cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure of the Jovian Stratosphere at the Galileo Probe Entry Site

Abstract The structure of the Jovian stratosphere at the Galileo probe entry site is investigated through calculations of radiative heating rates based on measurements of the temperature profile, composition, and aerosol distribution. From analysis of mid-IR observations of Jupiter, we determine a C 2 H 2 mole fraction of 1.1– 4.3 × 10 −6 at 0.01 mbar, and a C 2 H 6 mole fraction of 2.8– 6.5 × 10 −6 at 0.4–10 mbar. The derived distributions imply that C 2 H 6 and C 2 H 2 are the most important coolants in the Jovian stratosphere from 0.004 to 10 mbar, and that the stratosphere is close to radiative equilibrium. In Jupiter's stratosphere, as in the stratosphere of the Earth, photochemical species play an essential role in the energy balance.
Possible function of cephalic outgrowths of sucking lice (Anoplura) parasitic on tree shrews (Tupaiidae).

Speculation is made upon the significance of cephalic outgrowths in Sathrax durus and Docophthirus acinetus , 2 species of sucking lice (Anoplura) normally parasitic on tree shrews (Tupaiidae). An infestation of S. durus on a small laboratory colony of Tupaia glis provided lice for study. While the cephalic interspine spacing on S. durus could feasibly allow these spines to interlock with host underfur hairs, use in directly gripping host epidermis seems a more plausible function. No host fur was definitely trapped between spines, but attached fragments of host epidermis were common. Although D. acinetus specimens were not available for study, the larger cephalic protuberances on this species suggest that interlocking with host hairs is a distinct possibility. The protection of flexible joints is considered an unlikely function of these outgrowths.
PASHA-an approach to computer-aided hardware debugging

An interactive computer-aided diagnostic tool for the SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center) FASTBUS SNOOP has been developed. The distributed software package, written in FORTH and executing concurrently on a IBM PC (personal computer) and on the SNOOP, automatically tests the board and pinpoints faults by running a set of specific tests. Special attention has been given to the menu-driven man-machine interface which guides its use through the debugging session. Details of the design and results of field trials are reported. >
Trifluoroethanol effects on helix propensity and electrostatic interactions in the helical peptide from ribonuclease T1

Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is often used to increase the helicity of peptides to make them usable as models of helices in proteins. We have measured helix propensities for all 20 amino acids in water and two concentrations of trifluoroethanol, 15 and 40% (v/v) using, as a model system, a peptide derived from the sequence of the alpha-helix of ribonuclease T1. There are three main conclusions from our studies. (1) TFE alters electrostatic interactions in the ribonuclease T1 helical peptide such that the dependence of the helical content on pH is lost in 40% TFE. (2) Helix propensities measured in 15% TFE correlate well with propensities measured in water, however, the correlation with propensities measured in 40% TFE is significantly worse. (3) Propensities measured in alanine-based peptides and the ribonuclease T1 peptide in TFE show very poor agreement, revealing that TFE greatly increases the effect of sequence context.
The new document methodology: a value creation tool for the enterprise

Summary form only given. For many years document management systems have been equated with imaging systems which converted paper into digital documents for ease of storage and retrieval. Implementing such systems was relatively. simple as specifications for the system came from a handful of document authors who provided information on retrieval keys, distribution access requirements, etc. More recently, vendors of document management systems have proposed much broader. ramifications of documents. They recognized that the value of a document emanated from the knowledge stored therein and, that,knowledge had value primarily to users of the document as contrasted with the creators thereof. Those entrepreneurs reinvented document management as a user focused endeavor which could add value by furnishing the right document at the right time in the right place for a specific user. A new view which, seems to be a complete new context for firm-wide system development, is a complete enterprise model based upon a document view of the organization. This view relies on documents as the correct level of resolution for modeling the enterprise. This approach is based upon five axioms: documents record enterprise knowledge; documents define the enterprise workflow;documents provide the facts to manage people; documents structure computing systems; and documents guide enterprise change.
Bifurcated aortic endograft limb occlusion managed with a novel method of isolated pharmacomechanical thrombectomy

Limb occlusion of an aortic endograft is uncommon, however, it can result in permanent sequelae if management is delayed. We report the first case utilizing the Trellis device to achieve localized and prompt isolated pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT) for the treatment of acute limb thrombosis of a bifurcated aortic endograft.
Assessing Fine-Scale Genotypic Structure of a Dominant Species in Native Grasslands

