cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Competitive store closing during an economic downturn

Abstract The economic downturn of the late 2000s resulted in the closing of a number of retail stores. When doing so a firm has to consider which stores to close, and when to close them, so that profits are maximized. Since retail stores operate in a competitive environment, these decisions are not simply a function of a retailer's existing store locations but are also contingent on the location, and closing decisions, of stores operated by rival firms. This paper examines a game between two retail chains looking to downsize operations in a given region and presents a solution procedure that captures the equilibrium store closing decisions. The solution procedure includes a single period mixed integer program model and a multi-period heuristic with a backward and forward pass to find near optimal solutions. Our results provide guidelines for developing effective strategies to systematically reduce the number of stores so that profit is maximized while competitive pressure is exerted on rival stores.
The Fluid Dynamics of Feeding In the Upside-Down Jellyfish

The jellyfish has been the subject of numerous mathematical and physical studies ranging from the discovery of reentry phenomenon in electrophysiology to the development of axisymmetric methods for solving fluid-structure interaction problems. In the area of biologically inspired design, the jellyfish serves as a simple case study for understanding the fluid dynamics of unsteady propulsion with the goal of improving the design of underwater vehicles. In addition to locomotion, the study of jellyfish fluid dynamics could also lead to innovations in the design of filtration and sensing systems since an additional purpose of bell pulsations is to bring fluid to the organism for the purposes of feeding and nutrient exchange. The upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea spp., is particularly well suited for feeding studies since it spends most of its time resting on the seafloor with its oral arms extended upward, pulsing to generate currents used for feeding and waste removal. In this paper, experimental measurements of the bulk flow fields generated by these organisms as well as the results from supporting numerical simulations are reviewed. Contraction, expansion, and pause times over the course of many contraction cycles are reported, and the effects of these parameters on the resulting fluid dynamics are explored. Of particular interest is the length of the rest period between the completion of bell expansion and the contraction of the next cycle. This component of the pulse cycle can be modeled as a Markov process. The discrete time Markov chain model can then be used to simulate cycle times using the distributions found empirically. Numerical simulations are used to explore the effects of the pulse characteristics on the fluid flow generated by the jellyfish. Preliminary results suggest that pause times have significant implications for the efficiency of particle capture and exchange.
Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: Margins Positivity and Implications on Cancer Control

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is the standard surgical treatment for localized prostate cancer in the United States. After more than a decade of experience with the robotic approach, its oncological safety has been confirmed with margins positivity comparable to the open approach. Large scale RARP series yielded positive surgical margin (PSM) rates between 9 and 19%. PSM rates are strongly associated with preoperative disease characteristics (i.e., PSA, Gleason score, and clinical stage). As more patients with intermediate and high risk disease undergo RARP, the overall rates of PSM may potentially increase. While PSMs have been repeatedly shown to predict biochemical recurrence (BCR), their impact on more meaningful outcomes, such as the development of metastatic disease and cancer-specific mortality is not completely clear. Gleason score at PSM and PSM margins length are important features of PSM that seems to have influence on the long term impact of PSM. Various surgical techniques and tailoring nerve preservation based on disease severity appear to improve cancer control during RARP. Post radical prostatectomy radiation therapy (RT) also improves oncological outcomes. Level I evidence from open radical prostatectomy literature, demonstrated improved biochemical recurrence-free, metastasis-free, and overall survival when adjuvant radiation therapy was given to patients with adverse pathological features, including PSMs. Yet, the optimal timing of when to deliver additional RT is still unknown and awaits the results of several randomized clinical trials.
General Strategy for Improving the Quantum Efficiency of Photoredox Hydroamidation Catalysis

The quantum efficiency in photoredox catalysis is the crucial determinant of energy intensity and, thus, is intrinsically tied to the sustainability of the overall process. Here, we track the formation of different transient species of a catalytic photoredox hydroamidation reaction initiated by the reaction of an Ir(III) photoexcited complex with 2-cyclohexen-1-yl(4-bromophenyl)carbamate. We find that the back reaction between the amidyl radical and Ir(II) photoproducts generated from the quenching reaction leads to a low quantum efficiency of the system. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, all of the rate constants for productive and nonproductive pathways of the catalytic cycle have been determined, enabling us to establish a kinetically competent equilibrium involving the crucial amidyl radical intermediate that minimizes its back reaction with the Ir(II) photoproduct. This strategy of using an off-pathway equilibrium allows us to improve the overall quantum efficiency of the reaction by a factor ...
Dynamic process model and economic analysis of microalgae cultivation in flat panel photobioreactors

