cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hierarchical decision procedure for process synthesis

A new procedure for synthesizing process flow sheets and base-case designs has been developed. The procedure is evolutionary in nature and proceeds through a hierarchy of decision levels, where more fine structure is added to the flow sheet at each decision level. Heuristics are used to obtain some of the structural elements of the flow sheet, and other heuristics are used to make some of the decisions required at the various decision levels. In many cases, no heuristics are available, so that process alternatives are generated. The analysis protion of the procedure has strong focus on the economic tradeoffs that are associated with the significant design variables.
Colony Productivity of the Fungus-Gardening Ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Florida Pine Forest

The ecology of the fungus-gardening ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis McCook (Hy- menoptera: Formicidae) was investigated in a northern Florida longleaf pine, Pinus palustris Mill., forest. This ant is extremely abundant in pine sandhill in the Apalachicola National Forest, in north Florida; a hectare contains on average 1,000 nests, 235,000 T. septentrionalis workers, and 3.5 kg of fungus garden. When colony size and performance were estimated from excavations and the weight of sand in the tumulus, nests were larger and produced the most offspring in open, treeless habitats, whereas the smallest and least productive nests occurred in wooded areas. Our data suggest that the warm soils of open sites stimulate worker activity and colony growth, and cool soils of shaded, wooded sites depress performance. Moreover soils with extremely warm temperatures may have an inhibitory effect because the ants and fungus are susceptible to desiccation and excessive warmth, respectively. This suggests that T. septentrionalis is an indicator ant species of habitat quality in longleaf pine sandhills because its performance seems to be positively related to the natural disturbance regimeN frequent Þres occurring in the summer. Soil displacement is possibly a major effect that this ant has on the forest ecosystems: colonies may excavate over 1 metric ton of soil each year in a typical hectare of pine forest. The effect of this soil turnover is probably considerable in these nutrient-poor, sandy soils. Experiments are needed to determine the role of this highly abundant ant in longleaf pine forests. RESUMEN: En un bosque de pino, Pinus palustris Mill., del norte de Florida se llevoa cabo la investigacion de ciertos aspectos ecologicos relacionados con la produccion de la hormiga Trachy- myrmex septentrionalis McCook. Este tipo de hormiga es muy abundante en habitats secos y arenosos (sandhills) del Bosque Nacional Apalachicola (Apalachicola National Forest); una hectarea contiene una media de 1.000 colonias, 235.000 hormigas obreras T. septentrionalis y 3,5 kg de jardo´n de hongos. Tras calcular el tamano y la productividad de la colonia a partir de nuestras excavaciones y del peso de la arena en el tumulo, se observoque los nidos eran mas grandes y que la mayor parte de las cro´as se produco´an en habitats descubiertos, sin arboles. Por el contrario, los nidos mas pequenos y menos productivos se encontraban en zonas arboladas. Nuestros datos indican que la tierra caliente de
Reflections on the Gauss Principle of Least Constraint

The Gauss principle of least constraint is derived from a new point of view. Then, an extended principle of least constraint is derived to cover the case of nonideal constraints. Finally, a version of the principle for general underdetermined systems is adumbrated. Throughout, the notion of generalized inverses of matices plays a prominent role.
NVNA Techniques for Pulsed RF Measurements

In this article, we have reviewed various advanced broadband and pulsed measurement techniques which have been developed for sampler-based NVNAs. We have seen that the RF modulation capability of sampler based NVNAs was not limited by the IF bandwidth of its receiver. Two methods for pulsed-RF, pulsed-bias measurements were also presented. The method based on the concept of multiple recordings enables one to achieve pulsed-RF measurements with 0 dB desensitization (no dynamic range degradation) even for very low duty cycles. Real-time active load-pull techniques for the rapid design of microwave power amplifiers were also presented. Finally, it was demon strated that pulsed-RF real-time active-load-pull could also be performed for the rapid design of pulsed-RF PAs or the characterization of transistors with reduced memory effects. These various measurements with sampler-based NVNAs were made possible thanks to the use of advanced ADC triggering techniques.
PROGESTIN METABOLISM: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ESTROGENIC PATHWAYS.

Abstract Synthetic progestational agents are diovided into 2 main groups, i.e., the “19-nor” compounds and the so-called “substituted” progestins. Each has a different metabolic pathway. For example, the “19-nor” compounds are converted into estrogens in vivo, whereas the “substituted” progestins are not. This metabolic difference may be quite important with regard to the physiologic and therapeutic effects exerted by these agents.
Analyzing losses from hazard exposure: a conservative probabilistic estimate using supply chain risk simulation

We present a supply chain risk analysis that is based on a Monte Carlo simulation of a generalized semi-Markov process (G.S.M.P.) model. Specifically, we seek to estimate the probability distribution of supply chain losses caused by disruptions. This distribution is computed conditional on conservative hypotheses which are the following: (1) no additional risk reduction measures are implemented beyond those already in place, (2) all the products whose production has been canceled are counted as losses at their market value. The simulation thus yields conditional probabilities of loss levels that firms may reasonably use in the evaluation of business interruption costs and insurance coverage limits. The model also enables the comparison of supply chain designs based on their resilience in recovering from risk events. The approach is novel for it connects stochastic modeling of risks from an insurance perspective with supply chain network design.
Direct formation of 2,4-disubstituted tetrahydropyranols in water mediated by an acidic solid resin

