cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduction of noise amplification in SPECT using smaller detector bin size

In SPECT iterative reconstruction methods, such as the ML-EM (Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization) algorithm, the noise propagation from the projection measurements into the reconstructed image has been a difficult problem to control as the algorithm iterates. In this paper, we show that the noise amplification at high number of iterations can be reduced by using a detector whose bin size is smaller than the image pixel size without applying any regularization methods or changing any other factors. We compare different detector system characteristics using SVD (Singular Value Decomposition) analysis, show the noise properties in each detector system through both simulation studies and physical phantom studies, and finally compare how the noise amplification affects the image quality in different detector systems. The ML-EM algorithm when used in conjunction with a smaller detector bin size has better convergent properties and reduces noise amplification at high number of iterations.
Vascular injury: platelets and smooth muscle cell response.

The blood platelet appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic plaque. Using a platelet specific antigen, platelet factor 4 (PF4), we have demonstrated that PF4 released from platelets enters the vessel wall. Smooth muscle cell (s.m.c.) proliferation in vivo was examined by using a new technique for measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation. With this technique, we have shown that a remote vascular injury can cause s.m.c. proliferation, presumably mediated by a humoral agent. Endothelial dysfunction, in turn, may be caused by a sustained, mild hypercholesterolaemia. This permeability dysfunction may provide circulating s.m.c. mitogens with access to the vessel, wall, thus allowing s.m.c. proliferation in areas of non-desquamated endothelium. These experiments from the basis for a modification of the hypothesis implicating platelets in atherogenesis.
Laver and set theory

In this commemorative article, the work of Richard Laver is surveyed in its full range and extent.
Patrick O’Neill. Transforming Kafka: Translation Effects. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2014. 222 pp.

Review of Patrick O’Neill. Transforming Kafka: Translation Effects. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2014. 222 pp.
Bridging the gulf

Clegg tackles US-Cuba scientific collaboration. The US National Academy of Sciences runs workshops with scientists from Iran, and both governments seem to value this neutral channel of engagement. Cuba has strong capabilities in fields including biotechnology, oceanography, biodiversity, public health and disaster management. Its education system achieved nearly 100% literacy by the 1970s and its higher education and research sectors are impressive for a nation of just over 11 million. Obama had technology-based entrepreneurism and expanded access to the Internet on his wish list for Cuba, along with the chance to work with Cuban biotech efforts, in particular trials for new vaccines for lung cancer and other human and animal diseases.
Reversal of chemotaxis in vitro and chemotactic activity of leukocyte fractions.

SummaryUsing Boyden'sin vitro method, it was demonstrated that rabbit polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes reversed their direction of migration in response to a concentration gradient of chemotactic serum. The presence of a chemotactic factor or factors associated with the lysosomal fraction of leukocytes which does not require fresh serum for its activity was shown.I am very grateful to Dr. Richard B. Crandall for the use of his laboratory and for his valuable advice, and also to Drs. E. Suter and J. J. Cebra for comments and suggestions.
Suction Break After Complete Raster Pattern and Incomplete Side Cut

It can be difficult to determine if the side cut is complete when suction is lost before the complete side cut. It is also important to be certain you are lifting the flap at the correct interface. This chapter addresses both of these issues.
Reliability and validity of PROMIS measures administered by telephone interview in a longitudinal localized prostate cancer study.

To evaluate the reliability and validity of six PROMIS measures (anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, physical function, and sleep disturbance) telephone-administered to a diverse, population-based cohort of localized prostate cancer patients. Newly diagnosed men were enrolled in the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness and Survivorship Study. PROMIS measures were telephone-administered pre-treatment (baseline), and at 3-months and 12-months post-treatment initiation (N = 778). Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha. Dimensionality was examined with bifactor models and explained common variance (ECV). Ordinal logistic regression models were used to detect potential differential item functioning (DIF) for key demographic groups. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed by correlations with the legacy instruments Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer and SF-12v2. Known-groups validity was examined by age, race/ethnicity, comorbidity, and treatment. Each PROMIS measure had high Cronbach’s alpha values (0.86–0.96) and was sufficiently unidimensional. Floor effects were observed for anxiety, depression, and pain interference measures; ceiling effects were observed for physical function. No DIF was detected. Convergent validity was established with moderate to strong correlations between PROMIS and legacy measures (0.41–0.77) of similar constructs. Discriminant validity was demonstrated with weak correlations between measures of dissimilar domains (−0.20–−0.31). PROMIS measures detected differences across age, race/ethnicity, and comorbidity groups; no differences were found by treatment. This study provides support for the reliability and construct validity of six PROMIS measures in prostate cancer, as well as the utility of telephone administration for assessing HRQoL in low literacy and hard-to-reach populations.
PRIDE: A practical intrusion detection system for resource constrained wireless mesh networks

