cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, SR 21502, reduces cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking and heroin conditioned place preference in rats.

Abstract Background Because the role of dopamine (DA) D3 receptors has been investigated primarily in relation to cocaine-related behaviors little is known of the role of these receptors in heroin seeking. Purposes To investigate the effect of the selective DA D3 receptor antagonist, SR 21502, on cue-induced reinstatement of heroin seeking and heroin conditioned place preference (CPP). Methods In experiment 1, rats were trained to self-administer intravenous heroin for 15 days followed by extinction. Following extinction animals were treated with one of several SR 21502 doses (0, 7.5, 10 or 15 mg/kg) and a cue-induced reinstatement test was conducted. In experiment 2, animals were conditioned to experience heroin in one compartment of a CPP apparatus and saline in the other. On the test day animals were treated with 0, 3.75, 7.5, 10 or 15 mg/kg of SR 21502 and tested for their CPP. Results The results from experiment 1 showed a significant dose-related reduction in cue-induced reinstatement of active lever pressing in the 7.5 and 10 mg groups and an absence of the reinstatement effect in the 15 mg group. In experiment 2, animals treated with vehicle or 3.75 mg of SR 21502 showed significant heroin place preferences but those treated with the higher doses showed no CPP. Conclusions Our findings suggest that DA D3 receptors play a significant role in heroin approach behaviors driven by conditioned stimuli. As such, we propose that SR 21502 holds potential as an effective pharmacotherapeutic agent for relapse prevention and should be studied further.
The Integration of Sustainability, Systems, and Engineering Design in the Engineering Curriculum at James Madison University

In order for our future engineers to be able to work toward a sustainable future, they must be versed not only in sustainable engineering but also in engineering design. An engineering education must train our future engineers to think flexibly and to be adaptive as it is unlikely that their future will have them working in one domain. They must, instead, be versatilists. The School of Engineering at James Madison University has been developed from the ground up to provide this general engineering training with an emphasis on engineering design, systems thinking, and sustainability. Students take courses in math and science, business and liberal arts, engineering science, sustainability, and design. In this paper, we discuss how sustainability is taught in a multi-context perspective through the School’s curriculum and pedagogy. We do not mean to present the School’s approach as an all or nothing model, but instead as a collection of approaches of which hopefully one or more may be appropriate at another university.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
DNA synthesis in a multi-enzyme system from Xenopus laevis eggs

Abstract Cytoplasm from unfertilized eggs of the frog Xenopus laevis was separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography into nine fractions. Supercoiled pXIr 11 DNA molecules (pXIr 11 is a Col El-based recombinant plasmid containing part of the Xenopus laevis 18S and 28S ribosomal genes and transcribed spacer region) were incubated with each fraction singly and in various combinations. After incubation for 4 hr at 26°C, the pXIr 11 DNA was reisolated and examined by electron microscopy. Using appropriate reaction conditions (pH 7.2, 10 mM Mg 2+ , 250 μM NTP, 50 μM dNTP, 50 mM KCl, fractions III and IV or VI), at least 5–10% of the input DNA was converted to θ structures (presumed intermediates in DNA replication).
Integrated electronic monitoring systems could revolutionize care for patients with cognitive impairment

Dementia and other causes of functional disability can create considerable burdens for families and society as a whole, but it may be possible to partially alleviate this strain through technical innovations that replace some functions of human caregivers. This article proposes the hypothesis that cell phones, internet communication and global positioning satellite receivers could be integrated into computer based care-giving systems to provide orientation and safety cues, daily reminders of activities, protection against wandering and direct links to medical assistance in case of incapacitation. Hypothetical case histories describe assistance systems for a patient with moderate Alzheimer's disease living at home, a patient in a nursing home with more advanced dementia and incontinence, an epileptic with intermittent transient postictal amnesia, and a head injury survivor with explosive disorder.
Human and NonHuman Primate Brains: Are They Allometrically Scaled Versions of the Same Design?

Allometric analyses of brain structure sizes across the primate order demonstrate that human, ape, and other anthropoid brains are not simply allometrically scaled versions of the same generalized design. Both human and ape brains exhibit specializations with respect to other anthropoid brains. Ape specializations include elaboration of the cerebellum (all apes) and frontal lobes (great apes only), and probably connectivity between them. Human brain specializations include an overall larger proportion of neocortex, with disproportionate enlargement of prefrontal and temporal association cortices; an apparent increase in cerebellar connections with cerebral cortical association areas involved in cognition; and a probable augmentation of intracortical connectivity in prefrontal cortex.
Review of “Journal of Electronic Publishing,” edited by Maria Bonn

An online, open access, peer-reviewed publication, the Journal of Electronic Publishing (JEP) serves as “a forum for research and discussion about contemporary publishing practices and the impact o...
Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award Lecture 2010: Deconstructing Leptin: From Signals to Circuits

