cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of functional neuronal regeneration from Müller glia in adult mice

Many retinal diseases lead to the loss of retinal neurons and cause visual impairment. The adult mammalian retina has little capacity for regeneration. By contrast, teleost fish functionally regenerate their retina following injury, and Muller glia (MG) are the source of regenerated neurons. The proneural transcription factor Ascl1 is upregulated in MG after retinal damage in zebrafish and is necessary for regeneration. Although Ascl1 is not expressed in mammalian MG after injury, forced expression of Ascl1 in mouse MG induces a neurogenic state in vitro and in vivo after NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) damage in young mice. However, by postnatal day 16, mouse MG lose neurogenic capacity, despite Ascl1 overexpression. Loss of neurogenic capacity in mature MG is accompanied by reduced chromatin accessibility, suggesting that epigenetic factors limit regeneration. Here we show that MG-specific overexpression of Ascl1, together with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, enables adult mice to generate neurons from MG after retinal injury. The MG-derived neurons express markers of inner retinal neurons, synapse with host retinal neurons, and respond to light. Using an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq), we show that the histone deacetylase inhibitor promotes accessibility at key gene loci in the MG, and allows more effective reprogramming. Our results thus provide a new approach for the treatment of blinding retinal diseases.
Robust Quantum Control for Adiabatic Quantum Computation

Properly designed control has been shown to be particularly advantageous for improving adiabatic quantum computation (AQC) accuracy and time complexity scaling. Here, an in situ quantum control optimization protocol is developed to indirectly optimize state fidelity without knowledge of the instantaneous spectral gap or the computational solution. The protocol is shown to converge to analytically derived time-optimal controls for Grover's search algorithm. Furthermore, the protocol is utilized to explore optimized control trajectories for the maximum two-bit satisfiability problem, where appreciable improvement in fidelity and the minimum spectral gap over a linear schedule is observed. The approach is also shown to be robust against system model uncertainties (unitary control errors). This method is designed to enable robust control optimization on existing quantum annealing hardware and future AQC processors.
In-vivo study of quantitative ultrasound parameters in fatty rabbit livers

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and can often lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, cancer and complete liver failure. Liver biopsy is the current standard of care to quantify hepatic steatosis, but it comes with increased patient risk and only samples a small portion of the liver. Imaging approaches to assess NAFLD include proton density fat fraction (PDFF) estimated via MRI and shear wave elastography. However, MRI is often prohibitively expensive and shear wave elastography is not sensitive to fat content of the liver [1]. On the other hand, ultrasonic attenuation and the backscatter coefficient (BSC) have been observed to be sensitive to levels of fat in the liver. In this study, we explored the use of attenuation and a principal component analysis (PCA) of the BSC to detect and quantify hepatic steatosis in vivo in a rabbit model of fatty liver. Rabbits were maintained on a high fat diet for 0, 1, 2, 3 or 6 weeks with three rabbits per diet group (total N = 15). For analysis, rabbits were separated into three classes based on the total lipid content of the livers estimated using the Folch method: low fat ( 10%). An array transducer L9-4 with center frequency of 4 MHz connected to a SonixOne scanner was used to gather RF backscattered data in vivo from rabbits. The RF signals were used to estimate an average attenuation and BSC for each rabbit. The first five principal components of the PCA from the BSCs were used as input features to a support vector machine (SVM) for classification and comparison to total liver lipid levels. The slope of the attenuation coefficient provided statistically significant differences (p < 0.00058, using two-sample t-test) between low and high lipid fat groups. The proposed PCA-SVM based classification system yielded a classification accuracy of 63.7%, 32.6% and 71.2% for the low, medium and high fat groups, respectively. The results suggest that attenuation and BSC analysis can differentiate low versus high fat livers in a rabbit model. This work was supported by a grant from NIH (R21EB020766).
DISCORDANT FINDINGS OF CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE AND FDG-PET-CT IN A PATIENT WITH CARDIAC SARCOIDOSIS

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) can present with life threatening arrhythmias. With high clinical suspicion multiple imaging modalities can facilitate in diagnosing CS. A 38 year old athletic African American female was admitted with ongoing palpitations and dyspnea. Outpatient holter monitor revealed
Unique glandular ex-vivo Th1 and Th17 receptor motifs in Sjögren's syndrome patients using single-cell analysis.

Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease in which the underlying cause has yet to be elucidated. The main objective of this study was to determine the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires of individual infiltrating T helper (Th)-1 and 17 cells of pSS patients using single-cell analysis. Single-cell analysis of ex-vivo infiltrating T cells demonstrated that pSS patients had higher frequencies of activated Th17 cells. Single-cell TCR sequencing revealed that TCRβ variable (TRBV)3-1/joint (J)1-2 (CLFLSMSACVW) and TRBV20-1/J1-1 (SVGSTAIPP*T) were expressed by activated Th1 and Th17 cells in both cohorts. Uniquely, TCRα variable (TRAV)8-2/J5 (VVSDTVLETAGE) was expressed by Th1 cells present only in patients and complementarity-determining region (CDR)3α-specific motif (LSTD*E) present in both Th1/Th17 cells. The study demonstrates that both activated Th1 and Th17 cells of pSS patients showed restricted clonal diversities of which two CDR3 motifs were present in controls and patients, with another two motifs unique to pSS.
The Basic Formulation of Mechanics: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Equations of Motion

The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms are among the most powerful ways to analyze dynamic systems. In this chapter we will introduce Lagrange’s equations of motion and discuss the transition from Lagrange’s to Hamilton’s equations. We write down the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian for a charged particle in an electromagnetic field, and introduce the Poisson bracket.
Anesthesia for Non-delivery Obstetric Procedures

Obstetric anesthesia providers most commonly provide either labor analgesia or cesarean delivery anesthesia, though there are a number of other obstetric procedures that also require anesthesia care. This chapter highlights the surgical and anesthetic considerations of the most common non-delivery obstetric procedures, including: postpartum tubal sterilization, external cephalic version, cerclage, dilation and curettage or evacuation, and minimally invasive fetal procedures.
Latino/a Cultural Perspectives of Social Presence: A Case Study

Many Latino/a students select online learning as a viable option for completing a college degree. Yet, Latino/a perspectives regarding online social presence is unknown. Thisstudy explored Latino/a students’ perceptions of social presence in online courses asrelated to their culture perspectives of interpersonal communication, values, norms and social behavior. Data collection semi-structured interviews. Interview recordings were transcribed. Relevant themes emerged. The findings of this study showed that participants used culturally specific attributes to build, create, and maintain social presence in the online learning environments. Further research is needed to understand the extent of cultural influences on building social presence.
Fluorescence measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential changes in cultured cells

The mitochondrial membrane potential is the dominant component of the proton-motive force that is the potential term in the proton circuit linking electron transport to ATP synthesis and other energy-dependent mitochondrial processes. Cationic fluorescent probes have been used for many years to detect gross qualitative changes in mitochondrial membrane potentials in intact cell culture. In this chapter I describe how these fluorescence signals may be used to obtain a semiquantitative measure of changes in mitochondrial membrane potential.
Surface Glycoconjugates in the Differentiating Neuron

A wide range of data suggests that the cell surface, and especially its carbohydrates, play a major role in developmental mechanisms (e.g., Moscona, 1974). The glycoconjugates involved may provide the cell with one or more surface codes and, perhaps, with specific sensing units that would enable each cell to (1) signal its own identity to its environment and (2) recognize the identity of its neighbors and acquire positional information. Within the nervous system, cellular interactions of this kind must occur during the formation of neuronal assemblies such as brain nuclei and, at still another level, when neurons form long processes—dendrites and axons. These processes are capable of growing into specific regions of the brain or the body (“guidance”), and are then able to recognize a specific target cell for the formation of a synapse.
ΛN-ΣN coupling for ΛN scattering and for the Λ-particle binding in nuclear matter

Abstract The effect of coupling of the ΛN to the (virtual) ∑N channel on the Λ-particle binding in nuclear matter (the Λ-well depth) is studied with perturbation theory and especially in the reaction-matrix approach with use of the g -matrix approximation. The g -matrix is calculated self-consistently by use of the Kallio-Day version of the reference-spectrum method, the free kinetic energies being assumed for the unoccupied single-particle states. A large variety of interactions is considered including in particular, hard-core interactions with (static) one-pion exchange (OPE) and ϱp-meson exchange coupling potentials. The couplings have both central and tensor components. A meaningful measure of the suppression of the coupling in nuclear matter is obtained in perturbation theory by considering the effective nonlocal central potentials that represent the (s-state) effect of the coupling for nuclear matter and for ΛN scattering. For hard-core interactions we use one-channel central ΛN potentials with the same hard core and the same low-energy scattering characteristics as the coupled-channel interactions to define the “unsuppressed” well depths appropriate to the effect of the coupling for scattering. The suppression δD of the well depth arises from the effect of the exclusion principle and of the spectrum gaps (binding-energy effects) on the coupling. δD depends strongly on the details of the interaction and is relatively much larger for central than for tensor couplings and is less for shorter ranges of the same type of coupling potential. Furthermore, δD depends on the “unsuppressed” (i.e., intrinsic) strength of the coupling. For the OPE coupling the tensor component is dominant and the central components contribute only very slightly; reasonable Λ∑πn coupling constants can give large values of δD (as much as 15 MeV). For the ϱ-exchange coupling the central components for both spin states, S = 0 and 1, can give quite large δD (possibly as much as 5 MeV for S = 0) in spite of the short range. Interesting possibilities arise from possible destructive interference between the OPE and ϱ-exchange tensor couplings because the interference for nuclear matter differs from that for scattering, since the OPE coupling is more strongly suppressed than the ϱ-exchange one. The possibility of 15 MeV suppression implies that agreement of the calculated with the phenomenological depth (≈ 30 MeV) can be obtained for reasonable hard-core radii (≈ 0.4 fm) and for an appreciable p-state interaction of about half the strength of the s-state one.
The C++ Subset That Covers Pascal

