cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of ion activity product on remineralization behavior of carbonate-apatite pellets, hydroxyapatite pellets and hydroxyapatite powder

The effect of the ion activity product, KFAP(a10Ca2+a6PO43−a2F−) of the remineralizing solution on the remineralization behavior of carbonate-apatite pellets, hydroxyapatite pellets and hydroxyapatite powder have been studied. The pellets were demineralized in partially saturated 0.1 M acetate buffer, pH = 4.5, then rernineralized in 0.1 M acetate buffer containing 10 ppm F and various equimolar levels of 45Ca and phosphate. The hydrodynamics was controlled by using the rotating disk apparatus. The acid-abrasion and acid-etch methods were used to determine F, 45Ca and P levels at different depths. For powder remineralization studies, hydroxyapatite seed crystals were added to similar acetate buffer solutions containing Ca, P and F. The seed crystals were sonicated and maintained in uniform suspension in a thermostated beaker using a magnetic stirring bar. For carbonate-apatite pellets, there was mainly) remineralization when the ion activity product of the remineralizing solution was 1 × 10−108. When the KFAP = 10−112 and 10−116, there was simultaneous demineralization/remineralizatton. The F concentration profiles in the lesion were steepest at 1 × 10−108 and broadened with decreasing KFAP, The molar F/45Ca ratios obtained with carbonate-apatite pellets were essentially in quantitative agreement with those previously obtained with bovine dental enamel but differed somewhat from those obtained with hydroxyapatite pellets. In the hydroxyapatite powder studies the rates of crystal growth were relatively rapid at an ion activity product of 10−108, but decreased significantly at KKAP = 10−112 and were very slow at KFAP = 10−116 These powder remineralization results are consistent with remineralization behavior in the surface region of hydroxyapatite and the carbonate-apatite pellets.
Laser Desktop Machining

The sections in this article are 1 High-Power Diode Lasers 2 Examples of Direct Diode Material Processing 3 Solid Free Form From GAS Phase (Chemical Vapor Deposition) 4 Acknowledgments
Comparison of Optics and Performance of a Distal Sensor High Definition Cystoscope, a Distal Sensor Standard Definition Cystoscope, and a Fiberoptic Cystoscope

Objective To evaluate performance characteristics and optics of a new generation high-definition distal sensor (HD-DS) flexible cystoscope, a standard-definition distal sensor (SD-DS) cystoscope, and a standard fiberoptic (FO) cystoscope. Methods Three new cystoscopes (HD-DS, SD-DS, and FO) were compared for active deflection, irrigation flow, and optical characteristics. Each cystoscope was evaluated with an empty working channel and with various accessories. Optical characteristics (resolution, grayscale imaging, color representation, depth of field, and image brightness) were measured using United States Air Force (USAF)/Edmund Optics test targets and illumination meter. We digitally recorded a porcine cystoscopy in both clear and blood fields, with subsequent video analysis by 8 surgeons via questionnaire. Results The HD-DS had a higher resolution than the SD-DS and the FO at both 20 mm (6.35 vs 4.00 vs 2.24 line pairs/mm) and 10 mm (14.3 vs 7.13 vs 4.00 line pairs/mm) evaluations, respectively ( P P P = .001 and P P P = .001, and P Conclusion The new HD-DS provided significantly improved visualization in a clear and a bloody field, resolution, color representation, and depth of field compared to SD-DS and FO. Clinical correlation of these findings is pending.
Regulation of peripheral inflammation by spinal p38 MAP kinase in rats.

Background Somatic afferent input to the spinal cord from a peripheral inflammatory site can modulate the peripheral response. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms in the spinal cord that regulate this linkage have not been defined. Previous studies suggest spinal cord p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and cytokines participate in nociceptive behavior. We therefore determined whether these pathways also regulate peripheral inflammation in rat adjuvant arthritis, which is a model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods and Findings Selective blockade of spinal cord p38 MAP kinase by administering the p38 inhibitor SB203580 via intrathecal (IT) catheters in rats with adjuvant arthritis markedly suppressed paw swelling, inhibited synovial inflammation, and decreased radiographic evidence of joint destruction. The same dose of SB203580 delivered systemically had no effect, indicating that the effect was mediated by local concentrations in the neural compartment. Evaluation of articular gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR showed that spinal p38 inhibition markedly decreased synovial interleukin-1 and −6 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP3) gene expression. Activation of p38 required tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in the nervous system because IT etanercept (a TNF inhibitor) given during adjuvant arthritis blocked spinal p38 phosphorylation and reduced clinical signs of adjuvant arthritis. Conclusions These data suggest that peripheral inflammation is sensed by the central nervous system (CNS), which subsequently activates stress-induced kinases in the spinal cord via a TNFα-dependent mechanism. Intracellular p38 MAP kinase signaling processes this information and profoundly modulates somatic inflammatory responses. Characterization of this mechanism could have clinical and basic research implications by supporting development of new treatments for arthritis and clarifying how the CNS regulates peripheral immune responses.
Bilateral congenital cervical spondylolysis

