cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parental genetic contributions in the AXB and BXA recombinant inbred mouse strains.

Recombinant inbred (RI) strains are a valuable tool in mouse genetics to rapidly map the location of a new locus. Because RI strains have been typed for hundreds of genetic markers, the genotypes of individual strains within an RI set can be examined to identify specific strain(s) containing the desired region(s) of interest (e.g., one or more quantitative trait loci, QTLs) for subsequent phenotype testing. Specific RI strains might also be identified for use as progenitors in the construction of consomic (chromosome substitution strains or CSSs) or congenic lines or for use in the RI strain test (RIST). To quickly identify the genetic contributions of the parental A/J (A) and C57BL/6J (B) strains, we have generated chromosome maps for each commercially available AXB and BXA RI strain, in which the genetic loci are color-coded to signify the parent of origin. To further assist in strain selection for further breeding schemes, the percentages of A and B parental contributions were calculated, based on the total number of typed markers in the database for each strain. With these data, one can rapidly select the RI strain(s) carrying the desired donor and recipient strain region(s). Because points of recombination are known, starting with RI mice to generate CSSs or congenic lines immediately reduces genomewide screening to those donor-strain regions not already homozygous in the recipient strain. Two examples are presented to demonstrate potential uses of the generated chromosome maps: to select RI strains to construct congenic lines and to perform an RIST for Aliq1, a QTL linked to ozone-induced acute lung injury survival.
Delivery codes for fly transgenics.

Chromosomal position effects influence the transcription of exogenously introduced transgenes. A new study identifies molecular tools that exploit these properties to fine-tune transgenic gene expression through the use of site-specific integration and the gypsy insulator element.
COMPARISONS OF WITHIN-POPULATION GENETIC VARIATION IN SEXUAL AND AGAMOSPERMOUS AMELANCHIER (ROSACEAE) USING RAPD MARKERS

We compared genetic variation of sexualAmelanchier bartramiana and facultatively agamospermous (asexually seed-producing)A. laevis at one site where the two species are sympatric. We analyzed 77 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in 29A. bartramiana individuals and 76 RAPD markers in 31A. laevis individuals. The two species do not differ significantly in mean genetic variation. However, 22.4% of genetic similarity values betweenA. laevis individuals exceed the highest value ofA. bartramiana and may represent the effect of agamospermy. Variation withinA. laevis may be the result of sexuality, hybridization, polyploidy, and other factors.
Spatial and Spectral Imaging of Plasma Excitation Sources

The combination of an imaging polychromator and a two-dimensional charge-coupled device (CCD) detector can provide a simple, simultaneous, efficient means of acquiring spatial and spectral maps of emission sources. Extensive theoretical and experimental studies have been carried out to obtain a more fundamental understanding of the interaction between the source and analyte. Often, spatially and spectrally resolved wavelength information has been used to generate maps of various source characteristics, such as excitation temperature, electron density, and emission intensity, to gain further insight into energy transfer, ionization, and excitation processes. The interplay of these characteristics affects the optimal analytical viewing zone of an emission source and influences the design of future sources. To compose a complete description of the processes involved in plasma excitation, one must obtain the emission information for the entire source. This requirement is commonly performed by imaging a very small portion of an excitation source and translating either the source or the spectrograph—an approach that is time consuming and relies on the source remaining stable over the course of the experiment. Ideally, a technique that simultaneously acquires two-dimensional spatial and spectral information would be the preferred method; however, this approach has not yet been successfully carried out.
Comparative study of anionic and radical cyclization for the preparation of 1,3-dimethylindans: highly stereoselective preparation of cis-1,3-disubstituted indans via intramolecular carbolithiation.

The preparation of 1,3-dimethylindans from 4-(2-bromophenyl)-1-pentene (1) and 2-(2-iodo-1-methylethyl)styrene (2) substrates via radical-mediated cyclization and intramolecular carbolithiation has been investigated. Although cyclization of the radical derived from either substrate proceeds with modest selectivity for the cis-isomer, as does cycloisomerization of the aryllithium derived from substrate 1 (cis/trans ≈ 2), intramolecular cyclization of the alkyllithium derived from substrate 2 is a highly cis-selective process (cis/trans = 12).
Robust thresholding for Diffusion Index forecast

In this paper we propose a new methodology in improving the Diffusion Index forecasting model (Stock and Watson, 2002a, 2002b) using hard thresholding with robust KVB statistic for regression hypothesis tests (Kiefer et al., 2000). The new method yields promising results in the context of long forecasting horizons and existence of serial correlation. Numerical comparison indicates that the proposed methodology can improve upon the existing hard thresholding methods and outperform the soft thresholding methods (Bai and Ng, 2008) when applied to a real data set that forecasts eight macroeconomic variables in the United States.
Interfiber tension transmission in series‐fibered muscles of the cat hindlimb

Several muscles of the cat hindlimb, including biceps femoris and tenuissimus, are composed of short, in-series muscle fibers with tapered intrafascicular terminations. Tension generation and transmission within such muscles requires that active fibers should be mechanically coupled in series via myomyous junctions, specialized connective tissue attachments, or the endomysium. This report establishes that the tapered fibers of the cat biceps femoris and tenuissimus muscles have insignificant numbers of either myomyous or specialized connective tissue junctions. Tension appears to be transmitted in a distributed manner across the plasmalemma of the tapered (and probably the non-tapered) portions of the fibers to the connective tissue of the endomysium, which is therefore an essential series elastic element in these muscles. Subplasmalemmal dense plaques were identified and may play a role in transmembrane force transmission. In addition to the endomysium, passive muscle fibers may also serve to transmit tension between active fibers, and therefore should also be considered to be series elastic elements.
Effects of injected sympathomimetic amines on plasma catecholamines and circulatory variables in man

We measured blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and plasma catecholamine responses to a 5-minute infusion of 0.3 mg/kg d-amphetamine (d-A) and to graded bolus injections of tyramine (Tyr) to a similar increment in systolic pressure (BPs), in 9 and 7 healthy people, respectively. Both sympathomimetic agents dramatically increased BPs (mean increases peaking at 39 and 36 mm Hg for d-A and Tyr), associated with increased plasma norepinephrine (NE) (224 and 149 pg/ml) but unassociated with changes in plasma epinephrine or HR. The time course of BPs and NE responses to Tyr was much shorter than to d-A, but the pattern was similar. The results are consistent with the hypotheses that both agents increase BPs via increased synaptic cleft NE, and that circulating plasma NE reflects "spillover" from the cleft into the general circulation.
Determinants of platelet catecholamine content: uptake and retention of catecholamines by human platelets in vitro.

The utility of platelet catecholamine determination in assessing sympathetic nervous system activity depends on the extent to which transient fluctuations of plasma catecholamine concentration can affect platelet catecholamine content. In order to quantitate the relationship between plasma and platelet catecholamine content, the concentrations of norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine needed to produce an increase in platelet catecholamines in vitro were determined. The threshold for epinephrine accumulation was 10-9M while the thresholds for norepinephrine and dopamine were an order of magnitude higher. The uptake of catecholamines was also found to differ with regard to the time course and the amount of catecholamine accumulated. For example, after 2 h in the presence of equimolar (2 × 10-8M) concentrations of catecholamine the platelet content of norepinephrine doubled and epinephrine rose 10-fold and dopamine 20-fold. When platelets that had been loaded with catecholamines were suspended in catechol...
Temperature and congener structure affect the enantioselectivity of toxaphene elimination by fish

Recent advances in enantioselective separation techniques have enabled scientists to investigate environmental fate processes of chiral pollutants. In this study, congener- and enantiomer-specific toxaphene residues were monitored in captive, naturally contaminated fish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to characterize the effect of temperature and compound structure on the enantioselectivity of the elimination process. A previous study performed under warm water conditions (Tmean = 25 degrees C) demonstrated relatively rapid (t(1/2) approximately = 7-14 d) and enantioselective elimination of the reductive dechlorination metabolites 2-exo,3-endo,6-exo,8,9,-10-hexachlorobornane (B6-923 or Hx-Sed) and 2-endo,3-exo,5-endo,6-exo,8,9,10-heptachlorobornane (B7-1001 or Hp-Sed). As expected, repetition of this experiment at cooler water temperatures (Tmean = 15 degrees C) resulted in a decrease in overall (i.e., both enantiomers) first-order elimination rate constants. Enantiomer fractions or ratios (EFs/ERs) during elimination, however, varied by congener, ranging from racemic for very rapidly eliminated Cl5 homologues to increasingly nonracemic for selected Cl6-Cl8 homologues (including 86-923, several unknown Cl7 compounds, B8-1414, and B8-1945). As a result, we propose a classification to describe the environmental persistence of chiral toxaphene pollutants based on congener-specific elimination kinetics and susceptibility to biotransformation as measured by EFs/ERs.
Anisotropic structures at the base of the Earth's mantle

The D″ shell at the base of the Earth's mantle is thought to be a thermal and compositional boundary layer where vigorous dynamical processes are taking place1,2,3,4. An important property of D″ is its seismic anisotropy, expressed as different velocities for horizontally and vertically polarized shear waves that have been diffracted or reflected at the core–mantle boundary5,6. The nature of this anisotropy has been the subject of debate7,8,9,10,11. Here we present an analysis of various seismic phases, generated in the Kermadec–Fiji–Tonga zone and recorded at stations in North America, which reveal a region at the base of the mantle beneath the southwest Pacific Ocean where horizontally propagating vertically polarized waves are slower (by at least 10 per cent) than horizontally polarized waves. This observed anisotropy is an order of magnitude larger than that previously thought to exist in the lower mantle, and corresponds to lateral variations in horizontally polarized shear-wave velocity which are also of about 10 per cent. We speculate that this anisotropy may be the result of the mixing and shearing of strongly heterogeneous material in the boundary layer.
Underrepresented Minority Diversity in Materials Science and Engineering

During the decade 2000 to 2009, the diversity trends for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and faculty underwent very different changes in the number and fraction of women represented compared to men in the field of materials science and engineering (MSE). Although the number and fraction of women increased substantially in graduate programs and within faculties, the fraction of women receiving bachelor’s of science degrees in engineering (BSE) in this field was significantly lower in 2009 than in 2000. In contrast with gender, the outcomes for diversity in terms of underrepresented minorities (URMs) across the decade are more disappointing. The potential implications are discussed with respect to ongoing limited degree attainment of URMs in many engineering and science disciplines
On the Sociological Significance of the American Jewish Experience: Boundary Blurring, Assimilation, and Pluralism

In thinking about the results reported here from the 2000/01 NJPS, it is crit ical to have a clear-eyed view of how the social landscape in which American Jews find themselves has changed in the post-World War II period. Some of the papers (Phillips and Fishman; Phillips and Keiner) argue that a soft version of rational choice can help to shed light on such key indicators of the contempo rary Jewish situation as intermarriage, and I agree that it can. But a choice-based framework is useful only insofar as one has a firm conceptual grip on the range of options faced by minority individuals, along with their perceived benefits, risks, and costs. If that configuration has changed substantially over time, past research may not give useful guidance, indeed may be fundamentally incom mensurate with the findings from new data. The applicability of past models is, quite appropriately, called into question by some of the papers, most notably, Phillips and Keiner. The concept of a social boundary provides a useful way of specifying some of the major changes that have taken place in the last six decades or so, as well as of identifying the value of the American Jewish case for comparative studies. By a boundary, I mean a social distinction that individuals make in their everyday lives and that shapes their actions and mental orientations towards others; it is typically embedded in a variety of social and cultural differences between groups that give a boundary concrete significance (so that those on one side think of those on the other, "they are not like us because ..."). When we discuss ethnici ty, the kinds of boundaries we invoke have the character that Weber attributed to the ethnic group: namely, that they are rooted in a "subjective belief in com mon descent"?i.e., in a shared history based on a common point of origin in the past, which may be real or putative. Admittedly, this subjective belief in a shared history may be felt more by one side of a boundary than the other and thus, to a greater or lesser extent, the boundary may be imposed, as is typically the case with race-like distinctions.
Hyperthyroid-induced atrial flutter-fibrillation with profound sinoatrial nodal pauses due to small doses of digoxin, verapamil, and propranolol

Atrial fibrillation due to hyperthyroidism is characterized by a rapid ventricular response which is typically resistant to digoxin therapy. We report a patient with atrial flutter-fibrillation who developed cyclic sinus node dysfunction with profound ventricular pauses in response to small doses of digoxin, verapamil, and propranolol, which resolved with discontinuation of the medications. Caution is necessary to avoid paradoxical ventricular slowing when treating hyperthyroid-induced atrial fibrillation.
Isolated brain capillaries: a model for the study of lead encephalopathy.

The reaction of capillaries isolated from rat brain to incubation with 10−4 M lead nitrate was investigated. Dense inclusions, probably containing lead, were found by electron microscopy inside most of the endothelial cell mitochondria. The steady-state uptake of calcium by these cells was tripled after the exposure to lead. This increase may have been due in part to inhibition of active calcium efflux, since the adenosine triphosphate–dependent uptake of calcium by membranes prepared from the capillaries was abolished by 10−5 M Pb(NO3)2. In contrast, active uptake of potassium by the intact cells was not altered by lead. These results suggest that alterations in the calcium homeostasis of brain endothelial cells induced by the accumulation of lead may underlie the pathogenesis of brain edema in lead poisoning.
The interaction of conalbumin and lysozyme.

Abstract The interaction of conalbumin and lysozyme with the formation of soluble complexes has been studied by equilibrium dialysis and by electrophoresis. The reaction has been interpreted in terms of the consecutive association of two lysozyme molecules with a single conalbumin. Equilibrium constants have been derived.
On a composite implicit time integration procedure for nonlinear dynamics

Transient analysis of nonlinear problems in structural and solid mechanics is mainly carried out using direct time integration of the equations of motion. For reliable solutions, a stable and efficient integration algorithm is desirable. Methods that are unconditionally stable in linear analyses appear to be a natural choice for use in nonlinear analyses, but unfortunately may not remain stable for a given time step size in large deformation and long time range response solutions. A composite time integration scheme is proposed and tested in some example solutions against the trapezoidal rule and the Wilson @q-method, and found to be effective where the trapezoidal rule fails to produce a stable solution. These example results are indicative of the merits of the composite scheme.
Characteristics of Persons with Mental Retardation who have been Abused by Caregivers

The relationship between specific characteristics of individuals with mental retardation, as rated by their teachers, and their abuse by residential caregivers was investigated. Teacher ratings of 91 abuse victims from five state training centers in Virginia for individuals with mental retardation were compared to 91 randomly selected control subjects from the same facilities. Discriminant analysis results indicated a significant relationship (p < .001) between abuse status and a linear combination of subject characteristics. In addition, the Pearson chisquare test of independence was used to test the relationship between individual characteristics and behaviors of subjects and abuse status. Results indicated a significant relationship (p < .05) between abuse status and teacher ratings of level of functioning and frequency of maladaptive behaviors. Implications for caregivers and educators are discussed.
The Negative Consequences of Uncivil Political Discourse

Congressman Alan West (R-FL) passed the incivility duck test when he described his fellow Floridian Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) as “the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the House of Representatives.” That read like incivility, sounded like incivility, and was universally interpreted to be uncivil, thus it probably was.
Snow depth sensing using the GPS L2C signal with a dipole antenna

Prior research has shown that the currently deployed geodetic global positioning system (GPS) stations can be used to measure snow depth in an area around the antenna installation via GPS interferometric reflectometry (GPS-IR). Although such a technique provides the advantages of large spatial coverage and high temporal measurement sampling, there are also drawbacks in using geodetic equipment for this application. The geodetic antenna is costly and designed to mitigate the multipath signal, while for snow depth sensing, the reflective component contains the desired information regarding the environment. In this paper, the authors reviewed the principles of snow depth sensing via GPS-IR and show that the horizontally polarized electromagnetic wave is the desired signal for this application. A customized dipole antenna, which was designed to be horizontally polarized by properly adjusting its orientation, was built and evaluated in an experiment carried out at Table Mountain, Boulder, Colorado, during early February 2012. In this experiment, a universal software radio peripheral (USRP) is used to collect the raw data and a software-defined receiver (SDR) for L2C signal is used for data processing. Data and results from this dipole antenna/SDR implementation are compared with those from the geodetic GPS station and show an improvement for snow depth estimation.
Theoretical remarks for the analysis of electron scattering experiments on rotational nuclei

Abstract A convenient parametrization of longitudinal and transverse form factors of rotational nuclei is presented. This parametrization is model independent up to the order considered. It is intended to extract information on the intrinsic structure of ground state rotational bands by expressing the form factors for elastic and inelastic scattering within the band in terms of intrinsic charge and current multipoles, weighted by angular momentum dependent coefficients. The importance of the experimental measurements of transverse form factors is stressed as providing unique information on the distribution of the rotational current and hence, a unique test of the different rotational models. A qualitative comparison of three different models—rigid rotor, cranking and projected Hartree-Fock approach—is also presented in this context.
Analysis and simulation of land-use change in the central Arizona - Phoenix region, USA

To understand how urbanization has transformed the desert landscape in the central Arizona – Phoenix region of the United States, we conducted a series of spatial analyses of the land-use pattern from 1912–1995. The results of the spatial analysis show that the extent of urban area has increased exponentially for the past 83 years, and this urban expansion is correlated with the increase in population size for the same period of time. The accelerating urbanization process has increased the degree of fragmentation and structural complexity of the desert landscape. To simulate land-use change we developed a Markov-cellular automata model. Model parameters and neighborhood rules were obtained both empirically and with a modified genetic algorithm. Land-use maps for 1975 and 1995 were used to implement the model at two distinct spatial scales with a time step of one year. Model performance was evaluated using Monte-Carlo confidence interval estimation for selected landscape pattern indices. The coarse-scale model simulated the statistical patterns of the landscape at a higher accuracy than the fine-scale model. The empirically derived parameter set poorly simulated land-use change as compared to the optimized parameter set. In summary, our results showed that landscape pattern metrics (patch density, edge density, fractal dimension, contagion) together were able to effectively capture the trend in land-use associated with urbanization for this region. The Markov-cellular automata parameterized by a modified genetic algorithm reasonably replicated the change in land-use pattern.
Insights into the kinetics of siRNA-mediated gene silencing from live-cell and live-animal bioluminescent imaging

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules are potent effectors of post-transcriptional gene silencing. Using noninvasive bioluminescent imaging and a mathematical model of siRNA delivery and function, the effects of target-specific and treatment-specific parameters on siRNA-mediated gene silencing are monitored in cells stably expressing the firefly luciferase protein. In vitro, luciferase protein levels recover to pre-treatment values within <1 week in rapidly dividing cell lines, but take longer than 3 weeks to return to steady-state levels in nondividing fibroblasts. Similar results are observed in vivo, with knockdown lasting ~10 days in subcutaneous tumors in A/J mice and 3–4 weeks in the nondividing hepatocytes of BALB/c mice. These data indicate that dilution due to cell division, and not intracellular siRNA half-life, governs the duration of gene silencing under these conditions. To demonstrate the practical use of the model in treatment design, model calculations are used to predict the dosing schedule required to maintain persistent silencing of target proteins with different half-lives in rapidly dividing or nondividing cells. The approach of bioluminescent imaging combined with mathematical modeling provides useful insights into siRNA function and may help expedite the translation of siRNA into clinically relevant therapeutics for disease treatment and management.
Characterization of the ORBIT Indoor Testbed Radio Environment

We perform a set of measurements of channel frequency responses at different points in the room that accommodates the ORBIT indoor testbed using a vector network analyzer (VNA). To validate the data collected with VNA we use spectrum analyzer (SA) measurements, as well. Four measurements are performed over non-overlapping 100 MHz bands in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band, and in the unlicensed national information infrastructure (UNII) band. The fifth measurement spans the coarsely sampled .4 to 6 GHz band. From the measured frequency responses we calculate path loss model parameters. The path loss exponent is between 1.1 and 2 and the dynamic range of the signal is around 25 dB across different bands. Based on the frequency responses measured over the .4 to 6 GHz band we determine multipath intensity profiles (MIP) with fine time granularity. The comparison of MIPs to the ray tracing simulations generated with WiSE software indicates that the surfaces perpendicular to the plane defined by the transmit and receive antennas represent a significant source of reflections. However, the reflections from the floor, dropped ceiling, and roof are suppressed by the antenna elevation patterns.
Collaborative action research: A critical analysis

(1987). Collaborative action research: A critical analysis. Peabody Journal of Education: Vol. 64, The Potential and Practice of Action Research Part II, pp. 57-70.
On the intermittency and crystallization mechanisms of sub-seafloor magma chambers

Summary. The conventional view of a magma chamber being an essentially permanent feature of a fast-spreading ridge is not compatible with the physics of either oceanic crustal structure or internal magma convection. Cumulates form a large volumetric fraction of many ophiolites and are deposited at the bottom of magma chambers, so they are not available as an insulating layer between magma and seawater. Extrusives and dykes are cracked and highly permeable to hydrothermal convection, so they also do not offer much thermal resistance to the cooling of magma. Only the layer of ‘plated’ or ‘isotropic’ gabbro, often observed between cumulates and dykes, is limited to conductive heat transport; a 0.5 km thickness implies a chamber lifetime of no more than l0kyr km-’ of magma. The intermittency of the chamber on such a short time-scale requires that the plates move apart to make room much more rapidly than they could at the steady spreading rate. Fluctuating magma pressure can achieve such intermittent movement by stress-change diffusion through an elastic lithosphere overlying a viscous asthenophere. However, the space needed implies stress diffusion almost all around the Earth, and this, in turn, requires that the intermittent spreading be substantially synchronized all along a major segment of ridge. The pressure-dependent slopes of equilibrium temperatures between crystal phases and liquid silicate magmas exceed the adiabatic gradients of the magmas themselves by about 1°C kb-’. If this temperature difference is considered the convective drive, a 3 km high chamber reaches a Rayleigh number of 3 x and a Nusselt number of about 8000. The plated layer should grow until the heat loss rate decreases to that supplied by cumulatedepositing convection, implying a plated layer about 0.5 km thick, in agreement with observations. The boundary-layer/turbulent core structure of convection at high Rayleigh and Reynolds numbers is consistent with the formation of banded cumulates when a new type of fluid circulation is taken into account. If a suspended crystal phase is present in the bulk fluid, a ‘slow-convection’ mode is possible, where flow velocities are restricted by the equilibration rate between crystals and fluid, and the temperature profile is determined by the thermodynamics of crystal-fluid equilibria.
What Has Not Changed Since September 11 - The Benefits of Multilateralism

Challenging the assertions that "everything has changed" because of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the author insists that the benefits of multilateralism have not changed and should not be overlooked or squandered. He asserts that it is in the best interest of the USA to follow a policy in international relations that recognizes and builds on those benefits. The road of multilateralism - largely designed and built by American efforts and generally traveled by the USA for half a century - remains the best path to peace in a deeply troubled world.
Time interval required for return to baseline of the background rhythm on electroencephalogram after recorded electrographic seizures.

Summary Our objective was to assess the time interval that is required for the return to baseline of the background rhythm in the electroencephalogram (EEG) after ictal electrographic activity. We completed a retrospective EEG review of 28 adults and 13 children admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. EEG background rhythm on admission was considered the baseline rhythm per patient. In children the maximum time interval that was required for background rhythm to return to its baseline was 300min, with average time of 120min compared to a maximum of 420min, with average time of 84min for adults. Background slowing was shorter for frontal lobe seizures and longer for temporal lobe seizures. This study of patients with epilepsy shows that the time required for postictal slowing to resolve is short, and on average background rhythm returns to baseline within 2h.
How to Make Additional Time Matter: Integrating Individualized Tutorials into an Extended Day.

AbstractEvidence on the effect of extending the school day is decidedly mixed because of the stark differences in how schools use additional time. In this paper, I focus narrowly on the effect of additional time used for individualized tutorials. In 2005, MATCH Charter Public High School integrated two hours of tutorials throughout an extended day. The unanticipated implementation of this initiative and the school's admissions lottery allow me to use two complementary quasi-experimental methods to estimate program effects. I find that providing students with daily tutorials that are integrated into the school day and taught by full-time, recent college graduates increased achievement on tenth-grade English language arts exams by 0.15–0.25 standard deviations per year. I find no average effect in mathematics beyond the large gains students were already achieving, although quantile regression estimates suggest the tutorials raised the lowest end of the achievement distribution in mathematics.
Unmanned Vehicle Controller Design, Evaluation and Implementation: From MATLAB to Printed Circuit Board

A detailed step-by-step approach is presented to optimize, standardize, and automate the process of unmanned vehicle controller design, evaluation, validation and verification, followed by actual hardware controller implementation on the vehicle. The proposed approach follows the standard practice to utilize MATLAB/SIMULINK and related toolboxes as the design framework. Controller design in MATLAB/SIMULINK is followed by automatic conversion from MATLAB to code generation and optimization for particular types of processors using Real-Time Workshop, and C to Assembly language conversion to produce assembly code for a target microcontroller. Considering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, fixed or rotary wing ones, X-Plane is used to verify, validate and optimize controllers before actual testing on an unmanned vehicle and actual implementation on a chip and printed circuit board. Sample designs demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method.
Local Area Inequality and Worker Well-Being

Abstract This paper uses General Social Survey data linked to Census data to investigate the effect of local area income and income inequality on worker well-being. Others have found a robust negative correlation between reference group income and self-reported well-being. However, in many cases the reference group is defined as a large geographic area. This paper adds to the literature in two ways. First, it considers multiple nested geographic reference groups with US data. Second, it explicitly considers income inequality in addition to the level of income. It is found that both income and income inequality are positively associated with well-being at the census tract level, but negatively associated at the county level. Further, the effect of inequality on well-being decreases as income increases at the census tract and county level, while it increases at the state level.
A 3D interconnect system for large biosensor array and CMOS signal-processing IC integration

In this paper, two new interconnect technologies designed for integration of a large biosensor array and a signal processing CMOS IC are presented; a TSV technology that can be fabricated in wafers that cannot be aggressively thinned down or have sensitive sensors fabricated in prior processes, and a compliant interconnect technology that enables minimal stress permanent interconnections or low-force temporary interconnections to allow reuse of CMOS ICs. In addition, integration of TSV to a silicon nanowire label-free biosensor is demonstrated.
Working with pedagogical patterns in PACT: initial applications and observations

We present several interesting applications for the Pattern-Annotated Course Tool (PACT) and pedagogical design patterns in the process of curriculum design. PACT is a visual editor in which content designers can create visual representations of their courses and annotate them with references to educational theory in the form of pedagogical patterns. Each usage scenario illustrates the opportunities for learning that PACT, the annotation process, and the artifacts that users create present to experts, novices, and everyone in between. Finally, we take an in-depth look at one ongoing course annotation being crafted by an experienced curriculum designer and examine his interesting findings from the process. An analysis of these discoveries demonstrates the utility of PACT in the curriculum design process.
The Predictability of Using the Egami Score to Identify Children with Refractory Kawasaki Disease: One Institution's Analysis

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is an acute systemic inflammatory illness. Typical presentation is described as prolonged fever, bilateral conjunctivitis, cervical lymphadenopathy, oral-mucosal involvement, extremity changes, and rash. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the current standard therapy; however, IVIG unresponsiveness is a major predictor for the development of coronary artery lesions, and the identification of resistant patients would allow for earlier intervention. There are established models to evaluate IVIG unresponsiveness in Japanese children, but such models have not been well demonstrated within the United States. The EGAMI score …
Hospital Prescribing of Opioids to Medicare Beneficiaries

Importance Use of opioids during and shortly after an acute hospitalization is warranted in some clinical settings. However, given the potential of opioids for short-term adverse events and long-term physiologic tolerance, it is important to understand the frequency of opioid prescribing at hospital discharge, hospital variation, and patient and hospital factors associated with opioid prescribing, which is currently unknown in the United States. Objective To estimate the frequency of opioid prescribing at hospital discharge among Medicare beneficiaries without an opioid prescription claim 60 days prior to hospitalization; to document hospital variation in prescribing; and to analyze patient and hospital factors associated with prescribing, including hospital average performance on pain-related Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) measures. Design, Setting, and Participants Analysis of pharmacy claims of a 20% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized in 2011 without an opioid prescription claim in the 60 days before hospitalization. Main Outcomes and Measures Our main outcome was a new opioid claim within 7 days of hospital discharge. We estimated a multivariable linear probability model of patient factors associated with new opioid use and described hospital variation in adjusted rates of new opioid use. In multivariable linear regression analysis, we also analyzed hospital factors associated with average adjusted new opioid use at the hospital level, including the percentage of each hospital’s patients who reported that their pain during hospitalization was always well controlled in the 2011 HCAHPS surveys. Results Among 623 957 hospitalizations, 92 882 (14.9%) were associated with a new opioid claim. Among those hospitalizations with an associated opioid claim within 7 days of hospital discharge, 32 731 (42.5%) of 77 092 were associated with an opioid claim after 90 days postdischarge. Across 2512 hospitals, the average adjusted rate of new opioid use within 7 days of hospitalization was 15.1% (interquartile range, 12.3%-17.4%; interdecile range, 10.5%-20.0%). A hospital’s adjusted rate of new opioid use was modestly positively associated with the percentage of its inpatients reporting that their pain was always well managed (increase from 25th to the 75th percentile in the HCAHPS measure was associated with an absolute increase in new opioid use of 0.89 percentage points or a relative increase of 6.0%; P Conclusions and Relevance New opioid use after hospitalization is common among Medicare beneficiaries, with substantial variation across hospitals and a large proportion of patients using a prescription opioid 90 days after hospitalization. The degree to which observed hospital variation in short- and longer-term opioid use reflects variation in inappropriate prescribing at hospital discharge is unknown.
Coagulopathies and Stroke

This chapter describes various aspects of coagulopathies and stroke. Coagulation abnormalities are identified as the cause of ischemic stroke in less than 1% of unselected series. An elevated plasma fibrinogen level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events including stroke. A variety of congenital abnormalities of fibrinolysis including plasminogen deficiency, plasminogen activator deficiency, and factor XII/prekallikrein deficiency have been associated with thrombosis and there are also qualitative abnormalities in plasminogen. Deficiencies of the coagulation inhibitors protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. Venous thrombosis including cerebral vein and sagittal sinus thrombosis is most associated with these deficiencies, but arterial thrombosis and stroke have been reported. Elevated plasma homocystine levels have been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular thrombotic events including ischemic stroke. Elevated levels may be present in up to 30% of persons with stroke. The ability to evaluate the coagulation system grows the percentage of patients with a definable coagulation abnormality will increase.
Sequence-Controlled Copolymers Prepared via Entropy-Driven Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

A new general synthetic approach to sequenced macromolecules was developed and applied to the synthesis of polymers comprising lactic acid (L), glycolic acid (G), and e-caprolactone (C)-derived monomer units. The new method employs entropy-driven ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ED-ROMP) to prepare copolymers with embedded sequences and controlled molecular weights. Cyclic macromonomer precursors were prepared by ring-closing metathesis of ethylene glycol (Eg)-linked sequenced oligomers bearing terminal olefins. ED-ROMP of the resulting macrocycles using Grubbs’ second generation catalyst yielded poly(CL-Eg-LC-Oed), poly(CLL-Eg-LLC-Oed), poly(LGL-Eg-LGL-Oed), and poly(LGL-Eg-LGL-Hed) (Oed = octenedioc acid; Hed = hexenedioc acid). Hydrogenation produced the saturated sequenced copolymers. Molecular weight was well-controlled and could be adjusted by varying the monomer-to-catalyst ratio. Mns of 26–60 kDa were obtained (dispersities = 1.1–1.3). The methodology proved general for three different sequ...
Impact of cyclosporine A use in the prevention of reperfusion injury in acute myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis.

Background: Reperfusion injury is an important limiting factor associated with revascularization in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Various therapies have been tried in an attempt to prevent reperfusion injury, but the search has been elusive. The role of cyclosporine A (CsA) in the prevention of reperfusion injury in AMI is still not clear. The objective of this study was to find out whether CsA is beneficial in reducing reperfusion injury in acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. Methods: We performed a systematic search of Pubmed, Scopus, clinicaltrial.gov, and Cochrane Database for randomized control trials (RCT) measuring the effect of CsA in AMI compared to a placebo. The Mantel-Haenszel method and random effect model were used to analyze the data. A total of 1,566 patients (776 in the CsA group and 790 in the placebo group), who participated in 5 RCTs were included in our meta-analysis. Results: We did not find any significant differences between the CsA and placebo groups in terms of all-cause death (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–1.87) and cardiovascular death (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.66–2.49). Similarly, we did not find any significant differences in terms of cardiogenic shock, recurrent ischemia and myocardial infarction, heart failure and echocardiographic outcomes. Conclusions: Cyclosporine A is not helpful in preventing reperfusion injury in AMI.
Epitaxial lift-off of electrodeposited single-crystal gold foils for flexible electronics

We introduce a simple and inexpensive procedure for epitaxial lift-off of wafer-size flexible and transparent foils of single-crystal gold using silicon as a template. Lateral electrochemical undergrowth of a sacrificial SiO x layer was achieved by photoelectrochemically oxidizing silicon under light irradiation. A 28-nanometer-thick gold foil with a sheet resistance of 7 ohms per square showed only a 4% increase in resistance after 4000 bending cycles. A flexible organic light-emitting diode based on tris(bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) that was spin-coated on a foil exploited the transmittance and flexibility of the gold foil. Cuprous oxide as an inorganic semiconductor that was epitaxially electrodeposited onto the gold foils exhibited a diode quality factor n of 1.6 (where n = 1.0 for an ideal diode), compared with a value of 3.1 for a polycrystalline deposit. Zinc oxide nanowires electrodeposited epitaxially on a gold foil also showed flexibility, with the nanowires intact up to 500 bending cycles.
Birth control in epilepsy: we need to know more

We read Reddy’s review and commentary with interest [1]. Oral contraceptives (OCs) provide safe, effective, and reversible contraception for millions of women. We agree wholeheartedly that little e...
Patient education via automated calls: a study of English and Spanish speakers with diabetes.

Abstract Introduction: Using diabetes as a prototype, we examined whether automated telephone disease management (ATDM) calls can improve chronically ill patients' access to self-care and dietary information. Methods: Two-hundred-twenty-six English-speaking patients and 30 Spanish-speaking patients who were recruited from outpatient clinics received bi-weekly ATDM calls for 1 year, in which they were given the opportunity to access patient education messages. We compared the proportion of English-speaking and Spanish-speaking patients who selected brief self-care tips and interactive dietary education modules. Within each language group, we examined trends in patients' likelihood of selecting the messages over time. Results: On average, Spanish-speaking patients selected self-care tips during 64% of their ATDM calls compared to 36% for English speakers ( p p Conclusions: Patients with diabetes are receptive to self-care and dietary education via ATDM. Spanish speakers especially are willing to use ATDM calls to access patient education.
Pathology of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and multiple myeloma.

B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (B-NHLs) represent a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with respect to their clinical manifestations, histopathologic features, and biological behavior. The now widely utilized World Health Organization (WHO) classification scheme incorporates our current knowledge of the clinical and pathological features of B-cell neoplasms, and categorizes them into distinct entities (Table 1).1,2 It is now generally accepted that B-NHLs arise from neoplastic transformation of B-cells at specific stages of differentiation, although the normal counterparts for some B-NHLs have not been clearly delineated (e.g. hairy cell leukemia). Furthermore, some entities, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), appear to resemble more than one B-cell differentiation stage. Nevertheless, a basic understanding of B-cell differentiation stages and their associated immunophenotypic characteristics facilitates accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of B-NHLs.
Recruiting Asian-American Adolescents for Behavioral Surveys

Asian societies have distinct languages, cultural traditions, and histories. An important empirical question is whether the various ancestral countries yield immigrants who differ in psychologically interesting ways. For any research issue inspiring speculation that cultural background is important, we can try to examine whether differences across subgroups are large relative to differences among individuals within the same subgroup. In order to explore such issues, researchers must be able to recruit sufficient numbers of representatives of each subgroup. We discuss lessons learned while carrying out a study that sought several hundred adolescents from four East Asian subgroups (Weiss, 2001).
Unemployment and Child Abuse

The author reviews the evidence linking unemployment with increasing rates of child abuse. Professionals who work with children and families need to become aware of the relationship between psychos...
National Trends in the Utilization of Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Very Low Risk Prostate Cancer

Abstract Objective To analyze national trends using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) in use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), outside of standard of care, in patients with very low risk prostate cancer. Methods We identified 52,797 men in the NCDB from 2010 to 2015 diagnosed with very low risk prostate cancer as defined (cT1cM0, PSA Results From 2010 to 2015, prevalence of primary ADT use in patients with very low risk prostate cancer remained 0.7%. Patients treated at low-volume facilities were more likely to receive primary ADT (hazard ratio [HR] 1.29, P Conclusion The use of primary ADT in men with very low risk prostate cancer has not changed over time, and may be over utilized, particularly among black men and those treated at low-volume facilities.
Super resolution NOESY spectra of proteins

Spectral resolution remains one of the most significant limitations in the NMR study of biomolecules. We present the srNOESY (super resolution nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy) experiment, which enhances the resolution of NOESY cross-peaks at the expense of the diagonal peak line-width. We studied two proteins, ubiquitin and the influenza hemagglutinin fusion peptide in bicelles, and we achieved average resolution enhancements of 21-47% and individual peak enhancements as large as ca. 450%. New peaks were observed over the conventional NOESY experiment in both proteins as a result of these improvements, and the final structures generated from the calculated restraints matched published models. We discuss the impact of the experimental parameters, spin diffusion and the information content of the srNOESY lineshape.