cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo studies of the effect of magnetic field exposure on ontogeny of choline acetyltransferase in the rat brain

Developmental increases of the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were examined in the brains of fetuses and offspring from parent rats continuously exposed to a 500 mG, 60 Hz circularly polarized (CP) magnetic field (MF) prior to pregnancy, and further, during pregnancy and lactation. In developing rats between 12 days and 20 days of embryogenesis that were housed in a control unit, i.e., nonexposed to MF, the specific activity of ChAT in whole brain specimens increased from 2.4% to 6.9% of adult activity, while specific activity of ChAT in rat brain specimens between 12 days of embryogenesis and 10 days of postpartum increased from 2.4% to 21.6% of adult activity. On the other hand, the specific activity of ChAT in whole brain specimens from rats under housed MF exposure conditions was found to increase from 2.6% to 6.7% of adult activity between 12 days and 20 days of embryogenesis and from 2.6% to 21.6% of adult activity between 12 days of embryogenesis and 10 days postpartum. Furthermore, the effect of the same test magnetic environment on the specific activity of ChAT in the brains of parental rats was examined in order to determine whether magnetic field exposure of parental rats might reflect onto the development of fetal brain. It was observed that continuous exposure of parental rats to a 500 mG, 60 Hz CP MF did not show any significant changes in the specific activity of ChAT in the septodiagonal band complex, dorsal and ventral hippocampus, striatum, and frontoparietal cerebral cortex, as compared with the same brain regions of control subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Lipocalin-2: a New Regulator of Non-Pathogen- Associated Neuroinflammation

Lipocalin is a family of small molecules transporting extracellular proteins. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a member of the family that sequesters iron-bound bacterial siderophores. The well-accepted function of LCN2 protein is its anti-bacterial behavior, however, its role in iron regulation, cellular migration, death and morphology modulation have been speculated. Several reports have correlated the presence of LCN2 in the infected, injured and stressed brain, and its effect in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types in the central nervous system. This article reviews studies that demonstrated mechanisms and functions of LCN2 expression in inflammed brain (acute and chronic), particularly in non-pathogen-associated neuroinflammation. This review predicts that LCN2 can be an attractive target to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with uncontrollable neuroinflammation.
A Review of the Current Methods Used for Access to the Circulation for Hemodialysis

This review covers the techniques devised to obtain repeated access to the blood stream for hemodialysis without vascular sacrifice. The major alternatives for long-term dialysis are external Teflon-silastic shunts, internal arteriovenous fistulas, or their modifications. Percutaneous catheterization techniques are usually used when few dialyses are anticipated. All available procedures have significant problems associated with their creation and maintenance.
Longitudinal Acceptance in Linear Non-Scaling FFAGs

Linear Non-Scaling FFAGs have, particularly for muon acceleration, a unique type of longitudinal motion. This longitudinal motion can be approximated by a parabolic dependence time-of-flight on energy. This motion can be described in dimensionless variables with two parameters. I describe the relationship between the parameters and the distortion of ellipses in longitudinal space.
Case report of venom immunotherapy for a patient with large local reactions

Background Inadvertent Hymenoptera stings reportedly elicit large local reactions in up to 17% of the general population. Current practice parameters do not recommend venom immunotherapy (IT) for these cases. Objective The goal of this case study was to investigate the clinical and immunologic consequences of venom IT in a newly sensitized individual with large local reactions using an intentional sting challenge before and after treatment to document changes in reaction severity. Methods A 47-year-old man became honeybee venom (HBV)-allergic with progressively larger reactions at honeybee sting sites with subsequent stings. Then, a sting on his forefinger produced a large (62 cm) local reaction with swelling throughout the arm that persisted for more than 4 weeks with severe pain. He refused steroid therapy and voluntarily requested venom IT with honeybee-sting challenges to monitor clinical parameters and immunologic changes in his skin and serum before and 7 months post-HBV maintenance IT. Results A single pre-IT bee sting challenge produced an 11.4-cm wheal with 13-cm erythema at the sting site after 15 minutes, followed by several weeks of edema that involved the entire arm. After rapid escalation of venom IT to maintenance in 7 weeks, a post-maintenance IT sting challenge with two honeybees produced a 3-cm diameter erythema with no wheal at 15 minutes and no late-phase induration. Complete loss of any visible reaction at the field sting site resulted after 13 months of maintenance venom IT. A HBV-specific IgG antibody level >3.5 μg/mL and IgG/IgE antibody molar ratio >500 persisted over the period of venom IT, with venom skin reactivity diminishing 100-fold. Conclusions These results support venom IT use in the treatment of Hymenoptera venom-sensitive individuals who experience large local reactions and are at risk for repetitive inadvertent stings.
National Trends in the Use of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With or Without Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

Background—Candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) receive either a biventricular pacemaker or a biventricular pacemaker with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (CRT-D). Optim...
Radioactivities of Ru 105 , Rh 105 , Br 84 , and Br 83