Abstract As interest in wireless mesh networks grows, security challenges, e.g., intrusion detection, become of paramount importance. Traditional solutions for intrusion detection assign full IDS responsibilities to a few selected nodes. Recent results, however, have shown that a mesh router cannot reliably perform full IDS functions because of limited resources (i.e., processing power and memory). Cooperative IDS solutions, targeting resource constrained wireless networks, impose high communication overhead and detection latency. To address these challenges, we propose PRIDE (Practical Intrusion Detection system for resource constrained wireless mesh networks), a non-cooperative real-time intrusion detection scheme that optimally distributes IDS functions to nodes along traffic paths, such that intrusion detection rate is maximized, while resource consumption is below a given threshold. We formulate the optimal IDS function distribution as an integer linear program and propose algorithms for solving it effectively and fast (i.e., practical). We evaluate the performance of our proposed solution in a real-world, department-wide, mesh network. An earlier version of this article appeared in ICICS 2013 ( Hassanzadeh et al., 2013 ) and the current article is significantly extended with new technical contents.
Zombie projects, negative networks, and multigenerational science: The temporality of the International Map of the World.

The International Map of the World was a hugely ambitious scheme to create standardized maps of the entire world. It was first proposed in 1891 and remained a going concern until 1986. Over the course of the project’s official life, nearly every country in the world took part, and map sheets were published showing all but a few areas of the planet. But the project ended quite unceremoniously, repudiated by cartographers and mapping institutions alike, and it is now remembered as a ‘sad story’ of network failure. How can we evaluate this kind of sprawling, multigenerational project? In order to move beyond practitioners’ (and historians’) habit of summarizing the entire endeavor using the blunt categories of success and failure, I propose a more temporally aware reading, one that both disaggregates the (persistent) project from the (always changing) network and sees project and network as invertible, with the possibility of zombie projects and negative networks that can remain robust even when disconnected...
Spartacus: Spatially-Aware Interaction for Mobile Devices Through Energy-Efficient Audio Sensing

Recent developments in ubiquitous computing techniques enable applications that leverage personal mobile devices, such as smartphones, as a means to interact with other devices in their close proximity. Using these techniques, numerous applications can be supported in the near future, ranging from Person-to-Person interactions (for example, conference attendees exchanging contact information, or friends playing multi-player pass-the-parcel mobile games), to Person-to-Device interactions (for example, a student printing out a document by interacting with a nearby printer, remotely controlling projectors, accessing product information in stores, interacting with large displays, or changing thermostat settings).
Leptomeningeal failure in patients with breast cancer receiving stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases

Abstract Purpose Prior studies suggest a high incidence of leptomeningeal failure (LMF) in breast cancer metastatic to brain. This study examines breast cancer-specific variables affecting development of LMF and survival after Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery (GKS). Methods Between 2000–2010, 149 (breast) and 658 other-histology patients were treated with GKS. Hormone/HER2, age, local/distant brain failure, prior craniotomy, and prior whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) were assessed. Median follow-up was 54 months (range, 0–106). Serial MRI determined local and distant-brain failure and LMF. Statistical analysis with categorical/continuous data comparisons were done with Fisher’s-exact, Wilcoxon rank-sum, log-rank tests, and Cox-Proportional Hazard models. Results Of 149 patients, 21 (14%) developed LMF (median time of 11.9 months). None of the following predicted for LMF: Her2-status (HR = 0.49, p = 0.16), hormone-receptor status (HR = 1.15, p = 0.79), prior craniotomy (HR = 1.58, p = 0.42), prior WBRT (HR = 1.36, p = 0.55). Non-significant factors between patients that did (n = 21) and did not (n = 106) develop LMF included neurologic death (p = 0.34) and median survival (8.6 vs 14.2 months, respectively). Breast patients who had distant-failure after GKS (65/149; 43.6%) were more likely to later develop LMF (HR 4.2, p = 0.005); including 15/65 (23%) patients who had distant-failure and developed LMF. Median time-to-death for patients experiencing LMF was 6.1 months (IQR 3.4–7.8) from onset of LMF. Median survival from LMF to death was much longer in breast (6.1 months) than in other (1.7 months) histologies Conclusion Breast cancer patients had a longer survival after diagnosis of LMF versus other histologies. Neither ER/PR/HER2 status, nor prior surgery or prior WBRT predicted for development of LMF in breast patients.
Event-related potentials during encoding: Comparing unitization to relational processing.

