cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Similarity-based learning for pattern classification

Several standard neural networks, including counterpropagation networks, predictive ART networks, and radial basis function networks, are based on a combination of clustering (unsupervised learning) and mapping (supervised learning). A comparison of the characteristics of these networks for pattern classification problems is presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
MultiMind: Multi-Brain Signal Fusion to Exceed the Power of a Single Brain

We propose a Multi-Brain (multi bio-signal) Fusion (MBF) technology, which consists in the aggregation and analysis of brain and other biometric signals collected from a number of individuals. Often performed in the context of some common stimulus, MBF aims to facilitate rapid/enhanced collective analysis and decision making, or to assess aggregate characteristics, such as a group emotional index (GEI). The wide range of potential applications may justify an ongoing, distributed program of research into the biometric correlates of conscious and unconscious human cognitive functions (practical intelligence). An example is MBF-enabled joint analysis, which would combine cues from several intelligence analysts who are examining the same visual scene in order to rapidly highlight important features that might not be salient to any individual analyst, and which might be difficult to elicit from the group by conventional means. An experiment in presented in which a GEI is obtained by aggregating the information from two people wearing EMOTIV Epoc 'neuroheadsets', which collect electroencephalogram (EEG) / electromyogram (EMG) signals from 14 sensors on the scalp. As subjects watch a sequence of slides with emotion-triggering content, their decoded emotions are fused to provide a group emotional response, a collective assessment of the presented information. MBF has the potential to surpass single-brain limitations by accessing and integrating more information than can be usefully shared within even small human groups by means of speech, prosody, facial expression and other nonverbal means One may speculate that the automated aggregation of signals from multiple human brains may open a path to super-human intelligence.
Role of the accompanying anion in the effect of calcium salts on potassium uptake by excised barley roots.

The effect of addition of Ca salts on accumulation of K from 5 mN KCl or K 2 SO 4 solutions was found to depend on whether Ca was added as Cl or SO 4 salt. Chloride as well as K uptake was increased when Ca and Cl concentrations in culture solutions were increased. Pre-treatment of roots with CaCl 2 stimulated subsequent K uptake from K 2 SO 4 solutions as compared to pre-treatment with distilled water but pre-treatment with CaSO 4 did not. The results indicate that addition of Ca salts to KCl or K 2 SO 4 solutions increased anion uptake and the effect of the addition of the Ca salts on K uptake was in part the result of increased anion uptake and not entirely a direct effect of Ca. In contrast, accumulation of Na and K from solutions containing these ions as SO 4 or Cl salts was changed from preferential uptake of Na to preferential uptake of K by addition of either CaCl 2 or CaSO 4 . Thus, while Ca salts may influence K accumulation partly as a result of effects on anion uptake, the selectivity for K uptake depends on the presence of Ca and is influenced little by the accompanying anion.
Overcoming enzymatic and absorption barriers to non-parenterally administered protein and peptide drugs

Abstract Enzymatic and absorption barriers to peptide and protein drugs are discussed with particular emphasis on the approaches to overcome the barriers, including evaluation of proteinase inhibitors and penetration enhancers, application of chemical modification and the efficient use of different pharmaceutical dosage.
"Getting Into the Mouths" of Preschoolers: A Method for Obtaining Buccal Samples for Later Genotyping

A new procedure is described by which to obtain buccal samples from preschool children for research investigations that include genotyping.
Does impotence improve after parathyroidectomy in men with primary hyperparathyroidism

Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common diagnosis associated with age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is also seen with these comorbidities, but its association with ED has yet to be studied. We evaluated the rate and resolution of impotence after curative surgery for PHP. Methods Prospectively collected data, including a self-reported questionnaire of symptoms, were reviewed for men who had curative parathyroid exploration for sporadic PHP from July 2010 to January 2014. Data were compared with an age-matched cohort of men who had thyroidectomy during the same period. Results Among 160 men with PHP and mean age of 60 years (range, 19–88), preoperative ED was reported by 13%, and this group was older than patients without ED (mean age, 70 vs 58 years, P Conclusion Impotence is reported often by men undergoing parathyroidectomy for PHP. After curative surgery, 67% of those affected may self-report ED resolution, which may be more pronounced in those patients with a lesser preoperative mean arterial blood pressure.
Distribution of gentamicin among subcellular fractions from rat renal cortex

