cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrete-Time PID Controller Tuning Using Frequency Loop-Shaping.

Abstract A loop-shaping approach for tuning Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers is presented. A Glover-McFarlane H∞ controller is used to determine a target loop-shape that is approximated by a PID structure via the use of an LMI optimization method. If the approximation error from the minimization satisfies a standard small gain condition, then the tuned PID controller also shares the attractive robustness properties of the H∞ controllers. The entire design process is carried out in discrete-time assuming a discrete plant is available. Typical test cases are used to show the implementation of this method and the quality of the resulting closed loops.
Towards HIPAA-compliant healthcare systems

In healthcare domain, there is a gap between healthcare systems and government regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The violations of HIPAA not only may cause the disclosure of patients' sensitive information, but also can bring about tremendous economic loss and reputation damage to healthcare providers. Taking effective measures to address this gap has become a critical requirement for all healthcare entities. However, the complexity of HIPAA regulations makes it difficult to achieve this requirement. In this paper, we propose a framework to bridge such a critical gap between healthcare systems and HIPAA regulations. Our framework supports compliance-oriented analysis to determine whether a health- care system is complied with HIPAA regulations. We also describe our evaluation results to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach.
Selective suppression of carrier-driven photochemical etching: Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool

Carrier-driven photochemical etching of semiconductors can be selectively suppressed by altering the near-surface region to enhance carrier recombination, thereby reducing the supply of carriers that drive the surface etching reaction. Two methods for enhancing recombination and decreasing the etch rate at a given phonon flux include ion implantation and localized Zn diffusion. Raman spectroscopy can be employed to determine whether sufficient alterations of electronic properties has occurred to suppress etching. Carrier-driven photochemical reactions, which require direct participation of free carriers for the chemical reaction to proceed, can be selectively suppressed by increasing the minority carrier recombination rate, thereby reducing the supply of carriers that drive the surface etching reaction. Two methods for enhancing recombination and decreasing the etching quantum yield, which is the number of atoms removed per incident photon, include ion implantation and localized Zn diffusion. For ion implantation, recombination- promoting defect concentrations depend on ion species, fluence, and annealing both during and after the implantation process. Other recombination processes related to carrier scattering from ionized impurities from in-diffusion of dopants or following implant activation can control etching. Raman spectroscopy can be employed to detect changes in electronic properties that correlate with etching suppression. Changes that occur in themore » LO-phonon lineshape, such as those associated with phonon confinement and ionized impurity scattering, can be diagnostic of the carrier-driven etching behavior following a specific treatment. We have demonstrated two applications of Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic for suppression of the carrier-driven photochemical etching of GaAs. 12 refs., 3 figs.« less
Perinatal expression of genes that may participate in lipid metabolism by lipid-laden lung fibroblasts

Although a morphologically distinct population of lipid-laden interstitial cells (lipofibroblasts, LF), has been identified, the origins and functions of this population during lung development and disease remain undefined. Illumination of the developmental and functional characteristics of two other populations of lipid-laden mesenchymal cells, namely adipocytes and hepatic lipocytes, has fashioned tools that can be used to explore similar properties in pulmonary LFs. As the LF is transiently a very abundant cell in the perinatal lung, we elected to study the perinatal ontogeny of the expression of several genes that are involved in the acquisition of lipids by adipocytes, and may be involved in promoting the triglyceride accumulation that is the morphologic hallmark of the pulmonary LF. We found that the maximal expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ), at gestational day 21 in the LF, precedes the rise at birth, in the expression of genes that are involved in the hydrolysis of triglycerides at the plasma membrane (lipoprotein lipase, LPL), transport of fatty acids across the plasma membrane (fatty acid transporter, FAT) and in the cytoplasm (adipocyte lipid binding protein, ALBP). The steady-state levels of LPL, FAT, and ALBP mRNAs that were isolated from whole lung tissue showed a similar temporal pattern. The levels of the protein products of the LPL and ALBP genes changed in tandem with those of their precursor mRNAs in the LF, suggesting that these gene products are under pre-translational control. These findings indicate that characteristic adipocyte genes are also expressed in lipid-laden pulmonary fibroblasts and may participate in triglyceride accumulation and metabolism by these cells. —Chen, H., S. Jackson, M. Doro, and S. McGowan. Perinatal expression of genes that may participate in lipid metabolism by lipid-laden lung fibroblasts. J. Lipid Res. 1998. 39: 2483–2492.
Pharmacodynamics of Pulse Dosing versus Standard Dosing: In Vitro Metronidazole Activity against Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

