cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact Damage Tolerance of Composite Laminates with Through-The-Thickness Stitches

The ability of through-the-thickness stitches to contain damage during a low-velocity impact event and increase the residual strength of stitched panels was investigated in this research. The impact response, spread of interlaminar delaminations, dent depth, surface damage, and static residual strength after impact were studied for carbon-epoxy specimens fabricated from HTS40 TohoTenax standard modulus fibers, stitched together with Vectran 1200 denier thread and infused with API 1078 resin after through-the-thickness stitching. Three different stitch patterns were used to explore the ability to arrest impact damage during and after impact. Simply supported boundary conditions were maintained during the impact testing. Non-destructive evaluations were performed using ultrasonic C-scans and X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging to determine the shape, size, and location of delaminations. Results indicate that while the dynamic response during the impact event was almost the same for the unstitched specimens and all stitch patterns considered, the extent of delamination and the compression strength after impact varied greatly. For both the 60 J and 80 J impact energies, the delamination area was significantly less for the stitched specimens than for the unstitched specimens, but the range of delamination areas among the stitch patterns was much larger for the lower impact energy than for the greater impact energy. Similarly, while the presence of stitching influenced the compression after impact strength, the strength values for all stitch patterns were very similar. These results are a step toward quantifying the influence of through-the-thickness stitching.
Consumers’ Perceptions And Choices Related To Three Value-Based Insurance Design Approaches

The burden of rising health care costs is being shifted to consumers, and 30 percent of health care costs are attributed to wasteful spending on low- or no-value services. Value-based insurance des...
Vitamin D Does Not Affect Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Kinetics: A Mixed Linear Model Analysis.

Abstract Background Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) monitoring is used to confirm completeness of resection in patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Though there is an inverse relationship between vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH), previous studies have suggested that 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level does not affect the likelihood of meeting the Miami criterion. Here, we further investigate whether preoperative 25OHD level affects ioPTH kinetics. Methods This is a retrospective case-control study of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for pHPT at a tertiary referral center. Patients were categorized based on preoperative 25OHD level as vitamin D deficient (≤ 20 ng/mL), insufficient (21-30 ng/mL), or sufficient (>30 ng/mL). Differences in baseline characteristics were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis H test or chi-square analysis. ioPTH kinetic curves were analyzed using a log-transformed mixed linear model with subject-level random effects. Significance was set at P Results Among 630 patients who met inclusion criteria, there was a significant difference in ioPTH between groups at baseline (P Conclusions Despite a difference in preoperative and baseline PTH levels, preoperative 25OHD had no significant effect on ioPTH kinetics. Therefore, ioPTH assays can be used and interpreted uniformly, regardless of patients’ vitamin D status.
Cost-minimization analysis for biosimilar pegfilgrastim in the prophylaxis of chemotherapy induced (febrile) neutropenia and expanded access based on budget neutral basis.

6645Background: Pegfilgrastim (pegfil) injection is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving myelo...
Intranasal oxytocin treatment does not attenuate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in beef heifers subjected to isolation stress or restraint and isolation stress.

Abstract Changes in the physiological, psychological, and behavioral manifestations of stress have been observed in association with increases in circulating oxytocin (OXT). Providing OXT intranasally has been shown to attenuate stressor-induced hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation in humans and rodents; however, anxiolytic effects may be context and species specific. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of intranasal OXT supplementation on stressor-induced activation of the HPA axis in beef cattle. We hypothesized that OXT would attenuate activation of the HPA axis, ultimately decreasing plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Twenty-eight Bos taurus heifers were blocked by bodyweight and randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: (1) saline, isolated, standing, and unrestrained (S-isolation stress [IS], 0.015 mL/kg BW 0.9% isotonic saline, n = 7); (2) saline, isolated, and restrained (S-restraint and isolation stress [RIS]; 0.015 mL/kg BW 0.9% isotonic saline; n = 7); (3) OXT, IS (OXT-IS, 0.3 IU/kg BW oxytocin; n = 7); and (4) OXT and RIS (OXT-RIS, 0.3 IU/kg BW oxytocin; n = 7). Oxytocin and saline were administered intranasally. Intranasal treatments were given followed by a waiting time of 30 min when each of the stress treatments was applied for 2 h. Blood samples were collected via jugular catheters directly after stressor application and every 10 min thereafter, for 2 h. Cortisol concentrations increased over time in animals exposed to RIS (P
Mental Health Disorders and Hyperthyroidism in the Pediatric Population.

