cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Poloxamers with Lipid Bilayer: Molecular Dynamics Simulations using United Atom and Coarse-Grained Force Fields

Poloxamers are triblock copolymers containing a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide block on either side of a hydrophobic polypropylene oxide block (PEO-PPO-PEO). Poloxamer molecules of different block lengths are used for various purposes: to facilitate gene/drug delivery, as an emulsifying agents and/or as agents helping in healing of damaged cell membranes. To understand their actions on a molecular level, we performed a series of molecular dynamic simulations using a modified united atom (UA) and a coarse-grained force fields for poloxamers. These force fields correctly reproduce various experimental properties and observations, like the radii of gyration, and distributions of poloxamers at the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface. We considered two poloxamers of interest to us; one is P85 (PEO26PPO40PEO26) which is slightly hydrophobic, and another is P188 (PEO80PPO27PEO80) which is hydrophilic. Our results show that in both cases the hydrophobic PPO chain of the poloxamer inserts into the DMPC lipid bilayer, whereas the PEO chain mostly interacts with the lipid headgroups. We also studied the properties of P85 and P188 micelles in water and at the water-lipid bilayer interface using coarse-grained simulations. P85 micelle (aggregation number = 60) assumes a spherical shape, whereas P188 micelle (aggregation umber = 21) is slightly distorted from a spherical shape. No translocation of poloxamers through the bilayer was observed during the 5 µs simulation of a single poloxamer or a micelle containing poloxamers. However, we observed that the P85 micelle adsorbed on a lipid bilayer survace curves the bilayer significantly. Our simulations also showed that P188 micelle helps to close pores in the lipid bilayer.
Terahertz coherent transients from N 2 O vapor

An experimental and theoretical study of coherent THz transients is reported. Compared to coherence effects for nuclear and electron spin systems, the work reported here involves samples many wavelengths in length, so that in addition to the point response, propagation effects are also important. In contrast to infrared and optical investigations, where coherent transients are detected as pulse intensities or as beat notes on a carrier, our experiments directly measure the actual electric field of the transmitted radiation pulse and that radiated by the N2O vapor sample.
Representing and Linking Music Performance Data with Score Information

This paper argues for the need to develop a representation for music performance data that is linked with corresponding score information at the note, beat, and measure levels. Building on the results of a survey of music scholars about their music performance data encoding needs, we propose best-practices for encoding perceptually relevant descriptors of the timing, pitch, loudness, and timbral aspects of performance. We are specifically interested in using descriptors that are sufficiently generalized that multiple performances of the same piece can be directly compared with one another. This paper also proposes a specific representation for encoding performance data and presents prototypes of this representation in both Humdrum and Music Encoding Initiative (MEI) formats.
Acute effects on cognitive performance following bouts of standing and light-intensity physical activity in a simulated workplace environment.

Abstract Objectives To compare acute cognitive effects following bouts of standing (STAND), cycling (CYCLE) and walking (WALK) to a sit-only (SIT) condition. Design Randomized cross-over full-factorial study. Methods Nine overweight (BMI = 29 ± 3 kg/m 2 ) adults (30 ± 15 years; 7 females, 2 males) completed four conditions (SIT, STAND, WALK and CYCLE) across a 6 h period with a 7 days washout period between conditions. SIT consisted of uninterrupted sitting. Experimental conditions included intermittent bouts of standing (STAND), cycling (CYCLE) and walking (WALK). A cognitive performance battery (Cogstate) was completed twice in a seated position following bouts of standing and light-intensity physical activity. Mixed-effects models compared between-condition differences in standardized score (z-score), accuracy (%), and speed (log 10 ms). Results Cognitive performance z-score and accuracy measures were higher during STAND, CYCLE and WALK ( P Conclusions Compared to uninterrupted sitting, short bouts of standing or light-intensity cycling and walking may improve acute cognitive performance.
Climate Variability and Changes in Precipitation Extremes and Characteristics

Climate variability and change are expected to bring several changes to hydrologic cycles and regimes in different parts of the world. Natural climate variability based on large-scale, global inter-year, quasi-decadal and decadal, and multidecadal-coupled oceanic–atmospheric oscillations (e.g., El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)) contribute to regional variations in extremes and characteristics of essential climatic variables (e.g., temperature, precipitation, etc.) in different parts of the globe. These oscillations defined based on climate anomalies that are related to each other at large distances (referred to as teleconnections) are known to impact regional and global climate. Linkages of these teleconnections to the variability in regional precipitation patterns have been well documented in several research studies. This chapter focuses on evaluation of climate variability influences on precipitation extremes and characteristics. Several indices and metrics are discussed for such evaluation, and a few results from case studies are presented.
Enteric Bacterial and Viral Pathogens and Indicator Bacteria in Hard Shell Clams.

