cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Share or Not to Share? A Survey of Biomedical Researchers in the U.S. Southwest, an Ethnically Diverse Region

Background Cancer health disparities research depends on access to biospecimens from diverse racial/ethnic populations. This multimethodological study, using mixed methods for quantitative and qualitative analysis of survey results, assessed barriers, concerns, and practices for sharing biospecimens/data among researchers working with biospecimens from minority populations in a 5 state region of the United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). The ultimate goals of this research were to understand data sharing barriers among biomedical researchers; guide strategies to increase participation in biospecimen research; and strengthen collaborative opportunities among researchers. Methods and Population Email invitations to anonymous participants (n = 605 individuals identified by the NIH RePORT database), resulted in 112 responses. The survey assessed demographics, specimen collection data, and attitudes about virtual biorepositories. Respondents were primarily principal investigators at PhD granting institutions (91.1%) conducting basic (62.3%) research; most were non-Hispanic White (63.4%) and men (60.6%). The low response rate limited the statistical power of the analyses, further the number of respondents for each survey question was variable. Results Findings from this study identified barriers to biospecimen research, including lack of access to sufficient biospecimens, and limited availability of diverse tissue samples. Many of these barriers can be attributed to poor annotation of biospecimens, and researchers’ unwillingness to share existing collections. Addressing these barriers to accessing biospecimens is essential to combating cancer in general and cancer health disparities in particular. This study confirmed researchers’ willingness to participate in a virtual biorepository (n = 50 respondents agreed). However, researchers in this region listed clear specifications for establishing and using such a biorepository: specifications related to standardized procedures, funding, and protections of human subjects and intellectual property. The results help guide strategies to increase data sharing behaviors and to increase participation of researchers with multiethnic biospecimen collections in collaborative research endeavors Conclusions Data sharing by researchers is essential to leveraging knowledge and resources needed for the advancement of research on cancer health disparities. Although U.S. funding entities have guidelines for data and resource sharing, future efforts should address researcher preferences in order to promote collaboration to address cancer health disparities.
Improving Social Measurement by Understanding Interaction in Survey Interviews

Many of the official statistics and leading indicators that inform policy decisions are created from aggregating data collected in scientific survey interviews. What happens in the back-and-forth o...
evaluation of a new tablet formulation of deferasirox to reduce chronic iron overload after long-term blood transfusions

Transfusion-dependent anemia is a common feature in a wide array of hematological disorders, including thalassemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis, and myelo-dysplastic syndromes. In the absence of a physiological mechanism to excrete excess iron, chronic transfusions ultimately cause iron overload. Without correction, iron overload can lead to end-organ damage, resulting in cardiac, hepatic, and endocrine dysfunction/failure. Iron chelating agents are utilized to reduce iron overload, as they form a complex with iron, leading to its clearance. Iron chelation has been proven to decrease organ dysfunction and improve survival in certain transfusion-dependent anemias, such as β-thalassemia. Several chelating agents have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of iron overload, including deferoxamine, deferiprone, and deferasirox. A variety of factors have to be considered when choosing an iron chelator, including dosing schedule, route of administration, tolerability, and side effect profile. Deferasirox is an orally administered iron chelator with proven efficacy and safety in multiple hematological disorders. There are two formulations of deferasirox, a tablet for suspension, and a new tablet form. This paper is intended to provide an overview of iron overload, with a focus on deferasirox, and its recently approved formulation Jadenu(®) for the reduction of transfusional iron overload in hematological disorders.
Characterization of Natural Moisturizers by Hygroscopicity

Effects of hygroscopic moisturizers are evaluated by means of dynamic hygroscopicity and unfrozen water (UFW) value measured by DSC.The Natural Moiturizing Factors (NMF) evaluated are Na PCA, L-Proline, Na lactate, Glycerin, Na hyaluronate, partially hydrolyzed chitin and Na polyglutamate. NMF moisturizers are classified into four types of groups by their hygroscopic profiles and water holding capacities. L-Proline showed desirable features as a moisturizer which has relatively consistent water retention with the excellent water holding capacity regardless of humidity change.UFW are measured by DSC and showed good correlation to the hygroscopicity of NMF moisturizers.UFW measurement can be done within one hour, while it will take several weeks to finish conventinal hygroscopicity measurement.Thus UFW measurement by DSC is found to be useful method to predict potential hygroscopicity.
Crystallization in Metal-Metalloid Multilayers

ABSTRACTWe have studied the reactions which occur in metal-metalloid multilayers made from elements which have binary eutectic phase diagrams. The metal mediates crystallization of the amorphous as-deposited metalloid by crystal nucleation inside the metal layer followed by rapid diffusion through the metal from amorphous to crystalline phases. The metalloid crystallization temperature is significantly reduced by this reaction. Systems showing this behavior are Al-Si, Ag-Si, Ag-Ge, Co-C, Ni-C and Fe-C. We believe, therefore, that it is a general phenomenon which we have now extended to the case of Ag-SiC.
Two-dimensional MR spectroscopic characterization of breast cancer in vivo.

