cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in hip–knee joint coupling during gait after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract Background After anterior cruciate ligament injury, patients have increased risk for developing degenerative osteoarthritis, potentially due to the kinematic changes that persist after surgical reconstruction. Current research only describes single joint kinematic differences rather than the way in which two joints behave concurrently, termed joint coupling. The purpose of this study was to compare knee motion relative to hip motion in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed and healthy limbs during walking and jogging. Methods Thirty-seven recreationally active volunteers (22 reconstructed, 15 healthy) walked and jogged at 4.83 km/h and 9.66 km/h respectively. Vector coding methods were used to calculate stride-to-stride variability, magnitude, and vector angle of 6 joint couples during walking and jogging: hip frontal–knee frontal planes, hip frontal–knee sagittal, hip frontal–knee transverse, hip sagittal–knee frontal, hip sagittal–knee transverse, and hip transverse–knee frontal planes. Findings The hip sagittal–knee frontal and hip sagittal–knee transverse joint couples had decreased variability during mid-stance, and all other couples had increased variability during the stance phase in the reconstructed group. The reconstructed group had decreased magnitude of joint excursion in the hip frontal–knee sagittal couple during all phases of gait during walking. Vector angles of the hip frontal–knee transverse couple increased in the reconstructed group during the loading, middle, and terminal stance phases, and swing phase of gait during walking. Interpretation The increased variability and decreased magnitude of joint excursion indicate that movement patterns were less consistent during walking gait despite employing a more constrained system during movement in the reconstructed limb compared to healthy controls.
Selenium: Dietary Sources and Human Requirements

Selenium is an essential trace mineral. Typically, in humans, grains and animal products are the primary exposure source. Inadequate information exists about the benefits provided by dietary selenium supplements. Current recommended dietary amounts for healthy adults in the US are 55 μg/day for men and women. In the general US population, higher amounts can be obtained through consumption of typical foods. Regardless, controversies prevail about adequate amounts for health and the individual needs depending on genetic and environmental variables. Information regarding specific target populations potentially sensitive to selenium status continues to be an area of much needed research.
An Air Traffic Simulation Model that Predicts and Prevents Excess Demand

An airplane’s ability to absorb delay while airborne is limited and costly. Because of this, the air traffic management system anticipates and manages excessive demand for scarce shared resources, such as arrival runways or busy airspace, so that the delay necessary for buffering can be spread out over a larger distance, or taken on the ground before departure. It is difficult to model these important dynamics in a standard queueresource simulation framework, which does not account for limited delay absorption capacity. The modeling methodology presented here captures these dynamics by employing a large number of independent threads of execution to monitor and enforce a large number of relatively simple mathematical relationships. These relationships calculate feasible time windows for each portion of each flight. The model was implemented in the SLX simulation language. The speed and scalability of SLX are essential to the approach, which would otherwise be impractical.
Home Blood Pressure–Guided Antihypertensive Therapy Requires a Randomized Trial

The debate continues about the ideal target blood pressure (BP) goal in those with essential hypertension. However, it has unambiguously emerged that compared with BP measured in the clinic, BP measured at home has greater prognostic significance [(1)][1]. Perhaps more importantly, an analysis of
Molecular Determinants of Substrate Selectivity in OCT3 (SLC22A3)

Organic cation transporters (OCTs) are polyspecific, facilitative transporters with major roles in metabolite and drug clearance. OCT1 and OCT2 are expressed in hepatocytes and proximal tubular cells, whereas OCT3 is in astrocytes. OCT1 and OCT2 have been well-studied, but the pharmacology and structure-function relationships of OCT3 remain obscure. Previously, we screened polyamine compounds for transport and competition against model substrate methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in OCT-expressing Xenopus oocytes, and established that polyamines are transported substrates for OCTs, and that hydrophobicity is a principal requirement for recognition of polycationic substrates and inhibitors. OCT3 exhibited significantly higher requirements for hydrophobicity than other isoforms. Here, we investigated the implications of key residues in shaping the distinct selectivity profile of rat and human OCT3. Homology modeling identified a putative hydrophobic cleft in OCTs capable of accommodating a wide variety of structures and that all isoforms share a conserved Asp within this pocket (D478). Replacement of this residue with Arg, Asn or even Glu drastically reduced MPP+ uptake, suggesting that this Asp residue is obligatory for OCT3-mediated transport, and may help stabilize positively charged substrates. Several key residues within the OCT1 and OCT2 binding pocket are not conserved in OCT3, and these differences might account for more stringent requirements in OCT3. Mutations at these sites in OCT3 to the corresponding residue in OCT1 and OCT2 (L166F, F450L and E451Q) intrinsically decreased MPP+ uptake rate. Potent OCT1 and OCT2 blockers tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 1,10-diaminodecane (DA10) interact weakly with wild-type OCT3. There was no enhancement of TEA or DA10 block in mutant OCT3; rather, MPP+ uptake rate increased in presence of these compounds. These results suggest that these residues may help stabilize substrates within the transporter and imply a more complex interaction between substrates than simple competition for a single site.
Canada's Limitation of Hate Speech: A Comparative Perspective

The Supreme Courts of Canada and the United States have reached different conclusions regarding when the government may restrict hate speech, with Canada being more receptive to governmental limitations. This paper explores the analysis employed by each court in analyzing speech restrictions and asks why Canada has been more open to such restrictions. It postulates that Canada’s greater receptivity to speech limitations may stem from Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which recognizes the power of Canadian legislatures to limit and override the Charter’s free expression guarantee; Canada’s historical treatment of fundamental freedoms, which included practices and perspectives amendable to speech limitations; Canada’s consideration of long-range harms in balancing social needs against individual rights; and Canada’s international obligation to proscribe hate propaganda.
Credit spreads and capital structure policy

What is the effect of capital structure policy on credit spreads? In a widely cited paper by Huang and Huang (2003), a few representative structural models of credit spreads have been calibrated and compared. Among them are the model by Collin-Dufresne and Goldstein (2001) and the one by Leland and Toft (1996). The former assumes exogenously given stationary mean-reverting leverage, the latter optimizes its capital structure endogenously. Their study shows that all the models they calibrated perform similarly in that they all explain a very small portion of the observed spreads. We make three improvements based on that study. First, we correct a mistake in their calibration for the CG model. Second, the Leland (1994) model of perpetual bond was used for simplicity. We strictly calibrate the LT model with finite maturities. Third, we use the same set of targets, so the model comparison is more meaningful. We argue that leverage ratio cannot be an appropriate target for calibrating the Leland-Toft model. This differentiates our calibration approaches. All these three issues have not been recognized thus far and we address them in this paper.
376 LEVELS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN RESIDENT PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTS FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF ADVANCED DIRECTIVES.

Background The degree of consensus between a physician and patient after a discussion of advanced directives has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to explore levels of agreement following an inpatient discussion of a patient9s preferences for resuscitation. Methods We conducted semistructured open-ended interviews with resident physicians and hospitalized patients and/or a family member following a discussion of advanced directives. We asked patients and surrogate decision makers their decision about attempted resuscitation. Both physicians and patient/surrogates were asked to describe the discussion they had about preferences for resuscitation. We asked how the resident interpreted the decision, whether they perceived that the patient/surrogate understood the issue, and whether the physician felt that the patient9s or surrogate9s decision was reasonable. The patient9s medical record was reviewed for physician documentation and orders reflecting an advanced directive. Transcribed interviews were analyzed via grounded theory, a method for identifying themes in qualitative interviews. Thematic coding used ATLAS.ti qualitative data management software. Results Forty-eight interviews with 24 physician and patient/surrogate dyads were included in the analysis-14 with patients alone, 5 with a patient and family member, and 5 with a surrogate decision maker. Analysis of the interviews revealed that 11 of 24 dyads included some degree of discordance between the participants. This manifested in several ways. Two patients did not recall speaking with anyone about this topic. In four cases, the preferences the patient stated during the interview differed from the physician9s interpretation or were not reflected accurately in the medical record. Five cases featured the physician questioning the decision of the patient or surrogate decision maker. Six physicians felt that the patient or surrogate had difficulty understanding the discussion, which potentially impacted their decision making. Three patients and surrogates admitted their inability to adequately comprehend this exchange. Following a discussion of advanced directives, there were varied levels of agreement between the participants. Differences were noted in the perceived outcome of the discussion as well as the physician9s belief that the decision was not in the patient9s best interest or based on an inaccurate understanding. These findings highlight the importance of improved education on communication skills, especially about end-of-life decision making.
Research on Influences Which Meteorological Factors Have on Jiangsu Summer Peak Load

The meteorological factors such as temperature,humidity and so on are the main factors for the summer peak load.Considering that the correlation between summer load peak and all kinds of meteorological factors is different,the changes in relationship between Jiangsu summer peak load and temperature,humidity in recent years are studied based on measured data.The sensitivity effects which load have on the temperature and humidity is obtained.The relationship between Jiangsu 2012 summer peak load and temperature,humidity is predicted based on the results of sensitivity analysis.Predictors of outcome have a certain reference value for the work of upcoming Jiangsu summer peaks to carry out smoothly.
Controlled trials on the effects of prostacyclin in vascular disease

