cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A high frequency memristor emulator circuit

A compact memristor emulator circuit is presented. The purpose is to mimic the behavior of a memristor or memristive devices. This circuit consists of a summing amplifier, an integrator and a voltage multiplier circuit. Simulation has been performed using ADS and commercial components. As a result, memristive behavior up to 16 kHz is observed. Since one of the memristor's properties is non-volatility, audio frequency range signals can be stored in memristor based memories.
The Use of Standards in the Application of the AMC Format

As archivists begin to use the new MARC Archival and Manuscripts Control (AMC) format, they will find themselves confronting many unfamiliar questions, not the least of which relate to the use of traditional library-based standards controlling the form and content of certain information elements. This article explores the ramifications for archivists using standards relating to cataloging codes, name authorities, and subject headings. In addition to explaining the importance of these standards as they relate to both the demands of the format as well as traditional archival principles, some suggestions are made to help ease the archivists into this "brave new world" of automation-induced library-archives coexistence.
Preface To: Stochastic Demand, Specialization, and Increasing Returns

Adam Smith pointed out that specialization makes individuals more productive through improved dexterity, judgment, and innovation. The theory of increasing returns incorporated in this paper does not depend on the presence of such intra-personal enhancement of productivity. Instead, we note that specialization reduces the costs of meeting stochastic demand that is infrequent and probabilistically uncertain. Specialization characterized as coordinating convention clarifies and extends the economic logic in Smith's interpretation of conditions required for economic progress.
‘Philosophy’ in Plato’s Phaedrus

The Phaedrus depicts the Platonic Socrates’ most explicit exhortation to ‘philosophy’. The dialogue thereby reveals something of his idea of its nature. Unfortunately, what it reveals has been obscured by two habits in the scholarship: (i) to ignore the remarks Socrates makes about ‘philosophy’ that do not arise in the ‘Palinode’; and (ii) to treat many of those remarks as parodies of Isocrates’ competing definition of the term. I remove these obscurities by addressing all fourteen remarks about ‘philosophy’ and by showing that for none do we have reason to attribute to them Isocratean meaning. We thereby learn that ‘philosophy’ does not refer essentially to contemplation of the forms but to conversation concerned with selfimprovement and the pursuit of truth. http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2183-4105_15_4
Oxidation of Si via Solid State Interfacial Reaction with Deposited Sn-Doped In2O3

We have developed a novel solid-state method for forming interfacial silicon dioxide by a two step process of rf sputtering tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), a transparent conductor, onto Si substrates followed by annealing at 800°C in flowing ultra-high purity nitrogen. TEM, XRD, FTIR, and C-V measurements were used to characterize the microstructure and morphology of as-deposited and annealed samples. The silicon dioxide layer grows interfacially between Si and In 2 O 3 and, for a 5 nm thick oxide, is planar on a 2–4 monolayer scale over hundreds of nm. The kinetics of the solid-state interfacial oxidation reaction were studied and a model has been developed.
Toys in the Attic: Finding Superseded and Other Older KY. Legal Resources at the U of L Law Library

This brief article discusses a rich archive of legal material available for researchers in the University of Louisville Law Library’s attic, including old state and federal codes, state statutes, state regulations, state legislative journals, and briefs and records of the United States Supreme Court as well as the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of Kentucky.
Breath-hold magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the evaluation of malignant pancreaticobiliary obstruction.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) using a breath-hold single-shot fast spin echo (SSFSE) technique in imaging patients with malignant biliary and/or pancreatic duct obstruction. Methods: One hundred thirty-one breath-hold MRCP studies in patients with malignant pancreatic and/or biliary obstruction were evaluated. Pathologic diagnoses included pancreatic cancer, biliary malignancy, gallbladder carcinoma, hepatic neoplasms, malignant lymphadenopathy, and ampullary carcinoma. Two observers independently reviewed the images in a blinded fashion to assess the level of obstruction and the site of underlying tumor. Results: The level of obstruction was correctly identified in 104 of 131 cases (79%) by observer I and in 107 of 131 cases (82%) by observer 2. The site of underlying tumor was correctly identified in 113 of 131 cases (86%) by observer 1 and in 110 of 131 cases (84%) by observer 2. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography utilizing the SSFSE technique can accurately assess the level of obstruction and the site of underlying tumor in patients with malignant pancreaticobiliary obstruction, without the risks of cholangiography. This MRCP technique allows for visualization of intra- and extra-ductal anatomy and Pathology.
Microencapsulated Oil Bait for Control of the Imported Fire Ant

Microdroplets of vegetable oil which contain 2% mirex Encapsulated in thin gelatin or plastic coats are very attractive to Solenopsis saevissima richleri Ford and give high degrees of control. The ability of microencapsulated bait to withstand weathering makes it superior to corn-cob grits bait in controlling the ant during-certain seasons. Aerial application of microencapsulated bait is feasible.
High-Throughput Sequencing of RNA Isolated by Cross-Linking and Immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) to Determine Sites of Binding of CstF-64 on Nascent RNAs

