cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation effects of epidural spinal cord stimulation on muscle activities during walking

Epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) combined with partial weight bearing therapy (PWBT) has been reported to facilitate recovery of functional walking for individuals after chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). Muscle activities were analyzed in this report to examine the modulation effect of ESCS on muscle recruitment during gait training. Two ISCI individuals participated in the study and both are classified as ASIA C with low motor scores in the lower limbs. Stimulating electrodes were placed at the epidural space over T10-L2 spinal segments, along the midline in participant 1 (S1), and off-midline in participant 2 (S2). Surface electromyograms (EMGs) from leg muscles under both ESCS ON and OFF conditions recorded during treadmill gait were analyzed in time-frequency domains. ESCS application produced acute modulations in muscle activities in both participants, but the observed pattern, magnitude, and spectral content of the EMGs differed. In S1, ESCS induced a significant shift in the temporal pattern of muscle activity toward normal comparing with that when ESCS was OFF, though without eliciting noticeable change in frequency distribution between ESCS ON and OFF conditions. When ESCS was applied in S2, a modulation of EMG magnitude was observed and, consequently, improved joint kinematics during walking. In this case, a stimulation entrainment appeared in time-frequency analysis. The results suggest that ESCS activates neural structures in the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord and facilitates gait-related muscle recruitment. The exact effects of ESCS depend on the electrode placement and possibly injury history and residual functions, but in general ESCS produces a positive effect on improved walking speed, endurance, and reduced sense of effort in both ISCI subjects.
Formulation of general discrete models of thermomechanical behavior of materials with memory

Discrete models formulated for thermomechanical behavior of materials with memory, obtaining equations of motion and heat conduction for finite elements of nonlinear continua
Sephadex-binding RNA ligands: rapid affinity purification of RNA from complex RNA mixtures

Sephadex-binding RNA ligands (aptamers) were obtained through in vitro selection. They could be classified into two groups based on their consensus sequences and the aptamers from both groups showed strong binding to Sephadex G-100. One of the highest affinity aptamers, D8, was chosen for further characterization. Aptamer D8 bound to dextran B512, the soluble base material of Sephadex, but not to isomaltose, isomaltotriose and isomaltotetraose, suggesting that its optimal binding site might consist of more than four glucose residues linked via alpha-1,6 linkages. The aptamer was very specific to the Sephadex matrix and did not bind appreciably to other supporting matrices, such as Sepharose, Sephacryl, cellulose or pustulan. Using Sephadex G-100, the aptamer could be purified from a complex mixture of cellular RNA, giving an enrichment of at least 60 000-fold, compared with a non-specific control RNA. These RNA aptamers can be used as affinity tags for RNAs or RNA subunits of ribonucleoproteins to allow rapid purification from complex mixtures of RNA using only Sephadex.
Glaucoma in Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Abstract Trabeculectomy specimens from three eyes with Sturge-Weber syndrome were examined histopathologically. Changes in the trabecular meshwork-Schlemm's canal system were similar to findings in old age and in primary open-angle glaucoma. Two mechanisms for glaucoma are theorized. In cases with buphthalmos and congenital glaucoma, the chamber angle is often anomalous, as in other types of congenital glaucoma. In later onset juvenile cases, the chamber angle more often appears normal. A premature aging of the trabecular meshwork Schlemm's canal complex, as shown by us histopathologically, is a primary cause of juvenile glaucoma. It is suggested that both mechanisms relate to the abnormal hemodynamics of episclera and chamber angle, due to persistance of Streeter's primordial vascular plexus.
A New OEO Design Using Optical Phase Modulation and Modulation Suppression

We present the design for a phase-modulated opto electronic oscillator (OEO) that incorporates asymmetric Mach-Zehnder (AMZ) interferometers as phase demodulators together with PM modulation suppression. The new design promises to obtain in the electro-optical domain the low-noise advantages previously achieved in RF and microwave oscillators by the use of carrier suppression but which have been achieved only to a limited extent in OEO's
Green light: a signal to slow down or stop

Light has a profound effect on plant growth and development. Red and blue light best drive photosynthetic metabolism, so it is no surprise that these light qualities are particularly efficient in advancing the developmental characteristics associated with autotrophic growth habits. Photosynthetically inefficient light qualities also impart important environmental information to a developing plant. For example, far-red light reverses the effect of phytochromes, leading to changes in gene expression, plant architecture, and reproductive responses. Recent evidence shows that green light also has discrete effects on plant biology, and the mechanisms that sense this light quality are now being elucidated. Green light has been shown to affect plant processes via cryptochrome-dependent and cryptochrome-independent means. Generally, the effects of green light oppose those directed by red and blue wavebands. This review examines the literature where green light has been implicated in physiological or developmental outcomes, many not easily attributable to known sensory systems. Here roles of green light in the regulation of vegetative development, photoperiodic flowering, stomatal opening, stem growth modulation, chloroplast gene expression and plant stature are discussed, drawing from data gathered over the last 50 years of plant photobiological research. Together these reports support a conclusion that green light sensory systems adjust development and growth in orchestration with red and blue sensors.
Universal Context Tree Least Squares Prediction