A 5-month-old boy with fever underwent neck radiography that incidentally showed posterior element defects at C4 (Fig. 1, arrows). He had no history of trauma. CT scan to evaluate the retropharyngeal soft tissues confirmed bilateral clefts at the pedicolaminar junction (Fig. 2, arrows). Sclerotic margins suggest a congenital rather than traumatic etiology. Congenital cervical spondylolysis, an embryologic developmental defect, occurs most commonly at C6. The overall frequency is unknown, and most cases are detected incidentally. Well-corticated margins differentiate congenital spondylolysis from acute fracture. Unlike congenitally absent pedicle, there is no transverse process dysplasia or apparent neural foraminal enlargement [1].
The spatial analysis of modern pollen rain in big bend national park

The field of spatial analysis is a rapidly developing applied science. One area where this scientific approach can contribute to the analysis and interpretation of field sampling is in the study and distribution of pollen and spores. Pollen grains and spores have distinct spatial distributions that can be identified, analyzed, and modeled in association with significant environmental changes that have influence on resource appraisal and management. In this work the pollen is perceived as a regionalized variable and modeling procedures are used to reproduce spatial distribution patterns, and the continuity of pollen and spore data. As an example, we examine the spatial analysis of surface pollen rain from a desert environment in the Big Bend National Park region located in west Texas (Text-Figure 1[⇓][1]). [1]: #F1
The Faculty Costs to Educate a Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student

Academic medical centers nationwide face numerous fiscal challenges resulting from implementation of restructured healthcare delivery models, contracting state support for higher education, and increased competition for federal and other sources of biomedical research funding. In pursuing greater accountability and transparency in its fiscal operations, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has implemented a responsibility centers management budgetary model, which requires all MUSC colleges to be eventually self-sustaining financially. Graduate schools in the biomedical sciences are particularly vulnerable in the face of these challenges, depending traditionally as they do on financial support from training grant tuition, occasional medical school tuition and medical practice plan revenues, graduate college-based revenue-generating programs, and faculty payment of PhD tuition. The revenue streams are often insufficient to support PhD training programs, and supplemental financial support is required from the institution. In the context of a college of graduate studies, estimates of the cost of educating a graduate student become a significant necessity. This study presents a readily applicable model of empirically estimating the faculty salary costs that may provide a basis for budgetary planning that will help to sustain a biomedical sciences graduate school's commitment to its teaching, research, and service mission goals.
The Structure of a Tetraazapentacene Molecular Monolayer

Langmuir molecular monolayers of a unique tetraazapentacene zwitterionic amphiphile were found to form stripe-like domains that responded strongly to an applied magnetic field. These stripe domains were transferred as Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) films to glass substrates, where they were structurally characterized using five complementary imaging techniques, including scanning second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy and capacitance force microscopy. The molecular orientations of adjacent single striped domains of a tetraazapentacene monolayer were determined by SHG polarization measurements. Those structures were shown to be consistent across the various imaging techniques.
Smart-802.11b MAC protocol for use with smart antennas

Smart antennas enable a receiver to determine the direction of arrival (DOA) of multiple transmissions as well as to form nulls in some number of directions to maximize SINR (Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio) of the received signal. We utilize the benefits of these capabilities to develop a simple modified version of the popular 802.11b protocol. This protocol exhibits high throughput under a variety of network conditions and is fair. The performance of the protocol is examined exhaustively using joint simulation in OPNET and Matlab.
First Aid for Seizures: The Importance of Education and Appropriate Response

In most circumstances, first aid for seizures aims to protect the individual from harm during a seizure. Many people harbor misconceptions about or simply do not know how to respond to a seizure. Guidelines for seizure first aid from the Epilepsy Foundation are readily available and widely distributed, yet data from surveys and studies illustrate a deep unmet need in seizure first aid education. Lack of knowledge increases the potential for inappropriate or inadequate responses by parents, teachers, coworkers, and the public at large to repetitive or prolonged seizures, and the associated discomfort about how to provide first aid also can contribute to the general stigma associated with epilepsy. Clinicians play a key role in educating patients, parents, caregivers, and the community about how to respond to an individual who is having a seizure. This article reviews the data regarding seizure first aid knowledge among the various groups that may be called on to respond to a repetitive or prolonged seizure, highlights important goals of seizure first aid (including the prevention of status epilepticus) that should be relayed to these groups, and discusses the positive impact of seizure first aid education.
The Effect of Ca and Antidiuretic Hormone on Na Transport across Frog Skin I. Examination of interrelationships between Ca and hormone

Ca added to the solution bathing the outside of isolated frog skin causes a decrease in net Na transport across the skin while antidiuretic hormone (ADH) causes an increase. Possible interrelations between the effects of these agents have been examined. The decrease in Na transport caused by Ca was the same before and after treatment of the skin with ADH and the increase in transport caused by ADH was unaffected by the presence of Ca. The relationship between Ca concentration and degree of inhibition of Na transport was not appreciably altered by ADH. These results indicate that Ca and ADH do not compete but act independently at two different sites and these sites appear to be located on the same barrier to Na movement in the skin. Further, Ca causes a decrease in Cl influx across the short-circuited skin but ADH has no effect on Cl movement, again suggesting that the actions of these agents are independent.
Prediction of dynamic behavior of mutant strains from limited wild-type data

Abstract Metabolic engineering is the field of introducing genetic changes in organisms so as to modify their function towards synthesizing new products of high impact to society. However, engineered cells frequently have impaired growth rates thus seriously limiting the rate at which such products are made. The problem is attributable to inadequate understanding of how a metabolic network functions in a dynamic sense. Predictions of mutant strain behavior in the past have been based on steady state theories such as flux balance analysis (FBA), minimization of metabolic adjustment (MOMA), and regulatory on/off minimization (ROOM). Such predictions are restricted to product yields and cannot address productivity, which is of focal interest to applications. We demonstrate that our framework ( Song and Ramkrishna, 2010 , Song and Ramkrishna, 2011 ), based on a “cybernetic” view of metabolic systems, makes predictions of the dynamic behavior of mutant strains of Escherichia coli from a limited amount of data obtained from the wild-type. Dynamic frameworks must necessarily address the issue of metabolic regulation, which the cybernetic approach does by postulating that metabolism is an optimal dynamic response of the organism to the environment in driving reactions towards ensuring survival. The predictions made in this paper are without parallel in the literature and lay the foundation for rational metabolic engineering.
Compost Induced Soil Salinity: A New Prediction Method and Its Effect on Plant Growth

Though composts contain nutrients and can improve soils, there is widespread concern among growers in arid and semiarid regions about their salt content. We have modified an established soil hydrology model to predict the electrical conductivity (ECe) of soil-compost mixtures. The model was validated using three different soils mixed with nine different composts. This method predicted the ECe of the soil-compost mixture with a mean error of 2.7±0.2 percent. To evaluate the impact of compost salinity on plant growth, greenhouse pot experiments were conducted on lettuce, tomato, and blueberry plants amended with nine different composts. Using model predictions, compost application rates were adjusted to create soil mixtures with salinity levels similar to those associated with 10% and 25% rates of yield reduction, as reported in the scientific literature. Results indicate that compost salinity at very high rates without leaching decreases plant growth rates in a manner similar to other sources of soil salin...
Two Previously Unrecognized Scientific Names for the Strawberry Leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Aneylis pulchellana (Clemens) (NEW COMBINATION) and A. lamiana (Clemens) (NEW COMBINATION) are conspecific with and predate A. comptana fragariac (Walsh & Riley) by 4 years. A. pulchellana has priority. These newly discovered identities are based on one authentic specimen of pulchellana and the lectotypes of lamiana and fragariae. Applicability of the European name A. comptana, (Froelich) to American populations needs reconfirmation. Reassigning pulchellana and lamiana to Ancylis reduces taxonomic confusion in Anchylopera.
Estimating the Developmental Time of the Southern Pine Beetle Dendroctonus frontalis as a Function of Field Temperatures

Three methods for estimating the field developmental time of the southern pine beetle were compared. The estimates by each of the 3 methods were found to agree at high temperatures. Depending on the season of the year and temperature extremes, Method I (1st appearance of a stage to the 1st appearance of the succeeding stage) over- or under-estimated the developmental time estimated by Method IT (date 50% of the population was observed in a stage to date 50% of the population was observed in the succeeding stage) and Method III (points where highest densities were observed in succeeding stages). The egg stage was found to last 8–27 days, the larval stage 10–62 days, and the pupal stage 7–26 days, depending upon mean temperature. The range of temperatures observed in the field was between 4° and 28°C.
The Spiritual Features of the Zhou Nationality Demonstrated in The Poetry

The Poetry is compiled with part of the poems that record the stories of the ancient Chinese in their establishment and development of the Zhou Dynasty. The poems reflect the people's life from the myths and legends passed down for generations and are epical in nature. The ancient poems become a focus of the history of how our ancestors in the Zhou Dynasty settled down and did pioneering work, and praise their glorious accomplishments as the pioneers in exploring the Yellow River Valley and in creating their homeland. Through these poems, it is not difficult to find out their strong will to develop their homeland and their realistic attitude towards the hard work and risks in the re establishment of their new home. It also demonstrates their national character in repudiating violence, avoiding unnecessary adventures and supporting the reign with rational rule. It is not exaggerated to say that these fine qualities in the Zhou Dynasty have been passed down year after year to us and can still be observed in the present life in the modern society.
Study on HIV disease burden and related risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in Yuxi Prefecture, Yunnan Province during 2010-2013

Objective The HIV epidemic is rapidly increasing among men who have sex with men(MSM) in China. To pay attention to data on the HIV infection and risk behaviors of MSM related to HIV transmission. Methods We conducted continuity of crosssectional survey, questionnaire survey and serology monitoring among MSM in Yuxi Prefecture of Yunnan Province were conducted.BED-capture enzyme immunoassay was used to estimate the incidence rates. Men were recruited by snowball(participant referrals)and nomination sampling methods at gay-oriented venues and hotspots. Results A total of 1 188 MSM participated in this study across the four surveys. The overall HIV prevalence in four-year was 6.6%(95%CI: 5.2-8.0) and the estimated incidence rate was 4.6%(95%CI: 3.4-5.8), fell from 7.4%(95%CI: 0.0-15.8) in 2010 to 3.4%(95%CI: 1.8-5.0) in 2013.A reported 30.5% of MSM were married and27.5% had sex with females in the past 6 months. Condom use rate in male partners was from 81.4% in 2010 up to 96% in 2013 at the last anal sex(P0.001). Condom use rate during anal sex with male partners was from 44.2% in 2010 up to 77.3% in 2013 over the past six months(P0.001). Condom use rate with female increased from 56.3% in 2010 up to 61.6% in 2013 at the last anal sex(P0.001).Males who never used condom with females fell from 37.5% to 21.2% over the past six months(P0.001). Conclusion HIV prevalence is high among Chinese MSM in Yunnan, and they have high risk factors in heterosexual sex behaviors. Condom use rate is low, which suggests a potential spread of HIV from MSM to females.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular physiology in sleep.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular physiology in sleep. The cardiovascular responses to rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep are described. The incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events is highest in the early-morning hours after awakening. The chapter reviews the principles of cerebral blood flow regulation during normal sleep and the changes observed during sleep-disordered breathing. Widespread recognition of the important interactions between sleep, maintenance of health, and prevention of disease has resulted in increased attention to sleep related changes in physiologic regulation of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. These complex control mechanisms differ significantly from circulatory control during wakefulness and may be altered by disease conditions. Disturbed cardiac and neurovascular regulation may have pathophysiologic implications. Some examples include the association between REM sleep and nocturnal angina, the preponderance of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in the early-morning hours after waking from sleep, and the suggestion that sleep apnea-related circulatory changes may be linked to a high likelihood of sudden cardiac death occurring during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Cold blood potassium cardioplegia. Effects of increasing concentrations of potassium.

The optimal levels of potassium for cardioplegia have been reported to be 13 to 40 mEq/L, although 24 hour preservation of the heart has been achieved with 120 ± 6 mEq/L and Melrose described use of 245 mEq/L. Five groups of six dogs each had 1 hour of myocardial ischemia with a systemic temperature of 27° ± 2° C and a myocardial temperature of 7° ± 2° C (crushed ice) after coronary perfusion with 200 ml of blood (6° ± 2° C at 70 mm Hg) containing various concentrations of potassium chloride: 30 mEq/L (K-30), 60 (K-60), 120 (K-120), or 240 mEq/L (K-240). One group (2K-30) had perfusion with 400 ml of cold blood containing potassium chloride, 30 mEq/L. Baseline studies were repeated after 40 minutes of reperfusion and warming to 37.5° ± 0.5° C. Peak systolic pressure declined in K-60 and K-240 dogs. Indices of myocardial contractility (Vmax, Vce, and dp/dt) declined in K-240 hearts. Left ventricular compliance and muscle stiffness did not change. Heart water and coronary vascular resistance were unchanged. Total coronary flow was elevated during reperfusion in K-30 and 2K-30 hearts but was unchanged in the others. Myocardial oxygen consumption was increased throughout reperfusion in K-30 hearts and was depressed during early reperfuson in K-60, K-120, and K-240 hearts. Lactate uptake was reduced during early reperfusion in all groups except 2K-30. Myocardial biopsy specimens revealed a 70% to 82% decline in creatine phosphate with return to control during reperfusion in all groups. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) did not fall with ischemia but did so with reperfusion in K-60 and K-120 hearts. Ultrastructurally, there was focal myofibrillar injury in all groups. Two lesions, (1) capillary endothelial bleb formation and (2) intracellular vacuolization, were present in K-60, K-120, and K-240 hearts but were not progressive. The relative lack of injury related to increasing potassium concentrations is related to the use of profound hypothermia.
Improving the Visible Light Photoactivity of Supported Fullerene Photocatalysts through the Use of [C70] Fullerene

We herein present the first instance of employing [C70] fullerene for photocatalytic 1O2 production in water, through covalent immobilization onto a mesoporous silica support via nucelophilic amine addition directly to fullerene’s cage. This attachment approach prevents the aggregation of individual fullerene molecules in water, thus allowing fullerene to retain its photoactivity, yet is much less complex than other techniques commonly pursued to create such supported-fullerene materials, which typically rely on water-soluble fullerene derivatives and elaborate immobilization methods. The solid-supported C70 material exhibits significantly improved aqueous visible-light photoactivity compared to previous C60- and C60-derivative-based supported fullerene materials. Further, this material rapidly inactivates MS2 bacteriophage under sunlight illumination, oxidizes various organic contaminants, and does not appear to be significantly fouled by natural organic matter (NOM), highlighting the potential of these ...
Structure of the sirtuin-linked macrodomain SAV0325 from Staphylococcus aureus

Cells use the post-translational modification ADP-ribosylation to control a host of biological activities. In some pathogenic bacteria, an operon-encoded mono-ADP-ribosylation cycle mediates response to host-induced oxidative stress. In this system, reversible mono ADP-ribosylation of a lipoylated target protein represses oxidative stress response. An NAD(+) -dependent sirtuin catalyzes the single ADP-ribose (ADPr) addition, while a linked macrodomain-containing protein removes the ADPr. Here we report the crystal structure of the sitruin-linked macrodomain protein from Staphylococcus aureus, SauMacro (also known as SAV0325) to 1.75-A resolution. The monomeric SauMacro bears a previously unidentified Zn(2+) -binding site that putatively aids in substrate recognition and catalysis. An amino-terminal three-helix bundle motif unique to this class of macrodomain proteins provides a structural scaffold for the Zn(2+) site. Structural features of the enzyme further indicate a cleft proximal to the Zn(2+) binding site appears well suited for ADPr binding, while a deep hydrophobic channel in the protein core is suitable for binding the lipoate of the lipoylated protein target.
ENZYMES FROM HUMAN FIBROBLASTS FOR THE REPAIR OF AP DNA

ABSTRACT AP endonuclease activity from cultured human fibroblasts was resolved into two species by phosphocellulose chromatography with Km's for apurinic sites of 5 and 44 nM, respectively. The low Km species was not detected in extracts of Xeroderma pigmentosum group D cell lines XP5BE, XP6BE, or XP7BE. In assaying for the endonclease activity by its ability specifically to bind apurinic DNA we resolved from the endonuclease activity a 120,000 dalton protein that also specifically binds to this DNA. The protein appears to have the ability to reinsert purines into the apurinic DNA residues.
HMVR-tree: A Multi-version R-tree Based on HBase for Concurrent Access

With the development of cloud computing, more and more large scale multi-dimensional data are stored on cloud platforms. Multi-dimensional index is an efficient technique to support processing data efficiently. Designing a multi-dimensional index which supports multi-user concurrent access efficiently has become a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a multi-version R-tree based on HBase (HMVR-tree) to support multiple concurrent access. HMVR-tree maintains the newest version of tree while keeping all the old versions of the nodes for efficient concurrent update and query access to different nodes. The evaluation results show that MHVR-tree has good scalability and has much higher update throughput and the same level query throughput compared to the original R-tree on HBase.
Non-invasive imaging of ventricular activation during pacing and arrhythmia: Methods and validation

Cardiovascular disease continued to be a leading killer world widely. Each year, about 400,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest are reported in the U.S. alone. Clinically, radio-frequency ablative procedure has become widely applied in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmia. Non-invasive approaches have been demonstrated to be able to provide important information on the arrhythmogenesis and potentially assist in the clinical practice. In this work, we develop and validate a novel temporal sparse based imaging method, Cardiac Electrical Sparse Imaging (CESI). Computer simulation and animal validation results demonstrate that the CESI approach is capable of imaging with improved accuracy and robustness by exploiting the temporal sparse property underlying cellular electrophysiology. Overall, a CC of 0.8, RE of 0.2 and LE (localization error) of 7 mm has been achieved on human realistic simulation and good accuracy has been observed in canine simultaneous mapping studies. Also, the technique maintains full temporal resolution (RRE < 0.04) in terms of the activation sequence under various disturbances and in various pathologies such as premature ventricular complex and ventricular tachycardia. Our promising results indicate the excellent performance of noninvasive imaging of cardiac activation under various arrhythmias, and its potential for aiding clinical management of lethal ventricular arrhythmia.
Conditions Under Which a Submanifold Fn from En+p Belongs to E2n−1

We consider a submanifold F n with n principal directions in the space E n+p , where p ≥ n − 1.
Very short-term photovoltaic power forecasting using uncertain basis function

Solar photovoltaics (PV), one of the most promising and rapidly developing renewable energy technologies, has evolved towards becoming a main renewable electricity source. It is termed variable energy resources since solar irradiance is intermittent in nature. This variability is a critical factor when predicting the available energy of solar sources. Capital and operational costs associated with solar PV implementation are highly affected when inaccurate predictions are carried out. This paper presents a new forecasting model for solar PV by utilizing historical inter-minute data to outline a short-term probabilistic model of solar. The proposed methodology employs a probabilistic approach to predict short-term solar PV power based on uncertain basis functions. The PV forecasting model is applied to power generation from a 13.5 kW rooftop PV panel installed on the Distributed Energy, Communications, and Controls (DECC) laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The results are compared with standard time series approach, which have shown a substantial improvement in the prediction accuracy of the total solar energy produced.
Postsurgical mediastinal aspergilloma masquerading as malignancy.

A 70-year-old man with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy presented with symptoms of fatigue, chills and unintentional weight loss over the past 2 months. Initial evaluation revealed anaemia, peripheral leucocytosis and elevated inflammatory markers. Results of an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, blood bacterial and fungal cultures and bone marrow biopsy were negative. An 18F-FDG positron-emission tomography-CT demonstrated an indeterminate, intensely FDG-avid 5 cm × 2 cm × 5.6 cm × 6.7 cm mass centred within the junction of the superior vena cava and right atrium, suggestive of probable malignancy versus an inflammatory thrombus. After multidisciplinary consideration, patient underwent a diagnostic minithoracotomy and a thick fibrotic mediastinal mass was visualised and evacuated. The encapsulated mass contained thick, white creamy liquid that appeared to be purulent/necrotic material. The biopsies of the capsule wall on frozen section demonstrated fungal elements consistent with Aspergillosis species. Fungal culture confirmed diagnosis of Aspergillus fumigatus.
Testing Google Earth Engine for the automatic identification and vectorization of archaeological features: A case study from Faynan, Jordan

Abstract Google Earth Engine (GEE) is an in-development, cloud-based platform providing access to petabytes of satellite imagery data for planetary-scale analysis (Google Earth Engine Team 2015). Combining this massive database with the parallel computing power of Google's infrastructure facilitates quick and easy analysis of satellite imagery on any scale, opening new avenues for research in a number of fields. This paper evaluates the potential role GEE can play in the future of archaeological research. To do so, GEE was employed/tested in two case studies. First, GEE was used to automatically identify specific archaeological features across the landscape of the archaeologically-rich Faynan region of Southern Jordan. Second, GEE-based edge-detection and automatic vectorization for mapping archaeological sites was tested at the Iron Age (ca. 1200–900 BCE) site of Khirbat al-Jariya in Faynan. Based on the test results, the authors concluded that GEE has significant potential for assisting archaeologists with automated feature detection and vectorization, tasks that are often onerous and expensive.
Trade Partnerships and Environmental Performance in Developing Countries

A large scholarship surrounds the relationship between trade and the environment, with much of it centering on whether trade produces a race to the bottom or a race to the top in the environments o...
Risk–reward optimization, within a value assurance framework, for improving return on investment in enterprise information system engineering

Gaining an “information edge” over the competition can be a powerful catalyst for enterprise transformation. However, projects for fielding enterprise information systems too often fail, especially...
Cosmetic reconstruction of temporal defect following pterional [corrected] craniotomy.

BACKGROUND Depression of the temporal fossa that is often caused by atrophy of the temporalis muscle or superficial temporal fat pad may be an unavoidable defect following pterional craniotomy. Various techniques have been previously described to correct this disfiguring defect. Most techniques, however, require drilling holes into the cranium or the synthetic grafts for attachment of the temporalis muscle. METHODS A simple method is described by which a temporal fossa depression is repaired with methylmethacrylate bone cement and a new superior temporal line is created for attachment of the temporalis muscle without the need to drill suture holes into the acrylic or the cranium. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The technique described has been used on several patients with excellent cosmetic outcome.
The Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities (CARDIAC) Project: An 18 Year Review.

BACKGROUND The Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities (CARDIAC) Project is a chronic disease risk factor surveillance, intervention, and research initiative aimed at combating the unacceptably high prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses in West Virginia. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS The school-based public health project identifies health risk factors in children, educates families, informs primary care physicians, and provides resources to schools to help improve population health, beginning with children. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Details regarding methodology, results, and conclusions derived from this unique public health initiative that has screened over 200,000 children are the subject of this 18- year review.
The Torelli Theorem for Ordinary K3 Surfaces over Finite Fields

Shafarevich’s and Piatetski-Shapiro’s proof of the Torelli theorem for K3 surfaces over C [13] is one of the most beautiful proofs in complex algebraic geometry.
Down-regulation of specific members of the glutamine synthetase gene family in alfalfa by antisense RNA technology.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the ATP-dependent condensation of NH3 with glutamate to produce glutamine. In plants GS is an octameric enzyme and is located either in the cytoplasm (GS1) or in the chloroplast (GS2). Two distinct classes of GS1 genes with unique 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) have been identified in alfalfa. We have demonstrated that the two classes exhibit differential expression pattern in the different plant organs suggesting different functional roles for the different isozymes. To determine the functional significance ofss the two classes of GS1 genes in alfalfa, we have utilized antisense gene constructs aimed specifically at the 3′UTR of the two GS1 genes and introduced them individually into alfalfa. Our data show that the gene constructs are effective in lowering the corresponding transcript level very effectively though there were organ-specific differences in the level of reduction. No transcript corresponding to the antisense gene construct was detected in any of the alfalfa transformants though they accumulated to significant levels in transgenic tobacco containing the same construct. This suggests that the antisense transcript was not stable in the presence of the homologous target sequence. Transgenic alfalfa with up to 80% reduction in the transcript level corresponding to each gene class, however, showed no reduction in GS activity or GS1 polypeptide level. The results suggest that GS1 mRNA levels are not rate-limiting for GS1 polypeptide synthesis and that GS1 levels are controlled both at the transcriptional and translational/post-translational level.
A comparison of different laboratory and clinical findings in Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) (P1.456)

Objective: This retrospective study aims to recognize distinctive clinical and paraclinical features of SFN in patients from Saint Louis University between 2014–2016. Background: SFN affects the axons of small, poorly myelinated (Aδ) and/or small, un-myelinated (C) fibers. Diagnosis is made primarily by the history and physical examination, but neurophysiologic testing and skin biopsy provides confirmation. Etiologies vary, with diabetes-mellitus being the most common. Previous studies have identified the association of immune-mediated SFN with trisulfated-disaccharide-IdoA2S-GlcNS-6S(TS-HDS) and Fibroblast Growth-Factor-Receptor(FGFR3) antigens. Design/Methods: The medical records were divided into categories of symptoms, signs, comorbidities and investigation findings. A key investigative tool used was the Washington University (WASH-U) Neuromuscular laboratory sensory panel which tests for antibodies against TS-HDS, FGF-R3, and MAG amongst others which have been associated with sensory predominant axonal neuropathies. Results: Mean age of the patients was 51±14.5 years. All patients were confirmed to have SFN by history, clinical exam and/or low intra-epidermal nerve fiber density(INFD). Large fiber involvement was ruled out via clinical exam and electrophysiologic tests. Of 117 patients, 55% tested positive for TS-HDS and 23% for FGFR3. 17.9% of the patients had DM, making the second cause of small fiber neuropathy in our cohort. 45% had low INFD on skin biopsies. 22% of patients had associated autonomic symptoms such as lightheadedness, dry mouth and eyes. Conclusions: SFN should be considered in all patients with painful neuropathy and normal electrodiagnostic study. In our patients, INFD was helpful in 45% of all cases. Looking for inflammatory/autoimmune markers like TSHDS and FGFR3 antibodies may be helpful in making final diagnosis as these markers were positive in 55% of our cases. Autonomic features are common in these patients. A larger sample is needed to conclude clinical manifestations of the symptoms, immune-mediated mechanism of the disease, antibody titers in association to the severity of INFD and responses to immune-modulating therapy. Disclosure: Dr. Massaquoi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kafaie has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kumar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Naeem has nothing to disclose.
From Privilege to Prevalence: Contextual Effects of Women’s Schooling on African Marital Timing

In Africa and elsewhere, educated women tend to marry later than their less-educated peers. Beyond being an attribute of individual women, education is also an aggregate phenomenon: the social meaning of a woman's educational attainment depends on the educational attainments of her age-mates. Using data from 30 countries and 246 birth cohorts across sub-Saharan Africa, we investigate the impact of educational context (the percentage of women in a country cohort who ever attended school) on the relationship between a woman's educational attainment and her marital timing. In contexts where access to education is prevalent, the marital timing of uneducated and highly educated women is more similar than in contexts where attending school is limited to a privileged minority. This across-country convergence is driven by uneducated women marrying later in high-education contexts, especially through lower rates of very early marriages. However, within countries over time, the marital ages of women from different educational groups tend to diverge as educational access expands. This within-country divergence is most often driven by later marriage among highly educated women, although divergence in some countries is driven by earlier marriage among women who never attended school.
Development of a Method to Quantify Abnormal Kinetic and Kinematic Coupling Patterns during Functional Movements in the Paretic Arm and Hand of Individuals with Pediatric Hemiplegia

A main focus of clinical interventions for adults after a stroke and children with hemiplegia is upper limb motor impairments. Robotic and motion capture technologies have been used to quantify the presence of abnormal joint coupling patterns in the arm and hand in adults who have had a stroke. Similar impairments have been observed clinically in children with hemiplegia, however, quantitative measurement tools tailored for this population are lacking. Here, we describe the integration of haptic robotics, pressure recording, and motion capture designed specifically for use with pediatric participants. Preliminary results demonstrate that these measurement techniques are effective in quantifying deficits in reaching abilities in this population.
Computational analysis of self-similar capillary-driven thinning and pinch-off dynamics during dripping using the volume-of-fluid method

Drop formation and detachment involve large topological changes, including the formation of a fluid neck that thins down due to surface tension-driven flows, and at the neck pinch-off, properties like Laplace pressure display a finite time singularity. Accurately simulating large topological deformations and nonlinearities encountered during drop formation typically makes numerical simulations computationally demanding as resolving small features close to the pinch-off instant requires high resolution and accuracy. In spite of the inherent advantages in tracking interfaces, preserving mass and computational time needed, very few studies utilize the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method for drop formation studies as early practitioners reported convergence problems for fluids with viscosity greater than ten times water viscosity. In this contribution, we utilize the VOF method as implemented in FLOW-3D to simulate the prototypical free surface flow of dripping for Newtonian fluids, including viscosity values four orders of magnitude higher than water viscosity. We benchmark the simulated neck shape, neck evolution rate, and break-up length against experiments carried out as a part of this study. The pinch-off dynamics are determined by a complex interplay of inertial, viscous, and capillary stresses, and self-similar scaling laws that are contrasted here against both experiments and simulations often describe the dynamics. We show that the simulated radius evolution profiles match the pinch-off dynamics that are experimentally observed and theoretically predicted for Newtonian fluids for axisymmetric flows. Furthermore, we determine pre-factors for scaling laws, velocity, and deformation fields within thinning necks, and we show that pre-factors, as well as break-up time and length comparable to experiments can be simulated using the VOF method.
The Favorite-Longshot Midas

Common valuations pose an obstacle to trade and thus an existential threat to brokers, who profit from taxing trade. We write down a model in which a broker drives a wedge between valuations by deceiving gullible traders. Separate valuations facilitate arbitrage, and arbitrage generates brokerage fees. We then show that this scheme explains a classic case of market inefficiency: the favorite-longshot bias in horserace parimutuel markets. Racetracks induce naive bettors to overbet longshots by promulgating predictions that overestimate the chances of longshots. This creates arbitrage opportunities for sophisticated bettors and additional income for tracks. We document substantial cross-track variation in the extent of the favorite-longshot bias. Using original data, we show that this variation is predicted by the degree to which tracks overestimate the chances of longshots. Previous explanations for the favorite-longshot bias—i.e., speculation, probability weighting, and belief heterogeneity—can only explain cross-track variation in the bias with preferences or beliefs that vary idiosyncratically by track.
Why Cybernetics? Why Love?

Cyberneticians are an eclectic group, connected by their affinity for a way of seeing and knowing that is unfamiliar to most people—namely, one based on “the circularity of observing and communicat...
Multiproduct firms and antidumping duties: Evidence from India

ABSTRACTWith the growing availability of high-quality higher-dimension data in international trade, many new stylized facts have also emerged. One such stylized fact is that multiproduct firms play...
Dualband Multi-Constellation GNSS Antenna

this paper demonstrates a Dual band Multi-Constellation GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Antenna solution for automotive applications. In designing a GNSS Antenna to cover global requirements and specifications to be considered in order to support multiple navigation satellite constellations. In addition to GPS, the GLONASS constellation is required to support ERA-GLONASS in Russia, the Galileo constellation is required to support eCall in Europe. Also, there is the BeiDou constellation being deployed by China. These constellations have varying bandwidths and carrier frequencies, it is a challenge to design and integrate an antenna solution to support global coverage. In this paper, a single Dual band multi- constellation patch antenna is designed and result shows some of the potential applications.
Verification of Arms Control Treaties with Resonance Phenomena

Nuclear disarmament treaties are not sufficient in and of themselves to neutralize the existential threat of nuclear weapons. Technologies are necessary for verifying the authenticity of the nuclea...
Reactivation of Motor-Related Gamma Activity in Human NREM Sleep

Models of memory consolidation posit a central role for reactivation of brain activity patterns during sleep, especially in non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. While such "replay" of recent waking experiences has been well-demonstrated in rodents, electrophysiological evidence of reactivation in human sleep is still largely lacking. In this intracranial study in patients with epilepsy (N = 9) we explored the spontaneous electroencephalographic reactivation during sleep of spatial patterns of brain activity evoked by motor learning. We first extracted the gamma-band (60-140 Hz) patterns underlying finger movements during a tapping task and underlying no-movement during a short rest period just prior to the task, and trained a binary classifier to discriminate between motor movements vs. rest. We then used the trained model on NREM sleep data immediately after the task and on NREM sleep during a control sleep period preceding the task. Compared with the control sleep period, we found, at the subject level, an increase in the detection rate of motor-related patterns during sleep following the task, but without association with performance changes. These data provide electrophysiological support for the reoccurrence in NREM sleep of the neural activity related to previous waking experience, i.e. that a basic tenet of the reactivation theory does occur in human sleep.