cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy of β-Chain Hemoglobinopathies: Optimization of a γ-Globin Gene Expression Cassette

Progress toward gene therapy of beta-chain hemoglobinopathies has been limited in part by poor expression of globin genes in virus vectors. To derive an optimal expression cassette, we systematically analyzed the sequence requirements and relative strengths of the Agamma- and beta-globin promoters, the activities of various erythroid-specific enhancers, and the importance of flanking and intronic sequences. Expression was analyzed by RNase protection after stable plasmid transfection of the murine erythroleukemia cell line, MEL585. Promoter truncation studies showed that the Agamma-globin promoter could be deleted to -159 without affecting expression, while deleting the beta-globin promoter to -127 actually increased expression compared with longer fragments. Expression from the optimal beta-globin gene promoter was consistently higher than that from the optimal Agamma-globin promoter, regardless of the enhancer used. Enhancers tested included a 2.5-kb composite of the beta-globin locus control region (termed a muLCR), a combination of the HS2 and HS3 core elements of the LCR, and the HS-40 core element of the alpha-globin locus. All three enhancers increased expression from the beta-globin gene to roughly the same extent, while the HS-40 element was notably less effective with the Agamma-globin gene. However, the HS-40 element was able to efficiently enhance expression of a Agamma-globin gene linked to the beta-globin promoter. Inclusion of extended 3' sequences from either the beta-globin or the Agamma-globin genes had no significant effect on expression. A 714-bp internal deletion of Agamma-globin intron 2 unexpectedly increased expression more than twofold. With the combination of a -127 beta-globin promoter, an Agamma-globin gene with the internal deletion of intron 2, and a single copy of the HS-40 enhancer, gamma-globin expression averaged 166% of murine alpha-globin mRNA per copy in six pools and 105% in nine clones. When placed in a retrovirus vector, this cassette was also expressed at high levels in MEL585 cells (averaging 75% of murine alpha-globin mRNA per copy) without reducing virus titers. However, recombined provirus or aberrant splicing was observed in 5 of 12 clones, indicating a significant degree of genetic instability. Taken together, these data demonstrate the development of an optimal expression cassette for gamma-globin capable of efficient expression in a retrovirus vector and form the basis for further refinement of vectors containing this cassette.
Comments on applied mathematics

Applied Mathematics is currently going in all directions, following many new applications as they arise. The advent of computers enables the numerical implementation of very abstract ideas and theories from core mathematics. For this reason the good applied mathematician must have a strong core mathematics background. He/she will find it extremely helpful to possess the skills and ability for abstraction. Such abstraction is often used to successfully solve applied problems, or to relate one set of problems to another.
Whose Diary Is It, Anyway? Issues of Agency, Authority, Ownership

(2001). Whose Diary Is It, Anyway? Issues of Agency, Authority, Ownership. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 17, Private Lives/Public Texts: Women's Literary Diaries and Journals, pp. 11-27.
Improving Transition Support for Juvenile Offenders With Disabilities Through a Collaborative Approach

Collaboration between special educators and transition coordinators is important to lower recidivism rates among juvenile offenders with disabilities. This column provides best practice transition ...
Effect of Exterior Surface Texture on Cockroach Jar Trap Efficacy

Laboratory and field tests indicated that cockroach jar traps with a modified exterior caught significantly more cockroaches than unmodified traps. A total of 2,509 cockroaches were trapped: 47% Periplaneta fuliginosa (Serville), 44% Parcoblatta fulvescens (Saussure and Zehntner), 5% Parcoblatta spp., and 4% Periplaneta americana (L.). Of the cockroaches trapped, 44% were unsexed nymphs, 11% were males, and 45% were females. The exterior modifications also influenced the total number and sizes of 811 P. fuliginosa nymphs trapped.
Distribution systems in omni-channel retailing

The growing importance of online sales means that traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers need to create new distribution systems to serve customers through multiple channels. Building an effective and efficient omni-channel (OC) distribution system, however, leads to multiple challenges. The questions arise for example, from where online orders should be fulfilled, how delivery and return processes can be organized, and which context-specific OC distribution systems exist. Answering these questions retail research and practice require an overall view of the distribution concepts for direct-to-customer and store deliveries in OC retailing, including the associated return processes. This overall picture is still missing in the literature. We conducted an exploratory study to close this observable gap in the literature. This exploratory study is based on semi-structured interviews with major OC retailers in German-speaking countries and was complemented by market data research and discussions with further experts in the field of OC retailing. Based on the results of the study, the forward distribution system in OC retailing is characterized by the sources (supplier DCs, retailer DCs, stores) and destinations (home, store) which describe the options for store delivery, home delivery, and store pickup. Return processes are likewise characterized by the sources (store, home) and destinations (store, DC, return center). This framework forms the foundation for analyzing contextual criteria, identifying when the different conceptual designs are applied, determining industry-specific characteristics, and illustrating ways to further advance OC retailing. The present paper, therefore, contributes to the literature in three main areas: (1) it identifies and systematizes the forward and backward concepts in OC retailing, (2) it reveals application and development areas for achieving excellence in OC fulfillment and logistics, and (3) shows the need for developing sector- and context-specific OC distribution systems.
The Needs and Perceptions of a University Major Publics: An Empirical Investigation

