cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal Blending of Regenerative and Friction Braking at Low Speeds for Maximizing Energy Extraction in Electric Vehicles

This paper proposes a new approach to maximize the harvested energy through regenerative braking process in electric vehicles (EVs) by optimal blending of regenerative and friction brakes. In the proposed approach, the low-speed boundary, under which regenerative braking capability of an EV is ineffective, is determined using the traction motor (TM) regenerative braking performance map. During braking at low speeds, if the TM operating point falls below the defined low-speed boundary, it is shifted to an optimal point on the map such that motor regenerative braking capability is utilized more effectively. A MATLAB/SIMULINK model that represents the vehicle TM is used to validate the proposed approach. The results show an increase in the extracted energy compared to a case where regenerative braking is completely disabled below the low-speed boundary.
Innovativeness and Innovation: Implications for the Renewable Materials Supply Chain

This paper leverages the current literature on innovativeness to provide a framework that summarizes the characteristics of firms that exhibit a culture of innovativeness. This framework can assist firms entering the renewable raw materials market in identifying gaps in their internal capacity for innovation as well as the necessary characteristics of supply chain partners that will match their own innovativeness—a necessary albeit insufficient requisite for success in the development of renewable raw materials supply chains.
Drops in the Ocean: Rooted Academic Identities and Transformational Resistance in a College Assistance Migrant Program

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of first- and second-year migrant undergraduate students and staff in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Arizona State University (...
Two Photon Lithography Additive Manufacturing: Video Dataset of Parameter Sweep of Light Dosages, Photo-curable Resins, and Structures

Abstract This document describes the collection and organization of a dataset that consists of raw videos and extracted sub-images from video frames of a promising additive manufacturing technique called Two-Photon Lithography (TPL). Four unprocessed videos were collected, with each video capturing the printing process of different combinations of 3D parts on different photoresists at varying light dosages. These videos were further trimmed to obtain short clips that are organized by experimental parameters. Additionally, this dataset also contains a python script to reproduce an organized directory of cropped video frames extracted from the trimmed videos. These cropped frames focus on a region of interest around the parts being printed. We envision that the raw videos and cropped frames provided in this dataset will be used to train various computer vision and machine learning algorithms for applications such as object segmentation and localization applications. The cropped video frames were manually labelled by an expert to determine the quality of the printed part and for printing parameter optimization as presented in “Automated Detection of Part Quality during Two-Photon Lithography via Deep Learning” [1] .
Equipment and Instrumentation

As the microtitration plate ELISA is by far the most common immunoassay in current use, the equipment discussed in this chapter will be largely for this format. Several other types of analyses likely to be required in a food analyst’s laboratory, e.g. for mycotoxins, meat speciation, gluten and soya proteins, are available in this format so any equipment purchased is liable to be of wider use than simply for microbiological assays.
Quality of life after atrial fibrillation ablation: measuring the most important end-point.

Much of the last 2 centuries of modern medicine has been spent on eliminating subjectivity in medicine. This concerted effort to minimise clinician and patient subjectivity (and thereby bias) has led to one of the most remarkable breakthroughs of modern medicine—the randomised controlled trials (RCTs). While RCTs are highly effective in evaluating objective findings and ‘hard’ end-points, a similar adjudication of the more subjective endpoints, such as quality of life (QoL), is particularly difficult. This is especially true when testing medical interventions, where placebo effects are difficult to control. Significant efforts have been put in developing techniques and designing trials to reduce these placebo effects. An erosion of the importance given to patient ‘well being’ and subjective improvement is an unfortunate consequence of this effort, even if an unintended one. However, in the 21st century, this is changing. All across medicine, focus is gradually reshifting towards patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and QoL. This is partly driven by a push from the Institute of Medicine in the early 2000s to incorporate the patient back into the focus of care and partly by market forces as the business of medicine becomes more patient and payer-centric.1 QoL has been defined by the WHO as ‘individuals’ perception of their position in life in the context of culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns’.2 In a sense, this encompasses the definition of being human and everything that we value. Since atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations were introduced in late 1990s, there have been multiple trials evaluating the outcomes of catheter ablation of AF in comparison to medical therapy (online supplemental table 1). These trials have traditionally evaluated various hard endpoints including mortality, stroke, heart failure, hospitalisations, bleeding, recurrent …
Acute exposure to sublethal doses of neonicotinoid insecticides increases heat tolerance in honey bees