Abstract Genome-wide analysis of gene expression has changed the RNA world. Recent techniques leading to this revolution have been the use of cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP) combined with high-throughput sequencing (HITS-CLIP) to determine sites on nascent mRNAs to which RNA-binding proteins bind. Several researchers (including us) have been examining the role of RNA-binding proteins in polyadenylation, including the role of the 64,000 Mr component of the cleavage stimulation factor, CstF-64. In this chapter, we present our optimizations of the CLIP procedure for examination of CstF-64 binding to nascent pre-mRNAs expressed in testis. For CstF-64 CLIP, we use a well-characterized monoclonal antibody (3A7) that recognizes CstF-64. Rather than optimizing tricky but essential RNA fragment cloning schemes, we illustrate the use of the proprietary Illumina TruSeq Small RNA Sample Preparation kit for this step. Other techniques such as SDS-PAGE and the transfer to the nitrocellulose membrane techniques follow the original Illumina protocol (though we point out potential pitfalls). Finally, we discuss the options for high-throughput sequencing and some general suggestions for bioinformatic analysis of the data.
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in severe pre-eclampsia. A review of the literature and pathophysiology.

Abstract Two cases of severe pre-eclampsia with hemolytic anemia are presented. The laboratory tests confirmed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. The literature is reviewed and a new theory is suggested to explain the pathophysiology of the hemolysis in this complication of pregnancy.
Clival Fibrous Dysplasia: Case Series and Review of the Literature:

Slightly more than 30 cases of fibrous dysplasia involving the clivus have been reported in the international literature, primarily in the neurosurgery and radiology literature. In this article we present a series of 4 cases involving patients with clival fibrous dysplasia. In a retrospective chart review, 4 patients presenting to tertiary care centers from January 1, 2006, to January 31, 2008, were identified and their presenting symptoms and radiologic findings reviewed. Based on our literature review, we describe the presenting symptoms of patients with clival fibrous dysplasia and characterize the findings of imaging studies associated with this disorder. All patients in this series had a presenting complaint of headache or cranial nerve deficits, which is consistent with previous reports found in our literature review. Additional presenting symptoms that have been reported include dysphagia and a nontender occipital mass; there was also an incidental asymptomatic finding. Magnetic resonance imaging findings are consistent with those associated with fibrous dysplasia at other sites of the body. We conclude that clival involvement in monostotic fibrous dysplasia may not be as rare as previously perceived.
Universally Shared Attributes of Human Behavior

The authors discuss the pattern of behavior when most of the consumption is of a non-necessity nature. After considering adapting and adaptive behavior, the paper concentrates on decision-making in society in the light of its political form. A new type of a societal system is then analysed.
Parent-administered computer-assisted tutoring targeting letter-sound knowledge: Evaluation via multiple-baseline across three preschool students

Abstract Knowledge of letters sounds has been identified as a primary objective of preschool instruction and intervention. Despite this designation, large disparities exist in the number of letter sounds children know at school entry. Enhancing caregivers' ability to teach their preschool-aged children letter sounds may represent an effective practice for reducing this variability and ensuring that more children are prepared to experience early school success. This study used a non-concurrent multiple-baseline-across-participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of caregivers ( N = 3) delivering a computer-assisted tutoring program (Tutoring Buddy) targeting letter sound knowledge to their preschool-aged children. Visual analyses and effect size estimates derived from Percentage of All Non-Overlapping Data (PAND) statistics indicated consistent results for letter sound acquisition, as 6 weeks of intervention yielded large effects for letter sound knowledge (LSK) across all three children. Large effect sizes were also found for letter sound fluency (LSF) and nonsense word fluency (NWF) for two children. All three caregivers rated the intervention as highly usable and were able to administer it with high levels of fidelity. Taken together, the results of the present study found Tutoring Buddy to be an effective, simple, and usable way for the caregivers to support their children's literacy development.
Exercise and Patients with Heart Failure

One of the salient symptoms of patients with heart failure is reduced exercise capacity. The diminished exercise capacity is the result of both intrinsic cardiac dysfunction as well as the peripheral response to chronic congestion and reduced cardiac output. We will review the factors contributing to reduced exercise capacity in these patients. Exercise performance of heart failure patients is best quantified by measurement of peak oxygen consumption (Peak VO2). This measurement along with the ventilatory response to exercise have been shown to have excellent prognostic value. Many of the peripheral muscle changes associated with heart failure may be partly attributed to deconditioning. Exercise can be therapeutic for heart failure patients and data to support cardiac rehabilitation in this patient population will be reviewed.
Id2 Collaborates with Id3 To Suppress Invariant NKT and Innate-like Tumors

