cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical perspectives for the study of craving and relapse in animal models

Several major clinical models of alcoholism in which craving plays a role are summarized and key questions are raised regarding the course of craving in the emergence of alcoholism, how it varies in different stages of the disorder (e.g. active alcoholic, withdrawal, protracted abstinence) and what craving may contribute to major signs and symptoms of alcoholism. Turning to animal models, a plea is made for development of a standardized definition of human craving that can be represented and operationalized in animal models. Until there is scientific consensus on such a definition, four ways are elucidated in which animal model research can contribute to advances in our knowledge of human craving and the role it plays in addictive behavior: (1) engaging both basic and clinical researchers to identify parallel constructs of craving and predictors of craving for adoption in comparative human and animal model studies; (2) conducting exploratory research on craving in animal models using relapse to drinking as the dependent measure; (3) identifying mechanisms that underlie clinical signs and symptoms of alcoholism in animal models; and (4) identifying genetic models in basic research that account for variations in response to alcohol that may also occur in humans. This latter point is made in a discussion of the genetic contribution to voluntary alcohol consumption, the alcohol deprivation effect, tolerance and dependence, as illustrated by differences between alcohol-preferring (P) rats and -nonpreferring (NP) rats. The review concludes with four questions and issues that need to be among those that guide future research on craving.
Murayaanthraquinone, a hybrid benz[a]anthraquinone from a UV mutant of Streptomyces murayamaensis

Abstract An X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that a new metabolite of Streptomyces murayamaensis , murayaanthraquinone, contains a 5-azo-16-oxo-dibenzo[ b , k ]chrysene ring system. This hexacyclic structure has been shown to be a hybrid derived from a benz[ a ]anthraquinone and a 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid.
Evaluation of pretransplant factors predicting cardiac dysfunction following high-dose melphalan conditioning and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Background Cardiac complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are emerging as a significant concern given the increasing utilization of HSCT for a variety of hematologic malignancies. Methods We utilized an existing database to determine the frequency of cardiac dysfunction (CD), namely a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, following conditioning with high-dose melphalan (HDM) and autologous HSCT for multiple myeloma (MM) and systemic amyloidosis (AL). We then performed a case–control study to examine variables associated with increased risk of CD in this population. Results In MM patients undergoing HSCT, the rate of CD was 1.6% (17/1050, 95% CI: [0.9, 2.6]). None of the examined pre-HSCT variables or HDM dose were significantly associated with development of CD in this population. In patients with AL, the rate of CD was 5.6% (24/426, 95% CI: [3.6, 8.3]). On univariate analysis, decision to administer an HDM dose <200 mg/m2 [odds ratio (OR): 4.59 (1.27–16.57) P = 0.02], pretransplant left ventricular ejection fraction <60% [OR: 17.78 (2.29–138.33) P = 0.006], and documented amyloid involvement of ≥3 organs [OR: 4.0 (1.03–15.6) P = 0.046] were associated with the development of CD in the AL population. No other examined peri-transplant factors were associated with development of CD. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first series to report a significant rate of CD following HDM conditioning and autologous HSCT in patients with AL.
Complexation and time-dependent accumulation of copper by larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): implications for modeling toxicity.

Abstract Mechanistic models predicting copper (Cu) toxicity to aquatic biota in natural waters require organic and inorganic water chemistry, and quantified values for Cu binding by sensitive biological receptors. In bioaccumulation experiments using larval fathead minnows (FHM; Pimephales promelas ), we investigated time to asymptotic accumulation of Cu and quantified the conditional stability constants (binding affinity; log K Cu–FHM ) and binding-site densities of Cu–FHM complexation. Cu bioaccumulation increased rapidly, approaching an asymptote in exposures longer than 12 h, indicating that Cu loading at 24 h is an appropriate exposure duration for modeling Cu complexation by larval FHM. Results of Langmuir and Scatchard analyses of other bioaccumulation experiments produced log K Cu–FHM values of 6.52, and binding-site densities of 0.39 μmol g −1 dry weight. These whole-body log K Cu–FHM values are approximately an order of magnitude lower than those reported for adult FHM gills. However, binding-site densities for larval and adult FHM are similar. Under similar test conditions, comparable concentrations of aqueous Cu cause 50% mortality in adult and larval FHM suggesting that binding site densities determine comparable metal–tissue loadings and have greater influence on Cu bioavailability than binding affinity.
Demonstration of contention resolution between two 40 Gb/s packet streams using multiple photonic chip optical buffers

Integrated optical RAM using InP switches with silica waveguide delays perform contention resolution with 99% packet recovery for 40-byte packets. Two buffered inputs and two packet depths are demonstrated.
A thermodynamic study on CaO-doped nonstoichiometric cerium dioxide

Abstract Thermogravimetric measurements were performed on CaO-doped nonstoichiometric cerium dioxide (i.e. Ce1−yCayO2−y−x) in the temperature range 800–1500°C and from oxygen pressures of 10−1–10−21 atm. Fr data the deviation from stoichiometry x = x(T, PO2)y was determined for values of y = 0.01, 0.045, 0.07, 0.10 and 0.14. The thermodynamic quantities Δ HO2; and ΔSO2 were calculated in the region 0.001 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.2 and found to be independent of temperature with the exception of those for 14 mole % CaO at large deviations from stoichiometry. p]In the composition region near stoichiometry (i.e. for x between approximately 10−3 and 10−2), the variation of Δ SO2 with x is consistent with a defect model involving randomly distributed doubly ionized oxygen vacancies and electrons localized on normal cerium sites. The range of nonstoichiometry with which this defect model fits the experimental results increases with increasing CaO content. In this same region ΔHO2 exhibits a slight dependence on x for y = 0.01 and 0.045 and is essentially independent of x for y = 0.7,0.10 and 0.14. The experimental observation that x α P − 1 4 O 2 is rationalized on the basis of the above model for the case where y > x. At large deviations from stoichiometry the dependence of x = x(T, PO2)y is similar to the nonstoichiometric behavior of “pure” CeO2−x when y = 0.01 or 0.045. The dependence of ΔHO2; and ΔSO2 on x is also similar. for y = 0.10 and 0.14 the nonstoichiometric behavior and the dependence of ΔHO2 on x differs significantly from the behavior of “pure” CeO2−x.
Sensitivity of Kelvin waves and Madden–Julian oscillation to convective downdrafts in the NCAR-CAM3

Using NCAR-Community Atmosphere Model version 3 (CAM3), the sensitivity of Kelvin waves (KWs) and Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) simulation to convective downdrafts is examined. For this, numerical simulations are carried out by changing the downdraft intensity. Increase in the intensity of convective downdrafts in the model leads to greater re-evaporation of precipitation, which enhances the moisture in the lower troposphere, with a corresponding increase in the convective available potential energy (CAPE). Stronger downdrafts, and hence enhanced CAPE, are found to be more favorable for low frequency variability and less favorable for the higher frequencies, leading to stronger MJO and weaker KWs. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Secondary electron emission properties of oxidized beryllium CFA cathodes

Heating an oxidized beryllium sample above 500/spl deg/C for eight hours or more establishes a stable surface composition that consists of about 35% carbon in carbide form, and Be and O in nearly one-to-one atomic ratio for the remainder. The secondary electron yield of this surface has a maximum yield, /spl delta//sub max/, of 2.8/spl plusmn/0.1 at the primary electron energy of 420/spl plusmn/20 eV. The secondary electron yield decreases slowly with increasing sample temperature. The energy of the emitted electrons is analyzed using a retarding potential method with the primary electron energy E/sub p/ ranging from 10 to 1600 eV. For E/sub p/>100 eV, most of the emitted electrons are the true secondary electrons (i.e., those electrons with energy less than 50 eV). The energy distribution of the true secondary electrons shows little change in functional form for E/sub p/ from 200 eV to 1600 eV, and for sample temperature from 20/spl deg/C to 530/spl deg/C. A small but steady change is observed in the narrowing of the peak width with increasing E/sub p/, or increasing sample temperature. The current practice in processing the crossed-field amplifier (CFA) tube with an oxidized beryllium cathode includes a bakeout between 500/spl deg/C and 550/spl deg/C for several hours. The present study suggests that this heating is sufficient to convert the oxidized beryllium CFA cathode surface to the stable composition with the large secondary electron yield. Heating to a much higher temperature will not reduce the carbide content, but rather will reduce the oxygen content and consequently the secondary electron yield. >
A deduplication study for host-side caches in virtualized data center environments

Flash memory-based caches inside VM hypervisors can reduce I/O latencies and offload much of the I/O traffic from network-attached storage systems deployed in virtualized data centers. This paper explores the effectiveness of content deduplication in these large (typically 100s of GB) host-side caches. Previous deduplication studies focused on data mostly at rest in backup and archive applications. This study focuses on cached data and dynamic workloads within the shared VM infrastructure. We analyze I/O traces from six virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) I/O storms and two longterm CIFS studies and show that deduplication can reduce the data footprint inside host-side caches by as much as 67%. This in turn allows for caching a larger portion of the data set and improves the effective cache hit rate. More importantly, such increased caching efficiency can alleviate load from networked storage systems during I/O storms when most VM instances perform the same operation such as virus scans, OS patch installs, and reboots.
Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with and without Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Clinical Correlates and Implications

Objective. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a putative obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder. This exploratory study systematically examined prevalence and clinical correlates of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) comorbidity in an inpatient Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) population.Method. Consecutive patients from an OCD Intensive Residential Treatment program were included (N = 275). Clinician-rated and patient-rated measures were administered at baseline and repeated at discharge. The prevalence of BDD was determined and clinical characteristics were statistically compared between groups with (N = 42) and without (N = 233) comorbid BDD.Results. The prevalence of BDD among residential patients with OCD was 15.3% (N = 42). Those with comorbid BDD were younger (p = 0.007) and more predominantly female (p = 0.02), with lower marriage rates (p = 0.006), more severe depression (p = 0.003) and increased self-reported illicit substance use histories (p = 0.003) versus those without BDD. This cohort also had earl...
Light microscopic and ultrastructural analysis of GABA‐immunoreactive profiles in the monkey spinal cord

It is hypothesized that terminals containing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) participate in presynaptic inhibition of primary afferents. To date, few convincing GAB A-immunoreactive (GABA-IR) axo-axonic synapses have been demonstrated in support of this theory. The goal of this study is to document the relationship between GABA-IR profiles and central terminals in glomerular complexes in lumbar cord of the monkey (Macaca fascicularis). In addition, the relationship between GABA-IR profiles and other neural elements are analyzed in order to better understand the processing of sensory input in the spinal cord. GABA-IR cell bodies were present in Lissauer's tract (LT) and in all laminae in the spinal gray matter except lamina IX, GABA-IR fibers and terminals were heavily concentrated in LT: laminae I, II, and III; and present in moderate concentration in the deeper laminae of the dorsal horn, ventral horn (especially in association with presumed motor neurons), and lamina X. Electron microscopic analysis confined to LT and laminae I, II, and III demonstrated GABA-IR cell bodies, dendrites, and myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. GABA-IR cell bodies received sparse synaptic input, some of which was immunoreactive for GABA. The majority of the synaptic input to GABA-IH neurons occurred at the dendritic level. Furthermore, the presence of numerous vesicle-containing GABA-IR dendrites making synaptic interactions indicated that GABA-IR dendrites also provided a major site of output. Two consistent arrangements were observed in laminae I–III concerning vesicle-containing GABA-IR dendrites: (1) they were often postsynaptic to central terminals and (2) they participated in reciprocal synapses. The majority of GABA-IR axon terminals observed contained round clear vesicles and varying numbers of dense core vesicles. Only on rare occasions were GABA-IR terminals with flattened vesicles observed. GABA-IR terminals were not observed as presynaptic elements in axo-axonic synapses; however, on some occasions, GABA-IR profiles presumed to be axon terminals were observed postsynaptic to large glomerular type terminals. Our findings suggest that a frequent synaptic arrangement exists in which primary afferent terminals relay sensory information into a GABAergic system for further processing. Furthermore, GABA-IR dendrites appear to be the major source of input and output for this inhibitory system. The implications of this GABAergic neurocircuitry are discussed in relation to the processing of sensory input in the superficial dorsal horn and in terms of mechanisms of primary afferent depolarization (PAD).
Acoustic characterization of individual monodisperse contrast agents with an optical-acoustical system

Contrast agents that are available commercially have a polydisperse size distribution. It has been hypothesized that a uniform microbubble diameter might lead to improved imaging sensitivity. Using microfluidics technology that we have developed recently, we have been able to generate contrast agents with a nearly monodisperse size distribution. Echo responses from individual microbubbles from both monodisperse and polydisperse populations were analyzed in order to establish the relationship between scattered echo, microbubble diameter, and excitation frequency. Our experimental data were in very good agreement with simulations of bubble response from a modified Rayleigh-Plesset type model. Additionally, we performed in vivo experiments for non-targeted perfusion imaging. Simulations and experiments indicate that depending on microbubble diameter, excitation frequency, and distribution uniformity, significant differences in microbubble echo amplitude can be generated and that monodisperse contrast agents can be detected with greater amplitude than polydisperse agents under optimized conditions. These findings might have a substantial impact in the formulation of contrast agents to enhance ultrasonic sensitivity.
Single-molecule fluorimetry and gating currents inspire an improved optical voltage indicator

Voltage-sensing domains (VSDs) underlie the movement of voltage-gated ion channels, as well as the voltage-sensitive fluorescent responses observed from a common class of genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs). Despite the widespread use and potential utility of these GEVIs, the biophysical underpinnings of the relationship between VSD movement and fluorophore response remain unclear. We investigated the recently developed GEVI ArcLight, and its close variant Arclight', at both the single-molecule and macroscopic levels to better understand their characteristics and mechanisms of activity. These studies revealed a number of previously unobserved features of ArcLight's behavior, including millisecond-scale fluorescence fluctuations in single molecules as well as a previously unreported delay prior to macroscopic fluorescence onset. Finally, these mechanistic insights allowed us to improve the optical response of ArcLight to fast or repetitive pulses with the development of ArcLightning, a novel GEVI with improved kinetics.
Transformations of the American Left: Anarchism, Alterglobalization, and the New Spirit of Capitalism

The spectacular implosion of neoliberalism in 2008 was met with silent inactivity by the activist left in the U.S., until the emergence of Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011, three years later. OWS has renewed hope for a left renaissance by challenging economic inequality and the neoliberal discourse that legitimated it. Yet its anarchist-inflected politics draws heavily from the alterglobalization movement of a decade before. Accounts of the antiglobalization movement often identify repression of dissent post-9/11 and the shift to an antiwar frame as the main causes of demobilization. But what if the alterglobalization movement faded not because it failed, but rather because it succeeded? Movements of the 1990s popularized a moral critique of corporations coupled with boycotts and lifestyle politics in their stead. As a result, ideas and practices pioneered by social movements have taken center stage: voluntary simplicity, alternative energy, carbon footprint tracking, local/organic/slow foods, and various other forms of ethical consumption are now mainstream political discourse and consumer habitus. At the level of production, movement critiques have been incorporated in the form of decentralized network structures, flexibility, informality, and shifts towards a post-material/affective economy. Before being eclipsed by the Tea Party, the Obama administration had proposed a “Green New Deal” that could save the planet and capitalism through renewable energy, eco-retrofitting, and other green enterprises.Yet until recently, these transformations occurred at the same time that the movements that once proposed such solutions declined. Building on the works of Luc Boltanski and Eve Chiapello (2000), Nancy Fraser (2009), and Thomas Frank (2000) my paper examines how the recuperation of social movement themes is constructing a “New Spirit of Capitalism” that both addresses widespread demand for an ethical lifeworld while simultaneously insulating itself from critique. Thus, modern capitalism now speaks the language of social movements: sustainability, fairness, authenticity, freedom. How did the language of the left become the language of business? I propose that an important part of the answer lies in the historical trajectory of social movements over the past 40 years. I explore how the New Left’s discourse of “the personal is the political” evolved into the neo-anarchism that became hegemonic within the alterglobalization movement and later OWS. I contend that the same limitations that demobilized the alterglobalization movement – in particular a moral critique of corporate neoliberalism and a fusing of political form and content – persist in Occupy Wall Street. Exploring the continuities and ruptures between these two movements, I argue that both movements are animated by a “prefigurative politics” which, in overcorrecting for the failures of 20th century Marxism, poses serious theoretical and practical problems for emancipatory politics today.
Erythroagglutination reactions in cancer, tuberculosis and pregnancy.

A modified anti-human serum erythroagglutination reaction was found to be positive in 48 of 52 cancer patients. Reactions of 13 of 46 pregnant patients, 10 of 35 postpartem patients and 20 of 42 patients with tuberculosis were also positive. Four of 104 random non-cancer patients showed positive tests, but these four patients also exhibited a positive Coombs test or spontaneous autoagglutination in albumin. It has been suggested that the erythrocytes of these patients may be coated by some material of undetermined origin, presumably a globulin and possibly an antibody, which usually escapes detection by the standard Coombs test. This sensitization may be a significant factor in the hemolytic process of patients with malignant or chronic inflammatory states.
“He Won’t Get Anything Out of This!” Intersections of Race, Disability, and Access

This case describes the leadership role and challenges in moving a school in a more inclusive direction for students with disabilities. Assistant Principal Mosier plays a key role and in that role ...
Structure and outcomes of interdisciplinary rounds in hospitalized medicine patients: A systematic review and suggested taxonomy.

BACKGROUND Interdisciplinary rounds (IDR) have been described to improve outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of optimal IDR design. PURPOSE To systematically review published reports of IDR to catalog types of IDR and outcomes, and assess the influence of IDR design on outcomes. DATA SOURCES Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Journals Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (EBSCOhost), and PubMed from 1990 through December 2014, and hand searching of article bibliographies. STUDY SELECTION Experimental, quasiexperimental, and observation studies in English-language literature where physicians rounded with another healthcare professional in inpatient medicine units. DATA EXTRACTION Studies were abstracted for study setting and characteristics, and design and outcomes of IDR. DATA SYNTHESIS Twenty-two studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Many were of low to medium quality with few high-quality studies. There is no clear definition of IDR in the literature. There was wide variation in IDR design and team composition across studies. We found three different models of IDR: pharmacist focused, bedside rounding, and interdisciplinary team rounding. There are reasonable data to support an association with length of stay and staff satisfaction but little data on patient safety or satisfaction. Positive outcomes may be related to particular components of IDR design, but the relationship between design and outcomes remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should be more deliberately designed and fully reported with careful attention to team composition and features of IDR and their impact on selected outcomes. We present a proposed IDR definition and taxonomy for future studies. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:513–523. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
"Left High and Dry": Federal Land Policies and Pima Agriculture, 1860-1910

The Akimel O’odham, or “River People” (Pima), have lived in the middle Gila River Valley for centuries, irrigating and cultivating the same land as their Huhugam ancestors did for millennia. This history of agriculture is part of the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the Pima, who benefited from a sufficient and fertile land, a steady and reliable supply of water, and favorable physiographic conditions to produce an abundance of food and fiber crops. These conditions continued until upstream diversions from the Gila River by settlers in the latter 1860s. The Pima economy depended on the waters of the Gila River and its tributaries. Following the himdag, or the cultural ways, of the Huhugam, the Pima exercised sovereignty over their land, enabling them to remain economically and politically independent for generations. They were, as sixty-five-year-old Pima elder George Pablo noted in 1914, “a self-supporting people” who raised crops “in abundance.”1 This independence changed to dependence in the 1860s, when federal land policies encouraged and fueled settlement in the Gila River Valley. Emigrants then diverted the limited water supplies from the river upstream of the Pima villages, leaving the Indians, in the words of one Pima elder, “high and dry.”2 The Huhugam built the earliest canals along the Gila River. Many of the historic canals constructed by the Pima followed these prehistoric alignments and irrigated lands in the historic breadbasket of the Pima villages.3 The Pima cultivated these lands since before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century, with the period between the late 1700s and the 1860s representing the pinnacle of Pima agriculture before upstream water deprivation destroyed their agricultural economy (see fig. 1).
Gas-phase phenyl acetate conversion on AlPO4, γ-Al2O3 and SiO2 catalysts

The conversion of phenyl acetate over AlPO4 (Al/P=1), γ-Al2O3 and SiO2 catalysts generated phenol, by deacetylation, ando-hydroxycetophenone, by Fries rearrangement, as the main reaction products. The activity for Fries rerrangement was in accordance with the acidity data measuredversus cyclohexene skeletal isomerization. Thus, AlPO4 showed the highest activity. Moreover,o-hydroxy-acetophenone formation increased with the reaction temperature. Besides, in AlPO4 catalysts 4-methylcoumarin and 2-methylchromone were also found, although in low amounts.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I: Compartmentalization Within the Somatotropic Axis?

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is essential for normal growth; igf-1 gene mutations are associated with extreme growth retardation in mice and, very rarely, in humans. The relative contributions of tissue vs. endocrine (hepatic) IGF-I to the regulation of growth has been a fundamental question. New gene targeting technologies are providing answers for these questions.
Breakthroughs in the Understanding and Therapy of Primary Immunodeficiency

In the 40 years since Ogden Bruton discovered agammaglobulinemia, more than 50 additional immunodeficiency syndromes have been described. Until recently, there was little insight into the fundamental problems underlying a majority of these conditions. Recently, however, the molecular bases of three X-linked immunodeficiency disorders have been reported. These include X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper IgM, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, and X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. These remarkable accomplishments have been made possible through a combination of new knowledge of molecular signaling mechanisms between and within cells of the immune system and greatly improved approaches to disease loci mapping within the human genome. Improvements in the therapy of immunodeficiency diseases have been impressive, and the development of generally safe and effective intravenous immunoglobulin preparations and T cell depletion techniques that permit the use of non-HLA-identical bone marrow donors have been the most important advances over the past 14 years. The identification and cloning of the genes for several of the primary immunodeficiency diseases have obvious implications for potential future somatic cell gene therapy for these patients. The rapidity of these advances suggests that soon there will be many more to come.
Evasion of TNF-α-mediated apoptosis by hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) often causes chronic infection in humans, although the mechanisms for viral chronicity are not clearly understood. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-mediated apoptosis is a key element in a host organism's defense inhibiting viral spread and persistence. HCV has evolved mechanisms that antagonize host cell death signals so that virus propagation can continue unabated in infected cells. HCV core protein blocks TNF-α-mediated apoptosis signaling and inhibits caspase-8 activation by sustaining the expression of cellular FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). HCV core protein also blocks TNF-induced proteolytic cleavage of the death substrate poly (SDP-ribose) polymerase from its native 116-kDa protein to the characteristic 85-kDa polypeptide. A decrease in endogenous c-FLIP by specific small-interfering RNA induces TNF-α-mediated apoptotic cell death and caspase-8 activation. However, HCV core neither affects the association between TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNFR1-associated death domain protein (TRADD) nor TRADD-Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and procaspase-8. Thus, HCV core protein appears to play a role in the inhibition of TNF-α-mediated cell death. This chapter describes methods to identify inhibitory mechanism of HCV for TNF-α-mediated apoptosis.
Myocardial revascularization in patients with poor ventricular function.

Eighty patients with evidence of impaired ventricular function by ventriculography were reviewed. On the basis of the ejection fraction, these patients were divided into three groups. Those with ejection fractions less than 0.2 were considered in very poor condition, those with ejection fractions of 0.2 to 0.4 were considered in poor condition, and those with ejection fractions with between 0.4 and 0.6 were considered fair. Suitability of vessels for bypassing and the presence or absence of collateral circulation on the cinearteriograms was also noted for possible influence on result. Operative mortality rate in patients having complete repair, defined as bypassing all major vessels with significant obstruction, was 7 per cent. In 26 patients having incomplete repair, the operative mortality was 30 per cent. However, the late mortality rate was not favorably influenced by complete repair. Congestive heart failure was present in 33.7 per cent of patients; 70 per cent survived operation and are in improved condition. Of patients having complete repair, 75 per cent are in improved or good clinical condition, as compared with 65 per cent in the incomplete repair group. As patients with impairment of ventricular contractility are at high risk, it is believed that they should continue to be evaluated on an individual basis for bypass surgery and not categorically denied treatment.
Clinical Efficacy of an Ultrasound-Guided Greater Occipital Nerve Block at the Level of C2.

Background and Objectives The purpose of this prospective open-label study was to investigate the analgesic effects of an ultrasound-guided greater occipital nerve (GON) block at the level of C2, as the nerve courses superficially to the obliquus capitis inferior muscle. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of occipital neuralgia or cervicogenic headache were recruited for the study. Ultrasound-guided GON blocks at the level of C2 were performed by experienced clinicians according to a standardized protocol. Numeric rating scale pain scores were recorded preinjection and at 30 minutes, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after injection. Results A total of 14 injections were performed with a mean procedure time of 3.75 minutes. Anesthesia in the GON distribution was achieved for 86% of patients at 30 minutes postinjection. Compared with baseline, numeric rating scale scores decreased by a mean of 3.78 at 30 minutes (P Conclusions This prospective open-label study demonstrated successful blockade of the GON at the level of C2 using a novel ultrasound-guided technique. Significant reductions in pain scores were observed over the 4-week study period, and no adverse events were reported. The observations from this study provide important preliminary data for future randomized trials involving patients with occipital neuralgia and cervicogenic headache.
Battery-free RFID heart rate monitoring system

The goal of this research was to design an RFID based wearable platform capable of continuous heart rate monitoring for infants. Two TechnikTex P180+B conductive fabric electrodes with interconnects were integrated onto a baby onesie and connected to an RFID heart rate detection circuit that used an on-off keying modulation scheme to transmit heart rate data. The quality of the output signals obtained from the TechnikTex P180+B electrodes had 98.90% correlation with that obtained from a standard MediTrace-230 foam electrode. An antenna connected to an RFID reader captured the RFID tag information and fed the data into a Raspberry Pi processor that was programmed to compute the heart rate. The real time heart rate was calculated by using a four-heartbeat moving average window with an acceptable error rate of 3 bpm. The calculated heart rate was then communicated to a mobile app via Bluetooth. The app displayed the heart rate as a discrete value and also as a real time graph. A local alarm system integrated with the Raspberry Pi was used as an emergency backup system to alert in case the baby’s heart rate was not in the range of 80 bpm to 180 bpm and/or in case there was a communication failure between the RFID tag, RFID reader, processor or the mobile device.
Neuroblastoma Metastases: Leveraging the Avian Neural Crest

Neuroblastoma, an embryonal cancer of neural crest origin, shows metastases frequently at diagnosis. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Delloye-Bourgeois and colleagues demonstrate that neuroblastoma cell lines and patient-derived xenografts engraft and adopt a metastatic program in chick embryos. They identify Sema3C as a candidate switch that regulates metastatic spread.
A virtual sky imager testbed for solar energy forecasting

Abstract Whole sky imagers are commonly used for forecasting irradiance available for solar energy production, but validation of the forecast models used is difficult due to sparse reference data. We document the use of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and a 3D Radiative Transfer Model to produce virtual clouds, sky images, and radiation measurements, which permit comprehensive validation of the sky imager forecast. We then use this virtual testbed to investigate the primary sources of sky imager forecast error on a cumulus cloud scene. The largest source of nowcast (0-min-ahead forecast) errors is the converging-ray geometry implied by use of a camera, while longer-term forecasts suffer from overly-simplistic assumptions about cloud evolution. We expect to use these findings to focus future algorithm development, and the virtual testbed to evaluate our progress.
Das Problem der kleinen industriellen Gruppe

Die sozialen Probleme unterschiedlicher Gruppen innerhalb oder auserhalb der Wirtschaft sind naturlich keineswegs identisch; man kann sie aber im grosen und ganzen in eine der beiden oder auch in beide der folgenden Klassen einordnen. Nimmt eine Gruppe keinen vollen Anteil an der Gesellschaft oder Organisation, in der sie steht, dann kann der Grund sein: a) das die unmittelbaren sozialen Beziehungen zu geringfugig oder unbefriedigend sind; b) das die taglich wiederkehrenden gemeinsamen Verrichtungen nicht zu einer adaquaten Situation fur die Zukunft fuhren, d. h. das das wirtschaftliche Ziel der Gruppe nicht erreicht wird.
Mucocele mimicking a gallbladder in a transplanted liver: A case report and review of the literature

Biliary mucoceles after deceased donor liver transplantation are a rarity, and mucoceles mimicking a gallbladder from the recipient remnant cystic duct have not been described until this case. We describe a 48-year-old male who presented with right upper quadrant pain and was found to have a recipient cystic duct mucocele 3 mo after receiving a deceased donor liver transplant. We describe the clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings (including the appearance of a gallbladder), multidisciplinary approach and surgical resolution of this mucocele originating from the recipient cystic duct, and a review of the literature.
Supporting play exploration and early developmental intervention versus usual care to enhance development outcomes during the transition from the neonatal intensive care unit to home: a pilot randomized controlled trial

While therapy services may start in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) there is often a gap in therapy after discharge. Supporting Play Exploration and Early Development Intervention (SPEEDI) supports parents, helping them build capacity to provide developmentally supportive opportunities starting in the NICU and continuing at home. The purpose of this single blinded randomized pilot clinical trial was to evaluate the initial efficacy of SPEEDI to improve early reaching and exploratory problem solving behaviors. Fourteen infants born very preterm or with neonatal brain injury were randomly assigned to SPEEDI or Usual Care. The SPEEDI group participated in 5 collaborative parent, therapist, and infant interventions sessions in the NICU (Phase 1) and 5 at home (Phase 2). Parents provided daily opportunities designed to support the infants emerging motor control and exploratory behaviors. Primary outcome measures were assessed at the end of the intervention, 1 and 3 months after the intervention ended. Reaching was assessed with the infant supported in an infant chair using four 30 s trials. The Early Problem Solving Indicator was used to evaluate the frequency of behaviors during standardized play based assessment. Effect sizes are including for secondary outcomes including the Test of Infant Motor Performance and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. No group differences were found in the duration of toy contact. There was a significant group effect on (F1,8 = 4.04, p = 0.08) early exploratory problem-solving behaviors with infants in the SPEEDI group demonstrating greater exploration with effect sizes of 1.3, 0.6, and 0.9 at the end of the intervention, 1 and 3 months post-intervention. While further research is needed, this initial efficacy study showed promising results for the ability of SPEEDI to impact early problem solving behaviors at the end of intervention and at least 3 months after the intervention is over. While reaching did not show group differences, a ceiling effect may have contributed to this finding. This single blinded pilot RCT was registered prior to subject enrollment on 5/27/14 at ClinicalTrials.Gov with number NCT02153736.
Assessing Weblogs as Education Portals

Education is one of the key sectors that has benefited from the continuous developments and innovations in information and communication technology (ICT). Web-based facilities now provide a medium for learning and a vehicle for information dissemination and knowledge creation (Khine, 2003). Accordingly, developments in ICTs provide opportunities for educators to expand and refine frameworks for delivering courses in innovative and interactive ways that assist students achieve learning outcomes (Kamel & Wahba, 2003). However, the adoption of ICTs has also created tensions between traditional control and directiveness in teaching and student-centred learning, which relies on flexibility, connectivity, and interactivity of technology-rich environments. This chapter examines the introduction of Web-based technologies within a media studies course. The objective was to establish a community of learning, which provides students with a portal or entranceway into a common work area and out to networks of media related organizations. So doing, a pilot study was conducted within the Department of Communication at Texas A&M University to blend Weblog facilities with a classroom setting to enhance students’ interpersonal and content interaction, and build citizenship through participation and collaborative processes. Four key aims frame this study:
INTELLIGENCE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIO AND TELEVISION

NUMEROUS studies have been reported on the relationship between levels of ability and the extent to which learning takes place from the audio-visual media, including television. Although these have been sometimes contradictory and often inconclusive, there is no reason to question the judgment of Hoban and Van Ormer (3) who, in a review of 12 studies made prior to 1951, state: It appears that . . . there is a fairly high positive correlation between intelligence and learning from . . a pictorial-verbal medium of communication.
Active Search of Connections for Case Building and Combating Human Trafficking

How can we help an investigator to efficiently connect the dots and uncover the network of individuals involved in a criminal activity based on the evidence of their connections, such as visiting the same address, or transacting with the same bank account? We formulate this problem as Active Search of Connections, which finds target entities that share evidence of different types with a given lead, where their relevance to the case is queried interactively from the investigator. We present RedThread, an efficient solution for inferring related and relevant nodes while incorporating the user's feedback to guide the inference. Our experiments focus on case building for combating human trafficking, where the investigator follows leads to expose organized activities, i.e. different escort advertisements that are connected and possibly orchestrated. RedThread is a local algorithm and enables online case building when mining millions of ads posted in one of the largest classified advertising websites. The results of RedThread are interpretable, as they explain how the results are connected to the initial lead. We experimentally show that RedThread learns the importance of the different types and different pieces of evidence, while the former could be transferred between cases.
Engineering Creativity in an Age of Artificial Intelligence

Machine learning programs are getting better at solving problems every day. As manufacturing jobs are being replaced with increasingly competent algorithms, it is important to consider how, if at all, artificial intelligence can replicate human creativity. Indeed, the capacity to create beauty or harm lies at the core of this enterprise. And considering the means by which human consciousness is capable of introducing new ways of thinking and doing provides a useful entry point to discussing the role of artificial intelligence in creative work. In this chapter, we first contextualize human creativity vis-a-vis individuals, societies, and cultures. After employing a systems approach to creativity, we offer insights into the various ways artificial intelligence is becoming better poised to generate creative works. We then introduce a new model of creativity, called Creativity 4.0, and discuss how this model can be applied to the emerging fields of artificial intelligence. Our aim here is to situate proneness for creativity within emotional, cognitive, and sociocultural systems that fall outside the scope of machine learning programs. Implications for advancing creativity research and applications are discussed.
Effect of process parameters and electropolishing on the surface roughness of interior channels in additively manufactured nickel-titanium shape memory alloy actuators

Abstract Recently, laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) has been utilized to produce a NiTi shape memory alloy actuator with embedded channels for liquid metal forced fluid convection to increase actuator heat transfer rates. To enable further increases in performance, it is critical to characterize and control the surface quality of fully interior channels which have higher surface roughness compared to exterior top surfaces. This work utilizes a design of experiments methodology by varying laser power, scan speed, hatch space, scan pattern, channel orientation, and channel diameter on the as-fabricated surface roughness of the overhangs and walls of interior channels in NiTi. To enable post-process increases in surface quality, the channels are subjected to an electropolishing treatment and further characterized. Internal channel surfaces are characterized using optical profilometry and SEM imaging. It is concluded that channel orientation plays a prominent role in determining the surface roughness of as-fabricated interior channels, and a lower laser energy density results in the highest reduction in surface roughness after an electropolishing treatment.
Remote acoustic detection of cuts in a vibrating plate with stochastic input forcing in a reverberant environment.

A mechanical structure subject to vibratory forcing will often radiate sound. When remotely recorded, this sound depends on the vibratory forcing, the structure's frequency response function, and the structure-to-receiver acoustic propagation. Thus, successful remote acoustic detection of changes in a structure's vibration response between baseline and subsequent test recordings may require compensation for possible baseline-to-test changes in vibratory forcing and acoustic propagation. Compensation schemes for unknown structural forcing in an unknown reverberant environment that allow such remote detection are described here and found to be successful when the random forcing has a consistent power spectrum and the structure-radiated sound is recorded with an array of receivers. In particular, experimental results are presented for remote acoustic detection of 13–76 mm cuts in a vibrating 0.30-m-square by 3-mm-thick edge-clamped aluminum plate subject to 0.1–2 kHz base excitation in a reverberant laboratory. Radiated sound from the plate is recorded remotely with a 15-element microphone array and processed with the synthetic time reversal blind deconvolution algorithm to compensate for unknown reverberation. Cut detection success is compared for frequency-sweep and random-input forcing when this forcing is known and unknown, and when there are plate-to-array geometric changes between the baseline and test measurements.A mechanical structure subject to vibratory forcing will often radiate sound. When remotely recorded, this sound depends on the vibratory forcing, the structure's frequency response function, and the structure-to-receiver acoustic propagation. Thus, successful remote acoustic detection of changes in a structure's vibration response between baseline and subsequent test recordings may require compensation for possible baseline-to-test changes in vibratory forcing and acoustic propagation. Compensation schemes for unknown structural forcing in an unknown reverberant environment that allow such remote detection are described here and found to be successful when the random forcing has a consistent power spectrum and the structure-radiated sound is recorded with an array of receivers. In particular, experimental results are presented for remote acoustic detection of 13–76 mm cuts in a vibrating 0.30-m-square by 3-mm-thick edge-clamped aluminum plate subject to 0.1–2 kHz base excitation in a reverberant laborato...