cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunomodulatory mechanisms of action of calcitriol in psoriasis.

Background: Calcitriol is well known for its therapeutic efficacy in psoriasis, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, we tried to elucidate the precise mechanism of calcitriol for its therapeutic efficacy in psoriasis. Materials and Methods: Proliferation and apoptosis studies were done to determine the effect of calcitriol on normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and T lymphocytes. To elucidate the effect of Calcitriol on relevant chemokines and epidermal proteins of psoriasis, real-time polymerase chain reaction were done on the modified reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) an in vitro model of psoriasis. All experiments were done in triplicate. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean. Results and Conclusions: In vitro, Calcitriol showed significant inhibition of NHEKs and T lymphocyte proliferation by inducing apoptosis of these cells. Moreover, in an in vitro model of psoriasis (RHE), Calcitriol significantly inhibited relevant gene expression of chemokines (Interleukin-8, Regulated upon Activation Normal T-cell Expressed and Secreted [RANTES]) and psoriasin (S100A7). Here, we observed that Calcitriol inhibits critical pathological events associated with the inflammatory-proliferative cascades of psoriasis. Calcitriol induced apoptosis of NHEKs and T lymphocytes as well as inhibited gene expression of relevant chemokines and epidermal proteins in the in vitro model of psoriasis.
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus following onabotulinumtoxinA administration for chronic migraine: a case report and literature review.

BackgroundThere is a growing body of literature documenting local herpes zoster outbreak following procedures. The mechanism underlying these outbreaks remains elusive. We present a case of zoster following onabotulinumtoxinA (BTX) for migraine and a literature review.MethodsChart and literature review.CaseA 72-year-old woman with chronic migraine received BTX injections for 3 years without incident. She had a history of thoracic zoster with subsequent post-herpetic neuralgia. In August 2013, 48 hours after receiving BTX injections, she developed a painful rash in the right V1 distribution consistent with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. One week later the rash had resolved without treatment.Literature reviewWe identified 65 (including 2 from Juel-Jenson) cases of zoster reactivation following minor procedures. These cases tend to be in young patients without specific risk factors. Outbreaks characteristically occur at the level of exposure to local trauma.DiscussionOur review suggests that local trauma, regar...
Side reactions in the reductive alkylation of low-rank coal

Abstract The difficulty occasionally encountered of extracting meaningful information from reductive alkylation experiments on low-rank coals is considered.
North Atlantic Oscillation Dynamics Recorded in Greenland Ice Cores

Carefully selected ice core data from Greenland can be used to reconstruct an annual proxy North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) index. This index for the past 350 years indicates that the NAO is an intermittent climate oscillation with temporally active (coherent) and passive (incoherent) phases. No indication for a single, persistent, multiannual NAO frequency is found. In active phases, most of the energy is located in the frequency band with periods less than about 15 years. In addition, variability on time scales of 80 to 90 years has been observed since the mid-19th century.
The Standard Meter by Any Name is Still a Meter Long

In §50 of Philosophical Investigations Wittgenstein wrote the sentence, "There is one thing of which one can say neither that it is one metre long, nor that it is not one metre long, and that is the standard metre in Paris." Although some interpreters have claimed that Wittgenstein’s statement is mistaken, while others have proposed various explanations showing that this must be correct, none have questioned the fact that he intended to assert that it is impossible to describe the standard meter as being a meter long- Given that Wittgenstein introduces this sentence as analogous to the claim that "existence cannot be attributed to an element," and that the preceding passages discuss a language- game the simples of which can be described by their own names, there is good reason to think that Wittgenstein did not intend to assert this infamous sentence.
Trypanosoma congolense: Fine structure study by the carbon replica and freeze-etch technique

Abstract The fine structure of the blood parasite. Trypanosoma congolense was examined by the carbon replica and freeze-etch techniques. The ultrastructure of the limiting cytoplasmic membranes and the limiting membranes of constituent organelles was examined. The pellicle complex was shown in a three-dimensional view. The parasites' outer pellicle layer was smooth and regular and lacked any obvious subunit structure. The inner limiting membrane around the body of the parasite was shown to be coarse and irregular and lacking in any obvious subunit structure. The appearance of this portion of the unit membrane of the pellicle complex differed considerably from the appearance of the membrane which surrounded the flagellar apparatus. The flagellar membrane had a uniform stippled appearance. It appeared to be made up of the “brick-like” subunits, regular in size and shape. In general the membrane of the mitochondrion also had a uniform stippled appearance. The membrane of the kinetoplast portion of the mitochondrion, however, differed from the membrane of the other portions of that organelle in that it had a regular pattern of pits in its surface. Nuclear membranes were characterized by a highly rough and irregular appearance. Nuclear pores occurred in the nuclear membranes. However, unlike those of Plasmodium gallinaceum and chicken erythrocytes, their size, shape, and distribution were irregular.
Letter to the Editor: Response

