cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prasugrel in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Currently, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel represents the key treatment strategy for the prevention of ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and/or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there is a broad inter-individual response variability to such treatment strategy, and a considerable number of patients persist with inadequate platelet inhibition, which has been associated with an increased risk of ischemic events. Overall, these findings underscore the need for novel antiplatelet agents able to achieve greater platelet inhibition; this can potentially reduce ischemic event rates. Prasugrel (CS-747; LY 640315), a novel third-generation oral thienopyridine, is a specific, irreversible antagonist of the platelet adenosine diphosphate P2Y(12) receptor. Laboratory studies have shown prasugrel to be associated with more prompt, potent and predictable degrees of platelet inhibition compared with clopidogrel. In a large-scale clinical study, which was comprised of high-risk ACS patients undergoing PCI, prasugrel was shown to significantly reduce the short- and long-term risk of ischemic events, including stent thrombosis. However, such significant reduction in ischemic events occurred at the expense of a higher risk of bleeding. Recent clinical trial data analyses have led to a better understanding of the efficacy and safety of prasugrel. This article reviews the currently available data regarding the efficacy and safety of prasugrel in ACS patients.
Choline phosphorylation and regulation of transcription of choline kinase α in hypoxia

Choline kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of choline, the first step of phospholipid synthesis. Increased phosphorylation of choline is a hallmark characteristic of the malignant phenotype in a variety of neoplasms. However, in hypoxic cancer cells, choline phosphorylation is decreased. To understand the mechanism behind this altered metabolic state, we examined the expression and regulation of the major choline kinase isoform, choline kinase α (ChKα), in hypoxic PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. Hypoxia decreased choline phosphorylation, choline kinase activity, and ChKα mRNA and protein levels. Promoter analysis studies revealed a region upstream of the ChKα gene bearing a conserved DNA consensus binding motif, hypoxia response element-7 (HRE7), at position −222 relative to +1 translation start site, for binding the hypoxia dependent master regulator transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). Electrophoretic mobility shift competition/supershift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed binding of HIF-1α to HRE7. A putative promoter of ChKα was isolated from PC-3 genomic DNA and cloned into a luciferase-based reporter vector system. In PC-3 cells, hypoxia decreased the expression of luciferase under the control of the ChKα promoter. Mutation of HRE7 abrogated this hypoxia effect, further demonstrating the involvement of HRE7 in hypoxia-sensitive regulation of ChKα. The results strongly suggest that transcriptional control of choline phosphorylation is largely mediated via HIF-1α binding to the newly identified HRE7.
InGaN-GaNAs type-II ’W’ quantum well lasers for emission at 450-nm

Type-II InGaN-GaNAs quantum well gain media is analyzed for lasers emitting at 450-nm. Optical gain analysis, using 6-band k.p formalism, show 3-times improvement and 40% reduction in threshold current.
The Duke of Newcastle and the Financing of the Seven Years’ War

The conduct of the British government's financial affairs during the Duke of Newcastle's tenure as First Lord of the Treasury has never to my knowledge been specifically investigated. This gap in our understanding of the eighteenth century is doubly puzzling: the period itself, during which Britain won a war and an empire, is pivotal in the kingdom's history; moreover, the sources for such a study are uncommonly rich for precisely those years in which the duke held the office. The lack of such an analysis, however, has not prevented several authorities from passing severe judgments on the duke's handling of financial affairs, and while these authorities speak from extensive knowledge of the Treasury and its complexities, I have come to conclude that their assessments are too harsh—a view I shall elaborate at the end of this essay. But even if the reader should conclude at that point that my flirtation with revisionism is itself ill-founded, there is yet another value in examining the Treasury under Newcastle: as in perhaps no other period we can sometimes see decisions at the Treasury actually being made, ideas being transmitted, and problems being analyzed. And above all we can see in some detail how Britain's remarkably successful governmental financial machine operated.
The sloped-wall SWAMI&#8212;A defect-free zero bird's-beak local oxidation process for scaled VLSI technology

A new scheme for a Side WAll Masked Isolation (SWAMI) process is presented which takes all the advantages provided by LOCOS without suffering its difficulties. The new SWAMI technology incorporates a sloped silicon sidewall and a thin nitride layer around the island sidewalls such that both intrinsic nitride stress and volume expansion-induced stress are greatly reduced. A defect-free fully recessed zero bird's-beak local oxidation process can be realized by the sloped-wall SWAMI. Fabrication technology and NMOS electrical characteristics will be discussed. Two-dimensional simulation of total reduction in effective channel width for ideal vertical isolation, LOCOS, and SWAMI will also be presented. A SWAMI/CMOS circuit including 60K ROM, 2.5K SRAM, and 100 segments of display driver with 5.13 × 5.22 mm2chip size has been successfully fabricated. The results indicate that SWAMI is capable of replacing LOCOS as the isolation technology for submicrometer VLSI circuit fabrication.
Microscopes for Fluorimeters: The Era of Single Molecule Measurements

