cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Update on interstitial cystitis: Still a bladder disease?

A recent study showed that 11 syndromes preceded interstitial cystitis (IC) in significantly more patients with the disease than controls: chronic pelvic pain, vulvodynia, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic disorder, sicca syndrome, asthma, migraine, and allergies. Many are known as functional somatic syndromes, appeared in clusters in the same patient, and had prevalences similar to those reported in established IC patients. These findings generated hypotheses that there are common risk factors for IC and these syndromes, that the syndromes themselves are risk factors for IC, and that IC and the syndromes are of the same pathophysiology. The latter is perhaps the most interesting and would imply that IC is a local manifestation of a systemic disease in some patients. Additionally, studies of established IC patients showed overlap of symptoms of IC with symptoms consistent with vulvodynia, urethral syndrome, overactive bladder, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. These findings indicate lack of specificity of these symptom indices and raise profound questions about disease definition.
Ionic Naphthalene Thermotropic Copolyesters: Enhanced Compressive Properties of Fibers

Compressive properties of fibers made from ionic naphthalene theromotropic polymers (NTPs) were investigated. These (main-chain) thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) are wholly aromatic ...
Complications of biventricular pacing.

Purpose of reviewCardiac resynchronization therapy, a biventricular pacemaker-based therapy for heart failure, is increasingly being used based on a variety of clinical studies. However, the complications and risks related to different aspects of this novel therapy are not well documented. This revi
Magnetization of Solid He 3 through the Nuclear Ordering Temperature

We have measured the static nuclear magnetization of solid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ as a function of temperature and molar volume through its nuclear ordering temperature. Below 5 mK the magnetization increases with decreasing temperature more rapidly than the Curie-Weiss behavior displayed at higher temperatures. At ${T}_{S}$ it decreases rapidly to 40% of its maximum value and becomes temperature independent at the lowest temperature we measure. ${T}_{S}$ decreases with decreasing molar volumes.
Function of the ATR N-terminal domain revealed by an ATM/ATR chimera

The ATM and ATR kinases function at the apex of checkpoint signaling pathways. These kinases share significant sequence similarity, phosphorylate many of the same substrates, and have overlapping roles in initiating cell cycle checkpoints. However, they sense DNA damage through distinct mechanisms. ATR primarily senses single stranded DNA (ssDNA) through its interaction with ATRIP, and ATM senses double strand breaks through its interaction with Nbs1. We determined that the N-terminus of ATR contains a domain that binds ATRIP. Attaching this domain to ATM allowed the fusion protein (ATM*) to bind ATRIP and associate with RPA-coated ssDNA. ATM* also gained the ability to localize efficiently to stalled replication forks as well as double strand breaks. Despite having normal kinase activity when tested in vitro and being phosphorylated on S1981 in vivo, ATM* is defective in checkpoint signaling and does not complement cellular deficiencies in either ATM or ATR. These data indicate that the N-terminus of ATR is sufficient to bind ATRIP and to promote localization to sites of replication stress.
Seismic coupling and uncoupling at subduction zones

Seismic coupling has been used as a qualitative measure of the “interaction” between the two plates at subduction zones. Kanamori (1971) introduced seismic coupling after noting that the characteristic size of earthquakes varies systematically for the northern Pacific subduction zones. A quantitative global comparison of many subduction zones reveals a strong correlation of earthquake size with two other variables: age of the subducting lithosphere and convergence rate. The largest earthquakes occur in zones with young lithosphere and fast convergence rates, while zones with old lithosphere and slow rates are relatively aseismic for large earthquakes. Results from a study of the rupture process of three great earthquakes indicate that maximum earthquake size is directly related to the asperity distribution on the fault plane (asperities are strong regions that resist the motion between the two plates). The zones with the largest earthquakes have very large asperities, while the zones with smaller earthquakes have small scattered asperities. This observation can be translated into a simple model of seismic coupling, where the horizontal compressive stress between the two plates is proportional to the ratio of the summed asperity area to the total area of the contact surface. While the variation in asperity size is used to establish a connection between earthquake size and tectonic stress, it also implies that plate age and rate affect the asperity distribution. Plate age and rate can control asperity distribution directly by use of the horizontal compressive stress associated with the “preferred trajectory” (i.e. the vertical and horizontal velocities of subducting slabs are determined by the plate age and convergence velocity). Indirect influences are many, including oceanic plate topography and the amount of subducted sediments. All subduction zones are apparently uncoupled below a depth of about 40 km, and we propose that the basalt to eclogite phase change in the down-going oceanic crust may be largely responsible. This phase change should start at a depth of 30–35 km, and could at least partially uncouple the plates by superplastic deformation throughout the oceanic crust during the phase change.
Now We Are Talking Trash