To the Editor: We thank Dr. Gerd-Michael Lackmann for debating our findings. We will respond point-by-point to his questions.
How Levels of Interactivity in Tutorials Affect Students’ Learning of Modeling Transportation Problems in a Spreadsheet

Do students learn to model OR/MS problems better by using computer-based interactive tutorials and, if so, does increased interactivity in the tutorials lead to better learning? In order to determine the effect of different levels of interactivity on student learning, we used screen capture technology to design interactive support materials for modeling and solving the transportation problem in a spreadsheet. A controlled experiment was carried out and the results indicate a general support for the effectiveness of interactive tutorials in enhancing students’ learning of modeling concepts. However, the study also found that excessive interactivity increased the cognitive load for the students and hindered their learning by making it difficult for them to consolidate concepts, integrate previous knowledge, and create meaningful mental models of the process.
Current Concepts in the Management of Infectious Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis can often result in blindness. The number of cases will most likely increase as intravitreal injections are performed more frequently. The prevention and treatment of endophthalmitis remains controversial. Recent data suggest that intracameral cefuroxime, which is now commercially available in Europe, reduces the risk of postoperative endophthalmitis. We here review the most up-to-date data on the incidence, prevention and treatment of infectious endophthalmitis.
Return to school as an outcome measure after a burn injury

Outcome measures have become an important tool to assist with monitoring the efficacy of burn care. One such measurement for children is the time required for them to return to school, as well as their behavior and academic performance in school after a burn injury. The purpose of this study was to relate demographic data with return-to-school time and school performance. Through medical record review and interviews with patients, parents, and school teachers, information was obtained regarding the patient's burn injury, as well as home and school status before and after the burn injury. School information before the burn injury was obtained after patient admission. Schools were contacted 6 months after hospital discharge for data after the burn injury. Thirty-four patients aged 6 to 16 years had their outcomes evaluated from September 1993 to June 1995. Average total body surface area burned was 25.9%; the mean area of full-thickness burn was 17.5%. Length of stay averaged 30.8 days. Sixty-five percent of patients were discharged with splints, and all were discharged with a pressure program. Children returned to school an average of 7.4 days after discharge, and the average number of missed school days was 22. Thirty-four percent of the children had a school reentry visit, and either a phone call, written material, or both were provided in lieu of a visit to the other schools. For this population, burn injury did not appear to impact outcome negatively as it related to a child's return or function in school. These children returned to school rather rapidly after discharge and functioned as well or better after injury. Little loss of grade was noted, and only those children with problems in school before the burn injury had problems after the burn injury. Contact with the child's school before reentry might have assisted with the smooth transition.
A Bulk Water-Dependent Desolvation Energy Model for Analyzing the Effects of Secondary Solutes on Biological Equilibria

A new phenomenological model for interpreting the effects of solutes on biological equilibria is presented. The model attributes changes in equilibria to differences in the desolvation energy of the reacting species that, in turn, reflect changes in the free energy of the bulk water upon addition of secondary solutes. The desolvation approach differs notably from that of other solute models by treating the free energy of bulk water as a variable and by not ascribing the observed shifts in reaction equilibria to accumulation or depletion of solutes next to the surfaces of the reacting species. On the contrary, the partitioning of solutes is viewed as a manifestation of the different subpopulations of water that arise in response to the surface boundary conditions. A thermodynamic framework consistent with the proposed model is used to derive a relationship for a specific reaction, an aqueous solubility equilibrium, in two or more solutions. The resulting equation reconciles some potential issues with the t...
The ideology of executive bonuses: an historical perspective

Purpose – This paper seeks to add historical perspective to the contemporary debate concerning the efficacy of executive bonuses. That debate has become particularly significant in the USA as a result of the recent economic collapse and the federal government's Troubled Asset Relief Program, turning the government – at least temporarily – into a shareholder of numerous companies.Design/methodology/approach – The article is primarily an intellectual history of an idea: that executive bonuses are required to achieve top performance. The main primary source is two sets of articles from the Harvard Business Review from the 1930s and the 1950s. These are supplemented by other primarily and secondary material.Findings – Arch Patton, a McKinsey Consultant and the most published author in the Harvard Business Review during the 1950s, constructed a defense of executive bonuses based on ideology rather than empirical evidence.Social implications – Constituents of the current debate on executive bonuses should be aw...
Value of platelet/lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of all-cause mortality after non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Prior studies demonstrated the association between the major adverse cardiovascular outcomes and both higher platelet and lower lymphocyte counts. Our study explores the value of the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a marker of long-term mortality in patients presented with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). This is an observational study with a total 619 NSTEMI patients admitted to a tertiary center between 2004 and 2006. Patients were stratified into equal tertiles according to their admission PLR. The primary outcome, 4 year all-cause mortality, was compared among the PLR tertiles. The first, second and third PLR tertiles were PLR 176, respectively) included 206, 206 and 207 patients, respectively. There was a significant higher 4 year all-cause mortality in the higher PLR tertiles (the mortalities were 17, 23 and 42 % for the first, second and third PLR tertiles respectively, p 176, patients with dual antiplatelet therapy had lower mortality versus those with mono-platelet therapy. Further studies are needed to clarify these findings.
Modeling and experimental verification of partial slip for multiple frictional contact problems

