cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein Kinase B/Akt Is Present in Activated Form throughout the Entire Replicative Cycle of ΔUS3 Mutant Virus but Only at Early Times after Infection with Wild-Type Herpes Simplex Virus 1

The product of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) US3 gene is a multifunctional serine-threonine protein kinase that can block apoptosis induced by proapoptotic cellular proteins, exogenous agents, or replication-defective viruses. Earlier studies showed that the U(S)3 kinase activates and functionally overlaps cellular protein kinase A (PKA). In this study we examined the status of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K] and of its effector, protein kinase B/Akt (PKB/Akt), a component of a major pathway of mammalian antiapoptotic signaling systems. We report the following. (i) Infection of target cells with HSV-1 induces transient phosphorylation of serine 473 of PKB/Akt early in infection, with a mechanism that is dependent on PI3K. Inhibition of PI3K induced apoptosis in mock-infected or deltaU(S)3 mutant-virus-infected but not in wild-type-virus-infected cells and reduced the accumulation of specific viral gene products, including the U(S)3 protein kinase, but had a marginal effect on virus yields. (ii) At later times after infection, the total amounts of PKB/Akt decreased and phosphorylated PKB/Akt forms disappeared in a U(S)3-dependent and protein phosphatase 2A-independent manner. (iii) Activation of PKA by forskolin did not mediate significant dephosphorylation of PKB/Akt. Our results are consistent with the model that PKB/Akt is activated early in infection and acts to block apoptosis in infected cells prior to the accumulation of U(S)3 protein kinase and that it persists and continues to function as an antiapoptotic protein in the absence of U(S)3 but becomes redundant or even inimical once U(S)3 protein kinase accumulates in effective amounts.
Designing a Pediatric Severe Sepsis Screening Tool

We sought to create a screening tool with improved predictive value for pediatric severe sepsis and septic shock that can be incorporated into the electronic medical record and actively screen all patients arriving at a pediatric Emergency Department (ED). “Gold standard” severe sepsis cases were identified using a combination of coded discharge diagnosis and physician chart review from 7,402 children who visited a pediatric ED over two months. The tool’s identification of severe sepsis was initially based on International Consensus Conference on Pediatric Sepsis (ICCPS) parameters that were refined by an iterative, virtual process that allowed us to propose successive changes in sepsis detection parameters in order to optimize the tool’s predictive value based on receiver operating curve (ROC) characteristics. Age-specific normal and abnormal values for heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were empirically derived from 143,603 children seen in a second pediatric ED over three years. Univariate analyses were performed for each measure in the tool to assess its association with severe sepsis and to characterize it as an “early” or “late” indicator of severe sepsis. A split-sample was used to validate the final, optimized tool. The final tool incorporated age-specific thresholds for abnormal HR and RR and employed a linear temperature correction for each category. The final tool’s positive predictive value was 48.7%, a significant, nearly three-fold improvement over the original ICCPS tool. False positive Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) identifications were nearly six-fold lower.
Hydrothermal reaction kinetics and pathways of phenylalanine alone and in binary mixtures.

We examined the behavior of phenylalanine in high-temperature water (HTW) at 220, 250, 280, and 350 °C. Under these conditions, the major product is phenylethylamine. The minor products include styrene and phenylethanol (1-phenylethanol and 2-phenylethanol), which appear at higher temperatures and longer batch holding times. Phenylethylamine forms via decarboxylation of phenylalanine, styrene forms via deamination of phenylethylamine, and phenylethanol forms via hydration of styrene. We quantified the molar yields of each product at the four temperatures, and the carbon recovery was between 80-100 % for most cases. Phenylalanine disappearance follows first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 144 ± 14 kJ mol⁻¹ and a pre-exponential factor of 10(12.4 ± 1.4) min⁻¹. A kinetics model based on the proposed pathways was consistent with the experimental data. Effects of five different salts (NaCl, NaNO₃, Na₂ SO₄, KCl, K₂ HPO₄) and boric acid (H₃BO₃) on phenylalanine behavior at 250 °C have also been elucidated. These additives increase phenylalanine conversion, but decrease the yield of phenylethylamine presumably by promoting formation of high molecular weight compounds. Lastly, binary mixtures of phenylalanine and ethyl oleate have been studied at 350 °C and three different molar concentration ratios. The presence of phenylalanine enhances the conversion of ethyl oleate and molar yields of fatty acid. Higher concentration of ethyl oleate leads to increased deamination of phenylethylamine and hydration of styrene. Amides are also formed due to the interaction of oleic acid/ethyl oleate and phenylethylamine/ammonia and lead to a decrease in the fatty acid yields. Taken collectively, these results provide new insights into the reactions of algae during its hydrothermal liquefaction to produce crude bio-oil.
A Comparison of d-, l-, dl-Methionine and Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Calcium in Chick Diets

