cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential diversity-embedding space-time block coding for 2 and 4 transmit antennas

Diversity-embedding space-time block coding (DE-STBC), introduced in the work of Diggavi et al. (2003), enables unequal error protection (UEP) using multiple transmit antennas. Even though these codes do not require channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter, they do need it at the receiver for decoding. A novel differential DE-STBC scheme is proposed in this paper to eliminate the need for channel estimation at the receiver which is especially costly with multiple transmit and receive antennas. Most previously proposed differential schemes in the literature are based on orthogonal STBC and hence are not applicable to the non- orthogonal family of DE-STBC considered in this paper.
A particle swarm optimization approach for automatic diagnosis of PMSM stator fault

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are frequently used to high performance applications. Accurate diagnosis of small faults can significantly improve system availability and reliability. This paper proposes a new scheme for the automatic diagnosis of interturn short circuit faults in PMSM stator windings. Both the fault location and fault severity are identified using a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The performance of the motor under the fault conditions is simulated through lumped-parameter models. Waveforms of the machine phase currents are monitored, based on which a fitness function is formulated and PSO is used to identify the fault location and fault size. The proposed method is simulated in MATLAB environment. Simulation results provide preliminary verification of the diagnosis scheme.
Massive Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Due to Familial-Hereditary Telangiectases

Summary The diagnosis of familial hemorrhagic telangiectasia should be considered in any individual with recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhages, particularly if over 40, who has no definite ulcer symptoms but who has a history of bleeding from other mucous membranes, or who has telangiectases in other parts of the body. A history of bleeding episodes in other members of the family is a strong support of this diagnisis. Bleeding due to blood dyscrasias is usually ruled out by bone marrow and blood studies. Gastroscopy and proctoscopy may aid in the diagnosis by revealing the characteristic lesions, but is often disappointing. Therapy of this condition is empiric, although rutin orally may help in many instances.
Standard work for room entry: Linking lean, hand hygiene, and patient-centeredness.

Abstract Background Healthcare-associated infections are costly and fatal. Substantial front-line, administrative, regulatory, and research efforts have focused on improving hand hygiene. Problem While broad agreement exists that hand hygiene is the most important single approach to infection prevention, compliance with hand hygiene is typically only about 40% 1 . Goals Our aim was to develop a standard process for room entry in the intensive care unit that improved compliance with hand hygiene and allowed for maximum efficiency. Strategy We recognized that hand hygiene is a single step in a substantially more complicated process of room entry. We applied Lean engineering techniques to develop a standard process that included both physical steps and also standard communication elements from provider to patients and families and created a physical environment to support this. Results We observed meaningful improvement in the performance of the new standard as well as time savings for clinical providers with each room entry. We also observed an increase in room entries that included verbal communication and an explanation of what the clinician was entering the room to do. Implications The design and implementation of a standardized room entry process and the creation of an environment that supports that new process has resulted in measurable positive outcomes on the medical intensive care unit, including quality, patient experience, efficiency, and staff satisfaction. Designing a process, rather than viewing tasks that need to happen in close proximity in time (either serially or in parallel) as unrelated, simplifies work for staff and results in higher compliance to individual tasks.
Mammography use in women age 80 and older with breast cancer

9039 Background: The guidelines for screening mammography use in patients age 80 years and older are not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mammography use on stage and tumor size at breast cancer diagnosis. Methods: The study is a retrospective cohort using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database. We evaluated 14,976 women aged 80 and older diagnosed with breast cancer between 1996–2002. Patients were divided into three cohorts based on screening mammography use in the 60 months prior to diagnosis: nonusers, non-regular users (1–2 mammograms), and regular users (3+). The effects of screening on tumor stage (0-I vs. II-IV) and size were determined by logistic regression and multivariate analysis of variance. Results: Regular mammography use for the age groups 80–84, 85–89, and >= 90 was 29%, 19%, and 9%, respectively. Among regular users of mammography, 26% presented with stage II or greater cancer while 64% of non-users presented with s...
How much do word embeddings encode about syntax

Do continuous word embeddings encode any useful information for constituency parsing? We isolate three ways in which word embeddings might augment a stateof-the-art statistical parser: by connecting out-of-vocabulary words to known ones, by encouraging common behavior among related in-vocabulary words, and by directly providing features for the lexicon. We test each of these hypotheses with a targeted change to a state-of-the-art baseline. Despite small gains on extremely small supervised training sets, we find that extra information from embeddings appears to make little or no difference to a parser with adequate training data. Our results support an overall hypothesis that word embeddings import syntactic information that is ultimately redundant with distinctions learned from treebanks in other ways.
Martin Diamond: Teacher-Scholar of the Democratic Republic

