cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluency of speech and self-awareness of memory deficit in alzheimer's disease

Although gradual global progression is one of the cardinal features of primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type, clinical observation of patients suggested that there is some variability in the degree and rapidity of decline of different symptoms of this illness. In particular, it appeared that language fluency and self-awareness of memory problems did not decline simultaneously. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that an inverse relationship exists between self-awareness and fluency in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Thirty-two patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease were divided into two groups on the grounds of presence or absence of self-awareness of memory handicaps. These patients were also assessed in regard to fluency using a three-point scale devised for this purpose. A significant inverse association was found between self-awareness and fluency. This appeared to be a specific relationship, unrelated to global indicators of function including Mini-Mental Status Evaluation, Aphasia Screening Test scores or demographic features. Possible implications of this with reference to intracerebral localization issues in mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease are discussed.
Behavior of impregnated activated carbons heated to the point of oxidation

Abstract Activated carbons can be impregnated with metal oxides (Cr, Cu, Ag, Mo, Zn, Cc) and/or organic compounds (triethylenediamine (TEDA)) to help capture high vapor pressure substances. However, this process lowers the temperatures of initial oxidation and spontaneous ignition and affects both the CO and CO2 effluent concentrations upon heating. This study quantifies the depression of the point of initial oxidation (PIO) and attempts to find the cause of this depression for commercially available impregnated carbons. PIO and effluent CO and CO2 concentrations were determined with bed depths and linear flow rates specified by current military filtration parameters. The impregnated carbons were repeatedly raised to their oxidation points and cooled, upon which it was found that each subsequent reaction occurred at a slightly higher temperature with the PIO apparently asymptotically approaching a value that was unique to each impregnant formulation. In order (from lowest to highest initial PIO) the carbons tested were ASZM-T (Cu, Ag, Me, Zn, TEDA), ASC (Cr, Cu, Ag), ASZM (Cu, Ag, Mo, Zn), BPL-T (TEDA) and, as a reference, unimpregnated BPL carbon (all supplied by Calgon, Pittsburgh, PA). Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to study the ignition mechanisms. Exothermic reduction of the chromium and copper oxides was found to initiate oxidation of ASC and ASZM, respectively. Thermal decomposition of TEDA, followed by copper oxide reduction, were found to be the initial steps in the ASZM-T ignition process.
Three dimensional MEMS microfluidic perfusion system for thick brain slice cultures

In vitro tissue culture models are often benchmarked by their ability to replicate in vivo function. One of the limitations of in vitro systems is the difficulty in preserving an orchestrated cell population, especially for generating three-dimensional tissue equivalents. For example, tissue-engineering applications involve large high-density constructs, requiring a perfusing system that is able to apply adequate oxygen and nutrients to the interior region of the tissue. This is particularly true with respect to thick tissue sections harvested for in vitro culture. We have fabricated a microneedle-based perfusion device for high-cell-density in vitro tissue culture from SU-8 photosensitive epoxy and suitable post-processing. The device was tested for its ability to improve viability in slices of harvested brain tissue. This model was chosen due to its acute sensitivity to disruptions in its nutrient supply. Improved viability was visible in the short term as assessed via live-dead discriminating fluorescent staining and confocal microscopy. This perfusion system opens up many possibilities for both neurobiological as well as other culture systems.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: Prolonged coma with recovery of neurologic function with intensive plasma exchange

A 45-year-old-woman was presented with fever, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, purpura, and mental status changes. She was diagnosed as having thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TPP). She was treated with daily plasma exchange and antiplatelet drugs, steroids, and vincristine. This patient had a remarkable course with 18 days of coma on full therapy followed by essentially complete recovery coincident with an increase of the plasma exchange dose to two plasma volumes processed per procedure. The patient has remained well with discontinuation of plasma exchange. We conclude that prolonged coma without evidence of major central nervous system structural lesions in TTP should be treated vigorously and continuously with plasma exchange.
A comparison model of reinforcement-learning and win-stay-lose-shift decision-making processes: A tribute to W.K. Estes

Abstract W.K. Estes often championed an approach to model development whereby an existing model was augmented by the addition of one or more free parameters to account for additional psychological mechanisms. Following this same approach we utilized Estes ’ ( 1950 ) own augmented learning equations to improve the plausibility of a win-stay-lose-shift (WSLS) model that we have used in much of our recent work. We also improved the plausibility of a basic reinforcement-learning (RL) model by augmenting its assumptions. Estes also championed models that assumed a comparison between multiple concurrent cognitive processes. In line with this, we develop a WSLS–RL model that assumes that people have tendencies to stay with the same option or switch to a different option following trials with relatively good (“win”) or bad (“lose”) outcomes, and that the tendencies to stay or shift are adjusted based on the relative expected value of each option. Comparisons of simulations of the WSLS–RL model with data from three different decision-making experiments suggest that the WSLS–RL provides a good account of decision-making behavior. Our results also support the assertion that human participants weigh both the overall valence of the previous trial’s outcome and the relative value of each option during decision-making.
The Glycoprotein Ib-IX-V Complex Is a Platelet Counterreceptor for P-Selectin

We have identified platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ibα as a counterreceptor for P-selectin. GP Ibα is a component of the GP Ib-IX-V complex, which mediates platelet adhesion to subendothelium at sites of injury. Cells expressing P-selectin adhered to immobilized GP Ibα, and GP Ibα–expressing cells adhered to and rolled on P-selectin and on histamine-stimulated endothelium in a P-selectin–dependent manner. In like manner, platelets rolled on activated endothelium, a phenomenon inhibited by antibodies to both P-selectin and GP Ibα. Unlike the P-selectin interaction with its leukocyte ligand, PSGL-1 (P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1), the interaction with GP Ibα required neither calcium nor carbohydrate core-2 branching or α(1,3)-fucosylation. The interaction was inhibited by sulfated proteoglycans and by antibodies against GP Ibα, including one directed at a tyrosine-sulfated region of the polypeptide. Thus, the GP Ib-IX-V complex mediates platelet attachment to both subendothelium and activated endothelium.
An Experimental Investigation of Energy Transfer from a High- Frequency Mode to a Low-Frequency Mode in a Flexible Structure

The objective of the present article is to experimentally observe and characterize the transfer of energy from low-amplitude, high-frequency modes to high-amplitude, low-frequency modes. The subject of the study is a three-beam frame. The excitation amplitude is restricted to below 2 g peak. The authors have focused on observing, characterizing, and documenting the excitation of the first mode by high-frequency forcing. The energy-transfer processes are identified by power spectra and characterized further by frequency and amplitude sweeps. The energy-transfer routes observed in the experiment are subharmonic resonance of order one-half, combination resonance of the additive type, and interaction between widely spaced modes. In the latter route, an excitation at a frequency that is more than 100 times the first-mode frequency has been observed to excite the first mode.
Perceived Entitlement to Pain-Related Support and Pain Catastrophizing: Associations with Perceived and Observed Support

Studies on the determinants of pain-related support are needed to enhance couples-based treatments for pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which pain catastrophizing and perceived entitlement to pain-related support (i.e., support entitlement) were associated with perceived and observed social support. Participants were 106 chronic pain couples recruited from the community. They completed surveys as well as an observational discussion task. Greater support entitlement in persons with pain was correlated positively with pain catastrophizing, punishing spouse responses, and observed spousal invalidation but negatively correlated with perceived spousal support, solicitous spouse responses, and observed validation. Catastrophizing was correlated with perceptions of general spousal support but not the other support variables. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that among persons with lower levels of support entitlement, catastrophizing was associated with greater solicitous spouse responses. Among those with a greater entitlement to support, catastrophizing was associated with greater punishing spouse responses and observed invalidation by the spouse. These results suggest that support entitlement plays an important role in couples’ supportive interactions about pain. Continued research is needed to determine how a desire for pain-related attention and support and catastrophizing translate into behaviors that affect support provision and receipt.
Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations

Treatment of arteriovenous malformations of the central nervous system requires a multidisciplinary approach with input from vascular neurosurgeons, endovascular interventionalists, and radiation oncologists. Treatment paradigms based on a thorough understanding of the natural history of the lesion and the cumulative risks of multimodality treatment maximize the likelihood of a positive outcome. This article outlines the role of endovascular embolization in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations with specific emphasis on decision making during treatment planning. Technical considerations when treating arteriovenous malformations are discussed, including the choice of embolic agents, potential intraprocedural and periprocedural complications, and postprocedural management of patients.
Crack front penetration in transgranular cleavage cracking in an iron-silicon alloy

Based on the analysis of the crack trapping effect of cleavage ridges and penetration of crack front segments in an iron-silicon alloy, the distance between break-through points along a high-angle grain boundary is investigated. If the break-through points are close to each other, the crack trapping effect is dominant; otherwise, the grain boundary separation in break-through windows governs the front transmission process. The relationship between the overall grain boundary fracture resistance and the break-through-point distance is quite complex. The minimum grain boundary resistance is achieved when the break-through points are about 2–3 µm apart, which is also influenced by the grain boundary shear strength, the crystallographic toughness and orientation, as well as the crack front profile.
Yeast Edc3 targets RPS28B mRNA for decapping by binding to a 3' untranslated region decay-inducing regulatory element.

mRNA decapping commits a transcript to complete turnover in eukaryotic cells. In yeast, general mRNA decapping requires the Dcp1/Dcp2 decapping enzyme and a set of decapping activators, including Pat1, Dhh1, Edc3, and the Lsm1-7 complex. The exact function and mode of action of each of these decapping activators in mRNA decapping largely remain elusive. Here, we analyzed the role of Edc3 in the decay of yeast RPS28B mRNA, a pathway triggered by a negative-feedback autoregulatory mechanism. We show that Edc3-mediated RPS28B mRNA decay requires either of two orthologous proteins, Rps28a and Rps28b, expressed from the RPS28A and RPS28B genes, respectively. Contrary to a generally accepted model, we found that Rps28b does not bind to the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) regulatory element in RPS28B mRNA. Instead, Edc3 is directly involved in binding the element, and Rps28b binds Edc3 and regulates its activity. Decay of RPS28B mRNA requires the Lsm and YjeF-N domains of Edc3, but surprisingly, decay of YRA1 pre-mRNA, the only other known substrate of Edc3, requires only the Lsm domain. Collectively, our experiments reveal a new role for Edc3 in mRNA substrate recognition and suggest that this activity is subject to intricate regulation by additional factors, including the Rps28 ribosomal protein.
Dissociation Between Visual Attention and Visual Mental Imagery

Visual mental imagery (which involves creating, interpreting, and transforming visual mental representations, i.e., “seeing with the mind's eye”) and visual attention typically are described as distinct processes. However, some researchers have claimed that imagery effects can be explained by appeal to attention (and thus, that imagery is nothing more than a form of attention). In this study, we used a size manipulation to demonstrate that imagery and attention are distinct processes. We reasoned that if participants are asked to perform each function (imagery and attention) using stimuli of two different sizes (large and small), and that stimulus size affects the two functions differently, then we could conclude that imagery and attention are distinct cognitive processes. Our analyses showed that participants performed the imagery task better when stimuli were large, whereas they performed the attention task better when stimuli were small. This finding demonstrates that imagery and attention are distinct...
Innovative Genius: A Framework for Relating Individual and Organizational Intelligences to Innovation

In this article, organizational innovation is viewed as fundamentally cognitive, and the concept of organizational intelligence is developed and related to innovation. Individual and organizational intelligences are conceptualized as being functionally similar (i.e., as purposeful information processing that enables adaptation to environmental demands). Organizational intelligence, however, is a social outcome and is related to individual intelligence by mechanisms of aggregation, cross-level transference, and distribution. A conceptual framework is proposed that relates types and levels of intelligence, moderated by contextual factors, to the two stages of the organizational innovation process: initiation and implementation. Implications for research and management are discussed.
Directed evolution of an enhanced and highly efficient FokI cleavage domain for Zinc Finger Nucleases

Zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) are powerful tools for gene therapy and genetic engineering. The high specificity and affinity of these chimeric enzymes are based on custom-designed zinc finger proteins (ZFPs). To improve the performance of existing ZFN technology, we developed an in vivo evolution-based approach to improve the efficacy of the FokI cleavage domain (FCD). After multiple rounds of cycling mutagenesis and DNA shuffling, a more efficient nuclease variant (Sharkey) was generated. In vivo analyses indicated that Sharkey is > 15-fold more active than wild-type FCD on a diverse panel of cleavage sites. Further, a mammalian cell-based assay showed a three to sixfold improvement in targeted mutagenesis for ZFNs containing derivatives of the Sharkey cleavage domain. We also identified mutations that impart sequence specificity to the FCD that might be utilized in future studies to further refine ZFNs through cooperative specificity. In addition, Sharkey was observed to enhance the cleavage profiles of previously published and newly selected heterodimer ZFN architectures. This enhanced and highly efficient cleavage domain will aid in a variety of ZFN applications in medicine and biology.
Common genetic variants on 5p14.1 associate with autism spectrum disorders

Several lines of evidence point to genetic involvement in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by impaired verbal communication and social interaction. The clinical and genetic complexities of the condition make it difficult to identify susceptibility factors, but two related studies now present robust evidence for a genetic involvement. The first, a genome-wide association study, identifies six single-nucleotide polymorphisms strongly associated with autism. These variants lie between two genes encoding neuronal cell-adhesion molecules (cadherins 9 and 10), suggesting possible involvement in ASD pathogenesis. The second study used copy number variation screens to identify genetic variants in two major gene pathways in children with ASDs. The changes are in the ubiquitin pathway, which has previously been associated with neurological disease, and in genes for neuronal cell-adhesion molecules.
The Diagnosis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Infancy

SUMMARY Thirty-nine infants with surgically proved patent ductus arteriosus were analyzed for clinical clues of diagnostic importance. The occurrence of rubella during pregnancy, a widened pulse pressure or a murmur heard during systole and diastole in the pulmonary area should alert the examiner to the possibility of patent ductus. In addition to those findings related to the presence of a left-to-right shunt, conventional x-rays films revealed left atrial enlargement in 31 and aortic knob enlargement in five instances. Comparison of the electrocardiograms with infants with VSD revealed no clues of differential diagnostic value, except possibly for presence of an upward concavity in the R-ST segment. Because of the favorable surgical prognosis this diagnosis offers at any age a high index of suspicion and a willingness to perform special diagnostic procedure is warranted. In this institution we have come to favor the thoracic retrograde aortogram for diagnosis.
Quasi-optical planar arrays with FETs and slots

This work describes the design concept and experimental results for prototypes of two-dimensional quasi-optical power-combining arrays. Several different quasi-optical circuits were used to obtain the fundamental data for this study. How to incorporate the antenna input impedance into the active antenna circuit and how to analyze the strong coupling condition with two operating modes are addressed using large-signal analysis. Several circuit configurations are demonstrated, including a single active antenna operating at 9.3 and 24.0 GHz, a six-element linear power-combining array operating at 15.6 GHz, and four-element and sixteen-element two-dimensional power combining arrays operating at 10.4 and 7.8 GHz. Important characteristics such as antenna patterns and tuning ranges are discussed. The prospects for a two-dimensional monolithic quasi-optical power-combining array are discussed. >
Supra-Annual Flowering, Bees, and the Southeast Asian Tropical Forests

Roubik, David W., Shoko Sakai, and Abang A. Hamid Karim, editors. 2005. Pollination ecology and the rain forest: Sarawak studies. Ecological Studies. Volume 174. Springer, New York. xvii + 307 p. $139.00, ISBN: 0-387-21309-0 (acid-free paper).
Integrating building and transportation energy use to design a comprehensive greenhouse gas mitigation strategy

Abstract Building and transportation sectors account for approximately 75% of CO2 emissions. A mitigation strategy that combines both renewable energy sources and adoption of all-electric vehicles (EVs) instead of conventional gasoline powered vehicles thus seems most promising. The desired outcome of this strategy cannot be achieved without taking into consideration human activities in building and transportation. This study compares the energy use in building and transportation, aiming to provide a proper approach for evaluating the effectiveness and possible CO2 emissions reductions of GHG mitigation strategies. The analysis of the collected data showed that on average each individual produced around 20 lbs of CO2 per day, 62% of the total CO2 was emitted in transportation. The mitigation strategy including EVs powered by electricity generated from coal-fired power plants resulted in average CO2 emissions reductions of 3.7%. The mitigation strategy using the EVs powered by solar energy obtained from grid-tied solar panels have led to 12.2% CO2 emissions reductions per day (from 12.38 lbs/day to 10.87 lbs/day), and the strategy incorporating EVs with the off-grid source of power was the most successful strategy and resulted in an average CO2 emissions savings of 12.38 lbs/day. This study also estimates the initial cost per pound of CO2 emissions reduction per day for each of the mitigation strategies.
Mining for Social Processes in Intelligence Data Streams

This work introduces a robust method for identifying and tracking clandestinely operating sub-nets in an active social network. The methodology is based on the Process Query System (PQS) previously applied to process mining in various physical contexts. Given a collection of process descriptions encoding personal and/or coordinated behavior of social entities, we parse a network’s transactional stream for instances of active processes and assign process states to events and functional entities based on a projection of the evidence onto the process models. Our goal is not only to define the social network, but also to identify and track the dynamic states of functionally coherent sub-networks.We apply our methodology to a real world security task— mining a collection of simulated HUMINT and SIGINT intelligence data (the Ali Baba simulated intelligence data set)— and demonstrate superior results both in partitioning and contextualizing the social network.
UTILITY OF SHORT-TERM BASEMENT SCREENING RADON MEASUREMENTS TO PREDICT YEAR-LONG RESIDENTIAL RADON CONCENTRATIONS ON UPPER FLOORS.

This study investigated temporal and spatial variability between basement radon concentrations (measured for ∼7 d using electret ion chambers) and basement and upper floor radon concentrations (measured for 1 y using alpha track detectors) in 158 residences in Iowa, USA. Utility of short-term measurements to approximate a person's residential radon exposure and effect of housing/occupant factors on predictive ability were evaluated. About 60 % of basement short-term, 60 % of basement year-long and 30 % of upper floor year-long radon measurements were equal to or above the United States Environmental Protection Agency's radon action level of 148 Bq m−3. Predictive value of a positive short-term test was 44 % given the year-long living space concentration was equal to or above this action level. Findings from this study indicate that cumulative radon-related exposure was more closely approximated by upper floor year-long measurements than short-term or year-long measurements in the basement.
Revaluating ocean warming impacts on global phytoplankton

Global satellite observations document expansions of the low-chlorophyll central ocean gyres and an overall inverse relationship between anomalies in sea surface temperature and phytoplankton chlorophyll concentrations. These findings can provide an invaluable glimpse into potential future ocean changes, but only if the story they tell is accurately interpreted. Chlorophyll is not simply a measure of phytoplankton biomass, but also registers changes in intracellular pigmentation arising from light-driven (photoacclimation) and nutrient-driven physiological responses. Here, we show that the photoacclimation response is an important component of temporal chlorophyll variability across the global ocean. This attribution implies that contemporary relationships between chlorophyll changes and ocean warming are not indicative of proportional changes in productivity, as light-driven decreases in chlorophyll can be associated with constant or even increased photosynthesis. Extension of these results to future change, however, requires further evaluation of how the multifaceted stressors of a warmer, higher-CO2 world will impact plankton communities. Satellite measurements of chlorophyll are used to infer phytoplankton biomass changes and the relationship to sea surface temperature. This study shows that chlorophyll changes can be light-driven so the temperature–biomass relationship may not hold in the future.
Differentiation of Na+-K+ pump in rat proximal tubule is modulated by Na+-H+ exchanger.

This study examines the effect of in vivo modulation of Na+-H+ exchange activity on the development of Na+-K+-ATPase in rat kidney proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) segments. To stimulate Na+-H+ exchanger (major entry pathway for Na in PCT), weanling rats were fed NH4Cl for 4 days to induce metabolic acidosis (MA). In vehicle (Vh)-fed rats PCT Na+-K+-ATPase activity (pmol Pi.mm tubule-1.h-1 +/- SE) increased from 481 +/- 78 at 16 days to 1,122 +/- 119 at 20 days. In 20-day-old chronic MA rats, PCT Na+-K+-ATPase activity was 1,717 +/- 109, i.e., significantly higher (P less than 0.01) relative to controls. Chronic MA had no effect on PCT Mg ATPase activity and on Na+-K+-ATPase in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL). To inhibit the Na+-H+ exchanger, weanling rats received amiloride (30 micrograms.100 g body wt-1.day-1) via osmotic minipump for 4 days. In Vh-treated rats PCT Na+-K+-ATPase increased from 481 +/- 78 at 16 days to 1,428 +/- 81 at 20 days. In rats given chronic amiloride, PCT Na+-K+-ATPase was significantly lower (858 +/- 75) at 20 days relative to controls but PCT Mg ATPase and MTAL Na+-K+-ATPase activity was the same as in controls. Chronic MA and amiloride had no significant effect on PCT Na+-K+-ATPase activity in adult rats. Acute MA and acute amiloride injection had no significant effect on PCT Na+-K+-ATPase in weanling rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Understanding Users' Language Selection: Code-switching in Online Searches

Non-native English users search for information on websites that mostly present content in English. There has been increasing concern as to whether web users who speak non-native English languages can access information as effectively as native English users. Few studies have been done on how multi-lingual users search for information in two or more languages online, specifically how they switch languages in order to get satisfying search results. This research investigates the factors that impact native Chinese users' code-switching (Chinese-English) search behaviors when they seek information online and the challenges that users encounter. The methods of this research consist of two phases. In-context interviews will allow us to explore natural behaviors in the users' context in the first phase. Fifteen native Chinese participants will be recruited. A controlled eye-tracking study is planned for the second phase in order to examine different reading patterns of these bilingual web users and what web elements they focus on. Thirty native Chinese will be recruited in this phase. The research aims to explore when, how, and why users switch languages, and examine the role of languages that users select in online searches.
And We Shall Purify: On Truth-Seeking After Cruelty and Repression

This article examines lustration, purgation, and commissions of inquiry as ameliorative practices within the larger practice of truth-seeking after cruelty, repression, and harm. While detailed case studies in specific times and places are valuable, the project of this article is to examine truth-seeking practices at a more abstract level. At that level and in an illustrative narrative, lustration, purgation, and commissions of inquiry are examined as constituting, and constituted by, intertwined expressions and instrumentalities of truth-seeking, cleansing, and purification. While the article cannot offer a thorough anthropological analysis of truth-seeking practices as purification rites, correspondences and analogies are noted and associated cautions offered. The aim is to refresh administrative thinking about truth-seeking practices and to urge attentive regard in transitions from cruelty, repression, and harm.
Essentials of geriatric care.

