cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SmartMoveX on a Graph - An Inexpensive Active Badge Tracker

Measuring the locations of people in a building is an important part of ubiquitous computing. We present new hardware and software for this purpose. The hardware, called SmartMoveX, is an active badge system in which a small radio transmitter is attached to the person being tracked. Receivers placed in the building's existing offices, connected to existing PCs, transmit signal strength readings to a central PC using the building's existing computer network. Combined with the low cost of the hardware, using the existing network makes this active badge system much less expensive than many others. To compute locations based on signal strength, we gathered signal strength readings from predefined location nodes in the building. We defined a graph on these nodes, which allowed us to enforce constraints on computed movements between nodes (e.g. cannot pass through walls) and to probabilistically enforce our expectations on transitions between connected nodes. Modeling the data with a hidden Markov model, we used the Viterbi algorithm to compute optimal paths based on signal strengths over the node graph. The average location error was 3.05 meters, which compared favorably to a simple nearest neighbor algorithm's average location error of 4.57 meters.
Responses of cremasteric arterioles of spontaneously hypertensive rats to changes in extracellular K+ concentration.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the effect of changes in extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]0) on active tone in cremasteric arterioles of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar controls.Methods: Diameters of third- and fourth-order arterioles were measured in the cremaster muscle of hypertensive and normotensive rats during abrupt changes in superfusate K+ concentration from 4.7 mM to 0 mM to 15 mM K+.Results: Arterioles constricted in response to superfusion with 0 mM K+ and exhibited a large, transient dilation in response to an abrupt change from 0 mM to 15 mM [K+]o. Arteriolar dilation in response to 15 mM K+ was significantly larger in 12–15-week-old SHR than in WKY or Wistar controls. Arteriolar responses to 15 mM K+ were not significantly different in 4–6-week-old SHR and WKY. Dilator responses to 15 mM K+ were generally inhibited by 1 mM ouabain, although ouabain was less effective in inhibiting 15 mM K+-induced dilation in a...
Photothermal Ablation with the Excimer Laser Sheath Technique for Embedded Inferior Vena Cava Filter Removal: Initial Results from a Prospective Study

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the excimer laser sheath technique for removing embedded inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. Materials and Methods Over 12 months, 25 consecutive patients undergoing attempted IVC filter retrieval with a laser-assisted sheath technique were prospectively enrolled into an institutional review board–approved study registry. There were 10 men and 15 women (mean age 50 years, range 20–76 years); 18 (72%) of 25 patients were referred from an outside hospital. Indications for retrieval included symptomatic filter-related acute caval thrombosis (with or without acute pulmonary embolism), chronic IVC occlusion, and bowel penetration. Retrieval was also performed to remove risks from prolonged implantation and potentially to eliminate need for lifelong anticoagulation. After failure of standard methods, controlled photothermal ablation of filter-adherent tissue with a Spectranetics laser sheath and CVX-300 laser system was performed. All patients were evaluated with cavography, and specimens were sent for histologic analysis. Results Laser-assisted retrieval was successful in 24 (96%) of 25 patients as follows: 11 Gunther Tulip (mean 375 days, range 127–882 days), 4 Celect (mean 387 days, range 332–440 days), 2 Option (mean 215 days, range 100–330 days), 4 OPTEASE (mean 387 days, range 71–749 days; 1 failed 188 days), 2 TRAPEASE (mean 871 days, range 187–1,555 days), and 2 Greenfield (mean 12.8 years, range 7.2–18.3 years). There was one (4%) major complication (acute thrombus, treated with thrombolysis), three (12%) minor complications (small extravasation, self-limited), and one adverse event (coagulopathic retroperitoneal hemorrhage) at follow-up (mean 126 days, range 13–302 days). Photothermal ablation of filter-adherent tissue was histologically confirmed in 23 (92%) of 25 patients. Conclusions The laser-assisted sheath technique appears to be a safe and effective tool for retrieving embedded IVC filters, including permanent types, with implantation ranging from months to > 18 years.
Diagenesis of Skeletal and Nonskeletal Components of Mid-cretaceous Limestones