Abstract This paper addresses the influence of the partial slip phenomenon on the dynamic motion of a spherical workpiece held in a fixture with application to machining fixture design. The model considers the effect of interfacial slip damping arising from partial slip at a spherical–planar frictional contact subjected to a constant normal load and oscillating tangential load. The model can be used in both single and multiple contact cases as long as the loading assumption for each contact is valid and harmonic balance can be applied. An experimental set up is designed to validate the model for the multiple contact case. Experimental results agree favorably with those predicted by the model. Under the conditions being studied, it is shown that the effect of the partial slip phenomenon on workpiece dynamic motion is significant and should not be ignored.
Effect of 4-aminopyridine and single-dose methylprednisolone on functional recovery after a chronic spinal cord injury.

The demyelination process is an important factor contributing to long term sensory and motor impairments after spinal cord injury (SCI). Exposure of axonal K + channels after demyelination may contribute to blockage of action potentials across the injury site. A K + channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), has been eAective in restoring some sensory and motor impairment in incomplete SCI patients. The long-term eAect of this compound in chronic model of SCI is not known. In this study, after a compression injury of 50 grams in rats, a randomized treatment was initiated 3 weeks after the initial injury which was followed by daily administration of 4-AP at 2 mg/kg (n=8), 4 mg/kg (n=8), and 6 mg/kg (n=8) for 4 weeks. A group of methylprednisolone (MP)-treated (30 mg/kg, n=8) and non-treated animals (n=8) were included for comparison. The functional motor outcome was measured in each animal at regular time points up to 4 weeks post-treatment. All animals receiving 6 mg/ kg developed generalized seizure and were excluded from the study. In the other animal groups, analysis of the behavioral outcome and neuro-pathological changes were essentially similar and did not show any significant eAect of treatment. Our data indicate that daily administration of 4-AP, over 4 weeks of treatment period, lacks any significant eAect on axonal function in chronically injured rats. This could be due to (a) lack of significant numbers of demyelinated axons which could improve the functional outcome and (b) a treatment regimen that was not adequate to contribute to a better functional outcome. One time bolus-administration of MP at 30 mg/kg also did not ensure a better functional outcome.
Finite element method for two-dimensional vibrational wave functions: Theory and application to van der Waals molecules

A variational formulation finite element method is developed for calculation of vibrational wave functions in a domain spanned by close-coupled, or Jacobi, coordinates R and γ. C1 tensor-product basis functions, which allow straightforward separation of kinetic and overlap integrals into products of one-dimensional integrals, are used. Furthermore, representation of the potential energy surface in terms of the same tensor-product basis functions used to represent the wave functions allows the potential energy integrals to also be written as a sum of products of one-dimensional integrals. Factorization of the integrals, together with expression of one-dimensional integrals in analytic or rapidly convergent power series form, reduces the computational effort of calculation of all matrix elements to a small, and arguably insignificant, level. It is shown that the theoretical error in eigenvalue, i.e., O(h6) for bicubic Hermite functions, is achieved for a number of rare gas van der Waals triatomics for which...
Education or Formation: Parallels Between Seminary and Social Work Graduate Programs

This article examines how social work and ministry graduate education share common sociological characteristics that increasingly emphasize a sense of inner formation as well as traditional education. Both social work and ministry have increasingly emphasized a sense of call or vocation, field work and internships, and specific credentials for practice. Sociologically, both social work and ministry can be framed as socialization into the helping professions, into the midlevel professions, and into the bureaucratic professions, with maintenance of socialization taking place through similar professional associations and continuing education. Implications for social work education and educational policy are discussed.
Variability in Cadence During Forced Cycling Predicts Motor Improvement in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

Variability in severity and progression of Parkinson's disease symptoms makes it challenging to design therapy interventions that provide maximal benefit. Previous studies showed that forced cycling, at greater pedaling rates, results in greater improvements in motor function than voluntary cycling. The precise mechanism for differences in function following exercise is unknown. We examined the complexity of biomechanical and physiological features of forced and voluntary cycling and correlated these features to improvements in motor function as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Heart rate, cadence, and power were analyzed using entropy signal processing techniques. Pattern variability in heart rate and power were greater in the voluntary group when compared to forced group. In contrast, variability in cadence was higher during forced cycling. UPDRS Motor III scores predicted from the pattern variability data were highly correlated to measured scores in the forced group. This study shows how time series analysis methods of biomechanical and physiological parameters of exercise can be used to predict improvements in motor function. This knowledge will be important in the development of optimal exercise-based rehabilitation programs for Parkinson's disease.
Regeneration in acoelous flatworms: The role of the peripheral parenchyma

