cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecules, muscles, and machines: Universal performance characteristics of motors

Animal- and human-made motors vary widely in size and shape, are constructed of vastly different materials, use different mechanisms, and produce an enormous range of mass-specific power. Despite these differences, there is remarkable consistency in the maximum net force produced by broad classes of animal- and human-made motors. Motors that use force production to accomplish steady translational motion of a load (myosin, kinesin, dynein, and RNA polymerase molecules, muscle cells, whole muscles, winches, linear actuators, and rockets) have maximal force outputs that scale as the two-thirds power of mass, i.e., with cross-sectional area. Motors that use cyclical motion to generate force and are more subject to multiaxial stress and vibration have maximal force outputs that scale as a single isometric function of motor mass with mass-specific net force output averaging 57 Nkg 1 (SD 14). Examples of this class of motors includes flying birds, bats, and insects, swimming fish, various taxa of running animals, piston engines, electric motors, and all types of jets. Dependence of force production and stress resistance on cross-sectional area is well known, but the isometric scaling and common upper limit of mass-specific force production by cyclical motion motors has not been recognized previously and is not explained by an existing body of theory. Remarkably, this finding indicates that most of the motors used by humans and animals for transportation have a common upper limit of mass-specific net force output that is independent of materials and mechanisms.
Microbiological Aspects of the Chemical Control of Plaque and Gingivitis

Antimicrobial agents, delivered either by mouthrinse or toothpaste, can be used to maintain plaque at levels compatible with oral health by (a) reducing existing plaque, (b) preventing the formation of new plaque, (c) selectively inhibiting those particular bacteria that are associated with disease, and (d) inhibiting the expression of virulence determinants. Although many antimicrobial agents would appear to be suitable for plaque control, few have been found to possess clinical efficacy. This is because of inherent problems in the mode of action of agents in the mouth, and with difficulties with their formulation into dental products. Currently formulated antimicrobial agents include metal salts (e.g., zinc, stannous, copper), phenols (triclosan), plant extracts (sanguinarine), enzymes (e.g., glucanase, amyloglucosidase/glucose oxidase), "essential oils" (e.g., thymol, menthol), and bisbiguanides (chlorhexidine). Although many of these agents exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in the laboratory, they may display valuable selective properties on plaque. The effect of an agent will be concentration-dependent. Initially, the inhibitor may be briefly at levels above its MIC, but thereafter, it will be desorbed off oral surfaces and operate at sub-lethal concentrations. At these latter levels, agents can be effective by inhibiting metabolism (e.g., acid production, protease activity), and slowing bacterial growth. Agents with complementary modes of action are being combined to increase their antibacterial effectiveness. The long-term use of dental products containing antimicrobial agents should not (a) disrupt the natural balance of the oral microflora, (b) lead to colonization by exogenous organisms, or (c) lead to the development of microbial resistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
First-class macros have types

In modern Scheme, a macro captures the lexical environment where it is defined. This creates an opportunity for extending Scheme so that macros are first-class values. The key to achieving this goal, while preserving the ability to compile programs into reasonable code, is the addition of a type system. Many interesting things can be done with first-class macros, including the construction of a useful module system in which modules are also first-class. Clams got legs! — B.C.
An Open Question: Are Topological Arguments Helpful in Setting Initial Conditions for Transport Problems and Quantization Criteria/Quantum Computing for Density Wave Physics?

The tunneling Hamiltonian is a proven method to treat particle tunneling between different states represented as wavefunctions in many-body physics. Our problem is how to apply a wave functional formulation of tunneling Hamiltonians to a driven sine-Gordon system. We apply a generalization of the tunneling Hamiltonian to charge density wave (CDW) transport problems in which we consider tunneling between states that are wavefunctionals of a scalar quantum field. We present derived I-E curves that match Zenier curves used to fit data experimentally with wavefunctionals congruent with the false vacuum hypothesis. The open question is whether the coefficients picked in both the wavefunctionals and the magnitude of the coefficients of the driven sine Gordon physical system should be picked by topological charge arguments that in principle appear to assign values that have a tie in with the false vacuum hypothesis first presented by Sidney Coleman. Our supposition is that indeed this is useful and that the topological arguments give evidence as to a first order phase transition which gives credence to the observed and calculated I-E curve as evidence of a quantum switching phenomena in density wave physics, one which we think with further development would have applications to quantum computing, via quantum coherent phase evolution, as outlined in this paper.
Iron: Molecular Basis of Hemochromatosis

