cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-reorganizing knowledge representation for autonomous learning in social agents

The CIVS (Civilization-Inspired Vying Societies) system is a novel evolutionary learning multi-agent system loosely inspired by the history of human civilization. CIVS uses artificial life (Alife) methods to produce highly-capable artificial intelligence (AI) agents proficient in one or more complex tasks as well as more general adaptability, reasoning, and survivability in dynamic, unpredictable environments. A new cognitive architecture called CHARISMA is proposed as a brain for the social agents within the CIVS system. In this paper, we will develop a self-growing, self-reorganizing semantic network named SHYNE (Semantic HYper NEtwork) as the basic knowledge representation data structure for the CHARISMA cognitive architecture. SHYNE builds on ideas from semantic networks, slipnets, and hypergraphs to create a very powerful and flexible data structure. We believe SHYNE will solve the problem of brittle reliance on predefined rules/relations/concepts with its extensive self-reorganizing capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed SHYNE is efficient as the knowledge representation for social agents.
Analysis of localization errors in the definition of the mantle field using a beam's eye view treatment-planning system

Abstract Purpose: Reports of the treatment of Hodgkins' disease (HD) with radiotherapy using the mantle field technique hypothesis that the availability of computerized tomography images reduces the incidence of location error, and that the use of beam's eye view treatment planning techniques may further improve localization. The purpose of this report is to asses the possible contribution of a three-dimensional treatment-planning system to tumor localization and mantle block drawing in patients with HD. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the localization error rate of four experienced radiation oncologists as they drew the lung blocks for the mantle field. The analysis included 16 patients treated with mantle fields in our department between 1989 and 1991. In each case our computerized three-dimensional treatment planning system was used to generate a beam's eye view display of tumor volumes. Simulation radiographs for all 16 patients were overlaid with acetate film, and lung blocks were drawn by clinicians using only the simulation radiographs for reference. The process was repeated with the thoracic CT scans available for reference. The mantle block eye view plot was our benchmark for the evaluation of errors of tumor localization. Localization errors were defined as touching or overlap of the shielding blocks onto tumors. Results: There was a high degree ( p p = 0.038). The axillary region had the highest localization error rate (41.7% without CT available and 27.1% with CT available) and the superior mediastinum had the lowest error rate (10.7% without CT, 8.5% with CT). Compared with a system such as beam's eye view, which could reduce the localization error rate to zero, the error rate with CT scans available is still significant [95% confidence interval (CI = 10–17%]. Localization errors were more likely with increasing tumor size when CT scans were not available ( p = 0.029). A similar trend was not seen when CT error rate ( p = 0.03). Tumors in the axilla and inferior mediastinum had a greater relative risk than those in the superior mediastinum ( p = 0.0001). Conclusion: The availability of CT imaging offers an advantage in the outlining of the mantle field in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. When the error rate is evaluated usng a beam's eye view treatment planning system, a significant proportion of tumors may be overlapped by the outlined mantle blocks even when CT images are available for reference. The use of beam's eye view treatment planning in mantle field definition, especially for tumors in the axillary region, may reduce the incidence of geographic misses.
Probing the bifunctional catalytic activity of ceria nanorods towards the cyanosilylation reaction

Ceria nanorods were demonstrated to be an active, bifunctional catalyst for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes. The catalytic activity of ceria was shown to be positively correlated with a decrease in the coordination numbers of neighbouring oxygen atoms around cerium atoms in the catalyst. Chemisorption and density functional theory studies suggested that the coordinatively unsaturated cerium sites exposed by the surface oxygen vacancy defects functioned as Lewis acid sites and the neighbouring oxygen atoms behaved as Lewis base sites in the catalytic cycle.
Temperature Effects on Haemolymph Acid-Base Status In Vivo and In Vitro in the Two-Striped Grasshopper Melanoplus Bivittatus

Summary In this study, I examine the effect of temperature on haemolymph acid-base status in vivo and in vitro in the two-striped grasshopper Melanoplus bivittatus. Melanoplus bivittatus experience wide (up to 40 °C) diurnal body temperature fluctuations in the field, but maintain body temperature relatively constant during sunny days by behavioural thermoregulation. Haemolymph pH was statistically constant (7-12) between 10 and 25°C, but decreased by -001 7 units "CT 1 from 25 to 40 °C. Relative alkalinity and fractional protein dissociation were conserved only at body temperatures at which feeding and locomotory activity occur, above 20°C. Haemolymph total CO2 (Ctot) increased from 10 to 20°C and decreased from 20 to 40°C. Haemolymph Pco2 increased from 10 to 20°C and was statistically constant between 20 and 40°C. Carbonic acid pKapp in haemolymph was 6-122 at 35°C, and decreased with temperature by —0-0081 units"C" 1 . Haemolymph buffer value averaged — SSmequivF'pHunit" 1 . Haemolymph pH changes with tem
Listening to Religious Music and Mental Health in Later Life

