cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship of fetal position within the uterus to fetal weight, placental weight, testosterone, estrogens, and thymosin beta 4 concentrations at 70 and 104 days of gestation in swine.

Fetal intrauterine position relative to the sex of adjacent fetuses has an effect on reproductive performance in rodents. An experiment was conducted to determine whether sex of adjacent fetuses in utero has an influence on fetal and placental weights and whether the hormonal mechanisms documented in rodents are similar in fetal pigs. Sows were slaughtered at 70.1 +/- 1.7 d (n = 123) and 104.5 +/- .05 d (n = 135) of gestation. The fetuses and placentas were removed from the uterus and the position and sex of each fetus was recorded to indicate whether the fetus was between two males, two females, or a male and a female. Fetal blood was sampled for later hormonal analysis. At 70 d of gestation, male fetal and placental weights were heavier than those of females (P less than .05), but no differences were detected relative to the sex of adjacent fetuses. At 104 d of gestation, a fetus surrounded on each side in utero by fetuses of the opposite sex (two males or two females) was lighter in weight than a fetus surrounded by fetuses of the same sex (P less than .01). Differences in fetal weight due to the sex of adjacent fetuses were not related to placental function because placental weights were generally not different at 104 d of gestation. By 104 d of gestation, most placentas were not separated by necrotic regions and were in close apposition with surrounding placentas. No differences in growth or development could be related to hormonal effects (testosterone, estrone, or estrone sulfate) from surrounding fetuses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Risk Stratification: History, Physical, and EKG

Chest pain annually accounts for over 5% of more than 110 million emergency department (ED) visits nationwide (PHS, PHS 2004;1250). Of these patients, approximately one-third will be diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (Storrow and Gibler, Ann Emerg Med 2000;35(5):449–61). ACS describes a continuum of conditions that ranges from unstable angina (UA) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), all due to varying degrees of coronary ischemia and cardiac cell death. The clinical presentation of a patient with UA can be insidious and presents challenges in diagnosis. Since each ACS component may potentially cause sudden cardiac death, it is prudent to use an individual’s history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram to help determine degrees of risk for ACS. This risk stratification ultimately guides further evaluation, testing, and treatment.
Preface to DMR special edition "cytochrome P450: new horizons".

In the decades, since the landmark characterization of cytochrome P450 by Omura and Sato in 1962, there has been an explosion of research into this group of heme proteins with the publication of th...
[64Cu]XYIMSR-06: A dual-motif CAIX ligand for PET imaging of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

// Il Minn 1 , Soo Min Koo 1 , Hye Soo Lee 1 , Mary Brummet 1 , Steven P. Rowe 1 , Michael A. Gorin 2 , Polina Sysa-Shah 1 , William D. Lewis 1 , Hye-Hyun Ahn 1 , Yuchuan Wang 1 , Sangeeta Ray Banerjee 1 , Ronnie C. Mease 1 , Sridhar Nimmagadda 1 , Mohamad E. Allaf 2 , Martin G. Pomper 1 , Xing Yang 1 1 Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 2 The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Correspondence to: Martin G. Pomper, email: mpomper@jhmi.edu Xing Yang, email: xyang45@jhmi.edu Keywords: carbonic anhydrase IX, positron emission tomography, molecular imaging, renal cell carcinoma, copper-64 Received: February 25, 2016 Accepted: June 09, 2016 Published: July 14, 2016 ABSTRACT Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a cell surface enzyme that is over-expressed in approximately 95% of cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common renal cancer. We synthesized and performed in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a dual-motif ligand, [ 64 Cu]XYIMSR-06, for imaging CAIX expression on ccRCC tumors using positron emission tomography (PET). [ 64 Cu]XYIMSR-06 was generated in yields of 51.0 ± 4.5% (n=5) and specific activities of 4.1 – 8.9 GBq/μmol (110-240 Ci/mmol). Tumor was visualized on PET images by 1 h post-injection with high tumor-to-background levels (>100 tumor-to-blood and -muscle) achieved within 24 h. Biodistribution studies demonstrated a maximum tumor uptake of 19.3% injected dose per gram of radioactivity at 4 h. Tumor-to-blood, -muscle and -kidney ratios were 129.6 ± 18.8, 84.3 ± 21.0 and 2.1 ± 0.3, respectively, at 8 h post-injection. At 24 h a tumor-to-kidney ratio of 7.1 ± 2.5 was achieved. These results indicate pharmacokinetics superior to those of previously reported imaging agents binding to CAIX. [ 64 Cu]XYIMSR-06 is a new low-molecular-weight PET ligand targeting CAIX, which can image localized and metastatic ccRCC.
Two Pueblo III Kiva Complexes Associated with Subterranean Rooms, Southwestern Colorado

At the Ismay and Watson sites, situated near Yucca House National Monument, Pueblo III kivas were linked to subterranean rooms by underground passages. These passages were entered via openings in k...
The effects of the therapeutic workplace and heavy alcohol use on homelessness among homeless alcohol-dependent adults.

Abstract Background A clinical trial demonstrated that a therapeutic workplace could promote alcohol abstinence in homeless, alcohol-dependent adults. This secondary-data analysis examined rates of homelessness and their relation to the therapeutic workplace intervention and alcohol use during the trial. Methods In the trial, homeless, alcohol-dependent adults could work in a therapeutic workplace for 6 months and were randomly assigned to Unpaid Training, Paid Training, or Contingent Paid Training groups. Unpaid Training participants were not paid for working. Paid Training participants were paid for working. Contingent Paid Training participants were paid for working if they provided alcohol-negative breath samples. Rates of homelessness during the study were calculated for each participant and the three groups were compared. Mixed-effects regression models were conducted to examine the relation between alcohol use (i.e., heavy drinking, drinks per drinking day, and days of alcohol abstinence) and homelessness. Results Unpaid Training, Paid Training, and Contingent Paid Training participants did not differ in the percentage of study days spent homeless (31%, 28%, 17%; respectively; F(2,94) = 1.732, p = 0.183). However, participants with more heavy drinking days (b = 0.350, p Conclusions Reducing heavy drinking and alcohol use may help homeless, alcohol-dependent adults transition out of homelessness.
Full-length p53 tetramer bound to DNA and its quaternary dynamics

P53 is a major tumor suppressor that is mutated and inactivated in ~50% of all human cancers. Thus, reactivation of mutant p53 using small molecules has been a long sought-after anticancer therapeutic strategy. Full structural characterization of the full-length oligomeric p53 is challenging because of its complex architecture and multiple highly flexible regions. To explore p53 structural dynamics, here we developed a series of atomistic integrative models with available crystal structures of the full-length p53 (fl-p53) tetramer bound to three different DNA sequences: a p21 response element, a puma response element and a nonspecific DNA sequence. Explicitly solvated, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the three complexes (totaling nearly 1 μs of aggregate simulation time) yield final structures consistent with electron microscopy maps and, for the first time, show the direct interactions of the p53 C-terminal with DNA. Through a collective principal component analysis, we identify sequence-dependent differential quaternary binding modes of the p53 tetramer interfacing with DNA. Additionally, L1 loop dynamics of fl-p53 in the presence of DNA is revealed, and druggable pockets of p53 are identified via solvent mapping to aid future drug discovery studies.
Direct observation of power dissipation in monolayer MoS 2 devices

We studied power dissipation in 1L MoS2 devices using Raman thermometry for the first time. We uncovered non-uniformities of power dissipation and the important role of the MoS2-substrate interface thermal resistance. These results provide critical insights for thermal design of devices based on 2D materials. This work was supported by the AFOSR, NSF EFRI 2-DARE, and Stanford SystemX.
Arrayed high efficiency dual-integrated microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors

Low-power microstructured semiconductor neutron detector (MSND) devices have long been investigated as a high-efficiency replacement for thin-film diodes for thermal neutron detection. The detector devices were improved by stacking two 1cm2 devices and integrating their responses together to act as a single diode, increasing detection efficiency to over 42%. The need for larger active area devices has driven further improvement of the technology. A large active area device has been developed by arraying seventy-two 1cm2 devices together into two 6×6 configurations, dual-stacking them, and integrating their responses together in order to act as a single detector device. The intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency was found to be 7.03±0.04%. The leakage current of the 36cm2 device was −42nA at −5V bias and the capacitance was found to be 54pF at −5V bias.
15N and 13C- SOFAST-HMQC editing enhances 3D-NOESY sensitivity in highly deuterated, selectively [1H,13C]-labeled proteins.

The ongoing NMR method development effort strives for high quality multidimensional data with reduced collection time. Here, we apply ‘SOFAST-HMQC’ to frequency editing in 3D NOESY experiments and demonstrate the sensitivity benefits using highly deuterated and 15N, methyl labeled samples in H2O. The experiments benefit from a combination of selective T 1 relaxation (or L-optimized effect), from Ernst angle optimization and, in certain types of experiments, from using the mixing time for both NOE buildup and magnetization recovery. This effect enhances sensitivity by up to 2.4× at fast pulsing versus reference HMQC sequences of same overall length and water suppression characteristics. Representative experiments designed to address interesting protein NMR challenges are detailed. Editing capabilities are exploited with heteronuclear 15N,13C-edited, or with diagonal-free 13C aromatic/methyl-resolved 3D-SOFAST-HMQC–NOESY–HMQC. The latter experiment is used here to elucidate the methyl-aromatic NOE network in the hydrophobic core of the 19 kDa FliT-FliJ flagellar protein complex. Incorporation of fast pulsing to reference experiments such as 3D-NOESY–HMQC boosts digital resolution, simplifies the process of NOE assignment and helps to automate protein structure determination.
Low-cost satellite mechanical design and construction

This paper presents a discussion of techniques for low-cost design and construction of a CubeSat mechanical structure that can serve as a basis for academic programs and a starting point for government, military and commercial large-scale sensing networks, where the cost of each node must be minimized to facilitate system affordability and lower the cost and associated risk of losing any node. Spacecraft Design plays a large role in manufacturability. An intentionally simplified mechanical design is presented which reduces machining costs, as compared to more intricate designs that were considered. Several fabrication approaches are evaluated relative to the low-cost goal.
Population Genetics of Oligonychus perseae (Acari: Tetranychidae) Collected from Avocados in Mexico and California

Oligonychus perseae Tuttle, Baker & Abbatiello (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an economically important foliar pest of avocados from Mexico. Invasive O. perseae populations became established throughout the commercial avocado system in California (USA) during the early 1990s, but the putative geographic origin(s) of the California O. perseae populations has not been investigated. To address this shortcoming, a series of population genetic analyses for O. perseae populations representative of a broad geographic sample range was conducted. This study identified a single mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) haplotype match between O. perseae populations collected in California with those from 4 municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico, part of the presumptive native range of this pest. Interestingly, this haplotype also was collected from avocados at 2 locations in Baja California, Mexico, and it was identified from a representative sample from Israel where O. perseae is an invasive avocado pest. Molecular data confirm the likely Mexican origin of invasive O. perseae populations in California, and may help delimit the geographic area to be searched for coevolved natural enemies of O. perseae that could be introduced into California as part of a future classical biological control program targeting this pest. Moreover, molecular results uncovered significant and concordant genetic divergence in both mitochondrial (COI) and ribosomal DNA markers, i.e.,internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and a section of the 28S gene region, pointing to the potential occurrence of a cryptic species complex within O. perseae. The implications of these findings on future taxonomic and molecular work for O. perseae are discussed.
Estrogen receptor subtype expression and regulation is altered in papillary thyroid cancer after menopause

Background Estrogen receptors can regulate growth in papillary thyroid cancer and may affect prognosis after menopause. This study examines changes of estrogen receptor subtype ratio expression in papillary thyroid cancer cell lines derived from pre- and postmenopausal women. Methods Cells were harvested from papillary thyroid cancer and non-papillary thyroid cancer thyroid tissue (control) from pre- (n = 9) and postmenopausal women (n = 11). Protein expression of estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase and protein kinase B were analyzed. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity was determined as a measure of tumor invasiveness. Mitochondrial retrograde signaling was altered with ethidium bromide to determine its effect on estrogen receptor α protein expression. Results Estrogen receptor α expression was increased in postmenopausal papillary thyroid cancer cells compared with controls but was unchanged in premenopausal papillary thyroid cancer. Estrogen receptor β expression did not change in either group. Increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity was observed only in postmenopausal papillary thyroid cancer. Premenopausal papillary thyroid cancer cells demonstrated increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase and unchanged protein kinase B activation. Conversely, postmenopausal papillary thyroid cancer cells had decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinase and increased protein kinase B activation. Ethidium bromide treatment resulted in increased estrogen receptor α protein expression only in premenopausal papillary thyroid cancer cells. Conclusion Increased estrogen receptor α expression may be involved in papillary thyroid cancer aggressiveness after menopause. This process may be regulated by differential activation of intracellular pathways and differing sensitivities to mitochondrial signaling regulation.
Quilting a journey: decolonizing instructional design:

In many Indigenous communities, the star quilt is a symbol of honor given as a gift to recognize something about which the community is proud. The star quilt was used as a metaphor in this study to...
Cyclic Behavior of Steel Double-Channel Built-Up Components with a New Lateral-Torsional-Buckling Prevention Detail

AbstractCurrent standards require that, for moment-resisting frames, the strength degradation of a beam–column connection should not reduce flexural strength measured at a drift angle of 0.04 rad t...
Ethical-Legal Problems with Computer Use and Suggestions for Best Practices: A National Survey

A survey of 268 school psychologists (125 NASP and 143 CTASP members) was conducted to explore the nature and extent of ethical-legal problems associated with computer applications in school psycho...
An Inverse Eigenvalue Problem and an Extremal Eigenvalue Problem

This talk presents results for two inverse problems which arise in the study of vibrating systems. The first problem (Part I) extends the theory of second order inverse eigenvalue problems in one dimension and is joint work with Carol Coleman. The second problem (Part II) solves an identification problem for composite membranes in n-dimensions; this work is joint work with Steven Cox.
Bayesian hierarchical modeling of gabapentin absorption and disposition with application to dosing regimen assessment

Abstract In the previous work, a reduced-order population pharmacokinetic (PK) model was used within a Bayesian inference framework to predict individualized patient dosing regimens. It was shown that a reduced-order model was adequate for individualized dosing of gabapentin given a minimum number of plasma samples from the given patient. However, this purely empirical model could not explain why patients have such different dosing needs. Accordingly, in this work, we couple an advanced compartment and transit oral absorption model with a full physiologically based PK model parameterized using a two-level hierarchical Bayesian approach. The coupled model provides the capability to not only understand the variable oral absorption but also the disposition of the drug. The proposed model-based strategy to individualized dosing is applied to the dosing of gabapentin using the retrospective data from the literature. The computations show that a standard starting regimen of 300 mg every 8 h is not likely to result in efficacious dosing for a substantial proportion of patients. Additionally, the proposed approach was able to incorporate urine data in a seamless way to inform the extent of absorption without assuming that the data were perfect. The mechanistic absorption model elucidated that the uncertainty in absorption plays a role in the variability in exposure seen across the patient population. It has also been suggested that the apparent absorption site is likely not the full upper GI, but a very localized segment due to the transit times required to fit the data. In this study, model implementation and Markov chain Monte Carlo computations were performed using the CmdStan package.
Genetics in the Madhouse: The Unknown History of Human Heredity

Genetics in the madhouse: the unknown history of human heredity , Genetics in the madhouse: the unknown history of human heredity , کتابخانه‌های دانشگاه کردستان
Reported Instances of Nonprofit Corruption: Do Donors Respond to Scandals in the Charitable Sector?

Corruption at charitable organizations is, if not growing, becoming more evident to the public. Highly visible scandals reduce confidence in nonprofits generally and may permanently reduce donations. Existing work on malfeasance in the nonprofit sector has analyzed the characteristics of charities where corruption has occurred. What has not been examined in the literature is whether scandals have impacted contributions as a whole. If donations are unaffected by corruption, then there is little incentive to support systemic reforms. This paper will explore the impact of visible corruption on the level of giving by individuals. An econometric model that incorporates the primary drivers of donations will be developed, including such factors as income, net worth and tax policy, coupled with personal attributes, such as religious affiliation. When measures of the magnitude of press coverage of corruption are added to the model, they test as significant, indicating publicized scandals are, in fact, suppressing donations. This analysis contributes to the literature on organizational reputation and its impact on performance.
Biological impact of nanoscale lithium intercalating complex metal oxides to model bacterium B. subtilis.

The wide applications of lithium intercalating complex metal oxides in energy storage devices call for a better understanding of their environmental impact at the end of their life cycle. In this study, we examine the biological impact of a panel of nanoscale lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (Li x Ni y Mn z Co1-y-z O2, 0 < x, y, z < 1, abbreviated to NMCs) to a model Gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus subtilis, in terms of cellular respiration and growth. A highly sensitive single-cell gel electrophoresis method is also applied for the first time to understand the genotoxicity of these nanomaterials to bacterial cells. Results from these assays indicate that the free Ni and Co ions released from the incongruent dissolution of the NMC material in B. subtilis growth medium induced both hindered growth and cellular respiration. More remarkably, the DNA damage induced by the combination of the two ions in solution is comparable to that induced by the NMC material, which suggests that the free Ni and Co ions are responsible for the toxicity observed. A material redesign by enriching Mn is also presented. The combined approaches of evaluating their impact on bacterial growth, respiration, and DNA damage at a single-cell level, as well as other phenotypical changes allows us to probe the nanomaterials and bacterial cells from a mechanistic prospective, and provides a useful means to an understanding of bacterial response to new potential environmental stressors.
Extensive unroofing of myocardial bridge: A case report and literature review.

Background:Myocardial bridge is defined as a segment of a coronary artery that takes an intramyocardial course. The presence of myocardial bridge has been observed in as many as 40%–80% of cases on...
FLIM Imaging of NAD(P)H to track metabolic changes of non-adherent leukemia cells using micro cell trapping arrays

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) techniques are widely used in auto-fluorescence imaging to investigate dynamic metabolic states of the cells. Traditional FLIM imaging requires the cells to adhere to the coverslip to collect enough photons for FLIM data processing. Such conditions pose challenges to non-adherent cells, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, because of cell motility. We developed a proto-type micro cell trapping array (MCTA) to immobilize cells in picoliter-size wells with location references. The array keeps non-adherent cells in referenced well locations, allows treatment on stage and re-imaging after time for ultimate cell segmentation analysis. Individual wells are analyzed by a pixel-based region-of-interest (ROI) to analyze cellular redox states. This single well trapping and analysis method allows to isolate treatment responses of a small number of cells, compare their range and predict early effect, which may have clinical applications in the context of cancer aggressiveness and treatment outcomes. We expanded the common intensity-based assay for cellular redox state by a Fluorescence Lifetime measurement, NAD(P)H-a2%, serving as an alternative metric. The new assay is flexible and can be applied to other non-adherent cell lines, expanding FLIM applications in both research and the clinic.
Waves Versus Particles

By now, we have accumulated massive evidence that light consists of waves. We have seen the admirable success of Maxwell’s theory, which predicts, among other facts, the speed of the waves and the phenomenon of polarization. Most convincing of all are the countless optical experiments which exhibit interference and diffraction, thereby permitting accurate wavelength measurements; surely a wavelength cannot be measured unless there is a wave.
Advantages of combined hemodynamic and ultrasonic studies in man

A long sought goal in clinical cardiology has been the quantitative description of left ventricular performance in man. Until recently, this has exclusively involved the use of a combined hemodynamic-angiographic method for the derivation of a number of functional indices for both the systolic and diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle.
On Parameterizing PEM Fuel Cell Models

A methodology for parameterizing polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell models is presented. The procedure starts by optimal experimental design (OED) for parameter identification. This is done by exploring output sensitivities to parameter variations in the space of operating conditions. Once the optimal operating conditions are determined, they are used to gather synthetic experimental data. The synthetic data are then used to identify 7 model parameters in a step-by-step procedure that involves grouping the parameters for identification based on the preceding sensitivity analysis. Starting from the kinetic region of the polarization curve and continuing with the ohmic and mass transport regions, the parameters are identified in a cumulative fashion using a gradient-based nonlinear least squares algorithm. The impact of the OED for parameter identification is explored by comparing the results with another set of synthetic data obtained by Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) of the operating space. The results indicate improved identification with OED compared to LHS and point to the utility of the systematic approach, presented herein, for identifying the parameters of PEM fuel cell models.
Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory of trapped one-dimensional imbalanced Fermi systems

Ground-state Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) theory is applied to imbalanced spin-$1/2$ one-dimensional (1D) Fermi systems that are spatially confined by either a harmonic or a hard-wall trapping potential. It has been hoped that such systems, which can be realized using ultracold atomic gases, would exhibit the long-sought-after Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) superfluid phase. The HFB formalism generalizes the standard Bogoliubov quasiparticle transformation by allowing for Cooper pairing to exist between all possible single-particle states and accounts for the effects of the inhomogeneous trapping potential as well as the mean-field Hartree potential. This provides an unbiased framework to describe inhomogeneous densities and pairing correlations in the FFLO state of a confined 1D gas. In a harmonic trap, numerical minimization of the HFB ground-state energy yields a spatially oscillating order parameter reminiscent of the FFLO state. However, we find that this state has almost no imprint in the local fermion densities (consistent with experiments that found no evidence of the FFLO phase). In contrast, for a hard-wall geometry, we find a strong signature of the spatial oscillations of the FFLO pairing amplitude reflected in the local in situ densities. In the hard-wall case, the excess spins are strongly localized near regions where there is a node in the pairing amplitude, creating an unmistakable crystalline modulation of the density.
Design Systems for Conversational UX

Design systems for creating user experience reduce effort, scaffold learning and increase collaboration [2], yet they are currently available primarily for applications with visual interfaces. Design systems for conversational UX are still few and far between. Any design system should provide a distinctive philosophy, interaction patterns and content format. The Alma Design System, from IBM Research, provides these. Its design philosophy takes human conversation as its metaphor and adapts principles from conversation science, such as mutual understanding, recipient design, minimization and repair. Its pattern language provides 100 interaction patterns and components adapted from the literature of Conversation Analysis. It includes formal patterns for conversational activities and their management. And its content format consists of six slots and can be extended to any number of parts.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Brevibacillus borstelensis SDM, Isolated from a Sorghum-Adapted Microbial Community

The isolation of novel microbes from environmental samples continues to be a key strategy for the discovery of new metabolic capacities for the degradation and transformation of lignocellulose. We report the draft genome sequence of a new strain of Brevibacillus borstelensis isolated from a sorghum-adapted microbial community derived from a compost sample.
Diabetes as an Indication for Bariatric Surgery

Global incidence and prevalence of type II diabetes (T2DM) has paralleled the rise in obesity. Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for obesity, and is superior to medical management in the treatment of diabetes. Reported rates of diabetes remission following bariatric surgery range between 9 and 100%. Remission rates and durability vary by procedure type. Surgery appears to have weight-independent metabolic benefits. Additionally, surgery is a powerful tool for diabetes treatment in patients with body mass index under 35, who do not meet the typical criteria for inclusion in a bariatric program. Underrepresented racial and ethnic populations likely benefit from bariatric surgery at a lower BMI compared to Caucasian patients. Here we review the extensive evidence to support diabetes as a primary indication for bariatric surgery.
Smart energy optimization for massive IoT using artificial intelligence

Abstract The concept of a connected world using Internet of Things (IoT) has already taken pace during this decade. The efficient hardware and high throughput networks have made it possible to connect billions of devices, collecting and transmitting useable information. The benefit of IoT devices is that they enable automation however, a significant amount of energy is required for billions of connected devices communicating with each other. This requirement of energy, unless managed, can be one of the barriers in the complete implementation of IoT systems. This paper presents the energy management system for IoT devices. Both hardware and software aspects are considered. Energy transparency has been achieved by modelling energy consumed during sensing, processing, and communication. A multi-agent system has been introduced to model the IoT devices and their energy consumptions. Genetic algorithm is used to optimize the parameters of the multi-agent system. Finally, simulation tools such as MATLAB Simulink and OpenModelica are used to test the system. The optimization results have revealed substantial energy consumption with the implementation of decentralized intelligence of the multi-agent system.
The secreted tyrosine kinase VLK is essential for normal platelet activation and thrombus formation

Tyrosine phosphorylation of extracellular proteins is observed in cell cultures and in vivo, but little is known about the functional roles of tyrosine phosphorylation of extracellular proteins. Vertebrate Lonesome Kinase (VLK) is a broadly expressed secretory pathway tyrosine kinase present in platelet [a]-granules. It is released from platelets upon activation and phosphorylates substrates extracellularly. Its role in platelet function, however, has not been previously studied. In human platelets, we identified phosphorylated tyrosines mapped to luminal or extracellular domains of transmembrane and secreted proteins implicated in the regulation of platelet activation. To determine the role of VLK in extracellular tyrosine phosphorylation and platelet function, we generated mice with a megakaryocyte/platelet-specific deficiency of VLK. Platelets from these mice are normal in abundance and morphology, but have dramatic changes in function both in vitro and in vivo. Resting and thrombin-stimulated VLK-deficient platelets demonstrate a significant decrease of several tyrosine phosphobands. Functional testing of VLK-deficient platelets shows decreased PAR4- and collagen-mediated platelet aggregation, but normal responses to ADP. Dense granule and -granule release are reduced in these platelets. Furthermore, VLK-deficient platelets exhibit decreased PAR4-mediated Akt (S473) and Erk1/2(T202/Y204) phosphorylation, indicating altered proximal signaling. In vivo, mice lacking VLK in megakaryocytes/platelets demonstrate strongly reduced platelet accumulation and fibrin formation following laser-injury of cremaster arterioles compared to controls. These studies demonstrate that the secretory pathway tyrosine kinase VLK is critical for stimulus-dependent platelet activation and thrombus formation, providing the first evidence that a secreted protein kinase is required for normal platelet function.
Pancreatic Cancer Screening

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise, and as a result, screening for pancreatic cancer is, ipso facto, a matter of increased discussion in the medical literature. Consequently, with the increasing amount of research targeting the natural history of pancreatic cancer, we are getting closer, but are still relatively far from confidently answering the questions of who and when to screen for pancreatic cancer. In this chapter, we will discuss the current evidence for pancreatic cancer screening in populations at risk, as well as the available data on when to start screening. The chapter will also discuss the advantages and pitfalls of the different diagnostic modalities and briefly touch on current and future research endeavors.
GAB1-ABL1 fusions in tumors that have histologic overlap with NTRK-rearranged spindle cell tumors.

Fibroblastic spindle cell tumors are a heterogeneous group of rare soft tissue tumors that are increasingly recognized as associated with a variety of kinase gene fusions. We report two cases of GAB1-ABL1 fusions in spindle cell tumors that histologically overlap with NTRK-rearranged spindle cell tumors. The first case occurred in a 76-year-old female who had a large deep-seated spindle cell tumor composed of monotonous ovoid to spindle cells in a background of thick stromal collagen bands with prominent hyalinized vessels and inconspicuous mitoses (<1/10 HPF). Immunohistochemical stains showed co-expression of S100 and CD34. A GAB1-ABL1 fusion was detected by whole transcriptome RNA sequencing. The patient had a partial response to imatinib. The second case was previously described as a solitary fibrous tumor, occurring in a nine-year-old female with a cellular spindle cell tumor with patchy CD34 immunoexpression but no expression of S100. Upon clinicopathologic re-review, including anchored multiplex next-generation sequencing, a GAB1-ABL1 fusion was identified. In summary, we report the first two cases of spindle cell tumors with variable expression of CD34 and/or S100, driven by GAB1-ABL1 gene fusions with histologic overlap with NTRK-rearranged spindle cell tumors, suggesting that ABL-fusions may also be oncogenic drivers within this spectrum of tumors. These cases highlight the evolving understanding of fibroblastic spindle cell tumor biology and the utility of sequencing in identifying a targetable alteration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Post-traumatic seizures following pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the national impact of demographic, hospital, and inpatient risk factors on post-traumatic seizure (PTS) development in pediatric patients who presented to the ED following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Patients and methods The Nationwide Emergency Department Sample database years 2010–2014 was queried. Patients ( Results We identified 1,244,087 patients who sustained TBI, of which 10,340 (0.83%) developed PTS. Of the patients who had seizures, the youngest cohort aged 0−5 years had the greatest proportion of seizure development ( p ). Compared to those TBI patients with loss of consciousness (LOC), patients encountering no LOC after TBI had the smallest proportion of seizures while Prolonged LOC with baseline return had the greatest proportion. On univariate analysis of the effect of in-hospital complication on rate of seizures, respiratory, renal and urinary, hematoma, septicemia, and other neurological complications were all significantly associated with seizure development. On multivariate regression, age 6–10 years (OR: 0.48, p ) 11–15 years (OR: 0.41, p ), and 16–20 years (OR: 0.51, p ) were independently associated with decreased risk of developing seizures. Extended LOC with baseline return (OR: 6.33, p ), extended LOC without baseline return (OR: 1.95, p = 0.009 ), and Other LOC (OR: 3.02, p ) were independently associated with increased risk of developing seizures. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR: 4.14, p ), subdural hemorrhage [OR: 7.72, p ), and extradural hemorrhage (OR: 3.13, p ) were all independently associated with increased risk of developing seizures. Conclusion Out study demonstrates that various demographic, hospital, and clinical risk factors are associated with the development of seizures following traumatic brain injury. Enhancing awareness of these drivers may help provide greater awareness of patients likely to develop post-traumatic seizures such that this complication can be decreased in incidence so as to improve quality of care and decrease healthcare costs.
Interior Cadences in the Sentence of Schoenberg

This essay will argue against William Caplin’s concept of cadence and will disprove his allegation about an unquestionable lack of interior cadence in the sentence of Schoenberg. Another subject of criticism will be the assumption expressed by Caplin and other theorists that functional prolongation always negates cadence.
Finger Stiffness

Background Finger stiffness varies substantially in patients with hand and upper extremity illness and can be notably more than expected for a given pathophysiology. In prior studies, pain intensity and magnitude of disability consistently correlate with coping strategies such as catastrophic thinking and kinesiophobia, which can be characterized as overprotectiveness. In this retrospective study we address the primary research question whether patients with finger stiffness are more often overprotective when the primary pathology is outside the hand (e.g. distal radius fracture) than when it is located within the hand. Methods In an orthopaedic hand surgery department 160 patients diagnosed with more finger stiffness than expected for a given pathophysiology or time point of recovery between December 2006 and September 2012 were analyzed to compare the proportion of patients characterized as overprotective for differences by site of pathology: (1) inside the hand, (2) outside the hand, and (3) psychiatric etiology (e.g. clenched fist). Results Among 160 subjects with more finger stiffness than expected, 132 (82 %) were characterized as overprotective including 88 of 108 (81 %) with pathology in the hand, 39 of 44 (89 %) with pathology outside the hand, and 5 of 8 (63 %) with psychiatric etiology. These differences were not significant. Conclusions Overprotectiveness is common in patients with more finger stiffness than expected regardless the site and type of primary pathology. It seems worthwhile to recognize and treat maladaptive coping strategies early during recovery to limit impairment, symptoms, and disability.
Adjusting the Speed Characteristic of a Ship during a Voyage with Tropical Cyclone Avoidance

One part of the m/v Jawor’s voyageacross the ocean is analyzed in this article. The performed calculations utilize selected speed characteristics and optimization algorithms. Various ranges of data referring to tropical cyclones are taken into consideration. The results are compared with actual parameters recorded on the ocean route.
Reasoning about Beliefs, Observability, and Information Exchange in Teamwork.

Communication is an important aspect of teamwork, both in human teams and in multi-agent teams. One of the most vital roles for communication is for information exchange, such as for performing team situation assessment. In previous work, we have shown how agents can automatically generate messages for proactive information exchange by inferring relevance based on analysis of requirements of tasks other team members are involved in. However, for the sake of efficiency, it is important to restrict message passing to cases where one agent is reasonably sure another agent does not already believe the information about to be sent. This requires being able to infer and track the belief states of other members on the team. One way this can be done is by reasoning about commonly observable information in the environment. In this paper we introduce a formal framework for reasoning about observability, along with practical algorithms for updating beliefs about other agents’ beliefs. We demonstrate the utility of this approach to intelligently filtering communication in a synthetic task domain.
Variable rate noncoherent MFSK modulation over Nakagami fading channels

We propose a new adaptive scheme for power limited systems. For such systems, we offer a variable-rate and fixed-power non-coherent M-ary frequency shift keying (NC-MFSK) modulation scheme and analyze its performance over Nakagami fading channels. We recently addressed the system performance from the average link spectral efficiency, the average bit error rate (BER), and the probability of outage perspectives assuming that perfect channel estimates are available at the transmitter within a permissible delay. In this paper, we study the system performance in the case of outdated estimates. It is shown that only the average BER gets affected by outdated estimates. Our analysis shows that the system is insensitive to normalized delays f/sub d//spl tau/ up to 10/sup -2/ where f/sub d/ is the Doppler frequency and /spl tau/ is the time delay. We then propose an adaptive switching thresholds system to better mitigate the effect of the delay.
Utilization of multiple mobile robots for map based RF access-point placement

This paper presents a way of collecting indoor RF propagation loss data utilizing multiple mobile robots collaborating through double-layered networks. The collected data are used to place wireless access points to maximize coverage with a minimum number of access points. A novel approach is used to navigate multiple robots using grid based maps which is a key issue in mobile robot utilization. Using grid based maps and range-finders to acquire surrounding information and match with a pre-populated information, robot locations are correctly identified. This resolved the problem of weak or no GPS signal in an indoor environment for position determination. The data acquisition strategy is studied without requiring a central source of timing and synchronization f or multiple robots. This is done using script-based robot command execution with exchange of request and response control messages. Lastly, numerical analysis of effects of navigation and data errors and their tolerances for proper interpretation of the collected data is presented.
Contested Representations: Cicero on the Republic

The chapter from which the talk is excerpted addresses a concept commonly identified as the core of republican concerns: liberty. In critical response to the recent work of Philip Pettit and the Cambridge school on liberty, I argue for a new understand of republican liberty that better accounts for its representation in Roman thinkers in the context of Roman history and political practice. I am particularly concerned with two issues: the presence and role of the people in Roman thought, which has received short shrift in recent studies; and the current understanding of what constitutes consensus in republican thought. In the course of handling these two issues, I rethink two common claims: that Roman politics and political thought aim toward the common good attained and articulated through consensus; and second, that the conditions through which consensus is reached confirm the irrelevancy of the Roman political experience for today, either because creation of consensus through public assemblies and the like demanded a high level of civic participation that is not sustainable under the conditions of modernity (Constant’s influential point), or because Roman consensus was a creation of a senatorial elite with little or no investment in popular interests. Participation is a 'bedrock' value of republican thought, but in Roman writing it regularly transcends the strictly ballot-based, reactive role which neo-republicanists tend to assign it.6 Chantal Mouffe’s agonistic politics, Andreas Kalyvas’ 'politics of the extraordinary' and Nadia Urbinati’s work on democratic representation are important interlocutors in my account of republican politics and the interest it holds for us today.
Retro-MACHOs: Pi in the sky?

Shine a flashlight on a black hole, and one is greeted with the return of a series of concentric rings of light. For a point source of light, and for perfect alignment of the lens, source, and observer, the rings are of infinite brightness (in the limit of geometric optics). In this manner, distant black holes can be revealed through their reflection of light from the Sun. Such retro-MACHO events involve photons leaving the Sun, making a Pi rotation about the black hole, and then returning to be detected at the Earth. Our calculations show that, although the light return is quite small, it may nonetheless be detectable for stellar-mass black holes at the edge of our solar system. For example, all (unobscured) black holes of mass M or greater will be observable to a limiting magnitude m, at a distance given by: 0.02 pc x \sqrt[3]{10^{(m-30)/2.5} (M/10 M_sun)^2}. Discovery of a Retro-MACHO offers a way to directly image the presence of a black hole, and would be a stunning confirmation of strong-field general relativity.
Law's Strange Allure: The Power of Legal Lore beyond the Law‐Politics Divide

American political culture is both seduced and repulsed by legal power, and this essay reviews Gordon Silverstein's contribution to understanding the causes and consequences of “law's allure.” Using interbranch analysis, Silverstein argues that law is dangerously alluring as a political shortcut, but ultimately he concludes that law offers no exit from “normal politics” and the hard work of “changing minds.” This essay suggests that Silverstein's framework—his dyadic focus on courts and Congress, constructive and deconstructive patterns, legal formality and normal politics—strips law from its animating context of interests, inequality, and ideology. Without consideration of these larger forces of power, Silverstein's framework misplaces law's ability to “change minds” in perverse and unexpected ways.
Chapter 21 Experimental Study of Law

Abstract This chapter surveys literature on experimental law and economics. Long the domain of legally minded psychologists and criminologists, experimental methods are gaining significant popularity among economists interested in exploring positive and normative aspects of law. Because this literature is relatively new among legally-minded economists, we spend some time in this survey on methodological points, with particular attention to the role of experiments within theoretical and empirical scholarship, the core ingredients of a well done experiment, and common distinctions between experimental economics and other fields that use experimental methods. We then consider a number of areas where experimental evidence is increasingly playing a role in testing the underlying foundational precepts of economic behavior as it applies to law, including bargaining in the shadow of the law, the selection of suits for litigation, and the investigation of jury and judge behavior. Our survey concludes by offering some suggestions about what directions experimental economists might push the methodology in the study of legal rules.
Accurate determination of the stability exponent and eigenvalue abscissas in a linear delay — Differential system

The author presents a method for determining the stability exponent and eigenvalue abscissas of a linear delay system. The method is based on examining the endpoint values of the solution to a functional equation occurring in the Lyapunov theory of delay equations. A numerical example is given.