cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-gain 0.8-μm CMOS readout integrated circuit for FM/CW line-imaging ladar

We are engaged in research of readout techniques and development of readout integrated circuits for active and active/passive imaging systems under development at the Army Research Laboratory. Here we report a readout integrated circuit chip designed for ARL's FM/cw line-imaging ladar. The readout chip consists of two 1 x 8 element arrays of high-gain amplifiers that convert the input photocurrent signal to a voltage signal appropriate for digitization. Each amplifier consists of a transimpedance input stage op amp followed by a voltage-gain op amp and output buffer. The input transimpedance stage is a CMOS operational amplifier designed for a transimpedance gain of almost 1 MΩ. The voltage amplifier of stage two, also an operational amplifier, is designed to provide additional gain of about 150. Test chips have been fabricated and are being tested. The initial measured transimpedance gain of the entire amplifier cell is 130 MΩ. We discuss the chip design, physical layout, and initial performance test results.
The inhibition of beta-glucuronidase from bovine liver by 1,4-saccharolactone.

Abstract 1. 1. The inhibition of β-glucuronidase from bovine liver by 1,4-saccharolactone has been studied under a variety of conditions. 2. 2. The dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex was found to be 1·35 × 10 −6 M. 3. 3. The rate of interconversion of 1,4-saccharolactone and saccharic acid has been studied as a function of pH, temperature and time. 4. 4. In the presence of saccharolactone the pH optimum of β-glucuronidase is shifted from near 5·0 to near 6. 5. 5. A convenient method has been developed for determining the concentration of 1,4-saccharolactone in test solutions of otherwise known composition.
Developmental exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors: Consequences within the ovary and on female reproductive function

Female reproductive function depends upon the exquisite control of ovarian steroidogenesis that enables folliculogenesis, ovulation, and pregnancy. These mechanisms are set during fetal and/or neonatal development and undergo phases of differentiation throughout pre- and post-pubescent life. Ovarian development and function are collectively regulated by a host of endogenous growth factors, cytokines, gonadotropins, and steroid hormones as well as exogenous factors such as nutrients and environmental agents. Endocrine disruptors represent one class of environmental agent that can impact female fertility by altering ovarian development and function, purportedly through estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, and/or anti-androgenic effects. This review discusses ovarian development and function and how these processes are affected by some of the known estrogenic and anti-androgenic endocrine disruptors. Recent information suggests not only that exposure to endocrine disruptors during the developmental period causes reproductive abnormalities in adult life but also that these abnormalities are transgenerational. This latter finding adds another level of importance for identifying and understanding the mechanisms of action of these agents.
Association of functional polymorphisms in CYP19A1 with aromatase inhibitor associated arthralgia in breast cancer survivors

Introduction Aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (AIAA) is a common and often debilitating symptom in breast cancer survivors. Since joint symptoms have been related to estrogen deprivation through the menopausal transition, we hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms in CYP19A1, the final enzyme in estrogen synthesis, may be associated with the occurrence of AIAA.
Segregation of form, color, and stereopsis in primate area 18.

Primate visual cortical area 18 (visual area 2), when stained for the enzyme cytochrome oxidase, shows a pattern of alternating dark and light stripes; in squirrel monkeys, the dark stripes are clearly of 2 alternating types, thick and thin. We have recorded from these 3 subdivisions in macaques and squirrel monkeys, and find that each has distinctive physiological properties: (1) Cells in one set of dark stripes, in squirrel monkeys the thin stripes, are not orientation- selective; a high proportion show color-opponency. (2) Cells in the other set of dark stripes (thick stripes) are orientation-selective; most of them are also selective for binocular disparity, suggesting that they are concerned with stereoscopic depth. (3) Cells in the pale stripes are also orientation-selective and more than half of them are end-stopped. Each of the 3 subdivisions receives a different input from area 17: the thin stripes from the blobs, the pale stripes from the interblobs, the thick stripes from layer 4B. The pale stripes are thus part of the parvocellular system, and the thick stripes part of the magnocellular system. The physiological properties of the cells in the thin and pale stripes reflect the properties of their antecedent cells in 17, but nevertheless exhibit differences that suggest the kinds of processing that might occur at this stage.
Personalized Medicine for the Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Purpose: Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects more than 50% of men by age 60 years, and is the cause of millions of dollars in health care expenditure for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary obstruction. Despite the widespread use of medical therapy, there is no universal therapy that treats all men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. At least 30% of patients do not respond to medical management and a subset require surgery. Significant advances have been made in understanding the natural history and development of the prostate, such as elucidating the role of the enzyme 5α-reductase type 2, and advances in genomics and biomarker discovery offer the potential for a more targeted approach to therapy. We review the current understanding of benign prostatic hyperplasia progression as well as the key genes and signaling pathways implicated in the process such as 5α-reductase. We also explore the potential of biomarker screening and gene specific therapies as tools to risk stra...
Treatment of viral myocarditis with focus on captopril

