cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IN VITRO REAPPRAISAL OF THE PULMONARY ARTERY CATHETER BALLOON VOLUME-PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP : COMPARISON OF FOUR DIFFERENT CATHETERS

The most serious risk of the use of the flow-directed pulmonary artery (PA) catheter is PA rupture due to high balloon inflation pressure of the catheter. Previously reported measurements of PA catheter intra-balloon pressure and volume during balloon inflation were performed mostly in a static fashion, that is, measurements were performed after a certain volume of air had been injected into the balloon. In this study, simultaneous measurements of pressure and volume, in addition to a static study, were performed in vitro using four PA catheters (Abbott Opticath, Arrow Hands-Off, Baxter Edwards and Spectramed). The peak intra-balloon pressure was recorded immediately before loss of resistance was felt in the inflating syringe. Contrary to previously reported studies, the peak intra-balloon pressure was not the pressure exerted on the pulmonary artery wall unless the lip of the catheter was already in the peripheral pulmonary artery. The loss of resistance volume which was constant for each catheter could be used reliably as an indicator of instantaneous balloon inflation. The slower the rate of injection, the lower were the peak pressure and the injection volume at the peak pressure. The Abbott, Edwards and Spectramed catheters had similar characteristics of inflation volume and intra-balloon pressure. The Arrow catheter had higher balloon opening and plateau pressures, and a smaller balloon volume compared with the other three catheters.
Grain structure and solidification cracking in oscillated arc welds of 5052 aluminum alloy

The effect of arc oscillation on grain structure and solidification cracking in GTA welds of 5052 aluminum alloy was investigated using a four-pole magnetic arc oscillator and a modified fish-bone crack test. Two different mechanisms of crack reduction were identified: one in the low frequency range of arc oscillation and the other in the high frequency range. The former was the alteration of the orientation of columnar grains, while the latter was grain refining. Neither mechanism was operative in the intermediate frequency range and solidification cracking was severe, especially when the amplitude of arc oscillation was small. Alteration of grain orientation was obtained in welds made with transverse and circular arc oscillations, but not longitudinal arc oscillation. Grain refining, on the other hand, was achieved in welds made with all three types of arc oscillation patterns. The differences between the response of alloy 5052 to arc oscillation and that of alloy 2014 observed previously were discussed.
Preparation of single crystals of coordination solids in silica gels: synthesis and structure of CuII(1,4-C4H4N2)(C4O4)(OH2)4

The title compound, Cu II (1,4-C 4 H 4 N 2 )(C 4 O 4 )((OH 2 ) 4 , was synthesized at room temperature using a silica gel medium to grow single crystals that have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /n, with a = 6.887(3)A, b = 11.141(4)A, c = 7.545(3)A, β = 90.68(3)°, V = 578.9(4) A 3 , Z = 2, and R(R w ) = 0.0263 (0.0393). The structure is composed of a linear chain of Cu II (1,4-C 4 H 4 N 2 )(OH 2 ) 4 that is closely hydrogen bonded to squarate anions which link the chains together in a 3-D framework. This material was found to be insoluble in most common solvents; thus it was difficult to obtain large crystals without employing the gel as a diffusion medium. This method might serve as a route to accessing new crystalline solids that are constructed from soluble molecular building blocks.
Generation and propagation of attosecond x-ray pulses in gaseous media

Using a self-consistent model that solves both the three-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation and the wave equation ab initio, we study the propagation of subfemtosecond pulses produced by high harmonic generation in a gas. The presence of a plasma shortens the coherence length for the harmonics. However, for the case of very short pump pulses, ionization is suppressed, and the coherence length can approach that of a neutral gas. Thus, the combination of enhanced single-atom harmonic generation for short pulses and improved phase matching allows for efficient amplification of attosecond x-ray pulses, resulting in 100 times higher output intensity for 5 fs compared to 10-fs pump pulses.
Parametric models for motion planning and control in biomimetic robotics

We describe the design, testing and tools to build parametric models of a six-legged cockroach-like robot for velocity control without precise knowledge on the robot's geometry or its inertia. Robot legs were made by Shape Deposition Manufacturing and were compliant at the "knee". These kinds of robots usually have a limited number of actuators and a small number of low-cost sensors. Consequently, they are difficult to control with analytic models. Our goal was to design a very fast robot that could run in a straight line over short distances at a desired velocity. We incorporated such legs into a novel body design, where position and orientation of the legs were chosen to enhance static stability. Robot design proved to be robust, as the machine did not suffer any failure in over 20,000 runs. We found that body-pitch angle was a crucial parameter in the control of running speed. To control this angle, we built a parametric model that related leg orientation to pitch angle. We experimented with various leg stiffness parameters, and built a comprehensive parametric model that quantified performance as a function of this parameter, as well as body-pitch angle, ground slope, and body mass. When these parameters were optimized, the robot consistently achieved a speed of six body lengths per second, even when pulling a large load in the form of a trailer cart.
Examining the psychometric properties of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in a sample of compulsive pornography users.

Abstract Objective The current study evaluated several psychometric properties of the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) (Goodman et al., 1989 [ 1 ]) adapted for compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) in a sample of 103 men seeking treatment at a private and a public university clinic in the United States. Method Measures of mental health functioning were collected from patients on two separate appointments: the initial screening and the follow-up appointment. Results All patients reported using pornography compulsively, and approximately half of the sample also reported a history of having frequent anonymous sex with strangers. Results found that the adapted Y-BOCS had good internal consistency reliability, moderate mean inter-item correlations, and good test–retest reliability. Results from a multiple regression analysis also found that affect dysregulation (depression and anxiety), particularly among single, impaired men, was significantly associated with more severe sexual obsessive and compulsive features. Approximately 94% of the sample met criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder, and 57% of men met criteria for two or more psychiatric disorders. Conclusions Findings from the current study suggest the CSB-Y-BOCS is a reliable measure of obsessive and compulsive symptoms associated with CSB, and clinicians and researchers could use this scale to aid in the assessment and treatment of problematic sexual behaviors.
Are You a Safe Driver

As the world continues to enhance and strengthen its emergency services, mobile phones may be used to aid in safe driving practices and detection of emergencies. To our knowledge, no work has been reported in understanding vehicle motion using accelerometers/compass in cell phones. In this paper, we used the multiple sensors in a Google phone to classify safe versus unsafe driving. In particular, we used breaking distance, acceleration, and deceleration for detecting safe verses unsafe braking. Next, we calculated the displacement in the axis perpendicular to the trajectory of vehicle and used it to classify safe and unsafe lane changes. The direction of the phone with respect to the motion of the vehicle is important during calibration of the above measurements, so we used 2D and 3D rotation matrices for transforming device orientation. Future work includes calibration of braking distance, lane changes, and reliable transformation of phone orientation with respect to trajectory of the vehicle.
Transient scattering analysis for a circular disk

The backscattered fields of a perfectly conducting circular disk are analyzed from a transient signature viewpoint. The significant dominant scattering mechanisms are identified for both principal polarizations at a variety of angles. Particular attention is given to the edge wave. The backscattered field behavior due to an incident plane wave on a perfectly conducting disk is presented. Good agreement was obtained between the eigenfunction and geometric theory of diffraction solutions. The expected mechanisms from first-, second-, and third-order diffractions with an accurate edge wave representation are demonstrated through the use of transient signatures. The most significant error in the geometric theory of diffraction (GTD) solution occurs in time where the nonprincipal plane double diffraction term exists. >
Differential requirements for retinal degeneration slow intermolecular disulfide-linked oligomerization in rods versus cones

It is commonly assumed that the ultrastructural organization of the rim region of outer segment (OS) discs in rods and lamellae in cones requires functional retinal degeneration slow/rod outer segment membrane protein 1 (Rds/Rom-1) complexes. Cysteine-150 (C150) in Rds has been implicated in intermolecular disulfide bonding essential for functional Rds complexes. Transgenic mice containing the Rds C150S mutation (C150S-Rds) failed to form higher-order Rds oligomers, although interactions between C150S-Rds and Rom-1 occurred in rods, but not in cones. C150S-Rds mice exhibited marked early-onset reductions in cone function and abnormal OS structure. In contrast, C150S-Rds expression in rods partly rescued the rds+/− phenotype. Although C150S-Rds was detected in the OSs in rods and cones, a substantial percentage of C150S-Rds and cone opsins were mislocalized to different cellular compartments in cones. The results of this study provide novel insights into the importance of C150 in Rds oligomerization and the differences in Rds requirements in rods versus cones. The apparent OS structural differences between rods and cones may cause cones to be more susceptible to the elimination of higher-order Rds/Rom-1 oligomers (e.g. as mediated by mutation of the Rds C150 residue).
Distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogens isolated from ventilator-associated pneumonia patients in pediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: With mechanical ventilation widely used in intensive care unit, the ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) has become a common and serious complication in critically ill patients. Compared with adults, the incidence of VAP and the mortality are higher in children in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) because of immune deficiency, severe basic diseases, and increased use of artifi cial airway or mechanical ventilation. Hence it is of signifi cance to study the epidemiology and changes of antibacterial susceptibility in order to reduce the incidence and mortality of VAP in children. METHODS: From January 2008 to June 2010, 2758 children were treated in PICU of Wuhan Children’s Hospital. Among them, 171 received mechanical ventilation over 48 hours in PICU, and 46 developed VAP. The distribution and drug-resistance pattern of the pathogenic bacteria isolated from lower respiratory tract aspirations were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 119 pathogenic microbial strains were isolated. Gram-negative bacilli (G - ) were the most (65.55%), followed by fungi (21.01%) and gram-positive cocci (G + , 13.45%). Among them, the most common pathogens were Acinetobacter baummannii , Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, candida albicans and coagulase-negative staphylococci . Antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated that the multiple drug-resistances of G - and G + to antibiotics were serious. Most of G - was sensitive to ciprofloxacin, amikacin, imipenem, meropenem, cefoperazone-sulbactam and piperacillin-tazobactam. The susceptibility of G + to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid were 100%. Fungi were almost sensitive to all the antifungal agents. The primary pathogens of VAP were G - , and their multiple drug-resistances were serious. CONCLUSION: In clinical practice we should choose the most sensitive drug for VAP according
Neolithic subsistence patterns in northern Borneo reconstructed with stable carbon isotopes of enamel

