cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Architecture and Circuit Design of an All-Spintronic FPGA

Reconfigurable logic device, such as FPGA, has been well-known to be the driver of cutting-edge device technology. In the last five years, there have been extensive studies on constructing novel FPGA devices using CMOS technology combined with emerging spin- tronic devices. Unfortunately, although spintronic device technol- ogy promises desirable features such as non-volatility and high area density, its relatively slow switching speed makes it quite chal- lenging to use them as drop-in replacements for CMOS transistors. As such, to fully unlock the performance benefits of spintronic de- vices, it is imperative to develop innovative design techniques of circuit and architecture that are custom-made for building high- performance FPGA devices. In this paper, we aim at fully extracting the benefits of new spin-based device technology through innovative circuit and architecture design techniques for FPGAs. Specifically, we exploit the unique characteristics of a domain-wall logic device called the mCell to achieve a direct mapping to NAND-NOR logic and in doing so create a high-throughput non-volatile alternative to LUT-based CMOS reconfigurable logic. To empirically validate our approach, we have performed extensive HSpice circuit simulations. Our simulation results have shown that, for a similar logic capacity, the NAND-NOR FPGA design with mCell devices excels across all metrics when compared to the CMOS NAND-NOR FPGA design. Not only do we reduce average delay by about 17%, but we also improve path delay variance between different logic block configurations by about 59%, which can ease the burden on the FPGA timing analysis CAD tools by having more consistent delay between configurations. To judge the performance of our mCell FPGA in practical applications, we measured it against the Stratix IV LUT-based FPGA for the MCNC and VTR benchmark suites. Our mCell-based FPGA devices prove to be quite competitive against the CMOS LUT-based FPGA design, on average reducing delay and area by approximately 26% and 64% for the MCNC benchmark, and 13% and 55% for the VTR benchmark respectively.
Bubble deformations and segmented flows in corrugated microchannels at large capillary numbers

The angular shape and dynamics of bubbles passing through a series of microfluidic extensions and contractions are investigated at large capillary numbers. The relationship between individual bubble deformation and collective distortion of segmented flows is examined in nonlinear microgeometries.
Indicated or elective? The association of providers' words with HPV vaccine receipt.

ABSTRACTBackground: Appropriate provider recommendation is crucial to raising HPV vaccination uptake, yet scant research has explored actual conversations between providers and parents, the effect ...
Five-membered rings. Phospholes: Recent literature 1994-mid-1999

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews recent literature on the phosphole ring system as the field has grown rapidly, and some 95 structures have been listed. The number of known phospholes is greater than this. The literature on phosphole chemistry is extensive, but has been reviewed frequently over the years. The chapter reviews the literature of the period between 1995 and mid 1999. The research of this period emphasizes the creation of properly substituted phospholes for use as ligands in metal complexes that might function as homogeneous catalysts, especially to affect asymmetric syntheses. This has led to renewed interest in dibenzophosphole derivatives as ligands. Theoretical aspects of the phosphole ring system is constantly stressed on. The creation of novel derivatives and of new synthetic procedures remains an active part in the field of phosphole chemistry. Theoretical studies of phospholes are first explored. Experimental structural methods that include X-ray diffraction methods and spectroscopy are presented in detail. The chapter discusses new types of IH-phospholes, and new ring syntheses. It describes new syntheses and derivatives of bicyclic phospholes and dibenzophospholes. 2H- and 3H-phospholes are examined, as are new reactions of phospholes. Finally, new metallic complexes of phospholes and phospholide ions are considered.
The Hyde Amendment: Its Impact on Low Income Women with Unwanted Pregnancies

The Hyde amendment, which has been in effect since 1977, restricts federal funding of abortions for Medicaid-eligible women "except where the life of the mother would be endangered if a fetus were carried to term." It has virtually eliminated federally financed abortions and the undue hardships it places on poor women foreshadow contemporary developments in abortion politics today for all women.
A low-fat diet but not food restriction improves lactational performance in obese rats.