ABSTRACT Skeletal and nonskeletal components from Mid-Cretaceous limestones have been investigated using coordinated textural, isotopic, and chemical methods to delineate the conditions under which they formed or were altered. The degree of alteration was determined by means of cathodoluminescence, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, along with inferences from isotopic and chemical compositions. Oxygen isotopic values (-2.9 to -0.5, PDB) of non-luminescent parts of most bivalves (a pectenid, chondrodontids, and most oysters) and of radiaxial fibrous calcite appear to reflect isotopic equilibrium with contemporaneous Mid-Cretaceous surface seawater. In contrast, oxygen isotopic compositions of non-luminescent, texturally unaltered calcite outer layers of rudists and the calcitic shells of some oysters (-4.0 to -2.5) are significantly lower than luminescent, altered portions of the same specimens or equant calcite cements within skeletal molds. This apparent isotopic "reversal" suggests that vital effects are involved in the secretion of skeletal calcite in rudists and some o sters. All the radiaxial fibrous calcite (RFC) cements analyzed contain less than 1 mole % MgCO3. Retention of a primary marine 18O signature and the absence of microdolomite inclusions within well-preserved RFC suggest that this cement precipitated as primary low-Mg calcite cements. Also, micritic envelopes, algal coatings, and internal sediments within the RFC strongly suggest that those cements were formed in shallow marine environments. Isotopic and chemical contents of calcitized skeletons, together with coexisting equant calcite cements indicate that the sediments were mostly stabilized during meteoric-phreatic diagenesis and that effects of deep-burial diagenesis were negligible. The similarity of isotopic and chemical trends in those calcitized skeletons and the equant cements suggests that the skeletons were altered by fluids in a diagenetic system which was open with respect to 18O, Sr, and Mg, but closed with respect to 13C, Fe, and Mn.
Role of Cl− current in endothelin-1-induced contraction in rabbit basilar artery

Cl− efflux induces depolarization and contraction of smooth muscle cells. This study was undertaken to explore the role of Cl− channels in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced contraction in rabbit basilar ...
Responsiveness of Atmospheric Methane to Human Emissions: A Note

Detrended correlation analysis in the sample period 1984-2013 shows no evidence that annual changes in atmospheric methane net of oxidation losses are responsive at an annual time scale to human activities having to do with enteric fermentation, rice cultivation, hydropower generation, and hydrocarbon extraction.
The challenge of snow measurements

At times beautiful, at times annoying, the importance of snow cannot be diminished by fan or foe. Much has and continues to be written about this crystalline feature, particularly related to disruptive storms, its hydrologic significance and role in influencing and identifying climate variability and change. Many think that measuring snow is simple – nothing more than inserting a ruler and recording the depth. However, whether it is falling, accumulating or changing once on the ground, there are challenges in measuring snow at every stage of its existence. In this chapter we examine historical and current methods of recording the depth and water equivalent of snowfall and snow on the ground. Although the focus is on manual observations, a brief overview of some recent remote sensing methods is also included. Accurate manual snow observations require careful attention to guidelines and exercising careful judgment as one measures this ever-changing medium. Some observers have kept excellent records for extended periods of time and these valuable records are archived at various centers around the world. However, in too many instances both in the past and at present, snow observations are at best granted second class attention by those involved with weather observation, the training of observers and data archiving. This chapter will address the suite of challenges that continue to plague the accurate measurement of snowfall.
Developmental Screening With Spanish-Speaking Families in a Primary Care Setting

Cultural beliefs may influence parents' willingness to raise concerns on a developmental screener. Our study evaluated the performance of the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) in an urban community health center where 75% of families are Spanish speaking. Our primary outcome was the presence of parent-reported concerns either in the medical record or on the PEDS before the PEDS was introduced compared with after it became routine care (post-PEDS). Covariates included family language and child age, gender, and risk status. The adjusted odds of a concern being identified was 1.5 times greater in the post-PEDS period for Developmental concerns and 2.1 times greater for Behavioral concerns. There was no association with family language indicating that the PEDS performs equally well for English- and Spanish-speaking families. The systematic inclusion of developmental screening as part of culturally competent primary care may aid in reducing current disparities in the identification of developmental concerns.
/sup 59/Co(/sup 16/O,/sup 16/O)/sup 59/Co elastic scattering

Differential cross sections for the $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$($^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}$)$^{59}\mathrm{Co}$ elastic scattering have been measured at laboratory energies 36, 40, 45.5, 49, 52, and 56 MeV. The angular range was 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}-170\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (lab) in 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps at lower energies. At higher energies detailed angular distributions were carried out in 1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} steps until the ratio to Rutherford was ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ with sample measurements at larger angles to assure that the differential cross sections were less than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ ratio to Rutherford. The data have been analyzed with a four parameter optical model and the continuous ambiguities in this model are discussed. Strong absorption radii and the values of the nuclear potentials at these points are determined. Good fits to the data have been obtained using a $G$-matrix double-folding model with double-folded or Woods-Saxon forms for the imaginary potential. The required normalization of the real double-folded potential is near unity for all energies. Total reaction cross sections have been obtained by the optical model, quarter-point, "half partial-wave," and the sum of differences methods. The sum of differences method gives slightly larger total reaction cross sections than do the other methods by an amount consistent with estimates of the Coulomb excitation cross section. Estimates of the errors in the sum of differences values are computed by applying the optical theorem and are shown to be negligibly small.NUCLEAR REACTIONS: $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$($^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}$) $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta}, E)$, ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=36, 40, 45.5, 49, 52, \mathrm{and} 56$ MeV; measured total reaction cross sections.
Rehabilitating the Chronically Mentally Ill: Social Work's Claim to Leadership

community adjustment of the chronically mentally ill results from the sophisticated application of fundamental social work concepts that have been recognized since the earliest days of the profession. More over, in spite of the interest of social workers in doing therapy, however that may be defined, it is the other (and earlier) definition of social work practice with individuals and families that is likely to be the profession's valuable contribution to rehabilitating this population. Moreover, because of social work's unique history and conceptual framework, it is argued that this profession is in the most advan tageous position to organize the network of supports and services that are neces sary to make community rehabilitation happen. It is not contended that social work is the only, or the most important, profession that deals with the long-term mentally ill; it is only argued that the con ceptual framework and nearly a century of experience in helping clients with the complexities of social interaction give so cial work a track record that places it in an optimal position to provide leadership in this developing field, should its mem bers wish to rise to the challenge. More over, case management, as the quintes Richard T. Wintersteen
Doubly-dynamic-covalent polymers composed of oxime and oxanorbornene links

Two sets of reversible covalent linkages distributed in series along a polymer backbone were used to prepare a new class of doubly-dynamic-covalent polymers capable of reversibly dissociating via two distinct pathways. These self-repairable linear polymers were prepared via step-growth Diels–Alder polymerization of an AB monomer that contained furfuryl- and maleimido groups linked by an oxime bond. Both the oxime and oxanorbornene links lent orthogonally reversible character to the polymer backbone. The sequentially distributed oxime bonds in the polymer were capable of dynamic oxime exchange in the presence of a competitive monofunctional alkoxyamine under acidic conditions, while the oxanorbornene linkages were susceptible to cleavage via retro-Diels–Alder reactions at elevated temperatures and recombination upon cooling. The self-healing or reversible nature of the dynamic-covalent oxime bonds and oxanorbornene links has potential for designing stimuli-responsive self-repairable materials for sensors and drug delivery applications.
Attenuation coefficient of usable solar radiation of the global oceans

Usable solar radiation (USR) represents spectrally integrated solar energy in the spectral range of 400–560 nm, a domain where photons penetrate the most in oceanic waters and thus contribute to photosynthesis and heating at deeper depths. Through purely numerical simulations, it was found that the diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling USR (Kd(USR), m−1) is nearly a constant vertically in the upper water column for clear waters and most turbid waters. Subsequently an empirical model was developed to estimate Kd(USR) based on the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd(490), m−1). We here evaluate this relationship using data collected from a wide range of oceanic and coastal environments and found that the relationship between Kd(490) and Kd(USR) developed via the numerical simulation is quite robust. We further refined this relationship to extend the applicability to “clearest” natural waters. This refined relationship was then used to produce sample distribution of Kd(USR) of global oceans. As expected, extremely low Kd(USR) (∼0.02 m−1) was observed in ocean gyres, while significantly higher Kd(USR) (∼5.2 m−1) was found in very turbid coastal regions. A useful application of Kd(USR) is to easily and accurately propagate surface USR to deeper depths, potentially to significantly improve the estimation of basin scale primary production and heat fluxes in the upper water column.
Methodologic issues in randomized trials of liaison psychiatry in primary care.

Most anxiety, depressive, and substance abuse disorders are treated exclusively in the primary care health system. However, recognition and treatment of these disorders in primary care is deficient. Psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions have been developed and proven effective in randomized trials in specialty care. However, the results of successful trials of mental health interventions in specialty settings may not generalize to primary care settings because of epidemiologic differences in patients, differences in skills of providers, as well as differences in the very structure of care. The importance of the development of innovative randomized trials to improve recognition and treatment of mental illness in primary care is emphasized, as well as the methodologic problems inherent in carrying out these trials
Morphological Changes in Rod-Shaped Precipitates With Internal Boundaries: Finite Difference Analysis

Shape evolution of rod-shaped precipitates due to surface diffusion has been studied under the conditions of constant volume and isotropie interfacial free energy. The shape evolution depends strongly on both the initial aspect ratio and the grain boundary groove angle. For a finite rod with one grain boundary, the morphology evolves into an equilibrium shape made of spherical portions if its aspect ratio and the groove angle are small. Increase in the aspect ratio causes a boundary splitting. For an infinite rod with periodic boundaries, three types of morphological evolutions are observed. When the relationship between the aspect ratio and the groove angle satisfies a certain critical condition, the shape evolves into an equilibrium. If the relationship deviates significantly from this condition, an ovulation process takes place at each location of the internal grain boundaries. When the deviation is intermediate, the morphology undergoes an oscillation in a quasi-dynamic state between the process toward an equilibrium shape and the ovulation process. The ovulation process due to internal grain boundaries is found to precede the Rayleigh spheroidization process.
Release of neutrophil chemotactic factors from gastric tissue. Initial biochemical characterization.

