cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Matrix partial-fraction expansion method

A method for partial-fraction expansion of m × p transfer functions H(s) is presented, and a general formula is given. The procedure does not require derivatives for the case of repeated roots and it is suitable for digital computer applications.
Using computer simulation to mitigate risk in electricity generation/consumption collaboration policies

The electric utility industry has undergone fundamental change in the last decade. Foremost of these changes have been numerous deregulation attempts. Producers and large consumers have built business models based upon large volume transactions, which lead to smooth production and volume discounting. The risks associated with using these traditional business models in deregulated markets are many. This paper describes the development of a computer simulation environment that models a novel collaborative strategy proposed by a local electricity utility to mitigate highly varying load situations demanded by the largest steel-producing region in the United States. Through the use of this model, collaborative strategies for effective electricity generation and usage are developed and analyzed.
Population genetics of grotto sculpin ( Cottus specus ), a new cave-adapted fish species

The grotto sculpin (Cottus specus) is a troglomorphic fish endemic to cave systems in Perry County, Missouri. These fish are state-threatened and were recently listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Due to the unstable nature of the cave environment, grotto sculpins are highly susceptible to pollution via agricultural and waste runoff. Here we provide a summary of population genetic diversity within the range of the grotto sculpin. Samples from twenty-one cave, surface, and resurgence sites within and surrounding the Bois Brule drainage in Perry County, southeast Missouri, USA were collected and sequence data from the mitochondrial control were analyzed using analysis of molecular variance, maximum likelihood, parsimony, and Bayesian techniques. We found a substantial degree of divergence from surface populations of Midlands and Black River banded sculpin races (7.7–8.0 %). Within the Bois Brule drainage, two distinct lineages of grotto sculpin were identified which correspond with northern and southern cave system boundaries and may represent independent cave invasions.
A new catalyst for the synthesis of N,N-biphenylurea from aniline and dimethyl carbonate

An environmentally benign method for the synthesis of biphenylurea (BPU) in the presence of ecofriendly catalysts has been reported. Catalytic activity of various metal aluminophosphates, M-AlPO4 (M = V, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) and cobalt supported on hydrated Al2O3, SiO2 and ZrO2 has been investigated in the synthesis of BPU from aniline and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). All the catalysts used are amorphous. The catalytic activity studies have been carried out in the liquid phase under refluxing conditions. Formation of BPU is found to depend on the type of the catalyst, the molar ratio of aniline to DMC and the duration of the reaction. N-Methylaniline and methyl -N-phenylcarbamate are formed as by-products of the reaction. Of all the catalysts used, Co-AlPO4 has been found to yield the highest percentage of BPU whereas cobalt supported hydrated Al2O3, SiO2 and ZrO2 failed to give any BPU.
Routability checking for three-dimensional architectures

We present a novel symbolic routability checking approach for three-dimensional interconnect layout. The model considered is a general architecture that can fit into different applications, such as ASIC, multichip modules, field-programmable gate arrays, and reconfigurable computing architectures. The method can incrementally incorporate additional constraints driven by timing, performance, and design. We used the latest satisfiability solver to validate the effectiveness of our approach. The experimental results demonstrate the encouraging performance on difficult routing benchmarks.
Characterization of a ramped gradient DTL: experiment and theory

An experimental demonstration confirming the beam dynamics of a ramped-gradient drift-tube linac (RGDTL) was performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The RGDTL was designed to meet the requirements of maximum beam acceleration, minimum longitudinal and transverse emittance growth, and acceptable wall power loss. At low beam energies, transverse-magnet focusing is weak and the RF defocusing must be minimized. As the beam energy increases, stronger RF defocusing can be tolerated and the RF electric field gradient can increase. A detailed comparison of theory and experiment was carried out. Experimental data and theory were in good agreement. >
Changes at USGS

Charles “Chip” Groat, director of the U.S. Geological Survey since 1998, resigned from the agency on 17 June to become founding director of The University of Texas at Austin's new Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy. P. Patrick Leahy, the Survey's associate director for geology, has been named as interim director of USGS. A permanent director must be nominated by U.S. President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
The CSCW forum

The author examines the computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) enterprise from historical, demographic, geographic, and linguistic perspectives. He also extends some earlier analyses of activity and technology content. The guiding analogy is that CSCW, rather than an existing or emerging field or discipline, is more profitably regarded as a forum, where researchers and developers with diverse backgrounds can mingle and shop before returning to their scattered homes. Several different perspectives are carefully identified. It is pointed out that by avoiding assumptions of widely overlapped interests, shared priorities, and even a common language, by focusing on differences and the patterns among them, one can avoid frustration and better understand what can be learned from other participants. >
Packaging actomyosin-based biomolecular motor-driven devices for nanoactuator applications