Since the advent of antibiotics, the infectious diseases community has struggled with optimal methods to effectively deliver these agents, including the amount needed, the interval over which the agents should be administered, and the duration of therapy. Early experimental work contrasting intermittent dosing to constant infusion showed that serum concentrations did not need to remain above the MIC for the organism for the entire dosing interval (5). Later work demonstrated that intermittent dosing and once-daily dosing, which resulted in elevated serum concentrations of antibiotic, drove tissue concentrations higher (7). Depending on the antibiotic-bacterium combination, high tissue concentrations could result in more rapid killing, and a subsequent decrease in antibiotic concentration could take advantage of a postantibiotic effect and possibly avoid adaptive resistance (2). Pulse dosing is a novel approach to antibiotic delivery that produces escalating antibiotic levels early in the dosing interval followed by a prolonged dose-free period. This type of drug delivery technology could offer therapeutic advantages such as reduced dose frequency and greater patient compliance. In comparison to intermittent dosing, pulse dosing front loads the antibiotic, allowing an extended dose-free period during which the antibiotic concentration falls close to zero. However, unlike a single, large bolus dose given once daily (e.g., aminoglycoside single-daily dosing), short bursts of antibiotic are separated by short dose-free periods, allowing the serum concentration to fluctuate (Fig. ​(Fig.1).1). This pulse dosing technology is presently in development for several antibiotics, including metronidazole (1). Fractionating the antibiotic dose and administering the drug in a pulsatile fashion may expose the target bacteria to high concentrations of antibiotic at various phases of the bacterial growth cycle, attacking the most vulnerable bacteria in the overall population. Moreover, the bacteria are allowed a lengthy drug-free period, possibly mitigating issues of resistance. FIG. 1. Pharmacokinetic profile of standard thrice-daily dosing and pulse dosing. The solid line represents the pulse dosing profile, the dashed line represents the thrice-daily dosing, and the two dash-dot-dot lines represent the bacterial MICs of the resistant ... The purpose of this investigation was to compare and contrast the activity of pulse-dosed metronidazole to standard thrice-daily dosing in an anaerobic in vitro pharmacodynamic model. The study involved sensitive and resistant Bacteroides fragilis isolates and one Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron isolate in both traditional and pulse dose simulations.
NRC-Interacting Factor 1 Is a Novel Cotransducer That Interacts with and Regulates the Activity of the Nuclear Hormone Receptor Coactivator NRC

We previously reported the cloning and characterization of a novel nuclear hormone receptor transcriptional coactivator, which we refer to as NRC. NRC is a 2,063-amino-acid nuclear protein which contains a potent N-terminal activation domain and several C-terminal modules which interact with CBP and ligand-bound nuclear hormone receptors as well as c-Fos and c-Jun. In this study we sought to clone and identify novel factors that interact with NRC to modulate its transcriptional activity. Here we describe the cloning and characterization of a novel protein we refer to as NIF-1 (NRC-interacting factor 1). NIF-1 was cloned from rat pituitary and human cell lines and was found to interact in vivo and in vitro with NRC. NIF-1 is a 1,342-amino-acid nuclear protein containing a number of conserved domains, including six Cys-2/His-2 zinc fingers, an N-terminal stretch of acidic amino acids, and a C-terminal leucine zipper-like motif. Zinc fingers 1 to 3 are potential DNA-binding BED finger domains recently proposed to play a role in altering local chromatin architecture. We mapped the interaction domains of NRC and NIF-1. Although NIF-1 does not directly interact with nuclear receptors, it markedly enhances ligand-dependent transcriptional activation by nuclear hormone receptors in vivo as well as activation by c-Fos and c-Jun. These results, and the finding that NIF-1 interacts with NRC in vivo, suggest that NIF-1 functions to regulate transcriptional activation through NRC. We suggest that NIF-1, and factors which associate with coactivators but not receptors, be referred to as cotransducers, which act in vivo either as part of a coactivator complex or downstream of a coactivator complex to modulate transcriptional activity. Our findings suggest that NIF-1 may be a functional component of an NRC complex and acts as a regulator or cotransducer of NRC function.
The Impact of Multiple Protein Sequence Alignment on Phylogenetic Estimation

Multiple sequence alignment is typically the first step in estimating phylogenetic trees, with the assumption being that as alignments improve, so will phylogenetic reconstructions. Over the last decade or so, new multiple sequence alignment methods have been developed to improve comparative analyses of protein structure, but these new methods have not been typically used in phylogenetic analyses. In this paper, we report on a simulation study that we performed to evaluate the consequences of using these new multiple sequence alignment methods in terms of the resultant phylogenetic reconstruction. We find that while alignment accuracy is positively correlated with phylogenetic accuracy, the amount of improvement in phylogenetic estimation that results from an improved alignment can range from quite small to substantial. We observe that phylogenetic accuracy is most highly correlated with alignment accuracy when sequences are most difficult to align, and that variation in alignment accuracy can have little impact on phylogenetic accuracy when alignment error rates are generally low. We discuss these observations and implications for future work.
Troubles with Trivialism

According to the trivialist, everything is true. But why would anyone believe that? It turns out that trivialism emerges naturally from a certain inconsistency view of language, and it has significant benefits that need to be acknowledged. But trivialism also encounters some troubles along the way. After discussing them, I sketch a couple of alternatives that can preserve the benefits of trivialism without the corresponding costs.
Communication Networks from the Enron Email Corpus It's Always About the People. Enron is no Different

The Enron email corpus is appealing to researchers because it represents a rich temporal record of internal communication within a large, real-world organization facing a severe and survival-threatening crisis. We describe how we enhanced the original corpus database and present findings from our investigation undertaken with a social network analytic perspective. We explore the dynamics of the structure and properties of the organizational communication network, as well as the characteristics and patterns of communicative behavior of the employees from different organizational levels. We found that during the crisis period, communication among employees became more diverse with respect to established contacts and formal roles. Also during the crisis period, previously disconnected employees began to engage in mutual communication, so that interpersonal communication was intensified and spread through the network, bypassing formal chains of communication. The findings of this study provide valuable insight into a real-world organizational crisis, which may be further used for validating or developing theories and dynamic models of organizational crises; thereby leading to a better understanding of the underlying causes of, and response to, organization failure.
Computerized clinical decision support improves mortality in intra abdominal surgical sepsis.

Background The management of surgical sepsis is challenging because of the complexity of interventions. The authors therefore created a computerized clinical decision support program to facilitate this process, with the goal of improving abdominal sepsis mortality.
On the stability of rivulet flow

The aim of the present work is to investigate the existence regions of the different flow patterns exhibited by a liquid flowing down an inclined plane for a wide range of physical properties of the fluid (particularly surface tension and viscosity which were found to have the greatest influence). A model that predicts the decay frequency of oscillating or pendulum rivulets is presented. From this model, a stability criterion for the onset of oscillating rivulet flow is derived. Although the model does not contain any freely adjustable parameters, it shows good agreement with experimental measurements of rivulet decay frequency and of the transition point to pendulum rivulet. The transitions between different flow regimes are expected to cause drastic changes in heat and mass transfer rates between the liquid and the solid surface or between the liquid and the surrounding gaseous phase.
Characterization and Growth-Depressing Activity for Chickens of Several Natural Phenolic Materials

Several natural phenolic materials were analyzed for gallic acid and were further characterized for dialyzability and flavonoid content. These materials were added to a diet and fed to broiler strain chicks for 4 weeks. The depression in growth caused by these phenolic materials was compared with that of tannic acid on a gallic acid equivalency basis. The activities relative to tannic acid (congruent to 100) were as follows: methyl gallate, 195; valonia, 117; wattle, 114; allepo tannic acid, 107; eucalyptus, 105, myrobalan, 98; tara crystals, 76; mangrove, 72; quebracho, 39; gallic acid, and ellagic acid, O. It was impossible to clearly relate the growth depressing activity of the materials to hydrolyzability or relative content of smaller phenols.
Dynamic snooping in a fault-tolerant distributed shared memory

Distributed shared memory (DSM) allows multicomputer systems with no physically shared memory to be programmed using a shared memory paradigm. However, as the number of nodes in a system increases the probability of a failure that can corrupt the DSM increases. This paper presents a fault-tolerant DSM (FTDSM) algorithm that can tolerate single node failures. Each page in the DSM is assigned a snooper that keeps a backup copy of the page and can take over if the page owner fails. The snooper is dynamic because the responsibility for snooping a page can migrate front node to node. The FTDSM presented is an improvement over other FTDSMs because it is scalable, is based on the efficient dynamic distributed manager (DDM) DSM algorithm, does not require the repair of a failed processor to access the DSM, and does not query all nodes to rebuild the state of the DSM. It is shown that any single node failure can be tolerated because either the owner or the snooper of a page can always be found. >
Extending Interaction Ctheory

Theories of social interaction focus on attributes of persons, situational expression of these attributes, and relation of personal attributes to those of others in groups. Task groups are the main topic of interest in these studies. This article briefly reviews core ideas of one theory of interaction. This theory emphasizes the relational explanation of organizing interaction. Developments within the theory based on research that is both supportive of it and challenging to it are discussed. The article concludes with a brief overview of other articles in this special issue.
The effect of parameterized ice microphysics on the simulation of vortex circulation with a mesoscale hydrostatic model

