cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel robotic spacecraft simulator with mini-control moment gyroscopes and rotating thrusters

A novel hardware-in-the-loop spacecraft simulator is introduced for the laboratory validation of guidance, navigation and control algorithms. This three-degrees-of-freedom robotic vehicle uses the principle of air-floating along a flat floor in order to reproduce in two dimensions the frictionless and weightlessness conditions of the orbital flight. For the first time in its class, to the authors' knowledge, the new spacecraft simulator uses miniature control moment gyroscopes for the attitude control and rotating thrusters for both attitude and translational control. A pseudo-GPS, a LIDAR and a fiber optic gyroscope are used as navigation sensors. The paper presents in details the design of the robotic vehicle and the results of preliminary experiments.
Noninvasive and non-contact assessment of corneal hydration in real time using optical coherent tomography

Understanding the influence of water content and its movement across the cornea as it relates to endothelial pump function could provide crucial information for detection and treatment of corneal diseases. The aim of the current study is to develop a non-contact technique for non-invasive assessment of the function and morphology of the cornea by determining the distribution of water within the cornea as well as the dynamic of cornea dehydration and rehydration following topical applications of dehydrating agents. An Optical Coherent Tomographic system was utilized to monitor the changes in cornea thickness and its optical properties in rabbit eyes in vivo following topical application of ophthalgan. The profile of scattering appears to correlate inversely on a qualitative basis with the hydration gradient across the cornea while exact and rapid measurements of the corneal thickness as function of time were quantified.
Effects of Aerial Applications of Naled on Nontarget Insects at Parris Island, South Carolina

ABSTRACT Testing impacts of large-scale aerial spraying to control public health pests under realistic field conditions are needed to understand impacts on natural populations of nontarget insects. Responses of terrestrial insects to aerial applications of an organophosphate insecticide, naled, used for mosquito and biting midge control were studied on Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. Aerial applications were made with C-130 aircraft at dusk in 2003 and in 2005. In 2003, we sampled two locations on Parris Island with Malaise traps before and after spraying, and used Before-After analyses to examine changes in terrestrial insect diversity and abundance. In 2005, we sampled insects with yellow pan traps at three locations on Parris Island and at an untreated control site. A Before-After Control-Impact analysis at each location was conducted to compare changes. In 2003, numbers of four of 12 common taxa (Dolichopodidae, Sarcophagidae, Syrphidae, Tachinidae) were lower after sprays...
Influence of topography, bare sand, and soil pH on the occurrence and distribution of plant species in a lacustrine dune ecosystem1

Dune ecosystems along the Great Lakes shoreline provide essential habitat for specialized plant communities and several state and federal listed rare species. I conducted a vegetation survey in Grand Sable Dunes, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI, in an effort to investigate the hypothesis that physical dune characteristics influence the distribution of encountered listed species of concern. Three species with concern status were encountered (Cirsium pitcheri, Stellaria longipes, and Tanacetum bipinnatum). Overall plant diversity was negatively correlated with soil pH. Increases in dune aspect and slope resulted in increased abundance of C. pitcheri and S. longipes, while T. bipinnatum decreased in abundance. Increases in species richness and plant density resulted in decreased abundance of C. pitcheri and T. bipinnatum, while S. longipes increased in abundance. These three species rarely co-occurred in quadrats. The gradient of dune stabilization that has naturally occurred within Grand Sable Dunes provides the necessary range of distinct microhabitat necessary for C. pitcheri, S. longipes, and T. bipinnatum to establish and maintain populations. Younger foredunes with less vegetation cover are necessary for C. pitcheri and T. bipinnatum. As dunes stabilize and more species colonize, the microhabitat becomes more suitable for S. longipes. Ensuring a natural range of dune stabilization from active foredunes to stable hind dunes will benefit conservation of endangered, threatened, and species of concern.
Effectiveness of cyproheptadine in decreasing plasma ACTH concentrations in Nelson's syndrome.

Cyproheptadine (24 mg q.d.) was administered to four patients with Nelson's Syndrome for a 3-5 month period. This resulted in a significant reduction in plasma ACTH and prolactin concentrations in 3 of these subjects. A rise in plasma ACTH concentrations occurred following discontinuance of medication in one patient. The results suggest that pituitary ACTH secretion in some patients with Nelson's Syndrome is under Central Nervous System control.
A two-liquid electroosmotic pump using low applied voltage and power

We report the development and experimental analysis of a two-liquid electroosmotic (EO) pump. The pump uses a collapsible and impermeable membrane to separate the liquid delivered from a working electrolyte solution optimized for EO pumping. To achieve high pressures at low voltages, we use a porous glass substrate with 450 nm mean diameter pores and a 1 mM sodium borate electrolyte. Results show that the membranes add negligible pressure load and that the pump can deliver adequately stable flow rates after an initial transient period. At flow rates and pressures suitable for drug delivery (order 10 μl/min and a few kPa), the pump requires an applied voltage and power of less than 3 V and 75 μW, respectively. Based on the relative scaling of flow rate, current, and time, we hypothesize that distinct initial transients in flow rate are attributable to concentration polarization and its effects on the spatiotemporal ionic strength of the working fluid.
AB0084 Novel regulation of TNF-α-induced-IL-18 bioactivity in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts by reducing caspase-1 via JAK2 inhibition