We investigate the problem of sequential prediction of individual sequences using a competitive algorithm approach. We have previously developed prediction algorithms that are universal with respect to the class of all linear predictors, such that the prediction algorithm competes against a continuous class of prediction algorithms, under the square error loss. In this paper, we introduce the use of a "context tree," to compete against a doubly exponential number of piecewise linear models. We use the context tree to achieve the performance of the best piecewise linear model that can choose its partition of the real line and real-valued prediction parameters, based on observing the entire sequence in advance, for the square error loss, uniformly, for any individual sequence. This performance is achieved with a prediction algorithm whose complexity is only linear in the depth of the context tree.
Effect of acetylcholine on intracellular calcium of carotid body cells of adult cats.

Recent studies of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have begun to reveal an important role of the presynaptic nAChRs for controlling release of neurotransmitters in the central and peripheral nervous system (McGehee & Role, 1995; McGehee et al, 1995). In the carotid body application of nicotine release catecholamines (Obeso et al, 1987; Dinger et al, 1985; Gomez-Nino et al, 1990). The nicotine-induced release of dopamine depends on the presence of extracellular calcium (Obeso et al, 1987). Further, the presence of a-bungarotoxin binding sites on glomus cells have been shown in rats and cats (Dinger et al, 1985; Chen et al, 1981), and ACh-induced inward currents have been observed in rat glomus cells (Wyatt & Peers, 1993). Nicotinic AChRs are the class of the ligand-gated cation channels. Calcium permeability of nAChRs is much greater than muscle-type nAChR. Among them α7 subunit-containing nAChRs (α-bungarotoxin sensitive receptors) are the most permeable to Ca2+ among ligand-gated channels (Role, 1996; McGehee & Role, 1995). This high calcium flux not only contributes to the total currents through nAChRs. The resultant increase in intracellular calcium also influences the dynamics of neurotransmitter release. In this study we examined the effect of ACh on intracellular calcium concentration in order to understand the role of presynaptic nAChRs of the carotid body.
THE ART OF WAR: IMAGERY OF THE UPPER TEMPLE OF THE JAGUARS, CHICHEN ITZA

This paper reexamines the art and architecture of the Upper Temple of the Jaguars, Chichen Itza, in light of new unpublished digital images of Adela Breton's copies of the murals. Following discussion of the construction date of the building and previous interpretations of the murals, examination of costume, setting, and house form suggests that rather than depicting mythic or symbolic episodes, these murals illustrate actual military encounters between Chichen and its enemies. The occasion for their production seems to be the utilization of the Upper Temple of the Jaguars by a specific sector of Chichen Itza's military, perhaps for rites of investiture. This sector is argued to have been associated with the Cloud Serpent, either as the title of its leader or as a patron deity, and the structure itself is perhaps related to later Nahua buildings associated with penitential rites involving warfare and investiture.
The sustained effect of emotional signals on neural processing in 12-month-olds.

Around the end of the first year of life, infants develop a social referencing ability - using emotional information from others to guide their own behavior. Much research on social referencing has focused on changes in behavior in response to emotional information. The present study was an investigation of the changes in neural responses that underlie social referencing behavior, reflected in event-related potentials (ERPs). Twenty-six 12-month-olds participated in a single-session visit in which ERPs were recorded both immediately before and after a behavioral intervention in which infants' caregivers provided positive, negative or neutral information about each of three stimuli (ERP data available for n = 17). After the intervention, infants devoted more neural resources to processing negative versus neutral and positive information, as observed in early and late positive-going components. Changes in neural responses from the pre- to post-intervention recordings clarify this observation, indicating a sustained response in the negative and positive conditions, and a decrease in the neutral condition, suggesting an attenuation effect in the neutral condition. Further, infants who attended most to the objects in the behavioral intervention showed increased neural responses in the negative condition and decreased responses in the positive condition. Taken together, these findings suggest that infants' neural responses are differentially affected by positive, negative and neutral information. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of measuring the change in neural responses to better interpret post-experience responses.
TOKYO'S COMMUTER TRAIN SUICIDES AND THE SOCIETY OF EMERGENCE

This article considers the treatment of commuter train suicides in Tokyo's commuter train network in an effort to think critically about the lived experience mediated by theories of emergence materialized through “smart” infrastructures. In so doing, it embarks from the question of how the commuter train network thinks the disorder of the commuter suicide in relation to how the network has been restructured in recent decades to handle irregularity as regular. This restructuring, I demonstrate, works to corporealize the network in accordance with an understanding of the body as a paradigm of decentralized complex emergence, which is a concept with roots in cybernetics and artificial life but which has also been adopted in recent political theory to rationalize social, economic, and environmental instability. Materialized in the commuter train network, this concept asks us to think the system as a kind of machinic life that, while generating the potential for new forms of value creation, potentially encourages the experience of commuter suicides as a necessary and recursive process of metabolic renewal within a totalizing system.
Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Techniques: Implications and Opportunities for Fluid Dynamics Research

