cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical assessment of elastin integrity in fibrillin-1-deficient carotid arteries: implications for Marfan syndrome.

Aims Elastin is the primary component of elastic fibres in arteries, which contribute significantly to the structural integrity of the wall. Fibrillin-1 is a microfibrillar glycoprotein that appears to stabilize elastic fibres mechanically and thereby to delay a fatigue-induced loss of function due to long-term repetitive loading. Whereas prior studies have addressed some aspects of ageing-related changes in the overall mechanical properties of arteries in mouse models of Marfan syndrome, we sought to assess for the first time the load-carrying capability of the elastic fibres early in maturity, prior to the development of ageing-related effects, dilatation, or dissection. Methods and results We used elastase to degrade elastin in common carotid arteries excised, at 7–9 weeks of age, from a mouse model (mgR/mgR) of Marfan syndrome that expresses fibrillin-1 at 15–25% of normal levels. In vitro biaxial mechanical tests performed before and after exposure to elastase suggested that the elastic fibres exhibited a nearly normal load-bearing capability. Observations from nonlinear optical microscopy suggested further that competent elastic fibres not only contribute to load-bearing, they also increase the undulation of collagen fibres, which endows the normal arterial wall with a more compliant response to pressurization. Conclusion These findings support the hypothesis that it is an accelerated fatigue-induced damage to or protease-related degradation of initially competent elastic fibres that render arteries in Marfan syndrome increasingly susceptible to dilatation, dissection, and rupture.
Sitting on the Ergonomic Hot Seat

Workstation design requires safe placement of electrical appliances so as to minimize the risks associated with electromagnetic radiation. The aim of this investigation was to measure the relative position of the worker to the source of the electric and magnetic emissions. Elevating chair-height exposed the CRT operator's abdomen region to greater levels of energy density emitted by the monitor screen. Likewise, lowering chair-height exposes the CRT operator's chest and face to greater levels of emission.
LIOUVILLE FIELD THEORY OF FLUCTUATING LOOPS

Effective field theories of two-dimensional lattice models of fluctuating loops are constructed by mapping them onto random surfaces whose large scale fluctuations are described by a Liouville field theory. This provides a geometrical view of conformal invariance in two-dimensional critical phenomena and a method for calculating critical properties of loop models exactly. As an application of the method, the conformal charge and critical exponents for two mutually excluding Hamiltonian walks on the square lattice are calculated.
A Study of Prejudice in Children

The present paper deals with an effort to combine the resources of social dynamic psychology in exploring patterns of social, motivational and cognitive factors in children that may contribute to their attitudes towards important social issues. To diagnose or anticipate these patterns at an age where the modifiability is relatively great and where educational efforts can be applied on a wide scale seems ofparticular importance.
Impact of cloud microphysics on hurricane track forecasts

[1] Simulations of Hurricane Rita (2005) at operational resolutions (30 and 12 km) reveal significant track sensitivity to cloud microphysical details, rivaling variation seen in the National Hurricane Center's multi-model consensus forecast. Microphysics appears to directly or indirectly modulate vortex characteristics including size and winds at large radius and possibly other factors involved in hurricane motion. Idealized simulations made at higher (3 km) resolution help isolate the microphysical influence.
Sort-merge-join: an idea whose time has(h) passed?

Matching two sets of data items is a fundamental operation required in relational, extensible, and object-oriented database systems alike. However, the pros and cons of sort- and hash-based query evaluation techniques in modern query processing systems are still not fully understood. After our earlier research clarified strengths and weaknesses of sort- and hash-based query processing techniques and suggested remedies for the shortcomings of hash-based algorithms, the present paper outlines a number of further differences between sort-merge-join and hybrid hash join that traditionally have been ignored in such comparisons and render sort-merge-join mostly obsolete. We consolidate old and raise new issues pertinent to the comparison of sort- and hash-based query evaluation techniques and stir some thought and discussion among both academic and industrial database system builders. >
Medical and neurological complications during inpatient stroke rehabilitation.

We sought to assess the type, frequency, and clinical predictors of neuromedical complications occurring during inpatient rehabilitation after stroke.One hundred consecutive patient records were reviewed. All medical and neurological complications requiring a physician's order for further evaluation or treatment were recorded.Complications were urinary tract infection (44 cases), depression (33), musculoskeletal pain (31), urinary retention (25), falls (25), fungal dermatitis (24), hypotension (19), diabetes mellitus (16), hypertension (15), and other neuromedical problem (194). The mean +/- SD numbers of medical and neurological complications per patient were 3.6 +/- 2 and 0.6 +/- 0.8, respectively. Complications were independently related to both the severity of functional disability as judged by Barthel score (r = -.42, P < .001) and length of rehabilitation hospital stay (r = .54, P < .001). Cardiac complications were predicted by New York Heart Association class 3 or 4 symptomatology on admission (P ...
Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy: not always a reversible situation.