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory chronic joint disorder. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family members play a key part in the pathogenesis of RA. Among the IL-1 cytokine family members, IL-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine, which modulates Th1 development and induces angiogenesis. We previously described regulation of TNF-α-induced-IL-18 bioactivity by blocking the ERK pathway. Here, we focused on modulation of TNF-α-induced-IL-18 bioactivity by reduction of caspase-1 expression. Methods Caspase-1 expression in RA synovial fibroblasts treated with TNF-α was assessed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The critical pathways for TNF-α-induced caspase-1 expression were determined by using chemical inhibitors: pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC; a nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells [NFκB] inhibitor; 200μM), MAPK inhibitors (ERK1/2, PD98059; p38, SB202190; or JNK2, SP600125; 10μM), or AG-490 (a JAK2 inhibitor; 10 μM) followed by TNF-α stimulation. Caspase-1 expression was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining was performed to check IL-18 production induced by TNF-α with or without preinhibition of ERK1/2 or JAK2 by using antibody recognized immature and mature IL-18. IL-18 level was also assessed by ELISA in cell lysates and concentrated culture supernatants. IL-18 functional activity was assessed using an IL-18 bioactivity assay using KG-1 cells and culture supernatants. Results TNF-α induced RA synovial fibroblast caspase-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels in a time-dependant manner (P<0.05; n≥6 patients). Blocking the JAK2 pathway reduced TNF-α-induced-caspase-1 expression at the transcriptional and protein level by approximately 60% and 40%, respectively (P<0.05; n≥4). Blocking NFκB, ERK1/2, JNK or p38 pathways had no effect on TNF-α-induced-caspase-1 mRNA expression. We then confirmed by IF that TNF-α-induced IL-18 and investigated roles of ERK1/2 and JAK2 pathways. Blocking the ERK1/2 pathway dramatically decreased IL-18 expression induced by TNF-α. However, when blocking the JAK2 pathway, TNF-α induced intracytoplasmic granular IL-18 expression, suggesting a defect of caspase-1. Blocking JAK2 pathway increased intracellular TNF-α-induced IL-18 level, but reduced extracellular TNF-α-induced IL-18 level in concentrated supernatant assessed by ELISA. Finally, blocking the JAK2 pathway, we observed a reduction of IL-18 bioactivity by 52% in RA synovial fibroblasts. Conclusions These results show a unique way to block TNF-α-induced-IL-18 bioactivity by blocking capase-1. These data provide a novel role for the JAK2 pathway in RA patients and emphasize the use of JAK inhibitors as a new therapeutic option in the management of RA. Disclosure of Interest None Declared
First in Line Student Registration Priority in Community Colleges

Across the United States, community colleges are facing severe funding reductions and surging enrollment, resulting in a condition of impaction in which demand for coursework exceeds financial or physical capacity. In turn, impaction is necessitating changes in enrollment management policies, including rapid evolution in registration priority policies, which ration access to coursework by granting preferential course enrollment timing to students who meet specified criteria. During times of impaction, such policies effectively preclude some groups of students from making progress toward their goals or, under the worst circumstances, from attending college at all. Given the importance of community colleges for providing access to postsecondary education, these policies have significant, long-term implications. Here, we situate the discourse on registration priority policies in a larger context and body of literature, document the variation in policies across the colleges in one state, and develop a set of ...
Graduate Assistants: Students or staff, policy or practice? The Current Legal Employment Status of Graduate Assistants

In the US, graduate assistants are an integral part of a university's educational and operational climate. Graduate assistants provide teaching, research or administrative services to the educational enterprise in exchange for professional experience and a financial stipend. Recent strikes of graduate teaching assistants at New York University serve as reminders of the continued unrest surrounding the issue of graduate assistants and employment recognition. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the current legal employment status of graduate assistants from the decisions of the federal government's National Labor Relations Board. The definition of agency theory provides insight into the way courts have traditionally distinguished relationships between organizations and employees. Agency theory is discussed in the context of graduate teaching and administrative assistantships. Readers are challenged to consider legal implications and are provided with suggestions that inform practice at th...
Lateral Stability During Forward-Induced Stepping for Dynamic Balance Recovery in Young and Older Adults

