cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formal Models for Control of Flexible Manufacturing Systems

Explicit formal models, theorems and abstractions form a large segment of the science base in many fields. These models are considered as necessary precursors to the development of pragmatic knowledge and tools, and provide the basic understanding of generic issues related to various classes of problems. The need for a solid science base in manufacturing has been articulated by several authors. One area of manufacturing that could benefit significantly from the development of formal models is the control of flexible manufacturing cells. Applications of formal models and abstractions could further the science and understanding of the control of manufacturing cells. The development of formal models often leads to the discovery of ambiguities, omissions, and contradictions, the formal model may lead to semi-automated (or even automated) system development methods, the formal model can be verified for correctness by mathematical methods, a formally verified subsystem can be incorporated into a large system with greater confidence that it behaves as specified, and different designs can be compared. Two approaches to the development of formal models namely the use of context free grammars for control and a new set of formal models called Message-based Part State Graphs (MPSG) will be presented. It is shown that, through the use of these models, a significant amount of the shop floor control software can be automatically generated based on a high level description of the system.
Distinctiveness Reconsidered: Religiosity, Structural Location, and Understandings of Racial Inequality

Are conservative Protestants distinct in their support for individualistic explanations of racial inequality in America? Past research has generated contradictory findings on this question, along with debates about the best measure of evangelicalism and the factors that moderate religious influences on racial attitudes. Using data from the nationally representative Boundaries in the American Mosaic Project (2014), we examine how structural location interacts with religious commitment to influence understandings of and preferred solutions to African-American disadvantage. We show that religious beliefs, involvement, and centrality influence adherents differently, depending on their age, gender, education, income, and race. We find that measures do matter, and that denominational affiliation is less predictive than the orthodoxy and centrality of religious belief. We also find that straightforward talk about distinctiveness can mask the strong and pervasive effects of structural location on racial attitudes. We call for more research that makes the interaction between religiosity and structural location a central focus of analysis.
Compact and Wideband MMIC Phase Shifters Using Tunable Active Inductor-Loaded All-Pass Networks

To address the challenging needs of small size, wide bandwidth, and low-frequency applicability, a novel phase shifter implementation is introduced that utilizes tunable active differential inductors within all-pass networks. The inductor tuning is used to achieve phase shifts up to 180°. A switchable active balanced-to-unbalanced transition (balun) circuit is included in front of the all-pass network to complement its phase shift capability by another 180°. In addition, the all-pass network is followed by a variable-gain amplifier to correct for gain variations among the phase shifting states and act as an output buffer. Although active inductors have previously been used in the design of various components, to the best of our knowledge this is the first time that they have been used in an all-pass phase shifter. The approach is demonstrated with an on-chip design and implementation exhibiting wideband performance for S- and L-band applications by utilizing the 0.5- $\mu \text{m}$ TriQuint pHEMT GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) process. Specifically, the presented phase shifter $1 \times 3.95~ \text {mm}^{2}$ die area and operates within the 1.5–3-GHz band (i.e., 2:1 bandwidth) with 10-dB gain, less than 1.5-dB root-mean-square (rms) gain error and less than 9° rms phase error. Comparison with the state-of-the-art MMIC phase shifters operating in S- and L-bands demonstrates that the presented phase shifter exhibits a remarkable bandwidth performance from a very compact footprint with low-power consumption. Consequently, it presents an alternative for the implementation of wideband phase shifters where all-passive implementations will consume expensive die real estate.
Control of Materials/Logistics Management Functions

Companies are constantly searching for new and better ways to improve their profit structure. Programs are established and given “catchy” designations, such as productivity improvement program (PIP), quality circles (QC), and profit efficiency program (PEP). Basically each of these programs is an attempt to improve productive control of critical resources. The key word is control.
Biochemistry of Bacterial Membranes: The Complex Lipids

The relationship between the physical and chemical structure of the cell membrane and the physiology of the cell bounded by that membrane have been the subject of much thought and experimental work among animal and plant cell physiologists. During the last decade, attention has increasingly been focused on the bacterial cell membrane, both for its intrinsic interest and as a potential model for the cells of more advanced organisms. During that time we have had to close an extensive gap in our knowledge of the chemistry of the bacterial cell membrane. Little was known about types of lipids and their quantitative relationships, structures of the component parts of the lipids, or how these components are synthesized and assembled into complex lipid molecules. Much information on these questions has been garnered. Another wide gap has just begun to be closed in our knowledge of the structural, quantiative, and functional relationships of the membrane proteins.
The Greenland—Norwegian Sea and Iceland Environment: Geology and Geophysics