Background Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antimicrobial drug prescribed to treat infections caused by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Uncommonly, it causes central nervous system (CNS) toxicity manifesting as metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE).
Peptide dendrimers from natural amino acids

The high-yielding cyanoethylation - hydrogenation strategy was used to prepare simple AB2 monomers from natural amino acids. Third-generation peptide dendrimers were assembled from these monomers on a polyethylene glycol (PEG) resin by standard Boc peptide coupling methods. Preliminary conformational studies were conducted on these chiral peptide dendrimers by size-exclusion chromatog- raphy, optical activity measurements, and investigation of the solid-state properties. These peptide dendrimers have potential applications as drug-delivery agents, asymmetric catalysts, peptido- and protein mimetics, and new biomaterials.
Membrane Cholesterol Is a Biomechanical Regulator of Neutrophil Adhesion

Objective— The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of membrane cholesterol on human neutrophil and HL-60 biomechanics, capture, rolling, and arrest to P-selectin– or IL-1–activated endothelium. Methods and Results— Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) removed up to 73% and 45% of membrane cholesterol from HL-60 cells and neutrophils, whereas MβCD/cholesterol complexes resulted in maximum enrichment of 65% and 40%, respectively, above control levels. Cells were perfused at a venous wall shear rate of 100 s−1 over adherent P-selectin–coated 1-μm diameter beads, uncoated 10-μm diameter beads, P-selectin–coated surfaces, or activated endothelium. Elevated cholesterol enhanced capture efficiency to 1-μm beads and increased membrane tether growth rate by 1.5- to 2-fold, whereas cholesterol depletion greatly reduced tether formation. Elevated cholesterol levels increased tether lifetime by 17% in neutrophils and adhesion lifetime by 63% in HL-60 cells. Deformation of cholesterol-enriched neutrophils increased the contact time with 10-μm beads by 32% and the contact area by 7-fold. On both P-selectin surfaces and endothelial-cell monolayers, cholesterol-enriched neutrophils rolled more slowly, more stably, and were more likely to firmly arrest. Cholesterol depletion resulted in opposite effects. Conclusions— Increasing membrane cholesterol enhanced membrane tether formation and whole cell deformability, contributing to slower, more stable rolling on P-selectin and increased firm arrest on activated endothelium.
The effects of carrier-velocity saturation on high-current BJT output resistance

Modern bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) tend to operate with saturated carrier velocity in the collector space-charge region. A physical analysis of the effects of velocity saturation on the output resistance of BJTs, especially for high current levels is presented. Physical analyses show that when the collector current density approaches a critical value, the Early voltage can increase significantly due to carrier-velocity saturation as the resulting base push-out partially offsets base-width modulation. This effect is also demonstrated in simulations with PISCES and MMSPICE. >
Implantation of high-energy Si and Be ions in InP and low-energy transition metal ions in InGaAs

High-energy ion implantation in compound semiconductors, an economical alternative to the epitaxial growth technique for fabrication of devices that need thick or buried active layers is discussed. High-energy Si implantations in InP yield buried layers with high carrier concentration and low defect density as long as the implant dose is less than the critical dose that makes the material amorphous. Elevated temperature implants need to be used to extend the critical dose. Compensation of the surface side tail of the implant profile is necessary to obtain the sharp carrier concentration depth profiles that are necessary for many device applications. The Be/P coimplantation is useful for obtaining buried p-type profiles without any broadening caused by Be in-diffusion. The Fe implantation is useful for obtaining high resistance regions in InGaAs. >
Bivariate deconvolution with SIMEX: an application to mapping Alaska earthquake density

Constructing spatial density maps of seismic events, such as earthquake hypocentres, is complicated by the fact that events are not located precisely. In this paper, we present a method for estimating density maps from event locations that are measured with error. The estimator is based on the simulation–extrapolation method of estimation and is appropriate for location errors that are either homoscedastic or heteroscedastic. A simulation study shows that the estimator outperforms the standard estimator of density that ignores location errors in the data, even when location errors are spatially dependent. We apply our method to construct an estimated density map of earthquake hypocenters using data from the Alaska earthquake catalogue.
A case study on the implementation of the Illinois Scan Architecture