BACKGROUND Balance dysfunction related to lateral instability has been associated with falls and fall-related injuries among older individuals. Protective stepping for dynamic balance recovery requires the effective control of lateral body motion. This study investigated the relationship between aging, falls, and lateral stability during forward-induced stepping for dynamic balance recovery. METHODS Forward steps were induced by a motor-driven waist-pull system in 12 younger adults, 20 healthy community-dwelling older adult nonfallers, and 18 older adults who had reported falls. Group differences in kinetic and kinematic stepping characteristics for a range of postural disturbance magnitudes were evaluated. RESULTS Despite group similarities in anticipatory postural adjustments for minimizing lateral instability, the older fallers demonstrated significantly greater sideways body motion toward the stepping side at first-step foot contact and a more laterally directed foot placement. During the first step, forward-stepping characteristics were generally comparable between the groups, but the older fallers had an earlier liftoff time and longer step duration. CONCLUSIONS During forward-induced protective stepping, otherwise healthy older adults who had experienced falls showed particular differences in their control of lateral body motion that were not attributable to changes in anticipatory postural mechanisms. Aging changes in controlling lateral body motion during protective stepping appear to involve factors that intervene between the first-step liftoff and foot contact and/or adaptations in stepping patterns related to prior planning.
Serum and Egg Cholesterol Levels in Mature Hens as Influenced by Dietary Protein and Fat Changes

Abstract INTEREST in the relationship between dietary ingredients and metabolism of cholesterol and fatty acids in laying hens has stimulated investigations in this field recently. Fisher and Leveille (1957) confirmed the early work of Cruickshank (1934) on the substitution of linoleic and linolenic acids for oleic in egg fat. While they found that feeding tallow, corn, soybean, safflower, and linseed oil influenced the fatty acid composition of the egg fat, the cholesterol content of the egg fat remained essentially unchanged. Kokatnur et al. (1957) reported that mature roosters showed a reduction in serum cholesterol when the dietary protein intake was increased. This reduction in serum cholesterol was greater than that which could be produced by regulating fat intake. In the present work, the effect of dietary protein level, type of dietary fat and level of B vitamins in the ration on the serum cholesterol and egg fat cholesterol of chickens was …
Cerebral Blood Flow Characteristics and Biometry in Fetuses Undergoing Prenatal Intervention for Aortic Stenosis with Evolving Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) are at risk for neurodevelopmental dysfunction; prenatal factors may play a role in this predilection. Cerebral blood flow profiles are abnormal in fetuses with HLHS, raising the possibility that cerebral hemodynamics in utero may be related to neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Prenatal aortic valvuloplasty for fetal aortic stenosis with evolving HLHS is technically feasible and improves left heart hemodynamics. This study aimed to assess the effects of prenatal intervention on cerebral blood flow profiles and head circumference in fetuses with evolving HLHS. Seventy fetuses underwent prenatal aortic valvuloplasty for evolving HLHS (median 23 weeks gestation). Among 46 fetuses that had successful valvuloplasty and available data, middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility (PI) and resistive (RI) indices were abnormal (Z-scores -1.7+/-1.1 and -2.2+/-1.4, p<0.001). Early post-valvuloplasty (n=33) and at late gestation follow-up (n=28), MCA PI and RI Z-scores remained low with no difference from pre- or early postintervention. Fetal head circumference was normal, as were umbilical artery PI and RI Z-scores. Cerebral blood flow characteristics are abnormal in mid-gestation fetuses with evolving HLHS, suggesting low cerebral vascular impedance. The mechanisms and significance of these abnormalities are unknown. Prenatal aortic valvuloplasty did not have a major impact on these indices. (E-mail: doff.mcelhinney@cardio.chboston.org).
Isolation by environment

The interactions between organisms and their environments can shape distributions of spatial genetic variation, resulting in patterns of isolation by environment (IBE) in which genetic and environmental distances are positively correlated, independent of geographic distance. IBE represents one of the most important patterns that results from the ways in which landscape heterogeneity influences gene flow and population connectivity, but it has only recently been examined in studies of ecological and landscape genetics. Nevertheless, the study of IBE presents valuable opportunities to investigate how spatial heterogeneity in ecological processes, agents of selection and environmental variables contributes to genetic divergence in nature. New and increasingly sophisticated studies of IBE in natural systems are poised to make significant contributions to our understanding of the role of ecology in genetic divergence and of modes of differentiation both within and between species. Here, we describe the underlying ecological processes that can generate patterns of IBE, examine its implications for a wide variety of disciplines and outline several areas of future research that can answer pressing questions about the ecological basis of genetic diversity.
Extruding Hatchery Waste

Abstract Disposal of hatchery waste is a continuing problem to the hatchery industry. Extruding a mixture of ground corn/hatchery waste (75/25) shows that extrusion can reduce the moisture of hatchery waste so that it can be handled and stored as a feed ingredient. Most, if not all, organisms were destroyed by the high temperature in the extruder with this process. A high moisture waste material (60% moisture) was reduced to 10 to 11% moisture. Extrusion is an energy intensive process that may offer hatcheries an alternative to current disposal methods. Application depends on economic processing costs with some potential return.
Defective insulin signaling in skeletal muscle of the hypertensive TG(mREN2)27 rat.