Iron can be deleterious in excess because of its ability to generate reactive oxygen species. Consequently, the appropriate maintenance of organismal iron balance is crucial. Disturbances in iron metabolism are the root cause of many prevalent human diseases. Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder resulting in a chronic increase of iron uptake from the diet leading to disease. Although first mentioned in the medical literature by Trousseau in 1865, until recently, the genetic and the pathophysiological bases of this disorder were poorly understood. The vast majority of cases are caused by mutations in HFE, the classic hemochromatosis gene. More recently, genetic studies have implicated hemochromatosis disease-causing mutations in hemojuvelin (HJV), hepcidin (HAMP), transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2), and ferroportin (SLC40A1). Research involving these five genetically distinct causes of hemochromatosis has increased our knowledge of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and has led to a better general understanding of iron metabolism. Current thought places hepcidin, a soluble 25-amino-acid peptide, as the master regulator of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin acts as a ligand for the iron transporter ferroportin, negatively regulating iron release from red blood cell-recycling macrophages or dietary iron uptake in the duodenum. Perturbance of the hepcidin–ferroportin regulatory apparatus in hemochromatosis leads to dysregulated dietary iron uptake eventuating in disease. Recent work has augmented our understanding of how iron regulates hepcidin expression. Hemojuvelin, a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) coreceptor, plays a central role in the regulation of hepcidin expression through a SMAD-mediated signaling pathway. Both HFE and TFR2 are thought to play essential roles in the sensing of total body iron needs, but the mechanism by which these molecules affect HJV/BMP/SMAD-mediated hepcidin control is not completely elucidated. Recent insights into the molecular basis of hereditary hemochromatosis and iron metabolism will be reviewed in this article. Keywords: iron; hemochromatosis; HFE; hemojuvelin; hepcidin; transferrin receptor 2; ferroportin
Prediction of type 2 diabetes: the dawn of polygenetic testing for complex disease

Advances in the search for the genetic determinants of type 2 diabetes have led, in recent years, to the discovery of dozens of risk loci, with many more expected to be found [1–3]. Each individual locus has a relatively small effect, increasing the risk of diabetes by ~5–40% per risk allele. Although the risk alleles themselves are common, few individuals (~10%) are homozygous at a given locus, no locus accounts for more than a fraction of a per cent of the variance in the risk of diabetes, and only a few loci have a proven function in diabetes pathogenesis [4]. It seems apparent that revelation of novel pathways determining energy metabolism will come from this era of diabetes gene discovery. However, how to apply this new knowledge to improve clinical and public health is less clear. Approaches to genetic testing and counselling for diseases with multiple common loci that exert a modest effect are not well established. The influence of genetic risk knowledge on personal health behaviours for chronic disease prevention or treatment is not known. Meanwhile, there is growing enthusiasm for the use of new genetic knowledge in disease screening and diagnostic testing [5]. In contrast to uncertainties about prevention and personalisation, the value of current genetic knowledge for prediction of diabetes risk is becoming fairly clear. In this issue of Diabetologia, Lin et al. report on a study in which they tested the ability of multiple novel type 2 diabetes risk loci to identify prevalent diabetes in over 5,000 participants of the population-based CoLaus Study [6]. They calculated an additive, weighted genetic score based on 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), using the lower limit of the 95% CI of the reported effect size on diabetes risk as the weight for each SNP. They tested the main effect of the genotype score on diabetes risk, and then the marginal effect after accounting for common type 2 diabetes risk factors, including age, BMI, family history of diabetes, WHR and triacylglycerol/HDLcholesterol ratio. After calculating the weighted score, they rescaled it for interpretation as odds of diabetes per risk allele. The 356 people with diabetes in the sample had a mean weighted genotype score of 15.2, whereas those without diabetes had a score of 14.3. This is a minute difference in allele count: on average, people with diabetes had just one more risk allele out of the 15 tested compared with those without diabetes. Nonetheless, the risk factoradjusted relative odds of diabetes in the fifth of the group with the highest genotype score was 2.7-fold higher than that in the fifth of the group with the lowest genotype score. Thus, it is shown that common disease risk alleles can be summed, with people at the highest end of the genetic risk distribution having a markedly elevated individual risk, especially in contrast to the low relative risk associated with individual loci. However, at the group level, the genotype Diabetologia (2009) 52:568–570 DOI 10.1007/s00125-009-1296-9
Assisted Living: The Philosophical Challenges of Everyday Practice

Assisted living represents a philosophy to provide residential long-term care in a home-like environment that maximizes autonomy and independence for its residents. This article explores the question of whether providers achieve this philosophy in their everyday practice. Results are based on mail surveys and semistructured interviews with assisted living providers. Findings suggest that providers are united under a common philosophy yet struggle with how to provide care that balances their philosophical goals with more traditional business considerations. Management training—specifically, whether one is licensed as a nursing home administrator—is associated with poorer philosophical performance. Results also indicate that services and amenities are directly proportional to average monthly costs, but adoption of the assisted living philosophy, which presumably increases the quality of life for residents, has a far smaller impact on consumer costs. Results are discussed in terms of both practice and policy...
Where and How Does the Anesthetic Process Help or Hurt Patients Independent of Producing Anesthesia

