cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: consecutive occurrence due to viruses with similar antigenic compositions.

The occurrence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in two siblings born three years apart is reported. Based on clinical and immunologic findings, the older child seems to have been exposed to a strong and prolonged antigenic stimulus, while the younger was probably affected by a reduced or modified load. Simultaneous complement-fixing (CF) and neutralizing (NT) antibody determinations done in infants and maternal sera suggest that the viruses isolated from both cases, if not identical, are antigenically quite similar and, furthermore, they are very close to AD-169 and Davis prototypes. Therefore, although the mother showed a significant antibody rise and became viuric during the second pregnancy, it is very unlikley that a new primary infection with an heterologous strain occurred, and we suggest endogenous reactivation or reinfection with the homologous virus. The implications of this finding with respect to counseling parents of a congenitally infected child about future pregnancies are discussed.
A COMMON ANATOMICAL VARIATION IN THE SACRO-ILIAC REGION

Accessory sacro-iliac articulations occur in man in varying percentages according to race, sex, and age. The articular surfaces may be covered with either hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage. The posterior portions of the ilia are less widely separated in pelves presenting the variation than in pelves which are considered to be normal. However, these differences are not sufficient to be of statistical significance. Roentgenographic examination of the pelvis in the living has shown accessory sacro-iliac facets in one case.
Dynamic resilience for power distribution and customers

Power distribution supplies energy directly to customers. However, power distribution is particularly vulnerable to severe weather, where large scale failures can interrupt electricity service to millions of customers for extended durations. Resilience metrics are needed for characterizing failures, recoveries and impacts to customers. While various resilience measures are studied previously including those from the IEEE standards, we find, using real data from Hurricane Sandy, that two such commonly-used metrics are inadequate for characterizing resilience. We develop a new metric that incorporates randomness and dynamics of failures and recoveries from severe weather events. The metric is formulated from bottom-up based on a model, i.e., a spatiotemporal non-stationary random process. Such a model integrates failures and recoveries, and importantly, impacts (costs) to customers. The resulting metric consists of a tuple as the infrastructure- and service-resilience. The dynamic metric thus characterizes resilience for the infrastructure (power distribution), services and customers. Large-scale real data from Hurricane Sandy is used to evaluate the resilience metric for the operational power grid and the cost on customer service interruption.
Fruitlet size and position within the cluster influence apple fruitlet susceptibility to chemical thinners

SummarySix experiments were performed to determine the effect of fruitlet diameter on the day of thinner application, fruitlet position within a fruiting cluster, and chemical thinners on retention of individual apple (Malus domestica Bork.) fruitlets, days of fruitlet growth, and days to fruitlet abscission following a thinner treatment. Fruitlet diameter at thinning time was used as a covariate in an analysis of covariance to account for differences in fruitlet diameter between king and side fruitlets within a fruit cluster. Fruitlet diameter, but not fruitlet position, consistently influenced the percentage of fruitlet retention. Carbaryl reduced fruitlet retention in four of six experiments and was most effective on fruitlets smaller than 14.0 mm in diameter. Accel was used in one experiment and was effective on small side fruitlets. Ethephon was used in three experiments and consistently reduced fruitlet retention regardless of fruitlet size (8.0 to 31.0 mm diameter) or position. Days from treatment ...
The National Archives and Immigration Research

The loss of certain documents which could have added to the study of American ethnic groups is highly regrettable.1 Even more regrettable, the necessary documents and data for the study of the history of the " new " immigrants and contemporary American ethnic groups are not being presently collected.2 The following work briefly describes certain documents in the National Archives of the United States that may perhaps partly alleviate this documentary need. This description is not exhaustive, for the emphasis has been on the material dealing with the foreing born and immigration to the United States after 1880, but it may suggest uses to readers some of whom may be unfamiliar with archival material. While many of these documents mentioned still need to be critically evaluated before being used, the documents are presently accessible (with certain restrictions) to the interested scholar.3 The records described in this paper are records of the federal government, created to satisfy legal or administrative requirements or other needs of the originating agency. The federal government in administering its immigration and naturalization laws has accumlated a wealth of data relevant to the ethnic background of the American people.
Valuation, Portfolios, and Optimization

We now turn to fundamental questions of valuation and hedging, and their close (indeed, inseparable) connection; we will see that they are really two sides of the same coin. We have already introduced a series of (spread) option structures in Chapter 1 in the context of energy market structures, and we will later focus the discussion on such products. However, it should be stressed that the ideas to be presented here are quite general, and can (in principle, at least) be applied to any nonlinear product.
Molecular machinery and mechanism of cell secretion

