cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A VLSI design verification strategy

With the ever-increasing density, development cost, and turn-around time of VLSI chips it becomes increasingly important to have a design verification methodology which enables first-pass chips to be fully functional. The strategy discussed in this paper exploits the best attributes of the two traditional methods of design verification (i.e., software simulation and hardware modeling). Software simulation was chosen for its capability in the area of delay analysis and early functional checking. An automatically generated nodal-equivalent hardware model was built to provide the vehicle on which exhaustive functional checking could be performed. The model also operated as early user hardware on which functions such as operating systems, I/O adapters, and a floating-point feature could be tested. A technique known as interface emulation was used on certain well-defined subsystems to facilitate a shorter verification schedule through parallel debug efforts.
Examining the Dimensionality of Pathological Narcissism: Factor Analysis and Construct Validity of the O'Brien Multiphasic Narcissism Inventory:

The focus of the current research was to investigate the structure of possible dimensions of pathological narcissism as suggested by the American Psychiatric Association and recently by Miller. For...
Central nervous system effects of chronic toluene abuse—Clinical, brainstem evoked response and magnetic resonance imaging studies

We describe the results of neurological evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing in 11 chronic toluene vapor abusers. Neurological abnormalities were seen in four of 11 individuals and included cognitive, pyramidal, cerebellar and brainstem findings. MRI of the brain was abnormal in three of 11 individuals and revealed the following abnormalities: 1) Diffuse cerebral, cerebellar, and brainstem atrophy; 2) Loss of differentiation between the gray and white matter throughout the CNS; and 3) Increased periventricular white matter signal intensity on T2 weighted images. BAERs were abnormal (control mean +/- 3 S.D.) in five of 11 individuals. As a group, the latency of V (p less than 0.01), the III-V interpeak (p less than 0.05) and the I-V interpeak latencies were prolonged compared to controls. All three individuals with abnormal MRI scans also had abnormal neurological examinations and BAERs. Two of five individuals with abnormal BAERs, however, had normal neurological examinations and MRI scans. Our data support previous findings of diffuse white matter involvement in chronic toluene abusers and suggest that BAERs may detect early CNS injury from toluene inhalation even at a time when neurological examination and MRI scans are normal. BAERs, therefore, may be a sensitive screening test to monitor individuals at risk from toluene exposure (either abusers or industrially exposed individuals) for early evidence of CNS injury.
Optimizing for parallelism and data locality

Previous research has used program transformation to introduce parallelism and to exploit data locality. Unfortunately, these two objectives have usually been considered independently. This work explores the trade-offs between effectively utilizing parallelism and memory hierarchy on shared-memory multiprocessors. We present a simple, but surprisingly accurate, memory model to determine cache line reuse from both multiple accesses to the same memory location and from consecutive memory access. The model is used in memory optimizing and loop parallelization algorithms that effectively exploit data locality and parallelism in concert. We demonstrate the efficacy of this approach with very encouraging experimental results.
Thorium as a carbon oxidation catalyst

A large number of metal oxides are known to catalyze the gasification of carbon by molecular oxygen [1,2] and very small concentrations of the most active materials are capable of reducing the temperature at which carbon begins to oxidize in air by several hundred degrees [3]. Although active catalytic species come from every Group of the Periodic Table, the majority of catalysts appear to function via a redox cycle, being reduced to lower oxidation states by reaction with the carbon substrate and then reoxidizing back to the original state by reaction with ambient oxygen [3,4]. A few catalysts, such as Cr,O,, silver metal and possibly transition metal carbides [5], appear to accelerate the oxidation reaction by providing sites for the dissociation of molecular oxygen to give absorbed oxygen atoms, which then diffuse across the carbon surface to active sites where the carbon is gasified. In some cases the catalytic effect may be enhanced by the formation of a molten phase, followed by spreading and wetting of the carbon surface [6]. The actinide elements and their compounds have not been studied as catalysts for this reaction, although their behavior is somewhat predictable based on the above considerations. Uranium, which forms a series of oxides, has been found to be active catalytically, when present as UO, or U,O, [7]. Sampath et al. [8] have, however, recently reported that thorium oxide, ThO,. is an active catalyst for the oxidation of graphite in air in the temperature range 600-900°C. As the single oxide of thorium is very stable (AH&R = -293 kcal mol-‘), it would not be reduced to metal by heating with carbon in this temperature range and hence it would not be expected to participate in oxidation-reduction cycles on the graphite surface. ThO, is also much more stable in the presence of oxygen than the known carbides, ThC and ThC,, and hence carbide formation during carbon gasification would not be expected. In addition, the very high melting point (3220 o C) of ThO, would preclude the formation of molten phases and the wetting of the graphite substrate. For all these reasons a demonstrated catalytic activity for thoria would disqualify the usual redox process as the likely mechanism of the catalyzed gasification of carbon in this case, and as ThO, is only an indifferent catalyst for gas phase oxidation reactions (e.g., oxidation of CO) [9], it is also improbable that this oxide would bring about the dissociation
Antimicrobial activity of composite nanoparticles consisting of titania photocatalytic shell and nickel ferrite magnetic core