Abstract Genotypic diversity of dominant species has been shown to have important consequences for community and ecosystem processes at a fine spatial scale. We examined the fine-scale (i.e., plant neighborhood scale, <1 m2) genotypic structure of Andropogon gerardii, a dominant species in the tallgrass prairie, which is a productive and endangered grassland ecosystem, employing the commonly used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. In this paper we used two methods to assess the fine-scale genetic spatial structure of a dominant perennial grass, (1) we determined how many tillers to sample in a 1 m2 area and (2) we developed AFLP markers that would differentiate between genotypes. By determining appropriate sampling and molecular techniques, our findings can be applied to questions addressing how genetic diversity of dominant species affect ecosystem processes in the tallgrass prairie.
Peer Context and the Consequences of Adolescent Drinking

Past research has focused extensively on adolescent drinking, particularly on peer influences and other predictors of this behavior. This study shifts the focus by examining how drinking is associated with other individual trajectories during adolescence and how these associations vary by peer context. Drawing on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we found that adolescent engagement in drinking predicted declining academic achievement and escalating emotional distress. These associations, however, varied by level of drinking in the peer context. In general, person-context mismatches exacerbated the risk of drinking or weakened the protective nature of not drinking. Both the micro-level and macro-level peer context (e.g., friends, school drinking rates) were important for achievement, while the macro-level context was important for emotional distress. This research suggests new ways of thinking about the role of peers in adolescent problem behavior.
Alternatives to the traditional first course in computing

The first course in Computer Science at the University of Scranton has evolved over a number of years as a course in problem solving utilizing the computer. Bearing in mind that such a course should provide relatively standard programming tools, the course uses a structured derivative of FORTRAN promoting top-down stepwise refinement in programming methodology as well as encourages the utilization of “packaged programs”. We now have a course that provides a solid foundation for computer science majors as well as offers an excellent introduction to computing to those students for whom the course has a service purpose. This has been accomplished with a minimal faculty at a small university.
A novel approach to positron emission tomography in lung cancer.

18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography is integral to the staging of lung cancer. We describe the combined use of diagnostic preoperative 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography, intraoperative 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose handheld gamma probe detection, and immediate postoperative 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography patient and specimen imaging for improved staging and determination of adequacy of mediastinal lymph node dissection.
Atomic Spin Scattering and Giant Magnetoresistance in Magnetic Semiconductors

We studied electrical transport in dilute magnetic semiconductors, which is determined by scattering free carriers by localized magnetic moments. While calculating the scattering time and the mobility of the majority and minority-spin carriers, we took into account both the effects of thermal spin fluctuations and of the spatial disorder of magnetic atoms. These effects are responsible for the magnetic-field dependence of electrical resistivity. Namely, the application of the external magnetic field suppresses the thermodynamic spin fluctuations, thus promoting negative magnetoresistance (MR). Simultaneously, scattering by built-in spatial fluctuations of the atomic spins increases with the magnetic field. The latter effect is due to the growth of the magnitude of random local Zeeman splittings with the magnetic field. It promotes positive MR. We discuss the role of the above effects on MR of semiconductors where magnetic impurities are isoelectronic
DEMONSTRATION OF A PRECIPITATING INSULIN-BINDING ANTIBODY IN THE SERA OF INSULIN-TREATED GUINEA PIGS AND RABBITS.

Abstract Insulin complexes with the sera of insulin treated-guinea pigs and rabbits in two ways: (1) by forming a soluble complex which migrates to the β-γ globulin region, and (2) by forming a precipitating complex which remains at the origin on agar electrophoresis. The precipitation reaction can be observed in the test tube, and following centrifugation it can be demonstrated that the supernate contains only the soluble complex which migrates to the β-γ globulin region on agar electrophoresis. Nitrogen determinations on antibody and on insulin in the insulin and immune serum precipitates permit the determination of antibody N/insulin N ratios and the equivalence zone. While the antibody N/antigen N ratio in precipitates depends upon the quantity of insulin added per milliliter of immune serum, in the equivalence zone the ratios obtained in three different samples were relatively close, 19.5, 20.1, and 27.9. Precipitates of an insulin and immune serum mixture can be dissolved with glycine-HCl-buffered solution and mixed and filtered with cellulose powder. Free precipitating antibody can be recovered in the filtrate and its presence demonstrated by agar electrophoresis with a solution of crystalline and radioactive insulin.
Phomopsis amygdali causes peach shoot blight of cultivated peach trees in the southeastern United States

Phomopsis shoot blight of peach is an in- creasingly common fungal disease in southeastern peach growing areas of the United States. A similar disease has been reported from Europe where it oc- curs on both peach and almond. Strains of Phomopsis were obtained from peach, asian pear and plum in the United States and from almond in Spain and It- aly. Examination of the morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics of these strains showed that the Phomopsis amygdali on almond in Europe is the same as the fungus found on peach in the USA. The species of Phomopsis on plum and asian pear in the United States is different from P amygdali.
Pattern and diversity analysis of the irradiated oak-pine forest, Brookhaven, New York