* Abbreviation: ADHD — : attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Hyperthyroidism (particularly Graves’ disease) affects people of all ages, with symptomatology including restlessness and inability to focus, anxiety, weight loss, tachycardia, heat intolerance, diaphoresis, and diarrhea. The conventional wisdom is that symptoms resolve once the hyperthyroidism is adequately treated. However, authors of some reports suggest that with respect to mental health, this may not be the case. In this issue, Zader et al1 investigate this question and conclude that children with hyperthyroidism have a higher prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adjustment disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidality. The authors used the Military Health System Data Repository to identify children aged 10 to 18 years in the military system for ≥1 month who had International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes for hyperthyroidism and the aforementioned mental health conditions. The Military Health System Data Repository included >2.5 million children, with a total of nearly 2500 children with hyperthyroidism during a 9-year interval. Compared with children without hyperthyroidism, the prevalence ratios of mental health conditions in those with hyperthyroidism ranged from … Address correspondence to Rebecca Schneider Aguirre, MD, PhD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Dr, Room 5960, Indianapolis, IN 46202. E-mail: rsaguirr{at}iupui.edu
Intraoperative OCT-Assisted Retinal Detachment Repair in the DISCOVER Study: Impact and Outcomes.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate intraoperative OCT (iOCT) utility and outcomes during retinal detachment (RD) repair. Design The Determination of Feasibility of Intraoperative Spectral-Domain Microscope Combined/Integrated OCT Visualization during En Face Retinal and Ophthalmic Surgery (DISCOVER) intraoperative OCT study is a prospective Institutional Review Board–approved study. Participants Participants in the DISCOVER study undergoing surgical repair for RD. Methods This was a post hoc analysis of eyes in the DISCOVER study undergoing surgical repair for RDs. Inclusion criteria included iOCT after perfluorocarbon liquid placement and at least 6 months follow-up. Exclusion criteria included severe retinal pathology unrelated to RD. Surgeons completed standardized questionnaires after each case evaluating the iOCT instrument’s utility. Functional and surgical outcome data were collected at the latest available time point between 6 and 12 months. Outcomes were evaluated in 2 groups: uncomplicated primary and complex cases. Main Outcome Measures Intraoperative OCT utility, single-surgery success, and visual acuity outcomes. Results A total of 103 eyes were included in this study: 51 uncomplicated primary and 52 complex cases. Intraoperative OCT provided valuable information in 36% of cases. In 12% of cases, iOCT data directly altered surgical decision making. There was a significantly higher rate of valuable iOCT feedback in complex cases compared with primary cases (50% vs. 22%, P Conclusions This study affirms the potential impact of iOCT in assisting select cases of RD repair, particularly with complex pathology. The single surgery success rate was good with more than 80% of cases successfully repaired with 1 surgery.
Presentation Slides: Forecasting Using NNS

Presentation slides highlighting the forecasting technique NNS.ARMA using nonlinear nonparametric statistics in the R-package "NNS". Explains the determination of seasonality using the coefficient of variance of subset series and the implementation of both linear and nonlinear regressions on the component series. Examples comparing performance against traditional ARMA methods as well as state of the art machine learning techniques.
The relationship of glycemic control, insulin dose, and race with hypoglycemia in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Abstract Introduction Black youth with T1D have been reported to experience more episodes of hypoglycemia than white patients, despite blacks having higher levels of HbA1c. We hypothesized that black patients may be prescribed higher daily doses of insulin putting them at greater higher risk for hypoglycemia. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of data from a study of social and environmental factors influencing HbA1c in a biracial pediatric population with T1DM. Changes in patient insulin dose were made at clinic visit based on their self-monitored glucose (SMG) data. Insulin dose (units/kg/d) was compared with HbA1c, reported hypoglycemic episodes and occurrence of low blood glucose from SMG data. Results Age, duration of diabetes and BMI-z were similar for black and white patients. Black patients had higher levels of HbA1c and mean blood glucose (MBG). HbA1c was higher in blacks even after adjustment for MBG. Reported insulin dose increased with increasing HbA1c (ρ = 0.30, p = 0.0052) or MBG (ρ = 0.36, p Conclusion Insulin dose increased with increasing HbA1c or MBG for both groups. Occurrence of hypoglycemia was inversely related to glycemic control. There was slightly higher occurrence low glucose meter readings in white patients. Reported racial disparities in occurrence of hypoglycemia and insulin dosing may be due to clinic specific factors.
Bridging the research-management gap: landscape science in practice on public lands in the western United States

Landscape science relies on foundational concepts of landscape ecology and seeks to understand the physical, biological, and human components of ecosystems to support land management decision-making. Incorporating landscape science into land management decisions, however, remains challenging. Many lands in the western United States are federally owned and managed for multiple uses, including recreation, conservation, and energy development. We argue for stronger integration of landscape science into the management of these public lands. We open by outlining the relevance of landscape science for public land planning, management, and environmental effects analysis, including pertinent laws and policies. We identify challenges to integrating landscape science into public land management, including the multijurisdictional nature and complicated spatial pattern of public lands, the capacity of agencies to identify and fill landscape science needs, and perceptions about the meaning of landscape approaches to management. We provide several recent examples related to landscape monitoring, restoration, reclamation, and conservation in which landscape science products were developed specifically to support decision-making. We close by highlighting three actions—elevating the importance of science-management partnerships dedicated to coproducing actionable landscape science products, identifying where landscape science could foster efficiencies in the land-use planning process, and developing scenario-based landscape models for shrublands—that could improve landscape science support for public land planners and managers.
Chapter 4 – Triatomic Molecules