Essential hypertension is frequently associated with insulin resistance of skeletal muscle glucose transport, with a potential role of angiotensin II in the pathogenesis of both conditions. The mal...
Using Feathers to Determine Mercury Contamination in Peregrine Falcons and Their Prey

Abstract We document concentrations of total mercury (Hg) in feathers of Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) from 12 territories in Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA) and five territories in an adjacent southern Nevada (SNV) study area during 2012 and 2013. We also report total Hg concentrations in feathers of 94 species (337 individuals) collected as prey remains from peregrine nesting areas from 2008–2013. All peregrine feathers contained total Hg (range = 0.12–42.54 µg/g), and adults had a significantly higher mean total Hg concentration (12.19 µg/g) than hatch-year peregrines (3.76 µg/g). Mean total Hg concentrations in peregrines in LMNRA (adult = 17.24 µg/g, brood = 5.82 µg/g) were significantly greater than in SNV (adult = 2.7 µg/g, brood = 0.67 µg/g) for both age classes. Among peregrine territories, mean total Hg in prey was positively correlated with the proportion of aquatic birds taken as prey (biomass), and negatively correlated with distance of eyries to water. Among avian...
Comparison of different PMD compensator configurations based on outage probability

As the bit rate of fiberoptic transmission systems increases to 10 Gbit/s, 40 Gbit/s, and beyond, polarization mode dispersion (PMD) inherent in the optical fiber and present in the optical components of the system becomes a limiting factor to error-free transmission. Numerous optical and electronic techniques have been proposed to mitigate the effects of PMD, and several of these solutions are now becoming commercially available. There is, of course, a trade-off between the complexity (and therefore the cost) of a PMD compensator and the performance of the device. In this study, we compare the performance of three relatively simple PMD compensator configurations.
Autonomic exploration of trade-offs between power and performance in disk drives

Over-provisioning is a standard capacity planning practice that leads to disk drives operating mostly under very low utilization (as low as single digit utilization) but that are consuming disproportional amounts of power. Methodologies that place the disk drive into a low power mode during idle times can assist in conserving power. This is a challenging problem because the performance of future jobs cannot be compromised, yet there is no knowledge of future disk arrivals. In this paper we explore the above problem by exploring ranges and trade offs of possible power savings and performance within a set of enterprise storage traces. We demonstrate the difficulty of obtaining significant power savings even in traces where overall utilization is less than 5% and explore the feasibility of popular schemes such as workload shaping for power savings. We also propose a proactive autonomic algorithm that suggests when and for how long a power savings mode should be activated given an acceptable performance degradation target that is user provided. The robustness of the algorithm is illustrated via extensive experimentation.
A Hybrid Anomaly Detection Framework in Cloud Computing Using One-Class and Two-Class Support Vector Machines

Modern production utility clouds contain thousands of computing and storage servers. Such a scale combined with ever-growing system complexity of their components and interactions, introduces a key challenge for anomaly detection and resource management for highly dependable cloud computing. Autonomic anomaly detection is a crucial technique for understanding emergent, cloud-wide phenomena and self-managing cloud resources for system level dependability assurance. We propose a new hybrid self-evolving anomaly detection framework using one-class and two-class support vector machines. Experimental results in an institute wide cloud computing system show that the detection accuracy of the algorithm improves as it evolves and it can achieve 92.1% detection sensitivity and 83.8% detection specificity, which makes it well suitable for building highly dependable clouds.
Cracker Barrel: A Strategic Case Study in Restaurant Management

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is a publicly traded company which consists of a restaurant with a gift shop. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The gift shop area offers a variety of decorative and functional items. As of 2012, the company operated 620 Cracker Barrel stores located in 42 states. Cracker Barrel operates in the full-service segment of the restaurant industry. Faced with intense competition, and if Cracker Barrel is unable to continue to compete effectively, their business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected. This case study examines the complex and dynamic competitive landscape and pressure to grow as a publicly traded company, and the intensive forces key shareholders can bring to impact Cracker Barrel’s strategic direction and future growth.
Slow Wave Sleep and Carry-over of Functional Tolerance and Physical Dependence in Alcoholics

Alcohol affects sleep. In alcoholics, profound sleep changes have been observed clinically and experimentally before, during and after a period of heavy alcohol intake. Elucidation of the alcohol-sleep interactions may illuminate mechanisms involved in alcoholism. This communication will focus on the post-drinking Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) which tends to be decreased initially and gradually recovers. More specifically the post-drinking SWS will be examined in relation to the rate of reacquisition of functional tolerance and physical dependence in a subsequent drinking episode.
Accounting for Lithium-Ion Battery Degradation in Electric Vehicle Charging Optimization

