cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pseudohypoproteinemia and multiple myeloma.

Paraproteinemia is an important diagnostic feature of multiple myeloma. The M-protein level reflects tumor burden and helps to determine the response to chemotherapy. A case is described that illustrates the phenomenon of reversible in vitro gelification of an M-protein. Paraprotein IgG,-kappa formed a concentration- and temperature-dependent gel, which was reversed by agitation. Measurement of paraprotein without previous vortexing of the specimen can erroneously lower the apparent M-protein level as well as reduce serum viscosity levels. This phenomenon can downstage the disease at diagnosis, produce inappropriate assessment of treatment response, or lead to premature withdrawal of chemotherapy. In addition, misdiagnosis of hyperviscosity syndrome can occur with serious clinical consequences.
The second language acquisition of number and gender in Swahili: A Feature Reassembly approach:

Much of the recent discussion surrounding the second language acquisition of morphology has centered on the question of whether learners can acquire new formal features. Lardiere’s (2008, 2009) Feature Reassembly approach offers a new direction for research in this area by emphasizing the challenges presented by crosslinguistic differences in the overt expression of formal features. In this study, I examine the acquisition of number and gender in Swahili by speakers of English and explore how the data can be described by a number of current approaches, including the Full Transfer Full Access Hypothesis (Schwartz and Sprouse, 1996), the Representational Deficit Hypothesis (e.g. Hawkins and Chan, 1997), and the Feature Reassembly approach. The results of an elicited production task and a written gender-assignment task indicate that learners have difficulty detecting the number feature on Swahili noun prefixes, and because of this they are initially unsuccessful at marking plurals. The findings are best desc...
Review of application of sensor technology in power grid

As important information gathering techniques,applications of sensor technology in power grid becomes more and more widely,because of special nature of grid application scenarios,it affects depth and span of sensor applications. Firstly,introduce development status of sensor technology at home and abroad; and then,application status of sensor technology in power grid are described; combined with practical application,the issues of application of the sensor technology in power grid are described and analyzed. Finally,application of sensor technology in power grid is summarized and prospected.
Exploiting Parallelism of Distributed Nested Transactions

We present SPCN, a framework that further extends the benefits of having distributed partially rollbackable (closed-nested) transactions by exploiting their parallel activation. SPCN provides support for executing each closed-nested transaction in parallel with others belonging to the same parent transaction. Their commit sequence is equivalent to the serial commit execution, but parallelism is leveraged to improve performance by reducing the amount of serial network communication. As we show in our evaluation study using 20 nodes on Amazon EC2 and three well-known benchmarks, SPCN provides performance improvement over the original closed nesting, gaining more than 2× in throughput.
Molecular orbital studies of the metabolism of fluroxene and analogous fluorinated ether anesthetics.

Semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (by the modified neglect of diatomic overlap method) have been performed on the anesthetic fluroxene (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether, TFVE) and its analogues 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl allyl ether (TFAE) and ethyl vinyl ether to gain insight into the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450-catalyzed metabolism and suicide substrate functions of the ethers. The calculations indicate that the metabolic intermediate epoxides of both TFVE and TFAE require significant activation energy for ring opening. For TFVE, however, only protonation removes this energy barrier to ring opening (consistent with experimental observation). These calculated energy differences explain why TFVE metabolism can result in simultaneous product formation and destruction of the catalyzing enzyme through selective protonation. Calculated heats of reaction indicate that TFVE metabolism probably occurs via an intermediate tetrahedral hemiacetal. The calculated electronic structures of TFVE and TFAE, by providing data on the reactive sites on the molecules, have yielded insight into the mechanisms of cytochrome P-450 function.
Structure and Function of the Skin: Are There Differences Between Black and White Skin?

The author questions the myriad myths, published and unpublished, regarding differences between black and white skin. In a review of the general structure and function of the skin and its integral parts, he refers to a fair amount of published information and attempts to point out or clarify faulty interpretations that were based on bad data.
Shifting policy paradigms and the public interest in the U.S. telecommunications act of 1996

This article offers an analytical overview of pathbreaking U.S. telecommunications reform legislation, as a concrete first step in establishing new industry and regulatory paradigms for telecommunications. It describes key elements of the Act, contrasting them to the status quo ante, in the areas of competition, concentration, and the public interest. It concludes that, while the Act responds to economic, political and technological paradigm shifts, it continues to assert a prominent role for the state in articulating policy, and leaves open an important role for civil society in defining and implementing it terms.
Cancer incidence in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder characterized by deficiency in endoglin, an angiogenic protein. We previously showed that HHT, in which systemic endoglin expression is reduced, was associated with better survival outcomes in cancer patients (Duarte et al. in Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 23:117–125, 2014). Here, we evaluated whether HHT was associated with reduced cancer incidence. A matched case–control analysis using SEER Medicare was conducted to evaluate the effect of HHT on diagnosis with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer between 2000 and 2007 (n = 633,162). Cancer and non-cancer patients were matched on age, sex, SEER registry region, and length of the ascertainment period for HHT. We assessed crude association using a McNemar’s test and then adjusted for demographic variables, cancer type, cancer stage, comorbidities, and ascertainment period with a conditional logistic regression model for cancer incidence. The McNemar’s test showed no significant association between HHT and cancer incidence (p = 0.74). Adjusting for covariates with the conditional logistic regression model did not change the result [HHT odds ratio 0.978; 95 % CI (0.795, 1.204)]. The lack of association between HHT and cancer incidence is unexpected given the previously discovered significant association between HHT and improved survival outcomes (Duarte et al. in Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 23:117–125, 2014). We conclude that the protective effect of reduced systemic endoglin expression in cancer is specific to cancer progression through its effect on vascularization and other stromal effects but does not extend to cancer initiation.
CDE Perspectives of Providing New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Education Using Formal Vignettes and Simulation:

Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe the 4 Parent Education Through Simulation-Diabetes (PETS-D) nurse certified diabetes educators' (CDEs) perspectives of teaching parents of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) early diabetes management skills using formal vignettes and a human patient simulator/human patient simulation (HPS) to augment/enhance the teaching-learning process. Methods A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Four CDEs were interviewed by phone about their teaching experiences. Meticulous notes were taken. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The vignettes (and use of HPS) provided structure, especially for parents who were struggling to learn. Certified diabetes educators described a short learning curve to master the use of the HPS manikin. Human patient simulation-enhanced education was described as helpful for teaching multiple caregivers about diabetes. Certified diabetes educators also described factors that affect parent learning, mechanical issues with the HPS, and additional space requirements for HPS-enhanced education. Conclusion Vignettes and HPS-enhanced education can successfully be used to educate parents of children with new-onset T1DM and were preferred by the CDEs when compared with previous teaching strategies. The results of this study support the use of both vignette-based and HPS-enhanced education when a child is newly diagnosed with T1DM. Further studies need to be done to see if these effects persist with different populations, during different stages of the disease, and for individuals with other chronic illnesses.
Defect Prevention in Requirements Using Human Error Information: An Empirical Study

Context and Motivation: The correctness of software requirements is of critical importance to the success of a software project. Problems that occur during requirements collection and specification, if not fixed early, are costly to fix later. Therefore, it is important to develop approaches that help requirement engineers not only detect, but also prevent requirements problems. Because requirements engineering is a human-centric activity, we can build upon developments from the field of human cognition. Question/Problem: Human Errors are the failings of human cognition during the process of solving, planning, or executing a task. We have employed research about Human Errors to describe the types of problems that occur during requirements engineering. The goal of this paper is to determine whether knowledge of Human Errors can serve as a fault prevention mechanism during requirements engineering. Principal ideas/results: The results of our study show that a better understanding of human errors does lead developers to insert fewer problems into their own requirements documents. Our results also indicate that different types of Human Error information have different impacts on fault prevention. Contribution: In this paper, we show that the use of Human Error information from Cognitive Psychology is useful for fault prevention during requirements engineering.
3D Morphological Changes in LV and RV During LVAD Ramp Studies

AbstractObjectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential impact of the 2 most commonly available left ventricular assist device (LVAD) types on the right ventricle (RV) and...
Shedding new light on rapidly resolving traumatic acute subdural hematomas.

Abstract Background Rapidly resolving acute subdural hematomas (RRASDHs) have been described in case reports and case series but are still poorly understood. We hypothesized that a cohort analysis would confirm previously reported predictors of RRASDH including coagulopathy, additional intracranial hemorrhage, and low-density band on imaging. We also hypothesized that rapid resolution would be associated with improved trauma outcomes. Methods We reviewed all nonoperative acute subdural hematomas (ASDHs) treated at our center from 2011 to 2015. Inclusion criteria were ASDH on computed tomography (CT), admission Glasgow coma score >7, and repeat CT to evaluate ASDH change. RRASDH was defined as reduced hematoma thickness by 50% within 72 h. Clinical data, CT findings, and trauma end points were analyzed for the RRASDH and nonresolving groups. Results There were 154 ASDH patients included, with 29 cases of RRASDH. The RRASDH group had a lower rate of comorbidities than the nonresolving group (58.6% versus 78.4%, P = 0.03) and a lower rate of prehospital anticoagulation (7.7% versus 37.1%, P = 0.004). Previously reported predictors of RRASDH did not differ between the groups, nor did any clinical outcome measures. When compared with patients who experienced rapid growth (>50% increased width in 72 h), the RRASDH group had lower mortality (3.4% versus 23.5%, P = 0.04). Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the largest review of RRASDHs. We identified two previously unrecognized factors that may predict resolution; however, previously reported predictors were not associated with resolution. We also found no relationship between RRASDHs and improved standard trauma outcomes, calling into question the clinical significance of RRASDH.
Revealing Surface Elemental Composition and Dynamic Processes Involved in Facet-Dependent Oxidation of Pt3Co Nanoparticles via in Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy

Since catalytic performance of platinum-metal (Pt-M) nanoparticles is primarily determined by the chemical and structural configurations of the outermost atomic layers, detailed knowledge of the distribution of Pt and M surface atoms is crucial for the design of Pt-M electrocatalysts with optimum activity. Further, an understanding of how the surface composition and structure of electrocatalysts may be controlled by external means is useful for their efficient production. Here, we report our study of surface composition and the dynamics involved in facet-dependent oxidation of equilibrium-shaped Pt3Co nanoparticles in an initially disordered state via in situ transmission electron microscopy and density functional calculations. In brief, using our advanced in situ gas cell technique, evolution of the surface of the Pt3Co nanoparticles was monitored at the atomic scale during their exposure to an oxygen atmosphere at elevated temperature, and it was found that Co segregation and oxidation take place on {111} surfaces but not on {100} surfaces.
Health-Related Quality of Life After Transcatheter or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in High-Risk Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis: Results From the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve) Trial (Cohort A)

Objectives This study sought to compare health status and quality-of-life outcomes for patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and high surgical risk treated with either transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Background For high-risk patients with severe AS, TAVR has been shown to result in similar 12-month survival but differing adverse events compared with AVR. Methods We evaluated the health status of 628 patients with severe, symptomatic AS at high risk of surgical complications who were randomized to either TAVR or AVR in the PARTNER Trial. Health status was assessed at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, the Short Form-12, and the EuroQol-5D. Results The primary outcome, the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire summary score, improved more rapidly with TAVR, but was similar for the 2 groups at 6 and 12 months. However, there was a significant interaction between the benefit of TAVR and access site (transapical vs. transfemoral). Patients eligible for transfemoral TAVR demonstrated significant health status benefits with TAVR versus AVR at 1 month (difference, 9.9 points; 95% confidence interval: 4.9 to 14.9; p Conclusions In high-risk patients with severe AS, health status improved substantially between baseline and 1 year after either TAVR or AVR. TAVR via the transfemoral, but not the transapical route, was associated with a short-term advantage compared with surgery. (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve [PARTNER] trial; NCT00530894)
Predicting High-Cost Patients at Point of Admission Using Network Science

Data mining models for high-cost patient encounter prediction at the point-of-admission (HPEPP) in inpatient wards are scarce in the literature. This is due to the lack of availability of relevant features at such an early stage of treatment. In this study, we create a disease co-occurrence network (DCN) using a subset of the state inpatient database of Arizona. We explore this network for community formation and structural properties to create new input features for HPEPP models. Tree-based data mining models are trained using input feature sets including these new network features, and distinct disease communities in the DCN are identified. We propose community membership and high-cost propensity scores as two network-based features for HPEPP modeling. We compare the performance of models with different input feature sets and find that the new features significantly improve the accuracy sensitivity and specificity of prediction models. This model has the potential to improve targeted care management and reduce health care expenditure.
Community Engagement Using Urban Sensing: Technology Development and Deployment Studies

There is considerable interest globally in “smart cities” due to the emergence of game changing technologies including IoT platforms, cloud computing, and powerful automation architectures. A host of smart city applications exist including connected and autonomous vehicles, controlled urban watersheds, pedestrian and vehicle tracking, among others. However, a general-purpose urban sensing architecture has not yet emerged that empowers all stakeholders in a city to partake in data collection and data-driven decision making. This paper describes the development of the Urbano sensing architecture designed for dense deployments in cities for a wide variety of smart city applications. The design of the architecture is based on the belief that urban sensing can play a major role in empowering communities to collect data on urban processes and transform how communities engage with city stakeholders to make decisions. Urbano does not require persistent power sources nor wired communication mediums, and is an ultra-low power wireless sensor node that is capable of collecting sensor measurements, supporting embedded computing, and communicating using cellular wireless communication.
Wild-Type versus Mutant p53

What is now known as p53 was initially identified as a normal cellular protein bound to SV40 large T antigen.1,2 Immunoprecipitation of large T antigen from a transformed mouse cell line coprecipitated a nuclear phosphoprotein of 53,000 molecular weight, hence called p53. The human p53 protein is composed of 393 amino acids and is located in the nucleus. p53 is present in all tissues but in such low quantities3–5 that it is difficult to detect by immunohistochemical techniques. On the other hand, the p53 protein has been detected at much higher levels in a large number of sporadic tumors and virally and chemically-transformed cell lines from mice and humans.6,7 Isolation and characterization of the p53 gene followed by early transfection studies indicated that p53 is capable of immortalizing primary rat embryonic fibroblast cells in culture. It was also found that p53 could cooperate with activated ras oncogene in cellular transformation of primary cells in culture.8–10
Confidence-guided sequential label fusion for multi-atlas based segmentation

Label fusion is a key step in multi-atlas based segmentation, which combines labels from multiple atlases to make the final decision. However, most of the current label fusion methods consider each voxel equally and independently during label fusion. In our point of view, however, different voxels act different roles in the way that some voxels might have much higher confidence in label determination than others, i.e., because of their better alignment across all registered atlases. In light of this, we propose a sequential label fusion framework for multi-atlas based image segmentation by hierarchically using the voxels with high confidence to guide the labeling procedure of other challenging voxels (whose registration results among deformed atlases are not good enough) to afford more accurate label fusion. Specifically, we first measure the corresponding labeling confidence for each voxel based on the k-nearest-neighbor rule, and then perform label fusion sequentially according to the estimated labeling confidence on each voxel. In particular, for each label fusion process, we use not only the propagated labels from atlases, but also the estimated labels from the neighboring voxels with higher labeling confidence. We demonstrate the advantage of our method by deploying it to the two popular label fusion algorithms, i.e., majority voting and local weighted voting. Experimental results show that our sequential label fusion method can consistently improve the performance of both algorithms in terms of segmentation/labeling accuracy.
The Attachment Partnership as Conceptual Base for Exploring the Impact of Child Maltreatment

According to attachment theory children learn the critical importance of trusting others and valuing oneself through communication with an attachment figure about separations and other threats to the child's sense of security (Bowlby, 1982). Lessons learned in the “attachment partnership” (Marvin, 1977; Ainsworth, 1992) about perceiving a relationship partner's point of view, and communicating emotional experience, are generalized to social relationships outside the home. Maltreatment is likely to harm children's emotional and social development through impairment of these key social skills. Relevant literature from attachment theory and research, including research on child maltreatment from an attachment perspective, is reviewed. Implications and directions for clinical intervention are discussed.
Effects of Peruvian Maize Extracts on Growth, Development, and Fecundity of the European Corn Borer

Twelve Peruvian maize, Zea mays, accessions were selected because of their relatively high level of field resistance to first-generation European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, larval leaf-feeding. Water extracts of freeze-dried, powdered, leaf tissue were incorporated into a standard ECB diet, fed to larvae, and the effects on larval growth, development, and fecundity were measured. Larval and pupal weights were monitored as were the time elapsed in the larval, pupal, and adult stages. Adult fecundity and egg fertility were recorded. The experiment was a randomized block design (larvae and pupae) or a completely randomized design (adults) and analyzed with ANOVA (α = 0.05). Pairwise comparisons were made between groups of insects grown on diets containing extracts from the Peruvian lines, a standard diet, or diets containing extracts of a known susceptible inbred, and a known resistant inbred line. Survival was analyzed with a chi-squared test (α = 0.05). Two Peruvian accessions significantly reduced female larval and pupal weights, extended pupal and adult development time, and decreased survival of pupae and adults. Water extracts also had a pronounced impact on males; two accessions significantly reduced pupal weight and extended the time required to pupate, and one reduced male survival to adults. The results indicate that water-soluble factors from resistant Peruvian accessions inhibit the growth, developmental time, and survival of ECB. These resistance factors could be useful in the development of maize germplasm with insect-resistant traits.
Oxidative Stress and Respiratory Diseases: The Critical Role of Nrf2

Molecular oxygen and nitrogen have high affinities for electrons, and the addition of electrons to these molecules can lead to highly reactive compounds, including superoxide (O 2 − ), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH), ozone (O3), nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO−), and others. These oxidants react with lipids, proteins, and nucleotides to alter the function of these macromolecules and promote cellular injury and death. A high percentage of mammalian genomes are devoted to detoxify this oxidative stress, which is regulated by the transcription factor, Nrf2. Nrf2 serves protective roles in a variety of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary diseases through its transcriptional induction of hundreds of antioxidative and cytoprotective genes, resulting in a coordinated response to environmental stressors. Experiments using animal models and human in vitro or ex vivo cells demonstrate that Nrf2 can protect from a variety of respiratory diseases. These studies are supported by analysis of polymorphisms in patient samples, demonstrating that alterations to the Nrf2 pathway correlate with pathogenic responses. Thus, Nrf2 activators present viable therapeutic options for these and other diseases, and multiple Nrf2 activators are currently being explored in clinical trials.
The Persistent Gender Bias in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Commentary

Prevalence estimates of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) continue to rise, partially due to better recognition of and screening for the disease, in part due to increase in obesity and in part due to c...
Justice and the 'Mental Causation' Fallacy

A key justification for modern criminal justice practices is premised on a logical fallacy and is ripe for review. This article takes direct aim at the criminal law’s pre-scientific supposition of “mental causation,” which is the primary basis for holding that people “deserve” to suffer and the most serious barrier to acceptance of neuroscience in criminal justice reform. * * * * Mental causation is a foundational assumption of modern criminal justice. The law takes it for granted that wrongdoers “deserve” punishment because their acts are caused by intentions, reasons and other mental states. A growing body of neuroscience evidence shows, however, that human behavior, like that of all other animals with brains, is produced by observable physiological activity in the brain and central nervous system—all in accordance with ordinary physical laws. Beyond these ordinary physiological interactions and processes, no hypothesis of mental causation is required to causally explain behavior. Despite the evidence, neuroskeptics insist that intentions, reasons and other mental states can play a causal role in producing human behavior. The evidentiary case for mental causation turns out, however, to be premised on a well-known logical fallacy, post hoc ergo propter hoc. Meanwhile, based on the best explanation of all the evidence and data, mental causation almost certainly cannot and does not occur. Therefore, if mental causation is indeed the basis on which offenders are deemed to be responsible and to deserve suffering as punishment, the case for criminal responsibility and current punishment practices is fatally defective. To be sure, society will likely always need to use coercive measures to deal with individuals who pose dangers and risks that are too socially intolerable to allow. The findings of neuroscience suggest, however, that these measures should be justified on bases that do not presuppose that offenders “deserve” suffering due to mental causation. Even while coercive measures to protect public safety are a practical and moral necessity, their nature and quality may be very different if they no longer are predicated on the premise that people “deserve” to suffer hardship, misery and deprivation purposely inflicted by the state.
MACHADO DE ASSIS E O ECO FONOGRÁFICO

This essay analyzes the overlap between death and birth in the structure of Machado de Assis’s novel, and asks what is the relationship between listening and death in the inaugural form of The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas? What is the relationship between the writing of death (“posthumous memories”) and listening to life, or between the writing of life (autobiography) and listening to death, that makes the aesthetic revolution of The Posthumous Memoirs? To answer this question, this essay establishes an analogy between the simultaneous emergence of this novel in 1880/1881, and the appearance of the new media in the same decade, especially the one that, since its announcement, is closest to death – the phonograph, patented by Thomas Edison in 1877. From this historical coincidence, this text asks: is it possible to read The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas as a “phonographic novel”?
Validation on aggregate flexibility from residential air conditioning systems for building-to-grid integration

Abstract To facilitate the integration of buildings to the power grid, battery-equivalent models have been proposed to characterize and quantify aggregate flexibility from building loads. An analytical method has been proposed to construct such a flexibility model for thermostatically controlled loads. Since this analytical method is derived from a simplified representation of building thermal dynamics, it is necessary to evaluate the resulting flexibility model in a more realistic context. This paper focuses on the validation of this analytical method for estimating aggregate flexibility from residential air conditioning (ACs) systems. A high-fidelity model is first developed to mimic thermal behaviors of a residential AC system through a co-simulation between Modelica and EnergyPlus. A population of virtual residential AC systems is then generated by randomizing parameters of the high-fidelity model. Finally, an aggregate flexibility model is constructed for the residential AC population using the analytical method and validated using results from simulation of the high-fidelity model. It is found that the flexibility estimated using the analytical method is with reasonable accuracy, but can be improved by explicitly incorporating heat gains into the method.
A Bifactor Model of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Phenotype.

I read with interest the newly published work by Kim et al. describing the covariance structure of parent-reported autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms.1 The authors compared many different latent class, factor analytic, and factor mixture models in a large, clinically referred sample, concluding that the ASD phenotype is best described by three continuous latent factors of social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. I found the study to be methodologically rigorous, employing robust estimation techniques, testing a wide range of categorical-dimensional hybrid models, and even replicating the rank-order of model choices in a separate sample. However, given the large reported interfactor correlations in the final model (r = 0.78-0.83; Kim et al., Figure 2), I was disappointed that the authors did not explore a bifactor model2 of ASD phenotypic traits. In this correspondance, I aim to demonstrate the ways in which bifactor models provide further insight into the structures of complex psychopathological constructs.
Repeated Orotracheal Intubation in Mice.

The literature describes several methods for mouse intubation that either require visualization of the glottis through the oral cavity or incision in the ventral neck for direct confirmation of cannula placement in the trachea. The relative difficulty or the tissue trauma induced to the subject by such procedures can be an impediment to an investigator’s ability to perform longitudinal studies. This article illustrates a technique in which physical manipulation of the mouse following the use of a depilatory to remove hair from the ventral neck permits transcutaneous visualization of the trachea for orotracheal intubation regardless of degree of skin pigmentation. This method is innocuous to the subject and easily achieved with a limited understanding of murine anatomy. This refined approach facilitates repeated intubation, which may be necessary for monitoring progression of disease or instillation of treatments. Using this method may result in a reduction of the number of animals and technical skill required to measure lung function in mouse models of respiratory disease.
Correction of perceived visual distortions using a software application and correlation to age-related macular degeneration:

Purpose:To investigate the use of software-generated corrections in neutralizing perceived distortions in age-related macular degeneration.Methods:A tablet-based application was utilized to elicit ...
The impact of extreme skull morphology in domestic dogs on cribriform plate shape.

Dog owners are often impressed by their dog's sense of smell. Many of these dogs, however, have skulls that are quite altered from those of their closest canid relatives. Housed within these skulls are essential olfactory structures like the cribriform plate that play a role in olfaction and the transmission of olfactory nerve impulses to the olfactory bulb of the brain. With improvements in CT technology and accessibility, we are now able to digitally reconstruct in 3D cribriform plate morphology and study its variation within and among species. In this study, we CT scanned the skulls of 95 dog specimens from 45 different domestic dog breeds and 12 species of wild canid and compared the shape of the cribriform plate among three main groups: domestic dog breeds, wolf-like canids, and fox-like canids. Despite only recent selective pressure for extreme skull morphology, domestic dogs display much more variation in cribriform plate shape than wild canids, indicating that cribriform plate shape is plastic and linked to skull shape. Intense artificial selection on domestic dog skull phenotype in the last 200 years has clear effects on secondary features of the domestic dog skull, implying that selection for overt phenotypes also can impact other anatomical features associated with the skull, like the cribriform plate.
Surgical management of advanced hidradenitis suppurativa via a one-stage procedure: A single-center experience.

Abstract Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating skin condition; in severe forms it requires excision and skin grafting for cure. This is commonly performed as a multi-stage procedure; we explored single-stage operation as a more efficient alternative. Methods Retrospective review 2007–2018 evaluating outcomes of patients undergoing single-stage surgery. Results 139 one-stage procedures were performed: 35 excision and primary closure, 104 split-thickness skin grafting (STSG). Success rate was higher for STSG at 75% versus 60% with primary closure. Of failed primary closures, 57% required revision by grafting due to recurrence. Axilla procedures were most successful at 91% compared to 70%, 54%, and 50% for inguinal, gluteal, and perineal areas, respectively. Infection was the most common complication (17%), with 38% requiring readmission. Conclusion Compared to prior literature on multi-stage HS treatment, one-stage operations are a feasible, cost-effective alternative. STSG should remain the procedure of choice, even when primary closure appears feasible.
Cement embolism in the vena cava after pedicle screw augmentation

Eine 52-jahrige Frau erlitt nach einem Sturz neben einer stabilen Fraktur von Brustwirbelkorper (BWK) 12 eine instabile Fraktur von Lendenwirbelkorper (LWK) 3 ohne neurologische Ausfalle. Neben der Ballonkyphoplastie von BWK 12 wurde die perkutane Fixateur-interne-Instrumentierung von LWK 2–4 mit zementaugmentierten Pedikelschrauben vorgenommen. Hierbei kam es zu Zementaustritten in die V. cava inferior. Diese Zementanteile wurden nach beginnender Ablosung endovaskular entfernt. Der postinterventionelle Verlauf war unkompliziert.
Electromagnetic Asymmetry, Relegation of Curvature Singularities of Charged Black Holes, and Cosmological Equations of State in View of the Born--Infeld Theory

It is shown that, in a generic sense, and unlike what for electric point charges, the Born--Infeld nonlinear electrodynamics excludes monopoles as finite-energy magnetic point charges, thus spelling out an electromagnetic asymmetry. Moreover, it is demonstrated, in a systematic way, that the curvature singularities of finite-energy charged black holes in the context of the Born--Infeld theory may effectively be relegated or in some cases removed under a critical mass-energy condition, which has been employed successfully in earlier concrete studies. Furthermore, it is illustrated through numerous examples considered here that, when adapted to describe scalar-wave matters known as k-essences, the Born--Infeld formalism provides a fertile ground for cosmological applications, including achieving accelerated dark-energy expansions and acquiring adequate field-theoretical realizations of the equations of state of various cosmic fluid models.
Ghetto: the history of a word: by Daniel B. Schwartz, Cambridge, MA and London, Harvard University Press, 2019, 288 pp., $35.00/£28.95/€31.50 (hardcover), ISBN 9780674737532

Daniel Schwartz’s wide-ranging and thought-provoking study Ghetto: The History of a Word delivers more than its title promises. As the reader might expect, Schwartz does indeed trace the semantic h...
Indexing information for data forensics

We introduce novel techniques for organizing the indexing structures of how data is stored so that alterations from an original version can be detected and the changed values specifically identified. We give forensic constructions for several fundamental data structures, including arrays, linked lists, binary search trees, skip lists, and hash tables. Some of our constructions are based on a new reduced-randomness construction for nonadaptive combinatorial group testing.
RELAP5/MOD3.2 analysis of a VVER-1000 reactor with UO[2] fuel and MOX fuel

A RELAP5/MOD3.2 model of the VVER-1000/MODEL V320 nuclear power plant was modified and a large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LBLOCA) in the cold leg was simulated. In this analysis, the core consisted of 162 UO{sub 2} assemblies and 1 mixed-oxide assembly. The results from the simulation were compared with the results from a similar study performed with the Russian computer program TECH-M. An uncertainty analysis was performed on the peak cladding temperature following a similar methodology called code scaling, applicability, and uncertainty. Monte Carlo calculations were performed using the response surface inferred from 15 runs of RELAP5 calculations. The result of this study shows that the emergency core coolant system would be sufficient to keep the cladding temperature during the LBLOCA scenario well below the required maximum limit.
Does the market for ideas influence the rate and direction of innovative activity? Evidence from the medical device industry

Prior work argues that the “market for ideas” supports an open system of innovation, allowing for efficient development of technology across firms. Although this literature has described important features of this market, how it influences the rate and direction of innovation remains an open question. We exploit an exogenous shock to a subset of U.S. medical device firms to study this question. We first document the breakdown in the market for ideas after a federal investigation made it more difficult for the leading orthopedic firms to work with physician-inventors. We then present evidence of a dramatic decline in the rate of innovation for these firms. Further, a marked shift in direction occurs toward lower-quality inventions and away from product categories where physician knowledge is critical
African American Women in the Newsroom: Encoding Resistance

Previous studies have examined the experiences of either women or minority journalists to determine whether newsroom diversity makes a difference in news content, concluding that the gender and race of newsworkers does not substantially alter the news. However, they have not looked at the work practices and experiences of African American women journalists to determine whether their newswork challenges or reinforces dominant journalistic constructions concerning race and gender. Drawing on the cultural studies model of encoding/decoding, as well as the concept of intersectionality and standpoint theory, this study asks whether the social location of journalists as African Americans and women affects their work practices in ways that increase racial and gender diversity in the news, challenge stereotypes, and otherwise resist normative news constructions of race and gender. Interviews were conducted with 10 African American female TV and newspaper journalists in a major metropolitan area with a majority Bl...
Thermal stress analyses of inductive proximity sensors under thermal cycling condition

In the present study, thermally induced stresses in inductive proximity sensors are investigated using the finite element method. High residual stresses are developed in the inductive proximity sensor because of hygro-thermal mismatches among components during the operation. Its operating temperature is from — 40°C to 85°C. During thermal cycles, residual stresses inside the sensor are calculated based on global and local finite element analyses. Failure mechanisms and stress distributions in the sensor as well as the components are discussed in detail.
A Survey of Computational Methods Used in Microarray Data Interpretation

In a companion chapter in this volume, Wilson et al. (this volume, chapter by Wilson et al.) provide a detailed account of the experimental design and statistical analysis of microarray data. Their chapter is of interest to researchers planning microarray experiments capable of yielding data that can be statistically analyzed to insure reliable levels of confidence. In contrast, the present chapter emphasizes what can be done with the gathered data so as to simplify the huge task of interpreting the expression levels of tens of thousands of genes. In the companion chapter the authors assume the availability of statistical programs that are often used in the design of experiments. In this chapter we explore in greater detail the algorithms that process the collected data to obtain further information about cell behavior. Many of the algorithms described here aim at grouping similar data. We also explore microarray usage that is not addressed in the companion chapter.
Hermite-Birkhoff interpolation: A class of nonpoised matrices

has a unique solution for all cii . Then E is said to be poised. The problem is to find conditions which guarantee that E is or is not poised. Since a simple characterization of poised matrices is not currently known, attention has turned to the poisedness of classes of matrices. For example, De Vore et al. [2] considered three-row matrices with Hermite data (i.e., a single sequence of ones beginning in column 0, followed by a sequence of zeros) in rows 1 and 3, and just two ones in row 2. Lorentz [5] h as studied similar matrices. Partial solutions were obtained in these cases. In this paper we introduce a related class of matrices which we show are nonpoised.
Procedures and computer program for deriving the Ferguson plot from electrophoresis in a single pore gradient gel: application to agarose gel and a polystyrene particle.

This study presents a computerized evaluation of pore gradient gel electrophoretograms to arrive at estimates for both the particle-free mobility and retardation coefficient, which is related to particle size. Agarose pore gradient gels ranging from 0.2 to 1.1% agarose were formed. Gel gradients were stabilized during their formation by a density gradient of 0–20% 5-(N-2, 3-dihydroxypropylacetamido)2, 4, 6-triiodo-N,N′ bis-(2, 3-dihydroxypropyl)-isophthalamide (Nycodenz). Densitometry of gelled-in Bromophenol Blue showed that these pore gradients exhibited a linear central segment and were reproducible. Migration distances of polystyrene sulfate microspheres (36.5 nm radius) in agarose pore gradient gel electrophoresis were determined by time-lapse photography at several durations of electrophoresis. These migration distances were evaluated as a function of migration time as previously reported (D. Tietz, Adv. Electrophoresis 1988, 2, 109–169). Although this is not necessarily required, the mathematical approach used in this study assumed linearity of both the pore gradient and the Ferguson plot for reasons of simplicity. The data evaluation on the basis of the extended Ogston model is incorporated in a user-friendly program, GRADFIT, which is designed for personal computers (Macintosh). The results obtained are compared with (1) conventional electrophoresis using several gels of single concentration with and without Nycodenz, and (ii) a different mathematical approach for the analysis of gradient gels (Rodbard et al., Anal. Biochem. 1971, 40, 135–157). Moreover, a simple procedure for evaluating linear pore gradient gels using linear regression analysis is presented. It is concluded that the values of particle-free mobility and retardation coefficient derived from pore gradient gel electrophoresis using the different mathematical methods are statistically indistinguishable from each other. However, these values are different, albeit close, to those obtained from conventional Ferguson plots. One of the possible reasons for this relatively minor discrepancy is that the particle-free mobility changed slightly during electrophoresis, which has a different effect on electrophoresis in homogeneous gels (single time measurement) and pore gradient gels (multiple time measurements). The characterization of particles according to size and charge by pore gradient electrophoresis provides a significant operational simplification and sample economy compared to that requiring the, use of several gel concentrations, although at the price of increased requirements of instrumentation.
An Experimental Study of Flame Kernel Evolution in Lean and Diluted Methane-Air Mixtures at Engine-Like Conditions

An experimental study was performed to investigate the flame kernel propagation and combustion characteristics of methane (CH4)-air mixture at spark-ignition (SI) engine-like conditions. Tests were performed in a constant-volume combustion vessel (CV) with a product engine spark plug mounted at the top to simulate the engine combustion chamber. In this work, the equivalence ratio of 0.7 for lean methane-air mixture was used as test fuel, and different levels of inert gas were introduced to simulate exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) as in actual engine operations. The visualization of flame kernel formation and flame propagation was performed with a schlieren optical system and flame propagation speed was measured and analyzed accordingly. Global combustion characteristics are acquired and analyzed by utilizing the pressure history of combustion events recorded by high speed and fast response pressure measurements. The flame kernel expansion rates have been reported with quiescent and turbulent conditions. G...
The Association Between Testing Strategies and Performance in College Algebra, Attitude Towards Mathematics, and Attrition Rate

The purposes of the study were: (1) to determine the effects of four testing strategies upon performance in college algebra, attitude towards mathematics, and attrition rate; (2) to determine the effects of two types of frequent testing upon performance, attitude, and attrition rate, (3) to determine the effects of different frequencies of in-class testing upon performance, attitude, and attrition rate; and (4) to draw conclusions which might help in selecting testing methods for college algebra classes.
Robotics-Related Technology In The Nuclear Industry

Teleoperated manipulators have been used for many years to perform tasks within hazardous environments. There are many similarities between teleoperators and robots, and these likenesses are delineated and reviewed. Applications and development activities in teleoperated systems are summarized on a worldwide basis. Teleopeator developments are examined for outer space, under water, and other hazardous environments. The unification of a robot and a teleoperator system into an autonomous, flexible machine is envisioned as the goal of future "telerobotic" research.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.