Abstract Reverse micelle and hydrolysis have been combined to synthesize composite nanoparticles consisting of anatase–titania photocatalytic shell and nickel ferrite magnetic core. The average particle size of the composite nanoparticles was in the range of 10–15 nm. The photocatalytic shell of titania is responsible for the photocatalytic and anti-microbial activity and nickel ferrite magnetic core is responsible for the magnetic behavior, studied by superconducting quantum interference device. The anatase TiO2 coated NiFe2O4 nanoparticles retains the magnetic characteristics of uncoated nanocrystalline nickel ferrites, superparamagnetism (absence of hysteresis, remanence and coercivity at 300 K) and non-saturation of magnetic moments at high field. The magnetic measurements results encourage their application as removable anti-microbial photocatalysts. Bacterial inactivation with UV light in the presence of titania-coated NiFe2O4 nanoparticles is faster than the action with UV light alone.
The effect of guidewires during electrosurgical sphincterotomy.

We describe six electrosurgical incidents and one complication which occurred during guidewire-assisted sphincterotomy. Studies were conducted on three types of guidewires: Teflon painted, Teflon sheathed, and polymer coated. Scanning electron micrographs demonstrated surface imperfections in the painted Teflon guidewire coating, which allowed for potential electrical short circuits between cutting wire and guidewire through a septal defect in a double channel catheter. Septal defects were found in 25% (1 of the 4 tested) of the factory fresh sphincterotomes that were used in this study, and in 10% (6 of 57) of those used clinically. Induced current (capacitively coupled) present on the guidewires was measured at 13 to 30mA for typical sphincterotomy settings. The induced current on sheathed guidewires, without any insulation defects, was measured at less than 1mA at typical operating powers. As both short circuits and induced currents place the patient at risk for burns or perforation at the distal end of the guidewire, we suggest the use of a Teflon-sheathed rather than Teflon-painted guidewire, if the wire is to be left in place during sphincterotomy. The Teflon sheath offers the thickest insulation, a very low probability of surface defects, and therefore a high index of safety.
Inexpert calibration of comprehension

Students with a wide range of course work in physics or music theory read expositions in both domains. After reading 16 texts, each student provided a judgment of confidence in his/her ability to verify inferences based on the central principles of the texts. The primary dependent variable was calibration of comprehension, the degree of association between confidence and performance on the inference test. Two results of most interest were that (1) expertise in a domain was inversely related to calibration and (2) subjects were well calibrated across domains. Both of these results can be accommodated by a self-classification strategy: Confidence judgments are based on self-classification as expert or nonexpert in the domain of the text, rather than on an assessment of the degree to which the text was comprehended. Because self-classifications are not well differentiated within a domain, application of the strategy by experts produces poor calibration within a domain. Nonetheless, because self-classification is generally consistent with performance across domains, application of the strategy produces calibration across domains.
Presence of an SH2 domain in the actin-binding protein tensin

The molecular cloning of the complementary DNA coding for a 90-kilodalton fragment of tensin, an actin-binding component of focal contacts and other submembraneous cytoskeletal structures, is reported. The derived amino acid sequence revealed the presence of a Src homology 2 (SH2) domain. This domain is shared by a number of signal transduction proteins including nonreceptor tyrosine kinases such as Abl, Fps, Src, and Src family members, the transforming protein Crk, phospholipase C-gamma 1, PI-3 (phosphatidylinositol) kinase, and guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein (GAP). Like the SH2 domain found in Src, Crk, and Abl, the SH2 domain of tensin bound specifically to a number of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins from v-src-transformed cells. Tensin was also found to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues. These findings suggest that by possessing both actin-binding and phosphotyrosine-binding activities and being itself a target for tyrosine kinases, tensin may link signal transduction pathways with the cytoskeleton.
The cognitive model of depression and mood-induction procedures: a reply to Clark (1983).

Abstract In a recent article on mood-induction procedures, Clark (1983) concluded that the Velten Mood Induction Procedure (VMIP; Velten, 1968) produces a good analog state of mild, naturally occurring, retarded depression that is not explicable in terms of experimental demand characteristics. Clark concluded, however, that it is erroneous to view the relative success of the VMIP in simulating the effects of depression as support for cognitive theories of depression. While we agree with the first of Clark's conclusions, we disagree with his second conclusion that the VMIP is not a cognitive manipulation. The purpose of the present article is to argue that his ideas regarding the impact of the VMIP on mood and behavior are not supported by the existing data. Therefore, the VMIP results can be used to support Beck's (1976) cognitive theory of depression.
Role of antral exclusion in development of peptic stomal ulcer.