1. Regeneration studies were made onAmphiscolops langerhansi,A. bermudensis, andConvoluta sutcliffei. 2. The statocyst never regenerates but can be maintained, following transplantation to a statocystless worm, at any site in the peripheral parenchyma. 3. Eyespots regenerate readily. Extra eyespots are not uncommon. 4. Regeneration of whole animals from the inner parenchyma or the epidermis, alone, was never observed. 5. Regeneration of whole animals from pure preparations of peripheral parenchyma is probable. 6. Grafts of material wholly or in large part derived from peripheral parenchyma are able to determine the appearance of new structures in the host which reflect the origin of the donor material. 7. Comparisons between acoel and triclad regeneration are discussed.
Selective Activation of the External Obliques during Twisting

This study investigated selective activation of different regions of the external obliques. Six subjects performed sub-maximal isometric axial twisting exertions (20%, 40%, 60% of MVC) while assumi...
Can crude oil toxicity on phytoplankton be predicted based on toxicity data on benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are major components of crude oil, are responsible in large part for the toxicity of crude oil to phytoplankton. This study addressed the following question. Can reliable predictions of the aquatic toxicity of crude oil, a multi-component mixture, be described from toxicity data on individual PAH compounds? Naphthalene, the most abundant PAH compound, and benzo(a)pyrene, a highly toxic PAH compound, were selected as model compounds to quantify toxicity of crude oil on two phytoplankton species, Ditylum brightwellii and Heterocapsa triquetra, by analyzing the effects of different concentrations of these PAHs on growth rate. EC50 values suggested that the diatom D. brightwellii was more vulnerable to both toxicants than the dinoflagellate H. triquetra. However, a previous study, which investigated the impact of crude oil on the same two species, had opposite results. The differences in response from these phytoplankton species to naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene toxicity compared to their response to crude oil suggest that they may not be solely used as surrogates to assess crude oil toxicity on phytoplankton.
Lobbying Together: Interest Group Coalitions in Legislative Politics. By Kevin W. Hula. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2000. 208p. $55.00 cloth, $23.95 paper.

Many political scientists like institutions, in particular exog- enous institutions, which guide and constrain actions and allow scholars to concentrate more narrowly on behaviors within well-defined settings. For the interest groups subfield, institutions tend to be more mercurial than those in other areas of American politics. For instance, fundamental aspects of Congress may be institutionalized, but groups and lobby- ists come and go. The environment of interests is ever changing. Characterizing the interactions between legislators and lobbyists is made more difficult because of the lack of clear institutional structures that guide or constrain behav- iors. The iron triangle concept was powerful and meaningful because it provided at the least a loose framework for the analysis of legislator-lobbyist interactions. Kevin Hula's new book follows the reasoning of Hugh Heclo and William Browne, who argue that the iron triangle concept is outdated and inappropriate. That convenient metaphor suggested an informal institutional structure that is simply no longer appropriate. Without the iron triangle, what can fill the void?
UNI- AND MULTI-VARIATE ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS FOR EARLY AND LATE HEPATIC ARTERY THROMBOSIS AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

tive trial of prophylactic immunosuppression with ATG-Frese-nius versus OKT3 after renal transplantation. Transplanta-tion 1995; 59: 830.15. Racusen LC, Solez K, Colvin RB, et al. The Banff 97 workingclassification of renal allograft pathology. Kidney Int 1999; 55:713.16. Hunningake GW, Monick MM, Geist LJ. Cytomegalovirus infec-tion–regulation of inflammation. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol1999; 21: 150.17. Waldman WJ, Knight DA, Adams PW, Orosz CG, Sedmak DD.In vitro induction of endothelial HLA class II antigen expres-sion by cytomegalovirus-activated CD41 T cells. Transplanta-tion 1993; 56: 1504.18. van Dorp WT, van Wieringen PA, Marselis JE, et al. Cytomeg-alovirus directly enhances MHC class I and intercellular ad-hesion molecule-1 expression on cultured proximal tubularepithelial cells. Transplantation 1993; 55: 1367.19. Grundy JE, Downes KL. Up-regulation of LFA-3 and ICAM-1 onthe surface of fibroblasts infected with cytomegalovirus. Im-munology 1993; 78: 405.20. D Geist LJ, Dai LY. Cytomegalovirus modulates interleukin-6gene expression. Transplantation 1996; 62: 653.21. Srivastava R, Curtis M, Hendrickson S, Burns WH, HosenpudJD. Strain specific effects of cytomegalovirus on endothelialcells: implications for investigating the relationship betweenCMV and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Transplantation1999; 68: 1568.22. Valantine HA, Gao SZ, Menon SG, et al. Impact of prophylacticimmediate posttransplant ganciclovir on development of trans-plant arteriosclerosis: a post hoc analysis of a randomized,placebo controlled study. Circulation 1999; 100: 61.23. Hariharan S, Johnson CP, Bresnahan BA, Taranto SE, McIn-tosh MJ, Stablein D. Improved graft survival after renal trans-plantation in the United States, 1988 to 1996; N Engl J Med2000; 342: 605.Received 1 June 2000.Accepted 19 July 2000.
Proteomic characterization of thiazolidinedione regulation of obese adipose secretome in Zucker obese rats.

Signaling molecules released by adipose tissue have been implicated in inflammation, adipocyte dysfunction and systemic insulin resistance. In this study, we used 2-D LC-MS/MS and quantitative proteomics approaches to characterize the obese adipose secretory proteins that are responsive to the thiazolidinediones class of PPAR-γ agonizts. We first showed the differential secretion profiling between obese and lean adipose tissue; 87 proteins were detected from the conditioned medium of adipose tissue of Zucker obese rats compared with 31 from lean rats. A total of 57 proteins comprising immune factors, inflammatory molecules, collagens, proteases, and extracellular matrix proteins were detected from obese, but not lean adipose tissue. More importantly, a quantitative proteomics approach using ^(18)O proteolytic labeling allowed quantification of the difference in the secretion levels of 77 proteins, and thiazolidinediones treatment suppressed the secretion of most of the obese adipose tissue secretome, thus resembling a lean tissue. We have demonstrated an application of identifying the obese adipose secretome and characterizing the regulation of adipose secretion in obesity and insulin resistance. Our data provide the first evidence of changes in adipose secretion in obesity at a global level and show that such changes are correlated with systemic insulin resistance.
Mid- to High-Frequency Acoustic Penetration and Propagation Measurements in a Sandy Sediment

During the recent 2004 sediment acoustics experiment (SAX04), a buried hydrophone array was deployed in a sandy sediment near Fort Walton Beach, FL. The array was used to measure both the acoustic penetration into the sediment and sound speed and attenuation within the sediment while a smaller, diver-deployed array was also used to measure sound speed and attenuation. Both of these systems had been deployed previously during the 1999 Sediment Acoustics Experiment (SAX99). In that experiment, the buried array was used to make measurements in the 11-50-kHz range while the diver-deployed array made measurements in the 80-260-kHz range. For the SAX04 deployment, the frequency range for the measurements using the buried array was lowered to 2 kHz. The diver-deployed array was also modified to cover the 40-260-kHz range. Unlike the SAX99 deployment, there were no obvious sand ripples at the SAX04 buried array site at the time of the measurements. To examine the role of sand ripples in acoustic penetration over this new frequency range, artificial ripple fields were created. For the high frequencies, the penetration was consistent with the model predictions using small-roughness perturbation theory as in SAX99. As the frequency of the incident acoustic field decreased, the evanescent field became the dominant penetration mechanism. The sound speed measured using the buried array exhibits dispersion consistent with the Biot theory while the measured attenuation exceeds the theory predictions at frequencies above 200 kHz.
An Econometric Analysis of the Environmental Benefits Provided by the Conservation Reserve Program

Over $1.7 billion has been spent on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since 1985. The purpose of this study is to show that these expenditures have aided the environment. Rather than quantify changes in environmental variables, a spatial econometric model is used to test if CRP enrollments are greater in counties with poorer environmental quality. In seven of nine regions, CRP enrollments are higher in counties with an environmental concern. This positive finding justifies past expenditures by the CRP and supports continued funding as an environmental program. The CRP is targeting current environmental concerns that will lead to future improvement.
Man, A Geomorphological Agent: An Introduction to Anthropogic Geomorphology

Many human activities alter surrounding landforms. In Man, A Geomorphological Agent,, Dov Nir systematically evaluates the role of people as an integral portion of the total geomorphological system. His expressed purpose is to develop the theme of “anthropic geomorphology” and to elucidate its position in the broader field of cultural geography. In this task Nir is generally successful, but the overall usefulness of the resulting book is limited.
Electromagnetic Processing of Polymers: I. Basic Concepts and Molecular Design of the Macromolecules

