cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Development of Mechanics to the Sixteenth Century

It is difficult to understand any movement, as the schoolmen would say, without knowing its terminus ad quem.1 The movement that gave rise to modern science is no exception. Assuming that science in its classical form arrived in Western Europe during the seventeenth century, to investigate how medieval and scholastic thought may have accelerated its arrival one must have clearly in mind what is to be understood by science. It will not do, for instance, to equate this simply with the modern interplay between theory and experiment, as though the seventeenth-century scientist was intent on elaborating a hypothetical-deductive system that would entail empirically verifiable consequents. Such a view of science had to wait at least two more centuries; it belongs to a different thought-context than that of the seventeenth century.
Handwriting skills of children with tic disorders.

Introduction Although circumstantial evidence suggests children with tic disorders (TD) experience challenges in handwriting which may be attributed to their tics, few studies have systematically investigated handwriting performance among children with TD. This study examined the relationship between handwriting deficits and TD using a causal comparative research design. Methods Thirty-four children with TD completed the Test of Handwriting Skills-Revised (THS-R). The overall percentile ranks of the THS-R were analysed to determine if children with TD have lower scores compared to the test's normative values. Writing speed, letter reversals, touching letters and case errors were also evaluated. Results Data revealed the median percentile rank of the THS-R for the participants was significantly lower than the median percentile score of the THS-R for the normative sample. Close to 80% (n = 27) of writing samples were scored below 50th percentile. More than one-third (35.3%, n = 12) of the writing samples were scored greater than one standard deviation below the normative mean on the THS-R. Of the four ancillary scores, 82.4% (n = 28) of the participants' writing samples scored below 50th percentile (in the categories of watch or test further) on case errors and 67.6% (n = 23) scored below 50th percentile on writing speed. Conclusion Findings suggested that children with TD took longer to complete the writing task, and committed more case substitution errors than the normative sample of the THS-R and were likely to exhibit handwriting deficits.
The role of psychiatric symptoms and environmental vulnerability factors in explaining the relationship between child maltreatment and suicidality: A prospective investigation.

Abstract Background Childhood maltreatment has been associated with suicide thoughts and attempts; however, few longitudinal studies have assessed risk of suicidality into adulthood. Fewer have examined potential mediators (psychiatric symptoms and environmental vulnerability factors). Methods Prospective cohort design. Children with documented cases of maltreatment (N = 495, ages 0-11) were matched with non-maltreated children (N = 395) and followed up into adulthood. Psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, dysthymia, post-traumatic stress, antisocial personality, and substance use) and environmental vulnerability (social isolation, physical disability/illness, and homelessness) were assessed at mean age 29 and suicide thoughts and attempts at 39. Structural equation models tested for mediation, controlling for age, sex, race, and IQ. Results Childhood maltreatment predicted suicide attempts (Beta = .44, p Limitations Court cases of child maltreatment may not generalize to middle- or upper- class and non-reported cases. Effect sizes were small but significant. Conclusions Psychiatric risk factors for suicide are well recognized. These new results provide strong evidence that environmental vulnerability factors, particularly homelessness, are associated with increased risk for suicide attempts and warrant attention. Although many people report suicide thoughts, maltreated children with more psychiatric symptoms and experience homelessness are more likely to attempt suicide and warrant targeted interventions.
Abstract 3460: Effects of feeding soy protein isolate diet on hepatic methylation and oxidative stress in DMBA-induced mammary tumor in obese rat model

The obesity epidemic is in the United States and world for past two decades. There is a link between obesity and chronic diseases development such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers including breast cancer. Obesity has a significant impact on the metabolic profiles for a variety of cellular-tissue-organ levels in animals and humans. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of obesity and a soy protein isolate (SPI) diet on liver methylation and oxidative stress using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumor model. We hypothesize that SPI diet is capable to reduce the liver damage by reducing oxidative stress and modifying methylation status. After one week of acclimation, five weeks old female lean and obese Zucker rats were randomly fed AIN-93-G diet with either casein (CAS as control) or SPI as source of protein. All rats were orally gavaged at age 50 days with 65 mg/kg DMBA. Rats were weighed and palpated twice weekly and sacrificed 22 weeks post-DMBA treatment. Liver sample metabolites concentrations were measured using HPLC with Electrochemical Detection and LC-MS. Our results shows that: 1) Obesity increased significantly (P Citation Format: Reza Hakkak, Stepan Melnyk, Soheila Korourian. Effects of feeding soy protein isolate diet on hepatic methylation and oxidative stress in DMBA-induced mammary tumor in obese rat model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3460.
Archaeology in South Carolina: edited by Adam King, Columbia, University of South Carolina Press, 2016, 296 pp., ill., maps, $39.99 (cloth), ISBN: 978-1-61117-608-7

Archaeology in South Carolina contributes to many important topics, including the colonization of North America by Paleoindian groups at the end of the last Ice Age; evolution of complex hunter-gat...
Investigation of gating in outer membrane porins provides new perspectives on antibiotic resistance mechanisms