Biomolecular motors such as the muscle protein myosin with its partner protein actin hold great promise for actuation in hybrid nanoscale biomicroelectromechanical systems devices (bio-MEMS), particularly for future biomedical applications that involve highly localized delivery of biomolecules over short distances (e.g., micrometers) to specific tissue or cellular locations. Two fundamental issues in the construction and packaging of actomyosin-based nanoactuators are the ability to electrically insulate microelectrical components while maintaining both biocompatibility and also compatibility with our functional assays for prototype development and identification of conditions for storage of assembled devices. Here, we show that sputter coating with SiO/sub 2/ provides a straightforward method for electrical insulation that can be readily integrated into existing assays of myosin function in a bio-MEMS setting. We also report using in vitro motility analysis that both rabbit skeletal muscle heavy meromyosin (HMM) and fish (Fundulus heteroclitus) myosin remained functional for at least six days in a bio-MEMS setting when hydrating conditions were maintained. The speed of actin sliding was faster after six days when rabbit HMM was stored in 10% DMSO than in its absence, but there was no effect of DMSO during storage on fish myosin. The speed of actin translocation by fish myosin was significantly increased when adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), the chemical energy source for myosin function, was replaced by the analog 2' deoxy-ATP, as has been previously reported for rabbit HMM. Taken together, these results provide new direction for modulation and control of actomyosin-based nanoactuators and also for long-term storage of assembled nanoactuators.
Methylation of histone H4 at arginine 3 occurs in vivo and is mediated by the nuclear receptor coactivator PRMT1

Abstract Posttranslational modifications of histone amino termini play an important role in modulating chromatin structure and function [1–3]. Lysine methylation of histones has been well documented [4, 5], and recently this modification has been linked to cellular processes involving gene transcription and heterochromatin assembly [6–9]. However, the existence of arginine methylation on histones has remained unclear. Recent discoveries of protein arginine methyltransferases, CARM1 and PRMT1, as transcriptional coactivators for nuclear receptors suggest that histones may be physiological targets of these enzymes as part of a poorly defined transcriptional activation pathway [10–12]. Here we show by using mass spectrometry that histone H4, isolated from asynchronously growing human 293T cells, is methylated at arginine 3 (Arg-3) in vivo. In support, a novel antibody directed against histone H4 methylated at Arg-3 independently demonstrates the in vivo occurrence of this modification and reveals that H4 Arg-3 methylation is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes. Finally, we show that PRMT1 is the major, if not exclusive, H4 Arg-3 methyltransfase in human 293T cells. These findings suggest a role for arginine methylation of histones in the transcription process.
Radiative cooling of solar cells

Standard solar cells heat up under sunlight. The resulting increased temperature of the solar cell has adverse consequences on both its efficiency and its reliability. We introduce a general approach to radiatively lower the operating temperature of a solar cell through sky access, while maintaining its solar absorption. We first present an ideal scheme for the radiative cooling of solar cells. For an example case of a bare crystalline silicon solar cell, we show that the ideal scheme can passively lower its operating temperature by 18.3 K. We then demonstrate a microphotonic design based on real material properties that approaches the performance of the ideal scheme. We also show that the radiative cooling effect is substantial, even in the presence of significant convection and conduction and parasitic solar absorption in the cooling layer, provided that we design the cooling layer to be sufficiently thin.
Overt Verbal Responding during fMRI Scanning: Empirical Investigations of Problems and Potential Solutions

This paper presents a pair of studies designed to empirically explore the severity of potential artifacts associated with overt verbal responding during fMRI scanning and to examine several different solutions to these artifacts. In Study One, we compared susceptibility artifacts, signal-to-noise ratios, and activation patterns when overt versus covert verbal responses were elicited during fMRI scanning, using both individual and group analyses. The results indicated that different patterns of brain activation were elicited during covert as compared to overt verbal responses. This suggests that covert responses cannot be used as a simple substitute for overt verbal responses. Further, the results suggested that the use of overt verbal responses during fMRI scanning can produce interpretable results if: (1) the primary comparison is between two conditions that both use overt verbal responses, and (2) analyses are conducted on pooled group data rather than individual participant data. In Study Two, we evaluated the feasibility and validity of a method for acquiring participants' overt responses during fMRI scanning. The results indicated that our method was very accurate in acquiring the content of participant's responses. Further, inspection of the responses demonstrated that participants do not always comply with task instructions and highlighted the importance of obtaining behavioral performance measures during fMRI scanning.
Heterosexual Instrumentalism: Past and Future Directions:

Two distinct strands of feminist thought have emerged in the past 20 years in explaining the behaviors of rape, sexual harassment, incest, prostitution and the presentation of these found in pomogr...
Its Called Fruit Juice So Its Good For Me Right?: An Exploratory Study Of Childrens Fruit Content Inferences Made From Food Brand Names And Packaging

