cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nervous system-specific expression of a novel serine protease: Regulation in the adult rat spinal cord by excitotoxic injury

A full-length cDNA clone of a previously unidentified serine protease, myelencephalon-specific protease (MSP), has been isolated by using a PCR cloning strategy and has been shown to be expressed in a nervous system and spinal cord-specific pattern. Sequence analysis demonstrated that MSP is most similar in sequence to neuropsin, trypsin, and tissue kallikrein and is predicted to have trypsin-like substrate specificity. MSP mRNA was found to be ∼10-fold greater in the CNS of the rat and human, as compared with most peripheral tissues, and within the CNS was found to be highest by a factor of four in the medulla oblongata and spinal cord. Levels of mRNA encoding tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) also were elevated in the spinal cord but were more widespread in peripheral tissues as compared with MSP. In the adult rat lumbosacral spinal cord, in situ localization of MSP mRNA demonstrated 2-fold higher levels in the white, as compared with the gray, matter. MSP mRNA expression was shown to increase 3-fold in the white matter and 1.5-fold in the gray laminae at 72 hr after intraperitoneal injection of the AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor-specific agonist, kainic acid (KA). MSP mRNA remained elevated in the ventral gray matter, including expression associated with the motor neurons of lamina IX, at 7 d after the initial excitotoxic insult. Together, these observations indicate that MSP is in a position to play a fundamental role in normal homeostasis and in the response of the spinal cord to injury.
Impacts of Low-Speed Vehicles on Transportation Infrastructure and Safety

There are increasing numbers of low-speed electric vehicles (LSV) on public roadways. These vehicles are designed to be used within protected environments and on roadways with a maximum posted speed of 25 mph. Currently these vehicles are not subject to the same federal requirements for occupant protection as passenger cars. The research reported in the paper investigated safety standards, operating regulations, and LSV manufacturer materials from sources around the world. The purpose of the research was to determine positive and negative impacts that LSV, including Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and Medium Speed Electric Vehicles (MSEVs), are likely to have for the states such as Oregon, and whether adjustments in state regulations are needed to ensure that LSV do not negatively impact road safety and traffic operations, or expose the LSV operators to undue risk. The U.S. and Canadian federal motor vehicle safety agencies have harmonized their regulations and stipulated the maximum operating speed of these vehicles, however state and local roadway authorities have regulated the maximum speed of roadways and intersection characteristics on which these vehicles can operate. The significant recommendations of this research are: (i) appropriate state statues for LSV should be amended such that LSV are limited to public roadways with a maximum operating speed of 25 mph, and they are restricted to crossing higher speed roadways at four-way Stop or signal controlled intersections, (ii) local transportation authorities should develop parallel or secondary low-speed roadway networks that connect residential neighborhoods with major activity centers.
Aortic arch versus central venous epinephrine during CPR

Study objective: To determine if delivery of epinephrine to the peripheral arterial system by an aortic arch catheter is more effective than central venous epinephrine administration during cardiac resuscitation. Design: Randomized, nonblinded, controlled trial. Type of participants: Sixteen mongrel canines (25 to 31 kg). Interventions: Animals had aortic arch pressure, right atrial pressure, superior vena cava infusion, and descending aortic arch infusion catheters placed using fluoroscopy. After ten minutes of ventricular fibrillation, three DC countershocks were delivered over one minute. If unsuccessful, CPR at 120 compressions per minute was begun, and at 60 seconds of CPR, epinephrine (1 mg/50 mL normal saline) was administered either through the superior vena cava or the aortic arch catheter followed by one more minute of CPR. Defibrillation then was attempted and, if unsuccessful, further resuscitative efforts followed advanced cardiac life support guidelines, except route and dose of epinephrine remained the same. Measurements and main results: Aortic arch pressure, right atrial pressure, and coronary perfusion pressure (diastolic aortic arch pressure minus diastolic right atrial pressure) were recorded continuously. Aortic arch pressure and coronary perfusion pressure increased more rapidly and to a greater magnitude with aortic arch-epinephrine than superior vena cava-epinephrine. Coronary perfusion pressure doubled by ten seconds in seven of eight in the aortic arch-epinephrine group versus none in the superior vena cava-epinephrine group. Aortic arch pressure and coronary perfusion pressure increases consistently plateaued within 60 seconds after aortic arch-epinephrine but not after superior vena cava-epinephrine. Return of spontaneous circulation was faster ( P P = .0001). Conclusion: For an equivalent dose of epinephrine, aortic arch administration produces a more rapid response and more rapid peak effect than central venous administration. The combination of aortic arch-epinephrine administration and aortic pressure monitoring may be useful when initial standard resuscitative measures have not been successful.
On the Correlation of Recent Numerical Computations of Laboratory-Scale Opposed-Flow Flame Spread Rates by Oseen Flow Theory and Velocity-Gradient Theory

