cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The systemic administration of gamma interferon inhibits collagen synthesis and acute inflammation in a murine skin wounding model.

Abstract The ability of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) to affect cutaneous collagen synthesis in vivo was examined in a murine wounding model. Reproducible areas of full-thickness skin necrosis were produced by argon laser radiation. Mice received recombinant murine IFN-γ (rMuIFN-γ) (8.7 × 10 3 units/hr) over 14 d via osmotic pumps implanted subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. At 14 and 21 d after wounding, there was less fibrous tissue in healing scars of treated animals as determined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Associated with the decrease in connective tissue was an increase in the acid mucopolysaccharide content of healing scars, which was largely hyaluronate. Quantitative image analysis of electron micrographs confirmed that less collagen was present in healing scars of animals receiving rMuIFN-γ. The mean cross-sectional area of collagen fibers was smaller in specimens from treated mice, but no difference was seen in the size of collagen fibrils. The time required to obtain full skin closure was also delayed 23%–27% in treated animals. Using this injury model, we also found that rMuIFN-γ significantly reduced the degree of perilesional erythema surrounding the laser injury sites and, in the first 6 d after wounding, the degree of polymorphonuclear infiltrate present histologically at lesional sites. Indeed, rMuIFN-γ also decreased the cutaneous accumulation of neutrophils induced by known proinflammatory mediators, such as interleukin I and activated serum. Thus, systemically administered IFN-γ not only down-regulates collagen synthesis in the skin but also modulates in a previously unrecognized manner: neutrophil accumulation at sites of tissue injury in vivo.
Pastoral Care for Perinatal and Neonatal Health Care Providers

Health care workers in the perinatal and neonatal environments experience many emotions as they encounter stressors day after day. The chaplain, one of many on the multidisciplinary team, can serve as a valuable resource for other team members. This article provides an overview of the various supportive roles the chaplain can assume. A case presentation highlights pastoral care of staff and family across the continuum from the perinatal to the neonatal units.
Use of structure-reactivity relationships to estimate hydrolytic persistence of carbamate pesticides

Abstract Linear free energy relationships are given for use in estimating alkaline hydrolysis of carbamate pesticides in water as applied to environmental conditions. Plots of the second-order alkaline hydrolysis rate constants versus p K a of the resulting alcohol are given for N , N -dimethyl-, N -methyl- N -phenyl-, N -methyl-, and N -phenyl-carbamates. Use of these relationships allows one to estimate rate constants for specific compounds and make general statements about hydrolytic stability of classes of compounds.
Vorticity Jump in Surface Coordinates Across a Shock in Nonsteady Flow

We obtain Hayes'formulas in the coordinates attached to an arbitrarily moving and deforming shock surface that occurs in nonsteady flows. The formulas given here can be incorporated in a flow solver that uses a coordinate system attached to a moving and deforming shock surface.
Sirolimus (rapamycin) monotherapy prevents graft vascular disease in nonhuman primate recipients of orthotopic aortic allografts.

Background— Delayed treatment with sirolimus (SRL) halts progression of graft vascular disease (GVD) in nonhuman primate (NHP) aortic allograft recipients. In this study, we investigated whether SRL monotherapy prevents the development of GVD. Methods and Results— Pairs of 3-cm infrarenal aortic segments were exchanged between mixed lymphocyte reaction–mismatched, blood group–compatible NHPs (n=12). Six NHPs were untreated controls, and 6 were treated orally with SRL starting on the day of transplantation. Follow-up was 105 days. SRL doses were adjusted individually by assessing SRL blood concentrations, immune function, and clinical status. The severity of GVD was determined every 3 weeks by intravascular ultrasound, which quantified intimal area (IA) and intimal volume (IV) for the middle 1-cm graft segments. The mean±SEM SRL plasma levels were 14.5±9 ng/mL. In grafts from treated NHPs, IA and IV values on days 63, 84, and 105 were significantly lower than for controls (P<0.05 to P<0.001). On day 105, i...
Permeabilization of lipid bilayers is a common conformation-dependent activity of soluble amyloid oligomers in protein misfolding diseases

Amyloid fibrillization is multistep process involving soluble oligomeric intermediates, including spherical oligomers and protofibrils. Amyloid oligomers have a common, generic structure, and they are intrinsically toxic to cells, even when formed from non-disease related proteins, which implies they also share a common mechanism of pathogenesis and toxicity. Here we report that soluble oligomers from several types of amyloids specifically increase lipid bilayer conductance regardless of the sequence, while fibrils and soluble low molecular weight species have no effect. The increase in membrane conductance occurs without any evidence of discrete channel or pore formation or ion selectivity. The conductance is dependent on the concentration of oligomers and can be reversed by anti-oligomer antibody. These results indicate that soluble oligomers from many types of amyloidogenic proteins and peptides increase membrane conductance in a conformation-specific fashion and suggest that this may represent the common primary mechanism of pathogenesis in amyloid-related degenerative diseases.
The Production of Knowledge and the Production of Commodities: The Case of Rapeseed Technoscience1

A crucial issue in the theory of technological change—the transformation of knowledge into commodities in agriculture—is examined through the role that technoscience played in the transformation of rapeseed (Brassica campestris and B. napus) from a minor crop used largely for marine lubricants into a major global competitor in edible oil markets. The study is based on a content analysis of the worldwide bibliography of rapeseed. A network approach is used to show that emergence and successful development of the rapeseed commodity subsector included three simultaneously occurring and interacting developments: production of new knowledge, modification of commodities, and extension of rapeseed production networks. Implications of the network approach for the analysis of agricultural development are discussed.
Prevention of Drowning

Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in children. In 2006, approximately 1100 US children younger than 20 years died from drowning. A number of strategies are available to prevent these tragedies. As educators and advocates, pediatricians can play an important role in the prevention of drowning.
ORIENTING AND DEFENSIVE RESPONSES TO ELECTRIC SHOCK

The major purpose of this study was to test 10 hypotheses dealing with orienting responses and defensive responses that were derived from Sokolov's theory. Four presentations of a 0.5-sec tone were occasionally interpolated among a series of 40 presentations of a 0.5-sec electric shock administered to one group of 14 human subjects and among 40 presentations of simultaneous 0.5-sec shock and 0.5-sec tone administered to another group of 14 subjects. Skin resistance was recorded and analyses were carried out on amplitude and base level. With amplitude, seven hypotheses were completely and two were partially confirmed, thereby providing strong support for Sokolov's theory. The findings were discussed in relation to various problems involved in the classical conditioning of physiological processes.
Discriminant Analysis: A Least Squares Approximation View

Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is a very important approach to selecting features in classification such as facial recognition. However it suffers from the small sample size (SSS) problem where LDA cannot be solved numerically. The SSS problem occurs when the number of training samples is less than the number of dimensions, which is often the case in practice. Researchers have proposed several modified versions of LDA to deal with this problem. However, a solid theoretical analysis is missing. In this paper, we analyze LDA and the SSS problem based on learning theory. LDA is derived from Fishers criterion. However, when formulated as a least square approximation problem, LDA has a direct connection to regularization network (RN) algorithms. Many learning algorithms such as support vector machines (SVMs) can be viewed as regularization networks. LDA turns out to be an RN without the regularization term, which is in general an ill-posed problem. This explains why LDA suffers from the SSS problem. In order to transform the ill-posed problem into a well-posed one, the regularization term is necessary. Thus, based on statistical learning theory, we derive a new approach to discriminant analysis. We call it discriminant learning analysis (DLA). DLA is wellposed and behaves well in the SSS situation. Experimental results are presented to validate our proposal.
Protein fractions in forage legumes containing protein-binding polyphenols: Freeze-drying vs. conservation as hay or silage

Herbaceous legumes containing protein-protecting polyphenols are frequently freeze-dried for polyphenol and forage quality analyses. In this study, Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus, and Trifolium pratense with ∼200 g/kg crude protein were fractionated with buffer, detergents, and protease to assess the association of protein fractions in freeze-dried herbage to hay or silage. Compared to Medicago, freeze-dried Lotus with condensed tannins (CT) and Trifolium with o-quinones had lower concentrations of buffer-soluble proteins and similar or greater concentrations of neutral-detergent insoluble protein, acid-detergent insoluble protein, and rumen-undegradable protein. Analysis of freeze-dried herbage gave reasonably accurate (R2 ≥ 0.80) and unbiased predictions of acid-detergent insoluble protein in hay and silage and of rumen-undegradable protein in hay, but poorer predictions of other protein fractions. Based on rumen-undegradable protein estimates, conservation as hay or silage rather than freeze-drying enhanced protein protection by o-quinones in Trifolium but not CT in Lotus. Although commonly practiced, the analysis of freeze-dried forages will not necessarily represent most protein fractions in forages fed as hay or especially silage. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Oculomotor Nerve Teratoma

The case of a rare, mature teratoma of the oculomotor nerve manifesting as an interpeduncular cistern mass is presented. A basilar tip aneurysm initially was suspected on the basis of lesion location and MR imaging appearance. Subsequent CT and catheter angiography studies were atypical for aneurysm, leading to surgical biopsy. Pathologic analysis revealed a well-circumscribed mass composed of mature representatives of all three major cell lines characteristic of mature teratoma. The imaging findings are described, and a brief literature review is provided.
The astrocyte as a locus of carbonic anhydrase in the brains of normal and dysmyelinating mutant mice

There is some controversy in the literature whether carbonic anhydrase occurs in astrocytes, as well as in oligodendrocytes and myelin, in the mammalian brain. In the present study this issue was addressed by double immunostaining for carbonic anhydrase and two astrocytic "markers" in the brains of normal mice and two dysmyelinating mutants, jimpy and shiverer. In the brains of young mice, carbonic anhydrase and glutamine synthetase were colocalized in astrocytes in the cortical gray matter. In gray matter of the adult mouse brain, it was possible to immunostain both carbonic anhydrase and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the same cells. However, in contrast to the findings in gray matter, in and near subcortical white matter carbonic anhydrase could be detected only in oligodendrocytes and myelinated fibers. In the brains of jimpy mice, virtually all the carbonic-anhydrase-positive cells were also GFAP positive, even in regions normally occupied by white matter. In the brains of young and adult shiverer mice, carbonic anhydrase was localized in astrocytes in the gray matter, but in and near the tracts normally occupied by white matter carbonic anhydrase could be detected only in oligodendrocytes and their abundant processes. The findings confirmed the oligodendrocyte-myelin unit to be the primary locus of carbonic anhydrase in the normal mouse brain and showed the astrocytes in gray matter normally to be a secondary locus of carbonic anhydrase. The immunostaining in the jimpy mouse brain suggested further that reactive astrocytes, in particular, might be rich in carbonic anhydrase.
Immunity to Candida.

Candida species are commensal fungal organisms as well as opportunistic pathogens of mucosal tissues. From the commensal relationship, most healthy individuals have demonstrable Candida-specific immunity. In immunocompromised persons, however, fungal infections caused primarily by C. albicans often occur. In HIV disease, up to 90% of HIV+ persons will have a symptomatic episode of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) sometime during progression to AIDS, many of which become recurrent. In contrast, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and systemic Candida infections (candidaemia) are much less common during HIV disease, indicating the diversity and compartmentalization of the host response to Candida. Both innate resistance and acquired immunity play some role in maintaining C. albicans in the commensal state and protecting the systemic circulation. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) are critical for protection against systemic infections, whereas cell-mediated immunity (CMI) by Th1-type CD4+ T-cells is important for protection against mucosal infections. However, there is a discordant role for CMI at the vaginal versus oral mucosa, whereas little to no role for local or systemic CMI is evident at the vaginal mucosa. In contrast, there is a strong correlation between reduced blood CD4+ cells and the incidence of OPC, but it remains unclear whether systemic or local CMI is more important. Evaluation of systemic CMI in a cohort of HIV+ individuals with and without mucosal candidiasis revealed that Candida-specific CMI is not different between HIV+ persons with OPC or VVC and HIV- persons. Thus, the correlation of reduced CD4+ cell numbers to OPC may be explained by the requirement for a threshold number of systemic CD4+ cells to protect the oral mucosa together with the status of local immunity. Indeed, HIV+ persons with and without OPC had a Th2-type salivary cytokine profile suggestive of susceptibility to Candida infection compared with a protective Th0/Th1-type profile in HIV- persons. Candida-specific antibodies, although present, are controversial relative to a role in protection or eradication of infection. While studies of mucosal innate resistance are limited, we recently found that epithelial cells from saliva and vaginal lavages of healthy individuals inhibit the growth of Candida in vitro. This epithelial cell anti-Candida activity requires cell contact by viable cells with no role for soluble factors, including saliva. Interestingly, oral epithelial cells from HIV+ persons with OPC had significantly reduced activity, indicating some protective role for the epithelial cells. Taken together, these data suggest that immunity to Candida is site-specific, compartmentalized and involves innate and/or acquired mechanisms from systemic and/or local sources.
Assessment of Foveal Microstructure and Foveal Lucencies Using Optical Coherence Tomography Radial Scans Following Macular Hole Surgery

Purpose To evaluate the foveal microstructure using high-density (24-line) radial scans and their correlation with visual recovery following macular hole surgery. Design Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series. Methods Forty-five eyes of 43 patients with ≥6 months follow-up following surgery were analyzed. Preoperative predictive measures evaluated included basal hole and minimum linear diameters. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative foveal lucency horizontal and vertical size, external limiting membrane, and ellipsoid zone defect. Results Mean basal hole diameter was 642 ± 330 μm and minimum linear diameter was 277 ± 161 μm. BCVA (logMAR) improved from 0.67 ± 0.23 to 0.31 ± 0.16 at 12 months ( P P P P P Conclusion Using radial scans, 71% of eyes demonstrated a foveal lucency at 1 month, whose size correlated with visual recovery. Preoperative basal hole diameter was predictive of foveal lucency development and size.
The Batten Disease Gene Product (CLN3p) Is a Golgi Integral Membrane Protein

Batten disease (juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) is a recessive neurodegenerative disorder of childhood. The gene, CLN3, was recently identified and found to encode a novel 438 amino acid protein of unknown function. In order to gain insight into the function of the Batten disease protein (CLN3p), we investigated its subcellular localization. Protein constructs incorporating CLN3p fused to the green fluorescence protein or an eight amino acid peptide tag were transiently expressed in fibroblasts, HeLa and COS-7 cells. A juxtanuclear, asymmetric localization pattern was observed that correlated with the Golgi apparatus in all three cell types. However, a proportion of transiently transfected cells exhibited a punctate vesicular distribution throughout the cytoplasm in addition to or without the Golgi localization. In order to account for localization patterns arising from intracellular protein transport disruption due to exaggerated overexpression in transiently transfected cells, we isolated a stably transfected cell line expressing only one copy of the CLN3 -GFP DNA construct. Fluorescence and biochemical analyses using this cell line demonstrated that CLN3p is an integral membrane protein that localizes primarily in the Golgi apparatus. The functional implications of this finding are discussed.
Motor Dysfunction Produced by Tacrine Administration in Rats

In the present study, three experiments were conducted to provide a characterization of some of the motor effects of the anticholinesterase tacrine (1.25-5.0 mg/kg I.P.) in rats. In the first experiment, tacrine was found to produce tremulous jaw movements in the dose range of 1.25-5.0 mg/kg. The second experiment examined the effects of tacrine on locomotion, and it was demonstrated that tacrine produced a dose-related suppression of open-field motor activity. In the third experiment, the effects of tacrine were assessed using operant conditioning procedures. Behavioral output during lever pressing on a fixed ratio 5 schedule was recorded by a computerized system that measured response initiation time (time from offset of one response to onset of the next) and duration for each lever press. Tacrine administration substantially depressed lever pressing response rate. This deficit was largely due to a substantial increase in the average response initiation time. Analysis of the distribution of response initiation times indicated that tacrine-treated rats made relatively few responses with fast initiation times (e.g., 0-125 ms), and also that tacrine led to a dramatic increase in the number of pauses in responding (i.e., response initiation times greater than 2.5 s). Tacrine-treated rats showed a slight increase in the average initiation time for fast responses (i.e., a slight decrease in the local rate of responding), and also showed a substantial increase in the average length of pauses greater than 2.5 s. Analysis of response durations indicated that there was an overall increase in average response duration among animals that received the higher doses of tacrine. Although tacrine-induced decreases in the local rate of responding and increases in response duration contribute to the overall deficit, the major reason why tacrine-treated animals responded less was because they took much longer breaks in responding. It is possible that the tacrine-induced increases in pausing reflect a drug-induced akinesia. Thus, the present experiments indicate that tacrine impairs several aspects of motor function in the dose range tested. In view of the fact that tremor and motor slowing are classic symptoms of Parkinsonism, the present results in rats are consistent with the human literature indicating that tacrine (Cognex) can produce Parkinsonian side effects. Studies of the motor dysfunctions produced by tacrine in rats could be useful for investigating the motor side effects of tacrine in humans.
Substance Use and Associated Health Conditions throughout the Lifespan.

A life stage perspective is necessary for development of age-appropriate strategies to address substance use disorders (SUDs) and related health conditions in order to produce better overall health and well-being. The current review evaluated the literature across three major life stages: adolescence, adulthood, and older adulthood. Findings: 1) Substance use is often initiated in adolescence, but it is during adulthood that prevalence rates for SUDs peak; and while substance involvement is less common among older adults, the risk for health complications associated with use increases. 2) Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and, increasingly, prescription medications, are the most commonly misused substances across age groups; however, the use pattern of these and other drugs and the salient impact vary depending on life stage. 3) In terms of health outcomes, all ages are at risk for overdose, accidental injury, and attempted suicide. Adolescents are more likely to be in vehicular accidents while older adults are at greater risk for damaging falls. Adulthood has the highest rates of associated medical conditions (e.g., cancer, sexually transmitted disease, heart disease) and mental health conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, antisocial personality disorder). Conclusion: Prolonged heavy use of drugs and/or alcohol results in an array of serious health conditions. Addressing SUDs from a life stage perspective with assessment and treatment approaches incorporating co-occurring disorders are necessary to successfully impact overall health.
AC and DC Polarization and Cyclic Voltammetric Behavior of Boron-Doped CVD Diamond IN 0.5M NaCl Solution

Boron-doped diamond has been deposited over a Mo substrate by microwave plasma CVD using methane and hydrogen. Boron doping of diamond has been achieved in situ by using a solid boron source while growing the diamond. Impedance spectroscopy of diamond in 0.5 M NaCl solution has been studied. We have observed two time constants at the diamond/solution interface. Solution resistance was found to be constant irrespective of the electrode in the same electrolyte. DC polarization techniques such as linear and Tafel polarization have been used to evaluate the doped diamond/Mo and Mo for corrosion resistance characteristics interms of charge-transfer coefficients and corrosion rate. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to evaluate the doped diamond/Mo to study the background current response and the redox kinetics of ferri/ferrocyanide in 0.5M NaCl solution.
Leaders are made, not born. The role of the American Orthopaedic Association leadership traveling fellowships and leadership development programs.

Despite exhortations made by some of our most able leaders about the need for leadership 1-4, this need continues to be unmet. Of increasing concern is our belief that orthopaedic surgery is falling behind in the creation of new leaders for our specialty. The relentless intrusion into the practice of medicine by industry, government, business, and insurance companies, especially in the last twenty years, has created a need for a substantially larger number of individuals who will donate a considerable portion of their time to management, organizations, and leadership to serve the specialty. Furthermore, as the number and complexity of institutions and organizations increase, the number of orthopaedic surgeons who are needed to donate their time to the organizations seems enormous. In addition to the time spent in clinical practice and personal life, our specialty is asking individuals to use their valuable time to do volunteer work in orthopaedic organizations. Given the increased pace of life and the demands of the profession and/or family, it is no wonder that there is concern about the diminishing voluntary participation of individuals in organizational activities, as described by Putnam et al. in the masterpiece, Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community 5. In the past, the few individuals who were needed to lead the small number of relatively simple orthopaedic organizations usually came from academic backgrounds. These few individuals became department chairs, and many went on to become organizational leaders. Now, however, not only has the number of leaders that are needed increased exponentially but the necessary skill mix of the leaders has changed dramatically. In the past, leaders were skilled in clinical practice, surgery, teaching, and research. They were chosen for leadership positions because of their excellence in the traditional triad of academic medicine: teaching, research, …
Turbulent Flows and Coupled Maps

Some remarks are made on two generic properties of turbulence, namely the scaling of the energy dissipation rate and the small-scale intermittency. The discussion pays cursory attention to the following question: Which properties, if any, of turbulence should be shared by coupled lattice maps in order for their study to meaningfully relate to turbulence? Brief remarks are also made on self-organized criticality vis-a-vis turbulence.
Reflexivity and Environmental Justice Scholarship: A Role for Feminist Methodologies

This article explores the potential analytic and practical benefits that a reflexive, process-oriented approach to research and representation might hold for community-based environmental justice s...
The Cause and Effect of Aviation Insurance Rate Increases on Air Transportation

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the insurance costs for commercial airlines and college aviation programs rose sharply. The prevailing assumption is that increased aviation insurance costs are the result of an increased risk of life and property loss from additional terrorist attacks. This paper questions the assumption and posits that the September 11, 2001, attacks were a catalyst for and not the cause of increased insurance costs. Two alternative explanations for the increased costs are offered. First, after September 11th, insurance managers became aware that they had not been making the incremental rate increases necessary to maintain acceptable profit margins. Second, sharp declines in the value of the insurance company stock portfolios eroded profits. Increases in aviation insurance cost will be compared to increases in other types of insurance, such as medical insurance, to determine if the rate of increase in aviation insurance cost is significantly higher than in other sectors of the economy. The impact of these insurance rate increases on domestic and international air transportation and commerce is presented.
Developing an Algorithm to Identify History of Cancer Using Electronic Medical Records.

Introduction/Objective: The objective of this study was to develop an algorithm to identify Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) members with a history of cancer. Background: Tumor registries are used with high precision to identify incident cancer, but are not designed to capture prevalent cancer within a population. We sought to identify a cohort of adults with no history of cancer, and thus, we could not rely solely on the tumor registry. Methods: We included all KPCO members between the ages of 40-75 years who were continuously enrolled during 2013 (N=201,787). Data from the tumor registry, chemotherapy files, inpatient and outpatient claims were used to create an algorithm to identify members with a high likelihood of cancer. We validated the algorithm using chart review and calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for occurrence of cancer. Findings: The final version of the algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 84.6% for identifying cancer. If we relied on the tumor registry alone, 47% of those with a history of cancer would have been missed. Discussion: Using the tumor registry alone to identify a cohort of patients with prior cancer is not sufficient. In the final version of the algorithm, the sensitivity and PPV were improved when a diagnosis code for cancer was required to accompany oncology visits or chemotherapy administration. Conclusion: EMR data can be used effectively in combination with data from the tumor registry to identify health plan members with a history of cancer.
Embryological and Diagnostic Aspects of Seminal Vesicle Cysts Associated with Upper Urinary Tract Malformation

AbstractCongenital seminal vesicle cysts represent a rare but illustrative type of embryological malformation. They often are combined with ipsilateral upper urinary tract abnormalities. In most of the cases described in the literature the diagnosis has been made with rather invasive procedures. On the basis of our experience with 3 cases we recommend pelvic ultrasonography as the initial study in patients in whom such a malformation is suspected. Although other radiological procedures may be required to confirm the diagnosis, this approach appears to be cost-effective and accurate in most instances. The treatment of such malformations should be restricted to symptomatic cases and usually consists of vesiculectomy with or without removal of the ipsilateral dysplastic or hypoplastic kidney.
Forcible medication for courtroom competence--the case of Charles Sell.

The author discusses the legal and ethical issues raised by the 2003 Supreme Court decision in the case of former dentist Charles Sell. The case focused on the legality of the forcible administration of psychiatric medication for the purpose of making a defendant competent to stand trial. The Court ruled that when certain criteria were met, a judge could order involuntary medication to restore competence. The Court, however, did not permit the forcible treatment of Sell, because these criteria had not been met.
Fast Tracking Electrosurgical Generator Using Two-Rail Multiphase Buck Converter With GaN Switches

Electrosurgery involves the use of high-frequency (typically 100–500 kHz) alternating current to elicit a clinical response in tissue (e.g., cutting or cauterization) using a plasma arc. Standard electrosurgical generators (ESGs) are based on resonant inverters, which constrain the output frequency and waveshape. This paper describes a fast tracking ESG capable of shaping the output ac waveform over a range of frequencies, thus providing improved flexibility and control in electrosurgery applications. The proposed fast tracking ESG is based on a two-rail multiphase buck topology using GaN switches. Experimental results are given for a four-phase ESG prototype operating from $\pm$ 250 V with 2-MHz per-phase switching frequency, capable of providing up to 50 W to an arc modeled as a 300–4000 Ω load.
Separation of quantum parameters in the continuum of ferromagnetic liquid insulation

Important information relevant to quantum properties of ferromagnetic insulating liquids has been secured through experimental coupled with analytical work. Calculations have been carried out to identify the total gyromagnetic energy expended during magneto-fluid load interaction in terms of exchange energy, anisotropic energy as well as dipole orientational energy. Separation of ferric solution quantum parameters, such as the exchange integral, thickness of domain wall and Coulomb interaction parameter are secured with the aid of an external magnetic field and a guided movement of the ferric solution through a cylindrical channel.
The Wind Farm Theoretical Power Calculation Method Research Based on Non-Parameter Regression

The theoretical power calculation of wind farms can recover the abnormal wind power data, such as curtailed wind farm output, and plays an important role in wind power prediction model building, historical data recovery and electricity transaction settlement etc. In this paper, based on a lot of wind power data analysis, filter thresholds were set up according to the wind farm operation state and wind turbine types to delete the abnormal data, like curtailed output data. Non-parameter regression method was employed to fit the power curve of wind turbines. Fault and missing power data was modified and added using real wind speed data and correlation coefficient weights. The wind farm theoretical power calculation method based on Non-parameter regression was proposed in this paper. In addition, a whole theoretical power calculation model was built. According to the case study, it can correctly work out the theoretical output of wind farm; and comparing with park power verification(PPV) method, the results showed that this proposed method was better.
Nalysis of Three Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Discontinuous Rock

A three-dimensional numerical model has been established by based on some northeastern tunnel construction's geological conditions and engineering features and the distribution of rock mass structural planes using self-developed GeoSMA system.Meanwhile,the tunnel stability analysis provides advices for this tunnel design and construction.
A new variable step size LMS adaptive algorithm

The previous variable step size LMS algorithms usually have complex form ,robust of a sort and singleness of use. According to the principle of variable step size and two kind of variable step size LMS algorithms, the paper puts forward a new variable step size LMS algorithm which is simpler in form with a better performance in convergence and general use. Furthermore , the paper puts forward a condition about the analogical form of the variable step size formulae: e(n) is always in the function of exp(·) and e(n)=0 when exp(·)=1.
Effect of Energy Intake after Weaning on the Sexual Development of Beef Bulls. II. Age at First Mating, Age at Puberty, Testosterone and Scrotal Circumference

Simmental and Hereford bulls were individually fed varying levels of the same diet to determine the effect of energy intake after weaning on rate of sexual development. For 200 d, 29 Simmentals were fed an average of 14.6, 19.2 or 23.8 Mcal and 27 Herefords were fed 13.4, 17.5 or 22.2 Mcal metabolizable energy per bull daily. Higher energy did not hasten sexual development, as measured by serum testosterone, age at first mating or age at puberty. As energy level increased, weight at puberty increased (P less than .05) for both breeds, and scrotal circumference at puberty increased (P less than .05) for Simmentals. When adjusted for breed and energy level, bulls that were heavier at 1 yr of age had larger scrotal circumference (P less than .05) and were younger at puberty (P less than .01). Bulls that had higher serum testosterone at 1 yr of age reached puberty earlier (P less than .01). At a constant age there was no relationship between testosterone and scrotal circumference. Although higher levels of energy increased scrotal circumference of Simmentals, it did not hasten sexual development for either breed.
Cesarean hysterectomy: A twenty-five–year review

This article analyzes cesarean hysterectomies performed at Louisville General Hospital on clinic patients for the 25 year period 1953 through 1977. During this time there were 63,259 deliveries, of which 2417 were cesarean sections and 149 were cesarean hysterectomies. Twenty-six of the latter were classified as emergency operations done for urgent medical indications; in the remaining 123 patients the indications were elective to some degree. Operative and postoperative complications and morbidity are discussed, and changing trends regarding the place of cesarean hysterectomy in obstetrics over the years are evaluated.
The development of a successful non-university-based ambulatory in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer program: Phase I

Most of the current in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) programs are university-based. The establishment of a successful ambulatory IVF program in association with a busy, two-man general obstetrics-gynecologic practice is described. Seventy-one infertile couples were screened between February 1 and October 15, 1983. Forty-three couples were judged eligible for IVF-ET. Forty-three women underwent a single attempt at ET. The first 13 of these women underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with 150mg clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and the remaining 30 underwent COH with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and hCG. One of the 13 patients who underwent COH with clomiphene citrate conceived but subsequently miscarried early in the first trimester, for an 8% pregnancy rate. There were 12 pregnancies among the 30 patients who received hMG and hCG, for a 40% pregnancy rate. Only three of these pregnancies miscarried in the early first trimester, and three of the nine viable pregnancies are twin gestations. The possible factors responsible for the high pregnancy rate with IVF-ET, using COH with hMG and hCG, are discussed, and the feasibility of its performance in a well-controlled, non-university program is demonstrated.
The epidemiology of personality disorders: A 1990 update

An update is presented of the rates and associated factors of Axis II personality disorders based on community surveys or large samples of relatives. The data are best for antisocial personality, which suggest a lifetime rate of 2/100-3/100 in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, and a considerably lower rate in Taiwan. The overall lifetime rate of an Axis II disorder is in the range about 10/100-13/100. Paranoid, schizoid, and narcissistic personality disorders seem fairly uncommon, with a life-time rate of less than 1/100. While the data are still quite limited for most disorders, they do demonstrate that epidemiologic information is emerging. Methodologic problems and recommendations for future directions are discussed
Age and Human Regenerative Capacity Impact of Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Rationale:We investigated aging of human endogenous reparative capacity and aimed to clarify whether it is affected by presence of cardiovascular disease or its risk factors (RFs). Objective:Circul...
Performance characterization of different receiving diversity techniques for a given area and the same antenna topology

It has been shown in previous works that receiving diversity techniques can improve the average quality of the received signal in a wireless network. However there is not a clear answer when the assigned area for the antenna system is fixed and when the same topology and antenna elements are used. The reason is that most of the diversity schemes cannot be compared under the exact same conditions. This study was originally oriented for Bluetooth applications (2.44 GHz), where a wide bandwidth is required, but its result can be extended to other applications. The objective of this work was to establish a reference for a clear answer to the advantages of each diversity technique when an indoor environment is considered.
Respiratory Control of Acid—Base

The topic of acid-base control as it is traditionally presented is difficult to understand because of awkward conventions, such as the use of pH to represent concentration of H+ ions, and because of a misunderstanding of the dependent and independent variables and the nature of the equilibria in which they are involved. In fact, what is meant by control of acid-base is the control of the electrochemical environment that, in turn, affects the structure and function of the many types of molecules that are in it. Throughout this text I have referred to the electrochemical environment only as the milieu of the chemistry of the extracellular fluid. In this chapter, I hope to make it clear what that environment is and how it works. As it turns out, it really is much simpler than we have been led to believe.
Solid–Liquid–Vapor Synthesis of Negative Metal Oxide Nanowire Arrays

Nanowires grown using the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism are highly attractive components for functional nanomaterials since they grow along unique crystallographic axes to form defect-free single crystals with well-controlled dimensions. To date, however, these free-standing wires have been put to little use, since their ordered arrangement or placement is highly challenging. Here, we report an approach to create ordered arrays of nanoscale interfaces, in which we utilize the reverse of the VLS mechanism (the solid–liquid–vapor (SLV) mechanism) to etch the inverse of a nanowire, a “negative nanowire”, into a single crystal. In this way, we achieve essentially the same array of crystallographic surfaces as would be achieved by growing a large array of nanowires but in a way that creates a single object which is easy to handle. The SLV mechanism is a unique approach in that it is governed by the same crystallography which makes the VLS mechanism attractive but, additionally, poses several key advantage...
Action and perception in man-made environments

We discuss the types of functional knowledge about an environment an agent can use in order to act effectively. We demonstrate (1) the use of structural regularities for acting efficiently, and (2) the use of physical regularities for designing effective sensors. These ideas are described in the context of an everyday task: grocery store shopping. We discuss how SHOPPER, a program, uses regularities of grocery stores in order to act appropriately and sense efficiently in GROCERYWORLD, a simulated grocery store.
Bovine serum albumin adsorption on SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticle surfaces at circumneutral and acidic pH: A tale of two nano-bio surface interactions.

Abstract The interaction of a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) with two different metal oxide nanoparticles, TiO2 (∼22 nm) and SiO2 (∼14 nm), was studied at both physiological and acidic pH. The pH- and nanoparticle-dependent differences in protein structure and protein adsorption were determined using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that the surface coverage of BSA decreases with decreasing pH on both TiO2 and SiO2 surfaces, and BSA coverage is higher by a factor of ca. 3–10 times more on TiO2 compared to SiO2. The secondary structure of BSA changes upon adsorption to either nanoparticle surface at both pH 7.4 and 2. At acidic pH, BSA appears to completely unfold on TiO2 nanoparticles whereas it assumes an extended conformation on SiO2. These differences highlight for the first time the extent to which the protein corona structure is significantly impacted by protein-nanoparticle interactions which depend on the interplay between pH and specific nanoparticle surface chemistry.
An SLA and Operation Cost Aware Performance Re-tuning Algorithm for Cloud Databases

Cloud database, also called Database as a Service (DbaaS), is defined as a pay-per-use model for enabling on-demand access to reliable and configurable services. Tenants pay to the cloud service provider only for the services they use through a service level agreement (SLA). Due to changes in queries and/or databases, tenants' performance SLA may be violated at some point in time. This paper proposes a performance tuning algorithm, called AutoClustC, which estimates the costs of resource provisioning and database re-partitioning and chooses the lower cost approach to tune the system in order to re-guarantee the performance SLA when a performance violation occurs. When database partitioning is chosen, the algorithm takes both performance SLA and operation cost into consideration, and uses data mining techniques to automatically and dynamically re-partition the databases for a tenant to generate better partitioning solutions.
Ultra-short laser interactions with nanoparticles in different media: from electromagnetic to thermal and electrostatic effects

Key issues of the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles and nanostructures, as well as laser-particle interactions are considered in the context of the latest applications appearing in many fields such as photonics, medicine, 3D printing, etc. The results of a multi-physics numerical study of laser interaction with nanoparticles will be presented in the presence of several environments. In particular, attention will be paid to the numerical study of laser interactions with heterogeneous materials (eg. colloidal liquids and/or nanoparticles in a dielectric medium) and the aggregation/sintering/fragmentation processes induced by ultra-short laser pulses.
Real Options (Abridged)

This note is an abridged version of QA-0639, "Real Options." Excerpt UVA-QA-0799 Rev. Apr. 9, 2014 Real Options (Abridged) All business decisions are real options, in that they confer the right but not the obligation to take some initiative in the future. —Judy Lewent, CFO, Merck Although you may not go as far as Judy Lewent, who claims that “all business decisions are real options,” you will likely agree that options are critically important in decision making. Understanding how to create them and to value them are vital skills for business, personal, and policy decisions. Decision analysis is an ideal approach to provide insight into options. . . .
Building Common Lisp programs using Bazel

We will demonstrate how to build Common Lisp programs using Bazel, Google's hermetic and reproducible build system. Unlike the state of the art so far for building Lisp programs, Bazel ensures that incremental builds are always both fast and correct. With Bazel, one can statically link C libraries into the SBCL runtime, making the executable file self-contained.
Lifecycle Analysis of a Single-Family Residential Rainwater Harvesting System in a Subtropical, Metropolitan Environment

AbstractPressures on water resource availability are a global concern and escalations in water prices and mandatory water rationing make alternate water sources, such as rainwater, more attractive ...