cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contrasting strategies of hydraulic control in two codominant temperate tree species

Biophysical controls on plant water status exist at the leaf, stem, and root levels. Therefore, we pose that hydraulic strategy is a combination of traits governing water use at each of these three levels. We studied sap flux, stem water storage, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, and growth of red oaks (Q. rubra) and red maples (A. rubrum). These species differ in stomatal hydraulic strategy, xylem architecture, and may root at different depths. Stable isotope analysis of xylem water was used to identify root-water uptake depth. Oaks were shown to access a deeper water source than maples. During non-limiting soil moisture conditions, transpiration was greater in maples than oaks. However, during a soil dry down, transpiration and stem water storage decreased by more than 80% and 28% in maples, but only by 31% and 1% in oaks. We suggest that the preferential use of deep water by red oaks allows the species to continue transpiration and growth during soil water limitations. In this case, deeper roots may provide a buffer against drought-induced mortality. Using 14 years of growth data, we show that maple growth correlates with mean annual soil moisture at 30 cm, but oak growth does not. The observed responses of oak and maple to drought were not able to be explained by leaf and xylem physiology alone. We employed the FETCH2 plant-hydrodynamics model to demonstrate the influence of root, stem, and leaf controls on tree-level transpiration. We conclude that all three levels of hydraulic traits are required to define hydraulic strategy.
Optimization of flow control devices in a ten-strand billet caster tundish

The physical model of a ten-strand billet caster tundish was established to study the effects of various flow control devices on the melt flow. Before and after the optimization of the melt flow, the inclusion removal in the tundish was evaluated by plant trials. The physical modeling results show that when combined with a baffle, the turbulence inhibitor, instead of the impact pad, can significantly improve the melt flow. A turbulence inhibitor with a longer length of inner cavity and without an extending lip at the top of the sidewall seems to be efficient in the improvement of the melt flow. Various types and designs of baffles all influence the flow characteristics significantly. The “V” type baffles are better than the straight baffles for flow control. The “V” type baffle with four inclined holes at the sidewall away from the stopper rods is better in melt flow control than the one with one inclined hole at each sidewall. The combination of a well-designed turbulence inhibitor and an appropriate baffle shows high efficiency on improving the melt flow and an optimal proposal was presented. Plant trials indicate that, compared with the original tundish configuration in prototype, the inclusions reduce by 42% and the inclusion distribution of individual strands is more similar with the optimal one. The optimal tundish configuration effectively improves the melt flow in the ten-strand billet caster tundish.
Abnormal vibration analysis of GIS based on time frequency detection

the stable operation of high voltage GIS equipment is very important to the safety of power grid. The abnormal vibration of GIS is a serious threat to the safety of equipment. In this paper, the abnormal vibration of 220 kV GIS equipment is detected by the wideband vibration measure system. By means of spectrum and continuous wavelet analysis of vibration signals, the time domain and frequency domain characteristics of the vibration signal are studied. The analysis results reveal the spectrum difference of the ultrasonic signal induced by partial discharge and the equipment vibration, and the propagation attenuation characteristics of the vibration signal on the GIS tube. In addition, the time delay of vibration signal is obtained by the wavelet entropy, therefore the vibration source is accurately located. It carried out on-site confirmation finally. It indicated that the time-frequency analysis can accurately locate the vibration source. It is conducive to the analysis of the causes of the abnormal vibration of GIS and the evaluation of the equipment operating conditions.
Abstract 276: Nicotine Infusion Fails to Induce Abdominal Aortic Aneurysmsin LDL Receptor Deficient Mice

Background and ObjectiveSmoking is a major risk factor for the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Although there are a large number of chemical constituents of smoke, recent evidence ...
Women Learning About Entrepreneurship: The Case of the “Hungry Spirit” of the Japan

This chapter focuses on the city of Hiroshima. The prefecture is important in the business sector because it is often utilized by companies as a test market for the national Japanese market. This chapter shows how the Japanese female entrepreneurs acquired information from a variety of sources in both public and private settings to start, maintain, and expand their businesses.
A review of parameters and heuristics for guiding metabolic pathfinding

Recent developments in metabolic engineering have led to the successful biosynthesis of valuable products, such as the precursor of the antimalarial compound, artemisinin, and opioid precursor, thebaine. Synthesizing these traditionally plant-derived compounds in genetically modified yeast cells introduces the possibility of significantly reducing the total time and resources required for their production, and in turn, allows these valuable compounds to become cheaper and more readily available. Most biosynthesis pathways used in metabolic engineering applications have been discovered manually, requiring a tedious search of existing literature and metabolic databases. However, the recent rapid development of available metabolic information has enabled the development of automated approaches for identifying novel pathways. Computer-assisted pathfinding has the potential to save biochemists time in the initial discovery steps of metabolic engineering. In this paper, we review the parameters and heuristics used to guide the search in recent pathfinding algorithms. These parameters and heuristics capture information on the metabolic network structure, compound structures, reaction features, and organism-specificity of pathways. No one metabolic pathfinding algorithm or search parameter stands out as the best to use broadly for solving the pathfinding problem, as each method and parameter has its own strengths and shortcomings. As assisted pathfinding approaches continue to become more sophisticated, the development of better methods for visualizing pathway results and integrating these results into existing metabolic engineering practices is also important for encouraging wider use of these pathfinding methods.
Exercise Alters Gut Microbiota Composition and Function in Lean and Obese Humans.