A substantial amount of data is available to suggest that lysosomal sequestration of aminoglycoside antibiotics plays a role in the pathogenesis of aminoglycoside-induced renal tubule cell injury; however, relatively little information is available on the subcellular distribution of aminoglycosides in the kidney during treatment protocols of the type that ultimately go on to produce extensive lethal renal tubule cell injury and acute renal failure in experimental animals. This study assessed the distribution of gentamicin and subcellular membranes on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient after in vivo exposure of rats to four daily 100 mg/kg doses of gentamicin as compared to in vitro exposure of normal rat renal cortex to gentamicin during tissue homogenization at drug levels comparable to those seen after in vivo treatment. After both in vivo and in vitro exposure, major localization of gentamicin, the lysosomal marker enzyme N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and the endoplasmic reticulum marker enzyme NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, occurred in a very light membrane fraction. Within this membrane fraction, gentamicin was more closely associated with the NAG than with the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. The results could not be explained by complete lysosomal disruption during subcellular fractionation after in vivo gentamicin. These data provide additional insights into both the possibilities for subcellular interactions of aminoglycosides in the kidney, and into the methodology required to optimally assess such interactions.
Effects of genetic management on reproduction, growth, and survival in captive endangered pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis)

A quarter of all lagomorph species worldwide are threatened with extinction. Captive breeding programs, such as that developed for the Columbia Basin (CB) pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), sometimes are implemented as emergency conservation measures to restore small, genetically distinct populations. However, small source populations also may have low genetic diversity, which may influence attributes related to fitness, including growth, survival, and reproduction. We used mixed-effects regression models to explore the influence of genetic pedigree (% CB) on pairing success, growth, and survival during the 10-year captive breeding program at Washington State University, which included controlled pairings and outbreeding with pygmy rabbits from Idaho. Pairing success, juvenile growth, and juvenile survival declined with increasing CB pedigree of 1 or both parents, suggesting inbreeding depression among the small number of related founders. Demographic variables such as age, sex, and previous pregnancies, and environmental variables such as month and temperature at birth also were associated with production of pygmy rabbits. Our study illustrates the difficulty of retaining a unique genome of a small source population while simultaneously producing enough rabbits for restoration into natural habitat as part of endangered species recovery programs.
Organization Development and Change Interventions A Seven-Nation Comparison

The present study compares differences in organization development (OD) interventions using Hofstede’s (1980) four dimensions of culture as a framework for studying seven countries’ practices. The ...
An assessment of accessory loads in a hybrid electric vehicle

Hybrid electric vehicles have emerged as one possible solution to the problem of reducing harmful emissions, reducing the use of petroleum, and a reliance on foreign oil. Conventional gasoline vehicles typically rely on belt driven alternators to supply power for vehicle accessory loads. Hybrid electric vehicles that have operating modes with the engine not running require a power source that can supply these accessories even when the engine is off. Typically this power source is the high voltage Energy Storage System (ESS), which is used to supply power for the accessories through a DC-DC converter. Taking energy from this ESS increases the energy consumption of the vehicle and is thus a focus for improving total vehicle efficiency.
High speed optical imaging of the initiation and termination of self-sustaining cardiac spiral waves

Ventricular fibrillation is composed of many self-sustaining reentrant electrical pathways. The simplest such reentry is a single two-dimensional spiral rotor. The authors studied the initiation, maintenance and termination of such rotors in canine cardiac tissue by staining a thin slice of epicardial tissue with the potentiometric dye di-4-ANEPPS and recording the resultant fluorescent signals with a 96-channel (10/spl times/10 minus corners) photodiode (PD) array at 500 frames/s. The authors found that, at room temperature, the rotors revolved around a partially-depolarized central hub at approximately 3 Hz. Action potentials recorded at individual PDs distal from the hub revealed that the tissue fully repolarized before being reexcited by the return of the rotor's wavefront. Furthermore, these rotors could be successfully terminated with a field stimulus greater than /spl sim/10 V/cm, with refractory period extensions responsible for its success. Indeed, this optical imaging technique records transmembrane activity with high temporal and spatial fidelity and without stimulus-induced electrical artifacts, thus making possible the examination of interactions between a rotor and a stimulus in unprecedented detail. >
AEDs and psychotropic drugs in children with autism and epilepsy

The efficacy of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and psychotropic medications in children with autism is limited to the treatment of seizures or to specific behaviors such as irritability, impulsivity, hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, or aggression. The reliability and value of the available data--to determine the efficacy of these medications in autism--are limited by lack of controlled clinical trials, the small number of subjects, the heterogeneity of the population studied, and the brief duration of most drug trials. Indeed, few controlled clinical trials using AEDs in autism, with or without seizures, have been conducted. Because some AEDs also have a positive effect on mood, the benefits that children with autism sometimes obtain from these medications may not be due to the treatment of the abnormal electrical activity or the seizures per se but to an effect on common neuronal systems responsible for both behavior and epilepsy. The relationship between epilepsy and autism, and specifically the effects that abnormal electrical activity may have on the developing brain, may provide some valuable insights into the type of studies that are needed to help us understand the pathophysiology of autism.
Sequence of Escherichia coli O128 antigen biosynthesis cluster and functional identification of an α-1,2-fucosyltransferase

