cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Issues in Controlling Integrated WIP Material Handling Systems

In an automated factory, material handling will be but one element of a hierarchical control system. Experience shows, however, that the computer controls for some highly automated work-in-process (WIP) handling systems are not consistent with strictly hierarchical architectures. In this context, we propose an approach to integrating the control of automated WIP handling within hierarchical process control and explore some of implications for the design of interfaces and coordinating mechanisms.
Fulani Jihads (Piecing Together the Present Middle East Turmoil by Understanding the Past)

The word Jihad is often translated “holy war.” Its broader meaning is “struggle, exertion.” “It signifies the general effort to advance the cause of Islam.” This study will briefly examine the execution of jihads as they occurred in nineteen century Hausaland by nomadic herders known as Fulani, Fulbe or Peul. The study will conclude by highlighting a cursory comparison between eighteen and nineteen century Islamic Nigeria and the string of up raisings seen today throughout Africa and the Middle East. With intellectual and religious pundits characterizing today’s conflict as historically unparalleled and therefore concluding that we have arrived at the end of the age, this study will therefore challenge that position and offer an opposing analysis supported by evidence uncovered in this investigation.
Academic achievement of successful candidates for tenure and promotion to associate professor.

Background and objectives For faculty to achieve promotion and tenure, a clear understanding is needed of the measures by which performance will be judged. This study describes the specific academic achievements of successful candidates for tenure and promotion to associate professor in family medicine. Methods A survey questionnaire was mailed to all members listed in the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine database as holding the rank of associate professor. The questionnaire sought information about items as they were at the time the individual was being considered for promotion to associate professor with tenure. The items included scholarly accomplishments, time for research, areas of scholarly expertise, and departmental policy regarding promotion and tenure. Results Of the 296 eligible faculty, 197 (67%) returned a completed survey. The mean number of publications of these successfully promoted individuals was 10. The respondents averaged 78% of their publications in peer-reviewed journals and were first author on 64% of their peer-reviewed articles. The mean number of peer-reviewed publications per year was 1.5. Research grant support as principal or coinvestigator was reported by 44%, and respondents averaged 9 hours a week on scholarly activities. Scholarly activity was found to vary significantly by type of school, degree, and tenure track status. Conclusions Information reported here can be of value for prospective promotion and tenure candidates, their advisors, and members of review committees.
Practical Application of Nucleic Acid Techniques to Avian Disease Problems

A workshop in which 17 practicing scientists participated was intended to address primarily people who use or could use biotechnology in their work and was confined to five techniques. Endonuclease fingerprinting and mapping involved cleaving nucleic acid with a specific restriction enzyme and separating the nucleic acid fragments by electrophoresis. Field and vaccine isolates of Pasteurella multocida could be distinguished; Salmonella enteritidis could be divided into three groups; chlamydia could be grouped into seven groups; and vaccinia, quail pox, and fowl pox could be clearly distinguished. Preparation of nucleic acid probes involved producing large amounts of labeled oligonucleotides, usually of unknown sequence. Successful probes had been made for infectious bursal disease virus, avian influenza virus, Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bronchitis virus. In Southern, Northern, and dot blotting, either DNA or RNA fragments were placed on or transferred to a solid substrate and probed. The procedure was able to detect infectious bursal disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Marek's disease virus. In situ hybridization involved applying a labeled probe to frozen or fixed sections or to intact cells. In Polymerase chain reaction, two primers, some distance apart, were annealed to a denatured target DNA. Repeated cycles of DNA synthesis with a thermostable polymerase, denaturing, and reannealing resulted in great amplification of a rare sequence. After 30 cycles, a rare gene sequence could be amplified more than 10(6) times. It was used successfully to detect minute quantities of influenza virus and infectious bursal disease virus, and the process was used to facilitate DNA sequencing of coccidiosis gene segments.
Conditioned by Race: How Race and Religion Intersect to Affect Candidate Evaluations

While it is becoming increasingly clear that religious cues influence voter evaluations in the United States, work examining religious cues has largely overlooked the conditioning role of race. We employed a 2 × 2 (White candidate vs. Black candidate) × (racial cues vs. no racial cues) online experiment with a national sample (N = 397; 56% white, 46% black) where participants were exposed to a fictitious congressional candidate's webpage. Results show that White participants expected the religious candidate to be more conservative, regardless of race, while Black participants did not perceive a difference in ideology between the religious and non-religious Black candidates. Additionally, when it comes to candidate favorability, religious cues matter more to White participants, while racial cues are most important to Black participants. These findings provide evidence that religious and racial cues activate different assumptions among White and Black citizens.
Characterization of a Vortex-flow Eng-burning Hybrid Rocket Motor for Nanosatellite Applications