The major goal of this work was to characterize invasive ductal carcinoma and healthy fatty breast tissues noninvasively using the classification and regression tree analysis (CART) of 2D MR spectr...
The Variations in Reaction of the Blood of Different Species as Indicated by Hemolysis of the Red Blood Cells when Treated with Acids or Alkalies

In 1913, at the Pasteur Institute of the University of Michigan an attempt was made to establish the Wassermann reaction on a chemical basis. The research in this direction dealt chiefly with the influence of salts, acids, and alkalies on the hemolytic system. It was first noted that any one of these, even in high dilution, had its influence on this biologic reaction. A specimen known to be negative to the Wassermann test, could be made to give a positive reaction by the addition of a trace of either acid or alkali. Furthermore, on the addition of a somewhat larger quantity of acid or of alkali, a positive specimen would give a negative reaction. Similarly, neutral salts would influence a negative specimen to the extent of causing a positive reaction. The opposite of this, however, was not true. Further experiments developed the fact that a series of positive and negative reactions, analogous in result to positive and negative Wassermann reactions, could be produced by an acid solution as antigen, and by rabbit serum, rendered acid or alkaline, as positive or negative serum. The acid serum would give a positive end result; while the alkaline serum would be negative. The analogy between the final results of these experiments and those of the Wassermann, coupled with the fact that the actual Wassermann could be influenced with acids or alkalies, and a negative specimen influenced with neutral salts, led to the assumption that the positive Wassermanns might be due to an increase in ions during the first incubation, either acid or alkaline ions, or those of neutral salts. This assumed to be a fact, the next step in the work was an investigation of the action of acids and alkalies on the hemolysis of certain blood cells. By allowing a fixed time interval for complete hemolysis of a definite blood cell suspension, the percentage of acid or of alkali
Histological and Functional Changes in the Ears of Cats after Subcutaneous Administration of Gentamicin

Our investigations began with a systematic study of dosage as related to toxicity. Using the higher dosage levels, the cats became grossly ataxic. We therefore decided to use 20 mg/kilogram, which produced no ataxia and, in this preliminary series, no evidence of nephrosis. We thus attempted to correlate the functional tests in cats receiving doses that would show no histological changes. Table 1 indicates the division of the experiment into preliminary dosage level studies and the subsequent main work with a standard dose of 20 mg/kilogram daily for 14 days. Table 2 lists the toxic effects of higher dosage with ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and death at 75 mg/kilogram daily for 8-17 days. Dosages of 40 mg/kilogram and above resulted in clinical signs of ataxia by the second week. It was interesting to note that the ataxia continued to progress for a few days after the injections were stopped. Nephrotoxicity, in the form of subacute nephrosis with tubular degeneration and necrosis, lower tubular red-cell casts, as well as replacement fibrosis, was noted in all cats given a minimum of 35 mg/kilogram per day for 20 days. The degree of histological ototoxic damage was dependent on 2 factors: the dosage of the drug, and the degree of renal damage presumably because of lowered renal excretion in severe
Code reader

Source code reading as an element of Software Engineering has long been ignored. Presented here is a pseudo-design of a Code reader (CREAD) for 'C' like language.
Additional Looping Functions

Most GIS scripting projects are motivated by the desire to automate repetitive tasks. The Python programming language has a number of special functions and structures designed to facilitate various common demands in repetitive workflows. In this chapter, we’ll highlight some additional useful techniques for GIS scripting, related to Python FOR-loops, including list comprehension, the built-in enumerate and zip functions, and the os.walk function.
Study on Insulator Charged Detection Based on Crystal Electro-Optic Effect

The auther presents a method for insulator charged detection by optical electric field sensor based on Pockels effect. Through theory analysis and practical test, the validity of this theory and the implementation way has been verified. The experimental results show that, the faulty of composite insulator in the high-voltage side, low-voltage side, and the middle side, can be shown through the field measurement results, which can provide reference for the detection of faulty insulator electric field method. That is to say, using the method of optical electric field sensor for detecting insulator is scientific and effective, and is important supplementary to solve the existing difficulties, especially in composite insulator charged detection.
Finite Element Analysis of Longitudinal Vibration of Direction Well Drill String

