cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring recommendations under user-controlled data filtering

Traditionally, recommendation systems are built on the assumption that each service provider has full access to all user data generated on its platform. However, with increasing data privacy concerns and personal data protection regulation, service providers such as Google, Twitter, and Facebook are enabling their users to revisit, erase, and rectify their historical profiles. Future recommendation systems need to be robust to such profile modifications and user-controlled data filtering. In this paper, we explore how recommendation performance may be affected by time-sensitive user data filtering, that is, users choosing to share only recent "N days" of data. Using the MovieLens dataset as a testbed, we evaluated three widely used collaborative filtering algorithms. Our experiments demonstrate that filtering out historical user data does not significantly affect the overall recommendation performance, but its impact on individual users may vary. These findings challenge the common belief that more data is essential to better performance, and suggest a potential win-win solution for services and end users.
Higher education recruitment in the United States: a chronology of significant literature

Given the absence of a chronology of the historical philosophies, perspectives, and practices of recruitment within the higher education institutions in the United States, the authors have assemble...
A study of pattern forming systems with a fully nonlocal interaction kernel of possibly changing sign

Abstract A nonlocal model with a possibly sign changing kernel is proposed to study pattern formation problems in physical and biological systems with self-organization properties. One defines pre-solutions of a related linear problem and gives sufficient conditions for pre-solutions to be jump discontinuous solutions of the nonlocal model. Among a multitude of solutions a selection criterion is used to single out more significant critical solutions. These solutions are further classified into minimizing solutions, maximizing solutions and saddle solutions. Minimizing solutions are the most relevant for patterned states and they exist if the kernel changes sign. A non-negative kernel on the other hand behaves in some ways like the gradient term in the standard local model.
Spinal Decompression Sickness in an Experienced Scuba Diver: A Case Report and Review of Literature:

Decompression sickness from diving is a rare but potentially reversible cause of spinal injury. Early treatment with hyperbaric oxygen is associated with a better neurologic outcome, making prompt recognition and management clinically important. We describe a case of a 65-year-old diver who presented with thoracic back pain and bilateral leg weakness after a 70 feet of sea water (fsw) (21 meters of sea water [msw]) dive, with no acute abnormality on spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He made a partial recovery after extended hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of central nervous system injury in decompression sickness, as well as acute management and prognostic factors for recovery, including the role of adjunctive therapies and the implications of negative MRI. Ultimately, clinicians should make the diagnosis of spinal cord decompression sickness based primarily on clinical evaluation, not on MRI findings.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cell function and epigenetic expression evolves over time after surgical sepsis

Sepsis is an increasingly significant challenge throughout the world as one of the major causes of patient morbidity and mortality. Central to the host immunologic response to sepsis is the increase in circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which have been demonstrated to be present and independently associated with poor long-term clinical outcomes. MDSCs are plastic cells and potentially modifiable, particularly through epigenetic interventions. The objective of this study was to determine how the suppressive phenotype of MDSCs evolves after sepsis in surgical ICU patients, as well as to identify epigenetic differences in MDSCs that may explain these changes. Circulating MDSCs from 267 survivors of surgical sepsis were phenotyped at various intervals over 6 weeks, and highly enriched MDSCs from 23 of these samples were co-cultured with CD3/CD28-stimulated autologous T cells. microRNA expression from enriched MDSCs was also identified. We observed that MDSC numbers remain significantly elevated in hospitalized sepsis survivors for at least 6 weeks after their infection. However, only MDSCs obtained at and beyond 14 days post-sepsis significantly suppressed T lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production. These same MDSCs displayed unique epigenetic (miRNA) expression patterns compared to earlier time points. We conclude that in sepsis survivors, immature myeloid cell numbers are increased but the immune suppressive function specific to MDSCs develops over time, and this is associated with a specific epigenome. These findings may explain the chronic and persistent immune suppression seen in these subjects.
Three keys to entrepreneurial success: curiosity, creativity, and commitment

Why are some entrepreneurs more successful than others? This question is foundational to entrepreneurial education but answers remain elusive. It is argued here that three Cs in part hold the key: curiosity, creativity, and commitment. The world’s most successful entrepreneurs are curious about improving society, they are creative in developing innovative ideas, and they are committed to their task. This commentary develops an initial model of how basic personality traits lead to these three core characteristics which in turn can help lay the foundation for entrepreneurial success. Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings are integrated to provide proof of concept for this entrepreneurial model. Educational programs that can enhance curiosity, creativity, and commitment in the context of business learning and practice are outlined. Limitations in the degree of support for this model are outlined, together with directions for future research. A major gap in our understanding of entrepreneurial success which needs to be addressed consists of the need for experimental research to demonstrate causality in both research and educational contexts. From an educational standpoint, development of training programs to operationalize success by enhancing these core characteristics will be critical for developing a new cadre of successful entrepreneurs.
Signalized Intersections: 1950 Through 1980