A lens spectrometer was used to study the disintegrations of ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{105}$ (4.5 hr), ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{105}$ (36.2 hr), ${\mathrm{Br}}^{84}$ (32 min), and ${\mathrm{Br}}^{83}$ (2.4 hr). ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{105}$ emits a simple beta-spectrum with an end-point energy of 1.150\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006 Mev. This is followed by a 0.726-Mev gamma-ray to a metastable level in ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{105}$. The decay to the ground state of ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{105}$ proceeds with a gamma-ray of about 0.1 Mev, with a half-life of 45 seconds. The ground state of ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{105}$ emits a simple beta-spectrum of 0.570\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 Mev. No gamma-ray appears to be associated with this decay. ${\mathrm{Br}}^{84}$ emits a complex beta-spectrum which can be resolved into at least four groups with end points and relative intensities of 4.679 Mev (40 percent), 3.56 Mev (9 percent), 2.53 Mev (16 percent), and 1.72 Mev (35 percent). The 4.679-Mev group, which goes directly to the ground state of ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{84}$, does not have a forbidden spectrum shape. It is suggested that the 32-minute half-life may be associated with an isomeric level above the ground state of ${\mathrm{Br}}^{84}$. The decay of ${\mathrm{Br}}^{83}$ consists of a single beta-ray group with a maximum energy of 0.940\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.010 Mev.
Inhibition of ion transport in septic rat heart: 133Cs+ as an NMR active K+ analog

Sepsis, the systemic response to severe infection, and the resulting multiorgan failure it induces are major contributors to intensive care unit morbidity and mortality. A number of abnormalities in ion transport processes and intracellular free Na+ ([Na+]i) and K+ ([K+]i) concentrations have been reported to occur during sepsis/endotoxemia. An effect of sepsis on the NA(+)-K(+)-ATPase may be an important contribution to changes in intracellular ion balance and the resultant pathophysiology of the disorder. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sepsis on the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the isolated perfused rat heart using 133Cs+ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Cs+ is a K+ analog, and 133Cs-NMR offers the opportunity to examine Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the intact organ via tracer kinetics. Sepsis was induced in halothane-anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats using the cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) model. Twenty-four to thirty-six hours after surgery, hearts from CLP or sham-operated rats were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 1.25 mM Cs+. The influx rate constant for Cs+ was decreased by 24% in septic rat hearts, i.e., 0.25 +/- 0.08 (SD) min 1 for controls and 0.19 +/- 0.04 (SD) min-1 for septic animals (P = 0.003). There was no difference for Cs+ efflux [0.005 +/- 0.001 (SD) min-1 for controls and 0.005 +/- 0.002 (SD) min-1 for septic animals; P = 0.8]. These results are consistent with an inhibition of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump during sepsis/endotoxemia. A decrease in the activity of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump may be responsible for or contribute to the changes in [Na+]i and [K+]i during the disorder.
Characteristics as Objects of Consumer Preference

A most distinctive analytical approach to product differentiation has been developed and advocated by Kelvin Lancaster (1966, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1991) over a 25-year period beginning in the 1970s.1 Other frameworks, examined in Chapter 2–4 and to be discussed in Chapter 6, view products as the objects of analysis, in the sense that consumer preference functions contain them as arguments, with product qualities employed largely as means of obtaining locational coordinates for brands within a product group characteristics space. Lancaster breaks new ground in arguing that consumers view the product as a mere carrier of different combinations of characteristics with which their active choice decisions are directly concerned. It is, therefore, characteristics which comprise the arguments in utility functions. A consumption technology structure depicts the characteristics content of product units, a preference structure captures the psychological attitudes toward characteristics, and this dichotomization permits product differentiation to be viewed as the conjunction of an objective and a subjective set of factors. Lancaster’s contention is that such a structure can draw upon relatively simple frameworks — linear in large part and extensions of existing procedures otherwise — to derive new insights into product differentiation, including product design and consumer choice. Lancaster, in the series of works cited above, has developed and improved the structure over time for fruitful use in positive and normative analysis.
Kant on Reason and Justified Belief in God

At the beginning of the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, David Hume addresses the relation between reason and justified belief in God. In the voice of Philo, he proposes as a central epistemic thesis that If we distrust human reason we have now no other principle to lead us into religion. [For, Hume warns] … sceptics in one age, dogmatists in another — whichever system best suits the purpose of these reverend gentlemen in giving them an ascendant over mankind — they are sure to make it their favorite principle and established tenet.1
FinFET SCR structure optimization for high-speed serial links ESD protection

An optimized SCR structure was proposed for high turn-on speed and low parasitic capacitance in FinFET CMOS process. Experimental results indicate that the proposed SCR structure delivers the best known results among the literatures (140mA/fF). By adopting the structure, ESD protection design for multi Gb/s transceiver can be simply realized.
An Intervening Ethical Governor for a Robot Mediator in Patient-Caregiver Relationships