This chapter provides exemplars of good and bad outcomes that can result from anesthesia and anesthetists. In the 1850s, Snow determined that chloroform could kill by “cardiac syncope.” In the 1930s, Lundy guided the banking and administration of blood, and Lundy and Rovenstine established pain clinics. In the 1970s, Bonica established pain as a subspecialty. Ibsen’s response to the terrible 1952 Copenhagen polio epidemic, manual support of breathing, led to intensive care units, ventilator development, and the creation of modern blood-gas analysis by Astrup and Severinghaus. In 1953, Apgar devised her “score”, a number describing the neonate’s condition. In 1956, Lassen showed the lethality of prolonged nitrous oxide administration. Later investigators suggested health hazards to occupational exposure to nitrous oxide.
Sustainability And Infrastructure Resource Allocation

Sustainability implies using, developing and protecting resources in such a manner that enables society to meet current needs and provides that future generations will be able to meet their needs, from the joint perspective of economic, environmental and social objectives. Sustainable resource use implies a concern for intergenerational equity in the long-term decision making of society. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the concepts of sustainable development from the perspective of infrastructure resource allocation, and in particular for sustainable transportation. The concept and methods of assessing sustainable transportation are discussed. Most state transportation agencies use performance measures to define specific transportation strategies rather than having a comprehensive sustainable transportation policy. Planning for transportation sustainability requires a paradigm shift changing the way people think about and solve transportation problems.
Neonatal Immunology and Related Protective Mecha

(1973). Neonatal Immunology and Related Protective Mecha. CRC Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1-18.
Destruction of Bacteria and Viruses in Seawater

Marine microbial predators destroy enteric bacteria in seawater. Viruses are destroyed by unknown marine microbial antagonists and by a toxic chemical component of the seawater. Viruses can be protected by adsorption to living or dead bacterial cells. Two distinct processes appear to be associated with the destruction of viruses in seawater. The native marine microflora are involved in viral inactivation in a manner similar to that observed with enteric bacteria. However, the antagonistic microorganisms have not yet been isolated. A chemical component of the seawater was also shown to be involved in the destruction of viruses in seawater. This component probably is a heavy metal. The frequent outbreaks of infectious hepatitis which have been associated with the consumption of shellfish clearly indicate that a percentage of the viruses in the sea survive this inactivation and reach the shellfish. The data have shown that viruses can be protected from inactivation for long periods of time by adsorption to living or dead bacterial cells, or possibly cell debris in the sea.
Temperature Effects on Microbial Growth in CSTR’S

The effects of temperature upon the kinetics of a natural microbial culture were studied by growing the cells in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR). The maximum specific growth rate and specific decay rate were influenced by temperature in an Arrhenius fashion. The temperature characteristic for the specific decay rate was slightly larger than that for the maximum rate so that the ratio of the two was 1.1:1. As the temperature increased from 10 to 20°C, the true growth yield increased, but decreased with further increases to 40°C. The effect upon the saturation constant was just the opposite. The response of the observed yield to changes in temperature depends upon the growth condition imposed upon the organisms in a biological manner.
Almost a Century and Three Restatements after Green It’s Time to Admit and Remedy the Nonsense of Negligence

The tort of negligence is flawed and empirically unsupportable. Currently negligence requires a finding of unreasonable conduct. In modern negligence law and in the recent restatement Third of Torts the existence of unreasonable conduct is established using a foreseeability based analysis. Another condition precedent for negligence to be actionable is a finding of proximate cause, the existence of which is also dependent on a foreseeability based analysis. The history of the tort demonstrates unreasonable conduct is a means of expanding liability and proximate causation restricts liability. Yet, despite the opposing aims of each element both are based on a foreseeability dependent analytical fulcrum. As a result the use of foreseeability both in the unreasonable conduct prong and in the proximate cause prong renders these supposedly different elements of negligence indistinguishable. Yet scholars, courts and practitioners insist they must be different because some elements of negligence are determined as a matter of law and others as a matter of fact. Despite the insistence on difference there is no empirically supportable way to distinguish the various elements of the tort and no way to define the appropriate role foreseeability should play in establishing each element of negligence. Modern scholarship ignores this problem identified by legal realists as far back as 1923. Instead the scholarship is replete with illusory attempts to distinguish the appropriate role foreseeability plays in the establishing the different elements of negligence. None of these academic and judicial distinctions, including the very recent restatement Third of Torts, survives even cursory examination or hold up in actual litigation. The real solution is a reformulation of negligence based in part on the pre-Holmesian structure of the tort while accepting foreseeability can only mean one thing as it is applied across the spectrum of negligence elements.
Male Armyworm Scent Brush Secretion: Identification and Electroantennogram Study of Major Components

Benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, and benzoic acid were identified in extracts of the abdominal scent brushes of adult male Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth). A 4th compound(s) remains unidentified. Benzaldehyde is the major component and represents 86 to 97% of the volatile compounds in 2-day-old moths. Electroantennograms were recorded from male and female antennae in response to stimulation with the scentbrush compounds benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol, with 2 related aromatic compounds (2-phenyl ethanol and benzyl acetate), and with a carboxylic acid iso-butyric acid. Male and female antennae responded equally to each chemical and the scent-brush compounds were no more stimulating than the non-scent-brush compounds.
Analysis on the influencing factors of high-risk behavior among people with HIV/AIDS in Yunnan Province

Objective To detect HIV-related stigma and discrimination among people with HIV/AIDS( PLWHA), and to analyze its influencing factors of high-risk behaviors in Yunnan Province. Methods By clustering sampling,303 PLWHA who were over 18 years old and received followed up during May 15,2012 to June 14 were selected for investigation,finally 300 effective questionnaires were collected. Results After being confirmed with positive HIV,25. 7% of PLWHA had high-risk behaviors,and the severe HIV-related stigma( OR = 1. 89,95% CI: 1. 09-3. 27) and marriage( OR = 2. 99,95% CI: 1. 43-6. 26) were its influencing factors. Meanwhile,by interview,it was found that the high-risk behaviors also had relationship with intravenous drug user without clean needles and some female PLWHA engaged in commercial sex service because of poverty. Conclusions The influencing factors of the high-risk behaviors included the severe HIV-related stigma and marriage,and also had relationship with contamminated needles and low economic income. In order to decrease the stigma,reduce the occurrence of high-risk behaviors and prevent the second generation spread of HIV,the targeted intervention and management of PLWHA should been strengthened.
Role of geometry on properties of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V structures fabricated using laser based directed energy deposition

Abstract A series of Ti-6Al-4V wall structures were additively manufactured (AM) using directed energy deposition (DED) with similar processing parameters and build paths to investigate the role of geometry on the resulting as-deposited microstructure and mechanical properties. While the aggregated tensile strengths (1049 ± 37 MPa), yield strengths (936 ± 43 MPa), and elongations (18 ± 4%) were relatively consistent, a more in-depth statistical analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between the resulting mechanical properties and the orientation with respect to the build direction. Tensile samples with the long dimension parallel to the substrate exhibited a higher average tensile strength than samples with the long dimension perpendicular to the substrate. In addition, the tensile strengths from thick multi pass wall structures were significantly higher than thin single pass wall structures. Finally, the tensile strengths decreased with increasing height above the substrate within the wall structures. Most of the observed differences in mechanical behavior can be attributed to differences observed in the average prior β grain sizes and shapes that impact the amounts of boundary strengthening within the structures. In addition, qualitative differences within the microstructure were observed at different locations within individual builds and correlated with changes in tensile strength.
Device failures associated with patient injuries during robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries: a comprehensive review of FDA MAUDE database.

Introduction Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery has increased in the areas of cardiac and urologic surgery. We sought to determine the number of reported device malfunctions leading to patient injuries. Methods We performed a review of the MAUDE database of the FDA. Adverse events (AE) were defined as potential and actual product use errors and product quality problems. All incidents involving the ZEUS and da Vinci surgical robots were analyzed. Results The MAUDE database was last accessed on August 27, 2007. A total of 189 AEs were reported from 2000 to August 27, 2007. Assuming that 50,000 robotic-assisted laparoscopic cases have been performed, this represents 0.38% overall estimated failure rate. Twenty-one malfunctions were reported for the ZEUS robotic system between 2001 and 2003, while 168 malfunctions were reported for the da Vinci robotic system between 2000 and 2007. The rate of open conversions due to device malfunction decreased from 94% in 2003 to 16% in 2007. Of the 189 reported device malfunctions, only 9 (4.8%) were associated with patient injury. Conclusions The increasing use of robotic-assisted surgery has led to an increase in the number of reported device malfunctions, albeit at a very small estimated rate of 0.38%. With experience, the rate of open conversions due to device malfunction decreased. Only a small percentage of these adverse occurrences were associated with patient injury.
Case Study #5: Renewable Energy Microgrid Design