Martin G. Myers Jr., MD, PhD, received the American Diabetes Association's prestigious 2010 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award at the Association's 70th Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, on 28 June 2010. The Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award recognizes outstanding scientific achievement in the field of diabetes, taking into consideration independence of thought and originality. Currently the Marilyn H. Vincent Professor of Diabetes Research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Associate Professor in internal medicine and in molecular and integrative physiology at the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Myers began his impressive track record in diabetes research as a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Morris White at the Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Medical School. There, Dr. Myers deciphered many of the insulin signaling pathways engaged by insulin receptor substrate proteins. Following his graduation from the Harvard MD-PhD Program in 1997, Dr. Myers was promoted to instructor in medicine at the Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Medical School. He began his independent work by building a molecular framework for understanding the mechanisms of leptin signaling, including how individual phosphorylation sites on the leptin receptor recruit distinct signaling molecules. He was promoted to assistant professor at Harvard in 1999. In 2004, Dr. Myers moved to the University of Michigan, where he built upon the molecular framework of leptin signaling to probe the regulation of metabolism by individual leptin signals. Dr. Myers' laboratory revealed the specificity of leptin signals in metabolic control, including the role for leptin-STAT3 signaling in the regulation of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. His group also defined roles for leptin receptor feedback inhibition and hypothalamic mTor signaling in metabolism. Dr. Myers' laboratory has recently developed novel molecular approaches to elucidate the leptin-regulated brain circuits that contribute to metabolic control, enabling the discovery of novel brain systems and their functions. In 1998, Dr. Myers received the American Diabetes Association's Career Development Award for his scientific abilities. Dr. Myers' current support includes the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases MERIT Award.
Central Venous Lines in Pediatric Oncology Patients: A Single Institution Experience, Including Risk Factors for Early Removal

Abstract Aim/Purpose To tabulate the types of lines used for childhood cancer at our institution and risk factors for early removal. Background/Introduction Most children with cancer require central venous catheters for chemotherapy, support and monitoring, but infection, dysfunction (i.e. mechanical problems such as fracture and nonthrombotic obstruction) and thrombosis often necessitate unplanned removal. Timing and type of line chosen may determine central line longevity. Review of Relevant Literature A literature search revealed that there are minimal and conflicting data in the realm of pediatric central lines and reasons for their removal, especially in the ALL population. Methods We reviewed records of all children diagnosed with cancer at our institution from 2002 to 2003 to catalog types of lines and variables that impacted line survival. Results 174 children were diagnosed with cancer in 2002–2003; 175 lines in 103 children total were used in the study-117 were removed electively, 58 were removed non-electively. Several variables, including infection, predicted non-elective removal. External tunneled lines were associated with non-elective removal (OR: 11.9, p Conclusions Early central line removal in pediatric oncology is determined by interdependent factors and prospective studies are needed to guide the timing and type of line for individual patients. However, early line placement for ALL may be associated with poor line survival.
Serotype and serosubtype distribution of strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated in South Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia: 1971–1989

SummaryStrains of meningococci isolated from patients in South Australia (SA) and the Northern Territory (NT) with either bacteremia or meningitis (or both) were serotyped and serosubtyped using monoclonal antibodies in a whole cell ELISA technique. From SA, 144 isolates were examined for the period 1971 through 1989 and from the NT, 38 isolates from 1975 through 1977 and 1983 through 1989 were examined. During the periods of study the principal serogroups were group B in South Australia and group A in the Northern Territory. About 60% of the SA strains were typable and subtypable: the predominant types were 4, 2a, 15 and 14, in that order; the predominant subtypes were P1.2, P1.1 and P1.10, in that order. Of the strains from the NT about 80% were typable, the predominant type was type 4 and all 19 group A strains were identified as type 4, subtype P1.10.
The design of VisFlowConnect-IP: a link analysis system for IP security situational awareness

Visualization of IP-based traffic dynamics on networks is a challenging task due to large data volume and the complex, temporal relationships between hosts. We present the architecture of VisFlowConnect-IP, a powerful new tool to visualize IP network traffic flow dynamics for security situational awareness. VisFlowConnect-IP allows an operator to visually assess the connectivity of large and complex networks on a single screen. It provides an overall view of the entire network and filter/drill-down features that allow operators to request more detailed information. Preliminary reports from several organizations using this tool report increased responsiveness to security events as well as new insights into understanding the security dynamics of their networks. In this paper we focus specifically on the design decisions made during the VisFlowConnect development process so that others may learn from our experience. The current VisFlowConnect architecture - the result of these design decisions - is extensible to processing other high-volume multi-dimensional data streams where link connectivity/activity is a focus of study. We report experimental results quantifying the scalability of the underlying algorithms for representing link analysis given continuous high-volume traffic flows as input.
The promise of substance P inhibitors in fibromyalgia