Abstract Microalgae are often considered an important renewable feedstock for production of bio-energy and value-added products and have the potential to help meet the rising demands of energy, food and feed in the world. To determine microalgae productivity in outdoor commercial scale flat panel photobioreactors for a given algal species and any given location, a first-principles based quantitative growth model was developed taking into account geospatial variabilities. Based on local climatic factors, which included solar irradiance, air temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity, a combined heat and mass transfer model was developed to predict temperature of the culture medium where microalgae was cultivated. The temperature data was further incorporated into a biological growth kinetics model for a given algal species to predict microalgae productivity potential for that location. Yearly microalgae productivity ranged between 3800 and 13,000 t km−2 year−1 for the different locations examined. A detailed economic analysis was conducted to assess microalgae cost for the locations. Based on the economic analysis, microalgae production cost for in flat panel photobioreactor systems ranged between 2895 $ t−1 to 9564 $ t−1. The robust techno-economic analysis demonstrates that microalgae production costs depend significantly on geospatial location, microalgae productivity potential as well as engineering and process parameters of algae cultivation.
Student Knowledge of Physical Activity on Campus

The purpose of this study was to examine university student’s knowledge of physical activity and to explore the relationship between knowledge of physical activity and current levels of physical activity. Knowledge of physical activity was assessed using an instrument developed by the researcher based on ACSM physical activity recommendations. Current physical activity level was assessed using the short International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). There was not a significant relationship between the IPAQ score and knowledge of physical activity(r= .068, p= .604). Most students scored high on the knowledge of physical activity instrument regardless of their current level of physical activity. These results can help health educators better understand reasons for low physical activity levels among university students.
A Scalable Data Augmentation and Training Pipeline for Logo Detection

Logo detection in images is particularly challenging due to limited access to well-labelled data. Many existing logo detection methods are not scalable to larger datasets due to tedious bounding-box annotation work. As a result, with only a small number of logo classes and limited well-labelled images per class, their performance deteriorates on real-world applications. In this work, we propose a data augmentation and training pipeline to tackle these challenges. Specifically, we develop an incremental learning approach that starts training using synthetic data, followed by iteratively obtaining real training images from a given source and updating the current model with the newlyobtained data. To avoid model drift, we add a human curation step where incorrect detections (false-positives) are filtered out by simple-clicks using a User Interface, we designed. With this approach, we were able to generate a large (173,000 images of 173 logo classes) dataset termed Logo173 where all images are annotated with bounding-boxes. This image dataset can also be used to train a frame-by-frame baseline logo detector for videos. We demonstrate with extensive experiments that the proposed pipeline significantly saves time and effort for tedious data annotation and outperforms a current state-of-the-art logo detection method.
Long-Term Mosquito culture with SkitoSnack, an artificial blood meal replacement

The reliance on blood is a limiting factor for mass rearing of mosquitoes for Sterile-Insect-Technique (SIT) and other mosquito-based control strategies. To solve this problem, we have developed SkitoSnack, a formulated diet for Aedes aegypti (L) mosquitoes, as an alternative for vertebrate blood. Here we addressed the question if long-term yellow fever mosquito culture with SkitoSnack resulted in changed life history traits and fitness of the offspring compared to blood-raised mosquitoes. We also explored if SkitoSnack is suitable to raise Asian tiger mosquitos, Aedes albopictus (L.), and the human bed bug, Cimex lectularius (L). We measured life history traits for 30th generation SkitoSnack-raised Ae. aegypti and 11th generation SkitoSnack-raised Ae. albopictus, and compared them with control mosquitoes raised on blood only. We compared meal preference, flight performance, and reproductive fitness in Ae. aegypti raised on SkitoSnack or blood. We also offered SkitoSnack to bed bug nymphs. We found that long-term culture with SkitoSnack resulted in mosquitoes with similar life history traits compared to bovine blood-raised mosquitoes in both species we studied. Also, Ae. aegypti mosquitoes raised on SkitoSnack had similar flight performance compared to blood raised mosquitoes, were still strongly attracted by human smell and had equal mating success. Minimal feeding occurred in bed bugs. Our results suggest that long-term culture with the blood-meal replacement SkitoSnack results in healthy, fit mosquitoes. Therefore, artificial diets like SkitoSnack can be considered as a viable alternative for vertebrate blood in laboratory mosquito culture as well as for mosquito mass production for Sterile-Insect-Technique mosquito control interventions. SkitoSnack was not suitable to induce engorgement of bed bugs.
Conserved prolines in the coiled coil-OB domain linkers of proteasomal ATPases facilitate eukaryotic proteasome base assembly

Abstract The proteasome is a large protease complex that degrades both misfolded and regulatory proteins. In eukaryotes, the 26S proteasome contains six different AAA+ ATPase subunits, Rpt1-Rpt6, which form a hexameric ring as part of the base subcomplex that drives unfolding and translocation of substrates into the proteasome core. Archaeal proteasomes contain only a single type of ATPase subunit, the proteasome-activating nucleotidase (PAN), which forms a trimer-of-dimers and is homologous to the eukaryotic Rpt subunits. A key PAN proline residue (P91) forms cis and trans peptide bonds in successive subunits around the ring, allowing efficient dimerization through upstream coiled coils. The importance of the equivalent Rpt prolines in eukaryotic proteasome assembly was unknown. We show an equivalent proline is strictly conserved in Rpt3 (in S. cerevisiae, P93) and Rpt5 (P76), well conserved in Rpt2 (P103), and loosely conserved in Rpt1 (P96) in deeply divergent eukaryotes, but in no case is its mutation strongly deleterious to yeast growth. However, the rpt2-P103A, rpt3-P93A, and rpt5-P76A mutations all cause synthetic defects with specific base assembly chaperone deletions. The Rpt5-P76A mutation decreases the levels of the protein and induces a mild proteasome assembly defect. The yeast rpt2-P103A rpt5-P76A double mutant has strong growth defects attributable to defects in proteasome base formation. Several Rpt subunits in this mutant form aggregates that are cleared, at least in part, by the Hsp42-mediated protein quality control (PQC) machinery. We propose that the conserved Rpt linker prolines promote efficient 26S proteasome base assembly by facilitating specific ATPase heterodimerization.
Reduction in Schedule II opioid prescribing by primary care -providers, orthopedic and general surgeons, and pain -management specialists following the implementation of a State House Bill and an Institutional Controlled Substance Task Force.

Objective: Prescription opioid misuse represents a social and economic challenge in the United States. We evaluated Schedule II opioid prescribing practices by primary care providers (PCPs), orthopedic and general surgeons, and pain management specialists. Design: Prospective evaluation of prescribing practices of PCPs, orthopedic and general surgeons, and pain management specialists over 5 years (October 1, 2014-September 30, 2019) in an outpatient setting. Methods: An analysis of Schedule II opioid prescribing following the implementation of federal and state guidelines and evidence-based standards at our institution. Results: There were significantly more PCPs, orthopedic and general surgeons, and pain management specialists with a significantly increased number who prescribed Schedule II opioids, whereas there was a simultaneous significant decline in the average number of Schedule II opioid prescriptions per provider, Schedule II opioid pills prescribed per provider, and Schedule II opioid pills prescribed per patient by providers. The average number of Schedule II opioid prescriptions with a quantity >90 and Opana/Oxycontin prescriptions per PCP, orthopedic surgeon, and pain management specialist significantly decreased. The total morphine milligram equivalent (MME)/day of Schedule II opioids ordered by PCPs, orthopedic and general surgeons, and pain management specialists significantly declined. The ages of the providers remained consistent throughout the study. Conclusions: This study reports the implementation of federal and state regulations and institutional evidence-based guidelines into primary care and medical specialty practices to reduce the number of Schedule II opioids prescribed. Further research is warranted to determine alternative therapies to Schedule II opioids that may alleviate a patient’s pain without initiating or exacerbating a potentially lethal opioid addiction.
An Adaptive Hybrid Control Algorithm for Sender-Receiver Clock Synchronization

Abstract This paper presents an innovative hybrid systems approach to the sender-receiver synchronization of timers. Via the hybrid systems framework, we unite the traditional sender-receiver algorithm for clock synchronization with an online, adaptive strategy to achieve synchronization of the clock rates to exponentially synchronize a pair of clocks connected over a network. Following the conventions of the algorithm, clock measurements of the nodes are given at periodic time instants, and each node uses these measurements to achieve synchronization. For this purpose, we introduce a hybrid system model of a network with continuous and impulsive dynamics that captures the sender-receiver algorithm as a state-feedback controller to synchronize the network clocks. Moreover, we provide sufficient design conditions that ensure attractivity of the synchronization set.
Arousal-based scoring of obstructive hypopneas.

Purpose of review Obstructive sleep apnea in adults is diagnosed by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) above five (at least five apneas and/or hypopneas per hour of sleep). Though the definition of apneas has remained stable, the scoring criteria for hypopneas has varied throughout the years. There is even more evidence now that scoring respiratory events associated with arousals should be included in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, as these patients may benefit from treatment. Recent findings Recent studies, trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that respiratory events associated with arousal are associated with symptoms, such as poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness. These arousal-based hypopneas have also been noted to carry a risk of hypertension and other adverse health consequences. Summary Requiring a 4% oxygen desaturation for hypopneas may miss patients that may benefit from treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. These patients are typically younger, nonobese, and women as they have been found to have respiratory events causing sleep fragmentation versus significant oxygen desaturation as compared with other populations.
An Intergenerational Conversation about Frustrations, Lessons, and Hope in Physician Activism.