A nameless company in a densely populated metropolitan landscape far away considers opening a new landfill. The location of the new landfill and the time at which it becomes operational impact the overall waste transportation costs of large trash haulers. Furthermore, landfill ownership influences which landfills trash haulers prefer to use; i.e., trash haulers prefer to use landfills owned by the same parent company when possible. We seek an optimal allocation of waste to minimize overall transportation costs while adhering to landfill-ownership preference constraints.
Input-to-State Stability of a Nonlinear Discrete-time System via R-cycles

The input-to-state stability of a particular nonlinear discrete-time system is investigated using a construct to which we refer as an R-cycle. Informally speaking, an R-cycle is a finite subsequence of a state trajectory for which the first and last elements of the subsequence lie in a given set R. We first provide a formal definition of an R-cycle, along with appropriate sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence of R-cycles for the system under investigation. Next, we prove a useful bound on the Euclidean norm of the state for a single R-cycle. By then viewing the full state trajectory as a concatenatation of R-cycles, we are then able to construct a bound on the linfin norm of the full state trajectory
Snow stratigraphy over a uniform depositional surface: spatial variability and measurement tools

Abstract Instrumentation and methods for measuring snow properties are compared in an investigation of millimeter- to meter-scale stratigraphy in a snowpack not influenced by topography, vegetation, or a warm and variable ground surface. Field measurements were conducted within a 20×20×2 m plot at Pika Glacier, Alaska. The snow was characterized by more than 600 point measurements of density, stratigraphic mapping in 19 snow-pits, and by pulse-radar imaging along 20 cross-plot profiles. Density was measured manually and was calculated from electric permittivity, which was determined with a hand-held probe and by radar velocity analysis. Stratigraphic mapping in snow-pit walls with manual measurements of density identified comparatively few layers, suggesting a relatively homogeneous snowpack. Both the permittivity probe and the radar imaging, however, identified a larger number of layers based on vertical density contrasts. Image analysis of a back-illuminated column of snow revealed the highest level of stratigraphic complexity, identifying layers mm in thickness that extended up to 10 cm laterally. Despite minor variations in snow properties at the mm scale, major features in the vertical density profiles were laterally continuous over tens of meters. These results provide evidence for spatial homogeneity of densification processes leading to decimeter scale layering in a situation where the snowpack is not influenced by local terrain factors. In addition, these observations demonstrate that the complexity of snow stratigraphy is highly dependent upon choice of scale and measurement tool.
Exercise Capacity, Breathing Pattern, and Gas Exchange During Exercise for Patients with Isolated Diastolic Dysfunction

Background Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DiaD) is as common as left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Whether these causes of heart failure lead to similar breathing pattern and gas exchange responses to exercise remains unclear. Methods Participants (control subjects [n = 47], systolic dysfunction [n = 46], and DiaD [n = 40]) underwent resting echocardiograms and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Results Patients demonstrated lower peak oxygen consumption and tidal volume than control subjects ( P r = −0.38) whereas the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular velocity was related to peak oxygen consumption ( r = −0.36) and treadmill time ( r = −0.35). Conclusion Isolated DiaD is associated with altered breathing pattern and gas exchange similar to systolic dysfunction. Elevated left atrial volume, higher early mitral inflow velocity to early mitral annular velocity ratio, or both are predictive of exercise capacity and elevated ventilatory responses in patients with DiaD suggesting a role for dysfunctional ventricular relaxation.
AMPK Protects Leukemia-Initiating Cells in Myeloid Leukemias from Metabolic Stress in the Bone Marrow

How cancer cells adapt to metabolically adverse conditions in patients and strive to proliferate is a fundamental question in cancer biology. Here we show that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic checkpoint kinase, confers metabolic stress resistance to leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) and promotes leukemogenesis. Upon dietary restriction, MLL-AF9-induced murine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) activated AMPK and maintained leukemogenic potential. AMPK deletion significantly delayed leukemogenesis and depleted LICs by reducing the expression of glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), compromising glucose flux, and increasing oxidative stress and DNA damage. LICs were particularly dependent on AMPK to suppress oxidative stress in the hypoglycemic bone marrow environment. Strikingly, AMPK inhibition synergized with physiological metabolic stress caused by dietary restriction and profoundly suppressed leukemogenesis. Our results indicate that AMPK protects LICs from metabolic stress and that combining AMPK inhibition with physiological metabolic stress potently suppresses AML by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage.
The solubility of neon, nitrogen and argon in distilled water and seawater

Large discrepancies in published neon and nitrogen solubility data limit the interpretation of oceanic measurements of these gases. We present new solubility measurements for neon, nitrogen and argon in distilled water and seawater, over a temperature range of 1‐30 o C. Water was equilibrated with air at measured temperatures, salinitie s and pressures. Dissolved Ne concentrations were then determined by isotope dilution using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Ratios of O2/N2/Ar were measured on a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer, from which absolute N2 and Ar concentrations were calculated using published O2 solubilities. We propose new equations, fitted to the data, for the equilibrium concentrations of Ne, N2 and Ar with estimated errors of 0.30%, 0.14% and 0.13%, respectively. The Ar results matched those of most previous researchers within 0.4%. However, the Ne and N2 results were greater than those of Weiss (1971b, 1970) by 1% or more.
NILCO biomarkers in breast cancer from Chinese patients

