficient for patients with mixed dyslipidemia, especially those with insulin resistance syndromes. While the addition of niacin, fibrate or omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in this setting, outcomes data are lacking. Therefore, data from ongoing prospective studies will hopefully resolve this issue and facilitate identification of optimal strategies to augment CV risk reduction.
Sensitivity analysis of interconnect networks based on S-parameter macromodel

In this paper a simple and efficient approach for time domain sensitivity analysis is presented. Since moments of the Taylor series of a function are derivatives of the function to frequency, the same technique can be used to compute sensitivities. The basic elements in the linear networks are described by their S-parameters and the first derivatives to parameter variations of the S-parameter; which are expressed as Taylor series. A linear network is reduced to an S-parameter based macromodel together with the driving sources and the nodes of interest. The network transfer functions together with their sensitivities with respect to all the parameter variations can be obtained in one pass during the network reduction process. Since the number of external nodes are much less than the total number of nodes in the network, this method is very efficient The method can be extended to compute the second or higher order sensitivities, which are very difficult, if not impossible, for other known methods. Experimental results show that this method is robust and efficient. This method is very useful for performance optimization, especially when the number of design variables and number of specifications are very large.
RETHINKING KNOWLEDGE WITH ACTION: V. D. SAVARKAR, THE BHAGAVAD GITA, AND HISTORIES OF WARFARE

This essay examines the significance of the Bhagavad Gita for V. D. Savarkar's interpretations of religion, nationalism, and the idea of Hindu India. As one of the intellectual founders of Hindu nationalism, Savarkar has emerged as the most controversial Indian political thinker of the last century, gaining notoriety for his program to ‘Hinduize Politics and Militarize Hindudom’, for his anti-Muslim and anti-Christian politics, and for his advocacy of violence in everyday life. By bringing together key selections from Savarkar's seminal historical writings, the essay also traces how Savarkar developed the concept of ethical warfare from the Gita for his political purposes of contesting colonial power and creating a Hindu nation. It also shows that Savarkar adopted history writing as his main literary form for his engagement with the Gita and its principles, thereby departing from the existing hermeneutical traditions of studying the Gita. For Savarkar, the creation of historical knowledge that embodied key ideas from the Gita was necessary for transforming the individual and the nation. He claimed that it ultimately motivated individuals to adopt violence for the creation of Hindu India.
Visual Effects of Exercise: Sensory or Decision Criterion Change:

An experiment was conducted to determine if improvement in resolution acuity due to exercise was based on changes in sensory discrimination or decision criterion. Two subjects participated in 15 exercise sessions of 1100 kpm per min. on a bicycle ergometer and 5 control sessions. After each exercise and non-exercise condition, resolution acuity was determined using a Yes-No indicator-response method. Significant improvement of resolution acuity was found after the exercise sessions. Threshold probabilities did not change significantly when corrected for spurious Yes responses, suggesting that differences were probably effects in sensory discrimination.
Magnetic microparticle aggregation for viscosity determination by MR.

Micron-sized magnetic particles were induced to aggregate when placed in homogeneous magnetic fields, like those of magnetic resonance (MR) imagers and relaxometers, and then spontaneously returned to their dispersed state when removed from the field. Associated with the aggregation and dispersion of the magnetic particles were time dependent increases and decreases in the spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of the water. Magnetic nanoparticles, with far smaller magnetic moments per particle, did not undergo magnetically induced aggregation, and exhibited time independent values of T2. The rate of T2 change associated with magnetic micro-particle aggregation was used to determine the viscosity of liquid samples, providing a method that can be of particular advantage for determining the viscosity of small volumes of potentially biohazardous samples of blood or blood plasma.
The Eisenhower Transition: Labor Policy in the New Political Economy*

Eisenhower is credited with steering a course between ideological extremes, his “presidency of consolidation” implying that his economic policy traced a smooth, unitary path. Instead, I argue that his is a twofold legacy. Eisenhower's most frequently cited actions, such as modifying Social Security and unemployment insurance, involved moderating the pace but maintaining the direction of past policy. But in relation to the New Deal labor policy regime, his actions carried a quite different developmental significance. When it came to the federal government's posture toward unions and labor organizing, Eisenhower reversed both the direction of policy and the future capacity of institutions to fulfill the New Deal's goals. As with any presidency, the first two years of Eisenhower's term were crucial in setting the agenda and determining priorities. Two initiatives, amending the Taft-Hartley Act and shaping the membership and decisions of the National Labor Relations Board, show how Eisenhower's ideas and policy tactics developed. The success of his administrative strategy had the effect of consolidating the potential inherent in the Taft-Hartley Act and—long before Reagan's “war on labor”—altering the developmental trajectory of the political economy of labor policy.
The effect of cold-induced increased metabolic rate on the rate of 13C and 15N incorporation in house sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Animals with high metabolic rates are believed to have high rates of carbon and nitrogen isotopic incorporation. We hypothesized that (1) chronic expo- sure to cold, and hence an increase in metabolic rate, would increase the rate of isotopic incorporation of both 13 C and 15 N into red blood cells; and (2) that the rate of isotopic incorporation into red blood cells would be allometrically related to body mass. Two groups of sparrows were chronically exposed to either 5 or 22� C and switched from a 13 C-depleted C3-plant diet to a more 13 C-enriched C4-plant one. We used respirometry to estimate the resting metabolic rate ð _ VO2Þ of birds ex- posed chronically to our two experimental temperatures. The allometric relationship between the rate of 13 C incorporation into blood and body mass was determined from published data. The _ VO2 of birds at 5� C was 1.9 times higher than that of birds at 22� C. Chronic expo- sure to a low temperature did not have an effect on the rate of isotopic incorporation of 15 N save for a very small effect on the incorporation of 13 C. The isotopic incorporation rate of 13 C was 1.5 times faster than that of 15 N. The fractional rate of 13 C incorporation into avian blood was allometrically related to body mass with an exponent similar to � 1/4. We conclude that the relationship between metabolic rate and the rate of isotopic incorporation into an animal's tissues is indirect. It is probably mediated by protein turnover and thus more complex than previous studies have assumed.
Science and Management: A New Alliance Within the Context of Culture

Bringing science back into culture has relevant consequences not for science practitioners, but also for companies and society in general. We need to renew the education of scientists and managers integrating science and management within culture as unifying context.
Truncated Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Protein Protects From Pulmonary Fibrosis Mediated by Irradiation in a Murine Model

Purpose To determine whether the delivery of recombinant truncated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) protein (rPAI-1 23 ) would protect from the development of radiation-induced lung injury. Methods and Materials C57Bl/6 mice received intraperitoneal injections of rPAI-1 23 (5.4 μg/kg/d) or vehicle for 18 weeks, beginning 2 days before irradiation (IR) (5 daily fractions of 6 Gy). Cohorts of mice were followed for survival (n=8 per treatment) and tissue collection (n=3 per treatment and time point). Fibrosis in lung was assessed with Masson-Trichrome staining and measurement of hydroxyproline content. Senescence was assessed with staining for β-galactosidase activity in lung and primary pneumocytes. Results Hydroxyproline content in irradiated lung was significantly reduced in mice that received rPAI-1 23 compared with mice that received vehicle (IR+vehicle: 84.97 μg/lung; IR+rPAI-1 23 : 56.2 μg/lung, P =.001). C57Bl/6 mice exposed to IR+vehicle had dense foci of subpleural fibrosis at 19 weeks, whereas the lungs of mice exposed to IR+rPAI-1 23 were largely devoid of fibrotic foci. Cellular senescence was significantly decreased by rPAI-1 23 treatment in primary pneumocyte cultures and in lung at multiple time points after IR. Conclusions These studies identify that rPAI-1 23 is capable of preventing radiation-induced fibrosis in murine lungs. These antifibrotic effects are associated with increased fibrin metabolism, enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression, and reduced senescence in type 2 pneumocytes. Thus, rPAI-1 23 is a novel therapeutic option for radiation-induced fibrosis.
Evaluation of Metal Oxide Nanowire Materials With Temperature-Controlled Microsensor Substrates

Nanomaterials are becoming increasingly important for next-generation chemical sensing devices. In particular, quasi-one-dimensional materials, such as nanowires, are attracting a great deal of interest. While early examples have demonstrated the promise offered by these nanoscale materials, challenges still remain for integration, systematic characterization and evaluation of such materials in operational devices. Here, a means to assess the performance of nanowire-based materials as chemical microsensors is illustrated with two examples. Polycrystalline nanowire sensing materials are integrated with microsensor substrates that feature an embedded heater, facilitating the use of temperature to interrogate the response characteristics of sensing materials. By changing the operating temperature, different effects are observed as a function of nanowire loading density (aligned tin oxide nanowires) or overall material morphology (tungsten oxide materials, including a thin film). Further, by using conventional signal processing and data analysis approaches, the sensitivity and selectivity of these materials as a function of material scale and morphology are characterized.
The role of early post-treatment mammography after breast conservation therapy

Abstract Background Current major national guidelines recommend early mammographic evaluation after completion of breast conservation therapy (BCT). However, the clinical utility of these recommendations are not well defined. Our objective was to determine the role of post-treatment mammogram after BCT. Methods A retrospective review at a single tertiary referral institution of all female patients (>18 years old) who underwent BCT for invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ was performed. Results Between 2004 and 2013, 342 patients met inclusion criteria. All patients underwent post-BCT mammograms with a mean time of 198 ± 59 days after treatment. Nineteen patients (5%) had findings that prompted biopsy on initial post-treatment mammogram. Of those 19 patients, there was 1 (5%) patient that had malignancy identified on biopsy. This represents .3% of overall patients who underwent mammography in the early postoperative period. Conclusions The utility of early mammogram after BCT is limited and prompts unnecessary diagnostic procedures, which are marginally beneficial. We recommend resetting the timing of mammography to resume 12 months after BCT is complete.
On divisibility properties of some differences of the central binomial coefficients and Catalan numbers

We discuss divisibility properties of some differences of the central binomial coefficients and Catalan numbers. The main tool is the application of various congruences modulo high prime powers for binomial coefficients combined with some recurrences relevant to these combinatorial quantities.
Large Eddy Simulations of Wall-Bounded Turbulent Flows Using a Semi-Implicit Numerical Scheme

Large eddy simulations (LES) of low-speed, wall-bounded turbulent flows were conducted by numerically integrating the compressible Navier-Stokes equations in a generalized curvilinear coordinate system. An ecient numerical scheme based on a third-order additive semi-implicit Runge-Kutta method for time advancement and a sixth-order accurate, compact finite-dierence scheme for spatial discretization were used. The convective terms in the wall-normal direction were treated implicitly to remove the time-step limitation associated with the use of fine meshes in the near-wall region for high Reynolds number viscous flows. The dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid-scale eddy viscosity model was used to close the filtered equations. Generalized characteristic-based nonreflecting boundary conditions were used together with an exit zone featuring grid stretching and enhanced damping. The accuracy and eciency of the numerical scheme was assessed by a simple model acoustic problem and by comparing LES predictions for fully-developed turbulent channel flow and turbulent separated flow in an asymmetric diuser to previous direct numerical simulation (DNS) and experimental data, respectively. LES predictions for both flows were in reasonable agreement with the DNS and experimental mean velocity and turbulence statistics. The findings suggest that the numerical approach employed here oers comparable accuracy to similar recent studies at approximately one-third of the computational cost and may provide both an accurate and ecient way to conduct computational aeroacoustics studies for low Mach number, confined turbulent flows.
Low Volume Resistivity Chemical Vapor Deposited Boron Doped Polycrystalline Thin Diamond Film Growth on Sapphire

Hot-filament chemical vapor deposited (HFCVD) boron doped polycrystalline diamond thin films having low volume resistivity were grown on sapphire. The films were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and current-voltage measurements. SEM micrographs show good crystalline structure with preferred (100) orientation normal to the surface of the film. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed diamond characteristics with the four typical diamond peaks present. Finally, the obtained I-V characteristics indicated that the film’s volume resistivity is at least two orders of magnitude lower than those of HFCVD polycrystalline diamond thin films grown on silicon under similar growth conditions.
Application of Particle Swarm Algorithm in Optimal Configuration of Active Power Filter

The model of single and multi active power filter were established with making the average of total harmonic distortion as the object function and the total harmonic distortion of different node as constraints.The particle swarm algorithm was used to optimize the configuration of active power filter.The simulation result of optimization configuration for active filter by utilizing IEEE12 nodes demonstrate that the algorithm can converge the global optimal solution quickly,which solve the optimization configuration of active power filter effectively.
Ion Beam and Laser Mixing: Fundamentals and Applications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fundamentals and applications of ion beam and laser mixing. Significant advances in materials science are usually preceded by the development or application of new processing techniques, for example, ion implantation doping. In recent years the use of both ion beams and lasers for processing materials has received new emphasis. One aspect of this has been the application of energetic heavy ion bombardment and pulsed or scanned (cw) lasers to induce materials interactions in thin-film composite samples or ion-implanted solids. These processing techniques, which have come to be called ion beam and laser mixing, have led to a variety of materials alterations that cannot be achieved with normal equilibrium processing techniques. The mixing mechanisms associated with pulsed laser mixing are quite simple. Mixing under melting conditions occurs by diffusion in the liquid state.
Developing and Testing a Bayesian Analysis of Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements

FRET measurements can provide dynamic spatial information on length scales smaller than the diffraction limit of light. Several methods exist to measure FRET between fluorophores, including Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), which relies on the reduction of fluorescence lifetime when a fluorophore is undergoing FRET. FLIM measurements take the form of histograms of photon arrival times, containing contributions from a mixed population of fluorophores both undergoing and not undergoing FRET, with the measured distribution being a mixture of exponentials of different lifetimes. Here, we present an analysis method based on Bayesian inference that rigorously takes into account several experimental complications. We test the precision and accuracy of our analysis on controlled experimental data and verify that we can faithfully extract model parameters, both in the low-photon and low-fraction regimes.
The Role of “Informational Significance” in Shaping Louisiana Elementary Teachers’ Use of High-Stakes Teacher Evaluation Data for Instructional Decision-Making

Precipitated by Race to the Top (RttT), efforts to redesign outdated teacher evaluation systems represented an opportunity to address limitations of past systems. One understudied aspect of new-generation educator evaluation systems concerns the use of these new sources of data in instructional decision-making. Utilizing longitudinal data on the effects of Compass, Louisiana’s high-stakes teacher evaluation (HSTE) system, this chapter tracks the experiences of a group of Louisiana elementary-level teachers and leaders in their understanding and use of Compass-generated performance data for instructional decision-making. Findings suggest that educators’ responses to HSTE data were shaped by various beliefs about their informational significance for practice—that is, the perceived utility of the data as actionable knowledge for decision-making. These perceptions resulted in one uniform response: educators virtually ignored Compass-generated data and used data of their own—even in the case of a high-performing, high data-driven decision-making elementary school. Findings suggest that districts can attenuate perceptions of informational significance by withholding autonomy over key aspects of the HSTE process from practitioners.
In Silico Hypothesis Discovery

As has been introduced in the preceding chapters, the biomedical and life sciences domains have experienced explosive growth in terms of the volume and complexity of data sets available for investigation. However, while such data has become more and more available to researchers, the state-of-the-art in terms of effectively using such resources for hypothesis formulation and testing remains extremely basic. Most hypotheses that are evaluated in the modern scientific setting are a function of the intuition or belief systems of an individual or team of investigators, often informed by years of experience and prior research. While these approaches have served the community well and led to many important discoveries, it is important to ask if there are alternative approaches to hypothesis discovery. In this chapter, we will briefly introduce the core concepts that underlie such an alternative, which is known as in silico hypothesis discovery. These methods employ domain-specific conceptual knowledge collections, such as ontologies or knowledge that can be extracted from the domain literature using machine learning or natural language processing methods, in order to reason upon and generate hypothesis corresponding to a data set in an extremely high throughput manner. While in silico hypothesis discovery methods remain very early in their development at the present time, they also hold great promise in terms of accelerating the pace, breadth, and depth of scientific discovery in the “big data” era.
Efficient water oxidation kinetics and enhanced electron transport in Li-doped TiO2 nanotube photoanodes

TiO2 nanotubes are a promising system to implement photoelectrochemical water splitting for the production of hydrogen fuel from sunlight. Besides the limited absorption spectrum, their performance is limited by the presence of trap states, which facilitate recombination, and the sluggish kinetics of the water splitting reaction. Long TiO2 nanotubes can potentially capture more light, but photogenerated charges are more prone to being lost to recombination as they must travel a longer path length. We demonstrate here that the use of Li doping extends the optimum nanotube length from 7 to 15 microns, yielding a photocurrent of 1.5 mA cm−2 under simulated sunlight at 1.65 VRHE. To identify the conditions under which photocurrent conversion is limited by the kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the OER efficiency of TiO2 nanotubes was quantified by measuring photocurrent in the presence of a hole scavenger. TiO2 nanotubes doped with Li exhibited up to 78% efficiency towards water splitting under an anodic bias above 1.2 VRHE. Under conditions where water oxidation was a limiting factor, addition of a CoOx OER catalyst yielded up to a twofold improvement in the photocurrent under a small applied bias of 0.4 VRHE.
Migrant mix and election outcomes: a district-level analysis of greater Istanbul metropolitan area†

About 40% of the Turkish population resides in a province other than the one in which they or their fathers were born. Forty-three percent of such people live in the greater Istanbul metropolitan a...
A Gentle Introduction to the American Invitational Mathematics Exam

This book is a celebration of mathematical problem solving at the level of the high school American Invitational Mathematics Examination. There is no other book on the market focused on the AIME. It is intended, in part, as a resource for comprehensive study and practice for the AIME competition for students, teachers, and mentors. After all, serious AIME contenders and competitors should seek a lot of practice in order to succeed. However, this book is also intended for anyone who enjoys solving problems as a recreational pursuit. The AIME contains many problems that have the power to foster enthusiasm for mathematics – the problems are fun, engaging, and addictive. The problems found within these pages can be used by teachers who wish to challenge their students, and they can be used to foster a community of lovers of mathematical problem solving! There are more than 250 fully-solved problems in the book, containing examples from AIME competitions of the 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, and 2010's. In some cases, multiple solutions are presented to highlight variable approaches. To help problem-solvers with the exercises, the author provides two levels of hints to each exercise in the book, one to help stuck starters get an idea how to begin, and another to provide more guidance in navigating an approach to the solution. Topics include algebra, combinatorics, probability, number theory, sequences and series, logarithms, trigonometry, complex numbers, polynomials, and geometry. Many AIME problems involve using several of these mathematical disciplines simultaneously. To make the book indeed "gentle", the author has prepared well-motivated, detailed, clear solutions to all examples and exercises in the book. He has not always opted for the shortest solution, but rather, he has presented solutions that a typical student might say "I could have come up with that!" The book avoids excessive reliance on heavy machinery, deep theorems, or undue abstraction.
Relationale Implementierung des Konversationskonzepts

Das Konzept der Datenbankkonversationen wurde in Kapitel 4 vorgestellt und in Kapitel 5 wurden Hauptfragen seiner Realisierbarkeit diskutiert. Dabei hat sich gezeigt, das Konversationen herkommliche Datenbankfunktionalitat betrachtlich erganzen, aber nicht ersetzen. Fur die Realisierung von Datenbankkonversationen bietet sich daher idealerweise ein erweiterbares Datenbanksystem an. Eine solche Architektur gestattet die Modifikation des Speicherungssystems, der Zugriffsmethoden, der Datentypen, und der Objektstruktur (z. B. Starburst; [168]). Forschungsarbeiten, die teilweise nicht mehr unter dem Titel „Erweiterbare Datenbanksysteme” laufen, bieten dariiber hinaus Modifikationsmoglichkeiten im Bereich der Transaktionsverwaltung und insbesondere bei der Concurrency control ([183]). Module, die fur Datenbankkonversationen nicht modifiziert werden mussen, konnen ohne Veranderungen ubernommen werden. So beschrankt sich der Implementienmgsaufwand auf das absolut notwendige Mas. Steht kein erweiterbares Datenbanksystem zur Verfugung, besteht eine weitere Implementierungsaltemative in der volligen Neuimplementierung des gesamten Datenbankverwaltungssystems. Neben den Konversationsmoduln mussen nun auch noch die Standardmoduln implementiert werden. Der scheinbare Vorteil gegenuber einem mehr oder weniger vorgefertigten Datenbankbaukasten, alle Funktionen exzellent aufeinander abstimmen zu konnen, wird durch den erhohten Implementierungsaufwand mehr als aufgewogen. Eine dritte Implementierungsaltemative ist eine Zusatzebenenarchitektur. Hier wird die neue Funktionalitat auf ein bestehendes Datenbanksystem aufgesetzt und mit dessen Mitteln realisiert. Hauptnachteil einer solchen Architektur ist, das selbst geringfugige Erweiterungen der Komponenten des Datenbanksystems nicht moglich sind und in der Zusatzebene simuliert werden mussen. Positiv schlagt ahnlich wie beim erweiterbaren Datenbanksystem der geringere Implementierungsaufwand gegenuber der Neuimplementierung zu Buche.
Dexmedetomidine-Ketamine Sedation in a Patient With Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Sedative and analgesic medications may impact physiologic function resulting in adverse effects especially in patients with co-morbid diseases. We present the successful use of a combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine to provide sedation and analgesia in a 9-month-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy undergoing hemodynamic cardiac catheterization with angiography. Co-morbid conditions included depressed myocardial function, hypertension, right renal artery agenesis, and narrowing of the abdominal aorta. A combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine was used to provide procedural sedation while maintaining spontaneous ventilation. A review of previously published reports of dexmedetomidine and ketamine for procedural sedation is reviewed and the potential efficacy of this combination for procedural sedation in patients with depressed myocardial function is presented. J Med Cases. 2017;8(10):293-296 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2851w
Metformin as Adjuvant Therapy in Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers

Obesity has been linked with increased risk for and worse outcomes from cancer, including gynecologic cancers. Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide) is a biguanide anti-hyperglycemic widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Epidemiologic studies suggest metformin both lowers cancer risk and improves cancer outcomes in diabetic patients when compared to those treated with other anti-diabetic medications. This epidemiologic evidence prompted pre-clinical investigation of the effects of metformin in cancer. In vitro and in vivo data find that metformin possesses anti-cancer effects through both indirect and direct effects on tumor growth. Indirect effects are likely due to inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis, resulting in reduced circulating glucose and insulin levels, which may decrease growth factor-stimulated tumor growth. Metformin may directly affect tumor growth through inhibition of mitochondrial complex 1 and activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), resulting in the regulation of multiple downstream signaling pathways that control cell proliferation and metabolism, including inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway as well as decreased fatty acid and lipid sythesis.