cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification, Properties, and Composition of α1-Trypsin Inhibitor from Human Plasma

Although plasma contains several fractions capable of inhibiting trypsin [1], the predominant amount of inhibitor (90%) is found in the α1globulin fraction [2]. Several investigators have reported partial purification of the α1trypsin inhibitor using a variety of preparative techniques [1–10]. The specific activity of these preparations ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 μg trypsin (uncorrected for active trypsin) inhibited per μg inhibitor.
THERMOLABILITY OF MIXED-FUNCTION OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN HEPATIC MICROSOMES FROM LITTLE SKATE, Raja erinacea , AND RABBIT

We have identified several differences between rabbit and skate hepatic mixed-function oxidase (MFO) components which could contribute to the observed difference in temperature “optimum” for in vitro assay of MFO activity. Particularly involved is NADPH-cytochrome c reductase; the skate enzyme is more temperature labile than is the rabbit enzyme in microsomes and in a reconstituted system.
Subversive Imitation: Agnès Varda’s Le Bonheur

Agnes Varda’s 1965 film Le Bonheur tells the story of Francois, a happily married father of two who, in spite of the domestic bliss portrayed by the movie’s opening picnic sequence, does not hesita...
Soil Microfungi in Relation to the Hardwood Forest Continuum in Southern Wisconsin

A survey study was made of the microfungal flora of the soils in a series of upland hardwood forests in southern Wisconsin. These forests constituted a vegetational continuum which was composed of ...
Ferrofluids for Propulsion

Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions of single-domain magnetic nanoparticles in a nonmagnetic carrier fluid. Despite the presence of both solid (nanoparticle) and fluid (carrier fluid) phases, the suspension behaves as a fluid in the presence of a magnetic field. The superparamagnetic nature of the suspended particles allows for the suspension to be manipulated by a magnetic field ‘from a distance,’ i.e., without any mechanical actuation system. Although ferrofluids were first developed in the 1960s for drawing liquid fuel against gravity in rocket propulsion systems, the application never materialized commercially in a large scale. However, ferrofluids have been extensively used for other applications such as ferrofluidic seals, loudspeakers, magnetic drug targeting, thermomagnetic convection, magnetic shape-shifting optical mirrors, and energy harvesting. Recently, it was shown that ferrofluids can be used in the micropropulsion sector. In the presence of a magnetic field, a ferrofluid surface naturally deforms to form sharp peaks, the phenomenon being known as Rosensweig instability. For ionic ferrofluids, an amplification of the electric field is present at the tip of these peaks, which leads to electrospray emission. The reaction force due to the emitted droplets results in forward propulsion. In the present chapter, a summary of the basics of ferrofluids and their manipulation techniques is presented, followed by a brief review of ferrofluid-based propulsion techniques.
Improved liver transplant waitlist mortality and lower risk of disease progression among chronic hepatitis C patients awaiting liver transplantation after the introduction of direct-acting antiviral therapies in the United States.

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection achieve high cure rates, reducing HCV-related disease progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aim to evaluate the impact of DAAs on US liver transplant (LT) waitlist outcomes. We retrospectively evaluated US adults (age ≥18) with and without chronic HCV listed for LT before and after the widespread use of sofosbuvir, allowing a 6-month period after approval (Era 1: 1/1/2002-5/31/2014 vs Era 2: 6/1/2014-12/31/2016) using the United Network for Organ Sharing registry. Overall, LT waitlist survival and likelihood of receiving LT were evaluated with multivariate Cox regression models. From 2002 to 2016, 158 045 patients were listed for LT. While the number of patients listed for HCV has been decreasing since 2012, the proportion of HCV patients with concurrent HCC is increasing by 3.33% per year (R2 : 0.99, P < 0.001 by simple linear regression). While there was no difference in likelihood of LT between HCV and non-HCV patients, those listed in Era 2 had lower likelihood of LT (HR: 0.91, P < 0.001), more pronounced in the HCV cohort (HR: 0.83, P < 0.001) compared to the non-HCV cohort (HR: 0.93, P < 0.001). Compared to non-HCV patients, higher waitlist mortality was seen in HCV patients in Era 1 (HR: 1.08, P < 0.001) but not in Era 2 (HR: 1.02, P = 0.75). Since the introduction of DAAs for HCV treatment, number of patients with HCV listed for LT has declined. In the post-DAA era, HCV patients on the LT waitlist had improved waitlist mortality.
THE ACID DEGREE OF MILK OBTAINED WITH PIPELINE AND BUCKET MILKERS

Pipeline milking as compared to bucket milking increased the magnitude of the acid degree values (silica gel method) of milk samples. Passage of the milk through a diaphram pump further increased the acid degree values in some cases.
Extended Forms of Coverage

Industrial and public sector planning is often complex. Example contexts include making a city safer or designing a manufacturing supply chain. Models can assist in the design of such systems by tracking the major components and generating top performing solutions. Some of the best planning models are simple, easy to understand, and easily applied and solved. At a minimum, a model must capture the main essence of the problem. Two examples of such planning models are the LSCP (location set covering problem) and MCLP (maximal covering location problem) described in Chap. 2. Because they are so simple and powerful as planning models, they have been used in many different ways, from biological reserve design (Underhill 1994) to advertising (Dwyer and Evans 1981) to prosthetic teeth coloring (Cocking et al. 2009) to health clinic location (Bennett et al. 1982). There are, however, a number of elements and conditions that are not captured exactly using these two basic constructs of complete coverage or maximal coverage. Because of this, researchers have proposed a wide variety of extended model forms to better reflect specific elements of a given problem. In this chapter we present some of the work, including multi-service, hierarchical, and multi-factor issues, in coverage modeling.
Development and evolution of age-dependent defenses in ant-acacias

Age-dependent changes in plant defense against herbivores are widespread, but why these changes exist remains a mystery. We explored this question by examining a suite of traits required for the interaction between swollen thorn acacias (genus Vachellia) and ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex. In this system, plants provide ants with refuge and food in the form of swollen stipular spines, protein-lipid–rich “Beltian” bodies, and sugar-secreting extrafloral nectaries—the “swollen thorn syndrome.” We show that this syndrome develops at a predictable time in shoot development and is tightly associated with the temporal decline in the microRNAs miR156 and miR157 and a corresponding increase in their targets—the SPL transcription factors. Growth under reduced light intensity delays both the decline in miR156/157 and the development of the swollen thorn syndrome, supporting the conclusion that these traits are controlled by the miR156-SPL pathway. Production of extrafloral nectaries by Vachellia sp. that do not house ants is also correlated with a decline in miR156/157, suggesting that this syndrome evolved by co-opting a preexisting age-dependent program. Along with genetic evidence from other model systems, these findings support the hypothesis that the age-dependent development of the swollen thorn syndrome is a consequence of genetic regulation rather than a passive developmental pattern arising from developmental constraints on when these traits can develop.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and Other Solid Tumors of Pancreas

This chapter reviews the key features that define pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasia, acinar cell carcinoma, solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, and pancreatoblastoma on cytology specimens. These four tumors often share overlapping clinical and morphologic features and consequently must often be considered together within the same differential diagnosis. This large amount of potential morphologic overlap requires the use of ancillary immunohistochemical studies in most cases in order to arrive at accurate diagnoses. The ability to effectively diagnose these entities is critical as each diagnosis portends dramatically different prognoses and treatment. This chapter will review the key clinical, cytomorphologic, and immunohistochemical features required to effectively work through this challenging differential diagnosis.
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios as Prognostic Inflammatory Biomarkers in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and HIV/HCV Coinfection.

Author(s): Hanberg, Jennifer S; Freiberg, Matthew S; Goetz, Matthew B; Rodriguez-Barradas, Maria C; Gibert, Cynthia; Oursler, Kris Ann; Justice, Amy C; Tate, Janet P; VACS Project Team | Abstract: Background:Inflammation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is associated with poorer health outcomes. Whether inflammation as measured by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) adds information to existing prognostic indices is not known. Methods:We analyzed data from 2000 to 2012 in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS), overall and stratified by HIV/hepatitis C virus status (n = 89 786). We randomly selected a visit date at which all laboratory values of interest were available within 180 days; participants with HIV received at least 1 year of antiretroviral therapy. We followed patients for (1) mortality and (2) hepatic decompensation (HD) and analyzed associations using Cox regression, adjusted for a validated mortality risk index (VACS Index 2.0). In VACS Biomarker Cohort, we considered correlation with biomarkers of inflammation: interleukin-6, D-dimer, and soluble CD-14. Results:Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and PLR demonstrated strong unadjusted associations with mortality (P l .0001) and HD (P l .0001) and were weakly correlated with other inflammatory biomarkers. Although NLR remained statistically independent for mortality, as did PLR for HD, the addition of NLR and PLR to the VACS Index 2.0 did not result in significant improvement in discrimination compared with VACS Index 2.0 alone for mortality (C-statistic 0.767 vs 0.758) or for HD (C-statistic 0.805 vs 0.801). Conclusions:Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and PLR were strongly associated with mortality and HD and weakly correlated with inflammatory biomarkers. However, most of their association was explained by VACS Index 2.0. Addition of NLR and PLR to VACS 2.0 did not substantially improve discrimination for either outcome.
Chip-Scale Angle-Selective Imager for In Vivo Microscopic Cancer Detection

We present an image sensor incorporating angle-selective gratings for resolution enhancement in contact imaging applications. Optical structures designed in the CMOS metal layers above each photodiode form the angle-selective gratings that limit the sensor angle of view to $\pm$ 18 $^{\circ }$ , rejecting background light and deblurring the image. The imager is based on a high-gain capacitive transimpedance amplifier pixel using a custom 11fF MOM capacitor, achieving $\text{8.2}\;\text{V s}^{-1} \text{pW}^{-1}$ sensitivity. The pixel includes a leakage current minimization circuit to remove signal-dependent reset switch leakage and the corresponding dark current is $\text{14}\;\text{aA}/{\mu }\text{m}{^2}$ . The resulting 4.7 mm by 2.25 mm sensor (80 by 36 pixels) is designed specifically for intraoperative cancer imaging in order to solve the pervasive challenge of identifying microscopic residual cancer foci in vivo , where they can be removed. We demonstrate imaging and detection of foci containing less than 200 cancer cells labeled with fluorescent biomarkers in 50 ms with signal-to-noise ratios greater than 15 dB and the detection of microscopic residual tumor in mice models. The absence of large optical elements enables extreme miniaturization, allowing manipulation within a small, morphologically complex, tumor cavity.
BAP31 regulated polarization of macrophages through C/EBP β in cutaneous wound healing

Abstract The functions carried out by macrophages are essential in the processes of repairing skin injury. However, the mechanism of the M2 macrophage and its role in cutaneous wound healing remain elusive. B cell receptor associated protein 31 (BAP31) plays an important role in the immune system, and its function in connection with macrophages has yet to be determined. The present study demonstrates that the process of cutaneous wound healing slowed down in bone marrow-specific BAP31 knock down Lyz2-cre-BAP31flox/flox mice. In addition, further studies show that various kinds of macrophage M2 polarization related factors were regulated by BAP31. Among these molecules C/EBP β was significantly affected. However, IL-4 but not IFN-γ, is able to recover the expression levels of C/EBP β and its downstream transcript factors induced by BAP31. Then, we demonstrated that BAP31 regulated macrophage M2 polarization by negative regulation of IL-4Rα and positive influence on Egr-2 to affect C/EBP β. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism of BAP31 in regulating M2 macrophage, and provide novel targets for the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds.
An Attentional Control Mechanism for Reasoning and Learning.

This paper discuses attentional control mechanism of several systems in context of Artificial General Intelligence. Attentional control mechanism of OpenNARS, an implementation of Non-Axiomatic Reasoning System for research purposes is being introduced with description of the related functions and demonstration examples. Paper also implicitly compares OpenNARS attentional mechanism with the one found in other Artificial General Intelligence systems.
Validation of the Updated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Screening Algorithm in a Community-Based Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis of Multiple Etiologies

Background & Aims The Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Early detection Screening (HES) algorithm has been proposed to improve the performance of the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test in surveillance for HCC. The HES algorithm incorporates data on age, level of alanine aminotransferase, platelet count, and rate of AFP change to increase likelihood of earlier detection and thereby reduce HCC-related mortality. We updated the HES algorithm to include etiology of cirrhosis and validated it in a community-based cohort. Methods We collected data from the Veterans Health Administration, from 2010 through 2015, on etiologies for HCC, including hepatitis C, hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We used these data to update the HES algorithm and tested its accuracy using data from patients with cirrhosis in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California healthcare system (validation cohort). Results Among the 7432 patients with cirrhosis in the validation cohort, 1102 were diagnosed with HCC during a median follow-up time of 3.21 years; 709 patients had early-stage HCC. The HES algorithm identified patients who would receive a diagnosis of early-stage HCC within the next 6 months with 51.20% sensitivity and 90.00% specificity, compared with 46.02% sensitivity for the AFP test alone (5.18% absolute improvement; P = .0015). In HCC screening, a positive result from HES or AFP test leads to follow-up evaluation with more sensitive imaging methods. The number of early-stage HCC cases detected per 1000 imaging analyses were 136.46 with the HES algorithm vs 118.01 with the AFP test alone (P Conclusions We validated the HES algorithm using data from a diverse community-based cohort of patients with cirrhosis. The algorithm offers a modest but useful advantage over the AFP test alone in detection of early-stage HCC with virtually no added cost.
Firms Fight Back: Production Networks and Corporate Opposition to the China Trade War

The Trump administration's multi-front trade war dramatically escalated with the imposition of extraordinary tariffs on Chinese imports in 2018. Corporate America has responded with a concerted campaign of resistance. We document these efforts -- through extensive participation in notice and comment and public coalition-building -- and show that corporate opposition to the trade war derives from reliance on sourcing and production ties to China. In contrast, we find far weaker efforts by anti-trade firms to support the trade war, whether to insulate themselves from import competition or to confront Chinese trade practices. We therefore describe and empirically illustrate the politics of global production networks, and highlight that scholars of trade politics should not neglect opposition to the Trump trade agenda arising from globally integrated firms. Global order in the area of trade hangs in the balance in an ongoing fight between corporate globalism and populist nationalism.
The Theory of Insurance and Gambling

This paper suggests that insurance represents a quid pro quo transaction across states of the world and is purchased because consumers desire to transfer income to a state where it is more valued. Preferences for certainty have little to do with the demand for insurance, but uncertainty itself plays a large role because it operates mechanically to make the payout a multiple of the premium. It also suggests that casino and other forms of institutional gambling represent a similar quid pro quo transaction across states of the world and that consumers gamble to transfer income to a state where it is less costly to obtain. Again, preferences for uncertainty do not motivate gambling, but uncertainty does allow for the augmentation of the payout compared to the wager. These motivations do not conflict with the empirical evidence supporting prospect theory and can accommodate the insurance-purchasing gambler. Both the demand and supply sides are included in the definitions of insurance and gambling presented herein.
On a filtration of for an abelian variety

Let $A$ be an abelian variety defined over a field $k$ . In this paper we define a descending filtration $\{F^{r}\}_{r\geqslant 0}$ of the group $\mathit{CH}_{0}(A)$ and prove that the successive quotients $F^{r}/F^{r+1}\otimes \mathbb{Z}[1/r!]$ are isomorphic to the group $(K(k;A,\dots ,A)/Sym)\otimes \mathbb{Z}[1/r!]$ , where $K(k;A,\dots ,A)$ is the Somekawa $K$ -group attached to $r$ -copies of the abelian variety $A$ . In the special case when $k$ is a finite extension of $\mathbb{Q}_{p}$ and $A$ has split multiplicative reduction, we compute the kernel of the map $\mathit{CH}_{0}(A)\otimes \mathbb{Z}[\frac{1}{2}]\rightarrow \text{Hom}(Br(A),\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z})\otimes \mathbb{Z}[\frac{1}{2}]$ , induced by the pairing $\mathit{CH}_{0}(A)\times Br(A)\rightarrow \mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}$ .
Real-time respiratory motion compensated roadmaps for hepatic arterial interventions

Purpose During hepatic arterial interventions, catheter or guidewire position is determined by referencing or overlaying a previously acquired static vessel roadmap. Respiratory motion leads to significant discrepancies between the true position and configuration of the hepatic arteries and the roadmap, which makes navigation and accurate catheter placement more challenging and time consuming. The purpose of this work was to develop a dynamic respiratory motion compensated device guidance system and evaluate the accuracy and real-time performance in an in vivo porcine liver model. Methods The proposed device navigation system estimates a respiratory motion model for the hepatic vasculature from prenavigational X-ray image sequences acquired under free-breathing conditions with and without contrast enhancement. During device navigation, the respiratory state is tracked based on live fluoroscopic images and then used to estimate vessel deformation based on the previously determined motion model. Additionally, guidewires and catheters are segmented from the fluoroscopic images using a deep learning approach. The vessel and device information are combined and shown in a real-time display. Two different display modes are evaluated within this work: (1) a compensated roadmap display, where the vessel roadmap is shown moving with the respiratory motion; (2) an inverse compensated device display, where the device representation is compensated for respiratory motion and overlaid on a static roadmap. A porcine study including seven animals was performed to evaluate the accuracy and real-time performance of the system. In each pig, a guidewire and microcatheter with a radiopaque marker were navigated to distal branches of the hepatic arteries under fluoroscopic guidance. Motion compensated displays were generated showing real-time overlays of the vessel roadmap and intravascular devices. The accuracy of the motion model was estimated by comparing the estimated vessel motion to the motion of the X-ray visible marker. Results The median (minimum, maximum) error across animals was 1.08 mm (0.92 mm, 1.87 mm). Across different respiratory states and vessel branch levels, the odds of the guidewire tip being shown in the correct vessel branch were significantly higher (odds ratio = 3.12, p Conclusions The proposed respiratory motion compensated device guidance system increased the accuracy of the displayed device position relative to the hepatic vasculature. Additionally, the provided display modes combine both vessel and device information and do not require the mental integration of different displays by the physician. The processing times were well within the range of conventional clinical frame rates.
Do You Recall?: Results From a Within-Person Recall Study of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short Form v2.0 – Physical Function 8c

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to determine whether responses to Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short Form v2.0 – Physical Function 8c (PROMIS PF8c) items differed when the use of a 7-day recall period was compared with no specified recall period. Methods Using a within-subject design, we surveyed 1810 individuals from the US general population, administering PROMIS PF8c at survey beginning and end. The order of measure presentation was randomly assigned. We calculated recall difference scores (RDSs) as no recall score minus 7-day recall score using both item response theory-based T scores and raw summed scores. We examined the distribution and created Bland-Altman plots for both RDSTscore and RDSRaw. We also calculated correlations between no recall versus 7-day recall T score and raw scores. Finally, we determined whether differences in no recall versus 7-day recall scores were associated with patient-reported PF. Results RDSTscore and RDSRaw had means (root mean square differences) of 0.00 (5.43) and −0.04 (3.79), respectively. The vast majority (%) of RDSTscore and RDSRaw values fell between the Bland-Altman limits of agreement (−10.65 to 10.66 and −7.46 to 7.38, respectively). Pearson’s correlations between no recall and 7-day recall for T scores and raw scores were 0.88 and 0.87, respectively. Effect sizes for mean RDSTscore and RDSRaw compared across level of Eastern Oncology Cooperative Group performance status, patient global impression of PF severity, and single PF items were near 0. Conclusions We did not find any significant recall period effect on PF8c responses. Therefore, we recommend the use of the PROMIS physical function standard, with no specified recall time period.
Kidney–pancreas transplantation

For patients with diabetes, insulin therapy can be an effective treatment for years. However, many diabetics eventually develop complications from the disease, including neuropathy, amputations, atherosclerosis, and kidney failure. While kidney failure can be managed with dialysis, difficulties with monitoring fluid intake and diet, bone loss, anemia, and venous access can be problematic for the patient. Due to the decreased life expectancy and difficulties of medical management of patients with diabetes and renal failure, combined renal–pancreas transplantation is an increasingly used option available to type 1 diabetics with concurrent renal failure due to refinements of surgical technique and immunosuppressive therapy. Due to the increasing number of kidney–pancreas transplant patients, longer post-transplant survival, and increasing number of hospitals performing the procedure, more transplant patients are having their care increasingly shifted away from the major transplant centers to general community hospitals. In many kidney–pancreas transplants patients who present to the emergency department for suspected transplant dysfunction, imaging plays a critical initial role in their diagnosis and management. Therefore, it has become increasingly important that community and emergency department radiologists be able to recognize the normal imaging appearance of renal–pancreas transplants and to identify acute findings.
Action of drugs on efficiency of swimmers.

(1946). Action of Drugs on Efficiency of Swimmers. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 96-101.
Momentum-dependent light scattering in a two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet: Analysis of x-ray scattering data

Motivated by the achievements of the $X$-ray scattering technique, we analyzed the profile of the light scattering intensity $R(q, \omega)$ at a finite $q$ in a 2D Heisenberg antiferromagnet. Previous Raman scattering studies at $q=0$ identified the two-magnon peak in $B_{1g}$ scattering geometry. We found that the $B_{1g}$ peak disperses downwards at a finite $q$, and its intensity increases, reaching its maximum at $q= q_0 = (0, \pi)$ and symmetry related points. In addition, the intensity in the $A_{1g}$ geometry becomes non-zero at a finite $q$, and also displays a two-magnon peak which gains strength and disperses to larger frequencies with increasing $q$, and reaches its highest intensity at $q_0$. We found that the profile of $R(q_0, \omega)$ is equivalent in $A_{1g}$ and $B_{1g}$ geometries.
Trends in immediate perioperative morbidity and delay in discharge after open and minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (RP): a 20-year institutional experience

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Standard clinical care pathways to discharge have been established for a number of operations including radical prostatectomy (RP). The pathway after RP has changed dramatically over the past two decades due to improvements in surgical technique, anaesthesia and most recently, the introduction of minimally invasive RP (MIRP). This study adds evidence that the emergence of MIRP is associated with a decrease in LOS for all patients undergoing RP. In addition, it catalogues the development of the clinical care pathway over 20 years at a large, tertiary care hospital with extensive experience in RP. Finally, it defines the common reasons patients fall ‘off-pathway’ (ileus, urine leak, anaemia and re-exploration for bleeding) and defines the immediate perioperative morbidity profile of RP. Specifically, it addresses approach-specific morbidities and indicates that MIRP is associated with higher rates of ‘off-pathway’ discharge, most often due to ileus. Objective To investigate the development of the clinical care pathway to discharge after radical prostatectomy (RP) at a large, academic medical centre over the past 20 years, focusing on the rates and reasons for deviation. Patients and Methods In all, 18 049 men were identified from the Johns Hopkins RP database who had undergone surgery since 1991. Patients in whom the length of stay (LOS) was ≤95th percentile, defined the clinical care pathway to discharge and those in whom LOS was ≥98th percentile were termed ‘off-pathway’. Results The mean LOS decreased from 7.7 days in 1991 to 1.6 days in 2010. Of 7126 patients undergoing RP since 2005, 1803(25.3%), 4881(68.5%) and 312 (4.4%) were discharged on postoperative day (POD) 1, 2 and 3, respectively; 126 (1.8%) patients, discharged on POD4–21 were ‘off-pathway’. The most common reasons for delay of discharge were ileus (44, 0.615%), urine leak (12, 0.17%), anaemia requiring blood transfusion (nine, 0.126%) and bleeding requiring re-exploration (six, 0.08%). The proportion of patients ‘off-pathway’ was 1.20%, 1.06% and 4.01% for retropubic RP (RRP), laparoscopic RP (LRP) and robot-assisted laparoscopic RP (RALRP), respectively (P < 0.001). Ileus delayed discharge in 0.28%, 0.37% and 1.9% of patients undergoing RRP, LRP and RALRP, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions The clinical care pathway to discharge after RP has changed dramatically at our institution over the past 20 years. RALRP appears to result in a higher proportion of ‘off-pathway’ patients, primarily due to ileus, compared with RRP and LRP. However, very few patients were discharged ‘off-pathway’.
Symmetric Chain Decompositions of Quotients by Wreath Products

Subgroups of the symmetric group $S_n$ act on $C^n$ (the $n$-fold product $C \times \cdots \times C$ of a chain $C$) by permuting coordinates, and induce automorphisms of the power $C^n$. For certain families of subgroups of $S_n$, the quotients defined by these groups can be shown to have symmetric chain decompositions (SCDs). These SCDs allow us to enlarge the collection of subgroups $G$ of $S_n$ for which the quotient $\mathbf{2}^n/G$ on the Boolean lattice $\mathbf{2}^n$ is a symmetric chain order (SCO). The methods are also used to provide an elementary proof that quotients of powers of SCOs by cyclic groups are SCOs.
Conceptualizing Legal Change and Its Effects: A Comment on George Priest's “Measuring Legal Change”

The "legal change" that this paper aspires to measure is identified as change in authoritative legal doctrine (rules, standards, and so on). The latter is viewed as an independent variable whose effect on something else (settlement behavior) is to be measured. The two poles of the argument are "doctrinal changes in the law and changes in settlement ratios."' This is a pioneering effort that commendably attempts to move beyond doctrine to examine the law as a system of action. But this effort is undermined by the way that law is conceptualized. By identifying "law" with doctrine, the practices that are changed are projected outside of law. "The law" is viewed as a thing apart from practice or action; and doctrinal change is isolated from other kinds of legal change. This seems to accept uncritically the folk concept of law as a body of rules, a concept embodied in the way American practitioners talk about law but which may be ill-equipped to support the kind of systematic and testable theory that Priest aspires to build.2
Exploring adaptive interpolation to mitigate non-linear impact on estimating dynamic states

Accurate estimation of dynamic states is important for monitoring and controlling transient stability. This paper proposes an adaptive interpolation approach to improve the performance of the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for estimating dynamic states of a synchronous machine. This approach consists of two major steps. First, the non-linearity of state transition function and measurement function is quantified. Second, when the non-linearity is severe, pseudo measurements are added through interpolation to mitigate the negative impact of non-linearity on the estimation accuracy. Using the 2-area model, it is shown that the proposed adaptive interpolation approach can make a good tradeoff between estimation accuracy and computation time when estimating the dynamic states of a synchronous machine.
Towards Measuring Uncertainty in Estimates of Intercensal Net Migration

Canadian Studies in Population, Vol. 20(2), 1993, pp. 153-191. Towards Measuring Uncertainty in Estimates of Intercensal Net Migration Hallie J. Kintner General Motors Research Laboratories David A. Swanson University of Arkansas at Little Rock Abstract We present a system for generating conﬁdence intervals around estimates of intercensal net‘ migration made using the life table survival method. The life table survival method applies a life table to a census count to project survivors at‘ some past or future time points. Net migration is the difference between the projected number of survivors and the _enumerated population. Conﬁdence intervals for net migrants in an age-sex group are based on the probability distributionof deaths. They can be adjusted when a life table is unavailable for the population in question. The techniqueis illustrated with data from Puerto Rico; New Jersey, and Alaska. Resume Nous presentons un systeme permettant de generer des intervalles de conﬁance autour des valeurs estimatives de qla migration nette intercensitaire a l&#39;aide d&#39;une methode utilisant la table de survie. Cette methode applique une table de survie aux resultats d&#39;un recensement aﬁn de projeter le nombre de survivants a 1m point donne du passe ou de 1&#39;avenir. * La migration nette est la difference entre le nombre projete de survivants et la population recensee. Les intervalles de conﬁance pour la migration nette dans un groupe d&#39;age—sexe sont fondes sur la distribution des probabilites de deces. lls peuvent etre ajustes quand on ne dispose pas d&#39;une table de vie pour la population en question. La technique est illustree a l&#39;aide de donnees venant de Porto Rico, du New Jersey et de ]&#39;Alaska. Key Words: migration, conﬁdence intervals Introduction This paper presents a system for developing conﬁdence intervalsiaround estimated net migrants, when the estimates are made using the life table survival method (Shyrock and Siegel, 1976), which has been one of the most 153
Integrating materials, manufacturing and design in the sophomore year

A one credit hour laboratory course taught in the first quarter of the sophomore year is used to integrate the disciplines of materials science and engineering, manufacturing and design, and to help students make connection between mathematics, engineering science and design. Course activities aim to help students develop a feel for the design process; they will participate in the design and manufacturing of a product from start to finish. Students will engage in hands on activities to investigate the relationships between properties, structure and processing of materials, and will synthesize a process to solve a design problem involving mechanical forming. Students will also apply statistics for product description, tolerance, and properties, and they will make oral and written presentations about their design projects. The course meets once a week for three hours, and is team taught by two faculty members, one with background in materials science and the other with background in manufacturing and design.
Using a global aerosol model adjoint to unravel the footprint of spatially-distributed emissions on cloud droplet number and cloud albedo

[1] The adjoints of the GEOS-Chem Chemical Transport Model and a comprehensive cloud droplet parameterization are coupled to study the sensitivity of cloud droplet number concentration (Nd) over US regions and Central Europe to global emissions of anthropogenic fine mode aerosol precursors. Simulations reveal that the Nd over the midwestern and southeastern US is mostly sensitive to SO2 emissions during August, and to NH3 emissions during February. Over the western US, Nd is mostly sensitivity to SO2 and primary organic aerosol emissions. In Central Europe, Nd is most sensitive to NH3 and NOx emissions. As expected, local emissions strongly affect Nd; long-range transport, however, is also important for the western US and Europe. Emissions changes projected for the year 2050 are estimated to have the largest impacts on cloud albedo andNd over Central Europe during August (42% and 82% change, respectively) and western US during February (12% and 36.5% change, respectively).
Sun-spots and the Vine Crop

As the connection of sun-spots with terrestrial phenomena is now largely occupying the attention of scientific men, the following facts may be of some interest. The years in which the wine crop in Germany was unusually good seem (in this century, at least) to have returned at regular intervals. The close coincidence of these years with the years of minimum sun-spots is shown by the following table:—
The morphological correlates of primate cerebrospinal fluid absorption

Arachnoid villi from cynomolgus monkeys subjected to various states of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption have been examined with scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Pressures within the superior sagittal sinus and the subarachnoid space were rigidly controlled, both prior to and during perfusion fixation and, as such, we created and studied conditions of normal, absent and increased cerebrospinal fluid absorption. Under normal conditions, the most prominent feature of the CSF/blood interface was the presence of endothelial intracytoplasmic vacuoles. The presence of these vacuoles was suggested with SEM and readily confirmed with TEM. Occasionally, these vacuoles coalesced with both the CSF and sagittal sinus fronts, thereby creating transcellular channels as identified by TEM or surface pores as seen with SEM. Villi perfused during conditions of no CSF flow exhibited none of the previously described vacuoles, channels, or pores, whereas increased CSF flows were associated with increased numbers of these structures. The significance of these findings was discussed in relation to CSF absorption and to previously reported ultrastructural studies.
Neurognostics question. Nerve, muscle, blood, toil, tears, and sweat: England's pioneering biophysicist, soldier, and statesman.

Though known primarily for his work on muscle energetics, Archibald Vivian Hill, as discussed below, also made important scientific and pedagogic contributions to nerve physiology.
Thin-film transmission IR spectroscopy as an in situ probe of the gas-solid interface in photocatalytic processes

Abstract A thin-film transmission infrared spectroscopy system was designed as an in situ probe for heterogeneous interfacial photocatalytic reactions. A photocatalyst, TiO 2 , supported on a silicon wafer substrate was located in an airtight cell containing BaF 2 windows. This supported photocatalyst was simultaneously illuminated with both UV light and the infrared beam. The performance of the cell was tested using the photocatalytic decomposition of ethanol. The quality of the spectra for a porous TiO 2 film of approximately 0.5 microns of thickness proved to be good for detecting bands of reactant and product species (ethanol, ethoxide, acetaldehyde, and acetate). This transmission cell was coupled to a gas phase infrared cell for the simultaneous analysis of reactants and products of this photodegradation of ethanol which appear in the gas phase. The affinity of the surface of TiO 2 for water was investigated under air and argon environments in both the presence and the absence of UV illumination. In an air environment, UV illumination enhanced the adsorption of water on TiO 2 . A similar enhanced adsorption occurred in the argon environment without UV illumination. During UV illumination, bands of peroxide (O 2 2− ) species could be detected on the surface of TiO 2 under the conditions of a dry air flow. Both peroxide (O 2 2− ) as well as superoxide (O 2 − ) species could be detected after several hours in post-irradiated systems.
Conformational energy calculations of some amphetamine analogs using a new solvation model

A new model is proposed for the calculation of the solvation effect for hydrogen-bonded ionic species. The model is applied to a group of phenethylamine and amphetamine derivatives possessing a cationic ammonium group. This N+H3 moiety is common among many compounds of biological interest. A detailed description of the solvation model is presented. The conformational properties of the amphetamine derivatives 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (DOM), “ethyl DOM,” and “cyclopropyl DOM” are discussed and an “active conformer” is proposed. The CAMSEQ software system was employed in this study.
Immersive volume rendering of blood vessels

In this paper, we present a novel method of visualizing flow in blood vessels. Our approach reads unstructured tetrahedral data, resamples it, and uses slice based 3D texture volume rendering. Due to the sparse structure of blood vessels, we utilize an octree to efficiently store the resampled data by discarding empty regions of the volume. We use animation to convey time series data, wireframe surface to give structure, and utilize the StarCAVE, a 3D virtual reality environment, to add a fully immersive element to the visualization. Our tool has great value in interdisciplinary work, helping scientists collaborate with clinicians, by improving the understanding of blood flow simulations. Full immersion in the flow field allows for a more intuitive understanding of the flow phenomena, and can be a great help to medical experts for treatment planning.
CFD for Jet Impingement Heat Transfer With Single Jets and Arrays