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience challenges when interacting with caregivers due to their declining control over their musculature. To remedy those challenges, a robot mediator can be used to assist in the relationship between PD patients and their caregivers. In this context, a variety of ethical issues can arise. To overcome one issue in particular, providing therapeutic robots with a robot architecture that can ensure patients’ and caregivers’ dignity is of potential value. In this paper, we describe an intervening ethical governor for a robot that enables it to ethically intervene, both to maintain effective patient-caregiver relationships and prevent the loss of dignity.
An Incidentally Detected Right Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm

Ventricular pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon, potentially fatal complication that has been associated with myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, chest trauma, and infectious processes. Diagnosis can be challenging, as cases are rare and slowly progressing and typically lack identifiable features on clinical presentation. As a result, advanced imaging techniques have become the hallmark of identification. Ahead, we describe a patient who presents with acute decompensated heart failure and was incidentally discovered to have a large right ventricular pseudoaneurysm that developed following previous traumatic anterior rib fracture.
Correlation of specific genetic aberrations and signaling pathways with T-cell inflamed phenotype (TCIP) in head and neck cancer and as novel candidate biomarkers for checkpoint blockade therapy.

6079 Background: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 blockade is active in patients (pts) with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (Seiwert ASCO 2014). The T-cell inflamed phenotype (TCIP)/INF-g driven gene ...
Analog and Digital Filters

This chapter provides an overview of the subject of analog and digital filters describing the basic types, their primary characteristics, some key design criteria, practical considerations in component selection, and modern design tools. Although the subject of filters is quite broad and widely discussed in the literature, fortunately for designers much of the work required to design filters for modern applications has been greatly facilitated by advances in hardware and software.
Adaptive immune constraints on C. difficile vaccination.

No abstract available Keywords: C. difficile; antibody; immune memory; polysaccharide; toxin.
State in Society: A MODEL OF STATE-SOCIETY RELATIONS

Introduction: Images of the Impact of State on Society The incredibly quick unraveling of empire in Asia and Africa following World War II suggested to many the hidden political strength of poor, subjugated peoples. Daring leadership, such as that of Mohandas Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah, and Gamal Abdul Nasser, together with imaginative political organization, such as that found in India's Congress, Algeria's National Liberation Front (FLN), and the Vietnamese Communist party, could topple the rich and powerful. An imperial state could be reduced to a Gulliver among the Lilliputians. Even to third-world leaders who eluded fiery anticolonial struggles, events in distant India or Algeria lent confidence about the important role that centralized, mobilizing politics could play in their countries after independence. Western imperial powers were not only the betes noires in the transition from colony to statehood; they were models to be emulated as well. The aims of the founders of new states were taken largely from already successful states and the dominant European nationalist ideologies of the nineteenth century. New political leaders of Asia and Africa came to believe, like leaders in the West and the socialist bloc, in their states' potential to shape their societies – to move their economies from agriculture to industry, to create a skilled workforce, and to induce the population to abandon outmoded beliefs. Even in Latin America, where many state organizations were exceedingly weak and corrupt throughout the 1950s, a new “can-do” spirit gripped many who aspired to state leadership and to the creation of an effective bureaucratic state organization.
NON INFARCT RELATED ARTERY MICROVASCULAR OBSTRUCTION IS A PREDICTOR OF PERSISTENT DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is associated with myocardial ischemia and left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction”. We hypothesized that patients presenting with STEMI and non-infarct-related (IRA) MVO will develop worse DD on long term follow-up post primary percutaneous
The Archaeology of the Islamic City

When cities are first founded, they have few dwellings and few building materiak, such as stones and quicklime, or the things that serve as ornamental coverings for walk, such as tiles, marble, mosaics, jet, and glass.… Then, the civilization of a city grows and its inhabitants increase in number. Now the materials used for [building] increase, because of the increase in [available] labor and the increased number of craftsmen.
Non-standard word and homograph resolution for asian language text analysis.

In this paper we present a general model for text analysis of Asian languages (Chinese and Japanese). That is a method for mapping strings of characters to strings of identified trivially pronounceable words. This work is based on the English NonStandard Word analysis model suitably augmented to deal with both the lack of spaces between words in Japanese and Chinese and addressing the issues of homographs. Results are present for the sub-components of the process.
Street crime and informal social control in an anomic China

Crime is not unique to any single society, but it is best controlled in societies characterized by strong familism and communitarianism, where citizens are active in participating in the order maintenance. In light of recent socio-economic changes in China and the efforts to adopt Western-style professional policing and formal social control, this paper argues instead that it is the informal process that should be strengthened to achieve long-term social stability. Short of creating a dictatorship, police can only make marginal difference in the rise and fall of crime rate. Ultimately what matters the most is community self-policing.
Spin readout of nitrogen-vacancy centers with plasmonic nanostructures (Conference Presentation)

