cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analog signal correlator design and operation

A superconductive tapped delay line, circuits comprising superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers, an L-C integrator, and a tunnel junction comparator, and superconductive digital address encoders have been integrated into a 14-channel analog signal correlator. This 25*38 mm circuit was fabricated using a Nb/Nb/sub 2/O/sub 3//Pb tunnel junction process. Preliminary testing of this device indicates the ability to process long duration, wideband waveforms with time-bandwidth products equal to 6000.
Cerebral Mechanisms of Information Storage: The Problem of Memory

Recently one of those rare events has occurred in which developments in two separate fields—the experimental psychology of memory and physiological psychology—have yielded congruent information. We will consider those developments here. The chapter will be organized into two main sections: first, a review of some theory in the psychology of memory, which will center on multiple-store models, since those models have clear relevance to current physiological findings; second, a review of work on the effects of brain damage and brain stimulation on memory. Both sections will be concerned wholly with work on human subjects. There is, of course, a large literature on the physiology of memory in other species, including studies specifically concerned with the role of the limbic system (Drachman and Ommaya, 1964; Gaffan, 1976; Isaacson, 1975; O’Keefe, Nadel et al., 1975). Although the work is suggestive, it does not establish effects in other species that closely parallel the effects found in man. More generally stated, it remains to be established that homologous brain structures, in the several species studied, are carrying out closely related memory functions. A more optimistic view may be found in Iversen (1973) and Weiskrantz (1966).
Activation of Melatonin Signaling Promotes β-Cell Survival and Function

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by pancreatic islet failure due to loss of β-cell secretory function and mass. Studies have identified a link between a variance in the gene encoding melatonin (MT) receptor 2, T2DM, and impaired insulin secretion. This genetic linkage raises the question whether MT signaling plays a role in regulation of β-cell function and survival in T2DM. To address this postulate, we used INS 832/13 cells to test whether activation of MT signaling attenuates proteotoxicity-induced β-cell apoptosis and through which molecular mechanism. We also used nondiabetic and T2DM human islets to test the potential of MT signaling to attenuate deleterious effects of glucotoxicity and T2DM on β-cell function. MT signaling in β-cells (with duration designed to mimic typical nightly exposure) significantly enhanced activation of the cAMP-dependent signal transduction pathway and attenuated proteotoxicity-induced β-cell apoptosis evidenced by reduced caspase-3 cleavage (∼40%), decreased activation of stress-activated protein kinase/Jun-amino-terminal kinase (∼50%) and diminished oxidative stress response. Activation of MT signaling in human islets was shown to restore glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in islets exposed to chronic hyperglycemia as well as in T2DM islets. Our data suggest that β-cell MT signaling is important for the regulation of β-cell survival and function and implies a preventative and therapeutic potential for preservation of β-cell mass and function in T2DM.
Tuple detection for path delay faults: a method for improving test set quality

To improve the quality of test sets for path delay faults, we describe a variation of n-detection test generation based on the concept of m-tuple detection. An m-tuple test set for a set of path delay faults P includes a test for every m-tuple of faults defined over P. Such a test set has the following advantages. (1) Similar to an n-detection test set, it results in several tests for every path delay fault p /spl isin/ P, increasing the likelihood of testing p under worst-case delay conditions. (2) It increases the likelihood of accidentally detecting nontarget path delay faults, which are not included in P, more effectively than a conventional n-detection test set. Experimental results demonstrate that m-tuple test generation for m = 2 is manageable in terms of test set size and run time increase relative to conventional test generation.
Employment Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: The Utility of the Individual Ability Profile System (IAP)

Abstract The results of a survey of employment outcome and their relationship to psychometric indices indicated that competitive employment following severe traumatic brain injury is an ambitious endeavor. While 98% of the subjects sampled were either employed or in school premorbidly, 43% of the subjects were unemployed postinjury. Specifically, the Individual Ability Profile (IAP) ( Dean (1982) , Dean (1983) ) variables developed to assist in the clinical interpretation of the results of the WAIS-R were most highly related to employment outcome. A discriminant function analysis utilizing these variables yielded hit rates of 82% for the unemployed category and 92% for the full-time employment grouping. These results further highlighted the useful role of neuropsychological testing in assisting in vocational rehabilitation planning. Future research is required to further elucidate those neuropsychological abilities that subsequently affect employability following severe traumatic brain injury. © 1997 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd
Creating a context for musical innovation: a NIME curriculum

This paper presents the approaches and expectations of a recently launched course at New York University (NYU) in the design and development of musical controllers. The framework for the course, which is also entitled "New Interfaces for Musical Expression," is largely based on the proceedings of the first NIME workshop held in Seattle, WA in April 2001.
Computing spatiotemporal surface flow

