cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal integration and location of PHEV aggregators in power distribution systems

In this paper, optimal battery scheduling for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) is achieved for load leveling. This proper scheduling can lead to peak shaving and off-peak shaving (valley filling). Due to the uncertain nature of PHEVs, including charging and discharging times and daily movements, stochastic modeling is proposed. Daily movements to and from houses to administrative centers, as well as charging and discharging schedules are chronological-based; therefore, using sequential Monte-Carlo Simulation (MCS) is highly recommended. Furthermore, in order to optimize the scheduling-related fitness functions, Particle Swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is utilized. Also, this paper focuses on finding the best location of parking lots for these PHEV aggregators. Two indices, voltage unbalance and power loss, for locating the PHEV aggregators are considered. During peak hours, these criteria can be more critical for a three-phase distribution system. Hence, this problem is solved using a multi-objective optimization algorithm based on fuzzification of objectives. The results are compared with those of single-objective algorithms. IEEE 13 node three-phase benchmark system is used for analyzing the proposed method.
Is Clinical Neurology Exposure Increasing in Medical Schools Throughout the United States? (P4.199)

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in emphasis on clinical neurology clerkships at LCME accredited medical schools in the United States. BACKGROUND: Clinical clerkships form the backbone of American medical school education, influencing knowledge of a specialty, installing comfort in addressing specialty-specific patients, and determining residency/career choice. With an aging population, neurologic diseases are becoming more prevalent in the US. Neurologic diseases are now more and more treatable, making neurologic education relevant to all medical practitioners. We wanted to investigate whether American medical schools are recognizing this trend by placing greater emphasis on clinical neurology education. DESIGN/METHODS: In 2005 and in 2013, we obtained (either via school websites or phone calls) details about requirements for clinical neurology clerkships at individual US medical schools. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2013, the total number of US medical schools increased from 121 to 141. We obtained complete information from 96[percnt] (116) and 95[percnt] (134) of medical schools, respectively. We used Chi-square analysis for statistical analysis. The proportion of schools with 3rd year mandatory clerkship requirements increased from 36.2[percnt] to 63.4[percnt] (p 4 weeks in 68[percnt] and 64[percnt] of the programs, respectively (p = 0.179). CONCLUSIONS: In the eight years from 2005 to 2013, US medical schools increasingly mandated students to complete clinical neurology clerkships during their third year of medical school. As the prevalence of neurological diseases increases, exposure to clinical neurology will become increasingly important. We conclude that US medical schools seem to be moving toward earlier, mandatory exposure of students to clinical neurology. Disclosure: Dr. Kornitzer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hillen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hayes-Rosen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hidalgo has nothing to disclose. Dr. He has nothing to disclose.
Bordetella PlrSR regulatory system controls BvgAS activity and virulence in the lower respiratory tract

Bacterial pathogens coordinate virulence using two-component regulatory systems (TCS). The Bordetella virulence gene (BvgAS) phosphorelay-type TCS controls expression of all known protein virulence factor-encoding genes and is considered the "master virulence regulator" in Bordetella pertussis, the causal agent of pertussis, and related organisms, including the broad host range pathogen Bordetella bronchiseptica We recently discovered an additional sensor kinase, PlrS [for persistence in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) sensor], which is required for B. bronchiseptica persistence in the LRT. Here, we show that PlrS is required for BvgAS to become and remain fully active in mouse lungs but not the nasal cavity, demonstrating that PlrS coordinates virulence specifically in the LRT. PlrS is required for LRT persistence even when BvgAS is rendered constitutively active, suggesting the presence of BvgAS-independent, PlrS-dependent virulence factors that are critical for bacterial survival in the LRT. We show that PlrS is also required for persistence of the human pathogen B. pertussis in the murine LRT and we provide evidence that PlrS most likely functions via the putative cognate response regulator PlrR. These data support a model in which PlrS senses conditions present in the LRT and activates PlrR, which controls expression of genes required for the maintenance of BvgAS activity and for essential BvgAS-independent functions. In addition to providing a major advance in our understanding of virulence regulation in Bordetella, which has served as a paradigm for several decades, these results indicate the existence of previously unknown virulence factors that may serve as new vaccine components and therapeutic or diagnostic targets.
Conditional Mean Spectra Given a Vector of Spectral Accelerations at Multiple Periods

Conditional mean spectra (CMS) are generally defined as expected pseudo-spectral accelerations (PSA) conditioned on uniform hazard spectra (UHS) at a selected period. Many design practices prefer C...
Automated Generation of Lakes and Reservoirs Water Elevation Changes From Satellite Radar Altimetry