The Greenland—Norwegian Sea (Fig. 1) connects the northeast Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Neither the plate tectonic evolution nor the paleooceanography of the Greenland—Norwegian Sea can be discussed effectively independently of the Eurasia Basin to the north, the northeast Atlantic to the south, or the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay to the west. In oceanographic or sedimentological terms the northeast Atlantic and Greenland—Norwegian Sea area, hereafter referred to as the GNSA, have been the battleground between polar and subtropical water masses over the last 3 million years (Kellogg, 1975; Ruddiman and McIntyre, 1976; Schrader et al., 1976). Since polar water penetrated southward almost to the Azores during glacial extremes, a volume dealing with the Arctic must also stray that far south. North Atlantic Deep Water, formed in the Greenland Sea, flows over the Faeroe—Iceland—Greenland transverse ridge. The subsidence and breaching of this previous land bridge was a major event in the paleooceanography of the North Atlantic (Vogt, 1972a; Nilsen, 1978, Thiede 1979, 1980).
The Use of Conditioned Rotation in the Hemi-dopamine Rat to Study the Biochemistry of Learning and Memory

ABSTRACT The present report used apomorphine induced contralateral rotation as the unconditioned stimulus and unconditioned response, respectively, to establish contralateral rotation as a classically conditioned response in the hemi-dopamine rat.
Nisin-based antimircobial combination with cold plasma treatment inactivate Listeria monocytogenes on Granny Smith apples

Abstract A nisin-based antimicrobial and cold plasma combination treatments in reducing Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on apple surfaces purchased from a New Jersey farm and a supermarket in Philadelphia area was investigated. All apples were spot inoculated or by submersion in 107 CFU/ml L. monocytogenes inoculum. Populations of L. monocytogenes recovered on farm and supermarket apples after spot inoculation averaged 5.8 ± 0.24 log CFU/g and 4.6 ± 0.12 log CFU/g, respectively and 4.1 ± 0.22 log CFU/g and 3.6 ± 0.12 log CFU/g, respectively on submerged apples. All apples were treated with antimicrobial solution for 30 s, 40 s, 3 min (180s) and 1 h (3600 s), cold plasma treatments for 30 and 40s, and a combination of antimicrobial and cold plasma treatments and the surface structure of apples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cold plasma treatment at 40s, followed immediately with antimicrobial treatments at 180s and 3600 s led to 2.5 and 4.6 log CFU/g inactivation of L. monocytogenes, respectively. SEM observation showed changes on apple surface structures but not on bacterial cell structure. This result suggests that this combination treatments is effective in killing L. monocytogenes on apple surfaces.
Comparison and Simulation of the Level-Shifted and Phase-Shifted Modulation for a Five-Level Converter for Integration of Renewable Sources

Two H-bridge converters are cascade-connected in order to extend the power rating of grid-connected converters. This structure is known as a Cascaded H-Bridge converter. A cascaded H-bridge multilevel converter is introduced in this paper with a detailed discussion about the PI controller based closed-loop control system for the Static Var Compensator (STATCOM) application. This research work incorporates both phase shifted and level shifted multi-carrier based Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) with comprehensive comparisons. Simulation results are presented accordingly to manifest the efficacy and productivity of the proposed model for grid-connected multilevel converters. The benefits of this model are the simplicity of the control, modulation techniques and the quick response to the reactive power adjustment by adjusting the DC bus voltage. The performance of the Cascaded H-Bridge Converter (CHB) model is tested in MATLAB Simulink.
Joint effects of advancing age and number of potentially inappropriate medication classes on risk of falls in Medicare enrollees

Injurious falls among older adults are both common and costly. The prevalence of falls is known to increase with age and with use of fall-risk drugs/potentially inappropriate medications (FRD/PIM). Little is known about the joint effects of these two risk factors. Data for 2013–2015 were obtained from the Truven Health MarketScan® Medicare database comprising utilization and eligibility (enrollment) data for approximately 4 million enrollees annually. A case-control design was used to compare enrollees aged 65–99 years diagnosed with > 1 fall event (n = 110,625) with enrollees without falls (n = 1,567,412). An exploratory analysis of joint age-FRD/PIM effects on fall risks was based on number needed to harm (NNH) calculations for each FRD/PIM therapy class count (compared with 0 FRD/PIMs), stratified by age group. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and fracture history, measured in the 1 year prior to the fall date (cases) or a randomly assigned date (controls). For each FRD/PIM class count, NNH values decreased with older age (e.g., for 1 FRD/PIM class: from NNH = 333 for ages 65–74 years to NNH = 83 for ages 90–99 years; for 2 FRD/PIM classes: from NNH = 91 for ages 65–74 years to NNH = 38 for ages 90–99 years). NNH decreased to 6 classes for age 65–74 years, > 5 classes for age 75–84 years, and > 4 classes for age 85–99 years. Adjusted odds of falling were increased for age-FRD/PIM combinations with smaller NNH values: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.127 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.098–1.156) for NNH = 83–91; AOR = 1.427 (95% CI = 1.398–1.456) for NNH = 17–48; AOR = 1.983 (1.9034–2.032) for NNH < 15. FRD/PIM use and age appear to have joint effects on fall risk. Older adults at high risk, indicated by small NNH, may be appropriate for fall prevention initiatives, and clinicians may wish to consider decreasing the number of FRD/PIMs utilized by these patients.
Double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial to determine the effects of midodrine on blood pressure during cognitive testing in persons with SCI