Rats fed a high-fat diet before and during lactation have difficulty initiating lactation and have high pup mortality rates, low milk production and, consequently, poor pup growth. To determine if these adverse outcomes can be mitigated with dietary changes made after delivery, obese Sprague-Dawley rats (who had previously been fed a high-fat diet [AIN-93MTMmodified to contain 35% fat, w/w]) were assigned at parturition to continue to be fed this diet (HF) or switched to free access to a corresponding low-fat (LF) diet (AIN-93MTM4% fat w/w) or switched to the LF diet and restricted to consuming only 75% of ad libitum intake (LF/R). Dams lost weight during lactation, but weight loss was much less in the LF group (19 g) than in the other two groups (47 and 59 g, HF and LF/R, respectively). There was no appreciable change in body water; body fat decreased by about half in all groups, but most substantially in the LF/R group. Compared with the HF group, milk production was 50% higher in the LF group and 12% lower in the LF/R group. Milk lipid concentration tended to be higher and milk water concentration lower in the HF compared with the other two groups. Growth of the litters of the LF dams was significantly higher than both HF and LF/R dams. These results indicate that switching to a low-fat diet mitigates the negative effects of obesity and continued high-fat feeding on lactational performance and pup growth. Consumption of restricted quantities of a low-fat diet negatively affected milk production and failed to improve pup growth, despite the dams’ mobilization of body fat in support of lactation.
Variable Inheritance of Amplified EPSPS Gene Copies in Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is considered one of the most troublesome weeds in the southern and central United States, but results of previous research to determine the mode of inheritance of this trait have been conflicting and inconclusive. In this study, we examined segregation patterns of EPSPS gene-copy numbers in F1 and F2 generations of A. palmeri and found no evidence of a Mendelian single-gene pattern of inheritance. Transgressive segregation for copy number was exhibited by several F1 and all of the F2 families, most likely the product of EPSPS copy-number variation within each plant. This variation was confirmed by assaying gene-copy number across clonal generations and among individual shoots on the same plant, demonstrating that EPSPS amplification levels vary significantly within a single plant. Increases and decreases in copy number occurred in a controlled, stress-free environment in the absence of glyphosate, indicating that EPSPS gene amplification is a random and variable process within the plant. The ability of A. palmeri to gain or lose EPSPS gene copies is a valuable adaptive trait, allowing this species to respond rapidly to selection pressures and changing environments.
Identification of NSDHL mutations associated with CHILD syndrome in oral verruciform xanthoma.

Objective The aim of this study was to perform a systematic analysis of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD[P])–dependent steroid dehydrogenase-like (NSDHL) gene in cases of oral verruciform xanthoma (VX) and to test for the presence of mutations associated with congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform nevus and limb defects (CHILD) syndrome. Study Design DNA was extracted from archived paraffin-embedded tissue of oral VX and control cases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to screen exons 4 and 6 of the NSDHL gene for the presence of 4 known germline mutations associated with CHILD syndrome and 1 somatic mutation previously identified in VX lesions with no known association with CHILD syndrome. Results Of the 16 oral VX tissue samples, 8 (50%) had known missense mutations associated with CHILD syndrome. Furthermore, 2 of these 8 tissue samples also had an additional missense mutation previously identified in cutaneous VX lesions. No mutations of exons 4 and 6 were found in the 5 negative control tissue samples. Conclusions NSDHL gene mutations associated with CHILD syndrome are common in sporadic oral VX cases, suggesting that these mutations confer a greater risk for the development of epithelial barrier defects that promote recurrent oral VX lesions and the potential for direct germline transmission of oral VX susceptibility.
Shortened Cyclic Codes for Correcting and Detecting Burst Errors

New optimum binary shortened cyclic codes with redundancy r = 32 and burst-error correction capability b are presented. The codes are found by performing an exhaustive computer search using the Kasami algorithm, and their performance is compared with analytical bounds by Reiger, Abramson and Campopiano. The true burst-error correction capability of the [2112, 2080] shortened Fire code selected for 10 Gb/s Ethernet is determined to be b = 11 and [2112, 2080] shortened cyclic codes with higher burst-error correction capability b = 13 are given. The double burst-error detection properties of three cyclic redundancy check codes used in standards are compared.
Hypoalbuminemia in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: culprit or surrogate?

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an area of rapid advancement in cardiac surgery. Through subsequent randomized controlled trials, its indications have broadened and its use steadily increased (1,2). However, risk assessment for TAVR in the literature is somewhat limited, with groups still investigating proper vascular access and type of sedation for the procedure (3,4). The authors’ paper, “Effect of preoperative low serum albumin on postoperative complications and early mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement” by Gassa et al ., aims to analyze TAVR patients based on preoperative albumin levels as a predictor of operative outcomes.
Rock Magnetic Cyclostratigraphy of the Carboniferous Mauch Chunk Formation, Pottsville, PA, United States

A rock magnetic cyclostratigraphy study was conducted on the Carboniferous Mauch Chunk Formation red beds at Pottsville, Pennsylvania to determine if Milankovitch climate forcing could be detected in these terrestrial, fluvial deposits with hematite as the predominant ferromagnetic mineral. This locality was chosen because a robust magnetostratigraphy had already been established for it thus giving an estimate of its sediment accumulation rate. Magnetic susceptibility was measured in the laboratory with a KLY-3s Kappabridge on samples collected every 0.5 m of section for 68 m of section. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were also made in the field using an SM-20 portable susceptibility meter. The time series that resulted were different but yielded very similar power spectra calculated by the multi-taper method. Significant spectral peaks isolated by robust red noise and harmonic f-tests yielded peaks identified to be short eccentricity (125 ka and 95 ka), obliquity (35 ka) and precession (21 and 17.5 ka) in the Carboniferous. Average spectral misfit analysis of these peaks for both the Kappabridge and SM-20 time series gave the identical sediment accumulation rate of 5.69 cm/ka, somewhat slower than the ~9 cm/ka average rate for >250 m of section estimated from magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphic correlation throughout northeastern North America. Analysis of the low temperature magnetic susceptibility versus temperature curves for a 10 m stratigraphic interval of samples indicates that the ferromagnetic content of the bulk susceptibility appears to be driving the precession- and obliquity-scale bulk susceptibility variations. This observation suggests that climate change in the source area causes more or less erosion of ferromagnetic minerals that are then deposited into a background of paramagnetic clays or diamagnetic quartz sand in the depositional basin. Our study clearly shows that fluvial terrestrial sediments can record astronomically-forced climate change. Our study also indicates that portable susceptibility measurements are a valid way of collecting reconnaissance rock magnetic time series to determine sampling intervals for more detailed studies.
Invited Editorial on “Airway thermal volume in humans and its relation to body size”

