cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products in human peripheral neuropathies

Background Diabetic neuropathy and idiopathic neuropathy are among the most prevalent neuropathies in human patients. The molecular mechanism underlying pathological changes observed in the affected nerve remains unclear but one candidate molecule, the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), has recently gained attention as a potential contributor to neuropathy. Our previous studies revealed that RAGE expression is higher in porcine and murine diabetic nerve, contributing to the inflammatory mechanisms leading to diabetic neuropathy. Here, for the first time, we focused on the expression of RAGE in human peripheral nerve. Methods Our study utilized de-identified human sural nerve surplus obtained from 5 non-neuropathic patients (control group), 6 patients with long-term mild-to-moderate diabetic neuropathy (diabetic group) and 5 patients with mild-to-moderate peripheral neuropathy of unknown etiology (idiopathic group). By using immunofluorescent staining and protein immunoblotting we studied the expression and colocalization patterns of RAGE and its ligands: carboxymethyllysine (CML), high mobility group box 1 (HMBG1) and mammalian Diaphanous 1 (mDia1) in control and neuropathic nerves. Results We found that in a normal, healthy human nerve, RAGE is expressed in almost 30% of all nerve fibers and that number is higher in pathological states such as peripheral neuropathy. We established that the levels of RAGE and its pro-inflammatory ligands, CML and HMBG1, are higher in both idiopathic and diabetic nerve, while the expression of the RAGE cytoplasmic domain-binding partner, mDia1 is similar among control, diabetic, and idiopathic nerve. The highest number of double stained nerve fibers was noted for RAGE and CML: ~76% (control), ~91% (idiopathic) and ~82% (diabetic) respectively. Conclusions Our data suggest roles for RAGE and its inflammatory ligands in human peripheral neuropathies and lay the foundation for further, more detailed and clinically oriented investigation involving these proteins and their roles in disorders of the human peripheral nerve.
Natural history and therapy of TTR-cardiac amyloidosis: emerging disease-modifying therapies from organ transplantation to stabilizer and silencer drugs

Transthyretin-cardiac amyloidoses (ATTR-CA) are an underdiagnosed but increasingly recognized cause of heart failure. Extracellular deposition of fibrillary proteins into tissues due to a variety of inherited transthyretin mutations in ATTRm or due to advanced age in ATTRwt eventually leads to organ failure. In the heart, amyloid deposition causes diastolic dysfunction, restrictive cardiomyopathy with progressive loss of systolic function, arrhythmias, and heart failure. While traditional treatments have consisted of conventional heart failure management and supportive care for systemic symptoms, numerous disease-modifying therapies have emerged over the past decade. From organ transplantation to transthyretin stabilizers (diflunisal, tafamidis, AG-1), TTR silencers (ALN-ATTR02, ISIS-TTR(Rx)), and degraders of amyloid fibrils (doxycycline/TUDCA), the potential for effective transthyretin amyloid therapy is greater now than ever before. In light of these multiple agents under investigation in human clinical trials, clinicians should be familiar with the systemic cardiac amyloidoses, their differing pathophysiology, natural histories, and unique treatment strategies.
A Learning Framework for Cognitive Interference Networks with Partial and Noisy Observations

An algorithm for the optimization of secondary user's transmission strategies in cognitive networks with imperfect network state observations is proposed. The secondary user minimizes the time average of a cost function while generating a bounded performance loss to the primary users' network. The state of the primary users' network, defined as a collection of variables describing features of the network (e.g., buffer state, ARQ state) evolves over time according to a homogeneous Markov process. The statistics of the Markov process is dependent on the strategy of the secondary user and, thus, the instantaneous idleness/transmission action of the secondary user has a long-term impact on the temporal evolution of the network. The Markov process generates a sequence of states in the state space of the network that projects onto a sequence of observations in the observation space, that is, the collection of all the observations of the secondary user. Based on the sequence of observations, the proposed algorithm iteratively optimizes the strategy of the secondary users with no a priori knowledge of the statistics of the Markov process and of the state-observation probability map.
Telephone assistance for smoking cessation: one year cost effectiveness estimations

A randomised trial evaluated the American Cancer Society's telephone counselling service to assist smoking cessation. Counselling nearly doubles a smokers' odds of quitting and maintaining cessation for one year. The estimated cost for each case of maintained smoking cessation attributable to counselling availability is approximately 1300 dollars.
Application of Bessel beam for Doppler velocity estimation

Limited-diffraction beams have a large depth of field and could be applied to medical imaging, tissue characterization, and nondestructive evaluation of materials. This paper reports the application of limited-diffraction beams, specifically, the Bessel beam, to Doppler velocity estimation. The Bessel beam has the advantage that velocity estimation is less subject to the depth of moving objects and the Doppler spectrum has distinct shoulders that increase the accuracy of velocity (both magnitude and Doppler angle) estimation in noisy environments. The shoulders of the Doppler spectrum might also help in solving the inverse problem, e.g., estimation of the velocity distribution in vessels. >
Synthesis of functional polymers with controlled architecture by CRP of monomers in the presence of cross-linkers: From stars to gels