Amberlite® IR-120 Plus resin, a readily regenerated acidic solid resin, mediates the formation of tetrahydropyranol derivatives in water. Various aldehydes were reacted with homoallyl alcohol under the reaction conditions to yield the desired tetrahydropyranol derivatives in moderate to good yields.
Comparisons of two approaches for removing excess adhesive during the bonding procedure.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects on shear bond strength of removing excess adhesive from around the bracket base at 2 time periods: (1) immediately after placing the bracket on the tooth, and (2) after subjecting the adhesive to 5 seconds of light curing to initially secure the bracket in its proper position. The debonding forces were evaluated at 2 times; within half an hour after bonding and after storing for 24 hours in water at 37 degrees qC. These comparisons will help determine the most advantageous time for the clinician to remove excess adhesive from around the brackets during the bonding process. The teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups according to: (a) the time of removal of the excess adhesive from around the bracket base namely; immediately after placing the bracket or after 5 seconds of light cure and (b) the time of debonding the brackets, namely within half an hour or after 24 hours. Shear bond strength was measured using a Zwick test machine and calculated in Megapascals. The results of the analysis of variance (F = 35.05) comparing the 4 experimental groups indicated the presence of significant differences between all 4 groups (P = .0001). In general, the shear bond strengths were significantly larger for the 2 groups debonded after 24 hours, whether they were light cured for a total of 40 seconds (X = 8.8 +/- 3.6 MPa) or 45 seconds (X = 6.9 +/- 3.4 MPa). On the other hand, the shear bond strengths was significantly lower in the 2 groups debonded within half an hour from their initial bonding, whether light cured for 40 seconds (X = 0.4 +/- 1.0 MPa) or 45 seconds (X = 3.4 +/- 2.7 MPa). In conclusion, the additional 5 seconds of light cure significantly increased the initial shear bond strength. On the other hand, removing excess adhesive after 5 seconds of light cure significantly decreased the shear bond strength at 24 hours.
Low-dimensional electronic states at silicon surfaces

Self-assembled atomic chains can be triggered at stepped Si(111) surfaces by adding sub-monolayer amounts of metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, alkali metals, alkaline earths, and rare earths. A common feature of all these structures is the honeycomb chain, a graphitic strip of Si atoms at the step edge that is lattice matched in the direction parallel to the edge but completely mismatched perpendicular to it. This honeycomb chain drives one-dimensional surface reconstructions even on the flat Si(111) surface, breaking its three-fold symmetry. Particularly interesting are metallic chain structures, such as those induced by gold. The Au atoms are locked rigidly to the Si substrate but the electrons near the Fermi level completely decouple from the substrate because they lie in the band gap of silicon. The electronic structure of one-dimensional electrons is predicted to be qualitatively different from that of higher dimensions, since electrons cannot avoid each other when moving along the same line. The single-electron picture has to be abandoned, making way for collective excitations, such as spinons and holons, where the spins and charges of electrons become separated. Although such excitations have yet to be confirmed definitively, the band structure seen in angle-resoled photoemission exhibits a variety of unusual features, such as a fractional electron count and a doublet of nearly half-filled bands. Chains of tunable spins can be created with rare earths. The dimensionality can be controlled by adjusting the step spacing with intra- and inter-chain coupling ratios from 10:1 to >70:1. Thus, metal-induced chain structures on stepped silicon provide a versatile class of low-dimensional materials for approaching the one-dimensional limit and exploring the exotic electronic states predicted for one dimension.
Satellite-derived land surface climate 'signal' for the Midwest U.S.A.

Abstract As a potential strategy for developing regional Land surface climatologies, a statistical method to estimate the land-cover signal from the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVl) is developed and applied to the Midwest U.S.A. summer growing season. The method evaluates the temporal correlation of NDVl for non-consecutive scenes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) at Local Area Coverage (LAC) resolutions. Conventional mapped data help separate the low frequency variations related to phenology from shorter-term fluctuations involving surface moisture. The land surface signal is more stable temporally when pixel data are aggregated to spatial resolutions commensurate with the Global Area Coverage (GAC) data.
Integrated silicon sensors: technology and microstructures

The development of integrated sensor technology during the past decade, which has made possible the fabrication of a wide variety of microstructures on a high-volume basis, is discussed. Bulk micromachining is widely practiced using double-sided processes, while the single-sided dissolved-wafer bulk process offers advantages for many applications. Surface micromachining avoids the necessity of deep etching of the wafer bulk but requires careful control of stress in the deposited films and protection of the wafer during the sacrificial etch. Wafer-scale bonding processes such as electrostatic bonding and silicon fusion offer additional tools for the creation of three-dimensional microstructures. Electroforming processes such as LIGA allow structural thicknesses as great as 100 mu m with micron or submicron lateral features. The application of these processes and microstructures to neuroelectronic interfaces, mass flow and microflow sensors, and multichannel submicron surface profilometers is described. The extension of these approaches to complete integrated microsystems, realized monolithically or as multichip hybrids, is discussed, and applications in areas such as millimeter-wave components and vacuum microelectronics are examined. >
An expository overview of active control of machinery mounts

The author considers the isolation of vibration originating in a comparatively compact, rigid machine. The machine can be an internal combustion engine, a turbine, compressor, etc. The machine is mounted in a structurally flexible vehicle using several machinery mounts. A machinery mount should be capable of transmitting low-frequency forces and supporting the machine against static loads due to vehicle accelerations but incapable of transmitting high frequency vibratory force. Past approaches have been passive, involving 'soft springs' and, occasionally, dynamic effects. Advances in electronics, materials and to a lesser degree control theory, suggest the possibility of accomplishing these tasks more effectively with active or combined active/passive techniques. The author attempts an overview and classification of the problem and of potential active approaches. >
THE TUMOR-PROMOTER PHORBOL ESTER (12-0-TETRADECANOYL-PHORBOL-13-ACETATE), A POTENT AGGREGATING AGENT FOR BLOOD PLATELETS

The phorbol ester 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, a potent tumor-promoting agent, caused irreversible platelet aggregation when more than 0.02 µM was stirred with human citrated or heparinized platelet-rich plasma (PRP). With washed platelets, 1 nM was effective. The alcohol phorbol, which has little tumor-promoting activity, failed to cause platelet aggregation. With all but low concentrations of phorbol ester, aggregation was succeeded by a rapid phase. The latter was prevented or reduced by enzymes which destroy ADP and by aspirin, was associated with a change in platelet shape, and was presumably due to released ADP. At higher concentrations, only a rapid phase was seen, and these inhibitors were not effective. Low concentrations did not aggregate platelets in PRP containing sufficient EDTA or EGTA to chelate ionized calcium or in PRP from thrombasthenic patients; higher concentrations caused slight aggregation. Both the primary, non-ADP-dependent aggregation and the rapid ADP-dependent aggregation were markedly inhibited by substances which increase cyclic AMP, metabolic inhibitors, and the sulfhydryl inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide. Phorbol ester reduced platelet cyclic AMP only when it had been previously elevated by prostaglandin E1. 1 µM did not release β-glucuronidase, lactic dehydrogenase, or inflammatory material from platelets in 4–5 min despite marked aggregation, but liberated all three in 30 min. The possibility is discussed that low phorbol ester concentrations cause primary aggregation by a direct action on platelet actomyosin.
A stochastic control problem with different value functions for singular and absolutely continuous control

A stochastic control problem is obtained as a "small noise" approximation to a deterministic optimal control problem. Two classes of admissible controls are considered and the optimal control policies are explicitly determined for each admissible class. The larger admissible class contains controls referred to as singular stochastic controls. For this class, the cumulative effect of control has bounded variation trajectories. The smaller admissible class contains the standard stochastic controls whose cumulative effect has absolutely continuous trajectories. These controls are referred to as absolutely continuous controls. The optimal singular control provides a cost strictly smaller than the minimum cost achievable when only absolutely continuous stochastic controls are admissible. In particular, this shows that it is not always possible to approach the optimal cost for singular control if only the standard stochastic control policies are admissible.
Evaluation of Five Differently Processed Feather Meals by Nitrogen Retention, Net Protein Values, Xanthine Dehydrogenase Activity and Chemical Analysis

Abstract Net protein values and nitrogen retention were determined to evaluate feathers processed under different conditions. In addition, each feather meal sample was chemically analyzed for pepsin digestibility, available lysine, ether extract, ash, amino acids and protein content. The “standard” processed feather meal resulted in a lower net protein value than did any of the “new” further-processed feather meals. Feather meal processed for 50 p.s.i. with intermittent agitation (agitate 1 minute, stop 2 minute) resulted in the highest net protein value of all the feather meals. This same feather meal also contained the highest level of available lysine, methionine and histidine when compared with other feather meals. Nitrogen retention decreased linearly when feather meal protein was increased in the diet from 3 to 9%. Only with the 9% feather meal protein level, however, was a marked decrease in nitrogen retention observed. Feather meals did not differ greatly enough in pepsin digestibility to result in valid conclusions on this basis. Feather meals processed under more severe conditions, however, tended to have slightly higher pepsin digestibility values. Of the lysine present in the feather meals, on the average, 72.5% was “available lysine.” The more severely processed feather meals contained more available lysine than did the feather meals processed under milder conditions.
A Primer Design Algorithm for Global Analysis of CpG Methylation

