cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Focal Gray Matter Atrophy Are Associated With Bradykinesia and Gait Disturbances in Older Adults

Community-dwelling elderly adults frequently experience generalized slowing of movements and gait/balance disturbances. These motor disturbances can occur in the absence of Parkinson’s disease or other neurological conditions (1) and are more common with older age. Their prevalence is at least 15% in adults older than 65 years, and it can be as high as 50% among adults older than 80 years (2–4). The onset of these common motor disturbances should be of concern because they are progressive and predict future falls, dementia, and death (1,5). Several studies have reported that common neurodegenerative conditions including Lewy bodies, nigral degeneration, amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and cerebrovascular disease are related to gait disturbance and other motor disturbances (1). However, these pathologies only explain a small portion of motor disturbances, suggesting that additional neurobiologic lesions may be important. Although initial neuroimaging reports indicate a role for brain volume and white matter integrity (4,6,7), individual brain areas have not been thoroughly examined. This study examines the relationship between gray matter volume of areas related to mobility, memory and processing speed with bradykinesia, gait disturbances, and tremor. Mobility-related areas in the frontal lobe, basal ganglia, and cerebellum are examined because of their known association with bradykinesia and gait disturbances (8). Memory and mood-related areas within the medial temporal lobe are also of interest because of their association with spatial navigation and gait disturbances (9). Additionally, dementia and depression frequently accompany Parkinsonism (1,10,11). The processing speed area within prefronto-parietal cortices is also examined because of its associations with gait parameters (12,13). The contribution of neuroimaging markers to bradykinesia, gait disturbances, and tremor is tested in relation to other factors that can contribute to mobility: small vessel disease, brain function, muscle strength, and cardiovascular conditions.
Third party encroachment monitoring using RADARSAT-1, IKONOS, EROS-A1 and simulated RADARSAT-2 imagery

Third party mechanical damage is the principal cause of on-land pipeline failure and is related to such activities as road construction, cable laying, farming and residential and commercial land development. Earth observation data with wide area coverage offers an alternative to the high cost of aerial patrol on large pipeline networks. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of using satellite imagery to detect third party encroachment upon pipeline rights-of-way, two field experiments were carried out in 2000 and 2001. These experiments were conducted at test sites in Alberta and Ontario, Canada. Satellite imagery evaluated during these trials included IKONOS and EROS-A1 optical imagery, RADARSAT-1 fine beam imagery and simulated RADARSAT-2 imagery. Both IKONOS and EROS-A1 imagery were effective in detecting a range of vehicles in areas free of cloud cover. RADARSAT-1 images were effective in the detection of larger vehicles independent of atmospheric conditions. Using simulated RADARSAT-2 it was possible to detect smaller vehicles not previously detected with RADARSAT-1 imagery.
Capital Punishment and the Mentally Retarded Offender

In Atkins v. Virginia, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the execution of mentally retarded offenders is constitutionally prohibited by the Eighth Amendment—a holding directly opposite to the conclu...
Late Correction of Orbital Deformities

Orbital fractures are some of the most challenging injuries the oral surgeon deals with on a daily basis. Delay of the treatment of orbital fractures impacts the final result. Late orbital reconstruction is sometimes necessary for inadequate primary reconstruction or for severe injuries with adequate primary reconstruction. Healing and wound contraction make secondary reconstruction more difficult to restore the orbital contents back to normal. There are different materials available for orbital reconstruction, and there is no consensus about which is best. Early surgical intervention may improve the ultimate outcome, but identifying patients at risk of late complications is difficult.
Circuit-based Boolean Reasoning

Many tasks in CAD, such as equivalence checking, property checking, logic synthesis, and false paths analysis require efficient Boolean reasoning for problems derived from circuit structures. Traditionally, canonical representations, e. g., BDDs, or SAT- based search methods are used to solve a particular class of problems. In this paper we present a combination of techniques for Boolean reasoning based on BDDs, structural transformations, and a SAT procedure natively working on a shared graph representation of the problem. The described intertwined integration of the three techniques results in a robust summation of their orthogonal strengths. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Screening for colorectal cancer in African Americans: determinants and rationale for an earlier age to commence screening.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is a cost-effective approach to reduce morbidity, mortality, and prevalence of CRC in populations. Current recommendations for asymptomatic populations begin screening at age 50 years, after which ~95 % of cancers occur. Determinants that modify timing and frequency for screening include: personal/family history of adenomas or CRC, age of onset of lesions, and presence or potential to harbor high-risk conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), or Lynch syndrome. Although race, like family history, is heritable, it has not engendered inclusion in systematic screening recommendations despite multiple studies demonstrating disparity in the incidence and mortality from CRC, and the potential for targeted screening to reduce disparity. African Americans, when compared to Caucasians, have lower CRC screening utilization, younger presentation for CRC, higher CRC prevalence at all ages, and higher proportion of CRCs before age 50 years (~11 vs. 5 %); are less likely to transmit personal/family history of adenomas or CRC that may change screening age; show excess of high-risk proximal adenomas, matched with 7–15 % excess right-sided CRCs that lack microsatellite instability; show higher frequencies of high-risk adenomas for every age decile; and demonstrate genetic biomarkers associated with metastasis. These epidemiological and biological parameters put African Americans at higher risk from CRC irrespective of socioeconomic issues, like IBD, FAP, and Lynch patients. Including race as a factor in national CRC screening guidelines and commencing screening at an age earlier than 50 years seems rational based on the natural history and aggressive behavior in this population.
Are carbon nanotubes the future of VLSI interconnections