Purpose of the study Research has linked several aspects of religion--including service attendance, prayer, meditation, religious coping strategies, congregational support systems, and relations with God, among others--with positive mental health outcomes among older U.S. adults. This study examines a neglected dimension of religious life: listening to religious music. Design and methods Two waves of nationally representative data on older U.S. adults were analyzed (n = 1,024). Results Findings suggest that the frequency of listening to religious music is associated with a decrease in death anxiety and increases in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and a sense of control across the 2 waves of data. In addition, the frequency of listening to gospel music (a specific type of religious music) is associated with a decrease in death anxiety and an increase in a sense of control. These associations are similar for blacks and whites, women and men, and low- and high-socioeconomic status individuals. Implications Religion is an important socioemotional resource that has been linked with desirable mental health outcomes among older U.S. adults. This study shows that listening to religious music may promote psychological well-being in later life. Given that religious music is available to most individuals--even those with health problems or physical limitations that might preclude participation in more formal aspects of religious life--it might be a valuable resource for promoting mental health later in the life course.
Numerical modeling of helical flow of viscoplastic fluids in eccentric annuli

Helical flow of viscoplastic Herschel-Bulkley fluids in concentric and eccentric annuli with rotating inner cylinder was investigated numerically. Similar flows occur in drilling operations of oil and gas wells. A finite volume algorithm with a nonstaggered grid system and a nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinate system to handle irregular geometry of an eccentric annulus was used to analyze the problem. Papanastasiou's modification of the Herschel-Bulkley (Yield-Power-Law) constitutive equation was used to model the shear rate-dependent viscosity of a viscoplastic fluid. For a fixed axial pressure gradient, the axial flow rate increased with increasing rotational speed of the inner cylinder. The discharge, as well as torque required to rotate the inner pipe, increased with increasing eccentricity for a fixed axial pressure gradient and inner cylinder rotational speed. Discharge also increased with increasing axial pressure gradient at a fixed eccentricity and rotational speed of the inner pipe. The flow field in an eccentric annulus is complex because vigorous secondary flow is produced in addition to the primary axial helical flow. Blockage at the narrow part of the eccentric annulus, when present, intensifies this secondary flow, with the discharge decreasing initially, then increasing, and decreasing again with increasing height of the blockage.
A control-relevant approach to demand modeling for supply chain management

Abstract The development of control-oriented decision policies for inventory management in supply chains has drawn considerable interest in recent years. Modeling demand to supply forecasts is an important component of an effective solution to this problem. Drawing from the problem of control-relevant parameter estimation, this paper presents an approach for demand modeling in a production-inventory system that relies on a specialized weight to tailor the emphasis of the fit to the intended purpose of the model, which is to provide forecasts to inventory management policies based on internal model control or model predictive control. A systematic approach to generate this weight function (implemented using data prefilters in the time domain) is presented and the benefits demonstrated on a series of representative case studies. The multi-objective formulation developed in this work allows the user to emphasize minimizing inventory variance, minimizing starts variance, or their combination, as dictated by operational and enterprise goals.
Adhesion evaluation on low-cost alternatives to thermosetting epoxy encapsulants

The thermosetting epoxy curing systems have been widely used as encapsulants in the electronic packaging industry. With the continual evolving of electronic product markets, material suppliers have been challenged to provide more options to meet the requirements of advanced, yet cost effective, packaging solutions. In this paper, two low-cost alternative materials have been investigated experimentally regarding their adhesion and reliability performance, and these have then been compared with the thermosetting epoxy systems. One of the materials is thermoplastic bisphenol A epoxy/phenoxy resin, and the other is an interpenetrating polymer network composed of an epoxy curing component and a free radical polymerizable component. Some formulations of the materials being studied could exhibit excellent adhesion, durability and application reliability. While reworkability is expected for these materials, they are promising as cost effective encapsulants for electronic packaging, and may be applied with appropriate processing techniques.
Reduction of humic substances and Fe(III) by hyperthermophilic microorganisms

Abstract The ability of hyperthermophilic microorganisms to transfer electrons to humic substances (humics) and other extracellular quinones was evaluated. When H 2 was provided as the electron donor, the hyperthermophile, Pyrobaculum islandicum , transferred electrons to highly purified humics and the humics analog, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS). A diversity of other hyperthermophilic Archaea including: Pyrodictium abyssi , Pyrococcus furiosus , Archaeoglobus fulgidus , Thermococcus celer , Methanopyrus kandleri , as well as the thermophiles Methanococcus thermolithitrophicus and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum , exhibited H 2 -dependent AQDS reduction as did the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima . AQDS acted as an electron shuttle between P. islandicum and poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide and greatly accelerated rates of Fe(III) reduction. Electron shuttling by AQDS also promoted the reduction of the crystalline Fe(III) oxide forms, goethite and hematite. These results have implications for the potential mechanisms of Fe(III) reduction in various hot Fe(III)-containing environments such as near hydrothermal marine vents, terrestrial hot springs, and the deep terrestrial subsurface. The finding that the ability to reduce extracellular quinones is a characteristic of all of the hyperthermophiles evaluated and the fact that these hyperthermophiles are the organisms most closely related to the last common ancestor of extant organisms suggests that the last common ancestor had the ability to reduce humics. In combination with plausible geochemical scenarios, these results suggest that electron transfer to extracellular quinones and Fe(III) were initial steps in the eventual evolution of intracellular electron transport chains that employ quinones and iron-containing proteins.
Near-field scanning optical microscopic studies of micro-ring resonators

Near-field Scanning Optical Microscopy has been used to measure internal optical modes in channel waveguides and ring resonators. The period of the observed standing modes is a direct measure of the effective index.
Mattiebelle Gittinger and H. Leedom Lefferts, Jr. Textiles and the Tai Experience in Southeast Asia; and Sandra A. Niessen. Batak Cloth and Clothing.

Textiles and the Tai Experience in Southeast Asia. MATTIEBELLE GITTINGER and H. LEEDOM LEFFERTS. Jr. Washington, D.C.: The Textile Museum, 1992. Distributed by University of Washington Press. 264 pp., 220 illus., 24 in color, maps, appendices, bibliography, glossary. $45.00 (paper). Batak Cloth and Clothing:. Dynamic Indonesian Tradition, SANDRA A. NIESSEN. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Oxford University Press, 1993. The Asia Collection, xi +136 pp., 41 color illus., 78 b/w illus.,. maps, bibliography, index. $50.00 (cloth).
3D Integrated Packaging Approach for High Performance Processor-Memory Module

As high performance computing (HPC) system performance requirements increase, it is necessary to investigate new methods for integrating system components. Of interest is the applicability of 3D packaging approaches to HPC systems. Using thermal test chips, we designed and assembled a 3D processor-memory module with an integrated power delivery network to investigate interconnect density, integration, testability, and rework issues with 3D integrated packaging in an HPC environment. The design was based on interconnection and power delivery requirements for a processor-memory module capable of supporting 64 full-duplex 30G SerDes, routing for 800 processor-to-memory pins, an integrated multi-tiered power delivery network, and a thermal management solution capable of dissipating a nominal processor heat flux of 100 W/cm2. The technologies selected—semi-rigid flex, power connectors, land grid array (LGA) attach with an anisotropic film, and cold plate-based cooling—are all commercially available technologie...
A Philosophical Taxonomy of Ethically Significant Moral Distress

Moral distress is one of the core topics of clinical ethics. Although there is a large and growing empirical literature on the psychological aspects of moral distress, scholars, and empirical investigators of moral distress have recently called for greater conceptual clarity. To meet this recognized need, we provide a philosophical taxonomy of the categories of what we call ethically significant moral distress: the judgment that one is not able, to differing degrees, to act on one's moral knowledge about what one ought to do. We begin by unpacking the philosophical components of Andrew Jameton's original formulation from his landmark 1984 work and identify two key respects in which that formulation remains unclear: the origins of moral knowledge and impediments to acting on that moral knowledge. We then selectively review subsequent literature that shows that there is more than one concept of moral distress and that explores the origin of the values implicated in moral distress and impediments to acting on those values. This review sets the stage for identifying the elements of a philosophical taxonomy of ethically significant moral distress. The taxonomy uses these elements to create six categories of ethically significant moral distress: challenges to, threats to, and violations of professional integrity; and challenges to, threats to, and violations of individual integrity. We close with suggestions about how the proposed philosophical taxonomy of ethically significant moral distress sheds light on the concepts of moral residue and crescendo effect of moral distress and how the proposed taxonomy might usefully guide prevention of and future qualitative and quantitative empirical research on ethically significant moral distress.
Distributed synchronization control of multi-agent systems with switching directed communication topologies and unknown nonlinearities

This paper studies the distributed adaptive control problem for synchronization of multi-agent systems where the dynamics of the agents are nonlinear, nonidentical, unknown and subject to external disturbances. In our recent work, we solved this problem for general higher order systems under two types of communication topologies, represented, respectively, by a fixed strongly connected directed graph and by a switching connected undirected graph. The common Lyapunov function technique is employed to establish the results. In this paper, we solve the problem for a more general communication topology which is represented by a switching strongly-connected directed graph. We construct a sequence of different Lyapunov functions and use them to establish our results.
A Parthenogenetic New Species of the Genus Perimegatoma Horn (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

During the summer of 1938 Dr. H. H. Shepard of the Division of Entomology, University of Minnesota, brought to our attention a dermestid he had noticed in the laboratory in a nest of Vespula arenaria (Fabr.) ( =diabolica Sauss.). Cultures were started and a series of adults obtained for study. This dermestid was previously represented in our collection by only a single specimen labeled “University Farm Campus, September 10, 1934.” It proved to be undescribed in the literature relating to the North American fauna and in several respects it did not fit well into any described genus of the holarctic Dermestidae. The distinct characters which it shows might justify erecting a new genus for its reception, but until further revisional work is undertaken this seems undesirable. The closest affinities appear to be with species of Perimegatoma Horn.
Synthesis of the Prelog–Djerassi Lactone via an Asymmetric Hydroformylation/Crotylation Tandem Sequence

A synthesis of the Prelog–Djerassi lactone [(+)-1] has been accomplished in three isolations and 57% overall yield from the known vinyl ortho ester 2. A Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation/crotylation tandem sequence has been developed and used to set the C2–C4 stereochemistry. A Rh(I)-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation was employed to set the C6 sterechemistry, resulting in an unusually short and efficient enantioselective synthesis of this touchstone molecule from achiral starting material.
Development of trityl-based photolabile hydroxyl protecting groups.

A series of trityl-based photolabile hydroxyl protecting groups have been examined. These PPGs evolve from the traditional acid-labile trityl protecting group with proper electron-donating substituents. Structure–reactivity relationships have been explored. A m-dimethylamino group is crucial to achieve high photochemical deprotection efficiency. The o-hydroxyl group in 8 greatly improves the yield of the photochemical deprotection reaction, compared with the corresponding o-methoxyl-substituted counterpart 7. However, comparison between the photoreactions of 9 and 11 does not show similar structural relevance. The PPG in ether 1 (i.e., DMATr group) is structurally simple and easy to prepare and install. Its deprotection can be successfully carried out with irradiation of sunlight without requirement of photochemical devices.
Redress for Violations of the Law of the Sea at ITLOS: State Responsibility for Interference with the Duty to Rescue

The law of the sea is a body of customary rules, treaties and international agreements developed over the past three thousand years. In the modern law of the sea, jurisdiction over the activities of ships on the sea generally rests exclusively with that ship’s flag state. This arrangement resulted from the development of the maritime rights of States over centuries. The range of territorial claims to the oceans has varied throughout history, but the unoccupied, uncontrollable sea has always thwarted efforts to consistently assert jurisdiction as can be done on land. Moreover, jurisdiction may not be exercised extraterritorially “except by virtue of a permissive rule derived from international custom or from a convention.” So as a result the jurisdiction over ships on the sea has, as a matter of geography and comity, defaulted to flag State jurisdiction.
156 BODY MASS INDEX INDEPENDENTLY PREDICTS OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFLAMMATION IN STAGE II THROUGH IV CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may explain the increased atherosclerotic burden in this population. Obesity is independently associated with increasing oxidative stress and inflammation in the general population. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether obesity, as assessed by body mass index (BMI), can predict oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with CKD. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 200 stage II through IV CKD patients. Demographics, cardiovascular disease history, markers of oxidative stress (free F2-isoprostanes, a marker of lipid peroxidation, measured by GC/MS) and inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]), and BMI were measured in all patients. Using Spearman rank correlations, BMI was significantly correlated with F2-isoprostanes (r = .271, p
The Development Current Status and Countermeasure of "One Village One Products" Movement in Yunnan Province

"One village One products" is the development product of rural market economy and socialized production,is the presentation of agriculture with the village as the basic unit,and is the patterns of rural economy specialization and scale development.Practice proves that "One village,One products" is an important carrier of propelling modern agriculture construction,is specific actions of realizing enriching villagers under the guidance of scientific development perspective.Yunnan province practicing "One village,One products" has a unique location advantages and ecological advantages.At present,it appeared more and more professional villages of distinctive characteristics with certain regional scale and degree of specialization,gradually formed a new pattern of agriculture economic development with the leading characteristic of "One village,One products","One township,One industry".This paper briefly elaborates the connotation of "One Village,One Products",analyzes the present development status and existing problems,and puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions for the future development.
Vacancy-induced manganese vanadates and their potential application to Li-ion batteries

We report on the synthesis and characterization of a novel manganese vanadate, Mn1.5(H2O)(NH4)V4O12, with rare in situ disorder of Mn(H2O)22+/2NH4+. We show that vacancies created by ammonium ions and coordinating water molecules within the manganese vanadate crystal structure yield high-charge capacity, favorable rate capability, and long cycle life in Li-ion half-cells.
Effects of a zinc-deficient diet on tissue zinc concentrations in rabbits.

Young male New Zealand White rabbits given a diet containing 2 ppm of Zn (Zn-deficient diet) ceased to grow after 5 wk. Control rabbits given diets containing 80 or 85 of ppm Zn and experimental animals given 7 ppm of Zn (low-Zn diet) grew normally. The rabbits given the Zn-deficient diet also exhibited alopecia, skin lesions, and frequent pasteurella infections. These conditions were not observed in rabbits fed the other diets. The testes and thymus were smaller in the rabbits fed the Zn-deficient diet than in rabbits fed the control diet. Serum Zn concentrations in rabbits given the low- or Zn-deficient diets reached new lower levels after 2 wk, and these concentrations were maintained for up to 12 wk. The serum Zn concentration was, however, lower in the rabbits fed the Zn-deficient diet (approximately .35 micrograms/ml compared with .8 micrograms/ml for rabbits fed the low-Zn diet and 1.4 micrograms/ml for rabbits fed the control diet). Tissue Zn concentrations generally declined in rabbits fed the low- and Zn-deficient diets, but this response depended on the particular tissue and diet. Zinc levels in bone decreased by approximately 45% and in fur by 20 to 30% on either low-Zn or Zn-deficient treatments. With a Zn-deficient diet, Zn in liver and testes decreased by 20%, Zn in skin by 35%, and Zn in brain by 10%. The Zn concentration in the skeletal muscle and thymus was, however, maintained. In the eye, Zn concentration in the aqueous humor declined by approximately 20% in rabbits fed the Zn-deficient diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Incidence of gastrectomy in United States army hospitals worldwide from 1975 to 1985.

In the past 30 yr, hospitalization for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has decreased. The use of total or partial gastrectomy to treat PUD has also declined. The discharge cover sheets of over 3000 patients who had a gastrectomy between 1975 and 1985 in U.S. Army hospitals were reviewed.
Subjective foundation of possibility theory

This paper presents a new characterization of subjective possibility theory. Anscombe and Aumann 1 pioneered a multiple-variable approach to characterize the subjective probability on the basis of its relationship with objective probability. We generalize the Anscombe-Aumann approach to define subjective possibility theory. To characterize the uncertainty of the variable of interest (H) we consider its relationship with a variable of probability and a variable of ignorance. Our axiomatization assumes that the preference over the acts contingent on the outcomes of the variables is a weak order and satisfies a monotonicity property; the preference over probabilistic lotteries is represented by linear utility; and the preference over acts under ignorance by a recently developed ?-anchor utility theory. We show that if H and the variable of ignorance are completely reversible in Anscombe-Aumann's sense and H and the variable of probability are partially reversible then the uncertainty of H must obey the laws of possibility theory. We outline a framework to manage heterogeneous uncertainty that includes probability, possibility and ignorance in decision making.
Laying the Groundwork

No financial system, public or private, commences operations full-blown and as a going concern; each is the product of previous events as well as of conscious reflection and planning. So it was with the United Nations, which is neither the first, nor likely to be the last, organization created by national governments for the purpose of achieving international cooperation in the political, social, economic, or technical fields. For the lessons of the past, the framers of the United Nations system could turn to the international public unions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the League of Nations, the International Labor Organization, and the several regional organizations already in existence.
Blood Pressure Is a Major Modifiable Risk Factor Implicated in Pathogenesis of Intraplaque Hemorrhage: An In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Objective—Effective prevention and management strategies of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) remain elusive because of our limited knowledge regarding its contributing factors. This hypothesis-generating study aimed to investigate associations between cardiovascular risk factors and IPH for improved understanding of the pathogenesis of IPH. Approach and Results—Asymptomatic subjects with 16% to 79% stenosis on ultrasound underwent carotid magnetic resonance imaging using a large-coverage, 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging protocol. Individual plaques (maximum thickness >1.5 mm) in bilateral carotid arteries were identified, and presence of IPH was determined. From 80 subjects, 176 de novo plaques were measured, of which 38 (21.6%) contained IPH. Blood pressure (BP), primarily low diastolic BP, was associated with IPH in multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, and plaque size (odds ratio with 95% confidence interval per 10-mm Hg increase: 0.51 [0.30–0.88]), which was little changed after adjusting ...
Using precise word timing information improves decoding accuracy in a multiband-accelerated multimodal reading experiment.

ABSTRACTThe blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal measured in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments is generally regarded as sluggish and poorly suited for probing neural function at the rapid timescales involved in sentence comprehension. However, recent studies have shown the value of acquiring data with very short repetition times (TRs), not merely in terms of improvements in contrast to noise ratio (CNR) through averaging, but also in terms of additional fine-grained temporal information. Using multiband-accelerated fMRI, we achieved whole-brain scans at 3-mm resolution with a TR of just 500 ms at both 3T and 7T field strengths. By taking advantage of word timing information, we found that word decoding accuracy across two separate sets of scan sessions improved significantly, with better overall performance at 7T than at 3T. The effect of TR was also investigated; we found that substantial word timing information can be extracted using fast TRs, with diminishing benefits beyon...
Microfluidic Sorting of Cells by Viability Based on Differences in Cell Stiffness

The enrichment of viable cells is an essential step to obtain effective products for cell therapy. While procedures exist to characterize the viability of cells, most methods to exclude nonviable cells require the use of density gradient centrifugation or antibody-based cell sorting with molecular labels of cell viability. We report a label-free microfluidic technique to separate live and dead cells that exploits differences in cellular stiffness. The device uses a channel with repeated ridges that are diagonal with respect to the direction of cell flow. Stiff nonviable cells directed through the channel are compressed and translated orthogonally to the channel length, while soft live cells follow hydrodynamic flow. As a proof of concept, Jurkat cells are enriched to high purity of viable cells by a factor of 185-fold. Cell stiffness was validated as a sorting parameter as nonviable cells were substantially stiffer than live cells. To highlight the utility for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, frozen samples of cord blood were thawed and the purity of viable nucleated cells was increased from 65% to over 94% with a recovery of 73% of the viable cells. Thus, the microfluidic stiffness sorting can simply and efficiently obtain highly pure populations of viable cells.
White Matter Abnormalities in MS: Advances in Diffusion Tensor Imaging/Tractography

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic debilitating disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS), particularly the white matter. Over the years, there have been significant advances made in the management of MS including diagnosis and treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one if the neuroimaging modalities which has revolutionized the diagnosis and early detection of the disease. MRI has also proven useful to monitor disease progression in patients with MS and estimate its prognosis. In this chapter we have described the neuroimaging findings in MS using various methods of MRI. On the basis of sequence and imaging parameters applied, MRI scans can provide T1-weighted, T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) images, all of which may have applicability in the evaluation of patients with MS. Some of these sequences, especially DTI and MRS, have proven particularly helpful in understanding the pathology of this disease from a new perspective. We focus extensively on the recent development and application of DTI and fiber tractography in understanding and characterizing the white matter lesions that occur in MS. The application of these methods holds considerable promise for advancing our understanding of MS.
1,5-Dimethylhexylamine (octodrine) in sports and weight loss supplements: Natural constituent or synthetic chemical?

Abstract In the past years, there has been a mounting trend toward the addition of sympathomimetic stimulants in sports and weight loss supplements sold in the US and claimed to be from natural constituents. The latest among those pharmaceutical stimulants is 1,5-dimethylhexylamine (1,5-DMHA or octodrine), an ingredient in newly introduced sports and weight loss supplements with its ‘natural’ origin being cited from Aconitum or Kigelia plants. In order to validate the natural existence of 1,5-DMHA, two GC/MS methods were developed. One method involved using thick film megabore capillary columns to analyze the underivatized 1,5-DMHA. The second method was to determine enantiomeric distribution of 1,5-DMHA. Fifteen Aconitum or Kigelia plant samples originating from various locations were analyzed, and none of them contained 1,5-DMHA within the limit of detection (25 ng/mL) of the method. In contrast, although 1,5-DMHA was listed on the labels or website for all the 13 dietary supplements, only four products were found to contain this compound, with the highest quantity being reported as 112 mg per serving size. This is equivalent to more than three times the highest pharmaceutical dose established in Europe. The enantiomeric ratios of 1,5-DMHA in these products were determined to be between 0.9–1.0 (expressed as peak area ratio of one enantiomer over another), suggesting racemic nature. Interestingly, two byproducts from 1,5-DMHA synthesis were identified in commercial supplements containing 1,5-DMHA, indicating that 1,5-DMHA indeed originated from a poor quality source. Overall, the significant amount of 1,5-DMHA observed in the supplements, the enantiomeric distribution and the presence of the synthetic byproducts all suggested the synthetic origin of 1,5-DMHA in the commercial products.
THE ABSORB BIORESORBABLE VASCULAR SCAFFOLDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LOW WALL SHEAR STRESS COMPARED TO XIENCE V: A BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ABSORB III IMAGING STUDY

The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) has higher target lesion failure (TLF) rates at 3 years. Low wall shear stress (WSS) promotes several mechanisms related to device TLF. We hypothesized that, due to its larger strut size, BVS is more likely to be associated with Low WSS than Xience V
29.2 A Scalable Quantum Magnetometer in 65nm CMOS with Vector-Field Detection Capability

Room-temperature control and detection of the nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond’s spin-state has enabled magnetic sensing with high sensitivity and spatial resolution [1], [2]. However, current NV sensing apparatuses use bulky off-the-shelf components, which greatly increase the system’s scale. In [3], a compact platform, which attaches nanodiamond particles to a CMOS sensor, shrinks this spin-based magnetometer to chip scale; however, the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) curve it generates carries large fluctuation leading to inferior sensitivity. In this paper, we present a CMOS-NV quantum sensor with (i) a highly-scalable microwave-delivering structure and (ii) a Talboteffect-based photonic filter with enhanced green-to-red suppression ratio. The former enables coherent driving of an increased number of NV centers, and the latter reduces the shot noise of the photo-detector caused by the input green laser. In addition, the usage of a bulk diamond also enables vector magnetometry, which allows for the tracking of magnetic objects and navigation. The prototype sensor provides a measured vector-field sensitivity of 245nT/Hz $^{1/2}$.
A Direct Trajectory Dynamics Investigation of Fast O+ Alkane Reactions

Direct trajectory calculations of collisions of fast O(3P) with methane, ethane and propane molecules are presented. We find that OH+alkyl and H+alkoxy formation are the major reactive channels for both systems, with OH formation being more important are low energy (2–3 eV) and H formation being more important at high energy (4–6 eV). For ethane and propane, C-C bond cleavage and other processes such as direct water formation, are found, but the cross sections are smaller than for OH+alkyl and H+alkoxy.
De novo DNA Methylation: Who's Your DADdy?

DNA methylation regulates the organization and function of the genome. Yamanaka et al. now report that de novo methylation of male germ cells of mice involves the transient opening of heterochromatin at megabase-size differentially accessible domains (DADs). This chromatin remodeling likely facilitates de novo methylation of the germ cell genome.
Stochastic Gradient Population Monte Carlo

The population Monte Carlo (PMC) algorithm is a powerful adaptive importance sampling (AIS) methodology used for estimating expected values of random quantities w.r.t. some target probability distribution. At each iteration, a Markov transition kernel is used to propagate a set of particles. Importance weights of the particles are computed and then used to resample the particles that are most representative of the target distribution. At the end of the algorithm, the set of all particles and weights can be used to perform estimation. The resampling step is an adaptive mechanism of the PMC algorithm that allows for particles to locate the most significant regions of the sampling space. In this letter, we generalize the adaptation procedure of PMC sampling by providing a perspective based on stochastic optimization rather than resampling. The proposed method is more flexible than standard PMC as it allows the parameter adaptation to be resolved using any stochastic optimization method. We show that under certain conditions, the standard PMC algorithm is a special case of the proposed approach.
First Documented Report for Lythrum salicaria (Lythraceae) in Louisiana

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is documented for the first time for Louisiana in Plaquemines Parish, extending its range southward about 310 km. Three species of Lythrum are now known for Louisiana, and four species have been recorded for the central Gulf and lower Mississippi valley regions. A key to species and regional distributional data are provided for L. salicaria.
Optimal Stiffness Distribution: Static Loading

This chapter is concerned with the first step in passive motion control, establishing a distribution of structural stiffness that produces the desired displacement profile. The stiffness distribution for static loading applied to a set of structures consisting of continuous cantilever beams, building-type structures modeled as equivalent discontinuous beams with lumped masses, and truss-type structures, is discussed. Closed form solutions are generated for the continuous cantilever beam example.
Knowledge and Awareness of Ear Protection Devices for Sound Sensitivity by Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Purpose Sensitivity to sounds and atypical reactions to sensory input by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported in the literature. In response to this sensitivity, some ...
How Does Rescuer Fitness Affect the Quality of Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Objective: High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for patients experiencing cardiac arrest. CPR quality declines within the first few minutes of CPR performance. Being more fit...
A General Theory Approach to the Construction of Markov Processes