Global DNA methylation changes have been documented to occur during normal development, aging and disease progression. Genome-wide levels of methylation are commonly inferred from the average level of methylation of large sets of repetitive elements. Alu repeats, in particular, have been exploited in a variety of approaches to monitor genome-wide losses in CpG methylation. Alu elements encompass over 25% of the CpG dinucleotides in the human genome. However, due to the high frequency of deamination of methylated cytosines in repetitive elements occurring in the germline, the sensitivity to detect methylation changes based upon their methylation levels is greatly compromised. In addition, the number of repeats that were targeted in previous investigations for ascertainment of genome-wide levels of methylation could not be accurately estimated. In this study, we developed and implemented an algorithm to design highly specific primers altogether targeting 617,817 CpG sites in over 45,000 Alu elements. In combination with the pyrosequencing technology, these primers were shown to yield highly sensitive and reproducible results.
A High- $Q$ Millimeter-Wave Air-Lifted Cavity Resonator on Lossy Substrates

In this letter, a 3D high-quality-factor millimeter- wave cavity resonator is integrated on the lossy soda-lime glass substrate utilizing surface micromachining technologies. With a height of 300 mum, the air-lifted cavity features a measured Q of at least 219 at 30 GHz, demonstrating an improvement by almost an order of magnitude with respect to respective planar resonators on the same substrate. The 3D cavity is monolithically integrated on the top of the substrate, with its side walls consisting of two rows of metalized pillars, while a weak coupling excitation scheme is used to extract the quality factor. This high performance cavity can be easily integrated with other monolithic integrated circuits and planar mm-wave components in multilayer modules.
All in the family: atypical Hsp70 chaperones are conserved modulators of Hsp70 activity

Divergent relatives of the Hsp70 protein chaperone such as the Hsp110 and Grp170 families have been recognized for some time, yet their biochemical roles remained elusive. Recent work has revealed that these "atypical" Hsp70s exist in stable complexes with classic Hsp70s where they exert a powerful nucleotide-exchange activity that synergizes with Hsp40/DnaJ-type cochaperones to dramatically accelerate Hsp70 nucleotide cycling. This represents a novel evolutionary transition from an independent protein-folding chaperone to what appears to be a dedicated cochaperone. Contributions of the atypical Hsp70s to established cellular roles for Hsp70 now must be deciphered.
A Model of a Degenerate Two-Photon Amplifier

This paper is concerned with the propagation of an electromagnetic pulse through a two-photon amplifier medium pre-pared in a state of inversion between two levels of the same parity, the carrier frequency of the incident pulse being approxi-mately one half of the atomic transition frequency. Upon neglecting competing effects which can cause emission at a frequency other than that of the incident pulse, we describe the coupled evolution of the atom-field system in terms of the usual self-consistent approach. In the coherent limit, i.e., when atomic relaxation effects are negligible, we derive an area equation for the total pulse energy, characterize the threshold condition for power amplification, and classify the multiple steady state solutions of the area equation.
THE EFFECT OF INSULIN ON THE AMINO ACID CONTENT OF BLOOD

Early in 1926, one of us (J. M. L.) had occasion to determine the amino nitrogen content of a number of blood samples from fasting pathological subjects. Among them were some diabetic cases under treatment with insulin. With only four or five exceptions, this latter group gave the lowest amino nitrogen values observed. Although there were factors other than insulin which may have contributed to the difference in group values between diabetics and non-diabetics, the results were sufficient to excite our curiosity, and to lead us to an examination of the effect of insulin upon the amino acid content of the blood. An examination of the literature revealed several points to which reference should be made. In the first place, we could find little agreement in the conclusions drawn by various authors with respect to the amino acid content of the blood of fasting diabetic subjects.
La relation entre œsophage de Barrett et œsophagite peptique

Environ 60 % des patients porteurs d’un endobrachyœsophage presentent une stenose localisee a la jonction entre les muqueuses epidermoide et cylindrique. Une nouvelle hypothese est presentee dans le but d’expliquer la raison pour laquelle la stenose manque dans certains cas d’endobrachyœsophage et dans d’autres, se trouve localisee soit au niveau proximal, soit dans la partie inferieure de l’œsophage, au-dessus de la hernie hiatale. L’hypothese repose sur le fait demontre que le reflux acide detruit l’epithelium epidermoide de l’œsophage mais sans penetrer profondement dans la paroi, tandis que la « bile » detruit cette barriere et permet egalement une penetration intra-parietale. Pour cette raison, les endobrachyœsophages depourvus de stenose seraient en relation avec un reflux uniquement acide, et les endobrachyœsophages avec longue stenose, immediatement au contact d’une hernie hiatale, resulteraient plutot d’un reflux bilieux. Une stenose proximale courte complique le premier type plusieurs annees apres le developpement d’un epithelium cylindrique et probablement par incompetence pylorique qui, dans une etape tardive, permet l’installation d’un reflux duodeno-gastrique.
Abstract 3592: Roles of miR-199a-5p and COX-2 in arsenic-induced tumor angiogenesis.