(1) The experimental forest at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, subject to chronic gamma irradiation since 1961, was resurveyed in July 1976. A grid of 2400 plots covering an area centered at the radiation source and 50 m in radius was supplemented by five transects extending 50 to 100 m from the source. (2) Data were analyzed by ordination, estimation of alpha and beta diversity, species contagion, and sample heterogeneity; different techniques for each of these were compared for effectiveness. (3) Ordinations indicated a gradient from a less damaged tree and shrub community through a shrub zone and sedge-herb meadow to radiation-resistant herbs and lichens. The radiation-resistant species spread as the communities adapted to radiation stress. (4) Total plant alpha diversity declined toward the radiation source, but herb alpha diversity was highest at intermediate irradiation. Beta diversity, as compositional change along the radiation gradient, was high (2.7 half-changes); most rapid compositional change occurred near the radiation source. (5) Contagion of individual species increased toward the source, and samples were most heterogeneous near the source. (6) Perennial old-field herbs have become predominant near the radiation source since earlier surveys; current trends suggests development toward a more stable community-gradient in response to stress. 09
Constructing a solid real-time operating systems course in computer science major

This paper presents a way of constructing a solid real-time operating system course in a computer science major. It gives a complete course example (in terms of textbook selection, electronic equipment, and structuring the course materials to be covered) and points out aspects that you need to be aware when constructing a new Real-Time Operating System course for computer science students. The example course can be adapted to one semester graduate level course or one semester senior or junior levels undergraduate course.
The influence of high WBC on detection of RBC and Hb by hematology analyzer

Objective To discuss the influence of high white blood cell(WBC) in determination of red blood cell(RBC) and hemoglobin(Hb) by Sysmex XE2100(XE2100) and Beckman Coulter LH750(LH750).Methods We investigated the effect of high WBC on RBC and Hb reading by XE2100 and LH750,in 65 patients with WBC70×109/L(19 patients with WBC≥250×109/L,19 patients with 249.9×109/LWBC150×109/L and 27 patients with 149.9×109/LWBC70×109/L) and 63 control populations(WBC≤70×109/L).Paired t Test,Bland-Altman plots and linear regression were investigated.Results There was no significant difference in WBC not only experiment group but controls,a poor agreement between the two methods of RBC and Hb was found in patients with a high WBC in comparison with that of the control population.Linear regression showed a concentration dependent influence of high WBC,RBC and Hb reading by the two methods.Conclusion The difference between XE2100 and LH750 assay methods is due to the high WBC,and the result of XE2100 is less influenced by the presence of a high WBC than that of LH750.
Peeping Techno-Toms and the Fourth Amendment: Seeing Through Kyllo's Rules Governing Technological Surveillance

This article suggests that the Supreme Court's decision in Kyllo v. United States may not be as protective of the home as it first appears. Kyllo held that use of a thermal imager to detect heat sources inside the home is a fourth amendment search, requiring a warrant and probable cause. But it also held that use of technology that is in "general public use" or that only discovers what a naked eye observer could see from a public vantage point is not a search, even when the location viewed is the interior of the home. This article shows that both the general public use and "naked eye" exceptions are inscrutable, conceptually incoherent, and normatively objectionable. In making the normative argument in favor of eliminating both exceptions, it looks at historical material, current Peeping Tom legislation and empirical findings. It then argues that technological surveillance of the home should be regulated either through a proportionality approach, which varies the level of cause the government must have to search with the search's intrusiveness, or through a legislative approach, using Title III's regulation of communications surveillance as the model.
Basic Approaches in Therapy of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Related Diseases: Current Achievement and Prospective

INTRODUCTION This overview is aimed at reevaluating fundamental approaches of current MS therapies with focus being placed on their targeted underlying immune, molecular and cellular mechanisms. Currently used therapies are discussed in regard to their mechanisms of action, clinical accomplishments and unwanted side effects and complications. Special emphasis is given to the current first generation Disease Modifying Therapies (DMT) and their actions at immune mechanisms of disease. Effects of DMT on CD4+Th1 cells and their associated cytokines and signaling pathways are discussed in more detail. CONCLUSION Attention is paid to emerging role of a CD4 T cell chemotactic cytokine, IL-16 in regulation of relapsing MS and its model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Immune mechanisms mediated by IL-16 are critically evaluated in the context of mechanisms of DMT and its potential as prospective MS therapy. In relation to clinical assessment of therapy, existing and prospective molecular biomarkers are highlighted and discussed where applicable.
NDP52 inhibition rescues cigarette smoke mediated impairment of autophagy in macrophages

