cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Satisfactory knee function after single-stage posterolateral corner reconstruction in the multi-ligament injured/dislocated knee using the anatomic single-graft technique.

Increasing importance has been placed on the posterolateral corner (PLC) in maintaining varus and rotational stability of the knee. The goal of this study was to evaluate knee function and clinical stability following a single-graft PLC reconstruction technique and identify factors associated with poor knee function. This study identified patients with a multi-ligament knee injury between 2006 and 2013. Patients who received a single-graft fibular collateral ligament and PLC reconstruction with a single-stage surgery during the study period and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years after surgery were included. Functional outcomes were assessed using Lysholm and IKDC scores. Varus and rotational knee laxity and range of motion were assessed using physical examination. The final study cohort included 61 patients who underwent PLC reconstruction using a single-graft technique. The mean IKDC score was 74.1 (± 22.3) and the mean Lysholm score was 80.3 (± 21.8) at mean follow-up of 3.8 years (range 2–9 years). Mean range of motion at final follow-up measured from 0° to 126° [range flexion: 95–145, range extension: 0–5]. Fifty-eight patients (95%) had grade 0 varus laxity in full knee extension, and 54 patients (88.5%) had grade 0 varus laxity at 30° of knee flexion. Female gender was associated with a lower postoperative IKDC score (p = 0.04). Surgical treatment of the PLC using a single-graft technique can result in satisfactory knee function and stable physical examination findings at minimum 2 years after surgery. Female gender was predictive of poor knee function after PLC reconstruction. Surgical treatment of PLC injuries should be individualized based on the timing of surgery, specific injured knee structures, and physical examination findings. This study helps validate the use of a single-graft technique for PLC reconstruction and can be used to help counsel patients about expected knee function after surgical treatment of PLC injuries. Level of evidence IV.
Regioselective Synthesis, NMR, and Crystallographic Analysis of N1-Substituted Pyrazoles

A systematic study of the N-substitution reactions of 3-substituted pyrazoles under basic conditions has been undertaken. Regioselective N1-alkylation, -arylation, and -heteroarylation of 3-substituted pyrazoles have been achieved using K2CO3-DMSO. The regioselectivity is justified by the DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G**(d) level. A consistent steric effect on chemical shift has been observed for N-alkyl pyrazole analogues. Twenty-five X-ray crystallographic structures have been obtained to confirm the regiochemistry of the major products.
Um tapinha não dói: um estudo da violência de gênero

Ao longo dos tempos, muitas mulheres tem sofrido violencia, mas nao denunciam a agressao por diversos motivos, os quais, geralmente, envolvem questoes como preconceito, discriminacao, medo. A falta de denuncia, no entanto, tem contribuido para a construcao de um imaginario social que atenua a violencia e ridiculariza a mulher. Neste contexto, enunciados como "toda mulher gosta de apanhar" e "tapinha de amor nao doi”, vem sendo repetidos e representam uma forma de sedimentacao desse sentido. Neste trabalho, pretendo tomar entao, como objeto de analise e reflexao, o discurso da/sobre a violencia domestica praticada contra as mulheres. Com tal proposito, proponho-me a analisar a circulacao desse discurso em diferentes materialidades linguisticas – letras de musica, depoimentos colhidos na Internet, frases escritas em para-choques de caminhoes – de modo a poder observar a relacao desse discurso com todos os elementos que compoem o processo da producao de sentidos: autor, texto, outros textos, contexto, interdiscurso, repeticao, interpretacao.
A Discussion on photoelectron spectroscopy - Introductory remarks

It is for me a great pleasure to be here and to have the privilege of opening this first international meeting of workers in the flourishing new field of photoelectron spectroscopy. It is a special pleasure to be able to meet here with the pioneers of the field, in particular Dr Turner, Professor Price, and Professor McDowell, who have worked with ultraviolet photons, and Professor Siegbahn who has worked mainly with X-rays. Photoelectron spectroscopy has already shown, and will continue to show, unique ability to see down into the depths of molecules. It has given a new reality to the idea of molecular orbitals, by determining quantitative values for their binding energies, and also by giving information about their bonding characteristics. Strictly speaking, molecular orbitals are no more than convenient theoretical building blocks for approximate descriptions of the electronic structures of molecules. When we speak of the binding energy, or the orbital energy, of a molecular orbital, the actual physical reality is an ionization energy , that is to say, the energy required to create a stationary state of the positive ion of a molecule by removing one electron from that molecule. In general, these are excited states of the molecular ion. However, the molecular ion states which are disclosed by photoelectron spectroscopy correspond, for the most part at least, to the removal of an electron from a particular molecular orbital.
A new model of marine sediment compression