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is now available for intravascular infusions as a stable freeze-dried preparation under the approved name of epoprostenol and the trade names of Flolan (Wellcome) and Cycloprostin (Up-john). Vasodilatory and platelet-suppressant activities of prostacyclin in vitro which had been described at the time of its discovery (Moncada et al., 1976) were reproduced in healthy volunteers (Szczeklik et al., 1978b; Gryglewski et al., 1978). Those two properties of prostacyclin constitute a basic rationale for its clinical use in vascular disease, although stimulation of the fibrinolytic system by prostacyclin in man (Dembinska-Kiec et al., 1982; Szczeklik et al., 1983) and its cytoprotective action in animals (for references see Vane, 1983; Sikujara et al., 1983; Whittle &; Moncada, 1983) require a careful consideration in further clinical trials
Models for, and Spectral Representations of, Operator Extensions

A special case of our extension question for continuous positive definite (p.d.) functions on a fixed finite interval \(\left \vert x\right \vert < a\) in \(\mathbb{R}\) is the following: It offers a spectral model representation for ALL Hermitian operators with dense domain in Hilbert space and with deficiency indices \(\left (1,1\right )\). (See e.g., [vN32a, Kre46, DS88, AG93, Nel69].)
Fibromodulin Is Essential for Fetal-Type Scarless Cutaneous Wound Healing

In contrast to adult and late-gestation fetal skin wounds, which heal with scar, early-gestation fetal skin wounds display a remarkable capacity to heal scarlessly. Although the underlying mechanism of this transition from fetal-type scarless healing to adult-type healing with scar has been actively investigated for decades, in utero restoration of scarless healing in late-gestation fetal wounds has not been reported. In this study, using loss- and gain-of-function rodent fetal wound models, we identified that fibromodulin (Fm) is essential for fetal-type scarless wound healing. In particular, we found that loss of Fm can eliminate the ability of early-gestation fetal rodents to heal without scar. Meanwhile, administration of fibromodulin protein (FM) alone was capable of restoring scarless healing in late-gestation rat fetal wounds, which naturally heal with scar, as characterized by dermal appendage restoration and organized collagen architectures that were virtually indistinguishable from those in age-matched unwounded skin. High Fm levels correlated with decreased transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression and scarless repair, while low Fm levels correlated with increased TGF-β1 expression and scar formation. This study represents the first successful in utero attempt to induce scarless repair in late-gestation fetal wounds by using a single protein, Fm, and highlights the crucial role that the FM–TGF-β1 nexus plays in fetal-type scarless skin repair.
Conjunctival squamous papilloma refractory to interferon α-2b in a patient on systemic immunosuppression (tacrolimus).

Abstract Purpose To describe a case of diffuse conjunctival papilloma in an immunocompromised individual on tacrolimus that was refractory to treatment with interferon α-2b, but responded to topical mitomycin-c. Observations A 79-year-old Caucasian female with a history of a liver transplant twenty years ago, who was immunosuppressed with tacrolimus (2 mg daily) presented with a diffuse conjunctival and corneal squamous papilloma. Following treatment with four weekly subconjunctival interferon-α2b injections (3 million units/0.5 mL) and 3 months of topical interferon-α2b therapy (1 million units/mL), four times daily, slow progression was documented. The patient was switched to topical mitomycin-c drops (0.04%) administered four times daily (one week on and one week off) with dramatic regression of the tumor. Conclusions and importance In cases of conjunctival squamous papilloma that do not respond readily to topical interferon, topical mitomycin-c is an alternate therapeutic option. We hypothesize that use of tacrolimus may have contributed to the lack of response to topical interferon-α2b.
Modeling of Diffusive Behavior of Macromolecules Encapsulated in Electrospun Fibers

Electrospun (ES) fibers made of biocompatible polymers have been used as scaffolds in tissue engineering due to the potential to mimic the fibrous environment found in the extracellular matrix of biological tissue. Bioactive macromolecules such as growth factors have also been incorporated in the electrospun fibers to promote cell growth and differentiation. Therefore, it is critical to understand and control the release rate of the bioactive molecules. This paper presents the development of a stochastic simulation method to model the diffusive behaviors of macromolecules encapsulated in electrospun fibers. Specifically, a given ES fiber sample is represented by a set of random fibers with total fiber number denoted as N. Each fiber in the set is assumed as a cylinder and has a randomly assigned diameter and length, these parameters are based on statistical distributions determined from physical fiber samples. The Fick’s diffusion equation is used to solve the concentration of encapsulated macromolecules in the fiber due to diffusion. Upon obtaining the solution of the concentration of molecules in individual fibers, one can determine the overall diffusion behavior for a given sample with random fibers distributed. A subsequent statistical characterization can be performed based on the results of a set of random generated samples. Moreover, the developed method can be applied to the diffusion of macromolecules encapsulated in microspheres. The developed method was implemented in MATHEMATICA. As an example, the ES fiber samples were generated via electrospinning alginate and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend polymer aqueous solution (1:1 ratio, 3% w/v), and FITC–dextran was mixed in the polymer solution to enable fluorescent image analysis. The fiber diameter, length and number of fibers were determined based on the fluorescent images of fiber samples. Parametric study was conducted to examine how the diffusive behavior of encapsulated macromolecules is affected by the fiber diameters, total number of fibers, diffusion constants, and boundary conditions. Furthermore, the stochastic analyses were conducted for cases of the diffusion of macromolecules encapsulated in microspheres. The model predictions agree well with the experimental data obtained from the literature.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Evarts Act Day: The Birth of the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals

The Evarts Act (26 Stat. 826) altered the federal courts more extensively than any statute since the Judiciary Act of 1789 (1 Stat. 73), which set up the Supreme Court and the subordinate federal courts. The new law created an intermediate federal appellate court system (the circuit courts of appeals profiled here) and rejiggered the relationships and jurisdictions of the various parts of the new system. This article lays out the details of the new courts' first day on the job, and flags a few intriguing aspects of their early work.
Cryopreservation of sperm bundles (spermatozeugmata) from endangered livebearing goodeids.

More than half of fishes in the family Goodeidae are considered to be endangered, threatened, or vulnerable. Sperm cryopreservation is an effective tool for conserving genetic resources of imperiled populations, but development of protocols with livebearing fishes faces numerous challenges including the natural packaging of sperm into bundles. In this study the cryopreservation of sperm bundles (spermatozeugmata) of three goodeids species was evaluated. Sperm quality was evaluated by activation with NaCl-NaOH solution (at 300 mOsmol/kg and pH 11.8), and analysis of dissociable bundles and dissociation duration. Using Redtail Splitfin (Xenotoca eiseni) as a model, the effects of cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and glycerol) with different concentrations (5-15% v/v %), equilibration exposure times (1-60 min), cooling rates (5-40 °C/min), concentrations (4 × 104-4 × 106 bundles/ml), buffers (HBSS, PBS and NaCl), and buffer osmolalities (200-400 mOsmol/kg) were investigated. After cooling and thawing, sperm bundles maintained their packed form. A specific protocol was developed (10% dimethyl sulfoxide, 20-min equilibration, 10 °C/min cooling rate, 4 × 106 bundles/ml, and 300 mOsmol/kg HBSS). This protocol yielded 89 ± 5% of post-thaw dissociable bundles with 209 ± 10 s of dissociation duration for X. eiseni, 96 ± 9% with 814 ± 14 s for Blackfin Goodea (Goodea atripinni), and 66 ± 2% with 726 ± 25 s for Striped Goodeid (Ataeniobius toweri). This is the first study of cryopreservation of sperm within bundles for livebearing fishes and provides a basis for establishment of germplasm repositories for goodeids and other livebearers.
Certain notable clinical attributes of the histiocytic sarcomas of the central nervous system.

By the term reticulum cell sarcoma we denote any tumor composed predominantly of undifferentiated cells, some of which have the qualities of histiocytes. The origin of such CNS tumors may be traced to circulating monocytes, perithelial or meningeal histiocytes or microgliocytes. The ubiquity of cells of the monocyte-histiocyte series allows six possibilities of CNS involvement: a) primary in the brain: b) secondarily involve the brain or spinal cord by extending from a cranial bone or vertebra to the epidural space c) rarely to involve extraneuronal tissues (lymph nodes, bone, viscera) and then later to localize to the brain substance d) to spread from brain outside the nervous system e) to evoke any one or several of the paraneoplastic diseases (polymyositis, polyneuritis, cerebellar degeneration, f) to permit widespread infections of the nervous system such as multifocal leucoencephalitis.
Photoperiod Response Gene Ppd-D1 Affects Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Soft Red Winter Wheat

Optimal N application is critical to ensure profitable soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production and limit negative environmental effects. This study was conducted using 12 wheat lines grown in two Ohio and six Virginia environments to determine the effects of differentially split N rates on grain yield, yield components, and N-related traits. Upon analysis of wheat lines in two contrasting photoperiod groups, it was discovered that wheat lines containing the photoperiod sensitivity allele (Ppd-D1b) conferred a significant (P < 0.05) yield advantage under N-limited conditions in Ohio and across N treatments in half of the Virginia testing environments. This resulted from increased harvest index, grains per square meter, number of kernels per spike, and floret fertility in Ppd-D1b lines relative to lines with the insensitive allele (Ppd-D1a). However, wheat genotypes in the photoperiod-insensitive allelic group had significantly higher (P < 0.05) grain N concentration in all Virginia testing sites. A spring split N application of 33 kg N ha⁻¹ at Zadoks growth stage (GS) 25 and 101 kg N ha⁻¹ at Zadoks GS 30 produced the highest grain yields and grain N contents in five of the six Virginia environments. Nitrogen utilization efficiency was the primary contributor to variation in N use efficiency under higher N rates, whereas N uptake efficiency was the greatest contributor under low N rates. The contribution of N utilization and uptake efficiencies varied among wheat lines in the Ppd-D1a group when 67 kg N ha⁻¹ was applied at Zadoks GS 25 under the moderate and standard N rates.
Standardized terminology systems in cytopathology