It is observed that arc length of a contour does not change if that contour is moved in the direction of motion on the surface. A function measuring arc length change is defined. The direction of motion of a contour undergoing motion parallel to the image plane is shown to be perpendicular to the gradient of this function. This gradient approximates the direction of motion when object motion in the scene is not parallel to the image plane or when perspective projection is used. This method has been implemented and is shown to compute the ST (spatiotemporal) surface flow in sequences of edge images and gray level images. >
Notes in the history of intercultural communication: The Foreign Service institute and the mandate for intercultural training

Edward T. Hall is usually the author mentioned as the first to write explicitly about intercultural communication. His book, The Silent Language, published in 1959 and generally listed as the first work in the field, has been influential in setting the agenda for the field of intercultural communication. At the same time, it is important to understand that Hall's work was not invented de novo, but rested heavily upon work begun with a series of colleagues for the specific purpose of training American diplomats about to be sent abroad. Understanding The Silent Language and the effect it has had on the study of intercultural communication requires knowing about the history of a particular group of linguists and anthropologists at a particular place, the Foreign Service Institute, and time, 1946–1956; that history is the focus here.
Reforming Bodies: Self-Governance, Anxiety, and Cape Colonial Architecture in South Africa, 1665–1860

The conquest and colonization of South Africa, first by the Dutch and then by the British, resulted in the construction of Dutch-style houses expressing openness in gender and racial interactions, followed by British remodeling of houses, and the built environment in general, to increase gender and racial segregation. One impact of these changes in built form on the cultural context of the Western Cape has been struggle, on the part of the Dutch as well as the mixed-race groups evolving out of contact between slaves, indigenous groups, and the Dutch, with the liberal ideology of self-governance informing the spatial separation of public and private spheres. For the Dutch, this struggle resulted, in part, in the Great Trek (1830s and 1840s), a fleeing from the British into the interior of South Africa, as well as the Anglo-Boer Wars (1880–1881, 1899–1902), efforts by the Dutch to control areas of South Africa on their own terms. The mixed-race groups that remained in the Western Cape and Cape Town engaged in a sort of creative struggle with the racist and sexist contradictions at the heart of liberal humanism. One such response has been the creation of female-headed households and sustained participation of women in the public sphere of the workforce (Ridd 1981).
Protecting the Innocent: Tax Court and Service 'One-up' Congress

This article describes how the Tax Court and the Service are coping ingeniously with the serious drafting glitches in section 6015, the new innocent spouse provision.
Patrol: Revealing Zero-Day Attack Paths through Network-Wide System Object Dependencies

Identifying attack paths in enterprise network is strategically necessary and critical for security defense. However, there has been insufficient efforts in studying how to identify an attack path that goes through unknown security holes. In this paper, we define such attack paths as zero-day attack paths, and propose a prototype system named Patrol to identify them at runtime. Using system calls, Patrol builds a network-wide system object dependency graph that captures dependency relations between OS objects, and identifies suspicious intrusion propagation paths in it as candidate zero-day attack paths through forward and backward tracking from intrusion symptoms. Patrol further identifies highly suspicious candidates among these paths, by recognizing indicators of unknown vulnerability exploitations along the paths through rule-based checking. Our evaluation shows that Patrol can work accurately and effectively at runtime with an acceptable performance overhead.
Limits on the k+ ---> pi+ nu anti-nu and k+ ---> pi+ (n)gamma decay rates

The branching ratio for the process ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+\ensuremath{\nu}+\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ is shown by a counter---spark-chamber experiment to be less than 1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ of all decay modes, assuming a pion energy spectrum like that of ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{e}^{+}+\ensuremath{\nu}$. The apparatus was sensitive to pions in the kinetic-energy range 117-127 MeV. For the same energy interval a limit of 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ is established for the process ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+\ensuremath{\gamma}+\ensuremath{\gamma}$, assuming a phase-space model for the decay. A limit of 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ is established for the process ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+\ensuremath{\gamma}$.
Employment Dynamics by Gender in Pennsylvania since the Great Recession

This paper examines the effects of the Great Recession on employment by gender in Pennsylvania. Using the Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) in the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) data set from the Census Bureau, we examine the employment dynamics for Pennsylvania by gender from Q1 of 1997 to Q4 of 2013. We investigate the impacts of the Great Recession on male and female employment in the Pennsylvania economy in the manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and retail sectors by investigating the net job gains by gender using a vector error correction model (VECM).
Measles surveillance and elimination progress in Zhoukou City from 2005-2012

[Objective]To analyze the surveillance results of measles in Zhoukou City in recent 8 years,and summarize the progress of measles elimination.[Methods]The method of descriptive epidemiology was adopted to analyze relevant data.[Results]The average annual incidence rate of measles was 4.28 /100 000 in Zhoukou City from 2005-2012,reached the goal of elimination in 2011(0.07/100 000),then went up to 0.17/100 000 in 2012.Age-specific incidence was highest in 0-2 years age group(45.85%).Of 2 814 cases of measles monitored,1 988 cases had no MV immunization history(70.65%).[Conclusion]Measles control effect is obvious in Zhoukou City,but to achieve the goal of eliminating measles is still an arduous task.It is necessary to protect children against measles wiht timely full course vaccination rate,to do well in concentrated supplementary vaccination of MV and measles outbreak investigation and disposition,so as to block the continuous spread of measles virus and achieve the goal of measles elimination.
Analysis of Morbidity,Hospital Visit and Hospitalization of Rural AIDS Patients