It has been proposed that ice microphysics, particularly the melting effect, can play an important role in the generation of mesoscale structure and evolution of convective weather systems and associated stratiform rainfall. In this paper, parameterized cloud ice and snow crystals are incorporated into an explicit (grid-resolved) convective scheme as prognostic variables and tested using an observed mesovortex on a grid resolution of 25 km. With the inclusion of ice microphysics parameterization, the resolvable-scale precipitation begins to develop nearly 1 h earlier and undergoes a more rapid acceleration. Meanwhile, the resulting maximum upward motion and locally accumulated rainfall are significantly larger than that without ice microphysics. However, the model produced a relatively weak mesovortex circulation with the maximum cyclonic vorticity located more than 50 mb higher when the ice microphysics is incorporated. It is found that the freezing and sublimation provide a positive forcing for the rapid development of the mid-tropospheric warm-core vortex circulation, while the melting tends to destroy the concentration of cyclonic vorticity in the lower levels. In particular, intercomparisons among all sensitivity experiments so far performed reveal that the melting effect can be of equal importance to those of the hydrostatic water loading and evaporative cooling in retarding the development of the CISK-like instability and in reducing the intensity of the mesovortex. The results indicate that the vertical distribution of diabatic heating may be more important than the total heating in determining the strength of mesovortices, when the melting effect is considered. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0870.1989.tb00371.x
Diagnosis of Umbilical Cord Entanglement of Monoamniotic Twins by First‐Trimester Color Doppler Imaging

Monoamniotic twins occur in approximately 5% of monochorionic twin gestations as a result of splitting of the inner cell mass at 8 or more days after fertilization, and they are associated with high perinatal mortality rates, ranging between 28% and 47%. 1,2 These gestations have unique pathologic conditions, including conjoined twins, a high prevalence of discordancy for fetal structural anomalies (the former and possibly also the latter resulting from consequences of the twinning process), and cord entanglement. 1 We present a case in which monoamniotic twins at first-trimester transvaginal sonography were confirmed by color Doppler imaging as having entangled umbilical cords.
Occult hemorrhage in children with severe ITP.

Little is known about the frequency and significance of clinically unapparent or occult hemorrhage in ITP. Therefore, we prospectively explored the sites and frequency of occult bleeding in children with severe ITP at diagnosis or upon symptomatic relapse in a prospective, single-institution cohort study of patients ≤ 18 years of age and a platelet count ≤ 10,000/mm(3) . Data collected included bleeding severity assessment, urinalysis, fecal occult blood testing, and non-contrast brain MRI. Stool and urine samples were tested within 7 days of diagnosis or symptomatic relapse. Three months after diagnosis or relapse a noncontrast brain MRI evaluated hemosiderin deposits resulting from prior localized hemorrhage. Fifty-two ITP patients were enrolled with a mean platelet count of 4,000/mm(3) . A significant occurrence of occult hemorrhage was identified in the urine (27%) compared with clinically overt hematuria (0.91%, P < 0.0005). CNS microbleeding in the superficial cortex of the left frontal lobe was identified in one child with occult bleeding in the urinary tract. There was no relationship between occult hemorrhage and bleeding manifestations on physical examination. Occult hemorrhage was not a harbinger of subsequent bleeding. Our findings suggest that occult hemorrhage occurs with greater frequency than overt bleeding in children with severe ITP. CNS microbleeding is a potential risk in this patient population. Assessment of brain microbleeds and microscopic hematuria in this patient population require additional study.
Interfacial Surfactant Ordering in Thin Films of SDS-Encapsulated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

The molecular self-assembly of surfactants on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) is currently a common strategy for the tuning of nanotube properties and the stabilization of carbon nanotube dispersions. Here, we report direct measurements of the degree of interfacial ordering for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants adsorbed on colloidal, single-chirality enriched, SWCNTs within a solid film and investigate the dependence of surface alkyl chain order on the surfactant concentration in the precursor solution. The degree of order for the SWCNT-bound SDS molecules, is probed by vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy. We find concrete evidence for the presence of highly ordered surface structures at sufficiently high SDS concentrations, attributed here to cylindrical-like micelle assemblies with the SWCNT at the core. As the SDS concentration decreases, the interfacial order is found to decrease as well, generating a more disordered or random adsorption of surfactants...
Dynamic Vector Quantization Of Speech

In this paper we describe a more robust vector quantization model for speech based on spatiotemporal clustering. The principle of self-organization in time is employed to create traveling waves, which are gradually attenuated over time and space to diffuse temporal information and create localized temporal neighborhoods for classification of speech. We also define performance functions for quantification of this method, based on the time varying property of Voronoi cells. This method is better than conventional static vector quantizers built on the same data set and similar training conditions.
Examining the impostor phenomenon and work-family conflict

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderated-mediational relationship between the impostor phenomenon (IP) and work-to-family conflict (WFC). Building on conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors hypothesize that individuals who experience the IP lack the initial resources needed to meet work demands and, thus, experience emotional exhaustion, which leads to WFC. However, the authors hypothesize that additional resources provided by organizations, such as perceived organizational support (POS), may weaken the negative experiences of imposters. Design/methodology/approach – The authors tested a moderated-mediation model using data from a time-lagged survey study among 92 Midwest community college employees. Regression was used to examine the mediating effects of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of POS on the IP to WFC relationship. Findings – Results support the hypothesized model. Emotional exhaustion is a mediating mechanism in the relationship between the IP an...
Early radiosurgery provides superior pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia patients

Objective: We evaluated factors associated with better outcomes after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) when it was performed as the first surgical procedure for medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: A total of 121 patients (median age 72 years) with medically refractory pain and no prior surgery underwent Gamma Knife SRS as their initial surgical procedure for trigeminal neuralgia. Using a single 4-mm isocenter, patients received an average maximum dose of 80 Gy, delivered to the trigeminal nerve target defined by intraoperative MRI. The median follow-up was 36 months. Results: Pain relief (Barrow Neurological Institute [BNI] score I–IIIa) was achieved in 107 (88%) patients at a median time of 1 month. Patients who underwent earlier SRS (within 3 years of pain onset) had a shorter interval until pain relief (1 week, p p p p = 0.001). Fifteen patients (12%) reported new sensory dysfunction after SRS. Conclusion: Early SRS as the initial surgical procedure for management of refractory trigeminal neuralgia was associated with faster, better, and longer pain relief when compared to late SRS. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia, early stereotactic radiosurgery as the initial procedure provides faster, better, and longer pain relief.
Toxicity of Mosquito Larvicidal Pyrethroids to Four Species of Freshwater Fishes

Six new synthetic pyrethroids, some of which possess exceptionally high mosquito larvicidal activity, were studied for their toxicity against 4 species of game and predatory fish. The various species showed different levels of susceptibility to the various compounds. As a whole most of the pyrethroids showed a good margin of safety (derived from the ratio of LC50–90 fish to LC50–90 mosquito larvae) to the test fish species. It is very likely that the pyrethroids with high margins of safety can be utilized in larvicidal programs without marked acute effects on fish fauna, while others possessing low margin of safety will pose a serious hazard to fish in aquatic habitats treated with these materials.
Evaluation of AASHTO Suggested Design Values for Reinforced Concrete Bridge Piers Under Vehicle Collisions

Vehicle collisions with bridge piers result in a complex set of actions and reactions between the structural system and the vehicle. The design of these piers is very important as it can have an adverse effect on both the economy and the health and safety of users. Current design provisions, although simple to apply, do not account for the many variables that influence demand and capacity. The goal of this study was to analyze the behavior of bridge piers under vehicle collisions with respect to vehicle mass, velocity, pier diameter, and transverse reinforcement. The commercial finite element software LS-DYNA was used to simulate and analyze the vehicle collisions. The finite element models were first validated with available experimental data, then verified with the available finite element models to ensure accuracy and reliability of the results. Conservation of energy was continuously checked throughout the analyses to assure stability within each impact simulation. The results of the study show that t...
Sphingolipidomics: An Important Mechanistic Tool for Studying Fungal Pathogens

Sphingolipids form of a unique and complex group of bioactive lipids in fungi. Structurally, sphingolipids of fungi are quite diverse with unique differences in the sphingoid backbone, amide linked fatty acyl chain and the polar head group. Two of the most studied and conserved sphingolipid classes in fungi are the glucosyl- or galactosyl-ceramides and the phosphorylinositol containing phytoceramides. Comprehensive structural characterization and quantification of these lipids is largely based on advanced analytical mass spectrometry based lipidomic methods. While separation of complex lipid mixtures is achieved through high performance liquid chromatography, the soft - electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry allows a high sensitivity and selectivity of detection. Herein, we present an overview of lipid extraction, chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry employed in qualitative and quantitative sphingolipidomics in fungi.
Tentative Inquiry into the Creation Motives about Tang Dynasty Legends

The legends of Tang dynasty have a great quantity, and complex content and reflect different moral concepts, ideology and life interests of writers. For readers to grasp ideological implications of Tang dynasty legends better, creation motives about Tang dynasty legends are in detail analyzed from recreation, calumny, Buddhism and Taoism, detesting the world, compensation and expression.
A Right to the City

The right to the city has emerged as an influential concept in the study and conduct of urban affairs. To a striking degree, however, it has avoided rigorous criticism. This essay represents an effort to remedy that situation.
Surgical Diseases of the Equine Cecum

Cecal impaction and cecal perforation, the two most common equine cecal diseases, are thought to develop after slowing or interruption of a single progressive motility pattern, which begins in a pacemaker area near the apex, occurs once every 3 minutes, and propels ingesta from the cecum to the right ventral colon. Rectal examination in horses with cecal impaction is the most useful technique to grade the severity of the condition. Medical treatment is undertaken if the impaction is judged to be mild to moderate. Surgical correction of cecal impaction in severe cases requires a ventral midline celiotomy, and exploration reveals a large ingesta-filled cecum and relatively empty large colon. Currently, the techniques of typhlotomy with manual evacuation of ingesta, combined with a complete bypass of the cecum by use of a jejunocolostomy, is the preferred method of surgical management. The use of a cecocolic anastomosis remains a viable alternative surgical procedure. Cecal perforation (CP), a uniformly fatal disease of horses, most often develops when the subtle signs of cecal impaction are missed or are masked by the administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. CP can occur in mares around the time of foaling and, in this form, is not associated with cecal outflow dysfunction. Surgical management of cecocecal or cecocolic intussusception is required and involves resection of the diseased portion of cecum, either with extra- or intraluminal techniques. Both the side-to-side and end-to-side jejunocecal anastomoses are useful and successful techniques for bypass of simple or strangulating lesions of the ileum.
Calmodulin stimulation of smooth muscle plasmalemmal vesicle Ca2+ uptake: direct or indirect effect?

Current evidence suggests that Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase(s) may be involved in the regulation of smooth muscle contractility. The plasmalemmal Ca2+ pump plays an important role in smooth muscle contractility, and this pump is stimulated by calmodulin. However, it is not known whether this is due to direct activation, or calmodulin-dependent protein phosphorylation, or both. We tested these hypotheses using a plasma membrane vesicle preparation from porcine antral smooth muscle. Inclusion of calmodulin in the Ca(2+)-uptake assay decreased the free Ca2+ concentration at which Ca2+ uptake is 50% of the maximal rate (1.5 +/- 0.21 to 0.84 +/- 0.06 microM) of the Ca2+ pump for Ca2+, without changing maximal rate of Ca2+ uptake (Vmax) (8.0 +/- 1.1 to 8.4 +/- 0.7 nmol.min-1.mg-1). In contrast, prephosphorylation in the absence of Ca(2+)-calmodulin increased Ca(2+)-uptake rates at both low (pCa 6.0) and high Ca2+ concentration (pCa 5.0), suggesting an increase in Vmax. Further phosphorylation in the presence of Ca(2+)-calmodulin was not associated with any further increases in the Ca(2+)-uptake rates at pCa 6.0. However, inclusion of calmodulin in the Ca(2+)-uptake assays stimulated the rates (pCa 6.0) of both unphosphorylated and prephosphorylated vesicles to a similar extent. These findings suggest that the stimulation of the smooth muscle plasmalemmal Ca2+ pump by calmodulin is predominantly due to a direct effect via a mechanism distinct from that by plasma membrane phosphorylation.
Intrinsic coincident linear polarimetry using stacked organic photovoltaics

Polarimetry has widespread applications within atmospheric sensing, telecommunications, biomedical imaging, and target detection. Several existing methods of imaging polarimetry trade off the sensor’s spatial resolution for polarimetric resolution, and often have some form of spatial registration error. To mitigate these issues, we have developed a system using oriented polymer-based organic photovoltaics (OPVs) that can preferentially absorb linearly polarized light. Additionally, the OPV cells can be made semitransparent, enabling multiple detectors to be cascaded along the same optical axis. Since each device performs a partial polarization measurement of the same incident beam, high temporal resolution is maintained with the potential for inherent spatial registration. In this paper, a Mueller matrix model of the stacked OPV design is provided. Based on this model, a calibration technique is developed and presented. This calibration technique and model are validated with experimental data, taken with a cascaded three cell OPV Stokes polarimeter, capable of measuring incident linear polarization states. Our results indicate polarization measurement error of 1.2% RMS and an average absolute radiometric accuracy of 2.2% for the demonstrated polarimeter.
Time-dependent differences in the benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts present in cell cultures from different species.

Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are metabolized in cells in which they induce biological effects (1,2). A small portion of the metabolites formed are reactive derivatives that bind covalently to cellular macromolecules; this binding process can lead to the induction of biological effects (1). Several lines of evidence (reviewed in 1–4) suggest that the interaction of hydrocarbon metabolites with DNA is involved in the initiation of carcinogenesis in vivo and the induction of mutagenesis in cells in culture. The major DNA-binding metabolites formed from several hydrocarbons in cells in culture and tissues in vivo are dihydrodiol-epoxides, usually at the “bay-region” of the molecule (5–9). Diol epoxides are formed on other regions of some hydrocarbons and are involved in the DNA-binding of these hydrocarbons (10,11).
The Effect of Police Slowdowns on Crime

Though police strikes have been well studied, there are almost no articles written on the public safety consequences of police work slowdowns—labor actions where police officers reduce their ticket-writing and/or arrest productivity for a temporary period. This article fills the current void by presenting evidence on the 1997 New York City Police Department work slowdown, to my knowledge the longest documented police slowdown in U.S. history. Drawing on several, originally collected data sources from the NYPD and other city agencies, the article assesses the impact of the slowdown on ticket enforcement, arrest enforcement, and crime. The findings indicate that, at least in the context of contract-motivated slowdowns where the union may be motivated to garner public support for pay increases, the effects on public safety may be limited. Specifically, in the case of the 1997 slowdown, ticket-writing for all categories of tickets fell dramatically but arrest enforcement for all types of serious crime stayed the same or increased. Accordingly, the crime effects were mostly concentrated in the area of minor criminal disorder (misdemeanors and violations). Only two categories of serious crime (larcenies and assaults) were affected and those crime increases were minimal.
Vascular Malformations and Intractable Epilepsy

A retrospective study of 20 consecutive patients with cerebral vascular malformations who were treated surgically for medically refractory partial epilepsy is reported from the Departments of Neurology and Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
Biological Knee Reconstruction With Concomitant Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation and Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: Mid- to Long-term Outcomes

Background:Treating articular cartilage defects and meniscal deficiency is challenging. Although some short- to mid-term follow-up studies report good clinical outcomes after concurrent autologous ...
Seeking Out and Avoiding the News Media: Young Adults’ Proposed Strategies for Obtaining Current Events Information

This study takes a closer look at the role the news media plays in how young adults inform themselves in the high-choice media age. In-depth interview data with 21 young adults from varying socioeconomic backgrounds were used to identify the strategies they had for locating current events information. During the interviews, the young adult participants responded to six hypothetical “vignettes” by articulating the steps that they would take to find information about current events. Findings revealed two strategy patterns that interviewees voiced—one set of strategies directly involved use of the news media, and another set avoided the news media in favor of functional information alternatives. Common among all the interviewees, however, was the need for information skepticism when navigating the contemporary media environment. Implications for social inequality and news media literacy are discussed.
Expressive writing intervention promotes resilience among juvenile justice-involved youth

Youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems suffer from alarmingly high rates of mental health challenges. In particular, exposure to trauma (e.g., maltreatment) is one critical experience that amplifies their risk for delinquency and recidivism. Despite a profound need to address these youth's mental health needs, there is a paucity of trauma-informed and youth-centered treatments that are clinically feasible in under-resourced residential settings (e.g., juvenile detention facilities). In response to this gap, our research team collaborated with the juvenile justice subsection of a large American city's child welfare system with the goal of creating an intervention tailored to the needs of underserved system-involved youth. The resultant program, WRITE ON (Writing and Reflecting on Identity To Empower Ourselves as Narrators), leverages research on the therapeutic benefits of expressive writing to implement a brief, cost-effective intervention in youth residential settings. This paper describes intervention development and presents findings from the pilot study, which comprised a multisite experimental evaluation of youth (N = 53) residing in short-term detention facilities. This pilot study aimed to: 1) assess intervention implementation fidelity, including participant satisfaction, and 2) evaluate the mental health outcomes of youth receiving WRITE ON as compared to those in a comparison support group (CSG). Results indicated that the intervention was delivered with good fidelity, participants reported high levels of satisfaction, and WRITE ON participants exhibited significant (p < 0.01) gains in resilience compared to their counterparts in the CSG. Collectively, results suggest that a larger clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of WRITE ON with system-involved youth is warranted.
The central conic sections revisited

(1993). The Central Conic Sections Revisited. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 66, No. 5, pp. 322-325.
Abstract 074: Endothelial Caveolin-1 Mediates The Effects Of Dietary Sodium On Cardiovascular And Metabolic Function

Hypertension and insulin resistance (IR) are often associated with endothelial dysfunction; however, the underpinnings of their association are not well understood. Caveolin-1 (cav1) is a transmembrane protein identified in many cell types including cardiovascular (CV) and adipose cells. Our recent findings in mice and humans consistently suggest a role of cav1 in IR, dyslipidemia, CV dysfunction and hypertension in response to sodium loading. While adipose cav1 has been established as a critical mediator of glucose and lipid homeostasis, the role of endothelial cav1 in cardiometabolic dysfunction, and its relationship with dietary sodium is unclear. To test whether the cav1 in the endothelium mediates the effect of dietary sodium on CV and metabolic function, we used the Cre- loxP technology to generate a novel, endothelium-specific cav1 KO mouse model (Ecav1 KO). Glucose tolerance, BP, fasting insulin, lipids and the state of circulating RAAS were measured in Ecav1 KO and WT mice studied on low- and high-sodium diets (0.03 vs 1.6% Na) for 7 days. Ecav1 KO and WT mice had similar BW, food and water intake and urinary output on either diet. Compared to the WT, Ecav1 KO animals had significantly higher fasting blood glucose levels on a LS diet (103±4 vs 87±3 mg/dl, p
Bayesian inference with constrains - A unified approach for data rectification of linear dynamic systems

Abstract A general formulation of Bayesian data rectification is presented for linear dynamic systems. The approach maximizes the conditional posterior probability density of the rectified variables. It is a generalized framework for special cases such as maximum likelihood, least-squares and Kalman filter. Closed-form solutions to constrained optimization problems are presented for the rectification of Gaussian variables. The technique addresses the limitations of maximum likelihood and Kalman filter methods, viz., adaptive prior, reconciliation and error-in-variables approach.
RAILROAD INVESTING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING INFORMATION IN 1880s AMERICA

This study has a two-fold purpose. First, it seeks to determine the importance of financial accounting information to railroad investors (and speculators) in 1880s America. Second, a further goal i...
A Combined Variable Temperature Neutron Diffraction and Thermogravimetric Analysis Study on a Promising Oxygen Electrode SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3-δ for Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The present study investigates the temperature-structure-stoichiometry relationship of a promising oxygen electrode SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3-d over a temperature (T) range of RT-900 oC. The techniques employed are variable temperature neutron diffraction (VTND) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). At T< 75 oC, VTND reveals a tetragonal (P4/mmm) structure with a G-type magnetic ordering. Above 75 oC, the nucleus structure remains the same while the magnetic ordering disappears. A phase transition from tetragonal (P4/mmm) to cubic (Pm-3m) is observed at 412 oC, where the two Co-sites and three O-sites in the P4/mmm phase converge into one equivalent site, respectively. The phase transition temperature coincides with the peak temperature of oxygen uptake obtained by TGA. It is also observed that the Nb-dopant has no preferred Co-site to occupy. The oxygen vacancies are mostly located at the O3-site surrounding the Co2-site in the P4/mmm structure. The intermediate-spin state of Co3+ at the Co2-site is responsible for...
Teaching NeuroImages: Atrophy in epileptic encephalopathy

Neuroimaging in a 6-year-old girl with an unknown neurodegenerative disorder showed atrophy and bilateral thalamic T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintense signal intensity (figure). A mitochondrial or metabolic condition was suspected. Through a targeted gene panel, the patient was found to have a de novo KCNT1 mutation, a gene known to cause of a broad range of epileptic encephalopathies.1
Mass transfer effects in CO2 reduction on Cu nanowire electrocatalysts

Significant interest has risen in the development of catalytic nanomaterials for the electroreduction of CO2. While extensive studies have been reported on tuning of surface structures to improve the chemical kinetics, less attention has been paid to the mass transfer effects in the CO2 reduction reaction on nanoscale electrocatalysts. We report here a systematic investigation of CO2 electroreduction on highly dense Cu nanowires, with the focus placed on practically relevant high-flux conditions. Mass transfer effects are found to play an important role in this case, giving rise to diffusion-limited CO2 reduction activity and selectivity. By correlating the observed transport phenomena to the CO2 conversion rate calculated from the experimental data and the surface concentration of CO2 on the nanowires derived from transport modeling, an upper limit is revealed for the CO2 conversion rate on the nanostructured electrodes, which also causes the drop in Faradaic efficiency of CO2 reduction at large current densities. Our work emphasizes the necessity of considering mass transfer effects in the design of advanced electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction as well as for understanding their structure–performance relationships.
Entwicklung von Transportalternativen im Kalksteinbruch der Baumit GmbH

Bergbauunternehmen aus aller Welt setzen bei der Wahl ihrer Transportmethode auf die altbewahrten Muldenkipper, welche durch Zuverlassigkeit und vor allem mit hoher Flexibilitat glanzen. Doch nun wird nach Alternativen gesucht, so auch im Kalksteintagebau Durnbach der Baumit GmbH. Alternativen wie Installation von Oberleitungen, Load and Carry Systeme oder Hybridmulden kommen in die nahere Betrachtung. Angefuhrt werden vor allem Vor- und Nachteile der verschiedensten Transportmethoden und Kombinationen, sowie unter anderem auch Analysen des Kraftstoffverbrauches als auch das Auffahren neuer Schachte.
Relative Chemo-, Hormonal, and Immunosensitivity

Familiarity with the relative chemo-, hormonal, and immunosensitivity of metastatic neoplasms is indispensable for surgeons managing spinal metastases. Although the spine surgeon may not necessarily be dictating the specifics of adjuvant treatment, it is imperative that he/she understands the anticipated caliber, timeframe, and durability of response, as well as the patient’s projected survival, in order to make an informed decision regarding management of the patient’s spinal lesions. Sensitivity to systemic therapy is a dynamic concept, which evolves over the course of the disease and can vary between different lesions and different time points. Appropriate indications, timing, and technique of biopsy are crucial to determining sensitivity and guiding treatment. The availability or lack thereof of effective systemic therapeutic options can alter the goals and timing of surgery. We discuss the general concepts of sensitivity, biopsy, and response assessment, as well as specific concepts in sensitivity to therapy in the cancer subtypes commonly encountered with spinal metastases.