Why add yet another offering to the plentiful supply of collegelevel American government texts? And why take time from more scholarly and more professionally rewarding work to churn out yet another introductory book? The answer was unclear when first discussed with Morton Grodzins, the political science editor for Rand McNally in 1959. And it became even murkier as the years of on and off writing dragged by. Martin used to joke that "even if we sold the movie rights, we'd still net a nickel an hour." Never facile writers, it was a painful albeit necessary effort. And its necessity derived increasingly from a sense of professional duty apart from the initial monetary incentive.
Responsible Opioid Prescribing. A Clinician's Guide, Second Edition Revised & Expanded

Waterford Life Sciences, Washington, DC; 2014; pp. 165 Author: Fishman SM Ignore this book at your peril! The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) lists this as the definitive resource for implementation of its 2013 “Model Policy on the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain” ⇓. Prescription of Schedule II Medications is regulated in the United States by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DEA web site names 27 “cases against doctors” in 2013 in which there was “…arrest and prosecution of the registrant.” relating to aberrant opioid prescribing ⇓. However, individual state medical boards also administer enforcement and proscription of errant prescribers. For example, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice (MBMP) has restricted the licenses of certain practitioners for Schedule II prescribing anomalies. That Board requires knowledge of this specific publication as a condition of relicensure ⇓. The author of this book is a highly respected …
XO:XX Sex Chromosomes and Robertsonian Variation in the Autosomes of the Wood-Roach Cryptocercus punctulatus (Dictyoptera: Blattaria: Cryptocercidae)

Cryptocercus punctulatus Scudder has 43 chromosomes in males, 44 in females (Mountain Lake Biological Station, Virginia), or 37 chromosomes in males, 38 in females (Highlands, N.C.). The difference appears to be due to a series of Robertsonian changes (centric fusions). Male meiotic cells have 18 or 21 bivalents and an unpaired heterochromatic X chromosome. C. punctulatus , a presocial cockroach presumably similar to the evolutionary ancestors of termites, thus does not have the multiple sex-chromosome system characteristic of many of the lower termites, but does share with them a tendency toward centric fusions and chromosomal polymorphism within species.
In situ spectroscopy at the quasi-perfect pt(111) single-crystal facet|aqueous electrolyte interface

The area of in situ spectroscopy at quasi-perfect Pt(111) single-crystal facet|aqueous electrolyte interfaces is herein reviewed. Illustrations are provided of the simultaneous application of diffe...
Effects of Population Density on the Frequency-Dependent Selection in the Esterase-6 Locus of Drosophila Melanogaster

The alteration of the adaptive value of the chromosomal inversion types caused by environmental factors such as temperature, nutritional conditions and genetic background has been observed by many investigators, such as Wright and Dobzhansky (1946), da Cunha (1951), Dobzhansky and Spassky (1954), Levine (1955), Parson (1959), Van Valen et al. (1962). There is also experimental evidence to show other factors which change the viability of a genotype in Drosophila. The cases known are larval density (e.g., Sang, 1949; Chiang and Hodson, 1950; Birch, 1955; Moree and King, 1961), the presence of larvae of other morphological markers (e.g., Lewontin, 1955; Bakker, 1961; Lewontin and Matsuo, 1963), the degree of age-difference of larvae of two morphological markers (Dawood and Strickberger, 1964) and frequency dependence (Kojima and Tobari, 1969a). At a "locus" level, frequency-dependent viability was observed (Kojima and Yarbrough, 1967; Kojima and Tobari, 1969b). Huang et al. (1971) cleared the cause of frequency-dependent
Development and implementation of a spiritual issues psychoeducational group for those with serious mental illness.

Recent research has suggested that religion and spirituality can be a resource or a burden for those with serious mental illness (SMI). Investigators have begun to explore the nature and impact of interventions that focus on spiritual issues in this population. This study describes an innovative program for people with SMI who are dealing with spiritual/religious issues. The program was a seven-week semi-structured, psychoeducational intervention in which participants discussed religious resources, spiritual struggles, forgiveness, and hope. This paper also reviews participants' feedback about the group intervention. Suggestions are made that may add to the clinical utility of this program in the future.
From Molecular Weight And Nmr Relaxation To Viscosity: An Innovative Approach For Heavy Oil Viscosity Estimation For Real-Time Applications

Vertical and lateral viscosity variations in heavy oil reservoirs must be accurately understood for proper reserve assessment, well placement, reservoir simulation and well-test interpretation. Well-logs must be used to determine viscosity trends in the absence of a-priori information or direct viscosity measurements. This paper introduces a novel approach to estimate in-situ heavy oil viscosity using triple-combo and NMR logs. Three components, each with a distinct characteristic NMR relaxation time range and a specific molecular weight, are used to define the heavy oil phase. An empirical transform, built from a database of live oil samples collected in heavy oil reservoirs, is used to compute macroscopic viscosity from the relative volume fractions of the constituents. Case histories presented demonstrate the utility of the methodology in complex carbonate environments. The results clearly show that proper characterization of a heavy oil reservoir requires viscosity information, and interpretations based solely on mobility may have limited success. The case histories also highlight that actual viscosity distributions in heavy oil reservoirs can be quite different from the simple models often used to describe them.
Incorporation of the pi subunit into functional gamma-aminobutyric Acid(A) receptors.

