cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T-vectors make autonomous mobile robot motion planning and self-referencing more efficient

A motion planning and self-referencing approach has been developed, simulated and applied to an actual robot. Although there are several novelties to these approaches, the fact that both are based on traversability vectors (t-vectors) is one aspect of this research that is unique. Through their application it has been found that t-vectors enhance the detection of path obstructions and geometric beacons and expedite the identification of features that are visible (or hearable) to sensors in both static and dynamic environments. T-vectors also reduce the data size and complexity of standard V-graphs and variations thereof. This paper provides the t-vector models step-by-step so that the reader will be able to apply them to mobile robot motion planning and self-referencing. >
A robotic hand mechanism with rotating fingertips and motor-tendon actuation

A design is presented for a multifingered dextrous robotic hand. Based on an analysis of the Utah/MIT hand, the Stanford/JPL hand, and the Belgrade/USC hand, four improvements are proposed for the mechanism, tendon-operated actuation, and functionality. A three-fingered, nine-degree-of-freedom robotic hand mechanism having nine DC servomotors, tendon actuation, rotating fingertips, and the capability for assembly operations is described. The tendon and transmission subsystems of this robotic hand are discussed. The specification of the mechanism and its applications are discussed and summarized. >
The Sound of Silence: Elizabeth Cary and the Christian Hero

The thematic links between Elizabeth Cary's Life, a spiritual biography written in the 1650s by Cary's cloistered, royalist daughter, and Cary's own Tragedy of Mariam, written a generation earlier, demand closer attention than has been given previously. Reading both texts alongside Protestant and Catholic martyrologies and spiritual biographies, the essay connects their shared concern with the interpretability of public language to a shared engagement with both Protestant and Catholic discourses of religious heroism. By glorifying silent suffering over eloquent dissidence, both Mariam and the Life assert the interpretative instability of language outside the confines of a charitable community of faith. In these texts, to speak well is to speak charitably, which in the religiously divisive climate of early modern England, means to speak privately or not at all. In response to the Protestant ideal of a bold-speaking (and dissident) public witness, they construct an alternative model of Christian eloquence centered on the suffering body and the charitable coterie/cloister.
Spectral Network (SpecNet)-What is it and why do we need it?

Effective integration of optical remote sensing with flux measurements across multiple scales is essential for understanding global patterns of surface–atmosphere fluxes of carbon and water vapor. SpecNet (Spectral Network) is an international network of cooperating investigators and sites linking optical measurements with flux sampling for the purpose of improving our understanding of the controls on these fluxes. An additional goal is to characterize disturbance impacts on surface–atmosphere fluxes. To reach these goals, key SpecNet objectives include the exploration of scaling issues, development of novel sampling tools, standardization and intercomparison of sampling methods, development of models and statistical methods that relate optical sampling to fluxes, exploration of component fluxes, validation of satellite products, and development of an informatics approach that integrates disparate data sources across scales. Examples of these themes are summarized in this review.
Using imaging‐based, three‐dimensional models of the cervix and uterus for studies of cervical changes during pregnancy

Preterm birth affects over 12% of all pregnancies in the United States for an annual healthcare cost of $26 billion. Preterm birth is a multifactorial disorder but cervical abnormalities are a prominent feature in many patients. Women with a short cervix are known to be at increased risk for preterm birth and a short cervix is used to target therapy to prevent preterm birth. Although the clinical significance of a short cervix is well known, the three-dimensional anatomical changes that lead to cervical shortening are poorly understood. Here, we review our previous studies of the three-dimensional anatomy of the cervix and uterus during pregnancy. The rationale for these studies was to improve our understanding of the deformation mechanisms leading to cervical shortening. Both magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound were used to obtain anatomical data in healthy, pregnant volunteers. Solid models were constructed from the 3D imaging data. These solid models were used to create numerical models suitable for biomechanical simulation. Three simulations were studied: cervical funneling, uterine growth, and fundal pressure. These simulations showed that cervical changes are a complex function of the tissue properties of the cervical stroma, the loading conditions associated with pregnancy and the 3D anatomical geometry of the cervix and surrounding structures. An improved understanding of these cervical changes could point to new approaches to prevent undesired cervical shortening. This new insight should lead to therapeutic strategies to delay or prevent preterm birth.
Phase-field based topology optimization with polygonal elements: a finite volume approach for the evolution equation

Uniform grids have been the common choice of domain discretization in the topology optimization literature. Over-constraining geometrical features of such spatial discretizations can result in mesh-dependent, sub-optimal designs. Thus, in the current work, we employ unstructured polygonal meshes constructed using Voronoi tessellations to conduct structural topology optimization. We utilize the phase-field method, derived from phase transition phenomenon, which makes use of the Allen-Cahn differential equation and sensitivity analysis to update the evolving structural topology. The solution of the Allen-Cahn evolution equation is accomplished by means of a centroidal Voronoi tessellation (CVT) based finite volume approach. The unstructured polygonal meshes not only remove mesh bias but also provide greater flexibility in discretizing complicated (e.g. non-Cartesian) domains. The features of the current approach are demonstrated using various numerical examples for compliance minimization and compliant mechanism problems.
Translocation of p21rac2 from cytosol to plasma membrane is neither necessary nor sufficient for neutrophil NADPH oxidase activity