Au cute viral myocarditis is a disease caused by vis multiplication in the myocardium leading to mononuclear cellular infiltration. The heart is infiltrated first by natural killer cells which express a cytolytic factor and then by activated T-cells. The inflammatory reaction, and possibly an autoimmune response, leads to multiple foci of necrosis followed by fibrosis. The clinical picture ranges from very mild, often unrecognized illness, to severe cardiac involvement, presenting as end-stage heart failure. Following its recognition in the early 1 BOOS, treatment included the use of mercurial diuretics, digitalis, large doses of vitamins, and a variety of antisera and antitoxins.’ None of these therapeutic modalities had any impact on the disease process, and for well over a century, the only recommendation was for prolonged bed rest as suggested by Reid.* It was not until the introduction of the animal models of viral myocarditis that a true impact on therapy was achieved. 3*4 The murine model of viral myocarditis probably has had the most impact on therapy. In this model, 2to 3-week-old mice are injected intraperitoneally with the virus. Several viruses have been utilized, but coxsackievirus and encephalomyocarditis virus are the most common. Coxsackievirus infects both man and mice, and its course in both species is virtually the same. Encephalomyocarditis virus infects primarily rodents and is characterized by early development of dilated cardiomyopathy. The virus starts to multiply and within days viral myocarditis is usually established in mice. The disease process in mice parallels that of human myocarditis, and essentially goes through 2 phases. The acute phase is the phase of viral replication where the virus can be isolated from blood and heart. Heart sections will also show cellular infiltration, cardiac necrosis, and dystrophic calcifications. The chronic phase is the phase of developing progressive heart failure and is characterized by foci of fibrosis. The degree of severity of disease correlates with the amount of virus injected. This editorial will review various therapeutic modalities that were studied in acute viral myocarditis with emphasis on laboratory investigations and the potential role of captopiil.
Fast tandem mass spectra-based protein identification regardless of the number of spectra or potential modifications examined

Motivation: Comparing tandem mass spectra (MSMS) against a known dataset of protein sequences is a common method for identifying unknown proteins; however, the processing of MSMS by current software often limits certain applications, including comprehensive coverage of post-translational modifications, non-specific searches and real-time searches to allow result-dependent instrument control. This problem deserves attention as new mass spectrometers provide the ability for higher throughput and as known protein datasets rapidly grow in size. New software algorithms need to be devised in order to address the performance issues of conventional MSMS protein dataset-based protein identification. Methods: This paper describes a novel algorithm based on converting a collection of monoisotopic, centroided spectra to a new data structure, named 'peptide finite state machine' (PFSM), which may be used to rapidly search a known dataset of protein sequences, regardless of the number of spectra searched or the number of potential modifications examined. The algorithm is verified using a set of commercially available tryptic digest protein standards analyzed using an ABI 4700 MALDI TOFTOF mass spectrometer, and a free, open source PFSM implementation. It is illustrated that a PFSM can accurately search large collections of spectra against large datasets of protein sequences (e.g. NCBI nr) using a regular desktop PC; however, this paper only details the method for identifying peptide and subsequently protein candidates from a dataset of known protein sequences. The concept of using a PFSM as a peptide pre-screening technique for MSMS-based search engines is validated by using PFSM with Mascot and XTandem. Availability: Complete source code, documentation and examples for the reference PFSM implementation are freely available at the Proteome Commons, http://www.proteomecommons.org and source code may be used both commercially and non-commercially as long as the original authors are credited for their work. Contact: jfalkner@umich.edu
A Model of Pad–Abrasive Interactions in Chemical Mechanical Polishing

In model descriptions of CMP, slurry abrasives stick to and release from the polishing pad. This model extension predicts how pad-abrasive interactions depend on abrasive size. The prediction is compared to five sets of experimental data for systems using silica or alumina abrasives and different pads to polish copper, tungsten, or tantalum under various experimental conditions. The finding that larger particles are harder to dislodge from the pad than smaller ones holds over two orders of magnitude in abrasive diameter. This affects material removal rates which depend on the number of abrasive particles attached to the pad.
Developments in Accelerators for Heavy Ion Fusion

