cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neonatal exposure to monosodium glutamate results in dysmorphology of orofacial lower motor neurons

Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and is stored and released by both neurons and astrocytes. Despite the important role of glutamate as a neurotransmitter, high levels of extracellular glutamate can result in excitotoxicity and apoptosis. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a naturally occurring sodium salt of glutamic acid that is used as a flavour enhancer in many processed foods. Neonatal exposure to MSG has been shown to result in neurodegeneration in several forebrain regions, characterised by neuronal loss and neuroendocrine abnormalities. However, the brainstem effects of neonatal MSG exposure have not been investigated. It is therefore hypothesized that MSG exposure during the early postnatal period would impact brainstem lower motor neurons involved in feeding behaviour. The effect of neonatal MSG exposure on brainstem lower motor neurons was investigated by exposing rat pups to either 4 mg/g MSG or saline from postnatal day (P) 4 through 10. On P28, brains were preserved by vascular perfusion with fixative, frozen sectioned and stained for Nissl substance. The number, size and shape of brainstem motor neurons were compared between MSG and saline-exposed animals. MSG exposure had no impact on the total number of neurons in the nuclei examined. However, MSG exposure was associated with a significant increase in the number of round somata in both the trigeminal and facial nuclei. Furthermore, MSG exposure resulted in significantly smaller neurons in all motor nuclei examined. These results suggest that neonatal exposure to MSG impacts the development of brainstem lower motor neurons which may impact feeding and swallowing behaviours in young animals.
Outcomes Following Clinical Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-invasive Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder in Patients Refusing Radical Cystectomy.

Objective To investigate survival outcomes of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) that demonstrate complete clinical response (cT0) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and then reject subsequent radical cystectomy (RC). Methods A retrospective chart review identified patients with MIBC who were cT0 after platinum-based NAC. cT0 was defined as negative cytology, cystoscopy with transurethral resection of bladder tumor, and imaging. cT0 patients refusing for RC were followed up with cytology, cystoscopy with biopsy, and cross-sectional imaging. Results Forty-eight patients were identified with MIBC that were cT0 after NAC. Seven patients underwent immediate RC, whereas 41 elected bladder preservation with close surveillance. Of those remaining 41 patients, mean age was 68 ± 11 years with median follow-up of 35 months. NAC regimens were 46% methotrexate/vinblastine/doxorubicin/cisplatin, 39% gemcitabine/cisplatin, and 15% other platinum-based therapies. Five-year cancer-specific survival was 87%, disease-free survival was 58%, and cystectomy-free survival was 79%. A total of 19 patients (46%) relapsed with 5.4-month median recurrence time. Conclusion Bladder preservation may be a reasonable option in a highly select subset of patients with MIBC who are complete clinical responders after NAC. For those patients that were cT0 after NAC and refused or were ineligible for RC, 5-year disease-free survival was nearly 60% and cancer-specific survival was nearly 90%. Future studies should focus on identifying clinical and molecular factors associated with a durable pathologic complete response after NAC.
Local and Regional Flaps

In a rapidly advancing field of reconstructive surgery, wound healing is one of the most important areas. Major advances in wound care have resulted in the ability to heal small- and medium-sized defects without significant sequela. Wound healing could be complex, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities. Complex defects involving the bones, joint, and tendon could lead to major complications if management and coverage are delayed. Consequently, rapid wound coverage may be may be favored over healing by secondary intention. Technical means for coverage of complex defects include flaps or grafts. A flap is tissue that is transferred from a donor site to a recipient site with its included blood supply. This differs from a graft, which involves tissue transfer without consideration for its native perfusion. Flaps are used in situations where wounds are more complicated and secondary healing is not a sustainable treatment modality. In this chapter, we provide detailed information about local and regional flaps and also recent advances in this field.
The Securities Law Disclosure Rules of the Road Regarding Executive Illness

Since at least the mid-1990s the question of disclosure about the health of executives of public companies has been the subject of scholarly commentary and the popular business press. Notwithstanding some proposals for SEC rulemaking in this area, nothing has been proposed by the SEC, and none seems to be likely. Thus, disclosure practices as well as liability, whether in the context of an SEC enforcement action or a private claim for damages, are subject principally to the principles applying Rule 10b-5. This Article summarizes those basic principles, discusses how they may apply to issues of material facts regarding executive health, and concludes by proposing some best practices in the absence of specific guidance from the SEC.
Characterization of the lid-driven cavity magnetohydrodynamic flow at finite magnetic Reynolds numbers using far-field magnetic boundary conditions