There has been increasing pressure for systemization in cytopathology. Lack of uniformity in categorization, variation in opinion based regional practice, and technologic advancement have created an environment disposed toward creation of more consistent evidence-based approaches to diagnostic problems. This review provides an overview of the major standardized terminology systems in cytology, with historical perspectives and commentary on current uses of these systems. These systems now include gynecologic, thyroid, pancreaticobiliary, urinary, salivary gland, and breast cytology. We summarize major classification systems supported by national and international professional organizations, outlining the structure and goals of each system. Specific benefits and potential pitfalls in the implementation of each system are given. Finally, we address potential criticisms of standardized terminology systems and proposed future directions to continue the evolution of standardized terminology to improve clinical practice.
Successful use of rituximab for hydralazine-induced anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis

Hydralazine is a commonly used anti-hypertensive medication. It can, however, contribute to the development of autoimmunity, in the form of drug-induced lupus and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis. We report a 45-year-old patient with hypertension managed with hydralazine for four years who presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), requiring hemodialysis, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), requiring mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient's autoantibody profile was consistent with a drug-induced autoimmune process and renal histology revealed focal necrotizing crescentic GN. She was treated with high-dose steroids, plasma exchange and rituximab. DAH resolved and her renal function improved, allowing discontinuation of hemodialysis. This case reveals that rituximab can be successfully used in the setting of hydralazine-induced vasculitis, including critically ill patients with severe DAH and acute kidney injury from RPGN.
Retrofitting of Bridge Columns Using UHPC

AbstractThe National Bridge Inventory reports indicate that a noticeable portion of the United States bridge infrastructure is drastically approaching the end of its intended design life, mainly du...
A Real-time Framework for Trust Monitoring in a Network of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been increasingly utilized in various civilian and military applications such as remote sensing, border patrolling, disaster monitoring, and communication coverage extension. However, there are still prone to several cyber attacks such as GPS spoofing attacks, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks to obtain their collected information or to enforce the UAVs to perform their requested actions which may damage the UAVs or their surrounding environment or even endanger the safety of human in the operation field. In this paper, we propose a trust monitoring mechanism in which a centralized unit (e.g. the ground station) regularly observe the behavior of the UAVs in terms of their motion path, their consumed energy, as well as the number of their completed tasks and measure a relative trust score for the UAVs to detect any abnormal behaviors in a real-time manner. Our simulation results show that the trust model can detect malicious UAVs, which can be under various cyber-security attacks such as flooding attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, GPS spoofing attack in real-time.
Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: Should cone-beam CT be considered as standard of care for diagnosis and treatment?

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a major challenge faced in dental practice. Imaging plays a critical role in diagnosis and treatment planning of this condition. Conventional radiographs are commonly acquired as baseline imaging, but due to limitations such as being a two-dimensional modality and superimposition of adjacent anatomy, certain radiographic features may not be visualized like on a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) possibly resulting in either missing the lesion on radiographs or misinterpreting the severity of the disease. This case shows that CBCT could be a good initial choice along with clinical examination to avoid delay in proper diagnosis and management.
E-cigarette Use and Risk Behaviors among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adults: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Survey.

Introduction The prevalence of e-cigarette use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and its association with risk behaviors was studied. Methods Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey, self-reported sexual orientation, e-cigarette use, cigarettes, marijuana, smokeless tobacco, and high-risk behavior (using non-prescribed drugs, treatment for sexually transmitted disease, or receiving monetary or drug compensation in exchange for sex in the previous year) were assessed. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to study the association between LGBT and risk behaviors. Results The prevalence of e-cigarette use among LGBT adults was 13%, nearly twice that of heterosexual adults. LGBT adults were more likely [Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval)] to report current use of e-cigarettes 1.84 (1.64, 2.06), cigarettes 1.61 (1.49, 1.73), marijuana 2.37 (1.99, 2.82), and high-risk behavior 3.69 (3.40, 4.01) compared to heterosexual adults. Results for smokeless tobacco were not significant. Conclusion There are disparities in e-cigarette and other risk behaviors among LGBT adults, which may increase risk of adverse health effects in this vulnerable population.
Accurate Flow Control Strategy based on Virtual Link of Smart Substation Process Layer Network

