cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accurate identification of neutralizing antibodies to adenovirus Ad36, -a putative contributor of obesity in humans.

Abstract Background In children and adults, human adenovirus serotype 36 (Ad36) is linked with increased adiposity, and important metabolic alterations. Since this property is not shared by many other human adenovirus serotypes, it is imperative to specifically identify exposure to Ad36. Although serum neutralization assay (SNA) is the gold standard to specifically detect neutralizing antibodies (NA) to Ad36, it requires 2-weeks to complete and considerable training to interpret the results. Whereas, an enzyme-immuno assay (EIA) may provide a quicker and objective determination. Objectives Evaluate the accuracy of commercially available EIA kits to detect NA to Ad36. Modify SNA to reduce time and increase objectivity. Study Design Sera of 15 seropositive or 16 seronegative subjects confirmed by SNA were used to test: 1) reproducibility of SNA to detect Ad36 exposure, by repeating assays twice; 2) an EIA that detects antibodies to all human adenovirus serotypes (NS-EIA) (Abcam-108705); 3) an EIA supposedly specific for Ad36 antibody (Ad36-EIA) (MyBioSource,#MBS705802), and 4) the concordance of SNA with a novel combination of SNA and immune-staining (SN-IS) kit (Cell BioLabs,#VPK-111). Results The SNA showed exact reproducibility. NS-EIA detected adenovirus antibodies in 94% samples, confirming the non-specificity of the assay for Ad36 serotype. All seronegative samples (as determined by SNA) were false positive by Ad36-EIA. In 97% samples, SN-IS showed fidelity with Ad36-antibody status as determined by SNA. Conclusions The available EIA kits are not specific for detecting NA to Ad36. The modified SNA with immune-staining reduces assay time and increases accuracy of detecting by reducing subjectivity.
Multimodal bivariate thematic maps: Auditory and haptic display

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of multimodal trivariate thematic maps by utilizing auditory and haptic displays. With two different modes of display (color only displays and multimodal displays with color, audio, and haptic), the completion time of tasks and the recall (retention) rate were measured in two separate experiments. In terms of the completion time, with minimal learning experience, participants could accomplish the tasks at the same level of speed in both modes. For the recall rate, multimodal displays have much higher recall rates. It is speculated that the natural quantitative hierarchies in auditory and haptic displays provide an advantage in the use of multimodal displays. These findings confirmed the possibility of using auditory and haptic displays in visually dominant geographic information systems (GIS) for multi-variate thematic maps.
Salsa: Leveraging Email to Create a Social Network for the Enterprise

In this paper we describe Salsa, a plug-in that aggregates social and other content into an email client. Information in Salsa is collected from a variety of sources both inside and outside of email to create a profile for each person in our corporation that contains a photo, organizational details, friends, and an aggregated feed of shared content. Thus, Salsa uses a social networking approach to add social awareness to email. Salsa was deployed internally within our corporation and we trace its growth for six months and describe the results of a targeted user study. Findings demonstrate the extent to which and what type of social awareness is useful in our organization. Use of the aggregated feed is also discussed. In addition to identifying features that are useful for social networks in the enterprise, we explore the benefits of situating this type of application in email.
Effect of non-perfect codes on the throughput-delay performance of spread spectrum packet network

A continuous-time Markov chain model for an asynchronous communication spread-spectrum CDMA (code-division multiple-access) network is developed. The receiver-based code is considered; a station with a packet to send looks up the destination's code and transmits on that code. The authors' approach is based on a two-dimensional Markov chain model and allows them to study the effect of nonperfect (quasiorthogonal) codes on the performance of the spread-spectrum packet network. Steady-state results for throughput versus offered traffic and the delay versus throughput are obtained. The model is illustrated by examples, the stability of the network is discussed, and ALOHA and CDMA are compared. >
Structure-based vaccines provide protection in a mouse model of ehrlichiosis.

Background Recent advances in bioinformatics have made it possible to predict the B cell and T cell epitopes of antigenic proteins. This has led to design of peptide based vaccines that are more specific, safe, and easy to produce. The obligately intracellular gram negative bacteria Ehrlichia cause ehrlichioses in humans and animals. As yet there are no vaccines to protect against Ehrlichia infection. Methodology/Principal Findings We applied the principle of structural vaccinology to design peptides to the epitopes of Ehrlichia muris outer membrane P28-19 (OMP-1/P28) and Ehrlichia Heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60/GroEL) antigenic proteins. Both P28-19 and Ehrlichia Hsp60 peptides reacted with polyclonal antibodies against E. canis and E. chaffeensis and could be used as a diagnostic tool for ehrlichiosis. In addition, we demonstrated that mice vaccinated with Ehrlichia P28-19 and Hsp60 peptides and later challenged with E. muris were protected against the pathogen. Conclusions/Significance Our results demonstrate the power of structural vaccines and could be a new strategy in the development of vaccines to provide protection against pathogenic microorganisms.
Evaluating the Foot Electromyogram Signal as a Noise Reference for a Bathroom Scale Ballistocardiogram Recorder