In recent years marketing has been called on to solve the problems of higher education. In this study the authors report the findings of three concurrent market research studies aimed at assessing the needs and perceptions of a private mid-western university publics. The results indicate that parents are the most influential group on the students choice of a college or university. Also differences in the importance ratings of several evaluative criteria were reported, indicating that present recruiting practices may be rather ineffective.
Construction of a full row-rank matrix system for multiple scanning directions in discrete tomography

A full row-rank system matrix generated by scans along two directions in discrete tomography was recently studied. In this paper, we generalize the result to multiple directions. Let A x = h be a reduced binary linear system generated by scans along three directions. Using geometry, it is shown in this paper that the linearly dependent rows of the system matrix A can be explicitly identified and a full row-rank matrix can be obtained after the removal of those rows. The results could be extended to any number of multiple directions. Therefore, certain software packages requiring a full row-rank system matrix can be adopted to reconstruct an image. Meanwhile, the cost of computation is reduced by using a full row-rank matrix.
The Role of Adjuvant Treatment in Resected T3N0 Rectal Cancer

Since the adoption of total meso-rectal excision as the standard surgical approach for management of locally advanced rectal cancer, there has been a significant reduction in local recurrence. Neoadjuvant combined modality treatment with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy and radiation has further improved local disease control and overall survival. Given the excellent survival obtained with this combined approach in T3N0 rectal cancer, there are concerns about the need for further exposure to chemotherapy with unproven benefit. We review the evidence for adjuvant chemotherapy in this setting and set out clinico-pathologic variables that may be useful for making a decision in favor of offering adjuvant therapy or observation.
The history of liquid-crystal display and its industry

Liquid-crystal display (LCD) was invented in 1964 at RCA Laboratories in Princeton, NJ. In 1970, twisted-nematic (TN) mode of operation was discovered, which gave LCD the first commercial success. The LCD manufacturers supplied small-size displays to portable products such as digital watches and pocket calculators. In 1988, Sharp Corporation demonstrated a 14-in. active-matrix full-color full-motion display using a TFT (thin-film-transistor) array. Observing this, Japan launched a true LCD industry. Large-size displays were first supplied to personal computers and then to television receivers. In the second half of 1990s, the industry has moved to Korea and Taiwan.
Brutally Revealing: Voices Rising Out of San Quentin State Prison

This manuscript recounts the writing of inmates in a writing workshop project taught by the author at San Quentin State Prison. Through the process of writing personal narratives the inmates came to render new meaning from their lived experience. The process of writing bypassed rigid defenses developed in prison, and inmates were able to write and share without being left vulnerable. Writing, in this way, helped inmates who participated to escape the monotony and boredom of prison life and provided opportunity for reflection and personal growth.
Agency, Non‐Action, and Desire in the Laozi

I present a reading of non-action in the Laozi that describes the relation of desire to non-action, the highest form of ethical action. Rather than advocating elimination of desires, or even of “self-oriented” desires, the text recommends simply reducing desires if they impede the quietism that is of primary importance. To defend my interpretation, I demonstrate its agreement with early commentaries on the Laozi.
Fuzzy logic modifications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Abstract The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a measurement methodology based on pair-wise comparisons that relies on judgment to derive priority scales. During its implementation, one constructs hierarchies, then makes judgments or performs measurements on pairs of elements with respect to a criterion to derive preference scales, which are then synthesized throughout the structure to select the preferred alternative. One of the areas where the AHP finds application is in the subjective phases of risk assessment (RA), where it is used to structure and prioritize diverse risk factors, including the judgments of experts. Since fuzzy logic (FL) has been shown to be an effective tool for accommodating human experts and their communication of linguistic variables, there has been research aimed at modeling the fuzziness in the AHP (FAHP), and recently the focus of some of that modeling has been with respect to RA. The literature discusses more than one FAHP model, which raises the question as to which are the prominent models and what are their characteristics. In response to this question, we examine three of the most influential FAHP models. The article proceeds as follows. It begins with a brief overview of the AHP and its limitations when confronted with a fuzzy environment. This is followed by a discussion of FL modifications of the AHP. A RA-based likelihood score example is used throughout. The article ends with a commentary on the findings.
Principle and Security Analysis of Optical Steganography based on Wide Band Amplifier Noise

We demonstrate the principle of optical steganography that hides stealth signal in wide band amplifier noise. The threat and defense model is analyzed based on the properties of the wide band signal carrier.
The UL21 Tegument Protein of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Is Differentially Required for the Syncytial Phenotype.

