cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Passivity-based output synchronization of networked Euler-Lagrange systems subject to nonholonomic constraints

In this paper, we study the output synchronization problem of networked Euler-Lagrange(EL) systems subject to nonholonomic constraints. An EL system subject to nonholonomic constraints can be input-output linearized if a proper decoupling matrix can be found, and the linearized form is equivalent to a double integrator. Although a double integrator is not a passive system, with proper design of the control law and some coordinate transformation, we are able to obtain a new state-space representation of the EL system which is a linear passive system. The underlying assumption is that the communication graph is bidirectional and strongly connected. To deal with time-varying communication delays among the interconnected agents, we embed the scattering transformation into our proposed setup and show that output synchronization can be achieved in this case as well.
Rapid fabrication of graphene on dielectric substrates via solid-phase processes

To unleash the full potential of graphene in functional devices, high-quality graphene sheets and patterns are frequently required to be deposited on dielectric substrates. However, it generally calls for post-growth catalyst etching and graphene transfer steps in currently existing approaches, which are very time consuming and costly for fabricating functional graphene devices. We developed a rapid and cost-effective growth method to achieve the graphene formation directly on various kinds of dielectric substrates via a novel solid-phase transformation mechanism based on Ni/C thin films. High-quality graphene was obtained uniformly on whole surface of wafers with a controlled number of graphene layers. The monolayer graphene, as obtained, exhibits a low sheet resistance of about 50 Ω/sq and a high optical transmittance of 95.8% at 550 nm. Graphene patterns were successfully fabricated simply by either conventional photolithography or laser direct writing techniques. Various graphene patterns, including texts, spirals, line arrays, and even large-scale integrated circuit patterns, with a feature line width of 800 nm and a low sheet resistance of 205 ohm/sq, were achieved. The developed method provides a facile and cost-effective way to fabricate complex and high-quality graphene patterns directly on target substrates, which opens a door for fabricating various advanced optoelectronic devices.
Some problems revealed in case studies of damage to combat aircraft

We present results of a statistical analysis of expert reports on damage to combat aircraft in 1960– 1992 and examples of failures of these aircraft from very simple ones to complicated ones according to combined fracture mechanisms.
Wheelchair Modification for Hands-Free Motion for Dancers With Disabilities

Functional modifications to power and manual chairs are currently advancing in the areas of rehabilitation, sports and recreation and in the activities of daily living; however, these modification have yet to be directly applied in the field of performing arts. An assistive device was developed at the University of South Florida (USF) during collaboration between the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Theatre and Dance. The project was initiated by Professor Merry Lynn Morris who identified a need for new conceptions of mobility; her work with dancers, with and without disabilities established the research framework in which choreographic vision could be supported with technological applications. Therefore, a device was designed to alleviate the constraints of current wheelchair designs which inhibit the user’s upper-body artistic movement range and capacity for interaction. The main purpose of the design was to create hands-free motion through the modification of a power wheelchair, which make it useful in the performing arts, but also as an assistive device for persons with disabilities. This device is in its first research phase of development as a prototype and is patent pending.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Seasonal variation in the production of tannins and cyanogenic glucosides in the chaparral shrub, Heteromeles arbutifolia.

The seasonal quantitative variation in tannin and cyanogenic glucoside levels was examined in a population of Heteromeles arbutifolia, an evergreen sclerophyll shrub, during the growing seasons of 1972 and 1973. The seasonal syntheses of these presumed herbivore defensive compounds relates to patterns of carbon gain and allocation as well as nutrient status in this plant:
Nrf2 activators provide neuroprotection against 6‐hydroxydopamine toxicity in rat organotypic nigrostriatal cocultures

Oxidative stress and inflammation appear to play a critical role in the progression of Parkinson's disease. As a result, there has been growing interest in antioxidant pathways and how these pathways might be exploited to slow the progressive loss of dopamine neurons. One such pathway that has garnered attention recently is mediated by the transcription factor Nrf2 and is integral in orchestrating cells' antiinflammatory defense. Nrf2 controls the inducible expression of numerous antioxidant and phase 2 detoxification genes, such as glutathione S-transferase, heme oxygenase-1, and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). Once activated, these genes work synergistically to maintain intracellular redox homeostasis. In this study, we test the hypothesis that Nrf2 activation can protect dopaminergic neurons against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced toxicity. Treatment of organotypic nigrostriatal cocultures with either tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) or sulforaphane, known activators of Nrf2, mitigated dopaminergic cell loss. The observed protection appeared to be mediated, at least in part, by an increase in antioxidant activity. Simultaneous treatment of cultures with tBHQ and 6-OHDA increased NQO1 expression 17-fold compared with controls. Overall, these results suggest that Nrf2 may play an important role in cellular protection in neurodegenerative diseases and may be a viable therapeutic target in the future.
Variation in the Intensity of Hematuria Evaluation: A Target for Primary Care Quality Improvement

