cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of recognition and recall study tasks with feedback in a computer-based vocabulary lesson

Should computer-based study tasks use multiple-choice or constructed-response question format? It was hypothesized that a constructucted-response study task (CR) with feedback would be superior to multiple-choice study tasks that allowed either single or multiple tries (STF and MTF). Two additional recognition study task treatments were included that required an overt constructed response after feedback (STF+OR and MTF+OR) in order to control for possible confounding caused by response form mismatch between the recognition study task and recall posttest. Graduate students (N=133) were randomly assigned to one of the five computer-delivered treatments. Relative to STF, posttest effect sizes were: STF <MTF (0.12)<CC (0.62). As hypothesized, CR scores were larger than MTF and STF scores, although the difference was not significant. An overt response had a much stronger effect than expected. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Activation and pulmonary toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids unsaturated in the 1,2 position are hepatotoxins. Certain of them, such as monocrotaline, are also pneumotoxins, producing pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy as a delayed response two weeks after administration. Pneumotoxicity is the result of hepatic metabolism, the lung itself being unable to bioactivate pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The changes produced in the lung following exposure to pneumotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids are reviewed, together with the factors and interventions which modify or influence these changes. In the main, the earliest changes are seen in vascular smooth muscle and in the interactions between the smooth muscle and the endothelium. The search to identify the pneumotoxic metabolite is reviewed. It is generally accepted that pyrroles, or dehydroalkaloids, are responsible for the toxicity of pyrrolizidines. However, the primary pyrroles are intensely reactive, hydrolyzing and polymerizing within seconds in aqueous solution. Evidence for and against the pneumotoxin being a primary pyrrole or a stabilized secondary conversion product of a primary pyrrole is discussed.
Improved prognosis in congenital bypothyroidism treated before age three months

The relationship between age at beginning therapy and subsequent intelligence quotient was studied in 31 patients with congenital hypothyroidism. Those patients treated before three months of age had a significantly higher average I.Q. than those treated after three months. Because the clinical symptomatology before three months of age is often obscure, and the diagnosis is often missed, a neonatal screening program could be beneficial.
Statistical design of discrete-data control systems subject to power limitation

Abstract A solution is presented for the analytical design of a digital controller in accordance with a specified optimum criterion. This approach makes use of the z-transform and the modified z-transform techniques. The analytic design procedure for discrete-data control systems subject to power limitation is developed. Attention is centered upon stationary random functions because of their frequent occurrence in control systems and their being amenable to mathematical treatment. In this paper, physical realizability and system constraints are considered and general design equations are derived.
Pharmacodynamic effects of high dose lovastatin in subjects with advanced malignancies

Lovastatin, an inhibitor of the rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, has shown interesting antiproliferative activities in cell culture and in animal models of cancer. The goal of the current study is to determine whether lovastatin bioactivity levels, in a range equivalent to those used in in vitro and preclinical studies, can be safely achieved in human subjects. Here we present the findings from a dose-escalating trial of lovastatin in subjects with advanced malignancies. Lovastatin was administered every 6 h for 96 h in 4-week cycles in doses ranging from 10 mg/m2 to 415 mg/m2. Peak plasma lovastatin bioactivity levels of 0.06–12.3 μM were achieved in a dose-independent manner. Cholesterol levels decreased during treatment and normalized during the rest period. A dose-limiting toxicity was not reached and there were no clinically significant increases in creatine phosphokinase or serum hepatic aminotransferases levels. No antitumor responses were observed. These results demonstrate that high doses of lovastatin, given every 4 h for 96 h, are well-tolerated and in select cases, bioactivity levels in the range necessary for antiproliferative activity were achieved.
Interdiffusion between Si substrates and YBaCuO films

Abstract Rapid thermal annealing has been used for fabrication of YBaCuO thin films from Cu/BaO/Y 2 O 3 layered structures. The films were deposited on Si substrates by electron-beam evaporation. The interdiffusion at the film/substrate interface has been investigated using Auger depth profiling. With a metal barrier layer, the film showed the superconducting transition between 74–85 K. At anneal temperature above 980°C, Si was found to diffuse throughout the film and degrade the superconductivity of the films.
Academic Visual Identity (AVI): an act of symbolic leadership

Extensive scholarship exists on both symbolic leadership and corporate visual identity (CVI), yet little scholarly attention has been focused on the intersection of these two bodies of knowledge. In the field of education, that intersection is known as academic visual identity (AVI). The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that AVI development, evaluation, management, and change are essential components of effective symbolic leadership, especially as it is practiced in schools, colleges, and universities. This paper provides an overview of the history, theories, and practices of symbolic leadership in both higher education and the corporate sector. It links those theories and practices to mutually relevant concepts and models in the fields of AVI and CVI. This study is designed for administrators, faculty, staff, students, scholars, and marketing and public relations professionals who are concerned with AVI. This paper raises awareness of the cultural, organizational, technical, and leadership chall...
Simultaneous sparse recovery for unsupervised hyperspectral unmixing

Spectral pixels in a hyperspectral image are known to lie in a low-dimensional subspace. The Linear Mixture Model states that every spectral vector is closely represented by a linear combination of some signatures. When no prior knowledge of the representing signatures available, they must be extracted from the image data, then the abundances of each vector can be determined. The whole process is often referred to as unsupervised endmember extraction and unmixing. The Linear Mixture Model can be extended to Sparse Mixture Model R=MS + N, where not only single pixels but the whole hyperspectral image has a sparse representation using a dictionary M made of the data itself, and the abundance vectors (columns of S) are sparse at the same locations. The endmember extraction and unmixing tasks then can be done concurrently by solving for a row-sparse abundance matrix S. In this paper, we pose a convex optimization problem, then using simultaneous sparse recovery techniques to find S. This approach promise a global optimum solution for the process, rather than suboptimal solutions of iterative methods which extract endmembers one at a time. We use l1l2 norm of S to promote row-sparsity in simultaneous sparse recovery, then impose additional hyperspectral constraints to abundance vectors (such as non-negativity and sum-to-one).
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: whole-abdomen irradiation as an adjuvant to chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of whole-abdomen irradiation in the treatment of abdominal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1978 and 1990, 39 patients with abdominal NHL were treated with modified three-way whole-abdomen irradiation as either an adjunct to chemotherapy (in 34 patients) or sole therapy (in five patients). RESULTS: The 5-year relapse-free survival rate in 36 patients who received at least 30 Gy was 38% and was 64% in 17 patients treated for consolidation of complete or partial response to chemotherapy. Treatment was terminated in four of 19 patients in whom treatment was interrupted because of acute toxicity. The major acute toxicities were decreased blood counts and enteritis. There were four grade 3 or 4 late toxicities. CONCLUSION: Whole-abdomen irradiation is a safe adjunct to chemotherapy in patients with NHL who are at high risk for intraabdominal failure.
Girard T Reagent for Carbonyls

THE water-soluble properties of Girard T hydrazones make the reagent potentially effective for isolation of carbonyls from mixtures soluble in non-polar solvents. In work on the chemistry of rancidity1, we have found the reagent useful in learning about the distribution of volatile and non-volatile carbonyls in rancid fat. This work indicated possible usefulness of the reagent for investigation of the complex carbonyl anatomy of autoxidized fats. Successful application depends on adaptation to quantitative isolation of very small amounts of carbonyls, and on devising means of controlling the reaction so as to isolate at will free carbonyl and bound or potential carbonyl.
Cyborg beast: a low-cost 3d-printed prosthetic hand for children with upper-limb differences

There is an increasing number of children with traumatic and congenital hand amputations or reductions. Children's prosthetic needs are complex due to their small size, constant growth, and psychosocial development. Families’ financial resources play a crucial role in the prescription of prostheses for their children, especially when private insurance and public funding are insufficient. Electric-powered (i.e., myoelectric) and body-powered (i.e., mechanical) devices have been developed to accommodate children’s needs, but the cost of maintenance and replacement represents an obstacle for many families. Due to the complexity and high cost of these prosthetic hands, they are not accessible to children from low-income, uninsured families or to children from developing countries. Advancements in computer-aided design (CAD) programs, additive manufacturing, and image editing software offer the possibility of designing, printing, and fitting prosthetic hands devices at a distance and at very low cost. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to describe a low-cost three-dimensional (3D)-printed prosthetic hand for children with upper-limb reductions and to propose a prosthesis fitting methodology that can be performed at a distance. No significant mean differences were found between the anthropometric and range of motion measurements taken directly from the upper limbs of subjects versus those extracted from photographs. The Bland and Altman plots show no major bias and narrow limits of agreements for lengths and widths and small bias and wider limits of agreements for the range of motion measurements. The main finding of the survey was that our prosthetic device may have a significant potential to positively impact quality of life and daily usage, and can be incorporated in several activities at home and in school. This investigation describes a low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic hand for children and proposes a distance fitting procedure. The Cyborg Beast prosthetic hand and the proposed distance-fitting procedures may represent a possible low-cost alternative for children in developing countries and those who have limited access to health care providers. Further studies should examine the functionality, validity, durability, benefits, and rejection rate of this type of low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic device.
Quantitative effects of common genetic variations in the 3′UTR of the human LDL-receptor gene and their associations with plasma lipid levels in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study

The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) plays a pivotal role in cholesterol homeostasis. However, the role of genetic variations in the 3'UTR of the LDLR in relation to plasma cholesterol has been largely understudied. Six SNPs, G44243A, G44332A, C44506G, G44695A, C44857T and A44964G, within the 5' region of the 3'UTR fall into three common haplotypes, GGCGCA, AGCACG, and GGCGTA, occurring at frequencies of 0.45, 0.31 and 0.17, respectively, in Caucasians (n = 29) and 0.13, 0.13 and 0.38, respectively, in African Americans (n = 32), with three other haplotypes occurring at lesser frequencies. In a tissue culture based system, expression of a reporter gene carrying a 3'UTR that includes the 1 kb nucleotide sequences corresponding to the AGCACG or GGCGTA was 70 or 63%, respectively, of the same sequence with GGCGCA. Genotyping of two "haplotype tagging" SNPs, C44857T and A44964G, in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study population showed that in Caucasians, but not in African Americans, the inferred TA haplotype had a significant LDL-cholesterol lowering effect. The adjusted LDL-cholesterol levels in the TA/TA diplotypes were lower by 6.10 mg/dl in men (P < 0.001) and by 4.63 mg/dl in women (P < 0.01) than in individuals with other diplotypes. Caucasian men homozygous for CA, in contrast, showed significantly higher LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.04), lower HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.02) and higher LDL/HDL ratios (P < 0.001). Thus our data shows that 3'UTR sequences that cause higher reporter gene expression in vitro are associated in Caucasians with plasma lipid profiles indicative of higher cardiovascular risk, suggesting that further studies of quantitative variants in the LDLR gene will be valuable.
Potentiation of vinblastine crystal formation in vivo by puromycin and colcemid.

Abstract The quantity of microtubular protein present in unfertilized eggs and zygotes of the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus was assayed using vincaleucoblastine (VLB). This vinca alkaloid, used at 10 -4 M, induces the formation of highly birefringent crystals (uniaxial, refractive index 1.51, coefficient of BR 1.7 × 10 −3 ) known to contain microtubular protein. Crystals were measured in vivo with an ocular micrometer and the volume of each crystal was estimated. Total crystal volumes per cell were compared among groups which received VLB alone and other groups which received VLB with puromycin, colcemid or both. Puromycin was shown to have no effect on the VLB crystal volume in the unfertilized eggs, but zygotes incubated with VLB plus puromycin had a larger volume of crystals per cell than zygotes incubated in VLB alone. Colcemid (10 −4 M) clearly and consistently enhanced the volume yield of VLB crystals by a factor of 3 in both unfertilized eggs and zygotes.
Mechanistic Analysis of Oxidative C–H Cleavages Using Inter- and Intramolecular Kinetic Isotope Effects

A series of monodeuterated benzylic and allylic ethers were subjected to oxidative carbon–hydrogen bond cleavage to determine the impact of structural variation on intramolecular kinetic isotope effects in DDQ-mediated cyclization reactions. These values are compared to the corresponding intermolecular kinetic isotope effects that were accessed through subjecting mixtures of non-deuterated and dideuterated substrates to the reaction conditions. The results indicate that carbon–hydrogen bond cleavage is rate determining and that a radical cation is most likely a key intermediate in the reaction mechanism.
SU‐DD‐A3‐03: Using Treatment Beam Imaging to Monitor Prostate Motion In Near Real‐Time On a Conventional LINAC

Purpose: To directly use MV treatment beam imaging to monitor tumor motion represents an ideal realm for IGRT because it does not require additional hardware and delivers no extra radiation dose to patients. Here we report a method of obtaining the positions of implanted fiducials in near real‐time from cine EPIDimaging of prostate IMRT beams. Method and Materials: A Clinac 21EX is used for the study. During IMRT beam delivery, EPIDimaging of the treatment MV beam is acquired in cine mode. The framed images are captured and transferred to a PC, where a fully automated marker detection algorithm is developed to extract the coordinates of the implanted fiducials on the images of IMRT apertures that include the fiducials. The automated algorithm matches cross sections of cylindrical fiducials and evaluates multiple criteria to analyze the MV images. From an EPIDimage, only the coordinates of a fiducial on the plane perpendicular to the beam can be derived. The position of the marker in the direction parallel to the beam is then estimated from the pre‐treatment portal images and previous treatment beam(s) at different direction(s). This novel MV image guidance procedure is evaluated by using motion phantom experiments and five prostate patients with three implanted gold fiducials. Results: The phantom study suggests that the system is capable of detecting any motion greater than 1.2 mm. The variation of all fiducials from their planned positions was calculated on every image and the maximum variation was 4 mm with a standard deviation of 1.8 mm. The 3D positions of fiducials were calculated. The standard deviations of fiducial 3D position distributions were found to be 2.2 mm or less. Conclusion: This fully automated method provides prostate position during treatment without extra costs.
Multirate PRMA: protocol for controlled soft capacity in TDMA systems

Multirate PRMA, a TDMA access protocol to support controlled soft capacity for cellular systems, is proposed. Network congestion is handled by reducing the effective bandwidth allocated to active users. This extra bandwidth is used for access contention by new talkspurts, thus preventing traffic induced blocking. The details and the performance for a dual-rate system are presented.
Utility Maximization for Layered Broadcast over Rayleigh Fading Channels

In this paper we consider multicast systems that use layered source coding with successive refinement in a Rayleigh fading environment. For this kind of systems, we optimally allocate the transmission power, and hence the decoding threshold of each layer, in order to maximize the expected satisfaction defined by a utility function of the decoded rates of the users. In particular, we use the Lagrangian dual problem in order to efficiently solve the primal non-convex problem for any number of layers. Furthermore, we show that for some channel statistics, it is not optimal to transmit all the layers, rather we should allocate zero power to some of the upper layers in order to maximize the expected user satisfaction.
Optimum Size of School Districts Relative to Selected Costs

Economic efficiency of public school districts was explored by utilization of the concept of economies and dis‐economies of scale. An optimum size relative to costs was discovered by analyzing the data with curvilinear least squares regression and also with the differential calculus. The sample was taken from elementary, high school, and K–12 (unit) districts in the state of Illinois, U.S.A. Suggestions for further research on the general notion of optimum size of school districts are presented.
An efficient representation of non-stationary signals using wavelets and mixed-transforms

A technique is presented to efficiently represent nonstationary signals by combining the wavelet and mixed-transforms. First, the signal is split into subbands using the discrete wavelet transforms. Next, each of these subbands is represented using superimposed partial sets of basis functions of different transforms, which are, in general, mutually nonorthogonal. This is termed the mixed-transforms representation. The residual error, which is the difference between the original subband and the reconstructed subband, is properly formulated. Adaptive algorithms are developed to minimize this error and to maximize the band for a fixed number of transform components. An optimization strategy is proposed to select the dominant components from the various domains for adaptation. These efficiently represented subbands are finally combined to reconstruct the signal. >
Vaginal foreign body: a delayed diagnosis.

Abstract Background To describe a case of prolonged vaginal bleeding in a prepubertal girl. Review of medical record and literature search. Case A 7-year-old female was referred to our pediatric and adolescent gynecologic clinic for evaluation of vaginal bleeding and ovarian cyst on ultrasonography. Her parents denied any history of trauma or sexual abuse. Initial evaluation revealed pre-pubertal luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels, and follow-up ultrasonography revealed normal pre-pubertal pelvic anatomy. However, a skeletal survey, which was obtained to assess for the presence of skeletal fibrous dysplasia, revealed a metal spring in the vagina. The patient ultimately underwent an exam under anesthesia and vaginoscopy with removal of 3 foreign bodies, with subsequent termination of symptoms. Summary and Conclusions In cases of pre-pubertal vaginal bleeding, the possibility of vaginal foreign body should not be excluded despite normal sonographic imaging. If clinical suspicion for a vaginal foreign body persists, additional imaging modalities or exam under anesthesia should be considered.
Complications associated with facial cosmetic surgery.

Most individuals who seek esthetic facial surgery are in good health and lack a major systemic physical ailment. A surgeon’s task is to improve on this natural state and avoid any major surgical complications. The only sure way to avoid surgical complication is to avoid surgery. Many potential complications can be prevented by careful assessment of the patient preoperatively. During the preoperative visit, the patient’s motives and expectations should be elicited. As a result, the patient is fully informed as to the reality of surgery and the possible complications. It is necessary for the patient to articulate the problem and for the surgeon to comprehend the patient’s view of his or her deformity and the reason for having surgery. Certain behavioral characteristics of the patient should alert the surgeon:
High-Speed Protocol Implementations: An Experience with PAISS

This paper describes our experience in implementing the OSI transport service, with the focus being on the use of the PASS ("Parallel Activity Specification Scheme") Formal Description Technique (FDT) tools for specification, verification, and semi-automatic code generation. We discuss the results of the experiment from two aspects: (1) efficiency of implementation, and (2) efficiency of the resultant implementation. The PASS tools, recently augmented with a graphical user interface, are described, and their application to the present implementation is outlined.
Multidisciplinary interrater reliability of ventricle ratio screening for submassive pulmonary embolism on axial non-EKG-gated CT pulmonary angiography

No. 399 Multidisciplinary interrater reliability of ventricle ratio screening for submassive pulmonary embolism on axial non-EKG-gated CT pulmonary angiography Z.L. Bercu, V.V. Patil, L. Azour, V.L. Bishay, M. Salvatore, J. Oropello, R.A. Lookstein, A.M. Fischman, E. Kim, S.F. Nowakowski, R.S. Patel; Division of Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Surgical Critical Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Purpose: A right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle (LV) ratio 40.9 and positive pulmonary embolism (PE) on computerized tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is associated with doubled 30-day mortality [1]. If confirmed on echocardiography, patients may benefit from more aggressive therapy. RV:LV ratios on axial imaging may be comparable to reformated 4-chamber views [2]. The purpose is to assess the interrater reliability (IRR) of ventricle measurements for RV: LV ratio calculation among diverse readers. Materials and Methods: 17 patients with PE underwent axial non-gated CTPA between November 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014. Patient charts and imaging were reviewed for demographics, treatment, and PE burden using the Modified Miller Score (MMS). 4 readers measured maximum RV/LV diameters following a 5 minute training session. Reader 1 was a radiology resident with 1.5 years imaging experience. Reader 2 was a chest radiologist with 14 years experience. Reader 3 was an interventional radiologist with 7 years experience. Reader 4 was a critical care physician with 24 years experience treating PE. IRR was assessed using intra-class correlation (ICC). Results: 5 patients had malignancy. 5 had deep venous thrombosis. Average MMS was 4.6 (range: 0-16). 4 of 10 patients had right cardiac dysfunction on echocardiogram. 5, 2, and 1 received low molecular weight heparin, rivaroxiban, and warfarin, respectively. 6 received combination therapy either for bridging or complication. 2 were ineligible for anticoagulation. 1 underwent peripheral thrombolysis. 4 underwent filter placement. ICC was 0.870 (CI: 0.728-0.948) for the RV and 0.870 (CI: 0.728-0.948) for the LV. Readers 1, 2, 3, and 4 found 13, 9, 15, and 12 patients with RV:LV40.9, respectively. Conclusion: Detection of patients who may have submassive PE requires diverse physician coordination. The study population included a full spectrum of disease burden. High ICCs among multidisciplinary readers confers high accuracy. Slightly more patients were found with RV:LV40.9 than with right heart dysfunction on echo, suggesting its utility for screening for sicker patients.
Reexamining the warming in the tropical upper troposphere: Models versus radiosonde observations

[1] A recent study of 1979–2010 tropical tropospheric temperature trends in climate model simulations and satellite microwave sounding unit (MSU) observations concluded that, although both showed greater warming in the upper than lower troposphere, the vertical amplification of warming was exaggerated in most models. We repeat that analysis of temperature trends, vertical difference trends, and trend ratios using five radiosonde datasets. Some, but not all, comparisons support the notion that vertical amplification in models exceeds that observed. However, larger ranges of radiosonde trends compared with those for MSU, and the sensitivity of results to the upper-tropospheric level analyzed, make it difficult to conclude unambiguously that models are inconsistent with radiosonde observations. The larger ranges are due to the availability of more radiosonde datasets with different approaches for adjusting measurement biases. Together these two studies highlight challenges of using imperfect observations of tropical tropospheric temperature over a few decades to assess climate model performance. Citation: Seidel, D. J., M. Free, and J. S. Wang (2012), Reexamining the warming in the tropical upper troposphere: Models versus radiosonde observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L22701,
Accounting for Localized Defects in the Optoelectronic Design of Thin-Film Solar Cells

Controlled nanostructuring of thin-film solar cells offers a promising route toward increased efficiency through improved light trapping. Many such light trapping designs involve structuring of the active region itself. Optimization of these designs is aided by the use of computer simulations that account for both the optics and electronics of the device. We describe such a simulation-based approach that accounts for experimental tradeoffs between high-aspect ratio structuring and electronic material quality. Our model explicitly accounts for localized regions of degraded material quality that is induced by light trapping structures in n-i-p a-Si:H solar cells. We find that the geometry of the defects couples to the geometry of light absorption profiles in the active region and that this coupling impacts the spectral response of the device. Our approach yields insights into the nanoscale device physics that is associated with localized geometry-induced defects and provides a framework for full optoelectronic optimization.
Electrospun Vascular Grafts with Improved Compliance Matching to Native Vessels

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most commonly performed major surgeries in the United States. Autologous vessels such as the saphenous vein are the current gold standard for treatment; however, synthetic vascular prostheses made of expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (ePTFE) or poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) are used when autologous vessels are unavailable. These synthetic grafts have a high failure rate in small diameter (<4 mm) applications due to rapid re-occlusion via intimal hyperplasia. Current strategies to improve clinical performance are focused on preventing intimal hyperplasia by fabricating grafts with compliance and burst pressure similar to native vessels. To this end, we have developed an electrospun vascular graft from segmented polyurethanes with tunable properties by altering material chemistry and graft microarchitecture. Relationships between polyurethane tensile properties and biomechanical properties were elucidated to select polymers with desirable properties. Graft thickness, fiber tortuosity, and fiber fusions were modulated to provide additional tools for controlling graft properties. Using a combination of these strategies, a vascular graft with compliance and burst pressure exceeding the saphenous vein autograft was fabricated (compliance = 6.0 ± 0.6 %/mmHg × 10−4, burst pressure = 2260 ± 160 mmHg). This graft is hypothesized to reduce intimal hyperplasia associated with low compliance in synthetic grafts and improve long term clinical success. Additionally, the fundamental relationships between electrospun mesh microarchitecture and mechanical properties identified in this work can be utilized in various biomedical applications.
Graphical passwords based on robust discretization

