cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling Energy Performance of Manufacturing Systems Using Gi/M/1 Queues

Energy expended in a discrete manufacturing system can be saved by turning idle machines off. Utilizing this idea, previous research has contributed preliminary models in which mainly M/M/1 machines are considered. To generalize existing approaches, this paper proposes a new energy model based on a Gi/M/1 queueing network. To start, a simulation model is built with Gi/M/1 machines. The proposed model is then built by fitting each GED (Generalized Erlang Distribution) to the observed first two moments of simulated interarrival times of all machines. Consumed energy is calculated separately by the proposed and simulation models, and, in the comparison between two estimations, the proposed method shows at most 4% different energy estimation from simulated values, suggesting that the proposed approach is promising for the energy analysis about a Gi/M/1 queueing network.
Ti 46 ( He 3 , d ) V 47 Reaction

A high-resolution study of the ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{46}({\mathrm{He}}^{3}, d){\mathrm{V}}^{47}$ reaction has been made at a bombarding energy of 16.5 MeV. Fifty-three states were observed in ${\mathrm{V}}^{47}$ up to an excitation energy of 7 MeV, and deuteron angular distributions were measured between 7\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Orbital-angular-momentum transfers and spectroscopic factors have been evaluated for the more intense transitions with the aid of distorted-wave Born-approximation analysis. Of particular interest is the "anomalous" ${\frac{3}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ assignment for the ground state of ${\mathrm{V}}^{47}$. Other new spin-parity assignments for low-lying states in ${\mathrm{V}}^{47}$ are the following: 0.089 MeV, ${\frac{5}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$; 0.147 MeV, ${\frac{7}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$; 0.260 MeV, ${\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$, and 1.664 MeV, ${\mathrm{\textonehalf{}}}^{+}$. The analog state to the 0.160-MeV (${\frac{7}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) level in ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{47}$ was located at 4.30-MeV excitation energy, which corresponds to a Coulomb displacement energy of $\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{c}=7.84\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$ MeV for the ${\mathrm{V}}^{47}$-${\mathrm{Ti}}^{47}$ isobaric pair. Evidence for possible deformation in ${\mathrm{V}}^{47}$ is discussed.
Fiber Optic Sensors Based on Photoacoustic Effect for Rebar Corrosion Measurement

An all-optical ultrasound sensing system based on photoacoustic principle is developed to monitor and investigate the initiation of early stage steel rebar corrosion in real time. The ultrasound generator was developed by small size gold nanocomposites coated optical fibers to generate 8-MHz bandwidth signals. The ultrasound receiver was applied by a fiber Bragg grating sensor. This system was employed for the first time as a disruptive approach in order to replace the application of conventional electrical-based sensors due to their unique advantages including miniature size, lightweight, immunity to electromagnetic interference, resistance to corrosion, and distributed sensing capability. Accelerated corrosion tests were conducted on steel rebars to validate the developed sensing system. The obtained results indicated that the mass loss of corroded steel rebars was characterized by the centroid frequency shift of measured ultrasound signals. The correlation between the centroid frequency shift and the mass loss depicted an exponential relationship.
Malachite: A Gene Enrichment Meta-Analysis (GEM) Tool for ToppGene

Abstract Background Researchers commonly use online tools such as ToppGene to conduct enrichment analyses on gene expression data. This process does not easily allow multiple gene data sets to be analyzed and compared at once. ToppGene requires the user to manually enter gene symbols or other gene identifiers into a text box and to manually sift through forms with many adjustable parameters in order to obtain a downloadable text file of results. This process makes the analysis of multiple sets of genes tedious, time-consuming, and error prone. To address this problem, we developed Malachite, a Python package that enables researchers to perform gene enrichment analyses on multiple gene lists and concatenate the resulting enrichment statistics. In this way, Malachite enables meta-enrichment analyses across multiple data sets. Results To illustrate its use, we applied Malachite to three data sets from the Gene Expression Omnibus comparing gene expression in the large airways of smokers and non-smokers. Biological processes enriched in all three data sets were related to xenobiotic stimulus; molecular functions typically involved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) activity. Conclusion Malachite enables researchers to automate gene enrichment metaanalyses using ToppGene. Malachite also enhances ToppGene’s gene set analysis of drug-gene relationships by further filtering for FDA approved drugs.
Assessing Oil Content of Microalgae Grown in Industrial Energetic-Laden Wastewater

Industrial ammunition facilities generate wastewater containing different energetic compounds and nitrogen species. Our previous studies showed that some of these untreated wastewater streams can be mixed at a specific ratio to grow microalgae. In this study, four different untreated wastewater samples from an industrial ammunition facility were mixed and used as a culture media for microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus ATCC®11477, in 100 L raceway reactors. The main objective of the study was to test the effect of growth parameters (light penetration, nutrient availability and retention times) on the oil content of microalgae in a semi-continuous setting. The raceway reactors were operated under 68–95 μmol/m2/s of light intensity for a 14:10 h light:dark photoperiod, and 60 rpm mixing paddle speed. Continuous monitoring of pH and temperature of the growth medium, periodic analysis of cell density and dry weight of microalgae, and analysis of the medium’s nutrient contents were performed. Biomass harvesting from the raceway reactors was conducted weekly, and the harvested algal biomass was tested for its oil content using an ethanol extraction method. Results showed that nitrogen starvation increased the oil production from 13% to 29% of oil based on the dry weight of biomass, whereas no increment in oil or biomass production was evidenced with the increase of light penetration for the two different retention times tested. This study provided significant information towards microalgae growth in energetic-laden wastewater streams. This study also showed that wastewaters from industrial ammunition facilities can be reused for culturing microalgae, which can be utilized for renewable energy production.
Justice John Paul Stevens: An appreciation

Justice John Paul Stevens will be remembered for the seminal environmental law decisions that he penned, Chevron and Massachusetts v. EPA.
A Framework of Integrating Manufacturing Plants in Smart Grid Operation: Manufacturing Flexible Load Identification

Abstract In the deregulated electricity markets run by Independent System Operator (ISO), a two-settlement (day-ahead and real-time) process is typically used to determine the electricity price to the end-use customers at different buses. In the day-ahead settlement, the demand is predicted at each bus based on the previous consumption behavior of the consumers and thus, Locational Marginal Price (LMP) can be determined and shared to the consumers. A significant gap is usually observed between the planned and real-time demands due to the uncertainties of the weather (temperature, wind-speed etc.), the intensity of business, and everyday activities. Therefore, a large price variation may occur in the real-time market and the dispatching plan needs to be adjusted to respond to the variation. To reduce the gap between the day-ahead and real-time dispatching plans, a modified framework, i.e., a three-settlement process considering the integration of the manufacturing plants into the existing two-settlement process is proposed in this study. The manufacturing end-use customers report the flexibility of their loads to the ISO so that the ISO can update the day-ahead price through an updated dispatching plan that utilizes the feedback of the load flexibility from the manufacturers. A mathematical model is developed to identify the flexible and non-flexible loads of the manufacturers. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used to solve this mathematical model and a case study is conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the model.
10 – Noradrenergic Neurotransmission

Publisher Summary Sympathoneural norepinephrine (NE) satisfies the main criteria defining a neurotransmitter: a chemical released from nerve terminals by electrical action potentials that interacts with specific receptors on nearby structures to produce specific physiologic responses. Different stressors can elicit different patterns of sympathoneural outflows and therefore differential NE release in the various vascular beds. This redistributes blood flows. Local sympathoneural release of NE also affects the cardiac function and the glandular activity. The adjustments usually are not sensed, and the organism usually does not feel distressed. In response to perceived global threats, whether from external physical or internal psychologic or metabolic stimuli, especially when the organism senses an inability to cope with those stimuli, increased neural outflow to the adrenal medulla elicits catecholamine secretion into the adrenal venous drainage. In humans, the predominant catecholamine in the adrenal venous drainage is epinephrine (EPI). EPI rapidly reaches all cells of the body, producing a wide variety of hormonal effects at low-blood concentrations.
Impact of Preoperative Video Education for Cataract Surgery on Patient Learning Outcomes.

Purpose To assess the effect of an educational video on 1) patient knowledge about cataract surgery, 2) patient perception of preoperative assessment visit quality, 3) face-to-face time with the surgeon, and 4) choices regarding premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) or laser-assisted cataract surgery (LACS). Setting Eye clinic in an academic medical center. Design Prospective survey of patients who randomly viewed or did not view an educational video. Methods Patients of three cataract surgeons completed a survey during cataract surgery preoperative visits. One group viewed an educational video about cataract surgery, while the other did not. All patients received their surgeon's typical preoperative counseling. Results A total of 101 patients were surveyed. Out of 101 patients, 58 viewed the educational video. Patients who viewed the video exhibited stronger learning outcomes; in particular, patients who viewed the video scored higher on cataract surgery educational assessments than those who did not (83% vs 76%, p=0.032), particularly on the assessment of postoperative visual expectations (98% vs 80%, p=0.003). Differences in educational assessment scores between groups were not affected by which surgeon patients saw (p=0.807). Patients who watched the video were more likely to agree their surgeon provided quality explanations (93% vs 74% strongly agreed, p=0.025) and trended toward greater perception the surgeon spent enough time with them (p=0.067). Video education did not affect face-to-face surgeon time with patients (p=0.212) or choices of multifocal IOLs (p=0.795), toric IOLs (p=0.321), or LACS (p=0.940). Conclusion Video education during preoperative cataract surgery assessments improved patient understanding of cataract surgery and perception of preoperative visits. Video education is easily integrated into preoperative visits and can enhance the preoperative experience.
Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE): Myths and Realities

The emergence of SMILE in the last decade has provided an alternative to LASIK for patients considering cornea laser refractive surgery. SMILE offers a novel approach using the femtosecond laser to create an intrastromal lenticule that can be removed through a small three to four millimeter incision.The purpose of this study is to review the recent literature on popular SMILE claims - reduced iatrogenic dry eye, better recovery of corneal sensation, and a biomechanically stronger cornea - summarize the published outcomes, and determine which claims are myths versus realities.SMILE is still in its infancy as a refractive technique in the US after recent USFDA approval for its treatment of myopia astigmatism in October 2018. Future randomized controlled studies are needed to compare its outcomes to LASIK, which has well-documented good visual outcomes, rapid postoperative recovery, and good safety profile.
Utilization of Women’s Preventive Health Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Importance The association of the COVID-19 pandemic with women’s preventive health care use is unknown. Objective To describe utilization of women’s preventive health services. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional study of women aged 18 to 74 years enrolled in a commercial health maintenance organization in Michigan. Exposures COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2020). Main Outcomes and Measures Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of receiving breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) insertions, and pharmacy-obtained contraception, adjusted for month, age, county, zip code characteristics (per-capita income, non-White percentage of population, non–English-proficient percentage of population), and plan designation (primary plan holder vs dependent). Results The study population included 685 373 women aged 18 to 74 years, enrolled for 13 000 715 person-months, of whom 10 061 275 person-months (77.4%) were among women aged 25 to 64 years and 8 020 215 (61.7%) were the primary plan holder, with mean zip code per capita income of $33 708, 20.2% mean zip code non-White population, and 3.4% mean zip code non–English-speaking population. For services requiring an in-person visit (breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, STI testing, and LARC insertions), utilization declined by 60% to 90% during the spring of 2020, with a nadir in April 2020, after which utilization for all services recovered to close to 2019 levels by July 2020. Claims for pharmacy-obtained hormonal contraceptives in 2020 were consistently 15% to 30% lower than 2019. The AORs of a woman receiving a given preventive service in 2020 compared with 2019 were significantly lower for breast cancer screening (AOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.79-0.80), cervical cancer screening (AOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.80-0.81), STI screening (AOR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.82-0.84), LARC insertion (AOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.84-0.90), and pharmacy-obtained contraception (AOR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.72-0.74) (allP Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of women enrolled in a large US commercial health maintenance organization plan, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with large but transient declines in rates of breast cancer screening, cervical cancer screening, STI screening, and LARC insertions, and moderate persistent declines in pharmacy-obtained hormonal contraceptives. The overall odds of a woman receiving a given preventive service in 2020 was 20% to 30% lower than 2019. Further research into disparities in access to care and the health outcomes of decreased use of these key health services is warranted.
Communicating safety with drivers via dynamic message signs

Abstract In recent years numerous transportation agencies have begun displaying creative safety messages like “get your head out of your apps” on dynamic message signs (DMS). DMS have been used traditionally to provide real-time information about travel times, weather conditions, construction, and incidents. Applying emotional and consequential concepts from protection motivation theory, which has a track record of leading to behavioral changes from public awareness campaigns, this study evaluates how the use of safety messages on DMS impacts driver perceptions. We find that emotions, but not consequences, impact self-reported driving behavior. Further, while drivers reported negative emotions would change their driving habits, positive messages were recalled far more often. Cell phone related messages were recalled most frequently despite being rarely displayed along roadways in Michigan where the study is conducted. Thus, the results support the use of positively themed messages with consequences that drivers perceive as realistic.
A Flexible Approach to Autotuning Multi-Pass Machine Learning Compilers

Search-based techniques have been demonstrated effective in solving complex optimization problems that arise in domain-specific compilers for machine learning (ML). Unfortunately, deploying such techniques in production compilers is impeded by two limitations. First, prior works require factorization of a computation graph into smaller subgraphs over which search is applied. This decomposition is not only non-trivial but also significantly limits the scope of optimization. Second, prior works require search to be applied in a single stage in the compilation flow, which does not fit with the multi-stage layered architecture of most production ML compilers. This paper presents Xtat, an autotuner for production ML compilers that can tune both graph-level and subgraph-level optimizations across multiple compilation stages. Xtat applies Xtat-M, a flexible search methodology that defines a search formulation for joint optimizations by accurately modeling the interactions between different compiler passes. Xtat tunes tensor layouts, operator fusion decisions, tile sizes, and code generation parameters in XLA, a production ML compiler, using various search strategies. In an evaluation across 150 ML training and inference models on Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) at Google, Xtat offers up to 2.4x and an average 5% execution time speedup over the heavily-optimized XLA compiler.
Taurine and Indicine Haplotype Representation in Advanced Generation Individuals From Three American Breeds

Development of the American Breeds of beef cattle began in the 1920s as breeders and U. S. Experiment Station researchers began to create Bos taurus taurus × Bos taurus indicus hybrids using Brahman as the B. t. indicus source. By 1954, U.S. Breed Associations had been formed for Brangus (5/8 Angus × 3/8 Brahman), Beefmaster (½ Brahman × ¼ Shorthorn × ¼ Hereford), and Santa Gertrudis (5/8 Shorthorn × 3/8 Brahman). While these breeds were developed using mating designs expected to create base generation animals with the required genome contributions from progenitor breeds, each association has now registered advanced generation animals in which selection or drift may have caused the realized genome compositions to differ from initial expected proportions. The availability of high-density SNP genotypes for 9,161 Brangus, 3,762 Beefmaster, and 1,942 Santa Gertrudis animals allowed us to compare the realized genomic architectures of breed members to the base generation expectations. We used RFMix to estimate local ancestry and identify genomic regions in which the proportion of Brahman ancestry differed significantly from a priori expectations. For all three breeds, lower than expected levels of Brahman composition were found genome-wide, particularly in early-generation animals where we demonstrate that selection on beef production traits was likely responsible for the taurine enrichment. Using a proxy for generation number, we also contrasted the genomes of early- and advanced-generation animals and found that the indicine composition of the genome has increased with generation number likely due to selection on adaptive traits. Many of the most-highly differentiated genomic regions were breed specific, suggesting that differences in breeding objectives and selection intensities exist between the breeds. Global ancestry estimation is commonly performed in admixed animals to control for stratification in association studies. However, local ancestry estimation provides the opportunity to investigate the evolution of specific chromosomal segments and estimate haplotype effects on trait variation in admixed individuals. Investigating the genomic architecture of the American Breeds not only allows the estimation of indicine and taurine genome proportions genome-wide, but also the locations within the genome where either taurine or indicine alleles confer a selective advantage.
A Titanium Alloy for Application in Hot Sodium Chloride Solutions

Commercially pure titanium and its structural alloys do not always satisfy the requirements of chemical machine-building. Chemical industry often needs materials of a higher corrosion resistance to be supplied. The Ti-Ni-Zr alloys are stable in hot salt solutions in which commercially pure titanium is subject to crevice corrosion.
A round hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign in a patient with seizures: an unusual presentation of a brain tumor rather than a subarachnoid hemorrhage (P6.292)

Objective: To report an unusual acute and potentially misleading presentation of an anaplastic astrocytoma. Background: The role of repeat brain imaging for recurrent seizures in patients with documented history and prior complete work-up for epilepsy is still arguable in some emergency settings. Design/Methods: Case presentation. A 55 year-old right handed man, with known history of epilepsy, remote alcohol abuse and resection of a craniopharyngioma fourteen years prior, was admitted to our Emergency Department (ED) with a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, postictal state, altered mental status and severe headache. He was found to have a round, hyperdense 5.2 x 6.2 mm lesion at the bifurcation of the left middle cerebral artery on a head computed tomography (CT) without contrast. Three weeks prior to this admission he had another ED visit and short observational stay for another generalized seizure with postictal state and normal head CT without contrast. Results: A digital subtraction cerebral angiography was negative for cerebral aneurysm or any particular vascular malformation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with and without Gadolinium revealed an anterior left temporal mass with irregular rim enhancement and marked perifocal edema, local mass effect and central necrotic hemorrhagic focus along with mild associated parahippocampal, limbic system restricted diffusion, corresponding to the round hyperdensity on the head CT. A brain biopsy was diagnostic for a left temporal lobe anaplastic astrocytoma. Patient was started on Temozolomide and was treated with multiple antiepileptic drugs for the progression of partial status epilepticus. Conclusions: Early diagnosis of malignant brain tumors is vital to a fair prognosis. Our case expresses the very aggressive and hastily progressive course of an anaplastic astrocytoma, initially mistaken for a cerebral aneurysm. We also highlight the role of immediate follow up brain MRI in this particular case with known history of epilepsy and recurrent seizures. Disclosure: Dr. Petrea has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rothberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Patil has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hunter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Adickes has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mironov has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singh has received personal compensation for activities with Lundbeck Research USA, Inc. as a speakers bureau member.
Angular Distribution of Energy Flux Radiated from a Pulsed Thermal Source in He II below 0.3°K

The transfer of thermal energy from heated solids to He II has been investigated extensively and the basic features of the experimental data can be accounted for by various phonon coupling models.1 Investigations of the energy flux radiated from pulsed point heaters to low-temperature He II (T 0 < 300 m°K) have produced data which are not entirely consistent with the predictions of these models.2 Therefore a helium blackbody source has been proposed to explain the low-temperature data. According to this model, a layer of hot helium is generated at the heater surface. This helium source, at temperature T s , absorbs the phonon radiation from the solid and reradiates excitations into the ambient bath. A calculation of the special distribution of the flux radiated by such a source,2 assuming long lifetimes of the excitations, indicates that for T s less than 600 m°K the source radiates isotropically a flux of phonons which propagate at the first-sound velocity. For T s in excess of 600 m°K the flux contains additional components which propagate at 131 ± 15 m sec−1. Effects due to the finite lifetime and dispersion of the excitations can, of course, modify this spectral distribution. The following experiment was designed to measure the angular distribution of excitations emitted by two heaters with different surfaces over a wide range of heater power densities to provide further information concerning the flow of energy from heated solids to low-temperature He II.
Physiographic and climatic controls on snow cover persistence in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

The persistence of snow cover across mountainous landscapes influences land-atmosphere energy exchange, water availability, the partitioning of snowmelt into various hydrologic pathways, vegetation productivity, and fluxes of nutrients. Understanding the processes controlling snow cover persistence has been limited as relationships between physiography, climate, and snow persistence are nonlinear and difficult to characterize empirically. The work detailed herein uses 7 years of remotely sensed snow cover persistence observed from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer over the Sierra Nevada Mountains as a dependent variable in binary regression tree models with a suite of independent variables comprised of both physiographic and climatic metrics. Annual snow cover persistence over 2001–2007 revealed significant inter-annual variability, with domain-average snow persistence values exceeding 4.01 (i.e. early April) in the wettest year of 2005 and reaching as low as 2.90 (i.e. late February) in the driest year of 2007. Regression tree models revealed that elevation was the most important explanatory variable regarding snow cover persistence, ranking first in the hierarchical models in 10 out of 13 watersheds. Precipitation (Feather and Owens River basins) and temperature (Kern River basin) were the first-ranking variables in the remaining three watersheds. Second, the order variables of importance included vegetation, which ranked between 2nd and 5th in 10 of 13 watersheds, and slope, which ranked 4th and 5th in 12 of the 13 watersheds. Interestingly, solar radiation and aspect were of tertiary importance but were more influential in watersheds with north–south orientation (e.g. in the Feather, Mokelumne and Stanislaus watersheds). These results have implications for understanding the sensitivity of snow cover persistence to changes in climate as watersheds where elevation and/or temperature strongly influence snow cover persistence may be more sensitive to future warming. Further work is needed to identify associated ecosystem sensitivities to future changes in snow cover persistence. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cryopreparation methods for electron microscopy of selected model systems.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses electron microscopy (EM) specimen preparation methods for three of the most powerful and popular model systems in today's biology: Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Caenorhabditis elegans , and Drosophila melanogaster . Each of these organisms is difficult to fix for EM by conventional methods that use buffered fixatives at room temperature because they each have formidable diffusion barriers that hinder the free exchange of reagents. However, when low-temperature fixation methods, such as high-pressure freezing (HPF) and freeze-substitution are used, the preservation of cellular ultrastructure can be excellent. The chapter discusses the basic equipment for HPF and the way to use it and explains the use of frozen material to prepare it for routine EM analysis, cellular tomography, or EM immunolabeling. HPF works by lowering the freezing point and suppressing the rate of ice crystal nucleation and growth. This follows from the fact that the volume of water increases as it crystallizes. The rapid application of a high hydrostatic pressure inhibits this expansion, slowing the crystallization that occurs with cooling and letting the water become immobilized in a vitreous state before crystals can form.
Development of Sight Word Reading: Phases and Findings.

The hallmark of skilled reading is the ability to read individual words accurately and quickly in isolation as well as in text, referred to as “context free” word reading skill (Stanovich, 1980). For a skilled reader, even a quick glance at a word activates its pronunciation and meaning. Being able to read words from memory by sight is valuable because it allows readers to focus their attention on constructing the meaning of the text while their eyes recognize individual words automatically. If readers have to stop and decode words, their reading is slowed down and their train of thought disrupted. This chapter examines theories and findings on the development of sight word reading. Sight word reading is not limited to high-frequency or irregularly spelled words, contrary to the beliefs of some, but includes all words that readers can read from memory. Also sight word reading is not a strategy for reading words, contrary to some views. Being strategic involves choosing procedures to optimize outcomes, such as figuring out unfamiliar words by decoding (Gough, 1972) or analogizing (Goswami, 1986, 1988) or prediction (Goodman, 1970; Tunmer & Chapman, 1998). By contrast, sight word reading happens automatically without the influence of intention or choice. Reading words from memory by sight is especially important in English because the alphabetic system is variable and open to decoding errors.
Environmental enrichment induces early heroin abstinence in an animal conflict model.

Abstract Rationale and objectives Heroin addiction is a significant health and societal problem for which there is no highly effective long-term behavioral or pharmacological treatment. Therefore, strategies that support heroin abstinence should be a primary focus of heroin treatment research. To this end, the current study used an animal conflict model that captures the aversive consequences of drug seeking (as are typical in humans, e.g., incarceration and job loss) to induce abstinence. Using this abstinence model, we examined the capacity of environmental enrichment (EE) to facilitate abstinence in heroin seeking rats. Methods The procedure consisted of two phases: drug self-administration (phase 1) and electric barrier application (phase 2) that resulted in abstinence. For phase 1, male rats were trained to self-administer intravenous heroin under a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement. After self-administration was acquired, animals were housed either in EE or standard cages (non-EE control). During abstinence in phase 2, the electric barrier was introduced in the operant conditioning chambers by electrifying the floor area near the levers. Results We found that EE rats achieved abstinence (zero active lever presses for 3 consecutive sessions) in significantly fewer sessions than NEE rats. Further, EE rats abstained at significantly lower electric currents than NEE rats. Conclusions EE facilitated abstinence in the conflict model. The current use of the abstinence–conflict model to investigate EE as a behavioral strategy to facilitate abstinence will help in the development of effective treatments for human addicts by bringing together the positive consequences of abstinent behavior in an enriched environment with the aversive consequences of drug seeking.
Executive Functioning in Participants Over Age of 50 with Hoarding Disorder

The current investigation utilized mid-life and late-life participants diagnosed with hoarding disorder (HD) to explore the relationship between executive functioning and hoarding severity.Correlational analyses were used to investigate the associations between executive functioning and hoarding severity in nondemented participants. Multiple regression was used to determine if executive functioning had a unique association with HD severity when accounting for depressive symptoms.Participants were recruited from the San Diego area for HD intervention studies.Participants were 113 nondemented adults aged 50-86 years who met DSM-5 criteria for HD. The mean age of the sample utilized in the analyses was 63.76 years (SD, 7.2; range, 51-85 years). The sample was mostly female (72%), Caucasian (81.4%), and unmarried (78%).Hoarding severity was assessed using the Saving Inventory-Revised and the Clutter Image Rating and depression was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Executive functioning was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST-128) and the Trail Making and Verbal Fluency subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System.Executive function (operationalized as perseveration on the WCST-128) was significantly associated with Clutter Image Ratings. In a multivariate context, executive function and depressive symptom severity were both significant predictors of variance in Clutter Image Rating.Our results suggest that executive function is related to severity of HD symptoms and should be considered as part of the conceptualization of HD.
Robust Compensation of Distributed Delays in Integrated Communication and Control Systems

This short paper investigates the applicability of the LQG/LTR procedure for stability robustness of delay compensators in Integrted Communication and Control Systems (ICCS). In this specific case, the delay compensator has a linear, time-invariant, discrete-time structure in the deterministic setting.
The potential of neural stem cell transplantation for the treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is caused by intrauterine exposure to alcohol and can cause a full range of abnormalities to brain development, as well as long-term sequelae of cognitive, sensory and motor impairments. The incidence is estimated to be as high as 2% to 5% in children born within the US, however the prevalence is even higher in low socioeconomic populations. Despite the various mechanisms thought to explain the etiology of FASD, molecular targets of ethanol toxicity during development are not completely understood. More recent findings explore the role of GABA-A and GABA-B mechanisms, as well as cell death, cell signaling and gene expression malfunctions. Stem cell based therapies have grown exponentially over the last decade, which have lead to novel clinical interventions across many disciplines. Thus, early detailed understanding of the therapeutic potential of stem cell research has provided promising applications across a wide range of illnesses. Consequently, these potential benefits may ultimately lead to a reduced incidence and severity of this highly preventable and prevalent birth defect. It is recognized that stem cell derivations provide unique difficulties and limitations of therapeutic applications. This review will outline the current knowledge, along with the benefits and challenges of stem cell therapy for FASD.
Uncertain-frequency detection: Cuing and condition of observation

Two experiments are described which support a two-factor model of the detection of signals of uncertain frequency. This model asserts that both the number of channels to be monitored (M) and the accuracy (or bandwidth, W) of that monitoring influence detection. The condition of observation, whether simultaneous or successive, was also varied within this paradigm. Stimuli consisted of tones presented with a background of filtered noise. A yes-no psychophysical procedure was employed. In Experiment 1, tonal cues were used to reduce uncertainty about W while holding M constant. This resulted in improved performance. In Experiment 2, the validity of the tonal cue was varied. Good cues improved performance, while bad cues harmed it. This latter finding suggested that reducing uncertainty about one possible signal increased uncertainty about the other.
From Common to Uncommon Knowledge: Foundations of Firm-Specific Use of Knowledge as a Resource

Although the knowledge-based view of strategy has significantly advanced understanding of the foundations of competitive advantage, less is known about how knowledge becomes a strategic resource. I...
Ultraviolet, visible, and infrared laser delivery using laser-to-fiber coupling via a grazing-incidence-based hollow taper

We present a novel all-optical-waveguide method for ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) laser delivery including a lens-free method of laser-to-fiber coupling using a simple uncoated glass hollow taper. Based on the grazing incidence effect, the hollow taper provides a way of direct launching, without any intermediate focusing elements, high power laser radiation into delivery fibers. Because of the mutual action of the nearly parallel laser excitation, the mode coupling process, and mode filtering effect, the hollow taper serves as a mode converter that transforms the highly multimode profile of the input laser emission into a high-quality Gaussian-shaped profile at the taper output. When the grazing incidence effect of the taper is applied to laser delivery, the maintenance of high reflectance coefficients in a wide spectral region allows to utilize the same uncoated hollow taper for laser radiation in the UV, VIS and IR ranges. Applying the experimental hollow-taper based delivery systems, we obtain high laser- to-taper and taper-to-fiber coupling efficiencies.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Development of a rapid method for the detection of biological threats in water

In this paper, progress towards the development of real-time sensing of chemical and biological threats in liquid samples will be presented. This overall goal of this work is to combine the selective, molecular recognition of nucleic acid aptamers with a rapid signal transduction using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for a single step identify and detect approach. Of particular interest is the application to whole-cell target recognition of biologicals, such as environmental pathogens (e.g., Campylobacter jejuni), without requiring cell lysis or other complex protocols to access biochemical species internal to the organism. An aptamer staining protocol for whole cell targets is developed and applied to the investigation of aptamers against Campylobacter jejuni cells. A comparison of aptamer binding using this method with and without the primer regions utilized in the aptamer selection process is presented and the primer regions were found to have little impact on binding performance. C. jejuni aptamers exhibited strong binding as evidenced through the fluorescence images acquired and little to no background fluorescence was observed from non-specific binding of the streptavidin-dye conjugate used in the staining method. A thrombin targeted molecular aptamer beacon was also studied and a rapid analysis was demonstrated. A 10 nM sample of thrombin was distinguishable from the fluorescence baseline of the probe alone, when using a 40 nM aptamer probe concentration. The fluorescence intensity was found to increase until saturation of the aptamer probe was achieved. These results show promise for the development of single-step identification of whole-cell targets using an aptamer bioreceptor and fluorescence resonance energy transfer transduction signaling scheme.
Budgeting processes: The state of the art in the United States

This article reviews present budgetary practices, processes, and related issues in the United States. Developments since 1990 are assessed using budgetary functions of control, management, and planning as benchmarks. While several reforms advancing these functions appear promising, movement toward clarity in budgetary theory has not kept pace. The article outlines tasks for both practitioners and scholars and recognizes calls for more comparative case studies. It concludes with suggestions for future work for practitioners and scholars individually and in combination as “pracademics” to expand theoretical and applied understanding of public budgeting.
Time course of transgene expression after intrastriatal pseudotyped rAAV2/1, rAAV2/2, rAAV2/5, and rAAV2/8 transduction in the rat.

In vivo recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV)-mediated transduction of various tissues including brain has been characterized by slow onset and gradual increase in gene expression before reaching stable long-term protein levels. The early time course of transgene expression has not been quantified using newly available rAAV capsid serotypes. In this experiment, the onset of expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) after intrastriatal injection of rAAV2-based pseudotyped vectors (rAAV1, rAAV5, and rAAV8 capsids) was quantified. Native GFP fluorescence displayed a delayed onset of expression of at least 7 days for all the pseudotyped rAAV vectors. However, GFP immunohistochemical staining revealed significant transgene expression by 4 days after transduction for all serotypes and stable GFP+ neuronal populations mediated by all serotypes within 14 days post transduction at the latest. rAAV2/1 and rAAV2/2 displayed no time-dependent increase of GFP+ striatal neurons; reaching maximal striatal cell GFP+ counts at 4 days after injection. All serotypes displayed peak transgene expression by 4 weeks post injection where native GFP+ neurons were equal to immunostained striatal GFP+ neurons. The inflammatory response to these rAAV vectors was present up to 4 weeks after transduction but was not apparent 9 months post injection. Thus, rAAV-mediated transgene expression begins earlier than previously thought.
Formation constants of some 1:1 and 2:1 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropanoato and 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoato complex species of divalent transition metals

Abstract Stability constants of the complex species formed between Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) and the anions of 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid and 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutanoic acid were determined at an ionic strength of 0.100 (KNO 3 ) and 25° C.
A Radioimmunoassay for Colchicine Using a Highly Specific, High Affinity Monoclonal Antibody

AbstractA sensitive and selective radioimmunoassay has been developed using a colchicine binding monoclonal antibody. The assay procedure uses a charcoal suspension to separate antibody bound and free colchicine and can be performed in less than two hours. Using the high affinity antibody, as little as 0.3 ng/ml of colchicine in serum can be detected. These results provide the framework for a fully validated clinical assay for therapeutic monitoring of colchicine.
Stickstoff‐Stereochemie quartärer Pyrrolidiniumsalze

NMR-spektroskopisch wird der Einflus von Substituenten mit verschiedenen Abschirmungseffekten und in verschiedenen Stellungen des Pyrrolidin-Rings auf die N-Methyl-Gruppen der Quartarsalze gemessen. Die Ergebnisse werden besprochen. Stereochemistry of Nitrogen in Pyrrolidinium Salts Configuration of ring nitrogen is deduced from a systematic study of shielding effects with a variety of quaternary pyrrolidinium salts, e. g. 1,1,2-trimethyl-, 1,1-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-, 1,1-dimethyl-2-carboxy-, 1,1-dimethyl-2-carboxy-4-hydroxy-, 1-methyl-1-ethyl-3-hydroxy-, 1,1-dimethyl-2-carboxy-3-hydroxypyrrolidinium salts or betaines. A number of deuteromethylated derivatives is also subjected to NMR-spectroscopy. Compounds 9–13 are natural products, derived from stachydrin 9a. Chemical evidence evidence is also presented in addition to spectral data, such as in the case of compounds 7 and 8. Predictions as to separation of N-CH3-signals in 3-hydroxystachydrines-a and -b (12 or 13) are corroborated by NMR-data, similarly to Paudler and Wagner's work on betonicine and turicine.
Early-Season Defoliation Effects on TopCross High-Oil Corn Production

High-oil corn (Zea mays L.) produced with the TopCross grain production system is planted as a physical mixture (a TC Blend) containing 91% high-yielding, male-sterile hybrid (grain parent) seed and 9% pollinator seed. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in Ohio in 1999 and 2000 to determine if high-oil corn (HOC) TC Blends are more sensitive to defoliation damage than their normal-oil corn (NOC) hybrid counterparts consisting of 100% male-fertile plants. Corn plants were 100% defoliated at V5 and 50 and 100% defoliated at V13. Defoliation similarly affected grain yield and oil concentration of HOC TC Blends and NOC hybrids. Complete defoliation at V13, averaged across years and hybrids, was the most damaging defoliation treatment, reducing grain yields 29%. Defoliation did not significantly alter grain oil concentration of HOC grain parents (74.5 g kg -1 ) or NOC (34.5 g kg -1 ). Defoliation caused similar responses in ear weights and oil concentrations in both components (the pollinator and the grain parent) of the HOC TC Blends. The lack of hybrid × defoliation interactions for ear yield components and various agronomic traits indicates that HOC TC Blends and their respective NOC counterparts responded similarly to early-season defoliation over a range of environmental conditions. Guidelines for assessing early-season leaf injury in conventional corn may be suitable for assessing leaf injury in HOC TC Blends.
Surgery for gallstone pancreatitis.

Operative intervention during an attack of biliary pancreatitis is an effective way to treat the associated biliary tract disease and prevent the development of future attacks. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has now emerged as the procedure of choice to treat cholelithiasis, but the treatment of associated choledocholithiasis is not yet defined. There are currently two possible approaches to these patients: Fist, early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to determine if stones are present within the bile duct and, if so, early endoscopic sphincterotomy. If this approach is followed, then laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be performed as soon as the acute symptoms have subsided. On the other hand, if ERCP is not performed early and there are no obvious signs of biliary obstruction, laparoscopic cholecystectomy should probably be performed just before the patient is discharged. By waiting 5 to 6 days after the onset of the attack, the chances of finding associated choledocholithiasis are minimized. At the time of laparscopic cholecystectomy, a cholangiogram must be obtained. If choledocholithiasis is found, the common bile duct may be explored via laparoscopic techniques, the operation may be converted to an open procedure, or the patient may be scheduled for endoscopic sphincterotomy for the next day.