cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From the Triumvirate to the Ominous Octet: A New Paradigm for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Insulin resistance in muscle and liver and β-cell failure represent the core pathophysiologic defects in type 2 diabetes. It now is recognized that the β-cell failure occurs much earlier and is more severe than previously thought. Subjects in the upper tertile of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are maximally/near-maximally insulin resistant and have lost over 80% of their β-cell function. In addition to the muscle, liver, and β-cell (triumvirate), the fat cell (accelerated lipolysis), gastrointestinal tract (incretin deficiency/resistance), α-cell (hyperglucagonemia), kidney (increased glucose reabsorption), and brain (insulin resistance) all play important roles in the development of glucose intolerance in type 2 diabetic individuals. Collectively, these eight players comprise the ominous octet and dictate that: 1 ) multiple drugs used in combination will be required to correct the multiple pathophysiological defects, 2 ) treatment should be based upon reversal of known pathogenic abnormalities and not simply on reducing the A1C, and 3 ) therapy must be started early to prevent/slow the progressive β-cell failure that already is well established in IGT subjects. A treatment paradigm shift is recommended in which combination therapy is initiated with diet/exercise, metformin (which improves insulin sensitivity and has antiatherogenic effects), a thiazolidinedione (TZD) (which improves insulin sensitivity, preserves β-cell function, and exerts antiatherogenic effects), and exenatide (which preserves β-cell function and promotes weight loss). Sulfonylureas are not recommended because, after an initial improvement in glycemic control, they are associated with a progressive rise in A1C and progressive loss of β-cell function. The natural history of type 2 diabetes has been well described in multiple populations (1–16) (rev. in (17,18). Individuals destined to develop type 2 diabetes inherit a set of genes from their parents that make their tissues resistant to insulin (1,16,19–24). In liver, the insulin resistance is manifested by …
Cardan angle rotation sequence effects on first-metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics: implications for measuring hallux valgus deformity

There currently are no recommended standards for reporting kinematics of the first-metatarsophalangeal joint. This study compared 2 different rotation sequences of Cardan angles, with implications for understanding the measurement of hallux valgus deformity. Thirty-one women (19 hallux valgus; 12 controls) participated. All were scanned in an open-upright magnetic resonance scanner, their foot posed to simulate the gait conditions of midstance, heel-off, and terminal stance. Using computer processes, selected tarsals were reconstructed into virtual bone models and embedded with principal-axes coordinate systems, from which the rotation matrix between the hallux and first metatarsal was decomposed into Cardan angles. Joint angles were then compared using a within factors (rotation sequence and gait condition) repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Only the transverse plane-first sequence consistently output incremental increases of dorsiflexion and abduction across gait events in both groups. There was an interaction (F ≥ 25.1; p < 0.001). Follow-up comparisons revealed angles were different (p < 0.05) at terminal stance. Different rotation sequences yield different results. Extracting the first rotation in the transverse plane allows for the resting alignment of the hallux to deviate from the sagittal plane. Therefore, representing first-metatarsophalangeal joint kinematics with the transverse plane-first rotation sequence may be preferred, especially in cases of hallux valgus deformity.
An O(n log n) algorithm for 1-D tile compaction

A simple O(n log n) algorithm is presented for performing one-dimensional tile compaction on a planar constraint network. The algorithm works only on planar constraints networks: those resulting from considering all components to be on single layer. The top and bottom zones in this example attain their minimum widths of 15 only by forcing the other zone to have width 25, while the best configuration has width 20 which is the minimum width of the middle zone. VLSI circuits often result in nonplanar constraint networks, even though interconnect parallel to the direction of compaction is not part of the constraint network. The algorithm could be used to obtain an initial guess at the width, possibly saving several iterations of the more expensive minimum-cost flow method. >
Spectral unmixing algorithm for distributed endmembers with applications to biomedical imaging

Spectral unmixing algorithms tend to make the simplifying assumptions that each type of material (endmember) in a spectral library may be represented by a single reference spectrum and that the mixing process is linear. While these assumptions are convenient in that they allow techniques of linear algebra to be used, they lack realism as each material type in a spectral image will in general emit a distribution of spectra while the mixing itself need not be linear. We describe a 'common sense' spectral unmixing algorithm for the general case where endmembers are described by arbitrary D-dimensional probability distributions and the mixing can be non-linear. As an application we outline an unsupervised procedure for deriving the fractional material content of every pixel in an image and identifying anomalies given no a priori knowledge. Accurate endmember distributions are obtained by first masking out impure pixels using locally normalised Sobel and Laplacian filters and then performing single-link hierarchical clustering on the pure pixels which remain. The most probable endmember decomposition for a given target spectrum is found by selecting an appropriate set of endmembers based on the target's immediate neighbourhood, and performing a constrained maximum likelihood search over the space of fractional abundances. We also explain how the procedure may be applied to subpixel and anomaly detection. To illustrate our ideas the techniques described are applied to biomedical images throughout.
The respiratory health benefits of quitting cannabis use

