cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crane control using machine vision and wand following

The payload oscillation inherent to all cranes makes it challenging for human operators to manipulate payloads quickly, accurately, and safely. A new type of crane control system that allows an operator to drive a crane by moving a hand-held wand has been implemented on an industrial bridge crane at the Georgia Institute of Technology. An image processing system tracks the movement of the wand and its position is used to drive the crane. The crane was used to study the performance of human operators as they drove the crane through obstacle courses. The experimental results show that operators performed maneuvering tasks faster, safer, and more effectively when using the wand controller instead of the traditional push-button pendent controller.
Physiological modification of the host feeding site by cereal aphids (Homoptera : Aphididae)

Abstract Indole-3-acetic acid-1-14C and 14C-sucrose labels were used to study the effects of greenbugs, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), and Russian wheat aphids, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), on phloem function of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Greenbug feeding significantly reduced translocation from the immediate feeding site; however, phloem integrity was not impeded. In contrast, Russian wheat aphids had little effect on vein loading or phloem translocation at the feeding site. Similar results were obtained when resistant and susceptible wheats were infested with three different greenbug biotypes. Greenbugs fed artificial diets containing 14C-sucrose injected salivary material that was translocated to both root and shoot systems. The accumulation of salivary constituents in the roots of wheat seedlings fed upon by greenbugs may account for the significant reductions in root biomass that have previously been reported.
Recruitment of vimentin to the cell surface by β3 integrin and plectin mediates adhesion strength

Much effort has been expended on analyzing how microfilament and microtubule cytoskeletons dictate the interaction of cells with matrix at adhesive sites called focal adhesions (FAs). However, vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) also associate with the cell surface at FAs in endothelial cells. Here, we show that IF recruitment to FAs in endothelial cells requires β3 integrin, plectin and the microtubule cytoskeleton, and is dependent on microtubule motors. In CHO cells, which lack β3 integrin but contain vimentin, IFs appear to be collapsed around the nucleus, whereas in CHO cells expressing β3 integrin (CHOwtβ3), vimentin IFs extend to FAs at the cell periphery. This recruitment is regulated by tyrosine residues in the β3 integrin cytoplasmic tail. Moreover, CHOwtβ3 cells exhibit significantly greater adhesive strength than CHO or CHO cells expressing mutated β3 integrin proteins. These differences require an intact vimentin network. Therefore, vimentin IF recruitment to the cell surface is tightly regulated and modulates the strength of adhesion of cells to their substrate.
Tensile creep behavior of a vitreous-bonded aluminum oxide under static and cyclic loading

Creep deformation and rupture behavior of a vitreousbonded aluminum oxide was investigated under uniaxial static and cyclic tensile loadings at 1000°, 1100°, and 1175°C. The material was more creep resistant, i.e., having lower creep strain rates, under cyclic loading compared to that under static loading. For the same maximum applied stress, the ratio of steady-state creep rate under static loading to that under cyclic loading at 1100°C was approximately 100. However, the value of this ratio decreased to about 10 when the testing temperature was raised to 1175°C or lowered to 1000°C. Under static loading the material had more propensity to develop creep damage in the form of micro- and macrocracks, leading to early failure, whereas under cyclic loading the creep damage was more uniformly distributed in the form of cavities confined to the multigrain junctions. Viscous bridging by the grain boundary second phase may be the primary contributor to the lower creep deformation rate and improved lifetime under cyclic loading.
An analysis of Bt corn's benefits and risks for national and regional policymakers considering Bt corn adoption

This paper examines important factors for policymakers to consider when making a decision to adopt Bt corn planting and commercialisation, by analysing the market, environmental, and health benefits and risks of Bt corn as well as current regulatory policies that may affect trade. Bt corn, genetically modified to produce a pesticidal protein, has benefits that include improved yield, decreased pesticide use, and reduced mycotoxin levels. These qualities of Bt corn could be particularly beneficial in some developing countries, where corn is a staple in human and animal diets and pests and mycotoxins are poorly managed. However, a combination of potential environmental and market risks, as well as the broader context of what would be accomplished by allowing Bt corn adoption, should also be considered when policymakers decide whether to allow commercialisation and trade of this genetically modified crop.
The Common Factors Model: Its Place in Clinical Practice and Research

The common factors model advances the view that client, relationship, and clinician factors account for a greater proportion of therapeutic change than do specific techniques or types of therapy. In this era of evidence-based practice, in which specific techniques are heavily emphasized, this updated review of the common factors model focuses attention on other components of therapeutic change, including the client's contribution, the therapeutic alliance, and clinician factors. The common factors model has recent and long-standing research support of several kinds. The model affirms many widely used therapeutic practices and has led to the development of several procedures to enhance therapeutic outcomes. This article explores the origins and development of the common factors model; its current research support; and its implications for practice, research, and education.
A practical approach for integrated power system vulnerability analysis with protection failures

Protection system failure is one of the main causes of cascading outages. This paper proposes an integrated scheme to study power system vulnerability considering protection system failures. In this scheme, both adequacy and security based reliability analysis are conducted. A new protection system reliability model including two major failure modes is established to demonstrate their effects on power system reliability. The mechanism and scheme of protection systems have been analyzed for their contribution to cascading outages as well as system stability after a fault occurs. All contingencies and the responses in the power system are depicted in their inherent stochastic manner. The power system vulnerability is assessed by both adequacy indices, such as Bus Isolation Probability (BIP), Loss of Load Probability (LOLP) and Expected Power Loss (EPL), and the security index Probability of Stability (POS). In addition, a new vulnerability index, Integrated System Vulnerability (ISV), is introduced to give a more comprehensive description of the system vulnerability. A nonsequential Monte Carlo simulation approach is used to implement the stochastic properties of contingencies, protective response and protection system failures. The IEEE Reliability Test System is used to illustrate the methodology and present the results.
Development of an operator interface for a multi-sensor overhead surveillance system

In this project, we designed an efficient way to manage automated surveillance system data and present it to an operator. We created an operator interface and a message-exchange based data management system to store and communicate surveillance information between a ground-based operator and a simulated surveillance network with limited observational resources. Our system comprises a communication management system, historical database, web application, and browser-based operator interface. We created a near real-time, message-exchange based communication method by using a database as a message processing buffer. Our system processes relevant surveillance data and presents it to the operator in a manageable view within a flexible, scalable, browser-based interface that allows the operator to influence the surveillance system's resource allocation to reflect changing situational priorities. Our interface balances simplicity for the operator with sufficient operational capability. Additionally, our design is general in that may be used with multiple surveillance systems and simulations without requiring any modifications to our system. This generality affords our system the ability to test multiple potential surveillance systems. By implementing this design, we have provided a flexible, non-traditional solution that aids the management and integration of an otherwise fragmented surveillance system.
The Effect of Air Scrubbing on Moisture Pickup, Aerobic Plate Counts, Enterobacteriaceae, and the Incidence of Salmonellae on Artificially Inoculated Broiler Carcasses

Abstract Processed broiler carcasses were subjected to diffused air at 158.6 kPa (air scrubbing) in tap water to evaluate the potential of this treatment for improving the microbiological quality of read-to-cook poultry. Carcasses were inoculated with a marker strain of Salmonella typhimurium 5 min before treatment. The carcasses were removed after 30 min and sampled for aerobic plate counts (APC), Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) counts, for the presence of the marker organism, or for moisture pickup. The S. typhimurium were recovered from 32 of 40 control carcasses (water only), but from only 9 of 40 air-scrubbed samples. When carcasses were inoculated with fewer than 150 cells of the marker organism, air scrubbing was more effective in reducing the incidence of salmonellae (2 of 20 positive) than when levels were in excess of 150 cells (7 of 20 positive). A similar pattern was manifested with the water-rinsed carcasses rinsed without air injection (below 150, 12 of 20; above 150, 20 of 20). No significant differences were found in the APC and ENT counts. Moisture pickup was adversely affected by air scrubbing; control carcasses had a moisture pickup of 5.8%, whereas, air-scrubbed carcasses had a moisture pickup of 13.9%.
Vitamin D Deficiency: Consequence or Cause of CKD?

Pioneering studies in the 1970s demonstrated that CKD leads to substantial perturbations in the vitamin D endocrine system and, as a result, bone loss ([1][1]–[4][2]). In particular, in CKD, renal production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) from 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is markedly
Efficient location tracking using sensor networks

We apply sensor networks to the problem of tracking moving objects. We describe a publish-and-subscribe tracking method, called scalable tracking using networked sensors (STUN), that scales well to large numbers of sensors and moving objects by using hierarchy. We also describe a method, called drain-and-balance (DAB), for building efficient tracking hierarchies, computed from expected characteristics of the objects movement patterns. DAB is shown to perform well by running it on 1D and 2D sensor network topologies, and comparing it to schemes, which do not utilize movement information.
Epigenetic drugs for cancer therapy

In mammalian cells, DNA can be modified by methylation of cytosine residues in CpG dinucleotides, and the N-terminal tails of histone proteins are subject to a wide range of different modifications, including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation. All of these chemical changes have a substantial influence on chromatin structure and gene expression. These epigenetic modification patterns can be regarded as heritable marks over many cell generations. Importantly, patterns and levels of DNA methylation and histone acetylation/deacetylation are profoundly altered in human cancers, which can result in altered gene expression of key regulator genes mainly involved in control of cell growth and proliferation, as well as DNA repair or maintenance of genome stability. Inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases and histone acetyltransferases/deacetylases have been shown to inhibit tumor growth by reactivating epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes and silencing oncogenes. Therefore, the use of epigenetic modulators such as anticancer compounds is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer and other diseases.
A novel approach allows identification of K channels in the lateral membrane of rat CCD

We have developed a novel approach to study K channels in the lateral membrane of principal cells (PC) in rat cortical collecting ducts (CCD). The technique consists of 1) exposing the CCD apical membrane, 2) removing the intercalated cells adjoining a PC by gentle suction through a pipette, and 3) applying patch-clamp technique to the lateral membrane of PC. Functional viability of the PC was confirmed by three indexes: 1) maintenance of physiological cell membrane potentials (-85 +/- 3 mV); 2) depolarization of the cell membrane potential with 1 mM Ba2+; and 3) hyperpolarization of the cell potential with 0.1 mM amiloride. Two types of K channels were identified: a low-conductance K channel and an intermediate-conductance K channel. In cell-attached patches the slope conductance of the low-conductance K channel was 27 pS and that of the intermediate-conductance K channel was 45 pS. The open probability (Po) of the 27-pS K channel was 0.81 +/- 0.02 and was not voltage dependent. In contrast, the Po of the 45-pS K channel was 0.23 +/- 0.01 at the spontaneous cell membrane potential and was increased by hyperpolarization. In addition, decrease of the bath pH from 7.4 to 6.7 reduced the 27-pS K channel current amplitude in a voltage-dependent manner, but the Po was not affected. Finally, two time constants were required to fit open- and closed-time histograms of both populations of K channels. Application of 1 mM Ba2+ completely blocked these K channels. We conclude that two types of K channel are present in the basolateral membrane of PC.
Light Intensity Studies with Broilers

Abstract THE ROLE which light intensity plays in broiler production has never been fully evaluated or understood. The possibility of a relationship between the amount of light in broiler houses and the problem of feather picking and cannibalism has been suggested by Clark (1953) and Biester and Schwarte (1952). This has been discussed, also, by an anonymous author in the Purina Eastern Broiler Letter of August 1952. This publication recommended that the number of windows be reduced, and that only enough artificial light be provided to enable the birds to see the feed and water. Light intensity studies with broilers at the University of New Hampshire, were initiated to determine if intensity played a role in the incidence of cannibalism. Skoglund (1962) found that light intensities of 15, 60 and 120 foot candles at the feeder height exerted no influence upon the incidence of feather picking in broilers; but there was …
Short vectors,the GLV method and discrete logarithms

Some applications of certain kinds of short vectors in elliptic curve cryptography were discussed; a refinement of the GLV method and an alternative method for the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem were presented.
Protective effects of MG-132 on p38 signaling pathway and cell apoptosis in lung injury induced by hyperoxia

Objective To investigate the protective effects of the ubiquitin proteasome inhibitor MG-132 on p38 signaling pathway and apoptosis in lung injury induced by hyperoxia. Methods Twenty-six SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control group(n=5),MG-132 control group(n=5),hyperoxia group(n=8) and MG-132 hyperoxia group(n=8).Hyperoxia lung injury rat models were established,and proteasome inhibitor(0.5 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected in control group and MG-132 hyperoxia group once daily.The resected lungs were histopathologically examined,and cell apoptosis and expression of ubiquitin and p38 were detected by TUNEL and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results After hyperoxia exposure,there were edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissues of SD rats.The apoptosis index and expression of p38MAPK of hyperoxia group were higher than those of normal control group and MG-132 hyperoxia group(P0.05 or P0.01). Conclusion High oxygen can induce cell apoptosis and may activate p38MAPK signaling pathway.The proteasome inhibitor MG-132 can reduce the lung injury induced by hyperoxia and inhibit P38MAPK signaling pathway.
The Quality and Safety of Edible Fungi from Zhejiang Province

During the year 2003 to 2005,the investigation research of the quality and safety of edible fungi from Zhejiang province had carried out.The concentrations of heavy metals of irrigation water,cover soil,and raw or auxiliary materials of 5 produce base,and 268 samples of edible fungi were detected.The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in some edible fungi of Zhejiang province,such as species of lentinus and agaricus blazei murrill,exceeded the sanitary standards.The Cd and As concentrations of edible fungi exceeded the sanitary more,so did the Hg and Pb in some products.Therefore,paying further attention to the heavy mental pollution of edible fungi is valuable,especially to the Cd in edible fungi.On the other hand,the research results showed that the water content of edible fungi,dry lentinus and auricularia,in the markets of Zhejiang province were too high to keep the quality of the products,the rate of exceed standard of sulphite concentration in edible fungi was 53.8%,but the pesticides residue was slight.The results of research come to the conclusions that:(1) controlling the pollution of culture medium and the environment was very important for the quality of edible fungi.(2) guided by practice of quality control in culturing edible fungi,the residue of pesticides was able to be controlled.
Reliability Analysis of Series Capacitor Protection Devices

In this paper,the development situation of series compensation devices is described. The basic structures,the connection modes,and the calculation ways of unbalance protection are discussed. The comparison of the structure and the performance differences between the capacitors with and without internal fuses are made. Meanwhile,the applicability of the two kinds of capacitors and the application reliability in series compensation capacitor devices are also analyzed. Finally,the way to improve the reliability is presented.
Quality System Design and Development for SSC Superconductor Cable

In order to develop a quality system for the SSC superconductor cable, Sumitomo Electric followed a very formal, systematic approach, comparable to those employed for such major projects as developing a new car model.
Life in the Gang: “I Love to Bang”: Serious Crime by Gang Members

Bang, drive-by and shoot shit up. It just feels good. Like [unclear] says, damn it feels good to be a gangster. I love to do it. I love to bang, I love to shoot shit up, we all do it together. (White male #099, “Joe L.,” eighteen-year-old Insane Gangster Disciple) POPULAR STEREOTYPES of gangs and gang members – reflected in news and entertainment media, in public opinions, in officials' statements, and in some scholarly works – consider them to be organized, violent predators on society. In this vision, gangs – guided by older leaders – plan burglaries and boostings, commit armed robberies, terrorize neighborhoods, run crack houses, distribute and sell a wide variety of drugs on the street, and revel in assaultive and lethal violence against each other, innocent bystanders, and any who thwart them. Some of this may be true, as the statement by “Joe L.” implies. What is not true, at least from talking with our subjects, is the intensity of this stereotype, the wellorganized nature of their group activities, and the delight in violence shown above (a more common attitude towards violence was fatalism – “you gotta do what you gotta do”; “we don't go looking for trouble”; “we use violence when it comes to us”). Serious crimes – both nonviolent and violent – are a defining feature of gangs, but gang crimes seem neither as purposive, organized, or frequent as the popular (and official) mind imagines. Often, violence is a response to the threat of violence from the presence of other gangs. This chapter discusses three kinds of serious crime by gang members: felony property crimes (burglary, armed robbery, auto theft for profit, truck jacking, boosting), sales of illegal drugs, and assaultive violence.
Acquisition of an oncogenic fusion protein serves as an initial driving mutation by inducing aneuploidy and overriding proliferative defects

// Jacob M. Loupe 1,4,* , Patrick J. Miller 1,5,* , Benjamin P. Bonner 1,* , Elaine C. Maggi 1 , Jyothi Vijayaraghavan 1 , Jovanny Zabaleta 2 , Christopher M. Taylor 3 , Fern Tsien 1 , Judy S. Crabtree 1 and Andrew D. Hollenbach 1 1 Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA 2 Department of Pediatrics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA 3 Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA 4 Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Richard B. Simches Research Center, Boston, MA, USA 5 Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Andrew D. Hollenbach, email: // Keywords : aneuploidy, Pax3-FOXO1, myogenesis, phosphorylation, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma Received : April 07, 2016 Accepted : August 10, 2016 Published : August 30, 2016 Abstract While many solid tumors are defined by the presence of a particular oncogene, the role that this oncogene plays in driving transformation through the acquisition of aneuploidy and overcoming growth arrest are often not known. Further, although aneuploidy is present in many solid tumors, it is not clear whether it is the cause or effect of malignant transformation. The childhood sarcoma, Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), is primarily defined by the t(2;13)(q35;q14) translocation, creating the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. It is unclear what role PAX3-FOXO1 plays in the initial stages of tumor development through the acquisition and persistence of aneuploidy. In this study we demonstrate that PAX3-FOXO1 serves as a driver mutation to initiate a cascade of mRNA and miRNA changes that ultimately reprogram proliferating myoblasts to induce the formation of ARMS. We present evidence that cells containing PAX3-FOXO1 have changes in the expression of mRNA and miRNA essential for maintaining proper chromosome number and structure thereby promoting aneuploidy. Further, we demonstrate that the presence of PAX3-FOXO1 alters the expression of growth factor related mRNA and miRNA, thereby overriding aneuploid-dependent growth arrest. Finally, we present evidence that phosphorylation of PAX3-FOXO1 contributes to these changes. This is one of the first studies describing how an oncogene and post-translational modifications drive the development of a tumor through the acquisition and persistence of aneuploidy. This mechanism has implications for other solid tumors where large-scale genomics studies may elucidate how global alterations contribute to tumor phenotypes allowing the development of much needed multi-faceted tumor-specific therapeutic regimens.
An improved prediction of residual stresses and distortion in additive manufacturing

Abstract In laser assisted additive manufacturing (AM) an accurate estimation of residual stresses and distortion is necessary to achieve dimensional accuracy and prevent premature fatigue failure, delamination and buckling of components. Since many process variables affect AM, experimental measurements of residual stresses and distortion are time consuming and expensive. Numerical thermo-mechanical models can be used for their estimation, but the quality of calculations depends critically on the accurate transient temperature field which affects both the residual stresses and distortion. In this study, a well-tested, three-dimensional, transient heat transfer and fluid flow model is used to accurately calculate transient temperature field for the residual stress and distortion modeling. The calculated residual stress distributions are compared with independent experimental results. It is shown that the residual stresses can be significantly minimized by reducing the layer thickness during AM. Inconel 718 components are found to be more susceptible to delamination than Ti-6Al-4V parts because they encounter higher residual stresses compared to their yield strength.
25.1 A 50.7% peak efficiency subharmonic resonant isolated capacitive power transfer system with 62mW output power for low-power industrial sensor interfaces

Low-power sensor interfaces play a key role in monitoring industrial system reliability in hostile environments. They are exposed to destructive surge voltages, which are caused by ground current spikes from operation transitions of machinery and motor drives, endangering circuit functionality. Employing galvanic isolation is thus imperative to protect the sensor analog front end (AFE) from severe damage. However, the use of an isolation barrier presents several challenges. Without a wired connection to the sensor AFE, power/data must be transferred through the barrier via magnetic or capacitive coupling. Moreover, size and cost are constrained in such applications. In [1], an isolated DC/DC converter is used, which delivers up to 2W with 80% efficiency, but at the cost of bulky external micro-henry transformers. To avoid a large form-factor solution, the transformers can be integrated, but efficiency is sacrificed and cost is added. In [2–3], the operating frequency of the integrated transformers is ∼300MHz for size reduction. However, at such a high frequency, the switching power loss (P SW ) is greater than 10s of mW, reducing efficiency below 30%. On the other hand, capacitive isolation, usually used in digital links [4], replaces polyimide-based transformers with integrated thick dielectric capacitors. It represents a major improvement due to size and cost savings as a result of integration on silicon.
Fanon, Education and the Fact of Coloniality

In race theories of education, there has been a resurgent interest in the works of W.E.B. Du Bois, as they apply to the racial politics of schooling. This makes sense within a US context because of Du Bois’ public status as an intellectual. By comparison, there has been less attention paid to Frantz Fanon, whose work on decolonization was formative in the 1960s and 1970s. This chapter introduces the opening that Fanon provided for intellectuals in critically understanding the colonial interaction as part of the broader architecture of race relations. Although colonial administration has changed and adapted over time, the fact of coloniality continues, tucked away effectively within the discourse of neoliberalism. Focusing mainly on Black Skin White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth, we introduce critical Fanonian concepts, like the mask, anti-blackness and violence as a way to explain contemporary US race relations and education. By doing so, the chapter assesses the continuing relevance of Fanon’s lifework against colonialism even after the official fall of colonialism, survived by a new condition of coloniality that is necessary to take into account if Fanon is to remain useful for education scholars.
Decomposition of games for efficient reasoning

General Game Playing (GGP) is an area of research in artificial intelligence that focuses on the representation of games in terms of an abstract language known as Game Description Language (GDL). The abstract nature of that language allows for the development of intelligent agents that without modification can perform competently on games that they have never seen before based on known properties of GDL's uniform and compact syntax. Although GDL is an effective tool for communication, it is less useful as a representational framework for reasoning about games. In its place, the Stanford Logic Group has developed a new class of behavioral models, called Propositional Nets (PNs), with which an algorithm has been designed for determining whether games can be decomposed into independent sub-systems that can be reasoned about independently of one another.
Sedimentation and Gel-Permeation Chromatography of Associating-Dissociating Macromolecules

Some years ago we reported that in the many applications of zone electrophoresis to biological problems it is imperative that cognizance be taken of the fact that multiple zones need not necessarily indicate inherent heterogeneity. Thus, both theoretical calculations (Cann and Goad, 1965) and experimentation (Cann, 1966) revealed that, under appropriate conditions, a single macromolecule interacting reversibly with an uncharged constituent of the solvent medium can give two zones despite instantaneous establishment of equilibrium. Moreover, a single macromolecule, which isomerizes reversibly at rates comparable to the rate of electrophoretic separation of the isomers, can give three zones. Accordingly, it was emphasized that unequivocal proof of inherent heterogeneity is afforded only by isolation of the various components. Since that time, we have extended these concepts to include the sedimentation and gel-permeation chromatography of ligandmediated associating—dissociating macromolecules and some representative kinetically controlled interactions. A review of these advances and their implications for the separation of proteins and the characterization of biologically important interactions is given below.
Significant Published Articles for Pharmacy Nutrition Support Practice in 2016

Purpose: To assist the pharmacist engaged in nutrition support therapy in staying current with pertinent literature. Methods: Several clinical pharmacists engaged in nutrition support therapy compiled a list of articles published in 2016 considered important to their clinical practice. The citation list was compiled into a single spreadsheet where the author participants were asked to assess whether the paper was considered important to nutrition support pharmacy practice. A culled list of publications was then identified whereby the majority of author participants (at least 5 out of 8) considered the paper to be important. Guideline and consensus papers from professional organizations, important to practice but not scored, were also included. Results: A total of 103 articles were identified; 10 from the primary literature were voted by the group to be of high importance. An additional 11 organizational guidelines, position, recommendation, or consensus papers were also identified. The top-ranked articles from the primary literature were reviewed. Conclusion: It is recommended that pharmacists, engaged in nutrition support therapy, be familiar with the majority of these articles as it pertains to their practice.
The effects of medication use in transcranial direct current stimulation: A brief review.

Abstract Background There has been increased interest in the potential use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as treatment for multiple conditions including depression, pain, and cognitive impairment. However, few studies account for the possible influence of comorbid medications when conducting tDCS research. Objective/Hypothesis This literature review was conducted to examine what is currently known about the impact of medications on tDCS, provide recommendations for future research practices, and highlight areas where more research is needed. Methods Key terms were searched in PubMed and Web of Science to identify studies that examine the impact of medication on tDCS effects in adults. Relevant papers' reference lists were also reviewed for thoroughness. Studies examined the effects of medication on 1 mA tDCS delivered to M1 (motor) and orbit/supraorbital (SO) area. All studies measured the effects of tDCS via MEP TMS paradigm. Results Results of the literature review suggest multiple classes of medications, including sodium and calcium channel blockers, and medications that influence various neurotransmitter systems (GABA, dopamine, serotonin, etc.) may all impact tDCS effects on tissue excitability. Conclusions Research to date suggests multiple classes of medications may impact tDCS effects. These results highlight the importance of documenting medication use in research subjects and carefully considering what types of medications should be allowed into tDCS trials. Many questions still remain regarding the exact mechanisms of action for tDCS and how various parameters (medication dosages, tDCS stimulation intensity, etc.) may further impact the effects of medications on tDCS.
The hepatic bridge.

Abstract Background The hepatic bridge forms a tunnel of liver parenchyma that may obscure peritoneal metastases associated with the round ligament. Visualization and then resection of nodules associated with this structure is necessary. Materials and methods The incidence of a hepatic bridge and the extent that it covered the round ligament was determined in consecutive patients. Extent of coverage of the round ligament by the hepatic bridge was determined: Class 1 indicates up to one-third of the round ligament obscured, Class 2 up to two-thirds and Class 3 more than two-thirds. Results In 102 patients in whom the round ligament of the liver could be completely visualized, 50 had a hepatic bridge. Class 1 was 22 (44%) of the bridges, Class 2 was 16 (32%) and Class 3 was 12 (24%). A hepatic bridge was more frequently present in 28 of 45 male patients (62%) vs. 22 of 57 female patients (38%). Conclusions Approximately one-half of our patients having cytoreductive surgery for peritoneal metastases were observed to have a hepatic bridge. Up to 56% of these patients have Class 2 or 3 hepatic bridge and may require division of the hepatic bridge to completely visualize the contents of the tunnel created by this structure.
Laboratory and Outdoor Weathering of Wood-Composite I-Joists

AbstractWood-composite I-joists are commonly used in residential and light commercial construction. I-joists are intended for use in dry-service environments, but rare situations exist in which I-j...
Theoretical Studies of the C4 Molecule

Optimized geometries and relative energies for three states of the C4, molecule have been obtained from single-reference configuration interaction (SRCI) calculations. The 1∑g + acetylenic form correlates with two ground state1∑g + C2molecules, from which it can be formed without activation. The1∑g + state, however, is calculated to lie approximately 25 kcal above the 3∑g − state. At the SRCI level, a rhombic form is calculated to lie 1.1 kcal below the triplet form; consideration of the Davidson correction reduces this difference to 0.4 kcal, while more complete basis sets are expected to increase the difference only by about 0.2 kcal. Consideration of these effects and difference in zero-point energy leads to a final estimated splitting of 1.2 kcal, favoring the rhombus. To aid the determination of the ground state, preliminary estimates of the lowest optical transitions were obtained from SRCI calculations and vibrational frequencies were obtained from SCF calculations. Comparison of the calculated results with experimentally obtained spectra suggest the possibility that both the linear triplet and the rhombus may have already been observed.
Pulmonary Inflammation Induced by Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Golden Syrian Hamsters

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have a broad range of applications; however, they may present a potential health hazard. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of inhalation exposure of aerosolized SWCNTs on hamster lungs. Golden Syrian Hamsters were divided in to 2 groups: a control group that was exposed to an aerosol of distilled water, and a treated group exposed to aerosolized SWCNTs at concentrations of 1, 2 or 4mg/m3 for 2hrs/day for 4 consecutive days. Additional groups were used to investigate longer inhalation periods (8 and 14 days) with exposures of 4hrs/day to 2mg/m3 SWCNTs. One day post exposure, hamsters were euthanized. Tissue sections were evaluated by TUNEL assay to determine apoptosis and tissue homogenates were used to measure endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was used to determine total leukocyte cell numbers, tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNFR1) counts and endothelin receptor subtypes A (ETA) levels on alveolar macrophages. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were carried out on lung tissue sections. The current study demonstrates inhalation exposures to SWCNTs in hamster induce pulmonary inflammation. Results from histological analysis of tissue sections indicated increase in inflammatory cells predominantly macrophages in airways and hyperplasia of airway epithelial cells. SWCNTs treatment significantly increased total BAL leukocyte counts, TNFR1 and lung ET-1 levels. SWCNTs treatment caused an increase in ETA levels and evidence of lung toxicity was demonstrated by apoptosis. SWCNTs deposition in alveolar airspaces along with changes to alveolar epithelium was observed in tissue sections examined by TEM.
Triterpenes and Steroids

Triterpenes constitute a significant portion of the lipid substances of all plants; more than 4000 triterpenoids have been isolated. These compounds are precursors to steroids in both plants and animals. Steroids are components of membranes in plants. Both triterpenes and steroids occur free, as glycosides (Boar and Allen, 1973), or in other combined forms. Correct structures for many were not forthcoming until about 1940 (Connolly and Overton, 1972). The structures of triterpenes and steroids may be subdivided into about 40 major types (Fig. 23.1) (Connolly and Hill, 1991; Devon and Scott, 1972).
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma: insights into patterns of recurrence and disease behavior

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with high metastatic potential. Clinical observations suggest that there is disease heterogeneity among patients with different sites of distant metastases, yielding distinct clinical outcomes. Herein, we investigate the impact of clinical and pathological parameters on recurrence patterns and compare survival outcomes for patients with a first site of recurrence in the liver versus lung from PDAC following original curative surgical resection. Using the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ICD billing codes and tumor registry database over a 10 years period (January 2004–December 2014), we identified PDAC patients who underwent resection and subsequently presented with either liver or lung recurrence. Time from relapse to death (TRD) was calculated from date of recurrence to date of death. Using the Kaplan-Meier method, TRD was estimated and compared by recurrence site using log-rank test. The median overall follow-up was 37.3 months among survivors in the entire cohort. Median TRD in this cohort was 10.7 months (95%CI: 8.9–14.6 months). Patients with first site of lung recurrence had a more favorable outcome compared to patients who recurred with liver metastasis as the first site of recurrence (median TRD of 15 versus 9 months respectively, P = 0.02). Moderate to poorly or poor differentiation was associated more often with liver than lung recurrence (40% vs 21% respectively, P = 0.047). A trend to increased lymph node metastasis in the lung recurrence cohort was observed. PDAC patients who recur with a first site of lung metastasis have an improved clinical outcome compared to patients with first site of liver recurrence. Our data suggests there may be epidemiologic and pathologic determinants related to patterns of recurrence in PDAC.
Comparative effectiveness of primary radiotherapy versus surgery in elderly patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives To determine the comparative effectiveness of primary radiotherapy (RT) and primary surgery (PS) for locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Materials and methods Eligible individuals were patients in the SEER-Medicare registry diagnosed with locally advanced OPSCC between 2000 and 2011. Patients were categorized as receiving either primary RT ± chemotherapy, or PS ± adjuvant RT or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using Cox multivariable analysis (MVA). Risks of gastrostomy dependence (GD), esophageal stricture (ES), and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) were analyzed using logistic regression. Results A total of 2754 patients (69% RT, 31% PS) were included in this cohort, with a median age of 72 years. Patients treated with RT, CRT and PS experienced 3-year OS outcomes of 36.1%, 52.8%, and 54.9%, respectively (p Conclusion Local therapy decisions for locally advanced OPSCC must be individualized, with CRT increasing acute and chronic GD. The differential survival impact of concurrent chemotherapy in the definitive and adjuvant setting may be a consideration in decision-making.
If you ask, they will come (to register and vote): Field experiments with state election agencies on encouraging voter registration

Abstract We address the frequent critique that voter registration is a barrier to participation in the US. Institutional reforms to voter registration produce only small impacts on participation. We show the registration barrier can be reduced without changing laws or administrative processes using official communication seeking to change individual political behavior. In collaboration with state election agencies in two states, we conducted large-scale field experiments using low cost postcards aimed at increasing registration among eligible but unregistered citizens. The experiments find statistically and substantively significant effects on registration and turnout in subsequent elections. The research partnership with election officials is unusual and important for understanding electoral participation. Further, the population targeted for registration is broader than prior experiments on voter registration in the US. The results provide important insights about voter registration as a barrier to political participation, plus practical guidance for election officials to reduce this barrier.
Disease severity and quality of life in homebound people with advanced Parkinson disease: A pilot study.

Background As Parkinson disease (PD) progresses, symptoms increase, quality of life (QoL) declines, and individuals may become homebound, often losing access to neurologic care. We aimed to determine whether facilitating expert in-home care could improve our understanding of disease progression, treatment options, and unmet needs in this vulnerable population, and whether such a model could mitigate decline in QoL. Methods Patients with PD meeting Medicare homebound criteria were eligible for quarterly interdisciplinary home visits over 12 months. Each visit entailed an evaluation by a movement disorders neurologist, social worker, and nurse, including history, examination, medication reconciliation, psychosocial evaluation, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management, and service referrals. Disease severity, as measured by the Unified Parkinson9s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and QoL using the Neuro-QoL were measured at visits 1 and 4. Results Of 27 enrolled patients, 23 completed 4 visits, with high retention and high patient- and caregiver-reported satisfaction. The mean age at baseline was 80.9 years (SD 7.8) with a mean total UPDRS of 65.0 (SD 20.0). After one year of home visits, total UPDRS worsened by a mean of 11.8 points (p Conclusions Homebound individuals with advanced PD receiving interdisciplinary home visits experienced no significant decline in QoL over 1 year, despite disease progression. Our findings highlight the disease severity and impaired QoL of the advanced, homebound PD population, and the potential for novel approaches to foster continuity of care.
Falsification of Cyber-Physical Systems with Robustness Uncertainty Quantification Through Stochastic optimization with Adaptive Restart

This work is in the field of requirements driven search-based test case generation methods for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). The basic characteristic of search-based testing methods is that the search process is guided by high level requirements captured in formal logic and, in particular, Signal Temporal Logic (STL). Given a system trajectory, STL specifications can be equipped with quantitative semantics which evaluate the closeness of the given trajectory from violating the requirement. Hence, by searching for trajectories of decreasing value with respect to the specification, a test generation method can be formulated which searches for system behaviors with a closeness to violation value of less than 0. These system behaviors, i.e., trajectories that violate the requirements and yield STL closeness value less than 0, are referred to as falsiping behaviors. In addition, signed distance can be utilized when searching for trajectories that maximally violate the specification (negative specification valuations). In this work, we propose the use of a stochastic search method that mixes global and local search for system test case generation. The implemented search method models input-output relationships between test cases and the observed STL closeness values of the yielded system trajectories, adaptively linking input-out of both global and local regional modeling. The method shows improved finite time performance, i.e., quick identification of falsification behaviors, over current search-based test case generation methods. Further, given no falsifying behaviors are found in finite time our method is capable of quantifying the certainty that no falsifying behaviors exist.
Are There Sex-Specific Neuromuscular or Force Responses to Fatiguing Isometric Muscle Actions Anchored to a High Perceptual Intensity?

Keller, JL, Housh, TJ, Hill, EC, Smith, CM, Schmidt, RJ, and Johnson, GO. Are there sex-specific neuromuscular or force responses to fatiguing isometric muscle actions anchored to a high perceptual intensity? J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-The purpose of this study was to use the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) clamp model to examine sex-specific changes in neuromuscular responses and force after a sustained isometric leg extension muscle action anchored to RPE = 8. Twenty adults (10 men and 10 women) performed sustained, isometric leg extension muscle actions at RPE = 8. Electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic signals were recorded from the dominant leg. Neuromuscular and force values resulting from the sustained muscle action were normalized to pretest maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs). The level of significance set for the study was p ≤ 0.05. The pretest MVIC was significantly (p < 0.001) greater (averaged across sex) than posttest MVIC force (55.5 ± 10.0 vs. 47.6 ± 11.1 kg). There was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease from pretest (95.4 ± 7.7 Hz) to posttest (76.2 ± 5.9 Hz) in EMG mean power frequency (MPF) for the men. The normalized force (averaged across sex) decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from the initial timepoint (57.1 ± 16.4%) to the final timepoint (44.3 ± 15.7%) of the sustained muscle action. Normalized EMG MPF (averaged across sex) decreased significantly (p = 0.001) from the initial timepoint (96.4 ± 17.5%) to final timepoint (87.8 ± 18.1%). The men and women exhibited similar fatigue-induced changes in force and neuromuscular parameters; therefore, these findings did not indicate different sex-specific responses after the fatiguing task anchored to a high perception of exertion. The force corresponding to RPE = 8 did not match the anticipated value; so, RPE and percentages of MVIC cannot be used interchangeably, and sustained isometric muscle actions anchored to RPE may elicit unique neuromuscular adaptations.