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers in diamond possess electronic spins that one can manipulate coherently at room temperature using RF signals. The optical spin readout plays a key role in their performance for nanoscale magnetometry and quantum information processing. We demonstrate that plasmonic nanostructures can simultaneously guide optical, microwave and low-frequency signals ensuring spin manipulation and readout in an ultracompact setting. They can also enhance detected photon rates through efficient photon collection and shortening of the fluorescence lifetime. We show that in the case of dense NV ensembles the design of the optical readout interface must emphasize photon collection efficiency over Purcell enhancement. However, in the case of single NV centers, large Purcell enhancement may significantly improve the spin readout sensitivity. Enhancement for high-fidelity readout can be provided by nanoparticle-on-metal antennas featuring ultraconfined plasmonic modes.
Restricted mobility of DNA packaged in phage phi29 viral proheads assessed by single-molecule optical tweezers measurements of DNA exit

Many viruses contain DNA packed to such a high density that the mobility of the DNA inside the viral capsid is severely restricted, affecting the processes of DNA packaging and ejection. We study phage phi29, which uses an ATP-powered molecular motor to package DNA, by using optical tweezers to measure DNA ejection through the phi29 portal-motor channel after the removal of ATP during DNA packaging. We find that when initiated at low capsid filling levels, DNA exits faster than 10 kbp/s. When initiated at high filling levels, exit occurs with a dramatically reduced average velocity that decreases with increasing initial prohead filling. In individual exit measurements, complex dynamics and transient pausing are seen, which we attribute to the nonequilibrium DNA conformations thought to arise during DNA packaging. We also show that high concentration of Mg2+ slows exit dynamics, suggesting that the internal pressure of the confined DNA is the driving force for the ejection process.
Achieving Proportional Fairness for LTE-LAA and Wi-Fi Coexistence in Unlicensed Spectrum

LTE Licensed Assisted Access (LTE-LAA) is a promising solution for harmonious coexistence with WiFi in unlicensed spectrum. Although LTE-LAA employs a listen-before-talk approach similar to the distributed coordination function in IEEE 802.11, it uses different parameters and varying transmission durations . As a result, achieving fair coexistence between LTE-LAA and WiFi (by any definition) remains an open question, which in a pragmatic framework, devolves to: how LTE-LAA should select its parameters. To address this issue, a multi-group model is proposed for LTE-LAA and WiFi coexistence, as a function of respective initial backoff window sizes, sensing durations, maximum backoff stages, retry limits and transmission opportunities. The network steady-state point in saturated conditions is obtained, based on which the node airtime and total network airtime are derived as functions of system parameters of LTE-LAA and WiFi networks. The analysis shows that LTE-LAA can maintain proportional fairness with WiFi by either tuning its initial backoff window size or sensing duration. In particular, the optimal initial backoff window size and number of sensing slots of LTE-LAA are both derived and verified by simulation. The significance of our analysis is two-fold: a) it exposes the result that the current standard-proposed parameter settings will not generically achieve fairness and thereafter b) suggests optimal settings whereby LTE-LAA and WiFi nodes can achieve equal per-node airtime. It is further revealed that the initial backoff window size tuning of LTE-LAA could be a preferable option for achieving fairness between LTE-LAA and WiFi in practical scenarios as it requires less system information and achieves better precision.
A Survey of Participants in the National Debate Tournament, 1947-1980.

A survey of debaters who attended the National Debate Tournament from 1947 to 1980 sought answers to Jour general questions: Who were the students and what have they become? What are their percepti...
On $\beta=6$ Tracy-Widom distribution and the second Calogero-Painlev\'e system

The Calogero-Painleve systems were introduced in 2001 by K. Takasaki as a natural generalization of the classical Painleve equations to the case of the several Painleve "particles" coupled via the Calogero type interactions. In 2014, I. Rumanov discovered a remarkable fact that a particular case of the second Calogero-Painleve II equation describes the Tracy-Widom distribution function for the general beta-ensembles with the even values of parameter beta. Most recently, in 2017 work of M. Bertola, M. Cafasso, and V. Rubtsov, it was proven that all Calogero-Painleve systems are Lax integrable, and hence their solutions admit a Riemann-Hilbert representation. This important observation has opened the door to rigorous asymptotic analysis of the Calogero-Painleve equations which in turn yields the possibility of rigorous evaluation of the asymptotic behavior of the Tracy-Widom distributions for the values of beta beyond the classical $\beta =1, 2, 4.$ In this work we shall start an asymptotic analysis of the Calogero-Painleve system with a special focus on the Calogero-Painleve system corresponding to $\beta = 6$ Tracy-Widom distribution function. Some technical details were omitted here and will be presented in the next version of the text.
Plectin is a regulator of prostate cancer growth and metastasis

