cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Drug Permeation Through Silicone Elastomers (I) Effect of Penetrant Hydrophilicity

AbstractThe hydrophilicity of progesterone, a lipophilic penetrant, was progres sively increased by addition of one or more hydroxy substituents at different positions on the steroid skeleton. Effects of these hydrophilic substituents on the kinetics and thermodynamics of permeation of progesterone molecules through polydimethylsiloxane and polytrifluoropropylmethylsiloxane membranes were studied. The addition of OH groups was found to reduce substantially the apparent and intrinsic permeation rates of progesterone. The magnitude of this reduction was observed to be dependent upon the number and the position of hydroxy groups and could be attributed to the decrease in the polymer solubility and the increase in the aqueous solubility of progesterone molecules. A remarkable difference was observed between the intrinsic and apparent rates of permeation for progesterone, while no significant difference for the hydroxyl derivatives of progesterone. The rate of permeation increased with temperature as expected ...
Assessment for Learning: Shifting Our Focus.

Thirty years ago in a report about ability testing, the National Research Council (NRC) concluded that although these forms of tests can be useful, “they are limited instruments and do not tell eve...
Some NP-complete problems in linear programming

Degeneracy checking in linear programming is NP-complete. So is the problem of checking whether there exists a basic feasible solution with a specified objective value.
Towards A Multi-Terminal Video Compression Algorithm By Integrating Distributed Source Coding With Geometrical Constraints

In this paper, we present a framework for multi- terminal video compression (MTVC) that exploits the geo- metric constraints between cameras with overlapping fields of view, and then uses distributed source coding on cor- responding points in two or more views. There are two main parts of the paper - a Distributed Motion Estimation (DME) algorithm and a Distributed Source Coding (DSC) algorithm. The novelty of the approach lies in the integration of these two parts. The overall algorithm is developed such that future improvements in either of the two parts can be integrated into it. We start by describing the algorithm for obtaining corresponding points followed by the distributed coding strategy. Our experiments provide a benchmark on the upper bound of the gain obtained through distributed coding of a pair of video sequences, as opposed to coding each of them separately. We also show results on a real- life face video sequence obtained by a pair of overlapping cameras. Through this experimental analysis, we show that at low bit-rates MTVC can achieve very significant savings.
Then and Now and When

Since the 1970s, it has been clear that the health community needs to develop a health care system that matches a person's needs with the expertise and technology to address those needs. The logical solution is a multi-tiered system. In such a system, physicians would provide second- and third-tier services and other health professionals would provide first- and second-tier services. Medical informatics should take on the challenge of supporting the decision to triage patients from one tier of service to another. Triage decisions are different from other decisions in health sciences because they take place early in the life of a problem, when little information is available, and can be made safely if adjusted to tolerate erring on the side of referral.
3-sensor array for hand held breath diagnostic tool

Polymorphic transitions in nanocrystalline metal oxides leads to structural transformations resulting in differing properties at varying operating temperatures. Nanocrystalline MoO3 transforms from a metastable monoclinic phase to stable orthorhombic phase when heat treated in the temperature range of 420C to 500C. Gas sensing results have shown that at 420C MoO3 is sensitive to Isoprene, a 450C it shows sensitivity to CO2 and to ammonia at 500C. DSC data has proved that MoO3 changes crystal structure to monoclinic at 420C and to orthorhombic at about485C. This confirms a correlation between structure and gas sensing properties of MoO3. Using this knowledge a hand-held diagnostic tool is developed to monitor specific breath gases which can be biomarkers for diseases. The device consists of three sensors, the read-out gives a real time resistance value for each resistive sensor which is stored in a microprocessor. This is a one of a kind handheld tool for disease detection using ceramic sensors as detectors for gases which are known to be biomarkers for diseases.
Determinants of polychlorinated biphenyls in dust from homes in California, USA.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) production ceased in the U.S. over 30 years ago, but these persistent chemicals remain ubiquitous contaminants. Here, we evaluate potential determinants of PCB levels in dust from California homes including characteristics of the residence as well as the residents' habits and occupations. Dust was collected from 415 households as part of a large case-control study (the Northern California Childhood Leukaemia Study), using a high-volume small surface sampler. Dust concentrations of 6 PCBs (PCB-105, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-170, and PCB-180) were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Individual PCB detection rates ranged from 9% to 54% with PCB concentrations ranging from below detection (1 or 2 ng g−1) to 270 ng g−1 and PCB loadings ranging from below detection to 960 ng m−2. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to identify potential determinants of residential PCB contamination based on in-home interviews and residential geographic locations. We observed that residences built prior to 1980 had higher odds of PCB detection and higher PCB loadings than more recently constructed homes. Households where residents typically did not remove their shoes had higher PCB dust loadings than households where residents did. PCBs were less likely to be detected in carpet dust from households that had frequently vacuumed or replaced carpets compared to other households. Since we used a cross-sectional dust sampling protocol and report significant, but modest, effects of these determinants on levels of PCBs in residential dust, our results should be interpreted with caution. Longitudinal studies to determine optimal strategies for reducing PCBs in homes are warranted.
Bio-Inspired Group Behaviors for the Deployment of a Swarm of Robots to Multiple Destinations

