cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Passive tracking of the electrochemical impedance of a hybrid electric vehicle battery and state of charge estimation through an extended Kalman filter

Significant information concerning the characteristics of a Lithium battery is provided by the electrical impedance measurements. The reference method of analysis consists of performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Although robust, it usually cannot be used for an embedded system, such as the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) because it is an expensive, complex, and very time-consuming method. The contribution of this paper allows to overcome these issues and to address embedded applications. This article proposes a passive methodology for impedance estimation that consists of using the natural current and voltage profile produced by the battery through its regular use without adding any excitation signal. The validity of this impedance estimation is proved by obtaining similar impedance measurement of the same battery with a different passive current and voltage profile. Moreover, this impedance measurement is used for estimating the battery state of charge (SoC) through an extended Kalman filter (EKF).
Compliant Buckled Foam Actuators and Application in Patient-Specific Direct Cardiac Compression

Abstract We introduce the use of buckled foam for soft pneumatic actuators. A moderate amount of residual compressive strain within elastomer foam increases the applied force ∼1.4 × or stroke ∼2 × compared with actuators without residual strain. The origin of these improved characteristics is explained analytically. These actuators are applied in a direct cardiac compression (DCC) device design, a type of implanted mechanical circulatory support that avoids direct blood contact, mitigating risks of clot formation and stroke. This article describes a first step toward a pneumatically powered, patient-specific DCC design by employing elastomer foam as the mechanism for cardiac compression. To form the device, a mold of a patient's heart was obtained by 3D printing a digitized X-ray computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan into a solid model. From this model, a soft, robotic foam DCC device was molded. The DCC device is compliant and uses compressed air to inflate foam chambers that in turn app...
Factors associated with waiting time on the liver transplant list: an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.

Background Liver transplantation (LT) is an important treatment for acute liver failure and end-stage liver disease. In 2002, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was incorporated to prioritize patients awaiting LT. Although there is data on how the MELD score affects waiting times, there is a paucity of literature regarding other components. We aimed to evaluate the factors affecting LT waiting times in the United States. Methods Using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, patients aged 12-75 years listed for LT over the years 2002-2015 were included. Variables tested in the model included patient characteristics, pertinent laboratory values, ABO blood type, region of listing, primary payer, ethnicity, and listing for simultaneous transplantation. Results A total of 75,771 patients were included in the final analysis. The components of the MELD score were associated with shorter waiting times. Other factors associated with shorter waiting times were the need of mechanical ventilation and region 3 of transplantation. ABO blood type, primary payer, and placement of a transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt also influenced time on the LT waiting list. Conclusions MELD score is utilized in the prioritization of liver allocation, and was expected to predict waiting-list time. Mechanical ventilation and other markers of disease severity are associated with higher MELD scores and thus shorter waiting times. Further research is needed to address reasons for the variation in waiting times between regions and payment systems in an attempt to decrease time to LT, standardize the listing process, and improve patient outcomes.
Green-Cane Harvested Sugarcane Crop Residue Decomposition as a Function of Temperature, Soil Moisture, and Particle Size

Sugarcane, a complex hybrid of Saccharum species, is grown on over 170,000 ha in the state of Louisiana. In 2016, the crop was worth $750 million US. Green-cane harvest, widely used in sugarcane producing countries, deposits up to 20 Mg ha−1 of crop residue annually. Green cane harvesting of sugarcane is recognized to be a more sustainable management opportunity than burning residue, or standing or heaped stalks. In Louisiana, cool, wet winters coupled with the crop residue left on the field reduce ratoon yields by as much as 10% year−1. However, the residue represents an important opportunity to improve degraded, low organic matter soils to facilitate sustainable sugarcane production. Our objective was to evaluate how temperature, soil moisture, and particle size influence sugarcane residue decomposition rates. In laboratory experiments, we observed rapid residue carbon (C) mineralization rates at temperatures of ≥ 23 °C across all soil moisture levels tested, and calculated the residue decomposed by 71–95% over the course of the 155 days experiment. Particle size also increased decomposition, with 61, 72, and 91% decomposition observed for the > 2.0, 0.25–2.0, and < 0.25 mm particle size fractions, respectively. The results indicate that earlier cut cane fields have the best chance to decompose green-cane harvested residue by taking advantage of warmer October temperatures, and that shredding the residue further increases its susceptibility to microbial decomposition. Future experiments will study field decomposition of residue in situ as well as incorporation of residue C into soil organic matter.
Review and drug therapy implications of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Purpose The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and medication-use implications of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the most common enzyme deficiency in humans, are reviewed. Summary Originally identified as favism in patients who experienced hemolysis after ingestion of fava beans, G6PD deficiency results from an X-linked chromosomal mutation that leads to reduced activity of the enzyme responsible for the final step of the pentose phosphate pathway, through which reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate required for protection of cells from oxidative stress is produced. G6PD deficiency affects about 400 million people worldwide. Diagnosis of G6PD can be made through detection of enzymatic activity (by spectrophotometric testing, fluorescence testing, or formazan-based spot testing) or molecular analysis to detect known mutations of the gene encoding G6PD. Most individuals with G6PD deficiency are asymptomatic throughout life. Symptoms of acute hemolysis associated with G6PD deficiency include anemia, fatigue, back or abdominal pain, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria. The most common precipitators of oxidative stress and hemolysis in G6PD deficiency include medication use and infection. Conclusion G6PD deficiency should be considered in patients who experience acute hemolysis after exposure to known oxidative medications, infection, or ingestion of fava beans. A diagnosis of G6PD deficiency is most often made through enzymatic activity detection, but molecular analysis may be required in females heterozygous for the disorder. When clinically feasible, rasburicase, primaquine, dapsone, pegloticase, and methylene blue should not be used until a G6PD diagnostic test has been performed.
Characterization of defects in ZnS and GaN