Prostate cancer is responsible for over 30,000 US deaths annually, attributed largely to incurable metastatic disease. Here, we demonstrate that high levels of plectin are associated with localized and metastatic human prostate cancer when compared to benign prostate tissues. Knock-down of plectin inhibits prostate cancer cell growth and colony formation in vitro, and growth of prostate cancer xenografts in vivo. Plectin knock-down further impairs aggressive and invasive cellular behavior assessed by migration, invasion, and wound healing in vitro. Consistently, plectin knock-down cells have impaired metastatic colonization to distant sites including liver, lung, kidney, bone, and genitourinary system. Plectin knock-down inhibited number of metastases per organ, as well as decreased overall metastatic burden. To gain insights into the role of plectin in prostate cancer growth and metastasis, we performed proteomic analysis of prostate cancer plectin knock-down xenograft tissues. Gene set enrichment analysis shows an increase in levels of proteins involved with extracellular matrix and laminin interactions, and a decrease in levels of proteins regulating amino acid metabolism, cytoskeletal proteins, and cellular response to stress. Collectively these findings demonstrate that plectin is an important regulator of prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis.
Applying the AFIX Quality Improvement Model to Increase Adult Immunization in Wisconsin.

ObjectivesAssessment, Feedback, Incentives, and eXchange (AFIX) is a quality improvement model used to increase childhood and adolescent immunization rates in the United States. We evaluated implem...
Implementing parallel arithmetic via acetylation and its application to chemical image processing

Chemical mixtures can be leveraged to store large amounts of data in a highly compact form and have the potential for massive scalability owing to the use of large-scale molecular libraries. With t...
A proteomic strategy for identifying vascular surface proteins as potential targets for cancer treatment

953 Actively growing tumors promote the development of their own blood supply in order to expand their growth. There is a wealth of research aimed at developing anti-angiogenic strategies against cancers, most of which involve blocking the growth of the blood vessels. Our approach is to specifically target and kill the endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels, associated with tumors; thereby effectively starving and killing the tumor. We have developed a platform technology to identify the proteins found exclusively on the blood vessel surface of tumors, which we can then use as potential targets for new cancer treatments in the form of therapeutic antibodies or vaccines. Our platform technology involves growing two transplantable syngeneic tumors, the 9L glioma and the MAT13762 breast adenocarcinoma in Fisher 344 rats. We perfuse saline through the whole body of anaesthetized, tumor bearing rats via the left ventricle of heart to remove all serum proteins from the blood vessels. We then perfuse the whole body with a biotinylation reagent, resulting in the covalent attachment of a biotin tag to all of the proteins exposed on the luminal surface of the blood vessels. We can surgically separate tumor tissue from normal tissues, and specifically isolate the proteins from either tumour or normal tissue by streptavidin affinity chromatography. We then comparatively analyse gel profiles from normal and tumor tissue using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining and those bands present in tumors and not in normal tissue are excised from the gel with an equivalent area from the normal gel, trypsin treated and identified using tandem mass spectrometry. We have used this method and identified several bands consistently present in the 9L glioma tissue that were absent in the adjacent normal brain. The tissue distribution of these proteins is currently being investigated. We have also confirmed the effectiveness of our biotinylation labeling of proteins by using streptavidin peroxidase staining of fixed sections of tissues. This showed that the biotinylation was primarily localised in and around the blood vessels of several normal tissues. The staining in normal brain gave a similar appearance to rat blood-brain barrier antigen that is known to be located on brain endothelial cells. We conclude that this strategy of perfusion, in situ labelling and affinity isolation has sufficient sensitivity to identify differences in the protein profiles associated with the blood vessels of tumours and tissues.
Application of weigh-in-motion technologies for pavement and bridge response monitoring: State-of-the-art review

Abstract Overweight vehicles may cause damage and premature deterioration of pavement and bridge structures. Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) is efficient in avoiding structural damage and ensuring successful weight enforcement by measuring a vehicle's weight in a dynamic state. WIM additionally provides information such as traffic volume, vehicle's speed, axle spacing, equivalent single axle load (ESAL), individual axle and gross vehicle weight (GVW), which is of value to planning, design, construction, and operations of transportation infrastructures. This paper reviewed the state of practice and research in WIM with focuses on its potential, limitations, cost-effectiveness, and data usage. Discussion was made on identifying needs and challenges for further development. This review provides the research community with a holistic view of available WIM techniques, their limitations, cost-effectiveness, and the need for future research on usage of the WIM data that might lead to wider adoption of WIM in transportation applications.
Development and Initial Internal Validation of a Novel Classification System for Perioperative Expectations Following Minimally Invasive Degenerative Lumbar Spine Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective consecutive clinical cohort study. OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to develop and provide an initial internal validation of a novel classification system that can help surgeons and patients better understand their postoperative course following the particular minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and approach that is utilized. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Surgeons and patients are often attracted to the option of minimally invasive spine surgery because of the perceived improvement in recovery time and postsurgical pain. A classification system based on the impact of the surgery and surgical approach(es) on postoperative recovery can be particularly helpful. METHODS Six hundred thirty-one patients who underwent MIS lumbar/thoracolumbar surgery for degenerative conditions of the spine were included. Perioperative outcomes-operative time, estimated blood loss, postsurgical length of stay (LOS), 90-day complications, postoperative day zero narcotic requirement [in Morphine Milligram Equivalent (MME)], and need for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA). RESULTS Postoperative LOS and postoperative narcotic use were deemed most clinically relevant, thus selected as primary outcomes. Type of surgery was significantly associated with all outcomes (P<0.0001), except intraoperative complications. Number of levels for fusion was significantly associated with operative time, in-hospital complications, 24 hours oral MME, and the need for IV PCA and LOS (P<0.0001). Number of surgical approaches for lumbar fusion was significantly associated with operative time, 24 hours oral MME, need for IV PCA and LOS (P<0.001). Based on these parameters, the following classification system ("Qureshi-Louie classification" for MIS degenerative lumbar surgery) was devised: (1) Decompression-only; (2) Fusion-1 and 2 levels, 1 approach; (3) Fusion-1 level, 2 approaches; (4) Fusion-2 levels, 2 approaches; (5) Fusion-3+ levels, 2 approaches. CONCLUSIONS We present a novel classification system and initial internal validation to describe the perioperative expectations following various MIS surgeries in the degenerative lumbar spine. This initial description serves as the basis for ongoing external validation.
Analyzing impact of DER on FIDVR - comparison of EMT simulation of a combined transmission and distribution grid with aggregated positive sequence models

Abstract The increase in percentage of distributed energy resources (DERs) brings in a degree of uncertainty in bulk power system planning and operations. Further, the presence of 1 − φ induction motors introduces the possibility of motor stalling and fault induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR). With newer versions of IEEE Std 1547™ there can be the opportunity to obtain dynamic voltage support from DERs. In this paper, the impact of DERs providing dynamic voltage on the dynamic behavior of 1 − φ induction motors is examined in detail along with an exploration of the need for simulation platforms that go beyond positive sequence. The studies discussed here are carried out both in detailed electromagnetic time domain and in positive sequence domain for comparison.
Abstract 8416: Clinical Predictors of Short- and Long-Term Mortality Among Patients with Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infection

Device infection is associated with increased mortality in cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) recipients. However, published data regarding clinical predictors of mortality in patients with CIED infection are limited. In current investigation, we sought to identify patient and device-related factors associated with mortality in CIED infection cases. We performed a retrospective review of all cases of CIED infection admitted to Mayo Clinic Rochester from 1991 to 2008. Survival data were obtained from hospital medical records and United Sates Social Security Index. Key data regarding patient demographics, device features, comorbid conditions, clinical presentation, echocardiographic findings and management strategies were abstracted. Potential risk factors for short (30-day) and long-term mortality were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. 415 cases of CIED infection were identified from the institutional database. The mean duration of follow-up for the 243 patients who were alive at last follow-up was 6.9 years. In multivariable model, congestive heart failure (CHF, Odds ratio 9.31, 95% CI 2.08-41.67), chronic corticosteroid use (OR 4.04, 1.40-11.60) and presentation with CIED-related infective endocarditis (CIED-IE), (OR 5.6, 2.25-13.92) were associated with increased odds of short-term mortality. Independent predictors of long-term mortality on multivariable model included patients9 age (hazard ratio for 10-year increase 1.2, 95% CI 1.06-1.36), CHF (HR 2.01, 1.42-2.86), metastatic malignancy (HR 5.99, 1.67-21.53), corticosteroid use (HR 1.97, 1.22-3.18), renal failure (HR 1.94, 1.37-2.74) and CIED-IE (HR 1.68, 1.17-2.41). Our investigation provides some novel insights into predictors of short- and long-term mortality in CIED infection cases. While comorbid conditions and immunocompromised host status were primary determinants of both short- and long-term mortality, complicated device infection (CIED-IE) is the only predictor that presents an opportunity for intervention where mortality may be reduced by early diagnosis and expedited device removal.
Mechanisms of mucus release in exposed canine gastric mucosa.

Abstract Mucus release was studied in the exposed gastric mucosa of anesthetized fasted dogs using scanning and transmission microscopy as well as histochemical and autoradiographic techniques. Under unstimulated conditions, the gastric epithelium was composed of both nonsecreting and mucus-secreting epithelial cells, with the former being predominant. Nonsecreting cells were characterized by an intact apical mucus package of granules and a continuous plasma membrane. The secreting mucus cell population was found in the foveolar (pit region) as well as interfoveolar areas. Three mechanisms of mucus release were observed: (a) exocytosis, (b) apical expulsion, and (c) cell exfoliation. Evidence for exocytosis was found in all mucus cells, especially in the sulfated glycoprotein-rich foveolar cells. Exocytosis involved only a few granules at a time; this mode of secretion is likely slow and continuous. In contrast, apical expulsion resulted in an explosive release of the entire apical mucus package followed by in situ degeneration of the cell itself. This occurred in the oldest cells forming mucosal crests in the interfoveolar area, whose mucus predominantly stains for neutral glycoproteins. Cell exfoliation, in which the entire cell was extruded into the lumen, was rarely observed and may provide, in addition to apical expulsion, a second mechanism to rid the mucosa of senescent epithelial cells. Mucus secretion is a complex function of the gastric epithelium. The mechanism of secretion and the histochemically defined type of mucus secreted are variables which are dependent on the age of the cell, its position on the foveolae, and the microenvironment within the gastric lumen.
Stabilization of unstable systems with input constraints

This article deals with the synthesis of stabilizing controllers for unstable linear systems and feedback linearizable unstable nonlinear systems, and the estimation of closed-loop regions of stability, in the presence of input constraints. The proposed methodology involves reducing the problem of stabilizing a system of arbitrary dimension into one of stabilizing a subsystem of dimension one, such that the stability of the overall system is ensured by guaranteeing the stability of the latter. The desirable features of the proposed methodology are its ease of implementation and its relative nonconservativeness over existing approaches; these are demonstrated by applying the proposed methodology to a chemical reactor example and comparing it with a Lyapunov-based approach.
ABC Micelles for Drug Delivery &#8212; Nanoscopic Vehicles for Potent Yet Toxic and Poorly Water-Soluble Compounds

Amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCs) assemble into nanoscopic supramolecular core-shell structures called micelles, which are under extensive study for drug delivery. The shell of ABC micelles consists of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a non-toxic water-soluble polymer, which prevents protein adsorption and cellular adhesion, and the core of ABC micelles consists of a smaller hydrophobic block or part, which varies in drug delivery due to the requirements of biocompatibility, compatibility with the poorly water-soluble drug of interest, and stability of ABC micelles in blood. In drug delivery, a goal is to study the potential of ABC micelles as `nanocarriers? for potent yet toxic and poorly water-soluble drugs.
Arthropod Succession Patterns onto Burnt Carrion in Two Contrasting Habitats in the Hawaiian Islands

Decomposition studies were conducted using carcasses of domestic pigs, Sus scrofa L., one burned and the other unburned (the control) to determine effects of burning on arthropod succession patterns. The burnt carcass corresponded to a CGS level #2 burn victim. The studies were conducted in two contrasting habitats, both on the island of Oahu. The first was conducted in a xerophytic habitat from 1 Sept. 1995 through 1 Oct. 1995 while the second was conducted in a rainforest habitat from 29 April 1996 to 28 May 1996. No marked differences were noted in arthropod fauna present or the duration of the stages of decomposition between the carcasses at either site. The major oviposition by flies of the family Calliphoridae occurred one day earlier on the burnt carcass than the control carcass at Diamond Head and four days earlier at Lyon Arboretum. This resulted in all successional waves onto the burnt carcass occurring one day earlier at Diamond Head and four days earlier at Lyon Arboretum. These differences could alter a postmortem interval estimate based on arthropod succession patterns by up to 24 hours and 4 days, respectively.
Influence of Pictorial Attributes on Recognition Memory.

The question of how people attend to, process, store, and recall pictorial information, long of professional interest to audiovisual people, has now become of considerable research interest to behavioral scientists. It was probably Shepard (1967) that kindled current interest and Standing, Conezio, and Haber (1970) that caught the imagination of both researcher and practitioner. A question both studies dealt with was: What is the capacity of human memory for pictures? Shepard (1967) allowed subjects to take as much time as they wanted to look through a group of 612 illustrations from magazine advertisements. Their inspection times averaged six seconds per picture. Tested immediately, the subjects correctly recognized a median of 98.5 percent of the illustrations they had seen. Standing, Conezio, and Haber (1970) showed their subjects 2560 slides from amateur and professional photographers. At a rate of a slide every 10 seconds the presentation extended over a period of either two or four days. Testing revealed a recognition accuracy ranging from 85 to 95 percent.
Impact of body mass index on posttransplant outcomes reexamined.

According to the National Health and Nutritional Examination survey (NHANES) from 2011–12, the prevalence of obesity defined as BMI>30 among 20 year or older individuals is 35%1. This is reflected among liver transplant (LT) recipients resulting in a doubling of the prevalence of obesity from 16.8% (Class 1 BMI 30–34=9.4%; Class II BMI 35–39 =5.3% and Class III BMI≥40=2.1%) in 1987–96 to 33% (Class 1 BMI 30–34=21%; Class II BMI 35–39 =9% and Class III BMI≥40=3%) in 2002–2011.2, 3
Classification of Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis has a complex and variable pathophysiology which has been a topic of research for many years. The complexity of the disorder and recommended treatments require an effective classification system which is easily remembered and applied. Classification systems have gone through many iterations starting with the Meyerding system and evolved into the SDSG (Spine Deformity Study Group) system which is complex in its formulation but simple in application. However, several of the systems are still used commonly and may define treatment strategies. Therefore, familiarity with these various systems is required for every spine surgeon. This chapter reviews the various classification systems for spondylolisthesis and reviews the application of the SDSG system in detail.
Bovine babesiosis in the European community