Abstract Background Hematuria is a common clinical finding and represents the most frequent presenting sign of bladder cancer. The American Urological Association recommends cystoscopy and abdomino-pelvic imaging for patients aged more than 35 years. Nonetheless, less than half of patients presenting with hematuria undergo proper evaluation. We sought to identify clinical and nonclinical factors associated with evaluation of persons with newly diagnosed hematuria. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study, using claims data and laboratory values. The primary exposure was practice site, as a surrogate for nonclinical, potentially modifiable sources of variation. Primary outcomes were cystoscopy or abdomino-pelvic imaging within 180 days after hematuria diagnosis. We modeled the association between clinical and nonclinical factors and appropriate hematuria evaluation. Results We identified 2455 primary care patients aged 40 years or more and diagnosed with hematuria between 2004 and 2012 in the absence of other explanatory diagnosis; 13.7% of patients underwent cystoscopy within 180 days. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant variation between those who did and did not undergo evaluation in age, gender, and anticoagulant use ( P P = .036, P = .028, respectively). Addition of practice site improved the predictive discrimination of each model ( P Conclusions Patients with hematuria rarely underwent complete evaluation. Although established risk factors for malignancy were associated with increasing use of diagnostic testing, factors unassociated with risk, such as practice site, also accounted for significant variation. Inconsistency across practice sites is undesirable and may be amenable to quality improvement interventions.
Interpersonal problems and relationship quality: An examination of gay and lesbian romantic couples

This study explores the interplay between men and women’s interpersonal problems, the interpersonal problems of their romantic partners, and the quality of relationships among same-sex couples. Participants and their partners (72 gay couples and 72 lesbian couples) completed assessments of their interpersonal problems and the overall quality of their romantic relationships. Using Actor-Partner Interdependence Models, it was found that participants who possessed high levels of global interpersonal problems or had romantic partners with high levels of global interpersonal problems experienced relationship discord. This was especially evident for vindictive men and women. Further, women who had romantic partners who possessed interpersonal problems related to being overly domineering were at increased risk for experiencing high levels of relationship discord.
Adjunctive Subconjunctival Mitomycin C in Glaucoma Triple Procedure

Purpose: To evaluate the potential benefit of adjunctive subconjunctival mitomycin in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma undergoing primary trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Methods: Seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with visually symptomatic cataracts and no previous incisional surgery were randomized to receive either no mitomycin C or a subconjunctival application of 1-, 3-, or 5-minute mitomycin C (0.5 mg/ml). Results: Follow-up (mean ± standard deviation) was 21.0 ± 7.7 months. The mean postoperative intraocular pressures were significantly lower with significantly less medications than the preoperative values at each follow-up time (1, 3, 6, 9,12,15 months, and last follow-up) for all groups ( P Conclusion: Adjunctive subconjunctival mitomycin C did not further improve the final intraocular pressure outcome of the primary trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Future studies will determine the appropriate role, if any, for adjunctive mitomycin C in selected primary glaucoma triple procedures.
Rotation halts cylindrical, relativistic gravitational collapse.

It is shown, in a simple analytic example, that an infinitesimal amount of rotation can halt the general relativistic gravitational collapse of a pressure-free cylindrical body. The example is a thin cylindrical shell (a shell with translational symmetry and rotation symmetry), made of counterrotating dust particles. Half of the particles rotate about the symmetry axis in one direction with (conserved) angular momentum per unit rest mass α, and the other half rotate in the opposite direction with the same α. It is shown, using C-energy arguments, that the shell can never collapse to a circumference smaller than C=8παΛ, where Λ is the shell’s nonconserved mass per unit proper length. Equivalently, if R≡‖∂/∂φ∥∂/∂z‖ is the product of the lengths of the rotational and translational Killing vectors at the shell’s location and λ is the shell’s conserved rest mass per unit Killing length z, then the shell can never collapse smaller than R=4αλ. It is also shown that after its centrifugally induced bounce, the shell will oscillate radially and will radiate gravitational waves as it oscillates, the waves will carry away C energy, and this loss of C energy will force the shell to settle down to a static, equilibrium radius.
First Versus Second Mover Advantage with Information Asymmetry about the Profitability of New Markets

Is it better to move first, or second—to innovate, or to imitate? We show that if one player's information about the profitability of new markets is only modestly superior, the possibility of foreclosing the market can lead to a first-mover advantage. On the other hand, more extreme information superiority can reverse this, leading to a second-mover advantage. Knowing more surely what is the best choice, the better-informed player wants to delay to keep his information private and the less-informed player wants to delay to learn. Because of this, more accurate information can actually lead to inefficiency by increasing the incentive to delay, and exogenous costs of delay can aid efficiency by neutralizing that strategic incentive. In fact, in some circumstances a player may purposely coarsen his information to deter imitation.
INTERLOCKING PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCK SEAWALL

As a result of a survey of damage caused by the severe storm of March 1962 which affected the entire east coast of the United States, a new and specially-shaped interlocking concrete block was developed for use in shore protection. This block is designed to be used in a revetment-type seawall that will be both durable and economical as well as reduce wave run-up and overtopping, and scour at its base or toe. A description of model investigations conducted on the interlocking precast concrete block seawall and results there from are presented. It is shown that effective shore protection can be designed utilizing these units.
Evaluating American Sign Language generation through the participation of native ASL signers

We discuss important factors in the design of evaluation studies for systems that generate animations of American Sign Language (ASL) sentences. In particular, we outline how some cultural and linguistic characteristics of members of the American Deaf community must be taken into account so as to ensure the accuracy of evaluations involving these users. Finally, we describe our implementation and user-based evaluation (by native ASL signers) of a prototype ASL generator to produce sentences containing classifier predicates, frequent and complex spatial phenomena that previous ASL generators have not produced.
Brain Metabolic Abnormalities Associated with Developmental Venous Anomalies

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Developmental venous anomalies are the most common intracranial vascular malformation and are typically regarded as inconsequential, especially when small. While there are data regarding the prevalence of MR imaging findings associated with developmental venous anomalies, FDG-PET findings have not been well-characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical information systems were used to retrospectively identify patients with developmental venous anomalies depicted on MR imaging examinations who had also undergone FDG-PET. Both the MR imaging and FDG-PET scans were analyzed to characterize the developmental venous anomalies and associated findings on the structural and functional scans. Qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed, including evaluation of the size of the developmental venous anomaly, associated MR imaging findings, and characterization of the FDG uptake in the region of the developmental venous anomaly. RESULTS: Twenty-five developmental venous anomalies in 22 patients were identified that had been characterized with both MR imaging and FDG-PET, of which 76% (19/25) were associated with significant metabolic abnormality in the adjacent brain parenchyma, most commonly hypometabolism. Patients with moderate and severe hypometabolism were significantly older (moderate: mean age, 65 ± 7.4 years, P = .001; severe: mean age, 61 ± 8.9 years, P = .008) than patients with developmental venous aberrancies that did not have abnormal metabolic activity (none: mean age, 29 ± 14 years). CONCLUSIONS: Most (more than three-quarters) developmental venous anomalies in our series of 25 cases were associated with metabolic abnormality in the adjacent brain parenchyma, often in the absence of any other structural abnormality. Consequently, we suggest that developmental venous anomalies may be better regarded as developmental venous aberrancies.
Scalable RTI-based parallel simulation of networks

Federated simulation interfaces such as the high level architecture (HLA) were designed for interoperability, and as such are not traditionally associated with high-performance computing. We present results of a case study examining the use of federated simulations using runtime infrastructure (RTI) software to realize large-scale parallel network simulators. We examine the performance of two different federated network simulators, and describe RTI performance optimizations that were used to achieve efficient execution. We show that RTI-based parallel simulations can scale extremely well and achieve very high speedup. Our experiments yielded more than 80-fold scaled speedup in simulating large TCP/IP networks, demonstrating performance of up to 6 million simulated packet transmissions per second on a Linux cluster. Networks containing up to two million network nodes (routers and end systems) were simulated.
The Effects of Hydrostatic Pressure on Living Aquatic Organisms VIII. Behavioral and Metabolic Responses of Uca pugilator to Variations in Hydrostatic Pressure and Temperature

In systematic examination of the pressure responses of a broad spectrum of organic life, it is very important to know the range of variation exhibited by a single species. As a consequence of extensive observations on the effects of pressure and temperature on behavioral responses, lethality, and metabolic responses, it is clear that the range of variation in pressure required to induce a response diminishes as the species taxon is approached. The rate of exposure to pressure does not influence the pressure required for reversible behavioral responses. In contrast, the duration of pressure dramatically influences the pressure required to achieve death with the shorter time periods requiring much higher pressure levels than the longer time periods. Notwithstanding this relationship there appears some evidence suggesting that short term acclimation to pressure does occur.
Behavioral synthesis of fault secure controller/datapaths using aliasing probability analysis

We address the problem of synthesizing fault-secure controller/data path circuits from behavioral specifications. We use an iterative improvement based behavioral synthesis framework that performs module selection, clock selection, scheduling, and resource sharing with the aim of minimizing the area of the synthesized circuit, while allowing multicycling, chaining, and module pipelining. We present a dynamic comparison selection algorithm that can be used during behavioral synthesis to determine which intermediate results in the computation need to be secured in order to enable maximal resource sharing. Previous work on synthesizing fault-secure data paths has focused on ensuring that aliasing cannot occur in any part of the design. We demonstrate that such an approach can lead to unnecessarily large overheads. In order to alleviate the overheads incurred for fault security, our behavioral synthesis framework uses aliasing probability analysis (ALPS) in order to identify resource sharing configurations that reduce area, while introducing a very low probability of aliasing (of the order of 10/sup -10/ for a bitwidth of 32) in the resultant data path. We report experimental results for several behavioral descriptions that demonstrate the efficacy of our techniques in synthesizing fault-secure controller/datapaths with low overheads.
Spectral Relaxation for K-means Clustering

The popular K-means clustering partitions a data set by minimizing a sum-of-squares cost function. A coordinate descend method is then used to find local minima. In this paper we show that the minimization can be reformulated as a trace maximization problem associated with the Gram matrix of the data vectors. Furthermore, we show that a relaxed version of the trace maximization problem possesses global optimal solutions which can be obtained by computing a partial eigendecomposition of the Gram matrix, and the cluster assignment for each data vectors can be found by computing a pivoted QR decomposition of the eigenvector matrix. As a by-product we also derive a lower bound for the minimum of the sum-of-squares cost function.
Constitutional Amendment Procedures and the Informal Political Construction of Constitutions

Recent public law studies demonstrate that the informal political construction of constitutional meaning—particularly by executive and legislative officials—manifests as an essential feature of American constitutionalism. A leading explanation of the phenomenon depends on the effect of formal amendment procedures. Given the inevitability of constitutional change over time, difficult and burdensome amendment procedures seem to require that political actors resort to informal means to pursue change and enshrine new constitutional meaning. While this explanation has been central to a number of studies of the federal constitution, it has also led to the exclusion of state constitutional experiences from the study of this phenomenon. This is likely because state amendment procedures are notably less difficult and (apparently) do not require the resort to informal means of change. I present evidence that informal political construction does occur in the states; it is as important there as it is at the federal l...
Petrology of the Flora Lake Stock, Lake of the Woods Region, Ontario, Canada

The Flora Lake stock is a concordant plug of granitic rocks that was emplaced in a steeply dipping sequence of typical Precambrian “greenstones.” It occupies about 51/2 square miles and is roughly elliptical. The long axis of the ellipse strikes northeast-southwest parallel to the regional strike. Near the stock, the country rocks are mostly pillow and massive mafic volcanic rocks which have been regionally metamorphosed (almandine-amphibolite facies). In order of decreasing age, the stock consists of an outer ring of monzodiorite, an incomplete inner ring of monzonite, and a core of granite. Small bodies of metapyroxenire occur within the monzodiorite at the northeast end of the mass. The three major rock zones are characterized by primary flow structures (planar parallelism of minerals) which form strike patterns integral to each zone. Such structures are particularly pronounced in the monzodiorite and monzonite. In all cases they dip steeply, commonly outward. Chemically and mineralogically, each major rock unit is moderately uniform. Spectrographic, X-ray, and petrographic studies of plagioclase feldspar, biotite, pyroxene, and amphibole indicate that the chemistry of the major minerals in the intrusive sequence varies systematically. The Flora Lake stock may have evolved by anatexis and mobilization of basement rock at deeper levels in the crust. The profound distortion of the regional structural trend in adjacent “greenstones” suggests the stock was forcefully emplaced. The general absence of contact (thermal) metamorphic effects indicates emplacement under pressure-temperature conditions compatible with those of the almandine-amphibolite facies of the regional metamorphic terrain. The monzodiorite and monzonite were emplaced as viscous, crystal-liquid mushes. Well-developed flow structure, absence of chilled contacts, paucity of monzodiorite and monzonite dikes, and numerous evidences of strain in mineral grains in these rocks are compatible with the idea that the intruding material consisted of a high proportion of crystals to liquid. Late in the sequence of intrusion, granitic material must have become mobile, essentially completely magmatic, or granite magma was sweated out of more mafic material at depth. It moved upward and pushed its way into the monzodiorite and monzonite, completing the main intrusive activity in the stock.
Neurologic disorders in renal failure.

Abstract In her excursion through the looking glass, Alice once remarked "I don't quite know yet. might". This paper can best be regarded as a "look all around" a very complicated and partially obscured landscape, in the hope that some features of importance may catch the attention of those who might be prepared to make a more systematic exploration of the field. With the many neurologic problems that are posed by patients with metabolic disorders, this is an urgent need that can no longer be ignored.
CONTRAST: a discriminative, phylogeny-free approach to multiple informant de novo gene prediction

We describe CONTRAST, a gene predictor which directly incorporates information from multiple alignments rather than employing phylogenetic models. This is accomplished through the use of discriminative machine learning techniques, including a novel training algorithm. We use a two-stage approach, in which a set of binary classifiers designed to recognize coding region boundaries is combined with a global model of gene structure. CONTRAST predicts exact coding region structures for 65% more human genes than the previous state-of-the-art method, misses 46% fewer exons and displays comparable gains in specificity.
Multiple UAV cooperative search under collision avoidance and limited range communication constraints

