cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bit map reconstruction for document image compression

We introduce a pattern matching algorithm and a bitmap reconstruction method used in document image compression. This pattern matching algorithm uses the cross entropy between two patterns as the criterion for a match. We use a physical model which is based on the finite resolution of the scanner to estimate the probability values used in cross entropy calculation. The matching algorithm is enhanced by the bitmap reconstruction method which infers a good high resolution image form a series of poor low resolution images. This bitmap reconstruction method is based on the naive image averaging method, but it uses a preprocessing smoothing filter and it is done in a higher resolution than the original image. Experimental results show that this pattern matching algorithm and this bitmap reconstruction method compare favorably to previous techniques.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
AFTRA decision making

Nearly 16,000 persons in the broadcasting industry today belong to the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. From a start, 28 years ago, with a few hundred members, AFTRA has grown to become the most common—representing talent working for the smallest stations and the largest networks—and perhaps the most powerful union associated with the broadcasting industry. Every few years AFTRA contracts relating to wages and working conditions are renegotiated. Some of these contracts cover only certain employees of a single station, while others may affect the entire industry. The way in which such contracts are negotiated are of interest to the entire industry. Of particular interest to broadcast management (and to members of AFTRA as well) is the precise manner by which AFTRA negotiators determine what demands they wish to make and then decide to accept or not accept a particular contract. The following article describes and analyzes the factors involved in preparing demands for, and resolving dif...
The Value of Biased Information: A Rational Choice Model of Political Advice

Typically, political decision making involves the concomitant problem of deciding how to use advice. Advice can reduce uncertainty about outcomes, but it is often costly to obtain and assimilate, and is itself subject to uncertainty and error. This paper explores how a rational decision maker uses imperfect advice. Using only the assumption of utility maximization, along with a specification of exactly how knowledge and advice are "imperfect," it is possible to derive some of the initial assumptions of cognitive and bounded-rationality models. Also changes in the decision-making environment can be connected to changes in how advice is used, thereby providing theoretical predictions about political behavior. In particular it is shown here that, under certain reasonable circumstances, the rational decision maker should engage in selective exposure or "bolstering." These results do not depend upon any cost advantage or inherent value in biased advice.
Perception of Direction for Applied Tangential Skin Displacement: Effects of Speed, Displacement, and Repetition

A variety of tasks could benefit from the availability of direction cues that do not rely on vision or sound. The application of tangential skin displacement at the fingertip has been found to be a reliable means of communicating direction and has potential to be rendered by a compact device. Our lab has conducted experiments exploring the use of this type of tactile stimulus to communicate direction. Each subject pressed his/her right index fingertip against a 7 mm rounded rubber cylinder that moved at constant speed, applying shear force to deform the skin of the fingerpad. A range of displacements (0.05-1 mm) and speeds (0.5-4 mm/s) were tested. Subjects were asked to respond with the direction of the skin stretch, choosing from four directions, each separated by 90 degrees. Direction detection accuracy was found to depend upon both the speed and total displacement of the stimulus, with higher speeds and larger displacements resulting in greater accuracy. Accuracy rates greater than 95 percent were observed with as little as 0.2 mm of tangential displacement and at speeds as slow as 1 mm/s. Results were analyzed for direction dependence and temporal trends. Subjects responded most accurately to stimuli in the proximal and distal directions, and least accurately to stimuli in the ulnar direction. Subject performance decreased slightly with prolonged testing but there was no statistically significant learning trend. A second experiment was conducted to evaluate priming effects and the benefit of repeated stimuli. It was found that repeated stimuli do not improve direction communication, but subject responses were found to have a priming effect on future performance. This preliminary information will inform the design and use of a tactile display suitable for use in hand-held electronics.
Instructional Course Lectures, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Longitudinal Failure of Upper-Limb Formation*†

Failure of formation of the structures of the upper extremity presents as longitudinal or transverse deficiencies of the embryonic limb bud. The deficiencies that develop along longitudinal axes are classified as radial, central, or ulnar. Use of the once commonly employed terms pre-axial and post-axial for describing longitudinal deficiencies is discouraged as these terms do not include the concept of central defects. It is tempting to speculate that these axially oriented failures of formation are the result of teratogenic insults or genetic influences that destroy cells at specific locations on the apical ectodermal ridge or the supporting mesoderm of the embryonic limb bud7. Although this is true for radial deficiencies, which characteristically affect only the structures on the radial border of the forearm and hand, the cause of ulnar and central deficiencies is not as clearly defined. Ulnar deficiency may include dysplasia of the thumb and the radial rays in addition to the ulnar structures. Central deficiency (cleft hand) is frequently associated with polydactyly (duplication) or syndactyly (failure of differentiation), or both, of the central digits. These more complex presentations suggest that the concept that deficiencies of the upper extremity are related to focal limb-bud-cell destruction is too simplistic. Nevertheless, it provides a basis for categorizing and discussing the clinical presentations. Radial deficiency describes a spectrum of osseous, musculotendinous, and neuromuscular dysplasias of the radial border of the upper limb69. Kato et al.35 produced varying degrees of radial deficiency by administering Myleran (busulfan) to pregnant WKAH/Hkm rats at nine to 11.5 days of gestation. The extent of the deficiencies was dose-related and resembled that of deficiencies seen in humans. Associated skeletal, hematological, cardiac, renal, and gastrointestinal defects24,27,28,32,71,79,87 may be overlooked initially because …
A partitioned signature file structure for multiattribute and text retrieval

