cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interictal high-frequency oscillations generated by seizure onset and eloquent areas may be differentially coupled with different slow waves.

Abstract Objective High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) can be spontaneously generated by seizure-onset and functionally-important areas. We determined if consideration of the spectral frequency bands of coupled slow-waves could distinguish between epileptogenic and physiological HFOs. Methods We studied a consecutive series of 13 children with focal epilepsy who underwent extraoperative electrocorticography. We measured the occurrence rate of HFOs during slow-wave sleep at each electrode site. We subsequently determined the performance of HFO rate for localization of seizure-onset sites and undesirable detection of nonepileptic sensorimotor–visual sites defined by neurostimulation. We likewise determined the predictive performance of modulation index: MI (XHz)&(YHz) , reflecting the strength of coupling between amplitude of HFOs XHz and phase of slow-wave YHz . The predictive accuracy was quantified using the area under the curve (AUC) on receiver-operating characteristics analysis. Results Increase in HFO rate localized seizure-onset sites (AUC⩾0.72; p p (HFOs)&(3–4Hz) also detected both seizure-onset (AUC⩾0.74; p p HFOs [defined as subtraction of MI (HFOs)&(0.5–1Hz) from MI (HFOs)&(3–4Hz) ] localized seizure-onset sites (AUC⩾0.71; p p Conclusion Our data suggest that epileptogenic HFOs may be coupled with slow-wave 3–4Hz more preferentially than slow-wave 0.5–1Hz , whereas physiologic HFOs with slow-wave 0.5–1Hz more preferentially than slow-wave 3–4Hz during slow-wave sleep. Significance Further studies in larger samples are warranted to determine if consideration of the spectral frequency bands of slow-waves coupled with HFOs can positively contribute to presurgical evaluation of patients with focal epilepsy.
Effect of mercaptoethanol on complement binding ability of human 7 S gammaglobulin.

SummaryThe effect of mercaptoethanol on the ability of human 7 S-antibodies and human 7S gammaglobulins (γ2) to react with antigen, complement and rheumatoid factor was studied. 1. Human 7 S-immune globulin continued to combine with antigen after mercaptoethanol treatment. 2. Human gammaglobulin, treated with mercaptoethanol, could be aggregated by heat as measured by the ability to precipitate with a potent rheumatoid factor. 3. Mercaptoethanol treatment of 7 S-antibodies and gammaglobulin resulted in a loss of ability to fix complement after reacting with antigen or after nonspecific heat aggregation respectively. These results stress the importance of disulfide bonds in the complement fixation reaction.
Development of a Mobile Arctic Sensor Node for Earth-Science Data Collection Applications

Arctic regions are thought to be more sensitive to climate fluctuations, making weather data from these regions more valuable for climate modeling. However, Greenland and Antarctica present an extreme environment, one in which it is difficult to travel, and in which it is dangerous to work. The use of robotic sensor nodes for the collection of arctic weather data could minimize the exposure of humans to the harsh environment while allowing dense, targeted data collection to commence. Details of the design and construction of a prototype arctic sensor node are described, with emphasis on the design tools utilized and the motivation of design decisions, while lessons learned during field testing on a glacier in Alaska are presented.
A Study on the Efficiency of Bicycle Hub Gears

This study experimentally measured the efficiency of new generation bicycle hub gears. Since efficiency of bicycle drivetrains can be very close to 100% and vary by small amounts between gears bias errors and measurement accuracy must be identified and controlled. For this study an ergometer frame was altered to support research test equipment. A 1 HP motor and gearbox were used to drive the crankshaft. The hubs were attached directly to the steel flywheel using shortened bicycle spokes, eliminating extra chains or drive components. This setup minimizes measurement uncertainty in the drivetrain. Force-transducers were used to measure the motor and flywheel torque, and two magnetic reed switches were used to measure the speed of the motor and flywheel. Efficiency for each individual gear in each hub was calculated for 14 different power speed combinations. The efficiency of each gear was plotted against flywheel Torque, and an exponential model was fit to the data. This model accounts for known variations in efficiency with power and speed, and provides insight into the torque-speed-efficiency relationship. Four internally-geared hubs were measured and compared with a single speed direct drive train and a belt drive. The internal planetary gear hubs measured were the Shimano Alfine 11, Rohloff 500/14 Speedhub, SRAM Dual-Drive, and the Sturmey Archer X-RK8(W). In addition a single-speed direct chain drive, a single-speed belt drive, and a 7-speed derailleur system were measured. The efficiency of the Shimano Alfine ranged from 90.4% to 96.6%. The efficiency of the Rohloff speed hub ranged from 95.8% to 99.5%. The efficiency of the Sturmey Archer hub ranged from 84.6% to 99.8%. The efficiency of the single speed chain drive was found to be 99.71% and the belt drive 98.0%. The efficiency of the 7-speed derailleur ranged from 97.7% to 99.4%. These values found for efficiency are comparable to other studies.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Surgical treatment of adult craniopharyngiomas

Objective To analyze the choice of surgical approach, surgical technique and prognosis of adult craniopharyngiomas. Methods The clinical presentations, neuroradiological features, surgical approaches, tumor resection extent and follow-up data of 84 cases of adult craniopharyngioma were retrospectively analyzed. Results In the series of 84 cases, 41 patients were operated via traditional pterional approach, 23 patients frontotemporal keyhole approach, 12 patients subfrontal interhemispheric approach, 4 patients transcallosal- ventricular approach, 3 patients supraorbital keyhole approach and 1 patient transsphenoidal approach. Total removal was achieved in 57 cases (67.7%) and subtotal removal in 27 cases (32.3%). The total removal rate was higher in traditional pterional approach (78%) and subfrontal interhemispheric approach (75%), while lower in frontotemporal keyhole approach (56.5%) and supraorbital keyhole approach (50%).Conclusion By now, operation is still the main treatment method for adult craniopharyngiomas. According to the location and size of tumors and the patients' condition, the personal approach should be selected, especially the keyhole approach, which is very important for removing the tumors as much as possible and reducing the damage of brain tissues.
Suppressor cells in immunodepressed bladder and prostate cancer patients.

Abstract Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 23 patients with bladder and prostate cancer were tested for their ability to respond in vitro to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and allogeneic cells. The lymphocyte response was depressed in 15 patients (65 per cent), 13 with advanced disease, compared to peripheral blood lymphocytes from age-matched hospitalized control subjects tested on the same day. Furthermore, the hyporesponsive lymphocytes from 11 of the 15 cancer patients (73 per cent) inhibited the phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity of normal lymphocytes in co-cultures (16 to 78 per cent suppression). In contrast, lymphocytes from control donors caused no suppression. Incubation of the patients’ unseparated peripheral blood lymphocytes on plastic to remove adherent cells restored lymphocyte responsiveness and eliminated their suppressor activity. Returning the adherent cells to cultures with patients’ autologous separated and normal lymphocytes recaptured the suppressive effect. Pre-incubation of the patients’ lymphocytes with concanavalin A markedly enhanced their ability to suppress and induced moderate suppressor activity by normal lymphocytes. These data suggested that 1 mechanism for the depression of cell-mediated immunity seen in patients with advanced urological cancer may be owing to non-specific suppressor cells, possibly monocytes.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Carotid Artery Dissection

Nineteen reports of pediatric cases of extracranial traumatic carotid artery dissection (CAD), obtained through PubMed search, were reviewed by researchers at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
Hypoxia-reoxygenation increases O2 -· efflux which injures endothelial cells by an extracellular mechanism

The mechanisms by which superoxide anion (O 2 - .) injures reoxygenated vascular cells are not clearly understood. We hypothesized that O 2 - . formed in an intracellular compartment during reoxygenation may egress through plasmalemmal anion channels and mediate injury from an extracellular site. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (EC) kept hypoxic for 48 h had increased release of preloaded 51 Cr upon reoxygenation. Evidence for an extracellular site of injury was the following. First, decreasing extracellular O 2 - . levels (measured by cytochrome c reduction) with the anion channel blocker 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) leads to decreased 51 Cr leak. In contrast to its effect on extracellular O 2 - ., DIDS increased intracellular O 2 - . levels (measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction) following reoxygenation. Second, treatment with exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD), while having no significant effect on intracellular O 2 - . levels, also decreased 51 Cr leak. Furthermore, cotreatment ofEC with DIDS did not abrogate the protective effects of exogenous SOD, suggesting that SOD decreased injury by decreasing extracellular and not intracellular O 2 - .. Finally, exposure of EC to extracellularly generated O 2 - . (xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine system) caused injury, which was decreased by SOD but not by blockade of O 2 - . entry with DIDS. The mechanism by which O 2 - . injures EC may involve generation of .OH by surface-associated iron, since iron chelators and .OH scavengers of varying membrane permeability all decreased 51 Cr release to a similar extent. Furthermore, the iron chelators and .OH scavengers also decreased EC 51 Cr leak following exposure to exogenous xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine but not following exposure to a O 2 - .-independent agent (A23187). We conclude that hypoxia-reoxygenation injures EC in a manner that is at least in part dependent on the efflux of O 2 - . into the extracellular space. Endogenous and exogenous strategies for protection against reoxygenation injury must target extracellular O 2 - . as a potentially harmful species.
Microscopy Examination and Collection of Digital Images and Their Presentation

After finishing an IHC experiment, stained tissue sections need to be examined under the microscope and images are commonly captured using the camera attached to the microscope. Due to enormous progress in digital photography, capturing IHC images is no different than taking pictures of friends using dedicated “point-and-shoot” cameras or cell phones. Although taking digital IHC images appears to be simple and easy, it is important to bear in mind that digital cameras are inanimate and cannot choose which part of a stained image to show and what magnification should be used for the best illustration of antigen distribution. These choices can be determined only by the researcher. This, in turn, requires the researcher to know how to operate a microscope and follow certain guidelines in choosing the best tissue layout and orientation to be shown in captured IHC images.
Robust Satellite Range Scheduling

The introduction of uncertainty in Satellite Range Scheduling scenarios has been tackled by existing literature through different suboptimal approaches. The authors have provided a schedule with maximal expected metric (performance) for the case where communication intervals may fail with a certain probability. This chapter extends this model to more complicated cases including those with uncertainty on the priorities and on the duration of these intervals. One of the presented algorithms is also shown to be applicable to deterministic single-satellite scheduling, outperforming existing algorithms. (This research was performed while the author held a National Research Council Research Associateship Award at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).)
The Tax Paradox of Capital Investment

The historical economic data imply a significant “tax paradox”: Higher-tax nations tend to experience relatively higher rates of economic growth over time. Neoclassical economic theory implies, to the contrary, that lower-tax nations ought to grow faster than high-tax nations since capital is mobile. However, because new capital investment is generally tax deductible, marginal capital investment often favors active (i.e., high-growth) investment for tax deductibility reasons, resulting in a preference for incremental capital investment in higher tax nations. ”Tax practitioner” economics is not always consistent with neoclassical economic theory. In this article, the author explains why corruption is disproportionately harmful to economic growth (in short, corruption directly undermines the incentive for re-investment of capital, killing active capital investment via immediate taxation of profits); explains from a tax practitioner perspective why the Tax Reform Act of 1986 caused a reversal of the “lock-in effect,” resulting in a short-term economic boost; and posits that levying taxes on labor to try to attract “mobile” capital has the paradoxical effect of a potential reduction in mobile capital investment in a given economy.
Space Assembly of Large Structural System Architectures (SALSSA)

Developing a robust capability for Space Assembly of Large Spacecraft Structural System Architectures (SALSSA) has the potential to drastically increase the capabilities and performance of future space missions and spacecraft while significantly reducing their cost. Currently, NASA architecture studies and space science decadal surveys identify new missions that would benefit from SALSSA capabilities, and the technologies that support SALSSA are interspersed throughout the fourteen NASA Technology Roadmaps. However, a major impediment to the strategic development of cross-cutting SALSSA technologies is the lack of an integrated and comprehensive compilation of the necessary information. This paper summarizes the results of a small study that used an integrated approach to formulate a SALSSA roadmap and associated plan for developing key SALSSA technologies.
Sting in the tail

A willingness to draw parallels between mammals and insects is raising significant ethical questions about how people ought to treat them. In May, researchers in Sydney, Australia, suggested that the main part of the insect nervous system works in a similar way to a mammal's midbrain, and might provide the capacity for the most basic form of consciousness, subjective experience. Now a group in London says that bumblebees appear to show "positive emotion-like states". Singer comments that this would raise questions about the ethics of bee research.
Effect of hypohydration on postsynaptic cutaneous vasodilation and sweating in healthy men.

Hypohydration decreases cutaneous vasodilation and sweating during heat stress, but it is unknown if these decrements are from postsynaptic (i.e., sweat gland/blood vessel) alterations. The purpose...
Muscle-specific and age-related changes in protein synthesis and protein degradation in response to hindlimb unloading in rats

In this study, we showed that age did not intensify the atrophy response to unloading in rats, but rather that the degree of atrophy was highly variable across muscles, indicating that changes in p...
Prevalence and risk factors for cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction after pelvic reconstructive surgery: a national, multi-institutional, surgical database study.

There is limited data available regarding the risk for perioperative cardiac morbidity following pelvic reconstructive surgery (PRS). We sought to determine the incidence of cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction within 30 days of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery and determine which factors may contribute to an increased risk of these complications. Using the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database, we identified patients who underwent PRS procedures between 2010 to 2015 using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Patient demographics and clinical and surgical factors were obtained. Patients who experienced myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest (MICA) were compared with patients without these complications. Differences between groups were calculated using the chi-square and Student’s t test. Stepwise backward multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with acute cardiac morbidity. A total of 46, 367 women were identified. The incidence of MICA was 0.11% and of death was 0.01% for the entire cohorot. Age >70 years [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56–5.73], length of stay >1 day (aOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.70–6.40), dependent functional status (aOR = 5.99 95% CI 1.95–16.32), hypertension (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI 1.36–6.04), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 3 (aOR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.10–3.64), and inpatient status (aOR = 4.35, 95% CI 1.78–10.49). The rate of MICA is low following PRS. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether more extensive preoperative cardiac evaluation is warranted in this patient population.
A brief overview of explanatory schema acquisition

Explanatory Schema Acquisition is a form of learning by untutored observation. It can be used to automatically acquire problem solving schemata. The goal of this research is to formalize explanatory schema acquisition in a domain-independent fashion. To do so we are comparing explanatory schema acquisition systems implemented for a number of different concrete domains. This paper presents a brief overview of the learning approach. Five other papers in these proceedings, by Mooney, O’Rorke, Rajamoney, Segre, and Shavlik, describe the individual systems that we have been working on.
Episode-based cost reduction for endovascular aneurysm repair.

Abstract Objective Effective strategies to reduce costs associated with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) remain elusive for many medical centers. In this study, targeted interventions to reduce inpatient EVAR costs were identified and implemented. Methods From June 2015 to February 2016, we analyzed the EVAR practice at a high-volume academic medical center to identify, to rank, and ultimately to reduce procedure-related costs. In this analysis, per-patient direct costs to the hospital were compared before (September 2013-May 2015) and after (March 2016-January 2017) interventions were implemented. Improvement efforts concentrated on three categories that accounted for a majority of costs: implants, rooming costs, and computed tomography scans performed during the index hospitalization. Results Costs were compared between 141 EVAR procedures before implementation (PRE period) and 47 EVAR procedures after implementation (POST period). Based on data obtained through the Society for Vascular Surgery EVAR Cost Demonstration Project, it was determined that implantable device costs were higher than those at peer institutions. New purchasing strategies were implemented, resulting in a 30.8% decrease in per-case device costs between the PRE and POST periods. Care pathways were modified to reduce use of and costs for computed tomography scans obtained during the index hospitalization. Compared with baseline, per-case imaging costs decreased by 92.9% (P Conclusions Excessive costs associated with EVAR threaten the sustainability of these procedures in health care organizations. Targeted cost reduction efforts can effectively reduce expenses without compromising quality or limiting patients' access.
Boosted ringlet features for robust object tracking

Accurate and efficient object tracking is an important aspect of various security and surveillance applications. In object tracking solutions which utilize intensity-based histogram feature methods for use on wide area motion imagery (WAMI), there currently exists tracking challenges due to object structural information distortions and pavement/background variations. The inclusion of structural target information including edge features in addition to the intensity features will allow for more robust object tracking. To achieve this we propose a feature extraction method that utilizes the Frei-Chen edge detector and Gaussian ringlet feature mapping. Frei-Chen edge detector extracts edge, line, and mean features that can be used to represent the structural features of the target. Gaussian ringlet feature mapping is used to obtain rotational invariant features that are robust to target and viewpoint rotation. These aspects are combined to create an efficient and robust tracking scheme. The proposed scheme is evaluated against state-of-the-art feature tracking methods using both temporal and spatial robustness metrics. The evaluations yield more accurate results for the proposed method on challenging WAMI sequences.
Brittle fracture assessment of the API specification 12F shop welded flat bottom tanks

Abstract Above ground storage tanks (AST) are essential equipment in the oil and gas industry. In general, large field erected steel storage tanks have been studied and evaluated to understand their behavior under different loadings and identify possible design flaws. However, deep research is necessary to improve the operation of shop-built storage tanks. Particularly, API 12F storage tanks are commonly used in the upstream, exploration, and production segments of oil and gas projects. The environmental conditions of these projects will depend on their locations and might be harsh and threatening for the equipment operation. This paper investigates the brittle fracture failure of the API 12F shop-welded tanks. An elastic stress analysis using finite element models was developed to determine the response of these equipment to extreme environmental conditions and the API 579 “Fitness-for-Service” rules were implemented to perform the brittle fracture assessment. A brittle fracture evaluation is conducted to inquire the propensity of a material to fail without appreciable plastic deformation. In case of the API 12F tanks, several parameters such as ambient temperature, residual stresses, and material toughness can play significant roles in the behavior of the equipment. Complete 3D models of the current API 12F shop-welded, flat bottom tanks as well as axisymmetric and solid submodels were created to address the brittle fracture evaluation and determine whether these storage tanks can operate safely under extreme conditions. Through-wall and surface crack flaws were considered in the most critical joints of the storage tanks and toughness relative ratios between the response of the steel material and the acceptance criteria of the API 579 standard were calculated to describe the behavior of the equipment.
Proof of concept continuous event logging in living cells

Cells must detect and respond to molecular events such as the presence or absence of specific small molecules. To accomplish this, cells have evolved methods to measure the presence and concentration of these small molecules in their environment and enact changes in gene expression or behavior. However, cells don’t usually change their DNA in response to outside stimuli. In this work, we have engineered a genetic circuit that can enact specific and controlled genetic changes in response to small molecule stimuli. Known DNA sequences can be repeatedly integrated in a genomic array such that their identity and order encodes information about past small molecule concentrations that the cell has experienced. To accomplish this, we use catalytically inactive CRISPR-Cas9 (dCas9) to bind to and block attachment sites for the integrase Bxb1. Therefore, through the co-expression of dCas9 and guide RNA, Bxb1 can be directed to integrate one of two engineered plasmids, which correspond to two orthogonal small molecule inducers that can be recorded with this system. We identified the optimal location of guide RNA binding to the Bxb1 attP integrase attachment site, and characterized the detection limits of the system by measuring the minimal small molecule concentration and shortest induction time necessary to produce measurable differences in array composition as read out by Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology.
Dependence of prevalence of contiguous pathways in proteins on structural complexity.

Allostery is a regulatory mechanism in proteins where an effector molecule binds distal from an active site to modulate its activity. Allosteric signaling may occur via a continuous path of residues linking the active and allosteric sites, which has been suggested by large conformational changes evident in crystal structures. An alternate possibility is that the signal occurs in the realm of ensemble dynamics via an energy landscape change. While the latter was first proposed on theoretical grounds, increasing evidence suggests that such a control mechanism is plausible. A major difficulty for testing the two methods is the ability to definitively determine that a residue is directly involved in allosteric signal transduction. Statistical Coupling Analysis (SCA) is a method that has been successful at predicting pathways, and experimental tests involving mutagenesis or domain substitution provide the best available evidence of signaling pathways. However, ascertaining energetic pathways which need not be contiguous is far more difficult. To date, simple estimates of the statistical significance of a pathway in a protein remain to be established. The focus of this work is to estimate such benchmarks for the statistical significance of contiguous pathways for the null model of selecting residues at random. We found that when 20% of residues in proteins are randomly selected, contiguous pathways at the 6 A cutoff level were found with success rates of 51% in PDZ, 30% in p53, and 3% in MutS. The results suggest that the significance of pathways may have system specific factors involved. Furthermore, the possible existence of false positives for contiguous pathways implies that signaling could be occurring via alternate routes including those consistent with the energetic landscape model.
Exotropic Deviations: A Functional Classification and Approach to Treatment

(1988). Exotropic Deviations: A Functional Classification and Approach to Treatment. American Orthoptic Journal: Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 81-93.
Incidence and characteristics of juvenile tarsocrural osteochondrosis in purebred Angus bulls

Abstract Osteochondrosis (OC) of the bovine tarsus has been suggested to contribute to osteoarthritis. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to provide data specific to the Angus breed. Clinical and radiographic exams evaluating OC lesions, effusion and osteoarthritis were performed in 50 purebred bull calves at three time points between 5.8 and 21 months of age. The likelihood of OC was lower at a median age of 12.4 months (P
A multicenter evaluation of the A&D TM-2420 ambulatory blood pressure recorder.

The AD a level of agreement which would receive a 'B+' grade from the recent British Hypertension Society guidelines. The limits of agreement (2 standard deviations about the mean difference) for systolic BP between observers and the TM-2420 tended to be greater for the standing position (-20 to 15 mm Hg) compared to supine (-14 to 12 mm Hg) and seated (-13 to 8 mm Hg) positions. Limits of agreement between the observers and device were not dependent upon age, heart rate, arm size, or blood pressure level. Twenty-four-hour blood pressure monitoring in two of the four centers demonstrated an error code rate of 3.4%, excluding 'retries' that are one of the device's features. These data demonstrate an acceptable level of accuracy and performance of the sixth generation of the TM-2420 for use in clinical practice and research.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
7β-Hydroxy­artemisinin

Crystals of the title compound [systematic name: (3R,6R,7S,8aR,9R,12aR)-7-hydr­oxy-3,6,9-trimethyl­octa­hydro-3,12-ep­oxy[1,2]dioxepino[4,3-i]isochromen-10(3H)-one], C15H22O6, were obtained from microbial transformation of artemisinin by a culture of Cunninghamella elegans. The stereochemistry of the compound is consistent with the spectroscopic findings in previously published works. A weak O—H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs in the crystal structure, together with intermolecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.
Corn rootworm (Diabrotica spp.) and Bt corn: Effects on pest survival, emergence and susceptibility

The northern and western corn rootworm (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae) are major pests of corn (Zea mays L). The development of Bt corn, corn that has been genetically modified to produce toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis, has been valuable in controlling the damage these pests can inflict on a grower’s corn. With the large acreage being planting to Bt corn especially in the Midwest, there has been great selection pressure for these pests to adapt and overcome the effects of Bt toxins. The refuge strategy, as mandated by the EPA, helps maintain the susceptibility of the pest population to Bt toxins, thereby ensuring the continued success of this management strategy. This field experiment tested the interaction of northern and western corn rootworm beetles with Bt corn. Data were collected on beetle emergence time, survival and beetle size. We tested two hybrids of corn used to control corn rootworm: YieldGard VT Triple, a single-toxin hybrid producing the toxin Cry3Bb1 and SmartStax, a pyramided toxin hybrid producing Cry3Bb1 and Cry 34/35Ab1. The study was conducted at two field sites for two years. Each site contained 16 plots composed of four treatments: pure stands of YieldGard VT Triple and SmartStax, SmartStax with approximately 5% blended non-Bt corn as a refuge and
EUKARYOTIC EXPRESSION OF CLONED cDNA CODING FOR INFLUENZA VIRAL GLYCOPROTEINS USING AN SV40 VECTOR: USE OF RECOMBINANT DNA MUTANTS TO STUDY STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS

Publisher Summary Influenza virus has been widely used to study the biosynthesis, sorting, distribution, and orientation of membrane proteins. Influenza has three membrane associated proteins; hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and matrix protein (M). HA and NA are integral membrane proteins located on the outer envelope, whereas M protein is associated with the inner lining of the viral membrane. As influenza contains these two types of integral membrane proteins, it is an ideal candidate for the study of the mechanism by which integral membrane proteins are transported from their site of synthesis, via the rough endoplasmic reticulum and golgi apparatus, to their final destination in eukaryotic cells. Co-translational and post-translational modifications along with specific structural features of a protein are presumably responsible for guiding the protein through the elaborate cellular machineries to its final destination. The conserved residues may, however, play an important role in sorting directional transport or interactions with other viral proteins such as M in the viral membrane. This chapter describes methods used to express HA and NA in CV1P cells by using SV40 as a vector. The cDNA is cloned into the late region of SV40 between Hpa II and Bam HI, replacing the late SV40 genes. CV1P cells are transfected with the recombinant virus and SVsal.32—a helper virus defective in the early genes.
Precedence and Promise of Covalent Inhibitors of EGFR and KRAS for Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) oncogenic mutations are leading causes for lung cancer. Extensive drug discovery efforts targeting EGFR have led to the discovery and FDA approval of both reversible and covalent inhibitors. Second and third generation covalent inhibitors for EGFR have also been described, with the latter targeting specific emerging mutations. After decades of extensive effort, KRAS is widely regarded as an intractable therapeutic target; however, recent publications suggest covalent inhibition is a promising strategy to deliver inhibitors of the KRASG12C mutation.
39 Safe culture? – a burning question answered by fire safety awareness

Background A variety tools are used by hospitals to evaluate their culture of safety. Although a rare occurrence, surgical fires occur as a result of breakdowns in the safety culture. Causes of these fires are related to lack of communication; lack of formal education related to surgical fires; and not adhering to advisories from professional societies and regulatory agencies. Theoretically, surgical fire prevention could be an ideal measure of safety for the following: No debate exists that fires are “never events”; the occurrence can realistically approach zero; prevention is based upon education and team communication; prevention is multi-disciplinary; and effective measures are cost-free. Methods A survey was sent to 120 healthcare facilities across the US. 82 (68.3%) surveys were answered electronically. The results were subsequently analysed using multivariate linear regression. Results The strongest correlation was to linking the question regarding use of fire risk assessment and planning pre-procedure to perceptions of safety, 79 respondents answered positively and 62 of these also answered a positive or strongly positive response to questions regarding safety culture (p= Conclusions This survey suggested a correlation between the perception of a safe culture and surgical fire education and risk assessment. We realise that questionnaire return rate could skew the conclusions of this survey and analysis. Further evaluation should be pursued to ascertain if surgical fire prevention education improves the culture of safety or if facilities with an emphasis placed on safety educate their staff on surgical fire prevention. In either case, surgical fire prevention seems to be a preliminary marker for safety culture in surgical facilities.
Effect of surface compositional difference on powder flow properties

Abstract Surface composition plays an important role in the cohesion/adhesion behavior of powders. Yet, the quantification of the major factors that affect powder kinematics is a challenge because of the surface composition heterogeneity of granular materials. This study aims to understand the mechanisms that drive cohesiveness in dry powders by evaluating the bulk flow performance of uniform size glass beads coated with distinct chemical components. Silica beads of 125, 180, and 250 μm were coated with corn starch, molasses, butter, or wheat gluten to reproduce the surface composition of food powders. Particle size and shape distributions, dynamic flow properties, shear flow properties, and compressibility profile of the coated materials were evaluated and compared with uncoated silica beads. The stability index, a dynamic flow property, ranged from 0.9 to 1.1 for all samples, which indicated a stable flow. Surface modified powders showed increasing bulk cohesion and higher compressibility indexes in comparison with the control samples. Specifically, butter and molasses coated powders had the highest specific energy, cohesion, and compressibility indexes, primarily, due to the higher magnitude of interparticle interactions, lower bulk densities, and poor bed dilatancy. This study provides quantitative understanding on powder flow that will be important for smoother powder processing operations in which the surface compositional difference is of major interest such as hopper discharge, high shear mixing, and tablet compaction processes.
Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) Method with Orthogonal Polynomials for Euler-Bernoulli Beam Problems

In this paper, the feasibility of orthogonal polynomials in the meshless local Petrov Galerkin method (MLPG) method is studied. The orthogonal polynomials, Chebyshev and Legendre polynomials, are used in this MLPG method as trial functions. The test functions used were power functions with smooth derivatives at their ends. The performance of these methods is studied by applying these methods to Euler-Bernoulli beam problems. The MLPG-Galerkin and Legendre methods passed all the patch tests for simple beam problems. Next the formulations are tested on complex beam problems such as beams with partial loadings and continuous beam problems. Problems with load discontinuities and additional supports require special attention. Near discontinuities, judicious choice of number of nodes and nodal placements are needed to obtain accurate deflections, slopes, moments and shear forces. As polynomial functions are used, the large number of nodes can create a transformation matrix that is ill-conditioned, resulting in problems with the inversion of the matrix. The conditioning worsens as the number of nodes are increased beyond 20. Quadruple precision was needed for models to obtain accurate solutions. Even with quadruple precision the accuracy of the method suffers as the number of nodes is increased beyond 20. This appears to be a drawback of the MLPG-Chebyshev and MLPG-Legendre methods.
Moisture Control Using Intelligent Single Well Electro-osmotic Dewatering Systems

Abstract : TECHNICAL OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to demonstrate and evaluate the use of an Intelligent Single Well Electro-osmotic Dewatering Systems in controlling of water seepage through porous materials such as reinforced concrete. The broad end product of this work is a performance envelope for the use of alternative waterproofing technologies such as EOP for both new and existing construction.
Collective risk social dilemma and the consequences of the US withdrawal from international climate negotiations

International climate negotiations represent an interesting theoretical problem, which can be analyzed as a collective risk social dilemma as well as an n-person bargaining model. The problem is ma...
Using mixed methods to understand women's parenting practices related to their child's outdoor play and physical activity among families living in diverse neighborhood environments.

Abstract A convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to understand parenting practices for outdoor play, their influence on adolescent's physical activity and outdoor play and the role of the neighborhood and child's sex. Adolescents (n = 263) and their parents completed questionnaires and wore accelerometers. Parents (n = 30) participated in in-depth interviews. Parenting practices were examined by neighborhood disadvantage and child's sex in quantitative (Chi-square and T-tests) and qualitative (comparative thematic analysis) samples. Multi-level linear mixed models examined the associations between parenting practices and two adolescent outcomes: physical activity and outdoor play. Parents in high disadvantage neighborhoods and of female adolescents imposed more restrictions on outdoor play. Restrictive parenting practices were negatively associated with outdoor play, but not physical activity. Policy and environment change that improves neighborhood conditions may be necessary to reduce parents' fear and lessen restrictions on outdoor play.
Learning Latent Structure Over Deep Fusion Model of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Many computational models have been developed to understand Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its precursor - mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using non-invasive neural imaging techniques, i.e. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based imaging modalities. Most existing methods focused on identification of imaging biomarkers, classification/prediction of different clinical stages, regression of cognitive scores, or their combination as multi-task learning. Given the widely existed individual variability, however, it is still challenging to consider different learning tasks simultaneously even they share a similar goal: exploring the intrinsic alteration patterns in AD/MCI patients. Moreover, AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a long preclinical period. Besides conducting simple classification, brain changes should be considered within the entire AD/MCI progression process. Here, we introduced a novel deep fusion model for MCI using functional MRI data. We integrated autoencoder, multi-class classification and structure learning into a single deep model. During the modeling, different clinical groups including normal controls, early MCI and late MCI are considered simultaneously. With the learned discriminative representations, we not only can achieve a satisfied classification performance, but also construct a tree structure of MCI progressions.
A retrospective evaluation of the effect of perianesthetic hydromorphone administration on the incidence of postanesthetic signs of colic in horses.

Abstract Objective To describe the incidence of postanesthetic signs of colic (PASC) in horses and determine if perianesthetic administration of hydromorphone was associated with an increased risk of PASC. Study design Retrospective, cohort study. Animals A total of 409 horses. Methods Anesthesia and clinical records of horses admitted for various procedures from July 2018 to September 2019 were reviewed. Signs of colic and interventions were recorded up to 48 hours after anesthesia. A binomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between the type of surgery, administration of hydromorphone, the duration of anesthesia and the incidence of PASC. Results Overall, 25 (6.1%) horses developed PASC within 48 hours of general anesthesia. Of 60 horses that underwent colic surgery, 16 (26.7%) developed PASC. Of 349 horses that underwent noncolic procedures, nine (2.6%) developed PASC. Thus, the incidence of PASC was higher in horses that underwent colic surgery than in horses that underwent noncolic procedures [odds ratio (OR) = 13.74 (5.73–32.95)]. No effect of hydromorphone on the incidence of PASC was identified [OR = 1.61 (0.71–3.62)]. Longer procedures (>2 hours) were identified as an independent risk factor for PASC [OR = 4.13 (1.52–11.22)]. Conclusions No association between hydromorphone and an increase in the incidence of PASC was identified. Anesthesia for colic surgery and duration of anesthesia were associated with an increased risk of PASC. Clinical relevance Hydromorphone did not increase the incidence of PASC in this population.
Educational Simulation Design to Transform Learning in Earth and Environmental Sciences

This Innovative Practice Full Paper presents several educational simulation designs to transform learning in the earth and environmental sciences. In recent years, K-12 education has seen a widespread pedagogical shift from traditional textbook-based learning to a student-centered interactive learning environment. Innovative teaching technologies including games and simulations are exploited to make learning fun and engaging for students at various grades. As technology continues to advances, stakeholders such as teachers, parents, and educational policymakers are motivated to know the most effective technology platform to engage students in active learning. In this paper, we discuss some useful simulation techniques from the perspectives of users’ experience, system deployment and developers’ point of view. In addition, we also present the design and implementation of some Earth and Environmental Science simulations that are developed using NetLogo and JavaScript. Some student assessment results are also provided to compare the learning effectiveness between the traditional textbooks and computer simulation-based lessons. Our results show that computer simulation can help enhance the student’s content retention and graph interpretation skills.
On upper bounds for the count of elite primes

We look at upper bounds for the count of certain primes related to the Fermat numbers $F_n=2^{2^n}+1$ called elite primes. We first note an oversight in a result of Krizek, Luca and Somer and give the corrected, slightly weaker upper bound. We then assume the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis for Dirichlet L functions and obtain a stronger conditional upper bound.
Hypercoagulability Testing and Hypercoagulable Disorders in Young Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Patients.

Purpose To determine frequency of hypercoagulability testing and hypercoagulable states in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) younger than 50 years. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Deidentified patients younger than 50 years with newly diagnosed CRVO from a national insurance claims database. Methods The de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (Optum) containing medical claims from a commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance database was used. All outpatient medical claims (office visits, associated diagnoses, and laboratory testing) and demographic data for each beneficiary during their enrollment were accessible. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of (1) laboratory hypercoagulable workup within 90 days of CRVO diagnosis, (2) new diagnosis of a hypercoagulable state within 1 year of CRVO diagnosis, and (3) diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperlipidemia. Results One thousand one hundred eighty-one patients met inclusion criteria. Six hundred seventy-one patients (56.8%) were men, 450 patients (38.1%) had undergone hypercoagulable testing within 90 days, and 136 patients (11.5%) were diagnosed with a hypercoagulable state within 1 year after CRVO diagnosis. This proportion was similar between those patients with DM, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia (10.5% [65/620]) and those without (12.7% [71/561]; P = 0.28). Of the 136 patients diagnosed with a hypercoagulability state, 68.4% (93/136) had undergone testing within 90 days of CRVO diagnosis and 31.6% (43/136) did not. Of those who had not undergone hypercoagulability testing, 5.9% (43/731) were diagnosed with a hypercoagulable state within 1 year compared with 20.7% (93/450) in those who were tested (P Conclusions The prevalence of a hypercoagulable state within 1 year of CRVO diagnosis in patients younger than 50 years was 11.5%, and the prevalence was similar between patients with atherosclerotic risk factors and those without. Rate of testing was only 38.1%. Future research should examine the usefulness of uniform hypercoagulable testing in young CRVO patients.
U.S. Stock Market Correction: Causes and Effects

The U.S. stock market entered a major correction on 2 February 2018, impacting most of the markets worldwide. Stock indices plunged as volatility increased. The correction was spurred mainly by the U.S. stock market overvaluation as well as concerns about inflation spike in the United States. Yet, there are no signs of a system-wide crisis.
Sardar, Islam, Normal, Post Normal, Identity, and I

This paper briefly compares Zia Sardar and Jim Dator in terms of their perspectives on normality, postnormality, and identity. Sardar struggles to root his identity as a British Pakistani Muslim. D...