We present a methodology for characterizing and synthesizing swarm behaviors using both a macroscopic model that represents a swarm as a continuum and a microscopic model that represents individual robots. We develop a systematic approach for synthesizing behaviors at the macroscopic level that can be realized on individual robots at the microscopic level. Our methodology is inspired by a dynamical model of ant house hunting [1], a decentralized process in which a colony attempts to emigrate to the best site among several alternatives. The model is hybrid because the colony switches between different sets of behaviors, or modes, during this process. At the macroscopic level, we are able to synthesize controllers that result in the deployment of a robotic swarm in a predefined ratio between distinct sites. We then derive hybrid controllers for individual robots using only local interactions and no communication that respect the specifications of the global continuous behavior. Our simulations demonstrate that our synthesis procedure yields a correct microscopic model from the macroscopic description with guarantees on performance at both levels
Influencing the secretion of myogenic factors from mesenchymal stem cells

Mounting evidence indicates that the regenerative effect of mesenchymal stem cells in skeletal muscle is related to the secretion of factors that stimulate resident myogenic cells. However, the environmental cues that affect the secreted factors of mesenchymal stem cells are not well understood. A recent publication demonstrated that secretion of factors is dependent on cell substrate, with mesenchymal stem cells grown on laminin providing more pro-myogenic factors than those grown on collagen, and that cellular strain may also play a role. Conditioned media from mesenchymal stem cells grown on laminin and subjected to strain provided the quickest and largest stimulation to myogenic cell proliferation. The influence of cell substrate and mechanical perturbation on mesenchymal stem cells therefore appears key to secretion of factors that support myogenesis.
A simulation study of quality index in machine-component grouping

Abstract Simulation modeling is employed to determine the effectiveness of quality index in screening machine-part matrices for the development of cellular manufacturing systems.
An axial injection system for the ORIC

An axial injection system has been designed for injection of high intensity beams of H/sup -/, D/sup -/, and He/sup ++/ into the Oak Ridge Isochronous Cyclotron (ORIC). The device consists of two high-voltage platforms, two external ion sources, a double-drift-tube beam bunching system, a spiral inflector and integrated beam analysis diagnostics and focusing elements. With the axial injection system, it is expected that more than 100 /spl mu/A of high quality, primary light ion beams will be extracted from the ORIC using either the existing septum extraction system for He/sup ++/ beams or a foil stripping extraction system for extracting either H/sup +/ or D/sup +/ beams. In addition, beam scattering and the consequent internal activation problems, endemic with the present short lifetime internal Penning discharge source along with the down times attributable to its maintenance will be dramatically reduced.
Compositional Changes in Mango Fruit During Ripening at Different Storage Temperatures

Chemical changes in Haden, Irwin, Kent, and Keitt mangos stored at 16-28°C and 85-90% RH were followed to determine the optimum storage and ripening conditions. Weight loss was slightly higher at 25° and 28°C than at 16-22°C. Breakdown in acidity during ripening was slower at 16°C. Vitamin C showed two basic trends; a general decrease as in Haden, Irwin, and Keitt or a steady increase as in Kent. Total and β-carotenoids were significantly higher at 22-28°C than at 16-20°C. No significant differences were observed with respect to carbohydrate and soluble solids content. However, sucrose increased spectacularly at all temperatures contributing most to the increase in sweetness. The pattern of chemical changes were strikingly similar in all the varieties. Temperatures of 20-22°C and 85-90% RH are recommended for storage and ripening of mangos to obtain sufficiently acceptable quality attributes.
PAY PREFERENCES AND JOB SEARCH DECISIONS: A PERSON-ORGANIZATION FIT PERSPECTIVE

The present study investigated the degree to which pay preferences influenced job search decisions in both hypothetical and actual organizations, and the degree to which preferences for particular compensation attributes depended on job seekers' dispositional characteristics. Based on prior theory and research, we hypothesized that certain pay systems generally would be preferred by job seekers, that these pay systems would affect applicant attraction to organizations, and that different types of job seekers would be attracted to different types of pay systems. The sample comprised 171 college students who were seeking jobs during the study, and who represented six majors, three degree types, and two degree levels. Experimental policy-capturing results and results obtained about actual companies with which the job seekers would potentially interview supported hypotheses that organizations perceived to offer high pay levels, flexible benefits, individualbased pay, and fixed pay policies were more attractive to job seekers. Results fiirther suggested that the attractiveness of these pay policies may be heightened by greater levels of fit between individual personality traits and compensation system characteristics. Pay is an important job attribute (Jurgensen, 1978) and has a significant influence on job attractiveness and subsequent job choice decisions (Rynes, 1987; Rynes, Schwab, & Heneman, 1983). Research on the relationship between compensation systems and job attractiveness typically has examined the effects of pay level (Barber, 1991; Gerhart & Milkovich, 1992). However, components of pay systems other than pay This article is based on the first author's master's thesis completed under the supervision of the second author. This study was funded by the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies, Cornell University. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Ninth Annual Conference of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology,
Systems biology of bacteriophage proteins and new dimensions of the virus world discovered through metagenomics