Introduction: Autophagy is a process that maintains intracellular homeostasis by degrading unwanted proteins, protein aggregates, dysfunctional organelles and pathogens. The role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of COPD is not well understood. NDP52 is an autophagic adaptor protein which binds intracellular pathogens for autophagy-mediated clearance and facilitates autophagosome maturation. Method: The expression of p62, LC3 and NDP52 were measured in lung homogenates from COPD patients (n=24), smokers (n=11) and healthy volunteers (n=4) by Western blot. U937-derived macrophages were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and autophagic flux was evaluated. Furthermore, the role of NDP52 in autophagy was evaluated by knockdown using siRNA. Results: NDP52 was increased in GOLD4 COPD patients. CSE (30%) increased the level of NDP52, LC3, p62 oligomers and p62 in U937-derived macrophages. The LC3 turnover assay and long-lived protein degradation assay revealed that CSE impaired the late phase of autophagic flux. Knockdown of NDP52 reduced LC3-2 and p62 in the presence and absence of CSE. Furthermore the LC3 turnover assay revealed that while LC3-2 was reduced by NDP52 knockdown, the autophagic flux was functional. Conclusion: Cigarette smoke increases expression of autophagic markers and impairs autophagic flux in macrophages and may be the cause of the increased NDP52 expression observed in COPD patient lungs. Knockdown of NDP52 restored the flux in CSE exposed macrophages and resulted in a reduction of autophagic makers to basal levels.
Rural Religious Leaders' Perspectives on their Communities' Health Priorities and Health

Objectives In traditionally underserved communities, faith-based interventions have been shown to be effective for health promotion. Religious leaders-generally the major partner in such interventions-however, are seldom are consulted about community health priorities and health promotion preferences. These insights are critical to ensure productive partnerships, effective programming, and sustainability. Methods Mixed-methods surveys were administered in one of the nation's most under-resourced regions: rural Appalachia. A sample of 60 religious leaders, representing the main denominations in central Appalachia, participated. Measures included closed- and open-ended survey questions on health priorities and recommendations for health promotion. Descriptive statistics were used for closed-ended survey items and conventional qualitative content analysis was used for open-ended responses. Results Substance abuse, diabetes mellitus, suboptimal dietary intake and obesity/overweight, and cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses constitute major health concerns. Addressing these challenging conditions requires realistically acknowledging sparse community resources (particularly healthcare provider shortages); building in accountability; and leveraging local assets and traditions such as testimonials, intergenerational support, and witnessing. Conclusions With their extensive reach within the community and their accurate understanding of community health threats, practitioners and researchers may find religious leaders to be natural allies in health-promotion and disease-prevention activities.
Farm commercialization and nutritional status of children: the case of the vegetables fruits and cash crops programme in western Nepal.

There are two conflicting views regarding the effects of commercialization of subsistence agriculture on health and nutrition. While the proponents of agricultural commercialization argue that comm...
Cell Growth Transformation by Epstein Barr Virus

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) was discovered 25 years ago during a search for an etiologic agent in human Burkitt lymphoma (BL), a remarkably unusual, geographically restricted, tumor. In vitro infection of primary B lymphocytes acutely and efficiently resulted in persistent latent infection and lymphocyte growth transformation (for a review of biological properties and for relevant references prior to 1989 see 1). The latently infected, growth transformed, lymphocytes are not only immortal in culture, but also are tumorigenic when inoculated into the brain of nude mice or into the peritoneum of SCID mice. Large virus innocula also induce rapidly fatal lymphoproliferative disease in cotton top tamarinds. In some genetically predisposed or severely immune deficient humans, EBV infection can also evolve into rapidly fatal lymphoproliferative disease.Aside from these direct effects on cell proliferation, EBV infection is also closely associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and African BL, tumors which occur long after primary EBV infection; even among populations with a relatively high incidence of these tumors. The uniform presence of EBV in all malignant cells of endemic BL or NPC and the molecular biologic evidence that these tumors grow from an EBV infected cell, link EBV etiologically to these late onset malignancies.
Medical Records for Health Systems

Medical Records developed within the hospital infrastructure to keep track of what procedures had been done to the patient. Through the rise of health informatics, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) have expanded to include all the services within the hospital, both for diagnosis such as laboratory tests and for treatment such as pharmacy drugs. In this way, EMR have become a critical part of the healthcare infrastructure for acute care.
Game Theoretic Approach for Network Access Control in Heterogeneous Networks

The latest mobile communication devices are usually equipped with multiple network interfaces with the capability of accessing multiple types of wireless networks. Since each network has limited capacity, a network may experience congestion if too many mobile devices access this network. To avoid congestion, an intelligent distributed network selection scheme is needed for each mobile device. In this paper, we propose a game theoretic approach to the problem of network selection. Specifically, we formulate the problem as a repeated stochastic game with a goal of maximizing total utility while achieving high proportional fairness among all users in the service area. To solve this problem, we develop a Lyapunov optimization algorithm to obtain the optimal action for each user from the game manager perspective. Simulation results show that our proposed approach can achieve much higher utility than existing schemes while maintaining good fairness index.
Ryanodine Receptor Open Times Are Determined in the Closed State.