A partitioning method is introduced for reducing the search space required on the signature file. A partitioned signature file is better than the multilevel signature file and the S-tree in that it has an extremely small storage and processing overhead. Three partitioning schemes are outlined and their performance discussed. A description is given of the data structure necessary to support the partitioning schemes and the algorithms for signature insertion, deletion, and retrieval. >
The Light Response of Retinal Ganglion Cells Is Truncated by a Displaced Amacrine Circuit

The vertebrate retina contains ganglion cells that appear to be specialized for detecting temporal changes. The characteristic response of these cells is a transient burst of action potentials when a stationary image is presented or removed, and often a strong discharge to moving images. These transient and motion-sensitive responses are thought to result from processing in the inner retina that involves amacrine cells, but the critical interactions have been difficult to reveal. Here, we used a cell-ablation technique to remove a subpopulation of amacrine cells from the mouse retina. Their ablation changed transient ganglion cell responses into prolonged discharges. This suggests that transient responses are generated, at least in part, by a truncation of sustained excitatory input to the ganglion cells and that the ablated amacrine cells are critical for this process.
Mutational effects on protein stability

PERS PECT IVES AND S UMMAR y 765 THE PROB LEM 767 THERMODYNAM ICS OF AM INO AC ID S UBST IT UTIONS 770 GENE TIC S TUD IES O F PRO TEIN S TAB ILITy 774 COO PERA TIVITY 777 S TR UCT URA L ST UD IES OF PROTE IN VAR IAN TS 777 FORCES THAT STAB ILIZE PROTE INS 779 Effects on Conformational Entropy 779 The Hydrophobic Eff ect .. . . . . . . ...... . . ...... . ..... ...... 781 Hydrogen Bonds . . 784 Dispersion Forces 786 Electrostatic Interactions 788 Helix Stabilization 790 CONC LUD ING REMAR KS 793
Metabolic Syndrome as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are more prevalent in the ageing population. Both pathological conditions are characterized by biochemical abnormalities, such as disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism resulting in hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, inflammation, hypertension, and type II diabetes. Peripheral hyperinsulinemia correlates not only with accumulation of Aβ peptide but also with an increase in tau hyperphosphorylation. Although some uncertainties remain, it is becoming increasingly evident that there are several commonalities in the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AD and MetS. These commonalities include occurrence of NFTs and SP, alterations in leptin levels, and alterations in activities of several enzymes, growth factors, and hormones. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction, which causes increased production of ROS and AGEs, is also common in MetS and AD. Furthermore, common risk factors for the onset of MetS and AD include higher cholesterol; deposition of Aβ; increase in tau protein phosphorylation; increase in phospholipid-, sphingolipid-, and cholesterol-derived lipid mediators; alterations in leptin levels; and apoptosis. Studies in animal and cell culture models of MetS and AD have indicated that some of these parameters can be modified by diet.
Inter-rater reliability of post-arrest cerebral performance category (CPC) scores.

Abstract Purpose Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scores are often an outcome measure for post-arrest neurologic function, collected worldwide to compare performance, evaluate therapies, and formulate recommendations. At most institutions, no formal training is offered in their determination, potentially leading to misclassification. Materials and Methods We identified 171 patients at 2 hospitals between 5/10/2005 and 8/31/2012 with two CPC scores at hospital discharge recorded independently – in an in-house quality improvement database and as part of a national registry. Scores were abstracted retrospectively from the same electronic medical record by two separate non-clinical researchers. These scores were compared to assess inter-rater reliability and stratified based on whether the score was concordant or discordant among reviewers to determine factors related to discordance. Results Thirty-nine CPC scores (22.8%) were discordant (kappa: 0.66), indicating substantial agreement. When dichotomized into "favorable" neurologic outcome (CPC 1–2)/"unfavorable" neurologic outcome (CPC 3–5), 20 (11.7%) scores were discordant (kappa: 0.70), also indicating substantial agreement. Patients discharged home (as opposed to nursing/other care facility) and patients with suspected cardiac etiology of arrest were statistically more likely to have concordant scores. For the quality improvement database, patients with discordant scores had a statistically higher median CPC score than those with concordant scores. The registry had statistically lower median CPC score (CPC 1) than the quality improvement database (CPC 2); p Conclusions CPC scores have substantial inter-rater reliability, which is reduced in patients who have worse outcomes, have a non-cardiac etiology of arrest, and are discharged to a location other than home.
Chronic exercise training does not alter pulmonary vasorelaxation in normal pigs