As transforming as the first atomic resolution view of myoglobin in the late 1950s, scientists can now use a suite of single molecule technologies to watch protein macromolecular machines executing their functions "in real time." This Essay highlights applications and challenges of single molecule studies in structural biology, cell biology, and biotechnology.
Correction: Ligand design for Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation: an unsymmetrical cyclopentadienyl group enables a regioselective synthesis of dihydroisoquinolones

We report the regioselective synthesis of dihydroisoquinolones from aliphatic alkenes and O-pivaloyl benzhydroxamic acids mediated by a Rh(III) precatalyst bearing sterically bulky substituents. While the prototypical Cp* ligand provides product with low selectivity, sterically bulky Cpt affords product with excellent regioselectivity for a range of benzhydroxamic acids and alkenes. Crystallographic evidence offers insight as to the source of the increased regioselectivity.
Unidirectional information transfer with cascaded All Spin Logic devices: A Ring Oscillator

Magnet based logic devices have received much attention as potential alternatives [1] to charge based electronics in order to answer the ever growing concern [2] about the limits of CMOS scaling, especially since it has been shown that the energy required to turn a magnet could be as low as a few atto-joules [3]. The recently proposed All Spin Logic (ASL) device [4] is one such scheme whereby information is stored in the state of magnets and is communicated between magnets purely through spin currents, thus operating entirely within a new paradigm: using spin as a state variable.
The effect of an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein on type ii collagen–induced arthritis and antigen-induced arthritis in mice

Objective. To investigate the anti-arthritic effect of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) in two experimental models of arthritis. Methods. Recombinant IRAP was administered daily to mice with type II collagen–induced arthritis (CIA) or with antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) provoked by methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA). Disease incidence and severity were assessed by a clinical index and histologic features. Serum antibody to type II collagen, spleen cell proliferation to mBSA, and anti-IRAP antibodies were measured as indices of immune function. Results. IRAP reduced the incidence and delayed the onset of CIA and suppressed the antibody response to type II collagen. In contrast, IRAP did not affect the pathogenesis of AIA and had no effect on either humoral or cellular immune responses to mBSA in arthritic mice. Conclusion. These observations suggest that interleukin-1 may play a prominent role in the development of some, but not all, forms of arthritis.
Evolution of neural controllers for competitive game playing with teams of mobile robots

Abstract In this work, we describe the evolutionary training of artificial neural network controllers for competitive team game playing behaviors by teams of real mobile robots. This research emphasized the development of methods to automate the production of behavioral robot controllers. We seek methods that do not require a human designer to define specific intermediate behaviors for a complex robot task. The work made use of a real mobile robot colony (EVolutionary roBOTs) and a closely coupled computer-based simulated training environment. The acquisition of behavior in an evolutionary robotics system was demonstrated using a robotic version of the game Capture the Flag . In this game, played by two teams of competing robots, each team tries to defend its own goal while trying to ‘attack’ another goal defended by the other team. Robot neural controllers relied entirely on processed video data for sensing of their environment. Robot controllers were evolved in a simulated environment using evolutionary training algorithms. In the evolutionary process, each generation consisted of a competitive tournament of games played between the controllers in an evolving population. Robot controllers were selected based on whether they won or lost games in the course of a tournament. Following a tournament, the neural controllers were ranked competitively according to how many games they won and the population was propagated using a mutation and replacement strategy. After several hundred generations, the best performing controllers were transferred to teams of real mobile robots, where they exhibited behaviors similar to those seen in simulation including basic navigation, the ability to distinguish between different types of objects, and goal tending behaviors.
A vicious backhand

Scientists and physicians from around the globe were drawn to scientific sessions held in Chicago in the fall of 1997. Prospects for an excellent learning experience were high. For Theodore Conrad, the meeting also offered an opportunity to meet with former post-doctoral trainees. Over dinner that evening he would dine with a contingent from South America: Jorge and Eduardo from Santiago, and Clovis and Felix from Sao Paolo. There would be much to discuss since they last had seen one another. Seated in the restaurant of the headquarters hotel, Theodore listened with pride to their narration of scholarship achieved against a backdrop of tribulations not unlike those he would have expected in initiating basic and applied research studies in the States. But in addition, he learned about challenges of a kind quite unfamiliar to him. Issues, for example, related to a nation’s political and military infrastructure and their impact on the conduct of biomedical research. Undeterred, these clinician scientists had forged forward to achieve research objectives. Additionally gratifying was their involvement in population-based studies that addressed such issues as high altitude, cardiovascular risk and Chagas disease. Theodore was humbled by these recountings. Against such a backdrop, how could anyone in the States hope to make an educated assessment of the dedication and accomplishments of these individuals, working on another continent? Even more absurd a judgment would be one concerning their suitability for election into a U.S.-based academic society. Ah, the emptiness and bankruptcy of elitists, he thought. “A remarkable set of achievements. You each have made an impact, and undoubtedly will continue to contribute substantively to our understanding of human disease and disability for years to come,” noted Theodore. “Using the next millennium – now only months away – as an arbitrary target, we must rededicate ourselves to world health …
Combined posterior and transaxillary approach for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome

Abstract Background: Incomplete removal of the first rib in operations intended to decompress the thoracic outlet is often seen after the single transaxillary approach (often leaving a posterior stump) or supraclavicular techniques (leaving an anterior stump). The former may also cause neurogenic and vascular injuries because the exposure is often poor in attempting complete removal of the first rib posteriorly and the surgeon faces a significant struggle. Study Design: A new operative procedure is described entailing two stages using two separate incisions: a transaxillary and posterior incision done at the same sitting that accomplishes complete removal of the first rib with less risk. This combined approach is done with the help of a new arm holder device during the transaxillary stage followed by a small incision behind the trapezius ridge for posterior access to the rib. Results: I present 33 patients in whom this operation was implemented, with a cure rate of 79%, improvement in 15%, and unchanged in 6%, with no complications or mortality. Technical details are presented. Conclusions: A double-incision approach is recommended as a safer and more effective method to accomplish complete removal of the first rib than are single transaxillary supraclavicular techniques in cases with thoracic outlet obstruction.
Shape analysis using high-performance computing techniques

Shape understanding and modelling are complex procedures, which are the result of different specific processes. Generally, many steps in these processes may require a high computational-effort, thus making the use of parallel processing an interesting possibility. A typical example is feature recognition, a key tool towards shape understanding, which is applied to detect either local or region-wide characteristics. In this paper a survey is provided about the possibility of using parallel processing at different stages of the shape-understanding process. The parallelisation strategies will be described in details and results will be provided both for workstation networks and massively parallel machine (Cray T3D).
Natural resonance extraction from multiple data sets using a genetic algorithm

The paper presents a scheme to extract the natural frequencies of a radar target from multiple data sets using a genetic algorithm technique (GAT). This technique prevents the extracted damping coefficients from being positive, as often happens with low signal-to-noise ratio data, by restricting the search parameters of the damping coefficients to be negative values. The GAT does not require an initial guess, unlike the constrained E-pulse technique (CET). The results from the GAT compare well with the CET (with much less effort required) and also with such established techniques as the pencil-of-functions method and the nonlinear least-squares technique. >
Optimality and scalability study of existing placement algorithms

Placement is an important step in the overall IC design process in deep submicron technologies, as it defines the on-chip interconnects which have become the bottleneck in determining circuit performance. The rapidly increasing design complexity, combined with the demand for the capability of handling nearly flattened designs for physical hierarchy generation, poses significant challenges to existing placement algorithms. There are very few studies dedicated to understanding the optimality (i.e., the comparison of the solution of an algorithm to the optimal solution) and scalability (i.e., the analysis of the degradation of the performance of an algorithm as the input size of the problem increases) of placement algorithms, due to the limited sizes of existing benchmarks and limited knowledge of optimal solutions. The contribution of this work includes three parts. 1) We implemented an algorithm [Placement Examples with Known Optimal (PEKO) algorithm] for generating synthetic benchmarks that have known optimal wirelengths and can match any given net degree distribution profile. 2) Using benchmarks of 10 k to 2 M placeable modules with known optimal solutions, we studied the optimality and scalability of four state-of-the-art placers, Dragon (Wang et al., 2000), Capo (Caldwell et al., 2000), mPL (Chan et al., 2000), and mPG (Chang et al., 2002) from academia, and a leading edge industrial placer, QPlace (Cadence 1999) from Cadence. For the first time our study reveals the gap between the results produced by these tools versus true optimal solutions. The wirelengths produced by these tools are 1.59 to 2.40 times the optimal in the worst cases, and are 1.43 to 2.12 times the optimal on average. As for scalability, the average solution quality of each tool deteriorates by an additional 9% to 17% when the problem size increases by a factor of ten. These results indicate significant room for improvement in existing placement algorithms. 3) We studied the impact of nonlocal nets on the quality of the placers by extending the PEKO algorithm (PEKU algorithm) to generate synthetic placement benchmarks with a known upper bound of the optimal wirelength. For these benchmarks, the wirelengths produced by these tools are 1.75 to 2.18 times the wirelength upper bound in the worst case, and are 1.62 to 2.07 times the wirelength upper bound on average. Moreover, in our study we found that the effectiveness of the algorithms varies for circuits with different characteristics.
Developmental Emergence of Power-Law Wake Behavior Depends Upon the Functional Integrity of the Locus Coeruleus