Abstract Context details are typically encoded into episodic memory via arbitrary associations to the relevant item, known as relational binding. Subsequent retrieval of those context details is primarily supported by recollection. Research suggests that context retrieval can rely on familiarity if the context details are “unitized” and thereby encoded as features of the item itself in a single new representation. With most investigations into unitization focusing on the contributions of familiarity and recollection during retrieval, little is known about unitization during encoding. In an effort to begin understanding unitization as an encoding process, we used event-related potentials to monitor brain activity while participants were instructed to encode words with color information using relational association or unitization. Results showed that unitization-based encoding elicited significantly more negative potentials in the left parietal region than relational encoding during presentation of the second segment of strategically-specific sentences. This difference continued through presentation of the third sentence segment, becoming less lateralized, and ended before the final two segments were presented. During the mental imagery period, unitization-based encoding elicited significantly more positive potentials than relational encoding in the first 200 ms centrally and from 400 through 1000 ms in left fronto-temporal and parieto-occipital regions. Our findings indicate that unitization and relational processing diverged at approximately the time that the context item was presented in the relational condition. During mental imagery, unitization diverged from relational processing immediately, suggesting that unitization affected the nature of the item representation, and possibly the brain regions involved, during memory encoding.
Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery

Oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) act in the brain to regulate social cognition/social behavior and in the periphery to influence a variety of physiological processes. Although the chemical structures of OT and AVP as well as their receptors are quite similar, OT and AVP can have distinct or even opposing actions. Here, we review the increasing body of evidence that exogenously administered and endogenously released OT and AVP can activate each other's canonical receptors (i.e., cross-talk) and examine the possibility that receptor cross-talk following the synaptic and non-synaptic release of OT and AVP contributes to their distinct roles in the brain and periphery. Understanding the consequences of cross-talk between OT and AVP receptors will be important in identifying how these peptides control social cognition and behavior and for the development of drugs to treat a variety of psychiatric disorders.
Reelin and Pancreatic Cancer

Classically, the RELN gene has been known for its role in neuronal migration and positioning during central nervous system development. Absence of RELN expression results in the characteristic reeler phenotype in rodents, marked by severe defects in cortical layer formation and an uncoordinated, unsteady gait. In humans, loss of reelin expression causes a type of lissencephaly with severe cortical and cerebellar malformation. RELN is also expressed in peripheral tissues, including the liver, kidney, adrenal glands, and pancreas, suggesting an additional role for reelin in development and possibly in structural maintenance of these organs
The Seagrass Ecosystem and Resources in Latin America

Publisher Summary Seagrasses are recognized as among the richest and most productive of all coastal ecosystems, providing habitat, food, and shelter for innumerable organisms. Primary productivity of seagrasses rivals and even exceeds that of most of the world's cultivated crops. 50% of the commercial and recreational fishes in the Gulf of Mexico and 80 to 90% of the fishery landings are estuarine dependent. Seagrasses in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean where waters are clear or found in shallow offshore coastal areas are protected by coral reefs. In contrast to the seagrasses in the southwest Pacific, those in the tropical western Atlantic are found in extensive meadows. The chapter provides an overview of the structure, function, and dynamics of the seagrass ecosystem and the present state of knowledge of the seagrass ecosystem from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central and South America. It also discusses modern research methods in seagrasses and common management problems.
Statistical Characterization of Spatial Variability in Sedimentary Rock

Spatial variability is a ubiquitous feature of sedimentary rock. The physical properties of sedimentary formations are not smoothly varying functions of position, but are subject to abrupt changes of various magnitudes. These abrupt contrasts in rock properties affect the propagation and dispersion of seismic energy, with potentially important implications for geophysical studies. Spatial heterogeneity is also a dominant control on fluid and contaminant movement, thereby affecting the dynamics of groundwater aquifers and petroleum reservoirs.
Patient discourse on chronic kidney disease monitoring: a qualitative study at a Veterans Affairs Renal Clinic.

Knowing how chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients talk about their encounters with providers (i.e., their discourse) can inform the important clinical goal of engaging patients in their chronic disease self-management. The aim of this study was to analyze patient discourse on ongoing CKD monitoring encounters for health communication strategies that motivate patient engagement. Passages regarding CKD monitoring from 6 focus group transcripts on self-management with a total of 30 participants age ≥ 70 years from the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Renal Clinic across three different CKD trajectories (stable, linear decline, and non-linear) were extracted. These passages were examined using three-stage critical discourse analysis (description, interpretation, explanation) for recurring patterns across groups. Focus group participants were an average age of 75.1, 96.7% male, and 60% Black. Passages relating to CKD monitoring (n = 55) yielded predominantly negative communication themes. Perceived negative communication was characterized through a patient discourse of unequal exchange, whereby engaged patients would provide bodily fluids and time for appointments and continued to wait for meaningful, contextualized monitoring information from providers and/or disengaged providers who withheld that information. However, some encounters were depicted as helpful. Perceived positive communication was characterized by a patient discourse of kidney protection, whereby patients and providers collaborate in the mutual goal of preserving kidney function. Patient perceived an unequal exchange in CKD monitoring encounters. This perception appears rooted in a lack of easily understandable information. By accessing the positive discourse of protecting the kidneys (e.g., through eGFR level) vs. the discourse of damage (e.g., serum creatinine level), healthcare professionals can clarify the purpose of monitoring and in ways that motivate patient engagement in self-management. Patients being monitored for CKD progression may best be supported through messaging that conceptualizes monitoring as kidney protection and provides concrete contextualized information at each monitoring encounter.
Serum Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Among Women With and Without Obesity After Single Embryo Transfers.