Abstract NUMEROUS reports indicate equal utilization of the d - and l -isomers of methionine by chickens (Grau and Almquist, 1943; Fell et al., 1959; Leveille et al., 1960; Bauriedel, 1963; Featherston et al., 1962). On the other hand, Bruggemann et al. (1962) reported the d- isomer to be inferior to the l- isomer in purified diets. Marrett et al. (1964) observed that the d- isomer was inferior to the l- isomer when the diet contained an appreciable amount of d- amino acids, but was nutritionally equivalent to l -methionine in the absence of other d- isomers. Data indicating that d -isomers of some amino acids depress the utilization of d -methionine more than others were reported recently (Marrett and Sunde, 1965). Some short term utilization and excretion studies have also indicated poorer utilization of the d -isomer of methionine. After intravenous infusion of 1.5 grams of dl -methionine into humans over a 5 minute period, Kinsell et al. (1948) found the urinary excretion …
A Candidate Fault Model for AspectJ Pointcuts

We present a candidate fault model for pointcuts in AspectJ programs. The fault model identifies faults that we believe are likely to occur when writing pointcuts in the AspectJ language. Categories of fault types are identified, and each individual fault type is described an categorized. We argue that a fault model that focuses on the unique constructs of the AspectJ language is needed for the systematic and effective testing of AspectJ programs. Our pointcut fault model is a first step towards such a model.
Lying about Borrowing

We compare survey self-reports with administrative data and find that nearly 50% of recent borrowers do not report their high-interest consumer loans. Under-reporting appears to be correlated with several characteristics of interest, in particular gender: 62% of women, when interviewed by men, under-report whereas 42% of women interviewed by women under-report. On the other hand, 40% of men under-report, irrespective of the gender of the interviewer. As such relying strictly on self-reported data may lead to biased inference, and we outline some methodological implications for identifying impacts of credit access on borrower behavior and outcomes. Matching female surveyors to female respondents appears to be a low-cost mitigating strategy, but clearly the best strategy is to make sure one has administrative data from a lender to measure actual borrowing history.
Religious Fundamentalism as Schema: Influences on Memory for Religious Information

Those with differing levels of religious fundamentalism (RF) may be selective in their memory for religious information. In Study 1, participants read a text about money or sex, with a judgmental or not-judgmental message. Higher RF was associated with more accurate recall and fewer intrusions. In Study 2, participants high or low in RF read texts about sex. High-RF participants had more accurate recall and fewer intrusions. However, high-RF participants had more recognition false alarms to sentences that were not presented. High RF may aid memory for religious information, but also increase familiarity of related but not presented information. Exposure to not-judgmental messages decreased RF scores, suggesting that textual messages can impact responses to fundamentalism scales.
Constraint effects on probabilistic analysis of cracks in ductile solids

This paper presents a method for evaluating constraint effects on probabilistic elastic-plastic analysis of cracks in ductile solids. It is based on fracture parameters J and Q, correlation between Q and J-resistance curve of the material, and J-tearing theory for predicting fracture initiation and instability in cracked structures. Based on experimental data from small-scale fracture specimens, correlation equations were developed for fracture toughness at crack initiation and the slope of the J-resistance curve as a function of constraint condition. The random parameters may involve crack geometry, tensile and fracture toughness properties of the material, and applied loads. Standard reliability methods were applied to predict probabilistic fracture response and reliability of cracked structures. The results suggest that crack-tip constraints have little effect on the probability of crack initiation. However, the probability of fracture instability can be significantly reduced when constraint effects are taken into account. Hence, for a structure where some amount of stable crack-growth can be tolerated, crack-tip constraints should be considered for probabilistic fracture-mechanics analysis.
Fractures of the C-2 vertebral body

Vertical C-2 body fractures are presented in 15 patients with clinical and imaging correlations that suggest the existence of a variety of mechanisms of injury. In these patients, clinical and imaging correlations were derived by: 1) defining the point of impact by clinical examination; 2) defining the point of impact by soft-tissue changes on cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or computerized tomography (CT); 3) obtaining an accurate history of the mechanism of injury; and 4) spine imaging (x-ray studies, CT, and MR imaging) of the C-2 body fracture and surrounding bone and soft tissue. The cases presented involve the region located between the dens and the pars interarticularis of the axis. Although these fractures are rarely reported, they are not uncommon. An elucidation of their pathological anatomy helps to further the understanding of the mechanistic etiology of upper cervical spine trauma. A spectrum of mechanisms of injury causing upper cervical spine fractures was observed. The type of injury incurred is determined predominantly by the force vector applied during impact and the intrinsic strength and anatomy of C-2 and its surrounding spinal elements. From this clinical experience, two types of vertical C-2 body fractures are defined and presented: coronally oriented (Type 1) and sagittally oriented (Type 2). A third type of C-2 body fracture, the horizontal rostral C-2 fracture (Type 3), is added for completeness; this Type 3 fracture is the previously described Type III odontoid process fracture described by Anderson and D'Alonzo.
Rethinking bystander CPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

