cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Primary Presacral Myelolipomas: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Myelolipomas are uncommon, benign tumors found almost exclusively in the adrenal gland in as many as one in every 200 people [1]. Although extraadrenal myelolipomatous foci occur, they are extremely uncommon. Composed of a combination of mature adipose and hematopoietic elements, myelolipomas typically present in older patients, with the most common site of involvement being the adrenal gland [2–4]. It has an extremely low incidence and is very rarely reported on in literature [5]. Isolated extraadrenal myelolipoma comprise a small subset of myelolipomas as a whole and may therefore present a diagnostic challenge. Commonly, they may be misidentified as well-differentiated liposarcoma on radiographic imaging given their similar gross morphological composition [6, 7]. We report the case of a 67-year-old female who presented for evaluation of presacral liposarcoma, subsequently found to be extraadrenal myelolipoma at the time of surgery. This report reinforces the diagnostic challenges that isolated extraadrenal myelolipoma cases can present and reviews the literature on this unusual situation.
Competition, Development and Regional Integration: In Search of a Competition Law Fit for Developing Countries

What form of antitrust (competition) law is fitting for regional free trade areas comprised of developing countries? This article explores the question by tackling, first: Are there special characteristics of developing countries indicating their need for a competition law different from emerging international standards, and if so what are these characteristics and what salient focal points provide a framework for law sympathetic with economic development? The article argues that there are such special needs, and it explores models that respond to those needs. It suggests a metric of efficient inclusive development. In any event, the article argues for a voice of developing countries in choosing their model - which could turn out to correspond or not with the formulations of law in the developed world. Blueprint transplants may be fitting; they may not be fitting; they may fit well enough so that developing countries choose not to incur the costs of difference. The key point is knowledgeable choice. Finally, the article explores how a regional setting can make a difference. It can help overcome problems of effectiveness, and harmful exercises of power by the state and vested interests; but it presents new challenges of effectiveness that must be overcome.
The day/night switch in KaiC, a central oscillator component of the circadian clock of cyanobacteria

The circadian oscillator of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus is composed of only three proteins, KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC, which, together with ATP, can generate a self-sustained ≈24 h oscillation of KaiC phosphorylation for several days. KaiA induces KaiC to autophosphorylate, whereas KaiB blocks the stimulation of KaiC by KaiA, which allows KaiC to autodephosphorylate. We propose and support a model in which the C-terminal loops of KaiC, the “A-loops”, are the master switch that determines overall KaiC activity. When the A-loops are in their buried state, KaiC is an autophosphatase. When the A-loops are exposed, however, KaiC is an autokinase. A dynamic equilibrium likely exists between the buried and exposed states, which determines the steady-state level of phosphorylation of KaiC. The data suggest that KaiA stabilizes the exposed state of the A-loops through direct binding. We also show evidence that if KaiA cannot stabilize the exposed state, KaiC remains hypophosphorylated. We propose that KaiB inactivates KaiA by preventing it from stabilizing the exposed state of the A-loops. Thus, KaiA and KaiB likely act by shifting the dynamic equilibrium of the A-loops between exposed and buried states, which shifts the balance of autokinase and autophosphatase activities of KaiC. A-loop exposure likely moves the ATP closer to the sites of phosphorylation, and we show evidence in support of how this movement may be accomplished.
High performance organic dielectrics and high density substrates for next generation System on a Package (SOP) technology

This paper introduces a new developmental family of thin film dielectric materials that have low dielectric constant (2.5 - 3.1 ) and low loss tangent (<0.005) at 10 GHz and discusses process development and reliability testing of a 1-2-1 substrate stack-up with versions of these high-performance developmental dielectrics (RXP-4). The variant used in these experiments is called RXP-4a. Various conditions were tried to optimize processing and reliability. Fine line structures down to 14 mum have been demonstrated. These were also found to pass reliability testing. Additionally, FE modeling was performed to understand the predicted reliability of microvias in these RXP-4 materials.
Thrombocytosis and STAT5 activation in chronic myelogenous leukaemia are not associated with JAK2 V617F or calreticulin mutations

Aims Marked thrombocytosis is uncommon in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) but may be associated with mutation of JAK2 V617F, calreticulin ( CALR ) and/or phospho-STAT5 (p-STAT5) activation in other myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), particularly essential thrombocythaemia (ET). We investigated the JAK2 V617F, CALR and STAT5 activation status in patients with CML and thrombocytosis (CML-T) that mimicked ET, trying to identify a common mechanism for thrombocytosis in MPN. Methods Blood and bone marrow morphological findings were reviewed from seven CML-T, four otherwise typical CML and one CML in blast phase. All cases were analysed for BCR-ABL1 , JAK2 V617F and CALR exon 9 mutation and p-STAT5 expression. Results Four of seven cases of CML-T had marked thrombocytosis (>1000×10 9 /L). Eleven of 12 cases had megakaryocyte morphology typical for CML. All cases were BCR-ABL1 positive. Eleven of 12 cases were negative for JAK2 V617F, while STAT5 was activated in six of seven CML-T and in four of five CML cases. No case had a detectable CALR exon 9 mutation. One case of CML developed ET-like morphology and had JAK2 V617F detected while in molecular remission for CML. Conclusions Detection of BCR-ABL1 is critical in the distinction of ET from CML. Thrombocytosis and STAT5 activation in CML-T are not consistently associated with CALR exon 9 or JAK2 V617F mutation.
Moving Agricultural Water to Cities: The Search for Smarter Approaches