The discovery of SP and its potent biological activities have lead to the discovery of other tachykinins and to receptors for them, including the NK1 receptor. Blockade of the NK1 receptor has a number of potentially beneficial effects in medical care including the management of drug-induced emesis and the treatment of depression. The analgesic potential of NK1 receptor antagonists that, in theory, seemed so promising has not met early expectations. However, there is still reason to predict valuable clinical uses for more potent NK1 receptor antagonists in a variety of medical conditions, including FMS.
Multiphase hydrodynamic lubrication flow using a three-dimensional shell finite element model

Abstract Reynolds’ lubrication theory has been widely used to study thin-region fluid flows for a variety of scientific and manufacturing applications. In this work, we set forth an extension of this theory to model the effect of free fluid interfaces and fluid–structural interactions in lubrication films. This model is implemented using curvilinear shell elements in a general three-dimensional finite element code, allowing the study of lubrication flows in arbitrarily complex geometries. This implementation also allows coupling with continuum mechanics, such as solid body deformation, through lubrication-based and fluid–structural interactions. Simulations using this model are compared to analytical solutions and experimental results for a number of model problems.
Bystander-initiated CPR by design, not by chance.

Every hour in the United States, 38 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and fewer than 1 of 10 survive.1 Increasing data show that timely provision of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) saves lives, and tens of millions of people have been trained to perform it. Yet, less than half of persons with cardiac arrest in the United States receive bystander-initiated CPR,1 and there are significant disparities in its provision.2 Factors that affect these disparities include a person’s neighborhood and his or her race or ethnic group. In two well-designed studies in this issue of the Journal, Hasselqvist-Ax and colleagues examine . . .
The impact of family environment and decision-making satisfaction on caregiver depression: a path analytic model.

Objectives: This research examines caregiver depression in the context of traditional care-related primary stressors, such as the caregiving context and care-recipient impairment, and secondary str...
Survey Study Assessing Attitudes and Experiences of Pediatric Registered Dietitians Regarding Blended Food by Gastrostomy Tube Feeding

Background: Families of children requiring nutrition support may be interested in providing blenderized food by gastrostomy tube (BFGT). Some registered dietitians (RDs) recommend partial or full BFGT for children with tube feeding intolerance who are unresponsive to standard interventions. There is little published information on the safety and efficacy of BFGT feeding. The purpose of this survey was to elicit experiences of pediatric RDs with BFGT in clinical practices. Methods: A survey instrument was distributed to members of the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group to report experiences of BFGT in clinical practice. Results: Response rate was 9.9% of total members (N = 2,448). Over half (58%) of the 244 respondents use and recommend BFGT. Reasons for use included parent request (70.2%), tube feeding intolerance (22.9%), and inability to obtain commercial formula (6.1%). Seventy-nine percent reported an overall positive outcome with BFGT. Older RDs were more familiar with BFGT but less likely to use it ...
SRF protein is upregulated during stretch-induced hypertrophy of rooster ALD muscle

Serum response element 1 has previously been reported to be necessary and sufficient for activation of the skeletal α-actin promoter during hypertrophy of the anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) muscle...
[Reply] Reply to Talbert

I respond to two of Talbert’s comments. The first point concerns his diagnosis of the source of the puzzles in thirsty-traveler type cases; the second concerns his views on blameworthiness and moral luck.
Ecological succession on cobble substrates; a reply

In a recent paper, Kobluk and Lysenko (1987) described the effects of hurricanes on coral and milleporid distribution in coral reef rubble near the coast of a Fijian island. Their main thesis was that cryptic sub-rubble coral populations may act as “preserves” for reef surface communities. This was supported by data showing that on the protected undersides of boulders the composition of post-hurricane coral and milleporid populations were little changed from their pre-hurricane states. In a final section entitled “Paleontological implications,” Kobluk and Lysenko (1987, p. 673) stated, “Wilson (1985) studied just such a rubble-dwelling fauna in the Ordovician of Kentucky.” The authors then discussed “another interpretation” of the paleoecologic succession described in Wilson (1985). Because the Ordovician succession described by Wilson may be one of the few valid examples of an autogenic ecological succession in the fossil record (see Miller, 1986) the re-interpretation by Kobluk and Lysenko (1987) must be answered.
Risk Neutrality and Ordered Vector Spaces

The following result clarifies when preferences over time and under risk correspond to discounting and are not risk neutral. If a binary relation on a real vector space V satisfies four axioms, then there is a utility function U=fu from V to R where u from V to R is linear as a map of vector spaces and f from R to R is continuous and weakly monotone. Three axioms are familiar: weak ordering, continuity, and non-triviality. The fourth axiom is X-Y is weakly preferred to 0 (where 0 is the zero element in V) implies X is weakly preferred to Y (X and Y in V). The function f from R to R is linear if and only if the binary relation also satisfies the converse of the fourth axiom. When V is a real vector space of stochastic processes and 0 is the zero process, it is known that the four axioms imply the existence of discount factors and the linearity of an intra-period utility function. So preferences correspond to discounting and are not risk neutral only if the converse of the fourth axiom is not satisfied.
Measuring enjoyment of ballroom dancing in Filipino Americans using the physical activity enjoyment scale

