cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Procedural generation of Cuban dance motion

Inverse kinematics greatly simplifies the animation of models: positioning the hand alone will position the entire arm. In some dance styles, the position of the feet, together with which foot the weight is on, determines much of the bending and rotation of the legs, hips, rib cage, shoulders and arms. Cuban motion is a highly stylized example of this, used in several dances such as Salsa, Rumba, and Cha-cha. The principles covering Cuban motion, when combined with normal rigging constraints, allow a wide variety of dances and dance moves to be synthesized rapidly with minimal input. Only the timing of the weight changes (usually fixed for each dance), and the placement of the feet (usually fixed for each dance move), need be specified. In this talk we outline the principles of Cuban motion, and demonstrate how natural looking dance moves can be procedurally generated. We have found that the code for dance moves can be simplified enough to resemble the instructions given in dance guidebooks.
Use of peripherally inserted central catheters as an alternative to central catheters in neurocritical care units.

BACKGROUND Patients in neurological critical care units often have lengthy stays that require extended vascular access and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. The tradi tional approach for these patients has relied heavily on central venous and pulmonary artery catheters. The aim of this study was to evaluate peripherally inserted central catheters as an alternative to central venous catheters in neurocritical care settings. METHODS Data on 35 patients who had peripherally inserted central catheters rather than central venous or pulmonary artery catheters for intravascular access and monitoring were collected from a prospective registry of neurological critical care admissions. These data were cross-referenced with information from hospital-based data registries for peripherally inserted central catheters and subarachnoid hemorrhage. RESULTS Complete data were available on 33 patients with Hunt-Hess grade IV-V aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Catheters remained in place a total of 649 days (mean, 19 days; range, 4-64 days). One patient (3%) had deep vein thrombosis in an upper extremity. In 2 patients, central venous pressure measured with a peripherally inserted catheter was higher than pressure measured concurrently with a central venous catheter. None of the 33 patients had a central catheter bloodstream infection or persistent insertion-related complications. CONCLUSIONS Use of peripherally inserted central catheters rather than central venous catheters or pulmonary artery catheters in the neurocritical care unit reduced procedural and infection risk without compromising patient management. (Critical Care Nurse. 2011;31:70-75)
Comprehensive testing of Nedwind 12-Meter wind turbine blades at NREL

This paper describes the structural testing of two NedWind 25 12-m blades at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The tests were conducted under the Standards, Measurement and Testing (SMT) Program in conjunction with tests conducted by four European laboratories to develop a common database of blade testing methods. All of the laboratories tested duplicate copies of blades taken from series production. Blade properties, including weight, center of gravity, natural frequencies, stiffness, and damping, were determined. Static load tests were performed at 110% of the extreme design load for strain verification. NREL performed single-axis and two-axis fatigue tests using business-as-usual testing practices. The single-axis test combined equivalent life loading for the edge and flap spectra into a single resultant load. The two-axis test applied the edge and flap components independently at a phase angle of 90{degree}. Damage areas were observed at (1) the trailing edge, which cracked near the maximum chord; (2) between the steel root collar and the composite, where circumferential cracking was noted; and (3) along the top of the spar between the 2,500-mm and 4,200-mm stations, where a notable increase in acoustic emissions was detected. NREL observed that the onset of damage occurred earlier in the single-axis test.
A general purpose 7 DOF haptic interface

A novel haptic interface was designed and developed for use in manipulation tasks. The force feedback mechanism consists of three degrees of spatial force feedback (x, y, and z directions) and 1 degree of grasping/parting (increasing the distance between two or more points) force feedback. This device also provides a net of three additional passive joints for a total of 7 degrees-of-freedom.
Recent advances in liver transplantation.

Advances in liver transplantation continue to evolve but are hampered by continued increasing shortages in donor organs. This has resulted in a high incidence of patients dying while on the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list. Indeed, we continue to assess ways of expanding the donor pool by using marginal donors, living donor liver transplantation, split liver transplantation, domino transplantation, and hepatic support systems to prolong survival long enough for the patient to undergo liver transplantation. Changes in the liver allocation policy to reduce the number of people dying while waiting for an organ are discussed. Implementation of the model for endstage liver disease allocation system should help alleviate the problem of increasing deaths of patients while on the waiting list. Recurrent disease, particularly recurrent hepatitis C, continues to be a major problem, and effective therapy is needed to prevent both progression of hepatitis C and recurrence in the graft and avoid retransplantation. The use of pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin holds promise for improving the success in overcoming recurrent hepatitis C. Finally, advances in immunosuppression have reduced the incidence of acute cellular rejection and chronic rejection. However, these therapies have been fraught with metabolic complications that are now affecting quality of life and long-term survival. Tailoring immunosuppressive regimens to the individual patient is discussed.
Integrative epidemiology: From risk assessment to outcome prediction.

Fifth AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, Nov 12-15, 2006 A113 We propose an integrative epidemiologic approach to studying the entire cancer spectrum from exposure, to predisposition, early diagnosis and ending with cancer outcome, by applying the principles and perspective of epidemiology to the notable advances in molecular biology. This approach begins with epidemiologic case-control studies in which biologically intensive studies can be carried out usually on surrogate tissues (lymphocytes, plasma or serum). Common genetic variants that modulate behavior (eg CYP2A6) may also modify predisposition through altered metabolism of carcinogenic exposures. Tumor DNA can be isolated from serum or plasma, as a useful source for screening specific transcripts or mutations in mitochondrial or nuclear-DNA sequences. Identification of protein patterns in serum using high throughput proteomics linked to novel bioinformatics approaches can be useful for early detection. As we move along the continuum from surrogate to intermediate and target tissues, the procedures become more invasive, the size of the study more restricted, and we apply the case series approach. Pharmacogenetic profiles can be used to individualize therapy and to understand the functional consequences of chemoprevention, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy response. Again, common genetic variants may affect both risk and outcome, eg, matrix metalloproteases. At this level we can also correlate the genetic and epigenetic spectrum of changes in tumor tissue with epidemiologic data, and with surrogate tissue phenotype and genotype data. The converse direction also applies in that genes demonstrated to contribute to tumorigenesis provide a rich source of candidates for analysis related to exposure, to predisposition, early diagnosis. For example, polymorphisms in the cyclin D1 protooncogene, which is frequently elevated in tumors, are predictors of risk of development of lung cancer (correct the sentence). This allows leveraging of the power of approaches arising from the completion of the human genome project that facilitate analysis of genetic changes in tumors on a global basis. This is a powerful new approach that cannot be successfully accomplished by any discipline independently. Integrating these new approaches requires a combination of the rigor of data and sample collection and validation inherent in epidemiologic research with the ability to perform global, unbiased analysis of genetic aberrations in tumors.
Locoregional Recurrence by Tumor Biology in Breast Cancer Patients after Preoperative Chemotherapy and Breast Conservation Treatment.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine whether breast cancer subtype can affect locoregional recurrence (LRR) and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and breast-conserving therapy (BCT).
AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF NATURAL SELECTION FOR PUPATION SITE IN SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLIES.

The pupae of some swallowtail butterflies are dimorphic-usually green or brown-while those of others are monomorphic. We have suggested (West and Hazel, 1979) that one important factor determining whether a species evolves dimorphism or monomorphism is the type of pupation site that the species uses. The use of a narrow range of cryptic sites in the leaf litter, for example, would favor monomorphic brown pupae, while the use of a variety of sites on exposed stalks, tree trunks, etc. would favor the ability to develop green or brown pupae in response to such substrate characteristics as color or texture (Hazel and West, 1979). This suggestion immediately raised the question why different species prefer different kinds of pupation sites to begin with. Clarke and Sheppard (1972) successfully selected for changes in pupation site preference in Papilio polytes, thereby revealing genetic variation in the trait, and we have shown (West and Hazel, 1979 and unpubl.) that there are some striking differences in natural pupation sites among six eastern North American swallowtails. Among these there are two species which, despite the similar forest habitats of their immature stages, prefer very different pupation sites: Papilio glaucus in the leaf litter and Battus philenor well off the ground on exposed surfaces like tree trunks and cliffs (West and Hazel, 1979). These species differ in two other important respects. Papilio glaucus lays eggs singly and widely spaced on trees (includ-
Cyclic 3',5'-AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in toad bladder epithelium.

SummaryA cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was partially purified from toad urinary bladder epithelium. Cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase activity as well as the unstimulated (control) activity of the enzyme was maximal at pH 6.5 using Tris-maleate, sodium cacodylate or sodium acetate buffers. The apparent Km value of cyclic AMP for the stimulation of the enzyme (in sodium acetate buffer and in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+) was 1.5 × 10-9M. The acyclic nucleotide 5'-AMP (in the concentration range 5 × 10-10 to 5 × 10-5M) failed to activate bladder protein kinase. Ca2+ was found to be inhibitory at concentrations higher than 5 × 10-4M. A role for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in neurohypophyseal hormone-induced permeability changes is discussed.
Investigation on Knowledge,Attitude and Practice among MSM in Benxi City

[Objective]To understand the epidemiologic characteristics,knowledge on AIDS and sex behavior among men who have sex with mem(MSM) in Benxi City,and provide evidence for carrying out targeted interventions. [Methods]Respondent-driving sampling(RDS) was used to recruit MSM.Face-to-face questionnaire survey was performed among the MSM by trained interviewers and 3~5 ml blood samples were collected for HIV antibody examination. [Results]A total of 201 MSMs were interviewed,and most of them were young singles with education equal to or higher than high school and contacting each other via internet.Among the MSM,the awareness rate of HIV transmission route was 92.43%;the rate of anal sex with male partner within past 6 month was 87.56%;the condom use rate in every sex behavior was 40.30%;the HIV infection rate was 3.48%. [Conclusion]The MSM is characterized by young age,high education background,multiple sex partners,and low condom usage rate and high risk behavior.The HIV transmission route via sexual behavior should be controlled to decrease HIV infection effectively among the MSMs.
Pediatric brain computed tomography

Computed tomography today provides good anatomic depiction of the brain and its gross disease processes that have as a manifestation alteration of brain density, disturbance in blood-brain barrier, or mass effect. As such, computed tomography often provides valuable diagnostic information in the appropriate clinical setting. This article reviews many of the more common pediatric central nervous system disease states that have been demonstrated more easily as a result of computed tomography.
Nature and nurture in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy -a clinical perspective

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterised by frequent ventricular arrhythmias and slowly progressive predominant RV dysfunction. Up to two-thirds of ARVD/C patients have mutations in genes encoding the cardiac desmosome. Mutations in other genes are increasingly recognised. Inheritance of ARVD/C is generally autosomal dominant with reduced age-related penetrance and significant variable expressivity. While the full explanation for this phenotypic heterogeneity remains unclear, there is increasing evidence that exercise plays a major role in disease penetrance and arrhythmic risk. The disproportionate representation of athletes among ARVD/C patients has long been noted. Recently, the association of exercise with earlier onset and more severe arrhythmic and structural disease has been documented. This article reviews current evidence regarding the association of genotype, exercise and clinical outcomes and discusses the emerging paradigm in which genetic predisposition and environmental factors (exercise) interact around a threshold for phenotypic expression of ARVD/C.
Operational Sex Ratio

The Operational Sex Ratio, or OSR, first defined as ‘the ratio of receptive females to potential mating males at any one time,’ was designed to measure the level of competition for mates in animal populations. The apparent utility of the OSR as a proxy for sexual selection intensity established it as a standard metric for animal mating system research. However, the relationships between OSR and actual measures of sexual selection have proven inconsistent. Thus, while useful for characterizing known experimental populations, estimates of OSR are not equivalent to those for sexual selection and are unlikely account for observed patterns of evolutionary change.
Internal Urethrotomy in Girls and its Impact on the Urethral Intrinsic and Extrinsic Continence Mechanisms

AbstractThe cause of incontinence in a group of 11 girls (mean age 18 ± 3 years) who had undergone internal urethrotomy during childhood was assessed. Urodynamic methods were used to characterize the detrusor, and urethral profiles were performed to identify the impact of the operation on the extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms of urethral closure. The results show that 4 of 11 patients demonstrated detrusor instability associated with a high voiding flow rate. The average resting urethral closure pressure in all patients showed significant reduction in maximum closure pressure (62 ± 32cm. water) when compared to normal age-matched controls. Transmission pressures to coughing demonstrated a high percentage of transmission to the distal and mid urethra (180 ± 20 per cent).It was concluded that the intrinsic mechanism of urethral continence as measured by the resting urethral pressure profile was compromised by the urethrotomy. However, the extrinsic mechanisms as measured by the transmission values was not ...
Abstract 26: 12-Lipoxygenase is an Essential Regulator of Fatty Acid Protection Against Platelet Activation and Thrombosis

IntroductionHuman platelet-type 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) has recently been shown to play an important role in regulation of platelet function by reacting with arachidonic acid (AA). It is possible that a number of other fatty acids present on the platelet surface are oxidized by 12-LOX. Identifying novel bioactive metabolites which regulate platelet function are essential for understanding the role of 12-LOX in regulation of thrombosis, vessel occlusion, and stroke. ObjectivesWe sought to characterize the substrate specificity of 12-LOX against several polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo and determine if PUFA metabolites act as endogenous regulators of platelet activation. MethodsMetabolite production was measured in vitro by assessing which PUFAs are oxidized by 12-LOX to form bioactive metabolites. These metabolites were further characterized for anti-platelet properties in platelets ex vivo. Finally, using wild-type and 12-LOX-deficient mouse models, the importance of 12-...
Primate Social Intelligence: Contributions from the Laboratory

From a functional standpoint, wanting and knowing are the two most fundamental themes in the evolution of behavior. The evolutionary changes that have occurred in the processes subserving wanting and knowing provide the distinguishing features of intelligence and are the source of interest in intelligence as a biological phenomenon. Our knowledge of primate intelligence is mainly based on laboratory studies of the problem-solving behavior of individual animals. Early experimental efforts to investigate social intelligence adopted the same experimental format. The upsurge of primate field studies in the nineteen sixties and the availability of stable captive groups in outdoor enclosures helped to change our perspective toward primate social intelligence, and underscored the need to consider more complex situations than those dealt with in earlier studies. Developing the empirical and conceptual tools to respond to this need is a major task for contemporary research on social intelligence.
Restraints utilization in a psychiatric emergency room

ABSTRACTThe utilization of restraints is an important quality measure of psychiatric services including the emergency and inpatient services. The practice, however, continues to generate controvers...
Loss of Action via Neurotensin-Leptin Receptor Neurons Disrupts Leptin and Ghrelin-Mediated Control of Energy Balance

Abstract The hormones ghrelin and leptin act via the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) to modify energy balance but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated how leptin and ghrelin engage LHA neurons to modify energy balance behaviors and whether there is any cross-talk between leptin and ghrelin-responsive circuits. We demonstrate that ghrelin activates LHA neurons expressing Hypocretin/Orexin (OX) to increase food intake. Leptin mediates anorectic actions via separate neurons expressing the long form of the leptin receptor (LepRb), many of which co-express the neuropeptide neurotensin (Nts); we refer to these as NtsLepRb neurons. Since NtsLepRb neurons inhibit OX neurons, we hypothesized that disruption of the NtsLepRb neuronal circuit would impair both NtsLepRb and OX neurons from responding to their respective hormonal cues, thus compromising adaptive energy balance. Indeed, mice with developmental deletion of LepRb specifically from NtsLepRb neurons exhibit blunted adaptive responses to leptin and ghrelin that discoordinate the mesolimbic dopamine system, and ingestive and locomotor behaviors, leading to weight gain. Collectively these data reveal a crucial role for LepRb in the proper formation of LHA circuits, and that NtsLepRb neurons are important neuronal hubs within the LHA for hormone-mediated control of ingestive and locomotor behaviors.
Warning! Context-sensitive data.

For 300 years, from the time of William Harvey and Stephan Hales ([1][1]) until Braunwald, Ross, and Sonnenblick ([2][2]), physicians and investigators focused their attention on the pumping function of the heart with great success. During the past 50 years, however, a steadily growing body of
Toxic Cities: Neoliberalism and Environmental Racism in Flint and Detroit Michigan:

The consequences of neoliberal colorblind policies concerning environmental justice in Michigan are explored using critical race theorist Alan Freeman’s victim and perpetrator perspectives on legal...
Systemic Racism and “Race” Categorization in U.S. Medical Research and Practice

In my 52 years of doing more than 200 public lectures on research on the realities of U.S. racism, I have had only one invited lecture canceled when a couple of white faculty members saw an advance...
Spalling-like failure by cylindrical projectiles deteriorates the ballistic performance of multi-layer graphene plates

Abstract Ballistic performance of ultra-thin graphene membranes have recently been investigated at the micro and nanoscale. Two open questions that remain unanswered are, how graphitic plates behave when they can no longer be treated as a thin membrane, and how the projectile shape influences the perforation resistance of plates of varying thicknesses. Through coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we show that beyond a critical plate thickness, a cylindrical projectile penetrates the plate at a lower velocity than a spherical one. This counterintuitive phenomenon is explained by spalling-like failure for thicker plates, where the graphene layers at the bottom section undergo a wave-superposition induced failure in the cylindrical case. Finite element simulations are carried out to show that in-plane tensile stress concentrates at the bottom section, resulting from the superposition of incident and reflected stress waves. A mechanics relationship is then proposed to describe the resisting pressure of the graphitic plate during ballistic impact. The analytical relationship indicates that the intensity of stress wave, which affects the spalling-like failure, depends on the projectile initial velocity, plate compressive modulus, and density. Our findings reveal the existence of a new failure mechanism for multi-layer graphene systems, and provide theoretical guidance for future dynamic mechanical property characterization of graphitic barriers.
Art enhances meaning by stimulating integrative complexity and aesthetic interest

Menninghaus et al. portrayed meaning in art as a vehicle for transforming negative emotions into pleasure. Although it is intuitively appealing that meaningful experiences should feel good, meaningfulness does not necessarily entail pleasure or positive emotions. Whereas easily comprehended art may elicit pleasure, meaningfulness is more closely tied to challenge and interest than to pleasure.
Flow boiling of R245fa in a microgap with staggered circular cylindrical pin fins

Abstract In this study, flow boiling of refrigerant R245fa is investigated in a microgap of height 200 μm populated with a staggered pin fin array of diameter 150 μm and spacing 200 μm. For heat fluxes up to 498 W/cm2, mass flux values up to 7896 kg/m2 s, and inlet temperatures of 13 °C and 18 °C, average two-phase heat transfer coefficient up to 60 kW/m2 K are measured. High speed flow visualizations at frame rate of 2229 fps elucidate the flow boiling patterns inside the microgaps, including bubbly and foggy that are generated in the pin finned area. Surface temperatures are measured for heat fluxes up to 498 W/cm2 which enable determination of heat transfer characteristics.
Risk Prediction Model for Permanent Pacemaker Implantation after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

ABSTRACTBackground: Atrioventricular conduction disturbance requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is the most common complication after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Improved risk stratification for potential need for post-procedure PPM implant prior to the TAVR procedure is warranted. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a risk-prediction model for PPM implantation after TAVR.Methods: This PPM risk assessment model was developed using the 2012&2013 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). A logistic regression model was built to identify the predictors of PPM placement. The performance of the model was validated using the NIS 2014 dataset.Results: Of 18,400 patients in the development cohort, 1,825 (9.9%) patients required PPM implantation after TAVR. After multivariate analysis, final predictive covariates of PPM implantation included left or right bundle branch block, bradycardia, 2nd-degree AV block and transfemoral approach. The estimated regression coefficients assoc...
Development and Investigation on a Silver Nanoparticle-Incorporated Electrofiltration System for Biofouling Control

This study developed and investigated a novel water ultrafiltration system which integrates silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and low intensity dc for biofouling control. In this electrofiltration system, the polysulfone-based membrane was incorporated with AgNP as the antimicrobial agent, and connected to the cathode of a power source providing a dc less than 10 μA. The hypothesis is that the electric field will facilitate electrophoretic force to anchor the silver ions and thus prevent silver leaching and prolong the antibiofouling efficacy of the membrane. The results showed that the cathodized AgNP substantially enhanced the permeability and fouling recovery rate of the membrane. The AgNP-based electrofiltration system effectively prevented bacterial colonization and minimized the silver leaching within 48 h. This study shows a great potential of AgNP-based electrofiltration system as an alternative solution for biofouling control in water treatment.
Otolaryngology resident experience with supraclavicular, submental and other regional flaps in the United States.

Abstract Objective Despite the resurgence in regional flap use, otolaryngology resident regional flap experience has been incompletely studied. We sought to characterize United States (US) otolaryngology resident exposure to, and perceptions of, supraclavicular flaps (SCFs), submental flaps (SMFs), and other regional flaps. Methods An online survey was disseminated every two weeks to 106 US otolaryngology residency program directors for distribution to residents within their programs between August and October 2016. 121 surveys were returned of which 106 were sufficiently completed and eligible for data analysis. Results Among residents with adequate responses, 52 were postgraduate year (PGY) 1–3 (junior) residents and 54 were PGY 4–7 (senior) residents. Senior residents participated in more pectoralis major flaps (mean: 8.1, 95%-CI: 6.5–9.8) compared to SCFs (mean: 1.5, 95%-CI: 1.0–2.0, p Conclusions Senior otolaryngology residents were exposed to fewer SCFs and SMFs compared to pectoralis major flaps. Resident perception that SCFs and SMFs were not as successful as pectoralis major flaps should be investigated further.
The Effects of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies on the Beginning Reading Skills of Young Children with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD) often exhibit reading problems that contribute to a progressive pattern of academic underachievement and school failure. However, limited rese...
Explanation-based learning in logic circuit design

Our research is focused on a technique known as explanation-based learning. We are studying this technique by applying it to the task of learning to design logic circuits. This approach involves utilizing domain knowledge to analyze example circuits and produce generalized circuit designs. In particular, proofs of design correctness are used to guide the process of generalization. This method has been demonstrated in a program which generalizes a circular shift register into a schema describing devices capable of computing arbitrary permutations.
Norepinephrine stimulates inositol trisphosphate formation in rat pulmonary arteries.

Although the discovery of the “phosphoinositide effect” occurred over 35 years ago, its mechanisms were explored only over the last decade. It now is clear that hydrolysis of phosphoinositides generates second messengers for multiple cellular functions when receptors are activated by a wide array of hormones and agonists in a variety of cell types (for review see Rana and Hokin, 1990). Early studies focused on the role of phosphoinositides on regulation of secretion or control of release of secretory cell contents (Hokin and Hokin, 1953, 1960; Freinkel, 1957; Hokin et al., 1958, 1963; Axen et al., 1983). In recent years, studies of the physiological effects of phosphoinositide hydrolysis have extended to such cell types and tissues as cerebral cortical slices (Kendall and Nahorski, 1984), sympathetic ganglia (Bone et al., 1984), adrenal glomerulosa cells (Kojima et al., 1986), rod outer segments (Brown et al., 1987), epithelium (Anderson and Welsh, 1990), leukocytes (Bradford and Rubin, 1986), skeletal muscle (Volpe et al., 1985), and smooth muscle (Akhtar and Abdel-Latif, 1980; Bielkiewicz-vollrath et al., 1987).
Ultra-Wideband Impulse Receiving Antenna Design and Evaluation

Impulse antennas are antennas that are intended to either transmit or receive very short pulses of electromagnetic energy. As is well known, short pulses have extremely wide bandwidths; hence, impulse antennas by their very nature must be wideband. However, in order to maintain signal fidelity, the bandwidth of an impulse antenna cannot be defined in the conventional manner. Unlike wideband continuous wave (CW) antennas, it is very important that the impulse antenna not introduce significant phase distortion into the signal.
Absence of host NF-κB p50 induces murine glioblastoma tumor regression, increases survival, and decreases T-cell induction of tumor-associated macrophage M2 polarization

High-grade gliomas harbor abundant myeloid cells that suppress anti-tumor immunity and support tumor growth. Targeting transcription factors, such as NF-κB p50, that mediate suppressive myeloid M2 polarization may prove therapeutic. GL261-Luc glioblastoma cells were inoculated into wild-type and p50-/- mice, followed by analysis of tumor growth, survival, tumor myeloid cells, and T cells. The absence of host p50 slows tumor growth and enables regression in 30% of recipients, leading to prolonged survival. Tumors developing in p50-/- mice possess a greater concentration of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells (TIMs) than those in wild-type mice. TIMs are predominantly F4/80hi macrophages which, along with tumor-associated microglia, express increased pro-inflammatory M1 and reduced immune-suppressive M2 markers. In p50-/- mice, total tumor CD4 T cells are threefold more abundant, whereas CD8 T-cell numbers are unchanged, and both produce increased IFNγ and Granzyme B. Naive splenic p50-/- CD8 T cells manifest increased activation, whereas naive p50-/- and WT CD4 T cells show similar Th1, Th2, and Th17 polarization. Antibody targeting CD4, but not CD8, fully obviates the p50-/- survival advantage. Combined CD4 and CD8 T-cell depletion reverses myeloid M2 polarization in wild-type hosts, without affecting myeloid M1 polarization in p50-/- hosts. Finally, gliomas grow similarly in p50(f/f) and p50(f/f);Lysozyme-Cre mice, the latter having reduced p50 specifically in myeloid cells and tumor microglia. Thus, high-grade glioma T cells play a key role in directing M2 polarization of tumor myeloid cells, and reducing NF-κB p50 in both tumor myeloid cells and T cells may contribute to glioma therapy.
Prognostic impact of aberrant t/NK cell marker expression in AML.

e18502Background: Aberrant expression of NK and T cell antigens (NK/T) in AML blasts is well known.However,their influence on EFS(after standard first line AML induction) & OS has not been well stu...
Fusion Methodologies for Orbit Determination with Distributed Sensor Networks

Given that a single ground-based sensor, such as a radar or electro-optical telescope, is limited to observing only a small portion of an object's orbit, tracking accuracy can be greatly improved by collecting data with multiple geographically disparate sensors. Processing the data provided by such a distributed sensor network, however, poses complications in that full cooperation, i.e. direct sharing of raw measurement data, is usually implausible. Alternatively, cooperation within the network can be more feasibly established by instead sharing the posterior state densities produced by each sensor's tracking scheme and fusing these densities directly. This paper investigates the use of geometric averaging approaches to probability density fusion to exploit the diversity of a cooperative, distributed sensor network. These methods not only require approximate methods to perform sensor fusion, but they also require numerical procedures to determine an ideal weighting for each density. Computationally efficient approximations to these fusion techniques are formulated and compared to more expensive methods to determine the efficacy of the approximations. A numerical simulation considering the tracking of a space object in low Earth orbit with three cooperating ground-based radar stations is presented to produce conclusions on the discussed approaches.
Improving the U.S. Adult Immunization Schedule by Applying Usability Principles

Human factors (HF) can be implemented in various domains to improve usability, and healthcare is no exception. A student team from Georgia Tech was consulted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC...
Medical Device Marketing and the Ethics of Vaginal Mesh Kit Marketing

The marketing of vaginal mesh kits raises ethical concerns related to the kit marketers, to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and even to the surgeons who implanted them in patients. Had there been a better understanding of the marketing practices of the mesh kit manufacturers, a more informed perspective on the FDA’s clearance protocols and ability to police medical devices, and a recognition of the range of behaviors taken by surgeons whose patient outcomes did not meet expectations, thousands of patients might have been spared harm. An analysis of the ethical choices of kit manufacturers and their sales reps, often well intended but incentivized to achieve business objectives over service to the patient, combined with the uncertainties related to the causes of suboptimal patient outcomes reveals a complicated set of factors. A particularly troublesome outcome of this analysis is the recognition that surgeons in all likelihood were not fully informed regarding approval or clearance process by which these devices came to market, raising the ethical question: how are surgeons to provide this fair, impartial, and complete information to the patient for informed consent when the primary source of data for the surgeon are the medical device representatives who finds themselves challenged to act ethically?
Assessing Application-Based Breastfeeding Education for Physicians and Nurses: A Scoping Review.

BackgroundPhysicians and nurses are expected to support breastfeeding mothers. However, there is a lack of standardized lactation education throughout training programs and hospitals. As a result, ...
Elevated Serum C-reactive Protein (CRP) Level Predicts Increased Post-Implant Mortality in Patients Undergoing HeartMate 3 LVAD Implantation

Purpose C-reactive protein (CRP) emerged as a biomarker of inflammation in heart failure patients and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that higher serum CRP level prior to Heartmate 3 LVAD implantation is associated with increased risk of post-implant adverse events and mortality. Methods 123 patients who underwent Heartmate 3 LVAD implantation at a tertiary care center and had a CRP level measured prior to device implant were included in the analysis. Optimal CRP cut-off was determined used ROC curve and patients were categorized into high vs. low CRP groups accordingly. Study end-points included RVAD use, need for CVVH, in-hospital mortality, and 2-year survival. Results Mean and median pre-implant CRP levels in HM3 patients were 35.5±43.6 mg/L and 15.0 mg/L respectively. Patients with an elevated pre-implant CRP (≥12 mg/L) were more likely to be in INTERMACS Class I or II (78.4% vs. 46.6%), to have temporary MCS (49.2% vs. 27.5%), and elevated WBC count (9.1 vs. 7.5) compared to those with a pre-implant CRP less than 12 mg/L (all p Conclusion Pre-implant CRP is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing HM3 implantation. Routine assessment of CRP prior to implant may improve patient selection and outcomes in this population.
Chapter 8 – Invertebrate Glia

Publisher Summary This chapter draws parallels between fly glia and vertebrate glia, wherever possible, and provides knowledge of fly-glial biology that can allow quick access to the fly literature on this topic. The chapter also presents a general update of current knowledge of glial biology in flies, with an emphasis on the development of glia and their known roles in the nervous systems of flies. Many genes, proteins, and pathways have been shown to control fly development, and these insights often provide a stepping-stone to identify the molecules that may be required in vertebrate biology. The molecular mechanisms by which glia arise become specified and differentiate have received much attention in the fly field. This chapter first covers the cascades of molecular events determining CNS embryonic glia, particularly the midline glia (MG), the longitudinal glia, and the exit glia. It then discusses the pathway by which adult PNS glia becomes specified. Finally, a parallel between all these pathways is drawn.
Nocturnal Sleep Behavior and Vigilance of Incubating Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) at Two Inland Breeding Colonies

Although sleep is necessary for maintaining physiological and cognitive function in birds, nocturnal sleep behavior has yet to be documented for terns. Nocturnal sleep behavior and vigilance of incubating Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) were explored at two colonies, Gull Island (Ontario, Canada) for six years, and Little Island (New York, USA) throughout one breeding season, using ∼1-min interval, time-lapse images from infrared trail cameras. Behavioral posture and vigilance (eye[s] open) of visible study birds were recorded from the images to determine if these differed between the two colonies. Terns utilized two sleeping postures, Back Sleep and Front Sleep, nearly identical to those used by gulls. Differences in the proportion of time spent sleeping between the two colonies were surprisingly large. Terns at Gull Island spent 75% less time in Back Sleep (deep-sleep posture, 7% of the night) than those at Little Island, and 64% of night with their eyes open (vs. <20% at Little Island). Differences between the study sites that may have caused this disparity include predation risk, colony size, vegetation cover and the presence of other nesting waterbirds. Apparent, long-term sleep deprivation at Gull Island may have physiological impacts. Further research is needed to establish causes and effects of differences in nocturnal sleep behavior in Common Terns.
Moving to Opportunity, or Aging in Place? The Changing Profile of Low Income and Subsidized Households and Where They Live:

The profile of households receiving rental assistance has changed over time, yet much of the policy and political dialogue surrounding rental assistance has not. Understanding the changing profile ...
Capacitively coupled discharge as a tunable impedance element for RF systems

A concept of plasma-based reconfigurable radio-frequency (RF) components is studied experimentally. The concept's main idea is to control the real and imaginary parts of impedance experienced through a weak high-frequency signal applied to the RF discharge electrodes by varying the plasma excitation frequency and/or power. To prove the concept, an experimental setup was built that enabled the application of both strong plasma excitation RF and weak RF/microwave signals to the same set of electrodes. Three different plasma cells were examined. The largest system had 5 cm diameter electrodes with 2 cm gap, and the experiments were conducted in argon at 1 Torr. The impedance characteristics of the plasmas as experienced by the probing signal in the range of 270–3000 MHz demonstrated wide variability and a complex non-monotonic behavior at high frequencies. Experiments with a smaller cell that had 1 cm diameter electrodes and 2 mm gap also showed the controllability of the real and imaginary parts of the impedance, including transition from capacitive to inductive behavior. Because of the smaller size comparable with the probing signal wavelength, the high-frequency behavior of this system can be described with a simple lumped-parameter equivalent circuit model. The smallest system studied in this work utilized a commercial sealed gas discharge tube as an RF plasma cell and also demonstrated wide impedance tunability and transition from capacitive to inductive behavior. These results could potentially be useful for plasma-based electronically reconfigurable RF electronics, particularly in applications involving high power where alternative solutions experience problems.
The Next Generation of Science Educators: Museum Volunteers

There is a growing need for science educators and communicators who can support public understanding of complex science issues. Furthermore, little is known about how to nurture career aspirations ...
The Impact of Integrated Quality on Hospital Performance: An Abstract

Health care organizations are facing significant marketing challenges as a result of the rise in patient consumerism (McColl-Kennedy et al. 2017), in addition to the ever-increasing transparency in health care (U.S. News and World Report 2015). The current health care industry has seen a shift from ‘fee for service’ to ‘fee for value’ (Schroeder and Frist 2013), necessitating a need to improve the quality of care, while also enhancing hospitals’ performance (Mandal and Mandal 2017).
Disparity in Breast Cancer Late Stage at Diagnosis in Missouri: Does Rural Versus Urban Residence Matter?

Introduction Despite the fact that black women have a lower incidence of breast cancer compared to white women, black women experience higher death rates than any other group. We examined the stage of breast cancer presentation by race and geographic region using population-based breast cancer incidence in all 115 counties in the state of Missouri.
Global Oil Resources and the Persian Gulf: Security and Democracy

The oil of the Persian Gulf has been of considerable interest to oil companies and Western governments (and to Russia) for more than a century. Remaining global conventional crude oil resources are on the order of 3 trillion barrels, with more than 50% of that amount in the Persian Gulf. Since 1986, a price range framework has resulted in stable crude oil prices and reliable supply. In economic terms, it is a Nash game theory equilibrium between Gulf producers and Western (and Asian) consumers. Military support is an important part of the system. Given the very low cost of production in the region (about $5 per barrel) and the great magnitude of resources, the oil wealth in the Gulf is on the order of $60 trillion. It is the existence of past and potential efforts to seize this resource which creates a major policy problem for the 8 countries in the region and for global security. The security framework which made a stable world oil market possible has itself contributed to growing instability in individual countries, the rise of Al Qaeda, and the U.S. occupation of Iraq. There are three broad policy approaches to this dilemma. The dominant policy in the 1973-1990 period was generally a "hands off" position by the U.S. and Europe. In the years following the Gulf War (1991-current) a security system has been organized and led by the United States. A third type of security structure would be essentially international. The paper concludes by discussing each approach in the context of 6 conditions or requirements for democratic governments and a stable world oil market.
Collective Outsourcing to Market (Com): A Market-Based Framework for Information Supply Chain Outsourcing

Fang Fang College of Business Administration California State University at San Marcos fangfang@csusm.edu Zhiling Guo Department of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) zguo@umbc.edu Andrew B. Whinston McCombs School of Business The University of Texas at Austin abw@uts.cc.utexas.edu This paper discusses the importance of and a solution to separating the information flow from the physical product flow in a supply chain. Motivated by the inefficient demand forecast caused by information asymmetry and lack of an incentive among supply chain partners to share valuable information, we propose a radically new framework called collective outsourcing to market (COM) to address many information supply chain design challenges. To validate the COM framework, we consider a supply chain with one manufacturer and multiple downstream retailers. Retailers privately acquire demand forecast information that they do not have incentive to share horizontally with other retailers or vertically with the upstream manufacturer. We consider two alternative market mechanisms that can be used to outsource the information-intensive demand forecasting task for the whole supply chain. The specially organized market can be viewed as a cost effective way of acquiring quality information that, at the same time, aligns individual retailers’ incentives to credibly share their private information. We further discuss the real world implementation issues including market design and the costs and benefits of proposed solutions.
Observations on the microstructure and orientation relations in the vanadium-hydrogen system

Observations on the microstructure and orientation relations in the V-H system were made using optical, X-ray, and electron microscopy techniques. In the two phase α+ β region the axes of the β (bct) vanadium hydride were shown to be slightly tilted away from the cube axes of the α (bcc) vanadium. Metallographie observations of a polished (100) crystal showed two different surface features associated with the formation of the β hydride depending on the concentration. In the two phaseβ + γ region the orientation relation between the β(bct) phase and the γ (fcc) phase is such that the (100)γ || (110)r and [001]γ || [001]γ.
Comparison of the pressure dependences of T c in the trivalent d -electron superconductors Sc, Y, La, and Lu up to megabar pressures

Whereas double hcp (dhcp) La superconducts at ambient pressure with ${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\simeq}5\text{ }\text{K}$, the other trivalent $d$-electron metals Sc, Y, and Lu only superconduct if high pressures are applied. Earlier measurements of the pressure dependence of ${T}_{c}$ for Sc and Lu metal are here extended to much higher pressures. Whereas ${T}_{c}$ for Lu increases monotonically with pressure to 12.4 K at 174 GPa (1.74 Mbar), ${T}_{c}$ for Sc reaches 19.6 K at 107 GPa, the second highest value observed for any elemental superconductor. At higher pressures a phase transition occurs whereupon ${T}_{c}$ drops to 8.31 K at 111 GPa. The ${T}_{c}(P)$ dependences for Sc and Lu are compared with those of Y and La. An interesting correlation is pointed out between the value of ${T}_{c}$ and the fractional free volume available to the conduction electrons outside the ion cores, a quantity which is directly related to the number of $d$ electrons in the conduction band.