cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Manifold Structure of Cardiac MRI Data: Application to Segmentation

We develop theory and algorithms to incorporate image manifold constraints in a level set segmentation algorithm. This provides a framework to simultaneously segment every image of data sets that vary due to two degrees of freedom - such as cardiopulmonary MR images which deform due to patient breathing and heartbeats. We derive two formulations: a 4D level set which loosely couples the level set function between neighbors in the 2D image manifold and a multilayer level set function which uses different levels of the level set function to represent shapes that shrink or grow. We characterize the set of shape manifolds that the multilayer level set function can represent, and derive the evolution equations for both frameworks. We offer results of segmenting the left ventricle in cardiopulmonary MRI; by automatically discovering the 2D manifold structure of the image set then simultaneously segmenting every frame. Both extensions improve on frame-by-frame approaches, and a comparison of the results offers insight into their strengths and weaknesses.
Deformation rate effects on failure modes of open-cell Al foams and textile cellular materials

The compressive behavior of open-cell aluminum alloy foam and stainless steel woven textile core materials have been investigated at three different deformation rate regimes. Quasi-static compressive tests were performed using a miniature loading frame, intermediate rates were achieved using a stored energy Kolsky bar, and high strain rate tests were performed using a light gas gun. In agreement with previous studies on foam materials, the strain rate was not found to have a significant effect on the plateau stress of metallic foams. For all the tests, real time imaging of the specimen combined with digital image correlation analysis allowed the determination of local deformation fields and failure modes. For the Kolsky bar tests, the deformations in the foam specimen were found to be more distributed than for the quasi-static test, which is attributed to moderate inertia effects. The differences in failure mode are more dramatic for the gas gun experiments, where a full compaction shock wave is generated at the impact surface. The stresses in front and behind the shock wave front were determined by means of direct and reverse gas gun impact tests, i.e., stationary and launched specimen, respectively. A one-dimensional shock wave model based on an idealized foam behavior is employed to gain insight into the stress history measurements. We show that the predictions of the model are consistent with the experimental observations. Woven textile materials exhibited moderate dependence of strength on the deformation rate in comparison with open-cell foam materials. � 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Registration of wildlife contraceptives in the United States of America, with OvoControl and GonaCon immunocontraceptive vaccines as examples

Overabundantwildlifepopulationshavethepotentialtoadverselyaffectwildlifehabitatsorposeriskstohuman health and safety through disease transmission and collisions with vehicles and aircraft. Traditional methods for reducing overabundantwildlife,suchashuntingandtrapping,areoftenrestrictedorinfeasibleinurbanandsuburbanareas.Additional managementoptionsareneeded.Forthepast15years,scientistswiththeUSDepartmentofAgriculture's(USDA)Wildlife Services'NationalWildlifeResearchCenterhavebeendevelopingandtestingcontraceptiveagents.Thisresearchhasresulted in the development of several reproductive inhibitors and has forced regulatory bodies to determine where the regulatory authorityforwildlifecontraceptiveswillreside.Theregulatoryauthorityforcontraceptivesforwildlifeandferalanimalshas recentlybeenmovedfromtheUSFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)totheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA). The firstcontraceptiveregisteredbytheEPAsincethismovewasOvoControl-GforreducingthehatchabilityofCanadagoose eggs. OvoControl was registered in 2005 by Innolytics, LLC working in cooperation with the National Wildlife Research Center. A similar product, OvoControl-P, was registered in 2007 as a contraceptive technique for pigeons. Another product developedbytheNationalWildlifeResearchCenter,GonaConimmunocontraceptivevaccine,isintheregistrationprocessfor managing white-tailed deer populations. This manuscript will describe the products that have been and are currently undergoing registration as contraceptives in the United States of America, and the data required for those products.
Effect of steady ampoule rotation on radial dopant segregation in vertical Bridgman growth of GaSe

Abstract For vertical Bridgman growth of the nonlinear optical material GaSe in an ampoule sufficiently long that flow and dopant transport are not significantly influenced by the upper free surface, we show computationally that steady rotation about the ampoule axis strongly affects the flow and radial solid-phase dopant segregation. Radial segregation depends strongly on both growth rate U and rotation rate Ω over the ranges 0.25 μm s − 1 ⩽U⩽3.0 μm s − 1 and 0⩽ Ω ⩽270 rpm. For each growth rate considered, the overall radial segregation passes through two local maxima as Ω increases, before ultimately decreasing at large Ω . Rotation has only modest effects on interface deflection. Radial segregation computed using a model with isotropic conductivity (one-third the trace of the conductivity tensor) predicts much less radial segregation than the “correct” model using the anisotropic conductivity, with the segregation decreasing monotonically with Ω . Consideration of a model in which centrifugal acceleration is deliberately omitted shows that, as Ω increases, diminution and ultimately disappearance of the “secondary” vortex lying immediately above the interface is due to centrifugal buoyancy, while axial distension of the larger “primary” vortex above is due to Coriolis effects. These results, which are qualitatively different from those accounting for centrifugal buoyancy, suggest that several earlier computational and analytical predictions of rotating vertical Bridgman growth are either limited to rotation rates sufficiently low that centrifugal buoyancy is unimportant, or are artifacts associated with its neglect. The overall radial segregation depends approximately linearly on the product of 1− k and the growth rate U for the conditions considered, where k is the segregation coefficient.
Fault isolation and analysis for IC engine onboard diagnostics