Secretion occurs in all living cells and involves the delivery of intracellular products to the cell exterior. Secretory products are packaged and stored in membranous sacs or vesicles within the cell. When the cell needs to secrete these products, the secretory vesicles containing them dock and fuse at plasma membrane-associated supramolecular structures, called porosomes, to release their contents. Specialized cells for neurotransmission, enzyme secretion, or hormone release use a highly regulated secretory process. Similar to other fundamental cellular processes, cell secretion is precisely regulated. During secretion, swelling of secretory vesicles results in a build-up of intravesicular pressure, allowing expulsion of vesicular contents. The extent of vesicle swelling dictates the amount of vesicular contents expelled. The discovery of the porosome as the universal secretory machinery, its isolation, its structure and dynamics at nanometer resolution and in real time, and its biochemical composition and functional reconstitution into artificial lipid membrane have been determined. The molecular mechanism of secretory vesicle swelling and the fusion of opposing bilayers, that is, the fusion of secretory vesicle membrane at the base of the porosome membrane, have also been resolved. These findings reveal, for the first time, the universal molecular machinery and mechanism of secretion in cells.
Left ventricular volumes and function in the embryonic mouse heart

This study describes miniaturized technology for the in vivo analysis of the volume and function of the embryonic mouse heart and the application of this technology to study the normal embryonic left ventricle (LV) at two stages of development. With the use of microsurgical techniques, embryos from embryonic day (ED) 10.5 (ED10.5) to ED16 were delivered individually from litters of normal dams, and cardiac visualization was achieved with the use of intravital microscopy by transillumination, with the umbilical circulation intact. At ED10.5-11, the heart could be imaged in color in the intact embryo, whereas at ED12.5 it was necessary to open the chest; at ED13.5-14.5, fluorescent imaging with the use of microinjection of fluorescein-conjugated albumin was necessary to visualize the LV chamber. At ED10.5-11, the LV end-diastolic volumes averaged 0.16 microliter (n = 14), and at ED13.5-14.5, they averaged 0.57 microliter (n = 16). At both ages there was a positive linear relationship between the LV end-diastolic volume and the stroke volume despite substantial variations in individual heart rates, reflecting the relative uniformity of the LV ejection fractions within each age group. The average of the individual ejection fractions was 27.4% at ED10.5-11 and 58.4% at ED13.5-14.5, the latter being within the normal range for the adult rodent heart. These methods will be useful for assessing in vivo cardiac function at ED10.5 and older murine embryos in litters of transgenic or gene-targeted mice when the mutation leads to later embryonic lethality.
Protoplasmic parameters of Zea mays with normal and male sterile cytoplasm

Abstract Protoplasmic viscosity, solute potential and water permeability were compared for parenchyma cells of the coleoptile in the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) and normal (N) variants of Zea mays L. inbred lines. Protoplasmic streaming was tested in the epidermal cells of the glume. These protoplasmic and membrane qualities of the individual variants of CMS types were distinctly different from those of the N type and were closely correlated with the susceptibility of the CMS-variants to Cochliobolus heterostrophus and with the sensitivity to T-toxins and methomyl: CMS-T type had lower protoplasmic viscosity, higher cell sap solute potential, and higher water permeability than did the N type. The CMS-C and CMS-S types were somewhat intermediate between CMS-T and N types in these parameters. Among the three parameters tested, protoplasmic viscosity was most consistent in making the distinction between the CMS variants and N cytoplasm. Higher water permeability in CMS-T, C and S types compared with N cytoplasm reflects the differences in the cell membrane structure. These correlations suggest that cytoplasmic genes are expressed in protoplasmic qualities and codetermine cell membrane structure or composition and factors controlling consistency of the cytoplasm. Protoplasmic parameters proved to be sensitive indicators for testing CMS cytoplasms.
Observation of Ground- and Excited-State Charge Transfer at the C60/Graphene Interface

We examine charge transfer interactions in the hybrid system of a film of C60 molecules deposited on single-layer graphene using Raman spectroscopy and Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy. In the absence of photoexcitation, we find that the C60 molecules in the deposited film act as electron acceptors for graphene, yielding increased hole doping in the graphene layer. Hole doping of the graphene film by a uniform C60 film at a level of 5.6 × 1012/cm2 or 0.04 holes per interfacial C60 molecule was determined by the use of both Raman and THz spectroscopy. We also investigate transient charge transfer occurring upon photoexcitation by femtosecond laser pulses with a photon energy of 3.1 eV. The C60/graphene hybrid exhibits a short-lived (ps) decrease in THz conductivity, followed by a long-lived increase in conductivity. The initial negative photoconductivity transient, which decays within 2 ps, reflects the intrinsic photoresponse of graphene. The longer-lived positive conductivity transient, with a li...
Frankenstein and Technological Failure

With its themes of audacity and technology, the ancient myth of Prometheus echoes throughout Faust, but informs even more Shelley’s Frankenstein. While Goethe’s drama culminates in a final “great deed,” the engineered natural and social environment, Shelley’s novel opens with an amazing technological accomplishment, the engineered humanoid. As in Faust, a glorious end again justifies vile means in Frankenstein, but the means and end blend and blur into one. The techno-scientist Frankenstein believes himself to be the wonderful benefactor of the human race, but his beautiful creation turns out to be a monstrosity. The blessings for humanity imagined by Frankenstein do not materialize, but instead reveal themselves as curses. In Shelley’s story, technological achievement and success intrinsically correlate with failure and disaster.
Role of mAP-kinase pathways in photodynamic therapy : mediated apoptosis in human multidrug resistant uterine sarcoma cells