Context Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels are essential for diagnosing and monitoring early pregnancy. Obesity is a health care epidemic; however, the performance of this vital serum hormone in women with an elevated body mass index (BMI) is unknown. Objective To investigate the association of BMI with serum hCG values and rate of hCG increase. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting University-based infertility clinic. Patients Women undergoing fresh vs frozen in vitro fertilization cycles with single-day three or five embryo transfers resulting in singleton live births (≥24 weeks' gestational age) from 2008 to 2015. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) The initial hCG (mIU/mL, 16 days after oocyte retrieval) and 2-day percentage of hCG increases among BMI categories were compared using multivariable linear and logistic regression, adjusted a priori for the day of embryo transfer. Results The initial serum hCG values correlated inversely with the BMI (P < 0.0001, test for trend). Low initial hCG values (<100 mIU/mL) were significantly more common across increasing BMI classes, from 1.4% of normal weight patients to 15.6% of those with a BMI ≥40 kg/m2 (P = 0.001, test for trend). The mean 2-day hCG increases were similar and normal (≥53%) across the BMI groups. Conclusions Patients with obesity achieving live births had statistically significantly lower initial serum hCG values compared with patients who were nonobese. However, the mean 2-day percentage of increases in hCG were similar across BMI categories. The initial hCG values might lack sensitivity for live births in patients with obesity. The rate of hCG increase remains the mainstay of monitoring very early pregnancies after in vitro fertilization. Future studies should investigate whether serum analyte ranges should be adjusted according to the BMI.
Different Growth Patterns Persist at 24 Months of Age in Formula-Fed Infants Randomized to Consume a Meat- or Dairy-Based Complementary Diet from 5 to 12 Months of Age.

Objective To test the long-term effect on growth status at 24 months of age in formula-fed infants who were randomized to consume a meat- or dairy-based complementary diet from 5 to 12 months of age. Study design Observational assessments, including anthropometric, dietary, and blood biomarkers, were conducted at 24 months of age, 1 year after the intervention ended. Results The retention rate at 24 months of age was 84% for the meat group and 81% for the dairy group. Mean (±SD) protein intakes at 24 months of age were 4.1 ± 1.2 and 4.0 ± 1.1 g/kmeat (n = 27) and dairy (n = 26) groups, respectively, and comparable with the estimates of US population intake. At 24 months of age, weight-for-age z score did not differ significantly between groups and was similar to that at 12 months. Length-for-age z score remained significantly higher in the meat group compared with the dairy group, and the average length was 1.9 cm greater in the meat group. Weight-for-length z score also did not differ significantly between groups. Insulin-like growth factor 1 significantly increased from 12 to 24 months of age in both groups, but insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 and blood urea nitrogen did not change significantly from 12 to 24 months of age and were comparable between groups. Conclusions The protein source-induced distinctive growth patterns observed during infancy persisted at 24 months of age, suggesting a potential long-term impact of early protein quality on growth trajectories in formula-fed infants. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT02142647 .
Uterine polyps, adenomyosis, leiomyomas, and endometrial receptivity

Endometrial polyps, adenomyosis, and leiomyomas are commonly encountered abnormalities frequently found in both fertile women and those with infertility. The clinician is frequently challenged to determine which of these entities, when found, is likely to impair fertility, and which are "innocent bystanders" unrelated to the problem at hand. Although removing an endometrial polyp may be seen as a relatively benign and safe intervention, myomectomy, and in particular adenomyomectomy, can be substantive surgical procedures, associated with their own potential for disrupting fertility. One of the mechanisms thought to be involved when these entities are contributing to infertility is an adverse impact on endometrial receptivity. Indeed polyps, adenomyosis, and leiomyomas have all been associated with an increased likelihood of abnormal endometrial molecular expressions thought to impair implantation and early embryo development. This review is designed to examine the relationship of these common entities to endometrial receptivity and to identify evidence gaps that should be considered when strategizing research initiatives. It is apparent that we have the tools necessary to fill these gaps, but it will be necessary to approach the issue in a strategic and coordinated fashion. It is likely that we will have to recognize the limitations of imaging alone and look to the evidence-based addition of molecular analysis to provide the individualized phenotyping of disease necessary for patient-specific treatment decisions.
Profanity: The Gnostic Affront of the Seven Words you can Never Say on Television:

