cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modular multimodal swept-source spectrally encoded scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography scan-head for surgical microscope-integrated and slit-lamp imaging

Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) enable noninvasive in vivo diagnostic imaging and provide complementary en face and depth-resolved visualization of ophthalmic structures, respectively. We previously demonstrated concurrent multimodal swept-source spectrally encoded scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and OCT (SS-SESLO-OCT) at 1060 nm using a swept-source and double clad fiber coupler. Here, we present system enhancements and novel designs for a modular SS-SESLO-OCT scan-head that can be coupled to ophthalmic surgical microscope-integrated and slit-lamp imaging optics. Multimodal SS-SESLO-OCT was demonstrated using a custom-built swept-source OCT engine with a 200 kHz 1060 nm source that was optically buffered for concurrent SESLO and OCT imaging at 100% duty cycle and 400 kHz sweep-rate. A shared optical relay and fast-axis galvanometer ensured inherent co-registration between SESLO and OCT field-of-views and concurrent acquisition of an en face SESLO image with each OCT cross-section. SESLO and OCT frames were acquired at 200 fps with 2560 x 2000 pix. (spectral x lateral). We show in vivo human ophthalmic imaging data using surgical microscope-integrated and slit-lamp imaging relays to demonstrate the utility of our SS-SESLO-OCT design. Our self-contained modular scan-head can be used for either intraoperative guidance or clinical diagnostics and reduces the complexity, cost, and maintenance required for clinical translation of these technologies. We believe concurrent multimodal SS-SESLO-OCT may benefit 1) intraoperative imaging by allowing for real-time surgical feedback, instrument tracking, and overlays of computationally extracted image-based surrogate biomarkers of disease, and 2) slit-lamp imaging by enabling aiming, image registration, and multi-field mosaicking.
How Does Actual Unemployment and the Perceived Risk of Joblessness Affect Smoking Behavior? Gender and Intra-family Effects

Using the 1999–2011 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we examine how actual unemployment and the perceived risk of joblessness, as reflected by exogenous aggregate unemployment rates, are related to changes in smoking behavior. The analysis allows for intra-family and gender-specific effects. We find that among men, becoming unemployed initially has a favorable impact on smoking behavior, including a decreased likelihood of a smoking relapse and decreased cigarette consumption. However among men who are unemployed long term, some of these favorable effects attenuate. Among women, we find that becoming unemployed initially has a small impact on quitting smoking. However, being unemployed long term decreases their likelihood of quitting smoking. The perceived risk of unemployment has very little impact on men but affects women’s smoking behavior. Results indicate that women experiencing an increase in their state’s unemployment rate are more likely to change their smoking behavior favorably.
Temperature-dependent study of ion-channeling in Fe/Cr superlattices

Giant-Magneto-Resistance (GMR), as large as 150% at 4K, occurs in Fe/Cr superlattices as a result of antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling. The authors have successfully grown epitaxial single-crystal Fe/Cr multilayers using magnetron sputtering. Ion channeling was employed to study the structural and vibrational properties of the sputter-deposited Fe/Cr superlattices, and of a Cr thin film, between temperatures of 100 and 330K. Channeling in the latter specimen was used to investigate the importance of depositing a Cr buffer-layer in order to obtain superlattices with large GMR values. Once the buffer layer exceeded a critical thickness, a high quality Cr film was observed. The epitaxial quality of the superlattices grown on such buffer layers by sputtering was found to be excellent. Minimum yields nearly equal to theoretical predictions were found for channeling along the growth direction; slightly higher values were found along the axis. Because of the high structural quality of the sputter-deposited films, it was possible to investigate changes in thermal vibration amplitudes, even though their magnitude is only of the order of a few pm (10{sup {minus}12} m). No unusual structural changes of this magnitude were observed in angular channeling scans obtained while cooling the Fe/Cr superlattice form 330 downmore » to 100 K.« less
The market for corporate control: The scientific evidence☆

This paper reviews much of the scientific literature on the market for corporate control. The evidence indicates that corporate takeovers generate positive gains, that target firm shareholders benefit, and that bidding firm shareholders do not lose. The gains created by corporate takeovers do not appear to come from the creation of market power. With the exception of actions that exclude potential bidders, it is difficult to find managerial actions related to corporate control that harm shareholders. Finally, we argue the market for corporate control is best viewed as an arena in which managerial teams compete for the rights to manage corporate resources.
Occupationally Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infection in Health Care Workers: A Review

The Public Health Service has estimated that the current number of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) in the United States is 945,000 to 1,410,000 people (1). Within one to five years 20–30% of those infected will develop acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); recently it has been postulated that perhaps as many as 99% of infected individuals will eventually develop AIDS (2). Over time, it is inevitable that increasing numbers of HIV-1 positive individuals will enter the health care system, and this in turn will result in an increase in the potential for exposure to HIV-1 among health care workers.
Quality-adaptive deep learning for pedestrian detection