Increasing resistivity of copper with scaling and rising demands on current density requirements are driving the need to identify new wiring solutions for deep nanometer scale VLSI technologies. Metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising candidates that can potentially address the challenges faced by copper and thereby extend the lifetime of electrical interconnects. This paper examines the state-of-the-art in CNT interconnect research and discusses both the advantages and challenges of this emerging nanotechnology.
Continental detrital zircon in Carboniferous ensimatic arc rocks, Bragdon Formation, eastern Klamath terrane, northern California

New U-Pb isotopic data for detrital zircon populations from the Upper Devonian(?) and lower Carboniferous Bragdon Formation add constraints to the nature of source areas for epiclastic rocks in the ensimatic eastern Klamath arc terrane. Bragdon clastic units include lithic-rich sandstone containing quartz, chert, and sedimentary-lithic clasts, volcanic-lithic-rich sandstone, and crystal-rich tuffaceous sand- stone. These three compositions reflect a composite source that contained sedimentary and low-grade metasedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and penecontemporaneous volcanic debris. U-Pb isotopic data from detrital zircon indicate an ultimate Precambrian continental source for components of the Bragdon Formation and corroborate the previous suggestion that lower Paleozoic rocks of the Shoo Fly Complex, Yreka terrane, or related rocks may have been the immediate (last-cycle) sources. In modern convergent margins, a complex and ongoing relationship between ensimatic arc volcanism and continental sediment sources may be expected from the pattern of oceanic subduction zones that generally dip toward continents and intervening marginal basin systems, providing a context for understanding the presence of continent-derived detritus in an ancient ensimatic arc.
Maternal-effect genes that alter the fate map of the Drosophila blastoderm embryo

The pattern of segmentation in the Drosophila embryo is controlled by at least 25 zygotically active genes and at least 20 maternally active genes. We have examined the pattern of expression of the protein product of the zygotically active segmentation gene fushi tarazu (ftz) at the cellular blastoderm stage in progeny of mutant females homozygous for each of six maternal-effect segmentation genes to observe the early effects of the maternal-effect genes on zygotic gene expression. The genes included exuperantia (a member of the anterior class of maternal-effect segmentation genes); staufen and vasa (members of the posterior class); and torso, trunk, and fs(1)N (members of the terminal class). Mutations in the genes caused a disruption of the normal pattern of ftz stripes in regions of the embryo where gene activity is known to be required. The ftz stripes provide a marker for segmental determination at the cellular blastoderm stage, making it possible to correlate aberrant patterns of ftz protein with defects in cuticle morphology at the end of embryogenesis. ftz protein expression in progeny of females mutant for combinations of the above genes was also examined. The changes in the ftz pattern in progeny of females doubly mutant for genes of the anterior and terminal classes or of the posterior and terminal classes can largely be understood as the result of the additive effects of the single mutations. In contrast, clearly nonadditive effects on the ftz pattern were seen when a mutation in a gene of the anterior class (exuperantia) was combined with mutations in posterior class genes.
Technology transfer to China: With case studies in the high-speed rail industry

Through a case study of the high-speed rail industry, this paper introduces and compares major determinants of international technology transfer strategies from the perspectives of both technology importers and exporters. The determinants include the economic system, government policy and initiative, social constraints, and technological impetus.
Law, Economics, and Culture: Theory of Mandated Benefits and Evidence from Maternity Leave Policies

Abstract Why do some countries mandate a long maternity leave, while others mandate only a short one? We incorporate into a standard mandated-benefit model social tolerance of gender-based discrimination, showing that the optimal length of maternity leave depends on it. The less tolerant a society is of gender-based discrimination, the longer the maternity leave it will mandate. Relying on recent research in psychology and linguistics according to which patterns in languages offer a window into their speakers’ dispositions, we collected new data on the number of gender-differentiated personal pronouns across languages to capture societies’ attitudes toward gender-based discrimination. We first confirm, using within-country language variation, that our linguistic measure is correlated with attitudes toward gender-based discrimination. Then, using cross-country data on length of maternity leave, while controlling for other parameters, we find a strong correlation between our language-based measure of attitu...
Issues in transport

In this paper, the four examples that complexity of the connection of quantum effects in nanostructure to the properties of devices and integrated circuits.
FORMULATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WASTE MIXTURES FOR LAND APPLICATION

Major impediments to the land application of coal combustion byproducts (fly ash) for crop fertilization have been the presence of heavy metals and their relatively low and imbalanced essential nutrient concentration. Although nutrient deficiencies, in particular N, P, and K, may be readily augmented by adding organic wastes such as sewage sludge and animal manure, the indiscriminate application of mixtures to crops can cause excessive soil alkalinity, imbalanced nutrition (P, Mg), phytotoxicities (B, Mn, ammonia, nitrite), and unspecified contamination of the food chain by elements such as As. In this study, nutrient availability data and linear programming (LP) were used to solve these problems by formulating fly ash-biosolid triple mixtures which complied with both plant and soil fertilization requirements, and met existing U.S.A. environmental regulations for total As application in sewage sludge (EPA-503). Thirteen different fly ash samples were LP-formulated with sewage sludge, poultry manure, CaCO3, and KCl to yield 13 unique mixtures, which were then evaluated in greenhouse pot experiments. Results indicated that normal growth and balanced nutrition of sorghum (Sorghumbicolor L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) crops were achieved in all mixtures, comparable to a balanced fertilizer reference treatment, and significantly better than the untreated control. Phytotoxic levels of B, NH3, NO2 -, overliming problems, and excessive As levels which were previously encountered from indiscriminate use of these waste materials, were all well controlled by LP-formulated mixtures. Most fly ash quantities in mixtures were limited by either available B (< 4 kg ha-1) or total As (< 2 kg ha-1) restrictions during formulation, while the most alkaline fly ash was limited by its high calcium carbonate equivalence (CCE = 53.9%). These results confirmed that fly ash land application should not be at arbitrary fixed rates, but should be variable, depending on the soil, crop, and particularly the fly ash chemistry.
Kinematic discrimination of tW and tt¯ productions using initial state radiation

Abstract Production of a single top quark provides excellent opportunity for understanding top quark physics and Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa structure of the quark sector in the Standard Model. Although an associated production with a b -quark has already been observed at the Tevatron in 2009, a single top production in association with a W gauge boson has not been observed till 2014 at the LHC, where pair production of the top quark serves as the dominant background. Due to the kinematic similarity between tW and the dominant background, it is challenging to find suitable kinematic variables that offer good signal-background separation, which naturally leads to the use of multivariate methods. In this paper, we investigate kinematic structure of t W + j channel using M T 2 and invariant mass variables, and find that t W + j production could well be separated from t t ¯ production with high purity at a low cost of statistics when utilizing these kinematic correlations.
The compressibility of nanocrystalline nickel

Abstract To determine if there is a crystallite size dependence of the bulk modulus of nickel, and to look for possible new high pressure phases, nanocrystalline nickel was studied under high pressure. X-ray diffraction data, using a synchrotron source, was collected under nonhydrostatic and quasi-hydrostatic conditions from 0 to 55 GPa. Analysis of the data from nonhydrostatically compressed nickel yields a bulk modulus, K, of 217.5±14 GPa, while the bulk modulus as determined from quasi-hydrostatic compression is, 185.4±10 GPa. For both cases, the pressure derivative of the bulk modulus, K′, was held constant at 4. No phase transitions were observed for either nonhydrostatic or quasi-hydrostatic compression over the pressure range of these experiments.
Analog Nanoelectromechanical Relay With Tunable Transconductance

We show by simulation that a three-terminal nanoelectromechanical (NEM) relay combined with a feedback resistor provides a tunable transconductance Gm over an adjustable input-voltage range. The Gm arises from the modulation of the drain tunneling current by the gate voltage and does not require mechanical contact between the cantilever tip and the drain electrode. The introduced analog relay featuring current-voltage characteristics that are very similar to those of electronic transistors paves the path for purely electromechanical systems, where sensors and actuators can be integrated with NEM analog circuits and emerging NEM logic and memory devices.
Instrumentation System Performance for Long-term Bridge Health Monitoring:

The instrumented long-term continuous health-monitoring system installed on the Tech 21 Bridge during its fabrication is used to evaluate the performance of the instrumentation system itself. The b...
Cultivation of Two Species of Neorickettsia in Canine Monocytes

Two neorickettsial canine pathogens were isolated from infected dogs and maintained in cultivated canine monocytes. The leukocytic response to infection was determined by examination of coverslips stained by May-Griinwald and fluorescent antibody techniques, by electron microscopic evaluation, and by electron microscopy of histochemically stained infected cells. No differences between the two neorickettsial agents were found when grown in tissue culture. The morphologic response of infected monocytes was not remarkable until organisms were numerous. Organisms regarded as viable were found in cytoplasmic vacuoles lacking peroxidase or acid phosphatase reaction product. Degraded organisms were found only in vacuoles with reaction product. Neorickettsia-infected macrophages were found to be a useful model for examination of interactions between macrophages and parasites.
Airway chemosensitive receptors in vagus nerve perform neuro-immune interaction for lung-brain communication.

Recently, IL-1β has been found to activate airway C-fiber receptors (CFRs) and high threshold Aδ receptors (HTARs), which may influence innate immune response via activation of the central nervous system. The present study aims to determine whether such a stimulatory effect is restricted to IL-1β or applies to other pro-inflammatory cytokines. In anesthetized, open-chest, and mechanically ventilated rabbits, we recorded single unit activity from vagal nociceptors and examined their response to microinjection of TNF-α (1 μg/ml, 20 μl) directly into the receptive fields. Both CFRs and HTARs had similar responses. Their activity increased from 0.12±0.05 to 0.93±0.16 imp/s (n=15; P<0.001). This stimulatory effect of TNF-α was significantly attenuated by mixing with neutralizing antibody (10 μg/ml, 20 μl). The activities were 0.31±0.09 and 0.57±0.16 imp/s for control and injection of the TNF-α mixture (n=9; P<0.01), respectively. These nociceptors did not respond to location injection of normal saline. Our results show that TNF-α, like IL-1β, can activate airway nociceptors. It lends support to the hypothesis that airway nociceptors in the lung mediate the innate immune response.
Synaptic activation of hypoglossal respiratory motorneurons during inspiration in rats.

Recent work has suggested glutamatergic and cholinergic synapses, and electric coupling may be involved in the activation of hypoglossal motorneurons during inspiration, however their relative importance is unknown. In this study we examined the excitatory inputs to hypoglossal motorneurons in a brainstem slice preparation. Focal application of D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate significantly inhibited a long lasting inward current evoked during inspiration. 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione completely blocked the post-synaptic currents that increased in frequency and amplitude during inspiration and also reduced the long lasting inward current. Nicotinic receptors and gap junctional communication, blocked by D-tubocurare and carbenoxolone, respectively, contributed significant but smaller inputs to hypoglossal motorneurons during inspiration. In summary, non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors constitute the largest excitatory drive to hypoglossal neurons during inspiration, while NMDA, nicotinic receptors and gap junctions are also actively involved.
Budget sampling of parametric surface patches

We investigate choosing point samples on a model comprising parametric patches to meet a user specified budget. These samples may then be triangulated, rendered as points or ray-traced. The main idea is to pre-compute a set of samples on the surface and at the rendering time, use a subset that meets the total budget while reducing the screen-space error across the model. We have used this algorithm for interactive display of large spline models on low-end graphics workstations. This is done by distributing the points on the surface to minimize surface error. These points are then drawn as screen-space squares to fill the gaps between them. Our algorithm works well in practice and has a low memory footprint.
Evolution of gold structure during thermal treatment of Au/FeOx catalysts revealed by aberration-corrected electron microscopy.

High-resolution aberration-corrected electron microscopy was performed on a series of catalysts derived from a parent material, 2 at.% Au/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} (WGC ref. no. 60C), prepared by co-precipitation and calcined in air at 400 C, and a catalyst prepared by leaching surface gold from the parent catalyst and exposed to various treatments, including use in the water-gas shift reaction at 250 C. Aberration-corrected JEOL 2200FS (JEOL USA, Peabody, MA) and Vacuum Generators HB-603U STEM instruments were used to image fresh, reduced, leached, used and re-oxidized catalyst samples. A new in situ heating technology (Protochips Inc., Raleigh, NC, USA), which permits full sub-Angstrom imaging resolution in the JEOL 2200FS was used to study the effects of temperature on the behavior of gold species. A remarkable stability of gold to redox treatments up to 400 C, with atomic gold decorating step surfaces of iron oxide was identified. On heating the samples in vacuum to 700 C, it was found that monodispersed gold began to sinter to form nanoparticles above 500 C. Gold species internal to the iron oxide support material was shown to diffuse to the surface at elevated temperature, coalescing into discrete nanocrystals. The results demonstrate the value of in situmore » heating for understanding morphological changes in the catalyst with elevated temperature treatments.« less
PERCUTANEOUS LIGATION OF THE LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE RESULTS IN ATRIAL ELECTRICAL SUBSTRATE MODIFICATION

Left atrial (LA) electrical remodeling is a recognized factor in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated whether LA appendage (LAA) ligation results in modification of LA electrical substrate. Healthy male mongrel dogs (N=21, mean mass ± SD 30.7 +/- 2.8 kg) underwent
Univariate Fractional Polya Integral Inequalities

Here we establish a series of various fractional Polya type integral inequalities with the help of generalised right and left fractional derivatives.
206 DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE LEARNING TOOL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAFETY PREPTM IN A CLINICAL ENVIRONMENT.

Introduction The SAFETY Prep TM is a preoperative protocol designed to promote better operating room (OR) team functioning while fulfilling the requirements of the JCAHO Universal Protocol. Its mnemonically driven format uses metacognitive principles to help make OR team members more conscious about their thought processes. In order to ease its implementation into the clinical setting, we attempted to create a user-friendly learning tool about it for OR teams. Methods We established a set of criteria that took into account OR requirements, adult learning theory, and human factors principles in developing the SAFETY Prep TM learning tool. Key components included simplicity in structure, ease of use, acceptability, portability, and interactivity. Results The SAFETY Prep TM learning tool is a CD-based interactive program designed to take an OR team systematically through the five major steps of the SAFETY Prep TM . The tool instructs the OR team in the major requirements of each step and does not proceed until prompted by the team. As a CD-based tool, it is readily portable. Additionally, its interface is very user friendly due to its simple structure. Pilot trials of the tool in our virtual OR demonstrated its adaptability to the clinical setting. Conclusions The SAFETY Prep TM learning tool is a portable, easy to use, interactive program adaptable to an OR environment. We believe that its use will help ease implementation of the SAFETY Prep TM in the clinical setting. We plan to test this hypothesis by using the learning tool in hospitals adopting the SAFETY Prep TM .
Effect of Various Substrates on Oxygen Uptake of Rat Cerebral Cortex Slices.

SummaryThe effect of various substrates on oxygen uptake of rat cerebral cortex slices was studied in a modified Krebs-Ringer phosphate medium containing glucose. A stimulating effect on oxygen uptake by the salts of several of these substrates appeared to be related to their alkalinity. Since an alkaline substance might produce this effect by depressing the ionization of calcium phosphate, several of these substrates were tested in the same buffer except for exclusion of calcium chloride. Of the various substances tested, only acetoacetate and DL-betahydroxybuty-rate consistently produced an elevation in oxygen uptake. The possibility is raised that acetoacetate and betahydroxybutyrate may play an important role in normal brain function.The author is grateful to Dr. John Fertig, Coll. of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Univ., for assistance in statistical evaluation of the data.
Hearing the story. The persisting importance of the history in a technological age.

I have practiced gastroenterology for over thirty years. During this time I have seen a dramatic change in the way doctors evaluate patients. In the 1960s all the gastroenterologist had available were x-rays of the chest and abdomen, and barium studies of the upper and lower intestinal tract. A careful history and physical examination were highly valued. Now, the list of diagnostic procedures is almost endless, and the history and physical examination get short shrift. In recent years I have been impressed by the seemingly increasing reliance on technology for answers to the patient’s story of illness. Increasing time pressure makes it easier to order tests rather than spend the extra time to understand the story. Technology provides objective data and reassures the scientifically trained mind – and even patients may demand a procedure for reassurance. However, the excessive use of technology sends the cost of medical care spiraling upward, and false positive findings lead to additional costs and needless anxiety. Tests too often produce findings that are (incorrectly) assumed to explain the illness, thereby leading to inappropriate treatment including surgery.
Vibrational Spectroscopy of Co+(CH4)n and Ni+(CH4)n (n = 1–4)

Vibrational spectra of M+(CH4)m(Ar)3–m and M+(CH4)n (M = Co, Ni; m = 1, 2; n = 3, 4) in the C–H stretching region (2500–3100 cm–1) are measured using photofragment spectroscopy, monitoring the loss of argon or methane. Interaction with the metal leads to large red shifts in the C–H stretches for proximate hydrogens. The extent of this shift is sensitive to the coordination (η2 vs η3) and to the metal–methane distance. The structures of the complexes are determined by comparing measured spectra with those calculated for candidate structures at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level. Binding energies are also computed using the CAM-B3LYP functional. In all cases, CH4 shows η2 coordination to the metal. The m = 1 complexes show very large red shifts of 370 cm–1 (for M = Co) and 320 cm–1 (for M = Ni) in the lowest C–H stretch, relative to the symmetric stretch of free CH4. They adopt a C2v structure with the heavy atoms and proximate hydrogen atoms coplanar. The m = 2 complexes have slightly reduced red shifts, an...
Low temperature synthesis of metal doped perovskites catalyst for hydrogen production by autothermal reforming of methane

Abstract Platinum and rhodium doped CeAlO3 perovskites catalysts have been synthesized by adopting citric acid method at much lower temperature than the high temperature traditional solid state route. Systematic characterization of the precursors at various stages was attempted by XRD, BET, XPS, TEM and SEM-EDS analyses to confirm the structure and properties of the perovskites. These catalysts were evaluated in autothermal reforming of methane for hydrogen production. The results showed that the CH4 conversion was 99% at 650 °C which enhanced after the incorporation of Pt in Rh doped CeAlO3 perovskites. Compared to monometallic Rh catalysts, Rh Pt bimetallic catalysts exhibit superior catalytic performance in the methane steam reforming due to synergetic effect. The noble metals such as Pt and Rh are stabilized in its ionic form as they are locked in the structure (preventing sintering of metal particles and catalyst deactivation), thus yielding highly stable catalysts under highly reducing conditions.
ROCK BED DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR HEATING AND COOLING

ABSTRACT Design parameters and contruction details of rock beds for heating and cooling thermal storage are outlined and discussed with emphasis on efficiency and economy. Two prototypical designs by the author that have been constructed are examined in detail; one for passive heating and one for hybrid and active heating and cooling. Rock beds for housing and small commercial structures can achei ve up to 100% heating and cooling by their remote storage of the intermittant resources of passive solar heat and passive natural cooling.
Heterogeneous Data Fusion to Type Brain Tumor Biopsies

Current research in biomedical informatics involves analysis of multiple heterogeneous data sets. This includes patient demographics, clinical and pathology data, treatment history, patient outcomes as well as gene expression, DNA sequences and other information sources such as gene ontology. Analysis of these data sets could lead to better disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and drug discovery. In this paper, we use machine learning algorithms to create a novel framework to perform the heterogeneous data fusion on both metabolic and molecular datasets, including state-of-the-art high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) proton (1H) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and gene transcriptome profiling, to intact brain tumor biopsies and to identify different profiles of brain tumors. Our experimental results show our novel framework outperforms any analysis using individual dataset.
Base Excision Repair and Nucleotide Excision Repair

Abstract Base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) are two DNA-repair pathways that, like other DNA-repair pathways except for direct reversal of DNA damage, involve sequential activities of multiple repair proteins. The two DNA-repair pathways have been studied for more than four decades, and this investigation has elucidated their crucial roles in maintaining genomic integrity particularly in response to exposure to environmental genotoxicants including ultraviolet light, cigarette smoke carcinogens, and reactive oxygen species. This chapter introduces the history and the concepts of DNA excision repair, discusses types of DNA damage processed by BER and NER, and describes the repair mechanisms. The detailed steps in these repair pathways in cells are complex and they require the coordination of the enzymatic reactions. Recent evidence indicates that DNA-damage and excision-repair proteins are key signal transducers and play critical roles for DNA-damage responses and communications between nuclei and mitochondria. Precise knowledge of BER and NER reactions should help us understand the roles that these key DNA-repair pathways play in preserving normal physiology which in turn should improve understanding of how defects in these pathways contribute to human disease with a particular emphasis on cancer.
Post Keynesian Monetary Economics

(1987). Post Keynesian Monetary Economics. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 538-540.
Answering the call by developing an online elementary mathematics specialist program

Abstract The Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators adopted Standards for Elementary Mathematics Specialists calling for structured preparation of math coaches, specialists, and instructional leaders across the country (AMTE, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the structure and design of our fully online Elementary Mathematics Instructional Leader (EMIL) graduate program for inservice teachers aiming to answer the call. Our graduates are teacher leaders and coaches who are responsible for supporting effective mathematics instruction and student learning at the classroom, school, district, or state levels. We will review formative data from our first cohort of graduates, the benefits and drawbacks to providing online (and grant-funded) courses, and the impact of participant attrition. Our goal is to offer guidance and information to other organizations as they move to develop programs of their own.
A single intervention for cockroach control reduces cockroach exposure and asthma morbidity in children.

Background Exposure to cockroaches is an important asthma trigger, particularly for children with asthma living in inner cities. Integrated pest management is the recommended approach to cockroach abatement; however, it is costly and difficult to implement. The impact of reducing cockroach exposure on asthma outcomes is not known. Objective We sought to test the use of a single intervention, insecticidal bait, to reduce cockroach exposure in the home of children with asthma in New Orleans and to examine the impact of cockroach reduction on asthma outcomes. Methods One hundred two children aged 5 to 17 years with moderate to severe asthma were enrolled in a 12-month randomized controlled trial testing the use of insecticidal bait on cockroach counts and asthma morbidity. Homes were visited 6 times and asthma symptoms were assessed every 2 months. Results After adjustment, intervention homes had significantly fewer cockroaches than did control homes (mean change in cockroaches trapped, 13.14; 95% CI, 6.88-19.39; P P = .03; 1.17, 95% CI, 0.11-2.24, P = .03, respectively) and a higher proportion of children with FEV 1 of less than 80% predicted (odds ratio, 5.74; 95% CI, 1.60-20.57; P = .01) compared with children living in intervention homes. Conclusions Previous research has demonstrated improvement in asthma health outcomes using multifaceted interventions. The strategic placement of insecticidal bait, which is inexpensive, has low toxicity, and is widely available, resulted in sustained cockroach elimination over 12 months and was associated with improved asthma outcomes. This single intervention may be an alternative to multifaceted interventions currently recommended to improve asthma morbidity.
Nordic welfare in post-war Italy

AbstractThe present article deals with some of the main issues concerning the perception of the Nordic welfare state in Italy. First the article describes how and why socialist and communist leftists oppose the Nordic model. Then it shows how, around 1980, more factually informed and less ideologically biased descriptions changed this picture. In this positive evolution, more critical views focusing on (albeit mild) Nordic eugenic practices are also taken into account. Finally, the article focuses on the new image of the Nordic model as modernized welfare states (Schumpeterian states, as some scholars define them) effectively coping with enhanced globalized competition and therefore chosen as the benchmark of EU welfare reform. The concluding remarks also deal with the contradictions and setbacks of this ‘Europeanization’ of the Italian welfare debate.
A ductile failure criterion for predicting sheet metal forming limit

Abstract This study proposes a new Ductile Failure Criterion (DFC) to predict forming limits for sheet metal forming. In this criterion, damage growth is defined by a modified McClintock formula, stretching failure is defined at Localized Necking (LN) or Fracture without LN, and the critical damage is defined as a function of strain path and initial sheet thickness. The failure definition removes the uncertainty of Post-Necking (P-N) deformation while the critical damage definition reflects the findings of many micromechanical studies. The observed strain path and sheet thickness effects on the critical damage are represented by an effect function, which can be phenomenologically determined by a set of critical tests. With the help of the determined effect function, the proposed criterion only needs a calibration at uniaxial tension. The proposed criterion is validated by calculating limit strains under linear, bilinear and strongly non-linear strain paths for different sheet materials, which include data from Numisheet 2008 and 2014 Benchmark studies. Comparison shows that the calculations and failure predictions are in good agreement with the experimental observations and comparable with the best results from benchmark participants.
Making in Minecraft: A Means of Self-Expression for Youth with Autism

Maker culture values fabrication and production in both the digital and physical realms as well as the sharing of resources. As such, maker culture provides an opportunity to be democratic and inclusive. Likewise, spaces that stem from maker culture, such as makerspaces, provide the same opportunity for inclusion, even for those with disabilities. Autcraft is a community that supports children with autism and is centered on a Minecraft virtual world that embodies maker culture. The Autcraft community's unique form of maker culture supports self-expression, sociality, and learning for children with autism by providing structure in a virtual space, allowing for and enabling creating and sharing. In this paper, we explore design implications for the creation of inclusive spaces for making and self-expression in the future based on intensive fieldwork in the Autcraft community.
Abstract TP339: Operations Director, Neurosciences Clinical Program, Intermountain Healthcare

Introduction: Beginning January 2014, a 245-bed Intermountain Healthcare primary stroke center was using a private Telestroke (SOC) service. On April 1, 2015, Intermountain implemented its own cent...
Quantitative, multiplexed workflow for deep analysis of human blood plasma and biomarker discovery by mass spectrometry

Proteomic characterization of blood plasma is of central importance to clinical proteomics and particularly to biomarker discovery studies. The vast dynamic range and high complexity of the plasma proteome have, however, proven to be serious challenges and have often led to unacceptable tradeoffs between depth of coverage and sample throughput. We present an optimized sample-processing pipeline for analysis of the human plasma proteome that provides greatly increased depth of detection, improved quantitative precision and much higher sample analysis throughput as compared with prior methods. The process includes abundant protein depletion, isobaric labeling at the peptide level for multiplexed relative quantification and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to accurate-mass, high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry analysis of peptides fractionated off-line by basic pH reversed-phase (bRP) chromatography. The overall reproducibility of the process, including immunoaffinity depletion, is high, with a process replicate coefficient of variation (CV) of 4,500 proteins are detected and quantified per patient sample on average, with two or more peptides per protein and starting from as little as 200 μl of plasma. The approach can be multiplexed up to 10-plex using tandem mass tags (TMT) reagents, further increasing throughput, albeit with some decrease in the number of proteins quantified. In addition, we provide a rapid protocol for analysis of nonfractionated depleted plasma samples analyzed in 10-plex. This provides ∼600 quantified proteins for each of the ten samples in ∼5 h of instrument time.
Random Regular Graph and Generalized De Bruijn Graph with $k$ -Shortest Path Routing

The Random regular graph (RRG) has recently been proposed as an interconnect topology for future large scale data centers and HPC clusters. An RRG is a special case of directed regular graph (DRG) where each link is unidirectional and all nodes have the same number of incoming and outgoing links. In this work, we establish bounds for DRGs on diameter, average $k$ -shortest path length, and a load balancing property with $k$ -shortest path routing, and use these bounds to evaluate RRGs. The results indicate that an RRG with $k$ -shortest path routing is not ideal in terms of diameter and load balancing. We further consider the Generalized De Bruijn Graph (GDBG), a deterministic DRG, and prove that for most network configurations, a GDBG is near optimal in terms of diameter, average $k$ -shortest path length, and load balancing with a $k$ -shortest path routing scheme. Finally, we use modeling and simulation to exploit the strengths and weaknesses of RRGs for different traffic conditions by comparing RRGs with GDBGs.
Reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0) by biogenic magnetite from two magnetotactic bacteria

Understanding the biogeochemical cycle of the highly toxic element mercury (Hg) is necessary to predict its fate and transport. In this study, we determined that biogenic magnetite isolated from Ma...
Integrating DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation Data with the Mint Pipeline.

DNA methylation (5mC) plays important roles in mammalian development, oncogenesis, treatment response, and responses to the environment. DNA hydroxymethylation (5hmC) is also an informative epigenetic mark with distinct roles in regulation and cancer. Gold-standard, widely used technologies (bisulfite conversion, followed by deep sequencing) cannot distinguish between 5mC and 5hmC. Therefore, additional experiments are required to differentiate the two marks, and in silico methods are needed to analyze, integrate, and interpret these data. We developed the Methylation INTegration (mint) pipeline to support the comprehensive analysis of bisulfite conversion and immunoprecipitation-based methylation and hydroxymethylation assays, with additional steps toward integration, visualization, and interpretation. The pipeline is available as both a command line and a Galaxy graphical user interface tool. Both implementations require minimal configuration while remaining flexible to experiment specific needs. Cancer Res; 77(21); e27–30. ©2017 AACR.
Highly sensitive photodetectors based on organic-inorganic heterostructure

We demonstrate hybrid Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) photodetector incorporating a thin layer of highly absorbing organic j-aggregate molecules. Due to nearly perfect emission-absorption spectral overlap between the organic-inorganic materials, more than threefold increase in the photoresponsivity was observed in such hybrid devices.
Structural Studies, Molecular Cloning, and Localization of the Plasma Membrane Ca2 + -pumping ATPase

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the structural studies, molecular cloning and localization of the plasma membrane Ca 2+ -pumping ATPase. The action of calcium ion as an intracellular regulatory signal requires a complex set of biochemical processes including Ca 2+ release or influx in response to stimuli, binding to intracellular receptors and removal of regulatory calcium to terminate the response. The latter process occurs as a result of membrane bound ion pumps that can translocate Ca 2+ either into protected compartments within the cell or through the plasma membrane to the external environment. It is observed that the ion translocases that couple the hydrolysis of ATP to Ca 2+ pumping are most important in restoring intracellular Ca levels to the submicromolar range required for the resting. All studies of purified membrane Ca 2+ -ATPase were performed with the enzyme purified to homogeneity from human erythrocyte membranes. This preparation was also utilized to prepare immunoreagents used for both localization and molecular cloning studies in rat and bovine species, respectively. High titer polyclonal antihuman ATPase antibodies were raised in New Zealand rabbits by standard immunization regimes with Freunds adjuvant and purified from the resulting high titer hyperimmune sera by adsorption to antigen immobilized on CaM-Sepharose or following transfer to nitrocellulose.
Perspectives on Patient Safety and Medical Malpractice: A Comparison of Medical and Legal Systems in Italy and the United States.

Objectives Italy is experiencing a crisis of malpractice litigation with important repercussions on the insurance industry (e.g., lower profits), physicians (e.g., defensive medicine), and the courts (e.g., work backlog, lengthy proceedings). We searched for common ground between legal systems in Italy and the United States and considered the implications for international collaborations in patient safety. Methods We examined the judicial frameworks of medical malpractice litigation in two countries with different legal foundations: the United States (a public-private system governed by common law) and Italy (a publicly financed healthcare system governed by civil law). Results We found important differences and similarities across the two systems that suggest a high compatibility for future comparisons and collaborations. Although many Italian hospitals maintain risk management programs, the U.S. emphasis on patient safety and quality has not yet been integrated into Italian healthcare systems. Conclusions Based on our findings, we propose that the Italian system might benefit from assertively adopting some concepts from the U.S. system. In particular, we consider the role of the law and Italian medicolegal experts as key facilitators for the integration of patient safety and risk management units within Italian healthcare facilities.
A Perceptual-Motor Processing Model of Emotion

What is the nature of emotion? Mandler (1975) cautions not to ask this question, fearful it may lead to reification and delude us into thinking that emotions exist. If Mandler means to alert us to the fact that all experience is private and can only be studied using various indicators, etc., we should indeed heed his cautionary statement. But if he means to single out emotion from thought and/or perception, and argue against the existence of emotion as a discrete form of mental experience, then I must take exception to his warning. My emotions existed well before my thoughts and certainly well before I was aware of the problem of reification; I suspect the same was true for Professor Mandler.