Scan based test techniques offer a very efficient alternative to achieve high fault coverage when compared to functional pattern testing. As circuit sizes grow ever larger, test data volume and test application time grow unwieldy even in the very efficient scan based designs. The Illinois Scan Architecture is a low cost alternative to conventional scan. In this paper, we present the first ever reported case study of the effectiveness of the Illinois Scan Architecture on an industrial circuit.
Lithic Humicryods and Haplocryods: Disjunct alpine–subalpine soils of the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract Lithic Humicryods and Haplocryods occur in alpine–subalpine regions across the Northern Hemisphere. These soils form on acidic-crystalline parent materials in cold (− 3 to 5 °C) and wet (900–2800 mm/year) environments with abundant (2–10 m) snowfall and support circumpolar biota. The profiles contain abundant C, with a mean value of 26 kg/m2 to a depth of 50 cm. Because the soils are enriched in short-range-order minerals, the spodic horizon has a high cation-exchange capacity (mean = 62 cmol+/kg). The soils are ultra to very strongly acidic (pH 3.4–4.6), are highly saturated with Al (average = 90%), and are depleted in base cations (average = 1.5%). Lithic Humicryods and Haplocryods develop strong acidity, particularly that related to Al3+, form Al-humus complexes and imogolite, and often have an isotic mineral class. As with the organisms they support, these soils are an example of disjunct soil taxa that develop on isolated cold mountains following the retreat of continental ice sheets. Four soil series classified as Lithic Humicryods in northeastern US (Couchsachraga, Saddleback, Skylight, and Stratton) that comprise 46,000 ha can be considered unique and endangered soils.
Responses to angiotensin peptides are mediated by AT1 receptors in the rat

The effects of the angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptor antagonists candesartan and PD-123,319 on hemodynamic responses to angiotensin peptides were investigated in the anesthetized rat. Injections of ...
Mating and Memory: An Educational Primer for Use with “Epigenetic Control of Learning and Memory in Drosophila by Tip60 HAT Action”

An article by Xu et al. in the December 2014 issue of GENETICS can be used to illustrate epigenetic modification of gene expression, reverse genetic manipulation, genetic/epigenetic influence on behavioral studies, and studies using the Drosophila model organism applied to human disease. This Primer provides background information; technical explanations of genetic, biochemical, and behavioral approaches from the study; and an example of an approach for classroom use with discussion questions to aid in student comprehension of the research article.
A Tale of Two Mainstreams: Economics and Philosophy of Natural Science in the Mid-20th Century

This paper addresses the question of why the economic theory of the Neoclassical Synthesis looked so much like the so-called "received view" philosophy of science during the same period (1945-1965). The paper discusses seven common features of the two programs and considers three possible explanations for these common features. The paper was presented as the History of Economics Society Presidential Address, June 25, 2006, at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa.
Linkages between youth diversity and organizational and program characteristics of out-of-school-time science programs: a mixed-methods study

ABSTRACTScience opportunities in out-of-school time (OST) programs hold potential for expanding access to science, engineering, and technology (SET) pathways for populations that have not participated in these fields at equitable rates (Coalition for Science After School, 2014). This mixed-methods study examines the relationship between the diversity of youth participants and the organizational and program design features of a broad sample of SET-focused OST programs in the USA. Overall, many programs in our study appeared to deliver high-quality programming by providing immersive experiences for youth that included inquiry-based learning and positive youth development. Encouragingly, many programs served large numbers of underrepresented minority youth and girls and these programs often showed the most numerous indicators of high-quality learning experiences. While location and a diversity-oriented organizational mission were related to youth diversity, highly diverse programs enacted their mission by de...
Human(e) Science? Demarcation, Law, and 'Scientific Whaling' in Whaling in the Antarctic

This paper analyzes a recent case in which a court, like the Daubert Court, was asked to demarcate legitimate from illegitimate science. The court was the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and it was asked by the state of Australia to find the state of Japan in violation of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling because of its licensing of a research program that engaged in killing whales ostensibly “for purposes of scientific research.” Australia premised a good portion of its argument on a four-part definition of “scientific research,” reminiscent of the four notorious “Daubert criteria,” and the claim that the Japanese research program, “JARPA II,” failed to comply with this definition. The paper suggests that the Court’s judgment, which forced Japan to temporarily cease whaling, illustrates the merits for courts of avoiding the temptation to engage in demarcation exercises.
Biotemplate directed 2-dimensional nanostructure assembly

There are manifest scientific and technological interests in organizing nanocrystals (NC) into controlled architectures and work is rapidly expanding in exploiting opportunities through bio-assembly processes. In this research, we have applied biologically assembled nano-scale template to direct formation of precisely defined 2D nanocrystal arrays. We explored purple membrane (PM), a naturally occurring membrane protein (bacteriorhodopsin, BR) crystal patch from halobacteria, as a precisely structured nanometer-scale template. We have developed genetically engineered PMs that display unique functional group (cystein) on the membrane surfaces with precisely defined nano-scale symmetry. These reactive functional groups were used as specific anchoring sites for NC immobilization. We show that the cystein mutants of BR mutated at the surface of the PM are capable of forming stable PM-like hexagonal crystal lattices in the host cell membrane. These crystal patches are easily purified by ultracentrifugation and can be used to react with functionallized gold nanoclusters. We also present the variation of crystal lattice by detergent treatment and recrystallization techniques. The PM has been known to posses good materials properties and is expected to allow formation of robust nanocrystal array that can withstand variety of optical and electrical characterization conditions.
A Cytochemical and Ultrastructural Study of Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia Exhibiting the Pseudo-Chediak-Higashi Anomaly of Leukemia and “Splinter-type” Auer Rods