This paper uses a team of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to cooperatively search, an area of interest that contains regions of opportunity and regions of potential hazard. The objective of the UAV team is to visit as many opportunities as possible, while avoiding as many hazards as possible. To enable cooperation, the UAVs are constrained to stay within communication range of one another. Collision avoidance is also required. Algorithms for team-optimal and individually-optimal/team-suboptimal solutions are developed and their computational complexity compared. Simulation results demonstrating the feasibility of the cooperative search algorithms are presented.
Power System Risk Assessment and Control in a Multiobjective Framework

Traditional online security assessment determines whether the system is secure or not, but how secure or insecure is not explicitly indicated. This paper develops probabilistic indices, risk, to assess real-time power system security level. Risk captures not only event likelihood, but also consequence. System security level associated with low voltage and overload can be optimally controlled, using the NSGA multiobjective optimization method. A security diagram is used to visualize operating conditions in a way that enables both risk-based and traditional deterministic views. An index for cascading overloads is used to evaluate the Pareto optimal solutions. This paper shows that the multiobjective approach results in less risky and less costly operating conditions, and it provides a practical algorithm for implementation. The IEEE 24-bus RTS-1996 system is analyzed to show that risk-based system security control results in lower risk, lower cost, and less exposure to cascading outages.
Acute Effects of Testicular and Adrenal Cortical Blockade on Protein Synthesis and Dihydrotestosterone Content of Human Prostate Tissue

To examine the relationship between whole prostatic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations and epithelial and stromal protein synthesis, patients awaiting surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy were given medication to reduce circulating and tissue androgen levels for comparison to levels in untreated patients. The medications, either megestrol acetate, a progestational antiandrogen, or megestrol acetate plus dexamethasone, were given for 1 week before surgery. Aliquots of prostate tissue obtained at surgery were assayed for DHT. The remainder of the tissue was separated into stromal and epithelial cells using enzymatic separation; the incorporation of both [3H] proline into stromal protein and [3H]leucine into epithelial cell protein was then measured. Over a wide range of tissue DHT concentrations, DHT correlated significantly with [3H]proline incorporation into stromal protein (r = 0.58). Likewise, epithelial cell incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein correlated significantly with tissue DHT co...
Trophic versus structural effects of a marine foundation species, giant kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera )

Foundation species create milieus in which ecosystems evolve, altering species abundances and distribution often to a dramatic degree. Although much descriptive work supports their importance, there remains little definitive information on the mechanisms by which foundation species alter their environment. These mechanisms fall into two basic categories: provision of food or other materials, and modification of the physical environment. Here, we manipulated the abundance of a marine foundation species, the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera, in 40 × 40-m plots at Mohawk Reef off Santa Barbara, California and found that its biomass had a strong positive effect on the abundance of bottom-dwelling sessile invertebrates. We examined the carbon (C) stable isotope values of seven species of sessile invertebrates in the treatment plots to test the hypothesis that this positive effect resulted from a nutritional supplement of small suspended particles of kelp detritus, as many studies have posited. We found no evidence from stable isotope analyses to support the hypothesis that kelp detritus is an important food source for sessile suspension-feeding invertebrates. The isotope composition of invertebrates varied with species and season, but was not affected by kelp biomass, with the exception of two species: the tunicate Styela montereyensis, which exhibited a slight enrichment in C stable isotope composition with increasing kelp biomass, and the hydroid Aglaophenia sp., which showed the opposite effect. These results suggest that modification of the physical habitat, rather than nutritional subsidy by kelp detritus, likely accounts for increased abundance of sessile invertebrates within giant kelp forests.
Do Changes in Muscle Architecture Affect Post-Activation Potentiation?

The purpose of this randomized, cross-over design study was to examine the effect of three different muscle potentiation protocols on acute changes in muscle architecture and vertical jump performance. Eleven experienced, resistance trained men (25.2±3.6y) completed three potentiation squat protocols using moderate intensity (MI; 75%, 3 sets x 10 repetitions), high intensity (HI; 90%, 3 sets x 3 repetitions) and 100% (1RM; 1 set x 1repetition) of their 1RM. In addition, all participants completed a control session (CTL) in which no protocol was performed. During each testing session, muscle architecture and vertical jump testing were assessed at baseline (BL), 8min post (8P) and 20min post (20P) workout. Ultrasound measures included cross sectional area (CSA) and pennation angle (PANG) of both the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL). Following each ultrasound measure, peak vertical jump power (PVJP) and mean (MVJP) power was assessed using an accelerometer. Magnitude based inferences were used to make comparisons between trials. The MI trial resulted in a likely greater increase from BL to 8P and 20P in RF-CSA and VL-CSA, while the HI trial resulted in a likely greater change from BL to 20P in both RF-CSA and VL-CSA. Meanwhile, changes in PVJP and MVJP for the MI trial was likely decreased at BL-8P and BL-20P, while the HI trial was shown to result in a likely or possible decrease compared to CTL at BL-8P and BL-20P, respectively. A likely negative relationship was observed between changes in VL-PANG and MVJP (r = -0.35; p , 0.018) at BL-8P, and between changes in PVJP and RF-CSA (r = -0.37; p , 0.014) at BL-20P. Results of this study were unable to demonstrate any potentiation response from the trials employed, however these protocols did result in acute muscle architectural changes. Key pointsThree squat protocols using moderate intensity (75% 1-RM; 3 sets x 10 repetitions), high intensity (90% 1-RM, 3 sets x 3 repetitions) and maximal intensity (100% 1RM; 1 set x 1repetition) were unable to potentiate jump height or jump power in experienced, resistance trained men.Experienced, resistance trained athletes who are not competitive may be limited in regards to potentiation due to a poor level of conditioning.Both the moderate and high intensity potentiation protocols stimulated acute changes in muscle architecture. Greater increases in the CSA of both the RF and VL muscles were noted.A different potentiation protocol may have elicited greater changes in muscle architecture.
LARC methods: entering a new age of contraception and reproductive health.

Although IUDs and implants have been around for a long time, their use has been severely hampered and almost extinguished for periods of time due to early design flaws, difficult insertion and removal demands, or by the unacceptable side effect profiles. It is all very different now. The currently available LARC methods are easy to use, safe, long lasting, quickly reversible and 20 times more effective than oral contraceptive pills [1–4] (Fig. ​(Fig.1).1). The LARC methods have high patient acceptability [5], have limited contraindications for use, and are often recommended, in some cases, due to their dramatically improved bleeding control. All of the LARC methods can be inserted right after delivery or abortion and following removal, fertility is rapidly restored. Although the LARC methods have a high up-front cost, most or all of these costs are often covered by a 3rd party. In any case, compared to other options, they are highly cost-effective in the long-term [6–10]. Open in a separate window Fig. 1 Perfect vs Typical Use LARCs
The extended enterprise: a decade later

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the state of the art in extended enterprise (EE) thinking. Design/methodology/approach – The approach used the 2004 book, The Extended Enterprise, as the jumping-off point to review the literature and better define the EE. What was once projected as depicting the future state of supply chain management is now shaping the way in which organizations interact with their customers and suppliers. New issues in this arena include considerations of risk, knowledge sharing, and supply chain performance. The authors review these new developments, describe how they might affect the collaborative supply chain, and posit future trends. Findings – The major theme from this research is that EE thinking is emerging among global companies as a primary way in which firms now compete. The term “Collaborative supply chains” appears, in some circles, to replace the term “EE.” Yet the principles and tenets delineated in the term “EE” are captured in “collaborative supply chains...
Impact of social challenges on gaining employment for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: an exploratory moderator analysis.

OBJECTIVE To explore whether psychosocial challenges impact effects of vocational rehabilitation in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). METHODS A post hoc exploratory analysis of possible moderators of treatment was conducted on outcomes from a randomized, controlled trial of Individual Placement and Support in Veterans with PTSD. RESULTS When examining groups within each moderator, there was a greater IPS supportive employment benefit in gaining competitive employment for those with inadequate transportation (number needed to treat [NNT] = 1.5) and inadequate housing (NNT = 1.5) compared with the main finding of the pilot study (NNT = 2.07). Compared with the main finding of the pilot study, there was no greater advantage of IPS for those with adequate transportation (NNT = 2.4) or adequate housing (NNT = 2.4). Compared with the main finding in the pilot study, those without a family care burden had a greater benefit from IPS (NNT = 1.4) and those with family care burden had a reduced treatment effect (NNT = 3.3). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE These results are exploratory and are not intended to guide clinical decision-making, but rather offer a potentially useful strategy in the design of larger trials of IPS.
Quantity and Quality: A More Nuanced Look at the Association Between Family Work and Marital Well-Being

The current study uses family systems and gender theories to look at three forms of family work (housework, emotion work, and child care) and their association with marital satisfaction and burnout...
Primary Psoas Abscess

AbstractInfectious processes in the retroperitoneal space often involve the psoas muscle. These infections usually are secondary to other intra-abdominal or intrapelvic inflammatory processes but rarely they will arise primarily within the retroperitoneum. These primary infections occur most often in younger patients and usually will demonstrate a chronic illness in which the diagnosis often is missed. We describe a 22-year-old man with a 2-year history of symptoms before the diagnosis was confirmed. The clinical presentation of the process and pathophysiology are discussed briefly.
Qualifications, Demographics, Satisfaction, and Future Capacity of the HIV Care Provider Workforce in the United States, 2013–2014

Background The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected population in the United States is increasing by about 30 000 annually (new infections minus deaths). With improvements in diagnosis and engagement in care, additional qualified HIV care providers may be needed.
Genome Sequences of Gordonia terrae Phages Attis and SoilAssassin.

ABSTRACT Attis and SoilAssassin are two closely related bacteriophages isolated on Gordonia terrae 3612 from separate soil samples in Pittsburgh, PA. The Attis and SoilAssassin genomes are 47,881 bp and 47,880 bp, respectively, and have 74 predicted protein-coding genes, including toxin-antitoxin systems, but no tRNAs.
The Anaerobic Microflora Associated with Periodontal Disease

The human oral cavity supports dense populations of microbes associated with the surfaces and crevices afforded by various oral structures. Tooth surfaces above and below the gingiva, the dorsum of the tongue and the buccal surfaces are the major oral habitats amenable to colonization by bacteria. In recent years an impressive body of information has accumulated on many members of the oral microbiota, largely as a result of a quest for etiologic agents, pathogenic mechanisms and eventual control of oral disease. The purpose of this report is to relate the complexity of the oral flora associated with the periodontium in health and disease and to emphasize the role of the oral cavity as an important reservoir for systemic infections.
The Role of Prostaglandins in Microcirculatory Regulation and Inflammation

The mediation of inflammatory changes during tissue injury reactions has been ascribed to a wide variety of biologically active agents, yet the complete description of these factors still awaits definition. Inf lamination, irrespective of its cause, sets into motion a series of typical, interwoven events which in its early phases is characterized by vasodilation, adhesion of platelets, increased vascular permeability and emigration of leukocytes into the affected area. Since the recent suggestion that prostaglandins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation (Kaley and Weiner, 1968) evidence has accrued to indicate that these ubiquitous compounds are not only able to mimic the diverse features of the acute inflammatory reaction (Crunkhorn and Willis, 1971a; Kaley and Weiner, 1971a), but also that they are generated and released from many tissues under conditions when there is a disturbance of normal cell function (Piper and Vane, 1971) and that they are found in inflammatory exudates of different origin (Willis, 1969; Greaves et al, 1971).
The palaeo-valley infilling glaciogenic Sarah Formation, an example from Rahal Dhab palaeo-valley, Saudi Arabia

The Sarah Formation is a glaciogenic sedimentary unit deposited along the Gondwana margin during the latest Ordovician ice age, and represents a major hydrocarbon reservoir in northern Saudi Arabia. Large-scale glacial palaeo-valleys cut into the Qasim Formation and were infilled by the Sarah Formation. Post-glacial transgression in the earliest Silurian resulted in the deposition of the Qusaiba Shale Member and associated organic-rich basal source rocks, which cap the Sarah Formation infilled palaeo-valleys. This unique setting makes the Sarah Formation an important emerging exploration target in Saudi Arabia. This paper focuses on the facies and depositional architecture in seismic-scale outcrops of the Sarah Formation in north-western Saudi Arabia. The Rahal Dhab palaeo-valley provides a 100 km long dip-oriented cross-section which has been covered by 24 vertical sections, sedimentary architectural analyses at metre to kilometre scale and by three cored shallow boreholes. In the Rahal Dhab palaeo-valley, the Sarah Formation was deposited in a proglacial setting that ranged from marginal marine to offshore pro-delta, and is made up of three units: (i) Sarah Sandstone; (ii) Sarah Shale; and (iii) Uqlah. The present study shows the relationships between these three units and architectural controls on reservoir quality in this system. This paper contributes to the regional understanding of the Sarah Formation, and the new depositional model of the Rahal Dhab palaeo-valley provides an outcrop-reservoir analogue for hydrocarbon exploration in adjacent areas. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Simulated Scenery: Travel Cinema, Special Effects and For the Term of His Natural Life

This Chapter addresses the incomplete and disjointed historical record of the Australasian Films silent feature film For the Term of His Natural Life (Norman Dawn 1927), which I argue suggests an alternate narrative that begins with the 1981 reconstruction of the film. The reconstruction ruptures the spatial and temporal unity of the film by incorporating into the diegesis archival material that spans temporally and spatially diverse domains of cultural production. Through an analysis of director Norman Dawn’s special effects images, I trace across this heterogeneous assemblage of materials a series of compositionally interchangeable yet temporally and spatially disparate vantage points, which articulate an equally fragmented and dispersed subject position from which unfree labor appears as the always already lost object of desire of the tourist.
Anesthesia for AV Fistulas (Upper Extremity)

Patients requiring surgery to create an arteriovenous (AV) fistula are those suffering end stage renal disease, or advanced chronic kidney disease with anticipated progression and future need for hemodialysis. Managing these patients in the perioperative period is challenging due to their underlying disease as well as multiple comorbidities often present in vascular surgery patients. Particularly concerning in patients presenting for AV fistula is an accurate assessment of their electrolyte balance and volume status. A day-of-surgery physical exam, as well as information regarding the patient’s last dialysis session must be evaluated prior to proceeding to the operating room. AV fistulas can be placed under general anesthesia, monitored anesthesia care with local anesthetic, or regional anesthesia.
The Relevance of Organizational Learning for High Performing Social Networks

In 1990, Peter Senge published his landmark book The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, which generated worldwide interest in the concept of a “learning organization.” Senge defines a learning organization as an “organization where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free and where people are continually learning how to learn together.” (Senge 1990). At the core of his hypothesis are five practices or disciplines, which constitute three major areas of competence. If they truly are to become learning organizations these five disciplines are foundational for organizations to learn and apply. The three core areas of learning competency and the five disciplines include
In Vivo Assay for Tumor Cell Invasion

We describe an in vivo invasion assay that enables the collection of invasive cells from the primary tumor. In addition to determination of the endogenous, unstimulated invasive properties of cells in vivo, the assay can take advantage of the chemotactic properties of cancer cells. Microneedles are filled with a mixture of extracellular matrix components such as Matrigel with or without a chemoattractant such as EGF, and then introduced into the primary tumor of a rat or mouse that is generated either by orthotopic injection of carcinoma cell lines or by a transgene such as polyoma Middle T. Over the course of 4 h the invasive cell population enters the needles while the animal is kept under anesthesia. At the end of the collection time, the invasive cells are extruded from the microneedles and can be analyzed in terms of the number and type of cells that invade in response to defined stimuli. By including pharmacological inhibitors in the needle, signaling pathways contributing to in vivo invasion can also be identified. This assay leads to a better understanding of the cell types and signaling involved in the tumor microenvironment, and has the potential to be applied to a variety of in vivo models.
Plasma testosterone levels during chronic heroin use and protracted abstinence. A study of Hong Kong addicts.

The effects of heroin use and subsequent prolonged abstinence on plasma testosterone levels were examined in 31 male heroin addicts. Heroin (alone and in combination with methadone) significantly suppressed plasma testosterone levels. However, drug-induced testosterone suppression does not appear to be permanent in adult addicts. Recovery of testosterone levels to normal occurred after about one month of heroin abstinence.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effectiveness of a Multisector Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention

Objectives. To investigate racial/ethnic and language differences in the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (MA-CORD) study among children aged 2 to 4 years...
Distinctive Patterns of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Roots and Nodules of Datisca glomerata and Medicago spp. Revealed by Metabolomic and Gene Expression Profiles

Plants within the Nitrogen-fixing Clade (NFC) of Angiosperms form root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Actinorhizal plants (in Cucurbitales, Fagales, Rosales) form symbioses with the actinobacteria Frankia while legumes (Fabales) form symbioses with proteobacterial rhizobia. Flavonoids, secondary metabolites of the phenylpropanoid pathway, have been shown to play major roles in legume root nodule symbioses: as signal molecules that in turn trigger rhizobial nodulation initiation signals and acting as polar auxin transport inhibitors, enabling a key step in nodule organogenesis. To explore a potentially broader role for flavonoids in root nodule symbioses across the NFC, we combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of roots and nodules of the actinorhizal host Datisca glomerata and legumes of the genus Medicago. Patterns of biosynthetic pathways were inferred from flavonoid metabolite profiles and phenylpropanoid gene expression patterns in the two hosts to identify similarities and differences. Similar classes of flavonoids were represented in both hosts, and an increase in flavonoids generally in the nodules was observed, with differences in flavonoids prominent in each host. While both hosts produced derivatives of naringenin, the metabolite profile in D. glomerata indicated an emphasis on the pinocembrin biosynthetic pathway, and an abundance of flavonols with potential roles in symbiosis. Additionally, the gene expression profile indicated a decrease in expression in the lignin/monolignol pathway. In Medicago sativa, by contrast, isoflavonoids were highly abundant featuring more diverse and derived isoflavonoids than D. glomerata. Gene expression patterns supported these differences in metabolic pathways, especially evident in a difference in expression of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), which was expressed at substantially lower levels in D. glomerata than in a Medicago truncatula transcriptome where it was highly expressed. C4H is a major rate-limiting step in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis that separates the pinocembrin pathway from the lignin/monolignol and naringenin-based flavonoid branches. Shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, the link between flavonoid biosynthesis and the lignin/monolignol pathway, was also expressed at much lower levels in D. glomerata than in M. truncatula. Our results indicate (a) a likely major role for flavonoids in actinorhizal nodules, and (b) differences in metabolic flux in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis between the different hosts in symbiosis.