cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GLUT1-induced cFLIP expression promotes proliferation and prevents apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells

Enhanced expression of the facilitative glucose transporter, GLUT1, has been shown to inhibit apoptosis in several cell systems including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). A decrease in apoptosis could lead to increased VSMC numbers in neointimal and medial arterial layers under several pathologic conditions. The hypothesis underlying these studies is that GLUT1 induces expression of antiapoptotic and prosurvival genes that increase VSMC survival. Transcriptomic analysis of A7r5 VSMCs, in which GLUT1 was acutely overexpressed, showed a 2.14-fold increase in c-FLICE inhibitory protein (cFLIP), which promotes cellular growth and prevents apoptosis through caspase 8 binding. We confirmed that overexpression of GLUT1 induced mRNA and protein expression of both the long and short isoforms of cFLIP (cFLIPL and cFLIPS) in primary and stable immortalized VSMC lines as well as in aortas from GLUT1 transgenic mice. Increased GLUT1 reduced VSMC death by more than twofold after serum withdrawal, as evidenced by decreased caspase 3 activity and Trypan blue exclusion studies. GLUT1 overexpression resulted in a greater than twofold increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and live cell numbers, consistent with augmented VSMC proliferation. Lentiviral knockdown of cFLIPL showed that cFLIPL was necessary for the proproliferative and antiapoptotic effects of GLUT1 overexpression. Taken together, these data suggest that GLUT1 induction of cFLIPL expression augments proliferation and prevents apoptosis in VSMCs.
Performance Implications of Using VPN Technology for Cluster Integration and Grid Computing

For cluster integration and grid computing that bridges organizational network boundaries, potential showstoppers include security policies, firewalls and non-routable IP addresses. Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology can overcome these hurdles, but what are the performance implications? In this paper, we analyze the performance implications of using the open-source OpenVPN software. Our measurements include NetIO and the NAS parallel benchmarks. The main performance implications are additional latency (0.5 milliseconds) and potentially maxed-out CPU load on the VPN gateways. Effective bandwidth and the execution time of applications that run across VPN-connected clusters was affected only if both (1) the wide-area link is fast (above 83 Mbits/s, given our 1.4 GHz Athlon CPU) and (2) the application is communication-intensive. Moreover, when moving an application from running within a single cluster to running across multiple clusters, we show that besides potential "VPN slowdown" there is "hotspot slowdown": the grid topology can cause traffic hotspots on the inter-cluster links. The more nodes the cross-cluster application runs on, the worse the potential traffic hotspot.
Signal tracking fuzzy logic controller for DC-DC converters

A fuzzy logic controller is given for general DC-DC converters. The controller rule base comes from knowledge of converter operation. By controlling the switching duty cycle, a DC-DC converter can track a time varying reference signal having bandwidth beyond 20 KHz. Thus, the converter can be used as a high efficiency linear power amplifier with almost zero phase lag. Moreover, this performance is maintained under unknown load changes. Simulation results are included.
A highly reliable pyramid tree network architecture

A highly fault-tolerant pyramid tree network architecture is designed and analyzed. The idea of modularity is used to ease the VLSI implementation of the architecture. It has been shown that, besides tolerating failures in the operational processing elements, the proposed design can tolerate the spare processing element failures and link failures as well. An optimal switch structure, a well-defined reconfiguration algorithm, and a VLSI layout of the proposed design are also presented. A reliability analysis is provided, and it shows a substantial increase in system reliability of the proposed fault-tolerant pyramid tree over its nonredundant counterpart. >
Peritoneal drainage as definitive treatment for neonates with isolated intestinal perforation

Abstract Background/Purpose: To better define the indications for peritoneal drainage (PD) in premature babies with intestinal perforation, the authors reviewed their experience with this procedure in a tertiary neonatal intensive care setting. Methods: The charts of all neonates who underwent PD as initial treatment for intestinal perforation between 1996 and 1999 were reviewed. Those patients with pneumatosis intestinalis on abdominal radiograph had perforated necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) diagnosed; whereas, those infants with no pneumatosis had isolated intestinal perforation diagnosed. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of these 2 groups were compared. Results: Twenty-one premature neonates had primary PD between 1996 and 1999, 10 for isolated intestinal perforation and 11 for perforated NEC. Patients with isolated intestinal perforation had lower birth weights (708 v 949 g; P v 91%, P v 28.0 d, P Conclusions: Peritoneal drainage provides successful and definitive treatment for most premature babies with isolated intestinal perforation. For neonates with perforation caused by NEC, peritoneal drainage may provide temporary stabilization, but most of these infants require subsequent laparotomy, and few survive. J Pediatr surg 35:1531-1536. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Feasibility of barbed suture for incision closure in implantable chest ports

body. Regression analysis was performed to determine if there were statistically significant relationships between catheter tip migration distances and innominate vein angles, internal jugular vein access locations, subcutaneous pocket locations, number of catheter lumens and various patient demographics. Results: The range of catheter tip migration distances for the entire population was -4.01 to 9.97 cm with a mean of 1.49 cm 1.97. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between catheter tip migration distance and age (P1⁄40.0319), body mass index (BMI) (P1⁄40.0244), innominate vein angle (P1⁄40.0028) and dual compared to single lumen ports (P1⁄40.0199). Whereas port pocket location, venous access site, gender and number of days between initial placement and follow-up radiograph did not demonstrate statistical significance. Conclusion: Increased age, increased BMI, increased innominate vein angle and dual vs single lumen ports predict increased positional catheter tip migration for left internal jugular subcutaneous central venous ports. This information can be useful during initial port placement and also when deciding whether or not to revise a port with a catheter that has been inadvertently cut short.
Thermal conductivity of ordered mesoporous nanocrystalline silicon thin films made from magnesium reduction of polymer templated silica

This paper reports the cross-plane thermal conductivity of ordered mesoporous nanocrystalline silicon thin films between 25 and 315 K. The films were produced by evaporation induced self-assembly of mesoporous silica followed by magnesium reduction. The periodic ordering of pores in mesoporous silicon was characterized by X-ray diffraction and direct SEM imaging. The average crystallite size, porosity, and film thickness were about 13 nm, 25-35%, and 140-340 nm, respectively. The pores were arranged in a face-centered cubic lattice. The cross-plane thermal conductivity of the mesoporous silicon thin films was measured using the 3ω method. It was between 3 and 5 orders of magnitude smaller than that of bulk single crystal silicon in the temperature range considered. The effects of temperature, film thickness, and copolymer template on the thermal conductivity were investigated. A model based on kinetic theory was used to accurately predict the measured thermal conductivity for all temperatures. On the one hand, both the measured thermal conductivity and the model predictions showed a temperature dependence of k proportional to T2 at low temperatures, typical of amorphous and strongly disordered materials. On the other hand, at high temperatures the thermal conductivity of mesoporous silicon films reached a maximum, indicating a crystalline-like behavior. These results will be useful in designing mesoporous silicon with desired thermal conductivity by tuning its morphology for various applications.
Information Capacity of Brain Machine Interfaces

Brain machine interfaces (BMIs) are emerging as an important research area in clinical therapy. A large range of potential BMI control signals can be found in the brain. In increasing order of volume of brain tissue being sampled, these signal includes recordings of electric discharges from multi unit activity (MUA), summed population activity of thousands of neurons via local field potentials (LFPs), and electrical activity recorded from either the surface of the brain via electrocorticograms (ECoGs) or the surface of the scalp via electroencephalograms (EEGs). While each of these signals have been studied separately, it has been difficult to compare the potential that each signal has for general prosthetic control across studies. Information theory has been proposed as an abstract measurement to bridge this gap, however the maximum information rates of any experiment is limited by the parameters defined by that experiment (e.g. inter-trial interval length, number of targets). Here we propose a different measure of information, which we call information capacity, which measures the maximum possible information rate that a signal can provide. An advantage of measuring information capacity is that it can readily be compared between different signals and different tasks. We show how to calculate information capacity making linear Gaussian assumptions, and we discuss more general possibilities. We present a case study involving a rat BMI task involving either MUA or LFP signals
Genetics of primary intracerebral hemorrhage

Genetic studies of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) have begun to yield important biologic insights into the pathogenesis of this disorder. This review of candidate genes for PICH emphasizes the value of focusing on individual pathogenic phenotypes. One type of PICH in particular, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, is known to have specific genetic factors regulating both its familial and sporadic forms. Another promising research method is to focus on pathways involved in hemostasis that may be etiologically relevant to all types of PICH. Genetic studies will improve our understanding of the biology of PICH, and may eventually be incorporated into clinical decision making regarding anticoagulation.
Lead revision surgery for vagus nerve stimulation in epilepsy: Outcomes and efficacy

Abstract We present, to our knowledge, the first published analysis of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) lead revisions to incorporate quality of life, clinical response, and antiepileptic drug (AED) burden in postrevision clinical outcomes. Ten patients were followed and had no postoperative complications. Seven patients had improvement in quality of life, and three experienced no change. Eight patients noted a restoration of clinical response comparable with initial VNS implantation. Seven patients reported 30–60% improvement in seizure reduction, two experienced > 60%, and one noted
Examining Gender Differences in Self-disclosure on Facebook Versus Face-to-Face

Previous studies have shown that women disclose to their close friends more often than men. However, no study has compared the intimacy of their disclosures across different media and different relationship types. The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in self-disclosure between Facebook friends and between face-to-face friends. One hundred ninety-seven college women and 120 college men in this study were asked to report their levels of self-disclosure with three types of friends: an exclusive Facebook friend, an exclusive face-to-face friend, and a recently added Facebook friend. One-way MANOVA was used to test the hypothesis that women will self-disclose to their Facebook and face-to-face friends more than men. Results provided partial support for the hypothesis. Women disclosed to their exclusive face-to-face friends and exclusive Facebook friends more than men; however, men had more intimate discussions with their recently added Facebook friends than women did. Both men and women disclosed more to their exclusive face-to-face friends than to exclusive Facebook friends. Overall, these findings suggest that, regardless of the medium, both genders disclose more to the person they consider more intimate.
Beyond the Radiant Garden City Beautiful: Notes on the New Urbanism

The “New Urbanism” is a recent architectural and urban design movement that aspires to replace the sprawling, placeless metropolitan landscape with a denser and more integrated network of pedestrian–oriented communities characterized by revitalized public realms, ecological sustainability, and diversity of uses and users. Despite these commendable goals, the New Urbanism's selective rendering of the history of urban planning, its barely latent physical determinism, its superficial gloss on ecology, and its highly selective and exclusionary notions of community and the public realm render the principles and practices of the movement's proponents highly problematic. [Urbanism, architecture, planning, U.S.]
Thumb Sucking: Pediatricians' Guidelines

Thumb sucking is a common, generally harmless child behavior whose persistent practice occasionally leads to dental, dermatological, orthopedic, and psychological problems. When to treat thumb sucking should be determined by risk potential. With a few rare exceptions (e.g., hair pulling), thumb sucking related problems do not occur until after the age of four years and therefore, treatment is rarely necessary before then. Even after this age, treatment is not recommended unless physical and/or emotional sequelae are imminent or a thumb sucking child requests help in quitting. Thus, in most cases parents should be instructed to ignore thumb sucking. When intervention is necessary, it should be preceded by a 1-month moratorium on parental attention. Treatment should include a combination of monitoring with charts, incentives for successful days and various external cues to remind the child who forgets.
Interactive application for learning RTL code structures

A web based application has been developed to provide students practice in mapping HDL (hardware description language) code samples to the corresponding RTL (register transfer level) circuit architecture. This work is motivated by observations of difficulties students have both in interpreting existing HDL code and in using HDL to implement hardware designs which behave in the intended manner. The application was used for the first time in Fall 2010. Survey data indicates that most students found the tool very helpful in preparing for exam questions that require the students to determine how a given code sample will map to hardware.
Persistence of tungsten oxide particle/fiber mixtures in artificial human lung fluids.

Background During the manufacture of tungsten metal for non-sag wire, tungsten oxide powders are produced as intermediates and can be in the form of tungsten trioxide (WO3) or tungsten blue oxides (TBOs). TBOs contain fiber-shaped tungsten sub-oxide particles of respirable or thoracic size. The aim of this research was to investigate whether fiber-containing TBOs had prolonged biodurability in artificial lung fluids compared to tungsten metal or WO3 and therefore potentially could pose a greater inhalation hazard.
Profiling phenolic glycosides in Populus deltoides and Populus grandidentata by leaf spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Phenolic glycosides (PGs) are phytochemicals known to be present at up to 30% of dry plant mass in the Salicaceae family. These compounds are secondary metabolites that play an important role in the interactions between plants and herbivores by functioning as defense chemicals. The use of leaf spray as an ambient ionization source, along with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), is described here as a useful tool for qualitatively determining the presence or absence of a variety of PGs in Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood) and Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen). Sensitivity and selectivity were enhanced by the addition of sodium or potassium ions to the spray solvent.
Approach and Positive Affect in Toddlerhood Predict Early Childhood Behavior Problems

The aim of the study was to examine the moderating role of positive affect on the relation between approach behaviors and adjustment outcomes. One hundred eleven toddlers participated in a laboratory assessment of approach and positive affect at 24 months. Behavior problems were reported by a parent in the fall of the child's kindergarten year. Results supported our hypotheses that children who displayed high approach and high positive affect in both non-threat and low threat contexts were rated as higher in externalizing behavior problems. On the other hand, for children showing low positive affect, increases in approach in a moderate threat context lowered the risk of developing internalizing behavior problems. Implications for these findings are discussed including methodological considerations of differences among eliciting contexts and advantages of separating positive affect and approach.
Imperfect Choice and Self-Stabilizing Rules

A recent paper by David Levy (1987) focuses on “utility enhancing consumption constraints.” Levy concludes by noting that his analysis stays within standard utility maximizing theory, in contrast to my analysis of rule-governed behavior (Heiner, 1983, 1985a, 1985b, 1986, 1988a, 1988b, 1988c) which allows imperfect decisions that don't always maximize utility. I wish to show how our two theories can be integrated, thereby representing complementary, rather than conflicting, explanations. In the process, I argue that imperfect decisions are an essential factor in the stability of any rule that constrains freedom of choice. I also briefly discuss certain intrinsic problems with achieving “self-stabilizing” rules applied to moral teachings.
Assessing Self-Directed Learning

A means of assessing group achievement while simultaneously recognizing variance in learning outcomes and the means to achieve them.
Extended surface heat transfer

Preface. Convection with Simplified Constraints. Convection with Real Constraints. Convective Optimizations. Convection Coefficients. Linear Transformations. Elements of Linear Transformations. Algorithms for Finned Array Assembly. Advanced Array Methods and Array Optimization. Finned Passages. Compact Heat Exchangers. Longitudinal Fin Double-Pipe Exchangers. Transverse High-Fin Exchangers. Fins with Radiation. Optimum Design of Radiating and Convecting-Radiating Fins. Multidimensional Heat Transfer in Fins and Fin Assemblies. Transient Heat Transfer in Extended Surfaces. Periodic Heat Flow in Fins. Boiling From Finned Surfaces. Condensation on Finned Surfaces. Augmentation and Additional Studies. Appendix A: Gamma and Bessel Functions. Appendix B: Matrices and Determinants. References. Author Index. Subject Index.
Predicting height growth of sugar pine regeneration using stand and individual tree characteristics

Concern exists among managers and researchers that sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), a valuable, moderately shade-toleranttimberspecies, regenerationappearstobedeclining. Managementand restoration requireunderstandingfactorsleadingtosustainedsugarpineregenerationgrowthandoverstoreyrecruitment.Theprimaryresearchobjectivewastoidentifyfactorsinfluencingsugarpineregenerationheightgrowth.Datawerecollectedon sugarpineregeneration,includingheightgrowthandstandcharacteristicsacrosssixmanagedandeightunmanaged stands in the Lake Tahoe Basin, CA and NV, USA. Individual tree- and stand-level analyses were conducted using non-parametric statistical comparisons and regression. Results indicated low mean height growth rates and no relationship between canopy closure and either height growth or management history. Individual sugar pine seedlings grew significantly taller under unmanaged stand conditions with higher canopy closures while sapling growth did not differ statistically by management history. Individual tree-level height growth models neverexplained more than 35 percent of the variation. Stand-level models explained over 50 percent of the variationwithfewervariablesthantheindividual tree-levelmodels.Moreresearchshouldbeconductedtodetermine whethertheregenerationthatispersistingintheunderstoreywouldrespondpositivelytomoreaggressiveunevenaged silvicultural treatments designed for enhancing understorey pine growth.
Private Choice in Public Programs

In 2006, the Arizona Legislature passed two new educational voucher programs, each worth $2.5 million annually, for children in foster care and for children with disabilities. On November 14, 2006, school choice opponents filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the programs. Yet, as this report details, for decades the State of Arizona has operated voucher-style programs just like the new educational scholarships. These programs, ranging from educational aid to welfare to adoption assistance, give aid directly to those in need and allow them to spend it on the service provider of their choice, including public agencies, private organizations and even, in most programs, religious schools and institutions. Similarly, school choice plans like Arizona’s give scholarships directly to qualifying parents who can then select the public, private or religious school of their choice. Indeed, we found that Arizona already had six different educational voucher programs that help more than 22,000 students annually attend the public, private or religious school of their choice. And the total annual cost of $22 million for these programs dwarfs the $5 million allotted for Arizona’s new school choice programs. This report shows that voucher programs that give recipients the free and independent choice of an array of providers, including faith-based organizations, have a long and established history in Arizona. Vouchers for foster children and those with disabilities represent only a modest addition to a long-standing and sensible policy of providing services through efficient choice-based programs for those most in need.
Observations on Luminescence in Renilla (Pennatulacea)

1. Luminescent responses in the sea pansy Renilla kollikeri take the form of light waves which run over the entire surface of the rachis. As other workers have shown, the responses are controlled by an unpolarized nerve net, and are subject to facilitation. Records obtained by photoelectric techniques are furnished to show certain features of the response. 2. At moderate rates of electrical stimulation (1 per sec.), 2-3 shocks are required to evoke a response. At slower rates, more stimuli are necessary owing to decay of facilitator. At frequencies above 3 per sec., the response rate is slower than the stimulation frequency, owing to refractoriness in the conducting mechanism (c. 0.2 sec.). 3. Summation occurs at frequencies above 1 per sec. This results largely from fusion of the more persistent glowing of autozooids. Siphonozooids are responsible for the brief flashes. 4. Maximal estimates of latent period and flash-duration are of the order of 0.5 and 0.9 sec. respectively. 5. With repeated stimulation, the response intensity is subject to decay. Experiments suggest that this is a consequence of exhaustion of photogenic material. 6. On mechanical stimulation, luminescent waves are evoked at first; but with continued stimulation, refractoriness sets in, and responses become localized to the area of stimulation. Subsequent electrical stimulation reveals that the transmitter mechanism is fatigued, and excitability gradually returns over the course of the next 30-60 mm.
Drugging "Undruggable" Targets in Cancer

PL02-02 One of the most vexing problems in life science is that of “undruggability,” the difficulty of targeting certain biological macromolecules in vivo using existing drug or ligand discovery technologies. It has been estimated that as many as 80-90% of all potential targets, including many that have been extensively validated in humans and in animal models, are undruggable. The Verdine laboratory is developing powerful new chemistry-based platform technologies to address these undruggable targets. Specifically, the lab is developing “synthetic biologics,” molecules that, like biologics, possess the ability to target large flat surfaces, but that, like small molecules, are fully synthetic and hence can be modified at will. Progress on the development of synthetic biologics will be reviewed in this talk. Walensky, L. D.; Kung, A. L.; Escher, I.; Malia, T. J.; Barbuto, S.; Wright, R.; Wagner, G.; Verdine, G. L.; Korsmeyer, S. J. “Activation of Apoptosis in Vivo by a Hydrocarbon-Stapled BH3 Helix,” Science 2004, 305, 1466-1470. Walensky, L. D.; Pitter, K.; Morash, J.; Oh, K. J.; Barbuto, S.; Fisher, J.; Smith, E.; Verdine, G. L.; Korsmeyer, S. J. “A Stapled BID BH3 Helix Directly Binds and Activates BAX,” Mol. Cell 2006, 24 , 199-210. Bernal, F.; Tyler, A. F.; Korsmeyer, S. J.; Walensky, L. D.; Verdine, G. L. “Reactivation of the p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway by a Stapled p53 Peptide,” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 2456-2457.
The G12 coupled thrombin receptor stimulates mitogenesis through the Shc SH2 domain.

Our previous studies in 1321N1 astrocytoma cells demonstrate that thrombin stimulates Ras-dependent mitogenesis through the pertussis toxin insensitive G protein G12. While the direct effectors of G12 are unknown, Gα12 can transform fibroblasts, utilize Ras and Rac dependent signaling pathways and stimulate GTP loading of Ras. Here we have examined the role of the Shc adaptor protein in mitogenic signaling by the thrombin receptor in 1321N1 cells. As has been reported in other systems, thrombin stimulation results in tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in 1321N1 cells. We also show that transient expression of Gα12 results in tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, thereby identifying Shc as the most proximal G12 effector to date. In addition, we demonstrate by microinjection that thrombin stimulated mitogenesis requires Shc and occurs specifically through the Shc SH2 domain. Expression of the SH2 domain of Shc also inhibits Gα12 mediated induction of an AP-1 dependent reporter gene demonstrating that G12 utilizes Shc to propagate downstream signals. Our data indicate that Shc is essential for stimulation of Ras dependent mitogenesis and gene expression by the G12 coupled thrombin receptor.
Small-sinica of Hirstionyssinae Evans et Till and Myonyssinae Tiraboschi in northwest China

Objective To study features of species and the geographical distribution of Laelapidae Berlese in northwest China. Methods Using the methods of mite inspection of host surface and nest. Results Hirstionyssinae Evans et Till and Myonyssinae Tiraboschi in the northwest China belonging to 2 genera and a total of 28 species had been recorded,of which 27 species of Genus Hirstionyssus Fonseca in Hirstionyssinae Evans et Till and 1 species of Genus Myonyssus Tiraboschi in Myonyssinae Tiraboschi of Laelapidae Berlese.Conclusion The results provide scientific basis for more study and preventing and controlling by grasping Hirstionyssinae Evans et Till and Myonyssinae Tiraboschi of Laelapidae Berlese in the northwest China.
Law and Emotion

The field of law and emotion draws from a range of disciplines in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to shed light on the emotions that pervade the legal system. It utilizes insights from these disciplines to identify and assess the implicit and explicit assumptions about emotion that animate legal reasoning, legal norms, legal doctrine, the behavior of legal actors, and the structure of legal institutions.
Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections

The treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) infection is based on the recommendations of the Maastricht consensus conference 1996. The main indications for eradication of H.p. are peptic ulcer disease, gastritis with severe histological abnormalities, low grade gastric MALT lymphoma and a history of resection for gastric cancer. The results of recent studies demonstrate that the symptoms of non-ulcer dyspepsia are not improved by H.p. eradication. A family history of gastric cancer and an earlier operation for peptic ulcer are considered advisable indications for the treatment of H.p. infection. Triple therapies consisting of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or ranitidine bismuth citrate plus 2 antibiotics are established as effective and well-tolerated first line regimens. The most important antibiotics are clarithromycin and amoxicillin. The efficacy of metronidazole is impaired by an increasing rate of resistant strains. Only few new antibiotics are currently tested in clinical trials. After the failure of a first anti-H.p. treatment it is advisable to change antibiotics according to the probability of resistance, to increase dosage and duration of treatment and to include bismuth compounds in the second line regimen. An alternative option after failed triple therapies may be a high dosage and prolonged dual regimen with a PPI and amoxicillin or quadruple therapy consisting of a PPI, bismuth subcitrate, tetracycline and metronidazole.
Pkostate-type Gland in the Epididymis

AbstractWe confirmed the presence of a prostate-type gland in the epididymis of a 30-year-old white man by immunohistochemical analysis using prostate specific antigen and prostate specific acid phosphatase. We suggest possible histogenetic mechanisms for such previously undescribed morphological heterogeneity within this wolffian duct derivative.
Renal Pedicle Injury in the Multiple Injured Patient

AbstractRenal pedicle injuries were associated with multiple system trauma and a mortality rate of 42 per cent in 31 patients seen from 1959 to 1978. These injuries were to the renal artery in 14 patients, branches of the renal artery in 5, renal vein in 8, and renal artery and vein in 4. Priority of treatment for life-threatening associated injuries resulted in delayed diagnosis of the renal pedicle injury, which was not optimal for preservation of functioning renal tissues.Since 1968 an immediate excretory urogram has been performed for hematuria or a perirenal hematoma found during laparotomy for associated injuries. This study has resulted in the early diagnosis of renal pedicle injuries and immediate vascular repair has been attempted in 6 patients. Three of these patients survived with no hypertension on followup. A repaired renal vein in 1 patient resulted in normal renal function and renal arteries were repaired in the other 2 patients with reduced renal function.
Student Subjects: Human Lab Rats or Genuine Consumers?

For generations college students have participated in university studies for meager incentives such as a few points of extra credit, nominal cash amounts, or some other slight token of the researcher’s appreciation. In marketing research, students evaluate often products for which they are unfamiliar, project themselves into pre-specified situations, and are asked to make pretend decisions regarding purchasing behaviors for things they have never and may never consider buying in their lifetime. Despite the criticism of college students as sample subjects, they may be useful “human lab rats” playing an important role in the development of marketing and/or consumer research.
Your Walk is My Command: Gait Detection on Unconstrained Smartphone Using IoT System

Scientific gait analysis through the Internet of Things (IoT) is able to provide an overall assessment of &#x0022;observations of daily living&#x0022;. All existing biomechanical models for predicting injuries in the elderly mainly consider the gait related parameters. Their accuracy is limited because injuries due to falls are significantly affected by different gait events in the gait cycle. The objective of this study is to develop a biomechanical model for improving subject-specific prediction of when different gait cycle events will induce falls. For this research, we designed and implemented a smart-shoe with a Wi-Fi communication module to discreetly collect insole pressure data in common environment. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to use the gait biomechanical model implemented in smartphones to identify abnormal gait patterns for risk prediction. The proposed system, Your Walk is My Command, can warn the user about their abnormal gait and possibly save them from a forthcoming injuries.
Political realism and moral corruption

Political realism is frequently criticised as a theoretical tradition that amounts to little more than a rationalisation of the status quo and an apology for power. This paper responds to this crit...
A covariance model for the yield of large memory chips

Data from 4-Mb and 16-Mb memory chips show that a new method is required to predict the yield of very large memory chips with redundant word and bit lines. A model developed to do this indicates that gigabit memory chips, with a yield of less than 90%, may be less productive than 256-Mb "cut-down" chips. >
Chasing balance and other recommendations for improving nonparametric propensity score models.

In this article, we carefully examine two important implementation issues when estimating propensity scores using generalized boosted models (GBM), a promising machine learning technique. First, we examine which of the following methods for tuning GBM lead to better covariate balance and inferences about causal effects: pursuing covariate balance between the treatment groups or tuning the propensity score model on the basis of a model fit criterion. Second, we examine how well GBM can handle irrelevant covariates that are included in the estimation model. We find that chasing balance rather than model fit when estimating propensity scores yielded better covariate balance and more accurate treatment effect estimates. Additionally, we find that adding irrelevant covariates to GBM increased imbalance and bias in the treatment effects. The findings from this paper have useful implications for other work focused on improving methods for estimating propensity scores.
Carbon Sequestration and Optimization of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery

There has been a strong emphasis on the development of safe and economical carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies in recent years because of rising concerns about carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fueled power plants. Two technologies that show promise for CCUS application are enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and enhanced gas recovery (EGR), where CO2 is used as a working fluid to extract oil and natural gas respectively from depleted reservoirs. Permanent carbon sequestration is achieved as a byproduct due to subsurface fluid losses throughout the life of the system. In this chapter, numerical simulations of subsurface flow in EOR are conducted using the multiphase flow solver COZSim. For EGR simulations, the TOUGH2 (Transport of Unsaturated Groundwater and Heat) code is employed. An optimization code based on a multi-objective genetic algorithm is combined with COZSim and TOUGH2 and modified for EOR and EGR application respectively. Using GA-COZSim and GA-TOUGH2, the CO2 injection rates are optimized for both constant mass and constant pressure injection scenarios to manage the production of methane or oil for EGR and EOR respectively to ensure high output for the entire life of the system thus allowing for more efficient use of CO2. The results of this study highlight the scope of EGR and EOR technologies along with CO2 sequestration for consideration of deployment on a commercial scale. This chapter presents a review of the authors’ previous work reported in the literature on EOR (Safi et al., Chem Eng Sci 144:30–38, 2016 [1]) and EGR (Biag et al., Energy 94:78–86, 2016 [2]) simulations and optimization.
Effect of Certificate of Need Law on the intensity of competition: The market for emergency care

Abstract Purpose This article aims to contribute to the academic literature in better understanding the impact of Certificate of Need (CON) Law on Emergency Department (ED) care. Impact of CON Law on ED competition remains an unanswered empirical question. Methods We examine the impact of CON Law and its stringency on the intensity of competition (rivalry among competitors) between EDs measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). We then estimate the effects of CON Law on HHI by treating CON as an exogenous (endogenous) variable. Findings On average the CON legislation enhances ED competition. A possible reason is that the law hinders predatory behavior, and therefore acts as an effective anti-trust tool. Other findings indicate that competition is found to be positively related to a state's population size and median income and negatively related with the prevalence of employer provided insurance and magnitude of illegal immigration in a state. Practical implications This article sheds some light on how political regulations could affect healthcare market and hence may provide public policy makers some insights on reducing healthcare cost. Originality Our analysis of the impact of CON regulation on ED competition significantly contributes to the healthcare and strategy literature. The law potentially serves as an anti-trust tool in the hands of the government. We extend the empirical literature by treating CON Law and its stringency as exogenous (endogenous). Our comprehensive analysis considers a host of control variables such as population demographics, their health status and access to health care, healthcare facilities, political environment, in addition to the CON features.
Impact of errors in short wave radiation and its attenuation on modeled upper ocean heat content

Photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and its attenuation with the depth represent a forcing (source) term in the governing equation for the temperature in the oceanic dynamical models. PAR usually comes from the atmospheric model predictions, whereas PAR’s attenuation schemes are internally prescribed (estimated) inside the oceanic dynamical model. We perform sensitivity analyses to investigate the impact that errors in model surface PAR and vertical attenuation of PAR have on the upper ocean model heat content. In the Monterey Bay area, we show that with a decrease in water clarity, the relative error in surface PAR introduces a larger error in the modeled upper 25 m ocean heat content than the same magnitude relative error in the attenuation coefficient. For Jerlov’s type “IA” water (attenuation coefficient is 0.049 m−1), the relative error in surface PAR introduces an error twice as large into the model heat content as the same magnitude relative error in the attenuation coefficient. For the more turbid water Jerlov’s type “III” (attenuation coefficient is 0.127 m−1), the relative error in surface PAR introduces error seven times as large into the model heat content than the same magnitude relative error in the attenuation coefficient. We present how the upper ocean heat content sensitivities to errors in PAR and its attenuation change in space and time. While the sensitivities to the errors in surface PAR are all positive, sensitivities to the errors in attenuation coefficient have positive and negative values, depending on location. They are positive in shallower water for locations on the shelf in the northern part of the bay and negative in deeper offshore waters. Sensitivities derived provide a capability to understand and control the impact of errors in PAR and its attenuation on the upper ocean model heat content predictions.
Ultrafast photonic systems for FBG sensing in detonation and shock wave experiments

Ultrafast high speed photonics are shown to provide the necessary temporal and spectral information required for understanding FBG response under impulsive loading from either high explosive detonation or an inert shock wave interaction. Demonstration of both, chirped and uniform, silica based FBGs are presented for sensing under harsh conditions that vary from thermal ignition in high explosives to inert tracking of high pressure shock waves. Ultrafast laser based chirped pulse methods are used to time-stretch and streak the spectral response of the FBG sensor to provide information about material response under loading. Coherent broadband pulses from a femtosecond modelocked fiber laser at 1560 nm are used to illuminate and interrogate the FBG at a repetition rate of 100 MHz. After reflecting off the FBG, chromatic dispersion is applied to time stretch the pulse and separate spectral channels for detection with a 35 GHz photoreceiver and recording with a 25 GHz digitizing oscilloscope. Results include pressure wave tracking in weak inert shocks and pressure measurements in thermal ignition of high explosives detonation. The focus of the presentation is present the method and tools used for this approach to high speed FBG sensing.
The impact of family functioning on pulling styles among adolescents with trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder)

Abstract Despite aversive impact amongst youths, trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder, HPD) literature demonstrates a lack of research in several critical domains including adolescent HPD, HPD pulling styles (i.e. focused and automatic pulling) and family functioning. The present study sought to address these limitations through the examination of (1) family functioning within the context of adolescent HPD, (2) family functioning in relation to adolescent pulling styles, and (3) characteristics of an HPD adolescent sample relative to pulling styles. In total, fifty-seven adolescent-parent dyads (41 adolescents with HPD and 16 matched controls) from a larger investigation were included. Participants completed an assessment battery including diagnostic interviews and self-report measures pertaining to comorbidity, pulling styles and family functioning. Regression analyses indicated that diagnostic status (i.e. HPD adolescent or control) failed to predict family functioning. Family functioning also failed to predict the degree to which adolescents reported engaging in focused or automatic pulling. Examination of sample characteristics indicated both focused and automatic pulling styles to some extent, with a large portion of individuals (compared to prior research) demonstrating solely focused pulling behavior. Implications for these findings, as well as limitations and avenues for further research are discussed.
Modeling the Effectiveness of Bifenthrin for Reducing Populations of Japanese and Oriental Beetle Larvae in Nursery Containers

Abstract Preplant potting mix incorporation of Talstar 0.2G (bifenthrin) can prevent root weevil and white grub infestations in container-grown nursery crops. Analysis of bifenthrin residues from potting media aged under northern nursery conditions indicated that this insecticide has a half-life of at least 3 years, irrespective of medium composition. Dose-response tests of bifenthrin for controlling Japanese and oriental beetle larvae indicated that the LD50 for these species is approximately 1.1 and 1.7 parts per million (ppm), respectively. These data suggest that >95% larval mortality of these scarab species can be expected up to three years following treatment of media with 10 ppm bifenthrin, and >99.9% larval mortality is expected for at least three years following treatment of media with 20 ppm bifenthrin.
Effective Educational Leadership Training for Improving Student Learning Outcomes

In the required course work of many programs in Educational Leadership, doctoral candidates typically engage in various forms of analysis and synthesis about transformative leadership. Coursework in ethical education; transformational learning; creativity, inquiry, and innovative leadership; quantitative research methods; qualitative research methods, and leading organizational change form the basis of many courses of study. Evidence in the literature overwhelmingly support the position that educational leaders are highly effective, when engaging in both transformational and organizational development practices. Their effectiveness can also benefit student learning outcomes. This paper draws from the main points of all of the afore mentioned to illustrate how the effective educational leadership training can benefit student transformative educational leaders. The paper concludes that investment in educational leadership training is a pathway for large-scale education improvement.
Enabling trapped ion quantum computing with MEMS technology

Practical-scale quantum computing using trapped atomic ions requires non-conventional integration technologies in mechanical and optical domains. We present the design and operation of our system where MEMS technology provides critical enabling components.
Binaural Speech Understanding With Bilateral Cochlear Implants in Reverberation

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate whether bilateral cochlear implant (CI) listeners who are fitted with clinical processors are able to benefit from binaural advantages under rev...
Ordnen von Brüchen

Das Ordnen von Bruchen wurde schon beim Vergleich der Steigungen angesprochen. Fur Bruche mit positivem Nenner und Zahler gilt: \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{c}{d}\) genau dann, wenn ad < bc. Diese kann durch Bringen auf den Hauptnenner und anschliesendes Vergleichen der Zahler erkannt werden oder indem man die Ungleichung mit dem Hauptnenner \((b \cdot d)\) durchmultipliziert.
Counter-rotational cell flows drive morphological and cell fate asymmetries in mammalian hair follicles

Organ morphogenesis is a complex process coordinated by cell specification, epithelial–mesenchymal interactions and tissue polarity. A striking example is the pattern of regularly spaced, globally aligned mammalian hair follicles, which emerges through epidermal-dermal signaling and planar polarized morphogenesis. Here, using live-imaging, we discover that developing hair follicles polarize through dramatic cell rearrangements organized in a counter-rotational pattern of cell flows. Upon hair placode induction, Shh signaling specifies a radial pattern of progenitor fates that, together with planar cell polarity, induce counter-rotational rearrangements through myosin and ROCK-dependent polarized neighbour exchanges. Importantly, these cell rearrangements also establish cell fate asymmetry by repositioning radial progenitors along the anterior–posterior axis. These movements concurrently displace associated mesenchymal cells, which then signal asymmetrically to maintain polarized cell fates. Our results demonstrate how spatial patterning and tissue polarity generate an unexpected collective cell behaviour that in turn, establishes both morphological and cell fate asymmetry. Cetera et al. show that hair follicle development is characterised by counter-rotational cell rearrangements, which depend on myosin and Shh signalling, and direct cell fate asymmetry.
Do Investors Still Gravitate to Preferred Habitats on the US Treasury Yield Curve

The purpose of this study is to test the preferred habitat theory non-econometrically using interviews with the help of a questionnaire for self-guidance on a group of focused investors. Frequencies and simple percentages were used to analyze data. Though many generations of post-World War II economics and finance students were taught that the nature of the liabilities on the balance sheet and the desire to avoid mismatches against assets caused particular classes of investors to gravitate to a preferred habitat on the yield curve, our study based on the responses to questionnaires by a group of U.S. based bond traders and risk analysts shows that more than half of the respondents have no preference as to where on the curve they trade, whether the trade is on behalf of their customers or for the house, and that their arbitrage strategies are driven by opportunities for profit.