IN HUMANS,1 RATS,2 AND MICE,3 NEWBORNS CYCLE RAPIDLY BETWEEN SLEEP AND WAKEFULNESS. ONE OF THE DEFINING FEATURES OF EARLY SLEEP-WAKE development is the consolidation of individual sleep and wake bouts, as well as the circadian entrainment of the sleep-wake rhythm.4 In addition, analyses of the statistical distributions of sleep and wake bouts have indicated dramatic changes in the dynamics of sleep-wake activity. Specifically, whereas sleep bout durations distribute exponentially in infant5 and adult6,7 mammals, wake bout durations distribute exponentially during the early postnatal period and then transition to a power-law distribution that, in rats, occurs around the time of eye opening at postnatal day (P)15.8 Several factors may account for the developmental transition from exponential to power-law wake behavior. For example, because the transition occurs around the time of eye opening, it is possible that some aspect of visual stimulation is involved. However, bilateral enucleation at P3 or P11 does not prevent the normal emergence of power-law wake behavior.4 Alternatively, it is possible that orexinergic neurons, localized in the lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LHA) and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH), contribute to the emergence of power-law wake behavior by activating wake-active monoaminergic and cholinergic neurons in the brainstem.9–11 However, power-law wake behavior emerges in orexin knockout mice just as it does in wild-types.3 A third possibility, examined here, is that functional changes in locus coeruleus (LC) activity contribute to the development of power-law wake behavior. The LC is a major source of noradrenaline (NA) in the central nervous system and plays an important role in arousal. In adult rats, activity levels of LC neurons increase during wakefulness, decrease their firing rate during quiet sleep, and are nearly silent during active sleep12,13; state-related changes in LC activity are detectable as early as P8 in rats.14 Increased discharge rates of LC neurons are associated with spontaneous or sensory-evoked interruptions of sleep.12,15 Finally, stimulation of LC activity promotes wakefulness,16,17 whereas inhibition of LC activity promotes sleep.18 To test the hypothesis that the LC contributes to the developmental emergence of power-law wake behavior, we administered N-(2-choloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4), a neurotoxin that selectively destroys noradrenergic LC terminals in infant19 and adult20–23 rats. In the present study, DSP-4 was administered to P7 rats and we examined their sleep-wake behavior 2 weeks later, at P21. We predicted that interfering with LC function in early infancy would prevent or dampen the developmental transition from exponential to power-law wake behavior.
Regulation of Matrix Polymer in Biofilm Formation and Dispersion

Biofilms are biological films that develop and persist at interfaces in aqueous environments in natural and manmade ecosystems. These biological films are composed of microorganisms embedded in a gelatinous matrix composed of one or more organic polymers which are secreted by the resident microorganisms.
Observation of the simplest Criegee intermediate CH2OO in the gas-phase ozonolysis of ethylene

Ozonolysis is one of the dominant oxidation pathways for tropospheric alkenes. Although numerous studies have confirmed a 1,3-cycloaddition mechanism that generates a Criegee intermediate (CI) with form R1R2COO, no small CIs have ever been directly observed in the ozonolysis of alkenes because of their high reactivity. We present the first experimental detection of CH2OO in the gas-phase ozonolysis of ethylene, using Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and a modified pulsed nozzle, which combines high reactant concentrations with rapid sampling and sensitive detection. Nine other product species of the O3 + C2H4 reaction were also detected, including formaldehyde, formic acid, dioxirane, and ethylene ozonide. The presence of all these species can be attributed to the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions of CH2OO, and their abundances are in qualitative agreement with published mechanisms and rate constants.
The role of workstation-based client/server systems in changing business processes: a multiple case study