This paper generalizes Blonder's graphical passwords to arbitrary images and solves a robustness problem that this generalization entails. The password consists of user-chosen click points in a displayed image. In order to store passwords in cryptographically hashed form, we need to prevent small uncertainties in the click points from having any effect on the password. We achieve this by introducing a robust discretization, based on multigrid discretization
Making progress and Wanting More: One-year near-surface current measurements from a surface mooring in the Gulf Stream and other thoughts about long-term surface moorings

Recently, as part of the CLIMODE (CLIVAR Mode Water Dynamics Experiment) a surface mooring was placed at 38degN, 65degW, a location that was at times in the core of the Gulf Stream. The surface mooring survived the first year at this 5000 m deep site, and the second deployment failed after 2 months. Two Nortek current meters provide some of the first direct near-surface current time series from such a location, and represent progress in sustained sampling from surface moorings. At the same time, the ability to sustain surface moorings for a year at a time presents challenges for current meters. After one year, it is hard to escape biofouling and, at times, damage from fishing gear. Such concerns lead to using current meters with no moving parts, but the present trade off between sampling and power in most instruments typically constrains one to four samples per hour, not frequent enough to either match the sustained sampling rate of temperature and salinity now possible or to resolve high frequency processes of interest. Once per minute sampling and proven accuracy as can be obtained by a Vector Measuring Current Meter (VMCM) would be desirable for near-surface moored deployments.
Heat Shock Induces Rapid Dephosphorylation of τ in Both Female and Male Rats Followed by Hyperphosphorylation Only in Female Rats: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

Female and male 2-3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were heat shocked at 42 degrees C for 15 min. At 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after heat shock, qualitative and quantitative immunoblot analysis of cerebral extracts and immunohistochemistry were performed using monoclonal anti-tau antibodies that recognize nonphosphorylated (Tau-1), phosphorylated (PHF-1), and phosphate-independent (Tau-5 and Tau-46) epitopes. At 0 h after heat shock, there was dephosphorylation of tau in both female and male rats as evidenced by (1) accentuation and attenuation of tau isoforms recognized by Tau-1 and PHF-1, respectively, and recognition of additional tau polypeptides by Tau-1, Tau-5, and Tau-46 but not PHF-1; (2) significant increase in the nonphosphorylated Tau-1 epitope with resultant decrease in the ratio of total (phosphorylated plus nonphosphorylated) tau to nonphosphorylated tau; and (3) dephosphorylation of the Tau-1 epitope in the somatodendritic compartment. By 6 h after heat shock, there was progressive hyperphosphorylation of tau in female but not male rats exemplified by (1) upward gel mobility shift recognized by PHF-1, Tau-5, and Tau-46, and by Tau-1 after dephosphorylation; (2) significant increase in the ratio of total tau to nonphosphorylated tau; and (3) rephosphorylation of the Tau-1 epitope in the somatodendritic compartment. Two-dimensional electrophoresis showed shifts to basic and acidic tau polypeptides at 0 and 6 h after heat shock, respectively. Hyperphosphorylation of tau also occurred after multiple heat-shock episodes. Microtubules were present at 6 h after heat shock. There were no differences between control and heat-shocked rats in extracts from peripheral nerves. Thus, we now have a simple rat model to study within 6 h the processes of dephosphorylation and hyperphosphorylation of tau, which are altered in Alzheimer's disease.
HARDY INEQUALITY FOR CENSORED STABLE PROCESSES

A Hardy inequality is established for censored stable processes on a large class of bounded domains including bounded Lipschitz domains in R n with n ≥ 2.
Correlation of hepatic steatosis with body mass index, serum ferritin level and hepatic fibrosis in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

AIMS The present study was aimed at determining the predictors of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS The relationship between the degrees of hepatic steatosis or fibrosis and several clinical parameters was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Steatosis was observed in 117 out of 184 patients (64%), including 45 patients (25%) with grade 1 ( 50%). In the multivariate analysis, body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.0038) and serum ferritin (P < 0.0001) were selected as independent predictors of hepatic steatosis. Six of the 184 patients (3%) had stage 0 fibrosis (no fibrosis), 87 patients (47%) had stage 1, 55 patients (30%) had stage 2 and 36 patients (20%) had stage 3. In the multivariate analysis, platelet count (P = 0.0012), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.0219), hyaluronic acid (P < 0.0001) and the grade of steatosis (P = 0.0008) were selected as independent predictors of hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSION Obesity and iron storage, as evaluated by BMI and serum ferritin level, respectively, have important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis, which is a factor responsible for the development of hepatic fibrosis in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Deployment of mobile robots with energy and timing constraints

Mobile robots can be used in many applications, such as carpet cleaning, search and rescue, and exploration. Many studies have been devoted to the control, sensing, and communication of robots. However, the deployment of robots has not been fully addressed. The deployment problem is to determine the number of groups unloaded by a carrier, the number of robots in each group, and the initial locations of those robots. This paper investigates robot deployment for coverage tasks. Both timing and energy constraints are considered; the robots carry limited energy and need to finish the tasks before deadlines. We build power models for mobile robots and calculate the robots' power consumption at different speeds. A speed-management method is proposed to decide the traveling speeds to maximize the traveling distance under both energy and timing constraints. Our method uses rectangle scanlines as the coverage routes, and solves the deployment problem using fewer robots. Finally, we provide an approach to consider areas with random obstacles. Compared with two simple heuristics, our solution uses 36% fewer robots for open areas and 32% fewer robots for areas with obstacles.
High-Performance InP-Based Mid-IR Quantum Cascade Lasers

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) were once considered as inefficient devices, as the wall-plug efficiency (WPE) was merely a few percent at room temperature. But this situation has changed in the past few years, as dramatic enhancements to the output power and WPE have been made for InP-based mid-IR QCLs. Room temperature continuous-wave (CW) output power as high as 2.8 W and WPE as high as 15% have now been demonstrated for individual devices. Along with the fundamental exploration of refining the design and improving the material quality, a consistent determination of important device performance parameters allows for strategically addressing each component that can be improved potentially. In this paper, we present quantitative experimental evidence backing up the strategies we have adopted to improve the WPE for QCLs with room temperature CW operation.
Factors affecting germination of jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) seed

Abstract Specific knowledge about the dormancy, germination, and emergence patterns of weed species aids the development of integrated management strategies. The after-ripening period for jointed goatgrass seed was quantified, and the effects of germination conditions and spikelet structures on jointed goatgrass seed germination were measured. As the duration of after-ripening increased, jointed goatgrass seed germinated earlier, at faster rates, and to greater final percentages compared to non–after-ripened seed. Both primary and secondary positioned seed within jointed goatgrass spikelets were nondormant after 16 wk after-ripening at 22 ± 2 C. Germination of dormant seed depended on incubation temperature and dark/light conditions. Sixty-seven percent of spikelets produced a radicle when exposed to low temperatures in the dark, and light at warm temperatures increased germination by 7%. The relationship between light and incubation temperature was similar also for germination of the primary positioned s...
Internet Visibility of Localized Websites of Twelve Global Brands in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong: An Evaluation with Web Impact Factor (WIF)

The localized Web sites of twelve global brands were evaluated via Web impact factor (WIF), a measurement of the number of inlinking pages in a Web site divided by the number of indexed pages of that Web site in the databases of a search engine. The highest and the lowest WIF, and the mean WIF were identified and compared for each of the twelve global brands to reveal their visibility and impact on the Internet. The WIF of the brand Web sites was also compared between six pair of direct competitors in six industries. No correlation was found between the rank of a global brand and the value of its Web site's WIF.
Possibilities and impossibilities in the evaluation of pulmonary vascular disease in congenital heart defects.

. These changes, knownas pulmonary plexogenic arteriopathy, include increasedmuscularization, altered vasoconstrictive and impairedvasodilatatory responses in the arterial tree, andextensive extracellular matrix modulation (includingincreased collagen deposition and gradual occlusion ofthe small pulmonary arteries by intimal proliferationand ﬁbrosis)
Centromeric heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast—balancing transcription, RNA interference and chromatin modification

Distinct regions of the eukaryotic genome are packaged into different types of chromatin, with euchromatin representing gene rich, transcriptionally active regions and heterochromatin more condensed and gene poor. The assembly and maintenance of heterochromatin is important for many aspects of genome control, including silencing of gene transcription, suppression of recombination, and to ensure proper chromosome segregation. The precise mechanisms underlying heterochromatin establishment and maintenance are still unclear, but much progress has been made towards understanding this process during the last few years, particularly from studies performed in fission yeast. In this review, we hope to provide a conceptual model of centromeric heterochromatin in fission yeast that integrates our current understanding of the competing forces of transcription, replication, and RNA decay that influence its assembly and propagation.
Allele-Specific Deletions in Mouse Tumors Identify Fbxw7 as Germline Modifier of Tumor Susceptibility

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been successful in finding associations between specific genetic variants and cancer susceptibility in human populations. These studies have identified a range of highly statistically significant associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to development of a range of human tumors. However, the effect of each SNP in isolation is very small, and all of the SNPs combined only account for a relatively minor proportion of the total genetic risk (5-10%). There is therefore a major requirement for alternative routes to the discovery of genetic risk factors for cancer. We have previously shown using mouse models that chromosomal regions harboring susceptibility genes identified by linkage analysis frequently exhibit allele-specific genetic alterations in tumors. We demonstrate here that the Fbxw7 gene, a commonly mutated gene in a wide range of mouse and human cancers, shows allele-specific deletions in mouse lymphomas and skin tumors. Lymphomas from three different F1 hybrids show 100% allele-specificity in the patterns of allelic loss. Parental alleles from 129/Sv or Spretus/Gla mice are lost in tumors from F1 hybrids with C57BL/6 animals, due to the presence of a specific non-synonymous coding sequence polymorphism at the N-terminal portion of the gene. A specific genetic test of association between this SNP and lymphoma susceptibility in interspecific backcross mice showed a significant linkage (p = 0.001), but only in animals with a functional p53 gene. These data therefore identify Fbxw7 as a p53-dependent tumor susceptibility gene. Increased p53-dependent tumor susceptibility and allele-specific losses were also seen in a mouse skin model of skin tumor development. We propose that analysis of preferential allelic imbalances in tumors may provide an efficient means of uncovering genetic variants that affect mouse and human tumor susceptibility.
Ophthalmic Manifestations and Long-Term Visual Outcomes in Patients with Cobalamin C Deficiency.

Purpose To explore the ocular manifestations of cobalamin C ( cblC ) deficiency, an inborn error of intracellular vitamin B12 metabolism. Design Retrospective, observational case series. Participants Twenty-five cblC patients underwent clinical and ophthalmic examination at the National Institutes of Health between August 2004 and September 2012. Patient ages ranged from 2 to 27 years at last ophthalmic visit, and follow-up ranged from 0 to 83 months (median, 37 months; range, 13–83 months) over a total of 69 visits. Methods Best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, wide-field photography, fundus autofluorescence imaging, sedated electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, genetics and metabolite assessment. Main Outcome Measures Visual acuity and presence and degree of retinal degeneration and optic nerve pallor. Results Nystagmus (64%), strabismus (52%), macular degeneration (72%), optic nerve pallor (68%), and vascular changes (64%) were present. c.271dupA (p.R91KfsX14) homozygous patients (n = 14) showed early and extensive macular degeneration. Electroretinography showed that scotopic and photopic responses were reduced and delayed, but were preserved remarkably in some patients despite severe degeneration. Optical coherence tomography images through the central macular lesion of a patient with severe retinal degeneration showed extreme thinning, some preservation of retinal lamination, and nearly complete loss of the outer nuclear layer. Despite hyperhomocysteinemia, no patients exhibited lens dislocation. Conclusions This longitudinal study reports ocular outcomes in the largest group of patients with cblC deficiency systematically examined at a single center over an extended period. Differences in progression and severity of macular degeneration, optic nerve pallor, and vascular attenuation between homozygous c.271dupA (p.R91KfsX14) patients and compound heterozygotes were noted. The pace and chronicity of ophthalmic manifestations lacked strict correlation to metabolic status as measured during visits. Prenatal or early treatment, or both, may have mitigated ocular disease, leading to better functional acuity, but patients still progressed to severe macular degeneration. The effects of prenatal or early treatment, or both, in siblings; the manifestation of severe disease in infancy; the presence of comorbid developmental abnormalities; and the possible laminar structural defect noted in many patients are findings showing that cblC deficiency displays a developmental as well as a degenerative ocular phenotype.
Integrating Municipal Workforces: A Comparative Study of Six Southern Cities

Black penetration of the municipal workforces of six southern cities-Atlanta, Augusta, Birmingham, Columbia, Macon, and Savannah-is examined for the purpose of highlighting the factors either favoring or impeding integration. Also examined is the relative importance of local andfederal actors in changing once segregated hiring patterns. Information was obtained through a series of interviews in each city with relevant participants. Results show that local factors are generally predominant in influencing black hiring (e.g., a black mayor, a white mayor dependent on black electoral support, a permeable personnel structure). However, federal intervention in individual discrimination suits has had a strong effect in certain cities, particularly where suits resulted in consent decrees setting targets for minority hires.
Mistaken Identities: An Interactive CD-ROM Genealogy

annotate the analogous strategies these women employed to survive and prosper in environments that were not particularly receptive to their precedent-setting endeavors. I designed Mistaken Identities to serve a variety of purposes. It can be exhibited as an art installation, purchased by individuals to view on home computer systems or used as an instructional resource by colleges and universities [2]. My intent in the project was to controvert the distorted ways in which the women I chose have been portrayed historically: in the past they have either been encumbered with sexist stereo-
Titanium–Germoxy Precursor Route to Germanium-Modified Epoxidation Catalysts with Enhanced Activity

The complex Ti[OGeiPr3]4 (1), prepared via the reaction of Ti(OiPr)4 with iPr3GeOH, represents a useful structural and spectroscopic model for titanium–germanium species dispersed onto silica. This precursor was used to introduce site-isolated Ti(IV) centers onto the surface of a mesoporous SBA15 support via the thermolytic molecular precursor method. The local environments of the supported materials (TiGe3SBA15 and calcined TiGe3SBA15-O2) were studied by various spectroscopic methods, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy. These materials are active catalysts for the epoxidation of cyclic and terminal olefins with alkyl hydroperoxides under anhydrous conditions. Compared to catalysts synthesized from siloxide-only precursors, the new catalysts produce 2–3 times more product after 9 h under identical reaction conditions for the epoxidations of cyclohexene and 1-octene. The new materials did not significantly leach under reaction conditions.