STUDY DESIGN Clinical trial. OBJECTIVES Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) above T6 experience impaired descending cortical control of the autonomic nervous system, which predisposes them to hypotension. However, treatment of hypotension is uncommon in the SCI population because there are few safe and effective pharmacological options available. The primary aim of this investigation was to test the efficacy of a single dose of midodrine (10 mg), compared with placebo, to increase and normalize systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 110 and 120 mmHg during cognitive testing in hypotensive individuals with SCI. Secondary aims were to determine the effects of midodrine on cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) and global cognitive function. SETTING United States clinical research laboratory. METHODS Forty-one healthy hypotensive individuals with chronic (≥1-year post injury) SCI participated in this 2-day study. Seated SBP, CBFv, and cognitive performance were monitored before and after administration of identical encapsulated tablets, containing either midodrine or placebo. RESULTS Compared with placebo, midodrine increased SBP (4 ± 13 vs. 18 ± 24 mmHg, respectively; p < 0.05); however, responses varied widely with midodrine (-15.7 to +68.6 mmHg). Further, the proportion of SBP recordings within the normotensive range did not improve during cognitive testing with midodrine compared with placebo. Although higher SBP was associated with higher CBFv (p = 0.02), global cognitive function was not improved with midodrine. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that midodrine increases SBP and may be beneficial in some hypotensive patients with SCI; however, large heterogeneity of responses to midodrine suggests careful monitoring of patients following administration. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT02307565.
Lessons Learned: Mitigating the Challenges of Urgently Threatening Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens in a Large Academic Medical Center

Background Care of urgently threatening antibiotic resistant pathogens such as Vancomycin Intermediate/Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA) and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) poses unique challenged in managing care of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Care of the patient, care of the environment, and compliance of infection control policies are priorities to uphold safety of the patient and the healthcare worker. Methods The Infection Prevention Program was notified from the laboratory of VISA positive and CRE positive patients residing in the hospital's Medical-Respiratory ICU. Patient's cases were individually reviewed for culture results, comorbidity, presence of invasive devices, laboratory values, and intact skin. Epidemiologic risk assessment was completed and the VISA/VRSA Policy was initiated in both instances. The policy includes recommendations consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's “Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) Management Guidelines.” (CDC, 2015). Several escalated interventions were determined to be prudent as a result of the epidemiologic risk assessment: addition of a 24-hour door monitor outside the patients’ rooms, wearing sterile gown and trauma boots during wound care for the CRE-positive patient, and restriction of movement within the facility. Results Initial activation of the VISA/VRSA Policy was met with resistance from bedside staff secondary to staffing constraints, fear of transmission, confusion of risk involved, and misunderstanding of patient movement restriction. Resistance was lessened through timely intervention from Infection Preventionists, who formulated action plan as follows: consult help from hospital administration and allocate additional staff from the supplemental department, create and disperse education video on contact precautions, and develop schematics to guide actions when patient must leave floor for diagnostic exams. Conclusions Safe management of patients with high-risk MDRO's requires collaboration between Epidemiology, nursing, physicians, laboratory, environmental services, bed management, radiology, supplemental staffing and hospital leadership.
Anomalously high elastic modulus of a poly(ethylene oxide)-based composite electrolyte

Abstract The practical use of lithium metal anodes in solid-state batteries requires a polymer membrane with high lithium-ion conductivity, thermal/electrochemical stability, and mechanical strength. The primary challenge is to effectively decouple the ionic conductivity and mechanical strength of the polymer electrolytes. We report a remarkably facile single step synthetic strategy based on in-situ crosslinking of poly(ethylene oxide) (xPEO) in the presence of a woven glass fiber (GF). Such a simple method yields composite polymer electrolytes (CPE) of anomalously high elastic modulus up to 2.5 GPa over a broad temperature range (20 °C – 245 °C) that has never been previously documented. An unsupervised machine learning algorithm, K-mean clustering analysis, was implemented on the hyperspectral Raman mapping at the xPEO/GF interface. Using such a unique means, we show for the first time that the promoted mechanical strength originates from xPEO and GF interactions through dynamic hydrogen and ionic bonding. High ionic conductivity is achieved by the addition plasticizer (e.g. tetraglyme), where trifluoromethanesulfonate anions are tethered to the xPEO matrix and Li+ cations are favorably transported through coordination with the plasticizer. Further, stringent galvanostatic cycling tests indicates the CPE can be stably cycled for >3000 h in a Li-metal symmetric cell at a moderate temperature (nearly 1500 Coulombs/cm2 Li equivalents), outperforming most of the PEO-based electrolytes. The GF reinforced CPE reported here has multifunctional uses, such as solid electrolytes for all solid-state batteries and membranes for redox-flow batteries. Although the focus of this study is on lithium-based batteries, the results are equally promising for other alkali metal based batteries such as sodium and potassium.
A 10-Bit Current Output DAC With Active Resistive Load Interpolation