A compilation of data from various works on absolute partial cross-sections of triatomic molecules (H2O, CO2, N2O, NO2, H2S) and photoionization cross-sections of SO2 and ozone have been studied by drawing conclusions from the data obtained. Absolute partial cross-sections of ions by photoionization mass spectrometry and partial cross-section near K-edge are measured. Double ionization and fragmentation, Auger spectrum, core excitation and ionization, and de-excitation spectrum are explained in detail. In CO2, the three CO2+2 states, X3Σg−, a1Δg and b1Σg+, though thermochemically unstable, have lifetimes longer than the experimental time window (∼2.3 μs). All three states have shown to have barriers to dissociation, a well depth of >0.5 eV, and the sum of their absolute partial cross-sections is also shown. Hydrogen sulfide is a strongly bent molecule with an equilibrium distance of 1.3356(30) A. The photoelectron spectrum in this region characteristically departs from Koopmans’ theorem. Absolute partial cross-sections of ions in the valence region, for core excitation and decay, are described in detail. The last chapter describes the ozone molecule state. Owing to its biradical nature its ground state is not well described by a single configuration. Absolute partial cross-sections and K-edge are studied. As regards the photoelectron spectrum of ozone, single-configuration Hartree–Fock description is totally inadequate for its description and Koopman’s theorem is violated. For absolute partial cross-sections of the ions, experimental situation is optimistic. Resonant Auger spectra and ionic mass spectra have been described.
Newborn T Cell and Microbiota Developmental Trajectories and Their Inter-related Roles in Health and Disease

Neonatal immune-microbiota co-development is poorly understood, yet appropriate recognition of--and response to--pathogens and commensal microbiota is critical to health. In this longitudinal study of 133 pre- and 79 full-term infants from birth through one year of age we found that postmenstrual age, or weeks from conception, is the dominant factor influencing T cell and mucosal microbiota development. However, numerous features of the T cell and microbiota trajectories remain unexplained by host age, and are better explained by discrete peri- and post-natal events. Most strikingly, we establish that disruption of the normal developmental program, as is seen with discordant or atypical T cell and microbiota trajectories, increases the risk of illnesses in the first year of life. Altogether, this study presents compelling evidence that newborn health is marked by predictable, coordinated immune and microbiota development, but deviation from this pattern places an infant at significant risk for respiratory morbidity.
Enhancing SAT solvers with glue variable predictions.

Modern SAT solvers routinely operate at scales that make it impractical to query a neural network for every branching decision. NeuroCore, proposed by Selsam and Bjorner, offered a proof-of-concept that neural networks can still accelerate SAT solvers by only periodically refocusing a score-based branching heuristic. However, that work suffered from several limitations: their modified solvers require GPU acceleration, further ablations showed that they were no better than a random baseline on the SATCOMP 2018 benchmark, and their training target of unsat cores required an expensive data pipeline which only labels relatively easy unsatisfiable problems. We address all these limitations, using a simpler network architecture allowing CPU inference for even large industrial problems with millions of clauses, and training instead to predict {\em glue variables}---a target for which it is easier to generate labelled data, and which can also be formulated as a reinforcement learning task. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by modifying the state-of-the-art SAT solver CaDiCaL, improving its performance on SATCOMP 2018 and SATRACE 2019 with supervised learning and its performance on a dataset of SHA-1 preimage attacks with reinforcement learning.
The digital biomarker discovery pipeline: An open-source software platform for the development of digital biomarkers using mHealth and wearables data.

Introduction: Digital health is rapidly expanding due to surging healthcare costs, deteriorating health outcomes, and the growing prevalence and accessibility of mobile health (mHealth) and wearable technology. Data from Biometric Monitoring Technologies (BioMeTs), including mHealth and wearables, can be transformed into digital biomarkers that act as indicators of health outcomes and can be used to diagnose and monitor a number of chronic diseases and conditions. There are many challenges faced by digital biomarker development, including a lack of regulatory oversight, limited funding opportunities, general mistrust of sharing personal data, and a shortage of open-source data and code. Further, the process of transforming data into digital biomarkers is computationally expensive, and standards and validation methods in digital biomarker research are lacking. Methods: In order to provide a collaborative, standardized space for digital biomarker research and validation, we present the first comprehensive, open-source software platform for end-to-end digital biomarker development: The Digital Biomarker Discovery Pipeline (DBDP). Results: Here, we detail the general DBDP framework as well as three robust modules within the DBDP that have been developed for specific digital biomarker discovery use cases. Conclusions: The clear need for such a platform will accelerate the DBDP’s adoption as the industry standard for digital biomarker development and will support its role as the epicenter of digital biomarker collaboration and exploration.
On the Derivation of Quasi-Newton Formulas for Optimization in Function Spaces

Newton’s method is usually preferred when solving optimization problems due to its superior convergence properties compared to gradient-based or derivative-free optimization algorithms. However, de...
Chronologically Guided Deep Network for Remaining Useful Life Estimation