ABSTRACT The initial goal of this study was to reexamine the requirement of UL21 for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) replication. Previous studies suggested that UL21 is dispensable for replication in cell cultures, but a recent report on HSV-2 challenges those findings. As was done for the HSV-2 study, a UL21-null virus was made and propagated on complementing cells to discourage selection of compensating mutations. This HSV-1 mutant was able to replicate in noncomplementing cells, even at a low multiplicity of infection (MOI), though a reduction in titer was observed. Also, increased proportions of empty capsids were observed in the cytoplasm, suggesting a role for UL21 in preventing their exit from the nucleus. Surprisingly, passage of the null mutant resulted in rapid outgrowth of syncytial (Syn) variants. This was unexpected because UL21 has been shown to be required for the Syn phenotype. However, earlier experiments made use of only the A855V syncytial mutant of glycoprotein B (gB), and the Syn phenotype can also be produced by substitutions in glycoprotein K (gK), UL20, and UL24. Sequencing of the syncytial variants revealed mutations in the gK locus, but UL21 was shown to be dispensable for UL20 Syn and UL24 Syn . To test whether UL21 is needed only for the A855V mutant, additional gB Syn derivatives were examined in the context of the null virus, and all produced lytic rather than syncytial sites of infection. Thus, UL21 is required only for the gB Syn phenotype. This is the first example of a differential requirement for a viral protein across the four syn loci. IMPORTANCE UL21 is conserved among alphaherpesviruses, but its role is poorly understood. This study shows that HSV-1 can replicate without UL21, although the virus titers are greatly reduced. The null virus had greater proportions of empty (DNA-less) capsids in the cytoplasm of infected cells, suggesting that UL21 may play a role in retaining them in the nucleus. This is consistent with reports showing UL21 to be capsid associated and localized to the nuclei of infected cells. UL21 also appears to be needed for viral membrane activities. It was found to be required for virus-mediated cell fusion, but only for mutants that harbor syncytial mutations in gB (not variants of gK, UL20, or UL24). The machinery needed for syncytial formation is similar to that needed for direct spread of the virus through cell junctions, and these studies show that UL21 is required for cell-to-cell spread even in the absence of syncytial mutations.
Reduction of Silicon from Blast Furnace Type Slags

This paper contains data on the distribution of silicon between liquid iron-silicon-carbon alloys saturated with respect to graphite and CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 slags under 1 atm of CO at 1600°C. The ranges of slag compositions studied were extended from the dicalcium silicate saturated liquidus composition up to silica concentrations at which SiC appeared as a stable phase.
Trends and Patterns of Corticosteroid Use During Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery in the United States

Background:Several clinical trials have documented clinical benefits associated with prophylactic corticosteroid administration at the time of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, including...
Association of Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status With Risk of Infection and Sepsis.

Background Prior studies suggest disparities in sepsis risk and outcomes based on place of residence. We sought to examine the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) and hospitalization for infection and sepsis. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from 30239 participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. nSES was defined using a score derived from census data and classified into quartiles. Infection and sepsis hospitalizations were identified over the period 2003-2012. We fit Cox proportional hazards models, reporting hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and examining mediation by participant characteristics. Results Over a median follow-up of 6.5 years, there were 3054 hospitalizations for serious infection. Infection incidence was lower for participants in the highest nSES quartile compared with the lowest quartile (11.7 vs 15.6 per 1000 person-years). After adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, and functional status, infection hazards were also lower for the highest quartile (HR, 0.84 [95% CI, .73-.97]), with a linear trend (P = .011). However, there was no association between nSES and sepsis at presentation among those hospitalized with infection. Physical weakness, income, and diabetes had modest mediating effects on the association of nSES with infection. Conclusions Our study shows that differential infection risk may explain nSES disparities in sepsis incidence, as higher nSES is associated with lower infection hospitalization rates, but there is no association with sepsis among those hospitalized. Mediation analysis showed that nSES may influence infection hospitalization risk at least partially through physical weakness, individual income, and comorbid diabetes.
The Arc of cognition: Signaling cascades regulating Arc and implications for cognitive function and disease.

Abstract The activity-regulated cytoskeletal (Arc) gene is implicated in numerous synaptic plasticity paradigms, including long-term potentiation and depression and homeostatic plasticity, and is critical for consolidating memory. How Arc facilitates these forms of plasticity is not fully understood. Unlike other neuronal immediate-early genes, Arc encodes a protein that shuttles between the somatodendritic and nuclear compartments to regulate synaptic plasticity. Little attention has been paid to Arc’s role in the nucleus. Here, we highlight the regulatory elements and signaling cascades required to induce Arc transcription and discuss the significance of Arc nuclear localization for synaptic plasticity and scaling. We integrate these findings into the context of cognitive function and disease and propose a model in which Arc mediates an effect on memory as a “chaser” of synaptic activity through homeostatic scaling.
Loss of Trust in the Neighborhood: The Experience of Older African Americans in Detroit.