This article considers some of the issues associated with the transfer of water historically used for irrigation to urban use. It explores ways these transfers might occur with less adverse effects on the areas of historical use.
Pressure broadening and shift rates for Ar (s-p) transitions observed in an Ar-He discharge

Abstract The pressure broadening and shift rates have been measured for the 801.699 nm ( s 5 → p 8 ) , 800.836 nm ( s 4 → p 6 ) and 795.036 nm ( s 3 → p 4 ) transitions in argon perturbed by 10–200 Torr of helium and argon at a temperature of 440 ± 20 K using a radio-frequency, capacitively coupled discharge. For a 10% Ar in He plasma the pressure broadening and shift rates were measured as 14.18 ± 0.65 and 1.81 ± 0.30 MHz / Torr , 17.85 ± 0.78 and 0.72 ± 0.32 MHz / Torr , and 16.59 ± 1.22 and 2.94 ± 0.48 MHz / Torr for the 801.699 nm, 800.836 nm and 795.036 nm transitions, respectively. The influence of the slightly varying gas temperature on the broadening and shift rates is less than 1%. Stark broadening and shifting by electrons in the discharge are not measurable due to low electron densities and temperatures. Phase-changing collisional cross-sections in the literature decrease with temperature, in good agreement with the Lindholm–Foley T − 0.2 trend based on the Lennard–Jones potential. Further investigation of the Ar ⁎ –Ar and Ar ⁎ –He interaction potentials is necessary to understand the behavior of the cross sections.
The Relation of Temperature to the Chirp-Rate of Male Snowy Tree Crickets, Oecanthus fultoni (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

During 35 observation periods in August and September 1955 at University Park, Penn., 758 chirp-rate determinations were made on different individual or simultaneously chirping wild males of Oecanthus fultoni T. Walker. Records were obtained at 19 of the 29 half-degree intervals between 9.5° and 23.5°C. The mean chirp-rate per minute varied from 46 at 9.5° to 144 at 23.5°. The individual ranges from the means at the several temperatures varied from 3% to 32%. An exponential relationship between chirp-rate and temperature was demonstrated, but no definite relationship between chirp-rate and relative humidity was discovered. The appreciable variation in chirp-rates at given temperatures was attributed to uncontrolled environmental variables and to species and subspecific variability.
High Mobility Thiazole–Diketopyrrolopyrrole Copolymer Semiconductors for High Performance Field-Effect Transistors and Photovoltaic Devices

New donor–acceptor copolymers incorporating both a strong electron-accepting diketopyrrolopyrrole unit and a weak electron-deficient thiazolothiazole or benzobisthiazole moiety were synthesized, characterized, and found to exhibit very high charge carrier mobility. Stille coupling copolymerization gave copolymers having moderate number-average molecular weights of 17.0–18.5 kDa with polydispersities of 3.3–4.0 and optical band gaps of 1.22–1.38 eV. High performance p-channel field-effect transistors were obtained using the thiazolothiazole-linked copolymers, PDPTT and PDPTTOx, giving hole mobilities of 0.5 and 1.2 cm2/(V s), respectively, with on/off current ratios of 105 to 106. In contrast, the benzobisthiazole-linked copolymer PDPBT had a substantially lower field-effect mobility of holes (0.005 cm2/(V s)) due to its amorphous solid state morphology. Bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated by using one of the thiazolothiazole-linked copolymer, PDPTT, as electron donor and PC71BM acceptor show a powe...
Analysis of Health Status of Radiation Workers in An Enterprise of Zhenjiang City

[Objective]To understand the health status of radiation workers in an enterprise,to analyze the effect of long-term exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation on workers' health,and provide evidence for radiation protection management.[Methods]Clinical examination and laboratory examination was performed on 113 radiation workers.[Results]No obvious radioactive damage was found in the radiation workers of this enterprise,and no significant differences of peripheral hemogram,skin,ECG,chromosome and micronucleus rate of lymphocytes,and renal function existed between groups with different length of service.[Conclusion]Although the exposure dose is low,but with the extending length of service,the cumulative dose is increasing which will cause some effect on the radiation workers' health gradually.Therefore the radiation health management should be strengthened to take efforts on both workplace and personal protection work,and to carry out the personal dose monitoring and health surveillance regularly.
Hypospadias: Are we as good as we think when we correct proximal hypospadias?