In this short note the predictions of two theories of opposed-flow flame spread is compared with some recent numerically-computed results. The theories in question are those of deRis and Wichman
Local Correlation Tracking in Time Series

We address the problem of capturing and tracking local correlations among time evolving time series. Our approach is based on comparing the local auto-covariance matrices (via their spectral decompositions) of each series and generalizes the notion of linear cross-correlation. In this way, it is possible to concisely capture a wide variety of local patterns or trends. Our method produces a general similarity score, which evolves over time, and accurately reflects the changing relationships. Finally, it can also be estimated incrementally, in a streaming setting. We demonstrate its usefulness, robustness and efficiency on a wide range of real datasets.
Studies of the metabolism of separated bone cells. I. Techniques of separation and identification.

The mechanical separation of rat skeletal tissue into viable populations of periosteal cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and marrow cells has been undertaken. Periosteal cells and osteocytes were obtained as tissue preparations, while osteoblasts and marrow cells were isolated as individual cells. The cell populations were identified during the preparative procedure by their histological and histochemical appearance. Viability of these preparations was demonstrated by their metabolic activity during short-term incubations and their histological appearance and vital staining before and after such incubations. The cell populations produced carbon dioxide and lactate, consumed oxygen, and incorporated uridine into RNA. Comparison of uridine incorporation into RNA of cells from control and parathyroid hormone treated rats was compatible with a differential effect of parathyroid hormone on the cell populations. These findings indicate that the technique described can be utilized to produce viable bone cells of different types, and may offer a new means for characterizing the role of each cell type in the metabolism of skeletal tissue.
Influence of Inflammatory Reactions Vs. Occlusal Loading On Peri-Implant Marginal Bone Level

Plaque accumulation on abutments or implant surfaces induces an inflammatory reaction in the gingiva/alveolar mucosa just as around teeth. The longevity of oral implants can be jeopardized by either peri-implantitis and/or an occlusal overload. In the partially edentulous patient in whom pockets around teeth act as a reservoir for the colonization of the pockets around implants, the risk for inflammatory reactions of the peri-implant soft tissues seems especially more plausible than in the fully edentulous patient. This is especially true for implants with a very rough surface (e.g., plasma-sprayed), because of the positive relationship between surface roughness and supra- as well as subgingival plaque formation. Several medium-term (from 5 to 10 years) clinical studies support this hypothesis, through the observation of ongoing bone loss and subsequent decreasing success/survival percentages. Occlusal overload increases the risk for microfractures at the implant-bone interface in two-stage implants, whic...
Microcystin production and ecological physiology of Caribbean black band disease cyanobacteria

Summary Molecular studies of black band disease (BBD), a coral disease found on tropical and subtropical reefs worldwide, have shown that one 16S rRNA gene sequence is ubiquitous. This sequence has been reported to be a member of the cyanobacterial genus Oscillatoria. In this study, extracts of two cultured laboratory strains of BBD Oscillatoria, and for com- parison two strains of BBD Geitlerinema, all isolated from reefs of the wider Caribbean, were analysed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography- Tandem Quad Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was found in all strains, and one Geitlerinema strain additionally produced MC-YR. Growth experiments that monitored toxin production using enzyme-linked immunosor- bent assay (ELISA) showed that BBD Oscillatoria pro- duced yields of MC-LR equivalent (0.02-0.04 mg g -1
Three-view dense disparity estimation with occlusion detection

An algorithm for disparity estimation with energy-based variational regularization using three image views is presented. In the new algorithm, dense disparity maps, including the disparity values for feature points, are first estimated by phase-based methods. Then a set of coupled partial differential equations (PDEs) are solved to refine these disparity maps together with the feature information. The visual appearance of the refined disparity is better than that of the results using similar variational regularization involving only one stereo pair of images. In addition, a new effective occlusion detection scheme is presented with good results.
MoneyRoundball? The Drafting of International Players by National Basketball Association Teams:

National Basketball Association (NBA) teams have drafted international players regularly since 1996. Did NBA teams value international prospects accurately relative to U.S. players? Regressions of NBA performance reveal that international players drafted through 2001 tended to outperform expectations adjusted for draft positions. Teams subsequently drafted more international players, but first-round picks tended to underperform, implying that teams overreacted in adjusting their valuations of international prospects. Teams have not moved smoothly toward optimal evaluation of international players relative to U.S.-trained players.
Evolution of Scaphinotus petersi (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and the role of climate and geography in the Madrean sky islands of southeastern Arizona, USA

Abstract Geographically isolated environments such as the conifer forests atop the Madrean “sky islands” in southeastern Arizona provide natural laboratories for studying factors involved in speciation and origins of biodiversity. Using molecular and geospatial analyses, we examine beetle population phylogeny, regional climate records, and the Quaternary paleobiogeography of forests to evaluate four hypothetical scenarios regarding the current geographic and population genetic patterns of Scaphinotus petersi. Scaphinotus petersi is a large, flightless beetle that resides in the Madrean conifer forests above ~ 1900 m asl. Our results do not support the current hypothesis that S. petersi populations found on seven separate mountain ranges are genetically distinct and separated as temperatures warmed after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Rather, we show that only some of the ranges hold genetically distinct populations, and the timing of separation among the populations does not appear to coincide with specific climatic events such as warming trends. In addition, we show that predicted changes to the climate of the Madrean sky islands may result in the disappearance of S. petersi from some of the lower ranges by the end of this century.
Effect of Regulated Overexpression of the MADS Domain Factor AGL15 on Flower Senescence and Fruit Maturation

We have examined the effect of regulated overexpression of AGL15, a member of the MADS domain family of regulatory factors, on reproductive tissues. Using molecular and physiological markers, we show that constitutive overexpression of AGL15 in Arabidopsis leads to delay and down-regulation of senescence programs in perianth organs and developing fruits and alters the process of seed desiccation. Through genetic crosses, we show that the rate of water loss in the maturing seeds is dictated by the genetic composition and physiological state of the maternal tissue, rather than the embryo. To define the developmental time and/or place when senescence programs are most affected by elevated AGL15 levels, we expressed AGL15 under the control of various promoters. Expression during senescence or in abscission zone cells did not produce delays in floral organ senescence or abscission. Using a glucocorticoid-inducible expression system, we show that an increase in AGL15 levels around the time of flower opening is necessary to delay senescence and increase floral organ longevity.
Comparison and Identification of Static Electrical Terminal Fuel Cell Models

Six steady-state fuel cell electrical terminal models are compared using experimental data from an Avista Laboratories SR-12 500 W proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The paper begins by reviewing the physical effects in a fuel cell. The proposed electrical terminal models are introduced in terms of these physical effects, parameterized for identification and compared using the measured data.
The evolution of complex brains and behaviors in African cichlid fishes

In this review, I explore the effects of both social organization and the physical environment, specifically habitat complexity, on the brains and behavior of highly visual African cichlid fishes, drawing on examples from primates and birds where appropriate. In closely related fishes from the monophyletic Ectodinii clade of Lake Tanganyika, both forces influence cichlid brains and behavior. Considering social influences first, visual acuity differs with respect to social organization (monog- amy versus polygyny). Both the telencephalon and amygdalar homologue, area Dm, are larger in monogamous species. Mo- nogamous species are found to have more vasotocin-immunoreactive cells in the preoptic area of the brain. Habitat complexity also influences brain and behavior in these fishes. Total brain size, telencephalic and cerebellar size are positively correlated with habitat complexity. Visual acuity and spatial memory are enhanced in cichlids living in more complex environments. However habitat complexity and social forces affect cichlid brains differently. Taken together, our field data and plasticity data suggest that some of the species-specific neural effects of habitat complexity could be the consequence of the corresponding social correlates. Environmental forces, however, exert a broader effect on brain structures than social ones do, suggesting allometric expansion of the brain structures in concert with brain size and/or co-evolution of these structures (Current Zoology 56 (1): 144-156 2010).
Studies in chemical process design and synthesis: III. A Simple and practical approach to the optimal synthesis of heat exchanger networks

An algorithmic-evolutionary approach to the systematic synthesis of minimum cost networks of exchangers, heaters, and coolers is proposed. The new approach is easy to apply by hand calculations, requiring no special mathematical background and computational skill from the user. In addition to generating many cheaper networks for sample problems ranging in size from 4 to 10 streams as compared to previous studies, the proposed method provides an explicit theoretical guidance on the optimal exchange among hot and cold streams and on the optimal locations of heating and cooling utilities in the network. It also has a provision for the use of stream splitting and for generating a cyclic network. The new method is particularly effective in the synthesis of minimum cost networks for industrial crude unit preheat recovery.
Creep-controlled Diffusional Hillock Formation in Blanket Aluminum Thin Films as a Mechanism of Stress Relaxation

Hillock formation, a stress-induced diffusional relaxation process, was studied in sputter-deposited Al films. The grain sizes in these films were small compared to those in other sputter-deposited Al films, and impurities (O, Ti, W) were incorporated during the preparation of the films. Stress and hardness measurements both indicate that the Al films were strengthened by the small grain size and incorporated impurities. We observed a new type of hillock in these Al thin films after annealing for 2 h at 450 °C in a forming gas ambient. The hillocks were composed of large Al grains created between the substrate and the original Al film with its columnar grain structure, apparently by diffusion from the surrounding area. By modifying the boundary conditions of Chaudhari’s hillock formation model [P. Chaudhari, J. Appl. Phy. 45, 4339 (1974)], we have created a new model that can describe the experimentally observed hillocks. Our model seems to explain the experimentally observed abnormal hillock formation and may be applied to other types of hillock formation using different creep laws.
The Epidemiology of Child Homicide in California, 1981 Through 1990

