cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Hand Assisted Versus Standard Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Suspected Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: We compared standard and hand assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for suspected renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 22 hand assisted and 16 standard laparoscopic radical nephrectomies performed for suspected renal cell carcinoma. Operative and recovery data were collected prospectively and from medical records as part of an institutional review board approved protocol. Patients completed pain, activity and the 12-item short form health related quality of life surveys preoperatively and postoperatively.Results: Although patients undergoing hand assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy had larger tumors (mean 6.3 versus 4.1 cm., p = 0.009), tended toward greater corrected mean specimen weight (658 versus 482 gm., p = 0.111) and had greater medical co-morbidity (p = 0.0228), mean operative time for hand assisted laparoscopic procedures was significantly shorter (205 versus 270 minutes, p = 0.0004). With experience mean operative time decreased for standard but not ...
An exploratory pilot study of childhood injuries on cattle farms in Jalisco, Mexico.

ABSTRACT Childhood agricultural injuries have been a concern in the United States for many years. Much research has been performed on the cause and prevention of such injuries. The North American Guidelines for Children's Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) have been developed in the United States to address the common agricultural tasks and injuries sustained by children. Data are lacking concerning the common agricultural tasks and injuries of children working on Mexican farms. The goal of the study was to determine if the NAGCAT guidelines developed for the United States may be applicable to children in Jalisco, Mexico. Interviews of local physicians were performed regarding their perception of common childhood agricultural injuries. Interviews about common childhood agricultural tasks and injuries were performed at 27 farms through the help of a local cooperative. Work practices at these farms were also observed. Emergency department records were reviewed for childhood agricultural injuries. Surveys of local ...
Oceanographic variability in shallow-water acoustics and the dual role of the sea bottom

Acoustic propagation in shallow water is examined. Multipath propagation and extensive boundary interactions, which along with a host of other phenomena produce a highly variable and often unpredictable acoustic field, are discussed. The responsible mechanisms, and hence the acoustic effects, cover a wide range of temporal and spatial scales and are classified as either deterministic or random, although the two types often act in concert. Because of extensive interactions with the sound field, the bottom can severely degrade waterborne propagation, although the sea bottom (and subbottom) can provide a seismic path that not only is relatively stable, but exists even under environmental conditions that preclude an effective waterborne path. Propagation in the bottom is particularly significant at very low frequencies. These various aspects of shallow-water acoustics are illustrated using the results of experiments conducted in diverse geographic areas. >
Infrared optical properties of CVD diamond films

Diamond films of 15–20 µm thicknesses were prepared by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition onto crystalline silicon substrates. The growth surfaces of the films were rough with polycrystalline crystallographic habits, while the substrate sides of these films were smooth and featureless as viewed by optical microscopy. A heated cast iron scaife was used to polish the rough growth surfaces, and free-standing films were removed from the silicon substrates by dissolving the silicon in an aqueous HF. Both infrared optical transmission and reflection spectra were measured over the range of 600–4000 cm–1. For polished films, near 70% transmittance was obtained over the whole range, while the transmittance for nonpolished films was much lower and varied strongly with the wave number. Absorptions due to carbon-hydrogen stretching bands as well as a silicon carbide phase were observed in the transmission spectra. The optical absorption coefficient and the refractive index were found to vary from as high as 150 to as low as 7 cm–1 and 2.41 to 2.49, respectively (depending on the film quality and the wave number). A weak signature of the two-phonon absorption band of diamond was observed. The relationship between deposition conditions and infrared optical properties of diamond films before as well as after polishing is discussed.
Correction: Metabolic reprogramming induced by ketone bodies diminishes pancreatic cancer cachexia

Author details The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA. Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA. Department of Genetic Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
Dynamic reconfiguration in a PSoC device

Cypress PSoC (Programmable System on Chip) is a device that consists of programmable analog blocks, programmable digital blocks and an MCU. PSoC has become increasingly popular in embedded systems due to its programmable analog and dynamic reconfigurable capabilities.
EKF-Based Recursive Dual Estimation of Structure and Motion From Stereo Data

The estimation of motion and structure from stereo-video streams is revisited for applications in ocean exploration and seaflooΓ mapping. Operational constraints require real-time processing to enable adaptive trajectory planning, and robust estimation to navigate optimal paths for collection of useful underwater stereo data. While the traditional joint estimation of motion and structure by way of an extended Kalman filter (EKF) provides a suitable recursive framework, the cubic computation growth with the number of feature tracks is a serious bottleneck. By treating the motion and structure as the states of two coupled filters with stereo feature correspondences as observations, a dual estimator is devised with the performance of joint estimation and computational complexity proportional to the number of features. We favor a sequential implementation to ensure unbiased estimation, in contrast to two parallel dual estimation schemes that generally produce biased updates. Stochastic stability can be established in terms of conditions on initial estimation error, bound on observation noise covariance, observation nonlinearity, and modeling error. Moreover, dynamic features can be treated effectively and efficiently by the removal or addition to a bank of filters, one assigned per feature. Experimental results with synthetic and several real data sets are presented to demonstrate the merits of the proposed recursive dual EKF-based estimator.
Configuration of a Southern Ocean Storm Track