The compound semiconductors ZnS and GaN both exhibit a wide direct bandgap and chemical and thermal stability. ZnS can be grown as long belt-like structures, making it potentially useful as a nanoscale component in electronic devices. Since the properties of nanoscale materials typically differ from those of their bulk counterparts, a fundamental understanding of the structure of the ZnS nanostructures is essential, particularly since they contain significant numbers of planar defects. Commercial samples of GaN also contain large numbers of planar defects which are not well understood. The present study will discuss similar defects in the two materials.
Bridging X-ray computed tomography and computational modeling for electrochemical energy-conversion and –storage

Abstract X-ray imaging techniques are powerful tools for understanding morphology, transport and even reactions within the electrochemical energy systems. Transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) have been widely used in ex-situ studies to probe morphology of electrochemical energy materials. Emerging operando studies highlight the possibility of imaging energy materials and devices under realistic operating conditions. We present an overview of recent advances in the X-ray CT methods with application to fuel cells, batteries and other energy technologies, and describe how the information obtained with multimodal imaging is used within the multi-scale computational models. Overall, the progress in imaging outran the modeling progress, and current models are limited in their utility to incorporate vast amount of multimodal image data.
Purpura fulminans following immediate bilateral breast reconstruction: A case report and literature review

Abstract Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rare, rapidly-progressive and life-threatening syndrome characterized by hypercoagulability that results in disseminated intravascular coagulation, microvascular thrombosis, and hemorrhagic infarction of the skin. Acute bacterial infection is the predominant etiology. The pathophysiology of PF results in extensive soft tissue necrosis with cutaneous wound depth mimicking full-thickness burns, limb gangrene requiring amputation, and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. Consequently, mortality rate is over 50%. In the following case report, we present PF secondary to a complication of implant-based breast reconstruction following mastectomy. We review the management of PF and emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary management of this life-threatening illness.
Factors associated with skin cancer in lung transplant recipients: A single‐center experience

Background Skin cancer is common after solid organ transplantation, but few have investigated it after lung transplant (LTx). Objective We assessed incidence and predictors of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) post-LTx. Methods We studied patients who underwent LTx at our center from 2012 to 2015. Results Of 287 patients, mean age was 59.6 ± 11 years, 170 (59.2%) were men, and 231 (80.5%) were white. Seventy-six (26.5%) developed NMSC over a median follow-up of 32 months (IQR, 23-45). Of those with NMSC, 37% developed subsequent skin cancer of the same type. Independent predictors of decreased odds of NMSC and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were non-white race (P = .002; P = .003) and body mass index >30 kg/m2 compared with underweight patients (P = .001, P = .009). Patients with skin cancer pre-LTx had higher risk of post-LTx skin cancer (P = .02). Voriconazole use ≥100 days was associated with increased risk of SCC (P = .03), but not increased risk of basal cell carcinoma. Out of 76, 4 (5.3%) died from skin cancer. Limitations Retrospective, single-center study. Conclusion Squamous cell carcinoma risk post-LTx may increase with prolonged voriconazole use in white patients with pre-LTx history of skin cancer, whereas excess body weight may be protective from NMSC. Regular pre- and post-LTx skin cancer screenings and guidelines are warranted.
Evidence for a Core Representation for Support in Early Language Development

Configurations of support include those that exhibit Support-From-Below (cup on table), as well as those involving Mechanical Support (e.g., stamp on envelope, coat on hook). Mature language users ...
Controlling film order to enhance the electrical properties of molecular diodes

We designed, developed and tested a series of benzalkylsilane molecules in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to investigate their degree of order and electrical properties when anchored to silicon substrates. The molecules consist of a silane anchoring group and a nitrogen-substituted benzene ring, separated by a propyl group and imine linkage. By varying fabrication procedures and the ring substituents, we obtained a vast range of rectification ratios, between 10-3100. The highest value was obtained for the molecule (E)-1-(4-cyanophenyl)-N-(3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl)methanimine. We assign the efficient rectification behavior to a highly ordered SAM and coupling between the delocalized lone pair of electrons from the nitrogen termination and the device electrode. These devices were employed for sensing applications allowing for sensitive detection of humidity. Overall, the utilization of these molecular devices will allow for functionable, cost efficient, and easily integrable devices.
Galactic Radio Astronomy: Galactic Structure, HII Regions, Supernova Remnants, Neutron Stars and Pulsars

This chapter presents a general description of the radio properties of a wide diversity of classes of astronomical sources associated with the Milky Way Galaxy. After introducing the Galactic coordinate system for expressing the positions of astronomical sources in the sky, the physics of the spin-flip transition of hydrogen (also known as the 21-cm line) is introduced, along with Galactic rotation, which includes a description of the Galactic rotation curves, the Oort constants and the evidence for a dark matter component of the Galaxy. The chapter concludes with discussions of radio observations of sources associated with star formation (such as molecular clouds, masers and HII regions) and sources associated with the end points of stellar evolution (such as evolved stars, microquasars, supernova remnants, neutron stars and pulsars). The concepts of rotation measure and dispersion measure—both their underlying physics and their application for the determination of distances to sources like neutron stars and pulsars) are presented and described. Finally, radio observations of the Galactic Center are presented and discussed.
In silico muscle volume conduction study validates in vivo measurement of tongue volume conduction properties using a user tongue array depressor

Objective.Electrophysiological assessment of the tongue volume conduction properties (VCPs) using our novel multi-electrode user tongue array (UTA) depressor has the promise to serve as a biomarker in patients with bulbar dysfunction. However, whetherin vivodata collected using the UTA depressor accurately reflect the tongue VCPs remains unknown.Approach.To address this question, we performedin silicosimulations of the depressor with an accurate anatomical tongue finite element model (FEM) using healthy human tongue VCP values, namely the conductivity and the relative permittivity, in the sagittal plane (i.e. longitudinal direction) and axial and coronal planes (i.e. transverse directions). We then established the relationship between tongue VCP values simulated from our model to measured human data.Main results.Experimental versus simulated tongue VCP values including their spatial variation were in good agreement with differences well within the variability of the experimental results. Tongue FEM simulations corroborate the feasibility of our UTA depressor in assessing tongue VCPs.Significance.The UTA depressor is a new non-invasive and safe tool to measure tongue VCPs. These electrical properties reflect the tongue's ionic composition and cellular membrane integrity and could serve as a novel electrophysiological biomarker in neurological disorders affecting the tongue.
Condorcet Loser in 2016: Apparently Trump; Condorcet Winner: Not Clinton?:

Using thermometer score data from the ANES, we show that while there may have been no clear-cut Condorcet winner among the 2016 US presidential candidates, there appears to have been a Condorcet lo...
Appraisal of Autonomous Swarms through Analysis of Observed Behavior

Swarms of autonomous vehicles are capable of performing complex missions in a variety of applications. Functions inherent to these missions include obstacle avoidance and collaboration with other swarm members. The logic for guiding autonomous agents through these functions can result in unanticipated emergent behaviors. Commanders of complex autonomous missions need a way to gain confidence in a swarm's behavior and detect adversarial behavior at runtime without inhibiting operations. The research described in this paper explores using measurements and analysis of external, observable characteristics, such as location data, to detect adversarial behavior in a simulated homogeneous swarm for a set of well-defined use cases. Initial results using directional and positional entropy of individual agents and the DBSCAN clustering algorithm demonstrate that measurements of external characteristics are a promising addition to a commander's toolset. Further research should be performed to determine the applicability to a broader set of use cases.
The Emerging Role of Presepsin (P-SEP) in the Diagnosis of Sepsis in the Critically Ill Infant: A Literature Review.