Objective:To analyze the status of morbidity,hospital visit and hospitalization of rural AIDS patients.Methods:From patients having been received antivirus treatment,compliant rural AIDS patients were selected and questionnaire survey was conducted among them in appointed healthcare facilities under the coordination of local health bureau.Results:Two-week morbidity rate of rural AIDS patients was 26.9%,two-week hospital visit rate was 23.2%,and annual hospitalization rate was 27.8%.Conclusion:Two-week morbidity rate,two-week hospital visit rate and annual hospitalization rate are all higher for rural AIDS patients than other rural residents.Two-week hospital visit rate and annual hospitalization rate can be influenced by policy of AIDS treatment cost relief.
Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Long-Term Culture- Initiating Cells Present in Peripheral Blood Progenitor Collections of Normal Donors Treated With Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) have successfully been used as stem cells for both autologous and allogeneic transplants. However, little is known concerning the absolute number and phenotype of primitive progenitors, such as long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) in mobilized PBPC. The aim of our study was to evaluate the capacity of G-CSF to mobilize LTC-IC in the PB of normal individuals and to evaluate the phenotypic and functional characteristics of G-CSF mobilized LTC-IC. G-CSF was administered to 29 healthy volunteers at 7.5 micrograms or 10 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously (SC) for 5 consecutive days and PBPC were harvested on day 6. Mobilization with G-CSF increased the absolute number of week 5 LTC-IC in PB 60-fold, while the number of CD34+ cells and committed colony forming cells (CFC) was increased sevenfold to 12-fold. The frequency of CFC and week 5 LTC-IC in CD34+ cells selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) from mobilized PBPC was 2 +/- 0.3-fold and 9 +/- 2.2-fold higher respectively than in CD34+ cells selected from unmobilized PBMNC. CFC were enriched in the CD34+ CD38+ and CD34+ HLA-DR+ populations. The absolute number of LTC-IC present in CD34+ CD38- and CD34+ HLA-DR- cells selected by FACS from either mobilized PBPC, unmobilized PBMNC or steady state bone marrow (BM) was similar (0.5% to 2%). In contrast to unmobilized PBMNC or steady state BM CD34+ CD38+ and CD34+ HLA-DR+ cells, which contain less than 0.1% LTC-IC, CD34+ CD38+ and CD34+ HLA-DR+ cells sorted from mobilized PBPC contained 0.5% to 5% of cells capable of sustaining hematopoiesis in long-term cultures for 5 weeks. However, 90% to 95% of LTC-IC present in mobilized CD34+ CD38+ and CD34+ HLA-DR+ cells were not able to sustain hematopoiesis for 8 weeks, while 30% of CD34+ CD38- and CD34+ HLA-DR- LTC-IC present in mobilized PBPC could sustain hematopoiesis for at least 8 weeks. This suggests that the majority of CD34+ CD38+ and CD34+ HLA-DR+ week 5 LTC-IC represent progenitors at an intermediate state of differentiation. We conclude that G-CSF effectively mobilizes LTC-IC in the blood of normal individuals. Although a fraction of these cells has functional characteristics similar to those of steady state PBMNC or BM LTC-IC, more than 85% of mobilized PBPC LTC-IC are CD34+ CD38+ and CD34+ HLA-DR+, capable of sustaining hematopoiesis for 5 weeks, but not for 8 weeks. The functional and phenotypic characterization of primitive and more mature populations of LTC-IC in mobilized PBPC should prove extremely useful in future studies examining the role of these progenitors in engraftment following transplantation.
Proteomic Tools for the Investigation of Nodule Organogenesis

Over the last decades, proteomics approaches are increasingly being utilized to develop a more comprehensive picture of nodulation in many models and/or economically important legume species. This chapter provides an overview of recent developments in the application of proteomic technologies including gel-based, gel-free, isotopic labeling for quantitation, and post translational modifications that target proteomic analysis of nodule organogenesis. These approaches provide a deeper understanding of protein regulation and interaction among the possible pathways that are associated with nodulation in legume plants. In addition, the challenges faced by proteomics in understanding nodulation are discussed, and some possible future strategies for meeting these challenges are proposed.
Minding the Gap: A Review of Current Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities of Colorectal Cancer Screening In the United States