This brief proposes a novel current output resistor string DAC architecture implemented for a 10-bit resolution. The DAC consists of a 6-bit coarse resistor string DAC followed by a 4-bit multi-input interpolation amplifier, and a voltage to current conversion stage. Use of a multi-input interpolation amplifier with shared resistive load provides accurate fine conversion with reduced resistor count. The current output DAC has high output impedance from the regulated current source architecture. The prototype was fabricated in a 0.18 $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process technology. The measured integral non-linearity (INL) and differential non-linearity are 0.5 LSB and 0.4 LSB, respectively. The chip consumes static power 0.54 $mW$ at 1.8 $V$ supply and occupies 0.042 $mm^{2}$ area.
Optimization-Based Fast-Frequency Estimation and Control of Low-Inertia Microgrids

The lack of inertial response from non-synchronous, inverter-based generation in microgrids makes the power system vulnerable to a large rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) and frequency excursions. Energy storage systems (ESSs) can be utilized to provide fast-frequency support to prevent such large excursions in the system. However, fast-frequency support is a power-intensive application that has a significant impact on the ESS lifetime. In this paper, a framework that allows the ESS operator to provide fast-frequency support as a service is proposed. The framework maintains the desired quality-of-service (limiting the ROCOF and frequency) while taking into account the ESS lifetime and physical limits. The framework utilizes moving horizon estimation (MHE) to estimate the frequency deviation and ROCOF from noisy phase-locked loop (PLL) measurements. These estimates are employed by a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm that computes control actions by solving a finite-horizon, online optimization problem. Additionally, this approach avoids oscillatory behavior induced by delays that are common when using low-pass filters as with traditional derivative-based (virtual inertia) controllers. MATLAB/Simulink simulations on a test system from Cordova, Alaska, show the effectiveness of the MHE-MPC approach to reduce frequency deviations and ROCOF of a low-inertia microgrid.
Spin transport in a tunable Heisenberg model realized with ultracold atoms

Simple models of interacting spins have an important role in physics. They capture the properties of many magnetic materials, but also extend to other systems, such as bosons and fermions in a lattice, gauge theories, high-temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquids, and systems with exotic particles such as anyons and Majorana fermions1,2. To study and compare these models, a versatile platform is needed. Realizing such systems has been a long-standing goal in the field of ultracold atoms. So far, spin transport has only been studied in systems with isotropic spin–spin interactions3–12. Here we realize the Heisenberg model describing spins on a lattice, with fully adjustable anisotropy of the nearest-neighbour spin–spin couplings (called the XXZ model). In this model we study spin transport far from equilibrium after quantum quenches from imprinted spin-helix patterns. When spins are coupled only along two of three possible orientations (the XX model), we find ballistic behaviour of spin dynamics, whereas for isotropic interactions (the XXX model), we find diffusive behaviour. More generally, for positive anisotropies, the dynamics ranges from anomalous superdiffusion to subdiffusion, whereas for negative anisotropies, we observe a crossover in the time domain from ballistic to diffusive transport. This behaviour is in contrast with expectations from the linear-response regime and raises new questions in understanding quantum many-body dynamics far away from equilibrium. Spin transport far from equilibrium is studied in a Heisenberg model with adjustable anisotropy realized with coupled ultracold 7Li atoms, and different dynamical regimes are found for positive and negative anisotropies.
Vaping Associated Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

E-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury (EVALI) has been an important health risk in both children and adults. The pathophysiology of EVALI is not well understood. However, it is speculated that certain substances such as Vitamin E Acetate (VEA), particularly in marijuana containing vape cartridges may result in lung injury and lead to respiratory dysfunction. EVALI is often seen in the absence of infections, but it has been found to be associated with both fungal and bacterial infections. Like EVALI, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease is also on the rise, but is primarily reported in immunocompromised individuals. Here, we present three immunocompetent individuals wherein pulmonary NTM infection co-occurred with vaping. Medical information including patient history, laboratory, and radiograph reports were abstracted from electronic medical records from participating institutions located in the Bronx, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and Lexington, KY. All three cases were otherwise immunocompetent individuals with a significant history of vaping either nicotine and/or marijuana containing products. The pathogens isolated include Mycobacterium avium complex, M. xenopi, and M. gordonae. All three patients were treated for NTM. There is little reported on the association between vaping and NTM. It is possible that vaping may have rendered these individuals to be more susceptible to NTM colonization and infection. The possible mechanisms of vaping lung injury and pulmonary NTM are discussed.
Maternal preconception PFOS exposure of Drosophila melanogaster alters reproductive capacity, development, morphology and nutrient regulation.