Abstract Marine sediments cover two-thirds of the earth, and porosity (or void ratio) is a major controlling parameter in virtually every model of seafloor properties, including strength, sound speed, hydrology, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity. Our new model of void ratio (e) is based on the proportional void ratio, [ e p = ( e − e r ) / ( e 0 − e r ) ], where e 0 is the depositional maximum at the sea floor, and e r is the minimum residual void ratio at depth. We assume the values of e 0 and e r are inherent characteristics of the sediment type. Our model further defines the compression index C c to be the square root of the proportional void ratio ( C c ( e ) = ( e p ) 1 / 2 ). This new formulation establishes a direct relation between void ratio and effective stress: e = ( e 0 − e r ) − 1 [ log 10 ⁡ ( σ 0 / σ ) + 2 ( e 0 − e r ) ] 2 / 4 + e r and exhibits several advantages over previous models that we demonstrate with compression test data from the Gulf of Mexico and Nankai Trough.
An Actively Detuned Wireless Power Receiver With Public Key Cryptographic Authentication and Dynamic Power Allocation

This paper presents a CMOS resonant wireless charging receiver with an active detuning mechanism for controlling the received power, without using any passive components being switched in and out. This detuning mechanism is first combined with an on-chip elliptic curve accelerator that achieves $0.77- \mu \text {J}$ /elliptic curve scalar multiplication and in-band telemetry for authenticating a wireless charger using elliptic curve cryptography, with up to $16\times $ rejection at the output of the receiver. Second, equitable power distribution between two receivers coupled to the same charger is demonstrated by controlled detuning of the closer receiver. The system can overcome up to a 4:1 asymmetry in distance to the charger between two receivers. Implemented in 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS, the receiver IC delivers 520-mW peak output power and 74% peak end-to-end efficiency in the tuned mode.
U.S.-Based Short-Term Public Health Cultural Immersion Experience for Chinese Undergraduate Students

A U.S. and Chinese university developed a short-term student exchange program in public/community health. The program—which consisted of lectures, seminars, field trips, cross-cultural experiences, and a synthesis excursion—resulted in high levels of program satisfaction, increased intrapersonal awareness, and skill acquisition. Program content and student evaluations indicate that short-term study-abroad programs in the United States may be attractive alternatives or enhancements to long-term academic study for foreign nationals.
Activation of Dinitrogen with a Superalkali Species, Li3F2

The capability of the superalkali Li3 F2 to activate dinitrogen (N2 ) is presented. The (Li3 F2 )nN2 clusters (n=1-6) were investigated first at the MP2/6-311+G(3d2f,2df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311G(2d,d,p) level of theory. Clusters up to n=4 were also optimized through the CBS-QB3 composite model. The complete dissociation of N2 was confirmed through visualized molecular orbitals and bond order calculation. The N-N bond is weakened by the addition of Li3 F2 superalkali units. The enthalpy of atomization ΔatH0∘ and formation (ΔfH0∘ ), charge flows (Δq), binding energies, and the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital are calculated to help explain the N2 activation.
Preparation and Characterization of Antisera and of Murine Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Glioma-Associated Antigen(s)

Human glioma-associated markers can be exploited for the development of new diagnostic strategies and treatment modalities for these malignancies. A goat antiserum was first raised against human anaplastic astrocytoma (AC or AA) and glioblastoma multiforme (GB or GBM) extracts. Extensive sequential absorptions with normal brain tissue, normal serum, and human serum albumin (HSA) gave an antibody fraction specific for glioma. Balb/c mice were subsequently immunized with these glioma extracts. B-cell hybridomas from these mice were then cloned and subcloned by limiting dilution, yielding six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that were entirely specific for tumor tissues, and did not react with normal human serum or with normal human brain, liver, kidney, spleen, or muscle. Moreover, the murine MAbs did not cross-react with certain other human tumors, including melanoma. The fully absorbed antiserum and the murine MAbs both identify a polypeptide pattern possibly related to human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) or other intermediate filament proteins on immunoblots. These immunological reagents could serve as powerful tools for the diagnosis and possibly therapy of these uniformly fatal tumors.
The Evolution of Adaptive Immunity

The concept of adaptive immunity suggests de novo generation in each individual of extremely large repertoires of diversified receptors and selective expansion of receptors that match the antigen/pathogen. Accordingly, adaptive immune system is also called “anticipatory”. It allows each individual to have a unique repertoire of immune receptors corresponding to its life history. The memory of an antigen gets encoded in the clonal composition of the organism’s immune cells instead of being encoded in the genome. Consequently, the immune response to repeated encounter with the same antigen becomes stronger, a phenomenon called immunological memory. Elements of adaptive immunity are found at all taxonomical levels, whereas in vertebrates, adaptive mechanisms have become the cornerstone of the immune system. In jaw vertebrates, adaptive immune receptors of T and B lymphoid cells belong to immunoglobulin superfamily and are created by rearrangement of gene segments. In jawless vertebrates lamprey and hagfish, recombination of leucine-rich repeat modules is used to form variable lymphocyte receptors. Striking functional similarity of the cellular and humoral branches of these systems suggests similar driving forces underlying their development.
Bronchoscopy for Pediatric Airway Foreign Body: Thirty-Day Adverse Outcomes in the ACS NSQIP-P.

