cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis and experimental results of an adaptive-step-size switching-frequency auto-tuning digital controller

An adaptive-step-size auto-tuning algorithm and controller for power converters' switching frequency optimization with improved convergence performance is presented in this paper. The controller automatically tracks and determines the switching frequency of a power converter in order to achieve the highest power conversion efficiency under variable operating conditions including temperature variation effects, component aging effects, component manufacturing process differences, input voltage and load current changes. The adaptive-step-size function results in improved adaptive controller convergence speed, convergences error and stability. In this paper, the proposed auto-tuning control loop for a power converter is theoretically analyzed and its design and stability criteria are developed. The developed algorithm operation is verified by experimental results obtained from a proof of concept prototype.
Precise Estimation of Repeating Earthquake Moment: Example from Parkfield, California

Abstract We offer a new method for estimating the relative size of repeating earthquakes using the singular value decomposition (SVD). This method takes advantage of the highly coherent waveforms of repeating earthquakes and arrives at far more precise and accurate descriptions of earthquake size than standard catalog techniques allow. We demonstrate that uncertainty in relative moment estimates is reduced from ±75% for standard coda-duration techniques employed by the network to an uncertainty of ±6.6% when the SVD method is used. This implies that a single-station estimate of moment using the SVD method has far less uncertainty than the whole-network estimates of moment based on coda duration. The SVD method offers a significant improvement in our ability to describe the size of repeating earthquakes and thus an opportunity to better understand how they accommodate slip as a function of time.
Selecting a Research Topic: A Framework for Doctoral Students

This article provides an explanation of the process for selecting a research topic. The article uses Kuhn’s classic work on scientific revolutions to delineate the steps in developing theoretical research within an area. The paper provides methods for preparing to develop a research topic, steps for approaching a research problem, as well as methods for problem theoretical development. We end the article with pitfalls that can occur when selecting a research topic as well as bright spots with regard to doctoral students beginning research in an area. Our hope is that this research will help beginning doctoral students start the process of developing a research topic by providing assistance with the overall process.
Learning from BDDs in SAT-based bounded model checking

Bounded Model Checking (BMC) based on Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) procedures has recently gained popularity as an alternative to BDD-based model checking techniques for finding bugs in large designs. In this paper, we explore the use of learning from BDDs, where learned clauses generated by BDD-based analysis are added to the SAT solver, to supplement its other learning mechanisms. We propose several heuristics for guiding this process, aimed at increasing the usefulness of the learned clauses, while reducing the overheads. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on several industrial designs, where BMC performance is improved and the design can be searched up to a greater depth by use of BDD-based learning.
Supply Chain Management of Blood Banks

The chapter starts with a strategic overview of the blood banking supply chain. We then proceed to ask and answer questions concerning (i) the blood banking functions that should be performed and at what locations, (ii) which donor areas and transfusion services should be assigned to which community blood centers, (iii) how many community blood centers should be in a region, (iv) where they should be located and (v) how supply and demand should be coordinated. Then the many tactical operational issues involved in collecting blood, producing multiple products, setting and controlling inventory levels, allocating blood to hospitals, delivery to multiple sites, and making optimal decisions about issuing, crossmatching, and crossmatch releasing blood and blood products are presented. The chapter concludes with areas for future research.
On the self-excited whirl orbits of a journal in a sleeve bearing lubricated with micropolar fluids

Whirl orbits of a shaft in a finite journal bearing lubricated with micropolar fluid is predicted by numerical computation of the generalized Reynolds equation and the equations of shaft motion. Comparing to Newtonian fluids, some stabilizing effects due to fluids with micropolar characteristics is reported.
In-Plane Vibration Response of Piezoelectrically Actuated Membranes

In this study, we investigate in-plane vibration response of membranes using piezoelectric actuation and sensing, with a view to understanding the eect of cracks or other defects on such response. We report on the analytical and experimental work on in-plane vibration of a membrane strip actuated at one end and clamped at two ends. Tests are also carried out with an artificially introduced defect, and the extensions of the theoretical treatment to model defects are discussed. In particular, some fundamental results from the literature on the eect of defects on the natural response are discussed. Based in part on these results, a Rayleigh-Ritz formulation is used to model the response without and with the crack. Additional, ongoing studies on the in-plane impulse response of the membrane are reported. Finally, some experimental results are discussed for a membrane sheet with multiple actuators and sensors.
The Nutritional Requirements of Termites in Axenic Cultures. 2. Studies on the Effectiveness of Antibiotics in the Sterilization of Workers of Reliculitermes flavipes

In an effort to obtain sterile third- and fifth-instar workers of Retkulitermes flavipes (Kollar) for nutritional studies, antifungal and antibacterial agents were incorporated into the diet. Methyl para-hydroxy benzoate proved adequate as a fungicide at levels as low as 0.015 molar, but none of the antibiotics tested singly or in combination killed all of the termite-associated bacteria. A number of factors were investigated for their influence on the potency of the antibiotics, but changes made in materials and techniques as a result of these studies were not effective in increasing the activity of the bactericides.
Moore's paradox and epistemic risk