This can be considered as the third in a series of papers exploiting the commutativity of projections for Markov processes as begun in [1] and continued in [2]. We use the projections here to address the problem of finding necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of “very regular” Markov processes, which, among other things, serve to provide further insight into the familiar regularity assumptions of Markov process theory.
The Rabbit Intrastromal Injection Model of Bacterial Keratitis

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the rabbit intrastromal injection model of Pseudomonas keratitis. Typical chemotherapy experiments employ Young New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2–3 kg. For membranectomies, a hand-held electric cauterizer is required for limiting bleeding during this surgical procedure. At the termination of the experiment, a scalpel with a no. 10 blade, surgical scissors, a hemostat, and forceps are required for the removal of the corneas from sacrificed rabbits. For general anesthesia, rabbits are injected intramuscularly with a mixture of ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg). Immediately prior to intrastromal injection or membranectomy, the eye is anesthetized by topical administration of two drops of proparacaine. As the injection of ketamine and xylazine can effect iritis and possibly other types of ocular inflammation, slit-lamp examination (SLE) is best performed prior to the administration of anesthesia. The nictitating membrane should be removed at least three days prior to the initiation of infection. This surgery involves the application of general and local anesthesia followed by the cutting of the membrane. Every strain of bacteria used for bacterial keratitis is characterized in terms of its growth characteristics both in vitro and in vivo. The infection process does not induce stress in the rabbit until the SLE score exceeds a value of 20. The seven parameters graded are conjunctival chemosis (edema), conjunctival injection (redness), corneal edema, corneal infiltrate, fibrin accumulation in the anterior chamber, hypopyon formation, and iritis. The SLE for a maximally inflamed eye is 28, but this is a theoretical value and eyes should not be allowed to advance significantly beyond a score of 20.
Cloned Mice from Adult Stem Cells

Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) induces drastic genomic reprogramming in the donor cell nuclei, and cloned animals can be generated from various cell types. Since it is known that the success rate of cloning from embryonic stem (ES) cells is higher than that from somatic cells, it has been postulated that efficiency in mammalian cloning is inversely correlated with the donor cells' differentiation status. In this chapter, an overview is provided of the various approaches that have been used in cloning from adult stem cells, especially from hematopoietic stem cells, neural stem cells, keratinocyte stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, nuclear transfer-derived ES (ntES) cell lines have been established from many different tissues of adult mice. These ntES cells can also be used as donor cells for generating cloned animals. Recent reports of the generation of cloned mice using ntES technology are also reviewed. Keywords: Animal cloning; Adult stem cells; Nuclear transfer; Reprogramming; ntES cell
The Bad Citizen in Classical Athens

Introduction: The other Athenians 1. The self-interested citizen 2. The reluctant conscript 3. The cowardly hoplite 4. The artful tax dodger.
Towards Robust IT Service Portfolio Management

ITIL recommends implementing Service Portfolio Management as a way to actively manage IT investments, with transparency in its operations and spending. Selecting which and when projects should be executed is an important but complex task. It is all the more complex if one includes operational costs, which represent a significant component of the IT budget. We investigate techniques to provide decision support in selecting IT investments. We provide a model to link IT investment selection to business value and a method to generate valid portfolios and to guide an IT executive the `best' portfolio. Finally, we evaluate our method with a case study and report on the feasibility of the method.
A-site stoichiometry and piezoelectric response in thin film PbZr1−xTixO3

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films with Zr/Ti ratios of 52/48 and 30/70 annealed at varying partial pressures of PbO within the perovskite phase field exhibited permittivities of 1150 and 600, respectively, with loss tangents of 0.02. Many of the functional properties, including the permittivity, piezoelectricity as indicated via the Rayleigh coefficients, and the aging rates were found to be weakly dependent of the lead content in the single phase field. Minor polarization–electric field hysteresis loops and piezoelectric coefficient e31,f values after a hot poling process suggest that the point defect helps stabilize the aligned domain states. Measurements of the local nonlinear response show an increased low response cluster size with decreasing PbO content, indicating that PbO deficiency acts to reduce domain wall motion where it is already low.
Why so Blue? Population Characteristics Affecting Presidential Voting Habits of the Tallahassee MSA

Voting is quite possibly the most honest thing that an individual can do. Unfortunately, it is not possible to know beyond a doubt that a voter actually voted for the person for whom he or she said they voted. To identify how groups of individuals vote, researchers must understand how a general group of voters tend to vote. These broad generalizations are akin to stereotyping; African Americans vote Democratic or white male Southerners vote Republican. These are not necessarily inaccurate statements, but they hide the complexity behind how an individual decides to cast his or her vote.