The lid-driven cavity (LDC) flow is a canonic hydrodynamic problem. Here, a 3D LDC flow of electrically conducting, incompressible fluid is studied numerically in the presence of a strong magnetic field, which is applied parallel to the lid plane and perpendicular to the direction of the lid motion. The cavity has electrically conducting walls of finite thickness and an infinitely thin moving lid. The problem is characterized by three dimensionless parameters: the Reynolds number (Re), the Hartmann number (Ha), and the magnetic Reynolds number (Rem). The primary research focus is on the effect of Rem, which was changed in the study from Rem ≪ 1 to the maximal Rem = 2000 at which dynamo action may be expected, while Ha = 100 and Re = 2000. The computational approach is based on the utilization of far-field magnetic boundary conditions by solving the full magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow problem at finite Rem for a multi-material domain composed of the inner conducting liquid, conducting walls, and sufficiently large insulating outer domain called “vacuum” (the induced magnetic field vanishes at the vacuum boundaries) using a fractional-step method. The computed results show many interesting features with regard to the effect of Rem on the MHD boundary layer and the bulk flow, generation of a magnetic field and its penetration into vacuum, energy balance, tendency of the magnetic field to become frozen in the fluid and associated magnetic flux expulsion, transition to unsteady flows, and self-excitation of the magnetic field and the associated dynamo-type action at high Rem.
Recent developments in autoimmunity

Contemporary immunology has revolutionized our concepts of the immune system, bringing recognition of self into sharp focus as perhaps the major biological phenomenon upon which even recognition of foreignness may depend. The impact of this phenomenon on our understanding of autoimmune diseases is emphasized in this article. Autoimmune diseases are truly multifactorial. Genetic, viral and hormonal factors are extremely important in pathogenesis. Animal models for autoimmune diseases offer great promise for working out pathogenetic mechanisms and for devising new and more rational modes of therapy.
Communication Tools for Human-Computer Knowledge Transfer

Intelligent information systems, such as those built using knowledge-based system (KBS) technology, stress the human-computer interface in new ways. Such systems use knowledge as well as lower-level information. The application of KBS technology depends on two aspects of the communication of knowledge (knowledge transfer). First, it depends on the ability of humans to explicate their knowledge in ways that can be incorporated into the computer system. Second, it depends on the ability of the computer to divulge its knowledge to humans in a palatable and understandable form.
Culture pH and ammonia affect expression rates and glycosylation of recombinant mouse placental lactogen proteins by CHO cells

ABSTRACT Glycosylation patterns and expression rates of the recombinant protein mouse placental lactogen-I (mPL-I) by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells varied significantly over the extracellular pH (pH e ) range of 6.1 to 8.7 in media supplemented with 0, 3 or 9 mM ammonium chloride. The protein was expressed under no-growth conditions in a serum-free medium following the growth of cells to confluency in a serum-containing medium. The maximum specific mPL-I expression rates occurred between pH e 7.6 and 8.0. The pH e effect on protein expression rates was confirmed using a different CHO cell expressing the unglycosylated recombinant protein mPL-II. Decreases in the extent of glycosylation of mPL-I were observed at pH e below 7.0 and above 8.0 if no NH4Cl was added to the medium. Increasing NH4Cl concentrations decreased protein glycosylation only at high pH e (≥ 7.6). NH4Cl had no affect on protein glycosylation at pH e values at or below 7.2.
Tarski, Peirce and Truth-Correspondences in Law: Can Semiotic Truth-Analysis Adequately Describe Legal Discourse?

Truth-correspondence is the basic analytical-philosophical premise that “propositions are true when they correspond to reality”. Tarski provides a view on truth-correspondence outside of legal discourse. His ‘Convention T’ holds that a proposition is true if and only if that proposition can be proven true within the language expressing it. Within that theory, and legal reasoning in general, a proposition is either “true” or “false”. This mechanical approach is a form of semiotic activity, but limits the scope of analysis. “Truth” is constructed again and again with each case and each legal finding, yet each finding leads no closer to any particular legal truth.
Impact of an Intervention to Improve Weekend Hospital Care at an Academic Medical Center: An Observational Study.

Hospital care on weekends has been associated with delays in care, reduced quality, and poor clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a weekend hospital intervention on processes of care and clinical outcomes. The multifaceted intervention included expanded weekend diagnostic services, improved weekend discharge processes, and increased physician and care management services on weekends. This was an interrupted time series observational study of adult non-obstetric patients hospitalized at a single academic medical center between January 2011 and January 2014. The study included 18 months prior to and 19 months following the implementation of the intervention. Data were analyzed using segmented regression analysis with adjustment for confounders. The primary outcome was average length of stay. Secondary outcomes included percent of patients discharged on weekends, 30-day readmission rate, and in-hospital mortality rate. The study included 57,163 hospitalizations. Following implementation of the intervention, average length of stay decreased by 13 % (95 % CI 10–15 %) and continued to decrease by 1 % (95 % CI 1–2 %) per month as compared to the underlying time trend. The proportion of weekend discharges increased by 12 % (95 % CI 2–22 %) at the time of the intervention and continued to increase by 2 % (95 % CI 1–3 %) per month thereafter. The intervention had no impact on readmissions or mortality. During the post-implementation period, the hospital was evacuated and closed for 2 months due to damage from Hurricane Sandy, and a new hospital-wide electronic health record was introduced. The contributions of these events to our findings are not known. We observed a lower inpatient census and found differences in patient characteristics, including higher rates of Medicaid insurance and comorbidities, in the post-Hurricane Sandy period as compared to the pre-Sandy period. The intervention was associated with a reduction in length of stay and an increase in weekend discharges. Our longitudinal study also illuminated the challenges of evaluating the effectiveness of a large-scale intervention in a real-world hospital setting.
Effects of deceleration-focused exercise strategies on shoulder range of motion and throwing velocity in baseball and softball athletes