Cannabis is the second most widely smoked substance besides tobacco. Moreover, its use in some societies has increased over the past several years [1], possibly due to changing perceptions regarding its potentially deleterious effects on health and its putative health benefits [2], as reflected by decriminalisation and legalisation for medicinal or recreational use by some regulatory authorities. A limited number of observational studies have examined the effects of cannabis on respiratory health [3–9]. These have nearly uniformly demonstrated an association between cannabis use and symptoms of chronic bronchitis [3–7, 9], particularly chronic cough and sputum production, with more variable effects on wheezing and generally negative effects on breathlessness. In addition, there is some evidence of an association with acute bronchitic episodes [3] and increased healthcare utilisation for acute respiratory illness [10]. Findings from a couple of these studies have also suggested additive effects of cannabis and tobacco smoking on symptoms of chronic bronchitis [4, 8]. Quitting cannabis smoking and the effects on respiratory symptoms
Lung isolation in the morbidly obese patient: a comparison of a left-sided double-lumen tracheal tube with the Arndt® wire-guided blocker

Background Obese patients are at risk of complications during airway management including difficult tracheal intubation. There are no reports regarding the ease of intubation or efficiency of lung collapse with the use of lung isolation devices for the morbidly obese patient. We conducted a prospective, randomized study in morbidly obese patients undergoing one-lung ventilation. We compared the effectiveness and ease of placement of a left-sided double-lumen tube and the Arndt ® blocker. Methods Fifty adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery were randomly assigned to a double-lumen tracheal tube (DLT) or standard single-lumen tracheal tube and an Arndt ® blocker. The primary endpoint was to record the number of times the tube/devices were successfully positioned at the first attempt and the time spent to achieve optimal position as verified by fibreoptic bronchoscopy. A secondary outcome was the adequacy of lung collapse. Results For the left-sided DLT group, there were three intubation failures on the first attempt. This group required an alternative method with an airway exchange catheter technique to advance the DLT. In the single-lumen tracheal tube with an Arndt ® blocker group, there were two intubation failures on the first attempt. After lung isolation devices were placed, lung collapse was clinically comparable in both groups. Conclusions There is no overall advantage of one device over the other during intubation of the morbidly obese patient.
International portfolios and currency hedging: viewpoint of Polish investors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the benefits of international equity portfolios from the viewpoint of Polish investors.Design/methodology/approach – Eight national stock markets are included in the sample and three different portfolio forming strategies – Equally‐Weighted Portfolio (EWP), Minimum Variance Portfolio (MVP) and Tangency Portfolio (TP) – are adopted to construct the international diversified portfolios. In order to reveal the impact of currency hedging, the performance of a non‐hedged versus a fully‐hedged strategy is estimated. Finally, for comparison purpose, performances of the international portfolios from US investors' perspective are also examined.Findings – Using monthly data from 1999 to 2008, the results show that from an ex post basis, an equally‐weighted global portfolio offers risk reduction opportunities for Polish investors and performance improvement potentials for US investors. In addition, US investors seem to fare better leaving their foreign in...
Marsh construction techniques influence net plant carbon capture by emergent and submerged vegetation in a brackish marsh in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Coastal marshes play an important role in global carbon cycles, yet coastal development has led to widespread losses of marsh habitat. To address this problem, many coastal wetlands have been restored or created over the past several decades using a variety of construction techniques, but it is unclear if net plant carbon capture in constructed marshes is equal to that of reference marshes, or if rates of plant carbon capture are influenced by marsh construction techniques. To comparatively assess relative carbon capture by emergent and submerged vegetation in constructed and reference marshes, we measured standing biomass and carbon content in above- and belowground emergent plant tissue and submerged vegetation in three constructed areas (2–3 years old) and one reference area in a brackish marsh in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico in 2009 and 2010. We also used aerial photographs to construct a GIS database of emergent and submerged vegetation coverage. These data were combined to estimate net annual plant carbon capture per square meter of marsh vegetation in each constructed and reference area. This index of carbon input to wetland vegetation suggests that rates of carbon capture by emergent aboveground vegetation and submerged aquatic vegetation were similar in constructed and reference areas. However, submerged vegetation captured less carbon (0.1–0.3 kg m−2) than emergent vegetation (0.2–1.7 kg m−2), and constructed areas contained an order of magnitude less emergent habitat than the reference area. Consequently, the annual carbon production of entire constructed areas (emergent + submerged vegetation; 0.1–1.2 kg m−2) was always less than half that of the reference area (0.8–2.5 kg m−2). Therefore, although productivity of emergent and submerged vegetation in constructed and reference areas was similar, the smaller ratio of land to water in the constructed areas reduced their annual rate of plant carbon capture at a larger spatial scale. To more closely mimic rates of plant carbon capture in reference marsh habitats, constructed marsh designs should aim to replicate the ratio of land to water in adjacent reference marshes.
Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis of Female Cynomolgus Monkeys

Although the importance of psychosocial influences on coronary artery atherosclerosis of both male and female human beings has been recognized for many years, the topic has not, until recently, become the subject of experimental studies. Over the past decade we have explored the usefulness of cynomolgus macaques for research on psychosocial influences on atherogenesis. In the design of our experiments, we have taken advantage of the well-established dominance structure found within social groups of these animals, recognizing that the characteristics of cynomolgus macaques that make them dominant in social groups (aggressiveness, competitiveness) are some of the same characteristics associated with the type A behavior profile of human subjects. We have also taken advantage of the chronic physiological changes that occur among socially subordinate female cynomolgus monkeys to understand better the effects of stress on “female protection.” Finally, we have utilized the observation that cynomolgus monkeys, like human beings, vary in their characteristic cardiovascular response to stress (some having markedly heightened sympathetic arousal to psychosocial stimulation) to evaluate the significance of this trait in coronary atherosclerosis.
Development, Optimization, and Characterization of Electrospun Poly(lactic acid) Nanofibers Containing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Electrospinning of poly (L-D-lactic acid) (PLA) was investigated with the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) for development of a scaffold for tissue engineering. Through this experiment, it was determined that the optimal concentration of PLA with weight average molecular weight (Mw) 250,000 g/mol is � 20 wt % as indicated by scanning electron microscopy. This concentration produces fibers with no beading or film formation. The preferred solvent system is a combination of chloroform and dimethyl formamide to alleviate the vol- atile action of chloroform. The optimum processing param- eters for PLA are an electric field of 1 kV/cm which was determined by a surface response plot to minimize fiber diameter based on the applied voltage, working distance, and addition of MWNT. Fourier Transform infrared spec- troscopy has indicated the removal of the solvent system. With the addition of MWNT, the fiber diameter was dras- tically reduced by 70% to form fibers with a mean diame- ter of 700 nm. This is believed to be due to an increased surface charge density for the MWNT/polymer solution. Transmission electron microscopy validated the alignment of the MWNT within the fibers. MWNT loading exhibited an increase in the conductance of the scaffold and the ten- sile modulus at an optimal loading level of 0.25 wt %. 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 105: 1668-1678, 2007
Designing a distributed patch management security system

Over the last 10 years, the Internet has been the place of tremendous information security issues and vulnerabilities; in particular, the ability to patch systems very quickly has become a necessary requirement in order to provide a safe operating environment for all organizations. At the same time, the fast proliferation of systems and their respective vulnerabilities have become almost unmanageable for IT departments to withstand and secure according to the patch release schedules established by IT software vendors. This research reveals the fundamental limitations of the current patch management design systems, explores a possible solution, and investigates the practical development of a new approach for patch distribution. We will start by explaining the problem, followed by a review of the current state of affairs, determinant factors used to develop our methodology, and, finally, our proposed solution.
Phosphoregulation of the Na-K-2Cl and K-Cl cotransporters by the WNK kinases

Precise regulation of the intracellular concentration of chloride [Cl-]i is necessary for proper cell volume regulation, transepithelial transport, and GABA neurotransmission. The Na-K-2Cl (NKCCs) and K-Cl (KCCs) cotransporters, related SLC12A transporters mediating cellular chloride influx and efflux, respectively, are key determinants of [Cl-]i in numerous cell types, including red blood cells, epithelial cells, and neurons. A common "chloride/volume-sensitive kinase", or related system of kinases, has long been hypothesized to mediate the reciprocal but coordinated phosphoregulation of the NKCCs and the KCCs, but the identity of these kinase(s) has remained unknown. Recent evidence suggests that the WNK (with no lysine = K) serine-threonine kinases directly or indirectly via the downstream Ste20-type kinases SPAK/OSR1, are critical components of this signaling pathway. Hypertonic stress (cell shrinkage), and possibly decreased [Cl-]i, triggers the phosphorylation and activation of specific WNKs, promoting NKCC activation and KCC inhibition via net transporter phosphorylation. Silencing WNK kinase activity can promote NKCC inhibition and KCC activation via net transporter dephosphorylation, revealing a dynamic ability of the WNKs to modulate [Cl-]. This pathway is essential for the defense of cell volume during osmotic perturbation, coordination of epithelial transport, and gating of sensory information in the peripheral system. Commiserate with their importance in serving these critical roles in humans, mutations in WNKs underlie two different Mendelian diseases, pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (an inherited form of salt-sensitive hypertension), and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 2. WNKs also regulate ion transport in lower multicellular organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting that their functions are evolutionarily-conserved. An increased understanding of how the WNKs regulate the Na-K-2Cl and K-Cl cotransporters may provide novel opportunities for the selective modulation of these transporters, with ramifications for common human diseases like hypertension, sickle cell disease, neuropathic pain, and epilepsy.
Identification of two of the major phosphorylated polypeptides of the bovine lens utilizing a lens cAMP-dependent protein kinase system

Two of the major in vitro phosphorylated polypeptides of the bovine lens have been identified. Analysis by means of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (IEF) has demonstrated that the lens phosphorylated 57,000 and 43,000 dalton polypeptides correspond in mobility to purified phosphorylated bovine lens vimentin and chicken gizzard actin, respectively. Purified actin and vimentin were phosphorylated by a partially purified cAMP-dependent protein kinase isolated from the outer cortex water soluble fraction. All detectable bovine lens vimentin isoelectric variants were phosphorylated. In both the lens fiber cell and chicken gizzard actin preparations, the phosphorylated actin isoelectric variants did not correspond in mobility to the major actin isolectric variant, but were more acidic. Phosphorylation in all preparations occured at serine residues.
Exact maximum likelihood parameter estimation of superimposed exponential signals in noise

A unified framework for the exact maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of superimposed exponential signals in noise, encompassing both the time series and the array problems, is presented. An exact expression for the ML criterion is derived in terms of the linear prediction polynomial of the signal, and an iterative algorithm for the maximization of this criterion is presented. The algorithm is equally applicable in the case of signal coherence in the array problem. Simulation shows the estimator to be capable of providing more accurate frequency estimates than currently existing techniques. The algorithm is similar to those independently derived by Kumaresan et al. In addition to its practical value, the present formulation is used to interpret previous methods such as Prony's, Pisarenko's, and modifications thereof.
Binary compression rates for ASCII formats

Geometry compression for VRML has been an important item on the wish-list of the Web3D Consortium since 1996. It was widely understood that a binary format would be required to allow compressed geometry, which explains why there is still no geometry compression in VRML. We demonstrate here a compression technique that does not require a binary format and that is able to achieve bit-rates that are within 1 to 2 percent of those of a binary benchmark coder.Furthermore, our technique will allow complete conformance between the current ASCII standard and the future binary standard of VRML (or X3D). Translating between the two will not require to invoke complex compression or decompression schemes. Compressed nodes have an ASCII as well as a binary representation and conversion from one to the other is a simple symbolic mapping. The same decompression algorithm can be used to inflate a compressed node, no matter whether it was stored in ASCII or in binary.We do not argue against a binary format for VRML. A binary format will reduce parse time and might store a scene even more compactly. We argue to support geometry compression now ... without waiting for a binary specification.
The natural history of human gait and posture: Part 2. Hip and thigh

The human fossil record is one of the most complete for any mammal. A basal ancestral species, Australopithecus afarensis, exhibits a well-preserved postcranium that permits reconstruction of important events in the evolution of our locomotor skeleton. When compared to those of living apes and humans, it provides insights into the origin and design of the modern human frame. Evolutionary aspects of the human hip and thigh are reviewed, including the unusual corticotrabecular structure of the human proximal femur, and our markedly elongated lower limb. It is postulated that the latter may be more related to birthing capacity than to locomotion.
Random Choice and Learning

The attraction eect and other decoy eects are often understood as anomalies and modeled as departures from rational inference. We show how these decoy eects may arise from simple Bayesian updating. Our new model, the Bayesian probit, has the same parameters as the standard multinomial probit model: each choice alternative is associated with a Gaussian random variable. We show how, unlike any random utility model, the Bayesian probit can jointly accommodate similarity eects, the attraction eect and the compromise eect. We also provide a new denition of revealed similarity based only on the choice rule and show that in the Bayesian probit (i) signal averages capture revealed preference; (ii) signal precision captures the decision maker’s familiarity with the options; and (iii) signal correlation captures our new denition of revealed similarity. This link of parameters to observable choice
Awakening: a qualitative study on maintaining weight loss after bariatric surgery

Aims and objectives To describe the experiences of adults who were successful in maintaining weight loss after bariatric surgery. Background The majority of studies examine a homogenous demographic group of postbariatric surgical patients who have gone through initial weight loss, which occurs within the first 12–24 months post surgery. Maintenance of weight loss begins 24 months after bariatric surgery; however, there is a paucity of research examining experiences during this period. The lack of conclusive research related to interactions between intrapersonal, behavioural and environmental influences suggests a need to develop a better understanding of patients' experiences related to weight loss maintenance post bariatric surgery. Design Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory provided the framework for the semi-structured interviews for this qualitative descriptive study. Methods In-person interviews with n = 14 participants who were able to maintain weight loss at least 24 months after a bariatric surgery. Results Participants experienced an awakening and gained a new perspective on their life. They identified negative attitudes, influences and behaviours and modified their environment to support their desired healthy behaviour. Conclusions To maintain weight loss, an individual must seek out and be surrounded by positive family and peer support influences. Positive support may provide the opportunity for an individual to place personal health needs as a priority. Relevance to clinical practice Therapeutic education and counselling for individuals, couples and families should occur during all phases of bariatric surgery. Communication techniques may empower clients to deflect negative comments and influences in a constructive manner. Support groups should accommodate the various phases of bariatric surgery. Clients should be prepared for how to work through emotions associated with weight fluctuations.
Reinvestigating the Endorser by Product Matchup Hypothesis in Advertising

According to the matchup hypothesis, endorsers are more effective when there is a “fit” between the endorser and product (Kamins 1990). In the following article, two experiments, originally featured in one of the most highly cited articles identifying the matchup hypothesis, are replicated (Till and Busler 2000). Overall, the results confirm the original findings; however, some differences are observed and discussed. The author further reveals how perceived endorser “appropriateness” drives the well-established matchup effect, and then closes by discussing the implications of these findings.
The electrocardiogram in remote myocardial infarction: reassessment of criteria.

Specificity and positive predictive accuracy are more important than sensitivity in clinical electrocardiographic diagnosis.
Device Requirements for Optical Interconnects to CMOS Silicon Chips

Optics could solve key interconnect problems in future electronic machines especially in interconnect density and energy. We project the requirements for the necessary optoelectronic and optical devices and prospects for hybrid optical/electronic processing systems.
ASM Launches mSphere.

We live in an exceptionally dynamic and exciting time for the life sciences, in which our ability to acquire and disseminate knowledge is rapid, global, and ever-changing. Technological advances have altered the way in which most life sciences laboratories operate. When I was a postdoc, substantial
Seeing Is Believing: Sharing Real-Time Visual Traffic Information via Vehicular Clouds

From today’s conventional cars to tomorrow’s self-driving cars, advances in technology will enable vehicles to be equipped with more and more-sophisticated sensing devices, such as cameras. As vehicles gain the ability to act as mobile sensors that carry useful traffic information, people and vehicles are sharing sensing data to enhance the driving experience. This paper describes a vehicular cloud service for route planning, where users collaborate to share traffic images by using their vehicles’ on-board cameras. We present the architecture of a collaborative traffic image-sharing system called social vehicle navigation, which allows drivers in the vehicular cloud to report and share visual traffic information called NaviTweets. A set of NaviTweets is then filtered, refined, and condensed into a concise, user-friendly snapshot summary of the route of interest, called a traffic digest. These digests can provide more pertinent and reliable information about the road situation and can complement predictions, such as estimated time of arrival, thereby supporting users’ route decision making. As proof of concept, this paper presents the system design and a prototype implementation running on the Android smartphone platform, along with its evaluation.
Drug treatment for children with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is the main cause of immobility in children. This motor dysfunction is caused by several motor components such as weakness, lack of motor control and muscle hypertonia. Drug treatment, delineated in this review, mainly addresses the latter. Recently, new definitions for clinical features of hypertonia in children were published, assisting the distinction between the two common motor symptoms in cerebral palsy, spasticity and dystonia. The main functional symptoms disrupt functional daily life, dictating the overall approach and the specific drug treatment. There are an increasing number of treatments for this distressing disorder. For general spasticity, treatments provided include Baclofen. If symptoms are local, either dystonia, or spasticity, Botulinum toxin is the revolutionary drug used with significant success and relatively few side effects. For generalized dystonia, a trial of both Dopamine and Trihexyphenidyl should be considered. Cerebral palsy, like other complex disorders, requires individualized decision-making and a team approach. Drug therapy is only one aspect of treatment, yet sometimes it may serve as a window of opportunity to facilitate better motor control.
Route of flow and micropathology resulting from retrograde intrabiliary injection of India ink and ferritin in experimental animals. A combined light- and electron-microscopic study.