To advance knowledge about ways to promote physical activity in Filipino Americans, this feasibility study evaluated whether they enjoyed ballroom dancing and at the same time tested the validity of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) for assessing enjoyment in this population. This study consisted of a single group of healthy Filipino Americans (N = 41) aged between 35 and 65 years residing in southern Nevada. Participants danced 45 min per week for 12 weeks and completed the PACES questionnaire to measure enjoyment at two time points (Week 4 and Week 12). Four participants dropped out during Weeks 2 to 5. Thirty-seven participants completed the 12 consecutive dance sessions. Descriptive statistics, pairedsample t test, Pearson correlation, and a mixed-model ANCOVA were used for data analysis. Principal components analysis assessed the construct validity of the PACES. The mean age of the sample was 50.7 years. On average, the participants’ PACES score significantly improved from Week 4 to Week 12. Age was negatively correlated with perceived enjoyment of dancing. In terms of the validity and reliability of the PACES, high construct validity and internal consistency of the PACES were noted. This study described the effectiveness of ballroom dance as a form of physical activity among first-generation Filipino Americans and confirmed the appropriateness of the PACES for assessing enjoyment in this population. Ballroom dance has the potential to promote physical activity and improve the cardiovascular outcomes of Filipino Americans and other populations who are at risk of heart disease.
David Oliver: Jeremy Hunt was wrong to blame the "irresponsible BMA" for his own mistakes.

On Sunday, Jeremy Hunt gave an unconvincing appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show . With a further strike by junior doctors planned for Wednesday 10 February, the host doggedly questioned the health secretary. Marr challenged Hunt’s repeated claims that excess deaths associated with weekend admission were preventable and that medical understaffing was the clear cause. Even when confronted with a critique of his simplistic stance by NHS England’s medical director, Bruce Keogh, or by The BMJ ’s editor, Fiona Godlee, Hunt wouldn’t budge, saying, “She’s wrong.” …
Multiligament knee injuries with associated tibial plateau fractures: A report of two cases

The management of a combination of fracture and multiligament knee injury (MKI) in traumatic knee injury remains controversial, and there are evolving treatment recommendations. Currently, there are no studies focusing on older adult patients with MKI's in combination with tibia fractures. As a result, there is no well-established treatment algorithm for older adult patients with these complex injuries. We report two cases of MKI's with concomitant fractures in patients fifty years of age or older. Both patients were treated surgically for their associated tibial plateau fractures, but were managed with conservative treatment of the multiligamentous knee injuries. We also provide a review of the literature and guidelines for older adult patients with these types of complex traumatic injuries. Early to mid term acceptable outcomes were achieved for both patients through surgical fixation of the tibial plateau fracture and conservative treatment of the ligament injuries. We propose a comprehensive treatment algorithm for management of these complex injuries.
FAST Modular Framework for Wind Turbine Simulation: New Algorithms and Numerical Examples

Over the past few years, the FAST wind turbine simulation tool has undergone a major restructuring. FAST is now, at its core, an algorithm and software framework for coupling time-dependent multi-physics modules relevant to computer-aided engineering (CAE) of wind turbines. Each module, which represents one or more turbine components or physics control volumes, is constituted by a mathematical model composed of time-dependent constraint and/or differential equations that are typically nonlinear. Under this new modular form, modules can interact through matching or non-matching spatial meshes and can be time advanced with different time steps and different time integrators. Sharing of data between modules is accomplished with a predictor-corrector approach, which allows for either implicit or explicit time integration within each module. This new modularity positions FAST as a backbone for coupling both high-fidelity and engineering-level wind turbine physics models. In this paper, we describe new features of the FAST modular framework. In particular, we describe a new mixed-time-step algorithm, sparse-matrix storage, a direct solver for sparse linear systems, and interpolation of rotation fields in space for mesh mapping and in time for time advancement. We also show several numerical examples that demonstrate the performance and flexibility of the FAST framework, and we use those results to provide modeling guidance to users.
Response of soybean growth and N2-fixing ability to progressive insect-induced defoliation