The swing equations for renewable generators connected to the grid and islanded configuration are developed. A wind turbine is used as an example. The swing equations for the renewable generators are formulated as a natural Hamiltonian system with externally applied nonconservative forces. HSSPFC is used to analyze and design feedback controllers for the renewable generators system. This formulation extends previous results on the analytical verification of the Potential Energy Boundary Surface (PEBS) method to nonlinear control analysis and design and justifies the decomposition of the system into conservative and nonconservative systems to enable a two-step, serial analysis and design procedure. The first step is to analyze the system as a conservative natural Hamiltonian system with no externally applied nonconservative forces. The Hamiltonian surface of the swing equations is related to the Equal-Area Criterion and the PEBS method to formulate the nonlinear transient stability problem. This formulation demonstrates the effectiveness of proportional feedback control to expand the stability region. The second step is to analyze the system as a natural Hamiltonian system with externally applied nonconservative forces. The time derivative of the Hamiltonian produces the work/rate (power flow) equations that are used to ensure balanced power flows from the renewable generators to the loads. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is applied to the power flow equations to determine the stability boundaries (limit cycles) of the renewable generators system and enable design of feedback controllers that meet stability requirements while maximizing the power generation and flow to the load. Necessary and sufficient conditions for stability of renewable generators systems are determined based on the concepts of Hamiltonian systems, power flow, exergy (the maximum work that can be extracted from an energy flow) rate, and entropy rate.
The Eigenvalue Problem for Two-Level Systems

The study of two-level atoms coupled by external fields is more than 50 years old, but continues to be of interest. 1–10 Our purpose here is to deepen the A2 eigenvalue method, an approach to this problem introduced recently.9
The Alt-social Network of Natalie Bookchin’s Testament:

This article addresses issues of user precarity and vulnerability in online social networks. As social media criticism by Jose van Dijck, Felix Stalder, and Geert Lovink describes, the social web is a predatory system that exploits users’ desires for connection. Although accurate, this critical description casts the social web as a zone where users are always already disempowered, so fails to imagine possibilities for users beyond this paradigm. This article examines Natalie Bookchin’s composite video series, Testament, as it mobilizes an alt-(ernative) social network of vernacular video on YouTube. In the first place, the alt-social network works as an iteration of “tactical media” to critically reimagine empowered user-to-user interactions on the social web. In the second place, it obfuscates YouTube’s data-mining functionality, so allows users to socialize online in a way that evades their direct translation into data and the exploitation of their social labor.
Managing automatic test systems in the 90's

Managing Automatic Test Systems in the 90's is more than writing BASIC test programs to control IEEE 488 instruments. Managing your Automatic Test System involves Test Program Set (TPS) development, management of re-usable test objects, data management, tester resource management and user interface management. In addition, the Automatic Test System must provide a Test Executive that controls the overall test development and execution environments. The benefits of this type of system are, lower TPS development cost, a common user interface and lower TPS development cost, a common user interface and lower operator training cost. This paper focuses on these aspects of Automatic Test System Management. >
DF Experimentation through Parametric Simulation

In most direction-finding experiments, beamforming is one of the simplest and most robust means of spatial filtering. Beamforming implementation is typically done using ordinary or some type of commercial style microphones. We plan to fabricate a microphone array on a micro-scale, which will allow for several more applications in direction-finding. However, this approach can be difficult due to the requirements for direction-finding and the constraints that are practical in Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). The purpose of this work is to model and simulate the entire direction-finding system. The results from these simulations will provide insight for an optimal design of a sensor that can be applied to direction-finding. This project will also provide the flexibility to alter parameters in order to test the microphone performance. Furthermore, an optimal design of the microphone will lead to a more accurate direction-finding system.
Design and Stability Analysis of a Fault Accommodation Scheme for a Class of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

Abstract The paper presents a robust fault diagnosis scheme for detecting and accommodating faults occurring in a class of nonlinear multi-input multi-output dynamical systems. Changes in the system dynamics due to a fault are modeled as nonlinear functions of the control input and state variables. The proposed fault accommodation scheme provides a way to augment the nominal controller such that the stability of the closed-loop system is retained in the presence of an unknown fault and of bounded disturbances. The stability of the robust fault accommodation scheme is rigorously established using Lyapunov redesign methods.
RSV glycoprotein and genomic RNA dynamics reveal filament assembly prior to the plasma membrane

The human respiratory syncytial virus G protein plays an important role in the entry and assembly of filamentous virions. Here, we report the use of fluorescently labeled soybean agglutinin to selectively label the respiratory syncytial virus G protein in living cells without disrupting respiratory syncytial virus infectivity or filament formation and allowing for interrogations of respiratory syncytial virus virion assembly. Using this approach, we discovered that plasma membrane-bound respiratory syncytial virus G rapidly recycles from the membrane via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. This event is then followed by the dynamic formation of filamentous and branched respiratory syncytial virus particles, and assembly with genomic ribonucleoproteins and caveolae-associated vesicles prior to re-insertion into the plasma membrane. We demonstrate that these processes are halted by the disruption of microtubules and inhibition of molecular motors. Collectively, our results show that for respiratory syncytial virus assembly, viral filaments are produced and loaded with genomic RNA prior to insertion into the plasma membrane. Assembly of filamentous RSV particles is incompletely understood due to a lack of techniques suitable for live-cell imaging. Here Vanover et al. use labeled soybean agglutinin to selectively label RSV G protein and show how filamentous RSV assembly, initiated in the cytoplasm, uses G protein recycled from the plasma membrane.
Ipilimumab induced digital vasculitis.

Immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a new therapeutic paradigm for a variety of malignancies including metastatic melanoma. As the use of ICIs expand, immune-mediated adverse events are becoming a common occurrence. We describe the first reported patient with small vessel vasculitis, manifested by digital ischemia, following treatment with high dose Ipilimumab for resected stage IIIB/C melanoma. This patient received high dose steroids, five-day intravenous (IV) Epoprostenol protocol, botulinum toxin injections, and Rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly for four cycles. With this treatment regimen, the digital ischemia did not progress proximally, but she did require multiple distal digit amputations about six months after the onset of her symptoms. Prompt identification and management of immune related adverse events (IRAEs) are critical to optimal patient management. This patient’s vasculitis did not reverse, but was likely halted and stabilized with multiple immunosuppressive medications.
Cardiac c-Kit Biology Revealed by Inducible Transgenesis

Rationale: Biological significance of c-Kit as a cardiac stem cell marker and role(s) of c-Kit+ cells in myocardial development or response to pathological injury remain unresolved because of varied and discrepant findings. Alternative experimental models are required to contextualize and reconcile discordant published observations of cardiac c-Kit myocardial biology and provide meaningful insights regarding clinical relevance of c-Kit signaling for translational cell therapy. Objective: The main objectives of this study are as follows: demonstrating c-Kit myocardial biology through combined studies of both human and murine cardiac cells; advancing understanding of c-Kit myocardial biology through creation and characterization of a novel, inducible transgenic c-Kit reporter mouse model that overcomes limitations inherent to knock-in reporter models; and providing perspective to reconcile disparate viewpoints on c-Kit biology in the myocardium. Methods and Results: In vitro studies confirm a critical role for c-Kit signaling in both cardiomyocytes and cardiac stem cells. Activation of c-Kit receptor promotes cell survival and proliferation in stem cells and cardiomyocytes of either human or murine origin. For creation of the mouse model, the cloned mouse c-Kit promoter drives Histone2B-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein; H2BEGFP) expression in a doxycycline-inducible transgenic reporter line. The combination of c-Kit transgenesis coupled to H2BEGFP readout provides sensitive, specific, inducible, and persistent tracking of c-Kit promoter activation. Tagging efficiency for EGFP+/c-Kit+ cells is similar between our transgenic versus a c-Kit knock-in mouse line, but frequency of c-Kit+ cells in cardiac tissue from the knock-in model is 55% lower than that from our transgenic line. The c-Kit transgenic reporter model reveals intimate association of c-Kit expression with adult myocardial biology. Both cardiac stem cells and a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes express c-Kit in uninjured adult heart, upregulating c-Kit expression in response to pathological stress. Conclusions: c-Kit myocardial biology is more complex and varied than previously appreciated or documented, demonstrating validity in multiple points of coexisting yet heretofore seemingly irreconcilable published findings.
Highly Transparent Crosslinkable Radical Copolymer Thin Film as the Ion Storage Layer in Organic Electrochromic Devices

A highly transparent crosslinkable thin film made of the radical polymer poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyloxy methacrylate)- co-(4-benzoylphenyl methacrylate) (PTMA- co-BP) has been developed as the ion storage layer in electrochromic devices (ECDs). After photo-crosslinking, the dissolution of PTMA- co-BP in electrolytes was mitigated, which results in an enhanced electrochemical stability compared with the homopolymer PTMA thin film. Moreover, the redox capacity of PTMA- co-BP increased because of the formation of a crosslinked network. By matching the redox capacity of the PTMA- co-BP thin film and bis(alkoxy)-substituted poly(propylenedioxythiophene), the ECD achieved an optical contrast of 72% in a small potential window of 2.55 V (i.e., switching between +1.2 and -1.35 V), and it was cycled up to 1800 cycles. The ECD showed an excellent optical memory as its transmittance decayed by less than 3% in both the colored and bleached states while operating for over 30 min under open-circuit conditions. Use of crosslinkable radical polymers as the transparent ion storage layer opens up a new venue for the fabrication of transmissive-mode organic ECDs.
Continuum in Language Learning

Publisher Summary This chapter presents continuum in language learning. Competency in any foreign language can be acquired in the schools if, among other factors, a consistent, not varied, continuum of learning is established and maintained. If there is to be continuity, the teachers must be competent, the method of instruction must be consistent throughout, the materials of instruction and the resources for learning must be proper and adequate, the short-term and long-term goals must be attainable, and the techniques and instruments of evaluation must be such that they truly evaluate and test both the learner and the program of learning. There are competent teachers who understand and teach by the audio-lingual approach, and there are those who are familiar with the grammar-reading-translation method. The foreign language curriculum subcommittee is responsible for another program of data collection, and for increased activity in establishing and maintaining articulation of foreign language curriculum and instruction. Another example of developing a continuum of learning in the foreign language program was reported by a large high school district of seven four-year high schools.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GENES IN THE HUMAN MITOCHONDRIAL GENOME AND THEIR MODE OF TRANSCRIPTION

ABSTRACT The organization of the genes in the human mitochondrial genome and their mode of transcription are being investigated by a detailed mapping, structural and metabolic analysis of the various discrete poly(A)-containing and non-poly(A)-containing RNA species coded for by mitochondrial DNA (mit-DNA). Several approaches, involving different RNA-DNA hybridization techniques, RNA and DNA sequencing methods, and analysis of kinetic behavior, are being used in this work. A fine structural study of the ribosomal RNA region of mit-DNA has failed to reveal the presence of inserts in the main body of the 12S and 16S rRNA cistrons. The sequence of 71 nucleotides at the 5′-end of 12S rRNA and that of 32 nucleotides at the 5′-end of 16S rRNA have been determined. Experiments of hybridization of nascent RNA chains with different restriction fragments of mitochondrial DNA have led to the identification in this DNA of a region containing a point of initiation of L strand transcription. Several giant poly(A)-containing and non-poly(A)-containing L strand transcripts have been identified and characterized in their map location and metabolic behavior.
Accountable Care Organizations and Occupational Therapy

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are organized networks or systems that provide services to Medicare beneficiaries under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 with an emphasis on chronic care management. ACOs were instituted under Medicare to achieve value-based purchasing as opposed to simply providing high-volume, fee-for-service care. ACOs must reduce annual care expenditures through Medicare-covered services. Occupational therapy services often play a role along the care continuum of an ACO. This article examines some of the opportunities for occupational therapy to contribute to ACO quality outcomes and value-based care and considers some barriers for full utilization of occupational therapy practitioners in alternative payment models. Evidence-based and client-centered care provided by occupational therapy practitioners can result in increased inclusion of occupational therapy as a valued component of ACOs and other value-based service models.
Characterization of Polyvinyl Toluene (PVT) scintillators for fast neutron imaging

Polyvinyl Toluene (PVT) based plastic scintillators with varying dimensions and fluors have been characterized in terms of relative light output and spatial resolution. Scintillators were exposed to fast neutrons (~2 MeV), and images were obtained with a setup consisting of an EMCCD camera, a mirror and a light-tight apparatus. Among scintillators with 2.0% Flrpic and 10.16 cm (4 inch) diameter, the 10.5-mm thick scintillator featured the highest light output while 3.0- mm provided the best spatial resolution. The deuterated 3.0-mm thick scintillator doped with 2.0% Flrpic showed a worse performance in terms of both light output and spatial resolution compared to that of undeuterated scintillator with the same thickness but doped with 2.0% X-Flrpic. This study reveals the effects of presence of deuterium in PVT, the thickness of scintillator, and the fluor on the light output and spatial resolution of plastic scintillator.
Beautiful Lies and Beautiful Truths

I invite the reader to gaze through Roberto Bellini’s “Life is Beautiful” as a helpful allegory for our vocational endeavors. I sketch phase-appropriate developmental fictions and their situated benefit, and also suggest that sooner or later we must surrender our vocational fantasies and take up the reality of our work. My recent work with a therapy companion, in which we held those realities together, is the landscape for this chapter.
Chaos versus noise as drivers of multistability in neural networks

The multistable behavior of neural networks is actively being studied as a landmark of ongoing cerebral activity, reported in both functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and electro- or magnetoencephalography recordings. This consists of a continuous jumping between different partially synchronized states in the absence of external stimuli. It is thought to be an important mechanism for dealing with sensory novelty and to allow for efficient coding of information in an ever-changing surrounding environment. Many advances have been made to understand how network topology, connection delays, and noise can contribute to building this dynamic. Little or no attention, however, has been paid to the difference between local chaotic and stochastic influences on the switching between different network states. Using a conductance-based neural model that can have chaotic dynamics, we showed that a network can show multistable dynamics in a certain range of global connectivity strength and under deterministic conditions. In the present work, we characterize the multistable dynamics when the networks are, in addition to chaotic, subject to ion channel stochasticity in the form of multiplicative (channel) or additive (current) noise. We calculate the Functional Connectivity Dynamics matrix by comparing the Functional Connectivity (FC) matrices that describe the pair-wise phase synchronization in a moving window fashion and performing clustering of FCs. Moderate noise can enhance the multistable behavior that is evoked by chaos, resulting in more heterogeneous synchronization patterns, while more intense noise abolishes multistability. In networks composed of nonchaotic nodes, some noise can induce multistability in an otherwise synchronized, nonchaotic network. Finally, we found the same results regardless of the multiplicative or additive nature of noise.
Evolving a Data Structures Class Toward Inclusive Success

This paper presents the evolution of a curricular design over four semesters with the intention of improving learning for all while increasing retention and equity in a fully flipped, team-based data structures class. Using peer instruction, lightweight teams, an automated grader, TA-mentorship, and pair programming labs, we create an inclusive, equity-driven peer learning environment. We describe our holistic and iterative course design, reports and analysis of student background and performance, results from anonymous student surveys, and future plans for further improving the inclusive success in computing courses.
Deep learning convolutional neural networks for the estimation of liver fibrosis severity from ultrasound texture

Diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis is a vital prognostic marker in chronic liver diseases. Due to the inaccuracies and risk of complications associated with liver core needle biopsy, the current standard for diagnosis, other less invasive methods are sought for diagnosis. One such method that has been shown to correlate well with liver fibrosis is shear wave velocity measured by ultrasound (US) shear wave elastography; however, this technique requires specific software, hardware, and training. A current perspective in the radiology community is that the texture pattern from an US image may be predictive of the stage of liver fibrosis. We propose the use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a framework shown to be well suited for real world image interpretation, to test whether the texture pattern in gray scale elastography images (B-mode US with fixed, subject-agnostic acquisition settings) is predictive of the shear wave velocity (SWV). In this study, gray scale elastography images from over 300 patients including 3,500 images with corresponding SWV measurements were preprocessed and used as input to 100 different CNN architectures that were trained to regress shear wave velocity. In this study, even the best performing CNN explained only negligible variation in the shear wave velocity measures. These extensive test results suggest that the gray scale elastography image texture provides little predictive information about shear wave velocity and liver fibrosis.
Pathogenicity in mice of foot-and-mouth disease virus selected by adsorption with calf kidney.

SUMMARY After adsorption of each of the 7 types of foot-and-mouth disease virus with homogenized calf kidney, a small portion of each virus population remained and was found to be relatively resistant to adsorption. These portions of the populations were less pathogenic for infant mice than the parent virus.
Target detection performance of hyperspectral imagers

Traditional performance metrics for hyperspectral imaging (HSI) systems include signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), ground sample distance (GSD), ground resolvable distance (GRD), and noise equivalent spectral radiance (NESR). These metrics characterize the sensor system itself, but there is a gap between these metrics and the ability of the system to detect and identify targets in realistic scenes. Three additional metrics, the target size to GRD ratio, target spectral variability and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, are evaluated to quantify HSI system performance with scene and mission conditions considered. Historically, sensor design efforts do not use ROC curves because they are relatively difficult to calculate and depend on scene parameters as well as sensor parameters (e.g., SNR, GSD, GRD, and NESR). Data from a recent experiment in which an airborne sensor collected data for a variety of targets are used to identify exploit performance factors that need to be included into the model to quantify end-to-end sensor exploit performance. The primary targets consisted of an array of blue tarpaulins cut to sizes less than and greater than one HSI spatial pixel projected to the ground. We designed the experiment to quantify and compare the effects of target size on ROC curves. One key result of this work is that the radiance of targets in the scene exhibits a large degree of variation among many passes during two days of flight testing. This variability complicates the detection process. Another key result is that detection performance has a strong correlation with target size for subpixel targets. Finally, we demonstrate that in this case, sensor noise has little impact on detection performance.
Surface Reactivity Analysis of the Crude Oil–Brine–Limestone Interface for a Comprehensive Understanding of the Low-Salinity Waterflooding Mechanism

Low salinity waterflooding (LSWF) has proven to improve oil recovery in carbonate formations through rock wettability alteration although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this work, coreflooding coupled with surface reactivity analysis approach was employed to investigate the interplay of wettability alteration mechanisms such as mineral dissolution, electrostatic force reduction and the effect of pH at in-situ conditions. Improved oil recovery (IOR) in tertiary mode observed by coreflooding in Indiana limestone rocks showed a brine ionic strength dependence, i.e. reducing brine ionic strength resulted in an increase in oil recovery. Coreflooding results showed that the seawater and low salinity brines deprived of Mg2+ ions resulted in the lowest IOR in tertiary mode, indicating the significance of Mg2+ on IOR in limestone rocks. Similar results were observed through contact angle measuring showing the limestone rock wettability state dependence on ionic strength and the effect of Mg2+ ion. Su...