An unusual case of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) in an 81-year-old man is described. Ultrastructural examination revealed the presence of distinct Auer bodies, which commonly are found in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The Auer bodies had a splinterlike appearance with a distinct tubular substructure. The morphologic appearance of the leukemic cells coupled with the results of cytochemical staining reactions (alpha-naphthyl AS-D chloroacetate esterase, alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, Sudan black B, and periodic acid-Schiff reaction) identified this leukemia as myelomonocytic in origin. APL-like Auer rods in AMML now can be included in the spectrum of morphologic forms commonly seen in myelogenous leukemia and lends support to the hypothesis of an aberrant stem cell. In addition to the APL-like Auer rods, the leukemic blasts contained giant pink-staining granules on Wright's stain, some of which had a tubular substructure similar to the Auer rods under the electron microscope. The presence of these megagranules is a morphologic aberration termed "the pseudo-Chediak-Higashi anomaly of acute leukemia," and now has been described for the first time in AMML at the ultrastructural level.
Acetaldehyde metabolism by the rat heart.

SummaryIsolated beating rat hearts perfused with [1,2-14C] acetaldehyde oxidize the compound to 14CO2. Inhibition of the oxidation by pretreatment in vivo with disulfiram suggests the involvement of a myocardial aldehyde dehydrogenase. The dehydrogenation of acetaldehyde may be rate-limiting since acetate oxidation to carbon dioxide proceeds faster than acetaldehyde oxidation in the perfused rat heart.We are grateful to Steve Altman for helpful discussion and technical assistance.
Effect of medium chirality on the rate of resonance energy transfer.

Resonance energy transfer (RET) between two chromophores in an absorptive and dispersive chiral medium is investigated using a quantum electro-dynamical formulation. To accurately describe such an environment involves the introduction of electric displacement and auxiliary magnetic field operators that are solutions of the Drude―Born―Fedorov equations and the time-harmonic Maxwell equations. Perturbation theory within the electric and magnetic dipole approximation is used in the derivation of the probability amplitude for energy transfer. Expressions for the contributions to the RET rate arising from the pure electric dipole term, replacing one of the chiral chromophores by its corresponding enantiomer in the mixed electric―magnetic dipole term, and the pure magnetic dipole contribution are obtained. In the near-zone limit in a nonabsorptive medium, the medium chirality amplifies the pure electric dipole contribution to the rate relative to that in a racemic mixture and also increases the discriminatory contribution, but to a lesser extent relative to the pure electric dipole term. On the other hand, under the same conditions, the medium chirality does not affect the pure magnetic dipole contribution to the rate. Measurements of the rate could be used to obtain information on the magnitude of the chirality admittance or concentration of chiral species, by comparing with the rate in an environment comprised of a racemic mixture of the enantiomers. This method could allow for the analysis of macroscopically heterogeneous systems that are comprised of enantiomers and where the chromophores experiencing RET are located in regions of interest.
Evaluation of multi-slice spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction in diagnosis of tracheobronchial foreign body in different parts of the bronchus

Objective To evaluate the value of multi-slice spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction in the diagnosis of tracheobronchial foreign body in different parts of the bronchus.Methods From 2011 September to 2013 February,114 pediatric racheobronchial foreign body cases confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy were enrolled in this study.All of the patients before the examination underwent multi-slice spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction.Results The positive rate of CT tracheal foreign body were the lowest(7.70%),followed by the lobar bronchus foreign body cases,the positive rate of CT was 58.33%,the positive rate of CT in right main bronchus and left main bronchus foreign body was relatively high,respectively 81.82%,74.19%.And the difference Was significan(χ2=34.82,P0.0001)t.Conclusion Diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction in dfferent parts of the trachea,bronchus foreign body in children are differences.Especially in cases of suspected foreign bodies in trachea,negative CT should also take into account tracheal foreign body.
S100 protein and brain injure induced by extracorporeal circulation

Objective To explore the relationship between S100 protein and brain injure induced by extracorporeal circulation.Methods Related articles were summarized and analyzed to elucidate relation of S100 protein and brain injury induced by extracorporeal circulation.Results S100 protein increased obviously in brain injury induced by extracorporeal circulation.Conclusion S100 protein can serve as early indicator for post-operative evaluation of brain injury after extracorporeal circulation,which can reflect degree of brain injury.
Study on epidemiological characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease in Nanhai District of Foshan City from 2009-2013

Objective To analyze the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of HFMD in Nanhai District of Foshan City from2009-2013,to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention and control of HFMD.Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was carried out to analyze the data about HFMD in Nanhai District from 2009 to 2013 f.Results There were 68 074 HFMD cases reported in Nanhai District,2009-2013(including 43 severe cases,3 died cases),the average annual incidence rate was528.98/100 000.From 2009 to 2013,the incidence rate was 132.87/100 000,447.33/100 000,468.54/100 000,662.58/100 000 and 891.33/100 000,respectivelty,and showed a rising trend year by year;it had obvious seasonal feature,patients accounted for70.99% from May to September;0 to 5 years old children accounted for 95.60 percent of reported cases,3 years and younger accounted for 83.71%;scattered children accounted for 81.99%,t kindergarten children 15.27%;347 reported in 2009-2013 were diagnosed in laboratory,accounting for 0.51% of the total reported cases,which included enterovirus 71 26.22%,Coxsackie virus A16 26.22%,47.55% of other enteroviruses.There were 9 outbreaks in the region from 2009 to 2013 which more than 10 cases of HFMD,the incidence number was 133 cases,282 gathered epidemics that more than two cases of HFMD were found,the total incidence number was 940 cases,most of them were from nurseries.Conclusion The incidence of HFMD in Nanhai District of Foshan City from 2009-2013 was high and with obvious seasonal,regional,gender,age differences.It should focus on prevention and control of HFMD for families and nurseries with children aged 5 years and younger in the future.
Preadolescent peer relations and adult intimacy.

(1968). Preadolescent Peer Relations and Adult Intimacy. Psychiatry: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 161-172.
Multiple Unilateral Vestibular Schwannomas: Segmental NF2 or Sporadic Occurrence?

Objective To report a case of a patient presenting with two separate unilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) without other stigmata of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Study Design This article discusses a case report and review of the literature. Setting Tertiary academic referral center. Participants A 41-year-old female was referred for evaluation of a left-sided 1.8-cm cerebellopontine angle tumor centered on the porus acusticus and a separate ipsilateral 3-mm intracanalicular tumor appearing to arise from the superior vestibular nerve. The patient denied a family history of NF2. Neurotologic examination was unremarkable and close review of magnetic resonance imaging did not find any other stigmata of NF2. Results The patient underwent left-sided retrosigmoid craniotomy with gross total resection of both tumors. Final pathology confirmed benign schwannoma. The INI1/SMARCB1 staining pattern did not suggest NF2 or schwannomatosis. Conclusions This is only the third report of a case with multiple unilateral VSs occurring in a patient without other features of NF2. Herein, the authors review the two other reports and discuss potential mechanisms for this rare phenomenon.
Cell Surface Display Fungal Laccase as a Renewable Biocatalyst for Degradation of Persistent Micropollutants Bisphenol A and Sulfamethoxazole

Fungal laccases have high activity in degrading various persistent organic pollutants. However, using enzymes in solution for water treatment has limitations of nonreusability, short enzyme lifetimes, and high cost of single use. In this study, we developed a new type of biocatalyst by immobilizing fungal laccase on the surface of yeast cells using synthetic biology techniques. The biocatalyst, referred to as surface display laccase (SDL), had an enzyme activity of 104 ± 3 mU/g dry cell (with 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS)). The SDL retained over 90% of the initial enzyme activity after 25 days storage at room temperature, while, in contrast, activity of free laccase declined to 60% of its initial activity. The SDL could be reused with high stability as it retained 74% of initial activity after eight repeated batch reactions. Proof-of-concept evaluations of the effectiveness of SDL in treating contaminants of emerging concern were performed with bisphenol A and sulfamethoxazole. Results from contaminant degradation kinetics and the effects of redox mediator amendment provided insights into the factors affecting the efficacy of the SDL system. This study reports, for the first time, the development of a surface display enzyme biocatalyst as an effective and renewable alternative for treating recalcitrant organic micropollutants.
Adam Smith and the Theory Of Value: Chapter Six Considered

(2000). Adam Smith and the Theory Of Value: Chapter Six Considered. History of Economics Review: Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 1-13.
Compression Testing of Silica Microspheres with Synchronized SEM Video

The Young’s moduli of individual silica microspheres, having a diameter of about 4 μm, are measured by compression testing inside an SEM chamber. The testing instrument is a nanoindenter, fitted with a frustum having a face-diameter of 10 μm. While continuously monitoring force and deflection, each particle was compressed to failure. During this semi-static compression, a harmonic force dither having a frequency of 100 Hz was superimposed in order to obtain a continuous measure of particle stiffness. Using this continuous stiffness, the Young’s moduli are calculated according to a derivative form of an analytic model for compressing a sphere between two platens (Elastic compression of spheres and cylinders at point contact and line contact, CSIRO National Standards Laboratory Technical Paper, no. 25, 1969). At a compressive strain of 0.2 %, the mean Young’s modulus is 73.6 ± 4.4 GPa (N = 12) which is exactly within the range of what we expect for soda-lime glass. The results are enhanced by in situ SEM images which reveal both plastic yield and fracture.
Are emerging PGD2 antagonists a promising therapy class for treating asthma

Until very recently, the management of asthma has centered around a handful of bronchodilators and corticosteroids developed empirically decades ago. The lack of therapeutic innovation is all the m...
In-wheel brushless DC motor for a wheel chair drive

A gear-less drive for a wheel chair based on brushless DC motor is presented. The motor has external rotor equipped with neodymium-based permanent magnets and the inner stator is attached to the wheel axle. The performance of the motor is determined using three-dimensional FEM modeling. They are validated by the experimental measurements carried out on the motor prototype.
The Roles of Akt1 and Akt2 in GPIb-IX-Mediated Platelet Activation Signaling.