Greenhouse-grown, vegetative ‘Davis’ soybean plants, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, were infested with neonate larvae of the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), which were allowed to defoliate the plants for 16 d. At 7, 10, 12, 14, and 16 d after infestation (DAI), plants were destructively sampled to measure plant growth and N2-fixing ability (measured using the acetylene-ethylene reduction assay). On the respective sample dates, defoliated plants suffered 13, 37, 43, 62, and 73% defoliation relative to controls. This progressive defoliation caused significant reductions in dry weight of stems by 10 DAI, and of roots and nodules by 14 DAI. Number of nodules and mean dry weight per individual nodule were not affected during the course of the experiment. N2-fixing ability was reduced significantly by 10 DAI, largely because of a significant decrease in nodule specific activity (NSA). Further decreases in N2-fixing ability at 14 and 16 DAI resulted from a combination of decreased nodule weight and decreased NSA.
An automated framework for characterizing and subsetting GPGPU workloads

Graphics processing units (GPUs) are becoming increasingly common in today's computing systems due to their superior performance and energy efficiency relative to their cost. To further improve these desired characteristics, researchers have proposed several software and hardware techniques. Evaluation of these proposed techniques could be tricky due to the ad-hoc nature in which applications are selected for evaluation. Sometimes researchers spend unnecessary time evaluating redundant workloads, which is particularly problematic for time-consuming studies involving simulation. Other times, they fail to expose the shortcomings of their proposed techniques when too few workloads are chosen for evaluation. To overcome these problems, we propose an automated framework that characterizes and subsets GPGPU workloads, depending on a user-chosen set of performance metrics/counters. This framework internally uses principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of the chosen metrics and then uses hierarchical clustering to identify similarity among the workloads. In this study, we use our framework to identify redundancy in the recently released SPEC ACCEL OpenCL benchmark suite using a few architecture-dependent metrics. Our analysis shows that a subset of eight applications provides most of the diversity in the 19-application benchmark suite. We also subset the Parboil, Rodinia, and SHOC benchmark suites and then compare them against each other to identify “gaps” in these suites. As an example, we show that SHOC has many applications that are similar to each other and could benefit from adding four applications from Parboil to improve its diversity.
Analysis of the Irrational Clinical Application of Chinese Patent Medicine and Policy Recommendations

In this paper,the main causes of the irrational application of Chinese patent medicine were analyzed by consulting medical periodicals and summarizing the clinical usage of Chinese patent medicine.Moreover,we put forward some policy recommendations to avoid the irrational application of Chinese patent medicine.
Using collaborative activity as a means to explore student performance and understanding

This paper presents data from the beginning process of restructuring a usability-engineering course to incorporate aspects of collaborative-process theory with required course content. Students' collaborative processes were evaluated at the end of the semester in order to identify key areas that instructors would need to support better in future iterations of the course. Overall students were skilled communicators, but lacked ability in areas of planning, productivity and critical evaluation. A closer examination was made of difficulties that students had with critical evaluation and trade-off analysis processes since these were key aspects of the course. Findings from analyses were used to suggest ways that the course could be modified in the future to better prepare students to address these important concepts in usability engineering.
Valproinsäure als PhasenprophylaktikumEin Fall von Valproat-Enzephalopathie

Ein 28-jahriger Patient erhielt zusatzlich zu Doxepin, Risperidon und Biperiden Valproinsaure zur Phasenprophylaxe bei seit 5 Jahren bestehender bipolar affektiver Storung. Zwei Wochen nach Beginn der Therapie entwickelte er klinische Zeichen einer Enzephalopathie mit Benommenheit, Gangataxie, Asterixis und einem generalisierten epileptischen Anfall. Nach dem Absetzen von Valproinsaure verschwanden diese Symptome innerhalb weniger Tage. Die Valproat-Enzephalopathie ist eine seltene Nebenwirkung, die bislang vor allem bei Anfallspatienten mit einer Kombinationstherapie von Valproat mit anderen Antiepileptika beschrieben wurde. Durch die zunehmende Anwendung der Valproinsaure in der psychiatrischen Pharmakotherapie durfte die Valproat-Enzephalopathie auch in diesem Feld an Bedeutung gewinnen.
Hypoprothrombinemia: case report

A patient with a significant history of spontaneous and posttraumatic bleeding was found to have hypoprothrombinemia. His prothrombin (factor II) activity by clotting assay was 9.5% and his factor II antigen was 5%. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation of the patient's plasma showed his prothrombin to be qualitatively indistinguishable from normal prothrombin by these techniques.
Antibody-Sensitive Renin of Adrenal and Resistance Vessels is Markedly Elevated in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

1. Three-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) showed markedly elevated specific renin activity in the adrenal and the mesenteric vessels compared with control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY)rats. 2. In 17-week-old SHR with established hypertension, adrenal renin remained markedly elevated over that of WKY rats, whereas no significant difference was observed in renin of the mesenteric vessels. 3. The specific renin activity of the aorta showed no significant difference compared with that of WKY rats at 3 or 17 weeks of age. 4. These results suggest possible involvement of adrenal and vascular renin in the pathogenesis of hypertension in SHR.
TH-CD-207B-06: Swank Factor of Segmented Scintillators in Multi-Slice CT Detectors: Pulse Height Spectra and Light Escape

