cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simulation of ocean acoustic tomography using matched field processing

Summary form only given, as follows. The authors have applied matched field processing to the tomography problem. Matched field processing conventionally assumes a known sound speed field and attempts to determine the range and depth of an acoustic source. However, the authors assume that they know the source location but not the sound speed field. Because of the complexity of this problem, they have assumed an eddy in an ocean with known sound speed profiles, and they estimate the eddy's boundaries. They assume one acoustic CW source and a 20-element vertical array (both in the deep sound channel) situated 100 km apart. Three estimators were used: Bucker, Bartlett, and maximum likelihood. The sensitivity of the estimators' performance to signal-to-noise ratio and noise spatial correlation structure is addressed. The scheme is shown to work when acoustic replica fields were generated using the simple model for the ocean (three known sound speed profiles), and the actual acoustic field was stimulated using a more realistic eddy. >
Motion-driven sensing and biosensing using electrochemically propelled nanomotors

Electrochemically-propelled nanomotors offer considerable promise for developing new and novel bioanalytical and biosensing strategies based on the direct isolation of target biomolecules or changes in their movement in the presence of target analytes. For example, receptor-functionalized nanomotors offer direct and rapid target isolation from raw biological samples without preparatory and washing steps. Microtube engines functionalized with ss-DNA, aptamer or antibody receptors are particularly useful for the direct isolation of nucleic acids, proteins or cancer cells, respectively. A new nanomotor-based signal transduction involving measurement of speed and distance travelled by nanomotors, offers highly sensitive, rapid, simple and low cost detection of target biomarkers, and a new dimension of analytical information based on motion. The resulting distance signals can be easily visualized by optical microscope (without any sophisticated analytical instrument) to reveal the target presence and concentration. The attractive features of the new micromachine-based target isolation and signal transduction protocols reviewed in this article offer numerous potential applications in biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and forensic analysis.
The Great Ape Project and Disability Rights: Ominous Undercurrents of Eugenics in Action

The Great Ape Project is an international animal rights movement with the goal of extending rights to nonhuman primates. While the authors of this essay are sympathetic with scholars who seek to ensure humane treatment for these species, they are concerned with the growing tendency by those in the project to draw analogies between nonhuman primates and humans with disabilities. It is felt that scholars in the Great Ape Project, ignoring findings from anthropologists who have begun to study the significant sociocultural matrix that has defined and often limited individuals with disabilities, rely on assumptions about disability that can be traced back to the eugenics movement. The authors of this essay argue that if scholars in the Great Ape Project want to make comparisons between humans and apes, it should be with all humans. They feel it is both unfortunate and scientifically inaccurate for those in the Great Ape Project to blur the boundary between apes and people by dehumanizing individuals with disabilities, individuals for whom human rights are often the most precarious, [great apes, Great Ape Project, disability, eugenics, human rights]
Formulating Integer Linear Programs: A Rogues' Gallery

“Convincing yourself is easy, persuading a colleague is harder, but proving it to a computer is hardest of all!”---R. Hamming, ca 1985. The art of formulating linear and integer linear programs is, well, an art: It is hard to teach, and even harder to learn. To help demystify this art, we present a set of modeling building blocks that we call “formulettes.” Each formulette consists of a short verbal description that must be expressed in terms of variables and constraints in a linear or integer linear program. These formulettes can better be discussed and analyzed in isolation from the much more complicated models they comprise. Not all models can be built from the formulettes we present. Rather, these are chosen because they are the most frequent sources of mistakes. We also present Naval Postgraduate School NPS format; a define-before-use formulation guide we have followed for decades to express a complete formulation.
Desumoylation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane VAP Family Protein Scs2 by Ulp1 and SUMO Regulation of the Inositol Synthesis Pathway

Posttranslational protein modification by the ubiquitin-like SUMO protein is critical to eukaryotic cell regulation, but much remains unknown regarding its operation and substrates. Here we report that specific mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ulp1 SUMO protease, including its coiled-coil (CC) domain, lead to the accumulation of distinct sumoylated proteins in vivo. A prominent ~50-kDa sumoylated protein accumulates in a Ulp1 CC mutant. The protein was identified as Scs2, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein that regulates phosphatidylinositol synthesis and lipid trafficking. Mutation of lysine 180 of Scs2 abolishes its sumoylation. Notably, impairment of either cellular sumoylation or cellular desumoylation mechanisms inhibits cell growth in the absence of inositol and exacerbates the inositol auxotrophy caused by deletion of SCS2. Mutants lacking the Ulp2 SUMO protease are the most severely affected, and this defect was traced to the mutants' impaired ability to induce transcription of INO1, which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme of inositol biosynthesis. Conversely, inositol starvation induces a striking change in the profiles of total cellular SUMO conjugates. These results provide the first evidence of cross-regulation between the SUMO and inositol pathways, including the sumoylation of an ER membrane protein central to phospholipid synthesis and phosphoinositide signaling.
The Electromagnetic Incompatibility of EMI Filter Test Methods and Test Results