Perhaps the most complex point in any traffic network is the signalized intersection. At a typical signalized intersection with four entry approaches on two two-way streets, there are 12 vehicular movements (4 approaches, each with a left-turn, through, and right-turn movement), four crosswalk pedestrian flows, and bicycles that must be taken into consideration. The intricacies of signal timing have a significant impact on operations, as does the physical design of each approach. Moreover, the “intersection” does not operate as a whole: each approach can have different demands and experience different operating conditions. The development of capacity and level of service analysis methodologies for signalized intersections reflects the complexity of operations in the field, and the number of underlying factors that influence them. This chapter details signalized intersection analysis methodologies from their beginnings in the 1950 HCM through the 1980 Interim Procedures for Highway Capacity.
Intercultural Communication and Language Pedagogy: From Theory To Practice

Learning a new language offers a unique opportunity to discover other cultures as well as one's own. This discovery process is essential for developing 21st-century intercultural communication skills. To help prepare language teachers for their role as guides during this process, this book uses interdisciplinary research from social sciences and applied linguistics on intercultural communication for designing teaching activities that are readily implemented in the language classroom. Diverse language examples are used throughout the book to illustrate theoretical concepts, making them accessible to language teachers at all skill levels. The chapters introduce various perspectives on culture, intercultural communicative competence, analyzing authentic language data, teaching foreign/second languages with an intercultural communication orientation, the intercultural journey, the language-culture-identity connection, as well as resolving miscommunication and cultural conflict. While the immediate audience of this book is language teachers, the ultimate beneficiaries are language learners interested in undertaking the intercultural journey.
An 85 nW IoT Node-Controlling SoC for MELs Power-Mode Management and Phantom Energy Reduction

This paper presents an ultra-low power (ULP) node-controlling system-on-chip (SoC) used for power-mode management and phantom energy reduction of miscellaneous electric loads (MELs). The SoC is powered from a single 2.5 V voltage supply enabled by the integrated power management unit (PMU) and can control up to 16 MELs due to the on-chip 16-channel correlator and the 32b RISC-V microprocessor. To further reduce the system power consumption, two clock domains have been adopted for the correlator and the processor separately. Fabricated in 65-nm CMOS, the measured minimum power consumption of the proposed SoC is only 85 nW at 0.45 V voltage supply and 1 kHz clock frequency. The measured maximum operating frequency can go up to 148 kHz with a 0.55 V supply. An application experiment successfully demonstrates that the SoC controls the power modes of MELs from wake-up to cut-off to save the average power and phantom energy.
Identifying and Labeling Potentially Risky Driving: A Multistage Process Using Real-World Driving Data

Every year, over 50 million people are injured and 1.35 million die in traffic accidents. Risky driving behaviors are responsible for over half of all fatal vehicle accidents. Identifying risky driving behaviors within real-world driving (RWD) datasets is a promising avenue to reduce the mortality burden associated with these unsafe behaviors, but numerous technical hurdles must be overcome to do so. Herein, we describe the implementation of a multistage process for classifying unlabeled RWD data as potentially risky or not. In the first stage, data are reformatted and reduced in preparation for classification. In the second stage, subsets of the reformatted data are labeled as potentially risky (or not) using the Iterative-DBSCAN method. In the third stage, the labeled subsets are then used to fit random forest (RF) classification models—RF models were chosen after they were found to be performing better than logistic regression and artificial neural network models. In the final stage, the RF models are used predictively to label the remaining RWD data as potentially risky (or not). The implementation of each stage is described and analyzed for the classification of RWD data from vehicles on public roads in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Overall, we identified 22.7 million observations of potentially risky driving out of 268.2 million observations. This study provides a novel approach for identifying potentially risky driving behaviors within RWD datasets. As such, this study represents an important step in the implementation of protocols designed to address and prevent the harms associated with risky driving.
Book Review: The Mosaic Principle by Nick Lovegrove

Review of The Mosaic Principle by Nick Lovegrove, applied to the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Career Model.
Unusual case of recurrent SMART (stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy) syndrome (P2.6-019)

Objective: To describe an unusual case of recurrent stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome. Background: SMART, a rare syndrome of complex neurological manifestations, is a delayed complication of brain irradiation and has characteristic neuroimaging findings of unilateral T2 hyperintensity within temporal, parietal or occipital cortex and white matter sparing gyral cortical gray matter enhancement in a nonvascular distribution. Symptoms are usually reversible, however, in a recent review of 42 cases 16 showed incomplete recovery. Recurrence is rare and has been reported in only 11 cases. Role of steroid in the treatment is not established, however, some cases treated with steroid show benefit. Design/Methods: N/A Results: 66-year-old woman with right frontal lobe non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, status-post complete excision and radiotherapy in 1997, developed simple focal sensory/motor epilepsy in 2011. She presented with 5–6 days of persistent left hemibody weakness and numbness in 2015. MRI showed right frontal encephalomalacia, mild leptomeningeal and extensive gyral enhancement affecting right temporal, frontal, insular and parietal cortices. She was diagnosed with SMART syndrome. REEG revealed rare right temporal slowing and spikes. Neurologic recovery occurred over the next 4 weeks. Minimal left extremity sensorimotor deficit persisted. Enhancing lesions resolved on interval MRI. In 2018, she was readmitted with 2 days of left faciobrachial weakness and numbness. Long-term VEEG monitoring showed focal slowing. Brain MRI showed findings essentially similar to findings in 2015. She improved within 2 weeks and returned to baseline. Both the times, patient was treated conservatively. Conclusions: Our patient expands the knowledge of clinical improvement in patients with rare recurrent SMART syndrome not treated by steroid. Partial recovery during the first attack and complete recovery during the second attack could possibly be related to the extent of neurologic deficit and duration of symptoms at the time of presentations. Disclosure: Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mahatoo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Prasad has nothing to disclose.
Phenyl–gold complexes of Ru6 and Ru5 carbonyl clusters

Abstract The reactions of Ru 6 (C)(CO) 17 , 1 and Ru 5 (C)(CO) 15 , 2 with (NHC)AuPh, NHC = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl-imidazol-2-ylidene) have yielded the π-arene Ru 6 complex Ru 6 C(CO) 14 [η 6 -PhAu(NHC)], 3 and two Ru 5 complexes, Ru 5 C(CO) 14 (Ph)[μ-Au(NHC)], 4 and Ru 5 C(CO) 13 (μ–η 2 -Ph)[μ-Au(NHC)], 5 , respectively. Compounds 4 and 5 were formed by oxidative-addition of the Au–C bond at the ruthenium atoms. Compound 5 contains a μ–η 2 –σ–π-coordinated phenyl ligand that is dynamically interchanging its coordination between the two sides of the ring on the 1 H NMR time scale at room temperature. Compounds 4 and 5 both react with CO to yield the CO insertion product Ru 5 C(CO) 14 (μ–η 2 -O CPh)[μ-Au(NHC)], 6 that contains a bridging benzoyl ligand in an opened Ru 5 cluster complex. The syntheses and X-ray crystal structures of these new complexes are reported.
Schedule-induced drug self-administration

Publisher Summary This chapter describes schedule-induced drug self-administration. The characteristics of schedule-induced behavior bear some similarities to the behavioral features of drug abuse. Both are chronically excessive sorts of behavior with powerful motivational efficacies. They are intrusive activities that can take over the stream of behavior, sometimes to the detriment of alternative, adjustive functions. There are commonalities as to how they are generated and why they persist. To make such a case, it is necessary to show that in drug abuse, as in adjunctive behavior, the role of the environment is not simply permissive, but is an active determinant of the behavior. The chapter reviews the studies on schedule-induced oral and intravenous self-administration of drugs. The feasibility of applying the schedule-induction method for illuminating the problem of drug abuse is presented, as well as the behavioral and pharmacologic consequences of inducing chronic drug overindulgences. The chapter also describes the contribution of schedule-induced drug-taking to a theoretical understanding of how drugs may come to operate as powerful and enduring reinforcers for humans.
Pyloric dysfunction in diabetics with recurrent nausea and vomiting.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus has been associated with a variety of gastrointestinal motor disturbances. Pyloric activity, however, has not been specifically investigated. We have quantified the pyloric manometric profile in 24 diabetics with recurrent nausea or vomiting, or both, without evidence of mechanical obstruction. Twelve healthy volunteers served as controls. A multilumen pneumohydraulic perfusion assembly with five side openings, each 1 cm apart, was positioned fluoroscopically across the antroduodenal junction and used to monitor pressure activity for 5 h (3 h fasting and 2 h fed). Three patterns of pyloric activity were defined and quantified: (a) baseline elevation of ≥ 3 mmHg for ≥ 1 min (tonic pattern); (b) antral-type phasic pressure activity mixed with duodenal phasic activity (phasic pattern); and (c) phasic pattern superimposed on tonic activity (combined tonic-phasic pattern). The duration of the total pyloric activity before and after the meal was greater in diabetics than in controls (p
In vivo RNA-RNA recombination of coronavirus in mouse brain.