Purpose: Pulse height spectra (PHS) have been used to determine the Swank factor of a scintillator by measuring fluctuations in its light output per x-ray interaction. The Swank factor and x-ray quantum efficiency of a scintillator define the upper limit to its imaging performance, i.e. DQE(0). The Swank factor below the K-edge is dominated by optical properties, i.e. variations in light escape efficiency from different depths of interaction, denoted e(z). These variations can be optimized to improve tradeoffs in x-ray absorption, light yield, and spatial resolution. This work develops a quantitative model for interpreting measured PHS, and estimating e(z) on an absolute scale. The method is used to investigate segmented ceramic GOS scintillators used in multi-slice CT detectors. Methods: PHS of a ceramic GOS plate (1 mm thickness) and segmented GOS array (1.4 mm thick) were measured at 46 keV. Signal and noise propagation through x-ray conversion gain, light escape, detection by a photomultiplier tube and dynode amplification were modeled using a cascade of stochastic gain stages. PHS were calculated with these expressions and compared to measurements. Light escape parameters were varied until modeled PHS agreed with measurements. The resulting estimates of e(z) were used to calculate PHS without measurement noise to determine the inherent Swank factor. Results: The variation in e(z) was 67.2–89.7% in the plate and 40.2–70.8% in the segmented sample, corresponding to conversion gains of 28.6–38.1 keV−1 and 17.1–30.1 keV−1, respectively. The inherent Swank factors of the plate and segmented sample were 0.99 and 0.95, respectively. Conclusion: The high light escape efficiency in the ceramic GOS samples yields high Swank factors and DQE(0) in CT applications. The PHS model allows the intrinsic optical properties of scintillators to be deduced from PHS measurements, thus it provides new insights for evaluating the imaging performance of segmented ceramic GOS scintillators.
Sigma-Point Filters: An Overview with Applications to Integrated Navigation and Vision Assisted Control

In this presentation, we first provide an overview of Sigma-Point filtering methods, which include the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), Central Difference Kalman Filter (CDKF), and several variants with hybrid extensions to sequential Monte Carlo filtering (e.g., particle filtering). In the second half, we focus on recent applications to integrated navigation systems (INS), which provide state-estimation by combining GPS and inertial measurements. In addition, we present new work on using video data to extract the equivalent state-information (i.e., replacing the INS) for use in closed-loop control of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Principles of Ultrasound Techniques

Surgery of the upper and lower extremity presents anesthesiologists with an alternative to general anesthesia (GA), that being regional anesthesia (RA). RA is most often performed for postoperative analgesia, but RA may also be utilized as the primary technique for intraoperative anesthesia under certain circumstances and with certain patients. For years, neuraxial techniques (spinal or epidural) have been used as the sole regional anesthetic of choice for the lower limb. The advent of low molecular weight heparins (i.e., enoxaparin, fondaparinux) and the potential risk for the development of neuraxial hematomas have limited neuraxial technique use and have led to a much higher use of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in everyday practice. Since the mid-2000s, great improvements have been made in equipment used to perform PNB, including stimulating peripheral nerve catheters and the use of ultrasound to guide in the placement of RA and to assist in the identity of nerves and nerve plexus (Marhofer et al. 2007).
ASYMPTOTIC PROPERTIES OF BAYES TESTS OF NONPARAMETRIC HYPOTHESES

Publisher Summary In a paper by Reiss, a bound is given on the error made by assuming that the joint distribution of {Wn(i); i = 1,…,k(n)} is normal. The sequence of joint distributions of {Wn(1),…,Wn(k(n))} is asymptotically equivalent to a sequence of joint normal distributions with unit variances, zero covariances. A straightforward calculation shows that this sequence of joint normal distributions is asymptotically equivalent to a sequence of joint normal distributions with unit variances, zero covariances, and E{Wn(j)} = ɛnδ/2 rn for j = 1,…,k(n).
SRS Educational Supply Company: An Instructional Budget Project

ABSTRACT: This project provides students with an opportunity to develop a master budget for a merchandiser. Students work in a team environment that also helps them discover budget process issues. The project consists of two parts. The first part requires students to grasp the mechanics of master budget creation and develop an understanding of how the individual budgets fit together and how information flows from one budget to other budgets. The second part of the project requires students to create new budget information when given a different organizational structure and incentive system. Both parts of the project expose students to budget process issues related to communication, cooperation, public/private information, information sharing, truth telling, and the influence of incentives on the budget process. The project is directed at undergraduate students in Managerial or Cost Accounting courses. We also present modifications that emphasize the budget process issues that would be useful for a graduat...
Nonlinear Layer-by-Layer Films: Effects of Chain Diffusivity on Film Structure and Swelling

We report on the role of molecular diffusivity in the formation of nonlinearly growing polyelectrolyte multilayers (nlPEMs). Electrostatically bound polyelectrolyte multilayers were assembled from poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) as a polyanion and quaternized poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (QPC) as a polycation. Film growth as measured by ellipsometry was strongly dependent on the time allowed for each polymer deposition step, suggesting that the diffusivities of the components are crucial in controlling the rate of film growth. Uptake of polyelectrolytes within nlPEMs was relatively slow and occurred on time scales ranging from minutes to hours, depending on the film thickness. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements with nlPEM films exposed to aqueous solutions exhibited high (severalfold) degrees of film swelling and different swelling values for films exposed to QPC or PMAA solutions. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the average ionization of film-assembled PMAA increased upon binding of QPC and...
An Extradigital Glomus Tumor of the Median Antebrachial Vein.