Summary Objective Hypospadias surgery is a humbling art form. Although outcomes with distal hypospadias are favorable, recent publications have suggested that the complication rates are much higher than previously anticipated for proximal hypospadias. The present review examined the literature concerning proximal hypospadias, to explore some of the inadequacies and identify some of the reasons behind these shortfalls in the reported data. Methods A systematic review of the published literature was conducted using keywords relevant to proximal hypospadias and long-term outcomes. Results The literature for hypospadias was reviewed, and outcomes for distal vs proximal variants were compared. The quality of the literature for proximal hypospadias was examined, and the shortcomings that led to underreporting of the surgical outcomes were identified. Special focus was on the lack of standardized documentation, the subsequent inability to objectify the severity of the phenotype, and the underestimation of complications due to lack of long-term follow-up. There was also a great deal of variability in the utilized techniques, and the literature was filled with small case series from single institutions. To enable scientific assessment of outcomes, it is proposed that the following be implemented: acceptance and incorporation of standardized phenotype assessment scores in the pre-operative period, objective intraoperative hypospadias characterization, and postoperative score assessment. Conclusions Treatment of proximal hypospadias is much less successful than the distal variant. A specialty wide commitment to standardize the hypospadias language is required to make advancement in surgical outcomes. Boys need to be followed through puberty into adulthood, and honest reporting of outcomes must be discussed so that surgical techniques for this complicated disease process can be advanced.
The impact of metallic allergy on stent implantation Metal allergy and recurrence of in-stent restenosis

Abstract Background Relation between metallic allergy and in-stent restenosis (ISR) has been inconclusive. We hypothesized that mechanism of restenosis is different between initial stent implantation and dilatation for ISR. Thus, we studied metallic allergy and restenosis in these two different situations separately. Methods and results We performed follow-up angiography and patch test for metallic allergy in a total of 174 stented consecutive patients, 109 patients (63%) for restudy of initial stent implantation and 65 patients (37%) for restudy of treatment following ISR. The positive rate of patch test in initial stent implantation was not significantly different between with or without restenosis (10% vs. 9%; p =ns). Whereas, following dilatation of ISR, the incidence of positive patch test was significantly higher in patients with recurrence of restenosis than those without the recurrence (39% vs. 12%; p =0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that the positive patch test (Odd Ratio 4.39, p =0.02) and diffuse typed ISR (Odd Ratio 3.68, p =0.03) were significant predictors of recurrent restenosis. Conclusions Metal allergy does not have any correlation with the restenosis after initial stent implantation. However, metal allergy is frequently observed in patients with recurrence of ISR. Metal allergy may contribute to a mechanism in the repeat recurrence of ISR, but not to restenosis after initial stent implantation.
Characteristics of Forging Presses: Determination and Comparison

This study discusses the important characteristics of forging presses and describes methods for determining them. A 700 ton hydraulic press, a newly installed 500 ton mechanical press of scotch yoke design, and a 400 ton screw press were used in the study. In all threepresseshigh-temperature ring-compression tests were used to determine the practical effect of press speed on die chilling, metalflow and load requirements. In the mechanical press, room temperature copper upset tests were employed to determine the dynamic press stiffness, the offcentre loading ability, the flatness of ram and bolster surfaces under load and the available energy capacity at various production rates.
How Much is Too Much? The Effect of Call Intensity on Online Purchase

Use a unique dataset collected from one of the largest classified ads website in China, we empirically examine the effect of offline call intensity on online customer purchase probability and the carryover effect of call intensity. We find that online customer purchase probability is increasing in call intensity but at a decreasing rate. In addition, there exists a strong carryover effect where the call intensity in the past 4 weeks does not fade away but have a positive effect on recent customer purchase. Our estimations show that both too much or too little call intensity will result in considerably worse outcomes. As compared with the call intensity at the optimal level, too much in call intensity may potentially result in a 30% decrease in the effect, and too little in call intensity may potentially result in a 56% loss in the effect. Furthermore, the potential effect of making calls every week for 4 weeks can increase customer purchase probability by 6.85 times as compared with just initiating calls with the customers, and by 15.70 times as compared with no calls at all to the customers.
Analysis of Janus Tyrosine Kinase Phosphorylation and Activation

Activation of Janus kinases (Jaks) occurs through autophosphorylation of key tyrosine residues located primarily within their catalytic domain. Phosphorylation of these tyrosine residues facilitates access of substrates to the active site and serves as an intrinsic indicator of Jak activation. Here, we describe the methods and strategies used for analyzing Jak phosphorylation and activation. Tyrosine-phosphorylated (active) Jaks are primarily detected from cell extracts using anti-phosphotyrosine-directed Western blot analysis of Jak-specific immunoprecipitates. Additionally, receptor pull-down and in vitro kinase assays can also be utilized to measure cellular Jak catalytic activity. In addition to tyrosine phosphorylation, recent evidence indicates Jaks can be serine phosphorylated upon cytokine stimulation, however the lack of commercially available antibodies to detect these sites has hindered their analysis by Western blot. However, phosphoamino acid analysis (PAA) has been employed to monitor Jak serine and threonine phosphorylation. Over the past decade, remarkable advances have been made in our understanding of Jak function and dysfunction, however much remains to be learned about their complex regulatory mechanisms.
Effect of Risk Acceptance for Bundled Care Payments on Clinical Outcomes in a High-Volume Total Joint Arthroplasty Practice After Implementation of a Standardized Clinical Pathway.