L'A. propose de resoudre le paradoxe de Moore, selon lequel l'affirmation de conjonctions contraires croire que p et croire que non-p est absurde et non pas contradictoire, en se referant a la part d'erreur inherente au concept de croyance, appelee risque epistemique
Hierarchies in concept attainmen in the selection mode with exemplar and non-exemplar start cards

The purpose of this study was to investigate the generality of the hierarchy of concepts to the selection mode with exemplar or nonexemplar start cards. The logical hierarchy of concepts in which lower level concepts form the components of higher level concepts was found to operate empirically in the context of the selection mode with a complete learning task. Furthermore, the Type of Start Card was found not to affect the relative difficulty of the levels of the hierarchy. Also noted was a faster time-per-trial for females over males and a Type Concept by Type Start Card interaction on per cent correct card choices.
Dynamic evolution of nitric oxide detoxifying flavohemoglobins, a family of single-protein metabolic modules in bacteria and eukaryotes

Due to their functional independence, proteins that comprise standalone metabolic units, which we name single-protein metabolic modules, may be particularly prone to gene duplication (GD) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Flavohemoglobins (flavoHbs) are prime examples of single-protein metabolic modules, detoxifying nitric oxide (NO), a ubiquitous toxin whose antimicrobial properties many life forms exploit, to nitrate, a common source of nitrogen for organisms. FlavoHbs appear widespread in bacteria and have been identified in a handful of microbial eukaryotes, but how the distribution of this ecologically and biomedically important protein family evolved remains unknown. Reconstruction of the evolutionary history of 3,318 flavoHb protein sequences covering the family's known diversity showed evidence of recurrent HGT at multiple evolutionary scales including intrabacterial HGT, as well as HGT from bacteria to eukaryotes. One of the most striking examples of HGT is the acquisition of a flavoHb by the dandruff- and eczema-causing fungus Malassezia from Corynebacterium Actinobacteria, a transfer that growth experiments show is capable of mediating NO resistance in fungi. Other flavoHbs arose via GD; for example, many filamentous fungi possess two flavoHbs that are differentially targeted to the cytosol and mitochondria, likely conferring protection against external and internal sources of NO, respectively. Because single-protein metabolic modules such as flavoHb function independently, readily undergo GD and HGT, and are frequently involved in organismal defense and competition, we suggest that they represent "plug-and-play" proteins for ecological arms races.
Duplicated extrahepatic bile duct identified following cholecystectomy injury

Though variations of intrahepatic biliary anatomy are quite common, duplication of the extrahepatic biliary system is extremely rare and reported infrequently in the literature. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common general surgery procedures performed. Unfortunately, iatrogenic bile duct injuries can contribute to significant morbidity including hospital readmissions, infectious complications and death. Anomalous extrahepatic biliary anatomy may be one of the factors, which increases the likelihood of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We present a case of an iatrogenic bile duct injury that occurred during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in which a duplicated extrahepatic biliary system was identified intraoperatively during the definitive operative repair.
Application of a Dynamic Model to Assess Microbial Health Risks Associated with Beneficial Uses of Biosolids

Microbial risk assessment is a structured approach to estimating risks associated with environmental exposure to pathogens by using available environmental data. In this report the researchers took advantage of three sources of environmental data to estimate risk: 1) pathogen monitoring of raw sludge efficacy of treatment processes, and pathogen monitoring of post-treatment biosolids. This risk assessment approach is able to estimate risks even for Class A biosolids where post-treatment monitoring data are all below the detectable level. Using this approach the researchers provide risk estimates for a number of different models to gain insight into risks associated with different aspects of the biosolids treatment and application process. This report provides an approach to conducting risk assessments that takes advantage of pathogen data from raw sludge and data on treatment process efficacy as additional data sources to the post-treatment data. In this context the raw sludge and treatment data are considered prior information that can inform the risk estimate, and the post treatment data is used to inform the likelihood. A Bayesian structure like this one can be used to take full advantage of the available data into order to obtain the best risk estimate. As with any Bayesian analysis, if the data informing the likelihood is sparse, the posterior (or risk estimate) is strongly influenced by the prior. As the data improves, the posterior (or risk estimate) is influenced less by the prior. The reserachers provide risk estimates to illustrate how this can be used both in a regulatory context to make risk-based rules, and in a operation context to examine the benefits of changing treatment processes in the context of current application practices or proposed new practices. Biosolids producers can use the results of this research to interpret the results and potential health implications of biosolids monitoring data. Treatment plant engineers can evaluate the potential risk-based benefits of making operational changes to existing treatment and/or adding additional treatment processes, and environmental managers can use this research to evaluate potential capitol improvements and/or land application site placement issues from a health-based perspective. Regulators at the U.S. EPA can use this framework to develop risk-based regulations parallel to the chemical contaminant rules. The risk assessment framework present in this report provides a mechanism to discuss biosolids management microbial risk using a common metric for comparison of treatment methods, management alternatives, and potentially to set risk-based standards for microbial contaminants in biosolids. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781843397625 (Print) ISBN: 9781780403892 (eBook)
System to measure the output energy of a frequency-tripled Nd:glass laser

