cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of pulsed introduction of buffer gas on ion storage and detection efficiencies in a quadrupole ion trap

The quadrupole ion trap is commonly operated with a constant background pressure of an inert, low molecular weight buffer gas. This inclusion of a buffer gas has been shown to increase the sensitivity and mass resolution of the instrument. Research to gain an understanding of these effects, both experimental and through simulations, has typically assumed that it is optimal to maintain a constant buffer gas pressure throughout the entire experiment This article describes the effects of the pulsed introduction of buffer gas at strategic points within the analytical scan and evaluates those events during which the presence of buffer gas is critical. By incorporating a pulsed valve within the ion trap manifold, both the presence and pressure of the buffer gas can be controlled and varied during the individual steps of the scan. The presence of helium buffer gas just before the ion ejection and detection event showed a greater increase in intensity of the ion signal than at any other time in the analytical scan. In addition, this increase in intensity upon pulsed introduction of buffer gas prior to detection is constant over a wide range of pulsed valve open times (i.e., pressures), whereas the signal enhancement upon pulsed introduction of the buffer gas before ionization is observed only over a narrow range of pulsed valve open times.
Metabolic pools and the utilization of amino acid analogs for protein synthesis

Abstract Studies of the kinetics of analog and amino acid incorporation into metabolic pools and proteins of yeast and E. coli have shown that at least two processes are involved in the selection of the natural amino acid in preference to the analog. These selection steps occur in the formation of the metabolic pools, the first occurring in the concentrating system of the cell, which accumulates exogenous amino acids or analogs into the cell at levels exceeding external concentrations. In the yeast, the final distinction between analog and amino acid occurs at the time of entry into a second metabolic pool (internal pool). In this pool conversion of amino acids to the required end products occurs. Once incorporated into this pool no further selection occurs; the ratio of analog to amino acid in this pool and in protein is the same.
Spectroscopy with relativistic antihydrogen

A technique is described for measuring the Lamb shift in antihydrogen in Fermilab experiment E862. The sensitivity of the measurement is expected to be 4.5%.
A CATALOG OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRA FROM TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

We present 41 near-infrared (NIR, 0.7-2.5 {mu}m) spectra from normal Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) obtained at epochs ranging from 14 days before to 75 days with respect to the maximum light date in the V band. All data were obtained at the Infrared Telescope Facility using the SpeX instrument. We identify many spectral features, measure the Doppler velocities, and discuss the chemical distribution of explosion products in SNe Ia. We describe procedures for smoothing data, fitting continua, and measuring absorption features to ensure consistency for measurement and analysis. This sample provides the first opportunity to examine and compare a large number of SNe Ia in this wavelength region. NIR data are a rich source of information about explosion products whose signatures are blended or obscured in other spectral regions and NIR observations probe a greater radial depth than optical wavelengths. We analyze similarities and differences in the spectra and we show that the progressive development of spectral features for normal SNe Ia in the NIR is consistent with time. We confirm the presence of O I, Mg II, Ca II, Si II, Fe II, and Co II in these SNe. Possible identifications are made for S I, Si III,more » Mn II, and Fe III. There is no evidence in these data for H I, He I, C I, or C II. As the explosion products expand and cool, progressively deeper layers are revealed. Thus, a time sequence of spectra examines the chemical structure and provides direct evidence of the physical properties of SNe Ia from the outer layers to deep inside the SN. Measured Doppler velocities indicate that burning products in SNe Ia are distributed in distinct layers with no large-scale mixing. Carbon is not detected in these data, in agreement with previous results with NIR data establishing very low limits on carbon abundance in SNe Ia. Carbon burning products, O and Mg, are plentiful in the outer layers suggesting that the entire progenitor is burned in the explosion. The data provide a resource for investigations of cross-correlations with other data libraries that may further constrain SN Ia physics and improve the effectiveness of SNe Ia as cosmological distance indicators.« less
Particle fouling of a rotating membrane disk

Abstract Fouling of rotating disk membranes as function of operating conditions and feed suspension characteristics was investigated in a series of laboratory experiments. A single-disk laboratory unit was operated over a range of disk rotation speeds and permeation rates (as controlled by the global transmembrane pressure drop) that were calculated to favor various conditions of particle transport and deposition. Permeate flux was found to be relatively insensitive to particle concentration in the feed stream. Thus, this membrane configuration appears to be well suited to the treatment of suspensions at high concentrations. However, the interplay between appropriate operating conditions to maintain permeate flux and the size of particles in the feed suspensions must be taken into account. Fouling was found to decrease with rotation rate and increase with transmembrane pressure (and therefore the initial permeate flux). Reductions in fouling observed at higher rotational speeds are attributed primarily to a high centrifugal force and radial component of drag on particles near the membrane surface. However, a trade off exists between the generation of high shear rates and centrifugal accelerations via high rotation rates and the radial distribution of the transmembrane pressure drop across the membrane that may locally reduce or reverse the flow of permeate across the membrane.
Prototype abstraction and the rejection of extraneous patterns