Glomus tumors are benign vascular neoplasms that arise from specialized dermal arteriovenous anastomoses called glomus bodies. These tumors are most often found in the digital pulp and subungual region of the fingertips; however, a review of the literature suggests that extradigital glomus tumors may occur more often than is generally recognized. Although most extradigital glomus tumors arise within subcutaneous tissues, glomus tumors have occasionally been found within bones, nerves, and blood vessels. An intravascular glomus tumor of the forearm is a very rare occurrence and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Here we describe a 55-year-old right-handed man with a 10-year history of exquisite tenderness and dysesthesia of his right proximal forearm. Surgical exploration revealed the presence of a mass arising from the median antebrachial vein, which was confirmed histologically to be a glomus tumor.
Child abuse, self-control, and delinquency: A general strain perspective

Abstract Purpose This study examined the independent effects of child abuse on self-control and delinquency and explored whether self-control mediates the child abuse-delinquency relationship. Methods We employed path modeling in Mplus to examine the relationship between child abuse, self-control, and delinquency using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Results Net of theoretically important controls, child abuse has direct and indirect effects on delinquency, and the relationship is partially explained by low self-control. Conclusions Child abuse has an independent influence on levels of self-control, supporting a proposition made by general strain theory, and self-control partially mediates the oft-observed relationship between child abuse and delinquency.
Strategies for Ensuring Regulatory and cGMP Compliance of Outsourced Stability Programs

The process of outsourcing requires continuous improvement and open communication. In this article, the author examines the stages of outsourcing, beginning with the decision to outsource and select the vendor. Following the topic of choosing the vendor, the article describes the startup phase and offers advice on how to monitor the ongoing studies and manage change during an ongoing stability study or a development program. During the management-of-change phase, the author illustrates relevant, real-life examples from her career of what to avoid during the management of stability studies. The article concludes with the topic of continuous improvement.
Development and Application of Yeast and Phage Display of Diverse Lanthipeptides

Peptide display has enabled identification and optimization of ligands to many targets. These ligands are usually linear or disulfide-containing peptides that are vulnerable to proteolysis or reduction. We report yeast surface and phage display of lanthipeptides, macrocyclic ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Lanthipeptides contain multiple thioether cross-links that bestow their biological activities. We developed C-terminal yeast display of the class II lanthipeptides lacticin 481 and haloduracin β, and randomization of the C-ring of the former was used to select tight binders to αvβ3 integrin. This represents the first examples of bacterial RiPP production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for identification of variants with new biological activities. We also report N-terminal phage display of the class I lanthipeptide nisin and randomization of its A- and B-rings to enrich binders to a small molecule, lipid II. The successful display and randomization of both class I...
Spontaneous migration of retained intracranial bullet.

A 34-year-old man with a remote history of gunshot wound to the head, for which he had undergone a suboccipital craniectomy (2010), presented to the emergency room approximately 7 years later (2017...
A test of weak separability for multi-way functional data, with application to brain connectivity studies

This paper concerns the modeling of multi-way functional data where double or multiple indices are involved. We introduce a concept of weak separability. The weakly separable structure supports the use of factorization methods that decompose the signal into its spatial and temporal components. The analysis reveals interesting connections to the usual strongly separable covariance structure, and provides insights into tensor methods for multi-way functional data. We propose a formal test for the weak separability hypothesis, where the asymptotic null distribution of the test statistic is a chi-square type mixture. The method is applied to study brain functional connectivity derived from source localized magnetoencephalography signals during motor tasks.
STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF AN EPITHELIAL CELL BRUSH BORDER

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structural and functional organization of an epithelial cell brush border. It has been suggested that the brush border may most easily be interpreted, in three dimensions, as being composed of a membrane, or skin, covering a skeleton of rodlike elements embedded in an underlying meshwork. On this basis, the elements in one of the density gradient fractions would appear to be identified as the skeleton of rodlike elements, namely, the cores of the microvilli, still attached to the terminal web. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the plasma membranes, which cover the microvilli, are found in an entirely different density gradient fraction. McDougal, Little, and Crane obtained data, concluded that the absorptive process for sugars is located within the brush border region. This conclusion has been amply corroborated by the work of Kinter and of Kinter and Wilson, who used an autoradiographic technique, and this has been extended to the absorptive process for amino acids. These studies show that sugar, present in the luminal medium at a low concentration, moves across the brush border membrane into the cell at a high concentration. They also supported the assumption that the process of sugar active transport, together with whatever accessory reactions or metabolic gears may be necessary, is entirely contained within the brush border.
A Life-Span Approach to Social Motivation