Inhibitor of DNA binding (Id) proteins, including Id1-4, are transcriptional regulators involved in promoting cell proliferation and survival in various cell types. Although upregulation of Id proteins is associated with a broad spectrum of tumors, recent studies have identified that Id3 plays a tumor-suppressor role in the development of Burkitt's lymphoma in humans and hepatosplenic T cell lymphomas in mice. In this article, we report rapid lymphoma development in Id2/Id3 double-knockout mice that is caused by unchecked expansion of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells or a unique subset of innate-like CD1d-independent T cells. These populations began to expand in neonatal mice and, upon malignant transformation, resulted in mortality between 3 and 11 mo of age. The malignant cells also gave rise to lymphomas upon transfer to Rag-deficient and wild-type hosts, reaffirming their inherent tumorigenic potential. Microarray analysis revealed a significantly modified program in these neonatal iNKT cells that ultimately led to their malignant transformation. The lymphoma cells demonstrated chromosome instability along with upregulation of several signaling pathways, including the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, which can promote their expansion and migration. Dysregulation of genes with reported driver mutations and the NF-κB pathway were found to be shared between Id2/Id3 double-knockout lymphomas and human NKT tumors. Our work identifies a distinct premalignant state and multiple tumorigenic pathways caused by loss of function of Id2 and Id3. Thus, conditional deletion of Id2 and Id3 in developing T cells establishes a unique animal model for iNKT and relevant innate-like lymphomas.
15.9 An integrated optical physically unclonable function using process-sensitive sub-wavelength photonic crystals in 65nm CMOS

Physical unclonable function (PUF) is regarded as an emerging solution for reliable cryptography. Rather than storing secret keys in memories, the information of a PUF is extracted through amplification of the physically uncontrollable process variations and therefore, can uniquely authenticate each die to counteract counterfeit, piracy or sabotage. Classically, PUF architectures have exploited process variations affecting transistor-level active device performances such as process-dependent gate delays and interconnect delays, SRAM and inverter maximum gain points, and ring oscillator frequencies [1]–[6]. While active device variations have been exploited to generate PUF signatures, they are susceptible to noise, external perturbations and aging. Since the resultant process variant responses are typically normally distributed, to spread the variance of the distribution and decrease the number of challenges near the unstable decision region, we propose a method to exploit passive variations within the chip in addition to active device variations. While lithographic variations in the smallest metal features may not influence the electrical performance drastically, their effects can be amplified at optical frequencies with wavelengths comparable to the minimal feature size. In fact, before the concept of electronic PUFs were demonstrated in silicon, one of the first implementations of strong PUFs was demonstrated in the optical domain, which exploited speckle-patterns of a random scattering medium in the presence of a laser light. In this work, we present the first CMOS-based opto-active PUF, which not only utilizes the active variations, but also amplifies the lithographic variation of passive metal structures through process-sensitive copper-based CMOS integrated photonic crystals. The measured CMOS chip achieves a native Inter-PUF/Intra-PUF Hamming Distance (HD) ratio of 198X without any post-operation.
Optimization of self-aligned double patterning (SADP)-compliant layout designs using pattern matching for sub-20nm metal routing

A pattern-based methodology for optimizing SADP-compliant layout designs is developed based on identifying cut mask patterns and replacing them with pre-characterized fixing solutions. A pattern-based library of difficult-tomanufacture cut patterns with pre-characterized fixing solutions is built. A pattern-based engine searches for matching patterns in the decomposed layouts. When a match is found, the engine opportunistically replaces the detected pattern with a pre-characterized fixing solution. The methodology was demonstrated on a 7nm routed metal2 block. A small library of 30 cut patterns increased the number of more manufacturable cuts by 38% and metal-via enclosure by 13% with a small parasitic capacitance impact of 0.3%.
Communicability Issues on PaaS Application Development

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is becoming a differential product for big technology companies. It delivers hardware, software tools and other resources for application development and hosting, as a service. Its users are developers who need to build and deploy new applications. Besides computational power, PaaS environments (PaaSE) offer services, development tools or even complete apps to be putted together in final applications. These pieces of software can be developed by different parties, presenting a significant challenge from the HCI perspective. Semiotic Engineering (SemEng) views HCI as computer-mediated communication between designers and users at interaction time. In the PaaS context, several designers communicate with PaaSE's users (developers). In this paper, we apply SemEng concepts to analyze diverse software artifacts involved, showing evidence of communication breakdowns between designers and users. Our goal is to provide a better understanding of existing metacommunication processes in PaaSE, offering specific suggestions to emphasize communication boundaries.
Dispersive estimates for massive Dirac operators in dimension two

Abstract We study the massive two dimensional Dirac operator with an electric potential. In particular, we show that the t − 1 decay rate holds in the L 1 → L ∞ setting if the threshold energies are regular. We also show these bounds hold in the presence of s-wave resonances at the threshold. We further show that, if the threshold energies are regular then a faster decay rate of t − 1 ( log ⁡ t ) − 2 is attained for large t, at the cost of logarithmic spatial weights. The free Dirac equation does not satisfy this bound due to the s-wave resonances at the threshold energies.
Redescription of Echinoderes levanderi Karling, 1954 (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida) – a kinorhynch tolerant to very low salinities

The kinorhynch species Echinoderes levanderi Karling, 1954 is redescribed. The species can now be recognized by the presence of spines in middorsal positions on segments 4–8, and in lateroventral positions on segments 6–9, with lateroventral spines on segment 9 showing sexual dimorphism; tubes in subdorsal and ventrolateral positions on segment 2, in sublateral positions on segments 4 and 8, in lateroventral positions on segment 5, and in laterodorsal positions on segment 10. Furthermore, the enlarged sieve plates on segment 9 make the species highly characteristic. New records of the species extend its distributional range into the Bothnian Bay where the bottom water salinity drops below 5 ppt, which is the lowest salinity recorded for a habitat with kinorhynchs.
Laboratory tests in the elderly. What is abnormal

Laboratory manuals list values that are considered normal for hematologic and biochemical tests, but do the healthy elderly have their own set of “normal” values? This is the question Dr Coodley an...
Current perspectives on the management of seasonal affective disorder.

Objective: To concisely review the etiology and current treatment modalities of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Data Sources: A MEDLINE search (1966-1999) was performed using the search term "seasonal affective disorder." The search was subsequently focused to "drug therapy" with limits of human studies and English-language papers. The search term "light therapy" was combined with "seasonal affective disorder." Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles discussing the epidemiology and treatment of SAD were independently examined by each author. Additional literature was reviewed from selected references identified by the original articles. Synthesis: SAD most likely results from a deficiency in serotonin. Light therapy remains the therapeutic intervention with the most experience and success. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have also shown benefit in treating the disorder. Conclusion: SAD is an important subtype of major depressive disorder. Clinicians should remain vigilant for signs and symptoms of the illness. Successful treatment may include light therapy or antidepressants, particularly SSRIs.
Learning Based Anomaly Detection for Industrial Arm Applications

Smart Manufacturing (SM) is envisioned to make manufacturing processes more efficient through automation and integration of networked information systems. Robotic arms are integral to this vision. However the benefits of SM, enabled by automation and networking, also come with cyber risks. In this work, we propose an anomaly detection framework for robotic arms in a manufacturing pipeline and integrate it into Robot Operating System (ROS), a middleware framework whose variants are being considered for deployment in industrial environments for flexible automation. In particular, we explore whether the repetitive behavior of an industrial arm can be leveraged to detect anomalous behaviour that may indicate an intrusion. Based on a learned model, we classify a robot's actions as anomalous or benign. We introduce the notion of a 'tolerance envelope' to train a supervised learning model. Our empirical evaluation shows that anomalies that take the robot out of pre-determined tolerance levels can be detected with high accuracy.
A mixed methods social network analysis of a cross-border drug network: the Fernando Sanchez organization (FSO)

This study is a mixed methods case study of the Fernando Sanchez Organization (FSO) better known as the Tijuana Cartel in the 2008–2010 period, aimed at better understanding internal structures and the roles of individuals in crossborder polydrug networks under pressures from rivals and state leadership targeting. In addition to historical archival data to build a qualitative case study, it uses arrest warrant data (an emergency wiretap application and a Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act or RICO indictment) from the FSO drug network investigation in order to visualize the structure of the cross border network and to explore research questions regarding the relationship between actor centrality/network topography metrics and variables of interest including organizational role, age, gender, number of prior arrests, location of criminal activity, and location of residence using social network analysis (SNA). Findings included: narcotics distributors, drug couriers, and enforcers for the network all had higher centrality in the network, age was only slightly negatively correlated with eigenvector centrality, gender had no bearing on centrality, the number of prior arrests also had no bearing on degree or betweenness centrality, but did positively correlate with eigenvector centrality. Findings also demonstrated faction subgroup analysis had considerable overlap with both law-enforcement-reported-address and location of criminal activity (coded as actor attributes). This finding suggests it may be possible to predict the location of criminal activity and residence through faction analysis in other binational trafficking networks.
Innate lymphoid cells: A potential link between microbiota and immune responses against cancer