A challenge for the fluid dynamics community is to adapt to and exploit the trend towards greater multidisciplinary focus in research and technology. The past decade has witnessed substantial growth in the research field of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO). MDO is a methodology for the design of complex engineering systems and subsystems that coherently exploits the synergism of mutually interacting phenomena. As evidenced by the papers, which appear in the biannual AIAA/USAF/NASA/ISSMO Symposia on Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization, the MDO technical community focuses on vehicle and system design issues. This paper provides an overview of the MDO technology field from a fluid dynamics perspective, giving emphasis to suggestions of specific applications of recent MDO technologies that can enhance fluid dynamics research itself across the spectrum, from basic flow physics to full configuration aerodynamics.
Missions to the Calusa

Finally, a comprehensive set of translations now exists for the enigmatic Calusa. Hann and Marquardt have assembled an exhaustive and diverse set of documents which locates the Calusa in their rightful place of importance in North American ethnography. -Randolph Widmer, University of HoustonWhen Europeans arrived in southwest Florida in the early sixteenth century, they encountered a complex and powerful society. The Calusa, subject of this study by two of Florida's most eminent scholars, pose an enigma to anthropologists and historians. Their high political development--marked by class distinctions, a special military force, and an elaborate belief system--is typical of many agricultural societies. But the Calusa, a fisher-hunter-gatherer people, raised no crops.The work provides missing information on the ethnography of the Calusa, a society that inhabited the area of Florida now known as Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. The compilation of historical documents includes many reports never before translated into English, including letters from Pedro Menendez, reports from governors, bishops, soldiers, and King Charles II, and eyewitness testimony from priests and laypersons about mission efforts from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries.Hann introduces Spanish contact with the Calusa from the early seventeenth century, focusing particularly on the ill-fated Franciscan attempt in 1697 to convert the Calusa to Christianity. His documentation for this effort, more voluminous than for any other Spanish mission to Florida, is particularly valuable for its description of the role played by the Crown in instigating the mission despite little enthusiasm from religious authorities.Over two centuries the Calusa's relations with the Spaniards changed from wariness and hostility to a solid alliance with them against other Europeans. During the final fifty years of Calusa existence as a culture, other Native Americans, acting as agents of European opportunists, literally pushed the Calusa into the sea.John H. Hann, historical sites specialist for the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, Florida Department of State, is the author of Apalachee: The Land Between the Rivers, winner of the 1988 Rembert W. Patrick Memorial Book Prize for best book on Florida history. William H. Marquardt is associate curator in archaeology and director of the Southwest Florida Project at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus. He also directs The Year of the Indian, an archaeology/education project that includes volunteer-assisted excavations at archaeological sites in southwest Florida.
Ovarian Regulation of Endometrial Gland Morphogenesis and Activin-Follistatin System in the Neonatal Ovine Uterus

Postnatal development of the ovine uterus between birth and Postnatal Day (PND) 56 involves differentiation of the endometrial glandular epithelium from the luminal epithelium followed by tubulogenesis and branching morphogenesis. Previous results indicated that ovariectomy of ewes at birth did not affect uterine growth or initial stages of endometrial gland genesis on PND 14 but did affect uterine growth after PND 28. Available evidence from a number of species supports the hypothesis that the ovary does not affect endometrial gland morphogenesis in the postnatal uterus. To test this hypothesis in our sheep model, ewes were assigned at birth to a sham surgery as a control or bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) on PND 7. Uteri were removed and weighed on PND 56. Ovariectomy did not affect circulating levels of estradiol-17b. Uterine weight was 52% lower in OVX ewes. Histomorphological analyses indicated that the thickness of the endometrium and myometrium, total number of endometrial glands, and endometrial gland density in the stratum spongiosum stroma was reduced in uteri of OVX ewes. In contrast, the number of superficial ductal gland invaginations and gland density in the stratum compactum stroma was not affected by ovariectomy. The uteri of OVX ewes contained lower levels of bA subunit, activin receptor (ActR) type IA, ActRIB, and follistatin protein expression but higher levels of bB subunit. In the neonatal ovary, follistatin, inhibin a subunit, bA subunit, and bB subunit were expressed in antral follicles between PNDs 0 and 56. These results led to rejection of the hypothesis that the ovary does not influence endometrial adenogenesis. Rather, the ovary and, thus, an ovarian-derived factor regulates, in part, the coiling and branching morphogenetic stage of endometrial gland development after PND 14 and expression of specific components of the activin-follistatin system in the neonatal ovine uterus that appear to be important for that critical process.
Race, Class, and Crime: Reconsidering the Spatial Effects of Social Isolation on Rates of Urban Offending