Nanosatellites, such as Cubesats, are becoming increasingly popular for research purposes, especially among universities. However, these satellites do not typically carry propulsion systems, limiting their missions and relegating such satellites to the orbit of the primary payload with which they are launched. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of a proof-of-concept small-scale vortex-ow end-burning hybrid rocket motor intended as a propulsion system for such spacecraft. The motor has a length to diameter ratio of 0.79 which is much lower than the traditional hybrid average of 8. This allows it to be mounted on the end of a satellite, rather than through the satellite’s center. The motor was designed for a thrust of 1 Newton to prevent overwhelming a potential spacecraft’s attitude control system. The thruster burns gaseous oxygen and polyethylene and was red twice. An average operational thrust of 0.72 0.05 Newtons was measured, and an average Isp of 17010 sec was calculated. Signicant heating of the motor case was observed. A CFD study was also conducted, and predicted that Isp would be between 162 and 184 seconds, supporting the experimental results. This thruster, when paired with more energetic propellants, could be a viable competition for monopropellant liquid thrusters.
Effects of coupled dose and rhythm manipulation of plasma cortisol levels on leukocyte transcriptional response to endotoxin challenge in humans.

Severe traumas are associated with hypercortisolemia due to both disruption of cortisol secretion rhythm and increase in its total concentration. Understanding the effects of altered cortisol levels and rhythms on immune function is of great clinical interest, to prevent conditions such as sepsis from complicating the recovery. This in vivo study assesses the responses of circulating leukocytes to coupled dose and rhythm manipulation of cortisol, preceding an immune challenge induced by endotoxin administration. Through continuous infusion, plasma cortisol concentration was increased to and kept constant at a level associated with major physiologic stress. In response, transcriptional programming of leukocytes was altered to display a priming response before endotoxin exposure. Enhanced expression of a number of receptors and signaling proteins, as well as lowered protein translation and mitochondrial function indicated a sensitization against potential infectious threats. Despite these changes, response ...
The effect of state and local taxes on economic growth: A spatial dynamic panel approach

This study revisits the growth effects associated with subnational fiscal policy. This, to my knowledge, is the first attempt to address the potential endogeneity of fiscal policy control variables. More specifically, the analysis used in this study implements a general method of moments spatial dynamic panel data model estimation procedure to arrive at a more refined set of estimates for the growth effects attributed to state and local fiscal policy. In deriving the estimable equation, this study extends a factor market approach for modelling regional output into a strategic interaction framework.
Industrial Heritage Protection from the Perspective of Engineering Ethics

Industrial heritage protection reflects the ethical responsibility for the artificial environment in engineering activities.Different from natural environment protection which focuses on the interest relationship between contemporary people and the future generations,industrial heritage protection pays more attention to the ethical responsibility for the artificial environment,which places more emphasis on the interest relationship between contemporary and previous generations.This attention originates from the custom of inheritance and inheritance ethics is a type of moral expression for such a custom.As a pattern to manifest inheritance ethics in engineering activities,industrial heritage protection serves as a basic principle for respecting the labor and work of previous generations,which attains its objectives via institutional ethics.As a new dimension of engineering ethics,industrial heritage protection becomes an important embodiment of inheritance ethics in engineering activities.
Global Strategy and Local Management: How Does It Work?

This study examines productivity and participatory management systems in similar plants located in five different countries. Likert’s System 4 theory was used as an instrument to measure the extent of management participation within the foreign subsidiaries. All five plants engaged in identical operations that were designed and implemented by its U.S.-based owner. Each of the plants, however, were managed by host nationals. The data indicated that the degree of participation differed widely between the Italian, Mexican, Spanish, American and English plants. The data did not support Likert’s contention that participation and productivity are linearly related. Rather, it appears that the management systems in each of the plants reflects the expectations of the local society and may not be directly related to productivity.
Strokes and Vertebral Artery Trauma

Three boys, ages 11, 8, and 7 years, with strokes from vertebral artery lesions resulting from neck trauma are reported from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
Adaptive Parametric and Nonparametric Multi-Product Pricing Via Self-Adjusting Controls

