cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring the factors associated with expert systems success

As the widespread use and company dependency on Expert Systems increase, so does the need to assess their value and to ensure implementation success. This study identified and empirically tested eight major variables proposed in the literature as determinants of ES success, in this case measured in terms of user satisfaction. IBM's Corporate Manufacturing Expert Systems Project Center collected information from 69 project managers to support the study. The results clearly support the hypothesized relationships and suggest the need for ES project managers to pay special attention to these determinants of ES implementation success. ES success is directly related to the quality of developers and of the ES shells used, end-user characteristics and degree of user involvement in ES development, as each has been defined in this study. For exploratory purposes, the component items for each of these major variables were correlated with the components of user satisfaction. Based on the results, several recommendations are proposed for ES project managers to enhance the likelihood of project success, including: adding problem difficulty as a criterion for ES application selection; increasing ES developer training to improve their people skills, ability to model and to use a systems approach in solving business problems; shaping end-user attitudes and expectations regarding ES; improving the selection of domain experts; more thoroughly understanding the ES impact on end-user jobs; restricting the acquisition of ES shells based on a proposed set of criteria; and ensuring a proper match of ES development techniques and tools to the business problem at hand.
Virulence Plasmid Diversity in Clostridium perfringens Type D Isolates

Clostridium perfringens type D isolates are important in biodefense and also cause natural enterotoxemias in sheep, goats, and occasionally cattle. In these isolates, the gene (etx) encoding ɛ-toxin is thought to reside on poorly characterized large plasmids. Type D isolates sometimes also produce other potentially plasmid-encoded toxins, including C. perfringens enterotoxin and beta2 toxin, encoded by the cpe and cbp2 genes, respectively. In the current study we demonstrated that the etx, cpe, and cpb2 genes are carried on plasmids in type D isolates and characterized the toxin-encoding plasmids to obtain insight into their genetic organization, potential transferability, and diversity. Southern blotting of pulsed-field gels showed that the etx gene of type D isolates can be present on at least five different plasmids, whose sizes range from 48 to 110 kb. The etx plasmids also typically carried IS1151 and tcp open reading frames (ORFs) known to mediate conjugative transfer of C. perfringens plasmid pCW3. PCR studies revealed that other than their tcp ORFs, etx plasmids of type D isolates do not carry substantial portions of the conserved or variable regions in the cpe plasmids of type A isolates. Southern blotting also demonstrated that in type D isolates the cpe and cpb2 genes are sometimes present on the etx plasmid. Collectively, these findings confirmed that the virulence of type D isolates is heavily plasmid dependent and indicated that (i) a single type D isolate can carry multiple virulence plasmids, (ii) a single type D virulence plasmid can carry up to three different toxin genes, and (iii) many etx plasmids should be capable of conjugative transfer.
Differentiation and Functional Regulation in Macrophage Cell Lines

Macrophage-related cell lines offer many advantages for the study of macrophage function (Table 1). These advantages range from convenience in obtaining large numbers of cells of relatively homogenous nature by growth in culture, to purity of the cell population ensuring that experimental results obtained are due only to macrophages. A variety of cell lines and variants exist which stably differ in degree of maturation, sensitivity to inducing agents, and extent of mature macrophage characteristics. Since the cell lines are growing rapidly, it is relatively easy to synchronize or select cells at different stages of the cell cycle for study of physiological functions throughout the cell division process.
Stereopsis and 3D surface perception by spiking neurons in laminar cortical circuits: A method for converting neural rate models into spiking models

A laminar cortical model of stereopsis and 3D surface perception is developed and simulated. The model shows how spiking neurons that interact in hierarchically organized laminar circuits of the visual cortex can generate analog properties of 3D visual percepts. The model describes how monocular and binocular oriented filtering interact with later stages of 3D boundary formation and surface filling-in in the LGN and cortical areas V1, V2, and V4. It proposes how interactions between layers 4, 3B, and 2/3 in V1 and V2 contribute to stereopsis, and how binocular and monocular information combine to form 3D boundary and surface representations. The model suggests how surface-to-boundary feedback from V2 thin stripes to pale stripes helps to explain how computationally complementary boundary and surface formation properties lead to a single consistent percept, eliminate redundant 3D boundaries, and trigger figure-ground perception. The model also shows how false binocular boundary matches may be eliminated by Gestalt grouping properties. In particular, the disparity filter, which helps to solve the correspondence problem by eliminating false matches, is realized using inhibitory interneurons as part of the perceptual grouping process by horizontal connections in layer 2/3 of cortical area V2. The 3D sLAMINART model simulates 3D surface percepts that are consciously seen in 18 psychophysical experiments. These percepts include contrast variations of dichoptic masking and the correspondence problem, the effect of interocular contrast differences on stereoacuity, Panum's limiting case, the Venetian blind illusion, stereopsis with polarity-reversed stereograms, da Vinci stereopsis, and perceptual closure. The model hereby illustrates a general method of unlumping rate-based models that use the membrane equations of neurophysiology into models that use spiking neurons, and which may be embodied in VLSI chips that use spiking neurons to minimize heat production.
CCL2 transgene expression in the central nervous system directs diffuse infiltration of CD45highCD11b+ monocytes and enhanced Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease

CCL2 is a member of the CC chemokine family that mediates the migration and recruitment of monocytes and T cells and has been identified in the central nervous system (CNS) during several neuroinflammatory diseases. In order to examine the biological effect of constitutive CCL2 expression in the CNS, the authors engineered a mouse that expressed CCL2 in the CNS under control of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (hGFAP) promoter. The results demonstrated that transgenic expression of CCL2 in the CNS resulted in diffuse CNS monocyte infiltration and accumulation. Transgenic CCL2 expression did not alter normal development, differentiation, or function of T cells. There was no evidence of overt CNS disease or other pathologic phenotype when mice were left unchallenged with antigen or uninfected. However, when CCL2 transgenic mice were given a peripheral challenge of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an inflammatory infiltrate with organized perivascular lesions developed. Infection of the transgenic mice with Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) resulted in accelerated onset and increased severity of clinical and histological disease. These results suggest that CCL2 expression in the CNS is a major pathogenic factor that drives macrophage accumulation in the development of CNS inflammatory disease.
Development of prefabricated type joint for 275 kV XLPE cable

Discussed are the electric characteristics and installation of a prefabricated joint for 275-kV XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cables that control potential distribution with an electrode embedded epoxy unit used in sealing ends and transition joints of cables for voltage of less than 154 kV, as well as with premolded stress relief cones. The interface pressure and the electric stress of each part were taken into account in the design, and it was confirmed by partial discharge, AC breakdown voltage and impulse breakdown voltage tests that the joint had high electric properties. Acoustic emission sensors have been used to predict the breakdown of the insulation. >
Using Spanish-Speaking Interpreters in Special Education

An increasing Hispanic population, with its diverse academic needs, presents a challenge for public schools. The lack of available bilingual and other appropriately trained personnel who can effectively interact with Spanish-speaking students and parents magnifies this challenge, especially when students are considered for special education placement. In such situations, interpreters are needed to communicate with parents. This article proposes criteria for selecting interpreters, discusses responsibilities of, and potential problems in using, interpreters, and suggests elements of a management system and training program for interpreters and those who rely on their services.
Toward an integrative historical biogeography.

SYNOPSIS. Cladistic biogeographic methods remain susceptible to the confounding effects of ''pseudo-con- gruence'' and ''pseudo-incongruence'' because they were not designed to incorporate information on the absolute timing of the diversification of lineages. Consequently, results from cladistic biogeographic studies are difficult to interpret and cannot be confidently attributed to any particular cause. We illustrate these points with concrete examples, paying special attention to recent work on the biogeography of the Northern Hemisphere, and outline ways in which topological and temporal information might be better integrated. The development of historical biogeography over the last few decades provides general insights into the nature of integration through the life of a discipline. Despite its very promising beginnings, we agree with the assessment of Nelson and Ladiges (1996, p. 54) that cladistic biogeography has yielded few gen- uinely new insights over the last twenty years. When a research program is unproductive for a long period it suggests that something may be wrong with the questions being asked or the methods being used. Here we highlight several elements that have been missing from cladistic biogeographic approaches, focusing par- ticularly on temporal information, and suggest how these might be integrated. The value of incorporating temporal information in such studies has already been recognized (see refer- ences below). Our aim here is to help characterize and illustrate the problem using concrete examples from both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. The Northern Hemisphere problem provides an especially good example of the difficulties faced by cladistic bio- geographic methods, as well as insights into what can be gained by integrating time and directionality. Al- though we do not propose a new biogeographic meth- od, we highlight several possibilities by comparison to methods recently developed to analyze the coevolution of hosts and their parasites. Finally, in the spirit of the symposium that moti- vated this paper, we offer some general reflections on ''integration.'' Specifically, recent developments in historical biogeography suggest to us that the degree of integration is something that changes in predictable ways through the ontogeny of a discipline, reflecting shifts in the perceived reliability of potentially relevant information.
The evolved developmental niche in childhood: Relation to adult psychopathology and morality

Following prior work linking childhood experience to adult outcomes, we used an evolutionary framework to examine effects of childhood experience on adult psychopathology and morality. Every animal...
Evaluation of a ring enhancing lesion

A 49 year old previously healthy woman presented to her general practitioner with a two week history of progressive headaches, forgetfulness, and decreased visual acuity. She had no other symptoms or findings of note. On examination, she was oriented to person, location, and time. Her heart rate was 78 beats/min, respiratory rate was 18 breaths/min, and blood pressure was 116/78 mm Hg. She was afebrile and had no meningeal signs. Physical examination identified a right homonymous hemianopsia but no other neurological or cognitive deficits. There was no evidence of papilloedema. Her electrolytes, complete blood count, and C reactive protein concentration were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a single ring enhancing lesion with irregular borders. ### 1. On the basis of the clinical picture, where is the lesion and what is it likely to be? #### Short answer The lesion is probably in the left temporal lobe of the brain. The clinical picture suggests a primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor or brain abscess. #### Discussion Given that the physical examination found no relevant findings except for a right homonymous hemianopsia, it is reasonable to suspect a lesion in the left optic tract. The two week history of forgetfulness and headaches, although not specific, suggests that the lesion affects the temporal lobe of the brain and not the eye itself. The lesion is probably small because the patient has no symptoms of raised intracranial pressure (such as Cushing’s triad of hypertension, bradycardia, and bradypnea) and she is alert and oriented to person, location, and time. The symptoms suggest that the lesion is rapidly growing, but ischemic or hemorrhagic small vessel …
Effectiveness of Liothrips urichi (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) introduced for biological control of Clidemia hirta in Hawaii

The effectiveness of Liothrips urichi Karny introduced to control the noxious weed Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don was studied at three sites on Oahu, Hawaii. Vegetative C. hirta infested with L. urichi showed greater mortality after 1 mo and significantly shorter internode diameters among the survivors at 4 mo than uninfested plants. L. urichi had no effect on plant height in the field but stunted the growth of young potted C. hirta in greenhouse studies and caused a significant increase in terminal leaf drop. No effect on production of floral buds, flowers, or berries occurred at any field site over 11 mo. L. urichi was restricted to sunny or partly sunny sites and never occurred in heavily shaded areas. Higher thrips infestations occurred during the fall and winter and lower infestations during the summer. Percentage of damaged tips also fluctuated seasonally, but the degree of damage to individual leaves was not seasonal.
6 – Fuel cells

In this chapter, fuel cell system fundamentals, fuel cell thermodynamics and electrochemical processes, and a comparative summary of the major types of fuel cells have been introduced first. Fuel cell modeling and equivalent circuit models are then briefly discussed. Fuel cell distributed power generation systems are presented for both grid-connected and standalone applications. A discussion on hydrogen generation and environmental impact is given, followed by the principles of operation of electrolyzers. The challenges in developing fuel cell systems are also highlighted for future research needs. Finally, since almost all viable types of fuel cells use hydrogen as fuel, the last part of this chapter covers the hydrogen economy, and a need for a fuel-cell-powered society.
Management of Severe Hypospadias with a 2-Stage Repair

AbstractFrom 1986 to 1993 we treated 1,437 children with hypospadias of whom 58 had scrotal or perineal hypospadias with severe chordee and a small phallus. These patients underwent a 2-stage surgical repair. The first stage of the procedure included correction of the chordee and advancement of preputial flaps ventrally and distally to the superior aspect of the glans. After 6 to 12 months the second stage of the procedure was performed using the previously transferred preputial skin to reconstruct the glans and urethra. A second layer of subcutaneous tissue or tunica vaginalis was used in several instances. A penile nerve block and a transparent biomembrane dressing (Tegaderm) allowed for early postoperative mobilization. Excellent functional and cosmetic results were achieved.There is a subset of patients with severe proximal hypospadias, chordee and a small phallus who may benefit best from a 2-stage procedure. In these children a 2-stage repair allows for a better cosmetic appearance and a lower compl...
Complexity and Cross-Boundary Effects in Security: Britain and the Unification of Germany, 1989–90

If one trend characterizes the study of foreign and security policy over the past several decades, it may be the search for concepts that assist in addressing the complexity of global politics.2 We embrace that complexity and reimagine security as a social phenomenon that interweaves between social collectives, bleeding across boundaries and tying collectivities together as they seek to reconcile different systems of security meaning-making. At its core, security is a socially constructed system for making sense of danger and threat (Buzan et al. 1998). Thinking about security as a phenomenon of linked social constructions opens the field of inquiry up to a massive amount of complexity and interactivity. We offer two concepts as a possible basis for …
Growth and development of poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) finished under reduced air temperature and bench-top root-zone heating

Abstract Greenhouse heating is an essential requirement for holiday poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch.) production, especially during the finish stage. Previous studies have shown that cultivars with early response attributes (short day initiation to finish in 6–8 weeks), moderate to high vigor, and naturally large bracts are most suitable for reduced temperature finishing (RTF) that leads to energy savings. We postulate that RTF in combination with root-zone heating (RZH) can further reduce greenhouse heating costs by allowing for even lower air temperature set points. The objective of this study was to quantify how RTF in combination with bench-top RZH influences growth, development, and quality of six red poinsettia cultivars. Rooted cuttings of poinsettia ‘Prestige Early Red’, ‘Prestige Red’, ‘Premium Red’, ‘Infinity Red’, ‘Viking Red’, and ‘Bravo Bright Red’ were transplanted and grown under a 16-h photoperiod consisting of natural days with daylength-extension lighting until 01 Oct. and a mean daily temperature (MDT) of 21.5 °C [24/19 °C (12 h day/12 h night)] until 15 Oct. On 15 Oct., the air temperature set point was reduced to a MDT of 15 °C [19/13 °C (8 h day/16 h night)], and plants were placed on a bench without RZH or with RZH set points of 21, 24, or 27 °C; or plants were moved into a greenhouse without RZH and with a constant air temperature set point of 21 °C (commercial control). Time to anthesis from the start of short days was reduced by 6, 4, and 7 d, respectively, for ‘Prestige Early Red’, ‘Premium Red’, and ‘Viking Red’ when plants were finished on a RZH set point of 27 °C compared to a RZH set point of 21 °C. Time to marketability was generally longer for cultivars grown under RTF without RZH compared to all other treatments. Although plants grown under RTF with RZH matured at a similar rate to those in the commercial control, bract area index was reduced under RTF in most cases. For example, bract area of ‘Infinity Red’ was reduced by 27, 25, 18, or 19% when finished without RZH in ambient RTF or with a RZH set point of 21, 24, or 27 °C, respectively, compared to the commercial control. Stem elongation responses varied by cultivar. Our data suggest that when RZH temperatures >24 °C are utilized during poinsettia RTF, day/night air temperatures can be further reduced from the 20/13 and 21/17 °C (12 h/12 h), recommended by previous research, to 19/13 °C (8 h/16 h).
Is retention necessarily a win? Outcomes of searching and staying

Abstract This research examines the issue of employee retention by considering what happens to employees that engage in the job search process yet end up staying with an organization. Grounded in the conceptualization of reluctant staying from Hom, Mitchell, Lee, and Griffeth (2012), we consider a potential downside of employee retention. Specifically, the study examines the psychological (i.e., job dissatisfaction, low organizational commitment) and behavioral detachment (i.e., neglect behavior, diminished job performance) employees may experience when they search for alternative employment yet ultimately stay with an organization. This study also examines the moderating role of the objective underlying the search behavior on job search and its criteria, arguing that the strength of the search-criteria link varies depending upon an employee's objective “to leave” the current employer. Results suggest an increase in psychological detachment and greater neglect behavior for employees that searched and stayed. These findings were not dependent on the reported objective “to leave” the employer. Implications for research on job search activity and withdrawal are discussed.
Direction of arrival estimation for robots using radio signal strength and mobility

A robot is sometimes unable to obtain its precise location, or the location of its neighbors, due to the limitations of the global positioning system (GPS) or due to positioning information not being exchanged between neighbors. In either scenario, received radio signals can be used by a robot to infer positioning information, but the process is challenging because of the dynamics of radio wave propagation. To mitigate these effects and improve accuracy, many of the existing methods for inferring the direction of arrival (DoA) of radio signals impose unrealistic resource demands on robots. For instance, the schemes either require rotating directional antenna systems to be mounted on robots, or they depend upon other collaborative systems, with known locations, to assist in localization. However, in reality, robots usually do not have sufficient resources, in terms of space and energy, to support the mounting of directional antennas, nor are they guaranteed to have the luxury of collaborative team members. As a more practical alternative, this paper presents a coarse-grained method of finding the relative direction of a transmitter using minimal resources. Specifically, the approach only depends upon a robot's ability to move in an approximate triangular pattern while sampling the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from its off-the-shelf radio. The RSSI samples are uniquely processed using a combination of regression and vector analysis to estimate the DoA. The proposed technique was evaluated in simulation, as well as in the real world using an actual robot. The evaluation shows an average accuracy improvement of over 30 degrees, as well as a reduction of over 80% in sampling movement, when compared to related work.
2004 Maternal Epigenetics

In addition to normal genetic effects, handed down via genetic material from parent to offspring, mothers may influence their offspring by affecting gene regulation. Maternal hormones, stress, and nutrition can all result in epigenetic effects.
Ableism and the Trump phenomenon

AbstractThis article argues that Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 US presidential campaign was abetted by ableism, both directly, through Trump’s rhetoric, and indirectly, through the ableist culture and infrastructure of the rural, white working-class communities that turned the election for Trump. The article uses Robert McRuer’s account of ‘compulsory able-bodiedness’ to situate Trump’s popularity in relation to the neoliberal policies that have marginalized and stigmatized the white working class, and deploys Lennard Davis’s account of normalcy to explain why Trump’s own bodily difference was widely, and hypocritically, mocked by the left, and also why Trump’s ‘non-normative’ embodiment appealed to his white working-class supporters.
Identical Program Ratios: A Red Flag of Ratio Management

We provide evidence that when nonprofits experience large changes in total spending but report identical program ratios between periods this is the likely result of likely of managers manipulating cost allocations to control how ratios are reported. We find nonprofits are more likely to report identical program ratios when: resource providers – government grantors, and lenders rely on ratios; pay is determined, at least in part, by performance; and the potential for regulatory interference is high. We also provide evidence that monitoring and regulation can encourage ratio management. We identify techniques nonprofits use to allocate costs to report identical ratios and find that technique choice is dictated by the sophistication of the organization. We also find that to report identical ratios, nonprofits most frequently alter allocation rates for expense lines where managers have the most discretion over how much to report as a program expense. Finally, by focusing on ratio changes, we provide evidence that nonprofits manage ratio to achieve certain program ratio targets.
An 8×8 heterodyne lens-less OPA camera

This paper presents an 8×8 optical phased array (OPA) receiver that operates as a lens-less camera using a heterodyne architecture on a thin silicon-photonics integrated SOI substrate. It has a receiving beam width of 0.75° and beam steering range of 8°.
Nested mesoscale-to-LES modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer in the presence of under-resolved convective structures

Multi-scale atmospheric simulations can be computationally prohibitive, as they require large domains and fine spatio-temporal resolutions. Grid-nesting can alleviate this by bridging mesoscales and microscales, but one turbulence scheme must run at resolutions within a range of scales known as the terra incognita (TI). TI grid-cell sizes can violate both mesoscale and microscale subgrid-scale parametrization assumptions, resulting in unrealistic flow structures. Herein we assess the impact of unrealistic lateral boundary conditions from parent mesoscale simulations at TI resolutions on nested large eddy simulations (LES), to determine whether parent domains bias the nested LES. We present a series of idealized nested mesoscale-to-LES runs of a dry convective boundary layer (CBL) with different parent resolutions in the TI. We compare the nested LES with a stand-alone LES with periodic boundary conditions. The nested LES domains develop ∼20% smaller convective structures. While potential temperature profiles are nearly identical for both the mesoscales and LES simulations. The horizontal wind speed and surface wind shear in the nested simulations closely resemble the reference LES. Heat fluxes are overestimated by up to ∼0.01 K m s−1 in the top half of the PBL for all nested simulations. Overestimates of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and Reynolds stress in the nested domains are proportional to the parent domain's grid-cell size, and are almost eliminated for the simulation with the finest parent grid-cell size. Based on these results, we recommend that LES of the CBL be forced by mesoscale simulations with the finest practical resolution.
The L530R variation associated with recurrent kidney stones impairs the structure and function of TRPV5

TRPV5 is a Ca2+-selective channel that plays a key role in the reabsorption of Ca2+ ions in the kidney. Recently, a rare L530R variation (rs757494578) of TRPV5 was found to be associated with recurrent kidney stones in a founder population. However, it was unclear to what extent this variation alters the structure and function of TRPV5. To evaluate the function and expression of the TRPV5 variant, Ca2+ uptake in Xenopus oocytes and western blot analysis were performed. The L530R variation abolished the Ca2+ uptake activity of TRPV5 in Xenopus oocytes. The variant protein was expressed with drastic reduction in complex glycosylation. To assess the structural effects of this L530R variation, TRPV5 was modeled based on the crystal structure of TRPV6 and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out. Simulation results showed that the L530R variation disrupts the hydrophobic interaction between L530 and L502, damaging the secondary structure of transmembrane domain 5. The variation also alters its interaction with membrane lipid molecules. Compared to the electroneutral L530, the positively charged R530 residue shifts the surface electrostatic potential towards positive. R530 is attracted to the negatively charged phosphate group rather than the hydrophobic carbon atoms of membrane lipids. This shifts the pore helix where R530 is located and the D542 residue in the Ca2+-selective filter towards the surface of the membrane. These alterations may lead to misfolding of TRPV5, reduction in translocation of the channel to the plasma membrane and/or impaired Ca2+ transport function of the channel, and ultimately disrupt TRPV5-mediated Ca2+ reabsorption.
Diffusion in Cells: Random Walks and Brownian Motion

When one first encounters the concept of diffusion, it is usually within the context of a conservation law describing the flux of many particles moving from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration at a rate that depends on the local concentration gradient (Fick’s law). However, there are some limitations of the standard macroscopic derivation of the diffusion equation.
Abstract 17400: Catecholamine Release Triggered by Epicardial Absolute Refractory Period Stimulation Augments Global Left Ventricular Function

Background: Biventricular epicardial (Epi) pacing can augment left ventricular (LV) function in heart failure. We postulated that these beneficial effects could involve catecholamine release from local autonomic nerve activation. This hypothesis was tested by applying Epi pacing stimuli during the muscle’s absolute refractory period (ARP) thereby activating intrinsic nerves without altering activation sequence. Methods: Anesthetized farm pigs (n=5) were instrumented with a LV high-fidelity pressure transducer, left atrial and LV Epi pacing electrodes, and sonomicrometer segment length (SL) gauges placed proximal and distal to the LV stimulation site. A small catheter was placed into the great cardiac vein adjacent to the LV pacing site for blood sampling. During atrial pacing at constant rate, 3 electrical pulses (0.8ms, 2-3x threshold volts) were applied to the LV Epi electrodes during the ARP. An experimental run consisted of baseline measurements, with 10 minutes of stimulation followed by 5 minutes of recovery repeated 3 times before and with s- receptor blockade (BB, metoprolol, 5 mg). Coronary venous blood was sampled at baseline and at 5 and 10 minutes of stimulation for norepinephrine analysis (NE by ELISA). Results: ARP stimulation produced a significant increase in coronary venous NE levels (p Conclusion: These results demonstrate that ARP EPI pacing induces NE release and augments global LV function. This effect may contribute to the beneficial effect of biventricular Epi pacing in some patients with heart failure.
Professionalization through attrition? An event history analysis of mortalities in citizen journalism

Despite both scholarly and popular claims that citizen journalism (CJ) represents a growing democratizing force in the journalistic field, recent scholarship in the area has noted the decline of th...
Temporal Focusing of Total Transmission through Multimode Fibers with Random Mode Mixing

We demonstrate the temporal focusing of optical pulses through multimode fibers with strong mode mixing. The focusing efficiency varies strongly with the focus time, which can be explained by the time-dependent correlations between output channels.
Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Compared with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), exposure to allergens on a year-around basis leads to persistent symptoms that can be associated with significant impairment of quality of life. As is the case with SAR, management of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) entails aeroallergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy, and in properly select cases allergen immunotherapy. Compared with SAR, aeroallergen avoidance, the most important aspect of management for allergic rhinitis, is often more difficult to achieve in patients with PAR.
Inner retinal signal processing: adaptation to environmental light

The human visual system operates over an enormous range of ambient illumination. From starlight to bright sunlight, the mean level of illumination increases well over a billion times, covering a range of about 10 log units. Over much of this range, due to various mechanisms of light adaptation, visual sensitivity remains fairly high for small light increments or decrements from the steady level of illumination. The maintenance of a relatively high contrast sensitivity over such a large range have been the subject of numerous psychophysical and non-invasive physiological studies in humans, as well as physiological and some behavioral studies in animal models with similar capabilities. A comparison of the psychophysical results with recordings from retinal ganglion cells in cats and primates indicates that most of the light adaptation reported by human subjects can be observed in individual retinal ganglion cells. This means that most of the light adaptation occurs in the retina before the visual signals travel to the brain for further processing. The question then is where in the retina, and by what mechanisms, the adaptation occurs. The previous chapter of this book mainly examined mechanisms of adaptation in the vertebrate outer retina. Special emphasis was placed on lower vertebrates and specifically the teleost retina where light-related morphological plasticity in the outer retina is well documented and its relation to light adaptation has been studied extensively. Mechanisms of light-adaptation in the inner retina of fish have not been as thoroughly studied. Although adaptation-dependent morphological plasticity in goldfish inner retina of Mb (Yazulla and Studholme, 1992) and Ma (Behrens and Wagner, 1996) bipolar cell terminals has been described, the physiological consequences of these changes are not yet clear.
Molecular Ion Beams Interrogated with Ultrashort Intense Laser Pulses

Molecules have been interrogated with intense ultrashort laser pulses by many researchers for over a decade. In contrast, molecular-ion studies are scarce, though their number is increasing rapidly in the last few years. In this chapter we will discuss how these studies differ from those conducted on molecular targets, describe the main experimental methods used, and review the findings on the dissociation and ionization of the simplest molecular ion, \(\rm H_2^+\) , as well as some of the discoveries concerning more complex molecular ions.
Invert a Triangular Array (INVERT)

This chapter discusses an algorithm that inverts a triangular array. The little routine is combinatorial only in its proposed use. It is simple linear algebra. The chapter presents a supposition that there is given an n × n matrix A , which has 1s on the main diagonal and 0s below the main diagonal. The b ij ( i, j = 1, n ) are the entries of A −1 . The chapter discusses a simple recurrence formula for the calculation of b ij . The computation is straightforward. The columns are processed in reverse order to permit storage of A and A −1 in the same memory space if desired. The chapter explains complete algorithm INVERT and also discusses subroutine specifications.
Fatal spinal cord injury of the 20th president of the United States: day-by-day review of his clinical course, with comments.

AbstractBackground: This article presents the medical history of the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, with an emphasis on hisspinal cord injury (SC I). Numerous references debate the care he received from the medical and surgical perspectives, but little has been written about the essential aspect of his gunshot wound-namely, the darnage to his spinal cord. President Garfield was shot in the lumbar spine and was bedridden until he died 80 days following his injury. This article contrasts state-of-the-art care in 1881 to today’s standards of care for SCI.Method: Literature review. Arecord of daily reports of the president’s condition was analyzed. Comparisons were made between the president’s care and what is now available.Findings: Although the president had access tothebest physicians, the chronicle of his course underscores the deficiencies in basic medical care, the controversies concerning surgical intervention, and the problems inherent in the care of a prominent patient. Press...
Battery Degradation Temporal Modeling Using LSTM Networks

Accurate modeling of battery capacity degradation is an important component for both battery manufacturers and energy management systems. In this paper, we develop a battery degradation model using deep learning algorithms. The model is trained with the real data collected from battery storage solutions installed and operated for behind-the-meter customers. In the dataset, battery operation data are recorded at a small scale (five minutes) and battery capacity is measured at every six months. In order to improve the training performance, we apply two preprocessing techniques, namely subsampling and feature extraction on operation data, and also interpolating between capacity measurements at times for which battery operation features are available. We integrate both cyclic and calendar aging processes in a unified framework by extracting the corresponding features from operation data. The proposed model uses LSTM units followed by a fully-connected network to process weekly battery operation features and predicts the capacity degradation. The experimental results show that our method can accurately predict the capacity fading and significantly outperforms baseline models including persistence and autoregressive (AR) models.
Diversification of polyketide structures via synthase engineering

Polyketide natural products possess diverse biological activities including antibiotic, anticancer, and immunosuppressive. Their equally varied and complex structures arise from head-to-tail condensation of simple carboxyacyl monomers. Since the seminal discovery that biosynthesis of polyketides such as the macrolide erythromycin is catalyzed by uncharacteristically large, multifunctional enzymes, termed modular type I polyketide synthases, chemists and biologists alike have been inspired to harness the apparent modularity of the synthases to further diversify polyketide structures. Yet, initial attempts to perform “combinatorial biosynthesis” failed due to challenges associated with maintaining the structural and catalytic integrity of large, chimeric synthases. Fast forward nearly 30 years, and advancements in our understanding of polyketide synthase structure and function have allowed the field to make significant progress toward effecting desired modifications to polyketide scaffolds in addition to engineering small, chiral fragments. This review highlights selected examples of polyketide diversification via control of monomer selection, oxidation state, stereochemistry, and cyclization. We conclude with a perspective on the present and future of polyketide structure diversification and hope that the examples presented here will encourage medicinal chemists to embrace polyketide synthetic biology as a means to revitalize polyketide drug discovery.
Juan Rivera’s Colorado, 1765: The First Spaniards Among the Ute and Paiute Indians on the Trail to Teguayo: By Steven G. Baker. 404 pp. Western Reflections Publishing Company, Lake City, Colorado. 2015. US $69.95 (hardcover). ISBN 978-1-9378-5117-0

In 1765 Juan Antonio Rivera and a small coterie of associates made two entradas into western Colorado. They covered 1,300 treacherous miles in seventy days. They were not just exploring unknown lan...
A priori bounds for KdV equation below H−34

Abstract We consider the Korteweg–de Vries equation (KdV) on the real line, and prove that the smooth solutions satisfy a priori local in time H s bound in terms of the H s size of the initial data for s ≥ − 4 5 .
Redox Regulation of the Microcirculation

The microcirculation maintains tissue homeostasis through local regulation of blood flow and oxygen delivery. Perturbations in microvascular function are characteristic of several diseases and may be early indicators of pathological changes in the cardiovascular system and in parenchymal tissue function. These changes are often mediated by various reactive oxygen species and linked to disruptions in pathways such as vasodilation or angiogenesis. This overview compiles recent advances relating to redox regulation of the microcirculation by adopting both cellular and functional perspectives. Findings from a variety of vascular beds and models are integrated to describe common effects of different reactive species on microvascular function. Gaps in understanding and areas for further research are outlined. © 2020 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 10:229-260, 2020.
5 – Slant Perception

Publisher Summary A research on static slant judgments is useful in suggesting variables to be investigated in dynamic slant perception, but it is clear that the results obtained in the static case do not generalize directly to the dynamic case. Even for the few variables that have been studied in both static and dynamic displays, striking differences have been found. The dominance of perspective over form ratio in determining slant judgments is reversed when rotation to a slant is displayed. The increase in judged slant with increased texture regularity is absent when either rotation to a slant or the translation of a slanted surface along the axis of slant is displayed. Judged slant is close to displayed slant in most studies involving either of these transformations, in contrast to the underestimates of 50% or more found with static displays. These results, reinforced by the results obtained when motion and texture gradients are placed in conflict, suggest that motion overrides static indicators of slant, completely dominating slant judgments. The effects of disparity on slant judgments have not been compared to the effects of motion. When disparity and motion are separately compared to static perspective information, disparity does not seem to be dominant as motion, but this is only an indirect answer to the question of how conflicting motion and disparity information affect perceived slant.
Utilizing 3D Printing and Hydrogel Casting for the Development of Patient-Specific Rehearsal Platforms for Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomies.

BACKGROUND Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been utilized to create patient-specific (PS) replicas as visual aids for surgical planning. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 However, they cannot recreate the operative experience due to a lack of realistic tissue characteristics. OBJECTIVES Develop anatomically accurate, realistic, PS partial nephrectomy platforms suitable for pre-operative surgical rehearsals using 3D-printing and hydrogel casting. MATERIAL Patient CT scans were segmented into a computer-aided design (CAD) file and used to create injection casts. Kidney and tumor casts along with hollow vascular and urinary structures were 3D-printed. The hilar structures and tumor were registered into the kidney cast, injected with poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, and processed to create the kidney phantom. Mechanical and functional testing protocols were completed to confirm that the properties of PVA matched the live tissue. 5 Anatomical accuracy was confirmed by CT scanning the phantom and creating another CAD, which was compared to the original patient CAD. Full-procedural PS rehearsals were completed 24-48 hours prior to their respective live surgeries. Clinically relevant metrics (warm ischemia time, estimated blood loss, and positive surgical margins) from each rehearsal and live case were compared using a Wilcoxon-rank sum test. RESULTS The 7%-3freeze/thaw PVA best recreated the mechanical and functional properties of porcine kidneys, while anatomical verification showed ≤1 mm deviation of the kidney and tumor from the patient anatomy and ≤3 mm for the hilar structures. PS rehearsal platforms were fabricated using these methods for 8 patients (average tumor size 5.92 cm and nephrometry score 9.8). A positive correlation was found for warm ischemia time and estimated blood loss between rehearsals and live surgeries. CONCLUSION This reproducible method shows high anatomical accuracy, realistic tissue properties, and translational effects between rehearsals and live surgery. To determine the effects on patient outcomes, future studies will compare the impact of completing a pre-operative rehearsal vs standard surgical preparation.
Cooking as a Health Behavior: Examining the Role of Cooking Classes in a Weight Loss Intervention.

Americans are cooking fewer meals at home and eating more convenience foods prepared elsewhere. Cooking at home is associated with higher quality diets, while a reduction in cooking may be associated with increases in obesity and risk factors for chronic disease. The aims of this study were to examine cooking as an intervention for weight control in overweight and obese adults, and whether such an intervention increases participants’ food agency and diet quality. Overweight and obese adults were randomized into one of two intervention conditions: active or demonstration. Both conditions received the same 24-week behavioral weight loss intervention, and bi-weekly cooking classes. The active condition prepared a weekly meal during a hands-on lesson, while the demonstration condition observed a chef prepare the same meal. The active condition lost significantly more weight at six months compared with the demonstration condition (7.3% vs. 4.5%). Both conditions saw significant improvements in food agency scores and Healthy Eating Index scores, though no significant differences were noted between groups. The addition of active cooking to a weight management intervention may improve weight loss outcomes, though benefits in diet quality and cooking behaviors may also be seen with the addition of a demonstration-only cooking intervention.
Effects of Consuming Sugar-Sweetened Beverages for 2 Weeks on 24-h Circulating Leptin Profiles, Ad Libitum Food Intake and Body Weight in Young Adults.

Sugar-sweetened beverage (sugar-SB) consumption is associated with body weight gain. We investigated whether the changes of (Δ) circulating leptin contribute to weight gain and ad libitum food intake in young adults consuming sugar-SB for two weeks. In a parallel, double-blinded, intervention study, participants (n = 131; BMI 18-35 kg/m2; 18-40 years) consumed three beverages/day containing aspartame or 25% energy requirement as glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or sucrose (n = 23-28/group). Body weight, ad libitum food intake and 24-h leptin area under the curve (AUC) were assessed at Week 0 and at the end of Week 2. The Δbody weight was not different among groups (p = 0.092), but the increases in subjects consuming HFCS- (p = 0.0008) and glucose-SB (p = 0.018) were significant compared with Week 0. Subjects consuming sucrose- (+14%, p < 0.0015), fructose- (+9%, p = 0.015) and HFCS-SB (+8%, p = 0.017) increased energy intake during the ad libitum food intake trial compared with subjects consuming aspartame-SB (-4%, p = 0.0037, effect of SB). Fructose-SB decreased (-14 ng/mL × 24 h, p = 0.0006) and sucrose-SB increased (+25 ng/mL × 24 h, p = 0.025 vs. Week 0; p = 0.0008 vs. fructose-SB) 24-h leptin AUC. The Δad libitum food intake and Δbody weight were not influenced by circulating leptin in young adults consuming sugar-SB for 2 weeks. Studies are needed to determine the mechanisms mediating increased energy intake in subjects consuming sugar-SB.