Abstract Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent synthetic surfactant widely detected in the environment. Developmental PFOS exposures are associated with low birth weight and chronic exposures increase risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. As an obesogen, PFOS poses a major public health exposure risk and much remains to be understood about the critical windows of exposure and mechanisms impacted, especially during preconception. Here, we leverage evolutionarily conserved pathways and processes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (wild-type Canton-S and megalin-UAS RNAi transgenic fly lines) to investigate the window of maternal preconception exposure to PFOS on reproductive and developmental toxicity, and examine receptor (megalin)-mediated endocytosis of nutrients and PFOS into the oocyte as a potential mechanism. Preconception exposure to 2 ng PFOS/female resulted in an internal concentration of 0.081 ng/fly over two days post exposure, no mortality and reduced megalin transcription. The number of eggs laid 1–3 days post exposure was reduced and contained 0.018 ng PFOS/egg. Following heat shock, PFOS was significantly reduced in eggs from megalin-knockdown transgenic females. Cholesterol and triglycerides were increased in eggs laid immediately following PFOS exposure by non-heat shocked transgenic females whereas decreased cholesterol and increased protein levels were found in eggs laid by heat shocked transgenic females. Preconception exposure likewise increased cholesterol in early emerging wildtype F1 adults and also resulted in progeny with a substantial developmental delay, a reduction in adult weights, and altered transcription of Drosophila insulin-like peptide genes. These findings support an interaction between PFOS and megalin that interferes with normal nutrient transport during oocyte maturation and embryogenesis, which may be associated with later in life developmental delay and reduced weight.
Cigarette Pack Price and Its Within-Person Association with Smoking Initiation, Smoking Progression, and Disparities among Young Adults.

BACKGROUND There is a dearth of research on within-person relationships between tobacco price and cigarette smoking initiation and progression in young adulthood. This project examines the within-person association between cigarette pack price and smoking initiation and progression between age 18 and 21/22, focusing on differences across subgroups. METHODS Data came from the longitudinal Monitoring the Future (MTF) project. MTF examines drug use behaviors with nationally representative samples of 12th graders annually. Subsamples of 12th graders are annually selected and followed longitudinally. Among 12 th graders from baseline years 2000-2014, we examined past 30-day cigarette smoking initiation among baseline never smokers (N=15,280) and progression to daily smoking among youth who were not daily smokers at baseline (N=26,998). We used hierarchical logistic regression and interaction terms to assess differences across sex, race/ethnicity, and parental education. RESULTS The within-person relationship between pack price and smoking indicated that a one-dollar increase in pack price corresponded with an 72% decrease in the odds of initiation (AOR=0.28, 95% CI=0.18, 0.44) and 70% decrease in the odds of progression to daily smoking (AOR=0.30, 95% CI=0.21, 0.44). There was a linear age trend for both smoking initiation and progression. There were no statistically significant interactions between price and demographics, making it difficult to disentangle differences across subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to increased cigarette prices during young adulthood was associated with a lower odds of cigarette smoking initiation and progression. Additional policies and programs beyond cigarettes prices could help reduce tobacco-related disparities in smoking initiation and progression among young adults. IMPLICATIONS There is a strong, within-person relationship between cigarette prices and smoking initiation and progression during the transition to young adulthood: higher prices are associated with decreased odds of both initiation and progression. Cigarette taxation can help to prevent smoking initiation and progression among youth, but it is less clear how taxes are associated with disparities in smoking experienced by certain subgroups. We could not draw definitive conclusions about the impact of cigarette prices on tobacco-related disparities. Tobacco taxes should be increased on a regular basis to ensure young adults experience within-person increases in prices, and complementary programs geared toward reducing tobacco-related disparities among young adults should be promoted.
Synthesis and biological characterization of a promising F-18 PET tracer for vesicular acetylcholine transporter.

Abstract Nine fluorine-containing vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) inhibitors were synthesized and screened as potential PET tracers for imaging the VAChT. Compound 18a was one of the most promising carbonyl-containing benzovesamicol analogs; the minus enantiomer, (−)- 18a displayed high potency (VAChT K i = 0.59 ± 0.06 nM) and high selectivity for VAChT versus σ receptors (>10,000-fold). The radiosynthesis of (−)-[ 18 F] 18a was accomplished by a two-step procedure with 30–40% radiochemical yield. Preliminary biodistribution studies of (−)-[ 18 F] 18a in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats at 5, 30, 60 and 120 min post-injection (p.i.) were promising. The total brain uptake of (−)-[ 18 F] 18a was 0.684 %ID/g at 5 min p.i. and by 120 min p.i. slowly washed out to 0.409 %ID/g; evaluation of regional brain uptake showed stable levels of ∼0.800 %ID/g from 5 to 120 min p.i in the VAChT-enriched striatal tissue of rats, indicating the tracer had crossed the blood brain barrier and was retained in the striatum. Subsequent microPET brain imaging studies of (−)-[ 18 F] 18a in nonhuman primates (NHPs) showed high striatal accumulation in the NHP brain; the standardized uptake value (SUV) for striatum reached a maximum value of 5.1 at 15 min p.i. The time–activity curve for the target striatal region displayed a slow and gradual decreasing trend 15 min after injection, while clearance of the radioactivity from the cerebellar reference region was much more rapid. Pretreatment of NHPs with 0.25 mg/kg of the VAChT inhibitor (−)-vesamicol resulted in a ∼90% decrease of striatal uptake compared to baseline studies. HPLC metabolite analysis of NHP plasma revealed that (−)-[ 18 F] 18a had a good in vivo stability. Together, these preliminary results suggest (−)-[ 18 F] 18a is a promising PET tracer candidate for imaging VAChT in the brain of living subjects.
Design and Fabrication of Millimeter-Scale Crossed-Cylinder Wrist Mechanism with Two Degrees of Freedom

This paper describes the design and fabrication of a 2-DOF wrist mechanism suitable for fabrication with maximum dimension on the order of 2–4 mm. The design is based on the idea of 2 half-cylinders in contact such that their axes lie orthogonal to each other. In that way, each cylinder can roll parallel to the other cylinder’s axis, giving 2 rotational degrees of freedom. To constrain the cylinders’ motion, unique gear teeth are designed that allow rolling motion in either orthogonal direction, but constrain all other motions. Contact can be guaranteed using a compressive force acting to push the cylinders together. We first demonstrate the design at centimeter scale using FDM 3D printing. Based on the smooth motion achieved, we fabricate a wrist with maximum dimension of 3 mm using layered sheets of carbon nanotube composite material. Each sheet is individually patterned using photolithography.
Beeinflussung der Absorption von Dikalium-Chlorazepat (Tranxilium) durch Alter und Gastrektomie

Dikalium-Chlorazepat wird nach oraler Gabe im Magen durch saureabhangige Hydrolyse und Dekarboxylierung zu Desmethyldiazepam umgewandelt. In fruheren Studien konnte gezeigt werden, das Natriumbicarbonat und Antazida Ausmas und Geschwindigkeit der Resorption von Desmethyldiazepam signifikant erniedrigen [1, 2]. Da Erkrankungen mit einer Verminderung der Magensaure eine ahnliche Wirkung ausuben konnen [3], haben wir den Einflus einer Magenresektion nach Billroth auf die Desmethyldiazepam- Absorption untersucht und die Ergebnisse mit denen einer jungen und alteren Kontrollgruppe verglichen.
Sydney Chapman and his early studies of magnetic disturbances

Sydney Chapman's 1918 and 1927 papers on magnetic storms and disturbances of lesser intensity and the background in which these papers were prepared are described from a historical point of view. In spite of the greatly limited availability of observations, the average characteristics of the magnetic variations during these disturbances derived by Chapman are remarkably accurate. An attempt is made to portray Chapman's rigorous and conscientious method of data analysis.
The Influence of Lobbying Activityin State Legislatures: Evidence from Wisconsin

This study attempts to assess the degree of influence interest groups can exert on the state policy process, specifically via their lobbying activities. The analysis uses data from the 2005–06 Wisconsin Legislative Session to assess the association between lobbying activity and legislative outcomes in one state legislature. The study finds a direct association between lobbying activities and bill outcomes, while also exploring the potential influences of both key political actors and public attention. Public attention is found to reduce the effects of lobbying efforts, suggesting that lobbying is most effective when focused on less salient issues.
Supported Lipid Bilayers

Lipid bilayers supported on solid substrates were developed almost a quarter century ago as a new model membrane system to study fundamental properties of biological membranes and their constituent lipid and protein molecules, as well as for numerous practical applications. In this review, we summarize the development of supported bilayer-based model membrane systems of increasing complexity while always keeping in mind their primary purpose, which is to reproduce the complex fluid structure of biological membranes to mimic cell membrane-based molecular processes as close to physiological reality as possible. This process must include maintaining the structure and fluidity of the lipid bilayer, as well as the structure and function of reconstituted membrane proteins. We start the review with a general description of a contemporary picture of a generic biological membrane and proceed with an account of how supported membranes recapture different physiological aspects of biological membranes, such as membrane fusion, cell adhesion, or membrane permeability. Supported membranes are particularly good models for reproducing the fluidity of cell membranes even when different liquid lipid phases coexist. They are also superb models for measuring ligand-receptor interactions between membrane-bound receptors and soluble or membrane-bound ligands. The chemical biology of these and many other lipid–lipid, lipid–protein, and protein–protein interactions that have been investigated in supported bilayers are summarized in several sections that form the main body of this review. The article closes with summaries of practical procedures to prepare and characterize supported bilayers.
Unusual patterns in reported segment earnings of US firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend prior findings on firms’ rounding up net income numbers to meet cognitive reference points and to examine whether segment-level earnings exhibit similar unusual patterns. Design/methodology/approach – This study is an archival research based on a sample of US public firms that report segment data between 1998 and 2011. The authors use Benford’s law to establish benchmarks for expected frequency of each number on the second digit of segment earnings and test whether the actual distributions deviate from expectations. Findings – The authors find more zeros and fewer nines than expected by chance in the second-from-the-left most digit for segment earnings numbers of US public firms, suggesting that segments round up earnings to meet cognitive reference points. The results complement the existing studies by showing that the rounding up of earnings not only exists at the firm level but also at the segment level, probably because subdivision managers have motivat...
Strategic Planning Under Severe Constraints In A State College

