cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic Therapy for Bleeding Ulcers: An Evidence-Based Approach Based on Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials

The aim of this study was to determine appropriate endoscopic treatment of patients with bleeding ulcers by synthesizing results of randomized controlled trials. We performed dual independent bibliographic database searches to identify randomized trials of thermal therapy, injection therapy, or clips for bleeding ulcers with active bleeding, visible vessels, or clots, focusing on results from studies without second-look endoscopy and re-treatment. The primary end point was further (persistent plus recurrent) bleeding. Compared with epinephrine, further bleeding was reduced significantly by other monotherapies (relative risk [RR], 0.58 [95% CI, 0.36–0.93]; number-needed-to-treat [NNT], 9 [95% CI, 5–53]), and epinephrine followed by another modality (RR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.23–0.50]; NNT, 5 [95% CI, 5–7]); epinephrine was not significantly less effective in studies with second-look and re-treatment. Compared with no endoscopic therapy, further bleeding was reduced by thermal contact (heater probe, bipolar electrocoagulation) (RR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.36–0.54]; NNT, 4 [95% CI, 3–5]) and sclerosant therapy (RR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.38–0.83]; NNT, 5 [95% CI, 4–13]). Clips were more effective than epinephrine (RR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.09–0.55]; NNT, 5 [95% CI, 4–9]), but not different than other therapies, although the latter studies were heterogeneous, showing better and worse results for clips. Endoscopic therapy was effective for active bleeding (RR, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.20–0.43]; NNT, 2 [95% CI, 2–2]) and a nonbleeding visible vessel (RR, 0.49; [95% CI, 0.40–0.59]; NNT, 5 [95% CI, 4–6]), but not for a clot. Bolus followed by continuous-infusion proton pump inhibitor after endoscopic therapy significantly improved outcome compared with placebo/no therapy (RR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.28–0.59]; NNT, 12 [95% CI, 10–18]), but not compared with histamine2-receptor antagonists. Thermal devices, sclerosants, clips, and thrombin/fibrin glue appear to be effective endoscopic hemostatic therapies. Epinephrine should not be used alone. Endoscopic therapy should be performed for ulcers with active bleeding and nonbleeding visible vessels, but efficacy is uncertain for clots. Bolus followed by continuous-infusion intravenous proton pump inhibitor should be used after endoscopic therapy.
The gravitationally powered dynamo

Summary. The energetics of the gravitationally powered dynamo have been studied with the aid of a compressible-earth model which allows for the growth of the solid inner core. The basic premise of this study is that as the Earth gradually cooled over geological time the solid inner core continually accreted dense material which crystallized from an outer core composed of a molten binary alloy. This process requires a continual rearrangement of matter which generates the fluid motions needed to sustain the dynamo. These motions maintain the outer core in a well-mixed state, in apparent contradiction to Higgins & Kennedy’s hypothesis that the outer core is stably stratified. The vigour of these motions is dependent primarily upon the composition of the solid inner core, but is surprisingly independent of the density of the light constituent in the core. If the solid core is composed entirely of heavy metal, then as much as 3.7 x 1OI2 W may be transferred from the core to the mantle as a result of cooling and gravitational settling. This is roughly equal to estimates of the amount of heat conducted down the adiabat in the core, but it is argued that there is no direct relation between the amount of heat conducted down the adiabat and the amount transferred to the mantle if the convection is driven non-thermally. The gravitational energy released per unit mass of the solid inner core is remarkably constant and may be as much as 2 x 106J/kg, roughly five times the value of the latent heat of iron. These values are reduced if the solid inner core contains some light constituents. It was found that the efficiency of the gravitationally powered dynamo may exceed 50 per cent, a much higher figure than is possible for either the thermally or precessionally driven dynamo. Also, the amount of gravitational energy available to drive the dynamo in the future is many times that expended so far. The size of the magnetic field sustained by gravitational settling was related to the density jump at the inner-outer core boundary and the field strength was estimated to lie between 390 and 685 G, strongly suggesting that the dynamo is of the nearly-axisymmetric type developed by Braginsky.
Mutations in Flavobacterium johnsoniae sprE Result in Defects in Gliding Motility and Protein Secretion

Cells of the gliding bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae move rapidly over surfaces. Transposon mutagenesis was used to identify sprE, which is involved in gliding. Mutations in sprE resulted in the formation of nonspreading colonies on agar. sprE mutant cells in wet mounts were almost completely deficient in attachment to and movement on glass, but a small percentage of cells exhibited slight movements, indicating that the motility machinery was not completely disrupted. SprE is a predicted lipoprotein with a tetratricopeptide repeat domain. SprE is similar in sequence to Porphyromonas gingivalis PorW, which is required for secretion of gingipain protease virulence factors. Disruption of F. johnsoniae sprE resulted in decreased extracellular chitinase activity and decreased secretion of the cell surface motility protein SprB. Reduced secretion of cell surface components of the gliding machinery, such as SprB, may account for the defects in gliding. Orthologs of sprE are found in many gliding and nongliding members of the phylum Bacteroidetes, suggesting that similar protein secretion systems are common among members of this large and diverse group of bacteria.
Visual statistical learning in infancy: evidence for a domain general learning mechanism