Exercise training increases acetylcholine-induced pulmonary vasorelaxation in pigs with coronary occlusion. The present study tested the hypothesis that chronic exercise training enhances endothelium-mediated vasorelaxation in pulmonary arteries from normal pigs. Yucatan miniswine exercised for 16 wk on a treadmill (Ex); control pigs (Sed) remained in pens. Pulmonary artery rings (2- to 3-mm OD) were studied using standard isometric techniques. Contractile responses to 80 mM KCl and norepinephrine (NE) were determined. Vessels were constricted with levels of NE that resulted in half-maximal contraction to examine endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh and endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside in the presence and absence of nitric oxide synthase inhibition, cyclooxygenase inhibition, and endothelial denudation. Arteries from Ex pigs developed increased contraction to 80 mM KCl, but the response to NE did not differ between groups. Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent responses did not differ between Sed and Ex in the presence or absence of pharmacological inhibitors or denudation. We conclude that chronic exercise training does not alter endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent vasorelaxation responses of pulmonary arteries from normal pigs.
In Vitro Expansion of Megakaryocytes from Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Progenitors

Recently, there have been several reports describing the in vitro proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytic progenitor cells, isolated from either bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood (PB), into relatively pure human mega-karyocytes (1,2). These culture systems originated from the discovery that Ficoll isolated human mononuclear PB cells, when stimulated with aplastic sera from thrombocytopenic animals, differentiated into megakaryocytes (3), and also from the finding that the megakaryocyte progenitors found in PB or BM typically express the CD34 antigen on their cell surface (4). Collectively, these two discoveries led to a system whereby PB isolated CD34(+) cells are cultured with an exogenously derived cytokine soup of growth and differentiation factors. Finally, after a variable expansion period, from 8-14 d, the cells are analyzed for megakaryocytic antigenic markers, such as αIIb/β3 (CD41). The disadvantage of this system is that it is a short-term one, with most of these primary cells being dead 21 d after their initial plating. Other "long-term" systems where the developing CD34(+) cells are grown in the presence of cytokine expressing human BM microvascular endothelial cells have demonstrated 200-fold expansions over a 2-month growth period (5). Both the short- and long-term culture systems have the potential to generate sufficient numbers of megakaryocytes for doing transient or stable expression studies or for other applications, such as providing sufficient megakaryocyte nuclear extracts for electrophoretic mobility shift assays or nuclei for DNase1 hypersensitivity studies.
5.8 GHz energy harvesting of space based solar power using inkjet printed circuits on a transparent substrate

Space-based solar power satellites can be used to gather solar energy in space and beam it on Earth through microwaves. Developing inexpensive ground stations to harvest microwave energy and to convert it into usable power without affecting the use of land for agriculture will make this technology more affordable and non intrusive. To this end, we present a working design for transparent fabricated, 5.8 GHz rectennas using a modified off-the-shelf desktop ink-jet printer. Preliminary low power tests show the ability of the prototypes to convert microwaves into sufficient DC power to turn on an LED; moreover, the verified substrate transparency to ultraviolet radiations suggests the possibility of deploying ground stations above land usable for agriculture.
724 FAILURE TO GENERATE PLAQUE FORMING CELLS (PFC) IN X-LINKED AGAMAGLOBULINEMIA

There have been recent suggestions in the literature that in x-linked agammaglobulinemia, precursor B-cells may be present in the marrow and, further, that the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) can be stimulated to produce IgM under appropriate conditions. Utilizing a recently described hemolytic plaque assay (Fauci and Pratt, PNAS 73:3676, 1976) we studied the PBL of 7 patients and marrow of 1 patient for ability to generate PFC following polyclonal stimulation with pokeweed mitogen in a wide dose range (1:20 - 1:1000 final dilution/culture) for 6 days. No PFC were generated in either blood or marrow whereas PBL from normal donors studied simultaneously gave from 107-426 plaques/million cultured cells. No PFC were generated in the PBL (or marrow in 1 patient) even after addition of irradiated normal PBL (1200 R) which regularly provided help to normal autologous or allogeneic cells. In 2 patients, PBL demonstrated suppressor activity; adequate helper activity was seen in the single marrow sample and in the PBL of 4/5 patients after irradiation. These observations confirm the findings of several other investigators that x-linked agammaglobulinemia is indeed a primary defect of the B-cell line in which suppressor cells may or may not be present. (Supported by grants CA-08748, CA-17404, CA-19267, AI-11843, Berman Estate and Judith Harris Selig Foundation funds)
Genetic Basis for Polymorphism in the Ground Beetle, Agonum decorum (Say) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Electrophoretic allelic frequency data, rearing through two generations, and analysis of field collections from polymorphic populations, all suppport synonymizing Agonum californicum (Dejean) and Agonum thoracicum (Dejean) under Agonum decorum (Say). Agonum decorum is composed of four morphotypes, distributed in different regions of North America. The red-green color polymorphism and hirsute-glabrous setational polymorphism are shown to be determined by unlinked, autosomal diallelic loci. Both presumably derived alleles are dominant to the plesiomorphic alleles. The polymorphisms are discussed in relation to mimicry and the evolution of dominance.
How we treat vitiligo.

Vitiligo is an idiopathic, acquired and progressive depigmenting skin disorder. Melanocytes are markedly reduced in number or absent in affected areas. Treatment has been generally unsatisfactory, but cosmetics are helpful, and recent studies show promise of a safe, reliable treatment.
Does gender matter for job creation? Business ownership and employment growth

This research uses an economic growth framework to analyze the impacts of male- and female-owned firms on economic performance. To address the potential endogeneity caused by social factors that may effect both the gender composition of business owners and economic growth, we apply an instrumental variable strategy. Intriguingly, in-depth analysis yielded no evidence of positive agglomeration effects on job growth specifically from gendered measures of firm density. However, the analyses do illuminate the value of considering both the previously unexplored employer/nonemployer firm distinction as well as a gendered perspective of firm ownership in the understanding of regional growth factors. The results show that male-owned firms, particularly male-owned employer firms, have a strong, though negative, relationship to employment growth consistent with national employment trends in male-owned firms during the period of the study.
Discovering Emotions in the Wild: An Inductive Method to Identify Fine-grained Emotion Categories in Tweets.

This paper describes a method to expose a set of categories that are representative of the emotions expressed on Twitter inductively from data. The method can be used to expand the range of emotions that automatic classifiers can detect through the identification of fine-grained emotion categories human annotators are capable of detecting in tweets. The inter-annotator reliability statistics for 18 annotators using different granularity of the emotion classification schemes are compared. An initial set of emotion categories representative of the range of emotions expressed in tweets is derived. Using this method, researchers can make more informed decisions regarding the level of granularity and representativeness of emotion labels that automatic emotion classifiers should be able to detect in text.
The diagnostic accuracy of urine-based tests for bladder cancer varies greatly by patient

Spectrum effects refer to the phenomenon that test performance varies across subgroups of a population. When spectrum effects occur during diagnostic testing for cancer, difficult patient misdiagnoses can occur. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of test indication, age, gender, race, and smoking status on the performance characteristics of two commonly used diagnostic tests for bladder cancer, urine cytology and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We assessed all subjects who underwent cystoscopy, cytology, and FISH at our institution from 2003 to 2012. The standard diagnostic test performance metrics were calculated using marginal models to account for clustered/repeated measures within subjects. We calculated test performance for the overall cohort by test indication as well as by key patient variables: age, gender, race, and smoking status. A total of 4023 cystoscopy-cytology pairs and 1696 FISH-cystoscopy pairs were included in the analysis. In both FISH and cytology, increasing age, male gender, and history of smoking were associated with increased sensitivity and decreased specificity. FISH performance was most impacted by age, with an increase in sensitivity from 17 % at age 40 to 49 % at age 80. The same was true of cytology, with an increase in sensitivity from 50 % at age 40 to 67 % at age 80. Sensitivity of FISH was higher for a previous diagnosis of bladder cancer (46 %) than for hematuria (26 %). Test indication had no impact on the performance of cytology and race had no significant impact on the performance of either test. The diagnostic performance of urine cytology and FISH vary significantly according to the patient demographic in which they were tested. Hence, the reporting of spectrum effects in diagnostic tests should become part of standard practice. Patient-related factors must contextualize the clinicians’ interpretation of test results and their decision-making.
Papers presented at the the March 3-5, 1959, western joint computer conference

The Western Joint Computer Conference returned to San Francisco, Calif., for the second time in 1959. The dynamic growth in our industry and the computer industry growth in the San Francisco area is evidenced by the doubling of attendance since 1956. The 1959 Western Joint Computer Conference presented a view of "New Horizons with Computer Technology." These new horizons are appearing with the new circuits and devices that are arising from the maturing research efforts of our growing businesses. Similarly, new vistas are opening as a result of the knowledge gained through the application and utilization of computers throughout our entire economy. These annual conferences are intended to provide an opportunity for the professional people in the computer industry to discuss their technical and business interests and accomplishments. The papers herein present the record of these discussions.
Quantifying bone weathering stages using the average roughness parameter Ra measured from 3D data

Bone surface texture is known to degrade in a predictable fashion due to subaerial exposure, and can thus act as a relative proxy for estimating temporal information from modern and ancient bone assemblages. To date, the majority of bone weathering data is collected on a categorical scale based on descriptive terms. While this qualitative classification of weathering data is well established, textural analyses of bone surfaces may provide means to quantify weathering stages but have yet to be tested. Here, I examined the suitability of textural analyses for bone weathering studies by first establishing bone surface regions most appropriate for weathering analyses. I then measured and compared the roughness texture of weathered bones at different stages. To establish regions of bone most suitable for textural analyses, Ra was measured from 3D scans of dorsal ribs of four adult ungulate taxa. Results indicate that the rib-shafts from unweathered ungulate skeletons were similar and are likely good candidates because differences in surface texture will not be due to differences in initial bone texture. To test if textural measurements could reliably characterize weathering stages, the average roughness values (Ra) were measured from weathered ungulate rib-shafts assigned to four descriptive weathering stages. Results from analyses indicate that the Ra was statistically distinct for each weathering stage and that roughness positively correlates with the degree of weathering. As such, results suggest that textural analyses may provide the means for quantifying bone-weathering stages. Using Ra and other quantifiable texture parameters may enable more reliable and comparative taphonomic analyses by reducing inter-observer variations and by providing numerical data more compatible for multivariate statistics.
Father Absence and Adolescent Depression and Delinquency: A Comparison of Siblings Approach

Associations between having a nonresident father and increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescence have been well established, however, research has yet to establish the plausible causality of these links or identify the mechanisms that may underlie them. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 - the Young Adult survey (CNLSY-YA), the present study addresses these questions by comparing the behavior of siblings discordant for age at father departure across two outcomes, depressive symptoms (N= 5108) and delinquent behavior (N= 4882). Findings indicate that father departure later in childhood is associated with increased delinquency in adolescence but not with greater depressive symptoms. Moreover, father departure in early childhood was not associated with problematic behavior in adolescence. Both findings suggest that parental monitoring rather than disrupted socialization or emotional distress may account for links between having a nonresident father and adolescent delinquency.
Neural correlates of the false consensus effect: Evidence for motivated projection and regulatory restraint

The false consensus effect FCE, the tendency to project our attitudes and opinions on to others, is a pervasive bias in social reasoning with a range of ramifications for individuals and society. Research in social psychology has suggested that numerous factors anchoring and adjustment, accessibility, motivated projection, etc. may contribute to the FCE. In this study, we examine the neural correlates of the FCE and provide evidence that motivated projection plays a significant role. Activity in reward regions ventromedial pFC and bilateral nucleus accumbens during consensus estimation was positively associated with bias, whereas activity in right ventrolateral pFC implicated in emotion regulation was inversely associated with bias. Activity in reward and regulatory regions accounted for half of the total variation in consensus bias across participants R2 =.503. This research complements models of the FCE in social psychology, providing a glimpse into the neural mechanisms underlying this important phenomenon.
Prophylaxis for Stress Ulcers With Proton Pump Inhibitors Is Not Associated With Increased Risk of Bloodstream Infections in the Intensive Care Unit

Background & Aims Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with increased risk of infection, likely because of changes in intestinal epithelial permeability and the gastrointestinal microbiome. PPIs are frequently given to patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) to prevent stress ulcers. These patients are at risk for bloodstream infections (BSIs), so we investigated the relationship between PPI use and BSIs among patients in the ICU. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults (≥18 years) admitted to 1 of 14 ICUs within a hospital network of 3 large hospitals from 2008 through 2014. The primary exposure was PPI use for stress ulcer prophylaxis in the ICU. The primary outcome was BSI, confirmed by culture analysis, arising 48 hours or more after admission to the ICU. Subjects were followed for 30 days after ICU admission or until death, discharge, or BSI. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to test the association between PPIs and BSI after controlling for patient comorbidities and other clinical factors. Results We analyzed data from 24,774 patients in the ICU, including 756 patients (3.1%) who developed BSIs while in the ICU. The cumulative incidence of BSI was 3.7% in patients with PPI exposure compared with 2.2% in patients without PPI exposure (log-rank test, P Conclusions In a retrospective study of patients in the ICU, administration of PPIs to prevent bleeding was not associated with increased risk of BSI. These findings indicate that concern for BSI should not affect decisions regarding use of PPIs in the ICU.
Detection of Long-Range Ordering

To detect the presence of long-range ordering and quantify the long-range order parameter by x-ray diffraction methods.
Effect of heterologous antibody on human platelets

The effect of heterologous anti-human platelet antibody on human platelet function was examined in the presence and absence of whole plasma as an in vitro model for antibody-induced immune damage to cells. Heterologous IgG anti-human platelet antibody mediated platelet aggregation and released serotonin from both platelets in plasma and from platelets isolated by gel filtration and increased the availability of platelet acid phosphatase in a dose-response fashion. Anti-platelet antibody failed to release beta-glucuronidase (lysosomal enzyme marker) or cause lactic dehydrogenase loss (cytolysis). The effect of the antiplatelet antibody on platelets proceeded in the absence of complement. The active molecule in the anti-platelet antiserum was isolated in the IgG fraction and all three indicators of platelet injury were mediated by purified monomeric IgG. Thrombin was not required for the antibody-mediated effects, as three thrombin inhibitors failed to block the reaction. EDTA was an effective inhibitor, suggesting a cation requirement; however, as little as 38 muM calcium was sufficient for effective platelet aggregation and release. The inability of acetylsalicylic acid to inhibit the effect of the antiplatelet antibody suggests that heterologous antibody (IgG) induced platelet alteration proceeds by a different mechanism than that mediated by ADP and epinephrine and does not involve endogenous platelet prostaglandin synthesis.
IODINE CONTENT OF ENTERAL AND PARENTERAL NUTRITION SOLUTIONS.

ABSTRACT Objective: Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis, and iodine deficiency may result in thyroid disorders including goiter and hypothyroidism. Patients on long-term enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN) may be at risk for micronutrient deficiencies. The recommended daily allowance for iodine intake is 150 μg for nonpregnant adults. However, there is no current consensus among scientific societies regarding the quantity of iodine to be added in adult EN and PN formulations. The objective of this study was to determine the iodine content of U.S. adult enteral and parenteral nutrition solutions. This study also aimed to determine whether adult patients in the United States who are receiving long-term artificial nutrition may be at risk for iodine deficiency. Methods: Ten enteral nutrition solutions and 4 parenteral nutrition solutions were evaluated. The iodine contents of these solutions were measured spectrophotometrically and compared to the labeled contents. Results: Meas...
Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men

What if? What if you were a straight White man serving life in prison? Would you have sex with a man? What if you were a straight White man pledging a fraternity that required you to engage in oral...
Intrinsic limitations of atomic layer deposition for pseudocapacitive metal oxides in porous electrochemical capacitor electrodes

By comparing the pseudocapacitive performance of ALD V2O5 in micro-, meso-, and macro-porous carbon electrodes, we describe the fundamental limits to ALD in very fine pores for pseudocapacitive charge storage. Comparing experimental trends with an ALD coating model, we find that the thermal V2O5 ALD process using vanadium triisopropoxide (VTIP) and water is unable to deposit in pores where the pore diameter is below a critical diameter of 13 A. By adding the ALD V2O5 layer onto activated carbon electrodes, we find that the energy storage capacity could be increased by 144% for carbon with micropores and macropores, whereas for carbon black powder containing only macropores (i.e. a low surface area resulting in a relatively small starting capacity) the ALD coating increased the capacity more than 40-fold. To understand the ALD coating limits, the pores of the carbon electrodes were modeled as a series of connected tubes, and the volume of V2O5 deposited determined experimentally was compared to the calculated deposition limit. Pores below this critical diameter were sealed and decreased the accessible volume for V2O5 deposition by more than half, decreasing the maximum capacity. The effect of the pore sealing by the ALD process on the capacitive response of the activated carbon based electrodes was also studied. This work highlights the intrinsic capabilities and limitations of coating microporous materials using ALD.
Songbird organotypic culture as an in vitro model for interrogating sparse sequencing networks

Sparse sequences of neuronal activity are fundamental features of neural circuit computation; however, the underlying homeostatic mechanisms remain poorly understood. To approach these questions, we have developed a method for cellular-resolution imaging in organotypic cultures of the adult zebra finch brain, including portions of the intact song circuit. These in vitro networks can survive for weeks, and display mature neuron morphologies. Neurons within the organotypic slices exhibit a diversity of spontaneous and pharmacologically induced activity that can be easily monitored using the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6. In this study, we primarily focus on the classic song sequence generator HVC and the surrounding areas. We describe proof of concept experiments including physiological, optical, and pharmacological manipulation of these exposed networks. This method may allow the cellular rules underlying sparse, stereotyped neural sequencing to be examined with new degrees of experimental control.
Application of Cellular Genetic Algorithms and Space Efficient Chromosomes to Wells Placement in Oil Fields

This work presents two new approaches to the optimum wells placement problem in oil fields using evolutionary methods. The presented approaches are a new space-efficient chromosome and the application of cellular genetic algorithms to guarantee healthy population diversity. Usually, authors define a domain representation having wells coordinates and types at any arbitrary position of the chromosome. On the other hand, the proposed representation enforces a unique relative wells position for each combination of wells, so, in general, there is only one problem domain representation for every concrete solution. Therefore, our representation reduces the search space, thus making the optimization more efficient. Furthermore, this paper employs a cellular genetic algorithm and presents a comparison between it and the classical genetic algorithm usually applied to this problem. The experiments with the UNISIM-I reservoir model indicate an enhancement of 6–10 times of the final \({\textit{NPV}}\) when comparing the proposed representation and the traditional one. Furthermore, the cellular genetic algorithm with the suggested chromosome performs better than the classical genetic algorithm by a factor of 1.5. These models are valuable not only for the oil and gas industry but also to every integer optimization problem that employs evolutionary algorithms.
4Cs of innovation: a conceptual framework for evaluating innovation strategy

While innovation is on the agenda of almost all organizations, successful innovation management remains quite elusive for many managers. This paper on innovation management strategy identifies four key interrelated areas that an innovator needs to concurrently define and organize for a systemic and effective innovation: the innovation concept, the consumer context, the competitive context, and the collaborative context. We refer to the framework involving these four areas as the 4Cs of innovation. Careful consideration of each of these four areas addresses specific issues, regarding operations, marketing, finance, and regulations, for the organization to enhance the effectiveness of the innovation strategy. We offer a practical diagnostic tool to implement the 4Cs of innovation framework. Further, we discuss our research on 99 highly innovative clean technology projects funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy as an example of how to utilize the 4Cs of innovation framework. Our analysis brings out important insights for managers of established firms and startups on how to prioritize innovation activities and highlights the effective use of 4Cs of innovation for guiding successful innovation strategies.
The Use of Biotechnology Derived Monomers in the Synthesis of New Polymers: Development of Polyesterimides

The applications of polyesterimides as heat resistant material has many advantages over the conventionally used polymers. This paper will summarize our research on the synthesis and characterization of two new polyesterimides from N-(4-carboxyphenyl) trimellitimide [7] and two other monomers, 4,4’-diacetoxybiphenyl [2] and cis-1,2-diacetoxy-3,5-cyclohexadiene [4] respectively. The physical, physicochemical and thermal properties of the polymers have been investigated. The monomers [2] and [4] have been prepared via enzymatic reactions from commercially available inexpensive starting materials followed by acetylation. This shows, in general, the potential of biotechnology on the development of new polymers, and heat resistant polymers in particular.
Safe tissue manipulation in retinal microsurgery via motorized instruments with force sensing

Retinal microsurgery involves careful manipulation of delicate tissues by applying very small amount of forces most of which lie below the tactile sensory threshold of the surgeons. Membrane peeling is a common task in this domain, where application of excessive peeling forces can easily lead to serious complications, hence needs to be avoided. To quantify tool-tissue interaction forces during retinal microsurgery, various force-sensing tools were developed based on fiber Bragg grating sensors, yet the most beneficial way of using the acquired force information is currently unknown. In this study, using a motorized force-sensing micro-forceps tool, we develop an assistive method that enhances safety during membrane peeling by automatically opening the forceps and releasing the tissue based on the detected peeling forces. Through peeling experiments using bandages, we demonstrate that our method can effectively maintain the peeling force at a safe level even in case of non-homogeneous adhesion properties of the membrane.
Comparative investigation of PWM current-source inverters for future machine drives using high-frequency wide-bandgap power switches

Pulse-width-modulated (PWM) current-source inverters (CSIs) in machine drives have received limited research attention since the 1980s because they are generally considered to be inferior to PWM voltage-source inverters (VSIs) in terms of several performance metrics. However, in view of the special features of wide-bandgap (WBG) power semiconductors that distinguish them from today's silicon devices, this paper uses simulation to reexamine the PWM-CSI's key performance metrics including efficiency, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and machine over-voltage at high switching frequencies (e.g., 200kHz) compared with two-level WBG-enabled VSIs under similar operating conditions. Advantages of the CSI compared to the baseline VSI topology are revealed for each of these three performance features. Reverse-voltage-blocking switches based on gallium nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) that are key to the operation of PWM-CSIs are discussed and experimentally evaluated.
CFD modeling of filmwise steam condensation with noncondensable gas with modified boundary condition

Abstract Filmwise condensation plays an important role in many industrial applications. With the presence of noncondensable gas, the condensation process can be complicated and an appropriate modeling of the phenomena is necessary. This study takes the approach of modeling condensation with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based on species diffusion, with only the gas mixture modeled as the entire computational domain. The condensation rate is modeled as a sink term for the conservation equations. In addition, we suggest the use of free surface boundary condition, that is, a shear free boundary, as opposed to traditional approaches where the condensation is modeled to occur on a dry, no-slip wall. The free surface assumption provides better representation of the physical condensing interface without having to include both liquid and gas phases in the computational domain, which can bring great increase in computational cost with limited benefit. The free surface assumption is validated via case studies considering reasonable range of interfacial conditions, showing that the error from the free surface assumption can be quantified and is reasonably low for the considered range of conditions. Then, the developed condensation model and the free surface assumption for the condensing interface are implemented into the CFD codes and validated against a set of experimental data. The performance of the condensation model and the free surface assumption are assessed based on the prediction of the condensation heat transfer coefficient. The results show that the predictions are improved with applying the free surface boundary condition for the condensing interface compared to the results with the traditional no-slip boundary conditions.
"We Don't Want to be Judged": Perceptions about Professional Help and Attitudes Towards Help-Seeking among Pregnant and Postpartum Mexican-American Adolescents.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand how depression is recognized, as well as perceptions of professional help and attitudes concerning perinatal depression among pregnant and postpartum (perinatal) Mexican-American adolescents. Design and Methods This qualitative descriptive study used deductive and inductive content analysis to analyze data. Categories and subcategories describing the mental health literacy of perinatal Mexican-American adolescents concerning perinatal depression are presented. A convenience sample of 20 perinatal Mexican-American adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years were interviewed. Participants were recruited from parenting classes across urban high-schools in Southwestern United States. Results Adolescents expressed difficulties in recognizing perinatal depression. Depressive symptoms were identified through self-appraisals or the appraisal of others. Establishing rapport with empathetic health care providers facilitated trust among adolescents. Fear of judgement was the most common response and prevented help-seeking. Lack of trust, normalization of depression, and reluctance with disclosing symptoms were also indicated by participants. Conclusions Stigma concerning perinatal depression was identified as a barrier for help-seeking among participants who were already experiencing criticism due to their pregnancy status. The quality of interactions with health providers may hinder or facilitate adolescents from professional help-seeking. Practice Implications Active engagement and collaboration with Mexican-American adolescents are indicated in identification and treatment of perinatal depression. Integration of mental health services in primary care settings is suggested to facilitate help-seeking for perinatal depression. Mental Health First Aid may be utilized to improve knowledge and decrease stigma concerning perinatal depression among Mexican-American adolescents.
Instability of PRV-1 mRNA: a factor to be considered in PRV-1 quantification for the diagnosis of polycythemia vera

High expression of PRV-1 mRNA in granulocytes has been proposed as a new diagnostic marker for polycythemia vera. We used real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the levels of PRV-1 mRNA, GAPDH mRNA and 18S rRNA in granulocytes obtained from blood samples processed 2, 24 and 48 hours after collection and observed a significant decrease of PRV-1 levels after 24 and 48 hours. The instability of PRV-1 mRNA may affect the diagnostic value of the PRV-1 test in blood samples stored for extended periods.
Products of riboflavin photodegradation

ion of an hydrogen atom from the sidechain results in the semiquinone form of the isoalloxazine ring and a radical in the sidechain. The fate of the above diradical is suggested by polarographic studies which are made during the photobleaching process. A number of studies have been made in Brdicka's (78)
Civil Society and Sexual Struggles in Africa

Questions of sexuality often remain peripheral to both the agendas of African civil society organizations (CSOs) and those who study civil society operations in different African nations. However, in the last two decades, political and religious leaders in a number of African nations have attacked sexual diversity. In response to the threats of state repression against gender and sexual minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Africans have formed activist organizations to support LGBT constituents and to promote gender and sexual minority rights as human rights. This chapter explores the form and content of contemporary African “sexual diversity struggles,” a term that refers to efforts to defend gender and sexual dissidence and to promote laws and policies that affirm gender and sexual diversity. This chapter contextualizes the rise of sexual diversity struggles throughout Africa and profiles the involvement of different civil society actors such as LGBT movement organizations, HIV/AIDS nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), women’s rights NGOs, and faith-based NGOs, in these struggles. Different CSOs lobby lawmakers to decriminalize same-sex sexualities, shelter gender and sexual minorities from hostile opponents, and develop local and transnational networks of sympathetic bystanders, lawmakers, foreign donors, and diplomats. This chapter pays particular attention to the transnational dimensions of African sexual diversity struggles and how local CSOs navigate the tensions and rewards that accompany transnational advocacy around LGBT rights.