The abstraction of prototypical information from ill-defined categories was investigated for categories defined by three and six instances. The major question of interest was whether manipulation of category size would facilitate prototype abstraction when only two categories were learned and a default strategy of classification could not be used. To maximize learning difficulty, categories were defined by high-level (7.7-bit) distortions, and transfer was to new patterns at a high or extreme (8.3-bit) level of distortion. Nearly half the transfer patterns belonged to neither of the learned categories, and subjects were allowed to classify transfer patterns into a “junk” category. All subjects were tested immediately and after a delay of 1 week. The results indicated that category size maintained its potent influence on generalization performance. Although both categories deteriorated across the delay, the category defined by six instances continued to allow new patterns to be classified more accurately.
Utility of hydroxyurea in mast cell activation syndrome

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a relatively recently recognized cause of chronic multisystem polymorbidity of a generally inflammatory theme. Patients with MCAS often report migratory soft tissue and/or bone pain which frequently responds poorly to typical (narcotic and non-narcotic) analgesics as well as atypical analgesics such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Hydroxyurea (HU) is an oral ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor commonly used in the treatment of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms and sickle cell anemia. HU has been used to treat systemic mastocytosis, sometimes effecting improvement in MC activation symptoms but not tumor burden, suggesting potential utility of the drug in MCAS, too. Reported here are five cases of successful use of relatively low-dose HU in MCAS to reduce symptoms including previously refractory soft tissue and/or bone pain. HU may be useful in treating mediator symptoms in MCAS, but further study is needed to define optimal dosing strategies and patient subpopulations most likely to benefit.
On the asymptotic analysis of surface-stress-driven thin-layer flow

It has been demonstrated experimentally that thin liquid layers may be applied to a solid surface or substrate if a temperature gradient is applied which results in a surface tension gradient and surface traction. Two related problems are considered here by means of the long-wave or lubrication theory. In the first problem, an improved estimate of the applied liquid coating thickness for a liquid being drawn from a bath is found through asymptotic and numerical matching. Secondly, the theory is extended to consider substrates that are not perfectly wetted but exhibit a finite equilibrium contact angle for the coating liquid. This extension incorporates the substrate energetics using a disjoining pressure functional. Unsteady flows are calculated on a substrate of nonuniform wettability. The finite contact angle value required to stop stress-driven flow is predicted and the resulting steady profiles are compared with experimental results for several values of the applied stress.
Revisiting AVHRR Tropospheric Aerosol Trends Using Principal Component Analysis

The advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) satellite instruments provide a nearly 25 year continuous record of global aerosol properties over the ocean. It offers valuable insights into the long-term change in global aerosol loading. However, the AVHRR data record is heavily influenced by two volcanic eruptions, El Chichon on March 1982 and Mount Pinatubo on June 1991. The gradual decay of volcanic aerosols may last years after the eruption, which potentially masks the estimation of aerosol trends in the lower troposphere, especially those of anthropogenic origin. In this study, we show that a principal component analysis approach effectively captures the bulk of the spatial and temporal variability of volcanic aerosols into a single mode. The spatial pattern and time series of this mode provide a good match to the global distribution and decay of volcanic aerosols. We further reconstruct the data set by removing the volcanic aerosol component and reestimate the global and regional aerosol trends. Globally, the reconstructed data set reveals an increase of aerosol optical depth from 1985 to 1990 and decreasing trend from 1994 to 2006. Regionally, in the 1980s, positive trends are observed over the North Atlantic and North Arabian Sea, while negative tendencies are present off the West African coast and North Pacific. During the 1994 to 2006 period, the Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic close to Europe, and North Africa exhibit negative trends, while the coastal regions of East and South Asia, the Sahel region, and South America show positive trends.
Luv1p/Rki1p/Tcs3p/Vps54p, a Yeast Protein That Localizes to the Late Golgi and Early Endosome, Is Required for Normal Vacuolar Morphology.

We have characterized LUV1/RKI1/TCS3/VPS54, a novel yeast gene required to maintain normal vacuolar morphology. The luv1 mutant was identified in a genetic screen for mutants requiring the phosphatase calcineurin for vegetative growth. luv1 mutants lack a morphologically intact vacuole and instead accumulate small vesicles that are acidified and contain the vacuolar proteins alkaline phosphatase and carboxypeptidase Y and the vacuolar membrane H(+)-ATPase. Endocytosis appears qualitatively normal in luv1 mutants, but some portion (28%) of carboxypeptidase Y is secreted. luv1 mutants are sensitive to several ions (Zn(2+), Mn(2+), and Cd(2+)) and to pH extremes. These mutants are also sensitive to hygromycin B, caffeine, and FK506, a specific inhibitor of calcineurin. Some vacuolar protein-sorting mutants display similar drug and ion sensitivities, including sensitivity to FK506. Luv1p sediments at 100,000 x g and can be solubilized by salt or carbonate, indicating that it is a peripheral membrane protein. A Green Fluorescent Protein-Luv1 fusion protein colocalizes with the dye FM 4-64 at the endosome, and hemagglutinin-tagged Luv1p colocalizes with the trans-Golgi network/endosomal protease Kex2p. Computer analysis predicts a short coiled-coil domain in Luv1p. We propose that this protein maintains traffic through or the integrity of the early endosome and that this function is required for proper vacuolar morphology.
F110I and R278C troponin T mutations that cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affect muscle contraction in transgenic mice and reconstituted human cardiac fibers.

