cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Swallowing Disorders in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Treated With Radiotherapy and Adjuvant Chemotherapy

The nature of swallowing problems was examined in nine patients treated primarily with external-beam radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy for newly diagnosed tumors of the head and neck. All subjects underwent videofluorographic examination of their swallowing. Three analyses were completed, including the following: observations of motility disorders, residue, and aspiration; temporal analyses; and biomechanical analyses. Oropharyngeal swallow efficiency was calculated for the first swallow of each bolus. Swallow motility disorders were observed in both the oral and pharyngeal stages. Seven of the nine patients demonstrated reduced posterior tongue base movement toward the posterior pharyngeal wall and reduced laryngeal elevation during the swallow. Oropharyngeal swallow efficiency measures were significantly lower in the nine irradiated patients than in age-matched normal subjects. Between patients and normal subjects, significant differences were found in the measures of timing and distance of pharyngeal structural movements during the swallow, as well as in the measures of coordination during the swallow. Although treatment of head and neck cancer with external-beam radiation is designed to provide cancer cure and preserve organ functioning, oral and pharyngeal motility for swallow can become compromised if external-beam radiation treatment is provided to either the larynx or tongue base regions.
A New Algorithm for the Reliability Analysis of Multi-Terminal Networks

In a probabilistic network, source-to-multiple-terminal reliability (SMT reliability) is the probability that a specified vertex can reach every other vertex. This paper derives a new topological formula for the SMT reliability of probabilistic networks. The formula generates only non-cancelling terms. The non-cancelling terms in the reliability expression correspond one-to-one with the acyclic t-subgraphs of the network. An acyclic t-subgraph is an acyclic graph in which every link is in at least one spanning rooted tree of the graph. The sign to be associated with each term is easily computed by counting the vertices and links in the corresponding subgraph. Overall reliability is the probability that every vertex can reach every other vertex in the network. For an undirected network, it is shown the SMT reliability is equal to the overall reliability. The formula is general and applies to networks containing directed or undirected links. Furthermore link failures in the network can be s-dependent. An algorithm is presented for generating all acyclic t-subgraphs and computing the reliability of the network. The reliability expression is obtained in symbolic factored form.
Evaluation of the novel combination of daptomycin plus ceftriaxone against vancomycin-resistant enterococci in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulated endocardial vegetation model

OBJECTIVES Daptomycin has demonstrated synergy with β-lactams against Enterococcus faecium and this combination has been used successfully to treat infections refractory to daptomycin. We investigated daptomycin alone and combined with ceftriaxone against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulated endocardial vegetation (SEV) model. METHODS Daptomycin (6 and 12 mg/kg/day) with and without 2 g of ceftriaxone every 24 h were evaluated against two clinical E. faecium strains (8019 and 5938) and one Enterococcus faecalis (6981) in a 96 h in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic SEV model. FITC-labelled poly-l-lysine was used to assess β-lactam-induced changes in cell surface charge. RESULTS For 8019 and 6981, daptomycin 6 mg/kg with ceftriaxone and daptomycin 12 mg/kg alone and in combination with ceftriaxone displayed significantly more activity than daptomycin 6 mg/kg alone from 48 to 96 h (P ≤ 0.005). The addition of ceftriaxone significantly enhanced activity of daptomycin 6 mg/kg against both strains at 96 h (8019, reductions -0.55 versus 3.64 log10 cfu/g; 6981, reductions 1.11 versus 5.67 log10 cfu/g; P < 0.001) and improved daptomycin 12 mg/kg against 8019 at 96 h. Daptomycin 12 mg/kg plus ceftriaxone displayed no appreciable activity against 5938 (daptomycin MIC 32 mg/L). Daptomycin non-susceptibility developed in 8019 and 6981 versus daptomycin 6 mg/kg by 96 h. Ampicillin or ceftriaxone exposure reduced daptomycin surface charge in 8019, resulting in significantly increased FITC-poly-l-lysine binding. CONCLUSIONS The combination of daptomycin and ceftriaxone may be promising for eradicating high-inoculum, deep-seated enterococcal infections. Further research is warranted to examine the enhancement of daptomycin and innate immunity killing of VRE by ceftriaxone and other β-lactams.
An incremental approach to developing intelligent neural network controllers for robots

By beginning with simple reactive behaviors and gradually building up to more memory-dependent behaviors, it may be possible for connectionist systems to eventually achieve the level of planning. This paper focuses on an intermediate step in this incremental process, where the appropriate means of providing guidance to adapting controllers is explored. A local and a global method of reinforcement learning are contrasted-a special form of back-propagation and an evolutionary algorithm. These methods are applied to a neural network controller for a simple robot. A number of experiments are described where the presence of explicit goals and the immediacy of reinforcement are varied. These experiments reveal how various types of guidance can affect the final control behavior. The results show that the respective advantages and disadvantages of these two adaptation methods are complementary, suggesting that some hybrid of the two may be the most effective method. Concluding remarks discuss the next incremental steps toward more complex control behaviors.
Covariance functions and spectra for waves propagating in a turbulent medium to or from moving vehicles