An analysis of 30,929 California homicides (including 1,498 homicides younger than age 15) revealed important differences in child and adult risk factors. Adult victims and offenders were predominantly male, and Black or Hispanic; child victims and offenders were closer in race and sex composition to the general population. Adults were most likely to be killed by a stranger or acquaintance, children by a relative. Adult homicides peaked overnight and on weekends, child homicides at midday and midweek. Most adult homicides occurred in public, precipitated by a felony or a dispute; most child homicides occurred at home, precipitated by child abuse or homicide-suicide.
Light-evoked electrical potentials from the eye and optic nerve of Strombus: response waveform and spectral sensitivity.

The neural processing of visual information by the retina is reflected in the lightevoked extracellular retinal potentials (electroretinogram or ERG) and the discharge pattern of the concomitant afferent impulses in the optic nerve fibres. The waveform of the ERG is often fairly complex, since it represents the summed activity of a large number of different neurons; this activity can include the photic stimulation of receptors, and synaptic excitation and inhibition (Brown, 1968; Werblin & Dowling, 1969). Examining the ERG and its relation to the optic nerve activity which encodes the visual information can help to reveal the underlying neural mechanisms (Kennedy, 1964). Molluscan eyes, which exhibit a vast range of anatomical complexity (Charles, 1966), have proven amenable to the electrophysiological investigation of these mechanisms (see Discussion for examples and references). The eyes of strombid gastropods (family Strombidae) are well formed and conspicuous ; within the phylum Mollusca, except for those of cephalopods and heteropods, they are among the largest and most complex (Charles, 1966). The eye of the strombid Strombus luhuanus, as will be shown in this paper, exhibits complex electrical responses to photic stimulation. The eye is also of unusual interest because it permits the examination of the ontogeny of these responses during development, since Strombus readily regenerates a new and apparently normal eye following amputation. As the regenerate develops, its electrical responses progressively assume the complexities of the responses of the mature eye. This will be considered in more detail in a separate communication (Gillary, in preparation). The present report concerns light-evoked electrical activity in the mature eye and optic nerve of Strombus. It focuses on the waveform of the ERG, its spectral sensitivity and dependence on dark adaptation, temperature, and stimulus intensity, and its relation to the patterned dischaige of afferent impulses. The results indicate that the eye contains a single visual pigment and that its response to photic stimulation reflects complex iatra-retinal neural interactions which involve excitation, inhibition, and oscillatory 'off' activity. Preliminary reports of some of the results have appeared elsewhere (Gillary, 1971, 1972). METHOD Mature Strombus luhuanus, with shell lengths of about 4 cm, were collected at depths of 5-30 ft near the Eniwetok Marine Biological Laboratory in the Marshall Islands, imported to Hawaii, and maintained in marine aquaria. Prior to experimenta
Characterization of lignin derived from water-only and dilute acid flowthrough pretreatment of poplar wood at elevated temperatures.

Flowthrough pretreatment of biomass is a critical step in lignin valorization via conversion of lignin derivatives to high-value products, a function vital to the economic efficiency of biorefinery plants. Comprehensive understanding of lignin behaviors and solubilization chemistry in aqueous pretreatment such as water-only and dilute acid flowthrough pretreatment is of fundamental importance to achieve the goal of providing flexible platform for lignin utilization. In this study, the effects of flowthrough pretreatment conditions on lignin separation from poplar wood were reported as well as the characteristics of three sub-sets of lignin produced from the pretreatment, including residual lignin in pretreated solid residues (ReL), recovered insoluble lignin in pretreated liquid (RISL), and recovered soluble lignin in pretreatment liquid (RSL). Both the water-only and 0.05 % (w/w) sulfuric acid pretreatments were performed at temperatures from 160 to 270 °C on poplar wood in a flowthrough reactor system for 2–10 min. Results showed that water-only flowthrough pretreatment primarily removed syringyl (S units). Increased temperature and/or the addition of sulfuric acid enhanced the removal of guaiacyl (G units) compared to water-only pretreatments at lower temperatures, resulting in nearly complete removal of lignin from the biomass. Results also suggested that more RISL was recovered than ReL and RSL in both dilute acid and water-only flowthrough pretreatments at elevated temperatures. NMR spectra of the RISL revealed significant β-O-4 cleavage, α-β deoxygenation to form cinnamyl-like end groups, and slight β-5 repolymerization in both water-only and dilute acid flowthrough pretreatments. Elevated temperature and/or dilute acid greatly enhanced lignin removal to almost 100 % by improving G unit removal besides S unit removal in flowthrough system. Only mild lignin structural modification was caused by flowthrough pretreatment. A lignin transformation pathway was proposed to explain the complexity of the lignin structural changes during hot water and dilute acid flowthrough pretreatment.
Studies of renal function in the intact fetal lamb

Abstract The sheep maternal-fetal preparation as described in these investigations provides an efficient and reproducible method to study various parameters of renal function in the intact fetus. Studies may be carried out for at least 4 to 5 hours without the fetus or mother showing evidence of deterioration. The inulin clearances in the sheep near term were 0.2 to 1.4 c.c. per minute per kilogram compared with endogenous creatinine clearances of 0.22 to 0.62 c.c. per minute per kilogram. The endogenous phosphorus clearance was extremely low ranging from 0.0 to 0.08 c.c. per minute per kilogram in spite of high inorganic phosphorus concentrations in the blood 6.3 to 13.2 mg. per 100 c.c.
Moving forward to constrain the shear viscosity of QCD matter

We demonstrate that measurements of rapidity differential anisotropic flow in heavy-ion collisions can constrain the temperature dependence of the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio $\ensuremath{\eta}/s$ of QCD matter. Comparing results from hydrodynamic calculations with experimental data from the RHIC, we find evidence for a small $\ensuremath{\eta}/s\ensuremath{\approx}0.04$ in the QCD crossover region and a strong temperature dependence in the hadronic phase. A temperature independent $\ensuremath{\eta}/s$ is disfavored by the data. We further show that measurements of the event-by-event flow as a function of rapidity can be used to independently constrain the initial state fluctuations in three dimensions and the temperature dependent transport properties of QCD matter.
The promotive and protective effects of family factors in the context of peer and community risks for aggression

A clearer understanding of the promotive factors that reduce adolescents' involvement in aggression and the protective factors that mitigate the influence of risk factors that emerge during adolescence is needed to inform prevention efforts. This study examined the promotive and protective influences of family factors on physical aggression using data collected from aggressive and socially-influential adolescents (N = 537; 35 % female) at the beginning of sixth grade and at three subsequent waves across the following 3 years. Family characteristics (i.e., better family functioning, higher perceived parental support for nonviolence, and lower parental support for fighting) at the start of the sixth grade exerted promotive effects that reduced levels of aggression at subsequent waves. Some support was also found for protective influences. A foundation of good family functioning at the start of sixth grade buffered adolescents from the risks from delinquent peers, from the spring of sixth grade to the spring of seventh grade. Low parental support for fighting reduced risks associated with witnessing community violence, from the fall to the spring of sixth grade, but at low levels of risk only. These findings suggest that interventions targeting high-risk adolescents might benefit by enhancing both promotive and protective family factors.
Analysis of critically ill children with abnormal coagulation and disseminated intravascular coagulation

Objectives To understand the morbidity and mortality of abnormal coagulation and disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)in pediatric critically ill patients and summarize experiences of early diagnosis and prophylaxis of using heparin in DIC. Methods A total of 589 patients admitted to PICU ward from January 2005 to April 2007 were evaluated with Pediatric Critical Illness Score and Guidelines for Developing Admission and Discharge Policies for Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of America and monitored with coagulation function tests. Patients with DIC were treated with different doses of heparin according to their bleeding condition. Patients with dysfunction of coagulation,presented abnormal coagulation but not reach to the criterion of DIC,were treated with low dose heparin. Results The mortality of pediatric critically ill patients is 8.6% with morbidity of 28.6% and mortality of 25.7% among abnormal coagulation. The morbidity and mortality of DIC was 10.6% and 45.2% ,respectively;and the morbidity and mortality of dysfunction of coagulation was 18.0% and 14.1%. The main primary cause was sepsis which accounted for 73.8%. Earlier treatment with 200 ～ 240 U/(kg·d)heparin showed better therapeutic effects on patients with DIC. Patients with dysfunction of coagulation who had been treated with 60 ～ 120 U/(kg·d)heparin seldom developed to DIC. Conclusions DIC is one of the fatal causes of pediatric critical ill patients. The main primary disease is severe infection. Treating earlier with individualized heparin dosage showed better therapeutic effect. Small dosage of heparin in treating critical ill patients may play a role in preventing from DIC.
How to Start a War: Eight Cases of Strategic Provocation

A leader intent on starting a war must develop a compelling narrative for their domestic constituency and the international community.AÂ For some, strategic provocation A¢â¬â defined here as the use of deceptive tactics to instigate violence against one's own state A¢â¬â has been a reliable means of initiating war under the guise of self-defense. Eight cases of strategic provocation reveal a basic pattern of its use, and some possibly unwelcome truths about state leaders' methods.AÂ As international institutions increasingly scrutinize states' interventionist agendas, the use of deceptive narratives is likely to continue. Despite known indicators of strategic provocation operations, warning of such operations has not typically prevented warfare.
Upper extremity 3-dimensional reachable workspace assessment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by Kinect sensor.

Introduction: Reachable workspace is a measure that provides clinically meaningful information regarding arm function. In this study, a Kinect sensor was used to determine the spectrum of 3-dimensional reachable workspace encountered in a cross-sectional cohort of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: Bilateral 3D reachable workspace was recorded from 10 subjects with ALS and 17 healthy controls. The data were normalized by each individual's arm length to obtain a reachable workspace relative surface area (RSA). Concurrent validity was assessed by correlation with scoring on the ALS Functional Rating Score—revised (ALSFRSr). Results: The Kinect-measured reachable workspace RSA differed significantly between the ALS and control subjects (0.579 ± 0.226 vs. 0.786 ± 0.069; P < 0.001). The RSA demonstrated correlation with ALSFRSr upper extremity items (Spearman correlation ρ = 0.569; P = 0.009). With worsening upper extremity function, as categorized by the ALSFRSr, the reachable workspace also decreased progressively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility and potential of using a novel Kinect-based reachable workspace outcome measure in ALS. Muscle Nerve 53: 234–241, 2016
Synthesis of Δ5,22‐cholestadien‐3β‐ol from Δ5,7,22‐cholestatrien‐3β‐ol by a liver enzyme

The rat liver enzyme system, which catalyzes reduction of Δ5,7,24-cholestatrien-3β-ol to cholesterol (Δ5-cholesten-3β-ol), converted radiolabeled Δ5,7,22-cholestatrien-3β-ol to Δ5,22-cholestadien-3β-ol, but not to cholesterol. This enzyme system thus contains membrane-bound Δ7 and Δ24-reductases and no Δ22-reductase. Kinetic and competition studies showed that the enzymes system contains a single Δ5,7-sterol Δ7-reductase, which is not influenced by unsaturtion at the Δ22-position of the sterol side chain. The identity of Δ5,22-cholestadienol was established by chromatographic, spectral and chemical analyses. Use of the enzyme system and readily available Δ5,7,22-cholestatrienol provides a facile procedure for specific production of Δ5,22-cholestradien-3β-ol in quantity.
Anytime exploration for multi-armed bandits using confidence information

We introduce anytime Explore-m, a pure exploration problem for multi-armed bandits (MAB) that requires making a prediction of the top-m arms at every time step. Anytime Explore-m is more practical than fixed budget or fixed confidence formulations of the top-m problem, since many applications involve a finite, but unpredictable, budget. However, the development and analysis of anytime algorithms present many challenges. We propose AT-LUCB (AnyTime Lower and Upper Confidence Bound), the first nontrivial algorithm that provably solves anytime Explore-m. Our analysis shows that the sample complexity of AT-LUCB is competitive to anytime variants of existing algorithms. Moreover, our empirical evaluation on AT-LUCB shows that AT-LUCB performs as well as or better than state-of-the-art baseline methods for anytime Explore-m.
Vereinigung der beiden Standpunkte; die Elektronenanordnung im Atom

Wir haben jetzt die beiden verschiedenen Anschauungen uber die Struktur des Atominnern besprochen. Nach beiden besteht das neutrale Atom aus einem Kern im Mittelpunkt mit einer positiven Ladung gleich der Atomnummer Z und einer Gruppe von Z Elektronen, die um das Zentrum herumliegen.
Medical Application of a Swept-Frequency Through-Transmission Ultrasonic Imager

Development of a quasi-holographic throughtransmission ultrasonic imager has been followed through two formal prototype stages, and results obtained with a greatly modified third prototype will be presented. Modifications incorporated into the latest prototype will be enumerated. Comparisons of images obtained using the earlier prototypes with the latest device will be made, both for inanimate test objects and hopefully a variety of biological specimens. A description of the current and potential value of the apparatus for in vivo patient imaging will be described, along with a discussion of practical problems encountered.
A wide-band spiral based amplitude-only Azimuth direction finding system

In this contribution we evaluate a direction finding system based on two planar spiral antennas mounted in a squinted fashion and using amplitude information only. This concept avoids hybrids for beam formers or summation networks which makes the antenna elements the only bandwidth-limiting components. With a 10-turn spiral a 1:36 bandwidth and a field of view of 157° is theoretically demonstrated.
Nonlinear power control of doubly fed induction generator wind turbines using neural networks

A neural network controller is presented for the direct power control of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) in a wind turbine. Due to the variability of wind speed, aerodynamic control of the pitch angle of the turbine blades is necessary to capture maximum power from the wind. An alternative control strategy for tracking the maximum power that can be extracted is by accurate control of the turbine rotational speed. However, due to the nonlinearities inherent in a wind energy conversion system (WECS) and wind speed unpredictability, exact control of this speed becomes challenging. This is addressed by the use of an adaptive learning rate to guarantee convergence. Hence, the controller is robust to uncertainties in wind speed. The superior performance of the proposed control technique, under varying nominal wind speeds, is established by simulation results.
Minority Language Issues in Chinese Higher Education: Policy Reforms and Practice among the Korean and Mongol Ethnic Groups

The purpose of this study is to compare Korean and Mongol minorities in the People’s Republic of China in terms of their native language preservation and educational experiences at the higher education level, and to investigate differences and similarities between Korean and Mongol minorities’ language issues. Content area experts on Chinese minority education from China, South Korea, and the United States were interviewed for this study. Findings include suggestions for helping to formulate government educational policies regarding issues related to language in Chinese minority education at the higher education level. This information is helpful to better understand and educate others in school and home settings where Chinese ethnic minority students reside. The advancement of Chinese minority education knowledge related to higher education will significantly strengthen and empower individuals, families, and communities throughout the People’s Republic of China.
Children's Hospitals' Solutions for Patient Safety Collaborative Impact on Hospital-Acquired Harm.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if an improvement collaborative of 33 children’s hospitals focused on reliable best practice implementation and culture of safety improvements can reduce hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) and serious safety events (SSEs). METHODS: A 3-year prospective cohort study design with a 12-month historical control population was completed by the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety collaborative. Identification and dissemination of best practices related to 9 HACs and SSE reduction focused on key process and culture of safety improvements. Individual hospital improvement teams leveraged the resources of a large, structured children’s hospital collaborative using electronic, virtual, and in-person interactions. RESULTS: Thirty-three children’s hospitals from across the United States volunteered to be part of the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety collaborative. Thirty-two met all the data submission eligibility requirements for the HAC improvement objective of this study, and 21 participated in the high-reliability culture work aimed at reducing SSEs. Significant harm reduction occurred in 8 of 9 common HACs (range 9%–71%; P P P CONCLUSIONS: Participation in a structured collaborative dedicated to implementing HAC-related best-practice prevention bundles and culture of safety interventions designed to increase the use of high-reliability organization practices resulted in significant HAC and SSE reductions. Structured collaboration and rapid sharing of evidence-based practices and tools are effective approaches to decreasing hospital-acquired harm.
Minimal residual disease in non-Hodgkin lymphoma – current applications and future directions

Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHLs) are a heterogeneous group of tumours with distinct treatment paradigms, but in all cases the goal of treatment is to maximize quality and duration of remission while minimizing therapy-related toxicity. Identification of persistent disease or relapse is most often the trigger to intensify or re-initiate anti-neoplastic therapy, respectively. In the current era of NHL treatment, this determination is mostly based on imaging and clinical evaluations, tools with imperfect sensitivity and specificity. The availability of minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring could transform treatment paradigms by allowing intensification of treatment in at-risk patients or early intervention for impending relapse. Novel methods based on polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing are now being studied in NHL with promising results. This review outlines the current status of the field in the use of MRD techniques for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Specifically, we address their demonstrated and potential clinical utility in risk stratification, monitoring of remission status, and guiding interim and post-treatment escalation. Future applications of these techniques could identify novel markers of MRD, improve initial treatment selection, guide treatment escalation or de-escalation, and allow for real-time monitoring of patterns of clonal evolution, which together could redefine NHL treatment paradigms.
Acoustically Focused Oceanographic Sampling and Ocean Forecasting

Current advances in Acoustically Focused Oceanographic Sampling (AFOS) are presented and motivated in this paper. AFOS enables high-resolution adaptive sampling of oceanic fields using synoptic estimates derived from the assimilation of acoustic data. The experimental feasibility of AFOS was demonstrated in the coastal environment of Haro Strait, British Columbia in 1996 using an acoustic-tomographic approach. The experiment’s main results are reviewed. A formal acoustic data assimilation framework has since been developed in order to combine acoustic data with other data streams into generic ocean models. This framework is outlined, and current implementation issues are then discussed.
In-silico analysis of the “memory anti-Naïve” effect in anti-viral cross-reactive responses

