cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Effects of Bogus Physiological Feedback and Control Stimuli on Autonomic and Self Report Indicants of Emotional Attribution

The present investigation examined the relative effects of an auditory feedback stimulus as a bogus physiological indicant and as a sound stimulus per se, on physiological and verbal report measures of emotional attribution. Thirty-six male subjects, divided into high and low resting arousal and high and low anxiety, viewed 10 slides of pinups while hearing continuous auditory tones. Results showed that an increase in tone rate elicited greater self reports of slide pleasantness than a no change in tone rate. In addition, there were no differential effects of bogus feed back and sound control on electrodermal activity or on self reports of pleasantness. The need for appropriate control groups in bogus physiologi cal feedback paradigms was discussed.
Library instruction and information literacy

This article presents an annotated bibliography of literature recently on library instruction and information literacy in academic, school, public, special, and all types of libraries. Interest in the topic remains strong, with a growing number of pieces also including the importance of assessment. Other themes discussed in the articles include research, collaboration, the use of tutorials, tours, distance learning, active learning, problem‐based learning, and the role of accreditation bodies.
Automatic recognition of abnormal cells in cytological tests using multispectral imaging

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic disease-related death worldwide, but is almost completely preventable with regular screening, for which cytological testing is a method of choice. Although such testing has radically lowered the death rate from cervical cancer, it is plagued by low sensitivity and inter-observer variability. Moreover, its effectiveness is still restricted because the recognition of shape and morphology of nuclei is compromised by overlapping and clumped cells. Multispectral imaging can aid enhanced morphological characterization of cytological specimens. Features including spectral intensity and texture, reflecting relevant morphological differences between normal and abnormal cells, can be derived from cytopathology images and utilized in a detection/classification scheme. Our automated processing of multispectral image cubes yields nuclear objects which are subjected to classification facilitated by a library of spectral signatures obtained from normal and abnormal cells, as marked by experts. Clumps are processed separately with reduced set of signatures. Implementation of this method yields high rate of successful detection and classification of nuclei into predefined malignant and premalignant types and correlates well with those obtained by an expert. Our multispectral approach may have an impact on the diagnostic workflow of cytological tests. Abnormal cells can be automatically highlighted and quantified, thus objectivity and performance of the reading can be improved in a way which is currently unavailable in clinical setting.
Friedreich's ataxia associated with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Abstract Friedreich's ataxia and idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS), both diseases of unknown etiology, both result in hypertrophy and degenerative changes of the myocardium. Both diseases lead to nearly identical electrocardiographic changes. We report a patient who developed classical signs of Friedreich's ataxia several years after he was found to have moderately severe IHSS. This observation prompted a hemodynamic study of five other patients with Friedreich's ataxia in search of a more common association and thus a possible etiological link between the two diseases. Cardiac catheterization was performed under local anesthesia. Catheters were inserted into the right ventricle, the pulmonary artery, the left ventricle, and the aorta. Isuprel infusion up to 6 μg per minute was used in an attempt to induce an abnormal pressure gradient across the right or left ventricular outflow tract. Both right and left ventricular cineangiograms were obtained for evaluation of ventricular kinetics and wall thickness. Right and left heart pressures were normal at rest in all patients. During Isuprel infusion a 40 mm. pressure gradient was induced across the left ventricular outflow tract in only one patient. A second patient developed a 16 mm. gradient across the right ventricular outflow tract. All patients had low normal cardiac outputs. The angiograms demonstrated increased left ventricular wall thickness in all patients. It is concluded that systolic left and/or right ventricular out-flow tract obstruction is only infrequently present in Friedreich's ataxia and is mild in degree. An etiological link between Friedreich's ataxia and IHSS is not known at the present but may possibly exist and should be investigated.
Technology and Modeling of Submicron Contacts

A major limitation for future scaling of CMOS is the rapidly increasing contact resistance [1]. An improved understanding of the behavior of the submicron contacts that will be used by the next decade requires experimental data and useful theoretical models. No experimental data are available in the literature to date for the resistance of sub-halfmicron contacts. This paper reports new findings on contacts of Al, TiN, PtSi, and CVD W to Si with sizes as small as 0.25 μm, The measured resistance values are compared to that obtained using a 2-D model and the discrepencies are discussed.
Arsenobetaine and arsenocholine: Two marine arsenic compounds without embryotoxity

