cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motion tracking of a part on a vibratory feeder

A fast boundary extraction routine is first introduced to search a part of interest by investigating several scan lines. Once the first three boundary points of the part forming a seed segment are located, the boundary tracing and growing process can be quickly and accurately implemented inside a sequence of small regions. The pose vector [x~,y~,/spl theta/] that represents the location and orientation of the part is estimated based on the part's boundary information. The motion tracking procedure consists of four phases: 1) predict the next region that the part will appear using the previous and current pose vectors; 2) extract the part's boundary within the predicted region using the same boundary-extraction routine; 3) update the pose vector by calculating the new centroid and orientation; and 4) feed the new pose information to the controller to adjust the control signals. This prediction-searching-updating-feedback cycle is repeated until the part reaches its desired position with the desired orientation. The proposed algorithm is fast. Finally, the tracking speed and accuracy are evaluated.
Regulation of Expression of Microvillus Membrane Proteins by Estrogen in Baboon Fetal Ovarian Oocytes

Abstract We previously demonstrated that the number and height of oocyte microvilli were reduced in baboon fetuses deprived of estrogen in utero and restored to normal in animals supplemented with estradiol. Phosphorylated ezrin and Na+/H+ exchange regulatory factor 1 (NHERF, now termed SLC9A3R1) link f-actin bundles to the membrane, whereas alpha-actinin cross-links f-actin to form microvilli. Therefore, we determined whether these proteins were expressed in oocytes of the fetal baboon ovary and whether expression and/or localization were altered between mid and late gestation in association with an increase in estrogen and in late gestation in animals in which estrogen was suppressed (>95%) or restored by treatment with an aromatase inhibitor with or without estradiol. Expression of alpha-actinin was low at mid gestation, increased on the surface of oocytes of primordial follicles in late gestation, and was negligible in the ovaries of estrogen-suppressed fetuses and normal in animals treated with estro...
Selective photothermolysis: precise microsurgery by selective absorption of pulsed radiation

Suitably brief pulses of selectively absorbed optical radiation can cause selective damage to pigmented structures, cells, and organelles in vivo. Precise aiming is unnecessary in this unique form of radiation injury because inherent optical and thermal properties provide target selectivity. A simple, predictive model is presented. Selective damage to cutaneous microvessels and to melanosomes within melanocytes is shown after 577-nanometer (3 x 10(-7) second) and 351-nanometer (2 x 10(-8) second) pulses, respectively. Hemodynamic, histological, and ultrastructural responses are discussed.
Resonance Raman Studies of Heme Axial Ligation in H93G Myoglobin

The resonant Raman active mode identified in numerous studies as the heme iron−histidine stretch has been systematically investigated in the Raman spectrum of 15 exogenous ligands to the heme iron in the myoglobin proximal cavity mutant H93G. Mutation of the native histidine 93 of myoglobin to glycine (H93G) creates a cavity at the heme iron that can be filled with exogenous ligands. Substituted imidazoles and pyridines were introduced into the cavity at the heme iron of the deoxy ferrous H93G myoglobin by dialysis. Raman bands attributed to in-plane modes of the heme are unaffected by the change in heme−iron ligation. However, the Raman active band in the 180−250 cm-1 region ascribed to an iron−ligand out-of-plane mode is highly dependent on the identity of the axial ligand. Information on the normal mode was obtained using isotopically labeled imidazole, pyridine, and 1-methyl and 2-methyl imidazole. Relatively small isotope effects are observed for the heme−iron ligands imidazole H93G(Im) and pyridine ...
Studies on the ejection properties of asters: astral microtubule turnover influences the oscillatory behavior and positioning of mono-oriented chromosomes

The position of a mono-oriented chromosome changes as it oscillates to and from the pole to which it is attached. Such oscillatory behavior reveals that the net force on a mono-oriented chromosome is constantly changing. Fluctuations may occur in both the polewardly directed force acting at the kinetochore and the opposing outwardly directed force associated with the aster. We have examined the ejection properties of the aster—as well as the oscillatory behavior and positioning of mono-oriented chromosomes—in relation to astral microtubule turnover. We treated cells containing monopolar spindles with drugs that affect microtubule turnover, either by promoting the depletion of dynamically unstable astral microtubules (nocodazole and colcemid) or by augmenting their numbers and stability (taxol). Both types of drugs stopped the oscillatory behavior of mono-oriented chromosomes within seconds. The final position of the chromosomes depended on how microtubule turnover was affected. In the case of nocodazole and colcemid, non-kinetochore astral microtubules were depleted first and the kinetochore-to-pole distance shortened. In these cells chromosome fragments generated by laser microsurgery were no longer expelled from the center of the aster. By contrast, with taxol the number of non-kinetochore microtubules increased and the astral ejection force became stronger as shown by the finding that the chromosomes moved away from the pole to the periphery of the monaster. Moreover, arms severed from chromosomes at the periphery of the taxol monaster failed to move further away from the aster9s center. From these observations we conclude that the oscillatory movements and changing position of a mono-oriented chromosome relative to the pole are mediated by changes in the number of astral microtubules. The dynamic instability of astral microtubules that leads to a rapid turnover may contribute to the astral ejection force by allowing the continual growth of microtubules out from the aster. Growing astral microtubules may exert a pushing force that their rigidity maintains until their depolymerization.
Pathlet routing

We present a new routing protocol, pathlet routing, in which networks advertise fragments of paths, called pathlets, that sources concatenate into end-to-end source routes. Intuitively, the pathlet is a highly flexible building block, capturing policy constraints as well as enabling an exponentially large number of path choices. In particular, we show that pathlet routing can emulate the policies of BGP, source routing, and several recent multipath proposals. This flexibility lets us address two major challenges for Internet routing: scalability and source-controlled routing. When a router's routing policy has only "local" constraints, it can be represented using a small number of pathlets, leading to very small forwarding tables and many choices of routes for senders. Crucially, pathlet routing does not impose a global requirement on what style of policy is used, but rather allows multiple styles to coexist. The protocol thus supports complex routing policies while enabling and incentivizing the adoption of policies that yield small forwarding plane state and a high degree of path choice.
Advances in lacrimal surgery.

For nearly a century the gold standard treatment for epiphora and nasolacrimal duct obstruction has been dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The definitive treatment of severe canalicular stricture remains conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy. Although the high success rate of open external approaches continue
Mismanaging the gift of life: noncompliance in the context of adult stem cell transplantation

In this paper, we address the issue of noncompliance with medical regimens in adult stem cell transplant patients. We review the definition, prevalence, and consequences of noncompliance and address whether or not we should alter our medical decision-making with regard to stem cell transplantation based on patient noncompliance. We discuss how the health care team should handle noncompliance issues and propose clinical guidelines for stem cell transplant programs to consider regarding evaluation and management of medical compliance.
HIGH POWER LASER DIODE LIFETIME AND DEGRADATION MECHANISMS: A STUDY BY RAMAN MICROPROBE SPECTROSCOPY

For advanced semiconductor lasers, the maximum output power as well as the lifetime is limited by localized facet heating leading to mirror degradation and the occurrence of catastrophic optical damage (COD). The measurement of the laser facet temperature rise behavior, however, is a difficult task because of the small dimension of the lasing region. Utilizing microprobe Raman spectroscopy, we were able to systematically study the laser facet heating behavior with good temperature sensitivity and sub-micron spatial resolution. From these temperature rise data, wc have gained a better understanding of the physics and chemistry of laser diode facet degradation and the mechanisms leading to COD. The relationship of facet temperature to maximum laser output power and lifetime is discussed.
Intolerance of Uncertainty Mediates the Relationship between Panic and the Startle Reflex in Anticipation of Unpredictable Threat

The present study examined whether intolerance of uncertainty (IU) was associated with the startle reflex in anticipation of unpredictable threat, and whether IU mediated the relationship between p...
Experimental study of rapid intraoperative tissue expansion (RITE)

Objective:To determine the effect of expanding duration and expanding interval on RITE in a nude mice mode of dorsal myocutaneous flaps.Methods: 60 SKH1 nude mice were divided into three groups and each had 30 mice.Foley catheter were used to expand the dorsal flaps with 6 ml of sterile normal saline solution.The first group expanded 3 minutes twice with an interval of 3 minutes,The second group expanded 6 minutes once.Volume of microcirculation,viability and the tension relieved and length gained of the flaps were observed and measured.Results:There was no significant difference in volume of microcirculation,viability and the length of the flaps.But the tension of the flaps in group 2 were significant relieved than that in group 1. Conclusions:Expanding effect depends on the expanding duration.
Recent Advances Progress in Pretreatment Techniques of Lignocellulosic

Due to the special structure,untreated lignocellulosic was not able to be degraded directly by microbial and enzyme.In order to improve the lignocellulosic degradation rate,the lignin degradation issue should be solved in the first place.One of the most important methods of degrading lignin was to develop an appropriate pre-treatment of lignocellulosic,after pretreatment of lignocellulosic,which broke lignin into simple elements before fermenting to produce ethanol or methanol.Pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials was to increase raw material utilization,effective means of reducing production time.
Generation of Two Noradrenergic-Specific Dopamine-Beta-Hydroxylase-FLPo Knock-In Mice Using CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Targeting in Embryonic Stem Cells.

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated DNA double strand cutting is emerging as a powerful approach to increase rates of homologous recombination of large targeting vectors, but the optimization of parameters, equipment and expertise required remain barriers to successful mouse generation by single-step zygote injection. Here, we sought to apply CRISPR/Cas9 methods to traditional embryonic stem (ES) cell targeting followed by blastocyst injection to overcome the common issues of difficult vector construction and low targeting efficiency. To facilitate the study of noradrenergic function, which is implicated in myriad behavioral and physiological processes, we generated two different mouse lines that express FLPo recombinase under control of the noradrenergic-specific Dopamine-Beta-Hydroxylase (DBH) gene. We found that by co-electroporating a circular vector expressing Cas9 and a locus-specific sgRNA, we could target FLPo to the DBH locus in ES cells with shortened 1 kb homology arms. Two different sites in the DBH gene were targeted; the translational start codon with 6–8% targeting efficiency, and the translational stop codon with 75% targeting efficiency. Using this approach, we established two mouse lines with DBH-specific expression of FLPo in brainstem catecholaminergic populations that are publically available on MMRRC (MMRRC_041575-UCD and MMRRC_041577-UCD). Altogether, this study supports simplified, high-efficiency Cas9/CRISPR-mediated targeting in embryonic stem cells for production of knock-in mouse lines in a wider variety of contexts than zygote injection alone.
Small molecule–driven direct conversion of human pluripotent stem cells into functional osteoblasts

The abilities of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to proliferate without phenotypic alteration and to differentiate into tissue-specific progeny make them a promising cell source for regenerative medicine and development of physiologically relevant in vitro platforms. Despite this potential, efficient conversion of hPSCs into tissue-specific cells still remains a challenge. Herein, we report direct conversion of hPSCs into functional osteoblasts through the use of adenosine, a naturally occurring nucleoside in the human body. The hPSCs treated with adenosine not only expressed the molecular signatures of osteoblasts but also produced calcified bone matrix. Our findings show that the adenosine-mediated osteogenesis of hPSCs involved the adenosine A2bR. When implanted in vivo, using macroporous synthetic matrices, the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived donor cells participated in the repair of critical-sized bone defects through the formation of neobone tissue without teratoma formation. The newly formed bone tissues exhibited various attributes of the native tissue, including vascularization and bone resorption. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of adenosine-induced differentiation of hPSCs into functional osteoblasts and their subsequent use to regenerate bone tissues in vivo. This approach that uses a physiologically relevant single small molecule to generate hPSC-derived progenitor cells is highly appealing because of its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and impact in cell manufacturing, all of which are decisive factors for successful translational applications of hPSCs.
The role of hypoxia and the circadian rhythm in sleep apnoea

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) causes blockage of the airways. The resulting hypoxia stabilizes hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) which induces hypoxic response genes. A disrupted circadian rhythm has been implicated in OSA, although the cause of this disruption and its impact remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the relation between hypoxia, the circadian rhythm and SA. Methods: The circadian rhythm was synchronized by 9serum shock9 and hypoxia was induced in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells by culture in a hypoxia chamber (O 2 % 1.0-3.0) or by treatment with 50μM IOX2; an inhibitor of HIF-1α degradation. The effects of HIF-1α on the circadian rhythm was determined by measuring the expression of the core 9 clock9 genes CLOCK, BMAL1, CRY1 and PER2 , by RT-qPCR. The role of HIF-1α was also investigated by HIF-1α knockdown using siRNA and by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to confirm HIF-1α binding to hypoxia response elements in native promoters. Statistical analysis was performed by using 1-way ANOVA. Results: Hypoxia and treatment with IOX2 both significantly elevated levels of PER2 (235%; p=0.002) compared to untreated cells. A non-significant elevation of CLOCK (176%; p=0.281) , BMAL1 (295%; p=0.598) and CRY1 (215%; p=0.176) was also seen (all n=3). The increase in 9 clock 9 gene expression was prevented by HIF-1α knockdown. ChIP analysis confirmed a direct binding of HIF-1α to the native PER2 promoter following IOX2 treatment. Conclusion: Hypoxia in OSA causes an increase of HIF-1α which in turn disrupts the circadian rhythm in vitro . This pathway might be a potential target in tackling sleep apnoea.
061 Effect of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (n-3 PUFA) Supplementation to Lactating Sows on Growth and Indicators of Stress in the Post-Weaned Pig

Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are precursors for lipid metabolites that reduce inflammation. Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that enriching the sow diet in n-3 PUFA during late gestation and throughout lactation reduces stress and inflammation and promotes growth in weaned pigs. A protected fish oil product (PFO; Gromega) was used to enrich the diet in n-3 PUFA. In the initial experiment, time-bred gilts were fed a gestation and lactation diet supplemented with 0% (control; n = 5), 0.25% (n = 4), 0.5% (n = 4), or 1% (n = 5) PFO from 101 ± 2 d of gestation to day 16 of lactation. Adding 1% PFO to the diet increased the n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio in colostrum and milk compared with controls (P = 0.05). A subsequent experiment was performed to determine whether supplementing the sow diet with 1% PFO improved growth and reduced circulating markers of acute inflammation and stress in the offspring. Plasma was harvested from piglets (16 per treatment group) on day 0 (d of weaning) and days 1 and 3 postweaning. Pigs from the 1% PFO treatment group weighed more (P = 0.03) on day 3 postweaning and had a greater (P ˂ 0.05) n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio in plasma on each day sampled compared with 0% PFO controls. There was an overall treatment effect on plasma total cortisol (P = 0.03) and haptoglobin (P = 0.04), with lesser concentrations in pigs on the 1% PFO diet. Plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) concentrations were not different between treatment groups but were less (P ˂ 0.001) on days 1 and 3 when compared with day 0. The resultant free cortisol index [FCI (cortisol/CBG)] was less (P = 0.02) on days 1 and 3 for pigs from the 1% treatment group compared with the controls. An ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge of whole blood collected on days 0 and 1 was used to determine whether 1% PFO attenuated release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Blood from pigs within the 1% PFO treatment group tended (P = 0.098) to have a lesser mean concentration of TNF-α in response to LPS compared with blood from controls. These results suggest that providing a PFO supplement as 1% of the diet to sows beginning in late gestation and during lactation can increase the n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio in their offspring, which may improve growth and reduce the acute physiological stress response in the pigs postweaning.
Modeling noise mechanisms in neuronal synaptic transmission

In the nervous system, communication occurs via synaptic transmission where signaling molecules (neurotransmitters) are released by the presynaptic neuron, and they influence electrical activity of another neuron (postsynaptic neuron). The inherent probabilistic release of neurotransmitters is a significant source of noise that critically impacts the timing of spikes (action potential) in the postsynaptic neuron. We develop a stochastic model that incorporates noise mechanisms in synaptic transmission, such as, random docking of neurotransmitter-filled vesicle to a finite number of docking sites, with each site having a probability of vesicle release upon arrival of an action potential. This random, burst-like release of neurotransmitters serves as an input to an integrate-and-fire model, where spikes in the postsynaptic neuron are triggered when its membrane potential reaches a critical threshold for the first time. We derive novel analytical results for the probability distribution function of spike timing, and systematically investigate how underlying model parameters and noise processes regulate variability in the inter-spike times. Interestingly, in some parameter regimes, independent arrivals of action potentials in the presynaptic neuron generate strong dependencies in the spike timing of the postsynaptic neuron. Finally, we argue that probabilistic release of neurotransmitters is not only a source of disturbance, but plays a beneficial role in synaptic information processing.
Developing grounded goals through instant replay learning

This paper describes and tests a developmental architecture that enables a robot to explore its world, to find and remember interesting states, to associate these states with grounded goal representations, and to generate action sequences so that it can re-visit these states of interest. The model is composed of feed-forward neural networks that learn to make predictions at two levels through a dual mechanism of motor babbling for discovering the interesting goal states and instant replay learning for developing the grounded goal representations. We compare the performance of the model with grounded goal representations versus random goal representations, and find that it is significantly better at re-visiting the goal states when using grounded goal representations.
Monitoring the Wildlife, Hydrology and Water Quality of Drained Wetlands of the Des Moines Lobe, Northern Iowa: Introduction to Special Feature

The vast majority of prairie-pothole wetlands in a region that extends from northcentral Alberta in Canada to central Iowa in the United States have been drained to facilitate agricultural crop production. However, many of these drained wetlands continue to pond surface water immediately following snowmelt or heavy rains, making them too wet to provide a consistent crop and yet too dry to function as normal wetlands. These systems which we label “drained wetlands” were the subject of a four-year monitoring study (2011–2014) funded by the U.S. EPA that focused on monitoring the wildlife value, hydrology and water quality of drained wetlands of the Des Moines Lobe. Herein we describe highlights from the various monitoring components of the multi-year study and introduce a collection of five papers begins to describe the ecosystem value and complexity of these under-studied wetland systems.
Wollstonecraft’s Ghost: The Fate of the Female Philosopher in the Romantic Period / The Joseph Johnson Letterbook

Scholarship on Mary Wollstonecraft and her circle has continued to produce noteworthy books. Several books in recent decades, including but not limited to Mary Wollstonecraft: A Revolutionary Life ...
Decompensated labyrinthine weakness presenting as de novo peripheral vertigo: a discrete clinical entity?

Objective: A distinct subgroup of patients, presenting with apparently spontaneous onset of vertigo, is described. Results: Although vestibular evaluation revealed caloric weakness, the proximate cause of vertigo was not labyrinthine dysfunction, but rather the loss of vestibular compensation for an older and previously compensated labyrinthine injury. Conclusion: Instead of addressing the vestibular weakness, effective management needs to focus on the condition that has caused the loss of compensation.
Histogenesis of the Broad Ligament Adrenal Rest

Broad ligament adrenal rests are well known. A case of adrenal rest external to the surface of the broad ligament and adjacent to the fallopian tube is reviewed, with specific emphasis on its histogenesis. The rest is associated with a foreign body, and it is suggested that it has arisen as a secondary development of celomic epithelial metaplasia.
Perioperative Care: The Radical Cystectomy Pathway

Clinical care pathways have been shown to enhance patient care. This chapter focuses on the clinical care pathway for patients undergoing a radical cystectomy, either by an open or by a robot-assisted laparoscopic approach. Highlights of the pathway include preoperative preparation, perioperative antibiotics, analgesia usage, advancement of diet, early ambulation, DVT prophylaxis, and general postoperative care. Streamlining such clinical care pathways enhance our commitment to providing high quality care to all of our patients.
Effect of halothane on human skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-release channel.

In order to gain an understanding of how anesthetics alter muscle function, we have utilized the planar lipid bilayer technique for recording the conductance and gating properties of a calcium-release channel molecule derived from native skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. The incorporation of this protein molecule into an artificial membrane simplifies investigation, limiting anesthetic action to the bilayer itself and/or the single protein molecule. Thus, any effect the anesthetic has on the protein’s conductance and gating functions will be a consequence of the anesthetic’s action directly on the protein and/or on the lipid bilayer in such a way as to alter the protein’s function. Our attempts to understand a piece of the puzzle of anesthetic action on skeletal muscle do, in fact, begin at the molecular, single protein level of attack and even so, this experimental model is far from simple, and the possible ways by which volatile anesthetics could alter its function represent a challenge. Our piece of the puzzle involves a large protein molecule located in the structure bridging the transverse tubule and the terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (see Chapter 1, figure 1). This protein, sometimes referred to as the ryanodine receptor protein, is thought to play a significant role in excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal muscle. In our present studies, we have incorporated this protein into a planar lipid bilayer and have recorded and measured its properties as a cation-conducting channel. These studies parallel those on the pharmacogenetic disease malignant hyperthermia (MH) and illustrate how such a disease may lead to a better understanding of normal muscle response to volatile anesthetics.
Strategic Alignment Maturity Model (SAMM) in a Cascading Balanced Scorecard (BSC) Environment: Utilization and Challenges

SAMM is a useful tool for measuring the maturity of business/IT alignment in an organization at the macro level. However, at the micro level, organizations use several frameworks including cascading BSC, ITIL, COBIT, etc. to align business and IT processes. The complexity of alignment increases with the existence of more than one tier of cascading and usage of different tools or frameworks. Studies have shown that measuring business/IT alignment at the micro level is difficult. Therefore, in order to accurately measure outcomes, mapping between metrics at all levels is required. It is also important to establish metrics that are aligned with those prescribed by SAMM. Using a multi-level cascading BSC that was previously published in BUSITAL by this author, this study attempts to apply the underlying components of SAMM and to establish relevant alignment metrics. It also highlights some applicability problems and suggests appropriate solutions for future implementations.
Neurotransmitter Research in Autism

The irritants used by some organisms to discourage predators have been adapted by nature as a chemical nudge by which one cell can communicate with its neighbor. A nervous system is merely a group of long skinny cells interconnected and communicating with each other by the release of, and response to, such irritants, which are then termed neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the communication links between nerve cells and are involved in all behaviors. This is not to say that transmitters or even the brain need be involved in the etiology of the disorders that produce abnormal behaviors. Phenylketonuria is a genetic disease of the liver, and its effect on the brain is secondary to a blockage of amino acid transport into developing brain as a result of disturbed liver metabolism. Whatever the nature of the initiating problem, however, the abnormal behavior involves abnormal neural communication in the form either of inappropriate linkages between neurons or of abnormalities in transmitter metabolism or function. Most transmitter research assumes the latter and consists of a search for dysfunction. This search is especially complicated for the neurochemist because the involved neurons are in the brain and the human brain is, and should be, inviolate. The result is an indirect hunt for traces of the neural activity of dreams, thoughts, and feelings in urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and other available tissues. The general problem, then, is to examine sufficiently large populations with tests capable of identifying pathophysiol-ogically or causally relevant neurotransmitter mechanism in autistic behavior in the hope of identifying either a common abnormality or subgroups with related transmitter dysfunctions. Specific practical problems exist both in finding appropriate tests and in obtaining large and homogeneous populations for testing.
Duality and the Abel Map for Complex Supercurves

Supercurves are a generalization to supergeometry of Riemann surfaces or algebraic curves. They naturally appear in pairs related by a duality. The super Riemann surfaces appearinga s worldsheets in perturbative superstringth eory are precisely the self-dual supercurves. I will review known results and open problems in the geometry of supercurves, with a focus on Abel’s Theorem.
Prescription Opioid Quality Measures Applied Among Pennsylvania Medicaid Enrollees

BACKGROUND: The Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) recently developed 3 quality measures for prescribing opioids: high dosages, multiple providers and pharmacies, and concurrent use of opioids and ben...
Rates of electronic cigarette use among adults with a chronic mental illness

Abstract Introduction Electronic cigarette (e-cig) use has increased dramatically over the past decade, rates of e-cig use among those with a chronic mental illness has largely been unexplored. Exploring this relationship for adults with a mental illness is necessary when examining the health needs of this population. Methods Data from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was used to explore associations between e-cig use and chronic mental illness. E-cig use was explored in two different contexts, having tried an e-cig at least once and current e-cig use. Chronic mental illness was categorized as depression, anxiety, emotional disorder, or ADD, bipolar, schizophrenia, other disorder. Results Rates of ever trying an e-cig and current e-cig use were higher among those with a chronic mental illness. Complex logistic regressions suggested having a chronic mental illness significantly increases the likelihood of both trying an e-cig and being an e-cig user. Conclusions Increased likelihood of e-cig use in chronic mental illness supports previous findings. This may be due to perceptions that e-cigs are less harmful and they provide ways of socially connecting with others. Implications Current knowledge surrounding e-cig use in this population is lacking. The 2016 NHIS allows for a nationally representative prediction of e-cig use in this population. This data is relevant in monitoring potential harm caused by e-cigs, in addition it may be helpful when assessing the value of e-cigs as a smoking cessation tool for those with a mental illness.
Ripple Correlation Control with Capacitive Compensation for Photovoltaic Applications

A ripple correlation control (RCC) algorithm with capacitive compensation is introduced for photovoltaic applications. In principle, RCC convergence times and steady-state error are reduced with higher switching frequencies, but circuit parasitics have typically limited RCC operation to tens of kHz. With capacitive compensation, phase information is retained at higher frequencies and the practical switching range is extended to 100 kHz. Simulations show that even approximate estimates of parasitic capacitance, with margins of error as high as 20% or so, can greatly extend RCC operating frequency. A 100 kHz boost prototype is constructed and used to verify that phase information is recovered with capacitive compensation.
Somatic Mutations Increase Hepatic Clonal Fitness and Regeneration in Chronic Liver Disease.

Summary Normal tissues accumulate genetic changes with age, but it is unknown if somatic mutations promote clonal expansion of non-malignant cells in the setting of chronic degenerative diseases. Exome sequencing of diseased liver samples from 82 patients revealed a complex mutational landscape in cirrhosis. Additional ultra-deep sequencing identified recurrent mutations in PKD1, PPARGC1B, KMT2D, and ARID1A. The number and size of mutant clones increased as a function of fibrosis stage and tissue damage. To interrogate the functional impact of mutated genes, a pooled in vivo CRISPR screening approach was established. In agreement with sequencing results, examination of 147 genes again revealed that loss of Pkd1, Kmt2d, and Arid1a promoted clonal expansion. Conditional heterozygous deletion of these genes in mice was also hepatoprotective in injury assays. Pre-malignant somatic alterations are often viewed through the lens of cancer, but we show that mutations can promote regeneration, likely independent of carcinogenesis.
Burned alive: Giordano Bruno, Galileo and the Inquisition

The martyrdom of Giordano Bruno in Rome on 17 February 1600, burned alive at the stake on the orders of the Roman Catholic Inquisition, has for a long time been emblematic of the struggle for cultu...
“What I Want to Do as a Father Is Be There”: Constructions of School Involvement for Fathers of Children with Complex Disabilities:

Fathers of children with complex disabilities can play an important role in the development and learning of their children; however, very little is known about their school involvement experiences....
Role of the glucocorticoid receptor in glomerular disease

Glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory agents that are commonly used in the treatment of various glomerular diseases. Data from in vitro and in vivo studies, in both animals and humans, convi...
Functioning on Dialysis: An Oxymoron?

Neither the childhood memory of my 28-year-old cousin’s death from kidney failure nor the knowledge of my own kidney disease prepared me for the outcome of my visit to the emergency department one Friday night some 26 years ago. To say that starting dialysis is like being hit with a silent freight
Imagination, Imaginary, Imaginal: Towards a New Social Ontology?

The concept of the social imaginary has been introduced as an alternative to theories of the imagination. Whereas the imagination tends to be conceived as a faculty that we possess as individuals, ...
Understanding information operations using YouTubeTracker

YouTube is the second most popular website in the world. Over 300 hours worth of videos are uploaded every minute and 5 billion videos are watched every day - almost one video per person worldwide. Because videos can deliver a complex message in a way that captures the audience's attention more effectively than text-based platforms, it has become one of the most relevant platforms in the age of digital mass communication. This makes the analysis of YouTube content and user behavior invaluable not only to information scientists but also communication researchers, journalists, sociologists, and many more. There exists a number of YouTube analysis tools but none of them provide an in-depth qualitative and quantitative insights into user behavior or networks. Towards that direction, we introduce YouTubeTracker - a tool designed to gather YouTube data and gain insights on content and users. This tool can help identify leading actors, networks and spheres of influence, emerging popular trends, as well as user opinion. This analysis can also be used to understand user engagement and social networks. This can help reveal suspicious and inorganic behaviors (e.g., trolling, botting) causing algorithmic manipulations.
Discrete emotional responses and face-to-face complaining: The joint effect of service failure type and culture

Abstract Understanding customer responses to service failures enable practitioners to minimize the negative impact of service failures. The purpose of this study is to examine the joint effect of service failure type and culture (power distance) on two discrete negative emotions and investigate the mediating role of discrete negative emotions in driving face-to-face complaining and switching behavior across two cultures (The US and China). Our findings suggest that customers in a high-power distance culture (China) feel higher levels of anger and disappointment following a process (vs. outcome) failure, and therefore, are more likely to complain face-to-face and switch. Whereas customers in a low-power distance culture (US) only feel higher levels of disappointment following an outcome (vs. process) failure, yet prefer to switch silently. Our findings provide hospitality firms with practical implications on employee training and how to proactively identify service failures that customers are unlikely to complain about.
The modern use of the extended humeral head (cuff tear arthropathy) hemiarthroplasty.

Today, the treatment of osteoarthritis in the rotator cuff–deficient population is largely dominated by reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Despite the popularity of and increased familiarity with this procedure, the complication rate of RSA remains significant. An extended humeral head hemiarthroplasty may provide a less invasive alternative for select patients with cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) and preserved glenohumeral active elevation. With the indications for reverse arthroplasty expanding to younger patients, there are concerns about the longevity of this implant, as well as the associated revision burden. In the setting of failed RSA, the bone stock available for glenosphere baseplate fixation can be inadequate for reimplantation. The treatment strategies for complex shoulder deformities and failed RSA are limited by patient-specific issues, such as anatomy and risk factors. In this review, we discuss the potential role of extended humeral head hemiarthroplasty (CTA hemiarthroplasty) as a primary surgical option in select patients (1) who have preserved elevation > 90°, (2) who have maintained stability (intact coracoacromial ligament), and (3) who desire to circumvent the complications associated with RSA. Furthermore, CTA hemiarthroplasty may be used for severe glenoid erosion, for a fragmented acromion, and in the revision setting for failed RSA aimed at a reliable salvage procedure.
Shifts in the partitioning of benthic and pelagic primary production within and across summers in Lake Mývatn, Iceland

The relative contributions of benthic and pelagic primary production affect ecosystem function, but studies documenting natural variation in the partitioning of production (i.e., autotrophic struct...
Does EU funding improve local state capacity? Evidence from Polish municipalities:

Does EU funding improve local state capacity? We focus on two specific types of state capacity, namely (a) the ability to provide information to third parties and (b) to discriminate between differ...
Geometrical nonlinear elasticity of axon under tension: A coarse-grained computational study.

Abstract Axon bundles cross-linked by microtubule (MT) associate proteins and bounded by a shell skeleton are critical for normal function of neurons. Understanding effects of the complexly geometrical parameters on their mechanical properties can help gain a biomechanical perspective on the neurological functions of axons and thus brain disorders caused by the structural failure of axons. Here, the tensile mechanical properties of MT bundles cross-linked by tau proteins are investigated by systematically tuning MT length, axonal cross-section radius, and tau protein spacing in a bead-spring coarse-grained model. Our results indicate that the stress-strain curves of axons can be divided into two regimes, a nonlinear elastic regime dominated by rigid-body like inter-MT sliding, and a linear elastic regime dominated by affine deformation of both tau proteins and MTs. From the energetic analyses, first, the tau proteins dominate the mechanical performance of axons under tension. In the nonlinear regime, tau proteins undergo a rigid-body like rotating motion rather than elongating, whereas in the nonlinear elastic regime, tau proteins undergo a flexible elongating deformation along the MT axis. Second, as the average spacing between adjacent tau proteins along the MT axial direction increases from 25 to 125 nm, the Young’s modulus of axon experiences a linear decrease whereas with the average space varying from 125 to 175 nm, and later reaches a plateau value with a stable fluctuation. Third, the increment of the cross-section radius of the MT bundle leads to a decrease in Young’s modulus of axon, which is possibly attributed to the decrease in MT numbers per cross section. Overall, our research findings offer a new perspective into understanding the effects of geometrical parameters on the mechanics of MT bundles as well as serving as a theoretical basis for the development of artificial MT complexes potentially toward medical applications.
REACH: Refining Alloy Scenarios by Scope

Writing declarative models has numerous benefits, ranging from automated reasoning and correction of design-level properties be-fore systems are built, to automated testing and debugging of their implementations after they are built. Alloy is a declarative modeling language that is well suited for verifying system designs. A key strength of Alloy is its scenario-finding toolset, the Analyzer, which allows users to explore all valid scenarios that adhere to the model's constraints up to a user-provided scope. In Alloy, it is common for users to desire to first validate smaller scenarios, then once confident, move onto validating larger scenarios. However, the Analyzer only presents scenarios in the order they are discovered by the SAT solver. This paper presents Reach, an extension to the Analyzer which allows users to explore scenarios by size. Experimental results reveal Reach's enumeration improves performance while having the added benefit of maintaining a semi-sorted ordering of scenarios for the user. Moreover, we highlight Reach's ability to improve the performance of Alloy's analysis when the user makes incremental changes to the scope of the enumeration.
Translational Clinical Strategies for the Prevention of Gastrointestinal Tract Graft Versus Host Disease

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is the major non-relapse complication associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Unfortunately, GVHD occurs in roughly half of patients following this therapy and can induce severe life-threatening side effects and premature mortality. The pathophysiology of GVHD is driven by alloreactive donor T cells that induce a proinflammatory environment to cause pathological damage in the skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, lung, and liver during the acute phase of this disease. Recent work has demonstrated that the GI tract is a pivotal target organ and a primary driver of morbidity and mortality in patients. Prevention of this complication has therefore emerged as an important goal of prophylaxis strategies given the primacy of this tissue site in GVHD pathophysiology. In this review, we summarize foundational pre-clinical studies that have been conducted in animal models to prevent GI tract GVHD and examine the efficacy of these approaches upon subsequent translation into the clinic. Specifically, we focus on therapies designed to block inflammatory cytokine pathways, inhibit cellular trafficking of alloreactive donor T cells to the GI tract, and reconstitute impaired regulatory networks for the prevention of GVHD in the GI tract.
Hemoglobin Terre Haute Arginine Beta 106. A Posthumous Correction to the Original Structure of Hemoglobin Indianapolis

The initial report of Hb Indianapolis described two affected individuals with the phenotype of severe beta-thalassemia that was dominantly inherited. The structure of this variant could not be deduced by standard techniques because of its extreme instability. Because of this limitation, the structure was ascertained by analysis of the abnormal globin chain, which had been radioactively labeled. These studies strongly suggested that the structure of this variant was cysteine beta 112 to arginine. Subsequent to this report, two additional families with Hb Indianapolis were found. The carriers were minimally affected and the abnormal hemoglobin was only mildly unstable. This major difference in phenotypic expression suggested that further investigation of the original family should be carried out. Unfortunately, both of the original carriers of the variant succumbed to their severe anemia prior to the subsequent reports. However, by the use of the polymerase chain reaction, enough DNA was obtained to sequence the third exon of the beta-globin gene in the original family from the DNA scraped off a 10-year-old bone marrow microscope slide. These studies revealed a substitution of leucine to arginine at position 106 of the beta-globin chain. The polymerase chain reaction results may be consistent with the original protein structural data, if incomplete tryptic cleavage of this arginine residue occurred in the original sample. We have renamed this variant Hb Terre Haute in an attempt to avoid confusion with the Cys beta 112----Arg substitution.
Evaluation of urban vehicle tracking algorithms

Low signal-to-noise data processing algorithms for improved detection, tracking, discrimination and situational threat assessment are a key research challenge. As sensor technologies progress, the number of pixels will increase significantly. This will result in increased resolution, which could improve object discrimination, but unfortunately, will also result in a significant increase in the number of potential targets to track. Many tracking techniques, like multi-hypothesis trackers, suffer from a combinatorial explosion as the number of potential targets increase. As the resolution increases, the phenomenology applied towards detection algorithms also changes. For low resolution sensors, blob tracking is the norm. For higher resolution data, additional information may be employed in the detection and classification steps. The most challenging scenarios are those where the targets cannot be fully resolved, yet must be tracked and distinguished for neighboring closely spaced objects. Tracking vehicles in an urban environment is an example of such a challenging scenario. This report evaluates several potential tracking algorithms for large-scale tracking in an urban environment. The algorithms considered are: random sample consensus (RANSAC), Markov chain Monte Carlo data association (MCMCDA), tracklet inference from factor graphs, and a proximity tracker. Each algorithm was tested on a combination of real and simulated data and evaluated against a common set of metrics.
Retention of Skilled Search after Nine Years

Retention of skilled search after a nine-year period of nonuse was investigated in letter and digit tasks. The letter task involved search for one of six consistently mapped letter targets in a set of two, three, or four letters. The digit task required subjects to indicate the largest digit in a display of two, three, or four digits (one through nine). In the digit task the digits 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 could serve as targets or distractors, depending on the other items in the display. Results indicated only minimal loss of speed and no loss in visual search rates after the nine-year interval. In addition, the savings were equivalent for the two tasks in spite of the difference in stimulus-response consistency.