Pedestrian detection is a fundamental task for many applications including autonomous vehicles and surveillance systems. In a mobile or networked environment bandwidth is limited and adaptive datarate streaming is used. Video compression can introduce significant quality degradation that impacts the accuracy of video analytics. In this paper, we examine the problem of a changing video data-rate and examine how it affects the performance of video analytics, in particular pedestrian detection, using a two-stage quality-adaptive convolutional neural network system. Our experimental results demonstrate that when adaptive data-rate streaming is used, our proposed quality-adaptive approach reduces the miss rate by 20% compared to the baseline detector.
CMOS bi-directional ultra-wideband galvanically isolated die-to-die communication utilizing a double-isolated transformer

In this work, an ultra-wideband (UWB) bi-directional galvanic isolator (BDGI) is reported for the first time. The proposed design methodology uses time-division-duplex (TDD) protocol to merge the functionality of two passive galvanically isolated channels into one magnetically coupled communication channel between two chips, enabling up to 50% form-factor and assembly cost reduction while achieving state-of-art performance. A low-power UWB pulse polarity-modulated transceiver architecture is presented to maximize the channel's capacity to 300 Mb/s and minimize power consumption and propagation delay to 200 pj/b and 5 ns respectively. The communication channel utilizes a double-isolated transformer coupled channel consisting of two transformers connected in series using bondwires and achieves 11 kVpk (7.8 kVrms) high voltage isolation, the highest reported without adding extra steps or alternating the native CMOS fabrication process. The system is realized in a 0.25 um BCD (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) process with 0.8 mm2 silicon area per channel. The system uses odd-symmetry center-tapped transformers and differential transceivers to increase noise/transient immunity.
[18F]DCFBC (DCFBC) prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) based PET/CT detection of metastatic castration-sensitive (CSPC) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)

19 Objectives We previously reported that DCFBC PET/CT can detect metastatic prostate cancer (mPC). This study further evaluates the utility of DCFBC PET/CT for detection of mPC with respect to castration-resistant status. Methods Twelve patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and radiographic evidence of mPC by conventional imaging (CI), CT and bone scan, were enrolled; n=5 CSPC and n=7 CRPC. PET/CT was obtained at 2 h post-injection of DCFBC. Two-reader visual assessment of DCFBC positive for metastases (higher than background) was compared to recent CI studies. Highest intra-patient SUVmax values for bone and lymph node metastases were correlated with castration-resistant status, serum folate and PSA levels by t test or Pearson correlation. Results DCFBC PET uptake was observed in lymph nodes, bone, and viscera (adrenal, pancreas) with high concordance with CI. DCFBC PET demonstrated improved mPC detection compared to CI in bone, especially cervical spine and degenerative changes, and in subcentimeter nodes. Lower DCFBC uptake was seen in densely sclerotic bone metastases compared to lytic or mixed lesions. There was no significant difference in DCFBC uptake when comparing castration-resistant status in nodal metastases (SUVmax 10.6 in CSPC and SUVmax 11.6 in CRPC; P=0.44), but higher DCFBC uptake was seen in CRPC bone metastases (SUVmax 5.1 in CSPC and SUVmax 11.7 in CRPC; P=0.049). There was moderate direct correlation of tumor SUVmax with PSA levels (r=0.4), after excluding one outlier patient with “superscan” bone metastases (PSA 564.5 with SUVmax 9.2). Tumor DCFBC uptake via PSMA was unaffected by serum folate levels, with average highest tumor SUVmax of 12.9. Conclusions DCFBC PET/CT demonstrates reliable detection of both CSPC and CRPC mPC, with higher uptake in CRPC compared to CSPC in bone metastases. DCFBC uptake is moderately correlated with serum PSA levels and is not inhibited by high serum folate. Research Support Prostate Cancer Foundation, CA103175, CA134675.
Do you dig my groove

Finding functions for gene products using genomic sequence as a guide has proved more difficult than anticipated: almost half of the putative open reading frames (ORFs) of recently sequenced microbial genomes fall into the 'hypothetical' category (with respect to function; ref. 1). Many had hoped that the large inventory of proteins with known function would allow most new genes to be identified on the basis of homology. Not surprisingly, the sequence 'miners' are pulling out all stops in their quest to find clues to the function of ORFs. One approach is to identify binding partners with which polypeptide X might interact. After all, many proteins exist as heterooligomers or need to interact with other proteins in one way or other.
A block in epinephrine-induced glycogenolysis in hearts from adrenalectomized rats.

