cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relativity of Law and Crime

This chapter establishes a criminological framework by examining the concept of criminal law and its creation. The criminal law, and official recognition of “crime” and “criminals,” is entirely relative to time and space. Both the content and origins of criminal laws are important to the criminologist. Whether it is a product of consensus, meeting the needs of larger society, or whether it serves the interests of the elite in conflict with others is a widely debated issue. The content of legal codes varies dramatically across time, as does the law in action. Private wrongs are addressed by civil law, while public wrongs are the subject of criminal law. Criminal procedure is substantially more restrictive. A criminal statute prohibits the commission of acts (for example, robbery, rape, and murder). It may require acts and penalize their omission (for example, filing income tax returns). Such offenses are classified as felonies, misdemeanors, or violations in terms of their perceived seriousness and the range of potential punishments. Justice is administered by a criminal justice system that is charged with pursuing some combination of deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and retribution. The system is comprised of police, courts, and corrections agencies. In practice each exercises a great deal of discretion that introduces additional complexities in efforts to understand crime and criminals. Many criminological perspectives require careful scrutiny of activities within the criminal justice system.
Secretion of unprocessed human surfactant protein B in milk of transgenic mice

Because of the apparent clinical importance of human pulmonary surfactant B (SP-B), the expression of SP-B was directed to the mammary gland of transgenic mice using previously characterized rat whey acidic protein (WAP) regulatory sequences. rWAP/SP-B mRNA was expressed specifically in the mammary gland, and ranged from 1 to 5% of the endogenous WAP mRNA levels. SP-B was detected immunologically in both tissue and milk. The transgene product had an apparent molecular weight of 40-45 kDa, corresponding to the predicted size of the SP-B proprotein. Incubation of an SP-B-enriched fraction of milk with cathepsin D in vitro produced 20-25 kDa species, consistent with cleavage of the amino terminal domain by cathepsin D. This was confirmed using antibodies specific to the carboxy-terminal domain of SP-B. However, the appearance of only the SP-B proprotein in milk suggests that cathepsin D is not involved in the in vivo processing of SP-B. The SP-B proprotein in milk suggests that cathepsin D is not involved in the in vivo processing of SP-B. The SP-B proprotein can be expressed in milk of transgenic mice without any observed effects on mammary gland morphology or lactation.
Cytochrome c Oxidase: A Brief Introduction and Some New Results from High Field Endor Studies of The CuA and CuB Sites

A Mitchellian view of mitochondrial respiration is presented in Scheme I.1,2 This illustrates electron transfer from an electron rich material, NH, through quinone, Q, through Complex HI, into cytochrome c, and through Complex IV(cytochrome c oxidase) to O2, with accompanying proton translocations across the lipid bilayer.
Polyphosphazene Membranes for Fuel Cells

Polyphosphazenes possess numerous properties that are attractive for PEM fuel-cell applications, including thermal and chemical stability and the unlimited possibility for side-group functionalization. There are some impressive results in the literature, in particular where sulfonated polyphosphazenes are used in a direct methanol fuel cell. There is much less data on polyphosphazene fuel-cell membranes with phosphonic acid or sulfonimide side groups, but preliminary physical and transport property data on these materials is encouraging. Clearly, more work is needed to truly exploit the full potential of this important class of inorganic polymers, including the development of new polymer synthesis schemes and the use of combinatorial methods to screen the unlimited number of side group-substituted polymers. Herein an overview of prior research on the synthesis and use of acid-functionalized polyphosphazenes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells is presented.
Imagined Interactions, Imagery, and Mindfulness/Mindlessness

People sometimes have imagined interactions in which they imagine talking with someone. For example, before entering a job interview, the interviewee may rehearse in his/her mind what the interviewer might ask and how the self will respond. After an argument with a romantic partner, the self may replay the encounter and feel despair at not having said various things that are currently in one’s mind. In the first scenario, a proactive imagined interaction has occurred while a retroactive imagined interaction has occurred in the second. It is also possible that the retroactive encounter in the second scenario acts as preinteraction stimulus for the next encounter with the romantic partner. Thus, the conflict picks up where it left off. These examples reflect what has previously been referred to as imagined interactions (Honeycutt, 1990; Honeycutt, Edwards, and Zagacki, 1989–90; Honeycutt, Zagacki, and Edwards,1989).
GENETICS | Role of Genetic Factors in the Etiopathogenesis of Epilepsy-Related Brain Damage

Most human phenotypic characteristics are determined by the interplay of environmental factors (whether external or related to the internal milieu) with the unique genetic attributes of the individual. The same is true for predisposition to and outcome from, most disease states; seizure-induced cell damage is no exception. The etiopathogenesis of epilepsy-related brain damage is still enigmatic and our knowledge of the genes that might influence susceptibility to seizure-induced cell death is still in its infancy. Host genetic factors are likely to contribute to differences in individual susceptibility to seizure-induced excitotoxic cell death. However, analysis in humans is hampered by the complex genetics of epilepsy. As a result, we have used a genetic approach to analyze inbred mouse strains that differ with respect to their susceptibility to seizure-induced excitotoxic cell death. Identification of mouse alleles that affect susceptibility to seizure-induced excitotoxic cell death may also lead, finally, to the discovery of homologous alleles in humans that may play a role in determining an individual's genetic susceptibility to epilepsy.
Going Public with Notes on Close Cousins, Food Sovereignty, and Dignity

Introduction: In fall 2009, I taught a graduate course at Cornell University in the sociology of food and ecology. My students and I were fortunate to have food systems sociologist Harriet Friedmann participating in our seminar meetings while she was on sabbatical at Cornell. Twenty years earlier, Harriet and I had published a paper that sketched a framework char­acterizing political-economic epochs in global agri­culture since 1870. We named these epochs “food regimes” (Friedmann & McMichael, 1989). Christine Porter was a student in that course. She claims it helped her put enough academic and activist pieces of the food system puzzle together to pro­pose what later became Food Dignity—a five-year action and research project about food security, sustainability, and sovereignty involving four higher education institutions and five community-based organiza­tions doing food justice work in the U.S....
Outcomes Following Posterior and Posterolateral Plating of Distal Fibula Fractures

Ankle fractures are common orthopaedic injuries often requiring open reduction and internal fixation. A variety of positions for plate placement exist for surgical fixation of distal fibula fractures, including direct lateral, posterior, or posterolateral. Direct lateral is more common, despite evidence that posterior and posterolateral placement is mechanically superior. However, concern for peroneal tendon injury from posterior plating remains. Our study investigates clinical and functional outcomes of patients who underwent operative fixation of distal fibula fractures with posterior or posterolateral plating over a 3-year period. Analyses were performed on 59 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up. Questionnaires were used to obtain demographic data, in addition to information regarding the presence of ankle pain, subsequent hardware removal, and Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOS). In patients with at least 2 years of follow-up (average 39.6 ± 10.6 months), 37.2% reported ongoing ankle pain; 11 patients underwent hardware removal (18.6%), with 8 patients undergoing removal because of hardware-related pain (13.6%). FAOS scores (n = 51) were as follows: pain (79.9 ± 22.3), activities of daily living (84.2 ± 22.6), symptoms (75.7 ± 23.5), sports (69.4 ± 31.6), and quality of life (58.3 ± 30.5). Posterior and posterolateral plating achieved good clinical and high functional outcomes across our study population. The percentage of hardware removal in our study was either equivalent to, or less than, historical controls for any type of fibular fixation, and removal may be helpful for those patients whose postoperative ankle pain is subjectively related to the hardware. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Retrospective.
Vasomotor Symptoms Across the Menopause Transition: Differences Among Women.

VMS are the primary menopausal symptom, peaking around the final menstrual period and occurring in up to 80% of women during the menopausal transition. On average, they last for 10 years, with a longer duration in women with an earlier onset of symptoms. However, women show different patterns of experiencing VMS in terms of timing of onset and frequency level. Compared to non-Hispanic white women, black and Hispanic women are more likely and Asian women are less likely to report VMS, perhaps reflecting racial/differences in characteristics such as weight, smoking, and gynecological surgeries. Additional risk factors for VMS include body composition – although it appears to be protective in later stages of the menopausal transition – as well as smoking, prior and concurrent anxiety and depression, sensitivity to symptoms, PMS, education, and medical treatments such as hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and use of breast cancer-related endocrine therapies. It is important to keep in mind that while VMS are common during the menopausal transition, their patterns over time and within higher-risk subgroups are heterogeneous.
Bond dissociation energy and electronic spectroscopy of Cr+(NH3) and its isotopomers.

The electronic spectra of Cr+(NH3), Cr+(ND3), and Cr+(15NH3) have been measured from 14 200 to 17 400 cm−1 using photodissociation spectroscopy. Transitions are predominantly observed from the 6A1 ground state, in which the Cr+ has a 3d5 electronic configuration, to the B 6E (Π) state (3d44s). There is extensive vibronic structure in the spectrum due to a long progression in the Cr–N stretch and transitions to all six spin-orbit levels in the upper state. The spin-orbit splitting in the excited state is observed to be Aso′ = 39 cm−1. For the lowest spin-orbit level, the Cr–N stretching frequency in the excited state is 343 cm−1, with an anharmonicity of 4.2 cm−1. The 6E (Π) origin is predicted to lie at T0 = 14 697 cm−1. The first peak observed is due to v′ = 1, so the observed photodissociation onset is thermodynamic rather than spectroscopic, giving D0(Cr+–NH3) = 14 830 ± 100 cm−1 (177.4 ± 1.2 kJ/mol) and D0(Cr+–ND3) = 15 040 ± 30 cm−1 (179.9 ± 0.4 kJ/mol). The 6E (Π) state of Cr+(NH3) is ∼2740 cm−1 less strongly bound than the ground state, and the Cr–N bond length increases by 0.23 ± 0.03 A upon electronic excitation. Calculations at the time-dependent density functional theory (M06) and equations of motion coupled cluster, with single and double excitations (EOM-CCSD) level fairly accurately predict the energy and vibrational frequency of the excited state. Multi-reference configuration interaction calculations show how the spin-orbit states of Cr+(NH3) evolve into those of Cr+ + NH3.
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease of unknown etiology causing necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and pauci-immune, classically c-ANCA positive, vasculitis in small and medium sized blood vessels.
More expression, less function: cleaved dynamin in glomerular kidney disease