Background Notch, IL-1 and leptin are known pro-angiogenic factors linked to breast cancer development, tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. A complex crosstalk between these molecules (NILCO) has been reported in breast cancer cell lines. However, whether NILCO biomarkers are differentially expressed in estrogen responsive (ER+), unresponsive (ER-) and triple negative (TNBC) breast cancer tissues is unknown.
Exploring the scale invariance property in enzymatic networks

Fold-change detection (FCD), the (approximate) invariance of the complete output trajectory with respect to a rescaling of input magnitudes, is exhibited by many biological systems. Such a “logarithmic sensing” property of scale invariance is a genuinely nonlinear behavior, as it can never be exhibited by linear systems. This paper employs a combination of computational search and theoretical analysis to characterize 3-node enzymatic networks that have an approximate FCD property. After showing the impossibility of perfect FCD for these systems, it describes a computational screen and its results, and a novel property, “uniform linearizations with fast output” (ULFO). All tested networks which are (approximately) scale invariant also satisfy (approximate) ULFO, and the (exact) ULFO property implies approximate scale invariance. We also discuss a pair of other behaviors related to FCD, in which the shape of the response is the same up to time or output rescalings.
The Drosophila microRNA iab-4 causes a dominant homeotic transformation of halteres to wings

The Drosophila Bithorax Complex encodes three well-characterized homeodomain proteins that direct segment identity, as well as several noncoding RNAs of unknown function. Here, we analyze the iab-4 locus, which produces the microRNAs iab-4-5p and iab-4-3p. iab-4 is analogous to miR-196 in vertebrate Hox clusters. Previous studies demonstrate that miR-196 interacts with the Hoxb8 3′ untranslated region. Evidence is presented that miR-iab-4-5p directly inhibits Ubx activity in vivo. Ectopic expression of mir-iab-4-5p attenuates endogenous Ubx protein accumulation and induces a classical homeotic mutant phenotype: the transformation of halteres into wings. These findings provide the first evidence for a noncoding homeotic gene and raise the possibility that other such genes occur within the Bithorax complex. We also discuss the regulation of mir-iab-4 expression during development.
Relaxin levels in pulmonary hypertension: a comparison between pulmonary arterial hypertension and diastolic heart failure-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Jeremy A. Mazurek, MD, Benjamin D. Horne, PhD, MPH, Iosif Kelesidis, MD, Jason N. Salamon, MD, and Ronald Zolty, MD, PhD From the Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Intermountain Heart Institute, Intermountain Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Montefiore Medical Center; and the Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
Changes in Student Attitudes toward the Market System and the Introductory Microeconomics Course

the teaching and learning of economics. Traditionally, however, values and attitudes are scarcely acknowledged in economics instruction at the introductory or intennediate level. The economic paradigm presented in class is based on "positive economics" and we see our roles as educators as promoting development of cognitive and objective understanding of the workings of the market primarily based on neo-classical assumptions, tenets and models. The influence of values, attitudes and beliefs is often relegated to other social sciences. Becker (1983) was one of the first researchers in economic education to point out that there was a need to explore the "affective domain" of economics. Subsequent research reported development of several instruments to assess the impact of attitudes (Soper and Walstad, 1983; O'Brien and Ingles, 1987; Breeden and Lephardt, 1993,2005). Other research focused on the assessment of attitudes based on content­specific cases of economic behavior such as pricing (Seligman and Schwartz, 1997), change of attitudes as the result of taking an economics course (Whaples, 1995), and the differences in attitudes between demographic subgroups, changes in attitudes of principles classes over time and the impact of pro-market attitudes on grades in principles of economics (Breeden and Lephardt, 2002). Although the principal goal of the Introductory
Predicting Depth-Averaged Velocities in Trapezoidal Channels

Using dimensional analysis and experimental data from three previous studies, two relationships for predicting depth-averaged velocity distributions in straight trapezoidal channels were developed. The data had a range of discharges (8.0 to 4,248 l/s), velocities (0.10 to 1.03 m/s), bottom widths (0.30 to 3.6 m), flow depths (5.2 to 80.5 cm), and sideslopes (1.0 to 3.0, horiz./vert.). The first relationship is general and requires measured velocity data for calibration. When measured data are not available, the second model, for which specific coefficients are prescribed, must be used. The first model is more accurate and should be used when possible. The second model also yield s acceptable results. Among other things, the models can be employed in stable channel designs, streambank stability analyses, and to evaluate streambank stabilization designs including riprap and bioengineering designs. Brief reviews of the models are presented along with a demonstration application.
Potential Unintended Consequences Due to Medicare’s “No Pay for Errors Rule”? A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Educational Intervention with Internal Medicine Residents

BACKGROUND Medicare has selected 10 hospital-acquired conditions for which it will not reimburse hospitals unless the condition was documented as “present on admission.” This “no pay for errors” rule may have a profound effect on the clinical practice of physicians.
Detection of regulatory cells as an assay for allograft tolerance in miniature swine.

Abstract Background There is currently a great need for an in vitro assay to assess the presence of tolerance following allotransplantation to determine whether immunosuppressive medications can be discontinued. Our laboratory has recently developed an assay involving coculture inhibition of cell-mediated lympholysis that correlates with tolerance to allografts in swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) Class I–mismatched miniature swine. The potential for clinical application of this assay may depend on 2 important factors: (1) whether the assay can be used in the presence of immunosuppression; and (2) whether frozen-stored naive responder cells can be utilized. Methods Long-term tolerant MGH miniature swine that had accepted SLA Class I–mismatched kidney transplants after a 12-day course of cyclosporine or tacrolimus were studied. Two long-term tolerant and 2 naive control animals were treated with a clinically relevant dose of cyclosporine for 2 weeks (trough level 100 to 400 ng/ml) to simulate the ongoing “chronic” immunosuppression used in human recipients of allografts. Cells from tolerant or naive, recipient-matched animals were stimulated for 6 days with donor or third-party SLA. These primed cells were then cocultured with naive unstimulated recipient major histocompastibility complex (MHC)-matched responders and irradiated stimulators. Responder cells were tested both fresh and frozen. Results Suppression of cytotoxic responses of naive responder cells was observed in all coculture assays using cells from tolerant animals primed against donor antigen in vitro, but not in assays using similarly primed cells from naive animals. Responder cells from tolerant animals receiving immunosuppression had a suppressive activity similar to that from cells of the same animals not receiving immunosuppression. Similar suppression was also observed in coculture assays using either fresh or frozen naive responder cells. Conclusions This coculture assay appears to correlate with the presence of tolerance under conditions applicable to the clinical setting. The assay appears to identify peripheral regulatory mechanisms of tolerance in allogeneic transplant recipients, and therefore may provide an approach for determining an appropriate timepoint at which to test withdrawal of immunosuppressive medications.
Fully implicit tau-leaping methods for the stochastic simulation of chemical kinetics

The stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA), proposed by Gillespie, is a cardinal simulation method for the chemical kinetics. Because the SSA simulates every reaction event, the amount of the computational time is huge when models have many reaction channels and species. This drawback motivates many attempts to improve the efficiency with the accuracy. The existing "implicit tau-leaping" procedure attempts to accelerate the exact SSA especially for stiff systems. The implicit tau-leaping method uses an implicit discretization for the mean, together with an explicit discretization of the Poisson "noise". It is therefore a partially implicit method.In this paper we propose three fully implicit tau-leaping methods that treat implicitly both the mean part and the variance of the Poisson variables. The three methods considered below are the backward Euler for the mean and backward Euler for the variance of the Poisson variables, trapezoidal for both the mean and the variance of the Poisson variables, and backward Euler for the mean and trapezoidal for the variance of the Poisson variables. These methods are motivated by the theory of weakly convergent discretizations of stochastic differential equations. Numerical results demonstrate the performance of the new fully implicit methods.
Learning context-awaremeasurementmodels

This paper presents machine learning-based measurement models with state-augmenting contexts as a paradigm of dynamic data-driven application systems (DDDAS). In order to formulate well-posed statistical inference problems in realistic scenarios, one needs to identify and take into account all environmental factors and ambient conditions, called contexts, which affect sensor measurements. A kernel-based mixture modeling method carries out this task in an unsupervised manner, and results in a machine-defined context set and a probability distribution on it. The resulting measurement model is guaranteed to have contextual awareness, in the sense that the measurements are mutually independent conditioned on the system state and context. Numerical examples illustrate how contextual awareness improves inference performance in the setting of sequential target detection.
Towards pi-extended cycloparaphenylenes as seeds for CNT growth: investigating strain relieving ring-openings and rearrangements.

Despite significant multidisciplinary effort over many years, the preparation of uniform carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is still an unsolved problem in the scientific community. This inaccessibility hampers the commercial use of CNTs in electronic devices due to the sensitive connection between their electronic properties and molecular structure. The [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs), the smallest horizontal segment of an armchair CNT, hold great promise as “seeds”, or templates, for the preparation of homogenous batches of CNTs. Initial reports towards this goal, however, suggest that it would be advantageous to pi-extend these structures through traditional organic synthesis before their use in CNT growth. Towards this, several strategies have been reported attempting to utilize the Scholl reaction on aryl-substituted cycloparaphenylenes to yield a small CNT for use as a template for larger tubes. Prominently used in polyaromatic hydrocarbon chemistry, the Scholl reaction has afforded numerous extraordinary targets, such as graphene nanoribbons and graphene propellors. In this work, both experimental and computational studies are provided to unravel the complex cationic rearrangements and ring-openings associated with the Scholl reaction in the context of the cycloparaphenylenes—systems that are thermodynamically and kinetically different from flat graphene fragments. Additionally, this work demonstrates the unique reactivity of cycloparaphenylenes in the context of cationic or radical cationic intermediates, which are common reaction pathways for numerous transformations.
A proof-of-concept, randomized controlled trial of DAR-0100A, a dopamine-1 receptor agonist, for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia.

Background Evidence from preclinical and human studies indicates the presence of reduced dopamine-1 receptor (D1R) signaling in the cortex, where D1Rs predominate, in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), which may contribute to their cognitive deficits. Furthermore, studies in nonhuman primates (NHP) have suggested that intermittent administration of low doses of D1R agonists produce long-lasting reversals in cognitive deficits. The purpose of this trial was to test whether a similar design, involving subacute intermittent administration of low doses of a full, selective agonist at D1Rs, DAR-0100A, would improve cognitive deficits in SCZ. Methods We randomized 49 clinically stable individuals with SCZ to three weeks of intermittent treatment with 0.5 mg or 15 mg of DAR-0100A, or placebo (normal saline). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) BOLD was used to evaluate the effects of drug administration on brain activity during a working memory (WM) task. Effects on cognition were also assessed using the MATRICS and the N-back task as primary endpoints. The CogState battery was used as a secondary endpoint. Results There were no observed treatment effects on either the BOLD fMRI signal during WM tasks or the WM domains of the MATRICS. Moderate improvement was detected on the CogState battery and on the attention domain of the MATRICS. Conclusion These results suggest that low doses of D1 agonists that do not result in measureable occupancy of the D1R do not reliably improve cognition in SCZ, unlike the observations in NHP. As this drug is limited by its pharmacokinetic profile, better D1R agonists that can achieve adequate levels of D1R occupancy are needed to test the efficacy of this mechanism for cognitive enhancement in SCZ.
Clinical Application of Cerebral Vascular Angiography And Interventional Treatment In Intracranial Aneurysm

Objective To evaluate experience of digital subtraction angiography(DSA) and treatment in intracranial aneurysm.Methods Cases with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) were performed by DSA.6 cases with 10 aneurysm were treated with endovascglar embolization.Results 6 patients with 10 aneurysms were cured.one aneurysm ruptured in this approach,the patient cured.Conclusion DSA is a reliable method for detection cases SAH.Endovascular embolizationto treat intracranial aneurysm is safe,reliable and effective.Interventional neuroradiology was useful for cerebrovascular disease.
Fixed effects in the formation of a composite line of beef cattle: II. Pre- and postweaning growth and carcass composition.

Generation, age of dam, sex of calf, and certain covariates were studied to elucidate their effect on traits related to growth and carcass characters measured on individuals from a stabilized three-breed composite (1/2 Red Angus [RA], 1/4 Charolais [C], 1/4 Tarentaise [T]). There was evidence that sires had been selected for yearling weight. Thus, an animal model was fitted to the data to estimate the effects free of bias due to selection. Differences between generations were not different from zero (P > .05) for birth weight, weaning weight, and preweaning ADG. There were few important differences between generations for carcass traits as well. This may have been caused by confounding of individual and maternal heterotic effects with direct and maternal components of the model, or the partial confounding of years, age of dam, and generation. Birth weight was curvilinear with respect to calving day (P < .01). Age of dam was important for all growth traits except postweaning ADG. In general, growth of calves increased with increasing age of dam, as did carcass weight and predicted retail product. Individual breed additive effects (differences between calves sired by C and T sires mated to RA dams) were positive for birth weight (P < .01), weaning weight (P < .05), carcass weight (P < .05), and predicted retail product (P < .05). Maternal breed additive effects (differences between calves out of C x RA or T x RA dams) were also positive for weaning weight (P < .05), carcass weight (P < .05), and fat depth (P < .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Everything an economist needs to know about physics but was probably afraid to ask: The history of the energy concept

The “invariance” character of the theory of the conservation of energy is responsible for the frequent feeling that the theory is incomprehensible, even after it has been explained. We naturally expect an explanation in terms of a substance and its modifications. If we have instead an invariance law and don't realize it, then we keep looking for the substance and do not find it. [Berkson 1974, p. 136] One who sees the essence of historical development solely in the discovery of fixed scientific truths is badly misled. [Georg Helm, quoted in Deltete 1983, p. 189] The denizen of the late twentieth century who fills his automobile with gasoline, covers himself with suntan lotion to block out the ultraviolet, turns on his VCR by means of a remote control device and worries about the nuclear power plant just down the river probably feels himself to be quite at home with the concept of energy. Depending upon his education, he may or may not be aware that there are some cryptic mathematical equations behind it all, but on the whole he is content to turn the switches on and off and let someone else worry about the details. I daresay the reader, even if he or she is an economist, more or less falls into this category.
A 7.5mW 35–70MHz 4th-order semi-passive charge-sharing band-pass filter with programmable bandwidth and 72dB stop-band rejection in 65nm CMOS

This paper proposes a highly reconfigurable charge-domain switched-gm-C biquad band-pass filter (BPF) topology that uses a semi-passive charge-sharing technique. It uses only switches, capacitors, digital circuitry for 3-phase non-overlapping clock generation and linearity-enhanced gm-stages. A 4th-order BPF prototype operating at 1.2GS/s sampling rate is implemented using a cascade of two independent biquads in a 65nm LPE CMOS. A tunable center frequency of 35–70MHz is measured with programmable bandwidth and a maximum stop-band rejection of 72dB. The in-band 1-dB compression point is −2.4dBm, and the in-band IIP3 is +9dBm. The filter prototype consumes 7.5mW from a 1.2V supply, and occupies an active area of 0.17mm2.
Efficacy of fibrin glue therapy for abscess-associated enteric fistulas.

Abdominal abscess that result from bowel injury may require treatment with percutaneous drainage. In some cases, an abscess-associated fistula develops between the injured bowel and the drainage catheter. Fistulas that fail to resolve may require surgery; however, fibrin glue therapy (FGT) may be a suitable alternative. We retrospectively identified patients undergoing FGT for an abscess-associated enteric fistula between 2004 and 2015. Success was defined as closure of the fistula tract without need for additional intervention. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify factors associated with success. We identified 34 patients with a median age of 54 (23–87) years and 24 (71 %) males. FGT was successful in 23 (67 %) patients. On multivariate analysis, a tract width less than 5 mm (OR 19.2, 95 % CI 1.7–214.5) and removal of the drain (OR 13.8, 95 % CI 1.2–157.6) predicted FGT success. The time from initial FGT to resolution was significantly decreased for the patients who were successfully treated compared to those who failed 24 (14–38) days vs. 99 (71–175) days, respectively (p < 0.001). Fibrin glue therapy for abscess-associated enteric fistula results in successful and accelerated healing in the majority of cases. Factors associated with successful fibrin glue therapy were identified.
Madden-Julian Oscillation impacts on tropical African precipitation

Abstract The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is the dominant mode of sub-seasonal climate variability in the global tropics. As such it represents an opportunity for intra-seasonal rainfall prediction and, perhaps, for explaining dynamics that underlie longer term variability and trends. This opportunity is of substantial interest for tropical Africa, where rainfall variability has significant impacts on agriculture, energy, and natural ecosystems. The objective of this review paper is to inventory and assess the state of knowledge of MJO influence on African rainfall. A number of studies have identified statistical links between MJO and sub-seasonal rainfall variability in West, East, and Southern Africa. The proposed mechanisms to explain this influence differ by region and by season, and they often involve multiscale interactions between local precipitation processes and MJO-associated atmospheric dynamics. Dynamically-based forecast systems have some skill in predicting MJO evolution to time horizons of 3–4 weeks, and some can capture teleconnections to Africa. On longer time scales, there is evidence that MJO activity both modulates and is modulated by the El Nino Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole. The implications of these interactions for MJO connections to Africa require further research, as does the potential for trends in MJO behavior and impacts on Africa under global climate change.
Safety of Total Therapy III for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Preliminary Analysis of 62 Consecutive Patients.

Background: Total therapy III (TT-III) is designed to improve the outcome of newly diagnosed myeloma (MM) patients (pts), especially those presenting with unfavorable cytogenetics. Induction employs 2 cycles of V-DTPACE (Velade™, dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, adryamycin®, cytoxan®, etoposide) followed by tandem melphalan 200 mg/m2 autologous stem cell transplants (ASCT). Objective: to evaluate the safety outcome of TT-III pts. Materials and Methods: Prospective evaluation of the toxicities occurring throughout treatment in 62 TT-III pts enrolled between February and July 2004. Results: Median age was 59 years (range: 23–74) and 41 pts (66 %) were males. The 1st and 2nd induction cycles were completed in 42 (68%) and 22 (35%) pts respectively, whereas 19 pts (31%) underwent their 1st ASCT. Infections and/or Grades III–IV gastrointestinal tract (GIT) toxicities (NCI Common Toxicity Criteria) were observed throughout treatment in 32 (76%) patients (table). One treatment-related death occurred in an 80 y.o. male with significant pre-existing comorbidities. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal tract toxicities and pneumonia were the most frequent complications following TT-III. Studies are ongoing to identify the risk factors for and interventions to decrease their incidence and severity. Infections and Grade III -IV GIT toxicities throughout TT-III | Toxicity | Cycle 1 (n=42) | Cycle 2 (n=22) | 1st ASCT (n=19) | |:-------------------- | -------------- | -------------- | --------------- | | Pneumonia | 7 (17%) | 1 (5%) | 2 (11%) | | Bacteremia | 2 (5%) | 4 (18%) | 2 (11%) | | Septic Shock | 1 (2%) | - | - | | C. difficile colitis | 2 (5%) | - | - | | Febrile neutropenia | 2 (5%) | 2 (10%) | 5 (26%) | | Sinusitis | 2 (5%) | - | - | | Cellulitis | 1 (2%) | - | - | | Mucositis | 5 (12%) | - | 7 (37%) | | Nausea/vomiting | 15 (36%) | 4 (18%) | 12 (63%) | | Diarrhea | 3 (7%) | - | 4 (21%) |
Conditioned pain modulation among young, healthy, and physically active African American and non-Hispanic White adults

Abstract Objective Research shows that African American (AA) adults experience more severe and frequent pain compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) adults. Additionally, experimental studies demonstrate that AA adults exhibit less efficient central pain inhibition compared to NHW adults, which may partially explain the racial/ethnic disparities in pain. Evidence suggests that regular physical activity (PA) may help improve central pain inhibition, but research shows that AA adults engage in less PA, and are less likely to meet PA guidelines for health promotion compared to NHW adults. These observations suggest that PA levels may help better understand the racial/ethnic difference in central pain inhibition. Therefore, this study compared central pain inhibition and PA levels among AA and NHW adults. Methods Young and healthy participants were recruited on campus, and 27 AA and 27 NHW adults completed this study. Central pain inhibitory processing was assessed using conditioned pain modulation (CPM), where changes in electrical pain ratings were quantified during and after exposure to pressure pain compared to baseline. PA levels were assessed using self-report questionnaires and accelerometer. Results The participants were generally physically active, and most participants in both groups met the public recommendation of PA for health promotion. Electrical pain ratings were significantly reduced during and after exposure to pressure pain compared to baseline. There was no racial/ethnic difference in a magnitude of changes in electrical pain ratings. Conclusion Young, healthy, and physically active AA and NHW adults exhibit similar CPM responses. Regular PA may help attenuate the racial/ethnic difference in CPM responses.
Research Review: What do we know about psychopathic traits in children?

Background Research on the topic of child psychopathy has advanced over the past decade increasing what we know. Method This qualitative review examines the research base for child psychopathy and emphasizes its three dimensions: grandiose-manipulative, callous-unemotional, and daring-impulsive. Literature is reviewed addressing the cognitive, emotional, motivational, personality, parenting, and biological correlates. Results Support has emerged for the phenotypic construct of child psychopathy, while questions remain regarding definitional issues and key external correlates (e.g., reward and punishment processing, parenting, molecular genetics, brain imaging). Conclusions While the construct appears to be valid, future work should broaden its focus from callous unemotional traits to all three dimensions of the construct, enhance measurement precision, and examine dimension interactions. Such research could have important implications for CD specification for future versions of the DSM and ICD and speed etiological knowledge and clinical care for youth with conduct problems.
On the Physiology of Amoeboid Movement IV.--The Action of Magnesium

1. Although movement only occurs if Ca or Sr is present the medium, yet Mg and Ba as well are able to prevent the increased permeability and cytolysis seen in pure NaCl. Cerium also has a similar action at very low concentrations, but it very much less effective than Mg. 2. Excess of Mg never causes the marked increase in viscosity seen in the ectoplasm when Ca is in excess. For this and other reasons it seems that inhibition of movement inexcess Ca is due to direct action on the contractile mechanism, and is not simply the result of decreased permeability. 3. This is borne out by the fact that good movement occurs in mixtures of (MgCl 2 + CaCl 2 ) alone, and over a far greater range of concentrations than occurs in mixtures of (NaCl + CaCl 2 ). This can be readily explained by assuming that Mg reduces the permeability of the cell so far that Ca can neither penetrate nor leave the cell and thereby derange the contractile mechanism. 4. Even in any mixture of (NaCl + CaCl 2 ), or of (MgCl 2 + CaCl 2 ), movement gradually falls off. Only when all four cations of sea-water are present is movement normal indefinitely : fully normal permeability is maintained only under these circumstances. 5. Since the addition of Mg and K to a solution of (NaCl + CaCl 2 ) not only establishes the normal degree of impermeability but also enormously increases the absolute velocity of movement, it seems probable that the same mechanism which controls permeability is also a part of the whole mechanism of amoeboid movement. 6. The relation of the action of ions to the chemical structure of protoplasm is discussed.
Q Methodology and Q-Perspectives® Online: Innovative Research Methodology and Instructional Technology.

Q methodology is an underutilized research methodology in the fields of education, instructional design and instructional technology, yet is well suited to research on perceptions of learning, efficacy of design, technology adoption and other issues within those fields. One reason for its lack of widespread use is the somewhat cumbersome nature of the research process, including the lack of readily available mainstream tools to conduct data collection and analysis. The authors introduce Q methodology, discuss its relevance in educational and instructional technology research and introduce their design of a new tool, Q-Perspectives® Online (Walker et al. 2017). The authors provide examples of the how Q-Perspectives® Online makes Q methodology more accessible as an instructional tool, and provide examples of use in face-to-face, flipped and online classrooms. The authors also describe how the methodology and real-time analysis tool provide an opportunity to bridge the research/practitioner divide by creating an explicit merger of the learning and research environments.
Depth-Resolved Subsurface Defect Detection in Ceramics Using Optical Gating Techniques

Components made from advanced ceramics materials find widespread use in many industrial and military applications. However, the presence of defects in the bulk and on the surface of the ceramic parts can alter their operation and lead to a reduced lifetime or a catastrophic failure. These defects may include various inclusions, inherent powder defects, poorly distributed second phase material, as well as voids and cracks. They can be introduced at each stage of the manufacturing process. Near-surface defects are particularly critical in many applications since the stresses in this region of the ceramic component are greatest during the operation. These flaws may be intrinsic to the bulk material or can be introduced in the final stages of fabrication (e.g. machining, grinding and polishing). Additionally, in composite ceramics defects can appear as a delamination of internal layers. Because the potential market for ceramic components is so large, a considerable effort has been put into developing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to detect flaws at various stages of the manufacturing process [1–5].
Properties of Presynaptic Voltage-Sensitive Calcium Channels in Rat Synaptosomes

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCC) in presynaptic nerve terminals control influx of Ca2+ and thereby determine the quantity of transmitter released by presynaptic action potentials. Biochemical 45Ca tracer flux experiments with isolated nerve endings (synaptosomes) indicate that K+-depolarization dependent +Ca entry consists of fast transient and slow sustained components (Nachshen & Blaustein, 1980). This article summarizes recent studies from this laboratory, which indicate that the transient Ca influx represents a channel mediated process, whereas the sustained component reflects Ca entry via reversed Na/Ca exchange. The kinetic and pharmacological characteristics of the channel-mediated Ca influx (JCa) in rat cortical
Experimental Comparisons of the Various Methods

In order to evaluate the true merits of any balancing method, it is necessary to apply it to actual hardware. To be credible, a balancing method must have, in addition to theoretical appeal, demonstrated practical appeal. That is, it is necessary to demonstrate both effectiveness and usability in an actual hardware application. Consequently, modal balancing, influence coefficient balancing and the Unified Balancing Approach were compared experimentally in a test program involving a supercritical power transmission shaft test rig.
Adaptive duplication avoidance for Wi-Red

Seamless redundancy can be profitably applied to Wi-Fi networks to improve communication reliability and decrease transmission latencies, as required by industrial control applications, but it also doubles network traffic. Duplication avoidance mechanisms permit to sensibly lower spectrum consumption, by preventing unnecessary frame transmissions on air. In this paper, some adaptive techniques are described and preliminarily evaluated, which are aimed at improving performance of duplication avoidance heuristics based on packet deferral. In particular, two approaches are considered, where operating parameters like the deferral time or the primary channel are dynamically selected at runtime. Results show that improvements are possible, but not in every operating condition.
Evolving role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the management of spontaneous primary and secondary pneumothorax

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been increasingly advocated as the preferred treatment for the first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP), in contrast to the current guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians and the British Thoracic Society recommending tube thoracostomy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of our patients who underwent VATS for primary or secondary SP from January 2005 to December 2015. Results: There were 36 patients, with the mean age of 43.6 ± 20.5 years, and 72.2% of them were male and 66.7% with PSP. 75.0% of SSP patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease versus 0% for PSP ( P = 0.001). 50% of PSP and 66.7% of SSP patients had experienced previous SP. About 16.7% (PSP) and 0% (SSP) of patients with index pneumothorax and 75.0% (PSP) and 25.0% (SSP) of patients with multiple pneumothoraces underwent early VATS, while the remaining had delayed VATS for a prolonged air leak. Postoperative air leak occurred in 1 (4.2%) PSP patient, which healed with doxycycline pleurodesis, and in 4 (33.3%) SSP patients, which required thoracotomy in three patients and redo-VATS in one patient for control. Operative mortality was 0% versus 8.3% for PSP and SSP, respectively ( P = 0.351). In patients with extended follow-up, ipsilateral recurrence occurred only in one SSP patient at 36 months. Conclusion: Index SP was mostly treated by the tube thoracostomy, except for recent years, when VATS was recommended to young adult patients with index PSP, because of zero operative mortality, lower recurrence, and less time away from work or school. However, for SSP patients, VATS was reserved primarily for persistent air leak or recurrence.
Coronary Artery Calcium: From the Power of 0 to >1,000.

Although the dose-response relationship between increasing coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and increasing risk in the asymptomatic population would be expected to persist into the upper ranges of CAC (>1,000), surprisingly, it has not been previously demonstrated. In fact, in the MESA (Multi-