Abstract Activation of the membrane-associated NADPH oxidase of neutrophils requires several cytosolic factors including p47phox, p67phox and p21rac2. We compared NADPH oxidase activity with the membrane translocation of p47phox, p67phox, and p21rac2. In a cell-free system, GTP gamma S stimulated translocation of p47phox and p67phox to the plasma membrane only in the presence of arachidonate, and this translocation correlated with NADPH oxidase activity of the reisolated plasma membranes (R = 0.94 and 0.97, respectively). In contrast, GTP gamma S-stimulated p21rac2 translocation with or without arachidonate, and the extent of translocation did not correlate with oxidase activity (R = 0.17). Neutrophil cytoplasts were used to relate membrane translocation of p47phox, p67phox and p21rac2 to membrane oxidase activity in response to the inflammatory agonists. Whereas N-formyl- methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine stimulated equimolar, transient membrane translocation of p47phox and p67phox which kinetically paralleled NADPH oxidase activity, relatively little p21rac2 translocated (moles of p47phox/p21rac2 = 16.6). Moreover, although phorbol 12-myristate 13- acetate stimulated both the stable translocation of p47phox and p67phox and sustained NADPH oxidase activity, it did not stimulate p21rac2 translocation. From these data we conclude that membrane translocation of p21rac2 does not regulate NADPH oxidase activity stoichiometrically.
Computer architecture for signal processing

There is an increasing trend to use digital signal-processing techniques to solve real-time problems. This leads to a need for processors which can perform complicated signal-processing algorithms on large amounts of data at high speeds. Computer architectures for this purpose ate shown to arise from a consideration of several structural factors, including technology, the algorithms to be performed, data structures, and the programming language. When these factors are complementary, efficient yet economical designs result. The structural factors are described, and then several computer designs are discussed in light of this conceptual framework.
Pro32Pro33 Mutations in the Integrin β3 PSI Domain Result in αIIbβ3 Priming and Enhanced Adhesion: Reversal of the Hypercoagulability Phenotype by the Src Inhibitor SKI-606

The plasma-membrane integrin αIIbβ3 (CD41/CD61, GPIIbIIIa) is a major functional receptor in platelets during clotting. A common isoform of integrin β3, Leu33Pro is associated with enhanced platelet function and increased risk for coronary thrombosis and stroke, although these findings remain controversial. To better understand the molecular mechanisms by which this sequence variation modifies platelet function, we produced transgenic knockin mice expressing a Pro32Pro33 integrin β3. Consistent with reports utilizing human platelets, we found significantly reduced bleeding and clotting times, as well as increased in vivo thrombosis, in Pro32Pro33 homozygous mice. These alterations paralleled increases in platelet attachment and spreading onto fibrinogen resulting from enhanced integrin αIIbβ3 function. Activation with protease-activated receptor 4– activating peptide, the main thrombin signaling receptor in mice, showed no significant difference in activation of Pro32Pro33 mice as compared with controls, suggesting that inside-out signaling remains intact. However, under unstimulated conditions, the Pro32Pro33 mutation led to elevated Src phosphorylation, facilitated by increased talin interactions with the β3 cytoplasmic domain, indicating that the αIIbβ3 intracellular domains are primed for activation while the ligand-binding domain remains unchanged. Acute dosing of animals with a Src inhibitor was sufficient to rescue the clotting phenotype in knockin mice to wild-type levels. Together, our data establish that the Pro32Pro33 structural alteration modifies the function of integrin αIIbβ3, priming the integrin for outside-in signaling, ultimately leading to hypercoagulability. Furthermore, our data may support a novel approach to antiplatelet therapy by Src inhibition where hemostasis is maintained while reducing risk for cardiovascular disease.
Comparative population genomics: power and principles for the inference of functionality

The availability of sequenced genomes from multiple related organisms allows the detection and localization of functional genomic elements based on the idea that such elements evolve more slowly than neutral sequences. Although such comparative genomics methods have proven useful in discovering functional elements and ascertaining levels of functional constraint in the genome as a whole, here we outline limitations intrinsic to this approach that cannot be overcome by sequencing more species. We argue that it is essential to supplement comparative genomics with ultra-deep sampling of populations from closely related species to enable substantially more powerful genomic scans for functional elements. The convergence of sequencing technology and population genetics theory has made such projects feasible and has exciting implications for functional genomics.
Optimization of waveguide coupling lenses with optical design software

We show that the coupling efficiency of an optical system to a waveguide can be related to an apodized and normalized point spread function. Adapting the problem to the use of optical design software, we analyze and optimize systems that contain a fair amount of aberration. We compare theoretical predictions with experimental results and obtain good agreement.
Phylogenetic and kinetic diversity of aerobic vinyl chloride-assimilating bacteria from contaminated sites.

Aerobic bacteria that grow on vinyl chloride (VC) have been isolated previously, but their diversity and distribution are largely unknown. It is also unclear whether such bacteria contribute to the natural attenuation of VC at chlorinated-ethene-contaminated sites. We detected aerobic VC biodegradation in 23 of 37 microcosms and enrichments inoculated with samples from various sites. Twelve different bacteria (11 Mycobacterium strains and 1 Nocardioides strain) capable of growth on VC as the sole carbon source were isolated, and 5 representative strains were examined further. All the isolates grew on ethene in addition to VC and contained VC-inducible ethene monooxygenase activity. The Mycobacterium strains (JS60, JS61, JS616, and JS617) all had similar growth yields (5.4 to 6.6 g of protein/mol), maximum specific growth rates (0.17 to 0.23 day−1), and maximum specific substrate utilization rates (9 to 16 nmol/min/mg of protein) with VC. The Nocardioides strain (JS614) had a higher growth yield (10.3 g of protein/mol), growth rate (0.71 day−1), and substrate utilization rate (43 nmol/min/mg of protein) with VC but was much more sensitive to VC starvation. Half-velocity constant (Ks) values for VC were between 0.5 and 3.2 μM, while Ks values for oxygen ranged from 0.03 to 0.3 mg/liter. Our results indicate that aerobic VC-degrading microorganisms (predominantly Mycobacterium strains) are widely distributed at sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents and are likely to be responsible for the natural attenuation of VC.
Staphylococcus epidermidis with Intermediate Resistance to Vancomycin: Elusive Phenotype or Laboratory Artifact?

The recent and troubling isolation of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci that have increased resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics has prompted the use of aggressive surveillance measures in the clinical microbiology laboratory to aid in the recognition of these strains. Despite increasing awareness, the confirmation of glycopeptide resistance among staphylococci can be problematic; we present a case of catheter-associated peritonitis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis to illustrate the dilemma.
Effects of nitrogen form on nutrient uptake and physiology of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri)

Abstract Shade-tolerant conifer species are generally thought to prefer NH 4 + as a source of inorganic N and may perform poorly on recently disturbed sites or agricultural soils with high rates of nitrification. Fraser fir ( Abies fraseri ) is a highly shade-tolerant climax species characteristic of acidic forest soils that is now planted on a wide range of soils for Christmas tree production. We hypothesised that poor N nutrition of Fraser fir Christmas trees on calcareous soils resulted from: (1) an inability to take up and assimilate N in the form of NO 3 − and (2) a specific antagonism between uptake of Mg 2+ and NH 4 + . Four-year-old Fraser fir seedlings were grown for 80 days in sand culture with nutrient solutions varying in NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) and Mg:Ca ratio (22:78, 33:67, 44:56). The NH 4 + :NO 3 − ratio of nutrient solution strongly affected virtually every measure of plant performance, whereas Mg:Ca ratio exerted significant effects only on base cation nutrition. Contrary to our original hypothesis, Fraser fir was able to utilize NO 3 − as a sole N source and typically performed better under NO 3 − dominated N supply compared to NH 4 + dominated N supply. Also contrary to our original hypothesis, we found no evidence for a specific antagonism between NH 4 + and Mg in Fraser fir nutrition. Foliar nutrition, uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, and photosynthetic capacity all decreased with increasing proportion of NH 4 + in nutrient solutions. In vivo NO 3 − reductase activity was induced in Fraser fir roots exposed to NO 3 − demonstrating that this species is capable of taking up and assimilating NO 3 − . Our results clearly demonstrate that Fraser fir seedlings are able to utilize NO 3 − , and plants grown on 75–100% NO 3 − outperformed those grown on high NH 4 + concentrations in terms of growth, nutrition and photosynthesis. This suggests that commercial production of Fraser fir in high nitrifying soils is not likely to be limited an inability to acquire N in the form of NO 3 − .
Fostering Entrepreneurial Drive in Business Education: An Attitudinal Approach.

Drawing from research in individual characteristics of entrepreneurs and the theory of planned behavior from social psychology literature, this study identifies attitudinal dimensions of entrepreneurial drive (ED), proposes a model, and develops and tests an instrument to measure it. Results show that students differentiate among five attitudes that have been found to promote entrepreneurial behavior in prior research, namely, preference for innovation, nonconformity, proactive disposition, self-efficacy, and achievement motivation. Taken together, these attitudes define the authors’ conceptualization of ED. The article provides recommendations of initiatives that were proven to be helpful in developing entrepreneurial drive in undergraduate business students.
The use of free grafts for correcting penile chordee.

Purpose: Patients with extensive penile chordee may require free graft placement to create a straight phallus. We review our experience with those who underwent primary (no previous surgery) and secondary repair using dermal and tunica vaginalis grafts to correct penile chordee.Materials and Methods: Between 1992 and 1998, 28 patients required free graft placement to correct penile chordee. In 8 cases (29%) primary repair was done using tunica vaginalis in 2 and a dermal graft in 6, while in 20 (71%) secondary repair was performed due to recurrent chordee with or without hypospadias. Tunica vaginalis was used in 3 patients and dermal grafts in 17. Grafts were used when straightening did not result from penile shaft degloving, dorsal plication and urethral plate division. Mean followup was 2 years.Results: Residual chordee developed in 1 of 8 patients after primary and in 2 of 20 after secondary repair. Tunica vaginalis grafts had been placed at repair in all patients with residual chordee but there was no...
The connections of the intra-osseous segment of the facial nerve in baboon (Papio sp.).

To supply some additional data about the intra-osseous connections of the seventh nerve in a potentially available experimental animal, the baboon, 16 neuromuscular complexes (otic ganglion, nerve which results from the junction between the lesser petrosal nerve and the and the communicating branch, lesser petrosal nerve, communicating branch, initial part of the greater petrosal nerve, all three intra-osseous parts of the facial nerve, stapedius muscle, auricular branch of the vagus) were macroscopically evaluated with the aid of a microdissecting scope, and removed in toto. Two dissections were achieved only partially. Each neuromuscular complex was fixed in 5% formalin, dehydrated, embedded in paraffin, sectioned serially at 10 to 15 μ, and either stained with Luxol Fast Blue or impregnated by Bodian's silver technique. In all specimens considered, the auricular branch of the vagus, before it joined the descending intra-osseous part of the facial nerve, gave off an ascending bundle. This bundle sent a few ramifications to the stapedius muscle and finally mixed with axones in the intra-osseous segment of the seventh nerve close to the second facial genu. The fibers in the ascending bundle were predominately myelinated with a diameter varying from 1.7 μ to 9.9 μ. The communicating branch proper separated from the fibers of the second intra-osseous part of the facial nerve, and continued anteriorly through the sheath toward the geniculate ganglion. From there, the branch as an isolated bundle extended further anteriorly to reach the otic ganglion, after it joined the lesser petrosal nerve. The number of fibers in the communicating branch ranged from 50 to 580, and the diameter of myelinated fibers varied between 1.7 and 4.4 μ. Numerous ganglion cells, presumably of the autonomic type, found in the communicating branch, in the lesser petrosal nerve, and occasionally in the second intra-osseous part of the facial nerve resembled by their form and diameter the ganglion cells in the otic ganglion.
ANALYSIS OF CIRCULAR BORDERED PIT FUNCTION I. ANGIOSPERM VESSELS WITH HOMOGENOUS PIT MEMBRANES

A model predicted pit and vessel conductivity, the air-seed pressure for cavitation, and the implosion pressure causing vessel collapse. Predictions were based on measurements from 27 angiosperm species with circular bordered pits and air-seed pressures of 0.2-11.3 MPa. Vessel implosion pressure exceeded air-seed pressure by a safety factor of 1.8 achieved by the increase in vessel wall thickness per vessel diameter with air-seed pressure. Intervessel pitting reduced the implosion pressure by 20 to 40%. Pit hydraulic conductivity decreased by 30-fold from low ( 10 MPa) air-seed pressure primarily because of decreasing pit membrane conductivity. Vessel conductivity (per length and wall area) increased with vessel length as higher lumen conductivity overcame low pit conductivity. At the "saturating vessel length," vessel conductivity maximized at the Hagen-Poiseuille value for the lumen per wall area. Saturated vessel conductivity declined by sixfold with increasing air-seed pressure because of increased wall thickness associated with increased implosion resistance. The saturated vessel length is likely the optimal length because: (a) shorter vessels have lower conductivities, (b) longer vessels do not increase conductivity when functional yet decrease it more when cavitated, (c) observed pit structure most closely optimized vessel conductivity at the saturated length, and (d) saturated lengths were similar to measured lengths.
Marketing To The Billions

Book Review of The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits.
Establishing Environmental Hazards of Genetically Engineered Microorganisms

During the 1970s, several techniques were developed that allowed the in vitro fragmentation and rejoining of molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the placement of these molecules into living cells. Use of these recombinant DNA techniques led to the development of biotechnology, broadly defined as the application of biologial organisms and their products to commercial processes (Office of Technology Assessment [OTA] 1988). Various types of organisms are now being used for biotechnology applications; however, bacteria have been used more than others because of their short generation times, lack of a defined nucleus, and relatively “simple” genetics as compared to eukaryotes. Genetic engineering of microorganisms is used to develop organisms capable of performing specific commercially desired tasks, including producing pesticides and pharmaceuticals, fixing nitrogen, leaching ores, recovering oil, degrading hazardous wastes, and constructing biological control agents for pests or diseases. Biotechnology products will, one hopes, benefit human society.
A CUSTOM DISTAL FEMORAL PROSTHESIS FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF LARGE DEFECTS FOLLOWING WIDE EXCISION FOR SARCOMA: RESULTS AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

Between 1979 and 1986, 37 patients with sarcoma of the distal femur underwent limb salvage using a custom prosthetic knee replacement. Thirteen (35%) had early complications. Fourteen (38%) had late complications, which consisted of 6 aseptic femoral loosenings, 1 aseptic tibial loosening, 2 tibial fractures, 2 contractures, 1 femoral fracture, 1 prosthetic fracture, and 1 septic loosening. By 1988, nine patients died. Thirteen prostheses failed in 12 patients, resulting in 9 revisions, 2 above-knee amputations, and 2 Van Nes rotationplasties. The 2- and 5-year prosthetic survival rates were 82% and 57%, respectively. Twenty-two of the 26 survivors (85%) had successful limb salvage. Preventable factors were implicated in the loosening of six femoral components and in one femoral fracture. The mean Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score was 69 (range: 62 to 86).
Design and Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel Gravity Independent Rotating Biological Membrane Reactor

The integration of membrane-aeration technology with biological water processors has direct application to wastewater treatment in microgravity because of the ability to diffuse gases across the membrane without two-phase interactions (gas-liquid). Membrane-aeration bioreactors have demonstrated the ability to deliver a terminal electron acceptor (O 2 ) and substrates (CH 4 and H 2 ) to biofilms attached to the membrane surface. However, the process performance of these systems has been limited by mass transfer constraints. A novel bubbleless membrane-aeration bioreactor was design and tested at Kennedy Space Center. The Aerobic Rotational Membrane System (ARMS) consists of a rotational membrane module inside of a pressurized reactor vessel. Rotation of the membrane module enables a reduction in the mass transfer resistance coefficients associated with both the membrane/liquid boundary layer (k La ) and constituents in the bulk liquid, and it equalizes the concentration gradient across the bioreactor allowing for uniform biofilm formation and decreased bulk liquid O 2 transfer. Preliminary engineering tests have been conducted to determine the effect of key operational parameters (i.e. rotational speed, superficial velocity) on O 2 flux rates and hydrodynamic characteristics within the ARMS. This paper presents the ARMS design and results of the preliminary engineering tests.
Abstract 016: Bbs1 Gene Deletion From The Leptin Receptor Neurons Causes Obesity And Hypertension In Mice

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a pleiotropic autosomal recessive disorder associated with several features including obesity and hypertension. Deletion of BBS genes globally or in the nervous system recapitulated many of the BBS phenotypes including obesity and hypertension. Here, we assessed the effect of ablating the Bbs1 gene from the neurons expressing the long signaling form of the leptin receptor (LepRb). Breeding Bbs1flox with LepRbCre mice created mice deficient in the Bbs1 gene only in LepRb-positive neurons (visualized by tdTomato expression) as indicated by loss of leptin activation of Stat3. Importantly, Bbs1flox/LepRCre mice display an obesity phenotype as indicated by the increased (P<0.05) body weight (39±2 vs. 30±1 g in controls) and fat mass measured by MRI (14±3 vs. 4±1 g in controls) associated with increased (P<0.05) food intake (3.4±0.1 vs. 2.9±0.1 g in controls) in 25 weeks old mice. However, body weight and fat pads of pair-fed LRbCre/Bbs1fl/fl mice remained significantly elevated compared to controls suggesting that LRbCre/Bbs1fl/fl mice have reduced energy expenditure. Consistent with this possibility, LRbCre/Bbs1fl/fl mice displayed decreased (P<0.05) O2 consumption (2.6±0.1 vs. 3.1±0.1 mL/100g/min in controls) and heat production (8.1±0.3 vs. 9.6±0.3 kcal/kg/h in controls). These results indicate that hyperphagia and decreased energy expenditure contribute to the development of obesity in Bbs1flox/LepRCre mice. Next, we assessed the effect on arterial pressure (AP) and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) of ablating the Bbs1 gene from the LepR-containing neurons. Interestingly, deletion of the Bbs1 gene in LepR neurons recapitulates the hypertension phenotype of BBS as indicated by elevated mean AP (125±4 vs 109±3 mmHg in controls, P=0.03). Conscious renal SNA was also elevated in LRbCre/Bbs1fl/fl mice relative to controls (97±8 vs 62±10 spikes/sec, P<0.05). Finally, the depressor effect of ganglionic blockade (hexamethonium) was exaggerated in Bbs1flox/LepRCre mice (-57±5 vs -38±5 mmHg in control, P=0.01). These findings demonstrate that the Bbs1 gene in LepR neurons is critical for energy homeostasis and arterial pressure regulation.
Dopamine-Serotonin Transporter Disease

Investigators at the Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada report 8 children of a consanguineous Saudi Arabian family who had a similar movement disorder, with autosomal recessive inheritance and a mutation in the SLC18A2 gene that encodes vesicular monoamine transporter 2 [VMAT2].
Aerosolized Surfactants, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and Analgesics

Drug delivery by aerosol may have several advantages over other modes, particularly if the lung is the target organ. Aerosol delivery may allow achievement of higher concentrations while minimizing systemic effects and offers convenience, rapid onset of action, and avoidance of the needles and sterile technique necessary with intravenous drug administration. Aerosol delivery may change the pharmacokinetics of many drugs, however, and an awareness of the caveats of aerosolized drug delivery is mandatory to ensure both safety and adequate drug delivery. This paper discusses the administration of surfactants, anti-inflammatory agents, and analgesics by the aerosol route.
Medical care of the surgical patient with gastrointestinal disease

Common perioperative gastrointestinal disorders of surgical patients are presented. Recommendations for appropriate medical evaluation and management are described.
Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene Containing Defunctionalized Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

To take advantage of the benefits of chemical functionalization and the desirable properties of unfunctionalized SWNTs, this research studies the effect of removing functional groups from SWNTs dispersed in a polymer matrix. Chemical functionalization of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is a method for disrupting rope structure and adding reactive species to the nanotube to improve interfacial bonding and load transfer in composites, but changes to the nanotube hexagon structure caused by chemical modifications are expected to have a detrimental effect on the SWNTs’ intrinsic mechanical properties. Thus, composites containing defunctionalized SWNTs and polyethylene are analyzed to evaluate the effect of functional group removal on the mechanical properties. The mechanical properties are measured using tensile tests. Issues of defects in the SWNT structure, polymer degradation, and changes in the fiber/matrix bonding as a result of functionalization removal are studied using Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis.
Chairs and chiefs of plastic surgery: is it an insider job?

PURPOSE There is no more important decision an academic Plastic Surgery Department or Division can make than naming a chair or chief. Externally recruited leadership brings fresh perspectives and connections. Critics, however, argue that they lack the in-depth knowledge of the institution's culture and history that may be needed to succeed. The ability and skill of an internal candidate is already known and can increase the odds of that person's success in the leadership position. Finally, external recruitment can be a more costly process. Ultimately, the decision is really a litmus test for a Plastic Surgery program. The authors aim to evaluate factors influencing ascent in Plastic Surgery leadership, including training history, internal promotion, and external recruiting. METHODS All Plastic Surgery residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were noted (n = 71). Academic departmental chairs or divisional chiefs of these residency programs were identified at the time of study design (October 1, 2011). For each chair or chief, gender, training history, and faculty appointment immediately prior to the current leadership position was recorded. RESULTS There were 71 academic chairs or chiefs of Plastic Surgery residency programs at the time of data collection. The majority (62%) had done fellowship training following Plastic Surgery residency. Fellowships included hand (43%), craniofacial (29%), microsurgery (18%), and other types (10%). The majority (73%) of leaders were internal hires (P < 0.01), having faculty appointments at their institutions prior to promotion. However, only a fraction (22%) of these internal hires had done Plastic Surgery residency or fellowship training at that institution (P < 0.01). External recruits consisted of 27% of all 71 academic hires (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Many factors influence the decision to recruit leadership from internally or to hire an external candidate. These include the time to fill the position, program culture, candidate experience, and cost. These results support that the insider/outsider hire decision is ultimately one of duality. That dichotomy is achieved with an emphasis on internal promotion, but always with an eye towards the advantages of bringing in external talent as a valuable contribution to increase organizational success.
LV Nature to Advantage Dressed: Eighteenth-Century Acting

For the student of acting and actors, the Eighteenth Century is a rich period. Within a century the careers of such players as Betterton, Quin, Macklin, Garrick, and Kemble ran their courses; these were actors of varying techniques, yet they had in common their century's earnest desire to imitate “nature” and they all subscribed to the same basic set of acting conventions. The century is rich too in theorists and critics: Gildon, John and Aaron Hill, Churchill, Lloyd, Hiffernan.
Calculation of the Turbulence Characteristics of Flow Around a Circulation Control Airfoil Using LES (Invited Paper)

Large-eddy simulations of high-Reynolds-number ow around a non-cambered, ellipticleading-edge circulation control airfoil (using a Coanda wall jet blowing over a rounded trailing edge) are performed to investigate detailed turbulence characteristics of the ow. The freestream Reynolds number based on the airfoil chord is 0.49 million, the radius of the rounded trailing edge is 9.46% chord, and the jet-slot height is 2.43% trailing-edge radius. The main focus of the study is on the turbulent Coanda ow separating from the rounded trailing edge. A su ciently large computational domain in the spanwise (periodic) direction is employed to capture natural development of turbulent coherent structures in the ow. Two di erent jet-blowing rates are simulated, which correspond to jet Reynolds numbers of about 4500 and 7200 based on the jet-slot height; the lower jet-blowing case agrees well with experiments. A number of backward-tilted hairpin vortices are found to be generated downstream of the jet exit and to develop until they nally disappear prior to the ow separation. These hairpins are located in the outer shear layer of the wall jet, create a strong upwash between their legs, and thus lift the high-momentum ow below the hairpins upward. Detailed turbulence statistics are also calculated.
Cause of Death of Infants and Children in the Intensive Care Unit: Parents’ Recall vs Chart Review

Background More than 55 000 children die annually in the United States, most in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Because of the stress and emotional turmoil of the deaths, the children's parents have difficulty comprehending information. Objectives To compare parents' reports and hospital chart data on cause of death and examine agreement on cause of death according to parents' sex, race, participation in end-of-life decisions, and discussion with physicians; deceased child's age; unit of care (neonatal or pediatric); and hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay. Methods A descriptive, correlational design was used with a structured interview of parents 1 month after the death and review of hospital chart data. Parents whose children died in intensive care were recruited from 4 South Florida hospitals and from Florida Department of Health death records. Results Among 230 parents, 54% of mothers and 40% of fathers agreed with the chart cause of death. Agreement did not differ significantly for mothers or fathers by race/ethnicity, participation in end-of-life decisions, discussions with physicians, or mean length of hospital stay. Agreement was better for mothers when the stay in the intensive care unit was the shortest. Fathers' agreement with chart data was best when the deceased was an infant and death was in the pediatric intensive care unit. Conclusions Death of a child is a time of high stress when parents' concentration, hearing, and information processing are diminished. Many parents have misconceptions about the cause of the death 1 month after the death.
Changes of the Investment Environment in the Pearl River Delta since Reform and Openning Up in China

Based on the investigation and in-depth interviews with 56 enterprise CEOs and managers in the Pearl River Delta(PRD), this paper addresses that location, policies and laws, production costs, infrastructure and the supporting capacity of industry are five determining factors that influence the development of enterprises. By establishing the index evaluation system, this paper makes use of Analytic Hierarchy Process method to analyze the investment environment changes of the labor-intensive industries and the tech-intensive industries. The result shows that the investment environment now is more favorable to technology-intensive industries rather than labor-intensive industries. Meanwhile, we make a further analysis on the reasons influencing investment environment for the PRD in production costs, location, policies and laws and the supporting capacity of industry and so on. Finally, in order to improve the investment environment in the PRD, we suggest that the government should speed-up industrial upgrading and encourage the industry transfer; redevelop the old factories, old villages and old towns to release more land; and foster regional integration.
Survey on knowledge,behaviors and HIV infection among female sex workers

Objective To understand HIV/AIDS knowledge,behavior and condom use among female sex workers of Pudong District in Shanghai and to promote HIV / AIDS prevention and control measures among female sex workers. Methods Two-stage proportion probability sampling method was applied to select FSWs from different kinds of entertainment places. Besides,questionnaire survey was conducted. Results 810 female sex workers were investigated. The awareness rate of the knowledge about HIV / AIDS was 72. 3%. FSW in Sauna bath center had more knowledge of UNGASS and the transmission ways than those in other places. The proportion of using condom during the commercial sex behavior in recent months was 64. 4%. One case( 0. 1%) was found to be HIV positive,41( 5. 1%) to be syphilis positive and 7( 0. 9%) to be hepatitis C positive. Conclusions The awareness rate of the knowledge about HIV/AIDS was generally high,but the rate of using condom was relatively low. Specific intervention for female sex workers in different places should be facilitated.
The Design and Application of Assembly Foundation of Transmission Line in Desert Area

The 220 kV Taiyuan-Tazhong transmission lines cross the center of the Takla Makan desert covered by aeolian sand.The use of ordinary cast-in-place reinforced concrete foundation will have difficulties in construction material and water.Through strength calculation and contrastive analysis of foundation materials,the assembly foundation which consists of the precast reinforced concrete plate and the steel bracket is a safe and economical choice.Prototype tests have been carried out on assembly foundations along the lines.According to the testing results,the paper proposes a method for calculating the foundation’s bearing capacity and the component’s strength,with which some key design parameters are obtained including the uplift angle and the influence coefficient of horizontal load.This type of foundation has found a successful application in the engineering with good economic benefits,which,compared to the cast-in-place foundation,can save an investment by 15% and can also save the construction time.This application can provide an important reference for similar projects.
A Call for Conducting Multivariate Mixed Analyses

Several authors have written methodological works that provide an introductory- and/or intermediate-level guide to conducting mixed analyses. Although these works have been useful for beginning and emergent mixed researchers, with very few exceptions, works are lacking that describe and illustrate advanced-level mixed analysis approaches. Thus, the purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of multivariate mixed analyses , which represents a complex form of advanced mixed analyses. These analyses characterize a class of mixed analyses wherein at least one of the quantitative analyses and at least one of the qualitative analyses both involve the simultaneous analysis of multiple variables. The notion of multivariate mixed analyses previously has not been discussed in the literature, illustrating the significance and innovation of the article.
Second cessation of therapy in childhood lymphocytic leukemia.

In an attempt to achieve better estimates of prognosis in children with recurrent acute lymphocytic leukemia, we studied the clinical courses of 17 patients who had relapsed in the bone marrow after elective cessation of therapy and had been treated again with systemic combination chemotherapy without meningeal prophylaxis. Sixteen patients attained second complete remission and were followed for 3–5 yr. Each child relapsed during continuation chemotherapy: 8 in the bone marrow, 6 in the central nervous system, 1 in the testes, and 1 in both the marrow and central nervous system. In 4 of the 7 patients with isolated extramedullary relapse, a new remission was induced, and after 30–44 mo of continuous second bone marrow remission, all therapy was again stopped. Two children remain in remission, off treatment, for 6+ and 27+ mo. Three patient variables (length of first complete remission, time from cessation of therapy to relapse, and number of initial sites of relapse) were of value in predicting the length of second hematologic remission. The results of this study indicate that children who relapse after cessation of therapy should be treated as intensively as newly diagnosed patients, because new prolonged remissions may be achieved. A second course of preventive treatment to the central nervous system is recommended.
Common Characteristics of the Swiss and Argentine Strains of Clostridium botulinum Type G1

Five strains of Clostridium botulinum type G of human origin, from Switzerland, were compared with two strains isolated from soil in Argentina. The Swiss and Argentine strains are the only type G strains isolated to date. Characteristics compared were toxigenicity, sporulation, proteolysis and carbohydrate fermentation. High toxin titers were produced in trypticase-peptone-glucose-yeast extract broth incubated anaerobically at 30°C for 10 d. Sporulation occurred in three strains incubated anaerobically on soil extract agar at 35°C for 15 d. Different concentrations of soil extract in the medium promoted sporulation of different strains. Toxins of the Swiss and Argentine strains showed identical patterns for trypsin activation, reaction to A-F antitoxin and neutralization by antitoxin prepared from strain 89G. All seven strains showed delayed proteolytic activity but failed to ferment any of the sugars tested.
Epithermal and Thermal Alpha-Particle Transport and Control

In this paper alpha-particle ash accumulation in tokamaks and two possible ash control techniques are discussed. The effect of thermal alpha-particle ash accumulation on plasma performance is examined using a zero-dimensional analysis with profile corrections. Alpha-particle accumulation is shown to have serious effects on ignition requirements. An analytical model developed to predict the effect of sawtooth disruption on ash accumulation is discussed. The analytical results indicate that the sawtooth is effective when the temperature profile is parabolic or flatter. Alpha-particle ejection by a fishbone oscillation is envisaged to be helpful in ash control, and a model of the physics in a large-aspect-ratio approximation is discussed using an extended version of a Chen et al. formalism. The trapped particle destabilization of the internal kinks due to the alpha particles and a second hot-particle species is considered, and the expected oscillation frequency and growth rates are derived.
Building white-box abstractions by program refinement

Abstractions make building complex systems possible. Many facilities provided by a modern programming language are directly designed to build a certain style of abstraction. Abstractions also aim to enhance code reusability, thus enhancing programmer productivity and effectiveness. Real-world software systems can grow to have a complicated hierarchy of abstractions. Often, the hierarchy grows unnecessarily deep, because the programmers have envisioned the most generic use cases for a piece of code to make it reusable. Sometimes, the abstractions used in the program are not the appropriate ones, and it would be simpler for the higher level client to circumvent such abstractions. Another problem is the impedance mismatch between different pieces of code or libraries coming from different projects that are not designed to work together. Interoperability between such libraries are often hindered by abstractions, by design, in the name of hiding implementation details and encapsulation. These problems necessitate forms of abstraction that are easy to manipulate if needed. In this paper, we describe a powerful mechanism to create white-box abstractions, that encourage flatter hierarchies of abstraction and ease of manipulation and customization when necessary: program refinement. In so doing, we rely on the basic principle that writing directly in the host programming language is as least restrictive as one can get in terms of expressiveness, and allow the programmer to reuse and customize existing code snippets to address their specific needs.
Imaging the Left Atrial Appendage With Intracardiac Echocardiography Leveling the Playing Field

Amid the boundless scientific discovery of the mid-19th century, Henry David Thoreau reflected, “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” Scientific discovery emerges from novel perspectives on commonly observed phenomena. To truly “see” in the scientific sense, we must approach questions using the proper point of view. In this context, perspective is at least twice as important in comparative studies. To be fair and scientifically rigorous, each technique needs to be interpreted under optimal conditions. Article see p 571 In this issue of Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology , Saksena and colleagues1 present the results of the Intracardiac Echocardiography Guided Cardioversion Helps Interventional Procedures (ICE-CHIP) study: a prospective comparison of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in a cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing invasive electrophysiology procedures. The major outcome variables were imaging completeness and concordance between the 2 imaging modalities in visualizing (1) the interatrial septum, (2) the left atrium (LA), and (3) the left atrial appendage (LAA). The major finding of clinical importance in the study was the lack of sensitivity of ICE to detect LAA thrombus when present on TEE. The incidence of spontaneous LA thrombosis detected by TEE in patients with AF referred for AF ablation has been reported to be quite low, ranging from 0% to 1.6%.2,3 Although the authors argue otherwise, TEE is widely considered to be the clinical gold standard in …
Heavy Ion Induced Single-Event Latchup Screening of Integrated Circuits Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Evaluation Boards

We present heavy ion single-event latchup (SEL) screening data for a variety of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) devices intended for use on low-cost missions, and discuss the device preparation techniques used to expose the die for ground-based heavy-ion testing.