Abstract Recent developments in the synthesis of functional polymers with controlled architecture and site-specific functionality via applying controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on the strategy of employing divinyl cross-linkers to introduce branching points into polymer chains during the copolymerization procedures. By rational selection of initiator, monomer and divinyl cross-linker and their polymerization sequence, star-like polymers with a cross-linked core but various arm compositions and site-specific functionalities are formed. In contrast, concurrent copolymerization of both monomer and cross-linker generates “randomly” branched polymers or gels. As compared to the conventional radical copolymerization procedures, the copolymerization of cross-linker in CRP processes shows retarded gelation behavior and produced branched polymers and/or gels with more homogeneous structure and preserved chain-end functionality. This is because of the fast initiation and quick reversible deactivation reactions in CRPs. Progress related to other synthetic strategies to introduce branching points in polymer chains is also discussed, including the use of a multifunctional initiator, the use of a multifunctional coupling agent (MCA) by click reactions, and the use of an AB* inimer.
The electric arc in argon and helium

Measurements of the electrical characteristics of arcs, such as the variation of voltage with current and with arc length, have been carried out by Ayrton,1 Nottingham,2 and Suits,3 and others for currents below 20 amperes and by Finkelnburg4 for carbon arcs for currents above 20 amperes. Most of the work has been done at atmospheric pressure. The great increase in the use of inert gases for arc welding has resulted in the publication of much valuable data on the behavior of arcs in these atmospheres under typical welding conditions. It appears, however, that there is a need for more quantitative information on the characteristics of the inert gas arc under controlled laboratory test conditions. In particular, this information is needed for arc currents in excess of 20 amperes and for gas pressures in the neighborhood of atmospheric such as pertain when the inert gas arc is used for welding.
On vibrational relaxation in liquids

Abstract We discuss the relationship between vibrational population relaxation, loss of phase coherence, and the homogeneously broadened spontaneous polarized Raman linewidth. We derive a general equation relating there quantities, and show that extension of the simple model (where the coupling to the heat bath is linear in the oscilator coordinate) to include the lowest order elastic scattering terms, can resolve the discrepancy between experiment and earlier theoretical calculations based on the linear model.
Taking an Alternate Route Home: Stenting of Choledochoduodenal Fistula

A 53-year-old male with adenocarcinoma of the rectum with metastasis to liver and porta hepatis region underwent biliary stenting due to aggressive distal common bile duct stricture. At the time of planned stent exchange, the guidewire could not be re-introduced, despite several techniques, including the SpyScope(®) system. A small fistula was noted by contrast fluoroscopy extending between proximal biliary tree/porta hepatis and the duodenal bulb, likely secondary to previous chemotherapy and radiation. A stent was placed in this fistula, as this was the only pathway available for biliary drainage.
Test planning for modular testing of hierarchical SOCs

Multilevel test access mechanism (TAM) optimization is necessary for modular testing of hierarchical systems-on-chip (SOCs) that contain older-generation SOCs as embedded megacores. We consider the case where these older-generation SOCs are used as hard cores in new SOC designs, and they are delivered to the system integrator as optimized and technology-mapped layouts. We present three hierarchical test planning and TAM optimization flows that exploit recent advances in TAM design for flattened SOC hierarchies. These techniques are based on the reuse of existing TAM architectures within megacores and the optimization of the top-level TAM under the constraints imposed by "TAM-ed" megacores that are delivered either with or without a wrapper. We present a new megacore wrapper-design technique for the latter case. Unlike prior methods that assume flat test hierarchies, the proposed methods are directly applicable to real-world design-transfer models involving hard megacores between the core vendor and the system integrator for hierarchical SOCs. Experimental results are presented for four ITC'02 SOC test benchmarks that contain megacores.
Sensor Web coalition formation via argumentation-based negotiation

We describe how negotiation between agents is used to create coalitions of sensors that are joined into a Sensor Web. The work presented in this paper uses argumentation-based negotiation to allow sensors to rationally decommit from future tasks and to join a newly formed Sensor Web; or, alternately, to reject joining a Sensor Web if they believe their previous commitment to be more important. This research extends our previous system that used a combination of a Matchmaker architecture together with the Contract Net protocol to enable the dynamic, task-based creation of a Sensor Web. We tested our negotiation-based Sensor Web system using a simulation of a cyclonic event and a variety of sensors.
Managing the Advantages and Challenges of Multiple Library Consortia: The View from Within the Library

