cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Low-Cost Microcontroller for Real-Time Control Education and Prototyping

Arduino microcontrollers are popular, low-cost, easy-to-program, and have an active user community. This paper seeks to quantitatively assess whether or not Arduinos are a good fit for real-time feedback control experiments and controls education. Bode plots and serial echo tests are used to assess the use of Arduinos in two scenarios: a prototyping mode that involves bidirectional real-time serial communication with a PC and a hybrid mode that streams data in real-time over serial. The closed-loop performance with the Arduino is comparable to that of another more complicated and more expensive microcontroller for the plant considered. Some practical tips on using an Arduino for real-time feedback control are also given.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Wavenumber–Frequency Spectra of Inertia–Gravity and Mixed Rossby–Gravity Waves in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean

AbstractIn the 1970s and 1980s, there was considerable interest in near-equatorial variability at periods of days to weeks associated with oceanic equatorial inertia–gravity waves and mixed Rossby–gravity waves. At that time, the measurements available for studying these waves were much more limited than today: most of the available observations were from scattered island tide gauges and a handful of short mooring records. More than a decade of the extensive modern data record from the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO)/Triangle Trans-Ocean Buoy Network (TRITON) mooring array in the Pacific Ocean is used to reexamine the internal-wave climate in the equatorial Pacific, with a focus on interpretation of the zonal-wavenumber/frequency spectrum of surface dynamic height relative to 500 decibars at periods of 3–15 days and zonal wavelengths exceeding 30° of longitude. To facilitate interpretation of the dynamic height spectrum and identification of equatorial wave modes, the spectrum is decomposed into separate ...
CAS SCF/CI calculations of potential energy surfaces of He3+ and He2+

Abstract Complete active space MC SCF (CAS SCF) calculations followed by second-order configuration interaction (SOCI) calculations are carried out on the potential energy surfaces (bending surface, linear surfaces) of the 2 Σ g + ground state of He 3 + . The potential minimum for the 2 Σ g + state occurs at a linear geometry with HeHe bond length of 1.248 A. The binding energy of He 3 + with respect to He + He + + He was calculated to be 2.47 eV at the SOCI level. The energy required to dissociate He 3 + ( 2 Σ g + ) into He 2 + ( 2 Σ u + ) and He( 1 S) is calculated to be 0.14 eV. The same level of SOCI calculations of He 2 + yield a D e value of 2.36 eV.
Clostridium botulinum toxins: a general review of involvement in disease, structure, mode of action and preparation for clinical use

The neurotoxins produced byClostridium botulinum are the most potent acute toxins known and are the causative agents of the neuroparalytic disease botulism. The toxins act primarily at peripheral cholinergic synapses by blocking the evoked release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. There are seven distinct serotypes of toxin. All are polypeptides ofMr about 150 kDa that have similar structure and pharmacological action. In their most active forms the toxins exist as dichain molecules in which a heavy (H) chain is linked by disulphide bonding to a light (L) chain. The H chain is believed to be associated with the highly specific and avid binding of toxin to the motor nerve end plates and also with the process of internalisation of the toxin. The toxic activity appears to be associated with the L chain which blockades the calcium-mediated release of acetylcholine, probably by interfering at the molecular level with the mechanisms whereby neurotransmitter-containing vesicles merge with the plasmalemma. The type A toxin is now used therapeutically to treat a variety of conditions involving involuntary muscle spasm. The therapeutic toxin is a neurotoxin-haemagglutinin complex isolated from cultures ofC. botulinum. A controlled manufacturing process has been developed for the therapeutic toxin which is specially formulated to give a freeze-dried product having good stability.
Oxidized oligogalacturonides activate the oxidation of indoleacetic Acid by peroxidase.

Partial hydrolysis of polygalacturonic acid with a purified α-1,4-endopolygalacturonase yielded oligogalacturonides and trace amounts of a series of modified oligogalacturonides. Three of the minor products were isolated and identified as oxidized oligogalacturonides possessing termini of galactaric acid. Oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid by peroxidases was activated by oxidized oligogalacturonides but not by normal analogs.
Mechanistic diversity of cytokine receptor signaling across cell membranes

Circulating cytokines bind to specific receptors on the cell outer surface to evoke responses inside the cell. Binding of cytokines alters the association between receptor molecules that often cross the membrane only once in a single alpha-helical segment. As a consequence, association of protein domains on the inside of the membrane are also altered. Increasing evidence suggests that an initial "off-state" of associated receptors is perturbed, and brought to an activated state that leads to intracellular signaling and eventually effects a change in DNA transcription. The initial detection event that transduces the change in receptor association is sensitive to both proximity and orientation of the receptors, and probably also to the time that the activated state or receptor association is maintained. Ultimately, a cascade of phosphorylation events is triggered. The initial kinases are sometimes part of the intracellular domains of the receptors. The kinases can also be separate proteins that may be pre-associated with intracellular domains of the receptors, or can be recruited after the intracellular association of the activated receptors. We focus here on each of the cases for which structures of the activated cytokine-receptor complexes are known, in a search for underlying mechanisms. The variations in modes of association, stoichiometries of receptors and cytokines, and orientations before and after activation of these receptors are almost as great as the number of complexes themselves. The principles uncovered nevertheless illustrate the basis for high specificity and fidelity in cytokine-mediated signaling.
A decade of progress in education and communication in dermatology.