This paper presents a method for minimizing the cost of vehicle battery charging given variable electricity costs while also accounting for estimated costs of battery degradation using a simplified lithium-ion battery lifetime model. The simple battery lifetime model, also developed and presented here, estimates both energy capacity fade and power fade and includes effects due to temperature, state of charge profile, and daily depth of discharge. This model has been validated by comparison with a detailed model developed at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which in turn has been validated through comparison with experimental data. The simple model runs quickly, allowing for iterative numerical minimization of charge cost, implemented on the charger controller. Resulting electric vehicle (EV) charge profiles show a compromise among four trends: 1) charging during low-electricity cost intervals; 2) charging slowly; 3) charging toward the end of the available charge time; and 4) suppression of vehicle-to-grid power exportation. Simulations based on experimental Prius plug-in hybrid EV usage data predict that batteries charged using optimized charging last significantly longer than those charged using typical charging methods, potentially allowing smaller batteries to meet vehicle lifetime requirements. These trends are shown to hold across a wide range of battery sizes and hence are applicable to both EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs.
MORPHOMETRIC ADAPTATION OF THE HOUSEFLY, MUSCA DOMESTICA L., IN THE UNITED STATES.

It has long been recognized that morphometric difference among geographic populations of a species can reveal modes of adaptation to environment and of eventual speciation. Most early studies of such variation were limited to few characters (e.g., Alpatov, 1929; Dobzhansky, 1933), and not until the advent of computers could large suites of characters be analyzed by appropriate techniques of covariation, such as principal component or factor analysis, to isolate and identify underlying patterns of morphogenesis (Blackith, 1960). The statistical revolution in geographic variation analysis, however, has not generated a similar revolution of insight into population dynamics, and for the most part, morphometric approaches have been abandoned by population biologists uninterested in systematics. A part of this problem is that few modern studies attempt to separate spatial from temporal aspects of variability or genetic causation from environmental induction of phenotype, typically present in early work (e.g., Goldschmidt, 1934; Stalker and Carson, 1947, 1948, 1949). This paper attempts to partition morphometric variation in the housefly, Musca domestica L., in the United States into temporal, spatial, and genetic components, and thereby elucidate the dynamics of adaptation to differing environments in this species. The lack of systematically recognized variatioi of the housefly in the United States offers reasonable assurance of common niche and habitat requirements of flies from widespread populations, so that sample partitions of variation can be compared to reveal trends of populational adaptation to changing environments. The essence of the methodology utilized here, paralleling an analysis of variance, was to collect flies from numerous localities throughout the United States, return to selected localities at the same times in subsequent years to assess year-to-year variation within sites, and then to follow at least one population throughout the year to determine a seasonal component of morphometric change. Thus variance components can be estimated at these various levels of potential variation, to discern underlying causes of morphometric adaptation. Comparisons among repeated collections within localities and between wild and laboratory reared flies were used to determine repeatability and consistency in patterns of covariation and to ascertain the extent of genetic commitment to morphometric response.
Sucrose gap longevity is markedly improved by addition of lanthanum to the sucrose

The addition of low concentrations of lanthanum to the sucrose in the double sucrose gap technique for the study of giant axons significantly prolongs preparation longevity and decreases drift.
Note on Lambert's Method of Solving Linear Differential Equations

(1912). Note on Lambert's Method of Solving Linear Differential Equations. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 19, No. 12, pp. 190-192.
Primary Care Endocrinology in the Adult Woman

Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, and osteoporosis are endocrine conditions affecting a significant proportion of women presenting to the obstetrician-gynecologist. Obstetrician-gynecologists are often the first health-care providers that young women see in adulthood, and thus, have a critical opportunity to identify women at risk for gestational and overt diabetes and manage the condition in those who have developed it. The obstetrician-gynecologist should be aware of the appropriate therapeutic options and treatment goals (eg, hemoglobin A1c) for women with diabetes. Thyroid disorders often present with menstrual irregularities or infertility, can affect pregnancy outcomes, and contribute to cardiovascular and bone disorders as women age. Finally, osteoporosis and low bone mineral density affect a substantial proportion of older women and some younger women with risk factors for secondary osteoporosis. The morbidity and mortality of osteoporotic fractures is substantial. There are many lifestyle interventions and therapeutic options available for these conditions, and the gynecologist plays a key role in optimizing risk factor assessment, screening, and providing treatment when appropriate.
Product Formation in the Pyrolysis of Large Wood Particles

The potential for energy and chemicals production from renewable resources has re-established interest in thermal conversion of biomass. If the devolatilization of a single wood particle can be predicted accurately and optimized, process design and scale-up of biomass conversion processes can benefit from the methodology developed for heterogeneous catalysis(e.g. ref. 1). Although using small particles might be advantageous for certain gasification processes, size reduction of fibrous wood chips is difficult and expensive.2 Therefore, large particles or a distribution of particle sizes will likely be employed. Knowledge of the effects of particle size, particle thermal properties and wood anisotropy on pyrolysis product distribution and volatiles release rate will be important in preparing an optimal biomass feedstock for any thermal conversion process.
The Effect of Ureteroperitoneostomy on Renal Mass in Fasted Rats

AbstractThe “work” hypothesis of renal compensatory hypertrophy has always been opposed to the established observation that the peritoneal reabsorption of 1 rat kidney’s excretion after uretero-peritoneostomy does not result in a compensatory increase in total renal mass. But urine peritonitis in the U-P rats could result in a lower intake of food and/or less efficient digestion, thus making it difficult for rats to undergo compensatory renal growth. To eliminate nutrition as a factor, all rats were fasted after undergoing either uninephrectomy, uretero-peritoneostomy, or a sham operation. Uninephrectomized rats maintained their residual renal mass better than their sham controls under fasting conditions (109 ± 11.3 versus 95 ± 5.7mg. per 100gm. body weight, p < .001). But the final renal mass and body weight of uretero-peritoneostomized rats and sham-operated rats was the same. Thus the added excretory burden of uretero-peritoneostomized rats does not have the renal-sparing effect observed after uninephr...
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia presenting as bilateral breast masses

An 8-year-old girl presented with bilateral breast masses and was subsequently diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia is a rare myelodysplastic syndrome that typically presents in boys younger than 3 years of age with splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and skin findings. Bilateral breast masses in a child are rare and, as such, present a diagnostic dilemma due to the relative paucity of cases in the literature. We present a case of granulocytic sarcoma of the breasts in a patient with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. The authors hope that increased reporting and research regarding pediatric breast masses will help create awareness for such cases.
Local Application of Probiotic Bacteria Prophylaxes against Sepsis and Death Resulting from Burn Wound Infection

Objective To determine if local prophylactic application of probiotic bacteria to burn wounds will prevent death in a mouse model of burn wound sepsis. Background Infection remains the most common complication after burn injury and can result in sepsis and death, despite the use of topical and systemic antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequently implicated pathogen. Local application of probiotics directly to burn wounds is an attractive novel intervention that avoids the pitfalls of standard antibiotic therapies. Methods A burn-sepsis model was established using a sub-eschar injection of bioluminescent P. aeruginosa; infection was tracked using a charge-coupled camera. Full-thickness burn injuries were placed on the dorsums of adult mice; the injured sites were then treated with vehicle (burn wound control), probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum only), pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa only), or probiotics plus pathogen (Lactobacillus plus Pseudomonas). Animals were monitored until death/moribundity or for one week, then sacrificed. Harvested tissues were subjected to imaging and molecular assays. Results Control and probiotic-only animals showed no mortality (100% survival) at one week. Pseudomonas-only animals showed > 90% mortality within 40 hours of infection. In contrast, animals treated with probiotics plus Pseudomonas showed less than 10% mortality. Use of bioluminescent Pseudomonas bacteria demonstrated that probiotic therapy inhibited septicemic accumulation of the pathogen in remote organs. In addition, probiotic therapy successfully suppressed the infection-dependent induction of TNF-α and interleukins 6 and 10 in the liver. Conclusions Local probiotic therapy shows great potential as a valuable adjunct in the management of complicated burn injury.
Fitness Wearables and Youths with Visual Impairments: Implications for Practice and Application:

IntroductionIndividuals with visual impairments are at risk for chronic health-related illnesses attributed to low physical activity and low fitness levels. This study aimed to determine device pre...
Chimpanzee and human midfoot motion during bipedal walking and the evolution of the longitudinal arch of the foot.

The longitudinal arch of the human foot is commonly thought to reduce midfoot joint motion to convert the foot into a rigid lever during push off in bipedal walking. In contrast, African apes have been observed to exhibit midfoot dorsiflexion following heel lift during terrestrial locomotion, presumably due to their possession of highly mobile midfoot joints. This assumed dichotomy between human and African ape midfoot mobility has recently been questioned based on indirect assessments of in vivo midfoot motion, such as plantar pressure and cadaver studies; however, direct quantitative analyses of African ape midfoot kinematics during locomotion remain scarce. Here, we used high-speed motion capture to measure three-dimensional foot kinematics in two male chimpanzees and five male humans walking bipedally at similar dimensionless speeds. We analyzed 10 steps per chimpanzee subject and five steps per human subject, and compared ranges of midfoot motion between species over stance phase, as well as within double- and single-limb support periods. Contrary to expectations, humans used a greater average range of midfoot motion than chimpanzees over the full duration of stance. This difference was driven by humans' dramatic plantarflexion and adduction of the midfoot joints during the second double-limb support period, which likely helps the foot generate power during push off. However, chimpanzees did use slightly but significantly more midfoot dorsiflexion than humans in the single limb-support period, during which heel lift begins. These results indicate that both stiffness and mobility are important to longitudinal arch function, and that the human foot evolved to utilize both during push off in bipedal walking. Thus, the presence of human-like midfoot joint morphology in fossil hominins should not be taken as indicating foot rigidity, but may signify the evolution of pedal anatomy conferring enhanced push off mechanics.
Predicting Vehicle Trajectory

This book concentrates on improving the prediction of a vehicle’s future trajectory, particularly on non-straight paths. Having an accurate prediction of where a vehicle is heading is crucial for the system to reliably determine possible path intersections of more than one vehicle at the same time. The US DOT will be mandating that all vehicle manufacturers begin implementing V2V and V2I systems, so very soon collision avoidance systems will no longer rely on line of sight sensors, but instead will be able to take into account another vehicle’s spatial movements to determine if the future trajectories of the vehicles will intersect at the same time. Furthermore, the book introduces the reader to some improvements when predicting the future trajectory of a vehicle and presents a novel temporary solution on how to speed up the implementation of such V2V collision avoidance systems. Additionally, it evaluates whether smartphones can be used for trajectory predictions, in an attempt to populate a V2V collision avoidance system faster than a vehicle manufacturer can.
Sensing Oxidative Stress: The NRF2 Signaling Pathway

Abstract Cells are constantly exposed to a variety of both endogenous and exogenous oxidative and electrophilic insults that affect their biomolecules and compromise their function. Sensing the stress and mounting adaptive cytoprotective stress responses, particularly in a timely and controlled manner to remove the source of stress and repair the damaged components, are extremely important in maintaining cellular homeostasis and an organism’s wellbeing. The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (NRF2) controls the expression of a set of genes that counteract oxidative and electrophilic stresses. Under physiological conditions, the protein levels of NRF2 are tightly controlled by Kelch-ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1), a redox sensor and substrate adaptor for a Cullin 3-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitylates NRF2, targeting it for proteasomal degradation. During increased oxidative or electrophilic stress, KEAP1 cysteines are modified, resulting in a conformational change that prevents the ubiquitylation and degradation of NRF2. Newly synthesized NRF2 can then accumulate, translocate to the nucleus, and activate the transcription of antioxidant response element (ARE)-containing genes. This canonical activation of the NRF2 pathway involves the oxidative/electrophilic modification of KEAP1. However, NRF2 can also be activated through dysregulation of the autophagy pathway, namely the non-canonical mechanism of NRF2 activation. Non-canonical activation of NRF2 occurs independently of oxidative stress, and instead is a result of the direct interaction of KEAP1 and p62, an autophagy adaptor protein, and their aggregation in autophagosomes. This non-canonical mechanism of NRF2 activation results in prolonged activation of NRF2. Discovery of the non-canonical activation of NRF2, and the realization that certain cancer types have constitutively high levels of NRF2, have revealed that controlled, canonical activation of NRF2 is cytoprotective, whereas uncontrolled or prolonged activation is deleterious (“dark side” of NRF2). This chapter describes our current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of NRF2 regulation, and the potential of NRF2-based strategies for disease prevention and therapeutic intervention.
Enigmas in assessing the composition of a rock unit - a case history based on the Malsburg Granite, southwest Germany

Critical sampling problems for assessment of composition and variability of rock formations
Heterogeneity Aware Random Forest for Drug Sensitivity Prediction

Samples collected in pharmacogenomics databases typically belong to various cancer types. For designing a drug sensitivity predictive model from such a database, a natural question arises whether a model trained on diverse inter-tumor heterogeneous samples will perform similar to a predictive model that takes into consideration the heterogeneity of the samples in model training and prediction. We explore this hypothesis and observe that ensemble model predictions obtained when cancer type is known out-perform predictions when that information is withheld even when the samples sizes for the former is considerably lower than the combined sample size. To incorporate the heterogeneity idea in the commonly used ensemble based predictive model of Random Forests, we propose Heterogeneity Aware Random Forests (HARF) that assigns weights to the trees based on the category of the sample. We treat heterogeneity as a latent class allocation problem and present a covariate free class allocation approach based on the distribution of leaf nodes of the model ensemble. Applications on CCLE and GDSC databases show that HARF outperforms traditional Random Forest when the average drug responses of cancer types are different.
Visions of Hell in Flannery O’Connor

Although most of her references to hell are glancing and even humorous, Flannery O’Connor was convinced of its reality and defined it as “an absence of love.” As a Catholic, O’Connor believed that no one is predestined to spend eternity in hell because “God does not judge those acts that are not free.” Hell is for her always a human choice, although a choice that is difficult to resist owing to the pervasive effects of original sin. For this reason the proper attitude toward sin is to “repent or burn in hell” as a sign mentioned in “The Lame Shall Enter First” baldly characterizes it. One might indeed understand central crises in many of her stories as choices between repentance and hell, between a decisive turning back towards God and a continuing rejection of divine love. This choice defines us even as the world itself conspires to turn humans from God. In “The Artificial Nigger,” the space of hell is associated with the sewer system of Atlanta, a secret and subterranean network that both entices and threatens total destruction. The entrance to it both repulses and tempts. The system underlies all human life and activity, and a healthy fear of hell for O’Connor is a most helpful step towards a free acceptance of God’s love.
Comparison of subjective and objective measures of office workers' sedentary time

Abstract Sedentary behavior is an independent and prominent risk factor for chronic disease. Occupational sitting is likely to be the largest determinant of overall daily sitting time. Gathering accurate data on sedentary behaviors is essential to determine prevalence and effectiveness of interventions to reduce sedentary time. The purpose of this research was to determine whether self-reported sedentary time assessed by the Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ) was related to objectively assessed sedentary time by the activPAL3 activity monitor. In the spring of 2015, 44 women employed full-time at Slippery Rock University participated in this study. Participants were predominantly Caucasian (95%), middle-aged (48 ± 10 years), and had an average BMI of 30.5 ± 8.2. A positive, weak correlation was found in sedentary time between the PPAQ (14.65 ± 2.77 h) and the activPAL3 (17.71 ± 1.46 h) over a 24 hour day (r = 0.253; p = 0.098; n = 44). Thirty-nine of the 44 participants significantly underestimated their sedentary time as compared to the activPAL3 (3.06 ± 2.76 h; p = 0.001). A positive, weak correlation was also found in sedentary time between the OSPAQ (5.96 ± 1.11 h) and the activPAL3 (5.69 ± 1.06 h) during the 8.5 hour work day (r = 0.100; p = 0.518; n = 44). Future studies examining sedentary behaviors should use caution when only considering the use of subjective recall surveys. This is especially true when self-reported behaviors are used to inform health promotion programs and create universal recommendations aimed to reduce sedentary time.
Machine Learning for Joint Classification and Segmentation

In this note, we consider the use of 3D models for visual tracking in controlled active vision. The models are used for a joint 2D segmentation/3D pose estimation procedure in which we automatically couple the two processes under one energy functional. Further, employing principal component analysis or locally linear embedding from statistical learning, one can train our tracker on a catalog of 3D shapes, giving a priori shape information. The segmentation itself is information based, which allows us to track in uncertain adversarial environments. Our methodology is demonstrated on realistic scenes, which illustrate its robustness on challenging scenarios.
The Impact of Obesity on the Left Ventricle: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of left ventricular (LV) remodeling assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance to various measures of obesity in a large population-based study. Background Obesity is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet its relationship with LV size and function is poorly understood. Methods A total of 5,098 participants (age 45 to 84 years; 48% men) in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who were free of clinically apparent cardiovascular disease underwent cardiac magnetic resonance to assess LV size and function as well as measures of obesity, including body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference, and cardiovascular risk factors. Fat mass (FM) was estimated based on height-weight models derived from bioelectrical impedance studies. The associations of obesity measures with LV size and function were evaluated using linear spline regression models for body mass index and multivariable regression models for other measures of obesity; they were displayed graphically using generalized additive models. Results LV mass and end-diastolic volume were positively associated with measures of obesity in both sexes after adjustment for risk factors (e.g., 5.7-g and 6.9-g increase in LV mass per 10-kg increase in FM in women and men, respectively [p Conclusions Obesity was associated with concentric LV remodeling without change in ejection fraction in a large, multiethnic cohort study.
The use of analytics to market the sustainability of “Unique” products

Creating a “unique” or differentiated product is every company’s goal. But, how does the company sustain its product’s uniqueness? While sustainability is popular, it remains an elusive goal for entrepreneurs of unique products. It is elusive because the concept of sustainability is difficult to market to those who are resistant to change, who question the need for sustainability concepts, or who are reluctant to purchase differentiated products. Can marketing analytics help? This paper presents a case study of where analytics did support an effort to market a product that was considered unique and difficult to sustain without analytics in a competitive market. The case is Domino’s AnyWare™.
Modeling Argon Gas Behavior in Continuous Casting of Steel

In the continuous casting of steel, argon gas injection through the upper tundish nozzle wall or stopper tip is known to decrease clogging and remove inclusions. In addition to this intended gas injection, gas may be passively aspirated into the flow system by negative pressure developed inside of the nozzle. The injected gas forms gas pockets and bubbles through complex redistribution processes that greatly affect flow in the mold, leading to defects in the final product. Estimating the number and size distribution of bubbles is crucial to optimize multiphase flow in this important manufacturing process. This article introduces an integrated methodology to investigate these phenomena and provides examples to validate the approach. The system features models to predict: gas leakage, pressure distribution in the entire system, gas pockets and the size distribution and trajectories of bubbles using a new hybrid method, and multiphase flow in the nozzle and mold.