Abstract Background The Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative and the Arkansas Payment Improvement (API) initiative seek to incentivize reduced costs and improved outcomes compared with the previous fee-for-service model. Before participation, our practice initiated a standardized clinical pathway (CP) to reduce length of stay (LOS), readmissions, and discharge to postacute care facilities. Methods This practice implemented a standardized CP focused on patient education, managing patient expectations, and maximizing cost outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed all primary total joint arthroplasty patients during the initial 2-year “at risk” period for both BPCI and API and determined discharge disposition, LOS, and readmission rate. Results During the “at risk” period, the average LOS decreased in our total joint arthroplasty patients and our patients discharged home >94%. Patients within the BPCI group had a decreased discharge to home and decreased readmission rates after total hip arthroplasty, but also tended to be older than both API and nonbundled payment patients. Conclusion While participating in the BPCI and API, continued use of a standardized CP in a high-performing, high-volume total joint practice resulted in maintenance of a low-average LOS. In addition, BPCI patients had similar outcomes after total knee arthroplasty, but had decreased rates of discharge to home and readmission after total hip arthroplasty.
Identifying the Online Tourism Domain: Implications for Search Engine Development for Tourism

Using search engines for travel purposes has become increasingly important on the Internet. However, the domain of tourism is complex and fragmented and thus gives rise to many problems in information search. This study provides a comparative analysis of the languages of the tourism websites represented through search engines and travel related queries using search engines. By employing a text analytical approach, the results of the study show that huge discrepancies exist between the representation of the industry and user queries for a specific destination. This finding offers important insights for developing systems that can better support travel-related search and planning on the Internet.
Dielectrophoretic microbead sorting using modular electrode design and capillary-driven microfluidics

Multiplexing assays using microbeads in microfluidics offers high flexibility and throughput, but requires the ability to sort particles based on their physical properties. In this paper, we present a continuous method for separating microbeads that is compact, modular and adaptive, employing an optimized electrode layout that alternates sorting and concentration of microbeads using dielectrophoresis and a nested design. By simulating the combined effects of the hydrodynamic drag and dielectrophoresis forces on polystyrene beads, the parameters of the electrode layout and voltage configuration are optimized for maximum separation based on particle size with a small number of slanted planar electrodes. Experimental verification confirms the efficient separation of 10 μm and 5 μm beads, with ~98% of all concentrated beads sorted in two separate streams and only ~2% of 5 μm beads leaking into the 10 μm bead stream. In addition, this method is implemented on capillary-driven microfluidic chips for maximum portability and ease of use.
Myths Regarding Nutrition and Stone Management

Kidney stone formation is related to both genetic and environmental factors. Diet is the major environmental factor, and as such, there is much data in the literature regarding dietary modifications to reduce the risk of stone formation. Most urologists, and even some patients, are familiar with the benefits of increased fluid intake and reduced consumption of nondairy animal foods and sodium to help prevent stone formation. However, there are myriad myths and half-truths that are often perpetuated, not only by patients but by clinicians as well. The internet probably plays a significant role in this. The Pew Internet Project survey showed that 113 million American adults use the internet to search for information on health-related topics [1]. Traver et al. evaluated the accuracy of internet information in regards to the dietary modifications of increased fluid intake, normal calcium consumption, reduced sodium intake, and reduced animal protein consumption. Even among urology and nephrology web sites, correct information is only provided in 41% and 51% of sites, respectively, and other sites are much lower overall at 16% [2]. This implies that although as many as 88% of practicing urologists provide dietary recommendations to their patients, overall knowledge and/or confidence in dietary modifications may be lacking, and in fact, self-reported confidence in providing appropriate nutrition strategies is variable [3].
Relational individuality among Native American academics: Popular dichotomies reconsidered:

An interdisciplinary qualitative study working with 40 Native American academics, who were selected for their specific diverse backgrounds, focused on selected aspects of subjective experiencing th...
Linear Dynamical Structure

This chapter describes the linear dynamical structure. One of the goals in modeling is to learn about a system so as to gain control of it and to make it operate in a more desirable way. The goal of a control problem is to force one or more of the system variables to follow a prescribed pattern of behavior. In a biological system, such as a human being, the goal of the control problem might be to reduce pain and prolong life. In an economic system, the factors of interest might be economic growth, inflation, and expenditure of resources. Analogous problems abound in a broad spectrum of processes including electrical, mechanical, industrial, biological, economical, and societal systems. The chapter highlights the Pontryagin's maximum principle. Pontryagin's maximum principle is a method based on the calculus of variations and is not unlike the Lagrange multiplier method. The maximum principle provides only necessary conditions, but not sufficient conditions.
Taking the Initiative: How to Save Direct Democracy