Significant strides have been made in the last decade in education and communication in dermatology. Despite these advances, modern concepts in education and available technology in communication have far outstripped their application in our specialty. The challenge is before us to consider carefully these new educational approaches and communication technics so that eventually a practical, economically sound, and successful program can be developed to meet our needs. One component of such a program might include the combination of the proposed DERMMIS ( dermatology management and information system) program plus audiovisual materials retrievable by videodisc technology.
Substantial energetic improvement with minimal structural perturbation in a high affinity mutant antibody

Here, we compare an antibody with the highest known engineered affinity (K(d)=270 fM) to its high affinity wild-type (K(d)=700 pM) through thermodynamic, kinetic, structural, and theoretical analyses. The 4M5.3 anti-fluorescein single chain antibody fragment (scFv) contains 14 mutations from the wild-type 4-4-20 scFv and has a 1800-fold increase in fluorescein-binding affinity. The dissociation rate is approximately 16,000 times slower in the mutant; however, this substantial improvement is offset somewhat by the association rate, which is ninefold slower in the mutant. Enthalpic contributions to binding were found by calorimetry to predominate in the differential binding free energy. The crystal structure of the 4M5.3 mutant complexed with antigen was solved to 1.5A resolution and compared with a previously solved structure of an antigen-bound 4-4-20 Fab fragment. Strikingly, the structural comparison shows little difference between the two scFv molecules (backbone RMSD of 0.6A), despite the large difference in affinity. Shape complementarity exhibits a small improvement between the variable light chain and variable heavy chain domains within the antibody, but no significant improvement in shape complementarity of the antibody with the antigen is observed in the mutant over the wild-type. Theoretical modeling calculations show electrostatic contributions to binding account for -1.2 kcal/mol to -3.5 kcal/mol of the binding free energy change, of which -1.1 kcal/mol is directly associated with the mutated residue side-chains. The electrostatic analysis reveals several mechanistic explanations for a portion of the improvement. Collectively, these data provide an example where very high binding affinity is achieved through the cumulative effect of many small structural alterations.
Matrix-valued interpolation and hyperconvex sets

We prove that it is possible for two uniform algebras to have the same scalar interpolating sets, yet still have different matrix-valued interpolating sets.
Oxandrolone treatment in adults with severe thermal injury.

Severe thermal injury is associated with hypermetabolism and hyper-catabolism, leading to skeletal muscle breakdown, lean body mass loss, weight loss, and negative nitrogen balance. Muscle protein catabolism in patients with severe thermal injury is the result of stress-induced increased release of cytokines and counterregulatory hormones. Coupled with decreased serum anabolic hormone concentrations such as testosterone and growth hormone along with the presence of insulin resistance, anabolism in patients with severe thermal injury is inefficient or impossible during the acute postburn period. This causes difficulty in restoring lean body mass and regaining lost body weight, as well as poor healing of the burn wound and delayed patient recovery. Oxandrolone, a synthetic derivative of testosterone, has been used in adult patients with severe thermal injury to enhance lean body mass accretion, restore body weight, and accelerate wound healing. In clinical studies, oxandrolone 10 mg orally twice/day improved wound healing, restored lean body mass, and accelerated body weight gain. During the rehabilitation period, oxandrolone therapy with adequate nutrition and exercise improved lean body mass, increased muscle strength, and restored body weight. However, most data on oxandrolone use in adult patients with severe thermal injury are derived from single-center studies, many of which enrolled a relatively small number of subjects and some of which had a poor design. Multicenter, prospective, randomized studies are needed to better define the optimal oxandrolone dosage and to confirm the efficacy and safety of this drug in adult patients with severe thermal injury.
Changes in poultry litter toxicity with simulated acid rain.

