cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Natural Spatial Description Generation for Human-Robot Interaction in Indoor Environments

This paper proposes a spatial language generation system to communicate with a person about the location of an object in an indoor environment. It aims at finding a short, accurate and human-like description for building a natural and friendly interface between robots and humans using spatial language interaction. The system performs an inverse procedure to spatial language grounding which links natural commands to robot actions. The system works in two steps. It will first search for the best matching grounding model which describes the spatial relations between the target object and the references; then it will generate the natural language by mimicking a human's talking style. A corpus of 149 spatial language commands for an indoor environment fetch task is used to train the language generation model. An early-stage experiment is conducted and the results illustrate a potential for further development.
Behavioral Black-Scholes

The chapter develops an example to illustrate a behavioral counterpart to the Black–Scholes formula. Although simple, the example develops a closed-form solution for a behavioral version of Black–Scholes and illustrates that option smiles are a feature of the behavioral framework. Both heterogeneous beliefs and heterogeneous risk tolerance can interfere with options being priced by the Black–Scholes formula. However, the impact of heterogeneous beliefs has the propensity to be more severe for short horizons. It develops a behavioral approach to option pricing. The discussion begins with some general characterization results, which are analogous to the term structure of interest rates. It presents some general pricing expressions for options. These options serve to identify how investor beliefs affect option prices in equilibrium. The first expression, based on the standard risk-neutral density approach, involves the arguments used to demonstrate how discrete time option pricing formulas converge to the Black–Scholes formula in the limit. The second option pricing expression that demonstrates how investors' beliefs, operating through the beliefs of the representative investor, affect option prices. The third option pricing expression reflects a “snapshot in time” approach. The “snapshot in time” expression depends only on variables associated with the expiration date. In particular, the expressions make clear the manner in which sentiment is manifest in option prices.
Hospitalization of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is a major cause of direct and indirect healthcare costs.

Objectives The objective of this study was to calculate the direct and indirect costs of admission for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, identify the population at risk and investigate potential reasons for admission. Methods We conducted a financial analysis of all admissions for SLE to Strong Memorial Hospital between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2015. Patient and financial records for admissions with a SLE diagnosis for the above period were retrieved. The total cost of admissions was used as a measure of direct costs and the length of stay used to assess indirect costs. Additionally, we analyzed the demographics of the hospitalized population. Results The average, annual cost of confirmed admissions to Strong Memorial Hospital for SLE was US$3.9-6.4 m. The mean annual cost per patient for hospitalization was US$51,808.41. The length of stay for all SLE patients was 1564-2507 days with an average of 8.5 days per admission. The majority of patients admitted were young women from the city of Rochester. Infections were the most common reason for admissions. Conclusion We demonstrated that admissions are a source of high direct and indirect costs to the hospital and a significant financial burden to the patient. Implementing measures to improve the quality of care for SLE patients will help decrease the morbidity and lower the economic costs to hospitals.
CREBH mediates metabolic inflammation to hepatic VLDL overproduction and hyperlipoproteinemia

Metabolic inflammation is closely associated with hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The current study established that cAMP-responsive-element-binding protein H (CREBH), an acute-phase transcription factor, enhances very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and secretion by upregulating apolipoprotein B (apoB) expression and contributes to metabolic inflammation-associated hyperlipoproteinemia induced by TNFα, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and high-fat diet (HFD) in mice. Specifically, overexpression of CREBH significantly induced mRNA and protein expression of apoB in McA-7777 cells. Luciferase assay further revealed that the presence of CREBH could significantly increase the activity of the apoB gene promoter. In contrast, genetic depletion of CREBH in mice resulted in significant reduction in expression of hepatic apoB mRNA. Challenging mice with an acute fat load led to upregulation of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoprotein secretion in wild type mice, but not in CREBH-null mice. TNFα treatment activated hepatic CREBH expression, which in turn enhanced hepatic apoB biosynthesis and VLDL secretion. Metabolic inflammation induced by LPS or HFD also resulted in overproduction of apoB and hyperlipoproteinemia in wild type mice, but not in CREBH-null mice. This study demonstrates that CREBH could be a mediator between metabolic inflammation and hepatic VLDL overproduction in chronic metabolic disorders. This novel finding establishes CREBH as the first transcription factor that regulates apoB expression on the transcriptional level and the subsequent VLDL biosynthesis in response to metabolic inflammation. The study also provides novel insight into the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia in metabolic syndrome.
Same as it Ever Was

There has been much recent attention to understandings of our contemporary moment as what is being called “the new Jim Crow” (e.g., Alexander, 2012; Forman, 2012). This talk has primarily centered around discussions of ongoing practices in law and the criminal “justice” system that continue to lead to the overwhelmingly disproportionate incarceration of African American, Latinx and other people (often males) of color.
Sterically encumbered dianionic dicarboranyl pincer ligand (C5H3N)(C2B10H11)2 and its CNC Nickel(II) complex

Abstract The novel 2,6-bis(carborane)pyridine (C5H3N)(C2B10H11)2 ligand precursor containing two icosahedral carborane clusters attached to the pyridine ring was synthesized by the SNAr reaction between 2,6-difluoropyridine and lithiated ortho-carborane LiC2B10H11. Lithiation of the proligand at carbon atoms of carborane cages and the subsequent reaction with Ni(PPh3)2Cl2 afforded the square-planar Ni(II) pincer complex {(C5H3N)(C2B10H10)2}Ni(CH3CN). X-ray single crystal diffraction revealed extreme steric hindrance around the metal center in the complex imposed by two carboranyl groups in the rigid pincer-type framework, which was also manifested by the high value of the ligand buried volume %Vbur = 70.6%. The title pincer complex {(C5H3N)(C2B10H10)2}Ni(CH3CN) was found to be a competent catalyst for nucleophilic addition of piperidine to acetonitrile.
The Kremlin Kronicle: A Short Reflection

A short reflection on the 2017 winner of the Virginia Tech History Department's Digital History Prize.
Real-Time and Low-Power Streaming Source Separation Using Markov Random Field

Machine learning (ML) has revolutionized a wide range of recognition tasks, ranging from text analysis to speech to vision, most notably in cloud deployments. However, mobile deployment of these ideas involves a very different category of design problems. In this article, we develop a hardware architecture for a sound source separation task, intended for deployment on a mobile phone. We focus on a novel Markov random field (MRF) sound source separation algorithm that uses expectation-maximization and Gibbs sampling to learn MRF parameters on the fly and infer the best separation of sources. The intrinsically iterative algorithm suggests challenges for both speed and power. A real-time streaming FPGA implementation runs at 150MHz with 207KB RAM, achieves a speed-up of 22× over a software reference, performs with an SDR of up to 7.021dB with 1.601ms latency, and exhibits excellent perceived audio quality. A 45nm CMOS ASIC virtual prototype simulated at 20MHz shows that this architecture is small (
Assessment and Treatment of Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome

Delayed sleep phase syndrome can be a very frustrating and debilitating problem for patients. It often results in poor school or work histories, family discord, disturbed social relationships, and, at times, depression related to the intractable and uncontrollable nature of the disorder. This sleep—wake schedule disorder is characterized by a chronic inability to sleep at a desired or “socially acceptable” hour. Sleep onset is often delayed until early morning (3:00 to 6:00 A.M.) with a usual arousal time of late morning to early afternoon (11:00 A.M. to 3:00 PM.). Otherwise, sleep is “normal.” A history of being a “night owl” is typical. Over an extended time period, the cumulative sleep debt often leads patients to complain of daytime somnolence. In an effort to cope with the disorder, patients may self-medicate with hypnotics or alcohol to help them get to sleep and with stimulants to decrease daytime sleepiness. Therefore, a substance abuse problem may also complicate the diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Treatment of malignant cutaneous tumors.

Malignant cutaneous tumors, consisting primarily of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, are exceedingly common. Diagnosis is made by visual examination of the skin surface and biopsy of any suspicious lesions. Treatment for most tumors is surgical (excision), although some basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas may be cured by field destructive techniques (cryosurgery, electrodesiccation and curet tage, radiotherapy, and laser surgery). Chemotherapy and immunotherapy may be helpful in the control of advanced, multiple, and metastatic cancers. To decrease morbidity and mortality from malignant cutaneous tumors, effort should be directed toward identification of early lesions as well as prevention.
Radiology: closing a century, opening a millennium.

As we close the file on the first century of radiology, we honor the pioneers and reflect on the progress they started. We also open a new file, not just a new century, but a new millennium of opportunity. The dramatic technologic advances in diagnostic imaging within recent decades have provided the foundation for expanding our activities in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. We are no longer just dental radiology; we can no longer rest on the teaching and practice of conventional dental radiography. We can summarize in one word the direction our efforts must take in opening the millennium: research. Only with research at the fundamental as well as clinical level can we continue to expand our service to the public, to our patients, and to our colleagues.
Tatsey and the Enemy-Friend

The Native American Renaissance has generated a number of excellent discussions of tribal humor, including Vine Deloria’s Custer Died for Your Sins. In the book’s pivotal chapter, “Indian Humor,” Deloria reminds readers that humor is often simultaneously entertaining and an essential aspect of survival: “When a people can laugh at themselves and laugh at others and hold all aspects of life together without letting anybody drive them to extremes, then it seems to me that that people can survive.”1 These discussions of tribal humor are varied, ranging from analyses by and about American Indians such as Deloria; mainstream scholars attempting to locate Indians within the larger genre of humor; and postmodern texts such as movies, stand-up comedy, and television shows. Although many of them are yet to be reported, there are also important local and specific strands of tribal humor that serve to illustrate the rich diversity among various tribes. I am particularly interested in lesser-known aspects such as the Gros Ventre concept of “enemy-friend” and humorists such as John Tatsey, a Blackfeet man who was not only a tribal policeman in the Blackfeet community for many years but also wrote a regular column for the Glacier County Reporter, a newspaper serving the Browning, Montana, community. Custer Died for Your Sins is specifically Native and a near-mandatory source for discussions of American Indian humor. It is also interesting to note that Custer Died for Your Sins was, for practical purposes, Deloria’s opening salvo in a subsequent career that was caustic in its criticism of mainstream authority and Indians alike. Not unlike Arthur Penn’s use of the humorous Old Lodge Skins character in order to deflect Hollywood censors’ attention from his
Tourism Destination Re-positioning and Strategies

Competition among tourism destinations continues apace with their ability to be truly distinctive in the marketplace ever more difficult as so many now seek to position themselves as great places to visit, as well as great places to live, work and study. This chapter analyzes the issues concerning strategic positioning in tourism destinations and the need for destinations to re-position themselves when change takes place in their macro and micro-environments. Following an overview of the many generic challenges facing the marketing, branding and positioning of destinations, including the highly complex and turbulent macro environment and the ever-increasingly competitive micro environment, the chapter explores the opportunities and challenges faced by destinations seeking to re-position themselves in the marketplace. In the face of much stiffer competition, a changing and more turbulent world order, and major innovations in tourism products, services and experiences, it is clear that all destinations have a challenging future ahead. Following a comparison of the positioning and re-positioning of two major destinations in the US, namely Orlando and Las Vegas, the chapter concludes by providing the reader with some projections for the future positioning and re-positioning of destinations.
Sex Differences in Lexical Vigilance Performance

Lexical vigilance is the ability to sustain attention to lexical, semantic, and language-related stimuli, such as words or symbols, for extended periods of time. One gap in the empirical investigat...
Religious involvement, God images, and life satisfaction

This study addresses two issues. The first is to identify the aspects of religious life that are associated with benevolent images of God including denominational affiliation (Conservative Christia...
Third trimester predictors of interventional timing and accuracy of fetal anticipatory guidance in tetralogy of Fallot: A multi-center study

OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate and improve accuracy of anticipatory counseling regarding neonatal intervention for prenatally diagnosed tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) by assessing new and previously published predictors of neonatal intervention. METHODS This is a multi-center, retrospective study from three centers of 112 fetal TOF patients undergoing third trimester fetal echocardiograms from 2004 to 2017. Additional cardiac defects requiring neonatal intervention were excluded. Fetal echocardiographic, clinical, and consultation data were compared between neonatal and late intervention. Optimal echocardiographic values were determined. RESULTS Twenty-six infants (23%) required neonatal intervention. Those infants had significantly different pulmonary valve (PV) z-scores, PV:aortic valve (AoV) ratios, PV:AoV z-score differences (absolute difference between z-scores), and increased likelihood of abnormal ductal flow. Counseling during fetal echocardiogram regarding interventional timing was accurate for 50% needing neonatal intervention and 86% undergoing late intervention (P = .002). The best neonatal intervention predictors were PV:AoV ratio of <0.6 and counseling for neonatal intervention. PV:AoV z-score difference ≥5 provided 89% negative predictive value for excluding patients from neonatal repair. CONCLUSIONS Third trimester fetal echocardiograms can predict interventional timing. The best predictors of neonatal intervention are PV:AoV ratio <0.6, PV:AoV z-score difference ≥5, and cardiologist counseling that neonatal intervention was likely.
Low temperature water-gas shift: Optimization of K loading on Pt/m-ZrO2 for enhancing CO conversion

Abstract Previous work showed that alkali doping of Pt/ZrO2 significantly improved the LT-WGS rate. This improvement was caused by an acceleration in the rate of formate decomposition, the rate limiting step of an associative mechanism, through electronically weakening the C H bond. In this study, the effects that potassium loading on Pt/ZrO2 have on the rate of LT-WGS and the strength of the C H bond in intermediate formate species are explored. Catalysts were investigated using in-situ DRIFTS, TPR-MS, TPD, EXAFS, and catalyst testing. Loadings of 1.7 wt.% potassium or higher shifted the formate ν(CH) band to significantly lower wavenumbers, indicating weakening of the bond. For the optimal loading, 2.6 wt.% K, the formate C H bond was significantly weakened, and the surface of Pt nanoparticles remained largely uncovered. However, loadings of 3.4 wt. % and above blocked the surface of the platinum nanoparticles. This, in addition to an increasing average Pt0 cluster size, hindered platinum from assisting in dehydrogenation of formate during steam promoted formate decomposition occurring in LT-WGS.
Direct measurements of complex permittivity and permeability of magnetic materials

Dispersive Fourier transform spectrometric technique was applied to a polarizing two beam interferometer to measure the complex magnetic permeability. The specimen was placed at the center of a Bitter solenoid high intensity magnet to seperate out complex magnetic permeability from combined dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability information. experimentally. The induced ferrimagnetic resonance moves to a higher frequency as the applied external magnetic field intensity values were increased to 100,000 Gauss. This reliable technique can now be used routinely: for the measurement of complex dielectric permittivity and complex magnetic permeability of cubic and hexagonal ferrite materials.
Can Social Media Listening Platforms’ Artificial Intelligence Be Trusted? Examining the Accuracy of Crimson Hexagon’s (Now Brandwatch Consumer Research’s) AI-Driven Analyses

Practitioners and scholars increasingly employ social media listening platforms (SMLPs) driven by artificial intelligence (AI) to extract actionable insights from large amounts of social media data...
Understanding the Effect of Stress on Surface Roughening during Silicon Spalling: A Theoretical and Experimental Study

Spalling has been proposed as a promising kerfless technique for slicing thinner wafers (down to 5 μm) and thus enhance the wafer yield from an ingot. The main challenge of spalling is to control the roughness and thickness variation of the spalled wafers that can be as high as 100% of the wafer thickness. The roughness affects the mechanical stability (due to surface defects) as well as the effective minority carrier lifetime (surface recombination velocity). In this paper, we have developed a dynamic finite element analysis to correlate the surface roughness of a spalled silicon wafer with the stress applied at the crack tip. These predictions were experimentally validated with crack velocity measurements and surface roughness analysis for different applied stresses. By controlling the stress applied, we were able to reduce the surface roughness in silicon by 62%.
Interobserver reproducibility of the diagnosis of differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion (DEVIL) and the distinction from its mimics.

AIMS Most vulvar squamous cell carcinomas are human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated or TP53-mutant. A third category of HPV-independent TP53-wild-type lesions is uncommon and not fully understood. Differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion (DEVIL) has been characterised as a precursor of this latter category. The reproducibility of the diagnosis of DEVIL and its distinction from lesions with overlapping morphology has not been studied. Our aim was to establish the interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of DEVIL and its distinction from neoplastic and reactive conditions of the vulva on haematoxylin and eosin evaluation. METHODS AND RESULTS A set of 35 slides was evaluated by eight reviewers (two trainees and six practising gynaecological pathologists). The set included DEVIL, condyloma, established vulvar precursors [high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dVIN)] with superimposed acanthosis or verruciform growth, lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), and psoriasis. Kappa (κ) values were calculated. Overall, interobserver agreement was moderate (κ = 0.56), improving to substantial (κ = 0.7) when evaluation was performed by practising pathologists. Agreement was strong for the diagnosis of HSIL (κ = 0.88), and substantial for the diagnosis of DEVIL (κ = 0.61), condyloma (κ = 0.79), and LSC (κ = 0.72). Agreement was moderate for the diagnosis of dVIN (κ = 0.59) and psoriasis (κ = 0.53). Perfect agreement (6/6) among practising pathologists was observed in 43% of cases, and majority agreement (5/6 or 4/6) was observed in 48% of cases. CONCLUSIONS Reproducibility in the diagnosis of verruciform vulvar lesions, including the novel DEVIL, is acceptable overall. Reproducibility is higher for well-known lesions such as HSIL and condyloma than for more challenging diagnoses such as DEVIL, dVIN, and psoriasis. Agreement is higher among practising gynaecological pathologists, suggesting that training and experience improve reproducibility. Our findings support the inclusion of DEVIL as a diagnostic entity in the classification of vulvar squamous lesions.
Prophets for an Algorithmic Age

In this contribution to the Boston University Law Review Online's symposium "Critical Legal Research: The Next Wave (A Panel in Honor of Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic)," Nicholas Mignanelli engages Delgado and Stefancic's theory of the “triple helix dilemma” to suggest where scholarship on artificial intelligence and legal research might go from here.
Operators and Transformations

This chapter develops a system of mathematical concepts of great utility in all branches of physics. Linear operators and transformations are represented in terms of geometric algebra to facilitate computation. The group theory of rotations, reflections and translations is discussed in detail. The most important result is a compact spinor representation of finite rotations, which is shown to be a powerful computational device. This representation is used to develop the kinematics of rigid motions, which, in turn, is applied to the description of reference frames and motion with respect to moving frames.
Self-aware networks and quality of service

We show how "self-awareness", through on-line self-monitoring and measurement, coupled with intelligent adaptive behaviour in response to observed data, can be used to offer quality of service to network users. We first describe the general principles which govern our design, and briefly describe the experimental packet network system we have built in which users are allowed to specify their QoS objectives. The network uses on-line adaptive traffic routing to try to meet the users' QoS requests. Cognitive or smart packets are used for self-observation, and reinforcement learning with neural networks is implemented at network nodes to seek new paths and deduce improved paths from existing routes. First we show how the network is able to discover routes, beginning with an "empty state" and starting from a random search. Secondly we show how our network can intelligently direct traffic through the Internet to optimize web traffic for a user by offering the best quality of service through different Internet Service Providers.
Multi-Fluid Transport Modeling of NSTX Upgrade Standard and Snowflake Divertor Configurations

In NSTX Upgrade (NSTX-U), power exhaust is expected to challenge available material and heat removal technologies, which are limited to ∼10 MW/m2. Preliminary analysis of heat flux mitigation strategies, including the snowflake divertor configuration and radiative divertor operation, is performed with the multi-fluid edge transport code, UEDGE. Divertor recycling between 95% and 99%, and power exhaust between 7 and 9 MW are explored. Compared to the standard divertor, the particular snowflake divertor studied here strongly reduces outer target heat flux, but tends to have higher (>10 MW/m2) inner target heat flux. This suggests that snowflake divertor optimization should be pursued in future work. Both neon and argon impurity seeding scenarios mitigate high heat fluxes in both standard and snowflake configurations, but argon can cause radiative collapse of the core plasma at only 3% concentration. Divertor cryopumping is also considered, and modeling shows ∼50% more particle removal with the snowflake divertor. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Preferences for Risk in a Dynamic Model with Consumption Commitments

This paper characterizes the solution to the consumption/savings decision problem in the presence of consumption commitments (goods that involve fixed transaction costs and are infrequently adjusted). The findings in recent theoretical literature have suggested that consumption commitments may help explain simultaneous purchasing of insurance and lotteries as well as the equity premium puzzle because they (i) create incentives for gambling and (ii) amplify risk aversion with respect to small risks. This paper argues that even though these predictions naturally arise in static models, they do not necessarily hold in a dynamic setup. We show that (i) the possibility of choosing when to adjust the consumption level of the commitment good can eliminate the gambling motive and (ii) the agents, who plan to make the adjustment in the future, become more tolerant to small risks due to the presence of consumption commitments.
A single-step, single-inductor energy-harvestingbased power supply platform with a regulated battery charger for mobile applications

An energy-harvesting-based power supply platform for mobile applications such as cell phones, tablets and laptops is presented. The proposed platform combines the process of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) from the energyharvesting source with the process of generating a regulated power supply together in a single power conversion step. Therefore, it achieves higher efficiency than conventional platforms where two cascaded power conversion stages are required to maintain both MPPT and voltage regulation. Moreover, the proposed platform incorporates a battery charger that leverages the excess energy beyond the load demand to charge a battery in a regulated manner following the Constant Current Constant Voltage (CCCV) procedure, and thus ensures safe charging compared to conventional platforms. When the harvested energy is less than the load demand, the charger provides the difference by routing energy from the battery to the load in order to maintain regulation at all times. The proposed platform is implemented in 0.25µm standard CMOS technology and system level simulations are presented to demonstrate the system functionality under various operating scenarios.
Policy Heterogeneity in Empirical Corporate Finance

Standard econometric methods can overlook the issue of heterogeneity in corporate policy making, generating biased estimates. We propose ways to identify and address the firm policy heterogeneity bias in practice. In doing so, we introduce a new test determining whether standard firm-fixed effects estimations are subject to heterogeneity biases in corporate applications. Examining investment models to showcase our approach, we show that heterogeneity bias-robust methods identify cash flow as a more important driver of investment than previously reported. Our study demonstrates analytically, via simulations, and empirically the importance of carefully accounting for firm heterogeneity in drawing conclusions about corporate policy.
A rheo-optical and materials approach to electrorheology

A technique was developed to measure simultaneously the rheological and optical response of electrorheological (ER) fluids in combined shear and electric fields. Rheo-optical results for a commercial ER fluid exhibit microstructural changes occurring upon application of an electric field that are well within the time frame of the rheological response. It is noted that additional evidence is needed to verify or refute particle fibrilation as the fundamental underlying mechanism necessary for ER activity. Novel fluids in which the dispersed particles are microcapsules with a polystyrene wall and primarily water core have been prepared. These fluids are ER-active and will be used in the future to investigate interfacial and bulk polarization modes independently. >
Enhancing Software Product Line Maintenance with Source Code Mining

Large-scale reuse and accelerated software development have been some of the key attractions behind software product lines. Various strategies and processes have been developed to facilitate product line development, maintenance, and evolution. However, experiences with software product lines also showed that it is a rather challenging task to maintain software product lines and families over a long period of time. The time and effort needed to manage and maintain product lines increase and quality degrades as product lines evolve. Without proper methods and tools to support the evolution, the cost can outweigh the benefits. This paper describes an approach to simplifying the maintenance of software product lines and improving software quality by integrating traditional software maintenance practices with pattern-based source code mining for defect detection and correction. Our case studies were performed in an industrial setting where the evolution of multiple mobile phone models of a product line was investigated.
Comments From the Managing Editor

I am a gardener. I love to buy small plants, nurture them, watch them grow. Sometimes I manage to place them in exactly the right spot and I am pleased with the results. Often, I end up moving plants around to get just the right look. When we moved into our home eight years ago, there were no borders. Now, my yards have large plantings. It took time, patience, and trial and error to establish my gardens. I work to maintain and improve the garden beds every year. I read garden magazines and learn from other gardeners. I spend the winter planning for new ideas to try out once spring arrives. Some ideas work, and some don’t, but that is fine, because I can make adjustments as each season brings changes to my garden.
Clinical pharmacokinetic pearls: bolus versus infusion equations.

Using a nonprogrammed calculator to solve lengthy pharmacokinetic equations is time consuming and carries the potential for entry error. Shorter equations reduce both the time and the risk. The aminoglycosides and vancomycin are usually administered as short infusions. The pharmacokinetic equation describing multiple-dose administration of short infusions is much longer than the corresponding equation for bolus dosing. This study examined the percentage errors that would occur using the bolus equation instead of the infusion equation at various drug half-lives. When the half-life is 5 or more times the duration of infusion, the error in predicting concentration is 6.8% or less. Although clinicians should make their own decisions on how much error is acceptable and whether introducing guaranteed error is appropriate to save time and reduce risk of potential error, it appears that the simpler bolus equation may be used safely when the half-life is at least 5 times the duration of the infusion.
Induction of optimal mucosal antibody responses: effects of age, immunization route(s), and dosing schedule in rats.

The antitoxin response in intestinal mucosa was studied in rats immunized either intestinally or by combined parenteral and intestinal dosing with cholera toxin or cholera toxoid. Attention was given to the duration of enteric priming and the magnitude and time course of mucosal anti-cholera toxin responses in rats of defined age. Cholera toxin given only intraduodenally was a more efficient priming immunogen in young rats than in older rats and caused priming that lasted at least 32 weeks; repeated enteric doses increased local priming and repeatedly evoked vigorous mucosal anti-cholera toxin responses which occurred rapidly and declined slowly. Results differed when a portion of the immunizing regimen was parenteral. Cholera toxoid given intraperitoneally (i.p.) caused mucosal priming that peaked promptly and then rapidly declined; parenteral boosting after enteric priming was much more effective given i.p. than subcutaneously; moreover, the booster response was brief, virtually disappearing within 11 days, and could not be reproduced by a second i.p. immunization. These results accord with evidence that parenteral immunization both stimulates and suppresses mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A responses, whereas local immunization is not known to be suppressive. Evidence for parenterally induced suppression was the rapid decline in mucosal priming after i.p. immunization, the shortened mucosal antibody response after i.p. immunization, and possibly the inability to parenterally evoke a booster response twice. In these studies, the level of priming observed at different intervals after parenteral, enteric, or combined immunization appeared to reflect the sum of priming and suppressive effects evoked by the preceding immunization(s).
Oriceps: Origami-Inspired Forceps

This paper presents the conceptualization and modeling of a compliant forceps design, which we have called Oriceps, as an example of origami-inspired design that has application in a variety of settings including robotic surgeries. Current robotic forceps often use traditional mechanisms with parts that are difficult to clean, wear quickly, and are challenging to fabricate due to their complexity and small size. The Oriceps design is based on the spherical kinematic configurations of several action origami models, and can be fabricated by cutting and folding flat material. This design concept has potential implementation as surgical forceps because it would require fewer parts, be easier to sterilize, and be potentially suitable for both macro and micro scales. The folded and planar characteristics of this design could be amenable to application of smart materials resulting in smaller scale, greater tool flexibility, integrated actuation, and an adaptability to a variety of tool functions. The suitability of shape-memory materials for use in Oriceps is discussed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Rosuvastatin prevented ischemic stroke in healthy older adults with elevated C-reactive protein

Source Citation Everett BM, Glynn RJ, MacFadyen JG, Ridker PM. Rosuvastatin in the prevention of stroke among men and women with elevated levels of C-reactive protein. Justification for the Use of ...
FACTOR VIII COLLECTION BY PHERESIS

Abstract A new blood donation procedure for obtaining selectively the proteins in cryoprecipitate consists of sequential automated plasma exchanges, in which the donor's fresh plasma is replaced with the autologous cryoprecipitate supernatant from the previous exchange donation. Fresh plasma is processed into cryoprecipitate and supernatant, both of which are frozen and stored. Six donors have undergone a total of twenty-six exchange donations of 1.5 to 2 litres. No adverse effects have been encountered. The yield of factor VIII per unit of plasma processed decreases during a donation but remains substantial in the last unit of plasma obtained from a 2 litre exchange. The average total yield of factor VIII from a donation was 730 U. The increased yield of factor VIII per donor may reduce the donor exposure, and hence the hepatitis risk, associated with factor VIII replacement therapy.
The fiber caliber of 5-HT immunoreactive axons in the dorsolateral funiculus of the spinal cord of the rat and cat.

Although there is considerable evidence that the analgesic action of electrical brain stimulation is mediated in part by serotonergic (5-HT) axons in the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF) of the spinal cord, studies in the rat have questioned the existence of this pathway. In this study, we used antisera directed against a conjugate of 5-HT and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to identify immunoreactive 5-HT axons in the DLF of the rat and cat. Both light and electron-microscopic studies were performed so that the fiber caliber of the labeled axons could also be determined. We found a rich complement of immunoreactive 5-HT axons in the DLF of both rat and cat. Although these could be seen without difficulty in the normal cat, in the rat it was necessary to make a lesion of the DLF to build up the staining rostrally. Ultrastructural analysis established that almost all of the labeled axons (in rat and cat) were unmyelinated. We conclude that there are indeed 5-HT immunoreactive axons in the DLF of the rat and cat. Th...
Nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate: CRISPLD genes and the folate gene pathway connection.

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) is a common birth defect that has a multifactorial etiology. Despite having substantial genetic liability, less than 15% of the genetic contribution to NSCLP has been delineated. In our efforts to dissect the genetics of NSCLP, we found that variation in the CRISPLD2 (cysteine rich secretory protein LCCL domain containing 2) gene is associated with NSCLP and that the protein is expressed in the developing murine craniofacies. In addition, we found suggestive linkage of NSCLP (LOD>1.0) to the chromosomal region on 8q13.2-21.13 that contains the CRISPLD1 gene. The protein products of both CRISPLD1 and CRISPLD2 contain more cysteine residues than comparably sized proteins. Interestingly, the folic acid pathway produces endogenous cysteines, and variation in genes in this pathway is associated with NSCLP. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that variation in CRISPLD1 contributes to NSCLP and that both CRISPLD genes interact with each other and genes in the folic acid pathway. SNPs in CRISPLD1 were genotyped in our nonHispanic white and Hispanic multiplex and simplex NSCLP families. There was little evidence for a role of variation for CRISPLD1 alone in NSCLP. However, interactions were detected between CRISPLD1/CRISPLD2 SNPs and variation in folate pathway genes. Altered transmission of one CRISPLD1 SNP was detected in the nonHispanic white simplex families. Importantly, interactions were detected between SNPs in CRISPLD1 and CRISPLD2 (15 interactions, 0.0031≤p<0.05). These novel findings suggest that CRISPLD1 plays a role in NSCLP through the interaction with CRISPLD2 and folate pathway genes.
Correction to "On the relationship between controllability indexes, eigenvector assignment, and deadbeat control"

The paragraph immediately following the proof of proposition 2 in the this article (see ibid., vol. AC-29, no. 1, pp. 77-79, 1984) states a result incorrectly; however, the other results remain unaffected. The result is corrected.
Sodium channels in the Cx43 gap junction perinexus may constitute a cardiac ephapse: an experimental and modeling study

It has long been held that electrical excitation spreads from cell-to-cell in the heart via low resistance gap junctions (GJ). However, it has also been proposed that myocytes could interact by non-GJ-mediated “ephaptic” mechanisms, facilitating propagation of action potentials in tandem with direct GJ-mediated coupling. We sought evidence that such mechanisms contribute to cardiac conduction. Using super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrate that Nav1.5 is localized within 200 nm of the GJ plaque (a region termed the perinexus). Electron microscopy revealed close apposition of adjacent cell membranes within perinexi suggesting that perinexal sodium channels could function as an ephapse, enabling ephaptic cell-to-cell transfer of electrical excitation. Acute interstitial edema (AIE) increased intermembrane distance at the perinexus and was associated with preferential transverse conduction slowing and increased spontaneous arrhythmia incidence. Inhibiting sodium channels with 0.5 μM flecainide uniformly slowed conduction, but sodium channel inhibition during AIE slowed conduction anisotropically and increased arrhythmia incidence more than AIE alone. Sodium channel inhibition during GJ uncoupling with 25 μM carbenoxolone slowed conduction anisotropically and was also highly proarrhythmic. A computational model of discretized extracellular microdomains (including ephaptic coupling) revealed that conduction trends associated with altered perinexal width, sodium channel conductance, and GJ coupling can be predicted when sodium channel density in the intercalated disk is relatively high. We provide evidence that cardiac conduction depends on a mathematically predicted ephaptic mode of coupling as well as GJ coupling. These data suggest opportunities for novel anti-arrhythmic therapies targeting noncanonical conduction pathways in the heart.
The magnetic heart vector.

Abstract Records of the magnetic field due to the heart can be obtained in a hospital environment without the use of a magnetically shielded room. It is possible to build a magnetocardiograph sensitive primarily to the tangential components of the heart's EMF's. This is in contrast to ECG's where the radial component is emphasized and usually masks any tangential components. Tangential EMF components lying in frontal planes cause current to circulate around the front-to-back (z) axis, and can be assigned a vector direction along this axis. Similarly, tangential EMF's in sagittal and horizontal planes can be associated with x and y directed vectors. The vector sum of these three components is the spatial “magnetic heart vector.” The magnetic heart vector is conceptually similar to, and can be displayed using the same techniques as, the “heart vector” of electrovectorcardiography but is of radically different interpretation. Ideal magnetocardiographic leads, analogous to ideal electrovectorcardiographic leads, are defined in terms of the lead fields produced. Our present magnetocardiograph, while not specifically designed to implement the ideas of this paper, does give evidence that there are some tangentially oriented EMF components in persons without heart disease, and often much larger tangential EMF's in persons with heart disease.
266 PET-FDG uptake as a prognostic indicator in gliomas

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) provides quantitative and qualitative data on cerebral glucose consumption and is used in the evaluation of intracranial neoplasms. We have examined the value of PET-FDG uptake on glial tumor prognosis. Material and Methods PET scans of 31 patients with Grade 2–4 gliomas were evaluated prospectively on a semiquantitative scale from 0–4 according to avidity of 18-FDG uptake. Mean age of the patient group was 40.4 years, mean follow-up period was 42 months. Actuarial progression free survival was calculated as correlative endpoint. Results High FDG-uptake scores correlated with a worse prognosis (42% vs. 22% actuarial 5 year progression free survival, P Conclusion Avidity of FDG uptake in our patient group provided additional and complementary information to conventional factors such as age and grade with regard to prognosis.
Household Task Participation of Children With and Without Physical Disability

We examined household task participation patterns of 46 children and youth with and without physical disability (PD) and explored the effects of age on roles of and expectations for these children in household task participation. Children with PD did not differ significantly from those without PD in the number of household tasks they performed; however, they did require more assistance than those without PD. In both groups, younger children performed significantly fewer household tasks and required significantly more help than older children. These findings further support the discriminant validity of the Children Helping Out: Responsibilities, Expectations, and Supports (Dunn, 2004) measure of household task participation and its use with adolescents. Assessing such participation would help caregivers and practitioners more successfully prepare children and youths with PD for independent living. Considering the roles and opportunities for social participation inherent in many household tasks will contribute to the usefulness of examining such participation.
Laminar source flow between parallel porous disks

An analysis is presented for laminar source flow between infinite parallel porous disks. The solution is in the form of a perturbation from the creeping flow solution. Expressions for the velocity, pressure, and shear stress are obtained and compared with the results based on the assumption of creeping flow.
Colorectal liver metastases: recurrence and survival following hepatic resection, radiofrequency ablation, and combined resection-radiofrequency ablation.

Hypothesis Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is increasingly an accepted option for patients with colorectal liver metastases, patients treated with resection vs RFA may have different tumor biology profiles, which might confound the relationship between choice of liver-directed therapy and outcome. Design Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. Setting Major hepatobiliary center. Patients Between January 1, 1999, and August 30, 2006, 258 patients with colorectal liver metastases underwent hepatic resection with or without RFA. Main Outcome Measures Evaluation of outcome following resection alone, combined resection-RFA, and RFA alone using 3 statistical methods (paired-match control, Cox proportional hazards multivariate model, and propensity index) to identify and adjust for potential confounding variables. Results The median number of hepatic lesions was 2, and the median size of the largest lesion was 3.0 cm. One hundred ninety-two patients (74.4%) underwent resection alone, 55 patients (21.3%) underwent resection-RFA, and 11 patients (4.3%) underwent RFA alone. Patients who underwent resection-RFA had significantly increased risk of extrahepatic failure at 1 year vs patients who underwent resection alone or RFA alone ( P Conclusion Although results of matched control and multivariate analyses suggested that RFA with or without resection was associated with worse outcome, propensity score methods revealed that the resection-RFA and resection-alone groups were different with regard to baseline tumor and treatment-related factors, making causal inferences about the efficacy of RFA unreliable.
Silicon Nanophotonic Waveguide Modulator with Graphene Active Medium

This work presents a nanophotonic modulator with a graphene active medium that is compatible with the silicon photonic platform. Using compact polarization rotators, the proposed device can be efficiently coupled with silicon nanowire waveguides.