A bathroom scale ballistocardiogram (BCG) recorder has been developed in our group as a potential home monitor for heart failure outpatients. While the signal quality obtained by this device is as high as elaborate table- and bed-based BCG systems discussed previously in the literature, the standing posture required by this system may lead to undesired motion induced noise in the signal, particularly for elderly patients. Electromyogram (EMG) signals from the feet are proposed as a noise reference for the standing BCG measurement. The correlation between these signals and the BCG noise is quantified for a case with low (eyes open) and higher (eyes closed) involuntary movement on the scale. For the six subjects considered in this trial, the foot EMG appears to be a valuable reference for BCG movement noise estimation. Additionally, the fact that many bathroom scales have electrodes on the feet for various body fat percentage estimates makes the measurement highly practical for future implementations.
Radioimmunoassay of serum myoglobin in polymyositis and other conditions

Radioimmunoassay of serum myoglobin was done in 53 patients with polymyositis syndromes and other conditions. Serum myoglobin values in 33 healthy subjects ranged from 4 to 77 [mean 33.3 +/- 19.8 (SD)] ng/ml. Fifty percent of polymyositis patients had elevated serum myoglobin levels (greater than 80 ng/ml). Serum myoglobin values in polymyositis patients fluctuated more sensitively than CPK and GOT. Combined estimation of myoglobin and CPK offers advantages for the detection of muscle injury and the prediction of disease exacerbation.
Adductor Injuries and the Role of Adductor Tenotomy for Groin Pain in Athletes

Adductor injuries are a common cause of chronic groin pain in athletes. This pathology is often seen in athletes participating in cutting activities such as soccer, ice hockey, football, and rugby. Physical examination is notable for tenderness over the adductor origin and pain with resisted hip adduction. It is essential to also evaluate for the presence of sports hernia, which is frequently seen with adductor tendinopathy. Nonoperative treatment consists of rest, ice, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications followed by stretching and strengthening. Surgical release of the adductor longus tendon is indicated when symptoms do not respond to a course of conservative management. Adductor tenotomy surgical technique as well as postoperative protocol is reviewed in detail. Results following adductor tenotomy have demonstrated that it is an effective treatment for chronic adductor strain in athletes.
Groups of Subtraction and Division with Respect to a Modulus

(1915). Groups of Subtraction and Division with Respect to a Modulus. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 47-49.
Have Manufacturing Firms Adopted the Marketing Concept

Here are specific answers to the following questions: •Have American manufacturing firms really adopted the marketing concept?•Which basic philosophies of marketing are being stressed?•Which are be...
Reproduction in the California Red Scale, Aonidiella aurantii. III. Development of an Olfactometer for Bioassay of the Female Sex Pheromone

A turntable olfactometer vvas developed to determine the response of male Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Homoptera: Diaspididae), in free flight to virgin females enclosed in Munger cells on lemons and to extracts of the virgin female sex pheromone placed on sand as a carrier. The ratio of males attracted to virgin females or to the extracts of pheromone compared with males attracted to the untreated controls (lemons alone or sand alone) was about 500:1. Pheromone obtained from cold trap effluent or from homogenized females produced highly reproducible results in percentage male response. No peaks or lulls in response to any treatment occurred during an afternoon (the period males are in flight). Sand was a reliable carrier for presentation of the pheromone. The male response to different groups of virgin females was highly reproducible as long as the females of all groups were identical in age and quantity. The ratio of response to different quantities of females remained constant, regardless of the attractiveness of the pheromone. Exposing 1, 10, and 100 virgin females produced the most desirable male response curve for comparison with preparations of pheromone.
ID: 52: NATIVE VALVE INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS CAUSED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS WARNERI

Staphylococcus Warneri is a coagulase negative Staph (CoNS) and is a normal part of skin flora. It rarely causes infective endocarditis (IE) of the native valves. In most of the cases, there is a predisposing condition like a new implant, intravascular catheter or surgical procedure. We report a case of native valve endocarditis in an immunocompetent patient with no predisposing risk factors. Our case illustrates the importance of Coagulase negative bacteremia and the implications of the delayed diagnosis of Coagulase negative Staph Endocarditis. A 59 years old male presented with lethargy and shock. On exam, he was found to have a 3/6 holo systolic murmur radiating to his axilla. His blood culture revealed bacteremia with Staphylococcus warneri in 3/5 cultures. MRI spine showed no diskitis or abscess. He had metal hardware placed in his ankle >10 years ago, X-ray of the ankle did not reveal any evidence of infection. TEE showed 1.6×0.6 cm vegetation on posterior leaflet of mitral valve. He was started on cefazolin 2 g TID for total 6 weeks. It is usually believed that CoNS are more associated with prosthetic valve infections. Staph Warneri is a part of normal flora of the human skin in almost 50% of the normal adult population. Staph Warneri can lead to a slow growing and an indolent course and late diagnosis. Failure to recognize initial blood cultures as a true positive contributes to delayed antibiotic therapy. CoNS IE were less likely to have a vascular or immunologic phenomenon and can lead to large vegetations requiring valve replacement if not treated in time. With this case we want to illustrate that CoNS can lead to invasive infection even in the absence of any prosthetic valves, catheters or invasive procedures.
Selection of surfactants and dissolution profiles of nimesulide sustained-release tablets

Objective To study the effect of surfactants on the dissolution profiles of poorly water-soluble acidic drug nimesulide from sustained-release tablets. Methods The anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate( SDS),cationic surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide( CTAB) and nonionic surfactant polysorbate 80( Tween 80) were used to prepare nimesulide micelles. The effect of the buffer,surfactant and ionic strength on the equilibrium solubility of the drug and the in vitro release of sustained-release tablets was studied. Results and Conclusion In pH 1. 2 HCl solution,water and pH 6. 8 phosphate buffer,the solubilization capacity of CTAB was the highest. However,in pH 9. 0 Tris buffer,when CTAB concentration was at about 1%,the equilibrium solubility of nimesulide was at the trough value. The in vitro release results were similar to those of equilibrium solubility and the kinetic pattern conformed to the first order equation according to the coefficient R.
Fantasy on the Clock: The Virtual Cruelty of Collected Works’ The Balcony

Inside the brick and stone of San Francisco’s historic Old Mint, Collected Works’ site-specific production of Jean Genet’s The Balcony mobilizes the play’s ambiguous temporality to underscore the role of financialization within multiple historical moments. Within the slippage between a past, present, and virtual charged with desires for power and capital, the spectator, too, becomes complicit in the consumption and construction of capital.
A functional account of minimal cellular life.

Life seems to be one of the most fundamental categories in nature. But how exactly do material objects that are living differ from those that are not? Is there any a fundamental difference? And if so, is it a dichotomy or a matter of degree? One answer to these questions abstracts away from chemical details and instead concentrates on living system’s functional properties. In fact, the protocell research community more or less agrees that minimal cellular life forms are defined by chemically integrating three functionalities (Rasmussen et al., 2008, Protocells, p. 71). First, the system maintains an identity over time by localizing all its components, concentrating reagents and protecting key chemical reactions from molecular parasites and poisons. Second, it utilizes free energy from its environment to digest environmental resources in order to maintain and repair itself, to grow, and ultimately to reproduce. Third, these processes are under the control of inheritable information that can be modified during reproduction. The three functionalities mutually enable and support each other. They are collectively autonomous in the sense that they are created and sustained by the operation of the whole functional triad itself, rather than by any external governing agency. Why should we believe that minimal cellular life is a chemically integrated functional triad of container (C), metabolism (M), and genetic program (P)? The rough consensus in the protocell community lends CMP view some weight, but not enough to convince skeptics. Other functionalities often associated with life–like reproduction, autonomous behavior, and sensitivity to the environmentcan be explained by the functional triad, which lends it further support. Going even further, the CMP view can be explained as a consequence of a more fundamental view according to which the essence of life is open-ended evolution. Elsewhere I have defended this view on the grounds that it best explains life’s familiar hallmarks (Bedau, 1996, The Philosophy of Artificial Life, p. 332, Oxford UP) and puzzles (Bedau, 1998, Art. Life, 4, p. 125). One puzzle about life concerns whether the distinction between life and non-life is dichotomous or continuous. The functional triad view implies that there is an array of thousands of different possible kinds of functional organizations, and they all more or less match the paradigm organization used to define life. Instances of some other functional organizations would be pretty clearly alive, and instances of others would be pretty clearly not alive, and a gray zone of further possible functional organizations separates those two clear cases. One could divide the gray zone with any number of bright lines purporting to separate those systems that are “really alive” from those that are not, but I recommend not doing this. Instead, I think there is no deeper fact of the matter about the life/nonlife distinction other than the graded array of functional organizations. Attempting to find a more precise “definition” of life would be to invent a categorical distinction that does not exist in nature.
Transfer cross sections for 58Ni

Transfer cross sections have been measured for /sup 58/Ni+ /sup 58,64/Ni in the energy range E/sub c.m./ = 100--107 MeV with use of time of flight in a magnetic spectrograph. The direct reactions are dominated by one-neutron transfer, with other transfer cross sections being smaller by a factor of 3--4 or more. The average kinetic energy loss is approx.2 MeV. Over the measured energy range the total transfer cross section for /sup 58/Ni+ /sup 58/Ni is smaller than that observed for /sup 58/Ni+ /sup 64/Ni by a factor of 4.
An experimental study of buoyancy-Marangoni convection in confined and volatile binary fluids

Marangoni convection in a volatile liquid film subject to a horizontal temperature gradient confined in a rectangular cavity is a basic problem of heat transfer and fluid mechanics with applications in evaporative cooling. The Marangoni stresses that drive this flow are due to surface tension gradients at the liquid–vapor interface. The thermocapillary stresses due to variations in surface tension with temperature for the most part drive the liquid away from hot regions. A volatile binary-fluid mixture can, however, be designed so that the solutocapillary stresses due to variations in surface tension with concentration drive the liquid instead towards hot regions, and hence oppose thermocapillary stresses. In thicker liquid layers, the flow is also affected by buoyancy. This work details an experimental study of buoyancy-Marangoni convection in a ∼0.31 cm deep layer of methanol–water (MeOH–H2O) in a sealed rectangular cuvette driven by a temperature difference of ∼6 °C over a horizontal distance of 4.9 cm. Particle pathline visualizations and particle-image velocimetry (PIV) were used to study this flow and determine how the liquid composition, quantified in terms of the MeOH concentration CM, and noncondensables (i.e., air), quantified by the concentration of air in the gas space above the liquid ca, affect the flow. Solutocapillary effects are strong enough to drive the liquid near the free surface towards the heated end over the entire horizontal extent of the liquid layer at low ca (i.e., ca < 6%), suggesting that binary-fluid coolants could significantly reduce film dryout. This flow, driven by thermocapillarity, solutocapillarity and buoyancy, is classified into four distinct flow regimes that are summarized in a ca vs. CM flow regime map.
Mechanics of Adhesion Dependent and Independent Neutrophil Migration in Three-Dimensional Extra-Cellular Matrices

While much research has been dedicated to the identification of the cascade of specific biochemical processes involved in the recruitment of neutrophils, much less is known about the mechanical events driving their migration; in particular, how they generate the necessary traction forces to migrate across three-dimensional (3-D) extravascular spaces and the importance of forming cell-substrate adhesions during this process is unclear. In this study, we investigate the importance of cell-substrate adhesions on the mechanics of 3-D neutrophil motility in collagen gels using Elastographic 3D Force Microscopy (E3DFM). We used wild type neutrophil-like differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia (dHL-60) cells and talin 1 knockout dHL60 cells, which were unable to engage their integrins, as our model systems. Both cell lines were were embedded in collagen matrices containing fluorescent micro-beads. Neutrophil motility was induced via the introduction of the neutrophil chemokine formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine (fMLP) in a custom build device. Both Confocal and Fluorescent microscopy techniques were used to image the movement of the embedded micro-beads as well as fluorescently labeled cells. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Finite Deformation Theory were used to compute displacement fields in the collagen matrices. Stress fields in the matrices were computed using a constitutive relationship with several material parameters. The over determined nature of the problem was used to estimate the aforementioned material parameters. We will present data showing that morphological changes and migratory patterns differed depending on the cell's ability to form cell-substrate adhesions. We will also provide data showing a clear relationship between the aforementioned migratory characteristics and computed displacement and stress fields around migrating neutrophils in collagen matrices. The results from our study show that neutrophils migrating in 3-D environments employ distinct mechanical mechanisms that depend on their ability to form adhesions.
How to characterize thermal transport capability of 2D materials fairly? – Sheet thermal conductance and the choice of thickness

Abstract Thermal transport capability of monolayer 2D materials has been under constant spotlight. However, different definitions of thickness in literature have led to ambiguity towards predicting thermal conductivity values and thus in understanding the heat transfer capability of different monolayer 2D materials. We argue that the same thickness should be used and a ‘sheet thermal conductance’ should be defined as an intensive 2D material property when characterizing the heat transfer capability of 2D materials. When converting literature thermal conductivity values of monolayer materials to this new property, some new features that were not displayed when using different thicknesses show up.
The Clinical Handbook for Surgical Critical Care

The clinical handbook for surgical critical care / , The clinical handbook for surgical critical care / , کتابخانه دیجیتالی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی و خدمات درمانی شهید بهشتی
Spatial and temporal patterns of benthic polychaete communities on the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope

Community structure and abundance of benthic polychaetes along a transect on the central northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope were examined. Spatial, seasonal, short- (~1 year), and long-term (~16–17 years) temporal comparisons of assemblages were conducted with samples collected in 1983–1984 and 2000–2001. Polychaete abundance did not consistently decrease between 325 and 1500 m, but sharply decreased between 1500 and 2100 m. On the upper slope (325–1500 m) polychaete abundance approximately doubled between fall 1983 and spring 1984, but had returned to initial levels by fall 1984. On the lower slope (2500 m) seasonal variations in abundance were less pronounced. The taxonomic composition of the polychaete assemblages changed continuously along a depth gradient; however, temporal variations of the assemblages at all water depths were generally minor. This study provides a baseline for naturally occurring spatial and temporal dynamics of benthic polychaete communities on the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope.
Reasons for Chemotherapy Refusal or Acceptance in Older Adults With Cancer.

OBJECTIVES The majority of Americans diagnosed as having cancer are older than 65 years. They are, however, less likely than younger patients to receive chemotherapy. Our study aimed to better understand the specific reasons for acceptance or refusal of chemotherapy in older adults with cancer. METHODS An anonymous cross-sectional survey was distributed during a 6-month study period in a cancer center and an outpatient geriatric medicine faculty practice to patients at least 50 years old with cancer or to their family members. Data collected included reasons for refusal or acceptance, stage/type of cancer, and demographics. The association between chemotherapy refusal or initiation and these factors was assessed using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS Among the 37 respondents meeting the inclusion criteria, 78.4% were patients and 21.6% were family members. The following factors were significantly associated with chemotherapy decision: perceived chemotherapy benefit (P < 0.001), trust in the doctor's recommendation (P = 0.013), social support (P = 0.018), marital status (P < 0.001), sex (P = 0.037), race/ethnicity (P = 0.021), and whether respondents had a family member or friend who had previously received chemotherapy (P = 0.040). In contrast, none of the clinical variables, such as stage of cancer, previous receipt of chemotherapy, or interest in complementary/alternative medicine showed significant association with a patient's decision to accept or refuse chemotherapy treatment. CONCLUSIONS Chemotherapy decisions made by older adults appear to be associated with demographic and social factors rather than with medical information. Recognizing the influence of these factors for older patients with cancer may help hematologists and oncologists to proactively address specific barriers and explore concerns regarding chemotherapy in older patients whose quality of life and longevity may be affected by treatment.
Update of a large single-institution series of first-line enhanced delivery of methotrexate with and without rituximab for primary central nervous system lymphoma.

e13013 Background: We previously reported outcomes in 101 primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients treated with first-line intra-arterial (IA) methotrexate (MTX)-based chemotherapy ...
Investigation of Bacterial and Methanogen Community Composition and Diversity in full-scale Anaerobic Manure Digesters

Anaerobic digestion of biopolymers into methane is accomplished by complex microbial communities that remain poorly characterized. Their composition tends to vary, likely as a result of many factors such as substrate composition, operating parameters, and microbial succession. In order to gain further insight, we performed a comparative analysis of microbial community composition amongst four mesophilic full scale anaerobic digesters, using a combined total of 133,789 high quality, non-chimeric bacterial and methanogen sequence reads from PCR-generated amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene. In three digesters that used manure as their main substrate, methanogen populations were composed predominantly of a common Methanosarcina-related Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU). The composition of bacterial populations in these digesters was more diverse, with the most highly represented OTUs consisting of different combinations of Bacteroidetes-Chloroflexi or Bacteroidetes-Firmicutes-unclassified bacteria. In contrast, the dominant methanogen OTU in the remaining digester, whose substrate consisted of manure and offfarm lipid waste, was related to species of the genus Methanoculleus, and two bacterial OTUs (Chloroflexi and unclassified) together represented 83.7% of bacterial sequence reads. Our results suggest that while methanogen composition in anaerobic dairy manure digesters appeared to be limited to two main profiles, there was very limited convergence in bacterial phylogenetic composition. Since the major bacterial OTUs identified corresponded to uncultured species belonging to uncharacterized genera, future investigations will be required to determine their biochemical roles and assess the level of functional redundancy among them.
Theory vs. practice in the design and analysis of algorithms

In this talk I'll explore gaps between the theoretical study of algorithms and the use of algorithms in practice. Examples will be drawn from my own experiences in industry and academia, and will include data structures and network algorithms. Based on these examples I'll try to draw conclusions to help guide the work of theoreticians and experimentalists, in an effort to make this work more relevant to the needs of practitioners.
Renal Allograft Histology at 10 Years After Transplantation in the Tacrolimus Era: Evidence of Pervasive Chronic Injury.

Improving long-term renal allograft survival remains an important unmet need. To assess the extent of histologic injury at 10 years after transplantation in functioning grafts, we studied 575 consecutive adult solitary renal transplants performed between 2002 and 2005–77% from living donors and 92% maintained on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Ten-year graft survival was 59% and death-censored graft survival was 74%. Surveillance allograft biopsies were assessed at implantation, 5 years and 10 years from 145 patients that reached 10 years. At implantation, 5% of biopsies had major histologic abnormalities (cg>0, other chronic Banff scores≥2, global glomerulosclerosis>20% or mesangial sclerosis≥2). This increased to 64% at 5 years and 82% at 10 years. Major lesions at 10 years included: arteriolar hyalinosis (66%), mesangial sclerosis (67%) and global glomerulosclerosis>20% (47%) with 48% of grafts having more than one major lesion. Transplant glomerulopathy and moderate-to-severe interstitial fibrosis were uncommon (12% each). Major lesions were associated with increased proteinuria and decreased graft function. In patients with diabetes at baseline, 52% had diabetic nephropathy/mesangial sclerosis at 10 years. We conclude that almost all renal allografts sustain major histologic injury by 10 years after transplantation. Much damage appears non-immunologic suggesting that new approaches are needed to decrease late injury. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
On the summation of fnnk and its associated integrals

Abstract A geometrical interpretation of the convolution z transform is given and this is applied to develop z transforms of functions of the type f(t) /tk, k > 0. After establishing the equivalence between certain forms of integrals, the authors have used the integrals to sum certain forms of infinite series. Possible extensions of this technique to other forms of series and to sum finite series are also indicated.
Safety of bolus-dose phenylephrine for hypotensive emergency department patients.

Abstract Introduction Bolus-dose phenylephrine (BDPE) is routinely used to treat hypotension in the operating room. BDPE's fast onset of action and ability to be administered peripherally have prompted calls for its use in the Emergency Department (ED). There are few published data on the safety of BDPE use in the ED. Primary concerns include BDPE's potential to cause dangerous hypertension or reflex bradycardia. We hypothesize that BDPE is a safe short-term vasopressor choice for hypotensive ED patients. Methods We conducted a structured chart review for all patients who received BDPE from preloaded syringes over 42 months. We defined an adverse event (AE) as sBP > 180, dBP > 110, or HR Results We identified 181 cases of ED use. 147 cases had complete pre/post vital signs. We identified 5 AEs and no SAEs. Three patients developed sBP > 180 mm Hg. The patients suffered no apparent harm. No patients had dBP > 110. Two patients developed bradycardia post-drug. In both cases, MAP improved despite bradycardia. Conclusions BDPE does not appear to cause reflex bradycardia or hypertension requiring intervention among hypotensive ED patients. The apparent safety of BDPE should be confirmed in prospective trials.
Compartmentalized Self-Replication for Evolution of a DNA Polymerase

Compartmentalized self-replication (CSR) is an emulsion PCR-based method for the selection of DNA polymerases. E. coli host cells expressing a library of DNA polymerases are emulsified so that no more than a single cell is present in a single emulsion droplet. In a subsequent emulsion PCR step, the DNA polymerase protein, as well as the plasmid encoding it are released into the emulsion droplet and the genes that created the most active or abundant polymerase variants are exponentially amplified and can be passed to the next round of CSR. CSR is a powerful method for engineering of polymerases since it allows selection under a variety of conditions, including the use of non-standard substrates. In this unit, we provide a step-by-step procedure for the selection of polymerases, using as an example the selection of reverse transcriptase activity starting from a library of Thermococcus kodakaraensis (KOD) DNA polymerase variants. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A self-regulated voltage/current-mode integrated power management with seamless mode transition and extended input-voltage range

An integrated power management (IPM) structure for inductive power delivery is presented with the capabilities of seamless transition between voltage and current mode operations, extended input-voltage range, self-regulation, and over-voltage protection (OVP) with only one off-chip capacitor. Unlike conventional IPMs, which discretely operate in either voltage mode (VM) or current mode (CM) for a limited range of the input voltage (i.e., with dead zone), the proposed IPM continuously employs both VM and CM and eliminates the input-range dead zone. The receiver (Rx) LC-tank is repeatedly shorted for several power carrier cycles to form a high-Q parallel Rx LC-tank and store energy. If the AC voltage across the Rx coil (V p ) surpasses the DC load voltage (V l ), the load capacitor (C l ) is automatically charged through an efficient half-wave rectifier operating in VM. Otherwise for V p l , at the end of each switching cycle the Rx resonance capacitor is opened at the time zero-crossing of V p , when the maximum energy is stored in the Rx coil, to transfer the stored energy to C l via CM operation. For self-regulation and OVP, reverse current from CL to the Rx LC-tank is employed. A proof-of-concept IPM was fabricated in a 0.35 μm 2P4M standard CMOS technology. In measurements, the IPM operated at 1 MHz and achieved a self-regulated V l of 3 V for a wide range of V p with OVP by switching the Rx LC-tank at its optimal frequency of 142 kHz and frequently employing reverse currents.
Intensive Blood Pressure Targets and Kidney Disease

In November 2017, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) released new guidelines that lowered BP targets to <130/80 mm Hg for virtually all adults, including patients with CKD. These guidelines were largely on the basis of results from the Systolic BP Intervention
Competitive Cost-Savings in Data Stream Management Systems

In Continuous Data Analytics and in monitoring applications, hundreds of similar Aggregate Continuous Queries (ACQs) are registered at the Data Stream Management System (DSMS) to continuously monitor the infinite input stream of data tuples. Optimizing the processing of these ACQs is crucial in order for the DSMS to operate at the adequate required scalability. One optimization technique is to share the results of partial aggregation operations between different ACQs on the same data stream. However, finding the query execution plan that attains maximum reduction in total plan cost is computationally expensive. Weave Share, a multiple ACQs optimizer that computes query plans in a greedy fashion, was recently shown in experiments to achieve more than an order of magnitude improvement over the best existing alternatives. Maximizing the benefit of sharing, i.e., maximizing the cost-savings achieved by sharing partial aggregation results, is the goal of Weave Share. In this paper we prove that Weave Share approximates the optimal cost-savings to within a factor of 4 for a practical variant of the problem. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first theoretical guarantee provided for this problem. We also provide exact solutions for two natural special cases.
RNA as a template with E. coli DNA polymerase.

Abstract 5S and ribosomal RNA's from rat liver can serve as primers for DNA synthesis, using DNA polymerase from E. coli . The first product formed behaves like a DNA-RNA hybrid, while later synthesis leads to a DNA-like product.
Information Theoretic Approximations for M/G/1 Queuing Systems

The behavior of single server queuing systems is characterized by various “performance distributions”, including distributions of queue length, waiting time, residence time, busy period, number served in a busy period, etc. In principle, if the arrival and service time distributions are known exactly, then these performance distributions can be computed using standard techniques. We consider the problem of estimating the distributions when only the first few moments of the service time distribution are known. Our approach uses standard relations to compute moments of the performance distributions from the known moments of the service time distribution and the principles of maximum entropy and minimum cross-entropy to estimate the performance distributions themselves. For M/G/1 systems with known average arrival rates, we derive analytic results for cases when one or two moments of the service time distribution are known, and we show how one can compute results using as many moments of the service time distribution as are available. For G/G/1 systems, our results are limited to the case in which only the average arrival and service rates are known. Among the results obtained with this information theoretic approach is a new light-load approximation for the M/M/1 busy period probability density. Throughout the paper, we illustrate our approach using M/M/1, M/H2/1, and M/D/1 examples.
Rehabilitation Providers' Prediction of the Likely Success of the SNF-to-Home Transition Differs by Discipline.

Abstract Objectives Our article's primary objective is to examine whether rehabilitation providers can predict which patients discharged from skilled nursing facility (SNF) rehabilitation will be successful in their transition to home, controlling for sociodemographic factors and physical, mental, and social health characteristics. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Setting and Participants One hundred-twelve English-speaking adults aged 65 years and older admitted to 2 SNF rehabilitation units. Measures Our outcome is time to “failed transition to home,” which identified SNF rehabilitation patients who did not successfully transition from the SNF to home during the study. Our primary independent variable consisted of the prediction of medical providers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers about the likely success of their patients' SNF-to-home transition. We also examined the association of sociodemographic factors and physical, mental, and social health with a failed transition to home. Results The predictions of occupational and physical therapists were associated with whether patients successfully transitioned from the SNF to their homes in bivariate [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.96, P = .014; HR = 10.91, P = .002, respectively] and multivariate (HR = 5.07, P = .036; HR = 53.33, P = .004) analyses. The predictions of medical providers and social workers, however, were not associated with our outcome in either bivariate (HR = 1.44, P = .512; HR = 0.84, P = .794, respectively) or multivariate (HR = 0.57, P = .487; HR = 0.54, P = .665) analyses. Living alone, more medical conditions, lower physical functioning scores, and greater depression scores were also associated with time to failed transition to home. Conclusions/Implications These findings suggest that occupational and physical therapists may be better able to predict post-SNF discharge outcomes than are other rehabilitation providers. Why occupational and physical therapists' predictions are associated with the SNF-to-home outcome whereas the predictions of medical providers and social workers are not is uncertain. A better understanding of the factors informing the postdischarge predictions of occupational and physical therapists may help identify ways to improve the SNF-to-home discharge planning process.
Graphic Editing of Structured Text

Emily, the system described in this paper, is an interactive syntax-controlled system for creation and manipulation of program texts. This system uses the syntax of the programming language to impose a tree structure on programs in the language. A program begins as a single non-terminal symbol. For each non-terminal Emily presents all the syntax rules that define replacements for that non-terminal. In general, the replacement string consists of characters and non-terminals. By selecting appropriate rules, the user builds the program he desires. Because the editor retains the tree structure of the text, the text can be manipulated in terms of its structural units. Emily can represent any structural element by a single identifier, so that the user can view his text at any level of complexity. As a hybrid of string and tree representations, this display technique provides a new way of looking at and thinking about programs.
An incomplete taxonomy of Bayesian models with examples from industrial statistics applications

We consider a taxonomy of data types, structural components (including hierarchical levels), and stochastic components for developing Bayesian models for data analysis.
The electoral effects of closing military bases

Can members of Congress escape blame for bad news in their districts? To maximise their chances of re-election, legislators seek to maintain their electoral connections with voters, defending key d...
In Search of Hospice Information: Consumer Information Available on Hospice Compare and Yelp.

Background: The hospice industry has expanded in recent years with limited oversight and few consumer-facing resources to assist consumers in selecting hospice agencies to care for their family mem...
Acquired von Willebrand syndrome in monoclonal gammopathy - A scoping review on hemostatic management.

Background Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) has been associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), with limited data on its management. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search in Medline (Ovid), Embase, and Scopus up to September 11, 2019, for studies reporting on the management of AVWS associated with MGUS (AVWS-MGUS). Data on patient characteristics, laboratory parameters at presentation, and clinical and laboratory outcomes were extracted. Objectives To describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of different therapeutic approaches. Results Seventy-five studies were included in the final review, for a total of 137 patients. Most patients had von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor activity <30 IU/dL (86.6%) and factor VIII levels <50 IU/dL (91.8%). Bleeding severity ranged from no bleeding (16.1%) to minor bleeding (46.4%) and major bleeding (37.5%). The overall clinical success rates for 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), factor replacement therapy, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were 43.8%, 33.3%, and 85.4%, respectively. The laboratory response rates for DDAVP, factor replacement therapy, and IVIG were 39.0%, 62.9%, and 88.6%, respectively. Several other treatments were also reported in small numbers, out of which myeloma-directed therapies, plasma exchange, recombinant factor VIIa, and antifibrinolytics appeared most successful, while immunosuppressive agents were largely ineffective. Conclusion IVIG appears to be an effective treatment for AVWS-MGUS bleeding, conferring a high clinical success rate with measurable laboratory outcomes; albeit temporary. DDAVP and factor replacement therapy may be partially successful in controlling minor bleeds, but not major bleeds. Other less commonly used agents may be effective in certain cases, although data are limited.
Dots, lines, contours, and ends: An image-based review of esophageal pathology.

Abstract Esophageal pathologies encountered on fluoroscopic examination may pose a diagnostic challenge to the interpreting Radiologist. Understanding the varied imaging appearances of esophageal pathology requires a thorough understanding of barium esophagography. This article reviews the various fluoroscopic imaging findings of different esophageal pathologies by describing an approach to image interpretation centered on dots, lines, contours, and ends. By utilizing this approach, the Radiologist will be better positioned to reconcile seemingly disparate pathologies into a cogent and succinct differential diagnosis.
Robot-assisted neck dissection

Abstract The neck dissection is an integral component of comprehensive oncologic care for patients with head and neck cancer. Modern robotic surgical platforms are being utilized within otolaryngology for a growing number of indications, including, robot-assisted neck dissections. The proposed benefits of robot-assisted include improved cosmesis and reductions in post-operative lymphedema. Early data suggests that oncologic control following robot-assisted neck dissection is comparable to the gold-standard, open technique. Here we present review of the surgical techniques involved in a robot-assisted neck dissection as well as a review of perioperative care.
Natural Law for Reformed Theology: A Proposal for Contemporary Reappropriation

This paper outlines a constructive account of natural law for the twenty-first century, rooted in the Reformed theological and confession heritage. It suggests how natural law can provide us with a deep theological way of affirming the existence of an objectively meaningful natural order, discusses the importance of natural law for maintaining the accountability of all human beings before the divine judgment, and reflects on how natural law serves as crucial foundation for the church’s ministry of the gospel to a hurting and needy world.
3 – Interaction between fluids and particles

This chapter focuses on the interaction between fluids and particles. When a solid particle moves through a fluid, it experiences a drag force that resists its motion. This drag force has its origin in two phenomena: the frictional drag on the surface and the increase in pressure that is generated in front of the particle as it moves through the fluid. The frictional drag is caused by the shearing action of the fluid as it flows over the surface of the particle. This component is called viscous drag. A region of high pressure P 1 is formed immediately in front of the particle as it forces its way through the fluid. Likewise, a region of relatively low pressure P 2 is formed immediately behind the particle in its wake. The pressure drop from the front of the particle to the rear is the result of the accumulated pressure exerted by the fluid integrated over the entire surface of the sphere. The pressure drop P 1 – P 2 gives rise to a force on the particle given by ( P 1 – P 2 )Ac, where Ac is the cross-sectional area of the particle measured perpendicular to the direction of motion.
Design and Synthesis of Powdered Magnetic Activated Carbons for Aurodicyanide Anion Adsorption From Alkaline Cyanide Leaching Solutions

Gold is dissolved in alkaline cyanide solutions in the presence of oxygen to form the aurodicyanide anion complex, Au(CN)− 2, according to the following stoichiometric electrochemical reactions (Marsden and House, 1993): $$ 2Au + 4C{N^ - } + 2{H_2}O + {O_2} \Leftrightarrow 2Au{(CN)_2}^ - + {H_2}{O_2} + 20{H^ - }\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \left[ 1 \right] $$ (1) $$ 2Au + 4C{N^ - } + \;{{\text{H}}_2}{{\text{O}}_2} \Leftrightarrow \;22Au{(CN)_2}^ - \; + 20{H^ - }\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \;\;\left[ 2 \right] $$ (2)