This study examined the effects of deceleration-focused exercises on shoulder range of motion and throwing velocity in both softball and baseball players. Volunteers included 28 Division III Willia...
Determining malignancy in CT guided fine needle aspirate biopsy of subsolid lung nodules: Is core biopsy necessary?

Abstract Purpose To assess the success of determining malignancy in subsolid lung nodules by fine needle aspirate of CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy. Material and method This IRB approved retrospective study analyzed CTguided transthoracic needle biopsy of 86 consecutive subsolid nodules (size 25 + 14 mm; Age 71 + 10 years: M: F, 27:59), with ground glass opacity of = 50% in 64 (74%) and size Results The technical success of performing the biopsy was 94.7%. The sensitivity for making a diagnosis of malignancy in small and large subsolid nodules was 88.6 and 95.6% (p=>0.05), with a specificity 100% in both groups. Core biopsy altered the diagnosis only in 1/21 (4.8%). The nondiagnostic biopsy rate was 18 and 11% for lesions with =50% and 0.05). The incidence of pneumothorax was 21%, none requiring chest tube, and mild hemoptysis in 8%. Conclusion CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of both small and large subsolid nodules is highly sensitive and very specific for making the diagnosis of malignancy with a low rate of complications. Additional core biopsy offered no significant advantage over fine needle aspirate biopsy alone.
Glycoside Hydrolase Genes Are Required for Virulence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens on Bryophyllum daigremontiana and Tomato.

ABSTRACT Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a rhizosphere bacterium that can infect wound sites on plants. The bacterium transfers a segment of DNA (T-DNA) from the Ti plasmid to the plant host cell via a type IV secretion system where the DNA becomes integrated into the host cell chromosomes. The expression of T-DNA in the plant results in tumor formation. Although the binding of the bacteria to plant surfaces has been studied previously, there is little work on possible interactions of the bacteria with the plant cell wall. Seven of the 48 genes encoding putative glycoside hydrolases (Atu2295, Atu2371, Atu3104, Atu3129, Atu4560, Atu4561, and Atu4665) in the genome of A. tumefaciens C58 were found to play a role in virulence on tomato and Bryophyllum daigremontiana. Two of these genes (pglA and pglB; Atu3129 and Atu4560) encode enzymes capable of digesting polygalacturonic acid and, thus, may play a role in the digestion of pectin. One gene (arfA; Atu3104) encodes an arabinosylfuranosidase, which could remove arabinose from the ends of polysaccharide chains. Two genes (bglA and bglB; Atu2295 and Atu4561) encode proteins with β-glycosidase activity and could digest a variety of plant cell wall oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. One gene (xynA; Atu2371) encodes a putative xylanase, which may play a role in the digestion of xylan. Another gene (melA; Atu4665) encodes a protein with α-galactosidase activity and may be involved in the breakdown of arabinogalactans. Limited digestion of the plant cell wall by A. tumefaciens may be involved in tumor formation on tomato and B. daigremontiana. IMPORTANCEA. tumefaciens is used in the construction of genetically engineered plants, as it is able to transfer DNA to plant hosts. Knowledge of the mechanisms of DNA transfer and the genes required will aid in the understanding of this process. Manipulation of glycoside hydrolases may increase transformation and widen the host range of the bacterium. A. tumefaciens also causes disease (crown gall tumors) on a variety of plants, including stone fruit trees, grapes, and grafted ornamentals such as roses. It is possible that compounds that inhibit glycoside hydrolases could be used to control crown gall disease caused by A. tumefaciens.
Fixing a snag in carbon emissions estimates from wildfires

Wildfire is an essential earth-system process, impacting ecosystem processes and the carbon cycle. Forest fires are becoming more frequent and severe, yet gaps exist in the modeling of fire on vegetation and carbon dynamics. Strategies for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions from wildfires include increasing tree harvest, largely based on the public assumption that fires burn live forests to the ground, despite observations indicating that less than 5% of mature tree biomass is actually consumed. This misconception is also reflected though excessive combustion of live trees in models. Here, we show that regional emissions estimates using widely implemented combustion coefficients are 59%-83% higher than emissions based on field observations. Using unique field datasets from before and after wildfires and an improved ecosystem model, we provide strong evidence that these large overestimates can be reduced by using realistic biomass combustion factors and by accurately quantifying biomass in standing dead trees that decompose over decades to centuries after fire ("snags"). Most model development focuses on area burned; our results reveal that accurately representing combustion is also essential for quantifying fire impacts on ecosystems. Using our improvements, we find that western US forest fires have emitted 851 ± 228 Tg CO2 (~half of alternative estimates) over the last 17 years, which is minor compared to 16,200 Tg CO2 from fossil fuels across the region.
Clinical and Socioeconomic Predictors of Heart Failure Readmissions: A Review of Contemporary Literature

Heart failure represents a clinical syndrome that results from a constellation of disease processes affecting myocardial function. Although recent studies have suggested a declining or stable incidence of heart failure, patients with heart failure continue to have high hospitalization and readmission rates, resulting in a substantial economic and public health burden. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar to identify published literature from 1998 through 2018 using the following keywords: heart failure, readmissions, predictors, prediction models, and interventions. Cited references were also used to identify relevant literature. Developments in the diagnosis and management of patients with heart failure have improved hospitalization and readmission rates in the past few decades. However, heart failure remains the most common cause of hospitalization in persons older than 65 years. As a result, given the enormous clinical and financial burden associated with heart failure readmissions on health care, there has been growing interest in the investigation of mechanisms aimed at improving outcomes and curtailing associated costs of care. Herein, we review the current literature on clinical and socioeconomic predictors of heart failure readmissions, briefly discussing limitations of existing strategies and providing an overview of current technology aimed at reducing hospitalizations.
Caregiving Across Diverse Populations: New Evidence From the National Study of Caregiving and Hispanic EPESE

Background and objectives The current study employs population-based data to determine the extent to which stress and coping factors are related to self-rated health and distress for informal caregivers (CGs) from the 3 largest racial/ethnic groups in the United States (non-Latino White, African American, and Mexican American). Research design and methods Data on primary, informal CGs are obtained from the 2015 National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) (n = 667) and the 2016 Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE) CG supplement (n = 287). Logistic regression models of health are presented for all CGs and specifically for dementia CGs. Results Caregiving intensity is related to health for non-Latino White CGs and African American dementia CGs. Support from family and friends is related to better self-rated health, but only for African American dementia CGs. While better relationship quality is related to better health for African American CGs and White dementia CGs, formal support utilization is related to worse CG health for Mexican American dementia CGs. Discussion and implications Findings emphasize the importance of earlier detection and intervention with CGs at the beginning in the caregiving career, the interplay of formal and informal support, and appropriate ways to intervene with dementia CGs. Culturally tailored home- and community-based care options are needed to supplement the low levels of CG support, especially for the Mexican American population.
Primate optogenetics: Progress and prognosis

Monkeys are a premier model organism for neuroscience research. Activity in the central nervous systems of monkeys can be recorded and manipulated while they perform complex perceptual, motor, or cognitive tasks. Conventional techniques for manipulating neural activity in monkeys are too coarse to address many of the outstanding questions in primate neuroscience, but optogenetics holds the promise to overcome this hurdle. In this article, we review the progress that has been made in primate optogenetics over the past 5 years. We emphasize the use of gene regulatory sequences in viral vectors to target specific neuronal types, and we present data on vectors that we engineered to target parvalbumin-expressing neurons. We conclude with a discussion of the utility of optogenetics for treating sensorimotor hearing loss and Parkinson's disease, areas of translational neuroscience in which monkeys provide unique leverage for basic science and medicine.
Patterns of Denitrification and Methanogenesis Rates from Vernal Pools in a Temperate Forest Driven by Seasonal, Microbial Functional Gene Abundances, and Soil Chemistry

Due to their relatively small sizes, temperate forest vernal pools are less studied than other wetlands, despite being potential biogeochemical hotspots in landscapes. We investigated spatial and temporal factors driving N2O and CH4 emission rates from vernal pools in a temperate forest. We determined higher N2O (3.66 ± 0.53 × 10−6, μg N2O/m2/h) and CH4 (2.10 ± 0.7 × 10−3, μg N2O/m2/h) rates in spring relative to fall (~50% and 77% lower for N2O and CH4 rates, respectively) and winter (~70% and 94% lower for N2O and CH4 rates, respectively). Soil organic matter, nitrate content and bacterial 16S rDNA, nirS, and norB gene abundances emerged as significant drivers of N2O rates, whereas, soil pH, organic matter content and mcrA abundance were significant drivers of CH4 rates. Denitrification gene abundances were negatively correlated with N2O rates, whereas mcrA abundance correlated positively with CH4 rates. Results suggest that CH4 rates may be directly coupled to methanogen abundance, whereas N2O rates may be directly impacted by a variety of abiotic variables and indirectly coupled to the abundance of potential denitrifier assemblages. Overall, additional studies examining these dynamics over extended periods are needed to provide more insights into their control.
Combined effects of early snowmelt and climate warming on mountain lake temperatures and fish energetics

Mountain regions are experiencing some of the highest air temperature increases and ice cover decreases. However, few studies have examined the effects of climate warming and earlier snowmelt on mo...
Novel clostridial lineages recovered from metagenomes of a hot oil reservoir

Oil reservoirs have been shown to house numerous microbial lineages that differ based on the in-situ pH, salinity and temperature of the subsurface environment. Lineages of Firmicutes, including Clostridiales, have been frequently detected in oil reservoirs, but are typically not considered impactful or relevant due to their spore-forming nature. Here we show, using metagenomics, a high temperature oil reservoir of marine salinity contains a microbial population that is predominantly from within the Order Clostridiales. These organisms form an oil-reservoir specific clade based on the phylogenies of both 16S rRNA genes and ribosomal proteins, which we propose to name UPetromonas tenebris, meaning they are single-celled organisms from dark rocks. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of these Petromonas sp. were obtained and used to determine that these populations, while capable of spore-formation, were also likely replicating in situ in the reservoir. We compared these MAGs to closely related genomes and show that these subsurface Clostridiales differ, from the surface derived genomes, showing signatures of the ability to degrade plant-related compounds, whereas subsurface genomes only show the ability to process simple sugars. The estimation of in-situ replication from genomic data suggest that UPetromonas tenebris lineages are functional in-situ and may be specifically adapted to inhabit oil reservoirs.
Ruminal fermentation and enteric methane production of legumes containing condensed tannins fed in continuous culture

ABSTRACT A continuous-culture fermentor study was conducted to assess nutrient digestibilities, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, microbial protein synthesis, bacterial nitrogen (N) efficiency, and enteric methane (CH4) production of four 50:50 grass-legume diets, randomly assigned in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Four legumes with different concentrations of condensed tannins (CT) were tested: alfalfa [ALF; Medicago sativa L., non-CT legume]; birdsfoot trefoil [BFT; Lotus corniculatus L., low-CT legume]; crown vetch [CV; Securigera varia (L.) Lassen, moderate-CT legume]; and sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don, high-CT legume]. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) was the common forage used in all diets. Four fermentors were evaluated over four 10-d periods by feeding 82 g of dry matter (DM)/d in 4 equal feedings. Methane output was recorded every 10 min. Effluent samples were collected during the last 3 d of the experiment, composited by fermentor and period, and analyzed for pH and VFA, as well as DM, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber for determination of apparent and true nutrient digestibilities. Microbial protein synthesis and bacterial efficiency were estimated by analysis of N flows and purines. The CT concentrations were 3, 21, 38 and 76 g/kg of DM for ALF, BFT, CV, and SL diets, respectively. The SL diet had decreased fiber digestibilities and total VFA concentrations compared with the other diets. This resulted in the least total CH4 production in the SL diet. Bacterial N efficiency per kilogram of organic matter truly digested was lower in the SL diet than in the BFT and CV diets. The lowest CH4 production per unit of digestible nutrients was also found in the SL diet. Further work should be conducted to find optimal diets (by testing other legumes, rations, and sources of CT) for reducing CH4 emissions without negatively affecting ruminal digestion to maintain or improve productivity.
Commercial waterborne coatings

Abstract In the mid-1960s, many industrial suppliers were actively engaged in research in zero volatile organic component coatings. However, this effort declined by most suppliers by the early 1970s because of slow growth in these areas. In the 1990s, the emphasis in coatings research has strongly turned to the waterborne area. In the 21st century, the global demand for environmentally safe waterborne materials has considerably increased. Today, waterborne coatings represent the largest class of coatings used globally. Low toxicity and flammability, better coverage, good abrasion and heat resistance, and low production cost are considered as basic advantages of waterborne coatings. This chapter summarizes current trends in waterborne coatings, with a specific focus on their most important commercial applications, including architectural, automotive, wood, coil, marine, and packaging. A comprehensive overview of the binders and additives used in these systems is also provided here and serves as a starting point for future studies.
Plant Biology: From the Classroom to the Internet.

The lecture content of a Plant Biology class for non-majors was transformed from a traditional on-campus lecture to an asynchronous website for use both as a stand-alone internet-based course and as an adjunct to the on-campus course. Additional information and examples of the online interactive activities included in PLB 108, Concepts in Plant Biology, can be found at http://is.asu.edu/plb108/ (verified 5 Mar. 2009). The 2-year planning and development process included a partnership between instructors in the Plant Biology Department and multimedia designers in the Instructional Technology Support Group of Arizona State University. The team developed, designed, and delivered a 259-page website rich in illustrations, images, animations, and videos. More than 100 interactive animations were used to illustrate complex processes and structures and for self assessments.
Dynamic Response Analysis Based on Multiple-Phase-Shift in Dual-Active-Bridge

Dual-Active-Bridge is good candidate in electric vehicle charger, owing to bidirectional power flow and excellent galvanic. To optimize efficiency of DAB converter, many modulation strategies are proposed, including single-phase-shift, dual-phase-shift, and triple-phase-shift. The different modulation strategies can focus on realization of Zero-Voltage-Switching, minimization of reactive power and suppression of current stress, which are all improvement of steady sate performance. When utilizing multiphase-shift modulation, the dynamic response is also important in real application. In this paper, the averaged small signal models of different modulations are proposed. The different magnitude and phase performance are also discussed. An example of PI controller is proposed when using multi-phase-shift. To verify the proposed calculation and design, a Simulink model is developed, which also consider the influence of digital control in MCU.
Ultraconserved enhancer function does not require perfect sequence conservation

Ultraconserved enhancer sequences show perfect conservation between human and rodent genomes, suggesting that their functions are highly sensitive to mutation. However, current models of enhancer function do not sufficiently explain this extreme evolutionary constraint. We subjected 23 ultraconserved enhancers to different levels of mutagenesis, collectively introducing 1,547 mutations, and examined their activities in transgenic mouse reporter assays. Overall, we find that the regulatory properties of ultraconserved enhancers are robust to mutation. Upon mutagenesis, nearly all (19/23, 83%) still functioned as enhancers at one developmental stage, as did most of those tested again later in development (5/9, 56%). Replacement of endogenous enhancers with mutated alleles in mice corroborated results of transgenic assays, including the functional resilience of ultraconserved enhancers to mutation. Our findings show that the currently known activities of ultraconserved enhancers do not necessarily require the perfect conservation observed in evolution and suggest that additional regulatory or other functions contribute to their sequence constraint.
Design Considerations for CMP Slurry Delivery Systems

Optimized process and reduced cost of ownership are important considerations for Chemical Mechanical Planarization. Slurry blending and distribution systems can have a significant impact on Chemical Mechanical Planarization process performance especially for state-of-the-art semiconductor technology nodes. Design of Slurry Delivery Systems plays an important role in slurry blending and distribution but is often overlooked. Improved Slurry Delivery System design can lead to low cost of ownership, yield improvement and higher tool uptime for a fleet of Chemical Mechanical Planarization tools.We highlight some critical aspects of Slurry Delivery System design to improve blending, Slurry Delivery System uptime, real-time analytical parameter monitoring and to reduce slurry agglomeration. We compare Slurry Delivery Systems with and without these design features in order to emphasize the importance of good Slurry Delivery System design.
Capturing the financial hardship of cancer in military adolescent and young adult patients: A conceptual framework.

Examine whether an existing conceptual framework for understanding financial hardship following a cancer diagnosis captures experiences among military adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients.Inve...
Racist nativism in academic medicine: an analysis of Latinx faculty experiences

The disadvantaged position in which underrepresented faculty in medicine often find themselves is characteristic of not only our current society but also tradition and elitism in academic medicine....
Sulfated poly-amido-saccharides (sulPASs) are anticoagulants in vitro and in vivo.

Anticoagulant therapeutics are a mainstay of modern surgery and of clotting disorder management such as venous thrombosis, yet performance and supply limitations exist for the most widely used agent – heparin. Herein we report the first synthesis, characterization, and performance of sulfated poly-amido-saccharides (sulPASs) as heparin mimetics. sulPASs inhibit the intrinsic pathway of coagulation, specifically FXa and FXIa, as revealed by ex vivo human plasma clotting assays and serine protease inhibition assays. sulPASs activity positively correlates with molecular weight and degree of sulfation. Importantly, sulPASs are not degraded by heparanases and are non-hemolytic. In addition, their activity is reversed by protamine sulfate, unlike small molecule anticoagulants. In an in vivo murine model, sulPASs extend clotting time in a dose dependent manner with bleeding risk comparable to heparin. These findings support continued development of synthetic anticoagulants to address the clinical risks and shortages associated with heparin.
Rural infection preventionists' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from focus groups conducted with association of professionals in infection control & epidemiology (APIC) members.

Abstract Background SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was identified and quickly developed into a pandemic in spring, 2020. This event posed immense difficulties for healthcare nationally, with rural areas experiencing different challenges than other regions. Methods The Association of Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology conducted focus groups with infection preventionist (IP) members in September and October, 2020. Zoom sessions were recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used to identify themes. Results In all, 38 IPs who work at a critical access hospital or a healthcare facility in a rural location participated. Major challenges identified by IPs in this study included addressing the lack of access to personal protective equipment (PPE), overwhelming workloads caused by the pandemic and multiple roles/responsibilities, inaccurate social media messages, and generalized disbelief and disregard about the pandemic among rural community members. Conclusions Gaps in preparedness identified in this study, such as the lack of PPE, need to be addressed to prevent occupational illness. In addition, health disparities and inaccurate beliefs about COVID-19 heard by IPs in this study need to be addressed in order to increase compliance with public health safeguards among rural community members and minimize morbidity and mortality in these regions.
Die soziale Schichtung im Betrieb