In this paper, we introduce a new chronological loss function for training models to predict remaining useful life (RUL) of industrial assets based on multivariate time-series observations. The chronological loss, an alternative to the more traditional mean-squared error (MSE) loss, incorporates a monotonicity constraint, an upper bound, and a lower bound on the RUL estimates at each time step. We also present a fully-convolutional network (FCN) as a superior competitor to the current state-of-the-art approaches that are based on LSTM. Our experiments on public benchmark datasets demonstrate that deep models trained using chronological loss outperform those trained using the traditional MSE loss. We also observe that the proposed FCN architecture outperforms LSTM-based predictive models for RUL estimation on most datasets in this study. Our experiments demonstrate the potential of the proposed models to assist in observing degradation trends. Finally, we derive a sensor-importance score from the trained FCN model to enable cost savings by minimizing the number of sensors that need to be placed for asset monitoring without sacrificing RUL estimation accuracy.
Proton imaging with machine learning

The purpose of this study is to introduce a compact calorimeter that can offer an additional imaging tool for proton therapy centers. The tungsten, gadolinium, and lanthanide based high-density scintillating glass designed for this purpose has the ability to stop 200 MeV protons with thicknesses less than 60 mm, which allows us to model a compact detector that can be attached to a gantry. The details of the glass development and preliminary imaging efforts with this detector were previously reported. This study summarizes the Artificial Neural Network based imaging efforts with this novel proton imager detector. A library of proton conical beam CT (CBCT) scans of 800 tumors was created via GATE simulations. This tumor library was used for training purposes with two different machine learning tools, Flux and PyTorch. Here, the proof-of-concept machine learning imaging study is reported. The novel material development, compact detector design, and machine learning based imaging can make this approach useful for clinical applications.
The Rule of Law as an Essentially Contested Concept

Calling a concept "essentially contested" is not necessarily a way of disparaging it. It is a way of understanding the depth and importance of the contestation surrounding it, and the possibility that such contestation will enrich the heritage that the concept tries to organize. These insights are applied to the Rule of Law and to the arguments that surround its application in politics and in legal philosophy.
Improving selective targeting to cancer-associated fibroblasts by modifying liposomes with arginine based materials.

A library of arginine-like surface modifiers was tested to improve the targetability of DOPE:DOPC liposomes towards myofibroblasts in a tumour microenvironment. Liposomes were characterised using z...
Bounded Linearness of Distributional Generalized Hankel-Schwartz Type Transformations on \(L^{'}_{p,v}\) Spaces

Two Hankel-Schwartz type transformations are defined in this study. On the Lp,v and \(L^{'}_{p,v}\) spaces, the Hankel-Schwartz type transformations are defined. It is also demonstrated that the transformations defined by (1) and (2) are bounded linear operators of Lp,v. We also study the behaviour of transformations defined by (3) and (4) on the Lp,v spaces. It is also shown that the transformations defined by (3) and (4) are bounded linear operator of Lp,v into Lp,2p(3\(\alpha\)+\(\beta\))-v and of L p,v into Lp,-v-2(\(\alpha\)-\(\beta\))p respectively. Finally, we proved that distributional generalised HankelSchwartz type transformation on \(L^{'}_{p,v}\) spaces are bounded linear.
Micro Electro Mechanical System Design

Table of INTRODUCTION Historical Perspective The Development of MEMS Technology MEMS: Present and Future MEMS Challenges The Aim of This Book Questions References FABRICATION PROCESSES Materials Starting Material - Substrates Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Etching Processes Patterning Wafer Bonding Annealing Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) Material Doping Summary Questions References MEMS TECHNOLOGIES Bulk Micromachining LIGA Sacrificial Surface Micromachining Integration of Electronics and MEMS Technology (IMEMS) Technology Characterization Alternative MEMS Materials Summary Questions References SCALING ISSUES FOR MEMS Scaling of Physical Systems Computational Issues of Scale Fabrication Issues of Scale Material Issues Newly Relevant Physical Phenomena Summary Questions References DESIGN REALIZATION TOOLS FOR MEMS Layout SUMMiT(TM) Technology Layout Design Rules Standard Components MEMS Visualization MEMS Analysis Summary Questions References ELECTROMECHANICS Structural Mechanics Damping Electrical System Dynamics Questions References MODELING AND DESIGN Design Synthesis Modeling Lagrange's Equations Numerical Modeling Design Uncertainty Problems References MEMS SENSORS AND ACTUATORS MEMS Actuators MEMS Sensing Questions References PACKAGING Packaging Process Steps Packaging Case Studies Summary Questions References RELIABILITY Reliability Theory and Terminology Essential Aspects of Probability and Statistics for Reliability Reliability Models MEMS Failure Mechanisms Measurement Techniques for MEMS Operational, Reliability and Failure Analysis Testing MEMS Reliability and Design MEMS Reliability Case Studies Summary Questions References APPENDIX Glossary Prefixes Micro-MKS Conversions Physical Constants Material Properties Stiffness Coefficients of Frequently Used MEMS Flexures Common MEMS Cross-Section Properties Design Synthesis Software and Files
Analysis of Dimensions Related to Cloud Computing Adoption: A Multiple Case Study