1 Clinical Fellow, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 4 Assistant Professor, Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Predictive Tool for Estimating Accident Risk

This paper presents a predictive tool that uses safety factors to estimate accident risk for processes commonly employed on construction sites. The tool is demonstrated in the context of the utility-trenching process. Based on expert surveys, preplanning, supervision, and training are identified as critical safety factors needed to predict accident risk when evaluating safety performance related to trenching operations. Preplanning has a greater impact on excavation tasks than supervision and training, while conversely, supervision and training are more important during the pipe installation phase of trenching operations.
Mexican Immigrants’ and Mexican Americans’ Perceptions of Hypertension

Although the rate of hypertension (HTN) is no higher for Mexican-origin clients than for non-Hispanic Whites, their rate of blood pressure (BP) control is lower. To effectively assist clients with their BP, health care providers must first understand barriers and facilitators to BP control from the clients' perspectives. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of living with HTN for Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans. A phenomenological method was appropriate to describe their lived experience. We conducted one-time interviews with 26 adults who self-identified as Mexican-origin. Some participants did not know what caused HTN and others believed in causes they could control. Many believed HTN was of short duration. Some participants forgot to take medication or were not able to afford it. Mexican-origin clients need more assistance with BP control, and need it in both English and Spanish.
Maximum Likelihood Estimation Using Parallel Computing: An Introduction to MPI

The computational difficulty of econometric problems has increased dramatically in recent years as econometricians examine more complicated models and utilize more sophisticated estimation techniques. Many problems in econometrics are `embarrassingly parallel' and can take advantage of parallel computing to reduce the wall clock time it takes to solve a problem. In this paper I demonstrate a method that can be used to solve a maximum likelihood problem using the MPI message passing library. The econometric problem is a simple multinomial logit model that does not require parallel computing but illustrates many of the problems one would confront when estimating more complicated models.
Role of Dietary Fat in the Causation of Breast Cancer: Counterpoint

Evaluating the hypothesis that dietary fat intake in adult life is positively related to breast cancer risk has been a major challenge in nutritional epidemiology since the 1970s. The fact that we are still debating the issue in 1998 illustrates how difficult it is to obtain agreement on
CONGENITAL DYSPLASIA, SUBLUXATION, AND DISLOCATION OF THE HIP IN STILLBORN AND NEWBORN INFANTS.

Two hundred and forty hips in 120 stillborn and newborn babies were examined and dissected. The abnormal hips found included one hip with a superoposterior and one with anterior dislocation, three hips with superoposterior subluxations, and three dysplastic hips with the anatomical-pathological findings described and possible etiological factors discussed.
Intermediate Hosts of Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus of the Cat

ConclusionThe occurrence of the lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus of the cat in California was established. About 2% of the cats investigated were found infected with the parasite. Different spec...
A Method for Optimizing Launch Vehicle Aero-Assist Including Path Optimization

An efficient method for implementing the decades old concept of improving multiple stage launch vehicle performance by adding aerodynamic lifting during the first stage is presented in this work. A preliminary design for the complete vehicle including the outer mold line aerodynamic shape is matched to the most advantageous trajectory for aerodynamic assist. This paper shows that performance enhancement can be achieved by attaching wings to a rocket powered launch type vehicle design.
Precursors of Titanium Carbonitride

A series of novel compounds was isolated in the course of exploratory work on the chemistry of titanium halides in liquid ammonia. This work was undertaken to study synthetic approaches to titanium-containing precursors of ceramic materials. Representative of these compounds is a mixed valence Ti(III)-Ti(IV) tetramer, [NH4+·NH3]2[Ti4Br4 (NH2)12]−2, which was produced by the reaction of potassium borohydride and titanium IV bromide in liquid ammonia at room temperature. Similar ammonium salts of either Ti(IV) or Ti(III) were also prepared. The reaction of the ammonium salts with sodium acetylide in liquid ammonia evolves acetylene in an amount equivalent to the ammonium ion present. This provided the charge of the complex and yielded novel titanium acetylide derivatives. The acetylides convert into titanium carbonitrides upon thermal treatment to 800°C. The reaction of titanium halides of their ammonolytic products with sodium acetylide in liquid ammonia to yield halogen-free acetylide precursors having a relatively high titanium content appears to be a convenient synthetic approach. This is made possible by the fact that the alkali metal halide by-products are soluble and easily separated in that reaction medium. This approach appears to be a generalized route applicable to a number of transition metal elements of interest.
Book Review: Mobilizing Restraint: Democracy and Industrial Conflict in Post-reform South Asia

Emmanuel Teitelbaum, Mobilizing Restraint: Democracy and Industrial Conflict in Post-reform South Asia. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd. 2011. 244 pages. ₹ 795.
Accurate Z-Buffer Rendering