The primary care physician and activist Dr. Gordon Schiff advises those advocating for systemic change to set priorities, work with others, and realize the power of small actions.
Intraoperative Solutions for the Gastric Conduit that Will Not Reach

The stomach is the preferred conduit for esophageal replacement in majority of the cases for its reliable blood supply, low intraluminal bacterial burden, and the need for only a single anastomosis. Occasionally, stomach is not available because of previous abdominal or gastric surgery or involvement with tumor. The esophageal surgeon should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to use alternative conduits for reconstruction.
The Cost of Color: What We Pay for Being Black and Brown

Most White Americans believe that racism is on the wane, and that any talk about racial discrimination does more harm than good. This phenomenon is referred to by many social scientists as colorblind racism. Among people of color, colorism, like racism, consists of both overt and covert actions, outright acts of discrimination and subtle cues of disfavor. Darker skin color is associated with more race-conscious views and higher levels of perceived discrimination. A rising number of discrimination cases based on skin tone have found their way to the courts. It is tempting to characterize the problem of colorism as equally difficult for both light-skinned people and dark. Dark-skinned people lack the social and economic capital that light skin provides, and are therefore disadvantaged in education, employment, and housing. Additionally, dark skin is generally not regarded as beautiful, so dark-skinned women often lose out in the dating and marriage markets. On the other side, light-skinned men and women are typically not regarded as legitimate members of the African American or Mexican American communities. Only a slow dismantling of the larger system of White racism, in the U.S. and around the globe, will initiate a change in the color hierarchy it has created.
Abstract 850: Cardiac Dysfunction in Mena Knockout Mice

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease associated with myriad changes in gene expression, including reversion to a fetal gene program, as well as dysregulation of cardiac β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signal transduction. We recently identified dramatic upregulation of a cardinal member of the Ena/VASP family, Mena, in both human and mouse heart failure. Furthermore, we found normalization of Mena expression following transgenic rescue of HF in mice or following beneficial left ventricular assist device support in humans. Mena is a cytoarchitectural protein that modulates microfilaments and interacts with cytoskeletal proteins implicated in HF. The goal of this study was to determine the functional role of Mena in the heart. We assessed cardiac function and morphology of Mena null mice by echocardiography, electrocardiography, histopathology and electron microscopy. Paradoxically, we found Mena null mice have significantly decreased basal cardiac function, prolonged PR and QRS intervals and exacerbated pathologic response to ischemia/reperfusion injury. In Mena null mice, these alterations are associated with myocyte disarray, increased interstitial fibrosis and disorganization of intercalated disks, among other myocardial ultrastructural abnormalities. Phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A is known to regulate Mena function. At the cellular level, we have recently found that β-AR stimulation induces phosphorylation of Mena and increases its translocation to the membrane. These data suggest a role for increased Mena expression as a compensatory response to pathological cardiac stimuli. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, the functional cardiac importance of the novel HF-associated gene Mena and its potential interaction with adrenergic signaling.
Effect of increased quadriceps tensile stiffness on peak anterior cruciate ligament strain during a simulated pivot landing

ACL injury prevention programs often involve strengthening the knee muscles. We posit that an unrecognized benefit of such training is the associated increase in the tensile stiffness of the hypertrophied muscle. We tested the hypothesis that an increased quadriceps tensile stiffness would reduce peak anteromedial bundle (AM-)ACL relative strain in female knees. Twelve female cadaver knees were subjected to compound impulsive two-times body weight loads in compression, flexion, and internal tibial torque beginning at 15° flexion. Knees were equipped with modifiable custom springs to represent the nonlinear rapid stretch behavior of a normal and increased stiffness female quadriceps (i.e., 33% greater stiffness). Peak AM-ACL relative strain was measured using an in situ transducer while muscle forces and tibiofemoral kinematics and kinetics were recorded. A 3D ADAMS™ dynamic biomechanical knee model was used in silico to interpret the experimental results which were analyzed using a repeated-measures Wilcoxon test. Female knees exhibited a 16% reduction in peak AM-ACL relative strain and 21% reduction in change in flexion when quadriceps tensile stiffness was increased by 33% (mean (SD) difference: 0.97% (0.65%), p = 0.003). We conclude that increased quadriceps tensile stiffness reduces peak ACL strain during a controlled study simulating a pivot landing.
Agency problems and the simultaneity of financial decision making

Abstract This study investigated the simultaneity of four financial variables that are hypothesized to control agency costs. It builds a model showing that leverage, dividends, insider ownership, and institutional ownership are determined simultaneously as each of the variables is hypothesized to affect agency costs. We found that in 1987, institutional ownership was determined simultaneously with leverage, dividends, and insider ownership, but the coefficients do not support agency hypotheses. However, in 1993, we found a simultaneous system consistent with institutional ownership being a substitute for agency control variables.
COMPARISON OF A SUPERCHARGER VS. A TURBOCHARGER IN A SMALL DISPLACEMENT GASOLINE ENGINE APPLICATION