The Delmarva Peninsula on the Eastern Shore of Maryland ranks 4th in the nation in poultry production and generates 9,500 metric tons of poultry manure/litter per day. The poultry litter contains many macro and micro nutrients and is an excellent source of fertilizer. The litter also contains antibiotics, heavy metals, hormones and many microorganisms. Land application of this litter has been the only means of its utilization and disposal. With rainfall, surface water run-off (leachate), from land on which litter has been applied, reaches the Cheasapeake Bay from this region. This leachate with its high organic and inorganic salt contents and high biochemical oxygen demand can severely disrupt the aquatic life and cause fish kills. The objective of this research was to study the effect of simulated acid rain (pH 3, 4 and 5) on the toxicity of poultry litter extracts.
Platelet derived growth factor beta (PGFR-B), is required for pericyte recruitment and angiogenesis in fibrosarcoma

RESULTS: A 99% ’knockdown’ of PDGFR-B (HT1080pdsi) was achieved. There was no difference in in-vitro cell growth of HT-1080 cells compared to HT-1080pdsi cells. But orthotopic xenograft tumors grown from HT-1080pdsi cells were significantly smaller than HT-1080 tumors (0.26 vs 0.66gms) (p 0.03). HT1080pdsi tumors grew in 6/20 mice compared to 17/20 in the HT1080 cells. A decrease in endothelial cell proliferation and VEGF165 was seen in HT-1080pdsi tumors compared to HT-1080. Pericyte dissociation from endothelial cells and a lack of blood vessel lumina was seen in the HT-1080pdsi tumors compared to HT-1080.
Effect of active-group position in polymeric interactions

The effect of the position of a substituent along a polymer chain on the equilibrium constant in interpolymer interactions has been determined for equilibria involving the substituent. Polymers containing single dimethylamino groups have been equilibrated with coupling bidentate dinitro phenols, and the excluded-volume effect determined. The magnitude of the hindrance to complex formation was found to be considerably greater for centrally substituted polymers than for end-substituted polymers. However, for all polymers the measured effect is less than those expected from previous theoretical treatments of interpolymer reactions. Also, the size of the effect is less in the equilibria than found previously for interpolymer reactions. This suggests that the theoretical treatments that deal only with the effect of excluded volume on the transition complex may be oversimplifications.
The Rise of Chinese Exports

The growth of Chinese exports both in volume and in market share over the past two decades is a singular event in the history of world trade. Using data from 1995-2005, we document this growth in a variety of ways. First, we show that the expanded trade is pervasive. Virtually every country in the world has seen China claim a larger share of its import market. Then, we use Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis to try to determine which country or countries have lost market share as China’s trade has grown. Contrary to much discussion in the popular press, we find strong evidence that other developing countries have not seen export shares fall as a result of China’s gains. Rather, our results suggest that China’s share growth has come largely at the expense of exporters based in Japan and the United States. We then turn to an attempt to identify the factor or factors responsible for export growth. Using a large set of data disaggregated at the 5-digit SITC level on trade among 75 countries we look at changes over the period in import unit values. We find that China has maintained a relatively constant price advantage over U.S. and Japanese exports. In addition, we use 3-digit level data to estimate a heterogeneous-firm model that examines the probability of successful entry by a firm into an export market. We find strong evidence that the growth of Chinese exports is due to entry by new firms within any sectors, probably engendered by firm level technological advance or entry of foreign firms that have begun to produce in and export from China.
Experimental Investigation of Compression Failure Mechanisms of Composite Faced Foam Core Sandwich Specimens

Compression failure of sandwich specimens with glass/vinylester face sheets over PVC foams has been experimentally examined using an end loading test fixture based on the ASTM C 364 standard. The m...
Uniaxial Tensile and Flexural Stress Rupture Strength of Hot‐Pressed Si3N4

Uniaxial tensile stress rupture testing of hot-pressed silicon nitride NC-132 was carried out at 1000°, 1200°, and 1300°C in air at various applied stress levels and the corresponding times-to-failure were measured. Fracture occurred from both surface and internally initiated flaws. Fractographic evidence for failure-initiation sites and the associated presence of subcritical (slow) crack growth are presented. Limited flexural stress rupture tests at 1200°C in air were also carried out and the data are compared. The uniaxial tensile and flexural stress rupture tests are much more sensitive in revealing the time-dependent crack-growth behavior than flexural stress rate tests.
A user-friendly implementation of PC-SNAP

PC-SNAP is a microcomputer implementation of the SNAP program (Symbolic Network Analysis Program). Several features of the program have been modified in order to take advantage of the personal nature of microcomputer usage. The earlier version of the program still retained its mainframe heritage in the sense that it still required strictly formatted input data files. That restriction has now been removed in order to make the program much more user-friendly. This implementation was developed as part of a continuing effort to establish a library of user-friendly, useful, computer-aided network analysis and design programs for student use. >
Real-Time Monitoring of Uncertain Data Streams Using Probabilistic Similarity

Data uncertainty is a common problem for the real-time monitoring of data streams. In this paper, we address the issue of efficiently monitoring the satisfaction/violation of user-defined constraints over data streams where the data uncertainty can be probabilistically characterized. We propose a monitoring architecture SPMON that can incorporate probabilistic models of uncertainty in constraint monitoring. We adapt the concept of data similarity in real-time databases to the processing of uncertain data streams. In doing so, we generalize the data similarity by a new concept psr (probabilistic similarity region) that allows us to define similarity relations for probabilistic data with respect to the set of constraints being monitored. This enables the construction of lightweight filters for saving bandwidth. We also show how to efficiently update the filter conditions at run-time.
Hodgkin's disease coexisting with myelodysplastic syndrome prior to therapy: a case report and a review of the association of Hodgkin's disease with stem cell disorders

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are well-documented complications secondary to chemotherapy and radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease (HD). The coexistence of primary MDS with HD prior to therapy is an extremely rare event which has been reported only once in the English literature. This is the second case of such combination. Both patients with MDS developed AML only 7 months after diagnosis and both died shortly after the initiation of treatment. Since these cases raise the possibility of a stem cell association with HD, we reviewed the literature for other stem cell disorders with similar association with HD prior to aggressive therapy. Four cases of stem cell disorders other than MDS were reported. These included two cases of aplastic anemia, one case of myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis, and one of polycythemia vera. Two of the four patients died, one of AML and the other of thrombocytopenia-related cerebral hemorrhage. The association between HD and stem cell disorders, although rare, may need to be investigated further.
Estimating the proportion of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : Two definitions used in the USA yield dramatically different estimates

The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the prevalence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA) and healthcare-associated MRSA (HAMRSA) using healthcare risk factor exposure criteria with that obtained using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria. Cases were defined as CAMRSA or HAMRSA based on the general CDC guidelines for nosocomial infections, and then re-assessed with healthcare risk factor exposure criteria using a medical chart review. One hundred MRSA cases occurred at a mid-Western veterans affairs medical centre from November 2001 to November 2003. The proportion of these cases classified as CAMRSA differed dramatically when classified by healthcare risk factor exposure criteria (5%) compared with CDC nosocomial infection criteria (49%). Estimating the role of healthcare-related exposures and developing strategies to control MRSA can be markedly affected by the criteria used to determine CAMRSA and HAMRSA.
Acceptable Use of Technology in Schools: Risks, Policies, and Promises

For research on pervasive computing technologies and youth to be truly significant, we must ask why mobile devices and social media applications are much less pervasive in the classroom than in other parts of youth life. Mobile devices and social media have considerable potential for learning, from both the individual-skills and socialization perspectives. However, acceptable-use policies have limited the use of mobile devices on school campuses as a response to the risks schools face in dealing with disruptive or harmful speech. Certain perceived risks and observed problems with regard to youth online underlie educators' attitudes toward pervasive technologies in formal learning settings. Educators, researchers, and designers must work together to increase understanding of the youth experience with pervasive computing technologies and provide greater access to these systems and applications in the formal schooling context.
EXIT chart analysis for iterative timing recovery

Performance analysis of iterative timing recovery schemes, which perform timing recovery, equalization, and error-correction decoding jointly, is difficult because of their complexity. In this paper, we apply the extrinsic information transfer chart (EXIT chart) analysis as a tool to compare and predict their performances. Simulation results indicate that the system performance predicted by the EXIT chart coincides with that obtained by simulating data transmission over a complete iterative receiver, especially when the coded block length is large.
Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health

Stigma and discrimination toward obese persons are pervasive and pose numerous consequences for their psychological and physical health. Despite decades of science documenting weight stigma, its public health implications are widely ignored. Instead, obese persons are blamed for their weight, with common perceptions that weight stigmatization is justifiable and may motivate individuals to adopt healthier behaviors. We examine evidence to address these assumptions and discuss their public health implications. On the basis of current findings, we propose that weight stigma is not a beneficial public health tool for reducing obesity. Rather, stigmatization of obese individuals threatens health, generates health disparities, and interferes with effective obesity intervention efforts. These findings highlight weight stigma as both a social justice issue and a priority for public health.
Patterns of Chinook salmon migration and residency in the Salmon River estuary (Oregon)

We examined variations in the juvenile life history of fall-spawning Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, for evidence of change in estuarine residency and migration patterns following the removal of dikes from 145 ha of former salt-marsh habitat in the Salmon River estuary (Oregon). Mark-recapture studies and abundance patterns in the estuary during 2000e2002 describe the following life-history types among Chinook salmon: (1) fry disperse throughout the estuary, and many move into restored tidalmarsh habitats in the early spring soon after emergence; (2) juveniles reside in freshwater for several months, enter the estuary in June or July, and remain for (a) a few weeks or (b) several months before entering the ocean; and (3) juveniles enter the ocean later in the fall after an extended period of rearing upriver and/or in the estuary. The absence of fry migrants in the estuary during spring and early summer in 1975e1977 d a period that precedes restoration of any of the diked marshes d and the extensive use of marsh habitats by fry and fingerlings AprileJuly, 2000e2002 indicate that wetland restoration has increased estuarine rearing opportunities for juvenile Chinook salmon. Year-to-year patterns of estuarine rearing and abundance by juvenile salmon may be influenced by flood and drought conditions that affected adult spawner distribution and over-winter survival of salmon eggs. However, persistent changes in spawner distribution since 1975e1977, including the concentration of hatchery strays in the lower river, may account for the large proportion of fry that now disperse into the estuary soon after emergence in the spring. Although few of these earliest migrants survived to the river mouth, many fry and fingerlings from mid- and upper-basin spawning areas distributed throughout a greater portion of the estuary during the spring and summer and migrated to the ocean over a broader range of sizes and time periods than thirty years ago. The results suggest that wetland recovery has expanded life history variation in the Salmon River population by allowing greater expression of estuarine-resident behaviors. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Conceptual Design for the Sunniberg Bridge

This paper explains how a major engineer, Christian Menn, conceived of his design for the 1998 Sunniberg Bridge in Switzerland. Menn had given a brief outline of his approach in an earlier paper, and this paper works out the consequences of his ideas by putting them into numerical form and interpreting those results. This paper brings out the close connection between aesthetic choices and structural performance and also shows how an apparently complex form can be broken down into simple elements to justify the initial conceptual design. There is little published writing about the creative process of bridge engineering and nothing in detail in English on the Sunniberg Bridge.
Energy-Level Effects on the Deformation Mechanism in Microscale Laser Peen Forming

Laser microscale peen forming has recently received more and more attention as a viable laser processing technology as it not only imparts desirable residual stress for improvement of fatigue life of the material, but can also precisely control part deformation. In the present study, the effect of energy level on the deformation mechanism in laser microscale peen forming was investigated by both numerical and experimental methods. Deformation curvatures and residual stress distributions of both sides of the specimen, characterized by X-ray microdiffraction, were compared with the results obtained from FEM simulation. The forming mechanism for convex and concave bending was explained in terms of the resulting pressure, compressive stress distribution, and plastic strain. Differences in residual stress distribution patterns were also investigated as a function of the forming mechanism.
AquaMonkey: A novel multi-mode robotic vehicle

This video presents results from an undergraduate research project involving the design and analysis of a lightweight multimode vehicle capable of driving on solid ground, swimming on the surface of the water, climbing up magnetic surfaces and easily transitioning between the three. Locomotion in and out of the water is provided by buoyant paddlewheels on each side of the vehicle. The climbing capability is achieved by the use of strip magnets mounted to each wheel. The physical design of the robot provides efficiency in and out of the water while considering a necessity for stealth, compactness, and minimal weight. This project has been designed with the expectation of adding autonomy to the vehicle.
Rapid changes of nucleotide excision repair gene expression following UV-irradiation and cisplatin treatment of Dictyostelium discoideum

Organisms use different mechanisms to detect and repair different types of DNA damage, and different species vary in their sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum has long been recognized for its unusual resistance to UV and ionizing radiation. We have recently cloned three nucleotide excision repair (NER) genes from Dictyostelium , the rep B, D and E genes (the homologs of the human xeroderma pigmentosum group B, D and E genes, respectively). Each of these genes has a unique pattern of expression during the multicellular development of this organism. We have now examined the response of these genes to DNA damage. The rep B and D DNA helicase genes are rapidly and transiently induced in a dose dependent manner following exposure to both UV-light and the widely used chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Interestingly, the rep E mRNA level is repressed by UV but not by cisplatin, implying unique signal transduction pathways for recognizing and repairing different types of damage. Cells from all stages of growth and development display the same pattern of NER gene expression following exposure to UV-light. These results suggest that the response to UV is independent of DNA replication, and that all the factors necessary for rapid transcription of these NER genes are either stable throughout development, or are continuously synthesized. It is significant that the up-regulation of the rep B and D genes in response to UV and chemical damage has not been observed to occur in cells from other species. We suggest that this rapid expression of NER genes is at least in part responsible for the unusual resistance of Dictyostelium to DNA damage.
Response to “Comments on ‘Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity’”

We appreciate Drs Onal, Saltali, and Apiliogullari1 discovering this error in Table 1 of our article.2 In producing Table 1, we indeed made the oversight of classifying articaine as an ester local anesthetic. Ironically, we frequently …
Breaching the gut-vascular barrier

The intestinal barrier plays a critical role in health and disease by limiting systemic dissemination of microbes and toxins while allowing nutrients to access the circulation ( 1 ). The portal venous system ensures that substances absorbed in the intestine transit first through the liver, where they can be further metabolized and detoxified ( 2 ). Moreover, it is thought that the liver can play a role in tolerance ( 3 ). On page 830 of this issue, Spadoni et al. ( 4 ) characterize the gut-vascular barrier (GVB) and propose how bacteria can disrupt it, allowing their passage into the bloodstream and spread to the liver and spleen.
Dual Modifications Strategy to Quantify Neutral and Sialylated N-Glycans Simultaneously by MALDI-MS

Differences in ionization efficiency among neutral and sialylated glycans prevent direct quantitative comparison by their respective mass spectrometric signals. To overcome this challenge, we developed an integrated chemical strategy, Dual Reactions for Analytical Glycomics (DRAG), to quantitatively compare neutral and sialylated glycans simultaneously by MALDI-MS. Initially, two glycan samples to be compared undergo reductive amination with 2-aminobenzoic acid and 2-13[C6]-aminobenzoic acid, respectively. The different isotope-incorporated glycans are then combined and subjected to the methylamidation of the sialic acid residues in one mixture, homogenizing the ionization responses for all neutral and sialylated glycans. By this approach, the expression change of relevant glycans between two samples is proportional to the ratios of doublet signals with a static 6 Da mass difference in MALDI-MS and the change in relative abundance of any glycan within samples can also be determined. The strategy was chemi...
Safety, Efficacy, and Dosing of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 for Posterior Cervical and Cervicothoracic Instrumented Fusion With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

Background Considerable attention has focused on concerns of increased complications with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use for anterior cervical fusion, but few reports have assessed its use for posterior cervical fusions. Objective To assess the safety, efficacy, and dosing of rhBMP-2 as an adjunct for instrumented posterior cervical arthrodesis. Methods All patients treated by the senior author with posterior cervical or cervicothoracic instrumented fusion using rhBMP-2 from 2003 to 2008 with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up were included. Diagnosis, levels fused, rhBMP-2 dose, complications, and fusion were assessed. Results Fifty-three patients with a mean age of 55.7 years (range, 2-89 years) and an average follow-up of 40 months (range, 25-80 months) met inclusion criteria. Surgical indications included basilar invagination (n = 6), fracture (n = 6), atlantoaxial instability (n = 16), kyphosis/kyphoscoliosis (n = 22), osteomyelitis (n = 1), spondylolisthesis (n = 1), and cyst (n = 1). Fifteen patients had confirmed rheumatoid disease. The average rhBMP-2 dose was 1.8 mg per level, with a total of 282 levels treated (average, 5.3 levels; SD, 2.8 levels). Among 53 patients, only 2 complications (3.8%) were identified: a superficial wound infection and an adjacent-level degeneration. No cases of dysphagia or neck swelling requiring treatment were identified. At the last follow-up, all patients had achieved fusion. Conclusion Despite many of the patients in the present series having complex pathology and/or rheumatoid arthritis, a 100% fusion rate was achieved. Collectively, these data suggest that use of rhBMP-2 as an adjunct for posterior cervical fusion is safe and effective at an average dose of 1.8 mg per level.
129 HYPERCALCEMIA IN END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE: JANUS'S WISDOM INVOKED!

Introduction End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have hyperplastic hyperparathyroid glands. We present a case where administration of calcimimetics unmasked underlying autonomous parathyroids. Case A 43 yo male with ESRD on hemodialysis for 15 years, s/p transplant, was admitted for evaluation of symptomatic hypercalcemia. Over the last 10 months, his biointact parathyroid hormone levels (biPTH) ranged between 500 and 600 (80-160 pg/mL). Five months prior to admission, he had been started on cinacalcet and paricalcitol. Since then, his calcium and phosphorus ranged between 9.9 and 11.9 and 5.3 and 7.7 mg/dL, respectively, with elevated biPTH. Labs on admission (post hemodialysis) were Ca 14.8 mg/dL, phos 5.8 mg/dL, alk phos 96 U/L, and albumin 3.1 mg/dL. With a possibility of drug-induced hypercalcemia the above-mentioned medications and calcium acetate were stopped. Other data obtained were intact PTH 451 (iPTH 8-74 pg/mL), PTHrP Discussion Vitamin D analogues and cinacalcet have been approved for the management of hyperparathyroidism in ESRD. The persistence of an elevated PTH, in spite of calcimimetics, should raise suspicion of an autonomous change. A fifth parathyroid gland is present in 3-5% of the population. This should always be suspected when PTH fails to fall in spite of removal of an adenoma or in the presence of normal-sized glands.
Body MR angiography: a surgeon's perspective.

SUMMARY The vascular surgeon requires information regarding disease processes in various anatomic sites within diverse clinical scenarios. Basic tenets, however, apply to the surgeon's perspective on vascular disease. These tenets include assessing normal and abnormal arterial anatomy, identifying the inflow and outflow vessels around the lesion in question, and defining the type of pathology by looking at the morphology of the lesion or pattern of lesions angiographically. The advantages of MR angiography are clear. Significant disadvantages still exist, however. Each anatomic segment requires different MR imaging techniques to minimize artifacts, as outlined elsewhere in this issue. To date metallic artifact from stents and surgical clips remains problematic. Many patients undergoing evaluation for vascular surgery have already had a prior surgical procedure, and MR angiography may be suboptimal for evaluation of a previously operated (or stented) site with metallic clips in place. 5 Patient compliance must be considered when dealing with the atherosclerotic age group. Long examination times, claustrophobia, and cognitive problems may prevent acquisition of a complete study. Pulse sequence and software development allow the MR angiographer to construct images with ever-improving clarity. The angiographer must provide the vascular surgeon with data that will not only aid in diagnosis, but also permit proper planning of therapy. This requires a thorough understanding of the various treatment options. Direct communication between the vascular surgeon and the radiologist will greatly enhance the clinical utility of imaging and provide the patient with optimal care.
A qualitative study of stress and coping when transitioning to adulthood with autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACTThe transition into adulthood can be stressful and challenging for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their caregivers. Few studies have examined the perspectives of adolescents with ASD and their caregivers during the transition to adulthood. This qualitative study utilized the method of four focus groups with 19 caregivers and 13 adolescents with ASD. Main themes of stress reported by participants included encountering challenges in accessing services, difficulties with adapting to transition changes and managing multiple responsibilities, and vocation and higher education challenges. Main themes of coping reported by participants included accessing support from community services, receiving support from family, friends, and teachers, and seeking opportunities for self-determination. These findings provide insight into adolescent and caregiver perceptions of the challenges they face when youth transition to adulthood with ASD, along with resources and coping strategies they have...
Current approaches to infertility.

Before undertaking the expense and rigor of an infertility workup, the primary physician should first determine that a couple does indeed have a fertility problem. Elements of an infertility workup, should it be appropriate, are outlined and evaluated.
Low Birth Weight and Attention Deficit Disorder

The relation of low birth weight to the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was determined in a population-based sample of 1,480 twin pairs ascertained from the Swedish twin registry in the period 1985-1986.
Against Wind and Tide: The African American Struggle Against the Colonization Movement. By Ousmane K. Power-Greene. (New York, NY: New York University Press, 2014. Pp. xxi, 245. $40.00.)

For an organization that proved to be a dismal failure in practice, as well as one whose goals managed only to unite its disparate opponents of northern blacks and southern planters, the American C...
Modeling of Surface Scattering in the Monte Carlo Simulation of Short Channel MOSFET

This paper presents a Monte Carlo calculation of electron transport in the silicon inversion layer. The simulation results using both quantum mechanical model and classical diffusive model are given. For the former, the model used for simulation is the same as used by Ferry. The results are compared with those of Ferry and the data of Fang and Fowler. For the latter, the classical partial diffusive model is employed for the surface scattering. The critical angle separating specular from diffusive scattering is determined from the experimental data. A good agreement with the data of Cooper and Nelson is obtained for the velocity -field curve over a wide range of field intensity. The application of these models to the MOSFET device structure will be discussed briefly.
Anti-tumor effect of a series of engineered peptides in N-MYC amplified Neuroblastoma.

e21013 Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric tumor of neural crest origin. Patients who have N-MYC amplified tumors that respond sub optimally to initial therapies have poor outcomes with 3...
On the use of deep learning techniques for electromagnetic inverse problems

We present a deep learning approach to capture coherent light propagation through free space and invert it so as to obtain images of phase objects from the scattered intensity. The method seems to generalize well even when trained on specific databases, e.g. of faces.
Ritual brotherhood in renaissance Florence

(1984). Ritual brotherhood in renaissance Florence. History of European Ideas: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 457-459.
Funcionalista, determinista e reducionista: o feminismo da reprodução social e seus críticos

A nocao de reproducao social articulada pelo feminismo marxista, no interior de uma teoria unitaria da opressao de genero e do capitalismo, foi acusada no passado de ser ou funcionalista ou economica e biologicamente determinista. Essas acusacoes baseiam-se em uma incompreensao fundamental das nocoes marxistas de producao e de reproducao e de um entendimento reifi cado do que a sociedade capitalista e. Ademais, frequentemente aquelas que criticaram a compreensao feminista marxista de reproducao social nao foram capazes de oferecer uma alternativa solida e acabaram em impasses teoricos ainda maiores, particularmente exemplifi cados pelas teorias dos sistemas duplos e triplos. No sentido contrario, a nocao de reproducao social tem o potencial de evitar esses impasses, enquanto concomitantemente sugere uma perspectiva nao-reducionista do modo capitalista de producao: aquele no qual o capital nao e considerado como o sujeito de um processo estritamente “economico”
Voluntary wheel running increases satellite cell abundance and improves recovery from disuse in gastrocnemius muscles from mice.

Although satellite cell involvement in muscle remodeling has been challenged, the data in this study suggest that voluntary wheel running increased satellite cell activity and suppressed Yes-associ...
Deficient neurotrophic factors of CSPG4-type neural cell exosomes in Alzheimer disease.

Exosomes derived from chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) 4 type neural precursor cells (CSPG4Es) were purified from human plasma by sequential immunoabsorption with anti-CSPG4 and anti–platele...
Electric Propulsion Architecture Assessment via Signomial Programming

This paper presents the application of signomial programming to the assessment and multidisciplinary optimization of electric propulsion systems. Analytic models for electrical and mechanical propulsion system components are developed that are compatible with the signo-mial programming objective and constraint forms. These models capture the dependence of mass and efficiency on material properties and operating conditions. Standalone optimization of the electrical cable and motor model illustrates a trade-off between mass and efficiency at the component level. These component models are subsequently integrated into various propulsion architectures and are optimized while taking into account the component dependencies (e.g., fan and motor shaft speed). Specifically, turbofan, turboelectric and geared turboelectric propulsion architectures are optimized on the metrics of fuel consumption and propulsion system mass. The results show that the optimal component masses and efficiencies depend on the propulsion architecture, operating point, and performance metric under consideration, and that signomial programming is useful for determining them.
Analyses of Transient and Time-Varying Evoked Potentials for Detection of Brain Injury

In clinical situations, such as high-risk surgical or neurological critical care, evoked potential (EP) monitoring may help identify incidence of brain injury. Experimental models of brain injury, such as cerebral hypoxia or ischemia, have been created to help understand the cerebral physiology and to develop algorithms to detect such events. The problem here is to identify transient or time-varying changes in EP signals during continuous monitoring of brain in noisy environments. Several signal processing techniques have been developed to identify injury-related changes in EP signals: adaptive filtering, adaptive Fourier series modeling, adaptive delay estimation and adaptive coherence estimation. The adaptive filtering algorithm analyzes time-varying changes in EP signals while improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Application of this algorithm helped capture, in controlled experimental studies and intraoperatively, transient events such as clipping of cerebral artery and response to anesthetics, respectively. The adaptive Fourier series modeling algorithm constructs a model of normal EP signal from which injury-related changes can be inferred. This algorithm showed that neurological injury, such as caused by cerebral hypoxia, results in frequency dispersion; this observation may be used as an early indicator of brain injury in critical care settings. The adaptive coherence estimation algorithm is employed to determine if the injury-related response causes nonlinear transformation of the measured signals. A linearity index, derived from the coherence estimates, helps identify at an early stage the irreversible course of brain injury. In conclusion, several advanced signal processing algorithms have been developed to demonstrate that transient and time-varying changes in neurological signals can be used to monitor the brain’s response to injury in critical care situations.
Proteolytic Cleavage of Host Proteins by the Group IV Viral Proteases of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus and Zika Virus

The alphaviral nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) cysteine proteases (EC 3.4.22.-) are essential for the proteolytic processing of the nonstructural (ns) polyprotein and are validated drug targets. A common secondary role of these proteases is to antagonize the effects of interferon (IFN). After delineating the cleavage site motif of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) nsP2 cysteine protease, we searched the human genome to identify host protein substrates. Here we identify a new host substrate of the VEEV nsP2 protease, human TRIM14, a component of the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) signalosome. Short stretches of homologous host-pathogen protein sequences (SSHHPS) are present in the nonstructural polyprotein and TRIM14. A 25-residue cyan-yellow fluorescent protein TRIM14 substrate was cleaved in vitro by the VEEV nsP2 protease and the cleavage site was confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. A TRIM14 cleavage product also was found in VEEV-infected cell lysates. At least ten other Group IV (+)ssRNA viral proteases have been shown to cleave host proteins involved in generating the innate immune responses against viruses, suggesting that the integration of these short host protein sequences into the viral protease cleavage sites may represent an embedded mechanism of IFN antagonism. This interference mechanism shows several parallels with those of CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi/RISC, but with a protease recognizing a protein sequence common to both the host and pathogen. The short host sequences embedded within the viral genome appear to be analogous to the short phage sequences found in a host's CRISPR spacer sequences. To test this algorithm, we applied it to another Group IV virus, Zika virus (ZIKV), and identified cleavage sites within human SFRP1 (secreted frizzled related protein 1), a retinal Gs alpha subunit, NT5M, and Forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1) in vitro. Proteolytic cleavage of these proteins suggests a possible link between the protease and the virus-induced phenotype of ZIKV. The algorithm may have value for selecting cell lines and animal models that recapitulate virus-induced phenotypes, predicting host-range and susceptibility, selecting oncolytic viruses, identifying biomarkers, and de-risking live virus vaccines. Inhibitors of the proteases that utilize this mechanism may both inhibit viral replication and alleviate suppression of the innate immune responses.
On Mathematical Ways of Knowing

Mathematics is one of the ways our species makes sense of this world and I believe that it is inherent in our thinking machinery. The mathematics we do in turn is dependent on the way we view our universe and ourselves. Lakoff and Nunez [17] argue carefully and eloquently for a mathematics inherently based on human cognition. In this note I attempt to engage with the construct of mathematical cognition through the lens of humanistic mathematics.
Social Network Disagreement and Reasoned Candidate Preferences

This study investigates the effects of social network disagreement on candidate preferences. Although much research has explored the effects of disagreement on political tolerance and disengagement...