O128 is one of the most common atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from diarrhea patients worldwide. The primary structure of E. coli O128 repeat units has previously been determined as →3)-β-D-GalNAc-(1→4)-α-D-Gal-(1→3)-β-D-GalNAc-(1→6)-[α-L-Fuc-(1→2)]-β-D-Gal-(1→ pentasaccharide. Here we report the complete sequencing of E. coli O128 antigen biosynthesis gene cluster and its flanking regions. Comparative sequence analysis revealed the expected O128 antigen process genes, GDP-fucose biosynthesis genes and four potential glycosyltransferase genes responsible for the assembly of E. coli O128 antigen repeats. WbsJ was shown to encode an α-1,2-fucosyltransferase by enzymatic assays and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis.
Exploration of Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane proteins, CD and UspA, as new carriers for lipooligosaccharide-based conjugates.

Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane proteins, CD and ubiquitous surface protein A (UspA), were used as carriers for M. catarrhalis detoxified lipooligosaccharide (dLOS)-based conjugates. Our study was designed to investigate the feasibility of CD and UspA as protein carriers for dLOS-based conjugates and their possible synergic effects on protection from both anti-LOS and anti-CD or anti-UspA antibody responses. Female Balb/c mice were immunized subcutaneously three times with dLOS–CD or dLOS–UspA conjugate in Ribi adjuvant. Antisera elicited by the conjugates showed high titers of specific anti-LOS antibodies with complement-dependent bactericidal activity towards M. catarrhalis strain 25238. In a mouse aerosol challenge model, mice immunized with both conjugates showed a significant enhancement of the clearance of strain 25238 from lungs as compared with the control mice. Although both conjugates elicited reduced (relative to unconjugated CD or UspA) but significant levels of anti-CD or UspA antibodies, they did not show synergetic effects with anti-LOS antibodies on the bactericidal activity or the pulmonary bacterial clearance. Nevertheless, CD and UspA are safe and effective new carriers for dLOS-based or other potential carbohydrate-based conjugate vaccines to help thymus-independent carbohydrate antigens for production of anti-carbohydrate antibodies against target pathogens.
Mid-infrared optical parametric oscillators based on uniform GaP waveguides.

Integrated chip-scale optical systems are an attractive platform for the implementation of non-linear optical interactions as they promise compact robust devices that operate reliably with lower power consumption compared to analogs based on bulk nonlinear crystals. The use of guided modes to facilitate nonlinear parametric interactions between optical fields, as opposed to bulk beams, has certain implications on optical parametric oscillations, the most important of which are additional methods for achieving phase synchronism and reduced threshold power due to the tight confinement associated with the guided modes. This work presents a theoretical investigation on the use of polarization dependent mode dispersion in guided wave structures as a means to achieve non-linear parametric oscillations from continuous wave sources with outputs in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. An Al2O3/GaP/Al2O3 waveguide system is investigated and shown to produce parametric oscillations at 3µm to 5µm from 1µm to 2µm input waves utilizing 0.14µm to 0.30µm GaP cores. The threshold power is shown to be 320 × less than that obtainable using more traditional quasi-phase matched bulk crystals over the same wavelength range.
An improved maximum torque per amp control strategy for induction machine drives

In this paper, an improved maximum torque per amp control strategy for induction machine drives is proposed. The proposed control strategy is simple in structure and includes the effects of magnetizing and leakage saturation. It is experimentally shown that the proposed control strategy produces the desired torque with the minimum stator current for the entire torque range and that this control strategy yields superior performance over a control strategy based on the classical qd induction machine model
National trends in utilization and outcomes of angioplasty and stenting for revascularization in intracranial stenosis.

Abstract Introduction Angioplasty and intracranial stenting (ICS) are both endovascular revascularization procedures that have emerged as treatment options for intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). Some believe angioplasty alone is better, while others believe stenting is better. This study examines recent trends in utilization and outcomes of angioplasty alone and ICS in the United States using a population-based cohort. Methods The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for patients with ICAD who underwent angioplasty or ICS from 2005 to 2010. Results There were 1115 patients (angioplasty: n = 495, ICS: n = 620) with ICAD who underwent endovascular revascularization. Over time, the number of endovascular revascularization procedures increased. The percentage of symptomatic patients (p = 0.015) as well as in the number of comorbidities of patients treated (p Conclusion Angioplasty appears to be associated with higher rates of peri-procedural complications; however, that may represent patient selection bias. Further studies are needed to identify patients who would benefit from revascularization and to clarify the roles of angioplasty and ICS.
The glucomannokinase of Prevotella bryantii B(1)4 and its potential role in regulating beta-glucanase expression.

Prevotella bryantii B14 has a transport system for glucose and mannose, but β-glucanase expression is only catabolite-repressed by glucose. P. bryantii B14 cell extracts had ATP-dependent gluco- and mannokinase activities, and significant phosphoenolpyruvate- or GTP-dependent hexose phosphorylation was not observed. Mannose inhibited glucose phosphorylation (and vice versa), and activity gels indicated that a single protein was responsible for both activities. Glucose was phosphorylated at a faster rate than was mannose [V max 280 nmol hexose (mg protein)−1 min−1 versus 60 nmol hexose (mg protein)−1 min−1, respectively] and glucose was a better substrate for the kinase (K m 0·12 mM versus 1·2 mM, respectively). The purified glucomannokinase (1250-fold) had a molecular mass of 68 kDa, but SDS-PAGE gels indicated that it was a dimer (monomer 34·5 kDa). The N-terminus (25 residues) had an 8 amino acid segment that was homologous to other bacterial glucokinases. The glucomannokinase was competitively inhibited by the nonmetabolizable glucose analogue 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), and cells grown with glucose and 2DG had lower rates of glucose consumption than did cells given only glucose. When the ratio of 2DG to glucose was increased, the glucose consumption rate decreased and the β-glucanase activity increased. The glucose consumption rate and the glucomannokinase activity of cells treated with 2DG were highly correlated (r 2=0·98). This result suggested that glucomannokinase activity was either directly or indirectly regulating β-glucanase expression.
Exploring SEER-Medicare for Changes in the Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries:

ObjectiveTo explore the change in frequency of treatment, and its association with 5-year survival, among elderly Medicare enrollees with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (SCCL).Study DesignRe...
Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy of the cardiac connexome reveals plakophilin-2 inside the connexin43 plaque

Aims Cell function requires formation of molecular clusters localized to discrete subdomains. The composition of these interactomes, and their spatial organization, cannot be discerned by conventional microscopy given the resolution constraints imposed by the diffraction limit of light (∼200–300 nm). Our aims were (i) Implement single-molecule imaging and analysis tools to resolve the nano-scale architecture of cardiac myocytes. (ii) Using these tools, to map two molecules classically defined as components ‘of the desmosome’ and ‘of the gap junction’, and defined their spatial organization. Methods and results We built a set-up on a conventional inverted microscope using commercially available optics. Laser illumination, reducing, and oxygen scavenging conditions were used to manipulate the blinking behaviour of individual fluorescent reporters. Movies of blinking fluorophores were reconstructed to generate subdiffraction images at ∼20 nm resolution. With this method, we characterized clusters of connexin43 (Cx43) and of ‘the desmosomal protein’ plakophilin-2 (PKP2). In about half of Cx43 clusters, we observed overlay of Cx43 and PKP2 at the Cx43 plaque edge. SiRNA-mediated loss of Ankyrin-G expression yielded larger Cx43 clusters, of less regular shape, and larger Cx43-PKP2 subdomains. The Cx43-PKP2 subdomain was validated by a proximity ligation assay (PLA) and by Monte–Carlo simulations indicating an attraction between PKP2 and Cx43. Conclusions (i) Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, complemented with Monte–Carlo simulations and PLAs, allows the study of the nanoscale organization of an interactome in cardiomyocytes. (ii) PKP2 and Cx43 share a common hub that permits direct physical interaction. Its relevance to excitability, electrical coupling, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, is discussed.
Design and synthesis of Pictet–Spengler condensation products that exhibit oncogenic-RAS synthetic lethality and induce non-apoptotic cell death

A series of Pictet-Spengler condensation derivatives (tetrahydro-β-carbolines) was designed, synthesized and evaluated for lethality against a panel of seven cancer cell lines. Seven compounds (2a, 13, 20, 21, 27, 29 and 34) showed lethality in at least five cell lines. Among these, compound 27 showed a unique selectivity towards oncogenic-RAS expressing BJ-TERT/LT/ST/RAS(V12) tumor cells, compared to non-transformed BJ-TERT cells. Further investigation revealed that 27 induces cell death without activation of caspases. This represents a useful new probe of non-apoptotic cell death and oncogenic-RAS synthetic lethality.
Mechanisms of NOS2 regulation by Rho GTPase signaling in airway epithelial cells

The aberrant dysregulation of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) is thought to play a role in many inflammatory disorders including cystic fibrosis (CF). The complex regulation of NOS2 expression is the subject of intense investigation, and one intriguing regulatory pathway known to influence NOS2 expression is the Rho GTPase cascade. We examined NOS2 regulation in response to inflammatory cytokines in a human alveolar epithelial cell line treated with inhibitors of different upstream and downstream components of the Rho GTPase pathway to better define potential signaling mechanisms. Statin-mediated 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibition increased cytokine-dependent activation of the NOS2 promoter, reversible by the addition of geranylgeranyl pyrphosphate. However, inhibition of Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) with Y-27632 resulted in a decrease in NOS2 promoter activity, yet an increase in NOS2 mRNA and protein levels. Our results suggest that prenylation events influence NOS2 promoter activity independently of the Rho GTPase pathway and that Rho GTPase signaling mediated through ROCK suppresses NOS2 production downstream of promoter function at the message and protein level.
Experimental supplemental vein grafting and hypoperfusion syndrome

An additional saphenous vein graft (SVG) sometimes is required to the same coronary system if acute internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft flow is inadequate. These experiments were conducted to determine the consequences produced by ITA-SVG dual grafting. Fourteen dogs each received two coronary grafts (without bypass, using local occlusion) to the proximal circumflex coronary artery, using the ITA and an SVG, and then the circumflex artery was ligated proximally. Simultaneous flow in both grafts was determined at rest and after pharmacologic (adenosine, phenylephrine) or physiologic (cardiac pacing) stimulation. Serial angiography was performed during the first 4 weeks after grafting to determine patency patterns of the ITAs and SVGs. In the resting heart, flow was 7.5 ± 1.6 mL/min (17.5%) in the ITA graft and 35.3 ± 5.2 mL/min (82.5%) in the SVG (mean ± standard deviation [% total distal perfusion]), and the combined flow was not significantly different from the original native flow. Intravenous adenosine (0.2 mg·kg −1 ·min −1 ) preferentially increased both the total ITA flow and its fractional contribution to total distal perfusion (18.4 ± 3.2 [31.1%]; p −1 ·min −1 ) decreased both absolute ITA flow and its relative contribution to distal perfusion (6.1 ± 1.1 [10.9%]; p p p
Barriers, blinders, and unbeknownst experts: overcoming access barriers to conduct qualitative studies of juvenile justice

This article details the various access barriers negotiated by the author in conducting qualitative interviews with young women in a county-level juvenile justice system. After discussing how these obstacles shaped and delayed this particular project, the importance of qualitative research for understanding the more nuanced facets and consequences of juvenile justice is demonstrated by analyzing one young woman's reflections on how youth justice shaped her life. Reflecting on the insights of this "unbeknownst expert," it is argued that one of the clearest windows into the larger social forces that condition whether or not a program or set of policies "works"--the words of young people--remains covered, in large part because of the access barriers analyzed here. The importance of creating an alternative to such a partial criminology of juvenile justice is discussed. Language: en
The strain magnitude and contact guidance determine orientation response of fibroblasts to cyclic substrate strains.

When grown in a substrate subjected to cyclic stretching, most types of cells change orientations. This cell orientation response (COR) has been shown to be driven by axial substrate strain (the strain beneath and along a cell's long axis). However, it remains unclear whether COR depends on the strain direction (tension vs compression). Furthermore, in vitro COR is paradoxical, since in vivo fibroblasts align along collagen fibers and hence the stretch direction. We hypothesized that COR does not depend on the surface strain direction, and that contact guidance provided by microgrooves can maintain cell alignment in the presence of cyclic stretching. Human skin fibroblasts were cultured on compliant smooth and micro-grooved surfaces in silicone dishes. Cyclic uniaxial tensile and compressive strains (4%, 8% and 12%) were applied on the dishes at 1 Hz for 24 h. Cell orientation distributions were determined and compared using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Significant differences were found between each of c...
SmartElevator: revitalizing a legacy device through inexpensive augmentation

Ubiquitous computing holds the promise of a more connected, more convenient, and more information rich world. However, the limited number of pervasive devices actually available greatly restricts the range of functionality currently available to ubiquitous computing applications. We present an approach whereby legacy devices are revitalized as new, pervasive artifacts through augmentation by inexpensive sensors and actuators. While such augmentation is commonplace in prototyping, we argue the technique has practical utility, especially with respect to larger, complex devices. For these devices, often a substantial investment has already been made and invasive retrofitting or replacement would be prohibitively expensive. To ground our approach, we have been investigating the use of this technique to modernize a legacy elevator system at our university. In this paper, we describe technical challenges we have encountered and report on our experience in addressing these challenges.
CMOS-compatible scalable photonic switch architecture using 3D-integrated deposited silicon materials for high-performance data center networks

We propose a novel fully-integrated scalable photonic switch architecture for data center networks, sustaining nonblocking 256×256 port size with nanosecond-scale switching times, interconnecting 2,560 server racks with 51.2-Tb/s bisection bandwidth.
Reconstruction of operative defects of the posterolateral cranial base

Closure of defects after resection of tumors of the posterolateral skull base presents a unique challenge to the skull base surgical team. Although most defects can be closed primarily over free fat grafts, complex techniques may be required. The use of flaps for reconstruction of ablative defects following resection of tumors of the posterolateral skull base requires a thorough understanding of the layered anatomy of the scalp, its vascular supply, and principles of flap selection and management. Although a variety of flaps are available to the reconstructive surgeon, familiarity with a few reliable flaps is preferable. Three methods of closure will be described: (1) occipital galeal flap; (2) extended trapezius myocutaneous flap; and (3) lower serratus muscle microvascular free flap. Each technique is chosen based on the tissue requirements of the surgical defect. Factors such as size, presence of radiation, and exposure of vital structures are considered before flap selection.
Diminished Smell in a Teenaged Girl

A teenaged girlwas evaluated for loss of smell with a probable duration of years, but she was uncertain about exact duration. Her parents stated that at the age of 3 years she sustained minor trauma to her nose while at a playground but that she had not experienced any major head trauma. The patient had a history of frequent cough and congestion, seasonal allergies, monthly migraine headaches, and considerable nose congestion at night. She did not recall a history of recurrent sinusitis, snoring, or mouth breathing. Her family history was otherwise normal and did not include any pattern of familial anosmia or delayed puberty. She reported the ability to detect very strong odors but not subtle ones. She was even unable to smell smoke at times. Physical examination revealed a clinically significant hump on the dorsum of the nose consistent with minimal prior trauma, but no other abnormal findings. The patient failed the Penn smell tests, correctly identifying only 3 of the 11 smells. Flexible fiber-optic examination of the nose revealed no masses, polyps, or cysts. A magnetic resonance image of the anterior skull base demonstrated absent olfactory sulci (OS) and bilateral olfactory grooves containing minimal tissue (Figure, A, yellow arrowheads). The Figure, B, depicts normal OS (pink arrowheads) and bulbs (yellow arrowheads) from a different patient for comparison. Coronal T2-weighted magnetic resonance image A Comparison image from normal patient B
Using an achiasmic human visual system to quantify the relationship between the fMRI BOLD signal and neural response

Achiasma in humans causes gross mis-wiring of the retinal-fugal projection, resulting in overlapped cortical representations of left and right visual hemifields. We show that in areas V1-V3 this overlap is due to two co-located but non-interacting populations of neurons, each with a receptive field serving only one hemifield. Importantly, the two populations share the same local vascular control, resulting in a unique organization useful for quantifying the relationship between neural and fMRI BOLD responses without direct measurement of neural activity. Specifically, we can non-invasively double local neural responses by stimulating both neuronal populations with identical stimuli presented symmetrically across the vertical meridian to both visual hemifields, versus one population by stimulating in one hemifield. Measurements from a series of such doubling experiments show that the amplitude of BOLD response is proportional to approximately 0.5 power of the underlying neural response. Reanalyzing published data shows that this inferred relationship is general.
A Survey of Techniques for Approximate Computing

Approximate computing trades off computation quality with effort expended, and as rising performance demands confront plateauing resource budgets, approximate computing has become not merely attractive, but even imperative. In this article, we present a survey of techniques for approximate computing (AC). We discuss strategies for finding approximable program portions and monitoring output quality, techniques for using AC in different processing units (e.g., CPU, GPU, and FPGA), processor components, memory technologies, and so forth, as well as programming frameworks for AC. We classify these techniques based on several key characteristics to emphasize their similarities and differences. The aim of this article is to provide insights to researchers into working of AC techniques and inspire more efforts in this area to make AC the mainstream computing approach in future systems.
Inhibition of GSK-3β Prevents Experimental BPD

Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β is a key regulator of inflammatory response. Our previous study showed that inhibition of GSK-3β prevents lung injury induced by 90% O2. Antenatal inflammation and subsequent exposure to moderate hyperoxia are key factors in the pathogenesis of “New” bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of GSK-3β would prevent neonatal lung injury induced by antenatal inflammation and postnatal …
The Role of Multiple Drug Therapy for Controlling Hypertension in African Americans.

Hypertension among black Americans explains much of the black health disadvantage. Compared with white Americans, blacks develop hypertension at a younger age and have higher rates of stage 3 hypertension (i.e., blood pressure is greater than 180/110 mm Hg). Black Americans tend to wait longer for treatment after diagnosis, causing a longer duration of elevated blood pressure and greater target organ damage. To arrive at the recommended target blood pressure of less than 130/85 mm Hg (in patients with diabetes or renal failure) or 125/75 mm Hg (in patients with proteinuria greater than 1 g/24 hours), all antihypertensive drug classes can be considered. Tight blood pressure control in black Americans frequently requires the use of more than just one agent (monotherapy). Low dose combination therapy, such as a calcium channel blocker and an ACE inhibitor, can solve many of the clinical issues that must be considered when treating hypertension in this patient group. (c)2000 by Le Jacq Communications, Inc.
A characterization technique for nanosecond gated CMOS x-ray cameras

We present a characterization technique for nanosecond gated CMOS cameras designed and built by Sandia National Laboratory under their Ultra-Fast X-ray Imager program. The cameras have been used to record images during HED physics experiments at Sandia’s Z Facility and at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility. The behavior of the camera’s fast shutters was not expected to be ideal since they propagate over a large pixel array of 25 mm x 12 mm, which could result in shutter timing skew, variations in the FWHM, and variations in the shutter’s peak response. Consequently, a detailed characterization of the camera at the pixel level was critical for interpreting the images. Assuming the pixel’s photo-response was linear, the shutter profiles for each pixel were simplified to a pair of sigmoid functions using standard non-linear fitting methods to make the subsequent analysis less computationally intensive. A pixel-level characterization of a ”Furi” camera showed frame-to-frame gain variations that could be normalized with a gain mask and significant timing skew at the sensor’s center column that could not be corrected. The shutter profiles for Furi were then convolved with data generated from computational models to forward fit images collected with the camera.
On a /spl mu/-kernel based system architecture enabling recovery from rootkits

We present a system architecture called spine that supports detection and recovery from many kernel-level and user-level rootkits. The architecture forms a reliable basis for an intrusion recovery system (IRS). The spine architecture is a multi-tiered approach, relying on the integrity of a small /spl mu/-kernel based hypervisor for correctness at the base level. Spine vertebrae are positioned at each level in the system in order to overcome the semantic gap in the understanding of system state. We discuss the design of the system, highlighting the main advantages and disadvantages from other approaches. A series of attacks are conducted against the prototype system in order to test for correctness and time to recover. Finally, some system performance benchmarks are presented that show that a small performance penalty is incurred from the increased reliability.
Postcolonial Criticism after 1989: A Conversation with Gal Kirn and Marian Burchardt

MB: This book is about the ways in which the political changes around 1989 have affected and become entangled with social theory more broadly. What in your view are the dominant genealogies of postcolonial studies, and how have they been shaped by the Cold War context?
Who Suffered Most from the Great Recession?: Happiness in the United States

The lowest level of reported happiness since the 1970s occurred in 2010, which was the result of a negative long- term trend and the Great Recession. However, the Recession’s far- reaching consequences were not equally felt. The foreign- born fared the worst, men worse than women, and non- youth worse than youth (eighteen to twenty- four). Declining income and rising unemployment best explain the effects. People reported no change in happiness from the Great Recession when excluding the effects of declining income. This analysis is based on data from the General Social Survey (1972 to 2014). Micro- economic regressions, including macro controls, are used to estimate group- specific trends and deviations from trend occurring in 2008 and 2010. Fixed- effects analysis also supports the main conclusions.
The Supply of Pacific US Groundfish: Harvesting, Processing, Marketing and Regulation

Groundfish comprise the most valuable single fishery on the west coast (California, Oregon and Washington) of the United States, contributing 23.2% of total fishery ex vessel value in 1988. The supply of Pacific US groundfish is determined by the interaction of events in the harvesting, processing, marketing and regulatory sectors. The groundfishery targets on a large number of species which vary widely in type, size, location, and market value. Groundfish fleets are diverse in size and gear type. The majority of vessels are owner operated. The harvest sector is comprised of three types of fisheries: shore based, joint ventures, and foreign. Groundfish are processed as fillets or dressed whole. Processing firms range widely in size and extent of horizontal integration. Ex vessel prices are negotiated biannually and vary widely among species. Most major groundfish stocks are at or near maximum sustainable levels of exploitation. The fishery remains open access but stringent effort controls apply. The quantity of groundfish supplied to the domestic market is also affected by activities in substitute fisheries such as shrimp, crab, and joint ventures.
Routine Urine Testing at the Spinal Cord Injury Annual Evaluation Leads to Unnecessary Antibiotic Use: A Pilot Study and Future Directions.

Abstract Objectives To measure the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) at the time of their annual examination and to examine the effect on urine testing during the annual examination on subsequent antibiotic use. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting A major SCI center. Participants Veterans (N=393) with SCI seen for an outpatient annual evaluation in 2012 or 2013. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Antibiotic use for bacteriuria within 7 days of the annual evaluation encounter. Results There were 327 clinic visits that met inclusion criteria; of these 327 veterans, 249 had a urine culture performed. A total of 171 urine cultures (69%) were positive for bacteria, of which 22 (13%) represented urinary tract infection (UTI) cases and 149 (87%) were ASB cases. More than a third of the ASB cases (n=53 [36%]) were treated with antibiotics. None of the 78 visits with negative urine cultures received antibiotics to treat the UTI; thus, a positive urine culture alone was associated with antibiotic use ( P P Conclusions Two-thirds of the urine cultures of persons with SCI presenting for their annual examination were positive. Most of the positive cultures represented ASB cases, and more than a third of these were treated with antibiotics. A better understanding of the mandate for urine testing at the annual examination and the outcomes of this practice is an important first step in developing antibiotic stewardship for UTI in persons with SCI.
Suicide Among Health Care Practitioners and Technicians in Colorado: An Epidemiological Study.

Suicide is a public health concern with risks that vary between occupation groups. Many suicide victims with a health care occupation die by poisoning, but few studies have epidemiologically studied this association. The objective of this study was to quantify the increased risk of suicide death by poisoning among health care professionals in Colorado. Eleven years (2004-2014, N = 8,753) of suicide deaths in Colorado were compiled from the Colorado Violent Death Reporting System. A retrospective cohort study using multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine the risk associated with having a health care occupation and eventual suicide death by poisoning, compared independently to firearm and hanging methods. Suicide victims with a health care occupation were more likely to die by poisoning rather than by hanging (RR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.41-1.68) or firearm (RR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.60-2.01), when compared to suicide victims without a health care occupation. The association between health care occupation and suicide method was significantly (p = .032) modified by gender. The results show that health care workers who die by suicide have an increased risk of eventual suicide death by poisoning rather than by firearm or hanging. These results can be used to inform tailored suicide prevention efforts in health care professionals.
MEMS-based serial LiDAR detection and imaging architecture for automated surveillance of undersea marine life

In situ detection, tracking, localization and identification of undersea marine life in their natural environment is an important aspect of marine biology, fisheries management, ecology and environmental impact studies in the vicinity of undersea infrastructure. However due to the challenging optical characteristics of the underwater environment, mainly due to attenuation and scattering, it is not operationally effective to observe marine life using conventional approaches, such as underwater cameras and lights operating in the visible spectrum. Images often appear dim and blurry and increasing the photon output of the flood lamps or strobes does not solve the issue, instead leading to the formation of image hotspots, and in turbid conditions also reducing image contrast and resolution due to increased back-scattering and blur/glow field effects due to increased forward-scattering. Perhaps more importantly, the introduction of bright broadband lighting into the underwater environment is known to induce behavioral changes in the animals being studied. The MEMS-based serial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) detection and imaging system that was recently developed uses red (638 nm) pulsed laser diode illumination to be invisible and eye-safe to marine animals. Furthermore it has the potential to be very compact, and cost-effective. The equipment is designed for long-term, maintenance-free operations. It generates a sparse primary dataset that only includes detected anomalies, with dense identification-quality dataset being triggered within a scan cycle, thus allowing for efficient, real-time, automated, low bandwidth animal detection, classification and identification. This paper outlines the operating principles of the detection and imaging optical and electronic architecture, with an example of recent results obtain in turbid coastal conditions.
Assessing hydrological impacts of short-term climate change in the Mara River basin of East Africa

Abstract We assess the impacts of a range of short-term climate change scenarios (2020–2050) on the hydrology of the Mara River Basin in East Africa using a new high-resolution (0.25°) daily climate dataset. The scenarios combine natural climate variability, as captured by a vector autoregressive (VAR) model, with a range of climate trends calculated from 31 models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). The methodology translates these climate scenarios into plausible daily sequences of climate variables utilizing the Agricultural Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (AgMERRA) dataset. The new dataset (VARAG) has several advantages over traditional general circulation model outputs, such as, the statistical representation of short-term natural climate variability, availability at a daily time scale and high spatial resolution, not requiring additional downscaling, and the use of the AgMERRA data which is bias-corrected extensively. To assess the associated impacts on basin hydrology, the semi-distributed Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) land-surface model is forced with the climate scenarios, after being calibrated for the study area using the fine-resolution (0.05°) merged satellite and in-situ observation-based dataset, Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS). The climate data are further bias-corrected by applying a non-parametric quantile mapping scheme, where the cumulative distribution functions are approximated using kernel densities. Three different wetness scenarios (dry, average, and wet) are analyzed to see the potential short-term changes in the basin. We find that the precipitation bias correction is more in effect in the mountainous sub-basins, one of which also shows the maximum difference between the wet and dry scenario streamflows. Precipitation, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture show increasing trends mostly during the primary rainy season, while no trend is found in the corresponding streamflows. The annual values of these variables also do not change much in the coming three decades. The methodology implemented in this study provides a reliable range of possibilities which can greatly benefit risk analysis and infrastructure designing, and shows potential to be applied to other basins.
U.S. Hybrid Entity Map

This document illustrates the adoption of social enterprise legislation across the United States. The map also contains hyperlinks to underlying state statutes or other relevant information.
The Pain Management Seminar

At clinic the residents get 30 minutes per patient and today’s seminar explains why 30 minutes is too quick for the opioid recs du jour on top of the usual aches and pains on top of the usual organ and social failures. To build trust we ask about the grandkids. To destroy trust we ask the patient to pee in a cup.
Generic Aerospace Vehicle Design—Knowledge Utilisation

“Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness … Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to fulfil it”.
Mechanistic Model To Predict Hydrate Deposition under Stratified Flow Conditions

Gas hydrate formation in pipelines is considered as a serious flow assurance threat to oil and gas production. The severity can be realized from its rapid tendency to form plugs and impede producti...