The long term goal of Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) is the development of an accelerator with the large beam power, large beam stored-energy, and high brightness needed to implode small deuterium-tritium capsules for fusion power. While studies of an rf linac/storage ring combination as an inertial fusion driver continue in Japan and Europe, the US program in recent times has concentrated on the study of the suitability of linear induction acceleration of ions for this purpose. Novel features required include use of multiple beams, beam current amplification in the linac, and manipulation of long beam bunches with a large velocity difference between head and tail. Recent experiments with an intense bright beam of cesium ions have established that much higher currents can be transported in a long quadrupole system than was believed possible a few years ago. A proof-of-principle ion induction linac to demonstrate beam current amplification with multiple beams is at present being fabricated at LBL.
Smoking Cessation Awareness and Utilization Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adults: An Analysis of the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey

Introduction Each year, there are more than 480 000 deaths in the United States attributed to smoking. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults are a vulnerable population that smokes at higher rates than heterosexuals. Methods We used data collected from the National Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-2010, a large, nationally representative study using a randomized, national sample of US landline and cellular telephone listings, (N = 118 590). We compared LGBT adults to their heterosexual counterparts with regard to exposure to advertisements promoting smoking cessation, and awareness and use of tobacco treatment services, including quitlines, smoking cessation classes, health professional counseling, nicotine replacement therapy, and medications. Results Fewer GBT men, compared to heterosexual men, were aware of the quitline. However, LGBT individuals have similar exposure to tobacco cessation advertising, as well as similar awareness of and use of evidence based cessation methods as compared to heterosexual peers. Conclusions The similarly of awareness and use of cessation support indicates a need for LGBT-specific efforts to reduce smoking disparities. Potential interventions would include: improving awareness of, access to and acceptability of current cessation methods for LGBT patients, developing tailored cessation interventions, and denormalizing smoking in LGBT community spaces.
Data storage and management for high-energy physics: technical and sociological requirements

The requirements for data storage and management in experimental high-energy physics (HEP) are examined. Current and future needs for storage and access to data are presented briefly from both technical and sociological standpoints. Questions such as "file management or database management?" and "distributed or centralized data management?" are of vital interest to HEP and probably to other disciplines and businesses. These questions are discussed but inevitably are not fully answered. >
Detection of tool failure in end milling with wavelet transformations and neural networks (WT-NN)

Abstract Detection of tool failure is very important in automated manufacturing. In this study, tool failure detection was conducted in two steps by using Wavelet Transformations and Neural Networks (WT-NN). In the first step, data were compressed by using wavelet transformations and unnecessary details were eliminated. In the second step, the estimated parameters of the wavelet transformations were classified by using Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART2)-type self-learning neural networks. Wavelet transformations represent transitionary data and complex patterns in a more compact form than time-series methods (frequency and time-domain) by using a family of the most suitable wave forms. Wavelet transformations can also be implemented on parallel processors and require less computations than Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The training of ART2-type neural networks is faster than backpropagation-type neural networks and ART2 is capable of updating its experience with the help of an operator while it is monitoring the sensory signals. The proposed approach was tested in over 171 cases and all the presented cases were accurately classified. The proposed system can be easily trained to inspect data during transition and/or any complex cutting conditions. The system will indicate failure instantaneously by creating a new category, thus alerting the operator.
The 2001 Leona Tyler Award Address Women’s Career Development: Weaving Personal Themes and Theoretical Constructs

This address was presented at the 2001 Conference of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco. In this address, Professor Betz discusses how her experiences as a young girl interested in math and science both illustrate and led to the empirical and theoretical contributions she has made to the career development of women. The concepts of the null educational environment, Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, Holland’s theory of vocational personalities, and role models for women are among those integral to Betz’s own career development as well as to her research and writing. The importance of the concepts for other underrepresented groups, such as racial/ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic status individuals, is also mentioned herein.
Mental Health Impact of Child Sexual Abuse, Rape, Intimate Partner Violence, and Hate Crimes in the National Lesbian Health Care Survey

The prevalence and mental health sequelae ofchild sexu­ al abuse, rape, intimate partner violence and hate crimes are examined in a national sample of 1925 lesbians who participated as respondents in the National Lesbian Health Care Survey (1984-1985), the most comprehensive study on U.S. lesbians to date. Multivariate analyses of covariance indicated that, relative to a comparison group, lesbians who had experienced child sexual abuse and intimate partner violence re­ ported significantly more daiJy stress, depression, and alcohol abuse; those who had been raped reported significantly more depression and alcohol abuse; and those who had experienced hate crimes reported significantly more daily stress, depressmn and alcohol and drug abuse. Lesbians who experienced a physical hate crime reported significantly more dai Iy stress and drug abuse compared to lesbians who experienced a physical assault that they did not perceive as hate-motivated. MAN­ COVAs were performed to examine the impact of cumulative violence among lesbians who experienced child sexual abuse and adult violence and showed that lesbians with a history of child sexual abuse and inti­ mate partner violence reported significantly more daily stress and alcohol
Who Cares About The Community? Agua Del Pueblo as a Case Study for Water-Related Non-Profit Work

Agua del Pueblo, “The People’s Water,” is a Guatemalan non-profit founded in 1972 to provide rural communities water and sanitation services. Agua del Pueblo (AdP) has completed projects in more than 800 communities. Using a specific, integrated methodology, AdP emphasizes community involvement in each stage. Through this, water acts as a means rather than an end, creating community organization structures that empower people to become less reliant upon outside aid. 783 million people still lack improved water sources, leading the United Nations and UNICEF to declare an international “Drinking Water Decade.” The article investigates the replicability of AdP’s methodology. Nonprofits play a distinct role in the provision of services, arising for a variety of reasons, one of which being nonprofits responding to specific “’market failures’” by governments and other organizations (Hansmann, 1980, p. 845). In the sector dealing with water and sanitation services, nonprofits have a daunting challenge (WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, 2010). Agua del Pueblo is a nonprofit organization headquartered in rural Guatemala that works to provide water and sanitation services while also empowering communities. Creating a distinct methodology, the organization has had a great deal of success in its 40 years of existence, providing more than 800 communities with technologically and culturally appropriate solutions to their specific water and sanitation needs. This article seeks to analyze Agua del Pueblo in the global context, responding to the research question of: How are the long-term successes and implications of the community-empowerment-focused methodology of Agua del Pueblo relevant and replicable within the global context of water needs? In answering this question, Agua del Pueblo acts as a model for other organizations hoping to respond to similar concerns by presenting its methodology as a template for others. In the same way, it gives additional attention to the woeful lack of water-centered nonprofits in combating the growing number who lack this critical resource.
Optimal stochastic fault detection filter

A fault detection and identification algorithm, called optimal stochastic fault detection filter, is determined. The objective of the filter is to detect a single fault, called the target fault, and block other faults, called the nuisance faults, in the presence of the process and sensor noises. The filter is derived by maximizing the transmission from the target fault to the projected output error while minimizing the transmission from the nuisance faults. Therefore, the residual is affected primarily by the target fault and minimally by the nuisance faults. The transmission from the process and sensor noises is also minimized so that the filter is robust with respect to these disturbances. It is shown that the filter recovers the geometric structure of the unknown input observer in the limit where the weighting on the nuisance fault transmission goes to infinity. Further, the asymptotic behavior of the filter near the limit is determined by using a perturbation method. Filter designs can be obtained for both time-invariant and time-varying systems.
Muscimol infusions in the brain stem reticular formation reversibly block ingestion in the awake rat

Previous studies have localized a central pattern generator for mastication to the midline pontomedullary reticular formation (RF) based on cortically induced ororhythmic movements. The present stu...
Innate Immunity in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis

Autoimmune myocarditis can be induced in susceptible strains of mice by infection with coxsackievirus B3. The most prominent antibody elicited by the viral infection reacts with the cardiac isoform of myosin and immunization of susceptible mice with cardiac myosin replicates the autoimmune disease. A number of traits determine whether a particular strain of mice is susceptible to autoimmune myocarditis, but the critical decision is made early after infection during the innate immune response. Four of the major components of the innate response have been investigated and found to contribute to susceptibility: the complement system; NK cells; early-acting proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
Reactions of reactive metabolites with hemoproteins-toxicological implications: Covalent alteration of hemoproteins

It was suggested in 1971 based on studies with the hepatotoxic agent, bromobenzene, that metabolism of chemicals to reactive intermediates could play a central role in toxicological processes involved with xenobiotics (Brodie et al., 1971). Over the subsequent 20 years, studies on a variety of chemicals have supported such a notion due to the correlation of the level of protein bound metabolites with toxicity (Hinson & Roberts, 1992). Only in a few cases, however, have the proteins involved or the nature of the covalent modifications been determined and in no case has a direct toxicological role for the altered proteins been shown. One of the best characterized cellular targets of reactive intermediates are the liver microsomal P450 cytochromes (Ortiz de Montellano & Correia, 1983; Halpert & Stevens, 1991), which in many instances are the enzymes responsible for the generation of the reactive metabolites. It is known that at least three pathways exist for the covalent alteration of the cytochrome P450, one that involves alteration of the heme, a second that involves alteration of the protein, and a third that involves the crosslinking of heme to the protein (Scheme I) (Osawa & Pohl, 1989). Although the alterations of the heme or the protein have been well documented (Ortiz de Montellano, 1990; Halpert, 1982; Halpert, Miller, & Gorsky, 1985; Roberts et al., 1994; Roberts, Hopkins, Alworth, & Hollenberg, 1993; Bryant, Skipper, Tannenbaum, & Maclure, 1987; Gorelick, Hutchins, Tannenbaum, & Wogan, 1989), the protein bound heme adducts have not been structurally defined, due to the complexity of the cytochrome P450 system and the potential reactions that can occur after initial heme alteration.
Spatial and temporal variation in positioning probability of acoustic telemetry arrays: fine-scale variability and complex interactions

As popularity of positional acoustic telemetry systems increases, so does the need to better understand how they perform in real-world applications, where variation in performance can bias study conclusions. Studies assessing variability in positional telemetry system performance have focused primarily on position accuracy, or comparing performance inside and outside the array. Here, we explored spatial and temporal variation in positioning probability within a 140-receiver Vemco Positioning System (VPS) array used to monitor lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, spawning behavior over 23 km2 in Lake Huron, North America. Variability in VPS positioning probability was assessed between August and November from 2012 to 2014 using 43 stationary transmitters distributed throughout the array. Various analyses were used to relate positioning probability to number of fish transmitters in the array, wave height, and thermal stratification. We also assessed the prevalence of ‘close proximity detection interference’ (CPDI) in our array by analyzing detection probability of 35 transmitters on collocated receivers. Positioning probability of the VPS array varied greatly over time and space. Number of fish transmitters present in the array was a significant driver of reduced positioning probability, especially during lake trout spawning period when the fish were aggregated. Relationships between positioning probability and environmental variables were complex and varied over small spatial and temporal scales. One possible confounding variable was the large range of water depth over which receivers were deployed. Another confounding factor was the high prevalence of CPDI, which decreased exponentially with water depth and was less evident when wave heights were higher than normal. Some variables that negatively influenced positioning can be minimized through careful planning (e.g., number of tagged fish released, transmitter power level). However, results suggested that the acoustic environment was highly variable over small spatial and temporal scales in response to complex interactions between many variables. Therefore, models that predict positioning or detection efficiencies as a function of environmental variables may not be attainable in most systems. The best defense against biased study conclusions is incorporation of in situ measures of system performance that allow for retrospective analysis of array performance after a study is completed.
Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy of Single-Stranded DNA

In this chapter correlation force spectroscopy (CFS) is used to characterize the dynamical mechanical properties of a single single-stranded DNA chain.
Language Use and Violence: Assessing the Relationship Between Linguistic Context and Macrolevel Violence†

Scholars have produced a sizable body of research assessing the macrolevel links between immigration and crime. However, researchers have given far less attention to related questions about the effects of language use on aggregate levels of violence. The current study addresses this gap in research by exploring the ways that patterns of language use—specifically, language heterogeneity and Spanish-language concentration—are related to year 2010 serious violent crime rates for nearly 2,900 census places across the United States. Results of our analysis reveal that linguistic heterogeneity is associated with increased violence and that this relationship is stronger in disadvantaged contexts. In contrast, Spanish-language concentration appears to be protective against violence and mitigates the violence-generating effects of structural disadvantage, net of immigration and other macrostructural characteristics. Implications of these findings for research on immigration, communities and crime, and related theoretical perspectives on immigrant revitalization and macrostructural theories of crime are discussed.
On-off control for low-power servo control in piezoelectric micro-robotics

Autonomous micro-systems require extremely strict power budgeting to provide useful battery lifetime and functionality. To produce bio-inspired terrestrial micro-robots, this power budget must encompass servo control of a set of robotic leg joints. Piezoelectric actuators can provide high-force actuation necessary for such an application, but driving circuitry for piezoelectric actuator control can consume excessive power. On-off control can reduce actuator power consumption by eliminating analog amplification and minimizing the number of on-off transitions required to perform a given leg joint motion, as compared to conventional PWM controllers. A sample on-off controller designed to require a limited number of on-off transitions from a prototype system is described, and trade-offs to motion accuracy and robustness as power consumption is reduced are discussed. Experimental tests are conducted on a macro-scale piezoelectric test-bed.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Defects and Strain in GexSi1−x Layers Grown by Rapid Thermal Processing Chemical Vapor Deposition

We have grown single and multi-layer epitaxial GexSi1−x/Si structures by RTPCVD on (100)Si substrates using GeH4 and SiH2Cl2 at 900°C and 1000°C with SiH2Cl2:GeHH4 ratios of 14:1 to 95:1 at 5 Torr. Plane view TEM micrographs indicate misfit dislocation free layers were grown for Ge concentrations of up to 13%. Misfit dislocation networks aligned along were formed at the interface of films with higher Ge concentrations. Plane view TEM micrographs also showed dislocation loops at the interface. When the SiH2C12:GeH4 ratio used was less than 25:1, the GexSil−x layer grew by three-dimensional nucleation, resulting in a high density of defects.
Role of Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Composition on Pore Characteristics of Micelle-Templated Mesoporous Cobalt Oxide Films

Block copolymer templating is a versatile approach for the generation of well-defined porosity in a wide variety of framework chemistries. Here, we systematically investigate how the composition of a poly(methoxy poly[ethylene glycol] methacrylate)-block-poly(butyl acrylate) (PMPEG-PBA) template impacts the pore characteristics of mesoporous cobalt oxide films. Three templates with a constant PMPEG segment length and different hydrophilic block volume fractions of 17%, 51%, and 68% for the PMPEG-PBA are cooperatively assembled with cobalt nitrate hexahydrate and citric acid. Irrespective of template composition, a spherical nanostructure is templated and elliptical mesostructures are obtained on calcination due to uniaxial contraction of the film. The average pore size increases from 11.4 ± 2.8 to 48.5 ± 4.3 nm as the length of the PBA segment increases as determined from AFM. For all three templates examined, a maximum in porosity (∼35% in all cases) and surface area is obtained when the precursor solids...
Follicular thyroid cancer.

Follicular thyroid cancer is the second most common thyroid malignancy. Dietary iodine content may determine the relative proportion of follicular thyroid cancer and papillary thyroid cancer. Several subgroups of follicular thyroid cancer, which may show some differences in clinical behavior, can be recognized histologically. Primary treatment of follicular thyroid cancer is complete surgical removal of tumor, usually followed by suppressive thyroid hormone therapy. High-risk patients may also undergo radioiodine remnant ablation. The prognosis for young patients with small, minimally invasive tumors is excellent, whereas older patients with more extensive tumors or distant metastases at presentation may suffer substantial morbidity and mortality. Follow-up should be most intense during the first 5 years after the initial surgery and involves serum thyroglobulin measurements and, for some patients, diagnostic radioiodine scanning.
Pacemaker Evaluation in the Emergency Department

There are approximately 500,000 implanted cardiac pacemakers in the USA and another 100,000 are implanted each year [1]. In the emergency department, a physician may be faced with a pacemaker that is not functioning appropriately. To understand the ways in which a pacemaker can malfunction or lead to medical complications, first it is important to understand how pacemakers work when they do so appropriately.
The QCD Glueball Mass in the Presence of Dynamical Fermions

First results for the masses of the 0++ and 2++ glueballs obtained from a simulation of lattice QCD on a 43·24 lattice with the effects of dynamical fermions included using the pseudo-fermion method are reported. The masses are determined from the exponential falloff of adjoint line correlation functions. We find that \({M_{{2^{ + + }}}} < {M_{{0^{ + + }}}}\), extending an earlier result by Berg, Billoire and Vohwinkel for the pure gauge case to the full theory.
Ultrasonic Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging Sequencing and Data Processing Using a Verasonics Research Scanner

Ultrasound elasticity imaging has been developed over the last decade to estimate tissue stiffness. Shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) quantifies tissue stiffness by measuring the speed of propagating shear waves following acoustic radiation force excitation. This paper presents the sequencing and data processing protocols of SWEI using a Verasonics system. The selection of the sequence parameters in a Verasonics programming script is discussed in detail. The data processing pipeline to calculate group shear wave speed (SWS), including tissue motion estimation, data filtering, and SWS estimation, is demonstrated. In addition, the procedures for calibration of beam position, scanner timing, and transducer face heating are provided to avoid SWS measurement bias and transducer damage.
Cancer Cell Hyperactivity and Membrane Dipolarity Monitoring via Raman Mapping of Interfaced Graphene: Toward Non-Invasive Cancer Diagnostics

Ultrasensitive detection, mapping, and monitoring of the activity of cancer cells is critical for treatment evaluation and patient care. Here, we demonstrate that a cancer cell’s glycolysis-induced hyperactivity and enhanced electronegative membrane (from sialic acid) can sensitively modify the second-order overtone of in-plane phonon vibration energies (2D) of interfaced graphene via a hole-doping mechanism. By leveraging ultrathin graphene’s high quantum capacitance and responsive phononics, we sensitively differentiated the activity of interfaced Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) cells, a malignant brain tumor, from that of human astrocytes at a single-cell resolution. GBM cell’s high surface electronegativity (potential ∼310 mV) and hyperacidic-release induces hole-doping in graphene with a 3-fold higher 2D vibration energy shift of approximately 6 ± 0.5 cm–1 than astrocytes. From molecular dipole-induced quantum coupling, we estimate that the sialic acid density on the cell membrane increases from one mo...
Microbial Growth Dynamics