Food and beverage marketing to children has come under extreme scrutiny in the past several years as it has been recognized as a potential contributor to the childhood obesity epidemic. It is not the purpose of this research to make the connection between food marketing and childhood obesity. However, an important aspect in fighting this epidemic is corporate responsibility in conveying clear brand information. From an information processing framework, this research examines the inferences made by children about fruit content in childrens food and beverage products. It focuses on food products that are linked to fruit through signals of fruit in the brand name or packaging. Broadly speaking, this research examines the question, when exposed to food product brand names and packaging with fruit-like cues, what do children infer about the amount of fruit found in these products? Findings illustrate extreme confusion in the marketplace. Research addressing how children perceive brand names and other elements of food packaging is important for brand strategy and public policy.
Leveraging Difference for Organizational Excellence: Managing Diversity Differently

Leaders who leverage difference are able to take a fresh stance! This note explores the proposition that the "diversity is good for business" premise is a function of individuals' and organizations' inability to fully capitalize on the impact diversity can have on broad organizational functioning. In an attempt to bridge this gap, the note proposes a new diversity model that focuses on what needs to be in place in order to leverage difference, not merely tolerate, appreciate, or celebrate it.
Radiative Corrections in Strong Fields

Radiative corrections in a strong static external field can be calculated to all orders in the external field by working in the Furry bound-interaction picture. The self-energy correction in a Coulomb field has been calculated for all n=1 or 2 states for a wide range of values of the nuclear charge Z. In the Wichmann-Kroll approach, the bound-electron propagation function is expanded in angular momentum eigenfunctions. Some aspects of this method as applied to the self-energy calculation, including mass renormalization and numerical methods, are discussed here. The Coulomb field self-energy correction gives the main contribution to the Lamb shift in high-Z hydrogenlike atoms. In high-Z few-electron atoms, energy levels can be calculated by applying perturbation theory where, in lowest order, the electrons are treated as non-interacting Dirac particles. Electron-electron interactions and radiative corrections are then calculated as perturbations. In this framework, the Coulomb-field radiative corrections give the leading radiative corrections for the few-electron system. Comparison to experiment is made for one- and two-electron atoms.
Simulating Images of Thick Specimens

This chapter discusses the calculation of an electron microscope image neglecting the geometrical thickness of the specimen (i.e., very thin specimens). Many practical specimens are too thick for this type of calculation to be quantitatively correct. However this approach can provide a qualitative insight into the structure in the image and it requires much less computer time. This type of image simulation is sometimes referred to as a phase grating approximation or a kinematical image approximation because it does not properly include the effects of multiple or plural scattering within the specimen. Calculation of the transmission function of thin specimens is also a necessary part of more advanced calculations including a realistic specimen thickness that will be considered in later chapters. In particular the calculation presented in this chapter will form a single slice of the multislice algorithm
SA-SSR: a suffix array-based algorithm for exhaustive and efficient SSR discovery in large genetic sequences

Summary: Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) are used to address a variety of research questions in a variety of fields (e.g. population genetics, phylogenetics, forensics, etc.), due to their high mutability within and between species. Here, we present an innovative algorithm, SA-SSR, based on suffix and longest common prefix arrays for efficiently detecting SSRs in large sets of sequences. Existing SSR detection applications are hampered by one or more limitations (i.e. speed, accuracy, ease-of-use, etc.). Our algorithm addresses these challenges while being the most comprehensive and correct SSR detection software available. SA-SSR is 100% accurate and detected >1000 more SSRs than the second best algorithm, while offering greater control to the user than any existing software. Availability and implementation: SA-SSR is freely available at http://github.com/ridgelab/SA-SSR Contact: ude.uyb@egdir.yrrep Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Diffusive transport through a model host-biofilm system

Free-living biofilms have been subject to considerable attention, and basic physical principles for them are generally accepted. Many host-biofilm systems, however, consist of heterogeneous mixtures of aggregates of microbes intermixed with host material and are much less studied. Here we analyze a key property, namely reactive depletion, in such systems and argue that two regimes are possible: (1) a homogenizable mixture of biofilm and host that in important ways acts effectively like a homogeneous macrobiofilm and (2) a distribution of separated microbiofilms within the host with independent local microenvironments.
Improvement in the mechanical strength of asymmetric polyolefin model interfaces

The influence of two types of a styrene–ethylene/butylene–styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer, one as received and the other functionalized with maleic anhydride, on model interfaces of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was investigated. Using a special preparation technique, it was possible to prevent gross interdiffusion at the interface and to attribute the problem to an adhesion-dominated phenomenon. The weak mechanical strength of the unmodified interfaces, iPP/iPP and HDPE/HDPE, was greatly improved by the triblock copolymer as was shown by the results of a T-peel test. The morphologies of the peeled surfaces of the modified and unmodified interfaces were analysed with light microscopy. The morphology of both model interface systems show differences, thus revealing different processes at the interfaces and thus different interactions of SEBS with iPP and HDPE and a different influence of the functionalization. The best results were achieved using the functionalized SEBS; the influence of functionalization was greater in the HDPE system. The results are in good agreement with a model proposed by the present authors elsewhere for the concentration-dependent role of SEBS in binary iPP/SEBS and ternary iPP/PE/SEBS blends.
Drug discovery: Zebrafish uncover novel antipsychotics

Two independent high-throughput zebrafish behavioral screens of tens of thousands of compounds identify the 'finazines', a novel group of antipsychotics, and their endogenous genetic target, the σ1 receptor.
Enzymatic Syntheses of Peptide Bonds

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the enzymatic syntheses of peptide bonds. The mechanism of hydrolysis of a peptide or amide bond involves activation of the C = 0 bond, in which step, it is amino group of an amino acid peptide or amide, or water compete for the unsubstituted bond on the activated carbonyl group. When the activated carbonyl addition is with water, there is hydrolysis; when it is with any of the other radicals or compounds, there is replacement. It might be argued that the degree of transpeptidation observed could be explained as a result of simple mass action recombination of benzoyltyrosine with glycineamide; however, this is unlikely. The mode of lengthening a peptide chain at the expense of an amide radical is not restricted to chymotrypsin. The hydrolyzing enzyme is less active in the intact cell, but the findings, as they stand, argue against the stability of such peptides in vivo .
Peripheral vasodilatation induced by a vasopressin analogue with selective V2-agonism in dogs

The selective V2-agonist 4-valine-8-D-arginine vasopressin (VDAVP) increases cardiac output and heart rate and decreases total peripheral resistance in dogs. The mechanism of these hemodynamic effects was examined in the present studies. When infused into the left coronary artery of six conscious dogs for 1 h, VDAVP (10 ng.kg-1.min-1) increased cardiac output and decreased total peripheral resistance more than when given intravenously in the same animals. Administration of VDAVP into the carotid circulation elicited effects that did not differ significantly from those after intravenous infusion at the same rate in six conscious dogs. After destruction of the central nervous system in five dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital, VDAVP failed to increase cardiac output and heart rate but lowered mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance. Finally, infusion of VDAVP into the femoral artery of six anesthetized dogs increased femoral blood flow at rates of 1, 5, and 10 ng.kg-1.min-1, whereas none of these rates increased femoral blood flow when given intravenously. Thus the hemodynamic effects of VDAVP appear to result primarily from a peripheral vasodilatory action, with possible contribution from a positive inotropic effect. We found no evidence that central effects of VDAVP were importantly involved in its cardiovascular action.
Evidence Supporting the Existence of a Distinct Obese Phenotype of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background:Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous syndrome. Phenotyping patients into pathophysiologically homogeneous groups may enable better targeting of ...
Silicon waveguide modulator with in-line phase change material

We demonstrate a silicon waveguide modulator with an in-line vanadium dioxide segment as a platform for optical switching. A modulation depth greater than 10 dB is achieved with a device footprint of only 0.28 μm2.
Factors associated with return to work in patients with long-term disabilities due to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

ABSTRACTThe current study explores factors predicting return to work in a sample of patients with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders who have attended a prevocational readiness and social skills training programme many years after trauma. Participants were community-dwelling adults with long-term disabilities (N = 67). Results of univariate analyses followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that both pre-injury (prior) and post-injury (current) factors influenced the likelihood of employment in our sample: prior employment, current employment readiness, current cognitive competence (particularly memory and executive functioning) and emotional adjustment. Our findings demonstrate that both pre-trauma and current factors interact in predicting return to work not only for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but also for a broader group of patients with long-term disabilities due to a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. Thus, our findings provide p...
Learning and attention reveal a general relationship between population activity and behavior

Prior studies have demonstrated that correlated variability changes with cognitive processes that improve perceptual performance. We tested whether correlated variability covaries with subjects’ performance—whether performance improves quickly with attention or slowly with perceptual learning. We found a single, consistent relationship between correlated variability and behavioral performance, regardless of the time frame of correlated variability change. This correlated variability was oriented along the dimensions in population space used by the animal on a trial-by-trial basis to make decisions. That subjects’ choices were predicted by specific dimensions that were aligned with the correlated variability axis clarifies long-standing paradoxes about the relationship between shared variability and behavior.
Achievable privacy-performance tradeoffs for spectrum sharing with a sensing infrastructure

Motivated by growing demand for radio frequency spectrum, spectrum regulators are laying the groundwork for centralized, dynamic spectrum sharing systems that will enable efficient access to spectrum for new wireless technologies. With a database of spectrum user information, and an infrastructure of spectrum sensors, these sharing systems will leverage cognitive radio concepts to automatically identify suitable spectrum for users. Whether incumbent users should provide information directly to the database or rely on the sensor network for detection remains an open question with implications for the effectiveness of the sharing and the privacy of the users. Both methods present the potential to explore a privacy-performance tradeoff within the sharing system. In this work we assess this tradeoff with both sensing and interface obfuscation approaches in a spectrum sharing system. We identify key design parameters in a formal model for the sharing system architecture, and conduct a thorough simulation study of a real-world use case to quantify privacy and performance. While abstract models suggest sensing based solutions should compare favorably with obfuscation heuristics applied to the user interface, the performance of realistic sensor network designs suggests that achieving a favorable privacy-performance tradeoff with sensor networks may be significantly limited by practical considerations.
Impact of Grasshopper Control on Forage Quality and Availability in Western Nebraska

On the Ground • Grasshopper outbreaks in Nebraska have resulted in losses over $2 million per year due to lost forage for livestock. As much as 23% of western U.S. forage is consumed by grasshoppers annually. • Controlling grasshoppers reduced grasshopper numbers without negatively impacting beneficial insects. • In 2011, 29 more 318 kg steers could have grazed a 1000 hectare pasture for a 5 month growing season due to grasshopper suppression. In 2012 (a drought year), 54 more steers could have been grazed if grasshoppers were controlled. Grasshopper infestation can result in significant reduction in livestock grazing capacity especially in dry conditions.
Chemerin 156F, generated by chymase cleavage of prochemerin, is elevated in joint fluids of arthritis patients

Chemerin is a chemoattractant involved in immunity that also functions as an adipokine. Chemerin is secreted as an inactive precursor (chem163S), and its activation requires proteolytic cleavages at its C-terminus, involving proteases in coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammation. Previously, we found chem158K was the dominant chemerin form in synovial fluids from patients with arthritis. In this study, we aimed to characterize a distinct cleaved chemerin form, chem156F, in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Purified chem156F was produced in transfected CHO cells. To quantify chem156F in OA and RA samples, we developed a specific ELISA for chem156F using antibody raised against a peptide representing the C-terminus of chem156F. Ca2+ mobilization assays showed that the EC50 values for chem163S, chem156F, and chem157S were 252 ± 141 nM, 133 ± 41.5 nM, and 5.83 ± 2.48 nM, respectively. chem156F was more active than its precursor, chem163S, but very much less potent than chem157S, the most active chemerin form. Chymase was shown to be capable of cleaving chem163S at a relevant rate. Using the chem156F ELISA we found a substantial amount of chem156F present in synovial fluids from patients with OA and RA, 24.06 ± 5.51 ng/ml and 20.35 ± 5.19 ng/ml (mean ± SEM, n = 25) respectively, representing 20% of total chemerin in OA and 76.7% of chemerin in RA synovial fluids. Our data show that chymase cleavage of chem163S to partially active chem156F can be found in synovial fluids where it can play a role in modulation of the inflammation in joints.
Racism: A Philosophical Analysis of a Concept

John Dewey is well known for his theory of inquiry, which we might summarize in the following five steps: (1) the felt difficulty appears; (2) the problem or difficulty is articulated clearly; (3) solutions to the problem are suggested; (4) consequences of the proposed solutions are investigated; (5) the probable solutions are tested (Dewey, 1938). In applying this conception of inquiry to the topic of this paper, only one aspect of Dewey's five-step methodology can be discussed-the problem or difficulty is articulated clearly. This paper proposes to delineate several factors that are involved in racism, but it does not propose to follow this articulation with a solution, or a testing of the solution. The epilogue to the paper does suggest that the geography of the proposed solution(s) can be sketched. The paper does not give the topography of the map. Starting with Allport's (1958: 10) definition of prejudice in his classic The Nature of Prejudice as "an antipathy based on a faulty and inflexible generalization," the paper divides itself into four distinct parts. The first part concerns the logic
Fighting institutional memory loss: the trackle integrated issue and solution tracking system

For part-time sysadmins, a record of past actions is an invaluable tool that provides guidance in repairing or extending system services. However, requiring sysadmins to keep a detailed log of changes made to a live system can often seem like a low priority task when compared to addressing long and growing to-do lists. This problem is worse if the system administrator is a part-time volunteer and an overworked student. In this paper we present Trackle, an integrated trouble ticket and solution tracking system which takes the legwork out of creating and maintaining this sort of institutional memory. Furthermore, Trackle is designed to allow untrained student sysadmins to bootstrap their knowledge by peeking over the shoulders of their more experienced colleagues - even if those colleagues graduated years earlier. We accomplish this by tracking the exact actions taken by sysadmins, showing what lines were changed and in which configuration files. We allow experienced and inexperienced sysadmins alike to freely annotate and cross-reference these shell session logs through an integrated Wiki web interface.
Ferrofluid Levitated Micro/Milli-Robots

In this article, we study the use of ferrofluids for levitating magnetic micro/milli-robots. With the addition of a ferrofluid, the robots improved their weight-carrying ability (xI2, >12 grams) and precision (x2 ~5 um) without any associated increase in actuation power of the robot relative to sliding versions without the ferrofluid. To better understand the longterm stability of a ferrofluid on the micro/milli-robot, we perform motion cycle testing on two different surfaces (graphite and Teflon), ultimately achieving a motion repeatability and pose angular stability of 5 um and 0.05 °, close to the limits of our measurement setup. The underdamped motion of the ferrofluid robot showed a natural resonance of ~58–60 Hz. Through careful control of the evaporation of the ferrofluid, we show long-term stability of a ferrofluid micro/milli-robot over the course of >11 hours. While the performance of the robot does change due to evaporation of the particular ferrofluid used, we also show that robots can easily be replenished with new ferrofluid after mechanically cleaning away the remaining ferrofluid. Overall, the application of ferrofluids toward magnetically actuated micro/milli-robots can enable low-cost and high-precision motion for future high-precision micro-manipulation or positioning tasks.
WellGAN: Generative-Adversarial-Network-Guided Well Generation for Analog/Mixed-Signal Circuit Layout

In back-end analog/mixed-signal (AMS) design flow, well generation persists as a fundamental challenge for layout compactness, routing complexity, circuit performance and robustness. The immaturity of AMS layout automation tools comes to a large extent from the difficulty in comprehending and incorporating designer expertise. To mimic the behavior of experienced designers in well generation, we propose a generative adversarial network (GAN) guided well generation framework with a post-refinement stage leveraging the previous high-quality manually-crafted layouts. Guiding regions for wells are first created by a trained GAN model, after which the well generation results are legalized through post-refinement to satisfy design rules. Experimental results show that the proposed technique is able to generate wells close to manual designs with comparable post-layout circuit performance.
Rationale for evaluating breast cancers of Lynch syndrome patients for mismatch repair gene expression.

Lynch Syndrome (LS) patients harbor germline mutations in one of several mismatch repair (MMR) genes and are predisposed to the development of colon and endometrial cancers and multiple other cancers types as well. Tumors related to LS are characterized by deficient protein expression of one or more MMR genes (dMMR) and/or demonstrate high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) (Win et al. in Breast Cancer Res 15(2):R27, 2013). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guideline states that there have been “suggestions” of increased risk of breast cancer in diagnosed LS patients, but does not endorse “increased screening above-average-risk breast cancer screening recommendations” for patients with LS (Provenzale et al. in J Natl Compr Cancer Netw 14(8):1010–1030, 2019). This report describes a molecularly diagnosed LS patient who developed a dMMR breast cancer. Sporadic dMMR breast cancers are extremely rare (Davies et al. in Cancer Res 77:4755–4762, 2017). It seems reasonable to conclude that identifying a dMMR breast cancer in a patient with known LS strongly suggests that her LS is breast cancer-predisposing. LS patients with dMMR breast cancers might therefore be considered for above-average breast cancer screening for the development of additional breast cancers. Also, the FDA recently granted approval of checkpoint inhibitor therapy for all metastatic dMMR solid malignancies (Lemery et al. in N Engl J Med 377:1409–1412, 2017). MMR expression assays in metastatic breast cancers of LS patients would represent a more focused approach to identifying patients with breast cancers who are potentially eligible for checkpoint inhibitor therapy than would be universal MMR testing of all metastatic breast cancers.
Clinical Applications and Validation of an Innovative Wound Score.

OBJECTIVE This study demonstrates the applicability of an innovative wound score that summates 5 assessments using 2-point (best) to 0-point (worst) grades based on specific findings to generate a 0- to 10-point wound score for categorizing diabetic foot ulcers as well as validates its effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS Long Beach Wound Scores (LBWS) were determined prospectively over an 18-month period in 105 hospitalized patients, with or without diabetes, with lower extremity wounds. Wounds were categorized as healthy, problem, or end-stage from their initial LBWS. Outcomes were graded as good or poor using a 5-level scale. Outcome information was available and statistically analyzed for comparisons with initial evaluation LBWSs in 85 patients. RESULTS In the healthy category, 66.7% healed or improved and were designated as good outcomes. In the problem category, 83.3% had good outcomes. In the end-stage category, 50.0% had good outcomes. Outliers for poor outcomes in the healthy category were due to the patients' comorbidities, and good outcomes in the end-stage category were explained by successful revascularizations and/or healing of minor amputations. The accuracy of the LBWS for predicting good versus poor outcomes was 75.3%. CONCLUSIONS The 0- to 10-point LBWS utilizes objective criteria for grading wounds, has validation data to confirm its efficacy for predicting outcomes, categorizes wound management, and is a practical tool to use for Comparative Effectiveness Research of wound care products and quantifying Minimal Clinically Important Improvement.
Repair of Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysm with Mandibular Subluxation

A large extracranial carotid aneurysm was resected in a 52-year-old female with end-to-end anastomosis of the internal carotid artery. Mandibular subluxation was performed to gain adequate cephalad exposure.
Variability in predicted rates of Down syndrome associated with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in older women.

Abstract Quantitative predictions of rates of Down syndrome offspring as a function of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) values and of maternal age were reviewed. Comparisons were made of 35-year-equivalent-risk values by maternal age, that is, MSAFP values (at various maternal ages) that predict the risk (of a Down syndrome offspring) equivalent to that of an average 35-year-old woman irrespective of knowledge of MSAFP. This boundary was chosen because MSAFP values that predict a greater risk than this point for younger women or a lower risk for older women are likely in many jurisdictions to alter a decision about amniocentesis that would be reached without knowledge of MSAFP. There were marked differences among available studies in these 35-year-equivalent-risk values for older women. For instance, for age 41, the values among studies vary from 1.5 MoM to 2.1 MoM and the predicted proportion of 41-year-old women likely to be affected clinically by MSAFP determinations by the above criterion is 4.4%-18%, depending on which rate schedule is used. At age 39, the variation is 1.1 to 1.9 MoM or 7.1% to 38%. Possible explanations for the variation include sampling fluctuation. Relatively few data on Down syndrome have been used to calculate the parameters of the gaussian distributions used by the studies reviewed. It is suggested that great caution be used before employing published rate schedules for genetic counseling of older women, at least until sufficient data are collected and the nature of the discrepancies among studies is clarified.
Structured participation in technology assessment: the policy exercise

ABSTRACT This paper presents a new hybrid method with potential benefits for technology assessment. The Policy Exercise is a scenario development and assessment procedure that brings together stakeholders, policy experts, and institutional experts to synthesize and explore collective knowledge for policy making. The core of the method is a workshop where participants develop scenarios to forecast technological, environmental, and institutional events and to assess their potential impacts. This paper presents the concept for the Policy Exercise, describes the current research on methodological developments, and considers the implementation and possible benefits in the context of technology assessment.
Using weapons instead of perfume – chemical association strategies of the myrmecophilous bug Scolopostethus pacificus (Rhyparochromidae)

Abstract A vast diversity of parasites associate with ants. Living in and around ant nests these organisms must overcome ant colony defenses. As ant defensive behavior is mainly mediated by species-specific cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) or alarm pheromones, ant-associated parasites can either crack their hosts chemical communication code by modifying their own CHC-profiles or use pro-active strategies like chemical weaponry for distraction and repellency. While the chemical nature of ant-parasite interactions has been intensively studied for highly host specific parasites, the chemical-deceptive strategies of the rather rare ant-resembling Heteropterans are unknown. To gain insight into this system, I studied the bug Scolopostethus pacificus (Barber 1918) which can be found near the nests of the ecologically dominant and aggressive velvety tree ant (Liometopum occidentale, Emery 1895). Using behavioral, chemical and molecular approaches I disentangled the relationship of S. pasificus and its host ant. Chemical profiling of the bug and the ant revealed that the bug does not make use of CHC insignificance or mimicry, but instead uses a cocktail of volatile compounds released from its metathoracic glands that likely moderates encounters with its aggressive host. Feeding trials with armed and artificially disarmed bugs revealed a defensive function of the gland exudates. Targeted molecular gut barcoding showed that S. pasificus does not feed on L. occidentale. These results suggest that chemical weaponry, rather than a chemical code-cracking CHC matching or chemical insignificance, enables S. pasificus to get along with and live in close proximity to its host ant.
Outcome of bile leakage following liver resection with hepaticojejunostomy for liver cancer

We aimed to investigate contemporary management and outcomes of bile leakage in patients who underwent hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy for liver malignancy. The NSQIP database was used to study clinical data of patients who underwent a hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy for a primary hepatobiliary cancer and developed bile leakage between 1/2014 and 12/2017. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to investigate outcomes. Five hundred patients underwent a hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy for a malignant primary hepatobiliary cancer (41% intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 38.2% hilar cholangiocarcinoma, 9.8% hepatocellular carcinoma, 6% gallbladder cancer, and 5% others). The rate of bile leakage was 33.4%. Most patients (90.4%) did not require re-exploration. In 77 of 157 patients (49.1%), bile leakages were contained with intraoperatively placed drain(s) and no additional surgical intervention was required. A total of 71 patients (42.5%)—including 64 patients with intraoperative drains—required interventional radiology (IR)-guided drainage, with a 88.7% success rate. A total of 16 patients (9.6%) required re-exploration to control the leakage, with 8 of them having undergone failed IR-drainage. When running multivariate analysis, post-hepatectomy liver failure (AOR: 158.26, P < 0.01), preoperative sepsis (AOR: 36.24, P = 0.03), and smoking (AOR: 14.07, P = 0.03) were significantly associated with mortality of patients. Biliary leakage is relatively common following hepatectomy with hepaticojejunostomy for liver malignancy (33.4%), but most patients (90.4%) do not require re-exploration. Intraoperatively placed drains successfully controlled 46.7% of bile leakages. IR-guided drain placement had a 88.7% success rate for adequate leak control.
Inpatient hyperglycemia and transitions of care: a systematic review

Abstract Objective The transition of diabetes care from home to hospital, within the hospital, and upon discharge is fraught with gaps that can adversely affect patient safety and length of stay. We aimed to highlight the variability in care during these transitions and point out areas where research is needed. Methods A PubMed search was performed with a combination of search terms that pertained to diabetes, hyperglycemia, hospitalization, locations in the hospital, discharge to home or a nursing facility, and diabetes medications. Studies with at least 50 patients that were written in the English language were included. Results With the exception of transitioning from intravenous insulin infusion to subcutaneous insulin and perhaps admission to the regular floors, few studies pointedly focused on transitions of care, leading us to extrapolate recommendations based on data from disparate areas of care in the hospital. There is evidence at every stage of care, starting from the entry into the hospital and ending with discharge home or to a facility, that patients benefit from having protocols in place guiding overall care. Conclusion Pockets of care exist in hospitals where methods of effective diabetes management have been studied and implemented. However, there is no sustained continuum of care. Protocols and care teams that follow patients from one physical location to the other may result in improved clinical outcomes during and following a hospital stay.
Impacts of Transportation Emissions on the Risk of Mortality: Findings from the Literature and Policy Implications

Introduction: Externalities from transportation, and in particular exposure to vehicle emissions have been considered a possible cause of several negative health outcomes including mortality. However, the existing findings are too inconsistent to drive a well-founded exposure-response function to be fully exploited to curb the negative impacts of transportation systems on public health. In this study, we investigate the association between exposure to air pollution and mortality. We then evaluate how using different air quality methods may result in detecting different health outcomes. Methods: We conduct an analysis of reviewing a representative sample of main published studies that specifically focused on the association between vehicle air pollution and mortality. Results: Our study finds that vehicle air pollution may increase the risk of mortality through a slightly high association. Most importantly, the risk of overall mortality increases by 5% per 10 µg/m3 increase in NO2 concentration, 2% per unit of traffic intensity on the road, and 7% per unit of distance closer to the road. Conclusion: The findings imply the role of exposure to vehicle emissions in increasing the risk of mortality. The method used to detect the health outcomes can alter the health finding from positive to null or vice versa and even extensively affect the analysis outcomes. The results suggest the need for establishing indicators to benchmark the performance of air quality methods and emphasize the necessity to integrate public health measures into the urban and transportation planning process.
Report on an Investigation into an Entry Level Clinical Doctorate for the Genetic Counseling Profession and a Survey of the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors

The master’s degree is the required entry-level degree for the genetic counseling profession in the US and Canada. In 2012 the Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD) passed resolutions supporting retention of the master’s as the entry-level and terminal degree and opposing introduction of an entry-level clinical doctorate (CD) degree. An AGCPD workgroup surveyed directors of all 34 accredited training programs with the objective of providing the Genetic Counseling Advanced Degrees Task Force (GCADTF) with information regarding potential challenges if master’s programs were required to transition to an entry-level CD. Program demographics, projected ability to transition to an entry-level CD, factors influencing ability to transition, and potential effects of transition on programs, students and the genetic counseling workforce were characterized. Two programs would definitely be able to transition, four programs would close, thirteen programs would be at risk to close and fourteen programs would probably be able to transition with varying degrees of difficulty. The most frequently cited limiting factors were economic, stress on clinical sites, and administrative approval of a new degree/program. Student enrollment under an entry-level CD model was projected to decrease by 26.2 %, negatively impacting the workforce pipeline. The results further illuminate and justify AGCPD’s position to maintain the master’s as the entry-level degree.