In current field application of the smart substation, the normal flow is affected by the extensive flow control method of the process layer network. In this paper, the characteristics of process-layer network traffic and the importance of flow control are analyzed. An accurate process layer network flow control strategy is proposed based on virtual link. Virtual link information is extracted based on the SCD file, and the theoretical flow information is derived for each port of the process layer switch. As a result, the virtual link flow control strategy can be designed for each port. The proposed accurate flow control method is implemented via the switch access list control by configuration. Experiments are designed to confirm that this method is simple and feasible.
CMOS Implementation of Threshold Gates with Hysteresis

NULL Convention Logic (NCL) is one of the mainstream asynchronous logic design paradigms. NCL circuits use threshold gates with hysteresis. In this chapter, the transistor-level CMOS design of NCL gates is investigated, and various gate styles are introduced and compared to each other. In addition, a novel approach to design static NCL gates is introduced. The new approach is based on integrating each pair of pull-up and pull-down transistor networks into one composite transistor network. The new static gates are then compared to the original ones in terms of delay, area, and energy consumption. It will be shown that the new gate style is significantly faster with negligible area and energy overhead.
Lawyers Acting Badly, or Not? Misconduct in IP Litigation: Recent Examples and the Questions They Raise

Misconduct in civil litigation is not a new phenomenon. Nor is it confined to particular types of cases. Because of their characteristic intensity. however, intellectual property cases may be more likely to inspire bad behavior than other types of cases. The associated pressures seem, on occasion, to lead litigants and trial lawyers to succumb to the temptation to step outside the bounds of vigorous advocacy.Trial and appellate judges in a number of recent IP cases have wrestled with the issue of whether certain litigation tactics crossed the line between advocacy and abuse. For example, trial judges have recently rebuked counsel for:• trying to prejudice jurors against the plaintiff patentee by asking them if they had “a problem with a company that puts its headquarters offshore on a Caribbean island in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes”, in violation of an order in limine;• “prolong[ing] the proceedings unnecessarily (thus unduly imposing upon the jury’s time), [seeking] to mislead both the jury and the Court, and [flouting] the governing claim construction as set forth by the Federal Circuit”;• “persist[ing] in improperly trying to equate [the patentee’s] infringement case with the current national banking crisis implying that [the patentee] was a banker seeking a ‘bailout’” • knowingly pursuing a meritless lawsuit; and• contributing to a “massive discovery failure”.In several of these and other cases, however, sanctions awards have been subsequently reversed or modified, including because the conduct at issue was viewed as insufficiently egregious, as not unreasonable, or even as entirely within the rights of the sanctioned firm or attorney. These reversals raise a number of issues, including whether reviewing courts are too tolerant, how trial judges are affected by litigation misconduct, sanctions proceedings, and reversals, what motivates aggressive litigation behavior, and the collateral consequences of litigation misconduct. Whatever the outcome, these decisions serve as sobering examples of how even intelligent, experienced counsel can get caught up in the heat of the battle that is modern intellectual property litigation, and the potentially devastating consequences of that conduct.
Managerial control of voting rights: Financing policies and the market for corporate control

This paper analyzes how managerial control of voting rights affects firm value and financing policies. It shows that an increase in the fraction of voting rights controlled by management decreases the probability of a successful tender offer and increases the premium offered if a tender offer is made. Depending on whether managerial control of voting rights is small or large, shareholders' wealth increases or falls when management strengthens its control of voting rights. Management can change the fraction of the votes it controls through capital structure changes, corporate charter amendments, and the acquisition of shareholder clienteles.
A distributed algorithm for optimal dispatch in smart power grids with piecewise linear cost functions

We consider the optimal economic dispatch of power generators in a smart electric grid for allocating power between generators to meet load requirements at minimum total cost. We assume that each generator has a piecewise linear cost function. We first present a polynomial time algorithm that achieves optimal dispatch. We then present a decentralized algorithm where, each generator independently adjusts its power output using only the aggregate power imbalance in the network, which can be observed by each generator through local measurements of the frequency deviation on the grid. The algorithm we propose exponentially erases the power imbalance, while eventually minimizing the generation cost.
Lattice wave description of metallurgical phase transformations

An arbitrary disturbance in a crystalline solid solution is described as a sum of lattice plane wave modulations. In metallic systems, the wave amplitude generally refers to atomic displacements or to atomic replacements (the occupation of lattice sites or interstices by atoms or ions of various species). For example: displacive shear waves with near the Brillouin zone center describe a martensitic phase transformation, displacive shear waves with = 1/3 (close to the Brillouin zone boundary) describe the omega phase transition, replacive waves with near the BZ center describe spinodal decomposition, a replacive wave with A/B polarization and = , and a replacive wave with AB/CC polarization and = 1/2 (BZ corners) describe β-brass and Heusler alloy order respectively in ABC 2 bcc ternary solid solutions.
Using genomic similarities and differences to interpret mouse models of human development and cancer

Comparative genomic approaches have been used extensively to identify DNA sequences involved in the regulation of conserved human genes. These approaches are indeed powerful, permitting the ~5% of the genome that is comprised of critical functional elements to be distilled from the background of non-conserved DNA. Using genome alignment tools, promoters, enhancers and other types of regulatory sequences can be identified, providing ready access to DNA sequence elements that are difficult to identify by other means. Comparative genomic alignments can also reveal the presence of novel genes. However, while most studies focus on sequences that are similar between the human and the mouse, the differences between the two genomes are also revealing, exposing different mechanisms of gene regulation and function and even gene-content differences in humans and rodents. Both the similarities and differences in genomic structure are critical to the interpretation of rodent models for human disease. We are using comparative genomic approaches to define genes and regulatory elements associated with imprinting and developmental disorders in the mouse model system. I will discuss new data arising from the analysis of mouse mutant models expressing developmental disorders and susceptibility to cancer. In each case, comparative genomics approaches have been critical to identification of genes and regulatory elements that are central to development of disease-related symptoms in the animals. Differences in gene regulation and structure revealed by these studies will also aid in exptraloting results from these mouse models to similar diseases in human patients.
Representing Network Trust and Using It to Improve Anonymous Communication

Abstract : Motivated by the effectiveness of correlation attacks against Tor, the censorship arms race, and observations of malicious relays in Tor, we propose that Tor users capture their trust in network elements using probability distributions over the sets of elements observed by net- work adversaries. We present a modular system that allows users to efficiently and conveniently create such distributions and use them to improve their security. The major components of this system are (i) an ontology of network-element types that represents the main threats to and vulnerabilities of anonymous communication over Tor, (ii\) a formal language that allows users to naturally express trust beliefs about network elements, and (iii) a conversion procedure that takes the ontology, public information about the network, and user beliefs written in the trust language and produce a Bayesian Belief Network that represents the probability distribution in a way that is concise and easily sampleable. We also present preliminary experimental results that show the distribution produced by our system can improve security when employed by users; further improvement is seen when the system is employed by both users and services.
AN AUDITORY ILLUSION OF DISTANCE.

WE have previously described experiments showing that the apparent position of a sound source in space can be moved about the horizontal plane if sound is additionally fed by a single headphone to one ear1; the magnitude of this apparent movement depends largely on the frequency and intensity relations between the loudspeaker and headphone sounds. As we investigated this phenomenon, which we regard as an example of binaural interaction, we noticed that if two headphones were used instead of one a single sound image was perceived the apparent distance of which from the listener could be controlled by changing loudspeaker-to-headphone loudness relations. The work recorded here examines this illusion of distance more closely.
Enhancing the Electronic Health Record to Increase Counseling and Quit-Line Referral for Parents Who Smoke

Abstract Objective To assess the impact of an electronic health record (EHR) modification and brief clinician training on tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) management in pediatric primary care. Methods Within a teaching hospital-based, urban primary care setting, we modified the EHR to include TSE screening prompts, decision support, educational literature, and simplified referral to the state quit line (QuitWorks). A brief training was conducted for the 48 clinic physicians (34 residents and 14 attendings). We collected cross-sectional, independent, random samples of EHR data from well-child visits for children ≤12 years old seen 3 months before (2024 visits) and 3 months after (1895 visits) the intervention and pooled client data from QuitWorks to evaluate TSE screening, counseling, and quit-line referrals. A needs assessment questionnaire examined preintervention attitudes and practice around TSE management; follow-up questionnaires explored satisfaction and subjective changes in skills. Results The baseline needs assessment revealed that although most clinicians agreed that it is appropriate for pediatricians to conduct TSE screening, counseling, and referral during well-child visits, only about half screened, 42% counseled, and 28% routinely offered to refer smoking parents. In pre–post analyses of 117 and 112 EHR-documented positive screens, the intervention was associated with a 16-fold greater likelihood of counseling among positive screens (adjusted odds ratio 16.12; 95% confidence interval 7.28, 35.68). Referrals to QuitWorks increased from 1 before to 31 after the intervention. Conclusions Implementation of EHR modifications and a brief training to support TSE management was associated with higher rates of counseling and quit-line referrals for parents who smoke.
Intracochlear pressure measurements related to cochlear tuning

Pressure in turn one of the scala tympani (s.t.) was measured close to the basilar membrane (b.m.) and at additional positions as the pressure sensor approached and/or withdrew from the b.m. The s.t. pressure measured within about 100 μm of the b.m. varied rapidly in space at frequencies around the region’s best frequency. Very close to the b.m. the s.t. pressure was tuned and scaled nonlinearly with sound level. The scala vestibuli (s.v.) pressure was measured at one position close to the stapes within seconds of the s.t. pressure and served primarily as a reference pressure. The driving pressure across the organ of Corti and the b.m. velocity were derived from the pressure data. Both were tuned and nonlinear. Therefore, their ratio, the specific acoustic impedance of the organ of Corti complex, was relatively untuned, and only subtly nonlinear. The impedance was inspected specifically for negative resistance (amplification) and resonance. Both were detected in some instances; taken as a whole, the curre...
Management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: weight control