Although negative attitudes have been a stumbling block to quality care of the elderly, caring for the geriatric patient can be both challenging and rewarding. Physiologic changes and multiple losses create difficulties in fulfilling the needs of the elderly, but multidisciplinary medical intervention and sympathetic listening on the part of the primary care provider can help the elderly patient to achieve the highest possible level of health and self-fulfillment.
Planet of the Bugs: Evolution and the Rise of Insects

Planet of the Bugs: Evolution and the Rise of Insects Scott R. Shaw 2014; 256 pages, 12 color plates University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL ISBN-13: 978-0-226-16361-1 $27.50 (hardcover); $17.00 (softcover) ![Graphic][1] This entertainingly written and fascinating book introduces insect evolution for a general audience. Shaw inserts many other aspects of insect diversity and biology in the process, and editorializes about priorities in science and how much we still don't know about insect diversity. He brings in accounts of his own Neotropical fieldwork and paleontological features from his Wyoming environs, giving the book an engaging personal flavor. The book is well illustrated with photographs of living and fossil insects, and the thirteen pages of footnotes at the back make interesting reading in themselves. After an introductory chapter presenting the basics of insect biology, diversity, and evolution, Shaw gives a nine-chapter tour of the geologic periods relevant to arthropod and insect evolution. He keeps this 500-million-year history surprisingly lively, animating two-dimensional fossil arthropods into fascinating creatures that interacted with their environment, each other, and even dinosaurs. He launches his treatment in the Cambrian and Ordovician, with the rise of the arthropods within the early explosion of animal body plans. In … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
A New scramble for Africa? The Rush for Energy Resources in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa will experience several transformations to the way energy production contributes to regional and international demands for energy. In this edited volume, the contributors tackle ...
A CMOS Timer-Injector Integrated Circuit for Self-Powered Sensing of Time-of-Occurrence

Self-powered sensing of the time-of-occurrence of an event is challenging, because it requires access to a reliable time reference or a synchronized clock. In this paper, we propose for the first time a self-powered integrated circuit that is capable of time-stamping asynchronous mechanical events of interest. The core of the proposed design is the integration of two self-powered modules: 1) a chip-scale Fowler–Nordheim tunneling-based timer array, for generating a precision, relative time reference; and 2) a linear piezoelectricity-driven hot-electron injector acting as a floating-gate memory to record the onset of mechanical events. This paper presents measured results from a $4 \times 4$ fully programmable timer array system-on-chip (SoC) and a linear injector array SoC, both of which have been prototyped in a standard double-poly CMOS process. The synchronization error of the timer array with respect to an external software clock was measured to be less than 1% over a duration of 100 h, and the average accuracy in sensing the time-of-occurrence of the event was measured to be 6.9%. The minimum activation energy of the self-powered system was measured to be 840 nJ (measured for event durations of 1 s), which is significantly lower than the energy that can be harvested from typical mechanical impacts.
Full Body Locomotion with Video Game Motion Controllers

Sensing technologies of increasing fidelity are dropping in costs to the point that full body sensing hardware is commonplace in people’s homes. This presents an opportunity for users to interact and move through environments with their body. Not just walking or running, but jumping, dodging, looking, dancing and exploring. Three current generation videogame devices, the Nintendo Wii Remote, Playstation Move and Microsoft Kinect, are discussed in terms of their sensors and data, in order to explore two questions. First, how do you deal with the data from the devices including error, uncertainty and volume? Second, how do you use the devices to create an interface that allows the user to interact as they wish? While these devices will change in time, understanding the sensing methods and approach to interface design will act as a basis for further improvements to full body locomotion.
Current Status of Grain Growth Modelling with Special Reference to Nanocrystalline Materials

Current situations in the modeling of grain growth are critically reviewed. The models of Hillert, Lucke et al., and Mullins are reviewed briefly and shown to be inadequate in describing one or more features of grain growth phenomenon. It is well known that models of Hillert and Lucke and co-workers do not give the correct description of the grain size distribution. Mullins’ model, although it gives a correct distribution, still fails because it cannot even, in principle, explain the well known fact that the scaled distribution, obtained after the initial growth, is independent of the initial distribution. An approach based on the stochastic methods leads to a more realistic model. The application of these results, to the growth of nanocrystalline materials, is considered. Here it is shown, that the mobility of the triple junctions may play a significant role.
Escape from Immune Surveillance during Persistent Virus Infection

Persistent virus, infections present a paradox; there exists a potent array of antiviral immune defenses, and yet there are many naturally occurring instances of persistent virus infection in animals and in humans. In this short review we will examine the diverse strategies whereby persistent viruses escape immune surveillance, and illustrate these mechanisms by reference to a few selected examples. More detailed information is available in a number of symposia and compendia (1–5).
Shifting percussion dullness of the chest: a sign of pleural effusion

Early physicians diagnosed pleural effusion by detecting shifting percussion dullness of the chest. However, the lateral decubitus positions have not been routinely used to distinguish this condition from atelectasis or pneumonia. In this report, postural alterations of percussion dullness established the diagnosis of pleural effusion in a 49-year-old patient with a cough. Percussion in the lateral decubitus positions may enhance the value of examinations of the chest.
Rayleigh Wave Linear Filters

Waves passing through physical structures provide a convenient means for achieving analog approximations to the mathematical operations of convolution and correlation. Because the waves propagate from one position to another, they provide a natural scan through the structure synchronous with the flow of time. It is up to the ingenuity of the designer to provide for interaction between the wave and distributed structures within or on the medium. He must also devise means for carrying out spatial integration of that interaction. Rayleigh waves have proven extremely applicable to this operation. The Rayleigh wave can be excited at one position on the surface of a piezoelectric crystal and allowed to propagate through a succession of electrodes distributed on the surface of the crystal. The electrodes are easily arranged to provide a sampled approximation to the function to be convolved with (or correlated against). For a broad range of parameters, the interactions (products) of the electrodes with the passing Rayleigh wave can be summed at a single bus bar thus approximating integration over a finite range. With carrier frequencies in the UHF range, crystals on the order of a few centimeters in length with metallization features on the order of a few microns can easily accommodate structures capable of performing powerful signal processing functions. It is because of this simplicity of operation, ease of fabrication, reliability in operation, high signal processing performance, low cost, and lack of requisite adjustment that these devices have come into such popular use during the last decade. For high performance convolution and correlation in the VHF to L-band range with many time samples (wide bandwidth), the Rayleigh wave linear filter typically provides results superior to those of any other technical approach.
Questions 31–40

This chapter illustrates a variety of different scenarios of rheumatic disease in succinct question and answer format. It contains ten complex cases with potentially unusual diagnoses designed to stimulate thought and further reading in this rapidly evolving specialty.
Evaluation of Seasonally Classified Inputs for the Prediction of Daily Groundwater Levels: NARX Networks Vs Support Vector Machines

Farmers and stakeholders who use groundwater for irrigation need efficient and cost-effective tools to support sustainable crop production. The variation of groundwater levels at local scale and its continuous use for agriculture intensifies the demand for reliable groundwater information. However, groundwater levels are very dynamic and difficult to predict under traditional modeling approaches, and manual monitoring of wells is costly and time-consuming. Simplified but powerful machine learning models represent a practical alternative to support groundwater management decisions at the farm scale. The predictive capacity of a nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous inputs (NARX) artificial neural network (ANN) and a support vector regression (SVR) trained with a radial basis function (RBF) algorithm were evaluated for an irrigation well located in a highly productive agricultural region in the southeastern USA. We used separately multiple years of daily historical time series classified by summer (withdrawal) and winter (recharge) seasons and evaluated the impacts of this division in the models’ predictive capability. Results showed that SVR had a better modeling performance based on the mean squared error (MSE) and prediction trend for both seasons. In addition, our study suggests that the prediction of daily levels with input time series classified by seasons provides higher accuracy than using the entire withdrawal and recharge periods as a whole. Results also indicate that the recharge season becomes a linear problem, which substantially reduces the SVR modeling computational requirements. The application of our proposed modeling approach in the management of groundwater sources for irrigation provides important information, at short time scale, for the estimation of groundwater variability at local scale.
Eye-Mind reader: an intelligent reading interface that promotes long-term comprehension by detecting and responding to mind wandering

We zone out roughly 20-40% of the time during reading – a rate that is concerning given the negative relationship between mind-wandering and comprehension. We tested if Eye-Mind Reader – an intelli...
Scalable Alignment and Selective Deposition of Nanoparticles for Multifunctional Sensor Applications.

Here reported is the layer-by-layer-based advanced manufacturing that yields a simple, novel, and cost-effective technique for generating selective nanoparticle deposition and orientation in the fo...
Evaluation of Pediatric Distal Femoral Physeal Fractures and the Factors Impacting Poor Outcome Requiring Further Corrective Surgery

Fractures of the distal femur carry a significant risk of physeal arrest and resulting growth complications which often require additional surgeries to correct the deformity. This study examines the risk of needing corrective procedures as a child approaches skeletal maturity. A retrospective analysis of patients treated at a single institution for distal femoral physeal fractures from 2000 to 2015 was performed. Association between sex, age, Salter-Harris (SH) class, and fracture displacement with the risk of physeal arrest were examined. Association between years of growth remaining to skeletal maturity and the risk of needing additional corrective surgery (defined by leg length difference >2 cm or angular deformity (>5°) was examined using a logistic regression model. One hundred one patients were available for review with an average age of 12.6 ± 3.2 years. Twenty-six patients (25.7%) developed a physeal arrest. Seventy-six percent of these required subsequent surgical intervention to address length and angular deformities Sex, age, and SH class were not significantly associated with physeal arrest (P > 0.05). Percent fracture displacement was significantly associated with physeal arrest (P = 0.02). Years of growth remaining to skeletal maturity were significantly associated with an increased risk of requiring corrective surgery for growth complications (odds ratio: 0.758; 95% confidence interval 0.587-0.979; P = 0.03), however, this association failed to persist when accounting for age. Years of growth remaining to skeletal maturity may predict the need for future interventions and should be accounted for when planning treatment of these challenging injuries.
Low-Power Non-Binary LDPC Decoder Design via Adaptive Message Length Control Exploiting Domain-Specific Information

With the enhanced performance and convergence speed than their binary counterparts, NB-LDPC codes have been considered for emerging wireless communication and storage applications. However, one challenging issue to apply NB-LDPC codes in low-power embedded applications is the high decoding complexities. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive message length control technique that adaptively truncates decoding messages according to the domain-specific information. The number of arithmetic operations and memory accesses can be greatly reduced with shorter decoding messages. To implement the proposed technique, we propose a sequential decoder architecture which controls the decoding message length. Evaluation results show that the proposed technique can achieve significant power reduction than the conventional techniques while maintaining the same decoding performance.
Psychosocial factors and outcomes of obesity

Abstract Multiple large cross-sectional epidemiological studies have demonstrated the presence of an association between obesity and mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. This association has been seen for both adults and children in the United States and around the world. However, much work is still being done to further understand and elucidate this relationship. This chapter aims to describe the psychosocial contributions and consequences of obesity.
Assessing the effect of prolonged use of desloratadine on adipose Brillouin shift and composition in rats.

Antihistamines, which are commonly used to treat allergic reactions, are known for their side effects, which contribute to weight gain. It is hypothesized that simultaneous Brillouin elastography and Raman spectroscopy can be used to detect changes in adipose tissue associated with a prolonged intake of desloratadine, a commonly used second generation antihistamine. White and brown adipose tissue samples were excised from adult rats following 16 weeks of daily administration of desloratadine. It was found that the prolonged intake of desloratadine leads to an increase in Brillouin shift in both adipose tissue types. Raman spectra indicate that antihistamine use reduces protein-to-lipid ratio in brown adipose tissue but not white adipose tissue, indicating the effect on adipose tissue is location-dependent.
In adults with severe acute GI bleeding, tranexamic acid did not reduce death due to bleeding at 5 days.

SOURCE CITATION The HALT-IT Trial Collaborators. Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2020;395:1927-36. 32563378.
Reduced 2-D Frontal Plane Motion During Single-Limb Landing Is Associated With Risk of Future Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Rupture After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Return to Sport: A Pilot Study.

Objectives To evaluate the association between 2-D frontal plane movement and second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk in young athletes at return to sport (RTS) after ACL reconstruction...
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by anovulatory menstrual cycles, elevated androgen levels, and polycystic ovaries. Symptoms can vary, but most commonly include irregular or absent menses, acne, and hirsutism. The mechanism is thought to be multifactorial, with genetics and insulin resistance likely playing a role. Diagnosis in adolescents can be challenging as certain symptoms of PCOS, such as irregular menses and acne, are considered normal during adolescence. The first step in management includes lifestyle modifications, given the association of PCOS with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Oral contraceptive pills are also used to manage the symptoms of PCOS, sometimes along with androgen receptor blockers and/or metformin.