I examine two views on the social isolation–crime link. The first is rooted in the outmigration of nonpoor blacks from black central cities, creating a black class isolation. The second identifies the pathologies of racial isolation, where blacks are separated from whites. These different interpretations of social isolation are compared across 278 neighborhoods in a midsized U.S. City. Findings show that black class isolation increases violent crime whereas racial isolation does not. Also, characteristics of populations outside the focal neighborhood are more important than those inside, suggesting that extant neighborhood studies are misspecified and underestimate the structural effects on neighborhood crime.
Algorithms for ε-Approximations of Terrains

Consider a point set ${\mathcal{D}}$ with a measure function$\mu : {\mathcal{D}} \to \mathcal{R}$. Let ${\mathcal{A}}$ be theset of subsets of $\mathcal{D}$ induced by containment in a shapefrom some geometric family (e.g. axis-aligned rectangles, halfplanes, balls, k-oriented polygons). We say a range space$(\mathcal{D}, \mathcal{A})$ has ane-approximation Pif $$\max_{R \in \mathcal{A}} \left| \frac{\mu(R \cap P)}{ \mu(P)}- \frac{\mu(R \cap \mathcal{D})}{ \mu(\mathcal{D})} \right| \leq\varepsilon.$$ We describe algorithms for deterministically constructingdiscrete µ-approximations for continuous point setssuch as distributions or terrains. Furthermore, for certainfamilies of subsets $\mathcal{A}$, such as those described byaxis-aligned rectangles, we reduce the size of thee-approximations by almost a square root from$O(\frac{1}{\varepsilon^2} \log \frac{1}{\varepsilon})$ to . Thisis often the first step in transforming a continuous problem into adiscrete one for which combinatorial techniques can be applied. Wedescribe applications of this result in geospatial analysis,biosurveillance, and sensor networks.
Inertial Effects in the Dynamics of Martensitic Phase Boundaries

Localized phase transitions, as well as shock waves, can be modeled by material discontinuities satisfying appropriate jump conditions. One can show that the classical system of Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions is incomplete in the case of subsonic phase boundaries. The supplementary condition which generalizes the condition of phase equilibrium, can be obtained from the traveling wave solution of the truly dynamic system of equations describing the interface structure.
The Markov Reformulation Theorem

In this paper, we define an abstract formal model of dynamic constraints and show that, if the schema is modifiable, the constraints can always be reformulated to Markov constraints.
Assessing the Impact of Enhanced Hydrological Processes on Urban Hydrometeorology with Application to Two Cities in Contrasting Climates

AbstractTo enhance the capability of models in better characterizing the urban water cycle, physical parameterizations of urban hydrological processes have been implemented into the single-layer urban canopy model in the widely used Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. While the new model has been evaluated offline against field measurements at various cities, its performance in online settings via coupling to atmospheric dynamics requires further examination. In this study, the impact of urban hydrological processes on regional hydrometeorology of the fully integrated WRF–urban modeling system for two major cities in the United States, namely, Phoenix and Houston, is assessed. Results show that including hydrological processes improves prediction of the 2-m dewpoint temperature, an indicative measure of coupled thermal and hydrological processes. The implementation of green roof systems as an urban mitigation strategy is then tested at the annual scale. The reduction of environmental temperature...
Nuclear orientation study of the decay of Lu m 177

Angular distributions of 37 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays were observed following the decays of 161-day $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}^{m}$ and 6.8-day $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}^{g}$ polarized at low temperatures in the ferromagnetic cubic Laves-phase compound ${\mathrm{ZrFe}}_{2}$. The magnetic moment of the $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}^{m}$ was deduced to be $|\ensuremath{\mu}|=(2.74\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}.21){\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$, in excellent agreement with the value $\ensuremath{\mu}=+2.59{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}$ computed assuming the $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}^{m}$ to be the three-quasiparticle state ${\frac{7}{2}}^{+}{[404]}_{p},{\frac{9}{2}}^{+}{[624]}_{n},{\frac{7}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{[514]}_{n}$. The magnetic hyperfine fields of Lu, Ta, Sc, and Co in ${\mathrm{ZrFe}}_{2}$ were deduced from the corresponding $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray anisotropies. Decays proceeding through the 1.1-sec $^{177}\mathrm{Hf}^{m}$ were observed to show characteristic relaxation times of ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\approx}6.7$ sec. The $\frac{E2}{M1}$ mixing ratios of numerous intraband transitions in $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}$ and $^{177}\mathrm{Hf}$ were deduced, and the corresponding $\frac{({g}_{K}\ensuremath{-}{g}_{R})}{{Q}_{0}}$ values were computed. Several interband $\frac{M2}{E1}$ mixing ratios were deduced and were compared with calculations based on the Nilsson model including first-order Coriolis mixing. The 0-180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} asymmetries of several $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}$ transitions were observed in an effort to see if parity mixing effects might be present due to the particularly close-lying opposite parity states of $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}$; no effects were seen to the limit of 2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$.RADIOACTIVITY $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}^{m}$, $^{177}\mathrm{Lu}^{g}$; measured $\ensuremath{\gamma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$ from polarized nuclei; deduced magnetic moment $\ensuremath{\mu}$, hyperfine field $H$ of impurities in ${\mathrm{ZrFe}}_{2}$, relaxation time, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray multipole mixing ratios, $\ensuremath{\delta}(\frac{E2}{M1})$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(\frac{M2}{E1})$, ${g}_{K}$, ${g}_{R}$, Coriolis mixing; deduced no observable parity violation.
Temperature Change on Seedling Emergence of Sugarbeet Seed in Sowing Period

The relationship between temperature change and days of sugarbeet seedling emergence was studied by 5 different sowing date treatments under a natural condition in Harbin area. The results showed that: The earlier sowing date, the sooner seedling emergence of sugarbeet, and the days of sugarbeet seedling emergence were decreasing with delaying the sowing date. For seedling germination rate was as treatment1 treatment2 treatment3 treatment4 treatment5. The seedling germination rate of earlier sowing date was better than that of latter sowing date. With delaying the sowing date, the average daily temperature and days of sugarbeet seedling emergence presented power function equation(y =251.1723x-1.3093), the average soil temperature and days of sugarbeet seedling emergence presented exponential equation(y=57.5499e-0.1624x'). The equations could predict the days of seedling emergence with average daily temperature or soil temperature, and provide indicator basis for choosing suitable sowing date and for cultivation of sugarbeet.
XRN1: A Major 5′ to 3′ Exoribonuclease in Eukaryotic Cells

Abstract The degradation of RNA is a critical aspect of gene regulation. Correspondingly, ribonucleases exist within the cell to degrade RNA in specific cellular contexts. An important and conserved ribonuclease is called XRN1. This enzyme, an exoribonuclease, degrades RNA in a processive 5′ to 3′ direction. Substrates for XRN1 include decapped mRNA, endonucleolytically cleaved mRNA, lncRNA, and some aberrant tRNAs. In addition, XRN1 serves a vital role in the processing and maturation of the 5′ ends of rRNA and snoRNAs. In this review, we discuss some of the important roles of XRN1 in the cell.
A NURBS-based generalized finite element scheme for 3D simulation of heterogeneous materials

A 3D NURBS-based interface-enriched generalized finite element method (NIGFEM) is introduced to solve problems with complex discontinuous gradient fields observed in the analysis of heterogeneous materials. The method utilizes simple structured meshes of hexahedral elements that do not necessarily conform to the material interfaces in heterogeneous materials. By avoiding the creation of conforming meshes used in conventional FEM, the NIGFEM leads to significant simplification of the mesh generation process. To achieve an accurate solution in elements that are crossed by material interfaces, the NIGFEM utilizes Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) to enrich the solution field locally. The accuracy and convergence of the NIGFEM are tested by solving a benchmark problem. We observe that the NIGFEM preserves an optimal rate of convergence, and provides additional advantages including the accurate capture of the solution fields in the vicinity of material interfaces and the built-in capability for hierarchical mesh refinement. Finally, the use of the NIGFEM in the computational analysis of heterogeneous materials is discussed. Development of generalized finite element method for 3D mesoscale modeling of materials with complex microstructures.Novel NURBS-based enrichment functions.Built-in capability to perform hierarchical local mesh refinement.Method is applicable to engineering problems characterized by discontinuous gradient and complex internal geometry.
Ultrasonic NDE of Layered Media Using Time-Domain Information

The objective of this paper is to extend the retrieve function approach of reference 1 to NDE of layered media. A closed-form solution of the incident (reflected) field can be obtained through the convolution of the retrieve function and the transmitted (incident) field. For an N layered medium, the incident field can be obtained by a 2N term summation, while the reflected field can be calculated by a (2N+1-1) term summation. Systematic sensitivity analysis of this technique has been carried out. Experiments were conducted on a three-layered plate, aluminum/water/aluminum, using 1 MHz broad-band transducers. The reconstructed fields compare very well with the measured ones.
Accelerating Innovation in Health IT

Even as information technology transforms many industries, the pace of innovation in health IT continues to lag. One fundamental barrier that has not yet received due attention is the disconnect between health IT developers and users.
The role of digital signal processing in personal communications networks

Digital signal processors (DSPs) are playing a major role in personal communications networks (PCNs). DSPs impact not only the new digital networks but also analog systems. The reasons for this impact are the advances in integrated circuit (IC) process technology, the manipulation of signals in the digital domain, and the advantages of selectively using programmable solutions and hard wired solutions. The authors discuss these advantages along with examples. >
Implementation of performance metrics to assess pharmacists' activities in ambulatory care clinics.

Purpose The development and implementation of performance metrics for assessing the impact of pharmacists’ activities in ambulatory care clinics are described. Summary Ambulatory care clinic pharmacists within an integrated health system were surveyed to ascertain baseline practices for documenting and tracking performance metrics. Through literature review and meetings with various stakeholders, priorities for metric development were identified; measures of care quality, financial impact, and patient experience were developed. To measure the quality of care, pharmacists’ interventions at five ambulatory care clinics within the health system were assessed. Correlation of pharmacist interventions with estimated cost avoidance provided a measure of financial impact. Surveys were distributed at the end of clinic visits to measure satisfaction with the patient care experience. An electronic system for metric documentation and automated tabulation of data on quality and financial impact was built. In a 12-week pilot program conducted at three clinic sites, the metrics were used to assess pharmacists’ activities. A total of 764 interventions were documented (a mean of 24 accepted recommendations per pharmacist full-time equivalent each week), resulting in estimated cost avoidance of more than $40,000; survey results indicated high patient satisfaction with the services provided by pharmacists. Biweekly report auditing and solicitation of feedback guided metric refinement and further training of pharmacists. Tools and procedures were established for future metric expansion. Conclusion Development and implementation of performance metrics resulted in successful capture and characterization of pharmacists’ activities and their impact on patient care in three ambulatory care clinics.
The Role of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Effect on Mortality and Sudden Death

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) have evolved from a treatment of last resort to the current and rapidly growing use as a first line therapeutic option. Early clinical trials captured what had only been apparent in observational studies that subsequently paved the way for the utilization of ICDs as secondary prevention in patients who had survived life-threatening arrhythmias. As a result, these randomized clinical trials exhibited a benefit with ICD only in high-risk patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, recent studies have been able to demonstrate a significant role for primary prevention in selected high-risk patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Minimally Invasive Procedures in Traumatic Brain Injury

Minimally invasive procedures (either diagnostic or therapeutic, neurosurgical or multidisciplinary) play a major role in the management of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Minimalism is the backbone of multimodality monitoring, which plays such an important role in preventing secondary cerebral insults and neurological decline (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Such surgical techniques are also used in respiratory and nutritional management of patients with severe head injury who need long-term rehabilitation (6).
Abstract TP420: At-risk Stroke Patients in Need of In-hospital Lifestyle Interventions: Data From a Multi-state Health System

Introduction: Lifestyle factors such as weight, diet and smoking are associated with stroke incidence and recurrence. Targeted interventions on these risk factors can be successful in reducing stro...
The effects of intensive aquaculture on nutrient residence time and transport in a coastal embayment

Aquaculture in many countries around the world has become the biggest source of seafood for human consumption. While it alleviates the pressure on wild capture fisheries, the long-term impacts of large-scale, intensive aquaculture on natural coastal systems need to be better understood. In particular, aquaculture may alter habitat and exceed the carrying capacity of coastal marine ecosystems. In this paper, we develop a high-resolution numerical model for Sanggou Bay, one of the largest kelp and shellfish aquaculture sites in Northern China, to investigate the effects of aquaculture on nutrient transport and residence time in the bay. Drag from aquaculture is parameterized for surface infrastructure, kelp canopies, and bivalve cages. A model for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) includes transport, vertical turbulent mixing, sediment and bivalve sources, and a sink due to kelp uptake. Test cases show that, due to drag from the dense aquaculture and thus a reduction of horizontal transport, kelp production is limited because DIN from the Yellow Sea is consumed before reaching the interior of the kelp farms. Aquaculture drag also causes an increase in the nutrient residence time from an average of 5 to 10 days in the middle of Sanggou Bay, and from 25 to 40 days in the shallow inner bay. Low exchange rates and a lack of DIN uptake by kelp make these regions more susceptible to phytoplankton blooms due to high nutrient retention. The risk is further increased when DIN concentrations rise due to river inflows.
Haptoglobin Metabolism in Polycythemia Vera

1. Turnover studies with 125I-labeled haptoglobin (Hp) were performed in 7 patients with polycythemia vera, 2 patients with erythrocytosis of unknown etiology, and 2 control subjects. 2. The T½ of plasma radioactivity was shortened in 6 of the 7 patients with polycythemia vera; 3 of these had diminished plasma Hp levels but lacked other evidence of hemolysis. 3. The fractional catabolic rate exceeded 40 per cent/day in all subjects with a shortened half-time of plasma radioactivity. 4. Increases in the fractional catabolic rate were not accompanied by increases in Hp turnover (mg./kg./day), suggesting that accelerated Hp catabolism per se does not provide a stimulus to Hp production. 5. It is concluded that patients with polycythemia vera catabolize Hp more rapidly than nonpolycythemic subjects, possibly because of increased formation and removal of the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex.
Pre-bond TSV Test Through TSV Probing

Chapter 3 discussed the need for pre-bond TSV test and explored cutting-edge research in TSV testing using BIST. Pre-bond testing allows for the detection of defects that are inherent in the manufacture of the TSV itself, such as impurities or voids, while post-bond testing detects faults caused by thinning, alignment, and bonding. Successful pre-bond defect screening can allow defective dies to be discarded before stacking. Moreover, pre-bond testing and diagnosis can facilitate defect localization and repair prior to bonding. Because methods to “unbond” die are yet to be realized, even one faulty die will compel us to discard the stacked IC, including all good dies in the stack. Pre-bond test is further required if wafer matching, die binning, or other methods for increasing stack yield are to be used, because they require KGD test to be completed for all dies on a wafer.
CCCP experimental evolution of Escherichia coli selects for mutations that increase EmrA activity or that downregulate other PMF-driven drug efflux pumps

ABSTRACT Experimental evolution was conducted with Escherichia coli K-12 W3110 in the presence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), an uncoupler of the proton motive force (PMF). Cultures were serially diluted daily 1:100 in broth medium containing 20-150 μM CCCP at pH 6.5 or at pH 8.0. After 1,000 generations, all populations showed 5- to 10-fold increase in CCCP resistance. Sequenced isolates showed mutations in emrAB or in its negative repressor mprA; the EmrAB-TolC multidrug efflux pump confers resistance to CCCP and nalidixic acid. Deletion of emrA abolished the CCCP resistance of these strains. One CCCP-evolved isolate lacked emrA or mprA mutations; this strain (C-B11-1) showed mutations in drug efflux regulators cecR (ybiH) (upregulates drug pumps YbhG and YbhFSR) and gadE (upregulates drug pump mdtEF). A cecR∷kanR deletion conferred partial resistance to CCCP. A later evolved descendant of the C-B11 population showed mutations in ybhR (MDR efflux). Another isolate showed acrB (MDR efflux pump). The acrB isolate was sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline, which are effluxed by AcrAB. Other mutant genes in CCCP-evolved strains include adhE (alcohol dehydrogenase), rng (ribonuclease G), and cyaA (adenylate cyclase). Overall, experimental evolution revealed a CCCP fitness advantage for mutations increasing its own efflux via EmrA; and for mutations that may decrease proton-driven pumps that efflux other drugs not present (cecR, gadE, acrB, ybhR). These results are consistent with our previous report of drug sensitivity associated with evolved tolerance to a partial uncoupler (benzoate or salicylate). IMPORTANCE The genetic responses of bacteria to depletion of proton motive force, and their effects on drug resistance, are poorly understood. Our evolution experiment reveals genetic mechanisms of adaptation to the PMF uncoupler CCCP, including selection for and against various multidrug efflux pumps. The results have implications for our understanding of the gut microbiome, which experiences high levels of organic acids that decrease PMF. Organic acid uncouplers may select against multidrug resistance in evolving populations of enteric bacteria.
The Existence Problem for Complete Mappings: The Hall-Paige Conjecture

Given a group, does its Cayley table have an orthogonal mate? Equivalently, does a given group admit complete mappings? In this chapter we will introduce the existence problem for complete mappings of groups, a problem that we will solve for groups of odd order, countably infinite groups and finite abelian groups. For finite groups in general, we will present Hall and Paige’s important result: if the Sylow 2-subgroup of a finite group is nontrivial and cyclic, then the group does not admit complete mappings. Hall and Paige conjectured the converse. Work on this conjecture will be described in subsequent chapters, culminating in a proof of the Hall-Paige conjecture.
Seasonal variations in urinary calcium, volume, and vitamin d in kidney stone formers.

Author(s): Attalla, Kyrollis; De, Shubha; Sarkissian, Carl; Monga, Manoj | Abstract: OBJECTIVES:To investigate the seasonal variations in urinary calcium, serum vitamin D, and urinary volume in patients with a history of nephrolithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients included were those who completed a 24-hour urine metabolic evaluation on two occasions; one in summer (June-Aug) and one in winter (Nov-Jan), and who had not started any medications or been instructed on dietary modifications in the interval between the two tests that may have impacted the results. Patients were excluded if they were on thiazide diuretics or were taking calcium and / or Vitamin D supplementation. Welch's t-test was used to compare the difference in average summer and winter values. Unpaired Student t-test was used to compare baseline parameters (age, BMI), and Paired Student t-test was used to compare average seasonal measurements in men vs. women. RESULTS:136 patients were identified who were not taking calcium or vitamin D supplements or thiazide diuretics, and who were not instructed on dietary modifications in the interval between the two measured parameters. No significant differences were observed when comparing male to female baseline parameters of age or BMI (Table-1). Average 24-hour urine calcium was higher (226.60) in the winter than in summer (194.18) and was significant in males (p = 0.014) and females (p l 0.001). No significant seasonal difference was seen in 24-hour urine volume or serum vitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS:Urinary calcium is higher in winter months compared to summer months. As such, tailoring medical preventative strategies to the time of year may be helpful.
Early Elevated Troponin Levels after Ischemic Stroke Suggests a Cardioembolic Source (P4.031)

Objective: To investigate whether early elevated troponin levels following ischemic stroke can be used as a marker of embolic stroke subtypes (cardioembolic [CE] and embolic stroke of unknown source [ESUS]) as opposed to non-cardioembolic subtypes (large vessel disease, small vessel disease, and other). Background: Elevated cardiac troponin is a marker of cardiac disease and has recently been shown to be associated with embolic stroke risk. Design/Methods: We abstracted data from our prospective ischemic stroke database and included all patients with ischemic stroke over a 22-month period. Per our laboratory, we defined positive troponin as ≥ 0.1 ng/mL and intermediate as ≥ 0.06 ng/mL and negative as Results: We identified 1234 patients, of whom 1129 had admission troponin levels available; 10.0% (113/1129) had a positive troponin. In fully adjusted models,, there was an association between troponin positivity and ESUS subtype (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–7.97, p=0.003) and CE stroke subtype (OR 5.00; 95% CI 1.83–13.63; p=0.002). There was no association between intermediate troponin levels and either ESUS or CE stroke subtypes. Conclusions: We found that early positive troponin after ischemic stroke may be independently associated with a cardiac embolic source. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings using high sensitivity troponin assays and to test optimal secondary prevention strategies in patients with ESUS and positive troponin. Disclosure: Dr. Chang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ricci has nothing to disclose. Dr. Russo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jayaraman has nothing to disclose. Dr. McTaggart has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hemendinger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Narwal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dakay has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mac Grory has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cutting has nothing to disclose. Dr. Burton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Song has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mehanna has nothing to disclose. Dr. Siket has nothing to disclose. Dr. Madsen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Reznik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Merkler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lerario has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kamel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elkind has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Abbott, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Merck/Organon, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, and Auxilium. . Dr. Furie has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yaghi has nothing to disclose.
Effects of conflict on agriculture: evidence from the Boko Haram insurgency.

Abstract We investigate the effects of conflict on agriculture using the Boko Haram insurgency as a case study. We identify the output, input, infrastructure and human capital effects as direct effects and the loss of talent and other environmental factors as indirect effects. Identified market effects include effects on product and input prices, and increased risk premiums. By combining a nationally representative panel dataset on Nigerian agriculture with armed conflict data, we find that the increased intensity of Boko Haram attacks significantly reduces total output and productivity, but not land use, and reduces the outputs of specific staple crops such as sorghum, cassava, soya and yam. Conflict is also found to reduce the hours of hired labor for men and women, but does not affect the use of family labor. Agricultural wages are, however, significantly affected. Because it reveals if, why and how conflict affects agriculture, this study has important implications for post-crisis recovery and agricultural development.
Rates of Engraftment Syndrome after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis

Background Engraftment syndrome (ES) is a complication of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT), often characterized by non-infectious fever, rash, diarrhea, hepatic or renal dysfunction and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema at the time of neutrophil recovery. Based on our experience observing increased incidence of ES in recent years, we conducted single center study and evaluated incidence of ES in patients (pts) with light chain amyloidosis (AL). Methods We reviewed data of 72 AL pts who underwent auto-HCT at our center between 1999 and 2017. We reviewed data regarding incidence of ES, feature of ES and evaluated it effects on outcome post auto-HCT. Engraftment syndrome was defined according to Maiolino criteria (Bone Marrow Transplant 2003; 31(5):393-7). Results Baseline characteristics are summarized in the figure 1. The median age of pts at auto-HCT was 58 years (range, 30-75). Twenty-two (31%) pts developed ES, two patients died before neutrophil engraftment. Most common symptoms observed with ES were fever (77%), diarrhea (73%), rash (68%), weight gain (56%), non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema (23%), and acute kidney injury (9%), as shown in figure 2. All patients with ES were treated with steroids. One patient with ES required hemodialysis and management in intensive care unit. In univariate analysis, age (p= 0.23), AL stage (p= 0.24), number of organs involved (p= 0.30), cytoreductive therapy prior to auto-HCT (p= 0.5), method of stem cell mobilization (G vs P+G; p= 0.16) and dose of melphalan used (p= 0.19) were not predictive of ES, as shown in figure 3. Similarly, day 100 post auto-HCT hematological response (19.5% vs 14%, p= 0.7), best organ response (23% vs 36%, p= 0.24) and median length of hospital stay after auto-HCT (20 vs 19 days, p= 0.5) were not significantly different between patients who did not or develop ES, respectively. Overall survival censored at day 180 post auto-HCT to focus on short term outcome, 100% and 80% were alive with or without ES, respectively (p= 0.3; Fig. 3). Conclusion In this single center series, we report a relatively high rate of ES among recipients of auto-HCT for AL compared with previous reports in AL (8%) (Irazabel MV et al. AJH 2012;87[1]:51–54) or with auto-HCT for MM at our center (21%) (Cornell, RF et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2013;19[9]:1368-73). Although higher morbidity (ICU stay/ peri engraftment weight change) appeared to be associated with ES, statistically significant predictors or sequelae could not be identified. A larger series with multicenter collaboration is needed to better identify the risk factors associated with ES in AL pts.
Second Order Nonlinear State Models

In this chapter second order nonlinear state models are considered. As indicated in the previous chapter it is not possible to develop a general procedure which is always applicable in the analysis of such state models. Rather, a few special techniques, applicable to certain cases, can be presented. As in the previous chapter emphasis is given to simple integration techniques as well as to the approximation of the nonlinear state model by a linear state model. But for second order systems, as seen previously in Chapter III, the phase plane is sometimes useful for describing certain responses properties. As before, a brief description of some ideas and concepts is first given; then several physical processes are examined where some of the concepts prove helpful.