The force on the drill string is very complex in the process of drilling direction wells.A merely drill string vibration includes longitudinal vibration,transverse vibration and torsional vibration,of which longitudinal vibration is one of the major factors leading to drill string failure.Therefore,the longitudinal vibration of direction wells is needed to further study.The regularity of longitudinal vibration was analyzed by using finite element method.Firstly,according to the characteristics of direction wells,a whole-well drill string model was established,then with the drill string module as an object of study,a whole-well drill string mechanical model of longitudinal vibration was established.Through analysis of the computer by means of linear algebra,the regular distribution of longitudinal vibration resonant frequency of direction wells was obtained.The resonant frequency of drill string longitudinal vibration depends upon material properties of drill string and morphological characteristics,but has little to do with the length of the drill string.In the longitudinal resonance state,drill string comes into intense collision with the wall,which will cause serious damage on drill string in a short time.At the same time even give rise to borehole collapse,result in economic loss to the drilling operation.It is very significant that the study of this issue can be used to direct drilling operation and reduce accidents such as bit bounce,drill string failure and so on.
Antibiotic resistance and genotypes of extended spectrum β-lactamases producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from infants

Objective:To investigate the distribution of genotype and antibiotic resistance of extended spectrum β-lactamases(ESBLs)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from infants in Xinjiang.Methods:Disk diffusion test(Kirby-Bauer) was used for determination of anti-microbial susceptibility.Genes including TEM,SHV,CTXM-1,CTXM-9 were detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and some positive products were sequenced.Results:100 strains ESBLs were all sensitive to imipenem.Rsistance of fluoroquinolones was below 10%.Most of other antibiotics were all resistant.Genotype showed that 72 strains carry TEM,79 strains carry SHV,58 strains carry CTX-M-1 and 42 strains with CTX-M-9.Both and above both sort of genotypes were carried by 91% ESBLs producing strains.Conclusion:Antibiotic resistance of ESBLs-producing Klebsiella pneumoniaeisolates from infants in Xinjiang is very serious,multi-genotypes exist simultaneously in ESBLs from infants.
Analysis of the Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Gene Promoter Reveals Critical PU.1 and SP1 Sites

The gene defective in X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) encodes a novel protein kinase termed Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Whereas the XLA phenotype is confined to abnormalities of B-cell development and function, Btk is expressed not only in B-lymphocyte lineage but also in myeloid lineage cells. The first 450 basepairs of the Btk promoter fused to a luciferase gene displayed a similar cell-type specificity. Critical binding sites for the transcription factors PU.1 and Sp1 were identified in the proximal portion of the Btk promoter upstream of a cluster of transcriptional start sites. Mutation of either the PU.1 or Sp1 site markedly reduced the activity of a Btk promoter-luciferase reporter construct in transfection experiments. In addition, PU.1 directly transactivated the Btk promoter, and deletion of the PU.1 binding site abolished this effect. This study implicates PU.1 and Sp1 as major regulators of Btk expression and provides a foundation for further study of the regulation of this gene in XLA patients that lack Btk mRNA.
Heat inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus in blood products.

Summary Heat treatments simulating commercial preparation of blood powder were applied to blood from cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), type O 1 ,. Laboratory powder, obtained by heating whole blood, closely resembled commercial dried blood powder in that both contained 1% moisture, were dark brown in colour and were coarsely granular. Foot-and-mouth disease virus was not detected in infected liquid blood droplets heated at 80°C. for 30 sec. When infected blood powder was heated to 150°C., temperatures rose at approximately 6°C. per min. Foot-and-mouth disease virus was detected at 72°C. (6 min. of heat) but not at 86°C. (8 min. of heat) or higher. The unheated preparations (controls) contained 10 3.3 to 10 4.6 PFU/ml. of FMDV. Adding heparin or sodium carbonate produced no appreciable difference in findings.
Chapter 3 The Socialist Calculation Debate and its Normative Implications

Abstract During the socialist calculation debate, Ludwig von Mises and F. A. Hayek made a positive argument regarding the impossibility of economic calculation under socialism. In this study, I argue that the arguments made by Mises and Hayek have normative implications for capitalism. I do so by drawing an analogy between an Austrian account of the market process and a neo-Aristotelian account of human flourishing. Neither economic calculation follows passively from implementing a set of profit-maximizing rules nor does human flourishing follow passively from following a set of universal moral norms (be they of utilitarian, deontological, or natural law inspiration). Both economic calculation and human flourishing are inherently based on individual acts of knowledge creation, actualized only by self-directed individuals. In both cases, the creation of such knowledge is both contextual and specific to the unique circumstances of each individual of a particular time and place. Therefore, to assume that such knowledge exists ex ante, and is objective and transpersonal across time, place, and institutional context renders both economic calculation and human flourishing into a technological problem of given means and given ends, in essence defining both activities out of existence. The possibility of economic calculation and human flourishing are therefore dependent upon a political/legal order that protects the possibility of self-directed knowledge creation in both the economic and moral realms, that is, to say an institutional framework of private property rights.
Genome engineering in human pluripotent stem cells

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) hold great promise for modeling and recapitulation of human biological processes. Coupled with the advent of genome engineering tools, specifically the CRISPR–Cas9 systems, hPSCs have opened a multitude of possibilities in modeling human biology and creating novel cellular therapies. Here, we review the fundamentals of both technologies, and the wide-ranging present and future applications of genome engineering in hPSCs.
Changing Horizons of Modern Weaponry in South Asia: A Legal Survey