Gram-negative bacteria pose a serious public health concern, primarily due to a higher frequency of antibiotic resistance conferred to them as a result of low permeability of their outer membrane (OM). Antibiotics capable of traversing the OM typically permeate through OM porins; thus, understanding the permeation properties of these porins is instrumental to the development of new antibiotics. A common macroscopic feature of many OM porins is their ability to transition between functionally distinct open and closed states that regulate transport properties and rate. To obtain a molecular basis for these processes, we performed tens of microseconds of molecular dynamics simulations of E. coli OM porin, OmpF. We observed that large-scale motion of the internal loop, L3, leads to widening and narrowing of the pore, suggesting its potential role in gating. Furthermore, Markov state analysis revealed multiple energetically stable conformations of L3 corresponding to open and closed states of the porin. Dynamics between these functional states occurs on the time scale of tens of microseconds and are mediated by the movement of highly conserved acidic residues of L3 to form H-bonds with opposing sides of the barrel wall of the pore. To validate our mechanism, we mutated key residues involved in the gating process that alter the H-bond pattern in the open/closed states and performed additional simulations. These mutations shifted the dynamic equilibrium of the pore towards open or closed states. Complementarily, the mutations favoring the open/closed states lead to increased/decreased accumulation of multiple antibiotics in our whole-cell accumulation assays. Notably, porins containing one of the mutations favoring the closed state has previously been found in antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. Overall, our 180 {micro}s of simulation data (wild type and mutants) with concerted experiments suggests that regulation of the dynamic equilibrium between open and closed states of OM porins could be a mechanism by which Gram-negative bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance.
Magnetism in Metastable and Annealed Compositionally Complex Alloys

Compositionally complex materials (CCMs) present a potential paradigm shift in the design of magnetic materials. These alloys exhibit long-range structural order coupled with limited or no chemical order. As a result, extreme local environments exist with a large variations in the magnetic energy terms, which can manifest large changes in the magnetic behavior. In the current work, the magnetic properties of (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni) alloys are presented. These materials were prepared by room-temperature combinatorial sputtering, resulting in a range of compositions with a single bcc structural phase and no chemical ordering. The combinatorial growth technique allows CCMs to be prepared outside of their thermodynamically stable phase, enabling the exploration of otherwise inaccessible order. The mixed ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in these alloys causes frustrated magnetic behavior, which results in an extremely low coercivity $(l1\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mT})$, which increases rapidly at 50 K. At low temperatures, the coercivity achieves values of nearly 500 mT, which is comparable to some high-anisotropy magnetic materials. Commensurate with the divergent coercivity is an atypical drop in the temperature dependent magnetization. These effects are explained by a mixed magnetic phase model, consisting of ferro-, antiferro-, and frustrated magnetic regions, and are rationalized by simulations. A machine-learning algorithm is employed to visualize the parameter space and inform the development of subsequent compositions. Annealing the samples at 600 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C orders the sample, more-than doubling the Curie temperature and increasing the saturation magnetization by as much as 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}. Simultaneously, the large coercivities are suppressed, resulting in magnetic behavior that is largely temperature independent over a range of 350 K. The ability to transform from a hard magnet to a soft magnet over a narrow temperature range makes these materials promising for heat-assisted recording technologies.
Modeling of Rotor Flux Barriers in a Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Machine

A brushless doubly-fed reluctance machine requires partially-rated power converter, reduced maintenance, and operates without permanent magnets making it an attractive option for many applications such electrified propulsion and wind energy conversion system. However, BDFRMs have inherently poor torque density and high torque ripple. Since the flux modulation in a BDFRM is carried out by the rotor, the rotor structure plays an important role in torque production. This paper propose an analytical approach to model the effect of the rotor flux barriers on the mean and ripple torque. The method shows that the instantaneous torque is highly sensitive to the location of these flux-barriers. A rotor with two flux barriers per pole is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Finally, the proposed modeling framework is used to optimize the rotor geometry to achieve a maximize mean torque with lower ripple. The estimated torque profile for the optimized rotor is verified using finite element analysis (FEA) of the machine.
Adrenal Imaging Features Predict Malignancy Better than Tumor Size.