Objectives(1) Describe outcomes of bronchoscopy with foreign body removal among children on the basis of a large standardized multi-institutional data set. (2) Identify factors associated with 30-d...
Predictors of favorable quality of life outcome following kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty.

OBJECTIVE In 2009, 2 randomized controlled trials demonstrated no improvement in pain following vertebral augmentation compared with sham surgery. However, a recent randomized trial demonstrated significant pain relief in patients following vertebroplasty compared to controls treated with conservative medical management. This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected patient-reported quality of life (QOL) outcomes. The authors hypothesized that vertebral augmentation procedures offer a QOL benefit, but that this benefit would be diminished in patients with a history of depression and/or in patients undergoing vertebral augmentation at more than 1 level. METHODS Multivariable linear regression was used to identify predictors of postoperative pain assessed using the Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and EQ-5D scores. Eleven candidate predictors were selected a priori: age, sex, smoking history, coronary artery disease, depression, diabetes, procedure location (thoracic, lumbar), BMI, prior spine surgery, procedure indication (metastases, osteoporosis/osteopenia, other), and number of levels (1, 2, 3, or more). RESULTS A total of 143 patients were included in the study. For each 10-year increase in age, postoperative PDQ scores decreased (improved) by 9.7 points (p < 0.001). Patients with osteoporosis/osteopenia had significantly higher (worse) postoperative PDQ scores (+17.97, p = 0.028) than patients with metastatic lesions. Male sex was associated with higher (worse) postoperative PHQ-9 scores (+2.48, p = 0.010). Compared to single-level augmentation, operations at 2 levels were associated with significantly higher PHQ-9 scores (+2.58, p = 0.017). Current smokers had significantly lower PHQ-9 scores (-1.98, p = 0.023) than never smokers. No predictors were associated with significantly different EQ-5D score. CONCLUSIONS Variables associated with worse postoperative PDQ scores included younger age and osteoporosis/osteopenia. Variables associated with decreased (better) postoperative PHQ-9 scores included female sex, single operative vertebral level, and positive smoking status (i.e., current smoker). These clinically relevant predictors may permit identification of patients who may benefit from vertebral augmentation.
Single Shot State Detection in Simulation-Based Laparoscopy Training

A Single Shot State Detection (SSSD) method is proposed to support a laparoscopic surgery skills training system – Computer-Assisted Surgical Trainer (CAST). CAST actively assists a trainee with visual, audio, or force guidance during different surgical practice tasks. In each task, the guidance is provided according to the target object state, which is one of the key components of CAST. We propose SSSD using deep neural networks to detect object states in a single image. We first model semantic objects to recognize objects’ state given a training task and then apply a deep learning algorithm, single shot detector (SSD), to detect the semantic objects. The contribution of this research is to present a unified object state model collaborating with a deep learning object detector, which can be applied to the surgical training simulator, as well as other visual sensing and automation systems.
Cardiovascular Effects of Epidural Epinephrine in the Pregnant Sheep

The use of epinephrine as an adujvant to epidural anesthetics in obstetrics is controversial, mainly due to its possible adverse effects on uterine blood flow. In this study five pregnant ewes near term were injected with 100 μg of epinephrine in 10 ml of saline into the epidural space, following which uterine blood flow, maternal and fetal cardiovascular and blood gas parameters, and blood levels of catecholamines were measured for a period of 60 minutes. Although maternal arterial levels of epinephrine were almost doubled during the period of the study, this was insufficient to cause a reduction in uterine blood flow or a threat to fetal homeostasis. It is concluded that epinephrine per se is not responsible for adverse effects in the fetus during maternal epidural analgesia.
Mechanical and transport properties of fibrous amorphous silica meshes and membranes fabricated from compressed electrospun precursor fibers

Abstract Highly porous, 0.1–1.5 mm thick fibrous amorphous silica (FAS) meshes with 500 ± 200 nm fiber diameters were prepared from the precursor fibers made by a high-yield free-surface alternating field electrospinning (AFES) process. A combination of mild thermal and pressure treatment of the fibrous precursor material before the calcination step was used to tailor the mechanical and transport properties of the resulting FAS structures. Compression of the as-spun material determined the resulting porosity, effective fiber diameter, and microarchitecture of the FAS structures when calcined between 600 and 1000 °C. Flexible FAS meshes and membranes revealed the tensile strength and modulus up to 1.4 MPa and 580 MPa, respectively, and Darcy'S permeability coefficient in a range of 1.2 × 10−12–1.6 × 10−11 m2. Taking into consideration the compression-dependent effective fiber diameter, the permeability of compressed FAS membranes fitted the models developed for two-dimensional fibrous layer architectures with partial fiber alignment within the stacked layers.
The effect of cotton fiber inclusion on the hard surface cleaning capacity of nonwoven substrates

