cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI) for cancer therapy monitoring.

In molecular imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) and optical imaging (OI) are two of the most important and thus most widely used modalities1-3. PET is characterized by its excellent sensitivity and quantification ability while OI is notable for non-radiation, relative low cost, short scanning time, high throughput, and wide availability to basic researchers. However, both modalities have their shortcomings as well. PET suffers from poor spatial resolution and high cost, while OI is mostly limited to preclinical applications because of its limited tissue penetration along with prominent scattering optical signals through the thickness of living tissues. Recently a bridge between PET and OI has emerged with the discovery of Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging (CLI)4-6. CLI is a new imaging modality that harnesses Cerenkov Radiation (CR) to image radionuclides with OI instruments. Russian Nobel laureate Alekseyevich Cerenkov and his colleagues originally discovered CR in 1934. It is a form of electromagnetic radiation emitted when a charged particle travels at a superluminal speed in a dielectric medium7,8. The charged particle, whether positron or electron, perturbs the electromagnetic field of the medium by displacing the electrons in its atoms. After passing of the disruption photons are emitted as the displaced electrons return to the ground state. For instance, one 18F decay was estimated to produce an average of 3 photons in water5. Since its emergence, CLI has been investigated for its use in a variety of preclinical applications including in vivo tumor imaging, reporter gene imaging, radiotracer development, multimodality imaging, among others4,5,9,10,11. The most important reason why CLI has enjoyed much success so far is that this new technology takes advantage of the low cost and wide availability of OI to image radionuclides, which used to be imaged only by more expensive and less available nuclear imaging modalities such as PET. Here, we present the method of using CLI to monitor cancer drug therapy. Our group has recently investigated this new application and validated its feasibility by a proof-of-concept study12. We demonstrated that CLI and PET exhibited excellent correlations across different tumor xenografts and imaging probes. This is consistent with the overarching principle of CR that CLI essentially visualizes the same radionuclides as PET. We selected Bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech/Roche) as our therapeutic agent because it is a well-known angiogenesis inhibitor13,14. Maturation of this technology in the near future can be envisioned to have a significant impact on preclinical drug development, screening, as well as therapy monitoring of patients receiving treatments.
Influence of study goals on study design and execution.

Abstract From the viewpoint of a clinician who makes recommendations to patients about choosing from the multiple possible management schemes, quantitative information derived from statistical analyses of observational studies is useful. Although random assignment of therapy is optimal, appropriately performed studies in which therapy has been nonrandomly “assigned” are considered acceptable, albeit occasionally with limitations in inferences. The analyses are considered most useful when they generate multivariable equations suitable for predicting time-related outcomes in individual patients. Graphic presentations improve communication with patients and facilitate truly informed consent.
Initial membrane reaction in peptidoglycan synthesis. Perturbation of lipid-phospho-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide translocase interactions by n-Butanol

Abstract Phospho -N- acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide translocase , the initial membrane enzyme in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, requires a lipid microenvironment for function. n- Butanol was reversibly intercalated into membranes to perturb the hydrophobic interactions in this microenvironment in order to define further the role of lipid. In the concentration range for maximal stimulation of enzymic activity (0.12–0.18 M), n- butanol causes a 40% decrease in the fluorescence emission of the dansylated product, undecaprenyl diphosphate -(N ϵ - dansyl)pentapeptide . Since no change in emission maximum occurs below 22°C in the presence of 0.12 M n- butanol , it is concluded that intercalation of this alkanol causes an increase in fluidity. Above 22°C this concentration of n- butanol causes both a decrease in the fluorescence emission and a red shift in the emission maximum. It is concluded that a polarity change as well as fluidity change occurs above 22°C. n- Butanol also causes a significant change in the phase transition experienced by the dansylated lipid product. Thus, it is possible with n- alkanols , e.g. n- butanol , to perturb lipid-translocase interactions resulting in an increase in fluidity in the microenvironment of the enzyme. This change in fluidity correlates with a stimulation of enzymic activity.
Future productivity and carbon storage limited by terrestrial nutrient availability

Nutrient limitation of plant growth can reduce net plant productivity. Model projections indicate that productivity declines when nitrogen and phosphorus limitations are considered, turning terrestrial ecosystems into a net source of CO2 by 2100.
Effect of polymer deposition method on thermoresponsive polymer films and resulting cellular behavior.

Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) or pNIPAM is a thermoresponsive polymer that is widely studied for use in bioengineering applications. The interest in this polymer lies in the polymer’s unique capability to undergo a sharp property change near physiological temperature, which aids in the spontaneous release of biological cells from substrates. Currently, there are many methods for depositing pNIPAM onto substrates, including atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and electron beam ionization. Each method yields pNIPAM-coated substrates with different surface characteristics that can influence cell behavior. In this work, we compare two methods of pNIPAM deposition: plasma deposition and codeposition with a sol−gel. The resulting pNIPAM films were analyzed for use as substrates for mammalian cell culture based on surface characterization (XPS, ToF-SIMS, AFM, contact angles), cell attachment/detachment studies, and an analysis of exocytosis function using carbon-fiber microelectrode amperometry (CFMA). We...
Effects of Auricular Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Distal Extremity Pain: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain. Fifteen subjects (6 men, 9 women) experiencing distal extremity pain received either one placebo pill or a 10-minute treatment of acupuncture-like TENS bilaterally to five acupuncture points on the auricle. Pain levels were measured before treatment and at 0, 10, and 30 minutes posttreatment using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the pain rating index (PRI) of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. The VAS showed no statistically significant differences between Experimental Group (n = 8) and Control Group (n = 7) means at pretreatment or posttreatment; however, both groups showed a reduction in VAS means over time. The Experimental and Control Group means on the PRI were significantly different ( p < .05) at all three posttreatment measurements, but not at pretreatment baseline measurement. These results suggest that auricular acupuncture-like TENS could be an alternative for relief of distal extremity pain. Additional clinical studies are necessary to validate the results of this study.
Dissecting molecular stress networks: identifying nodes of divergence between life-history phenotypes.

The complex molecular network that underlies physiological stress response is comprised of nodes (proteins, metabolites, mRNAs, etc.) whose connections span cells, tissues and organs. Variable nodes are points in the network upon which natural selection may act. Thus, identifying variable nodes will reveal how this molecular stress network may evolve among populations in different habitats and how it might impact life-history evolution. Here, we use physiological and genetic assays to test whether laboratory-born juveniles from natural populations of garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans), which have diverged in their life-history phenotypes, vary concomitantly at candidate nodes of the stress response network, (i) under unstressed conditions and (ii) in response to an induced stress. We found that two common measures of stress (plasma corticosterone and liver gene expression of heat shock proteins) increased under stress in both life-history phenotypes. In contrast, the phenotypes diverged at four nodes both under unstressed conditions and in response to stress: circulating levels of reactive oxygen species (superoxide, H2O2); liver gene expression of GPX1 and erythrocyte DNA damage. Additionally, allele frequencies for SOD2 diverge from neutral markers, suggesting diversifying selection on SOD2 alleles. This study supports the hypothesis that these life-history phenotypes have diverged at the molecular level in how they respond to stress, particularly in nodes regulating oxidative stress. Furthermore, the differences between the life-history phenotypes were more pronounced in females. We discuss the responses to stress in the context of the associated life-history phenotype and the evolutionary pressures thought to be responsible for divergence between the phenotypes.
Comparison of results from two methods of measurement of stride characteristics

A comparison is made of two computerized systems for measuring stride characteristics. The two systems are The Rancho Los Amigos Foot Stride Analyzer and the Motion Analysis Corporation System. Twenty-six subjects with cerebral palsy have been measured on both systems. For each patient, the average velocity, cadence and stride length were obtained. The method of Bland and Altman (1986) is used to compare the results. The authors results indicate that values for individuals cannot be compared between systems. Using transformation formulae, values for groups may be comparable. This analysis is an example for comparing two systems when neither is the current 'gold standard'. >
Lactoferrin modulation of mycobacterial cord factor trehalose 6-6'-dimycolate induced granulomatous response

The immune system responds to tuberculosis (TB) infection by forming granulomas. However, subsequent immune-mediated destruction of lung tissue is a cause of significant morbidity and contributes to disease transmission. Lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein, has demonstrated immunomodulatory properties that decrease tissue destruction and promote T H 1 immune responses, both of which are essential for controlling TB infection. The cord factor trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) model of granuloma formation mimics many aspects of TB infection with a similar histopathology accompanied by proinflammatory cytokine production. C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously with TDM. A subset of mice was given 1 mg of bovine lactoferrin 24 h post-TDM challenge. Lung tissue was analyzed for histological response and for the production of proinflammatory mediators. C57BL/6 mice demonstrated a granuloma formation that correlated with an increased production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α,) IL-12p40, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and IL-10 protein. Mice treated with lactoferrin postchallenge had significantly fewer and smaller granulomas compared with those given TDM alone. Proinflammatory and T H 1 cytokines essential to the control of mycobacterial infections, such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, were not significantly different in mice treated with lactoferrin. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β were increased. A potential mechanism for decreased tissue damage observed in the lactoferrin-treated mice is proposed. Because of its influence to modulate immune responses, lactoferrin may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of granulomatous inflammation occurring during mycobacterial infection.
Multi-Functional Spacecraft Structures Integrating Electrical and Mechanical Functions