Weapons have proved to be crucial in the formation of modern States. In recent times, these weapons have become so lethal that its use needs to be regulated by the international community as well as by the national governments. International Humanitarian Law has evolved out of this necessity. In this chapter, important principles of international humanitarian law have been examined. It further examines the review mechanism established by various treaties and conventions to regulate the use of new weapons, such as biological, chemical, nuclear, laser, antipersonnel land mines, and many more. The issue of regulating autonomous weapon systems and drones is also examined in this chapter. Finally, it assesses the potential of arms race between India and Pakistan in the region and the challenge of keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of the terrorists.
Solid-state transformers using silicon carbide-based modular building blocks

Solid-state transformers (SSTs) that process power through power electronics and high frequency transformers are an interesting alternative to line-frequency transformers. In addition to weight and possibly size reduction, solid-state transformers can provide enhanced controllability. Emerging silicon carbide (SiC) power devices that can block higher voltages, conduct current more efficiently, and switch faster than silicon power devices are providing a new impetus to the development of SSTs. This paper discusses several versions of MVA-scale SSTs designed for medium voltage AC or DC applications using modular power electronic building blocks. The building blocks are based on 1.7kV to 10 kV SiC MOSFETs and 20 kHz–200 kHz transformers. Test results from prototypes are presented.
Competing Interactions and Complexity in Condensed Matter

Some major themes of space-time complexity in condensed matter contexts are reviewed. They are illustrated through model and physical systems, analysed by both analytical and numerical techniques.
Testing contrastive inferences from suprasegmental features using offline measures

Speakers add modifiers to the extent that they are informative (Grice 1975); studies using the visual world eye-tracking paradigm find that the use of pre-nominal modifiers ( short, big ) leads listeners to infer the existence of similar objects differing along that same scale (Grodner & Sedivy 2011; Sedivy et al. 1999). In this study, we probe these contrastive inferences using an offline questionnaire, paired with audio/video stimuli to ask whether similar inferences extend to two types of suprasegmental features: prosodic focus and depictive co-speech gestures. Our results suggest that the presence of a scalar adjective robustly leads to contrastive inferences in this offline forced choice paradigm, and that the robustness of the lexical pattern persists even when prosodic focus would indicate otherwise. Prosodic focus does, however, appear to modulate the contrastive effect of a given pre-nominal modifier. We find that the same pragmatic process fails to extend to depictive co-speech gestures, supporting a semantic analysis of these gestures as generally not-at-issue contributions.
Random Forests for Generating Partially Synthetic, Categorical Data

Several national statistical agencies are now releasing partially synthetic, public use microdata. These comprise the units in the original database with sensitive or identifying values replaced with values simulated from statistical models. Specifying synthesis models can be daunting in databases that includemany variables of diverse types. These variablesmay be related inways that can be difficult to capture with standard parametric tools. In this article, we describe how random forests can be adapted to generate partially synthetic data for categorical variables. Using an empirical study, we illustrate that the random forest synthesizer can preserve relationships reasonably well while providing low disclosure risks. The random forest synthesizer has some appealing features for statistical agencies: it can be applied with minimal tuning, easily incorporates numerical, categorical, and mixed variables as predictors, operates efficiently in high dimensions, and automatically fits non-linear relationships.
Temperature Effects on Soil Mineralization of Polylactic Acid Plastic in Laboratory Respirometers

A respirometric system was used to analyze the biodegradation of high molecular weight (120,000 to 200,000 g mol−1) polylactic acid (PLA) plastic films in soil under laboratory conditions. The respirometric system consisted of air-conditioning pretraps, a soil reactor, and a carbon dioxide (CO2) posttrap. A 200-g homogeneous soil mixture of all-purpose potting soil : manure soil : sand [1 : 1 : 1 (w/w)] and 1.5 g of PLA plastic films in 1 × 1-cm2 squares was added to each bottle. The respirometers were placed in a 28, 40, or 55°C water bath for 182 days. Treatments (three replicates) included native corn starch (positive control), polyethylene (Glad Cling Wrap; negative control), and three PLA films: Ca-I (Cargill Dow Polymers LLC, monolayer), GII (Cargill Dow Polymers LLC, Generation II), and Ch-I (Chronopol; monolayer). The degree of polymer mineralization was indicated by the cumulative CO2 liberated from each respirometer. The initial average mineralization rate and total percentage mineralized of the PLA plastic films at 28, 40, and 55°C was 24.3, 41.5, and 76.9 mg/day with a 27, 45, and 70% carbon loss, respectively. No decrease in soil pH was observed after 182 days of mineralization. Hence, increase in soil temperature drastically enhanced the biodegradation of PLA plastic films in soil under laboratory conditions (P < 0.0001).
Reconstruction of the Superior Glenoid Labrum With Biceps Tendon Autograft: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Study.

Purpose To describe 2 superior labral reconstruction techniques using long head of the biceps (LHB) autograft and to investigate the ability of the 2 reconstruction techniques to restore superior restraint to the glenohumeral joint compared with superior labrum–deficient models. Methods In this biomechanical study, 10 cadaveric shoulders were cycled on a servohydraulic machine while the force required to cause superior subluxation was recorded. Each specimen was cycled under 4 conditions: intact labrum, SLAP tear, posterior (9- to 12-o’clock position) labral reconstruction using LHB autograft (superior labral reconstruction 1 [SLR1]), and 180° (9- to 3-o’clock position) labral reconstruction using LHB autograft (superior labral reconstruction 2 [SLR2]). Results The mean peak force required to cause superior subluxation in the intact labrum was 32.75 N versus 19.75 N in the SLAP tear (P = .0120). SLR1 required a mean peak force of 31.23 N versus 44.09 N for SLR2 (P = .0175). SLR1 required 94.96% of the force needed in the intact labrum to cause subluxation, whereas SLR2 required 140.6%. SLR1 and SLR2 required 34.21% higher (P = .0074) and 79.84% higher (P = .0033) forces, respectively, to generate subluxation compared with the SLAP tear state. Conclusions Both proposed superior labral reconstruction techniques increased the force needed for humeral head superior migration in the setting of a labral tear. SLR1 (posterior labral reconstruction) closely matched the constraint of an intact labrum, whereas SLR2 (180° labral reconstruction) provided greater superior constraint than an intact labrum. Clinical Relevance The natural history of irreparable rotator cuff tears results in superior glenohumeral escape and eventual arthrosis. The superior glenoid labrum is an important contributor to superior glenohumeral constraint and is often degenerated in this setting. Clinical application of the 2 described superior labral reconstruction techniques may improve glenohumeral superior stability in patients with rotator cuff disease and superior labral deficiency.
Successful treatment of large cavity esophageal disruptions with transluminal washout and endoscopic vacuum therapy: a report of two cases.

Acute, high-grade esophageal perforation and postoperative leak after esophagogastrostomy are associated with high morbidity and mortality due to the development of mediastinitis and thoracic conta...
Structural Increases in Demand for Skill after the Great Recession

In this paper, we use detailed job vacancy data to estimate changes in skill demand in the years since the Great Recession. The share of job vacancies requiring a bachelor's degree increased by more than 60 percent between 2007 and 2019, with faster growth in professional occupations and high-wage cities. Since the labor market was becoming tighter over this period, cyclical "upskilling" is unlikely to explain our findings.
The Road to Transfusion-free Craniosynostosis Repair in Children Less Than 24 Months Old: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Introduction Pediatric craniofacial reconstruction has historically resulted in extensive blood loss necessitating transfusion. This single-center quality improvement initiative evaluates the impact of perioperative practice changes on the allogeneic transfusion rate for children 24 months and younger of age undergoing craniofacial reconstruction. Methods At project initiation, an appointed core group of anesthesiologists provided all intraoperative anesthetic care for patients undergoing craniofacial reconstruction. Standardized anesthetic guidelines established consistency between providers. Using the Plan-do-check-act methodology, practice changes had been implemented and studied over a 5-year period. Improvement initiatives included developing a temperature-management protocol, using a postoperative transfusion protocol, administering intraoperative tranexamic acid, and a preincisional injection of 0.25% lidocaine with epinephrine. For each year of the project, we acquired data for intraoperative and postoperative allogeneic transfusion rates. Results A cohort of 119 pediatric patients, ages 4-24 months, underwent anterior or posterior vault reconstruction for craniosynostosis at a tertiary children's hospital between March 2013 and November 2018. Intraoperative and postoperative transfusion of allogeneic blood products in this cohort decreased from 100% preintervention to 22.7% postintervention. Conclusions Interdepartmental collaboration and practice modifications using sequential Plan-do-check-act cycles resulted in a bundle of care that leads to a sustainable decrease in the rate of intraoperative and postoperative allogeneic blood transfusions in patients less than 24 months of age undergoing craniosynostosis repair. This bundle decreases the risk of transfusion-related morbidity for these patients. Other institutions looking to achieve similar outcomes can implement this project.
MRI detection of impairment of glymphatic function in rat after mild traumatic brain injury.

Abstract We investigated the effect of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on the glymphatic pathway using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) and quantified with kinetic parameters obtained from an advanced two-compartment model. mTBI was induced in male Wistar rats using a closed head impact. Animals with and without mTBI (n = 7/group) underwent the identical MRI protocol 10-weeks post-injury, including T2-weighted imaging and 3D T1-weighted imaging with intra-cisterna magna injection of contrast agent (Gd-DTPA). The parameters of infusion rate, clearance rate and clearance time constant, characterizing the kinetic features of glymphatic tracer transport in a living brain, were quantified in multiple brain tissue regions. In the majority of examined regions, our quantification demonstrated significantly reduced infusion and clearance rates, and significantly increased clearance time constant in the mTBI animals compared to the healthy controls. These data indicate that mTBI induces chronic changes in influx and efflux of contrast agent and glymphatic pathway dysfunction. While the reduced efficiency of glymphatic function after mTBI was apparent in brain, regional evaluation revealed heterogeneous glymphatic effects of the mTBI in different anatomical regions. The suppression of glymphatic function, rather than the presence of focal lesions, indicates a persistent injury of the brain after mTBI. Thus, dynamic CE-MRI in conjunction with advanced kinetic analysis may offer a useful methodology for an objective assessment and confirmatory diagnosis of mTBI.
A Revisit to HIF Detection in the 12 kV RDCs Using Statistical Methodology and Symlets

In this paper, we presented the discrete Symlets combining with statistical methodology to extract the High Impedance Fault (HIF) characteristic in the 12 kV Residential Distribution Circuits (RDCs). Based on the experimental data conducted by Southern California Edison (SCE), the results show that the discrete Symlets strategy accompany by statistical methodology is an effective, fast, and accurate method in sensing the HIF behavior for real time applications without heavily rely on the heuristic threshold test as it has been chosen in the previous research projects.
Esophageal Injury and Progression to Atrial-Esophageal Fistula in Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is one of the most dreaded complications of atrial fibrillation (AFib) catheter ablation (CA) associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this review, we provide the latest evidence on the factors associated with esophageal thermal injury associated with CA, including discussion of strategies used in mitigating the risk of progression to AEF. We also discuss future directions and advances in ablation technologies that promise to further reduce the risk of this deadly complication. Radiofrequency point-by-point ablation guided by electroanatomic mapping is the most common CA technique. Conventional CA using low-power long-duration lesions is now being replaced by high-power short-duration (HPSD) ablation that is proven to create more durable lesions with less incidence of esophageal thermal injury. Luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring using the novel multi-sensor probe (MSP) offers a better thermodynamic profile when compared to single sensor probe (SSP). Furthermore there has been a leap in the innovation of multimodality imaging which is now incorporated as a screening tool post ablation for prognostication and early preventative measures for AEF. Finally, new emerging ablation techniques including pulsed field electroporation and “one-shot” ablation are under clinical trials and may show promising results. The integration of multiple strategies at different stages of AFib CA may help mitigate the risk of AEF in the future. These strategies include the use of HPSD ablation and MSP for LET monitoring as well as the integration of imaging as a screening tool post ablation.
No need to take what you already have: perspective taking’s effect on empathic concern for low-need targets

Recent studies have (quite persuasively) challenged a previous body of work suggesting that taking the perspective of targets described as experiencing highly distressing plights would increase empathic concern for those targets. In the current study, we test whether perspective-taking might still increase empathic concern for targets in less negative predicaments. College participants (N = 303) were given either perspective-taking instructions, or no instructions, before reading posts from targets describing negative, but not terrible, experiences. Consistent with recent results challenging the effects of perspective taking, even for these low-need targets, perspective-taking instructions had no effect on empathic concern (nor on other empathic emotions). However, participants in the perspective-taking condition were more likely to reach out to the targets by writing them a note in response to the negative experience. Results are discussed in terms of perspective-taking instructions having little effect on what perspective takers feel but possibly some effect on what they do.
Effects of BACE1 haploinsufficiency on APP processing and Aβ concentrations in male and female 5XFAD Alzheimer mice at different disease stages

β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) initiates the generation of amyloid-β (Aβ), thus representing a prime therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous work including ours has used BACE1 haploinsufficiency (BACE1(+/-); i.e., 50% reduction) as a therapeutic relevant model to evaluate the efficacy of partial β-secretase inhibition. However, it is unclear whether the extent of Aβ reductions in amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice with BACE1(+/-) gene ablation may vary with sex or disease progression. Here, we compared the impacts of BACE1 haploinsufficiency on Aβ concentrations and APP processing in 5XFAD Alzheimer mice (1) between males and females and (2) between different stages with moderate and robust Aβ accumulation. First, male and female 5XFAD mice at 6-7 months of age showed equivalent levels of Aβ, BACE1, full-length APP and its metabolites. BACE1 haploinsufficiency significantly lowered soluble Aβ oligomers, total Aβ42 levels and plaque burden in 5XFAD mouse brains irrespective of sex. Furthermore, there was no sex difference in reductions of β-cleavage products of APP (C99 and sAPPβ) found in BACE1(+/-)·5XFAD mice relative to BACE1(+/+)·5XFAD controls. Meanwhile, APP and sAPPα levels in BACE1(+/-)·5XFAD mice were higher than those of 5XFAD controls regardless of sex. Based on these observations, we next combined male and female data to examine the effects of BACE1 haploinsufficiency in 5XFAD mice at 12-14 months of age, as compared with those in 6-7-month-old 5XFAD mice. Oligomeric Aβ and C99 levels were dramatically elevated in older 5XFAD mice. Although the β-metabolites of APP were significantly reduced by BACE1 haploinsufficiency in both age groups, high levels of these toxic amyloidogenic fragments remained in 12-14-month-old BACE1(+/-)·5XFAD mice. The present findings are consistent with our previous behavioral data showing that BACE1 haploinsufficiency rescues memory deficits in 5XFAD mice irrespective of sex but only in the younger age group.
Chronic Neuropathies – Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Neuropathy and Its Variants

Background: Chronic neuropathy is a highly prevalent condition, and an enormous burden to society, from a health, social and financial standpoint. Identifying new therapeutic strate
Management of Symptomatic Inadvertently Placed Endocardial Leads in the Left Ventricle

Background:There are limited data regarding the clinical care of inadvertently placed endocardial leads in the left ventricle (LV). We clarified the appropriate management within the context of our experience and published literature. Methods:Hospital charts dating from October 2008 to December 2010 were reviewed at a high-volume cardiovascular tertiary referral center. Six patients were identified with inadvertently placed leads in the LV through an atrial septal defect. Results:Six patients (four males, two females) underwent LV lead removal, four through open surgical intervention and two percutaneously. Three (50%) patients presented with severe mitral regurgitation; one (16%) with a thromboembolic transient ischemic attack and two (33%) were asymptomatic. The mean age was 68.5 ± 8.48 years (55–78). Mean ejection fraction was 38.47 ± 11.1% (25%–50%). Four patients (66%) had a pacemaker and two (33%) had implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Comorbidities consisted of diabetes mellitus (50%), chronic renal failure (16%), severe chronic pulmonary hypertension (16%), and congestive heart failure (33%). Hypertension and coronary arterial disease were present in all patients. All patients had complete extraction or repositioning without intraoperative complications or mortality within 30 days. At 6-month follow-up, the patient with severe pulmonary hypertension died of pneumonia and the other five were alive and well. Conclusion:The avoidance and early recognition of inadvertently placed endocardial leads in the LV is imperative in order to avoid potentially serious sequelae and invasive interventions. Treatment usually consists of surgical extraction, although anticoagulation and percutaneous simple traction techniques are an option in certain scenarios. (PACE 2011; 34:1192–1200)
Energy efficient model for data gathering in structured multiclustered wireless sensor network

Wireless sensor networks consist of a group of nodes, each equipped with sensing, actuating, computation, communication, and storage resources. These sensor nodes are powered by batteries, which are considered as limited resources. Many applications of sensor networks, such as surveillance systems in both civil and military area, habitual monitoring etc., won't allow the replacement of battery supplies. Therefore, to reduce the energy consumption is the key to prolong the lifetime of sensor networks. In this paper, we present two energy efficient data gathering models to achieve longer lifetime in a structured multiclustered topology. The local homogeneous sensor nodes are grouped together to form clusters and a special processing and relaying node is designated to be responsible for communication among local groups. Such models are developed for power transmission line monitoring systems. The goal is to achieve uninterrupted monitoring over a long time using power constrained sensor nodes because the replacement of battery is a major issue in such applications. We use Markov chain process to analyse the proposed two models and comparison shows that the two level communication model consumes less power and is more suitable than single level communication model on the power transmission line monitoring systems.
CAMAC2: A Portable System for Combinatorial and Algebraic Computation

In recent years, computers have come to play an increasingly important role in research in many fields of mathematics, including combinatorics and algebra. They have been used in constructing large combinatorial objects or in proving their nonexistence, in classifying Smaller objects up to isomorphism, and in investigating the properties (symmetry group, code weight distribution, etc.) of combinatorial objects of various sizes. Several of the sporadic simple groups were first constructed by computer, character tables of many large groups rely on machine computations, and p-groups of low order have been investigated by computer methods. Perhaps no project of this type has occupied more computer time than the effort to determine if there exists a projective plane of order 10. Many interesting problems in these areas are finite and thus, in principle, solvable by exhaustive search (testing all possibilities). However, such techniques generally require time at least exponential in the object size and thus are feasible only for very small cases. Considerably more sophisticated algorithms have been developed for a number of combinatorial and algebraic calculations. Some of these, though still exponential in the worst case, perform quite well for many interesting objects, even fairly large ones. However, most of them require a good deal of effort to program.
THE OPEN READING FRAMES UL3, UL4, UL10, AND UL16 ARE DISPENSABLE FOR THE REPLICATION OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS 1 IN CELL CULTURE