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the software implementation of a high-precision color Z-buffer renderer. The system is virtual—no frame-buffer hardware is assumed. Instead, a 24-bit color model supported by a number of widely available Internet utilities creates a desirable and a highly portable system. The chapter covers the sequence of steps that map (in perspective) a scene description onto a raster file. This algorithm leverages off several freely available utilities to embody each function block. First, the input is presented using a slightly modified version of the Neutral File Format used in the Standard Procedural Database created as a universal means of scene description. Twenty-four-bit color descriptors are used, which ultimately represent each output pixel. The matrix library underpinning both the viewing transformation plus other vector-based computation is taken from the SPHIGS package. Rasterization is based upon the fixed point methods; extensions include a 2D RGBZ interpolator. The pixel values are written in TARGA format using file write and display routines taken from Paul Rivero's LUG library.
The relationship between lexical sophistication and independent and source-based writing

Abstract Lexical sophistication is an important component of writing proficiency. New lexical indices related to range, n-gram frequency, psycholinguistic word information, academic language, polysemy, and hypernymy have yielded new insights into the construct of lexical sophistication and its relationship with second language (L2) acquisition and writing. For example, recent studies have suggested that range and bigram indices are stronger indicators of lexical sophistication than frequency in the context of L2 acquisition and L2 writing and speaking proficiency. This study explores the relationship between these newly developed indices of lexical sophistication and holistic scores of writing proficiency in both independent and source-based writing tasks. The results suggest that range and bigrams are important predictors of essay quality in independent tasks, but that lexical sophistication indices are not strong predictors of essay quality in source-based tasks. The results also indicate that responses to source-based tasks tend to include more sophisticated lexical items than responses to independent tasks. Implications for second language writing assessment and pedagogy are discussed.
European Practice in Water Quality Control

Changes in European public policy regarding pollution control are examined, including the public response to the pollution problem, a summary of recent legislative activity, and intergovernmental relationships. The use of classification systems and the organization of water-pollution control efforts are evaluated, in addition to permit systems and the role of nongovernmental organizations in shaping water-pollution-control policies. In Europe, there appears to be a movement toward decentralized river-basin management of water-pollution control and waste treatment. Increased pollution of streams in the industrial sectors of most countries has had an adverse effect on many of the uses of rivers, particularly recreational uses. As a result, conservationists, fishermen, and professionals have called for, and received,— with the help of an interested press—stricter laws regarding pollution control.
Balance Toward Language Mastery

Problems in attaining language mastery with students from diverse language backgrounds and levels of ability confront educators around the world. Experiments, research, and experience see positive effects of adding sign language in communication methods to pre-school and K-12 education. Augmentative, alternative, interactive, accommodating, and enriching strategies using sign language aid learners in balancing the skills needed to mastery of one language or multiple languages. Theories of learning that embrace play, drama, motion, repetition, socializing, and self-efficacy connect to the options for using sign language with learners in inclusive and mainstream classes. The methodical use of sign language by this researcher-educator over two and a half decades showed signing does build thinking skills, add enjoyment, stimulate communication, expand comprehension, increase vocabulary acquisition, encourage collaboration, and helps build appreciation for cultural diversity.
Regulation of Cytotoxic T Cell Functions by A GPI-Anchored Ecto-ADP-Ribosyltransferase

Protein mono-(ADP-ribosyl)transferases (ADPRTs) catalyze transfer of the ADP-ribose moiety from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to specific amino acids. We recently described presence of an enzyme with this activity on cytotoxic T cells (CTL). Incubation of CTL with micromolar concentrations of NAD causes inhibition of cell proliferation and cytolytic activity. ADPRT can be released by bacterial phosphoinositol specific phospholipase C, indicating that it is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored exo-enzyme. Enzymatic release of ADPRT results in inability of NAD to modulate CTL function. Expression of ADPRT was found to be regulated, in quiescent CTL ADPRT is expressed at significant levels, however, upon TCR crosslinking it is rapidly released by an anchor hydrolyzing mechanism. This results in relative insensitivity to the inhibitory action of NAD. The question how ADPRT regulates T cell functions was investigated by incubating CTL with radioactively labeled NAD which causes modification of several proteins, pointing to potential candidates in these regulatory processes. We found that the protein tyrosine kinase p56lck but not p59tyn exists in a digitonin resistant complex with a 40 kD protein, which in its ADP-ribosylated form suppresses p56lck kinase activity. ADP-ribosylation of this protein is mediated by the arginine specific protein mono-ADPRT, presumably utilizing ecto-NAD as substrate. Release of the ADPRT by GPI-specific phospholipase C results in failure of ecto-NAD to downmodulate p56lck kinase activity. Concomitant to suppression of the kinase by ecto-NAD, CD8 mediated transmembrane signaling is found to be inhibited, whereas transmembrane signaling via CD3 is only slightly affected.
A Systematic Analysis of IMRT QA Results

A commercial 2-D diode array (Mapcheck, Sun Nuclear) has been used for IMRT plan QA at the University of Florida. By retrospectively reviewing the QA data we have systematically evaluated factors that influence quantitative differences between calculation and measurement. For each field, a planar dose was calculated using Philips Pinnacle treatment planning system (TPS) at 10 cm depth, 100 cm SAD in solid water with normal incidence of the gantry and Mapcheck measurement was performed as planned. Absolute dose comparison was made between the calculated and measured with a 3 % and 3 mm criteria. A threshold was set at 10 % of normalization point dose. The pass rates were categorized into the versions of the TPS and IMRT delivery system. We also analyzed the outliers to see if we could a priori predict the differences between measured and calculated using a recently introduced dose uncertainty model (Medical Physics 2005, pp 1747). A total of 417 plans with 2210 beams were analyzed; 57.4 % of all beams had pass rates of at least 95 %; 36.2 % were between 85 % and 95 %; 6.4 % were below 85 %. The pass rate correlated strongly with the accuracy of beam modeling in TPS. With explicit modeling of MLC (e.g., MLC leaf-end and leaf-side effects), the TPS showed a better pass rate (60.3 % vs. 52.7 % in percent of having more than 95 % pass rate). The failure rate increased with the complexity of intensity-modulation. It also increased with the larger uncertainty of MLC beam model. In conclusion, the accuracy of IMRT delivery is strongly correlated to the accuracy of MLC beam model in TPS. The pass rate for patient specific QA is strongly influenced by the complexity of the intensity modulation in a field.
Target Engagement Measures in Preclinical Drug Discovery: Theory, Methods, and Case Studies

Target engagement (TE) in drug discovery is generally defined as the interaction of ligands with their target biomolecules. Understanding TE allows research teams to design and interpret quality in vivo experiments, providing a more refined assessment of target validation. It can also orient teams toward delivering molecules that better enable clinical studies by focusing SAR efforts on the optimization of projected human performance characteristics. In this chapter, theoretical aspects of TE and its importance for addressing drug discovery issues like selectivity and the relationship of pharmacokinetics to pharmacodynamics are addressed. Methods to measure TE directly are reviewed along with a discussion of how to estimate TE based on pharmacokinetic data. The principles outlined within the chapter are then demonstrated by application to a theoretical drug discovery effort focused on validation of a novel protein target. Finally, two case studies are discussed in which application of these principles was used to optimize compounds toward desired human performance characteristics in one instance and to drive a target de-prioritization decision in another.
Minor-element behaviour in copper-making

The behavior of minor elements in bath and flash smelting processes for coppermaking has been investigated. Particular attention has been paid to the conditions of high oxygen enrichment in the case of bath smelting and converting. A computer simulation has been carried out to predict the distribution behavior of Pb, Zn, Bi, Sb, and As in recently proposed copper smelting and converting processes with submerged oxygen injection. The technique of stepwise equilibrium modeling was used. The predicted minorelement behavior under high oxygen enrichment was compared with that in the Noranda process (normally 42% oxygen enrichment in smelting and 24% in converting) and in the reverberatory process using air. The effects of various operating parameters such as temperature, the final matte grade in smelting, the initial matte grade in converting, and the O/Fe ratio in slag on the behavior of minor elements are discussed.
Driven to distraction: Childhood trauma and dissociation, but not PTSD symptoms, are related to threat avoidance

Abstract Introduction Mixed findings with respect to attention biases in traumatized samples may reflect heterogeneity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) presentations. Dissociation symptoms in particular, have been associated with decreased awareness of threat and may account for variability in prior findings. Objective The present study examined relationships among self-reported PTSD and dissociative symptom domains, attention biases, and lifetime traumatization. Method Seventy-eight adult participants recruited via crowdsourcing website Amazon MTurk were assessed on trauma history, PTSD and dissociative symptoms; and completed a modified dot-probe task. Results Findings indicated that early trauma exposure and dissociative derealization were associated with greater avoidance of threat. There was a significant interaction among trauma exposure and dissociation, such that those with early lifetime neglect and derealization had greater threat avoidance. Conclusion Results highlight the complex relations among early trauma characteristics, dissociation, and attention. Future studies with longitudinal designs are needed to bolster observed findings.
Applications of Learning to Rank

In this chapter, we introduce some applications of learning to rank. The major purpose is to demonstrate how to use an existing learning-to-rank algorithm to solve a real ranking problem. In particular, we will take question answering, multimedia retrieval, text summarization, online advertising, etc. as examples, for illustration. One will see from these examples that the key step is to extract effective features for the objects to be ranked by considering the unique properties of the application, and to prepare a set of training data. Then it becomes straightforward to train a ranking model from the data and use it for ranking new objects.
Mortality and Functional Outcomes of Thalamic Hemorrhage in the Elderly (P07.237)

OBJECTIVE: Using the predictive model of intracerebral hemorrhage score (ICHs), we compared the outcomes and characteristics of patients with thalamic hemorrhage aged 80 years and older to those less than 80 years. BACKGROUND: Advanced age is believed to adversely affect the functional outcomes after an intracerebral hemorrhage. But, it9s unclear if isolated thalamic hemorrhage in the elderly (age 80 and above) conform to the current perception of poor prognosis. DESIGN/METHODS: 135 consecutive cases of thalamic hemorrhage admitted to a primary stroke center between 2003 and 2011 were reviewed. The patients were divided by age into two groups (80 years and older; and under 80 years). Clinical, radiographic, and demographic features retrieved from a longitudinal stroke database are compared. Mortality and functional outcome measured by the modified Barthel Index were obtained at 3 months after the stroke. RESULTS: 16.7% (7/42) of patients 80 years and older died as a result of the thalamic hemorrhage compared to 27.8% (22/79; P=0.17) in those younger than 80 years. Older and younger patients had similar mean ICHs (2.1 vs. 1.11); ICH volume (20.43cc vs 13.24cc); mean Graeb scale (3.9 vs 3.59); and initial Glasgow Coma Score (GCS: 12.59 vs 13.09). Functional outcomes in survivors at 3 months did not differ between the two groups: 36.4% (over 80); and 32.3% (under 80) reached pre-stroke functional state. CONCLUSIONS: A lethal outcome after a thalamic hemorrhage in the elderly patient is not always predictable. In fact, there appears to be a trend towards lower mortality in those 80 years and over, despite similar hemorrhage volume, intraventricular hemorrhage, and initial GCS. For survivors, the elderly did just as well as the younger with no apparent difference in functional outcome at three months. Disclosure: Dr. El-Andary has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr. Staff has nothing to disclose.
Fluorinated Ionomers: History, Properties, and Applications

Abstract The first fluorinated ionomer was discovered in the early 1960s at the DuPont Experimental Station near Wilmington, Delaware. It was a perfluorinated ionomer that later became known as Nafion®. Similar polymers are now being produced by Asahi Glass (Flemion™) and Asahi Kasei (Aciplex™). These polymers in membrane form have revolutionized the chlor-alkali industry. In this process, the need to use hazardous materials such as mercury and asbestos not only has been eliminated, but the economics, particularly with respect to reduced energy consumption, has also been substantially improved. This application has now matured to such an extent that the complete replacement of the two older mercury and asbestos technologies is only a question of time.
Torsion Does Not Affect Early Vein Graft Patency in the Rat Femoral Artery Model.

Background Torsion of vein grafts is a commonly cited reason for graft failure in clinical setting. Many microsurgery training courses have incorporated vein graft procedures in their curricula, and vein graft torsion is a common technical error made by the surgeons in these courses. To improve our understanding of the clinical reproducibility of practicing vein graft procedures in microsurgery training courses, this study aims to determine if torsion can lead to early vein graft failure in nonsurvival surgery rat models. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five cohorts with five rats per cohort for a total of 25 rats. Cohorts were labeled based on degree of vein graft torsion (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees). Torsion was created in the vein grafts at the distal arterial end by mismatching sutures placed between the proximal end of the vein graft and the distal arterial end. Vein graft patency was then verified 2 and 24 hours postoperation. Results All vein grafts were patent 2 and 24 hours postoperation. At 2 hours, the average blood flow rate measurements for 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees of torsion were 0.37 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.04, 0.34 ± 0.01, 0.33 ± 0.01, and 0.29 ± 0.02 mL/min, respectively. At 24 hours, they were 0.94 ± 0.07, 1.03 ± 0.15, 1.26 ± 0.22, 1.41 ± 0.11, and 0.89 ± 0.15 mL/min, respectively. Conclusion Torsion of up to 180 degrees does not affect early vein graft patency in rat models. To improve the clinical reproducibility of practicing vein graft procedures in rat models, we suggest that microsurgery instructors assess vein graft torsion prior to clamp release, as vessel torsion does not seem to affect graft patency once the clamps are removed.
Joint Channel Estimation of Multiple Transmitters on Shared Resource Blocks by Approximating Channel States with Constant Frequency Sinusoids

In this paper, we propose a novel method for the channel estimation of multiple transmitters sharing the same set of Resource Blocks (RB). Our method processes the entire signal and jointly estimates the channel states of different transmitters, thereby achieving higher performance than existing methods. The key novelty is to approximate the channel state vector as the linear combination of complex sinusoids on fixed frequencies, and to optimize the coefficients of the base sinusoids to minimize the approximation error. Our method enjoys low computation complexity because the base sinusoids are on fixed frequencies and many steps can be precomputed. Our method can be applied to LTE MIMO uplink, as well as to 5G Grant Free channels. It is most suited when the number of RBs is small, which has been confirmed by our evaluation.
Behavior problems and executive function impairments in preterm compared to full term preschoolers

Abstract Background Children born preterm (PT) are at high risk for behavior problems and deficits in executive function (EF), a set of cognitive processes that guide goal-directed behaviors. Behavior differences have been found as early as 2 years in PT children; EF differences have been found in infancy. Whether behavior problems and EF deficits co-occur at young ages has not been fully investigated. Aims To determine whether (1) PT children have more behavior problems and EF impairment than full term (FT) children and (2) larger proportions of PT children show behavior problems or EF impairments. Design/methods PT (≤34 wks, n = 82) and FT (n = 79) preschoolers (mean age 4.4 years) completed an EF battery. Parents completed rating scales of behavior problems and EF skills. Mean scores and proportions with impairment were compared between groups. Logistic regression predicting to impairment defined odds ratios for PT/FT groups. Results PT compared to FT had more problems on most behavior and EF scales and poorer EF scores on all tasks and greater proportion with impairments on most behavior scales, all EF ratings, and all EF tasks, p Conclusions We recommend early identification of EF impairments in PT children. Future research should evaluate whether EF impairments serve as better early markers for later functional difficulties compared to behavior problems, as well as targets for intervention.
Standard Guideline for the Use and Development of Sodium Monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) as a Predacide (ASTM Designation E 590-76)

This is a "state of the art" document prepared by the Predator Task Group, American Society for Testing and Materials' (ASTM) Subcommittee E35.17, as a concensus guideline for the use of Compound 1080 in wild canid control. Toxicology, storage and handling, bait formulations, and preparation of baits are discussed. Bait placement, exposure period, disposal, human safety factors, and environmental impact are also treated. Toxicity data and a reference list also are included.
Introduction to High-Resolution Manometry

Each channel of the catheter is connected to a separate pressure transducer. Any interference with the flow of water from any of the various channels by lumen occluding contractions raises the pressure in the corresponding channel. Pressure transducers continuously monitor pressures in the channels. Pressure information is transmitted to a computer, where it is digitized, analyzed, and displayed on a video monitor
Life-cycle Interact Evaluation of Distribution Cables

With the increasing application scale of distribution network cable in China, its safe and stable operation is of great significance to ensure the reliability of power supply and customer satisfaction. However, at present, the relevant research at home and abroad focuses on the detection and evaluation technology of distribution cable status, and has not achieved breakthrough results for the improvement of intrinsic safety of equipment quality. Combined with the sorting of key points of quality control in the whole process of distribution network cable equipment, this paper carries out systematic research on cable equipment material and structural performance, operation performance evaluation and quality information interaction evaluation in the process of defect investigation, sampling inspection, acceptance test and operation, so as to provide ideas for cable life-cycle quality management and interactive evaluation.
Game Theoretic Formation Design for Probabilistic Barrier Coverage

We study strategies to deploy defenders/sensors to detect intruders that approach a targeted region. This scenario is formulated as a barrier coverage, which aims to minimize the number of unseen paths. The problem becomes challenging when the number of defenders is insufficient for a full coverage, requiring us to find the most effective location to deploy them. To this end, we use ideas from game theory to account for various paths that the intruders may take. Specifically, we propose an iterative algorithm to refine the set of candidate defender formations, which uses the payoff matrix to directly evaluate the utility of different formations. Given the set of candidate formations, a mixed Nash equilibrium gives a stochastic policy to deploy the defenders. The efficacy of the proposed strategy is demonstrated by a numerical analysis that compares our method with an existing graph-theoretic method.
Towards a Fair Comparison between the Nested and Simultaneous Control Co-Design Methods using an Active Suspension Case Study

This paper tackles perhaps the two most common control co-design coordination strategies: simultaneous analysis and design and the nested control problem formulation. Many practical insights into the two strategies are presented using the literature and comprehensive numerical results from a detailed and challenging CCD problem of an active vehicle suspension. The study conducted attempts to provide a fair comparison and discussion between the control co-design coordination implementations. The results indicate a substantial reduction in computational costs over the existing implementations and conclusions on method selection contrary to common assumptions in the literature. However, additional work is needed to provide a robust set of CCD implementation guidelines.
Overview and technology opportunities for thermochemically-produced bio-blendstocks

Abstract Global demand for transportation fuels is projected to increase 40% by 2040, and biomass-derived fuels (biofuels) play a crucial role in substituting fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, biofuels are mainly consumed as blendstocks combined with petroleum-based fuels, and effective conversion technologies can address the quality challenges for offering standalone biofuels. Thermochemical conversion process is one of the most promising pathways among existing technologies for biofuel production. However, the major barriers are unwanted characteristics (e.g., thermal instability) of intermediate products, such as bio-oil, and required upgrading treatments for producing compatible fuels. This study highlights the merits and critical challenges of thermochemical conversion and physicochemical upgrading technologies for bio-blendstock production from lignocellulosic biomass. The novelty of this study lies in potential directions for future research through both critical and systematic literature reviews, and the proposed intensified process for lignocellulosic-based fuel blendstocks production. It is concluded that recovery and fractionation strategies (e.g., quenching and stripping) can maximize process yields and add values in the efficient conversion pathways. Effective quenching can stop secondary free radical reactions and improve liquid yields over gas and solid yields. Stripping process can improve process yield, catalyst lifespan, and thermal stability. It is further concluded that physicochemical treatments are not as effective as thermochemical treatments, but have advantages of mild operating conditions and potential for integrated solutions in conjunction with other treatments.
Does the SEC Have Legal Authority to Adopt Climate-Change Disclosure Rules?

The Securities and Exchange Commission is planning to propose new mandatory disclosure rules on climate change without further statutory authority from Congress. The purpose of this comment is to explain that the SEC does not currently have statutory authority to adopt such disclosure rules. When evaluated against the Supreme Court’s normal and straightforward method of determining an agency’s rulemaking power, the two main securities acts limit the SEC’s power to issue disclosure rules to specific types of information, such as the business of the company selling the securities, the management, capital structure, and financial statements. Climate-change disclosure rules would have a different subject matter and a different objective from the kind of disclosure requirements Congress permitted the SEC to write. The need for the SEC to have explicit statutory power for climate-change disclosure rules is important to the U.S. form of self-government and the accountability of government officials to the voters. The SEC should respect the role of Congress in setting national policy and stay within the bounds of its statutory authority. This paper was written in anticipation of the SEC, as a full commission, voting to request public comment on a climate-change disclosure proposal. It will be adapted as a comment and will be filed with the SEC shortly after that.
Integrating ESG Measures and Supply Chain Management: Research Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the instrumental role of supply chains in delivering economic, human, and societal value. At the same time, the pandemic has intensified interest among businesses, governments, and academics to examine environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. In today’s hyper-globalized economy, ESG measures are futile unless they explicitly incorporate a firm’s end-to-end operations throughout its entire supply chain. On the other hand, well-calibrated ESG measures should play a central role in guiding a firms’ day-to-day supply chain management practices. To illustrate the value of unifying ESG and end-to-end supply chain thinking, we present three supply chain cases that arose amid the COVID-19 pandemic, involving online platforms, public health supply chains, and vaccine development, manufacturing, and distribution, respectively. Drawn from these three cases, we spotlight some new research opportunities in both ESG and supply chain management.
Sparsity and concentration measures for optimum quadratic time-frequency distributions of Doppler signals

Reduced interference distributions are well-known methods used for quadratic time-frequency signal analysis of nonstationary data including Doppler signals. These distributions use kernels that determine the quality of a time-frequency signal representation. Optimal reduced interference distribution kernels are determined based on the employed design criteria, including sparsity and concentration measures that are applied in the time-frequency domain. This paper demonstrates that sparsity, compared to common concentration measures, satisfies desirable performance attributes and, as such, is considered effective in revealing the signal local frequency structure and its timefrequency signature, including the signal instantaneous frequency.
Opsin activation of transduction in the rods of dark-reared Rpe65 knockout mice

Rpe65 knockout mice (Rpe65−/−) are unable to synthesize the visual pigment chromophore 11-cis retinal; however, if these animals are reared in complete darkness, the rod photoreceptors accumulate a small amount of 9-cis retinal and its corresponding visual pigment isorhodopsin. Suction-electrode recording of single rods from dark-reared Rpe65−/− mice showed that the rods were about 400 times less sensitive than wild-type control rods and that the maximum responses were much smaller in amplitude. Spectral sensitivity measurements indicated that Rpe65−/− rod responses were generated by isorhodopsin rather than rhodopsin. Sensitivity and pigment concentration were compared in the same mice by measuring light responses from rods of one eye and pigment concentration from the retina of the other eye. Retinas had 11–35% of the normal pigment level, but the rods were of the order of 20–30 times less sensitive than could be accounted for by the loss in quantum catch. This extra desensitization must be caused by opsin-dependent activation of the visual cascade, which leads to a state equivalent to light adaptation in the dark-adapted rod. By comparing the sensitivity of dark-reared Rpe65−/− rods to that produced in normal rods by background light, we estimate that Rpe65−/− opsin is of the order of 2.5 × 10−5 as efficient in activating transduction as photoactivated rhodopsin (Rh*) in WT mice. Dark-reared Rpe65−/− rods are less desensitized than rods from cyclic light-reared Rpe65−/− mice, have about 50% more photocurrent and degenerate at a slower rate. Retinas sectioned after 9 months in darkness show a larger number of photoreceptor nuclei in dark-reared animals than in cyclic light-reared animals, though both have fewer nuclei than in cyclic light-reared wild-type retinas. Both also have shorter outer segments and a lower free-Ca2+ concentration. These experiments provide the first quantitative measurement of opsin activation in physiologically responding mammalian rods.