cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
XENOLITH CONSTRAINTS ON THE THERMAL HISTORY OF THE MANTLE BELOW THE COLORADO PLATEAU

Analyses of minerals in xenoliths from the Grand Canyon volcanic field (≤1 Ma) and published results from the Navajo field (20–30 Ma) constrain the history of the mantle below the Colorado Plateau. The Navajo xenoliths establish that the mantle was cool to a depth of at least 140 km, until heated by magma just before eruption, and so no frictional heating was recorded from shallow subduction below the plateau in Cenozoic time. The temperature record is consistent with a low elevation of the plateau until uplift consequent to igneous events at ∼ 25 Ma. Rims of minerals of Grand Canyon spinel peridotite xenoliths record mantle temperatures in the range 800–1000 °C at ≤1 Ma. Orthopyroxene grains in two rocks, however, contain interior domains with Ca like that of grain rims, but with much lower Al and Cr. The zonation of orthopyroxene records heating and annealing over a period of at least several million years, and this history is consistent with the isotopically unusual Grand Canyon xenoliths being from mantle lithosphere that persisted through a period of shallow subduction. Temperatures recorded by rims of minerals typically are cooler by about 100 °C than those of xenoliths from similar localities in the Basin and Range province, consistent with seismic studies that indicate relatively faster velocities for the uppermost mantle of the plateau.
Activation of Individual αIIbβ3 Integrin Molecules by Disruption of Transmembrane Domain Interactions in the Absence of Clustering

We used laser tweezers-based force spectroscopy to measure the binding strength between fibrinogen molecules covalently bound to latex beads and either wild-type αIIbβ3 molecules or αIIbβ3 molecule...
The use of focus groups to design an internet-based program for chlamydia screening with self-administered vaginal swabs: what women want.

Objective: To ascertain the opinions, concerns and perceptions of sexually active women to guide the development of an internet-based chlamydia outreach and screening program using self-administered vaginal swabs as a first step to prevention. Methods: Seven focus groups were conducted by trained facilitators. Questions were designed to initially open the discussion and elicit the members’ own perceptions. Secondary, more probing questions were asked later to confirm participants’ responses and elicit truthful answers. The main discussion topics were women’s ideas about internet recruitment for chlamydia screening, preferred genital sample type, self-sampling at home using vaginal swabs and using the mail to return specimens. Participants were 42 women, aged 14–49 years. Structured discussions were facilitated using open-ended questions about access to chlamydia testing via the internet. Data were collected and reviewed for common themes and emphasis. Results: All women actively participated in the discussions, providing valuable information. The concepts of self-sampling and the overall project were viewed positively, along with draft advertisements, questionnaires and self-sampling instructions; some modifications were suggested. Common themes included offering free kits available within their community or by direct mail, as well as pre-addressed, stamped mailers for returning the kit to the laboratory for testing. Commonly perceived obstacles and potential risks included: maintenance of confidentiality; situations of embarrassment; and ensuring simplicity of packaging. Women indicated confidence in their ability to collect vaginal specimens and willingness to call for their test results. Conclusions: Focus-group surveys were a useful tool and provided valuable feedback to inform the design of a specialised website to educate and facilitate access to chlamydia screening through home sampling.
An economic analysis of using wetlands for treatment of shrimp processing wastewater — a case study in Dulac, LA

Abstract Two crucial environmental problems in Louisiana are high rates of wetland loss and surface water pollution. Using wetlands for wastewater treatment can address both of these concerns by reducing the amount of pollutant discharge into surface water bodies while simultaneously serving to restore and replenish deteriorating marshes by enhancing productivity and accretion. Using wetlands for wastewater assimilation can also result in considerable cost savings when compared with conventional, non-wetlands wastewater treatment options. In order to determine these cost savings in a specific case, an avoided cost economic analysis was performed for two potential wastewater treatment options for a shrimp processor in Dulac, LA: (1) conventional, on-site treatment with dissolved air flotation (DAF); and (2) wetland treatment. Annualized costs for DAF implementation are ≈$208 000/year for 25 years. Wetland treatment costs around 25% of DAF with an annual cost of ≈$63 000. Yearly savings would be almost $150 000. This is a capitalized cost savings of over $1.5 million.
A task adaptive parallel graphics renderer

This paper presents a graphics renderer which incorporates new partitioning methodologies of memory and work for efficient execution on a parallel computer. The task adaptive domain decomposition scheme is an image space method involving dynamic partitioning of rectangular pixel area tasks. We show that this method requires little overhead, allows coherence within a parallel context, handles worst case scenarios with reasonable speedup, executes efficiently, and requires minimal processor synchronization. The implementation analysis indicates that load imbalance is the major cause of performance degradation at the higher processor counts. Even so, on a variety of test scenes, an average rendering speedup of 79 was achieved utilizing 96 processors on the BBN TC2000 multiprocessor with processor efficiency ranging from 66% to 94%.
Closure and Monotonicity Properties of Nonhomogeneous Poisson Processes and Record Values