We have studied the physiological effects of the troponin T (TnT) F110I and R278C mutations associated with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) in humans. Three to four-month-old transgenic (Tg) mice expressing F110I-TnT and R278C-TnT did not develop significant hypertrophy or ventricular fibrosis even after chronic exercise challenge. The F110I mutation impaired acute exercise tolerance, whereas R278C did not. Skinned papillary muscle fibers from transgenic mice expressing F110I-TnT demonstrated increased Ca2+ sensitivity of force and ATPase activity, and likewise an increased Ca2+ sensitivity of force was observed in F110I-TnT-reconstituted human cardiac muscle preparations. In contrast, no changes in force or the ATPase-pCa dependencies were observed in transgenic R278C fibers or in human fibers reconstituted with the R278C-TnT mutant. The maximal level of force development was dramatically decreased in both transgenic mice. However, the maximal ATPase was not different (R278C-TnT) or only slightly less (F110I-TnT) than that of non-Tg and WT-Tg littermates. Consequently, their ratios of ATPase/force (energy cost) at all Ca2+ concentrations were dramatically higher compared with non-Tg and WT-Tg fibers. This increase in energy cost most likely results from a decrease in force per myosin cross-bridge, because forcing all cross-bridges into the force generating state by substitution of MgADP for MgATP in maximum contracting solutions resulted in the same increase in maximal force (15%) in all transgenic and non-transgenic preparations. The combination of increased Ca2+ sensitivity and energy cost in the F110I hearts may be responsible for the greater severity of this phenotype compared with the R278C mutation.
Early Natural History of Incident, Type-Specific Human Papillomavirus Infections in Newly Sexually Active Young Women

Background: Characterizing short-term detection patterns of young women's incident α-genus human papillomavirus (HPV) infections may further our understanding of HPV transmission. Methods: Between 2000 and 2007, we followed 18- to 22-year-old female university students with triannual HPV DNA and Papanicolaou testing. Using Kaplan–Meier methods, we estimated duration of detectable, type-specific incident infections; time to redetection (among infections that became undetectable); and time to cervical lesion development after incident infection. We evaluated risk factors for short-term persistent versus transient infection with logistic regression. Results: Three hundred three incident, type-specific infections were detected in 85 sexually active women. Median time to first negative test after incident infection was 9.4 (95% CI: 7.8–11.2) months; 90.6% of infections became undetectable within 2 years. About 19.4% of infections that became undetectable were redetected within 1 year. Cervical lesions were common and 60% were positive for multiple HPV types in concurrent cervical swabs. Incident HPV detection in the cervix only (vs. the vulva/vagina only or both sites) was associated with short-term transience. Conclusions: Although most incident infections became undetectable within 2 years, redetection was common. Cervical lesions were a common early manifestation of HPV infection. Impact: It remains unclear whether potentially modifiable risk factors can be identified to reduce infection duration (and transmission likelihood). Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(4); 699–707. ©2011 AACR.
Pathogenic natural antibodies propagate cerebral injury following ischemic stroke in mice

Self-reactive natural Abs initiate injury following ischemia and reperfusion of certain tissues, but their role in ischemic stroke is unknown. We investigated neoepitope expression in the postischemic brain and the role of natural Abs in recognizing these epitopes and mediating complement-dependent injury. A novel IgM mAb recognizing a subset of phospholipids (C2) and a previously characterized anti-annexin IV mAb (B4) were used to reconstitute and characterize injury in Ab-deficient Rag1−/− mice after 60 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Reconstitution with C2 or B4 mAb in otherwise protected Rag1−/− mice restored injury to that seen in wild-type (wt) mice, as demonstrated by infarct volume, demyelination, and neurologic scoring. IgM deposition was demonstrated in both wt mice and reconstituted Rag1−/− mice, and IgM colocalized with the complement activation fragment C3d following B4 mAb reconstitution. Further, recombinant annexin IV significantly reduced infarct volumes in wt mice and in Rag1−/− mice administered normal mouse serum, demonstrating that a single Ab reactivity is sufficient to develop cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in the context of an entire natural Ab repertoire. Finally, C2 and B4 mAbs bound to hypoxic, but not normoxic, human endothelial cells in vitro. Thus, the binding of pathogenic natural IgM to postischemic neoepitopes initiates complement-dependent injury following murine cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and, based also on previous data investigating IgM reactivity in human serum, there appears to be a similar recognition system in both mouse and man.
Rayleigh wave tomography beneath intraplate volcanic ridges in the South Pacific