We study a multi-period network revenue management (RM) problem where a seller sells multiple products made from multiple resources with finite capacity in an environment where the demand function is unknown a priori. The objective of the seller is to jointly learn the demand and price the products to minimize his expected revenue loss. Both the parametric and the nonparametric cases are considered in this paper. It is widely known in the literature that the revenue loss of any pricing policy under either case is at least k^{1/2} However, there is a considerable gap between this lower bound and the performance bound of the best known heuristic in the literature. To close the gap, we develop several self-adjusting heuristics with strong performance bound. For the general parametric case, our proposed Parametric Self-adjusting Control (PSC) attains a O(k^{1/2}) revenue loss, matching the theoretical lower bound. If the parametric demand function family further satisfies a well-separated condition, by taking advantage of passive learning, our proposed Accelerated Parametric Self-adjusting Control achieves a much sharper revenue loss of O(log^2 k). For the nonparametric case, our proposed Nonparametric Self-adjusting Control (NSC) obtains a revenue loss of O(k^{1/2+系} log k) for any arbitrarily small 系 > 0 if the demand function is sufficiently smooth. Our results suggest that in terms of performance, the nonparametric approach can be as robust as the parametric approach, at least asymptotically. All the proposed heuristics are computationally very efficient and can be used as a baseline for developing more sophisticated heuristics for large-scale problems.
Expression of CCN Genes and Proteins in Human Skin: Methods and Protocols

CCN proteins are vital to a variety of biological processes that contribute to the normal development and function of skin. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qPCR) quantifies mRNA levels of these key genes. Immunostaining localizes CCN proteins within skin tissue, and provides semiquantitative information regarding relative levels of the proteins. Reliable determinations of the expression levels of CCN genes and proteins are essential to uncovering their roles in skin physiology and pathology.
Post-market surveillance to detect adverse events associated with Melody® valve implantation.

Objective The aim of this study was to describe previously unrecognised or under-recognised adverse events associated with Melody® valve implantation. Background In rare diseases and conditions, it is typically not feasible to conduct large-scale safety trials before drug or device approval. Therefore, post-market surveillance mechanisms are necessary to detect rare but potentially serious adverse events. Methods We reviewed the United States Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database and conducted a structured literature review to evaluate adverse events associated with on- and off-label Melody® valve implantation. Adverse events were compared with those described in the prospective Investigational Device Exemption and Post-Market Approval Melody® transcatheter pulmonary valve trials. Results We identified 631 adverse events associated with "on-label" Melody® valve implants and 84 adverse events associated with "off-label" implants. The most frequent "on-label" adverse events were similar to those described in the prospective trials including stent fracture (n=210) and endocarditis (n=104). Previously unrecognised or under-recognised adverse events included stent fragment embolisation (n=5), device erosion (n=4), immediate post-implant severe valvar insufficiency (n=2), and late coronary compression (n=2 cases at 5 days and 3 months after implantation). Under-recognised adverse events associated with off-label implantation included early valve failure due to insufficiency when implanted in the tricuspid position (n=7) and embolisation with percutaneous implantation in the mitral position (n=5). Conclusion Post-market passive surveillance does not demonstrate a high frequency of previously unrecognised serious adverse events with "on-label" Melody® valve implantation. Further study is needed to evaluate safety of "off-label" uses.
Entry-Level is Job Skills: A Survey of Employers

As the information systems (IS) profession continues to evolve, educators are challenged to meet employer needs and maintain the currency and relevance of IS education. This paper reports the results of a survey of IS employers from a large public university in the Midwest. This survey addressed employers' perceptions of the importance of programming languages and various other technical and non-technical skills. The survey also assessed employers' views of new IS graduates' “expected” versus “actual” performance on these job skills. Finally, the survey solicited employer input about how students can better prepare themselves for the IS profession prior to graduation. The implications of the findings, particularly for IS education, are examined.
A comprehensive pipeline for translational top-down proteomics from a single blood draw

Top-down proteomics (TDP) by mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique by which intact proteins are analyzed. It has become increasingly popDesalting and concentrating GELFrEEular in translational research because of the value of characterizing distinct proteoforms of intact proteins. Compared to bottom-up proteomics (BUP) strategies, which measure digested peptide mixtures, TDP provides highly specific molecular information that avoids the bioinformatic challenge of protein inference. However, the technique has been difficult to implement widely because of inherent limitations of existing sample preparation methods and instrumentation. Recent improvements in proteoform pre-fractionation and the availability of high-resolution benchtop mass spectrometers have made it possible to use high-throughput TDP for the analysis of complex clinical samples. Here, we provide a comprehensive protocol for analysis of a common sample type in translational research: human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The pipeline comprises multiple workflows that can be treated as modular by the reader and used for various applications. First, sample collection and cell preservation are described for two clinical biorepository storage schemes. Cell lysis and proteoform pre-fractionation by gel-eluted liquid fractionation entrapment electrophoresis are then described. Importantly, instrument setup and liquid chromatography-tandem MS are described for TDP analyses, which rely on high-resolution Fourier-transform MS. Finally, data processing and analysis are described using two different, application-dependent software tools: ProSight Lite for targeted analyses of one or a few proteoforms and TDPortal for high-throughput TDP in discovery mode. For a single sample, the minimum completion time of the entire experiment is 72 h.
Optimization of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) assay for the transition from benchtop to handheld Raman systems

