cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Book Review, Nancy N. Dubler & Carol B. Liebman, Bioethics Mediation: A Guide to Shaping Shared Solutions

This book provides a theoretical framework for understanding how mediation can be used effectively to resolve bioethics conflicts, as well as a concise, practical guide to basic mediation skills that are adapted for health care settings. It focuses on conflicts involving typical ethical tensions and issues in the doctor-patient relationship, such as appropriate care at the end of life, choices between aggressive and palliative treatment, refusals of treatment by competent patients, and truth-telling by health caregivers. The mediation skills and techniques described in the book can readily be applied to other problems and potential conflicts in a health care setting. The book provides a wealth of insights and tools that can be used to resolve cases after they have reached the point of conflict. In addition, its lessons and skills can be equally well applied by everyone involved in health care settings to promote active problem-solving and the effective management of hard cases before conflict arises.
Photosynthetic physiology and biomass partitioning in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum grown in a sinusoidal light regime

Photosynthetic microbes respond to changing light environments to balance photosynthetic process with light induced damage and photoinhibition. There have been very few characterizations of photosynthetic physiology or biomass partitioning during the day in mass culture. Understanding the constraints on photosynthetic efficiency and biomass accumulation are necessary for engineering superior strains or cultivation methods. We observed the photosynthetic physiology of nutrient replete Phaeodactylum tricornutum growing in light environments that mimic those found in rapidly mixing, outdoor, low biomass photobioreactors. We found little evidence for photoinhibition or non-photochemical quenching in situ, suggesting photosynthesis remains highly efficient throughout the day. Cells doubled their organic carbon from dawn to dusk and a small percentage – around 20% – of this carbon was allocated to carbohydrates or triacylglycerol. We conclude that the self-shading provided by dense culturing of P. tricornutum inhibits the induction of photodamage, and energy dissipation processes that would otherwise lower productivity in an outdoor photobioreactor.
Min-max linear programming and the timing analysis of digital circuits

This paper discusses a mathematical optimization problem with a number of applications in the timing analysis of synchronous and asynchronous circuits. This problem, which we call min-max linear programming (mmLP), involves the solution of linear programs that have min and max functions added to their constraints. Instances of problem mmLP are described, and a simple proof of NP-completeness is given. Two alternate methods are presented for mmLP solution. The first uses a branch-and-bound algorithm which is optimized to specifically reduce the number of operations required by the simplex linear programming algorithm. The second uses a transformation to a standard mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation. We evaluate both approaches on a variety of problems, including several large previously unsolved optimal clocking problems.
A Collaborative Dimension of the European Empires

On 10 May 1883, Ferdinand Mueller, the most famous Australian Scientist of his era, informed the Acting Consul General for France that he was reluctant to send seeds of native Australian plants to an institute of agronomy in the French colony of Algeria. For ‘the last 25 years and even more’, wrote Mueller, ‘I have made so many sendings of seeds to Algeria, that all our ordinary trees and shrubs have become common there’. Unless extremely rare varieties of Australian plants were needed, Mueller continued, it would be easiest to buy the seeds from local merchants in Algiers.1 Mueller’s letter raises an important and little-explored feature in the history of science and nineteenth-century European colonialism — scientists in the colonies collaborating across the political boundaries imposed by their confederations to assist in the development of colonies under the control of other European nations.
Methanobactin transport machinery

Methanotrophic bacteria use methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as their primary source of carbon and energy. The first step in methane metabolism is its oxidation to methanol. In almost all methanotrophs, this chemically challenging reaction is catalyzed by particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), a copper-dependent integral membrane enzyme. Methanotrophs acquire copper (Cu) for pMMO by secreting a small ribosomally produced, posttranslationally modified natural product called methanobactin (Mbn). Mbn chelates Cu with high affinity, and the Cu-loaded form (CuMbn) is reinternalized into the cell via an active transport process. Bioinformatic and gene regulation studies suggest that two proteins might play a role in CuMbn handling: the TonB-dependent transporter MbnT and the periplasmic binding protein MbnE. Disruption of the gene that encodes MbnT abolishes CuMbn uptake, as reported previously, and expression of MbnT in Escherichia coli confers the ability to take up CuMbn. Biophysical studies of MbnT and MbnE reveal specific interactions with CuMbn, and a crystal structure of apo MbnE is consistent with MbnE9s proposed role as a periplasmic CuMbn transporter. Notably, MbnT and MbnE exhibit different levels of discrimination between cognate and noncognate CuMbns. These findings provide evidence for CuMbn–protein interactions and begin to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of its recognition and transport.
Dissociating processes underlying level-1 visual perspective taking in adults.

Abstract Although reasoning about other people’s mental states has typically been thought to require effortful deliberation, evidence from indirect measures suggests that people may implicitly track others’ perspectives, spontaneously calculating what they see and know. We used a process-dissociation approach to investigate the unique contributions of automatic and controlled processes to level-1 visual perspective taking in adults. In Experiment 1, imposing time pressure reduced the ability to exert control over one’s responses, but it left automatic processing of a target’s perspective unchanged. In Experiment 2, automatic processing of a target’s perspective was greater when the target was a human avatar versus a non-social entity, whereas controlled processing was relatively unaffected by the specific target. Our findings highlight the utility of a process-dissociation approach for increasing theoretical precision and generating new questions about the nature of perspective taking.
On the Complexity of Optimal Request Routing and Content Caching in Heterogeneous Cache Networks

In-network content caching has been deployed in both the Internet and cellular networks to reduce content-access delay. We investigate the problem of developing optimal joint routing and caching policies in a network supporting in-network caching with the goal of minimizing expected content-access delay. Here, needed content can either be accessed directly from a back-end server (where content resides permanently) or be obtained from one of multiple in-network caches. To access content, users must thus decide whether to route their requests to a cache or to the back-end server. In addition, caches must decide which content to cache. We investigate two variants of the problem, where the paths to the back-end server can be considered as either congestion-sensitive or congestion-insensitive, reflecting whether or not the delay experienced by a request sent to the back-end server depends on the request load, respectively. We show that the problem of optimal joint caching and routing is NP-complete in both cases. We prove that under the congestion-insensitive delay model, the problem can be solved optimally in polynomial time if each piece of content is requested by only one user, or when there are at most two caches in the network. We also identify the structural property of the user-cache graph that makes the problem NP-complete. For the congestion-sensitive delay model, we prove that the problem remains NP-complete even if there is only one cache in the network and each content is requested by only one user. We show that approximate solutions can be found for both cases within a $(1-1/e)$ factor from the optimal, and demonstrate a greedy solution that is numerically shown to be within 1% of optimal for small problem sizes. Through trace-driven simulations, we evaluate the performance of our greedy solutions to joint caching and routing, which show up to 50% reduction in average delay over the solution of optimized routing to least recently used caches.
Chapter 33 – Adult Progenitor Cells as a Potential Treatment for Diabetes

As stated in more detail in Chapter 42 of this handbook, the need to control blood glucose levels in diabetes is essential to prevent the development of devastating complications. Treatment with insulin and oral agents has markedly improved in the past few decades, but true normoglycemia continues to be an elusive treatment target. To prevent complications, β-cell replacement therapy in the form of transplantation remains a major hope for the future, and a few people are already benefiting from this approach. More than 12,000 pancreas transplants have been performed since 1978, and more than 1,000 are now done yearly. Because whole-organ transplantation requires major surgery, it would be preferable to transplant only the pancreatic islet cells that comprise only about 1% of the pancreas. After decades of hard work and frustration, some success is being achieved, spurred partly by the success of the Edmonton protocol first reported in 2000.
Fit of CAD/CAM Tooth-supported Single Crowns and Fixed Dental Prostheses

Dentistry follows the generational change towards digital technology, and traditional techniques for dental restorative procedures are being influenced. An increasingly large number of CAD/CAM systems are currently used for fabrication of single crowns and fixed dental prostheses in the dental practice. The fit of a full coverage restoration is considered as criterion for long-term success. A review and comparison of the available digital workflows, CAD/CAM systems, and related biomaterial were conducted. Despite the variability of the different systems and evaluation methods, the majority of current literature attributes clinically acceptable marginal and internal gap measurements to the full digital workflow. While the contemporary digital systems appear to provide many advantages along with high-quality prostheses, the existing limitations and the continuous technological advancements fuel intensive research and improvement.
BIOLOGY OF CAVE ORGANISMS

maintenance of standing genetic variability. Muller and Fisher both argued that the advantage lies in the capacity to put together favorable mutants that arise in different individuals (see Felsenstein, 1974, for an insightful discussion). The unique feature of Mendelian segregation and recombination, especially with polygenic inheritance, is to permit a maximum of potential variability with minimum standing variability. There are also advantages of sex that involve static rather than dynamic aspects of populationsthat don't depend on a changing environment. Muller's ratchet is one disadvantage of asexual reproduction (Felsenstein, 1974). I'll mention another. Recombination can reduce the mutation load by permitting several independently arising mutants to be picked off in one genetic death, which cannot happen in an asexual population (Crow, 1970). This is important if there is synergistic epistasis among harmful mutants, for example if there is rank-order selection. If natural selection is even a crude approximation to truncation selection, recombination can greatly decrease the mutation load. I don't argue for these views in preference to others; it may well be that no single mechanism will suffice, and that the reasons that recombination was invented in the first place may differ from those why it is perpetuated. We need to understand why rapidly reproducing parasites are sexual as well as long lived hosts. Yet, I believe that Hamilton's discussion merits serious attention. I was especially interested in his arguments for the advantages of a fitness topography that produces excess homozygosity. There is much food for thought in this book. There is discussion of both what is known and what needs to be known. It is interesting and, for the most part, easy reading. Thoughtfully, the editors have provided a glossary. There are even pictures of each of the groups. I enjoyed the chance to see what people whose work I have read and admired look like. Furthermore, the variety of shapes, stances, faces, and costumes provide an impressive illustration of human polymorphism.
Accuracy of Informants: Do Parents Think That Mother Knows Best?