Colorectal Cancer currently stands as the third leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. Screening methods for early detection and treatment offer an important tool to reduce cancer burden in the population. Although use of screening methods for CRC have effectively reduced the morbidity and mortality of this disease over recent decades, significant disparities in the use of screening modalities persist and have in fact widened among certain vulnerable groups. Specifically, African Americans still experience disproportionate rates of late-stage cancer diagnosis, delays to screening, and increased mortality. Similar issues face Hispanics, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and American Natives/American Indians in the United States, with many disparities existing at the nexus of race and socioecnomic status. As a major public health concern, efforts to identify risk factors and improve access to care stand out as a critical focus of research. A review of these findings offers a guide to the disparities suffered by particular racial and ethnic groups, issues among the different CRC screening methods in ethnic minorities, as well as evidence-based methods to address these gaps in care, including comprehensive provider counseling, patient reminders, direct-access endoscopy, educational and decision aides, mailed FOBT/FIT kits, and the creation of patient registries for effective follow up.
Effect of Electromagnetic Field on the Macrosegregation Behaviour of Al-Cu Alloy Ingot Prepared with Direct-Chill Casting Process

A low frequency electromagnetic field was introduced into the direct chill (DC) casting process and the ingots of Al-Cu alloy were prepared to study the macrosegregation behaviour of the ingots under the influence of the electromagnetic field. The experimental results showed that there is an obvious positive segregation near to the surface and a negative segregation in the centre area of the ingot. Cu shows the highest segregation tendency among the main elements of Cu, Mg and Mn. Grain refiner element Ti shows a segregation trend opposite to that of Cu. With the application of electromagnetic field, the negative centreline segregation in the centre area of the ingot was evidently reduced although it didn’t show significant effect on the segregation near to the ingot surface. A significant grain refinement was also achieved with the application of electromagnetic field. The mechanism of the reduction of macrosegregation with electromagnetic field was also analyzed in the present work.
The Predictive Role of Germinal Center or Non-Germinal Center Phenotypes in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients Receiving CHOP or R-CHOP

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It can be divided into the germinal center (GC) and non-GC subtypes by immunohistochemistry based on the expression of CD10, Bcl-6 and MUM-1. The GC Subtype had a significantly better survival rate than the non-GC subtype. These subtypes are predictors of outcome in DLBCL patients receiving CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone). Recently a significant improvement of outcome has been obtained by combining a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, Rituximab, with chemotherapy. We conducted the retrospective study to evaluate the predictive role of GC or non-GC subtypes in DLBCL patients receiving CHOP or rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP). We searched the DLBCL patients diagnosed at Daegu Catholic University Hospital between 2000 and 2007. Rituximab was introduced into the treatment since 2003. Both the immunohistochemical and clinical data could be analyzed in forty six patients. According to the expression of CD10, Bcl-6 and MUM-1, we divided DLBCLs into the GC or non-GC subgroups (Blood. 2004;103:275-282). The median follow-up duration was 22.5 months. 21 and 25 patients were received CHOP and R-CHOP, respectively. 12 and 34 patients were classified into the GC and non-GC subgroups. The GC subtype showed a better overall survival (OS) than the non-GC subtype (p=0.046), but not progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.633). The GC subtype did not predict the outcome in CHOP and R-CHOP group, respectively. In R-CHOP group, the expression of Bcl-6 was associated with a better OS (p=0.033). The GC subtype showed a better OS in low IPI (IPI 0–2) with borderline significance (p=0.054), but not in high IPI group (IPI 3–5) (p=0.429). In conclusion, the GC subtype showed a better OS in whole patients group, but didn’t show the superior outcome than the non-GC subtype in CHOP subgroup or R-CHOP subgroup, respectively, in this study. It may be due to the small size of the GC subtype. The prospective, large scale study is recommended.
INHIBITION OF BACTERIA BY SOME VOLATILE AND NON-VOLATILE COMPOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH MILK

APT broth inoculated with Streptococcus thermophilus was dispensed into epoxy-lined aerosol cans. Twenty five volatile or non-volatile compounds likely to be present in milk were added individually to cans to attain concentrations in broth of 1, 10, 100, and 1000 ppm of each compound. Compounds used included formic, acetic, butyric, hexanoic, octanoic, and decanoic acid; formaldehyde; acetaldehyde; propionaldehyde; glyoxal; acetone; 2-butanone; diacetyl; propyl- and hexylamine; furfurol; methanol; methylsulfide; methylsulfone; methanethiol; ethanethiol; acetonitrile; chloroform; ether; and ethylenedichloride. Bacteria were enumerated at intervals during incubation at 37 C. Of the six fatty acids tested, decanoic acid was most and hexanoic acid was least inhibitory to S. thermophilus. At 1000 ppm all fatty acids tested always significantly inhibited S. thermophilus. Formaldehyde was more inhibitory to the bacterium than were acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, or glyoxal. Of the ketones tested, diacetyl was mos...
Hepatocellular carcinoma in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Current knowledge and implications for management