RNA-RNA recombination between different strains of the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) occurs at a very high frequency in tissue culture. To demonstrate that RNA recombination may play a role in the evolution and pathogenesis of coronaviruses, we sought to determine whether MHV recombination could occur during replication in the animal host of the virus. By using two selectable markers, i.e., temperature sensitivity and monoclonal antibody neutralization, we isolated several recombinant viruses from the brains of mice infected with two different strains of MHV. The recombination frequency was very high, and recombination occurred at multiple sites on the viral RNA genome. This finding suggests that RNA-RNA recombination may play a significant role in natural evolution and neuropathogenesis of coronaviruses.
Manufacturable and reliable spin-on-glass planarization process for 1 mu m CMOS double layer metal technology

A spin-on-glass (SOG) etchback process has been used to planarize the intermetal dielectric film in small-geometry devices. The major aspects of SOG planarization including process integration, SOG material characteristics, and manufacturability and reliability issues are reviewed. Planarity of less than 45 degrees is obtained by SOG spin followed by etchback with a SOG/CVD selectivity of one to one. An organic-type SOG was shown to fill a 1- mu m minimum metal-1 space without cracking. Packaged parts have been tested under an accelerated temperature and humidity ambient, and the SOG was shown to be reliable. >
Lung Tumor Development in a Resistant Strain of Mice Subjected to Inhalation of Soot

This study was undertaken as a check on an earlier study of the relationship between coal smoke soot and tumors of the lung in mice (1). In the earlier work, we reported an 8 per cent incidence of tumors of the lung in mice exposed to soot, as contrasted with only a 2 per cent tumor incidence in control animals. We found, during the course of the earlier experiment, that the tar content of our soot varied from time to time; it was discovered, also, that our mice were more tumor-sensitive than we had thought them to be, and we furthermore realized, late in the experiment, that we knew nothing about the carcinogenic power of the particular soot we were using. In order, therefore, to rule out these uncertain factors, we used, in this our second study, a more definitely controlled genetic strain of mice, resistant to lung tumors, and we substituted for the soot a bland tar-free lampblack to which we added a known quantity of a tar known to be carcinogenic. Materials and Methods For the problem we chose 150 six-months-old mice of the Bar Harbor C57 Black strain, a strain markedly resistant to lung tumors, with a reported spontaneous lung tumor incidence of less than 1 per cent. This particular strain of mice was selected because the incidence of lung tumors had been more accurately, or rather more purposefully, studied than in the Old Buffalo strain used in our earlier experiment. One hundred of these animals were placed in cages in which sawdust and shavings bedding was replaced by a tar-free lampblack to which was added 10 per cent pure gas-works tar of known carcinogenic activity. The tar was dissolved in benzene and sprayed into the lampblack. The mixture was made up in small quantities to assure accuracy, and each batch was left uncovered until the benzene had evaporated from the tar-laden compound. Originally the amount of tar used was 15 per cent, but the mouse mortality rate was immediately so high that the quantity was reduced to 10 per cent.
Abnormalities in Tests of Copper Metabolism in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic, cholestatic syndrome characterized by fibrosing inflammation of the bile ducts that may lead to cirrhosis and death from liver failure. Previous reports have suggested abnormal hepatic copper metabolism in this disease. Therefore, in 70 patients, we prospectively determined the levels of hepatic copper, serum copper, and serum ceruloplasmin, and the rate of urinary copper excretion to assess the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of these tests. Virtually all patients had at least one abnormal copper test. Hepatic copper levels were elevated in 87% of patients [292 +/- 38 micrograms/g dry wt (mean +/- SE)] and 24-h urinary copper levels in 64% of patients [135 +/- 15 micrograms/24 h (mean +/- SE)] to values comparable to those seen in Wilson's disease or primary biliary cirrhosis. In advanced histologic stages of primary sclerosing cholangitis, progressively higher mean levels of hepatic and urinary copper were found. In the liver, mean copper content (in micrograms per gram dry weight) in disease stages I and II was 147 +/- 36 (mean +/- SE); in stage III (fibrosis), 302 +/- 68; and in stage IV (cirrhosis), 379 +/- 69. In the urine, mean copper excretion (in micrograms per 24 h) in stages I and II was 72 +/- 14 (mean +/- SE); in stage III, 100 +/- 14; and in stage IV, 207 +/- 30. Higher hepatic and urinary copper levels at initial evaluation were associated with decreased survival during a median follow-up period of 2.6 yr: patients with hepatic copper greater than 250 micrograms/g dry wt and urinary copper excretion greater than 200 micrograms/24 h at initial evaluation had an 18-mo survival of less than 60%. We conclude that abnormal copper metabolism is a universal feature of primary sclerosing cholangitis, that hepatic copper accumulates and urinary copper excretion increases as the disease progresses, and that the hepatic copper concentration and the 24-h urinary copper determination are useful prognostic indicators in this disease.
A Review of: “Attachment Processes in Couple and Family Therapy”

In Attachment Processes in Couple and Family Therapy, Susan M. Johnson and Valerie E. Whiffen call upon an impressive group of professionals in the areas of attachment theory and couple and family ...
Some Questions About Community Self-Surveys: When Amateurs Conduct Research

In this article I want to call attention to some of the problems that may arise when citizens are deeply involved in the conduct, that is, in the data-gathering processes of research. To be sure, for years many studies of the type classified as action-research have solicited the help and co-operation of the practitioners who presumably will utilize the research findings. But the responsibility for the direction of the investigation itself is quite clearly in the hands of the social scientist. I am concerned here, by contrast, with those projects where the research itself is conducted by non-professionals, with varying degrees of assistance from social scientists.1 The most commonly encountered example of such projects is the community self-survey. Arnold Rose has described it as follows:This survey fits the traditional pattern of surveys in content, but not in method. It is purely descriptive, and its only innovation is that the research is carried on by participant members of the community rather than by...
Ab initio calculations of potential energy surfaces in the complex plane. II. Comparison with different methods of analytic continuation

Abstract A comparison is presented between four methods for the numerical analytic continuation of potential energy surfaces to their values corresponding to complex nuclear coordinates. The four methods are: (a) ab initio calculations in the complex plane, (b) point method, (c) moment method. and (d) polynomial least squares fit. Method (a) involves the actual diagonalization of the electronic hamiltonian for complex nuclear coordinates and is the most rigorous method for numerical analytic continuation. Methods (b)–(d) involve the curvefitting of ab initio calculations on the real axis to yield a potential energy function which is analytically continued into the complex plane. The example chosen for study is the function Δ E ( R ) = E 4σ ( R )- E 3σ (R), where E 4σ and E 3σ correspond to the 4σ and 3σ states of HeH 2+ and R is the internuclear distance. The zeroes (branch points) of ΔE( R ) occur only for complex R , and the position of a particular branch point along with a conformal mapping of Δ E ( R ) for lines of constant R r and R i (R = R r + i R i ) are presented for each method. These results for the four methods are compared and discussed, and optimal procedures for the analytic continuation of potential energy surfaces are suggested. Such procedures are hybrids of the above methods.
Is calculating the standard deviation of tacrolimus blood levels the new gold standard for evaluating non-adherence to medications in transplant recipients?

No it is not. Not yet. But looking at blood level variation might – in the near future - indeed become the de-facto gold standard for assessment of nonadherence in the transplant setting. If it does, this measurement method could lead to important discoveries not only for the transplant field but for adherence and outcomes research in other areas of medicine as well. Since nonadherence accounts for a majority of late rejections in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients (1–3), the discovery of a useful measure of adherence could be of great clinical importance in the provision of posttransplant care.
The Influence of Military Strategies on Business Planning

The parallels between war and business planning are numerous. The important distinctions between war and business planning involve the ultimate ends of a given conflict. War involves physical destruction and death. When a business conducts operations, economic utility is generated and employees, stakeholders and society on the whole derive some benefit. The nature of competition is generally regulated by law and if disputes arise among rivals, either market place conditions or legal systems will make a binding decision over corporate life and death, victory or defeat. Introducing the analogies of either war or sports into the business environment is complex and may arouse emotions and an ethos that is contrary to the culture of commerce. As multinational businesses expand their reach they can be engines of wealth generation and peace. However, if global corporations adopt a martial ideology, then the hopes for human progress and cultural evolution will be dashed.
10,000 gold for 20 dollars: an exploratory study of World of Warcraft gold buyers

Buying virtual currencies with real money from a third-party often violates the terms of use of online games. This study quantitatively investigates players who buy in-game gold from a third-party in World of Warcraft. A cross-cultural survey dataset of 2865 players reveals that differences between Asian and Western players are negligible compared to differences across genders, job categories, and play motivations. Our findings have implications for the design and study of interactions between players and virtual currencies.
Optimal LGS pointing with faint tip-tilt NGS

Experience with the current generation of astronomical single laser guide star (LGS) adaptive optics (AO) systems has demonstrated system performance that is often limited by residual tip-tilt errors induced by the paucity of bright tip-tilt natural guide stars (NGS). To overcome this limitation, we are developing a new generation of tip-tilt sensors that will operate at near-infrared wavelengths where the NGS is sharpened to the diffraction limit. To optimize performance, single LGS AO systems utilizing sharpened tip-tilt NGS should generally not point their LGS directly toward their science target. Rather, optimal performance for wide sky coverage is obtained by offsetting LGS pointing along a radius connecting the science target and the tip-tilt NGS. We demonstrate that determination of the jointly optimized LGS pointing angle and tip-tilt wavefront sensor (WFS) integration time can improve performance metrics by factors of several, particularly for faintest NGS operation. We find the LGS offset should be as much as 1/2 the distance to the NGS to maximize Strehl ratio at near-infrared wavelengths and ≈ 1/4 the distance to the NGS to maximize ensquared energy, with lesser off-pointing for brighter NGS. Future AO systems may benefit from predictive determination of optimal LGS offsetting, based upon changing atmospheric conditions and observational geometries.
Spatial distributions of homes for journeys to work by different modes of transport

Abstract Home density data from London and Bristol are examined for different transport modes to work. The data can be fitted to functions that generalize those proposed by Clark (1951) and Sherratt (1960) for the same purpose. Our generalized model assumes circular symmetry, but takes into account the smaller density of homes in the central area. Comparison between the different modes of transport in London show that the homes of car commuters are the most spread out, followed by train and then bus. The homes of tube commuters are the least spread out across the city. Further studies of the data on journeys to work show that the positions of the homes and workplaces are correlated. The correlation is especially apparent for car journeys and bus journeys in London. Direct distances between home and workplace are examined and comparisons made between the different modes of transport.
The supplementary motor area contributes to the timing of the anticipatory postural adjustment during step initiation in participants with and without Parkinson’s disease

The supplementary motor area (SMA) is thought to contribute to the generation of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs, which act to stabilize supporting body segments prior to movement), but its precise role remains unclear. In addition, participants with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit impaired function of the SMA as well as decreased amplitudes and altered timing of the APA during step initiation, but the contribution of the SMA to these impairments also remains unclear. To determine how the SMA contributes to generating the APA and to the impaired APAs of participants with PD, we examined the voluntary steps of eight participants with PD and eight participants without PD, before and after disrupting the SMA and dorsolateral premotor cortex (dlPMC), in separate sessions, with 1-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Both groups exhibited decreased durations of their APAs after rTMS over the SMA but not over the dlPMC. Peak amplitudes of the APAs were unaffected by rTMS to either site. The symptom severity of the participants with PD positively correlated with the extent that rTMS over the SMA affected the durations of their APAs. The results suggest that the SMA contributes to the timing of the APA and that participants with PD exhibit impaired timing of their APAs, in part, due to progressive dysfunction of circuits associated with the SMA.
Fabrication and characterization of 4H-SiC P-N junction diodes by selective-epitaxial growth using TaC as the mask

Selective nitrogen doping of 4H-SiC by epitaxial growth using TaC as the high-temperature mask has been demonstrated. Nomarski optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize selective growth of SiC. In addition, 250-µm, square-shaped, p-n junction diodes by selective n-type epitaxial growth on a p-type epilayer were fabricated. The refilled fingers with different width were designed to vary the periphery/area (P/A) ratio. The effects of P/A ratio on the current-voltage (J-V) characteristics have been investigated. The ideality factor extracted from J-V characteristics is ≈2 at a temperature range of 25–275°C, which indicates that the Shockley-Read-Hall recombination is the dominant mechanism in the conduction region. The reverse leakage current does not show dependence on P/A ratio for trench-refilled diodes. The room-temperature reverse leakage-current density at 100 V is less than 3.5×10−7 A/cm2 for all diodes. Also, the reverse leakage current does not increase significantly with temperature up to 275°C. The breakdown voltages measured at room temperature are about 450 V and 400 V for diodes without and with fingers, respectively.
Dissociation of the Hydrogen Molecule Ion by Electron Impact

The dissociation cross section of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ for bombardment by electrons is investigated taking into account the effect of exchange collisions by use of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Both the post and prior interactions are considered. Theoretical results are presented for the transition in which the molecule ion is raised from the ground state $1s\ensuremath{\sigma}{^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}}^{+}$ to the lowest-lying repulsive state $2p\ensuremath{\sigma}{^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}}^{+}$ and then dissociates. The Franck-Condon principle is assumed throughout, and a classical average is taken over the molecular orientations. Numerical results are given for the dissociation cross sections as a function of energy both with and without the inclusion of exchange effect. The agreement between the post- and prior-interaction cross sections near the threshold energy is poor.
Does the Presence and Site of Myocardial Ischemia on Perfusion Scintigraphy Predict the Occurrence and Site of Future Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease

In 47 patients who had undergone myocardial scintigraphy, reversible perfusion abnormality was detected in only 28 segments (60%) that were the site of future acute myocardial infarction.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Asian Design Policies

With their solid economic growth, China, South Korea, and Japan are having a direct impact on the world economy. All three countries have national design policies operated by the central government. But a closer look reveals significant differences.
Abstract 1597: Expression of caPCNA and antineoplastic action of caPeptides in pancreatic cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Our laboratory previously reported the identification of an acidic isoform of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (caPCNA) in various cancer cells, which appears to be associated, at least in part, with malignant transformation of cells. The current studies show the expression of caPCNA in BXPC-3, Paca-2 and Capan-1 pancreatic cancer cells. Since Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) is involved in DNA replication and repair in prokaryote and eukaryote cells, we hypothesize that caPCNA is likely to perform similar functions specifically in cancer cells. Antibodies developed against caPCNA showed growth inhibition activity in cancer cells suggesting caPCNA is related to the proliferation of malignant cells. In order to begin to understand the function of caPCNA in cellular malignant transformation, we have investigated the interaction of caPCNA with its binding partners including flap structure-specific endonuclease 1(Fen-1) and xeroderma pimentosum complementation group G (XPG). We have identified an amino acid domain sequence that confers the cancer cell specificity of caPCNA. In the course of our studies we synthesized small caPCNA related peptides (caPeptides) derived from this sequence that promote cancer cell cytotoxicity. caPeptides have the potential ability to compete with several cellular proteins that participate in DNA replication, repair, cell cycle control, transcription, and chromosomal recombination for their naturally occurring binding site on caPCNA and block binding of full length caPCNA to these proteins. The disruption of the interaction between caPCNA and its binding proteins prevents cancer cellular functions (vital cellular machinery) that recruit caPCNA and therefore may lead caPCNA-derived peptides to be cytotoxic by themselves or in combination with cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. These peptides, either alone or in combination with other anticancer agents are potentially useful cancer chemotherapeutics or augmentors of the pharmacodynamic effect of specific anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. Our results show that these peptides demonstrate promising growth inhibition and cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cells. Considering that pancreatic cancer is well known for its high mortality rate due to its chemotherapy ineffectiveness our studies render further investigations on the action of caPCNA and the anti-neoplastic mechanism of the peptides in pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1597.
Structural reliability characterization of precast concrete

SUMMARY The development of structural reliability-based design criteria requires an uncertainty characterization of structures. This paper proposes a new method of structural reliability characterization for precast concrete frames. Beam-column-joint subassemblies are designated as the substructures that form the basis of structural reliability characterization as opposed to the use of individual beams and columns.
ACP Journal Club: review: fondaparinux reduces VTE and recurrence in superficial thrombophlebitis of the leg.

Source Citation Di Nisio M, Wichers IM, Middeldorp S. Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis of the leg. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012(3):CD004982. 22419302
Influence of Respiratory Inspiration on the Heart Rate

Summary and ConclusionThe slowing of the heart produced by sustained deep inspiration is not due to the reflex consequences of lowered intrathoracic pressure nor to any other hitherto recognized reflex mechanism. It is probably caused by some influence activated by the assumption of the inspiratory position of the chest.
Antiserums Prepared with Acrylamide Gel Used as Adjuvant

Antiserums to macroglobulins were prepared by a convenient and time-saving procedure in which acrylamide gel was used as adjuvant. After electrophoresis in acrylamide gel, the macroglobulin zone from the gel pattern was homogenized and injected directly into rabbits without intermediate isolation of the purified antigen. The resulting antiserums exhibited high titers of antiserum to macroglobulin and showed only weak cross-reactions with other gamma globulins in serologic tests.
Rainfall timing and poultry litter application rate effects on phosphorus loss in surface runoff.

Phosphorus (P) in runoff from pastures amended with poultry litter may be a significant contributor to eutrophication of lakes and streams in Georgia and other areas in the southeastern United States. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of litter application rate and initial runoff timing on the long-term loss of P in runoff from surface-applied poultry litter and to develop equations that predict P loss in runoff under these conditions. Litter application rates of 2, 7, and 13 Mg ha -1 , and three rainfall scenarios applied to 1- x 2-m plots in a 3 × 3 randomized complete block design with three replications. The rainfall scenarios included (i) sufficient rainfall to produce runoff immediately after litter application; (ii) no rainfall for 30 d after litter application; and (iii) small rainfall events every 7 d (5 min at 75 mm h -1 ) for 30 d. Phosphorus loss was greatest from the high litter rate and immediate runoff treatments. Nonlinear regression equations based on the small plot study produced fairly accurate (r 2 = 0.52-0.62) prediction of P concentrations in runoff water from larger (0.75 ha) fields over a 2-yr period. Predicted P concentrations were closest to observed values for events that occurred shortly after litter application, and the relative error in predictions increased with time after litter application. In addition, previously developed equations relating soil test P levels to runoff P concentrations were ineffective in the presence of surface-applied litter.
Functional Nanodiamond Internalization Mechanisms and Kinetics

Several reports have described the relationship between size, aspect ratio, surface modification and internalization for a variety of nanoparticles (i.e. gold, polymer, carbon nanotubes). Nanodiamonds (NDs) in particular have recently been implicated in a variety of biomedical applications. One of the most promising is in utilizing NDs as drug delivery carriers where successful internalization is of utmost importance. A few reports recently have demonstrated the energy dependent internalization of bare NDs. In this report, we investigate the internalization mechanism and kinetics of functional ND-conjugate translocation.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Subtypes of anal incontinence associated with bowel dysfunction: Clinical, physiologic, and psychosocial characterization

We hypothesized that functional anal incontinence with no structural explanation comprises distinct pathophysiologic subgroups that could be identified on the basis of the predominant presenting bowel pattern. Consecutive patients (n = 80) were prospectively grouped by bowel symptoms as 1) incontinence only, 2) incontinence + constipation, 3) incontinence + diarrhea, and 4) incontinence + alternating bowel symptoms. The Hopkins Bowel Symptom Questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist 90-R, and anorectal manometry were completed. Significant group differences were found between subcategories of incontinent patients on the basis of symptoms. Abdominal pain was more frequent in patients with altered bowel patterns. Patients with alternating symptoms reported the highest prevalence of abdominal pain, rectal pain, and bloating. Basal anal pressures were significantly higher in alternating patients (P = 0.03). Contractile pressures in the distal anal canal were diminished in the incontinent-only and diarrhea groups (P = 0.004). Constipated patients with incontinence exhibited elevated thresholds for the urge to defecate (P = 0.027). Dyssynergia was significantly more frequent in patients with incontinence and constipation or alternating bowel patterns. Distinct patterns of pelvic floor dysfunction were identified in patient subgroups with anal incontinence, based on the presence or absence of altered bowel patterns. Physiologic assessments suggested different pathophysiologic mechanisms among the subgroups. The evaluation of patients with fecal incontinence should consider altered bowel function.
Vitamin K Deficiency in Chicks Fed Practical Diets

Abstract In many of the reported studies on vitamin K with chicks, diet ingredients were exhaustively extracted to remove vitamin K (Almquist, 1941), or the diets included a vitamin K antagonist to increase the need for this vitamin (Frost and Spruth, 1955). Questions have been raised about possible side effects of the vitamin K antagonists, and about the variable role of the antagonists against different compounds with vitamin K activity (Charles et al., 1968). During studies in this laboratory of factors that influence blood clotting time, it was desired to use diets that did not contain a vitamin K antagonist. Frost et al. (1956) had shown that vitamin K deficiency was readily produced in chicks by omitting alfalfa and menadione from the A.N.R.C. reference diet. Two basal diets that were used in our studies are shown in Table 1. Both contained refined corn oil as a means to increase energy content…
Alternate Repair Criteria for Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking

PWSCC was identified in the early 1990’s within the roll expanded region near the primary tubesheet face in alloy 600 tubes of Once Through Steam Generators. Axial tube end cracks (TECs) located behind the tube-to-tubesheet roll expansion joint are of no structural concern, but nonetheless require repair per plant Technical Specifications. Therefore, there was a need to develop a method of permitting affected tubes to remain in-service. Framatome ANP completed an extensive program that was documented in a topical report and was approved by US NRC (1999) to allow these tubes to remain inservice by accounting for primary to secondary leakage under postulated MSLB conditions. Leakage is calculated following each tube inspection, must remain below site specific limits and is based on test results that applied simulated axial loads and tubesheet bow to a tube/tubesheet mockup and measured the resultant leakage though EDM notches. Testing demonstrated that joint tightness is the key parameter which correlates with leakage. Joint tightness is quantified via “delta dilation,” which depends upon axial tube load, tubesheet deformation, and primary side pressure. Test results were used with plant specific delta dilations to develop bounding leakage estimates for various regions of the tubesheet. The bounding leak rate was assigned to each identified TEC and all were summed to determine the total leak rate. Due to its deterministic nature, and its use of delta dilation values which do not reflect the difference between actual plant axial loads and those employed in the tests, this approach produces excessively conservative results. During recent inspections, the number of TECs has continued to increase and continued initiation is expected in both the hot and cold tube end regions. This, coupled with the conservatisms discussed above, led to increases in the number of tube repair rolls required to meet leakage limits. Consequently, the authors undertook an effort to reduce the conservatisms in the leakage determination process by accounting for the differences in tube loading conditions in the testing (Poisson effect) and by eliminating the deterministic leakage calculation approach. A Monte Carlo code (LeakTEC) was developed to perform the calculations in this manner. This new approach was recently approved by the NRC for use at one of the affected plants.Copyright © 2006 by ASME