Abstract Perfused hearts from adrenal-deficient rats showed an impaired glycogenolytic response to suboptimal concentrations of epinephrine as judged by measurements of tissue glycogen and lactate production. The glycogenolytic response could be restored to normal by treatment of these animals with cortisol in vivo. Individual steps in the path of epinephrine-stimulated glycogenolysis were examined. Adrenalectomy did not impair adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate accumulation in response to several concentrations of epinephrine; a histone kinase, partially purified from hearts of adrenalectomized rats, was as sensitive to activation by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate as the enzyme prepared from normal hearts; and the activation of phosphorylase b kinase by several concentrations of epinephrine was unaffected by the deficiency of adrenal cortical hormones. However, suboptimal concentrations of epinephrine did not activate phosphorylase in hearts from adrenalectomized rats to the normal extent. These findings suggest therefore that the defect following adrenalectomy lies in the activity of phosphorylase b kinase. The defect could be overcome by administration of adrenal glucocorticoid in vivo or by raising the perfusate calcium concentration.
Pumping Life Into Your Classroom: Using CPR Training to Teach Principles of Training Design:

We present an experiential exercise to teach key principles of training design. Selected students participate in a self-learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program, CPR Anytime®, offere...
Blast flagging of the Sysmex XN-10 hematology analyzer with supervised cell image analysis: Impact on quality parameters.

INTRODUCTION The Sysmex XN-10 automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex Corporation) is routinely used in hematology laboratories to perform complete blood cell count with differential (CBC w/ diff). The sensitivity of this system for blast detection is unclear, since many prior studies evaluating the blast flagging capabilities of Sysmex XN series used the white precursor cell (WPC) channel, which is not cleared for use in the United States. METHODS We assessed the blast flagging capabilities of the Sysmex XN-10 compared with CellaVision (a cell image analyzer)-assisted visual hematology results. We evaluated the following flags: "blasts?/abnormal lymph?" and "immature granulocytes present" and compared differences in turnaround time between methods. RESULTS We collected data on 2239 CBC w/ diff Sysmex automated analyzer differential and CellaVision-assisted visual differential from the inpatient hematology-oncology population of a tertiary care medical center. Solely analyzing the first CBC/diff from each unique patient, both flags had a combined sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 50.2%, PPV of 21.7%, and NPV of 100%. The mean turnaround time for the automated differential was 19.5 minutes (SD 35.9 minutes) compared with 66.4 minutes for the CellaVision-assisted visual differential (SD 68.5 minutes; P < 0.001; Figure 1). CONCLUSION The Sysmex XN-10 abnormal lymphocyte/blast and immature granulocytes flags had excellent sensitivity and acceptable specificity in detecting circulating blasts with shorter turnaround time than the CellaVision-assisted visual differential. Our study suggests that automated differentials performed on Sysmex XN-10 can replace visual differentials as a first-line screening method for blast detection with improved turnaround time in hematology-oncology populations.
The Effects of Metronome Frequency Differentially Affects Gait on a Treadmill and Overground in People with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of different metronome cue frequencies on spatiotemporal gait parameters when walking overground compared to walking on a treadmill in people with Parkinson’s disease Design Repeated-measures, within-subject design Setting Research laboratory Participants Twenty-one people with Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn & Yahr stage 1-3) Interventions Participants walked overground and on a treadmill with and without metronome cues of 85%, 100%, and 115% of their baseline cadence for one minute each. Main Outcome Measures Gait speed, step length, and cadence Results An interaction effect between cue frequency and walking environment revealed that participants took longer steps during the 85% condition on the treadmill only. When walking overground, metronome cues of 85% and 115% of baseline cadence yielded decreases and increases, respectively, in both cadence and gait speed with no concomitant change in step length. Conclusions These data suggest that people with PD are able to alter spatiotemporal gait parameters immediately when provided the appropriate metronome cue and walking environment. We propose to target shortened step lengths by stepping to the beat of slow frequency auditory cues while walking on a treadmill, whereas the use of fast frequency cues during overground walking can facilitate faster walking speeds.
'Weighty Celebrity': Corpulency, Monstrosity, and Freakery in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century England

Obesity seems to have become prevalent in English society in the eighteenth century, likely as a result of changes in the country's diet such as an increasing consumption of sugar. With the greater incidence of corpulence in the population came more fat individuals on England's lucrative show circuit, joining the conjoined twins, hermaphrodites, dwarfs, giants, and individuals of different ethnicities who had peopled London's pubs, coffee houses, and exhibition halls for centuries. This article contextualizes historical corpulency in terms of early modern monstrosity and nineteenth-century freakery, with additional input from the modern Fat Studies and Disability Studies movements, in order to explore public consciousness about and fascination with particularly obese individuals, epitomized by the fattest men of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries: the 616-pound (279 kg) Edward Bright and the 739-pound (335 kg) Daniel Lambert. Using a variety of source materials—newspaper articles, dieting pamphlets, medical and scientific essays, advertising leaflets and etchings, and popular histories about the lives of famous individuals—this essay argues that, though extremely corpulent individuals needed to exist in the first place in order to be incorporated into the show circuit, it was society's fascination with these new, unusual bodies that allowed them to rise into prominence as an entertainment feature in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century England.
Complete Microsurgical Resection of Large Retrochiasmatic Hypothalamic Craniopharyngioma by Transpetrosal Approach: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