Supercharging and turbocharging can improve engine power and vehicle performance by boosting the intake manifold absolute pressure (MAP) above atmospheric pressure. This higher MAP results in increased charge densities which increase the maximum power available from the engine. A program to evaluate the overall system effects of supercharging and turbocharging has defined the differences and similarities between the two devices with regard to performance, emission control, fuel economy, and driveability. The conclusions arrived at were based on vehicle system comparison. A discussion on complexity, durability, packaging and noise and vibration is also included. In addition, the performance characteristics of six superchargers were documented from steady state dynamometer/airflow test bench data.
Obstetric factors influencing outcome in infants weighing from 1,001 to 1,500 grams

Abstract The neonatal mortality rate has dramatically improved in recent years. Occurrence of these losses is concentrated in low-birth-weight infants. At Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, the infants weighing less than 1,500 grams contribute two thirds of neonatal deaths, although they may represent only 1.5 per cent of total births. Such observations have led to the evaluation of obstetric factors as they relate to the outcome in the low-birth-weight infants weighing from 1,001 to 1,500 grams. Retrospective evaluation of 201 low-birth-weight infants' charts demonstrated a tendency by the obstetrician to clinically underestimate fetal weight. In cases where fetal estimated weight and measured birth weight correlated, the mortality rate was 20 per cent; in cases of underestimation, the mortality rate rose to 50 per cent. Other obstetric factors evaluated were the use of FHR monitoring, the method of delivery, and the significance of the Apgar score.
Psycholinguistic Approaches to the Study of Syndromes and Symptoms of Aphasia

Psycholinguistic studies of the classical aphasia syndromes provide a unique window into the functional and neural architecture of language. The clinical syndromes produce a rich tapestry of impairments and abilities that show evidence of how the language system fractionates as well as how robust the properties of language are under conditions of brain injury. Together, they provide converging evidence with the neuroimaging literature showing that the processing of language engages a network of perisylvian areas of the left hemisphere, all recruited in speech, lexical, and syntactic processing. Of importance, they have shown that there are different functional roles of these areas in the processes involved in speech production, speech perception, and lexical access. What remains unclear is the functional role of different neural areas in the processing of syntax. Despite damage to perisylvian areas, the structural properties of sound structure and lexical structure properties are preserved in aphasia.
Glass-ceramic Li2S-P2S5 electrolytes prepared by a single step ball billing process and their application for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries

Abstract We report that glass–ceramic Li 2 S–P 2 S 5 electrolytes can be prepared by a single step ball milling (SSBM) process. Mechanical ball milling of the x Li 2 S·(100 − x )P 2 S 5 system at 55 °C produced crystalline glass–ceramic materials exhibiting high Li-ion conductivity over 10 −3 S cm −1 at room temperature with a wide electrochemical stability window of 5 V. Silicon nanoparticles were evaluated as anode material in a solid-state Li battery employing the glass–ceramic electrolyte produced by the SSBM process and showed outstanding cycling stability.
Voltage-Dependent Gating Underlies Loss of ENaC Function in Pseudohypoaldosteronism Type 1

Here we explore the mechanism and associated structure-function implications of loss of function for epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) containing a pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA-1)-causing missense point mutation. As expected, human ENaC that contained subunits harboring PHA-1-causing substitutions within an absolutely conserved, cytosolic Gly residue (e.g., βG37S) had significantly less activity. Unexpectedly, though, such substitution also results in voltage sensitivity with greater activity at hyperpolarizing potentials. This is a consequence of voltage-dependent changes in the single-channel open probability and is not species- or subunit-dependent. Voltage sensitivity in PHA-1 mutants stems from the disruption of critical structure, rather than the development of new properties resulting from the introduction of novel side chains. Residues near the conserved His-Gly sequence of G95 in α-mENaC are particularly important for voltage sensing. Although substitution of I93 in α-mENaC results in voltage sensing, it also slows the activation and deactivation kinetics enough to enable capture of the dynamic changes in single-channel open probability that account for changes in macroscopic activity. This provides definitive proof of the mechanism that underlies loss of function. In addition, the voltage dependence of ENaC with PHA-1 substitutions is akin to that which results from substitution of a critical, interfacial Trp residue conserved at the intracellular base of TM1 (e.g., W112 in α-mENaC). Dynamic interactions between similarly positioned His and Trp residues are essential for gating and the girdle-like structure that lines the intracellular mouth of the M2 proton channel. The similar residues in ENaC may serve a shared function, suggesting the possibility of an intracellular girdle just below the mouth of the ENaC pore.
Scarf and Weil Metatarsal Osteotomies of the Lateral Rays for Correction of Rheumatoid Forefoot Deformities: A Systematic Review

Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays has recently been proposed for the treatment of global rheumatoid forefoot deformities because of the perceived benefit of sparing the metatarsal-phalangeal joints. Furthermore, it has been proposed that undergoing this form of global forefoot reconstruction is reliable based on specific preoperative and intraoperative techniques used to realign the individual rays. Finally, it has been proposed that performing global forefoot reconstruction in the rheumatoid patient population can be safely performed and does not prevent the ability to perform revision surgery. The author undertook a systematic review of electronic databases and other relevant sources to identify material relating to Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays for the treatment of global rheumatoid forefoot deformities. Information from peer-reviewed journals, as well as from non-peer-reviewed publications, abstracts and posters, textbooks, and unpublished works, was also considered. In an effort to procure the highest quality studies available, studies were eligible for inclusion only if they involved patients undergoing Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays, evaluated patients at mean follow-up of 12-months or longer duration, commented on the reliability of metatarsal realignment, and included details of complications, as well as the incidence and severity of wound-healing complications. Two studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria involving only 8 patients (8 feet) with 1 patient undergoing surgical revision in the form of arthrodesis secondary to development of a septic first metatarsal-phalangeal joint. Partial incision dehiscence developed in 2 patients, 1 healed with local wound care and the other led to the septic first metatarsal-phalangeal joint mentioned previously. Finally, stress fracture of the third metatarsal and fourth metatarsals developed that healed without problems in one other patient. Rather than providing strong evidence for or against the use of Scarf osteotomy of the first ray combined with Weil distal oblique shortening osteotomies of the lateral rays for the treatment of global rheumatoid forefoot deformities, the results of this systematic review make clear the need for methodologically sound prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials that focus on the use of this form of surgical intervention.
The Structure and Reproduction of Caloglossa leprieurii

The costate, ribbon-like axes of Caloglossa leprieurii have a dome-shaped apical cell, which by transverse division cuts off segments posteriorly. Each segment cell undergoes division into a centra...
Establishing the presence of a body temperature rhythm in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) using a tympanic membrane thermometer

Seven chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) were trained to present their ears so that a tympanic nembrane thermometer could be inserted. Temperatures were collected from both ears of each subject every 3 hours for 72 consecutive hours. The presence of a body temperature rhythm, well documented in other mammals, was established. Each ear demonstrated its own rhythm, but the rhythms in both ears generally mirrored each other. Similarities in the temperature rhythms of cagemates were found. These data are the first evidence of a body temperature rhythm in chimpanzees, and they represent a non-invasive method of measuring the 24-hr rhythms in both human and non-human primates.
Alterations in the H-reflex in the paraplegic induced by bladder distention

This study has evaluated the changes in the characteristics of the H-reflex induced by distention of the urinary bladder in patients with complete lesions of the spinal cord. These findings were compared to induced changes in the systolic blood pressure and some degree of correlation was noted. It is well recognised that distention of the urinary bladder can exert a significant influence on the state of both somatic and autonomic reflex activity in spinal man. Although the mode of action of this stimulus has not been fully delineated, it is of some clinical importance since it may intensify muscular spasticity and autonomic hyperreflexia. This study was undertaken to further explore this relationship utilising the H-wave as a measure of segmental reflex activity. When appropriate, the effect of bladder distention on arterial blood pressure was also measured and an attempt made to correlate these observations with the H-wave findings.
Optimizing selection of sites for tissue blocks from arteries for microscopic evaluation

Abstract A probability model was developed to enable an investigator to estimate the probability of obtaining at least one tissue block for microscopic study from a gross lesion and at least one block from an area free of gross lesions in a sample of n sites in a gross arterial specimen. The model aids the investigator in choosing the location and the number of sites. Three situations were examined using the thoracic aortas of 118 baboons having experimentally induced atherosclerosis. In two situations, the sites were selected randomly and, in the third, purposively. The probability of obtaining the desired tissue characteristics in the purposive situation is greater than in the random situation in 118 baboon thoracic aortas when a low number of sites is utilized, but the probabilities in the two situations become closer as the number of sites increases and the increase in probability levels off with relatively few sites. However, purposive selection reduces the statistical inference.
Metabolic Processes in Cytoplasmic Particles of the Avocado Fruit. IX. The Oxidation of Pyruvate and Malate during the Climacteric Cycle

Mitochondria isolated from preclimacteric avocado fruit oxidize pyruvate at a much lower rate than those separated from climacteric fruit. The external addition of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) increased the rate of pyruvate oxidation in both cases. The study of the influence of TPP on the rate of oxidation of malate by mitochondria obtained from both preclimacteric and climacteric fruit indicated that the effect of this cofactor could be understood by assuming that malate was converted to pyruvate. TPP stimulation of malate oxidation was prevented by arsenite, an inhibitor of keto acid oxidation. The addition of glutamate increased the rate of malate oxidation through the transamination of oxaloacetate. This suggests that the rate of oxidation of malate is highly dependent upon mechanisms which remove oxaloacetate efficiently. Incubation of mitochondria from preclimacteric fruit with malate-U-(14)C resulted in the labeling of oxaloacetate and the accumulation of labeled pyruvate. Addition of TPP to this system induced the rapid formation of citrate. This conversion was completely inhibited by arsenite. The results indicate that the ability to carry out the oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-ketoacids improves as the ripening process progresses. The idea was advanced that TPP available to the mitochondria plays an important controlling role.
Dynamically complex system using adaptive simulation for interconnected nodes

As computers become more and more networked, and more bandwidth will be consumed by network flow because customers will be connected through networks which will transfer files and data, such as video files (MPEGn, AVI, WMV, etc.) to be watched at a customer's computer. The main purpose of this paper is exploring more researches that were developed before for low bandwidth and less storage space where used to optimize large scale network handling capabilities for large system inventories by using adaptive simulation to simulate the selective files or data that are transferred to the host computer on Network Optimization Dynamically Complex Systems (NODCS) [1], [2]. More in depth simulation of a total downloading and deferential time series between different nodes, will be presented in a large-scale networking for large system inventory and how that will affect the growing need by reducing downloading time between servers and nodes for one side and between different nodes on the other side. The behavior of these nodes, produce new revolution of growing more dynamically complex systems. In addition, to different demands, experimental tools and software for computers, mathematical analysis, used as a power tools to explain the complexity of a system. Furthermore, these systems infrastructures have become more interconnected. This strong interconnection means that an action in one part of one infrastructure can rapidly cascade and propagate through the same network. The research will present techniques that optimize transfer storage media for the purpose of minimizing waiting time and hardware cost while maximizing efficiency.
A bootstrapping-based statistical procedure for multivariate calibration of sensor arrays

Abstract One of the major challenges of calibrating a sensor array lies in the typically large samples required to estimate a high-quality multivariate calibration (MC) model, which functionally relates the array responses to the target analyte concentrations. For the efficient calibration of sensor arrays, this work develops a multi-stage procedure to guide the sampling in a sequential manner: Preliminary experiments are performed in the initial stage to collect some data; in each subsequent stage, information is derived from all the data collected from the previous stages and is employed to obtain the optimal design of the current-stage experiments. The design optimization at each stage seeks to optimize the quality of the MC model with a given sample size, and is performed based on the new statistical inference method, which quantifies the dependence of the MC model quality (the uncertainty/variability of the model estimates) upon the design of experiments. The proposed statistical inference takes advantages of both forward and inverse calibration modeling in the literature, is able to accommodate nonlinear sensor arrays, and utilizes the bootstrapping resampling method to handle the statistical inference issues that cannot be adequately addressed by existing methods. Substantial simulation studies have been performed to demonstrate the efficiency of the multi-stage procedure over the traditional once-and-for-all sampling.
Effect of excess and deficient copper intake on rat liver microsomal enzyme activity.

Abstract The effect of copper loading and copper deficiency on rat liver microsomal enzyme activity was studied. A significant reduction of liver aniline hydroxylase activity was produced by the administration of 450 ppm copper in the drinking water to rats for 15 and 30 days. Lower levels of copper (50 and 150 ppm) administered to rats for the same time had no significant effect on enzyme activity. Copper loading did not alter the activities of liver glucose 6-phosphatase or benzpyrene hydroxylase. Aniline hydroxylase and hexobarbital oxidase activities were significantly reduced, and hexobarbital sleeping time was prolonged in copper-deficient rats. Liver enzyme activities and hexobarbital sleeping times were restored to control levels by feeding copper- deficient rats a copper-containing diet for 14 days. The addition of divalent copper in vitro to 10,000 g supernatants from liver homogenates from copper-deficient rats did not restore enzyme activity to control levels. Instead, high levels of added copper produced a decreased rate of aniline hydroxylation in vitro . Copper deficiency did not prevent the induction of liver microsomal enzyme activity by phenobarbital. Phenobarbital administration significantly increased microsomal copper in rats receiving a normal copper intake and increased both whole liver and microsomal copper concentration in copper-deficient rats. The normal developmental increase in liver aniline hydroxylase and hexobarbital oxidase activities with age was delayed in the offspring of female rats maintained on a copper-deficient diet.
Functional dissection of Bfl-1, a Bcl-2 homolog : anti-apoptosis, oncogene-cooperation and cell proliferation activities

The human Bfl-1 gene codes for a 175-amino acid BCL-2 family protein that has an anti-apoptosis activity and is overexpressed in certain human epithelial and hematopoietic malignancies. Bfl-1 efficiently suppresses apoptosis induced by the p53 tumor suppressor protein and cooperates with a dominant nuclear oncogene, E1A, in transformation of primary epithelial cells in vitro. Unlike other BCL-2 family proteins, expression of BFL-1 permits limited cell proliferation over an extended period of time when cells are induced to undergo apoptosis. We have carried out mutational analysis to dissect the various activities encoded by Bfl-1 and to determine the sequence requirements for these activities. BFL-1 shares four conserved domains, BH1, BH2, BH3 and BH4 with other BCL-2 family proteins. Mutations within BH1, BH2 and BH4 domains abolish or greatly attenuate the anti-apoptotic, oncogene cooperation and proliferation facilitating activities of BFL-1. In contrast, a mutation within the BH3 domain (which is essential for the activity of pro-apoptotic members of the BCL-2 family) does not significantly affect the BFL-1 functions. Although BFL-1 does not contain a well-defined C-terminal transmembrane domain, deletion of the C-terminal 24 amino acid region (corresponding to the transmembrane domain of other BCL-2 family proteins) partially reduces the various activities of BFL-1. All the mutants defective in the anti-apoptosis activity are also defective in the oncogene cooperation activity suggesting that these two activities may be linked. A unique feature of BFL-1 is the presence of a Gln-rich N-terminal region that overlaps with the BH4 domain. The Gln residues appear to be essential for the proliferation permitting activity of BFL-1. Since mutations of the Gln residues located within the BH4 domain appear to confer an extended cell survival activity in the absence of cell proliferation, our results suggest that BFL-1 communicates with both cell proliferation and apoptosis machineries and suggest a link between these two activities.
Remembering specific episodes of a scripted event

Children's memory for a specific episode of a repeated event was investigated in 2 experiments. In Experiment 1, eighty 4- and 7-year-olds experienced a standard novel event 1, 2, or 4 times, followed by an episodic event for those children who had multiple standard event experiences. The episodic event involved the addition of both schema-typical and schema-atypical activities to the standard event. Following a 1-week delay, children were asked to recall both event types. Four-year-olds were more confused than older children regarding when the new activities had been experienced, although experience improved memory for the schema-atypical activities. In contrast, 7-year-olds were able to establish more accurate memories for both the schema-typical and the schema-atypical changes. Experiment 2 demonstrated that 4-year-olds could, however, establish distinct memories for both types of changes when the standard event was simplified. The results are discussed in terms of the development of the relation between script memory and memory for a specific instance of an event.
Isolation of Synaptic Complexes in a CsCl Gradient: Conditions for Maximal Resolution in the Zonal Rotor B-Xiv and Circular Dichroism Patterns

Abstract Synaptic complexes were isolated from different brain regions and developmental stages in a CsCl density gradient using a Ti-14 zonal rotor. The buoyant density of the synaptic complexes from all these tissues was 1.178–1.190. The conditions for maximal resolution were rapid displacement of the density gradient from the rotor (40 ml/min); continuous centrifugation of the particles in the gradient for 66 hours, sample loads not exceeding 200 mg membrane protein. The banding densities of the membranes in the CsCl gradient were shown to be a linear inverse function of their lipid content. The circular dichroism patterns of synaptic complexes and other neural membranes in suspension or SDS solutions were similar to those of membranes from other mammalian cells or from bacteria although the ellipticities of the neural membranes were lower. These studies indicate that the proteins in a variety of membranes are in an α-helical conformation.
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED MORTALITY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TAVR: INSIGHTS FROM THE PARTNER TRIAL

Atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in many cardiovascular (CV) disease states, but there are scant data in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Data were evaluated in 1879 patients with baseline and discharge ECGs who
Entrainment of fine particles from surfaces by gas jets impinging at normal incidence

This paper describes an experimental study of the removal of fine (8.3 μm) polystyrene particles from a glass substrate using a gas jet at normal impingement. In order to avoid transient effects associated with jet startup, the sample was slowly translated under a steady jet. The translating gas jet produces a long clean path that provides very good statistics for exploring the effect of jet parameters. The dependence of the spatial distribution of removal efficiency on the jet pressure ratio, the jet height, and the translation speed is examined. Clean paths greater than 16 jet diameters wide are produced with a jet pressure ratio of 7 translating at 9.0 mm/s at a dimensionless height of 10. The path width is independent of the jet height at high pressure ratios and inversely dependent on the jet translation speed. A harmonic oscillator model for particle detachment accounts for the effect of translation speed. Results suggest that the particles act as nearly-quantized shear stress sensors that provide a direct, though as yet uncalibrated, measure of the surface shear stress. Further, knowledge of the pressure required to remove 50% of the particles from the central region of the path is sufficient to predict the extent of particle removal at higher pressures.