O objetivo deste estudo e analisar as dimensoes relacionadas com a aquisicao e o uso da computacao em nuvem. A partir de uma busca na literatura academica, encontrou-se dimensoes relacionadas a tecnologia, que foram utilizadas nesta pesquisa. O metodo escolhido para a realizacao desta pesquisa foi o estudo de caso. Foram entrevistados executivos de TI de diferentes setores da economia, que possuissem influencia nas decisoes referentes aos investimentos e direta participacao na gestao. Identificaram-se os elementos mais importantes no que diz respeito a sua aquisicao e uso: seguranca, escalabilidade e custo. A dimensao seguranca foi apontada como critica, pois perda ou roubo de dados importantes podem resultar em prejuizos. Ja custo foi apontado como relevante, pois a possibilidade de reducao e sempre importante para a area. Escalabilidade foi destacada pelo fato de que e o maior beneficio da utilizacao da nuvem, permitindo adaptacao das empresas a alteracoes na demanda.
Binding of DNA to alpha/beta-type small, acid-soluble proteins from spores of Bacillus or Clostridium species prevents formation of cytosine dimers, cytosine-thymine dimers, and bipyrimidine photoadducts after UV irradiation.

Small, acid-soluble proteins (SASP) of the alpha/beta-type from spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species bind to DNA; this binding prevents formation of cyclobutane-type thymine dimers upon UV irradiation, but promotes formation of the spore photoproduct, an adduct between adjacent thymine residues. alpha/beta-Type SASP also bound to poly(dG).poly(dC) and poly(dA-dG).poly(dC-dT). While UV irradiation of poly(dG).poly(dC) produced cyclobutane-type cytosine dimers as well as fluorescent bipyrimidine adducts, the yields of both types of photoproduct were greatly reduced upon irradiation of alpha/beta-type SASP-poly(dG).poly(dC) complexes. UV irradiation of poly(dA-dG).poly(dC-dT) produced a significant amount of a cyclobutane dimer between cytosine and thymine, as well as a 6-4 bipyrimidine adduct. Again, binding of alpha/beta-type SASP to poly(dA-dG).poly(dC-dT) greatly reduced formation of these two photoproducts, although formation of the cytosine-thymine analog of the spore photoproduct was not observed. These data provide further evidence for the dramatic change in DNA structure and photoreactivity which takes place on binding of alpha/beta-type SASP and suggest that binding of these proteins to DNA in vivo prevents formation of most deleterious photoproducts upon UV irradiation.
Isolation of Tn1546-like elements in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from wood frogs: an emerging risk for zoonotic bacterial infections to humans

Aim: Isolation and characterization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), mainly Enterococcus faecium, from the faecal pellet of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica). Methods and Results: The frog VRE isolates were tested for their susceptibility to various antibiotics and were found resistant to ampicillin (Am), chloramphenicol (Cm), erythromycin (Em), gentamicin (Gm), tetracycline (Tc), teicoplanin (Tp) and vancomycin (Vn). The linkage of multiple antibiotic resistances to Em, Tc, Tp and Vn was observed in 84% of resistant Ent. faecium. Inducible antibiotic resistance (MIC ≥ 512 μg ml−1) to Vn was also detected in these isolates. PCR analysis revealed the presence of vanA in all strains, and none of the strains were positive for vanB, indicating the existence of vanA phenotype. Furthermore, the PCR–RFLP analysis of the frog vanA amplicon with PstI, BamHI and SphI generated identical restriction patterns similar to Tn1546-like elements found in human VRE isolates. DNA homoduplex analysis also confirmed that vanA from the frog VRE has DNA sequence homology with the vanA of Tn1546-like elements of human and animal isolates. Blastx analysis of frog vanA sequence showed similarities with protein sequences generated from protein database of Vn-resistant Ent. faecium, Baccilus circulans, Paenibacillus apiarius and Oerskovia turbata isolates. Horizontal transfer of Vn resistance was not detected in frog isolates as revealed by filter mating conjugal experiment. Conclusions: In summary, our results demonstrated that wood frogs carry Vn-resistant bacteria, and resistance genes (vanA) are located on Tn1546-like elements. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study highlights a previously less recognized role of amphibians as sentinels for multidrug-resistant bacteria and alerts the public health workers for an emerging risk of zoonotic bacterial infections to humans.
Sudan: Darfur and the Failure of an African State – By Richard Cockett

Relying on scholarly books, articles, and written and oral primary sources, Richard Cockett not only traces the origins of but also examines the conflicting internal and external forces responsible...
Response to Matthew Heins

The spirit of Matthew Heins' (2015) paper is correct—that New Urbanism and Landscape Urbanism can join forces—but it is first necessary to set the record straight on a couple of points.First, a lar...
Cellular sensory wave computers - theoretical and practical challenges and brain-like behavior

Only the abstract is given. The CNN based cellular sensory wave computer is introduced as a generic architecture when shrinking feature size in CMOS technology and nanoarray processing is at hand. Next, three main challenges are analyzed and solution directions are presented: (1) the physical implementation challenge; (2) theoretical challenges; and (3) brain like behaviour. It will be shown that the cellular wave computer architecture is becoming a prototype for many technologies. Finally, the complexity issues will be elaborated.
Heterogeneity of mitochondrial redox state in premalignant pancreas in a PTEN null transgenic mouse model.

Pancreas-specific deletion of PTEN in mice revealed progressive premalignant lesions such as ductal metaplasia with infrequent malignant transformation. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the mitochondrial redox state of the metaplastic pancreas in a pancreas-specific PTEN null transgenic mouse model. The two intrinsic fluorophores, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and oxidized flavoproteins (Fp) such as flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), in the respiratory chain in mitochondria are sensitive indicators of mitochondrial redox states and have been applied to the studies of mitochondrial function with energy-linked processes. The redox ratio, Fp/(Fp+NADH) provides a sensitive index of mitochondrial redox state. We have obtained optical images of the in vivomitochondrial redox states of the snapfrozen pancreases from pancreas-specific PTEN null mice (Pdx1-Cre;PTENlox/lox, N=3) and the controls (PTENlox/lox, N=3) using the redox scanner at low temperature. The results showed high spatial heterogeneity ofmitochondrial redox state in the mutated pancreases with hot spots of much higher Fp redox ratios whereas the normal ones, were relatively homogenous. The cystic dilation regions in the metaplastic pancreases showed little to no NADH or Fp signal. Histological analysis confirmed no cells existed in these regions. It is the first time that the in vivo mitochondrial redox states of the metaplastic mouse pancreas were optically imaged. Our previous results on human melanoma and breast cancer mouse xenografts have shown that mitochondrial redox state quantitatively correlates with cancer metastatic potential. The more oxidative mitochondrial redox state (higher Fp redox ratio) corresponded to the higher metastatic potential of the tumors. As mitochondrial redox state imbalance is associated with abnormal mitochondrial function, and redox state mediates the generation of reactive oxygen species and many signal transduction pathways, this research may provide insights for studying basic biology and developing early diagnostic imaging biomarkers for pancreatic cancer.
Compromise of clathrin function and membrane association by clathrin light chain deletion.

While clathrin heavy chains from different species are highly conserved in amino acid sequence, clathrin light chains are much more divergent. Thus clathrin light chain may have different functions in different organisms. To investigate clathrin light chain function, we cloned the clathrin light chain, clcA, from Dictyostelium and examined clathrin function in clcA–mutants. Phenotypic deficiencies in development, cytokinesis, and osmoregulation showed that light chain was critical for clathrin function in Dictyostelium. In contrast with budding yeast, we found the light chain did not influence steady-state levels of clathrin, triskelion formation, or contribute to clathrin over-assembly on intracellular membranes. Imaging GFP-CHC in clcA– mutants showed that the heavy chain formed dynamic punctate structures that were remarkably similar to those found in wild-type cells. However, clathrin light chain knockouts showed a decreased association of clathrin with intracellular membranes. Unlike wild-type cells, half of the clathrin in clcA– mutants was cytosolic, suggesting that the absence of light chain compromised the assembly of triskelions onto intracellular membranes. Taken together, these results suggest a role for the Dictyostelium clathrin light chain in regulating the self-assembly of triskelions onto intracellular membranes, and demonstrate a crucial contribution of the light chain to clathrin function in vivo.
Functionalization of Silk Fibroin with NeutrAvidin and Biotin

New methods are needed to modify silk biomaterials with bioactive molecules for tissue engineering and drug delivery. In the present study, silk fibroin in solution or in microsphere format was coupled with NeutrAvidin via carbodiimide chemistry. Silk fibroin retained its self-assembly features after reaction. It was found that more than four NeutrAvidin molecules bound to one silk molecule. Non-specific binding of biotin or NeutrAvidin to silk microspheres could be reduced by pre-treatment of the microspheres with BSA or post-treatment with detergent. The NeutrAvidin-coupled silk microspheres were coupled with biotinylated anti-CD3 antibody and the functionalized microspheres were able to specifically bind to the CD3 positive T-lymphocytic cell line Jurkat.
Amino acid analysis of bone from a possible case of prehistoric iron deficiency anemia from the American Southwest

It is possible that dietary conditions can result in the production of abnormal bone protein. For example, a heavily maize-dependent diet could be deficient in one or more essential amino acids necessary to normal human biochemistry and consequently necessary for normal bone protein synthesis. Amino acid analysis of bone tissues, thus, could provide a useful diagnostic tool in paleopathology. To test this potential we have compared the amino acid analyses of bone samples from a prehistoric Southwest Indian child exhibiting porotic hyperostosis with samples taken from (1) two children's skeletons lacking bone lesions but from the same area and time, (2) a modern child who died from accidental causes, and (3) adult human compact bone. Analytical results of the nonpathological prehistoric specimens were virtually identical to that of the modern infant, indicating remarkable preservation of bone protein. The pathological bone sample differed from the three control specimens by having as much as 25% less of those amino acids containing hydroxyl group and acidic side chains. We interpret the amino acid profile for the diseased child as indicating the presence of a greater proportion of helical protein (or less noncollagenous protein) as well as a lowered degree of hydroxylation of proline and lysine. One explanation for our data is that protein biosynthesis is altered in the child exhibiting porotic hyperostosis, and either some proteins important in the early phases of mineralization are not produced in sufficient quantity, or some necessary enzyme cofactors (e.g., dietary ferrous ions) are missing. We conclude that our data are compatible with, but do not prove, the hypothesis that the porotic hyperostosis exhibited by the Southwest Indian child is the result of iron deficiency anemia.
Relationship between myocardial metabolites and contractile abnormalities during graded regional ischemia. Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of porcine myocardium in vivo

The mechanisms responsible for changes in myocardial contractility during regional ischemia are unknown. Since changes in high-energy phosphates during ischemia are sensitive to reductions in myocardial blood flow, it was hypothesized that myocardial function under steady-state conditions of graded regional ischemia is closely related to changes in myocardial high-energy phosphates. Therefore, phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed in an in vivo porcine model of graded coronary stenosis. Simultaneous measurements of regional subendocardial blood flow, high-energy phosphates, pH, and myocardial segment shortening were made during various degrees of regional ischemia in which subendocardial blood flow was reduced by 16-94%. During mild reductions in myocardial blood flow (subendocardial blood flow = 83% of nonischemic myocardium), only the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi), Pi, and [H+] were significantly changed from control. PCr, ATP, and PCr/ATP were not significantly reduced from control with mild reductions in blood flow. Changes in myocardial segment shortening were most closely associated with changes in PCr/Pi (r = 0.94). Pi and [H+] were negatively correlated with segment shortening (r = -0.64 and -0.58, respectively) and increased over twofold when blood flow was reduced by 62%. Thus, these data demonstrate that PCr/Pi is sensitive to reductions in myocardial blood flow and closely correlates with changes in myocardial function. These data are also consistent with a role for Pi or H+ as inhibitors of myocardial contractility during ischemia.
Stereological estimation of the morphology distribution of ZnS clusters for photonic crystal applications

Abstract A novel application of stereological methods is presented for the down selection of synthesis conditions to produce dimer building blocks for photonic crystals. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of ZnS clusters were analyzed to determine the cluster population distribution for mixtures of spheres, dimers, trimers, tetramers, and other complex clusters. The volume fraction of each particle species was estimated from the average fraction of test points falling within the cluster type of interest. For example, quantitative microscopy of a particle population prepared at 29 °C for 6 h and 85 °C for 22 min yielded a composition of 59±3% spheres, 31±2% dimers, 7±1% trimers, 0.4±0.2% tetramers, and 2.5±0.8% complex clusters. Images from systematically selected experimental conditions were analyzed to determine the optimal conditions for obtaining dimer building blocks from solution precipitation. This condition was determined to be 29 °C for 5 h and 85 °C for 20 min and yielded a monodispersed dimer population of 23±2%.
Muscle high energy phosphates in chronic peripheral vascular disease

There is little information available concerning the alterations in skeletal muscle energy metabolism which occur in response to chronic arterial occlusive disease. In addition, the effect of arterial reconstruction on skeletal muscle energy metabolism in patients with peripheral vascular disease has not been defined. Needle biopsies were obtained from the quadriceps femoris muscle of 7 patients with aortoiliac disease and 15 patients with femoropopliteal disease and from the gastrocnemius muscle of 9 patients with femoropopliteal disease. Muscle samples were analyzed for ATP, ADP, AMP, phosphocreatine, creatine, and lactate. Eleven patients were rebiopsied after vascular reconstruction. Patients with rest pain had decreased total adenine nucleotides, energy charge potential, and ATP/ADP ratios as compared to those of controls. ATP levels were significantly decreased in muscle samples obtained distal to the arterial occlusion (i.e., quadriceps/aortoiliac, gastrocnemius/femoropopliteal) in patients with rest pain (compared with controls). ATP levels did not differ significantly from those of controls in muscle samples obtained from patients with claudication. However, energy charge potential was significantly decreased in all patients with claudication regardless of biopsy site and location of arterial occlusive disease. Normalization of muscle energy metabolism was not demonstrated following arterial reconstruction. We conclude that resting skeletal muscle energy metabolism is abnormal in patients with chronic arterial insufficiency and that progression of disease toward more severe ischemia is associated with more marked derangement. Whether the possible beneficial effects of revascularization on muscle energy metabolism are masked by the concurrent effect of injury in the early postoperative period remains to be clarified.
Chronic ethanol feeding produces an increase in muscarinic cholinergic receptors in mouse brain.

Abstract Chronic ethanol administration (seven days) to mice produces physical dependence while subsequent withdrawal produces seizures and convulsions, especially during the first 24 hours. It is known that ethanol can inhibit brain acetylcholine (ACh) release. Our present study suggests that hippocampal (+25%) and cortical (+14%), but not striatal neurons, can respond to the ethanol-induced reduction in neurotransmitter (ACh) availability by increasing the number of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. It is possible that these supersensitive neurons are involved in the CNS hyperexcitability induced by withdrawal from chronic ethanol.
Limitations of Simultaneous Gap-Out Logic

The current practice of specifying simultaneous gap-out logic places constraints on signal controller logic. These constraints cannot be achieved under high traffic flow conditions, and degraded signal efficiency and dilemma zone protection often result. This study documents the phenomenon described above with set-back detectors at an instrumented intersection in Noblesville, Indiana, and characterizes the problem of dilemma zone protection as being traffic-volume dependent, a factor that should be carefully considered before the simultaneous gap-out logic is applied. Implementation of simultaneous gap-out logic led to max out ranging from 3.5% to 40% of cycles per hour during peak traffic flow periods and about 200 dilemma zone incursions per day. Results also indicate that simultaneous gap-out logic performs inefficiently and unsafely under high-volume conditions, whereas its performance is satisfactory under low-volume conditions. Analysis suggests an upper bound on potential savings of about 400 s of green time per day and a 25% reduction in dilemma zone incursions.
Tunable, post-translational hydroxylation of collagen Domains in Escherichia coli.

Prolyl 4-hydroxylases are ascorbate-dependent oxygenases that play key roles in a variety of eukaryotic biological processes including oxygen sensing, siRNA regulation, and collagen folding. They perform their functions by catalyzing the post-translational hydroxylation of specific proline residues on target proteins to form (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. Thus far, our ability to study these post-translational modifications has been limited by the lack of a prokaryotic recombinant expression system for producing hydroxylated proteins. By introducing a biosynthetic shunt to produce ascorbate-like molecules in Eschericia coli cells that heterologously express human prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H), we have created a strain of Escherichia coli that produces collagenous proteins with high levels of (2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. Using this new system, we have observed hydroxylation patterns indicative of a processive catalytic mode for P4H that is active even in the absence of ascorbate. Our results provide insights into P4H enzymology, and create a foundation for better understanding how post-translational hydroxylation affects proteins.
Plasma waves in planetary magnetospheres

The plasma wave spectra are presented for the magnetospheres of five planets (the earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). A general comparison of the various plasma wave modes at each of the planets is provided using a common format for displaying the spectra. Results show that, in spite of great differences in the magnetospheres' sizes, heliocentric distances, energy sources, plasma sources, and magnetic dipole orientations between different planets, many of the same types of wave modes are present in each of the five magnetospheres. However, there are great differences in the relative and absolute intensity of some of the wave modes.
Evaluation of Virulence of Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae Isolates

Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi and recently discovered for the first time in continental United States, has been of concern to the U.S. agricultural industry for more than 30 years. Since little soybean rust resistance is known, and resistance is often difficult to detect or quantitate, we initiated a project to develop a better, more quantitative, method. The methodology determined the average numbers and diameters of uredinia in lesions that developed on leaves of inoculated plants 14 days after inoculation. It was used to compare virulence of P. pachyrhizi isolates from Asia and Australia and P. meibomiae from Puerto Rico and Brazil, collected as many as 30 years earlier, with isolates of P. pachyrhizi recently collected from Africa or South America. Susceptible reactions to P. pachyrhizi resulted in tan-colored lesions containing 1 to 14 uredinia varying greatly in size within individual lesions. In contrast, on these same genotypes at the same time of year, resistance to other P. pachyrhizi isolates was typified by 0 to 6 small uredinia in reddish-brown to dark-brown lesions. Using appropriate rust resistant and rust susceptible genotypes as standards, examination of uredinia 14 days after inoculation allowed quantitative comparisons of sporulation capacities, one measure of susceptibility or resistance to soybean rust. The study verified the presence and ability to detect all known major genes for resistance to soybean rust in the original sources of resistance. It demonstrated that soybean lines derived from the original PI sources, and presumed to possess the resistance genes, in actuality may lack the gene or express an intermediate reaction to the rust pathogen. We suggest that a determination of numbers and sizes of uredinia will detect both major gene and partial resistance to soybean rust.
Craniofacial resection and reconstruction of an ethmoid melanoma invading cranium

The application of craniofacial techniques has allowed the excision of lesions heretofore thought unresectable. Extensive exposure is gained through the use of bicoronal and face-splitting incisions and by the performance of facial osteotomies. Dural defects are reconstructed with autogenous tissue, preferably with local flaps of dura or pericranium. The communication between the extradural space and the nasal cavity is similarly closed. Pericranial flaps based anteriorly on the supratrochlear and supraorbital vessels or laterally based flaps utilizing pericranium and temporalis muscle and fascia are well vascularized and can reach the defect. Osseous reconstruction of the anterior cranial floor, nasofrontal area, and other areas is most easily done at the time of resection using cranial bone and rigid mini-plate fixation. A case illustrating these techniques is presented.