This two-dimensional video shows the technical nuances of complete microsurgical resection of a hypothalamic craniopharyngioma located in the retrochiasmatic region by the transpetrosal approach. This 49-yr-old man presented with progressive fatigue, excessive sleepiness, and difficulty in vision in both eyes. He was found to have right CN 3 paralysis and bitemporal hemianopsia on neurological examination. Further workup revealed panhypopituitarism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large solid retrochiasmatic hypothalamic lesion with homogeneous contrast enhancement, measuring 2.1 × 2.6 × 2.4 cm. Optic chiasm was prefixed, and the tumor was just posterior to the pituitary stalk area. The preoperative differential diagnosis included hypothalamic astrocytoma, craniopharyngioma, germinoma, and histiocytosis. Because of the prefixed chiasm, a presigmoid, transpetrosal approach was performed. Our initial plan was a large biopsy, but based on frozen section histology, we decided to excise the tumor completely. The tumor had a pseudocapsule, which was firm and yellowish. It was debulked, dissected from the surrounding hypothalamus, and removed completely. The pituitary stalk was found at the anterior and inferior ends of the tumor and was preserved. Postoperatively, the patient developed diabetes insipidus and requires desmopressin replacement, which was gradually tapered. For panhypopituitarism, he is receiving thyroxine, hydrocortisone, and testosterone. Postoperatively, patient had an improvement in vision in his left eye and ptosis was improving in the right eye with mRs 1- at 10-wk follow-up. An informed consent was obtained from the patient prior to the surgery, which included videotaping of the procedure and its distribution for educational purposes. All relevant patient identifiers have also been removed from the video and accompanying radiology slides.
Nondiagnostic Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules: Outcomes and Determinants

Background: Nondiagnostic results are common following fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid nodules, but recommendations for the management of these patients vary. We sought to determine the outcomes and predictors of nondiagnostic FNABs in a single-center cohort of patients undergoing thyroid nodule evaluation. Methodology: We identified all first time ultrasound-guided FNABs performed between May 2007 and June 2013 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Thyroid Nodule Clinic and examined demographic data, follow-up ultrasounds, repeated FNABs, and histopathologic findings. We examined the likelihood of diagnostic findings and of cancer with increasing numbers of nondiagnostic evaluations with their exact binomial confidence intervals [CIs] and potential predictors of nondiagnostic status using generalized estimating equations. Results: During the six-year period, 2234 unique individuals underwent ultrasound-guided FNAB of a thyroid nodule. The probability of obtaining a diagnostic biopsy declined from 84.4% [95% CI 82.8-85.8%] for initial FNABs to 57.6% [CI 50.8-64.2%] for the first re-FNAB and further to 42.4% [CI 25.5-60.8%] for second re-FNABs. Adjusted risk of nondiagnostic FNAB strongly increased with increasing numbers of previous biopsies and was also higher among whites. The overall rate of diagnosis of malignancy after a nondiagnostic FNAB was 8.1% [CI 4.2-13.7%] and was similar regardless of the number of previous nondiagnostic aspirations. Conclusion: Following an initial nondiagnostic FNAB, the probability of yielding a diagnostic result declines with each sequential repeat FNAB. Nonetheless, a tangible possibility of malignancy remains even after repeated nondiagnostic FNABs.
The ‘Temporal Turn’ in New Testament Studies:

Reflecting a recent trend across academic disciplines, New Testament scholars are beginning to explore the concept of time and temporality, a concept not well-developed in the field. This article s...
Collagen Organization in Relation to Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Pathology and Outcomes.

Background: There is widespread interest in discriminating indolent from aggressive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We sought to evaluate collagen organization in the DCIS tumor microenvironment in relation to pathologic characteristics and patient outcomes. Methods: We retrieved fixed tissue specimens for 90 DCIS cases within the population-based Vermont DCIS Cohort. We imaged collagen fibers within 75 μm of the tumor/stromal boundary on hematoxylin and eosin–stained slides using multiphoton microscopy with second-harmonic generation. Automated software quantified collagen fiber length, width, straightness, density, alignment, and angle to the tumor/stroma boundary. Factor analysis identified linear combinations of collagen fiber features representing composite attributes of collagen organization. Results: Multiple collagen features were associated with DCIS grade, necrosis pattern, or periductal fibrosis (P 0.05). Five composite factors were identified, accounting for 72.4% of the total variability among fibers; three were inversely associated with recurrence (HRs ranging from 0.60 to 0.67; P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Multiple aspects of collagen organization around DCIS lesions are associated with recurrence risk. Impact: Collagen organization should be considered in the development of prognostic DCIS biomarker signatures.
Dementia and the Critically Ill Older Adult

Dementia is a terminal illness that leads to progressive cognitive and functional decline. As the elderly population grows, the incidence of dementia in hospitalized older adults increases and is associated with poor short-term and long-term outcomes. Delirium is associated with an accelerated cognitive decline in hospitalized patients with dementia. The first step in the management of dementia is accurate and early diagnosis. Evidence-based management guidelines in the setting of critical illness and dementia are lacking. The cornerstone of management is defining goals of care early in the course of hospitalization and using palliative care and hospice when deemed appropriate.
O antropoceno mais que humano