Arsenic is a well-known human carcinogen which is closely associated with lung cancer. However, the mechanism underlying the arsenic-induced carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. The alterations of miRNAs profiles in cancers have profound implication in cancer development. However, it remains to be determined whether the alterations of miRNA signature in response to carcinogens such as arsenic may result in cell malignant transformation and tumor growth. In this study, we developed an in vitro model by transforming human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells through long-term exposure to low concentration of arsenic. The BEAS-2B cells were malignantly transformed validated by cell proliferation, anchorage independent growth and tumor growth assay. By utilizing this model, we found that miR-199a-5p expression level was dramatically repressed in arsenic-transformed cells. Re-expression of miR-199a-5p impaired arsenic-induced tumor angiogenesis through directly targeting hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Interestingly, we found another proangiogenic factor cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that was also upregulated in arsenic-transformed cells and was predicted as a target of miR-199a-5p. It was confirmed by generating COX-2 3’UTR miRNA luciferase reporters with wild-type or mutant binding sites with miR-199a-5p. Overexpression of miR-199a-5p inhibited COX-2 protein expression. Functional study revealed that knockdown of COX-2 by siRNA in arsenic-transformed cells decreased tumor angiogenesis. We further showed that the COX-2 promoter contains a functional hypoxia response element (HRE). HIF-1α regulated COX-2 expression at the transcriptional level via direct binding to the HRE (-576/-584) located within the COX-2 promoter. Thus, arsenic-induced COX-2 activation is mediated by repression of miR-199a-5p and activation of HIF-1. Moreover, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a product of COX-2 regulated HIF-1 expression in a positive-feedback manner. In addition, arsenic-transformed cells have high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for activating COX-2 pathway. Taken together, our results demonstrate that arsenic-induced angiogenesis through miR-199a-5p repression and pro-inflammatory responses induced by ROS. Both pathways lead to activation of HIF-1/COX-2 pathway. These findings establish critical roles of miR-199a-5p and its downstream targets HIF-1/COX-2 in arsenic-induced tumor angiogenesis. As miR-199a-5p is generally downregulated, whereas COX-2 is overexpressed in human lung cancer tissues, they may be used as new therapeutic targets for lung cancer treatment in the future. Citation Format: Jun He, Richard Carpenter, Yue Jiang, Qing Xu, Bing-Hua Jiang. Roles of miR-199a-5p and COX-2 in arsenic-induced tumor angiogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3592. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3592
Heated, humidified CO2 gas is unsatisfactory for awake laparoscopy.

Background The necessity for general anesthesia represents an impediment to using a laparoscopic approach for some procedures that are otherwise performed with the patient under local anesthesia using a conventional open technique. Heating and humidifying the insufflation gas reportedly reduces perioperative pain associated with a CO2 pneumoperitoneum, thus enabling awake laparoscopy. Methods Two cases are reported herein of laparoscopy performed with the patient under local anesthesia using heated, humidified CO2 gas for the pneumoperitoneum. Results Both patients experienced pain with insufflation of heated, humidified CO2 gas of sufficient magnitude that the procedure could not be performed. The CO2 gas was washed out and replaced with helium gas insufflation with complete resolution of pain. The laparoscopic procedures were accomplished without further discomfort with local anesthesia and using a helium gas pneumoperitoneum. Conclusions Heated, humidified CO2 gas insufflation does not reduce pain sufficiently to permit satisfactory performance of laparoscopy with local anesthesia, especially when full volume insufflation is required. Cold, dry helium gas produces no pain. The theory that cold, dry insufflation gas is a source of peritoneal pain during laparoscopy needs to be reassessed.
Thrombosis of superior vena cava caused by pacemaker wire and managed with streptokinase.

The transvenous pacemaker has gained popularity because it offers low mortality and morbidity rates. Thrombosis is a rare but potentially disastrous late complication of this mode of therapy. In this report, we shall describe a patient who had been treated for complete heart block with a transvenous pacemaker. He developed a superior vena caval syndrome of acute onset. Venography revealed thrombosis with complete obstruction of the lower portion of the superior vena cava. The patient's symptoms subsided promptly after administration of streptokinase. He has shown no recurrence of symptoms in 30 months' of follow-up.
Public preferences for ecosystem services on exurban landscapes: A case study from the Mid-Atlantic, USA.

This paper reports data from a residential landscape preference study conducted in Delaware, USA. The researchers constructed an ecologically designed exurban residential landscape, which delivered 20 new environmental and human-related impacts, including 7 that delivered ecosystem services. Ecosystem services included impacts such as improved flood control and enhanced plant diversity. Using pictures before and after the intervention, an intercept survey of 105 non-neighboring residents estimated whether the 20 impacts positively, negatively, or did not affect the respondents’ household wellbeing. The public found that most landscape-intervention impacts had a positive effect on their quality of life, especially those impacts involving ecosystem services. All but one ecosystem service were found to be strong amenities and the other (moving indoor activities outside) was an amenity. However, the landscape intervention delivered one clear disamenity: increased undesirable wildlife. Respondents also identified what impacts were the most important in affecting their welfare: undesirable wildlife (negative); flood control (positive); and water quality (positive). Ecosystem services accounted for 41.6% of the public’s importance rating, while undesirable wildlife was 12.9%. A planning process seeking more ecosystem services from residential landscapes should focus on all the most important drivers of preference, if it is to be accepted by residents.
Toward a Better Understanding of Marketing Students’ Perceptions of Twitter as a Pedagogical Tool