mRNA encoding the recently cloned γ-aminobuytyric acid A receptor (GABAR) π subunit is expressed in the hippocampus and in several non-neuronal tissues including the uterus and ovaries. Whereas native GABARs are pentamers composed primarily of αβγ, αβδ, or αβe subunits, it has not been demonstrated clearly that the π subunit incorporates into functional GABARs to form αβπ receptors and, if so, with what properties. We provide electrophysiological evidence that the π subunit can coassemble with either α5β3 or α5β3γ3 subunits to produce recombinant GABARs with distinct pharmacological and biophysical properties. Compared with α5β3 receptors, GABARs produced by coexpression of α5β3π subunits had a lower GABA EC 50 value, were enhanced to a lesser extent by loreclezole, had different IC 50 values for pregnenolone sulfate and lanthanum, and were insensitive to benzodiazepines. Incorporation of both π and γ3 subunits into an α5β3γ3π isoform was suggested by reduced enhancement by diazepam and a high zinc IC 50 value. Current-voltage relations for the α5β3π subunit combination outwardly rectified more than currents from α5β3γ3 but less than α5β3 combination GABARs. Single-channel α5β3 GABAR currents had a main conductance state of 15.2 picoSeimens (pS). Coexpression of the π subunit with α5β3 subtypes increased the conductance level to 23.8 pS, similar to the conductance level of α5β3γ3 GABARs (26.9 pS). We conclude that the π subunit coassembles with α, β, and γ subunits to form functional αβπ or αβγπ GABARs and, thus, could have a significant impact on the function of native GABARs expressed in the brain or non-neuronal tissue.
Percutaneous Transhepatic Embolization of Bleeding Rectal Varices Using A New Embolic And Sclerotic Mixture Augmented By Amplatzer Vascular Plug 2

We report a case of 59-year-old female with non-alcoholic-steato-hepatitis (NASH) induced cirrhosis, who presented with hematochezia. The patient had a history of bleeding esophageal varices treated with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL). Colonoscopy showed large rectal varices which were the source of her lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB). Since endoscopic treatment for LGIB are limited, and because the patient had portal vein thrombosis which contraindicated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), we performed percutaneous transhepatic embolization of her rectal varices using a new mixture of embolic and sclerotic agents, followed by Amplatzer plug 2 (AVP 2). To our knowledge, the use of this new mixture with the AVP 2 in the rectal varices treatment has not been previously published in literature. Our case provides an alternative treatment modality that can be used for rectal varices treatment, when TIPS and endoscopic management fails or is contraindicated.
Identification of risk factors leading to a late stage diagnosis in elderly melanoma patients.

e20063 Background: Among melanoma patients, prior reports show that groups with lower socioeconomic status (SES) may be diagnosed later. We sought to develop a fuller understanding of the character...
Inter-turn fault modeling in IPMSMs for flux and fault index estimation, and torque compensation

This paper proposes a novel way to form the model for internal permanent magnet synchronous machines (IPMSM) under inter-turn short circuit (ISC) faults. Based on this model, an observer is formed for ISC diagnostics and torque compensation. The IPMSM model under ISC is presented as the model of a healthy machine, but with a disturbance given by the ratio between shorted and total turns times the current flowing in the failure path. The disturbance, defined as the fault index current (FIC), is estimated using an observer. The method is tested in Matlab/Simulink and corroborated with finite element analysis (FEA). The proposed technique provides the ability to identify the FIC for early ISC diagnostics. Furthermore, it also provides flux linkage estimation and torque performance compensation under ISC conditions.
Familial and Genetic Associations

Research with animals has indicated that there is a genetic component in the etiology of multiple myeloma (this volume). Human studies have also provided some clues to the genetic basis of the disease. Given the paucity of known environmental risk factors for multiple myeloma an understanding of the role that genetic factors may play is crucial. Genetic factors may help explain the increased incidence of multiple myeloma in blacks as compared with whites.
Pulmonary Development and Pediatric Lung Diseases