This essay explains some of the insights about the Anthropocene that I gained working on the Feral Atlas project, which gathers more than a hundred scientists, scholars, artists, and writers, from varied backgrounds, to offer experience-based stories of the anthropogenic earth as they best know it. The Feral Atlas tells the adventures of the nonhuman collaborators with the Anthropocene. Our subjects are living and nonliving beings that—through their entanglement in human imperial and industrial projects—are (in the main) helping to destroy the earth’s livability.
CRISPR-Targeted CAR Gene Insertion Using Cas9/RNP and AAV6 Enhances Anti-AML Activity of Primary NK Cells

Abstract Human peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells have intense antitumor activity and have been used successfully in several clinical trials. Modifying NK cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) can improve their targeting and increase specificity. Recently, we described an efficient method for gene targeting in NK cells using Cas9/ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Here we combined this approach with single-stranded (ss) or self-complementary (sc) Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery for gene insertion into a safe-harbor locus using a wide variety of homology arms for homology repair (HR) and non-homologous directed CRISPR-assisted insertion tagging (CRISPaint) approaches. For proof-of-concept, we generated mCherry-expressing primary NK cells and determined that sc vectors with 300bp homology arms had optimal transduction efficiency. Then, we generated CD33-targeting CAR NK cells with differing transmembrane and signaling domains (CD4/4-1BB+CD3ζ and NKG2D/2B4+CD3ζ) and expanded them on CSTX002 feeder cells. Expansion kinetics were unaltered and the expanded NK cells maintained high CAR expression (mean 68% CAR+). The CD33-CAR-NK cells showed increased activation markers and enhanced antileukemic activity with improved killing kinetics against CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines and primary samples. Using targeted sequencing we demonstrated the accuracy of CAR gene insertion in human primary NK cells genome. Site-directed insertion using RNP and scAAV6 is an efficient method for stable genetic transfer into primary NK cells that has broad potential for fundamental discovery and therapeutic applications.
DNA end resection during homologous recombination

Exposure to environmental mutagens but also cell-endogenous processes can create DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in a cell's genome. DSBs need to be repaired accurately and timely to ensure genomic integrity and cell survival. One major DSB repair mechanism, called homologous recombination, relies on the nucleolytic degradation of the 5'-terminated strands in a process termed end resection. Here, we review new insights into end resection with a focus on the mechanistic interplay of the nucleases, helicases, and accessory factors involved.
Impaired immunomodulatory capacity in adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells isolated from obese patients.

Immune-modulatory properties of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) might be susceptible to metabolic disturbances. We hypothesized that the immune-modulatory function of MSCs might be blunted in obese human subjects. MSCs were collected from abdominal subcutaneous fat of obese and lean subjects during bariatric or kidney donation surgeries, respectively. MSCs were co-cultured in vitro for 24 h with M1 macrophages, which were determined as M1or M2 phenotypes by flow cytometry, and cytokines measured in conditioned media. In vivo, lean or obese MSCs (5 × 105 ), or PBS, were injected into mice two weeks after unilateral renal artery stenosis (RAS) or sham surgeries (n = 6 each). Fourteen days later, kidneys were harvested and stained with M1 or M2 markers. Lean MSCs decreased macrophages M1 marker intensity, which remained elevated in macrophages co-cultured with obese MSCs. TNF-α levels were four-fold higher in conditioned media collected from obese than from lean MSCs. RAS mouse kidneys were shrunk and showed increased M1 macrophage numbers and inflammatory cytokine expression compared with normal kidneys. Lean MSCs decreased M1 macrophages, M1/M2 ratio and inflammation in RAS kidneys, whereas obese MSCs did not. MSCs isolated from lean human subjects decrease inflammatory M1 macrophages both in vivo and in vitro, an immune-modulatory function which is blunted in MSCs isolated from obese subjects.
Two-Port Characterization and Transfer Immittances of AC-DC Converters—Part I: Modeling

This two-part paper presents a general method to model three-phase ac-dc converters in the frequency domain for power system stability studies. In the developed approach, an ac-dc converter is treated as a two-port network connecting an ac and a dc power system, and is characterized by a set of self and transfer immittances. The transfer immittances describe two types of small-signal coupling that are unique to three-phase ac-dc converters: The first type describes the coupling between the ac and dc port and involves a frequency shift by the fundamental; the second type models the coupling over frequency in the ac port current response and involves a frequency shift by twice the fundamental. Together with the self-immittances of each port, the developed models can be used as building blocks to support impedance-based stability analysis of various power systems that involve such converters, including ac, dc, and hybrid ac-dc power generation, transmission and distribution systems. Part I of the paper explains the two-port modeling approach and develops the associated models for a two-level voltage-source converter. Part II presents applications of the developed models for stability analysis of different systems.
Roles of carbohydrates in the interaction of pathogens with neural cells.