With the prevalence of hepatitis C virus expected to decline, the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is anticipated to increase exponentially due to the growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes. The annual incidence rate of developing HCC in patients with NASH-related cirrhosis is not clearly understood with rates ranging from 2.6%-12.8%. While multiple new mechanisms have been implicated in the development of HCC in NASH; further prospective long-term studies are needed to validate these findings. Recent evidence has shown a significant proportion of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and NASH progress to HCC in the absence of cirrhosis. Liver resection and transplantation represent curative therapeutic options in select NASH-related HCC patients but have placed a significant burden to our healthcare resources and utilization. Currently NASH-related HCC is the fastest growing indication for liver transplant in HCC candidates. Increased efforts to implement effective screening and preventative strategies, particularly in non-cirrhotic NASH patients, are needed to reduce the future impact imposed by NASH-related HCC.
Anesthesia for Tympanomastoidectomy

Tympanomastoidectomy is generally an elective surgery that requires routine preoperative evaluation. Most tympanomastoidectomies are performed under general anesthesia, but they can also be performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and local anesthesia. Some issues particularly relevant while caring for a patient undergoing middle ear surgery are: attention to patient positioning, use of a surgical microscope requiring a bloodless surgical field, use or avoidance of nitrous oxide, implications of facial nerve monitoring and preservation, need for smooth emergence, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prevention and treatment. Mild controlled hypotension improves visualization of operative field, and can be achieved with remifentanil combined with an intravenous technique or with volatile anesthetics. Nitrous oxide is best avoided during tympanomastoidectomy but, if used, should be discontinued at least 30 min before tympanoplasty or ossiculoplasty. Facial nerve electromyography monitoring (FNM) is typically used to prevent nerve injury during middle ear surgery so muscle relaxants should not be used during the case. Prevention of coughing and bucking during emergence is crucial for surgical success during tympanomastoidectomy. Management of the airway with a laryngeal mask (LMA), or deep extubation from an endotracheal tube (ETT) may facilitate a smooth emergence. The incidence of PONV following otologic surgery is high and it is reasonable to offer prophylaxis to all patients, unless there are any patient-specific contraindications.
Dietary Vitamin K and Association with Hepatic Vitamin K Status in a Yup'ik Study Population from Southwestern Alaska.

cope We investigated the relationship between dietary vitamin K and plasma PIVKA-II concentration, a biomarker of hepatic vitamin K status, in a Yup'ik study population in southwestern Alaska. Methods and results A total of 659 male and female, self-reported Yup'ik people, ≥ 14 years of age, were enrolled. Blood was collected for genotyping and plasma PIVKA-II biomarker analysis. A Yup'ik-specific dietary food frequency questionnaire was used to assess vitamin K intake. Among the participants, 22% reported not consuming foods rich in vitamin K during the past year and 36% had a PIVKA-II concentration ≥ 2 ng/mL, indicating vitamin K insufficiency. The odds of an elevated PIVKA-II concentration were 33% lower in individuals reporting any versus no consumption of vitamin K rich foods. The association was significant after adjusting for CYP4F2*3 genotype. Tundra greens were high in vitamin K1 content, but an exploratory analysis suggested that subsistence meat sources had a greater effect on vitamin K status. Conclusions A substantial proportion of the Yup'ik population exhibits vitamin K insufficiency, which was associated with low consumption of vitamin K rich foods and which might affect an individual's response to anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin that target the vitamin K cycle. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Differences in renal ammonia metabolism in male and female kidney

Renal ammonia metabolism has a major role in the maintenance of acid-base homeostasis. Sex differences are well recognized as an important biological variable in many aspects of renal function, including fluid and electrolyte metabolism. However, sex differences in renal ammonia metabolism have not been previously reported. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate sex differences in renal ammonia metabolism. We studied 4-mo-old wild-type C57BL/6 mice fed a normal diet. Despite similar levels of food intake, and, thus, protein intake, which is the primary determinant of endogenous acid production, female mice excreted greater amounts of ammonia, but not titratable acids, than did male mice. This difference in ammonia metabolism was associated with fundamental structural differences between the female and male kidney. In the female mouse kidney, proximal tubules account for a lower percentage of the renal cortical parenchyma compared with the male kidney, whereas collecting ducts account for a greater percentage of the renal parenchyma than in male kidneys. To further investigate the mechanism(s) behind the greater ammonia excretion in female mice, we examined differences in the expression of proteins involved in renal ammonia metabolism and transport. Greater basal ammonia excretion in females was associated with greater expression of PEPCK, glutamine synthetase, NKCC2, Rhbg, and Rhcg than was observed in male mice. We conclude that there are sex differences in basal ammonia metabolism that involve both renal structural differences and differences in expression of proteins involved in ammonia metabolism.
46 Low-Energy Electron Diffraction Studies of Oxygen Adsorption and Oxide Formation on a (100) Crystal Face of Nickel Cleaned Under High-Vacuum Conditions*