The embryotoxicity of carboxymethyl(trimethyl)arsonium bromide [arsenobetaine,(CH3)3As+CH2COO−] and of 2-hydroxyethyl(trimethyl)arsonium bromide [arsenobetaine, (CH3)3As+CH2CH2OHBr] was explored. Sprague-Dawley rat embryos with intact yolk sacs were removed on day 11 of gestation and grown in a culture medium for 24 h in the presence and absence of rat liver (S-9) homogenate. Solutions of arsenobetaine or arsenocholine in dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO, (CH3)2SO] (0.03 cm3) were added to the media to achieve concentrations of 20 mg arsenic compound per cm3 of medium. After 24 h the circulation and heart beat were monitored (indicator of embryolethality); in addition the crown-to-rump lengths were measured and the neural structures (somites) and limb buds observed (indicator of embryotoxicity). No evidence for embryotoxicity or embryolethality was found in the absence or the presence of S-9. These results indicate that arsenobetaine, the most common arsenic compound found in seafood at concentrations from several micrograms to several hundred micrograms arsenic per gram, lacks subacute and acute prenatal toxicity.
QuakeSim: Web Services, Portals, and Infrastructure for Geophysics

We discuss significant recent updates and revisions to the QuakeSim portal and Web services, which provide access to geophysical applications, data sets, and real time sensor data. These new developments include a) significant updates to the Web portal, b) a revision of Web services to better encapsulate applications, c) additional services for generating keyhole markup language markups of maps, and d) support for real-time GLOBAL POSITIONING Data.
General Supportive Care

In addition to PAH-specific therapies proven to be effective in achieving a better outcome and/or symptomatic improvement, the care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requires a complex strategy that includes general pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures. This chapter will detail the general supportive measures beneficial for PAH patients as adjuvant treatment to targeted therapies.
Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Based Near-Infrared Optical Glucose Sensors toward In Vivo Continuous Glucose Monitoring:

This article reviews research efforts on developing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-based near-infrared (NIR) optical glucose sensors toward long-term in vivo continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). We first discuss the unique optical properties of SWNTs and compare SWNTs with traditional organic and nanoparticle fluorophores regarding in vivo glucose-sensing applications. We then present our development of SWNT-based glucose sensors that use glucose-binding proteins and boronic acids as a high-affinity molecular receptor for glucose and transduce binding events on the receptors to modulate SWNT fluorescence. Finally, we discuss opportunities and challenges in translating the emerging technology of SWNT-based NIR optical glucose sensors into in vivo CGM for practical clinical use.
HIGH DOSE RATE AFTERLOADING INTRALUMINAL BRACHYTHERAPY IN MALIGNANT AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION OF LUNG CANCER

Abstract Purpose : This is a retrospective study to review the palliation rate, survival rate and complications of high dose rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy in the treatment of malignant airway obstruction of lung cancer. Methods and Materials : A total of 225 high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments were delivered to 76 patients with symptomatic malignant airway obstruction by remote afterloading technique. An average of 7 Gy at a radius of 1 cm from the center of the source was delivered by Iridium-192 (Ir-192) sources. The majority of the patients received 3 fractions at 2 week intervals. Fifty-four patients received HDR brachytherapy as part of their initial treatment; 20 patients presented as symptomatic endobronchial recurrence. Two patients received YAG laser photoresection to open up the obstruction to allow insertion of the brachytherapy catheter. Fifty-nine patients received concurrent external beam irradiation. Forty-two patients were given 60–70 Gy in 6–7 weeks with curative intent. Seventeen patients were given 20–59 Gy in 2–5 weeks as a palliative measure. Nine patients received a radiosensitizer. One patient received concurrent chemotherapy. Results : The symptomatic response rates are as follows: dyspnea had an 87% response rate (59% partial response, 28% complete response), cough had a 79% response rate (47% partial response, 32% complete response), hemoptysis had a 95% response rate (38% partial response, 57% complete response), and postobstructive pneumonia had an 88% response rate (53% partial response, 35% complete response). Sixty-six patients had follow up endoscopic examination (1–3 months after brachytherapy). Their total response rate was 87% (52% partial response and 35% complete response). There were four acute complications: three cases of massive hemoptysis and one of mild hemoptysis. There are five late complications: three cases of radiation pneumonitis and two of esophagitis. At the time of this study, 55 patients have died with the maximum survival duration 113 months (9.4 years) from diagnosis date and 18 months from first HDR treatment. Twenty-one patients are still alive with a mean follow-up duration of 20 months from diagnosis date and 7.8 months from the first HDR treatment. Conclusion : HDR brachytherapy is an excellent modality for palliating symptomatic malignant airway obstruction with an acceptable complication rate; however, no definitive increase of survival rate was observed. Prospective clinical trials are needed to better define its merit regarding survival. This paper also includes a literature review and discussion of HDR brachytherapy on bronchogenic cancer.
Indirect assessment of cardiovascular "demands" using telemetry on professional football players

Aerobic training is not a major component of the conditioning programs of professional football play ers. We used telemetric ECG monitoring to examine the cardiovascular "demands" of practice and game situations in six athletes who were selected to affect a variety of positions and aerobic capacities. Heart rates commonly considered high enough for an aero bic conditioning effect were rarely attained during practice sessions. Maximum oxygen consumption testing confirmed that professional football players do not receive a sufficient amount of aerobic conditioning during practice. Telemetrically monitored heart rate response is much greater in a game situation than that experienced during practice. Telemetry results sup port injury statistics by indicating that aerobic condi tioning should have a significant role in the training program of the professional football player.
Clique Number vs. Chromatic Number in Wireless Interference Graphs: Simulation Results

Interference due to transmissions by adjacent nodes in a multi-hop wireless network can be modeled using a unit disc graph (UDG). We investigate the reliability associated with using the clique number instead of the chromatic number of the UDG while computing the interference. In our extensive simulations with UDGs of random networks, we observed that the clique number and the chromatic number values were typically very close to one another and the maximum deviation was much less than the theoretical bounds. This implies very high reliability in the proposed approximation.
Normal and abnormal heme biosynthesis Part 4: Molecular dynamics simulations of coproporphyrinogen-III and related di- and tricarboxylic acids

The first cyclic tetrapyrrolic intermediates in the heme biosynthetic pathway are generated as porphyrinogens (hexahydroporphyrins), but unlike the aromatic porphyrin nucleus these structures must take on highly distorted conformations. Although this structural requirement is self-evident, these intermediates are often represented as flat structures. In order to gain a better understanding of the enzyme coproporphyrinogen oxidase, which is responsible for the conversion of coproporphyrinogen-III to protoporphyrinogen-IX, conformational studies were performed using molecular dynamics simulations. These studies were carried out on the natural substrate and six synthetic analogues using a Silicon Graphics workstation and the BIOGRAF 3.1 program (Molecular Simulations Inc.). The dynamics were run for 50 ps using the Verlet algorithm and Dreiding force field for each porphyrinogen with 500 quenching steps at 300 and 500 K. The five lowest energy conformations were then used as starting structures for simulations of 200 ps. The data show that the propionic acid side chains critically affect the conformations by hydrogen bonding interactions, and the chair and saddle forms are the most stable conformations. In many cases the B ring propionate moiety, which is known to be crucial for substrate recognition for coproporphyrinogen oxidase, is found to be free of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. However, simulations in the presence of water molecules gave chaise longe conformations and intermolecular interactions overwhelmed other effects for solvated porphyrinogens. Although the local environment will influence the preferred conformations, these MD simulations provide insights into how natural porphyrinogens can behave under physiological conditions.
Effect of Static Strains on Diffusion

A theory is developed that gives the diffusion coefficient in strained systems as an exponential function of the strain. This theory starts with the statistical theory of the atomic jump frequency as developed by Vineyard. The parameter determining the effect of strain on diffusion is related to the changes in the inter-atomic forces with strain. Comparison of the theory with published experimental results for the effect of pressure on diffusion shows that the experiments agree with the form of the theoretical equation in all cases within experimental error.
A Psychological Preparation Framework for Elite Soccer Referees: A Practitioner's Perspective

The psychological demands of elite soccer referees have increased substantially in recent years. This article presents a psychological preparation framework for elite soccer referees, tailored to the unique demands of their task. First, psychological factors pertaining to elite soccer refereeing are reviewed in the areas of (a) decision-making, (b) game management, (c) the referee crew, and (d) referee evaluation. Second, a psychological preparation framework for elite soccer referees is presented, including components of match demands evaluation, motivational decisions, planning, mental simulation, and post-match analysis. Finally, the conclusions emphasize the role of the practitioner in each stage, providing recommendations for future research.
Micromagnetics of Magnetization Reversal in Patterned Magnetic Recording Medium

Micromagnetic modeling based on LLG formalism was used to study the magnetization reversal processes in patterned recording layer. The write fields generated by an idealized single pole write head with a uniformly magnetized air-bearing surface (ABS) were used. The applied write field is highly nonuniform within a bit, making consistent comparison based on its values difficult. The effects of the bit geometry, medium thickness, head/medium magnetic spacing (flying height), ABS geometry, the effects of neighboring bits on magnetization reversal, and the sensitivity of the write process to non-zero write misregistration (WMR) were investigated. It was shown that the larger ABS cross-section heads generate stronger write fields resulting in a capability of using higher anisotropy/better thermal stability media materials. Also, the sensitivity on WMR is weaker for larger ABS cross-section heads simplifying the optimization of a recording system design.
Automated torsion pendulum analysis of the formation and properties of a polyphthalocyanine

The cure and transitions of a C10 diamide phthalocyanine resin have been investigated by the torsional braid method. Two relaxations (T′ > Tg and T > Tg) occurring above the glass transition temperature (Tg) are shown to correspond to two relaxations which develop prior to vitrification on isothermal cure. They bear directly on processibility of the material. Also investigated was the coupling between a low temperature transition (∼ − 146°C/2.1 Hz) inherent to the material and a low temperature water-induced transition (∼ − 76°C/1.9 Hz).
Antioxidant Protection by American Ginseng in Pancreatic ß-Cells

Hyperglycemia in diabetic conditions may cause oxidative stress in pancreatic s-cells, leading to their dysfunction and insulin resistance within peripheral tissues. Previous studies suggest that American ginseng berry extract may have hypoglycemic effects, as well as offer antioxidant protection. We examined effects of American ginseng berry extract and ginsenoside Re in a pancreatic s-cell line, MIN-6, to determine if these two properties are related. Cells were exposed to oxidative stress via hydrogen peroxide incubation and oxidative stress was measured by oxidation of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. These cells showed a concentration-related response to hydrogen peroxide at 100–500 μM. In acute conditions where cells were treated with the extract for 10 min, we observed reduced oxidant injury suggesting direct scavenging effects. Chronic incubation of cells with the extract for 48 hours also demonstrated attenuation of oxidative stress. At high concentrations, Re showed a mild antioxidant effect in MIN-6 cells. Our insulin release observations also showed that the extract may help to increase insulin secretions from the cells. Our data suggest that the observed ability of ginseng to reduce blood glucose levels may be linked to its antioxidant effects on pancreatic s-cells.
Natural Relationships among Sulfate-Reducing Eubacteria

Phylogenetic relationships among 20 nonsporeforming and two endospore-forming species of sulfate-reducing eubacteria were inferred from comparative 16S rRNA sequencing. All genera of mesophilic sulfate-reducing eubacteria except the new genus Desulfomicrobium and the gliding Desulfonema species were included. The sporeforming species Desulfotomaculum ruminis and Desulfotomaculum orientis were found to be gram-positive organisms sharing 83% 16S rRNA sequence similarity, indicating that this genus is diverse. The gram-negative nonsporeforming species could be divided into seven natural groups: group 1, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and other species of this genus that do not degrade fatty acids (this group also included "Desulfomonas" pigra); group 2, the fatty acid-degrading "Desulfovibrio" sapovorans; group 3, Desulfobulbus species; group 4, Desulfobacter species; group 5, Desulfobacterium species and "Desulfococcus" niacini; group 6, Desulfococcus multivorans and Desulfosarcina variabilis; and group 7, the fatty acid-oxidizing "Desulfovibrio" baarsii. (The quotation marks are used to indicate the need for taxonomic revision.) Groups 1 to 3 are incomplete oxidizers that form acetate as an end product; groups 4 to 7 are complete oxidizers. The data were consistent with and refined relationships previously inferred by oligonucleotide catalogs of 16S rRNA. Although the determined relationships are generally consistent with the existing classification based on physiology and other characteristics, the need for some taxonomic revision is indicated.
Clinical evaluation of the latex flocculation test in pregnancy.

Abstract The latex flocculation test was performed upon maternal and cord sera obtained from normal and complicated gestations. No abnormalities were found.
Commentary: Evaluations of DOJ Investigations of State Psychiatric Hospitals

Geller and Lee use their study of Findings Letters, sent by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to the states after investigations of state psychiatric hospitals, as a way to study the investigation process itself. Their article serves as a useful program evaluation for DOJ and suggests important ways in which the investigations could be improved.
3-D land subsidence simulation using the NDIS package for MODFLOW

Abstract. The standard subsidence package for MODFLOW, MODFLOW-SUB simulates aquifer-system compaction and subsidence assuming that only 1-D-vertical displacement of the aquifer system occurs in response to applied stresses such as drawdowns accompanying groundwater extraction. In the present paper, 3-D movement of an aquifer system in responses to one or more pumping wells is considered using the new aquifer-system deformation package for MODFLOW, NDIS. The simulation of aquifer- system 3-D movement using NDIS was conducted with a stress or hydraulic head dependent specific storage coefficient to simulate nonlinear deformation behavior of aquifer-system sedimentary materials. NDIS's numerical simulation for aquifer horizontal movement is consistent with an analytic solution for horizontal motion in response to pumping from a leaky confined aquifer (Li, 2007). For purposes of comparison, vertical subsidence of the aquifer system in response to groundwater pumping is simulated by the both the NDIS and MODFLOW-SUB models. The results of the simulations show that land subsidence simulated by MODFLOW-SUB is significantly larger and less sensitive to pumping rate and time than that simulated by NDIS. The NDIS simulations also suggest that if the total pumpage is the same, pumping from a single well may induce more land subsidence than pumping from multiple wells.
Needle Probe Application for High-Resolution Assessment of Soil Spatial Variability in the Centrifuge

This paper addresses the development of an electrical resistivity needle probe to be deployed during centrifuge model testing to assess with high -resolution the spatial variability of soil electrical resistivity. The probe is able to detect thin layers and accurately resolve interfaces between soil layers. The prototype probes are made from thin, stainless steel needles, with an insulated wire inserted into the needle, and bonded to it with epoxy resin, to form a coaxial probe (Cho et al. 2004). Different tip shapes including single -wedge, double-wedge and cone have been developed to optimize the spatial resolution of porosity, soil interfaces and layering. The calibration and testing of the needle probe has been conducted both at Georgia Tech and UC Davis. This paper presents results of resistance versus depth and porosity versus depth, and compares the porosity based on measurement of mass and
Forum on Christian Smith's "Why Christianity Works": Editor's Introduction

Smith's "Why Christianity Works: An Emotions-Focused Phenomenological Account" in the summer 2007 issue of Sociology of Religion. I received an almost immediate e-mail response from one of the journal's associate editors questioning its status as a social scientific treatment of religion and the wisdom of publishing it. At our editorial board meeting that August, other associate editors said they thought the essay was odd, and a couple noted that other scholars had mentioned to them that they were disturbed by it.
A Knowledge-Based Approach for the Automated Design of Robotic/Human Manufacturing Workcells in Hazardous Environments

The design of manufacturing systems in hazardous environments is complex, requiring interdisciplinary knowledge to determine which components and operators (human or robotic) are feasible. When conceptualizing designs, some options may be overlooked or unknowingly infeasible due to the design engineers’ lack of knowledge in a particular field or ineffective communication of requirements between disciplines. Computational design tools can help alleviate many of the problems encountered in this design task. We create a knowledge-based system (KBS) utilizing CLIPS to automate the synthesis of conceptual manufacturing system designs in radioactive environments. The KBS takes a high-level functional description of a process and uses FBS modeling to generate multiple designs with generic components retrieved from a database and low-level manufacturing task sequences. Using this approach, many options are explored and operator task compatibility is directly addressed. The KBS is applied to the design of glovebox processing systems at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).© 2013 ASME
Sports Lighting that Protects the Dark Sky

The Kitt Peak National Observatory, part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (operated by The Association of Univerities for Research in Astronomy for the US National Science Foundation) is located on the Tohono O’Odham reservation over 60 km from Tucson, Arizona. When the High School in Sells, 26 km to the west of Kitt Peak, was relocated to Topawa, a village about the same distance from Kitt Peak, the project director followed the Pima County lighting code and created an installation that protects the dark skies for the Observatory while providing excellent illumination for the football field. We will illustrate the facility and compare its visibility to the brightness of the old field.
Neuroticism and Levenson's Locus of Control Scale

The relation between the scores on the Eysenck Personality Inventory and Levenson's Locus of Control scale was investigated among 67 undergraduate students. As expected, no relation between Extrave...
Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background An association between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been previously reported; however, the underlying factors linking CRS and GERD remain to be elucidated.
Surprise! Financial Analyst Reactions to Unexpected Earnings

A model of incentive conflicts is used to study individual analysts' self-reported earnings surprise. We examine analyst reports which contain a comparison of reported earnings to prior forecast, and identify assessment variables: recommendation, recommendation change, short-term and long-term earnings forecast revisions, and short-term and long-term company characterizations. We measure the association between the earnings comparison and the directions of other assessment variables in settings with positive surprise (no incentive conflict) and negative surprise (incentive conflict). With no conflict, assessment variables are consistent with the earnings comparison. In incentive conflict settings, analysts' short-term earnings forecast revisions and recommendation changes are relatively more informative, reflecting direction of earnings surprise, while company characterizations (short- and long-term) and long-term earnings forecast revisions are relatively less informative and more favorable, apparently to soften the overall assessment. Association between any earnings surprise and recommendation is confounded by the fact that most recommendations are 'buy, and remain so, regardless of earnings surprise.
Pretty, Sassy, Cool: Slave Resistance, Agency, and Culture in Eighteenth-Century New England

Abstract Runaway slave advertisements are a staple of African and African American Studies. For well over a century, they have provided scholars from many different disciplines a rich resource to examine slavery. In addition to recording slaves dogged determination to be free, their persistent efforts to preserve family ties, and their astute awareness of the politics of their day, advertisements for fugitive slaves include complex stories that reflect varied nuances of the past. It is those nuances that represent the focus of this article that explores bondage in colonial New England.
Interactive frame instantiation

This paper discusses the requirements that interactive frame instantiation imposes on constraint verification. The representations and algorithms of an implemented software solution are presented.
When convergent syntheses of graft block copolymers diverge: The treachery of chemical images

A synthetic strategy to produce graft block copolymers (BCPs) with controlled grafting densities using both grafting-through and grafting-from methods is reported. For grafting-through, poly(4-methylcaprolactone-block-d,l-lactide) macromonomers were synthesized with a polymerizable maleimide end group. These macromonomers were copolymerized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization with styrene and various amounts of N-ethylmaleimide to control grafting density. A kinetic study showed that the macromonomers (>10 kDa) polymerized at the same rate as N-ethylmaleimide under RAFT conditions, suggesting that uniform grafting density could be achieved. However, incorporating more than 5–10 grafts per chain was found to be challenging and potentially limited by kinetics. A higher number of grafts per chain with controlled densities was achieved using a grafting-from technique. Macroinitiators of styrene, N-ethylmaleimide, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)maleimide were copolymerized with a fixed density of grafting sites. Subsequently, BCPs were grown off of the macroinitiator using ring-opening transesterification polymerization (ROTEP). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3097–3104
Use of Concanavalin A to Monitor Changes in Glycoprotein Synthesis during Early Mouse Development

One- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis have been used to examine proteins synthesized by preimplantation mouse embryos and, for each stage analyzed, about 400–600 distinct polypeptides have been resolved (Epstein and Smith, 1974, Van Blerkom and Brockway, 1975, Levinson et al., 1978). In an attempt to characterize further these proteins, we have used concanavalin A (Con A), a plant lectin that binds to mannose residues, to precipitate both total and cell surface glycoproteins synthesized during the preimplantation period. The precipitates were subsequently analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.
Assured relative and absolute navigation of a swarm of small UAS

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) operations are increasing in demand and complexity. Using multiple cooperative sUAS (i.e., a swarm) can be beneficial and is sometimes necessary to perform certain tasks (e.g. precision agriculture, mapping, surveillance) either independent or collaboratively. However, controlling the flight of multiple sUAS autonomously and in real-time in a challenging environment in terms of obstacles and navigation requires highly accurate absolute and relative position and velocity information for all platforms in the swarm. This information is also necessary to effectively and efficiently resolve possible collision encounters between the sUAS. In our swarm, each platform is equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a baro-altimeter and a relative range sensor (range radio). When GNSS is available, its measurements are tightly integrated with IMU and baro-altimeter measurements to obtain the platform's absolute position. At the same time, the raw measurements are exchanged with the other platforms to obtain a highly accurate relative position and velocity solution with integrity. In the presence of GNSS, this relative position and velocity is used to calibrate the range radios. When GNSS is not available due to external factors (e.g., obstructions, interference), the position and velocity estimators switch to an integrated solution based on IMU, baro and relative range measurements, to maintain an accurate relative position estimate, and reduce the drift in the swarm's absolute position estimate as is typical of an IMU-based system. Multiple multi-copter data collection platforms have been developed and equipped with GNSS, inertial sensors and range radios, which were developed at Ohio University. This paper outlines the underlying methodology, the platform hardware components and analyzes and discusses sUAS flight data results.
Rules, participants, and executive politics in state tax revenue forecasting

This study examines whether rules, particular participants, and executive politics in state tax revenue estimation exert measurable influences on forecast error. Fixed-effects estimation using data from states’ respective fiscal years 1994 to 2003 indicates that all impact state tax revenue forecast accuracy in varying ways, and results suggest that policy can be crafted to effectively mitigate forecast error. Further examination of the quality of participation in tax revenue forecasting as well as the mechanisms of political involvement in this arena is suggested.
“I call him father of us all”: vicarious transcendence at the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center*

ABSTRACTThis essay advocates closer attention to the relationship between transcendent rhetoric and public memory sites. Through an analysis of the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center i...
Incidence and Prognosis of Primary Gastrinomas in the Hepatobiliary Tract.

Importance Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a life-threatening disease caused by a malignant tumor that secretes gastrin (gastrinoma). Gastrinomas typically occur in the pancreas or the duodenum. Objective To describe the incidence and prognosis of very unusual gastrinomas originating in the hepatobiliary tract. Design, Setting, and Participants This study included 223 consecutive patients at the National Institutes of Health and Stanford University Hospital who were enrolled in a prospective protocol to treat ZES using proton pump inhibitors to control acid hypersecretion and surgical resection to ameliorate the tumoral process. Data were collected from June 1982 to August 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Incidence, location, surgical results, and cure rate and overall survival among patients with gastrinomas that originate in the liver or bile ducts. Cure was defined as serum gastrin levels within the reference range, negative results of a secretin test, and no tumor found on imaging. Results Of the 223 patients who underwent surgery to remove gastrinomas, 7 (3.1%) had liver or biliary tract primary tumors, including 5 men and 2 women (mean age at diagnosis, 43 years; range 27-54 years). The mean serum gastrin level was 817 pg/mL (range, 289-2700 pg/mL). Each patient had positive results of a secretin test. None had evidence of multiple endocrine neoplasia 1. Four patients had primary tumors in the liver (1 in segment II, 2 in segment IV, and 1 in segment V); 3, in the bile duct (1 in the right hepatic duct, 1 in the left hepatic duct, and 1 in the common hepatic duct). Surgical resection required 1 right hepatic lobectomy, 1 left lateral segmentectomy, 2 left hepatic lobectomies, 1 central hepatectomy, and 2 bile duct resections. Four patients had nodal metastases, and no patient had distant metastases. No operative deaths occurred, but 3 patients had complications, including bile duct stricture, portal vein stricture, and biliary fistula. Each patient was disease free in the immediate postoperative period, and 3 had recurrences in the liver and portal lymph nodes (at 3, 11, and 15 years). Three patients (43%) remained free of disease at follow-up ranging from 24 months to 26 years. Conclusions and Relevance Primary gastrinomas of the hepatobiliary tract are uncommon (3%), but the hepatobiliary system is the second most frequent extraduodenopancreatic primary location (after the lymph nodes). These tumors can occur outside the gastrinoma triangle and must be specifically considered. Furthermore, their discovery changes the operative approach because aggressive liver or bile duct resection is indicated, with high rates of long-term cure and survival and acceptable rates of complications. In addition, their discovery dictates that lymph nodes in the porta hepatis should be routinely excised because nearly 50% of patients will have lymph node metastases.
Correlation of crAssphage qPCR Markers with Culturable and Molecular Indicators of Human Fecal Pollution in an Impacted Urban Watershed

Environmental waters are monitored for fecal pollution to protect public health. Many previously developed human-specific fecal pollution indicators lack adequate sensitivity to be reliably detected in environmental waters or do not correlate well with viral pathogens. Recently, two novel human sewage-associated source tracking qPCR markers were developed based on the bacteriophage crAssphage, CPQ_056 and CPQ_064. These assays are highly human specific, abundant in sewage, and are viral-based, suggesting great promise for environmental application as human fecal pollution indicators. A 30-day sampling study was conducted in an urban stream impacted by combined sewer overflows to evaluate the crAssphage markers’ performance in an environmental system. The crAssphage markers were present at concentrations of 4.02–6.04 log10 copies/100 mL throughout the study period, indicating their high abundance and ease of detection in polluted environmental waters. In addition, the crAssphage assays were correlated with...
Longitudinal Stiffness Coupling in a 1-Dimensional Model of the Peripheral Ear

A one-dimensional computer model of the peripheral ear was explored using pure-tone inputs. This model was adopted after frequency-domain modeling showed that the differences between one- and two-dimensional models were small. The inner ear representation was the classical mass-spring-damper transmission line. In the time-domain simulations, this classical model was modified to have adjacent elements of the cochlear partition model lightly coupled to each other via springs.
Purification and Patch Clamp Analysis of Two Mitochondrial Channels

Patch clamping has revealed the presence in mitochondrial membranes of several channel types, of conductance ranging from 6 pS to 1.3 nS in the presence of 150 mM KC1 or NaCl. A voltage-gated channel of about 107 pS conductance has been found in patches of mitoplasts and artificial membranes incorporating mitochondrial membrane fragments or fractions (Sorgato et al., 1987 & 1989; Kinnally et al. 1989; Moran et al., 1990; Klitsch & Siemen, 1991; Inoue et al, 1991). An ATP-sensitive K+ channel of 10 pS conductance in the presence of 100 mM KCl has been seen in patches of mitochondrial inner membrane (Inoue et al., 1991). A 1.3 nS mega-channel, which is opened by mM levels of Ca++ and blocked by cyclosporin A (Petronilli et al., 1989; Szabo & Zoratti, 1991 & 1992), appears to mediate the permeability transition associated with Ca++ loading (Broekemeier et al., 1989). An apparently equivalent multiconductance channel (MCC) exhibiting transitions ranging from 30 pS to 5 nS is found to be activated by Ca++ or high voltage (Kinnally et al., 1991, 1992; Antonenko et al., 1991; Zorov et al., 1992). A water-soluble 60 kDa protein extracted from mitochondria in ethanol was earlier reported to induce variable conductance increments in black lipid membranes (Mironova, 1981).
Determination of the Depth- and Time- Dependent Mechanical Behavior of Mouse Articular Cartilage Using Cyclic Reference Point Indentation.

Mouse models of osteoarthritis and cartilage degeneration are important and powerful tools for investigating the molecular mechanisms of the disease pathology. Because of the vast number of genetic...
A Model-Based Multi-Objective Optimization for High Efficiency and High Power Density Motor Drive Inverters for Aircraft Applications

This paper proposes a multi-objective design optimization methodology for power-electronics inverters with more electric aircraft applications, which orients the optimum design point of both passive components and semiconductors between power density and efficiency of the inverter system based on semi-physical mathematical models and multi-level sub-optimization models. This algorithm is demonstrated by designing a 25 kW 2-level motor-drive inverter and showing superior performances than state-of-arts products.
Changes in total thyroidectomy versus thyroid lobectomy for papillary thyroid cancer during the past 15 years.

Abstract Background The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer has increased substantially during the past 15 years, which is likely related to an increased detection of small, nonlethal cancers. Studies have shown that patients may have a similar prognosis when undergoing less aggressive surgical intervention, such as thyroid lobectomy. The objective of this study is to determine whether surgical treatment patterns for papillary thyroid cancer have changed during the past 15 years. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study evaluating changes in the incidence and proportion of total thyroidectomy versus thyroid lobectomy for histologically confirmed papillary thyroid cancers, using the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registries between 2000 and 2014. Results During the study period, 44,537 patients underwent surgical treatment for papillary thyroid cancer, of which 77% were female and 81.3% were white. The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer more than doubled: from 6.2 (5.9–6.5) to 13.0 (12.5–13.4) per 100,000. The proportion of total thyroidectomy among all papillary cases increased from 78.16% in 2000 to 85.67% in 2014, and the proportion of thyroid lobectomy dropped from 16.62% to 11.41%. When stratified by tumor size, we observed a sustained and increasing gap in the proportions of total thyroidectomy and thyroid lobectomy. Conclusion The incidence of total thyroidectomy has not decreased despite recommendations encouraging consideration of lobectomy for patients with small papillary thyroid cancers. Although these findings could be attributed to the lag between scientific evidence and clinical practice, further work is warranted to explore any additional patient and provider factors that may explain this lack of change.
Factors Contributing to Maternal-Child Separation in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.

Background: The Haitian orphanage sector receives more than 70 million United States Dollars (USD) in foreign aid annually and continues grow; there are over 500 orphanages in Port-Au-Prince alone. An estimated 80% of the 30,000 children living in Haitian orphanages have at least one living parent. Objectives: This research seeks to identify factors contributing to maternal-child separation in Port-Au-Prince to understand motivations and attitudes surrounding maternal-child separation. We hypothesized that poverty, health status, and current state of the family unit are influential in the mother’s decision to separate from her child. Methods: From June to August 2017, a chain referral sampling study was conducted in Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding metropolitan area. Seventy interviews were conducted with (1) Mothers – separated (n = 8) and non-separated (n = 48) – and (2) Community leaders exposed to maternal-child separation (n = 18). The semi-structured interview consisted of questions about (1) exposure to maternal-child separation, (2) circumstances surrounding maternal-child separation, and (3) factors contributing to maternal-child separation. Additionally, all mothers completed a survey including demographic information and multiple validated surveys: Maternal Postpartum Quality of Life, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and PTSD Checklist (PCL) to address quality of life, depression, and PTSD, respectively. Findings: This study found separation to be associated with poor economic means compounded with other factors, most notably access to education, ability to care for disabled children, insufficient support, and poor maternal mental health. Additional themes identified include negative stigma towards maternal-child separation and sparse education surrounding family planning. Quantitative findings revealed separated mothers experienced significantly higher rates of PTSD compared to non-separated, small but statistically worse quality of life, and no difference in rates of major depression. Conclusion: This research finds economic means to be insufficient in predicting maternal-child separation, with access to education being the most salient contributing factor mentioned after economics. Findings from this study will inform development of programming focusing on education, family planning, and social support in Port-Au-Prince.
The Power of Networks: Insights from the Political Cybernetics of Karl W. Deutsch

This article reconstructs Karl Deutsch’s fearful yet hopeful views about the powers and pathologies of military, and other, national and international network systems. These views presuppose Norbert Wiener’s Cybernetic Interpretive Hypothesis: that ‘society can only be understood through a study of the messages and communication facilities which belong to it’; that the societal trend is towards more computerized communication systems; and that they embody an ‘open vs. closed’ living systems ethos. Drawing on science and technology studies by Edwards and Mirowski, the author suggests how Deutsch’s and Wiener’s prophetic hopes, fears, and insights can also enrich and redefine contemporary debates about the historical-technological development of our national societies, the powers and pathologies of game-theoretically programmed computer networks, the assessment of the life-preserving potential of our partly automated security systems, the major threats from the continued poverty of the less developed world, problems of decentralized governance, and the political, ethical, and religious justifications for our national, international, and civilizational identities and purposes.
8 – ANALYTIC GEOMETRY: THE CONIC SECTIONS

Publisher Summary Analytic geometry enables the application of algebraic methods and equations to the solution of problems in geometry and, conversely, to obtain geometric representations of algebraic equations. This chapter presents a formula for the coordinates of the midpoint of a line segment. It also explains how a geometric definition can be converted into an algebraic equation and how an algebraic equation can be classified by the type of graph it represents. A geometric figure defined as a set of points can often be described analytically by an algebraic equation. A circle is the set of all points in a plane that are at a given distance from a fixed point. The fixed point is called the center of the circle and the given distance is called the radius. The chapter presents the standard form of the equation of a circle. Given a fixed point, called the focus, and a fixed line, called the directrix, a parabola is the set of all points each of which is equidistant from the point and from the line.