The rapidity with which infants come to understand language and events in their surroundings has prompted speculation concerning innate knowledge structures that guide language acquisition and object knowledge. Recently, however, evidence has emerged that by 8 months, infants can extract statistical patterns in auditory input that are based on transitional probabilities defining the sequencing of the input's components (Science 274 (1996) 1926). This finding suggests powerful learning mechanisms that are functional in infancy, and raises questions about the domain generality of such mechanisms. We habituated 2-, 5-, and 8-month-old infants to sequences of discrete visual stimuli whose ordering followed a statistically predictable pattern. The infants subsequently viewed the familiar pattern alternating with a novel sequence of identical stimulus components, and exhibited significantly greater interest in the novel sequence at all ages. These results provide support for the likelihood of domain general statistical learning in infancy, and imply that mechanisms designed to detect structure inherent in the environment may play an important role in cognitive development.
Depressive Symptoms Among HIV Positive Men: Life Stress, Coping, and Social Support1

The significance of life stress, coping, and social support was examined in relation to depressive symptomatology in a sample of 160 asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic HIV-antibody-positive (HIV+) men. The participants (mean age = 32 years) were interviewed about the life stress that they had experienced in the previous 6
Endothelial Cell Sensing of Flow Direction

Objective— Atherosclerosis-prone regions of arteries are characterized by complex flow patterns where the magnitude of shear stress is low and direction rapidly changes, termed disturbed flow. How endothelial cells sense flow direction and how it impacts inflammatory effects of disturbed flow are unknown. We therefore aimed to understand how endothelial cells respond to changes in flow direction. Approach and Results— Using a recently developed flow system capable of changing flow direction to any angle, we show that responses of aligned endothelial cells are determined by flow direction relative to their morphological and cytoskeletal axis. Activation of the atheroprotective endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway is maximal at 180° and undetectable at 90°, whereas activation of proinflammatory nuclear factor-κB is maximal at 90° and undetectable at 180°. Similar effects were observed in randomly oriented cells in naive monolayers subjected to onset of shear. Cells aligned on micropatterned substrates subjected to oscillatory flow were also examined. In this system, parallel flow preferentially activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase and production of nitric oxide, whereas perpendicular flow preferentially activated reactive oxygen production and nuclear factor-κB. Conclusions— These data show that the angle between flow and the cell axis defined by their shape and cytoskeleton determines endothelial cell responses. The data also strongly suggest that the inability of cells to align in low and oscillatory flow is a key determinant of the resultant inflammatory activation.
Gather data to reveal true extent of doping in sport

Drug cheats will not be tackled properly until anti-doping agencies do more to assess the scale of the problem scientifically, says Roger Pielke Jr.
Recommendations for Mental Workload Measurement in a Test and Evaluation Environment

Research performed during the last decade on estimation of mental workload has resulted in a subset of techniques exhibiting global sensitivity. Other techniques have also been demonstrated to have...
Validity of the MMPI-168 for Psychiatric Screening1:

Validity of an abbreviated 168-item administration and the standard MMPI was compared with reference to discriminating psychiatric patients from normal college students. Better discrimination was obtained from clinical scale scoring than from factor scoring. The abbreviated MMPI-168 actually produced slightly better discrimination than did the longer parent instrument. Revised equations for converting MMPI-168 scores to conventional MMPI validity and clinical scale scores are presented.
Challenges, successes and hopes in the development of novel TB therapeutics

Despite efficacious drugs for treatment, TB continues to affect enormous numbers of patients throughout the world. Failure to control TB may be related to the biological characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the nature of susceptible hosts often impoverished and poorly supported by healthcare infrastructure and the complex treatment regimens that must be used. Challenges to anti-TB drug development include the organism’s slow replication, the ability of M. tuberculosis to survive in a dormant state and to persist despite therapy, its impregnable cell wall and its capacity to develop resistance to drugs. The need for extended therapy using combinations of drugs remains a practical obstacle to effective control in poor, malnourished and diseased communities most susceptible to TB. High-throughput screening of candidate agents and investigation of drugs already in use for other infections are yielding promising new candidates for TB treatment. New families of drugs entering clinical trials include 5-nitroimidazoles, diarylquinolines and ethylene diamines. Increasing funding initiatives, advances in the biology of TB and strategies for drug discovery have rejuvenated the pipeline of new drugs for TB, promising an expanding armamentarium of effective drugs with improved tolerability and potential to treat drug-resistant cases.
Effects of nongauge potentials on the spin-1/2 Aharonov-Bohm problem.

Some recent work has attempted to show that the singular solutions which are known to occur in the Dirac description of spin-\textonehalf{} Aharonov-Bohm scattering can be eliminated by the inclusion of strongly repulsive potentials inside the flux tube. It is shown here that these calculations are generally unreliable since they necessarily require potentials which lead to the occurrence of Klein's paradox. To avoid that difficulty the problem is solved within the framework of the Galilean spin-\textonehalf{} wave equation which is free of that particular complication. It is then found that the singular solutions can be eliminated provided that the nongauge potential is made energy dependent. The effect of the inclusion of a Coulomb potential is also considered with the result being that the range of flux parameter for which singular solutions are allowed is only one-half as great as in the pure Aharonov-Bohm limit. Expressions are also obtained for the binding energies which can occur in the combined Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system.
Rate Distortion Performance of Pyramid and Subband Motion Compensation Based on Quantization Theory

We present in this letter the rate distortion (RD) performance analysis of the inter-layer subband and pyramid motion compensation techniques for spatially scalable video coding. Theoretical performance functions are derived based on RD theory and quantization noise modeling. We assume the base layer is encoded by a non-scalable coder. The coding efficiency of the enhancement (enh.) layer, measured by the signal-to-noise ratio, is determined by the input video power spectral density, the motion estimation error distribution, and the base layer encoder rate. Numerical evaluations of the performance functions show that, compared to independent motion-compensated prediction encoding of the enh. layer, the inter-layer pyramid and subband methods are expected to be more efficient if the base layer is encoded at a sufficiently high quality or the motion estimation accuracy is relatively low in the enh. layer. Results from real video data encoding show that the presented theoretical analysis can be very useful to understand the efficiencies of these spatial scalability techniques.
Interfacial shapes between two superimposed rotating simple fluids

Abstract : The interfacial shape of two immiscible simple fluids in a vertical cylinder which oscillates about its axis is investigated using the theory of domain perturbations. The perturbation stresses are expressed by integrals over the history of the deformation. At first order the azimuthal velocity field satisfies the requirements of continuity in velocity and shear stresses across the interface. At second order the solution consists of a mean part and a time- periodic part varying at twice the frequency of the cylinder. The mean problem is inverted for the mean secondary flow, pressure and interfacial shape. Experimental data for two polymeric oils (TLA227 and STP) show qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions for the mean interfacial shapes. Keywords include simple fluids, interfacial shape, domain perturbations, oscillating cylinders.
Parental Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding the Nine-Valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to explore parents' attitudes and beliefs about the nine-valent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV9). Methods Online focus groups were conducted in January, 2015. The U.S. national sample of parents was recruited to four groups: (1) two groups of parents of HPV unvaccinated daughters aged 9–12 years and (2) two groups of parents of vaccinated daughters aged 11–17 years. Results Participants were 43 parents of vaccinated daughters and 38 parents of unvaccinated daughters. Results indicated low and variable levels of knowledge about HPV, related cancers, and vaccination (e.g., parents unaware vaccine is recommended for boys). Parents were encouraged that HPV9 covered more types, and many said they want the "better" vaccine. Parents of unvaccinated girls wondered whether they should delay vaccination until HPV9 was available, whereas parents of vaccinated girls wondered whether their daughters could be revaccinated with HPV9. Concerns were related to adverse reactions and side effects, whether another new vaccine will be released after HPV9, HPV mutation (i.e., will HPV types change over time—thereby necessitating multiple vaccines?), and cost. Physician recommendation was identified as the most important facilitator of vaccination, with participants wanting providers to exhibit high levels of confidence in and knowledge about HPV vaccines. Last, parents also viewed the prospective idea of a 2-dose HPV9 vaccine as positive. Conclusions HPV9 recently became available in the United States and has the potential to offer greater cancer prevention if widespread acceptance and uptake occur. Understanding parental perceptions and questions about HPV9 will be important for clinical messaging about this vaccine.
Particle Exchange in an Unstable Jet

Abstract A one-dimensional model of baroclinic instability is used to reconcile two differing interpretations on why neutrally buoyant floats cross the Gulf Stream more readily at subthermocline depths. The study compares the location of the steering level, where the particle speed matches the speed of a propagating meander, to the location of the minimum in the meridional potential vorticity gradient The former locale is the expected site of a maxima in particle exchange, based on kinematic arguments, while the latter is the expected site based on potential vorticity dynamics. Model results show that the two levels are not coincident; in general, the steering level is deeper in the water column than the minimum in the potential vorticity gradient. Additionally, it is the steering level where the largest cross-stream particle exchange is expected to occur.
Digital Signal Compression: Distributed source coding

In this chapter, we introduce the concept that correlated sources need not be encoded jointly to achieve greater efficiency than encoding them independently. In fact, if they are encoded independently and decoded jointly, it is theoretically possible under certain conditions to achieve the same efficiency as when encoded jointly. Such a method for coding correlated sources is called distributed source coding ( DSC ). Figure 14.1 depicts the paradigm of DSC with independent encoding and joint decoding. In certain applications, such as sensor networks and mobile communications, circuit complexity and power drain are too burdensome to be tolerated at the transmission side. DSC shifts complexity and power consumption from the transmission side to the receiver side, where it can be more easily handled and tolerated. The content of this chapter presents the conditions under which DSC is ideally efficient and discusses some practical schemes that attempt to realize rate savings in the DSC paradigm. There has been a plethora of recent work on this subject, so an encyclopedic account is impractical and ill-advised in a textbook. The goal here is to explain the principles clearly and elucidate them with a few examples. Slepian–Wolf coding for lossless compression Consider two correlated, discrete scalar sources X and Y . Theoretically, these sources can be encoded independently without loss using H ( X ) and H ( Y ) bits, respectively, where H ( X ) and H ( Y ) are the entropies of these sources. However, if encoded jointly, both these sources can be reconstructed perfectly using only H ( X, Y ) bits, the joint entropy of these sources.
Association of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease With Visceral Adiposity but Not Coronary Artery Calcification in the Elderly

