cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of moisture on the dielectrophoretic spectra of glass spheres

Variable-frequency measurements (from 10 to 10/sup 5/ Hz) on individual glass particles ( approximately 50 mu m diameter) were performed, using an automated computer-controlled dielectrophoretic levitator. The particles were suspended in silicone oil after either of two treatments: long-term exposure to a water-saturated atmosphere, or drying in a low temperature oven ( approximately 250 degrees C). The moisture treatment caused in increase of several orders of magnitude in the Maxwell-Wagner polarization relaxation frequency. Heat drying was observed to decrease any Maxwell-Wagner relaxation below the 10 Hz limit of the levitator. Uncertainties about the interrelationship of surface adsorption of water by the glass particles and the dissolved water content of the silicone oil exist, but it seems that the relaxation frequency shifts are due to changes in water concentration at the glass/water interface. The measurement capability demonstrated has implications with respect to the controversy surrounding the influence of moisture content on the performance of electrorheological fluids. >
Monaural Musical Sound Separation Based on Pitch and Common Amplitude Modulation

Monaural musical sound separation has been extensively studied recently. An important problem in separation of pitched musical sounds is the estimation of time-frequency regions where harmonics overlap. In this paper, we propose a sinusoidal modeling-based separation system that can effectively resolve overlapping harmonics. Our strategy is based on the observations that harmonics of the same source have correlated amplitude envelopes and that the change in phase of a harmonic is related to the instrument's pitch. We use these two observations in a least squares estimation framework for separation of overlapping harmonics. The system directly distributes mixture energy for harmonics that are unobstructed by other sources. Quantitative evaluation of the proposed system is shown when ground truth pitch information is available, when rough pitch estimates are provided in the form of a MIDI score, and finally, when a multi pitch tracking algorithm is used. We also introduce a technique to improve the accuracy of rough pitch estimates. Results show that the proposed system significantly outperforms related monaural musical sound separation systems.
Prototyping a New Earth Observing Sensor - GeoSTAR

The Geostationary Synthetic Thinned Aperture Radiometer (GeoSTAR) was conceived to fill a gap in our Earth remote sensing capabilities -the lack of a microwave atmospheric sounder in geostationary orbit. This capability is highly desired because of the advantageous observing point GEO offers, with continuous views of the entire visible Earth disc -crucial for observation of hurricanes and other rapidly evolving atmospheric phenomena. The GeoSTAR concept is a radical departure from the conventional way of constructing a microwave sounding radiometer, which typically uses a scanning parabolic reflector that focuses a narrow receiving "beam" into a single receiver. Instead, the STAR approach is to use a 2-D array of a large number of receivers to synthesize a large aperture and operate the system as a spatial interferometer that images the scene in two dimensions without requiring scanning. Such systems have been investigated before, and the European Space Agency is developing a soil moisture satellite mission based on this concept, but none had been adequately demonstrated either on the ground or in space. This is a perfect case for a prototyping effort. An effort has been under way at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the last 3-4 years to build a GeoSTAR prototype and demonstrate that the 2-D STAR approach works. The prototype, which is a moderate-aperture implementation of a fully functional temperature sounder, was completed in early 2005 and has since undergone a number of tests. This prototyping effort, which involved both technology and system development as well as development of new testing methodologies, has been very successful. The GeoSTAR concept, even though it has not been tested in a space environment and therefore is not formally at TRL 6 (i.e. per NASA's definition), is now ready to be considered for space mission opportunities. A companion effort to assess the expected impact on weather forecast accuracy through a so-called Observational System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) is also under way. Together, the prototyping and the OSSE constitute crucial steps on the road to a space mission.
Universal minimax binary image denoising under channel uncertainty

We consider the problem of denoising a binary image corrupted by a noisy medium which flips each component in the original image, independently, to its complementary value with some fixed but unknown probability /spl delta/<1/2. We propose a denoiser which assumes no knowledge of statistical properties of the image, yet asymptotically attains the performance of the scheme that knows the noisy image statistics and operates optimally in a minimax sense. The proposed scheme is implementable, with complexity linear in the image size. Preliminary experimental results are presented which indicate that the scheme has the potential to do well on real data.
Effects of protraction mechanics on the midface

Forty patients with Class III maxillary deficiencies were each treated with a bonded maxillary palatal expansion appliance followed by protraction. Nineteen of the 40 patients were retained with a Frankel III appliance. This group was compared with 24 Class I patients treated solely with bonded expansion appliance mechanotherapy. To determine at which level protraction mechanics affects the maxilla, the Walker's analysis and other cephalometric measurements were used. The protraction group showed significant increases (p <.05) in the following measurements: ANB angle, Wits, A perpendicular to nasion and in sella to A point. Anterior molar movement, without changes in posterior nasal spine or upper incisor to SN, was evident (p <.05). Favorable change in the facial profile was noted. There were no changes in the angles between sella-nasion and its relationship with the Frankfurt, occlusal, palatal, and mandibular planes. Walker's analysis showed no change in the position of orbitale. The control group did not demonstrate any significant changes in the position of the maxillary complex as a result of expansion mechanics. The retention group maintained the position of the maxilla postprotraction. Facial contour was maintained and other profile related variables improved.
Influence of rosemary-tocopherol/packaging combination on meat quality and the survival of pathogens in restructured irradiated pork loins.

Irradiated restructured pork loins treated with rosemary–tocopherol/double-packaging had lower TBARS values than vacuum-packaged control after 10 days of refrigerated storage. The rosemary–tocopherol combination, however, had no effect on the production of sulfur volatiles responsible for the irradiation off-odor, and color changes in irradiated pork. V7/A3 double-packaging was effective in reducing the sulfur volatiles significantly. Rosemary–tocopherol combination was highly effective in reducing the volatile hexanal in irradiated restructure pork. Irradiation was effective in reducing Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium inoculated on the surface of restructured pork loin in dose-dependent manner. The irradiation D10 values for L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium were 0.58 and 0.55 kGy, respectively. During the 20 days of refrigerated storage, L. monocytogenes in both nonirradiated and irradiated samples grew gradually, but the number of S. typhimurium decreased. The added rosemary–tocopherol, however, showed little bacteriocidal effects to L. monocytogenes and S. typhimurium. � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An adenosinetriphosphate-activated hemolytic system.

1. Hemolyzed rabbit cells contain a factor which lyses human erythrocytes in vitro when Mg++ and certain nucleotides are supplied to the system. Of the nucleotides tested ATP is the most active, although no net loss of ATP or of labile phosphate seems to be associated with the hemolytic process. 2. The lytic factor appears to be a sulfhydryl enzyme which attacks the membrane of the human red cell, its hemolytic activity being inhibited by human stroma. 3. The system is activated by glutathione and is inhibited by heavy metals, oxidized glutathione, cysteine, ergothionine, and a number of metabolic inhibitors. Physostigmine has no effect. 4. Partial purification of the lytic factor has been achieved by fractional centrifugation.
An Upconversion Nanoparticle with Orthogonal Emissions Using Dual NIR Excitations for Controlled Two-way Photoswitching

Developing multicolor upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with the capability of regulating their emission wavelengths in the UV to visible range in response to external stimuli can offer more dynamic platforms for applications in high-resolution bioimaging, multicolor barcoding, and driving multiple important photochemical reactions, such as photo- switching. Here, we have rationally designed single-crystal core-shell-structured UCNPs which are capable of orthogonal UV and visible emissions in response to two distinct NIR excitations at 808 and 980 nm. The orthogonal excitation- emission properties of such UCNPs, as well as their ability to utilize low-power excitation, which attenuates any local heating from the lasers, endows the UCNPs with great potential for applications in materials and biological settings. As a proof of concept, the use of this UCNP for the efficient regulation of the two-way photoswitching of spiropyran by using dual wave- lengths of NIR irradiation has been demonstrated.
Dynamics of vorticity

Remarks are made about the status of research on the role of vorticity in fluid dynamics and some unsolved problems of current interest are described.
Multicenter prospective study of nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Part II. Variables predicting morbidity and mortality

A previous article (Part I) described the patient population and operative management of 666 patients who had surgery for nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. This article details the perioperative complications and, by chi-square and logistic regression analysis, identifies the variables that are associated with each complication. In summarizing the results (below) the incidence of each complication is listed, along with the predictive risk factors in parentheses that have significance levels less than 0.05. Vascular morbidity data are as follows: intraoperative bleeding, 4.8%; postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion, 2.3% or repeat operation, 1.4% (large volume of blood transfusion and/or use of an autotransfusion device); intraoperative limb ischemia, 3.5%; graft thrombosis, 0.9% (femoropopliteal disease and/or distal anastomosis at the femoral level); distal thromboembolism, 3.3% (male sex, femoral popliteal disease, and/or intraoperative graft thrombosis); amputation, 1.2%; graft infection, 1 case. General morbidity data are as follows: cerebrovascular event, 0.6%; paraplegia, 1 case; cardiac event, 15.1% (age, previous episode of congestive heart failure, and/or electrocardiogram [ECG] evidence of a previous myocardial infarction); myocardial infarction, 5.2% (advancing age, angina, and/or prolonged aortic cross-clamp time); congestive heart failure, 8.9% (previous history of congestive heart failure, ECG evidence of ischemia, and/or chronic obstructive lung disease); arrhythmia requiring treatment, 10.5% (preoperative ventricular premature beats and/or respiratory failure requiring ventilation for more than 48 hours); new arrhythmia, 8.4% (angina and/or chronic obstructive lung disease); respiratory failure, 8.4% (chronic obstructive lung disease, large volume of blood transfused, and/or occurrence of postoperative bleeding, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction); renal damage with rise in creatinine or blood urea nitrogen, 5.4% and/or renal failure requiring dialysis, 0.6% (elevated preoperative creatinine, suprarenal aortic cross-clamping, and/or renal vein ligation); diarrhea without evidence of ischemia colitis, 7.1% and ischemic colitis, 0.6% (pelvic flow interrupted); prolonged ileus, 11.0% (aortoiliac occlusive disease, deterioration of renal function, prolonged ventilation, and/or preoperative history of angina); superficial wound infection, 1.5% and deep infection, 0.5% (femoral anastomosis and/or female sex); coagulopathy, 1.1% (large volume of blood transfused).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Latent herpes simplex virus type 1 transcripts in peripheral and central nervous system tissues of mice map to similar regions of the viral genome

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA and RNA have been detected in peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) tissues of latently infected mice. However, explant methods are successful in reactivating HSV-1 only from latently infected PNS tissues. In this report, latent herpesvirus infections in mouse PNS and CNS tissues were compared by in situ hybridization to determine whether the difference in reactivation was at the level of the virus or the host tissue. It was demonstrated that the HSV-1 transcripts present during latency in the mouse PNS and CNS originated from the same region of the genome, the repeats which bracket the long unique sequence. Therefore, the difference in reactivation with PNS and CNS tissues cannot be accounted for by differences in the extent of the HSV-1 genome transcribed during herpesvirus latency. Latent HSV-1 RNA was detected in the trigeminal ganglia (PNS) and the trigeminal system in the CNS from the mesencephalon to the spinal cord as well as other regions of the CNS not noted previously. Latent HSV-1 RNA was found predominantly in neurons but also in a small number of cells which could not be identified as neuronal cells. It is suggested that host differences in CNS and PNS tissues, rather than differences in latent virus transcription, may be important determinants in the HSV-1 reactivation process in explanted tissues.
Microstructural Evolution of Nanoparticle Aqueous Colloidal Suspensions During Freeze Casting

This study is focused on the microstructural evolution of Al2O3 nanoparticle aqueous suspension during freeze casting. Freeze casting aid glycerol plays an important role in avoiding large cleavage-type fracture while undesirably lowering nanoparticle packing for freeze-cast samples. “Fines” effect influences freeze-cast surface nanoparticle packing. Trapped air bubbles in the suspension result in porous bulk microstructures if not allowed to escape from the suspension before freezing by prerest. Maintaining relatively open surface nanoparticle packing before freezing is critical in removing the air bubbles and achieving dense microstructures after freeze casting.
Using social media dialogically: Public relations role in reviving democracy

Abstract This article explores how technology and our recent access to, and abundance of, information, are affecting democracy, and the role of public relations professionals in a post mass media society. The article reviews pros and cons of new technology, discusses how public relations can improve, democracy using dialogue, communitarianism, and Long Now thinking, and discusses how to actually, use social media dialogically. The article argues that as public relations revives its conceptualization of, relationship, communication professionals also benefit democracy and society as a whole.
The viable myocardium: epidemiology, detection, and clinical implications

The success of fibrinolytic and other therapies has reduced the mortality of myocardial infarction. However, many survivors develop congestive heart failure. Medical treatment of this disorder has limited efficacy, and cardiac transplantation has limited availability. Contrary to previous teaching about ischaemic injury, roughly 40% of segments involved in myocardial infarction may subsequently recover, either spontaneously or after revascularisation. The persistence of such viable myocardium means that previous approaches to treatment of myocardial infarction must be reappraised. This review examines the pathogenesis of this response, the techniques that may be used to identify the salvageable tissue, and the clinical implications. Myocardial revascularisation may improve symptom status, exercise capacity, and prognosis in selected patients with viable myocardium.
Periodontitis may not have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, and preterm birth: adverse pregnancy outcomes and their association with maternal periodontitis. Siqueira FM, Cota LO, Costa JE, Haddad JP, Lana AM, Costa FO. J Periodontol 2007;78(12):2266-76. Reviewer Anthony L. Neely, DDS, MDentSc, PhD Purpose/Question To determine the potential association between maternal periodontitis and the adverse pregnancy outcomes of preterm birth, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Cross-sectional study Level of Evidence Level 3: Other evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not Applicable
Sinoventricular transmission in 10 mM K+ by canine atrioventricular nodal inputs. Superior atrionodal bundle and proximal atrioventricular bundle.

BACKGROUND This study was done to determine the electrical properties of the superior atrionodal bundle (SAB) and the proximal atrioventricular bundle (PAVB). METHODS AND RESULTS Extracellular potentials associated with electrical activity in the SAB and PAVB were identified in electrograms using adult canine atrial preparations in which the AV node (AVN) and distal AV (His) bundle (DAVB) had been exposed. Intracellular potentials and/or electrograms of the sinoatrial node (SAN), SAB, PAVB, AVN, DAVB, and atrial contractions from a pectinate muscle bundle in the high right atrial wall were recorded. The electrograms contained deflections representing discharge of the specific tissues and atrial potentials from the adjacent or overlying atrial contractile myocardium. In superfusates containing 2.7 mM K+, sequential discharge of the tissues resulted in brief SAN-SAB, PAVB-DAVB, and AVN-DAVB intervals and a major delay after discharge of the SAB. The delay was attributed to activation of the PAVB, as reflected in extracellular PAVB potentials of long duration. Atrial potentials and the onset of the contractile event followed discharge of the SAN and SAB but preceded activation of the PAVB, AVN, and DAVB. After transection of the PAVB-AVN connections, the AVN exhibited automaticity, but the SAB, PAVB, atrial potentials in all of the electrograms, and atrial contractions persisted at the sinus rate. During exposure to 10 mM K+, atrial potentials in all of the electrograms and atrial contractions ceased, indicating electrical quiescence of the contractile myocardium; however, the unique pattern of discharge of the SAB, PAVB, AVN, and DAVB persisted at the SA nodal rate. CONCLUSIONS Thus, the SAB and PAVB can be classified as specialized conducting tissues and are intrinsic components of the internodal conductile pathway.
Word Sense Disambiguation via PropStore and OntoNotes for Event Mention Detection

In this paper, we propose a novel approach for Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD) of verbs that can be applied directly in the event mention detection task to classify event types. By using the PropStore, a database of relations between words, our approach disambiguates senses of verbs by utilizing the information of verbs that appear in similar syntactic contexts. Importantly, the resource our approach requires is only a word sense dictionary, without any annotated sentences or structures and relations between different senses (as in WordNet). Our approach can be extended to disambiguate senses of words for parts of speech besides verbs.
Secondary Forest Age and Tropical Forest Biomass Estimation Using Thematic Mapper Imagery

he Brazilian Legal Amazon encompasses an area of approximately 5,030,000 km 2 , stretching from the states of Maranhao and Tocantins in the east to Amazonas and Acre in the west, and from Roraima and Amapa in the north to Mato Grosso in the south. Approximately 4,090,000 km 2 of this area is forested, 850,000 km 2 is cerrado (wooded grassland), and 90,000 km 2 is water (Skole and Tucker 1993, Fearnside 1996). As of 1988, 230,324 km 2 , or 5.6%, of the approximately 4,090,000 km 2 forested Brazilian Legal Amazon had been deforested (Skole and Tucker 1993, Skole et al. 1994) since theconstruction of the Belem-Brasilia Highway in 1958 (Moran et al. 1994). Each year, approximately 15,000‐20,000 km 2 of additional primary tropical forest in this region are cut and cleared (Skole et al. 1994), although estimates of clearing rates have varied greatly among studies and over the decades (approximately 8000‐10,000 km 2 /yr in the 1970s, Mahar 1988; approximately 35,000 km 2 /yr in the 1980s, Fearnside 1989; approximately 15,200 km 2 /yr from 1978‐1988, Skole and Tucker 1993).
Comments on “The Lived-Body as Catalytic Agent”

Professor Spicker’s “The Lived-Body As Catalytic Agent” is a good example of a reaction at the interface of medicine and philosophy. Spicker made the lived-body [le corps propre] thematic as the meeting point of the disciplines of philosophers and physicians. The category of laterality is suggested as a means to comprehend the lived-body and to comprehend certain infirmities. We will articulate our discussion in four points.
The effect of ultraviolet, x-ray, and radium radiations on the phytopharmacological reactions of normal blood.

Phytopharmacological investigations by Macht and various collaborators have brought out the interesting fact that living plant tissues are often more sensitive to poisons and metabolic products of animal origin than living animal tissues are to the same substances. This was found to be especially true of normal as compared with pathological blood specimens, as, for instance, in case of menstrual blood, described by Macht and Lubin elsewhere. It occurred to the authors that possibly by the use of phytopharmacological test preparations certain changes in normal blood might be detected which are not demonstrable by the use of animal tissues or preparations. In the present investigation such a study was made of normal defibrinated pig's blood under ordinary conditions, on the one hand, and after radiation with rays of various wave length on the other hand.The tests were performed by measuring the growth of living seedlings of the plant Lupinus albus immersed in definite nutrient solution with and without admi...
A gelatinous variant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

SummaryWhat appears to be a new variant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is described. It is characterized by the production of large amounts of gelatinous material when grown on media containing glycerol, and on solid media gives rise to markedly raised colonies of a stiff jelly-like consistency and to a thick gelatinous layer near the surface of liquid media. The variation seems to be entirely one of ability to utilize glycerol for the production of the particularly gelatinous material, and to be unrelated to any one of the several basic colony forms known to occur in this species.
The Genetics Of A Naturally Occurring Coat-Color Mutation In The California Vole

The accidental introduction of a small number of California voles, Microtus californicus, onto Brooks Island in San Francisco Bay, California, resulted in the discovery of a previously unknown coat-color mutation in this species. The explosive colonization and exploitation by the mice of this nearly 55 acres of favorable habitat has been documented and described by Lidicker and Anderson (1962). A few individuals of this new mutant type were noticed within a few months after the initial period of population growth had begun, and a number were brought into the laboratory for breeding experiments. It seemed especially desirable to establish the genetic mechanism of this novel pelage condition, as well as the relative viability of individuals possessing it, since attempts are currently being made to follow closely its fate under natural conditions. Only a few deviant pelages have been recorded in the literature for this species of vole. Orr (1941) characterized a yellow condition which he found in three individuals, possibly from the same litter. He interpreted their pale yellow pelage as a failure of melanin pigment extension, and Little (1958) suggested that it may be homologous to a change at the e or A locus of house mice (Mus musculus). I have examined his two specimens and found them to be entirely distinct from the dark, buff-colored new type described here. Two other aberrant pelage types mentioned in the literature are an albino individual recorded by Fisher (1942), and a piebald or white-spotted specimen described by Owen and Shackelford (1942). The collections of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology contain four additional albino individuals, one piebald specimen (MVZ no. 99479). and one individual whose pelage is a grizzled mixture of white, partially white, and normal hairs (MVZ no. 109574).
Association of FGB- 455G/A gene polymorphisms with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis in children

【Objective】To explore the relationship between the fibrinogen β(FGB)- 455G/A gene polymorphism with Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN) in children,so as to found the hypercoagulable state, therapeutic intervention as soon as possible.【Methods】Analysis FGB-455 G /A gene polymorphism using Real-time quantitative PCR, routine test plasma fibrinogen(FIB), D-dimer(D-D), fibrin degradation products(FDP) levels in 70 cases of children with HSPN. 20 cases of health children as control.【Results】Children with HSPN group FGB-455G/A genetic locus GG type and G allele were higher than control group(P0.05). Children with FGB-455 G /A genetic locus GG type FIB, D-D, FDP levels compared with GA + AA type is increased(P0.05).【Conclusion】FGB-455G/A polymorphism is associated with HSPN occurs, GG type is the possible risk factors for HSPN.
Security Strategy for Intelligent Substation Operation and Maintenance

The technical characteristics of intelligent substation are analyzed.Then based on the field operation practice and experience,the influences on conventional substation operation and maintenance exerted by intelligent substation are discussed,and substation security strategy analysis is suggested.
Low-velocity impact performance of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics modified with carbon nanotube, nanoclay and hybrid nanoparticles:

Addition of nanoparticles in polymeric composites for use in fabrication and characterization of fiber-reinforced plastic composites has recently shown a lot of promise. Nanoparticles typically use...
Oxidation of Monosaccharides

Oxidation is a very important reaction in carbohydrate chemistry because it enables the synthesis of a great variety of monosaccharides and their derivatives from simple monosaccharides. As already mentioned in Chapter 5 the carbohydrates have three types of chemically distinct hydroxyl groups: (1) the primary hydroxyl groups which are always exocyclic and (2) two types of secondary hydroxyl groups: endo- and exocyclic hydroxyl groups.
Effective Action in Density Functional Theory and the Berry Phase

This paper addresses two important questions of principle: (1) the contradiction in the traditional time-dependent (td) density functional theory (tdDFT) which seems to require that causality be taken into account explicitly in the variational principle, as pointed out in a critical review article by Gross et al [1]; and (2) to obtain the Berry phase that should be present in the time evolution of any given initial state when the system Hamiltonian has time varying parameters such as ion coordinates, magnetic field, etc. The Berry phase within the density functional theory is not expected to be explicitly found at first sight, since phases cancel out in forming the density, and thus are of no consequence in practice. We here show that the resolution of these two issues comes about by reformulating the traditional Dirac-Frenkel td action principle to take explicit account of the time-path in the form suggested by Jackiw and Kerman [2] instead of that used in the development of the tdDFT [1]. (Dr. Robert van Leeuwen has recently informed me that he too has a time-path version of the action principle which I have not seen.) This reformulation leads to an effective action functional which generates appropriate td Green’s functions and contains also the Berry phase as an identifiable piece of the action functional. It should be mentioned that the Berry phase is also identifiable in the Dirac-Frenkel action functional [3].
Hp and BMO regular martingales

the form I (n) = {a I} x ... X{an} x Qk' with a i~Qi for i=l ..... n, are n+l called spheres of level n, (n=l,2 .... ). Let ~ be the o-field generated by spheres of all levels, and for each n, let ~n be the sub-o-field generated by spheres I (n) of level n. Set p (I (n)) = (ql..-qn)-I Write also ~(S) = ISI. (~, ~,~) is a probability space and {~n } is an increasihg sequence of sub-o-fields of ~. The effect of conditional expectation E(-I -~n) is to take average over spheres of level n. We consider (complex valued) martingales f = {fn } relative to { ~n } and study the spaces H p and BMO of these "regular" martingales. A typical example of ~ = H Qk is the case that each Qk is a finite k group with qk elements, e.g., Qk = ~qk" There are various applications
Efficient parallel implementation of stochastic dynamic operators for robot control

Stochastic Dynamic Operators are a new mathematical technology in which control of stochastic nonlinear systems is performed by a weighted superposition of dynamic elements. The technology has had limited applicability due to the need to represent large state-transition matrices, and by the inability to control high-dimensional systems, including robots. Here, I present an efficient implementation whose complexity grows linearly with the number of dimensions and which does not require the representation of large matrices. The implementation takes advantage of sparsity properties of stochastic matrices, and it admits an efficient parallel implementation and an efficient adaptive control algorithm. I provide a simulated example in which stochastic binary elements (similar to Poisson-spiking neurons) provide an underlying digital representation of state and control variables.
Responsibility of Directors of Financial Institutions

This chapter examines the governance responsibilities of directors of financial institutions in the United States and worldwide. Part A of the chapter first reviews, as background, the duties generally applicable to directors of firms, including financial institutions. Part B then compares the special responsibilities of directors of financial institutions, including certain responsibilities created in the aftermath of global financial crisis. Finally, Part C enquires more normatively about whether — and if so, how — financial institution governance should be improved to further reduce excessive risk-taking and protect the public against systemic economic harm.
Are imports and remittances cointegrated for the Central and Eastern European countries

In this article, we investigate the existence of long-run common trends between imports and remittances in 11 Central and Eastern European countries which are part of the European Union. Using the ...
Do Embryos Have Interests

Are embryos deserving of moral consideration in our actions? A standard view suggests that embryos are considerable only if they have interests. One argument for embryonic interests contends that embryos are harmed by death because they are deprived of valuable future lives as adult persons. Some have challenged this argument on the grounds that embryos aren’t identical to adults: either due to the potential for embryos to twin or because we do not exist until the fetus develops consciousness. These arguments fail to show that embryos do not have future adult lives. There is a better reason to think that embryos cannot have interests; namely, because they are not capable of having desires. Others have held this view but have not sufficiently justified it. The justification lies in the fact that the capacity for desires is necessary to make sense of the normativity of interests.
Immobilized Protein Modification Reagents

Solid phase biochemistry is a rapidly growing area including immobilized enzymes, affinity chromatography, protein synthesis and protein sequencing. The research here describes a new potential application of solid phase reactions to biochemistry, namely the use of immobilized protein modification reagents. These reagents offer the same increased ease of handling and improved yields of most other solid phase applications in biochemistry. In addition, they may, in many cases, be used as topology probes, since the reaction of immobilized reagents with proteins is often sterically restricted to the surface of the protein. A small number of such immobilized protein reagents have appeared in the literature. Rose Bengal (1) and methylene blue (2,3) have been employed as immobilized photocatalysts, while immobilized α-keto halides (4) have been employed in the selective cleavage of protein methionyl residues.
Voltage mapping to guide pacemaker placement in patients with CHD

Transvenous pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction in patients with Fontan palliation presents the difficulty of finding suitable pacing tissue and the potential of causing vascular obstruction in a low-flow circuit. We describe a patient who underwent electro-anatomic voltage mapping to guide a transvenous single chamber lead within her Fontan baffle. This highlights the use of advanced mapping technologies for pacemaker implantation in complex cyanotic heart disease.
Ladder step strategy for surgical repair of congenital concealed penis in children

Objective To assess the feasibility of the ladder step strategy in surgical repair of congenital concealed penis in children. Methods This study included 52 children with congenital concealed penis treated in the past two years by surgical repair using the ladder step strategy, which consists of five main steps: cutting the narrow ring of the foreskin, degloving the penile skin, fixing the penile skin at the base, covering the penile shaft, and reshaping the prepuce. The perioperative data of the patients were prospectively collected and statistically described. Results Of the 52 patients, 20 needed remodeling of the frenulum and 27 received longitudinal incision in the penoscrotal junction to expose and deglove the penile shaft. The advanced scrotal flap technique was applied in 8 children to cover the penile shaft without tension, the pedicled foreskin flap technique employed in 11 to repair the penile skin defect, and excision of the webbed skin of the ventral penis performed in another 44 to remodel the penoscrotal angle. The operation time, blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay were 40－100 minutes, 5－30 ml, and 3－6 days, respectively. Wound bleeding and infection occurred in 1 and 5 cases, respectively. Follow-up examinations at 3 and 6 months after surgery showed that all the children had a satisfactory penile appearance except for some minor complications (2 cases of penile retraction, 2 cases of redundant ventral skin, and 1 case of iatrogenic penile curvature). Conclusions The ladder step strategy for surgical repair of congenital concealed penis in children is a simple procedure with minor injury and satisfactory appearance of the penis.
Postoperative Emergency Department Visits After Urinary Stone Surgery: Variation Based on Surgical Modality

Introduction: Urinary stone disease is responsible for more than 1 million emergency department (ED) visits annually. There is increasing regulatory and cost pressure to reduce unplanned episodes o...
Comportamento de cultivares de soja no Sul do Estado do Tocantins

Com o intuito de se avaliar a estabilidade de comportamento de sete cultivares de soja, quanto a producao de graos, segundo a metodologia proposta por Eberhart e Russell (1966), foram realizados oito ensaios de competicao de cultivares no ano agricola 2002/03 no Sul do Estado do Tocantins, sendo quatro no municipio de Gurupi e quatro em Alvorada. Cada ensaio representou um ambiente. Todos os cultivares apresentaram coeficiente de regressao (s1i) igual a unidade, com excecao de M-SOY 8866 que apresentou coeficiente de regressao superior a unidade (s1i = 1.24). Todos os cultivares apresentaram alta previsibilidade de comportamento, excetuando-se M-SOY 108. Os cultivares BR/EMGOPA 314 e BRS Tracaja podem ser considerados como ideais, por apresentarem media de producao elevada, coeficiente de regressao igual a unidade e alta previsibilidade de comportamento.
Wellbeing Consideration for Residents

Resident wellness is a topic of increasing discussion and study. The life of a surgery resident lends itself to unique challenges that threaten a trainee’s wellbeing. This issue is at the forefront of graduate medical education in terms of optimizing the clinical learning environment and mitigating the risk of burnout for residents. However, residency programs struggle to identify and implement actionable items for their trainees. In this chapter the authors review the scope of the problem as studied in the literature, describe the current stance of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and provide examples of surgical programs that have embraced and implemented organizational and personal components to address resident wellbeing within their surgical training programs.
Displacement Imaging for Focused Ultrasound Peripheral Nerve Neuromodulation

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging technique for neuromodulation due to its noninvasive application and high depth penetration. Recent studies have reported success in modulation of brain circuits, peripheral nerves, ion channels, and organ structures. In particular, neuromodulation of peripheral nerves and the underlying mechanisms remain comparatively unexplored in vivo . Lack of methodologies for FUS targeting and monitoring impede further research in in vivo studies. Thus, we developed a method that non-invasively measures nerve engagement, via tissue displacement, during FUS neuromodulation of in vivo nerves using simultaneous high frame-rate ultrasound imaging. Using this system, we can validate, in real-time, FUS targeting of the nerve and characterize subsequent compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) elicited from sciatic nerve activation in mice using 0.5 to 5 ms pulse durations and 22 - 28 MPa peak positive stimulus pressures at 4 MHz. Interestingly, successful motor excitation from FUS neuromodulation required a minimum interframe nerve displacement of $18~\mu m$ without any displacement incurred at the skin or muscle levels. Moreover, CMAPs detected in mice monotonically increased with interframe nerve displacements within the range of 18 to $300~\mu m$ . Thus, correlation between nerve displacement and motor activation constitutes strong evidence FUS neuromodulation is driven by a mechanical effect given that tissue deflection is a result of highly focused acoustic radiation force.
The Cost of Poor Mental Health in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate (1) the impact of depression on resource utilization and financial outcomes in bundled total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and (2) whether similar effects are seen using baseline patient-reported outcome scores. Methods All elective bundled TJA cases from 2017 to 2018 at an academic system in the New York City area were included. We analyzed variables associated with cost differences seen between patients with and without depression, and between patients with low ( 60th percentile) Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey mental component scores (MCSs). We also analyzed whether depression or low MCS could predict worse financial outcomes. Results Our population included 825 patients, 418 with patient-reported outcome scores data. Depression was associated with higher rates of skilled nursing facility (SNF) discharge (42.7% vs 36.5%, P = .04), SNF payments ($16,200 vs $12,100, P = .0002), and average total episode costs ($31,000 vs $27,000, P = .04). Depression predicted bundle cost to be greater than target price (OR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04-.16; P = .04) and SNF payment greater than 75th percentile (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.00-3.65; P Conclusion This is the first study to determine that depression predicts bundle cost greater than target price and SNF payment greater than 75th percentile. Our results emphasize the importance of accurate preoperative assessment of mental health in optimization of care, focusing on attenuating the increased SNF payments associated with depression. As similar effects were not seen using MCS, future studies should analyze the use of validated screening tools for depression, such as the PHQ-9, for more accurate assessments of patient mental health in TJA.
Natural bladder filling alters resting brain function at multiple spatial scales: a proof-of-concept MAPP Network Neuroimaging Study.

Neural circuitry regulating urine storage in humans has been largely inferred from fMRI during urodynamic studies driven by catheter infusion of fluid into the bladder. However, urodynamic testing may be confounded by artificially filling the bladder repeatedly at a high rate and examining associated time-locked changes in fMRI signals. Here we describe and test a more ecologically-valid paradigm to study the brain response to bladder filling by (1) filling the bladder naturally with oral water ingestion, (2) examining resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) which is more natural since it is not linked with a specific stimulus, and (3) relating rs-fMRI measures to self-report (urinary urge) and physiologic measures (voided volume). To establish appropriate controls and analyses for future clinical studies, here we analyze data collected from healthy individuals (N = 62) as part of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. Participants orally ingested approximately 350 mL of water, and had a 10 min “fuller bladder” rs-fMRI scan approximately 1 h later. A second 10 min “empty bladder” rs-fMRI scan was conducted immediately following micturition. We examined multiple spatial scales of brain function, including local activity, circuits, and networks. We found changes in brain function distributed across micturition loci (e.g., subregions of the salience, sensorimotor, and default networks) that were significantly related to the stimulus (volume) and response (urinary urge). Based on our results, this paradigm can be applied in the future to study the neurobiological underpinnings of urologic conditions.
Lactic acid fermentation in the development of a seaweed sauerkraut-style product: Microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory evaluation

Consumption of nutrient-rich seaweeds and fermented nondairy foods represent fast growing trends among health-minded consumers. Assessment of lacto-fermented seaweed was performed to address these trends, and to offer shelf-life extension and product diversification for fresh kelps. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of kelp species and inclusion level on fermentation kinetics, physicochemical quality, safety, shelf-life, and consumer acceptability of a seaweed sauerkraut-style product. Six formulations with different inclusion levels (25, 50, and 75%) of shredded kelp (sugar kelp, SK or winged kelp, WK) were mixed with cabbage, 2% salt, and inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (approximately 106 CFU/g) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides (approximately 101 CFU/g). Products were processed in triplicate, fermented until a target pH of ≤4.6 was achieved, and sampled periodically for 60 days. Kelp species and inclusion level significantly affected most variables tested. The most rapid fermentation (3 days), as evidenced by pH decrease, lactic acid bacteria counts, and lactic acid levels, was noted in WK formulations. Some SK formulations took up to 14 days to achieve the target pH, and coliforms persisted to a greater extent in the SK formulations. Higher levels of kelp decreased the fermentation rate and concentration of fermentable sugars in the brine, but increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the sauerkrauts. Despite differences in instrumental color (L* a* b* ) and texture (shear force) among formulations, overall liking as rated by a consumer panel was not significantly affected by species or inclusion level. Results support the use of lacto-fermentation in the production of refrigeration-stable seaweed sauerkraut-style product. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Health-conscious consumers are becoming increasingly interested in plant-based diets and fermented foods, and the development of novel seaweed sauerkraut-style products can help to meet these needs. This study demonstrated the successful production of a sauerkraut-style product formulated with up to 50% farm-raised kelp. Physical, chemical, microbiological, and consumer acceptability testing established lactic acid fermentation as a viable method for shelf life extension and value addition of fresh kelps. These results provide science-based information on an alternative processing method for cultivated seaweeds and can assist the industry in product diversification efforts.
The ethical poetry of academic writing

Este texto baseia‑se na conferencia intitulada “Facing academic writing and finding the poetry in it” e apresentada no seminario “Os desafios eticos da escrita” organizado pela Vice‑Reitoria da Formacao e Organizacao Academica e pelo Conselho Geral da Universidade do Porto que decorreu no dia 25 de maio de 2016.
The Case of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The Entrepreneurship Program in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is using the RISE to help it implement a strategy that focuses on building the entrepreneurship skills of its students. It is taking its long-standing curriculum and closely integrating it with the co-curricular activities of its new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The result is an interesting set of unique practices that reinforce the knowledge imparted in the classroom in a way that strategically facilitates skill building.
Subdural Hemorrhage Secondary to Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting and Endoscopic Neurosurgery

Subdural hemorrhage or subdural hygroma development is an unfortunate complication of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. The collection may manifest as an asymptomatic lesion or may be found upon evaluation of an acutely decompensating patient that needs an emergent craniotomy for evacuation of the hemorrhage. The etiology of subdural collections stems from overdrainage of CSF in excess of the primary indication for CSF diversion. Management lies in reducing CSF drainage by increasing the opening pressure of the shunt valve, shunt ligation, or removal of the shunt with possible evacuation of the hemorrhage.