The European honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is the single most valuable managed pollinator in the world. Poor colony health or unusually high colony losses of managed honey bees result from myriad stressors, which are more harmful in combination. Climate change is expected to accentuate the effects of these stressors, but the physiological and behavioral responses of honey bees to high temperatures while under simultaneous pressure of one or more stressors remains largely unknown. Here we test the hypothesis that exposure to acute, sublethal doses of neonicotinoid insecticides reduce thermal tolerance in honey bees. We administered to bees oral doses of imidacloprid and acetamiprid at 1/5, 1/20, and 1/100 of LD50 and measured their heat tolerance 4 h post-feeding, using both dynamic and static protocols. Contrary to our expectations, acute exposure to sublethal doses of both pesticides resulted in higher thermal tolerance and greater survival rates of bees. Bees that ingested the higher doses of pesticides displayed a critical thermal maximum from 2 {degrees}C to 4 {degrees}C greater than that of the control group, and a reduction in mortality from 69% to 96%. Our study suggests a resilience of honey bees to high temperatures when other stressors are present, which is consistent with studies in other insects. We discuss the implications of these results and hypothesize that this compensatory effect is likely due to induction of heat shock proteins by the insecticides, which provides temporary protection from extremely high temperatures.
A review of the characteristics and outcomes of 900 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at a Tertiary Care Medical Center in New Jersey, USA

Introduction There is a paucity of literature surrounding the in-hospital mortality and associated risk factors among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected patient populations in our geographical area, northern New Jersey. Material and methods A retrospective observational cohort study was performed in a tertiary care academic medical center with two locations in Paterson and Wayne serving Passaic County in northern New Jersey. The study included all 900 patients with a positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swab sample for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) viral test. We determined the in-hospital 75-day mortality of patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) compared to the medical-surgical floor unit. Results Overall in-hospital 75-day mortality was 40.7% (n = 367). The ICU group had a 77.1% (n = 237) mortality and the floor group a 21.9% (n = 130) mortality. The ICU group of patients had a higher incidence of cardiac injury, acute renal injury, liver failure, vasopressor use and the elevation of serum markers: ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin 6 (IL-6), D-dimer, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein compared to the floor group. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that age > 65 years, elevated IL6, acute renal injury, cardiac injury, and invasive mechanical ventilation were risk factors associated with mortality. Conclusions Age > 65 years, elevated IL6, acute renal injury, cardiac injury, and invasive mechanical ventilation were risk factors associated with mortality in our COVID-19 patients.
Precautionary Reasoning and the Precautionary Principle

In the first four chapters of this book, I have taken the reader on a tour of decision theory and moral theory and examined, critiqued, and defended the precautionary principle (PP). In the first chapter, I made seven key points that form the basis of my approach to precautionary reasoning. In this chapter, I will develop my approach in more detail. First, I will briefly review these key points.
Parallel Deep Neural Networks for Musical Genre Classification: A Case Study

Musical genres are labels created to categorize the universe of music. A music genre is characterized by its unique form or style, including instrumentation, rhythmic structure, and harmonic content. It is conventional for a large collection of music to be structured using genre hierarchies. Automatic music genre classification is gaining attention in recent years due to the large amount of available digital music on the web and the latest advances in artificial intelligence. In particular, various deep learning-based approaches have delivered promising results in this domain. In this paper, we present a case study of the PRCNN framework (2017), which parallelizes CNN and bi-directional GRU to capture both spatial and temporal signals from music spectrograms. In our study, we designed our model based on the proposed concept but with a different model structure. Furthermore, we trained and evaluated our model using a more comprehensive dataset (FMA) with 8,252 pieces of music and 17 genres. We further validated our model on a curated dataset of 15 songs. Our model achieves an overall accuracy of 88% on the FMA dataset with above 90% accuracies in four genre categories. For the curated dataset, the model correctly classified 11 out of the 15 songs. Our experimental results provide convincing support for utilizing parallelized deep neural networks to model the concurrent spatial and temporal characteristics of music data.
[11] Assay of phagosome-lysosome fusion

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the assay of phagosome–lysosome (P–L) fusion. Particles ingested by cells are contained within a membrane-bounded vacuole or phagosome. In many cases, this vacuole undergoes fusion with lysosomes, resulting in exposure of the particle to both the acidic pH and hydrolytic enzymes of the lysosome. Electron microscopy has been used to look for the appearance of lysosomal markers, such as acid phosphatase or exogenously fed peroxidase, ferritin, colloidal gold, or thorium dioxide in the phagocytic vacuole. Lysosomes are labeled with a fluorescent marker, and fluorescence microscopy is used to follow transfer of the marker into phagocytic vacuoles. This assay is simple, rapid, enables detailed and reproducible rate studies, and makes possible the analysis of P–L fusion using intact and viable cells as a test system. Cultured cells are prelabeled with acridine orange (AO), a fluorescent vial dye that by its weakly basic nature becomes concentrated primarily in the low pH environment of lysosomes. Phagocytosis is essentially complete by the first time point of the fusion assay, and the rate of subsequent P–L fusion may be followed independent of the phagocytic rate.
Comparison of Three Major Forest Types of Mid Hills Region of Nepal for Conservation and Local Benefits