After many treatments of the nickel crystal by outgassing in high-vacuum, argon-ion bombardment, and annealing, an essentially clean surface is obtained as indicated by a diffraction pattern characteristic of a nickel lattice only. At room temperature, oxygen first adsorbs on this surface as a double-spaced, face-centered chemisorbed monolayer. This monolayer is complete after a pressure × time exposure of 2 × 10 −6 mm. Hg-min. As the exposure is increased, further irreversible adsorption occurs as an amorphous covering layer. Above an exposure of about 10 −5 mm. Hg-min., a nickel oxide layer is formed at room temperature. If the nickel crystal is initially covered with a chemisorbed monolayer of carbon with a double-spaced, face-centered, square array, no appreciable effect is observed due to oxygen adsorption at exposures less than 4 × 10 −6 mm. Hg-min. At exposures above 10 −5 mm. Hg.-min., nickel oxide is formed as in the case of clean nickel. Both the chemisorbed oxygen and nickel oxide are removed by heating at 250-300°, thus indicating that the oxygen diffuses into the nickel.
Quantitative Approaches to Model Pluripotency and Differentiation in Stem Cells

Some of the most valuable information in the field of stem cell research still comes from empirical studies. Recently developed informatics and “omics” approaches facilitate these studies by pinpointing candidate genes that maintain stemness or induce differentiation. These genes and then tested empirically. However, biological models explaining the principles of stem cell renewal and differentiation currently remain in their infancy.
Refluent testicular autotransplantation by Domini's method: personal experience with seven pediatric patients

Autotransplantation presently constitutes the best option for the surgical treatment of non-palpable retained intra-abdominal testes. Silber first proposed this technique in 1978; it is not suitable in children under 3 years of age because of the small caliber of the testicular artery. In 1986 Domini, mindful of the problem of arterial vascularisation, carried out “refluent testicular autotransplantation” (RTAT), where a natural anastomosis between the testicular and deferential arteries is used. Venous drainage is guaranteed by performing a microsurgical anastomosis between the internal spermatic and inferior epigastric veins.
Otomorphs (= otocephalans or ostarioclupeomorphs) revisited

ABSTRACT A morphological revision is presented here on the cohort Otomorpha, a clade currently interpreted as the most primitive among the large supercohort Clupeocephala. Otomorpha is a morphologically heterogeneous group represented by clupei forms , alepocephaliforms, and ostariophysans (gonorynchiforms, cypriniforms, characiforms, siluriforms, and gymnoti forms) that inhabit various marine and freshwater environments worldwide. Otomorphs have a long (ca. 145 Ma) and diverse fossil record. They are the largest fish teleostean clade worldwide, as well as the largest of the Neotropical Region. While molecular studies strongly confirm the monophyly of Otomorpha, most potential morphological synapomorphies of the group become homoplastic largely due to the peculiar morphological character states (either losses or transformations) present in alepocephaliforms. The fusion of haemal arches with their respective vertebral centra anterior to preural centrum 2 stands as an unambiguous synapomorphy of the clade. The ankylosis or fusion of the extrascapular and parietal bones, and silvery areas associated with the gas bladder are also interpreted as synapomorphies, although they are homoplastic characters mainly due to secondary losses or further transformations of the morphological features in the alepocephaliforms.
Abstract TMP52: Association of Chronic Kidney Disease and Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease by High Resolution Vessel Wall MRI: The ARIC Study

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), independent of established cardiovascular risk factors, with cystatin C (cysC) demonstrating...
Mapping Occupational Hazards with a Multi-sensor Network in a Heavy-Vehicle Manufacturing Facility

Due to their small size, low-power demands, and customizability, low-cost sensors can be deployed in collections that are spatially distributed in the environment, known as sensor networks. The literature contains examples of such networks in the ambient environment; this article describes the development and deployment of a 40-node multi-hazard network, constructed with low-cost sensors for particulate matter (SHARP GP2Y1010AU0F), carbon monoxide (Alphasense CO-B4), oxidizing gases (Alphasense OX-B421), and noise (developed in-house) in a heavy-vehicle manufacturing facility. Network nodes communicated wirelessly with a central database in order to record hazard measurements at 5-min intervals. Here, we report on the temporal and spatial measurements from the network, precision of network measurements, and accuracy of network measurements with respect to field reference instruments through 8 months of continuous deployment. During typical production periods, 1-h mean hazard levels ± standard deviation across all monitors for particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), oxidizing gases (OX), and noise were 0.62 ± 0.2 mg m-3, 7 ± 2 ppm, 155 ± 58 ppb, and 82 ± 1 dBA, respectively. We observed clear diurnal and weekly temporal patterns for all hazards and daily, hazard-specific spatial patterns attributable to general manufacturing processes in the facility. Processes associated with the highest hazard levels were machining and welding (PM and noise), staging (CO), and manual and robotic welding (OX). Network sensors exhibited varying degrees of precision with 95% of measurements among three collocated nodes within 0.21 mg m-3 for PM, 0.4 ppm for CO, 9 ppb for OX, and 1 dBA for noise of each other. The median percent bias with reference to direct-reading instruments was 27%, 11%, 45%, and 1%, for PM, CO, OX, and noise, respectively. This study demonstrates the successful long-term deployment of a multi-hazard sensor network in an industrial manufacturing setting and illustrates the high temporal and spatial resolution of hazard data that sensor and monitor networks are capable of. We show that network-derived hazard measurements offer rich datasets to comprehensively assess occupational hazards. Our network sets the stage for the characterization of occupational exposures on the individual level with wireless sensor networks.
Modernising school governance

This book argues that, since the 1980s, the role of school governors has been transformed by successive governments in a process of ‘ruthless depoliticization, which disguises anti-democratic measu...
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Marketing and Initiation Among Youth and Young Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) have become the most popular tobacco products among young people, yet ENDS marketing remains unregulated, and its effects on ENDS use behavior across age groups is poorly understood. In this study, using a longitudinal design, we examined how recall of ENDS marketing through 5 different channels predicted subsequent ENDS initiation up to 2.5 years later among youth (ages 12–17 years) and young adults (ages 18–29 years). METHODS: Data were drawn from 2 large cohort studies in Texas. The analysis included school-going youth (n = 2288) and college-going young adults (n = 2423) who reported never having used ENDS at baseline in 2014. Logistic regression was used to assess the influence of recalled ENDS marketing exposure via television (TV), radio or Internet radio, billboards, retail stores, and the Internet on subsequent ENDS initiation, with adjustment for these channels, baseline sociodemographics, other past-30-day tobacco use, sensation seeking, and peer ENDS use. RESULTS: Recall of retail store–based ENDS marketing at baseline was associated with significantly higher odds of subsequent ENDS initiation among youth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25–3.17) and young adults (aOR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.05–1.61) up to 2.5 years later. Young adult initiation was also associated with recalled ENDS marketing on TV at baseline (aOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.03–1.63). CONCLUSIONS: Marketing of ENDS at retail stores predicts youth and young adult ENDS initiation, and marketing on TV predicts young adult initiation. Future research and regulation should be used to address the most influential marketing channels.
Less Reproduction, More Production: Birth Control in the Early People's Republic of China, 1949–1958

In the early People’s Republic of China (PRC), Communist officials initially placed strict constraints on birth control use, encouraging high fertility rates. However, in an effort to enhance agric...
APPENDIX 1A Safe Use of Radioisotopes

The use of radioisotopes to label specific molecules in a defined way has greatly furthered the discovery and dissection of biochemical pathways. The development of methods to inexpensively synthesize such tagged biological compounds on an industrial scale has enabled them to be used routinely in laboratory protocols, including many detailed in this manual. Although most of these protocols involve the use of only microcurie amounts of radioactivity, some (particularly those describing the metabolic labeling of proteins or nucleic acids within cells); require amounts on the order of millicuries. In all cases where radioisotopes are used, depending on the quantity and nature of the isotope, certain precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of the scientist. It is essential to use good safety practices and proper protection to handle radioactive substances. This unit discusses storage, handling, and disposal of 35S, 32P, 33P, and 125I.
A Novel Mutation in MPL (Y252H) Results in Increased Thrombopoietin Sensitivity and Moderate Thrombocytosis in a Pediatric Patient with Essential Thrombocytosis

Abstract Abstract 2817 Myeproliferative neoplams (MPNs) constitute a group of hematopoietic malignancies that feature enhanced proliferation and/or survival of one or more myeloid lineage cells, including Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). MPN development is rare in children with an estimated annual incidence of ET of 0.09/106 children. The WHO defines ET as persistent platelet count >600 k/mcL in the absence of known cause of reactive/secondary thrombocytosis. The JAK2 V617F mutation is most commonly reported in both children and adults with ET although the reported frequency varies in pediatric populations from 0 to 36% of patients. Mutations in the thrombopoietin receptor (TPO receptor or MPL) intracellular domain, specifically W515K/L, have also been reported in both adult and pediatric ET patients. Here we report a novel mutation in the MPL extracellular domain, Y252H, causing mild thrombocytosis. The patient presented at 2 years of age with a platelet count of 765 k/mcL. During the 3-year follow-up period, she possessed platelet counts between 600–700k/mcL, without any obvious indication of reactive/secondary thrombocytosis. Because of the persistently increased platelet count, her bone marrow was evaluated and it demonstrated increased numbers of megakaryocytes with focal clustering. JAK2 mutation analysis was negative and cytogenetics did not show any clonal abnormalities. Sequencing of the MPL gene showed a missense variant at c.754 T>C resulting in a tyr252his amino acid substitution. To investigate if this Y252H mutation in MPL dysregulates TPO/MPL- mediated cell growth, we introduced it into cytokine-dependent BaF3 cells. Cells stably expressing the mutant MPL allele showed increased proliferation to TPO, in particular at low concentration, in comparison to cells expressing wildtype (WT) MPL. Upon cytokine withdrawal, BaF3 cells expressing the MPL Y252H mutant survived better than that of WT MPL. Primary bone marrow cells from this patient along with the healthy control were subjected to colony forming unit -megakaryocyte (CFU-meg) assays in response to a serial dose of TPO. The Y252H MPL bone marrow showed significantly increased megakaryocyte colonies at low dose of TPO when compared to control bone marrow (17.5 ± 2.5 colonies versus 4.75 ± 1.1 colonies at 15 ng/mL TPO, p Disclosures: Lambert: Cangene: Honoraria.
Taper Design, Head Material, and Manufacturer Affect the Onset of Fretting Under Simulated Corrosion Conditions