This study was designed to characterize neutrophil chemotactic factors released by gastric tissue. Full-thickness rabbit stomach (organ culture) was prepared and incubated in Ringer's solution at 37°C. Culture supernatants were collected at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr and assayed for neutrophil chemotactic activity in modified Boyden chambers. High levels of chemotactic activity were seen at 3 hr of incubation. Antral and fundic tissue were equally capable of producing neutrophil chemotactic activity. In addition, high levels of activity were seen from both the serosal and mucosal surfaces. Initial biochemical characterization of these gastricderived factors revealed that: (1) a majority of the activity (80–90%) exhibited molecular weight values of greater than 300 kDa, (2) the chemotactic activity was heat stable but was partially reduced by treatment with a protease, subtilisin (37% inhibition), and (3) 70–80% of the activity in the supernatants was extracted into organic solvent (ethyl acetate). These factors may prove to be important in recruitment of neutrophils to areas of gastric injury.
Full Analysis and Investigation on Drinking Water Quality of 10 Rural Waterworks in Zhenjiang Area

[Objective]To study the sanitary status of rural drinking water in Zhenjiang area,provide the scientific basis for making the protective measures of drinking water safety and ensuring population health.[Methods]10 rural waterworks with different types of water source were chosen for sanitary investigation,and full water quality monitoring and evaluation which included 104 items was conducted.[Results]The qualified rate of rural drinking water in Zhenjiang area was 50%.The qualified rate of rural waterworks with water source of Changjiang was 80%,and that with water source of reservoirs was 20%.The unqualified items were turbidity,aluminum,chlorite,free residual chlorine or chlorine dioxide,microorganism,etc.There was significant difference in total organic carbon among rural waterworks with different types of water source(P0.01).[Conclusion]The drinking water sanitation is related to water quality of water source,production technology and enterprise management.The water sanitation of rural waterworks with water source of Changjiang is better than that with water source of reservoirs.There are the health hidden dangers in rural drinking water from reservoirs.It is suggested to implement the regional water supply to ensure the sanitary quality of drinking water.
Analysis on the defects produced during the aluminum foil fin for the air conditioner performing

from the actual production,we find that the defects(such as: punch cracking,lamination sheet,scratch sheet,and rewind sheet,etc.) are easily produced during the aluminum foil fin are forming.This article describes the factors related with these defectors from the aluminum foil materials.The factors are the aluminum alloy brand and state of the foil,aluminum foil shape,thickness,the roughness on the surface,and painting performance,etc.
Analysis on Monitoring Results at Enteric Clinic in Fengtai District of Beijing from 1999 to 2008

[Objective]To understand monitoring results of enteric clinic in Fengtai District in 10 years,and provide evidence for developing prevention and control measures for gastro-intestinal diseases.[Methods] Monitoring results of enteric clinic from 1999 to 2008 were collected,change of the results were described and disease and patient constitution were analyzed.[Results]The minimum of total outpatient amount was 8350 in 2003,and the maximum was 19 571 in 2007; the constitution of patients source has changed significantly in 10 years (χ2=5986.39,P0.01).[Conclusion] Significant change of outpatient amount,diseases constitution and patient source has taken place in enteric clinic of Fengtai District in 10 years. It is necessary to take effective control measures to achieve the goal of disease control.
Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Bladder and Prostate in Childhood

AbstractOf 30 children treated for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma the primary site of tumor was the bladder in 14 cases (9 boys and 5 girls) and the prostate in 16 cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 3 years in patients with bladder sarcoma and 6.5 years in patients with sarcoma of the prostate. Over-all survival rate has been 23 per cent—5 children with rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder and 2 with rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate are alive from 1½ to 23 years postoperatively. Aggressive coordinated treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and cyclic combination chemotherapy is recommended.
NMR of Adsorbed Molecules with a View Toward Pesticide Chemistry

We ask of pesticides that they kill pests and, having done that, bother us no more. Having neglected the second desideratum we are faced with the twin necessities of (a) designing new pesticides which meet this second requirement and (b) assaying and if possible, remedying the damage produced through this neglecto In this article we are concerned with the application of NMR methods to studies of adsorbed molecules, i.e. to studies of surface-chemical systems. Thus, we are in a sense two steps removed from a direct assault on the above problems, the first being the linking of pesticide chemistry to surface chemistry, and the second being a demonstration of the relevant insights gained from the application of NMR to surface chemistry. The first step is easy: a pesticide molecule upon application must adhere to some desired substrate; then it must chemically interact with the macromolecular structure of the pest and cause its destruction; it must next be eluted from the soil by means of natural waters: all of these processes depend on surface chemical adsorption desorption equilibria, on the transport of molecules from point to point by diffusion or large scale chromatographic processes.
‘Otherness’, Enmity and Envy in Soviet Images of the United States