Nepal’s historically successful practice of community forestry has demonstrated the importance of encouraging relevant stakeholder groups to participate in the decision-making process and foster successful management and use of forest resources. Concerns over potential inequity in policy construction can be mitigated by fully involving experts as well as local community forest users whose daily subsistence is heavily dependent on forest products. This study analyzes the preferences of conservation experts and community forest users in consideration of three forest types in the Mid Hills region of Nepal: Pinus roxburghii, Alnus nepalensis and Schima-Castanopsis. All three have distinct benefits for conservation as well as for the provision of forest products and potential to improve the local economy and livelihoods. Focus group discussions were conducted with both groups of stakeholders to identify and later compare local and conservation benefits for the three forest types with the help of the analytic hierarchy process through repeated pairwise comparisons. Overall, this study finds that Schima-Castanopsis is the preferred forest type for satisfying both the subsistence needs of local forest users and the conservation concerns of forestry experts. This study also addresses the importance of combining the views of both groups in order to create a representative and effective forest management policy.
Cell Cycle-Related Changes in Repopulating Capacity of Human Mobilized Peripheral Blood CD34+ Cells in Non-Obese Diabetic/Severe Combined Immune-Deficient Mice

Most primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells reside in vivo within the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. By simultaneous DNA/RNA staining it is possible to distinguish G0 and G1 states and to isolate cells in defined phases of the cell cycle. We report here the use of cell cycle fractionation to separate human mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) CD34(+) cells capable of repopulating the bone marrow (BM) of non-obese diabetic/severe combined immune-deficient (NOD/SCID) mice. In freshly isolated MPB, repopulating cells were predominant within the G0 phase, because transplantation of CD34(+) cells residing in G0 (G0CD34(+)) resulted on average in a 16.6- +/- 3.2-fold higher BM chimerism than infusion of equal numbers of CD34(+) cells isolated in G1. We then investigated the effect of ex vivo cell cycle progression, in the absence of cell division, on engraftment capacity. Freshly isolated G0CD34(+) cells were activated by interleukin-3 (IL-3), stem cell factor (SCF), and flt3-ligand (FL) for a 36-hour incubation period during which a fraction of cells progressed from G0 into G1 but did not complete a cell cycle. The repopulating capacity of stimulated cells was markedly diminished compared with that of unmanipulated G0CD34(+) cells. Cells that remained in G0 during the 36-hour incubation period and those that traversed into G1 were sorted and assayed separately in NOD/SCID recipients. The repopulating ability of cells remaining in G0 was insignificantly reduced compared with that of unstimulated G0CD34(+) cells. On the contrary, CD34(+) cells traversing from G0 into G1 were largely depleted of repopulating capacity. Similar results were obtained when G0CD34(+) cells were activated by the combination of thrombopoietin-SCF-FL. These studies provide direct evidence of the quiescent nature of cells capable of repopulating the BM of NOD/SCID mice. Furthermore, these data also demonstrate that G0-G1 progression in vitro is associated with a decrease in engraftment capacity.
256 LIVER GLUCONEOGENESIS REGULATION BY TNFα

Liver glycolysis/gluconeogenesis dysregulation during sepsis/septic shock has been suggested to be the cause of hypoglycemia in endotoxic shock. TNFα is a mediator in endotoxic shock. However, TNFα effects on liver gluconeogenesis is not well known. We have shown that TNFα increases glucose transporter GLUT mRNA abundance and decreases gluconeogenesis in heapatocytes. Therefore, we hypothesize that TNFα increases glucose entry into hepatocytes and causes the suppression of hepatocyte gluconeogenesis. Objective: To invesigate TNFα induced glucose entry into the hepatocyte. Materials and Methods: Hepatocytes (106cell/ml) were isolated from 24 hour fasted 10 day old Sprague-Dawley rats (23-27 grams) and incubated in RPMI 1640 plus 14C-2-deoxy-D-glucose (0.2μCi) and recombinant murine TNFα (4.5×105u/ml). Hepatocyte 14C-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake and GLUT1 mRNA were determined after a 4 hour incubation. Results: TNFα increased 14C-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake (0.12±0.02 vs 0.06±0.01mM, p<0.05)and GLUT1 mRNA abundance. Summary: Glucose transport and GLUT1 mRNA abundance was increased by TNFα. Conclusion: The increased glucose entry may cause suppression of hepatocyte gluconeogenesis.
Discoloration of the teeth in patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas: Histologic studies

Abstract Detailed histologic studies of teeth obtained from thirty-two patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas were undertaken with regard to the presence, distribution, and nature of the peculiar discoloration of the teeth observed in such patients. A yellow discoloration in dentine was usually observed in ground sections of these teeth when viewed by tungsten incandescent light. Fluorescence microscopy of these sections revealed fluorescent patterns which appeared to parallel the yellowish patterns observed under tungsten light. No such abnormalities were discernible in decalcified sections studied under tungsten light.
Variance Reduction Techniques

In the examples presented thus far the sampling has been unbiased; i.e., the points at which the independent variable was evaluated were selected from the distribution function that directly describes the sampling problem. Although nature always plays unbiased Monte Carlo, the practitioner cannot always do so. Calculations must produce an answer in a reasonable time with a reasonable expenditure of effort. This may not be possible without the use of some mathematical technique for reducing the variance. Fortunately there are methods available that can assist the user in this regard. Variance reduction, properly applied, can improve the results of a Monte Carlo calculation without requiring an increase in the amount of computational resources applied to the problem; i.e., variance reduction methods can increase the efficiency of the calculation.
The Drone – It’s in the Way that You Use it

This chapter is from a forthcoming book resulting from a multi-day symposium on targeted killing hosted by the Loyola Marymount University Political Science department in April 2014. It endeavors to provide a concise, but comprehensive and objective, legal analysis of targeted killing, considering both international and domestic constitutional law authority and constraints.It begins by assessing state authority to kill outside of armed conflict, arguing for a limited right of anticipatory self-defense, but only in response to truly imminent threats – a higher bar than that advanced by most drone proponents. It identifies other troublesome aspects of canonical drone advocacy, arguing, for example, that the operative language of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) narrowly limits targeting authority to the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda core, and that claimed authority to strike members of “associated forces,” such as the Pakistani Taliban or Somalia’s al Shabaab, are unprecedented. The chapter argues that proponents generally fail to recognize limits on who can be hit within lawful target groups and that “signature strikes” are problematic in the unique factual context of the current conflicts. While acknowledging the difficulty in accurate casualty assessments, it contends that some completed strikes almost certainly resulted in excessive civilian casualties, violating the law of armed conflict’s principle of proportionality. The work also challenges the widely articulated “unwilling or unable” standard used to justify strikes in neutral third states like Pakistan, tracing its historical roots to the Caroline incident and self-defense principles, which include the latter’s imminence standard, and examines limits on state consent to killing within its territory.Refusing to give drone critics a free pass, the chapter also contests arguments that drone employment should be limited to “battlefields,” that formal due process is required or appropriate, or that American citizens who affiliate with an adversary are entitled to any special protections. It concludes by considering the legal issues with CIA, versus military drone employment, noting that all participants in the drone debate today seem to have overlooked clear customary international law rules strictly limiting participation in aerial combat to actual military personnel.
Deformation rate effects on the attenuation during loading, unloading and reloading of aluminum crystals

Abstract The influence of deformation rate on the ultrasonic attenuation of aluminum single crystals has been investigated over a strain rate range from 2 × 10 −5 sec −1 to 20 sec −1 . In order to make this study a technique was developed which permits ultrasonic attenuation measurements to be made up to a rate of 1800 measurements/sec. The attenuation data exhibit marked strain rate effects in comparison with conventional stress-strain curves. In addition, attenuation data recorded during the rapid recovery period immediately subsequent to unloading show that the recovery behavior is dependent on the rate of removal of the externally applied load. Subsequent microplastic loading experiments are also affected by the initial deformation rate.
Variability in response to hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Hemodialysis patients are exposed to blood and blood products more than the general population and are also at higher risk for hepatitis B (HB) contamination. For these reasons, it is highly recommended that this patient population gets the HB vaccine. The efficacy of the vaccine is measured by measuring titers of antibody in the serum of the patient. A minimum titer of 10 mIU/mL is considered to be a response. The conversion rate in hemodialysis patients ranges from 50% to 80%, as compared to the general population where the conversion rate is over 95%. As opposed to the general population, end-stage renal patients on hemodialysis do not always respond to the vaccine. The main objective in this study was to try to identify factors that may hinder the response. Correction of these factors in the future may help non-responders. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review at a single hemodialysis center to compare the laboratory and clinical differences between responders and non-responders. Inclusion criteria are hemodialysis patients who received the HB vaccine and patients with concomitant hepatitis C. Exclusion criteria are patients who refused the vaccine and patients who did not complete the vaccine course. Results: There are a total of 108 subjects included in the study, out of which 44 (42.3%) are responders to the HB vaccine. A multivariate logistic regression was performed using the statistically significant risk factors as identified by the univariate logistic regression, including age range, albumin, hemodialysis vintage, vascular access and diabetes status. The results from the multivariate logistic regression show that advanced age (P = 0.005) and diabetes status (P = 0.003) are found to be strong independent risk factors of responder status. The type of vascular access (AVF or other types) is also marginally statistically significant (P = 0.05). Conclusions: In this retrospective chart review comparing HB vaccine in responders versus non-responders, we found that advanced age and a history of diabetes are independent risk factors in predicting responder status. J Clin Med Res. 2015;7(5):315-318 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jocmr1999w
Pharmacology of estrogens-general.

