cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vision physiology applied to hyperspectral short wave infrared imaging

The hyperspectral space consisting of narrow spectral bands is neither an optimal nor an orthogonal feature space when identifying objects. In this paper we consider a means of reducing hyperspectral feature space to a multispectral feature space that is orthogonal and optimal for separation of the objects from background. The motivation for this work is derived from the fact that the retina of the human eye uses only four broad and overlapping spectral response functions and yet it is optimal for detecting objects of multifarious colors in the visible region. In this paper we explore using spectral response functions for the Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) region that are not sharp, but broad and overlapping and even more complex than those found in the retina for the visible region. Treating the measured intensities of the narrow spectral bands as feature vectors of the object of interest, we calculate a new vector space which effectively is a weighted average of the old space, but is optimal for separating the object from the background.
DDAVP-Induced Increase of Factor VIII Activity in Blood Is Likely Due To Release of Factor VIII That Is Synthesized by Endothelial Cells.

Desmopressin (1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, DDAVP) is commonly used as a nonreplacement therapy for mild von Willebrand disease (VWD) and hemophilia A. In humans, IV injection of 0.3 μg/kg of DDAVP induces a rapid 2 to 5-fold increase in plasma levels of both von Willebrand factor (VWF) and Factor VIII (FVIII) within 30–60 minutes, which is due to release from Wiebel-Palade bodies (WPBs) in endothelial cells. The stored FVIII may be synthesized by endothelial cells, which express FVIII in vitro . However, hepatoma cells can also express FVIII in vitro , and liver transplantation can correct hemophilia A. Thus, the liver may be the major site of production of FVIII in vivo , thus, an alternative explanation is that endothelial cells take up FVIII from blood and store it in WPBs with VWF, which can be released after DDAVP. DDAVP is effective in humans and dogs, but not in mice. In this study, we tested the effect of DDAVP on hemophilia A dogs after neonatal hepatic gene therapy with a retroviral vector (RV) expressing canine FVIII (cFVIII). With this gene therapy approach, canine hepatocytes express high levels of a reporter gene from an RV, but no expression is observed in endothelial cells. Thus, the major site of FVIII synthesis is the hepatocyte in this model. Our hypothesis is that if DDAVP increases FVIII levels in this dog model, it would indicate that the FVIII increase is due to uptake from blood by endothelial cells. Alternatively, if no increase in FVIII occurs after DDAVP stimulation, it would suggest that the increase in normal dogs is due to synthesis of FVIII by endothelial cells. An RV that contains the liver-specific human α 1 -antitrypsin promoter and the canine B-domain deleted FVIII cDNA was generated. RV was given IV to two hemophilia A dogs at 8x10 9 transducing units (TU)/kg at 3 days after birth. The whole blood clotting time (WBCT) and APTT time in both dogs have been normalized, and the plasma cFVIII COATEST activity has been maintained at 100–200% of normal for 11 months to date. DDAVP was injected IV at 0.5 μg/kg into RV-treated hemophilia A dogs at 7 months of age. Two separate doses of DDAVP were given with an interval of one week. The same dose of DDAVP was given to normal dogs as controls (N=4). In normal dogs, both VWF and FVIII levels increased 40% and 50% between 15 to 60 minutes after DDAVP, respectively. However, FVIII levels were not changed in RV-treated dogs, although VWF levels increased 150% or 60%. Thus, our data suggest that the normal FVIII increase after DDAVP administration is due to release of FVIII that is synthesized by endothelial cells. These data also demonstrate that DDAVP will not be effective at increasing FVIII activity in patients that receive liver-directed gene therapy and only achieve partial correction. Such patients would need to be treated with factor replacement if bleeding episodes occur.
Granulocytes Infiltrate The Intestine In a Zebrafish Model Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition in which lymphocytes and neutrophils infiltrate the intestine, stimulate the production of various inflammatory cytokines, and injure the intestinal mucosa. Because of the conserved aspects of hematopoiesis in the zebrafish, we hypothesized that a zebrafish model of IBD would reproduce human features of the disease, while retaining desirable aspects of zebrafish disease models including small size, low cost, and ease of chemical and genetic screening. We used adult transgenic zebrafish expressing eGFP under control of a myeloperoxidase promoter (Tg(mpx:eGFP) to trace the activity of granulocytes following intrarectal injection with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), 1.6 mmole/gram body weight, or an equivalent volume of vehicle alone (30% ethanol). The zebrafish were sacrificed 6 hours' post-treatment for assessment of changes in intestinal architecture, intestinal infiltration by myeloperoxidase-positive leukocytes, and cytokine transcript levels using histology, flow cytometry, and quantitative realtime RT-PCR, respectively. At 6 hours post-treatment, we detected a mononuclear infiltrate in the intestinal mucosa and a 10-fold increase in the number of myeloperoxidase-positive leukocytes in the intestines of TNBS-treated fish vs controls (0.614%±0.202% vs. 0.052%±0.014%, p=0.0269; n=6-7 fish per group). We also observed a significant increase in the transcript levels of interleukin-1beta (6,935±2,454 AU vs 100±28 AU, p=0.0179), interleukin-8 (246 ± 63 AU vs 100 ± 21 AU, p=0.05) and interleukin-10 (385 ± 84 AU vs 100± 8 AU p=0.0055) in the intestines of fish injected with TNBS vs vehicle alone (n=9-10 fish per group). These findings resemble those seen in patients and mammalian chemical injury models of IBD. They will provide the basis for further study of the mechanisms controlling intestinal inflammation in IBD. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Investigation of Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Progenitor Populations: Implication for Cell Fate Determination and Lineage Commitment.

A thorough understanding of the lineage potential of each subset of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and progenitor populations is critical to establish an accurate map of cell fate determination during hematopoietic development. A controversy exists whether multipotentiality is conserved until a mutually exclusive segregation of myeloid and lymphoid potentials or whether early progenitor populations sequentially lose lineage potential as they differentiate from the long-term self-renewing HSC (LT-HSC), starting with loss of megakaryocyte/erythrocyte (MegE) potential. Hematopoietic cells at different developmental stages can be prospectively isolated based on a combination of cell surface phenotypes and functional assays in vitro and in vivo . However, assessment of lineage potential of cells other than LT-HSC is complicated by the progressive loss of self-renewal activity in progenitor populations and the lack of congenic surface markers on mature cells of the MegE lineage. Using sensitive in vitro and in vivo approaches, we quantitatively and kinetically assessed the MegE potential of Lineage − /c-Kit + /Sca-1 + (KLS) subsets of mouse bone marrow, including LT-HSC (Thy1.1 int /Flk-2 − ), sort-term HSC (ST-HSC F : Thy1.1 int /Flk-2 + ) and multipotent progenitor population (MPP F : Thy1.1 − /Flk-2 + ), and compared it with the MegE potential of downstream myeloid progenitors (CMP, GMP and MEP) and with their ability to give rise to mature myelomonocytic and lymphoid cells. In contrast to previous reports, we demonstrate that Flk2-positive ST-HSC F and MPP F populations have readily detectable but transient MegE potential in vivo that is more robust than committed myeloid progenitors CMP and MEP. We also show that these cells make clonal colonies in vitro and in vivo in the spleen that contained megakaryocytes and erythrocytes. Moreover, we established the kinetics of mature cell production from each stem and progenitor population, hence providing the timing of these early differentiation events in vivo that is of critical importance when investigating lineage potential. Our results demonstrate that multipotentiality is retained in the KLS “stem cell” fraction of the bone marrow and support a model of hematopoietic development with mutually exclusive segregation of myeloid and lymphoid lineage potential. Taken together with previous findings, they indicate that transition from LT-HSC to ST-HSC F and then to MPP F , is accompanied by progressive lose of self-renewal ability, increased proliferation and change in gene expression programs to prepare multipotent cells to leave the stem cell niche and undergo lineage differentiation. This model is by definition a simplification of a complex biological process but accounts for most, if not all, differentiation events, tolerates plasticity in lineage segregation at early steps of commitment and it accommodates intrinsic lineage preferences during ontogeny and aging.
Early-Onset Epileptic Encephalopathies with STXBPl Mutations

Researchers at the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, and other centers in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Melbourne, Australia, analyzed the clinical phenotypes associated with STXBPl mutations in a cohort of 106 patients with unexplained early-onset epileptic encephalopathies.
Circulatory shock in pregnant sheep. IV. Fetal and neonatal circulatory responses to hypovolemia--influence of anesthesia

Hemodynamic responses to hypovolemia were investigated in unanesthetized, unstressed fetal lambs and in acute fetal and neonatal preparations. The unstressed fetus tolerated twice the amount of blood loss of the acutely studied fetus or newborn lamb and with a lesser hypotension. Hemodynamic behavior of the newborn lamb and fetus anesthetized with pentobarbital during hypovolemia was markedly different from that of the fetus studied under spinal anesthesia or chronically. Besides tolerating greater blood loss, the unstressed fetus reversed the state of hypovolemic shock rapidly as contrasted to the stressed fetus which was unable to do so even with total blood reinfusion. All animals exhibited bradycardia in response to hypovolemia. The following conclusions were drawn: (a) cardiovascular response to hypovolemia in the perinatal period depends on the initial status of the animal, (b) the fetus tolerates a greater degree of blood loss than a newborn or adult animal, and (c) anesthesia and stress of surgery modify considerably circulatory behavior during blood loss.
95µW 802.11g/n compliant fully-integrated wake-up receiver with −72dBm sensitivity in 14nm FinFET CMOS

A 2.4GHz fully-integrated Wi-Fi compliant wake-up receiver in 14nm FinFET technology is presented. The receiver achieves −72dBm sensitivity and +20dBr adjacent channel interference rejection for 62.5kbps at 10−3 BER while consuming 95µW. The OOK-modulated wake-up packet can be transmitted using any legacy OFDM Wi-Fi transmitter.
Enterococcus faecalis Responds to Individual Exogenous Fatty Acids Independently of Their Degree of Saturation or Chain Length

Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal of the human gastrointestinal tract that can persist in the external environment and is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Given its diverse habitats, the organism has developed numerous strategies to survive a multitude of environmental conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated that E. faecalis will incorporate fatty acids from bile and serum into its membrane, resulting in an induced tolerance to membrane-damaging agents. To discern whether all fatty acids induce membrane stress protection, we examined how E. faecalis responded to individually supplied fatty acids. E. faecalis readily incorporated fatty acids 14 to 18 carbons in length into its membrane but poorly incorporated fatty acids shorter or longer than this length. Supplementation with saturated fatty acids tended to increase generation time and lead to altered cellular morphology in most cases. Further, exogenously supplied saturated fatty acids did not induce tolerance to the membrane-damaging antibiotic daptomycin. Supplementation with unsaturated fatty acids produced variable growth effects, with some impacting generation time and morphology. Exogenously supplied unsaturated fatty acids that are normally produced by E. faecalis and those that are found in bile or serum could restore growth in the presence of a fatty acid biosynthetic inhibitor. However, only the eukaryote-derived fatty acids oleic acid and linoleic acid provided protection from daptomycin. Thus, exogenous fatty acids do not lead to a common physiological effect on E. faecalis The organism responds uniquely to each, and only host-derived fatty acids induce membrane protection.IMPORTANCEEnterococcus faecalis is a commonly acquired hospital infectious agent with resistance to many antibiotics, including those that target its cellular membrane. We previously demonstrated that E. faecalis will incorporate fatty acids found in human fluids, like serum, into its cellular membrane, thereby altering its membrane composition. In turn, the organism is better able to survive membrane-damaging agents, including the antibiotic daptomycin. We examined fatty acids commonly found in serum and those normally produced by E. faecalis to determine which fatty acids can induce protection from membrane damage. Supplementation with individual fatty acids produced a myriad of different effects on cellular growth, morphology, and stress response. However, only host-derived unsaturated fatty acids provided stress protection. Future studies are aimed at understanding how these specific fatty acids induce protection from membrane damage.
A Critical Role of Ser26 Hydrogen Bonding in Aβ42 Assembly and Toxicity

Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) assembly is a seminal process in Alzheimer’s disease. Elucidating the mechanistic features of this process is thought to be vital for the design and targeting of therapeutic agents. Computational studies of the most pathologic form of Aβ, the 42-residue Aβ42 peptide, have suggested that hydrogen bonding involving Ser26 may be particularly important in organizing a monomer folding nucleus and in subsequent peptide assembly. To study this question, we experimentally determined structure–activity relationships among Aβ42 peptides in which Ser26 was replaced with Gly, Ala, α-aminobutryic acid (Abu), or Cys. We observed that aliphatic substitutions (Ala and Abu) produced substantially increased rates of formation of β-sheet, hydrophobic surface, and fibrils, and higher levels of cellular toxicity. Replacement of the Ser hydroxyl group with a sulfhydryl moiety (Cys) did not have these effects. Instead, this peptide behaved like native Aβ42, even though the hydropathy of Cys was similar to...
Effects of Maharishi Yoga Asanas on Mood States, Happiness, and Experiences during Meditation.

Context/Background: Many studies showed positive effects of Yoga Asanas. There is no study on Maharishi Yoga Asanas yet. This research replicated and expanded observed improvements on the profile of mood states (POMS) as a result of 2-week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course. Thirteen college students taking part in a 4-week course on Maharishi Yoga Asanas were matched with 13 students taking other courses at the university. Aims and Objective: The main objective of the study was to assess the effects of Maharishi Yoga Asanas on mood states, degree of happiness, and experiences in Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice. Methods: All students were given two psychological tests and additional question before and after their 4-week course: POMS, Meditation Depth Questionnaire, and question about the degree of happiness. Results: Repeated measure MANOVA showed the 4-week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course resulted in significant increase in happiness during the day and significant improvements in (1) sense of personal self, (2) transpersonal qualities, and (3) transpersonal self during their TM practice. Conclusion: This research shows that Maharishi Yoga Asanas affect more than body and mind. Rather they influence much deeper levels of one's subjectivity including one's transpersonal self.
Value-Based Healthcare Purchasing

The US healthcare system is undergoing a value-based transformation. Value-based purchasing is a demand-side strategy to reward quality in healthcare delivery. The opportunities and challenges involved in value-based transformation are real and substantial. The scope of transformation of the US healthcare system includes all healthcare providers, healthcare systems, consumers, and healthcare educational institutions.
DEL1 protects against chondrocyte apoptosis through integrin binding.

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease process, affecting mobility and overall health of millions. Current treatment is for symptomatic relief and discovery of approaches to halt or reverse damage is imperative. Deletion of developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del1) has been shown to increase severity of OA in knockout mice. We examined the intracellular pathways involved in the ability of DEL1 to protect chondrocytes from apoptosis and anoikis and hypothesized that it functioned via integrin signaling. Materials and methods Primary human chondrocytes were treated with various inducers of apoptosis, including anoikis, in the presence of added DEL1 or bovine serum albumin as control. Various inhibitors of integrin binding were examined for their effect on DEL1 activity. Downstream signaling pathway components were detected by immunoblotting. Results The addition of DEL1 protected chondrocytes from multiple inducers of apoptosis as measured by cell survival, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and caspase 3/7 assays (P Conclusions DEL1 protected chondrocytes from apoptosis in response to activators of either the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways, and to anoikis. This effect was mediated primarily through integrin αVβ3. This represents a therapeutic target for therapies to prevent cartilage degeneration in OA.
1.28 Fluorinated Biomaterials

Fluorinated biomaterials have interesting properties attractive for their application in several biomaterials and biotechnology niches. Biomedical grade solids and liquids are commercially available. These biomaterials are central to vascular grafts and hemodialysis access, hernia repair, and medical tubing essential to catheters. Intrinsically expensive materials, fluoropolymers have been recognized for their chemical stability and unique interfacial properties with biological fluids and cellular components. Fluorinated materials, coatings, and films all interact strongly with biological milieu proteins, creating adherent protein layers that govern further biomaterials performance. This property is exploited in biotechnology of blotting membranes and in preclotted cardiovascular implants. Perfluoropolymers have difficult processing challenges, but unique specialized fabrication methods exploit qualities in certain fluorinated materials, including bulk mechanical processing for creation of microporous perfluoropolymer meshes and fabrics, and high-precision size-tolerance in making fluorinated medical tubing and multilumen catheters. Perfluorofluids have limited volatility, high density, high gas solubility, insolubility with aqueous milieu and emulsified stability, and low toxicity in human tissue, which are attractive characteristics for imaging and oxygen/drug delivery capacities. Fluorinated solids are not generally mechanically useful because of their tendency to cold flow under shear stress. In addition to chemical and physical characteristics, numerous biomedical applications for fluorinated materials are described.
Organizational readiness for implementation of Supply Chain Analytics

Supply chains today are amassed with data. To remain competitive in a global economy, supply chain organizations need to constantly derive meaningful information from this plethora of data and make critical business decisions. This process is referred to as Supply Chain Analytics (SCA). This paper attempts to measure the readiness of organizations to implement Business Analytics (BA) – a more generic form of SCA. In this paper, we present a framework to assess the organizational readiness to implement SCA. This framework classifies SCA implementation issues in four board categories – data standardization and integration requirements, infrastructure requirements, technical and non-technical requirements, and organizational culture and strategic requirements. We report the results of a study of 112 respondents in 7 countries from various industries and professional backgrounds.
Synthesis of Saturated Tetrahydropyrans

Tetrahydropyran (THP) rings are important motifs in biologically active molecules. This review presents common strategies for THP synthesis based on typical retrosynthetic disconnections. General mechanistic and stereochemical considerations for each disconnection are included. The various strategies related to THP ring formation are discussed in the context of natural product synthesis.
PD Control of Closed-Chain Mechanical Systems: An Experimental Study

Abstract In this paper, we briefly review recent results by the authors on the formulation of the equations of motion of closed-chain mechanisms and the development of PD control strategies with guaranteed Lyapunov asymptotic stability. We then introduce and derive the equations of motion of the Rice Planar Delta Robot which was designed and built at Rice University as a test bed to perform control experiments for closed-chain mechanisms. Finally, we present simulation as well as experimental results to illustrate the successful application of PD plus simple gravity control strategy for this class of dynamical systems.
Surgical simulation of a catastrophic internal carotid artery injury: a laser-sintered model.

BACKGROUND The catastrophic and rare nature of an internal carotid artery (ICA) injury during endonasal surgery limits training opportunities. Cadaveric and animal simulation models have been proposed, but expense and complicated logistics have limited their adoption. Three-dimensional (3D) printed models are portable, modular, reusable, less costly, and proven to improve psychomotor skills required for managing different lesions. In this study we evaluate the role of a simplified laser-sintered model combined with standardized training in improving the effectiveness of managing an ICA injury endoscopically. METHODS A 3-mm defect was created in the parasellar carotid canal of a laser-sintered model representing a sphenoid sinus. Artificial blood was directed to simulate the copious bleeding arising from an ICA injury. Twenty otolaryngologists and 26 neurosurgeons, with varying training and experience levels, were individually asked to stop the "bleeding" as they would in a clinical scenario, and provided no other instructions. This was followed by individualized formative training and a second simulation. Volume of blood loss, time to hemostasis, and self-assessed confidence scores were compared. RESULTS At the end of the study, time to hemostasis was reduced from 105.49 seconds to 40.41 seconds (p < 0.001). The volume of blood loss was reduced from 690 to 272 mL (p < 0.001), and the confidence scores increased in 95.7% of participants, from an average of 3 up to 8. CONCLUSION This ICA injury model, along with a formal training algorithm, appears to be valuable, realistic, portable, and cost-effective. Significant improvement in all parameters suggests the acquisition of psychomotor skills required to control an ICA injury.
Motivated gratitude and the need to belong: Social exclusion increases gratitude for people low in trait entitlement

Three studies examined effects of social exclusion on reactions to receiving an unexpected gift. Trait Psychological Entitlement was also measured as a potential moderator in all studies. In Study 1, participants wrote about a time they felt rejected, accepted, or something neutral. Compared to the control condition, social exclusion increased self-reported gratitude and observer-rated gratitude. These effects were found among people scoring low on narcissistic entitlement. For these participants also, social rejection increased perception of the benefactor’s warmth, and this increase in perceived warmth mediated the increase in gratitude. Study 2 measured trait need to belong (rather than manipulating it via social rejection) and found similar results: participants low in trait entitlement and high in trait need to belong had higher levels of gratitude than those low in trait need to belong. In Study 3 some participants underwent a peer rejection manipulation. Upon receiving a gift, rejected participants low in entitlement were more grateful (according to self and observer ratings) and engaged in more prosocial behavior than nonrejected participants. The main conclusion is that, among people low in entitlement, social rejection stimulates a heightened desire for social connection, which moves them to functionally project warm intentions onto a benefactor, which in turn makes them more grateful.
Adaption of microarray primers for iron transport and homeostasis gene expression in Pseudomonas fluorescens exposed to nano iron

Abstract Modified protocols were adapted for PCR and culture based methods for the analysis of Pseudomonas fluorescens cells exposed to nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) and iron (Fe) in bacterial growth nutrient media was determined by a modified atomic absorption spectrometric (AAS) analysis method. We adapted sets of microarray primers used to quantify gene expression of pvdS and a bacterioferritin-associated ferredoxin gene for use in real-time quantitative reverse transcription (qRT-PCR) analysis. pvdS is one of a cluster of genes regulating the synthesis of the siderophore pyoverdine that was also measured using chrome azrul S (CAS) plates. • The current protocol provides a detailed qRT-PCR method for quantifying genes involved in the acquisition and utilization of Fe in P. fluorescens cells exposed to NZVI. • The qRT-PCR results were independently corroborated with 2 culture based methods, growth curves and chrome azurol S (CAS) plate. • The modified AAS method was used to measure Fe in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) medium where sodium (Na) causes inference in iron measurement.
Efficient quantum state estimation by continuous weak measurement and dynamical control

We present a procedure for reconstructing the full quantum state of an individual spin based upon an ensemble continuous measurement. We present a demonstration of this procedure using a laser probe of ultracold cesium atoms.
Proteomic Analysis Reveals Intrinsic Differences between Phenotypically Identical Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Abstract We have previously reported the isolation of Stro-1+, CD45-, GlyA-human MSC from human bone marrow (BM), liver (LV), and brain (BR). Despite their similar morphology and phenotype, these cells, upon in vivo transplantation into the pre-immune fetal sheep model, seemed to differentiate more efficiently into cells of their tissue of origin. For instance, all 3 sources of MSC gave rise to blood, with average levels of human CD45+ cells in chimeric animals of 8.7% for LVMSC, 3.3% for BRMSC, and 4.5%for BMMSC. Human neural cells were also detected in the brain of transplanted animals with the highest levels obtained with BRMSC (1.33%) and lowest with LVMSC (0.4%). However, BRMSC generated very few human hepatocytes (2–10 hepatocytes/section), while both LVMSC and BMMSC gave rise to much higher levels of hepatocytes. This led us to hypothesize that despite the similar phenotype, the proteome makeup of MSC from different tissues may be distinct. To test this hypothesis, we examined the commonalities and differences in the protein repertoire of cultured MSC from these 3 different sources. The eighty most prominent protein spots from the 2-D gel of each cell population were removed and identified by MOLDI-TOF/TOF mass spectroscopy after Trypsin digestion. Our results demonstrate that there are a large number of common proteins between the LV, BM and BR MSC (> 75%). Besides the cytoskeletal and associative proteins such as Vimentin, β-actin, cofilin, Tropomyosin and Lamin A/C, the cells contained a large quantity of proteins for protein processing such as Cyclophilin A, Endoplasmic reticulum protein ERp29, Disulfide-isomerase ER60 and Glucose-regulated proteins 75 and 78, which may be important for the broad differentiative potential of MSC. Despite these similarities, forty percent of the identified proteins showed significantly different expression levels between the three types of cells (> 300%), the majority of which were not proteins previously shown to be BM-, Liver or Brain-specific. Interestingly, however, LV-derived cells contained a 5-fold greater concentration of Albumin than BM or Brain cells, which may explain their greater tendency to form liver tissue in vivo. Likewise, since BMMSC were enriched in smooth muscle associated proteins, potentially they may constitute a better source to be used for muscle repair. Thus, the definition of the different MSC proteomes can lead not only to the discover of critical differences involved in differentiation/plasticit into different cell fates, but may also help us to identify distinct cell populations that are ideally suited for cell therapies for specific organs.
Voltage Regulation of DC-Microgrid with PV and Battery: A Passivity Method

Abstract This paper presents voltage regulation and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control schemes for a class of DC-microgrids. The DC-microgrid under consideration consists of a photovoltaic (PV) panel, battery, along with constant resistance and constant power loads. In this study, a dynamic model of the DC-microgrid system is derived and described by a multi-input and multi-output nonlinear system with non-affine inputs. Based on the nonlinear model thus built, we design nonlinear controllers that globally regulate voltages to prescribe set points and maximize the power output from PV by virtue of passivity and Lyapunov stability. The effectiveness of the proposed control schemes is validated by simulations.
Vitamin C Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Forgotten Micronutrient.

Background Micronutrient deficiencies are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To date, the literature has focused on vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron deficiencies. Methods We report a case series of 20 patients with IBD and vitamin C deficiency treated at a single tertiary care center. Results Sixteen (80%) patients had symptoms of clinical scurvy, including arthralgia, dry brittle hair, pigmented rash, gingivitis, easy bruising, and/or brittle nails. Eighteen patients underwent a nutritional assessment, 10 (56%) patients reported complete avoidance of fruits and vegetables, and 3 (17%) reported reduced intake of fruits and vegetables. Conclusions Vitamin C deficiency should be considered in IBD patients, particularly those with reduced fruit/vegetable intake, as it can lead to significant signs and symptoms.
Shadow ILL Services: How Scholarly Pirate Websites and Hacking Affect ILL

Full-text research pirating sites are a fact of life at this point. Regardless of how we personally feel about this issue, the fact that students, researchers, and patrons are turning away from the...
Originalism is a Successful Theory (In Part) Because of its Complexity: A Response to Professor D.A. Jeremy Telman, The Structure of Interpretative Revolutions

Professor Telman’s review of Originalism’s Promise: A Natural Law Account of the American Constitution is thoughtful — it identifies positive contributions made by Originalism’s Promise and offers pointed criticisms where Professor Telman believes its arguments fall short. Professor Telman’s review is also an excellent example of the genre because it goes further and argues that Originalism’s Promise is itself a manifestation of originalism’s dire predicament, in Professor Telman’s view, its “crisis.” Professor Telman’s review continues his scholarly engagement with originalism, and originalism is the better for it. In addition to the many and variety of particular criticisms Professor Telman lodges against Originalism’s Promise, three fundamental and inter-related critiques underlay much of his evaluation. First, Professor Telman claims that my conception of originalism does not adequately acknowledge or deal with stubborn constitutional indeterminacy. Second, he contends that the Constitutional Communication Model of originalism is too thin because it hews to a middle-road among different conceptions of originalism and this opens it up to “ideologically-driven and outcome-determinative” use. Third, Professor Telman asserts that Originalism’s Promise works so hard to force the theory to fit (a fundamentally nonoriginalist or eclectic) American constitutional practice that it exemplifies how originalism is fracturing under its complex intellectual “appendages.” In this brief Response, I focus my remarks on these three fundamental contentions and argue that Originalism’s Promise is an example of a complex theory successfully grappling with the complex phenomenon it is attempting to explain. Its embrace of constitutional construction (with its premise of constitutional underdeterminacy) is a powerful example of the theory better fitting constitutional practice while, at the same time, becoming more complex. Originalism’s Promise navigates contemporary originalist scholarship and charts a path that incorporates (what is, to my lights) the best of the extant literature. This too, makes the theory more complex. I then argue that Originalism’s Promise exemplifies the complexity that any successful intellectual account of a complex phenomenon, like American constitutional practice, must possess in order to be persuasive to educated audiences. After briefly addressing Professor Telman’s post-originalist paradigm claim, in the last part, I address the most important of Professor Telman’s particular criticisms.
Coronavirus Disease 2019’s Shake-up of Telehealth Policy: Application of Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework

Abstract Providing care by telehealth has been an aspiration for many health care practices. However, regulatory barriers often prevented its implementation. The emergence of the COVID-19 virus provided a window of opportunity for federal policy change in telehealth during a national state of emergency. Telehealth policy is examined using Kingdon’s multiple streams (policy) framework.
Use of patient navigators to increase HPV vaccination rates in a pediatric clinical population

Abstract A patient navigator (PN) program was implemented in pediatric clinics to increase uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of this program. All visits between April 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017 for 9–17 year old patients at 3 program and 5 non-program clinics were examined using electronic medical records. These dates included patient visits before and after program initiation (February 1, 2015). Visits including 1 dose of the HPV vaccine were assessed as a proportion of total visits for each month. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to examine the odds of HPV vaccination across time, between program and non-program clinics, and age group. A total of 128,051 visits by 21,395 patients were examined. HPV vaccines were administered during 12,742 visits (10.0%). Odds of HPV vaccination during visits by 13–17 year olds was greater than during visits by 9–12 year olds in the pre-intervention period (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.19). However, this association changed during the intervention period, with odds of HPV vaccination among visits by 13–17 year olds lower compared to visits by 9–12 year olds (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.75–0.82). The odds of HPV vaccination were elevated among 9–12 year olds in program clinics as compared to 2014, the year before the program was implemented. Having on-site PNs can increase the frequency of HPV vaccination in pediatric clinics, particularly among patients 9–12 years of age.
Racial/ethnic differences in holding a retirement saving motive: A decomposition analysis

Establishing a retirement goal facilitates one's long‐term financial planning behavior. Yet, the portion of U.S. households who achieve this goal is relatively small. Further, the percentage is much lower among racial and ethnic minorities. This study investigates racial/ethnic disparities in motives for holding a retirement savings and contributing factors to explain the gaps. Results from the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) indicate that White respondents were more likely to hold a retirement saving motive than were other racial/ethnic groups, even after controlling for various socio‐economic characteristics. Decomposition analysis shows that homeownership, objective financial knowledge, planning horizon, and age were the most important determinants that explain the racial/ethnic gap in withholding a retirement saving motive. This study provides evidence in support of the importance of tailored educational interventions among racial/ethnic groups.
Motion-Based Handwriting Recognition and Word Reconstruction.

In this project, we leverage a trained single-letter classifier to predict the written word from a continuously written word sequence, by designing a word reconstruction pipeline consisting of a dynamic-programming algorithm and an auto-correction model. We conduct experiments to optimize models in this pipeline, then employ domain adaptation to explore using this pipeline on unseen data distributions.
Expectant Management of Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia in Late Preterm Pregnancy and Subsequent Cholecystitis: Lessons Learned

Introduction Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020, research and guidance have been published with regard to the management of infection and considerations in pregnancy, but much is still unknown. Pregnant women with COVID-19 infection are more likely to be hospitalized and are at increased risk for intensive care unit admissions and intubation than nonpregnant women with COVID-19 infection. The optimal timing of delivery among pregnant women with COVID-19 infection has not been established at this time, especially when the infection arises in late preterm and early term gestation. It is suggested that COVID-19 infection should not be considered a sole indication for delivery. The risks and benefits of prolonging pregnancy versus delivery should be taken into consideration at any given gestational age in a patient with COVID-19 infection. Case Report We report a case of a patient in the late third trimester of pregnancy that presented with severe COVID-19 infection and was managed expectantly through her disease course with improvement of respiratory status without necessitating delivery. We also discuss the unique development of cholecystitis in her hospitalization that may represent another clinical association to COVID-19 infection. Conclusion This case illustrates that delaying delivery is an option even in later gestational ages for maternal stabilization. A multidisciplinary approach and teamwork is needed to manage pregnant women with COVID-19 infection for optimal outcomes for both mother and fetus. Key Points
Power and Regimes of Truth

This chapter first develops a Foucauldian theory of power, then applies it to analyze the apparatus that controls the operation of the truth predicate within the social fabric—what Foucault calls the regime of truth. Throughout, I focus on how the operation of power on the functioning of the word “true” within a social fabric beset with inequity and oppression is distinct from truth itself. Whether a sentence is true or false is not decided by the operation of power. Truth itself is not the product of power. But our social epistemic fabric is strongly influenced by power, to the point where political struggle for control over the social epistemic apparatus that controls the operation of the truth predicate cannot be disentangled from our epistemic struggle to generate knowledge of the truth, especially where the truth concerns systems of oppression.
Posters as a Library Resource:: The International Poster Collection at Colorado State University

Posters are not commonly acquisitioned by libraries because they cannot be processed, cataloged and stored in a way books and journals are, and unlike printed text are not viewed as an information commodity. In an informal survey of ARL libraries, only the Library of Congress defined the role of posters as an important component of its collecting activities. At Colorado State University, an international poster exhibition occurs biennially which is the only one of its kind in the United States, and posters from exhibitions since 1991 are given to the university library. The library developed a descriptive record of the posters and digitized the images on to compact disks. With catalog, storage, and imaging technology now in place, the posters are valuable as a library resource because they encompass many disciplines of university study and serve as a commentary on our culture.
Rotation about an arbitrary axis

Rotation matrices are one of the first topics covered in introductory graphics courses, and yet the details of arbitrary rotation matrices often get swept under the rug due to their complexity. This CGEM presents a direct, constructive derivation of the matrix for a rotation about an arbitrary axis, enhanced with animations that help build intuition for the calculation. The details of this derivation can be described in an intuitive manner that builds on the procedure for calculating the matrices for rotations about the coordinate axes. This treatment is suitable for use as a handout for students to use as a supplement to the usual course text.
State Retirement Income Estimates and an Alternative Measure of State Personal Income

This paper proposes a more complete presentation of pension transactions in state personal income data tables by adapting the System of National Accounts’ (SNA) pension framework for use in the State Personal Income Accounts. It proposes a definition of retirement income and presents some experimental estimates of retirement income by state for 1997-2002. In addition, it proposes and estimates a new aggregate income concept, tentatively called cash income. The proposed concepts and estimates are offered as supplementary information for BEA’s State Personal Income Accounts.
Expert Fuzzy Process Control of a Rotary Dryer

The expert fuzzy process control system consists of both precise and imprecise state descriptions and decision rules. The control system uses a supervising expert system, deterministic or crisp controllers and fuzzy logic controllers. The supervisor task is based on appropriate criteria which maintains the overall application objective. The selected system structure allows for use of both fuzzy and crisp controllers and encourages optimum allocation of the overall process control hardware and software resources. The control system is applied to a simulated rotary dryer process whose variables are nonlinear and exhibit interaction effects which typically require constant monitoring by skilled operators. Control automation is performed with the proposed system by implementation of the appropriate controller type under expert system supervisory control. The supervisory tasks include those which aid in improving the performance of control.
Fetal death rate in the united states, 1979–1990: Trend and racial disparity

Objective To examine the impact of changes in birth weight distribution in individual groups and in birth weightspecific fetal death rates on the decline in the crude fetal death rate in the United States. Methods Data on live births and fetal deaths in the U.S. for the period 1979–1990 were examined by birth weight group and race using Kitagawa's method for analysis of the crude fetal death rate. Results In the period 1979-1990, all racial groups had a decrease in the crude fetal death rate, more so in whites and others (about 22%) than in blacks (10%). In the white population, 73.4% of the total reduction in the crude fetal death rate was attributable to the improvement in birth weight-specific fetal death rates, and the remaining portion of the reduction was due to a favorable change in birth weight distribution. In the black population, the reduction in the crude fetal death rate was entirely attributable to the improvement in the birth weight-specific fetal death rates. However, in other groups, a favorable change in the birth weight distribution was the major determinant. Although black births represented 16.5% of all births in the U.S., they accounted for 26–29% of the crude fetal death rate. Disparity in the crude fetal death rates for blacks and whites is explained almost entirely by differences in birth weight distribution. Conclusion A further decrease in the crude fetal death rate in the U.S. requires a decrease in low birth weights, particularly in blacks.
Mung Bean Nuclease I II. RESISTANCE OF DOUBLE STRANDED DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF REGIONS RICH IN ADENOSINE AND THYMIDINE TO ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS

Abstract Mung bean nuclease I is highly preferential for single stranded (denatured) DNA; the numerical value of this preference depends on the type of DNA and the reaction conditions; at 37° in the absence of Mg2+ it is 30,000-fold for T4 DNA, 65-fold for crab d(A-T)n, and less than 2-fold for biosynthetic d(A-T)n. No detectable hydrolysis of poly dG·poly dC occurs under these conditions even with a 100-fold excess of enzyme. Addition of mm Mg2+ inhibits the hydrolysis of biosynthetic d(A-T)n 13-fold, but accelerates that of denatured DNA 2- to 3-fold. The temperature coefficient of the reaction in the range 27–37° is 5-fold higher for biosynthetic d(A-T)n than for crab d(A-T)n. With native biosynthetic d(A-T)n conditions exist under which the rate of hydrolysis approaches that of denatured DNA from other sources (T4, Escherichia coli, thymus). Therefore, mung bean nuclease I does not recognize biosynthetic d(A-T)n as a typically double stranded structure. DNA of λ phage which is known to contain an A,T-rich region in the center of the molecule is specifically attacked by mung bean nuclease I at this region. The most important properties of mung bean nuclease I are (a) its ability in low concentration to remove denatured DNA from a mixture of both forms, and (b) its ability in high concentration to cleave specifically A,T-rich regions of double stranded DNA. The name "region-specific nuclease" is suggested for a new class of enzymes exemplified by mung bean nuclease I.
A study of indoor propagation: Theory and results of the wireless communication system for the Space Station Freedom

The experimental methods used to collect the propagation data from the Space Station Freedom are discussed. For the space station modules considered it can be seen that, when the units have a large number of random scatterers, the fields tend to follow a Rayleigh distribution when the transmitter is stationary and the receiver moves throughout the volume. If both transmitter and receiver remain stationary, the field distribution becomes Rice-distributed. This would agree with the general theory that a Rice-distributed field has a strong line-of-sight component affecting the distribution. Finally, it is shown that, when the volume lacks sufficient scatterers, the field distribution no longer behaves predictably. This is due to the fact that, when the obstacles are removed, the module begins to resemble a simple cylindrical cavity and lacks enough random qualities to create a Rayleigh or Rice field distribution. >