The authors are both managers in OhioLINK libraries and have complex experiences working within a variety of simultaneous library consortial agreements. Their librarians'-eye view of consortia allows for a discussion of the nature of that landscape, some perspectives on the benefits and advantages of consortia as well as thoughts on the challenges and limitations of consortia. They conclude that while consortial partnerships hold the key to greater efficiencies and strength in libraries, the overlapping layers of consortial agreements that connect libraries form almost a web that can be constricting. Libraries should continue to be creative about how they exploit the power of consortial relationships, but they also need to learn how to lower the administrative overhead created by these agreements, particularly in the areas of communication and the organizational flow of information. Finally, the authors recommend that consortium committees spend more time on short- and long-term strategic planning.
Induction of P-Selectin by Oxidized Lipoproteins: Separate Effects on Synthesis and Surface Expression

Leukocyte binding to the endothelium is one of the earliest events in the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Leukocyte adhesion molecules involved in this process have not been definitely identified. We have found that treatment of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) with minimally modified low-density lipoprotein (MM-LDL) for 24 hours caused a 2- to 3-fold increase of P-selectin protein, with little change in P-selectin surface expression. A 15-minute histamine treatment of cells exposed to MM-LDL caused a 50% to 100% increase in P-selectin surface expression compared with cells not treated with the lipoprotein. This increase resulted in a 2-fold increase in binding of leukocytes to the endothelium. Immunostaining of permeabilized HAECs after MM-LDL treatment also revealed a highly reproducible increase in intracellular P-selectin associated with rod-shaped structures, typical of Weibel-Palade bodies. Oxidized phospholipids were shown to be mainly responsible for the action of MM-LDL. This increased P-selectin expression was associated with MM-LDL-induced cAMP elevation. Like histamine, highly oxidized low-density lipoprotein, especially the oxidized fatty acids, caused immediate redistribution of P-selectin to the cell surface followed by reinternalization. Immunohistochemical staining showed that endothelial cells on human fatty streak lesions expressed increased levels of P-selectin compared with nonlesion areas. These studies suggest that P-selectin may play an important role in early recruitment of mononuclear cells to the subendothelium in human atherosclerosis and that oxidized lipoproteins may contribute to the increased expression of this molecule by increasing intracellular stores and causing redistribution to the cell surface.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry and reflectometry: a user's perspective

We discuss how analytical tools in a characterization lab can be used to enhance metrology tools in a fab. The emphasis is on the interaction between a characterization lab and a wafer fab belonging to the same industrial company. Specifically this work will deal with ex situ analysis rather than in situ metrology. A metrology tool in a fab must be clean, fast, simple to operate, and must be able to measure small features. A classical example is a reflectometry tool. On the other hand, a tool in a characterization lab can handle a much more complex sample, can take a significantly longer time for the analysis, and often has the luxury of using a blanket wafer. The analyst is also available for consulting with regard to optimum samples configuration in order to generate the information required. Our emphasis will be on using spectroscopic ellipsometry in a characterization lab to develop optical constants of unusual material so that this information can be used in a reflectometry tool in the fab.
Tranylcypromine induced hypertension is not mediated by the inhibition of prostacyclin synthesis

Abstract Tranylcypromine (TCP) is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor used extensively in the treatment of patients with reactive depression. Hypertensive crisis can complicate drug therapy, but the mechanism through which TCP causes high blood pressure is unknown. The present study was undertaken because recent investigations have shown that TCP can inhibit production of a potent vasodilator hormone, prostacyclin (PGI 2 ), by blood vessels, possibly explaining the mechanism of pressor effects by the drug. Heart rate, left atrial,pulmonary artery and aortic pressures were monitored in dogs under control conditions and continuously following the IV infusion of TCP at the rate of 1 mg/kg over a period of one minute. Right femoral and the left internal mammary arteries were obtained during the control period and the left femoral and right internal mammary arteries resected between 6 and 30 minutes following drug infusion for PGI 2 studies.Concentrations of the drug that caused significant elevation of the mean systemic pressure to 203 + 8 mmHg had no inhibitory effect on PGI2 production.Therefore, the influence of TCP on the hemodynamic parameters does not appear to be mediated through the inhibition of vascular PGI2 synthesis.
Coherent Raman gain spectroscopy using CW laser sources

The recent demonstration of stimulated Raman gain (loss) spectroscopy (SRS) using CW laser sources introduces a powerful tool to coherent Raman spectroscopy. In this paper we undertake an experimental and analytical evaluation of several variations of SRS using CW laser sources including (1) direct stimulated Raman gain (loss) measurements, (2) optically heterodyned polarization interferometry, and (3) two-beam nonlinear interferometry. The results show CW SRS to be a convenient and effective means of obtaining direct Raman spectra in applications where background fluorescence precludes the use of conventional Raman techniques. Sensitivities comparable to or exceeding those obtained by coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) are demonstrated. Ultimate sensitivities exceeding those achieved by spontaneous Raman spectroscopy are expected for high-resolution applications in gaseous media.
The Effects of Information Transparency on Suppliers, Manufacturers, and Consumers in Online Markets