Interconnections between occurrence times of nonhomogeneous Poisson processes, record values, minimal repair times, and the relevation transform are explained. A number of properties of the distributions of occurrence times and interoccurrence times of a nonhomogeneous Poisson process are proved when the mean-value function of the process is convex, starshaped, or superadditive. The same results hold for upper record values of independently identically distributed random variables from IFR, IFRA, and NBU distributions.
Dispersion engineering of silicon nanophotonic wires using a thin film cladding

Numerical simulations and experiments are performed to investigate the use of thin conformal silicon nitride cladding layers to engineer the dispersion properties of silicon nanophotonic waveguides.
Ethylene Contributes to maize insect resistance1-Mediated Maize Defense against the Phloem Sap-Sucking Corn Leaf Aphid

Signaling networks among multiple phytohormones fine-tune plant defense responses to insect herbivore attack. Previously, it was reported that the synergistic combination of ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA) was required for accumulation of the maize insect resistance1 (mir1) gene product, a cysteine (Cys) proteinase that is a key defensive protein against chewing insect pests in maize (Zea mays). However, this study suggests that mir1-mediated resistance to corn leaf aphid (CLA; Rhopalosiphum maidis), a phloem sap-sucking insect pest, is independent of JA but regulated by the ET-signaling pathway. Feeding by CLA triggers the rapid accumulation of mir1 transcripts in the resistant maize genotype, Mp708. Furthermore, Mp708 provided elevated levels of antibiosis (limits aphid population)- and antixenosis (deters aphid settling)-mediated resistance to CLA compared with B73 and Tx601 maize susceptible inbred lines. Synthetic diet aphid feeding trial bioassays with recombinant Mir1-Cys Protease demonstrates that Mir1-Cys Protease provides direct toxicity to CLA. Furthermore, foliar feeding by CLA rapidly sends defensive signal(s) to the roots that trigger belowground accumulation of the mir1, signifying a potential role of long-distance signaling in maize defense against the phloem-feeding insects. Collectively, our data indicate that ET-regulated mir1 transcript accumulation, uncoupled from JA, contributed to heightened resistance to CLA in maize. In addition, our results underscore the significance of ET acting as a central node in regulating mir1 expression to different feeding guilds of insect herbivores.
Examining the Protective Effects of Mindfulness Training on Working Memory Capacity and Affective Experience

We investigated the impact of mindfulness training (MT) on working memory capacity (WMC) and affective experience. WMC is used in managing cognitive demands and regulating emotions. Yet, persistent and intensive demands, such as those experienced during high-stress intervals, may deplete WMC and lead to cognitive failures and emotional disturbances. We hypothesized that MT may mitigate these deleterious effects by bolstering WMC. We recruited 2 military cohorts during the high-stress predeployment interval and provided MT to 1 (MT, n 31) but not the other group (military control group, MC, n 17). The MT group attended an 8-week MT course and logged the amount of out-of-class time spent practicing formal MT exercises. The operation span task was used to index WMC at 2 testing sessions before and after the MT course. Although WMC remained stable over time in civilians (n 12), it degraded in the MC group. In the MT group, WMC decreased over time in those with low MT practice time, but increased in those with high practice time. Higher MT practice time also corresponded to lower levels of negative affect and higher levels of positive affect (indexed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). The relationship between practice time and negative, but not positive, affect was mediated by WMC, indicating that MT-related improvements in WMC may support some but not all of MT’s salutary effects. Nonetheless, these findings suggest that sufficient MT practice may protect against functional impairments associated with high-stress contexts.
Analysis of the Fenton-Karma model through an approximation by a one-dimensional map.

The Fenton–Karma model is a simplification of complex ionic models of cardiac membrane that reproduces quantitatively many of the characteristics of heart cells; its behavior is simple enough to be understood analytically. In this paper, a map is derived that approximates the response of the Fenton–Karma model to stimulation in zero spatial dimensions. This map contains some amount of memory, describing the action potential duration as a function of the previous diastolic interval and the previous action potential duration. Results obtained from iteration of the map and numerical simulations of the Fenton–Karma model are in good agreement. In particular, the iterated map admits different types of solutions corresponding to various dynamical behavior of the cardiac cell, such as 1:1 and 2:1 patterns.
Renal cell carcinoma--a review of 256 cases.

Renal cell carcinoma represents nearly 90% of all malignant tumors of the kidney. The varied aspects of this tumor's pathophysiology have been a continuing challenge to early diagnosis and successful therapy. For inapparent reasons it has been noted in this and other studies that renal cell carcinoma is twice as common in males as in females. As we have shown, renal cell carcinoma occurs in all age groups but is most common in the sixth and seventh decades. In spite of an occasional case, heredity probably does not apparently play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. This study has shown that because of the multiple pathways of dissemination, renal cell carcinoma can be unpredictable in the sites of metastasis. The lung, however, is consistently the most common site of metastatic growth. Many experts have attempted to introduce a system of classification related to prognosis. The present experience using the classification of Flocks and Kadesky showed there was a notable drop in survival in stages III and IV as compared to I and II. Also, there was little difference in survival between patients having stage III and stage IV disease. In general, the survival statistics agree with those of others. The classic triad of renal cell carcinoma was associated with 5-year survival in only four cases, indicating it to be a sign of advanced disease. Radical nephrectomy continues to be the initial treatment in most centers. The most promising of the newer methods is hormonal therapy, which is based on the theory that hormones underlie the mechanism of host resistance to renal cell carcinoma. There have been four satisfactory responses in 26 treated cases of renal tumor with distant metastases. However, it is still too early to make valid statements about this modality.
The distribution of estuarine diatoms along environmental gradients: A canonical correlation

Abstract Multivariate statistical procedures identified groups of non-planktonic diatoms with similar distributions in Yaquina Estuary (Oregon). A clustering algorithm and a canonical analysis of discriminance were used to describe distributional patterns relative to the pattern of sampling, and these patterns were associated with environmental gradients by the method of canonical correlation. There was a distributional continuum of marine and brackish-water diatom taxa that changed location in the estuary with seasonal variation in freshwater discharge. However, the vertical and horizontal gradients of salinity and desiccation were steep enough to manifest three relatively discrete assemblages, one with typical freshwater taxa and two dominated by species of Melosira and Achnanthes . About 41% of the variability in the species data could be associated with salinity, temperature, light energy, and period of exposure to intertidal emergence. Canonical correlation ordered 26 taxa along gradients of mean salinity and mean daily salinity range.
Animated agents in K-12 engineering outreach: Preferred agent characteristics across age levels

Animated agents have been found to positively impact student learning and/or perceptions within com- puter-based learning environments. However, there is little research on the agent characteristics pre- ferred by K-12 students. The main purpos e of this study was to examine student preferences for individual pedagogical agents and their preferences for various agent chara cteristics. Student preferences for the following agent characteristics were assessed using survey methodology: agent gender, age, real- ism, clothing , personality, speech pace, and tutoring approach. A total of N = 565 students from elemen- tary through high school watched a computer-based multimedia overview of engineering. Four engineering discipline s were introduced by four animate d agents: a young female, young male, old female, and old male agent. Immediately after viewing the computer-based overview, students com- pleted surveys assessing preferences for the four agents and for individual agent characteristics. Results indicated that all students preferred agents and specific external agent characteristics that are close to their own external characteristics and favored internal agent characteristics that they felt would promote understanding of the domain. These findings suggest that animate d agents used in computer-based K-12 engineering outreach should be close to the student's external characteristics.
Gaze and Speech in Attentive User Interfaces

The trend toward pervasive computing necessitates finding and implementing appropriate ways for users to interact with devices. We believe the future of interaction with pervasive devices lies in attentive user interfaces, systems that pay attention to what users do so that they can attend to what users need. Such systems track user behavior, model user interests, and anticipate user desires and actions. In addition to developing technologies that support attentive user interfaces, and applications or scenarios that use attentive user interfaces, there is the problem of evaluating the utility of the attentive approach. With this last point in mind, we observed users in an "office of the future", where information is accessed on displays via verbal commands. Based on users' verbal data and eye-gaze patterns, our results suggest people naturally address individual devices rather than the office as a whole.
A Kalman-Filter Spectral Envelope Preprocessor

This paper presents a Kalman-filter approach for computing spectral envelopes of current waveforms for nonintrusive load monitoring on the electric utility. Spectral envelopes represent time-varying frequency content and phase of the current relative to the voltage. Thus, the techniques presented in this paper may be applicable to a variety of lock-in measurement and signal processing techniques. The lock-in and computational performance of the proposed method favorably compares to previous efforts. The performance is demonstrated with data from the field.
FINE STRUCTURE OF THE GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIUM ACETOBACTER SUBOXYDANS

The morphological features of the cell wall, plasma membrane, protoplasmic constituents, and flagella of Acetobacter suboxydans (ATCC 621) were studied by thin sectioning and negative staining. Thin sections of the cell wall demonstrate an outer membrane and an inner, more homogeneous layer. These observations are consistent with those of isolated, gram-negative cell-wall ghosts and the chemical analyses of gram-negative cell walls. Certain functional attributes of the cell-wall inner layer and the structural comparisons of gram-negative and gram-positive cell walls are considered. The plasma membrane is similar in appearance to the membrane of the cell wall and is occasionally found to be folded into the cytoplasm. Certain features of the protoplasm are described and discussed, including the diffuse states of the chromatinic material that appear to be correlated with the length of the cell and a polar differentiation in the area of expected flagellar attachment. Although the flagella appear hollow in thin sections, negative staining of isolated flagella does not substantiate this finding. Severe physical treatment occasionally produces a localized penetration into the central region of the flagellum, the diameter of which is much smaller then that expected from sections. A possible explanation of this apparent discrepancy is discussed.
The Economic Trade-Offs in the Fair Value Debate

In this paper, I provide two general insights that are useful in evaluating the economic trade-offs of alternative accounting measurement rules. First, when there are multiple imperfections in the world, restricting a strict subset of it need not always improve welfare. Second, a firm is not a black box that operates independently of the measurement environment. Measuring a firm’s operations affects the firm’s actions which, in turn, affect the underlying distribution of cash flows that is being measured. Using these two insights, I discuss the economic consequences of accounting measurement rules that strive for greater transparency. In particular, I focus on the costs and benefits of fair value accounting and its implications for financial stability.
Developmental changes in thermoprotective actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is an important endocrine signal for regulation of early embryonic development. It increases the proportion of preimplantation embryos becoming blastocysts, alters blastocyst gene expression, improves resistance of embryos to various stresses and can enhance survival of embryos after transfer to recipients. The present study had two objectives. The first was to determine whether the thermoprotective actions of IGF1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo was developmentally regulated, with the two-cell embryo being refractory to IGF1. The second was to determine the molecular basis for the improved competence of embryos treated with IGF1 to establish pregnancy after transfer to heat-stressed recipients. Treatment of embryos with 100 ng/ml IGF1 reduced the effects of heat shock on embryos ≥16 cells at day 5 after insemination but did not provide thermoprotection to two-cell embryos. Failure of IGF1 to alter embryo survival after heat shock was not associated with reduced expression of genes involved in IGF1 signaling (IGF1R, RAF1, PI3K, and MAPK) or immunoreactive IGF1R protein. Treatment with IGF1 had little effect on the transcriptome at the blastocyst stage of development, with a total of 102 differentially expressed genes identified. Among the differentially expressed genes were several involved in apoptosis, protection against free radicals and development. Changes in gene expression were consistent with IGF1 acting to induce an anti-apoptotic state and inhibit neurulation. In conclusion, thermoprotective actions of IGF1 are developmentally regulated. Failure of IGF1 to protect the two-cell embryo from heat shock could reflect the fact that these embryos are maximally sensitive to damage caused by heat shock or reflect the quiescence of the embryonic genome at this stage of development. Changes in gene expression at the blastocyst stage induced by IGF1 could contribute to the increased survival of IGF1-treated embryos when transferred during periods of heat stress.
Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposite Coatings Fabricated by Sputttering

A brief study of the microhardness of nanocomposite coatings fabricated by a new technique is reported. The new fabrication technique utilizes sputtering at high pressures in a thermal gradient to produce nanometer-size particles, which are then embedded in a matrix produced by conventional sputtering. The microstructures and microhardness of nanocomposite coatings of Al matrix reinforced by Mo particles (grain diameter ranging from 7 to 20 nm) are reported.
A Comparison Of Internet And Classroom Students Performance In The Course Information Society

This empirical study investigated the performance of the students who took an undergraduate course “Information Society” either online, or in a traditional classroom setting in the semesters fall 2002, spring 2003, spring 2004, and summer 2003. Our study analyzed the performance of 279 students in those semesters. The students in each semester or summer session completed the same course work, including listening to the same lectures and taking the same exams. The results of our analysis indicates that that the Internet students performed at least in the same level as the on-campus students and that the online delivery method did not negatively affect success of the students. However, we also found that the non-completion rates for the course Information Society (SOC285) in fall 2002 and spring 2004 were different for students who took the course online or in a traditional classroom setting, indicating that Internet students in the course had more difficulties in finishing the course. The third major finding is that for online delivery, the students in the short summer session (in summer 2003) performed as well as students in normal semesters (fall 2002, spring 2003, and spring 2004) in terms of both completion rate and median scores.
Lead Follow or Get Out of the Way: The States Tackle Climate Change with Little Help from Washington