The adaptive immune system plays a crucial role in anti-tumor surveillance. Enhancement of T cell responses through checkpoint blockade has become a major therapeutic avenue of intervention for several tumors. Because it shapes immune responses and regulates their amplitude and duration, the microbiota has a substantial impact on anti-tumor immunity. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of lymphocytes devoid of antigen-specific receptors that mirror T helper cells in their ability to secrete cytokines that activate immune responses. Ongoing studies suggest that ILCs contribute to anti-tumor responses. Moreover, since ILCs are present at barrier surfaces, they are stimulated by the microbiota and, reciprocally, influence the composition of the microbiota by regulating the surface barrier microenvironment. Thus, ILC-microbiota cross-talk may in part underpin the effects of the microbiota on anti-tumor responses. In this article, we review current evidence linking ILCs to cancer and discuss the potential impact of ILC-microbiota cross-talk in anti-tumor immune responses.
A Chip-Scale Plasmonic Spectrometer for In Situ Characterization of Solar System Surfaces

We discuss the development of a plasmonic spectrometer for in situ characterization of solar system surface and subsurface environments. The two goals of this effort are to (1) quantitatively demonstrate that a plasmonic spectrometer can be used to rapidly acquire high signal-to-noise spectra between 0.5–1.0 µm at a spectral resolution suitable for unambiguous detection of spectral slopes and features indicative of volatiles and characteristic surface mineralogies, and (2) demonstrate that this class of spectrometer can be used in conjunction with optical fibers to access subsurface materials and vertically map the geochemistry and mineralogy of subsurface layers, thereby demonstrating that a plasmonic spectrometer is feasible in a low-mass, low-power, compact configuration. Our prototype instrument, the Plasmonic Spectrometer for In situ CLassification Of Planetary Surfaces (PSICLOPS), consists of a broadband lamp/source, a fiber optic system to illuminate the sample surface and collect the reflected light, a mosaic filter element based on plasmon resonance, and a focal plane array detector. The critical filter element of the spectrometer is based on the internal plasmon resonance of metallic nanostructures. We developed a membrane-based plasmonic filter that can be directly implemented on an optical fiber. After developing a new fabrication process for nanostructures in thin Au membranes suspended in air, we found that we can control the central wavelength of the filter by changing the index of refraction of the surrounding medium. Therefore we explored several media (e.g. water, glycerol, and glucose) as a means of introducing a range of indices of refraction, and thus central wavelengths of the filter, using microfluidic channels. In addition to the development of the plasmon filter element, we constructed a testbed to explore the use of optical fibers for source illumination and signal transmission to the focal plane array. We discuss our preliminary design studies of the plasmonic nanostructure prototypes and their application to miniaturized instrumentation for in situ characterization of solar system surface and subsurface environments.
Role of metastases-directed therapy (MDT) in the management of solitary metastatic prostate cancer.

143Background: Systemic treatment in the management of metastatic prostate cancer is inevitable. However, there is a growing interest in metastases-directed therapy (MDT). We sought to investigate ...
Cadence Tracking for Switched FES Cycling with Unknown Input Delay

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) induced cycling provides a means of therapeutic exercise and functional restoration for people affected by neuromuscular disorders. A challenge in closed-loop FES control of coordinated motion is the presence of a potentially destabilizing input delay between the application of the electrical stimulation and the resulting muscle contraction. Moreover, switching amongst multiple actuators (e.g., between FES control of various muscle groups and a controlled electric motor) presents additional challenges for overall system stability. In this paper, a closed-loop controller is developed to yield exponential cadence tracking, despite an unknown input delay, switching between FES and motor only control, uncertain nonlinear dynamics, and additive disturbances. Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals are used in a Lyapunov-based stability analysis to ensure exponential convergence for all time.
Mechanical quantitative sensory testing in cavalier King Charles spaniels with and without syringomyelia.

Syringomyelia (SM) is a debilitating condition in the cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) that results in neuropathic pain and diminished quality of life. Von Frey aesthesiometry (VFA) is a method of mechanical quantitative sensory testing that provides an objective sensory threshold (ST) value and can be used to quantify neuropathic pain (NP) and monitor response to therapy. The utility of VFA has been previously established in client-owned dogs with acute spinal cord injury but the technique has not been evaluated in dogs with SM. The goal of this study was to evaluate ST, as determined by VFA, in dogs with and without SM, to assess the utility of VFA in quantifying NP in SM-affected dogs. We hypothesized the SM-affected CKCS would have lower ST values, consistent with hyperesthesia, when compared to control CKCS. Additionally, we hypothesized that ST values in SM-affected dogs would be inversely correlated with syrinx size on MRI and with owner-derived clinical sign scores. ST values for the thoracic and pelvic limbs differed significantly between the SM-affected and control CKCS (p = 0.027; p = 0.0396 respectively). Median ST value (range) for the thoracic limbs was 184.1 g (120.9–552) for control dogs, and 139.9 g (52.6–250.9) for SM-affected dogs. The median ST value (range) for the pelvic limbs was 164.9 g (100.8–260.3) in control dogs and 129.8 g (57.95–168.4) in SM-affected dogs. The ST values in SM-affected dogs did not correlate with syrinx height on MRI (r = 0.314; p = 0.137). Owner-reported clinical sign scores showed an inverse correlation with pelvic limb ST values, where dogs with lower ST values (hyperesthesia) were reported by their owners to display more frequent and severe clinical signs (r = − 0.657; p = 0.022). ST values were lower in SM-affected CKCS compared to control dogs, suggesting the presence of neuropathic pain. Dogs with lower ST pelvic limb values were perceived by their owners to have more severe clinical signs classically associated with SM. Our results suggest that VFA might offer quantitative assessment of neuropathic pain in SM-affected dogs and could be useful for monitoring response to therapy in future clinical studies.
Acrylic Reinforcement with Off the Shelf Perforated Metal Plates.

To evaluate the effect of Dentaurum Grid Strengthener on flexural strength and modulus of two types of PMMA, 24 beams (75 mm x 10 mm x 2.5 mm) containing bonded and flattened Grid Strengthener and 24 beams without Grid Strengthener were subjected to a 3-point bending test at 5 mm/min. Flexural strength and modulus were calculated. Data were analyzed with a 2-way ANOVA. The highest mean strength and flexural modulus was measured for reinforced high impact resin (96.2±14.3 MPa and 3425±779 MPa, respectively). For flexural strength and modulus, resin and reinforcement had a significant effect. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Independent of the resin used, the incorporation of a grid strengthener increases the strength and modulus, thus the fracture probability of dentures is reduced.
Introduction to “A Genealogy of Self-interest in Economics”

It can be argued that economics has always been concerned with self-interest. The most quoted passage from Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations has been his remarks about the invisible hand: a good social result that emerges from self-interested behavior.
Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria From Septic Patients Using 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene-Targeted Metagenomic Sequencing.

BACKGROUND Conventional blood cultures were compared to plasma cell-free DNA-based 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/next-generation sequencing (NGS) for detection and identification of potential pathogens in patients with sepsis. METHODS Plasma was prospectively collected from 60 adult patients with sepsis presenting to the Mayo Clinic (Minnesota) Emergency Department from March through August 2019. Results of routine clinical blood cultures were compared to those of 16S rRNA gene NGS. RESULTS Nineteen (32%) subjects had positive blood cultures, of which 13 yielded gram-negative bacilli, 5 gram-positive cocci, and 1 both gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci. 16S rRNA gene NGS findings were concordant in 11. For the remaining 8, 16S rRNA gene NGS results yielded discordant detections (n = 5) or were negative (n = 3). Interestingly, Clostridium species were additionally detected by 16S rRNA gene NGS in 3 of the 6 subjects with gastrointestinal sources of gram-negative bacteremia and none of the 3 subjects with urinary sources of gram-negative bacteremia. In the 41 remaining subjects, 16S rRNA gene NGS detected at least 1 potentially pathogenic organism in 17. In 15, the detected microorganism clinically correlated with the patient's syndrome. In 17 subjects with a clinically defined infectious syndrome, neither test was positive; in the remaining 7 subjects, a noninfectious cause of clinical presentation was identified. CONCLUSIONS 16S rRNA gene NGS may be useful for detecting bacteria in plasma of septic patients. In some cases of gram-negative sepsis, it may be possible to pinpoint a gastrointestinal or urinary source of sepsis based on the profile of bacteria detected in plasma.
Comparing Macro Influences on Individuals' Initial Coping and Response to COVID-19 in Canada and USA.

It is a responsibility of national leadership to provide guidance and provisions to their citizens during a pandemic. National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly varied internationally. The purpose of this study was to compare how people in Canada and the USA coped to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an eye towards discerning if any differences relate to macro systems differences between the neighboring countries. Data were analyzed from an online, cross-sectional survey administered to people (N = 1405) living in Canada and the USA in June 2020. Significant results show that respondents from Canada were felt more prepared, adapted/coped better to the pandemic, had less life disruption, fewer challenges with healthcare and financially, and were personally less affected by the pandemic than respondents from the USA. Those from Canada also showed significant higher levels of support for both their national and provincial/state leadership and belief in the necessity of preventative measures than those in the USA. Respondents from the USA were more likely to use family and friends as a source of information and as a basis for their personal preventative practices, whereas those in Canada were more likely to follow the official government recommendations. There were no significant differences in methods of coping. These results support the need for a clear role of government and for government to respond to individuals in a way that promotes equity and social justice, and thus, ensuring human rights.
DELAY TO ACL RECONSTRUCTION IN PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT PATIENTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A LINEAR INCREASE IN THE RISK OF MEDIAL MENISCAL TEARS

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are frequently associated with meniscal tears. Previous studies have shown that secondary meniscal tears—occurring after the initial ACL injury—are...
DESIS and PRISMA: A study of a new generation of spaceborne hyperspectral sensors in the study of world crops

Advances in agricultural mapping and characterization are now possible through 1) new generation spaceborne hyperspectral sensors, 2) cloud computing platforms, and 3) advanced machine learning algorithms. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) Earth Sensing Imaging Spectrometer (DESIS) and the Italian Space Agency�s PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicative (PRISMA) provide unprecedented high-quality hyperspectral data. While their numbers of bands, spatial resolutions, and signal to noise ratios are comparable, important differences between the two may affect classification accuracy. DESIS is mounted on the International Space Station while PRISMA is polar-orbiting. DESIS has a higher spectral resolution (2.55 nm vs 10 nm), but a shorter spectral range (400-1000 nm vs 400-2505 nm). The challenges of using such high data volumes are ameliorated by cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft's Azure, and Google Earth Engine (GEE), which allow users to access and process data stored in the cloud using the platform�s computing power. Lastly, recent advances in machine learning algorithms lead to higher classification accuracies even in such complex systems as agriculture. We demonstrate agricultural crop type classification using PRISMA and DESIS data in GEE using different machine learning algorithms. We compared classification accuracies using a DESIS image acquired on June 18, 2020 and a PRISMA image acquired on June 17, 2020 in the Central Valley, California. In GEE, we trained several machine learning models (including Support Vector Machine and Random Forest) using the USDA Cropland Data Layer as reference. Results of these analyses are presented here.
Sexual selection and cancer biology

Darwin suggested that when males and females “differ in structure, colour or ornament” it is the result of sexual selection (“On the origin of species” by Charles Darwin). It has become increasingly apparent that in addition to overt sexual dimorphisms, there are substantial differences in underlying male and female biology that have relevance to human health and disease. It was recently reported that male astrocytes exhibit markedly greater tumorigenic responses to combined loss of neurofibromin and p53 function and activation of the EGF receptor pathway than do female astrocytes [1]. Moreover, differential RB regulation was shown to be essential for the manifestation of sex differences in tumorigenicity. It was suggested that cell intrinsic dissimilarities in tumor suppressor and oncogene effects provided novel insight into the basis for disparities that exist in glioblastoma rates and outcomes. It is likely however, that these findings are more broadly relevant to the overall greater rate of cancer diagnoses and cancer deaths in males. The experimental paradigm that was used for measuring sex-specific effects provides new opportunities and possibly, new requirements for basic and translational research. What makes this position so compelling is the ways in which sex differences in tumorigenicity can be related to fundamental sexual dimorphisms in growth, the vigorous evolutionary forces that created them, and the multiple developmental mechanisms that execute sex-specific growth strategies [2].
Genetic list scheduling for soft real-time parallel applications

This paper presents a hybrid algorithm that combines list scheduling with a genetic algorithm for constructing nonpreemptive schedules for soft real-time parallel applications represented as directed acyclic graphs. The execution time requirements of the applications' tasks are assumed to be stochastic and are represented as probability distribution functions. The approach presented here produces shorter schedules than two popular list scheduling approaches for a majority of sample problems. Furthermore, the stochastic schedules provide a mechanism for predicting the probability of the application completing when the execution time available is less than the worst case requirement.
p53 Is a Determinant of X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein/Akt-Mediated Chemoresistance in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

We established previously that X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (Xiap) is a determinant of cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in human ovarian cancer cells and that down-regulation of Xiap sensitizes cells to CDDP in the presence of wild-type p53. Furthermore, Xiap up-regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase/Akt pathway by increasing Akt phosphorylation. However, the precise relationships among Xiap, Akt, and p53 in chemoresistance are unknown. Here we show that both Xiap and Akt can modulate CDDP sensitivity individually but that Xiap requires Akt for its full function. Furthermore, dominant-negative Akt sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to CDDP (10 μm), an effect that is absent in cells expressing mutant p53 or treated with the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-α-hydrobromide (30 μm) but restored by exogenous wild-type p53. CDDP increased p53, decreased Xiap content, and induced apoptosis in OV2008 cells but not in the resistant counterpart (C13*). However, dominant-negative Akt restored all of these characteristics to C13* cells. Expression of a constitutively active Akt2 prevented CDDP-mediated down-regulation of Xiap and apoptosis in A2780s cells. Akt2-mediated chemoresistance could not be reversed by Xiap down-regulation. These results suggest that whereas Xiap, Akt2, and p53 are important mediators of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells, Akt2 may be an important regulator of both Xiap and p53 contents after CDDP challenge. Inhibition of Xiap and/or Akt expression/function may be an effective means of overcoming chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells expressing either endogenous or reconstituted wild-type p53.
Public Policy, Higher Education, and Income Inequality in the U.S.: Have We Reached Diminishing Returns

Public policy designed to promote greater college enrollment rates has often been justified as a means to reduce income inequalities, yet there is very little evidence that higher college attainment is associated with less inequality. Economic theory at best suggests that the relationship between college attainment and inequality is ambiguous. An overview of some of the unintended consequences of public policies designed to promote greater enrollment is described. One such consequence is that the growth in college completion, which is at least partially attributable to public policy, may have actually contributed to rising income inequality. We hypothesize the existence of a U-shaped relationship between college attainment and income inequality, and using panel data for the 50 U.S. states over the period 1970-2004 provide empirical evidence in support of the curve. Prior to the mid 1990’s, increases in attainment were associated with less inequality for most states. Rapid growth in attainment since then has moved most states to the right of the inflection point such that attainment gains are associated with more inequality in most states.
Collateral branching of long-distance cortical projections in monkey

Collateralization of individual cortical axons is well documented for rodents but less so for monkeys, where double retrograde tracer experiments have tended to find only small numbers of neurons projecting to two different injection sites. Evidence from both double label and single axon studies, however, suggests that in specific projection systems the number of neurons with collateralized axons can be 10% or greater. These include feedback projections from temporal areas (but less so those from V4 and MT/V5). Single-axon analyses show that many parietal neurons branch to multiple targets. Except for giant Meynert cells in area V1, feedforward projections from early visual areas have only a small number of neurons with branching axons. Why only some neurons collateralize, what determines branch points and projection foci, and how this impacts network organization are largely unknown. Deciphering the branching code might offer new perspectives on space-time organization at the network level.
Advances in EEG telemetry.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the indications for electroencephalography (EEG) telemetry and the various types of technology that are available along with the various ancillary devices for monitoring possibly important non-EEG physiological parameters. Telemetry is often used as a diagnostic tool and when one does not need to actually record a seizure event, then either inpatient or outpatient based telemetry may be useful. Telemetry has been a major part of the evaluation of a patient for epilepsy surgery for the past 25 years. The reasons for such recordings are fairly straight forward as the physician needs to be able to record a sufficient number of seizures to say that these represent the individuals' typical seizure. EEG telemetry equipment developed for inpatient use almost always has video recording capability. Apart from recording behavior on the video, other physiological signals are occasionally needed as part of a differential workup. The two most commonly asked for signals are the cardiogram and the blood oximetry. The ECG signal is quite high voltage and can be easily acquired.
Biosynthesis of the Pyrimidine Moiety of Thiamine Independent of the PurF Enzyme (Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Amidotransferase) in Salmonella typhimurium: Incorporation of Stable Isotope-Labeled Glycine and Formate

Genetic analyses have suggested that the pyrimidine moiety of thiamine can be synthesized independently of the first enzyme of de novo purine synthesis, phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (PurF), in Salmonella typhimurium. To obtain biochemical evidence for and to further define this proposed synthesis, stable isotope labeling experiments were performed with two compounds, [2-13C]glycine and [13C]formate. These compounds are normally incorporated into thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) via steps in the purine pathway subsequent to PurF. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses indicated that both of these compounds were incorporated into the pyrimidine moiety of TPP in a purF mutant. This result clearly demonstrated that the pyrimidine moiety of thiamine was being synthesized in the absence of the PurF enzyme and strongly suggested that this synthesis utilized subsequent enzymes of the purine pathway. These results were consistent with an alternative route to TPP that bypassed only the first enzyme in the purine pathway. Experiments quantitating cellular thiamine monophosphate (TMP) and TPP levels suggested that the alternative route to TPP did not function at the same capacity as the characterized pathway and determined that levels of TMP and TPP in the wild-type strain were significantly altered by the presence of purines in the medium.
Identifying Intrinsic Disorder by Sequence Homology

Amino acid sequence determines 3D protein structure [1], with (Amino Acid Sequence) → (3D Structure) → (Function) currently being the main paradigm for the analysis of genomic protein sequences. However, there are many proteins that perform their functions and yet do not fold into specific 3D structure. The existence of such “intrinsic disorder” has led to a call for a re-assessment of the protein structure/function paradigm [4]. The focus of our work over the last few years has been the identification, analysis and prediction of intrinsic disorder [2, 3]. A major limitation of this work has been the dearth of intrinsically disordered protein examples. Here we report use of homology-based methods to find intrinsically disordered protein segments. The result is a collection currently containing 42 protein families that have 691 sequences in total, with 65,821 putative intrinsically disordered amino acids.
Improving adolescent pregnancy outcomes and maternal health:a case study of comprehensive case managed services.

Abstract Our findings indicate how health outcomes regarding adolescent pregnancy and maternal and infant health care are intertwined with a case management process that fosters measures that are social in nature-the provision of direct services, as well as the encouragement of informal social supports systems. They also show how case managed services in a small, nongovernmental organization (NGO) with a strong commitment to its clients may provide the spontaneity and caring which results in a “match” between client needs and the delivery of services-and positive outcomes for pregnant women, early maternal health and infant health. The delivery of such case managed services in a manner which is intensive, comprehensive, flexible and integrated contributes significantly to such improved health outcomes.