cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the patient with hepatitis B

The initial evaluation of a patient with hepatitis B virus infection should attempt to assess the disease activity and stage in the context of the known natural history of this infection and to properly assess the needs for treatment and surveillance. In addition to a medical history and focused physical examination, the initial evaluation usually requires serological, biochemical, and virological tests to confirm the diagnosis as well as an imaging study to establish a baseline for future monitoring. A liver biopsy is generally not needed but can provide useful information on prognosis, need for surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and whether to recommend therapy. Follow-up monitoring is aimed at determining disease progression, development of complications, and reassessing the need for treatment. Monitoring frequency should be determined based on the activity and stage of disease. Initiation of screening for HCC should be based on age, race, sex, family history, and stage and duration of disease. The current recommended method of screening and surveillance for HCC is by ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein measurements every 6-12 months. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the role of longitudinal application of noninvasive assays of fibrosis, such as serum fibrosis markers and transient elastography. Better biomarkers and imaging modalities are needed for early detection of HCC. Finally, studies are needed to better refine the indications and to balance the risks and benefits of antiviral therapy.
The primary and secondary acceptors in bacterial photosynthesis: II. The structure of the Fe2+-Q− complex

The primary processes of bacterial photosynthesis take place in a membrane-bound protein called the reaction center (RC). The process involves light-induced electron transfer from a primary electron donor to a sequence of electron acceptors. The terminal acceptors, operating sequentially, are two ubiquinones, QA and QB, that couple magnetically to a high-spin (S = 2) Fe2+ forming an Fe2+-Q− complex. We have used a variety of techniques to investigate the electronic as well as some features of the spatial structure of the Fe2+-Q− complex in RCs fromRb. sphaeroides. These include: (a) static magnetization measurements in the temperature range of 0.7 to 190 K and magnetic fields up to 8 kG, (b) EPR spectroscopy at helium temperatures at 1.2, 9, and 35 GHz, (c) Mossbauer spectroscopy and (d) extended X-ray fine structure (EXAFS) determinations. The results of these measurements showed that Fe2+ resides in an asymmetric ligand field environment forming 6 ligands with a combination of oxygens and nitrogens. From the EXAFS results the distances of the Fe2+ to the first and third coordination shells were determined. These spatial features were subsequently corroborated by the X-ray structure of the RC, which showed the environment of the Fe to be a distorted octahedron, the base plane of which is formed by three Nɛ’s of histidines and one carbonyl oxygen; the apex is formed by a fourth Nɛ and a second carbonyl oxygen. The distances from the Fe2+ to the first and third shell were in good agreement with the values obtained from EXAFS. The most detailed information of the electronic structure of the Fe2+-Q− complex was obtained from the EPR spectra using the spin Hamiltonian formalism. The following spin-Hamiltonian parameters were obtained: for the crystalline field parameters,D = 7.60 K,E/D = 0.25; for the electronicg-values, gFe, x = 2.16, gFe, y = 2.27, gFe, z = 2.04 and for the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction,J x = −0.13 K,J y = −0.58 K,J z = −0.58 K. The use of the spin Hamiltonian was validated by comparing the results obtained from it with those obtained from an exact numerical solution of the 25 lowest energy levels of the orbital Hamiltonian. Possible roles that Fe2+ may play in the function of the RC are discussed. They include a structural role in which Fe2+ liganded to four histidine nitrogens imparts a rigid structure to a four α-helix bundle and a role in the electron transfer kinetics, most notably from the intermediate acceptor I− (bacteriopheophytin) to QA. Replacement of Fe2+ by diamagnetic Zn2+ retained all observed native characteristics of the RC.
Planetary rings: Of doughnuts and shepherds

Voyager 2's recent encounter with Uranus has brought about a renewed interest in the nature of planetary rings. It has been difficult to explain, for example, how such rings can remain narrow and discrete and not expand as a result of the dissipation of energy from collisions of particles within them. A paper in the May issue of Geophysical Research Letters offers an enthusiastic restatement of one view on this question, first proposed in 1981. Advocates of the “shepherd satellite” idea, however, are far from swayed. The new paper, by F. Curtis Michel of Rice University (Houston, Tex.), restates his idea that particles in rings may exhibit a “coherent, rolling-type motion” such that significant collisions do not occur. Michel suggests that the ring “particles” (probably better visualized as boulders) may be so densely packed that they may be treated as a fluid. In Michel's model, each individual particle would follow an inclined, elliptical orbit that would not intersect with any other such orbit. Together, the motions of all the particles would generate a toroidal surface (Figure 1). The absence of collisions would account for the apparent paucity of small particles in the rings of Uranus, Michel says.
The Effects of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen Annealing on Mg Acceptors in GaN as Monitored by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is used to study the unpassivated Mg-related acceptor in GaN films. As expected, the trends observed before and after O2, N2, or forming-gas anneals at temperatures 850°C in O2 or N2 permanently removes the signal, contrary to the results of conductivity measurements. Approximately 1019 cm−3 Mg acceptors were detected in some GaN films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) before acceptor activation, suggesting that it is possible to have electrically active Mg in as-grown CVD material.
Grass invasion effects on forest soil carbon depend on landscape-level land use patterns

Plant invasions can alter the quality and quantity of detrital and root-derived inputs entering a system, thereby influencing the activities of microbial decomposers and affecting the soil carbon cycle. The effect of these inputs on soil carbon storage is often conflicting, suggesting strong context dependency in the plant-decomposer relationship. Whether there is a generalizable pattern that explains this dependency remains relatively unexplored. Here, we (1) examine how invasion by the exotic grass Microstegium vimineum affects carbon cycling across a land use gradient, and (2) evaluate the importance of inorganic nitrogen availability and other environmental variables for explaining patterns in soil carbon. Using paired invaded and uninvaded plots, we quantified invasion effects on belowground carbon pools, extracellular enzyme activities, and native leaf litter decomposition in forests embedded in an urban, agricultural, or forested landscape matrix. Compared to the urban matrix, invasion-associated declines in total soil organic carbon in the forested and agricultural landscapes were 3.5 and 2.5 times greater, respectively. Inorganic nitrogen availability and M. vimineum biomass interacted to explain these patterns: when both nitrogen availability and M. vimineum biomass were high, invaded soils exhibited higher total organic carbon, unchanged particulate organic matter carbon, and higher mineral-associated organic matter carbon compared to adjacent uninvaded soils. Consistent with these patterns, activities of carbon-mineralizing enzymes were lower in invaded than in uninvaded soils when both nitrogen availability and M. vimineum biomass were high. By contrast,. decomposition of native leaf litter was faster when inorganic nitrogen availability and M. vimineum biomass were high. Our findings suggest that, although this invader may accelerate carbon cycling in forest soils, its effects on soil carbon storage largely depend on nitrogen availability and invader biomass, which can be altered by landscape-level patterns of land use. Additional research is needed to determine whether land use or other broad-scale processes such as atmospheric nitrogen deposition can explain context dependence in plant invasion effects on other ecosystem processes.
Joint identification and tracking of multiple CBRNE clouds based on sparsity pursuit

The evolution of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) clouds depends considerably on its composition. For example, cloud tracking usually relies on a diffusion model of the average atmospheric concentration of the CBRNE material; identification of its composition can benefit greatly from knowledge about the propagation of the compounds. As a result, substance classification and cloud tracking help each other significantly. However, few research efforts consider joint identification and tracking of CBRNE clouds using a network of possibly heterogeneous sensors. This paper deals with such joint identification and tracking. We assume that the chemical composition has a sparse representation in the Raman spectra with a reference library and apply a sparsity pursuit algorithm to adaptively refine the cloud propagation model based on the estimated composition. We demonstrate the benefit of joint identification and tracking of the aggregated clouds when individual substance has a different diffusion coefficient. The results also provide guidelines for selecting an appropriate sensor combination to accurately predict the cloud boundary.
Role of B7 in T Cell Tolerance

The induction of effective immune responses requires costimulation by B7 molecules, and Ag recognition without B7 is thought to result in no response or tolerance. We compared T cell responses in vivo to the same Ag presented either by mature dendritic cells (DCs) or as self, in the presence or absence of B7. We show that Ag presentation by mature B7-1/2-deficient DCs fails to elicit an effector T cell response but does not induce tolerance. In contrast, using a newly developed adoptive transfer system, we show that naive OVA-specific DO11 CD4+ T cells become anergic upon encounter with a soluble form of OVA, in the presence or absence of B7. However, tolerance in DO11 cells transferred into soluble OVA transgenic recipients can be broken by immunization with Ag-pulsed DCs only in B7-deficient mice and not in wild-type mice, suggesting a role of B7 in maintaining tolerance in the presence of strong immunogenic signals. Comparing two double-transgenic models--expressing either a soluble or a tissue Ag--we further show that B7 is not only essential for the active induction of regulatory T cells in the thymus, but also for their maintenance in the periphery. Thus, the obligatory role of B7 molecules paradoxically is to promote effective T cell priming and contain effector responses when self-Ags are presented as foreign.
The Japanese tourist survival guide: Undead tropes of the Pacific War in contemporary New Zealand literature

During the 1980s Japanese corporations acquired a strong foothold in the American market, prompting media commentators to speculate that American society was being undermined by an encroaching Japanese “takeover”. Employing a comparative approach, I place New Zealand source material in conversation with an American cultural context in order to expose the mobility and malleability of Japanophobic discourses. New Zealand culture provides a basis for comparison in that the nation contained no hi-tech or car manufacturing industries, and yet writers there took issue with the presence of Japanese tourists and their increasing purchasing power. Writers Keri Hulme and Vivienne Plumb portrayed the Japanese as vampires and body-snatchers, while Ian Middleton suggested that the Japanese were seeking an escape from modern culture into an “untouched”, pre-modern environment. These features set New Zealand writing apart from the thriller genre adopted by Michael Crichton, Steven Schlossstein, and Tom Clancy. But in sp...
Mental Health Diagnoses 3 Years After Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion in the United States.

Objectives. We set out to assess the occurrence of new depression and anxiety diagnoses in women 3 years after they sought an abortion.Methods. We conducted semiannual telephone interviews of 956 women who sought abortions from 30 US facilities. Adjusted multivariable discrete-time logistic survival models examined whether the study group (women who obtained abortions just under a facility’s gestational age limit, who were denied abortions and carried to term, who were denied abortions and did not carry to term, and who received first-trimester abortions) predicted depression or anxiety onset during seven 6-month time intervals.Results. The 3-year cumulative probability of professionally diagnosed depression was 9% to 14%; for anxiety it was 10% to 15%, with no study group differences. Women in the first-trimester group and women denied abortions who did not give birth had greater odds of new self-diagnosed anxiety than did women who obtained abortions just under facility gestational limits.Conclusions. A...
TRENDS IN AGE STRUCTURE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PACIFIC WALRUSES HARVESTED IN THE BERING STRAIT REGION OF ALASKA, 1952–2002

Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) are harvested by subsistence hunters in Alaska as they migrate north through the Bering Strait in the spring. Harvest records and biological specimens have been collected from the Bering Strait communities of Little Diomede, Gambell, and Savoonga since the 1950s. Harvest levels in the Bering Strait region peaked in the late 1980s and declined thereafter; however, there was considerable variation in the size and composition of the harvests among communities and over time. The relationships among characteristics of the community harvests and the presence of temporal trends were investigated using generalized linear models. The proportion of females in the catch increased over time in all three communities, while the proportion pregnant among harvested females declined over the range of sample years. The ages of harvested walruses increased over time in all three communities through the 1980s, after which trends in age stabilized or began to decline. The age of first reproduction was significantly older for females sampled in 1975-1985 than for females sampled between 1952 and 1962 or 1992 and 1998. Factors thought to have influenced the size and composition of the catch over the past 50 yr include hunter preferences, harvest management regimes, environmental conditions, and changes in the population itself.
The Use of Energizers to Reinforce Nutrition Concepts and Encourage Physical Activity.

Given the importance of including daily physical activity as a part of a healthy lifestyle, Extension educators should do as much as they can to incorporate physical activity into their educational programming. A University of Minnesota Extension team has created a set of activities that incorporate motion to reinforce nutrition concepts, which can be adapted by educators to almost any topic. Initial evidence suggests incorporating these activities is both effective and reasonably easy. With appropriate time and space, these energizers can be used to increase participants' physical activity, as well as reinforce lesson concepts and make class more fun.
Effect of Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis on the Composition and Functional Properties of Egg White

Abstract Liquid egg white was concentrated by ultrafiltration (UF) or reverse osmosis (RO) using a Damrow PCI system (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin). After concentration, the egg white was spray dried in an Anhydro (Copenhagen, Denmark) spray drier. The UF treatment of egg white significantly (P
Tribological Properties of Engine Oil with Carbon Nano-horns as Nano-additives

The work illustrates the preparation of stable suspensions of single-walled carbon nano-horns (SWCNHs) in engine oil and shows their tribological behavior at different temperatures. The suspension stability was verified by dynamic light scattering, and the viscosity of suspensions was measured. Stribeck test was used to evaluate the tribological performances of nano-lubricants in the 25–80 °C temperature range. The coefficient of friction was reduced with the addition of SWCNHs at all temperatures and concentrations. In particular, at T = 25 °C, the coefficient friction was reduced up to about 12 % in boundary regime even with a very low SWCNH concentration (0.01 vol%). Wear tests were carried out to verify results obtained from Stribeck characterization. A decrease in mean wear rate was observed at each temperature, between 25 and 30 %. In particular, at 25 °C, a decrease of about 30 % in wear rate was estimated. Friction coefficient decrease was also observed during all wear tests, probably due to the ball-bearing effect played by SWCNHs spherical aggregates. Therefore, SWCNHs revealed the potential to be promising candidates as additives, to develop a new class of lubricants that are suitable and effective in different operating environments.
A non-interfering selective disassembly sequence for components with geometric constraints

This paper analyzes the problem of global disassembly of a selected component from a geometrically constrained assembly. The geometric constraints are: (i) spatial constraints due to the three-dimensional geometric interactions between the components in an assembly; and (ii) user-defined constraints, such as grouping of components as subassemblies and directional constraints on component geometry. A new algorithm has been proposed to determine a non-interfering disassembly sequence for a selected component, minimizing the number of simultaneous component removals. The algorithm analyzes both the spatial constraints of the assembly geometry and the user-defined constraints in evaluating the accessibility of components, which is followed by determining the topological disassembly ordering of the components to evaluate an optimal sequence. Preliminary implementation results of the algorithm for a geometrically constrained assembly are presented.
Clarifying the PROGINS Allele Association in Ovarian and Breast Cancer Risk: A Haplotype-Based Analysis

Background: The PROGINS allele of the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer and a decreased risk of breast cancer. We set out to refine the association between common variation at the PGR gene locus and these two diseases. Methods: We characterized the haplotype structure of the PGR gene by genotyping 54 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 349 women. We then selected a subset of 17 haplotypetagging SNPs that captured variation across the locus and typed them in 267 ovarian cancer case patients and 397 control subjects from two case‐control studies and in 1715 breast cancer case patients and 2505 control subjects from a cohort study. Results: The PGR locus was characterized by four blocks of strong linkage disequilibrium. Two SNPs in block 4 were associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer among homozygous carriers as compared with noncarriers: rs1042838 (PROGINS allele; odds ratio [OR] 3.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19 to 8.75, P .022) and rs608995 (minor allele; OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.63 to 5.89, P<.001). The PROGINS allele was observed on a subset of chromosomes carrying the minor allele at rs608995, and its association with ovarian cancer was fully explained by its association with rs608995. In addition, rs608995 fell on two common haplotypes (4-D and 4-E), whose association with ovarian cancer was the same as that of rs608995. These same two haplotypes were associated with a non‐statistically significantly reduced risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: Variation in PGR was associated with ovarian cancer risk, although the strongest result was not with the PROGINS allele. Instead, any causal allele(s) are likely in or downstream of block 4 and carried on haplotypes 4-D and 4-E. There was some evidence that the same variation was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, but the association was not statistically significant. [J Natl Cancer Inst
Heat flow at the Platanares, Honduras, geothermal site

Meert J.G. and Smith, D.L., 1991. Heat flow at the Platanares, Honduras, geothermal site. In: F.Goff (Editor), Honduras - A Geothermal Investigation. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 45:91-99. Three boreholes, PLTG-1, PLTG-2 and PLTG-3, were drilled in the Platanares, Honduras geothermal system to evaluate the geothermal energy potential of the site. The maximum reservoir temperature was previously estimated at 225 - 240°C using various types of chemical and isotopic geothermometry. Geothermal gradients of 139-239°C/km, calculated from two segments of the temperature-depth profile for borehole PLTG-2, were used to project a minimum depth to the geothermal reservoir of 1.2- 1.7 km. Borehole PLTG-1 exhibited an erratic temperature distribution attributed to fluid movement through a series of isolated horizontal and subhorizontal fractures. The maximum measured temperature in borehole PLTG-1 was 150.4°C, and in PLTG-2 the maximum measured temperature was 104.3°C. PLTG-3 was drilled after this study and the maximum recorded temperature of 165°C is similar to the temperature encountered in PLTG-1. Heat flow values of 392 mWm -2 and 266 mWm -2 represent the first directly-measured heat flow values for Honduras and northen Central America. Radioactive heat generation, based on gamma-ray analyses of uranium, thorium and potassium in five core samples, is less than 2.0 #Wm -3 and does not appear to be a major source of the high heat flow. Several authors have proposed a variety of extensional tectonic environments for western Honduras and these heat flow values, along with published estimates of heat flow, are supportive of this type of tectonic regime.
Detection of non-metallic landmines using shock impulses and MEMS sensors

We describe an experimental and theoretical project centered on the use of nonlinear acoustic shock impulses and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors to detect and image buried, regular-shaped inclusions at various depths in soil. The use of shock waves is partly motivated by the perceived limited capability of conventional acoustic delivery modes, and by recent research which shows that shock impulses travel efficiently in granular media.
Nonlinear pulse interaction in microresonator slow-light waveguides

Using the constraint of fixed pulse distortion, three slow-light waveguide architectures [coupled-resonator optical waveguide, side-coupled integrated spaced sequence of resonators (SCISSOR), and ring enhanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer (REMZI)] are studied for linear delay-bandwidth product, nonlinear phase shift, and nonlinear pulse interaction; pulse to pulse interaction is a limiting factor on the bit rate. For the same number of stages the REMZI architecture has the highest delay-bandwidth product and the best nonlinear sensitivity, but the SCISSOR architecture has the weakest nonlinear pulse interaction. We further define a phase efficiency factor, which represents the fraction of the total filter phase that contributes to the delay-bandwidth product. We also show that resonator loss reduces the nonlinear sensitivity and the delay-bandwidth product in the nonlinear regime.
Optimized configurations for passively shielded magnetic resonance imaging magnets

A unique design approach based on the multistage Monte Carlo method is suggested. It allows for a thorough search for optimized designs within the bounds of the multidimensional design space created by the competing requirements and imposed spatial restrictions. This design space is shown to contain a multiplicity of different coil configurations, each processing a sharply defined minimum in the resulting stray field level, field inhomogeneity, or amount of conductor. Optimization techniques that depend on local gradients would tend, in such a case, to be trapped in the many local minima and fail to locate a global minimum. Several examples are discussed to highlight the advantages of the proposed design approach.
Beyond Pandora’s Box: quantitatively evaluating non-target effects of parasitoids in classical biological control

A seminal paper by Howarth (Proc Hawaii Entomol Soc 24:239–244, 1983) entitled “Classical biological control: Panacea or Pandora’s Box” ignited a sometimes acrimonious debate over the relative safety of introductions for classical biological control. Extolled for years as environmentally benign, the litany of negative non-target effects profiled by Howarth heightened awareness of this issue. Several factors have muddied this debate including the conflation of frequency of effects with their strength, grouping the effects of disparate biological control agents together, and the lack of quantitative data on either side of the argument. Here, I examine the potential for non-target effects among insect parasitoids, the most common group used for biological control of arthropods. In response to calls for better quantitative studies, I highlight three different techniques, quantitative food webs, life table analysis, and experimental populations, respectively, to quantitatively assess or reassess non-target effects in different systems. I also explore three methodological approaches employed to ascertain the strength of competitive interactions between native and introduced parasitoids, a potential non-target effect that has received little attention in the literature. These types of studies may greatly increase our understanding of the nature of non-target interactions with introduced parasitoids and bring more rigor to a debate often dominated by rhetoric.
Psychosocial Morbidity and the Effect of Weight Loss

There currently is an obesity epidemic that threatens the population of the USA and that of the world. Currently, two thirds of the US population is overweight or obese. As a result, a large proportion of the population is at risk for a number of short- and long-term health consequences. These have been well described in the preceding chapters. However, obesity is also associated with a number of significant psychiatric and psychosocial consequences. This chapter will review the most common psychiatric comorbidities of obesity with a focus on depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use. These sections will include strategies for assessment and the impact of these disorders on outcome as well as the impact of weight loss on these disorders. Next, psychosocial consequences of obesity such as stigma, quality of life, and body image will be reviewed. Similarly, the bidirectional impact of these factors on weight loss will be discussed. Finally, conclusions will include future directions for the examination of the complex relationship between obesity and psychological factors.
Landraces from mountainous regions of Switzerland are sources of important genes for stem rust resistance in barley

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, can be a serious disease problem of barley in some production areas of the world. Deployment of resistant cultivars is the best means for controlling the disease. In North America, stem rust of barley has been kept in check for more than 70 years through the widespread use of the resistance gene Rpg1, which was derived from a landrace collected in Switzerland. Rpg1 is effective against many, but not all races of P. graminis f. sp. tritici. With the threat of Rpg1-virulent races like TTKSK and QCCJB from Africa and North America, respectively, it is important that additional sources of stem rust resistance be identified in barley. Given that resistance was previously identified in germplasm from Switzerland, the primary objective of this study was to characterize a collection of Swiss barley landraces from the mountainous regions of canton Graubunden for their reaction to stem rust races TTKSK and QCCJB as well as HKHJC, which is diagnostic for detecting Rpg1. From the stem rust phenotyping of 73 barley landraces, we found a remarkably high frequency (>43 %) of resistance to the virulent P. graminis f. sp. tritici races of TTKSK and QCCJB. In nearly every case, this resistance was due to the rpg4/Rpg5 gene complex as determined by a molecular assay. Two landraces were also found to carry Rpg1 based on their diagnostic resistant reaction to race HKHJC and presence of an amplicon specific for the gene. These results demonstrate that landraces from the mountainous areas of eastern Switzerland are valuable sources of important resistance genes for protecting barley from the devastating disease of stem rust.
Local Government Interest in and Justifications for Collecting Payments-in-Lieu of (Property) Taxes from Charities

We use data from a survey of Indiana local government officials (LGOs) to explore their attitudes towards PILOTs for major types of charities. We consider whether these attitudes are related to local economic conditions, political factors, LGOs’ attitudes towards the relationship between local government and nonprofits, and the extent to which LGOs are personally involved with nonprofits as leaders, members or volunteers. We also explore whether these attitudes vary by type of charity involved (hospitals, schools/universities, churches) and present preliminary data on LGO agreement with various justifications for PILOT policies.
A novel fault-tolerant router architecture for network-on-chip reconfiguration

In Network-on-Chip (NoC) architectures, a faulty router can isolate a functional processing element (PE) from other nodes, severely restricting the performance of the system. This paper presents a fault-tolerant router architecture that can avoid PE isolation even if the router fails. In this design, we connect the local port of the router with one of the other four ports through a fault tolerant control unit that works with the fault detection signal. If the router fails, the control unit will turn on and connect the PE with the neighboring router directly, thus protecting the system functioning. A revised XY-Routing algorithm is also presented to achieve the NoC reconfiguration when router fails. Theoretical analysis show that for a 10∗10 mesh NoC, the reliability at year 10 is 20 times better than NoC implemented with traditional router. Also our design has greatly improved value for mean time to failure (MTTF). In video and DSP applications, simulation results show better power control with faulty PEs. The new architecture also has other advantages over annealing re-mapping algorithm. Our design has only 12% area overhead, which is significantly better than other approaches to deal with faults.
Foreign Trade Zones Policy in the United States: A Controversial Instrument1

In recent years, Foreign Trade Zone usage in the United States has been increasing substantially. While certain business and competitive advantages can be realized by the Zone user and by communities with zones, questions have been raised about the application of the concept in the United States. This paper addresses issues which deal with the controversial evolution of the regulatory environment of zones, and how that may have contributed to a particular pattern of uneven growth, resulting more in users developing their capabilities to compete in the United States rather than in foreign markets.
Dynamic isolation and unloading of target proteins by aptamer-modified microtransporters.

We describe here a new strategy for isolating target proteins from complex biological samples based on an aptamer-modified self-propelled microtube engine. For this purpose, a thiolated thrombin or a mixed thrombin–ATP aptamer (prehybridized with a thiolated short DNA) was coassembled with mercaptohexanol onto the gold surface of these microtube engines. The rapid movement of the aptamer-modified microtransporter resulted in highly selective and rapid capture of the target thrombin, with an effective discrimination against a large excess of nontarget proteins. Release of the captured thrombin can be triggered by the addition of ATP that can bind and displace the immobilized mixed thrombin–ATP aptamer in 20 min. The rapid loading and unloading abilities demonstrated by these selective microtransporters are illustrated in complex matrixes such as human serum and plasma. The new motion-driven protein isolation platform represents a new approach in bioanalytical chemistry based on active transport of proteins...
Study on the Inevitability of Sparse Style Drawing's Generation in Six Dynasty Period

Because of the special background of Wei-Jin and South and North Dynasties,the flourish of metaphysics and Buddhism had greatly influenced on then aesthetics and art,which directly lead the emergence of new evaluation standard for drawing and facilitated the generation of sparse style drawing absorbing calligraphic paint-brushing.
Large-scale Patient Information Systems—Design Considerations

ABSTRACT To an ever increasing degree, research and treatment efforts in cancer are relying on large-scale patient information systems. In considering alternative systems, investigators and administrators must choose the most advantageous approach from a variety of information processing strategies. Of prime importance is consideration of the inescapable compromise between efficiency of maintenance and ease of retrieval. Maintenance (updating) of a large system affects a signficant portion of stored data. Whereas, even complex data searches act on only small segments of a data base. Thus in these decisions, design of the maintenance component is proposed as the dominant factor to be considered.
Prolonged increased concentrations of 17beta-estradiol associated with development of persistent ovarian follicles do not influence conception rates in beef cattle.

Objectives were to evaluate conception rates and time to estrus following cessation of treatments designed to either cause prolonged elevated concentrations of 17beta-estradiol associated with development of persistent ovarian follicles or to inhibit elevated concentrations of 17beta-estradiol and development of persistent ovarian follicles. Beef heifers (n = 80) and 2-yr-old nonlactating cows (n = 39) were stratified by age, blocked by estrual status (previously exhibited estrus or anestrus) and assigned to receive either 1) four norgestomet implants (4 Norg; n = 59) for 9 d (d 0 = treatment initiation) or 2) one norgestomet implant from d 0 to 7 and three additional norgestomet implants from d 7 to 9 (1 + 3 Norg; n = 60). All animals received PGF2alpha on d 0 to lyse corpora lutea. All implants were removed on d 9 followed by estrus detection every 6 h for 7 d following implant removal. Females exhibiting estrus were artificially inseminated 6 to 12 h after detection of estrus. A treatment x day interaction (P .10). Pregnancy rates (number conceiving to AI/number in treatment group) also did not differ between treatment groups of either estrual or anestrous females. Conception rates are not compromised in females that develop persistent ovarian follicles and have prolonged elevated concentrations of 17beta-estradiol when persistent ovarian follicles are not allowed to ovulate.
Obesity Increases the Risk of Primary Nonfunction and Early Access Loss, and Decreases Overall Patency in Patients Who Underwent Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow Device Placement.

Background Hemodialysis reliable outflow (HeRO) catheters were introduced in 2008, and have been since providing a reliable alternative for hemodialysis patients who are deemed “access challenged.” However, its outcomes have not been extensively investigated due to its relatively young age. Here, we report our 6-year single institution experience, and demonstrate the significant impact of obesity on HeRO graft outcomes, an aspect not previously studied in the literature. Methods Patients who underwent HeRO graft placement at the University of Illinois Hospital between April 2009 and August 2015 were included retrospectively. Data were collected from patients' electronic medical records and analyzed using SPSS software. Results Thirty-three patients who underwent 34 HeRO catheter placements were included. Mean age was 47 ± 12 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.75 ± 10.22. Median follow-up was 635 days. Overall catheter-related complications were thrombosis (70.59%), infection (20.59%), arterial steal (8.82%), and pseudoaneurysms requiring intervention (8.82%). Overall primary and secondary patency rates after 6 and 12 months were 31.25%, 25%, 78.13%, and 71.86%, respectively. Primary nonfunction rate was 14.7%. Obese patients had significantly higher rate of primary nonfunction (38.46% vs. 0%, P = 0.0046), and relative risk 3.62 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01–6.52). They also had a significantly decreased rate of graft patency after 12 months (10.53% vs. 53.85%, P = 0.0227), leading to a relative risk of “early” graft loss within 1 year of 5.12 (95% CI 1.26–20.83). Overall median graft patency in obese patients was significantly shorter than that of nonobese patients (311 vs. 1295 days, P = 0.014). BMI, as a continuous variable, was a significant predictor of primary nonfunction (P = 0.046) and early graft loss (0.020) when tested against age, sex, race, and diabetes in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions HeRO catheters offer a reliable, and possibly the last, alternative in hemodialysis access-challenged patients. In our population, obesity was a significant risk factor for primary nonfunction, early graft loss, and a shorter overall graft patency. BMI, as a continuous variable, can serve as a predictor of primary nonfunction and early graft loss after adjustment for age, race, sex, and diabetes. Obesity's effect on HeRO catheters has not been amply addressed; therefore further prospective studies are warranted.
New Staining Technique for Hepatic Tissue

A new staining method is described for routine supportive staining of liver tissue in diagnostic histopathology laboratories. By altering the chemical composition and technique of preparation, the time and cost normally associated with the special staining of reticulum, collagen, and hemosiderin can be substantially reduced. This new technique produces results that clearly and consistently provide excellent color representation with a high precision level. The technique is equally valuable for routine examination of tissue that may contain reticulum, collagen, and hemosiderin.
Cooperative collection development and resource sharing among art libraries: past and present

An appreciation of the diversity of art library users and their information I needs, and of the literature of art, is a necessary prerequisite to consideration I of the objectives of cooperative collection development and resource sharing I among art libraries. The idea of cooperation gathered momentum after World I War 1, after it had become clear that no art library could ever be I comprehensive, and was put into practice after the Second World War, at I local and national levels. Local cooperative schemes were implemented at I Vienna and in Ohio State (ARLO); the Farmington Plan was by contrast an I example of a national programme. In the Federal Republic of Germany the I libraries belonging to the AKB operate a cooperative acquisitions scheme and I receive extra funding to allow them to specialise in particular subject areas in I addition to their normal acquisitions. The Fine Arts Library of Harvard I University participates in the Research Libraries Group Art and Architecture I Program. The concept of assigning different subjects and collection I responsibilities to different libraries in order to achieve comprehensive I coverage makes a lot of sense especially if in academic institutions links can be I developed between the library’s specialisation and the institution’s academic programme.
Autism Consumer Health Web Sites: Are Readability Levels Too High?

Are excessively high reading levels creating a barrier for parents seeking information about autism on the Internet? Although the average American reads at the eighth grade level, medical information is frequently written above the twelfth grade level. Readability of 14 autism consumer health Web sites was determined. The average reading score on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Index was grade 11.9 and 41.6 (Difficult/High School to College) on the Flesh Reading Scale. All of the Web sites had average reading levels above the eighth grade. Physician-sponsored organizations and government Web sites intended for consumer health audiences had the lowest reading levels.
Dicarboxylic acids as pH sensors for hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

Imaging tumoral pH may help to characterize aggressiveness, metastasis, and therapeutic response. We report the development of hyperpolarized [2-13C,D10]diethylmalonic acid, which exhibits a large pH-dependent 13C chemical shift over the physiological range. We demonstrate that co-polarization with [1-13C,D9]tert-butanol accurately measures pH via13C NMR and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in phantoms.
Selective patient experience with the Blom‐Singer Dual Valve voice prosthesis

Objectives/Hypothesis This study compares the overall durability, phonation effort, and speech quality achieved by the Blom-Singer Dual Valve prosthesis to the same characteristics achieved by the single-valve prosthesis used in a select population of total laryngectomy patients who have demonstrated single-valve prosthesis failure within 3 months of placement. Study Design Prospective phase IV study. Methods Fourteen patients who had previously experienced early valve failure using a single-valve prosthesis had a Dual Valve placed by a speech language pathologist. A total of seventeen Dual Valves were inserted during routine clinical visits for valve replacement. Time intervals from insertion to replacement of the Dual Valve, as well as the average lifespan of patients’ three previous single valves were collected. Subjective, categorical responses to speech quality and phonation effort for the Dual Valve compared to the single valve were collected on a questionnaire upon failure of the device. Results The mean duration of the single valve was 60 days, with a median of 51 days, whereas the mean duration of the Dual Valve was 164 days, with a median duration of 84 days. Both sets of data were statistically significant, with a P value of .0131. Valve life was increased in 86% of patients, with 43% experiencing greater than 150 days improvement in valve duration when using the Dual Valve. Phonation effort was increased in 14% of patients, and speech quality was not significantly affected in any patients. Conclusions In this select population, the Dual Valve offers improved durability over the single valve without sacrificing speech quality, making it a preferred prosthesis option for patients experiencing single-valve failure in less than 3 months. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 128:422–426, 2018
General Description of Lake Lanao

Lake Lanao is located in the southern Philippines on the Island of Mindanao (8°N, 124°E) (Fig. 2-1). The lake was formed by lava blockage of a tectonically formed basin (Fig. 2-2). Although good estimates are not yet available, Lanao is apparently very old, perhaps dating back as far as the Tertiary (D. G. Frey, personal communication). The lake contains a swarm of 20 or more endemic cyprinid species (Myers, 1960; Kosswig and Villwock, 1964), but there appears to be only limited endemism among other elements of the fauna.
Endothelial Fli1 Deficiency Impairs Vascular Homeostasis : A Role in Scleroderma Vasculopathy

Systemic sclerosis or scleroderma (SSc) is a complex autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by obliterative vasculopathy and tissue fibrosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying SSc vasculopathy are largely unknown. Friend leukemia integration factor 1 (Fli1), an important regulator of immune function and collagen fibrillogenesis, is expressed at reduced levels in endothelial cells in affected skin of patients with SSc. To develop a disease model and to investigate the function of Fli1 in the vasculature, we generated mice with a conditional deletion of Fli1 in endothelial cells (Fli1 CKO). Fli1 CKO mice showed a disorganized dermal vascular network with greatly compromised vessel integrity and markedly increased vessel permeability. We show that Fli1 regulates expression of genes involved in maintaining vascular homeostasis including VE-cadherin, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, type IV collagen, matrix metalloproteinase 9, platelet-derived growth factor B, and S1P1 receptor. Accordingly, Fli1 CKO mice are characterized by down-regulation of VE-cadherin and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, impaired development of basement membrane, and a decreased presence of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in dermal microvessels. This phenotype is consistent with a role of Fli1 as a regulator of vessel maturation and stabilization. Importantly, vascular characteristics of Fli1 CKO mice are recapitulated by SSc microvasculature. Thus, persistently reduced levels of Fli1 in endothelial cells may play a critical role in the development of SSc vasculopathy.
Dormancy-related changes in cytokinin efficacy and metabolism in potato tubers during postharvest storage

The metabolism of [3H]-zeatin (Z) and[3H]-isopentenyladenosine (IPA) in potato tubers was examined inrelation to changes in cytokinin efficacy during postharvest storage anddormancy progression. Exogenous radiolabeled cytokinins were rapidlymetabolizedby dormant and nondormant tubers. Following injection, [3H]-Z wasmetabolized to zeatin riboside, adenine derivatives andzeatin-riboside-5′-monophosphate. Four hours after injection, less than60% of the recovered radioactivity was associated with unmetabolized[3H]-Z. [3H]-IPA was also rapidly metabolized to severalmetabolites including: IPA-5′-monophosphate, adenine derivatives andzeatin riboside. Four hours after injection, less than 50% of therecovered radioactivity was associated with [3H]-IPA. Cytokininsensitivity was assessed by determining the effects of exogenous Z or IPA ontuber sprouting. Immediately after harvest and during the initial period ofstorage, tubers were dormant and exogenous Z or IPA were completely ineffectivein breaking tuber dormancy. Thereafter, dormant tubers exhibited a gradualincrease in sensitivity to both cytokinins. Cytokinin sensitivity continued toincrease as postharvest storage was extended and dormancy weakened. The lengthof postharvest storage (hence dormancy status) had no apparent effects on themetabolism of either cytokinin. Neither the rate of metabolism nor the natureofmetabolites detected was affected by the length of postharvest storage. Theseresults suggest that changes in cytokinin efficacy in dormant potato tubersduring postharvest storage are not the result of differential catabolism butrather are due to other cellular processes such as hormone perception and/orsignal transduction.
Initiation of Flash Boiling of Multicomponent Miscible Mixtures with Application to Transportation Fuels and Their Surrogates

This paper presents methodologies to predict thermodynamic conditions that initiate flash boiling by spontaneous nucleation of liquids consisting of hundreds of miscible liquids and their lower order surrogate mixtures. The methods are illustrated with a kerosene-based fuel and a seven-component surrogate for it. The predictions are compared to measurements of nucleation temperatures obtained from a pulse-heating technique that rapidly heats a microscale platinum film immersed in a pool of the test fluid. Nucleation temperatures are predicted using a generalized corresponding states principle (GCSP), and a modification of classical nucleation theory that considers the mixture as a pseudo single component fluid (PSCF). The intent is to offer a simple means to predict the initiation of flash boiling that can have important consequences for fuel efficiency in combustion engines. We show that contact angle has a strong effect such that predicted and measured spontaneous nucleation temperatures agree for a giv...