In this paper theoretical expressions are derived for the time-lag covariance functions and frequency spectra of a wave propagating in a turbulent medium where either the source, receiver, or both are moving. The expressions are generalizations of the results of other workers. A Gaussian beam wave was considered but results are presented for plane and spherical waves also. It is also noted that a commonly used approximation may not be valid when focused beams are discussed.
Reduction of Abeta accumulation in the Tg2576 animal model of Alzheimer's disease after oral administration of the phosphatidyl-inositol kinase inhibitor wortmannin.

SPECIFIC AIMSThedeposition of Aβ in the form of senile plaques in sufficient quantity is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study we examine whether the phosphatidyl-inositol kinase inhibitor wortmannin can reduce Aβ accumulation both in vitro and in vivo.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. Wortmannin reduces extracellular Aβ accumulation in cell cultureIn cell-based screens, we identified wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidyl-inositol kinases, as an Aβ-lowering agent. Wortmannin treatment of CHO 2B7 cells results in a dose-dependent reduction in Aβ40 and Aβ42. Both cell viability assays and washout experiments indicate that this reduction in Aβ accumulation is not simply due to a toxic effect of the drug.2. Wortmannin treatment reduces sAPPα and increases carboxyl-terminal fragments of βAPPAβ is formed by the proteolytic cleavage of a larger precursor molecule, referred to as βAPP. Large secreted derivatives (sAPP) are normally produced and secreted into the conditioned medium, whereas c...
Use of the “Spiral” Flap for Closure of Small Defects of the Nasal Ala

Background. Multiple wound closure options exist for cutaneous defects of the nasal ala. The best option depends on the depth, size, and location of the defect. Objective. To demonstrate a modification of the traditional rotation flap for closure of small alar defects. Methods. The design and execution of the “spiral” flap for closure of a representative defect are described. Results. Immediate and delayed postoperative views demonstrate expected outcome. Conclusion. The spiral flap modification of the rotation flap is a simple and elegant closure option for small nasal alar defects.
Effects of Preoperative Local Estrogen in Postmenopausal Women With Prolapse: A Randomized Trial

Context: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) increases in prevalence with age; recurrence after surgical repair is common. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the effects of local estrogen treatment on connective tissue synthesis and breakdown in the vaginal wall of postmenopausal women planning surgical repair of POP. Design: This was a randomized trial. Setting: The study was conducted at an academic tertiary medical center. Patients or Other Participants: Postmenopausal women with a uterus and symptomatic anterior and/or apical prolapse at stage 2 or greater participated in the study. Intervention: Estrogen (Premarin) or placebo cream for 6 weeks preoperatively was the intervention. Main Outcome Measures: Full-thickness anterior apical vaginal wall biopsies were obtained at the time of hysterectomy and analyzed for mucosa and muscularis thickness, connective tissue synthesis, and degradation. Serum levels of estrone and 17β-estradiol were analyzed at baseline and the day of surgery using hig...
Ecosystem assembly and terrestrial carbon balance under elevated CO(2).

Research aimed at understanding how the global carbon balance will change with elevated CO 2 has largely ignored the responses of individual species and genotypes. Yet, plant traits strongly influence the biogeochemical cycling of carbon. Here, we illustrate how differences in inter- and intraspecific responses to elevated CO 2 affect not only physiology and growth, but also higher order biotic interactions and lifetime fitness, ultimately leading to new ecosystem assemblages. We assert that the unique combination of inter- and intraspecific traits in these ecosystem assemblages ultimately determine how ecosystems respond to elevated atmospheric CO 2 . Thus, the identity of species and genotypes in an ecosystem is a crucial element to consider in forecasts of global carbon balance.
Detection of Gardnerella vaginalis in the vagina and amniotic fluid using the polymerase chain reaction.

Gardnerella aginalis is generally considered a member of the endogenous vaginal flora. It has been isolated in 26]45% of healthy pregnant w x women 1,2 . However, the presence of G. aginalis in the vagina during the second trimester has been associated with an increased risk of preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of w x membranes 3 . G. aginalis is one of the most common microorganisms isolated from the amniotic fluid of patients in preterm labor with intact w x membranes or intra-amniotic infection 4 . Although amniotic fluid traditionally has been considered sterile in pregnant women who are not in labor with intact membranes, recent studies have shown that microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity has occurred in asymptomatic women during the mid-trimester of pregnancy. Microbiological culture with selective media is
Spatial distribution and focal mechanisms of mantle earthquakes in the Hindu Kush–Pamir region: A contorted Benioff zone

Seismological evidence based on the spatial distribution and focal mechanism solutions of mantle earthquakes in the Hindu Kush–Pamir region supports a model in which suboceanic lithosphere that existed between the converging Eurasian and Indian continents is subducted into the upper mantle. Two lines of evidence support this model. First, a careful selection of well-defined hypocenters in the region from 1950 through 1973 defines a thin (about 25 km thick) contorted Benioff zone within the upper mantle. The zone dips steeply (about 70°) toward the north in the western part of the region and has a shallower dip (about 50°) toward the southeast in the eastern part of the region. Second, focal mechanism solutions of intermediate-depth earthquakes have extensional (T) axes oriented parallel to the dip of the Benioff zone. The thin slab-like distribution of hypocenters and the downdip extensional stress are similar to features found in many other more typical regions of active lithospheric subduction. In addition, comparison of the focal mechanism solutions and the spatial distribution of earthquakes demonstrates the presence of a fault plane at about 200 km depth within the western part of the subducted lithosphere. Similar fault planes have also been observed in other areas of subduction. Comparison of the seismicity of the Hindu Kush–Pamir region with the apparent lack of mantle earthquakes along the main Himalayan arc suggests that the region is the site of the final stage of subduction of suboceanic lithosphere along the collision boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Divestiture and Firm Performance: A Meta-Analysis

While numerous empirical studies have examined the relationship between corporate divestiture and subsequent firm performance, inconsistent findings persist, suggesting the need for a quantitative synthesis and an examination of potential moderating effects. The authors conduct a meta-analysis of the divestiture-performance relationship, encompassing 650 effect sizes from 94 studies. Results indicate that across studies, corporate divestiture does positively impact subsequent performance. The analysis also suggests statistically significant moderating effects of type of performance measure, transaction format, transaction intent, and firm’s resource level. While providing a quantitative synthesis of current empirical findings, the authors call for further research to surface additional moderators to refine the knowledge concerning the link between corporate divestiture and subsequent performance.
Methods for Preparing Fluorescent and Neutral Red-Stained Whole Mounts of Mouse Mammary Glands

Whole mount preparations of mouse mammary glands are useful for evaluating overall changes in growth and morphology, and are essential for detecting and evaluating focal or regionally-localized phenotypes that would be difficult to detect or analyze using other techniques. We present three newly developed methods for preparing whole mounts of mammary glands from genetically-engineered mice expressing fluorescent proteins, as well as using either neutral red or a variety of fluorescent dyes. Unlike traditional hematoxylin- or carmine-stained preparations, neutral red-stained and some fluorescent preparations can be used for several common downstream analyses.
Fundamentals of Glass-to-Metal Bonding: VII, Wettability of Iron by Molten Sodium Silicate Containing Iron Oxide

Contact angles, and adherence of sodium disilicate glasses with varying iron oxide additions on platinum and iron were studied at 1000°C. in vacuum. In the glass-platinum systems the iron concentration in the glass did not affect either the contact angle or the adherence. No devitrification occurred in the glass-platinum systems. The glass-iron systems showed a lowering of the contact angle with increasing iron content in the glass, ranging exponentially from 55° to approximately 22°. Adherence was poor with no iron in the glass, and it increased as the iron content and reaction at the interface increased. Crystals, identified as fayalite (Fe2SiO4), were observed in some of the glass drops from the glass-iron systems. Polished cross sections of the glass-iron assemblies showed a greater attack of the metal surface as the iron content in the glass increased. The configuration suggests greater attack along the grain boundaries.
Automatic vehicle guidance and control&#8212;A state of the art survey

Highway automation is an attractive possible solution to some of the problems posed by an ever-increasing number of motor vehicles, as it would probably result in substantial increases in traffic-flow rates and a dramatic reduction in the numbers of highway accidents and fatalities. One practical system involves a roadway complex of the future, consisting of both automated and nonautomated roads, which will have evolved in an orderly and progressive manner from the roadway system of today. Only the main highways would be automated, and dual-mode vehicles would be used. The two major related technical areas in this framework are the physical characteristics of the various required subsystems for vehicle guidance and control and the optimum operation of the overall highway system. The elements of the former are divided into eleven categories: automatic longitudinal control, vehicle-spacing detection, communication systems, automatic lateral control, automatic merging control, controlled lane changing, vehicle propulsion, system decision-making capability, compatible manual mode, automatic vehicle checkout, and evolutionary developments. The role and state of the art of each category are discussed in detail, together with the complex interrelationships which exist among categories. Although some research has been accomplished, substantial future research and development progress will be necessary before an automated highway system is a practical reality.
Steam processing versus pelleting of two ratios of milo and barley for lactating cows.

Abstract Two switchback feeding trials (24 cows each) compared steam processing with pelleting of milo and barley for lactating cows. Two ratios of milo to barley (3:1 and 1:3) were used in the concentrate. The only feed variable between the 2 trials was physical form of the cottonseed meal (19.8% of the concentrate) added to the steam processed mixture. The meal was unpelleted in the first trial but pelleted in the second. The ration consisted of 45% concentrate by weight with the remainder being good quality alfalfa hay. Rations were fed individually to each animal. Feed consumption was adjusted to equal the National Research Council's standards for maintenance and production. The conclusions were: a) Neither processing technique nor the proportion of the two grains had any effect on milk yield or per cents fat and solids-not-fat. b) During the second trial percent milk protein was slightly depressed by the pelleted ration containing the high level barley. c) Digestibilities of the various feed components and energy conversions were not affected by any of the variables. d) Consumption of the steam processed ration was enhanced by pelleting the cottonseed meal as compared to feeding it unpelleted. e) Body weight was not affected. f) There were no significant differences in the distribution of any of the milk fatty acids or rumen volatile fatty acids caused by the two processing techniques or the two milo to barley ratios.
Basics of computed tomography angiography of the lower extremity vessels

Complete noninvasive, angiographic evaluation of the abdominal aorta and lower extremity vessels using the latest generation of multidetector row computed tomography (CT) scanners can now be accomplished in a single scan lasting less than a minute. The high spatial resolution of these new scanners and their more efficient use of contrast permit accurate depiction of disease in the smaller tibial and pedal vessels, as well as the larger diameter iliac and femoral arteries; nevertheless, many challenges and obstacles remain to its more widespread acceptance. Foremost among these, is the difficulty in accurately reconstructing the smaller leg and pedal vessels from individual CT slices, a process that must to a very great extent be done manually, and the potential nephrotoxicity of iodinated contrast material. Future advances in imaging software that could more fully automate accurate three-dimensional reconstructions of the lower extremity vasculature, and detector technology to allow for even finer resolution of the vasculature will further enhance an already powerful and clinically useful tool.
Ankyrin-G palmitoylation and βII-spectrin binding to phosphoinositide lipids drive lateral membrane assembly

Ankyrin-G and βII-spectrin colocalize at sites of cell–cell contact in columnar epithelial cells and promote lateral membrane assembly. This study identifies two critical inputs from lipids that together provide a rationale for how ankyrin-G and βII-spectrin selectively localize to Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell lateral membranes. We identify aspartate-histidine-histidine-cysteine 5/8 (DHHC5/8) as ankyrin-G palmitoyltransferases required for ankyrin-G lateral membrane localization and for assembly of lateral membranes. We also find that βII-spectrin functions as a coincidence detector that requires recognition of both ankyrin-G and phosphoinositide lipids for its lateral membrane localization. DHHC5/8 and βII-spectrin colocalize with ankyrin-G in micrometer-scale subdomains within the lateral membrane that are likely sites for palmitoylation of ankyrin-G. Loss of either DHHC5/8 or ankyrin-G–βII-spectrin interaction or βII-spectrin–phosphoinositide recognition through its pleckstrin homology domain all result in failure to build the lateral membrane. In summary, we identify a functional network connecting palmitoyltransferases DHHC5/8 with ankyrin-G, ankyrin-G with βII-spectrin, and βII-spectrin with phosphoinositides that is required for the columnar morphology of MDCK epithelial cells.
A Floating-gate Based Low-Power Capacitive Sensing Interface Circuit

This paper describes a high signal-to-noise ratio capacitive sensing circuit topology based on a capacitive feedback charge amplifier with high power and area efficiency. When the circuit is used in an audio MEMS sensor, 78.6dB SNR in audio band is measured with less than 0.5 ?W power consumption. With a MOS-BJT pseudo-resistor feedback scheme, this topology has also been applied to a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) operating around 1MHz. An adaptation scheme using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling and channel hot electron injection mechanisms is also employed to stabilize the output DC voltage in an audio MEMS microphone sensor. The measured noise spectrums show that this slow-time scale adaptation does not degrade the performance of the circuit. Therefore, this simple topology can be employed in many capacitive sensing applications and can achieve high performance with high efficiency.
Survival following lung transplantation (LT) of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients infected with burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC)

SURVIVAL FOLLOWING LUNG TRANSPLANTATION (LT) OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF) PATIENTS INFECTED WITH BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA COMPLEX (BCC) B.D. Alexander, E.A. Wills, L.B. Reller, E.S. Yow, S.M. Palmer, R.D. Davis, C.W. Woods, J.J. LiPuma, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
Implications of Rewiring Bacterial Quorum Sensing

Bacteria employ quorum sensing, a form of cell-cell communication, to sense changes in population density and regulate gene expression accordingly. This work investigated the rewiring of one quorum-sensing module, the lux circuit from the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Steady-state experiments demonstrate that rewiring the network architecture of this module can yield graded, threshold, and bistable gene expression as predicted by a mathematical model. The experiments also show that the native lux operon is most consistent with a threshold, as opposed to a bistable, response. Each of the rewired networks yielded functional population sensors at biologically relevant conditions, suggesting that this operon is particularly robust. These findings (i) permit prediction of the behaviors of quorum-sensing operons in bacterial pathogens and (ii) facilitate forward engineering of synthetic gene circuits.
Artery buckling affects the mechanical stress in atherosclerotic plaques

Tortuous arteries are often seen in patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis. While the mechanical stress in atherosclerotic plaque under lumen pressure has been studied extensively, the mechanical stability of atherosclerotic arteries and subsequent effect on the plaque stress remain unknown. To this end, we investigated the buckling and post-buckling behavior of model stenotic coronary arteries with symmetric and asymmetric plaque. Buckling analysis for a model coronary artery with symmetric and asymmetric plaque was conducted using finite element analysis based on the dimensions and nonlinear anisotropic materials properties reported in the literature. Artery with asymmetric plaque had lower critical buckling pressure compared to the artery with symmetric plaque and control artery. Buckling increased the peak stress in the plaque and led to the development of a high stress concentration in artery with asymmetric plaque. Stiffer calcified tissue and severe stenosis increased the critical buckling pressure of the artery with asymmetric plaque. Arteries with atherosclerotic plaques are prone to mechanical buckling which leads to a high stress concentration in the plaques that can possibly make the plaques prone to rupture.
I Master Equation Methods in Quantum Optics

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on master equation methods in quantum optics. Some of the methods have been specifically developed to treat the problems in quantum optics. These include the well known phase space methods. In phase space methods, the c-number distribution functions for quantum systems are introduced, which in many physical situations are found to obey equations of the Fokker–Planck type. In quantum optics, the concern is usually related to the study of a subsystem that is a part of a large system. Master equation methods have found applications in many branches of physics, such as in the theory of relaxation processes. The chapter also explains master equations for open systems. Some of the problems, involving open systems, in quantum optics are those of lasers, the relaxation of oscillators and two-level atoms, super-radiance, and parametric oscillators. In problems such as superradiance, the radiation field plays the role of the reservoir. The chapter describes the derivation of the master equation for the reduced density operator (phase space distribution function) of the sub-system of interest.
Antimicrobial Peptides: Do They Have a Future as Therapeutics?

Antimicrobial peptides of higher organisms have been studied for the past 25 years and their importance as components of innate immunity is now well established. The basic simplicity of the chemical structure of antimicrobial peptides along with the lower likelihood of the emergence of resistance compared with conventional antibiotics have made them attractive candidates for development as therapeutics. In this chapter, I describe the stories behind three drug candidates currently in clinical trials: Pexiganan, Plectasin, and Brilacidin. Each of these compounds has faced specific challenges in development and has a high likelihood of reaching commercialization. Antimicrobial peptides appear to be coming of age as therapeutics.
First Use of an Anthropogenic Nest Site by the Florida Scrub-Jay

I report here the first documentation of Aphelocoma coerulescens (Florida Scrub-Jay) nesting in a human-made structure. A pair of color-banded Florida Scrub-Jays built a nest atop an air compressor, which was sheltered from the elements by wooden latticework and a plywood roof, in a suburban neighborhood in Charlotte County, FL. More attention is warranted towards the study of nest-site selection and nesting success of Florida Scrub-Jays in the suburbs and other atypical habitats where they commonly occur.
Crowdsourcing Evaluations of Classifier Interpretability

This paper presents work using crowdsourcing to assess explanations for supervised text classification. In this paper, an explanation is defined to be a set of words from the input text that a classifier or human believes to be most useful for making a classification decision. We compared two types of explanations for classification decisions: human-generated and computer-generated. The comparison is based on whether the type of the explanation was identifiable and on which type of explanation was preferred. Crowdsourcing was used to collect two types of data for these experiments. First, human-generated explanations were collected by having users select an appropriate category for a piece of text and highlight words that best support this category. Second, users were asked to compare human- and computer-generated explanations and indicate which they preferred and why. The crowdsourced data used for this paper was collected primarily via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, using several quality control methods. We found that in one test corpus, the two explanation types were virtually indistinguishable, and that participants did not have a significant preference for one type over another. For another corpus, the explanations were slightly more distinguishable, and participants preferred the computer-generated explanations at a small, but statistically significant, level. We conclude that computer-generated explanations for text classification can be comparable in quality to human-generated explanations.
Assessment of corticosteroid response in pediatric patients with severe asthma by using a multidomain approach

Background There is no agreed upon definition of systemic corticosteroid response in asthmatic children. Moreover, pediatric severe therapy-resistant asthma (STRA) is heterogeneous, and thus response to steroids is unlikely to be uniform in all patients. Objective We sought to evaluate the utility of a multidomain approach incorporating symptoms, lung function, and inflammation to determine steroid responsiveness in pediatric patients with STRA. Methods Eighty-two children (median age, 12 years) with STRA received a clinically indicated dose of intramuscular steroid. Changes in 4 separate domains were assessed 4 weeks after intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide: normalization of (1) symptoms (Asthma Control Test score, >19/25 or 50% increase), (2) spirometric results (FEV 1 ≥80% of predicted value or ≥15% increase), (3) fraction of exhaled nitric oxide levels ( Results Twenty-three (43%) of 54 children had a symptom response, 29 (54%) of 54 had a lung function response, 28 (52%) of 54 had a fraction of exhaled nitric oxide response, and 29 (54%) of 54 had a sputum eosinophil response. Although a similar proportion of children responded to systemic corticosteroids in each domain, there were no reliable predictors of a response pattern. Seven (13%) of 54 were complete responders (response in all domains), 8 (15%) of 54 were nonresponders (no response in any domain), and 39 (72%) of 54 were partial responders (response in ≥1 domain). Conclusions A multidomain evaluation of systemic steroid responsiveness using pragmatic clinical assessments confirms childhood STRA is heterogeneous and that a complete response in symptoms and inflammatory and physiologic parameters is rare. Individual response patterns to systemic steroids might be useful in guiding the choice of add-on therapies in each child as a step toward achieving personalized medicine.
Democratization of Next-Generation Imaging, Sensing and Diagnostics Tools Through Computational Photonics

I will review some of the emerging applications and future opportunities created by the use of mobile-phones and other consumer electronics devices for the development of next-generation imaging, sensing and diagnostics tools through computational photonics.
Spin-orbit relaxation and quenching of cesium 7 2 P in mixtures of helium, methane, and ethane

The fine-structure mixing and quenching cross sections of the cesium 7${\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}P$ state in mixtures of helium, methane, and ethane were measured using laser-induced fluorescence techniques. This research was performed to study the kinetics associated with an optically pumped blue cesium laser operating on the 7${\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{2}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{1/2}$-$6{S}_{1/2}$ transition. Fluorescence decay curves from pulsed-laser experiments were analyzed as a function of buffer gas density at cell temperatures near 393 K. The fine-structure mixing cross sections for He, CH${}_{4}$, and C${}_{2}$H${}_{6}$ are $14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3$, $35\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6$, and $73\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10$ \AA{}${}^{2}$, respectively. The ${}^{2}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}$${P}_{3/2}$ state is quenched more rapidly than the ${}^{2}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{P}_{1/2}$ state. A model that includes the effects of radiation trapping and independent quenching cross sections for each fine-structure sublevel is compared to the experimental data. The rapid quenching negatively impacts the performance of a recently demonstrated optically pumped blue laser. We compare the cross sections for alkali-metal and noble gases and extend the adiabaticity analysis to the higher-lying excited states.
Effect of arabinoxylans, β-glucans, and dextrins on the viscosity and membrane filterability of a beer model solution

High-molecular-weight substances in beer can cause filtration difficulties. The objectives of this research were to quantify the effects of arabinoxylan, β-glucan, and dextrin on the viscosity and ...
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TRANSVERSE CARPAL LIGAMENT TO RESTORE MEDIAN NERVE GLIDING: The Rationale of a New Technique for Revision of Recurrent Median Nerve Neuropathy

Two clinical and four surgical steps can be taken to return gliding and nutritional balance to the median nerve after revision surgery for a recurrent median nerve neuropathy: Step One (Clinical): An accurate diagnosis of the median nerve traction neuropathy. Consider brachial plexopathy and terminal neuropathies. Step Two (Surgical): Comprehensive exploration and meso-epineurolysis of the median nerve from the radial remnants of the divided TCL and fibrosed radial and ulnar bursae by resection of the bursae and flexor tenosynovectomy. Step Three (Surgical): Fasciotomy of the volar carpal ligament to lengthen the ulnar leaf of the TCL; permits visualization of the ulnar artery and neurolysis of the ulnar motor nerve. Step Four (Surgical): Mobilize the previously released radical leaf TCL and motor median nerve from the origin of the thenar muscles. Step Five (Surgical): Restore the inner gliding surface and strength of the flexor retinaculum of the hand and wrist by reconstruction of the TCL and the forearm antebrachial fascia. Step Six (Clinical): An immediate postoperative hand therapy program to restore gliding to the median nerve and flexor tendons. Protocols for upper extremity nerve gliding should be carried out under supervision at selected daily intervals. A prevailing brachial plexopathy requires positive supervised therapy for nerve gliding and posture control.
Visual obstacle avoidance using genetic programming: first results

Genetic Programming is used to create a reactive obstacle avoidance system for an autonomous mobile robot. The evolved programs take a black and white camera image as input and estimate the location of the lowest non-ground pixel in a given column. Traditional computer vision operators such as Sobel gradient magnitude, median filters and the Moravec interest operator are combined arbitrarily. Five memory locations can also be read or written to. The first evolved program is now controlling the robot. When constructing a system, engineers typically practice iterative design, namely instantiating a design, evaluating it, and then modifying it in light of the evaluation. In the current work Genetic Programming can be seen as automating this process by iteratively improve the architecture of the system in fundamental, previously unplanned ways. The system described here successfully navigates in the hallways outside the lab.
Multiple Linear Regression – II

Chapter Preview . This chapter extends the discussion of multiple linear regression by introducing statistical inference for handling several coefficients simultaneously. To motivate this extension, this chapter considers coefficients associated with categorical variables . These variables allow us to group observations into distinct categories. This chapter shows how to incorporate categorical variables into regression functions using binary variables, thus widening the scope of potential applications. Statistical inference for several coefficients allows analysts to make decisions about categorical variables and other important applications. Categorical explanatory variables also provide the basis for an ANOVA model, a special type of regression model that permits easier analysis and interpretation. The Role of Binary Variables Categorical variables provide labels for observations to denote membership in distinct groups, or categories. A binary variable is a special case of a categorical variable. To illustrate, a binary variable may tell us whether someone has health insurance. A categorical variable could tell us whether someone has Private group insurance (offered by employers and associations), Private individual health insurance (through insurance companies), Public insurance (e.g., Medicare or Medicaid) or No health insurance. For categorical variables, there may or may not be an ordering of the groups. For health insurance, it is difficult to order these four categories and say which is larger. In contrast, for education, we might group individuals into “low,” “intermediate,” and “high” years of education.
Medical therapy and prognosis in chronic heart failure. Lessons from clinical trials.

Medical therapy remains the first and, for the majority of patients, only option for the treatment of chronic heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. This article reviews the clinical evidence on which current approaches to therapy are predicated, discusses the pathophysiologic concepts learned from these studies, and introduces some of the most promising therapeutic agents currently under investigation for the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Acute allergic inflammation protects against influenza A virus induced morbidity in mice

A is a debilitating disease of the airways that affects over 200 million people worldwide. The asthma burden in the population, marked by disability and death, is highest in young and senior adults. Asthma was identified as a major risk factor associated with hospitalization during the 2009 influenza pandemic. However, retrospective analyses noted that asthmatics were less likely to suffer from complications associated with or die from influenza. Reasons for these seemingly counterintuitive findings were unclear. In order to study this effect in the laboratory setting, we aimed to generate a mouse model system of asthma and influenza co-morbidity using an Aspergillus fumigatus-induced mouse model of asthma and A/CA/04/2009 pandemic H1N1 strain of influenza virus. By varying the time of viral infection, we determined that mice infected with pH1N1 during allergic airways inflammation were protected against influenza measured by body weight loss. While early viral replication kinetics was similar between the asthma and flu mice compared to flu-controls, mice with asthma were able to clear virus from the lungs sooner than those without asthma. This clearance correlated with the infiltration of virus-specific CD8+ T cells. Influenza virus is cytopathic especially to the bronchial epithelial cells. We noted that bronchial epithelia of mice in the asthma and influenza groups retained their “healthy” morphology while cells in the flu-control animals were necrotic. Using human bronchial epithelial cells from healthy and asthmatic donors, we determined that in spite of viral replication, epithelial cells from asthmatic donors were resistant to influenza virus induced damage thereby highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings. Ongoing studies are aimed at identifying mechanisms that mediate altered outcomes during influenza in acute inflammation of allergic airways.
Inter-Agency Learning in United States Regulatory Policymaking

While a number of scholars have evaluated the strategies driving congressional decisions to delegate regulatory authority to administrative agencies, the literature has been largely restricted to evaluating the relationship between Congress and its administrative agent. I argue that this presents an incomplete picture of implementation given that it is typically carried out by multiple administrative actors that interact in multiple contexts and that share political principals. Such arrangements for overlapping jurisdiction and interagency organizations provide opportunities for agencies to learn from one another about the constraints of the political environment within which they are operating. This paper provides a preliminary examination of the extent to which administrative agencies can learn from other agencies the preferences of shared political principals and use that information to reshape their regulatory strategies. Using original data on Court of Appeals litigation directed at administrative agencies from the 93rd to the 113th Congress, as well as congressional delegation to administrative agencies within the text of the Statutes at Large, I provide preliminary evidence that when an agency observes a closely-linked agency facing legal constraints, it reshapes its own regulatory strategy so as to provoke less costly litigation. The results pave the way toward further, more in-depth examination of the spillover effects of bureaucratic punishment and the ways in which this inter-agency learning takes place over time.
Disobedient Markets: Street Vendors, Enforcement, and State Intervention in Collective Action:

At 50% of the global workforce, informal workers constitute a large, diffuse, and resource-poor group with high barriers to collective action. Contrary to scholars’ expectations, informal workers o...
A Framework and Implementation for Detecting Source Code Faults in COBOL Code

Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL) is a nearly 60-year-old programming language that resides on the majority of mainframe computers that service key industries, such as the banking, healthcare, and insurance industries. Due to its important function in running much of the digital economy, at least one major bank is turning its attention to detecting aberrations in COBOL code. In this paper, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the current COBOL/mainframe environment. This brings to bear the critical role COBOL plays in mainframe information technology infrastructure and the risks associated with running decades-old code. We explore various source code analysis techniques and develop a framework for applying one technique to analyze COBOL code for source code faults (SCFs). We implement the framework, test our tool in a real-world banking environment, and are able to detect SCFs in the bank’s COBOL code. According to the internal audit team at the bank, there are many benefits to using the tool. We conclude the paper with a proposal for a modified framework that would allow for more advanced predictive analytics over time.
PEO-PPO diblock copolymers protect myoblasts from hypo-osmotic stress in vitro dependent on copolymer size, composition, and architecture

Poloxamer 188, a triblock copolymer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), protects cellular membranes from various stresses. Though numerous block copolymer variants exist, evaluation of alternative architecture, composition, and size has been minimal. Herein, cultured murine myoblasts are exposed to the stresses of hypotonic shock and isotonic recovery, and membrane integrity was evaluated by quantifying release of lactate dehydrogenase. Comparative evaluation of a systematic set of PEO–PPO diblock and PEO–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers demonstrates that the diblock architecture can be protective in vitro. Short PPO blocks hinder protection with >9 PPO units needed for protection at 150 μM and >16 units needed at 14 μM. Addition of a tert-butyl end group enhances protection at reduced concentration. When the end group and PPO length are fixed, increasing the PEO length improves protection. This systematic evaluation establishes a new in vitro screening tool for evaluating membrane-s...
Tutorials for Electrophysiological Recordings in Neuronal Tissue Engineering

Electrophysiology is a powerful tool to examine cellular functions, but the use of the techniques remains challenging outside of physiology and neuroscience fields. We aim to provide a practical methods guide for electrophysiological recordings to nonexperts in the field to help with the utility of these important research tools. We focus on two techniques that are critical in the context of tissue engineering, whole-cell patch clamp recording for assessing cellular functions and extracellular field potential recording for evaluating network activities. Specific examples are presented to demonstrate how the techniques were applied to tissue engineering studies.
Growth of Three Bedding Plant Species in Soilless Mixes With Alkaline Stabilized Sewage Sludge

Abstract Three bedding plant species (‘Cooler Grape’ Vinca (Vinca rosea L.), ‘Roc Mix’ Pansy (Viola × Wittrochiana Gams.), and ‘Impulse Red’ Impatiens (Impatiens Wallerana Hook.f.) were grown in soilless mixes: aged N-Viro Soil from the City of Toledo, OH, aged N-Viro Soil blended with sphagnum peat (N-Viro Soilipeat, 3:1 by vol), BioBlend (composted leaf yard waste: N-Viro Soil, 2:1 by vol), and Sunshine Mix LC1. The N-Viro Soil-based media were high in pH (8.3–8.9), soluble salts (3.2–9.6 dS/m) and exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, compared to Sunshine mix. Total porosity was lower in the N-Viro Soil media (62 to 74%) compared to Sunshine (90%), while available water holding capacities were higher in Sunshine mix and N-Viro Soil-peat (7.4 and 7.6% H2O by volume, respectively) than in aged N-Viro Soil and BioBlend (5.4 and 5.9% H2O by volume, respectively). Differences among the media in growth index of impatiens were significant (p = 0.054). This reflected the low index for aged N-Viro Soil compared to the oth...
Amicus Curiae Brief of Federal Jurisdiction and Constitutional Law Scholars - Blumenthal v. Trump

Plaintiffs — 30 members of the United States Senate and 171 members of the United States House of Representatives — bring claims arising directly under the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which states that “no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” Plaintiffs allege that Defendant has accepted benefits from foreign governments that qualify as “Emolument[s]” without first seeking and obtaining “the Consent of the Congress,” as the Constitution requires. They therefore allege that the Defendant has injured them by eliminating their constitutional power to vote on whether to grant consent to proposed emoluments before those emoluments are accepted. This brief, on behalf of 16 scholars of federal jurisdiction, Article III standing, and constitutional law as amici curiae, argues that Plaintiffs’ claims fall squarely within the Supreme Court and D.C. Circuit’s case law recognizing that legislators have standing to sue when they have been denied an opportunity to cast a specific vote to which the Constitution entitles them. The brief also explains why — unlike the Plaintiffs in Raines v. Byrd and other cases in which legislative standing has been denied — there are no available legislative means to redress the Plaintiffs’ alleged injuries.
The Cumulative Health Record

(1949). The Cumulative Health Record. Journal of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation: Vol. 20, No. 7, pp. 444-490.