The development of diagnostic algorithms for the detection of misfiring cylinders in an internal combustion engine is described. The algorithms are applied to a measurement of engine angular velocity obtained by means of an inexpensive noncontacting sensor, and they are applicable to many classes of internal combustion engines, including spark and compression ignition engines. The computational efficiency of the algorithms is such that the onboard implementation of these diagnostic procedures is feasible with currently used microprocessors. Experimental work conducted on production vehicles has confirmed that it is possible to apply very robust algorithms with minimal hardware and computational overhead. >
The mycorrhizal-associated nutrient economy: a new framework for predicting carbon-nutrient couplings in temperate forests.

Summary Understanding the context dependence of ecosystem responses to global changes requires the development of new conceptual frameworks. Here we propose a framework for considering how tree species and their mycorrhizal associates differentially couple carbon (C) and nutrient cyclesintemperateforests.Giventhattreespeciespredominantlyassociatewithasingletypeof mycorrhizalfungi(arbuscularmycorrhizal(AM)fungiorectomycorrhizal(ECM)fungi),andthat the two types of fungi differ in their modes of nutrient acquisition, we hypothesize that the abundance of AM and ECM trees in a plot, stand, or region may provide an integrated index of biogeochemical transformations relevant to C cycling and nutrient retention. First, we describe how forest plots dominated by AM tree species have nutrient economies that differ in their C– nutrientcouplingsfromthoseinplotsdominatedbyECMtrees.Secondly,wedemonstratehow the relative abundance of AM and ECM trees can be used to estimate nutrient dynamics across the landscape. Finally, we describe how our framework can be used to generate testable hypotheses about forest responses to global change factors, and how these dynamics can be used to develop better representations of plant–soil feedbacks and nutrient constraints on productivity in ecosystem and earth system models.
Cooling down ceramic fuel cells

Ceramic fuel cells capable of achieving high power densities are based on oxygen-ion conductors that operate at high temperatures. The development of ceramic fuel cells that exhibit practical power densities at lower temperatures, with proton-conducting electrolytes, has been a long-standing dream, whose realization could lead to large-scale implementation of fuel cells. On page 1321 of this issue Duan et al. ( 1 ) report on three important contributions in the development of protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs): the demonstration of the effective use of sintering aids to make difficult-to-prepare electrolytes that exhibit high protonic conductivities; the design of a new cathode material for PCFCs; and the development of a scalable fabrication process for cell production. Impressive performance was obtained with small-scale PCFCs at moderate temperatures. Taken together with other reports of high performance in PCFCs ( 2 ), practical ceramic fuel cells could be within reach.
Collection understanding

Collection understanding shifts the traditional focus of retrieval in large collections from locating specific artifacts to gaining a comprehensive view of the collection. Visualization tools are critical to the process of efficient collection understanding By presenting simple visual interfaces and intuitive methods of interacting with a collection, users come to understand the essence of the collection by focusing on the artifacts. This paper discusses a practical approach for enhancing collection understanding in image collections.
Pattern identification in systems with S(1) symmetry.

This work is devoted to pattern identification in systems with $S(1)$ symmetry based on limited experimental data. As we demonstrate, such pattern identification is complicated by the lack of a theoretical basis as well as by the presence of experimental uncertainties, and possible overlapping and missing points in the data. The study is motivated by a recent finding of physical systems where instabilities of different wave numbers may coexist and thus lead to several single-wave-number patterns superimposed with a random phase-shift between them. As shown in this work, such patterns cannot be identified with Fourier analysis as well as direct measurement of the wave numbers is not possible. We present both a constructive theoretical approach, which establishes the conditions under which the structure of such patterns is identifiable, and an example of application---the crown structure analysis in the drop splash problem. For the latter study, an experimental setup is developed based on high-speed stereo photography, which produces data suitable for a quantitative analysis of the observed patterns.
Demand-centric Analysis of the Air Transportation System

This paper presents an approach that addresses the limitations of current practices on aviation demand. As opposed to segment and airport enplanement metrics used in many studies, a 'true' origin-destination demand is a focal point in this research. An aviation demand model analogous to the gravity law is hypothesized to discover the underlying mechanics governing produced and attracted enplanements at a local airport. The result reveals the intrinsic nature of the relationships between the socioeconomic attributes and 'true' demands.
Clostridial infection of renal cell carcinoma.

AbstractWe report a case of a large gas-filled clostridial abscess in a previously unrecognized renal cell carcinoma. Neoplastic tissue has a nonhomogeneous blood supply, creating areas of hypoxia and reduced glucose concentrations, which lead to tumor necrosis and an environment conducive to the growth of anaerobic organisms. Anaerobic infection should be considered in any patient with carcinoma and fever. Conversely, abscess transformation of a tumor can be the explanation for what otherwise seems to be the spontaneous development of a parenchymal abscess.
A Fractured Standard: How the Fourth Circuit Granted Expansive Implied Property Rights to Mineral Owners

Extraction of natural gas through hydraulic fracturing poses a significant risk of harm to human health and the environment. West Virginia, like many states that lie above vast oil and gas resources, grants expansive implied property rights to owners of subsurface mineral estates. In Whiteman v. Chesapeake, L.L.C., the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that a hydraulic fracturing company’s construction and use of drilling waste pits on the surface of another’s property did not constitute a trespass under West Virginia common law because it was reasonably necessary for the recovery of natural gas and did not impose a substantial burden on the surface property. This Comment argues that the court’s decision misapplied a common law standard to a unique set of facts and, as a result, has significantly diluted the protections afforded to individual landowners. The court should have determined that a permanent disposal of waste on the surface of another’s property exceeds the implied rights of mineral estate owners because such a use is not necessary. In addition, even if the court had found that such a disposal was necessary, it should have concluded that permanent disposal of waste was not reasonable.
5 Ceti: A Long-Period Binary Evolving Through Mass Exchange *

Binaries with very wide spearations are thought to evolve to small separations through a catastrophic form of mass exchange/loss known as common-envelope evolution. The theory of this process is fairly well developed, but proper tests remain elusive. Simply put, the theory argues that the rapidly shrinking Roche lobe of the mass losing giant will strip away the giant's main-sequence companion. Loss of mass from the system during the process carries away orbital angular momentum, thereby strengthening the effect.
Crafting Platform Strategy Based on Anticipated Benefits and Costs

In this chapter, we introduce the benefits and penalties of commonality (both to the customer and the manufacturer), emphasizing the need for anticipation of divergence when estimating benefits. We highlight the importance of mapping commonality strategy to the financial benefits, with a view to creating long-term competitive advantage for the firm.
The Toxic Environment

The greatest single change in man’s surroundings during the past century has been the ever-increasing chemicalization of his environment. Although this process started off with coal-burning home-heating units, kerosene lamps, and fuel-oil-and gas-burning household utilities, it remained for the modern petrochemical revolution to stamp the imprint of the chemical environment on the present generation. In addition to automotive products, the chemical environment also includes the widespread use of solvents, synthetic drugs, dyes, plastics, and fabrics, as well as detergents, pesticides, and other materials. Unparalleled chemical contamination of air, food, and water has resulted [1].
Consumer Satisfaction And Stock Price Behavior: A Case Of Diminishing Returns

This study investigates stock price behavior of firms with differing levels of customer satisfaction as measured by American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores. Using a fixed effects regression approach, it looks at the association between stock price changes and ACSI scores, total assets, total liabilities, and total revenues for sixty-four firms over a three-year period and discovers a marked difference between stock price changes for high- and low-scoring companies, indicating possible decreasing marginal returns for investments in customer satisfaction.
Prosecuting Domestic Violence: A Philosophical Analysis

PART I SOME PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS 1. Introduction 2. Wrong Turns on the Way to an Answer PART II A FRESH START 3. Prosecutors: What They Are and What They Do 4. Prosecutorial Action and Value 5. Reasons for Prosecutors PART III CONSIDERING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 6. What Counts as Domestic Violence? 7. Patriarchy 8. Domestic-violence Prosecution: Justification and Effectiveness 9. Victims and Prosecutions 10. Conclusion
Multiple leaf nodes based parse trees for News Fetching Systems

With the growth of internet people are shifting from their paper based news system to online news system. These online news websites are very useful for the people who have internet access and they can easily read and search their required news through home/office computer or cell phone without wasting their time. To search a particular news, many searching algorithms and News Fetching Systems (NFS) are available which return the results in less than a second. But how much correct information they are giving from a huge data is still a critical area, where we need some efficient algorithms to give us more optimized results. We propose a Multiple Leaf Nodes based Parse Trees for NFS where all the leaf nodes are commonly used alternative words for a specific word. We evaluate our results for a randomly selected webpage and compare with the simple parse tree system. Analysis shows that our proposed algorithm can enhance the performance of any NFS.
Effect of feeding techniques on U-slot loaded microstrip patch

In this paper, effect of two feeding techniques i.e. vertical and L-probe feed have been investigated for a U-slot micro-strip patch antenna. The reactance contributed by the L-probe comprises of an inductance and a capacitance due to vertical and horizontal part of the probe respectively, while vertical probe feed contributes only inductance to the input impedance of the patch. It is shown here that variation in arm angle of U-slot, designed and simulated on e r =2.2, exhibits different trends in the case of impedance matching of antenna for both feeds. Impedance matching is improved with variation in arm angle of the L-probe proximity fed U-slot, while it deteriorates in U-slot patch fed by straight/vertical probe.
The Labor Market as a Social Institution

(1992). The Labor Market as a Social Institution. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 1301-1303.
Mites (excluding chiggers) of mammals of Oregon

New information on the ectoparasitic mites of the following species of mammals from Oregon is presented: (1) pika — Ochotona ; (2) squirrels — Eutamias, Spermophilus, Tamiasciurus; (3) grasshopper mouse — Onychomys; (4) woodrats — Neotoma; (5) muskrat — Ondatra; (6) jumping mice — Zapus; and (7) weasels — Mustela, Spilogale. New records of species for the state and new host records are also given. Finally, a cross - referenced list of all known mites of wild mammals from Oregon is presented.
The Sociability of History in French Grand Opera: A Historical Materialist Perspective

Abstract French grand opera relied heavily on historical sources for its stories, settings, and characters. This article reexamines why representations of the past captivated Parisian audiences. For these spectators, history was not just a purely factual discourse about what happened centuries ago, it was also a social phenomenon. As such, grand opera9s appropriation of historical subjects depended on new social spaces formed by new patterns in text production and consumption. When these spaces first emerged, historical grand opera became socially feasible, and as they were transformed, the genre began to wane. Focusing on Auber9s La Muette de Portici, this article reconsiders the emergence of historical grand opera in terms of such material conditions of possibility. It then outlines how new material conditions in the middle decades of the nineteenth century reshaped attitudes toward operatic history, drawing on the historical materialist philosophy of Walter Benjamin to clarify the effects of these social and technological changes.
The Failure of Model Use for Policy Analysis in Regional Planning

In this paper we bring up-to-date the results of an earlier inquiry into the adoption and use of urban models by planning agencies in the United States. In particular, we are concerned here with the continued application of the models once adopted. Are they incorporated into the routine analytic apparatus of the agencies? For what purposes are they used? The reasons for concern with such questions are many. The undertakings are expensive, using considerable amounts of skilled professional as well as computer time, and often they supplant alternative modes of analysis. We need to ask whether the adoption of models and their subsequent use justify the expense.
Stimulation of thrombocytopoiesis in irradiated mice.

Platelet depletion in mice, by injection of heterologous anti-platelet serum (APS), resulted in apparent stimulation of megakaryocytopoiesis as evidenced by a subsequent over-compensation of the level of circulating platelets. Injection of APS immediately before or after exposure to sublethal radiation or a day after exposure appeared to modify the response to radiation. Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia was neither as severe nor as prolonged in animals so treated as in irradiated controls. More chronic thrombocytopenia at the time of irradiation, however, appeared to increase the radiosensitivity of the megakaryocytic system.
Abstract 3201: Therapeutic potential of anti-angiogenic multimodal biomimetic peptide in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related mortality ranks second worldwide and stands one step behind lung cancer. Due to the asymptomatic nature of the cancer, early diagnosis is a major problem. Currently only liver transplantation is curative for early stage hepatocellular cancer. There are other multidisciplinary treatment options like radiation and chemotherapy available for advanced patients. However, chemotherapy resistance is a common problem in the treatment of liver cancer. Newer therapeutics are needed for better management of advanced HCC. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are processes that are vital for tumorigenesis and metastasis. HCC is known to be a hypervascular tumor and many pro-angiogenic proteins are found significantly overexpressed in HCC. We explored the therapeutic potential of the anti-angiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenic, biomimetic peptide SP2043 developed by our group in HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HuH-7, Hep3b and HepG2 showed significant disruption of cell adhesion and migration following treatment. Furthermore, SP2043 was found to impair microvascular endothelial cell (MEC) tube formation induced by HepG2 tumor conditioned media and to significantly inhibit HepG2 tumor xenograft growth compared to untreated controls. The peptide drug was also found to improve the survival of autochthonous Myc induced HCC in a transgenic mouse model from two weeks to four weeks. We discovered the peptide to be a multi-modal anti-angiogenic drug that also inhibits IGF1R and MET signaling pathways in HCC cell lines. We also found that SP2043 treatment reduced the microvascular density in both subcutaneous and autochthonous liver tumors with reduced tumor cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. This study shows the therapeutic potential of SP2043 in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Mustafa A. Barbhuiya, Adam C. Mirando, Brian W. Simons, Ghali Lemtiri-Chlieh, Jordan J. Green, Aleksander S. Popel, Niranjan B. Pandey, Phuoc T. Tran. Therapeutic potential of anti-angiogenic multimodal biomimetic peptide in hepatocellular carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3201. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3201
Saddle point least squares iterative solvers for the time harmonic Maxwell equations

Abstract We introduce a least squares method for discretizing the time-harmonic Maxwell equations written as a first order system. The method belongs to the recently introduced least squares approach called the Saddle Point Least Squares (SPLS) method (see Bacuta and Qirko 2015, 2017). It is related to two known methods: the Bramble and Pasciak least squares method for solving electromagnetic problems (Bramble and Pasciak, 2004; Bramble et al., 2005) and the minimum residual DPG method of Demkowicz and Gopalakrishnan (2010, 2013). The proposed discretization is based on reduction to a symmetric saddle point formulation on spaces of piecewise polynomial functions. The edge elements are avoided. A discrete test space is chosen first among standard conforming finite element spaces and the discrete trial space is chosen second as the image of the first order Maxwell differential operator on the discrete test space. For the proposed iterative processes, a nodal basis for the trial space is not required and the main inversion at each step is done only on the test space. The method is efficient for both convex and non-convex domains and for a various range of frequencies as shown by the numerical results.
Effect of drying methods on the physicochemical properties and adhesion performance of water-washed cottonseed meal

Abstract Water-washed cottonseed meal (WCSM) showed the potential for being used as environment-friendly wood adhesives. However, the influence of WCSM preparation process on its adhesion performance is not well known. This work studied the effect of different drying methods on the several key physicochemical features and adhesion performance of WCSM. Defatted cottonseed meal was washed with 8 folds of water for 3 cycles to remove the water-soluble components and dried with oven, freeze dryer, and spray dryer, respectively. Whereas the major chemical composition was unchanged, oven-dried WCSM showed protein degrading denaturation per sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and differential scanning calorimetry data. With hot press temperature at 100 °C, oven-dried WCSM showed poor adhesion performance when compared with its freeze- and spray-dried counterparts. However, the difference among the products with the three drying methods became smaller, and even none with the press temperature at 150 and 170 °C. The adhesion performance could be further improved by pH 4.5 adjustment and removal of large residual hull particles. This study proved spray-drying and freeze-drying more suitable to make high quality cottonseed meal-based adhesives for a variety of operation conditions. On the other hand, the more economic oven-drying may be applied to make WCSM product for bonding at higher press temperature (e.g. 170 °C) without undermining WCSM’s adhesion performance.
Multicenter Quality Improvement Project to Prevent Sternal Wound Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Background:Children undergoing cardiac surgery are at risk for sternal wound infections (SWIs) leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Single-center quality improvement (QI) initiatives have ...
PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants in New York State during 2005–2016: Spatial variability, temporal trends, and economic influences

Abstract Over the past decades, mitigation strategies have been adopted both by federal and state agencies in the United States (US) to improve air quality. Between 2007 and 2009, the US faced a financial/economic crisis that lowered activity and reduced emissions. At the same time, changes in the prices of coal and natural gas drove a shift in fuels used for electricity generation. Seasonal patterns, diel cycles, spatial gradients, and trends in PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants concentrations (NOx, SO2, CO and O3) monitored in New York State (NYS) from 2005 to 2016 were examined. Relationships between ambient concentrations, changes in NYS emissions retrieved from the US EPA trends inventory, and economic indicators were studied. PM2.5 and primary gaseous pollutants concentrations decreased across NYS. By 2016, PM2.5 and SO2 attained relatively homogeneous concentrations across the state. PM2.5 concentrations decreased significantly at all sites. Similarly, SO2 concentrations declined at all sites within this period, with the highest slopes observed at the urban sites. Reductions in NOx emissions likely contributed to summertime average ozone reductions. NOx and VOCs controls reduced O3 peak concentrations as seen in significant relationships between the annual O3 4th-highest daily maximum 8-h concentrations and estimated NOx emissions at rural and suburban sites (r2 ∼ 0.7). Spring maxima were not reduced with most sites showing insignificant slopes or significant positive slopes (e.g., +2.6% y−1 and +2% y−1, at CCNY and PFI, respectively). Increases in autumn and winter ozone concentrations were found (e,g., 6.6 ± 0.4% y−1 on average in New York City). Significant relationships were observed between PM2.5, primary pollutants, and economic indicators. Overall, a decrease in electricity generation with coal, and the simultaneous increase in natural gas consumption for power generation, led to a decrease in PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants concentrations.
Schwann Cells Enhance Penetration of Regenerated Axons into Three-Dimensional Microchannels

Nerve regeneration after injury requires proper axon alignment to bridge the lesion site and myelination to achieve functional recovery. Transplanted scaffolds with aligned channels, have been shown to induce axon growth to some extent. However, the penetration of axons into the microchannels remain a challenge, influencing the functional recovery of regenerated nerves. We previously demonstrated that the size of microchannels exerts significant impact on Schwann cells (SCs) migration. Here we demonstrate that migration of SCs promotes, significantly, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons to extend axons into three-dimensional channels and form aligned fascicular-like axon tracts. Moreover, the migrating SCs attach and wrap around the aligned axons of DRG neurons in the microchannels and initiate myelination. The SCs release growth factors that provide chemotactic signals to the regenerating axons, similar to the response achieved with nerve growth factor (NGF), but with the additional capability of promoting myelination, thereby demonstrating the beneficial effects of including SCs over NGF alone in enhancing axon penetration and myelination in three-dimensional microchannels.
Inverse association of MRI-derived native myocardial T1 and perfusion reserve index in women with evidence of ischemia and no obstructive CAD: A pilot study

Abstract Background It has recently been shown that magnetic resonance (MR) “native T1” mapping is capable of characterizing abnormal microcirculation in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). In studies involving women with signs and symptoms of ischemia and no obstructive CAD (INOCA), however, the potential role of native T1 as an imaging marker and its association with indices of diastolic function or vasodilator-induced myocardial ischemia have not been explored. We investigated whether native T1 in INOCA is associated with reduced myocardial perfusion reserve index (MPRI) or with diastolic dysfunction. Methods Twenty-two female patients with INOCA and twelve female reference controls with matching age and body-mass index were studied. The patients had evidence of vasodilator-induced ischemia without obstructive CAD or any prior infarction. All 34 subjects underwent stress/rest MR including native T1 mapping (MOLLI 5(3)3) at 1.5-Tesla. Results Compared with controls, patients had similar morphology/function. As expected, MPRI was significantly reduced in patients compared to controls (1.78 ± 0.39 vs. 2.49 ± 0.41, p Conclusions Symptomatic women with INOCA have elevated native T1 compared to matched reference controls and there is a significant association between elevated native T1 and impaired MPRI, considered a surrogate measure of ischemia severity in this cohort. Future studies in a larger cohort are needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying this inverse relationship.
Transferasen. Enzymes of transmethylation

The enzymes involved in direct transmethylation reactions which have been most studied and well-characterized are betaine-homocysteine transmethylase (BHT), thetinhomocysteine transmethylase (THT), S-adenosylmethionine guanidinoacetic acid methylpherase (AGM), and S-adenosylmethionine-nicotinamide methylpherase (ANM). In each case a methyl group is transferred enzymatically from a methyl donor to a methyl acceptor. In the naming of the enzymes, the methyl donor has been named first and the acceptor second. In BHT a methyl group is transferred from nitrogen to sulfur; in THT, from sulfur to sulfur; and in AGM and ANM, from sulfur to nitrogen. As far as is known to date, with the exception of THT, each of the enzymes is specific for the substrates given in the names of the enzymes. For example, S-adenosylhomocysteine cannot serve in place of homocysteine in the BHT reaction1.
Long-term monitoring of the diabetic dog and cat: clinical signs, serial blood glucose determinations, urine glucose, and glycated blood proteins

Regulation of the diabetic dog and cat is difficult and sometimes frustrating. This article describes several methods of assessing diabetic regulation, including evaluation of clinical signs, serial blood glucose monitoring, urine glucose monitoring, and measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin and fructosamine. In addition, a brief discussion of blood glucose monitoring devices is included.
Separation and Countability Axioms

A topological space X is a T 0 -space if the closures of distinct points are distinct. A topological space X is a T 1 -space if every subset consisting of exactly one point is closed. Therefore, a T 1 -space X is countably compact if every countable family of closed sets having the finite intersection property has a nonempty intersection. In a T 1 -space, the intersection of a monotone decreasing countable collection of nonempty, closed sets, at least one of that is countably compact, is nonempty. The property of a space being a T 1 -space is preserved by one-to-one, onto, open maps and, hence, is a topological property. Every finite T 1 -space has the discrete topology. In a T 1 -space the intersection of a monotone decreasing sequence of nonempty, closed sets, at least one of which is countably compact, is nonempty. A T 1 -space is countably compact if every infinite open covering has a proper subcover.
Reactor production of promethium-147.

Abstract In this paper, we describe the 147Pm production yields and level of impurities from several targets that consisted of milligram quantities of highly enriched 146Nd oxide irradiated at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for durations ranging from 24 to 180 h. A comparison between theoretical and experimental data are also presented, and attempts were made to empirically evaluate the neutron capture cross-sections of 41.3-d 148mPm and 5.4-d 148gPm. For a one-cycle irradiation (~24 days), 147Pm yield reaches a maximum value of 101.8 MBq/mg (2.75 mCi/mg) at 60 days after the end of bombardment. Because of large neutron capture cross-sections of 147Pm, the yield of 147Pm does not significantly increase with longer irradiation. Our estimates of the thermal neutron capture cross-section and resonance integral for 146Nd at 1.48 ± 0.05 b and 2.56 ± 0.25 b, respectively, were consistent with the reported values. The effective neutron capture cross-section of 147Pm to 148mPm was 53.3 ± 2.7 b–a factor of 2 lower than the 98.7 ± 6.5 b calculated from reported cross-sections. The measured σeff to the ground state (5.37-d 148gPm) was 82.0 ± 4.1 b; ~34% lower than the value of 139 ± 10 b calculated from reported cross-sections. In this work, we also describe the development of a chemical process based on extraction and ion-exchange chromatography for separation of 147Pm from milligram quantities of 146Nd and other impurities. Sequential separation of Pm from the Nd target and from other radioisotopic impurities (153Gd and 154&155Eu, 192Ir, and 60Co) was achieved using a LN extraction resin in HCl media followed by further purification of Pm from 60Co and 192Ir using a low cross-linking cation exchange resin. Based on these data, we estimated that two rounds of purification under our experimental conditions can provide a mass separation factor of >104 between Pm and Nd. Our data indicate that curie quantities of 147Pm with suitable chemical and radioisotopic purity for applications in beta voltaic batteries can be produced by irradiating gram quantities of highly enriched 146Nd in the flux trap of HFIR for one cycle.
Letters From Santiago: Re-membering the Displaced Body Through Dreams

“Letters From Santiago” is an exploration and investigation of the trauma of displacement and exile, as well as an exercise in circumventing the self-silencing so common to refugees and immigrants. By re-contextualizing both Euro-American psychoanalytical (Freud, Jung) and trauma (Cathy Caruth) models along with Eastern ones (Ananya Jahanara Kabir), and integrating recent scholarship on dreaming (Erin J. Wamsley, Steven Kruger, Allan J, Hobson), this essay provides a personal, intimate ethnographic account of the agency of memory in the face of the unreturnable debt of exile. Moving from storytelling exercises with my father, who fled Cuba at the age of fourteen, to cultural and theoretical discussions (Glissant, Agamben, Berger) of language as a site of national identity, to tracings of dream-narratives and their intersection with memory throughout literature, “Letters From Santiago” is part epistolary correspondence with the past and archival inquiry into a future which asks how we might be able to reproduce the rehabilitation of self-silencing and trauma by applying contemporary art and pop culture representations (Depeche Mode, Twin Peaks ) with dream theory and more performative psychoanalytical processes, all in an endeavor to sidestep the reductive and circular silence-testimony binary. Keywords: exile, immigration, trauma, memory, dreams, psychoanalysis, performance, Cuba
Preventive effects of carbon dioxide laser and casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization: A comparative, in vitro study

AIM The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser and casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP)fluoride varnish on enamel demineralization. METHODS Human teeth were randomly assigned to three groups. The enamel was treated with fluoride varnish, 10.6 μm CO2 laser, or no treatment (control), followed by 9 days of pH cycling. Baseline and final FluoreCam images were used to quantify the area, intensity, and impact of demineralization; cross-sectional microhardness was used to measure the mechanical properties of the enamel. RESULTS There were statistically-significant changes in the area, intensity and impact of demineralization in the control and laser groups (P < 0.05), but not in the fluoride group. The control group showed a significantly greater area and impact of enamel demineralization compared to the fluoride group. The area of demineralization in the laser group was significantly greater than that of the fluoride group. Enamel demineralization of the laser and control groups was comparable. The fluoride group showed statistically-significant harder enamel than the control at 20, 40, and 60 μm depths; the laser group enamel was significantly harder than the control at 20 and 40 μm depths. The fluoride group showed statistically-significant harder enamel than the laser group at 20 μm depth. CONCLUSIONS CPP-ACP fluoride varnish is more effective than CO2 in preventing enamel demineralization.
Functional Assessment in School Settings

The mandate that schools address the relationship between student behavior and classroom learning by means of functional behavioral assessment poses many challenges, since not all clinical procedur...
The generalized Gelfand–Graev characters of GLn(Fq)

Introduced by Kawanaka in order to find the unipotent representations of finite groups of Lie type, gener- alized Gelfand–Graev characters have remained somewhat mysterious. Even in the case of the finite general linear groups, the combinatorics of their decompositions has not been worked out. This paper re-interprets Kawanaka's def- inition in type A in a way that gives far more flexibility in computations. We use these alternate constructions to show how to obtain generalized Gelfand–Graev representations directly from the maximal unipotent subgroups. We also explicitly decompose the corresponding generalized Gelfand–Graev characters in terms of unipotent representations, thereby recovering the Kostka–Foulkes polynomials as multiplicities.
Measuring the impact of an online IPE course on team perceptions

Interprofessional education (IPE) needs to begin with foundational learning experiences for health professions learners at an institution. There is a recognized need for IPE to be embedded into health profession curriculums; however, several barriers prevent the implementation. The purpose of this project was to determine if an introductory online IPE course can overcome some of the existing barriers to implementing IPE while influencing team perceptions among health professional students. The modified Team Skills Scale was used to assess perceptions of students from six health professions programs pre-posttest to the introductory course. The researchers grounded the development of the course in the Institute of Medicine's Interprofessional Learning Continuum. Results show that an introductory online course in IPE can affect team perceptions of students and can be offered on a large scale with minimal impact on faculty workload. The pedagogical approach implies institutions with large numbers of health professions programs, large numbers of students and distance learners may benefit from a similar approach to introducing interprofessional collaboration.
Responses to Abducted Children

In the United States, since the 1930s, laws, policies, organizations, and treatment programs have been established to improve responses to the problems of abducted and missing children (Karmen 2010; Beck and Miltenberger 2009; Griffin 2010; Jones 2003; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 2008). For Zgoba (2004a), moral panic develops from the media’s coverage of child abduction. People may hear about a few sensational child abduction cases and then incorrectly perceive the problem of child kidnappings as a pervasive and intense threat to society. Their false social constructions of the social problems outweigh the true nature of the problem. These crime myths may become embedded in our consciousness and lead policy-makers to develop laws and policies that are not based on reliable research (Kappeler and Potter 2005; Zgoba 2004a).
Comparing reduced scattering variation by skin type and tissue location using spatial frequency domain imaging for clinical burn wound imaging

Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI), a noncontact imaging technique using structured illumination with multiple wavelengths, has proved feasible for characterizing burns of different severities induced in porcine dorsum. However, translation to human clinical subjects may be subject to variation in tissue optical properties due to different skin types or body parts. To interrogate this potential difference in optical properties, SFDI was used to measure the reduced scattering coefficient (μs’ ) in patients of varying Fitzpatrick skin type groups at 10 anatomical locations on the body. These scattering values were compared against previously measured average μs’ values for burns in a porcine model. At 851nm, superficial partialthickness burns had a 12.6% higher μs’ than unburned porcine dorsum. Deep partial-thickness and had 12.9% higher average μs’ than unburned porcine dorsum, while full-thickness burns had 2.5% higher average μs’ than unburned porcine dorsum. The variation seen in scattering values at 851nm at one anatomical location (dorsal forearm) for the different skin type groups showed a 6.3% lower average μs’ in group 3 (skin types VVI) compared to group 2 (skin types III-IV). Average scattering values were 3.8% lower in group 1 (skin types I-II) compared to group 2 (skin types III-IV). The variation of μs’ at 851nm across multiple anatomical locations for the same skin type group (Group 1) was a 23% difference from the anatomical location with the highest average μs’ at 851nm (forehead) to the lowest (shin). These findings indicate that further consideration of skin type and location will be integral to the translation of classification techniques based μs’ measurements of porcine dorsum to human patients.
Standard Open Carpal Tunnel Release

Various techniques have been developed since Phalen introduced a surgical procedure for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome in the 1950s (Phalen, J Bone Joint Surg Am 48(2):211–228, 1966). Traditional open carpal tunnel release was first to gain popularity and has been the standard procedure for the last 60-plus years. The exposure is similar to what we would consider a more modern extensile approach whereas more recent trends have been towards more limited incisions. The extensile technique may still be necessary for debulking of tenosynovitis, whereas less invasive techniques are used to reduce the morbidity of soft tissue trauma and associated pain. In this chapter, we will discuss traditional open carpal tunnel release, extensile approach involving flexor tenosynovectomy, and a mini-open technique using an Indiana-Tome (Biomet, Warsaw, IN).
Exploring Quantum Reversibility with Young Learners

Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize some critical intractable computing problems; but to fully take advantage of this computation, computer scientists will need to learn to program in a new way, with new constraints. The challenge in developing a quantum computing curriculum for younger learners is that two dominant approaches, teaching via the underlying quantum physical phenomenon or the mathematical operations that emerge from those phenomenon, require extensive technical knowledge. Our goal is to extract some of the essential insights in the principles of quantum computing and present them in contexts that a broad audience can understand. In this study, we explore how to teach the concept of quantum reversibility. Our interdisciplinary science, science education, computer science education, and computer science team is co-creating quantum computing (QC) learning trajectories (LT), educational materials, and activities for young learners. We present a draft LT for reversibility, the materials that both influenced it and were influenced by it, as well as an analysis of student work and a revised LT. We find that for clear cases, many 8-9 year old students understand reversibility in ways that align with quantum computation. However, when there are less clear-cut cases, students show a level of sophistication in their argumentation that aligns with the rules of reversibility for quantum computing even when their decisions do not match. In particular, students did not utilize the idea of a closed system, analyzing the effects to every item in the system. This blurred the distinction between between reversing (undoing) an action, recycling to reproduce identical items with some of the same materials, or replacing used items with new ones. In addition, some students allowed for not restoring all aspects of the original items, just the ones critical to their core functionality. We then present a revised learning trajectory that incorporates these concepts.