With obesity reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, it is imperative that hepatologists have an understanding of the medical ramifications and methods of treatment. Evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may get the patient into the office,but weight reduction may provide a therapeutic hurdle. This article provides an overview of current obesity treatment.
Enamel Cracks and Ceramic Bracket Failure during Debonding In Vitro

Abstract Objective: To test the null hypothesis that no difference in bracket failure characteristics is noted when use of a new ceramic bracket debonding instrument is compared with the use of conventional pliers. Materials and Methods: Thirty maxillary premolars were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In group 1, Clarity collapsible ceramic brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) were debonded with the use of conventional Utility/Weingart (3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) pliers. In group 2, Clarity brackets were debonded with a new Debonding Instrument (3M Unitek). For all teeth, the same bracket bonding system was used. Following debonding, teeth and brackets were examined under 10× magnification for assessment of bracket failure (fracture) and of residual adhesive on the enamel surface. Enamel surfaces were visualized with transillumination prior to bonding and after removal of the residual adhesive, so the effect of the debonding forces could be determined. Results: The results of Adhesive Remnant Ind...
The role of tumor-cell surface carbohydrate in experimental metastasis

Quantitative studies on the binding of concanavalin A (Con A) and wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) to a series of rat hepatocarcinoma metastatic variants revealed a positive correlation between the amount of cell-surface-bound lectin and lung colonization potential. Scatchard analysis of Con A and WGA binding to 10 individual clones isolated from a subcutaneous (s.c.) tumor transplant and to tumor-cell isolates from 10 individual spontaneous lung metastases from the same animal showed diverse binding characteristics for these cell populations. Nevertheless, the expression of Con A receptor sites accurately predicted the lung colonization potential of 3 isolates from the lung metastases. Higher lectin binding curves were observed for the clones from the subcutaneous tumor than for the isolates from lung metastases. These data suggest that a high Con-A binding potential is indicative of a high lung colonization potential for these hepatocarcinoma cells, but that this phenotype may be rapidly lost during tumor outgrowth in the lungs. The binding of tumor cells to vascular endothelial cell monolayers was inhibited in the presence of Con A; however, no inhibition was observed with 2 other lectins. Attachment of tumor cells to endothelial cell monolayers was also inhibited by the monosaccharides methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. Other monosaccharides tested did not alter the attachment of tumor cells to endothelial cell monolayers.
Alkaline cation-exchange chromatography for the reduction of aggregate and a mis-formed disulfide variant in a bispecific antibody purification process

During the purification development of a bispecific antibody, cation-exchange chromatography was screened for its ability to separate a prominently expressed (>12%) mis-formed disulfide bond variant, termed MAb-diabody, and aggregate from the product of interest. The influence of pH, product load (g of product per liter of resin) and linear velocity on the separations were evaluated for the strong cation-exchange resins SP Sepharose HP and POROS(®) HS50. Cation-exchange chromatography is commonly operated distant to the isoelectric point of a molecule, generally leading to acidic conditions for antibody purification. However, the results herein demonstrated improved removal of MAb-diabody with increasing pH, resulting in reduction of MAb-diabody content greater than 12-fold when operating near the alkaline pI of the product. This approach was successful over a range of linear velocities and g/L of resin loading. Aggregate removal was less affected by pH and was effectively reduced from 10.9% to less than 3% for each condition. Furthermore, this method was successfully scaled to a 60 cm diameter column using SP Sepharose HP resin.
Regulation and expression of transforming growth factor type-ß during early mammalian development

We have examined the effect of differentiation on the expression of different members of the transforming growth factor type-beta (TGF-β) family using embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells and early mammalian embryos. We determined that TGF-β activity increases approximately 25–100% when the mouse EC cell line, F9, is induced to differentiate with retinoic acid (RA). Interestingly, the increased TGF-β activity reflects the induction of TGF-β2 secretion following differentiation of both F9 EC cells and the human EC cell line, NT2/D1. Using the technique of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we have verified that differentiation induces the expression of TGF-β2 as well as a distant member of the TGF-β family, Vgr-1. Transcripts for TGF-β2 and Vgr-1 were readily detected in the differentiated cells of F9 and PC-13 but not in their undifferentiated counterparts. Moreover, TGF-β2 mRNA was readily detected in NT2/D1 cells following differentiation. In addition, transcripts for TGF-β2 were detected by RT-PCR in mouse morulae, preimplantation blastocysts and cultured blastocysts. Based on the data presented, it appears that the expression of both TGF-β2 and Vgr-1 is closely associated with the induction of differentiation during early development.