Sepsis causes high rates of morbidity and mortality in NICUs. The estimated incidence varies between 5 and 170 per 1000 births, depending on the social context. In very low birth-weight neonates, the level of mortality increases with the duration of hospitalization, reaching 36% among infants aged 8–14 days and 52% among infants aged 15–28 days. Early diagnosis is the only tool to improve the poor prognosis of neonatal sepsis. Blood culture, the gold standard for diagnosis, is time-consuming and poorly sensitive. C-reactive protein and procalcitonin, currently used as sepsis biomarkers, are influenced by several maternal and fetal pro-inflammatory conditions in the perinatal age. Presepsin is the N-terminal fragment of soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST): it is released in the bloodstream by monocytes and macrophages, in response to bacterial invasion. Presepsin seems to be a new, promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of sepsis in neonates as it is not modified by perinatal confounding inflammatory factors. The aim of the present review is to collect current knowledge about the role of presepsin in critically ill neonates.
Retrovirology highlights a quarter century of HTLV-I research

In 1977, Takatsuki and co-workers described in Japan a human malignant disease termed adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Three years later, in 1980, Gallo and colleagues reported the identification of the first human retrovirus, human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), in a patient with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This month, Retrovirology commemorates these two land mark findings by publishing separate personal recollections by Takatsuki and Gallo respectively on the discovery of ATL and HTLV.
Automated application-specific tuning of parameterized sensor-based embedded system building blocks

We previously developed building blocks to enable end-users to construct customized sensor-based embedded systems to help monitor and control a users' environment. Because design objectives, like battery lifetime, reliability, and responsiveness, vary across applications, these building blocks have software-configurable parameters that control features like operating voltage, frequency, and communication baud rate. The parameters enable the same blocks to be used in diverse applications, in turn enabling mass-produced and hence low-cost blocks. However, tuning block parameters to an application is hard. We thus present an automated approach, wherein an end-user simply defines objectives using an intuitive graphical method, and our tool automatically tunes the parameter values to those objectives. The automated tuning improved satisfaction of design objectives, compared to a default general-purpose block configuration, by 40% on average, and by as much as 80%. The tuning required only 10-20 minutes of end-user time for each application.
Food group and nutrient intakes at baseline in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial

This chapter relates food and nutrient intakes at baseline to other facets of reported dietary behavior, major risk factors, and sociodemographic characteristics of men in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Intakes of total fat (38.4% of energy), saturated fatty acids (14.2%), and dietary cholesterol (492 mg/d) were similar to amounts seen in the first and second National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in the 1970s and were generally lower than findings from studies in the 1960s. There were inverse relations between total serum cholesterol and intakes of total fat, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, and dietary cholesterol. These paradoxical associations were largely attributable to findings in the 21% of men who reported following a special diet, indicating that use of such a diet increases with severity of hypercholesterolemia. Fat intake was directly related to number of meals per week eaten away from home, and to cigarette smoking. Patterns of food and nutrient intake were similar for men stratified by baseline blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment. Intake of total energy and percentages from various dietary fats decreased with age, as did use of sucrose and caffeine. White men consumed more dairy products than did other ethnic groups, whereas black men consumed more eggs, sugars, and sweets. Asians had the highest intake of cereal foods. Those with more education ate less high-fat meat products, more fruit, and more polyunsaturated oils, but also more high-fat dairy products and less breads and cereals; they also drank more alcohol.
A longitudinal, functional study of peripheral nerve recovery in the mouse

Objectives: To verify the validity of the recently described sciatic functional index for mice to monitor neuronal functional recovery over time using a blinded, randomized, and controlled evaluation. Study Design: Surgery was performed on the left sciatic nerves of 62 C57/BL mice after randomly assigning them to one of four surgical groups: sham surgery, sciatic nerve crush, nerve transection without repair, and nerve transection followed by epineurial suture repair. Sciatic functional indices were measured before surgery and then after surgery at 10-day intervals for 90 days, using a previously described formula. Results: Sham surgery did not affect nerve function when compared with preoperative values (P > .24). Crush surgery produced a reversible nerve injury that fully recovered after 20 days. Nerve transection without repair resulted in complete functional disability without recovery of function during the 90-day follow-up interval. When transected nerves were repaired, complete functional disability was noted at day 10, with subsequent functional recovery to 26% of function at day 30. This level of recovery persisted until the 60th postoperative day when muscle contractures resulted in progressive worsening of the index. There were statistically significant differences between the sciatic functional indices of each of the groups (P < .05). Conclusions: The previously described sciatic functional index for mice is an accurate indicator of the level of sciatic neuronal function during recovery. This index represents a method of evaluating neuronal function that may provide a better reflection of the recovery parameters that are important in clinical situations. The sciatic functional index will allow for study of sciatic nerve functional recovery in genetically engineered transgenic mice.
Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty compared with traditional total knee arthroplasty. Assessment of the learning curve and the postoperative recuperative period.

Background: There is disagreement about whether so-called minimally invasive approaches result in faster recovery following total knee arthroplasty. It is also unknown whether patients are exposed to excess risk during the surgeon's learning curve. We hypothesized that a minimally invasive quadriceps-sparing approach to total knee arthroplasty would allow earlier clinical recovery but would require longer operative times and compromise component alignment during the learning period compared with a traditional medial parapatellar approach. Methods: The first 100 minimally invasive total knee arthroplasties done by a single high-volume arthroplasty surgeon were compared with his previous fifty procedures performed through a medial parapatellar approach, with respect to operative times, implant alignment, and clinical outcomes. Radiographic end points and operative times for the minimally invasive group were evaluated against increasing surgical experience, in order to characterize the learning curve. Results: Overall, the minimally invasive approach took significantly longer to perform, on the average, than a medial parapatellar approach (86.3 and 78.9 minutes, respectively; p = 0.01); this was the result of especially long operative times in the first twenty-five patients in the minimally invasive group (mean, 102.5 minutes). After the first twenty-five minimally invasive operations, no significant difference in the operative times was detected between the groups. The first twenty-five minimally invasive procedures had significantly less patellar resection accuracy (p < 0.001) and significantly more patellar tilt than the last twenty-five (p = 0.006). Other end points for implant alignment, including the frequency of radiographic outliers, were not different between the minimally invasive and traditional groups. The patients who had the minimally invasive approach demonstrated significantly better clinical outcomes with respect to the length of hospital stay (p < 0.0001), need for inpatient rehabilitation after discharge (p < 0.001), narcotic usage at two and six weeks postoperatively (p = 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively), and the need for assistive devices to walk at two weeks postoperatively (p = 0.025). Conclusions: A quadriceps-sparing minimally invasive approach seems to facilitate recovery, but a substantial learning curve (fifty procedures in the hands of a high-volume arthroplasty surgeon) may be required. If this experience is typical, the learning curve may be unacceptably long for a low-volume arthroplasty surgeon. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Comparison of antioxidant substances in bronchoalveolar lavage cells and fluid from humans, guinea pigs, and rats.

Antioxidants located in the lining layer of the respiratory tract may be important in determining sensitivity of lung tissues to inhaled pollutants. This study addressed species differences in the amounts of ascorbic acid (AHJ, glutathione (GSH), uric acid (UA), and a-tocopherol (AT) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and cells of humans, guinea pigs, and rats. Protein and lipid phosphorus (lipid P) were used as normalizing factors. More than 90% of the lavage-able AH2, UA, GSH, protein, and lipid P was present in the extracellular fraction of BAL in rats and guinea pigs, while over 95% of the lavageable AT was located in the BAL cells. BAL fluid AH2/protein in rats was 7- to 9-fold higher than in humans and guinea pigs. However, human BAL fluid had 2- to 8-fold higher UA/protein, GSH/protein, and AT/protein ratios than rats and guinea pigs. In BAL cells, rats had higher AH2/protein and AT/protein ratios than guinea pigs and humans, and both rats and guinea pigs had higher GSH and AT/protein ratios tha...
Vickrey's model of traffic congestion discretized

Abstract Vickrey’s seminal analysis of urban traffic congestion assumes a continuum of commuters acting selfishly and a continuous strategy space. We propose a discrete version of his model that assumes a finite number of commuters and a discrete strategy space. We then present an algorithm for numerically computing a symmetric mixed-strategy equilibrium solution for the discrete model and compare it with the deterministic equilibrium solution for the continuous model due to Arnott et al. [Arnott, R., de Palma, A., Lindsey, R., 1990. Economics of a bottleneck. Journal of Urban Economics 27(1), 111–130]. We report significant discrepancies in travel costs and distributions of departure time between the two solutions that slowly decrease as the number of commuters increases. We then propose and exemplify two extensions of the discrete model that allow for an uncertain number of commuters and an alternative mode of transportation not subject to congestion.
RENAL TUBULAR REABSORPTION OF PHOSPHATE (Pi) DURING DEVELOPMENT

Studies from our laboratories have demonstrated that the rate of renal Pi reabsorption is significantly greater in the newborn than in the adult guinea pig. In order to determine the location of this enhanced reabsorption along the nephron, micropuncture experiments were performed on euvolemic, non-fasted guinea pigs, 5-14 days and 42-49 days of age, maintained on standard guinea pig chow diet (0.76% Pi). Inulin concentrations were determined by the method of Viet, while Pi concentrations were measured by electron probe analysis*. Maximal TRPi was reached in both age groups at a TF/Pin of 1.5. The results demonstrate that the proximal as well as the distal segments of the renal tubule contribute to the enhanced reabsorption of Pi characteristic of the growing subject, and that most of the reabsorption is achieved in the newborn, like in the adult, in the early segment of the proximal convoluted tubule. *Performed at the National Biotechnology Resource in Electron Probe Microanalysis, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. (C. Lechene, Director).
Tuberculosis in the elderly

As the result of the strengthening of TB-control programs nationwide, a decline in the overall number of reported TB cases in the United States has been observed within the last 10 years. Despite these declines in absolute numbers, the elderly continue to account for a disproportionate share of the cases. The high number of cases diagnosed at autopsy among the elderly suggests that this condition often remains unrecognized, possibly due to the subtle clinical manifestations in this age group. Evidence suggests that, compared with their community-dwelling counterparts, the institutionalized elderly are at a greater risk for re-activation of latent TB and for the acquisition of new TB infection. More studies are needed to make final conclusions. New guidelines for the treatment of LTBI emphasize targeted TST among persons at high risk for development of active TB and no longer use age as an exclusionary condition. All nursing home residents must therefore be regularly screened for LTBI and treated if necessary. Even though elderly persons are at greater risk for hepatic toxicity from TB treatment, the poor outcome of untreated TB in this age group warrants more aggressive treatment of this condition.
A family of radiation tolerant ASICs for spacecraft monitoring and control operations

In this paper, we detail the design, fabrication, and test of a set of architecturally related ASICs implemented using radiation hardened by design (RHBD) techniques. The ASICs are notable for their reuse of common components and interfaces, thereby dramatically reducing design time and cost. These chips perform relatively simple functions such as data conversion, multiplexing, and digital I/O under the control of a simple I2C bus. The intended applications include spacecraft functions such as telemetry sensing and aggregation, digitally controlled potentiometers, etc. The ASICs were fabricated as part of a single reticle and each has been tested and found functional.
Physics-based approach for antenna design optimization of RFID tags mounted on and inside material layers

A design approach is presented for UHF RFID tag antennas operating in the vicinity of dielectric media using the layered Green's function and the effective permittivity of a material with finite thickness. It is noted that materials detune the antenna and alter the gain pattern. In this work we propose a broadband tag antenna design that functions on materials across various permittivity and thicknesses. The analytic approach allows optimal placement to be determined within the dielectric. Experimental results show that the proposed tag achieves better performance when mounted on a wide range of materials as compared to commercial tags.
The effects of ACTH on acid phosphatase activity in endosomes, GERL and lysosomes of cultured adrenal tumor cells.

Cultured cells derived from a mouse adrenocortical tumor transplant are unspecialized in appearance, but produce basal levels of steroids and demonstrate a near-immediate steroidogenic response to ACTH. There is biochemical evidence that ACTH induces increases in the uptake of serum lipoproteins by these cells and that this material is hydrolyzed in lysosomes to free cholesterol, a precursor for steroid end products. To investigate morphologically the role of lysosomes in the steroidogenic activity of these cells, cultures were incubated for 4 h with and without ACTH, then processed for the ultrastructural localization of acid phosphatase (ACPase), a marker enzyme for lysosomes, and for GERL, the lysosome-forming subcompartment of the Golgi, and examined by TEM and HVEM. Steroid output was determined by a fluorometric technique. Unstimulated cells secreted basal levels of steroids. By TEM, large endosomes, some containing semi-compact material and ACPase reaction product, were occasionally seen at the cell periphery and in the Golgi region. The Golgi and GERL were poorly developed. Residual bodies, a few of them ACPase+, appeared in the Golgi region and in microtubule-associated clusters near the cell membrane. ACTH-stimulated cells secreted steroids at 8–10 fold basal values. In TEM records, they displayed numerous ACPase+ endosomes between the cell periphery and the Golgi. The Golgi and GERL regions appeared to be hypertrophied and many large, inclusion-containing, strongly ACPase+ residual bodies appeared here and in elongated microtubule-containing cell processes. HVEM micrographs showed more definitively that ACTH produced distinct increases in the size of GERL and in the number of ACPase+ organelles. Our results suggest that in unstimulated cells, endosomes, presumably containing media-derived material, gain lysosomal enzymes in or near GERL, are transformed to residual bodies as their contents are hydrolyzed, and are subsequently translocated by microtubules to the cell periphery for exocytosis. ACTH appears to intensify all of these effects. The “giant” lysosomes seen in stimulated cells may result from a fusion of smaller lysosomes. Their amorphous contents may reflect an inefficient hydrolysis of LDL to free cholesterol.
Why Are People Bad at Detecting Randomness? A Statistical Argument.

Errors in detecting randomness are often explained in terms of biases and misconceptions. We propose and provide evidence for an account that characterizes the contribution of the inherent statistical difficulty of the task. Our account is based on a Bayesian statistical analysis, focusing on the fact that a random process is a special case of systematic processes, meaning that the hypothesis of randomness is nested within the hypothesis of systematicity. This analysis shows that randomly generated outcomes are still reasonably likely to have come from a systematic process and are thus only weakly diagnostic of a random process. We tested this account through 3 experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that the low accuracy in judging whether a sequence of coin flips is random (or biased toward heads or tails) is due to the weak evidence provided by random sequences. While randomness judgments were less accurate than judgments involving non-nested hypotheses in the same task domain, this difference disappeared once the strength of the available evidence was equated. Experiment 3 extended this finding to assessing whether a sequence was random or exhibited sequential dependence, showing that the distribution of statistical evidence has an effect that complements known misconceptions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Interventional approach to pancreatic fluid collections

Interventional radiologic catheter drainage may be an effective therapeutic approach to fluid collections complicating acute pancreatitis. Pancreatic pseudocysts and abscess are the most common conditions requiring radiologic intervention. Imaging guidance is best performed under CT control allowing precise definition of access route, catheter placement, and response. Access routes are chosen to avoid traversing vital intervening structures, especially the pleural space, colon, and small bowel. Optimal results are achieved with the use of large-bore multihole catheters, prolonged duration of drainage, and careful collaboration with the surgical team.
Evaluation of photo contribution to a chemical reaction using concentrated solar energy

Abstract Highly concentrated simulated solar energy can be used directly as the energy source to carry out the reaction of 2-propanol to propene and acetone. A focused beam from a 1000 watt xenon lamp is used to simulate concentrated solar energy. The reaction is carried out over 1 % V 2 O 5 impregnated on silica. In order to obtain the wavelength dependence of the photoreaction, the reaction is run with UV-visible cutoff filters which successively remove portions of the UV-visible radiation from the xenon lamp. The results demonstrate that the dehydration of 2-propanol to propene is highly dependent on the radiation in the region 300–375 nm, whereas the dehydrogenation to acetone is not dependent on UV radiation.
Limiting behavior of the stochastic sequential assignment problem

The stochastic sequential assignment problem (SSAP) considers how to allocate available distinct workers to sequentially arriving tasks with stochastic parameters such that the expected total reward obtained from the sequential assignments is maximized. Implementing the optimal assignment policy for the SSAP involves calculating a new set of breakpoints upon the arrival of each task (i.e., for every time period), which is impractical for large-scale problems. This article studies two problems that are concerned with obtaining stationary policies, which achieve the optimal expected reward per task as the number of tasks approaches infinity. The first problem considers independent and identically distributed (IID) tasks with a known distribution function, whereas in the second problem tasks are derived from r different unobservable distributions governed by an ergodic Markov chain. The convergence rate of the expected reward per task to the optimal value is also obtained for both problems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2013
EEG evidence for mirror neuron activity during the observation of human and robot actions: Toward an analysis of the human qualities of interactive robots

The current study investigated the properties of stimuli that lead to the activation of the human mirror neuron system, with an emphasis on those that are critically relevant for the perception of humanoid robots. Results suggest that robot actions, even those without objects, may activate the human mirror neuron system. Additionally, both volitional and nonvolitional human actions also appear to activate the mirror neuron system to relatively the same degree. Results from the current studies leave open the opportunity to use mirror neuron activation as a 'Turing test' for the development of truly humanoid robots.
Implications of heat flow for metallogenesis in the Bauer Deep

The Bauer Deep, in the south-eastern equatorial Pacific, is the only deep ocean basin so far known to be characterised by metalliferous sediments throughout the depositional column. The basin was formed when the eastern Pacific spreading centre jumped from the now fossil Galapagos Rise to the newly formed East Pacific Rise. The distinctly bimodal distribution of heat flow in the Bauer Deep indicates that precipitation from hydrothermal fluids emanating from the oceanic crust may be the mechanism for metallogenesis in the Bauer Deep. The hydrothermal circulation may have been initiated by the emplacement, approximately ~ 6 Myr BP, of a heat source associated with the ridge jump into that vicinity.
Phosphorylation of RelA/p65 promotes DNMT-1 recruitment to chromatin and represses transcription of the tumor metastasis suppressor gene BRMS1

The majority of patients with lung cancer present with metastatic disease. Chronic inflammation and subsequent activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) have been associated with the development of cancers. The RelA/p65 subunit of NF-κB is typically associated with transcriptional activation. In this report we show that RelA/p65 can function as an active transcriptional repressor through enhanced methylation of the BRMS1 (breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1) metastasis suppressor gene promoter via direct recruitment of DNMT-1 (DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1) to chromatin in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF-mediated phosphorylation of S276 on RelA/p65 is required for RelA/p65-DNMT-1 interactions, chromatin loading of DNMT-1 and subsequent BRMS1 promoter methylation and transcriptional repression. The ability of RelA/p65 to function as an active transcriptional repressor is promoter specific, as the NF-κB-regulated gene cIAP2 (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 2) is transcriptionally activated whereas BRMS1 is repressed under identical conditions. Small-molecule inhibition of either of the minimal interacting domains between RelA/p65-DNMT-1 and RelA/p65-BRMS1 promoter abrogates BRMS1 methylation and its transcriptional repression. The ability of RelA/p65 to directly recruit DNMT-1 to chromatin, resulting in promoter-specific methylation and transcriptional repression of tumor metastasis suppressor gene BRMS1, highlights a new mechanism through which NF-κB can regulate metastatic disease, and offers a potential target for newer-generation epigenetic oncopharmaceuticals.
Linear one-sided approximation algorithms for the solution of overdetermined systems of linear inequalities

Two new algorithms for solving the overdetermined system of linear inequalities Ca > 0 are presented. The first algorithm calculates the one-sided Chebyshev solution from below, of the overdetermined system of linear equations Ca = f, where f is a positive vector. The second algorithm calculates the one-sided L-one solution from below, of the same system, Ca = f. If a solution exists to either of the one-sided problems, it would be a solution to the given inequality Ca > 0. The algorithms converge in a finite number of steps. Also for infeasible solutions, the inequalities which cause the infeasibility are detected by the algorithms and best possible solutions are obtained. Finally, matrix C need not be of full rank. The present algorithms compare favourably with other known methods. Numerical results and comments are given.
Local-global properties of torsion points on three-dimensional abelian varieties

Abstract Let K be a number field and let l > 5 be a prime. We classify abelian threefolds A defined over K which have a non-trivial l -torsion point mod p for almost all primes p of K , but are not K -isogenous to any abelian threefold over K with a non-trivial K -rational torsion point.
New political thinking and Russian patriotism: The dichotomy of perestroika

Abstract The changes Mikhail Gorbachev has proposed in Soviet foreign policy have been the subject of considerable debate. This paper offers a different criterion for measuring the extent of Gorbachev's new political thinking in foreign policy—a comparison with the foreign policy agenda of domestic dissidents, most notably Russian nationalists. Such a comparison shows how the official program of perestroika in foreign policy, called “new political thinking,” still falls short of the fundamental demand of Russian nationalists (or, as they prefer to be called, “patriots") to completely abandon the ideology of Marxism‐Leninism. The author illustrates the conceptual and practical limitations of the official reform agenda in the area of foreign policy, and discusses why these limitations are likely to be rejected by the Russian patriots. As Russian patriots like Boris Yeltsin become increasingly prominent in Soviet domestic politics, they will hasten the restructuring of Soviet foreign policy away from Marxist...
A Measurement Theory Perspective on Business Measurement

ABSTRACT: During the last five centuries, the traditional accounting model has evolved into a wide set of business practices and measurement conventions. In general, these models have served business well, but are now gradually losing relevance. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (2011) consideration of a more informative audit report and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) (2011) reconsideration of a more precise concept of income clearly illustrate a growing disconnect with the traditional model. This paper explores the possibility of enhancing financial reporting with a wider frame of business representations and measures. It begins by discussing business measurement from the perspective of measurement theory, and then considers the potential that contemporary information technology and data processing offers by providing more relevant, timely, and reliable financial information. For example, some of the possible changes could be implemented through modified XBRL tagging...
The endocytotic pathway is required for increased Aβ42 secretion during apoptosis

Abstract Secretion and progressive cerebral accumulation of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ), which derive by endoproteolytic (‘amyloidogenic’) processing of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP), are felt to represent collectively an early and necessary event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. APP amyloidogenic processing can occur via secretory or endocytotic pathways, but the relative contribution of these pathways to Aβ secretion remains to be established. The effect of apoptosis on amyloidogenic processing and Aβ secretion similarly is incompletely understood. We tested the hypothesis that APP processing by the endocytotic pathway represents a stress-related neural cell response, by comparing Aβ secretion after induction of apoptosis in PC12 cells transfected either for endocytosis-competent or -deficient APP. Newly prepared adenoviral vectors encompassing targeted mutagenesis of the cytoplasmic tail YENP tetrapeptide sequence, which serves as the principal APP internalization signal, were used to express endocytosis-deficient holoprotein. We report that the endocytotic pathway is required for the generation and secretion of Aβ42, and that secretion of this neurotoxic peptide increases significantly during apoptosis. We demonstrate additionally that more Aβ40 apparently is generated in secretory compartments during apoptosis when APP processing by the endocytotic pathway is impaired.
Molecular Dynamics Study of the Effect of Surfactant on a Biomembrane

To understand the effects of surfactants on membrane properties, constant pressure and temperature (NPT) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on the fully hydrated liquid crystal...