Social media has transformed the way information is exchanged and delivered. The current research uses an expanded form of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore students’ perceptions of Twitter as a pedagogical tool. A model is tested in which Twitter’s perceived ease of use and usefulness are used as predictors of student’s attitudes and usage of the social media platform in a classroom setting. Results of a structural equation model support the hypothesized relationships.
A Low-energy Computation Platform for Data-driven Biomedical Monitoring

A key challenge in closed-loop chronic biomedical systems is the ability to detect complex physiological states from patient signals within a constrained power budget. Data-driven machine-learning techniques are major enablers for the modeling and interpretation of such states. Their computational energy, however, scales with the complexity of the required models. In this paper, we propose a low-energy, biomedical computation platform optimized through the use of an accelerator for data-driven classification. The accelerator retains selective flexibility through hardware reconfiguration and exploits voltage scaling and parallelism to operate at a sub-threshold minimum-energy point. Using cardiac arrhythmia detection algorithms with patient data from the MIT-BIH database, classification is achieved in 2.96 μJ (at Vdd = 0.4 V), over four orders of magnitude smaller than that on a low-power general-purpose processor. The energy of feature extraction is 148 μJ while retaining flexibility for a range of possible biomarkers.
Machado-Joseph Disease

The frequency, and clinical, molecular, and neuropathological features of spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) in 125 autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) families were analyzed at the Service de Neuropathologie, Hopital de la Salpetriere, Paris, and Service de Neurologie, Hopital de Haut Leveque, Pessac, France; and Service de Neurologie, Hopital des Specialites, Rabat, Morocco.
Studies of lithiumization and boronization of ATJ graphite PFCs in NSTX-U

Abstract This work examines the effect of boron and lithium conditioned ATJ graphite surface bombarded by low-energy deuterium atoms on the deuterium retention and chemical sputtering. We use atomistic simulations and compare them with experimental in situ studies with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to understand the effects of deuterium irradiation on the chemistry in lithiated, boronized and oxidized amorphous carbon surfaces. Our results are validated qualitatively by comparison with experiments and with quantum classical molecular dynamic simulations. We explain the important role of oxygen in D retention for lithiated surfaces and the suppression of oxygen role by boron in boronized surfaces. The calculated increase of the oxygen role in deuterium uptake after D accumulation in B C O surface configuration is discussed. The sputtering yield per low energy D impact is significantly smaller in boronized than in lithiated surfaces.
Adamantiades-Behçet’s Disease

Adamantiades-Behcet’s Disease (ABD) is a vasculitis that affects multiple organ systems with relapsing chronic symptoms. Classic systemic findings include oral and genital ulcers as well as skin lesions. Ocular findings include anterior and posterior uveitis with vision-threatening complications such as macular edema and optic atrophy. The disease is strongly associated with Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B51 and predominantly found among people from the Mediterranean basin extending east. The etiology is unknown. Evidence indicates both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the pathogenesis. ABD is treated with steroids and immunomodulatory therapy including biologic agents.
Pattern Recognition Using Photon-Limited Images

The spatial coordinates of detected photoevents and the number of detected photoevents in a given area convey information about the classical irradiance of the input scene. In this paper the effectiveness of photon-counting techniques for image recognition is discussed. A correlation signal is obtained by cross correlating a photon-limited input scene with a classical intensity reference function stored in computer memory. Laboratory experiments involving matched filtering, rotation- and scale-invariant image recognition, and image classification are reported. For many images it is found that only a sparse sampling of the input is required to obtain accurate recognition decisions, and the digital processing of the data is extremely efficient. Using available photon-counting detection systems, the total time required to detect, process, and make a recognition decision is typically on the order of tens of milliseconds. This work has obvious applications in night vision, but it is also relevant to areas such as process control, radiological, and nuclear imaging, spectroscopy, robot vision, and vehicle guidance.
Establishing the ferret as a gyrencephalic animal model of traumatic brain injury: Optimization of controlled cortical impact procedures