sources recorded over a 12-month period provides resolution of phase velocities at periods upto100s.Theaveragephasevelocitiesforthestudyarearevealapronouncedlow-velocity zone reaching a minimum shear velocity of � 3.95 km/s. The negative velocity gradient defining the base of the lithosphere, observed at 40 ± 15 km, abruptly reverses at 70 km depth. The underlying positive gradient changes slope at � 125 km. We attribute these changes in gradient to the onset of incipient partial melting of upwelling mantle in thepresenceofwaterat125km,followedbyincreasedmeltproductionat70kmthatleadsto dehydration of the residual matrix and migration of melt to the surface spreading center. Rayleigh wave tomography shows that there are anomalously low shear velocities extending to at least 50 km depth beneath the Sojourn Ridge and the Hotu Matua volcanic complex, with relatively high velocities between these volcanic chains. These observations are not consistent with passive models for the origin of the volcanic ridges involving lithospheric extension or thermoelastic cracking. Dynamic models invoking flow in the asthenosphere in the form of small-scale convection or viscous fingering instabilities may explain the observed pattern of seismic velocity anomalies.
Combined Deficiency of Dystrophin and β1 Integrin in the Cardiac Myocyte Causes Myocardial Dysfunction, Fibrosis and Calcification

The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex is a large complex of membrane-associated proteins linking the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix in muscle. Transmembrane heterodimeric (alphabeta) integrins serve also as cellular adhesion molecules and mechanotransducers. In the animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the mdx mouse, loss of dystrophin causes more severe abnormalities in skeletal than in cardiac muscle. We hypothesized that ablation of cardiac myocyte integrins in the mdx background would lead to a severe cardiomyopathic phenotype. Mdx mice were crossed to ones with cardiac myocyte-specific deletion of beta1 integrin (beta1KO) to generate beta1KOmdx. Unstressed beta1KOmdx mice were viable and had normal cardiac function; however, high mortality was seen in peri- and postpartum females by 6 months of age, when severe myocardial necrosis and fibrosis and extensive dystrophic calcification was seen. Decreased ventricular function and blunted adrenergic responsiveness was found in the beta1KOmdx mice compared with control (Lox/Lox, no Cre), beta1KO, and mdx. Similarly, adult beta1KOmdx males were more prone to isoproterenol-induced heart failure and death compared with control groups. Given the extensive calcification, we analyzed transcript levels of genes linked to fibrosis and calcification and found matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein, decorin, periostin, and the osteoblast transcription factor Runx2/Cbfa1 significantly increased in beta1KOmdx cardiac muscle. Our data show that combined deficiency of dystrophin and integrins in murine cardiac myocytes results in more severe cardiomyopathic changes in the stressed myocardium than reduction of either dystrophin or integrins alone and predisposes to myocardial calcification.
Do quadrupeds require a change in trunk posture to walk backward

Previous studies on cats walking backward have indicated that they adopt a presumably adaptive posture characterized by extreme dorsiflexion of the lumbar spine. Because humans do not show any marked postural changes during backward walking, we questioned whether the posture exhibited by cats during backward walking was in fact adaptive and whether it was typical of quadrupeds. We therefore compared forward and backward walking in three treadmill-trained dogs and found reduced temporal parameters during backward walking and a marked reduction in wrist palmar-flexion during the swing phase of a backward step, but no change in trunk posture. We suggest that the aberrant posture exhibited by cats during backward walking is more related to ethological factors than to biomechanical ones.
Closed-form Inverse Kinematic Solution for Anthropomorphic Motion in Redundant Robot Arms

As robots are increasingly migrating out of factories and research laboratories and into our everyday lives, they should move and act in environments designed for humans. For this reason, the need of anthropomorphic movements is of utmost importance. This paper proposes a framework for solving the inverse kinematics problem of redundant robot arms that results to anthropomorphic configurations. The swivel angle of the elbow is used as a human arm motion parameter for the robot arm to mimic. The swivel angle is defined as the rotation angle of the plane defined by the upper and lower arm around a virtual axis that connects the shoulder and wrist joints. Using kinematic data recorded from human subjects during every-day life tasks, we validate the linear relations between intrinsic and extrinsic coordinates of the human arm that estimates the swivel angle, given the desired end-effector position. Defining the desired swivel angle simplifies the kinematic redundancy of the robot arm. The proposed method is tested with an anthropomorphic redundant robot arm and the computed motion profiles are compared to the ones of the human subjects. We show that the method computes anthropomorphic configurations for the robot arm, even if the robot arm has different link lengths than the human arm and starts its motion at random configurations.
Metabolite Profiling and Dynamic 13C Metabolomics of One-Carbon Assimilation Pathways in Methylotrophic and Methanotrophic Bacteria