Abstract The ryanodine receptor (RyR) ion channel releases Ca2+ from intracellular stores by conducting Ca2+ but also by recruiting neighboring RyRs to open, as RyRs are activated by micromolar levels of cytosolic Ca2+. Using long single-RyR recordings of the cardiac isoform (RyR2), we conclude that Ca2+ binding to the cytosolic face of RyR while the channel is closed determines the distribution of open times. This mechanism explains previous findings that RyR is not activated by its own fluxed Ca2+. Our measurements also bolster previous findings that luminal [Ca2+] can affect both the cytosolic activation and inactivation sites and that RyR has different gating modes for the same ionic conditions.
Wideband Mid-IR Semiconductor Resonant Reflectors

Mid-IR resonant reflectors are presented offering wideband polarized and unpolarized responses. Devices are fabricated from durable and commercially available IR transparent semiconductor materials, offering the possibility of rugged and economical opto-electronic integration.
Risk Factors and Prevention of Surgical Site Infections Following Spinal Procedures.

Study Design:Focused literature review.Objective:The objective of this article was to help identify potential risk factors as well as strategies to help prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in s...
Predictors of Hiatal Hernia Recurrence After Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery with Hiatal Hernia Repair: a Prospective Database Analysis

The aim of this study is to identify factors that can predict hiatal hernia recurrence (HHR) in patients after anti-reflux surgery with hiatal hernia (HH) repair. A single-institution, prospectively collected database was reviewed (January 2002–October 2015) with inclusion criteria of GERD and laparoscopic anti-reflux (AR) surgery with HH repair. Demographics, esophageal symptom scores, and pre- and post-upper gastrointestinal imaging (UGI) were collected. Mesh usage, HH type (sliding, paraesophageal (HH) or type IV), and size were evaluated, and patients who had HHR versus those who did not (NHHR) were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS v.23.0.0, with α = 0.05. Three hundred twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 56.9 ± 14.8 years (60.9% female), and mean follow-up was 19.9 ± 23.8 months. 88.2% underwent total fundoplication and 11.8% underwent partial fundoplication. HHR rate was 15.5%. HHR patients had larger HH than the NHHR group. There was no significant difference between groups for age, gender, BMI, race, and mesh usage. Only 3 patients (10.3%) with HHR reported mild-to-moderate heartburn, regurgitation, and solid or liquid dysphagia at 12-month follow-up. Overall reoperation rate was 1% in this population. HHR is correlated with large hernia size. Mesh use and patient BMI were not predictors, and no correlation was identified between HHR and presence of GERD symptoms. Recurrence after repair is not uncommon, but is asymptomatic in most cases. Reoperation is rare and mesh is not routinely needed. Large asymptomatic HHs in the elderly often do not require intervention.
Hemolytic Rh immune globulins; evidence for a possible third order of antibodies incapable of agglutination or blocking.

We believe that sufficient evidence exists to justify 3 classes of Rh antibodies based on their reactivity. These are the classical agglutinin, the blocking antibody, and the proposed "cryptagglutinoid." Sufficient distinction exists to retain the blocking antibody as determined by Wiener’s original blocking test. This antibody is further characterized by failure to act in Chown’s capillary technic. The identity of this antibody with its important role in reawakening investigation in this field of immunology should not be lost through inclusion in the broader group of those antibodies determined by the albumin test and similar methods. The proposed third order antibody or "cryptagglutinoid" which is usually, but not always, detected by these more inclusive tests, and the capillary technic, appears to be of great clinical importance because of the frequency with which it appears in significant titres. Detection of isoimmunization and closer correlation of antibody titre with clinical severity of disease should be possible through study of this "cryptagglutinoid" antibody.
A Wideband Dual-Polarized Stacked Microstrip Patch Antenna with a Dumbbell Shaped Aperture

A new design for a wideband dual-polarized aperture-coupled patch antenna with dumbbell shaped coupling slots is presented. The printed antenna consists of two stacked patches and an aperture slotted ground plane which is excited using a microstrip line feed. A two-slot dual polarized antenna with a return loss bandwidth of 505 MHz is introduced using the proposed configuration. The proposed antenna is designed for 2.45 GHz and achieves stable and desirable radiation characteristics across the band.
The Drosophila protein, Nausicaa, regulates lamellipodial actin dynamics in a Cortactin-dependent manner.

ABSTRACT Drosophila CG10915 is an uncharacterized protein coding gene with sequence similarity to human Cortactin-binding protein 2 (CTTNBP2) and Cortactin-binding protein 2 N-terminal-like (CTTNBP2NL). Here, we have named this gene Nausicaa (naus) and characterize it through a combination of quantitative live-cell total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, RNAi depletion and genetics. We found that Naus co-localizes with F-actin and Cortactin in the lamellipodia of Drosophila S2R+ and D25c2 cells and this localization is lost following Cortactin or Arp2/3 depletion or by mutations that disrupt a conserved proline patch found in its mammalian homologs. Using permeabilization activated reduction in fluorescence and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we find that depletion of Cortactin alters Naus dynamics leading to a decrease in its half-life. Furthermore, we discovered that Naus depletion in S2R+ cells led to a decrease in actin retrograde flow and a lamellipodia characterized by long, unbranched filaments. We demonstrate that these alterations to the dynamics and underlying actin architecture also affect D25c2 cell migration and decrease arborization in Drosophila neurons. We present the hypothesis that Naus functions to slow Cortactin9s disassociation from Arp2/3 nucleated branch junctions, thereby increasing both branch nucleation and junction stability.
Utilizing additive manufacturing and gamified virtual simulation in the design of neuroprosthetics to improve pediatric outcomes

Additive manufacturing used with custom electromyographic sensors has been demonstrated for neuroprosthetic limb manufacturing and is now translating to the clinical environment. These manufacturing methods have dramatically reduced device weight while increasing the capability for multi-finger dexterity. Using wearable electromyography sensors standalone from the prosthetic limb, a new virtual training method has been designed and tested to improve human–machine interaction. This type of training leverages real-time visual feedback to user inputs, supporting improved timing and magnitudes of muscle contractions. The combination of these technologies may provide a stronger affinity between the pediatric patient group and the device.
Improving provider practice patterns in ordering FDG PET/CT for breast cancer patients at a safety-net hospital.

e14027Background: Accurate staging is critical in determining treatment strategies in the management of breast cancer (BC) patients. FDG PET/CT is used to identify the presence of metastatic diseas...
Containing the Anxieties of Children, Parents and Families from a Distance During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic and the move to teletherapy has created uncertainty among both clinicians and patients. As therapists who work with children, we have heard from parents who are desperate for support and advice about how to respond to their children's behavioral changes, as well as those who feel too overwhelmed to continue their children's sessions at the moment and want to take a break from treatment. We have had to rethink the frame in concrete ways, reimagine how to play, and renegotiate parameters around confidentiality. At a time when fear and uncertainty make mentalizing difficult, the hallmarks of a mentalizing approach-curiosity and flexibility-are most critical. This paper will describe how the Mentalization-Based Treatment for Children (MBT-C) model offers a framework for an integrative approach that can inform treatment via teletherapy, so that clinicians can continue supporting young people and their families through this period. We will begin by describing how the mentalizing stance, particularly an awareness of our own mentalizing capacities in the moment, has become more important than ever. Ways in which clinicians maintain their mentalizing in the face of the mentalizing breakdowns will be also discussed. Finally, we illustrate with clinical vignettes how the developmental levels of mentalizing-attention control, emotion regulation, and explicit mentalizing-can inform the structure, techniques and interventions in teletherapy with children and parents.
Dynamic shifts in social network structure and composition within a breeding hybrid population

Mating behaviour and the timing of reproduction can inhibit genetic exchange between closely related species; however, these reproductive barriers are challenging to measure within natural populations. Social network analysis provides promising tools for studying the social context of hybridization, and the exchange of genetic variation, more generally. We test how social networks within a hybrid population of California Callipepla californica and Gambel's quail Callipepla gambelii change over discrete periods of a breeding season. We assess patterns of phenotypic and genotypic assortment, and ask whether altered associations between individuals (association rewiring), or changes to the composition of the population (individual turnover) drive network dynamics. We use genetic data to test whether social associations and relatedness between individuals correlate with patterns of parentage within the hybrid population. To achieve these aims, we combine RFID association data, phenotypic data and genomic measures with social network analyses. We adopt methods from the ecological network literature to quantify shifts in network structure and to partition changes into those due to individual turnover and association rewiring. We integrate genomic data into networks as node-level attributes (ancestry) and edges (relatedness, parentage) to test links between social and parentage networks. We show that rewiring of associations between individuals that persist across network periods, rather than individual turnover, drives the majority of the changes in network structure throughout the breeding season, and that the traits involved in phenotypic/genotypic assortment were highly dynamic over time. Social networks were randomly assorted based on genetic ancestry, suggesting weak behavioural reproductive isolation within this hybrid population. Finally, we show that the strength of associations within the social network, but not levels of genetic relatedness, predicts patterns of parentage. Social networks play an important role in population processes such as the transmission of disease and information, yet there has been less focus on how networks influence the exchange of genetic variation. By integrating analyses of social structure, phenotypic assortment and reproductive outcomes within a hybrid zone, we demonstrate the utility of social networks for analysing links between social context and gene flow within wild populations.
“Corpus can be tricky”: revisiting teacher attitudes towards corpus-aided language learning and teaching

The present study explores the attitudes of novice teachers towards corpus-aided language learning and teaching in an undergraduate writing course for multilingual students at a large US public uni...
Heat purchase agreements could lower barriers to heat pump adoption

Abstract Efficient electric heat pumps have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating and cooling buildings. However, heat pumps’ initial costs can be prohibitively high and their lifetime costs are only situationally competitive with incumbent technologies. Here we show that a business model based on heat purchase agreements could lower these barriers to heat pump adoption. In this business model, a user hosts a heat pump owned by an aggregator. The aggregator installs the heat pump at low or no initial cost to the user. The user buys the heat pump’s heat or cooling output from the aggregator. The aggregator buys the heat pump’s input electricity in the wholesale energy market and sells the flexibility of their aggregate electrical load in ancillary service markets. This paper presents the first economic analysis of heat purchase agreements as a third-party ownership model for electric heat pumps. We derive conditions under which a heat purchase agreement is mutually beneficial to the user and the aggregator. We also provide a method to fairly price heat and cooling. A case study of a typical United States home shows that a heat purchase agreement could more than double the value of a heat pump investment relative to the incumbent business model. The potential impact of this work is to reduce emissions both directly, by accelerating replacement of fossil-fueled or inefficient heating or cooling equipment, and indirectly, by helping power system operators reliably integrate wind and solar generation.
Do Targeted Trade Sanctions Against Chinese Technology Companies Affect US Firms? Evidence from an Event Study

This article asks how costly targeted trade sanctions imposed by the US government are for domestic firms. I argue that, as a result of sanctions, the firm value of US companies that have supply relationships with sanctioned entities is likely to suffer from lost revenue, reputational damage, and business model uncertainty. I test this expectation by applying an event study to the important case of targeted trade sanctions against Chinese technology companies. I find that sanctions against these companies reduced their US suppliers’ risk-adjusted stock returns by 220 basis points. Firm-level cross-sectional analysis shows that businesses with stronger ties to the sanctioned entities are more negatively affected, which supports the direct connection between sanctions and relevant suppliers. Measuring the domestic economic ramifications of sanctions for the sender country has been elusive. These findings, which are statistically and economically significant, indicate that US companies face notable costs from sanctions against internationally active firms.
Functional outcomes in the inpatient rehabilitation setting following severe COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the functional impairments of a cohort of patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation after surviving severe COVID-19 illness, in order to better understand the ongoing needs of this patient population. METHODS: This study consisted of a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and admitted to a regional inpatient rehabilitation hospital from April 29th to May 22nd, 2020. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and complications from acute hospitalization were examined. Measures of fall risk (Berg Balance Scale), endurance (6 Minute Walk Test), gait speed (10 Meter Walk Test), mobility (transfer and ambulation independence), cognition, speech and swallowing (American Speech and Hearing Association National Outcomes Measurement System Functional Communication Measures) were assessed at rehabilitation admission and discharge. RESULTS: The study population included 29 patients and was 70% male, 58.6% white and with a mean age of 59.5. The mean length of acute hospitalization was 32.2 days with a mean of 18.7 days intubated. Patients spent a mean of 16.7 days in inpatient rehabilitation and 90% were discharged home. Patients demonstrated significant improvement from admission to discharge in measures of fall risk, endurance, gait speed, mobility, cognition, speech and swallowing, (p< 0.05). At discharge, a significant portion of the population continued to deficits in cognition (attention 37%; memory 28%; problem solving 28%), balance (55%) and gait speed (97%). CONCLUSION: Patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation after hospitalization with COVID-19 demonstrated deficits in mobility, cognition, speech and swallowing at admission and improved significantly in all of these domains by discharge. However, a significant number of patients exhibited residual deficits at discharge highlighting the post-acute care needs of this patient population.
Napco in 2009: Sales Growth in the Middle East

The background regarding sales for the two-case series "Napco in 2009: Relaunching the Five Stars Restaurants Project" cases A and B, is presented in this case. This case and the two-part series are designed to be used as a set; however, sufficient background is provided in the A case for instructors to use the two-part series independently of this background case. Excerpt UVA-OM-1458 Rev. Mar. 14, 2012 NAPCO IN 2009: SALES GROWTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST Peter Hatem was taking the long flight to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, out of Washington-Dulles International Airport. He settled into his seat and began thinking about the new ideas that he had recently generated to achieve 20% sales growth for the National Paper Products Company (Napco) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Hatem was returning from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration where he had just completed the summer 2009 Executive Program (TEP). During TEP, he had the opportunity to reexamine his plans for a pilot sales force development initiative he called the Five Stars Restaurants Project. Hatem was the area general manager for Napco in Riyadh and for the Napco Consumer Products Company in Dammam. Napco operated throughout the Middle East and in Egypt and the United Kingdom (Figure 1). Figure 1. Napco locations. Source: Company document; used with permission. . . .
Firm Size, Firm Age, and Firm Profitability: Evidence from China

This study aims to investigate the relationship among firm size, firm age, and firm profitability in China’s stock market. We use data from all the public firms in China’s stock market from 2008 to 2018 and adopt a fixed effects model to examine these relationships. We find a positive relationship between firm size and profitability and a negative relationship between firm age and profitability, which is consistent with existing studies conducted in other countries. The findings of our study can contribute to future research in China by offering a sound basis and appropriate reference point, given that no previous research has been conducted in China on this exact topic. This study also offers a comprehensive model for use in future studies.
Demand Characterization of CPS with Conditionally-Enabled Sensors

Characterizing computational demand of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) is critical for guaranteeing that multiple hard real-time tasks may be scheduled on shared resources without missing deadlines. In a CPS involving repetition such as industrial automation systems found in chemical process control or robotic manufacturing, sensors and actuators used as part of the industrial process may be conditionally enabled (and disabled) as a sequence of repeated steps is executed. In robotic manufacturing, for example, these steps may be the movement of a robotic arm through some trajectories followed by activation of end-effector sensors and actuators at the end of each completed motion. The conditional enabling of sensors and actuators produces a sequence of Monotonically Ascending Execution times (MAE) with lower WCET when the sensors are disabled and higher WCET when enabled. Since these systems may have several predefined steps to follow before repeating the entire sequence each unique step may result in several consecutive sequences of MAE. The repetition of these unique sequences of MAE result in a repeating WCET sequence. In the absence of an efficient demand characterization technique for repeating WCET sequences composed of subsequences with monotonically increasing execution time, this work proposes a new task model to describe the behavior of real-world systems which generate large repeating WCET sequences with subsequences of monotonically increasing execution times. In comparison to the most applicable current model, the Generalized Multiframe model (GMF), an empirically and theoretically faster method for characterizing the demand is provided. The demand characterization algorithm is evaluated through a case study of a robotic arm and simulation of 10,000 randomly generated tasks where, on average, the proposed approach is 231 and 179 times faster than the state-of-the-art in the case study and simulation respectively.
Automated cardiac self-gated radial CMRI

Distortions in electrocardiogram (ECG) signals affect the image quality and increase scan time of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMRI) exams. This study proposes an alternative method of acquiring CMRI cine images in mouse heart using a self-gated Ultra-short Echo Time (UTE) protocol. In our method, a bandpass filter and a lowpass filter are adopted to extract the self-gated signals from the center of the raw no-gated k-space measurements, A live mouse has been tested as the example to verify the method. The results demonstrated that this method could be used for reconstruction of the no-gated UTE CMRI measurements without using of external ECG signals.
Subcutaneous adipose tissue development in Yorkshire (lean) and Ossabaw (obese) pigs.

Abstract Subcutaneous adipose tissue development was studied in Yorkshire (lean) and Ossabaw (obese) pigs. Three pigs of each breed were slaughtered at 1 to 2 (group 1), 14 to 20 (group 2), 56 to 70 (group 3) and 180 (group 4) days of age. Formalin and(or) Bouin's fixed paraffin sections were analyzed by various staining procedures. Fresh frozen sections were tested for lipid, esterase activity and glycogen. Fat cell size increased with age in the Ossabaw pigs. Fat cell size was similar for group 1 and 2 Yorkshire pigs. Transitional cells between spindle-shaped. basophilic cells and multilocular adipocytes were present in group 1 Yorkshire pigs. The transition was characterized by a loss of cytoplasmic basophilia and a change in nuclei size and shape. The nuclei of presumptive preadipocytes and small multilocular adipocytes contained one to three prominent nucleoli surrounded by an evenly dispersed, pale staining chromatin material. Cells with identical nuclear morphologies and little apparent cytoplasm were observed in adipose tissue of Ossabaw and Yorkshire pigs of all age groups. The frequency of multilocular adipocytes (percentage of the total adipocytes that were multilocular) decreased during the first 2 weeks of life in both breeds. In age group 3, multilocular adipocytes were more numerous in Ossabaw pigs than in Yorkshire pigs (20 vs less than 1%). Capillary histological and histochemical changes were associated with adipocyte hypertrophy in the younger pigs of both breeds.