Abstract Social contact declines across adulthood. Socioemotional selectivity theory claims that such reductions are, in large part, volitional and result from changes in the salience of specific social goals. Information acquisition and the regulation of emotion are two principal classes of goals that are achieved through social contact. The essential premise of the theory is that the relative importance of these goals changes as a function of perceived time. When time is perceived as largely open-ended, future-oriented goals such as information acquisition are of paramount importance; however, when time is perceived as limited, present-oriented goals – namely emotional goals – are most important. Place in the life cycle and associated normative events serve as gentle and not so gentle reminders of the passage of time. Subsequently, age is associated with preferences for certain types of social contact (e.g., emotionally satisfying contact) over others (e.g., information-rich contact). This chapter is an overview of empirical evidence for the theory, highlighting aspects that pertain to life-span issues of motivation and control. The adaptiveness of the phenomenon, individual differences, and self-regulation are discussed. Introduction Human volition, intention, will, and desire have fascinated psychologists since the field of psychology began (Bandura, 1987; H. Heckhausen, 1991; James, 1890; Maslow, 1968; White, 1959). Each of these important constructs addresses what is arguably the most intriguing question about human behavior: What moves human beings to act? Very early theory and research attempted to describe an essential set of human motives.
Age-Related Slowing

Age-related slowing is one of the most robust findings in gerontology. Its locus is almost certainly within the central nervous system and its cause has been the thrust of much of modern geropsychology. The specific or general nature of the slowing has also received much attention both from an information processing perspective and from a neuropsychological approach. This presentation will outline a series of experiments which include information processing and kinematic motion analysis to focus on the phenomena of age-related slowing and possible explanations. The argument is made that the process of aging results in a disorganization of the central nervous system, such that quantitative (slowing) and qualitative (discoordination) changes are seen. This disorganization may be modelled using neural networks and, with respect to movement, the notion of selective disintegration of coordinative structures. If the degrees of freedom that are usually constrained to act as a unit must be independently controlled in the elderly, the cost could very well be slowness and loss of coordination.
RF Signal Loss in Through-body Wireless Transmission and Implications for Implantable Devices

Physicians and researchers require systems that provide real-time collection of physiological data sets to explore new diagnostics and therapies. Implantable devices used to monitor a variety of physiological parameters and administer therapies lend themselves to the development of customizable platforms that can be applied to individualized disease treatment. Radio frequency (RF) communication can provide a reliable data path allowing through-body communication. Here, RF propagation is analyzed in a saline phantom to characterize signal loss through free space when varying the distance between the transmitting and receiving antennas and the type and size of antennas, to find the highest received power to the lowest transmitted power. Two testing environments were constructed: dry and 0.9% saline. Four frequencies (400 MHz, 700 MHz, 900 MHz, and 2.5 GHz) and four antenna types (quarter-wave ground plane, horizontal half-wave dipole, single loop, and coiled loop) were implemented in the system.
Іmplementation of valuable-oriented project management in the sphere of public administration

Розглянуто питання, пов’язані із впровадженням методології управління проектами у сфері державного управління, а також надбання ціннісно-орієнтованої проектної методології, які ще не знайшли достатнього опрацювання у фахових виданнях із державного управління в Україні. Враховуючи термінологічні визначення, запропоновані в системі знань стандартів PMI, проведено порівняльний огляд основних аспектів проектного менеджменту в контексті державного управління. На підґрунті вивчення сучасного стану загальної теорії систем розглянуто її поділ на «жорсткий» та «м’який» системний підхід та надано їх основні відмінності. «М’який» системний підхід, пов’язаний із нематеріальними категоріями, належить до таких слабоформалізованих понять, як мотивація, динамічне лідерство, ієрархія цінностей, відданість, старанність. Підкреслено, що об’єктами перетворень у проектному менеджменті є штучні та природні системи, а основою проектно-орієнтованого управління розвитком систем є концепції 5П, 4П і 3П. Визначено, що, хоча проектний підхід усе ширше застосовується в Україні до управління розвитком територій, для багатьох гострих проблем не використовується програмне управління і майже повністю відсутне портфельне управління розвитком. Висвітлено проблеми неповного застосування методології проектного менеджменту в системі державного управління розвитком в Україні. Запропоновано використання ціннісно-орієнтованої методології проектного менеджменту для управління регіональним розвитком регіонів, що підвищує якість планування і ефективність реалізації проектів та програм.