In Meyer v. Grant a unanimous Supreme Court dealt a grievous blow to the most popular form of direct democracy – the ballot initiative process. The ballot initiative process allows average citizens to stand on the same footing as their lawmakers and directly enact legislation. It has failed to serve its purpose of guarding against the destructive influence of moneyed interests on lawmakers. Due to the Court’s decision in Meyer, moneyed interests are now free to buy access to the electoral ballot. The ballot initiative process has been turned on its head.In this Article I first focus on the Court’s failings in Meyer, where the Court overturned a prohibition on the payment of petition circulators on First Amendment grounds. Next, I explain how a shift in the Court’s approach would allow the ballot initiative process to serve its original function. The Court should have applied its candidate ballot access jurisprudence, not its campaign finance case law, to analyze the restriction at issue in Meyer. Once properly viewed through the correct analytical lens it is clear that the government has the power to regulate access to electoral ballots by prohibiting the payment of petition circulators. The practical ramifications of this analytical shift are far-reaching, namely wrestling the ballot initiative process from the destructive influence of special interest groups over legislatures and providing grass roots groups with lawmaking power.
Mobile Banking for the Unbanked

The case describes in detail the workings of two mobile banking operators in Africa-WIZZIT in South Africa and M-PESA in Kenya. It explores the dimensions of strategy that make for success in the market for the unbanked. It raises questions regarding the portability of the model to other countries and settings.Learning Objective: To explain the application of disruptive/leapfrogging technologies to address unmet needs at the Base of the Pyramid.
PTSD's true color: Examining the effect of coloring on anxiety, stress, and working memory in veterans

Abstract Given the high prevalence of PTSD in veterans (up to 30%), it is important to consider alternative treatments targeted at reducing some of the negative mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and stress. Coloring, and art therapy more generally, has been reported to be one of the most effective treatments in reducing the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Previous research on the benefits of coloring have focused on samples comprised of undergraduate students or children, rather than a population who suffer from anxiety disorders. Thus, the aim of the present study was to extend this existing research and investigate effects of coloring activities in veterans with PTSD. The present study included mandalas for structured coloring compared with free-drawing as an unstructured coloring activity. The findings revealed several key patterns: (1) veterans with PTSD showed decreased anxiety in the structured coloring condition, but not free-form coloring condition; (2) veterans with PTSD showed decreased stress in both structured and free-form coloring conditions; (3) both those with and without PTSD had higher working memory scores in the free-form coloring condition. While the coloring and drawing activities in this study do not constitute art therapy, the results suggest that these simple activities that can be done on an individual basis may yield both mental health and cognitive benefits, especially for veterans with PTSD.
Modeling the Impact of an Indoor Air Filter on Air Pollution Exposure Reduction and Associated Mortality in Urban Delhi Household

Indoor exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a prominent health concern. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of long-term use of indoor air filters for reduction of PM2.5 exposure and associated decrease in adverse health impacts in urban India. We conducted 20 simulations of yearlong personal exposure to PM2.5 in urban Delhi using the National Institute of Standards and Technology's CONTAM program (NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Simulation scenarios were developed to examine different air filter efficiencies, use schedules, and the influence of a smoker at home. We quantified associated mortality reductions with Household Air Pollution Intervention Tool (HAPIT, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA). Without an air filter, we estimated an annual mean PM2.5 personal exposure of 103 µg/m3 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 93, 112) and 137 µg/m3 (95% CI: 125, 149) for households without and with a smoker, respectively. All day use of a high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter would reduce personal PM2.5 exposure to 29 µg/m3 and 30 µg/m3, respectively. The reduced personal PM2.5 exposure from air filter use is associated with 8-37% reduction in mortality attributable to PM2.5 pollution in Delhi. The findings of this study indicate that air filter may provide significant improvements in indoor air quality and result in health benefits.
Biochemical and Functional Characterization of PEGylated rVWF.

Abstract Covalent modification of therapeutic proteins by polyethylene glycol derivatives is an established method for improving pharmacokinetic properties of therapeutic proteins. Highly purified rVWF expressed in CHO cells, was chemically modified via PEGylation of lysine residues at mild alkaline pH with PEG succinimidyl succinate (linear 5 kDa PEG). Increasing the amount of PEG used in the coupling procedure, the molecular size of VWF increased, as demonstrated in SDS-PAGE and by agarose gel electrophoreses indicating an increase in size of the bands resembling the VWF multimers. PEGylation of rVWF reduced platelet-aggregating and collagen-binding functions by 60% (VWF:RCo activity) and 40% (VWF:CB activity). While FVIII-binding capacity, measured by a FVIII binding ELISA, was reduced and reduction correlated with the amount of PEG bound to VWF, there was almost no effect on FVIII binding affinity which remained in the same order of magnitude as measured with non-PEGylated VWF. Similar results were obtained when rVWF was PEGylated via carbohydrate moieties after oxidation and subsequent derivatization with monomethoxy-PEG hydrazide. PEGylated rVWF was applied to VWF-deficient mice at a dose of 40 VWF:Ag U/kg and plasma levels were monitored for up to 24 hours. As a control, non-modified rVWF was applied to the animals. PEGylated VWF had substantially prolonged survival in the circulation compared with non-modified rVWF with an increase of the AUC by a factor of >10. VWD mice substituted with human VWF show a secondary rise in FVIII bringing them into the FVIII levels measured in C57Bl/6 control mice. This secondary rise was sustained after treatment with PEGylated rVWF where FVIII levels above the starting level were measurable even 48 hours after injection while in the control group base line FVIII levels were reached already after 24 hours. rVWF is the largest protein ever PEGylated and PEGylation results in prolonged survival in the circulation while maintaining FVIII stabilizing functions of the VWF molecule in vivo.
Gut Microbiota-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Poststroke Recovery in Aged Mice.

Rationale: The elderly experience profound systemic responses after stroke, which contribute to higher mortality and more severe long-term disability. Recent studies have revealed that stroke outco...
Investigation for impact behavior of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene amorphous thermoplastic

Abstract Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) is an important terpolymer that find applications in numerous engineering fields due to its high impact resistance. Thereby, the experimental characterzation and numerical validation of its impact behavior is the main focus of this investigation. Impact tests were carried out using hemi-spherical impactor at three velocities of 4.43 m/s, 5.775 m/s and 6.264 m/s, respectively. The localized material change caused by microvoids was noticed near the impact zone on non-impacted surfaces for all impact velocities. The damage morphologies on the non-impacted surface for 4.43 m/s includes plastic deformation and crazes without any microvoids, whereas a combination of crazes and microvoids were discovered for other two velocities. Tensile tests at various strain rates, compression and shear tests were performed on ABS material at quasi-static conditions to utilize as an input to the SAMP-1 material model in impact simulations. The predicted impact histories and damage morphologies were compared with the experimental results.
Willingness to Participate in At-Home HIV Testing Among Young Adults Who Use Opioids in Rural Appalachia.

New HIV infections associated with injection drug use are of major concern in rural US communities. This study explores acceptability of, consent for, and uptake of free at-home HIV testing among people who use drugs (PWUD) in one of the nation’s epicenters for drug-related harms and HIV vulnerability: Rural Central Appalachia. Eligible participants were 18–35 years old, lived in Appalachian Kentucky, and reported using opioids to get high in the previous 30 days. A majority reported being likely (63.6%, 96/151) to take a free at-home HIV tests and 66.9% (101/151) consented to receive one. Among those who were randomly selected to receive a Home Access HIV-1 test kit (n = 37), 37.8% mailed in blood spots and 21.6% called to receive results. This study provides evidence that PWUD may be willing to take an at-home test, but other barriers may inhibit actual completion.
Regioselective Gas‐Phase n‐Butane Transfer Dehydrogenation via Silica‐Supported Pincer‐Iridium Complexes

Abstract: The production of olefins via on-purpose dehydrogenation of alkanes allows for a more efficient, selective and lower cost alternative to processes such as steam cracking. Silica-supported pincer-iridium complexes of the form [(≡SiO-R4POCOP)Ir(CO)] (R4POCOP = κ3-C6H3-2,6-(OPR2)2) are effective for acceptorless alkane dehydrogenation, and have been shown stable up to 300 °C. However, while solution-phase analogues of such species have demonstrated high regioselectivity for terminal olefin production under transfer dehydrogenation conditions at or below 240 °C, in open systems at 300 °C, regioselectivity under acceptorless dehydrogenation conditions is consistently low. In this work, complexes [(≡SiO-tBu4POCOP)Ir(CO)] (1) and [(≡SiO-iPr4PCP)Ir(CO)] (2) were synthesized via immobilization of molecular precursors. These complexes were used for gas-phase butane transfer dehydrogenation using increasingly sterically demanding olefins, resulting in observed selectivities of up to 77%. The results indicate that the active site is conserved upon immobilization.
Modeling sensitivity of topographic change with sUAS imagery

Abstract Mapping the topographic surface and monitoring the change in such topographic surfaces has largely been a remote sensing-based solution for the last eighty years. The last few years has seen the dramatic rise in the use of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for mapping both the topographic surface (in largely un-vegetated areas) and particularly, the overlying surface layer. How accurate are the sUAS derived elevation surfaces? How accurate are the change surfaces from a comparison of multi-date surfaces? How confident can the user be in the changes detected? Probing the expected accuracy for a topographic surface derived from low altitude sUAS imagery is a tad more problematic than many other types of remotely sensed imaging sensors. The precision and spatial resolution of the sUAS imagery, and subsequent digital elevation models (DEMs) is similar to the precision and spatial resolution of the very reference data sources used for accessing accuracy. In this research an approach was used to evaluate the performance of sUAS for creating digital elevation models on coastal sand dunes that did not change during ten repeat aerial collections at 40 m above ground level. A simple error budget model was used to empirically derive the intrinsic accuracy of the sUAS-derived topographic surface. The overall accuracy of the ten DEMs derived from independent aerial missions was 0.033 m root mean squared error (RMSE). The results indicate a confidence threshold of ~0.030 m can be typically used to separate 95% of the ‘false’ topographic changes mapped from two digital elevation models in this collection/processing context. By modeling and removing the reference data error (i.e. survey grade global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-derived validation points) the average accuracy of the ten DEMs was 0.022 m (RMSE).
Between Industry and Islam: Stonework and tomb construction in colonial-era India

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, monumental Muslim tombs in India served as spaces for refashioning local religious and social identities. Elite patrons, technical overseers, and stoneworkers engaged with new technologies of construction at sites meant to reflect claims on the Muslim past. This article interrogates divergent class understandings of monumental Muslim tombs in colonial-era India. It compares the construction of monumental Islamic tombs in the states of Hyderabad, Bhopal, and Rampur—three Muslim-led ‘native states’, quasi-autonomous polities under colonial oversight. By the late nineteenth century, many native state patrons employed a new middle class of technical intermediary to oversee tomb construction. The rise of this class created new hierarchies within construction, with apprenticeship-trained master craftsmen increasingly marginalized from state narratives and aligned with stoneworkers and other labourers. While patrons and middle-class intermediaries argued that new technologies and materials should be used to ‘modernize’ construction, they portrayed technical change as divorced from the religious symbolism of tombs. In contrast, workers integrated the religious and the technical, positioning technologies of construction within narratives of Muslim practice. The article uses native state tombs to analyse how labourers adapted to technical demands, without necessarily adopting state ideologies.
The cumulative radiation dose paradigm in pediatric imaging.

Medical imaging professionals have an accountability for both quality and safety in the care of patients that have unexpected or anticipated repeated imaging examinations that use ionizing radiatio...
All Labor Has Dignity" - The Case for Wage Equity for Essential Health Care Workers."

“All Labor Has Dignity” Clinicians need look no further than their own institutions to find large groups of employees facing economic and social deprivation. Racial justice in health care cannot be...
Lying and Christian Ethics

General editor's preface Introduction 1. What is lying? 2. The Christian case against lying: Augustine and Aquinas 3. The Christian case for lying: Cassian, Bonhoeffer, and Niebuhr 4. Moral absolutes 5. Integrity, sociality, truth, and religion 6. Justice and the right to truth 7. The casuistry of truth-telling and deception 8. Lying for a good cause Conclusion.
For Sale - Patents - Never Used: Gaps in the Tax Code for Patent Sales

Patent sales are an underappreciated means of monetizing patents. Recent blockbuster patent sales indicate heightened demand for patent acquisitions. There is evidence that such patent sales transfer patents to parties more skilled in patent enforcement, reducing litigation. Patent sales also move capital to innovators, which enhance incentives to innovate. But crucially, C corporations do not benefit from advantaged tax treatment. Efforts by other nations to encourage patent use and sales by providing “patent box” preferential tax regimes may provide some guidance for remedying this gap in the tax code.
Supporting Flexible Data Feeds in Dynamic Sensor Grids through Mobile Agents

This paper describes a framework for flexible data feeds in sensor grids where resource constraints, policies, and a dynamic topology are important factors. Mobile agents are used to dynamically establish the data flows and data transformations in the network. They also act as policy enforcers that are dynamically dispatched into the sensor network. A dynamic topology for the network is taken into consideration, where nodes can join and leave at any time. Mobile code provides the means to dynamically deploy capabilities to any participating host and strong mobility allows process migration between nodes to ensure feed survivability and load balancing. The proposed framework relies on a strong mobility agent system (NOMADS) and the KAoS framework for policy enforcement and is being currently used to support a military coalition agent scenario (CoAX 2002).
The GPCR OGR1 (GPR68) mediates diverse signalling and contraction of airway smooth muscle in response to small reductions in extracellular pH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous studies have linked a reduction in pH in airway, caused by either environmental factors, microaspiration of gastric acid or inflammation, with airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction and increased airway resistance. Neural mechanisms have been shown to mediate airway contraction in response to reductions in airway pH to < 6.5; whether reduced extracellular pH (pHo) has direct effects on ASM is unknown. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Intracellular signalling events stimulated by reduced pHo in human cultured ASM cells were examined by immunoblotting, phosphoinositide hydrolysis and calcium mobilization assays. ASM cell contractile state was examined using magnetic twisting cytometry. The expression of putative proton-sensing GPCRs in ASM was assessed by real-time PCR. The role of ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1 or GPR68) in acid-induced ASM signalling and contraction was assessed in cultures subjected to siRNA-mediated OGR1 knockdown. KEY RESULTS ASM cells responded to incremental reductions in pHo (from pH 8.0 to pH 6.8) by activating multiple signalling pathways, involving p42/p44, PKB, PKA and calcium mobilization. Coincidently, ASM cells contracted in response to decreased pHo with similar 'dose'-dependence. Real-time PCR suggested OGR1 was the only proton-sensing GPCR expressed in ASM cells. Both acid-induced signalling (with the exception of PKB activation) and contraction were significantly attenuated by knockdown of OGR1. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These studies reveal OGR1 to be a physiologically relevant GPCR in ASM cells, capable of pleiotropic signalling and mediating contraction in response to small reductions in extracellular pH. Accordingly, ASM OGR1 may contribute to asthma pathology and represent a therapeutic target in obstructive lung diseases.
Vietnam: studying a major controversy:

Political science has, understandably, come under some criticism for being irrelevant to politics-creating its own problems to "solve" instead of finding responsible generalizations about the important political issues of the day. Dahl (1961), for instance, speaks of the danger to the discipline in the situation of the social scientist "who may be quite confident of his findings on small matters and dubious that he can
A sensitivity study of PMU-based fault detection on smart grid

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are widely used in power transmission systems to provide synchronized measurements for the purpose of fault detection. However, how to efficiently deploy those devices across a power grid — so that a comprehensive coverage can be provided at a relatively low cost — remains a challenge. In this paper, we present a sensitivity study of a PMU-based fault detection method using three different distance metrics. This study can serve as a guideline for efficient PMU deployment. To illustrate the effectiveness of this approach, we have derived an alternative PMU placement plan for a power grid. Experimental results show that our PMU placement reduces the required PMU deployment by more than 80% as compared to the original placement, yet still provides similar level of accuracy in fault detection.
Increases of desmin and α-actinin in mouse cardiac myofibrils as a response to diastolic dysfunction

Up-regulation of desmin has been reported in cardiac hypertrophy and failure but the pathophysiological cause and significance remain to be investigated. By examining genetically modified mouse models representative for diastolic or systolic heart failure, we found significantly increased levels of desmin and α-actinin in the myofibrils of hearts with impaired diastolic function but not hearts with weakened systolic function. The increased desmin and α-actinin are mainly found in myofibrils at the Z-disks. Two weeks of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) induced increases of desmin and α-actinin in mouse hearts of occult diastolic failure but not in wild type or transgenic mouse hearts with mildly lowered systolic function or with increased diastolic function. The chronic or TAC-induced increase of desmin showed no proportional increase in phosphorylation, implicating an up-regulated expression rather than a decreased protein turnover. The data demonstrate a novel early response specifically to diastolic heart failure, indicating a function of the Z-disk in the challenging clinical condition of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Intergranular corrosion-fatigue failure of cobalt-alloy femoral stems. A failure analysis of two implants

Two modular hip implants with a cobalt-alloy head and a cobalt-alloy stem were retrieved after a fracture had occurred in the neck region of the femoral component, eighty-five and seventy months after implantation. Both implants failed less than one millimeter distal to the taper junction between the head and the stem (outside of the taper). The fracture surfaces of the implant were investigated with the use of scanning electron microscopy, to determine the nature of the failure process. The fractures occurred at the grain boundaries of the microstructure and appeared to be the result of three factors: porosity at the grain boundaries; intergranular corrosive attack, initiated both at the head-neck taper and at the free surface; and cyclic fatigue-loading of the stem. The corrosive attack of the free surface was initiated, in part, by the egression of surface grains and by the ingression of fluid into the intergranular regions. Sectioned surfaces showed extensive intergranular corrosive attack in the prosthetic neck localized in the region of the head-neck taper junction and penetrating deeply into the microstructure.
Microcomputer use in an oral biopsy service

The need for rapid and accurate retrieval of the data generated by an oral biopsy service and the adjacent medical center was met with the purchase and programming of a microcomputer and hard disk drive. The planning phase involved an assessment of the needs of the department, creation of an ideal form to be displayed on the video screen that can be easily used to enter the information, selection of coding systems, and selection of compatible hardware and software. Customized in-house programming using a commercially available database management system has created an entry form and menu-driven information retrieval system tailored to the needs of the department.
Speech disruptions in the narratives of English-speaking children with specific language impairment.

Purpose This study examined the types, frequencies, and distribution of speech disruptions in the spoken narratives of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and their age-matched (CA) and language-matched (LA) peers. Method Twenty 4th-grade children with SLI, 20 typically developing CA children, and 20 younger typically developing LA children were included in this study. Speech disruptions (i.e., silent pauses and vocal hesitations) occurring in the narratives of these children were analyzed. Results Children with SLI exhibited speech disruption rates that were higher than those of their age-matched peers but not higher than those of their language-matched peers. The difference in disruption rates between the SLI and CA groups was restricted to silent pauses of 500–1000 ms. Moreover, children with SLI produced more speech disruptions than their peers before phrases but not before sentences, clauses, or words. Conclusions These findings suggest that there is a relationship between language abili...