ABSTRACTPurposeExercise is associated with altered gut microbial composition, but studies have not investigated whether the gut microbiota and associated metabolites are modulated by exercise training in humans. We explored the impact of 6 wk of endurance exercise on the composition, functional capa
Daily Patterns of Marijuana and Alcohol Co-Use Among Individuals with Alcohol and Cannabis Use Disorders.

Author(s): Metrik, Jane; Gunn, Rachel L; Jackson, Kristina M; Sokolovsky, Alexander W; Borsari, Brian | Abstract: BACKGROUND:The study aims were to examine daily associations between marijuana and alcohol use and the extent to which the association differs as a function of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and/or alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis. METHODS:Timeline Followback interview data was collected in a study of veterans (N = 127) recruited from a Veterans Affairs hospital who reported at least 1 day of co-use of marijuana and alcohol in the past 180 days (22,860 observations). Participants reported 40% marijuana use days, 28% drinking days, with 37% meeting DSM-5 criteria for CUD, 40% for AUD, and 15% for both. Use of marijuana on a given day was used to predict a 3-level gender-adjusted drinking variable (heavy: ≥5 (men)/4 (women) drinks; moderate: 1 to 4/3 drinks; or none: 0 drinks). A categorical 4-level variable (no diagnosis, AUD, CUD, or both) was tested as a moderator of the marijuana-alcohol relationship. RESULTS:Multilevel modeling analyses demonstrated that participants were more likely to drink heavily compared to moderately (OR = 2.34) and moderately compared to not drinking (OR = 1.61) on marijuana use days relative to nonuse days. On marijuana use days, those with AUD and those with AUD + CUD were more likely to drink heavily (OR = 1.91; OR = 2.51, respectively), but those with CUD were less likely to drink heavily (OR = 0.32) compared to moderately, nonsignificant differences between any versus moderate drinking in interaction models. CONCLUSIONS:Heavy drinking occurs on days when marijuana is also used. This association is particularly evident in individuals diagnosed with both AUD and CUD and AUDs alone but not in those with only CUDs. Findings suggest that alcohol interventions may need to specifically address marijuana use as a risk factor for heavy drinking and AUD.
Theory of Electron and Phonon Contributions to Sliding Friction

Atomic level theoretical studies by the present author of sliding friction due to the production of phonon and electron excitations are reviewed. These results are applied to the question of how friction between a sliding film and a substrate is modified when the a second layer is added to a monolayer film. They show that the phonon contribution can increase only if the damping of the in phase phonon mode is much smaller than that of the out of phase motion. The transition from friction to frictionless sliding as a function of system size which was predicted in previous work to occur for sufficiently small solids is argued to be highly dependent on the geometry of the sample.
Geographic variation in medicaid claims for dental procedures in New York State: role of fluoridation under contemporary conditions.

OBJECTIVE We conducted an evaluation to determine if the number of claims reimbursed for caries-related procedures for children in the New York State Medicaid program varied by county fluoridation coverage. METHODS We calculated the mean number of claims per recipient for children in each county separately for the treatment of caries and all other procedures not related to caries using the 2006 Medicaid claims data. RESULTS Compared with the predominantly fluoridated counties, the mean number of restorative, endodontic, and extraction procedures per recipient was 33.4% higher in less fluoridated counties. The mean number of claims per child for caries-related services was inversely correlated with the extent of fluoridation in a county (Spearman's correlation coefficient = -0.54, p < 0.0001), but claims for non-caries related services were not. CONCLUSIONS These findings, when added to the already existing weight of evidence, have implications for promoting policies at the federal and state levels to strengthen the fluoridation program.
Climbing the Mountains: The Journey to Quality Prekindergarten in Tennessee

The state of Tennessee was the ideal place to implement Pre-K programs because of the number of children living in poverty, health-care issues, and student’s poor performances on academic measures. This chapter will explore the development of Pre-K, the use of pilot programs, the major expansions, and the period of sustainment. The final section will identify lessons learned and recommendations for expansion of quality Pre-K programs for all young children.
The Measurement of Stress in Schizophrenics and Normals in Community Living

Modern clinical concepts of schizophrenia have acknowledged the importance of stress as a major factor in the etiology of the schizophrenic process. Yet, in traditional research on predictors of adjustment in psychiatric patients, stress, along with the wide range of situational and environmental factors has received far less scrutiny than have such areas as social class, symptomatic pattern, and duration of illness (29). Perhaps the primary reason for the dearth of research on environmental stress is the difficulty inherent in its objective measurement. The laboratory paradigms of stress with their inherent controls contribute basic knowledge about the effects of stress on individuals, but such studies provide little insight into the nature and dimensions of stress that impinge on patients in their natural and varied habitats.
Evidence for a sensitive period in the effects of early life stress on hippocampal volume.