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a critical basis for understanding Soviet and Russian identities, particularly as they impact upon Soviet and Russian press coverage of the United States. Within this context, I begin to explore a second important theme of this work, changing Soviet and Russian perceptions of the United States in the Gorbachev and post-Soviet eras.
Origin and Early History of the Peanut

Abstract The peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., is a native South American legume. Macrofossil and starch grain data show peanuts moved into the Zana Valley in Northern Peru 8500 years ago, presumably from the eastern side of the Andes Mountains, although the hulls found there do not have similar characteristics to modern domestic peanuts. At the time of the discovery of the American and European expansion into the New World, this cultivated species was known and grown widely throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of this hemisphere. The early Spanish and Portuguese explorers found the Indians cultivating the peanut in several of the West Indian Islands, in Mexico, on the northeast and east coasts of Brazil, in the warm land of the Rio de la Plata basin (Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, extreme southwest Brazil), and extensively in Peru. From these regions the peanut was disseminated to Europe, to the coasts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Eventually, the peanut traveled to the colonial seaboard of the present southeastern United States, but the time and place of its introduction was not documented.
Ultra-High Resolution Ion Mobility Separations Utilizing Traveling Waves in a 13 m Serpentine Path Length Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations Module.

We report the development and initial evaluation of a 13 m path length Structures for Lossless Manipulations (SLIM) module for achieving high resolution separations using traveling waves (TW) with ion mobility (IM) spectrometry. The TW SLIM module was fabricated using two mirror-image printed circuit boards with appropriately configured RF, DC, and TW electrodes and positioned with a 2.75 mm intersurface gap. Ions were effectively confined in field-generated conduits between the surfaces by RF-generated pseudopotential fields and moved losslessly through a serpentine path including 44 “U” turns using TWs. The ion mobility resolution was characterized at different pressures, gaps between the SLIM surfaces, and TW and RF parameters. After initial optimization, the SLIM IM-MS module provided about 5-fold higher resolution separations than present commercially available drift tube or traveling wave IM-MS platforms. Peak capacity and peak generation rates achieved were 246 and 370 s–1, respectively, at a TW sp...
An algorithm for the von Bertalanffy seasonal cessation in growth function of Pauly et al. (1992)

Abstract Pauly et al. (1992; Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43:1151–1156) introduced a modified von Bertalanffy seasonal growth function that allowed for a period of no growth. Pauly et al. (1992) provided special purpose software to fit the model to length-at-age data, but this software is no longer available and specific details to implement a critical aspect of the new growth function were not clear. I provide details for this critical aspect of the function, implement it in the open-source R environment, and briefly demonstrate the use of this function with four data sets. With this, the growth function of Pauly et al. (1992) is now readily available to all scientists with access to software that can fit nonlinear models to data. Thus, this growth function may be implemented in more situations and its fit rigorously compared to the results from other models of fish growth.
Collectively, we need to accelerate Arctic specimen sampling.

Natural history collections are not often thought of as observatories, but they are increasingly being used as such to observe biological systems and changes within them. Objects and the data assoc...
The Number of Legal Go Positions

The number of legal \(19\times 19\) Go positions has been determined as Open image in new window A roughly 1.2 % fraction of the \(3^{19\times 19}\) total number of positions, this is more naturally expressed in ternary. Replacing the usual ternary digits 0,1,2 by \(+\)(empty), Open image in new window (black), and Open image in new window (white) respectively, yields the following (illegal) position that counts all legal positions: Open image in new window
Differentiating swelling and hypertrophy through indirect assessment of muscle damage in untrained men following repeated bouts of resistance exercise

To examine the swelling response and other markers of muscle damage throughout the early portions of a training program (Experiment 1). We also determined if a “swollen” muscle could swell further following additional exercise (Experiment 2). Nine males performed four sets of biceps curls (or time-matched rest on control arm) at 70% of their one-repetition maximum three times over 8 days. Muscle thickness and torque were measured before and after exercise as well as on the days in between. Soreness was measured at the beginning of each day (Experiment 1). On the final day (Experiment 2), participants performed two bouts of exercise, followed by additional measures of muscle thickness. Following three bouts of exercise, muscle thickness was elevated over baseline (mean of visit 9 pre to visit 2 pre, 95% CI) at the 50% [0.21 (0.07, 0.34) cm], 60% [0.21 (0.02, 0.39) cm], and 70% [0.21 (0.06, 0.36) cm] sites. However, differences from a non-exercise control were only observed immediately following bouts of exercise (indicative of acute swelling). Torque was lower at every time point following the first bout of exercise and remained suppressed relative to pre at visit 9 [−6.1 (−11.7, −0.47 Nm] in the experimental arm. Experiment 2 found that a swollen muscle could not appreciably swell more. Resting levels of muscle thickness do not appear to change beyond what occurs following the first naive bout of exercise. Also, the acute swelling response may be used to differentiate swelling from muscle growth.
Evolution and Genetic Engineering

A cell’s genotype represents the cell’s genetic potential, whereas its phenotype represents the expression of a culture’s potential. The genotype of a cell can be altered by mutations. Mutations may be selectable or unselectable . The rate of mutation can be enhanced by the addition of chemicals called mutagens or by radiation. Auxotrophs are of particular use in genetic analysis and as a basis for some bioprocess. Another useful class of mutants is conditional mutants. Gene transfer from one cell to another augments genetic information in ways that are not possible through mutation only. Genetic recombination of different DNA molecules occurs within most cells. Thus, genetic information transferred from another organism may become a permanent part of the recipient cell. The three primary modes of gene transfer in bacteria are transformation, transduction, and conjugation . We can use gene transfer in conjunction with restriction enzymes and ligases to genetically engineer cells. In-vitro procedures to recombine isolated donor DNA gens with vector DNA (for example plasmids, temperate phages, or modified viruses) are called recombinant DNA techniques . The application of recombinant DNA technology at the commercial level requires a judicious choice of the proper host-vector system. E. coli , S. cerevisiae , P. stipitis and Bacillus are commonly selected as hosts because of their unique properties. Animal cell culture is required when posttranslational modifications are essential. The vector must be designed to optimize a desired process. One must be aware of the regulatory constraints on the release of cells with recombinant DNA. These are particularly relevant in plant design, where guidelines for physical containment must be met. Deliberate release of genetically modified cells is possible, but extensive documentation will be required. Two increasingly important applications of genetic engineering are metabolic or pathway engineering for the production or destruction of nonproteins and protein engineering for the production of novel or specifically modified proteins.
A Mechanism of Reliable and Standalone Script Generator on Android

A good automated testing tool could reduce as much as possible the manual work done by testers. In order to improve the traditional record-replay approach and reduce the effort that the testers spending on writing test scripts, we propose an approach that generates the Android application test scripts based on accessibility service without connecting to a computer. This approach simulates user input actions and replays them correctly even at the different conditions such as the internet connection is unstable when the device under test, the different resolutions on Android devices. In this paper, we describe how to generate test scripts automatically and make a comparison with existing tools for Android such as Robotium, Appium, UIAutomator, and MonkeyTalk.
Probing Nanostrain via a Mechanically Designed Optical Fiber Interferometer

We propose an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI)-based optical fiber sensor with a novel mechanical design for nano-scale strain measurement. In our proposed sensor, a designed mechanical structure consists of a cylinder and a square column attached to a stainless steel substrate. This simple and compact structure along with a fiber ceramic ferrule and a gold-coated reflective mirror as a packaged EFPI sensor can resolve nano-scale strain with temperature self-compensation. In comparison with the existing nanostrain sensing methods, no reference sensors and complicated configurations are needed. The strain measured by our proposed sensor ranges from 0 to 677 ne with a measurement accuracy of ±5 ne. This robust and easy-to-build geometry-based nano-scale strain sensor has great potential in nanotechnology, geophysical research, seismic monitoring, and other practical applications.
Multiscale network representation of physiological time series for early prediction of sepsis.

Objective and Approach: Sepsis, a dysregulated immune-mediated host response to infection, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Indices of heart rate variability and complexity (such as entropy) have been proposed as surrogate markers of neuro-immune system dysregulation with diseases such as sepsis. However, these indices only provide an average, one dimensional description of complex neuro-physiological interactions. We propose a novel multiscale network construction and analysis method for multivariate physiological time series, and demonstrate its utility for early prediction of sepsis. Main results: We show that features derived from a multiscale heart rate and blood pressure time series network provide approximately 20% improvement in the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for four-hour advance prediction of sepsis over traditional indices of heart rate entropy ( versus ). Our results indicate that this improvement is attributable to both the improved network construction method proposed here, as well as the information embedded in the higher order interaction of heart rate and blood pressure time series dynamics. Our final model, which included the most commonly available clinical measurements in patients' electronic medical records and multiscale entropy features, as well as the proposed network-based features, achieved an AUROC of . Significance: Prediction of the onset of sepsis prior to clinical recognition will allow for meaningful earlier interventions (e.g. antibiotic and fluid administration), which have the potential to decrease sepsis-related morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.
Disclosure Conflicts: Crude Oil Trains, Fracking Chemicals, and the Politics of Transparency

Many governments and corporations have embraced information disclosure as an alternative to conventional environmental and public health regulation. Public policy research on transparency has exami...
Intracranial complications of acute bacterial endocarditis.

Background Infectious endocarditis (IE) clinically manifests as either subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) or acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE). Neurologic manifestations are markedly different for these two entities. ABE is caused by invasive, highly virulent pathogens (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus), whereas SBE is attributed to relatively avirulent, non-invasive organisms (e.g., viridans streptococci). Methods Here, we reviewed the clinical and radiographic presentations of a patient with cranial complications attributed to ABE. Such patients typically develop central nervous system (CNS) septic emboli resulting in stroke (with/without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)) and/or mycotic aneurysms resulting in ICH bleeds. Results With ABE, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) seeding may result in acute bacterial meningitis (ABM), documented by positive Gram stain and/or culture for S. aureus, decreased glucose, highly elevated lactose acid levels, or ICH. Alternatively, in SBE, the CSF profile reflects an aseptic (viral) meningitis (i.e., Gram stain and culture negative, a normal glucose, and lymphocytic pleocytosis), while septic microemboli to the vasa vasorum contribute to an inflammatory reaction in the adventitia/muscle layer that weakens the vessel wall and results in mycotic aneurysms that may leak but often do not rupture causing ICH. Conclusion Here, we reviewed the literature for intracranial pathology accompanying ABE versus SBE. ABE typically results in acute ischemia, septic emboli, stroke/hemorrhagic infarcts, or ICH. SBE more classically produces septic microemboli and mycotic aneurysms that may leak, but rarely producing ICH. We also presented a patient with ABE attributed to S. aureus whose septic emboli/stroke was accompanied by a mycotic aneurysm; the ruptured resulting in a large right occipital ICH.
Abstract 51: A Critical Role for Outside-In Signaling of Integrin AlphalIIIb/Beta3 in Shear-Dependent Platelet Microvesicle Formation and Phosphatidylerine Exposure

Platelets promote coagulation mainly by exposing membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) and releasing PS-expressing microvesicles (MV). We have recently shown that PS exposure and MV release induced by platelet agonists requires shear stress. To identify the receptor responsible for the shear-dependent signaling leading to PS exposure and MV release, we compared platelets from β 3 -/- mice and wild-type mice in MV release and PS exposure under defined shear stress introduced using a cone-plate rheometer. MV release and PS exposure were determined using flow cytometry. Shear-dependent PS exposure and MV release were significantly suppressed in β 3 -/- platelets. Similarly, Wild type platelets treated with integrin antagonists also showed defective PS exposure and MV release. These data indicate an important role for the ligand binding function of integrin αιιb/β3 in shear-dependent MV release and PS exposure. To determine whether the role of integrin αιιb/β3 is due to its outside-in signaling, β 3 -/- platelets were transplanted with wild type β 3 or a mutant β 3 with the critical Gα13 binding site of the β 3 cytoplasmic domain (EEE) changed to alanines (AAA), which was previously shown to selectively abolish outside-in signaling of αIIb/β 3 . Transplantation of wild type β 3 rescued the defective MVs release and PS exposure of β 3 -/- platelets. In contrast, AAA mutant failed to rescue these defects. Consistently, wild type platelets treated with the selective inhibitor of Gα13-integrin interaction, inhibited integrin outside-in signaling and also PS exposure and MV release under shear stress. Furthermore, we also showed that the inhibition of Src, which is important in outside-in signaling downtream of Gα13, also abolished shear-dependent MV release and PS exposure. These data suggest that integrin outside-in signaling mediated by the Gα13-β 3 interaction and Src-dependent signaling pathway plays an important role in transmitting shear-induced mechanical signals leading to MV release and PS exposure in activated platelets.
Unconditioned Stimulus Functions of Drugs: Interpretations

This volume as a whole emphasizes that drugs and their effects can be conceptualized analytically as “stimuli” having three important stimulus functions—eliciting, reinforcing, and discriminative functions. In their eliciting function, drugs can act as unconditioned stimuli in a Pavlovian or Type-S conditioning paradigm; that is, drug effects, paired with other stimuli in the Pavlovian mode, can endow those stimuli with new behavior-eliciting powers. This is not quite the same as saying, however, that only the responses elicited by the drug have been conditioned to the new stimulus, as Pavlovian conditioned responses, or that the conditioned changes that have taken place must be interpreted as exclusively Pavlovian.
Summary of Panel Discussion on “The Role of Private and Public Sector Insurance and Compensation for Environmental Pollution”

This panel discussion brought together representatives from the insurance, government, waste management, industrial and academic sectors concerned with the problems affecting the market for Environmental Impairment Liability Insurance (EIL). Government laws mandate financial responsibility requirements for parties dealing with hazardous wastes, while legal developments and other problems have resulted in the collapse of one of the key methods of satisfying these requirements — the EIL insurance market. The causes of the crisis were detailed, with special emphasis on the impact of evolving tort doctrines. Remedies, including data needs were proposed and research priorities for better understanding and resolution of the problem were highlighted.
Skull Base Surgery

Over the past several decades, advancements in many areas of clinical medicine have facilitated the progress and application of surgical intervention for lesions of the skull base. The skull base, the floor of the cranial cavity, is the most inferior portion of the skull. It is composed of the ethmoid, sphenoid, occipital, frontal, parietal bones, as well as the petrous portion of the temporal bone. The skull base has traditionally been divided into three compartments, namely, the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae. A prominent consideration for the management of skull base lesions is the abundance of vital structures that are present or course through this region. These include the pituitary gland, cranial nerves, cavernous sinuses, and the internal carotid arteries.
Tannic Acid-Lung Fluid Assemblies Promote Interaction and Delivery of Drugs to Lung Cancer Cells.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women in the United States. Tannic acid (TA), a water-soluble polyphenol, exhibits a wide range of biological activities. TA has received much attention as a promising compound in the biomaterial and drug delivery fields. Lung fluid (LF) is a major barrier for distribution of drugs to the lungs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine TA interaction with LF for effective delivery of anti-cancer drug molecules via pulmonary delivery. The extent of adsorption of LF proteins by TA was revealed by fluorescence quenching in fluorescence spectroscopy. The presence of LF in TA-LF complexes was noticed by the presence of protein peaks at 1653 cm−1. Both protein dot and SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed LF protein complexation at all TA concentrations employed. A stable particle TA-LF complex formation was observed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The complexation pattern measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated that it varies depending on the pH of the solutions. The degree of LF presence in TA-LF complexes signifies its interactive behavior in LC cell lines. Such superior interaction offered an enhanced anti-cancer activity of drugs encapsulated in TA-LF complex nanoformulations. Our results indicate that TA binds to LF and forms self-assemblies, which profoundly enhance interaction with LC cells. This study demonstrated that TA is a novel carrier for pharmaceutical drugs such as gemcitabine, carboplatin, and irinotecan.
Learning Navigation Tasks from Demonstration for Semi-Autonomous Remote Operation of Mobile Robots

Ahstract-Mobile robots are valuable tools for search and rescue missions, especially in hazardous or inaccessible areas. These systems have the potential to address a wide variety of tasks that can arise during search and rescue missions. Effective remote operation using these vehicles requires sufficient situational awareness. In practice, communication quality does not often facilitate transfer of large amounts of information to provide situational awareness to the operator in a timely manner. Sharing autonomy between the vehicle and human can address this limitation by offtoading the decision making on low-level actions from the operator to the vehicle's on-board computers. Sending occasional high-level commands to the vehicle is then sufficient for uninterrupted operation. Explicitly designing and tuning a control or decision making algorithm based on the specific task and environment may not always be feasible in the short preparation time available for addressing tasks involved in search and rescue in a specific environment. In this paper, we propose a deep learning framework for quick training of mobile robots to perform navigational tasks and facilitate remote operations. Two deep network models were trained on a hallway navigation task, demonstrated by a human expert. One learns action values for observation and action pairs, the second classifies observations into different action classes. Our evaluations and tests on the task of hallway navigation demonstrated that learning action values results in policies that better generalize compared to classification method. The video at https://youtu.be/wwGHnjRzXTQ demonstrates the implementation of this method.
Molecular Characterization of Plasmids Harbored by Actinomycetes Isolated From the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma Using PFGE and Next Generation Whole Genome Sequencing

One of the unique features of actinomycetes, especially the genus Streptomyces, is the presence of linear plasmids. These range in size from 12 to 600 kb, and are often termed mega-plasmids. While many of the genes involved in secondary metabolite production reside in clusters on the chromosome, several studies have identified biosynthetic clusters on large linear plasmids that produce important secondary metabolites, including antibiotics. In this study, Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to screen 176 actinomycete isolates for the presence of plasmids; these bacterial strains were previously isolated from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma. Seventy-eight of the 176 actinomycete isolates (44%) contained plasmids. Several strains contained more than one plasmid, accounting for a total of 109 plasmids. Ten isolates showed extrachromosomal DNA larger than 200 kb, thus falling into the category of mega-plasmids. A subset of plasmids from 55 isolates was treated with S1 nuclease to determine topology; all plasmids examined appeared to be linear and ranged from ~55 to 400 kb. Eleven isolates were chosen for Whole Genome Next Generation Sequencing. From the 11 sequenced isolates, seven plasmids were partially assembled. While the majority of the genes identified on the plasmids coded for hypothetical proteins, others coded for general functions, stress response, and antibiotic and heavy metal resistance. Draft genome sequences of two mega-plasmid-bearing Streptomyces sp. strains, BF-3 and 4F, revealed the presence of genes involved in antibiotic production, antibiotic, and heavy metal resistance, osmoregulation, and stress response, which likely facilitate their survival in this extreme halophilic environment. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore plasmids harbored by actinomycetes isolated from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma.