cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nicotine: A Different Approach to Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Reduced upper airway muscle activity may contribute to the occurrence of obstructive apneas during sleep. There is no uniformly successful treatment of these apneas, and it is possible that agents which increase upper airway muscle activity could reduce the occurrence of obstruction during sleep. Nicotine, a known stimulant of breathing, also increases the activity of muscles which dilate the upper airway proportionally more than it does ventilation. Hence, we evaluated the effect of nicotine on apneas during the first two hours of sleep in eight patients with sleep apnea syndrome. It was concluded that nicotine reduces apneas during the early hours of sleep, and this effect may be caused by its stimulating action on upper airway muscles.
A sag monitoring device based on a cluster of code based GPS receivers

A relatively new technique of differential global positioning system (DGPS) has potential to measure sag on an overhead transmission line conductor. The technique relies on the information received from GPS satellites and carrier based receivers so that sag can be measured to an accuracy of approximately 1″. However, the overall cost of the carrier based system is extremely high. An alternative method based on using a cluster of cheap GPS receivers was explored for the first time in this paper. A single code based GPS receiver is considerably inaccurate to the extent that it is almost unusable for a vertical measurement such as sag. This paper describes two different approaches to improve the accuracy of data from a cluster of cheap GPS receivers so that they can be used for sag measurements. Kalman filter and bad data rejection techniques were adapted to reduce vertical error in measurement of sag. An error of ±4.5 m in the raw data was reduced to ±0.45 m after using Kalman filter and to ±0.37 m after using the bad data rejection techniques. Details of these techniques in the context of potential application for sag measurement are described in the paper.
The effect of thin film scaling on the capacitance versus voltage characteristic of a ferroelectric memory cell

Abstract The effects on the capacitance versus voltage (CV) measurement from reducing the film thickness of Symetrix Y-1 ferroelectric material will be presented. The effects on the zero bias capacitance, coercive voltage and coercive electric field as a function of film thickness will also be presented. Obtained CV data was compared to data obtained from hysteresis measurements. The films were fabricated with a spin-on method and the thicknesses of the films were 1741, 2592, 3321, and 4050 Angstroms. The zero voltage capacitance showed a linear relationship as a function of film thickness and a change in the dielectric constant for films greater than 2500 Angstroms. A simple circuit model suggests the enhancement of the dielectric constant for the thin films may be caused by the space charge regions.
Building leasing at the department of energy's Hanford site: Lessons learned from commercial reuse

The mission at many locations of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) complex has shifted from materials production for atomic weapons to environmental remediation. DOE and neighboring communities are interested in diversifying local economies, including through the transfer of DOE property for commercial reuse. But Department leasing programs have raised occupational health concerns in two locations. A 1997 DOE review of leasing at the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, site, and leasing at the Hanford site in central Washington state led us to examine the building leasing program at Hanford. Because of past operations in Building 313, we recommended that the building be surveyed for beryllium. Results were positive, and the tenant company may have generated the beryllium detected. We compare lessons learned from Oak Ridge and Hanford. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Epitaxial Si-based tunnel diodes

Tunneling devices in combination with transistors offer a way to extend the performance of existing technologies by increasing circuit speed and decreasing static power dissipation. We have investigated Si-based tunnel diodes grown using molecular beam . q q epitaxy MBE . The basic structure is a p layer formed by B delta doping, an undoped spacer layer, and an n layer formed by . Sb delta doping. In the n-on-p configuration, low temperature epitaxy 300)3708C was used to minimize the effect of dopant segregation and diffusion. In the p-on-n configuration, a combination of growth temperatures from 320 to 5508C was used to exploit the Sb segregation to obtain a low Sb concentration in the B-doped layer. Post-growth rapid thermal anneals for 1 min in the temperature interval between 600 and 8258C were required to optimize the device characteristics. J , the peak current p . density, and the peak-to-valley current ratio PVCR , were measured at room temperature. An n-on-p diode having a spacer layer composed of 4 nm Si Ge , bounded on either side by 1 nm Si, had a J s 2.3 kArcm 2 and PVCRs 2.05. A p-on-n tunnel 0.6 0.4 p . 2 diode with an 8 nm Si spacer 5 nm grown at 3208C, 3 nm grown at 5508C had a J s 2.6 kArcm and PVCRs 1.7. Q 2000 p
Fleet Capabilities-Based Assessment

Several recent Analyses of Alternatives (AOAs) have demonstrated issues with the AOA process that have limited the Navy in the pre-Milestone A process. The eventual selection of an AOA preferred alternative that balances mission needs, total ownership cost, and acquisition cost was based on a limited trade space. This paper proposes an improved pre-AOA process to better define a fiscally constrained set of fleet requirements that are allocated to the different ships, aircraft, and systems comprising the battle force over a 40-year time span. The proposed process extends the Capabilities-Based Assessment (CBA) defined in the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System to apply to the entire fleet design instead of each capability area. In this way, fleet requirements derived from the National Security Strategy and the Department of Defense Strategic Guidance are allocated to different warfare platforms. The required analysis combines physics-based modeling of the individual war fighting units, realistic cost engineering/estimation, and rigorous operations analysis via the Navy SYSCOMs. The fleet planning is done over three time horizons: Long-Range planning of 15-40 years in the future to guide science and technnology development; Mid-Term planning from the end of the Future Year Defense Plan (FYDP) to 15 years to establish architectures, guide technology transition, as well as derive from the Fleet Level CBA the platform level CBAs for the individual programs; and Near-Term planning within the FYDP, where the concerns are reacting to emerging threats, meeting affordability goals, and maintaining the industrial base. The resulting fleet level analysis directly supports force level assessments as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review.
CALCIUM RELEASE FROM TWO FRACTIONS OF SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM FROM RABBIT SKELETAL MUSCLE

Calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles presumably derived from longitudinal tubules (LSR) and terminal cisternae (HSR) of rabbit skeletal muscle was investigated by dual wavelength spectrophotometry using the calcium-indicator antipyrylazo III. In 120 mM KCl, 5 mM MgCl2, 30 microM, CaCl2, 50 microM MgATP, 100 microM antipyrylazo III, 40 mM histidine (pH 6.8, 25 degrees C), LSR and HSR sequestered approx. 115 nmol calcium/mg, and then spontaneously released calcium. Analysis of ATP hydrolysis and phosphoenzyme level during LSR and HSR calcium sequestration indicated that this calcium release process was passive, occurring in the virtual absence of ATP and phosphoenzyme. Moreover, subsequent addition of ATP reinitiated the calcium sequestration-release sequence. Calcium release by HSR was more than 4-times faster than that by LSR. Analysis of the calcium release phase demonstrated a biexponential decay for both LSR (0.10 and 0.63 min-1) and HSR (0.26 and 1.65 min-1), suggestive of heterogeneity within each fraction. Replacement of 120 mM KCl with either 120 mM choline chloride, 240 mM sucrose, or H2O reduced maximal calcium sequestration by LSR, but had less effect on LSR calcium release rate constants. In the case of HSR, these changes in the ionic composition of the medium drastically reduced calcium release rate constants with little effect on calcium content. These marked differences between LSR and HSR are consistent with the hypothesis that the calcium permeability of the terminal cisternae is greater and more sensitive to the ionic environment than is that of the longitudinal tubules of sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Device and architecture concurrent optimization for FPGA transient soft error rate

Late CMOS scaling reduces device reliability, and existing work has studied the permanent SER (soft error rate) for configuration memory in FPGA extensively. In this paper, we show that, continuous CMOS scaling dramatically increases the significance of FPGA chip-level transient soft errors in circuit elements other than configuration memory, and transient SER can no longer be ignored. We then develop an efficient, yet accurate, transient SER evaluation method, called trace based methodology, considering logic, electrical and latch-window maskings. By collecting traces on logic probability and sensitivity and re-using these traces for different device settings, we finally perform device and architecture concurrent optimization considering hundreds of device and architecture combinations. Compared to the commonly used FPGA architecture and device settings, device and architecture concurrent optimization can reduce the transient SER by 2.8times and reduce the product of energy, delay and transient SER by 1.8times.
Proposed criteria for assessing the efficacy of cancer reduction by plant foods enriched in carotenoids, glucosinolates, polyphenols and selenocompounds.

• Background and Aims The cancer-protective properties of vegetable consumption are most likely mediated through ‘bioactive compounds’ that induce a variety of physiologic functions including acting as direct or indirect antioxidants, regulating enzymes and controlling apoptosis and the cell cycle. The ‘functional food’ industry has produced and marketed foods enriched with bioactive compounds, but there are no universally accepted criteria for judging efficacy of the compounds or enriched foods. • Scope Carotenoids, glucosinolates, polyphenols and selenocompounds are families of bioactive compounds common to vegetables. Although numerous studies have investigated the agricultural and human health implications of enriching foods with one or more of these compounds, inadequate chemical identification of compounds, lack of relevant endpoints and inconsistencies in mechanistic hypotheses and experimental methodologies leave many critical gaps in our understanding of the benefits of such compounds. This review proposes a decision-making process for determining whether there is reasonable evidence of efficacy for the both the compound and the enriched food. These criteria have been used to judge the evidence of efficacy for cancer prevention by carotenoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates and selenocompounds. • Conclusions The evidence of efficacy is weak for carotenoids and polyphenols; the evidence is stronger for glucosinolates and lycopene, but production of enriched foods still is premature. Additionally there is unacceptable variability in the amount and chemical form of these compounds in plants. The evidence of efficacy for selenocompounds is strong, but the clinical study that is potentially the most convincing is still in progress; also the variability in amount and chemical form of Se in plants is a problem. These gaps in understanding bioactive compounds and their health benefits should not serve to reduce research interest but should, instead, encourage plant and nutritional scientists to work together to develop strategies for improvement of health through food.
Mood disorder with mixed features due to vitamin B12 and folate deficiency

Vitamin B(12) and folate deficiency is often associated with affective disorders mainly of the depressive type. We report a case of a 42-year-old woman with a mood disorder with mixed depressed/manic features that was due to vitamin B(12) and folate deficiency. The psychopathology developed over a five-year period without hematologic or other overt clinical characteristics of pernicious anemia. Replacement treatment with vitamin B(12) and folate was rapidly followed by full clinical remission, electroencephalographic normalization and neuropsychological improvement. At a one-year follow-up this condition was stable. Consequently, patients who respond poorly to psychopharmacologic treatment and/or present with atypical mood symptoms would warrant determination of vitamin B(12) and folate serum levels.
Abstract 14786: Angiotensin (1-7) Counteracting the Effects of Angiotensin II in Regulating Endothelial Progenitor Cell Function Through eNOS/NO, Nox/ROS And SDF-1α/CXCR4 Pathways

Our previous study has shown that bone marrow (BM) derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are dysfunctional in the human rennin and angiotensinogen double transgenic (R+A+) mice. In this study, we investigated the role of angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] in modulating the function of EPCs and the underlying mechanisms. BM derived-EPCs cultured from R+A+ mice were divided into five treatment groups (n=8/group): control (basal medium), 10-7 mmol/L Ang (1-7) alone or with A-779 (Mas antagonist, 10-7 mmol/L) or with apocynin (Nox inhibitor, 10 µmol/L) or with L-NAME (eNOS inhibitor, 1 mmol/L). EPC functions (migration and tube formation) were evaluated using the Boyden chamber and the kit for tube formation assay. The levels of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and NADPH oxidase subunits (Nox2, 4) were measured by Western blot. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by dihydroethidium staining and 4, 5-diaminofluorescein method, respectively. We found (Table): 1) Adding Ang (1-7) to the culture medium improved the compromised migration and tube formation abilities of EPCs derived from the R+A+ mice. 2) Treatment with Ang (1-7) was associated with up-regulation of eNOS and SDF-1α/CXCR4 proteins, and down-regulation of Nox2, 4 proteins, as well as consequential NO and NOS production in EPCs. 3) These effects of Ang (1-7) induced were able to be totally abolished by A-799, partially inhibited by L-NAME, and partially enhanced by apocynin. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Ang (1-7) counteracts Ang II in regulating EPC function via Mas receptors and the downstream eNOS, Nox and CXCR4 pathways. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Managing Debt and Managing Each Other: The Interpersonal Dynamics of Shared Financial Decisions

Recent work has examined how individuals navigate financial decisions, but many financial decisions are made jointly (e.g., between spouses). We consider whether common biases in debt management generalize to romantic couples. There are two reasons why couples might jointly manage debt more optimally than individuals: a greater likelihood of identifying the optimal repayment strategy through discussion and debate, and an ability to identify and afford greater influence to the partner who is more capable of navigating financial decisions. We propose and demonstrate that the more capable partner is the one with greater confidence in his or her ability to navigate financial decisions. Experiment 1 demonstrated that couple members working together managed debt more optimally than couple members working individually. Experiment 2 examined the performance of pairs of strangers, who could similarly benefit from discussion and debate but should have difficulty identifying the more capable partner. Stranger-pairs performed worse than individuals, suggesting that the ability to identify the more capable partner plays a crucial role within pairs. Experiment 3 demonstrated that a “warm up” exercise can improve the ability of pairs to identify the more capable partner, and thus more effectively manage shared debts.
Repetition rescues regenerative reserve

This editorial refers to ‘Improved outcome with repeated intracoronary injection of bone marrow-derived cells within a registry: rationale for the randomized outcome trial REPEAT’[†][1], by B. Assmus et al ., on page 1659. Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of global morbidity, with 1-year mortality rates nearing 20%, despite aggressive intervention and dwindling door-to-balloon times.1,2 In the reperfusion era, pharmacotherapy utilized as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not proven to impact mortality.3 In fact, PCI-associated acute survival has created a counter-prevalence in the incidence of chronic heart failure. Accordingly, >35% of all heart failure cases are now ascribed to previous MI.4 Aggravated myocardial vulnerability has been predicated, in part, on the age of the patient—a pre-eminent predictor of poor outcomes. The risk of compromised survivorship, in both men and women, for first time and recurrent MI is dramatically accentuated in the sixth decade of life and beyond.5 Young hearts harbour a capacity for homeostatic renewal, reported at ∼1% of heart mass per year at least for the first five decades of life. However, the propensity to rejuvenate declines rapidly with advanced age.6 Regenerative reserve is a reflection of the ability to maintain homeostasis in the setting of insult through self-reparative mechanisms. Breakdown of this fundamental safeguard, as evidenced in ageing, increases the risk for death. Declining post-MI survivorship trends over time provide in part a surrogate measure of regenerative reserve dynamics in populations of different ages ( Figure 1 ). Using this evolving concept, the regenerative reserve can be extrapolated for survivors of acute MI stratified by age groups ( Figure 1A ). For the … [1]: #fn-2
Spatial ecology and resource selection of a high-elevation American marten (Martes americana) population in the northeastern United States

High-elevation forests that contain mature, closed canopy stands are considered important habitat for American martens (Martes americana (Turton, 1806)) in the northeastern United States. To investigate this hypothesis, we monitored 15 radio-collared martens over a 2-year period and measured spatial use, as well as second- and third-order resource selection, from 33 seasonal home ranges and 889 telemetry locations. The population was composed primarily of adults that had small home-range size with average seasonal fidelity. During leaf-off seasons, martens selected against regenerating forest at both scales and selected for mixedwood and softwood forests and areas with rugged terrain within home ranges. Second-order selection was less pronounced during leaf-on seasons, yet martens exhibited greater selection for hardwood forest and areas with rugged terrain within home ranges. Home-range size was correlated positively with the amount of regenerating forest and body-condition index scores were lower during...
Conservative Estimates of Hunting Distance in Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

Abstract Plant host specificity of prey buprestid beetles was used to estimate the minimum distance of hunting flights by the solitary fossorial wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say. Plant hosts of the 5 beetle species investigated were each found at less than 200 m of the wasp nesting area. Although these results indicate neither average nor maximal hunting range, they suggest a working hypothesis that foraging in close proximity to the nesting site may be the norm.
Evidence for ω-cube scaling from amplitudes and periods of the Rat Island sequence (1965)

Abstract An attempt has been made to deduce seismic scaling information from the amplitudes A and periods T of P waves from 868 earthquakes of the Rat Island sequence of 1965, with m b values ranging from ∼4 to 5. Consistently reliable data were reported in the Earthquake Data Reports from five VELA array stations in the U.S., falling in an azimuthal sector of 60° to 80° from the source region with distances ranging from 44° to 68°. The most striking feature of the data is the strong linear trend of log ( A/T ) with T at each station over a wide period range of 0.5 to >1.5 sec. Using a subset of 245 events reported jointly at all five VELA stations we calculated a least squares magnitude versus period relation given by m b = (3.24 ± 0.08) + (1.32 ± 0.09) T . In order to interpret this trend in terms of source models, synthetic records, including earth attenuation were calculated for ω-square models of Sharpe and Brune, and an ω-cube model suggested by Savage. Under the assumption of geometric similarity, whereby the zero-frequency source level is proportional to source volume, the measured trend of log ( A/T ) on the synthetic records indicates that an ω-cube rather than either ω-square model is more appropriate for the Rat Island data. Extrapolation of the synthetic source spectra to D.C. for m b 4.7 yields a moment of 6.65 × 10 22 dyne cm and for the sequence a stress drop of ∼25 bars, in reasonable agreement with previous results obtained from long-period P -wave spectra. These results indicate that crude seismic scaling information for moderate-sized earthquakes can be extracted from good bulletin data without using spectral analysis. Large amounts of data are required, however, to establish a reliable trend for interpretation.
Advice on How Not to Misread the Tiger Mother

On the book tour circuit, Amy Chua's strategy has been to disavow just about everything her infamous Wall Street Journal article seemed to say. “I do not believe that Chinese mothers are superior,” she declared to Stephen Colbert. To PBS's Need to Know, she described the book's arc as revealing her “eventual transformation as a mother,” while, to Good Morning America, she insisted that she believes “people get to great places so many different ways: lenient parents, strict parents. . .”
Role of the Small Intestine in Developmental Programming: Impact of Maternal Nutrition on the Dam and Offspring

Small-intestinal growth and function are critical for optimal animal growth and health and play a major role in nutrient digestion and absorption, energy and nutrient expenditure, and immunological competence. During fetal and perinatal development, the small intestine is affected by the maternal environment and nutrient intake. In ruminants, altered small-intestinal mass, villi morphology, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, vascularity, and gene expression have been observed as a result of poor gestational nutrition or intrauterine growth restriction. Although many of these data come from fetal stages, data have also demonstrated that nutrition during mid- and late gestation affects lamb small-intestinal growth, vascularity, digestive enzyme activity, and gene expression at 20 and 180 d of age as well. The small intestine is known to be a highly plastic tissue, changing with nutrient intake and physiological state even in adulthood, and the maternal small intestine adapts to pregnancy and advancing gestation. In ruminants, the growth, vascularity, and gene expression of the maternal small intestine also adapt to the nutritional plane and specific nutrient intake such as high selenium during pregnancy. These changes likely alter both pre- and postnatal nutrient delivery to offspring. More research is necessary to better understand the role of the offspring and maternal small intestines in whole-animal responses to developmental programming, but programming of this plastic tissue seems to play a dynamic role in gestational nutrition impacts on the whole animal.
Green Cloverworm Leaf Consumption on Greenhouse and Field Soybean Leaves and Development of a Leaf-Consumption Model

Leaf consumption by Plathypena scabra (F.) was measured at various temperatures. Leaf consumption by male and female larvae was significantly different, with an average consumption of 116.9 cm2. A green cloverworm leaf-consumption model was established that related larval leaf-feeding to development. Consumption of greenhouse and field leaves also was compared and found significantly different. Consumption of field leaves was only 46.1% of the consumption of greenhouse leaves.
The characterization of IgG receptor induced by human cytomegalovirus.

SummaryThe IgG receptor was isolated from a lysate of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected human fibroblast cell (WI38) by the immunoprecipitation method. The IgG receptor migrated as a single peak in 7.5% of acrylamide gel elec-trophoresis and its molecular weight was 4.2 × 104 daltons. The IgG receptor was identified as glycoprotein and this protein was continuously synthesized at an almost constant rate from the early period of HCMV infection until 72 hr p.i.
Stochastic Transmission Capacity Expansion Planning With Special Scenario Selection for Integrating $N-1$ Contingency Analysis

In this paper, we propose an iterative framework for solving the stochastic transmission capacity expansion planning (TCEP) optimization problem with N-1 contingency analysis. A three-level filtering algorithm is designed that uses developed important scenario identification index (ISII) and similar scenario elimination (SSE) technique to decrease the number of reliability constraints in stochastic TCEP in a systematic and trackable way. This filter decreases structural constraints in our TCEP mixed-integer programming formulation in each iteration (up to 99.8% in the first iteration), and the iterative framework adds reliability constraints into the optimization problem gradually in order to decrease the total simulation time. A lower bound is calculated to quantify the quality of results. To verify capabilities of the proposed method, it is applied to a reduced ERCOT system with 317 buses, 427 binary variables, and ten scenarios. The numerical result shows that the proposed method can solve large-scale stochastic TCEP optimization problems faster, and its relative performance improves with increasing number of scenarios and the system size.
Determination of mercury in water treatment chemical-poly aluminum chloride by atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Objective:To develop a method for detection of mercury in water treatment chemical-poly aluminum chloride by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Methods: The mercury was detected by atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS) after water treatment chemical-poly aluminum chloride was pretreated with wet digestion method.Results:The labeled recovery rate of mercury was between 91.4% and 107.1%,relative standard deviation below 3%,the detection limit 0.0016 μg/g and the correlated coefficient r above 0.999.Conclusion:This method is accurate,precise and applicable for detection of mercury in water treatment chemical-poly aluminum chloride.
THE APPLICATION OF OPENGL IN RESERVIOR DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF GIS

OpenGL is a kind of development criterion of 3D graphics and a necessary toolkit for development of 3D graphics. Its stability, reliability, and expansibility make it unbelievably powerful and widely applicable. OpenGL has been widely applied in many fields such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Computer Aided Education (CAE), medical image manipulation, virtualreality, entertainment, and advertisement business. OpenGL can also be applied in presentation of some special three dimension problem, such as reservoir exploitation. Reservoir is a complicated spatio temporal system. Reservoir dynamic and static characterization would be achieved through analysis of dynamic monitoring data and employment of geostatistics method. By means of OpenGL, the interior state of underground oil field will be presented visually and vividly to the administrative levels of oil field and engineers. As a result, the work efficiency will be improved evidently. This paper introduces the basic conception, characteristic, principle, working flow and drawing flow of OpenGL. The three dimension visual toolkit of reservoir construction based on OpenGL techniques is inset in the oil field management system of geographic information system (GIS). It will enhance its inadequate description ability for three dimensional space in current GIS system.
Spotlight on brexpiprazole and its potential in the treatment of schizophrenia and as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of major depression

Antipsychotic agents, utilized for the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders, differ substantially in terms of their pharmacology and adverse effect profiles. Incomplete and variable efficacy, differences in safety-tolerability, and highly heterogeneous response across individuals prompt development of new agents. Brexpiprazole is one of the two most recently introduced antipsychotic agents approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and as an adjunct for treatment of major depressive disorder. Its pharmacology, clinical trial data, and efficacy and side effects in comparison with other antipsychotic agents are discussed. Brexpiprazole is a dopamine D-2 partial agonist with potent activity at the serotonin 5HT1A and 5HT2A and noradrenergic alpha-1B and alpha-2C receptors. Placebo-controlled clinical trials in persons with schizophrenia support its efficacy in treating psychosis and preventing relapse. Short-term clinical trials also support its efficacy as an adjunct to antidepressants in treating major depressive disorder in individuals inadequately responsive to antidepressant treatment alone. Adverse effects include akathisia, gastrointestinal side effects, and moderate weight gain. The recommended oral dose of brexpiprazole is 2-4 mg/day in schizophrenia and 2-3 mg/day as adjunctive treatment in major depression. It must be titrated up to its target dose over 1-2 weeks and is effective in once-daily dosing. How brexpiprazole's unique pharmacological profile will translate into clinically meaningful differences from other antipsychotic agents is unclear. Its place in our antipsychotic armamentarium and potential role in the treatment of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder will be determined by additional clinical data and experience.
Modifying the Host Response to Injury: The Future of Trauma Care

Injury triggers a number of beneficial cellular and biochemical events, such as the inflammatory response, which usually functions to the benefit of the injured patient. Occasionally, this response goes awry, and organ injury or death may result. Recent advances in molecular biology and biotechnology have led to an increased understanding of the role of cytokines in the host response to injury. Modulation of cytokine production is being evaluated in clinical trials to stimulate "appropriate" and inhibit "inappropriate" host responses.
Effects of dihydropyridine calcium channel modulators on cardiac sodium channels.

To investigate whether cardiac sodium channels have dihydropyridine (DHP) receptors we studied the effects of the optically pure (greater than 95%) enantiomers of the DHPs PN200–110 and BAY-K 8644 ...
Metformin as a Tool to Target Aging.

Aging has been targeted by genetic and dietary manipulation and by drugs in order to increase lifespan and health span in numerous models. Metformin, which has demonstrated protective effects against several age-related diseases in humans, will be tested in the TAME (Targeting Aging with Metformin) trial, as the initial step in the development of increasingly effective next-generation drugs.
Factors affecting intra-island genetic connectivity and diversity of an abundant and widespread island endemic, the San Clemente Island night lizard.

Habitat fragmentation and loss are fundamental conservation concerns. Because protected areas are often habitat islands isolated by human development, studies of physical islands which document genetic patterns associated with natural versus anthropogenic fragmentation may provide insight into the management of anthropogenic habitat islands. The San Clemente Island night lizard, Xantusia riversiana reticulata, is a highly abundant endemic to two California Channel Islands (San Clemente and Santa Barbara Islands), each with a history of anthropogenic disturbance, and was recently delisted from the Endangered Species Act. We genotyped 917 individuals at 23 microsatellite loci to estimate genetic divergence between collection sites and identify natural and anthropogenic landscape features correlated with genetic divergence for X. r. reticulata throughout its range. Genepool delineation resulted in each well-sampled collection site acting as a distinct population, pairwise Fst values were small but significant, and STRUCTURE detected 2 populations on San Clemente Island and 4 populations on Santa Barbara Island. Active sand dunes on San Clemente Island acted as a barrier whereas cholla phase maritime desert scrub, secondary roadways, and canyons > 500ft in length acted as resistant surfaces. Resistant surfaces on Santa Barbara Island were woolly seablite, crystalline iceplant, barren ground, and herbaceous vegetation. Conductance models included California boxthorn and prickly pear cactus on both islands with additional minor features unique to each island. We recommend the application of conductance and resistance models within habitat islands to better inform management for species persistence when the intervening habitat between reserves cannot be improved.
Programmable carbon nanotube membrane-based transdermal nicotine delivery with microdialysis validation assay

To evaluate the performance of switchable carbon nanotubes (CNT) membrane devices for transdermal nicotine delivery, we have developed an in-vitro microdialysis method that allow us to detect variable transdermal fluxes of nicotine through CNT devices and can be applied directly to in-vivo studies. Microdialysis membranes were placed beneath the porcine skin and its nicotine levels increased 6-8 times when the CNT membrane on skin was turned from OFF to ON state by application of bias. Fluxes in the ON state were approximately 3 times that of commercial nicotine patches and switching times were less than two hours, thus suggesting the improved therapeutic potential of our device. Blue tooth enabled CNT devices that can be programmed by smartphone and coupled with remote counseling application for enhanced smoking cessation treatments.
Stigma and stigmata: medieval hagiography and Michael Landy’s Saints Alive

AbstractThis article studies Saints Alive, Michael Landy’s recent kinetic sculpture and collage exhibit at The National Gallery, London. Saints Alive featured giant, audience-activated contraptions made out of scrap machinery and body parts from the gallery’s collection of fifteenth-century iconography. When set in motion, these gizmo-saints enacted their own persecutions repeatedly, some gradually destroying themselves as the exhibit progressed. The sculptures were complemented by a group of drawings and collages that reconfigure heads, hands, wounds, and weapons out of religious art into fantastical devices of penitential suffering. This article argues that the complex, varied work of Saints Alive engages the underlying semiotics and aesthetics of hagiographic art. Understood in the context of its medieval and Renaissance sources, Landy’s self-destroying contraptions expose hagiography’s techniques for organizing discontinuous bodies, temporal registers, and figurative modes into unified image and story...
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy in the 21st Century: Reconciling Findings from Observational Studies and Randomized Clinical Trials

Publisher Summary Randomized clinical trials paint a less favorable picture of the impact of hormone therapy (HT) on overall health than suggested by observational studies. Although many associations between HT and diseases end points are consistent in the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies, results for coronary heart disease (CHD) differ substantially. These differences might be explained at least in part by methodological differences and by biological differences in the study populations. Although observational studies are susceptible to selection and confounding biases, it is likely that differences in characteristics of the study populations of RCTs and observational studies are of even greater importance. Time since menopause at initiation of HT and severity of menopausal symptoms may be important modulators of the effect of HT on CHD. Women a decade or more into their menopause may be unlikely to derive cardiovascular benefit from HT and may even be at an increased risk of a thromboembolic event precipitated by treatment. Although HT remains the most effective treatment to counter the symptoms of menopause, current guidelines discourage long-term use for chronic disease prevention.
Thrombopoietin Stimulation Leads to Enhanced Polyploidization in p53-/- Bone Marrow Megakaryocytes: In Vivo and in Vitro Studies.

Abstract 2531 Poster Board II-508 BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS. We have previously shown that tumor suppressor p53 is activated in differentiating megakaryocytic (Mk) cells and its knock-down (KD) leads to increased polyploidization and delayed apoptosis in CHRF, a human Mk cell line. Furthermore, bone marrow (BM)-derived Mks from p53−/− mice reach higher ploidy classes in culture. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the role of p53 during megakaryopoiesis is to delimit polyploidization and control the transition from endomitosis by inhibiting DNA synthesis and promoting apoptosis. Here, we test this hypothesis by examining the differential effect of mouse thrombopoietin (rmTpo) on the ploidy of p53−/− and p53+/+ mouse Mk cells. METHODS. 8–10 week-old, male p53−/− mice and p53+/+ littermates were injected once with 1.2 μg rmTpo or saline. On days 2 and 5 after Tpo/saline treatment, tail-bleeding assays were performed to measure bleeding times/volumes, mice were bled for platelet counts and sacrificed to harvest BM. We employed flow cytometry to examine baseline ploidy in BM-resident Mks in p53−/− and p53+/+ mice as well as Mk cells generated from BM progenitors after 4 and 6 days of culture with rmTpo. RESULTS. At steady state, ploidy in BM-resident CD41+ Mk cells was similar in p53−/− and p53+/+ mice: 11.8±2.3% and 10.7±1.3% of p53−/− and p53+/+ Mks, respectively, reaching a ploidy of ≥32N (n=3-4). Platelet counts were 1.3×106±1×105/μl (12.5±1.0% reticulated) and 1.1×106±5×104/μl (12.4±1.3% reticulated) in p53−/− and p53+/+ mice, respectively (n=8). Two days following Tpo treatment of the mice, we did not observe significantly increased platelet levels, while ploidy was marginally affected. However, 5 days following Tpo treatment, we found greater ploidy in the BM in the absence of p53: 22±1.6% 16N and 10.1±0.8% ≥32N Mks in the p53−/− versus 18.6±3.3% 16N and 7.1±1.4% ≥32N Mks in the p53+/+ (n=2). This was accompanied by increased platelet formation: 23.6±8.3% reticulated platelets in the p53−/− versus 17.8±2.6% in the p53+/+ (n=2). Culture of BM cells from non-Tpo treated mice with 50ng/ml rmTpo resulted in a 50% increase in total Mks and increased polyploidy by day 6 of culture: 38.6±4.6% of p53−/− versus 19.2±2.3% of p53+/+ Mks reached ploidy classes of ≥32N (n=3-4, p CONCLUSIONS. Our data indicate that in vivo polyploidization and platelet formation from Mks is increased in the p53−/− relative to p53+/+ mice after Tpo administration. These data are in line with our hypothesis that p53 activation decreases the ability of Mks to respond to Tpo and undergo polyploidization. Additionally, our preliminary data on platelet functionality suggest that p53 may have a role in hemostasis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Emergent Colectomy Is Independently Associated with Decreased Long-Term Overall Survival in Colon Cancer Patients.

The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term overall survival (OS) of colon cancer patients who underwent emergent resection versus patients who were resected electively. The 2006–2012 National Cancer Data Base was queried for colon cancer patients who underwent surgical resection. Emergent resection was defined as resection within 24 h of diagnosis. A mixed-effects logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of emergent resection on 30- and 90-day mortality. A propensity score-matched mixed-effects Cox proportional-hazards model was used to estimate the effect of emergent resection on 5-year OS. Two hundred fourteen thousand one hundred seventy-four patients met inclusion criteria, 30% of the cohort had an emergent resection. After controlling for patient and hospital factors, pathological stage, lymph node yield, margin status, and adjuvant chemotherapy, emergent resection was associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.60, 1.78) and hazard of death at 5 years (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.15) compared to elective resections. Emergent resection for colon cancer is independently associated with poor short-term outcomes and decreased 5-year OS compared to elective resection. With 30% of cases in this study emergent, these findings underlie the importance of adherence to colon cancer screening guidelines to limit the need for emergent resections.
Ventral hernia repair in patients with abdominal loss of domain: an observational study of one institution’s experience

Abdominal wall hernias are a common problem. The success of abdominal wall reconstruction decreases with increasing hernia size. This study summarizes the outcomes of one surgeon’s experience using a “sandwich” technique for hernia repair in patients with loss of abdominal domain. We reviewed our ventral hernia repair (VHR) experience from 2008 to 2015 among patients with loss of domain, as defined by a hernia defect greater than 300 cm2. The percent of herniation through the defect, defined by a hernia sac-to-abdominal cavity volume ratio, was measured on preoperative CT scans by four independent reviewers and averaged. Outcomes were compared among those with giant ventral hernias (hernia sac-to-abdominal cavity volume >30%) and those with smaller defect ratios. Over the study period, 21 patients underwent VHR. In 17 patients (81%), a “sandwich” technique was utilized. Ten patients had hernia sac-to-abdominal cavity defects less than 30%, and 11 had defects greater than 30%. Preoperative characteristics were similar in both groups with the exception of a higher ASA score in those with giant ventral hernias and more Ventral Hernia Working Group Grade 3 hernias in those without giant ventral hernias. Postoperative outcomes were similar in both groups. There were no mortalities. There were two recurrences (18%) in the giant VHR group and none in the smaller defect group (p = 0.16). Surgical site occurrences were noted in 48% of patients and did not differ between giant and non-giant VHR groups (50 vs 45%, p = 0.84). Average postoperative length of stay was significantly longer in the giant VHR group (31 vs. 17 days, p = 0.03). Our results suggest that the “sandwich” technique for VHR is a safe and durable method to restore abdominal wall integrity in those with LOD, even in patients with giant ventral hernias.
Knowledge Management for Libraries, Library Technology Essentials #5

Valerie Forrestal's book, Knowledge Management for Libraries, volume five in the Library Technology Essentials series, is a beginner's guide to knowledge management (KM) concepts and tools aimed sp...
Teachers’ Use of High- and Low-Support Scaffolding Strategies to Differentiate Language Instruction in High-Risk/Economically Disadvantaged Settings:

The focus of the present work was to examine teachers’ use of dynamic processes when implementing static language lesson plans that explicitly required teachers to employ scaffolding strategies so as to differentiate instruction. Participants were 37 preschool teachers and 177 children in their classrooms. Videotaped classroom observations were carried out and coded for the frequency of teachers’ use for six types of scaffolds. Children were assessed on measures of language skills. Study findings indicated that teachers utilized scaffolding strategies at relatively low rates and that they utilized low-support scaffolding strategies more frequently than high-support strategies. Furthermore, results suggested that the use of certain types of scaffolding strategies may be beneficial for children’s development of language skills. Findings from this work suggest that teachers may benefit from professional development opportunities focusing on the use of dynamic features of language interventions, such as scaff...
Enhanced face detection using body part detections for wearable cameras

With the recent broad acceptance of body worn cameras (BWC) for police departments, there is an increased need to perform video analytics for this domain. However, body worn cameras pose several challenges including severe motion blur, barrel camera distortion from wide angle lenses, close proximity and odd viewing angles, and poor lighting conditions. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of several state of the art face detection approaches including Aggregate Channel Features [1] and Faster R-CNN [2] and show their limitations in this domain. We then describe how face detection can be improved for BWC by corroborating information from body parts detection. We design a system using 0–1 linear integer programming to optimize the matching of body parts detections for each person in the scene and to maximize the hit rate of faces with supporting evidence. By leveraging information from body parts detection, we are able to improve the average precision by nearly two percent.
Dust - Interplanetary And Interstellar

In the physical universe, perturbative clumpings of material include the entire spectrum of sizes from the subatomic to the metagalaxy. The span of masses from the electron to our Galaxy goes from 10-27 to 1044 gm, or 71 powers of 10. Between these two extremes, Nature displays a comprehensive array to the astronomer, as listed in Table 6-I. Open image in new window Table 6-I Array of particulate matter
Comparison of the restricted mean survival time with the hazard ratio in superiority trials with a time‐to‐event end point

With the emergence of novel therapies exhibiting distinct mechanisms of action compared to traditional treatments, departure from the proportional hazard (PH) assumption in clinical trials with a time-to-event end point is increasingly common. In these situations, the hazard ratio may not be a valid statistical measurement of treatment effect, and the log-rank test may no longer be the most powerful statistical test. The restricted mean survival time (RMST) is an alternative robust and clinically interpretable summary measure that does not rely on the PH assumption. We conduct extensive simulations to evaluate the performance and operating characteristics of the RMST-based inference and against the hazard ratio-based inference, under various scenarios and design parameter setups. The log-rank test is generally a powerful test when there is evident separation favoring 1 treatment arm at most of the time points across the Kaplan-Meier survival curves, but the performance of the RMST test is similar. Under non-PH scenarios where late separation of survival curves is observed, the RMST-based test has better performance than the log-rank test when the truncation time is reasonably close to the tail of the observed curves. Furthermore, when flat survival tail (or low event rate) in the experimental arm is expected, selecting the minimum of the maximum observed event time as the truncation timepoint for the RMST is not recommended. In addition, we recommend the inclusion of analysis based on the RMST curve over the truncation time in clinical settings where there is suspicion of substantial departure from the PH assumption.