Metabolite Profiling and Dynamic 13C Metabolomics of One-Carbon Assimilation Pathways in Methylotrophic and Methanotrophic Bacteria Methylotrophic and methanotrophic bacteria (methylotrophs and methanotrophs) are a diverse group of microbes that can use reduced one-carbon (C1) sources, such as methanol and methane as a sole source for both energy generation and carbon assimilation. Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 is one of the bestcharacterized model organisms for the study of C1 metabolism in the methylotrophic bacteria.
Case-Medication Waste Reduction in an In-Hospital Pharmacy, Part A

Hannah Jones was working as a pharmacist in the outpatient pharmacy of a large academic hospital. The work was demanding, requiring careful attention to detail. Hannah was good at her job, and she was also ambitious, planning to take on more managerial responsibility in the pharmacy. A year earlier, she had enrolled in a part-time Master’s of Medical Management (MMM) program, taking classes in the evenings and on weekends. Hannah was convinced that earning this master’s degree would further her career. She had finished her coursework, and the only requirement remaining was a project. Hannah decided not to wait until a project was assigned to her by the MMM program director. She took the initiative to propose working on reducing in-hospital waste of compounded medication; and got the project approved by the program director. One of the functions performed by in-hospital pharmacies is the custom compounding of medication both for inpatients and outpatients (e.g., patients who receive chemotherapy treatments in the hospital). Most compounded medications are chemically stable for a relatively short time; this is why they are manufactured in powder or concentrate form and need to be custom compounded prior to being administered to a patient. These medications are usually administered directly into a patient’s bloodstream, and therefore strict sterility procedures must be followed in preparing them. Compounded sterile medications (CSP) may end up unused, and therefore wasted, for a number of reasons: a patient’s condition could change after the medication has already been prepared; the medication could be delivered to the wrong unit, requiring that another dose be compounded and sent to the correct unit; or the medication could be delivered to the right unit, but get misplaced. Hannah knew that, with the cost of medication rising, the pharmacy management considered the waste of the compounded medication to be an important problem. Hannah used a diagram, Figure 1, to summarize her current understanding of the waste problem. Earlier in the year, a Lean Team working in the pharmacy conducted a five-day waste audit to quantify medication waste. During the audit, pharmacy technicians, who normally delivered medication to hospital units, gathered medication that was not used. All returned products were gathered in one holding area in the inpatient pharmacy, and designated technicians noted information about each returned product (description, number of doses, unit from which the medication was returned, patient ID, and date and time when the medication label was printed at the pharmacy). The information was then transcribed into a spreadsheet (available as supplemental material at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/ited.2015.0147csA). Later, a pharmacist assigned a dollar cost to each medication. The cost was based on the cost of ingredients only. It did not include the cost of labor used in preparing the compounded medication.
An Integrated Systems Engineering Method for Conceptual Design of Vehicle Handling Dynamics

The handling characteristics of road vehicles are important attributes that define a major part of its unique selling proposition. The engineering process of tuning vehicle handling dynamics is a challenging process due to the multitude of competing design requirements/parameters and requires a well-defined systematic approach. The primary objective of this publication is to describe an integrated system engineering method for the conceptual design of vehicle handling dynamics early in the product development process. A systems engineering-based simulation framework is described that connects subjective, customer-relevant handling expectations to higher-level, objective vehicle engineering targets and consequently breaks these targets down into subsystem-level requirements and component-level design specifications. A case study supporting this proposed system engineering method for vehicle handling design is also described in detail. The integrated systems engineering approach guides the engineering development process and provides insight into the compromises involved in vehicle handling layout, ultimately saving product development time and costs and helping to achieve a higher level of product maturity early in the design phase.
Human Endothelial Cell Response to Gram-Negative Lipopolysaccharide Assessed with cDNA Microarrays

To assess the feasibility of using cDNA microarrays to understand the response of endothelial cells to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to evaluate potentially beneficial agents in treatment of septic ...
Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the United States-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

The United States–Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) are part of the US National Tuberculosis (TB) Surveillance System and use laboratory services contracted through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2004, the CDC established the National Tuberculosis Genotyping Service, a system to genotype 1 isolate from each culture-confirmed case of TB. To describe the molecular epidemiology of TB in the region, we examined all Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates submitted for genotyping from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2008. Over this time period, the USAPI jurisdictions reported 1339 verified TB cases to the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System. Among 419 (31%) reported culture-confirmed TB cases, 352 (84%) had complete genotype results. Routine TB genotyping allowed, for the first time, an exploration of the molecular epidemiology of TB in the USAPI.
How often do surgeons obtain the critical view of safety during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background The reported incidence (0.16–1.5 %) of bile duct injury (BDI) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is higher than during open cholecystectomy and has not decreased over time despite increasing experience with the procedure. The “critical view of safety” (CVS) technique may help to prevent BDI when certain criteria are met prior to division of any structures. This study aimed to evaluate the adherence of practicing surgeons to the CVS criteria during LC and the impact of a training intervention on CVS identification.
Towards Enabling a Robot to Effectively Assist People in Human-Occupied Environments