By means of insertion and deletion mutagenesis, we have constructed four herpes simplex virus 1 recombinants, each lacking most sequences encoding a different open reading frame. The deleted genes are located in the unique sequences of the long component and include those designated UL3, UL4, UL10, and UL16. The recombinant virus R7211 lacks 579 of the 696 bp of UL3. The recombinant virus R7217 lacks 307 of the 597 bp of the UL4 open reading frame. R7216 contains a 972-bp deletion within the 1,419-bp open reading frame of UL10, whereas R7210 lacks 988 bp of the 1,119-bp UL16 open reading frame. Growth curves indicated that the yields of these viruses in Vero and BHK cell cultures were only slightly reduced from or in some instances equivalent to that of the parent virus. The function of the gene products is not known. It is of interest to note that (i) the UL16 open reading frame maps entirely within the single intron of UL15 and (ii) on the basis of the extent and size of hydrophobic domains, the UL3 and UL10 gene products were predicted to be membrane proteins.
Chapter 12 – Experimental damage investigation

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a method to experimentally evaluate different types of damage in a metal–matrix composite material that can be used in conjunction with a micromechanical damage theory. This is outlined through an overall damage quantification as well as a local damage quantification differentiating between damage in the matrix and in the fibers. It deals with specimen design and preparation, mechanical testing, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, and evaluation of damage parameters based on the results of the microanalysis. The material investigated in this chapter is a titanium aluminide composite reinforced with continuous silicon carbide (SiC) fibers. The SiC fibers are developed and produced by the manufacturer of the initial plate specimens. Mechanical testing is done utilizing a computer-controlled testing machine with hydraulic grips. An SEM analysis is done on a representative cross-section of all specimens to obtain a qualitative evaluation of damage in the specimens, as well as providing a means for measuring visible damage features.
Movements in Chicano Poetry: Against Myths, against Margins

1. Introduction: movements in a 'minority' literature Part I: The Postcolonial: 2. Four or five worlds - Chicano: a literary criticism as postcolonial discourse 3. From the homeland to the borderlands, the reformation of 'Aztlan' 4. Locality, locotes and the politics of displacement Part II. The Postmodern: 5. Migratory readings: Chicana/o literary criticism and the postmodern 6. Mythic 'memory' and cultural construction 7. Mouthing off - polyglossia and radical mestizaje Part III. Confluences: 8. Between worlds.
Aggregated and disaggregated outdoor recreation participation models

A comparison is made of aggregated (county level) and disaggregated (household level) outdoor recreation participation models. The problems associated with each type of model for explaining household behavior are discussed using examples taken from the 1975—1980 Ohio State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the two types of models is made. Three general conclusions drawn are as follows: (1) at the present time we cannot successfully model outdoor recreation participation using disaggregated models; (2) the use of aggregate participation models may lead to incorrect conclusions about outdoor recreation behavior; and (3) much more emphasis must be given to developing better explanations of outdoor recreation behavior. Disaggregated participation models appear to have the greatest potential for future refinement.
Sensitization of Children in the Stockholm Area to House Dust Mites

. Atopic sensitization of children in the Stockholm area to house dust mites (HDM) was investigated in a case-control study. Sixty children with and 60 without positive skin prick tests for HDM were matched for age and sex. HDM-sensitized children had previously more often lived in other areas known to be mite infested than the control children. Sensitization to mites was related to dampness in the homes, but no significant relationship was found to the type of residence, frequent visits to a summer house in the archipelago or parental smoking. Dust samples from mattresses of the children with the strongest positive reactions to miles in skin prick tests and the respective controls were subjected to an enzyme immunoassay, to measure the content of the major allergens of the Dermatophagoides (D.) species D. pterinyssinus, D. farinae and D. microceras. Mattress dust samples from the beds of HDM-sensitized children contained significantly higher HDM antigen concentrations than those from the beds of controls. Private houses contained significantly more HDM antigens than flats and 10 of 11 homes in which a dampness problem was recognized contained mite antigens. It is postulated that mite infestation is increasing in the area, energy-saving measures creating improved conditions for HDM survival.
Two distinct classes of prechondrogenic cell types in the embryonic limb bud

Differences are demonstrated in the chondrogenic potential of cells derived from the distal and proximal halves of chick wing buds from as early as stage 23, prior to the appearance of overt cartilage differentiation. In high cell density cultures, cells obtained from the distal portions of stage 23 or 24 limb buds are spontaneously chondrogenic in micromass cultures. Cells obtained from the proximal portions, however, become blocked in their differentiation as protodifferentiated cartilage cels, since these cells in micromass cultures make detectable type II collagen, but fail to synthesize significant levels of cartilage proteoglycan or to accumulate an extracellular matrix that will stain for sulfated glycosaminoglycans. Such cultures of proximal limb bud cells can be stimulated to form alcian blue staining nodules by the addition of 1 mM dbcAMP or 50 micrograms/ml ascorbate, or by mixing proximal cells with small numbers of distal cells (1 distal cell to 10 proximal cells). These results demonstrate the existence of two distinct stages among prechondrogenic mesenchyme cells. The earlier stage appears to be able to provide a chondrogenic stimulus to proximal cells.