The role of dynamin in regulation of kidney filtration barrier is well documented. Dynamin binds to and produces filamentous actin, which is a key component of healthy podocyte foot processes (FPs). Destruction of dynamin, for example by cathepsin L, leads to loss of a functional actin network and uncoordinated membrane signaling, a situation that allows for effacement of FPs and proteinuria. Now, Khalil et al have examined the dynamin expression in kidneys of proteinuric animal models as well as in kidney patients and produced data that further clarifies the role of dynamin in glomerular and tubular proteinuria and may aid in pinpointing patients who are affected by loss of dynamin function and may benefit from appropriate therapeutic approaches. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preoperative Variables Associated With Respiratory Complications After Pediatric Neuromuscular Spine Deformity Surgery

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to identify preoperative laboratory values and patient factors that are associated with postoperative respiratory complications in pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) populations undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with instrumentation. Summary of Background Data PSF in NMS patients are high-risk surgeries. Respiratory complications are the most common postoperative event, with rates up to 28.2% following surgery. Methods A single-surgeon, two-hospital pediatric spine surgery database was reviewed to identify all patients who underwent PSF for NMS. Diagnoses included cerebral palsy (n=83), myelomeningocele (n=13), spinal muscular atrophy (n=4), and other (n=11). This study defined respiratory complications as postoperative pneumonia, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, need for reintubation, respiratory status requiring a return to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), or prolonged (>4-day) need for mechanical ventilation. Preoperative laboratory values for transferrin, prealbumin, hemoglobin/hematocrit, total protein, albumin, and total lymphocyte count were collected. Results There were 50 males and 61 females with a mean age of 14 years 2.5 months (8–20 years). Seventeen patients (15.3%) experienced postoperative respiratory complications. On univariate analysis, any history of pneumonia, the presence of gastrostomy tube, and low transferrin levels were associated with postoperative respiratory complications, and a strong trend (p=.06) was observed for tracheostomy. On multivariate analysis, the presence of gastrostomy tube and history of pneumonia remained as clinically significant predictors of postoperative respiratory complications. Conclusion Pediatric NMS patients undergoing PSF that have history of pneumonia or gastrostomy tube present at time of surgery are at increased risk for postoperative respiratory complications. The univariate associations of tracheostomy presence and low transferrin levels with postoperative respiratory complications deserve further examination. Level of Evidence Level II.
Protective Behavioral Strategies Mediate the Relation Between Sensation Seeking and Marijuana-Related Consequences.

Background: Greater levels of sensation seeking are associated with experiencing more marijuana-related consequences (MRC). Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) use is associated with both the lo...
A Deep Learning Approach for Road Damage Detection from Smartphone Images

With recent advances in technology, it is feasible to conveniently monitor urban roads using various cameras, such as surveillance cameras, in-vehicle cameras, or smartphones, and recognize their conditions by detecting specific types of road damages in order to plan maintenance resources efficiently based on the identified spots. This paper describes a road damage type detection and classification solution submitted to the IEEE BigData Cup Challenge 2018. Our solution is based on the state-of-the-art deep learning methods for an object detection task. In particular, our approach utilizes an object detection algorithm to detect various types of road damages by training the detector on different image examples categorized into a set of damages defined by Japan Road Association. We evaluated our approach thoroughly using different versions of trained models. Our experiments show that our approach was able to achieve an F1 score up to 0.62.
Diffusion-Weighted MRI of the Breast in Women with a History of Mantle Radiation: Does Radiation Alter Apparent Diffusion Coefficient?

Objective Fibrosis from chest irradiation could lower the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of breast tissue. ADC values of normal breast tissue in high-risk women who underwent mantle radiation before age 30 years were compared with a screening control group matched for breast fibroglandular tissue (FGT). Methods In this retrospective study, we reviewed 21 women with a history of mantle radiation who underwent breast MRI examinations between 2008 and 2013, and 20 nonirradiated patients (control group) imaged during the same period with matching FGT and similar age. The women were dichotomized into low FGT (10/20, 50%) and high-FGT (10/20, 50%) groups, based on BI-RADS descriptors. All MRI examinations included diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) (b = 0, 1000); ADC maps were generated and evaluated on PACS workstations by two radiologists in agreement. Region of interest markers were placed on ADC maps in visualized breast tissue in the retroareolar region of each breast. The ADC value was averaged for the right and left breast in each patient included in the study. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the ADC values in the irradiated patients and the matched control patients. Results The median breast ADC was lower in the irradiated group (1.32 × 10-3mm2/sec) than in the control group (1.62 × 10-3mm2/sec; P = 0.0089). Low FGT in the irradiated group had a lower median ADC (1.25 × 10-3mm2/sec) than it did in the control group (1.53 × 10-3mm2/sec). Irradiated high-FGT breasts had a median ADC (1.52 × 10-3mm2/sec), as compared with nonirradiated control patients with high FGT (1.82 × 10-3mm2/sec). Conclusion Previously irradiated breasts have lower ADC values than do nonirradiated breasts.
How COVID-19 Patients Were Moved to Speak: A Rehabilitation Interdisciplinary Case Series.

BackgroundUp to 36% of patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 require tracheostomy. While the literature recommends the use of multidisciplinary teams in the management of patients with tracheos...
Wideband Air-Coupled CMUT Arrays for Acoustic Micro-Tapping

This paper presents a 32-element one-dimensional air-coupled capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) array designed to be part of a non-contact elastography system. To achieve the required bandwidth in air, staggered cell sizes are used. The completed devices showed a surface pressure of 950 Pa at the center frequency of 1.45 MHz. The 3-dB, 6-dB, and 10-dB fractional bandwidths are 5%, 10%, and 12.8%.
Sensor based in-operando lithium-ion battery monitoring in dynamic service environment

Abstract In this work, a dynamic testing platform to analyze lithium-ion battery (LIB) performance degradation and safety during in-service vibration and impacts is presented. The LIBs are cycled until end of life (EOL) under various dynamic conditions, providing in-operando battery performance examination. A sensor network constructed consisting of a resistance temperature detector (RTD), an accelerometer, an eddy current sensor and a shunt resistor is incorporated into the setup. Mechanisms of LIB capacity fade, temperature rise, and deformation from cycling in representative dynamic environments are analyzed and compared with results from theoretical analyses as well as with electrode structure evaluation. The sensor network identifies critical periods with high heat generation and stress accumulation rates. By comparing single cell and battery pack performances, complex effects of examined boundary conditions on LIB heat generation are analyzed. Using the sensor network, an approach to identify critical cell(s) with the highest risk of safety hazards without the need for electrochemical modeling is presented. Raman spectroscopy analyses, SEM imaging, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses are also applied to support the observations.
SBIRT administered by mental health counselors for hospitalized adults with substance misuse or disordered use: Evaluating hospital utilization and costs

Abstract Objective We analyzed the association of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) with hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and related costs, when administered to inpatients with substance misuse or disordered use by professional mental health counselors. Methods Our study used retrospective program and health records data and a difference-in-differences design with propensity score covariates. The study population consisted of hospital inpatients admitted to integrated care services staffed by physicians, nurses, and mental health counselors. The intervention group consisted of patients selected for intervention based on substance use history and receiving SBIRT (n = 1577). Patients selected for intervention but discharged before SBIRT administration (n = 618) formed the comparison group. The outcome variables were hospitalization and ED visits costs and counts. Costs of hospitalizations and ED visits were combined to allow sufficient data for analysis, with counts treated similarly. Patient-level variables were substance use type and substance use severity. A cluster variable was inpatient clinical service. Zero-censored and two-part logistic and generalized linear models with robust standard errors tested the association of SBIRT interventions with the outcomes. Results For the full study population of patients using alcohol, illicit drugs, or both, SBIRT administered by mental health counselors was not associated with changes in hospitalizations and ED visits. For patients with alcohol misuse or disordered use, SBIRT by mental health counselors was associated an odds ratio of 0.32 (p Conclusion Our results suggest that professional mental health counselors on inpatient integrated care teams may provide SBIRT effectively for patients with misuse and disordered use of alcohol, reducing the likelihood of future healthcare utilization and costs.
Integrating actuator fault and wheel slippage detections within FDI framework

We have witnessed a significant advancement in the field of mobile robot applications in the past two decades. From performing mission critical tasks such as in planetary exploration to simply doing household chores, this type of robots requires availability, reliability and safety of its operations. Consequently, there is a growing demand for fault tolerant control system (FTCS) for mobile robots where one of it major component is the fault detection and isolation (FDI) module. In our FDI study, one of the challenges in designing the robot model is to create an accurate and robust dynamics model. In this paper, the environment structure, which is the dynamic change in the surface characteristics, will be included. We will utilize Local Neural Model (LNM) in our robot modeling process. Wheel slippage is an event happened when the robot wheels lose their full grasp of the surface. This may cause the robot to deviate from its desired trajectory. On the other hand, the fault on the robot actuator may also lead to similar behavior but need different solution. In this paper we will expand the functionality of FDI module to infer a real actuator fault and wheel slippage in which, the solutions for both events can be combined in a single, common controller.
Laboratory calibrations of the [3H] adenine technique for measuring rates of RNA and DNA synthesis in marine microorganisms

The nucleic acid synthesis rates of several marine phytoplankton and bacteria grown in chemostat and batch cultures were measured by using [3H]adenine. The [3H]adenine synthesis rates showed excellent agreement with the known rates of synthesis estimated from chemical RNA and DNA data. Under certain conditions, RNA turnover and ATP pool compartmentalization produce inaccuracies in synthesis measurements made with [3H]adenine. However, accurate measurements of the rates of microbial RNA and DNA synthesis can be made in any environmental situation provided a few simple precautions are observed. First, time course experiments are recommended. Second, experiments should be conducted for periods long enough to avoid problems arising from disequilibria of internal ATP pools. Finally, exogenous [3H]adenine should remain in the medium over the length of the time course.
Horizontal visibility of Lambertian object submerged in seawater

A simple algorithm to calculate horizontal visibility of submerged Lambertian object is proposed. This algorithm is based on the knowledge of the three major parameters: seawater absorption coefficient, seawater forward scattering coefficient, and the albedo of the object. The algorithm is derived from the self-consistent approach to the radiative transfer theory published earlier by the author. This approach is valid for all possible values of absorption and forward scattering coefficients and may be applied without restrictions to any type of coastal water. A FORTRAN code to calculate horizontal visibility is included.
Astronomical object classification

Astronomers have used classification methods as tools in examining the nature of the universe for more than a century. Classification remains a very heavily used tool in many subfields of astronomy. The development of new and very powerful classification technologies, the development of enormously increased computing capacity, and the development of a new generation of areal and multi-object digital detectors are creating a substantially changed situation. For the first time since the invention of the photographic plate technological change is forcing a major revision in the methods used to reduce data. The need to create order from the nearly unthinkably huge streams of data which are beginning to appear presents the greatest challenge and opportunity for astronomical classification in more than a generation.
Nonlinear Formulations and Improved Randomized Approximation Algorithms for Multicut Problems

We introduce nonlinear formulations for the multiway cut and multicut problems. By simple linearizations of these formulations we derive several well known formulations and valid inequalities as well as several new ones. Through these formulations we establish a connection between the multiway cut and the maximum weighted independent set problem that leads to the study of the tightness of several LP formulations for the multiway cut problem through the theory of perfect graphs. We finally introduce a new randomized rounding heuristic to study the worst case bound of these formulations, obtaining a new bound of 2α(H)(1-1/k) for the multicut problem, where α(H) is the size of a maximum independent set in the demand graph H.
Self‐adapting protocol tuning for multi‐hop wireless networks using Q‐learning

SUMMARY Today's network control systems have very limited ability to adapt to changing network conditions. The addition of reinforcement learning-based network management agents can improve quality of service by reconfiguring the network layer protocol parameters in response to observed network performance conditions. This paper presents a closed-loop approach to tuning the layer three protocol based upon current and previous network state observations, specifically the Hello Interval and Active Route Timeout parameters of the AODV routing protocol (AODV-Q). Simulation results demonstrate that the self-configuration method proposed here demonstrably improves the performance of the original Ad-Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) protocol, reducing protocol overhead by 43% and end-to-end delay 29% while increasing the packet delivery ratio by up to 11%. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The new LOCI digoxin assay on the Vista 1500 analyzer is virtually free from interferences of herbal supplements hawthorn and ashwagandha (Indian ginseng).

Herbal supplements hawthorn and ashwagandha (Indian ginseng) are indicated for cardiac illnesses and may be taken by patients receiving digoxin therapy. Because both hawthorn and ashwagandha are known to interfere with serum digoxin measurements using certain digoxin immunoassays, we investigated potential interference of these two herbal supplements with the new homogenous sequential chemiluminescent assay for digoxin based on the luminescent oxygen channeling technology (LOCI digoxin) for application on the Dimension and Vista platform. When aliquots of a drug-free serum pool were supplemented with various amounts of hawthorn (three different commercial preparations) or ashwagandha (two different commercial preparations) and apparent digoxin values were measured using LOCI digoxin assay on Dimension Vista 1500 analyzer we observed none-detected values except when aliquots were supplemented with very high amounts of the herbal extracts. When aliquots of a serum digoxin pool (prepared by pooling specimens from patients receiving digoxin) where further supplemented with various amounts of these supplements and digoxin concentrations were remeasured, statistically significant falsely higher digoxin values were observed only in specimens containing very high amounts of these supplements. Such interference may not be clinically significant. We conclude that new LOCI digoxin assay is virtually free from interferences of herbal supplements, hawthorn, and ashwagandha. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 26:227-231, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Short- and long-term consequences of hypotension in ELBW infants.

Background Hypotension affects close to half of all ELBW infants, yet an agreement on its definition is still lacking. Despite the fact that neonatal hypotension may be a risk factor for neurologic impairment, there is a paucity of data on the impact of low blood pressure (BP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants weighing below 1000 g on neuro-developmental outcome. Objectives Explore the relationship between blood pressure in the first 72 hours of life, perinatal factors, morbidity, and mortality in ELBW infants. Compare neuro-sensory outcome in ELBW infants with and without symptomatic hypotension. Methods We reviewed the outcome for all 156 infants with a birth weight Results A total of 59 infants (mean BW 714 ± 154 g; GA 24.9 ± 1.7 weeks) required BP support; 97 infants (mean BW 768 ± 141 g; GA 26.1 ± 1.9 weeks) received no BP support. The groups had similar race, gender, delivery mode, and maternal socioeconomic status. Thirty-five (22%) infants died, including 20 who received BP support. There were more infants with severe IVH (grade III/IV), 19% versus 2%, and the mortality was greater, 34% versus 16%, in those infants who received BP support. Of the 121 survivors, 110 (91%) had complete follow-up evaluations. Multivariate analysis controlling for SES and neonatal morbidity revealed that symptomatic hypotension is associated with delayed motor development (−6.0; SE 3.1) and hearing loss (O.R. 8.9; CI 0.92-86.3). Conclusions Symptomatic hypotension in ELBW infants in the first 72 hours of life is associated with significant short-term and long-term morbidity. Infants with symptomatic hypotension are more likely to have delayed motor development, hearing loss, and death.
The Use of Graphical Analysis with Microcomputer-Based Laboratories to Implement Inquiry as the Primary Mode of Learning Science

The laboratory-learning environment needs to become more exploratory and undergo a transformation from its traditional confirmatory role in the learning of science. This is necessary to effectively allow students to achieve scientific literacy. The availability of powerful tools for data collection and analysis provides an opportunity for students to engage in activities similar to those found in scientific work. An investigation of science teachers' use of microcomputer-based laboratories in inquiry-based activities shows the benefits inherent in the technology; in particular, an improvement in performance on content-related tasks and in using process skills necessary for inquiry-based learning was found. The ability to correctly predict the outcome of an experiment is strongly correlated with the agreement between different modalities used in the prediction. Thus, performance on science tasks using graphical analysis can be enhanced by the described methodology; recommendations are offered for successfu...
The crystal and molecular structure of 1-(p-iodobenzenesulfonyl)-1-azaspiro[2,5] octane

The structure of 1-(p-iodobenzenesulfonyl)-1-azaspiro[2.5]octane was determined by a single-crystal x-ray diffraction study. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P21 21 21 with cell dimensions: a = 11.655, b = 11.825, c = 11.068 ± 0.002 A. The aziridine ring is spiro-fused to the cyclohexane ring with the nitrogen atom occupying the equatorial position. The cyclohexane ring is in an undistorted chair conformation and forms a dihedral angle of 97.1° with the aziridine ring. The structure was refined to a final value of R = 0.074 for the 590 independent reflections.
Thermally Controlled Electrochemical CMOS Microsystem for Protein Array Biosensors

Because many proteins useful in biosensors exhibit temperature dependent activity, this paper explores the opportunity to integrate thermal control within a protein array biosensor microsystem. A CMOS microhotplate array tailored to protein interfaces was developed for thermoregulation in a liquid sample environment. The microhotplates were shown to provide suitable thermal control for biosensor temperature ranges without the process complexity of most previously reported microhotplates. When combined with a CMOS analog thermal controller, the on-chip array was shown to set and hold temperatures for each protein site within ±1°C, and array elements were found to be almost completely thermally isolated from each other at distances beyond 0.4 mm. The compact size and low power of this controller enable it to be combined with the thermal control structures and instantiated for every element in a sensor array to increase biosensor interrogation throughput.
Motion of molecular motor ratcheted by internal fluctuations and protein friction

Abstract We investigate theoretically a novel mechanism of transducing chemical energy into a directed force. A hypothetical motor protein is considered such that conformational changes induced by nucleotide binding and/or hydrolysis lead to asymmetric internal velocity fluctuations. We demonstrate that these fluctuations result in unidirectional motion if rectified by protein friction. The motor protein force-velocity relationship and other characteristics are computed based on analogy with known molecular motors.
Corrigendum to “The aggresome pathway as a target for therapy in hematologic malignancies” [Mol. Genet. Metab. 94 (2008) 283–286]

The authors of the above-referenced article did not correctly use quotation marks to indicate that they were directly quoting a number of statements made originally in the article below: Hassles with taking out the garbage: Aggravating aggresomes. R. Garcia-Mata, Y.-S. Gao, E. Sztul, Traffic 3(6) (2002) 388–396. Furthermore, the authors did not correctly cite or reference as quotations statements that came directly from an earlier article published by the same lab:
Alternative Europe: Eurotrash and Exploitation Cinema since 1945 edited by Ernest Mathijs and Xavier Mendik (London: Wallflower, 2004)

To the film enthusiast for whom European cinema is primarily represented by its great auteurs and its art-cinema traditions, Alternative Cinema: Eurotrash and Exploitation Cinema since 1945 will co...
Investigations into the mode of resistance of potato tubers toFusarium roseum ‘Sambucinum’

In a histological study comparing tuber resistance of potato clone B7200-33 and susceptible variety “Russet Burbank” toFusarium roseum ‘Sambucinum’, the formation of suberin and wound periderm was found to be an important resistance mechanism. In B7200-33 tubers a continuous suberin layer was formed whereas in ‘Russet Burbank’ tubers the suberin was formed in clumps so that the pathogen easily could invade the tissue between the clumps but not through a continuous layer. Wound periderm also was formed at a more rapid rate in B7200-33 than in ‘Russet Burbank’ tubers thereby “walling off” the pathogen and reducing decay.
The effect of heparin versus citrate on blood echogenicity in vitro: The role of platelet and platelet-neutrophil aggregates

There is no consensus among investigators regarding which anticoagulant to use when studying the causes of in vitro blood echogenicity, despite the fact that heparin and calcium-chelating anticoagulants may have disparate effects due to their differing effects on platelets. This study quantitated the echogenicity of heparinized blood compared to citrated blood and found that it was greater in heparinized blood than in citrated blood when paired samples from the same donor, drawn at the same time were compared. By microscopic examination of the blood, this difference appeared to be due to the formation of platelet and platelet-neutrophil aggregates in the heparinized blood. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the echogenicity of heparinized blood to that of heparinized blood following platelet and white cell depletion. The results showed that taking away platelets and white cells virtually eliminated the echogenicity of heparinized blood; the impact of this result is discussed in the context of in vivo spontaneous contrast.
Use of a heated superficial hand vein as an alternative site for the measurement of amino acid concentrations and for the study of glucose and alanine kinetics in man

Comparisons were made between the artery and a heated superficial hand vein (HSHV) for the measurements of amino acids, lactate, glycerol, free fatty acids, insulin and glucagon and the measurements of glucose and alanine kinetics in man. Normal subjects (n = 8) were studied after an overnight fast (12–14 hr). U-14C-alanine and 3, 3H glucose were administered by a constant infusion and blood was sampled from catheters placed in a radial artery and a superficial dorsal vein of a heated hand (68°C environment), during a control period and a period of a steady state hyperaminoacidemia achieved by a constant infusion of an L-amino acid solution. The blood concentrations of all substrates and hormones measured and the concentrations of cold and radioactive glucose and alanine were comparable in the two vessels during both study periods. In contrast, measurements obtained in a deep forearm vein (DV) showed the concentrations of plasma glucose to be lower (3% in the control period and 5% during the experimental period) and those of plasma alanine to be higher (13% and 5% during control and experimental periods respectively) than the artery or the HSHV. The difference in glucose specific activity between the artery or the HSHV and the DV were however slight but non-significant, while plasma alanine specific activity was significantly lower in the DV as compared to the artery or the HSHV (32% in the control period versus 14% in the experimental period) suggesting a process of exchange of alanine and glucose occuring during the transit of blood across the forearm. As a result blood samples obtained from a DV will overestimate the derived total body glucose and alanine turnover rates. Thus the heated superficial hand vein can adequately replace the artery for the measurements of whole blood amino acids, lactate and glycerol and for plasma FFA, insulin and glucagon; its use can obviate the risks associated with arterial catheterization and can be a suitable site for the measurements of total body glucose and alanine kinetics in man.
Highly accurate FTIR observations from the Scanning HIS aircraft instrument

Development in the mid 80s of the High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (HIS) instrument for the high altitude NASA ER2 aircraft demonstrated the capability for advanced atmospheric temperature and water vapor sounding and set the stage for new satellite instruments that are now becoming a reality [AIRS(2002), CrIS(2006), IASI(2006), GIFTS(200?), HES(2013)]. Follow-on developments at the University of Wisconsin that employ Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) for Earth observations include the ground-based Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI) and the new Scanning HIS aircraft instrument. The Scanning HIS is a smaller version of the original HIS that uses cross-track scanning to enhance spatial coverage. Scanning HIS and its close cousin, the NPOESS Airborne Sounder Testbed (NAST), are being used for satellite instrument validation and for atmospheric research. A novel detector configuration on Scanning HIS allows the incorporation of a single focal plane and cooler with three or four spectral bands that view the same spot on the ground. The calibration accuracy of the S-HIS and results from recent field campaigns are presented, including validation comparisons with the NASA EOS infrared observations (AIRS and MODIS). Aircraft comparisons of this type provide a mechanism for periodically testing the absolute calibration of spacecraft instruments with instrumentation for which the calibration can be carefully maintained on the ground. This capability is especially valuable for assuring the long-term consistency and accuracy of climate observations, including those from the NASA EOS spacecrafts (Terra, Aqua and Aura) and the new complement of NPOESS operational instruments. It is expected that aircraft flights of the S-HIS and the NAST will be used to check the long-term stability of AIRS and the NPOESS operational follow-on sounder, the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), over the life of the mission.
Characterization of the atmosphere as a random bit-stream generator

Characterizing atmospheric turbulence through modeling dates back to the 1960's. For decades scientists have studied how to mitigate the effects of the atmospheric turbulence on communications and imaging systems, but learning how to use those properties of the atmosphere instead of mitigate them raise new challenges. Due to the fact that atmospheric turbulence is inherently a random process, it can be an ideal "key generator" for strongly secure information transfer. The purpose of this effort is to investigate to what extent the atmospheric turbulence can be exploited as a robust random number generator. In this paper we report the progress in characterizing the atmosphere and a random bitstream generator.
Automatic detection and segmentation of abdominopelvic lymph nodes on computed tomography scans

We proposed a local scale-based Hessian analysis method for automated lymph node detection in contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic CT scans. First, spine and pelvic girdle were automatically segmented to locate the abdominopelvic region. Blood vessels were then segmented to narrow the search region to the perivascular space where lymph nodes are located. Lymph node candidates were generated by scale-based Hessian analysis. The detected candidates were segmented by curve evolution. Characteristic features were calculated on the segmented nodes. Support vector machine was utilized for classification and false positive reduction. We applied our method to 22 patients with 37 enlarged lymph nodes. The system achieved 83% sensitivity at 5 false positives per patient. Our results indicated that computer-aided abdominopelvic lymph node detection is feasible with a high sensitivity and a relatively low FP rate.
Multi-model ensemble hydrologic prediction using Bayesian model averaging

Abstract Multi-model ensemble strategy is a means to exploit the diversity of skillful predictions from different models. This paper studies the use of Bayesian model averaging (BMA) scheme to develop more skillful and reliable probabilistic hydrologic predictions from multiple competing predictions made by several hydrologic models. BMA is a statistical procedure that infers consensus predictions by weighing individual predictions based on their probabilistic likelihood measures, with the better performing predictions receiving higher weights than the worse performing ones. Furthermore, BMA provides a more reliable description of the total predictive uncertainty than the original ensemble, leading to a sharper and better calibrated probability density function (PDF) for the probabilistic predictions. In this study, a nine-member ensemble of hydrologic predictions was used to test and evaluate the BMA scheme. This ensemble was generated by calibrating three different hydrologic models using three distinct objective functions. These objective functions were chosen in a way that forces the models to capture certain aspects of the hydrograph well (e.g., peaks, mid-flows and low flows). Two sets of numerical experiments were carried out on three test basins in the US to explore the best way of using the BMA scheme. In the first set, a single set of BMA weights was computed to obtain BMA predictions, while the second set employed multiple sets of weights, with distinct sets corresponding to different flow intervals. In both sets, the streamflow values were transformed using Box–Cox transformation to ensure that the probability distribution of the prediction errors is approximately Gaussian. A split sample approach was used to obtain and validate the BMA predictions. The test results showed that BMA scheme has the advantage of generating more skillful and equally reliable probabilistic predictions than original ensemble. The performance of the expected BMA predictions in terms of daily root mean square error (DRMS) and daily absolute mean error (DABS) is generally superior to that of the best individual predictions. Furthermore, the BMA predictions employing multiple sets of weights are generally better than those using single set of weights.
Power Harvesting Prediction of Piezoelectric Stack Actuator From a Shock Event

In this study, the power harvesting performance of a piezoelectric (PZT) ceramic multilayer stack actuator under a shock event is theoretically and experimentally investigated. The model is derived from the constitutive - 33 mode equations under single degree of freedom (SDOF) assumptions, and then a correction factor is applied onto the resulting electromechanically coupled governing equations. These are represented in state space form and solved in the numerical computation software MATLAB. In order to achieve experimental validation, two test cases are compared to the model prediction when impulses of 20.8 mN·s and 1.70 mN·s are loaded on to the PZT stack actuator. The voltage and power output between the model and the test cases matched well. For the first case, the PZT stack actuator harvested 0.3321 μJ from the shock event while the model’s prediction was 0.3358 μJ, which results in a percent error of only 1.1%. In the second case, the PZT stack actuator harvested 34.64 nJ from the shock event while the model’s prediction was 35.80 nJ, which results in a percent error of 3.2%. This paper achieves its objective of deriving a model that can accurately predict the power harvested when an impulse load is applied onto a PZT stack actuator, and then validating this model with testing.© 2013 ASME