Exposure to stress has been causally linked to changes in hippocampal volume (HV). Given that the hippocampus undergoes rapid changes in the first years of life, stressful experiences during this period may be particularly important in understanding individual differences in the development of the hippocampus. One hundred seventy-eight early adolescents (ages 9-13 years; 43% male) were interviewed regarding exposure to and age of onset of experiences of stress; the severity of each stressful event was rated by an objective panel. All participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging, from which HVs were automatically segmented. Without considering the age of onset for stressful experiences, there was a small but statistically significant negative association of stress severity with bilateral HV. When considering the age of onset, there was a moderate and significant negative association between stress severity during early childhood (through 5 years of age) and HV; there was no association between stress severity during later childhood (age 6 years and older) and HV. We provide evidence of a sensitive period through 5 years of age for the effects of life stress on HV in adolescence. It will be important in future research to elucidate how reduced HV stemming from early life stress may contribute to stress-related health outcomes.
Corticospinal excitability can discriminate quadriceps strength indicative of knee function after ACL-reconstruction.

Purpose To investigate relationships between quadriceps strength and neural activity, and to establish a clinical threshold of corticospinal excitability able to discriminate between patients with quadriceps strength indicative of satisfactory and unsatisfactory knee function after ACLR. Methods A total of 29 patients following primary, unilateral ACL-reconstruction (11 female, 23.2 ± 8.1 years of age, 7.3 ± 2.5 months since surgery) participated. Subjective knee function was quantified using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective evaluation. Peak isokinetic knee extensor torque was assessed at 90°/s. Quadriceps corticospinal excitability was quantified via active motor threshold (AMT, %2-Tesla) using transcranial magnetic stimulation during a 5% maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the quadriceps. Pearson's r correlations were used to assess the relationship between peak knee extensor torque and AMT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to establish a threshold of (a) mass-normalized peak knee extensor torque to discriminate satisfactory knee function (IKDC ≥ 75.9%), and (b) AMT to discriminate quadriceps strength indicative of satisfactory knee function. Likelihood ratios (LR) and the magnitude of change in pre-post-test probability were calculated for each threshold. Results Active motor threshold was negatively correlated with mass-normalized peak knee extensor torque (r = -0.503, P = 0.005). Knee extensor torque ≥1.23 Nm/kg was an excellent discriminator of satisfactory knee function (AUC = 0.890, P = 0.002; (+)LR = 9.56). An AMT ≤50.5% was an excellent discriminator of quadriceps strength indicative of satisfactory knee function following ACLR (AUC = 0.839, P = 0.005; (+)LR = 23.75). Conclusion Lower corticospinal excitability was associated with lower quadriceps strength. An AMT above 50.5% was found to decrease the probability of having satisfactory knee strength by over 62%.
Clinical Efficacy of 99mTechnetium Mercaptoacetylglycine Kit Formulation in Routine Renal Scintigraphy

Abstract 99m Technetium mercaptoacetylglycine is a promising new renal radiopharmaceutical undergoing phase III trials in the United States. In a preliminary investigation of the efficacy and safety of mercaptoacetylglycine in 30 adult patients with suspected renal disease we used simultaneous imaging with orthoiodohippurate as the physiological "gold standard". Of these patients 11 had undergone renal transplantation. Factors, such as time to peak renal activity, clearance half-life and regional functional comparison, were similar by orthoiodohippurate and mercaptoacetylglycine imaging. Visual and quantitative analysis of angiograms and renograms was markedly facilitated with the use of mercaptoacetylglycine. Several morphological abnormalities were apparent only during mercaptoacetylglycine evaluation. No adverse effects, changes in vital signs or significant changes in clinical laboratory status were encountered. Since mercaptoacetylglycine combined an excellent technetium image with the pharmacokinetics of orthoiodohippurate, mercaptoacetylglycine may supplant all other agents for routine clinical use.
Confidence Intervals on Mortality Rates Based on the Leslie Matrix

ABSTRACT The variability of an estimator of the natural instantaneous mortality rate of age class 0 ( M 0 ) is studied by Monte Carlo simulations. Certain input parameters are more important than others in affecting this variability. The deterministic estimator is assumed to be the result of nondeterministic events in the real world. The proposed estimator is found to be biased, but it can be corrected using the difference between the deterministic and nondeterministic estimators of M 0 .
Editor choice: Let it rest: Sleep and health as positive correlates of forgiveness of others and self-forgiveness.