Of the examples of clonal competition for antigen among lymphocytes, the recently predicted “Memory anti-Naive” phenomenon occurs when the challenging antigen is not identical to the priming, and will be consequently bound with lower avidity by preexisting memory cells. In this study we use computer modeling and a systematic schedule of viral injections to disentangle the complex relationship between different lineages of effector T cells in the presence of viruses. We measure the antiviral efficiency of memory cells as well as their dominance over naive cells as a function of the antigenic distance between first and second infection. Our simulation show that at a critical range of antigenic distance memory cells, now unable to clear the infection, can however block the surge of naive clones thus preventing an effective immune response. This finding motivate us to propose the Memory anti-Naive phenomenon as the causative mechanism for the classic Original Antigenic Sin phenomenon described in the literature which occurs irregularly in returning pandemics, and also for the less glamorous, but certainly numerous and severe, cases of misfired vaccinations, and viral escapes.
Inferred fish behavior its implications for hydroacoustic surveys in nearshore habitats

Abstract Population availability and vessel avoidance effects on hydroacoustic abundance estimates may be scale dependent; therefore, it is important to evaluate these biases across systems. We performed an inter-ship comparison survey to determine the effect of vessel size, day-night period, depth, and environmental gradients on walleye (Sander vitreus) density estimates in Lake Erie, an intermediate-scaled system. Consistent near-bottom depth distributions coupled with horizontal fish movements relative to vessel paths indicated avoidance behavior contributed to higher walleye densities from smaller vessels in shallow water (i.e.,
Lactation: Dietary Requirements

The maternal requirement for most nutrients during lactation is higher than during pregnancy because of the need to replace the substantial amounts secreted in breast milk. This chapter first describes the overall approaches used by Food and Agriculture Organization/World Heath Organization, and the Institute of Medicine, to establish dietary requirements for nutrients in lactating women. It then provides more details of the requirements for macronutrients, and some minerals (calcium and zinc) and vitamins (vitamin A, folate, and other vitamins B).
Biochemische Genetik (Genfunktion)

Bisher haben wir die Gene als unabhangige Einheiten betrachtet. Wir haben ihre Struktur als Nukleotidsequenzen beschrieben, ihre Transkription in eine RNA-Kopie besprochen, und die Translation der RNA in die Aminosauresequenz eines Polypeptids diskutiert. Das Endglied der Kette von Reaktionen war schlieslich ein fertiges Protein. In der Zelle ubernehmen die Polypeptidketten entweder strukturelle oder enzymatische Aufgaben. Eine Zelle ist jedoch ein komplexes Gebilde, und ihr Funktionieren beruht auf der Abstimmung vieler Genaktivitaten aufeinander. Am Schlus dieses Buches werden wir besprechen, wie Gene in einem Organismus zusammenwirken. In diesem Kapitel werden wir den historischen Ablauf der Erforschung des Zusammenhangs von Genen und Enzymen und die Rolle von Enzymen in biochemischen Syntheseketten besprechen. Im darauffolgenden Kapitel werden wir die Regulation der Expression von Genen betrachten, die in Pro- und Eukaryonten verwandte Funktionen codieren. Wir wollen auch die Beziehungen zwischen einzelnen Genen analysieren, soweit sie fur die Populationsgenetik bedeutsam sind.
When and why is it disrespectful to excuse an attitude

It is intuitive that, under certain circumstances, it can be disrespectful or patronizing to excuse someone for an attitude (even for an attitude one finds objectionable). While it is easy enough to find instances where it seems disrespectful to excuse an attitude, matters are complicated. When and why, precisely, is it disrespectful to judge that someone is not responsible for his attitude? In this paper, I show, first, that the extant philosophical literature on this question is underdeveloped and overgeneralized: the writers who address the question suggest quite strikingly that it is always disrespectful to excuse a sane, rational agent for his attitude, and their arguments rely on false generalizations about what is involved in excusing an attitude. I then sketch an account of respect (something conspicuously missing in the literature on this question) to explain when and why it is disrespectful to excuse an attitude. Using this account, I show that one can coherently (and respectfully) excuse an attitude even in some cases where that attitude was produced by a responsiveness to reasons.
Explaining Women's Rights Realignment: Convention Delegates, 1972–1992

Since the early 1970s, the major American parties have moved from general consensus on women's rights issues to sharp polarization. While previous efforts to explain this realignment have identified pieces of the puzzle, these explanations have been generally incomplete and atheoretical. I argue that party positions are determined by the perceived value of specific issue positions for maintaining and expanding the party's coalition of electoral support. Thus, changes in both the composition of the party's coalition and the way the issue is defined and understood can bring about changes in the issue positions adopted by parties. Using the Convention Delegate Studies (1972–1992), this research suggests that both replacement (coalition change) and in the case of Democrats, conversion (caused by issue change) have been important mechanisms for bringing about party realignment on women's rights. This explanation both encompasses causal factors highlighted by previous scholars and points to other important contributing causes.