Abstract The Neolithic period in island Southeast Asia is characterized by various population movements, technological innovations, and the introduction/adoption of agricultural foodstuffs. Human subsistence trends during this period, however, are poorly understood. Broad spectrum foraging is generally assumed for prehistoric groups utilizing rain forest food resources but the degree to which cultigens were part of the dietary repertoire remains unclear. This paper explores human subsistence patterns at three penecontemporaneous Neolithic sites in Sarawak (East Malaysia) using stable isotope ratios of carbon and oxygen derived from tooth enamel apatite. The sites (Niah Cave, Lubang Angin, and Gua Sireh) differ in local ecology and cultural circumstance but all are situated in C 3 -dominant lowland primary rain forest. Significant differences in δ 13 C values between sites likely reflect the canopy effect and variations in foraging pattern. Lower values at Lubang Angin suggest dependence upon closed forest foraging. Higher values at Neolithic Niah Cave and Gua Sireh suggest more open forest horticulture and subsistence, including some form of systematic food production, collection, and/or habitat modification.
Intrinsic biophysical diversity decorrelates neuronal firing while increasing information content

Although examples of variation and diversity exist throughout the nervous system, their importance remains a source of debate. Even neurons of the same molecular type have notable intrinsic differences. Largely unknown, however, is the degree to which these differences impair or assist neural coding. We examined the outputs from a single type of neuron, the mitral cells of the mouse olfactory bulb, to identical stimuli and found that each cell's spiking response was dictated by its unique biophysical fingerprint. Using this intrinsic heterogeneity, diverse populations were able to code for twofold more information than their homogeneous counterparts. In addition, biophysical variability alone reduced pair-wise output spike correlations to low levels. Our results indicate that intrinsic neuronal diversity is important for neural coding and is not simply the result of biological imprecision.
A mostly-copying collector component for class templates

Class templates represent a difficulty for C++ garbage collectors since relevant information is available only very late, at instantiation time. Current collectors therefore either fail to work with class templates or have to run in a non-optimized mode. This paper introduces the template garbage collector (TGC), the first mostly-copying collector that can handle class templates. It discusses the design decisions that are suggested by the specifics of generic template programming and presents performance results and memory measurements of tests with MTL and GTL, two generic C++ libraries based on the Standard Template Library. The tests show that TGC substantially improves the run times of programs with many small objects with short lifetimes or large objects with long lifetimes. The memory usage at the same time is reasonable. Since TGC modifies the mostly-copying technique, the heap sizes are in many cases considerably smaller than they are for traditional mostly-copying collectors. The tests also show that TGC is competitive with the Boehm–Demers–Weiser collector, the most widely used collector for C++. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validation and test issues related to noise induced by parasitic inductances of VLSI interconnects

Shows the results of studies of noise induced by various combinations of parasitic capacitances and inductances. Interconnects are simulated with parameters obtained from a 0.18 /spl mu/m process. The four kinds of noise addressed are (i) crosstalk pulse; (ii) crosstalk speedup and slowdown; (iii) oscillatory noise; (iv) combination of oscillatory noise and crosstalk pulse. The crosstalk effects induced by a combination of mutual capacitance and mutual inductance can be larger than those induced by mutual capacitance alone, even if capacitive crosstalk dominates. For certain interconnects that are capacitively and inductively coupled, transitions in the same direction on an aggressor and victim line can cause speedup or slowdown, depending on timing parameters. A similar observation holds for transitions in opposite directions. We also observe that oscillatory noise can combine with crosstalk pulse under certain skew conditions and give rise to a large magnitude of noise. We show that inductance induced noise can be a problem in medium length interconnects. Because such interconnects can occur in combinational logic blocks, the generation of suitable vectors for test and validation of such logic blocks is of concern.
I'm Game, are You? Reducing Real-World Security Threats by Managing Employee Activity in Online Social Networks

ABSTRACT: Employees' use of online social networking (OSN) is dramatically increasing the risk exposure of companies. This study extends previous information security policy compliance research to include factors influencing employees to play OSN games on company-owned computers. An online factorial survey method experiment collected data from a sample of white-collar workers for testing hypotheses based upon accountability and boundary theories. The likelihood to play OSN games is tested with and without a policy related to this behavior. Results indicate that the presence of a social networking policy, logging awareness, and monitoring practices reduced participants' likelihood of playing OSN games on company-owned computers. After splitting the sample on the presence/absence of an OSN policy, results show that in the presence of a policy, monitoring practices and age significantly reduced the participants' likelihood of playing. In the absence of a policy, logging and monitoring reduced the likelihood ...
High-temperature Schottky diodes with thin-film diamond base

High-temperature (500-580 degrees C) current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of gold contacts to boron-doped homoepitaxial diamond films prepared using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method are described. Schottky diodes were formed using gold contacts to chemically cleaned boron-doped homoepitaxial diamond films. These devices incorporate ohmic contacts formed by annealing Au(70 nm)/Ti(10 nm) layers in air at 580 degrees C. The experiments with homoepitaxial diamond films show that the leakage current density increases with the contact area. This implies that a nonuniform current distribution exists across the diode, presumably due to crystallographic defects in the diamond film. As a result, Au contacts with an area >1 mm/sup 2/ are essentially ohmic and can be used to form back contacts to Schottky diodes. Schottky diodes fabricated in this matter also show rectifying I-V characteristics in the 25-580 degrees C temperature range. >
Severe Methemoglobinemia Complicating Topical Benzocaine Use During Endoscopy in a Toddler: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Severe methemoglobinemia resulting from the use of topical benzocaine has been reported in adults as a rare complication. Here we report a case of severe acquired methemoglobinemia resulting from topical use of benzocaine spray during diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a 3-year-old boy with repeated episodes of hematemesis 3 weeks posttonsillectomy. He developed marked cyanosis and became increasingly agitated immediately after completion of his unremarkable endoscopic procedure, which was performed under intravenous sedation. He did not respond to maximum supplemental oxygen and had increased respiratory effort. His pulse oximetry dropped to 85%, but simultaneous arterial blood-gas analysis showed marked hypoxemia (Po2 = 29%) and severe methemoglobinemia (methemoglobin = 39%). His cyanosis and altered mental status promptly resolved after intravenous administration of methylene blue. In patients with methemoglobinemia, pulse oximetry tends to overestimate the actual oxygen saturation and is not entirely reliable. Posttonsillectomy bleeding is a rare but occasionally serious complication that could occur weeks after the surgery, although it more commonly occurs within the first few days. Physicians should remain aware of the possibility of its late onset. This case illustrates the severity of acquired methemoglobinemia that may result from even small doses of topical benzocaine and highlights the fact that prompt treatment of the disorder can be life saving. We question the rationale for routine use of topical anesthetic spray for sedated upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children. By bringing the attention of pediatricians to this rare but serious complication, we hope that it will result in its improved recognition and possible prevention.
The Rate of Release of ATP from Its Complex with Myosin

An approach previously published from this laboratory for measurement of the rate of dissociation of ATP from its complex with myosin has been carefully evaluated. The procedure has been found valid, and the off constant (21 degrees C, 1=0.21 M, pH 7.0) is 1x 10(-4)s(-1). Other data for the rate of ATP binding give a Kd for myosin ATP of 6x10(-11) M. Reasons for the apparent discrepancy between this value and that reported by others have been examined. When various factors are appropriately taken into account, this discrepancy is eliminated.
A call to actions wisely chosen.

Comment on: A Call to Action: Firearms, Public Health, and Emergency Medicine , 13 March 2013 Megan L. Ranney, Jeffrey Sankoff, David H. Newman, Andrew Fenton, Leslie Mukau, William E. Durston, Dustin W. Ballard, Garen Wintemute Annals of Emergency Medicine June 2013 (Vol. 61, Issue 6, Pages 700-702) Language: en
West Nile virus-induced disruption of the blood- brain barrier in mice is characterized by the degradation of the junctional complex proteins and increase in multiple matrix metalloproteinases

West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis is characterized by neuroinflammation, neuronal loss and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption. However, the mechanisms associated with the BBB disruption are unclear. Complex interactions between the tight junction proteins (TJP) and the adherens junction proteins (AJP) of the brain microvascular endothelial cells are responsible for maintaining the BBB integrity. Herein, we characterized the relationship between the BBB disruption and expression kinetics of key TJP, AJP and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the mice brain. A dramatic increase in the BBB permeability and extravasation of IgG was observed at later time points of the central nervous system (CNS) infection and did not precede virus–CNS entry. WNV-infected mice exhibited significant reduction in the protein levels of the TJP ZO-1, claudin-1, occludin and JAM-A, and AJP β-catenin and vascular endothelial cadherin, which correlated with increased levels of MMP-1, -3 and -9 and infiltrated leukocytes in the brain. Further, intracranial inoculation of WNV also demonstrated increased extravasation of IgG in the brain, suggesting the role of virus replication in the CNS in BBB disruption. These data suggest that altered expression of junction proteins is a pathological event associated with WNV infection and may explain the molecular basis of BBB disruption. We propose that WNV initially enters CNS without altering the BBB integrity and later virus replication in the brain initiates BBB disruption, allowing enhanced infiltration of immune cells and contribute to virus neuroinvasion via the ‘Trojan-horse’ route. These data further implicate roles of multiple MMPs in the BBB disruption and strategies to interrupt this process may influence the WNV disease outcome.
Frailty in Older Adults: A Nationally Representative Profile in the United States

Background Frailty assessment provides a means of identifying older adults most vulnerable to adverse outcomes. Attention to frailty in clinical practice is more likely with better understanding of its prevalence and associations with patient characteristics. We sought to provide national estimates of frailty in older people. Methods A popular, validated frailty phenotype proposed by Fried and colleagues was applied to 7,439 participants in the 2011 baseline of the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a national longitudinal study of persons aged 65 and older. All measures drew on a 2-hour in-person interview. Weighted estimates of frailty prevalence were obtained. Results Fifteen percent (95% CI: 14%, 16%) of the older non-nursing home population is frail, and 45% is prefrail (95% CI: 44%, 47%). Frailty is more prevalent at older ages, among women, racial and ethnic minorities, those in supportive residential settings, and persons of lower income. Independently of these characteristics, frailty prevalence varies substantially across geographic regions. Chronic disease and disability prevalence increase steeply with frailty. Among the frail, 42% were hospitalized in the previous year, compared to 22% of the prefrail and 11% of persons considered robust. Hip, back, and heart surgery in the last year were associated with frailty. Over half of frail persons had a fall in the previous year. Conclusions Our findings support the importance of frailty in late-life health etiology and potential value of frailty as a marker of risk for adverse health outcomes and as a means of identifying opportunities for intervention in clinical practice and public health policy.
Do we need a new prescription to view myocardial perfusion

The paper by Hsu et al. ([1][1]) in this issue of iJACC presents the results of a validation study on the use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to map myocardial blood flow (MBF) at the spatial resolution of the underlying images (“pixel-wise”), acquired during the first pass of a
Electron probe x-ray microanalysis and digital elemental x-ray imaging and their application to biomedical histological sections and whole cells

This paper will introduce electron probe x-ray microanalysis (EPMA) using both energy dispersive (EDS) and wavelength dispersive (WDS) spectrometry and digital EPMA elemental x-ray imaging to the biological researcher who has had little or no experience with these methods. The instrumentation, physics, quantitation and artefacts of these methods will be discussed, compared and contrasted. Biomedical applications of digital WDS-EPMA x-ray imaging of histological sections and quantitative EDS-EPMA of whole cells will be presented. Specifically, Pt distribution in abdominal wall of rats given the drug cisplatin, Ca and Al distributions in human pathological brain tissue, and Mg quantitation of individual peripheral blood mononuclear cells will demonstrate biomedical applications of these methods.
Chemical Kinetics of Silicon-Rich Oxide Growth in an LPCVD Reactor

The chemical kinetics of Silicon Rich Oxide (SRO) growth in a N2O-SiH4 LPCVD reactor has been studied at deposition temperatures from 610 to 680°C and pressures from 0.4 to 0.5 torr. We can produce SRO films with a wide spectrum of input reactant ratios γ = [N2O]/[SiH4] = 1 to 40. The dependence of film composition on γ changes dramatically in a region around γ = 2. Growth for γ 20 can be explained by oxidation of silicon in the bulk of the growing SRO film. We can explain growth from γ ≈ 4 to 20 by considering the chemical kinetics of possible binary surface reactions which may produce Si-Si or Si-O bonds. This allows us to accurately model the dependence of SRO growth rate in this region as a function of γ, pressure, and deposition temperature.
Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies of Liquid/Vapor Interfaces of Aqueous NaCl, RbCl, and RbBr Solutions

Ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS) was used to explore ion behavior at liquid/vapor interfaces of aqueous NaCl, RbCl, and RbBr solutions. Interfacial depth profiles of ions were obtained from XPS spectra at a series of photoelectron kinetic energies. Depth profiles of the ratio of anion to cation show little difference among the solutions. Previously, these depth profiles were determined from the ratio of anion to cation signal-peak areas. However, using molecular dynamics simulations (MD), the individual anion and cation depth profiles are both observed to differ as a function of solution, but the differences are masked when only the anion-to-cation ratios are considered. Using the Cl–/Owater ratio determined from the XPS measurements, surface-enhanced concentrations of Cl– are observed in the NaCl solution, but not in the RbCl solution, in agreement with predictions from MD simulations. We also report studies of aqueous solutions of RbBr. In contrast to an aqueous RbCl solution, ...
Trajectory Control of Very Flexible Aircraft with Gust Disturbance

This paper considers control of a very flexible aircraft in the presence of gust disturbances. Longitudinal trajectory tracking is performed using a hierarchical control scheme with either a PID or a sliding mode outer loop controller and a dynamic inversion inner loop controller. A Linear Quadratic Gaussian controller based on a reduced order linear model of the system is used to track lateral commands. The closed loop responses are demonstrated in fully nonlinear simulations with gust disturbances. Finally, we demonstrate a coordinated control of the ailerons to reduce wing curvature excursions from trim values.
Performance Investigation of Large Diameter Water Pipe Materials (24-inch and Larger)

This paper presents a study of water main inventory and performance for diameter sizes of 24-inch and larger from 21 water utilities and from 16 states across the United States. The study is conducted by the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) and focuses on different pipe materials used nationally in water transmission applications. Objectives of this study were to gather data from different water utilities to analyze the population served by the pipeline facility, miles of pipeline material in use, age and diameter, and the performance rates of each pipeline material. This paper concludes with comparison of diameter range, age, and failure rate for the pipe inventory of responding water utilities. BACKGROUND
Variation of activities of polyphenol oxidase and perioxidase in enzymatic browning of Chinese chestnut(Castanea Mollissima)

Chestnuts were peeled, sliced and then the browning degree, total polyphenol concentration, activities of polyphenol oxidase(PPO) and perioxidase(POD) were measured over time. The results showed that browning reaction of fresh-cut chestnut was slow. After three days, the browning degree only increased by 44%. The total polyphenol concentrations decreased by 34% in the first two days, then fluctuated slightly. The specific activity of PPO increased by 42% in the fist day, and decreased to 13% of that of fresh chestnut in the following three days. In addition, the specific activity of POD decreased by 50% in the first two days, and then remained stable. It can be inferred that PPO was the main enzyme in relation with browning reaction of Chinese chestnut, while peroxidase played a smaller role. There was also a synergistic effect between these two enzymes, which cooperatively catalyzed the oxidation of polyphenols.
Comparing prasugrel to twice daily clopidogrel post percutaneous coronary intervention in a Veterans Affairs population.

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare various antiplatelet regimens in patients who experienced increased platelet reactivity on clopidogrel therapy with regards to cardiovascular outcomes, including need for revascularization, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and cardiovascular (CV) death. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center and were subsequently prescribed either clopidogrel 75 mg twice daily, prasugrel 10 mg daily, or clopidogrel 75 mg daily with high platelet reactivity between October 1, 2009 and November 30, 2010. Correlations between antiplatelet regimens and prevention of cardiovascular outcomes and bleeding events were evaluated. Groups were evaluated statistically as two separate comparisons; the first comparison being clopidogrel twice daily versus prasugrel and the second comparison being clopidogrel twice daily versus clopidogrel daily in those patients with a P2Y12 test result of less than 50%. Results A total of 108 patients were included in the study. Eight events occurred in the clopidogrel twice daily group ( n = 26), including five revascularizations and three MIs. Seven events occurred in the prasugrel group ( n = 64), including two revascularizations, two MIs, two strokes, and one CV death. The difference between these groups was statistically significant ( p = 0.031), with patients in the prasugrel group experiencing fewer events. Five events occurred in the clopidogrel daily group ( n = 18), including one need for revascularization, two MIs, and two instances of CV death. There were no statistically significant differences in CV events between the clopidogrel twice daily group and clopidogrel daily group ( p > 0.999). There were also no statistically significant differences in bleeding incidents for either of the comparisons; p > 0.999 and p = 0.676 respectively for the first and second comparisons. Conclusion Patients on prasugrel had fewer cardiovascular events as compared to patients on clopidogrel twice daily with no difference in bleeding events. No difference was seen with regards to cardiovascular or bleeding events when comparing clopidogrel twice daily to clopidogrel daily in patients with increased platelet reactivity. Study results suggest that there is no benefit to dosing clopidogrel twice daily when compared to either prasugrel or once daily clopidogrel dosing.
Delivery of Synthetic mRNA Encoding FOXP3 Antigen into Dendritic Cells for Inflammatory Breast Cancer Immunotherapy

Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines are commonly used for cancer immunotherapy. To prepare vaccines, DCs are pulsed or transfected with either: (a) defined peptides of tumor-associated antigens, (b) total protein isolated from the tumor cell, (c) autologous total RNA isolated from the tumor cell, (d) synthetic tumor-antigen-encoding mRNA, or (e) genes that encode for specific tumor-associated antigens. Introduction of tumor-associated antigen(s) and subsequent generation of mature DCs that can stimulate tumor-antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes comprise the critical steps of cancer vaccine preparation. Here, we described a method of: (a) preparing and delivering synthetic FOXP3 mRNA into human DCs, (b) generating mature DCs,
Chapter 9 – Stable isotope partitioning in aqueous and hydrothermal systems to elevated temperatures

Publisher Summary Since its foundation, isotope chemistry has been applied to numerous fields of science and technology, ranging from fundamental aspects of molecular structures and forces, to organic and biological reaction mechanisms, to various natural processes to the separation of stable isotopes. Basic research on stable isotopes of light elements is threefold: study of physicochemical properties of isotopically pure compounds and biological consequences of their doses, tracer studies for chemical, biological, and natural reactions and processes, and study to determine and understand the causes, mechanisms, and processes leading to the separation or fractionation of stable isotopes. This chapter focuses on the third category, i.e., the principles and applications of isotopic separation/fractionation of light elements in aqueous and hydrothermal systems. The chapter is largely based on knowledge gained during the past decades in the field of stable isotope geochemistry. It is important to point out that the last two decades have witnessed many exciting findings of isotopic fractionation, such as non-mass-dependent fractionation and the development of novel analytical techniques of isotopic ratios, which include continuous-flow MS, SIMS, and tunable IR lasers.
Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands

Radiation therapy plays an essential role in the management of patients with head and neck cancers. Radiotherapy is the preferred single modality treatment for the majority of patients with small lesions (e.g., T1 and T2 tumors) since it is as effective as surgery in the local eradication of the neoplastic disease but, in general, produces less functional impairment and less cosmetic deformity. Combinations of surgery and radiation therapy are recommended for patients with advanced locoregional disease. The rationale behind combined treatment is that surgical resection of gross tumor eliminates the most common cause of radiotherapeutic failure, whereas radiotherapy is more efficient at sterilizing microscopic tumor beyond the margins of the surgical resection. Unfortunately, radiation doses required in these clinical settings do induce transient normal tissue injuries, functional deficits, and occasionally, persistent complications.
Critical thinking and computer science: implicit and explicit connections

Critical thinking is an essential skill for an educated society. Our experience as computer science educators in an environment with an explicit emphasis on critical thinking has led us to investigate the connection between the two. We describe examples of how critical thinking skills can be developed throughout the computer science curriculum, and suggest future avenues where the connection between critical thinking and computer science could be fruitfully explored.
Primary Cilia are Mechanosensory Organelles in Vestibular Tissues

Primary cilia have been observed for over a century, but their sensory roles have only been revealed within the past decade. In this chapter, we will describe cilia as newly recognized mechanosensory organelles. Cilia can sense bodily fluid movement in all vestibular organs. These include nodal flow in Hensen’s node, urine in the renal nephron, bile in the hepatic biliary system, digestive fluid in the pancreatic duct, dentin in dental pulp, lacunocanalicular fluid in bone and cartilage, and blood in vasculature. To exert their sensory functions, cilia require both structural and functional proteins. Cells without ciliary function or structure are unable to sense fluid-shear stress, but their sensitivity toward other mechanical or pharmacological stimuli remains intact. The functional machineries found in the cilia include mechanosensory polycystin-1, mechano-calcium channel polycystin-2, and other interacting proteins. The roles of cilia as fluid sensors in Hensen’s node as well as in the kidney, liver, pancreas, bone, and cardiovascular system will be discussed.
A Quick fired case-firearm determination from the 102 mass shooting incidents in the U.S.

Shooting incidents occur almost daily nationwide A quick determination of the type of a firearm involved is always a crucial factor for the police to process a shooting scene properly While such a determination is very important the literature review indicates a lack of research on the subject This paper conducted a secondary data analysis of the mass shooting incidents from to n Based on ballistic design features ten categories of fired cartridge cases were collected and analyzed for a quick determination between a fired cartridge case and a firearm Finally two image illustrations described how to identify the casing firearm relationship based on the secondary data analysis The results of this study may have widespread applications for informing law enforcement officers first responders criminal investigators crime scene technicians teachers students K to and colleges and the general public alike
Optimizing Implementation of Hepatitis C Birth-Cohort Screening and Treatment Strategies: Model-Based Projections.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) is a significant public health problem affecting more than three million Americans. The US health care systems are ramping up costly HCV screening and treatmen...
Potential signaling pathways of acute endurance exercise-induced cardiac autophagy and mitophagy and its possible role in cardioprotection

The article Potential signaling pathways of acute endurance exercise-induced cardiac autophagy and mitophagy and its possible role in cardioprotection, written by Youngil Lee.
An approach for facial expression classification

In this paper, a new method for facial expression classification is proposed, which uses the histograms of oriented gradients (HOG) algorithm to extract facial expression features and the sparse representation classifier (SRC) to classify facial expressions with a large variation of poses. The HOG algorithm was selected due to its effectiveness in picking up both local and global facial expression features in different orientations and scales, and the SRC was chosen because of its proven effectiveness in face recognition. A novelty of the proposed approach is that given a facial image for classification, its pose is determined first to select a pose-dependent dictionary for the SRC procedure. The paper also discusses ways of selecting parameters for improving the effectiveness of the HOG algorithm. The proposed method was applied to two multi-pose facial expression databases and satisfactory results were obtained for the majority of facial expressions under various poses.
Rehabilitation of Visual Loss: Where We Are and Where We Need to Be.

Background Spontaneous recovery of visual loss resulting from injury to the brain is variable. A variety of traditional rehabilitative strategies, including the use of prisms or compensatory saccadic eye movements, have been used successfully to improve visual function and quality-of-life for patients with homonymous hemianopia. More recently, repetitive visual stimulation of the blind area has been reported to be of benefit in expanding the field of vision. Evidence acquisition We performed a literature review with main focus on clinical studies spanning from 1963 to 2016, including 52 peer-reviewed articles, relevant cross-referenced citations, editorials, and reviews. Results Repetitive visual stimulation is reported to expand the visual field, although the interpretation of results is confounded by a variety of methodological factors and conflicting outcomes from different research groups. Many studies used subjective assessments of vision and did not include a sufficient number of subjects or controls. Conclusions The available clinical evidence does not strongly support claims of visual restoration using repetitive visual stimulation beyond the time that spontaneous visual recovery might occur. This lack of firm supportive evidence does not preclude the potential of real benefit demonstrated in laboratories. Additional well-designed clinical studies with adequate controls and methods to record ocular fixation are needed.
Spatio-temporal analysis of prodelta dynamics by means of new satellite generation: the case of Po river by Landsat-8 data

Abstract This paper describes a procedure to perform spatio-temporal analysis of river plume dispersion in prodelta areas by multi-temporal Landsat-8-derived products for identifying zones sensitive to water discharge and for providing geostatistical patterns of turbidity linked to different meteo-marine forcings. In particular, we characterized the temporal and spatial variability of turbidity and sea surface temperature (SST) in the Po River prodelta (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) during the period 2013–2016. To perform this analysis, a two-pronged processing methodology was implemented and the resulting outputs were analysed through a series of statistical tools. A pixel-based spatial correlation analysis was carried out by comparing temporal curves of turbidity and SST hypercubes with in situ time series of wind speed and water discharge, providing correlation coefficient maps. A geostatistical analysis was performed to determine the spatial dependency of the turbidity datasets per each satellite image, providing maps of correlation and variograms. The results show a linear correlation between water discharge and turbidity variations in the points more affected by the buoyant plumes and along the southern coast of Po River delta. Better inverse correlation was found between turbidity and SST during floods rather than other periods. The correlation maps of wind speed with turbidity show different spatial patterns depending on local or basin-scale wind effects. Variogram maps identify different spatial anisotropy structures of turbidity in response to ambient conditions (i.e. strong Bora or Scirocco winds, floods). Since the implemented processing methodology is based on open source software and free satellite data, it represents a promising tool for the monitoring of maritime ecosystems and to address water quality analyses and the investigations of sediment dynamics in estuarine and coastal waters.
Why Crisis Pregnancy Centers Are Legal but Unethical

Crisis pregnancy centers are organizations that seek to intercept women with unintended pregnancies who might be considering abortion. Their mission is to prevent abortions by persuading women that adoption or parenting is a better option. They strive to give the impression that they are clinical centers, offering legitimate medical services and advice, yet they are exempt from regulatory, licensure, and credentialing oversight that apply to health care facilities. Because the religious ideology of these centers' owners and employees takes priority over the health and well-being of the women seeking care at these centers, women do not receive comprehensive, accurate, evidence-based clinical information about all available options. Although crisis pregnancy centers enjoy First Amendment rights protections, their propagation of misinformation should be regarded as an ethical violation that undermines women's health.
Permselectivity limits of biomimetic desalination membranes

Water scarcity and inadequate membrane selectivity have spurred interest in biomimetic desalination membranes, in which biological or synthetic water channels are incorporated in an amphiphilic bilayer. As low channel densities (0.1 to 10%) are required for sufficient water permeability, the amphiphilic bilayer matrix will play a critical role in separation performance. We determine selectivity limits for biomimetic membranes by studying the transport behavior of water, neutral solutes, and ions through the bilayers of lipid and block-copolymer vesicles and projecting performance for varying water channel densities. We report that defect-free biomimetic membranes would have water/salt permselectivities ~108-fold greater than current desalination membranes. In contrast, the solubility-based permeability of lipid and block-copolymer bilayers (extending Overton's rule) will result in poor rejection of hydrophobic solutes. Defect-free biomimetic membranes thus offer great potential for seawater desalination and ultrapure water production, but would perform poorly in wastewater reuse. Potential strategies to limit neutral solute permeation are discussed.