Profanity remains a mystery to psychological science as we have little understanding as to why obscene speech tends to cluster around body-related subject matter. However, recent work in the areas ...
Field Education and Community-Based Planning in a Worst-Case Scenario:

Community-engaged planning education and community-based planning are often uphill battles. This article uses the case of a Mexican village to illustrate a pedagogical model that trains students as...
Calculation Method of Influence of Relative Efficiency Change of Steam Turbine Cylinder on Heat Loss

Based on the equivalent heat drop theory, the calculation method of the influence of the relative internal efficiency change of steam turbine cylinder on heat loss is proposed. The numerical results show that the method can more accurately evaluate the effect of efficiency change of each cylinder on heat loss, and provides a theoretical basis for the thermal economic diagnosis of steam turbine.
Spinal Cord Reperfusion Injury: Case Report, Review of the Literature, and Future Treatment Strategies.

A rare complication of cervical spine decompression is acute paralysis following the procedure. This neurologic deficit is thought to be due to reperfusion injury of a chronically ischemic spinal cord and is referred to as "white cord syndrome" given the pathognomonic finding of hyperintensity on T2-weighted MRI. Three prior cases have been reported. We present a case of transient quadriplegia following posterior cervical decompression. A 41-year-old male with cervical spondylotic myelopathy presented with bilateral progressive upper extremity weakness, hyperreflexia, and cervical spine MRI showing severe cord compression at C1 and partial hyperintense signal. Intraoperatively, after C1 bony decompression and without perceptible technical cause, the patient experienced a complete loss of both somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) with an eventual return to baseline prior to completing the operation. The patient awoke from surgery with acute quadriplegia without perceptible technical cause (intraoperative compression or evident anatomic compromise). An immediate postoperative MRI revealed a more pronounced hyperintensity in the central cervical cord on T2-weighted sequences. Treatment with increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) therapy and dexamethasone resulted in the patient regaining some movement over a period of hours and full strength over a period of months. The mechanism of acute weakness following cervical spine decompression in the absence of perceptible technical cause is not fully understood, but current theory suggests that a reperfusion injury is most likely the cause. It remains a diagnosis of exclusion. Familiarity with this potential postoperative complication can aid in appropriate postoperative therapy with early diagnosis and intervention leading to restored spinal cord function and excellent prognosis.
On the Estimation of Signal Attacks: A Dual Rate SD Control Framework

We consider the problem of estimating signal attacks injected into the actuators or sensors of control systems, assuming the attack is detectable, i.e., it can be seen at the output. We show that there exists a trade-off between attack rejection and control, and that the estimator design depends on the controller used. We use dual rate sampling to enhance detectability of the attacks and we provide different methods to design the estimator. The first method is by solving a model matching problem subject to causality constraints. The second method exploits dual rate sampling to accurately reconstruct the unknown input. The third method is using a dual rate unknown input observer. We provide conditions on the existence of these estimators, and show that dual rate unknown input observers always exist if the multirate system does not have a zero at 1.
Parallel manipulator domains of singularity free functionality

A mechanics-based parallel manipulator formulation with mechanism generalized coordinates, kinematic constraints, input coordinates, and output coordinates is employed to account for singularities ...
From Measurements to Models: Toward Accurate Representation of Brown Carbon in Climate Calculations

The direct radiative effect of brown carbon (BrC) absorption predicated by climate-modeling studies is highly uncertain, with values ranging between +0.03 W/m2 and + 0.57 W/m2. This review strives to identify sources of this uncertainty stemming from challenges in translating measurements into model inputs and to draw lessons from recent advances that lead to improved BrC representation in models. Previously thought to absorb only short-visible and UV light, BrC was recently shown to comprise components that are strongly absorptive in the mid- and long-visible wavelengths, with light-absorption efficiencies approaching that of black carbon. The classic picture of biomass and biofuel combustion being the major sources of atmospheric BrC still holds, with recent measurements indicating a strong correlation between BrC optical properties and combustion conditions. Other combustion sources of BrC, currently not accounted for in models, include low-efficiency coal combustion and ship engines utilizing heavy fuel oil. Gas-phase, aqueous, and particle-phase reactions in the atmosphere produce secondary BrC and bleach/darken the primary BrC. Climate-modeling studies revealed that predicted BrC radiative effects are sensitive to the assumed optical properties and atmospheric aging mechanisms. BrC can be grouped into four optical classes, each separated by an order of magnitude in mid-visible light absorption. The classes are approximately mapped to BrC sources, with secondary BrC being the least absorbing and BrC from high-temperature combustion the most absorbing. There is evidence that each class exhibits characteristic physicochemical properties (molecular size, volatility, and solubility), which can be leveraged to design measurements that quantify distributions of BrC across classes as well as rates of photobleaching/darkening for each class. Utilizing this framework to develop BrC parameterizations promises to enhance its representation in climate models.
Original Articles from the Society for Vascular SurgeryTranscranial Doppler in the management of extracranial cerebrovascular disease: Implications in diagnosis and monitoring☆☆☆

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) insonation permits quantitative noninvasive evaluation of intracerebral arterial velocity. With the use of a 2 MHz Doppler through a transtemporal approach, middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA-V, centimeters per second) and major collaterals were measured in 96 patients, including 15 normal control subjects, 66 patients with extracranial cerebrovascular disease (ECCVD), and 15 patients with other medical problems without ECCVD. MCA-V was higher in control subjects (62.7 ± 15.1) than in patients with ECCVD (45.0 ± 16.3, p < 0.05). There was a significant inverse correlation between MCA-V and the degree of internal carotid artery stenosis present by duplex examination. Twenty-three patients monitored during carotid endarterectomy had a mean MCA-V under anesthesia of 37.0 ± 16.9, which decreased to 22.4 ± 14.8 during cross-clamping (p < 0.01). MCA-V during cross-clamping correlated directly with stump pressure (R = 0.87) and was higher when major collaterals were identified before operation by TCD than when none were seen (31.7 ± 9.5 vs. 8.8 ± 8.5, p < 0.01). Shunt function was verified in all 11 patients shunted. Electroencephalographic changes occurred in four patients with an MCA-V of 14.7 ± 8.5 compared with an average of 24.1 ± 15.5 for patients with normal electroencephalograms. MCA-V increased from 46.6 ± 21.2 before operation to 61.0 ± 22.4 after carotid endarterectomy (p < 0.05). TCD can quantitate intracerebral blood flow in specific vessels, collateralization, the degree of cerebral ischemia caused by ECCVD, intraoperative changes in MCA-V that correlate with stump pressure and the electroencephalogram, shunt function, and the increases in cerebral blood flow resulting from carotid surgery. It is a new and important tool. (J VASC SURG 1988;7:223-31.)
Strategies to develop highly drug-tolerant cell-based neutralizing antibody assay: neutralizing antidrug antibodies extraction and drug depletion

Aim: Drug interference poses great analytical challenges for cell-based neutralizing antidrug antibodies (NAb) assay. The work aimed to improve assay drug tolerance through biotin-drug extraction w...
“I Do Want to Be a Good Woman Once”: Louisiana’s Civil Code of 1870 and the Denied Lagniappe in Alice Dunbar-Nelson’s “Tony’s Wife

In “Tony’s Wife” (1899),1 1 Alice Dunbar-Nelson includes “Tony’s Wife in her 1899 collection, The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories, “the first collection of short stories by an African Amer...
Use of Disposable Punch Biopsy Device to Add Foley Catheter Fenestration to Improve Drainage of Post Radical Prostatectomy Anastomotic Leak.

# CONTEXT Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a major oncologic urological surgery that can have high morbidity if complications arise. Bladder-urethral urine anastomotic leaks (AL) are one of the most common complications and can greatly increase morbidity. To date, there are few resources to manage AL. One management technique is using a Foley catheter with an additional auxiliary drainage port, also known as a fenestrated catheter. This type of auxiliary drainage port allows a low-pressure drainage source that is located near the anastomosis to increase urine drainage from catheter rather than from the AL site. The optimal size and location of this additional drainage port is currently unknown. This experiment evaluated the optimal auxiliary drainage port size and an inexpensive technique to easily construct such a catheter. # METHODS Utilizing different size punch biopsies, auxiliary drainage ports were placed in different size Foley catheters and drainage rates and the structural integrity of the catheter was assessed. # RESULTS A 3.0 mm punch biopsy located 1.0 cm proximal to the Foley balloon in an 18 French (Fr) catheter was determined to be the optimal size. A 2.0 mm punch biopsy provided significantly less drainage. The 4.0 mm punch biopsy compromised the structural integrity of the catheter. # CONCLUSIONS Based on these experimental results, we recommend using a 3.0 mm punch biopsy in an 18 Fr catheter 1.0 cm. proximal to the balloon for an auxiliary drain site in Foley catheter when the anastomosis is not watertight or the surgeon has reason to believe the patient is at higher risk for an AL Factors such as history of pelvic radiation, abnormal anatomy, large prostate, post-surgical hematoma formation, obesity, previous prostatic surgery, difficult anastomosis, blood loss and postoperative urinary tract infection may make use of this type of device more attractive.
Dynamic Phasor Modelling of LCC-HVDC System Based on a Practical Project

This paper presents a detailed dynamic phasor modeling process of a line-commutated converter-based HVDC (LCC-HVDC) system. Firstly, the dynamic phasor models of the single-ended LCC rectifier station, inverter station and the DC line are established, respectively. Secondly, LCC-HVDC is an AC-DC-AC system. The interfaces are explained to connect the converter stations with the DC line. Through block modeling, it is helpful to simplify the process and verify the accuracy of each block. Finally, based on a practical project, the model is compared with the electromagnetic-transient (EMT) simulation results in PSCAD/EMTDC to verify the accuracy of the dynamic phasor model.
Trajectories of relationship and individual functioning among waitlisted couples for an online relationship intervention

To inform research and practice with distressed couples, the current study was designed to examine patterns of change among distressed, help-seeking couples prior to receiving an intervention. Data from this study originate from 221 couples assigned to the waitlist control condition of a randomized controlled trial for couples seeking online help for their relationship. All couples self-selected into the online program and agreed to withhold seeking additional services for their relationship during the waitlist period. In contrast with prior findings, results from the current study indicated a general pattern of mean improvement in both self-reported relationship functioning (e.g., increased relationship satisfaction, partner emotional support) and self-reported individual functioning (i.e., decreased psychological distress, anger) over the six-month waitlist period. Nonetheless, the majority of couples continued to remain relationally distressed despite these improvements. Findings from the study indicate that distressed couples can, in fact, exhibit some degree of improvement absent of intervention. At the same time, overall levels of distress remained elevated, indicating that these improvements are not sufficient to result in high levels of functioning and suggesting that many distressed couples may benefit from empirically supported programs to realize greater gains. These results also highlight and underscore the importance of including control conditions in studies examining the efficacy of relationship interventions with distressed couples to ensure that any observed improvements in relationship functioning are attributable to the intervention rather than to naturally occurring changes.
Uncertain Beginnings: Acinar and Ductal Cell Plasticity in the Development of Pancreatic Cancer.

Abstract The pancreas consists of several specialized cell types that display a remarkable ability to alter cellular identity in injury, regeneration, and repair. The abundant cellular plasticity within the pancreas appears to be exploited in tumorigenesis, with metaplastic, dedifferentiation, and transdifferentiation processes central to the development of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal papillary neoplasms, precursor lesions to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In the face of shifting cellular identity, the cell of origin of pancreatic cancer has been difficult to elucidate. However, with the extensive utilization of in vivo lineage-traced mouse models coupled with insights from human samples, it has emerged that the acinar cell is most efficiently able to give rise to both intraductal papillary neoplasms and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia but that acinar and ductal cells can undergo malignant transformation to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In this review, we discuss the cellular reprogramming that takes place in both the normal and malignant pancreas and evaluate the current state of evidence that implicate both the acinar and ductal cell as context-dependent origins of this deadly disease.
Fusion of spherical membranes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses fusion of spherical membranes. The events of membrane fusion have been suggested in many cellular processes such as exocytosis, endocytosis, membrane assembly, and fertilization. Chromatographically pure phospholipids are used to form spherical membranes. Phospholipids dissolved in chloroform are kept below -15 ° C. Before use, the purity of phospholipids should be checked using thin-layer chromatography; the lipids should display a single spot. The membrane-forming solution is prepared by first evaporating the chloroform component of a phospholipid solution with nitrogen gas or in vacuo, then dissolving the phospholipids (10 mg) in 0.4 ml chloroform, 0.3 ml methanol, and 0.3 ml n-decane. In addition, spherical bilayer membranes are formed in a layered concentration gradient containing a base solution (bottom phase) of 4.5 M NaCl with an upper solution of 10 mM NaCl. Spherical membranes are formed in close proximity (within several millimeters) to facilitate membrane contact. The experimental results are presented in the chapter.
Legal Opinions in Corporate Transactions: Opinions Relating to Security Interests in Personal Property

3.1. Security Interests. As security for the due and punctual payment and performance of the Note and its other obligations hereunder, the Company hereby creates in you, for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Note, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in and to (but none of its obligations with respect to) the items and types of personal property described or referred to in Sections 3.1.1 through 3.1.6 hereof, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and all proceeds (including insurance proceeds) and products thereof.2
Did We Avoid Historical Failures of Antitrust Enforcement During the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis?

This introductory essay for a symposium on antitrust enforcement during economic crises provides a brief historical overview of the failures of antitrust enforcement during major economic crises and wars in the first half of the twentieth century. It then considers the reasons that historical narrative breaks off in the second half of the twentieth century and asks whether there is evidence of its revival during the recent economic crisis.
An optimized TALEN application for mutagenesis and screening in Drosophila melanogaster

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) emerged as powerful tools for locus-specific genome engineering. Due to the ease of TALEN assembly, the key to streamlining TALEN-induced mutagenesis lies in identifying efficient TALEN pairs and optimizing TALEN mRNA injection concentrations to minimize the effort to screen for mutant offspring. Here we present a simple methodology to quantitatively assess bi-allelic TALEN cutting, as well as approaches that permit accurate measures of somatic and germline mutation rates in Drosophila melanogaster. We report that percent lethality from pilot injection of candidate TALEN mRNAs into Lig4 null embryos can be used to effectively gauge bi-allelic TALEN cutting efficiency and occurs in a dose-dependent manner. This timely Lig4-dependent embryonic survival assay also applies to CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting. Moreover, the somatic mutation rate of individual G0 flies can be rapidly quantitated using SURVEYOR nuclease and capillary electrophoresis, and germline transmission rate determined by scoring progeny of G0 outcrosses. Together, these optimized methods provide an effective step-wise guide for routine TALEN-mediated gene editing in the fly.
The Origin and Evolution of the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop Process

During the planning stage for the International Magnetospheric Study (IMS), it was stressed that coordinated observations among various satellites and among satellite, ground-based, balloon, and rocket (GBR) experiments were essential in obtaining the required observational data base. In the course of operating the Satellite Situation Center (SSC), it was found to be desirable to assemble a problem-oriented digital data base, consisting of a large number of physical parameters obtained from satellite and GBR sensors, in a computer system which would permit a large number of scientists to manipulate, display, discuss, study and analyze the data together in a coordinated manner. It was felt that such a process might shorten the time required to gain full scientific understanding of the observations. This approach was called the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop (CDAW) process. Attention is given to the preliminary concept, the the initial implementation of the CDAW process, and aspects of subsequent evolution.
Automobile Navigation System with Multi-Source Guide Information

This paper describes an Automobile Navigation System with Multi-Source Guide Information. One of the features of this system is accurate location detection, which uses refined map-matching method incorporating a high accuracy rotation sensor, Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG). The system shows the position of the vehicle on a CRT map display and can also provide useful information, such as the locations of hotels, golf courses, etc., by using a CD-ROM disc. In addition to this information, this system can play CD-ROM discs based on the CDCRAFT standard. By means of this standard, software vendors can produce multimedia entertainment, such as a sightseeing guide with voice. Also, this system can display road and traffic information from the roadside radio beacons of the Vehicle Information & Communication System (VICS). This navigation system has been installed in Nissan's 1991 model Cedric, Gloria and CIMA.
Distributed Continuous Action Recognition Using a Hidden Markov Model in Body Sensor Networks

One important application of Body Sensor Networks is action recognition. Action recognition often implicitly requires partitioning the sensor data into intervals, then labeling the partitions according to the actions each represents or as a non-action. The temporal partitioning stage is called segmentation and the labeling is called classification. While many effective methods exist for classification, segmentation remains problematic. We present a technique inspired by continuous speech recognition that combines segmentation and classification using Hidden Markov Models. This technique is distributed and only involves limited data sharing between sensor nodes. We show the results of this technique and the bandwidth savings over full data transmission.
No Pain, No Gain? Effecting Market Discipline Via 'Reverse Convertible Debentures'

The deadweight costs of financial distress limit many firms' incentive to include a lot of (tax-advantaged) debt in their capital structures. It is therefore puzzling that firms do not make advance arrangements to re-capitalize themselves if large losses occur. Financial distress may be particularly important for large banking firms, which national supervisors are reluctant to let fail. The supervisors' inclination to support large financial firms when they become troubled mitigates the ex ante incentives of market investors to discipline these firms. This paper proposes a new financial instrument that forestalls financial distress without distorting bank shareholders' risk-taking incentives. "Reverse convertible debentures" (RCD) would automatically convert to common equity if a bank's market capital ratio falls below some stated value. RCD provide a transparent mechanism for un-levering a firm if the need arises. Unlike conventional convertible bonds, RCD convert at the stock's current market price, which forces shareholders to bear the full cost of their risk-taking decisions. Surprisingly, RCD investors are exposed to very limited credit risk under plausible conditions.
Scattering of Elastic Waves by an Alluvial Valley

Plane strain model for scattering of steady state plane waves by an elastic alluvial valley of arbitrary shape is presented. The valley is presumed to be perfectly bonded to a linearly homogeneous and isotropic half space. Total displacement and stress fields are evaluated along the interface between the alluvial valey and elastic half space using the source method. The results are compared with known exact solutions for simple geometries to determine the accuracy of the proposed method. It was found that the proposed method provides very good results. As an illustrative example diffraction of a plane P-wave by an elastic semi-elliptical alluvial valley is presented in detail.
Developing Medicare Requirements and Monitoring Compliance

Section 1864(a) of the Social Security Act gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to establish regulations that the Secretary finds necessary to protect the health and safety of those receiving care or services from Medicare-certified facilities. Providers and suppliers are among the types of health care entities for which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has established specific health and patient safety regulations. To be eligible to receive Medicare reimbursement, facilities must demonstrate compliance with these regulations. This article presents information on how Medicare health and safety requirements are developed and compliance is monitored as well as the role accrediting organizations have in ensuring compliance.