3236 Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancers is a significant impediment for successful cancer treatment. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an established cancer adjuvant treatment based on a photosensitizer absorbing light energy to generate reactive oxygen species leading to cellular destruction of cancer cells. As there is a significant worldwide increasing in gynecological cancer cases, we therefore employed a MDR (MES-SA-DOX) human uterine sarcoma cell line and its counterpart, the wild type (MES-SA) to study the efficacy of ALA-hexylester-PDT on this in vitro model. In this study, the cellular uptake and the efficacy of ALA-hexylester-PDT on these two cell lines were compared by flow cytometry and MTT assay. Also, the signal transduction events were elucidated in response to ALA-hexylester-PDT especially in MDR uterine sarcoma cancer cells. The results showed that in order to achieve a lethal dose of 80 (LD 80 ) in the MDR cells, a two-fold of light dose (4 J/cm ² ) was required with 50μM ALA-hexylester when compared with the wild-type (2 J/cm ² ). At LD 30 , ALA-hexylester-PDT significantly provoked an up-regulation of the phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK) proteins in both cell lines from 1 to 8 hours post-PDT. The protein phosphorylation was quantitated by a cell-based Cellular Activation of Signaling ELISA (CASE TM ) assay (SuperArray). Further, the downstream apoptotic cell death mediated by ALA-hexylester-PDT was confirmed by DAPI staining. At LD 50 , a 50 % and 30 % of apoptotic cells were achieved for wild-type and MDR cells respectively at 4 hours post-PDT. A higher PDT dose was crucial to induce apoptotic cell death in the MDR cells in contrast with the wild type cells. Our study provides the first evidence supporting the role of p38 MAPK and JNK kinases triggering ALA-hexylester-PDT-induced apoptosis in both wild-type and MDR human uterine sarcoma cells. In vivo studies of ALA-hexylester-PDT in this MDR cancer model are worthy warranted to examine for the benefit of further clinical applications. This study was supported by the Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (CERG) [PolyU.5404/04M] from Hong Kong Research Grant Council.
Postreplication Roles of the Brucella VirB Type IV Secretion System Uncovered via Conditional Expression of the VirB11 ATPase.

ABSTRACT Brucella abortus, the bacterial agent of the worldwide zoonosis brucellosis, primarily infects host phagocytes, where it undergoes an intracellular cycle within a dedicated membrane-bound vacuole, the Brucella-containing vacuole (BCV). Initially of endosomal origin (eBCV), BCVs are remodeled into replication-permissive organelles (rBCV) derived from the host endoplasmic reticulum, a process that requires modulation of host secretory functions via delivery of effector proteins by the Brucella VirB type IV secretion system (T4SS). Following replication, rBCVs are converted into autophagic vacuoles (aBCVs) that facilitate bacterial egress and subsequent infections, arguing that the bacterium sequentially manipulates multiple cellular pathways to complete its cycle. The VirB T4SS is essential for rBCV biogenesis, as VirB-deficient mutants are stalled in eBCVs and cannot mediate rBCV biogenesis. This has precluded analysis of whether the VirB apparatus also drives subsequent stages of the Brucella intracellular cycle. To address this issue, we have generated a B. abortus strain in which VirB T4SS function is conditionally controlled via anhydrotetracycline (ATc)-dependent complementation of a deletion of the virB11 gene encoding the VirB11 ATPase. We show in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) that early VirB production is essential for optimal rBCV biogenesis and bacterial replication. Transient expression of virB11 prior to infection was sufficient to mediate normal rBCV biogenesis and bacterial replication but led to T4SS inactivation and decreased aBCV formation and bacterial release, indicating that these postreplication stages are also T4SS dependent. Hence, our findings support the hypothesis of additional, postreplication roles of type IV secretion in the Brucella intracellular cycle. IMPORTANCE Many intracellular bacterial pathogens encode specialized secretion systems that deliver effector proteins into host cells to mediate the multiple stages of their intracellular cycles. Because these intracellular events occur sequentially, classical genetic approaches cannot address the late roles that these apparatuses play, as secretion-deficient mutants cannot proceed past their initial defect. Here we have designed a functionally controllable VirB type IV secretion system (T4SS) in the bacterial pathogen Brucella abortus to decipher its temporal requirements during the bacterium’s intracellular cycle in macrophages. By controlling production of the VirB11 ATPase, which energizes the T4SS, we show not only that this apparatus is required early to generate the Brucella replicative organelle but also that it contributes to completion of the bacterium’s cycle and bacterial egress. Our findings expand upon the pathogenic functions of the Brucella VirB T4SS and illustrate targeting of secretion ATPases as a useful strategy to manipulate the activity of bacterial secretion systems.
In Patients with Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome, Does Surgery Improve Quality of Life?