This general review of the pharmacology of estrogens and their metabolism in men women and animals focuses on the action of estradiol 17-beta but points out that substances such as diethylstilbestrol mimic the naturally occurring estrogens in their metabolism in the organism. In women the role of estrogens in vaginal development cervical function menstrual cycle mammary gland development sexual skin development in animals and oviductal cilia and fluid secretion are discussed. The relationship between estrus and estrogen production and between pregnancy and estrogen requirements is also briefly discussed. Use of estrogens (natural and synthetic) for female contraception and postcoital contraception is outlined. The relationship between pheronomic sexual response in rhesus monkeys and estrogens receives some attention. The role of estrogens in male reproductive processes (inhibition of spermatogenesis and of male sex characteristics) is touched on as is the use of estrogen for testosterone suppression in male contraception. The following topic on estrogenic changes in metabolisms are discussed: 1) transcortin; 2) carbohydrate metabolism; 3) salt and water metabolism; 4) uterine amidase activity; 5) lipid metabolism; 6) calcium metabolism; 7) induction of specific proteins; and 8) cellular metabolism leading to cancer. Estrogen treatment for cancers is also discussed.
Generation X, Baby Boomers, and Swing: marketing fair trade apparel

Purpose – This study focused on two research questions: How do generational cohorts of fair trade consumers differ in their product attitudes and behaviors, retail preferences, shopping orientations, and socio‐political attitudes? How do factors influencing purchase intentions for fair trade apparel differ among generational cohorts?Design/methodology/approach – Data from 1,055 current customers of four North American fair trade businesses were collected via mail survey and store‐intercept. Respondents included generation X (ages 29‐40, n=200), baby boomer (ages 41‐59, n=589), and swing (ages 60‐75, n=266) generations.Findings – Results revealed that baby boomers and swing respondents differed from Generation X participants in their greater focus on qualities of apparel comfort, value, and quality; preference for authentic products and ethnic attire; and local activism behavior. In contrast, they exhibited more limited interest in wearing fashionable attire. All respondents placed high importance on fair ...
Preparation of spherulites from amylose–palmitic acid complexes

Abstract We conducted a systematic study of the formation of spherulites from amylose–palmitic acid complexes. The independent variables included final heating temperature, intermediate quench temperature, final quench temperature and cooling rates. Spherulites were characterized by different techniques: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and resistant starch content. Three distinct types of spherulite morphology were observed: spherical, sintered (“snowball”) and torus/disc shaped. Spherical-shaped particles were formed at higher endpoint heating temperatures and exhibited mixed B+V-type XRD patterns. Torus-shaped spherulites formed from samples heated to 140 °C followed by slow cooling, and exhibited V-6I type XRD patterns. Resistant starch estimated for spherulites formed by heating to 180 °C followed by cooling to 40 °C at 1 °C/min vs. those formed by heating to 140 °C, cooled to 90 °C at 1 °C/min then to 40 °C at 0.04 °C/min was 28% and 39%, respectively. Morphology of the amylose–PA spherulites after resistant starch determination for spherical spherulite shows distinct pores and uneven surface texture. In contrast, the torus-shaped spherulites were degraded with evidence of recrystallization.
Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase: two-dimensional gels from normal and Lesch-Nyhan hemolyzates

Immunoprecipitated hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) from hemolyzates displays two major spots after two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. HeLa cells or human lymphoblasts display only a single HPRT spot located at the same position as the most basic of the hemolyzate HPRT spots. This suggests that the most basic spot is the form initially synthesized, and the more acidic hemolyzate HPRT spot (a pseudoisozyme) is probably derived from the first by an age-related modification (for example, deamidation). The HPRT pattern of the hemolyzate from a Lesch-Nyhan patient was shifted to a more basic isoelectric pH, implying the mutation of a structural gene.
The transfer surface re-examined

Summary In an experiment designed to generate a surface, similar to the Osgood surface, relating interlist stimulus and response similarity to proactive inhibition, three degrees of interlist response similarity and four degrees of interlist stimulus similarity were combined factorially in a PI design. Subjects learned two successive lists, and were tested after 20 min. for retention of the second list. Variations in interlist similarity were brought about by using different first lists, the second list being the same for all groups. There were no significant differences in recall. When List-2 learning scores were adjusted by a covariance analysis for differences in degree of List-1 learning, the results conformed quite well to the predictions of the Osgood transfer and retroaction surface.
Model consistency in large eddy simulation of turbulent channel flows

Combinations of filters and subgrid scale stress models for large eddy simulation of the Navier-Stokes equations are examined by a priori tests and numerical simulations. The structure of the subgrid scales is found to depend strongly on the type of filter used, and consistency between model and filter is essential to ensure accurate results. The implementation of consistent combinations of filter and model gives more accurate turbulence statistics than those obtained in previous investigations in which the models were chosen independently from the filter. Results and limitations of the a priori test are discussed. The effect of grid refinement is also examined.
Utility of double-balloon colonoscopy for completion of colon examination after incomplete colonoscopy with conventional colonoscope.