Future earth orbiting, solar system and celestial body autonomous missions can benefit from spacecraft systems and instruments that have significantly lower weight and volume over current state of the art designs. Incorporating electronic traces or signal paths directly into the spacecraft or instrument structure can provide a significant savings in weight and volume. In addition, local computer processing power, increased operational speed and larger memory storage are achievable by using embedded or direct chip attach design methods. The objective of this technology development is to demonstrate the feasibility of electronic circuit boards that function as structural members within a subsystem. This dual functionality will be achieved by utilizing printed circuit board materials that demonstrate structural properties of strength and stiffness that can compete with current spacecraft structural applications that require the use of aluminum and titanium.
Examples of exotic stratifications

We produce examples of manifold stratified pairs in which the lower strata do not have neighborhoods that are mapping cylinders of fiber bundles, or even block bundles. Moreover, the examples do not improve in this regard under stabilization by products with tori. The examples are locally conelike and the lower strata do have neighborhoods which are mapping cylinders of manifold approximate fibrations. They are constructed by combining the classification of manifold approximate fibrations with the authors' classification of neighborhood germs.
Meeting Scholars Where They Are: The Advanced Research Consortium (ARC) and a Social Humanities Infrastructure

The Advanced Research Consortium (ARC) is the central organizing force for several virtual research environments (VREs). ARC is the hub for these period-specific nodes, which offer digital project peer review, aggregation and search technologies, and forms of community engagement. The mission of both ARC and the nodes is to construct and support a “social system” for the humanities in which the digital and the traditional can come together to develop a working social humanities infrastructure. This article discusses how the ARC infrastructure evolved from the framework of scholarly engagement developed by NINES (Networked Infrastructure for Nineteenth-Century Electronic Scholarship) and explains how the consortium assists the scholarly community: through digital project peer review, aggregation and search, and outreach services.
Distortion Analysis for Real-Time Reconstruction of Correlated Data Field in Heterogeneous Sensor Networks

This paper deals with the analysis of distortion introduced in the real time reconstruction of a spatio-temporally correlated field by a sink node. The field is measured by a randomly deployed network of heterogeneous sensors and the data is sent to the sink node. For the sake of analysis, we assume that the network consists of multiple clusters consisting of two types of nodes: cluster head and cluster member nodes. Given the initial energy capacities for both types of nodes, we determine the number of nodes needed for each type such that balanced energy consumption is achieved. Given the number of nodes of each type available in the network, we set up a mathematical model and analyze the average distortion in the reconstructed field. We study the relationship of this distortion with varying number of nodes, and determine the minimum number of nodes of each type needed to realize the reconstruction within a given distortion constraint. The work presented in this paper can be extended to consider different clustering methods, intra-cluster transmission schemes, and signal models.
Frequency Response Control in Frequency-Tunable Bandstop Filters

This letter presents a tunable bandstop filter with the capability of controlling the shape of the frequency response. The proposed filter structure can be tuned to have either a Butterworth or a Chebyshev response. The filter can also be tuned to have different center frequencies. Both the frequency response and the center frequency of the filter can be tuned by only adjusting the resonant frequency of each resonator without controlling inter-resonator coupling. Since the proposed filter structure has non-zero inter-resonator coupling, it can find its future application in reconfigurable filters which can be tuned to exhibit either a bandstop or a bandpass response.
Nitrogen-Cycle Model for Aquatic Systems: Analysis

Formulation and analysis of a nitrogen-cycle model for aquatic systems is described. The transformations of elemental nitrogen from the nutrient species to different phytoplankton and zooplankton species biomass are presented. The dynamic behavior of the cycle, at different levels of complexity, is investigated using realistic initial conditions and transformation governing kinetic rates. To assess the effects of different environmental forcing functions on the behavior of the nitrogen cycle, model results are analyzed under simplified flow and no-flow conditions. A methodology to study sensitivity of the cycle behavior under transient conditions is advanced. The results of the study indicate that added structural complexities to model reveal discernible changes in model response to identical input conditions, the state-of-the-art is lacking to simulate short-term species succession in ecosystems, and sensitivity analyses of nonlinear systems under transient condition is possible.
NASA: The Love–Hate Relationship

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was set up by President Eisenhower in 1958, clearly in response to the Soviets’ launching the first Earth-orbiting vehicle, the Sputnik. The propaganda value for the USSR had been enormous, especially since the Sputnik followed on the heels of a “missile crisis.” This was the belief, probably false, that the USSR was far ahead in the construction of intercontinental missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Unity and Method in Contemporary Science