the study of airway thermal events has been an ongoing process for almost one-half of a century ([18][1]). It is an area of physiology that has been characterized by starts and stops, and major advances have come only slowly. For example, thirty years passed between the fundamental observations that
Dynamic Active Average Consensus and its Application in Containment Control.

This paper proposes a continuous-time dynamic active weighted average consensus algorithm in which the agents can alternate between active and passive modes depending on their ability to access to their reference input. The objective is to enable all the agents, both active and passive, to track the weighted average of the reference inputs of the active agents. The algorithm is modeled as a switched linear system whose convergence properties are carefully studied considering the agents' piece-wise constant access to the reference signals and possible piece-wise constant weights of the agents. We also study the discrete-time implementation of this algorithm. Next, we show how a containment control problem, in which a group of followers should track the convex hull of a set of observed leaders, can be cast as an active average consensus problem, and solved efficiently by our proposed dynamic active average consensus algorithm. Numerical examples demonstrate our results.
Therapeutic plasma exchange clears circulating soluble PD-L1 and PD-L1-positive extracellular vesicles.

Background Trans-acting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) derives from malignant cells in three known forms. High levels of secreted splice variant PD-L1 (sPD-L1), ADAM10/ADAM17-shed sPD-L1, and PD-L1-positive extracellular vesicles (evPD-L1) each predict poor prognosis and limited response to PD-(L)1 checkpoint inhibitors in cancer. To our knowledge, no clinical intervention has reduced any of these circulating forms of extracellular PD-L1. Here, we explore therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) as a treatment to reduce circulating extracellular PD-L1. Results In patients with melanoma, sPD-L1 levels above 0.277 ng/mL predicted inferior overall survival. In patients undergoing TPE for non-malignant indications, each TPE session removed a mean 70.8% sPD-L1 and 73.1% evPD-L1 detectable in plasma. TPE also reduced total and ADAM10-positive extracellular vesicles. Conclusion Here, we report the first known clinical intervention to remove either sPD-L1 or evPD-L1 from plasma in vivo. TPE reduces plasma sPD-L1 and evPD-L1 in vivo and may have a role in treatment with immunotherapy. TPE may also prove useful in patients with other extracellular vesicle-related conditions.
Increase in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Hospitalizations Due to Toxic Ingestions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related community mitigation measures had a significant psychosocial impact. We suspected that more patients were admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for toxic ingestions since the start of the pandemic. We therefore investigated if PICU admissions related to toxic ingestions were higher in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 compared with previous years. We completed a cross-sectional study at a tertiary children's hospital comparing admissions to our PICU between April 2020 and October 2020, during which COVID-19 and community mitigation measures were in place, to those during the same 7-month period in the previous 3 years. Total PICU admissions, admissions for all toxic ingestions (intentional ingestions and accidental ingestions), and demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were compared. Total PICU admissions in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic months were lower compared with the same months in the preceding 3 years (-16%, p< 0.001), however, admissions for toxic ingestions were higher during COVID-19 (+64%, p< 0.001). When separated by type, intentional (+55%, p = 0.012) and accidental ingestions (+94%, p = 0.021) were higher during COVID-19. COVID-19 with community mitigation measures has led to an increase in PICU admissions for intentional and accidental ingestions, indicating an increase in severity of toxic ingestions in children associated with the pandemic. Mental health of adolescents, and safety of infants and toddlers in their home environment, should be targeted with specific interventions in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Building resilience following a policy shock: Evidence from India’s demonetization

Greater resource endowments are assumed to help the resiliency of businesses involved in a crisis. We challenge this assumption using the context of a unique natural experiment – India’s demonetiza...
Endoluminal Vacuum Therapy for Definitive Management of an Esophagobronchial Fistula.

ABSTRACT Purpose Endoluminal vacuum (EVAC) therapy has gained popularity as a minimally invasive option for contained esophageal leaks. EVAC therapy may be useful for esophagogastric anastomotic leak fistulizing to the airway. Description The following describes EVAC therapy of an esophagobronchial fistula with video depicting the conduct of the procedure including technical tips. Video and photo evidence of progression and ultimate resolution are included. Evaluation Sponge exchanges were completed every 3 to 4 days. EVAC therapy was administered via a transnasal approach. In the presented case, a total of 11 exchanges over 6 weeks were required. EVAC sponge placement was transitioned from intracavitary to endoluminal for the final four treatments. All but 4 exchanges were able to be completed at the bedside in a monitored setting with sedation. Conclusions Definitive EVAC therapy of an esophageal leak that has fistulized to a main airway is rare and challenging clinical problem. Definitive EVAC therapy for esophageal anastomotic leak with esophagobronchial fistula is a feasible option in select cases.
Continuous Diffusion of Oxygen Adjunct Therapy to Improve Scar Reduction after Cervicotomy - A Proof of Concept Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Background Dressing materials are known to influence post-operative surgical wound healing and scar formation (SF). A particular dressing that could promote wound hydration is essential to ensure quick epithelialization and reduce SF. This study examined the effectiveness of a novel Continuous Diffusion of Oxygen (CDO) dressing to reduce scar length post cervicotomy. Methods A randomized controlled trial was performed in patients undergoing cervicotomy, either for thyroid or parathyroid disease. Patients were randomized to either control (CG) or intervention (IG) groups. The IG received a portable CDO system (TransCu O2, EO2 Concepts Inc., TX, USA), whereas the CG received a standard dressing for a 4-week period. The primary outcome was >10% of scar length reduction and %change in scar length. Results 21 patients were recruited (Age: 53 ± 16 years; 90% female; CG = 9, IG = 12). 5 patients were lost to follow-up. At 4 weeks, 88.8% of the IG significantly achieved >10% of scar reduction (versus CG = 28.5%, d = 0.48, P = 0.049), showing a 40.4% smaller scar (15.7% versus 11.2%, d = 0.13, P = 0.72) compared to the CG. However, the difference was not significant. A sub-sample of patients undergoing thyroidectomy showed a significant scar reduction using CDO (IG = 11.6% versus CG = 5.1%, d = 2.96, P = 0.009). Conclusions This is the first study to assess scar reduction using CDO adjunct therapy after cervicotomy. Advanced CDO dressings may assist wound healing showing improved outcomes for scar visualization in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. A larger sample is required to validate this observation.
Quadratic Integration-exploited Model Predictive Current Control (QI-MPCC)-based Flying-Capacitor-Clamped Multilevel Converter (FCCMC)

The flying-capacitor-clamped multilevel converter (FCCMC) has inherent converter-leg redundant switching combinations per reference multilevel (intermediate levels) voltage due to its flying capacitors clamped to serially-connected switches. Also, it has the least hardware and control complexity among multilevel converters. Hence, FCCMC is the most prominent among multilevel converters in several-hundred-kVA and low-nominal-DC-voltage power applications. Compared to the classic linearized closed-loop controls, the model predictive current control (MPCC) provides improved closed-loop control performance and achieves multiple linear/nonlinear control objectives parallelly through a discrete mathematical model-based predicted cost-function optimization approach utilizing a finite switching combination set based on the space vector control. Hence, MPCC further enhances the FCCMC's advantages in the above DC-voltage and power ranges. But, the ordinary MPCC predicts the cost functions based on the implicit Euler method. It yields inferior closed-loop control performance unless the sampling rate is impractically high enough because the implicit Euler method is order-one accurate. This paper proposes a new MPCC methodology exploiting the quadratic integration (QI) method, QI-MPCC, for FCCMC. The QI method has an order-four accuracy by utilizing three collocation points in the cost function prediction. Therefore, it significantly improves the closed-loop control performance of MPCC-based FCCMC without requesting an impractically high sampling rate. Simulation results demonstrate the steady-state and dynamic performance of the proposed methodology.
Regulatory Effects of a Thromboxane A2Analogue on Hepatic Glycogenolysis and Vasoconstriction

Many studies have indicated that the regulatory effects of hormones on glycogenolysis in the rat liver occur by at least two distinct mechanisms. While glucagon ands-adrenergic agonists stimulate hepatic glycogenolysis via cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation,α-adrenergic hormones as well as vasopressin and angiotension II mediate their effects by mechanisms independent of cAMP (Hems and Whitton, 1980; Extonet al., 1981). Con vincing experimental evidence suggests that alterations in cellular calcium fluxes leading to increases in the cytosolic calcium concentration and subsequent activation of phosphorylase kinase are involved in the glycogenolytic actions of the cAMP-independent hormones (Blackmoreet al., 1978; Murphyet al., 1980). Studies in several laboratories have indicated a possible second-messenger role of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, a breakdown product of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisophosphate, in the calcium-mobilizing properties of these hormones (Berridge, 1984; Williamsonet al., 1985). The glycogenolytic actions of both glucagon and calcium-mobilizing hormones are observed in isolated hepatocytes, which constitute approximately 90% of the liver volume and are the primary site of glycogen storage in the liver.
CHAPTER 8 – Enzymes III: Clinical Applications