The first 6 of 24 beams in the Omega laser system have been converted from infrared to ultraviolet. This was accomplished by installing third harmonic generator (THG) crystals to triple the frequency of the incident 1ω (1054-nm) red to 3ω (351-nm) blue light.
Liability of Securities Brokers to Investors in American Law

Securities brokers and corporate officers in the Unites States now run more serious risks of liability to investors whom they tip. The Supreme Court decision in Bateman Eichler, Hill Richards, Inc. v. Berner will sharply curtail successful use of the in pari delicto defense, which in the past frequently barred liability. Prior to Berner, stockbrokers and corporate insiders had been allowed by the courts to successfully invoke the in pari delicto defense to nullify claims by investors who lost money on the tips. The legal rationale was that such investors as plaintiffs did not come to court with clean hands if they had: (a) accepted information which a reasonable person would have believed to be non-public inside information; and (b) traded in securities without disclosing this information. Such plaintiffs were necessarily active knowing participants in illegal acts, equally at fault with their tippers (i.e., in pari delicto), and therefore precluded from recovery on their claims.Indeed, insider trading is most effectively deterred where enforcement measures are directed against corporate insiders and broker-dealers, the most usual sources of material non-public information and those most likely to respond to deterrent pressure from sanctions. In light of Berner, courts must apply the following two-step analysis to determine when the in pari delicto defense can be successfully invoked in securities actions involving section 10(b) of the 1934 Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5. First, a balancing process is appropriate to determine if the fault of the parties involved was substantially equal. Financial sophistication of the parties will undoubtedly be an important factor in the courts' determination of the relative culpability of the parties. The Supreme Court observed that corporate insiders and broker-dealers are more likely to be informed of securities regulations and what constitutes violations than the average investor. Secondly, the in pari delicto defense will be successful only in situations where the court concludes that preclusion of the suit would not interfere with enforcement of securities laws and protection of the investing public.
Evaluation of HFC-245fa as an Alternative Blowing Agent for Extruded Polystyrene

The need for replacing conventional CFCs with alternative blowing agents has led to the development of many candidates. Among those, HFC-245fa is targeted as one of the most promising for the replacement of HCFC-141b in polyurethane foams. However, the low thermal conductivity of HFC-245fa and its interesting near room-temperature boiling point may render it suitable for other applications such as polystyrene insulating foam board manufacturing. This work investigates the use of HFC-245fa as a potential physical blowing agent for extruded thermoplastic foams. The process was monitored using ultrasonic probes, which reveals information on the solubility behavior of the gas in the molten state. Results showed that at 190°C, HFC-245fa could be incorporated in molten polystyrene up to about 7 wt. % and generate homogeneous solutions. Higher concentrations revealed evidence of heterogeneous conditions as seen in the attenuation signal. Three concentrations of blowing agent (5, 6 and 7 wt. %) were used to produce foam samples at lower extrusion temperatures. Increasing the concentration of blowing agent or nucleating agent greatly affected the expansion profile of the foam samples. Thus, lower densities could be achieved by using an optimal combination of both.
Physiological characterization of a robust survival rodent fMRI method

Anesthetics are commonly used in preclinical functional MRI studies. It is well-appreciated that proper choice of anesthetics is of critical importance for maintaining a physiologically normal range of autonomic functioning. A recent study, using a low dose of dexmedetomidine (active isomer of medetomidine) in combination with a low dose of isoflurane, suggested stable measurements across repeated fMRI experiments in individual animals with each session lasting up to several hours. The rat default mode network has been successfully identified using this preparation, indicating that this protocol minimally disturbs brain network functions. However, medetomidine is known to cause peripheral vasoconstriction, respiratory suppression, and bradycardia, each of which could independently confound the BOLD signal. The goal of this study was to systematically characterize physiological conditions for fMRI experiments under this anesthetic regimen. To this end, we acquired somatosensory stimulation "task-evoked" and resting-state fMRI to evaluate the integrity of neurovascular coupling and brain network function during three time windows (0-30min, 30-90min, and 90-150min) following dexmedetomidine initiation. Results demonstrate that both evoked BOLD response and resting-state fMRI signal remained stable during the 90-150min time window, while autonomic physiological parameters maintained near-normal conditions during this period. Our data suggest that using a spontaneously-inhaled, low dose of isoflurane in combination with a continuous low dose of dexmedetomidine is a viable option for longitudinal imaging studies in rats.
Diffusion tensor imaging analysis of the brain in the canine model of Krabbe disease.

Purpose The goal of this study was to compare the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics from an end-stage canine Krabbe brain evaluated by MR imaging ex vivo to those of a normal dog brain. We hypothesized that the white matter of the canine Krabbe brain would show decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) values and increased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and radial diffusivity (RD) values. Methods An 11-week-old Krabbe dog was euthanized after disease progression. The brain was removed and was placed in a solution of 10% formalin. MR imaging was performed and compared to the brain images of a normal dog that was similarly fixed post-mortem. Both brains were scanned using similar protocols on a 7 T small-animal MRI system. For each brain, maps of ADC, FA, and RD were calculated for 11 white-matter regions and five control gray-matter regions. Results Large decreases in FA values, increases in ADC values, and increases in RD (consistent with demyelination) values, were seen in white matter of the Krabbe brain but not gray matter. ADC values in gray matter of the Krabbe brain were decreased by approximately 29% but increased by approximately 3.6% in white matter of the Krabbe brain. FA values in gray matter were decreased by approximately 3.3% but decreased by approximately 29% in white matter. RD values were decreased by approximately 27.2% in gray matter but increased by approximately 20% in white matter. Conclusion We found substantial abnormalities of FA, ADC, and RD values in an ex vivo canine Krabbe brain.
Transnasal Wiring of a Nasoorbitoethmoid Fracture and Split Calvarial Bone Graft

The nasoorbitoethmoid (NOE) complex represents the confluence of the orbit, frontal bone, and nasal bone. It is damaged in approximately 5 % and 16 % of adult and pediatric facial fractures, respectively (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 116:42e–49e, 2005; Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography 33:70–72, 2009). The NOE complex functions as an important facial buttress; thus, fractures can have significant functional and aesthetic ramifications. Often, NOE stability is achieved by anchoring the fracture fragments to the contralateral orbital bone with a transnasal wire. Indications for this technique include NOE fractures with suboptimal positioning despite proper reduction and fixation of the anterior fracture lines (Advanced therapy in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, Shelton, 185–188, 2010). If a preexisting laceration is not available, typically a coronal incision is utilized to expose NOE fracture for anatomic reduction. In Type 3 NOE fractures, where the medial canthal tendon is detached from the lacrimal crests, holes are drilled through the appropriate piece of the lacrimal bony complex and then the contralateral medial orbital wall. These must be drilled carefully paying attention to their placement at superior and posterior to the lacrimal crests. Subsequently, a wire is passed through the holes and tightened to secure the medial canthal tendon in its proper location. Complications include recurrent deformity, inadequate correction, and asymmetry.
Methodology for automated and recursive verification of verilog-AMS models against schematic

In this paper, a Verilog-AMS based methodology for automated verification is discussed. This solution is geared towards aiding the verification of behavioral models, which designers are tasked with when developing or editing a schematic. Up to now the conventional way to verify the operation of a model and how much it mimics the operation of a schematic is to visually inspect the output signals between models and schematics. The proposed methodology compares the signals and outputs a digital bit, indicating if the difference between schematic and model falls within the user defined tolerance range. The solution also prints a pass/fail error messages into a log file which can be easily reviewed by the designer. As a result a more accurate and user friendly platform is presented for verification, saving a significant amount time during the top level verification phase of a project.
Abstract LB-049: Low plasma levels of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) and its active metabolite 4-oxo-13-cis-retinoic acid are associated with lower overall survival of high-risk neuroblastoma patients

Background and purpose: Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid; 13-cisRA), a differentiation inducer, improves outcome for high-risk neuroblastoma when given after myeloablative therapy. Published pharmacokinetic (PK) studies suggested that many patients achieve 13-cisRA levels lower than 5 μM (effective against neuroblastoma in vitro) and that 4-oxo-13-cisRA is an active metabolite of 13-cisRA. We assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK) of 13-cisRA and 4-oxo-13-cisRA and their relation to treatment outcome in Children’s Oncology Group (COG) phase III studies that treated high-risk neuroblastoma patients with 13-cisRA and immunotherapy. Methods: Blood samples from COG high-risk neuroblastoma phase III clinical trials (A3973, ANBL0532, ANBL0032, and ANBL0931) were obtained for PK analyses. Plasma levels of 13-cisRA and 4-oxo-13-cisRA were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography for all patients treated with 13-cisRA. The relationship of PK to outcome was analyzed for the patient subgroup treated with 13-cisRA and ch14.18 anti-GD2 antibody + cytokines. PK variables analyzed included plasma levels of 13-cisRA, 4-oxo-13-cisRA, and the sum of both. Results: Of 617 patients, 370 (60%) achieved median plasma concentrations of 13-cisRA + 4-oxo-13-cisRA (combined) >5 μM. Plasma levels were higher in patients taking intact capsules relative to open-capsule takers (13-cisRA: 1.74 vs. 1.03, 4-oxo-13-cisRA: 7.2 vs. 3.3 μM, P 5 µM, 76%) was also associated with significantly higher OS relative to lower levels ( Conclusions: Age and route of administration influenced plasma levels of 13-cisRA and 4-oxo-13-cisRA. Combined levels of 13-cisRA and the active metabolite (4-oxo-13-cisRA) were >5 µM in 85% of patients. In patients ≥18 months old, low plasma levels of 13-cisRA and 4-oxo-13-cisRA were associated with a lower overall survival. Citation Format: Hwangeui Cho, Arlene Naranjo, Collin Van Ryn, Shengping Yang, Poonam Sonawane, Judith G. Villablanca, Alice L. You, Julie R. Park, Susan Kreissman, C Patrick Reynolds, Min H. Kang. Low plasma levels of 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) and its active metabolite 4-oxo-13-cis-retinoic acid are associated with lower overall survival of high-risk neuroblastoma patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-049. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-049
Oscillations of bases in number theory and combinatorics

Let ]N denote the nonnegative integers, and let B~]N . Let hB denote the set of all sums of h not necessarily distinct elements of B . If hB = IN , then B is a basis of order h . If hB contains all but finitely many elements of I'4, then B is an asymptotic basis of order h . The set B is a minimal basis of order h if hB = IN, but hB' / IN for every proper subset B' ~ B. Similarly, B is a minimal asymptotic basis of order h if B is an asymptotic basis of order h , but no proper subset of B is an asymptotic basis of order h ; that is, hB contains all sufficiently large numbers, but for every b e B there are infinitely many integers n such that n ~ h(B\~b}). StBhr [IZ] introduced this idea of minimality, and proved that every basis of order h contains a minimal basis of order h . H~[rtter [8] showed by a nonconstructive argument that there exist minimal asymptotic bases, and Nathanson [i0] constructed examples of minimal asymptotic bases of order h for all h_> Z. H~rtter [8] and Nathanson [I0] also gave examples of asymptotic bases of order Z that do not contain any minimal asymptotic basis of order Z. Indeed, ErdBs and Nathanson [3] showed that there exist asymptotic bases B of order Z such that, for every subset S~ B , if ISI < 00, then B\S remains an asymptotic basis of order Z, but if ISI = o0, then B\S is no longer an asymptotic basis of order Z. Clearly, B is an asymptotic basis that does not contain a minimal asymptotic basis. There is no classification of minimal asymptotic bases, nor is there any simple criterion to insure that an asymptotic basis contains a minirr~l asymptotic basis. Erd•s and Nathanson [6] proved that the square-free numbers contain a minimal asymptotic basis of order Z and also that there is an asymptotic basis of order Z of square-free numbers no subset of which is minimal. But it is usually difficult to determine whether or not a given asymptotic basis contains a minimal asymptotic basis. For example, the set B = {mZ+n Z}~,n=0 is a basis of order Z
A Smart Service-Oriented CyberGIS Framework for Solving Data-Intensive Geospatial Problems

This chapter introduces a CyberGIS solution that aims at resolving the big data challenges in the discovery, search, visualization and interoperability of geospatial data. We describe a service-oriented architecture to make heterogeneous geospatial resources easily sharable and interoperable. OGC standards for sharing vector data, raster data, sensor observation data etc. are adopted in such an infrastructure because of their widespread popularity in the GIScience community. Three supporting techniques include: (1) a novel method that combines real-time Web crawling and meta-cataloging in support of quick identification and discovery of distributed geospatial services; (2) an ontology-enabled semantic search framework to enhance the relevancy search and ranking; (3) multi-dimensional visualization of diverse interrelated dataset for discovering underlying patterns and decision-making. Finally, we introduce two applications: Landsat Image Service Archive (LISA) and the ESIP (Earth Science Information Partnership) Semantic Web Testbed to demonstrate the applicability of proposed techniques in various Earth Science domains.
Effect of β-blockade on the interpretation of the exercise ECG: ST level versus Δ STHR index

The diagnostic value of exercise-induced ST segment depression is considered to be decreased in patients receiving beta-blockers. One approach to improving predictive accuracy has been to use the ratio of maximal change in exercise-induced ST segment depression to the corresponding maximal change in heart rate (delta ST/HR index). The present study compared these two ECG methods. The records of exercise tests performed on 3047 male veterans were screened to exclude patients with prior revascularization procedures or myocardial infarction, those receiving digoxin, and those with certain resting ECG abnormalities; the use of beta-blocker drugs at the time of testing was also noted. All exercise tests were sign/symptom limited. Significant angiographic coronary disease was defined as greater than or equal to 75% reduction in luminal diameter of at least one coronary artery. Disease severity was evaluated in an expanded study group that included patients with prior myocardial infarction. Mean maximal heart rate was 21 beats.min-1 lower for those receiving beta-blockers (p less than 0.05), but there was no difference in mean metabolic equivalent (MET) level achieved. The diagnostic accuracy of an abnormal test result for determination of the presence or absence of coronary artery disease was not significantly different in the subgroup taking beta-blockers versus the subgroup not taking beta-blockers (N = 200), and use of the delta ST/HR index did not improve test performance. For discrimination of severe disease, test accuracy was also unaffected by beta-blockers and was not improved by the delta ST/HR index (N = 454).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Epidemiology of recreational archery injuries: implications for archery ranges and injury prevention.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to assess the incidence of injuries in the general population caused by participation in the sport of target archery or bowhunting. METHODS: Descriptive analysis of a national probability sample of hospital based treatments for archery-related injuries, over a 10-year period. RESULTS: The leading injuries were lacerations (62±2%), which most often occurred through mishandling hunting arrows. Puncture wounds accounted for 8±1% and foreign bodies 6±1%, arising from feathers or vanes embedding in the hand, falling onto an arrow, or a rupturing arrow shaft. Contusions and abrasions, often caused by the bowstring hitting the arm, accounted for 6±1% of injuries. Nearly all (99±0.4%) of cases were treated and released. The overall injury rate is 4.4/10000 participants age 6 and over. CONCLUSION: Contrary to the prevailing perception that archery is inherently dangerous, the evidence shows that recreational archery is a very safe sport ‑ safer than popular field sports where people risk collisions or falls, such as soccer, basketball or baseball. The injury rate from lacerations could be significantly reduced if bow hunter education courses emphasized safe handling of broadhead arrows. The data suggest that nearly all acute injuries in target archery can be prevented through participation in an accredited training program and the use of basic protective gear (arm guards and shooting gloves). All archery education programs should focus on proper archery stance and joint strengthening to minimize chronic shoulder and back injuries. Language: en
Micelle Stabilized Room Temperature Phosphorescence

Micelle stabilized room temperature phosphorescence (MS-RTP) is reported for a representative variety of functionally-substituted aromatic compounds dissolved in aqueous solutions of sodium lauryl sulfate detergent containing 30% thallium(I) counter-ions. The spectral characteristics described include limit of detection, excitation and emission wavelengths, and triplet state lifetime of the respective species. The classes of molecules studied are unsubstituted carbocyclics, derivatives of carbocyclics containing either neutral, electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups, and heterocyclics. Generally, excellent sensitivity and wide applicability were found for molecules in the first three classes listed above, while weak to nonmeasurable MS-RTP was observed for many members of the latter two classes. Generalizations regarding the structural and electronic configurations of a molecule most conducive to the production of MS-RTP are drawn. The degree of preferential solubility of the analyte in the micellar aggregate determines, in part, the probability of triplet state emission. Application of the MS-RTP technique for qualitative analysis of hydrogen-donor solvents and pilot plant waste waters from a solvent recycle coal process is reported. Classes of polynuclear aromatic compounds in these fluids are determined based on their ring size.
The Bulk Separation of Neuroglia and Neuron Perikarya

Morphological studies of the central nervous system reveal an incredibly complex meshwork of neuronal and glial somata, axons, dendrites and glial processes, myelin and capillaries. It is apparent that biochemical studies of this tissue reflect the sum of the individual properties of each separate cell type. Yet we know that neurons, astrocytes, Oligodendroglia, microglia, and the other cells composing the brain have quite different functions and quite different biochemical properties. Even specialized regions of a single cell, for example, the dendritic tree, neuron perikaryon and axon, have their own particular ultrastructure, function, and complement of subcellular organelles; and therefore most probably have a unique composition and chemistry. Over the years many efforts have been made to resolve this complex tissue and determine the contribution made by each separate component to the biochemistry of the brain. It is beyond the scope of this chapter to discuss all the approaches, but they include microscopical histochemistry, quantitative histochemistry of different cortical layers and brain regions, microchemistry of hand-dissected cells, macrochemistry of grossly separated areas, studies of tumors, tissue culture of pure cell lines, and subcellular fractionation of constituents known to arise from a particular cell such as synaptosomes, myelin, and neuronal and glial nuclei.
Transient Heat Transfer Analysis of Thermo-Electric Cooler Thermal Tools

With increasing complexity of semiconductor devices, testing of integrated circuit packages is an integral part of the manufacturing process. A key component of testing is the temperature control of the junction temperature of the silicon for the purposes of binning and debug. For this reason, efficient and cost-effective tools used across the industry rely on the use of thermo-electric coolers. These devices are based on the Peltier effect to induce a temperature change when power is applied to them. Active thermal control of the silicon junction is thus achieved by changing the magnitude of the applied voltage to the Peltier device as well as modulating its polarity. The result is the dynamic response of the thermal tool when trying to control the temperature of the device under test. In this paper, the dynamic performance of these tools is characterized. A highly accurate numerical model is developed to evaluate the response of the thermal tool under different testing conditions. Various test cases and sensitivity studies are presented to address the optimization of the response of the Peltier device under simulated power profiles, considering the thermal control goals and the reliability of the thermal tool itself.
The added value of a second read by pediatric radiologists for outside skeletal surveys.

