cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advance directives: the emerging body of research

BACKGROUND With the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1990, new procedures and documents became available for planning end-of-life care. These new procedures and documents are now being examined scientifically. OBJECTIVE To review existing research on the use of advance directives. DATA SOURCES Computer search using Grateful Med software from the National Library of Medicine with MEDLINE and BIOETHICSLINE databases. STUDY SELECTION Studies that showed an emerging consensus or reported vastly differing results were selected. Selected studies examined these specific areas: demographic data on patients with advance directives, completion rates, capacity to complete, patients' preferences, stability of patients' decisions over time, treatment choices, proxy decision makers, treatment provided, and cost. RESULTS The body of important research about advance directives is growing. A profile of their clinical utility is emerging. CONCLUSIONS The research done so far can stimulate future research and can begin to suggest possible changes in practice. However, the body of research is not yet large enough or well controlled enough to answer conclusively many of the questions about planning of end-of-life care.
NF90 regulates inducible IL-2 gene expression in T cells

Activation of T cells induces the production of T cell growth and survival factor interleukin (IL) 2. Regulatory T cells intrinsically fail to induce IL-2 expression upon activation and can suppress IL-2 production in conventional T cells. Thus, the control of IL-2 expression is critically important to T cell immune responses, yet the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Nuclear factor (NF) 90 is a zinc-finger DNA- and double-stranded RNA-binding protein subunit that binds specifically to the antigen receptor response element (ARRE)/NF of activated T cells target sequence in the IL-2 proximal promoter. Inducible binding of NF90 to the IL-2 promoter in vivo is shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation. NF90 gene-targeted mice exhibit perinatal lethality. Compared with newborn NF90+/+ mice, newborn NF90−/− mice demonstrate severe impairment of IL-2 expression. Compared with wild-type cells, T cells deficient in NF90 are impaired in ARRE and IL-2 transcriptional activation and IL-2 mRNA stabilization. Fetal liver cells from NF90 gene-targeted mice were transplanted into irradiated adult recombination activating gene (RAG)–2−/− and IL-2Rγ−/− mice deficient in T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. NF90+/+- and NF90−/−-RAG chimeric mice showed grossly normal repopulation of the thymus and spleen, but only NF90−/− T cells were severely impaired in IL-2 gene expression. Compared with littermates, NF90−/− RAG chimeric mice exhibited profound T cell lymphocytopenia in the peripheral circulation. Thus, NF90 regulates inducible IL-2 transcription, mRNA stability, and gene expression in T cells and represents a novel therapeutic target for the modulation of T cell immune responses.
STAG: spintronic-tape architecture for GPGPU cache hierarchies

General-purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPGPUs) are widely used for executing massively parallel workloads from various application domains. Feeding data to the hundreds to thousands of cores that current GPGPUs integrate places great demands on the memory hierarchy, fueling an ever-increasing demand for on-chip memory.In this work, we propose STAG, a high density, energy-efficient GPGPU cache hierarchy design using a new spintronic memory technology called Domain Wall Memory (DWM). DWMs inherently offer unprecedented benefits in density by storing multiple bits in the domains of a ferromagnetic nanowire, which logically resembles a bit-serial tape. However, this structure also leads to a unique challenge that the bits must be sequentially accessed by performing "shift" operations, resulting in variable and potentially higher access latencies. To address this challenge, STAG utilizes a number of architectural techniques : (i) a hybrid cache organization that employs different DWM bit-cells to realize the different memory arrays within the GPGPU cache hierarchy, (ii) a clustered, bit-interleaved organization, in which the bits in a cache block are spread across a cluster of DWM tapes, allowing parallel access, (iii) tape head management policies that predictively configure DWM arrays to reduce the expected number of shift operations for subsequent accesses, and (iv) a shift aware pro- motion buffer (SaPB), in which accesses to the DWM cache are predicted based on intra-warp locality, and locations that would incur a large shift penalty are promoted to a smaller buffer. Over a wide range of benchmarks from the Rodinia, IS- PASS and Parboil suites, STAG achieves significant benefits in performance (12.1% over SRAM and 5.8% over STT-MRAM) and energy (3.3X over SRAM and 2.6X over STT-MRAM)
Turning Up the Heat on Online Teaching Evaluations: Does “Hotness” Matter?

Previous research has linked teachers' physical attractiveness and students' evaluations of teaching. We expanded on this literature by using data from RateMyProfessors.com (RMP), a database popular among college students. Additionally, we examined the unique variance that physical attractiveness explains in student evaluations of teaching while controlling for factors previously shown to predict teaching evaluations (e.g., rater interest, ease of professor or course). We selected student evaluations from 2,281 professors listed on RMP. After controlling for the number of student ratings, rater interest, and ease, we found that physical attractiveness (i.e., hotness) accounted for over 8% of the variance in student evaluations of teaching.
Test-retest reliability of adult surveillance measures for physical activity and inactivity.