Abstract Background We investigated the effect of taper design, head material, and manufacturer on simulated mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC). Methods Six pristine C-taper stems coupled with alumina-zirconia or cobalt-chromium (CoCr) heads were tested in a mechanical/electrochemical setup to measure average fretting currents and fretting current onset loads. Outcomes were compared with previous data from V40 tapers from the same manufacturer and 12/14 tapers from another manufacturer. Results Within a single manufacturer, differences in average fretting current between V40 and C-taper designs were dependent on head material. Only with V40 tapers did CoCr heads show higher average fretting currents than ceramic heads. Between manufacturers, differences were found between similar taper designs, as 12/14 taper couples showed higher average fretting currents than C-taper couples, regardless of head material. Conclusion Taper design, head material, and factors inherent to different manufacturers influence fretting current in simulated MACC. Unlike clinical and retrieval studies, this experimental design allows for investigations of factors affecting MACC in a controlled environment. Taper design, independent of manufacturer, contributes to the observed differences in average fretting current between head materials. In some taper designs, head composition, specifically ceramic, should not be considered alone to reduce risk of corrosion.
Engineering T Cells to Treat Cancer: The Convergence of Immuno-Oncology and Synthetic Biology

T cells engineered to recognize and kill tumor cells have emerged as powerful agents for combating cancer. Nonetheless, our ability to engineer T cells remains relatively primitive. Aside from CAR ...
SH-mode guided-wave impact damage detection in thick quasi-isotropic composites

Due to the extensive use of composite materials in aerospace structures, they are highly susceptible to various types of damage including barely visible impact damage (BVID) due to low-velocity impact events such as bird strikes and runway debris. Implementation of guided-wave based structural health monitoring (SHM) for BVID detection in composites has been extremely challenging due to the anisotropic nature of composites and the complex wave-damage interaction with impact damage. This paper presents a new methodology for the detection of BVID in composites using selectively pure shear horizontal (SH) guided wave mode generated by angle beam transducers (ABT) and received by phased array transducers (PAT). In this methodology, pure SH0 wave excitation was achieved using the angle beam transducers and variable angle wedges and after propagation in the composite it was received by the phased array transducer. First, the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method was used to generate the guided wave dispersion curves and the corresponding tuning angle for the SH0 mode excitation was obtained based on Snell’s law. Then, pitch-catch experiments using the ABT-PAT transducer pair were conducted to validate the pure SH0 mode excitation. After this, impact damage experiments were conducted on multiple quasi-isotropic carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite plates having different thicknesses by conforming to the ASTM D7136 standard to generate controlled impact damage size of 1". Next, impact damage detection experiments using pure SH0 mode at 500 kHz, were conducted using the ABT-PAT transducer pair. It was observed that pure SH0 mode was sensitive to the impact damage as a significant decrease in the signal amplitude and mode conversion was observed. With our experiments, we demonstrated the validity and usefulness of this technique for impact damage detection in composite structures. An invention disclosure describing the use of angle beam transducers for SH wave excitation method has been filed and is in the process of becoming a provisional patent.
VCFdbR: A method for expressing biobank-scale Variant Call Format data in a SQLite database using R

As exome and whole-genome sequencing cohorts grow in size, the data they produce strains the limits of current tools and data structures. The Variant Call Format (VCF) was originally created as part of the 1,000 Genomes project. Flexible and concise enough to describe the genetic variations of thousands of samples in a single flat file, the VCF has become the standard for communicating the results of large-scale sequencing experiments. Because of its static and text-based structure, VCFs remain cumbersome to parse and filter in an interactive way, even with the aid of indexing. Iterating on previous concepts, we propose here a pipeline for converting VCFs to simple SQLite databases, which allow for rapid searching and filtering of genetic variants while minimizing memory overhead. Code can be found at https://github.com/tkoomar/VCFdbR
National Assessment of Surprise Coverage Gaps Provided to Simulated Patients Seeking Emergency Care

This cross-sectional study evaluates surprise coverage gaps in health insurance by using secret shopper phone call methods to assess whether hospital billing staff in the US are able to answer a set of patient questions about insurance coverage.