The article summarizes basic principles, methods, and the most essential results of kinetic studies in microbiology relevant to biotechnology. Microbial kinetics are based on experimental studies of all dynamic manifestations of microbial life (growth, survival, death, product formation, mutations, cell cycles, and environmental effects) and analysis of underlying mechanisms using mathematical models. The article introduces various kinetic models used to describe microbial growth dynamics starting from simple exponential equations and empirical logistic equations to Monod models, its modifications, and to more complex structured models simulating cellular metabolic network. Now equally useful should be considered genome-based flux-balance models and simplified dynamic models giving an aggregated view of microbial metabolism and successfully simulating a diverse range of observed growth patterns. The second part of the article reviews various factors affecting microbial growth, including nature of nutrient substrates, environmental factors (pH and temperature), inhibitory products, mutations, and autoselection in continuous culture. We discuss also the problem of the quantitative description of growth and product formation dynamics. Two contrasting examples are given: (1) production of secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, and (2) formation of intermediary fermentation products under aerobic conditions (Crabtree effect).
Biomaterials innovation for next generation ex vivo immune tissue engineering.

Primary and secondary lymphoid organs are tissues that facilitate differentiation of B and T cells, leading to the induction of adaptive immune responses. These organs are present in the body from birth and are also recognized as locations where self-reactive B and T cells can be eliminated during the natural selection process. Many insights into the mechanisms that control the process of immune cell development and maturation in response to infection come from the analysis of various gene-deficient mice that lack some or all hallmark features of lymphoid tissues. The complexity of such animal models limits our ability to modulate the parameters that control the process of immune cell development, differentiation, and immunomodulation. Engineering functional, living immune tissues using biomaterials can grant researchers the ability to reproduce immunological events with tunable parameters for more rapid development of immunotherapeutics, cell-based therapy, and enhancing our understanding of fundamental biology as well as improving efforts in regenerative medicine. Here the author provides his review and perspective on the bioengineering of primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, and biomaterials innovation needed for the construction of these immune organs in tissue culture plates and on-chip.
Porosity in polysilsesquioxane xerogels

Polymerization of organotrialkoxysilanes is a convenient method for introducing organic functionality into hybrid organic-inorganic materials. However, not much is known about the effects of the organic substituent on the porosity of the resulting xerogels. In this study, we prepared a series of polysilsesquioxane xerogels from organotrialkoxysilanes, RSi(OR′) 3 , with different organic groups (R = H, Me, Et, dodecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, vinyl, chloromethyl, cyanoethyl). Polymerizations of the monomers were carried out under a variety of conditions, varying monomer concentration, type of catalyst, and alkoxide substituent. The effect of the organic substituent on the sol-gel process was often dramatic. In many cases, gels were formed only at very high monomer concentration and/or with only one type of catalyst. All of the gels were processed as xerogels and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen sorption porosimetry to evaluate their pore structure.
Eating Invaders: Managing Biological Invasions with Fork and Knife?

As the public, academy, government, and private sector all turn increased attention to food systems, new ideas constantly emerge for healthy, sustainable, and just innovations in growing, marketing, and eating food. “Invasivory” — eating invasive species — is one such idea. Biological invasions occur when humans transport an organism from its ecosystem of origin into a new ecosystem and that organism adapts to its new location, spreading widely from the site of introduction. Invasive species can cause significant ecological, economic, and public health damage. Crops, homes, and native species are all at risk. “Invasivores,” as the proponents of invasivory are called, recognize the many dangers of invasive species, and they propose bringing invaders into the food system. Whether as commodities, value-added artisanal goods, game, or any other object of the system, the argument is the same: the food system is a powerful force and human eating habits can effect dramatic change as is evidenced from the many species that humans have eaten to near extinction. What was bad for the passenger pigeon or Atlantic Cod is good for European starlings or Asian carp. Put differently, humans can address the problems of invasive species by eating them. Businesses, governments, and academics now promote the invasivore movement. In New Haven, Connecticut, Chef Bun Lai of Miya’s Sushi is one of the nation’s leading invasivores, and he serves a number of invasive dishes in his restaurant. Governments as different as Michigan and Florida have started campaigns to promote consumption of invasive fish. Professors and graduate students from Vermont to Indiana host websites touting the ecological benefits. Unfortunately, there are compelling arguments against the invasivore movement. This article will describe the rationale and breadth of the eating invaders movement followed by a series of critiques. For example, both food safety and environmental laws may prohibit the sale of many invasive species. Birth and death rates might make it impossible for consumption to have any impact on populations. Social expectations and economic standards are likely to interfere with complete eradication of any popular food source. The invasivore movement is captivating and, to its credit, is a tool for educating the public about an important issue. However, it is unlikely to be effective and the more popular it becomes, the more likely it is to exacerbate ecological problems. For this reason, a more critical and public debate of the idea is necessary.
Acoustoelectric imaging of time-varying current produced by a clinical deep brain stimulator

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for a variety of brain disorders, including Parkinson's disease, depression and chronic pain. However, there is no reliable method to non-invasively image electric current flow generated by a DBS. In this study, we demonstrate 4D current source density imaging based on the acoustoelectric (AE) effect, which integrates an ultrasound beam with electrical recording, to map current flow produced by a clinical DBS device. AE imaging was able to accurately determine the polarity, magnitude and location of the current densities near the DBS device placed in physiologic saline with a signal-to-noise ratio of 17.1 dB using stimulation parameters similar to what are used on patients. Pulse echo (PE) ultrasound was acquired simultaneously to provide additional information regarding the spatial coordinates and structure of the DBS without need of additional techniques. These results suggest that AE imaging combined with PE ultrasound may provide valuable feedback during and after implantation of a DBS device.
Fundamental Limits of Optical Tweezer Nanoparticle Manipulation Speeds

Optical tweezers are a noncontact method of 3D positioning applicable to the fields of micro- and nanomanipulation and assembly, among others. In these applications, the ability to manipulate particles over relatively long distances at high speed is essential in determining overall process efficiency and throughput. In order to maximize manipulation speeds, it is necessary to increase the trapping laser power, which is often accompanied by undesirable heating effects due to material absorption. As such, the majority of previous studies focus primarily on trapping large dielectric microspheres using slow movement speeds at low laser powers, over relatively short translation distances. In contrast, we push nanoparticle manipulation beyond the region in which maximum lateral movement speed is linearly proportional to laser power, and investigate the fundamental limits imposed by material absorption, thus quantifying maximum possible speeds attainable with optical tweezers. We find that gold and silver nanosp...
Stereotyped Identification: How Identifying with Fictional Latina Characters Increases Acceptance and Stereotyping

This article applies the concept of stereotyped identification—the idea that cognitively and emotionally identifying with fictional minority characters can simultaneously increase acceptance of minorities while reinforcing stereotypes about how they look, act, and talk—to the context of Latina television characters. Specifically, we employed a national survey measuring participants’ exposure to Latina TV characters; levels of identification with TV characters; and attitudes toward, and stereotypes about, Latinas. Results are consistent with the prediction that through identification, exposure to Latina TV characters is related to more favorable feelings toward Latinas, as well as higher levels of stereotyped views of Latinas as sexualized and melodramatic.
Blogs Written by Families During Their Child's Hospitalization: A Thematic Narrative Analysis

Abstract Purpose To identify stressors experienced by parents whose child is hospitalized in an intensive care unit, and identify coping mechanisms utilized to ameliorate those stressors. Design and Methods Using Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping as a framework, 20 publicly available blogs written by parents while their child was a patient in intensive care were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Stressors and coping techniques were identified, and grouped by theme for further analysis. Results The most frequently noted types of stressors were related to information; both knowing and not knowing information related to their child's condition was reported as stressful, as well as waiting for information and when the information was not what was expected. Reframing was the emotion-focused technique most often identified by the parents, and seeking support was the most frequently noted problem-focused coping mechanism. Conclusions Illness blogs represent a rich source of information regarding the experiences of families with a child in the hospital. Parents transitioned from more emotion-focused coping strategies to problem-focused strategies during their child's hospital stay. Practice Implications When nurses give information to parents, they should be aware that knowing information can be stressful as well as not knowing, and care should be taken to provide support for parents after information is given. Nurses can also help parents identify sources of support. Writing about their experiences, either online or in a journal, may help parents cope in stressful situations.
À la Recherche du Temps Perdu: extracting temporal relations from medical text in the 2012 i2b2 NLP challenge

Objective An analysis of the timing of events is critical for a deeper understanding of the course of events within a patient record. The 2012 i2b2 NLP challenge focused on the extraction of temporal relationships between concepts within textual hospital discharge summaries. Materials and methods The team from the National Research Council Canada (NRC) submitted three system runs to the second track of the challenge: typifying the time-relationship between pre-annotated entities. The NRC system was designed around four specialist modules containing statistical machine learning classifiers. Each specialist targeted distinct sets of relationships: local relationships, ‘sectime’-type relationships, non-local overlap-type relationships, and non-local causal relationships. Results The best NRC submission achieved a precision of 0.7499, a recall of 0.6431, and an F1 score of 0.6924, resulting in a statistical tie for first place. Post hoc improvements led to a precision of 0.7537, a recall of 0.6455, and an F1 score of 0.6954, giving the highest scores reported on this task to date. Discussion and conclusions Methods for general relation extraction extended well to temporal relations, and gave top-ranked state-of-the-art results. Careful ordering of predictions within result sets proved critical to this success.