AbstractDiagnostics of ocean variability that reflect and influence local transport properties of heat and chemical species vary by an order of magnitude along the Southern Ocean’s Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). Topographic “hotspots” are important regions of localized transport anomalies. This study uses a primitive equation channel model to investigate the structure of eddy kinetic energy (EKE), one measure of variability, in an oceanic regime. A storm-track approach emphasizes the importance of stationary eddies, which result from flow interactions with topography, on setting EKE distributions. The influence of these interactions extends far downstream of the topography and impacts EKE patterns through localized convergence and divergence of heat. Unlike for zonal averages, local contributions to the stationary fluxes from terms that integrate to zero in a zonal average are important. The simulations show a strong sensitivity of the zonal structure as well as the distribution and amplitude of sta...
Crossing over into neighbourhoods of the body: urban territories, borders and lesbian-queer bodies in New York City

The geopolitical focus on territory as a fixed and cohesive nation-state simultaneously conceals the ways territories form and are operationalised at other scales. At the same time, the fleeting ability of minority bodies to make and retain cohesive, property-owned territories overlooks the limited agency that marginalised groups possess while they continually reproduce social territories as they navigate their everyday lives. Lesbians, gay, bisexuals, trans and queer people began to develop urban territories – often dubbed neighbourhoods or gay districts – in which to find, build and share a sense of safety and refuge. Yet all urban territories are not neighbourhoods or districts because not all groups possess the power and capital to secure their boundaries through property ownership. In this paper, I draw specifically upon the experiences of urban lesbians’ and queer women's often overlapping public displays of affection and harassment in New York City to demonstrate the shifting dimensions of territory in these women's lives beyond the neighbourhood/district model. I make use of two cases: the popular ‘gaybourhood’ of Greenwich Village in Manhattan and the border zone of Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. Using a queer-feminist theoretical approach and drawing on Elden's geopolitical theorisation of territorial ‘volume’, I argue that a broader meaning of territory is possible. When lesbian and queer women produce and then return to them or their former sites, they experience what feminist theorist Gloria Anzaldua describes as ‘crossing over’. This approach highlights the role of the body for rethinking social and cultural territories and borders across scales. I suggest that territory plays a significant role at the urban scale as operationalised through the everyday movements of bodies.
Cell death from bursting bubbles: Role of cell attachment to rising bubbles in sparged reactors

Bursting bubbles are thought to be the dominant cause of cell death in sparged animal or insect cell cultures. Cells that die during the bubble burst can come from three sources: cells suspended near the bubble; cells trapped in the bubble lamella; and cells that attached to the rising bubble. This article examines cell attachment to rising bubbles using a model in which cell attachment depends on cell radius, bubble radius, and cell-bubble attachment time. For bubble columns over 1 m in height and without protective additives, the model predicts significant attachment for 0.5- to 3-mm radius bubbles, but no significant attachment in the presence of protective additives. For bubble columns over 10 cm in height, and without protective additives, the model predicts significant attachment for 50- to 100-micron radius bubbles, but not all protective additives prevent attachment for these bubbles. The model is consistent with three sets of published data and with our experimental results. Using hybridoma cells, serum-free medium with antifoam, and 1.60 +/- 0.05 mm (standard error) radius bubbles, we measured death rates consistent with cell attachment to rising bubbles, as predicted by the model. With 1.40 +/- 0.05 mm (SE) radius bubbles and either 0.1% w/v Pluronic-F68 or 0.1% w/v methylcellulose added to the medium, we measured death rates consistent with no significant cell attachment to rising bubbles, as predicted by the model.
Stable execution of contact tasks using impedance control

This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the performance of a nonlinear robot control algorithm on a contact task involving free motion, constrained motion and transitions between the two. The algorithm is an implementation of impedance control which uses end-point force feedback. Stable control of the force exerted on a rigid surface is achieved without recourse to a soft sensor. Motion control is achieved without inverse kinematic computations. It is unnecessary to switch between different modes of control at the moment of contact as the impedance controller is competent in all phases of the task.
Shear Stress Prevents Fibronectin Binding Protein-Mediated Staphylococcus aureus Adhesion to Resting Endothelial Cells

Fibronectin binding proteins (FnBP) on the surface of Staphylococcus aureus have previously been shown to mediate adherence of the organism to resting endothelial cells in static adhesion assays. However, in this study using well-defined flow assays, we demonstrate that physiologic levels of shear stress prevent FnBP-mediated adhesion of S. aureus 8325-4 to resting endothelial cells. This result suggests that mechanical forces present in vivo may influence the ability of staphylococci to bind endothelial cell surfaces.
Ultra-Deep Sequencing of Bisulfite-Modified DNA

Abstract Ultra-deep sequencing of bisulfite-modified DNA is considered the gold standard method for assessment of DNA methylation across the genome. In this chapter, an introduction to whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and reduced representation bisulfite sequencing are presented, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Specific topics include (i) sample preparation and study design; (ii) quality controls and other technical considerations for ultra-deep sequencing; (iii) testing methods for differentially methylated sites or regions, focusing on the beta-binomial model; (iv) annotation, visualization, and post hoc tests of results; and (v) experimental extensions to bisulfite sequencing. Specific applications of bisulfite sequencing to cancers, such as leukemia, and their findings are also presented.
Eupolauridine: A 1,6-Diazafluoranthene

Occurrence: Annonaceae and Eupomatiaceae (These two families are closely related botanically.)
Morphic Computing: Concept and Foundation

In this paper, we introduce a new type of computation called ‘‘Morphic Computing’’. Morphic Computing is based on Field Theory and more specifically Morphic Fields. We claim that Morphic Computing is a natural extension of Holographic Computation, Quantum Computation, Soft Computing, and DNA Computing. All natural computations bonded by the Turing Machine can be formalised and extended by our new type of computation model – Morphic Computing. In this paper, we introduce the basis for this new computing paradigm.
Improving the Reliability, Ease, and Efficiency of Section Staining in a Diagnostic Laboratory with the mPrep/g System for TEM Grid Processing

This study’s droplet method used a pipet tip box covered with Parafilm that was slightly dimpled to provide a depression to hold stain droplets. Grids were placed section-side down on droplets of 2% aqueous Uranyl Acetate (UA), for 10 minutes, picked up with forceps, and rinsed with a water stream from a transfer pipette. They were then placed on droplets of Reynolds Lead Citrate (LC) for 10 minutes and covered. The grids were then rinsed with .002 Normal NaOH, followed by a water stream rinse, blotted with filter paper, and stored until TEM examination. Two problems that come up using this method at times is damage to the sections as you pick up grid between staining and rinsing and having to add more rinses to the sections. With the mPrep/g method, 1 or 2 grids are placed directly into mPrep/g capsules at the microtome, into tapered grid slots that securely hold them even if a capsule is dropped. For staining, the capsules attach like pipette tips to lab pipettors. This study used a 200 μl 8-channel Gilson Pipetman to enable staining of 16 grids in 8 mPrep/g capsules. Grids were stained from reagents held in a 96-well plate (Fig 1). The first row of the 96-well plate held 40 μl of UA, the next 3 rows held 400 μl of water, then 40 μl of LC, then 3 more water rows with 400 μl of water. 8 mPrep/g capsules holding 2 grids each were attached to the 8-channel Pipetman, and dipped into the bottom of the UA reagent row. 35 μl of UA was then drawn into the capsules and held for 10 minutes. The UA was then expelled back into this row, and the capsules/pipette were moved to the first water row. In this row, 40 μl of water was rapidly drawn up and down 30 times (taking about 60 seconds) to rinse and agitate, and then repeated in the next two water rows. Then LC stain was drawn in and held for 10 minutes, followed by expelling and another 2x15 water rinses. The capsules were then rested on filter paper to drain off water, and removed and stored in the capsule storage box (which they came in) until TEM imaging.
Oceanic Mobility and Settler-Colonial Power: Policing the Global Maritime Labour Force in Durban Harbour C. 1890–1910

Recent scholarship on seafarers in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century has tended to emphasise the mobility and diverse geographical origins of the global steamship workforce. This arti...
Sclerosing polycystic adenosis – An update

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis (SPA) was first described in 1996. 1 The most common site is the parotid, but SPA may occur in the submandibular and minor glands. SPA in the sinonasal tract has been published. The reported age spectrum is 9–84 years. Rare cases associated with other lesions are on record. Cases with multifocality have been documented. SPA with a familial occurrence has been reported. Histologically, SPA is a sharply circumscribed, unencapsulated with acinar and ductal components. Cells show variable cytomorphology; foamy-vacuolated (sebocyte-like), apocrine, mucous, clear/ballooned, squamous and oncocyte-like features. In most cases, a cystic component is present. Cysts may be few. 2 The stroma is sclerotic, rarely myxoid, variably inflamed and frequently contains fat. SPA frequently (50%) harbors intraductal epithelial proliferations. These have often been labeled as dysplastic-ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The frequency of high-grade DCIS is
Lipoprotein Lipase Activity in Bovine Aorta

SummaryA lipoprotein lipase in the bovine arterial wall has been identified and partially characterized. The enzyme has a Km apparent of 1 mM for triolein in a phosphatidylcholine stabilized emulsion. The lipase was stimulated 20- to 30-fold by the addition of heated rat plasma to the assay medium. The activity exhibited a pH optimum at 8.6. Protamine sulfate (1.0 mg/ml) inhibited the activity by 50%, whereas 1.4 M sodium chloride inhibited by 85%. Sodium fluoride, an inhibitor of the hormone-sensitive lipase, had no effect on the activity. Additions of low concentrations of heparin or Ca2+ to the enzyme caused a slight stimulation of the lipolytic activity. A crude sectioning of the aorta revealed specific activity of lipoprotein lipase to be highest at the endothelial side of the artery.
Frailty and Mortality Outcomes in Cognitively Normal Older People: Sex Differences in a Population-Based Study

Objectives To characterize frailty in cognitively normal older adults at baseline and to investigate the relationship between frailty and mortality. Design Population-based prospective cohort study: Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. Setting Olmsted County, Minnesota. Participants Cognitively normal older persons aged 70 and older (mean age 78.8 ± 5.2, 50.2% male; N = 2,356). Measurements Frailty was assessed at baseline using a 36-item Frailty Index. Four frailty subgroups were identified based on the Frailty Index (≤0.10 (fit), 0.11–0.20 (at risk), 0.21–0.30 (frail), >0.30 (frailest)). All participants underwent comprehensive clinical and cognitive assessments. The association between frailty and mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results The median Frailty Index was 0.17 (interquartile range 0.11–0.22). Frailty increased with age and was more common in older men than in older women. Over a median follow-up of 6.5 years (range 7 days to 8.9 years), 500 of the 2,356 participants died, including 292 men. The frailest participants had the greatest risk of death (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.69–5.68). The association was stronger in women (HR = 5.26, 95% CI = 2.88–9.61) than men (HR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.98–5.02). Conclusion Baseline frailty was common, especially in older men, and increased with age. Frailty was associated with significantly greater risk of death, particularly in women. These sex differences should be considered when designing a geriatric care plan.
Hybrid Integration of an InGaAs/InP PIN Photodiode with an Ultrafast Sampling Circuit

The demand for high speed optical measurement techniques has been growing rapidly as the operating bandwidth of optoelectronic devices reaches well into the GHz regime. In order to measure ultrafast signals, complex autocorrelation and deconvolution techniques or expensive streak cameras are commonly employed. This paper describes operation of an alternative and less complex means of ultrafast optical measurement technique involving the integration of a high speed InGaAs/InP PIN photodiode with a GaAs non-linear transmission line (NLTL) sampling circuit in which the measured system response is as low as 4.1 ps FWHM.
The use of central nervous system manifestations in the early detection of digitalis toxicity

Cardiac glycosides have been used therapeutically for more than 3000 years. They have been the treatment of choice for congestive heart failure for many decades, and recently their clinical utility has been redefined. Despite increased telemetry and development of a sensitive radioimmune assay of serum digoxin levels and the availability of digoxin immune Fab fragments (Digibind) to treat digitalis-induced life-threatening dysrhythmias, toxicity remains a serious and common problem. A body of literature, old and new, speaks to the clear but potentially unrecognized role that digitalis-induced central nervous system symptoms can play in the early detection and management of digitalis toxicity.
Unexpected surgical difficulties leading to hemorrhage and gas embolus during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a case report.

Purpose To report the case of a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in which the preoperative evaluation of the patient gave no indication of the surgical difficulties that were encountered intraoperatively, resulting in substantial bleeding, a suspected gas embolism, and emergency conversion of the procedure from laparoscopic to open donor nephrectomy.
Stimulus Control And Drug Dependence

Drug dependence refers to a process in which an increasing proportion of an individual’s behavior is controlled by drug use vs. other maintaining events. Stimulus-control research is critical for an understanding of drug dependence because discriminative and conditioned stimuli are recognized as playing an important role in maintenance of drug use. Historically, the idea that stimuli can exert control over drug use has been conceptualized in terms of classical conditioning. Research employing the classical-conditioning model has demonstrated several interesting phenomena, but has not led to the development of effective treatment strategies. Consequently, this paper discusses the need to broaden our understanding of the role that environmental stimuli can play in the genesis, maintenance, and treatment of drug dependence. To do this, two recent experiments are reviewed that may facilitate this broadening. One experiment tested for the transfer of stimulus control over drug taking to stimuli in an equivalence class never paired with drug taking, and the other experiment examined the question of whether interoceptive (drug) stimuli can enter into equivalence relations with exteroceptive (visual) stimuli. Using the results of these two experiments as examples, the remaining discussion focuses on the role of stimulus control in the etiology and treatment of drug dependence and drug relapse. In concluding, a model is presented-based partly on the behavioral treatment of cocaine dependence-that may be more effective in eliminating stimulus control over drug use.
Anemia and Oxygen Affinity in Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Contrary to previous reports, our patients maintained on CAPD for periods up to 25 months showed no improvement in their hematocrit. However, in comparison with a group of hemodialysis patients, ou...
Sequential method for the electrophoretic analysis of barley varieties, including computer storage and matching of banding patterns.

A new approach to identify barley varieties by isoelectric focusing of three separate protein fractions is presented. Thin-layer agarose isoelectric focusing gels are used to separate hordeins, alb...
High Percentage of Evanescent Red Cell Antibodies in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Highlights Need for a National Antibody Database.

Objectives Alloantibody formation secondary to transfusion in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is a well-known phenomenon. Pretransfusion testing (eg, "antibody screening") protects patients from receiving incompatible red blood cell transfusions. Because alloantibodies have a tendency to evanesce (ie, become undetectable over time), however, this phenomenon puts patients at risk of a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction or even acute hemolysis. Methods We evaluated the records of 71 patients with SCD with alloantibodies detected during a 2-year period to describe their most common specificities and their rate of evanescence. Results We found that 81% of patients had at least one antibody that was undetectable during the study period; therefore, if patients were transfused with antigen-positive units at a facility that was unaware of their antibody history, life-threatening hemolysis could develop. Conclusions Evanescence is a real risk for patients with SCD, and national/regional databases of alloantibodies should be considered a priority.
You're crossing the line: Localizing border crossings using wireless RF links

Detecting and localizing a person crossing a line segment, i.e., border, is valuable information in security systems and human context awareness. To that end, we propose a border crossing localization system that uses the changes in measured received signal strength (RSS) on links between transceivers deployed linearly along the border. Any single link has a low signal-to-noise ratio because its RSS also varies due to environmental change, (e.g., branches swaying in wind), and sometimes does not change significantly when a person crosses it. The redundant, overlapping nature of the links between many possible pairs of nodes in the network provides an opportunity to mitigate errors. We propose new classifiers to use the redundancy to estimate where a person crosses the border. Specifically, the solution of these classifiers indicates which pair of neighboring nodes the person crosses between. We demonstrate that in many cases, these classifiers provide more robust border crossing localization compared to a classifier that excludes these noisy, redundant measurements.
An Experimental Investigation on Human Spatial Control Skill Development

Abstract: The advances of modern human-machine systems change the roles of humans and motivate us to promote our understanding of human functions in human-machine systems and their progress through development. This paper illustrates human spatial control skill development through a remote-control flight task, which involves agile system dynamics, multiple control inputs coordination, and long-duration repetitions. The results demonstrate that skill development is a nonlinear process that progresses from purely open-loop control, to the coordination of open-loop control and closed-loop modulations, and finally to the emergence of interaction patterns. The paper also discusses the specificity effect of practice and the transition to generalization through skill development. The techniques developed in this paper ensure the generality of the conclusions across tasks.
Charge Trapping Analysis of High Speed Diamond FETs

Charge carrier trapping in diamond surface conduction field effect transistors (FETs) has been analyzed. For these devices two methods were used to obtain a negative electron affinity diamond surface; either plasma hydrogenation or annealing in an H2 environment. In both cases the Al2O3 gate dielectric can trap both electrons and holes in deep energy levels with emission timescales of seconds, while the diamond – Al2O3 interface traps exhibit much shorter time scales in the microsecond range. Capacitance-Voltage (CV) analysis indicates that these interface traps exhibit acceptor-like characteristics. Correlation with CV based free hole density measurements indicates that the conductance based interface trap analysis provides a method to quantify surface characteristics that lead to surface conduction in hydrogenated diamond where atmospheric adsorbates provide the acceptor states for transfer doping of the surface.
Pathways to the geosciences through 2YR community colleges: A strategic recruitment approach being used at Texas A&M University

ABSTRACTThe adoption of enrollment-based budgeting at many institutions poses serious problems for geoscience programs that have been facing enrollment challenges in recent years, particularly in r...
The a → a′ Map

Let a ∈ ℚ ∩ ℤ p , a ∈ (0, 1). We define a′ ∈ ℚ ∩ ℤ p , by condition (3.7.0) with the restriction that $${\mu _a} = pa' - a \in \left[ {0,p - 1} \right].$$ (8.1) .
Integrins and Extracellular Matrix in Animal Models

Integrins are a family of transmembrane receptors that mediate interactions of cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents and cell surface counter receptors. Each integrin mediates interactions with specific sets of ligands and regulates distinct aspects of cellular function including attachment to and organization of ECM assemblies, cell migration, proliferation and survival, and mechanical force transmission. Integrins exert their versatile functions by establishing a transmembrane link between the cell exterior and the cytoskeleton, and by activating intracellular second messenger systems. In addition, cellular signals can modulate integrin activity and ligand interactions, enabling transduction of information from the inside of the cell to the outside. Many of the basic functions of integrins and their ECM ligands have been uncovered by studying them biochemically or with cells in culture. Integrin and ECM functions have also been determined genetically, defining their essential roles in the organism. The ongoing challenge is to integrate cell biological, biochemical, and genetical evidence into a coherent picture. I will discuss here genetic findings, focusing on the murine system, that have shed light on the developmental functions of integrins and their ECM ligands. Where suitable information is available, I will relate the genetical finding to results obtained with cell biological and biochemical approaches.
Multiscale and Distributed Visual Representations and Mappings for Invariant Low-Level Perception

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the multiscale and distributed visual representations and mappings for invariant low-level perception. One of the reasons for the high degree of computational complexity of perception lies in the inherent variability of the input. Such variability can be the result of noise, incomplete (or missing) data, and geometric or topological changes. Machine vision systems must not only perceive the identity of objects despite such variability but they must also characterize it because the variability in the image formation process, particularly that due to geometric distortions, inherently carries valuable information about the scene. One technique useful to achieve invariance to rotation and scale changes is the conformal mapping. The conformal mapping, also known as the complex-logarithmic (CL) or log-polar transformation, maps the logarithmically spaced concentric rings and the radials of uniform angular spacing into uniformly spaced straight hues. After CL mapping, rotation, and scaling about, the origin in the Cartesian (x, y) domain becomes linear shifts in the log-polar [ln(r), θ] domain. CL mapping has also been conjectured as an important cortical function by neurophysiological research. Following the CL mapping, one can use correlation techniques to detect invariance to scale and rotation within a linear shift between objects.
Interaction of soluble glucosyl- and mannosyl-transferase enzyme activities in the synthesis of a glucomannan

A neutral-detergent-solubilized-enzyme preparation derived from Phaseolus aureus hypocotyls contains two types of glycosyltransferase activity. One, mannosyltransferase enzyme activity, utilizes GDP-α-d-mannose as the sugar nucleotide substrate. The other, glucosyltransferase enzyme activity, utilizes GDP-α-d-glucose as the sugar nucleotide substrate. The soluble enzyme preparation catalyses the formation of what appears to be a homopolysaccharide when either sugar nucleotide is the only substrate present. A β-(1→4)-linked mannan is the only polymeric product when only GDP-α-d-mannose is added. A β-(1→4)-linked glucan is the only polymeric product when only GDP-α-d-glucose is added. In the presence of both sugar nucleotides, however, a β-(1→4)-linked glucomannan is formed. There are indications that endogenous sugar donors may be present in the enzyme preparation. There appear to be only two glycosyltransferases in the enzyme preparation, each catalysing the transfer of a different sugar to the same type of acceptor molecule. The glucosyltransferase requires the continual production of mannose-containing acceptor molecules for maintenance of enzyme activity, and is thereby dependent upon the activity of the mannosyltransferase. The mannosyltransferase, on the other hand, does not require the continual production of glucose-containing acceptors for maintenance of enzyme activity, but is severely inhibited by GDP-α-P-glucose. These properties promote the synthesis of β-(1→4)-linked glucomannan rather than β-(1→4)-linked glucan plus β-(1→4)-linked mannan when both sugar nucleotide substrates are present.
A Case for Web Service Bandwidth Reduction on Mobile Devices with Edge-Hosted Personal Services

We show that many popular mobile services suffer from excessive network bandwidth consumption. The root cause is that the existing mobile/cloud communication interfaces are designed and optimized for service providers rather than end user devices. Solving the problem is challenging, because of the conflicted interests of service providers and mobile devices. We propose Edge-hosted Personal Service (EPS), with which device-oriented solutions can be easily deployed without affecting service providers. EPS also enjoys other notable advantages, including enabling new mobile services, reducing loads on the cloud, and benefiting delay-sensitive applications. We demonstrate the usefulness of EPS by designing ETA (Edge-based web Traffic Adaptation), an effective solution for the excessive bandwidth consumption problem, and deploy ETA with a prototype EPS system. By exploring lightweight virtualization techniques, our EPS prototype system is highly scalable in terms of concurrent EPS instances, and secure in terms of resource isolation. The real-world evaluation shows that our ETA EPS can effectively reduce bandwidth for mobile devices with small overheads.
Quality improvement initiative to improve inpatient outcomes for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

To improve Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) inpatient outcomes through a comprehensive quality improvement (QI) program. Inclusion criteria were opioid-exposed infants ≥36 weeks. QI methodology including stakeholder interviews and plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were utilized. We compared pre- and post-intervention NAS outcomes after a QI initiative that included: A non-pharmacologic care bundle, function-based assessments consisting of symptom prioritization and then the “Eat, Sleep, Console” (ESC) Tool; and a switch to methadone for pharmacologic treatment. Pharmacologic treatment decreased from 87.1 to 40.0%; adjunctive agent use from 33.6 to 2.4%; hospitalization length from a mean 17.4 to 11.3 days, and opioid treatment days from 16.2 to 12.7 (p < 0.001 for all). Total hospital charges decreased from $31,825 to $20,668 per infant. Parental presence increased from 55.6 to 75.8% (p < 0.0001). No adverse events were noted. A comprehensive QI program focused on non-pharmacologic care, function-based assessments, and methadone resulted in significant sustained improvements in NAS outcomes. These findings have important implications for establishing potentially better practices for opioid-exposed newborns.
Maternal report of infant negative affect predicts attenuated brain response to own infant.

Parent-infant interaction is known to be influenced bidirectionally by parent and infant characteristics. However, it is unclear whether infant temperament affects parents' neural responses to infant stimuli. 85 infants (6-12 months) were filmed in distress-eliciting tasks, which were coded for infants' negative affect. Mothers' reported infant affect was obtained from the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form-Revised. Mothers' EEG activity was recorded while passively viewing photos of own, familiarized, and unfamiliar infants. Multiple regression indicated that mothers who reported greater infant negative affect showed a smaller difference in the late positive potential (LPP) response to own infant versus familiarized infant, controlling for researcher-coded infant negative affect. The findings suggest that parents' perceptions of their infant's temperament, but not independent measures of infant temperament, are related to electrocortical indices of emotional attention.
Mobile-Banking Adoption and Usage by Low-Literate, Low-Income Users in the Developing World

Due to the increasing penetration of mobile phones even in poor communities, mobile-phone-enabled banking (m-banking) services are being increasingly targeted at the "unbanked" to bring formal financial services to the poor. Research in understanding actual usage and adoption by this target population, though, is sparse. There appear to be a number of issues which prevent low-income, low-literate populations from meaningfully adopting and using existing m-banking services. This paper examines variations across countries in adoption and usage of existing m-banking services by low-literate, low-income individuals and possible factors responsible for the same. It is observed that variations are along several parameters: household type, services adopted, pace of uptake, frequency of usage, and ease of use. Each of these observations is followed by a set of explanatory factors that mediate adoption and usage.
Utilization of Neural Transplants to Analyze Regeneration in the Adult Mammalian Central Nervous System

During development of the mammalian central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous systems, presynaptic neurons generate axons that grow for considerable distances before reaching their appropriate target reGions. Once axons from divergent sources arrive at the proper postsynaptic area, they selectively recoGnize and synapse with specific terminal sites on the appropriate postsynaptic cell. Since the interactions between the presynaptic and the postsynaptic elements are very precise, individual neurons (e.g., granule and pyramidal cells in the hippocampus) may possess a precisely laminated afferent dendritic input, which originates from several different sources. During postnatal maturation of the nervous system, many neurons with axons in the PNS retain their ability to generate axons and reform specific synaptic connections. However, mature cells with axons restricted within the CNS are believed to lack the potential to regenerate a severed axon despite the apparent ability of uninjured axons to undergo some paraterminal sprouting and synaptogenesis. Thus, lesions of the adult mammalian CNS result in degeneration of neural elements within the injured region, including axons of passage, and produce permanent losses of functions that are associated both with the injured area and with the systems that project through this region. Due to the complex nature of intrinsic CNS connections, events occurring at both the presynaptic and the postsynaptic sites in response to axotomy could have deleterious effects upon regeneration.
Effects of the Number of Muscle-Nerve-Muscle Grafts on Rat Facial Nerve Functional Recovery.

Introduction Facial nerve denervation can be devastating for patients. Primary neurorrhaphy and interposition (IP) nerve grafting are common reinnervation techniques. Muscle-nerve-muscle (MNM) grafting is a lesser known alternative. After previously demonstrating significant return of function using MNM grafting in a rat facial nerve model, the authors compare the use of multiple MNM nerve grafts with that of single MNM and IP nerve grafts. Methods Thirty-six male rats were randomized into 4 groups: (1) repair with IP grafts, (2) 1 MNM graft, (3) 3 MNM grafts, and (4) control with no intervention. All groups had the lower zygomatic, buccal, and marginal mandibular branches of the right facial nerve removed. Return of movement and snout symmetry was measured over 16 weeks. Axonal regeneration and muscle atrophy were assessed and quantified. Results All intervention groups had significantly improved movement and snout symmetry compared with control. Rats in the IP group had significantly increased axon density compared with those in the MNM groups but with smaller axonal diameter than control rats. No difference in axon density or diameter was observed between MNM groups. Use of 3 MNM grafts and IP grafts resulted in preservation of similar muscle mass compared with the control and 1-MNM groups. Conclusion MNM grafting may be an alternative when other reanimation techniques are not possible. Level of evidence NA.
FRAILTY PREVENTION AMONG OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS

Older African Americans (OAA) are at risk for becoming frail in later life, which increases their risk of early death, disability, and institutionalization. Intervening to bolster physical and socio-emotional capacities at the first signs of frailty (i.e., during the pre-frailty stage) could reduce or prevent the development of frailty. However, we lack effective frailty prevention interventions, and there is little guidance about how best to prevent/delay frailty development among at-risk older adults. We present data and preliminary findings from the development and in-progress evaluation of the Frailty Prevention Program (FPP). The FPP is a transdisciplinary collaboration between primary care physicians and occupational therapy (OT). Over a two-year period providers will identify prefrail older OAA in the primary care setting and refer up to n = 200 prefrail OAA to receive either OT intervention to target the behavioral, psychosocial, physiologic, and environmental factors that contribute to frailty development (delivered 1x month for 4 months) or usual care. The OT intervention is standardized in that, for each patient, the OT evaluates the health behaviors, performance skills, performance patterns, and environmental characteristics that contribute to deficits in health promotion and prevention, activity and participation, and social engagement. Program feasibility acceptability, and cost sustainability measures are being collected throughout the study. Data to evaluate the primary and secondary outcomes is being collected at baseline and at months 4,7, and 10 months post baseline. We are also collecting qualitative data to better understand older OAA perceptions of frailty risk, and the notion of prefrailty.
Dry beriberi: a still existent and treatable condition in Western world. (P5.318)

Objective: To describe the presence and reversibility of nutritional polyneuropathy in Western world. Background: Thiamine is co-enzyme of pyruvate dehydrogenase, the rate-limiting step of Krebs cycle. Its deficiency provokes loss of ATP production and cellular damage. Neurons are exquisitely sensitive to anaerobic conditions, and neurological manifestations are predominant in the context of thiamine deficiency. Three classic neurological syndromes are recognized: dry beri-beri (a patchy axonal polyneuropathy), Wernicke encephalopathy (characterized by the triad of confusion, ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia), and Korsakoff’s psychosis (manifesting as retrograde and anterograde amnesia, as well as confabulation). High risk conditions are alcoholism, malabsorption, malnutrition, and chronic hemodialysis. Neuroimaging usually demonstrates abnormality in the mammillary bodies and medial thalami. Treatment is with high doses of intravenous thiamine. Design/Methods: This is a 29-year-old obese woman with recent history of gastric restrictive surgery, who was admitted to our institution for viral gastroenteritis and profuse emesis. She was found unable to walk, and neurology was consulted. Neurologically, she had mild confusion, with almost complete ophthalmoplegia and vertical nystagmus, normosthenia, normoreflexia, distal apallesthesia and abatesthesia, and truncal ataxia. Brain MRI showed abnormality in the medial vestibular nuclei. CSF analysis was unremarkable. EMG/NCV demonstrated patchy motorsensory polyneuropathy. B1 level was low at 31 nmol/L. She was started on parenteral thiamine supplement. One month later, her neurological exam completely normalized. B1 level was rechecked 129 nmol/L. Results: This patient presented with complete neurological symptomatology from malabsorptive thiamine deficiency precipitated by emesis. The absence of superimposed alcoholic neuropathy allowed to find pure dry beriberi findings on neurophysiological study. Rapid diagnosis and replenishment led to complete neurological recovery. Conclusions: Thiamine deficiency must always be considered in high risk patients with atypical neurological presentation. Pure patchy polyneuropathy is rare but highly suggestive of carential etiology. High doses of parenteral thiamine are safe and must be started immediately after drawing the hematic level. Disclosure: Dr. Loggini has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schwartz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Xie has nothing to disclose.
Author Correction: Rubber bands reduce the cost of carrying loads.

In this Brief Communication, the scale bar in Fig. 2a should be ‘0.1 m’ rather than ‘0.01 m’. This has not been corrected online.
High-level Specification and Modeling of Cyber-physical Systems

Software development for cyber-physical systems is different and more complicated than conventional computer-based systems, this is because of the hybrid nature of these systems and their complex general properties. This paper proposes a simplified approach to higher-level formal specification and modeling of cyber-physical systems as a way to raise the level of abstraction of the development of these systems. The Train-Gate System is presented as a case study that shows the specification of the timing constraints, modeling, and the simulation aspects of this study. The results of the simulation display the reaction times, response times, throughput, and the deadlines missed.
Advanced biotechnological approaches and gene manipulation in Populus species

Ovules of Populus deltoides were isolated from developing capsules and cultured on woody plant medium (WPM) containing a vitamin mixture supplemented with cytokinins, 6benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2eatin. Multiple shoots were obtained with immature ovules after 20 days from pollination. Generally, zeatin was better than BAP in inducing multiple shoots. The highest average number (56.1 ± 7.4) of shoots was produced from the immature ovules of 20 days post-pollination on WPM medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/1 zeatin. The average percent of in vitro germination was over 96,6 ± 4.2 % with the immature ovules of 20,26, and 32 days post-pollination on BAP and zeatin. Roots were formed after small clumps of shoots were transferred to half strength medium containing IBA 0.02 mg/1. A survival rate of 97% was achieved during the transfer of plantlets to a greenhouse environment. Light and scanning electron microscopes were used to investigate shoot initiation and development from immature embryos and expanded cotyledons after 1 month in vitro culture.