This paper looks into the effects of information transparency on market participants in an online trading environment. We study these effects in business-to-business electronic markets with firms competing in both upstream and downstream industries. The prior literature generally assumes that either the downstream firm (buyer) or the upstream firm (seller) is a monopoly. It is not clear whether information transparency would still create value if both buyers and sellers face oligopolistic competition, where the benefits of information transparency could be competed away. To answer this question, we first develop a simple two-echelon e-market model and then extend the model to more general settings. We find that information transparency can create value for the overall e-market, yet it affects buyers and sellers very differently: one side will be hurt, depending on the competition mode (Cournot or Bertrand) in the downstream. This suggests that a manufacturer-owned, a supplier-owned, and a neutral e-market will have different preferences for information transparency. Finally, we find that information transparency can hurt consumers when the downstream industry engages in Bertrand competition. This is a surprising result given the expectation that online markets create substantial value for consumers.
STUDIES ON PRONGHORN ANTELOPE (Antilocapra americana) AS RESERVOIRS OF ANAPLASMOSIS IN MONTANA

Twenty-six pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) were collected in an area of eastern Montana where bovine anaplasmosis is enzootic. Their sera were examined for evidence of anaplasmosis by the complement-fixation test. Strong false positive reactions (3+ and 4+ reactors) occurred for 19 of the sera tested; 6 sera were anticomplementary. Inoculation of antelope blood into anaplasmosis-free intact calves did not produce clinical or serological evidence of anaplasmosis, and anaplasma bodies were not found in stained blood smears of antelope or recipient calves.
Imaging and Detector Framework for Seismic Landmine Detection

In this paper, we consider the problem of detecting and locating buried landmines and subsurface objects by using seismic waves measured with sources and receivers on the surface. An imaging algorithm is proposed which uses the separated forward and reflected waves obtained via a Prony-based spectrum analysis technique. The imaging algorithm is followed by an energy detector. The resulting algorithms will are verified by using the experimental data containing mines and clutter
The sensory ecology of adaptive landscapes

In complex environments, behavioural plasticity depends on the ability of an animal to integrate numerous sensory stimuli. The multidimensionality of factors interacting to shape plastic behaviour means it is difficult for both organisms and researchers to predict what constitutes an adaptive response to a given set of conditions. Although researchers may be able to map the fitness pay-offs of different behavioural strategies in changing environments, there is no guarantee that the study species will be able to perceive these pay-offs. We thus risk a disconnect between our own predictions about adaptive behaviour and what is behaviourally achievable given the umwelt of the animal being studied. This may lead to erroneous conclusions about maladaptive behaviour in circumstances when the behaviour exhibited is the most adaptive possible given sensory limitations. With advances in the computational resources available to behavioural ecologists, we can now measure vast numbers of interactions among behaviours and environments to create adaptive behavioural surfaces. These surfaces have massive heuristic, predictive and analytical potential in understanding adaptive animal behaviour, but researchers using them are destined to fail if they ignore the sensory ecology of the species they study. Here, we advocate the continued use of these approaches while directly linking them to perceptual space to ensure that the topology of the generated adaptive landscape matches the perceptual reality of the animal it intends to study. Doing so will allow predictive models of animal behaviour to reflect the reality faced by the agents on adaptive surfaces, vastly improving our ability to determine what constitutes an adaptive response for the animal in question.
Spin Coating of Dielectrics on Thin Silicon To Enhance Strength Characteristics

Use of very thin wafers in the semiconductor industry poses handling challenges during manufacturing. The goal of this study was to determine whether applying thin coatings could create stronger, easy to handle wafers. Standard three-point bend testing of coated and uncoated thin wafer samples was used to determine whether the coating strengthened the wafers to improve their handling properties. Data indicated that only the thinnest coating on the thinner silicon increased the peak break strength in three-point bend testing.
Exploring the Lived Experience of Difficult Sleep and Good Sleep Among Psychiatric Inpatients

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychiatric inpatients' reflections on their experiences with sleep throughout their lives. Fourteen patients in an acute care behavioral health unit agreed to participate in this study. Participants met individually with a researcher to reflect on times in their lives when they experienced good sleep; times when they had difficulty sleeping; and times when difficult sleep was resolved. The major findings of the study indicated that feeling alone with life problems triggered difficult sleep; while feelings of belonging and purpose were associated with good sleep.
Bar None? Prisoners' Rights in the Modern Age