One of the most striking features of the history of science is that, despite numerous setbacks along the way, there has, overall, been a tendency toward the development of more and more comprehensive unification of the various fields of science. Newton fused terrestrial and planetary motions into a unified theory at the end of the seventeenth century. But it was in the second half of the nineteenth century that unification of scientific fields began in earnest. In spite of the differences between electricity and magnetism (and between various types of electricity) which had been noted by investigators beginning with Gilbert, Faraday was able to provide a unified treatment of those types of phenomena. His approach was developed and given a mathematically precise formulation by Maxwell, who was also able to extend it further by incorporating light into the same theory. The study of heat too was assimilated to other areas, partly to the theory of radiation and partly to the theory of the motion of particles. As if in protest against what Einstein called the “profound formal difference” between the nineteenth century’s treatment of electromagnetism and light by a continuous (wave) theory on the one hand, and of matter in terms of a discrete particle theory on the other, the twentieth century provided a unification of those domains in the quantum theory. With that theory came, too, an understanding of the periodic table of chemical elements and of the bonding of those elements into larger complexes, as well as of the spectra of chemical substances.
Detection and quantification of circulating immature platelets: agreement between flow cytometric and automated detection.

Immature platelets-also termed reticulated platelets (RP)-are platelets newly released into the circulation, and have been associated with a variety of pathological thrombotic events. They can be assessed by flow cytometry after staining with thiazole orange (TO) or by using a module added to a fully automated analyzer that is currently in wide clinical use and expressed as a fraction of the total platelet count (IPF). We sought to assess the correlation and agreement between these two methods. IPF was measured using Sysmex XE 2100-and at the same time point- we used TO staining and flow cytometry to measure RP levels. Two different gates were used for the flow cytometry method, 1 and 0.5 %. Measurements from the automated analyzer were then compared separately to measurements performed using each gate. Agreement between methods was assessed using Bland-Altman method. Pearson's correlation coefficient was also calculated. 129 subjects were enrolled and stratified into 5 groups: (1) Healthy subjects, (2) End stage renal disease, (3) Chronic stable coronary artery disease, (4) Post Coronary artery bypass surgery, (5) Peripheral thrombocytopenia. Median IPF levels were increased for patients in groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 (4.0, 4.7, 4.3, and 8.3 % respectively) compared to healthy subjects (2.5 %) p = 0.0001. Although the observed correlation between the two methods tended to be good in patients with high IPF values (i.e., group 5), the overall observed correlation was poor (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.27). Furthermore, there was poor agreement between the two methods in all groups. Despite the good correlation that was observed between the two methods at higher IPF values, the lack of agreement was significant.
The cosmopolitan subject and the question of cultural identity: The case of Crime and Punishment:

Though contemporary discourse on cosmopolitanism has celebrated a cosmopolitan subject’s “rootedness” in two worlds – i.e. the polis and the cosmos – this emphasis has evaded analysis of the historical and damning term “rootless cosmopolitan.” Under the totalitarianisms of Nazism and late Stalinism, a “rootless cosmopolitan” was a life-threatening epithet aimed at those people, namely “the Jews,” criminalized for supposedly lacking national allegiance and affiliating with foreign cultures. This paper argues that an ethical problem arises when cosmopolitanism is understood in cultural terms. To illuminate this problem in the particular, this paper interprets Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, specifically the novel’s nationalistic themes and its cosmopolitan villain, Peter Petrovich Luzhin. In the unfolding analysis that draws from scholarship in cultural criminology, it is revealed that the Russian writer’s designated masterful genius helped fuel one of the greatest crimes in history (the Holocaust) perpe...
Geometric Design of Heterogeneous Nucleation Sites on Biocompatible Surfaces

Biocompatible polymer surfaces imprinted with nanopores of various geometries were utilized as heteronucleants during crystallizations of mefenamic acid (MA). MA, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that possesses two structurally characterized polymorphs, is utilized as a model compound. By combining geometric nanoconfinement and favorable surface–solute interactions, it was possible to influence the nucleation kinetics of this system and harvest the metastable form of MA, MA form II, on the square nanopores. An exploration of the relationship between the preferred orientation found by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and the angular matching based on the intrinsic angles, determined by the predicted morphology, was used to provide insights into the mechanism for the observed nucleation enhancement and polymorph selection. The results presented here might lead to a rational design strategy of surfaces to control nucleation and, therefore, polymorphism.
Three dimensional reconstruction of solid oxide fuel cell electrodes using focused ion beam - Scanning electron microscopy

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) electrodes typically consist of contiguous electronically and ionically conducting solid phases in an interconnected porous structure. Quantitatively analyzing this microstructure remains a key challenge in connecting materials processing with electrode performance. This paper will describe the application of dual-beam focused ion beam – scanning electron microscopy for three-dimensional reconstruction of Ni-YSZ cermet anodes, LSM-YSZ cathodes, and (La,Sr)CoO3 cathodes. Different methods for segmentation, i.e. converting images to 3D data sets, are compared and the tradeoff between calculation accuracy and analysis time is discussed.
Scientific Archives in the Age of Digitization

AbstractHistorians are increasingly working with material that is not only digital but has been digitized. Early digitization projects aimed to encode data for systematic analysis; more recent projects have sought to reproduce unique archival material in a manner that allows for open-ended historical inquiry without the need to travel to archives and manipulate physical objects. Such projects have undeniable benefits for the preservation of documents and access to them. Yet historians must be aware of the scope of digitization, the reasons why material is chosen to be digitized, and limitations on the dissemination of digitized sources. Furthermore, some physical aspects of sources, and of collections of sources, are lost in their digital simulacra. Nonetheless, digitization and the standardization of metadata offer significant possibilities for future archival research and documentation.
Electric-Field-Induced Control and Switching of Block Copolymer Domain Orientations in Nanoconfined Channel Architectures

Successfully controlling and switching cylinder-forming diblock copolymer domain orientations located in nanoconfining channel architectures has been achieved by the application of electric fields....
The use of the Push and Rss technology in the digital library

In the thesis,We have a brief intuoduction of the concept and develop of the Push and Rss technology,And tell about the use of this kinds of technoloty in the digital library.
Do Liberals Have Different Views on Homosexuality than Conservatives? An Empirical Study of Opinion in the United States

Homosexuality is generally viewed negatively. That is certainly the case in the Jewish and Christian holy books as well as the Quran, although opinions differ as to interpretation. The practice has been condemned by these religions. An Imam in Orlando, Florida, the site of the mass murder of homosexuals, has gone so far as to say that killing homosexuals would be the compassionate thing to do.It is not the purpose of this paper to review the history of homosexuality, or the pros and cons or moral standing of the practice. Readers can obtain that information by reading the items listed in the reference section of this paper. The goal of this study is more limited, to determine whether liberals and conservatives hold different views on homosexuality.The present study is part of a series on homosexuality. Other studies in the series look at trends on the acceptance of homosexuality and examine specific demographic variables such as gender, age, social class, level of education, religion and region to see whether these variables are significant. One study ranks the acceptance of homosexuality for 98 countries. Citations to some of those studies (with links) are listed in the reference section of the present.
In vivo confocal microscopy of brachycephalic dogs with and without superficial corneal pigment

Objective To characterize canine superficial corneal pigment (SCP) in brachycephalic dogs using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Animals studied Fifty-seven client-owned brachycephalic dogs from breeds predisposed to SCP (i.e., Boston Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pug, and Shih Tzu). Procedures Complete ocular examination, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, was used to determine presence or absence of SCP, and IVCM examinations were then performed. Clinical and IVCM abnormalities were recorded using a standardized scoring system and statistically compared between dogs with and without SCP. Dogs were split into two groups for analysis; Pugs and non-Pug breeds. Results Of the 57 dogs examined, 32 were Pugs and 25 were non-Pug breeds. Twenty-three Pugs (71.8%) and 10 non-Pugs (40%) displayed SCP. Six of 13 evaluated IVCM features were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with SCP in both Pugs and non-Pugs and included superficial epithelial pigment, basal epithelial pigment, Langerhans cells, anterior stromal dendritic cells, epithelial disorganization, and vascularization. Additionally, superficial epithelial leukocytes and anterior stromal dendritic cells were significantly associated with SCP in Pugs only. Many of the IVCM features associated with SCP were also observed in SCP unaffected dogs; however, they were present at a reduced frequency and confined to the perilimbal region of the cornea. Conclusions By IVCM, SCP in dogs is characterized by microscopic features of chronic inflammation. Abnormalities were superficial and largely confined to the corneal epithelium. Superficial pigment in brachycephalic dogs appears morphologically as a centripetal corneal migration of microanatomic features normally confined to the perilimbal region of the cornea.
Rain estimates by using Ku- and Ka-band dual-frequency radar

An approach to check accuracy of Ku- and Ka-band dual-frequency radar techniques for retrieval of rain rate and rain drop size distribution (DSD) is studied by using measured DSD data. The radar retrieval look-up tables introduced are effective not only in inferring rain rate and DSD parameters but also in evaluating overall performance of retrieval algorithms. As an example of the methods used for this study, DSD data collected from one of several field campaigns are used. A more thorough study is underway to include DSD data from different climatological regimes. Different DSD models will also be investigated to determine whether the DPR retrievals can be improved.
The Case for #BlackGirlMagic: Application of a Strengths-Based, Intersectional Practice Framework for Working With Black Women With Depression

This article puts forth a culturally relevant practice framework that integrates components of intersectionality and strengths-based perspectives. This framework incorporates key factors of Black w...
Esthetic abutment design for angulated screw channels: A technical report

Angulated screw channel system abutments (ASCs) have recently been introduced to address the problem with visible screw access that may compromise esthetics. ASCs allow the screw access to be modified up to 25 degrees relative to the implant axis. However, a widened channel, which may cause thinning of the facial ceramic, is needed at the implant screw head to allow for proper engagement of the screwdriver. This technical report introduces a custom titanium insert design, the Satoshi Sakamoto (SS) abutment. The SS abutment consists of a custom titanium metal insert and zirconia coping in which the access hole is located in an esthetic position with an ASC system. The SS abutment results in a crown with more normal crown dimensions that also provides more space for the soft tissues. This SS abutment design allows clinicians to obtain screw-retained restorations with optimal esthetics and mechanical strength.
Clutter rejecting waveforms for synthetic aperture radar traversing arbitrary flight path

In [28], we presented a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) inversion method in which the backscatter measurements are collected from known but arbitrary flight path and non-flat topography corrupted with clutter and noise. The objective of the current work is to design transmit waveforms and receive filters jointly to perform clutter suppression by adaptive transmit. Our approach starts with the development of a physics based forward model for SAR. Next, we formulate design of clutter rejecting waveforms as a variational problem using the minimum mean square error criteria. The resulting waveforms lead to an adaptive linear least squares transmit scheme in which waveforms vary at every point on the flight path based on the clutter and target spectral density functions.
THE CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF DRUG-ELUTING STENT VERSUS BARE METAL STENT IN THE TREATMENT OF SAPHENOUS VEIN GRAFT LESION: AN UPDATED META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIALS

Percutaneous intervention (PCI) is a promising approach to ameliorate the Major Adverse Cardiac Event (MACE) in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions. However, the clinical outcomes for the use of Drug-eluting stent (DES) versus Bare-metal stent (BMS) remain uncertain. Hence, we conducted an updated
Retention of Statistical Concepts in a Preliminary Randomization-Based Introductory Statistics Curriculum

Previous research suggests that a randomization-based introductory statistics course may improve student learning compared to the consensus curriculum. However, it is unclear whether these gains are retained by students post-course. We compared the conceptual understanding of a cohort of students who took a randomization-based curriculum (n = 76) to a cohort of students who used the consensus curriculum (n = 79). Overall, students taking the randomization-based curriculum showed higher conceptual retention in areas emphasized in the curriculum, with no significant decrease in conceptual retention in other areas. This study provides additional support for the use of randomization-methods in teaching introductory statistics courses. First published May 2012 at Statistics Education Research Journal: Archives
Effective use of total parenteral nutrition in an ileostomy patient.

Several goals were achieved through nutritional support of a 52-year-old female ileostomy patient who was admitted with dehydration, clinical malnutrition of a kwashiorkor type, and excessive body fat. Initially, parenteral nutrition was used to stabilize the patient. A total parenteral nutrition solution was calculated to meet the patient's energy, protein, mineral, vitamin, and fluid needs, including special needs resulting from the loss of fluid and electrolytes via the ostomy. The patient was subsequently weaned onto enteral feeding and then onto food plus an enteral mineral and vitamin drip. Nutritional status was improved (e.g., positive nitrogen balance was established); the patient absorbed nutrients better; and some lean body mass was restored, while total body weight decreased.
Conclusions and Remaining Questions

This book has examined some issues in the processing of tense, the process by which the human language processor assigns an interpretation to past-tense morphology. It began with a set of questions regarding the nature of the processor’s operations in such interpretation. These questions are repeated in (1a-d) below.
Spatial Filtering/Kernel Density Estimation

Kernel density estimation methods are described and their utility in applications in human geography is discussed. Unweighted and weighted kernel methods, and spatially adaptive methods, are described. Each is illustrated with an example of estimating infant mortality rates in a US city. These methods are briefly compared with alternative methods and some limitations in their use are discussed.
Proof, Probability and Statistics: The Problem of Delusive Exactness

Haack opens her paper on “future directions” in scientific testimony with a quotation from Aristotle and an observation from a hundred-year old U.S. Supreme Court ruling! Her Reason? Her argument will be that the hankering for exactness where no exactness is possible that Holmes identified as “a source of fallacy throughout the law” still impedes us; and, specifically, that it gets in the way of a clear understanding of the proper role of probabilistic and statistical evidence—such as testimony of random-match DNA probabilities in criminal cases, or epidemiological testimony of increased risk in toxic-tort cases—in legal proof of questions of fact. As a result, the law sometimes asks more of statistics than statistics can give, and sometimes gets less from statistics than statistics could give.
Safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in beta-thalassemia patients with chronic hepatitis C infections treated at a pediatric center

The outcome of allogeneic HCT in patients previously infected with HCV is a widely debated topic and rarely reported in the pediatric and young adult age group given the small population of affected patients. New medications directly targeting HCV have induced virologic cures for over 90% of patients, and their use in the pretransplant setting may improve outcomes for patients infected with HCV. We describe two patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major who underwent matched sibling donor bone marrow transplantation, one with a myeloablative regimen and one with a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen. Allogeneic HCT appears feasible in patients with HCV infection that clear viremia prior to conditioning therapy and with a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen. Further investigation is warranted to better define transplant risks in this population.
An Evaluation of Operant Behavioural Economics in Functional Communication Training for Severe Problem Behaviour.

Objective: This single-case experiment examined the use of behavioural economic concepts in a function-based treatment for problem behaviour.Methods: Behavioural economic analyses were used to eval...
Pathogens Responsible for Early-Onset Sepsis in Suzhou, China

Early-onset sepsis (EOS) in neonates is a serious disease with severe complications. The increased severity of EOS and risk of death in newborns in recent years signify that continued monitoring to detect possible changes in the pathogen etiology, disease severity, and disease outcome is particularly important. We conducted a retrospective study on early-onset infection among infants (birth weights > 800 g) who were hospitalized in the Children's Hospital of Soochow University from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the significant predictors of mortality. The most frequent early-onset pathogen was Group B Streptococcus (GBS) (28.1%), followed by Escherichia coli (21.6%), Listeria monocytogenes (11.8%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.8%). Most infants (85.6%) with early-onset infections survived until hospital discharge, while 44 (14.4%) patients died. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the significant predictors of mortality were the pathogen (GBS, E. coli, or other pathogens) and birth weight (both P < 0.01). GBS remains the most frequent pathogen known to infect infants. E coli was the most common pathogen associated with neonatal mortality. Prevention of E. coli sepsis, specifically among preterm infants, remains a challenge.
Trauma- and Stress-Induced Craving for Alcohol in Individuals Without PTSD.

Aims The main objective of the study was to compare the differences in craving following trauma and stress scripts in individuals with alcohol dependence (AD) who have experienced trauma but did not meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods Twenty-eight men and women who participated in a treatment trial were included in this study before starting treatment. All had to meet criteria for AD and had experienced trauma at some point of their lives but were never diagnosed with PTSD. All participants had one laboratory session and were exposed to stress, trauma and neutral scripts randomly assigned. Main measures of craving, anxiety and mood were administered before, during and after each script. Results Stress and trauma scripts induced significantly more craving and anxiety than the neutral scripts. Interestingly, stress scripts produced stronger craving and anxiety than the trauma scripts but only with some measures. Stress and trauma scripts produced significantly more fear, anger and sadness and significantly lower ratings of joy and relaxation than the neutral script. Again, there were no differences between stress and trauma scripts for any of the emotional subscales. Conclusions Trauma scripts did not result in stronger craving than stress scripts. These findings suggest that trauma in the absence of PTSD diagnosis does not lead to stronger craving for alcohol.
Ransomware Targeting Automobiles

Ransomware has consistently been the top threat to security in recent years. It seems inevitable that ransomware developers will ultimately target automobiles. As vehicles get smarter and more connected, the threat surface widens and automobiles naturally become more vulnerable to Internet-based threats such as ransomware. In this paper, we identify the constraints on ransomware in the context of automobiles and demonstrate potential ransomware attacks. The demonstrations entail attack vectors targeted at the IVI system and the methodology for implementing a hybrid crypto ransomware on an IVI system. Finally, we clarify the new ransomware strategies that the attackers could leverage in the context of vehicular systems with the intent to promote research to prevent such attacks.
Sickle Cell Disease: A Paradigm for Venous Thrombosis Pathophysiology

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important cause of vascular morbidity and mortality. Many risk factors have been identified for venous thrombosis that lead to alterations in blood flow, activate the vascular endothelium, and increase the propensity for blood coagulation. However, the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause blood clots in the venous vasculature have not been fully elucidated. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) demonstrate all the risk factors for venous stasis, activated endothelium, and blood hypercoagulability, making them particularly vulnerable to VTE. In this review, we will discuss how mouse models have elucidated the complex vascular pathobiology of SCD. We review the dysregulated pathways of inflammation and coagulation in SCD and how the resultant hypercoagulable state can potentiate thrombosis through down-regulation of vascular anticoagulants. Studies of VTE pathogenesis using SCD mouse models may provide insight into the intersection between the cellular and molecular processes involving inflammation and coagulation and help to identify novel mechanistic pathways.
Electrospun Scaffolds and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Cardiac Tissue Engineering Applications.

Tissue engineering (TE) combines cells, scaffolds, and growth factors to assemble functional tissues for repair or replacement of tissues and organs. Cardiac TE is focused on developing cardiac cells, tissues, and structures—most notably the heart. This review presents the requirements, challenges, and research surrounding electrospun scaffolds and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) towards applications to TE hearts. Electrospinning is an attractive fabrication method for cardiac TE scaffolds because it produces fibers that demonstrate the optimal potential for mimicking the complex structure of the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM). iPSCs theoretically offer the capacity to generate limitless numbers of CMs for use in TE hearts, however these iPSC-CMs are electrophysiologically, morphologically, mechanically, and metabolically immature compared to adult CMs. This presents a functional limitation to their use in cardiac TE, and research aiming to address this limitation is presented in this review.
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Feces of Finisher Pigs: Isolation, Identification, and Public Health Implications of Major and Minor Serogroups†.

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are major foodborne human pathogens that cause mild to hemorrhagic colitis, which could lead to complications of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Seven serogroups, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157, account for the majority of the STEC illnesses in the United States. Shiga toxins 1 and 2, encoded by stx1 and stx2, respectively, and intimin, encoded by eae gene, are major virulence factors. Cattle are a major reservoir of STEC, but swine also harbor them in the hindgut and shed STEC in the feces. Our objectives were to use a culture method to isolate and identify major and minor serogroups of STEC in finisher pig feces. Shiga toxin genes were subtyped to assess public health implications of STEC. Fecal samples (n = 598) from finisher pigs, collected from 10 pig flows, were enriched in E. coli broth and tested for stx1, stx2, and eae by a multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay. Samples positive for stx1 or stx2 gene were subjected to culture methods, with or without immunomagnetic separation and plating on selective or nonselective media, for isolation and identification of stx-positive isolates. The culture method yielded a total of 178 isolates belonging to 23 serogroups. The three predominant serogroups were O8, O86, and O121. The 178 STEC strains included 26 strains with stx1a and 152 strains with stx2e subtypes. Strains with stx1a, particularly in association with eae (O26 and O103), have the potential to cause severe human infections. All stx2-positive isolates carried the subtype stx2e, a subtype that causes edema disease in swine, but is rarely involved in human infections. Several strains were also positive for genes that encode for enterotoxins, which are involved in neonatal and postweaning diarrhea in swine. In conclusion, our study showed that healthy finisher pigs harbored and shed several serogroups of E. coli carrying virulence genes involved in neonatal diarrhea, postweaning diarrhea, and edema disease, but prevalence of STEC of public health importance was low. HIGHLIGHTS
Harmonic Analysis of Inverter-Based Resources Subject to Unbalance

Operation of wind turbine generators is affected by unbalance in the grid voltage. This paper presents harmonic analysis when type-4 wind turbine is subjected to grid voltage unbalance. For simplicity, in the current research, the type-4 wind turbine's grid-side converter is assumed to have constant dq-frame modulation indices. First, an EMT model for Type-4 wind turbine with unbalanced grid voltage is modeled in PSCAD. The current is found to have positive-, negative-sequence fundamental components as well as positive-sequence 180 Hz harmonic component. Steady-state circuit analysis is then carried out to compute the current harmonic components. The analysis results match the EMT simulation results.
The Rh = ct universe without inflation

Context. The horizon problem in the standard model of cosmology (ΛDCM) arises from the observed uniformity of the cosmic microwave background radiation, which has the same temperature everywhere (except for tiny, stochastic fluctuations), even in regions on opposite sides of the sky, which appear to lie outside of each other’s causal horizon. Since no physical process propagating at or below lightspeed could have brought them into thermal equilibrium, it appears that the universe in its infancy required highly improbable initial conditions. Aims. In this paper, we demonstrate that the horizon problem only emerges for a subset of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmologies, such as ΛCDM, that include an early phase of rapid deceleration.Methods. The origin of the problem is examined by considering photon propagation through a FRW spacetime at a more fundamental level than has been attempted before.Results. We show that the horizon problem is nonexistent for the recently introduced R h = ct universe, obviating the principal motivation for the inclusion of inflation. We demonstrate through direct calculation that, in this cosmology, even opposite sides of the cosmos have remained causally connected to us – and to each other – from the very first moments in the universe’s expansion. Therefore, within the context of the R h = ct universe, the hypothesized inflationary epoch from t = 10-35 s to 10-32 s was not needed to fix this particular “problem”, though it may still provide benefits to cosmology for other reasons.