Background The failure rate of cecal intubation with conventional colonoscopy is 5% to 10%. Double-balloon endoscopy is a new technique for antegrade or retrograde examination of the small intestine, with a flexible scope and a sliding overtube with a balloon at the distal end of both. The entire colon can be shortened and evaluated by the push-and-pull technique, which allows diagnostic and therapeutic interventions (eg, biopsies). Objective To evaluate the completion rate of double-balloon endoscopy for colon evaluation (ie, double-balloon colonoscopy) and therapeutic interventions after a prior incomplete colonoscopy by conventional colonoscope. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary-care academic medical center. Patients Sixteen patients (11 women and 5 men; mean age, 69 years) had retrograde double-balloon endoscopy between April 20, 2005, and February 8, 2006, after a prior incomplete colonoscopy. Interventions Completion of colonoscopy with therapeutic interventions, such as polypectomy and hemostasis. Main Outcome Measurements Completion rate of double-balloon colonoscopy, therapeutic success of standard procedures, and postprocedure complications. Results A completion rate of 88% (14 patients), successful performance of standard therapeutic procedures, and no procedure-related complications. Double-balloon colonoscopy was generally performed with the patient under conscious sedation in a mean (standard deviation) total procedure time (including therapeutics) of 50.6 minutes (SD, 15.2 minutes). Limitations Retrospective nature of study. Conclusions Double-balloon colonoscopy has a high rate of effectiveness for completion of colon evaluation in patients with incomplete conventional colonoscopy. It allows diagnostic and therapeutic interventions and can be performed with the patient under conscious sedation within a reasonable time.
Crystallization and structure‐mechanical property relations in poly(aryl ether ether ketone) [PEEK]

In the development of advanced composite materials, the mechanical behavior of the matrix is of critical importance. The next generation of composite materials will be based on high modulus tough matrices, of which poly(aryl ether ether ketone) [hereinafter, referred to as PEEK] is one of the first crystalline thermoplastics to receive serious attention. As in all crystalline polymers, the matrix is itself a composite material whose properties depend significantly on the crystalline morphology developed during processing. In this contribution, the current understanding of crystallization in PEEK and its influence on mechanical properties is reviewed. Problems yet to be resolved are highlighted.
Optimal non-linear estimation†

For the non-linear estimation problem with non-linear plant and observation models, white gaussian excitations and continuous data, the state-vector a posteriori probabilities for prediction and smoothing are obtained via the 'partition theorem'. Moreover, for the special class of non-linear estimation problems with linear models excited by white gaussian noise, and with non-gaussian initial state, explicit results are obtained for the a posteriori probabilities, the optimal estimates and the corresponding error-covariance matrices for filtering, prediction and smoothing. In addition, for the latter problem, approximate but simpler expressions are obtained by using a gaussian sum approximation of the initial state-vector probability density. As a special case of the above results, optimal linear smoothing algorithms are obtained in a new form.
A methodology for using optimal MSIS parameters retrieved from SSULI data to compute satellite drag on LEO objects

Abstract A key application to be derived from Space Weather research will be to forecast atmospheric drag on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with significantly better accuracy than is attainable today. The recently launched STP P91-1 ARGOS mission will serve as a testbed for the use of future operational ultraviolet remote-sensing data to achieve such an improvement. This paper describes the associated methodology, which uses discrete inverse theory in conjunction with the data to derive correction factors in near real time for the MSISE-90 empirical thermospheric model. To simulate the application of this technique to orbit prediction, we use the Jacchia-71 operational model to generate an evolving “ground truth” upper atmospheric state over a 48 h time period. This permits a state-of-the-art Satellite Tool Kit orbit propagator to synthesize a corresponding “ground truth” orbit on a standard LEO test object at 350 km altitude. Our tests show that, for orbit prediction, the “data-enhanced” MSIS density specification can provide significant improvement over the uncorrected MSIS specification. However, for orbit prediction, the results are sensitive to the strategy selected for applying the correction factors. We contrast our results for orbit prediction with those of Marcos et al. (1998. Astrodynamics. Vol. 97(1). AAS, San Diego, pp. 501–513) for precision orbit determination. An important result in the context of Space Weather is that the Jacchia and MSIS models can show significant point-to-point disagreement, which has major implications for operational specification of thermospheric drag.
Interlaboratory evaluation of the breakup of asbestos-containing dust particles by ultrasonic agitation