Most of the DNA viruses in the gastrointestinal tract are phages, which infect bacterial hosts. Despite phages being the most abundant organisms on Earth, as well as extremely active players in the global ecosystem, much remains unknown about how they function in their natural environments. Advances in whole genome sequencing technologies have generated a large collection of hundreds of phage genomes, allowing deep insight into the genetic evolution of phages, and metagenomics technologies seem to promise more rewarding glimpses into their life cycles and community structures. Recently, we developed an automated approach to assemble a collection of orthologous gene clusters of double-stranded DNA phages (phage orthologous groups, or POGs). This approach follows the well-known clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) framework to identify sets of orthologs by examining top-ranked sequence similarities between proteins in complete genomes without the use of arbitrary similarity cutoffs, and it thus represents a natural system for examining fast-evolving and slow-evolving proteins alike. This automated approach was designed to keep pace with the rapid and accelerating growth of whole genome information from sequencing projects. In particular, we employ a faster graph-theoretical COG-building algorithm that vastly improves our ability to deal with larger numbers of genomes (N) by reducing the worst-case complexity from O(N6) to O(N3 × log N). This system encompasses more than 2,000 groups from the almost 600 known phage genomes deposited at the National Center for Biotechnology Information and is in the process of being expanded to include single-stranded DNA phages and single- and double-stranded RNA phages. Using this approach, we found that more than half of the POGs have no or very few evolutionary connections to their cellular hosts, indicating that these phages combine the ability to share and transduce the host genes with the ability to maintain a large fraction of unique, phage-specific, genes. Such genes are useful for targeted research strategies: for example, as diagnostic indicators and fundamental units of systems biology studies. We employed this set of phage-specific genes to probe the composition of several oceanic metagenomic samples. Although virus-enriched samples indeed contain more homologous matches to phage-specific POGs than a full metagenomic sample also containing cellular DNA, the total gene repertoire of the marine DNA virome is dramatically different from that of known phages. In particular, it is dominated by rare genes, many of which might be contained within viruslike entities such as cellular gene transfer agents rather than true viruses. This result might suggest the necessity of radically rethinking what constitutes the ‘virus world’, because the major component of (marine) viromes could be gene transfer agents that encapsidate bacterial and archaeal genes.
Priority queueing strategies and buffer allocation protocols for traffic control at an ATM integrated broadband switching system

The problem of furnishing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) based broadband-ISDN (B-ISDN) with two bearer services supporting different grades of transfer quality is addressed. The focus is on priority bandwidth and buffer management in the ATM communications nodes (switches, multiplexers or concentrators, and expanders) in the context of a multichannel network architecture. Detailed queueing analyses and simulations and results are provided to evaluate the differentiation between traffic classes that can be achieved by different strategies. The implementation complexity of the different schemes is discussed. Various priority queueing strategies characterized mainly by different degrees of resource sharing and a general system model for performance evaluation are introduced. Performance comparisons and design tradeoffs are addressed. >
Anatomy of the ferret heart: an animal model for cardiac research.

The hearts of 38 black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were studied with the use of physiologic, microdissection, vascular injection and histologic methods. These animals had a mean heart rate of 265 per minute, a heart weight of 3.7–5.2 gm, and a mean aortic pressure of 139.5 mm Hg. The predominant left coronary artery supplied usually both the SA and AV nodes, as well as the AV bundle, bundle branches and most of the ventricular myocardium. The cells of a well differentiated cardiac conduction system increase in cytoplasmic diameter from the SA node to the distal bundle branches. A cartilaginous right fibrous trigone and thick anulus fibrosus form useful landmarks for delineating AV node and AV bundle relationships. Small size, discrete nodal masses and a unique coronary arterial pattern make this heart an ideal model for histochemical, ultrastructural, electrophysiologic and pathologic circulation research.
Display and Analysis of SPECT Equilibrium Radionuclide Angiocardiography

At time of this writing SPECT ERNA is not routinely performed in most nuclear cardiology laboratories. Consequently, no standards have been set for display and analysis of SPECT ERNA. It seems reasonable to use a similar approach for SPECT ERNA as for SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.
The most informative spacing test effectively discovers biologically relevant outliers or multiple modes in expression

Summary: Several outlier and subgroup identification statistics (OASIS) have been proposed to discover transcriptomic features with outliers or multiple modes in expression that are indicative of distinct biological processes or subgroups. Here, we borrow ideas from the OASIS methods in the bioinformatics and statistics literature to develop the ‘most informative spacing test’ (MIST) for unsupervised detection of such transcriptomic features. In an example application involving 14 cases of pediatric acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, MIST more robustly identified features that perfectly discriminate subjects according to gender or the presence of a prognostically relevant fusion-gene than did seven other OASIS methods in the analysis of RNA-seq exon expression, RNA-seq exon junction expression and micorarray exon expression data. MIST was also effective at identifying features related to gender or molecular subtype in an example application involving 157 adult cases of acute myeloid leukemia. Availability: MIST will be freely available in the OASIS R package at http://www.stjuderesearch.org/site/depts/biostats
Ectoparasite density is associated with mouth colour and size in nestling House Sparrows Passer domesticus

Dependent offspring influence allocation of parental investment using specialized traits thought to contain information about offspring condition. To test this hypothesis, we examined the relationship between one component of avian begging, the phenotype of the nestling mouth, and the density of a haematophagous mite, Pellonyssus reedi, in nestling House Sparrows Passer domesticus. Ectoparasite density in broods was negatively associated with average nestling mass and flange colour intensity and positively associated with mouth width, but was not related to the intensity of blood-based gape coloration or flange width. These results support the hypothesis that components of offspring solicitations signal high quality, and highlight the diverse selective pressures shaping offspring–parent communication.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cardiac Biopsies From Heart Transplantation Patients Correlation With Erythrocytes and Response to Supplementation

Background—Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) appear to reduce the risk of sudden death from myocardial infarction. This reduction is believed to occur via the incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into the myocardium itself, altering the dynamics of sodium and calcium channel function. The extent of incorporation has not been determined in humans. Methods and Results—We first determined the correlation between red blood cell (RBC) and cardiac omega-3 FA levels in 20 heart transplant recipients. We then examined the effects of 6 months of omega-3 FA supplementation (1 g/d) on the FA composition of human cardiac and buccal tissue, RBCs, and plasma lipids in 25 other patients. Cardiac and RBC EPADHA levels were highly correlated (r0.82, P0.001). Supplementation increased EPADHA levels in cardiac tissue by 110%, in RBCs by 101%, in plasma by 139%, and in cheek cells by 73% (P0.005 versus baseline for all; responses among tissues were not significantly different). Conclusions—Although any of the tissues examined could serve as a surrogate for cardiac omega-3 FA content, RBC EPADHA was highly correlated with cardiac EPADHA; the RBC omega-3 response to supplementation was similar to that of the heart; RBCs are easily collected and analyzed; and they have a less variable FA composition than plasma. Therefore, RBC EPADHA (also called the Omega-3 Index) may be the preferred surrogate for cardiac omega-3 FA status. (Circulation. 2004;110:1645-1649.)
The moral appeal of personal bankruptcy

The essence of the fresh-start principle in bankruptcy is twofold. ... The fresh start principle generally takes the form of forgiving the debtor part or all of the debts she incurred prior to her bankruptcy filing. ... The discussion on morality and bankruptcy will address the issue of how individuals' behavior is influenced by their perception of right and wrong as shaped by credit trust relationships and by religious beliefs. ... Similarly, some studies suggest that debtors' conscience, arising from their moral obligation to repay their debts, deters some from filing for bankruptcy protection since they view that course of conduct as immoral. ... For example, a consumer debtor is less likely to develop a trust relationship beyond the deterrence-based level with a large credit card company. ... In Islam, the pervasive sacred nature of fulfilling one's contractual obligations is likely to influence the minds of financially troubled Muslims and deter them from filing bankruptcy to avoid debt repayment. ...
The effects of captopril, propranolol, and indomethacin on blood pressure and plasma renin activity in spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

SummaryCaptopril reduced blood pressure and increased PRA in both SHR and NTR. Both propranolol and indomethacin caused significant reductions in resting PRA of both SHR and NTR but only propranolol caused an inhibition of the PRA changes caused by captopril. Furthermore, since propranolol was highly effective only in SHR and captopril decreased blood pressure much more in SHR than NTR, the increase in PRA caused by captopril in SHR was probably reflexly mediated by compensatory sympathetic activation, all of which actions were a consequence of reducing angiotensin II formation.
Pore Structure And Its Relationship To Properties Of Materials

Pore structure affects almost all the physical properties of materials and, thus, is important in engineering practice. Engineering desired physical properties by microstructural modification of the porosity and/or the solid phases has practical importance and, therefore, there is considerable research activity in developing relationships between the desired physical properties and the pore structure. The ability to vary the level of porosity, the pore size distribution, pore shape, and pore connectivity opens new opportunities for developing materials not only for conventional uses but also for novel applications such as electronics.
Gas Embolism: Part II. Arterial Gas Embolism and Decompression Sickness:

Gas emboli syndromes are known to occur in many different settings, and they may result in life-threatening emergencies. Venous gas embolization was discussed previously in Part I of this review. G...
Practice facilitators: a review of the literature.

Background: Practice facilitators (PFs) are health care professionals who assist primary care clinicians in research and quality improvement projects. Although they have been used in Europe and Australia for more than 20 years, the concept is relatively new in the United States. The recent evolution of primary care practice-based research networks (PBRNs) has led to greater awareness and expansion of this concept. Objectives: This study’s objective was to review the literature on PFs and describe their origin, training, funding, roles, methods they use, and their impact on patient care outcomes in primary care. Methods: We searched four electronic databases from 1966 through the present, reviewing all articles pertaining to PFs in an effort to understand the history, training, financing, roles, methods, and impact of PFs. Results: Since the early 1980s, PFs have worked with individual practices on relationship building, education, and quality improvement (QI), particularly in the area of prevention. A number of publications provide information on the roles of PFs in primary care and methods they use to enhance practices. Many prospective, uncontrolled studies and a few randomized, controlled trials have documented the effectiveness of PFs but usually in combination with other interventions. A number of primary care PBRNs in the United States have begun to use PFs as a way to bridge the gap between research and practice. Limited information has been published about the training and funding of PFs. Conclusions: The PF concept seems to be a useful practice enhancement approach in primary care.
Simultaneous Presentation of Untreated Hyperparathyroidism and Obstructing Ureteral Calculi: Surgical Considerations

AbstractSimultaneous presentation of obstructing ureteral calculi and untreated primary hyperparathyroidism offers an interesting therapeutic dilemma. We herein review 8 cases, with 6 occurring in the last 3 years. When both conditions require surgical intervention the parathyroid adenoma should be excised first. The adenoma and offending stone can be removed at the same operation, with resultant prompt relief of pain and decrease in hospitalization.
Does Higher Transitory Income of Parents Permanently Increase the Income of Their Children

Parent income can predict child income because both parent and child have high human capital, broadly defined, and because the presence of money makes it easier for the child to develop better job prospects. We use 45 years of Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data to investigate these two channels. We break parent income into a predictable human capital component and a transitory component whose variation is uncorrelated to a wide array of human capital measures. We find that intergenerational income transmission occurs through both channels, but that the coefficient tied to human capital income is approximately 0.7-0.8, whereas the coefficient on the residual or transitory income component, which is more closely tied to pure money transfer, is 0.2 and possibly substantially lower. Thus it appears that the intergenerational income elasticity is largely recovering human capital effects rather than the influence of money.
Ruxolitinib reverses dysregulated T helper cell responses and controls autoimmunity caused by a novel signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) gain-of-function mutation

Background Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the human signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) manifest in immunodeficiency and autoimmunity with impaired T H 17 cell differentiation and exaggerated responsiveness to type I and II interferons. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation has been attempted in severely affected patients, but outcomes have been poor. Objective We sought to define the effect of increased STAT1 activity on T helper cell polarization and to investigate the therapeutic potential of ruxolitinib in treating autoimmunity secondary to STAT1 GOF mutations. Methods We used in vitro polarization assays, as well as phenotypic and functional analysis of STAT1 -mutated patient cells. Results We report a child with a novel mutation in the linker domain of STAT1 who had life-threatening autoimmune cytopenias and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Naive lymphocytes from the affected patient displayed increased T H 1 and follicular T helper cell and suppressed T H 17 cell responses. The mutation augmented cytokine-induced STAT1 phosphorylation without affecting dephosphorylation kinetics. Treatment with the Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib reduced hyperresponsiveness to type I and II interferons, normalized T H 1 and follicular T helper cell responses, improved T H 17 differentiation, cured mucocutaneous candidiasis, and maintained remission of immune-mediated cytopenias. Conclusions Autoimmunity and infection caused by STAT1 GOF mutations are the result of dysregulated T helper cell responses. Janus kinase inhibitor therapy could represent an effective targeted treatment for long-term disease control in severely affected patients for whom hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is not available.
Sudomotor dysfunction as a measure of small fiber neuropathy in type 1 diabetes