The American public is perhaps more sensitized to the flaws in our criminal justice system than at any time in our history. News accounts of wrongful convictions, racial profiling, violent police-citizen encounters, and botched executions have called into question the policies of a nation that imprisons more people than any other developed nation – upwards of 1.5 million people housed in state or federal prisons according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. To some extent, this period of questioning and reflection has produced gains; we have witnessed a modest shift away from mandatory minimum sentencing and toward the decriminalization of some narcotics. Parole boards have shown a rising awareness that inmates’ claims of innocence should not be held against them in their release decisions. Even more, some states – most notably, Michigan – have formulated innovative re-entry programs to assist prisoners in making the perilous transition from their cell blocks to residential and commercial blocks in neighborhoods throughout the country. These events have prompted some observers to envision an end to mass incarceration in the United States.Yet this vision is a mirage. Despite all of the talk about criminal justice reform and “decarceration,” we still live in a country where large swaths of people, especially young men of color, languish behind bars or under the restrictions of probation, parole, or some other form of community supervision. This is likely to remain the case absent dramatic changes to policing practices, wealth inequalities, and the lobbying tactics of corrections officials and affiliated industries. The danger with the decarceration rhetoric is that it deflects attention from those who continue to suffer under horrid conditions of confinement. Indeed, this Symposium explores the contemporary prison experience against this complicated backdrop and asks a fundamental question: what are the gravest problems that inmates face during an era in which many people might naively think that the situation has improved?
What Can Government Do to Create Jobs

The U.S. economy continues to show tentative signs of recovery. In December, nonfarm payroll employment rose by about 200,000 and the unemployment rate dipped to 8.5 percent, its lowest level in 35 months. This is good news. But it is cold comfort for the 13.1 million Americans who are still unemployed. It means nothing to the 5.6 million who have been without work for 27 weeks or more. And it does little to ease the pain of nearly 1 million who have become so discouraged that they have stopped looking for work altogether.So the natural question for both the economist and the well-intentioned policy maker is this: what can we do to get people back to well-paid and fulfilling employment? In this testimony, I review the economic evidence concerning the government’s ability to do this. I also describe the conditions that are necessary for long-run prosperity.Unfortunately, economic understanding of how government can revive an ailing economy is quite limited. It is not unlike our knowledge of surgery in past centuries: the instruments are blunt, we’re not very adept at wielding them, and there’s a good chance the intervention will cause more harm than good.This does not mean, however, that we know nothing about the causes of prosperity. We may not know how to instantly breathe life back into a sick economy, but economists do know a great deal about how government can create an environment which is conducive to growth.
Changes in post-trial fixation processes created by previous experience

One electroconvulsive shock (ECS) administered at various times after a learning experience was used to evaluate the completeness of post-trial fixation at several times subsequent to learning. The susceptibility of traces to ECS decreases only after an extended period, but once the decrease is initiated complete protection occurs rapidly. This interval of trace susceptibility is modified by past experience, which suggests that a neurological interaction occurs between previous memories and experience currently being processed.
Descriptions of the Nomenclatural Types of Peniophoras Described by Burt

they are conspecific with their types. The names of the herbaria housing the collections have been abbreviated in accordance with the 5th edition of the Index Herbariorum Lanjouw and Stafleu, (1964) and placed within parentheses. The terminology used by Burt in describing various sterile structures of the hymenium and subhymenium has been, for the most part, conserved, in order to facilitate comparisons of the original descriptions with those published here. Terms and phrases enclosed by quotation marks are those of Burt. The use of the term context in the descriptions follows the usage by G. H. Cunningham (1963).
The Uncertain Status of Citation Reform: An Update for the Undecided

This article addresses the purpose of legal citations and presents a case for reforming citations in order to better fulfill the purposes of legal citations.
NUMERICAL VERIFICATION OF EARTH-ROCK DAM SLOPE FAILURE DURING SHAKING TABLE TEST

The seismic stability of earth-rock dam is studied through shaking table test and numerical simulation.The dynamic behavior,failure mode,stability and reinforced performance of the soil dam slope during earthquakes are discussed.An elastoplastic analytical method is applied to simulating and analyzing the dynamic failure process of soil dam slope under earthquake.The permanent displacements of earth-rock dam in different cases are studied.In addition,the stability of dam slope,the depth of slip surface and the effectiveness of reinforcement are investigated by using the quasi-static method.The comparison between the calculated results and results obtained from shaking table tests shows that they are close and definitely verified each other.The study also shows that the top of dam is the vulnerable part;and cracks normally appear near this part under earthquake.The reinforcement and the gentle slope also can decrease the permanent displacement of dam slope.The reinforcement can obviously enhance the overall stability of dam without increasing the volume of the soil dam.The reinforcement has more advantages than the gentle slope.These studies provide basis for the design of the seismic measures of dam.
Managerial Implications of an Exploratory Post Behavioral Investigation into the Adoption of Technology Based Discontinuous Innovations

With the recent introduction of numerous technology based discontinuous innovations in consumer markets, it is not surprising to find the failure rate among this type of innovation excessive by most standards. Research suggests that managements’ inability to understand, predict and manage the diffusion of technology is a contributing factor to the failure rate. This study empirically tests the ability of three post purchase variables; use innovativeness, product integration and prior experience to distinguish between innovators and early adopters of in-home personal computers. The results suggest some interesting managerial insights towards understanding the diffusion of this type of innovation with consumer markets.
Macro Implementation: Testing the Causal Paths from U.S. Macro Policy to Federal Incarceration

Policy implementation is usually studied at the micro level by testing the short-term effects of a specific policy on the behavior of government actors and policy outcomes. This study adopts an alternative approach by examining macro implementation—the cumulative effect of aggregate public policies over time. I employ a variety of methodological techniques to test the influence of macro criminal justice policy on new admissions to federal prison via three mediators: case filings by federal prosecutors, conviction rates in federal district courts, and plea bargaining behavior. I find that cumulative Supreme Court rulings influence the incarceration rate by altering conviction rates in district courts; however, I find only mixed evidence of congressional and presidential influence. The results suggest that U.S. macro policy influences bureaucratic outputs by altering the behavior of subordinate policy implementers; however, the Supreme Court may enjoy an advantage in shaping criminal justice policy.
Sensorless direct torque and indirect flux control of brushless DC motor with non-sinusoidal back-EMF

In this paper, the position sensorless direct torque and indirect flux control (DTIFC) of BLDC motor with non-sinusoidal (non-ideal trapezoidal) back-EMF has been extensively investigated using three-phase conduction scheme with six-switch inverter. In the literature, several methods have been proposed to eliminate the low-frequency torque pulsations for BLDC motor drives such as Fourier series analysis of current waveforms and eitheriterative or least-mean-square minimization techniques. Most method do not consider the stator flux linkage control, therefore possible high-speed operations are not feasible. In this work, a novel and simple approach to achieve a low-frequency torque ripple-free direct torque control with maximum efficiency based on dq reference frame similar to permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drives is presented. The electrical rotor position is estimated using winding inductance, and the stationary reference frame stator flux linkages and currents. The proposed sensorless DTC method controls the torque directly and stator flux amplitude indirectly using d-axis current. Since stator or flux is controllable, flux-weakening operation is possible. Moreover, this method also permits to regulate the varying signals. Simple voltage vector selection look-up table is designed to obtain fast torque and flux control. Furthermore, to eliminate the low-frequency torque oscillations, two actual and easily available line-to-line back-EMF constants (kba and kca according to electrical rotor position are obtained offline and converted to the dq frame equivalents using the new Line-to-Line Park Transformation. Then, they are set up in the look-up table for torque estimation. The validity and practical applications of the proposed three-phase conduction DTC of BLDC motor drive scheme are verified through simulations and experimental results.
Mapping of Functional Subdomains in the Terminal Protein Domain of Hepatitis B Virus Polymerase.

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encodes a multifunction reverse transcriptase or polymerase (P), which is composed of several domains. The terminal protein (TP) domain is unique to HBV and related hepadnaviruses and is required for specifically binding to the viral pregenomic RNA (pgRNA). Subsequently, the TP domain is necessary for pgRNA packaging into viral nucleocapsids and the initiation of viral reverse transcription for conversion of the pgRNA to viral DNA. Uniquely, the HBV P protein initiates reverse transcription via a protein priming mechanism using the TP domain as a primer. No structural homologs or high-resolution structure exists for the TP domain. Secondary structure prediction identified three disordered loops in TP with highly conserved sequences. A meta-analysis of mutagenesis studies indicated these predicted loops are almost exclusively where functionally important residues are located. Newly constructed TP mutations revealed a priming loop in TP which plays a specific role in protein-primed DNA synthesis beyond simply harboring the site of priming. Substitutions of potential sites of phosphorylation surrounding the priming site demonstrated that these residues are involved in interactions critical for priming but are unlikely to be phosphorylated during viral replication. Furthermore, the first 13 and 66 TP residues were shown to be dispensable for protein priming and pgRNA binding, respectively. Combining current and previous mutagenesis work with sequence analysis has increased our understanding of TP structure and functions by mapping specific functions to distinct predicted secondary structures and will facilitate antiviral targeting of this unique domain. IMPORTANCE HBV is a major cause of viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. One important feature of this virus is its polymerase, the enzyme used to create the DNA genome from a specific viral RNA by reverse transcription. One region of this polymerase, the TP domain, is required for association with the viral RNA and production of the DNA genome. Targeting the TP domain for antiviral development is difficult due to the lack of homology to other proteins and high-resolution structure. This study mapped the TP functions according to predicted secondary structure, where it folds into alpha helices or unstructured loops. Three predicted loops were found to be the most important regions functionally and the most conserved evolutionarily. Identification of these functional subdomains in TP will facilitate its targeting for antiviral development.
What Impact Do Chaplains Have? A Pilot Study of Spiritual AIM for Advanced Cancer Patients in Outpatient Palliative Care.

Abstract Context Spiritual care is integral to quality palliative care. Although chaplains are uniquely trained to provide spiritual care, studies evaluating chaplains' work in palliative care are scarce. Objectives The goals of this pre-post study, conducted among patients with advanced cancer receiving outpatient palliative care, were to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of chaplain-delivered spiritual care, utilizing the Spiritual Assessment and Intervention Model ("Spiritual AIM"), and to gather pilot data on Spiritual AIM's effects on spiritual well-being, religious and cancer-specific coping, and physical and psychological symptoms. Methods Patients with advanced cancer (N = 31) who were receiving outpatient palliative care were assigned based on chaplains' and patients' outpatient schedules, to one of three professional chaplains for three individual Spiritual AIM sessions, conducted over the course of approximately six to eight weeks. Patients completed the following measures at baseline and post-intervention: Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, Steinhauser Spirituality, Brief RCOPE, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual (FACIT-Sp-12), Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), Patient Dignity Inventory, Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression (10 items), and Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory. Results From baseline to post-Spiritual AIM, significant increases were found on the FACIT-Sp-12 Faith subscale, the Mini-MAC Fighting Spirit subscale, and Mini-MAC Adaptive Coping factor. Two trends were observed, i.e., an increase in Positive religious coping on the Brief RCOPE and an increase in Fatalism (a subscale of the Mini-MAC). Conclusion Spiritual AIM, a brief chaplain-led intervention, holds potential to address spiritual needs and religious and general coping in patients with serious illnesses.
Stress Corrosion Cracking of Alloy 52/152 Weldments Near Dissimilar Metal Weld Interfaces

Recent stress corrosion cracking (SCC) crack growth rate (CGR) testing at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) of Alloy 52/152 weldments near dissimilar metal weld interfaces have found, on occasion, some rather surprisingly high SCC CGRs. Weld overlays of alloys believed to possess superior SCC resistance due to their higher Cr content are typically applied over welds made with SCC-susceptible alloys with the expectation that they will act as a barrier to SCC. However, testing conducted at ANL revealed that the SCC CGRs near the interface between the two welds was in the 10−10 m/s range. Likewise, SCC CGR data in Alloy 152 weld butter near the interface with Low Alloy Steel, which is a region with some dilution of Cr, found SCC rates as high as 10−10 m/s. In most cases, SCC propagation occurred in a direction perpendicular of that of the dendritic grains—a direction not usually associated with fast SCC propagation. The objective of this paper is to present and discuss the testing results with a focus on the possible paths for fast IG SCC propagation in these weldments.
The Garden, the Library, the Body, and the Table: Ways of Knowing Food in John Evelyn’s Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets

This article uses John Evelyn’s Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets (1699), a short book on the garden’s edible products, to highlight the place of food in early modern science. Exemplifying the perio...
Dislocation Link Length Distributions During Harper-Dorn Creep of Monocrystalline Aluminum

Single crystals of Al have been deformed in compression at 920°K under constant stresses ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 MPa. Harper-Dorn (H-D) creep occurs for stresses less than 0.1 MPa. The dislocation microstructures have been evaluated from etch pit photographs of samples deformed in the primary as well as in the steady state stages. During primary creep in the H-D stress regime subgrain boundaries are observed, but these disperse with time and disappear during steady state. The total steady state dislocation density is low (<102mm-2) and independent of the applied stress. The steady state dislocation link length distributions have been measured from the etch pit photographs and found to be independent of stress in the H-D regime. Furthermore, it is shown that nearly the entire population of dislocation links is sessile in the sense that the links are not long enough to glide. It is concluded that all the strain during H-D creep is generated by the process of network coarsening.
Imaging techniques in rheumatoid arthritis.

Imaging methods have traditionally been the primary tools for documenting disease severity and progression. Radiographic methods are insensitive to early changes but eventually reflect the degree of bone destruction, cartilage space narrowing, and deformity that has occurred. Microfocal radiography is being investigated as a method to better define early erosive changes. Neither technique allows optimal examination of soft tissues (e.g., joint effusion, pannus, ligaments, and tendons). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows both soft tissues and bones to be examined. Articular cartilage imaging is currently under investigation. Despite its high cost, the noninvasive nature of MRI and the extensive information it provides, make this an exciting area for investigating the changes in rheumatoid arthritis and response to therapy.
Phosphoramidon inhibits the integral membrane protein zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24.

The integral membrane protein zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24 possesses a completely novel structure, comprising seven long kinked transmembrane helices that encircle a voluminous 14 000 A3 cavity within the membrane. Functionally conserved soluble zinc metalloprotease residues are contained within this cavity. As part of an effort to understand the structural and functional relationships between ZMPSTE24 and soluble zinc metalloproteases, the inhibition of ZMPSTE24 by phosphoramidon [N-(α-rhamnopyranosyl-oxy­hydroxyphosphinyl)-Leu-Trp], a transition-state analog and competitive inhibitor of multiple soluble zinc metalloproteases, especially gluzincins, has been characterized functionally and structurally. The functional results, the determination of preliminary IC50 values by the use of an intramolecular quenched-fluorescence fluorogenic peptide assay, indicate that phosphoramidon inhibits ZMPSTE24 in a manner consistent with competitive inhibition. The structural results, a 3.85 A resolution X-ray crystal structure of a ZMPSTE24–phosphoramidon complex, indicate that the overall binding mode observed between phosphoramidon and soluble gluzincins is conserved. Based on the structural data, a significantly lower potency than that observed for soluble gluzincins such as thermolysin and neprilysin is predicted. These results strongly suggest a close relationship between soluble gluzincins and the integral membrane protein zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24.
Parental Dietary Protein Source and the Role of CMKLR1 in Determining the Severity of Dahl Salt-Sensitive Hypertension.

Studies from our laboratory have revealed an important role for the maternal diet and the dietary protein source in the development of hypertension and renal injury in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats...
Supraglottic Airway Rescue After Failed Fiberoptic Intubation in a Patient With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Case Report

We describe the management of a pregnant patient with osteogenesis imperfecta with a history of numerous fractures, severe scoliosis, and anticipated difficult airway. Her pregnancy was complicated by progressive shortness of breath and a fetal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta. Spine anatomy precluded neuraxial anesthesia. Cesarean delivery was performed under general anesthesia at 34 weeks. Immediately after awake fiberoptic intubation and induction of general anesthesia, capnography waveform was lost with rapid profound oxygen desaturation. A supraglottic airway device was placed, oxygenation maintained with supraglottic airway and positive pressure ventilation throughout case, and the baby was delivered with Apgars of 8 and 9.
Early Results Using Donor-Derived Marrow Infiltrating Lymphocytes (ddMILs) for Relapsed Disease after Allografting with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide (PTCy)

Since the bone marrow is both the site of disease in most hematologic malignancies and a reservoir of tumor specific T cells, we hypothesized that MILs collected after alloBMT in patients treated with PTCy could be a source of tumor-specific T cells for adoptive immunotherapy. We report results of a first-in-human study of ddMILs, i.e., engrafted allogeneic T cells harvested from the patients' marrow. The primary objectives of this study is to determine feasibility of expanding ddMILs from patients relapsing after alloBMT and the incidence of ddMILs induced grade III-IV acute GVHD. Engrafted patients with relapse after HLA-matched or haploBMT with PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis; at least 6 months post-transplant and without active grade GVHD were eligible. BM was harvested (200 ml) from relapsed patients under ambulatory conscious sedation. Dose-escalated ddMILs were expanded ex-vivo and infused following salvage chemotherapy using pre-determined dosing schedules. A total of 17 patients were harvested and expanded (AML (5), MM (8), CLL (3) and CML (1)) with anti-CD3/CD28 magnetic beads for 10 days. Patients had a medium 22.3 (1.8-104.3)-fold expansion, except the initial 3 AML patients with a high blast counts and low lymphocyte contents which prompted a modification to enrollment criteria requiring 500/µl. Following this modification, we effectively expanded all subsequent patient products. 14 patients received ddMILs: 4 HLA-matched patients (3 patients received 1 × 107 CD3+cells/kg and 1 patent was treated at escalated dose of 5 × 107) and 10 HLA-haploBMT (5 at 1 × 106, 3 at 5 × 106 and 2 at 1 × 107 CD3+T cells/kg). The median time post-transplant at time of MILs infusion was 28 months. Following salvage chemotherapy and MILs infusion, absolute neutropenia (ANC 500 was 7 days. For patients who initially responded and then progressed, intra-patient dose-escalation was done upon retreatment. Overall, no cases of GVHD were observed. Two patients with MM sustained a PR for 9 months at lower doses of ddMILs and 1 MM patient who received 5 × 106 HLA-mismatched ddMILs is in CR >12 months post-infusion (overall response of 30%). One haplo AML patient treated initially with 1 × 106 CD3+T cells/kg progressed and was retreated with 5 × 106 CD3+T cells/kg after salvage chemotherapy. This patient achieved a second CR lasting 9 months. Three patients with relapsed CLL after alloBMT were put on ibrutinib with minimal response and then received ddMILs: two patients are showing no signs of disease progression. In this ongoing phase 1 study, ddMILs has shown promising efficacy in adult patients with relapsed malignancies after alloBMT. The excellent safety profile, the absence of GVHD, and early evidence of clinical activity at low doses suggests a potentially more active, less toxic alternative to the traditional DLI.
Analysis and Detection of Cyber-physical Attacks in Distributed Sensor Networks

This paper analyzes and detects the adverse effects of cyber-physical attacks on distributed Kalman filters in sensor networks. To this end, we first evaluate the effect of adversaries on the performance of the sensor network in the distributed state estimation problem. More specifically, we consider attacks on both the sensors and the wireless communication channels and show that how an attacker affects the state estimation error covariance recursion and, consequently, the network performance. We then introduce novel Kullback-Liebler divergence based detectors to capture attacks by using the innovation sequence of each sensor and the innovation sequences that it estimates for its neighbors. Simulation result validates the effectiveness of presented work.