„Der Aufsichtsrat mochte gerne wissen, was die Betriebsleitung vorhat . . .“ „Sagen Sie den Aufsichtspersonen, das sie auf das Arbeitstempo achten . . .“ „Wenn alles gut geht, werde ich in zehn Jahren 8000 Dollar verdienen . ..“ „Was wollen ‚die da oben‘ eigentlich, etwa unser Blut?“ „Entweder 931/4 Cents die Stunde oder wir streiken!“ „Dieser neue Organisationsplan kann uns unsere Stelle kosten.“ „Mit meiner Arbeit ist’s aus, eine Maschine kann es besser und billiger.“ „Ich konnte den Leistungsbewerter ins Gesicht schlagen, wenn der Kerl behauptet, ich konne 300 Einheiten mehr herstellen.“ „Sein Zeugnis zeigt eine Leistungsrate von nur 641/2 Prozent.“ „Wir mussen die Produktionskosten senken!“ „Wenn ich eine Gehaltserhohung bekomme, kaufe ich mir einen neuen Buick.“ „Ich spare meine ganze Lohnerhohung; man mus ja mit Unvorhergesehenem rechnen.“ „Es ist doch traurig, wie tief ein Mensch fur ein paar lumpige Dollar sinkt.“ „Mein Bonus hangt davon ab, wie sich der neue Organisationsplan bewahrt.“ „Findest Du nicht auch, das Jim ein wenig stolz geworden ist, seit er die Gehaltserhohung erhielt und nun Werkmeister ist?“
Mapping of qGL7-2, a grain length QTL on chromosome 7 of rice

Abstract A residual heterozygous line (RHL) carrying a heterozygous segment between two SSR loci RM11 and RM134 on the rice chromosome 7 was selected from a set of recombinant inbred lines from the cross D50 ( javanica )/HB277 ( indica ). The former parent produces much longer grains than the latter. Selfed progenies of this selection were analyzed genotypically (SSRs) and phenotypically (grain length). Grain length was discontinuously variable in the mapping populations, allowing for the placement of this QTL qGL7-2 within a ∼4.8 cM interval defined by RM351 and RM234. A set of new markers within this region were developed, which narrowed the QTL to a 278 kb region defined by the markers Indel1 and RM21945. This region contains 49 predicted genes. The results also suggest that the novel allele for grain length will be used for the application of marker assisted selection for the improvement of grain length.
Hypothetico‐Deductive Model

This entry discusses the hypothetico-deductive model, a formalized theory-testing method purported to describe the scientific process. After describing the basic model, the entry outlines certain elaborations of the model proposed by contemporary philosophers of science in order to improve its truth-likeness. The entry concludes with a consideration of the Quine–Duhem thesis, which points out that a hypothesis is never tested in isolation, but rather within the context of a network of embedded assumptions. Keywords: epistemology; theory testing; philosophy of science
Image segmentation (IS) and local fractal analyses of MR images

Summary form only given, as follows. Operator independent algorithms were developed for image segmentation of magnetic resonance (MR) images for white and gray matter, ventricles, and pathology. Two local fractal algorithms were also developed and validated using known fractal Takagi surfaces and Mr phantoms. These methods were applied to: (1) 15 chronic MS patients with extensive plaques and periventricular effusions who received multiple MR exams over time; (2) in vivo, and in vitro MR mandible and femur images; and (3) MR studies of 15 schizophrenics (S) and 15 controls (C). MR results correlated with clinical changes in 13/15 MS patients. MR fractal results correlated with changes in trabecular bone density and structure. MR differences (0.05 >
A formal model-based approach for developing an interoperable mobile agent system

Mobile agents provide an effective and flexible approach to developing complex distributed systems. Formalizing the software architecture of mobile agent systems supports the development of high quality agent systems. In this paper, the software architecture of an interoperable mobile agent system is defined using two-layer predicate transition (PrT) nets. Based on the two-layer PrT net models, a formal model-based approach to develop mobile agents systems is proposed. The approach presented in this paper naturally integrates formal methods and practical approaches in each phase of the development life-cycle of the agent system. The proposed approach for agent systems can also be used to develop other complex software systems.
Unsupervised Learning and Interactive Jazz/Blues Improvisation

We present a new domain for unsupervised learning: automatically customizing the computer to a specific melodic performer by merely listening to them improvise. We also describe BoB, a system that trades customized real-time solos with a specific musician. We develop a probabilistic mixture model, derived from the multinomial distribution, for the clustering and generation of variable sample-sized histograms. With this model, bars of a solo are clustered via the pitch-classes contained therein, adding a new dimension to the problem: the need to learn from sparse histograms. With synthetic data, we quantify the feasibility of handling this issue, and qualitatively demonstrate that our approach discovers powerful musical abstractions when trained on saxaphonist Charlie Parker.
IDEAL: An Environment to Support Usability Engineering

IDEAL—the Interface Development Environment and Analysis Lattice—is an interactive tool environment that supports user-centered interface development activities. Specifically, it supports activities such as: • task analysis, user interface design representation, and usability goal specification that occur before formative usability evaluation sessions with users. • qualitative and quantitative data collection during formative usability evaluation sessions, and • cost/importance and impact analyses, other data analysis techniques, and redesign that occur after formative usability evaluation sessions.
A residue number system reduced instruction set computer (RISC) concept

A reduced-instruction-set RNS (residue number system) processor is proposed for digital signal processing algorithms. Issues leading toward a RNS RISC are examined, namely suitable RNS algorithms. It is argued that this is a reasonable next step in RNS research. More complex algorithms, solving systems of equations, are reviewed, with the hope of stimulating the RNS community to pursue integer algorithm design. >
Single crystal elastic constants with inferences pertinent to vibrational behavior and superconductivity

Abstract Data are presented to show that indications of mode softening may be obtained from elasticity measurements. In the extreme limit where mode softening results in the vanishing of an elastic constant, phase instability ensues. Mode softening and superconductivity are interrelated, and unusual elastic behavior is often observed in superconductors. Such elastic behavior and superconductivity seem to arise from a common cause.
Autosomal Dominant Retinal Dystrophy With Electronegative Waveform Associated With a Novel RAX2 Mutation

Importance The patients evaluated in this study, to our knowledge, represent the first complete clinical description of a family with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern of retinal dystrophy associated with a novel mutation in RAX2 . Objectives To clinically evaluate 4 patients and 5 unaffected family members, characterize the disease phenotype over time, and identify the associated genetic mutation. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective, longitudinal, observational, case-series analysis of 9 members of an affected family at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland. The dates of the study were from July 31, 1992, to August 11, 2014. Interventions Clinical evaluations included eye examination, color fundus photography, autofluorescence imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, kinetic visual field testing, and electroretinography. Genetic mutation screening was performed with next-generation sequencing, and identified mutations were confirmed with Sanger sequencing. Main Outcomes and Measures Clinical diagnosis and longitudinal characterization of retinal dystrophy and identification of genetic mutation. Results Six members of the family were identified as having retinal dystrophy (4 were examined, and 3 were genetically tested). Five unaffected family members were clinically evaluated (2 were genetically tested). The age at onset of retinal dystrophy was variable. All affected individuals presented with declining visual acuity, central scotomas, waxy disc pallor, attenuated vasculature, small yellow macular deposits and/or macular pigment mottling, and abnormal electroretinograms demonstrating mixed cone and rod dysfunction and a scotopic electronegative response to bright flashes. There were no other causes of an electronegative electroretinogram identified in any of the affected patients. Genetic testing revealed, to our knowledge, a novel frameshift heterozygous mutation in RAX2 in the patients with retinal dystrophy. Conclusions and Relevance A frameshift heterozygous mutation in RAX2 inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion was associated with mixed cone and rod dysfunction. Among the patients, there was variability in the age at onset and in the specific pattern of photoreceptor dysfunction, but the clinical course was nevertheless slowly progressive. Screening for RAX2 mutation could provide prognostic value for patients and families with scotopic electronegative responses to bright flashes.
Nonconservative optical torques

We demonstrate that mutual electromagnetic interaction induces torques even in lossless spheres. This constitutes a new mechanism to gain energy from an external field, besides radiation pressure and absorption, and is fully controlled by polarization.
The magnetometer instrument on MESSENGER

The Magnetometer (MAG) on the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) mission is a low-noise, tri-axial, fluxgate instrument with its sensor mounted on a 3.6-m-long boom. The boom was deployed on March 8, 2005. The primary MAG science objectives are to determine the structure of Mercury’s intrinsic magnetic field and infer its origin. Mariner 10 observations indicate a planetary moment in the range 170 to 350 nT R3 M (where RM is Mercury’s mean radius). The uncertainties in the dipole moment are associated with the Mariner 10 trajectory and variability of the measured field. By orbiting Mercury, MESSENGER will significantly improve the determination of dipole and higher-order moments. The latter are essential to understanding the thermal history of the planet. MAG has a coarse range, ±51,300 nT full scale (1.6-nT resolution), for pre-flight testing, and a fine range, ±1,530 nT full scale (0.047-nT resolution), for Mercury operation. A magnetic cleanliness program was followed to minimize variable and static spacecraft-generated fields at the sensor. Observations during and after boom deployment indicate that the fixed residual field is less than a few nT at the location of the sensor, and initial observations indicate that the variable field is below 0.05 nT at least above about 3 Hz. Analog signals from the three axes are low-pass filtered (10-Hz cut- off) and sampled simultaneously by three 20-bit analog-to-digital converters every 50 ms. To accommodate variable telemetry rates, MAG provides 11 output rates from 0.01 s“1 to 20 s-1. Continuous measurement of fluctuations is provided with a digital 1-10 Hz bandpass filter. This fluctuation level is used to trigger high-time-resolution sampling in eight-minute segments to record events of interest when continuous high-rate sampling is not possible. The MAG instrument will provide accurate characterization of the intrinsic planetary field, magnetospheric structure, and dynamics of Mercury’s solar wind interaction.