Over the last decade, we have seen an increasing demand for robotscapable of coexisting with people. Enabling robots to operatesafely and effectively alongside human partners withinunstructured environments poses interesting research challengesthat broadly span the field of artificial intelligence. This paperpreviews some of the challenges that we faced in developing arobot "envoy" that operates for extended periods of timethroughout an office-like environment, assisting human occupantswith everyday activities that include greeting and escortingguests as well as retrieving and delivering objects. We see threeskill areas as critical for the robot to effectively perform thesetasks. The first is shared situational awareness-the robot mustinterpret its environment through a world model that is sharedwith its human partners. Secondly, the robot should act in a safe,predictable manner and be capable of intuitive interaction withpeople, through such means as natural language speech. Thirdly,the robot, which we initially treat as a rookie, shouldefficiently utilize information provided by human partners,requesting assistance when necessary and learning from suchassistance to become more competent with time.
Age, resource availability, and breeding effort in Brandt's Cormorant

Etude des caracteristiques de la reproduction chez Phalacrocorax penicillatus et plus particulierement des relations entre les performances reproductrices et l'âge et les variations annuelles de la disponibilite en nourriture. La capacite de ces oiseaux a exploiter un environnement theoriquement inexploitable par eux est examinee
Symmetry in Science

In this chapter we briefly review what science is about, and we see that it strongly involves reduction. It is shown that reduction is a symmetry. We consider three ways reduction is used in science: observer and observed, quasi-isolated system and surroundings, and initial state and evolution. Reproducibility, predictability, and reduction compose the triple foundation of science. The former two are shown to be symmetries and to imply analogies. Thus symmetry is of major importance in the foundation of science.
Next steps for IBM Watson Oncology: Scalability to additional malignancies.

6618 Background: We reported on the development of IBM Watson Oncology, a cognitive computing system designed to inform clinical decision making. The initial prototype demonstrated results (Bach, P...
Learning Hierarchically Decomposable Concepts with Active Over-Labeling

Many classification tasks target high-level concepts that can be decomposed into a hierarchy of finer-grained sub-concepts. For example, some string entities that are Locations are also Attractions, some Attractions are Museums, etc. Such hierarchies are common in named entity recognition (NER), document classification, and biological sequence analysis. We present a new approach for learning hierarchically decomposable concepts. The approach learns a high-level classifier (e.g., location vs. non-location) by seperately learning multiple finer-grained classifiers (e.g., museum vs. non-museum), and then combining the results. Soliciting labels at a finer level of granularity than that of the target concept is a new approach to active learning, which we term active over-labeling. In experiments in NER and document classification tasks, we show that active over-labeling substantially improves area under the precision-recall curve when compared with standard passive or active learning. Finally, because finer-grained labels may be more expensive to obtain, we also present a cost-sensitive active learner that uses a multi-armed bandit approach to dynamically choose the label granularity to target, and show that the bandit-based learner is robust to differences in label cost and labeling budget.
Collapse Resistance of a Seven-Story Structure with Multiple Shear-Axial Column Failures Using Hybrid Simulation

AbstractThe postfailure behavior of nonductile reinforced concrete columns under seismic loadings, and the system-level behaviors that can resist collapse after such failures, are not well understo...
Enhancing charge mobilities in organic semiconductors by selective fluorination: a design approach based on a quantum mechanical perspective

Selective fluorination of organic semiconducting molecules is proposed as a means to achieving enhanced hole mobility. Naphthalene is examined here as a root molecular system with fluorination performed at various sites. Our quantum chemical calculations show that selective fluorination can enhance attractive intermolecular interactions while reducing charge trapping. Those observations suggest a design principle whereby fluorination is utilized for achieving high charge mobilities in the crystalline form. The utility of this design principle is demonstrated through an application to perylene, which is an important building block of organic semiconducting materials. We also show that a quantum mechanical perspective of nuclear degrees of freedom is crucial for a reliable description of charge transport.
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery for Jugular Paraganglioma