Abstract Background Although rodent TBI studies provide valuable information regarding the effects of injury and recovery, an animal model with neuroanatomical characteristics closer to humans may provide a more meaningful basis for clinical translation. The ferret has a high white/gray matter ratio, gyrencephalic neocortex, and ventral hippocampal location. Furthermore, ferrets are amenable to behavioral training, have a body size compatible with pre-clinical MRI, and are cost-effective. New methods We optimized the surgical procedure for controlled cortical impact (CCI) using 9 adult male ferrets. We used subject-specific brain/skull morphometric data from anatomical MRIs to overcome across-subject variability for lesion placement. We also reflected the temporalis muscle, closed the craniotomy, and used antibiotics. We then gathered MRI, behavioral, and immunohistochemical data from 6 additional animals using the optimized surgical protocol: 1 control, 3 mild, and 1 severely injured animals (surviving one week) and 1 moderately injured animal surviving sixteen weeks. Results The optimized surgical protocol resulted in consistent injury placement. Astrocytic reactivity increased with injury severity showing progressively greater numbers of astrocytes within the white matter. The density and morphological changes of microglia amplified with injury severity or time after injury. Motor and cognitive impairments scaled with injury severity. Comparison with existing method(s) The optimized surgical methods differ from those used in the rodent, and are integral to success using a ferret model. Conclusions We optimized ferret CCI surgery for consistent injury placement. The ferret is an excellent animal model to investigate pathophysiological and behavioral changes associated with TBI.
Course of Selenoprotein-Related Myopathies

The clinical course and genotype-phenotype correlations in 41 patients aged 1-60 years with selenoprotein-related myopathy (SEPNRM) due to SEPN1 gene mutations were evaluated retrospectively in a study at The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Center, London, and other centers in the UK.
Cortical amplification models of experience-dependent development of selective columns and response sparsification

The development of direction-selective cortical columns requires visual experience, but the neural circuits and plasticity mechanisms that are responsible for this developmental transition are unknown. To gain insight into the mechanisms that could underlie experience-dependent increases in selectivity, we explored families of cortical amplifier models that enhance weakly biased feedforward signals. Here we focused exclusively on possible contributions of cortico-cortical connections and took feedforward input to be constant. We modeled pairs of interconnected columns that received equal and oppositely biased inputs. In a single-element model of cortical columns, we found two ways that cortical columns could receive biased feedforward input and exhibit strong but unselective responses to stimuli: 1) within-column recurrent excitatory connections could be strong enough to amplify both strong and weak feedforward input, or 2) columns that received differently biased inputs could have strong excitatory cross-connections that destroy selectivity. A Hebbian plasticity rule combined with simulated experience with stimuli weakened these strong cross-connections across cortical columns, allowing the individual columns to respond selectively to their biased inputs. In a model that included both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in each column, an additional means of obtaining selectivity through the cortical circuit was uncovered: cross-column suppression of inhibition-stabilized networks. When each column operated as an inhibition-stabilized network, cross-column excitation onto inhibitory neurons forced competition between the columns but in a manner that did not involve strong null-direction inhibition, consistent with experimental measurements of direction selectivity in visual cortex. Experimental predictions of these possible contributions of cortical circuits are discussed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sensory circuits are initially constructed via mechanisms that are independent of sensory experience, but later refinement requires experience. We constructed models of how circuits that receive biased feedforward inputs can be initially unselective and then be modified by experience and plasticity so that the resulting circuit exhibits increased selectivity. We propose that neighboring cortical columns may initially exhibit coupling that is too strong for selectivity. Experience-dependent mechanisms decrease this coupling so individual columns can exhibit selectivity.
Critical roles of IL-12/23 from tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells and Type-1 cytokine responses in the anti-tumor immunity induced by vaccination with interleukin-4 transfected tumors

6018 Although interleukin (IL)-4 is often regarded as a Type-2 response inducer, recent studies have demonstrated that local IL-4 delivery at the site of vaccination activates local antigen-presenting cells (APC) and promote Type-1 T cell responses. We have demonstrated IL-4 gene transfected glioma cell vaccines induce effective therapeutic immunity in preclinical glioma models, and initiated phase I trials in patients with malignant gliomas. To determine the critical mediators of the IL-4-transfected tumor vaccines, we employed MCA205 and CMS-4 sarcoma models and syngeneic animals. Although wild type, IL-12/23p40 -/- and interferon(IFN)-γ -/- mice rejected initial inoculation of IL-4 transfected tumors, IL-12/23p40 -/- and IFN-γ -/- mice as well as athymic mice failed to mount a sustained systemic response against rechallenge with parental tumor cells. Ectopic IL-4 expression at the vaccine site enhanced the number of tumor infiltrating dendritic cells (TIDC) and their expression of IL-12p70. Adoptive transfer of wild type-TIDCs obtained from IL-4 expressing tumor, but not IL-12/23p40 -/- -TIDC, elicited a tumor specific CTL response in the recipient animals, suggesting that IL-12/23 expression by TIDCs play a critical role in IL-4 transfected tumor vaccines. To further delineate the roles of Type-1 and -2 cytokine responses in the IL-4 gene therapy, we employed STAT4 -/- and STAT6 -/- mice. Interestingly, both STAT4 -/- and STAT6 -/- mice failed to suppress the growth of IL-4 expressing syngeneic tumors. TIDCs from STAT6 -/- mice failed to enhance the expression of IL-12p70, and cell surface expression of MHC Class II and CD86 were lower than the wild-type mice-derived TIDCs, suggesting that STAT6 plays a critical role in the maturation of TIDC. Nevertheless, splenocytes from STAT6 -/- mice immunized with IL-4 transfected tumors, but not STAT4 -/- mice, mounted a tumor specific CTL response against parental tumor cells even though its level was lower than that in the wild-type mice. Furthermore, splenocytes from STAT4 -/- mice immunized with IL-4 transfected tumors failed to produce IFN-γ. These results demonstrate critical roles of host-Type-1 cytokine responses in IL-4 transfected tumor vaccines. As cancer patients often display impaired Type-1 cytokine response, it may be of importance to correlate host-Type-1 cytokine status and the response to IL-4 gene transfected tumor cell vaccines.
Emc for the nuclear industry: Addressing the existing requirements and a look at the new guidance being developed WE-PM-5: Guidelines for electromagnetic compatibility testing of power plant Equipment: Revision 4 to EPRI TR-102323

Agenda EPRI TR-102323: •Overview and History •Endorsed Test Methods •Basic EMC Design Guidance •Appendix K — Procurement Specification Guidance •Appendix I — Wireless Technology Guidance
Mixing genomes alters nuclear architecture

High-throughput chromosome conformation capture studies comparing diploid and polyploid cotton varieties revealed evidence for stereotypical changes in chromatin contacts upon polyploidization.
Catching up with Lyme Disease Antigenic Variation Computationally.

The spirochetes that cause Lyme disease have an elaborate antigenic variation system that produces millions of variants, thus evading the immune response. Verhey et al. have applied next-generation sequencing and computational analysis to gain new insights into how these bacteria keep ‘one step ahead’ of elimination by the host.
Evolution of host support for two ancient bacterial symbionts with differentially degraded genomes in a leafhopper host

Plant sap-feeding insects (Hemiptera) rely on bacterial symbionts for nutrition absent in their diets. These bacteria experience extreme genome reduction and require genetic resources from their hosts, particularly for basic cellular processes other than nutrition synthesis. The host-derived mechanisms that complete these processes have remained poorly understood. It is also unclear how hosts meet the distinct needs of multiple bacterial partners with differentially degraded genomes. To address these questions, we investigated the cell-specific gene-expression patterns in the symbiotic organs of the aster leafhopper (ALF), Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Cicadellidae). ALF harbors two intracellular symbionts that have two of the smallest known bacterial genomes: Nasuia (112 kb) and Sulcia (190 kb). Symbionts are segregated into distinct host cell types (bacteriocytes) and vary widely in their basic cellular capabilities. ALF differentially expresses thousands of genes between the bacteriocyte types to meet the functional needs of each symbiont, including the provisioning of metabolites and support of cellular processes. For example, the host highly expresses genes in the bacteriocytes that likely complement gene losses in nucleic acid synthesis, DNA repair mechanisms, transcription, and translation. Such genes are required to function in the bacterial cytosol. Many host genes comprising these support mechanisms are derived from the evolution of novel functional traits via horizontally transferred genes, reassigned mitochondrial support genes, and gene duplications with bacteriocyte-specific expression. Comparison across other hemipteran lineages reveals that hosts generally support the incomplete symbiont cellular processes, but the origins of these support mechanisms are generally specific to the host-symbiont system.
Implementation of an interviewing skills workshop for pharmacy students.

Abstract Background and purpose To describe the implementation and effect of an interviewing skills workshop (ISW) on student confidence on various interviewing techniques. Educational activity and setting A student directed ISW was offered to student pharmacists of all years within the doctor of pharmacy curriculum. There were five stations that student pharmacists rotated through every 12 min: a panel interview, group interview, teleconference interview, video conference interview, and a case station where student pharmacists were given a clinical or ethical case. Stations were staffed by faculty, alumni, and pharmacy residents. Student pharmacists completed a survey directly following the workshop to rate their confidence with the stations prior to and after the activity. Feedback on the activity was solicited from the student pharmacists and those who participated as interviewers. Findings Twenty-eight student pharmacists participated in the ISW with an 85.7% response rate to the survey (n = 24). All students reported wanting to pursue a career requiring a residency and found the ISW to be beneficial. Average student confidence improved significantly from neutral to confident. Students reported positive themes of feedback and practice while requesting more time for each session and practice with group interviews and ethical situations. Interviewers noted building positive relationships with students and other faculty members. Opportunities for improvement included timing and providing more background information about the student pharmacists. Summary A student-led ISW was found to be beneficial in improving confidence in student pharmacists. Student pharmacists’ confidence increased in all types of interviews and with the clinical case.
Dorsal (Distal) Transradial Access for Coronary Angiography and Intervention

Access to the arterial system through the distal or dorsal terminal end of the radial artery has recently been developed for interventional and diagnostic procedures. This technique may offer some advantages for specific patient subsets over the traditional radial approach. It may also offer advantages to the operator especially when using the left radial artery. The approach to successful dorsal radial access is described along with hemostasis. Although significant adverse events have not been described in the literature or on social media, several potential areas for vigilance are mentioned.