A frustrating part of beginning a new language is struggling to find the data structures, control structures, and embedding syntax required for the level of computational expressiveness to which one is accustomed. The aim of this chapter is to introduce that kernel of C++ which spans Pascal. Because this kernel is Pascal-like, Pascal programmers can learn it quickly and feel comfortable in C++ in short order. Familiarity with C is not required.
Property Enhanced Natural Fiber Composite Materials Based on Chemical Modification

Agro-based resources, also referrered to as lignocellulosics, are resources that contain cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Lignocellulosics include wood, agricultural residues, water plants, grasses, and other plant substances. When considering lignocellulosics as possible engineering materials, there are several very basic concepts that must be considered. First, lignocellulosics are hygroscopic resources that were designed to perform, in nature, in a wet enviornment. Secondly, nature is programmed to recycle lignocellulosics in a timely way through biological, thermal, aqueous, photochemical, chemical, and mechanical degradations.
Incidence of Epilepsy and Associated Risk Factors in Perinatal Ischemic Stroke Survivors

Abstract Introduction Epilepsy is a serious and often lifelong consequence of perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS). Variable incidences and risk factors for long-term epilepsy in PAIS have been reported. To determine the incidence of epilepsy in PAIS survivors and report factors associated with the risk of developing epilepsy, a meta-analysis and systematic review of prior publications was performed. Methods We examined studies on perinatal or neonatal patients (≤28 days of life) with arterial ischemic strokes in which the development of epilepsy was reported. EMBASE and MEDLINE/PubMed databases were systematically searched in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Results A meta-analysis of 10 studies revealed a summary incidence of epilepsy in PAIS patients of 27.2% (95% confidence interval 16.6% to 41.4%) over a mean study duration of 10.4 years (range 1.5 to 17). More recent studies generally reported a lower epilepsy incidence. A systematic review identified seven possible risk factors for epilepsy in PAIS patients: hippocampal volume reduction, infarct on prenatal ultrasound, a modified Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography score ≥9, family history of seizures, cerebral palsy, and initial presentation with cognitive impairment or seizures. Conclusions About a third of children with PAIS will develop epilepsy. While seven possible risk factors have been reported, further research is warranted to confirm the strength of their association with the development of epilepsy.
FOXP3 and Its Cofactors as Targets of Immunotherapies

Abstract Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a “master regulator” of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are a subset of T cells that can suppress the antigen-specific immune reaction and that play important roles in host tolerance and immune homeostasis. It is well known that FOXP3 forms complexes with several proteins and can be regulated by various post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and methylation. As a consequence, the PTMs change the stability of FOXP3 and its capability to regulate gene expression, and eventually affect Treg activity. Although FOXP3 per se is not an ideal drug target, deacetylases, acetyltransferases, kinases, and other enzymes that regulate the PTMs of FOXP3 are potential targets to modulate FOXP3 and Treg activity. However, FOXP3 is not the only substrate for most of these enzymes; thus, unwanted “on target/off FOXP3” side effects must be considered when inhibitors to these enzymes are used. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the study of FOXP3 cofactors and PTM proteins, and potential clinical applications in autoimmunity and cancer immunity.
14.6 A 745pA Hybrid Asynchronous Binary-Searching and Synchronous Linear-Searching Digital LDO with 3.8×10 5 Dynamic Load Range, 99.99% Current Efficiency, and 2mV Output Voltage Ripple

Voltage regulators for emerging nW-to-$\mu \mathrm {W}$ Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems-on-chip (SoCs) require ultra-low quiescent power to enhance lifetime, a large dynamic load range to support multiple components and applications, and fast transient performance to support duty-cycled loads. Switching regulators [1], [2] can achieve sub-nW operation, but suffer from slow settling time and large output voltage ripple that deteriorate analog and RF performance. Digital low-dropout regulators (DLDOs) offer faster transient response, low-voltage operation, and flexible control schemes [3]–[6]. However, conventional synchronous DLDOs that use a high frequency clock for fast response consume too much power [3], and asynchronous DLDOs can achieve lower current consumption and fast response, but suffer from larger steady-state error [4]. Also, previous DLDOs do not target load current in the $\lt 10 \mu \mathrm {A}$ range. To achieve ultra-low-current consumption, a wide dynamic load range down to nA loads, and good transient and steady-state performance, we propose a hybrid asynchronous binary-searching (ABS) and synchronous linear-searching (SLS) DLDO that achieves $3.8 \times 10 ^{5}$ dynamic load range, 99.99% current efficiency, and 2mV output voltage ripple, while consuming 745pA quiescent current.
Reporting of all cardiac medications and their outcome in COVID-19.

We read with much interest the article “Organ‐ protective effect of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 and its Effect on the prognosis of COVID ‐19” by Cheng et al in your esteemed Journal. Authors have discussed the theoretical basis of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 in improving outcome of COVID – 19 patients1.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Active surveillance for acute respiratory infections among pediatric long-term care facility staff.

Background Transmission of respiratory viruses between staff and residents of pediatric long-term care facilities (pLTCFs) can occur. We assessed the feasibility of using text or email messages to perform surveillance for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among staff. Methods From December 7, 2016 to May 7, 2017, 50 staff participants from 2 pLTCFs received weekly text or email requests to report the presence or absence of ARI symptoms. Those who fulfilled the ARI case definition (≥2 symptoms) had respiratory specimens collected to detect viruses by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays. Pre- and postsurveillance respiratory specimens were collected to assess subclinical viral shedding. Results The response rate to weekly electronic messages was 93%. Twenty-one ARIs reported from 20 (40%) participants fulfilled the case definition. Respiratory viruses were detected in 29% (5/17) of specimens collected at symptom onset (influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus [CoV] 229E, rhinovirus [RV], and dual detection of CoV OC43 and bocavirus). Four participants had positive presurveillance (4 RV), and 6 had positive postsurveillance specimens (3 RV, 2 CoV NL63, and 1 adenovirus). Conclusions Electronic messaging to conduct ARI surveillance among pLTCF staff was feasible.
Monitoring Adolescents' Receipt of Time Alone From Two National Surveys.

Abstract Purpose Despite professional endorsement and research supporting time alone with a clinician for adolescents, low rates and disparities persist. The purpose of the present analysis was to provide detailed monitoring of time alone estimates in two national surveys that assess time alone for adolescents aged 12–17 years: the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Methods Time alone assessments in the NSCH and the MEPS have different definitions. The NSCH assessed time alone within the most recent preventive visit, and the MEPS assessed it within the most recent health care visit. We analyzed these within the subsample of 12- to 17-year-olds who had any past-year preventive visit: MEPS 2016–2017, n = 2,689; and NSCH 2016–2017, n = 24,085. We developed time alone estimates for full and subgroup samples and conducted multivariable logistic regressions to determine differences by age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, insurance, and region. Results Overall time alone receipt was 49% (NSCH) and 29% (MEPS). Overall rates are not comparable because their definitions differ. Some subgroup differences were similar across datasets: younger adolescents (p Conclusions Among adolescents with a past-year preventive visit, time alone rates are low. Lower rates for females versus males and younger versus older adolescents persist. Detailed monitoring results can help to shape promising strategies including clinic-based interventions, such as provider training and educating parents, in efforts to improve the provision of time alone in clinical practice.
The Pricing of Exchange Traded Funds and the Roles of Primary and Secondary Market Participants

We study the pricing of exchange traded funds (ETFs) and the associated arbitrage trading of them in the primary and secondary markets. We find a direct relation between primary and secondary marke...
Multiplicities of sandscapes and granular geographies

This commentary on William Jamieson’s article, ‘For Granular Geography’, which illuminates the granular relations of sand as it is transformed by capitalist urbanism, suggests that understanding wh...
ANALYSIS ON KINETICS OF CARBIDE DIFFUSION COATING

A kinetic model for carbide diffusion coating has been proposed based on the theory of steady diffusion and solid solution sublattice model. It is supposed that the growth velosity of carbide layer is controlled by the volume diffusion coef- ficient of carbon atoms in carbide layer and the activity of carbon in steel matrix. The calculated results for V_4C_3 coating treatment of commercial steels T10, 45, Cr12 MoV, 4Cr5MoVSi are in agreement with the experimental data
Chronic Pain Management in the Homeless Population

Acute and chronic pain affects a large portion of the US and European population. Worldwide estimates suggest that one in five adults suffers from pain and another one in ten adults are diagnosed with chronic pain yearly. The burden of disease, however, is disproportionate and affects the homeless more frequently and with more serious consequences than the non-homeless. There are a host of factors that perpetuate the pain cycle, including loss of function, independence, and social disparity that are examined in this chapter. In addition, an understanding of the pathophysiology of pain, populations affected, evaluation, and treatment options will be reviewed. Despite limited resources and associated difficulties with managing chronic pain in this population, opportunities for improving patient function, pain level, and provider knowledge will be reviewed.
Environmental Contamination from Uranium Mining and Milling in the Western U.S.

Science and technology developed by the Manhattan Project during the second world war created an entirely new industry based on the use of uranium (U) as a source of power and for nuclear weapons. This resulted in near instantaneous development of a large market for U, and U.S. production went from nearly nonexistent in 1949 to 35 Mlbs/year of U concentrate, represented as U3O8, by 1959. This production continued for 25 years and then experienced a sharp decline due to declining markets as a result of decreased interest in nuclear power and less expensive sources of foreign U. Most U.S. production was done by open pit and underground mines from sandstone deposits located in the western states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The only current U mining in the U.S. uses the in situ recovery process (ISR, also referred to as in situ leach or ISL) at a few mines in Wyoming and Nebraska. Large ISR mines located in south Texas are no longer active. The rapid development of the U industry in the west and its almost equally rapid demise in the U.S. mean that most of the impacts on human health and the environment are due to legacy operations that began before protective laws and regulations were passed in the 1970s and 1980s.
Coupling light to nanostructures via plasmons