Microwave processing has been utilized to process thermosetting polymeric materials. Specifically, fundamental studies relating epoxy network generation to processing conditions have been investigated in a tunable cylindrical cavity operating at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. These studies demonstrate that fully cured networks can be generated in ten minutes with the retention of good mechanical properties. Furthermore, toughened epoxy systems which utilize carefully designed amine terminated poly(arylene ether sulfone) thermoplastics as reactive oligomers have resulted in novel phase separated morphologies. In fact, it has been demonstrated that the morphology in these multiphase systems can actually be controlled by utilizing microwave processing. Bismaleimide toughened systems, devised by similar strategies, have demonstrated a 10–20 fold reduction in the time required to achieve full cure.
Application of high temperature magnetic materials

The trend in both military and commercial markets for greater affordability has prompted the electromechanical designer toward higher speed and higher operating temperature devices. New magnetic materials are essential for the success of many of these power generation, distribution, and utilization systems. This manuscript briefly describes some of the applications for advanced high temperature magnets.
A pilot specialty jail diversion program for justice-involved veterans with co-occurring disorders

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 146 (2015) e34–e117 e101 A pilot specialty jail diversion program for justice-involved veterans with co-occurring disorders David Smelson1,2, D.A. Pinals3,2, Leon Sawh1,2,4, C. Fulwiler2, S. Singer2, K. O’Connor2, W. Fisher4, S. Hartwell5, Gerardo Gonzalez2 1 Department of Veterans Affairs, Bedford, MA, United States 2 University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States 3 Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Boston, MA, United States 4 University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, United States 5 University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA,
Constrained stabilization for a class of nonlinear systems using dynamic surface control

In this paper, a new method to estimate the initial condition set which guarantees the quadratic stability for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems via dynamic surface control (DSC) without control input saturation has been studied. The set can be enlarged to allow some degree of the control input saturation, while preserving the quadratic stability of the system in the domain. An algorithm to obtain ellipsoidal initial condition sets via a linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach as well as an illustrative example will be presented.
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome.

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Clinics in Sports Medicine. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Clinics in Sports Medicine, VOL 31, ISSUE 2, 2012 © 2012 by WB Saunders, Clinics in Sports Medicine doi:10.1016/j.csm.2011.09.013
DFIG Level 5 (User Refinement) issues supporting Situational Assessment Reasoning

Subsequent revisions to the JDL model modified definitions for model usefulness that stressed differentiation between fusion (estimation) and sensor management (control). Two diverging groups include one pressing for fusion automation (JDL revisions) and one advocating the role of the user (user-fusion model). The center of debate is real-world delivery of fusion systems which requires presenting information fusion results for knowledge representation (fusion estimation) and knowledge reasoning (control management). The purpose of the paper is to highlight the need of users, with individual differences, facilitated by knowledge representations to reason about user situational awareness (SA). This position paper highlights: (1) addressing the user in system management/control, (2) assessing information quality (metrics) to support SA, (3) evaluating fusion systems to deliver user info needs, (4) planning knowledge delivery for dynamic updating, (5) designing SA interfaces to support user reasoning.
An integrated junior-year laboratory based on an autonomous mobile robot platform

In the Fall 1997 quarter, the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at Auburn University implemented a new curriculum model. A significant feature of the new curriculum is a set of 6 core laboratories, occurring over the sophomore and junior years. Unlike prior EE laboratories that are closely aligned with a specific course topic, the new core laboratories are designed to present EE topics in an integrated, multidisciplinary fashion. In this paper, the author describes one of the junior-year laboratory courses, "EE 305-Laboratory V". The EE 305 laboratory course appears in the students' second quarter of the junior year, and is based on a design problem in which teams of 2-3 students attempt to design and fabricate an electronic control system for a small autonomous mobile robot. Topics from several EE subdisciplines are studied as students attack the design project. In addition to reinforcing concepts from earlier and concurrent courses, the course serves as a platform for exposing students to topics that appear in greater depth in later courses, including electives. Also, students mature in areas such as oral and written communication, awareness of professional ethics issues, and working effectively in a team-based setting.
Computer automated cell size and shape analysis in cryomicroscopy

SUMMARY Computer vision techniques have been developed for quantitative analysis of size and shape changes in cells frozen on a cryomicroscope. The analysis is based on implementation of standard serial edge detection algorithms in conjunction with a shape transform to isolate individual cells in complex scenes which may include adjacent and overlying ice crystals. In the present study the sensitivity of the automated analysis procedure is evaluated for images obtained by various microscope optical systems for progressive degrees of subject blurring by defocusing. Size measurements in calibration trials for freezing latex spheres with extracellular ice in the field of view were least sensitive for bright field images, although the most consistent data was obtained by differential interference contrast microscopy. In all cases phase contrast images produced the least accurate data. An example analysis is presented for the freezing of pancreas β-cells.
Provision of public goods in a large economy

Abstract In this paper, I consider a large economy with a private and a public good where the distribution of costs (but not the individual costs) associated with the provision of the public good is known. A simple tax-subsidy policy, whereby all contributors get a subsidy funded by a tax on non-contributors, is shown to attain the first best allocation provided that the socially optimal amount of the public good is independent of the distribution of individual costs.
REWRITABLE DIGITAL VIDEO DISC SYSYTEM USING MAGNETO-OPTICAL DISC

