Redesigning a Mobile Site: Lessons Learned

A mobile site redesign was conducted at a medium-sized academic health sciences library with the goal of creating a site that meets the mobile information needs of its users

Surface Tension at Finite Tempearture in the MIT Bag Model

At $T = 0$ the surface tension $\sigma ^{1/3}$ in the MIT bag model for a single hadron is known to be negligible as compared to the bag pressure $B^{1/4}$. We show that at finite temperature it has a substantial value of 50 - 70 MeV which also differ from hadron to hadron. We also find that the dynamics of the Quark-Gluon Plasma is such that the creation of hybrids $(s\bar{s}g)$ with massive quarks will predominate over the creation of $(s\bar{s})$ mesons.Comment: Substantial changes in the revised version and a new author included, 13 pages in Latex and one figur

Genipin-Cross-Linked Microencapsulated Human Adipose Stem Cells Augment Transplant Retention Resulting in Attenuation of Chronically Infarcted Rat Heart Fibrosis and Cardiac Dysfunction

Stem cell transplantation has been widely acknowledged for their immense potential in regenerative medicine. In these procedures, the implanted cells need to maintain both their viability and functional properties for effective therapeutic outcomes. This has long been a subject of major concern and intensive studies. Microencapsulation of stem cells within polymeric microcapsules can be an efficient approach to achieve this goal, particularly for heart diseases. This study reports the use of biocompatible, fluorogenic genipin-cross-linked alginate chitosan (GCAC) microcapsules in delivery of human adipose stem cells (hASCs) with an aim to increase the implant retention in the infarcted myocardium for maximum clinical benefits. In vitro results show, under hypoxic conditions, the microencapsulated cells overexpressed significantly higher amount of biologically active vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We investigated on the in vivo potential using immunocompetent female rats after induction of myocardial infarction. For this, animal groups (n = 8) received empty control microcapsules, 1.5 × 106 free male hASCs, or 1.5 × 106 microencapsulated male hASCs. Results show significant retention (3.5 times higher) of microencapsulated hASCs compared to free hASCs after 10 weeks of transplantation. Microencapsulated hASCs showed significantly attenuated infarct size compared to free hASCs and empty microcapsule group (21.6% ± 1.1% vs. 27.2% ± 3.1% vs. 33.3% ± 3.2%; p < 0.05), enhanced vasculogenesis, and improved cardiac function (fractional shortening: 24.2% ± 2.1% vs. 19.1% ± 0.5% vs. 12.0% ± 4.0%; p < 0.05). These data suggest that microencapsulated hASCs can contribute significantly to the improvement in cardiac functions. Their greater retentions exhibit reduced fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in experimental animals. However, further research is needed to fully comprehend the underlying biological and immunological effects of microencapsulated hASCs, which jointly play important roles in cardiac repair

Observations of V838 Mon in the CO rotational lines

We investigate the structure of a field around the position of V838 Mon as seen in the lowest CO rotational transitions. We also measure and analyse emission in the same lines at the position of V838 Mon.Observations have primarily been done in the CO J = 2-1 and J = 3-2 lines using the KOSMA telescope. A field of 3.4 squared degrees has been mapped in the on-the-fly mode in these transitions. Longer integration spectra in the on-off mode have been obtained to study the emission at the position of V838 Mon. Selected positions in the field have also been observed in the CO J = 1-0 transition using the Delingha telescope.In the observed field we have identified many molecular clouds. They can be divided into two groups from the point of view of their observed radial velocities. One, having V(LSR) in the range 18-32 km/s, can be identified with the Perseus Galactic arm. The other one, having V(LSR) between 44-57 km/s, probably belongs to the Norma-Cygnus arm. The radial velocity of V838 Mon is within the second range but the object does not seem to be related to any of the observed clouds. We did not find any molecular buble of a 1 degree dimension around the position of V838 Mon claimed in van Loon et al. An emission has been detected at the position of the object in the CO J = 2-1 and J = 3-2 transitions. The emission is very narrow (FWHM ~ 1.2 km/s) and at V(LSR) = 53.3 km/s. Our analysis of the data suggests that the emission is probably extended.Comment: paper accepted in A&

Sistemas bioaprendidos y bioreceptivos de materiales biocompuestos en Arquitectura

Biolearning defines a design approach that pushes the boundaries of bio-inspired design beyond mere imitation.&nbsp;El bioaprendizaje define un enfoque de diseño que amplía los límites del diseño bioinspirado, más allá de la mera imitación.Biolearning define uma abordagem de design que ultrapassa as fronteiras do design de inspiração biológica para além da mera imitação.&nbsp

High-resolution optical spectroscopy of V838 Monocerotis in 2009

V838 Mon erupted at the beginning of 2002. In the course of the outburst the object evolved to low effective temperatures and declined as a very late M-type supergiant. Among various scenarios proposed to explain the nature of the outburst, the most promising is a stellar merger event. We aim at studying the structure and evolution of the object in the decline from the 2002 eruption. We obtained spectroscopic observations of V838 Mon in January--March 2009 with UVES/VLT. The results are analysed and compared with similar observations obtained in October 2005 with HIRES/Keck. The most striking difference between 2009 and 2005 is a complete absence of the B3V component and of the [FeII] emission lines in 2009. The present spectrum displays only the spectrum of the 2002 eruption remnant. It resembles that of an M6 giant, although the molecular bands in V838 Mon are deeper than those in standard stellar spectra of a similar spectral class. Several atomic lines, which displayed P-Cyg profiles in 2005, are now dominated by pure absorptions. Some of these lines, however, show a narrow emission component, which, as we argue, measures the radial velocity of V838 Mon. The resulting heliocentric velocity is 71 km/s, which very well agrees with the velocity obtained from SiO maser observations. The atomic lines and the molecular bands show very complex kinematics. In some atomic lines and high-excitation molecular bands we observe matter infalling in the object atmosphere. The infall components were already observed in 2005, but were less pronounced and present in fewer lines than in 2009. We argue that the most negative radial velocity components seen in the resonance atomic lines and in the low-excitation molecular bands were formed in the ejecta of the 2002 eruption. The B3V companion most probably became engulfed in an opaque dusty matter of the 2002 V838 Mon ejecta.Comment: A&A, in pres

Pure superficial posterior cerebral artery territory infarction in The Lausanne Stroke Registry.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the patterns of clinical presentation, lesion topography, and etiology in patients with ischemic stroke limited to the superficial territory of the posterior cerebral artery (s-PCA). METHODS: In the Lausanne Stroke Registry (LSR, 1983-1998), we determined the patterns of clinical presentation, lesion topography and mechanisms of stroke, among 117 patients with s-PCA infarction (s-PCAI) on brain imaging. RESULTS: s-PCAIs accounted for 30.5 % of all PCA territory ischemic strokes. The presumed etiology was embolism in 64 (54.5 %) patients [cardiac in 51 (43.5 %) and arterial in 13 (11 %)], indeterminate in 38 (32 %), PCA atherothrombosis in 4 (3.4 %), migraine in 4 (3.4 %), other rare causes in 4 (3.4 %), and multiple potential sources of embolism in 3 (2.5 %). The clinical findings were hemianopsia in 78 (67 %), quadrantanopsia in 26 (22 %), and bilateral visual field defects in 8 (7 %). Motor, sensory, or sensorimotor deficits were detected in 14 (12 %), 8 (6.8 %), or 8 (6.8 %) patients, respectively. Neuropsychological dysfunction included memory impairment in 20 (17.5 %; with left [L], right [R], or bilateral [B] lesions in 15, 2, or 3 patients, respectively), dysphasia in 17 (14.5 %; L/B: 14/3), dyslexia with dysgraphia in 5 (4 %; L/B: 4/1), dyslexia without dysgraphia in 10 (8.5 %; L/B: 8/2), hallucinations in 12 (10 %; L/R/B: 5/5/2), visual neglect in 11 (9.5 %; L/R: 2/9), visual agnosia in 10 (8.5 %; L/B: 7/3), prosopagnosia in 7 (6 %; R/B: 4/3), and color dysnomia in 6 (5 %; L: 6). CONCLUSIONS: s-PCAIs are uncommon, representing less than a third of all PCA infarctions. Although embolism is the main cause in 60 % of patients, identification of the emboli source is often not possible. In 1/3 of cases, the stroke mechanism cannot be determined. Neuropsychological deficits are frequent if systematically searched for

Breakdown of Simple Scaling in Abelian Sandpile Models in One Dimension

We study the abelian sandpile model on decorated one dimensional chains. We determine the structure and the asymptotic form of distribution of avalanche-sizes in these models, and show that these differ qualitatively from the behavior on a simple linear chain. We find that the probability distribution of the total number of topplings $s$ on a finite system of size $L$ is not described by a simple finite size scaling form, but by a linear combination of two simple scaling forms $Prob_L(s) = 1/L f_1(s/L) + 1/L^2 f_2(s/L^2)$, for large $L$, where $f_1$ and $f_2$ are some scaling functions of one argument.Comment: 10 pages, revtex, figures include

Breadwinners and Homemakers: Migration and Changing Conjugal Expectations in Rural Bangladesh

The literature on marriage norms and aspirations across societies largely sees the institution as static – a tool for the assertion of masculinities and subordination of women. The changing meanings of marriage and conjugality in the contemporary context of globalisation have received scant attention. Based on research in rural Bangladesh, this article questions the usefulness of notions of autonomy and dependence in understanding conjugal relations and expectations in a context of widespread migration for extended periods, especially to overseas destinations, where mutuality is crucial for social reproduction, though in clearly genderdemarcated domains