Background Several physical activity measures used in U.S. surveillance systems lack estimates of reliability in this country. This information is needed among diverse populations of women and men, to aid in interpretation and use of the measures. The objective of this study was to document the test-retest reliability of several measures of physical activity and inactivity used in surveillance in a diverse adult population. Methods Test and retest surveys were conducted over the telephone with 106 African-American and white women and men living in Forsyth County, North Carolina or Jackson, Mississippi in 2003. Physical activity and inactivity were self-reported using surveillance measures, such as from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Reliability was determined using kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) overall and separately by gender and race. Results Thirteen percent of the participants met recommendations for physical activity, 44% were insufficiently active, and 43% were inactive. Reliability of the measures to categorize participants into these categories was 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.27–0.58). The reliability of several categoric definitions of leisure activity ranged from 0.46 to 0.68. Occupational activity had substantial reliability (0.82, 95% CI=0.72–0.89), while any transportation activity (0.27, 95% CI=0.09–0.44) and walking (0.40, 95% CI=0.23–0.55) were lower. Indicators of inactivity categorized at >7 hours/week included time per week on the computer (0.83, 95% CI=0.57–0.78) and time per week watching television (0.40, 95% CI=0.22–0.54). Some gender and racial differences were noted in the reliability estimates. Conclusions In conclusion, this study provides estimates of test-retest reliability for several physical activity and inactivity measures used for surveillance purposes. Validity data, coupled with the reliability estimates reported here and elsewhere, can aid in interpretation and use of these measures in surveillance, as well as in epidemiologic studies.
Lysophosphatidyl Choline, a Chemotactic Factor for Monocytes/T-Lymphocytes Is Elevated in Endometriosis

Inflammatory processes have been hypothesized to mediate some of the clinical sequelae associated with endometriosis. The peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with endometriosis is known to contain more inflammatory cells and their associated cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. This work provides strong evidence for oxidative stress in the PF of women with endometriosis. 1) The low density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from the PF of subjects with endometriosis shows a small but detectable increase in electrophoretic mobility compatible with mildly oxidized LDL compared with LDL isolated from the plasma of the same subjects and PF of controls. 2) Isolated PF-LDL of endometriosis subjects is more readily oxidized in vitro than PF-LDL of controls, or LDL isolated from plasma. 3) Vitamin E content is significantly lower in endometriosis PF compared with controls, and compared with plasma of women with endometriosis and controls. No difference is seen between plasma and PF of control subjects. 4) The ratio of p...
Prophylactic intramedullary femoral rodding during total knee arthroplasty with simultaneous femoral plate removal

Removal of a plate from the distal femur creates a risk of fracture through the screw holes. This is a particular concern when a total knee arthroplasty is present because supracondylar fracture may occur with minimal trauma. A patient who presents after prior plating of a distal femur fracture with osteoporosis, retained hardware associated with pain, and gonarthrosis severe enough to warrant total knee arthroplasty is often difficult to manage. Prophylactic intramedullary rodding is a well-accepted method of treating pathologic stress risers in the femur. An intramedullary rod can be inserted into the femur at the time of total knee arthroplasty. This method permits simultaneous plate removal and total knee arthroplasty while protecting the femur from postoperative fracture.
NSCLC tumor shrinkage prediction using quantitative image features

The objective of this study was to develop a quantitative image feature model to predict non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) volume shrinkage from pre-treatment CT images. 64 stage II-IIIB NSCLC patients with similar treatments were all imaged using the same CT scanner and protocol. For each patient, the planning gross tumor volume (GTV) was deformed onto the week 6 treatment image, and tumor shrinkage was quantified as the deformed GTV volume divided by the planning GTV volume. Geometric, intensity histogram, absolute gradient image, co-occurrence matrix, and run-length matrix image features were extracted from each planning GTV. Prediction models were generated using principal component regression with simulated annealing subset selection. Performance was quantified using the mean squared error (MSE) between the predicted and observed tumor shrinkages. Permutation tests were used to validate the results. The optimal prediction model gave a strong correlation between the observed and predicted tumor shrinkages with r=0.81 and MSE=8.60×10(-3). Compared to predictions based on the mean population shrinkage this resulted in a 2.92 fold reduction in MSE. In conclusion, this study indicated that quantitative image features extracted from existing pre-treatment CT images can successfully predict tumor shrinkage and provide additional information for clinical decisions regarding patient risk stratification, treatment, and prognosis.
Applying the evidence in coronary disease secondary prevention: a call to action.

Since the seminal description of the “cycle of quality” by Califf et al. [(1)][1] in 2002, in which the evidence established from randomized clinical trials and codified in practice guidelines was to be used to develop quality indicators and performance measures and adherence to which could be
Cryptotis parva (Least shrew)

With the exception of one pair which is extraordinarily long, all the remaining autosomes form a graded series of lengths. The sex chromosomes are easy to identify since they are morphologically unique. The second arm of the Y chromosome is distinctly shorter than the long arm.
Treatable GLUT 1 Deficiency Chorea Syndrome

A 7-year-old developmentally delayed girl with chorea and a glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT 1) deficiency syndrome is reported from Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas.
The Effect of Thalidomide on Chickens and Embryos

Abstract Kemper (1962), Ehmann (1963), Salzgeber and Salaun (1963) and Yang et al. (1962) have shown that thalidomide will produce teratogenic effects when placed in the whole egg. The evaluation of six different methods of thalidomide administration are considered in this report. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Thalidomide for injection was dissolved in Wilcox buffer (1958) on a steam bath, (pH 7.3) to provide a concentration of 1 mg./ml. The control groups were handled in the same manner as the thalidomide group except that thalidomide was not added to the Wilcox buffer solution. In methods 1, 2, 3 and 4 thalidomide was placed in the unincubated fertile egg. After drug placement, eggs were incubated at 100°F. Method 1 employed the in vitro technique of Boone (1963). The thalidomide solution was placed on top of albumen covering the fertile egg at levels indicated in Table 1. Method 2 was a modification of method 1…
PARTIAL NICHE SEPARATION IN SPINACIA OLERACEA L.: AN EXAMINATION OF REPRODUCTIVE ALLOCATION.

Examen des formes mâles, femelles ou cosexuees de Spinacia oleracea le long d'un gradient experimental de salinite afin de determiner si une separation partielle des niches existe entre les sexes
Opto-mechanical force mapping of deep subwavelength plasmonic modes.

We present spatial mapping of optical force generated near the hot spot of a metaldielectricmetal bowtie nanoantenna at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Maxwell's stress tensor method has been used to simulate the optical force and it agrees well with the experimental data. This method could potentially produce field intensity and optical force mapping simultaneously with a high spatial resolution. Detailed mapping of the optical force is crucial for understanding and designing plasmonic-based optical trapping for emerging applications such as chip-scale biosensing and optomechanical switching.
Insight from Public Surveys Related to Siting of Nuclear Waste Facilities: An Overview of Findings from a 2015 Nationwide Survey of US Residents

The results described in this report are an analysis of nationwide surveys, administered between 2006 and 2015, which measure preferences of US residents concerning the environment and energy sources. The Energy & Environment (EE) survey series is conducted annually by the Center for Energy, Security & Society (CES&S), a joint research collaboration of the University of Oklahoma and Sandia National Laboratories. The annual EE survey series is designed to track evolving public views on nuclear materials management in the US. The 2015 wave of the Energy and Environment survey (EE15) was implemented using a web-based questionnaire, and was completed by 2,021 respondents using an Internet sample that matches the characteristics of the adult US population as estimated in the US Census. A special focus of the EE15 survey is how survey respondents understand and evaluate “consent” in the context of the storage and transportation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). This report presents an overview of key results from analyses of questions related to consent-based siting and other elements of the nuclear energy fuel cycle.
Effects of Sodium Restriction on Activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System and Immune Indices During HIV Infection

Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients demonstrate increased activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). We evaluated changes in immune markers with physiological RAAS activation. Methods. Immune activation markers were assessed serially in 18 HIV-infected and 7 non–HIV-infected subjects consuming an ad libitum diet followed by a standardized low-sodium diet. Results. Levels of CCL-2 (P = .0004) and soluble CD163 (P = .0001) significantly increased with sodium restriction and RAAS activation, compared with levels in individuals with ad libitum sodium intake, among chronically treated HIV-infected subjects (mean duration of ART [±SEM], 11 ± 1 years), but not among non–HIV-infected subjects of similar age and sex. Conclusions. Dietary sodium restriction, which activates RAAS, uniquely stimulates critical indices of immune activation during HIV infection. Clinical Trials Registration. {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01407237","term_id":"NCT01407237"}}NCT01407237.
A non-invasive and inexpensive capnography device for the monitoring of COPD and other pulmonary diseases

The present work introduces the validation results for assessment of End-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) concentrations and breathing patterns from a new ultrafast colorimetric sensor. The performance of the new sensor is compared to an infrared carbon dioxide commercial analyzer. Correlation analysis of EtCO2 levels from both methods indicated an accuracy of nearly 100%, with a correlation coefficient >0.85. In addition, the capability of the new sensor to discriminate between normal and abnormal breathing patterns was assessed via comparative paired t-test. The overall performance of the new sensor is satisfactory, and opens the possibility of low-cost and ambulatory respiratory analysis for patients with respiratory diseases.
Chapter 17 – Phylum Tardigrada

A sister group of the Arthropoda, the Tardigrada are micrometazoans that occupy a diversity of niches in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial habitats. Commonly called water bears because of their slow, lumbering gait, these molting lobopods have four pairs of legs, usually terminating in claws. Most are less than 1 mm in length, with a complete digestive tract, a dorsal gonad with one or two gonoducts, and a dorsal lobed brain with a ventral nerve cord and four bilobed ganglia, one per leg-bearing metamere. The body cavity (hemocoel) functions in respiration and circulation. Over 1200 species have been described based primarily on the morphology of the claws and buccal-pharyngeal apparatus. Individuals may be either gonochoric, unisexual, or hermaphroditic, with fertilized or unfertilized eggs deposited either freely or within the shed exuvium. Parthenogenesis occurs frequently in limnic and terrestrial tardigrades, allowing them to colonize new territories by passive dispersal of a single individual. Cryptobiosis (anhydrobiosis, anoxybiosis, cryobiosis, and osmobiosis) and diapause (encystment and resting eggs) occur during the life history. Active adults (surrounded by water) and cryptobiotic adults and eggs are primarily dispersed passively, but some active dispersal can also occur. Due to the characteristic patchy distributions of tardigrade populations, little is known about their population dynamics and trophic relationships. Improved methods for collection, microscopy, culturing, and molecular analyses have been have contributed much to our knowledge of tardigrades.
Mortality and Allograft Loss Trends Among US Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients With and Without Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Background Pediatric patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) have high rates of disease recurrence and allograft failure after kidney transplantation, but there are few data for long-term survival posttransplantation. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 12,303 pediatric patients (aged Predictors Primary cause of end-stage renal disease, FSGS or other. Outcomes All-cause patient mortality and allograft loss. Results All-cause mortality significantly improved for patients with FSGS who underwent transplantation in the 2000s versus the 1990s (6.72 vs 12.24 deaths/1,000 patient-years; HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.39-0.78; P Limitations Lack of information about certain risk factors for mortality, including duration of chronic kidney disease; missing data; and potential primary disease misclassification. Conclusions Survival of pediatric kidney transplant recipients with FSGS improved between the 1990s and 2000s and was similar to that of recipients without FSGS. Interestingly, adjustment for allograft failure showed greater survival for pediatric patients with FSGS who underwent transplantation in the 2000s as compared with others, suggesting that effective interventions to decrease allograft loss due to disease recurrence may improve patient survival.
Deficient Glucagon Response to Hypoglycemia During a Mixed Meal in Total Pancreatectomy/Islet Autotransplantation Recipients.

Context Total pancreatectomy and intrahepatic islet autotransplantation (TP/IAT) is performed to alleviate severe abdominal pain, avoid narcotic use, maintain islet function, and avoid diabetes in patients with chronic pancreatitis. However, many TP/IAT recipients complain of postprandial hypoglycemia. Objective This study was designed to discover the mechanisms of this problem. Design Participants consumed a triple-isotope mixed meal. Setting This study was performed in a hospital research unit. Participants We studied 10 TP/IAT recipients and 10 age- and body mass index-matched control subjects. Seven of 10 recipients had a history of postprandial hypoglycemia. Interventions Participants were given a [1-13C]-labeled mixed meal and two tracer infusions ([6,6-2H2]- and [6-3H]-glucose). Main Outcome Measures Glucose kinetics and concentrations of regulatory hormones were determined. Results Immediately after the meal, peak glucose was elevated in recipients compared with control subjects [266 ± 20 mg/dL (14.8 ± 1.1 mmol/L) vs 185 ± 13 mg/dL (10.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L); P = 0.01]. However, mean Δ glucose for TP/IAT recipients between minutes 240 and 360 postprandially was significantly lower than for control subjects (P < 0.05); six of the seven recipients with a history of hypoglycemia experienced abnormally low postprandial Δ glucose. Δ Glucagon remained unchanged (minutes 240 to 360; P = 0.58) in TP/IAT recipients despite abnormal decreases in postprandial glucose. Radioisotopic studies revealed that meal appearance, glucose disappearance, and endogenous glucose production in TP/IAT recipients were not different from control subjects. Conclusion Initially high glucose levels followed by hypoglycemia with an absent glucagon response is a mechanistic sequence that contributes to postprandial hypoglycemia after TP/IAT.
In silico design of chiral dimers to direct the synthesis of a chiral zeolite

We have applied in silico materials design in an effort to design chiral organic structure directing agents (OSDAs) for the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched STW zeolite. To do so, we have use...
Melodic patterns and tonal cadences: Bayesian learning of cadential categories from contrapuntal information

Recent work has shown that authentic and half cadences can be identified via harmonic features in both supervised and unsupervised settings, suggesting that humans may use such cues in perceiving a...
Lateral Femoral Cutnaeous Nerve

Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve innervates the skin of lateral thigh. Entrapment of the nerve as it exits under the inguinal ligament is an important cause of neuropathic pain in the lateral thigh (meralgia paresthetica) and must be distinguished from other causes of chronic lateral thigh/hip pain. This chapter discusses anatomy, nerve block techniques, indications, contraindications and complications of nerve block.
A psychosocial clinical care pathway for pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Objective Currently, no evidence-based psychosocial clinical care pathways (PCCP) exist to triage psychosocial risk levels and guide delivery of psychosocial care to youth receiving a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and their families. The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of qualitative research methodologies to develop PCCP in pediatric HCT consistent with the Standards for Psychosocial Care developed for children with cancer. Methods We previously used qualitative methodologies to interview parents to identify four principles to inform the development of PCCPs. Then in this study a focus group with parents and multidisciplinary clinicians was conducted to assess the acceptability of the PCCP, suggest modifications, and provide input on its use. Results The PCCP is six-step pathway, starting with a standardized screening assessment with the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT-HCT) that identifies the family's specific care needs. The focus group data support overall assessment with the PAT-HCT and the care principles underlying this approach. Conclusions This PCCP is a systemic multidisciplinary model for providing psychosocial care that is ready for the next stage of development and evaluation in clinical care.
Interactions between visual working memory and visual attention among survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and their healthy peers.

Introduction: There is increasing concern for adverse cognitive late effects among survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) given the widespread impact they have on academic achiev...
Validity evaluation of the genetics and genomics in nursing practice survey.

Aim To psychometrically test the Genetics and Genomics Nursing Practice Survey (GGNPS) for evidence of content, face and construct validity. Design This study was a secondary data analysis. Method Data collected from the Method for Introducing a New Competency into Nursing Practice (MINC) study were used to evaluate the GGNPS for evidence of construct validity via structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis. Face validity was evaluated via feedback from practicing RNs without specific experience with or knowledge of genetics/genomics. Content validity was evaluated via content expert feedback and assessment of a content validity index. Results The thresholds for evidence of content and face validity were met. However, we found less evidence for construct validity of the GGNPS; an exploratory factor analysis, conducted to gain additional insight into the theorized latent constructs, determined that the variables were more interrelated that previously predicted.
Early Season Winter Wheat Identification Using Sentinel -1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (Sar) and Optical Data

Early season crop identification is important for food security and economic stability. The USDA NASS uses optical data to provide acreage estimates, each June, to the NASS Agricultural Statistics Board. However, early season crop identification is difficult using optical data alone, because imagery is frequently cloudy during the spring. The purpose of this study is to determine whether using SAR and SAR texture can improve early season winter wheat identification compared to optical data alone. Study areas in the Missouri "Bootheel" (2017 growing season) and Northwest Texas (2018 growing season), United States (U.S.) are selected. The SAR data used in this study are Sentinel-1. Optical data include: Landsat 8, Disaster Monitoring Constellation, and Sentinel-2. Study results show that optical data with SAR achieved the highest winter wheat accuracies, 7.7% higher than optical data alone, in Missouri. Optical with SAR and SAR texture resulted in improved accuracies over optical alone, but only marginally, in Texas. These results indicate that optical and SAR, used together, can potentially improve early season crop identification.
Modeling periodic and non-periodic response of dynamical systems using an efficient Chebyshev-based time-spectral approach

Abstract A Chebyshev-based time-spectral method (C-TSM) is developed to model periodic and non-periodic nonlinear dynamical systems. It is shown that the proposed technique can accurately model such problems eliminating the need to use expensive classical dual-timestepping time-accurate integration. Furthermore, for autonomous dynamical systems subjected to single or multiple fundamental frequencies, the C-TSM analysis can be used without the prior knowledge of those frequencies. This offers an apparent advantage over the Fourier-based time-spectral methods. In addition, the current approach lends itself as a very useful tool for transient adjoint-based sensitivity analysis since it greatly reduces the memory requirements by solving and storing time-dependent response at a handful of collocation points instead of storing the entire time-history of the primal solution. The efficacy of the present technique is demonstrated by directly comparing the results with Fourier-based time-spectral, as well as time-accurate methods.
Bayesian Decision-Theoretic Methods for Survival Data using Stochastic Optimization

We introduce a principled method for Bayesian subgroup analysis. The approach is based on casting subgroup analysis as a Bayesian decision problem. The two main innovations are: (1) the explicit consideration of a "subgroup report," comprising multiple subpopulations; and (2) adapting an inhomogeneous Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation scheme to implement stochastic optimization. The latter makes the search for "subgroup reports" practically feasible.
Effects of Photographic Reviews on Recollections of the Personal Past: A New Perspective on Benefits and Costs:

Empirical studies of the power of photographs on recollections of the personal past have produced a complicated set of results, with reports of both costs and benefits on recollection accuracy. The...
Experimental Demonstrations for a New Design Paradigm in Space Robotics

This paper presents a study to experimentally evaluate a new design paradigm for robotic components, with emphasis on space robotics applications. In this design paradigm, robotic components are made from embedded binary actuators and compliant mechanisms in order to reduce weight and complexity. This paper presents a series of five experiments that demonstrate the concept. These studies include a reconfigurable rocker suspension for rocker-bogie rovers, a sample acquisition gripper, a pantograph mechanism for robotic legs, an articulated binary limb, and a hyper-degree-of-freedom mechanism building block.
Energy Redistribution and Cluster Stability

The stability of small molecular clusters is not independent of the rate or the mode of energy transfer to the cluster. Either can lead to structure disruption at total energies at which the cluster would otherwise be stable. Molecular dynamics calculations are used to monitor the changes in cluster structure as energy is added or removed from the system. The energy was added in different ways in the attempt to simulate: 1) an isolated collision, 2) interaction with a bath at a temperature different from that of the cluster and 3) a transition to a single excited vibrational state. The clusters used in these experiments were water clusters containing from three to twenty molecules. The potential used was the central force pair potential proposed by Stillinger and Rahman.
90Sr + 90Y Bremsstrahlung Efficiency in Bone

SummaryThe bremsstrahlung efficiency (x-ray photon output/μc) of beagle bones labelled with 90Sr + 90Y has been determined relative to the efficiency in water. The bremsstrahlung counting rate between 50 and 1000 kev from the individual bones was compared to that from a water-filled standard using an 8 × 4 in. NaI(Tl) crystal. Efficiencies were found to vary linearly with both the density and the computed effective atomic number (Zeff) of the fresh, intact bone. The empirical expressions developed from the data, relating relative bremsstrahlung efficiency to Zeff and density were, efficiency = 0·37 + 0·63 (density) and, efficiency = 0·215 + 0·119 (Zeff). For intact beagle bones averaging 1·48 g/cm3 (Zeff = 9·1), efficiencies were about 1·3 times that of a water-filled phantom. No great effects on efficiency were observed which could be ascribed to uniform versus nonuniform 90Sr labelling or to bone size.
Fred Hennie: Lower Bounds

This chapter discusses attempts over the years to get lower bounds on the NP-complete satisfiability problem. Hennie’s lower bounds for a one-way machine model helped spur still-lively research on time-space tradeoffs for satisfiability.
Dispersal patterns and populations of the house fly affected by sanitation and weather in rural Maryland.

Daily removal of fly-attractive materials from a dairy complex reduced the population of Musca domestica L. to ⅖ that found at a farm with poorly cleaned barns. Marked house flies tended to disperse upwind when a steady 2–7 mph wind blew from only 1 quarter, but dispersed randomly when the winds were variable. About 3 times as many males as females were recovered, but no differences were apparent in the rates or directions of dispersal of 1-, 2-, or 3-day-old house flies or of the 2 sexes. Rate of dispersal increased when temperatures were above 53°F and when suitable breeding materials were scarce at the emergence sites.
The molecular function of Ase1p: evidence for a MAP-dependent midzone-specific spindle matrix

The midzone is the domain of the mitotic spindle that maintains spindle bipolarity during anaphase and generates forces required for spindle elongation (anaphase B). Although there is a clear role for microtubule (MT) motor proteins at the spindle midzone, less is known about how microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) contribute to midzone organization and function. Here, we report that budding yeast Ase1p is a member of a conserved family of midzone-specific MAPs. By size exclusion chromatography and velocity sedimentation, both Ase1p in extracts and purified Ase1p behaved as a homodimer. Ase1p bound and bundled MTs in vitro. By live cell microscopy, loss of Ase1p resulted in a specific defect: premature spindle disassembly in mid-anaphase. Furthermore, when overexpressed, Ase1p was sufficient to trigger spindle elongation in S phase–arrested cells. FRAP revealed that Ase1p has both a very slow rate of turnover within the midzone and limited lateral diffusion along spindle MTs. We propose that Ase1p functions as an MT cross-bridge that imparts matrix-like characteristics to the midzone. MT-dependent networks of spindle midzone MAPs may be one molecular basis for the postulated spindle matrix.
3D object perception using gradient descent

A new algorithm is presented for interpreting two-dimensional (2D) line drawings as three-dimensional (3D) objects without models. Even though no explicit models or additional heuristics are included, the algorithm tends to reach the same 3D interpretations of 2D line drawings that humans do. The algorithm explicitly calculates the partial derivatives of Marill's Minimum Standard Deviation of Angles (MSDA) with respect to all adjustable parameters, and follows this gradient to minimize SDA. For an image with lines meeting atm points formingn angles, the gradient descent algorithm requiresO(n) time to adjust all the points, while Marill's method requiredO(mn) time to do so. Experimental results on various line drawing objects show that this gradient descent algorithm running on a Macintosh II is one to two orders of magnitude faster than the MSDA algorithm running on a Symbolics, while still giving comparable results.
Modes of dispersion of viscoelastic fluids in flow

Abstract It is shown that when a viscoelastic mixture of molten polymers is extruded, “alloy” composites are produced as a result of the formation of two distinct modes of dispersion: stratification or droplet-fiber formation. Important parameters responsible for these effects are: particle size, interfacial tension, and differences in the viscoelastic properties of the two phases. The formation of polymer spheres, ribbons, or fibers in a matrix can be predicted on the basis of a new theory which has been confirmed experimentally and provides a route to composites of controlled structure and properties. Explicit expressions are derived for the interfacial tension between two phases α and β in flow: γαβ=γ 0 αβ+ 1 6 α α [( σ 2 ) α −( σ 2 ) β ] and γαβ=γ 0 αβ+ 1 6 α β [( σ 2 ) α −( σ 2 ) β ] where γij is the interfacial tension of a droplet of fluid i in matrix j; γij0 the interfacial tension in absence of flow; ai, the droplet radius; and ( σ 2 ) i the second normal stress function of fluid i which depends on molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and shear stress. Since γij ≥ 0 for droplet formation to be possible, these equations predict that when ( σ 2 ) α > ( σ 2 ) β , phase α will always form droplets/fibers in phase β. Droplet formation of phase β in phase α will be possible only when α β ≤ 6γ αβ 0 /[( σ 2 ) α − ( σ 2 ) β ] , a quantity of the order of 1-0.1 μ for polymer melts. If the phase dimension of phase β, therefore, is larger than 1 μ, as may be accomplished by incomplete mixing, phase β does not form droplets but stratifies. A further consequence is that in the submicron region, phase a will form single droplets; droplet formation of phase β leads to composite droplets, i.e., droplets of β containing smaller droplets of α. Differences in viscosity, shear rate, extrusion temperature, and residence time in the capillary influence only the homogeneity of the dispersion and not the mode of dispersion.
Associations among Preschool Children's Classroom Literacy Environment, Interest and Engagement in Literacy Activities, and Early Reading Skills.

This study examines the relations among the classroom literacy environment, children’s interest and engagement in literacy activities, and children’s early reading skills in a sample of 167 children aged 4 and 5 years enrolled in 31 Head Start classrooms. Researchers rated the classroom literacy environment. Teachers reported on children’s interest in literacy activities and observers reported on children’s engagement in literacy activities during large group and free play. Researchers directly assessed children’s early reading skills: phonological awareness, letter-word knowledge, and expressive vocabulary. Classroom literacy environment was indirectly associated with some early reading skills via child literacy interest and engagement. Different associations were found for literacy engagement during large group compared to literacy engagement during free play. The implications of the findings are discussed, as are directions for future research.
Neutron Yields from Individual Fission Fragments

Two new methods are used to obtain data on neutron yield ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{f}$ as a function of the mass number $M$ of the emitting fission fragment; the results suggest changes in fission theory. The methods involve the combination of data on fission mass yields obtained by radiochemical means with time-of-flight mass data. The more detailed method yields essentially the complete function ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{f}(M)$. Both methods are applied to neutron fission of ${\mathrm{U}}^{233}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$, and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$, and to spontaneous fission of ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{252}$. The neutron yields obtained, which show strong variation with mass, are compared with other available data; no previous results exist for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$. The four sets of data on ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{f}(M)$ are so similar that it is suggested that the neutron yield is primarily a function of fragment mass and not of mass ratio. In each case minimum neutron yield is found for $N\ensuremath{\cong}50$ and $Z=\ensuremath{\cong}50$ (masses 82 and 128). It is suggested that these magic and near-magic fragments have low excitations, and consequently emit almost no neutrons, because of greater rigidity against distortion from near-spherical shapes. The same idea leads to a prediction of high fission barrier and low fission yield at these masses, which compares well with data for single-peaked, triple-peaked, and ordinary double-peaked-mass-yield fission. In the appendices a number of necessary relations are developed, concerning neutron emission energies. The width of the neutron emission spectrum is deduced from laboratory spectra; new relations between emission spectra and angular correlation of neutrons and fragments are developed and applied; and it is shown that the extra width of fragment mass yields obtained from fragment energies (semiconductor or ionization-chamber data) is due to the correlation of ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{f}$ and $M$.
Endovascular stenting of extracranial carotid and vertebral artery dissections: a systematic review of the literature.

Background Carotid and vertebral artery dissections are a leading cause of stroke in young individuals. Objective To examine the published safety and efficacy of endovascular stenting for extracranial artery dissection. Methods We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify all cases of endovascular management of extracranial carotid and vertebral artery dissections. Results For carotid dissections, our review yielded 31 published reports including 140 patients (153 vessels). Reported etiologies were traumatic (48%, n = 64), spontaneous (37%, n = 49), and iatrogenic (16%, n = 21). The technical success rate of stenting was 99%, and the procedural complication rate was 1.3%. Mean angiographic follow-up was 12.8 months (range, 2-72 months) and revealed in-stent stenosis or occlusion in 2% of patients. Mean clinical follow-up was 17.7 months (range, 1-72 months), and neurological events were seen in 1.4% of patients. For vertebral artery dissections, our review revealed 8 reports including 10 patients (12 vessels). Etiologies were traumatic (60%, n = 6), spontaneous (20%, n = 2), and iatrogenic (20%, n = 2). There was a 100% technical success rate. The mean angiographic follow-up period was 7.5 months (range, 2-12 months). No new neurological events were reported during a mean clinical follow-up period of 26.4 months (range, 3-55 months). Conclusion Endovascular management of extracranial arterial dissection continues to evolve. Current experience shows that this treatment option is safe and technically feasible. Prospective randomized trials compared with medical management are needed to further elucidate the role of stenting.
Substrate concentration dependence of deuterium isotope effects on beef heart lactate dehydrogenase.

Abstract The kinetic effect of substituting deuterium for the transferred hydrogen at the C-2 position of L-lactic acid was studied by measuring the initial velocity (v i ) of lactate oxidation by beef-heart lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate: NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27).v i H /v i D values were found to decrease with increasing substrate concentration. At saturating levels of substrate V M H /V M D was equal to one. This is an example of the masking of an isotope effect by a slow step in the reaction sequence which is not affected by deuterium substitution. Such a result is evidence that the covalent transfer of hydrogen is not the rate-limiting step in lactate oxidation. Measurement of v i H /v i D at low substrate concentration gives an estimate of the importance of steps known to be affected by deuterium substitution in the overall rate expression.
THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTROLYTES : II. SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE NATURE OF ACCUMULATION IN VALONIA.

It is suggested that K enters chiefly as KOH, whose thermodynamic potential (proportional to the ionic activity product (aK) (aOH)) is greater outside than within. As this difference is maintained by the production of acid in the cell K continues to enter, and reaches a greater concentration inside than outside. KOH combines with a weak organic acid which is exchanged for HCl entering from the sea water (or its anion is exchanged for Cl-), so that KCl accumulates in the sap. Na enters more slowly and its internal concentration remains below that of K. The facts indicate that penetration is chiefly in molecular form. As the system is not in equilibrium the suggestion is not susceptible of thermodynamic proof but it is useful in predicting the behavior of K, Na, and NH4.
A novel approach to fabricate metallic nano-cantilevers

A novel approach is proposed in this work to fabricate metallic nano-cantilevers using a one-mask process and deep reactive ion etch (DRIE) technique. Proof-of-concept experiments were conducted, and 40-nm-thick Al and 70-nm-thick Au cantilevers of lengths from 5μm and widths in the range of 200-300nm were fabricated on a silicon substrate. It is found that the silicon underneath the suspended beams had been completely etched. The fabricated metallic nanocantilevers have potential applications in detecting molecules with high sensitivity. Initial stress induced deflection studies have shown these metallic nanocantilevers to be very sensitive to surface modifications.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein-1 Processes Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Protein 3

The bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP1)-like metalloproteinases play key roles in extracellular matrix formation, by converting precursors into mature functional proteins involved in forming the extracellular matrix. The BMP1-like proteinases also play roles in activating growth factors, such as BMP2/4, myostatin, growth differentiation factor 11, and transforming growth factor β1, by cleaving extracellular antagonists. The extracellular insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) are involved in regulating the effects of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) on growth, development, and metabolism. Of the six IGFBPs, IGFBP3 has the greatest interaction with the large pool of circulating IGFs. It is also produced locally in tissues and is itself regulated by proteolytic processing. Here, we show that BMP1 cleaves human and mouse IGFBP3 at a single conserved site, resulting in markedly reduced ability of cleaved IGFBP3 to bind IGF-I or to block IGF-I-induced cell signaling. In contrast, such cleavage is shown to result in enhanced IGF-I-independent ability of cleaved IGFBP3 to block FGF-induced proliferation and to induce Smad phosphorylation. Consistent with in vivo roles for such cleavage, it is shown that, whereas wild type mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) produce cleaved IGFBP3, MEFs doubly null for the Bmp1 gene and for the Tll1 gene, which encodes the related metalloproteinase mammalian Tolloid-like 1 (mTLL1), produce only unprocessed IGFBP3, thus demonstrating endogenous BMP1-related proteinases to be responsible for IGFBP3-processing activity in MEFs. Similarly, in zebrafish embryos, overexpression of Bmp1a is shown to reverse an Igfbp3-induced phenotype, consistent with the ability of BMP1-like proteinases to cleave IGFBP3 in vivo.
Incisional hernia with bowel incarceration and obstruction at 34 weeks gestational age.

Background Hernias commonly coexist with pregnancy; however, an incarcerated hernia with bowel obstruction is rare at advanced gestation and requires urgent intervention.
The cost of reaching orbit: Ground-based launch systems

Abstract The high cost of launching payloads into orbit – roughly $20,000/kg – continues to deter large-scale exploration and exploitation of space. Ground-based launch systems may radically reduce costs to $200/kg, drastically altering the economics of spaceflight. Low costs will encourage the creation of new markets, including solar-based power satellites and disposal of nuclear waste. The US government should establish a goal of $200/kg by 2020 and provide the resources needed to develop such systems.