A total of 200 mothers and fathers provided their opinions as to the accuracy of mothers, fathers, teachers, children's peers, and children themselves as informants of children's emotional/behavioral problems. The results showed that mothers and fathers had very similar patterns of perceptions of accuracy, although fathers' ratings showed less differentiation between informants than did mothers' ratings. Patterns were very similar for reports on children and adolescents. Overall, mothers were perceived to be more accurate in reporting internalizing problems; mothers and teachers (and fathers to a lesser extent) were perceived to be more accurate in reporting externalizing problems; mothers, fathers, and teachers were seen as more accurate in reporting children's adaptive behaviors, and mothers, fathers, and children were seen as more accurate in reporting family problems. The results are discussed in the context of multiple informants of children's and adolescents' emotional/behavioral problems.
Comparative Safety of Sulfonylureas and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Ventricular Arrhythmia.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between individual antidiabetic sulfonylureas and outpatient-originating sudden cardiac arrest and ventricular arrhythmia (SCA/VA). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using 1999–2010 U.S. Medicaid claims from five large states. Exposures were determined by incident use of glyburide, glimepiride, or glipizide. Glipizide served as the reference exposure, as its effects are believed to be highly pancreas specific. Outcomes were ascertained by a validated ICD-9–based algorithm indicative of SCA/VA (positive predictive value ∼85%). Potential confounding was addressed by adjustment for multinomial high-dimensional propensity scores included as continuous variables in a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Of sulfonylurea users under study ( N = 519,272), 60.3% were female and 34.9% non-Hispanic Caucasian, and the median age was 58.0 years. In 176,889 person-years of sulfonylurea exposure, we identified 632 SCA/VA events (50.5% were immediately fatal) for a crude incidence rate of 3.6 per 1,000 person-years. Compared with glipizide, propensity score-adjusted hazard ratios for SCA/VA were 0.82 (95% CI 0.69–0.98) for glyburide and 1.10 (0.89–1.36) for glimepiride. Numerous secondary analyses showed a very similar effect estimate for glyburide; yet, not all CIs excluded the null. CONCLUSIONS Glyburide may be associated with a lower risk of SCA/VA than glipizide, consistent with a very small clinical trial suggesting that glyburide may reduce ventricular tachycardia and isolated ventricular premature complexes. This potential benefit must be contextualized by considering putative effects of different sulfonylureas on other cardiovascular end points, cerebrovascular end points, all-cause death, and hypoglycemia.
Observations and Issues

Over the years a number of schemes of knowledge representation (KR) have been developed that purportedly possess expressive power comparable to first- order logic (hereafter FOL). Frames (Minsky, 1975) and semantic networks (e.g. Schubert, 1976; Hendrix, 1979; Shapiro, 1979) have been employed success- fully in a number of systems and are well known in AI circles. Whether or not these systems are merely notational variants of FOL has been the subject of much debate (e.g. Israel and Brachman, 1984). Tenacious loyalty to the predicate cal- culus by some AI researchers is no doubt the result of its deductive strength and familiarity (e.g. Nilsson, 1971, 1980; McDermott, 1987). It has become popular to employ the linear notation of the predicate calculus to build databases that become intelligent through implementation of rules of inference and proof stra- tegies (e.g. Robinson, 1965; Bundy, 1983; Wos et al, 1984; Genesereth and Nils- son, 1987). The viability of first-order languages as KR systems is being increased by the development of methods to handle quantification over events, say through individuation of those events (see e.g. Davidson, 1967), and to handle knowledge and belief, say by allowing possible worlds to be admitted into the domain of quantification (see e.g. Moore, 1984). At the other end of the spectrum is the view that logic is inadequate from both psychological and linguistic per- spectives. Some researchers who hold this view have concentrated their efforts on the development of what has been described as informal methods for common- sense reasoning (e.g. see Schank and Nash-Webber, 1975). The polarized views on the role of logic in AI have prompted notable efforts to produce a common core of principles that would have a unifying effect on AI (e.g. Sowa, 1984). As yet, these efforts have failed to unify the field, and the aforementioned polarity in AI is still quite appreciable.
Management of Severe Head Injury

The objectives embedded in the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) include limiting the primary damage and controlling secondary insults, which are thrust upon the brain immediately after an accident. Applying the recommendations of evidencebased guidelines approved by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons attains these objectives. At the scene of accident, airway support, ventilation and oxygenation are strongly recommended in trying to keep the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the patient at around 100 mmHg [1]. Upon stabilization of the hemodynamic and pulmonary function, the victim is transferred rapidly by surface or air into the closest trauma center. In the emergency department (ED), one must maintain an SBP of at least 90 mmHg with adequate SPO2 before any other diagnostic procedure is performed, including CT of the head. When faced with multiple trauma, surgical prioritization depends on stability of vital signs, clinical evidence of herniation, findings on CT and intracranial pressure. A rapidly deteriorating patient should have infusion of mannitol and short-term hyperventilation en route to the CT suite. To prevent secondary brain insults, especially ischemia and brain swelling, the victim of TBI needs 3–4 weeks of vigilant supportive care in the intensive care unit (ICU), including ICP control and perfusion pressure management, adequate ventilation, infection control, nutritional support, physical and occupational therapy. Physical, mental and occupational rehabilitation in a well equipped center prepares the patient for ultimate social integration.
Palliative Care for Breast Cancer in the African-American Population

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African-American women, but its incidence is 13% lower than that in Caucasian women. The incidence slowly rose in the decade of the 1970’s but was fairly stable during the 1990’s. The death rate increased between 1973 and 1993 but it has declined since. In spite of this decline, the death rate is still 28% higher in African-American than in Caucasian women. There are likely to be many factors, which contribute to this higher death rate, including access to quality screening and treatment, late diagnosis and perhaps even more aggressive tumour biology (1).
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of nickel-based alloys

Abstract: Several families of commercial corrosion resistant high nickel alloys are used to handle aggressive industrial environments such as high temperature acids. Nickel alloys are resistant to cracking in hot chloride aqueous solutions. Environments that may cause stress corrosion cracking in nickel alloys include hot caustic solutions, high temperature water and hot and wet hydrofluoric acid. This chapter addresses the cracking behavior of nickel alloys in industries such as chemical process, nuclear power generation and in oil and gas exploration and production.
Indicators of exposure to estrogenic compounds at Great Lakes Areas of Concern: species and site comparisons

Adverse effects resulting from potential exposure of wild fishes to estrogenic endocrine disruptors were assessed at seven United States Great Lakes Areas of Concern using biomarkers ranging from organismal (gonadosomatic indices) to tissue/plasma (histology, plasma vitellogenin) and molecular (hepatic gene transcripts) levels. Biomonitoring was conducted on pelagic, top predator species, largemouth Micropterus salmoides and smallmouth M. dolomieu bass and benthic, omnivorous white sucker Catostomus commersonii. Seasonal (spring and fall) comparisons were conducted at select sites. Intersex (testicular oocytes), plasma vitellogenin, and hepatic vitellogenin transcripts were commonly observed in bass species. Testicular oocyte severity was positively, although weakly, correlated with plasma vitellogenin, hepatic transcripts of vitellogenin, estrogen receptor α, and estrogen receptor β2, while negatively correlated with androgen receptor β and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. No testicular oocytes were observed in white sucker; however, plasma vitellogenin and hepatic vitellogenin transcripts were commonly detected in the males. The results demonstrate the importance of utilizing multiple endpoints to assess exposure to estrogenic compounds as well as the importance of choosing sensitive species.
Pre-chamber spark plug development for highest efficiencies at Dresser-Rand’s Guascor ® gas engines

Clients in the stationary gas engine business are asking for increased engine efficiencies, and in parallel, more robustness against failures, extended service intervals and reduced unexpected engine shutdowns.
3115 Barriers and Resources in Career Development in Academic Medicine as Reported by Junior Faculty

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To identify the most frequently reported barriers/constraints and resources by junior faculty in achieving their goals at a large medical school in the Western United States. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We reviewed 222 individual development plans (IDPs) from 26 departments in an academic medical center for content regarding constraints and resources to achieve activities and barriers and/or resources to achieve new goals. The content and quality of the IDPs included was ascertained using quantitative data analysis as well a review of open-ended qualitative questions. In addition to analyzing the content, the quality and percent completion of data filled out for each field in the IDP was also assessed to help identify gaps with departments in successfully completing and submitting their IDPs. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Junior faculty indicated the following barriers: time/time management (55%); work/life balance (32%); funding (8%) and other (5%). Junior faculty also indicated that they had resources to help them achieve their goals, including: mentors (60%); collaborators (26%); colleagues (6%); other (8%). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The barriers in goal achievement (e.g., time/time management & work/life balance issues) at this academic medical setting suggest that further resources regarding time management and work - life balance need to be developed and disseminated in order to assist faculty in achieving their objectives. This project also reinforces the importance of having a robust mentor or mentoring team for junior faculty. Mentors and administrators should work collaboratively with junior faculty to identify resources to improve time management and work-life balance.
EM BUSCA DE EQUILÍBRIO: O JAPÃO ENTRE A APROXIMAÇÃO COM A RÚSSIA E A ALIANÇA COM OS EUA

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar como aadministracao Abe tem conciliado seu objetivo de aproximacaocom a Russia e, por outro lado, as demandas de seu principalaliado, os EUA, apos a crise na Ucrânia. A deterioracao dasrelacoes entre Russia e Ocidente e a consequente aplicacao desancoes ao pais de Vladimir Putin apos a anexacao da Crimeiacriaram um dilema para o Japao. Engajado na construcao derelacoes mais proximas com seus vizinhos russos desde seuretorno ao posto de Primeiro-Ministro, Shinzo Abe teve de tentaracomodar simultaneamente o interesse nacional japones e aspressoes de seu aliado norte-americano. As causas daaproximacao russo-japonesa e o historico de suas relacoesbilaterais entre 2012 e 2014 serao exploradas e, em seguida, seraoanalisadas as medidas implementadas pela diplomacia japonesaapos 2014 para manter boas relacoes com os russos sem, noentanto, prejudicar sua alianca com os norte-americanos.
Inhibitory Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols on Microbial Metabolism of Aromatic Amino Acids in Humans Revealed by Metabolomic Analysis

The bioactivities and potential health benefits of green tea polyphenols (GTP) have been extensively investigated, but the metabolic impact of chronic GTP intake on humans is not well defined. In this study, fecal and urine samples from postmenopausal female subjects taking a GTP supplement or placebo for 12 months were compared by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis. The GTP-derived and GTP-responsive metabolites were identified and characterized by structural elucidation and quantitative analysis of the metabolites contributing to the separation of control and treatment samples in the multivariate models. Major GTP and their direct sulfate and glucuronide metabolites were absent in feces and urine. In contrast, GTP-derived phenyl-γ-valerlactone and phenylvaleric acid metabolites were identified as the most abundant GTP-derived metabolites in feces and urine, suggesting extensive microbial biotransformation of GTP in humans. Interestingly, GTP decreased the levels of microbial metabolites of aromatic amino acids (AAA), including indoxyl sulfate, phenylacetylglutamine, and hippuric acid, in urine. However, it did not affect the levels of AAA, as well as other microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids, in feces. 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the fecal microbiome was not significantly affected by chronic consumption of GTP. Overall, microbial metabolism is responsible for the formation of GTP metabolites while GTP metabolism may inhibit the formation of AAA metabolites from microbial metabolism. Because these GTP-derived and GTP-responsive metabolites have diverse bioactivities, microbial metabolism of GTP and AAA may play important roles in the beneficial health effects of green tea consumption in humans.
SHELTERS INFLUENCE IN DUSKY GROUPER CULTURE

O enriquecimento ambiental pode ser uma ferramenta importante para melhorar o desempenho produtivo da garoupa-verdadeira Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a preferencia por abrigos e o efeito da disponibilidade de abrigos sobre o desempenho produtivo de juvenis de garoupa-verdadeira em sistema de recirculacao de agua salgada. Foram realizados dois ensaios, o primeiro para determinar a preferencia por diferentes tipos de abrigos (pedras, tijolos e tubos de PVC de diferentes cores) e o segundo sobre o uso de abrigos, com tres tratamentos (T1 = sem abrigo; T2 = um abrigo por peixe e T3 = dois abrigos por peixe). A garoupaverdadeira mostrou preferencia por abrigos de tubos de PVC de cor marrom. O uso de abrigos favoreceu um melhor desempenho produtivo da especie em sistemas de recirculacao de agua salgada.
A Fast Back-Projection Approach to Diffraction Tomography for Near-Field Microwave Imaging

A novel fast back-projection (FBP) approach is presented as a more robust alternative to conventional diffraction tomography (DT) for near-field three-dimensional (3-D) microwave imaging. Like DT, the FBP algorithm utilizes the spectral Green's function and stationary phase solution in the forward model, enabling the implementation of the fast Fourier transform to achieve real-time image generation with the same efficiency as DT. However, if the Green's function or the antenna gain pattern has any nulls within the imaging volume, the DT can have singularities that give rise to unbalanced images. The FBP not only naturally avoids the singularity problem and obtains balanced images through the point spread function, but is also much less sensitive to noise due to the matched-filter property of back-projection. 3-D simulations and measurement of a monostatic near-field free-space imaging scenario are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed FBP method in comparison with DT, and the improved uniformity and noise resistance of the image.
CMOS interface with biological molecules and cells

CMOS technology and its Moore’s Law scaling is an enormously successful technology paradigm that has continued to transform our computation and communication abilities. Outside the applications in computation and communication, CMOS technology has been increasingly applied to the life sciences, with a wealth of silicon integrated circuits developed to interface with biological molecules and cells. Concretely, large-scale arrays of active electrodes are integrated using CMOS technology for highly parallel electronic detection of biomolecular/ionic charges and cellular potentials for DNA sequencing, molecular diagnostics, and electrophysiology. Parallelism enabled by CMOS scalability is well suited to process the big data in these biotechnological applications. Here we offer a brief review on these CMOS-bio interfaces, while the corresponding presentation will focus on a sub-topic of CMOS electrophysiology with mammalian neurons.
The exoskeleton expansion: improving walking and running economy

Since the early 2000s, researchers have been trying to develop lower-limb exoskeletons that augment human mobility by reducing the metabolic cost of walking and running versus without a device. In 2013, researchers finally broke this ‘metabolic cost barrier’. We analyzed the literature through December 2019, and identified 23 studies that demonstrate exoskeleton designs that improved human walking and running economy beyond capable without a device. Here, we reviewed these studies and highlighted key innovations and techniques that enabled these devices to surpass the metabolic cost barrier and steadily improve user walking and running economy from 2013 to nearly 2020. These studies include, physiologically-informed targeting of lower-limb joints; use of off-board actuators to rapidly prototype exoskeleton controllers; mechatronic designs of both active and passive systems; and a renewed focus on human-exoskeleton interface design. Lastly, we highlight emerging trends that we anticipate will further augment wearable-device performance and pose the next grand challenges facing exoskeleton technology for augmenting human mobility.
Retreatment of a recanalized splenic artery aneurysm using a low-profile microembolization platform.

Abstract Recanalization of a splenic artery aneurysm owing to incomplete transcatheter coil embolization is uncommon. In addition to the challenges of inherent vessel tortuosity, reintervention via catheterization of the main splenic artery presents unique difficulties in navigating across potentially obstructive preexisting coils. We describe here the application of a low-profile microembolization platform, most commonly used in neurovascular interventions, in the treatment of a tortuous, expanding splenic artery aneurysm that had previously undergone failed coil embolization.
Making the Body Ready for School: ADHD and Early Schooling in the Era of Accountability

BackgroundAlthough concerns about unintended negative consequences of standards-based accountability (SBA) reform for children's socioemotional development have been raised, few studies have system...
Minimizing scattering from a densely packed antenna boom on the Europa Clipper Spacecraft

The placement of multiple antennas onto a single antenna boom on a spacecraft is often done to meet size and mass requirements. On the Europa Clipper spacecraft, one particular boom consists of three unique antennas and an instrument, a sun-sensor. The co-location of these can cause strong scattered fields that can degrade the radiated fields from the antennas. These degradations manifest as ripples or deep nulls in the radiation pattern, resulting in lower data-rates or complete loss of the communications link. To minimize these degradations, a numerical solver based on the Method of Moments (MoM) was used to solve for the scattered fields. The scattered fields are then minimized through an iterative process of changing placement and orientation of the boom's constituents. To validate this approach, a mockup of the antenna boom was constructed and tested in a compact antenna range. The results showed that the measured mockup and modeled radiation patterns compare well, showcasing the value-add of the electromagnetic scattering analysis in-lieu of an expensive full-scale prototype mockup.
The Bonds of Family: Slavery, Commerce and Culture in the British Atlantic World

A timely release for a year shaped by the Black Lives Matter movement and calls for racial justice around the world, this book traces the lives of four generations of the Hibbert family whose invol...
Implications of the NADase CD38 in COVID pathophysiology.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts have been made worldwide to develop effective therapies to address the devastating immune-mediated effects of SARS-CoV-2. With the exception of monoclonal anti...
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Treatment of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia-Associated Spasticity in 37 Patients.

Background A limited number of publications have described a reduction of spasticity associated with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). Typically, the SDR procedure is performed on patients with spastic cerebral palsy to remove spasticity and to help these patients with ambulatory function. Whether SDR has similar effects on HSP patients, requires further investigation. Thus, we are providing a personal experience of the effects of SDR on this specific cohort of patients. Objectives To examine the safety of SDR, changes in spasticity, and ambulatory function after SDR on patients with HSP. Methods The Institutional Review Board of Washington University School of Medicine approved this study (#201704003). A total of 37 children and adults received SDR for the treatment of HSP-associated spasticity between 1988 and 2021. SDR was performed through an L1 laminectomy, as we previously described in an earlier publication. The patients took part in the follow-up examination either in-person or by email. The follow-up focused on the patients' motor functions (primarily ambulation), adverse effects of SDR, and orthopedic treatments after SDR. Results Of the total 37 patients who participated in this study, 46% were female and 54% were male. The age range of when HSP was diagnosed was one month to 34 years. Six of the patients' diagnoses were made, based on the family history of HSP in six patients and the remaining 31 patients' diagnoses were confirmed by genetic tests. The most common genetic mutations were SPG4 and SPG3A. Of the patients with positive genetic tests, 40% had no family history of HSP. SDR was performed at the age of 2 to 45 years (mean: 14.7 years). The follow-up period ranged from 0 to 33 years (mean: 3.8 years). One patient developed a spinal fluid leak requiring surgical repair. Two patients reported mild numbness in parts of the lower limbs. Spasticity was removed in 33 patients (89%). Four patients (11%) experienced a return in spasticity. Regarding ambulatory function, 11% of patients reported a decline in function. Two patients walked independently before surgery but declined, requiring a wheelchair eight years and seven years, respectively, after surgery for each patient. In contrast, 16% saw an improvement in ambulatory function, improving from walking with a walker to walking independently. The remaining 73% of patients maintained their level of ambulation. These two groups of patients showed improvement in other motor functions and independence. Conclusions The present analysis suggests the potential role of SDR in the management of spasticity in HSP patients. We found no sign of SDR being a direct cause of deleterious effects on patients with HSP.
Reducing ICU Utilization, Length of Stay, and Cost by Optimizing the Clinical Use of Continuous Monitoring System Technology in the Hospital.

Abstract Background Continuous monitoring system technology (CMST) aids in earlier detection of deterioration of hospitalized patients, but whether improved outcomes are sustainable is unknown. Methods This interrupted time series evaluation explored whether optimized clinical use of CMST was associated with sustained improvement in intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, hospital length of stay, cardiac arrest rates, code blue events, mortality, and cost across multiple adult acute care units. Results A total of 20,320 patients in the postoptimized use cohort compared with 16,781 patients in the preoptimized use cohort had a significantly reduced ICU transfer rate (1.73% vs 2.25%, P = .026) corresponding to 367.11 ICU days saved over a 2-year period, generating an estimated cost savings of more than $2.3 million. Among patients who transferred to the ICU, hospital length of stay was decreased (8.37 vs 9.64 days, P = .004). Cardiac arrest, code blue, and mortality rates did not differ significantly. Conclusion Opportunities exist to promote optimized adoption and use of CMST at acute care facilities to sustainably improve clinical outcomes and reduce cost.
Planning and Experimental Knowledge Production: Zeche Zollverein as an Urban Laboratory

Within a time span of 10 years, the old colliery Zeche Zollverein in Essen, Germany, was transformed from a troubled brownfield to a celebrated UNESCO world heritage site. In 2010 it served as the central hub for events held during Essen's year as European Cultural Capital. In this article I argue that we should consider Zollverein as an urban laboratory and understand its planning history as an experimental inquiry process in the Deweyan sense. I develop the concept of an ‘urban laboratory’ by paralleling the contexts of urban planning on Zollverein with recent developments in the philosophy of science and science studies on scientific laboratories. Laboratory work is understood as context-bound experimental practice focused on resolving concrete problem situations. Theory and experimental practice are more closely linked than traditional views have held. Scientific inquiry must always be understood as a normative quest and cannot be reduced to a descriptive task of representing nature. Finally, I frame laboratory work as a transactive social process in which a community of inquiry is formed and transformed. These four ideas help to adapt the concept of scientific laboratory to urban planning contexts, and I use the Zollverein case study to illustrate these characteristics.
Measurement of shear and slip with a GelSight tactile sensor

Artificial tactile sensing is still underdeveloped, especially in sensing shear and slip on a contact surface. For a robot hand to manually explore the environment or perform a manipulation task such as grasping, sensing of shear forces and detecting incipient slip is important. In this paper, we introduce a method of sensing the normal, shear and torsional load on the contact surface with a GelSight tactile sensor [1]. In addition, we demonstrate the detection of incipient slip. The method consists of inferring the state of the contact interface based on analysis of the sequence of images of GelSights elastomer medium, whose deformation under the external load indicates the conditions of contact. Results with a robot gripper like experimental setup show that the method is effective in detecting interactions with an object during stable grasp as well as at incipient slip. The method is also applicable to other optical based tactile sensors.
The Me 109 Radio Installation

The equipment described in the following article was installed in a German Messerschmidt 109 shot down over the Thames estuary. The aeroplane was shipped to the United States through arrangements made by Mrs. Winston Churchill, honorary sponsor of “Bundles for Britain.” Upon its arrival Lear engineers removed the radio apparatus, and the equipment was thoroughly tested by Mr. Lear in his laboratories at Lear Avia, Inc., Piqua, Ohio. A covering note accompanying the article says: “Mr. Lear's report on the German radio equipment stressed four points: (1) The Germans have apparently ‘frozen’ their military radio design since 1933, and standardized their tubes and components for ease of mass production and servicing. (2) Shortages of war materials are indicated by the use of ceramics instead of plastics, fibre instead of rubber and special alloys instead of aluminium. (3) The extremely limited range of the transmitter (around 5 miles) and the provision for higher power output, indicate that most German warplancs in a given squadron can talk only to one another, while only the leader can communicate with his base. (4) German aircraft radio apparatus found in the Messerschmidt cannot pass U.S. Government lest for even commercial radio equipment, and weighs more than comparable American apparatus.”
Counting to one: The qualitative researcher's ‘magic’

This article is a commentary on ‘Assessing ‘good’ qualitative research in the work psychology field: A narrative analysis’ (Cassell & Symon, 2011).
CRITICISM OF "NECESSITY OF SIMULTANEOUS CO-EXISTENCE OF INSTANTANEOUS AND RETARDED INTERACTIONS IN CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS" BY CHUBYKALO AND VLAEV

The demonstration that the electromagnetic fields derived from the Lienard–Wiechert potentials do not satisfy the Maxwell equations is proved to be false. Errors were made in the computation of the derivatives of retarded quantities. The subsequent inference of the necessity of both instantaneous and retarded electromagnetic interactions cannot be made. Different choices of gauge can lead to a variety of forms for the scalar and vector potentials, always with the same retarded fields. Classical electromagnetic theory is complete as usually expressed. One may choose to work in the Lorentz gauge in which all quantities are retarded.
The Pathologist's Approach to Acute Lung Injury

Abstract Context.—Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome are significant causes of pulmonary morbidity and are frequently fatal. These 2 entities have precise definitions from a clinical standpoint. Histologically, cases from patients with clinical acute lung injury typically exhibit diffuse alveolar damage, but other histologic patterns may occasionally be encountered such as acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and diffuse hemorrhage with capillaritis. Objective.—To review the diagnostic criteria for various histologic patterns associated with a clinical presentation of acute lung injury and to provide diagnostic aids and discuss the differential diagnosis. Data sources.—The review is drawn from pertinent peer-reviewed literature and the author's personal experience. Conclusions.—Acute lung injury remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The pathologist should be aware of histologic patterns of lung disease other than diffuse alveolar ...
The Myocardial Unfolded Protein Response during Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease

Heart failure is a progressive and disabling disease. The incidence of heart failure is also on the rise, particularly in the elderly of industrialized societies. This is in part due to an increased ageing population, whom initially benefits from improved, and life-extending cardiovascular therapy, yet ultimately succumb to myocardial failure. A major cause of heart failure is ischemia secondary to the sequence of events that is dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. In the case of heart failure postmyocardial infarction, ischemia can lead to myocardial cell death by both necrosis and apoptosis. The extent of myocyte death postinfarction is associated with adverse cardiac remodeling that can contribute to progressive heart chamber dilation, ventricular wall thinning, and the onset of loss of cardiac function. In cardiomyocytes, recent studies indicate that myocardial ischemic injury activates the unfolded protein stress response (UPR) and this is associated with increased apoptosis. This paper focuses on the intersection of ischemia, the UPR, and cell death in cardiomyocytes. Targeting of the myocardial UPR may prove to be a viable target for the prevention of myocyte cell loss and the progression of heart failure due to ischemic injury.
Theory of Transport Effects in Semiconductors: The Nernst Coefficient, and Its Relation to Thermoelectric Power

A general expression for the Nernst coefficient, in terms of phenomenological parameters of the band transport equations, is derived for a two-band semiconductor for which Boltzmann statistics may be applied to the carrier distributions. The expression reduces to that given by Putley when his assumptions are made. The information obtainable from experimental values of the Nernst coefficient is discussed in the light of the expression derived in the paper. Also discussed is how this information might be supplemented from experimental values of the thermoelectric power. An expression for the latter, in terms of the phenomenological band transport parameters, is given. It reduces to that given by Johnson and Lark-Horovitz, when their assumptions are made. It is pointed out that the phonon drag effect should cause an anomaly in the Nernst coefficient corresponding to that in the thermoelectric power, and an estimate of the former anomaly is made.
Magnetic field induced metal-insulator transitions in modulationdoped multiple-quantum-well structures

Abstract The evolution from impurity band conduction, both insulating and metallic, to a “truly metallic” state has been realized by varying magnetic fields applied to a set of 240 A/240 A modulation-doped (Si) GaAs/AlGaAs multiple-quantum-well structures. The transitions were studied with a combination of far infrared magneto-transmission and electrical transport ( R xx and R xy ) measurements at magnetic fields up to 9 T and at temperatures between 1.5 and 30 K.
Mining condensed frequent-pattern bases

Frequent-pattern mining has been studied extensively and has many useful applications. However, frequent-pattern mining often generates too many patterns to be truly efficient or effective. In many applications, it is sufficient to generate and examine frequent patterns with a sufficiently good approximation of the support frequency instead of in full precision. Such a compact but "close-enough" frequent-pattern base is called a condensed frequent-pattern base.In this paper, we propose and examine several alternatives for the design, representation, and implementation of such condensed frequent-pattern bases. Several algorithms for computing such pattern bases are proposed. Their effectiveness at pattern compression and methods for efficiently computing them are investigated. A systematic performance study is conducted on different kinds of databases, and demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach in handling frequent-pattern mining in large databases.