Measurement of asbestos in settled dust has been suggested as a surrogate for past and potential future airborne exposures. While conceptually appealing, identification and quantitation of those re...
A Submerged Ancient Cliff near Plymouth

ECHO soundings, made on the Marine Biological Association‘s research vessel Sabella, have revealed a submarine cliff, suggesting an ancient shore line, about two miles south-south-west magnetic from Plymouth Breakwater Lighthouse (see record reproduced). The height of the cliff at the section is about 33 ft., its foot rests at about 22 fathoms below the level of low water springs, while the gradient is of the order 1 in 3.
PtSiO2: V. The effect of pretreatment on apparent structure sensitivity for methylcyclopropane hydrogenation activity and selectivity

Abstract The hydrogenation activity and selectivity of a set of Pt SiO 2 catalysts, ranging in percentage of metal exposed from 6.3 to 81%, has been investigated for methylcyclopropane as a function of the pretreatment conditions. All catalysts had been originally reduced in hydrogen and stored in air. These catalysts were then subjected to an initial oxygen pretreatment at 300 °C for 0.5 hr, followed by a purge of helium at 25 °C for 0.25 hr. Samples were then successively reduced in hydrogen for 1 hr at temperatures ranging from 25 to 480 °C. The turnover frequencies on each catalyst vary considerably as hydrogen pretreatment conditions are changed. This variation consists of high activity for room temperature pretreatment, passing through a minimum in the region of 200 °C, and again increasing for temperatures greater than 250 °C. The results show that any of three types of apparent structure sensitivity (i.e., none, increasing activity with percentage exposed-Type 1, decreasing activity with percentage exposed-Type 2) can be obtained with these catalysts depending on pretreatment conditions.
A review of the efficacy and outcomes studies of currently approved chemotherapy treatments for advanced AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma

Abstract Background Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)—related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare aggressive tumor. The benefits of drug therapy are established by clinical trials but it has been a challenge to draw comparisons between the different advanced AIDS-KS pharmacotherapy available. This review aims to evaluate the currently approved chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of AIDS-related advanced KS as well as the economic burden and impact on the quality of life of patients. Material and methods Relevant articles were identified through a systematic review of the literature via a search of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) PubMed database and the Internet (clinicaltrials.gov) using relevant medical subject heading (MESH) terms. Results A total of 7 phase II and 4 phase III trials of liposomal anthracyclines (liposomal doxorubicin [PLD] and/or liposomal daunorubicin [DNX]) were identified. An evaluation of the trials comparing PLD to a competitor showed statistical difference p ;0.01. DNX phase III trials were also evaluated and showed no statistical differences ( p = 0.64). For paclitaxel, 6 clinical trials were selected (5 phase II and 1 phase III); however heterogeneity was not evaluated. 4 cost-effectiveness studies were compared and 3 concluded that PLD is more cost-effective than the competitor. 4 quality of life studies were analyzed. Conclusion AIDS-KS impacts the patient's life physical, emotional and economic well being. In this work we compared studies of liposomal anthracyclines, still; further research among all the approved drugs for KS is warranted to evaluate efficacy as well as its economic burden worldwide.
Elastic neutron scattering in UCd11

Abstract We report results of neutron powder diffraction experiments on the heavy-electron magnet UCd 11 at temperatures above and below its ordering temperature. These measurements set an upper limit on the ordered moment of 1.5μ B /U.
Identifying Structure in Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets are among the most commonly used programming systems in the world. Existing spreadsheets are rife with errors, some of which have serious impacts. We are working on algorithms and strategies that automatically infer the structure of spreadsheets. This information can be used to develop systems that enable end users to develop safer spreadsheets
A Theoretical Investigation of Excited-State Properties of the Adenine-Uracil Base Pair

Molecular geometries of adenine−uracil (AU) base pair were optimized in the ground and selected low-lying singlet ππ* and nπ* excited states. The ground-state geometry optimized at the Hartree−Fock level of theory without symmetry restrictions was found to be planar; the predicted planarity was validated by harmonic vibrational frequency calculations. Excited states were generated employing the configuration interaction technique involving singly excited configurations (CIS method) using a ground-state-optimized geometry, and this was followed by excited-state geometry optimizations under planar symmetry. The 6-31++G(d,p) basis set was used in all calculations. The computed electronic transitions of adenine and uracil after linear scaling were found to be in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. Electronic excitations were found to be localized at either of the monomeric units. It is predicted that among the states studied here the AU base pair has one charge transfer type singlet excit...
Judgments of Stuttered and Nonstuttered Intervals by Recognized Authorities in Stuttering Research

The study reported in this paper gathered judgments of stuttering on brief (5.0-sec) audiovisual speech samples taken from six adults who stuttered. Judgments were made by 10 highly experienced authorities on stuttering treatment and research, located in seven different universities or clinical research centers. Results showed considerable agreement between pairs of judges working in the same center, but large and potentially fundamental differences were identified in the amount of stuttering recorded in different centers. Approximately 40% of the 5.0-sec speech intervals used in this study were assigned the same judgment, either Stuttered or Nonstuttered, by all judges on two judgment occasions. The possibility that these intervals may serve as a core for establishing an across-center standard for behavioral judgments of stuttering is discussed.
Belief and Behavior as Determinants of Attitude

Summary In an earlier work an hypothesis of consistency between a number of independent beliefs and attitude, and between a number of independent behaviors and attitude, was developed and tested by survey research. The present study extended the earlier work by investigating the joint relationship of belief and behavior to attitude. Both belief and behavior indices were found to correlate significantly with attitude. Further, the multiple correlation, with attitude as the dependent variable, was significantly stronger than either first-order relationship. This research has implications for specific attitude-belief and attitude-behavior consistencies and for attempts to understand unimpressive relations between behavior and attitude.
How well can FMSY and BMSY be estimated using empirical measures of surplus production

Abstract Six methods based on empirical estimates of surplus production are outlined which can be used to estimate the exploitation rate and biomass corresponding to Maximum Sustainable Yield (EMSY and BMSY). Three of these methods involve fitting production functions to surplus production, assuming that biomass and catch are measured without error, and the other three involve computing average surplus production for biomasses close to BMSY to estimate EMSY. The six methods are tested using simulations based on data for two data-rich Alaskan crab stocks and are applied to data for six Alaskan crab stocks. The results suggest that, unlike stock status relative to the unfished level and Maximum Sustainable Yield, estimates of EMSY and BMSY are generally poor, with poor performance attributed mainly to production models ignoring transient age and size dynamics, and the impact of data contrast as well as the extent of process and observation error.
Building an empirical model of global carbon flux

Predicting the behavior of a complex system, like the one that explains the exchange of carbon between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere, by trying to produce theoretical formulations of every environmental process is a daunting challenge. Likewise, the alternative approach—forsaking numerical abstraction in favor of predictions based explicitly on observations—has been hindered by a lack of both observational data and the computational power needed to make sense of it. Expanding detector networks, advancements in processing power, and the development of new computational techniques, however, are opening the door to the development of empirical models of complex systems.
Urban Rats: Symbol Symptom and Symbiosis

Urban rats pose a significant problem to society, both in terms of spreading disease and causing property damage. They are able to thrive because humans provide them with ample food and habitat, un...
Isoform-selective Effects of the Depletion of ADP-Ribosylation Factors 1–5 on Membrane Traffic

The ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs) are six proteins within the larger Arf family and Ras superfamily that regulate membrane traffic. Arfs all share numerous biochemical activities and have very similar specific activities. The use of dominant mutants and brefeldin A has been important to the discovery of the cellular functions of Arfs but lack specificity between Arf isoforms. We developed small interference RNA constructs capable of specific depletion of each of the cytoplasmic human Arfs to examine the specificity of Arfs in live cells. No single Arf was required for any step of membrane traffic examined in HeLa cells. However, every combination of the double knockdowns of Arf1, Arf3, Arf4, and Arf5 yielded a distinct pattern of defects in secretory and endocytic traffic, demonstrating clear specificity for Arfs at multiple steps. These results suggest that the cooperation of two Arfs at the same site may be a general feature of Arf signaling and provide candidates at several cellular locations that when paired with data on the localization of the many different Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factors, Arf GTPase activating proteins, and effectors will aid in the description of the mechanisms of specificity in this highly conserved and primordial family of regulatory GTPases.
New Test Techniques for Evaluating the Compatibility of Materials with Liquid Oxygen under Impact

The current drop-weight test methods for evaluating the compatibility of materials with liquid oxygen under impact are briefly discussed, with particular emphasis upon the characteristically poor repeatability of the “threshold value” impact sensitivity ratings yielded by these methods. It is pointed out that this trait is primarily due to the poor statistics of the test procedures used. It is further shown that impact sensitivity alone, even when measured by the most accurate and reliable technique, is not an adequate description of the potential fire or explosion hazard of a material; reaction intensity must also be considered. With this background, typical results from two new test techniques are presented and discussed. In one of these, impact sensitivity is measured in terms of the drop height at which a material has a 50% probability of reaction. In the other, reaction intensity is measured in terms of the maximum peak pressure of the air shock wave generated by the reaction. Presented at the 23rd A...