This article outlines some of the recent studies on light manipulation and molecule sensing with plasmonic nanostructures. Studies show that plasmonic nanostructures can serve as optical couplers across nano-micro interface, and recent advances in this emerging area now enable researchers to mount a systematic approach toward the goal of full system-level integration.
A Review of “Contemporary Leadership and Intercultural Competence: Exploring the Cross-Cultural Dynamics Within Organizations”

To sustain success, Michael A. Moodian, the editor of a book of readings on intercultural competence, makes the point that today's leadership needs to build a capacity that enables organizational p...
Market Orientation and Nonprofit Organizations

This paper discusses the concept of market orientation within the context of nonprofit organizations. Three elements of market orientation-market intelligence, intelligence dissemination, and responsiveness-are examined for their association with performance in nonprofit organizations. A conceptual framework is developed which identifies select senior management characteristics, organizational characteristics, and external factors as key determinants of market orientation and subsequent performance of nonprofit organizations. In all, fourteen propositions are advanced for future research. This conceptual work posits that nonprofit decision makers can create a market orientation by focusing on specific organizational and senior management characteristics, and adapting to certain external factors. The ultimate objective is to achieve and sustain organizational performance.
The roles of CYP2D6 and stereoselectivity in the clinical pharmacokinetics of chlorpheniramine.

Aims To examine the stereoselective disposition of chlorpheniramine and to evaluate the role of CYP2D6 in chlorpheniramine pharmacokinetics in humans. Methods Eight healthy volunteers (six extensive metabolizers with respect to CYP2D6 and two poor metabolizers) received a single 8 mg oral dose of racchlorpheniramine either given alone or following administration of quinidine 50 mg every 6 h for 2 days prior to the study day and every 6 h thereafter until the end of the study. Plasma concentrations of (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-enantiomers of chlorpheniramine were determined using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results In extensive metabolizers, mean C max was greater (12.55 ± 1.51 ng ml -1 vs 5.38 ± 0.44 ng ml -1 ) and CL oral was lower (0.49 ± 0.08 l h -1 kg -1 vs 1.07 ± 0.15 l h -1 kg -1 ) for (S)-(+)- than for (R)-(-)-chlorpheniramine (P<0.005). For (S)-(+)-chlorpheniramine, administration of quinidine, an inhibitor of CYP2D6, resulted in an increase in C max to 13.94±1.51 (P<0.01), a reduction in CL oral to 0.22±0.03 l h -1 kg -1 (P<0.01), and a prolongation of elimination half-life from 18.0±2.0 h to 29.3±2.0 h (P<0.001). Administration of quinidine decreased CL oral for (R)-(-)-chlorpheniramine to 0.60±0.10 l h -1 kg -1 (P<0.005). In CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, systemic exposure was greater after chlorpheniramine alone than in extensive metabolizers, and administration of quinidine resulted in a slight increase in CL oral Conclusions Stereoselective elimination of chlorpheniramine occurs in humans, with the most pharmacologically active (S)-(+)-enantiomer cleared more slowly than the (R)-(-)-enantiomer. CYP2D6 plays a role in the metabolism of chlorpheniramine in humans.
In vitro biodegradation behavior, mechanical properties, and cytotoxicity of biodegradable Zn-Mg alloy.

Zinc–Magnesium (Zn–Mg) alloy as a novel biodegradable metal holds great potential in biodegradable implant applications as it is more corrosion resistant than Magnesium (Mg). However, the mechanical properties, biodegradation uniformity, and cytotoxicity of Zn–Mg alloy remained as concerns. In this study, hot extrusion process was applied to Zn–1 wt % Mg (Zn–1Mg) to refine its microstructure. Effects of hot extrusion on biodegradation behavior and mechanical properties of Zn–1Mg were investigated in comparison with Mg rare earth element alloy WE43. Metallurgical analysis revealed significant grain size reduction, and immersion test found that corrosion rates of WE43 and Zn–1Mg were reduced by 35% and 57%, respectively after extrusion. Moreover, hot extrusion resulted in a much more uniform biodegradation in extruded Zn–1Mg alloy and WE43. In vitro cytotoxicity test results indicated that Zn–1Mg alloy was biocompatible. Therefore, hot extruded Zn–1Mg with homogenous microstructure, uniform as well as slow degradation, improved mechanical properties, and good biocompatibility was believed to be an excellent candidate material for load-bearing biodegradable implant application. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 1632–1640, 2015.
Analytical model for the minimization of torque ripple in permanent magnets assisted synchronous reluctance motors through asymmetric rotor poles

Synchronous Reluctance motor has recently gained popularity in applications where induction motors are normally employed. Additionally, when permanent magnets are buried in the rotor, they become an alternative for high performance applications. Some of its drawbacks such as high torque ripple and low power factor need to be overcome. The design of Synchronous Reluctance motors with asymmetric flux barriers has been recently used to reduce torque ripple. Finite element models are necessary tool to find the right place and dimensions of the flux barriers as well as to predict the torque harmonics. However, it is time consuming to analyze the model since periodicity and symmetry conditions cannot be used to reduce the model to a single pole. Therefore, in this paper an analytical model is presented to rapidly and accurately study the effect of such asymmetry of rotor poles on the torque ripple. The proposed approach is developed for symmetrical and asymmetrical geometries and validated against finite element models.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Stomal Stenosis