Enteric bacteria and virus levels were determined in hard shell clams, Mercenaria mercenaria , harvested from areas open or closed for commercial shellfishing on the basis of total coliform levels in water. Four pairs of open and closed stations were sampled seasonally over a 1-year period. Enteric viruses were isolated from 3 of 13 100-g clam samples from open beds and 6 of 15 samples from closed beds. Salmonella was found in 1 of 15 samples from closed areas, but not in any samples from open areas. No Shigella or Yersinia were isolated from clams taken from either open or closed beds. Levels of Vibrio parahaemolyticus , an indigenous estuarine microorganism, were similar in clams from open and closed areas. No statistically significant difference was found in the occurrence of enteric viruses in clams from open and closed areas. Product-moment correlations between concentrations of enteric viruses and bacteria in clams or water demonstrated no statistically significant correlations between virus concentrations in clams and total coliforms or fecal coliforms in water or total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci or aerobic plate counts in clams.
Comprehensive Assessment of Disease Mutant Forms of the Human KCNQ1 Potassium Channel

The voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ1 is critical for the cardiac action potential. Mutations in KCNQ1 and its accessory protein KCNE1 are the most common cause of congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS). There are a variety of mechanisms by which a given mutation may cause KCNQ1 channel dysfunction and prolonged activation potentials. The ideal treatment of patients harboring a KCNQ1 mutation is dependent on which specific mechanisms cause loss of function. In the present study, we have employed a multidisciplinary approach to systematically investigate the specific effects of 51 KCNQ1 mutations on the channel structure, stability, trafficking, and (i.e. through collaboration) electrophysiological properties. The 51 mutations, located in the voltage sensor domain (VSD), are disease causing, benign, or of unknown significance. High quality NMR spectra of the isolated wild type VSD and of its mutant forms that are locked in fully activated state or in resting state serve as reference spectra. The 1H-15N TROSY spectrum of each mutant was collected and compared with the reference spectra to determine whether the mutation destabilizes the protein, or shifts the basal activated vs. resting state equilibrium. We have also expressed each mutant full length KCNQ1 in HEK293 cells and quantitatively assessed its total protein expression and cell surface expression using flow cytometry. These results will help elucidate the exact defects of each mutant associated with LQTS, potentially providing information that can be used to inform personalized treatment of LQTS subjects harboring KCNQ1 mutations.This work was supported by NIH Grant RO1 HL122010. We also thank the lab of Prof. Alfred George at Northwestern University for providing the cDNA for the KCNQ1-VSD mutants.
Total Usual Intake of Shortfall Nutrients Varies With Poverty Among US Adults.

Abstract Objective To examine shortfall nutrient intakes (ie, calcium, folate, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E) by poverty-to-income ratio (PIR). Design National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012, a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey. Participants US adults with complete data on poverty status and diet were included (n = 4,524). Analysis The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate total usual micronutrient intakes from foods, beverages, medications, and dietary supplements reported on 2 24-hour dietary recalls using measurement error correction. Main Outcome Measures Calcium, folate, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E across 3 PIR categories: Results Mean intakes of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin D were significantly greater in men, and magnesium in women, across all PIR categories. Except for calcium in men and vitamin C in women, the highest PIR category had significantly higher mean total usual intakes of all remaining shortfall micronutrients. Importantly, men and women in the highest PIR category (≥350%) were significantly less likely to have intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement across all micronutrients compared with those in the lower PIR categories. Conclusions and Implications Even with dietary supplements, large proportions of US adults have micronutrient intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement. Adults at the highest adjusted income have higher micronutrient intakes and lower risk of inadequacy than those with lower incomes.
ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF METHANE PRODUCTION WITH ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

A benefit-cost accounting approach is applied to methane production within the framework of agricultural waste management systems. This approach utilizes the physical parameters of methane production to optimize gas output while maximizing the value of the effluent associated with its utilization in alternative systems.
Organization-Level Interventions to Promote Physician Health and Well-Being: From Taking Care of Physicians to Giving Care to Patients

Physician burnout is not simply a problem of problematic physicians. It is a worldwide, workplace-related phenomenon, shaped by systemic and individual factors. To address modifiable risk factors and promote physician engagement, satisfaction, and well-being, both individual and organizational interventions are needed. Enhancing individual resiliency is necessary but not sufficient, and it can inadvertently shift sole responsibility onto physicians. Conversely, when organizations visibly acknowledge and address workplace factors, they legitimize the burden on physicians and share responsibility for mitigating those factors. Organizational interventions target six major work-related factors: (1) work overload relative to the time available, (2) insufficient autonomy with loss of both discretionary time and input into decisions affecting patient care, (3) a non-supportive interpersonal work environment, (4) incentives tied to productivity, based on increased fiscal and performance monitoring, with diminishing respect and appreciation, (5) perceived organizational injustice, and (6) misaligned values between physicians and their organizations. Organizational culture and individual physicians differ across healthcare systems and clinical units. Thus, while burnout is global, interventions are local. Participatory organizational interventions are effective and address local conditions. They are designed, customized, and implemented by physicians based on the work factors they identify as being most important to the functioning of their clinical units and well-being. Leaders have good reason to support organizational interventions, because engaged and healthy physicians will support their triple aim of improving the healthcare of populations, enhancing their patients’ experience of care, and reducing costs. The fourth aim of improving the experience of providing care calls upon organizations to embrace physician health and well-being as a core value and goal.
Distributed Multiparty DC Power Flow Algorithm with Secure Exchange of Information

This paper introduces a new distributed algorithm for computing DC power flow with secure information exchange among participating areas. The algorithm is based on the principles of the Diakoptics approach to distributed power flow execution. Power flow is computed in multiple steps through a precisely defined information exchange protocol between the coordinator and the individual areas. In the conventional Diakoptics algorithm, areas exchange the information about their generation and load with the coordinator. Our algorithm redefines the exchange of information protocol so that areas do not need to reveal their internal generation and load but only their effects on the rest of the grid. In this way, proprietary information about the exact locations and values of generation and demand are protected and cannot be uniquely deciphered. We illustrate this algorithm and the corresponding information exchange protocol on the IEEE 14-bus system.
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Implementation: Success Factors and Realized Benefits

Using a multiple case studies and surveys, this article finds that factors essential to successful Service Oriented Architecture SOA implementations include establishing effective SOA governance, e...
Facilitation of kindling epileptogenesis by chronic stress may be mediated by intestinal microbiome

There has been growing interest in the role of intestinal microbiome in brain disorders. We examined whether dysbiosis can predispose to epilepsy. The study was performed in female and male Sprague-Dawley rats. To induce dysbiosis, the rats were subjected to chronic restraint stress (two 2-h long sessions per day, over 2 weeks). Cecal content from stressed and sham-stressed donors was transplanted via oral gavage to recipients, in which commensal microbiota had been depleted by the antibiotics. The study included the following groups: (1) Sham stress, no microbiota transplant; (2) Stress, no microbiota transplant; (3) Sham-stressed recipients transplanted with microbiota from sham-stressed donors; (4) Stressed recipients transplanted with microbiota from sham-stressed donors; (5) Sham-stressed recipients transplanted with microbiota from stressed donors; and (6) Stressed recipients transplanted with microbiota from stressed donors. After microbiota transplant, all animals were subjected to kindling of the basolateral amygdala. Both chronic stress and microbiome transplanted from stressed to sham-stressed subjects accelerated the progression and prolonged the duration of kindled seizures. Microbiome from sham-stressed animals transplanted to chronically stressed rats, counteracted proepileptic effects of restraint stress. These findings directly implicate perturbations in the gut microbiome, particularly those associated with chronic stress, in the increased susceptibility to epilepsy.
Familial inversion of chromosome No. 8

An infant with multiple congenital anomalies was found to have a duplication-deficiency disorder involving chromosome No. 8. The abnormality was identified as an unbalanced recombinant inherited from the mother who was a carrier of a pericentric inversion of chromosome No. 8. The inversion was observed in several members of this family, including a fetus who was diagnosed by an amniocentesis. The inverted chromosome was demonstrated only with the use of a differential staining technique, in this case, by trypsin-Giemsa banding.
Heterogeneity of Central and Peripheral Tachykinin Binding Sites

The tachykinln family of small bioactive peptides are defined by their similar biological activities and conserved carboxyl-terminal sequence -Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2, where X is an aromatic or branched al iphatic amino acid [1].The amino-termini of the tachykinins shows a much wider variation, and most of the biological activities of this peptide family reside in their similar carboxyl sequences. Substance P (X=Phe) is the most widely known member of the tachykinin family, and was for many years generally believed to be the only mammalian tachykinin. In recent years the discovery [2–4] of the novel mammalian tachykinins substance K and neuromedin K (both X=Val) has shown that mammalian tachykinin systems are more elaborate than previously supposed [9]. The new tachykinins differ from substance Pin their central and peripheral pharmacologies, mediating. different physio1ogica1 funct ions through different receptors. In the present report we have used several different radiolabeled tachyki ni ns to invest i gate the distribution and heterogeneity of tachyki ni n bi ndi ng sites in the rat brain and periphery and the canine gastrointestinal system.
Case 1: A Patient with a Mediastinal Mass

Today you are an attending anesthesiologist in a large university medical center. The first case is a 55-year-old gentleman (60 kg, 5 ft 11 in.) with multiple metastatic melanomas. He has had one metastasis removed from his brain in the past. He now presents with some speech impairment and is scheduled for a tumor ­resection close to his speech center. His past history is significant for a difficult airway, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. A previous anesthesia record from another hospital informs you that the patient had a grade 4 view. The airway was, at that time, secured by using a bougie. His coronary artery disease is stated to be stable. He is 90 kg and is 6 ft 1 in. tall. You arrange for an awake fiberoptic cart to be available in the morning.
BARTONELLA BACILLIFORMIS ANEMIA (OROYA FEVER) A STUDY OF THIRTY CASES

Bartonella bacilliformis anemia (Oroya fever) is a febrile hemolytic anemia with distinguishing clinical and hematologic characteristics. It occurs as an infrequent clinical form during the invasive stage. The onset is variable with or without chills, followed by a moderate temperature which does not parallel the intensity of the anemia. Hemorrhages, petechial spots, epistaxis may occur and are due to thrombocytopenia. Clouding of the sensorium and delirium are rather uncommon. There is a generalized lymphadenopathy but no splenomegaly. The anemia is macrocytic and frequently hypochromic with signs of intense blood formation: young granulocytes, polychromatophilia, reticulocytosis and nucleated red cells. The reticulocytosis may increase to 50 per cent. The pathognomonic sign of the disease is the presence of bartonella bacilliformis on the erythrocytes. The leukocyte count varies; slight leukocytosis is not uncommon but marked leukocytosis is extremely rare in cases without intercurrent infections. There is a shift of the polymorphonuclear series to the left, characterized by the presence of myeloblasts, myelocytes and metamyelocytes. The anemia is normoblastic and not megaloblastic. It is hemolytic and the destruction of erythrocytes is dependent on the presence of bartonella bacilliformis on the erythrocytes. There is no spherocytosis and the fragility of the erythrocytes is normal. Histologically there is evidence of erythrocyte phagocytosis in the cells of the reticulo-endothelial system; the Kupffer cells, the littoral cells of the spleen and the lymph nodes. The disappearance of the bartonellae from the erythrocytes occurs in a very few days and is called "critical stage" of the anemia. The hematologic changes of this transition are as follows: a change in the shape of the bartonellae from the "bacilliform" to "coccoid" form before complete clearance will take place, an increase in the erythrocyte count, reduction in the indirect hyperbilirubinemia to normal, increase in the number of reticulocytes, reversion to normocytosis, lymphocytosis, reappearance of monocytes and eosinophiles, a "shift to the right" of the polymorphonuclear series. Corresponding with the clearance of bartonella from the erythrocytes, the symptoms dependent on the anemia as well as the fever disappear. Clinical improvement, however, may not parallel the clearance of bartonellae because of intercurrent infections or an atypical course of the bartonellosis itself. Bartonella bacilliformis anemia has a very severe prognosis, due largely to the occurrence of intercurrent infection by enteric organisms. The treatment today is largely symptomatic as there is no specific agent against the bartonellae bacilliformis infection. It is suggested that the prognosis may be improved by the use of adequate blood transfusions and the prophylactic use of antibiotics to control intercurrent infection. At present there is no specific agent against bartonella bacilliformis anemia.
Current Indications for Transnasal Esophagoscopy: An American Broncho-Esophagological Association Survey.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the current indications for and clinical factors influencing the use of transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE). METHODS: An online survey was sent to American Broncho-Esophagological Association members, including questions on demographics, indications, and factors influencing the use of TNE. RESULTS: Sixty of 251 members (24%) completed the survey. Ninety-three percent of respondents reported academic practices, while 98% practice in medium to large urban settings. Thirty-five (58%) completed laryngology fellowships. Mean monthly TNE procedure count was 7.15 (range, <1-35). The most common indications were dysphagia (82%), biopsy (50%), and laryngopharyngeal reflux (47%). Chronic cough, head and neck cancer screening, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and tracheoesophageal puncture were also commonly reported indications (44% each). For laryngopharyngeal reflux and GER, most respondents perform TNE for recalcitrant disease following a medical trial of at least 3 months. Long-standing GER symptoms, documentation of GER on pH and impedance testing, and abnormal findings on previous esophagoscopy lead to greater TNE use. Specific dysphagia indications included abnormal esophagographic findings (70%), history or examination localizing to the esophagus (60%), solid dysphagia only (53%), and solid and/or liquid dysphagia (40%). The primary sites most likely to prompt TNE use for head and neck cancer surveillance were the esophagus (92.3%) and hypopharynx (84.6%). Balloon dilation was the most common indication for which respondents do not currently perform TNE but would like to (n = 8). CONCLUSIONS: TNE indications have not been well established. According to respondents from the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, TNE is most commonly used for dysphagia and laryngopharyngeal reflux and slightly less so for GER and head and neck cancer screening and surveillance. Several clinical indicators were identified that influence the decision to perform TNE.
Serum autoantibodies as prognostic biomarkers for stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

e23029Background: Immune escape is a hallmark of cancer and emerging immunotherapies have shown great promise in promoting favorable patient outcomes. In this study, we hypothesized that immunosupp...
Right- versus Left-Sided Chest Ports in Oncologic Patients with a History of Right-Sided Port Removal: Are There Any Differences in the Complication Rates?

Abstract Purpose To compare chest port (port)-related complication rates between right- and left-sided ports placed in adult oncologic patients with a history of right-sided port removal. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review identified 90 adult oncologic patients with a history of right-sided port removal. Of these, 60 patients had a second port placed on the right side (right-side group), while 30 patients had a second port placed on the left side (left-side group). Median time between first port removal and second port placement was 217 days (range, 0–3808 days). Port-related complications included infection (port-site and/or bloodstream), mechanical, thrombotic, and port-site skin complications. Complication rates between groups were compared. Proportional subdistribution hazard regression (PSHREG) was conducted to determine if laterality of the second port is an independent risk factor for port-related complications. Results The cumulative follow-up period was 34,748 catheter-days (median, 233; range, 9–2162 days). Eleven patients (18.3%) in the right-side group and 2 patients (6.7%) in the left-side group had port-related complications (P = .21), accounting for complication rates of 0.5 and 0.2/1000 catheter-days (P = .24), respectively. No statistical difference was found in the incidence of infection (9/60 vs 1/30, P = .16), mechanical (0/60 vs. 1/30, P = .33), thrombotic (1/60 vs 0/30, P = 1.0), and skin-related (1/60 vs 0/30, P = 1.0) complications between groups. In multivariate PSHREG, laterality of the second port (hazard ratio = 3.09, 95% confidence interval = 0.81–11.76, P = .10) was not a significant risk factor for port-related complications. Conclusions In adult oncologic patients with a history of right-sided port removal, no significant differences in port-related complication rates were observed between right- and left-sided second ports.
Evaluating the Performance of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) under Working Stress Condition

This paper evaluates the performance of geosynthetic reinforced soil-Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) in terms of lateral facing deformation and strain distribution along geosynthetics. Simulations were conducted using 2D PLAXIS program. The hardening model proposed by Schanz et al. [1] was used to simulate the behavior of backfill material; the backfill-reinforcement interface was simulated using Mohr-Coulomb model, and the reinforcement and facing block were simulated using linear elastic models. The numerical model was verified using the results of a case study conducted at Maree Michel GRS-IBS, Louisiana. Parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects of span length, reinforcement spacing, and reinforcement stiffness on the performance of GRS-IBS. The results indicate that span length have significant impact on strain distribution along geosynthetics and lateral facing deformation. The reinforcement stiffness has significant impact on the GRS-IBS behavior up to a certain point, beyond which the effect tends to decrease contradictory to reinforcement spacing that has a consistent relationship between the GRS-IBS behavior and reinforcement spacing. The results also indicate that reinforcement spacing has higher influence on the lateral facing deformation than the reinforcement stiffness for the same reinforcement strength/spacing ratio (Tf /Sv ) due to the composite behavior of closely reinforcement spacing.
Comparing the Impact of Project Experiences across the Engineering Curriculum.

Project-based learning can be beneficial for engineering students, giving students the opportunity to complete mastery experiences that improve their engineering self-efficacy or academic self-confidence. However, despite the many potential benefits of projects, there can be issues with project-based learning: students may take on different tasks than their teammates, thus developing different skills and having different mastery experiences; and projects may impact students’ self-confidence or self-efficacy differently, and may depend on the students’ gender or class standing. This paper presents the results of a mixed-methods cross-sectional study focused on project experiences of students in the first, second, and final year of an undergraduate engineering curriculum: specifically, on the tasks that students take on and their changes in engineering confidence and self-efficacy. It was found that students generally experienced an increase in engineering confidence or self-efficacy over the course of the project semester, regardless of gender or class standing. There were differences in confidence between men and women observed at the beginning of first-year courses, but not in later years in the curriculum. However, while there was little evidence of stereotypically gendered divisions of tasks (women spending more of their time on managerial or communication work, men spending more of their time on technical or hands-on tasks) in first-year and sophomore classes, this division was found in senior-year projects. Our work highlights that project-based learning is beneficial for students in terms of increasing their engineering confidence and self-efficacy, but this increase may not persist, as seniors (fourth-year students) did not have higher self-efficacy than first-year students.
Pursuing graduate degrees in acoustics at Penn State

The Graduate Program in Acoustics at Penn State is the only program in the U.S. offering the Ph.D. in Acoustics as well as M.S. and M.Eng. degrees in Acoustics. An interdisciplinary program with faculty from a variety of academic disciplines, the Graduate Program in Acoustics is administratively aligned with the College of Engineering and closely affiliates with the Applied Research Laboratory. Research areas include: structural acoustics, nonlinear acoustics, architectural acoustics, signal processing, aeroacoustics, biomedical ultrasound, transducers, computational acoustics, noise and vibration control, psychoacoustics, and underwater acoustics. Course offerings include fundamentals of acoustics and vibration, electroacoustic transducers, signal processing, acoustics in fluid media, sound and structure interaction, digital signal processing, experimental techniques, acoustic measurements and data analysis, ocean acoustics, architectural acoustics, noise control engineering, nonlinear acoustics, outdoor sound propagation, computational acoustics, biomedical ultrasound, flow induced noise, spatial sound and three-dimensional audio, acoustics of musical instruments. More than 700 Penn State Acoustics graduates serve widely throughout military and government labs, academic institutions, consulting firms and industry. This poster describes faculty research areas, laboratory facilities, student demographics, successful graduates, and recent enrollment and employment trends.
Latch-up issue of drain metal connection split in test circuit with 3D TCAD simulation analysis in CMOS application

Abstract In CMOS integrated circuit (IC), parasitic Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR) path is unavoidable and causes the risk of latch up (LU) issue. In this work, we found that the SCR characteristic would be influenced by the difference of drain metal connection so it would affect the result of LU measurement. Two common test circuits were measured and discussed in the paper. Additionally, 3D TCAD simulations are performed to help the analysis. Finally, holding voltage (Vh) is increased from 1.5 V to 2.0 V and holding current (Ih) is increased from 0.25A to 0.75A with higher leakage current (IL), lower trigger voltage (Vt1) in drain-connection circuit. Therefore, drain-disconnection circuit, which is simulated as minimum spacing SCR path between two nearby circuits in IC design, is worse case that makes us judge the LU risk much rigorously.
A Robust Detection Algorithm Using Frequency Diverse Multiple Observations

The detection of a flaw embedded in large-grained material using high-resolution broadband ultrasonic pulses is hindered by high amplitude interfering echoes (speckle) due to the unresolvable grain boundaries. The application of an optimal linear processor in this case is complicated by the fact that statistical parameters of the grain noise are not known a priori.
Adipocyte Gs but not Gi signaling regulates whole-body glucose homeostasis

Abstract Objective The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is a key regulator of the metabolic and endocrine functions of adipose tissue. Increased SNS outflow promotes fat mobilization, stimulates non-shivering thermogenesis, promotes browning, and inhibits leptin production. Most of these effects are attributed to norepinephrine activation of the Gs-coupled beta adrenergic receptors located on the surface of the adipocytes. Evidence suggests that other adrenergic receptor subtypes, including the Gi-coupled alpha 2 adrenergic receptors might also mediate the SNS effects on adipose tissue. However, the impact of acute stimulation of adipocyte Gs and Gi has never been reported. Methods We harness the power of chemogenetics to develop unique mouse models allowing the specific and spatiotemporal stimulation of adipose tissue Gi and Gs signaling. We evaluated the impact of chemogenetic stimulation of these pathways on glucose homeostasis, lipolysis, leptin production, and gene expression. Results Stimulation of Gs signaling in adipocytes induced rapid and sustained hypoglycemia. These hypoglycemic effects were secondary to increased insulin release, likely consequent to increased lipolysis. Notably, we also observed differences in gene regulation and ex vivo lipolysis in different adipose depots. In contrast, acute stimulation of Gi signaling in adipose tissue did not affect glucose metabolism or lipolysis, but regulated leptin production. Conclusion Our data highlight the significance of adipose Gs signaling in regulating systemic glucose homeostasis. We also found previously unappreciated heterogeneity across adipose depots following acute stimulation. Together, these results highlight the complex interactions of GPCR signaling in adipose tissue and demonstrate the usefulness of chemogenetic technology to better understand adipocyte function.
Retrieval, Disposal, and Disposition of Legacy Cf252 Sealed Sources

AbstractThis article describes work performed on behalf of the US Department of Energy (DOE) to disposition 467 government-owned, sealed californium-252 (Cf252) sources located at 52 academic and g...
Improving Structural Strength and Stability of Parylene-Based Capacitive Micro Pressure Sensor Using Corrugated Sidewall

This paper reports a new method to improve the structural strength and stability of parylene-based microfabricated implantable capacitive blood pressure sensor. The key idea or contribution is to introduce corrugations to the side wall of the sensor supporting the top membrane in order to effectively increase the thickness and thus stiffness of the sidewall. This design significantly reduces the possibility of membrane collapses during fabrication or operation that otherwise would commonly occur in the conventional parylene-based capacitive sensors with large diaphragm and small gap between electrodes. The fabricated sensor with corrugations shows a stable linear output behavior within the desired range of up to 200 mmHg, which is optimal for the application of the implantable real-time blood pressure monitoring system.
ArmorAll: Compiler-based Resilience Targeting GPU Applications

The vulnerability of GPUs to soft errors has become a first-class design concern as they are increasingly being used in accuracy-sensitive and safety-critical domains. Existing solutions used to enhance the reliability of GPUs come with significant overhead in terms of area, power, and/or performance. In this article, we propose ArmorAll, a light-weight, adaptive, selective, and portable software solution to protect GPUs against soft errors. ArmorAll consists of a set of purely compiler-based redundancy schemes designed to optimize instruction duplication on GPUs, thereby enabling much more reliable execution. The choice of the scheme determines the subset of instructions that must be duplicated in an application, allowing adaptable fault coverage for different applications. ArmorAll can intelligently select a redundancy scheme that provides the best coverage to an application with an accuracy of 91.7%. The high coverage provided by ArmorAll comes at an average improvement of 64.5% in runtime when using the selected redundancy scheme as compared to the state-of-the-art.
Broken Spinal Needle in a Morbidly Obese Parturient Presenting for Urgent Cesarean Section

Neuraxial anesthesia has become the preferred method of anesthesia for nonemergent cesarean delivery and cases where regional anesthesia is not contraindicated. Multiple cases of broken spinal and epidural needles have been reported in the literature over the last several years; however, the specific incidence of needle breakage is still unknown. Less reliance on general anesthesia and increasing parturient body mass index (BMI) has likely contributed to more reports of broken needles during regional anesthesia for obstetric surgery. We describe a case of a broken spinal needle after attempted spinal anesthetic placement for cesarean delivery in a morbidly obese parturient, subsequent postoperative management, and current treatment recommendations.
Association of pediatric atopic dermatitis and psoriasis with school absenteeism and parental work absenteeism: A cross-sectional United States population-based study.

Background The impact of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis on school absenteeism is not fully elucidated. Objective To determine the burden and predictors of chronic school absenteeism in children with AD and psoriasis. Methods Data were analyzed from the 1999-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys, cross-sectional, population-based studies of health status and function in the United States. Results Among 3132 and 200 children with AD and psoriasis, respectively, 1544 (67.7%) and 97 (62.5%) missed ≥1 day, and 120 (3.9%) and 5 (3.6%) missed ≥15 days (chronically absent) per year due to illness. AD was associated with chronic absenteeism overall (logistic regression; adjusted odds ratio 1.42, 95% CI [1.13-1.78]) and with more severe disease (mild-moderate: 1.33 [1.04-1.70], severe: 2.00 [1.21-3.32]). No statistical difference in chronic absenteeism was found for children with versus those without psoriasis (1.26 [0.51-3.12]). Parents of children with AD were more likely to miss work for caregiving versus those of children without AD, whereas parents of children with psoriasis had similar rates of work absenteeism versus those of children without psoriasis. Limitations The severity of AD and psoriasis was assessed by treatment pattern. Conclusion Children in the United States with AD had increased chronic school absenteeism. Further interventions are warranted to prevent school absenteeism in childhood AD.
Proteomic characterization of the human lens and Cataractogenesis.

The goal of this review is to highlight the triumphs and frontiers in measurement of the lens proteome as it relates to onset of age-related nuclear cataract. As global life expectancy increases, s...
The self-serving benefits of being a good host: A role for our micro-inhabitants in shaping opioids' function.

Abstract Opioids are highly efficacious in their ability to relieve pain, but they are liable for abuse, dependence, and addiction. Risk factors to develop opioid use disorders (OUD) include chronic stress, socio-environment, and preexisting major depressive disorders (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD). Additionally, opioids reduce gut motility, induce loss of gut barrier function, and alter the composition of the trillions of microbes hosted in the gastrointestinal tract, known as the gut microbiota. The microbiota are significant contributors to the reciprocal communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and the gut, termed the gut-brain axis. They have strong influences on their host behaviors, including the ability to cope with stress, sociability, affect, mood, and anxiety. Thus, they are implicated in the etiology of MDD and PTSD. Here we review the latest studies demonstrating that intestinal flora can, directly and indirectly, by affecting sociability levels, responses to stress, and mental state, alter the responses to opioids. It suggests that microbiota can potentially be used to increase the resilience to develop analgesic tolerance and OUD.
Growth outcomes of small for gestational age preterm infants before and after implementation of an exclusive human milk-based diet.

Small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants (PT) are at greatest risk for growth failure. Our objective was to assess the impact of an exclusive human milk diet (HUM) on growth velocities and neonatal morbidities from birth to discharge in a SGA population. Multicenter, retrospective cohort study, subgroup analysis of SGA PT comparing a cow’s milk diet (CMD) with HUM diet. At birth 420 PT were classified as SGA (197 CMD group, 223 HUM group). Demographics and anthropometric measurements were similar. HUM group PT showed improvement in length Z score at discharge (p = 0.024) and reduction in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (p = 0.004). SGA PT fed a HUM diet had significantly decreased incidence of NEC, surgical NEC, and late-onset sepsis. Due to concerns about growth in a HUM diet, it is reassuring SGA infants fed the HUM diet had similar growth to CMD diet with trends toward improvement.
Interferon b drives intestinal regeneration after radiation.

The cGAS-STING cytosolic DNA sensing pathway is critical for host defense. Here, we report that cGAS-STING–dependent type 1 interferon (IFN) response drives intestinal regeneration and animal recov...
Aggressive Moving Obstacle Avoidance Using a Stochastic Reachable Set Based Potential Field

Identifying collision-free trajectories in environments with dynamic obstacles is a significant challenge. However, many pertinent problems occur in dynamic environments, e.g., flight coordination, satellite navigation, autonomous driving, and household robotics. Stochastic reachable (SR) sets assure collision-free trajectories with a certain likelihood in dynamic environments , but are infeasible for multiple moving obstacles as the computation scales exponentially in the number of Degrees of Freedom (DoF) of the relative robot-obstacle state space. Other methods, such as artificial potential fields (APF), roadmap-based methods, and tree-based techniques can scale well with the number of obstacles. However, these methods usually have low success rates in environments with a large number of obstacles. In this paper, we propose a method to integrate formal SR sets with ad-hoc APFs for multiple moving obstacles. The success rate of this method is 30 % higher than two related methods for moving obstacle avoidance, a roadmap-based technique that uses a SR bias and an APF technique without a SR bias, reaching over 86 % success in an enclosed space with 100 moving obstacles that ricochet off the walls.
A Non-Intrusive Method of Measuring PCV Blowby Constituents

A technique is presented that has been successfully demonstrated to non-intrusively and quickly sample gases typically found in PCV systems. Color Detection Tubes (CDTs) were used with a simple sampling arrangement to monitor CO{sub 2}, NO{sub x}, O{sub 2}, and H{sub 2}O(g) at the closure line, crankcase, and PCV line. Measurements were accurate and could be made instantaneously. Short Path Thermal Desorbtion Tubes (SPTDTs) were used at the same engine locations for the characterization of fuel- and oil-derived hydrocarbon (HC) fractions and required only 50 cc samples. High engine loads caused pushover of blowby vapors as indicated by increased concentrations of CO{sub 2}, NO{sub x}, H{sub 2}O(g), and fuel HCs in the engines` fresh air inlets during WOT operation. Peak concentrations of blowby vapors were measured in the crankcase under no load and part throttle conditions. Oxygen concentrations always opposed the trends of CO{sub 2}, NO{sub x}, and H{sub 2}O(g). SPTDT data revealed that the PCV system consumes approximately 100-200 times more fuel vapors than oil vapors, on a mass basis; however, PCV-derived oil consumption represented almost 12 percent of total engine oil consumption under no load conditions. 8 refs., 17 figs.
A role for lactate released from astrocytes in energy production during neural activity

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that glucose has long been viewed as the primary energy source for brain cells. Lactate, a glucose metabolite, is a secondary energy source utilized by the brain cells when its levels are high or when glucose levels are low. The chapter explores a new model of brain glucose utilization termed as the ANLSH that has drastically redefined the role of lactate in brain energy metabolism. According to the ANLSH, lactate released from astrocytes is the primary energy source for active neurons. It discusses that the conventional and ANLSH models of glucose metabolism in brain tissue differ most noticeably in where and how glucose is utilized. In the conventional model, neural activation stimulates Na+–K+ ATPase activity causing increased ATP utilization. ATP consumption activates glycolysis and increases glucose oxidation in both neurons and astrocytes. It also discusses that the ANLSH compartmentalizes glucose and lactate consumption resulting from neural activity. According to the ANLSH, neural activation stimulates glucose consumption in astrocytes via anaerobic glycolysis, but not in neurons. The chapter concludes that the ANLSH has received widespread attention since it represents a significant departure from the classical view of glucose utilization in the brain. It examines the theoretical background and critically reviews the experimental evidence regarding the ANLSH to see whether such a change in thought is warranted.
Automatic discovery of parasitic malware

Malicious software includes functionality designed to block discovery or analysis by defensive utilities. To prevent correct attribution of undesirable behaviors to the malware, it often subverts the normal execution of benign processes by modifying their in-memory code images to include malicious activity. It is important to find not only maliciously-acting benign processes, but also the actual parasitic malware that may have infected those processes. In this paper, we present techniques for automatic discovery of unknown parasitic malware present on an infected system. We design and develop a hypervisor-based system, Pyrenee, that aggregates and correlates information from sensors at the network level, the network-to-host boundary, and the host level so that we correctly identify the true origin of malicious behavior. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our architecture with security and performance evaluations on a Windows system: we identified all malicious binaries in tests with real malware samples, and the tool imposed overheads of only 0%-5% on applications and performance benchmarks.