The contemporary treatment paradigm for jugular paraganglioma focuses on the preservation of neurologic function. For this reason, non-invasive means of achieving tumor control with minimal morbidity have been adopted as first line therapeutic options. Conventional radiation therapy is utilized for large, inoperable tumors but carries a small risk of local tissue injury and must be delivered over several weeks. In contrast, stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy, with steep radiation falloff gradients, permits the delivery of a high dose of focused radiation in a single treatment or hypofractionated fashion to arrest tumor growth with reduced collateral injury. In the absence of prior treatment, these modalities achieve tumor control rates of greater than 90% in most series. Radiosurgery for recurrent disease, or in an adjuvant fashion following subtotal tumor resection, has been demonstrated to yield similar tumor control while avoiding cranial nerve damage that may occur with attempts at gross total tumor resection. Patients may experience an attendant decrease in symptoms such as pulsatile tinnitus, making this an attractive treatment option when the risk associated with surgery is high.
Controversy in long-term careWhat Is the Proper Use of Hemoglobin A1c Monitoring in the Elderly?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem for the aging population. Glycemic control is fundamental to the management of diabetes, as glycemic levels are closely linked to development of diabetes-related complications. Measurement of the hemoglobin A1c (A1c) to assess chronic glycemic control is an integral component of diabetes care. Currently, there is no clear evidence that age alters the relationship between A1c and average blood glucose. The Diabetes Control and Complications trial and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study are the 2 main studies that have provided evidence leading to the widespread recommendation of A1c monitoring. The American Diabetes Association recommends achiev-
A study on speech over the telephone and aging

We describe an experiment to show how the comprehensibility of speech over the telephone is related to the age of the listener. Our intention is to show figures to prove the commonly-held belief that as we get older our hearing of information over the telephone degrades. The study was set up to determine, for all age groups from 20-29 to 80-89, whether comprehension degrades with age and with the type of speech (synthetic or natural). We gave subjects sentences containing target word pairs that they were to write down. The pairs contained more or less predictable words. Our findings, which we consider to be preliminary due to the sample size, show degradation of comprehension with age and degradation from natural speech to synthetic speech.
Of Courage & Conviction: A Military View of the Federal Bench

The series of lectures honors the contributions of two esteemed jurists that served together on the bench of the 2d Circuit – the Augustus Hand and his cousin Learned Hand, often referred to as the tenth Supreme Court justice. The speech is entitled Of Courage & Conviction: A Military View of the Federal Bench.
Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant design and technology

: The main process areas of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants without and with carbon dioxide (CO2) capture are described. Key factors in IGCC plant design are described for major process areas, including gasification, water–gas shift, gas turbine, CO2 capture, and other emissions control technologies. The advantages and limitations of coal IGCC plants are discussed. The main development trends of IGCC technologies are reviewed and summarized.
The characteristics of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related deaths: A forensic autopsy data-based study

Using forensic autopsy-based data from a regional medical examiner office in the midwestern U.S. with a mixed small urban-rural population, we describe the characteristics of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related deaths occurring between 2000 and 2018. During this period, there were 25 ATV-related deaths. There was a strong male predominance with 22 male and 3 female decedents. The average age at death was 35 years, with a range from 10 to 82 years, and a bimodal age distribution with one peak at 10–19 years old, and a second peak at 60–69 years old. The most common cause of death was blunt trauma (n = 22), with the remainder being torso compression (n = 1), drowning (n = 1) and hypothermia (n = 1). Of the 22 blunt trauma deaths, 15 were due to head trauma. The most common mechanism of accident was roll-over (n = 11), followed by striking a stationary object (n = 6). Of the stationary objects struck, the most common was cable wire fencing accounting for 3 of the 6. A survival period following discovery of the body was present in 11 of the 25 deaths. Postmortem toxicology was positive for ethanol in 7 deaths and tramadol in 1 death.
Myeloproliferative syndromes: a unique presentation of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as a primary tumor of bone

A 45-yr-old female presented with a rapidly enlarging bony tumor that was eventually identified as a Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-positive myeloproliferative disorder with extramedullary blastic transformation. This transformation occurred in the absence of demonstrable chronic or acute leukemic phase. She had no history of a chronic or prodromal illness in spite of a bone marrow biopsy showing myelofibrosis and liver biopsy documenting extramedullary hematopoiesis. This case represents a unique constellation of features of the myeloproliferative syndrome in which the diagnosis was obscure until special stains of the bony tumor and cytogenetic studies were performed.
Finite-type invariants of order one of long and framed virtual knots

We generalize three invariants, first discovered by Henrich, to the long and/or framed virtual knot case. These invariants are all finite-type invariants of order one, and include a universal invar...
Mirroring without Overimitation: Learning Functionally Equivalent Manipulation Actions

This paper presents a mirroring approach, inspired by the neuroscience discovery of the mirror neurons, to transfer demonstrated manipulation actions to robots. Designed to address the different embodiments between a human (demonstrator) and a robot, this approach extends the classic robot Learning from Demonstration (LfD) in the following aspects:i) It incorporates fine-grained hand forces collected by a tactile glove in demonstration to learn robot’s fine manipulative actions; ii) Through model-free reinforcement learning and grammar induction, the demonstration is represented by a goal-oriented grammar consisting of goal states and the corresponding forces to reach the states, independent of robot embodiments; iii) A physics-based simulation engine is applied to emulate various robot actions and mirrors the actions that are functionally equivalent to the human’s in the sense of causing the same state changes by exerting similar forces. Through this approach, a robot reasons about which forces to exert and what goals to achieve to generate actions (i.e., mirroring), rather than strictly mimicking demonstration (i.e., overimitation). Thus the embodiment difference between a human and a robot is naturally overcome. In the experiment, we demonstrate the proposed approach by teaching a real Baxter robot with a complex manipulation task involving haptic feedback—opening medicine bottles.
Understanding the Performance of Mechanically Stacked Tandem Solar Cells with Different Interconnection Architectures

Three-terminal (3T), mechanically stacked tandem solar cells based on IBC Si subcells provide a compelling platform for tandem cell integration. This talk will discuss the design, operating principle, and interconnection options for 3T tandems.
Observations on the Connexion between Intermedin and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

IN a communication which has recently appeared under the above title, Johnsson and Hogberg1 have claimed that intermedin and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are closely related or identical. Moreover, they have suggested that the assay for melanophore-expansion activity in the frog is “a rapid and simple method of testing for adrenocorticotropic hormone”. Similar conclusions have been arrived at independently by Sulman2. Experimental evidence which we have obtained relating to this question does not support these claims.
Parental interpretation of psychoeducational reports

The intent of the present investigation was to determine the readability of psychoeducational reports and the effectiveness of manipulating selected report variables to facilitate parental interpretation. A sample of 50 reports was analyzed to determine the reading level at which reports were written. One report written at the median reading level was identified as a traditional report and was modified by lowering the reading level, replacing professional terminology, and removing information identified as unrelated to placement decisions. One objective test was developed to measure parents' abilities to interpret both the traditional and modified reports. One hundred fourteen parents were randomly assigned to read either the traditional or modified version of the report. Following treatment, subjects responded to the test instrument. The data indicate that traditional reports are written above the reading level of most parents. In addition, the data support the position that modification of selected report variables facilitates parental interpretation. Suggestions are made to report writers as to how specific modifications can enhance parental access to report contents.
TL 18051 - Accuracy of patient-specific instrumentation in total ankle arthroplasty: a comparative study

Introduction: Correct positioning of implants in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is a key step to ensure the longevity of the prosthesis. Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) via preoperative computed tomography for TAA was developed and made available through PROPHECY (Wright Medical, Memphis, TN). The purpose of this study was to compare the use of PSI with the standard referencing guide (SRG) in regard to the accuracy of tibial implant positioning, operative time, and fluoroscopy time. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 99 patients who underwent a primary TAA with the INFINITY prosthesis (Wright Medical, Memphis, TN) was performed. Patients were divided in two groups based on the type of instrumentation used during the TAA (75 in the PSI - PROPHECY group vs 24 in the SRG group). Results: Tibial implant positioning was similar between groups. In the coronal plane, the absolute deviation of the tibial implant was 1.7 ± 1.4 degrees for the SRG and 1.6 ± 1.2 degrees for PSI (P = 0.710). In the sagittal plane, the absolute alignment deviation of the tibial implant was 1.8 ± 1.4 degrees for the SRG and 1.9 ± 1.5 degrees for PSI (P = 0.675). Operative time (P = 0.040) and fluoroscopy time (P < 0.001) were significantly decreased in the PSI group. The PSI preoperative plan report correctly predicted the implant size in 73% of cases for the tibial component and in only 51% of cases for the talar component. Conclusions: PSI provided similar tibial component alignment to standard instrumentation while decreasing the operative and fluoroscopy time. However, PSI preoperative plan reports were poor predictors of implant sizing. Therefore, the final decision should always be based on the surgeon’s experience to prevent errors in implant sizing and positioning.
The Copyright Claims Board and the Individual Creator: Is Real Reform Possible?

Recent copyright reform efforts include legislation in the Congress that would create a copyright claims board to help individual creators and small businesses enforce their copyrights without the ...
Research on COVID-19 Virus Spreading Statistics based on the Examples of the Cases from Different Countries

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 originally identified in December 2019, based on the data issued by March 30, 2020 daily report, the epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 so far has caused 693224 cases and resulted in 33106 deaths in more than 200 countries. Referring to the data reported, World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic. We considered the chain-binomial type of the model which involves short stages of high infectivity and approximately constant incubation periods. This research paper is to study and analyze the COVID-19 Virus spreading statistics on the examples of the cases from the different counties. High correlation coefficients (91.64%) and determinants (83.98%) between the total volumes of virus spread and recovery are considered to be high and indicate the correctness of the Bailey model. Thus, as of March 30, with the results of statistical and mathematical data processing, it is difficult to predict the future spread-reduction variables of the pandemic.