Stomal stenosis is simply an anastomotic stricture at the gastrojejunal anastomosis of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). It is one of the common postoperative complications of RYGB. The incidence is reported between 3.1% and 15.7%, depending on the type of anastomosis used. The method of anastomosis seems to have the greatest impact on the formation of stomal stenosis. It appears that the greatest risk of stenosis is conferred by use of a 21-mm circular stapler, followed in order by a 25-mm circular stapler, linear stapler, and handsewn anastomosis. There have been several studies showing no difference in weight loss between the different anastomotic methods. At least one major study shows no relationship between stomal stenosis and antecolic versus retrocolic anastomoses. There also is no gender, comorbidity, or BMI relationship to stomal stenosis. Stomal stenosis is signifi cantly more common after revisional surgery. The cause of stomal stenosis has not been scientifi cally proved; however, most believe that it is related to excessive scar formation or ischemia. Another possible cause is recurrent vomiting; however, since vomiting is one of the symptoms of stenosis, it is impossible to determine which came fi rst. Finally, stomal stenosis can be associated with gastric/marginal ulcers, anasamotic banding, or with “pursestringing” of permanent suture material. In the case on concurrent ulcer disease stomal stenosis occurs late and may be caused by smoking or NSAID use. Presenting symptoms include dysphagia, solid food intolerance, nausea, and vomiting. Presentation is usually 1 to 2 months postoperatively. Late presentation (>4 months) suggests concurrent pathology, such as ulcer, band material, or retained suture material.
Lidar and pressure measurements of inner-surfzone waves and setup

AbstractObservations of waves and setup on a steep, sandy beach are used to identify and assess potential applications of spatially dense lidar measurements for studying inner-surf and swash-zone hydrodynamics. There is good agreement between lidar- and pressure-based estimates of water levels (r2 = 0.98, rmse = 0.05 m), setup (r2 = 0.92, rmse = 0.03 m), infragravity wave heights (r2 = 0.91, rmse = 0.03 m), swell–sea wave heights (r2 = 0.87, rmse = 0.07 m), and energy density spectra. Lidar observations did not degrade with range (up to 65 m offshore of the lidar) when there was sufficient foam present on the water surface to generate returns, suggesting that for narrow-beam 1550-nm light, spatially varying spot size, grazing angle affects, and linear interpolation (to estimate the water surface over areas without returns) are not large sources of error. Consistent with prior studies, the lidar and pressure observations indicate that standing infragravity waves dominate inner-surf and swash energy at low ...
Paternally Transmitted FMR1 Alleles Are Less Stable than Maternally Transmitted Alleles in the Common and Intermediate Size Range

Fragile X syndrome, a form of X-linked mental retardation, results from the hyperexpansion of a CGG trinucleotide repeat located in the 5' untranslated region of the fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene. Relatively little is known about the initial mutation that causes a stable allele to become unstable and, eventually, to expand to the full mutation. In the present study, we have examined 1,452 parent-child transmissions of alleles of common (< or =39 repeats) or intermediate (40-59 repeats) sizes to study the initial mutation events. Of these, 201 have been sequenced and haplotyped. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that parental origin of transmission, repeat size (for unsequenced alleles), and number of the 3' CGGs (for sequenced alleles) were significant risk factors for repeat instability. Interestingly, transmission of the repeat through males was less stable than that through females, at the common- and intermediate-size level. This pattern differs from that seen for premutation-size alleles: paternally transmitted alleles are far more stable than maternally transmitted alleles. This difference that depends on repeat size suggests either a different mutational mechanism of instability or an increase in selection against sperm as their repeat size increases.
Decomposition mechanisms of trimethylarsine

Trimethylarsine (TMAs) decomposition mechanisms have been studied in an isothermal flow tube reactor using mass spectrometry. Ambients of He and D2 and surfaces of SiO2 and GaAs, with both low and high surface areas, were used to study the decomposition of TMAs alone and with trimethylgallium (TMGa). With an He ambient, the pyrolysis was observed to be largely homogeneous. The rate-determining step is cleavage of the first As-CH3 bond. In D2, the pyrolysis is still homogeneous: it occurs mainly by hydrogenolysis via a five-coordinate transition state complex. The hydrogenolysis reaction sequentially reduces TMAs to dimethylarsine, monomethylarsine, and finally arsine. During hydrogenolysis, these secondary species also decompose in parallel on the surface, hence a small catalytic effect of the GaAs surface was detected. When TMGa is added, the TMAs decomposition mechanism does not change in He, but in D2 the pyrolysis rate increases. This occurs because the TMGa pyrolysis produces CH3 radicals which react with D2 molecules to form CH3D and D. The D radicals in turn attack the TMAs molecules, increasing the pyrolysis rate.
Volatile anesthetics selectively alter [3H]ryanodine binding to skeletal and cardiac ryanodine receptors.

Summary The effect of clinical concentrations of volatile anesthetics on ryanodine receptors of cardiac and skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was evaluated using [ 3 H]ryanodine binding. At 2 volume percent, halothane and enflurane stimulated binding to cardiac SR by 238% and 204%, respectively, while isoflurane had no effect. In contrast, halothane and enflurane had no effect on [ 3 H]ryanodine binding to skeletal ryanodine receptors, while isoflurane produced a significant stimulation. These results suggest that volatile anesthetics interact in a site-specific manner with ryanodine receptors of cardiac or skeletal muscle to effect Ca 2+ release-channel gating.
Ethics on the feedback loop

Abstract The design, manufacture, and supervision of complex systems usually proceeds as an iterative activity involving multiple feedback loops. During each iteration, as physical parameters are re-examined for possible changes, the system’s societal impacts should receive as much attention as does the system’s purely physical performance.
Ligand exchange and abstraction reactions involving titanium isopropoxide with tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and -alane: ramifications for ring-opening polymerization of propylene oxide

Abstract In situ mixing of Ti(OiPr)4 and B(C6F5)3 generates a very efficient catalyst system for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of propylene oxide (PO) with a turnover frequency (TOF) >1350/h, whereas the mixture of Ti(OiPr)4 and Al(C6F5)3 is inactive for the same polymerization. The inactivity of the Ti(OiPr)4/Al(C6F5)3 mixture is due to the formation of the stable isopropoxy-bridged bimetallic species Ti(OiPr)3(μ-OiPr)Al(C6F5)3 (1), the structure of which has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The products of the Ti(OiPr)4 + B(C6F5)3 reaction, however, depend on the Ti(OiPr)4:B(C6F5)3 ratio. The 1:1 ratio reaction in toluene at ambient temperature is rapid and produces the ligand exchange products: Ti(OiPr)3C6F5 and iPrOB(C6F5)2 (2), along with a small amount of (iPrO)2BC6F5. The two resulting boranes are inseparable by recrystallization or vacuum distillation, and the formation of the undesired (iPrO)2BC6F5 is either significantly enhanced upon heating the reaction in toluene to 80 °C or nearly exclusive by carrying out the reaction in THF. By employing 1.2 equiv. of B(C6F5)3 in the reaction with Ti(OiPr)4, however, the formation of (iPrO)2BC6F5 is suppressed, enabling the isolation of the new borane 2 in its pure state. The excess of B(C6F5)3 added to the reaction apparently slows down the exchange reaction by stabilizing the intermediate Ti(OiPr)3(μ-OiPr)B(C6F5)3 (4), as shown by the 1:2 Ti(OiPr)4:B(C6F5)3 reaction which initially forms the ligand abstraction product 4 followed by subsequent slow ligand exchange to give the final products Ti(OiPr)3C6F5 and 2. The studies of these individual reactions, in combination with control polymerization runs, reveal that the active species responsible for the catalytic activity of the Ti(OiPr)4/B(C6F5)3 mixture is the isopropoxy borane 2. Thus, the isolated 2, in the absence or presence of a hydroxylic initiator, serves as a very effective catalyst for the ROP of PO, producing PPOs with Mn=2000–3000, Mw/Mn=1.30–1.43, and TOF >1400/h. The MALDI-TOF MS analyses of the PPOs formed show the linear PPO structures having the initiator and water molecules as end groups, demonstrating the control over the PPO structure.
A layer based architecture for provenance in big data

Big data is a new technology wave that makes the world awash in data. Various organizations accumulate data that are difficult to exploit. Government databases, social media, healthcare databases etc. are the examples of that big data. Big data covers absorbing and analyzing huge amount of data that may have originated or processed outside of the organization. Data provenance can be defined as origin and process of data. It carries significant information of a system. It can be useful for debugging, auditing, measuring performance and trust in data. Data provenance in big data is relatively unexplored topic. It is necessary to appropriately track the creation and collection process of the data to provide context and reproducibility. This poster tries to address the challenges of capturing provenance data. Additionally, we propose an intuitive layer based architecture of provenance in big data that can handle the challenges.
PREDICTORS FOR CUTANEOUS BASAL- AND SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA AMONG ACTINICALLY DAMAGED ADULTS

Risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer among populations with evidence of precursor damage are not well described. We examined and compared risk factors associated with the development of cutaneous basal-cell (BCC) or squamous-cell (SCC) carcinoma amonga group of 918 adults with significant sun damage (≥10 clinically assessable actinic keratoses) but no prior history of skin cancer. These adults were participants in a 5-year skin chemoprevention trial between 1985 and 1992, who had been randomized to the placebo group and followed for occurrence of skin cancer. During the study, a total of 129 first SCC and 164 first BCC lesions were diagnosed. The overall BCC and SCC incidence rates for this group of men and women, mean age 61 years, were 4,106 and 3,198 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Different constitutional and exposure factors were independently associated with BCC compared to SCC. Only increased age independently predicted BCC occurrence among this population. In contrast, older age along with male gender, natural red hair color and adult residence in Arizona for 10 or more years independently predicted SCC occurrence. The substantial incidence of skin cancer found among this population confirms the need for active dermatological monitoring among individuals with multiple visible actinic lesions.
Photoperiod, reproduction, and immunity in select strains of inbred mice.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether decreased day lengths affect reproduction or the immune system in inbred mice. Irrespective of a nocturnal pineal melatonin rise, the signal for day length information, body and testis weights were the same in various strains 8 weeks after transfer from long to short days (16 to 8 h of light/day) compared to mice that remained in long days. Serum testosterone was unaffected by the photoperiod shift. The second goal was to determine whether the shift from long to short days influenced lymphocyte populations in spleen or blood, as well as innate and cell-mediated immune cell functions in C3H/HeN mice, an inbred strain with a robust melatonin rhythm. By flow cytometry, a stable percentage and number of B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells were identified in spleen from mice in both long and short days during the day and night. This complement of immunophenotypes in spleen suggests that equivalent functional capabilities persist in secondary lymphoid tissue of mice irrespective of day length. This was supported by findings that cytolytic activity by splenic natural killer cells (innate immunity) and antigen-induced T cell-dependent B cell antibody production (adaptive immunity) were similar in mice in long and short days. In blood, cell numbers but not helper T cell subset percentages (i.e., naive, memory, cytotoxic, or activated) were augmented in mice in short compared to long days, a consequence of increased circulating B cells. Day length differences in certain immunophenotypes in circulation may forecast photoperiod-mediated alterations in responsiveness to pathogens that are associated with a change in season. At night, the reduced proportion of cytotoxic T cells (long and short days), as well as increases in the percentage of activated T cells (long days), B cells (short days), and NK cell activity (long and short days) relative to daytime, suggests that surveillance and function by select immunophenotypes may adapt to circadian transitions even in highly inbred species. Thus, inbred mice retain capabilities for photoperiod to influence trait-specific aspects of immune cell but not reproductive function.
Automatic workflow verification and generation

Correctness is an important aspect of workflow management systems. However, most of the workflow literature focuses only on the modeling aspects and assumes that a workflow is correct if during the execution it respects the control and data dependency specified by the workflow designer. To address the correctness question properly we propose a new workflow model based on Hoare semantics that allows to: (1) automatically check if the desired outcome of a workflow can be produced by its actual implementation, (2) automatically synthesize a workflow implementation from the workflow specification and a given task library.In particular we: (1) formalize the semantics of workflows and tasks with pre-and postconditions, (2) for each control construct we provide a set of sound inference rules formalizing its semantics. While most of our workflow constructs are standard, two of them are new: the universal and the existential constructs. We then describe algorithms for automatically checking the correctness of workflows and for automatic workflow generation.
Physiological responses of horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) embryos to osmotic stress and a possible role for stress proteins (HSPs)

We tested the effects of osmotic stress on survival, developmental rate, and level of HSPs on American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) embryos. Animals were maintained in the laboratory at an ambient salinity of 20 ppt and then exposed to 4-h osmotic shocks at salinities of 10, 30, 40, 50, and 60 ppt, with a control group at 20 ppt. Horseshoe crab embryos had 100% developmental success (defined as individuals reaching the first instar or trilobite larval stage) at all salinities. However, osmotic stresses, especially hyperosmotic conditions, slowed the rate of development. Embryos subjected to osmotic stress showed higher levels of HSP70 and HSP90 than control animals kept at a salinity of 20 ppt. HSPs are of value to horseshoe crab embryos in surviving the fluctuating salinities that are typical of estuarine beach habitats.
Hydrologic Gradients and Topsoil Additions Affect Soil Properties of Virginia Created Wetlands

As the role of soil properties in the development of created wetlands (CWs) has not received adequate attention in regulatory or scientific communities, this study was conducted to evaluate the development of soil properties in 11 CWs in Virginia ranging from 4 to 16 yr since creation. Six of the 11 sites received at least 15 cm of topsoil (TS) while the other five sites received no topsoil (No TS). Cores collected from wet, intermediate, and dry positions at each site were analyzed for moisture, bulk density (D b ), soil organic matter (SOM), texture, water-holding capacity (WHC), P sorption index (PSI), and microbial biomass C (MBC). Both positions along the hydrologic gradient and topsoil status were hypothesized to be significant factors in explaining the variability of the measured soil properties. Soil moisture decreased significantly while D b increased significantly from wet to dry zones. Moisture, WHC, and PSI were all significantly elevated in certain zones of TS compared with No TS sites. Soil organic matter had significant Spearman correlations with all other measured soil properties, revealing that this parameter was an important indictor of soil quality. In addition, sites with high mean moisture, SOM, and PSI values all received TS; conversely, the site with the lowest mean moisture and SOM content did not receive TS. Thus, amending CW soils with TS appeared to be an effective strategy for increasing soil moisture, WHC, and PSI. Whenever possible, practices such as TS or organic amendments should be employed, especially if wetland creation involves excavation into subsoils with low SOM and high D b .