This chapter focuses on the clinical applications of enzymes. Enzymes are used as indicators of enzyme activity or enzyme concentration in body fluids, which helps in the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases. These are also used as analytical reagents in the measurement of activity of other enzymes or nonenzyme substances, such as substrates, proteins, and drugs in body fluids, and are also used as therapeutic agents. Enzyme assays employed in the diagnosis of diseases are one of the most frequently used clinical laboratory procedures, and the most commonly used body fluid for this purpose is serum, which is the fluid that appears after the blood has clotted. The diagnosis of organ disease is aided by measurement of a number of enzymes characteristic of that tissue or organ. Most tissues have characteristic enzyme patterns that may be reflected in the relative serum concentrations of the respective enzymes in disease. The amount of enzymes released depends on the degree of cellular damage, the intracellular concentrations of the enzymes, and the mass of affected tissue. Various factors are taken into consideration in the clinical interpretation of serum enzyme levels. Membrane permeability changes and cell destruction affect the release of intracellular enzymes, which can result from a decrease in intracellular ATP concentration. The nature of the enzymes released also reflects the severity of the damage. Mild inflammatory conditions are likely to release cytoplasmic enzymes, whereas necrotic conditions yield mitochondrial enzymes as well. The use of enzymes as analytical reagents in the clinical laboratory has found widespread application in the measurement of substrates, drugs, and activity of other enzymes.
Experimental and Analytical Investigations of Magnetohydrodynamic Flows Near the Entrance to a Strong Magnetic Field

An experimental program on liquid metal MHD phenomena relevant to blanket engineering is being carried out at ANL’s ALEX facility. The experiments carried out at the facility are aimed towards deta...
Peer reference revisited: Evolution of a peer-reference model

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to revisit Kimbel Library’s peer reference program three years later and provide further information on the challenges and benefits of growing a successful peer reference service model. Design/methodology/approach – This article examines the ongoing development of a peer reference model in an academic library setting and assesses the impact, value and continuing evolution of this model. Findings – Communication and collaboration among library public service departments is the key to managing rapid program growth and expansion of services. Practical implications – This article offers suggestions based on the experiences of one library for others interested in establishing or reexamining a peer reference service model. Originality/value – Employing undergraduate students at the reference desk is a relatively new practice that warrants further analysis, as it becomes more widespread. This article returns to examine a newly established peer reference program three year...
PROCESS ECOLOGY: STEPPING STONES TO BIOSEMIOSIS

. Many in science are disposed not to take biosemiotics seriously, dismissing it as too anthropomorphic. Furthermore, biosemiotic apologetics are cast in top-down fashion, thereby adding to widespread skepticism. An effective response might be to approach biosemiotics from the bottom up, but the foundational assumptions that support Enlightenment science make that avenue impossible. Considerations from ecosystem studies reveal, however, that those conventional assumptions, although once possessing great utilitarian value, have come to impede deeper understanding of living systems because they implicitly depict the evolution of the universe backward. Ecological dynamics suggests instead a smaller set of countervailing postulates that allows evolution to play forward and sets the stage for tripartite causalities, signs, and interpreters—the key elements of biosemiosis—to emerge naturally out of the interaction of chance with configurations of autocatalytic processes. Biosemiosis thereby appears as a fully legitimate outgrowth of the new metaphysic and shows promise for becoming the supervenient focus of a deeper perspective on the phenomenon of life.
A new joint sequential object detection and tracking approach and its performance analysis

Object detection and tracking are two important research topics in surveillance systems. Object detection and tracking are typically implemented separately and object tracking is usually performed after the object is detected. This two-stage approach may not work well when the object has a very low signal to noise ratio (SNR), and cannot be reliably detected using a single sample. In this paper, a new joint sequential object detection and tracking algorithm which combines Wald's sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) and the Kalman filter is proposed. Theoretical results have been provided on the expected values of the test statistic under both hypotheses, to give insights on the termination of the SPRT procedure. Numerical results show that even with a very weak SNR, the average number of samples required by the proposed sequential detector to achieve a high detection performance is small, and that it needs a much smaller number of samples to achieve the same detection performance than the optimal fixed-sample-size (FSS) detector.
Update on blood cultures: how to obtain, process, report, and interpret

The detection and identification of microorganisms circulating in the bloodstream of patients is arguably one of the most important functions of the clinical microbiology laboratory. Effective implementation of this function requires careful consideration of specimen collection and processing, culture techniques, result reporting, and, perhaps most importantly, result interpretation by the physician. The purpose of this review is to provide a synopsis of the current state of the art for each of these areas, with the intention of providing adequate information to enable clinical laboratory personnel and physicians to critically evaluate and, if required, improve their current blood culture practices.
The concentration and speciation of hydrogen in feldspars using FTIR and 1H MAS NMR spectroscopy

A universal absorption coefficient was determined for quantitative analysis of OH and H_2O in feldspars using infrared spectroscopy. ^1H MAS (magic-angle spinning) NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the H concentration in three alkali feldspars, and for the first time, eight plagioclase samples. To accurately measure structural H concentration in samples with low H (<1000 ppm H_2O) it was necessary to eliminate the signal due to adsorbed water in the powdered NMR sample. The pegmatitic and metamorphic albite samples are transparent, but contain variable (40–280 ppm H_2O) concentrations of microscopic to sub-microscopic fluid inclusions. The pegmatitic albites also have sharp bands in the mid-IR similar to the OH bands found in quartz. The other plagioclase samples used in the IR calibration have broad anisotropic bands around 3200 cm^(−1) in the mid-IR and weak combination stretch-bend bands near 4550 cm^(−1) in the near-IR, indicative of structural OH. The OH vector in plagioclase is preferentially aligned parallel to the crystallographic a axis. The concentration of structural OH in the plagioclase samples ranges from 210–510 ppm H_2O by weight. The microcline samples contain structural H_2O molecules (1000–1400 ppm H_2O) and the sanidine sample contains structural OH (170 ppm H_2O). An approximately linear trend is produced when the total integrated mid-IR absorbance is plotted vs. the concentration of structural H determined from NMR (OH and H_2O) for plagioclase and alkali feldspars. The integral absorption coefficient for the total mid-IR peak area is 15.3 ± 0.7 ppm^(−1)·cm^(−2) [107000 ± 5000 L/(mol H_2O·cm^2)] for natural feldspar samples that contain structural OH or H_2O. Measurements of band areas of unpolarized IR spectra on (001) cleavage fragments provide an estimate of H concentration for alkali feldspars, but this method does not work for most plagioclase samples.
Multi-Scale Modeling of Tubular Cross-Flow Microfiltration of Metalworking Fluids

Metalworking fluids are a vital part of modern machining processes but have significant negative economic, health, and environmental impacts. In-process purification of these fluids by microfiltration has been shown to reduce these impacts. This research uses a two-stage computational modeling methodology to investigate how particles within the membrane are transported from the turbulent flow within the center of the tubular membrane to the laminar sub-layer near the membrane wall and finally into the membrane pores. A macro-model of the complete flow within the tubular membrane is used to determine the steady-state flow profile within 25 microns of the membrane surface. This flow profile is then used to develop a micro-model of the flow at the membrane wall using a flat-plate assumption. The micro-model includes individual pores randomly located and sized based on statistical analysis of alumina membrane surfaces. A 23 full factorial design of experiments was used with variables of cross-flow velocity, transmembrane pressure, and membrane resistance. The responses of effective filtration region and total mass flowing through the pores were analyzed. Based on the simulation results, recommendations are made for future membrane design to provide the most efficient transport of particles from the bulk into the pores.© 2012 ASME
Engineering a molecular nightmare

The application of new reproductive technologies carries all manner of threats to the dignity of human life. Should not scientists show some restraint?
Influence of initial conditions on the large-scale dynamo growth rate

To investigate the effect of energy and helicity on the growth of magnetic field, helical kinetic forcing was applied to the magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) system that had a specific distribution of energy and helicity as initial conditions. Simulation results show the saturation of a system is not influenced by the initial conditions, but the growth rate of large scale magnetic field is proportionally dependent on the initial large scale magnetic energy and helicity. It is already known that the helical component of small scale magnetic field(i.e., current helicity $ $) quenches the growth of large scale magnetic field. However, $ $ can also boost the growth of large scale magnetic field by changing its sign and magnitude. In addition, simulation shows the nonhelical magnetic field can suppress the velocity field through Lorentz force. Comparison of the profiles of evolving magnetic and kinetic energy indicates that kinetic energy migrates backward when the external energy flows into the three dimensional MHD system, which means the velocity field may play a preceding role in the very early MHD dynamo stage.
Observations on the Mechanisms of Fatigue in Eutectic Pb-Sn Solder Joints

Near-eutectic Pb-Sn solders are widely used for joints in electrical devices. These are liable to failure by thermal fatigue during operation of the device. Since the thermal fatigue load is often in shear, the mechanisms of thermal fatigue in shear fare of particular interest. Recent research has shown that the thermal fatigue of eutectic solders in shear is preceded by the formation of bands of coarsened material in the eutectic microstructure, which concentrate the deformation and cause the nucleation of fatigue cracks. Such coarsened bands are also observed in isothermal fatigue and unidirectional creep in shear. Since creep experiments are relatively simple to conduct and analyze, these have been used to study the formation and growth of coarsened bands. The mechanism includes three steps: the formation of inhomogeneous shear bands, the onset of recrystallization in the shear band to create a planar region of coarsened material, and the propagation of the coarsened band by progressive recrystallization at its tip. The results are applied to thermal fatigue and some of their implications are discussed. 12 refs., 12 figs.
A systematic review of the role of videolaryngoscopy in successful orotracheal intubation

The purpose of our study was to organize the literature regarding the efficacy of modern videolaryngoscopes in oral endotracheal intubation, then perform a quality assessment according to recommended external criteria and make recommendations for use. Inclusion criteria included devices with recent studies of human subjects. A total of 980 articles were returned in the initial search and 65 additional items were identified using cited references. After exclusion of articles failing to meet study criteria, 77 articles remained. Data were extracted according to the rate of successful intubation and improvement of glottic view compared with direct laryngoscopy. Studies were classified according to whether they primarily examined subjects with normal airways, possessing risk factors for difficult direct laryngoscopy, or following difficult or failed direct laryngoscopy. The evidence of efficacy for videolaryngoscopy in the difficult airway is limited. What evidence exists is both randomized prospective and observational in nature, requiring a scheme that evaluates both forms and allows recommendations to be made. In patients at higher risk of difficult laryngoscopy we recommend the use of the Airtraq, CTrach, GlideScope, Pentax AWS and V-MAC to achieve successful intubation. In difficult direct laryngoscopy (C&L >/= 3) we cautiously recommend the use of the Airtraq, Bonfils, Bullard, CTrach, GlideScope, and Pentax AWS, by an operator with reasonable prior experience, to achieve successful intubation when used in accordance with the ASA practice guidelines for management of the difficult airway. There is additional evidence to support the use of the Airtraq, Bonfils, CTrach, GlideScope, McGrath, and Pentax AWS following failed intubation via direct laryngoscopy to achieve successful intubation. Future investigation would benefit from precise qualification of the subjects under study, and an improvement in overall methodology to include randomization and blinding.
Processing and properties of ytterbium-erbium silicate thin film gain media

The structural and photoluminescence properties of ytterbium-erbium silicate thin films have been investigated. The films were fabricated by RF-magnetron co-sputtering of Er 2 O 3 , Yb 2 O 3 and SiO 2 on c-Si and subsequent annealing in N 2 or O 2 atmosphere.
Duplex ultrasound diagnosis of failing stent grafts placed for occlusive disease.

Objective We previously showed that duplex ultrasound (DU) imaging is beneficial in the diagnosis of failing vein and prosthetic grafts performed for arterial occlusive disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether DU imaging can reliably diagnose failing stent grafts (ie, covered stents) placed for arterial occlusive disease. Methods Between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2013, we placed 142 stent grafts in 92 arterial segments (1.5 stent grafts/stenotic artery) for lower extremity occlusive disease in patients who also underwent at least one DU surveillance study documenting a patent stent graft. Stent grafts were placed in 29 iliac and 52 femoropopliteal arteries and in 11 failing infrainguinal bypass grafts. Stent grafts used were Viabahn (W. L. Gore and Associates Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz) in 116 (82%), Wallgraft (Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass) in 23 (16%), Fluency (C. R. Bard Inc, Tempe, Ariz) in 2 (1%), and iCast (Atrium, Hudson, NH) in 1 (1%). Mean follow-up was 16 months (range, 1 week-86 months). Postoperative DU surveillance was performed in our Intersocietal Accreditation Commission accredited noninvasive vascular laboratory at 1 week, then every 3 months the first year, and every 6 months thereafter. DU measured peak systolic velocities (PSVs) and velocity ratio of adjacent PSVs (Vr) every 5 cm within the stent graft and adjacent arteries. Results We retrospectively classified the following factors as "abnormal DU findings:" focal PSVs >300 cm/s, uniform PSVs 3.0. Fifteen of 20 patients with one or more of these abnormal DU findings underwent prophylactic intervention (n = 8) or occluded without intervention (n = 7), whereas only two of 72 with normal DU findings occluded ( P = .0001). Excluding the eight patients who underwent prophylactic intervention, seven of 12 patients with abnormal DU findings occluded without intervention vs two of 72 with normal DU findings ( P = .0001). Conclusions These findings suggest that follow-up DU surveillance can predict failure of stent grafts placed for lower extremity occlusive disease. Focal PSVs >300 cm/s, Vr >3.0, and most importantly, uniform PSVs
An open source print management system that works

At Colorado State University, the engineering computing labs were running up huge printing costs due to excessive printing. We looked into several commercial print quota solutions that were quite pricey and limited in capability. We wanted something cheap (who doesn't?) and available across several computing platforms. The open source option we settled on consists of a print daemon (LPRng), Samba, a custom accounting script written in Perl, MySQL, Sendmail, and the print filter IFHP. In addition to our command-line administration utilities, we've developed a web-based administration system that uses Apache and PHP as a scripting language. The web-based system greatly simplifies our administration needs. Our system currently runs on the Linux platform, but could conceivably run on any Unix or Unix-like flavor. Our conglomeration of code bases satisfies all our requirements, and we have realized a large decrease in costs, as well as an associated increase in intelligent printing practices on the part of users. In this paper, we will outline the components of the PQuota system, how they interact, and their role in fulfilling our objectives of cost effectiveness, cross platform availability and ease of use for both administrators and users as well as low user impact.
Ventilatory responses to acute hypoxia in neurokinin-1 receptor deficient mice

Abstract The regulatory effect of substance P on respiration is mediated via neurokinin (NK) receptors. While previous studies suggest that NK-1 receptors are involved, little is known about the role NK-2 receptors in ventilatory responses to hypoxia. Ventilatory responses to acute hypoxia (8% O 2 in N 2 ) were measured by indirect plethysmography in unanaesthetized, unrestrained NK-1 receptor gene deficient (NK-1−/−) and wild-type mice. In additional experiments mice were treated with an NK-2 receptor antagonist prior to hypoxic challenge. Resting ventilatory parameters were not different between groups. NK-1−/− mice displayed significantly greater shortening of expiratory time and higher increase of breathing frequency during hypoxia than wild-type mice. Treatment with the NK-2 receptor antagonist SR 48968 (1 mg/kg) resulted in a further shortening of inspiratory and expiratory time in NK-1−/− but not wild-type mice. These results demonstrate that both NK-1 and NK-2 receptors are involved in the modification of ventilation in response to acute hypoxia.
Dieting and the search for the perfect body: Where physiology and culture collide

Modern society breeds a search for the perfect body. Today's aesthetic ideal is extremely thin, and now, superimposed on this, is the need to be physically fit. People seek the ideal, not only because of expected health benefits, but because of what the ideal symbolizes in our culture (self-control, success, acceptance). Two assumptions are widespread with regard to body weight and shape. One is that the body is infinitely malleable, and that with the right combination of diet and exercise, every person can reach the ideal. The second is that vast rewards await the person who attains the ideal. Research has shown that biological variables, particularly genetics, are influential in the regulation of body weight and shape. Hence, there are limits to how much a person can change. This places culture in conflict with physiology. In addition, the rewards of being attractive are less than most would expect. There are serious consequences of seeking the ideal and falling short, some psychological and others physiological (e.g., increased health risk for weight cycling). Clinical and research efforts are necessary to help individuals establish reasonable weight and shape goals, and to educate the public accordingly.
Effect of topical hyaluronic acid on experimental cholesteatoma.

Purpose: Inflammation and connective tissue hyperplasia are believed to be important etiological factors in cholesteatoma pathogenesis. Previous work has shown that topically applied hyaluronic acid can reduce connective tissue proliferation in healing wounds and accelerate healing of tympanic membrane perforations. This study was undertaken to determine whether the antiproliferative effect of hyaluronic acid may inhibit propylene glycol-induced cholesteatoma in an animal model. Materials and Methods: A 60% propylene glycol solution was injected bilaterally into the middle ear cavities of 20 adult chinchillas. The control group (N = 10) received propylene glycol alone. In addition to propylene glycol injections, the experimental group (N = 10) received repeated bilateral topical applications of 1.5% hyaluronic acid onto the tympanic membranes. Animals were killed at 4 weeks for gross and light microscopic examination. Results: Seven control and 10 experimental animals survived the full l-month study period. At the end of that time, cholesteatoma was found in 71% (10114) of control ears and 70% (14/20) of experimental ears. Tympanic membrane structure did not differ significantly between groups by light microscopy and, in all animals, cholesteatomas originated by migration of hyperplastic epidermis through the tympanic membrane, as has been observed in previous studies using this animal model. Conclusion: Under the conditions of this study, topical hyaluronic acid had no significant effect on cholesteatoma formation. Copyright 0 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company
Histone deacetylase inhibitors interact with melanoma differentiation associated-7/interleukin-24 to kill primary human glioblastoma cells.

We presently demonstrate that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) enhance toxicity of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin 24 (mda-7/IL-24) in invasive primary human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. Additionally, a method is described to augment the efficacy of adenoviral delivery of mda-7/IL-24 in these cells. HDACIs synergized with melanoma differentiation-associated (MDA)-7/IL-24 killing GBM cells. Enhanced lethality correlated with increased autophagy that was dependent on the expression of ceramide synthase 6. HDACIs interacted with MDA-7/IL-24 prolonging generation of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+. Quenching of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ blocked HDACI and MDA-7/IL-24 killing. In vivo MDA-7/IL-24 prolonged the survival of animals carrying orthotopic tumors, and HDACIs enhanced survival further. A serotype 5/3 adenovirus more effectively delivers mda-7/IL-24 to GBM tumors than a serotype 5 virus. Hence, we constructed a serotype 5/3 adenovirus that conditionally replicates in tumor cells expressing MDA-7/IL-24, in which the adenoviral early region 1A (E1A) gene was driven by the cancer-specific promoter progression elevated gene-3 [Ad.5/3 (INGN 241)-PEG-E1A-mda-7; also called Ad.5/3-CTV (cancer terminator virus)]. Ad.5/3-CTV increased the survival of mice carrying GBM tumors to a significantly greater extent than did a nonreplicative virus Ad.5/3-mda-7. Ad.5/3-CTV exhibited no toxicity in the brains of Syrian hamsters. Collectively our data demonstrate that HDACIs enhance MDA-7/IL-24 lethality, and adenoviral delivery of mda-7/IL-24 combined with tumor-specific viral replication is an effective preclinical GBM therapeutic.