Although several studies question information technology's contribution to productivity, organizations continue to invest in clients/server systems (CSSs). Many authors recommend using CSSs as enablers of business process reengineering (BPR). These efforts may be wasted if they do not improve business processes. This study focused on business processes and investigated the role of workstation-based CSSs in changing business processes. A multiple case study of workstation-based CSS databases in three organizations was performed with the proposition that they moderate the relation between managerial action and changes within business processes. The research framework suggested that changes to business processes are achieved by reducing uncertainty. In order to measure change in business processes, this study categorized business process change into: (1) compressing sequential tasks across functions, (2) compressing tasks vertically within the managerial hierarchy, (3) eliminating slack resources, (4) reducing the distance between the point of decision and the point of information or eliminating intermediaries, (5) reconfiguring sequential processes to operate in parallel, and (6) linking parallel activities during the process. Data collected from questionnaires, interviews, and observations from three case studies were used to construct network diagrams, relationship matrices, reachability matrices, and task tables of business processes. The results of this research partially support the proposition that managerial action affects business process change by reducing uncertainty. This research suggests that changes in the use of workstation-based CSSs are related to changes in business processes. However, because of the small sample size, no findings was made regarding changes in the strength of that relationship. Therefore, within its limitations, this research (1) partially supports the proposition that CSSs moderate changes in business processes, (2) found that both favorable and unfavorable changes may result fiom using CSSs, (3) explains how business process change occurs, and (4) suggests new variables for measuring successful BPR.
Pyrethroid Resistance in Two Field Strains of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Topical toxicities of three pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin, and fenvalerate), one carbamate (carbaryl), and one organophosphate (methyl parathion) were determined with third instars of two Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) strains that were established from field collections in com and cotton where control difficulties with pyrethroids were experienced. The data were compared with those of an insecticide-susceptible laboratory strain. Resistance ratios (RR at LD50 and LD90) indicated that Illinois-strain larvae were resistant to permethrin (5.2- and 10.8-fold), cypermethrin (3.0- and 18.0-fold), and carbaryl (2.6- and 2.7-fold), whereas Arkansas-strain larvae were resistant to permethrin (5.7- and 8.8-fold), cypermethrin (5.0- and 10.0-fold), fenvalerate (2.2- and 2.7-fold), methyl parathion (3.2- and 3.2-fold), and carbaryl (3.1- and 1.9-fold). Results of studies of the effect of synergists on toxicity of cypermethrin to larvae of the Arkansas strain were inconclusive; however, they suggested that both metabolic and nonmetabolic (target site) resistance mechanisms could be involved.
Epidemiological Analysis of Food Poisoning in Catering Industry in Zhongshan City From 2003 to 2007

Objective To investigate the epidemiological features of food poisoning in catering industry,and to provide the evidence for prevention and control of food poisoning.Method Data of food poisoning in Zhongshan City during the period of 2003～2007 were collected and analyzed.Results There were 588 poisoning victims and 27 cases of food poisoning which happened in catering industry in the city from 2003 to 2007.The peak of the incidence was from May to October.92.59% of food poisoning cases in catering industry were bacterial food poisoning,and mainly induced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Proteus mirabilis.The poisoning victims were characterized by a high degree of aggregation in eating places and eat meals,and without specificity of age,gender and profession.The shortest latency was 48 minutes,while the longest latency was 2,200 minutes,with an average of 12 hrs.The main symptoms included abdominal pain,diarrhea,nausea,vomiting and dizziness.The food which caused food poisoning were mostly ducks,boiled chicken,and other cooked meat.Most of the catering industries had valid health permits,but most of the employees did not have effective health certificates.Though most of the kitchen facilities and environment met the health requirements,the health condition at the scene was poor.Conclusions The food poisoning cases which occured in Zhongshan City are characterized by peak season and high-risk food.Strengthening health management and health knowledge training for the employees of catering industry is the best preventive method.
Research on the Velocity Field of the Cubic-Curve Tube Type Hydrocyclones

A research was conducted of the velocity field of the designed cubic-curve tube type hydrocyclones.The result shows that the flow field near the connection of the big and small cone sections is more fluent,particularly the fluctuation of the axial velocity of the hydrocyclone is greatly reduced.The stability of the flow field inside the hydrocyclones reduces the opportunity of breaking up the coalescing oil drops again and provides guarantee of increasing the treatment result of hydrocyclones.
Resonance and Its Control of High-order Mode in High Power Electrically controlled Ferrite Power Dispatcher

This article gives the elementary analysis on why does high-order mode resonance arise and how to control it,and proposes several practical methods controlling high-order mode excitation.At last,we put out our notices on simulation proceeding on ANSOFT microwave designing platform.
Mainstreaming Resilience into Development Programming: A Practitioner’s Perspective

This paper starts with the acknowledgment that resilience is still a confusing concept, difficult to demonstrate, but a necessity when considering community’s development programming. It then presents the innovative approach developed by the INGO Plan International while developing a toolbox addressing both programming and accountability requirements regarding resilience, i.e. combining process-oriented and performance-oriented dimensions. At first it presents the strategic and programmatic vision of Plan for resilience—child-centered approach, based on the characterization of resilient communities and on a two-levels review process (the “what” and the “how”) of programming activities. As a second part, specific processes and tools—under construction—are described, that are designed to support programming teams in: (i) screening existing programmes/projects from the resilience perspective, (ii) design projects so that they contribute to resilience building. As a conclusion, the opportunity brought upon by the resilience debate to rethink the development paradigm from a community and human perspective is highlighted. Resilience building must be understood as interfering with causal pathways of change and not only as a linear programming process towards pre-defined outcomes. To make such a shift happen on the ground, tools are needed—translating academic knowledge on resilience into practitioners’ toolbox; this paper aims at contributing to connect the dots, providing a framework for a reality check on the field of development programming.
Tree-Based Majorize-Maximize Algorithm for Compressed Sensing with Sparse-Tree Prior