This paper reviews the filter qualification requirements of MIL-F-15733 and the insertion loss test methods and test fixtures of MIL-STD-220A. The inherent measurement errors when testing filters under so called full-load conditions are illustrated. The measurement error is due to the DC isolation networks which give a reactive load instead of a 50-ohm resistive condition. Valid test results can be obtained under the optional no-load conditions of MIL-STD-220A. Revision of MIL-F-15733 is suggested to require insertion loss tests under no-load conditions and to add filter core saturation, capacitor characteristic tests, and limits. A practical approach to prediction and verification of filter effectiveness is suggested.
EGF receptors of hepatocytes from rats treated with phenobarbital are sensitized to down-regulation by phenobarbital in culture.

Hepatocytes from Fisher 344 rats treated with the liver tumor promoter phenobarbital (PhB; 0.1% in the drinking water, 2-3 months) exhibit reduced epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding and EGF-induced mitogenesis in culture. Similar responses are induced by >1 mM PhB added to the culture medium of hepatocytes from untreated rats. In this study, we demonstrated that hepatocyte EGFr protein, as determined by immunoblotting, was unchanged by treatment of rats with PhB. However, hepatocytes from PhB-treated rats are more sensitive to PhB in culture in that decreased EGF binding occurred with 0.05 mM PhB, a concentration also attained in plasma of rats exposed to PhB. Sensitization was reversible, as is tumor promotion, since hepatocytes from rats withdrawn from PhB for 1 month were unresponsive to <3 mM PhB. EGFr down-regulation by a series of barbiturates correlated well with their known activities as tumor promoters and CYP2B1/2 inducers, with pentobarbital and PhB yielding high activities, while barbital was intermediate and barbituric acid, 5-phenylbarbituric acid, and 5-ethylbarbituric acid were ineffective. Differentiated hepatocyte function was required for PhB-induced EGFr down-regulation since HepG2 and rat liver epithelial cells were unresponsive, but involvement of CYP2B1/2 activity was discounted by the failure of metyrapone to inhibit the response in PhB-induced hepatocytes. These studies support a role for impaired EGFr function in PhB liver tumor promotion due to effects on existing EGFr protein and suggest that EGFr down-regulation by PhB in culture is independent of CYP2B1/2 activity but shares mechanistic components involved in its transcriptional activation by PhB.
Relationships Among Indices Suggest that Richness Is an Incomplete Surrogate for Grassland Biodiversity

Although many indices estimate diversity, species richness recently has been used as a surrogate for diversity in many studies in ecology, biogeography, and conservation. Underlying assumptions of this approach are that all diversity indices, including those that weight species importance by their relative abundance (e.g., evenness), are correlated pos- itively, and that richness accounts for a large proportion of the variance in diversity. We addressed these assumptions with data from six grassland sites using univariate and mul- tivariate analyses of a variety of indices (species evenness, richness, rarity, dominance, and Simpson's diversity index). Univariate correlations between plant species evenness and richness were weak and negative at each site. Principal-component analyses consistently revealed two significant components of variation in diversity. Richness and evenness were largely orthogonal, with Simpson's diversity loading between them. Thus, measures of species diversity based on relative abundance, as well as richness, may be necessary to capture the full complexity of diversity in conservation studies and in experiments of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. At these and perhaps other sites, species richness was an incomplete surrogate for diversity.
Harmony Search in Therapeutic Medical Physics

Medical physics is a branch of physics that concerns the application of radiation for therapeutic and diagnostic use in medicine. In therapeutic medical physics, ionizing radiation is used to treat patients afflicted with cancer. The main goal in radiotherapy is to deliver a high amount of radiation dose to cancer cells while sparing surrounding organs. The process begins with radiation treatment planning that requires optimization of radioisotope placement or radiation beam intensities. Prior optimization algorithms, such as genetic algorithm and simulated annealing, have been widely discussed in medical physics literature. However, Harmony Search has shown to be a superior optimization algorithm based on the results in other scientific fields. Thus, this study investigated high dose-rate prostate brachytherapy optimization using Harmony Search. Results showed that the algorithm is significantly faster than genetic algorithm and that rapid planning allows improved patient care in medical physics.
INHIBITION OF MIDGUT ION TRANSPORT BY ALLATOTROPIN (Mas-AT) AND MANDUCA FLRFamides IN THE TOBACCO HORNWORM MANDUCA SEXTA

Short-circuit current (Isc) across the posterior midgut of day 2 fifth-instar tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta) is inhibited by Manduca allatotropin (Mas-AT) and two Manduca FLRFamides (F7G and F7D). Another FLRFamide, F10, and the related molluscan tetrapeptide FMRFamide elicited only a modest inhibition of Isc. Mas-AT, F7G and F7D inhibited the Isc in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal inhibition of Isc by Mas-AT was achieved at a concentration of 50 nmol l-1. At 100 nmol l-1, Mas-AT produced a significantly greater inhibition of Isc than did F7G and F7D. The inhibition caused by Mas-AT was reversed by removing the peptide. Furthermore, the action of Mas-AT could be blocked by preabsorption with its antiserum. When F7G or F7D was added after the Isc had been inhibited by Mas-AT, a further reduction in the Isc was observed. No additive effects were seen when F7G and F7D were added together. In comparison with the anterior and middle regions, the posterior section of the midgut was the most sensitive to these three peptides. The Isc of midguts dissected from feeding fourth instars was inhibited by Mas-AT, F7D and F7G, whereas the Isc of midguts dissected from pharate fifth instars or wandering fifth instars was virtually unaffected by these peptides. Active ion transport across the posterior midgut of the silk moths Hyalophora cecropia and Bombyx mori was unaffected by these peptides.
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: Surgical indications and outcomes

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) remains the most commonly performed surgery for symptomatic disc herniations that have failed conservative treatment. It provides excellent visualization for central and bilateral foraminal decompression without manipulation of neural structures. Reliably excellent outcomes are seen following single-level procedures. Although similar results can frequently be obtained with multi-level ACDF, the pseudarthosis risk is heightened in this setting. However, plate application and smoking cessation minimize the risk.
Thrombogenicity and the interaction of proteins, platelets and white cells.

Radioactive labeled protein and platelet studies suggest that an ideal vascular surface absorbs albumin and prevents platelet adherance and aggregation. This study examines the interaction of serum and plasma proteins, white cells, and platelets in the thrombotic response to small internal diameter vascular prostheses. Thirty-seven replamineform silicone rubber vascular prostheses, 4 mm internal diameter and 6 cm length, had 5% aspirin and 5% theophylline by weight dispersed in a luminal coating (D); the remaining 37 control (C) prostheses had an identical silicone rubber coating without drugs. Scanning electron and darkfield microscopy confirmed similar surface topography in C and D grafts. One C and one D graft were studied in parallel using a modified canine arteriovenous fistula. Consistently, D prostheses had increased bleeding through the graft wall. The 7 serum and 8 plasma experiments demonstrated greater accumulation on the D prostheses, the greatest deposition occuring within the first 30 minute...
Mediating in the Shadow of the Courts: A Survey of the Emerging Case Law.

While mediation is touted as a flexible, non-legal process, unfettered by rigid procedures and rules, it is perhaps inevitable that we would witness a burgeoning case law on the mediation process as mediation has become more "institutionalized." With the widespread establishment of state and federal court sponsored mediation programs, and mediation's more frequent use by legal professionals generally, the mediation process increasingly has been subjected to the searching inquiry of trial and appellate courts. This burgeoning case law is due, in no small measure, to the fact that litigated cases are being sent to mediation in ever increasing numbers, particularly in states with well established mandatory mediation programs. Prior to the advent of institutionalized, court-sponsored mediation programs, mediation process issues that came before courts generally centered on the confidentiality of mediation communications. While confidentiality issues are also present in mediations conducted "in the shadow" of the courts, other mediation process issues have begun to arise with great frequency. Two of the most frequently litigated issues have to do with "mediation in good faith" requirements and the enforceability of mediated agreements. The increased litigation of these two mediation process issues is due not only to the increase in mediated cases in court-sponsored programs, but also to the official character of mediation in the shadow of the courts. Officially mandated mediation anticipates a more official, or formal, response to mediation process issues that may arise. In particular, the mere fact that the court has mandated that the parties participate in mediation might suggest that the court should have the means to enforce the mandate through a participation in good faith requirement, or by enforcing a mediated agreement. This article has the modest purpose of discussing and analyzing cases dealing with the requirement to mediate in good faith and the enforcement of mediation agreements. Particular attention is given to the sensitivity of the courts to protecting mediation's core values and principles (i.e., party selfdetermination, voluntariness, and mediator impartiality), and their interplay with general principles favoring settlement (judicial economy) and fairness.
Metallothionein is a component of exocrine pancreas secretion: implications for zinc homeostasis

Using transgenic mice that overexpress metallothionein-I (MT-I) and zinc-induced normal and transgenic animals, we have explored the localization of MT in the pancreas. Light-level immunocytochemistry demonstrated MT in acinar cells but not islet cells. Immunolabeling also revealed the presence of MT in pancreatic ducts, suggesting that it is released from acinar cells. Ultrastructural immunolocalization showed that MT was cytoplasmic, and no MT immunoreactivity was detected in lumens of the vesicular secretory pathway. Secreted pancreatic juice was collected from pilocarpine-stimulated mice and assayed for MT by a 109Cd-labeled hemoglobin-exchange assay and by radioimmunoassay. Both methods revealed high (> 1,000 ng/ml) levels of MT in the stimulated secretion. The level of MT in pancreatic juice from transgenic mice was only slightly (2-fold) increased despite dramatic overexpression of MT-I in the pancreas (> 20-fold). In contrast, zinc induction of MT significantly increased MT by 5- to 10-fold in the pancreatic juice, in normal and transgenic mice. These data indicate that MT is released from pancreatic acinar cells but not by the classical vesicular secretory pathway. In addition, MT levels in pancreatic juice are regulated by zinc, suggesting a physiological role of the pancreas in metal homeostasis.
When speed matters in learning against adversarial opponents

We propose a novel algorithm that is able to learn and adapt to an opponent even within a limited number of interactions and against a rapidly adapting opponent. The context we use is two player normal form games. We compare the performance of an agent using our algorithm against agents using existing multiagent learning algorithms.
/sup 3,4/He(. pi. /sup -/,n)/sup 2,3/H and /sup 3/He(. pi. /sup -/,. pi. /sup 0/)/sup 3/H at 285--575 MeV

We have measured the reactions $^{3,4}\mathrm{He}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}, n)^{2,3}\mathrm{H}$ at ${T}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}=285, 428, 525, \mathrm{and} 575$ MeV over an angular range ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{n}=18\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}134\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ in the center-of-momentum frame, and the reaction $^{3}\mathrm{He}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})^{3}\mathrm{H}$ at ${T}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}=285, 428, \mathrm{and} 525$ MeV over an angular range ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}}=60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}140\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. The pion absorption is found to proceed by a two-nucleon mechanism, with an energy dependence consistent with the formation of an $I=\frac{1}{2}$ resonance in the intermediate state. The pion single-charge exchange is discussed within the framework of the optical and Glauber models, and the dependence on the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ electromagnetic form factors is discussed. We also examine the isospin dependence of the $\ensuremath{\pi}$-nuclear Hamiltonian.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{3,4}\mathrm{He}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}, n)^{2,3}\mathrm{H}$, ${T}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}=285\ensuremath{-}575$ MeV, ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{n}=18\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}134\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$; and $^{3}\mathrm{He}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})^{3}\mathrm{H}$,, ${T}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}=285\ensuremath{-}525$ MeV, ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}}=60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\ensuremath{-}140\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$; measured $\frac{d\ensuremath{\sigma}}{d\ensuremath{\Omega}}$; discussed reaction mechanism, effects of form factors.
Physiological age of Simulium tuberosum and Simulium venustum (Diptera: Simuliidae) in New York state, U.S.A..

Simulium tuberosum (Lundstroem) and S. venustum Say females were collected by the human-bait capture method at 3 widely separated sites in New York State during 1975. Parity and the stage of follicular development were recorded for 519 females. Nullipars, of both species with stage I or I–II follicles, comprised 62% of the total dissections. No female in this series had follicles beyond stage II development; since ovarian diapause occurred in stage I–II or II in nullipars, populations of both species studied in New York were considered anautogenous. The majority of parous specimens completed 1 gonotrophic cycle and had initiated a 2nd. Of the pars with contracted follicular tubes, only 7 bipars were observed. Uninseminated females of both species were attracted to and initiated feeding on the investigators, but more than 90% of the biting females contained active spermatozoa.
Floating-Zone Processing of Indium in Earth-Orbit

An experiment in floating-zone processing of indium was performed on Space Transportation System (STS) Flight 41-D on September 4, 1984. An indium crystal 1 cm in diameter and 7 cm long was grown. The polycrystal-line indium used as the feedstock had been doped with approximately 100 ppm thallium to investigate the distribution coefficient of thallium in indium; the result was K =CS/CL< 0.03. Indium was chosen for study because its low melting point and the low vapor pressure of the melt at that temperature would simplify the apparatus and reduce the electrical energy and cooling requirements. Another advantage is that the properties of liquid indium probably preclude time-dependent thermocapillary flows. The experiment also served as the first flight test of the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA), a new multiple-purpose apparatus we have developed for low-cost, entry-level materials processing, physics and chemistry experiments in Earth-orbit. The experiment confirmed the flight-worthiness of the FEA and the suitability of indium for exploratory floating-zone experiments in Earth-orbit.
Potential predictive ability of the orthopaedic trauma association open fracture classification.

Objective Is the OTA open fracture classification (OTA-OFC) potentially predictive of early amputation and specific clinical treatments? Design Retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data. Setting Level I trauma center, Seattle, WA. Patients/participants Three hundred fifty-six patients with open fractures of the femur, tibia, malleoli, humerus, radius/ulna, pelvis, acetabulum, foot, or clavicle. Intervention No intervention. Main outcome measurements Vacuum-assisted closure placement, 3+ irrigation and debridements, antibiotic bead placement, and early amputation. Results The OTA-OFC is related to the type of treatment used to treat an open fracture. The model demonstrated that the strongest potential predictor of vacuum-assisted closure use is the severity of the skin injury; multiple debridements (≥ 2) is best predicted by the severity of the skin injury and muscle injury; bone loss was the strongest potential predictor of antibiotic bead placement; and the strongest predictors of early amputation are skin injury, contamination, and arterial injury. Conclusions Exploratory analysis of these data demonstrates that variations in muscle damage, skin injury, bone loss, arterial injury, and contamination sustained in an open fracture are related to different treatments in the total study population and for anatomical regions. The information provided by this study demonstrates that the OTA-OFC may have predictive abilities relative to how an open fracture is treated. Level of evidence Prognostic level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Role of Separators in Lithium-Ion Cell Safety

As the use of lithium-ion cells for high power applications becomes increasingly widespread, safety and reliability of these cells and battery packs is of paramount importance. Many of the multilayer separators are designed with a shutdown feature, where two of the layers have different phase transition temperatures. As the temperature of a cell increases, the lower melting component melts and fills the pores of the other solid layer and stops ion transport and current flow in the cell. Separator designs for ensuring safety should be considered for a specific battery size, application, and potential abuse scenarios. New designs, detailed modeling, and robust testing are all essential to ensure separators selected to meet both the performance and safety requirements for a given application. Ceramic/polymer composites and high melting point polymer materials offer some improvement in thermal stability and abuse tolerance for lithium-ion cell separators but, in general, there needs to be more evaluation work dedicated to quantifying the safety impact of new separators
FROM GREENWICH VILLAGE TO HOLLYWOOD: THE LITERARY APPRENTICESHIP OF SONYA LEVIEN

Sonya Levien (1888–1960) achieved a modicum of fame and fortune by writing stories and screenplays for Hollywood studios beginning in 1922 and ending only with her death. Her remarkable story began as the daughter of the immigrant working class and represents a narrative that took her from Greenwich Village to Hollywood. This essay explores her coming of age during the 1910s and, consequently, the process through which America invited those at the fringes to join in defining its national and civic creed. Herein lays the significance of Sonya Levien to an understanding of progressivism. By bridging the divides that separated Americans into groups defined by gender, class, ethnicity, and even politics, Levien engaged a number of the major issues of her day.
Cosmopolitan conceptions in global Dubai? The emiratization of IVF and its consequences.

IVF in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is decidedly cosmopolitan, catering to an international clientele who are attracted to Dubai as a booming global city and an emerging medical tourism hub. Yet this Emirati state-sponsored project of medical cosmopolitanism exists in tension with another state-sponsored project, called emiratization. Emiratization is an attempt by the UAE government to prioritize the needs of Emiratis. In this article, the emiratization of the UAE’s IVF sector is explored. Since the mid-2000s, the Emirati IVF sector has undergone a series of profound transformations, involving the indigenization-qua-emiratization of IVF services in the country. Two main aspects of IVF emiratization are examined. The first involves the Emirati government’s brief experiment with IVF public financing, which started off as a generous IVF subsidization programme for all infertile couples, but ended up solidifying preferential treatment for local Emiratis. The second is the 2010 passage of UAE Federal Law No. 11, which now stands as one of the world’s most restrictive pieces of assisted reproduction legislation. Which now stands as one of the world's most restrictive pieces of assisted reproduction legislation and has fundamentally altered the landscape of IVF in the country.
On Passivity Analysis and Passivation of Event-Triggered Feedback Systems Using Passivity Indices

While most of the work in the literature focuses on stability conditions for event-triggered systems, in this technical note we focus on passivity and passivation of event-triggered feedback interconnected systems of two input feed-forward output-feedback (IF-OF) passive systems. Passivity indices (levels) are used to measure the excess or shortage of passivity. It is shown that passivity indices (levels) of continuous feedback systems can be determined from passivity indices (levels) of individual subsystems. The passivation conditions to render a non-passive plant passive are also obtained based on passivity indices (levels). The results can be viewed as the extension of the well-known compositional property of passivity. Here we consider passivity in a unified event-triggered control scheme with event-triggered samplers located at both plant output and controller output. Under this scheme, we first derive the conditions to characterize passivity indices (levels) for the interconnected systems. The event-triggering condition proposed guarantees that these indices (levels) can be achieved. Then the passivation problem is considered and passivation conditions are provided. The passivation conditions depend on the passivity indices of the plant and controller and also the event-triggering condition, which reveals the trade off between desired passivity levels and communication resource utilization.
Digital image processing of bone - Problems and potentials

The development of a digital image processing system for bone histomorphometry and fluorescent marker monitoring is discussed. The system in question is capable of making measurements of UV or light microscope features on a video screen with either video or computer-generated images, and comprises a microscope, low-light-level video camera, video digitizer and display terminal, color monitor, and PDP 11/34 computer. Capabilities demonstrated in the analysis of an undecalcified rat tibia include the measurement of perimeter and total bone area, and the generation of microscope images, false color images, digitized images and contoured images for further analysis. Software development will be based on an existing software library, specifically the mini-VICAR system developed at JPL. It is noted that the potentials of the system in terms of speed and reliability far exceed any problems associated with hardware and software development.
Drought indices for drought risk assessment in a changing climate

Brian A. Fuchs joined the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) in 2005. Before coming to the NDMC, he worked for 5 years for the High Plains Regional Climate Center as a regional climatologist. Brian’s responsibilities with the NDMC include working as a climatologist for the center, with various research and service duties related to his position. Brian participates with other NDMC sta£ in the production of the US Drought Monitor (USDM) as one of the coauthors, and he serves as a media contact for climate-and drought-related topics.
Superstrings and Four-Dimensional Physics

You have already heard in Prof. VENEZIANO’s [1] talks about some of the fascinating work being done these days to formulate string theories and, hopefully, gained some perspective as well about the connection between the recent work and the research on string theory that has been going on for close to fifteen years
Large-Scale Organized Motions in Jets and Shear Layers

Turbulence research has undergone a major change in recent years as a result of the discovery of large-scale organized motions, popularly called “coherent structures”. This discovery has brought about a reexamination and, in the opinion of many, even a redefinition of the fundamental concepts in turbulence. Also, this has rekindled hopes for significant advances in the understanding, and perhaps modeling, of turbulent shear flows. So profound is the impact of this discovery that virtually every turbulence researcher is pursuing coherent structures in one form or another. I will summarize some of the key questions in this topic and review a few recent results from our laboratory.
Augmentation of Post-Transplant Immunity: Antigen Encounter at Time of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Enhances Antigen-Specific Donor T Cell Responses in the Post-Transplant Repertoire.

After transplant the immune system is reconstituted by cells derived from both hematopoietic stem cells and peripheral expansion of differentiated donor T cells. Immune function is poor despite transplantation of mature lymphocytes from immune competent donors. We tested the hypothesis that early antigen encounter at the time of cell transplant would enhance desired donor T cell responses in the post-transplant repertoire. 2 independent models of peptide-specific T cell responses were studied. Model 1 : The model for CD4 cells employed T cells from transgenic DO11.11 mice that constitutively express the T cell receptor for the class II restricted ovalbumin (OVA) peptide 323–339. Fig 1: Early exposure to OVA antigen enhances clonal expansion of OVA specific transgenic T-cells following syngeneic BMT. Lethally irradiated BALB/c mice were injected with 300 μg of OVA peptide in CFA or CFA alone subcutaneously one day before transplantation (D-1). The transplanted mice received 2x10 6 transgenic OVA specific T-cells and 6x10 6 non-transgenic naive BALB/c bone marrow cells. At 2 days (A) and 7weeks (B) following BMT, draining lymph nodes were isolated and examined for the presence of OVA-specific T-cells using FITC-labeled KJ-126 antibody and PE-labeled anti mouse CD4 antibody. Naive BALB/c animals were used as negative controls (C). The absolute number of antigen-specific T-cells was determined by multiplying the total cells recovered with the percentage of OVA-specific CD4+ T-cells identified by flow. Model 2 : The model for CD8 cells employed nontransgenic H2-Db-restricted T cell responses to the influenza nucleoprotein peptide 366–374. Fig 2: Antigen specific CD8+ cells in antigen-exposed animals are functionally active . Donor SW mice were immunized three times by ip injection of virus-infected spleen cells. Recipient C57BL/6 animals underwent BMT using influenza-immune donors spleen cells and bone marrow (10x10 6 and 4x10 6 respectively). Some transplant recipients were exposed to influenza virus on D-1. Ten days following BMT, the animals were sacrificed and spleens were isolated and stimulated in vitro with 2 μg of NP peptide. After two rounds of stimulation, the splenocytes were assayed by intracellular cytokine assay for the secretion of IFNg by staining with PE-anti IFNγ and FITC-anti-CD8 antibodies. The results are representative of three experiments (total number n=4/experimental group). Encounter with specific antigen at the time of T cell transplantation led to clonal expansion of donor T cells and preservation of donor T cell function in the post-transplant immune environment. Antigen-specific donor T cell function was poor if antigen encounter was delayed or omitted. Severe parent>F1 graft versus host reactions blocked the effect of early antigen exposure.
Removal of an Infected Hip Arthroplasty Is a High-Risk Surgery: Putting Morbidity Into Context With Other Major Nonorthopedic Operations

Abstract Background Two-stage revision remains the standard approach for periprosthetic infection (PJI) of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the United States. The postoperative risks associated with removal of an infected prosthesis and placement of a spacer have not been thoroughly studied. Methods Patients who underwent THA implant removal and spacer placement for infection were identified in a large administrative database using ICD-9 and CPT codes. Morbidity and mortality rates were assessed for the 90-day postoperative period whereas readmission rates were assessed at 30-days postoperatively to avoid including potential planned readmissions for reimplantation. These outcomes were then compared to those following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), carotid endarterectomy (CEA), prostatectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), and kidney transplant. Results Implant removal and spacer placement for THA PJI (n=10,386) had a 30-day readmission rate of 11.1% and 90-day mortality rate of 2.6%. Major complications (deep vein thrombosis [DVT], pulmonary emobolism [PE], myocardial infarct [MI], acute renal failure [ARF], pneumonia [PNA], stroke [CVA]) were seen in 15.3% of patients. Postoperative morbidity was often higher in these patients when compared to other procedures studied. For example, compared to Whipple patients (n=28,446), THA explant patients had a higher incidence of DVT (OR 1.4, CI 1.2-1.7), PNA (OR 1.2, CI 1.1-1.4), MI (OR 1.5, CI 1.2-2.0), ARF (OR 2.5, CI 2.3-2.8), transfusion (OR 4.2, CI 4.0-4.4), and CVA (OR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.7), all p-values Conclusion Removal of an infected THA with spacer placement is high-risk surgery. This large study including over 10,000 patients helps quantify the risks of readmission, morbidity, and mortality. The rates of adverse outcomes are higher than for many non-orthopaedic operations typically considered to be major surgery.
Community Design for Water Quantity and Quality

The design of the built environment can impact the flow of water and wastewater in a community. Planned components of the built environment can aggravate or relieve the challenges of too little water, too much water, or poor water quality. Programs for water conservation and reuse need to ensure a sustainable resource for the future. Developed and developing nations face water resource challenges of different scales.
The CMS ECAL Upgrade for Precision Crystal Calorimetry at the HL-LHC

The electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) of the Compact Muon Solenoid Experiment (CMS) is operating at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2016 with proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV center-of-mass energy and at a bunch spacing of 25 ns. Challenging running conditions for CMS are expected after the High-Luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC). We review the design and R&D studies for the CMS ECAL crystal calorimeter upgrade and present first test beam studies. Particular challenges at HL-LHC are the harsh radiation environment, the increasing data rates and the extreme level of pile-up events, with up to 200 simultaneous proton-proton (p-p) collisions. We also report on the R&D for the new readout and trigger electronics, which must be upgraded due to the increased trigger and latency requirements at the HL-LHC.
An Intelligent Control Laboratory Course

Abstract This paper describes a unique control laboratory course at The Ohio State University which focuses on implementation of intelligent control algorithms for a variety of processes. Students execute a series of laboratory exercises implementing fuzzy control, adaptive fuzzy control, and other intelligent control techniques. Fully instrumented, independent tesbeds in the laboratory emphasize several sensing and actuation technologies.
Systematic Review of In-Session Affect Experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

One way of attempting to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression is to identify the processes of change that contribute towards its positive outcome. In addition to well-researched cognitive processes, another possible change process is affect experiencing (AE); i.e., a patient’s affective experience in-session. Theorists, clinicians and researchers have emphasized the role of affective traits, tendencies and symptoms in the development, maintenance, and treatment of depression. We make the case that it may be important to also consider patients’ full range of affect experiencing (AE), as a changeable in-session process that may relate to CBT treatment outcome. This systematic review aimed to clarify what is already empirically known regarding in-session AE in CBT for depression and which gaps in empirical research need to be filled by future studies. The reviewed studies on AE in CBT for depression suggest that it is possible to identify and measure AE. In-session experiencing of positive and negative affect (when it includes cognitive processes) relates to and may predict a reduction of symptoms. We encourage researchers to develop and refine multifaceted process measures and analyses to explore when, how and how much AE can be effectively experienced by patients, and how optimal levels of AE may be facilitated by the therapist.
Genome Sequence of Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis NRRL B-1960.

ABSTRACT Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis is an efficient ethanol producer with application for industrial production of biofuel. To supplement existing Z. mobilis genomic resources and to facilitate genomic research, we used Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing to assemble the complete genome of the beer spoilage isolate Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis strain NRRL B-1960.
Spectral analysis of airborne passive microwave measurements of alpine snowpack: Colorado, USA

Abstract Accurate knowledge of snow spatial distribution is critical for understanding water, energy, and biogeochemical cycles in mountain areas. Passive microwave measurements of the brightness temperature (Tb) have been widely used to characterize snowpack properties. However, Tb exhibits reduced sensitivity to depth for deep snow and in forests, limiting the ability of many existing algorithms for snow mapping. An alternative approach is to classify snow depth based on its multifrequency Tb signatures. Here, we analyzed airborne Tb measurements of alpine snowpack for five frequencies and two polarizations, and compared them with an estimate of forest cover and concurrent measurements of snow depth and snow wetness collected as part of the NASA Cold Land Processes Field Experiment. We analyzed a total of 900 independent samples, each representing one hectare. Samples were divided into classes based on snow depth, forest fraction, and wetness. We assessed whether the mean Tb spectrum of each class differed from the other classes using the Hotelling's T-squared test, and assessed the separability of classes using the Jefferies-Matusita (J-M) distance. Hotelling’s T-squared test revealed that the Tb for each forest cover and snow depth class differed statistically from each of the others, for dry snow, notwithstanding that within-class Tb variability tended to be larger than the between-class differences. The J-M distance indicated that most classes were somewhat separable based on the Tb spectra. Consistent with expectations, J-M distance between classes was lower for forested areas than for un-forested areas, emphasizing the confounding influence of trees on characterizing snow using Tb measurements.
Is the semen analysis a reliable test

The semen analysis is one, if not the most, important and widely used clinical laboratory test to evaluate the fertility potential of the male. However, recent reports have suggested that the semen analysis is unreliable. Quality control in the andrology laboratory is often seen as problematic, and many laboratories do not routinely employ QC procedures in semen testing. Quality assurance is an often overlooked and unappreciated aspect of overall quality laboratory performance. External proficiency testing programs in andrology are not universally accepted, and the results from the few programs currently available demonstrate huge variations between laboratories. Numerous different standards and criteria are being used by andrology laboratories, making it difficult if not impossible to compare results from one laboratory to another. However, reliable semen analyses can be obtained by following several recommendations: (1) all laboratories performing the semen analysis should adopt universally accepted performance standards and criteria, (2) all laboratories performing this test should participate in external proficiency testing programs, (3) andrology laboratories should implement effective internal quality control and quality assurance programs to ensure that the results reported are accurate and reproducible, and (4) physicians should only refer their patients to, or accept semen analysis results from, laboratories that have stringently followed these recommendations.
The SOFIA Focal Plane Imager: A Highly Sensitive and Fast Photometer for the Wavelength Range 0.4 to 1 Micron

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a heavily modified Boeing 747SP aircraft, accommodating a 2.7m infrared telescope. This airborne observation platform operates at fli...
Onychomycosis: Laboratory Methods

Onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes, and to a lesser extent by non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs), and Candida spp. It is important to identify the causative agent of each case of onychomycosis in order to provide the proper management, which includes antifungal therapy, possible physical debridement, and expectant prognosis. This chapter provides guidelines for the proper collection of nail specimens for direct smear and culture. Additionally, various methods for performing direct examinations of clinical material are included, as well as descriptions of both conventional laboratory methods and molecular assays for identifying these fungal species. In cases of treatment failure, it is also important to have a means of determining an infecting organism’s susceptibility to available antifungals. Various susceptibility assays, including broth microdilution and agar diffusion, are compared. Finally, the importance of proper laboratory diagnosis of onychomycosis to the success of clinical trials of novel antifungals is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of negative microscopy in the definition of mycological cure.
Intracranial subdural hematoma after epidural anesthesia: a case report and review of the literature

Intracranial subdural hematoma occurring as a result of a procedure that causes a puncture of the spinal dura mater is extremely rare, with less than 100 cases reported. Often, this condition is initially misdiagnosed and treated as a post dural puncture headache. A woman presented to our emergency department complaining of a headache 4 days after receiving epidural anesthesia during uncomplicated childbirth. The headache’s characteristics were consistent with a post dural puncture headache, and the patient was initially treated as such. Computed tomography later revealed the presence of bilateral intracranial subdural hematomas. In light of the patient’s clinical status, treatment involved cautious observation only. Repeat imaging revealed spontaneous resolution of the hematomas, and the patient had a benign clinical course. Headaches are common in the postpartum period, often after receiving epidural or spinal anesthesia. While exceptionally rare, intracranial subdural hematoma may occur as a complication of any procedure that results in spinal dural puncture. The possibility of this potentially life-threatening complication must be kept in mind when evaluating these patients.
Penetrating Abdominal Trauma

Penetrating abdominal trauma represents the hallmark of the trauma surgeon. Both gunshot wounds and penetrating injuries are capable of causing significant morbidity or death in any aged population. It is important to remember that the injury identified superficially may not correlate with the degree of injury internally. The paradigm of immediate exploration for all patients has also come into question over the past three decades and has been shown to be less effective than other methods of investigation in the hemodynamically stable patient. Described below is an appropriate work-up of penetrating abdominal injury.
Mitochondrial Disease Genetics Update Recent insights into the Molecular Diagnosis and Expanding Phenotype of Primary Mitochondrial Disease

Purpose of reviewPrimary mitochondrial disease (PMD) is a genetically and phenotypically diverse group of inherited energy deficiency disorders caused by impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) capacity. Mutations in more than 350 genes in both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes are