cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined Intra-Arterial and Intra-Venous rt-PA Administration to Patients Selected Using SMART Criteria and CT Perfusion Is Safe and Effective (P06.258)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of using CT perfusion (CTP) imaging in selection of patients for intra-arterial (IA) therapy post-IV thrombolysis while expanding eligibility by using SMART (Simplified Management of Acute Stroke using Revised Treatment) criteria. BACKGROUND: Perfusion imaging may help select patients who would benefit from thrombolytic therapy. However few data are available demonstrating the routine use of CTP in patients receiving sequential full-dose IV and IA thrombolysis in combination with SMART criteria, which expand eligibility for IV rt-PA. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective chart review (1/2008-2/2012) of patients who had CTP and received IV and IA rt-PA, with eligibility determined by SMART criteria. In this protocol, patients receive CTP/CTA prior to IA therapy, and proceed only if significant mismatch and treatable large artery occlusion are identified. RESULTS: 38 patients were eligible; 35 had CTP mismatch. Median age was 65 (range 31-94). 94% received full dose IV rt-PA; 2 received half-dose IV tPA (fully anticoagulated with heparin or warfarin (n=1 each)). Mean IA rt-PA dose was 22.6 mg (range 3-52 mg). 74% received mechanical clot disruption via microcatheter/wire, angioplasty, MERCI (n=1), or PENUMBRA (n=3). Complete or partial revascularization was achieved in 94%. Mean times to IV and IA rt-PA were 112 minutes (45-266) and 385 minutes (184-887), respectively, with 49% receiving IA rt-PA > 6h from symptom onset. 7 (20%) died, 3 (8.6%) had symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (none were anticoagulated). Median NIHSS was 15.5 (SD 6.4) prior to IV rt-PA therapy and 8.5 (SD 16.1) at discharge. 7 (20%) patients had a discharge mRS ≤ 2. CONCLUSIONS: Selection of patients based on SMART criteria and CTP mismatch for sequential IV and IA rt-PA is safe, associated with a high recanalization rate, good outcome, and can extend thrombolysis treatment beyond conventional time windows. A controlled trial of this approach is warranted. Disclosure: Dr. Spokoyny has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barazangi has received personal compensation for activities with Genentech, Inc. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rose has received personal compensation for activities with Boehringer Ingelheim as a speaker. Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bedenk has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tong has nothing to disclose.
Given to Bewilderment, Hand to Limb

“Given to Bewilderment, Hand to Limb” takes up the Druidic conception of the cosmos as composed of three elements—nwyfre, gwyar, and calas—as a means of investigating what it might mean to re-imagine a philosophy of nature that takes ethics rather than ontology as its starting point. Beginning with a deconstruction of Bataille’s notion of excess and Derrida’s conception of the gift, Sect. 1 of the chapter argues that nature is fundamentally aneconomic, that all discourse of exchange must be understood only in terms of giving and accepting. This not only allows us to see what it means for a system to move toward a common Good, but it also solves an old problem having to do with thermodynamics and the origin of life on Earth.
Temporal and environmental variation in growth and maturity and effects on management reference points of Georges Bank Atlantic cod

Temporal variation in demographic rates has been observed in various fish populations and environmental influences are likely to be a key factor. Here we show how it can be important to combine sta...
Perceived Discrimination and Intergroup Behaviors: The Role of Muslim and American Identity Integration:

In this article, we test the proposition that identity integration—or perceptions of compatibility versus conflict between one’s social identities—predicts behaviors in intergroup contexts. Using a...
Analysis of the secondary vortices in rotating Flow induced by a twisted tape inside a pipe

Flow through a twisted-tape (swirler) creates a complicated vortex structure downstream in the pipe. Detailed velocity measurements with Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) along horizontal and vertical axes perpendicular to the axial flow direction have shown a strange flow pattern at the center of the rotating flow - a counter-rotating vortex seems to be present at the center with periodically varying magnitude in the axial direction. In more detailed measurements, it is shown that this behavior is the result of a pair of co-rotating secondary vortices that are superimposed on the primary rotating flow in a helical formation. The source of these secondary vortices has remained unclear. This study presents numerical simulations of the flow through 180o twisted-tape in a pipe, complementing the previous experimental results. The simulations reproduce the characteristics of the helical co-rotating vortices observed in experiments and provide details of the flow field. The results provide insight into the formation of the secondary vortices inside the twisted-tape, explaining the experimental observations. Mechanism of the vortex formation is described, showing that the secondary co-rotating helical vortices are produced by a pair of single co-rotating vortex formed on each side of the twisted-tape.
Keeping deep learning GPUs well fed using object storage

In recent years, machine learning and deep learning techniques such as deep neural networks and recurrent neural networks have found uses in diverse fields including computer vision, speech recognition, natural language processing, social network analysis, bioinformatics and medicine, where they have produced results comparable to and in some cases surpassing human experts. Machine learning requires large amount of data for training its models with much of this data residing in object storage, an inexpensive and scalable data store. Also, deep learning make use of state of the art processing capabilities from high-end GPUs and accelerators, such as Google Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which enable parallel and efficient execution. The throughput that such GPUs can support is very high.This however constitutes an impedance mismatch as the object storage is not designed for high performance data transfers and standard practices for feeding deep learning models from the object storage can result in poor training performance. Furthermore, the typical deep learning framework uses a file access interface, and object storage support a REST based interface with different APIs and semantics than a file system [2]. To fully take advantage of these GPUs and operate at full utilization, frameworks, such as TensorFlow, Cafe, and Torch, needs to deliver data as fast as possible to keep the GPUs busy. This becomes a significant challenge when the training data does not reside in the same machine as the GPUs, as is the case when using object storage, resulting in a utilization challenge for the expensive processing units.To solve the impedance mismatch and keep the processing units fully utilized, we have added a FUSE based file system, S3fs [1], to our deep learning stack. S3fs translates POSIX file API requests into REST API against the object storage. It is an open source project which, as part of this work, we optimized so that read requests are performed using new innovative logic that translates the requests into multiple concurrent range reads requests against the object storage. This enables us to obtain higher throughput from the object storage than is possible using the naive approach. Reads are cached in memory and are served back to the deep learning framework asynchronously. Since deep learning frameworks often run their training in multiple epochs the in memory cache speed is highly beneficial.Our FUSE based architecture has been implemented in the Deep Learning as a Service offering on the IBM Cloud, and our S3fs enhancements have been contributed to the S3fs project repository. Using our architecture we are able to speed up deep learning performance many folds and keep expensive GPUs fully utilized.
Expression, Purification, and Activity of Recombinant MHV-A59 3CLpro

The 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro) of MHV-A59 is predicted to mediate the majority of proteolytic processing events within the gene 1 polyprotein. We have overexpressed 3CLpro in E. coli as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein (MBP). The MBP-3CLpro fusion protein was purified from contaminating E. coli proteins by amylose column chromatography, and r3CLpro was cleaved from the fusion protein by factor Xa. Recombinant 3CLpro (r3CLpro) was able to cleave a polypeptide substrate containing mutated inactive 3CLpro and portions of the flanking domains. R3CLpro cleaved substrate completely within 5 minutes and the activity of r3CLpro was sensitive to inhibition by serine and cysteine proteinase inhibitors; however, it was not inhibited by EDTA, suggesting that metal ions were not critical for 3CLpro activity.
Cold Climate Heat Pump Using Tandem Vapor-Injection Compressors

Conventional air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) experience rather poor performance in cold climate areas. The heating capacity and efficiency of conventional ASHPs decrease significantly as the outdoor temperature decreases. The major R&D challenges are to limit this ASHP heating capacity and efficiency degradation at low and extremely low ambient temperatures. Vapor injection (VI) compressors are able to provide better efficiency and larger capacity at low ambient temperatures. A prototype air-source cold climate heat pump (CCHP), using tandem vapor injection (VI) compressors and inter-stage flash tank, was developed. The CCHP has two identical VI compressors in parallel, which works with a two-stage indoor blower and two-stage thermostat. At moderately low ambient temperatures, only one compressor is called, and at extremely low ambient temperatures, both the compressors are used. The prototype was installed in Fairbanks, Alaska and underwent field testing for six months. The CCHP successfully operated down to −30 °F (−35 °C) and was able to meet the building heating load with good efficiency in a wide range of ambient temperatures. At −30 °F (−35 °C), the CCHP delivered 75% heat pump capacity, relative to the capacity at 47 °F (8.3 °C), and the heat pump COP was 1.8. This paper will introduce the CCHP development and field testing results.
PERSISTENT ALCAPA PHYSIOLOGY AFTER ALCAPA REPAIR

Left ventricular (LV) perfusion in anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) relies on right coronary artery (RCA) collaterals prior to repair. The Takeuchi repair for ALCAPA entails the creation of an aortopulmonary baffle (APB) which incorporates the left
En-Block Heart-Liver Transplantation in Adults - Technique and Mid Term Outcomes

Purpose Combined heart and liver transplantation is a live saving procedure for patients with advanced dual organ failure. Although described 35 years ago, less than 20 cases are performed every year, reflecting the complexity of the procedure. We present the first case series of adult patients receiving En-Bloc Heart-Liver Transplant (En-Bloc HLTx). Methods A present a retrospective analysis of our experience with En-Bloc HLTx in five adult patients, including demographic characteristics, indications, surgical course with operative data, surgica outcomes, and long term follow up with evaluation of rejection by myocardial biopsy results. Results Five patients received En-Block HLTx between June 2016 and December 2017. Mean recipient age was 43 years (26-63), and 3 (60%)patients were male.Indication for dual organ transplantation included hereditary ATTR amyloidosis (n=1), gestations cardiomyopathy with cardiac cirrhosis (n=2), and idiomatic dilated cardiomyopathy with cryptogenic cirrhosis (n=1) or coexistent NASH (n=1).All patients presented NYHA FC IV symptoms, and 4 were admitted to the hospital awaiting transplantation for 63 days (51-89) as status 1A, while 1 patient was on home inotropic support. Sodium MELD score ranged from 8 to 28 (mean = 17.6). Total operative time was 430 min (393-480), and ischemic times (IT) were equal for both organs, with cold IT of 85 min (32-136), and warm IT of 37.5 min (31-47). Patients required CPB support for 107 min (80-138), and aortic cross-clamp of 58 min (52-72). Abdominal fascia remained open in 4 patients, and sternum in 3 patients, with planned definitive wound closure within 48 hours in all patients. Thirty day operative survival was 100%, and 4 (80%) patients were discharged alive from the hospital on POD 36 (17-67). One patient expired on POD 55, due to fungemia and multi system organ failure. Mayor postoperative complications included prolonged ventilation requiring tracheostomy on 3 patients, and renal insufficiency requiring dialysis in 2 patients. Follow up was complete all 4 patients for up to 18 months, All patients remained on low immunosuppression regimen, and there was no evidence of grade 2 or higher rejection on anyone. Conclusion En-Bloc HL Tx is a safe procedure for patients requiring dual organ transplantation. Operative times are significantly decreased, and mid-term outcomes are comparable to single organ transplantation.
Optimizing the Translational Value of Mouse Models of ALS for Dysphagia Therapeutic Discovery

The goal of this study was to compare dysphagia phenotypes in low and high copy number (LCN and HCN) transgenic superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mouse models of ALS to accelerate the discovery of novel and effective treatments for dysphagia and early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. Clinicopathological features of dysphagia were characterized in individual transgenic mice and age-matched controls utilizing videofluoroscopy in conjunction with postmortem assays of the tongue and hypoglossal nucleus. Quantitative PCR accurately differentiated HCN-SOD1 and LCN-SOD1 mice and nontransgenic controls. All HCN-SOD1 mice developed stereotypical paralysis in both hindlimbs. In contrast, LCN-SOD1 mice displayed wide variability in fore- and hindlimb involvement. Lick rate, swallow rate, inter-swallow interval, and pharyngeal transit time were significantly altered in both HCN-SOD1 and LCN-SOD1 mice compared to controls. Tongue weight, tongue dorsum surface area, total tongue length, and caudal tongue length were significantly reduced only in the LCN-SOD1 mice compared to age-matched controls. LCN-SOD1 mice with lower body weights had smaller/lighter weight tongues, and those with forelimb paralysis and slower lick rates died at a younger age. LCN-SOD1 mice had a 32% loss of hypoglossal neurons, which differed significantly when compared to age-matched control mice. These novel findings for LCN-SOD1 mice are congruent with reported dysphagia and associated tongue atrophy and hypoglossal nucleus pathology in human ALS patients, thus highlighting the translational potential of this mouse model in ALS research.
State-specific cigarette use rates among service members andveterans, United States, 2017

INTRODUCTION Little is known about the geographical distribution of cigarette use among military service members and veterans. In this study, we estimated state-specific rates of current cigarette use for service members and veterans and compared these to the current cigarette use rates of civilians. METHODS We used data from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to generate survey-weighted percentages with 95% confidence intervals of current cigarette use among service members and veterans (SMVs) and civilians. Respondents (n=450016) were classified as an SMV if they answered in the affirmative to the following question: 'Have you ever served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, either in the regular military or in a National Guard or military reserve unit?'. Current cigarette users were persons who reported having smoked 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoked 'some days' or 'every day' at the administration of the survey. RESULTS Nationally, 17.3% (95% CI: 16.6-18.0) of SMVs reported current cigarette use, while 16.2% (95% CI: 16.0-16.5) of civilians reported current cigarette use. By state, current cigarette use rates ranged from 10.0% in Utah (95% CI: 7.5-12.5) to 23.7% in Indiana (95% CI: 20.9-26.5) among service members and veterans, and from 8.8% in Utah (95% CI: 8.0-9.6) to 27.0% in West Virginia (95% CI: 25.3-28.6) among civilians. CONCLUSIONS Resources and interventions directed at cigarette smoking cessation should consider military status and geography when recruiting participants.
Design of a Highly Integrated Electric-Hydraulic Machine for Electrifying Off-Highway Vehicles

Off-highway vehicles represent a major portion of US energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Electrifying or hybridizing these systems has the potential to yield substantial fuel savings through both efficiency improvements and energy recovery over the drive cycle. However, the extreme power density and transients of these systems pose unique challenges to electrification that have so-far prevented broad commercial success. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes an integrated electric-to-hydraulic conversion machine. Three novel topologies are proposed which combine the rotor of radial and axial flux machines with an eccentric ball piston hydraulic pump. Design objectives for use in off-highway vehicles are defined, a sizing analysis is performed on each topology, and one topology is selected and optimized to investigate its suitability for meeting the unique requirements of an off-highway vehicle.
Association of Variation in Consultant Use Among Hospitalist Physicians With Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Importance Evidence is lacking on the consequences of high rates of inpatient consultation. Objective To examine outcomes and resource use of patients cared for by hospitalists who use more inpatient consultation than their colleagues. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective cohort study of medical admissions to hospitalists among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries was conducted. Hospitalist consultation tendency was identified from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014; admissions were calculated in 2013; and outcomes were measured in 2014. Data were analyzed from January 31, 2017, to May 9, 2019. A total of 711 654 admissions with patients receiving care from 14 584 hospitalists at 737 hospitals were included. Exposure Admission to high-consulting hospitalists, considered to be those who were in the top 25% of the distribution of consulting frequency at their own hospital (adjusted for patient case mix). Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes included length of stay, Medicare Part B inpatient charges, discharge destination, all-cause 7- and 30-day readmissions, 90-day outpatient specialist visits, and 30-day mortality. Results The 711 654 hospital admissions included 408 489 women (57.4%); mean (SD) age of the population was 80 (8.5) years. Length of stay of patients cared for by high-consulting hospitalists was longer compared with other hospitalists (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.05). The admissions resulted in a mean of $137.91 (95% CI, $118.89-$156.93) more in Medicare Part B charges and were less likely to end with the patient going home (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.98) compared with patients cared for by other hospitalists in the cohort. Patients cared for by high-consulting hospitalists also were 7% more likely than patients cared for by other hospitalists to see an outpatient specialist at 90 days (aOR 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09), with no significant differences in 30-day mortality (aOR 1.01, 95% CI, 0.98-1.03) or readmissions (7-day readmissions: aOR 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.03; 30-day readmissions: aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.03). Conclusions and Relevance Hospitalists who obtain consultations more than their colleagues at the same institution were associated with greater use of health care resources without apparent mortality benefit. Further investigation should identify whether reducing high rates of consultation can reduce resource use without harming patients.
Management impacts of information technology : perspectives on organizational change and growth

Negative Consequences of Information Technology Evaluating the Impacts of Information Technology The Impact of Information Technology on Organizations in Japanese Companies The Use of Expert Systems in Business Online Databases in Environmental Scanning The Organizational Impact of Strategic Systems Health Care Information Systems Model Management Information Technology in R Information Technology in Japanese Organizations Researching the Impact of Computer Technology in the Workplace Information Technology and the Humanization of Work Management Implications of the Object-Oriented Paradigm Beyond the Technical Perspective Computer-Mediated Communications Information System Capabilities and Organizational Applications Controlling the Introduction of Strategic Information Technologies.
Thin Film Characterization on Cu/SnAg Solder Interface for 3D Packaging Technologies

Copper is a commonly used interconnect metal in microelectronic interconnects due to its exceptional electrical and thermal properties. Particularly in applications of the 2.5 and 3D integration, Cu is utilized in through-silicon-vias (TSVs) and flip chip interconnects between microelectronic chips for providing miniaturization, lower power and higher performance than current 2D packaging approaches. SnAg capped Cu pillars are a common high-density interconnect technology for flip chip bonding. For these interconnects, specific properties of the Cu surface, such as roughness and cleanliness, are an important factor in the process to ensure quality solder bumps. During electroplating, tight processing parameters must be met so that defects are avoided, and high bump uniformity is achieved. An understanding of the interactions at the solder and Cu pillar interface is needed, based on the electroplating parameters, to determine the best method for populating solder on the wafer surface. In this study, surface treatment techniques such as oxygen plasma cleaning were performed on the Cu surfaces and the SnAg plating chemistry for depositing the solder were evaluated through hull cell testing to qualitatively determine the range of current densities to investigate. It was observed that current density while plating played a large role in solder bump deposition morphology. At the higher current densities greater than 60 mA/cm2, bump height non-uniformity and dendritic growth are observed and at lower current densities, less than or equal to 60 mA/cm2, uniform, continuous bump height occurred.
Comparison of deep learning techniques to model connections between solar wind and ground magnetic perturbations

Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) can drive power outages and damage power grid components while also affecting pipelines and train systems. Developing the ability to predict local GICs is important to protecting infrastructure and limiting the impact of geomagnetic storms on public safety and the economy. While GIC data is not readily available, variations in the magnetic field, dB=dt, measured by ground magnetometers can be used as a proxy for GICs.We are developing a set of neural networks to predict the horizontal component of the magnetic field, BH, from which dBH=dt is calculated. We apply two techniques for time series analysis to study the connection of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field properties obtained from the OMNI dataset to the ground magnetic field perturbations. The analysis techniques include a feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) and a long-short term memory (LSTM) neural network. Here we present a comparison of both models performance when predicting the BH component of the Ottawa (OTT) ground magnetometer for the year 2011 and 2015 and then when attempting to reconstruct the time series of BH for two geomagnetic storms that occurred on 5 August 2011 and 17 March 2015.
Countable Metric Spaces Without Isolated Points

This note provides a short, self-contained proof of the famous fact that any countable metric space without isolated points is homeomorphic to the space of rational numbers. The discussion is carri...
Synthesis and lanthanide coordination chemistry of CMPO-decorated dibenzothiophene and dibenzothiophene sulfone platforms

Abstract Syntheses and spectroscopic characterization data for two new hybrid chelating ligands, 4,6-bis[(diphenyl-N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide)methyl]dibenzothiophene (2) and 4,6-bis[(diphenyl-N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide)methyl]dibenzothiophene 5,5-dioxide (3), that contain two CMPO fragments grafted onto dibenzothiophene and dibenzothiophene sulfone platforms, respectively, are presented. Coordination chemistry with selected lanthanide nitrates is described along with a X-ray crystal structure determination for an unexpected Eu(III) complex, Eu(4)(NO3)3 that contains the intermediate ligand oxidation species 4,6-bis[(diphenyl-N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide)methyl]dibenzothiophene 5-oxide (4).
Transcriptome-wide Cas13 guide RNA design for model organisms and viral RNA pathogens

Summary The recent characterization of RNA-targeting CRISPR nucleases has enabled diverse transcriptome engineering and screening applications that depend crucially on prediction and selection of optimized CRISPR guide RNAs (gRNAs). Previously, we developed a computational model to predict RfxCas13d gRNA activity for all human protein-coding genes. Here, we extend this framework to six model organisms (human, mouse, zebrafish, fly, nematode, and flowering plants) for protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and also to four RNA virus families (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2], HIV-1, H1N1 influenza, and Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS]). We include experimental validation of predictions by testing knockdown of multiple ncRNAs (MALAT1, HOTAIRM1, Gas5, and Pvt1) in human and mouse cells. We developed a freely available web-based platform (cas13design) with pre-scored gRNAs for transcriptome-wide targeting in several organisms and an interactive design tool to predict optimal gRNAs for custom RNA targets entered by the user. This resource will facilitate CRISPR-Cas13 RNA targeting in model organisms, emerging viral threats to human health.
Μὴ ἐκλυόμενοι in Galatians 6:9

The final phrase of Galatians 6:9, μὴ ἐκλυόμeνοι, is today almost universally understood as a conditional participle, placing a strong warning on the end of Paul’s encouragement to persist in doing good. This article argues on grammatical, contextual, and historical grounds that the participle would be better understood as having a ‘manner’ shading and as expressing the ceaseless nature of the eschatological harvest as an exhortation to ceaseless service in the present.
Fear of Bullying and Its Effects on Mental Health among College Students: An Emerging Public Health Issue

The objective of this paper is to determine the prevalence of fear of bullying among college students, examine socio-demographic predictors of fear of bullying, and assess associations between fear...
Human Impact on the Functioning of Landscape Boundaries

Human management of the land frequently creates or sharpens landscape boundaries between natural and managed ecosystems. These boundaries often correspond approximately to natural landscape features, such as changes in slope, soil types, or riparian zones. Managed systems usually export very large fluxes of soils, nutrients, pesticides, and inorganic ions. Steep gradients of material concentrations and process rates develop across and adjacent to these boundaries. The resulting alteration in rates of processes in the natural ecosystem ultimately has secondary unanticipated effects upon soils, biota, and atmospheric exchange rates. In the below ground environment, pH, Eh, ionic composition, nutrient status, toxic metal levels, and organic matter pathways are altered. These impacts are especially important for remnant or relict natural ecosystems such as wetlands which are downslope from intensively managed ecosystems.
Molecular cloning and functional expression of an inducible nitric oxide synthase from a murine macrophage cell line.

Macrophages activated by exposure to cytokines and/or to endotoxin produce nitric oxide (NO.), a free radical that is a mediator of the host response to infection. Activation induces the expression of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that catalyzes formation of NO. from L-arginine and molecular oxygen. We report the cloning of a cDNA encoding the inducible nitric oxide synthase from a murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, exposed to interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide. Oocytes injected with mRNA transcribed from this cDNA demonstrate arginine-dependent production of nitrite, a stable metabolite of NO.. Nitric production is blocked by the enzyme inhibitor, NG-monomethylarginine, and is independent of calcium/calmodulin. RAW264.7 cells demonstrate rapid accumulation of the nitric oxide synthase-encoding mRNAs upon activation. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence to the calcium/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthase previously purified (Bredt, D. S., and Synder, S.H. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 87, 682-685) and cloned (Bredt, D. S., Hwang, P. M., Glatt, C. E., Lowenstein, C., Reed, R. R., and Synder, S. H. (1991) nature 351, 714-718) from rat brain identifies shared binding sites for the cofactors NADPH and flavins in the C-terminal half of both proteins and an additional conserved region near the N terminus that may recognize L-arginine and/or contribute to the active site.
Automobility: the coming use of fully-automated on-road vehicles

In a world that appears primarily to be motivated by a worship of the false idol of profit, there can be little doubt that the era of automated road vehicles is upon us. Indeed, such technologies have already begun to percolate into the bespoke vehicle domain and what becomes feasible in the special case is a prime candidate to penetrate into the more general circumstance. Within a period of mere decades, will it be the case that we will look back upon the manually controlled vehicle in the same manner that we now look upon the manually operated elevator, as a piquant anachronism or the particular domain of a specialized segment of the antiques trade? But, before we achieve even the first degree of true “automobility” we shall have to pass through a hybrid stage of development in which the role of the individual human driver will have to evolve substantively. During this phase of evolution, the population of vehicles on the road will be best described as ‘mixed equipage’ (i.e., dynamically changing combinations of automated and manually controlled vehicles). Whether such differing capacity vehicles will be separated in either space (e.g., lanes devoted to automatic vehicles) or time (e.g., blocks of time when only manual vehicles are permitted on a specific roadway), is a question which must concern all who attend this important inception. If differing capacity vehicles are allowed to ‘mix,’ a critical element of acceptance for example, will be how automated vehicles deal with drowsy, fatigued, or otherwise impaired drivers exercising traditional manual control. After exploring this specific strand of hybrid development and innovative forms of vehicle control from a human factors perspective, and briefly considering the parallel development of diverse robotic systems, I conclude my present discourse by asking the provocative question which may be expressed as follows. While we can develop such automated systems, should we in fact pursue this line of development? The latter questions are intimately bound up in the notions of safety, efficiency, choice, freedom, and our prospective overall social and individual quality of life. Whether these latter questions ever enter into the primary scientific and engineering discourse about the coming technological wave of automation I considered rather doubtful.
17 Imaging of Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis in Children and Adults

The clinical presentation of acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis can be nonspecific and sometimes confusing (moderate evidence). When signs and symptoms cannot be localized, bone scintigraphy is preferred over magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (moderate evidence). When signs and symptoms can be localized, MRI is preferred (moderate to limited evidence). Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for evaluating joint effusions of the hip (moderate evidence). Magnetic resonance imaging is highly sensitive for the detection of osteomyelitis and its complications (abscess), but incurs added cost (moderate evidence). No data were found in the medical literature that evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the different imaging modalities in the evaluation of hematogenous osteomyelitis and septic joint (limited evidence). Overall, MRI is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate for osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in the adult population, including the diabetic patient and intravenous drug users. The ability to localize symptoms and the inherent high spatial resolution allows exact anatomic detail that may be helpful for surgical planning (limited to moderate evidence).
6-Phosphogluconolactonase Mutants of Escherichia coli and a Maltose Blue Gene

Mutants lacking an enzyme of the oxidative branch of the hexose monophosphate shunt, 6-phosphogluconolactonase ( pgl ), have been selected as a new class of glucose-negative derivatives of a phosphoglucose isomerase ( pgi ) mutant. Glucose negativity is not as complete as in mutants lacking phosphoglucose isomerase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Pgi + , pgl − strains have been constructed by transduction and grow almost normally on glucose. Genetic mapping shows that pgl lies between chlD and att -λ, in the same position as and identical with a blu gene described by Adhya and Schwartz. These blu mutants grown on maltose were recognized by their property to turn blue after treatment with iodine. It is not known how phosphogluconolactonase deficiency causes this reaction; it might be related to accumulation of 6-phosphogluconolactone.
Penicillin failure in the treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis: Causes and solutions

Despite its in vitro efficacy, the increased inability of penicillin to eradicate Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) from patients with acute and relapsing pharyngo-tonsillitis (PT) is of great concern. This review describes the causes of penicillin failure in eradicating GABHS PT. These include the presence of beta-lactamase producing bacteria (BLPB) that "protect" GABHS from penicillins; the absence of bacteria that interfere with the growth of GABHS; co-aggregation between GABHS and Moraxella catarrhalis; and the poor penetration of penicillin into the tonsillar tissues and the tonsillo-pharyngeal cells which allows intracellular GABHS and Staphylococcus aureus to survive. The inadequate intracellular penetration of penicillns can allow intracellular GABHS and S. aureus to persist. In the treatment of acute tonsillitis, the use of cephalosporins can overcome these interactions by eradicating aerobic BLPB (including M. catarrhalis), while preserving the potentially interfering organisms and eliminating GABHS. In treatment of recurrent and chronic PT the administration of clindamycin, or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid can eradicate both aerobic and anaerobic BLPB as well as GABHS. The superior intracellular penetration of cephalosporins and clindamycin enhances their efficacy against intracellular GABHS and S. aureus.
Improving software process to implement a wireless mobile network

In the future, computer networks will consist of multiple personal computing devices connected by wired and wireless links. The system will operate in a peer-to-peer mode, allowing the network of computers to act as one large server, providing information to each node as needed. In addition, the computers will be mobile, connecting and disconnecting from networks at will, to meet the needs of the user. Because wireless links will be prevalent, users will be able to compute while on the move, increasing the utility and complexity of the information network. These mobile, wireless network characteristics add many dynamic aspects that can be addressed by object-oriented, knowledge-based, and simulation methods. Software engineering currently is composed of several detached activities consisting of requirements analysis, design, implementation, and test. These activities are performed and documented in segments with little automatic flowthrough,of information. This segmented approach impedes the progress to a working understandable system. As the software changes during implementation and test, even the best efforts fail to keep the documentation up-to-date. In the end, the product is difficult to maintain and impossible to understand. This manual process of software engineering must be changed to automate repetitive tasks and to remove opportunities for human error. A wireless, mobile networks application is used to illustrate the improvements in the process that will lead to an effective implementation of such complicated distributed systems.
Fault diagnosis of analog circuits using artificial neural networks as signature analyzers

Experimental results using neural networks to provide go/no-go testing and fault diagnosis of analog circuits are presented. The primary focus is on reducing test time and providing a simple mechanism for automatic test pattern generation. Networks of reasonable dimension are shown to be capable of robust diagnosis of analog circuits, including effects due to tolerances and nonlinearities. The concepts are extended to include an approach to built-in test of analog or mixed signal ASICs. >
Abstract 326: Healthcare Costs for Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) Revision Procedures From 2004-2012

Introduction: The healthcare costs and clinical outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing revision procedures for CIED (ICD and CRT-D) were evaluated. Methods: The Medicare cohort for this study was defined by the following criteria: (a) ≥ 65 years old (b) implanted with a primary ICD/CRT-D in 2004 or 2005, (c) survived through 2012 and (c) underwent their 1st revision for a generator replacement (ERI) only. Patients were excluded if the procedures were associated with a recall, complication, or faulty lead. Total medical costs for the observation period, including subsequent revisions (≥ 2 revisions) and 6 month follow-up care due to complications, were identified from the reimbursement claim amounts. Costs were adjusted to 2014 US$. Results: Just over one thousand (ICD=605, CRT-D=408) t met the inclusion criteria.. This cohort of revised patients was composed primarily of men (~75%) and were between the ages of 65-74 years (>60%). Nineteen percent of patients had a Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 5 or higher, indicating substantial comorbidity. The total health care cost of these patients was approximately $185M, with just over half of the cost coming from ICD patients. Patients that had received only one revision over the eight year time period accounted for 92% of the population and cost on average $183K per patient over the study period. Patients who had undergone multiple generator replacement procedures accounted for 8% of the study cohort and cost on average $213K per patient over eight years. Preliminary cost analysis of complications associated with these revision procedures suggested that complications were also a significant financial burden. Conclusion: CIED revisions due to ERI are associated with a substantial clinical and financial burden. Minimizing the number of revisions will reduce the financial burden of CIED procedures. Evaluation of the costs for individual infection (sepsis, endocarditis etc.) and non-infection complications (cardiac perforation, hematoma etc.) is also underway.
Compound estimation of a monotone sequence

In this paper we consider simultaneous estimation of a monotone sequence of parameters in the context of compound decision theory and obtain a class of monotone estimators with the strong asymptotic property that their compound risk converges uniformly to zero, for a large class of loss functions including the square error loss function and the absolute deviation loss function, as the number of parameters increases. We also show that when the number of parameters is fixed our estimators converge uniformly in probability to the parameters they are estimating, as the number of observations increases. As examples we consider estimation of forces of mortality with censored data in single and double decrement environments.
Particle fracture simulation in non-uniform microstructures of metal-matrix composites

This paper deals with the evolution of damage in microstructures of reinforced ductile-matrix composites, by particle cracking and splitting. A small deformation Voronoi Cell finite element model is developed, in which each element may consist of a matrix phase, an inclusion phase and a crack phase. Brittle inclusions may be of arbitrary shapes and sizes, and may be dispersed non-uniformly in the matrix. Damage initiation of inclusions is assumed to follow a maximum principal stress theory. Complete particle cracking or splitting is assumed at the onset of damage. The model is validated by a few comparison studies. Various geometric patterns are studied to test the effectiveness of the model, as well as to understand the effect of morphology on damage evolution. Actual microstructures from optical micrographs of Al-Si-Mg composite systems are analyzed and compared with experimentally observed results. Quantitative characterization and statistical analysis is conducted to correlate morphological parameters with mechanical response.
Communications Technology–Its Potential

Abstract: Communications technology is undergoing a period of rapid change; it has been largely made possible by the advances in device technology that place in a few chips immense signal‐processing power. The short and long term will see a number of significant trends in communications systems and technology; new devices will result in a shift to multifunction, muldband systems; software and communications will merge, resulting in specific communications software languages being developed; similarly, there will be a merging of communications and signal‐processing techniques — they will become inseparable; higher frequency bands will be used in association with acousto‐optical signal‐processing techniques. The social and educational impact of these and many other changes will be dramatic; communications will become more personalized and specialized while electronics will find its way into nearly all aspects of everyday life. Communications in all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum will undergo change i...
Bleomycin-reactive iron in patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract Bleomycin-reactive iron was detected in the sera of six out of nine adults undergoing intensive chemotherapy for acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. In these individuals the corresponding transferrin saturation ranged from 96% to 113% and the serum ferritin from 775 to 9975 μg/l. Nontransferrin-bound iron has been postulated to be a factor in organ toxicity in iron overload conditions such as beta thalassemia and hereditary hemochromatosis by facilitating the production of tissue-damaging free radicals. We propose that bleomycin-reactive iron should be considered as a possible factor in organ dysfunction seen with intensive cancer chemotherapy.
Transient expression of acetylcholinesterase messenger RNA and enzyme activity in developing rat thalamus studied by quantitative histochemistry and in situ hybridization.

Abstract The molecular basis for transient expression of acetylcholinesterase in noncholinergic regions of the early postnatal rat brain was studied by in situ hybridization histochemistry. A 33 P-labelled 63-mer DNA oligonucleotide was used to probe acetylcholinesterase messenger RNA in the brains of rat pups at one, two, six, nine, 12, 16 and 21 days of age (birth = day 0). Cryostat brain-sections were hybridized with probe and exposed to X-ray film or emulsion coatings. Acetylcholinesterase messenger RNA was quantitated by counting silver grains and by measuring X-ray film density with video imaging and computer-based densitometry. Adjacent sections were stained histochemically for acetylcholinesterase activity, also quantitated by video densitometry. Overall there was a significant correlation between apparent levels of acetylcholinesterase activity and acetylcholinesterase messenger RNA. Increases in message tended to accompany the surges of acetylcholinesterase activity that marked the maturation of thalamocortical sensory relay pathways. Acetylcholinesterase expression in the youngest rats was generally sparse but it increased markedly during the first postnatal week, especially in the sensory relay nuclei of the thalamus. Levels of message and enzyme activity in the medial and dorsolateral geniculate and the ventral posteromedial and ventral posterolateral nuclei rose to a peak, typically about day 9. Beyond this time there was a gradual decline. By day 21 the staining and in situ hybridization patterns resembled those in adult brains, whose thalamic relay nuclei are impoverished in acetylcholinesterase activity and messenger RNA. Thus, acetylcholinesterase expression is strongly modulated in certain thalamic systems as they undergo neural morphogenesis.
The analysis of chlorinated dibenzofurans in municipal fly ash : supercritical fluid extraction vs soxhlet

A multiresidue supercritical fluid extraction procedure for chlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) has been optimized as an efficient method for the determination of these compounds in fly ash samples. The results were compared with those obtained by Soxhlet extraction. Extracts from the two procedures were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HRGC–MS) Statistical analysis of the results confirmed that supercritical fluid extraction provides data with a relative standard deviation of less than 10% while Soxhlet extraction data show a much greater spread.
Effects of cyclosporin A on the splenic tissue of rats: A histomorphometric analysis☆

Histological studies demonstrated that long-term cyclosporin A treatment of nonantigenically challenged (untransplanted and unimmunized) Lewis rats markedly reduces the total percentage of splenic white pulp when compared to untreated control spleens (mean = 24 vs 34%, P < 0.001). Direct measurements of periarteriolar sheaths and marginal zones demonstrated a marked reduction in size of these compartments in cyclosporin A-treated rats compared to untreated controls (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a striking reduction in cellular density of the periarteriolar sheaths (P < 0.001) and a minimal reduction in cellular density of the marginal zones (P < 0.1) in the cyclosporin A-treated group when compared to untreated controls. There was no significant difference in total splenic size between the cyclosporin A-treated and the control groups, as indicated by total cross section measurements (mean = 33.3 vs 35.0, P < 0.4). Qualitative observations of methyl greenpyroninophilic cells within and surrounding the marginal zones of the cyclosporin A-treated spleens revealed a much greater proportion of large pyroninophilic lymphocytes, which suggests that they are B immunoblasts. We conclude that long-term cyclosporin A treatment depletes splenic periarteriolar sheaths and marginal zones, compartments known to contain primary T lymphocytes, and induces an immunoblastic cell proliferation within the marginal zones and red pulp as well.