Fractures are the second most common finding in non-accidental trauma after cutaneous signs. Interpreting skeletal surveys could be challenging as some fractures are subtle and due to anatomical variations that can mimic injuries. To determine the effect of a second read by a pediatric radiologist of skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental trauma initially read at referring hospitals by general radiologists. In 2016 and 2017, we identified all patients referred to our children’s hospital with previous surveys performed and read at a community hospital by an outside radiologist. We excluded patients older than 3 years and studies performed at a children’s hospital. The surveys were reviewed by a pediatric radiologist with the printed outside report available. Surveys with disagreement between outside read and pediatric radiologist read were reviewed by a second pediatric radiologist. A disagreement in the second read included only definite discrepant findings agreed upon by both pediatric radiologists. The Fisher exact test was performed to compare the ratio of discrepancies between readers in normal and abnormal surveys. Two hundred twenty-five surveys were performed (120 male) at 62 referring hospitals, with a mean patient age of 10.5 months (range: 5 days-3 years). The outside read identified fractures in 104/225 (46.2%) surveys. Thirty-seven of the 225 (16.4%) contained discrepancies in interpretation (n=111). Most of these disagreements (29/37, 78.4%) resulted in a significant change in the report. There was a significant (P<0.0001) difference between disagreement rate in outside read negative (4/111, 3.2%) and positive surveys (34/104, 31.7%). The second read identified additional fractures in 22/225 (9.8%) of the surveys and disagreed with first-read fractures in 17/256 (7.6%). Four of 19 (21.1%) classic metaphyseal lesions diagnosed by the outside read were normal variants; 18 classic metaphyseal lesions were missed by the outside read. This study supports second reads by pediatric radiologists of skeletal surveys for non-accidental trauma.
Immunological signatures in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Purpose of reviewOver the last year, research into the immunological and inflammatory signatures of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) has accelerated greatly. Herein, we highlight recently proposed roles of brain-resident microglia as well as peripheral myeloid cells in frontotemporal dementi
Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19–35 Months — United States, 2017

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine vaccination by age 24 months against 14 potentially serious illnesses (1). CDC used data from the 2017 National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) to assess vaccination coverage at national, state, territorial, and selected local levels among children aged 19-35 months in the United States. Coverage remained high and stable overall, exceeding 90% for ≥3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, ≥1 dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR), ≥3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB), and ≥1 dose of varicella vaccine. Although the proportion of children who received no vaccine doses by age 24 months was low, this proportion increased gradually from 0.9% for children born in 2011 to 1.3% for children born in 2015. Coverage was lower for most vaccines among uninsured children and those insured by Medicaid, compared with those having private health insurance, and for children living outside of metropolitan statistical areas* (MSAs), compared with those living in MSA principal cities. These disparities could be reduced with greater awareness and use of the Vaccines for Children† (VFC) program, eliminating missed opportunities to vaccinate children during visits to health care providers, and minimizing interruptions in health insurance coverage.
Analysis of Oral Food Challenge Outcomes in IgE-Mediated Food Allergies to Almond in a Large Cohort

Background Although almond specific IgE–mediated food allergies have traditionally been equated with other tree nut allergies, outcomes of oral food challenges to almond and the utility of clinical testing to predict IgE-mediated almond hypersensitivity are not well known. Objective To describe almond oral challenge outcomes and assess the predictive value of clinical testing. Methods A total of 603 almond challenges performed for 590 patients, aged 1 to 66 years, were analyzed from Massachusetts General Hospital allergy practices. Reactions were graded using the Niggemann and Beyer allergic reaction grading system and the Sampson 2006 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases anaphylaxis definition. Results Almond challenges included 545 passes (92%), 15 (3%) indeterminates, and 30 (5%) failures, in contrast with 31% challenge failures for other foods. Most reactions were mild; 21 (4%) had grade 2/3 allergic symptoms, and 3 (0.5%) had anaphylaxis. Median almond specific IgE level was 0.89 kU/L (range, 100 kU/L), median skin prick test wheal diameter was 4.0 mm (range, 0-28 mm), and 475 subjects (81%) were sensitized to almond. Failure was associated with higher almond specific IgE level (P Conclusions The proportion of failed almond challenges (5%) was low in contrast with other allergens, suggesting that some almond challenges may be safely conducted with higher patient-to-staff ratios or potentially introduced at home. Although reactions are usually uncommon and mild, anaphylaxis is possible with high almond sensitization.
Physical Activity, Self-efficacy and Health-related Quality of Life among Adults with Visual Impairments.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between self-efficacy for exercise, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with visual impairments.Adults wit...
Moral Dialogues in Public Debates