Limited access to in-situ water level data for lakes and reservoirs have been a major setback for regional and global studies of reservoirs, surface water storage changes, and monitoring the hydrologic cycle. Processing satellite radar altimetry data over inland water bodies on a large scale has been a cumbersome task primarily due to the removal of contaminated measurements as a result of surrounding land. In this study, we proposed a new algorithm to automatically generate time series from raw satellite radar altimetry data without user intervention. With this method, users with a little knowledge on the field can now independently process radar altimetry for diverse applications. The method is based on K-means clustering, interquartile range, and statistical analysis of the dataset for outlier detection. Jason-2 and Envisat radar altimetry data were used to demonstrate the capability of this algorithm. A total of 37 satellite crossings over 30 lakes and reservoirs located in the U.S., Brazil, and Nigeria were used based on the availability of in-situ data. We compared the results against in-situ data and root-mean-square error values ranged from 0.09 to 1.20 m. We also confirmed the potential of this algorithm over rivers and wetlands using the southern Congo River and Everglades wetlands in Florida, respectively. Finally, the different retracking algorithms in Envisat; Ice-1, Ice-2, Ocean, and Sea-Ice were compared using the proposed algorithm. Ice-1 performed best for generating water level time series for in-land water bodies and the result is consistent with previous studies.
Vestibular Loss in Older Adults Is Associated with Impaired Spatial Navigation: Data from the Triangle Completion Task

Background: Vestibular inputs have been shown to play a critical role in spatial navigation. In this study, we sought to evaluate whether vestibular loss due to aging contributes to impaired spatial navigation as measured by the Triangle Completion Task (TCT). Materials and methods: We recruited three types of participants: young controls <55 years of age, older controls ≥55 years of age, and older patients from a Neurotology Clinic with evidence of vestibular physiologic impairment but who did not have any known vestibular disorder. We performed the cervical vestibular myogenic evoked potential (cVEMP) to evaluate saccular function and video head impulse testing to quantify horizontal semicircular canal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain. To assess spatial navigation ability, we administered the TCT, in which participants were conveyed along two segments of a pre-drawn triangular path and instructed to complete the final segment independently. We measured the angle (degrees) and distance (cm) of deviation from the correct trajectory. We evaluated the influence of vestibular inputs on TCT performance. Results: Forty-eight adults participated in the study (mean age: 62.0 years; 52.1% females), including 9 young controls, 15 older controls, and 24 clinic patients. Clinic patients had the greatest distance of deviation (67.7cm), followed by older controls (45.4cm), then young controls (27.8cm; p<0.01). Similarly, clinic patients had greater rotational angles (22.1 degree) compared to older (13.3 degree) and younger controls (12.4 degree; p<0.01). Following multivariate linear regression adjusting for demographic variables, loss of otolith function was associated with an 18.2cm increase in distance of deviation (95% CI: 15.2-47.4) and a 9.2 degree increase in rotational angle (95% CI: 3.0-15.5). Abnormal semicircular canal function was associated with a 26.0cm increase in distance of deviation (95% CI: 0.2-51.8) and a 10.8 degree increase in rotational angle (95% CI: 3.0-15.5). Participants with both otolith and canal abnormalities had a larger distance error (β=25.3, 95% CI: 6.2-44.4) and angle of deviation (β=18.1, 95% CI: 10.1, 26.2) than with either condition alone. Conclusion: Vestibular loss in older adults was associated with poorer performance on a dynamic spatial navigation task relative to old and young controls.
A transcriptomic insight into the impacts of mast cells in lung, breast, and colon cancers

To date, the exact impact of mast cells in tumor microenvironment is still controversial because of inconsistency in observations regarding the relationship between mast cell infiltrates and cancer development and prognosis. The discrepancies in previous studies have motivated us to examine the roles of mast cells in cancer pathology from different perspectives. Here, we investigated the impact of mast cells on transcriptomic profiles in the tissue microenvironment. Mice carrying the W-sh mutation in c-kit (KitW-sh ) are deficient in mast cell production and were used to assess the influence of mast cells on gene expression. By examining the transcriptomic profile among wild-type mice, KitW-sh mice, and KitW-sh mice with mast cell engraftment, we identified a list of "mast cell-dependent genes," which are enriched for cancer-related pathways. Utilizing whole-genome gene expression data from both mouse models and human cancer patients, we demonstrated that the expression profile of the mast cell-dependent genes differs between tumor and normal tissues from lung, breast, and colon, respectively. Mast cell infiltration is potentially increased in tumors compared with normal tissues, suggesting that mast cells might participate in tumor development. Accordingly, a prognostic molecular signature was developed based on the mast cell-dependent genes, which predicted recurrence-free survival for human patients with lung, breast, and colon cancers, respectively. Our study provides a novel transcriptomic insight into the impact of mast cells in the tumor microenvironment, though further experimental investigation is needed to validate the exact role of individual mast cell-dependent genes in different cancers.
Paradox and the gift of an indestructible ball: a case study of the One World Futbol Project