The main events in lung development include branching morphogenesis to form the bronchial tree and formation and expansion of the air–blood barrier for gas exchange. Many pediatric lung diseases and malformations can be understood through the examination of normal development. The main factors influencing airway branching are signaling from the mesenchyme to the epithelium and intraluminal fluid pressure. Defects in these processes can lead to pulmonary hypoplasia as well as tracheoesophageal fistulas, bronchogenic cysts, pulmonary sequestrations, and congenital pulmonary airway malformations. Air–blood barrier formation requires proliferation of capillaries, a decrease in the mesenchyme, and differentiation of type I and II pneumocytes. Extreme premature birth is a risk factor for defects in these processes and can lead to bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The transition from an aqueous intrauterine environment to breathing air requires a mature surfactant to reduce surface tension. Multiple genetic defects in surfactant proteins and metabolism have been recently described.
The plasma membrane calcium pumps—The old and the new

The plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) pumps play a critical role in the maintenance of calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis, crucial for optimal neuronal function and cell survival. Loss of Ca2+ homeostasis is a key precursor in neuronal dysfunction associated with brain aging and in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. In this article, we review evidence showing age-related changes in the PMCAs in synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs) and lipid raft microdomains isolated from rat brain. Both PMCA activity and protein levels decline progressively with increasing age. However, the loss of activity is disproportionate to the reduction of protein levels suggesting the presence of dysfunctional PMCA molecules in aged brain. PMCA activity is also diminished in post-mortem human brain samples from Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease patients and in cell models of these neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental reduction of the PMCAs not only alter Ca2+ homeostasis but also have diverse effects on neurons such as reduced neuritic network, impaired release of neurotransmitter and increased susceptibility to stressful stimuli, particularly to agents that elevate intracellular Ca2+ [Ca2+]i. Loss of PMCA is likely to contribute to neuronal dysfunction observed in the aging brain and in the development of age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders. Therapeutic (pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological) approaches that can enhance PMCA activity and stabilize [Ca2+]i homeostasis may be capable of preventing, slowing, and/or reversing neuronal degeneration.
Die Grundlagen der Bemessung

Die Berechnung der Hauptabmessungen und die Bestimmung der Form gliedert sich in vier Hauptaufgaben, deren Probleme zunachst kurz zusammengefast werden.
Normal Cellular Protein Synthesis and Heat Shock

Plant cells respond, as do the cells of all living organisms, to transient increases in temperature by inducing or enhancing the synthesis of a characteristic set of heat shock proteins (hsps). At the same time, there is in most organisms at least a partial suppression of normal cellular protein synthesis. This is done, presumably, to focus the cell’s activities on addressing the physiological and biochemical changes which ensue with such stress; however, the precise function that these hsps perform in heat-shocked cells is not yet fully understood (for a recent review see Vierling 1991). In heat shock each cell responds to heat shock as a single cell; there is no system-wide, coordinated response.
Abstract 2319: The role of CDKN1A and CDKN2B in the reprogramming of AML cells toward cell cycle arrest

AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults, showing rapid progression if left untreated. With current treatments, AML patients frequently achieve remission, but often experience relapse leading to the overall poor prognosis and high mortality of this cancer. We have employed human AML cell lines to examine the response of leukemia cells to phorbol esters. Phorbol esters mimic the action of diacyl glycerol (DAG), an activator of protein kinase C, which regulates several signal transduction pathways and cellular metabolic activities. In response to the phorbol ester PMA, AML cells undergo cell cycle arrest, differentiate into “normal” macrophage-like cells, and ultimately undergo programmed cell death. The transcriptome variations that accompany these changes have been explored by DNA microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR, revealing ~1250 genes that are differentially expressed as the cells transition from the cancer state to non-dividing, myeloid cells that initiate apoptosis. Two genes of great interest regarding cell cycle arrest are the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors CDKN1A and CDKN2B. We have shown that both of these genes are expressed at extremely low levels in AML cells, but are rapidly up-regulated during the PMA response, in keeping with their proposed function as tumor suppressor genes. We present here results from the transfection of expression plasmids containing the CDKN1A or CDKN2B genes into HL-60 cells, showing ~100 and ~1,000-fold overexpression, respectively. In addition, we have engineered a plasmid containing both genes and demonstrate their co-overexpression. RNA samples from cells transfected with CDKN1A, CDKN2B, and CDKN1A-CDKN2B have been subjected to RNA sequencing. RNA-seq analysis reveals changes in CDKN1A and CDKN2B-mediated gene expression, altering the AML transcriptome in ways that facilitate cell cycle arrest. Finally, we present results on the phenotypic and transcriptome changes of a stable HL-60 cell line containing an inducible CDKN2B gene after dox-induced overexpression, implicating CDKN2B as an important regulator of cell cycle progression in AML cells. Citation Format: Michael Roberts, Grace Crossland, Jeffrey Forrester. The role of CDKN1A and CDKN2B in the reprogramming of AML cells toward cell cycle arrest [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2319.
Songs of Their Lives: A Narrative Study of Three Older Korean Immigrants in Los Angeles.

Conceptualized as a narrative inquiry, this study explored how music permeates the lives of older Korean immigrants in the United States. By closely examining three individuals’ lived experiences t...
Randomized Algorithms for Lexicographic Inference

Consumers generally do not know about, much less evaluate, the hundreds or thousands of product variations available to them in a category. In many situations, including online shopping, they use p...
Performance of creatinine clearance and estimated GFR in assessing kidney function in living donor candidates.

BACKGROUND Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment is a key aspect in the evaluation of living kidney donor candidates; however, data on performance of commonly used methods are limited. METHODS We examined 769 living kidney donor candidates with 24-hour urine collections assessed as accurate by comparing measured creatinine excretion rate (CER) to CER estimated using a 4-variable equation previously developed and validated using robust methodology. RESULTS Of all collections, 42.6% would have been deemed inaccurate, mostly under-collections, using the conventional weight- and gender-based CER estimation. Creatinine clearance (CrCl) overestimated I-iothalamate GFR (iGFR), estimated GFR (eGFR), underestimated iGFR, and their average [Avg (CrCl and eGFR)] essentially eliminated the GFR bias (median bias = +2.2, -5.4, and -1.0 mL/min/1.73 m, respectively; P < 0.001). This held true for all subgroups except blacks, where all 3 measures overestimated iGFR. Avg (CrCl and eGFR) also offered modestly improved accuracy compared with CrCl alone, as measured by the proportion of values falling within 10% (50.7% versus 45.3%; P = 0.009) and 30% of iGFR (94.5% versus 89.3%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS When measured GFR is unavailable, the Avg (CrCl and eGFR) provides a better estimate of kidney function in kidney donor candidates than either measure alone, although in blacks the estimates are neither better nor worse.
Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among US Adults Aged 20-59 Years With a History of Injection Drug Use: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2016

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can transmit through needle sharing. The national HBV infection prevalence in persons who inject drugs remains ill-defined. We estimated the prevalence of total HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) positivity, indicating a previous or ongoing HBV infection, among adults aged 20-59 years with an injection drug use (IDU) history. We compared select characteristics by anti-HBc status. Methods Using 2001-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we calculated the anti-HBc positivity prevalence among adults with IDU histories and among the general US population. For adults with IDU histories, we compared sex, age group, birth cohort, race/ethnicity, health insurance coverage, and hepatitis A immunity by anti-HBc status. Using marginal structural models, we calculated model-adjusted prevalence rates and ratios to determine the characteristics associated with anti-HBc positivity among adults with IDU histories. Results From 2001-2016, the anti-HBc positivity prevalence was 19.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.0-24.0%) among those with IDU histories, compared with 4.6% (95% CI 4.3-5.0%) in the general population. The HBV surface antigen positivity prevalence was 0.4% (95% CI 0.3-0.5%) in the general population. Among adults with IDU histories, 19.8% reported prior-year IDU and 28.5% had a hepatitis A immunity. Conclusions One-fifth of adults with IDU histories had a previous or ongoing HBV infection: a rate over 4 times higher than the prevalence in the general population. One-fifth of adults with IDU histories reported prior-year use. Programs promoting safe IDU practices, drug treatment, and hepatitis A and B vaccinations should be key components of viral hepatitis prevention.
Linguistic Localization: Constructing Local/Global Knowledge of Biometric Technology

This chapter takes on the first of the three localization processes: linguistic localization. The author analyzes ecology of genres that accompanied the biometric device adopted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana: a user manual, a Parliamentary Hansard, suite of posters, and an online video designed. The goal of the analysis is to identify the extent to which the documents maintained and constituted the logic of biometric technology. The author uses the term the “logic” of biometric to refer to the ideology that biometric provides an effective fix to electoral problems, and argues that in most cases, technical genres are used as the medium to represent the instrumental features of technologies. What is fascinating is the fact that the documents which accompanied the device adopted were designed by Ghanaians for Ghanaians.
Ruminal motility, reticuloruminal fill, and eating patterns in steers exposed to ergovaline.

Fescue toxicosis is problematic for growing steers, causing lower DMI and productivity when fed endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue. A complete understanding of underlying mechanisms of how fescue toxicosis affects growing steers is lacking. Therefore, the overall objective of this multiexperiment study was to determine whether ruminally dosed ergovaline (ERV) affects rumen motility, rumen contents, and eating patterns. In Exp. 1, an 8-h period to assess ruminal motility began 4 h after feeding by monitoring pressure changes using a wireless system for 21 d. Eight ruminally cannulated steers (283 kg BW) were pair fed with alfalfa cubes (1.5 × NEm) and assigned to endophyte free (E-; 0 μg ERV/kg BW/d) or E+ treatment (20 μg ERV/kg BW/d). Overall, E+ steers had more frequent rumen contractions (Seed P = 0.05 and day of feeding P = 0.02). On days 7 to 9, both treatments showed lower frequencies and E- steers had greater amplitude of contractions (P 0.29). Serum prolactin concentrations were lower in E+ steers in Exp. 1 to 3. Eating patterns of pair-fed E- and E+ steers were relatively slower in E+ than E- (Exp. 4) by measuring every 2 h across 24 h. Number of meals were higher in E+ than E- steers, but meal duration and meal size were not different between treatments. Rumen content (DM%) tended to be higher in E+ than in E- when steers were fed once a day (P = 0.07), but there was no difference for rumen content (DM%) when E- and E+ steers were fed 12 times a day (P = 0.13). These results suggest the changes in rumen fill associated with fescue toxicosis may be driven more by changes in feeding behavior and eating pattern rather than by changes in motility.
Mazur-Tate elements of nonordinary modular forms

We establish formulae for the Iwasawa invariants of Mazur–Tate elements of cuspidal eigenforms, generalizing known results in weight 2. Our first theorem deals with forms of “medium” weight, and our second deals with forms of small slope. We give examples illustrating the strange behavior which can occur in the high weight, high slope case.
Epidemiology and Outcomes of Young-Onset Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: An Analysis from a Population-Based Database

Background: Esophageal adenocarcinoma is a lethal cancer with rising incidence. There are limited data in younger ( Methods: We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 9 database to identify patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma between 1975 and 2015. Patients were stratified into three age strata: Results: Esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence has increased in patients Conclusions: Young-onset esophageal adenocarcinoma, while uncommon, is rising in incidence. Concerningly, the proportion of advanced disease continues to increase. Young-onset esophageal adenocarcinoma also presents at more advanced stages, resulting in poorer esophageal adenocarcinoma–free survival. Impact: Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma younger than 50 years present at more advanced stages with higher esophageal adenocarcinoma–specific mortality compared with older peers. Current diagnostic and management strategies for young-onset esophageal adenocarcinoma may need to be reevaluated.
Compartmentation of acid-base balance in brain during complete ischemia

During near complete hyperglycemic brain ischemia, brain lactate levels rise in excess of 16–18 mmol/K and are associated with severe brain infarction. Analyses of pHo, Pt(CO2), and total brain lactate under these circumstances suggest that H+, HCO3, and lactate become unequally distributed between cells and the interstitial space and, perhaps, even between different types of brain cells. In addition, to whatever physiological advantages it may generate, such compartmentalization may be a factor leading to cell death in brain ischemia.
Distinct Group B Streptococcus sequence and capsule types differentially impact macrophage stress and inflammatory signaling responses

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can contribute to the induction of preterm birth in colonized pregnant women and to severe neonatal disease. Many questions regarding the mechanisms that drive GBS-associated pathogenesis remain unanswered, and it is not yet clear why virulence has been observed to vary so extensively across GBS strains. Previously, we demonstrated that GBS strains of different sequence types (STs) and capsule (CPS) types induce different cytokine profiles in infected THP-1 macrophage-like cells. Here, we have expanded on these studies by utilizing the same set of genetically diverse GBS isolates to assess ST and CPS-specific differences in upstream cell death and inflammatory signaling pathways. Our results demonstrate that particularly virulent STs and CPS types, such as the ST-17 and CPS III groups, induce enhanced JNK and NFκB pathway activation following GBS infection of macrophages when compared with other ST or CPS groups. Additionally, we found that ST-17, CPS III and CPS V GBS strains induce the greatest levels of macrophage cell death during infection and exhibit a more pronounced ability to be internalized and to survive in macrophages following phagocytosis. These data provide further support for the hypothesis that variable host innate immune responses to GBS, which significantly impact pathogenesis, stem in part from genotypic and phenotypic differences among GBS isolates. These and similar studies may inform the development of improved diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic strategies targeting invasive GBS infections.
The Affordances of Digital Technologies in Public Space

This chapter discusses the broad palette of actions that constitute digitally mediated public spatial practices, and introduces the concept of affordances, and in particular the “social affordances” of digital technologies to delineate the ways in which these technologies are appropriated by different agents in the mediated city to co-construct the public realm. Affordances are not characteristics of technologies alone nor of people alone, but rather are measures of the interfaces where technological potential meets human intention and desire. The implications of digital technologies’ affordances for the governance and commodification of public space are discussed, as well as for the practice of urban citizenship.
Cutaneous manifestations of PIMS-TS: a single centre experience.

Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PIMS-TS) is defined as 'a child presenting with persistent fever, inflammation and evidence of single or multi-organ dysfunction with additional features which include a rash'.1 The World Health Organisation's (WHO) definition further includes a 'rash or bilateral non-purulent conjunctivitis or muco-cutaneous inflammation signs'.2 Previously reported mucocutaneous manifestations (MCM) in PIMS-TS have been vague. This study aimed to delineate the MCM of children presenting with PIMS-TS in more detail.
TH-CD-304-03: A Novel and Intelligent Strategy for Automated On-Board Imager Quality Assurance

Purpose: Traditionally, on-board imager (OBI) quality assurance (QA) tests are manually and subjectively performed for the kV/MV imaging system, lasting several hours. To improve test efficiency and accuracy, eliminate the inflexibility of using third party tools, and minimize potential human errors, we design a novel, automated, and intelligent QA strategy. Methods: The proposed strategy includes compact phantom design, automated EPID-image acquisition, and a modular computational platform for image analysis. For reduction of setup errors and human interaction, two compact phantoms are designed to encompass X-ray tube output, geometric, and image quality tests. QA tests and image acquisitions are automatically completed via XML controlled machine operation following the phantom setup. A compact modular computational platform is developed to automatically analyze the acquired images, generate reports, manage the QA database, and provide information for strategy self-optimization. Results: The entire strategy only requires one initial manual phantom setup, significantly minimizing the time of user intervention, avoiding potential setup errors, and eliminating the necessity of using various QA tools. Compared to traditional tests often requiring several hours, the proposed intelligent strategy considerably speeds up the QA process, requiring only 10–15 minutes. With the in-house implemented computational platform, the test results can be clearly reported in both graphical and textual representations within 2 minutes. The analysis of images acquired from three Varian Truebeam machines shows sub-millimeter detector positional accuracy; kVp accuracy of +/−2 kVp interval, and exposure accuracy and linearity within 2%. Conclusion: We introduce an automated and intelligent OBI QA strategy that enables cross-calibration, robust data analysis, and QA test validation. The strategy eliminates the inflexibility and incompatibility obstacles of using third party QA devices. It is capable of collecting long-term multi-machine/multi-institution QA data, and thus has great potential for making the self-optimized intelligent QA environment a reality. Research Funding from Varian Medical Systems Inc. . Dr. Sasa Mutic receives compensation for providing patient safety training services from Varian Medical Systems, the sponsor of this study.
Handoscopic surgery - A prospective multicenter trial of a minimally invasive technique for complex abdominal surgery

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (a new technique that involves a surgeon's hand passing through a pneumoperitoneum-protecting sleeve device and assisting in laparoscopic surgery) is feasable and outcomes are comparable to purely laparoscopic procedures in selected cases.
Sublithographic Architecture: Shifting the Responsibility for Perfection

In our conventional, top-down, lithographic model we define a minimum lithographically imageable feature size (e.g., half pitch) and build devices that are multiples of this imageable feature size. Within the limits of this feature size, VLSI layout can perfectly specify the size of features and their locations relative to each other in three dimensions — both in the two-dimensional plane of each lithographic layer and with adequate registration between layers. This gives the designer complete flexibility in the layout of circuit structures as long as she adheres to the minimum imageable and repeatable feature size rules.
The future of written culture: Envisioning language in the New Millennium

In the course of the past three centuries, much of Europe was transformed from an oral culture into one that was fundamentally grounded in the printed word. Print culture flowered for more than 200 years. However, thanks, in large part, to fundamental social changes, coupled with significant developments in writing technologies, the future of written culture as we have known it is increasingly in question. This paper identifies specific parameters that historically came to define written culture and considers the viability of these parameters in the new millennium. Particular emphasis is given to the role of the computer (and computer-based technologies) in reshaping our relationship with both the written and the printed word. While the discussion focuses on the United States, the paper's conclusions should resonate in other contemporary societies in which similar technological and social variables are at work
Effects of quinapril on angiotensin converting enzyme and plasma renin activity as well as pharmacokinetic parameters of quinapril and its active metabolite, quinaprilat, after intravenous and oral administration to mature horses.

Summary Reasons for performing study Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors improve survival and quality of life in human patients and small animals with cardiovascular and renal disease. There is limited information regarding their effects in horses. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of quinapril and its effects on ACE and renin in horses. Study design Experimental study using healthy mature horses. Methods Six healthy horses were administered quinapril at 120 mg i.v., 120 mg per os and 240 mg per os in a 3-way crossover design. Blood was collected for measurement of quinapril and quinaprilat concentrations using ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Angiotensin converting enzyme activity and renin activity were measured using a radioenzymatic assay. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic modelling and statistical analyses were performed. Results No adverse effects were observed during the study period. Intravenous and oral administration significantly inhibited ACE activity. Renin concentrations increased in all groups, but this increase was not statistically significant. Following i.v. administration of quinapril, mean terminal half-life was 0.694 h and 1.734 h for quinapril and quinaprilat, respectively. The mean volume of distribution and clearance for quinapril were 0.242 l/kg bwt and 11.93 ml/kg bwt/min, respectively. Maximum concentration for quinaprilat was 145 ng/ml at 0.167 h. Bioavailability of quinapril following oral administration was <5%. Quinaprilat was detected in all horses following oral administration of quinapril; however, it was below the limit of quantification of the assay (2.5 ng/ml) for most horses in the 120 mg dosing group. Conclusions These results suggest that, despite low plasma concentrations, quinapril has sufficient oral absorption to produce inhibition of ACE in healthy horses. Controlled studies in clinically affected horses are indicated. Quinapril provides a potential treatment alternative for horses with cardiovascular and renal disease.
A spatially adaptive spectral mixture analysis for mapping subpixel urban impervious surface distribution

Abstract Spectral mixture analysis (SMA) has been widely employed in analyzing urban environments, especially for estimating urban impervious surface distribution at the subpixel level. When implementing SMA, endmember selection is considered an important step, and an inappropriate endmember set could severely affect the accuracy of fractional land covers. Although different degrees of success have been achieved in existing SMA approaches, the paradox of endmember selection is still unsolved: theoretically “purest” endmembers that can be selected with relative ease do not always yield optimal results, while the selection of the most “representative” endmembers is very difficult with simple SMA. To address this problem, we propose a spatially adaptive SMA (SASMA) technique to automatically extract and synthesize the “most representative” endmembers for SMA through considering both between-class and within-class variations. In particular, we developed a classification tree method to automatically extract endmember candidates through incorporating spectral and spatial information. In addition, to mitigate the effect of within-class variation, we employed synthetic spectra of neighboring endmember candidates in a local search window as the most “representative” endmember signature. Results indicate that SASMA performs well in estimating subpixel impervious surface distribution with relatively high precision (mean absolute error of 8.50%, root mean square error of 15.25%, and R2 of 0.701) and small bias (systematic error of − 0.93%).
Efficacy of cognitive therapy for chronic low back pain

The effects of outpatient group cognitive therapy, relaxation training, and cognitive therapy in combination with relaxation training on chronic low back pain and associated physical and psychosocial disability were evaluated and compared. One-hundred and two mildly disabled chronic low back pain patients were assigned randomly to a waiting-list (WL) control condition and the 3 treatments. Patient self-report and observational measures were obtained pretreatment and post-treatment for all conditions, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups for the treatment conditions. Pain intensity decreased significantly pre- to post-treatment for patients in all 3 treatment conditions, but not the WL condition. Depressive symptoms and disability improved significantly in all conditions (including the waiting list) from pretreatment to post-treatment, with no statistically significant differences among treatments. At both follow-ups, all 3 treatment groups remained significantly improved from pretreatment, with no statistically significant differences between treatments.
A new view of ignition, extinction, and oscillations on supported catalyst surfaces

Abstract A new model of a catalyst particle is proposed which can predict periodic and chaotic oscillations on catalytic surfaces. The model equations represent the dynamic behaviour of individual metal crystallites on the surface of the support as well as heat conduction and diffusion in the bulk particle. Simulations with this “pebbly surface” model show qualitative agreement with reported experiments.
An exploration of comorbid depression among female victims of intimate partner violence with posttraumatic stress disorder

Background and methods: Factors contributing to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid major depression (MDD) were investigated among female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). Results: High levels of PTSD (75% of the sample) and MDD (54% of the sample) were observed. Individuals with both PTSD and MDD reported significantly greater levels of PTSD and depression symptoms than individuals with either PTSD alone or without major psychopathology. Individuals with comorbid PTSD and MDD had more maladaptive depressogenic cognitive styles than individuals without PTSD. The three groups were comparable in terms of pre-abuse mental health, childhood trauma history, and relationship violence variables and injuries. Maladaptive schemas did not contribute to the identification of comorbidity caseness, whereas PTSD severity and prior trauma did. Psychological aggression by an abuser and PTSD severity accounted for 52% of the variance in depressive symptoms. Limitations: Cross-sectional design and lack of trauma-specific cognitive measures. Conclusions: The findings confirm that comorbid PTSD and MDD is common among IPV victims. The mechanisms that contribute to comorbid depression, however, are unclear, and prospective studies are necessary to delineate the roles that psychological abuse, PTSD severity and prior trauma experiences may have in the development of depression following IPV.
Phlebotomy, blood donation, and hereditary hemochromatosis.

Summary Permitting the use of blood from HH patients without a disease-state labeling has been a controversial topic. Another issue has been the safety of HH blood. If otherwise qualified to be a blood donor in the US, HH patients will be allowed to make contributions to the blood supply if they donate at a collection facility that has been granted an exemption to their FDA license. The amount of additional blood made available by using HH patient/donors is uncertain. Gathering data from HH patients/donors regarding management, safety, and augmentation of supply is essential in assessing the success of recent changes.