Communitarians argue that democratic societies require a core of shared values. To be legitimate a democracy must be something more than a procedure that allows individuals with different values to work out shared policies. The question is, what is the most effective way for communities to collectively formulate shared values?
OnTimeURB: Multi-Cloud Resource Brokering for Bioinformatics Workflows

Scientific workflows due to their data and memory intensive requirements are among the prime applications which benefit by leveraging cloud computing. However, Cloud service providers (CSPs) have distinct policies and service dynamics that present a problem of excess choice for users. Performance and cost of the cloud services are among the principal factors in CSP selection for scientific bioinformatics workflows. The workflows typically are based on private data, and require diverse cloud resources, thus often requiring synergistic services from multiple CSPs. In this paper, we address this challenge of multi-cloud resource selection using cloud template solutions based on user specifications. We propose an optimizer that incorporates a combinatorial optimization model built on performance, cost and CSPs interoperability factors. The optimizer is integrated within a novel resource broker (i.e., OnTimeURB) for prescriptive recommendations of template solutions with intuitive choices for users. We implement and evaluate the OnTimeURB recommendations framework with a catalog of bioinformatics workflow applications integrated within a KBCommons science gateway. The evaluation considered four CSP resources featuring more than 300 different machine configuration instances. Our evaluation results show that our OnTimeURB creates consistently more economical, performance optimized and practical cloud solutions compared to a k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) approach.
Antagonizing serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors attenuates methamphetamine-induced reward and blocks methamphetamine-induced anxiety-like behaviors in adult male rats

Abstract Background Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and abused psychostimulant. Symptoms of methamphetamine withdrawal including drug craving and anxiety that can drive relapse. Currently, there is no FDA approved treatment for methamphetamine use disorder, highlighting the need for research examining the neural mechanisms underlying psychostimulant-induced behaviors. Research indicates that the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist M100907 attenuates several psychostimulant-induced behaviors, including conditioned place preference (CPP). However, these findings have not been extended to methamphetamine. The present study investigated the effects of M100907 on acquisition of methamphetamine-CPP and methamphetamine-induced anxiety-like behavior. Methods Adult male rats were tested across eight consecutive days. Prior to methamphetamine administration (0 or 1 mg/kg, i.p.), rats were pretreated with their assigned dose of M100907 (0, 0.0025 .025 or 0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) and were placed into their initially non-preferred chamber. After four methamphetamine conditioning sessions, the effects of M100907 on methamphetamine-induced CPP were assessed. Following CPP testing, rats were screened for anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze. Results Pretreatment with M100907 attenuated methamphetamine-induced CPP without producing any observable rewarding or aversive effects in methamphetamine naive rats. Additionally, M100907 blocked methamphetamine-induced increases in anxiety-like behavior and attenuated some indices of anxiety in methamphetamine naive rats. Conclusions Results suggest that blocking 5-HT2A receptors with the selective antagonist M100907 attenuates the rewarding effects of methamphetamine and does not produce any rewarding or aversive effects alone. Further, M100907 pretreatment blocked the anxiety-inducing effects of methamphetamine. Collectively, these data suggest that the 5-HT2A receptor subtype represents a novel target for treating methamphetamine use disorder.
Modulation of protein S and growth arrest specific 6 protein signaling inhibits pancreatic cancer cell survival and proliferation

Thrombotic complications and hypercoagulopathies are commonly associated with the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Although the mechanistic link between the two phenomena is uncertain, there is evidently an increase in procoagulant proteins and a decrease in anticoagulants in PDAC patients. For example, the anticoagulant protein S (PS) is decreased during the progression of PDAC, a condition that possibly contributes to the hypercoagulopathies. PS is also an important signaling molecule that binds a family of tyrosine kinase receptors known as TAM (Tyro3, Axl and Mer) receptors; TAM receptors are often upregulated in different cancers. Growth Arrest Specific 6 or GAS6 protein, a homolog of PS, is also a TAM receptor family ligand. The downstream signaling pathways triggered by this ligand‑receptor interaction perform diverse functions, such as cell survival, proliferation, efferocytosis, and apoptosis. Targeting the TAM receptors to treat cancer has had limited success; side effects are a significant obstacle due to the widespread numerous functions of TAM receptors. In the present study, it was revealed that PS‑TAM interaction was pro‑apoptotic, whereas GAS6‑mediated TAM signaling promoted proliferation and survival in select PDAC cell lines. Furthermore, by regulating the balance between these two signaling pathways (by overexpressing PS or knocking down GAS6), the proliferative potential of the cells was decreased. Both long‑term and short‑term effects of natural PS overexpression were comparable to the treatment of the cells with the drug UNC2025, which inhibits the Mer‑receptor. The present study lays the foundation for investigation of PS as a therapeutic agent to control cancer progression and to concurrently arrest thrombotic events.