During the Bush II years, there was a decided lack of leadership at the national level on the gathering threat of climate change. Many states, particularly coastal states like California and Florida, but also states in the Northeast and Midwest, stepped forward to fill the void. In the best constitutional tradition of "laboratories for new ideas" the states have pioneered a number of innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of climate change. These include the adoption of climate action plans, renewable portfolio standards for electricity, energy efficiency standards for cars and buildings; the rejection of "dirty" coal plants in favor of lower carbon alternatives and demand-side measures; tightening of land use controls to prevent sprawl and promote more compact development;and the creation of regional carbon markets like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation's first mandatory cap and trade program. Though a comprehensive national program is needed to address the interrelated issues of energy, climate, economy and national security, the steps being taken by the states are buying precious time and showing the way towards the future of a carbon constrained world.
Evidence-Based Traditional Persian Medicine

Clinical decision-making is referred to as a social process in which the dentist, the patient, and the other bodies like the insurer each has a role to play. The practice of traditional medicine is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage and constitutes an integral part of the culture of the people of any country. Different forms of traditional medicines have been used as an essential means of treatment of diseases and management of various health problems. This chapter introduces the medical tradition of Persia from the viewpoint of evidence-based health care in general and its implication to dentistry in particular.
Ciprofloxacin Decreases Collagen in Mouse Tympanic Membrane Fibroblasts

ObjectivesTo determine how collagen production by tympanic membrane fibroblasts is affected by ciprofloxacin at levels found in eardrops.Study DesignProspective, controlled, and blinded cell culture study.SettingAcademic tertiary medical center.SubjectsCell culture of mouse fibroblasts.MethodsA primary fibroblast culture was established from mouse tympanic membranes. Fibroblasts were cultured until they were 75% confluent, then treated with dilute hydrochloric acid (control) or ciprofloxacin (0.01% or 0.3%) for 24 or 72 hours for Western blotting and for 24 or 48 hours for cytotoxicity assay. Cells were observed with phase-contrast microscope. Western blotting was performed for collagen type 1 α1 (collagen 1A1) and α-tubulin.ResultsFibroblasts treated with 0.01% and 0.3% ciprofloxacin for 24 hours had lower levels of collagen 1A1 (P = .0005 and P < .0001, respectively) and α-tubulin (both P < .0001) than control fibroblasts. Collagen 1A1 and α-tubulin levels were lower in fibroblasts treated with 0.3% tha...
AIternative to Estroge Replacement Therapy for Preventing Osteoporosis: Hormone replacement therapy can prevent and treat osteoporosis) but many women are unable or unwilling to use estrogens.

Osteoporosis is a leading cause of disability and death in older Americans; women are at higher risk than men. Bone is a living tissue that undergoes continuous remodeling throughout life. Several drugs-including sex hormones, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and sodium fluoride-can arrest the progression of osteoporosis and prevent fractures. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation may prevent the development of osteoporosis in high-risk individuals and are useful adjuncts when used with other treatments.
Automatic Sensor Frame Identification in Industrial Robots With Joint Elasticity

For robots with joint elasticity, discrepancies exist between the motor side information and the load side (i.e., end-effector) information. Therefore, high tracking performance at the load side can hardly be achieved when the estimate of load side information is inaccurate. To minimize such inaccuracies, it is desired to calibrate the load side sensor (in particular, the exact sensor location). In practice, the optimal placement of the load side sensor often varies due to the task variation necessitating frequent sensor calibrations. This frequent calibration need requires significant effort and hence is not preferable for industries which have relatively short product cycles. To solve this problem, this paper presents a sensor frame identification algorithm to automate this calibration process for the load side sensor, in particular the accelerometer. We formulate the calibration problem as a nonlinear estimation problem with unknown parameters. The Expectation-Maximization algorithm is utilized to decouple the state estimation and the parameter estimation into two separated optimization problems. An overall dual-phase learning structure associated with the proposed approach is also studied. Experiments are designed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The U.S. Charter School Landscape: Extant Literature, Gaps in Research, and Implications for the U.S. Educational System.

More than 20 years into public charter school implementation, the U.S. experience offers many lessons to help inform policymakers and others about how to achieve the best possible results with charter school policies. In the last 15 years or so, a number of rigorous studies have examined the effects of these schools. This paper places this research within the framework of the charter school concept and what proponents saw as the goals for the reform. It then moves on to discuss the outcomes and what the research suggests makes some charter schools effective including student achievement. Finally, the paper concludes with discussion points and thoughts for policymakers and researchers.
A new drug with a nasty bite: A case of krokodil-induced skin necrosis in an intravenous drug user.

Krokodil is a commonly used street name for desomorphine, an injectable opioid derivative that is associated with severe dermatologic effects. We report a case of a woman who had extensive ulcerations after a single use of this narcotic. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the cutaneous manifestations of krokodil use in the dermatologic literature.
Satisfaction among residents in ASHP-accredited pharmacy residency programs

The level of work satisfaction among pharmacists in ASHP-accredited residencies was studied. In March 1996 a questionnaire designed to measure residency satisfaction was mailed to 697 individuals in ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice and specialty practice residencies. Subjects responded to 16 statements relating to intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of work satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree. Questionnaires were returned by 413 (59%) of the residents. The respondents were predominantly women (76%), and most (86%) had at least a Pharm. D. degree. Hospitals were the primary work setting (88%). Of the 413 residents, 305 were in pharmacy practice residencies and 108 were in specialized residencies. None of the mean scores indicated disagreement (scores 3) with the negatively worded statements. The median and mode were equal to 2 (disagree) for the three negatively worded items and 4 (agree) for all but three positively worded items. Only 8% of the residents indicated that they would not accept the residency again if given the chance. Specialized residents tended to rate positively worded statements higher and negatively worded statements lower than pharmacy practice residents. Female residents indicated greater satisfaction than male residents. Pay and benefits were rated slightly better than neutral. Pharmacy residents appeared generally satisfied with their residencies. Specialized pharmacy residents were more satisfied than pharmacy practice residents, and women were more satisfied than men.
Decreased Expression of Enterocyte Nutrient Assimilation Genes and Proteins in the Small Intestine of Cystic Fibrosis Mouse.

OBJECTIVES Cystic fibrosis (CF) has major effects on the intestinal tract with potential consequences on nutrition, but these are not fully understood. I investigated the possibility of altered enterocyte maturation in CF, as suggested by decreased enterocyte nutrient assimilation gene expression in published transcriptome analysis of the small intestine of CF mouse. METHODS In CF and wild-type (WT) mice, enterocyte gene/protein expression was analyzed by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. One group of mice was maintained on a control liquid diet; to manipulate the gut microbiota, a second group was treated with oral antibiotics; to improve hydration of the gut lumen, a third group was given a laxative drinking solution. RESULTS On the control diet in the CF intestine, there were decreased levels (67%-85% reduction of WT levels) of enterocyte genes/proteins. Antibiotics did not normalize the expression of enterocyte markers in the CF mouse. In contrast, the laxative treatment of CF mice significantly increased expression to near WT levels. CONCLUSIONS These studies suggest that the environment of the CF intestinal lumen plays a role in reduced maturation of enterocytes. Because changing the gut lumen environment can affect enterocyte maturation, this is not a cell-autonomous effect of loss of CF transmembrane conductance regulator.
Predicting Collisionless Equlibria in Dark Matter Simulations

By using a transformation from phase-space variables to a set of orthogonal Hermite-Legendre polynomials, the dynamics of one-dimensional self-gravitating systems has been reduced to a linear set of equations. This transformation changes the long-range forces into local interactions in the new problem. This makes it possible to determine the steady-state solutions by projecting the initial conditions into the time-independent solutions.
Episodes in action: linking the cost and quality of nonsurgical coronary revascularization.

By dissociating episodes into four types of risk (i.e., risk of occurrence, clinical risk, technical risk, and utility risk) financial incentives can be created that reward good clinical judgement, superior technical quality, and efficient health care delivery. Using a computer-generated simulation of 100,000 episodes of nonsurgical coronary revascularization (i.e., PTCA), global fees were assigned to each patient, and the relation between clinical performance and financial success was explored for 100 hypothetical practices. Good sensitivity and specificity were achieved in assessing clinical performance. Financial incentives were found to favor providers of appropriate, effective, and efficient care.
Childhood primary parotid non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with direct intracranial extension: a case report.

Childhood primary parotid non-Hodgkin s lymphoma (NHL) is a rare but well-recognized entity in the literature. Perineural extension of masses between the head and neck and cranium, although rare, h...
Stress-Induced Immunomodulation: What Is It, If It Is?

Stress-induced immunomodulation is a topic of concern to all scientists using animal models in their research, because research animals must be maintained in optimal health in experimental protocols. Indeed a reduction and the possible elimination of stress is particularly important in the study of long-term development, aging, and chronic toxicity. In addition, an understanding of stress-induced immunomodulation is especially vital for those researchers whose work involves measurement of immune-function end points in animals (19).
Development of a motif-based topology-independent structure comparison method to identify evolutionarily related folds

Structure conservation, functional similarities and homologous relationships that exist across diverse protein topologies suggest that some regions of the protein fold universe are continuous. However, the current structure classification systems are based on hierarchical organizations, which cannot accommodate structural relationships that span fold definitions. Here we describe a novel, supersecondary-structure motif-based, topology-independent structure comparison method (SmotifCOMP) that is able to quantitatively identify structural relationships between disparate topologies. The basis of SmotifCOMP is a systematically defined supersecondary-structure motif library whose representative geometries are shown to be saturated in the Protein Data Bank and exhibit a unique distribution within the known folds. SmotifCOMP offers a robust and quantitative technique to compare domains that adopt different topologies since the method does not rely on a global superposition. SmotifCOMP is used to perform an exhaustive comparison of the known folds and the identified relationships are used to produce a non-hierarchical representation of the fold space that reflects the notion of a continuous and connected fold universe. The current work offers insight into previously hypothesized evolutionary relationships between disparate folds and provides a resource for exploring novel ones. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A portable, high-level graph analytics framework targeting distributed, heterogeneous systems

As the HPC and Big Data communities continue to converge, heterogeneous and distributed systems are becoming commonplace. In order to take advantage of the immense computing power of these systems, distributing data efficiently and leveraging specialized hardware (e.g. accelerators) is critical. MapReduce is a popular paradigm that provides automatic data distribution to the programmer. CUDA and OpenCL are some of the most popular frameworks for leveraging accelerators (specifically GPUs) on heterogeneous systems.In this paper, we develop a portable, high-level framework using a popular MapReduce framework, Apache Spark, in conjunction with CUDA and OpenCL in order to simultaneously take advantage of automatic data distribution and specialized hardware present on each node of our HPC systems. Using our framework, we accelerate two real-world, compute and data intensive, graph analytics applications: a function call graph similarity application and a triangle enumeration subroutine. We demonstrate linear scalability on the call graph similarity application as well as an exploration of the triangle enumeration parameter space. We show that our method yields a portable solution that can be used to leverage almost any legacy, current, or next-generation HPC or cloud-based system.
Wikipedia Verification Check: A Chrome Browser Extension

In this paper we present Version 1.0 of an implementation of a Wiki reference parser with a light-weight plugin in the form of a Google Chrome Extension with Javascript. The output of the parser is a "verification score" for any Wikipedia page, constructed from a combination of scores derived from reference accessibility and quality. The extension presented herein works from a pre-stored database of DOI and reference checks. Future versions working in real-time are also discussed. This work suggests generalizations to real-time verification checkers for arbitrary webpages and possibly even a real-time fact-checker for news platforms.
Performance and optimization of a BIPV/T solar air collector for building fenestration applications

Abstract The different elements of the building envelope such as facades, roof and windows play a central role in its thermal behaviour, and new technologies that integrate their architectural functions with energy generation are emerging. A prototype of a building-integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPV/T) air collector was built, which is intended to perform the functions of thermal and electrical generation, light transmission and shading control. In this work, the prototype was tested under different conditions to investigate its thermal and electrical performances. The results showed a maximum temperature rise (from bottom to top) of 31 °C and average thermal and electrical efficiencies of 31% and 7%, respectively. The experimental data were used to build a two-dimensional model in COMSOL Multiphysics, in order to assist in the optimization of the various system components for the design of the next prototype. Simulations were performed on the glazing system to optimize the thermal output, through the use of coatings and additional glass panels. Different configurations were analyzed, and it was found that a 3-pane system with low-e coatings applied to the inside surfaces represents the best cost-effective solution, which results in a 64.7 °C air temperature output and a 40% increase in temperature rise over the existing prototype.
Biomedical EM, Optics, and Ultrasound

This chapter discusses some key formulations in biomedical electromagnetics (EM). Extensive work has been reported on static through terahertz coupling to bodies near fields, cell phones, specific absorption rate (SAR), narrow and UWB pulse in biological systems. The chapter considers specific absorption rate (SAR) and heat diffusion in tissues. It describes the diffusion approximation of the radiative transfer theory. In the diffusion approximation, the specific intensity has a broad angular spectrum and therefore the diffused wave cannot be focused into a small volume. There is a way to focus the diffused wave, but the focusing requires constructive interference near the focal point and destructive interference elsewhere. The chapter also discusses fundamentals of ultrasound scattering and imaging of tissues and blood. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was introduced to obtain noninvasive images of biological images of biological tissues with resolutions of 1‐15 μm.
Phospholipases, enzymes that share a substrate class.

The title of this chapter was chosen to emphasize a point, namely, that PLs are classified as a group solely on the basis that they hydrolyze phospholipids. Beyond this commonality, this is a diverse group of enzymes, both in structure and in function.1 One or more of these enzymes have been described in almost every, if not all organisms analyzed for their presence. The sites of hydrolysis and nomenclature for the PLs are given in Fig. 1.
Biocompatibility of PEG-based hydrogels in primate brain

Degradable polymers have been used successfully in a wide variety of peripheral applications from tissue regeneration to drug delivery. These polymers induce little inflammatory response and appear to be well accepted by the host environment. Their use in the brain, for neural tissue reconstruction or drug delivery, also could be advantageous in treating neurodegenerative disorders. Because the brain has a unique immune response, a polymer that is compatible in the body may not be so in the brain. In the present study, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogels were implanted into the striatum and cerebral cortex of nonhuman primates. Four months after implantation, brains were processed to evaluate the extent of astrogliosis and scaring, the presence of microglia/macrophages, and the extent of T-cell infiltration. Hydrogels with 20% w/v PEG implanted into the brain stimulated a slight increase in astrocytic and microglial/macrophage presence, as indicated by a small increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and CD68 staining intensity. This increase was not substantially different from that found in the sham-implanted hemispheres of the brain. Staining for CD3+ T cells indicated no presence of peripheral T-cell infiltration. No gliotic scarring was seen in any implanted hemisphere. The combination of low density of GFAP-positive cells and CD68-positive cells, the absence of T cells, and the lack of gliotic scarring suggest that this level of immune response is not indicative of immunorejection and that the PEG-based hydrogel has potential to be used in the primate brain for local drug delivery or neural tissue regeneration.
Laser Etching and Microelectronic Applications

Laser etching involves use of a laser to directly pattern a semiconductor, insulator, or metal. By either scanning a focused beam or illuminating a mask which is optically imaged onto a sample, the laser both defines and etches the desired pattern. Conventional lithographic techniques involve applying a photoresist which is exposed and developed and then separately etching the substrate and finally removing the resist. While there are more steps in conventional lithography, the processes are relatively well understood, widely practiced, and many tools are commercially available. Some laser etching techniques require further process development and only a few industrial grade tools are commercially available at this time.
Predictive modeling for response to lithium and quetiapine in bipolar disorder

Objectives Lithium and quetiapine are known to be effective treatments for bipolar disorder. However, little information is available to inform prediction of response to these medications. Machine-learning methods can identify predictors of response by examining variables simultaneously. Further evaluation of models on a test sample can estimate how well these models would generalize to other samples. Methods Data (N = 482) were drawn from a randomized clinical trial of outpatients with bipolar I or II disorder who received adjunctive personalized treatment plus either lithium or quetiapine. Elastic net regularization (ENR) was used to generate models for lithium and quetiapine; these models were evaluated on a test set. Results Predictions from the lithium model explained 17.4% of the variance in actual observed scores of patients who received lithium in the test set, while predictions from the quetiapine model explained 32.1% of the variance of patients that received quetiapine. Of the baseline variables selected, those with the largest parameter estimates were: severity of mania; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbidity; nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior; employment; and comorbidity with each of two anxiety disorders (social phobia/society anxiety and agoraphobia). Predictive accuracy of the ENR model outperformed the simple and basic theoretical models. Conclusion ENR is an effective approach for building optimal and generalizable models. Variables identified through this methodology can inform future research on predictors of response to lithium and quetiapine, as well as future modeling efforts of treatment choice in bipolar disorder.
Radiologic Review for Frontal Sinus Surgery

Even prior to the preoperative phase, radiologic studies are helpful to correlate the patient’s symptoms with objective findings. Imaging tests are essential prior to contemplating surgery on the frontal sinuses as they can characterize the type and extent of frontal sinus disease and define the relevant anatomy in detail. These studies help with preoperative planning and intraoperative execution of safe and effective surgery. Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) of the paranasal sinuses is the most common radiologic test utilized for frontal sinus surgery. Additionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other radiologic tests are helpful in cases of expansile, mass-like lesions, tumors, skull base pathology, or in circumstances such as in post-obliteration frontal sinus disease to distinguish fat from mucoceles. This chapter will cover: Definition of anatomy, including relevant anatomic variants Characterization of inflammatory sinus disease and any associated complications Evaluation of the postoperative diseased frontal sinus Assessment of expansile mass-like lesions and sinonasal neoplasms
Marital Strain, Support, and Alcohol Use: Results from a Twin Design Statistically Controlling for Genetic Confounding.

Background: Marriage is one of the most frequently examined sources of social support and has been shown to protect against alcohol use and abuse. This study examines the relationship between perce...
A Primal Dual Smoothing Framework for Max-Structured Nonconvex Optimization

We propose a primal dual first-order smoothing framework for solving a class of nonsmooth nonconvex optimization problems with max-structure. We analyze the primal and dual oracle complexities of the framework via two approaches, i.e., the dual-then-primal and primal-the-dual smoothing approaches. Our framework improves the best-known oracle complexities of the existing methods, even in the restricted problem setting. As the cornerstone of our framework, we propose a conceptually simple primal dual method for solving a class of convex-concave saddle-point problems with primal strong convexity, which is based on a newly developed non-Hilbertian inexact accelerated proximal gradient algorithm. This primal dual method has a dual oracle complexity that is significantly better than the previous ones, and a primal oracle complexity that matches the best-known, up to logarithmic factor. Finally, we extend our framework to the stochastic case, and demonstrate that the oracle complexities of this extension indeed match the state-of-the-art.