Hard surface cleaning and disinfection is critically important in environments where microbial contamination can result in the spread of food-borne illnesses and infectious diseases. Successful dis...
Evaluation and Management of Chronic Scrotal Content Pain-A Common Yet Poorly Understood Condition

Chronic scrotal content pain (CSCP) refers to bothersome pain localized to structures within the scrotum that has been present for ≥ 3 months. Etiologies include infection, trauma, and referred pain from the spine, abdomen, and retroperitoneum. However, in many patients there is no obvious identifiable cause. The initial evaluation should include a thorough history and physical examination with adjunctive imaging and laboratory tests as indicated. Treatments vary based on the underlying etiology and include both nonsurgical and surgical options with high levels of success when selectively utilized. The spermatic cord block with local anesthetic is an important tool that helps identify those patients who may benefit from surgery such as microscopic denervation of the spermatic cord. Other treatments including pelvic floor physical therapy may also be indicated in specific circumstances. Using a thoughtful and thorough approach to evaluation and treatment of CSCP, urologists can work with patients to achieve significant improvements in quality of life.
Student-Led Organizing for Sustainability in Business

This article examines how Masters of Business Administration (MBA) students, at the height of the Occupy Wall Street movement (Occupy), strove to organize socially and environmentally sustainable b...
Influence of with intrahepatic cholestasis on pregnancy outcome

Objective To investigate the pregnancy outcome of gestational intrahepatic cholestasis.Methods 70 pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis were selected as the study group.70 healthy pregnant women during the same period were selected as the control group.The pregnancy outcomes of two groups were compaind.Results (1) The maternal serum levels of bile acid,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase in study group were (65.61 ± 13.5) μmol/L,(134.31 ± 24.7) U/L,(97.35 ± 21.54) U/L,which were higher than those of the control group (3.34 ± 0.41) μ mol/L,(36.16 ± 4.15) U/L,(23.34 ± 4.45) U/L,and the differences were statistically significant(P ＜0.01).(2) In study group,the incidence rate of maternal gestational hypertension was 21.42％,premature rupture of membranes was 17.14％,incidence rate of postpartum hemorrhage was 15.71％,which were significantly higher than 7.14％,5.71％,4.29％ in the control group,the differences were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).(3) In study group,the incidence rate of neonatal asphyxia was 27.14％,therate of amniotic fluid contamination was 35.71％,fetal distress was 22.86％ and 30.00％ of the childrenwith low birth weight,whichwere higher than those of the control group,the differences were statistically significant(P ＜0.01).Conclusion Pre gnancy intrahepatic cholestasis can increase the incidence rate of perinatal complications,has serious impact on the prognosis of the fetus,and to strengthen the monitoring of pregnancy intrahepatic cholestasis has important clinical significance. Key words: Pregnancy; Intrahepatic cholestasis; Outcome
Considering computational speed vs. accuracy: Choosing appropriate mesoscale RVE boundary conditions

Abstract Modeling a material’s microstructure using continuum theories allows for inspection of the relationship between coarse scale and fine scale behaviors. Computational limits generally require selection of a sub-volume from a bulk sample in order to directly model the microstructure. Boundary conditions are applied to the sub-volume to mimic the excluded bulk material. Appropriate selection of boundary conditions helps effectively determine the appropriate spatial scale required of the sub-volume. Applicable boundary conditions include direct displacement, periodic, and uniform traction. While direct displacement and periodic boundary conditions are commonly used, uniform traction boundary conditions have seen limited use due to rigid body stability issues in simulations of compression or shear deformation. A new application of uniform traction boundary conditions was developed through linear constraint equations, similar to approaches employed by direct displacement and periodic boundary conditions, to quench rigid body motions with minimal interference of the relative deformation of the model. These boundary conditions were tested by compressing several synthetically generated periodic microstructures using the finite element method. Evaluating the effective stiffness along the compression axis, the direct displacement boundary condition produced the stiffest response, whereas the uniform traction boundary condition produced the most compliant. Periodic boundary conditions produced the same response for all volumes analyzed and both the direct displacement and uniform traction boundary conditions trended toward the periodic response as the domain volume increased. Computational performance was also evaluated for each boundary condition using implicit and explicit solvers. Direct displacement boundary conditions presented the lowest computational cost of all of the boundary conditions followed by periodic then uniform traction. The computational expense of periodic and uniform traction boundary conditions limited the viable spatial scale and mesh resolutions able to be simulated. Selection of appropriate boundary conditions for specific uses need to be a balance between allowable computational expense and accuracy of the method. Techniques for evaluating which boundary conditions to use are discussed.
The H+-linked monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1/SLC16A1): A potential target in neuroblastoma

2719 Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and is fatal in up to 50% of cases. In this work, we have demonstrated that NB cells have upregulated the H+-linked monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1/SLC16A1) when grown chronically at low pH to mimic the microenvironment of the tumor. The MCTs move lactate and protons out of the cell, so it was predicted that inhibition of this transporter could impact upon intracellular pH. Since extracellular pH is typically low in tumors, and this transporter is activated when extracellular pH is below 7.0, there should be some specificity for MCT inhibitors in targeting the tumor microenvironment as well, which has an average extracellular pH of 6.7. NB cells were grown at an extracellular pH of 7.3, then extracellular pH was lowered with and without a specific MCT1 inhibitor added. There were marked decreases in intracellular pH in a dose-dependent manner and as a function of degree of extracellular pH lowering. The effect on intracellular pH was tightly correlated with effects on viability, as determined by the MTT assay, and is correlated with tumor cell line aggressiveness and overexpression of MYCN. Myc is a regulator of lactate dehydrogenase, thus these findings likely have a direct relationship to one another. In order to determine the clinical relevance of these observations, we measured MCT1 mRNA expression in 101 diagnostic primary NBs by Affymetrix oligonucleotide DNA microarray hybridizations and quantitative RT-PCR. MCT1 was differentially expressed with high expression strongly associated with metastatic disease, MYCN oncogene amplification and decreased survival probability (P
A longitudinal study of the stress-buffering effect of social support on postpartum depression: a structural equation modeling approach.

Postpartum depression (PPD) impacts about one out of eight new mothers. Research has demonstrated that social support is a protector of PPD. Nevertheless, there has been disagreement on how social ...
Post vs. Post-less Hip Arthroscopy: A Comparison of Traction Force and Patient Specific Parameters:

Objectives:Hip distraction during arthroscopic surgery has typically utilized a peroneal post, which has known complications; post-less distraction has thus recently gained favor. This study quanti...
Thyroid cancer incidence disparities among ethnic Asian American populations, 1990-2014.

Purpose Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs) are at high risk of thyroid cancer, hence we examined thyroid cancer's incidence among disaggregated API subgroups in the United States (U.S.) to identify potential ethnic-specific disparities. Methods Data from 1990 to 2014 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) were used to compare age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) of thyroid cancer for seven API ethnic subgroups to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sex, age, tumor histotype, and year of diagnosis were considered. Trends were evaluated using average annual percent change (AAPC) statistics. Results The highest AAIRs (per 100,000 person-years) were among Filipinos (female AAIR=20.49, male AAIR=7.06) and the lowest among Japanese (female AAIR=8.36, male AAIR=3.20). However, Filipinos showed significantly lower incidence of medullary tumors when compared to NHWs (female IRR=0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.87, male IRR=0.26, 95% CI 0.26-0.51). The largest increasing trends were among Asian Indian/Pakistanis for females (AAPC=5.19, 95% CI 3.81 to 6.58) and Koreans for males (AAPC=4.57, 95% CI 3.14 to 6.03). Conclusions There are clear differences in thyroid cancer incidence and trends when U.S. API ethnic subgroups are examined separately. Disaggregating APIs in research can provide critical information for understanding thyroid cancer risk.
Reproduction of Near Surface Shear Layer with Rotation

We carry out high-resolution calculation of thermal convection in the spherical shell with rotation to reproduce the near surface shear layer (NSSL). It is thought that the NSSL is maintained by thermal convection for small spatial scales and short time scales, which causes a weak rotational influence. The calculation with the RSST succeeds in including such a small scale as well as large-scale convection and the NSSL is reproduced especially at high latitude. The maintenance mechanisms are the following. The Reynolds stress under the weak influence of the rotation transports the angular momentum radially inward. Regarding the dynamical balance on the meridional plane, in the high latitude positive correlation \(\langle v'_rv'_\theta \rangle \) is generated by the poleward meridional flow whose amplitude increases with the radius in the NSSL and negative correlation \(\langle v'_rv'_\theta \rangle \) is generated by the Coriolis force in the deep convection zone. The force caused by the Reynolds stress compensates the Coriolis force in the NSSL.
Applying industry practices to promote healthy foods: An exploration of positive marketing outcomes☆

Abstract The marketing and advertising efforts of food manufacturers and restaurants are often criticized for promoting less healthy foods. Yet, their marketing practices may provide a road map for the success of growers, producers, and marketers of healthy foods. This article proposes a framework for understanding the differences in marketing communications for healthy vs. hedonic foods. Specifically, an examination of the promotional efforts of hedonic foods as compared to healthy foods reveals marketing practices that can be adapted for healthy alternatives. Adopting these successful industry practices may promote a healthy shift in the eating habits of consumers and allow businesses that produce healthy products to thrive.
Epidermal growth factor: mechanisms of action.

Publisher Summary Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a single chain polypeptide, belongs to a new class of cytomodulatory factors that are hormone-like in their biological potencies. EGF-like polypeptides may be produced during tumorigenesis by the reactivation of genes that are expressed only during development of the embryo. The EGF-receptor system has been an important stimulus to the development of ideas on the mechanism of receptor-mediated ligand endocytosis. The EGF receptor is a multifunctional, multidomain protein, whose inherent kinase function is activated after EGF interacts with its external binding site. EGF stimulates DNA synthesis/cell division in a variety of cell types. The EGF-receptor system has been an important stimulus to the development of new ideas on receptor action and mitogenesis. In addition, it has provided some new insights into the vital processes that occur during embryogenesis and development, and during tumorigenic transformation in animals.
Uncertain Sampled-data Systems

In this chapter we introduce the general sampled-data system configuration considered in this work. The system arrangement is shown in Figure 3.1. The figure shows a continuous time system G in feedback with a discrete time controller Kd through the sample and hold devices defined in (2.2). Also in feedback with G is the block diagonal system diag(Δ1,..., Δd), referred to as simply Δ, which represents uncertainty in the connected system. The system G is assumed to be a finite dimensional linear time-invariant (FDLTI) continuous time system; the discrete time controller Kd is also FDLTI.
On the Directional Firing Properties of Hippocampal Place Cells

Using a two-spot tracking system that allowed measurements of the direction of a rat's head in the environment as well as the position of the rat's head, we investigated whether hippocampal place cells show true direction-specific as well as location-specific firing. Significant modulations of firing rate by head direction were seen for most cells while rats chased food pellets in a cylindrical apparatus. It was possible, however, to account quantitatively for directional modulation with a simple scheme that we refer to as the “distributive hypothesis.” This hypothesis assumes that firing is ideally location specific, and that all directional firing modulations are due to differences in the time that the rat spends in different portions of the firing field of the place cell in different head direction sectors. When the distributive hypothesis is put into numeric form, the directional firing profiles that it predicts are extremely similar to the observed directional firing profiles, strongly suggesting that there is no intrinsic directional specificity of place cell firing in the cylinder. Additional recordings made while rats ran on an eight-arm maze reveal that many firing fields on the arms are polarized; the cell discharges more rapidly when the rat runs in one direction than the other on the maze. This result provides an independent confirmation of the findings of McNaughton et al. (1983). For fields that appear to be polarized by inspecting firing rate maps of the raw data, the magnitude of directional firing variations is greater than predicted by the distributive hypothesis. By comparison with postsubicular head direction cells, it is shown that the distributive prediction of weaker- than-observed directional firing is expected if there is a true directional firing component. A major conclusion reached from recording in both environments is that the directional firing properties of hippocampal place cells are variable and not fixed; this is true of individual units as well as of the population.
Inside the Learning Curve: Opening the Black Box of the Learning Curve

The traditional learning curve asserts that organizational performance improves as a function of operating experience. The typical example is unit cost decreasing as a function of cumulative production volume. As an organization produces more it somehow “learns” to reduce unit cost. The disappointing managerial implication is that the only way to accelerate improvement in organizational performance is to produce more. This may not be feasible or desirable. I review the literature that extends the traditional learning curve in two ways. First, experience is not the only source for learning. Organizations can engage in deliberate learning activities such as quality improvement projects. Furthermore, not all experiences are equally effective at enhancing organizational performance. Second, the learning curve is not just some black box. There is a process inside the learning curve. Experience and deliberate activities can foster learning. Learning can yield better organizational knowledge. Better organizational knowledge can persuade organizational members to modify behavior. Changed behavior, in turn, can improve organizational performance. None of these steps are trivial. Scholars have merely scratched the surface in terms of studying these steps. No single study has incorporated all steps. I review the literature and identify opportunities for future research that should provide insights for organizations to better manage learning curves.
B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) isoforms in systemic lupus erythematosus: disease activity correlates better with blood leukocyte BLyS mRNA levels than with plasma BLyS protein levels

Considerable evidence points to a role for B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) overproduction in murine and human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, the correlation between circulating levels of BLyS protein and disease activity in human SLE is modest at best. This may be due to an inadequacy of the former to reflect endogenous BLyS overproduction faithfully, in that steady-state protein levels are affected not just by production rates but also by rates of peripheral utilization and excretion. Increased levels of BLyS mRNA may better reflect increased in vivo BLyS production, and therefore they may correlate better with biologic and clinical sequelae of BLyS overexpression than do circulating levels of BLyS protein. Accordingly, we assessed peripheral blood leukocyte levels of BLyS mRNA isoforms (full-length BLyS and ΔBLyS) and plasma BLyS protein levels in patients with SLE, and correlated these levels with laboratory and clinical features. BLyS protein, full-length BLyS mRNA, and ΔBLyS mRNA levels were greater in SLE patients (n = 60) than in rheumatoid arthritis patients (n = 60) or normal control individuals (n = 30). Although full-length BLyS and ΔBLyS mRNA levels correlated significantly with BLyS protein levels in the SLE cohort, BLyS mRNA levels were more closely associated with serum immunoglobulin levels and SLE Disease Activity Index scores than were BLyS protein levels. Moreover, changes in SLE Disease Activity Index scores were more closely associated with changes in BLyS mRNA levels than with changes in BLyS protein levels among the 37 SLE patients from whom repeat blood samples were obtained. Thus, full-length BLyS and ΔBLyS mRNA levels are elevated in SLE and are more closely associated with disease activity than are BLyS protein levels. BLyS mRNA levels may be a helpful biomarker in the clinical monitoring of SLE patients.
Optimizing end-to-end throughput for data transfers on an Overlay-TCP path

We consider an overlay network where traffic on an overlay hop is carried in one or more TCP connections established between the overlay nodes at the ends of the hop. We are interested in maximizing the throughput of data carried by this type of overlay network. To that end, we focus on a single path in such a network and investigate how one can determine the number of TCP connections on each overlay hop so as to maximize the throughput of the data carried end-to-end on that path. We first show that having more than one TCP connection on some overlay hops can indeed increase the throughput on overlay paths. We then propose the Adaptive Overlay-TCP Provisioning approach, that, based on the path state, dynamically introduces and removes TCP connections on individual overlay hops to maximize throughput while minimizing the overhead of extraneous connections. We consider two schemes to assess the path state, the intermediate buffer occupancy scheme and the isolated rate probing scheme, and evaluate them experimentally on a set of Planetlab nodes. We show that these schemes can significantly improve the end-to-end throughput with very little overhead.
Population Dynamics of Voles

Voles, mouse-like animals whose populations swing wildly, cause enormous crop damage every year. Although no consensus has been reached concerning the causes of vole cycles, it is clear that no single extrinsic factor, such as weather or food availability, can be directly responsible for this phenomenon. Could intrinsic factors be invoked to explain the occurrence of cyclical population changes in voles? We explore the role of these factors in the model of this chapter.
Abstract 14811: Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Myocardial Fibrosis with Early Cardiac Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) Study

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the influence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and myocardial fibrosis on early cardiac dysfunction (impaired myocardial deformation) in persons with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We assessed 714 EDIC participants who had contrast-enhanced CMR examinations in 2008. EDIC cohort started in 1994 as a follow-up study of the DCCT (1983-1989). Late gadolinium enhancement-sequence was used to identify LV replacement fibrosis (scar) and then classified as ischemic or non-ischemic. Peak systolic circumferential strain (Ecc) at the mid-ventricular level was acquired from Tagging MRI sequences to assess myocardial deformation. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations of risk factors and myocardial scar with Ecc. RESULTS: The mean age was 49±6 years and 58% were men. Myocardial deformation was lower (less negative value) in men, older participants, smokers, obese, and in those with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Impaired deformation was found in presence of ...
The impact of overtly listing eligibility requirements on MTurk: An investigation involving organ donation, recruitment scripts, and feelings of elevation

Abstract Rationale Investigations conducted through Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) sometimes explicitly note eligibility requirements when recruiting participants; however, the impact of this practice on data integrity is relatively unexplored within the MTurk context. Objective Contextualized in the organ donor registration domain, the current study assessed whether overtly listing eligibility requirements impairs the accuracy of data collected on MTurk. Methods On day 1, the first and third round of data collection did not list eligibility requirements; the second and fourth round overtly listed a qualification requirement: status as a non-registered organ donor. On day 2, the approach was identical, except the order was reversed—the first and third round overtly listed the study qualifications, while the second and fourth did not. These procedures provided eight different waves of data. In addition, all participants were randomly assigned to read an elevating (i.e., morally inspiring) story or a story not intended to elicit any emotion. Regardless of recruitment approach, only participants who were not registered as donors were included in the analysis. Results Results indicated that the recruitment script that explicitly requested non-registered donors resulted in the collection of participants with higher mean intentions scores than the script that did not overtly list the eligibility requirements. Further, even though the elevation induction increased intentions to register as a donor, there was not a significant interaction between recruitment approach and the influence of the elevation manipulation on registration intentions. Conclusion Explicitly listing eligibility requirements can influence the accuracy of estimates derived from data collected through MTurk.
Effect of Dynamically Charged Helium on Mechanical Properties of Vanadium-Base Alloys

One property of the vanadium-based alloys that is not well understood for the purpose of application as fusion reactor structural material is the effect of simultaneous generation of helium and neutron damage under conditions relevant to fusion-reactor operation. In the present dynamic helium charging experiment (DHCE), helium was produced uniformly in the specimen at linear rates ranging from {approximately}0.4 to 4.2 appm helium/dpa by the decay of tritium during irradiation to 18-31 dpa at 425-600{degrees}C in the Li-filled DHCE capsules in the Fast Flux Test Facility. This paper presents results of postirradiation tests of mechanical properties of V-4Cr-4Ti alloy which has been identified as the most promising candidate alloy on the basis of its superior baseline and irradiation properties. Effects of helium on tensile strength and ductility were insignificant for test temperatures >420{degrees}C. However, room-temperature ductilities of the DHCE specimens were higher than those of the non-DHCE specimens (negligible helium generation) whereas strengths were lower, indicating that different types of hardening centers are produced during the DHCE and non-DHCE irradiation. Ductile-brittle transition behavior of the DHCE specimens was also determined from bend tests on TEM disks and broken tensile specimens. No brittle behavior was observed at temperatures >{minus}150{degrees}C for DHCEmore » specimens. Predominantly brittle-cleavage fracture morphologies were observed only at {minus}196{degrees}C in some specimens that were irradiated to 31 dpa at 425{degrees}C during DHCE. In strong contrast to tritium-trick experiments in which a large amount of helium is produced in absence of displacement damage, no intergranular fracture was observed in any tensile or bend-tested specimens that were irradiated in the DHCE.« less
In-mold Coating of Composites Manufactured by Resin Infusion between Double Flexible Tooling Process:

In-mold coating is desired by the composites industry since it eliminates the current paint process, which is not only laborious and time consuming, but expensive and presents safety issues. This work set out to investigate a means of implementing an in-mold coating scheme that would result in near class-A finish of composite component parts manufactured by the Resin Infusion between Double Flexible Tooling (RIDFT) process.RIDFT is a novel two-stage process, which incorporates resin infusion and wetting with vacuum forming. The flow front of the infused resin is two-dimensional and avoids flow complexities prevalent in the three-dimensional flow seen in other liquid composite molding techniques. It employs a one-sided mold, which provides obvious cost benefits when compared with resin transfer molding.This paper describes the preliminary results of in-mold coating assessment studies made using thermoformable paint films. A room temperature-cured vinyl ester resin is used and the paint film is an Avery Den...
Feature Extraction and Representation for Distributed Multi-View Human Action Recognition

Multi-view human action recognition has gained a lot of attention in recent years for its superior performance as compared to single view recognition. In this paper, we propose a new framework for the real-time realization of human action recognition in distributed camera networks (DCNs). We first present a new feature descriptor (Mltp-hist) that is tolerant to illumination change, robust in homogeneous region and computationally efficient. Taking advantage of the proposed Mltp-hist, the noninformative 3-D patches generated from the background can be further removed automatically that effectively highlights the foreground patches. Next, a new feature representation method based on sparse coding is presented to generate the histogram representation of local videos to be transmitted to the base station for classification. Due to the sparse representation of extracted features, the approximation error is reduced. Finally, at the base station, a probability model is produced to fuse the information from various views and a class label is assigned accordingly. Compared to the existing algorithms, the proposed framework has three advantages while having less requirements on memory and bandwidth consumption: 1) no preprocessing is required; 2) communication among cameras is unnecessary; and 3) positions and orientations of cameras do not need to be fixed. We further evaluate the proposed framework on the most popular multi-view action dataset IXMAS. Experimental results indicate that our proposed framework repeatedly achieves state-of-the-art results when various numbers of views are tested. In addition, our approach is tolerant to the various combination of views and benefit from introducing more views at the testing stage. Especially, our results are still satisfactory even when large misalignment exists between the training and testing samples.
OXIDATION OF PYRUVATE‐2‐C14, AND LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY AND ISOENZYME DISTRIBUTION OF FIVE PORCINE MUSCLES

SUMMARY A study was conducted to compare parameters of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in light and dark porcine muscles. Muscle samples were obtained from six Hampshire-Yorkshire gilts and frozen in liquid nitrogen five min post-exsanguination. Oxidative metabolism was estimated by measuring the conversion of pyruvate-2-C14 to C14O2 in homogenates. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of each of the five isoenzymes, separated electrophoretically on cellulose acetate, was ascertained as a measure of anaerobic metabolism. Comparison of the pyruvate oxidation data suggested the following ranking, from most to least aerobic: trapezius, gluteus medius, dark biceps femoris, light biceps femoris, longissimus dorsi, dark semitendinosus and light semitendinosus. Variance analysis of the data indicated trapezius exhibited greater capacity to oxidize pyruvate than all other muscles (P <.05) and gluteus medius and dark biceps femoris exceeded the light semitendinosus (P < .05). LDH comparison among the muscles revealed that light muscles displayed higher (P < .05) activity than dark muscles (trapezius, dark biceps femoris and dark semitendinosus). The results implicated high lactate dehydrogenase activity-particularly the muscle-type isoenzyme-as a factor contributing to rapid postmortem lactate accumulation in light muscles of some porcine animals.