The authors have developed the disc format for land/groove recording on a magneto-optical disc in which only a single side of the groove is wobbled. The format is suited for a rewritable digital video disc system. >
Low-wavenumber turbulent boundary layer wall-pressure measurements from vibration data over smooth and rough surfaces in pipe flow

Abstract The vibration response of a thin cylindrical shell excited by fully developed turbulent pipe flow is measured and used to extract the fluctuating pressure levels generated by the boundary layer. Parameters used to extract the turbulent fluctuating pressure levels are determined via experimental modal analyses of the water-filled pipe and measured vibration levels from flow through the pipe at 5.8 m/s. Measurements are reported for hydraulically smooth and fully rough surface conditions. Smooth wall-pressure levels are compared to the turbulent boundary layer pressure model of Chase [The character of the turbulent wall pressure at subconvective wavenumbers and a suggested comprehensive model. Journal of Sound and Vibration112 (1) (1987) 125–147] and the measurements of Bonness et al. [Low-wavenumber turbulent boundary layer wall-pressure measurements from vibration data on a cylinder in pipe flow. Journal of Sound and Vibration329 (2010) 4166–4180]. Results for the smooth pipe match the predicted smooth wall-pressure spectrum and correspond to a normalized low wavenumber-white level which is −41 dB below the maximum level at the convective peak. Pressure levels from the fully rough condition display a low-wavenumber-white level which is 28 dB below the convective peak level. This suggests an increase of 13 dB in low-wavenumber wall pressure for the uniformly distributed roughness elements in this study over a hydraulically smooth surface.
Gait training in individuals with incomplete SCI: how are they different from healthy subjects?

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 3-month gait training on mean gait oxygen consumption (VO2), gait speed (GS), distance covered in a 5-minutes walk, and gait cost (GC). In order to better explain the results, the data were compared to healthy subjects. Ten incomplete SCI patients with mean age 40/spl plusmn/14 years participated to the study. The results showed significant increases in mean walking VO2 (p<0.01), GS (p<0.01), and distance covered (p<0.01) during the 5-minute walking test. While GC did not improve significantly after training, there was a definite trend of lower VO2 consumption per meter walked. The relation between VO2 and GS was compared to data of a 5-minute walking test of healthy individuals. There was a significant positive correlation between VO2 and GS in healthy (r=0.68; p<0.01) and there was no correlation (r=0.10) between those variables in SCI individuals. There was no correlation between GC and GS in healthy (r=0.128) and there was a significant negative correlation in SCI individuals. There is evidence that SCI individuals benefit from gait training. While physiological responses during walking are different in individuals with SCI than healthy, gait training reduces that difference.
Modeling elastic properties in finite‐element analysis: How much precision is needed to produce an accurate model?

The influence of elastic properties on finite-element analysis was investigated using a finite-element model of a Macaca fascicularis skull. Four finite-element analyses were performed in which the model was assigned different sets of elastic properties. In analysis 1, elastic properties were modeled isotropically using published data obtained from human limb bones. Analyses 2– 4 used data obtained from skulls of a closely allied species, M. mulatta, but varied as to how those data were incorporated into the model. In analysis 2, the model was assigned a single set of isotropic elastic properties. In analysis 3, each region within the model was assigned its own set of isotropic elastic properties. Finally, in analysis 4, each region received its own set of orthotropic elastic properties. Although a qualitative assessment indicates that the locations of strain concentrations across the model are broadly similar in all analyses, a quantitative assessment of strain indicates some differences between the analyses. When strain data from the finite-element analyses were compared to strain data derived from in vivo experiments, it was found that the model deformed most realistically using the orthotropic elastic properties employed in analysis 4. Results suggest that finite-element analyses can be adversely affected when elastic properties are modeled imprecisely, and that modelers should attempt to obtain elastic properties data about the species and skeletal elements that are the subjects of their analyses. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
South Texas Outer Continental Shelf Program Chemical and Biological Studies

Overall objectives of the South Texas Outer Continental Shelf (STOCS) study are put forth and the sampling design discussed. The limits of the study area are defined and the parameters to be sampled and analyzed are identified. The work is described as a multidisciplinary, team research effort between principal investigators at the University of Texas Marine Science Laboratory, Texas A&M University and Rice University. The University researchers cooperate with other investigators, working on the STOCS, from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
IEEE 1532: In-System Configuration

IEEE Standard 1532 [IEEE02] addresses “In-System Configuration of Programmable Devices”. The term “In-System configuration” (ISC) means the devices can be loaded with programming data after they have been mounted on a board. Indeed, even non-volatile devices most likely are blank at the time of board placement, since this can eliminate potentially damaging handling steps for programming, and pre-placement inventory.
The impact of prior upper-extremity surgery on orthopedic injury and surgery in collegiate athletes

Background The influence of prior upper-extremity (UE) surgery on a collegiate athletic career is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of prior UE surgery on participation, injury, and surgery rates in collegiate athletes. Methods Division I athletes who commenced collegiate athletics from 2003-2009 were retrospectively identified. Pre-participation evaluation forms were queried for the history of pre-collegiate UE surgery. Data on sport played, seasons played, injuries, days missed, and orthopedic imaging and surgical procedures were collected through athletic and medical records and compared with those of athletes without prior UE surgery. Subgroup analysis was performed for shoulder surgery, elbow surgery, and wrist and/or hand surgery. Results Between 2003 and 2009, 1145 athletes completed pre-participation evaluations. Of these athletes, 77 (6.7%) underwent at least 1 pre-collegiate UE surgical procedure. Prior UE surgery was most common in men's water polo (15.0%), baseball (14.9%), and football (12.6%). The UE surgery group had a higher rate of collegiate UE injury (hazard ratio, 4.127; P P = .03) than controls. Athletes with prior shoulder surgery (n = 20) also experienced more UE injuries compared with controls (hazard ratio, 15,083; P = .02). They missed more days per season (77.5 days vs. 29.8 days, P P P Conclusions Collegiate athletes with prior shoulder surgery missed more days and underwent more magnetic resonance imaging scans and surgical procedures in college, whereas those with prior elbow surgical procedures and wrist and/or hand surgical procedures were comparable with controls.
Mini-Forum: Roles of Amyloid-β and Tau Phosphorylation in Neuronal Repair and Protection

This mini-forum is devoted to the hypothesis that the earliest alterations in amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau protein are produced by cellular machinery to protect against damage or in an attempt to repair damage that has occurred. The contributors to this issue have expertise in various disciplines that address the components of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from both clinical and basic science research perspectives. In the first article, I review the data for increased production of either Aβ or phosphorylated tau protein in response to such diverse stimuli as stimulant drugs, head injury, certain inhaled anesthetic drugs and responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in AD. Koudinov and colleagues review data that supports their contention that most of the observed alterations in clinical AD are attempts to return cellular homeostasis to normal after disruption by physiological mechanisms that restore plasticity. They view the increased pathologic protein production and biochemical alterations as secondary responses to an as yet unknown etiology for development of AD and argue that these components are not useful therapeutic targets. Hiltunen, van Groen, and Jolkonnen present data from animal models with mutant or normal amyloidβ protein precursor (AβPP) and their responses to ischemic insult. Transgenic mice with mutant human AβPP have poor outcomes after ischemia relative to those with normal human AβPP and the overexpression of normal hAβPP provides a degree of protection against the sequelae of ischemic insult. Blennow and Zetterberg review the evidence for using Aβ and phosphorylated tau in cerebrospinal fluid as a biomarker for AD relative to other dementias and their potential use for early diagnosis. Transient alterations in these proteins after head injury indicate that the neurodegeneration and dementia associated with AD is not always a result of increased Aβ and phosphorylated tau production. Menon, Sattel, and Jolles examine the limitations of neuroimaging in differentiating vascular dementia from AD and the similarity in the various imaging techniques applied clinically to diagnose AD and vascular dementia. Functional and structural imaging techniques may not differentiate these very distinct etiologies as well as PET or spectroscopy. Kadish and van Groen review data indicating that lesions of the entorhinal cortex in normal,aged, and transgenic mice produces different responses, with aged mice showing less regeneration after lesion and the presence of Aβ deposits in transgenic mice does not prevent post-lesion sprouting. They observe increased regeneration in presenilin mutant mice but no increased regeneration in mice overexpressing Aβ leading them to conclude that the presence of Aβ does not prevent attempts at neuronal repair. Castellani and colleagues review the evidence supporting the view that proteinopathies, including Aβ and hyperphosphorylated tau protein, in AD reflect downstream components of a process that begins with earlier alterations in responses to oxidative stress, inflam-
Modular Multiset Rewriting

Rule-based languages are being used for ever more ambitious applications. As program size grows however, so does the overhead of team-based development, reusing components, and just keeping a large flat collection of rules from interfering. In this paper, we propose a module system for a small logically-motivated rule-based language. The resulting modules are nothing more than rewrite rules of a specific form, which are themselves just logic formulas. Yet, they provide some of the same features found in advanced module systems such as that of Standard ML, in particular name space separation, support for abstract data types, and parametrization functors in ML. Our modules also offer essential features for concurrent programming such as facilities for sharing private names. This approach is directly applicable to other rule-based languages, including most forward-chaining logic programming languages and many process algebras.