cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cool Scent of Power: Effects of Ambient Scent on Consumer Preferences and Choice Behavior

The present research examines how ambient scents affect consumers' spatial perceptions in retail environments, which in turn influence customers' feelings of power and, thus, product preference and purchasing behavior. Specifically, the authors demonstrate that in a warm- (vs. cool-) scented and thus perceptually more (vs. less) socially dense environment, people experience a greater (vs. lesser) need for power, which manifests in increased preference for and purchase of premium products and brands. This research extends knowledge on store atmospherics and customer experience management through the effects of ambient scent on spatial perceptions and builds on recent research on power in choice contexts.
When Mii Is Me A Psychophysiological Examination of Avatar Self-Relevance

The present research examines the processes involved in the psychological and behavioral effects of avatar use. We offer and explore a new concept, avatar self-relevance, which potentially moderates avatar use effects and thus may help explain why such effects are augmented by using (compared with viewing) an avatar. Results from an experimental study suggest that avatar self-relevance after avatar use, as reflected by physiological responses to observing (without controlling) the avatar get beaten up, is higher for people who maintain a psychological connection to the avatar, while lower for people for whom the disconnection from the avatar is highly salient, with avatar gender consistency and an avatar-emotion connection contributing to the former and an avatar-body connection contributing to the latter. This research offers a middle ground between self-perception and priming-oriented explanations of the theoretical mechanisms involved in avatar use effects.
Rapid intracerebroventricular delivery of Cu-DOTA-etanercept after peripheral administration demonstrated by PET imaging

Background: The cytokines interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and the cytokine blocker interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, all have been demonstrated to enter the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following peripheral administration. Recent reports of rapid clinical improvement in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia following perispinal administration of etanercept, a TNF antagonist, suggest that etanercept also has the ability to reach the brain CSF. To investigate, etanercept was labeled with a positron emitter to enable visualization of its intracranial distribution following peripheral administration by PET in an animal model.
Peer-to-peer policy management system for wearable mobile devices

Wearable computing devices are obviously made all the more powerful due to their ability to be innately mobile. With this in mind, spontaneous peer-to-peer networks may emerge amongst several users wearing individualized devices. Although security of wireless networks in general has been explored, we propose a system wherein users are protected from one another and from abuse of communally owned resources through the use of a peer-to-peer policy management system called PPPM.
Technology assessment and developing countries

Abstract The assessment of technologies may be of great importance to developing countries in their present process of industrialization in the framework of the New International Economic Order. The main criteria for the assessment of the technologies most relevant to the needs of developing countries are reviewed from the point of view of employment, scarce capital, and energy resources. The design of appropriate technologies should take into account the tastes, culture, needs, purchasing power, and raw materials available in developing countries. A systems approach should therefore be used to assess technologies. The programs undertaken by several agencies of the United Nations System are described which may contribute to build up technology assessment capability in developing countries.
Tissue-specific induction of herbivore resistance: seaweed response to amphipod grazing.

Tissues within individual plants can vary greatly in the strength of their constitutive (i.e., permanent) and induced resistance to herbivores. Optimal defense theory predicts that defenses should be allocated among tissues in proportion to the value of the tissues to the plant and the tissue-specific risk of attack by grazers. We examined the relationship between tissue value and defense in the highly-differentiated brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula. Tissues within S. filipendula varied widely in palatability to the herbivorous amphipod Ampithoe longimana, with younger tissues preferred over older tissues and blades preferred over stipes. Old stipes (at the base of the plant), which linked the other tissues to the seafloor and were thus the most valuable tissue to the plant, were defended constitutively and resisted amphipod grazing by virtue of their toughness rather than via deterrent chemistry. Induction of resistance as a result of amphipod grazing occurred only in the top stipes, which contain the meristematic tissue responsible for future growth. Induction in the top stipes was not due to toughness or other structural properties, as the unpalatability persisted when top stipes were dried, ground to a fine powder, and reconstituted into an agar matrix. This suggests that the induced resistance to grazing resulted from an increase in chemical defenses. The demonstration of constitutive or induced defenses in only the more valuable tissues of the seaweed is consistent with predictions of optimal defense theory. Our finding of induction due to mesograzer (amphipod) feeding is also consistent with the notion that it is these small, more sedentary, herbivores that are most likely to induce defenses in seaweeds.
Comparison of the clinical and pathologic staging in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: Radical cystectomy (RCx) is perhaps the most effective therapeutic approach for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Unfortunately, clinical staging is imprecise and the degree of understaging remains high. This study retrospectively evaluated patients undergoing RCx with regard to pathologic outcomes and degree of upstaging to better identify features that may lessen clinical understaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 141 consecutive patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma who were candidates for RCx with curative intent were retrospectively evaluated. Preoperative clinical and pathological (i.e. TURBT) features were compared to pathological outcomes in the cystectomy specimen. Patients were also evaluated as to whether cystectomy was performed as their primary (n = 91) versus secondary (n = 50) treatment for recurrent/progressive disease. Date of cystectomy ( 5 years prior to study) was also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 141 patients, 54% were upstaged on operative pathology. The greatest degree of upstaging occurred in those with invasive disease preoperatively (cT2-T3). Twenty-six percent of all patients had node-positive disease, and 75% of cT3 patients were node-positive. Seven of 101 (7%) patients with clinical T2 disease were unresectable at the time of surgery. In the primary (vs. secondary) RCx group, more patients were upstaged (63% vs. 40%), non-organ confined (62% vs. 38%), and LN positive (31% vs. 20%). In the more modern cohort, the degree of upstaging was not improved. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic findings after RCx often do not correlate with preoperative staging. Over half of patients undergoing cystectomy are upstaged on their operative pathology. An improved understanding of the relative frequency of upstaging in cystectomy patients may have important implications in the decision-making and selection for neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies for these high-risk populations.
Role of Magnesium Ion in the Initiation of Ventricular Fibrillation Produced by Acute Coronary Occlusion

The incidence of ventricular fibrillation following acute coronary occlusion in dogs was reduced by perfusing the ischemic area of the myocardium with Locke-Ringer's solution and solutions of magnesium ion in physiological saline. In contrast, normal serum concentrations of magnesium in 5 per cent dextrose appeared to induce ventricular fibrillation in these circumstances. The results suggest that changes in the concentration of magnesium and sodium ion in extracellular fluid may initiate ventricular fibrillation in the ischemic heart.
An 8–18GHz 0.18W wideband recursive receiver MMIC with gain-reuse

This paper presents an 8–18GHz wideband receiver with superheterodyne topology. In order to save power, both RF and IF signals share the tunable transconductance stage. The IF output of the first mixer is fed to its tunable input stage for IF amplification in a recursive manner, which significantly enhances the gain tuning without increasing the power. The wideband receiver MMIC is implemented in a 0.13um SiGe BiCMOS technology and achieves 6.7–7.8dB noise figure (NF). The average voltage gain of the receiver is measured as 53dB maximum with 20dB continual tuning and 36dB discrete tuning. The average output P1dB is measured as −10dBm at maximum gain. The receiver dissipates 180mW with 2.2V power supply. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first fully integrated single-chip receiver MMIC with the coverage of the entire X-band and Ku-band realized on a commercial SiGe process.
Relationships Between the Importation, Transmission, and Nosocomial Infections of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: An Observational Study of 112 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers

The study of hospital methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) epidemiology is complicated by its transmissibility. Our objective was to understand how MRSA importation and transmission influence MRSA nosocomial infections in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs).
Two tagless variations on the Deutsch-Schorr-Waite algorithm

We describe two variations on the DeutschSchorr-Waite (henceforth, simply D S W ) algorithm for marking finite, rooted, binary, directed graphs (henceforth simply referred to as graphs) which dispense with the tag bit while retaining the same overall structure. The first variation handles all graphs, just as D S W , but trades average O(log n) (worst case O(n)) workspace and O(n) time for O(1) workspace and average O(n log n) (worst case O(n2)) time. The second variation achieves both O(1) workspace and O(n) time but at the expense of not being able to correctly handle cyclic graphs. The variations demonstrate the gains that can be made through careful analysis of loop invariants and, by keeping the overall structure Of a well-known algorithm, represent a gain in clarity over previous tag-free marking algorithms [4]. We also present some arguments to support the conjecture that O(1) workspace and worst case O(n) time are not simultaneously achievable.
Learning Linear Functions with Quadratic and Linear Multiplicative Updates

We analyze variations of multiplicative updates for learning linear functions online. These can be described as substituting exponentiation in the Exponentiated Gradient (EG) algorithm with quadratic and linear functions. Both kinds of updates substitute exponentiation with simpler operations and reduce dependence on the parameter that specifies the sum of the weights during learning. In particular, the linear multiplicative update places no restrictions on the sum of the weights, and, under a wide range of conditions, achieves worst-case behavior close to the EG algorithm. We perform our analysis for square loss and absolute loss, and for regression and classification. We also describe some experiments showing that the performance of our algorithms are comparable to EG and the p-norm algorithm.
Housing and the residential integration of immigrants in Luxembourg and the EU-15

If immigrants or ethnic minorities succeed economically by achieving a high income or level of occupational prestige, they may nevertheless find themselves shunted into ghettos or excluded from mainstream society because of their national origins or appearance. In the perhaps the most well-known contemporary case, many urban African Americans suffer from “hypersegregation” and risk harassment from whites or the police if they attempt to live in more “exclusive” neighborhoods (Massey and Denton 1993; Goodnough 2009). For Europe, ethnic segregation certainly exists but does not appear to be increasing for the continent as a whole (Musterd and van Kempen 2009). So how well are immigrants integrated into Luxembourg’s metropolitan areas? The chapter begins to answer this question by describing the Grand Duchy’s urban setting.
Time Evolution of the Topography of Structured Hybrid Polymer/Nanoparticle Systems

An important class of functional hard/soft hybrid nanocomposites is formed when nanoparticles (NPs) are induced to self-assemble within the structures of ordered A-b-B diblock copolymers (BCPs). Ba...
Hassle-Free Vitals: BioWireleSS for a Patient-Centric Health-Care Paradigm

Continuous monitoring of vital information via a wireless medium has become an integral part of next-generation health-care technologies. The benefits of a wireless monitoring technique include facilitating in-home care services, reduction of the cost of frequent visits to hospitals, and lightening of the burden to the elderly persons. The development of miniature, lightweight, and energy-efficient circuit solutions for biomedical sensor applications has been made possible by the tremendous recent advancements in health-care monitoring technologies, micro- and nanofabrication processes, and wireless communications. Exuberant growth of the wireless sensor networks has opened up a new and innovative application of wireless technology in health care. The advancement of wireless technology has led to the development of the recently proposed comprehensive patient monitoring systems such as wireless body area network (WBAN) and body sensor network (BSN). Implantable and wearable sensors are integral components of these networks and are employed for monitoring various levels of physiological activities. Wireless sensor technology provides an effective tool for instant access to patient data, laboratory test results, and clinical histories as well as insurance information, thereby ensuring immediate health care in case of emergency, eliminating the lengthy clinical decision. This biomedical wireless technology has resulted in a new health-care concept known as telemedicine, which facilitates the monitoring of in-home patient care by incorporating smart medical devices and WBANs. In this scheme, implantable and wearable sensors are placed within the vicinity of the patient's body and various physiological parameters are monitored and transmitted wirelessly to a nearby hub station and subsequently to the remote health-care provider via a secure wireless communication network. The telemedicine platform can also be configured for identification of the object location, medicine reminder, or emergency alert in case of any sign of fatal disease. As a result of the recent developments in biomedical wireless technologies, the traditional clinic-centric health care is giving way to a patient-care centric health-care concept. This translational health-care concept facilitates the multidirectional integration of basic research, patient-oriented research, and population-based research, with the long-term aim of improving the health of the public. However, the successful integration of this new health-care paradigm hinges on the proper interpretation, storage, and dissemination of the large data sets generated by the all implantable and wearable devices within the wireless network.
The last Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM): replacing our symptom-based diagnoses with a brain circuit-based classification of mental illnesses.

ISSUE:Current psychiatric diagnoses are defined “top-down” based upon clinical phenomenology, but may give way to defining mental illnesses “bottom-up” based upon genetic and molecular factors that regulate information processing in neuronal circuits, and that can be visualized with neuroimaging techniques.
A Survey on Occupational Status and Living Conditions of Greenhouse Plantation Farmers in a District of Shanghai

[Objective]To understand the occupational status and living conditions of greenhouse plantation farmers in Pudong New District.[Methods]All greenhouse vegetable plantations in 14 towns of the district were investigated for farmers' essential information,living and occupational status and operating status.[Results]A total of 3 194 valid questionnaires were collected.The results showed that education levels of the farmers were low,and ageing trend of them was significant.At the same time,we found that age constitution of the in-migrant farmers was significantly different from(χ~2=1 229.382,P0.01)and more reasonable than the local farmers.In-migrant famers were statistically different from the local farmers on management character, plantation variety,plantation classification,plantation area,plantation history,drinking water,and dwelling conditions(χ~2=1604.16, 934.50,83.61,65.42,156.54,909.40,2360.80,respectively,P0.01).In-migrant families tended to rent smaller area and operate independently.Their living conditions and facilities were rather poor.[Conclusion]Occupational status of in-migrant farmers need to be paid more attention on.It is necessary to help them enhancing their living conditions and facilities,and to instruct and train them for occupational health protecting skills in agricultural planting and producing processes.
Semantically Coupled Header Compression

In this paper, we evaluate the semantic coupling of header compressor and decompressor entities in our semantically coupled header compression (SCHC) scheme. We introduce the media interleave factor (MIF) to obtain an interleaving scheme for different media streams, e.g., audio and video streams. We additionally introduce the TIMES algorithm to header compression by assuming constant deltas in the headers of media streams. Exploiting the interleaving and the constant offsets in such streams, we semantically connect the (de)compressors of a framed delta coding header compression scheme to evaluate the advantage of this coupling over traditional header compression schemes using only an individual media stream. We find that our approach of semantic coupling of multiple header (de)compressors results in higher robustness for a broad range of bit error rates. We find that using our approach, expected header savings are more stable and close to the obtainable maximum savings for typical bit error rates. We additionally find that expected packet drop savings due to header compression are larger than with the traditional single stream header compression approach.
The origin of the recent swine influenza A(H1N1) virus infecting humans

Preliminary analysis of the genome of the new H1N1 influenza A virus responsible for the current pandemic indicates that all genetic segments are related closest to those of common swine influenza viruses.
Substance, Spirit, and Sociality Among Shi‘i Muslims in Iran

This chapter draws from ethnographic research in the Fars Province of Iran to explore the dynamic interplay of kinship and piety for an extended family of Shi‘i Muslims. Wellman examines how kinship is constituted, not only through idioms of blood, milk, and contract as found in Islamic inheritance law, but also through everyday and ritual acts such as prayer, sharing food, and visiting. In focusing on the sacred and strategic aspects of kinship making in Iran, Wellman argues that a full spectrum of material substances, immaterial qualities, acts, and processes can define kin relations within and against outside others.
A diagnostic pathologist’s guide to carpal disease in racehorses:

As a pathologist, postmortem examination of the equine carpus can be daunting. The anatomy is complex and oftentimes, small or subtle lesions have significant impact on lameness and secondary lesions such as catastrophic musculoskeletal fractures and other injuries. In performance horses, particularly racehorses, the carpus is a common site of injury and source of lameness. Given the predisposition of racehorses to developing carpal disease, familiarity with clinically relevant anatomy and common developmental, degenerative, traumatic, and inflammatory processes are imperative for thorough postmortem examination. Our aim is (1) to provide a concise summary of clinically relevant anatomy and function that serves as a guide for postmortem evaluation of the equine carpus, and (2) to review common carpal injuries and diseases in actively training, racing, or retired racehorses, including developmental lesions (incomplete ossification, osteochondromata), infectious and inflammatory lesions (septic arthritis and tenosynovitis), and degenerative and traumatic lesions (degenerative and traumatic osteoarthritis, osteochondral fragmentation, and polyostotic catastrophic "breakdown" fractures). Representative gross and histologic images are presented along with corresponding antemortem and postmortem diagnostic images, and a review of current scientific literature pertaining to the pathogenesis of these equine carpal lesions.
Empirically Identified Subgroups of Children Served in Part C Early Intervention Programs

OBJECTIVE Early intervention (EI) programs under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act serve a developmentally heterogeneous population of infants and toddlers with or at risk of developmental delays or disabilities. The aim of this study was to identify empirically distinct subgroups of children in EI so as to inform early prognosis and service planning. METHODS We applied mixture modeling to developmental assessment data from 1513 children who enrolled in a large, urban EI program between 2009 and 2013. The observed variables were children's EI-entry developmental quotients (DQs) in 5 domains (communication, cognitive, motor, adaptive, and personal-social) as assessed by the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition. RESULTS A 4-class model showed the best fit to the data, revealing subgroups with distinct developmental profiles. Children in the first subgroup showed a severe delay in communication with less severe delays in the other domains. Children in the second subgroup likewise showed a severe delay in communication, but with comparably severe delays in the cognitive and motor domains. Profiles for the third and fourth subgroups showed the same overall patterns as those for the first and second subgroups, respectively, but to a less severe degree. Developmental trajectories differed by subgroup. CONCLUSION Consideration of subgroups based on children's developmental assessment scores provides insight into underlying commonalities among children with different presenting diagnoses on entry into EI. The subgroups also have clinical relevance in terms of both practitioners' and parents' understanding of children's likely service needs and developmental trajectories.
A Region in Fragments: The Middle East from Istanbul

On 26 April 2012, Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, delivered a speech in which he described Turkey as both “owner” and “servant” of the Middle East. Predictably, his remarks provoked a firestorm of debate. Recent analyses of Turkish foreign policy, however, have cautioned against reading Davutoglu's speech and the foreign policies of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) as Turkey turning to the Middle East. This article begins with those analyses and adds another dimension to them by presenting two different ways in which Turkey's geopolitical relationships are mediated, engaged, and contested in popular media: cover illustrations from Turkey's satirical press and fliers advertising the relief efforts of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a civil society organization focused on humanitarian relief. The author argues that these two different media articulate two distinct “Middle East” imaginaries. Such an observation, he argues, has the potential to contribute to broader disc...
Network analysis of the sensory capital of a destination brand

Abstract This paper proposes network analysis of qualitative consumer data as a practical method to identify the sensory capital, inclusive of both dominant and latent brand elements, of a well-known tourist destination in the United States, Orlando. Although the results show that the Orlando brand is primarily represented by Disney, network analysis also reveals several latent brand elements, which could enable projection of the city as a destination inclusive of a multitude of attractions for different consumer needs and preferences. These results may help strategic re-branding of Orlando. The methodology developed in this study may help Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) in identifying a destination's primary and latent brand elements for different stakeholders in order to hone its strategic brand theme.
GW/P-Bodies and Autoimmune Disease

Some patients with autoimmune disease develop antibodies directed against intracellular structures. Despite more than 50 years of research, the etiology of autoantibody formation in these patients remains unknown. Autoantibody formation may precede the development of clinical disease manifestations by years if not decades (Arbuckle et al. 2003; Prince et al. 2004). It therefore seems likely that autoantibodies are involved in the earliest events that occur in an autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies may provide the only clue to the environmental exposure, such as a viral infection, that initiates autoimmune diseases in susceptible individuals.
Assessment of Performance Metrics for Use of WSNs in Buildings

This paper is part of an effort to develop measurement systems and methods to better predict the performance of wireless sensor and control networks in building applications. Because of the variability in application requirements, the development of measurement methods to assess the performance of wireless sensor networks in buildings is extremely challenging. This paper presents the key challenges in using wireless technology in practical building applications through the results of a literature survey and interactions with building industry professionals. It is anticipated that the findings will provide potential users of wireless technology a clear metric as to how the technology will perform in a particular, and to understand the barriers to adoption of wireless sensors in buildings when appropriate.
Competing for the Physician's Attention after Hours.

Physicians can maintain a balance between professional and personal obligations by having a well-organized practice and honest communication with patients. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Abstract 16: Oligodendrocytes Provide Trophic Support to Vasculature Following Ischemic Stroke in Neonatal Mice

Introduction: Incidence of perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is surprisingly high, approaching that of the elderly. It has been postulated that the developing brain has a greater degree of ...
Xanthogranuloma of the sellar region: A rare tumor. Case illustration and literature review.

Abstract Xanthogranulomas are rare intracranial lesions with controversial etiology. The sellar location is exceedingly rare. Here we report a clinical case and a review of the English-language literature of histologically confirmed xanthogranulomas in order to furnish useful tools in diagnosis and management of this unusual disease. We performed an English-language literature MEDLINE search for the last 18 years and analyzed the reports of the published series and the present case. The clinical, radiological, pathological features and outcome of the published cases of Xanthogranuloma have also been compared with the traits of Craniopharyngioma and Rathke Cleft Cyst. The data collection has been hindered by the lack of important details in the published series. The available clinical and radiological data have been reported in Table 1 (28 papers for a total of 59 patients reported). A clinical-radiological comparison among common pathologies of the sellar-parasellar region has been performed in Table 2 . Endocrine impairment was a common finding in the clinical presentation and it was often worsened by surgery. Natural history of Xanthogranuloma is similar to other benign pathologies of the sellar area, but some typical features might help in distinguishing it before the pathological exam.
Understanding the Effects of Sample Preparation on the Chemical Structures of Petroleum Imaged with Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy

This study addresses the effect of sample preparation conditions on the structural integrity and composition of heavy hydrocarbon mixtures imaged by noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM). We ...
Combined use of tofacitinib (pan-JAK inhibitor) and ruxolitinib (a JAK1/2 inhibitor) for refractory T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) with a JAK3 mutation.

A 62-year-old male presented with lymphocytosis and splenomegaly. A diagnosis of T-PLL was made based on bone marrow examination. The patient was initially observed but after a year developed progr...
Enabling Flexible All-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells

Summary Multijunction all-perovskite solar cells offer a route toward efficiencies of III-V materials at low cost by combining the advantages of low thermalization loss in multijunction architectures with the beneficial properties of perovskites—namely, low processing cost, high-throughput fabrication, and compatibility with flexible substrates. However, there are two main challenges for enabling high-efficiency tandems: (1) design of a recombination layer to efficiently combine two perovskite subcells while also preventing bottom cell damage during top cell processing and (2) achieving high open-circuit voltage of the wide-gap subcell. Herein, we overcome both of these challenges. First, we demonstrate a nucleation layer consisting of an ultra-thin polymer with nucleophilic hydroxyl and amine functional groups for nucleating a conformal, low-conductivity aluminum zinc oxide layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD). This method enables ALD-grown recombination layers that reduce shunting as well as solvent degradation from solution processing on top of existing perovskite active layers. Next, we demonstrate a band-gap tuning strategy based on A-site cations of mismatched size (dimethylammonium and cesium) to enable a 1.7 eV perovskite with high, stable voltages. By combining these advances, we fabricate two-terminal all-perovskite tandem solar cells with 23.1% power conversion efficiency on rigid substrates and 21.3% on flexible plastic substrates.
A more martial Europe? Public opinion, permissive consensus, and EU defence policy

ABSTRACTEU defence policy has been extremely popular over the past three decades, averaging around 75% public support. In fact, no other policy domain is as popular and robust as the idea of poolin...
Everyone against racism: Agency and the production of meaning in the anti-racism practices of two feminist organizations

L'A. analyse la production de signification dans les pratiques anti-racistes de deux organisations feministes combattant la violence a l'encontre des femmes
The Effect of Performance Reporting Frequency on Employee Performance

Conventional wisdom suggests that frequent performance reporting is beneficial for decision making, as it can enhance timeliness and usefulness of the reported information for decision making. We i...
Investigation of the Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Effect on Thyroid and Testosterone Hormones in Male Rats

Exposure to zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has been increasing steadily, causing more attention being paid to their potential toxicity, including cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of ZnO NPs on thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as testosterone hormone in male adult rats. A total of 54 Sprague-Dawley albino adult male rats were divided into nine groups each of six rats, daily treated intraperitoneal with ZnO NPs two different doses (30 and 60) mg/kg in three different periods of time (7, 14, and 28) days, as following: Control groups (Groups 1, 2, and 3): Respectively received intraperitoneal injection with distilled water for 7, 14, and 28 days, experimental groups (Groups 4, 5, and 6): They were rats, respectively, received intraperitoneal dose (60 mg/kg) of ZnO NPs for (7, 14, and 28) days, and group (7, 8, and 9) experimental groups were rats, respectively, received intraperitoneal dose (30 mg/kg) of ZnO NPs for (7, 14, and 28) days. Data showed high significant decrease (P < 0.01) in level of T3, T4, TSH, and level of testosterone also decrease at high and low dose for 7, 14, and 28 days.
The Surgeon's Role in Cardiogenic Shock.

Cardiogenic shock represents a very challenging patient population due to the undifferentiated pathologies presenting as cardiogenic shock, difficult decision-making, prognostication, and ever-expanding support options. The role of cardiac surgeons on this team is evolving. The implementation of a shock team is associated with improved outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock. Early deployment of mechanical circulatory support devices may allow an opportunity to rescue these patients. Cardiothoracic surgeons are a critical component of the shock team who can deploy timely mechanical support and surgical intervention in selected patients for optimal outcomes.
But Why Weight: Understanding the Implications of Obesity in Kidney Transplant

Obesity is increasing in prevalence among candidates for kidney transplant. Understanding the influence of obesity on candidate evaluation, surgical risk, peritransplant management, and post-transplant outcomes is critical to ensuring equitable access to transplant for this growing population.
Multiple myeloma: Its clinical and laboratory diagnosis with emphasis on electrophoretic abnormalities

Abstract An analysis of sixty-one cases of plasma cell tumors is given. Particular attention is devoted to the electrophoretic patterns which occur in this condition and suggestions are made which may increase the accuracy and promptness of the diagnosis of this type of tumor. The electrophoretic patterns of twenty-nine consecutive cases of diffuse plasma cell tumor were all abnormal. One case of solitary myeloma of the antrum with low grade chronic infection gave patterns which were normal except for those changes which commonly accompany infection. Five abnormal patterns from cases other than myeloma which might be confused with those of multiple myeloma are shown.
A Phase Transition Hidden in Higher Dimensions

A molecular solid can change from one structure to another in a way that can only be described properly using four-dimensional space.
Radio Images and Light Curves for Nova V1974 Cygni 1992

Extensive VLA and MERLIN radio observations of Nova V1974 Cygni 1992 provide the best chance ever to determine the mass and kinematics of a nova shell from radio data. Examination of the image sequences, ranging from optically thick to optically thin states, indicates that there is initially one elliptical shape related to the outer boundary of the shell, while later optically thin images are dominated by a different elliptical inner boundary for the shell.
Direct finite element solver of linear complexity for analyzing electrically large problems

In this paper, we develop a fast direct finite element solver of linear (optimal) complexity for the electromagnetic analysis of electrically large problems. Both theoretical analysis and numerical experiments have demonstrated the solver's linear complexity in CPU time and memory consumption with prescribed accuracy satisfied.
Exolytic hydrolysis of toxic plant glucosides by guinea pig liver cytosolic beta-glucosidase.

Abstract We demonstrate that although the guinea pig liver cytosolic beta-glucosidase does not catalyze the hydrolysis of gentiobiose, it does hydrolyze, disaccharide-containing glycosides such as p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-gentiobioside (Glc beta 1----6Glc beta-pNP) and mandelonitrile-beta-D-gentiobioside (amygdalin). Furthermore, we establish that the enzyme attacks disaccharide glycosides exolytically; specifically, we document the exolytic deglucosylation of amygdalin and the generation of the intermediate monosaccharide glycoside mandelonitrile-beta-D-glucoside prior to the formation of the aglycone (mandelonitrile). We also show that the cytosolic beta-glucosidase catalyzes the hydrolysis of various phenolic (e.g. arbutin and salicin) and cyanogenic plant glucosides (e.g. prunasin). Using the everted gut-sack technique, we demonstrate that the plant glucosides, amygdalin, prunasin, and vicine, are transported across the small intestine of the guinea pig efficiently and without being hydrolyzed. Based on these data we speculate that the cytosolic beta-glucosidase may participate in biotransformation of toxic plant glucosides.
Thermal Assessment of Landsat-7 ETM+ Radiative Cooler in Instrument and Spacecraft Thermal Vacuum Tests and in Flight

During the radiative cooler cool-down phase of the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) instrument thermal vacuum test #3, the coldest temperature that the Cold Focal Plane Array (CFPA) achieved was 89.5 K. The cold stage/CFPA temperature decreased from 315 K to 89.5 K in 80 hours. In the spacecraft and instrument integrated thermal vacuum test, the cold stage/CFPA temperature decreased from 315 K to 86.9 K in 80 hours, and was still decreasing at a rate of 0.08 K/hr when the cool-down was terminated. The cool-down was faster, and a colder CFPA temperature was obtained. In flight, the cooler cool- down was even faster, and colder. The cold stage/CFPA temperature decreased from 315 K to 89.7 K in 33 hours, and was still decreasing at a rate of 1 K/hr when cool- down was terminated at 89.7 K. The factors that affected the ETM+ cooler cool-down are the radiation heat sink temperature for the cold stage and intermediate stage, parasitic radiation heat load to the cooler, parasitic conduction heat load to the cooler, and cooler outgas time preceding cooler cool-down.
Nonparametric analysis of time-resolved fluorescence data based on the Laguerre expansion technique

To estimate the intrinsic fluorescence intensity decay of a compound, the excitation light pulse must be deconvolved from the measured fluorescence pulse trace. The most commonly used deconvolution method is the multiexponential least-square iterative reconvolution (LSIR) technique. A variant of LSIR in which the intrinsic fluorescence intensity decay is expressed as an expansion on the discrete time Laguerre basis, was recently introduced. In this study, the performance of the Laguerre deconvolution technique was successfully tested with simulated and fluorescence standard data. It was also demonstrated that the Laguerre deconvolution presents a number of advantages over the classical multiexponential LSIR, including less expensive computational resolution, and the property to generate a unique set of expansion coefficients highly correlated with the intrinsic lifetimes. A novel method for concentration estimation based on the analysis of the Laguerre expansion coefficients was also proposed and successfully applied to different fluorescence standard mixtures, performing even better (error<2%) than more traditional methods of spectral analysis, such as PCR (error<7%) and PLS (error<10%). These findings suggest that the use of Laguerre expansion coefficients represents an alternative nonparametric approach to characterize and discriminate biological systems, in terms of their spectral and lifetime characteristics.
How to reuse supervisors when discrete event system models evolve

System evolution, such as addition or replacement of a component, reconfiguration upon a diagnosed failure, or process changes leading to new requirements on the system behavior, may often necessitate complete redesign of the existing supervisors for a discrete event dynamic system. Such redesign may occur because the supervisors are synthesized based on the models of the system and the specifications, and these models may have to be modified, or "refined", upon the evolution of the system. The objectives of this work are to: (i) study conditions on the evolution of the system model under which it is possible to reuse the existing supervisors for the original set of specifications, and (ii) propose a systematic method for this reuse of the supervisors, based on the automatic synthesis of input and output "interfaces", when the conditions identified in (i) hold.
Awareness of the structure and meaning of morphologically complex words: Impact on reading.

Many new words middle school children encounter in books they read are relatively transparent derived forms whose meanings might be figured out through analysis of the word parts. Of importance is whether students can not only read and recognize the structure of morphologically complex words but also determine their meanings. This issue was addressed by investigating the relationship of third and fifth graders' awareness of the structure and meanings of derived words and the relationship of these forms of morphological awareness to word reading and reading comprehension. The results showed that awareness of structure was significantly related to the ability to define morphologically complex words; some aspects were also significantly related to the reading of derived words. The three morphology tasks accounted for significant variance in reading comprehension at both grade levels, but the contribution was stronger for the fifth than the third grade. It may be educationally noteworthy that morphological analysis contributed significantly to reading comprehension for the third graders because they are presumably just beginning to learn to read and understand morphologically complex words.
The Benji jing and the Anle jing: Reflections on two Daoist and Christian manuscripts from Turfan and Dunhuang

In Turfan, numerous Christian manuscripts have been discovered. Recent scholarship has joined and identified some Syriac fragments. The verso sides of several Syeriac Christian fragments were written in Chinese and could be identified as the fragments from chapter three of one of the most popular Daoist texts in the Tang dynasty, the Taixuan zhenyi Benji jing. The newly identified fragments provide new opportunity in comparing different versions of this Daoist text popular in the Tang and Song dynasties, since it was cited in the Song encyclopedia Taiping yulan. While doing a comparison between the Daoist text Benji jing and the Christian text Zhixuan anle jing, it is striking that they shared a set of same vocabulary and metaphors in developing their religious thoughts respectively. For instance, ‘true nature’ was used in both texts. In Daoist text it refers to the Dao-nature, yet in Christian text it means the divinity. Further study reveals that the Daoist temple where the Benji jing was formed was ver...
A Bottleneck Model of Set-Specific Capture

Set-specific contingent attentional capture is a particularly strong form of capture that occurs when multiple attentional sets guide visual search (e.g., “search for green letters” and “search for orange letters”). In this type of capture, a potential target that matches one attentional set (e.g. a green stimulus) impairs the ability to identify a temporally proximal target that matches another attentional set (e.g. an orange stimulus). In the present study, we investigated whether set-specific capture stems from a bottleneck in working memory or from a depletion of limited resources that are distributed across multiple attentional sets. In each trial, participants searched a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) stream for up to three target letters (T1–T3) that could appear in any of three target colors (orange, green, or lavender). The most revealing findings came from trials in which T1 and T2 matched different attentional sets and were both identified. In these trials, T3 accuracy was lower when it did not match T1’s set than when it did match, but only when participants failed to identify T2. These findings support a bottleneck model of set-specific capture in which a limited-capacity mechanism in working memory enhances only one attentional set at a time, rather than a resource model in which processing capacity is simultaneously distributed across multiple attentional sets.
A Separate Mechanism of Gonadotropin Recovery after Pregnancy Termination

To further elucidate the mechanism of return of pituitary secretory function after gestation, eight women were studied for up to 55 days after pregnancy termination. As long as serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels were elevated, serum FSH remained low. Four to 6 days after abortion, serum E2 and P decreased to levels seen in the early follicular phase, and thereafter the initial increase in FSH occurred while serum β-LH remained undetectable. After the initiation of FSH secretion, the levels fluctuated within the normal follicular phase range, resulting in a steady increase of E2 to a mean preovulatory peak of 257 ± 37 pg/ml at a mean time of 21 ± 1.3 days after pregnancy termination. This E2 peak was followed by FSH and LH peaks and subsequent ovulation. In contrast to FSH, serum β-LH levels increased only after PRL concentrations diminished to 30 ng/ml or less. This initiation of β-LH secretion followed the advent of FSH secretion in six of eight patients. Therefore, a temporally separate me...
An ultrastructural investigation of calcium-dependent granules in the rat neuropil.

Abstract Sections from the central nervous systems of adult rats were studied following fixation in S-collidine buffered osmium tetroxide both with and without5 mM CaCl2, as well as a variety of other fixatives. Electron-dense granules were associated with the membranes of the mitochondria, myelin sheath, and synapses of only those specimens fixed in osmium tetroxide fixative containing calcium. The granules appeared to be more concentrated in the ‘active site’ of the synaptic membrane. These granules, in all probability, represent calcium-binding sites in neurons.
A review of the role of β-lactamase-producing bacteria in obstetric-gynecologic infections

Abstract β-Lactam antibiotics are the most commonly used antibiotics in obstetrics and gynecology. However, they are susceptible to inactivation when attacked by β-lactamase, an enzyme produced by many bacterial species. During the past three decades, numerous penicillins and cephalosporins have been made with a stable β-lactam ring that resists enzyme attack. More recently enzyme inhibitors have been discovered that inactivate β-lactamase. The combination of an enzyme inhibitor with a β-lactam antibiotic, such as ampicillin, restores the antimicrobial activity of the β-lactam against formerly resistant strains of staphylococci, Haemophilus influenzae , Enterobacteriacease, and Bacteroides fragilis .