Recent studies have shown that sparse representation can be used effectively as a prior in linear inverse problems. However, in many multiscale bases (e.g., wavelets), signals of interest (e.g., piecewise-smooth signals) not only have few significant coefficients, but also those significant coefficients are well-organized in trees. We propose to exploit this, named sparse-tree, prior for linear inverse problems with limited numbers of measurements. In particular, we present the tree-based majorize-maximize (TMM) algorithm for signal reconstruction in this setting. Our numerical results show that TMM provides significantly better reconstruction quality compared to the majorize-maximize (MM) algorithm that relies only on the sparse prior.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: The Big Cutoff in Laparoscopic Surgery Development

Laparoscopic hysterectomy, defined as the laparoscopic ligation of the uterine vessels, is a substitute for abdominal hysterectomy, with more attention to ureteral identification and cuff suspension. Laparoscopic hysterectomy (LH) is rarely indicated for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) from a normal-sized uterus with no other associated pathologies! Most of these cases can be done vaginally without the use of a laparoscope [1].
Chapter 21 – Hemoglobinopathy

Over 1,000 hemoglobinopathies have been identified. On a routine basis there are about a dozen hemoglobinopathies that we deal with. There are multiple methodologies employed to detect hemoglobinopathies. This chapter will discuss the principles of detection of hemoglobinopathies and highlight the role of gel electrophoresis, HPLC, and capillary electrophoresis. Detection of common hemoglobinopathies will be highlighted.
Biochemical Aspects of the Regenerating Goldfish Visual System

Why some nerves regenerate and others do not is a question of direct relevance for investigators who wish to establish a proper treatment of traumatic injuries as well as of degenerative and developmental disorders of the nervous system. At present, knowledge is rapidly unfolding regarding the participation of intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors that have been implicated on the basis of a number of experimental models in a variety of species. An example of the dependence of regeneration on extrinsic factors is the finding that neurites from CNS neurons will grow if provided with PNS supporting cells. This can be seen following implantation of an autograft of sciatic nerve in the rat CNS (Benfey and Aguayo, 1982). Although such experiments can be used to support the hypothesis that extrinsic factors regulate regeneration, it can also be argued that neurons that regenerate following axotomy are able to do so because they possess a genetic potential that is not expressed in neurons that cannot. This concept of an intrinsic neuronal regulation of regeneration is supported by the demonstration of growth-associated proteins (GAPs; see Chapters 10 and 11) that appear in the axons of nerves that can regenerate but not in those that do not. It may eventually be proven that both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms play a role (Bunge et al., 1978; Bray et al., 1981), and it is likely to be the case that neuronal and nonneuronal cells interact such that each cell type induces altered metabolism in the other.
SEA-LEVELS, LATE QUATERNARY | Mid-Latitudes

High-quality relative sea-level (RSL) data from mid-latitude regions reveal spatial and temporal variations among eustatic, isostatic (glacio and hydro), and local factors since the Last Glacial Maximum. In regions of the Atlantic seaboard of North America and Europe that were once covered by the major ice sheets, RSL fell by over 100 m because of isostatic rebound. In contrast, observations of the regions at the periphery and beyond of the ice sheets showed continually rising sea levels, at variable rates, due to the interplay between postglacial isostatic recovery, marginal forebulge collapse, and hydroisostatic loading. The RSL observations from the Southern Hemisphere illustrated a mid-Holocene highstand of various magnitudes and timing.
Did Mobile Phones Increase Adult Children’s Maternal Contact?

We describe and extend a research program that addresses a long-standing debate about the trend in intergenerational solidarity. Our research began by asking whether the frequency of grown children’s contact with mothers increased, decreased, or stayed the same for a set of developed countries between 1986 and 2001. The answer led us to an empirical test that discounted the most prominent broad-scope explanation that had been offered for changes in maternal contact, the population composition argument. Several of our findings, however, implicated the diffusion of mobile phones in an increase in remote contacts between mothers and their adult offspring. After testing this neglected hypothesis with cross-national data on the adoption of mobile phones in 24 countries in 2001, we move on to ask whether newer communication technologies (e.g., social media) are registering on frequency of contact with family members in the USA.
Sub-10-nm imaging of nucleic acids using spectroscopic intrinsic-contrast photon-localization optical nanoscopy (SICLON)

Elucidating chromatin structure in vitro requires resolution below 10 nm to visualize the mononucleosome has been an ongoing challenge. In this work, we achieve sub-10-nm imaging of nucleic acids via spectroscopic intrinsic-contrast photon-localization optical nanoscopy (SICLON) without the use of external labels. SICLON leverages two key innovations: using endogenous nucleotides as the emission source and a custom-made imaging system that can simultaneously record the position and optical spectra of emitting molecules. With a novel spectral regression algorithm that identifies the spectroscopic fingerprints of neighboring molecules that were previously indistinguishable, we demonstrate the utility of SICLON by visualizing unlabeled poly-nucleotides and linear single-stranded DNA fibers with a resolution of 6.2 nm.
A Decade of Life Sciences Experiment Unique Equipment Development for Spacelab and Space Station, 1990-1999

Ames Research Center's Life Sciences Division has developed and flown an extensive array of spaceflight experiment unique equipment (EUE) during the last decade of the twentieth century. Over this ten year span, the EUE developed at ARC supported a vital gravitational biology flight research program executed on several different platforms, including the Space Shuttle, Spacelab, and Space Station Mir. This paper highlights some of the key EUE elements developed at ARC and flown during the period 1990-1999. Resulting lessons learned will be presented that can be applied to the development of similar equipment for the International Space Station.
Disaster relief, international status and regional order: a case study of Typhoon Haiyan

ABSTRACTInternational military cooperation in disaster relief has become a useful illustration of Asia-Pacific regional order building in action. This is because contemporary Asia-Pacific order-bui...
Mutant huntingtin impairs PNKP and ATXN3, disrupting DNA repair and transcription

How huntingtin (HTT) triggers neurotoxicity in Huntington's disease (HD) remains unclear. We report that HTT forms a transcription-coupled DNA repair (TCR) complex with RNA polymerase II subunit A (POLR2A), ataxin-3, the DNA repair enzyme polynucleotide-kinase-3'-phosphatase (PNKP), and cyclic AMP-response element-binding (CREB) protein (CBP). This complex senses and facilitates DNA damage repair during transcriptional elongation, but its functional integrity is impaired by mutant HTT. Abrogated PNKP activity results in persistent DNA break accumulation, preferentially in actively transcribed genes, and aberrant activation of DNA damage-response ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) signaling in HD transgenic mouse and cell models. A concomitant decrease in Ataxin-3 activity facilitates CBP ubiquitination and degradation, adversely impacting transcription and DNA repair. Increasing PNKP activity in mutant cells improves genome integrity and cell survival. These findings suggest a potential molecular mechanism of how mutant HTT activates DNA damage-response pro-degenerative pathways and impairs transcription, triggering neurotoxicity and functional decline in HD.
Antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

To identify antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). A single center, retrospective cohort study was conducted for 25,494 singleton births ≥36 weeks’ gestation born between 2009 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for HIE. Thirty-seven infants met HIE inclusion criteria. Independent antenatal risk factors included primigravida, previous fetal death/stillbirth, antidepressant use, illicit drug use, Rh sensitization, and adjusted gestational weight gain >13.6 kg. Independent intrapartum risk factors identified were placental abruption, ruptured uterus, moderate-to-heavy meconium stained amniotic fluid, and delivery by cesarean-section. An intrapartum risk factor was present in 70.3% of the HIE group compared with 29.6% of the non-HIE group. Intrapartum period risk factors appear to be important for the development of HIE. Gestational weight gain may serve as an important modifiable factor to reduce the risk of HIE.
Digital posters for interactive cellular media and bioengineering education.

Conventional posters are effective in disseminating progress reports in scientific meetings, but they fail to deliver the need for visualization of dynamic biological data and become costly with the increasing number of conferences and the reprinting needs for emerging research. Here we present digital posters that repurpose digital frames from the art community and experiment with multiplexed imaging movies of cells as a demonstration of the digital poster concept, providing an interactive and low-cost tool for next-generation sharing platforms. Venkatesan and Coskun propose the use of digital posters instead of paper posters for disseminating progress reports in scientific meetings. These digital frames are capable of uploading multiple display items via wireless network and changing the interactive display with wave of a hand over an attached motion sensor.
Multi-Agent Based Attack-Resilient System Integrity Protection for Smart Grid

Most System Integrity Protection (SIP) schemes deployed in smart gird today are centralized functions relying on wide-area communication. The highly centralized implementation makes SIP susceptible to the single point of failure induced by cyber attacks. In this paper, we present a novel multi-agent-based design to enhance the cyber resilience of SIP while focusing on augmenting its situational awareness and self-adaptiveness. Specifically, we have investigated data-driven anomaly detection and adaptive load rejection within the decentralized SIP set-up. After attaining a comprehensive taxonomy of operation states of a power grid as a cyber-physical system, we are able to convert the anomaly detection to a multi-class classification problem. A supervised learning algorithm, named as Support Vector Machine embedded Layered Decision Tree (SVMLDT), is proposed as a possible solution. Anomaly detection is carried out by every agent separately, but the final decision depends on the consensus among all interconnected agents. Besides, we propose an adaptive load rejection strategy to mitigate the Denial of Service (DoS) attacks targeting the load shedding scheme. A real load rejection SIP scheme adopted by Salt River Project is modified to fit in the IEEE 39-bus model as a study case. Experiment results show that the proposed SIP can detect anomalous grid operation states and then adjust its remedial actions accordingly to adapt to the under-attack situations.
Social Support, Exposure to Parental Intimate Partner Violence, and Relationship Abuse Among Marginalized Youth.

Abstract Purpose We examined associations between parental IPV exposure, perceived social support, and adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) victimization, specifically in a group of marginalized youth. Methods Data were drawn from surveys administered to marginalized youth as part of the Healthy Allegheny Teen Survey. Logistic regression examined (1) the association between IPV exposure and social support and (2) how social support influences the association between IPV exposure and ARA victimization. Results IPV-exposed youth reported lower perceived social support (adjusted odds ratio: .54, confidence interval [CI]: .31–.96). There was a significant association between IPV exposure and ARA victimization (odds ratio: 3.5, CI: 1.5–8.1). However, among youth with higher social support, the association between IPV exposure and ARA victimization attenuated and lost significance (odds ratio: 1.9, CI: .57–6.5). Conclusions IPV-exposed youth reported less social support; however, social support may buffer the association between IPV exposure and ARA. Interventions may consider bolstering social support for IPV-exposed youth.
Toward a Patient-Specific Image Data-Driven Predictive Modeling Framework for Guiding Microwave Ablative Therapy

In this work, a preliminary effort toward a novel multi-physics modeling framework is presented that combines computational approaches in soft-tissue biomechanics, and bioelectric/bioheat transport to create a patient-specific, image-data driven guidance platform to improve localization and predict thermal dose extent for microwave ablation. More specifically, a finite element modeling and optimization approach for microwave ablation delivery is driven by sparse intra-procedural geometric digitization, and pre-procedural imaging data for providing image-to-physical registration, and dielectric property estimates, respectively. In a series of mock liver phantom experiments, the framework is explored herein. Results indicate superior localization using our non-rigid registration approach, and accurate prediction of lesion formation using our image-data-driven approach to ablation forecasting. Results also provide insight on the impact of localization and material property inaccuracies with respect to therapy delivery and show systematic and considerable degradation of lesion-to-target overlap.
Diets of Longnose Sucker in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Invasive species introduction and expansion is the second greatest threat to global biodiversity decline after habitat degradation. Introduced in the 1930s, the benthivorous Longnose Sucker (Catost...
Magnetoinductive skin for robots

A flexible tactile imaging skin for robots based on magnetoinductive technology is proposed. This skin would be inexpensive and suitable for use either as a sophisticated imaging device or as a simple on/off tactile sensor. In the proposed design the skin would consist of a thin flexible magnetoinductive array with the sensor elements .5 mm apart covered on each of its two sides by a sheet of rubber and a row of flat wires etched on a Kapton film. I/O's should be easily accessible and the system's electronics should be simple. It would be able to be trimmed to size. The skin is expected to bend around a 25.4 mm radius. Linear pressure and compression relationships are expected over a 8 bit dynamic range. Cross talk between sensor elements should be nonexistant; and the system should be low power (.25 W/cm2) and high speed. The array would be electronically tunable over a 10/1 range in pressure and spatial sensitivity.
A Chip that Focuses an Image on Itself

In the modeling of neural systems, time is often treated as a sequencer, rather than as an expresser of information. We believe that this point of view is restricted, and that in biological neural systems, time is used throughout as one of the fundamental representational dimensions. We have developed this conviction partially because we model neural circuitry in analog VLSI, where time is a natural dimension to work with, and we believe there are deep similarities between the technology we use and the one nature has chosen for us.
Evaluation of Filters for Removal of Bacteriophages from Air

Abstract Glass wool, nonabsorbent cotton, fiberglass filter medium, and a commercial absolute filter were tested for effectiveness in removing aerosolized bacterial viruses under low flow rate (1 ft3/min) and high flow rate (10 to 25 ft3/min) air-flow conditions. Special equipment was designed for measurement of filter efficiencies under the two air-flow conditions. Under low air-flow rate test conditions, glass wool was only 98.543 to 99.83% efficient, whereas cotton (five layers), fiberglass medium (three layers), and the commercial absolute filter were at least 99.900, 99.999, and 99.999 efficient, respectively. Glass wool and cotton were not used under higher air-flow conditions because they were difficult to assemble in leak-tight filters. The commercial absolute filter and fiberglass medium (three layers) were at least 99.990 and 99.999% efficient, respectively, under the higher air flow conditions. A stainless-steel filter of simple design and fitted with three layers of fiberglass medium was found to be greater than 99.999% efficient in removing high concentrations (20,000 to 70,000 plaque-forming units per cubic foot) of aerosolized bacteriophages from air moving at a low flow rate (1 ft3/min). Use of this filter on pressure-vacuum tanks in the fermentation industry is suggested. Several other uses of such a filter are proposed.