AbstractObjective: The present study examined forgiveness of others, self-forgiveness, sleep, and health in a nationally representative sample of United States adults. It was hypothesised that slee...
Basis functions on the grain boundary space: Theory

With the increasing availability of experimental and computational data concerning the properties and distribution of grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials, there is a corresponding need to efficiently and systematically express functions on the grain boundary space. A grain boundary can be described by the rotations applied to two grains on either side of a fixed boundary plane, suggesting that the grain boundary space is related to the space of rotations. This observation is used to construct an orthornormal function basis, allowing effectively arbitrary functions on the grain boundary space to be written as linear combinations of the basis functions. Moreover, a procedure is developed to construct a smaller set of basis functions consistent with the crystallographic point group symmetries, grain exchange symmetry, and the null boundary singularity. Functions with the corresponding symmetries can be efficiently expressed as linear combinations of the symmetrized basis functions. An example is provided that shows the efficacy of the symmetrization procedure.
Update in Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction

Implant-based reconstruction (IBR) remains the most commonly utilized breast reconstruction option for post-mastectomy patients. IBR can be approached as either a one-stage reconstruction or a two-stage reconstruction. Facilitated by improvements in surgical technology and advanced techniques, one-stage reconstruction, also known as direct-to-implant (DTI) reconstruction, involves the insertion of an implant at the time of mastectomy. The decision to pursue either a DTI or a two-stage reconstruction is based on several factors, including the patient's overall health, expected risk of postoperative complications, and associated costs to both the patient and hospital.
The effect of urbanization on plant phenology depends on regional temperature

Plant and animal phenology is shifting in response to urbanization, with most hypotheses focusing on the ‘urban heat island’ (UHI) effect as the driver. However, generalities regarding the direction and magnitude of phenological response to urbanization have not yet emerged because most studies have focused on remote-sensed vegetative phenologies or at local scales with relatively few species. Furthermore, how urbanization interacts with broad-scale climate gradients remains an unknown but important component of anthropogenically driven phenological change. Here, we used a database with >22 million in situ plant phenological observations from the United States and Europe to study the joint influence of varying human population density, which serves as an urbanization measure, and of regional temperature on median flowering and leaf-out dates across a wide plant phylogenetic spectrum. Separately, increasing population density and warmer regional temperature both advanced plant flowering and leaf-out. However, the influence of human population density on plant flowering and leaf-out depends on the regional temperature: high population density advanced plant phenology in cold areas but this effect disappeared or even reversed in warm areas. UHI effects (as measured by daily land surface temperature) alone cannot explain the overall influence of urbanization on plant phenology, suggesting that urbanization also affects plant phenology via other mechanisms. Shorter plants with large specific leaf areas and early flower or leaf-out dates were most affected by urbanization and temperature changes. Our study provides strong empirical evidence that the influence of urbanization on plant phenology varies with regional temperature. Therefore, robust understanding and accurate prediction of phenological changes must take this interaction into account. Analysing more than 22 million in situ phenological observations across two continents, the authors show that plants in areas with higher human population densities have more advanced flowering and leaf-out dates, but that this cannot be attributed solely to urban heat island effects.
Clinical Approach to and Work-up of Bleeding Patients

A bleeding patient is a common consult for interventional radiologists. Prompt triage, preprocedural evaluation specific to the site of hemorrhage, and knowledge of resuscitative strategies allow for a potentially life-saving procedure to be appropriately and safely performed. Having a firm understanding of the clinical work-up and management of a bleeding patient has never been more important. In this article, a discussion of the clinical approach and work-up of a bleeding patient for whom interventional radiology is consulted is followed by a discussion of etiology-specific preprocedural work-up.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in 2- to 5-Year-Olds: A Primary Care Network Experience

Abstract Objectives To assess (1) rates of primary care provider (PCP) diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in young children, (2) documented PCP adherence to ADHD clinical practice guidelines, and (3) patient factors influencing PCP variation in diagnosis and management. Methods Retrospective cohort study of electronic health records from all office visits of children aged 2-5 years, seen ≥2 times between 2015 and 2019, in 10 practices of a community-based primary healthcare network. Outcomes included ADHD diagnosis (symptom or disorder), and adherence to guidelines in (1) comorbidity documentation at or after ADHD diagnosis, (2) ADHD medication choice, and (3) follow-up of medicated patients. Logistic regressions assessed associations between outcomes and patient characteristics. Results Of 29,408 eligible children, 195 (0.7%) had ADHD diagnoses. Of those, 56% had solely symptom-level diagnoses (e.g., hyperactivity); 54% had documented comorbidities. ADHD medications were prescribed only to 4-5-year-olds (40/195 (21%)); 85% received stimulants as first-line medication; 48% had follow-up visits within 2 months. Likelihood of ADHD diagnosis was higher for children with public or military insurance (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.40-2.66; OR 3.17; 95% CI 1.93-4.96). Likelihood of comorbidity documentation was lower for older ADHD patients (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.32-0.71) and higher for those with military insurance (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.13-9.58). Conclusion PCPs in this network frequently used symptom-level ADHD diagnoses in 2-5-year-olds; ADHD diagnosis rates were below estimated population prevalence, with evidence for sociodemographic disparities. PCP comorbidity documentation and choice of stimulant medications were consistent with guidelines. Rates of timely follow-up were low.
MagazineThe emperor's new clothes

Eve Marder reflects on the difficulties involved in challenging received wisdom or sloppy science.
Visioning for the Future: What Can Educational Leaders Do to Build a Shared Commitment to Interagency Collaboration?:

Interagency collaboration is being touted as a means for schools to address the increasing social, emotional and health care needs of students. In this article, we contend that if interagency colla...
Cloudburst: stateful functions-as-a-service

Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) platforms and "serverless" cloud computing are becoming increasingly popular due to ease-of-use and operational simplicity. Current FaaS offerings are targeted at stateless functions that do minimal I/O and communication. We argue that the benefits of serverless computing can be extended to a broader range of applications and algorithms while maintaining the key benefits of existing FaaS offerings. We present the design and implementation of Cloudburst, a stateful FaaS platform that provides familiar Python programming with low-latency mutable state and communication, while maintaining the autoscaling benefits of serverless computing. Cloudburst accomplishes this by leveraging Anna, an autoscaling key-value store, for state sharing and overlay routing combined with mutable caches co-located with function executors for data locality. Performant cache consistency emerges as a key challenge in this architecture. To this end, Cloudburst provides a combination of lattice-encapsulated state and new definitions and protocols for distributed session consistency. Empirical results on benchmarks and diverse applications show that Cloudburst makes stateful functions practical, reducing the state-management overheads of current FaaS platforms by orders of magnitude while also improving the state of the art in serverless consistency.
Measuring crack width using a distributed fiber optic sensor based on optical frequency domain reflectometry

Abstract This study develops a method to measure crack width using a distributed fiber optic sensor. To this end, a customized specimen was designed to manipulate cracks under precise displacement control. An optical fiber was attached on the specimen and served as a distributed sensor which measured strain distributions along the fiber based on optical frequency domain reflectometry. An algorithm was presented to analyze crack width based on the measured strain distribution. Compared with the crack width measured by an extensometer, the crack width measured by the distributed sensor had an accuracy of 5.6 µm. Parametric studies were conducted and revealed that the coating thickness of optical fiber, the spatial resolution of strain distribution, and the spacing of cracks had significant effects on the measurement of cracks using the distributed sensor. This study is expected to enhance the capability of detecting, locating, and quantifying cracks by using distributed fiber optic sensors.
Abstract IA17: The role of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in cancer

Cellular senescence is a stress-activated differentiation pathway that causes proliferation arrest governed by two powerful tumor suppressor pathways, USP28-TP53-CDKN1A and CDKN2A-RB. Senescent cells exhibit a pro-inflammatory secretory program termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that is composed of chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, and proteases. SASP induction is independent of TP53 and RB function and its role in cancer has not been fully elucidated. We genetically targeted the master regulator of SASP, GATA4, and found that SASP functions as a non-cell autonomous tumor suppressor mechanism. We show that SASP is tumor suppressive in mouse models of cancer using both deletion and overexpression contexts. SASP-dependent tumor suppression requires the immune system, specifically CD8 cytotoxic T cells, to suppress tumor growth. Human tumors deficient in GATA4 have reduced lymphocyte infiltrates, indicating that human cancers may avoid immune infiltration by limiting SASP. Citation Format: Rupesh S. Patel, Rodrigo Romero, Anthony C. Liang, Emma V. Watson, Megan Burger, Peter M.K. Westcott, Kim L. Mercer, Roderick T. Bronson, Eric C. Wooten, Arjun Bhutkar, Tyler Jacks, Stephen J. Elledge. The role of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in cancer [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Virtual Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2020 Oct 19-20. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2021;9(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA17.
Increased Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Amplitude Impairs Inhibitory Control of Eye Movements in Parkinson's Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Bilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can have detrimental effects on eye movement inhibitory control. To investigate this detrimental effect of bilateral STN DBS, we examined the effects of manipulating STN DBS amplitude on inhibitory control during the antisaccade task. The prosaccade error rate during the antisaccade task, that is, directional errors, was indicative of impaired inhibitory control. We hypothesized that as stimulation amplitude increased, the prosaccade error rate would increase. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten participants with bilateral STN DBS completed the antisaccade task on six different stimulation amplitudes (including zero amplitude) after a 12-hour overnight withdrawal from antiparkinsonian medication. RESULTS We found that the prosaccade error rate increased as stimulation amplitude increased (p < 0.01). Additionally, prosaccade error rate increased as the modeled volume of tissue activated (VTA) and STN overlap decreased, but this relationship depended on stimulation amplitude (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that higher stimulation amplitude settings can be modulatory for inhibitory control. Some individual variability in the effect of stimulation amplitude can be explained by active contact location and VTA-STN overlap. Higher stimulation amplitudes are more deleterious if the active contacts fall outside of the STN resulting in a smaller VTA-STN overlap. This is clinically significant as it can inform clinical optimization of STN DBS parameters. Further studies are needed to determine stimulation amplitude effects on other aspects of cognition and whether inhibitory control deficits on the antisaccade task result in a meaningful impact on the quality of life.
Extended Capture Point and Optimization-based Control for Quadrupedal Robot Walking on Dynamic Rigid Surfaces.

Stabilizing legged robot locomotion on a dynamic rigid surface (DRS) (i.e., rigid surface that moves in the inertial frame) is a complex planning and control problem. The complexity arises due to the hybrid nonlinear walking dynamics subject to explicitly time-varying holonomic constraints caused by the surface movement. The first main contribution of this study is the extension of the capture point from walking on a static surface to locomotion on a DRS as well as the use of the resulting capture point for online motion planning. The second main contribution is a quadratic-programming (QP) based feedback controller design that explicitly considers the DRS movement. The stability and robustness of the proposed control approach are validated through simulations of a quadrupedal robot walking on a DRS with a rocking motion. The simulation results also demonstrate the improved walking performance compared with our previous approach based on offline planning and input-output linearizing control that does not explicitly guarantee the feasibility of ground contact constraints.
Repurposing of batteries from electric vehicles

This chapter discusses the reuse of electric vehicle (EV) batteries at the end of their useful life in vehicles. EV batteries typically have 80% of their energy and power capacity at the end of vehicle life. Multiple grid applications are expected to come online in the next two decades. This would require development of storage technologies for each application, leading to delays in deployment of these technologies for the various applications. This chapter provides insight on the advantages of using the used EV batteries for a myriad of grid applications, thus providing an alternative while storage technologies tailored to each application are developed.
Counting graceful labelings of trees

The conjecture that every tree has a graceful labeling has inspired a lot of good mathematics since it was first articulated in 1967. By analyzing an algorithm whose essence is to run through all n ! graceful graphs on n + 1 vertices and select the trees, we prove that b n , the number of all graceful labelings on trees on n edges, has growth at least as rapid as O ( ( n 6 ) ( 24 ) - n ( n ! ) ) . Consequently the average number of graceful labelings for a tree on n edges also grows superexponentially. We give a heuristic argument why b n / n ! would be expected to be O ( n α β - n ) with β ? e / 2 = 1.359 ? . Empirically we show that β ? 1.575 based on published values of { b n } . By implementing the algorithm we generated a database consisting of the entire set of graceful labelings for all trees T on 16 or fewer edges, sorted by T . Letting g ( T ) denote the number of graceful labelings of a tree T , for each n ? 16 scatter diagrams reveal a close to linear relationship between ln ( g ( T ) ) and ln | A u t ( T ) | , | A u t ( T ) | being the size of the automorphism group of T . For 10 ? n ? 16 , linear regression demonstrates that ln | A u t ( T ) | and just four other graph invariants account for over 96% of the variance in ln ( g ( T ) ) . For the 48,629 trees with n = 16 , the root mean square error in predicting ln ( g ( T ) ) is 0.236 whereas g ( T ) ranges over seven orders of magnitude. A simple criterion is developed to predict which trees have an exceptionally large number of graceful labelings. Trees whose number of graceful labelings is exceptionally small fall into two already known families of caterpillar graphs. Over the full set of graceful labelings for a given n , the distribution of vertex degrees associated with each label is very close to Poisson, with the exception of labels 0 and n . We present two new families of trees that are proved not to be k -ubiquitously graceful. A variety of new questions suggested by the results are given.
Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor in a Teenager with Unusual Infiltration Into the Jugular Foramen.

Background Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor is a rare malignant neoplasm that represents 1%–2% of all pediatric central nervous system tumors. Immunohistochemistry plays an important role in establishing the diagnosis with a loss of INI-1 staining in tumor cells. In this case report, we describe a teenager with an unusual presentation and pattern of infiltration of the tumor. Case Description A 13-year-old boy presented with a history over several months of progressive nausea, weight loss, and hoarseness of voice associated with multiple lower cranial nerve palsies on neurologic examination. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large heterogeneously enhancing extra-axial neoplasm with extension and bony expansion of the jugular foramen. After near total resection, neuropathology demonstrated the absence of INI-1 expression consistent with a diagnosis of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor. Conclusions This case highlights the diverse clinical presentation and infiltrative potential of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors, thus expanding the differential diagnosis of extra-axial tumors invading the jugular foramen.
Tunable dual-/spl lambda/ fiber ring laser based on 2/sup nd/ order Sagnac-Lyot fiber filter

Summary from only given. We have successfully demonstrated a tunable dual-wavelength fiber laser based on unique 2/sup nd/ order Sagnac-Lyot filters. These filters provide absolute wavelength tuning, channel spacing tuning and stable dual-wavelength lasing.
RNA gain-of-function in spinocerebellar ataxia type 8.

Microsatellite expansions cause a number of dominantly-inherited neurological diseases. Expansions in coding-regions cause protein gain-of-function effects, while non-coding expansions produce toxic RNAs that alter RNA splicing activities of MBNL and CELF proteins. Bi-directional expression of the spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) CTG CAG expansion produces CUG expansion RNAs (CUGexp) from the ATXN8OS gene and a nearly pure polyglutamine expansion protein encoded by ATXN8 CAGexp transcripts expressed in the opposite direction. Here, we present three lines of evidence that RNA gain-of-function plays a significant role in SCA8: 1) CUGexp transcripts accumulate as ribonuclear inclusions that co-localize with MBNL1 in selected neurons in the brain; 2) loss of Mbnl1 enhances motor deficits in SCA8 mice; 3) SCA8 CUGexp transcripts trigger splicing changes and increased expression of the CUGBP1-MBNL1 regulated CNS target, GABA-A transporter 4 (GAT4/Gabt4). In vivo optical imaging studies in SCA8 mice confirm that Gabt4 upregulation is associated with the predicted loss of GABAergic inhibition within the granular cell layer. These data demonstrate that CUGexp transcripts dysregulate MBNL/CELF regulated pathways in the brain and provide mechanistic insight into the CNS effects of other CUGexp disorders. Moreover, our demonstration that relatively short CUGexp transcripts cause RNA gain-of-function effects and the growing number of antisense transcripts recently reported in mammalian genomes suggest unrecognized toxic RNAs contribute to the pathophysiology of polyglutamine CAG CTG disorders.
Roles of the magnetic field and electric current in thermally activated domain wall motion in a submicrometer magnetic strip with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We have experimentally studied micrometer-scale domain wall (DW) motion driven by a magnetic field and an electric current in a Co/Pt multilayer strip with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The thermal activation energy for DW motion, along with its scaling with the driving field and current, has been extracted directly from the temperature dependence of the DW velocity. The injection of DC current resulted in an enhancement of the DW velocity independent of the current polarity, but produced no measurable change in the activation energy barrier. Through this analysis, the observed current-induced DW velocity enhancement can be entirely and unambiguously attributed to Joule heating.
Reversed-Phase Ion-Pairing Liquid Chromatographic Separation and Fluorimetric Detection of Polyamines

Abstract A rapid and specific reversed-phase ion-pairing high performance liquid chromatographic procedure for putrescine, spermidine and spermine is reported. The ion-pairing reagent, heptanesulfonate, was employed and o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol were used for on-line post-column derivatization and subsequent fluorescence detection. Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of several variables such as pH, concentration of the aqueous buffer, counter-ion concentration, and the percentage of organic modifier in the moving phase. The minimum detection limits for the polyamines ranged from 120 pmoles for spermine to 12 pmoles for putrescine. The method includes a gradient program which provides complete separation from amino acids and specificity for the three polyamines. The procedure was applied successfully to urine and serum samples.
Decoupling Control Design with Applications to Flight

Dynamic inversion is presented as a general tool for designing decoupling control laws for multivariable systems, with the difference that instead of using conventional, static, full-state feedback, a dynamic compensator is used. This has the advantages that fewer measurements are required and that the designer has better control over the bandwidth of inner feedback loops. This feature is important because it allows the control law to be made less sensitive to the effects of unmodeled sensor and actuator dynamics, which can be destabilizing. The main focus is on applications to linear systems, although some results may extend to nonlinear systems. The issue of zero dynamics and nonminimum phase is discussed in the linear context. Three examples are presented relating to decoupling of lateral-directional dynamics for highly maneuverable aircraft.
Dextran-methylprednisolone succinate as a prodrug of methylprednisolone: dose-dependent pharmacokinetics in rats

The dose-dependency in the pharmacokinetics of a macromolecular prodrug of methylprednisolone (MP), dextran-methylprednisolone succinate (DMP), was investigated in rats. Single doses (MP equivalent) of 2.5, 5.0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg of DMP were administered intravenously to rats (n=5/group), and serial blood samples (0-96 h) and spleen and liver tissues (96 h) were collected. The concentrations of DMP in plasma and spleen were analyzed using a size-exclusion chromatographic method. The concentrations of DMP in the liver samples were determined by an indirect method after sequential hydrolysis by dextranase and esterase enzymes, followed by HPLC analysis of MP. The kinetics of DMP were analyzed by non-compartmental methods. The systemic clearance of DMP decreased approximately 5-fold (from 42.1+/-11.0 to 7.72+/-1.84 ml/h per kg) when the dose was increased from 2.5 to 30 mg/kg. The nonlinearity in the clearance of DMP could be adequately described by a Michaelis-Menten type elimination with a maximum velocity of elimination of 1.72 mg/h per kg and a constant of 24.9 microg/ml. Additionally, the percent of the dose of DMP found at 96 h in the liver and spleen, where the prodrug is sequestered and gradually eliminated, significantly decreased with an increase in the dose. It is concluded that the clearance of DMP in rats is modestly dose-dependent in the dosage range of 2.5-30 mg/kg.
Marital therapy supervision and consultation

Abstract This article emphasizes that the focus and content of marital therapy supervision may differ from those of family therapy supervision. Attention is paid to the differences between consultation and supervision, the contract between supervisor and supervisee, the dynamics and content of the supervision process, and the evaluation of what has transpired. Several cases are utilized to illustrate aspects of the joint venture that occurs in supervision. The dynamic evolution of the process unfolds in this presentation.
Studies of the electron-transfer system. XLIX. Sites of phospholipid involvement in the electron-transfer chain.

Abstract The reactivation of succinoxidase activity in acetone-extracted heart mitochondria requires the addition of CoQ and purified phospholipids only. The restored activity is directly proportional to the amount of phospholipid taken up by the mitochondrion. The three successive reactions constituting collectively the oxidation of succinate, (a) the reduction of CoQ by succinate, (b) the reduction of cytochrome c , are all reduced CoQ, and (c) the reduction of oxygen by reduced cytochrome c , are all increased by the addition of phospholipid to extracted mitochondria, and in each case the reactivation is proportional to the amount of phospholipid bound by the mitochondrion. Studies with the purified submitochondrial enzyme complexes, succinate-CoQ reductase and CoQH 2 - cytochrome c reductase, indicate that these complexes, depleted of phospholipid by extraction with aqueous acetone, require the addition of phospholipid for maximal activity. In a companion communication it has been demonstrated that the activity of purified cytochrome oxidase is directly proportional to its phospholipid content. The present studies show that phospholipid is required for maximal activity in at least three segments of the electron-transfer chain.
The effect of a strong magnetic field on two-dimensional flows of a conducting fluid

The motion of a viscous, electrically conducting fluid past a finite two-dimensional obstacle is investigated. The magnetic field is assumed to be uniform and parallel to the velocity at infinity. By means of a perturbation technique, approximations valid for large values of the Hartmann number M are derived. It is found that, over any finite region, the flow field is characterized by the presence of shear layers fore and aft of the body. The limit attained over the exterior region represents the two-dimensional counterpart of the axially symmetric solution given by Chester (1961). Attention is focused on a number of nominally ‘higher-order’ effects, including the presence of two distinct boundary layers. The results hold only when M [Gt ] Re; Re = Reynolds number. However, a generalization of the procedure, in which the last assumption is relaxed, is suggested.
Transposition of the ureter as a technique for permitting reversible external ureteral obstruction

Abstract A model for reversible external ureteral obstruction has been developed in the dog by transposing the ureter into a pedicle skin flap. Advantages of this model include: (1) the facility for repetitive, reversible obstruction to the ureter by external means not requiring anesthesia or operation, (2) the potential for partial obstruction, and (3) the absence of any restriction to the animals activities or the need for special protection of the pedicle skin flap.
The polymerization of difluorodiazirine

Pyrolysis or ultraviolet photolysis of difluorodiazirine in the presence of boron trifluoride produced polydifluoromethylene. Like polymethylene derived from diazomethane, the polydifluoromethylene so produced possesses “living polymer” properties. The mechanism of polymerization is discussed and is thought to involve the formation of a linear intermediate.
Hydrogen generation arising from the59Ni(n, p) reaction and its impact on fission—fusion correlations

Whilte the influence of transmutant helium on radiation-induced microstructural evolution has often been studied, there is a tendency to overlook the influence of concurrently-generated hydrogen. There have been some recent speculation and studies, however, that suggest that the influence of hydrogen may be enhanced in the presence of large amounts of helium, especially at lower irradiation temperatures typical of projected ITER operation. The impact of the (n,p) reaction on both hydrogen generation rates and displacement rates are evaluated in this paper for a variety of neutron spectra employed in fission-fusion correlation.
Biofilm Demolition and Antibiotic Treatment to Eradicate Resistant Helicobacter pylori: A Clinical Trial

Background & Aims Helicobacter pylori attaches to gastric mucosa and grows as a biofilm. This constitutes protection from antimicrobial agents. We assessed the role of a pretreatment with n-acetylcysteine in destroying biofilm and overcoming H pylori antibiotic resistance. Methods In an open-label, randomized controlled trial, 40 subjects with a history of at least 4 H pylori eradication failures were evaluated for biofilm presence, antibiotic susceptibility, and H pylori genotypes. Subjects were assigned randomly to receive (group A) or not (group B) n-acetylcysteine before a culture-guided antibiotic regimen. The primary end point was the H pylori eradication rate as assessed by 13 C-labeled urea breath testing. Results H pylori was eradicated in 13 of 20 (both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses, 65%; 95% confidence interval, 44%–86%) group A participants and 4 of 20 (both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses, 20%; 95% confidence interval, 3%–37%) group B participants ( P H pylori genotypes did not influence treatment outcome. Conclusions N-acetylcysteine pretreatment before a culture-guided antibiotic regimen is effective in overcoming H pylori antibiotic resistance.