Popliteal entrapment syndrome (PES) is a rare disorder characterized by popliteal artery compression and symptoms of lower extremity ischemia. It is divided into two main subgroups – anatomic and functional popliteal entrapment. Anatomic popliteal entrapment was first described in the 1870s and is caused by abnormal anatomic development of the popliteal artery and/or gastrocnemius muscle. Functional PES is caused by hypertrophy of the gastrocnemius/soleus complex in anatomically normal subjects. Patients typically present in the second to third decades of life, are physically active and may be professional athletes, and have no other cardiovascular risk factors for the development of vascular disease. Surgical intervention via myotomy of the medial head of the gastrocnemius or myotomy plus interposition vein or prosthetic graft for more advanced disease remains the cornerstone of therapy for these patients; however long-term quality of life data is limited to retrospective reviews.
Verification of an Optimal Adaptive Filtering Algorithm for GNSS Antenna Arrays

This paper presents experimental verification of an optimal adaptive filtering algorithm with zero antenna-induced biases for Global Navigation Satellite Systems adaptive antenna arrays utilizing Space Time Adaptive Processing. GPS L1 C/A-coded signals and unencrypted P-coded signals for multiple satellites were generated by a signal generator and transmitted inside an anechoic chamber along with strong narrowband and wideband interferers. The signals received by a six-element antenna were digitized and recorded for multiple interference scenarios and post-processed using antenna electronics and a GPS receiver implemented in software. The delay and carrier phase measurements made by the receiver for different interference scenarios using the optimal adaptive algorithm are compared to a reference solution to examine the antenna-induced biases of the algorithms. The results show that the optimal adaptive algorithm successfully prevented the array from introducing significant bias errors, even in the presence of harsh interference. Modifications and improvements to the original algorithm are also discussed.
Algorithmic information structure design: a survey

Information structure design, also sometimes known as signaling or persuasion, is concerned with understanding the effects of information on the outcomes of strategic interactions (the descriptive question), and in characterizing and computing the information sharing strategies which optimize some design objective (the prescriptive question). Both questions are illuminated through the lens of algorithms and complexity, as evidenced by recent work on the topic in the algorithmic game theory community. This monograph is a biased survey of this work, and paints a picture of the current state of progress and challenges ahead.We divide information structure design into single agent and multiple agent models, and further subdivide the multiple agent case into the public channel and private channel modes of information revelation. In each of these three cases, we describe the most prominent models and applications, survey the associated algorithms and complexity results and their structural implications, and outline directions for future work.
TinyDL: Just-in-time deep learning solution for constrained embedded systems

This work proposes TinyDL, an automated end-to-end framework that aims to integrate the state-of-the-art Deep Learning (DL) models into embedded systems. TinyDL enables efficient training and execution of DL models as data is collected over time while adhering to the underlying physical resources and constraints. The constraints can be characterized in terms of memory bandwidth, energy resources (e.g., battery life), and/or real-time requirement. TinyDL takes advantage of platform profiling to abstract the physical characteristics of the target embedded device. We introduce a platform-aware signal transformation methodology to enable DL training and execution within the confine of the available resources. Our approach balances the trade-off between data movements and computations to improve the performance of costly iterative DL training/execution. Proof-of-concept implementation on NVIDIA Jetson TK1 embedded platform demonstrates up to two orders of magnitude energy improvement over the previous DL solutions, none of which had been amenable to constrained devices.
Overview of Long-Term Morbidity and Economic Cost of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The long- and short-term morbidities associated with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) result in significant economic costs. Using figures obtained in the United States, it has been estimated that the total annual cost of evaluating and providing care to reproductive-aged women with PCOS in the United States is $4.37 billion. The initial diagnostic evaluation represented only 2.3% of costs; hormonally treating menstrual dysfunction/abnormal uterine bleeding represented 30.9%, infertility care 12.2%, type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment 40.4%, and treatment of hirsutism 14.2% of total costs. These data indicate that PCOS represents a significant economic burden to health care. Furthermore, because the cost of the diagnostic evaluation accounted for a relatively minor part of the total costs (~2%), more widespread and liberal screening for the disorder appears be a cost-effective strategy, leading to earlier diagnosis and intervention and possibly the amelioration and prevention of serious sequelae.
Heat Shock Genes, Human

Cell stress is caused by a large variety of stressors and contributes to disease. Among the antistress mechanisms evolved by the cell, those mediated by heat shock proteins are crucial. The human genome encodes several families of heat shock proteins with specialized functions in the various cellular compartments, e.g., nucleus, cytosol, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum.
Acoustic and Electromagnetic Scattering by Large Resonant Structures

We describe a hybrid method which will efficiently and accurately computes acoustic/electromagnetic waves scattered by a large slowly changing cavity. The cavity is constructed of a waveguide with a flanged opening at one end that couples it to free space, and another flanged opening at the other end. A schematic is shown in Figure 1. The length of this structure L ≫ λ and its walls vary on a scale length H where L ≫ H ≫ λ. This problem crudely models the air intake of a jet engine. Its size and scaling make a direct numerical approach prohibitively expensive.
Elasticity of Inhomogeneous Media

In this section, we discuss the properties of the plane problem of linear elasticity for inhomogeneous media. During the discussion we emphasize the properties of the equations of elasticity needed for optimization of elastic structures. For detailed discussion of the theory of linear elasticity we refer to the textbooks (Timoshenko, 1970; Lurie, 1970a; Gurtin, 1972; Sokolnikoff, 1983; Atkin and Fox, 1990; Lurie, 1990a; Parton and Perlin, 1984a; Parton and Perlin, 1984b). More general exposition of continuum mechanics can be found in (Truesdell and Noll, 1965; Truesdell, 1991; Silhavý, 1997).
Comparison of three recurrent selection regimes for increasing groat-oil content of oat

Selection for quantitative traits of oat (Avena sativa L.) usually is based upon field experiments. The objective of this study was to determine whether a greenhouse could be utilized to select for greater groat-oil content in oat. Forty-eight oat lines from the to of a recurrent selection program to increase groat-oil content were evaluated in the field and greenhouse in 1987 and 1988. Groat-oil contents of large and small samples of oat groats were determined for each entry in each environment except for small samples from the greenhouse in 1987. The genetic correlation between groat-oil contents of fieldand greenhouse-grown plants was 0.87, and between groat-oil contents of large and small samples it was 1.14. Estimates of heritabilltles, variances, and genetic correlations were used to compute the predicted genetic gains, expressed under field conditions, from one cycle of each of three recurrent selection regimes. A regime that utilized selection among Sq plants In the field followed by selection among and within selected ^ progenies in the greenhouse, gave annual predicted gains in groat-oil content that were 38% and 186% greater than predicted gains from phenotypic recurrent selection regimes with selection among fieldand greenhousegrown Sg plants, respectively, Thus, selection for groat-oil content in oat on the basis of data from the greenhouse can
Mouse × Human Hybridomas

Much of the original success of Kohler and Milstein in obtaining antibody-secreting hybridomas can be attributed to their development of suitable myeloma cell lines to be used as hybridization partners. It is clear that earlier failures to obtain antibody-secreting cell hybrids resulted from the use of cell lines that were themselves at an inappropriate state of differentiation to support antibody synthesis and secretion. A series of mouse myeloma cell lines, most of them derivatives of the original MOPC-21 or MPC-11 tumors, are now available. They fuse efficiently and support high-level synthesis and secretion by their hybridized partners. Thus, mouse monoclonal antibodies are now available in great variety and abundance. It would be of obvious interest to obtain human monoclonal antibodies for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications in clinical medicine. However, no suitable human cell line is currently available for the production of antibody-secreting human x human hybridomas. A high priority should be placed on the development of such human myeloma cell lines. In the meantime, it has become clear that interspecies hybrids between mouse cells and human cells can serve as a stable source of human immunoglobulin (Ig) production (Schwaber, 1975; Levy and Dilley, 1978), indicating that specific human antibodies will be obtainable from such mouse × human hybridomas.
BIOSYNTHESIS OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

This chapter discusses the biosynthesis of nucleic acids. Much of the basic work on the de novo formation of purines was done with birds, which are good experimental animals, as they excrete nitrogen as uric acid. Hartman and Buchanan (1958a) purified 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (ribosylamine-5-phosphate: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase [glutamate-amidating]) from extracts of pigeon liver. This enzyme catalyzes the first reaction of purine biosynthesis, the formation of 5-phosphoribosylamine from 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate and glutamine. Buchanan and Hartman (1959) suggested that this reaction resulted in inversion of the configuration at carbon 1 of ribose as purine ribosides are of the β configuration while 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate has the configuration Merlich and Magasanik (1965a) partially purified the enzyme from A. aerogenes and showed that low concentrations of purine ribonucleotides inhibited the action of the enzyme. This result was expected as it is currently a common observation that the first enzyme of a biosynthetic pathway is subject to end-product inhibition. Hartman and Buchanan (1958b) also purified the second enzyme of the purine biosynthetic pathway, glycineamide ribonucleotide synthetase (ribosylamine-5-phosphate: glycine ligase [ADP]), and established that it catalyzed the condensation of glycine and 5-phosphoribosylamine to form glycinamide ribonucleotide. ATP was utilized in the reaction and served as a source of chemical energy for the formation of the amide linkage.
On Parallel Lines in Noisy Forms

Quantification of the rectilinear configuration of typeset rules lines opens the way to form classification and content extraction. Line detection on scanned forms is often accomplished with the Hough transform. Here it is followed by simultaneous extraction of the dominant perpendicular sets of extracted lines, which ensures rotation invariance. Translation and scale invariance are attained by using minimal horizontal and vertical sets of distance ratios "rule gap ratios" instead of rule-edge locations. The ratios are logarithmically mapped to an alphabet so that the resulting symbol strings can be classified by. edit distance. Some probability distributions associated with these steps are derived. Analytical considerations and small-scale experiments on scanned forms suggest that this approach has potential merit for processing degraded forms.
Analysis of Gender Identity through Doll and Action Figure Politics in Art Education

Dolls and action figures have long been an important part of material culture. Though ignored by much of art education, the critical analysis of the characteristics between girls and dolls/action figures provides valuable insights into the continuities and changes of gender identities in American cultures. This article explores how art educators can engage students in a critical dialogue through dolls and action figures in order to uncover the multiplicity of preconceived ideas, attitudes, and values inherent in gendered objects and the resultant impact on gendered identities.
Delayed Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Ameliorates Impaired Penile Hemodynamics in Rats Subjected to Pelvic Neurovascular Injury.

Abstract Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by pelvic neurovascular injury (PNVI) is often refractory to treatment. In many cases, erectogenic therapy is administered in a delayed fashion. Aim To evaluate penile hemodynamic effects and histologic changes associated with delayed low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) after PNVI ED in a rat model. We visualized images using immunofluorescence and 3-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared organs (3DISCO), a novel imaging technique. Methods A total of 32 Sprague-Dawley male rats aged 12 weeks were divided equally into 4 groups: sham surgery as normal controls (NC), PNVI controls (PC), PNVI with very-low-energy Li-ESWT (PVL), and PNVI with low-energy Li-ESWT (PL). Bilateral cavernous nerve crush and internal pudendal bundle ligation were performed in the 3 PNVI groups. Li-ESWT was administered twice a week for 4 weeks in the PL and PVL groups starting at 4 weeks after PNVI. Outcomes Intracavernous pressure (ICP) studies (normalized to mean arterial pressure [MAP]) were conducted in all subject animals. After testing, tissue was harvested for immunofluorescence staining and 3DISCO analysis. Results Mean ICP/MAP was lower in PC animals compared with NC animals (0.37 ± 0.03 vs 0.91 ± 0.03, respectively; P = .001). The ICP/MAP ratio was significantly higher in PVL and PL animals (0.66 ± 0.07 and 0.82 ± 0.05, respectively) compared with PC animals (P = .002 and .001, respectively). Detailed microstructures and trajectories of nerves and vessels were identified with immunofluorescence and 3DISCO. The PC group had lower density of nerves, axons, neuronal nitric oxide synthase–positive nerves, and Schwann cells in the dorsal penis. Animals in the PL group had significantly higher expression of all of these markers compared with PC animals. Clinical Implications Li-EWST may have utility in the management of severe ED related to PNVI from severe pelvic injury or radical pelvic surgeries, even when administered in a delayed fashion. Strength & Limitations This study of a severe ED phenotype involved treatment administered in a delayed fashion, which is more consistent with how therapy likely would be delivered in a real-world clinical context. Moreover, because the treatment commenced at 4 weeks after injury, when nerve and tissue atrophy have already occurred, the results imply that Li-ESWT can be used for regenerative therapy. Additional studies on dose optimization and treatment interval are needed to inform the design of human clinical trials. Conclusion Li-ESWT ameliorates the negative functional and histologic effects of severe pelvic neurovascular injury in a rat model system. 3DISCO provides high-resolution images of neuroanatomy and neural regeneration. Wang HS, Ruan Y, Banie L, et al. Delayed Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Ameliorates Impaired Penile Hemodynamics in Rats Subjected to Pelvic Neurovascular Injury. J Sex Med 2019;16:17–26.
Opioid overdose detection using smartphones

Early detection and rapid intervention can prevent death from opioid overdose. At high doses, opioids (particularly fentanyl) can cause rapid cessation of breathing (apnea), hypoxemic/hypercarbic respiratory failure, and death, the physiologic sequence by which people commonly succumb from unintentional opioid overdose. We present algorithms that run on smartphones and unobtrusively detect opioid overdose events and their precursors. Our proof-of- concept contactless system converts the phone into a short-range active sonar using frequency shifts to identify respiratory depression, apnea, and gross motor movements associated with acute opioid toxicity. We develop algorithms and perform testing in two environments: (i) an approved supervised injection facility (SIF), where people self-inject illicit opioids, and (ii) the operating room (OR), where we simulate rapid, opioid-induced overdose events using routine induction of general anesthesia. In the SIF (n = 209), our system identified postinjection, opioid-induced central apnea with 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity and identified respiratory depression with 87% sensitivity and 89% specificity. These two key events commonly precede fatal opioid overdose. In the OR, our algorithm identified 19 of 20 simulated overdose events. Given the reliable reversibility of acute opioid toxicity, smartphone-enabled overdose detection coupled with the ability to alert naloxone-equipped friends and family or emergency medical services (EMS) could hold potential as a low-barrier, harm reduction intervention.
Androgen deprivation therapy and depression in men with prostate cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND There is no consensus on the association between the use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the risk of developing depression. This study investigated the association between ADT use and the development of depression, outpatient psychiatric services, inpatient psychiatric services, and suicide in a homogeneous group of men with prostate cancer (PC) treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT) after controlling for multiple sources of selection bias. METHODS This was a retrospective, observational cohort study of 39,965 veterans with PC who were treated with definitive RT and were diagnosed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs health care system between January 1, 2001, and October 31, 2015. Exposure was ADT initiation within 1 year of the PC diagnosis. The primary outcome was new development of depression. Secondary outcomes were outpatient psychiatric use, inpatient psychiatric use, and suicide. RESULTS During follow-up, 934 patients were newly diagnosed with depression, 7825 patients used outpatient psychiatric services, 358 patients used inpatient psychiatric services, and 54 patients committed suicide. In the multivariable competing risks regression model, ADT was associated with the development of depression (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-1.71; P < .001). ADT was also associated with outpatient psychiatric utilization (SHR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.16-1.27; P < .001). Finally, ADT was not associated with inpatient psychiatric utilization or suicide. CONCLUSIONS An increase in the risk of depression and the use of outpatient psychiatric services was observed in a large cohort of men with PC who received ADT with definitive RT. These results may provide further evidence for the long-term risks of ADT for psychiatric health in the treatment of PC.
Machine Learning Based Adaptive Link Quality Prediction for Robot Network in Dynamic Environment

The usage of wireless networks to teleoperate a robot in operational scenarios or safety-critical applications has increased significantly in recent years. In these environments, it is important to maintain a steady connection between the control center and the robot. One of the ways to ensure this steady connection is to estimate the Link Quality (LQ) between the robot and control center. Estimating the LQ can help in alerting an operator about a potential failure in a communication link. However, it is costly in terms of network resources to transmit control packets that will track or monitor the LQ over the network (i.e., it increases the network traffic). It becomes a more difficult task to estimate LQ when mobility of the robot is a constraint and the environment in which the robot is functioning is dynamic. In this work, we propose an offline machine learning based model that detects the operational environment of a robot using both radio and network parameters. Based on this environment, LQ is predicted. Our results show that we can use received signal strength, signal quality, expected transmission count and communication distance to predict LQ and characterize the operational environment of a robot. We achieved an F1-score of 81 % on the test data using our model to classify the operational environment. The mean absolute error of 0.09 was obtained for predicting Throughput Potential Ratio (TPR).
Arteriovenous Malformation Presenting as Symptomatic, Enlarging and Contrast-Enhancing Mass 12 Years After Being Treated with Embolization and Radiotherapy.

Background Gross total resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the central nervous system confirmed by formal angiography is accepted as a cure for patients. In some cases, this may not be possible. Even though in these cases other treatment modalities such as endovascular embolization and radiotherapy can be used, long-term follow-up is lacking in the literature. Case Description Here we report a case of a 57-year-old woman with history of a right-sided parieto-occipital/periatrial AVM, initially treated with a combination of endovascular embolization and radiotherapy. Conclusions The patient subsequently presented (12 years later) with a symptomatic, enlarging, contrast-enhancing mass at the same location that was angiographically occult but ultimately proven to be an AVM on a background of reactive changes on pathology.
Distraction Arthroplasty for Ankle Osteoarthritis

Ankle distraction arthroplasty has been gaining popularity as an alternative to fusion and prosthetic replacement. Unloading arthritic ankle joint reverses the sclerotic process and protects the remaining cartilage. Published series reveal pain relief with increased ankle functional scores. It is possible to use both static and dynamic external fixators for the process. This chapter discusses clinical aspects, surgical techniques, and current trends of the ankle distraction arthroplasty.
Development of a nomogram to predict small bowel obstruction using point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency department.

Abstract Objective Early diagnostic prediction in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO) can improve time to definitive management and disposition in the emergency department. We sought to develop a nomogram to leverage point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and maximize accuracy of prediction of SBO diagnosis. Methods Using data from a prospective cohort of 125 patients with suspected SBO who were evaluated with POCUS in the ED, we developed a nomogram integrating age, gender, comorbidities, prior abdominal surgery, physician's pre-test probability, and POCUS findings to determine post-test risk of SBO. The primary outcome was to develop a nomogram to allow calculating output probabilities for predictive models using POCUS findings. The discriminative ability of the nomogram was tested using a C-statistics, calibration plots, and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results The derivation cohort included 125 patients with a median age of 54 years who underwent POCUS for a suspected SBO. One-fourth of the patients (25.6% [32/125]) had SBO. Using a retrospective stepwise selection of clinically important variables with the POCUS results, the final nomogram incorporated four relevant factors for the prediction of SBO: small bowel diameter (odds ratio [OR] per 1 mm increase, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03–1.17; P = 0.001), positive free intraperitoneal fluid between bowel loops (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 2.62–25.62; P Conclusion A unique nomogram incorporating patient age, physician pretest probability of SBO, and POCUS measurements of small bowel diameter and the presence of free intraperitoneal fluid between bowel loops was developed to accurately predict the diagnosis of SBO in the emergency department. The nomogram should be externally validated in a novel cohort of patients at risk for SBO to better assess predictability and generalizability.
The Real Cost of Cheap Food

Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Cheap Food, Globalization and Development 3. Cheap Food and Conflict 4. Cheap Food, Hunger and Obesity 5. Cheap Meat 6. Cheap Food and the Environment 7. Cheap Food... But at What Price? 8. Cheap Food, Community and Culture 9. Cheap Food: Who Wins? 10. Making Food Affordable. Index
Excessive Valuation of Social Interaction in Text-Message Dependency: A Behavioral Economic Demand Analysis

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a behavioral economic framework of demand analysis can be used to characterize text-message dependency. To this end, we developed a novel hypothetical task using likelihood measures to quantify demand for social interaction through text messaging. Participants completed the hypothetical demand task in which they rated their likelihood of paying an extra charge, ranging from $0.10 to $80, to continue text messaging after reaching their monthly limit. The demand for social interaction from text messaging was more intense and less elastic for the participants with higher levels of text-message dependency compared to those with lower levels of text-message dependency. The results of this proof-of-concept study support the utility of behavioral economic demand analysis for characterizing text-message dependency. In addition, the greater intensity and lesser elasticity of the demand for social interaction shown by text-dependent participants suggests that text-message dependency can be characterized by both excessiveness and persistence of the behavior, similar to other impulsivity related problems.
Stent strut streamlining and thickness reduction promote endothelialization.

Stent thrombosis (ST) carries a high risk of myocardial infarction and death. Lack of endothelial coverage is an important prognostic indicator of ST after stenting. While stent strut thickness is ...
WRC-23 Agenda Items 1.16 and 1.17 in Regards to Passive Remote Sensing Operations in the 18.6-18.8 GHz Frequency Band

Space based remote sensing passive operations in the 18.6-18.8 GHz frequency band experience radio frequency interference (RFI) adjacent to coastal shore lines and over inland lakes. The RFI is believed to originate from geostationary commercial satellite emissions reflecting from the water surface. These commercial services are assumed to operate within emission limits specified by the International Radio Regulations and those limits are based on analyses performed prior to 2000. However, a reexamination of sea surface reflection coefficients indicates that the assumptions used in those analyses were incorrect. New radio regulation provisions are under development to be considered for incorporation into the Radio Regulations and they may allow for increased occurrences of RFI impacting remote sensing operations in the 18.6-18.8 GHz frequency band and also extend those RFI occurrences to ocean surfaces throughout the world. This paper provides information on the development of these proposed radio provisions. New radio regulation provisions are under development to be considered for incorporation into the Radio Regulations and they may allow for increased occurrences of RFI impacting remote sensing operations in the 18.6-18.8 GHz frequency band and also extend those RFI occurrences to ocean surfaces throughout the world. This paper provides information on the development of these proposed radio provisions.
Bcl-2 family members are involved in the impaired T cell development in the thymuses of tumor bearing mice

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 1783 The thymus is the major site of T cell maturation; extensive proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis occur in this organ. Thymocyte differentiation progresses through well-defined stages in which apoptosis are central to the selection of a functional TCR repertoire. During mammary tumorigenesis, there is a profound thymus involution associated with a severe depletion of the most abundant subset of thymocytes, CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) immature cells. The life span of DP thymocytes depends on proper signals mediated first by the pre-TCR and then by the TCR. These signals ultimately regulate the expression of Bcl-2 family prosurvival members, which control susceptibility of DP cells to apoptosis. Previous results from our laboratory have reported that the thymic involution observed in tumor bearing mice is associated with an early block in T cell maturation, changes in the levels of cytokines expressed in the thymus microenvironment, and a minor increase in thymic apoptosis in tumor-bearers. In the present study we have used our well characterized murine D1-DMBA-3 mammary tumor model to better analyze the specific T cell subpopulations present in the thymus of tumor bearing animals. The expression of the different members of the Bcl-2 family was studied in the whole thymus during its involution in mammary tumor bearers. As shown before, flow cytometric analysis revealed a moderate increase in the apoptosis in thymuses of tumor bearing mice. Interestingly, our results show that Bcl-xL, a crucial protein that inhibits apoptosis during thymocyte development, is profoundly down-regulated in total thymuses of tumor hosts as compared to those of normal mice. Also, the protein for A1, another anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member that is developmentally regulated in T cells, is down-regulated in thymuses of tumor bearers. Collectively, our data suggest that the presence of the tumor induces changes in the levels of the Bcl-2 family members expressed in the thymus microenvironment contributing to the impaired T cell development in the thymuses of tumor bearers.