Abstract The platelet von Willebrand factor (VWF) receptor, glycoprotein Ib-IX (GPIb-IX), mediates platelet adhesion and induces signaling leading to integrin activation. Phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is important in GPIb-IX-mediated signaling. PI3K-dependent signaling mechanisms, however, are unclear. To understand the downstream signaling pathway of GPIb-IX signaling, we investigated the roles of PI3K effector kinases, Akt1 and Akt2, in VWF/GPIb-IX-induced platelet activation. VWF/GPIb-IX-induced platelet aggregation was impaired in Akt1- or Akt2-knockout mouse platelets and in human and mouse platelets treated with an Akt inhibitor, SH-6. GPIb-IX-mediated platelet stable adhesion to VWF under shear stress was also inhibited in mouse platelets deficient in Akt1 or Akt2, and in human platelets treated with SH-6. Interestingly, while deficiency of Akt1 or Akt2 caused nearly complete inhibition of stable platelet adhesion to VWF under shear stress, stable platelet adhesion was only partially reduced in platelets treated with both P2Y1 and P2Y12 ADP receptor antagonists, A3P5P and 2MeSAMP or thromboxane A2 pathway inhibitor, aspirin or Syk inhibitor, piceatannol. Therefore, Akt1 and Akt2 are important in early GPIb-IX signaling independent of Syk, ADP or thromboxane A2 (TXA2), in addition to their recognized roles in ADP- and TXA2-dependent secondary amplification pathways. Knockout of either Akt1 or Akt2 diminished platelet spreading on VWF, but not on immobilized fibrinogen. Thus, Akt1 and Akt2 are both required only in the GPIb-IX-mediated integrin activation (inside-out signaling). In contrast, PI3K inhibitors abolished platelet spreading on both VWF and fibrinogen, indicating a role for PI3K in integrin outside-in signaling distinct from that in GPIb-IX-mediated inside-out signaling. Furthermore, Akt1 or Akt2 deficiency diminished VWF-induced cGMP elevation, and their inhibitory effects on GPIb-IX-dependent platelet adhesion were reversed by low concentration of exogenous cGMP, indicating that Akt1 and Akt2 mediate GPIb-IX signaling via the cGMP-dependent signaling pathway. In conclusion, both Akt1 and Akt2 mediate VWF/GPIb-IX-induced signaling pathway leading to platelet activation and the consequent stable platelet adhesion, spreading and aggregation.
Laser Electron Interactions at Critical Field Strength

Multiphoton Compton scattering and e + e - production have been observed when 46.6 GeV electrons traverse the focus of a Terawatt laser with I = 3 × 1018 W/cm2.
Sensorless direct torque control of surface permanent magnet synchronous motors with resilient extended Kalman filtering

The demand for sensorless control of surface permanent magnet synchronous motor (SPM) drives has grown tremendously over the past decade in a wide variety of industrial applications. Many different sensorless control methods have been proposed for SPM, especially the Matsui's current model-based method and the extended Kalman filter based methods have gained much attention. However, the performance of these sensorless control methods are severely worsened or may even become unstable under strong disturbances and sensing measurement failure conditions. This paper presents a novel resilient extended Kalman filter based sensorless direct torque and flux control approach of permanent magnet synchronous motor drives. The robustness against external disturbances and sensing failures can be improved by applying the proposed nonlinear estimation approach. Computer simulation studies and hardware implementation results have shown the superior performance of the proposed approach.
Metabolic coupling and the Reverse Warburg Effect in cancer: Implications for novel biomarker and anticancer agent development.