The One World Futbol Project produces and sells an ultra-durable soccer ball that can be used in the harshest of environments. This case study provides a close examination of how the organization addresses paradox specifically within the context of sport-related interventions in underserved communities. The organization confronts the existing paradoxes of equipping and promoting soccer as the global game. But also contends with two paradoxes it introduces: the product as a technological fix and doing good while making a profit. An analysis of promotional videos, news segments and TEDx Talks reveals that the organization effectively manages the tensions formed out of these paradoxes through multiple and varied approaches.
Introduction to the Symposium: Understanding Nonprofits, Volunteerism, and Philanthropy from a Critical Perspective—Part I

This issue of ATP is Part II of a symposium on critical approaches to understanding nonprofits, volunteerism, and philanthropy (for Part I, see the March 2013 issue). In an environment of government cutbacks and privatization, nonprofits, volunteerism, and philanthropy are increasingly important to public administration and governance in the United States and around the world. Yet relatively few scholars have taken critical approaches to understanding and assessing their impact. The articles in this symposium do an outstanding job of challenging many of our assumptions about nonprofits, volunteerism, and philanthropy, or providing new insight into how we frame the field and its roles and effects. The articles in this part of the symposium focus in particular around issues related to managerialism and marketization. Johan Hvenmark’s article provides a critical examination of a Swedish civil society organization’s managerialization—its adoption and reliance on corporate management knowledge and practices. The organization is the Swedish Union of Tenants (SUT), traditionally known for its governance structure based on democratic principles, federative structure, and large membership base. Hvenmark examines the effect on the organization of SUT’s adoption of managerialist reforms, including the balanced scorecard. His findings suggest that the adoption of corporate management knowledge and practices involves a dialectic relationship with centralization and professionalization, institutionalizes the idea that the corporate world provides valid solutions for how to assess and develop civil society organizations, and creates or widens the potential divide between internal democratic governing and executive structures. Hvenmark’s findings align well with others in the first part of the symposium (e.g., Balanoff, Sandberg, & Mirabella), as well as with other work in the field (Dart, 2004; Dey & Steyaert, 2010; Edwards, 2008; Eikenberry, 2009; Eikenberry & Kluver, 2004), that raise concerns about the effect of managerialization and marketization on other values, especially democratic values, located within nonprofit and civil society organizations. However, the articles by Pascal Dey and Simon Teasdale and by Ola Segnestam Larsson in this second part of the symposium complicate some of the assumptions and conclusions of this critical managerialization and marketization literature.
A new species of Protium from Guyana. Studies in Neotropical Burseraceae XXIII

Protium cornutum is described and illustrated. This species exemplifies the enormous number of unnamed species languishing in herbaria, as well as the shallowness of our sampling of tropical floras.
Smart surface treatments for textiles for protection

Abstract: Surface treatments are one of the most effective ways to impart functionality to textiles and fibers. The surface is where a material first responds to and interacts with the environment. Ideally, a smart protective surface will sense the environmental hazard – thermal, radiation, or chemical in nature – and respond to it to block it from harming the human body, while not interfering with moisture and air interchange through it to provide comfort. Various surface treatment methods have been introduced to impart smart, adaptive properties for protective systems. They include the polymer brush system, which has gained considerable interest as it can achieve drastic surface modifications through chain conformation changes, and coatings that can be utilized to create smart surfaces for protective clothing. This chapter also includes descriptions of other coating methods and smart materials such as phase-change polymers, shape-memory polymers, nanoparticles, and conductive materials that can be introduced to textile systems through coating technology. Other novel techniques, such as nanolayer deposition and nanofiber coating, are also briefly discussed.
Post-Transplantation Pyelonephritis: Factors Producing Low Patient and Transplant Morbidity

A retrospective study of 1,100 consecutive renal transplantations done on 959 patients revealed postoperative pyelonephritis in 15 patients, 14 of whom were women. Sixteen of the 20 episodes of pyelonephritis were caused by Escherichia coli and only 4 episodes occurred within the first year after transplantation, thus revealing the crucial differentiation from a rejection episode. When the etiology of the original renal failure was pyelonephritis the incidence of pyelonephritis in the transplanted kidneys was high. This high incidence also was true for cases associated with post-transplantation urological complications. When the etiology of renal failure was diabetes or polycystic renal disease, or when urologic abnormalities pre-existed the incidence of pyelonephritis was low. No transplant or patient loss was caused by post-transplantation pyelonephritis, probably because of prompt, correct diagnosis and a low urological complication rate.
Perioperative adverse events in women undergoing concurrent urogynecologic and gynecologic oncology surgeries for suspected malignancy

This study’s objectives were to compare the incidence of adverse events after concurrent urogynecologic and gynecologic oncology surgery to gynecologic oncology surgery alone and to describe the frequency of modification in planned urogynecologic procedures. The authors hypothesized there would be no difference in major complications. This was a retrospective matched cohort study of women who underwent concurrent surgery at a large tertiary care center between January 2004 and June 2017. Cohorts were matched by surgeon, surgery route, date, and final pathologic diagnosis. Perioperative data and postoperative adverse events classified by Clavien-Dindo grade were compared. One hundred and eight patients underwent concurrent surgeries, with 216 matched cohorts. Concurrent-case patients were more likely to be older, postmenopausal, have greater vaginal parity, have had preoperative chemotherapy, and have preoperative cardiac or pulmonary disease. There were no differences in intraoperative complications or Dindo grade ≥ 3 adverse events between groups, but there were more grade 2 adverse events in the concurrent cohort (44 vs 19%, p < 0.0001) including postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) (26 vs 7%, p < 0.0001). Concurrent surgery remained associated with a higher incidence of grade ≥ 2 events on multivariate analysis [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–4.2, p = 0.0004). Discharge with a urinary catheter was more frequent after concurrent cases (35 vs 2%, p < 0.0001). Planned urogynecologic procedures were modified in 10% (n = 11) of cases. Concurrent surgeries have an increased incidence of minor but not serious perioperative adverse events. One in ten planned urogynecologic procedures is either modified or abandoned during combined surgeries.
A statewide comparison of opioid prescribing in teaching versus nonteaching hospitals.

Background Postoperative opioid prescribing is often excessive, but the differences in opioid prescribing between teaching hospitals and nonteaching hospitals is not well understood. Given the workload of surgical training and frequent turnover of prescribers on surgical services, we hypothesized that postoperative opioid prescribing would be higher among teaching compared with nonteaching hospitals. Study design We used insurance claims from a statewide quality collaborative in Michigan to identify 17,075 opioid-naive patients who underwent 22 surgical procedures across 76 hospitals from 2012 to 2016. Our outcomes included the following: (1) the amount of opioid prescribed for the initial postoperative prescription in oral morphine equivalents and (2) high-risk prescribing in the 30 days after surgery (high daily dose [≥ 100 oral morphine equivalents], new long-acting/extended-release opioid, overlapping prescriptions, or concurrent benzodiazepine prescription). Teaching hospital status was obtained from the 2014 American Hospital Association survey. Multilevel regression was used to adjust for patient and procedural factors and to perform reliability adjustment. Results The amount of opioid prescribed per initial opioid prescription varied 4.7-fold across all hospitals from 130 oral morphine equivalents to 616 oral morphine equivalents. Patients discharged from teaching hospitals filled larger initial opioid prescriptions overall compared with nonteaching hospitals (251 oral morphine equivalents versus 232 oral morphine equivalents; P = .026). Teaching hospitals had higher risk-adjusted rates of high-risk prescribing compared with nonteaching hospitals (13.7% vs 10.3%; P = .034). Conclusion In Michigan, surgical patients discharged from teaching hospitals received significantly larger postoperative opioid prescriptions and had higher rates of high-risk prescribing compared with nonteaching hospitals. All hospitals, and particularly teaching institutions, should ensure that adequate resources are devoted to facilitating safe postoperative opioid prescribing.
Socially necessary superfluity: Adorno and Marx on the crises of labor and the individual:

This article considers Theodor W. Adorno’s thesis of the ‘liquidation of the individual’ as a contribution to the critique of political economy insofar as it links structural economic imperatives o...
Management of Hyperkalemia With Insulin and Glucose: Pearls for the Emergency Clinician

Abstract Background Hyperkalemia is a common, potentially lethal clinical condition that accounts for a significant number of emergency department (ED) visits. Insulin and dextrose are frequently used to manage patients with hyperkalemia. Objective This narrative review evaluates several myths concerning hyperkalemia treatment with insulin and dextrose in the ED and provides recommendations based on the current evidence. Discussion Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition requiring emergent therapy. One of these therapies includes insulin with glucose. However, hypoglycemia after insulin use is a frequent complication during hyperkalemia management. The published literature suggests that low pretreatment glucose, no history of diabetes mellitus, female gender, abnormal renal function, and lower body weight increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Several strategies can reduce the risk of hypoglycemia with insulin therapy, which include using insulin 5 units or 0.1 units/kg instead of 10 units, administering dextrose 50 g instead of 25 g, or administering dextrose as a prolonged infusion instead of a rapid intravenous bolus. Because insulin may have a duration of action that exceeds dextrose, patients receiving insulin for hyperkalemia should be monitored for hypoglycemia hourly for at least 4–6 h after administration. Conclusion Several myths surround hyperkalemia management with insulin and dextrose. This review evaluates the evidence concerning insulin and glucose for hyperkalemia and suggests several modifications to insulin and dextrose dosing to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia.
Interventional treatments for metastatic bone cancer pain

Metastatic bone cancer pain may cause significant morbidity among the cancer patient population. Painful bone lesions are challenging to manage due to the aggressive pathophysiology of the pain generator involved. The WHO's approach to cancer pain treatment involves the use of a three-step ladder which provides a guideline for clinicians to treat patients who struggle from cancer pain syndromes. It is possible that this ladder is no longer helpful for patients who continue to fail oral or transdermal medication options. A fourth step in the cancer pain ladder has been proposed to include interventional approaches to cancer pain management. This review will discuss opioid therapy, radium-223, denosumab and bisphosphonate therapy, but will primarily review the available interventional treatment options for metastatic bone cancer pain.
Invariant Detection with Program Verification Tools

Compilers can specialize programs having invariants for performance improvement. Detecting program invariants that span large and complex code, however, is difficult for compilers. Traditional compilers do not perform very expensive analysis and thus only identify limited invariants, which limits the potential of subsequent optimizations. We would like to address the invariant detection problem via more sophisticated analyses using program verification tools. In this paper, we reveal pitfalls of choosing program verification tools for invariant detection, identify challenges of modeling program behavior using one of these tools---CVC4, and propose some ideas about how to address the challenges.
Understanding a Rare Injury: An Observational Study of Anterior-Superior Hip Dislocations

OBJECTIVE. The goals of this study were to assess the prevalence of anterior hip dislocation and to highlight the distinctive imaging features of anterior-superior hip dislocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective chart review was conducted of all hip dislocations seen at one university hospital from January 2005 to January 2019. The radiology database was queried for all reports of hip or pelvis radiographs with the word "dislocation." Cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, infection, tumor, arthroplasty, Girdlestone procedure, surgical dislocation, and prior hip surgery were excluded, leaving 237 traumatic hip dislocations. Electronic medical records of the 18 cases of anterior hip dislocation were reviewed to determine the mechanism of injury, treatment, and subsequent outcomes. RESULTS. Among 237 traumatic hip dislocations, 18 (7.6%) were anterior hip dislocations. Among the 18 were three (17%) anterior-superior dislocations and 15 (83%) anterior-inferior dislocations. All anterior-superior dislocations had poor outcomes. One patient had persistent hip pain and instability and underwent follow-up imaging. In one case, MRI performed at the time of injury and 11 months later showed tears of the superior capsule, iliofemoral ligament, and ligamentum teres. The iliofemoral ligament tear did not heal, resulting in a persistent anterior capsule defect, a finding previously associated with instability in patients who have undergone arthroscopic surgery. CONCLUSION. The incidence of anterior hip dislocation was lower than some studies have suggested. Anterior-superior hip dislocation is a rare injury in which ligamentous defects are visualized at MRI and possibly contribute to anterior hip instability and pain.
Short-acting testosterone appears to have lesser effect on male reproductive potential compared with long-acting testosterone in mice

Objective To compare the effect of exogenous short-acting and long-acting testosterone on male reproductive potential in mice. Design In vivo mouse model. Setting University-based basic science research laboratory. Animal(s) A total of 30 wild-type C57BL/6 male and female mice were used for this experimentation. The male mice were used for the control group and testosterone supplementation, whereas both male and female mice were used for the breeding portion of the study. Intervention(s) Exogenous testosterone was administered either in short-acting formulation (Monday-Wednesday-Friday dosing schedule; testosterone propionate 0.2 mg/kg) or long-acting formulation (3-month dosing schedule; testosterone pellets 150 mg) to male mice. Main Outcome Measure(s) Time to pregnancy, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and testicular weight. Result(s) Mice treated with long-acting testosterone appear to have longer time to pregnancy when compared with wild-type mice (33 ± 11 vs. 23 ± 2.6 days; P≤.05) and mice that received short-acting testosterone propionate (26 ± 5.9 days). Mice treated with long-acting testosterone had smaller testes weight when compared with control (0.08 ± 0.01 vs. 0.11 ± 0.01 g; P≤.01), whereas the short-acting testosterone-treated mice had similar testis weight when compared with control (0.09 ± 0.02 vs. 0.11 ± 0.01 g; not significant [NS]). The serum testosterone level was elevated in mice that received testosterone pellets (285.78 ng/dL) and testosterone propionate (122.16 ng/dL) versus control (68.4 ng/dL). In mice that received long-acting testosterone pellets, LH levels at 3 months were almost undetectable, whereas those that received short-acting testosterone remained similar to control (0.017 ± 0.058 vs. 0.348 ± 0.232 IU/L; P≤.01). Female reproductive potential parameters including litter size and pup weight were collected and observed to have no difference between groups. Conclusion(s) Through a mouse-breeding study, mice that received short-acting testosterone were shown to have fertility potential similar to wild-type male mice. Long-acting exogenous testosterone appeared to impair male reproductive capacity and LH levels when compared with short-acting testosterone. Short-acting testosterone appeared to cause less LH suppression. Identifying strategies to increase testosterone while simultaneously preserving male fertility is important for treating young men with hypogonadism.
Novel Quasi-2D Perovskites for Stable and Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

Compared to three-dimensional (3D) organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites, two-dimensional (2D) ones possess great possibilities to realize stable cost-effective perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Howeve...
Implementation of High-Flow Nasal Cannula on Bronchiolitis Patients ≤ 24 Months Within the General Pediatric In-Patient Ward

Background: Heated high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been used for treatment of bronchiolitis. Traditionally, HFNC was restricted to the ICU setting. The objective of this study was to assess implementation of HFNC at a small academic institution within a large adult hospital without dedicated respiratory therapists. Methods: In 2017, guidelines were developed to initiate HFNC for bronchiolitis treatment on the general pediatrics floor. Initiation of flow using Fisher & Paykel Opti-flow Jr nasal cannula was based on age (10 L/min for >90 days, 8L/min for
Image Processing Methods in Agricultural Observation Systems

Image processing is an essential part of the agricultural observation system. This chapter is the first attempt to provide an overview of the image processing methods, technologies, and tools from the perspective of agro-geoinformatics. First, we introduce the origins, definitions, and basic steps of digital image processing. Along with the traditional image processing hardware and software, the state-of-the-art technologies for agricultural image processing, such as mobile device-based image processing and cloud computing-based image processing, are covered. Image data could be acquired by different sensors in different ways. We discuss three common approaches to collect agricultural image data, in situ, airborne-based, and space-borne-based data collection, as well as the big data challenge in agro-geoinformatics. As the core image processing operation in the agricultural observation system, information extraction aims to understand agro-geoinformation from the raw image data. This chapter also illustrates several image information extraction methods that are widely employed in agro-geoinformatics, such as knowledge-based expert system, machine learning-based decision tree, and artificial neural network. Furthermore, a case study of the production of Cropland Data Layer (CDL) data, a comprehensive, raster-formatted, geo-referenced, annual crop-specific land cover map produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), is demonstrated.
Electronic transport properties of selected carbon π-bowls with different size, curvature and solid state packing

Abstract First-principles calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport theory are used to investigate the electronic transport properties of four members of the extended family of indenocorannulene molecular crystals. The results for the electrical conductivity suggest that all indenocorannulene derivatives should exhibit transport characteristics significantly improved compared to the parent corannulene. In particular, the transport properties of 1,2,4-triindenocorannulene crystal are found to be comparable for electron doping and likely surpass for hole doping the values achievable in sumanene, assuming the same carrier lifetimes. The findings point to a large sensitivity of the charge-carrier conductivity to the size as well as stacking direction of the carbon-rich π-bowls and indicate that this class of corannulene derivatives can provide new structural motifs that can be further tuned to achieve high-performance materials for organic electronic devices.
Continued Evolution of Automated Manufacturing – Cloud-Enabled Digital Manufacturing

In contrast to conventional manufacturing, digital manufacturing is not affected by marginal costs; that is, the cost for producing a single prototype is not different from producing several thousand ones. Digital manufacturing consequently eliminates the requirement for large sums of capital necessary for conventional manufacturing. Digital manufacturing combined with cloud platforms and cloud-enabled databases will allow large-quantity virtual product development while minimizing costs, which will consequently reflect on the efficient manufacturing of physical products.
Alteration of the phospholipid composition of Escherichia coli through genetic manipulation.

Abstract In order to study the function of individual phospholipids, we have constructed a strain of Escherichia coli in which the ratio of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylglycerol plus cardiolipin can be regulated. In this strain (HDL1001) the normal expression of the phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase does not occur due to the presence of the pgsA30 allele (Heacock, P. N., and Dowhan, W. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 13044-13049). A second chromosomal copy of the pgsA gene is fused to the lacOP region in single copy within the lac operon. Strain HDL1001 is absolutely dependent for growth on an inducer of the lac operon. In addition, the level of the pgsA gene product, the content of the two major acidic phospholipids, and the growth rate are dependent on the level of inducer in the growth medium. Cells remain viable in the absence of inducer as evidenced by a rapid return to normal growth after the readdition of inducer. The growth rate and phospholipid composition are affected only after the level of phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase drops below about 15% of normal levels; both phosphatidic acid and (d)CDP-diacylglycerol also begin to increase to significant levels. At the point of cell arrest the level of the major acidic phospholipids is reduced by about 90% of wild type levels.
Subject Access to Archives and Manuscript Collections: An Historical Overview

Abstract Subject access to archives and manuscript collections has evolved rapidly in the past 25 years under the pressures of standardization and computerization. Previously, archivists and manuscript curators refined descriptive practice to emphasize the differences among varying types of collections rather than the common needs of researchers seeking primary sources. Widespread use of the AMC and EAD formats has facilitated standardized description and improved searching capability; continued adherence to these formats will facilitate subject searches by researchers and promote use of collections.
Thermodynamically-Consistent Multiscale Constitutive Modeling of Glassy Polymer Materials

The multiscale modeling of polymer-based materials has many challenges that not yet been fully addressed in the literature. These challenges are summarized and discussed. A particular challenge is the modeling of the large distribution of mi-crostates that exist in many bulk engineering polymer materials. A multiscale modeling approach is proposed to predict the bulk Young's modulus of polymers using a series of molecular models of individual polymer microstates and a statistics-based micromechanical modeling method. The method is applied to polyimide and polycarbonate material systems.
An in vitro study of the hinge and near-field forward flow dynamics of the St. Jude Medical Regent bileaflet mechanical heart valve.

The most widely implanted prosthetic valve is the mechanical bileaflet. Recent clinical experiences suggest that some designs are more prone to thromboembolic episodes than others. This study evaluated the hinge flow and near-field forward flow of the new St. Jude Medical® Regent™ bileaflet mechanical heart valve. Laser Doppler velocimetry measurements were conducted within the hinge and near-field forward flow regions of the Regent™ valve. These pulsatile flow velocity measurements were animated in time to visualize the flow fields throughout the cardiac cycle. During forward flow, a recirculation region developed in the inflow pocket of the Regent™ hinge but was subsequently abolished by strong backflow during valve closure. Leakage velocities in the hinge region reached 0.72 m/s and Reynolds shear stresses reached 2,600 dyn/cm2. Velocities in the near-field region were highest in the lateral orifice jet, reaching 2.1 m/s. Small regions of separated flow were observed adjacent to the hinge region. Leaflet motion through the Regent™ hinge creates a washout pattern which restricts the persistence of stagnation zones in its hinge. Based upon the results of these studies, the hematological performance of the Regent™ series should be at least equivalent to the performance of the Standard series. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC00: 8719Uv, 8780-y, 8719Hh
Cricothyrotomy: a 5-year experience at one institution

We describe the prevalence, primary indications and immediate complications of emergency cricothyrotomy (cric) techniques, in a single institution's Emergency Department (ED) and associated air-medical transport service. This is a retrospective review at an academic, level-one trauma center with an annual ED census of 65,000 and an associated air-medical transport service (AMTS). All patients undergoing cric in the field or in the ED between July 1995 and June 2000 were included. Expert reviewers from Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery and the AMTS prospectively defined the complication criteria. All charts with a possible complication underwent a blinded evaluation by reviewers representing each of the three clinical services. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Fifty crics were performed over 5 years. Seventy-six percent of crics were performed in trauma patients. The prevalence of cric in patients requiring airway management in the ED was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.7-1.6) and 10.9% (95% CI, 6.9-16.1) in the field by the AMTS. The prevalence of complications was 14% (95% CI, 4-32.6) in ED patients and 54.5% (95% CI, 32-75.6) for prehospital patients. The overall inter-rater agreement for complication rate was excellent (kappa =.87). Overall, 77% of crics were performed using the rapid four-step technique (RFST). There were no reports of complications associated with the RFST when performed in the ED. Non-RFST crics in the ED had an associated complication rate of 25% (95% CI, 2.8-60). Emergency cricothyrotomy was performed in approximately 1% of all emergency airway cases in the ED and at a higher rate by the AMTS. The most frequent indications were trauma related. Additionally, the RFST was the most commonly used technique for cric at this institution. The complication rate of cric was significantly higher in the prehospital environment than in the ED.
An electrophysiological investigation of the oro-pharyngeal (IX–X) taste system in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

1. The chemospecificities of the oropharyngeal taste buds innervated by the glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) nerves were similar; both (IX) and (X) taste systems were highly responsive tol-alanine andl-arginine which have been shown to be the most effective stimuli of the facial (VII) taste system. 2. The integrated phasic gustatory responses generally increased exponentially with logarithmic increase in stimulus concentration over a wide concentration range (4 to 6 log units). 3. Thresholds forl-alanine andl-arginine averaged (in mol/l) 10−7.4±0.3 (IX) and 10−7.0±0.4 (X) and 10−8.0±0.2 (IX) and 10−6.9±0.4 (X) (mean±S.E.) respectively; for all other amino acids tested thresholds were ≧10−6 mol/l. 4. Among the various conventional taste stimuli tested (sodium chloride, sucrose, hydrochloric acid and quinine hydrochloride), quinine was the most stimulatory with thresholds ranging between micromolar and nanomolar concentrations. 5. Cross-adaptation experiments suggested the presence of relatively independent receptor mechanisms for at least four of the compounds tested:l-alanine,l-arginine hydrochloride,l-proline and quinine hydrochloride. 6. The majority of fiber bundles in both the glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves were highly sensitive to tactile stimulation. Tonically firing proprioceptive units with response frequencies dependent on the position of a gill arch were observed. 7. Muscle contractions were observed following the application of high concentrations of certain stimuli (l-arginine and sodium chloride), indicating the chemospecific nature of such reflexes with a possible role in swallowing or rejection of potential food material. 8. These data in conjunction with reports on the facial (VII) taste system indicate that similar amino acids may provide important cues for both food searching and ingestive behaviours in the channel catfish.
2.3 Å X-ray Structure of the Heme-Bound GAF Domain of Sensory Histidine Kinase DosT of Mycobacterium tuberculosis†‡

Mycobacterium tuberculosis responds to changes in environmental conditions through a two-component signaling system that detects reduced O2 tension and NO and CO exposures via the heme-binding GAF domains of two sensory histidine kinases, DosT and DevS, and the transcriptional regulator DosR. We report the first X-ray structure of the DosT heme-bound GAF domain (GAFDosT) in both oxy and deoxy forms determined to a resolution of 2.3 A. In GAFDosT, heme binds in an orientation orthogonal to that in the PAS domains via a highly conserved motif, including invariant H147 as a proximal heme axial ligand. On the distal side, invariant Y169 forms stacking interactions with the heme with its long axis parallel and the plane of the ring orthogonal to the heme plane. In one of the two protein monomers in an asymmetric unit, O2 binds as a second axial ligand to the heme iron and is stabilized via a H-bond to the OH group of Y169. The structure reveals two small tunnel-connected cavities and a pore on the protein surf...
Phenotypic diversity of smooth muscle cells isolated from human intracranial basilar artery.

The present work examined heterogeneity of vascular smooth muscle cells cultured from human cerebral arteries that has not been previously reported. Primary smooth muscle cell cultures were isolated from human intracranial basilar arteries. Using a ring isolation method, multiple clones were generated from the cell cultures. These clones had two distinctly different morphologies: (1) fusiform; and (2) stellate. At confluence the fusiform-shaped clones grew in compact clusters with overlapping cells while the stellate-shaped clones were contact-inhibited growing in a monolayered pattern. The smooth muscle differentiation markers, α-smooth muscle-actin, calponin and smooth muscle-myosin heavy chains were expressed in all these clones. In response to serum stimulation, the stellate-shaped clones had a higher growth rate than the fusiform clones. This study reports that smooth muscle cells derived from human basilar arteries are heterogeneous.
Temperature data acquired from the DOI/GTN-P Deep Borehole Array on the Arctic Slope of Alaska, 1973-2013

Abstract. A homogeneous set of temperature measurements obtained from the DOI/GTN-P Deep Borehole Array between 1973 and 2013 is presented; DOI/GTN-P is the US Department of the Interior contribution to the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P). The 23-element array is located on the Arctic Slope of Alaska, a region of cold continuous permafrost. Most of the monitoring wells are situated on the Arctic coastal plain between the Brooks Range and the Arctic Ocean, while others are in the foothills to the south. The data represent the true temperatures in the wellbores and surrounding rocks at the time of the measurements; they have not been corrected to remove the thermal disturbance caused by drilling the wells. With a few exceptions, the drilling disturbance is estimated to have been on the order of 0.1 K or less by 1989. Thus, most of the temperature measurements acquired during the last 25 yr are little affected by the drilling disturbance. The data contribute to ongoing efforts to monitor changes in the thermal state of permafrost in both hemispheres by the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost, one of the primary subnetworks of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS). The data will also be useful for refining our basic understanding of the physical conditions in permafrost in Arctic Alaska, as well as providing important information for validating predictive models used for climate impact assessments. The processed data are available from the Advanced Cooperative Arctic Data and Information Service (ACADIS) repository at doi:10.5065/D6N014HK .
Mitochondrial DNA Repair: A Critical Player in the Response of Cells of the CNS to Genotoxic Insults

Cells of the CNS are constantly exposed to agents which damage DNA. Although much attention has been paid to the effects of this damage on nuclear DNA, the nucleus is not the only organelle containing DNA. Within each cell, there are hundreds to thousands of mitochondria. Within each mitochondrion are multiple copies of the mitochondrial genome. These genomes are extremely vulnerable to insult and mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the normal process of aging. The principal mechanism utilized by cells to avoid DNA mutations is DNA repair. Multiple pathways of DNA repair have been elucidated for nuclear DNA. However, it appears that only base excision repair is functioning in mitochondria. This repair pathway is responsible for the removal of most endogenous damage including alkylation damage, depurination reactions and oxidative damage. Within the rat CNS, there are cell-specific differences mtDNA repair. Astrocytes exhibit efficient repair, whereas, other glial cell types and neuronal cells exhibit a reduced ability to remove lesions from mtDNA. Additionally, a correlation was observed between those cells with reduced mtDNA repair and an increase in the induction of apoptosis. To demonstrate a causative relationship, a strategy of targeting DNA repair proteins to mitochondria to enhance mtDNA repair capacity was employed. Enhancement of mtDNA repair in oligodendrocytes provided protection from reactive oxygen species- and cytokine-induced apoptosis. These experiments provide a novel strategy for protecting sensitive CNS cells from genotoxic insults and thus provide new treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases.