cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New classes of hybrid Hadamard-wavelet transforms for signal-image processing

It is apparent that there is no future for telemedicine without signal compression. In fact the very idea of sending X-rays and other medical images and information electronically could not have been brought up without advances in compression technology over the past two decades. Leading compression standards, such as JPEG/MPEG and those based on Hadamard matrix, have been successfully implemented in numerous signal/image coding/decoding applications ranging from satellites to medical imaging. On the other hand, ever-increasing requirements in signal recognition and transmission, particularly related to telemedicine, have challenged the researchers to develop new compression techniques better suited for each practical situation. The wavelet technology emerged as one of the most promising tools in that direction. Both wavelet and Hadamard transform based algorithms provide excellent quality biomedical signal reconstruction at high compression ratios and can be implemented in real-time on existing microprocessors. The objective of this study is to construct hybrid Hadamard-wavelet transforms and to develop corresponding optimal zonal sampling methods with the use of such transforms. The designed hybrid transforms can be useful in various specific signal processing applications where combining properties of Hadamard and wavelet transforms may be of particular benefit.
Linkage disequilibrium in crossbred and pure line chickens

Both genome-wide association (GWA) studies and genomic selection depend on the level of non-random association of alleles at different loci, i.e. linkage disequilibrium (LD), across the genome. Therefore, characterizing LD is of fundamental importance to implement both approaches. In this study, using a 60K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel, we estimated LD and haplotype structure in crossbred broiler chickens and their component pure lines (one male and two female lines) and calculated the consistency of LD between these populations. The average level of LD (measured by r 2) between adjacent SNPs across the chicken autosomes studied here ranged from 0.34 to 0.40 in the pure lines but was only 0.24 in the crossbred populations, with 28.4% of adjacent SNP pairs having an r 2 higher than 0.3. Compared with the pure lines, the crossbred populations consistently showed a lower level of LD, smaller haploblock sizes and lower haplotype homozygosity on macro-, intermediate and micro-chromosomes. Furthermore, correlations of LD between markers at short distances (0 to 10 kb) were high between crossbred and pure lines (0.83 to 0.94). Our results suggest that using crossbred populations instead of pure lines can be advantageous for high-resolution QTL (quantitative trait loci) mapping in GWA studies and to achieve good persistence of accuracy of genomic breeding values over generations in genomic selection. These results also provide useful information for the design and implementation of GWA studies and genomic selection using crossbred populations.
Endobrevin/VAMP-8–dependent dense granule release mediates thrombus formation in vivo

Individuals whose platelets lack dense or α-granules suffer various degrees of abnormal bleeding, implying that granule cargo contributes to hemostasis. Despite these clinical observations, little is known regarding the effects of impaired platelet granule secretion on thrombus formation in vivo. In platelets, SNARE proteins mediate the membrane fusion events required for granule cargo release. Endobrevin/VAMP-8 is the primary vesicle-SNARE (v-SNARE) responsible for efficient release of dense and α-granule contents; thus, VAMP-8−/− mice are a useful model to evaluate the importance of platelet granule secretion in thrombus formation. Thrombus formation, after laser-induced vascular injury, in these mice is delayed and decreased, but not absent. In contrast, thrombus formation is almost completely abolished in the mouse model of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, ruby-eye, which lacks dense granules. Evaluation of aggregation of VAMP-8−/− and ruby-eye platelets indicates that defective ADP release is the primary abnormality leading to impaired aggregation. These results demonstrate the importance of dense granule release even in the earliest phases of thrombus formation and validate the distal platelet secretory machinery as a potential target for antiplatelet therapies.
Cristobalite growth inhibitor in Pyrex borosilicate glass-gallium oxide

The effect of gallium oxide on cristobalite formation in Pyrex borosilicate glass has been studied. XRD results show that with 20 vol.% gallium oxide, the precipitation of cristobalite at 800 °C is completely prevented. This result is further evidenced by the linear thermal expansion measurement, in which, in contrast to the system without a sufficient amount of gallium oxide (0–10 vol.%), the thermal expansion coefficient of the composite with 20 vol.% gallium oxide remains unchanged with sintering time at the temperature investigated and, moreover, is very close to the theoretically calculated value.
Effect of γ-Radiation on Yield of Insulin from Beef Pancreas Glands

Beef pancreas glands were subjected to varying doses of γ -radiation to inactivate proteolytic enzymes and thus allow greater insulin yields via normal extraction procedures. An increase in yield was seen with doses greater than 10,000 rads, with the maximum yield obtained from a 20,000-rad dose.
Local Norming and Validation of an Adaptive Behavior Screening Instrument

Local norming data from the Brief Index of Adaptive Behavior (BIAB) are presented (Study 1), as are construct and concurrent validity data (Studies 1, 2, and 3). Participants were 430 children, 330 of whom were randomly selected within certain strata from one southeastern state. Factor analytic results from Study I yielded an easily interpreted three-factor solution, which accounts for 52% of the variance and corresponds to the three domains from the BIAB. Conventional item analysis techniques yielded significant item-domain (.66 to .87) and item-total (.64 to .79) coefficients. Reliability indices ranged from .93 to .97. Modest correlations emerged from comparisons of the BIAB to AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale-School Edition, ranging from .25 to .55. Stronger correlations were obtained from comparisons of the BIAB to the new Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-Classroom Edition, ranging from .64 to .71 for like-named domains. Because the BIAB is conveniently administered and scored, and is particularly amenab...
Image plane coded aperture detectors for THz imaging

Image plane coded aperture (IPCA) detectors are composed of a single element detector sensitive to the radiation frequencies of interest, a reconfigurable spatial light modulator (SLM), and a mechanism such as a lens or a horn that is used to collect the radiation modulated by the SLM and focus it on the sensing element. The IPCA detector is placed in the image plane of an imager and is used to make linear measurements on the image by modulating the signal spatially and/or temporally in amplitude, frequency, phase, or polarization. The image is then reconstructed computationally. In this paper we present an implementation of an IPCA detector that can be used for Terahertz imaging and discuss other possible implementations.
Evaluation of Hot Weather Thermal Environment and Incidence of Mortality Associated with Broiler Live Haul

SUMMARY Hot weather temperatures experienced by broilers during live haul were studied as they relate to the incidence of dead-on-arrival (DOA) mortality at processing. The DOA are those birds that have died between catching and the moment of slaughter. The data indicate that the thermal environment during catch, pretransport holding on transport trailers prior to movement off farm, and holding at the processing plant prior to unloading are primary points in which environmental temperatures impacting broilers can become elevated. The transport phase of live haul in this study does not appear to be associated with significant risk of birds overheating, whereas the pretransport and post transport segments hold potential for risk of heat stress. It is difficult to associate DOA to the individual segments of the live-haul process even when using postmortem examination.
An Econometric Model of the Medicare System

I. An overview of the Medicare model, 4.—II. Supplementary medical insurance, 5.—III. Hospital admissions, 8.—IV. Extended care unit admissions, 11.—V. Hospital insurance benefits per hospital episode (HIBPHE), 12.—VI. Supplementary insurance benefits, 15.—VII. The reduced form of the Medicare system, 16.—VIII. Concluding remarks, 19.
Prior hematologic conditions carry a high morbidity and mortality in patients supported with continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices.

Background Mechanical support leads to an increased risk of both bleeding and thrombotic events, but little is known about the risk of device support in patients with a baseline predisposition to these events. The aim of this study was to examine outcomes among patients with baseline hematologic conditions who underwent continuous-flow LVAD implantation (CF-LVAD). Methods We retrospectively reviewed records of 286 patients who underwent CF-LVAD implantation at the Columbia University Medical Center between April 2008 and December 2013. Patients diagnosed with the following hematologic conditions were enrolled: idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); Factor V Leiden; elevated Factor VIII; heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT); or undefined hypercoagulable state. Results Of the 286 CF-LVAD patients implanted during the study period, 12 were considered to have a significant hematologic condition predisposing them to either bleeding or thrombotic events. The study included 5 patients with ITP, 1 with Factor V Leiden, 1 with elevated Factor VIII, 2 with HIT and 3 patients with undefined hypercoagulable state. Patients were supported for a total of 168.46 months, with a median of 10.76 months (IQR 4.78 to 21.36 months). There was a high frequency of thrombotic (0.57 event per patient-year), neurologic (0.36 event per patient-year) and bleeding (0.64 event per patient-year). Actuarial survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 81.8%, but fell to 49% at 2 years. Conclusions Patients with a history of prior hematologic conditions are at high risk for bleeding, thrombotic and neurologic events during device support, leading to early mortality. This case series questions the benefit of CF-LVAD in these patients and the appropriate management with regard to anti-coagulation. Further studies on the outcomes of these patients are warranted.
A Small-Changes Approach Reduces Energy Intake in Free-Living Humans

Objective: America On the Move (AOM) is a national weight gain prevention initiative that promotes small lifestyle changes by increasing walking by 2000 steps/day and reducing energy intake by about 100 kcal/day. The study's intent was to determine the impact of these small changes recommendations on steps/day and energy intake.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, food and fluid intake and physical activity in 116 healthy overweight adults (BMI: 25–36 kg/m2; age: 18–60y) was compared between a non-intervention and an intervention week using diet diaries and pedometers. The major outcomes were steps/day, daily caloric intake, macronutrient intake and meal size. Within subject ANOVAs were conducted to compare results between intervention and non-intervention weeks.Results: Total energy intake was lower during intervention week than non-intervention week (P < .01), including macronutrient contents (all P's < .01), meal size (P < .01), consumption of sugar (P < .01), sugared sodas (P < .01) and sodium (P <...
Risk for Suicide and the Role of Family A Narrative Review

Limited research exists that examines the contribution of family factors to the development and treatment of suicide. Although suicidal behavior occurs within an individual, the context in which it occurs can add necessary insights for understanding and preventing suicide. In this article, the existing literature on the family’s psychosocial role in the development of suicidal behavior is reviewed. Additionally, a review of the limited research on the family’s role in treatment following a suicidal action is provided. Finally, several directions for future research and clinical work are discussed to enhance our understanding of the family’s role in preventing suicide.
Organellar dynamics during the cell cycle of Toxoplasma gondii

The protozoan phylum Apicomplexa encompasses approximately 5000 species of obligate intracellular parasites, including those responsible for malaria and toxoplasmosis. Rather than dividing by binary fission, apicomplexans use a remarkable mechanism for replication, assembling daughters de novo within the cytoplasm. Here, we exploit time-lapse microscopy of fluorescent markers targeted to various subcellular structures in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites to determine how these unicellular eukaryotes efficiently package a complete set of organelles, maintaining the highly polarized organization necessary for host cell invasion and pathogenesis. Golgi division and elongation of the apicoplast are among the first morphologically observable events, associated with an unusual pattern of centriolar migration. Daughter parasites are assembled on cytoskeletal scaffolding, whose growth proceeds from the apical end, first encapsulating the divided Golgi. Further extension of the cytoskeletal scaffold results in partitioning of the apicoplast, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and finally the mitochondrion, which enters the developing daughters rapidly, but only very late during the division cycle. The specialized secretory organelles (micronemes and rhoptries) form de novo. This distinctive pattern of replication -- in which organellar segregation spans approximately 75% of the cell cycle, completely encompassing S phase -- suggests an unusual mechanism of cell cycle regulation.
Wave Velocities in Granular Materials under Microgravity

Velocities of primary (P) and shear (S) waves in granular materials are highly dependent on confining stress. These wave velocities are related to mechanical properties of the materials such as stiffness, density, and stress history. Measurements of the wave velocities using piezoelectric sensors provide scientists and engineers a technique for nonintrusive characterization of those mechanical properties. For aerospace engineering, measuring the wave velocities under microgravity, which simulates low loading and stress conditions, has a number of potential applications. It can help the understanding of the soil mechanics and the development of appropriate materials handling technologies in extraterrestrial environments, which will be crucial to meeting NASA’s future space exploration goals. This paper presents the technique and results of experiments conducted at NASA Glenn Research Center using the 2.2 s drop tower. Velocities of P and S waves in three sizes of glass beads and one size of alumina beads w...
Systems in Technology Transfer

Contemporary technology transfer (TT) focuses on the application of knowledge. Technology is essentially information. Transfer is the movement of information/knowledge/technology via some type of channel (analogue or digital): person-to-person, group-to-group, organization- to-organization.TT centers on the communication of information that is intended to accomplish a task. TT is a particularly difficult type of communication; often it is ineffective. TT is becoming a major management focus and involves a range of organizational, informational, and behavioral challenges to getting knowledge (ideas and products) from research to process and market applications in a cost effective, timely manner.
Sense of School Membership and Associated Academic and Psychological Outcomes in Post-Institutionalized Adopted High School Students

ABSTRACTResearch highlights lasting cognitive and academic challenges in youth internationally adopted from institutional care. However, there is a lack of research examining internationally adopted students' sense of membership at school and associated academic and psychological outcomes. The current study measured sense of school membership and academic and psychological outcomes in post-institutionalized internationally adopted high school students (n = 29) compared to adolescents internationally adopted from foster care (n = 28) and non-adopted adolescents (n = 32). Post-institutionalized males had a lower sense of school membership than males adopted from foster care or non-adopted males. Group differences in school membership were mediated by academic achievement and psychological well-being.
Electron spin resonance in a two-dimensional Fermi liquid with spin-orbit coupling

Electron spin resonance (ESR) is usually viewed as a single-particle phenomenon protected from the effect of many-body correlations. We show that this is not the case in a two-dimensional Fermi liquid (FL) with spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Depending on whether the in-plane magnetic field is below or above some critical value, ESR in such a system probes up to three chiral-spin collective modes, augmented by the spin mode in the presence of the field, or the Silin-Leggett mode. All the modes are affected by both SOC and FL renormalizations. We argue that ESR can be used as a probe not only for SOC but also for many-body physics.
Model for Optimal Size and Location of Detention

An optimization model has been developed for determining the minimum cost, size, and location of detention basins for urban watersheds. This model is based on dynamic programming and can handle any arbitrary arrangement of candidate detention basin locations and sizes. The detention system representation uses the concept of iso-drainage lines. Flood routing procedures for channel routing and detention basin routing are incorporated into the dynamic programing model. An example application is given for illustration of the model.
Borna disease virus (BDV)-induced model of autism: application to vaccine safety test design.

Borna disease virus (BDV)-induced model of autism: application to vaccine safety test design
The Rotter level of aspiration task: A validity study

Thirty-six subjects were classified as cautious (C) or non-cautious (NC) on the Rotter Level of Aspiration Task. It was hypothesized that subjects classified as C would produce larger difference limens (DLs) than NC subjects on an auditory discrimination task using the Method of Constant Stimuli. The hypothesis was confirmed. The two techniques were compared as behavioral measurement instruments.
Congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemias. Enzymatic deficiencies.

A specific diagnosis must be established in congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia, for guidance in therapy and family counseling. Diagnostic methods have recently progressed rapidly and include determination of deficiencies in the activity of certain enzymes. Further definitions of enzymatic deficiencies are anticipated.
Belief without Evidence

Even if I.iv.i gives an explicit, detailed argument for epistemic egalitarianism that begins with arguing that “all knowledge degenerates into probability” (1.4.1.1, 180) and concludes that we end up with “…a total extinction of belief and evidence” (T1.4.1.6, 183), it is unlikely that the sceptical interpretation of Hume would have ever been so widely held if he appeared to endorse scepticism only in this particular section of the Treatise. That is, Hume presumably endorsed scepticism in other parts of the Treatise, as Hume himself intimates when he claims in the Abstract “ …that the philosophy contained in this book is very sceptical” (T Abstract 27, 657; emphasis added). This chapter explores some of the other very relevant passages that contribute to an understanding of Hume as an epistemic egalitarian. Interestingly, many of these passages concern Hume’s treatment of belief. As the last chapter showed, Hume’s ideas about belief are important for understanding the target of Hume’s reductio in I.iv.i. Moreover, we need an in-depth discussion of Hume’s theory of belief to explain more fully why Hume does not recommend suspending all belief (i.e., that he does not endorse D-scepticism) despite the iterative probability argument. Consequently, I look carefully at the connection between Hume’s views on belief and scepticism.
The seismite problem

Abstract During a period of 82 years (1931–2013), 39 genetic terms were introduced for various deposits. Of the 39 terms, only ten are meaningful in understanding the true depositional origin ( e.g. , turbidites), the remaining 29 are just jargons ( e.g. , seismites, tsunamites, etc. ). The genetic term “seismites”, introduced by Seilacher (1969) for recognizing palaeoearthquakes in the sedimentary record, is a misnomer. The term was introduced in haste, based on an examination of a single exposure of the Miocene Monterey Formation (10 m) in California, without a rigorous scientific analysis. The fundamental problem is that earthquake is a triggering mechanism, not a depositional process. Type of triggers cannot be recognized in the ancient sedimentary record because evidence for triggers is not preserved by nature. Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS), commonly used as the criteria for interpreting seismites, are a product of liquefaction. However, liquefaction can be induced by any one of 21 triggers, which include earthquakes, meteorite impacts, tsunamis, sediment loading, among others. Brecciated clasts, typically associated with earthquake-induced deposits in the Dead Sea Basin, are also common depositional products of debris flows ( i.e. , synsedimentary product unrelated to earthquakes). Also, various types of SSDS, such as duplex-like structures and clastic injections, can be explained by synsedimentary processes unrelated to earthquakes. Case studies of sandstone petroleum reservoirs worldwide, which include Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Bay of Bengal, reveal that there is compelling empirical evidence for sediment loading being the primary cause of SSDS. The Krishna–Godavari Basin, located on the eastern continental margin of India, is ideal for sediment failures by multiple triggering mechanisms where overpressure and liquefaction have led to multi-origin SSDS. Because tsunamis and meteorite impacts are important phenomena in developing extensive deposits, lateral extent of SSDS cannot be used as a unique distinguishing attribute of earthquakes. For these reasons, the genetic term “seismites”, which has no redeemable scientific value, is obsolete.
A new class of image filters without normalization

When applying a filter to an image, it often makes practical sense to maintain the local brightness level from input to output image. This is achieved by normalizing the filter coefficients so that they sum to one. This concept is generally taken for granted, but is particularly important where nonlinear filters such as the bilateral or and non-local means are concerned, where the effect on local brightness and contrast can be complex. Here we present a method for achieving the same level of control over the local filter behavior without the need for this normalization. Namely, we show how to closely approximate any normalized filter without in fact needing this normalization step. This yields a new class of filters. We derive a closed-form expression for the approximating filter and analyze its behavior, showing it to be easily controlled for quality and nearness to the exact filter, with a single parameter. Our experiments demonstrate that the un-normalized affinity weights can be effectively used in applications such as image smoothing, sharpening and detail enhancement.
National-Level Wetland Policy Specificity and Goals Vary According to Political and Economic Indicators

Growing recognition of the importance of wetlands to human and ecosystem well-being has led countries worldwide to implement wetland protection policies. Different countries have taken different approaches to wetland protection by implementing various policies, including territorial exclusion, market-based offsetting, and incentive programs for land users. Our objective was to describe the relationship between components of national-level wetland protection policies and national characteristics, including natural resource, economic, social, and political factors. We compiled data on the wetland policies of all 193 countries recognized by the U.N. and described the relationships among wetland policy goals and wetland protection mechanisms using non-metric multidimensional scaling. The first non-metric multidimensional scaling axis strongly correlated with whether a country had a wetland-specific environmental policy in place. Adoption of a comprehensive, wetland-specific policy was positively associated with degree of democracy and a commitment to establishing protected areas. The second non-metric multidimensional scaling axis defined a continuum of policy goals and mechanisms by which wetlands are protected, with goals to protect wetland ecosystem services on one end of the spectrum and goals to protect biodiversity on the other. Goals for protecting ecosystem services were frequently cited in policy documents of countries with agriculture-based economies, whereas goals associated with wetland biodiversity tended to be associated with tourism-based economies. We argue that the components of a country’s wetland policies reflect national-level resource and economic characteristics. Understanding the relationship between the type of wetland policy countries adopt and national-level characteristics is critical for international efforts to protect wetlands.
Culture, Politics, and Governing: Contemporary Ascetics and the Pecuniary Subject

In Culture, Politics, and Governing, the study of contemporary ascetics provided me with a way to approach the practice of knowledge production and its intersection with cultural production that was able to take into account the institutionalization of authors and artists and the ways in which their practices were both governed and governing, often through valorization. Recently, I have worked to extend this framework to settings that are less obvious as sites for the production of governing knowledge: what Max Weber and Foucault discussed as ascetics, generated through what Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno called the culture industry. The contemporary culture industry produces an art of living genre that encourages pecuniary subjects who treat the self as a site for the production of value from which to practice valorized ascetics.
The Parenting Anxious Kids Ratings Scale-Parent Report (PAKRS-PR): Initial Scale Development and Psychometric Properties.

Developmental models of pediatric anxiety posit multiple, maladaptive parenting behaviors as potential risk factors. Despite this, a standardized means of assessing multiple of these practices (i.e., anxiogenic parenting) in a comprehensive and efficient manner are lacking. In Study 1531 parents of children 7–17 years old completed an online survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk. In Study 2, a separate community sample (N = 109; 9–17 years old) was recruited and completed a comprehensive assessment battery as part of a larger study. All parents (Study 1 and 2 samples) completed the Parenting Anxious Kids Ratings Scale-Parent Report (PAKRS-PR), a measurement tool designed to assess anxiogenic parenting. Factor analysis conducted as part of Study 1 revealed a 32-item scale consisting of five factors: conflict, overinvolvement, accommodation/beliefs, modeling, and emotional warmth/support. Four of these factors were significantly correlated with parent-report of anxiety severity. Within Study 2, the parents of children diagnosed with an anxiety or related disorder reported significantly higher levels of anxiogenic parenting practices as compared to the parents of healthy controls. The PAKRS-PR and respective subscales demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity in both the internet (Study 1) and community (Study 2) samples. The PAKRS-PR may be a beneficial multidimensional parenting scale for use among anxious youths.
Measuring engineering epistemic beliefs in undergraduate engineering students

This study utilized a quantitative survey and open-ended items to understand engineering students' epistemic beliefs and gather content and face validity evidence. The survey included 22 items from the Engineering-Related Beliefs Questionnaire. Fifty undergraduate bioengineering students completed the survey. In addition to responding to the items on an anchored scale, the students were asked to provide short written explanations of their responses in a textbox below each item. Students' open-ended responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to gather content validity evidence and gain a general understanding of students' engineering epistemic beliefs. This analysis revealed inconsistencies with how students interpret the items and ambiguous terms used in the items. Based on the results of this analysis suggestions are made to improve the items on the survey for future use.
Trypsin Mediated Activation of Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolytic Inhibitor (Carboxypeptidase U): Potential Clinical Implications.

Thrombin activatable fibrinolytic inhibitor (TAFI) (EC 3.4.17.20) is now known to mediate the fibrinolytic deficit in various pathophysiologic conditions such as thrombotic stroke, acute coronary syndrome and pancreatic disorders. While such serine proteases as plasmin are known to activate TAFI into TAFIa, no information is available on the effect of trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) on the activation process. Pancreatic diseases including inflammatory conditions, surgical interventions and malignancies are associated with hypercoagulable state and DIC. Fibrinolytic deficit is also commonly observed in these patients. In these conditions, pancreatic enzymes are released into circulation. While the pathogenic role of pancreatic leakage mediator is known the effect of such pancreatic enzymes, as trypsin on the conversion of TAFI to TAFIa has not been addressed. To test the hypothesis that the observed fibrinolytic deficit in pancreatic disorders may be related to the conversion of TAFI to TAFIa by trypsin, the effects of this serine protease were studied on immunopurified human TAFI utilizing proteomic profiling, SDS gel electrophoresis and functional TAFI evaluation employing a specific substrate for TAFIa. Immunopurified human TAFI was incubated with human trypsin at graded concentrations in standardized assays with appropriate controls. The activation of TAFI was monitored by using a TAFIa substrate (Benzoyl-(L)-lysyl-(e-benzyloxycarbonyl)-a-(L)-(2-quanidinoethylthio)-glycine) from Pentapharm Inc. (Basel Switzerland). Thrombin thrombomodulin complex (T-TM) was also used as a positive control for TAFI to TAFIa conversion. The proteomic profile of the cleavage products generated was profiled utilizing surface enhanced laser desorption ionization (SELDI) (Ciphergen, Freemont, CA). Additionally, SDS gel electrophoresis of the cleavage products with appropriate controls were also obtained. Trypsin and TAFI alone did not produce any hydrolysis of the TAFIa substrate. However, when trypsin was added to TAFI it produced a concentration dependent hydrolysis of the substrate, which was comparable to that observed upon the activation of TAFI by T-TM. The proteomic profile of trypsin activated TAFI revealed specific peaks at 45.2, 35.6, 24.4 and 19 kDa. In addition, there were several cleavage products at
Higher Thioguanine Nucleotide Metabolite Levels are Associated With Better Long-term Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Goals The aim of this study was to assess whether sustained 6-thioguaninenucleotide (6-TGN) levels were associated with improved long-term outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Background Cross-sectional data have shown that thiopurine metabolites are correlated with clinical efficacy in patient receiving thiopurines for IBD but the role for serial measurements through treatment course is unclear. Study We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients with IBD on thiopurine monotherapy and had serial 6-TGN levels measured. Predictive variables included demographics, disease phenotype, 6-TGN levels (nadir, median, and peak levels). The primary outcome was the development of a disease relapse. The secondary outcome was the need for IBD surgery. Results Two hundred eighteen 6-TGN samples from 87 patients were analyzed. Nadir and median 6-TGN levels were significantly higher in patients who did not relapse [185 and 233 pmol per 8×10 red blood cells (RBCs)] as compared with levels in patients who did relapse (150 and 167 pmol per 8×10 RBCs, P=0.025) but there was no significant difference in peak 6-TGN level. When adjusted for confounding factors, a nadir 6-TGN level ≥161 and a median 6-TGN level ≥264 were associated with a significant decrease in the rate of disease exacerbation (hazard ratio: 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.87; P=0.016 and hazard ratio: 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.82; P=0.14). Conclusions Serial thiopurine metabolite level assessments and dose adjustment aiming to maintain higher 6-TGN levels may be helpful to improve long-term outcomes in patients with IBD.
A control method for linear permanent magnet electric submersible pumps in a modified integrated drive-motor system

Electric Submersible Pumps are a widespread industrial solution for artificial lift applications in oil industries. Linear motors are becoming more popular as they are applied for new applications in various fields. Integrated Drive-Motor technology shows many promising advantages. In this paper, a system which combines these three technologies for marginal oil wells application is discussed. This system is intended to overcome some of the sucker rod pump limitations. A modified configuration for Linear Electric Submersible Pumps used in an Integrated Drive-Motor system is presented. In this system, the rectifier is placed on the surface while the inverter is integrated with the motor downhole. The main contribution of this paper is a proposed variable speed control method of this modified system that does not require a long signal cable. In order to avoid the long signal cable, the DC bus voltage is used to control the motor speed under Vector Control scheme. Experimental result verified the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Nfib hemizygous mice are protected from hyperoxic lung injury and death

Nuclear Factor I (Nfi) genes encode transcription factors essential for the development of organ systems including the lung. Nfib null mice die at birth with immature lungs. Nfib hemizygous mice have reduced lung maturation with decreased survival. We therefore hypothesized that these mice would be more sensitive to lung injury and would have lower survival to hyperoxia. Adult Nfib hemizygous mice and their wild-type (Wt) littermates were exposed to 100% O2 for 89, 80, 72 and 66 h for survival studies with lung outcome measurements at 66 h. Nfib hemizygous and Wt controls were also studied in RA at 66 h. Cell counts and cytokines were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); lung sections examined by histopathology; lung angiogenic and oxidative stress gene expression assessed by real-time PCR. Unexpectedly, Nfib hemizygous mice (0/14–0%) had significantly lower mortality compared to Wt mice (10/22–45%) at 80 h of hyperoxia (P < 0.003). LD50 was 80 h in the Wt group versus 89 h in the hemizygous group. There were no differences in BAL cell counts between the groups. Among the cytokines studied, MIP-2 was significantly lower in hemizygous mice exposed to hyperoxia. New vessel formation, edema, congestion, and alveolar hemorrhage were noted on histopathology at 72 and 80 h in wild-type mice. Nfib hemizygous lungs had significant downregulation of genes involved in redox signaling and inflammatory pathways. Adult Nfib hemizygous mice are relatively resistant to hyperoxia compared to wild-type littermates. Mechanisms contributing to this resistance are not clear; however, transcription factors such as Nfib may regulate cell survival and play a role in modulating postnatal lung development.
DyPhase: A Dynamic Phase Change Memory Architecture With Symmetric Write Latency and Restorable Endurance

A major challenge for the widespread adoption of phase change memory (PCM) as main memory is its asymmetric write latency. Generally, for a PCM, the latency of a SET operation (i.e., an operation that writes “1”) is 2–5 times longer than the latency of a RESET operation (i.e., an operation that writes “0”). For this reason, the average write latency of a PCM system is limited by the high-latency SET operations. This paper presents a novel PCM architecture called DyPhase , which uses partial-SET operations instead of the conventional SET operations to introduce a symmetry in write latency, thereby increasing write performance and throughput. However, use of partial-SET decreases data retention time. As a remedy to this problem, DyPhase employs novel distributed refresh operations in PCM that leverage the available power budget to periodically rewrite the stored data with minimal performance overhead. Unfortunately, the use of periodic refresh operations increases the write rate of the memory, which in turn accelerates memory degradation and decreases its lifetime. DyPhase overcomes this shortcoming by utilizing a proactive in-situ self-annealing (PISA) technique that periodically heals degraded memory cells, resulting in decelerated degradation and increased memory lifetime. Experiments with PARSEC benchmarks indicate that our DyPhase architecture-based hybrid dynamic random access memory (DRAM)–PCM memory system, when enabled with PISA, yields orders of magnitude higher lifetime, 8.3% less CPI, and 44.3% less EDP on average over other hybrid DRAM–PCM memory systems that utilize PCM architectures from prior works.
Rapid Solidification in Bulk Ti-Nb Alloys by Single-Track Laser Melting

Single-track laser melting experiments were performed on bulk Ti-Nb alloys to explore process parameters and the resultant macroscopic structure and microstructure. The microstructures in Ti-20Nb and Ti-50Nb (at.%) alloys exhibited cellular growth during rapid solidification, with average cell size of approximately 0.5 µm. Solidification velocities during cellular growth were calculated from images of melt tracks. Measurements of the composition in the cellular and intercellular regions revealed nonequilibrium partitioning and its dependence on velocity during rapid solidification. Experimental results were used to benchmark a phase-field model to describe rapid solidification under conditions relevant to additive manufacturing.
Educational Exposure to Transgender Patient Care in Otolaryngology Training.

OBJECTIVE Gender dysphoria is estimated to occur in over 1 million people in the United States. With decreasing stigma regarding the transgender population, it is likely more patients will seek medical and surgical gender transition as parts of their treatment. However, otolaryngologists may lack training in gender-confirming surgery. This study aims to determine the current state of transgender-related education in the United States otolaryngology training programs and to evaluate trainee perceptions regarding the importance of such training. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was performed among the United States otolaryngology training programs. A representative sample of 22 training programs divided within 4 US Census regions completed a cross-sectional 9-question survey between March and May 2017. Respondents were queried regarding demographics, transgender curricular exposure (didactic and/or clinical), and perceived importance of training in transgender patient care. RESULTS A total of 285 trainees responded (69.3% response rate). Thirty percent of respondents reported education on or direct exposure to transgender care during residency. Among those with experiences in gender-confirming surgery, more than half were exposed to facial (masculinization or feminization) or pitch alteration surgery. Overall, the majority of respondents believed training in gender-confirming surgery is somewhat important and 63.2% supported incorporation of transgender patient care in existing subspecialty fellowship training. CONCLUSION Less than one-third of otolaryngology trainees are exposed to transgender patient care. The majority of trainees endorsed the importance of residency and subspecialty fellowship training in gender-confirming surgery. To better serve the transgender population, formal didactics on gender-confirming surgery should be offered.
Prosthetic Surgery of Metacarpophalangeal Joints in Rheumatoid Patients: An Open Problem

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic auto-immune inflammatory disease which may affect all parts of the body but predominantly afflicts the limb joints. Despite progress in medical therapy, a high number of patients still face the destructive and deforming sequelae of the disease, in part because of a late, inadequate, or refused early pharmacological treatment. Flexible prostheses, like the Swanson, rely on the elastic properties of their material, for their performance. Surface replacement prostheses are partially able to reproduce the physiological sliding of the bony segments but require the capsulo-ligamentous structure of the joint to be in a suitably good condition. Hinged prostheses rely on their coupling mechanism to provide stability in a given range of motion, but inherent weakness of the recipient bone and incompleteness of the capsulo-ligamentous structures may cause their failure. Flexible prostheses are the option but, strictly speaking, they cannot be defined as true prosthetic devices because their design does not enable the restoration of an adequate range of motion and strength.
Gastric and salivary mucins inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme : inhibition is partly due to oligosaccharides

Pig gastric mucin, a highly glycosylated glycoprotein, inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) with an IC50 of 2 mM-neutral hexose content. Pig submaxillary mucin at 2.3 mM inhibits by 73%. To determine whether the oligosaccharide moieties of the mucins contribute to this inhibition, oligosaccharides were prepared from each mucin by reductive beta-elimination and their effects on enzyme activity determined. Total oligosaccharides from gastric mucin inhibited enzyme activity with an IC50 of 0.3 mM based on the neutral hexose content of the oligosaccharide solution. Fractions isolated from gastric mucin by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Bio-Gel P-2 inhibited ACE with IC50 values ranging from 2 to 16 mM-oligosaccharide. Larger oligosaccharides inhibited with lower IC50 values than did smaller oligosaccharides. Fractions of average molecular mass 1100 and 740 Da prepared from submaxillary mucin inhibited with IC50 values of 40 and 80 mM-oligosaccharide respectively. Monosaccharides commonly present in serum and membrane glycoproteins were also tested for their effect on ACE. Galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and glucosamine were inhibitory. N-Acetylneuraminic acid stimulated the activity of ACE. Fucose, ethylene glycol and sucrose had no effect on the activity of the enzyme. The influences of different buffers, ion concentrations, pH and substrate structure on the effect of carbohydrate on enzyme activity were also evaluated. The extent of inhibition by the monosaccharide galactose was strongly influenced by buffer ion and substrate concentration. The effects of the oligosaccharide moieties and intact mucins were less sensitive to assay conditions.
Nanoscale Variations in Halide Perovskite Structure and Stability: Insights via Nano-Diffraction

In this study, we use nanoprobe X-ray diffraction to measure structural variations in thin halide perovskite single crystals including mosaicity, tilt and strain. Using X-ray diffraction at 100-nm spatial resolution offers high sensitivity to structural variations within thin film materials. Here, we examine the crystal structural changes under X-ray irradiation toward understanding in detail the determining factors in this process including chemistry of materials, dose, and dose rate.
Surgical Outcomes After Limb-Sparing Resection and Reconstruction for Pelvic Sarcoma: A Systematic Review.

Background:Limb-sparing resection and reconstruction for pelvic sarcomas in multiple small studies have been fraught with complications, reoperations, and impaired patient function. However, the non-oncologic complication and reoperation rates and functional outcomes for patients have never been rig
Handling George Eliot’s Fiction

This chapter argues that even an author as aesthetically, philosophically, and intellectually superior as George Eliot was engaged with her period’s unusual fascination with hands. It begins by mapping the terrain in which material and cultural developments—mainly the rise of industrialization and the emergence of new evolutionary theories—caused the hand to become a particularly rich site of representation for Victorian fiction writers. The Victorians were highly cognizant of the materiality of their hands precisely because unprecedented changes in industry and science made them the first people to experience a radical disruption of this supposedly distinguishing mark of their humanity. Given this unique historical context, I examine how and why Eliot prioritized representations of hands in her fiction. The chapter presents hands in relation to physical and intellectual labor in Adam Bede (1859), Felix Holt (1866), and Middlemarch (1871–1872), and to family and religious affiliation in The Mill on the Floss (1860), Romola (1863) and Daniel Deronda (1876). Such a lens offers us new and alternate ways of assessing Eliot’s approach to realism and provides an embodied dimension to her most sacred concern for human sympathy.
Commentary on Koplin and Wilkinson.

In their feature article, ‘Moral uncertainty and the farming of human-pig chimeras,’ Koplin and Wilkinson argue that there is a tension between (1) thinking that creating pig-human chimaeras with partly humanised brains as a source of organs for transplantation as morally problematic because of the uncertainty of their moral status and (2) thinking that the raising normal pigs for food is not morally problematic because of the certainty concerning their moral status.1 Koplin and Wilkson claim that the reasons that we are uncertain about the moral status of human-pig chimaeras with partly humanised brains also apply to normal pigs. Our moral uncertainty derives from (1) philosophical uncertainty concerning the characteristics that convey moral status and (2) epistemological uncertainty concerning the extent to which pigs with partly humanised brains or normal pigs possess such characteristics. If we think it is morally problematic to create pigs with humanised brains for organ transplantation, we should also think it is morally problematic to raise normal pigs for food, given our uncertainty about the moral status of both kinds of animals. Their view implies that it would be inconsistent to have moral qualms about creating pigs with humanised brains for organ transplantation but to no such misgivings about raising pigs for food. While I find Koplin and Wilkson’s arguments …