abstract Glucose is a key metabolite used by cancer cells to generate ATP, maintain redox state and create biomass. Glucose can be catabolized to lactate in the cytoplasm, which is termed glycolysis, or alternatively can be catabolized to carbon dioxide and water in the mitochondria via oxidative phosphorylation. Metabolic heterogeneity exists in a subset of human tumors, with some cells maintaining a glycolytic phenotype while others predominantly utilize oxidative phosphorylation. Cells within tumors interact metabolically with transfer of catabolites from supporting stromal cells to adjacent cancer cells. The Reverse Warburg Effect describes when glycolysis in the cancer-associated stroma metabolically supports adjacent cancer cells. This catabolite transfer, which induces stromal-cancer metabolic coupling, allows cancer cells to generate ATP, increase proliferation, and reduce cell death. Catabolites implicated in metabolic coupling include the monocarboxylates lactate, pyruvate, and ketone bodies. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) are critically necessary for release and uptake of these catabolites. MCT4 is involved in the release of monocarboxylates from cells, is regulated by catabolic transcription factors such as hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and is highly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Conversely, MCT1 is predominantly involved in the uptake of these catabolites and is highly expressed in a subgroup of cancer cells. MYC and TIGAR, which are genes involved in cellular proliferation and anabolism, are inducers of MCT1. Profiling human tumors on the basis of an altered redox balance and intra-tumoral metabolic interactions may have important biomarker and therapeutic implications. Alterations in the redox state and mitochondrial function of cells can induce metabolic coupling. Hence, there is interest in redox and metabolic modulators as anticancer agents. Also, markers of metabolic coupling have been associated with poor outcomes in numerous human malignancies and may be useful prognostic and predictive biomarkers.
Meaning-Based Job-Related Well-being: Exploring a Meaningful Work Conceptualization of Job Satisfaction

An alternative conceptualization for job satisfaction, the most commonly measured variable in organizational, vocational, and work psychology literatures, is explored in 3 differing samples totaling 811 working adults. Eudaimonic, meaning-based job-related well-being (MJW) predicts job and life outcomes just as well as the more commonly measured hedonic, pleasure-based job satisfaction (JS), and MJW relates to outcomes above and beyond JS. MJW locates a new origin of job satisfaction in the person, in a life situation, in a community and social relations, rather than in the work organization. Our findings demonstrate that MJW is distinct from but related to JS and other job attitudes, and that facets of MJW exist that have been excluded from job satisfaction research, including satisfaction with the impacts of the job on family, life, and standard of living, how the job facilitates expression and development of the self, and sense of transcendent purpose through job role. These facets are important to individuals, the practice of management, organizational design, and society. MJW derives from the impact of jobs on workers’ larger worlds and on the fulfillment of their basic human needs from work. Thus, the causes of job satisfaction broaden from enjoyment of work in isolation, to its contextualized meaning and impact in workers’ lives. This is the first study in many decades, of which we are aware, to broaden the conceptualization of the origins of work attitudes beyond the confines of the workplace.
Developing Employees’ Mental Complexity: Transformational Leadership as a Catalyst in Employee Development:

As organizations grapple with greater complexity in the competitive business environment, more work is needed to understand how to create a human capability equal to the challenge. Research on adul...
On Supporting Rule-Based Image Interpretation Using a Distributed Memory Multicomputer

High-level tasks in image understanding are similar to many AI problems in terms of complexity and solution techniques. In particular, rule based systems have been employed for image interpretation using domain knowledge. Past research efforts on the hardware support of rule-based systems typically assume that little data access locality can be explored. Thus, the Rete network is widely used, and a shared-memory architecture is often employed for supporting such systems. However, such assumptions may not be true for image interpretation. Given a suitable image partitioning and mapping strategy that results in significant data locality, coarse grain parallelism can be fruitfully exploited on a distributed memory multicomputer. This chapter studies these issues through the parallel implementation of a rule-based system for image interpretation. The implementation is done on an AT&T PIXEL machine, which employs a distributed memory computer architecture with message-passing. The merits and disadvantages of a simple strategy which maps one object to one processor node, are discussed.
The importance and implications of comparator selection in pharmacoepidemiologic research.

Pharmacoepidemiologic studies employing large databases are critical to evaluating the effectiveness and safety of drug exposures in large and diverse populations. Because treatment is not randomized, researchers must select a relevant comparison group for the treatment of interest. The comparator group can consist of individuals initiating: (1) a similarly indicated treatment (active comparator), (2) a treatment used for a different indication (inactive comparator), or (3) no particular treatment (non-initiators). Herein, we review recent literature and describe considerations and implications of comparator selection in pharmacoepidemiologic studies. Comparator selection depends on the scientific question and feasibility constraints. Because pharmacoepidemiologic studies rely on the choice to initiate or not initiate a specific treatment, rather than randomization, they are at-risk for confounding related to the comparator choice including by indication, disease severity, and frailty. We describe forms of confounding specific to pharmacoepidemiologic studies and discuss each comparator along with informative examples and a case study. We provide commentary on potential issues relevant to comparator selection in each study, highlighting the importance of understanding the population in whom the treatment is given and how patient characteristics are associated with the outcome. Advanced statistical techniques may be insufficient for reducing confounding in observational studies. Evaluating the extent to which comparator selection may mitigate or induce systematic bias is a critical component of pharmacoepidemiologic studies.
Gas/Liquid Transition: Interphase Physics

In this chapter we focus on interphase physics — a rather new and transdisciplinary field of science — which deals with the effects of the nature, density, and state of the medium on the microscopic and macroscopic properties of — and processes in — matter in the intermediate density range between the low-pressure gas and the condensed (liquid) state. Such studies traditionally begin either at the liquid density and move progressively to lower — but still high — densities or begin at low densities (low pressure gases) and gradually move to denser and denser gaseous media. The former (the chemical) approach has been amply discussed by others in this volume; the latter (the physical) approach is the one we adopted in this chapter. Both approaches contributed greatly to the bridging of the density gap between the low pressure gas and the liquid.
Locating and Describing the Work of Technical Communication in an Online User Network

Background: Online user networks are important points of contact for users who seek help from their peers rather than documentation. Literature review: The appeal of online user networks coincides with and seems connected to growing user interest in topicalized and tailored content, the production of which is inconsistent with the “craftsman” model of technical communication. Studies of online user networks indicate that community members may be practicing a different kind of technical communication. Research questions: This study examines an online user network for an open-source software product and asks how we can study online user networks, with the aim of identifying important people, practices, and relationships associated with the kind of technical communication practiced in those settings. Research methodology: Social network analysis is used to visualize the structural properties of an online user network, in order to identify central figures and their relationships to others. Verbal data-analysis techniques are used to find themes in their contributions. Results/discussion: People who are central to the structure of online interaction are important figures in the distribution of the technical communication effort. They engage users in reciprocal exchanges of information and they influence user practices. They are also important as brokers who link users and developers. Broadly, their conversational exchanges are a kind of distributed technical communication. Implications for practice: We learn what the practice of technical communication looks like in an online user network. By observing the work of participants, technical communicators can understand what it means to do technical communication and make user networks a more integral part of a broader documentation strategy. We see promising ways in which technical experts (e.g., software developers) can engage with users as well.
Optimal scheduling for olefin plant furnace system with consideration of inherent process upset reduction

Abstract Olefin plants employ multi-type cracking furnaces in parallel to convert various hydrocarbon feeds into products such as ethylene and propylene. The cracking process of each furnace is a performance-decaying batch operation, which needs periodic shutdowns for decoking and thus involves inherent and frequent upsets to the downstream process. Thus, the furnace feed allocation, batch processing time, and decoking sequence of the entire furnace system must be optimally scheduled to maximize the plant profitability as well as minimize the process upset induced by furnace decoking for the sake of the plant operability. In this paper, a novel MIQCP (mixed-integer quadratically constrained programming) model has been developed for the optimal scheduling of such parallel and performance-decaying unit system with consideration of inherent upset reduction. The idea is to group decoking operations of different furnaces together, so that the downstream has less frequency to suffer the product throughput upsets from the furnace system. The MIQCP model also addresses major scheduling issues of furnace systems, such as semi-continuous operation, non-simultaneous shutdowns, and secondary ethane cracking. The MIQCP model can be further converted to the MILP model by piece-wise approximation to speed the solving time. Case studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the developed methodology with significant economic potential and operational benefits.
Predictors of Pain and Function Before Knee Arthroscopy

Background:Patient-reported outcome measures are commonly used to measure knee pain and functional impairment. When structural abnormality is identified on examination and imaging, arthroscopic par...
The effect of age of first exposure to competitive fighting on cognitive and other neuropsychiatric symptoms and brain volume

It has long been established that fighting sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts can lead to head injury. Prior work from this group on the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study found that exposure to repetitive head impacts is associated with lower brain volumes and decreased processing speed in fighters. Current and previously licensed professional fighters were recruited, divided into active and retired cohorts, and matched with a control group that had no prior experience in sports with likely head trauma. This study examined the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to fighting sports and brain structure (MRI regional volume), cognitive performance (CNS Vital Signs, iComet C3), and clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms (PHQ-9, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale). Brain MRI data showed significant correlations between earlier AFE and smaller bilateral hippocampal and posterior corpus callosum volumes for both retired and active fighters. Earlier AFE in active fighters was correlated with decreased processing speed and decreased psychomotor speed. Retired fighters showed a correlation between earlier AFE and higher measures of depression and impulsivity. Overall, the results help to inform clinicians, governing bodies, parents, and athletes of the risks associated with beginning to compete in fighting sports at a young age.
Visual Disturbances and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)

Over half of a human’s brain circuits are devoted to vision and eye movements, making it a system that can be easily compromised by a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Changes in a patient’s eye movements could be a sensitive and objective biomarker of injury, and could also be useful for assessment of the pathways affected by the damage. Here, we discuss the specific dysfunctions found in afferent, efferent, and visual association pathways that may be useful for making a diagnosis of mTBI. Early diagnosis is critical to prevent further injury and to allow appropriate physical and cognitive rest to ensure full recovery, but more research is greatly needed in this area, since diagnosis of mTBI currently relies heavily on subjective complaints.