CFD experiments were conducted for heat transfer with jet impingement over solid surfaces. The parameters include: 1) Jet Reynolds number from 3,000 to 23,000, 2) Jet-to-target-plate spacing (z/d), from 2 to 14 (single jet), d is jet diameter, 3) Target plate shape: 3a) flat, 3b) concave, 3c) convex, (single jet), 4) One row of seven jets impinging on a flat surface, the channel has one end closed (at 24d away from the most upstream jet axis), 5) Three rows of seven jets each in-line arrangement impinging on a flat surface, the channel has one end closed (at 24d away from the most upstream jet axis). Four CFD models (utilizing FLUENT commercial code) have been considered: 1) laminar flow (no turbulent transport), and turbulent flow with turbulence modeling by 2) the standard k–e model, 3) the k–ω model, and 4) the v2 –f model. The predictions of Nu number for each case were compared with experimental data available from the literature. It is shown that the v2 –f model gives the best overall performance, though the k–ω model gives good predictions for most of the flow, with the exception of near the stagnation zone for some cases. The models are in much better agreement (with the data) as z/d grows and at larger radial locations from the jet axis, as expected. For multiple jets in one row (z/d = 2), again the v2 –f showed the best overall agreement with the experimental data. The k–ω model is not as good while k–e clearly overpredicts the Nusselt numbers. For multiple jets in three inline rows (z/d = 5), all the three models were in overall agreement with the experimental data. However, k–e and k–ω exhibit an important phenomenon, reported by the experiments: a decrease of the stagnation Nu from the upstream jet to the downstream ones. The v2 –f model did not reproduce this feature.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Monument Creek debris flow, 1984: Implications for formation of rapids on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park

A recent debris flow in Monument Creek illustrates the nature of debris flows in small tributaries and their hydrologic effects on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. A debris avalanche originated in the Permian Esplanade Sandstone of the Supai Group during intense rainfall on July 27, 1984, and fell 600 m into Monument Creek, forming a 7-m-high barrier across the channel. The subsequent debris flow traveled 4.5 km to the Colorado River and achieved velocities of 3.4 to 4.0 m/s and a peak discharge of 100 to 120 m 3 /s. The flow consisted of a main pulse followed by subsequent pulses of debris flow or hyperconcentrated flow. The main pulse moved boulders as large as 2.7 m in diameter, and deposition at the mouth of Monument Creek enlarged the fan surface and significantly constricted the Colorado River. Most of the major rapids on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park appear to be maintained by episodic debris flows.
Small-scale compartment fire experiments with PMMA cribs☆

Small-scale compartment fire experiments and free burning experiments were carried out with single poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) slabs and three different PMMA crib geometries. In the compartment experiments, two different ventilation opening were used. The results show that the cribs do not melt down into a pool fire in either the compartment fire tests or the free burning tests. In addition, the results show that, in the compartment fire tests, the outer area of the cribs controls the fire behaviour whereas, in the free burning case, the total surface area of the crib controls the fire. The results provide valuable information on what fuel geometry to use in compartment fire experiments and what fuel area to use in mathematical fire modelling.
Army ground robotics research program

The U.S. Army has committed to a paradigm shift in the way future ground military operations will be conducted. It envisions highly mobile, lethal, and survivable forces that seamlessly combine manned and unmanned elements. To support this vision, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, together with an alliance of government, industrial and academic organizations, has embarked upon a concerted research program focusing upon development of the technologies required for autonomous ground mobility by unmanned systems. This paper will discuss technical activities of the past year and research directions for the future.
Patient self-management of acute asthma: adherence to national guidelines a decade later.

Background and Objectives. Children in the emergency department (ED) with acute asthma were enrolled to assess the impact of asthma on their activities of daily living and evaluate their access to care and preventive strategies, determine the proportion who adhered to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) guidelines for proper steps to take at home during an acute asthma exacerbation, and compare adherence rates for those with persistent and mild intermittent asthma. Design and Methods. Children 2 to 18 years old who presented to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s ED with acute asthma exacerbations were enrolled prospectively. Parents and patients completed the 108-item Asthma Exacerbation Response Questionnaire with a focus on determining the home management steps they took both at the onset of the asthma exacerbation and just before coming to the ED. Results. Among the 433 children studied, 76% had at least 1 doctor visit, 75% had at least 1 ED visit, and 43% had at least 1 hospitalization for asthma in the preceding 12 months. Overall, 64% had persistent asthma by NHLBI criteria, yet just 4% were cared for by an allergist or pulmonologist, 38% took daily anti-inflammatory therapy, and 18% received a daily inhaled corticosteroid. Also, 48% did not use a holding chamber with their metered-dose inhalers, and 66% did not use their peak flow meters. Regarding exacerbation response, 71% did not have a written action plan, and 89% did not maintain a symptom diary. Both at the onset of wheezing and just before coming to the ED, administration of a β2-agonist was the only step that the majority of children performed. One-third or fewer followed the other steps recommended by the NHLBI, including using a peak flow meter, beginning oral corticosteroids, calling or going to see the doctor, or going to the ED. Children with persistent asthma were not more adherent to the guidelines than those with mild intermittent disease. Conclusions. Asthma has a significant adverse effect on the lives of these children. The NHLBI guidelines, first published a decade ago, were designed to reduce asthma’s increasing morbidity and mortality, but this study uncovered a high rate of nonadherence with many aspects of the guidelines, including preventive strategies and home management of an exacerbation.