In adrenal tumors, size ≥4 cm has been an indication for adrenalectomy due to concern for malignancy. We compared mass size to imaging features (ImF) for accuracy in diagnosing adrenal malignancy. Data were retrieved for 112 consecutive patients who had adrenalectomy from January 2011 to August 2014. ImF was classified as nonbenign if HU > 10 on unenhanced CT scan or if loss of signal on out-of-phase imaging was absent on chemical-shift MRI. Indications for resection included hormonal hypersecretion, nonbenign ImF, and/or size ≥4 cm. Of 113 resected adrenals, 37 % were functional. Histologic malignancy occurred in 18 % (20/113) and included 3 adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC), 1 epithelioid liposarcoma, 1 lymphoma, 1 malignant nerve sheath tumor, and 14 adrenal metastases. Patients with malignancies were older (mean age, 60 ± 13 vs. 51 ± 14 years, p = 0.01). Malignant tumors were larger on preoperative imaging (mean 5.3 ± 3.2 vs. 3.9 ± 2.4 cm, p = 0.03). All 20 malignant masses had nonbenign ImF. In predicting malignancy, the sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of nonbenign ImF was 100, 57, 100, and 33 %, respectively. Size ≥4 cm was less predictive with sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 55, 61, 86, and 23 %, respectively. If size ≥4 cm had been used as the sole criterion for surgery, 45 % of malignancies (9/20) would have been missed including 8 metastases and an ACC. In resected adrenal tumors, the presence of nonbenign ImF is more sensitive for malignancy than mass size (100 vs. 55 %) with equivalent specificity. Regardless of mass size, adrenalectomy should be strongly considered when non-benign ImF are present.
On Pitot Pressure in an Almost-Free-Molecule Flow - A Physical Theory for Rarefied-Gas Flows

A physical theory of pitot pressure in the transition-flow regime—i.e., the moderately-rarefied-gas-flow region—is proposed. The ratio X/& (the mean free path to the radius of the cavity opening) is assumed to be of the order unity or larger. A general formula for the perturbation to the pitot pressure in the free-molecule flow is given. This perturbation is attributed to the intermolecular collisions, which are neglected on the basis of the free-molecule hypothesis. The expected rate of collision is calculated for rigid spheres, using the classical kinetic theory. Although this is intended as an approximate theory, the theoretical results agree surprisingly well with the limited experimental data that are available. The present theory shows that the ratio Re/M (Reynolds Number to Mach Number) is the governing parameter for determining the intermolecularcollision effect on pitot pressure in the transition-flow regime.
Blocked Force and Loading Calculations for Larc Thunder Actuators

An analytic approach is developed to predict the performance of LaRC Thunder actuators under load and under blocked conditions. The problem is treated with the Von Karman non-linear analysis combined with a simple Raleigh-Ritz calculation. From this, shape and displacement under load combined with voltage are calculated. A method is found to calculate the blocked force vs voltage and spring force vs distance. It is found that under certain conditions, the blocked force and displacement is almost linear with voltage. It is also found that the spring force is multivalued and has at least one bifurcation point. This bifurcation point is where the device collapses under load and locks to a different bending solution. This occurs at a particular critical load. It is shown this other bending solution has a reduced amplitude and is proportional to the original amplitude times the square of the aspect ratio.
A Critical Precursor Frequency of Donor-Reactive CD4+ T Cell Help Is Required for CD8+ T Cell-Mediated CD28/CD154-Independent Rejection

Ag-specific precursor frequency is increasingly being appreciated as an important factor in determining the kinetics, magnitude, and degree of differentiation of T cell responses, and recently was found to play a critical role in determining the relative requirement of CD8+ T cells for CD28- and CD154-mediated costimulatory signals during transplantation. We addressed the possibility that variations in CD4+ T cell precursor frequency following transplantation might affect CD4+ T cell proliferation, effector function, and provision of help for donor-reactive B cell and CD8+ T cell responses. Using a transgenic model system wherein increasing frequencies of donor-reactive CD4+ T cells were transferred into skin graft recipients, we observed that a critical CD4+ T cell threshold precursor frequency was necessary to provide help following blockade of the CD28 and CD154 costimulatory pathways, as measured by increased B cell and CD8+ T cell responses and precipitation of graft rejection. In contrast to high-frequency CD8+ T cell responses, this effect was observed even though the proliferative and cytokine responses of Ag-specific CD4+ T cells were inhibited. Thus, we conclude that an initial high frequency of donor-reactive CD4+ T cells uncouples T cell proliferative and effector cytokine production from the provision of T cell help.
Kähler-Einstein metrics for some quasi-smooth log del Pezzo surfaces

Recently Johnson and Kollar determined the complete list of anti-canonically embedded quasi-smooth log del Pezzo surfaces in weighted projective 3-spaces. They also proved that many of those surfaces admit a Kahler-Einstein metric, and that some of them do not have tigers. The aim of this paper is to settle the question of the existence of Kahler-Einstein metrics and tigers for those surfaces for which the question was left open. In order to do so, we will use techniques developed earlier by Nadel, Demailly and Kollar.
Observability of Switched Linear Systems

The observability of deterministic, discrete-time, switched, linear systems is considered. Depending on whether or not the modes are observed, and on whether the continuous state or the mode sequence is to be recovered, several observability concepts are defined, characterized through linear algebraic tests, and their decidability assessed.
Supersonic jet noise - Its generation, prediction and effects on people and structures

This paper presents the results of a study aimed at quantifying the effects of jet source noise reduction, increases in aircraft lift, and reduced aircraft thrust on the take-off noise associated with supersonic civil transports. Supersonic jet noise sources are first described, and their frequency and directivity dependence are defined. The study utilizes NASA's Aircraft Noise Prediction Program in a parametric study to weigh the relative benefits of several approaches to low noise. The baseline aircraft concept used in these predictions is the AST-205-1 powered by GE21/J11-B14A scaled engines. Noise assessment is presented in terms of effective perceived noise levels at the FAA's centerline and sideline measuring locations for current subsonic aircraft, and in terms of audiologically perceived sound of people and other indirect effects. The results show that significant noise benefit can be achieved through proper understanding and utilization of all available approaches.
Melhorn, JM and Ackerman, WE (eds): Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation

Healthcare providers that evaluate or treat injuries and illnesses are frequently asked to opine regarding workplace causation, aggravation, or exacerbation of medical conditions. These types of determinations require an objective review of the pertinent medical information, potential workplace exposures, and alleged mechanisms of injury. Once the medical evidence is gathered, a careful analysis of the data is essential to render an authoritative decision. Most healthcare providers receive very little formal training in disease and injury causality paradigms; however, their opinions are routinely used by administrative entities to determine eligibility for various workers’ compensation and disability benefits. Given this potential gap in provider knowledge and training, the publication of Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation (Guides) could not have been more timely. Stated goals of the Guides include assisting the reader in the evaluation of causation and bridging the gap between occupational and non-occupational evidence-based causation. The Guides were edited and written by nationally recognized experts in the field. The book covers occupational and non-occupational medical conditions and includes numerous case examples which facilitate the learning process. The first seven chapters lay the foundation for causality determinations through detailed discussions of key concepts such as causality, apportionment, aggravation, exacerbation, proximate cause, and producing cause. These initial chapters also include critical information regarding methods for determining work-relatedness, strategies for conducting a causality examination, and a process for writing evidence-based reports. The final 15 chapters provide an evidence-based review of causation for a wide variety of medical conditions such as spinal disorders, upper and low extremity disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, and mental illness. All of the major organ systems and many of their associated medical conditions that are frequently encountered in clinical practice are reviewed. The authors’ analyses include numerous references that are listed at the end of each chapter. The Guides is a well-written, well-referenced, and authoritative resource on the topic of injury and disease causation. It is easy to read and understand. The structured guidelines proffered by the Guides are its most important attribute as they allow the provider to readily use and apply them to real-world cases. Although ideally designed for healthcare professionals who must render opinions regarding causality and apportionment, the Guides would also be quite useful to claims managers, case managers, and lawyers who are involved in the administration of benefits or litigation of claims that are based on causality determinations. Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation should be in the tool kit of all professionals engaged in workers’ compensation or disability associated claims.
Dosimetric characterization of a cone-beam O-arm™ imaging system

This study compared patient dose and image quality of a mobile O-arm cone beam imaging system in the 3D scan acquisition mode to those of a 64 slice Computed Tomography (CT) imaging system. The investigation included patient dose, scattered radiation, and image quality measurements. The patient dose was measured using a 0.6 cc Farmer ion chamber and 30 cm long Computed Tomography (CT) head and body polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantoms. The results show that under identical radiographic techniques (kVp, mAs, etc.) and with the same scan length, the O-arm in 3D scan acquisition mode delivers approximately half the radiation dose of a 64 slice CT scanner. Scattered radiation was measured at several locations around the O-arm, at 1 m, 2 m and 3 m distances in 3D CT scan acquisition mode with a RadCal 10 x 5-180 pancake ion chamber using a 30 cm long CT body phantom as the source of scatter. Similar measurements were made in a 64 slice CT scanner. The data demonstrate that scattered radiation from the O-arm to personnel involved in a clinical procedure is comparable to that from a 64 slice CT scanner. Image quality was compared by exposing a CATPHAN phantom to comparable doses in both the O-arm and the CT scanner. The resultant images were then evaluated for modulation transfer function (MTF), high-contrast spatial resolution, and low contrast sensitivity for clinical application purpose. The O-arm shows comparable high contrast to the CT (7 lp/cm vs. 8 lp/cm). The low contrast in the O-arm is not visible due to fixed pattern noise. For image guided surgery applications where the location of a structure is emphasized over a survey of all image details, the O-arm has some advantages due to wide radiation beam coverage and lower patient dose. The image quality of the O-arm needs significant improvement for other clinical applications where high image quality is desired.
Abstract LB-299: Gene knockdown by EpCAM aptamer-siRNA chimeras suppresses epithelial breast cancers and their tumor-initiating cells

Effective therapeutic strategies for in vivo siRNA delivery to knockdown genes in cells outside the liver are needed to harness RNA interference for treating cancer. EpCAM is a tumor-associated antigen highly expressed on common epithelial cancers and their tumor-initiating cells (T-IC, also known as cancer stem cells). Here we show that aptamer-siRNA chimeras (AsiC, an EpCAM aptamer linked to an siRNA sense strand and annealed to the siRNA antisense strand) are selectively taken up and knockdown gene expression in EpCAM+ cancer cells in vitro and in human cancer biopsy tissues. PLK1 EpCAM-AsiCs inhibit colony and mammosphere formation (in vitro T-IC assays) and tumor initiation by EpCAM+ luminal and basal-A triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, but not EpCAM- mesenchymal basal-B TNBCs, in nude mice. Subcutaneously administered EpCAM-AsiCs concentrate in EpCAM+ Her2+ and TNBC tumors and suppress their growth. Thus EpCAM-AsiCs provide an attractive approach for treating epithelial cancer. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Adi Gilboa-Geffen, Peter Hamar, Lee Adam Wheeler, Radiana Trifonova, Fabio Petrocca, Anders Wittrup, Judy Lieberman. Gene knockdown by EpCAM aptamer-siRNA chimeras suppresses epithelial breast cancers and their tumor-initiating cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-299. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-299
The yield of stool testing in hospital-onset diarrhea: Has evidence changed practice?

AbstractIntroduction: Aside from examination for Clostridium difficile, the yield of stool testing in hospital-onset diarrhea is poor. Clinical practice guidelines discourage overzealous stool testing in patients with diarrhea that develops after the third hospital day. However, the adoption of this recommendation into clinical practice is limited. Furthermore, the effect of microbiology laboratory improvements on hospital-onset diarrhea testing is largely unknown. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a university-affiliated community-hospital and included all adult inpatients who developed diarrhea after hospitalization. Results: 132 adult patients (53% female) developed diarrhea after hospitalization in 2013. The cohort’s mean age was 55.6 years. 46.2% of patients developed diarrhea in the first 3 days of hospitalization. Testing for parasites was negative in all examined 67 samples. Testing for C. difficile was positive in 13 cases (10.8%) out of 120 tested samples. Testing for other ...
High order sigma-delta modulator design via sliding mode control

In this paper a sliding mode approach to stability analysis and design of sigma-delta modulators is introduced. It is shown that a continuous-time sigma-delta modulator can be studied as a nonlinear dynamical system with feedback control. Representing a modulator as "plant" and "controller" transforms a modulator design problem into a control design problem. Moreover, using advanced sliding mode techniques; new structures of sigma-delta modulator can be obtained. A non-linear second order modulator is proposed and analyzed as a part of high order non-linear modulators family.
Role of computer vision in augmented virtual reality

An important issue in augmented virtual reality is making the virtual world sensitive to the current state of the surrounding real world as the user interacts with it--changing gaze, manipulating an object, etc. For providing the right virtual stimulus at the right position and time, the system needs some sensor to interpret the surrounding scene. Computer vision holds great potential in providing the necessary interpretation of the scene. We present the preliminary design of a computer vision-based augmented reality system for helping a human in assembling an industrial part from its components. The context of assembly helps in keeping the computer vision task simple by exploiting the geometric model of the assembly components for recognition and pose estimation. The augmentation stimuli include labeling of objects in the scene, helping with sequencing using an assembly planner, visualization of assembly at different stages, handling errors by the human operator, etc. Such a system would have potential applications in assembling complex parts, maintenance, and education. We will present an overview of the design of the system and discuss some of the issues involved in computer vision-based augmented reality.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mutation and cloning of clustered Streptomyces genes essential for sulphate metabolism

A range of mutants auxotrophic for cysteine (cys) and resistant to selenate (sel) were isolated from many Streptomyces strains but chiefly from S. coelicolor A3(2) and S. lividans 66. Two of the classes of sel/cys mutants probably contained simple biochemical lesions of sulphate permease (selC) and ATP sulphurylase (selA) activities, while a further two classes (selD and selE) were pleiotropic and possibly regulatory. Most classes of sel mutations were clustered around the cysD locus of S. coelicolor. Segments of chromosomal DNA cloned from S. coelicolor, S. cattleya and S. clavuligerus and able to complement various sel/cys mutations allowed the relative positions of these mutations and the cysC and cysD mutations of S. coelicolor to be determined. The sel/cys DNA can be used for two-way selection: Cys+Sels↔Cys-Selr.
THE IMPACT OF PERMANENT PACEMAKER IMPLANTATION FOLLOWING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT ON OUTCOME

Timing, causality, and outcomes of permanent pacemaker (PPM) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains poorly described. Symptomatic aortic stenosis patients undergoing TVAR were followed for timing and underlying causes of PPM implantation. They were categorized into 3 groups
Filler‐filler interaction and filler‐polymer interaction in carbon black and silica filled ExxproTM polymer

Due to the presence of reactive benzylic bromide, Exxpro has much better interaction with silica in comparison with polybutadiene as demonstrated by the high bound rubber level. The better silica/Exxpro interaction is further substantiated by the low degree of filler network formation in comparison to that observed for silica filled polybutadiene as demonstrated by the much smaller deviation of low strain shear modulus from the Guth-Gold relationship for the silica filled Exxpro. Silane treatement of silica reduces filler network formation in polybutadiene but has only slight effect on silica filled Exxpro indicating that even without silane treatment silica already disperse well in Exxpro due to high degree of filler/polymer interaction. This result in silica filled Exxpro compound exhibiting better processability (lower shear viscosity) as well as dynamic performances for tire applications (higher tan 6 at -20 and 0°C, lower tan δ at 60°C). We speculate that nucleophilic substitution reaction takes place between benzylic bromide and surface hydroxide group of silica.
Adolescent Experiences with the Death of a Peer

The frequency in which today's teenagers have had to confront the death of a peer is understated. A convenience sample of sixty-eight adolescents responded to a 22-question survey instrument addres...
Normal mucoprotein values in the dog; response to distemper vaccine and to endocarditis.

Summary1. The normal serum mucoprotein-tyrosine level in 55 dogs has been determined. 2. The mean value for normal dogs was found to be 2.5 mg % ± 0.11, which value corresponds closely to that for normal humans. 3. Distemper vaccine produced a temporary, but significant, elevation in the mucoprotein-tyrosine levels in dogs. 4. The peak response of the serum mucoprotein-tyrosine levels to the distemper vaccine was reached in 2 weeks; and had returned to normal in the majority of animals by 7 weeks. 5. The physiologic stress of large arteriovenous fistula loads in dogs produced a statistically significant elevation in the mucoprotein-tyrosine levels. 6. The mucoprotein-tyrosine levels were found to be elevated significantly and to a much greater degree in dogs with large arteriovenous fistulas and bacterial endocarditis produced by beta hemolytic streptococci.
Model-based landmine detection algorithms for acoustic/seismic data

Acoustic-Seismic methods for landmine detection are under intensive investigation. Data collected by the University of Mississippi have by processed by a variety of investigators with excellent results in many cases. Increases in performance are sought based on an understanding of the physical principles leading to the differences between the vibrational velocities of soil over buried landmines and over locations not above landmines. Donskoy suggested modeling the physical system using damped harmonic oscillators. This model suggests a use of magnitude and phase information in image processing algorithms for detecting. In this paper, some methods for incorporating magnitude and phase into image processing algorithms are described and demonstrated. Previous algorithms relied on magnitude only. Increased performance is achieved by incorporating phase into the algorithms.
FAMILY INTERVENTION IN A CASE OF MULTIPLE PERSONALITY

The authors report a case of multiple personality in which therapy was directed at the marital couple, rather than focusing on the multiple personality per se. The symptoms of the individual are seen as a disturbance in the family homeostasis and were treated from that standpoint. The functions of the symptom in the areas of impulse discharge, superego operation, boundaries of closeness-distance, and self-object representations for the couple and family are discussed.
Glucosamine Inhibits Decidualization of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells and Decreases Litter Sizes in Mice

Embryo implantation in the uterus depends on decidualization of the endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), and glucose utilization via the pentose phosphate pathway is critical in this process. We hypothesized that the amino sugar glucosamine may block the pentose phosphate pathway via inhibition of the rate-limiting enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in ESCs and therefore impair decidualization and embryo implantation, thus preventing pregnancy. Both human primary and immortalized ESCs were decidualized in vitro in the presence of 0, 2.5, or 5 mM glucosamine for 9 days. Viability assays demonstrated that glucosamine was well tolerated by human ESCs. Exposure of human ESCs to glucosamine resulted in significant decreases in the activity and expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and in the mRNA expression of the decidual markers prolactin, somatostatin, interleukin-15, and left-right determination factor 2. In mouse ESCs, expression of the decidual marker Prp decreased upon addition of glucosamine. In comparison with control mice, glucosamine-treated mice showed weak artificial deciduoma formation along the stimulated uterine horn. In a complementary in vivo experiment, a 60-day-release glucosamine (15, 150, or 1500 μg) or placebo pellet was implanted in a single uterine horn of mice. Mice with a glucosamine pellet delivered fewer live pups per litter than those with a control pellet, and pup number returned to normal after the end of the pellet-active period. In conclusion, glucosamine is a nonhormonal inhibitor of decidualization of both human and mouse ESCs and of pregnancy in mice. Our data indicate the potential for development of glucosamine as a novel, reversible, nonhormonal contraceptive.
Property C for ODE and Applications to an Inverse Problem for a Heat Equation

.Summary. Let ‘j := d 2 =dx 2 + k 2 qj(x); k = const > 0, j = 1; 2; 0 0; where p is an arbitrary xed bounded piecewise-analytic function on [0 ; 1], which changes sign nitely many times, and uj solves the problem ‘juj = 0; 0 x 1; u 0(0;k) = 0; uj(0;k) = 1: It is proved that ( ) implies p = 0. This result is applied to an inverse problem for a heat equation.
THE TRANSFER AND CONVERSION OF ELECTRONIC ENERGY IN SOME ‘MODEL’ PHOTOCHEMICAL SYSTEMS*

— Recent studies of the effects of molecular structure and reaction environment on the mechanism of primary photochemical processes involving transfer and conversion of electronic energy in relatively ‘simple’ organic molecules are presented and discussed. A quantitative i.r. spectroscopic method for studying intramolecular and intermolecular photoprocesses of u.v. irradiated substrates dispersed in solid alkali halide matrices at room temperature is described. Current data for the substrates ortho-nitrobenzaldehyde, anthracene and benzophenonebenzhydrol are presented. A series of ‘model’ ketones containing cyclopropyl groups have been synthesized and while their absorption spectra are similar, the efficiency of vapor-phase photodissociation into radicals is shown to be strongly dependent on molecular structure. Butyrophenone and a series of ring substituted derivatives have been photolyzed in the liquid phase using the quantum yield of the photoelimination of ethylene (Type II split) as a “probe” to determine the effect of substituents on the internal H atom abstracting power of the excited carbonyl chromophore. Φc2H4 is very sensitive to ring substitution, dropping from 0.24 in butyrophenone to 0.20, 0.058 and 0.00 in the p-CH3, p-OCH3 and p-NH2 derivatives respectively, and to 0.00 in both ortho and para hydroxy derivatives. This effect is correlated with their absorption spectra in terms of the lowest states of these alkyl aryl ketones being 3(π, π*) rather than 3(π, π*) in character. While several ‘classic’ photochemical reactions, unimolecular and bimolecular, proceed efficiently in solid KBr matrices giving the same product as in liquid systems, the ‘model’ cyclopropyl compounds and the alkyl aryl ketones did not undergo their usual intramolecular processes. Implications of this molecular environment effect are pointed out.
The development of microfouling on four commercial antifouling coatings under static and dynamic immersion

Since the composition and abundance of microfouling communities that develop on antifouling coatings reduce the performance and efficiency of ship operations, microfouling was investigated during static and dynamic seawater immersion of four commercial antifouling coatings, of which three were biocide based (tributyltin self-polishing, copper self-polishing, copper ablative) and one was biocide free (silicone fouling release). The total bacterial counts were similar on all coatings after static immersion, but after dynamic immersion the largest decrease in numbers was seen on the fouling release coating. The bacterial population on the fouling release surface was also more heterogeneous than on the biocide-based coatings. After static immersion, diatom populations were dominated by Amphora, Navicula and Synedra; after dynamic immersion, no diatoms could be detected on the copper ablative coating and only Amphora was left on the fouling release coating.
Brain regional spermidine and spermine levels in relation to RNA and DNA in aging rat brain.

— The polyamines spermidine and spermine were measured in brain regions from adult male rats aged 2, 10 and 20 months. Spermine levels displayed marked constancy in all brain regions studied across all ages. However, spermidine concentrations, as expressed per microgram DNA, significantly increased as a function of age in the hypothalamus, corpus striatum and medulla oblongata-pons. Similar trends with age of increased spermidine steady-state levels, but not reaching statistical significance, were observed in the cerebral cortex, midbrain and hippocampus. An absolute decline with age in DNA levels was observed only in the hippocampus. Total RNA levels, as expressed per DNA, tended to decline in all brain regions between 2 and 10 months with a reversal in this trend between 10 and 20 months in all regions except the corpus striatum. Perhaps the increased steady-state levels of spermidine, which may represent significantly increased turnover rates of this polyamine, are compensatory responses to a decreased turnover of RNA. Alternatively, the observed changes in the spermidine to spermine ratio with age may reflect changes in neuronal-glial relationships within brain regions.
Video de-interlacing using asymmetric nonlocal-means filtering

This paper presents a de-interlacing method based on the nonlocal-means (NL-means) approach. In the NL-means, every interpolated pixel is set to a weighted combination of its neighboring pixels. We use an asymmetric NL-means scheme where the pixel in the neighborhood and the pixel being interpolated can be at the center or off-center of their patches. To calculate NL-means weights, we initially find estimates of patches using a spatio-temporal edge-based method which employs a risk function for interpolation. This function reflects the performance of the interpolation direction on the original adjacent pixels. Experimental results verify the superior performance of our method.
The Impact of Rehabilitation Services in County Jails

Abstract This paper describes some of the problems encountered in the delivery of human, services to a county jail population. The authors' primary intention is to suggest the need to examine the effect of rehabilitation programs on reducing tension and anxiety levels among the jail populations. There are certain county correctional facilities that are referred to as penitentiaries, workhouses, and jails where individuals serve sentences for a fixed period of time as a result of their convictions in municipal and county courts. Herein, however, jails are referred to as those facilities that hold pretrial detainees who are unable to make bail.
Your class meets where? Library instruction for business and education graduate students at off‐campus centers

Provides insight into one university library's experience in delivering library instruction to off‐campus students in the School of Business and the School of Education while also exploring such issues as library instruction for graduate students, face‐to‐face instruction at off‐campus centers, uses of technology, faculty interaction, student needs, and librarian logistics. Examines the literature on this topic, to: review the current services offered to off‐campus students, review how the off‐campus library instruction takes place, discuss developments for the future, and present recommendations for improving the service. Finds that, at the University of Redlands, off‐campus library services are experiencing a time of growth. A goal of the library and the University to provide personalized library instruction to graduate students is gradually being realized. The off‐campus students are beginning to receive services equal to library services received by on‐campus students. Proposes that this study could be used to assist other colleges and universities in developing a program for library instruction for off‐campus students.
Hydride formation on polishing rare earth alloys and reflected electron loss maps

Abstract Standard metallographic preparation of a two-phase alloy, RFe2 plus R, where R represents a Dy + Tb metal phase, has shown that one often finds a blue phase in the regions suspected to be the Dy + Tb metal phase. By examining chemical shifts of the rare earth metals in both the Auger and electron loss spectra it is demonstrated that the blue phase is a rare earth dihydride. A new technique, reflected electron loss mapping, is shown to provide an excellent method for revealing the location of the dihydride phase. Sputtering experiments confirm that the blue phase is located only near the polished surface and it is concluded that this rare earth dihydride forms upon mechanical polishing. Other evidence is presented which shows that dihydride formation can be a common problem in the metallographic preparation of rare earth alloys.
Synchronized action of synaptically coupled chaotic model neurons

Experimental observations of the intracellular recorded electrical activity in individual neurons show that the temporal behavior is often chaotic. We discuss both our own observations on a cell from the stom-atogastric central pattern generator of lobster and earlier observations in other cells. In this paper we work with models of chaotic neurons, building on models by Hindmarsh and Rose for bursting, spiking activity in neurons. The key feature of these simplified models of neurons is the presence of coupled slow and fast subsystems. We analyze the model neurons using the same tools employed in the analysis of our experimental data. We couple two model neurons both electrotonically and electrochemically in inhibitory and excitatory fashions. In each of these cases, we demonstrate that the model neurons can synchronize in phase and out of phase depending on the strength of the coupling. For normal synaptic coupling, we have a time delay between the action of one neuron and the response of the other. We also analyze how the synchronization depends on this delay. A rich spectrum of synchronized behaviors is possible for electrically coupled neurons and for inhibitory coupling between neurons. In synchronous neurons one typically sees chaotic motion of the coupled neurons. Excitatory coupling produces essentially periodic voltage trajectories, which are also synchronized. We display and discuss these synchronized behaviors using two “distance” measures of the synchronization.
Reasons for Living: Mood Effects Revisited1

To explore the relationship between mood and cognitive restraints to suicide, 98 undergraduates experienced the Velten mood-induction procedure to induce an elated, depressed, or neutral (unchanged) mood. They then completed the Multiple Adjective Affect Checklist, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, and the Reasons for Living Inventory. Surprisingly, compared to neutral students, depressed students reported more overall reasons for living, greater feelings of responsibility to family, and more moral objections to suicide, and elated students reported more feelings of responsibility to family. Most responsive depressed students also had higher fear of suicide than others, and most responsive elated students had higher survival and coping beliefs than others. Results suggest that a mildly depressed mood caused students' increased reliance on cognitive beliefs about not committing suicide, and may indicate that mildly depressed persons might benefit from and be particularly receptive to cognitive interventions stressing beliefs about family and religious commitments.
Characterization of 101-kDa Transglutaminase from Physarum polycephalum and Identification of LAV1-2 as Substrate

Plasmodial transglutaminase of Physarum polycephalum was purified by anion exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. Gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicate that it is a monomer of 96-101 kDa. It is Ca2+-dependent, with half-maximal activity at 0. 7 mM Ca2+. Optimal activity occurs at pH 7.5 and at 50 mM KCl. Inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide indicates that it is a thiol enzyme. With N,N-dimethylcasein as substrate, the Km for monodansylcadaverine is 33.9 +/- 1.8 microM. Damage of plasmodia by brief treatment with 15% ethanol activates the transglutaminase, with rapid accumulation of cross-linked proteins unable to enter gels during SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Added monodansylcadaverine is conjugated principally to LAV1-2, a plasmodia-specific 40-kDa protein with four EF-hand sequences believed to bind Ca2+. Actin is seen as an additional substrate only in plasmodial homogenates. Immunoblots show that upon ethanol treatment, a portion of LAV1-2 is modified quickly and shifts to 36 kDa; another portion is cross-linked to itself or other proteins. The modification of LAV1-2 may lead to localized release of Ca2+ and activation of transglutaminase for walling off damaged areas of plasmodia. No significant increase in amount of the transglutaminase occurs during starvation-induced differentiation of plasmodia to form spherules, but a 50% reduction in the amount of total protein leads to a doubling in the specific mass of the TGase. Neither the transglutaminase nor LAV1-2 is found in the ameboid form of the organism.