India ink and/or ferritin were used as tracers to follow the route taken by material injected retrograde into the biliary system of mice, rats, and rabbits. Tissue was prepared for light- and electron-microscopic study by routine techniques. Tracer material was fairly evenly distributed through the liver, filling many parts of the ductal system. India ink suspended in normal saline usually was found widely distributed in liver sinusoids. Electron microscopy showed that aggregates of platelets sometimes were associated with tracer material. Isolated small groups of hepatic cells contained dense deposits of India ink filling part or all of the cytoplasm. Marked cellular disruption was evident in electron micrographs of similar areas. It was concluded that retrograde intrabiliary injection of material disrupts hepatic cells to allow escape into sinusoids through the spaces of Disse. It is proposed that retrograde injection of such materials as radiocontrast media may cause similar micropathology and entry of biliary contents into the circulation.
Static balancing of highly reconfigurable articulated wheeled vehicles for power consumption reduction of actuators

This paper presents the static balancing of a highly reconfigurable articulated wheeled vehicles with multiple leg-wheel subsystem. Articulated wheeled vehicles are a class of mobile robots, which offer immense possibilities for enhanced locomotion-performance of autonomous mobile vehicles by virtue of the enormous reconfigurability within their articulated structure. However, changing the vehicle platform elevation could require considerable actuator power because of the payload. Hence, the main focus of this paper is to carefully evaluate various means for reducing or eliminating these static forces, principally due to the mass- and inertia-distribution within the system. It is noteworthy that although known apriori, such static forces often are significantly dependent upon the articulated-wheeled vehicle configuration. Hence, realising the static balancing for all possible configurations of vehicle imposes special set of conditions on the geometric, mass and inertial parameters. In this paper, elastic elements such as springs are used in conjunction with reconfigurable four-bar mechanism to achieve the static balancing. The essential principle is to realise that the total potential energy including the elastic potential energy stored in springs and gravitational potential energy becomes constant. Finally, we show that elimination of static torques due to gravity reduces the torque requirements and provides much more efficient design with significant reduction of the actuator sizes.
Prospective Endoscopic Ultrasound-Based Approach to the Evaluation of Idiopathic Pancreatitis: Causes, Response to Therapy, and Long-term Outcome

Prospective Endoscopic Ultrasound-Based Approach to the Evaluation of Idiopathic Pancreatitis: Causes, Response to Therapy, and Long-term Outcome
Differential Calculus of Vector Fields and Differential Forms

Chapter 1 presents the basic differential and integral relationships of the field theory. In this chapter, I also introduce the important concepts of work and flux of the field. Using these concepts, the different vector formulations of the Gauss's and Stokes's theorems are introduced and analyzed. Based on the Gauss's theorem, we develop a set of fundamental integral relations, which are known as Green's formulas. Another powerful mathematical approach to study the physical fields is based on the concept of differential forms. I provide the definitions and canonical representations of differential forms in three-dimensional Euclidean space. The chapter concludes by establishing a close relationship between the exterior differential operation of the calculus of the forms and the gradient, curl, and divergence operations of the conventional vector calculus.
Outcomes assessment of on-site communication skills education in a companion animal practice

OBJECTIVE To evaluate veterinarian-client communication and veterinarian and client satisfaction with veterinary visits before and after veterinarians underwent a 6-month communication skills training program in a practice setting. DESIGN Case-based pretest-posttest intervention study. SAMPLE 1 purposely selected companion-animal practice. PROCEDURES The practice team (3 veterinarians, 5 veterinary technicians, 1 receptionist, and 1 office manager) participated in a 6-month educational program (intervention) that included interactive communication modules, individual coaching, and a communication laboratory. For each of the veterinarians, 6 appointments were video recorded and 30 additional clients completed a visit satisfaction survey both before and after the intervention. The Roter interaction analysis system was used to analyze the video-recorded appointments. RESULTS After the intervention, appointments were 5.4 minutes longer and veterinarians asked 60% fewer closed-ended lifestyle-social questions,...
Nonuniform Torsion of Plate Girders

As one part of a comprehensive investigation of the torsional behavior of built-up structural members, a group of full-size plate-girder specimens were tested under non uniform torsion conditions. ...
Pinpointing scale-dependent integer overflow bugs in large-scale parallel applications

We present a technique to pinpoint scale-dependent integer overflow bugs, a class of bugs in large-scale parallel applications that is hard and time-consuming to detect manually. Rather than detecting integer overflows when applications are deployed at large scale, as existing techniques do, our method forecasts these overflows without requiring the application to be run at large scale. Our approach statically identifies integer variables that depend on the scale, and then in a refinement phase, uses data points from small-scale runs to forecast whether variables will actually overflow at large-scale runs. We implement our technique in LLVM and evaluate it on several HPC benchmarks and the MPICH MPI implementation. Our tool finds five instances of previously unknown scale-dependent integer overflow bugs, including one in MPICH, and has few false positives, demonstrating its practical utility.
Reducing Functional MR Imaging Acquisition Times by Optimizing Workflow

By assembling a multidisciplinary team, identifying five key drivers, and implementing four specific interventions, the authors reduced their mean functional MR imaging time from 76.3 to 53.2 minutes, and they believe that their results can be applied broadly to improve efficiency of other complex diagnostic MR imaging practices.
Extraction of constituents of lyophilized Atropa belladonna.

A study of lyophilization as it affects the extraction of the alkaloids, chlorophyll A and B, total extractive, total nitrogenous extractive and soluble carbohydrates of Atropa belladonna L. was made. The leaves that were lyophilized were frozen at the. moment of collection so as to retard any possible enzymatic reactions. The results show that lyophilization of Atropa belladonna leaves does not affect the amount or rate of extraction of alkaloids, but the amount of total extractive, soluble nitrogenous material, soluble carbohydrate, and the quality of chlorophyll are affected.
Multimodality Management of Spetzler-Martin Grade 3 Brain Arteriovenous Malformations with Subgroup Analysis.

Objective Spetzler-Martin grade 3 (SM3) lesions entail 4 distinct subtypes described based on size, eloquence, and deep venous drainage (3A–3D). The ideal management of each is contentious, and the results of A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain AVMs (ARUBA) introduced additional controversy and attention toward management strategies of unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 114 patients with treated SM3 bAVMs, including both ruptured and unruptured lesions. Primary outcomes included modified Rankin score at most recent follow-up, angiographic cure, and permanent treatment-related complications (morbidity). Other outcomes included mortality, bAVM recurrence or rebleed, and transient treatment-related complications. We used univariate and multivariate modeling to determine whether any specific features were predictive of outcomes. For unruptured bAVMs, an “ARUBA eligible” subgroup analysis was performed. We also reviewed the literature on management of ruptured and unruptured SM3 bAVMs. Results Of the 114 identified SM3 bAVMs, 40% were unruptured. Most (43.5%) lesions in the unruptured group were type 3C, whereas most ruptured bAVMs (66.2%) were type 3A. Unruptured lesions were mostly managed with radiosurgery (47.8%) and ruptured ones with preoperative embolization and surgery (36.7%). Surgical intervention was predictive of angiographic cure in multivariate modeling, even after controlling for ≥2 years of follow-up, although associated with a slightly higher rate of morbidity. Focal neurological deficit was the only predictor of a worse (modified Rankin score ≥2) functional outcome in follow-up for unruptured bAVMs. For ruptured bAVMs, superficial and cerebellar locations were predictive of better outcomes in multivariate models, in the absence of a focal neurological deficit at presentation and new after surgery deficit. ARUBA SM3 bAVMs specifically underwent more embolization as a monotherapy and less microsurgical resection than the present series. Conclusions In spite of a heterogeneous array of angioarchitectural and anatomic features, SM3 bAVMs can be treated safely and effectively with surgery and radiosurgery either without or with pretreatment embolization. Ruptured lesions are more often type 3A, with smaller nidus, deep brain location, and deep venous drainage. Focal neurological deficit predicts worse clinical outcomes. Contemporary multimodality management of SM3 bAVMs is not adequately represented in the results of ARUBA, likely due to differences in treatment strategies.
Two new Asian species of Carex (Cyperaceae)

Revision of herbarium specimens from Asia revealed the existence of two previously unnoticed species. We describe two new species of Carex from Himalayan eastern Asia. Carex barbayaki is closely related to C. dielsiana (section Decorae ). Carex herbacoeli seems to be allied to C. fuliginosa (section Aulocystis ). Pictures are provided.
Effect of lymphopenia on survival in women with cervical cancer treated with primary chemoradiation.

e16507 Background: Lymphopenia is an independent prognostic factor of recurrence and survival in several non-gynecologic cancers. The association between lymphopenia and survival in women with cerv...
2.202 – Engineering Viruses For Gene Therapy

Gene therapy, the introduction of therapeutic genetic material to cells to ameliorate disease or injury, holds great potential for the treatment of numerous disorders. However, broad clinical application of gene therapy is currently hindered by the need for safer and more efficient delivery vectors. Vectors for gene delivery typically consist of a nucleic acid associated with a material, either natural (e.g., based on viruses) or synthetic (e.g., based on polymers or lipids). While viral vectors offer an attractive platform for gene delivery because of their efficient gene transfer capabilities, their clinical utility is often limited by the natural transduction patterns of viruses and, in many cases, their unfavorable interactions with the immune system. Various approaches have been pursued to address the challenges associated with therapeutic gene delivery, including efforts to tailor the properties of existing viral vectors through rational design and library-based selection (i.e., viral protein engineering), as well as strategies to assemble ‘artificial viruses’ from biological or synthetic building blocks. This chapter discusses current progress toward designing both viral and nonviral gene delivery vectors and describes future directions of the field, including the design of genetic cargo and the integration of gene vectors into biomaterial scaffolds.
An Exploration of Alternative Scoring Methods Using Curriculum-Based Measurement in Early Writing:

This manuscript describes two empirical studies of alternative scoring procedures used with curriculum-based measurement in writing (CBM-W). Study 1 explored the technical adequacy of a trait-based...
Constructing P-velocity models to fit restricted sets of travel-time data

abstract A scheme recently proposed by the authors for constructing Earth models which fit a given finite set of gross Earth data is applied to the problem of constructing a P -velocity structure which, within experimental error, fits the observed travel times in the range Δ = 25°(5°)95°. Three such models are obtained, all of which fit the observed travel times with residuals less than 0.06 s , whereas 0.5 s is the estimated standard error of the observations. The models differ mainly in the outer 700 km of the mantle.
Physiochemical properties of rice starch for production of vermicelli with premium quality

Rice vermicelli is a main food consumed in China and Southeast Asia. Quality of rice vermicelli varies with rice cultivars. Parameters including amylose content, amylopectin distribution, thermal and pasting characteristics, gel texture and starch granules of three rice cultivars “Zhongjiazao 17”, “Xiangzaoxian 24” and “Thai Jasmine Rice”, were studied for their impacts on vermicelli quality. Results showed significant differences for the measurements of the quality traits and indicated that a favorable quality of vermicelli was not determined by any single factor instead of a combination of multi-parameters. A vermicelli with a favorable quality could be produced from a rice variety with a high apparent amylose content (>25%), a protein content of 11%, an intermediate gelatinization temperature and gel consistency, and a gel hardness (~3 N for a Rapid Viscosity Analyzer pasting) and moderate retrogradation capacity (a setback viscosity of 30–100 RVU).
Europe at the End of the Chunnel: Malcolm Bradbury’s and Tim Parks’s Eurosceptic Albion

ABSTRACTThe outcome of the Brexit referendum is the apex of a long history of Euro-British relationships characterised by two opposing but coexisting stereotypes. On the one hand, England appears as the freedom-seeking nation resisting restrictive collective policies imposed by a totalitarian EU regime of faceless Brussels bureaucrats. On the other hand, England seems to resurrect its imperialistic superiority against the purported democracy and horizontality of European institutions. Adopting the notion of “cultural intimacy”—with which Michael Herzfeld addresses the mutual engagement of contrasting positions in political and administrative practices—this paper addresses the equally stereotypical images of an indifferent, inhuman European bureaucracy and of an insular, cynical Great Britain in the works of Malcolm Bradbury and Tim Parks. Be it the allegedly liberal yet nationalistic stance of Thatcherist anti-Europeanism in Bradbury, or the British disaffection with the purported identitarian and cultura...
What Makes Business Incubation Work? Measuring the Influence of Incubator Quality and Regional Capacity on Incubator Outcomes:

To optimize public investment in business incubator programs, it is crucial to distinguish the effects of the program from the effects of the host region’s economic environment. This study measures...
Ticks and salt: an atypical case of neuroborreliosis

It is well documented that central nervous system (CNS) infections may lead to syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), but diagnosing these can prove difficult in patient...
Striatal But Not Extrastriatal Dopamine Receptors Are Critical to Dopaminergic Motor Stimulation

Dopamine (DA) is required for motor function in vertebrate animals including humans. The striatum, a key motor control center, receives a dense DA innervation and express high levels of DA D1 receptors (D1Rs) and D2 receptors (D2Rs). Other brain areas involved in motor function such as the globus pallidus external segment (GPe) and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and the motor cortex (MC) also receive DA innervation and express DA receptors. Thus, the relative contribution of the striatal and extrastriatal DA systems to the motor function has been an important question critical for understanding the functional operation of the motor control circuits and also for therapeutic targeting. We have now experimentally addressed this question in the transcription factor Pitx3 null mutant (Pitx3Null) mice that have an autogenic and parkinsonian-like striatal DA denervation and hence supersensitive motor response to DA stimulation. Using DA agonist unilateral microinjection-induced rotation as a reliable readout of motor stimulation, our results show that L-dopa microinjection into the dorsal striatum (DS) induced 5-10 times more rotations than that induced by L-dopa microinjection into GPe and SNr, while L-dopa microinjection into the primary MC induced the least number of rotations. Furthermore, our results show that separate microinjection of the D1R-like agonist SKF81297 and the D2R-like agonist ropinirole into the DS each induced only modest numbers of rotation, whereas concurrent injection of the two agonists triggered more rotations than the sum of the rotations induced by each of these two agonists separately, indicating D1R-D2R synergy. These results suggest that the striatum, not GPe, SNr or MC, is the primary site for D1Rs and D2Rs to synergistically stimulate motor function in L-dopa treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Our results also predict that non-selective, broad spectrum DA agonists activating both D1Rs and D2Rs are more efficacious anti-PD drugs than the current D2R agonists.