Abstract Background This study evaluated whether measuring the electrochemical skin conductance (ESC), as an indirect measure of sudomotor function, may be also a reliable surrogate for early cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Methods Longitudinal study included 37 type 1 diabetes (T1D) subjects (mean age 38 ± 13 years, duration 15 ± 7 years, HbA1c 7.9 ± 1.1%, no known complications at baseline), and 40 age-matched healthy control (HC) subjects. Mean hands ESC (ESChands) and feet (ESCfeet) were measured with the SUDOSCAN (Impeto Medical, France). CAN was assessed with heart rate variability (HRV) studies (ANSAR Inc., PA), cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (deep-breathing, Valsalva, postural test), and positron emission tomography with sympathetic analogue [11C]meta-hydroxyephedrine. Associations between measures of CAN and ESC were estimated using Spearman correlations. Longitudinal changes were analyzed using paired t-test. Results At baseline, there were no differences between T1D and HC in ESChands (69 ± 14 vs. 69 ± 13 μS; P = 0.84) or ESCfeet (82 ± 8 vs. 78 ± 9 μS; P = 0.12), while some indices of HRV and Valsalva ratio were significantly lower in T1D vs. HC. T1D subjects experienced a significant decline in both ESChands and ESCfeet at 12 months (mean change − 7.2 ± 11.6 µS, P = 0.0006; − 2.8 ± 7.3 µS, P = 0.023 respectively). No significant correlations were consistently found between ESC and measures of CAN at baseline or at 12 months. Conclusion Comparing patients with T1D to controls, no differences in ESC were observed at baseline. The associations between ESC and established measures of CAN were inconsistent, which does not support ESC as a reliable surrogate for CAN. While both hands and feet ESC declined over time, the significance of this finding is unclear and warrants further reliability testing.
Training Providers in the Use of Evidence-Based Treatments: A Comparison of In-Person and Online Delivery Modes.

Evidenced-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are primarily disseminated via in-person workshops, which have been shown to be effective in training clinicians. However, there is limited space at these wor...
Finishing performance and diet digestibility for feedlot steers fed corn distillers grains plus solubles and distillers solubles with and without oil extraction.

Three experiments evaluated the effects of corn oil removal using centrifugation in ethanol plants, on animal performance and digestion characteristics by finishing cattle fed by-products. In Exp. 1, 225 crossbred steers (300 ± 9.1 kg) were utilized in a randomized block design with a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors consisted of oil concentration [de-oiled (DO) or full fat (FF)] and by-product type [condensed distillers solubles (CDS) or modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS)] compared to a corn-based control. Fat concentration was 6.0% for DO CDS, 21.1% for FF CDS, 9.2% for DO MDGS, and 11.8% for FF MDGS. No oil concentration by by-product type interactions (P ≥ 0.17) were observed. There were no differences in DMI, ADG, or G:F between DO and FF CDS (P ≥ 0.29) or DO and FF MDGS (P ≥ 0.58). No differences (P ≥ 0.25) due to oil concentration were observed for carcass characteristics. Experiment 2 was a 5 × 5 Latin Square digestion trial with treatments similar to Exp. 1. Fat concentration was 8.7% or 15.4% for DO or FF CDS and 9.2% or 12.3% for DO or FF MDGS. Intake and total tract digestibility of fat were greater (P ≤ 0.02) for FF CDS compared with DO CDS. Digestible energy (megacalorie per kilogram), adjusted for intake, was greater (P = 0.02) for steers fed FF CDS compared to DO CDS. Average ruminal pH for cattle fed FF MDGS was greater than DO MDGS (P = 0.06). In Exp. 3, 336 yearling, crossbred steers (352 ± 19 kg) were utilized in a randomized block design with a 2 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors included oil concentration (DO or FF) and inclusion [35%, 50%, and 65% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS)] along with a corn-based control. The fat concentrations of DO and FF WDGS were 7.9% and 12.4%, respectively. A linear interaction (P 0.19) for final BW, ADG, or G:F. No statistical differences were observed for all carcass traits (P ≥ 0.34). Corn oil removal via centrifugation had minimal impact on finishing performance suggesting that cattle fed DO by-products will have similar performance to cattle fed FF by-products in dry-rolled and high-moisture corn diets.
Self Types for Dependently Typed Lambda Encodings

We revisit lambda encodings of data, proposing new solutions to several old problems, in particular dependent elimination with lambda encodings. We start with a type-assignment form of the Calculus of Constructions, restricted recursive definitions and Miquel’s implicit product. We add a type construct ιx.T, called a self type, which allows T to refer to the subject of typing. We show how the resulting System S with this novel form of dependency supports dependent elimination with lambda encodings, including induction principles. Strong normalization of S is established by defining an erasure from S to a version of F ω with positive recursive type definitions, which we analyze. We also prove type preservation for S.
Linear cortico-cortical mapping as a fundamental motif of brain connectivity organization

Abstract The pattern of region-to-region functional connectivity has major implications for understanding information transfer and transformation between brain regions. We extended connective field mapping to 3-dimensional anatomical space to derive estimates of cortico-cortical functional organization. For early visual regions we found that the topology of functional connectivity between early visual regions maintained a linear relationship along the anterior-posterior dimension, which is in agreement with the literature. For higher order visual regions (e.g. fusiform face area) our results revealed that their pattern of connectivity, the convergence and biased sampling, seem to contribute to some of their core receptive field properties. Further, we demonstrated that linearity of input is a fundamental aspect of functional connectivity of the whole cortex, with higher linearity between regions within a network than across networks. We found that the principle gradient of linearity resembles decompositions in both traditional functional connectivity and genetic expression reported in previous studies. In sum, the current work provides evidence supporting that linearity of input is likely a fundamental motif of functional connectivity between cortical regions for information processing and transfer, suggesting high linearity may preserve the integrity of information from one region to another within a network.
Chronic pain associated with costal margin rupture

A 60-year-old man presented to our clinic with a 5-year history of severe, chronic chest pain. His symptoms began in September 2013 when he had a prolonged upper respiratory illness and persistent cough. After 2 weeks of coughing, he awoke one morning with severe left-sided chest pain and a large bruise over his left chest wall. He presented to his local hospital, where he was found to have a displaced left sixth rib fracture and a large left hemothorax, eventually requiring video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) evacuation. After recovering from his acute illness, he developed chronic left chest wall pain and persistent clicking and popping of his costal margin. Along with the pain, he developed symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress to a point at which he lost his business and had considered suicide. On physical examination, he had normal vital signs and a body mass index of 28.3 kg/m2. He had two scars on his left chest from his VATS. His left chest wall was severely tender to palpation from the midaxillary line to the sternum. He had marked, palpable instability of his costal margin on deep inspiration. He had no pain or tenderness on the …
STUDIES ON THE HYPOTHALAMIC REGULATION OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE SECRETION IN THE DOMESTIC FOWL

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the studies on the hypothalamic regulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in the domestic fowl. The secretion of luteinizing hormone from the avian pars distalis is regulated by the hypothalamus. Evidence for the hypothalamic control of LH release has come from the observation of gonadal atrophy following transplantation of the pituitary to a site away from the sella turcica or after the electrolytic lesions of the hypothalamus. A number of neurotransmitter antagonists were tested, in both young and adult chickens, for their influence on pituitary LH secretion. In both age groups, the α-adrenergic blocker phenoxybenzamine led to a reduction in circulating concentrations of LH. Neither propranolol nor atropine affected LH levels. The serotonergic antagonist methysergide was capable of significantly reducing plasma LH levels in the young chicks only. Pimozide, a dopaminergic blocker, resulted in a reduction, though nonsignificant, in plasma LH levels in both age groups. Numerous factors, such as hormones, stress and fasting, are capable of altering the release of LH and most probably do so through the hypothalamus.
Load–Displacement Behavior of Helical Shape Memory Alloy Spring Actuators with Small Spring Diameter to Wire Diameter Ratios

A design methodology for fabricating and predicting the load–displacement behavior of shape memory alloy (SMA) spring actuators has been previously created and validated (Nicholson et al., Smart Mater Struct 23(12):13–23, 2014). However, it was found in this work that for springs with a spring index (ratio of spring diameter to wire diameter) below five, the load–displacement response of shape memory spring actuators no longer fits the previously established model. This paper explores the use of a correction factor in the governing equations to account for the plastic deformation that occurs when fabricating springs with very small spring indices. The plastic deformation induces an effective reduction in the volume of the transforming material, thus reducing the load-bearing and actuation capabilities of the spring. A semi-analytical solution to this problem is found which can be used to predict the load–displacement behavior. This is accomplished through a reduction in the effective wire diameter based on the approximate shear strain during loading. This approach is consistent with observations during thermomechanical cycling in SMAs, where the phase transformation remained mostly unhindered despite large residual inelastic and/or plastic strains, and has direct application in the design of actuators with small spring indices by quantifying the drop in actuation force and stroke.
Deep posteromedial cortical rhythm in dissociation.

Advanced imaging methods now allow cell-type-specific recording of neural activity across the mammalian brain, potentially enabling the exploration of how brain-wide dynamical patterns give rise to complex behavioural states1–12. Dissociation is an altered behavioural state in which the integrity of experience is disrupted, resulting in reproducible cognitive phenomena including the dissociation of stimulus detection from stimulus-related affective responses. Dissociation can occur as a result of trauma, epilepsy or dissociative drug use13,14, but despite its substantial basic and clinical importance, the underlying neurophysiology of this state is unknown. Here we establish such a dissociation-like state in mice, induced by precisely-dosed administration of ketamine or phencyclidine. Large-scale imaging of neural activity revealed that these dissociative agents elicited a 1–3-Hz rhythm in layer 5 neurons of the retrosplenial cortex. Electrophysiological recording with four simultaneously deployed high-density probes revealed rhythmic coupling of the retrosplenial cortex with anatomically connected components of thalamus circuitry, but uncoupling from most other brain regions was observed—including a notable inverse correlation with frontally projecting thalamic nuclei. In testing for causal significance, we found that rhythmic optogenetic activation of retrosplenial cortex layer 5 neurons recapitulated dissociation-like behavioural effects. Local retrosplenial hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated potassium channel 1 (HCN1) pacemakers were required for systemic ketamine to induce this rhythm and to elicit dissociation-like behavioural effects. In a patient with focal epilepsy, simultaneous intracranial stereoencephalography recordings from across the brain revealed a similarly localized rhythm in the homologous deep posteromedial cortex that was temporally correlated with pre-seizure self-reported dissociation, and local brief electrical stimulation of this region elicited dissociative experiences. These results identify the molecular, cellular and physiological properties of a conserved deep posteromedial cortical rhythm that underlies states of dissociation. Dissociative states in mouse and human brains are traced to low-frequency rhythmic neural activity—with distinct molecular, cellular and physiological properties—in the deep retrosplenial cortex and the posteromedial cortex.
Abstract 16935: Cardiovascular Disease in Head Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients - A Case-Control Study Using Electronic Medical Records Data

Introduction: Cancer survivors have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to age-adjusted general population. However, traditional CVD risk factors alone do not fully explain increa...
Curating COVID-19: A Digital Internship in a Rapid Response Archive

In May 2020, Arizona State University’s history department offered its first remote, digital internship to graduate students. Students completed a 180-hour internship between May and August 2020. T...
Octave-Tuning Dual-Core Folded VCO Leveraging a Triple-Mode Switch-Less Tertiary Magnetic Loop

To satisfy the requirements for multi-standard frequency generation, mode-switching oscillators are developed to increase the frequency tuning range without incurring considerable phase noise penalty. However, this improvement in the tuning range is often limited by the parasitics of the circuitry for mode selection and tuning. To address this challenge, this work presents a dual-core octave-tuning VCO using a switch-less tertiary magnetic coupling loop. The design employs the benefits of transformer-switching without incurring switch loss and quality factor degradation and also the benefits of mode switching without the parasitics from the mode selection and tuning network. The VCO employs a non-constant $RC$ scaling for the capacitors’ bank, across the tuning bits, and positive feedback dc-coupled inductive-degenerated output buffer to maximize the tuning range. Implemented in 22 nm fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI), the dual-core VCO achieves a 72% tuning at 8–17 GHz and a figure-of-merit-tuning ( $\text {FoM}_{T}$ ) of 208.8 dBc/Hz at 11 GHz. The chip operates from a 0.45 V supply with a power consumption of 17–33 mW and a core area of 0.39 mm2. To the best of our knowledge, the VCO achieves the highest $\text {FoM}_{T}$ and lowest supply for designs over 10 GHz.
Prophylactic Surgery in Trauma

The guiding principles of trauma surgery have traditionally been considered to be therapeutic/curative in the form of control of bleeding, minimization of contamination, and definitive repair. While the concept of prophylaxis, as it relates to surgery, has more commonly been associated with oncologic subspecialties aimed at mitigating future risks of cancer, there are several examples within the field of trauma surgery where operative techniques and procedures are performed as prophylactic, towards preventing downstream physiologic sequelae of the inciting injury or disease process, and mitigating the risks of trauma-related and iatrogenic complications. This chapter focuses on prophylactic surgeries performed in a number of different injuries, including head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, and extremities. First, prophylactic surgical techniques for mitigating severity of head and neck injuries are described, followed by procedural and surgical aspects of prophylactically treating thoracic trauma. Next, prophylactic procedures and surgery for the management of abdominopelvic injuries are discussed with particular emphasis on mitigating delayed complications arising from solid organ and genitourinary trauma. Extraperitoneal pelvic trauma is explored by discussing fecal diversion as a means of prophylactic, non-curative management of perineal and low-lying rectal injuries in order to prevent sepsis and delayed wound healing. Lastly, a review of the management of traumatic injuries of the extremities is presented with respect to prioritizing life over limb in the form of surgical decision making aimed at reducing the morbidity arising from compartment syndrome, sepsis, and the psychosocial burden of non-functional limb salvage.
Interactive Query Formulation using Spider Queries.

Effective information disclosure in the context of databases with a large conceptual schema is known to be a non-trivial problem. In particular the formulation of ad-hoc queries is a major problem in such contexts. Existing approaches for tackling this problem include graphical query interfaces, query by navigation, query by construction, and point to point queries. In this article we propose the spider query mechanism as a final corner stone for an easy to use computer supported query formulation mechanism for InfoAssisant. The basic idea behind a spider query is to build a (partial) query of all information considered to be relevant with respect to a given object type. The result of this process is always a tree that fans out over existing conceptual schema (a spider). We also provide a brief discussion on the integration of the spider quer mechanism with the existing query by navigation, query by construction, and point to point query