Objective Although evidence suggests that neighborhood conditions are related to stress and health, the processes connecting neighborhood conditions and stress for older minorities is little explored. The purpose of this analysis is to contribute new insights into this issue. Method We conducted a qualitative analysis as part of a larger mixed methods study of 100 African Americans aged 55 years and older living in neighborhoods of varying quality in Detroit, Michigan. A subsample of (n = 20) older adults took photographs of bothersome aspects of their neighborhoods and participated in in-depth photo-elicitation interviews. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results "Loss of trust in the neighborhood" emerged as the core category to explain how older African Americans in our sample experienced neighborhood stressors in their daily lives. Loss of trust in physical, social, and institutional dimensions of the neighborhood contributed to the core category. Discussion The life course of neighborhoods and the trust placed in them appears to be intimately connected to the well-being of older African Americans. We therefore hypothesize that a fundamental pathway through which neighborhood stressors are experienced for older African Americans in United States "Rust Belt" cities is the multifaceted loss of trust in the neighborhood.
The Problems with Identity: Distribution, Agency, and Identification

"The Problems with Identity: Distribution, Agency, and Identification" takes a comparative approach to the discussion of identity and agency by examining the ID systems in the US and the UK. Rooting the discussion in a historical context, this paper concludes that the various technological means of stitching identity back onto the body may marginalize individuals even more as ID systems still fail to identity what it is that they want to identify - identity.
Segmentation-Assisted Registration for Brain MR Images

Tracking brain morphological changes in magnetic resonance images (MRIs) requires high accurate segmentation or registration of brain structures. In this chapter, we propose a robust solution for this problem, based on a unified variation framework where prior segmentation information can be seamlessly integrated into a nonrigid registration procedure. Under this framework, in addition to the force arising from the similarity minimization in seeking for detailed correspondence, atlas contours provide an extra guidance to assist the alignment procedure in achieving a more meaningful, stable, and noise-tolerant result. Sum of local correlation (LC) is used as the underlying similarity metric. Our approach can very well handle intensity scaling, contrast reversal, as well as image noise. Experimental results on 2D/3D synthetic and real data demonstrate the improvement made by our algorithm.
New Finger Joint Implantable Prosthesis in an Ex-Vivo Model: Biostereometric Studies

Finger joint arthroplasty is a method of replacing defective and diseased delicate finger joints. Multiple new finger joints have been introduced to replace function of the fingers. The ideal joint for replacement arthroplasty should have complete fixation in the long shafts of the bones in the hand and fingers, and a hinge that is durable. The design proposed here will produce these ideal conditions. Polyetherurethane-Terephthalate has those particular characteristics. Long term implantation in man has shown that bones ingrowth is feasible. The experimental work presented, suggest the cloth mesh part can be used for joint replacement as a hinge, because it withstood the mechanical changes. There was no material fracture noted, but the mechanical changes were basically of fraying, crazing, and fragmentation. Over 6 million cycles were used. The results in hand surgery is an integral part of this fast developing field.
Towards a qualitative lagrangian theory of fluid flow

Choosing between multiple ontological perspectives is crucial for reasoning about the physical world. Choosing the wrong perspective can make a reasoning task impossible. This paper introduces a Lagrangian plug flow ontology (PF) for reasoning about thermodynamic fluid flow. We show that this ontology captures continuously changing behaviors of flowing fluids not represented in currently implemented ontologies. These behaviors are essential for understanding thermodynamic applications such as power cycles, refrigeration, liquefaction, throttling and flow through nozzles. We express the ontology within the framework of Qualitative Process (QP) theory. To derive our QP theory for plug flow, we use the method of causal clustering to find causal interpretations of thermodynamic equations. We also incorporate qualitative versions of standard thermodynamic relations, including the second law of thermodynamics and Clapeyron's equation.
EFFECTS OF CHRONIC LITHIUM ADMINISTRATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERSENSITIVITY IN CNS AMINE SYSTEMS: A MICROIONTOPHORETIC STUDY

A supersensitive response of the activity of DA-containing cells in the zona compacta of the substantia nigra to microiontophoretically applied DA and to intravenously administered apomorphine was produced by chronic haloperidol treatment in rats. Animals treated concurrently with lithium and haloperidol failed to develop this presynaptic DA supersensitivity. However, lithium's ability to block the development of supersensitivity in the DA system may not be generalized to other amine systems since chronic lithium treatment did not prevent the development of supersensitivity to 5HT in hippocampal pyramidal cells following chronic tricyclic antidepressant administration.
Simulation for Safety in the Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Treating congenital heart disease is a high-risk, high-benefit scenario, be it in the operating rooms or in cardiac catheterization labs. Inherent to the high-risk nature of the disease, adverse events of varying severity can happen during cath or surgical intervention. These have been traditionally the ‘real’ clinical teaching for the physician. Simulation technology helps physicians to be trained stress-free in zero-risk environments, especially for the low-frequency, high-risk events. But as always, introduction of new technology faces barriers, so is the case with simulators. Anesthesiology proudly compares itself to the aviation industry, which had also ridiculed aviation simulators in the 1970s. Now they are mandated by all worldwide aviation training authorities. Maybe its time for the anesthesiologists to take the lead in simulation in the health care sector too.
Afterword: Irish Masculinities and Gender History

This final afterword begins by debunking the myth that Irish gendered history refers only to women’s history. Men in gender history, as developed in the United States and Britain, are not universal beings, but are instead part of a fluid and ever-changing system of gender relations. Rose argues that gender is a framework of ideas and practices that socially differentiate male and female as well as constituting important differences among men and women and their influence on political, social, economic and cultural processes as well as the routines and transformations of daily life. The essays in this collection advance the notion that gender matters in Irishmen’s lives and that an interdisciplinary approach is essential for cultural analyses of gender studies in Ireland.
On a highly accurate computational scheme for the approximate analysis of shear-flexible anisotropic plates

The paper deals with the analysis of shear-flexible anisotropic plates subjected to arbitrary boundary conditions. In order to solve the pertinent boundary value problem, a Ritz-type technique has been developed which, however, ist not based on the standard principle of minimum potential energy but a modification thereof. In this variational theorem, the boundary conditions are satisfied a posteriori as natural constraints, therefore relatively simple trial functions can be used to approximate the displacement variables in the interior of the plate. Extensive studies carried out on a series of relevant examples illustrate that the proposed method represents an inexpensive, reliable and highly efficient tool for solving a wide variety of plate bending problems.
Individual differences influence exercise behavior: how personality, motivation, and behavioral regulation vary among exercise mode preferences

Abstract Personality traits, participatory motives, and behavior regulation have been linked to physical activity engagement. It is possible that these dimensions are associated with the type of physical activity one chooses to engage. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine individual differences in those participating in various primary modes of physical activity (PMA) and determine which individual differences are predictive of exercise frequency. Methods 403 adults (36.3 ± 11.6 yrs, 35.5% male) completed an online survey. The survey included questions related to their PMA, items for the Big Five Inventory (BFI), Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2), and the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). PMAs were divided into 5 main groups: CrossFit® Training (n = 89), Group Exercise (n = 59), Aerobic Training (n = 97), Resistance Training (n = 127), and Sport (n = 31). Results A multivariate ANOVA revealed significant differences in exercise motivation [ps ≤ .001, η2p = .05 – .22] and behavior regulation [ps ≤ .05, η2p = .03 – .06] between PMAs, but personality dimensions did not differ. A linear regression revealed that differences in motivation and regulation explained 17.1% (p = .001) variance in exercise behavior. Conclusions These findings support the notion that individual differences exist between motivational dimensions and individuals' preference to engage in a particular physical activity mode. Further, these differences in motivation influence physical activity engagement (i.e., frequency).
Fault zone processes and fluid history in Austin Chalk, southwest Texas

Faults are commonly the largest fractures in a fracture network, forming the backbone of the permeability system in low-permeability rocks. Faults in outcrops of the Austin Chalk — an important oil and gas reservoir in south Texas, Louisiana, and westernmost Mississippi — exemplify deformation and fluid histories of subseismic-scale faults in mechanically layered chalk-dominated strata. Exposures of near-horizontal Austin Chalk in southwest Texas contain northwest- and southeast-dipping normal faults with exposed heights of meters to tens of meters and displacements of centimeters to decimeters. Local fault dips are steep to vertical through chalk and limestone beds and moderate through marl, mud rock, and clay-rich ash beds, producing refracted fault profiles. Failure surface characteristics indicate various failure modes, including tensile, hybrid, shear, and (locally) compactive shear behavior depending on the host lithology. Dilational zones associated with steep fault segments host calcite veins. Crack–seal textures in fault zone veins record repeated reactivation of refracted fault profiles. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope geochemistry analyses of fault veins indicate formation at depths of 1.4 to 2.9 km (4593 to 9514 ft) and possibly of 4.2 km (13,780 ft). Fluids include locally sourced saline waters and externally sourced waters and oil in rocks that did not reach oil maturation conditions. Inclusions of 30° API to greater than 50° API oil are found in veins 30 km (19 mi) updip from the Eagle Ford Formation oil zone. These results illustrate the migration of oil and other fluids within subseismic-scale Austin Chalk faults and fundamental control of lithology on fault zone architecture.
Product Development Tools and Techniques

The product development reference in this chapter provides a brief introduction to various tools and techniques that are useful in product development. Each entry in the development reference has a title (name of tool or technique) and short statement about why that tool is useful, followed by basic information and how-to guides. Many entries provide sources for further reading.
Plants Go to War

Judith Sumner. 2019. Plants Go to War. (ISBN-13: 978-1-4766-7612-8, pbk). McFarland, Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640, U.S.A. (Orders: McFarlandBooks.com). $49.95 US, 366 pp., bibliography, index, 7" × 10".
Renal Artery Stenosis

Atherosclerosis (∼90%), fibromuscular dysplasia, vasculitis, neurofibromatosis, congenital bands, radiation, extrinsic compression.
Multichannel Spectral Estimation: A State-Space Approach to Ocean Acoustic Processing

Spectral estimation is a necessary methodology to analyze the frequency content of noisy data sets especially in acoustic applications. In this paper, the performance of both nonparametric (periodogram) and parametric (state-space) multichannel spectral estimation methods are investigated when applied to synthesized noisy structural vibration data. It is demonstrated that for the multichannel problem state-space techniques provide improved performance.
Chapter 34 – Self-similar sequences and chaos from Gauss sums

Publisher Summary This chapter shows that the quadratic Gauss sums form self-similar sequences with well-defined scales and similarity dimensions. The Gauss sums can be modified to yield intricate chaotic patterns. Despite Gauss' assertion that “the theory of numbers is the Queen of mathematics” this branch of mathematics has been increasingly applied. Thus, the quadratic Gauss sums φ (1, q) have been utilized in what may be termed “quadratic-residue phase gratings,” the ultimate in that application being the frosted glass and the sound diffusors in concert halls ( 11 ). And in this chapter, these same sums have been linked to the eminently utilitarian concepts of fractals and chaos.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms Induced by Treatment for Delirium: A Case Report.

Introduction Antipsychotics are a treatment option for delirium in the intensive care unit. Atypical antipsychotics are preferred over first-generation antipsychotics because of their lower incidence of extrapyramidal adverse effects. The most common such effect is akathisia or restlessness. This report describes a case of atypical antipsychotic-induced akathisia and addresses the clinical distinction between extrapyramidal movements and movements due to intensive care unit delirium. Clinical findings A 56-year-old man who had a prolonged hospital stay after orthotopic liver transplant complicated by multisystem organ failure, primary graft failure requiring a second transplant, and enterocutaneous fistula developed agitated delirium on hospital day 28. Initial treatment included intravenous haloperidol and scheduled sublingual olanzapine (5 mg daily). His delirium and insomnia persisted, requiring dexmedetomidine infusion. Olanzapine dosing was increased to 10 mg daily on hospital day 34 and 15 mg daily on hospital day 45. The following day, his mentation improved; however, he exhibited asynchronous, nonrhythmic, involuntary rolling motions of his hands and choreiform gait. Diagnosis and outcomes Antipsychotics were immediately discontinued owing to acute akathisia. All symptoms resolved within 2 days, and the patient was transferred out of the intensive care unit on hospital day 52. Conclusion Although extrapyramidal adverse effects are less common with olanzapine than with typical antipsychotics, they sometimes occur and can mimic manifestations of delirium. Restlessness should alert the nurse to assess for possible extrapyramidal adverse effects. If they are suspected, antipsychotic medications should be reduced or discontinued to prevent progression to functional disability.
Using Tootling to Enhance First-Grade Students’ Use of a Social Skill: Evaluating the Catching Compliments Game

A withdrawal design was used to evaluate the effects of a tootling intervention targeting a specific, recently trained social skill, providing compliments, displayed by first-grade students while they engaged in a regularly scheduled, small-group math activity. The tootling intervention, called the Catching Compliments Game, included publicly posted feedback and an interdependent group-oriented contingency, which involved the entire class earning rewards for reporting their observations of classmates providing compliments. Visual analysis of a repeated-measures graph suggested that the intervention caused immediate increases in students’ complimenting peers while engaged in a small-group math activity. These results extend research on tootling interventions by providing evidence that they can cause increases in the behaviors that students are reporting, in this case, students complimenting peers. Discussion focuses on study limitations, future research, and the applied implications associated with supplementing social skills training with tootling.
Relationship between rural hospital closures and the supply of nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Abstract Background Reductions in primary care and specialist physicians follow rural hospital closures. As the supply of physicians declines, rural healthcare systems increasingly rely on nurse practitioners (NPs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to deliver care. Purpose We sought to examine the extent to which rural hospital closures are associated with changes in the NP and CRNA workforce. Method Using Area Health Resources Files (AHRF) data from 2010-2017, we used an event-study design to estimate the relationship between rural hospital closures and changes in the supply of NPs and CRNAs. Findings Among 1,544 rural counties, we observed 151 hospital closures. After controlling for local market characteristics, we did not find a significant relationship between hospital closure and the supply of NPs and CRNAs. Discussion We do not find evidence that NPs and CRNAs respond to rural hospital closures by leaving the healthcare market.
Could Electromagnetic Field Exposure Contribute to Zoom Fatigue

The article discusses potential exposure sources to workers during remote teleconferencing and discusses measures to reduce exposure and prevent potential harms. Topics discussed include demonstrated that electric and magnetic field (EMF) from RF sources results in electric, magnetic, and associated currents that permeate into tissues of the body from the surrounding areas;and Regarding personal exposure levels, there are two primary factors that determine the magnitude of current.
Sandra J. Peart and David M. Levy (eds): The Street Porter and the Philosopher

The volume under review is a collection of essays some of which have been published previously, some of which are based on events sponsored by the Summer Institute for the Preservation of the History of Economics. All of the essays are authored by recognized experts in the history of economics, and, as such, represent a notable contribution to this sub-discipline within economics. Chapter 1 provides the reader with a plan of the collection and its unifying theme: the interplay among the three competing philosophies of analytical egalitarianism (AE), practical egalitarianism (PE), and analytical hierarchicalism (AH). The result is a fascinating collection of essays for those readers who are well-versed in the history of economic thought: the novice may be intimidated by the authors’ command of their chosen subject.
The ASIS&T oral history program: An interim report

EDITOR'S SUMMARY As part of the 75th anniversary celebration of ASIS&T, an oral history program was started to document the background, significant events and careers of outstanding individuals in information science and technology. The ongoing project takes a cue from oral histories of the Medical Library Association and the Chemical Heritage Foundation and captures individuals' experiences and decisions in their personal and professional lives, reflecting the development of the association itself. With seed funding from the ASIS&T SIG Special Projects Fund and help from graduate classes and Special Interest Group/History and the Foundations of Information Science, the initiative has relied on volunteers to identify and visit with interviewees and to record, transcribe and prepare materials for deposit in the ASIS&T archives at the University of Michigan Library. Interviews illustrate the leaps in telecommunications influencing personal careers and helping the Association in its early years, the expansion of centers for information retrieval science, bureaucratic challenges and the interplay of personalities. The ASIS&T oral history project is an important documentation of the growth of the field, capturing recordings, photos and biographies of key contributors.
Effects of supplemental degradable intake protein on utilization of medium- to low-quality forages

Three independent experiments were conducted each using 16 ruminally fistulated beef steers fed bermudagrass (8.2% CP, 71% NDF; Exp. 1), bromegrass (5.9% CP, 65% NDF; Exp. 2), or forage sorghum (4.3% CP, 60% NDF; Exp. 3) hays to evaluate the effects of increasing level of supplemental degradable intake protein (DIP) on forage utilization. In each experiment, steers were blocked by weight and assigned to one of four treatments, and hay was offered to each steer at 130% of average voluntary intake for the preceding 5-d period. Supplemental DIP (sodium caseinate) was placed in the rumen at 0700, immediately before feeding forage. Levels of DIP supplementation were .041, .082, and .124% BW; the control received no supplemental DIP. Following a 10-d adaptation, intake and total fecal output were measured for 7 d. In Exp. 1, neither forage OM intake (FOMI) nor fiber (NDF) digestion were influenced (P > or = .20) by increasing level of DIP supplementation. The DIP supplied by the bermudagrass hay was estimated to be 8.2% of the total digestible OM intake (TDOMI) for control steers. In Exp. 2, increasing level of supplemental DIP did not affect (P > or = .26) FOMI but tended to increase total OM intake linearly (TOMI; P = .10). The tendency for a rise in TOMI coupled with a slight numeric increase in digestion resulted in an increase (linear; P = .06) in TDOMI. In the treatment group in which the maximum TDOMI was observed (supplemental DIP treatment of .082% BW), total DIP intake constituted approximately 9.8% of the TDOMI. In Exp. 3, FOMI, TOMI, organic matter digestion (OMD), and TDOMI were improved (P < .01) by increasing amounts of supplemental DIP. Although there was some evidence of a tendency for a decrease in the magnitude of change in TDOMI in response to increasing DIP supplementation, a clear plateau was not achieved with the levels of supplement provided. When the highest level of supplemental DIP was fed, DIP constituted approximately 12.8% of the TDOMI. In conclusion, significant variation was observed among forage in the amount of DIP needed to maximize intake and digestion when expressed in relationship to the digestible OM.
Generating Learner-Like Morphological Errors in Russian

To speed up the process of categorizing learner errors and obtaining data for languages which lack error-annotated data, we describe a linguistically-informed method for generating learner-like morphological errors, focusing on Russian. We outline a procedure to select likely errors, relying on guiding stem and suffix combinations from a segmented lexicon to match particular error categories and relying on grammatical information from the original context.
Confirmation of Interstellar Methylcyanodiacetylene (CH3C5N)

Ten spectral lines of the symmetric-top molecule methylcyanodiacetylene (CH3C5N) have been detected with the 100 m Green Bank Telescope (GBT) toward the Taurus molecular cloud TMC-1. Both K = 0 and 1 components of the 12,K-11,K, 13,K-12,K, 14,K-13,K, 15,K-14,K, and 16,K-15,K transitions were observed. Consistent with ~10 K kinetic temperature for the TMC-1 dark dust cloud, no higher K-components were detected. The CH3C5N spectra confirm an earlier identification report based on data obtained with the MPIfR 100 m telescope by Snyder and colleagues over 20 years ago. Methyl cyanide (CH3CN), methylcyanoacetylene (CH3C3N), and methylcyanodiacetylene all are found in TMC-1 in decreasing relative abundance, suggesting that simple carbon addition on grains may be possible even in dark clouds. However, the correct formation mechanism for CH3C5N is still not known to within several orders of magnitude.
A four-wire, current-controlled converter provides harmonic neutralization in three-phase, four-wire systems

A four-wire active filter has been implemented. It neutralizes current harmonic effects, caused by any configuration of nonlinear loads in three-phase, four-wire systems. The results of a laboratory implementation are presented. These results are compared with those from computer simulations. Key design issues are discussed. >
Effect of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate on heteropolysaccharide synthesis in gram-negative soil bacteria.

Markovitz, Alvin (University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.) and Susan Sylvan. Effect of sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate on heteropolysaccharide synthesis in gram-negative soil bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 83:483–489. 1962.—The effect of Na2SO4 and MgSO4 on heteropolysaccharide biosynthesis has been investigated in gram-negative bacteria isolated from soil. These bacteria may be divided into three arbitrary groups on the basis of the effect of Na2SO4 and MgSO4 on heteropolysaccharide synthesis: group 1, synthesis of polysaccharides containing uronic acid is inhibited by increasing the concentration of sulfate ion; group 2, synthesis of polysaccharides containing uronic acid is stimulated by sulfate ions; group 3, synthesis of polysaccharide not containing uronic acid is stimulated minimally by Na2SO4.
Scale dependence of female ungulate reproductive success in relation to nutritional condition, resource selection and multi-predator avoidance

Female ungulate reproductive success is dependent on the survival of their young, and affected by maternal resource selection, predator avoidance, and nutritional condition. However, potential hierarchical effects of these factors on reproductive success are largely unknown, especially in multi-predator landscapes. We expanded on previous research of neonatal white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) daily survival within home ranges to assess if resource use, integrated risk of 4 mammalian predators, maternal nutrition, winter severity, hiding cover, or interactions among these variables best explained landscape scale variation in daily or seasonal survival during the post-partum period. We hypothesized that reproductive success would be limited greater by predation risk at coarser spatiotemporal scales, but habitat use at finer scales. An additive model of daily non-ideal resource use and maternal nutrition explained the most (69%) variation in survival; though 65% of this variation was related to maternal nutrition. Strong support of maternal nutrition across spatiotemporal scales did not fully support our hypothesis, but suggested reproductive success was related to dam behaviors directed at increasing nutritional condition. These behaviors were especially important following severe winters, when dams produced smaller fawns with less probability of survival. To increase nutritional condition and decrease wolf (Canis lupus) predation risk, dams appeared to place fawns in isolated deciduous forest patches near roads. However, this resource selection represented non-ideal resources for fawns, which had greater predation risk that led to additive mortalities beyond those related to resources alone. Although the reproductive strategy of dams resulted in greater predation of fawns from alternative predators, it likely improved the life-long reproductive success of dams, as many were late-aged (>10 years old) and could have produced multiple litters of fawns. Our study emphasizes understanding the scale-dependent hierarchy of factors limiting reproductive success is essential to providing reliable knowledge for ungulate management.
Lysosome vs. mitochondrion as photosensitizer binding site: How does the tortoise overtake the hare?

Pc 4, a photosensitizer first synthesized at Case Western Reserve University and now in clinical trial at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, has been shown to bind preferentially and with high affinity to mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Upon photoirradiation of Pc 4-loaded cells, membrane components, especially the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, are photodamaged. Apoptosis, as indicated by activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, is triggered by the initial photodamage. A series of analogues of Pc 4 has been synthesized containing two axial ligands, one identical to the single ligand of Pc 4 and the other either the same as the Pc 4 ligand or bearing one or more hydroxyl groups. The hydroxyl-bearing axial ligands reduce the aggregation of the Pc in polar environments and direct the Pc's to lysosomes. Photoirradiation of cells that have taken up these Pc's into their lysosomes is 4-6 times more efficient at killing cells, as defined by loss of clonogenicity, than with Pc 4. Whereas PDT with Pc 4 photodamages Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL over the same dose response range as for cell killing, PDT with Pc 181 or the other lysosome-localizing Pc's causes much less photodamage to Bcl-2 relative to cell killing. Furthermore, in the case of the lysosome-bound Pc's, little or no caspase-3-dependent apoptosis is observed.
From Snow White to Digimon Using popular media to confront Confucian values in Taiwanese peer cultures

Parents, educators and social commentators have repeatedly claimed that passive media consumption can harm children. Building on recent attempts to understand how children actively interpret media,...