Human biomarkers are indicative of the body’s relative state prior to the onset of disease, and sometimes before symptoms present. While blood biomarker detection has achieved considerable success in laboratory settings, its clinical application is lagging and commercial point-of-care devices are rare. A physician’s ability to detect biomarkers such as microRNA-17, a potential epigenetic indicator of preeclampsia in pregnant woman, could enable early diagnosis and preventive intervention as early as the 1st trimester. One detection approach employing DNA-functionalized nanoparticles to detect microRNA-17, in conjunction with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), has shown promise but is hindered, in part, by the use of large and expensive benchtop Raman microscopes. However, recent strides have been made in developing portable Raman systems for field applications. Characteristics of the SERS assay responsible for strengthening the assay’s plasmonic response were explored, whilst comparing the results from both benchtop and portable Raman systems. The Raman spectra and intensity of three different types of photoactive molecules were compared as potential Raman reporter molecules: chromophores, fluorophores, and highly polarizable small molecules. Furthermore, the plasmonic characteristics governing the formation of SERS colloidal nanoparticle assemblies in response to DNA/miRNA hybridization were investigated. There were significant variations in the SERS enhancement in response to microRNA-17 using our assay depending on the excitation lasers at wavelengths of 532 nm and 785 nm, depending on which of the three different Raman systems were used (benchtop, portable, and handheld), and depending on which of the three different Raman reporters (chromophore, fluorophore, or Raman active molecule) were used. Analysis of data obtained did indicate that signal enhancement was better for the chromophore (MGITC) and Raman active molecule (DTNB) than it was for the fluorophore (TRITC) and that, although it is possible to obtain enhancements when using excitation lasers that do not directly coincide with the optical properties of the Raman reporter molecule, clearly the enhancements are more significant when it reaches to the characteristic wavelengths of those molecules.
Causal Mediation Analysis in Pregnancy Studies: the Case of Environmental Epigenetics

Studies on the mechanisms of action of environmental exposures in pregnancy are increasingly popular. In particular, it is of interest to investigate the role of genetic and epigenetic factors as mediators of the maternal environmental exposures’ effects on perinatal outcomes. Causal mediation analysis lies at the center of environmental epigenetics research, and the methodological challenges that arise in this context have not yet been fully articulated. Measurement error, unmeasured confounding, reverse causation, and multiple mediators are often disregarded issues in environmental epigenetic studies that can lead to important biases. Considering the study of maternal smoking effect on birth weight potentially mediated by DNA methylation as example, I discuss the impact of these phenomena on estimation and testing of causal pathways. Statistical methods have been recently introduced to account for these frequently encountered issues. Causal interpretation of pregnancy studies on the role epigenetic factors as mediators of environmental exposures effects can be improved by the adoption of recent methodological advancements in mediation analysis that correct for measurement error, use genetic instrumental variables, and account for the presence of multiple mediators.
Developing sustainable research careers for KL2 scholars: The importance of an inclusive environment and mentorship.

Introduction The National Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium 2.0 has developed common metrics as a collaborative project for all participating sites. Metrics address several important aspects and functions of the consortium, including workforce development. The first workforce development metrics to be proposed for all CTSA hubs include the proportion of CTSA-supported trainees and scholars with sustainable careers in translational research and the diversity and inclusiveness of programs. Methods and results The University of Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), a CTSA hub, has been actively engaged in mentoring translational scientists for the last decade. We have developed programs, processes, and institutional policies that support translational scientists, which have resulted in 100% of our KL2 scholars remaining engaged in translational science and in increasing the inclusion of individuals under-represented in medicine in our research enterprise. In this paper, we share details of our program and what we believe are evidence-based best practices for developing sustainable translational research careers for all aspiring junior faculty members. Conclusions The University of Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science has been integral in catalyzing interactions across the campus to reverse the negative trends seen nationally in sustaining clinician scientists. Our programs and processes can serve as a model for other institutions seeking to develop translational scientists.
Factors Affecting Long-Term Postoperative Narcotic Use in Discectomy Patients.

Background Long-term narcotic use has risks and potentially life-threatening opioid-related side effects. Extended narcotic use in patients undergoing discectomy raises concerns of other underlying causes of pain or overprescription and/or abuse. The goal of this study was to determine which factors have an effect on active narcotic prescription >3 months after discectomy. Methods The PearlDiver Database was used in this study. Patients 30–55 years old undergoing discectomy without fusions were queried for active narcotic drug prescription occurring >30 days and >3 months after original surgery. Medical co-diagnoses were independently analyzed for effects on long-term active narcotic prescriptions. Prior narcotic use was defined by use within 4 months before surgery. Results Of 1321 patients undergoing discectomy, 621 had actively prescribed narcotics >3 months after surgery. Preoperative narcotic use had the largest effect on odds of postoperative prescription (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4). Medical comorbidities increasing odds of long-term narcotic prescriptions included migraines (OR = 1.4), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.4), depression (OR = 1.6), and smoking (OR = 1.9). Conclusions Narcotic abuse is a serious problem rooted in overprescription of these drugs, which has ultimately led to much more caution in prescribing among physicians. Because pain management and drug prescription must be balanced, identifying patients who may be susceptible to narcotic overprescription is important. Patients with co-diagnoses increasing odds of long-term narcotic prescriptions would benefit from early and continual postsurgical follow-up to ensure accurate pain management and to determine if narcotic prescriptions are justly warranted in the later postoperative period.
Auditory Hallucinations as a Rare Presentation of Occipital Infarcts.

A stroke is a clinical syndrome characterized by a focal neurologic deficit that can be attributed to a vascular territory within the brain. The presenting features of an acute stroke depends on the area of the brain affected. Although unusual, the presenting feature may include psychosis with auditory and/or visual hallucinations. A 56-year-old female was admitted to the psychiatric unit after threatening her husband with a knife. She reported experiencing altered sensorium for one week with suicidal and homicidal command hallucinations. Given the acute onset, brain images were obtained to rule out an organic etiology. A brain MRI revealed an acute right occipital lobe infarct with hemorrhagic transformation. The patient’s symptoms were self-limited, resolving without antipsychotic medications. Psychosis with auditory hallucinations is not commonly reported following stroke. Since histologic and functional alterations in the occipital lobe appear to play a significant role in psychosis of schizophrenics, it is likely that ischemia in the same area may cause similar changes. Familiarity with this rare presentation is important, as it prevents a delay in diagnosis, which may negatively impact the outcome.
Foisting and stealing of keys in sensor networks

We consider cryptographic key establishment in sensor networks without PKI or trusted third parties, using pairwise trust relationships between intermediaries. We describe a novel attack called key foisting that defeats current schemes, compromising 90% of the path keys with only 10% of the sensors in the network seized. We then present a two-way path-key establishment scheme that resists foisting. It reduces the probability of successful key foisting to nearly zero even with 20% of sensors seized. Its overhead is affordable, and its resilience is excellent.
The leptospiral outer membrane.

The outer membrane (OM) is the front line of leptospiral interactions with their environment and the mammalian host. Unlike most invasive spirochetes, pathogenic leptospires must be able to survive in both free-living and host-adapted states. As organisms move from one set of environmental conditions to another, the OM must cope with a series of conflicting challenges. For example, the OM must be porous enough to allow nutrient uptake, yet robust enough to defend the cell against noxious substances. In the host, the OM presents a surface decorated with adhesins and receptors for attaching to, and acquiring, desirable host molecules such as the complement regulator, Factor H. On the other hand, the OM must enable leptospires to evade detection by the host’s immune system on their way from sites of invasion through the bloodstream to the protected niche of the proximal tubule. The picture that is emerging of the leptospiral OM is that, while it shares many of the characteristics of the OMs of spirochetes and Gram-negative bacteria, it is also unique and different in ways that make it of general interest to microbiologists. For example, unlike most other pathogenic spirochetes, the leptospiral OM is rich in lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Leptospiral LPS is similar to that of Gram-negative bacteria but has a number of unique structural features that may explain why it is not recognized by the LPS-specific Toll-like receptor 4 of humans. As in other spirochetes, lipoproteins are major components of the leptospiral OM, though their roles are poorly understood. The functions of transmembrane outer membrane proteins (OMPs) in many cases are better understood, thanks to homologies with their Gram-negative counterparts and the emergence of improved genetic techniques. This chapter will review recent discoveries involving the leptospiral OM and its role in leptospiral physiology and pathogenesis.
Introduction: Overview of Major Types of Fraud and Corruption

Corruption is defined as “the misuse of power to obtain an unlawful advantage” (Hetzer, 2012, p. 228). Corruption can be found in all sectors of a society, including government agencies, businesses, corporations, educational institutions, medical institutions, professional groups, such as doctors and lawyers, religious organizations, and private citizens. Corruption can be manifested in many ways, including bribery, extortion, intimidation, kickbacks, theft, and other forms. Some criminals, such as leaders of organized criminal groups, depend on corrupting government officials, business leaders, or bankers to facilitate their criminal activities related to drug and human trafficking, prostitution smuggling, money laundering, and other crimes.
Immunoglobulin prophylaxis in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Background After allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), patients have an increased susceptibility to infections, thought to be due in part to hypogammaglobulinemia. Thus, prophylactic administration of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) has been administered to patients after HSCT as standard of care. This study compares the viral infection rate between dosing IVIG by IgG levels versus by routine monthly administration in pediatric patients after HSCT. Procedure In this retrospective chart review, we abstracted from electronic medical records data on pediatric patients undergoing HSCT from 2010 to 2012 for 6 months post-HSCT. We compared rates of infection between patients treated with routine IVIG prophylaxis and patients given IVIG prophylaxis based on IgG tough levels (IgG levels were checked every 2 weeks). Results Data were available and reviewed for 50 patients dosed with IVIG every 28 days (Group 1) and 100 patients dosed with IVIG based on IgG level > 400 mg/dl (Group 2). There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.98) or sex (P = 0.42), reason for HSCT, alemtuzumab use (P = 0.602), or reduced intensity conditioning (P = 1.00). Significantly more haploidentical donors were in Group 1 (P = 0.04), otherwise there was no significant difference in donor type between groups. Significantly less acute graft versus host disease occurred (P = Conclusion Dosing IVIG to maintain an IgG level > 400 mg/dl is a cost-effective and safe way to prevent viral infections in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT.
Inhibition of rosette formation by antithymocyte globulin

The peripheral blood leukocytes from 29 patients with adenocarcinoma of the colon were studied sequentially for the T-cell level, the rosette-inhibition titer of antithymocyte globulin and the blastogenic response to PHA and Con A to evaluate the T-cell immunocompetence. The level of E-rosette-forming cells and the blastogenic response did not reflect the immunocompetence of the T-cell population. Fluctuations in the rosette-inhibition titer of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) were observed; an increased ATG titer indicated an unfavorable clinical course, while a decreased ATG titer was observed with patients who had a favorable clinical course. The rosette-inhibition titer with antithymocyte globulin was observed to be an important indicator of competent T cells in patients with colorectal cancer.
Transcavitary Penetrating Trauma—Comparing the Imaging Evaluation of Gunshot and Blast Injuries of the Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis

This article will review the mechanisms of gunshot- and blast-related injuries, highlighting both similarities and differences in injury patterns and imaging evaluation with a focus on injuries of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Advances in the types of weapons and targets of terror-related attacks, as well as the use of body armor, have led to a change in frequency and distribution of both blast- and gunshot-related injuries, a sizable portion of which involves the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. This article reviews requisite knowledge required by both radiologists and surgeons to evaluate gunshot- and blast-related injuries in the twenty-first century.
Deformation and Failure Mechanisms in a Magnesium Alloy Under Uniaxial Compressive Loading

We have investigated the deformation and failure mechanisms of a rolled AZ31B magnesium alloy under both quasi-static ( $$10^{-3}\,{\text {to}}\,10^{-2}\,{\text{s}}^{-1}$$ ) and dynamic ( $$10^{3}\,{\text{s}}^{-1}$$ ) compressive loading. The observed anisotropy in the plastic response originates from the different in-plane and out-of-plane deformation mechanisms activated when the loading orientation changes. For plasticity driven by extension twins, extension twin–twin boundaries were found to dominate in the late stage of deformation. Severe localization was observed after deformation mediated by pyramidal slip and contraction twinning compared to the deformation mainly caused by extension twinning. The fracture process was established as a function of both loading rate and loading orientation. Moreover, the intermetallic inclusions in the material, which appeared to be hard and brittle, might lead to macroscopic fracture under compressive loading.
Signal enhancement of glutamine and glutathione by single-step spectral editing.

Abstract A single-step spectral editing approach using an always-on editing pulse was proposed to enhance the signals of strongly coupled spins. Specifically, a single-step spectral editing sequence with an always-on editing pulse applied at 2.12 ppm was used to enhance glutamine (Gln) and glutathione (GSH) signals at TE = 56 ms on a 7 T scanner. Density matrix simulations demonstrated that the current method (TE = 56 ms) led to large signal enhancement of at least 61% for Gln and 51% for GSH compared to a previous single-step method (TE = 106 ms). Monte Carlo simulations showed that the current method reduced noise-originated variations by 31% for Gln and 26% for GSH compared to a previous three-step spectral editing method from which the present method was derived.
Dynamic, Robust Locomotion for a Non-Anthropomorphic Biped

This work presents a dynamic walking controller for a high-bandwidth torque-controlled non-anthropomorphic bipedal robot. A simplified model with passive stability characteristics is leveraged along with feedback linearization techniques, actively adjusted footstep positions, and swing leg trajectories that minimize the creation of additional moments, to make the robot follow a desired velocity under different environmental circumstances. Tests to show the approach's robustness to external forces and imperfect terrain (e.g. stairs, obstacles, ramps) are demonstrated in simulation. Dynamic stability of the approach is analyzed through a limit cycle analysis.
Medicine, connoisseurship, and the animal body

This essay reconsiders the links between medicine, connoisseurship, and aesthetic theory in early eighteenth-century Britain. Taking a satire on the body of the physician and collector John Woodwar...
Development of a technique for evaluating the presence of malignant cells in prostatic fluid during robotic prostatectomy.

Abstract Introduction To develop a technique to collect fluid expressed during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) to assess whether malignant cells may have been inadvertently introduced into the surgical field. Methods Men with clinically localized grade group 2 to 5 prostate adenocarcinoma undergoing RARP were identified. Following bladder neck division, fluid expressed via prostatic urethra during seminal vesicle dissection was aspirated (specimen A). After specimen removal, an ex vivo seminal vesicle aspiration was performed as well (specimen B). Specimens were prepared with ThinPrep (Hologic, Marlborough, MA) and stained with 4 immunohistochemical markers: keratin-7, PAX-8, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prostatic acid phosphatase (PACP). Results Between December 2018 and May 2019, 15 men undergoing RARP were included. Median age was 60 years (range: 47–77), median PSA 8.5 ng/ml (range 5.1–24), and 7 (47%) had AUA high-risk disease. Specimen A had adequate cellularity in 13 patients (87%). Five patients were excluded from assessment of malignancy due to acellularity of specimen A (n = 2) or specimen B (n = 3). Three of the remaining 10 patients (30%) had cytologic features suspicious for malignancy on specimen A. Immunohistochemistry supported prostatic origin with positive PSA and PACP staining and negative PAX8 stains. Specimen B was not suspicious in any patient. Conclusion We report a technique for intraoperative collection of fluid expressed during RARP. Three patients with adverse pathologic features had evidence of cancer cells within the operative field. Further work is needed to confirm this observation and to determine whether these cells are associated with adverse oncologic outcomes.
A Dependency Perspective on the United States, China, and Latin America

This chapter develops three mechanisms that lie behind dependency relations: markets, leverage, and linkage. These are useful for understanding the way dependency functions in a particular situation, but they are also useful for making comparisons across time and space. Applying these concepts to the shifting hegemony between the United States and China in the international arena, I study US–Latin American relations in the twentieth century and the difference with emerging China–Latin American relations in the twenty-first century. I argue that the specific characteristics of dependency vary between the two periods, leaving differential spaces for developmental projects in the region.
Healthy Aging and Aging Well

Aging is an unavoidable part of the normal life course of every human being. Only in the last century, the global average human life expectancy has more than doubled. However, are all these older adults experiencing healthy aging, especially those suffering from one or more chronic disorders? How are they passing their days within families or in different institutional environments, such as assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or hospitals? How do social relationships contribute to maintaining their dignity? Unfortunately, older adults, particularly those who have chronic diseases, in our present socioeconomic structures are sometimes perceived as a burden to their family members and are particularly vulnerable to abuse, even by their close ones. As a result, they have found themselves to be very lonely in their surrounding world. On the other hand, it has also been found that education and a disciplined lifestyle are necessary to achieve healthy aging. It can also be stated that aging will be healthy if the older adults sacrifice properly in their later years; the expectation of a huge outcome from later life is not wise. This chapter discusses how different determinants influence the outcome of aging in our life course.
The Observer-Based Controller Design of the Discrete-Time Singularly Perturbed Systems

The dynamic feedback control for a class of linear shift-invariant discrete-time singularly perturbed systems with inaccessible states is considered through a separate observer-based controller design for two lower-dimensional subsystems in two different time scales. Sufficient conditions for stability of the original system through the stability of the observer-based controllers of the two lower subsystems are given.
The Transforming Growth Factor-β-inducible Matrix Protein βig-h3 Interacts with Fibronectin

Proper growth and development require the orderly synthesis and deposition of individual components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) into well ordered networks. Once formed, the ECM maintains tissue structure and houses resident cells. One ECM component, βig-h3, is a highly conserved transforming growth factor-β-inducible protein that has been hypothesized to function as a bifunctional linker between individual matrix components and resident cells. To gain insights into its physiological function, full-length βig-h3 protein was produced using a baculovirus expression system and purified under native conditions. Human fibroblasts attached and spread on βig-h3-coated plates and developed actin stress fibers. Purified βig-h3 binds fibronectin (FN) and type I collagen (Col I) but does not bind gelatin. Using defined fragments of FN, we localized the βig-h3 recognition region to the gelatin/collagen binding domain present in the N-terminal region of the FN molecule. Our results identify FN and Col I as two ligands of βig-h3 in the ECM.
Autonomous FPGA fault handling through competitive runtime reconfiguration

An autonomous self-repair approach for SRAM-based FPGAs is developed based on competitive runtime reconfiguration (CRR). Under the CRR technique, an initial population of functionally identical (same input-output behavior), yet physically distinct (alternative design or place-and-route realization) FPGA configurations is produced at design time. At run-time, these individuals compete for selection based on a fitness function favoring fault-free behavior. Hence, any physical resource exhibiting an operationally-significant fault decreases the fitness of those configurations which use it. Through runtime competition, the presence of the fault becomes occluded from the visibility of subsequent FPGA operations. Meanwhile, the offspring formed through crossover and mutation of faulty and viable configurations are reintroduced into the population. This enables evolution of a customized fault-specific repair, realized directly as new configurations using the FPGA's normal throughput processing operations. Multiple phases of the fault handling process including detection, isolation, diagnosis, and recovery are integrated into a single cohesive approach. FPGA-based multipliers are examined as a case study demonstrating evolution of a complete repair for a 3-bit /spl times/ 3-bit multiplier from several stuck-at-faults within a few thousand iterations. Repairs are evolved in-situ, in real-time, without test vectors, while allowing the FPGA to remain partially online.
Equation of state measurements at extreme pressures using laser-driven shocks

Laser-driven shock waves have long been a laboratory option for exploring material properties at extreme pressures, but the use of lasers for this purpose has been limited. Direct irradiation of a solid by even a tabletop laser focused to a small spot can produce a multi-Mbar shock. Although this has been known for several decades, during that time most laser-driven shock experiments have been demonstrations of high velocity shock waves, not the use of the shocks for measurements of, say, of the equation of state (EOS) of the shocked matter [1].
Reflection and Transmission of Plane Waves

The propagation of waves in free space and in materials was discussed at some length in Chapter 12. In this chapter, we discuss properties of waves as they propagate through different materials and changes in their amplitudes and directions as they propagate through the interfaces between materials. This aspect of the propagation of waves is fundamental and many of the properties of waves are defined by materials and their interfaces. As an example, waves are reflected from conducting surfaces giving rise to so-called standing waves. The various properties depend on the materials involved, the direction of propagation, and the polarization of the waves. To keep the discussion simple and within the context of plane waves, we will look at a number of simple interface conditions. These include perpendicular and oblique incidence on conducting and dielectric interfaces, conditions often encountered in applications.
Synthesis of chiral trans-anti-trans-isomers of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 via an enzymatic reaction and the solid-state structure of one enantiomer

Abstract Chiral trans-anti-trans-dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 isomers are synthesized via a lipase-catalyzed reaction. The solid-state structure of the (S)-enantiomer is determined and compared with those reported for 18-crown-6 and trans-syn-trans-dicyclohexano-18-crown-6.
Ferromagnetic resonance at microwave frequencies in an iron single crystal

Ferromagnetic resonance absorption in a single iron crystal has been observed at 23,675 and 9260 Mc/sec., using an external magnetic field applied perpendicular to the r-f magnetic field in the plane of the crystal surface. A variation in the resonance field is found which depends on the angle the magnetic field makes with the crystal axes. The results agree well with the theory of Kittel which predicts that an angular variation in resonance will result from the effects of crystal anisotropy. In the case of the lower frequency, deviations from the expected angular variation and a second resonance peak are shown to be the result of incomplete alignment of the magnetization with the direction of applied field. A calculation of the first-order anisotropy constant computed on the basis of this deviation agrees well with the known value.
Atlas of foliar surface features in woody plants, V. fraxinus (Oleaceae) of eastern North America

Scanning electron microscopy of foliar surfaces of the seven species ofFraxinus native in eastern North America confirms the importance of cuticular patterns (smooth, striated, striate-papillose, and coronulate) as useful taxonomic character states. There are there trichome types (acicular hairs ornamented with micro-striae or-papillae, peltate glands, and scales) which are found in nearly all species and which vary only in density. No differences in surface features are found by which determination can be made of either sex or ploidy level inF. americana. Hybridization betweenF. americana andF. pennsylvanica is considered to be rare in nature and is not a probable cause for the overlap of character states and concomitant difficulty of identification based upon gross morphological features. Likewise, the putative hybrid origins ofF. biltmoreana andF. profunda are not supported by micro-morphological features. Illustrations are given for all species.
Pillared graphene and silicon nanocomposite architecture for anodes of lithium ion batteries

Three dimensional pillared graphene nanostructures were grown on metal substrates through a one-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) by introducing a mixture precursor gases (H2, C2H4). We further explored sputtering evaporation system to uniformly deposited a layer of amorphous silicon on the as grown 3D carbon nanostructure. The surface morphologies of the carbon-silicon nanocomposites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry and charge-discharge are conducted to determine the performance of the 3D hybrid carbon-silicon nanostructure for lithium ion battery anode.