There are apparently three species of bovineBabesia within the European Community-B. divergens,B. major andB. bovis. The former is the principal cause of disease, but lack of information about the other two, particularly about the ability of the tickIxodes ricinus to act as their vector, makes further investigation essential. The potential hazard of indiscriminate movement of cattle within the E.C. is discussed, and a plea is made for the introduction of routine serological screening of cattle before their export.
Detonation Properties of Gases at Elevated Initial Pressures

The detonation properties of several gaseous systems at elevated initial pressures were examined theoretically. The systems investigated include; hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), ethylene (C2H4, ethan...
Examining the Organizational Characteristics of CAI Projects in Institutions of Higher Education

This article examines the evolution of awareness regarding the importance of organizational characteristics on the success of CAI projects. A list of twelve organizational factors are described that institutions of higher education need to consider in planning CAI projects.
Effect of boric acid on thermal dehydrogenation of ammonia borane: Mechanistic studies

Abstract Ammonia borane (AB, NH3BH3) is a promising hydrogen storage material for use in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell applications. In this study, the effect of boric acid on AB dehydrogenation was investigated. Our study shows that boric acid is a promising additive to decrease onset temperature as well as to enhance hydrogen release kinetics for AB thermolysis. With heating, boric acid forms tetrahydroxyborate ion along with some water released from boric acid itself. It is believed that this ion serves as Lewis acid which catalyzes AB dehydrogenation. Using boric acid, we obtained high H2 yield (11.5 wt% overall H2 yield, 2.23 H2 equivalent) at 85 °C, PEM fuel cell operating temperatures, along with rapid kinetics. In addition, only trace amount of NH3 (20–30 ppm) was detected in the gaseous product. The spent AB solid product was found to be polyborazylene-like species. The results suggest that the addition of boric acid to AB is promising for hydrogen storage, and could be used in PEM fuel cell based vehicles.
Gene expression and functional studies of the optic nerve head astrocyte transcriptome from normal African Americans and Caucasian Americans donors.

Purpose: To determine whether optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes, a key cellular component of glaucomatous neuropathy, exhibit differential gene expression in primary cultures of astrocytes from normal African American (AA) donors compared to astrocytes from normal Caucasian American (CA) donors. Methods: We used oligonucleotide Affymetrix microarray (HG U133A & HG U133A 2.0 chips) to compare gene expression levels in cultured ONH astrocytes from twelve CA and twelve AA normal age matched donor eyes. Chips were normalized with Robust Microarray Analysis (RMA) in R using Bioconductor. Significant differential gene expression levels were detected using mixed effects modeling and Statistical Analysis of Microarray (SAM). Functional analysis and Gene Ontology were used to classify differentially expressed genes. Differential gene expression was validated by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Protein levels were detected by Western blots and ELISA. Cell adhesion and migration assays tested physiological responses. Glutathione (GSH) assay detected levels of intracellular GSH. Results: Multiple analyses selected 87 genes differentially expressed between normal AA and CA (P,0.01). The most relevant genes expressed in AA were categorized by function, including: signal transduction, response to stress, ECM genes, migration and cell adhesion. Conclusions: These data show that normal astrocytes from AA and CA normal donors display distinct expression profiles that impact astrocyte functions in the ONH. Our data suggests that differences in gene expression in ONH astrocytes may be specific to the development and/or progression of glaucoma in AA.
The effect of light on sound intensity generalization after two-stimulus discrimination training

This study determined if a sound intensity generalization gradient is displaced laterally if extraneous light intensity is changed from training to test after two-stimulus discrimination training. The results agreed with previous studies on three-stimulus discrimination training in that, (a) when Ss were trained in the absence of a light, introduction of the light on generalization-test trials displaced the generalization gradient toward the weaker sound intensities, and (b) when Ss were trained in the presence of a light, omission of the light on generalization-test trials displaced the gradient toward the larger sound intensities.
A phenomenological model for cross-field plasma transport in non-ambipolar scrape-off layers

Abstract A simplified two-fluid transport model which includes phenomenological coefficients of particle diffusion, mobility, and thermal diffusivity is used to investigate the effects of nonambipolar particle transport on scrape-off layer (SOL) plasma profiles. A computer code (BSOLRAD3) has been written to iteratively solve for 2-D cross-field plasma density, potential, and electron temperature profiles for arbitrary boundary conditions, including segments of “limiters” that are electrically conducting or non-conducting. Numerical results are presented for two test cases: (1) a 1-D slab geometry showing the interdependency of the density, potential, and temperature gradient scale lengths on particle diffusion, mobility, and thermal diffusivity coefficients and limiter bias conditions, and (2) a 2-D geometry illustrating E × B plasma flow effects. It is shown that the SOL profiles can be quite sensitive to non-ambipolarity conditions imposed by the limiter and, in particular, whether the limiter surfaces are biased. Such effects, if overlooked in SOL transport analysis, can lead to erroneous conclusions about the magnitude of the local ambipolar diffusion coefficient.