Background & Aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related closely to risk factors for coronary artery disease, but it is unclear whether NAFLD independently contributes to atherosclerosis. We investigated the association between NAFLD and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores, determined based on noncontrast cardiac computed tomography data, in an elderly cohort. Methods We conducted a longitudinal, cross-sectional study of data from 250 participants (mean age, 67.6 ± 7.0 y; 43.2% men) in the Rancho Bernardo Study—a prospective population-based study of mostly white adults in suburban Southern California. We compared CAC scores, liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio, and volumes of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) at baseline and after a 5-year follow-up period. Results We assigned participants to groups based on CAC scores (0, 0–10, 11–100, 101–400, and >400). Among groups, the liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio did not vary significantly, but VAT increased with CAC score (median and interquartile range values were as follows: 50.0 [33.3-77.4] cm 3 , 63.0 [33.9-93.1] cm 3 , 66.1 [48.2-80.2] cm 3 , 69.1 [48.1-85.0] cm 3 , 76.1 [53.1-108.5] cm 3 for CAC groups; P = .0054). In multivariable regression analysis, NAFLD at baseline was not associated with an increased risk of a CAC score greater than 0. Longitudinal analysis showed that visceral fat, but not hepatic steatosis, increased in participants with increasing CAC scores (interquartile range 57.1-92.4) vs 55.2 cm 3 in patients without (interquartile range 36.5-81.1, P = .0401). The proportion of patients with NAFLD decreased after the 5-year follow-up period (from 29.3% before to 14.1% afterward; P = .0081), despite increased mean CAC scores and VAT volume in patients. Conclusions In adults age 67.6 ± 7.0 years, the proportion with NAFLD decreased despite increasing CAC score and VAT with age. There was no clear association between NAFLD and CAC score. However, VAT was associated with baseline and increasing CAC scores. Visceral adiposity therefore might be a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Bankruptcy, debt, and the macroeconomy: 1919–1946

Between 1919 and 1946 bankruptcy rates in the United States traced out an inverted U-shaped curve, rising during the 1920s as debt levels increased, remaining high in the 1930s as income levels fell, and then plummeting during the Second World War in the face of both rising income and falling private debt levels. This paper explores these relationships econometrically, both at the aggregate level and at the level of a number of individual states. It also discusses the historical evolution, motivation, and macroeconomic consequences of bankruptcy law, concluding that the value of analyses such as those of Joseph Schumpeter and Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon have been too quickly dismissed, at least in their entirety, by scholars such as Ben Bernanke.
Êxito e bem-estar docente

O artigo e decorrente do recorte de uma pesquisa qualitativa, tipo estudo de caso. Focaliza as caracteristicas de sucesso de professores universitarios que resultam em exito e bem-estar na docencia. Os dados foram coletados em uma instituicao de educacao superior, filantropica e comunitaria do sul do Brasil, por meio de um questionario . O referencial teorico, dentre outros, sustenta-se em Frankl, quanto a producao de sentido; Rogers, Maslow e Mosquera, quanto aos processos de humanizacao, e Pimenta e Tardif, quanto aos saberes docentes. Os achados do estudo, tendo por apoio e referencia a analise de conteudo, segundo Bardin, sinalizam as seguintes caracteristicas de um professor de sucesso com exito e bem-estar em sua vida pessoal-profissional : alegria, didatica, dominio de conteudo, responsabilidade, atualizacao, solicitude, boa remuneracao e inteligencia. O artigo e decorrente do recorte de uma pesquisa qualitativa, tipo estudo de caso. F ocaliza a trajetoria de vida de educadores universitarios e suas interfaces com o exito e o bem-estar na docencia. Os dados foram coletados em uma Instituicao de Educacao Superior do sul do Brasil atraves de questionario. O referencial teorico, dentre outros, sustenta-se em Frankl com a producao de sentido; Rogers, Maslow e Mosquera nos processos de humanizacao, e Pimenta e Tardif quanto aos saberes docentes. Os achados do estudo, a partir da analise de conteudo, segundo Bardin, sinalizam as seguintes caracteristicas de um professor bem sucedido e realizado em sua vida pessoal-profissional: alegria, didatica, dominio de conteudo, responsabilidade, atualizacao, solicitude, boa remuneracao e inteligencia. O artigo e decorrente do recorte de uma pesquisa qualitativa, tipo estudo de caso. Focaliza as caracteristicas de sucesso de professores universitarios que resultam em exito e bem-estar na docencia. Os dados foram coletados em uma instituicao de educacao superior, filantropica e comunitaria do sul do Brasil, por meio de um questionario . O referencial teorico, dentre outros, sustenta-se em Frankl, quanto a producao de sentido; Rogers, Maslow e Mosquera, quanto aos processos de humanizacao, e Pimenta e Tardif, quanto aos saberes docentes. Os achados do estudo, tendo por apoio e referencia a analise de conteudo, segundo Bardin, sinalizam as seguintes caracteristicas de um professor de sucesso com exito e bem-estar em sua vida pessoal-profissional : alegria, didatica, dominio de conteudo, responsabilidade, atualizacao, solicitude, boa remuneracao e inteligencia.
High-Temperature Magnetic Susceptibility of Sintered α MnS

The magnetic susceptibility of sintered $\ensuremath{\alpha}\mathrm{MnS}$ was measured by a Faraday method at temperatures from 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 1244\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. When the data were fitted by a least squares method to the Weiss-Curie law, ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{M}=\frac{{C}_{M}}{(T+\ensuremath{\theta})}$, using only points above 675\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, values of ${C}_{M}=3.94\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$ and $\ensuremath{\theta}=397\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$K were obtained. Even in this range the $\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\chi}}$ vs $T$ curve was very slightly inflected towards the $\frac{1}{\ensuremath{\chi}}$ axis so the above values are considered only as establishing upper limits on the constants. It is suggested that the deviation of ${C}_{M}$ from the theoretical spin only value of 4.379 be interpreted in terms of a reduced ionic character of the MnS bond.
Allergy and laryngeal disorders.

Purpose of review This article reviews recent literature on the topic of allergic laryngitis. There has been sustained interest over the past 15 years and epidemiological and experimental studies have led to a clearer description of the nature of the condition and its clinical expression. Recent findings Recent studies have suggested an epidemiological association between the presence of allergy and concurrent laryngeal symptoms and objective signs. Both population-based studies and smaller investigations have shown a significant relationship between these two variables. In addition, recent studies have questioned the inter-rater reliability and specificity of laryngeal endoscopic examinations, which have often been used to assign a presumptive diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The presence of sticky, viscid, thick endolaryngeal secretions, however, appears to be associated with allergic laryngitis, confirming prior observations. Experimental interventions in both laboratory animals and humans suggest that there may be a direct causal relationship for an allergic cause, at least among some individuals. Summary Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that allergy may be a valid trigger and causative mechanism in some individuals with laryngeal inflammation and symptomatology. Additional research is necessary to further characterize allergic laryngitis and to develop valid diagnostic protocols for assessment.
Hand Computation of Generalized Inverses

A growing interest in the theory of generalized inverses ([2], [13]) and in applications of generalized inverses in such fields as engineering ([4], [5], [9], [17]) and statistics ([1], [6], [7], [12], [15]) has stimulated an interest in teaching about generalized inverses in linear algebra courses ([3], [11], [16]). When A is a nonsingular matrix, the equation Ax = b has a unique solution, namely, x = A lb. The generalized inverse A + of a singular matrix A can be motivated as a generalization of this situation. In fact, x = A + b will be the unique solution to Ax = b when a unique solution exists, will be a solution when there is more than one solution, and will be a least squares solution (i. e., will minimize IIAx b1(2) when no solution exists. Moreover, when either the solution is not unique, or the least squares solution is not unique, the generalized inverse will be the shortest solution, or the shortest least squares solution (i.e., will minimize (Ix 12, subject to the restriction that x is a solution, or that x is a least squares solution, as appropriate) [11], [16]. A geometric interpretation of the generalized inverse also helps to motivate the theory; x = A + b lies in the row space of A, while Ax = AA + b is the projection of b onto the column space of A [16]. Some instructors prefer to relegate all computations of inverses to computers. However, many instructors feel that students gain an understanding from computing an inverse by hand that cannot be gained from observation of computer output, and teach an elementary algorithm for computing inverses of matrices. This note is of interest only to the latter set of instructors. It contains an algorithm for the calculation of generalized inverses, suitable for use by students with hand-held calculators, which uses the information available when the usual (Gauss-Jordan) classroom algorithm for computing inverses has established that the inverse fails to exist. There are two equivalent procedures, which enable a student to calculate the generalized inverse using one procedure, and to check the work using the other procedure. This algorithm is meant for classroom use only; there are more accurate, computationally stable, and efficient algorithms available in various computer packages (for example, the GINV function in the MATRIX procedure of SAS [14]) for use in real world problems. A classroom discussion of the use of the results of a singular value decomposition in finding a generalized inverse is enlightening ([10], [11], [16]), but finding a singular value decomposition using only a hand-held calculator restricts attention to trivial examples when this approach is used. An attempt to invert a matrix A using the usual classroom algorithm will either yield an inverse (when A is nonsingular), or else will at least provide us with the row-echelon form of A. The columns of A corresponding to columns of the identity matrix appearing in the row-echelon form are a basis for the column space of A; we form a matrix B from these columns. As we shall s4ow later, the generalized inverse A + of A can then be expressed using B in the expression
Spatially constrained transient EM inversion for near surface characterization in Saudi Arabia

Summary A new algorithm for spatially constrained inversion (SCI) of transient electromagnetic (TEM) data is presented. The 1D inversion of TEM soundings is regularized in a 3D sense by means of spatial constraints introduced by the model covariance matrix. The inversion of each model cell is correlated to the inversion of the cells of nearby soundings occurring within a radius of influence. Both the spatial extension of the influence and the percentage correlations to be applied to the model cells are explicitly defined by the user. The application of the algorithm to a paleo-delta structure in Saudi Arabia, where the TEM data were acquired, provides a high resolution resistivity volume showing high degrees of correlation with the outcropping geology and depth reconstruction extending to about 200 m
Analysis on DLN-2.6 Combustion System of GE Gas Turbine

This paper introduces the structure of DLN-2.6 combustion system,analyzes all types of combustion modes and shifting processes for system applied to PG6111FA+E units,carries out emission measurement of NOX,CO and O2 of this type of units and compares with PG9351FA units which adopt the DLN-2.0+ combustion system.
Animal models of neoplastic development.

The basic animal model for neoplastic development used by regulatory agencies is the two-year chronic bioassay developed more than 30 years ago and based on the presumed mechanism of action of a few potential chemical carcinogens. Since that time, a variety of other model carcinogenic systems have been developed, usually involving shorter duration, single organ endpoints, multistage models, and those in genetically-engineered mice. The chronic bioassay is still the gold standard of regulatory agencies despite a number of deficiencies, while in this country the use of shorter term assays based on single organ endpoints has not been popular. The multistage model of carcinogenesis in mouse epidermis actually preceded the development of the chronic two-year bioassay, but it was not until multistage models in other organ systems were developed that the usefulness of such systems became apparent. Recently, several genetically-engineered mouse lines involving mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes have been proposed as additional model systems for use in regulatory decisions. It is likely that a combination of several of these model systems may be most useful in both practical and basic applications of cancer prevention and therapy.
Anterior Column Realignment

The lateral retroperitoneal approach offers unique access to the lumbar spine, specifically the anterior spinal column. This approach provides a direct corridor with minimal tissue disruption for a more substantial augmentation of sagittal, rotary, and coronal deformities when compared to traditional posterior techniques [20, 23]. Previously, the amount of segmental lordosis achieved with single or multilevel lateral interbody fusions was limited by the laxity of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL). This drawback was circumvented with the introduction of the anterior column release (ACR), which allows the vertebrae to “fishmouth” open. This technique permits a significant amount of lordosis correction while maintaining indirect decompression of the foramen and is only limited by the shingling effects of the posterior elements.
317. HH67.2, a Promising Novel Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vector, Shows Improved Muscle Specificity and Infectivity Compared To AAV9

Currently, AAV9 serotype is considered a robust heart and muscle gene delivery vehicle widely used in preclinical studies and in a clinical trial for spinal muscle atrophy (SMA). However, the systemic delivery of AAV9 with large vector doses leads to undesirable effects such as ectopic gene expression in other tissues. These shortcomings may be overcome by using certain strategies such as the development of novel AAV vectors with muscle-specific tropism. Previously, our lab identified a novel muscle specific AAV vector, HH67, by DNA shuffling and in vivo selection. Similar to other evolved tissue-specific vectors, the HH67 vector showed reduced liver tropism, but its transduction efficiency in heart and muscle tissues was still lower than that of AAV9. We set out to introduce site-directed mutations of tyrosine (Y) to phenylalanine (F) on the surface of AAV capsids which has been shown to significantly increase gene transfer efficiency for certain AAV serotypes. In this study, we investigated whether two capsid mutations in HH67, Y445F and Y731F (named HH67.2), would enhance gene delivery to the muscle while maintaining low non-specific transgene expression. We found that the HH67.2 mutant had a significant increase in transgene delivery to the muscle compared to AAV9 after systemic delivery in C57BL/6 mice via tail-vein injection. In the muscle, expression of the LacZ reporter gene (2.5 × 10^5±65413 units/μg HH67.2 vs 7.2 × 10^4±8211 units/μg AAV9; p=0.0049) and the DNA genome copy number (4.50±2.07 VG/cell HH67.2 vs 1.15±0.197 VG/cell AAV9; p=0.0118) both increased 3.5-fold compared to AAV9. Furthermore, liver and other non-specific organs showed up to an 11-fold decrease in HH67.2 vector copy number (11.8±2.5 VG/cell HH67.2 liver vs 126.8±39.6 VG/cell AAV9 liver; p<0.0001). However, HH67.2 and AAV9 had no significant difference in gene expression in the heart. LacZ expression results were confirmed by vector genome copy number via quantitative PCR and X-Gal staining. Finally, we also introduced the same Y-F mutations in three similarly shuffled and in vivo selected AAV capsids such as M41, H43 and H48, but the mutations decreased infectivities of all these capsids. Our results suggest that HH67.2 is a novel AAV vector with enhanced muscle specificity and infectivity compared to AAV9 and could be a promising vehicle to deliver therapeutic genes to skeletal muscle or heart.**This work was part of Carrie Martin and Christina Mayer's research project for the Honors Program at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Formation of local resonance band gaps in finite acoustic metamaterials: A closed-form transfer function model

Abstract The objective of this paper is to use transfer functions to comprehend the formation of band gaps in locally resonant acoustic metamaterials. Identifying a recursive approach for any number of serially arranged locally resonant mass in mass cells, a closed form expression for the transfer function is derived. Analysis of the end-to-end transfer function helps identify the fundamental mechanism for the band gap formation in a finite metamaterial. This mechanism includes (a) repeated complex conjugate zeros located at the natural frequency of the individual local resonators, (b) the presence of two poles which flank the band gap, and (c) the absence of poles in the band-gap. Analysis of the finite cell dynamics are compared to the Bloch-wave analysis of infinitely long metamaterials to confirm the theoretical limits of the band gap estimated by the transfer function modeling. The analysis also explains how the band gap evolves as the number of cells in the metamaterial chain increases and highlights how the response varies depending on the chosen sensing location along the length of the metamaterial. The proposed transfer function approach to compute and evaluate band gaps in locally resonant structures provides a framework for the exploitation of control techniques to modify and tune band gaps in finite metamaterial realizations.
Evidence favoring a secular reduction in mandibular leeway space.

ABSTRACT Objective: Researchers have documented secular trends in tooth size among recent generations. This study was a test for a change in mandibular leeway space. Materials and Methods: Dental casts from participants in the Denver Growth Study (23 boys, 22 girls; born in the 1930s) were compared with casts from a contemporary series of orthodontic patients (23 boys, 22 girls; born in the 1990s). All were phenotypically normal, healthy American whites. Results: Analysis of variance (accounting for sex) showed that the cumulative mandibular primary canine plus first and second primary molar size (c + m1 + m2) was slightly larger in the recent cohort (23.53 mm earlier vs 23.83 mm recent cohort; mean difference: 0.30 mm; P = .009), principally due to larger second primary molars (m2) in the recent cohort. In turn, the sum of the permanent canine and two premolars (C + P1 + P2) was significantly larger in the recent cohort (21.08 mm earlier vs 21.80 mm recent cohort; mean difference: 0.72 mm; P = .002). Lar...
Clinicopathologic and genetic features of primary bronchopulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma: the MD Anderson Cancer Center experience and comprehensive review of the literature.

Primary bronchopulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (BPMEC) is a rare tumor. The fusion protein MECT1-MAML2 has been implicated as a causative genetic event in salivary and BPMECs. Several studies have shown the impact of MECT1-MAML2 on the diagnosis and prognosis of salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma; however, few studies have been published regarding MECT1-MAML2 in the context of primary BPMEC. We describe the clinicopathologic, genetic, and outcome data of 16 patients with BPMEC. Clinicopathologic features were recorded from the electronic medical records. All tumors were reviewed by two expert pulmonary pathologists and graded according to previously established criteria. The presence of MECT1-MAML2 was evaluated with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. Patients included 9 women and 7 men with a median age of 50 years (range, 7 to 82 years). Tumors exhibited low (n = 14, 88%), and high (n = 2, 12%) grade histologic features. Eight of nine tested tumors (89%) were positive for MECT1-MAML2. The median follow-up time was 40.8 months (range, 1.8–120). Median overall survival for patients with high-grade tumors was 12 months, which was significantly (p = 0.002) shorter than that for patients with low-grade tumors (survival undefined). We also provide a comprehensive review of literature of cases of primary bronchopulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma and summarize our findings in this context. MECT1-MAML2 fusion transcript is a driver genetic event in the pathogenesis of primary BPMEC. Histologic grade continues to play a pivotal role in the survival of patients with primary bronchopulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Optimal control solutions for the ball-and-beam problem

Abstract The ball-and-beam problem is a commonly recurring nonlinear control application used by authors to demonstrate the effectiveness of various control methods. We present theory and methods for finding optimal fixed final time solutions to the ball-and-beam problem. Optimal control theory is applied to the ball-and-beam state equations and cost function to obtain a system of eight first-order differential equations. This system is solved numerically using the FORTRAN 77 routine COLNEW to obtain the optimal solution. The optimal solution provides an objective benchmark to which other controls can be compared.
Experimental Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

The field of ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) mass spectrometry was established in 1949 with the invention of the omegatron mass spectrometer by Hippie et al. (1, 2) This new type of mass spectrometer employed it combination of static electric and magnetic fields to trap ions that were mass selected by applying radio frequency (rf) excitation at their cyclotron frequency and then detected on striking a collector electrode. Unfortunately, the many intriguing features of this spectrometer were countered by its poor mass resolution and mass range, and it was to find limited analytical utility. In the 1960s, ICR was investigated as a detector for studying gasphase reactive and nonreactive collisions. Wobschall constructed an ICR spectrometer that differed from the omegatron in that ionization and detection occured in separate regions of the vacuum chamber and an rf bridge circuit was used to measure ICR power absorption.(3) This instrument matured into the multisection drift ICR spectrometere(4) that combined double resonance techniques(5) with marginal oscillator detection.(6) Drift cell ICR found great utility in ion/molecule studies in the laboratories of Baldeschweiler et al.,(7) Beauchamp,(8) and Bowers et al.,(9) among others, although the technique continued to exhibit the unattractive lowperformance features of its ICR predecessors.
A Declination Model of Mandarin Chinese

Declination has been studied intensively from production data and from perceptual experiments. There is a clear trend in many languages that Fo values tend to drift down in an utterance, particularly in declarative sentences (’t Hart and Cohen, 1973; Maeda, 1976; Thorsen, 1980a; Cohen, Collier &’ t Hart, 1982. Perceptually, listeners compensate for such a downtrend: given two peaks of equal Fo value, the later one is interpreted as having higher prominence, or for two peaks to be perceived as equal, the second peak should have lower Fo value than the first (Pierrehumbert, 1979; Gussenhoven and Rietveld, 1988; Terken, 1991; Ladd, 1993; Terken, 1993). There is also an extensive literature offering physiological explanations of declination (Lieberman, 1967; Titze, 1989; Strik and Boves, 1995). Nonetheless, there are some obvious difficulties in interpreting declination data. Most of the languages being investigated have constraints on accent combination so that the declination slope has to be estimated from sparsely located data points such as Fo peaks or valleys, while the phonological status of the observed peaks and valleys may be unclear. In addition, an observable Fo contour of a sentence is the result of the combination of many factors. There is no unique solution in decomposing an observed complex Fo pattern into individual effects. To study one effect one often needs to make strong assumptions about others, which turns out to be a major cause of disagreements in the intonation literature.
Is Discharge Within a Day of Total Knee Arthroplasty Safe in the Octogenarian Population

Abstract Background Reduced hospital stay programs for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are being implemented in order to increase patient satisfaction and reduce healthcare costs. Although elderly patients are often included in these pathways, there have been limited data on whether older patients can safely be discharged within a day after TKA. The purpose of this study is to compare perioperative complications following primary TKA with ≤1 day in the hospital in patients aged ≥80 compared to Methods Patients who underwent primary TKA with hospital length of stay ≤1 day were identified in the 2005-2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. These patients were separated into 2 age groups: Results In total, 17,191 ( Conclusion These data suggest that, although octogenarians can safely be discharged in ≤1 day, greater postdischarge care may be warranted to reduce the rate of nonsurgical site-related readmissions.
DFIM-Based Variable Speed Operation of Pump-Turbines for Efficiency Improvement

Abstract This paper contributes to efficient operation of pump-turbines under partial load conditions. The authors propose an adaptive perturb & observe (PO efficiencies greater than 90% have been achieved for partial load conditions.
Metal-Organic Frameworks with Metal Catecholates for O2/N2 Separation

Oxygen and nitrogen are widely produced feedstocks with diverse fields of applications but are primarily obtained via the energy-intensive cryogenic distillation of air. More energy-efficient proce...
The Effects of Fortification and Refrigerated Storage on Bioactive Proteins in Holder-pasteurized Donor Human Milk.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the total protein, lysozyme, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) content of unfortified and fortified Holder-pasteurized donor human milk (HPDHM) during 96 hours of refrigerated storage. Study Design: HPDHM was prepared in a hospital feeding room and subjected to treatment with 3 different fortifiers: an acidic, bovine-based (F-ACID), a neutral, bovine-based, and a human milk–derived (F-HUM) fortifier. Unfortified HPDHM served as the control (CONTROL). Samples were stored at 4°C, and every 24 hours, a 1-mL aliquot was removed for analysis. Results: At baseline, there was a significant difference in protein (mean, standard deviation) concentration (g/dL) between control (1.3, 0.1) and all other treatments (F-ACID = 2.0, 0.2; neutral, bovine-derived fortifier = 2.2, 0.1; F-HUM = 2.5, 0.1; P 0.9) for all dependent variables. Conclusion: The type of fortifier has a more significant impact on bioactive components in fortified HPDHM than does storage time. Our findings of lack of negative impact of refrigeration storage time on the protein and bioactive components of donor milk strengthen the recent recommendations to extend storage time to 48 hours.
ASPECTS OF THE DESIGN OF NMR MAGNETS FOR ANALYSIS AND IMAGING

The design of magnets for NMR involves the selection of a set of coils in which the source terms of the field at the center sum to zero for each of a number of principal gradients. The number of gradients considered depends on the length of the coil and the extent of the homogeneous region. In imaging magnets correction up to 10th order or higher may be required. Real windings contain inherent imperfections which limit the homogeneity to less than the theoretical maximum. These imperfections include radial current flow, radially and axially displaced azimuthal current flow and magnetization. They can be analyzed and largely remedied by mechanical or electrical shimming.