Conclusions1. Exclusion of the antrum from continuity with the residual gastric pouch is the chief ulcerogenic factor in the Sauvage operation in which the antrum is anastomosed to the esophagus (Group II dogs). 2. Stomal peptic ulcer was not observed in vagally innervated total gastric pouches when the antrum remained in contact with the residual gastric pouch (Group I dogs). 3. Augmentation of the secretion of acid from an isolated Heidenhain pouch attends antral migration or exclusion (Group II dogs). Diminution of secretion from such a pouch was observed when the vagally innervated entire stomach, with the antrum in its normal position, was attached to the side of the duodenum as a blind pouch (Group I dogs).
Political Influence Behind the Veil of Peer Review: An Analysis of Public Biomedical Research Funding in the U.S.

The U.S. public biomedical research system is renowned for its apolitical “peer-review” process that awards federal funds to meritorious research performers. Although Congressional appropriations committee members do not make direct transfers to research performers, they support allocations for specific biomedical research fields and projects. I argue that members conceal transfers to their constituencies by supporting research topics to avoid the reputational penalties of interference with a merit-driven system. I use data on all peer reviewed grants by the National Institutes of Health during 1984 and 2003, and find that performers in the states of appropriations committee members receive 5–11 percent more research funds as compared to unrepresented institutions. The returns to representation are concentrated in state universities and small businesses. Members support funding for the projects of represented research performers in fields in which they are relatively weak and potentially counteract the allocative effect of the peer review process.
Kinetics of fatty acid biohydrogenation in vitro.

Biohydrogenation (BH) of fatty acids (FA) from fresh alfalfa and alfalfa hay with varying levels of supplemental sucrose and media pH was evaluated in vitro. A multicompartmental model was then developed to estimate pool size and flux of vaccenic acid (VA) during BH of FA in fresh alfalfa. To vary incubation pH, alfalfa samples were inoculated with rumen fluid in 2 media differing in molarity of the bicarbonate buffer. Samples were incubated for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 h; pH was measured and tubes were put in ice and stored until analysis. The BH rates of linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3) were estimated by PROC NLIN of SAS (single pool, first-order kinetic model) and SAAM II (multiple pools, first-order kinetic model). Both methods gave similar estimates for the BH rates of 18:2 and 18:3 as well as the temporal pool size of VA. The BH rates (%/h) in the strong (SB) and weak buffers (WB) were 27.4 (±0.7) and 23.5 (±0.9) for 18:2, and 43.8 (±0.2) and 30.3 (±0.6) for 18:3, respectively. The WB decreased the BH rates of 18:2 and 18:3 for both forage sources. However, BH rates of 18:3 were higher from fresh alfalfa than alfalfa hay. There was no effect of sucrose addition on the BH rates of 18:2 and 18:3. Moreover, there was no effect of buffer on the BH of VA estimated by the multiple pools model between the SB and WB (12.5 ± 2.1 and 14.1 ± 3.7%/h, respectively). The BH rates of the conjugated linoleic acid isomers were not different between the SB and WB treatments (36.7 ± 19.8 and 25.9 ± 27.2, respectively). Because we could estimate fluxes as well as mass of the VA pools, more information was generated from the data when a multiple pools model was used compared with a single pool, first-order kinetic model.
Allograft Vasculopathy Diagnosing the Nemesis of Heart Transplantation

Fewdramas are as compelling as a successful heart trans-plant in a patient who otherwise would die of cardiogenicshock. Improved outcomes relate to our greater (but yetincomplete) insight into the pathophysiology of allograftrejection. Still, the transplanted heart is not normal, and it issubjected to chronic immunologic assault. The long-termfunction of cardiac allografts is related primarily to theintegrity of the organ at the time of transplantation and torejection. More general systemic pathological processes, suchas hypertension, lipid perturbation, diabetes, and infection,are also likely to take their toll.
Breast Cancer-Induced Bone Remodeling, Skeletal Pain, and Sprouting of Sensory Nerve Fibers

Abstract Breast cancer metastasis to bone is frequently accompanied by pain. What remains unclear is why this pain tends to become more severe and difficult to control with disease progression. Here we test the hypothesis that with disease progression, sensory nerve fibers that innervate the breast cancer bearing bone undergo a pathological sprouting and reorganization, which in other nonmalignant pathologies has been shown to generate and maintain chronic pain. Injection of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231-BO) into the femoral intramedullary space of female athymic nude mice induces sprouting of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP + ) sensory nerve fibers. Nearly all CGRP + nerve fibers that undergo sprouting also coexpress tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA + ) and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP43 + ). This ectopic sprouting occurs in periosteal sensory nerve fibers that are in close proximity to breast cancer cells, tumor-associated stromal cells, and remodeled cortical bone. Therapeutic treatment with an antibody that sequesters nerve growth factor (NGF), administered when the pain and bone remodeling were first observed, blocks this ectopic sprouting and attenuates cancer pain. The present data suggest that the breast cancer cells and tumor-associated stromal cells express and release NGF, which drives bone pain and the pathological reorganization of nearby CGRP + /TrkA + /GAP43 + sensory nerve fibers. Perspective Therapies that block breast cancer pain by reducing the tumor-induced pathological sprouting and reorganization of sensory nerve fibers may provide insight into the evolving mechanisms that drive breast cancer pain and lead to more effective therapies for attenuating this chronic pain state.
HOW HABITAT DEGRADATION THROUGH FISHERY DISTURBANCE ENHANCES IMPACTS OF HYPOXIA ON OYSTER REEFS

Oysters are ecosystem engineers that create biogenic reef habitat important to estuarine biodiversity, benthic-pelagic coupling, and fishery production. Prevailing ex- planations for the dramatic decline of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) during the last century overlook ecosystem complexity by ignoring interactions among multiple en- vironmental disturbances. To explain oyster loss, we tested whether (1) mortality of oysters on natural oyster reefs varies with water depth (3 m vs. 6 m), (2) harvesting by oyster dredges reduces the height of oyster reefs, and (3) bottom-water hypoxia/anoxia and re- duction in reef height through fishery disturbance interact to enhance mortality of oysters in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina, USA. The percentage of oysters found dead (mean ? 1 SD) during a survey of natural reefs in May 1993 was significantly greater at 6-m (92 ? 10%) than at 3-m (28 ? 9%) water depth. Less than one season's worth of oyster dredging reduced the height of restored oyster reefs by -30%. During stratification of the water column in summer, oxygen depletion near the seafloor at 6 m caused mass mortality of oysters, other invertebrates, and fishes on short, deep experimental reefs, while oysters and other reef associates elevated into the surface layer by sufficient reef height or by location in shallow water survived. Highly mobile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) abandoned burrows located in hypoxic/anoxic bottom waters but remained alive in shallow water. Our results indicate that interaction of reef habitat degradation (height reduction) through fishery disturbance and extended bottom-water hypoxia/anoxia caused the pattern of oyster mortality observed on natural reefs and influences the abundance and distribution of fish and invertebrate species that utilize this temperate reef habitat. Interactions among environmental disturbances imply a need for the integrative approaches of ecosystem man- agement to restore and sustain estuarine habitat.
Gender and History of Suicidality: Are These Factors Related to U.S. College Students' Current Suicidal Thoughts, Feelings, and Actions?.

Gender and history of suicidality (HS vs. NoHS) were related to current symptoms of depression, reasons for living, and reports of self-destructive and life-threatening behavior in a college student sample. Overall, college men reported engaging in more life-threatening and potentially suicidal behavior than college women on the Life Attitudes Schedule (LAS). No gender effects were obtained on the symptoms of depression and reasons for living measures. Results suggest that the LAS may be a particularly effective way to identify college students at risk for self-destructive and suicidal behavior. As expected, HS individuals were more depressed, had fewer reasons for living, and reported engaging in more current suicidal and life-threatening behavior than NoHS participants. However, gender and history of suicidality were found to interact. NoHS women reported avoiding a variety of injury-producing and health-diminishing behaviors that were common for all other groups of college students. Meanwhile, HS women endorsed fewer current reasons for living than did NoHS women, NoHS men, and NoHS men. These findings were interpreted both with regard to cultural and gender-specific expectations for the expression of self-destructive, suicidal, and life-threatening behavior. Implications for the prevention of college women's and men's suicidal behavior were also noted.
Effectiveness of Attention Training in Schizophrenia

This study assessed the impact of attention training on information processing in schizophrenia. Fifty-four inpatients with chronic schizophrenia were randomly assigned to two groups after baseline assessment with the Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Patients in the experimental group participated in individual sessions of computerized attention remediation, while patients in the control group participated in individual sessions during which they viewed video documentaries. After 18 sessions, reassessment with the CPT showed that patients in the experimental group had made significantly more improvement than the control group, which made no significant change. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale assessments before and after the study phase indicated that both groups improved on the total score but the experimental group made significantly more improvement. These results suggest that it is feasible to use practice and behavioral learning to remediate a core attention deficit in chronic schizophrenia.
On local one-particle approximations and locally conserved currents. II

As an extension of earlier work a local one-particle approximation is constructed for matrix elements of two four vector currents. The approximation is constructed to fulfill a divergence condition which makes sure, that current conservation is not destroyed by the approximation.
Detection of intraventricular blood using EIT in a neonatal piglet model

We have developed a sensitive EIT protocol for detection of intraventricular bleeding. A common model of human neonates is the neonatal piglet. We used our method to test the sensitivity of our method and device to small amounts of blood-like fluid injected near the left and right ventricles of a piglet cadaver. Comparing blood-like fluid detection in open an closed piglet skulls, we found that we could detect amounts of blood less than 0.5 ml, which is smaller than that required for our target of detecting grade II intraventricular hemorrhages in human neonates.
Does brand differentiate pharmaceuticals

INTRODUCTION: Role of marketing in pharmaceutical industry is increasing and inspiration by successful brands known from consumer goods market influenced pharmaceutical companies enough to switch their attention to branding initiatives. Still there is little evidence that pharmaceutical brands represent anything more than product only. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This study aims to explore the area of branding in pharmaceutical industry. Central hypothesis of the research has been that brand and its emotional content differentiate pharmaceuticals as well as rational data derived from clinical studies. It has been tested by extensive review of available literature as well as by primary research focused on drivers of physicians‘ attitudes towards products and their influence on prescribing behavior. The research has been conducted in the sample of psychiatrists in the Czech republic. RESULTS: No evidence about pharmaceutical brand exceeding value of product has been found in reviewed literature. Nevertheless, the primary research conducted in the sample of Czech psychiatrists indicates that emotional brand in pharmaceutical industry exists and enables author to draw a model of Customer/product life cycle that describes likely impact of functional, emotional and self-expressive benefits throughout pharmaceutical product’s market presence. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmaceutical brand is likely to develop differently than the same of consumer goods products – it seems to be built predominantly on long-term positive experience. Marketing role in this process should lie in finding relevant product position and building brand identity compliant with real product capabilities.
Escapism, religious luck, and divine reasons for action

In our paper, ‘Escaping hell: divine motivation and the problem of hell’, we defended a theory of hell that we called ‘escapism’. We argued that, given God's just and loving character, it would be most rational for Him to maintain an open-door policy to those who are in hell, allowing them an unlimited number of chances to be reconciled with God and enjoy communion with Him. In this paper we reply to two recent objections to our original paper. The first is an argument from religious luck offered by Russell Jones. The second is an argument from Kyle Swan that alleges that our commitments about the nature of reasons for action still leaves escapism vulnerable to an objection we labelled the ‘Job objection’ in our original paper. In this paper we argue that escapism has the resources built into it needed to withstand the objections from Jones and Swan.
Selective Phrase Pair Extraction for Improved Statistical Machine Translation

Phrase-based statistical machine translation systems depend heavily on the knowledge represented in their phrase translation tables. However, the phrase pairs included in these tables are typically selected using simple heuristics that potentially leave much room for improvement. In this paper, we present a technique for selecting the phrase pairs to include in phrase translation tables based on their estimated quality according to a translation model. This method not only reduces the size of the phrase translation table, but also improves translation quality as measured by the BLEU metric.
Patient-centered health care: are opioids a special case?

COMMENTARY ON: Wallace AS, Freburger JK, Darter JD, et al. Comfortably numb? Exploring satisfaction with chronic back pain visits. Spine J 2009;9:721–8 ( in this issue ).
Accuracy and calibration of integrated radiation output indicators in diagnostic radiology: A report of the AAPM Imaging Physics Committee Task Group 190.

Due to the proliferation of disciplines employing fluoroscopy as their primary imaging tool and the prolonged extensive use of fluoroscopy in interventional and cardiovascular angiography procedures, “dose-area-product” (DAP) meters were installed to monitor and record the radiation dose delivered to patients. In some cases, the radiation dose or the output value is calculated, rather than measured, using the pertinent radiological parameters and geometrical information. The AAPM Task Group 190 (TG-190) was established to evaluate the accuracy of the DAP meter in 2008. Since then, the term “DAP-meter” has been revised to air kerma-area product (KAP) meter. The charge of TG 190 (Accuracy and Calibration of Integrated Radiation Output Indicators in Diagnostic Radiology) has also been realigned to investigate the “Accuracy and Calibration of Integrated Radiation Output Indicators” which is reflected in the title of the task group, to include situations where the KAP may be acquired with or without the presence of a physical “meter.” To accomplish this goal, validation test protocols were developed to compare the displayed radiation output value to an external measurement. These test protocols were applied to a number of clinical systems to collect information on the accuracy of dose display values in the field.
Far-red resonance Raman study of copper A in subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase.

The present work employs far-red resonance Raman spectroscopy (RR) to investigate whether a Cu-Cu bonding interaction exists in Cu{sub A}. The electronic transition of Cu{sub A} near 830 nm provides the opportunity for specific RR observation of the vibrations of this chromophore. We have employed RR with Cu isotopic substitution on genetically modified, solubilized forms of CcO subunit II from Bacillus subtilis and Paracoccus denitrificans. We have also probed the Cu{sub A} site of native beef heart CcO for comparison. The similarity of the CcO and Cu{sub A} fragment (subunit II) spectra suggests that Cu{sub A} in the isolated subunit II has essentially the same structure as that of Cu{sub A} in intact CcO. Thus, the suggested Cu-Cu bonding in Cu{sub A}, if correct, applies both to the isolated subunit II and native CcO. The functional reasons why nature may choose such a structure, or in fact why a two-copper center of any sort is constructed to perform a function which is commonly believed to be simple one-electron transfer, are unclear. 34 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
High-Dose Carisoprodol During Pregnancy and Lactation:

Objective:To report a case of use of high-dose carisoprodol during pregnancy and breast-feeding.Case Summary:A 28-year-old woman with severe back muscle spasm took carisoprodol 2800 mg/day before and throughout an uncomplicated pregnancy and while exclusively breast-feeding her infant during the first month after birth. Serum drug concentrations of carisoprodol and the active metabolite meprobamate were measured in the mother and infant. Concentrations of these agents also were measured in breast milk. Developmental toxicity was not observed in the near-term infant, whose birth weight was at the 10th percentile for gestational age. Only slight sedation was noted in the infant during breast-feeding, and no signs or symptoms of withdrawal were noted when nursing was stopped.Discussion:Carisoprodol and meprobamate are excreted into breast milk. Although the published human pregnancy data are limited to 15 cases, carisoprodol does not appear to cause developmental toxicity (growth restriction, structural anom...
In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation for hemoglobinopathies.

In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCTx) is a promising strategy to circumvent the challenges of postnatal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. The goal of IUHCTx is to introduce donor cells into a naive host prior to immune maturation, thereby inducing donor–specific tolerance. Thus, this technique has the potential of avoiding host myeloablative conditioning with cytotoxic agents. Over the past two decades, several attempts at IUHCTx have been made to cure numerous underlying congenital anomalies with limited success. In this review, we will briefly review the history of IUHCTx and give a perspective on alpha thalassemia major, one target disease for its clinical application.
Information Processing in the Motorsensory Cortex

In order to discuss the processing of information in the motorsensory cortex, we need to know what information reaches this part of the brain, how it is processed, and to what purpose. We will begin by defining the motorsensory cortex, and by making some first guesses at the functions that it might serve. Next, we will consider the kinds of information that reach it, and how the target cells for these sensory inputs are distributed and grouped in the cortical tissue. After examining the motor outputs of these cells, we can formulate some input-output properties for cell groups that can be defined anatomically. Having established the minimal input-output building blocks of motorsensory cortex, we will then re-examine our guesses about its functions.
Antinutritional and Biochemical Properties of Winged Bean Trypsin Inhibitors

The trypsin inhibitors (TI) of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) isolated by affinity chromatography consisted of 8 protein bands by disc polyacrylamide electrophoresis. All the bands exhibited trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) with two of the major bands also exhibiting chymotrypsin inhibitor activity (CIA). Electrofocusing separated the TI into 5 protein bands. Two bands with dual TIA/CIA activities had acidic pI while 3 bands with TIA only had alkaline pI. The TI belonged to two molecular weight groups of 20,900 and 16,600, as determined by NaDodSO4 polyacrylamide electrophoresis.
Factors Affecting the Productivity of Ospreys Nesting in West-Central Idaho

-An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) population nesting in the vicinity of Cascade Reservoir in west-central Idaho was studied for three years. The area supported about 50 nesting pairs, which laid an average of 2.58 eggs and fledged an average of 1.37 young per active nest throughout the study. These productivity estimates suggest a healthy, increasing population. Most nests were atop snags (66%) and on private land (70%). Ospreys nesting on artificial sites and those nesting more than 1,500 m from human disturbances produced more offspring. Fish in the 11-30 cm range constituted the bulk of the diet (89%) with brown bullheads being the most important prey species (38%). Osprey captures reflected prey availability. Establishment of Cascade Reservoir increased the availability of fish, which, in turn, allowed the Osprey population to increase. Productivity of these hawks appears to be chiefly related to reservoir level and prey availability. A large concentration of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nest in Long Valley, Valley County, Idaho. Early census data indicate that this area contained fewer than a dozen Osprey nests in the late 1940's (Larrison et al. 1967). Although the nests were not studied intensively at that time, comparisons with recent data suggest that the population has increased since Cascade Reservoir was formed in 1948. In the past decade, the human population of Long Valley has increased 56% (State of Idaho 1980) and recreational use of Cascade Reservoir has intensified. In light of expanding human pressure on this unique Osprey habitat, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation sponsored a three-year (1978-1980) investigation to collect base-line information on this population. The objectives were to: 1) census the population and determine its productivity, 2) identify factors influencing nest site selection and nesting success, and 3) ascertain feeding habits.
THE CREEPING REVERSION EFFECT OF LINKED POLYMER SOLUTION IN POROUS MEDIUM AND ITS INFLUENCE ON DISPLACEMENT EFFICIENCY

In this paper, experimental investigation on linked polymer solution has been conducted with a sand packing model and the phenomenon of the creeping reversion in porous medium has been observed, which can explain the viscoelastic effect of linked polymer solution. The effect of creeping reversion of linked polymer solution in porous medium on the displacement efficiency has been analyzed with two sand packing models by the change of flow rate (67,161,67cm/d) and a stable flow rate (67cm/d), namely, under the condition of creeping reversion and no creeping reversion effect. Results indicate that the creeping reversion of linked polymer solution could increase oil recovery by 1.5 percent in the experimentation condition.
Determination of Phthalate Esters in Vacant Capsules by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The contents of phthalate esters(PAEs) in vacant capsules were determined by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC/MS)analytic method after improved liquid-liquid extraction in which vacant capsule samples to be examined were soaked in water for swelling at room temperature,and then heated at 50 ℃ in a water bath until complete dissolution.The solution was transferred into separatory funnel,ethyl ether was added,and the funnel was shaken gently and allowed to stand.After the aqueous layer was discarded,ethyl ether layer was transferred and evaporated carefully to dryness in a water bath and the residue was dissolved in 1.00 mL of hexane.The final sample solution was filtered through a Millipore membrane filter by means of a syringe before injection.Through this condition,the linear relation coefficients are more than 0.997,and the limits of detection(LOD) are from 0.50 mg/L-5.88 mg/L.The average recoveries of the spiked samples(0.5 mg /L and 4.0 mg/L) are in the range of 72.52 %-106.37 % with RSDs(n=6) of 2.25 %-8.8 %.The results showed that there are Di-isobutyl phthalate(DIBP) and Dibutyl phthalate(DBP) detected in four vacant capsules,its contents range from 1.40 mg/kg-2.63 mg/kg and 1.24 mg/kg-1.62 mg/kg,respectively;and DIBP determined in one vacant capsule of 1.85 mg/kg among 25 vacant capsules from the market.The method was sensitive,convenient,efficient,and accurate,and was suitable for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative confirmations of PAEs contents in vacant capsules.
Analysis of food hygiene micro-organism pollution situation in Dongyang during period of 2007 to 2009

Objective:To know the pollution situation of each type of food hygiene micro-organism and to improve the food hygiene surveillance and management level so as to provide basis for hygiene surveillance work in the future.Methods:Detect and evaluate the relative index(aerobic bacterial count,coliform,Salmonella,Shigella and Staphylococcus aureus) of the samples sent for detection during the period of 2007 to 2009 with the national standard detecting method and hygiene standard.Results:There are 1281 food samples detected during the period of 2007 to 2009,with 756 qualified food samples,and the qualification rate is 59.72 percent.The qualification rates during 2007,2008 and 2009 are respectively 50.57%,60.81% and 67.07%.The qualification rate of carbonated beverage in different types of food is highest,which is 100%.The qualification rate of the freshly pressing juice is lowest,which is only 20.83%.Conclusion:The qualification rate of food hygiene micro-organism detection is low and food hygiene surveillance and management should be enhanced.
Assessing the causes of encapsulant delamination in PV modules

Delamination of the encapsulant is one of the most prevalent PV module field failures. This paper will present examples of various types of delaminations that have been observed in the field. It will then discuss the development of accelerated stress tests designed to duplicate those field failures and thus provide tools for avoiding them in the future.
Prediction of LEAP centrifuge test results using a pressure-dependent bounding surface constitutive model

Abstract In accordance with the “Liquefaction Experiments and Analysis Projects (LEAP )” guidelines, class-A, B and C predictions are performed for the response of centrifuge tests on a sloped configuration of Ottawa-F65 soil in a rigid container. The objective of this paper is to discuss important aspects on the calibration process of a pressure-dependent bounding surface constitutive model for the simulation of centrifuge experiments. The constitutive model used in this study is based on the theory of Critical State Soil Mechanics that has shown to be suitable to represent the behavior of cohesionless soils. Results of class-A predictions match experiment data reasonably well. An attempt is made to find a single set of material parameters to be used for class-B and class-C prediction of all six centrifuge tests.
Structural health monitoring: Internet of things application

We begin to co-exist and interact with smart interconnected devices that are known as the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT brings new opportunities for our society. Yet, most of the existing Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems are not connected to the IoT. SHM is a system to monitor the structural health of buildings and bridges. In this paper, a complete real-time SHM platform is integrated with the IoT system. The proposed platform consists of a Pro-Trinket microcontroller, NRF transceiver module, Wi-Fi module, and Raspberry Pi. Two piezoelectric sensors are mounted on the structure to collect data continually. A proposed mathematical model is implemented on the Pro-Trinket to detect the health of the structure using the piezoelectric sensors output. If there is any damage, the Pro-Trinket will determine the damage location and size, and send this information to the Raspberry Pi using NRF transceiver. Raspberry Pi acts as a hub to collect the data from many such NRF transceivers located in different locations on the structure. The Raspberry Pi will upload the data to the cloud using a Wi-Fi module. The data will be stored in the cloud and can be checked remotely from any mobile device. The system has been validated using a real test bed in the lab.
Evaluating human-robot interaction during a manipulation experiment conducted in immersive virtual reality

This paper presents the main highlights of a Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) study conducted during a manipulation experiment performed in Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE). Our aim is to assess whether using immersive Virtual Reality (VR) for testing material handling scenarios that assume collaboration between robots and humans is a practical alternative to similar real live applications. We focus on measuring variables identified as conclusive for the purpose of this study (such as the percentage of tasks successfully completed, the average time to complete task, the relative distance and motion estimate, presence and relative contact errors) during different manipulation scenarios. We present the experimental setup, the HRI questionnaire and the results analysis. We conclude by listing further research issues.
Preoperative Use of Neuromodulators to Optimize Surgical Outcomes in Upper Blepharoplasty and Brow Lift.

Background Upper eyelid dermatochalasis often triggers frontalis hyperactivity in an effort to elevate the upper lids away from the visual axis. Similarly, prior neuromodulator treatment of the brow depressors may cause false elevation of the brows, diminishing the extent of preoperative brow ptosis or dermatochalasis. Studies have quantified postoperative brow ptosis and recurrent dermatochalasis following upper blepharoplasty, but a methodology to predict the postoperative brow position remains to be elucidated. Objectives The authors present our comprehensive perioperative protocol utilizing neuromodulators to optimize results of upper blepharoplasty and brow lift. Methods In patients presenting with upper lid dermatochalasis and frontalis hyperactivity, who request upper blepharoplasty, the authors apply a neuromodulator treatment protocol. Patients with prior neuromodulator treatment of brow depressors wait four months after the last treatment to allow for product attrition. Two weeks prior to surgery, the authors treat the frontalis with 15 to 20 units of Botox Cosmetic. Results From 2002 to 2016, the authors treated 521 patients (458 women, 63 men) with frontalis hyperactivity who presented for periorbital rejuvenation. This method has led to neither excessive resection of upper eyelid skin tissue nor lagophthalmos. Preoperatively, the authors have unveiled upper eyelid ptosis in 39 patients (31 women, 8 men) and brow ptosis in 131 patients (97 women, 34 men). Conclusions Brow position and frontalis hyperactivity should be taken into consideration during preoperative evaluation for upper blepharoplasty and brow lift. Routine preoperative treatment of the hyperactive frontalis with neuromodulator, along with attrition of prior neuromodulator in the brow depressors, reveals the true anatomic brow position to optimize surgical planning. Level of Evidence 4
DROIDS 1.20: A GUI-Based Pipeline for GPU-Accelerated Comparative Protein Dynamics.

Traditional informatics in comparative genomics work only with static representations of biomolecules (i.e., sequence and structure), thereby ignoring the molecular dynamics (MD) of proteins that define function in the cell. A comparative approach applied to MD would connect this very short timescale process, defined in femtoseconds, to one of the longest in the universe: molecular evolution measured in millions of years. Here, we leverage advances in graphics-processing-unit-accelerated MD simulation software to develop a comparative method of MD analysis and visualization that can be applied to any two homologous Protein Data Bank structures. Our open-source pipeline, DROIDS (Detecting Relative Outlier Impacts in Dynamic Simulations), works in conjunction with existing molecular modeling software to convert any Linux gaming personal computer into a "comparative computational microscope" for observing the biophysical effects of mutations and other chemical changes in proteins. DROIDS implements structural alignment and Benjamini-Hochberg-corrected Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics to compare nanosecond-scale atom bond fluctuations on the protein backbone, color mapping the significant differences identified in protein MD with single-amino-acid resolution. DROIDS is simple to use, incorporating graphical user interface control for Amber16 MD simulations, cpptraj analysis, and the final statistical and visual representations in R graphics and UCSF Chimera. We demonstrate that DROIDS can be utilized to visually investigate molecular evolution and disease-related functional changes in MD due to genetic mutation and epigenetic modification. DROIDS can also be used to potentially investigate binding interactions of pharmaceuticals, toxins, or other biomolecules in a functional evolutionary context as well.
Galerkin Differences for acoustic and elastic wave equations in two space dimensions

Abstract The Galerkin Difference method, a finite element method built using standard Galerkin projection techniques but employing nonstandard basis functions, was originally developed for one space dimension in [1] . Here the method is extended to two space dimensions using a tensor product construction. Theoretical and computational evidence shows the method behaves as expected for the acoustic wave equation. For the elastic wave equation, the approximations are found to be at least as accurate as predicted, but with a free surface the scheme may exhibit an unexpected superconvergence. Extension to curvilinear mapped grids is also considered for acoustics. In all cases, the use of a tensor product construction allows for efficient solution of the linear system involving the mass matrix, which implies optimal linear time solutions with respect to the number of degrees of freedom.
The Initiation and Propagation of Hertzian Ring Cracks

After a brief review of the literature it is concluded that the Wei bull probabalistic treatment of brittle strength explains, very adequately, the condition under which Hertzian ring cracks initiate on glass surfaces. The case of cracking produced by a flat cylindrical punch is also considered and is compared with that due to a sphere. It is shown that ring cracking data obtained with a punch, or less conveniently with a sphere, may be used to deduce the parameters of the Weibull strength distribution.