Numerous pathogens that can affect neural function utilize oligosaccharide–protein interactions as a first step in the infection process. The variability in carbohydrate structures as well as the presence of carbohydrate binding receptors on the surface of cells provides a plethora of potential binding sites for viruses, bacteria, and bacterial toxins. This chapter discusses scenarios for how carbohydrates may affect the ability of infectious agents to interact with neural cells, provides examples of problems that may result from development of antibodies to carbohydrate antigens found on pathogens that are similar to epitopes expressed on mammalian cells, and presents approaches either in use or under consideration for translational uses of this information.
Parameter identification of minimal realizations

Abstract : The report is concerned with the problem of identifying the unknown parameters of a multiple-input/multiple-output, linear, constant, discrete time system from measurements made on the inputs and the outputs. The class of systems to be considered must satisfy the requirements of a specified canonical form. Necessary and sufficient conditions for systems to satisfy this canonical form are given, and as demonstrated by the examples in the report, a large class of useful systems falls into the category for which this identification algorithm is applicable. (Author)
Employees with Teens

ABSTRACT This article raises the question: should EAPs be responsive to the needs of working parents with teenagers? Today's youth face challenges that are greater than previous generations. Moreover, there has been an increase in single-parent families and families with two working parents, situations that may impede parents' ability to provide care and supervision for their adolescents. Few studies have explored the concerns of these working parents. Towards this end, this article presents data from an employee survey, and offers recommendations about the kinds of questions that should be included in EAP needs assessments for employees with adolescents.
Human dioxin-inducible cytosolic NAD(P)H:menadione oxidoreductase. cDNA sequence and localization of gene to chromosome 16.

Abstract NAD(P)H:menadione oxidoreductase (NMOR1) is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the two-electron reduction of various redox dyes and quinones. It has been proposed that this enzyme may have a protective effect against cancer caused by quinones and their metabolic precursors. We show that tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment of the human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep-G2 produces a 5-fold induction of NMOR activity. Several overlapping human NMOR1 cDNAs were isolated from a human liver lambda gt 11 expression library, and their composite sequence corresponds to an mRNA of 2448 nucleotides containing a continuous open reading frame encoding a protein of 274 residues (molecular weight, 30,880). The corresponding human NMOR1 mRNA has an unusually long 3'-untranslated region (1679 base pairs) with four potential polyadenylation signals (I-IV) at positions 986, 1460, 1838, and 2419 and a single copy of human Alu repetitive sequence between polyadenylation sites II and III. Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA suggests the presence of a single NMOR1 gene approximately 10 kilobases (KB) in length. The use of three of the aforementioned polyadenylation signals is likely to account for the three different species (2.7, 1.7, and 1.2 kb) of mRNA hybridizing to NMOR1 cDNA in Hep-G2 cells. Indeed several partial cDNA clones were isolated that corresponded to the mRNA derived by use of the proximal polyadenylation signal. Interestingly, the longest (2.7 kb) mRNA species was induced severalfold by TCDD, whereas the other two mRNAs (1.7 and 1.2 kb) were induced to a much lesser extent by TCDD treatment. The human NMOR1 cDNA and protein are 83 and 85% similar to rat liver cytosolic NMOR1 cDNA and protein, respectively. Southern analysis of DNA from 54 human x mouse and 39 human x hamster somatic cell hybrids shows that the NMOR1 gene resides on human chromosome 16.
Human Carbonic Anhydrases X. PREPARATION OF LARGE PEPTIDE FRAGMENTS OF CARBONIC ANHYDRASE B USED FOR SEQUENCE STUDIES

Abstract Human carbonic anhydrase B was converted into large peptides for use in sequence analysis by cleaving the molecule with cyanogen bromide at the methionine residues and by tryptic digestion. A relatively large amount of insoluble tryptic digestion products was obtained which consisted of partially hydrolyzed peptides. Some were soluble in guanidine HCl and could be fractionated by gel filtration to give a series of large overlapping peptides useful in sequence analyses. A linear model of the enzyme has been constructed which shows the positions of residues cleaved to provide these peptides.
Mutations in the opioid growth factor receptor in human cancers alter receptor function

The opioid growth factor (OGF)-OGF receptor (OGFr) axis is present and tonically active in animal and human cancer cell lines and tumors. The OGF‑OGFr pathway tonically mediates cell replication in cancer, with OGF serving as an autocrine‑produced inhibitory pentapeptide. The inhibitory effect of OGF on cancer cell replication requires the binding of OGF to OGFr and its trafficking into the nucleus, where it upregulates inhibitory kinase expression, thus suppressing the cell cycle. OGF has been reported to markedly inhibit the growth of human cancer cells transplanted into nude mice, and to enhance the therapeutic effects of agents, such as paclitaxel and gemcitabine. At the time that this study commenced, there were 13 missense mutations identified in OGFr that had been curated in the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) database. Little is known about any mutations identified in OGFr or how mutated OGFr may alter the inhibitory activity of OGF. In this study, two mutations identified in cancer samples, S378I and R444H, were characterized with respect to how they modified OGFr trafficking into the nucleus and changed the functional attributes of DNA synthesis. R444H demonstrated a significant decrease in the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, while S378I showed no change. Both mutations demonstrated a loss of response to OGF and the long‑acting opioid antagonist, naltrexone (NTX), while only R444H showed a loss of inhibition in the 5‑bromo‑2'‑deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. These data demonstrate that an intact OGFr is required for a full response to biotherapy with OGF, and that it is important to characterize potential mutations in neoplasia which could affect therapeutic responsiveness.
Combining labeled and unlabeled data for learning cross-document structural relationships

Multi-document discourse analysis has emerged with the potential of improving various NLP applications. Based on the newly proposed Cross-document Structure Theory (CST), this paper describes an empirical study that classifies CST relationships between sentence pairs extracted from topically related documents, exploiting both labeled and unlabeled data. We investigate a binary classifier for determining existence of structural relationships and a full classifier using the full taxonomy of relationships. We show that in both cases the exploitation of unlabeled data helps improve the performance of learned classifiers.
Electronic transport in a three-dimensional network of one-dimensional bismuth quantum wires

The resistance R of a high-density network of 6-nm-diam Bi wires in porous Vycor glass is studied in order to observe its expected semiconductor behavior. R increases from 300 K down to 0.3 K. Below 4 K, where R varies approximately as $\mathrm{ln}(1/T),$ the order of magnitude of the resistance rise, as well as the behavior of the magnetoresistance, is consistent with localization and electron-electron interaction theories of a one-dimensional disordered conductor in the presence of strong spin-orbit scattering. We show that this behavior and the surface-enhanced carrier density may mask the proposed semimetal-to-semiconductor transition for quantum Bi wires.
Hallucinogens and Cannabinoids for Headache

Most hallucinogens and cannabinoids fall into Federal Controlled Substances schedule 1, meaning they cannot be prescribed by practitioners, allegedly have no accepted medical use, and have a high abuse potential. The legal and regulatory status has inhibited clinical research on these substances such that there are no blinded studies from which to assess true efficacy. Despite such classification, hallucinogens and cannabinoids are used by patients with headache on occasion. Cannabinoids in particular have a long history of use for headache and migraine before prohibition and are still used by patients as a migraine abortive. Hallucinogens are being increasing used by cluster headache patients outside of physician recommendation mainly to abort a cluster period and to maintain quiescence for which there is considerable anecdotal success.
The Lair and Layers of al-Aqsa Uprising Terror: Some Preliminary Empirical Findings

It is commonplace among analysts of the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict to note that the al-Aqsa Intifada represents perhaps the most profound and lasting period of psychological threat and dismay for Israelis and Palestinians since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Seen from the vantage of counter-terrorism, the al-Aqsa Intifada puts singular focus on the strains and tensions associated with what some describe as the “delicate balance” between counter-terrorism policy and democracy.1 The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast forms of terrorism in the al-Aqsa Intifada with Middle East terrorism that has come before, by means of a framework of terrorism I developed in previous work. Why is empirical study of al-Aqsa Intifada terror considered important? At a substantive level, the al-Aqsa Intifada, with its array of non-state actors, such as the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, that are in fierce competition with Israel and with each other, not only showcases the importance of non-state actors in the contemporary world, but illuminates what the rudiments of this conflict are all about.2 At a more functional level, the bloodletting in this second round of Palestinian efforts to “shake off” Israeli control has been more copious than that of the first Intifada (1987-93), and that makes empirical investigation imperative.3
Paradigm Transition in Cosmic Plasma Physics, Magnetic Reconnection and the Generation of Field-Aligned Current

The traditional theories of field-aligned current (FAC) generation, magnetic reconnection and mass, momentum and energy transfer within the magnetosphere were built on the basis of a convection picture and describe mainly large-scale, quasi-steady state phenomena occurring in a passive plasma region. However, these theories have not been able to account for many of the detailed observations that have been made in recent years. These incomplete, but widely accepted, theoretical models have led to numerous misleading or controversial issues in magnetospheric physics in the past few decades. In this paper, we point out that MHD wave propagation, in particular, wave packet dynamics, plays an important role for phenomena occurring in the active plasma region, such as FAC generation and reconnection. The topological approach, using the concept of helicity, is used to describe the structure of MHD wave packets. The theories of FAC generation as well as the concept of reconnection need to be revised under wave packet dynamics. The MHD wave packet paradigm gives a major change in our approach to cosmic plasma physics. The rich and varied implications of wave packet dynamics exceed those given by either the u-B paradigm or the E-J paradigm. This paradigm transition will bridge the gap between cosmic plasma physics and modern physics.
A Safe Environment for Nurses and Patients: Halting Horizontal Violence

Workplace violence has become a public health problem of epidemic proportion that has implications for health-care providers, regulators, consumers, and society at large. To understand the magnitude of the problem facing nurses today, one must recognize that workplace violence includes not only physical assault but a range of disruptive behaviors, such as intimidation and bullying. These nonphysical disruptive behaviors are called horizontal or lateral violence. This article evaluates the scope and implications of this violence, including its effects on patient safety, quality clinical outcomes, nurse retention, and the nursing profession.
A generalized conjugate gradient method for the numerical solution of elliptic partial differential equations

We consider a generalized conjugate gradient method for solving sparse, symmetric, positive-definite systems of linear equations, principally those arising from the discretization of boundary value problems for elliptic partial differential equations. The method is based on splitting off from the original coefficient matrix a symmetric, positive-definite one that corresponds to a more easily solvable system of equations, and then accelerating the associated iteration using conjugate gradients. Optimality and convergence properties are presented, and the relation to other methods is discussed. Several splittings for which the method seems particularly effective are also discussed, and for some, numerical examples are given.
Ecological drift and local exposures drive enteric bacterial community differences within species of Galápagos iguanas

Diet strongly influences the intestinal microbial communities through species sorting. Alternatively, these communicates may differ because of chance variation in local microbial exposures or species losses among allopatric host populations (i.e. ecological drift). We investigated how these forces shape enteric communities of Galapagos marine and land iguanas. Geographically proximate populations shared more similar communities within a host ecotype, suggesting a role for ecological drift during host colonization of the islands. Additionally, evidence of taxa sharing between proximate heterospecific host populations suggests that contemporary local exposures also influence the gut community assembly. While selective forces such as host-bacterial interactions or dietary differences are dominant drivers of intestinal community differences among hosts, historical and contemporary processes of ecological drift may lead to differences in bacterial composition within a host species. Whether such differences in community structure translate into geographic variation in benefits derived from these intimate microbial communities remains to be explored.
Inverse-kinematics study of 78Kr + 40Ca at 10 AMeV

The CHIMERA multi-detector array at LNS Catania has been used to study the inverse-kinematics reaction of 78 Kr + 40 Ca at a bombarding energy of 10 AMeV. Analysis of the experimental data focused on a class of selected events consistent with the complete fusion and subsequent binary split of the of the reacting system. This class of events features a broad A, Z distribution of fission fragments centered about symmetric fission while exhibiting relative velocities significantly higher than given by Viola systematics. The center-ofmass angular distribution (dσ/dΘ) of the fission fragments exhibit an unexpected anisotropy inconsistent with a compound-nucleus reaction and indicates a dynamic fusion-fission like process. The observed angular distribution features an asymmetric forward-backward peaking most prevalent for mass-asymmetric events. Furthermore, the more massive fragment of mass-asymmetric events appears to emerge preferentially in the forward direction, along the beam axis, in analogy to dynamic fragmentation of projectile-like fragments. Analysis of the angular distribution of alpha particles emitted from these fission fragments suggests the events are associated mostly with central collisions. The study of low-energy heavy-ion reaction dynamics in the energy domain moderately in excess of the Coulomb barrier offers a unique insight into the large-scale collective motion of the nucleons in the nucleus. Fusion-fission constitutes an important reaction channel for many such nuclear reactions and is an important probe into the nuclear structure of matter. As the bombarding energy increases, the role of dynamically-induced decay modes
The Cavum Septi Pellucidi Why Is It Important

Objective. The cavum septi pellucidi (CSP) is routinely imaged in the fetal brain during obstetric sonography; in fact, for well over a decade, assessment of the CSP has been considered part of the required elements of a standard examination of fetal morphology in guidelines developed by multiple specialty societies. Our objective is to present the 4 reasons why all practicing sonologists and sonographers should be familiar with this anatomic structure. Methods. Prenatal sonograms and magnetic resonance imaging examinations are used to review the following topics: terminology, embryology, and anatomy of the CSP; pitfalls in its identification; and a wide variety of abnormalities (predominantly relating to nonvisualization) associated with the CSP. Results. Embryologic development of the CSP is intimately associated with the corpus callosum (CC); thus, correct identification of the CSP essentially excludes complete agenesis of the CC. Absence of the CSP is associated with an extremely wide spectrum of neuroanatomic malformations: these range from the lethal entities of hydranencephaly and alobar holoprosencephaly; to the potentially serious but nonlethal entities of schizencephaly, porencephaly, basilar encephaloceles, severe hydrocephalus, and the less severe prosencephalic cleavage disorders (including syntelencephaly); to the normal variant, the rare and somewhat controversial entity of isolated septal deficiency. The value of noting that the absent CSP allows diagnosis of very subtle and easily overlooked abnormalities such as septo-optic dysplasia is presented. Conclusions. Correct recognition of the CSP provides welcome reassurance of proper development of the central forebrain.