This paper examines the difficulties of strategic planning under severe constraints in a state college. Constraints include the planning models available, the governance structure of the college and other externalities, and a not-for-profit model of constraints by Newman and Wallender. After presenting the planning challenges, we discuss approaches to be used by institutions facing similarly constrained environments.
Energiekonflikte, Klimawandel und nachhaltige Entwicklung

Der Grundkonflikt zwischen Mensch und Natur zeigt sich eindringlich an den Folgen der Energienutzung durch den Menschen fur das globale Klima.
Metabolic syndrome update

The metabolic syndrome is a multiplex risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It is composed of atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance and elevated glucose, a pro-thrombotic state, and a pro-inflammatory state. Excess energy intake and concomitant obesity are the major drivers of the syndrome. Lifestyle intervention can reverse metabolic risk factors, but at times, drug therapies or bariatric surgery may be required to control more overt risk factors.
Symptomatic Hypogonadism in Male Survivors of Cancer with Chronic Exposure to Opioids

BACKGROUND Profound hypogonadism has been noted in patients receiving intrathecal opioids. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether chronic consumption of oral opioids by male survivors of cancer also would lead to central hypogonadism and whether this hypogonadism was associated with symptoms of sexual dysfunction, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. METHODS A case–control study was conducted at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX), in which 20 patients who were chronically consuming opioids were compared with 20 matched controls. Patients completed the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy with general and fatigue subscales (FACT-G/FACIT-F), and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaires. Serum samples were collected for testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). RESULTS Comparing the opioid group with the control group, 18 of the 20 patients (90%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 65–98%) exhibited hypogonadism, compared with 8 of the 20 control patients (40%; 95% CI, 19–64%). The median testosterone level was 145 ng/dL versus 399.5 ng/dL (5.0 nmol/L vs. 13.9 nmol/L; P < 0.0001), the median FSH level was 2.85 milli–International Units (mIU)/mL versus 5.3 mIU/mL (P = 0.08), the median LH level was 1.8 mIU/mL versus 4.2 mIU/mL (P = 0.0014), the median SDI-dyadic score was 18.5 versus 40 (P = 0.01), the median SDI-solitary score was 0 versus 5 (P = 0.007), the HADS (anxiety) score was 8.5 versus 5.5 (P = 0.053), the HADS (depression) score was 7.5 versus 1.5 (P = 0.0002), the FACT-G score was 64 versus 96.3 (P = 0.0001), and the FACIT-F score was 24 versus 46 (P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS Survivors of cancer who chronically consumed opioids experienced symptomatic hypogonadism with significantly higher levels of depression, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction. With the increasing use of opioids among patients with cancer, further research in improving quality-of-life outcomes is warranted. Cancer 2004;100:851–8. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Tips on teaching types and functions

Many beginning students of functional programming have difficulty understanding higher-order functions and their types. Experienced functional programmers have such a close familiarity and intuitive grasp of these crucial concepts that they may find it hard to "bridge the gap," so as to provide their students with a firm understanding of these ideas. I describe a loosely-related cluster of tips and techniques which address the pedagogy of higher-order functions and types, for students with varying degrees of mathematical background and different learning styles - these techniques include tabular presentations, code tools, visual metaphors and an abstract algebra. Although the underlying ideas will be familiar to experts, I believe these presentations can help educators bring important ideas in functional programming to a broader range of students, with less pain and with a deeper understanding.
Solid-state NMR investigations of poly[(acrylonitrile)-rotaxa-(60-crown-20)]

Solid-state NMR has been used to investigate the structure, dynamics, and morphology of the polyrotaxane prepared by polymerizing acrylonitrile in the presence of 60-crown-20. For solid poly[(acrylonitrile)n-rotaxa-(60-crown-20)x] with x/n = 0.01, the 60-crown-20 was found to be phase-separated, amorphous, and highly mobile at room temperature. 2D WISE NMR revealed the presence of less mobile crown segments that were attributed to those in contact with the rigid PAN phase at the interfacial regions. Compared to unthreaded PAN, the Tg of the host backbone was slightly depressed (90 °C vs 110 °C), as measured by solid-state 1H NMR. These PAN Tg values were undetectable with DSC. Dipolar magnetization transfer (i.e., spin diffusion) experiments on the polyrotaxane revealed typical smallest diameters of 6−8 nm for the 60-crown-20 domains and NMR long periods of 20−26 nm. The long periods were compared with electron density correlation lengths computed from SAXS data. Upon heating the polyrotaxane to 80 °C, th...
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance at 4.2° K. of λ-Irradiated Polymethyl Methacrylate and Polymethacrylic Acid

THE electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum given by polymethyl methacrylate after high-energy irradiation at room temperature consists of five lines, about 23 gauss apart, with intensities in approximately the ratios 1 : 4 : 6 : 4 : 1, with a weaker intermediate pattern of four lines, both closely centred on the electron spin g factor of 2.001,2. Since this spectrum is also given by free radicals trapped during the addition polymerization of methyl methacrylate3–5, it has been postulated that it arises from trapped propagating radicals of structure, —CH2— C(CH3)CO2CH3, the detailed explanations involving the exact conformation of these radicals2,4,6. Both of the explanations put forward by Symons4,6 require that the methyl group bonded to the ‘radical’ carbon atom rotates rapidly, so that its three protons interact equally with the unpaired electron. If one of these explanations is correct, the hyperfine structure of the spectrum should alter when the temperature is lowered sufficiently. The rotation of the methyl group might change to a torsional oscillation, thus destroying the equivalence of the three methyl protons. If however the rotation remains free, at a temperature where only the lowest rotational level is populated, symmetry conditions will govern the occupation of the nuclear spin levels.
Time to put the CAR-T before the horse

In this issue of Blood , Brentjens and colleagues report on the feasibility, tolerability, and persistence of autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL).[1][1] These
Mycotoxigenic Fusarium species in animal feed

Fusarium species are among the most studied plant-pathogenic fungi, with several species causing diseases on maize, wheat, barley, and other food and feed grains. Decreased yield, as well as diminished quality and value of the grain, results in significant worldwide economic losses. Additionally, Fusarium species produce a chemically diverse array of mycotoxins such as diacetoxyscirpenol, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, T-2 toxin, zearalenone, fumonisins, fusarin C, beauvericin, moniliformin, and fusaproliferin. The dominant Fusarium species associated with feed grain that produce these mycotoxins are reviewed with emphasis on their current taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships, and general biology. Ecological and environmental factors associated with plant-fungal interactions and potential mycotoxin contamination of feed also are discussed with primary emphasis on two main diseases: head blight of small grains and ear rot of maize. The past quarter-century has provided much detail on the morphology, physiology, genetics and genomics of Fusarium species. Such data are critical for understanding these fungi and for managing their impact on the safety, value, and yield of quality grain.
Oral leukocytes and gingivitis in the primary dentition.

A survey was performed to evaluate the relationships among orogranulocytic migratory rale, gingival index and plaque index in a group of systematically healthy preschool children. The fifty children selected for study had only primary teeth, no pharyngeal or extragingival inflammation and were taking no medication. Each child was subjectively scored for the amount of bacterial plaque and gingival inflammation present. The rate of migration of leukocytes into the oral cavity per 30 second period was determined from the last three of ten 30 second consecutive oral saliva rinses as an objective measure of gingival inflammation. A minimal amount of localized mild marginal gingivitis was observed in the presence of a rather large plaque accumulation. No significant correlation was observed between rates of oral leukocyte migration and the degree of gingival inflammation. However, the leukocyte migratory rates in this group were quite low as compared to those found in adults by other investigators.
Spot and Futures Prices of Nonstorable Commodities Under Rational Expectations

The paper examines the effect of the presence of a commodity futures market upon the price formation process in a stochastic rational expectations framework. An optimizing model with price uncertainty and risk aversion is used in order to solve equilibrium distributions of prices for nonstorable commodities. The existence of futures trading does not affect the degree of short-term spot price fluctuations. However, if the commodity market disturbance that originates from stochastic consumption demand is serially dependent, then the long-term price variation is smaller with a futures market than without it. Futures prices fluctuate less variably over time than spot and expected prices. Finally, there exists a futures intervention rule whereby the authority can stabilize spot prices and raise the overall welfare of society.
The TG, DTG, DTA, and EC of some [Co(NH3)5H2O]X3 and [Co(NH3)5X]X2 complexes

Abstract The EC, DTA, TG, and DTG curves of the [Co(NH 3 ) 5 H 2 O]X 3 and [Co(NH 3 ) 5 X]X 2 (X − = Cl, Br, I, and NO 3 ) complexes were determined. The EC data reveal the deaquation and partial fusion and dissociation reactions. High resolution DTA data clearly indicated a multi-step deaquation reaction in which a liquid water phase is present. This behavior is similar to the deaquation of certain metal salt hydrates previously described. The TG and DTG curves show the deaquation and dissociation reactions. In the case of the latter technique, the decrease in thermal dissociation temperatures follows the order: chloride > nitrate > bromide > iodide.