cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highlights in clinical autonomic neurosciences: Orthostatic intolerance—insights into pathophysiology and treatment

Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) have marked increases in heart rate during orthostasis. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown and the effective therapy is uncertain. The authors tested the hypothesis that a small heart combinedwith reduced blood volume contributes to the POTS and that exercise training improves this syndrome. Twenty-seven POTS patients underwent autonomic function tests, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and blood volume measurements. Twenty-five of them participated in a 3-month specially designed exercise training program with 19 completing the program; these patients were re-evaluated after training. Results were compared with those of 16 healthy controls. The authors found that upright heart rate and total peripheral resistance were greater,whereas strokevolumeandcardiac outputwere smaller in patients than in controls. Left ventricular mass (median [25th, 75th percentiles], 1.26 g/kg [1.12, 1.37 g/kg] vs. 1.45 g/kg [1.34, 1.57 g/kg]; pb0.01) and blood volume (60 ml/kg [54, 64 ml/kg] vs. 71 ml/kg [65, 78 ml/kg]; pb0.01) were smaller in patients than in controls. Exercise training increased left ventricular mass (12%) and blood volume (7%) anddecreaseduprightheart rate by9beats/min [1, 17beats/min]. Tenof 19 patients no longer met the POTS criterion after training, whereas quality of life assessed by the SF-36 was improved in all patients after training. The authors concluded that the marked tachycardia during orthostasis in POTS was attributable to a small heart coupled with reduced blood volume. Exercise training improved or even cured this syndrome in most patients. The authors suggest a new name for POTS based on its underlying pathophysiology, the “Grinch syndrome,” because in this famous children's book by Dr. Seuss, the main character had a heart that was “two sizes too small.”
Stable, three layered organic memory devices from C60 molecules and insulating polymers

Memory devices based on C60 fullerene molecules and polystyrene and poly 4-vinyl phenol polymers are described. It is shown that the bistability in the I–V characteristics can be used to perform read-write-erase memory functions. In addition, it is demonstrated that mild thermal annealing enhances the stability of the devices. Specifically, after annealing, the hysteresis in our devices can be preserved up to 85°C in 60% humidity. Furthermore, memory retention tests show that it is possible to preserve a state even after annealing at 85°C in 60% humidity for 30min.
Calculation of third-order intensity correlations in a laser near threshold

Abstract The third-order correlation function of the intensity fluctuation of a laser near threshold is calculated and compared with the experiments of Davidson and Mandel.
RoboSim: A simulated environment for programming modular robots

RoboSim, a simulation environment designed to control modular robots with C code which can be used without modification for hardware robot control, is presented within this paper. The increasing presence of computer simulations to initially validate code designed for hardware robots is confirming their benefits as a method to quickly and easily prototype software design. RoboSim is integrated within the Ch programming environment, a C/C++ interpreter that provides the capability to remotely control robots through code, which allows switching between hardware control and virtual robots without modifying said code. Open source software projects Open Dynamics Engine, OpenSceneGraph, and GTK+ are employed to provide the virtual environment and user interface which afford the capability of running on different software platforms. Experiments were conducted which validated the accuracy of the virtual robots through comparison of results to the hardware robots.
Quality prediction for image completion

We present a data-driven method to predict the quality of an image completion method. Our method is based on the state-of-the-art non-parametric framework of Wexler et al. [2007]. It uses automatically derived search space constraints for patch source regions, which lead to improved texture synthesis and semantically more plausible results. These constraints also facilitate performance prediction by allowing us to correlate output quality against features of possible regions used for synthesis. We use our algorithm to first crop and then complete stitched panoramas. Our predictive ability is used to find an optimal crop shape before the completion is computed, potentially saving significant amounts of computation. Our optimized crop includes as much of the original panorama as possible while avoiding regions that can be less successfully filled in. Our predictor can also be applied for hole filling in the interior of images. In addition to extensive comparative results, we ran several user studies validating our predictive feature, good relative quality of our results against those of other state-of-the-art algorithms, and our automatic cropping algorithm.
Brain function and chromatin plasticity

The characteristics of epigenetic control, including the potential for long-lasting, stable effects on gene expression that outlive an initial transient signal, could be of singular importance for post-mitotic neurons, which are subject to changes with short- to long-lasting influence on their activity and connectivity. Persistent changes in chromatin structure are thought to contribute to mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance. Recent advances in chromatin biology offer new avenues to investigate regulatory mechanisms underlying long-lasting changes in neurons, with direct implications for the study of brain function, behaviour and diseases.
Lawless Policy TARP as Congressional Failure

The U.S. Constitution vests all the "legislative powers" it grants in Congress. The Supreme Court allows Congress to delegate some authority to executive officials provided an "intelligible principle" guides such transfers. Congress quickly wrote and enacted the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 in response to a financial crisis. The law authorized the secretary of the Treasury to spend up to $700 billion purchasing troubled mortgage assets or any financial instrument in order to attain 13 different goals. Most of these goals lacked any concrete meaning, and Congress did not establish any priorities among them. As a result, Congress lost control of the implementation of the law and unconstitutionally delegated its powers to the Treasury secretary. Congress also failed in the case of EESA to meet its constitutional obligations to deliberate, to check the other branches of government, or to be accountable to the American people. The implementation of EESA showed Congress to be largely irrelevant to policymaking by the Treasury secretary. These failures of Congress indicate that the current Supreme Court doctrine validating delegation of legislative powers should be revised to protect the rule of law and separation of powers.
Role of the renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder unique to pregnancy with consistent involvement of the kidney. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. In...
The Repertoire of Human Antibodies to the Carbohydrate Capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae 6B

Antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae 6B capsular polysaccharide (PS) induced with a 23-valent PS vaccine among 25 adults were examined. The magnitude of antibody responses among different subjects was highly correlated with the amount of anti-6B antibodies expressing IgG (r = 0.98) and lambda (r = 0.93) isotypes. Most individuals produced one or two dominant IgG antibody clones as identified by their isoelectric points. Two antibody clones with unique amino acid sequences could be readily purified, and the sequences of their light chains match those of A1/A17 V kappa and hslv2046 V lambda genes. Anti-6B antibodies isolated from different subjects used various VL genes and differed in their cross-reactivity with 6A PS. An isoelectric focusing study suggests that some IgG antibodies induced with 6B PS bind 6A PS with lower avidity.
Facilitating risk reduction among homeless and street-involved youth

PURPOSE: The purposes of this evaluation project were to describe a group of homeless adolescents and street-involved youth who utilized a mobile unit that provided medical and mental healthcare services and to assess the efficacy of the services provided in reducing their health risk behaviors. DATA SOURCES: The records of 95 youth aged 15-25 years who used the medical mobile unit for an average of 14 months were examined and evaluated according to the national health indicators related to risk reduction. Current literature related to health risk behavior among homeless youth was reviewed, synthesized, and provided the background for this article. CONCLUSIONS: Data were obtained from the records of mostly heterosexual youth with a mean age of 20.5 years. Approximately one third of the participants were high school graduates and most were without health insurance. Living situations were transient including friends, shelters, crash pads, or the streets. Abuse accounted for the majority leaving home. Psychiatric conditions and substance abuse were common. Medical conditions were related to transient living situations, substance abuse, and sexual activity. Success of the program was associated with sustained counseling, stabilizing youth on psychotropic medications, decreasing substance use, providing birth control and immunizations, and treating medical conditions. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Homeless youth are one of the most underserved vulnerable populations in the United States with limited access and utilization of appropriate healthcare services. Nurse practitioners often serve as care providers but are also in a position to effectively lobby to improve health care for homeless youth through professional organizations and community activism. Furthermore, when designing and evaluating healthcare services, multidisciplinary teams need to consider risk reduction for homeless youth in the context of their environment. Language: en
Recent laser guided transport calculations

Laser-guided transport has been simulated in axisymmetry for intense electron beams at energies ranging from 3 to 45 MeV for currents of 2 to 5 kA. The simulation includes time variation of guiding channel formation and the time evolution of channel ion oscillations. Expressions are derived which determine when electrons are captured in a simple z independent model. In the same approximation, ignoring the spectrum of ion masses, the ion collapse time is calculated. For typical ATA (Advanced Test Accelerator) currents of 2 to 5 kA, the collapse occurs near the end of the pulse. Thus, any adverse emittance growth effects caused by ion collapse would be expected near the end of the pulse. The occurrence of unstable radial oscillations was demonstrated for extreme ion channel lambda /sub i/ variation. The DPC code has been used to simulate laser guided transport for a complete pulse the entire length of ATA. The variation of channel radius throughout the beam pulse has been confirmed and emittance growth has been demonstrated at the end of the ATA accelerator. >
The Success of Schools in Implementing Eight Restructuring Designs: A Synthesis of First-Year Evaluation Outcomes.

*Much of the research reported in this series was supported by a grant from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, to the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk (Grant No. R-l 17D-40005). However, any opinions expressed by the authors are our own and do not represent the policies or positions of the U.S. Department of Education.
Reconfigurable pipelines in VLIW execution units

The basic question addressed was whether the greater hardware utilization offered by reconfigurable functional units could compensate for a reduction in clock rate. That is, would the average number of clock cycles per instruction improve sufficiently to compensate for a slower clock rate to yield a net improvement in performance? The architecture limited the number of execution units because of constraints external to the execution units. An example of such a constraint would be limited efficient access to a common register file. Under these constraints, inefficient matching of program needs with hardware capabilities limits performance because of hardware idle cycles. The work found very limited conditions that can yield performance improvement using reconfigurable pipelines when compared with static pipelines. Greater promise was found with instruction set enhancements made possible by the reconfigurable pipelines.
Computational adaptive optimal control with an application to blood glucose regulation in type 1 diabetics

This paper presents an online policy iteration approach for finding optimal controllers for continuous-time linear systems with completely unknown dynamics, via adaptive/approximate dynamic programming. Using the proposed scheme, the a priori knowledge of the system matrices is not required, and all iterations can be conducted by using repeatedly the same state and input information collected on some fixed finite time-intervals. A practical computational adaptive optimal control algorithm is developed in this paper, and is applied to the optimal blood glucose regulation problem in type 1 diabetics.
Effect of sport-related concussion on clinically measured simple reaction time

Background Reaction time (RT) is a valuable component of the sport concussion assessment battery. RT is typically measured using computers running specialised software, which limits its applicability in some athletic settings and populations. To address this, we developed a simple clinical test of RT (RT clin ) that involves grasping a falling measuring stick. Purpose To determine the effect of concussion on RT clin and its sensitivity and specificity for concussion. Materials and methods Concussed athletes (n=28) and non-concussed control team-mates (n=28) completed RT clin assessments at baseline and within 48 h of injury. Repeated measures analysis of variance compared mean baseline and follow-up RT clin values between groups. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated over a range of reliable change confidence levels. Results RT clin differed significantly between groups (p clin from baseline was interpreted as abnormal), which corresponded to a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 68% and a 65% reliable change confidence level. Conclusions RT clin appears sensitive to the effects of concussion and distinguished concussed and non-concussed athletes with similar sensitivity and specificity to other commonly used concussion assessment tools. Given its simplicity, low cost and minimal time requirement, RT clin should be considered a viable component of the sports medicine provider9s multifaceted concussion assessment battery.
On the theory of 1/f noise of semi-insulating materials

The 1/f noise phenomena associated with devices involving semi-insulating materials, for instance GaAs MESFET's on semi-insulating GaAs, has long been a perplexing problem. In this particular case the 1/f noise corner frequency can be up to 100 MHz before the mean square noise current at the drain is dominated by the Nyquist noise associated with the channel conductance. No reasonable explanation has ever been given, although there are many different theories. 1/f noise is a common phenomena in nature and other devices involving semi-insulating materials. We propose here that this 1/f noise is a bulk phenomena associated with localized high frequency variations and long range low frequency fluctuations, the lowest frequency being limited only by the volume of the material. Specifically the proposal here is that injection of a current I into a semi-insulating material will result in a mean square noise voltage at the point of injection given by v/sub n//sup 2/~=2(kT/q)q/spl Delta/fR(/spl omega//sub c///spl omega/) Volts/sup 2/ where /spl omega//sub c/=1/t/sub t/, for the radian frequencies, /spl omega/, larger than /spl omega//sub c/ which is the reciprocal of the transit time of the carriers. For a long sample and long transit times then this 1/f noise voltage due to current injection will be larger than the Nyquist mean square noise of the sample alone as long as the DC voltage developed across the semi-insulating sample exceeds ((2kT/q)l/sup 2/(/spl omega///spl mu/))/sup 1/2/. This theory then gives the 1/f or 1//spl omega/ frequency dependence. The dc current I might be injected for instance by the substrate current in a GaAs MESFET being injected into the semi-insulating substrate, or gate current in an IGET being injected into the gate insulator. >
Taking Diabetes to Heart—Deregulation of Myocardial Lipid Metabolism in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes.[1][1] Although advances in medical management and lifestyle interventions have reduced cardiovascular mortality in diabetic patients by as much as 40% over the last decade, the actual number of deaths is predicted to rise as a
Scintillation crystal design features for a miniature gamma ray camera

A miniature scintillation camera with a 5 cm /spl times/ 5 cm field-of-view (FOV) is being developed to aid in surgical staging of cancer. This paper reports on certain interesting design aspects of the scintillation crystal array. Simulations and measurements of different types of crystal materials revealed that lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO), which is ordinarily used in PET, has appealing properties for detecting 140 keV photons. For example, LSO requires only 3 mm of thickness for 95% detection efficiency at 140 keV. This small thickness is appealing for high light collection efficiency, narrow light distribution, and minimizing the LSO volume in order to reduce intrinsic background events produced by /sup 176/Lu (2.6% abundance). Studies of both discrete and sheet crystals revealed that discrete crystal arrays have the advantage of increased spatial linearity and dynamic range compared to crystal sheets. For optimizing sensitivity and spatial resolution, several crystal array conditions were investigated, including ground crystal pixels packed tightly together with internal reflectors and with optical coupling grease. This design focuses the light, but also allows adequate light sharing for positioning with the position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) that will be used in the gamma camera.
Antifungal management after lung transplantation (TX): a survey of 37 transplant centers

Purpose: To provide data on antifungal management after lung TX, focusing on surveillance, prophylaxis.and pre-emptive therapy. Methods: All lung TX centers in the US were asked to participate. Participating centers filled out a survey document. Results: Thirty-seven of 69 active lung TX centers, accounting for 66% of all US lung transplants, responded, The median number of transplants performed per year was 14 (range1-52). and median age of the TX center was 9 years (range2-15 yrs). Pre-TX fungal surveillance was performed by 81% of centers with 67% surveying all patients and the rest just subsets. 72% of centers started antifungal treatment if Aspergillus was isolated before TX. Itraconazole was the preferred agent (86%). After TX, 76% of centers gave antifungal prophylaxis, although 24% did so only in selected patients. Prophylactic agents in order of preference were inhaled ampho B (61%), itraconazole (46%), parenteral ampho B (25%), and fluconazole (21%); many centers used more than one agent. Prophylaxis was started within 1 day in 71% of centers and by 7 days in all centers. Median duration was 3 mos. (range 1 mo. to life). All 37 centers gave antifungal therapy (median of 4.5 mos.) to patients colonized with Aspergillus and itraconazole was the preferred agent. Only 59% of centers treated patients colonized with Candida. Centers with larger volumes were less likely to treat pre-TX colonization with Candida and more likely to use itraconazole for post-TX colonization with Aspergillus (p 0.02). Only 14% of centers engaged in antifungal research at the time of the study. Conclusions: The majority of surveyed lung transplant programs actively manage fungal infection with prophylactic and/or pre-emptive strategies. Data from this survey may provide an impetus and basis for designing prospective studies.(supported by a grant from The Liposome Company).
FDG-PET is Superior to Gallium Scintigraphy in Staging and More Sensitive in the Follow-up of Patients with de novo Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Blinded Comparison

Accurate staging of Hodgkin lymphoma (HD) allows for minimization of therapy and reduction of long-term toxicities. The present study prospectively compares FDG-PET with gallium/SPECT scintigraphy at time of diagnosis and in follow-up of 36 patients with HD. Prior to therapy, whole body FDG-PET and gallium/SPECT were performed. Follow-up scans were obtained after 3 cycles of chemotherapy (n = 22), and at the end of chemotherapy (n = 32). Two nuclear medicine physicians independently interpreted scans in blinded and random order and a consensus was obtained. Baseline scans revealed a greater number of supradiaphragmatic disease sites detected by PET, and 5 patients had splenic involvement on PET not noted by gallium (P = 0.05); 3 patients were upstaged on PET. Midway through therapy, 5 patients had positive PET (4 of whom relapsed), and 3 had positive gallium (1 relapsed). At conclusion of chemotherapy, 8 patients had a positive PET (4 relapsed) and 3 had a positive gallium (2 relapsed). In conclusion, diagnostic PET and gallium are largely concordant, with the exception of unique detection of splenic disease by PET. However, more patients have persistently positive PET at the end of chemotherapy compared with gallium (P = 0.04), although only half of these patients have relapsed.
Effect of high aluminum consumption on mechanics and composition of furculae of free‐ranging coots

High levels of ingested Al can affect mechanical properties of bones. Because of the spring action of the furcula during the wingbeat, small changes in the mechanical properties of this bone may have measurable impacts on long-distance flight. We examined the furculae and ingesta of free-ranging American coots (Fulica americana) in San Francisco Bay (California, USA), where they consume a diet high in Al. We measured the spring stiffness and phase angle (δ) of the furculae and the concentrations of Al, Ca, F, Mg, and P in both the furculae and ingesta. The ingesta had mean Al concentrations (2,384 μg/g, dry weight) and Al:P molar ratios (6.4:1) predicted to affect bone integrity but the bone concentrations of Al were near the normal range and the furcula stiffness did not change with Al concentration. The tan δ of the furculae changed with Al concentration but the relationship was weak. The chemical speciation of the ingested Al may have affected its physiologic role and the high mean levels of ingested calcium (71,283 μg/g, dry weight) very likely neutralized the activity of the Al. Controlled feeding studies have shown that F strengthens avian bones. The bones in our study had molar concentrations of F more than two orders of magnitude greater than Al (170:1) but F appears to have insignificant influence on bone mechanics. The coots in San Francisco Bay apparently are not suffering furcula impairment despite a diet high in Al.
Oil, Banks, and Politics: The United States and Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1917-1924

Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Struggle for Mexican Oil, 1917-1922 Chapter 3. Albert Fall and Mexican Oil Chapter 4. Power and Resources: The United States, Great Britain, and Mexican Oil, 1917-1924 Chapter 5. Banks and the Reinstitutionalization of the Mexican State Chapter 6. The Struggle for the Fields: The Strange Case of Juan Felipe Chapter 7. Gentlemen's Agreement and Recognition Chapter 8. The United States and the De la Huerta Rebellion Chapter 9. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
Target tracking via a sampling stack-based approach

We propose a novel approach to tracking a target in clutter based on the stack algorithm for tree search. The proposed tracking approach reduces the size of the search tree by employing a coarse discretization of the target state space. To reduce the quantization error that results from coarse discretization, the representative value of each quantized region is sampled from an estimated importance sampling function. A forgetting factor is included in the likelihood metric to control the effect of previous decisions and to reduce algorithm complexity. Simulations reveal that the proposed algorithm provides significantly reduced complexity while suffering no performance degradation relative to stack-based tracking with finer quantization.
Insight into the widespread problem of nonadherence to therapy in ulcerative colitis patients

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment. The first-line therapy remains 5-aminosalicylic acid, which is available in several different formulations and dosing schedules. Several studies have demonstrated that adherence rates to prescribed 5-aminosalicylic acid products are below those expected for a drug that has significant consequences on important outcomes. Worse disease outcomes, higher medical costs and even potentially higher rates of colorectal cancer have been associated with nonadherence. Nonadherence is multifactorial, fluid in nature over time and is dependent on disease activity level. Interventions to improve adherence rates have to be individualized. With the advent of simpler dosing regimens it was assumed that adherence rates would improve, but this has not been the case. Despite our current knowledge about nonadherence, it remains difficult to manage long term.
Deformations of Nonlinear Elastic Solids in Unbounded Domains

A boundary layer approximation for nonlinearly elastic solids is advocated, with the full nonlinear equations assumed to hold in a narrow region adjacent to a boundary, whereas in the rest of the domain the equations of linearized elasticity are supposed to hold.
A Nested Logit Model of Space and Water Heat System Choice

This paper estimates a nested logit model for space heat and water heat choice using data from the 1980 Pacific Northwest Energy Survey PNW. The estimated structure involves six alternative space heat systems and three alternative water heat fuel types. Operating and capital costs are predicted for each residence using an energy thermal model. To relax the Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives assumption we employ a family of nested logit models. We illustrate the two-step estimation method and use a Lagrange multiplier test for nested logit structure. Finally, we use the estimated models to forecast the market shares of alternative space heat systems under an assumed scenario for the course of relative fuel prices.
COAMPS Real-Time Dust Storm Forecasting during Operation Iraqi Freedom

Abstract Dust storms are a significant weather phenomenon in the Iraq region in winter and spring. Real-time dust forecasting using the U.S. Navy’s Coupled Ocean–Atmospheric Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) with an in-line dust aerosol model was conducted for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in March and April 2003. Daily forecasts of dust mass concentration, visibility, and optical depth were produced out to 72 h on nested grids of 9-, 27-, and 81-km resolution in two-way nest interaction. In this paper, the model is described, as are examples of its application during OIF. The model performance is evaluated using ground weather reports, visibility observations, and enhanced satellite retrievals. The comparison of the model forecasts with observations for the severe dust storms of OIF shows that COAMPS predicted the arrival and retreat of the major dust events within 2 h. In most cases, COAMPS predicted the intensity (reduction in visibility) of storms with an error of less than 1 km. The forecasts of t...
A Constrained L2 Based Algorithm for Standardized Planar Datum Establishment

For years (decades, in fact) a definition for datum planes has been sought by ASME and ISO standards writers that combines the contacting nature of traditional surface plate mating with a means of balancing rocking conditions when there is a centrally positioned extreme point or edge on the datum feature. This paper describes a completely self-balancing method for datum plane establishment that matches traditional surface plate mating while automatically stabilizing rocker conditions. The method is based on a constrained L2 (L2) minimization, which, when seen mathematically, elegantly combines the desirable contact properties of the constrained L1 (L1) minimization with the stable properties of the unconstrained least-squares and does so in a manner that avoids the drawbacks of either of those two definitions. The definition is shown along with proofs of a mathematical development of an algorithm that relies on a strategically chosen singular value decomposition that allows for an elegant, robust solution. Concise code is included for the reader for actual use as well as to full clarify all the algorithmic details.Testing has shown the definition defined here does indeed provide attractive balancing of full contact with rocker stability, leading to guarded optimism on the part of the key standards committees as an attractive default definition. Since both the ISO and ASME standardization efforts are actively working to establish default datum plane definitions, the timing of such a rigorously documented study is opportune.
Reading Comprehension: Core Components and Processes

Reading comprehension is multidimensional and complex. The persistent challenges children, adolescents, and even adults face with reading comprehension call for concerted efforts to develop assessm...
Increased vasopressin secretion: An early manifestation of aging in the rat

Vasopressin release and renal water conserving capacity were measured in normal Long-Evans rats ranging in age from 2 to 17 months. Twenty-four hour urine volume rose and urine osmolality fell as the animals aged, with the first differences evident by age 10 months. Assessment of vasopressin release from isolated hypothalamic-neurohypophysial units by means of an in vitro perifusion system demonstrated that hormone discharge increased as the animals aged, being evident by age 7 months. The increased vasopressin releasability could not be attributed to the greater vasopressin content present in the posterior pituitary of the older rats. The data suggest that increased vasopressin secretion is an early manifestation of aging in the rat and that the consequent hypervasopressinemia may affect the renal tubule with resultant diminished responsiveness to the hormone.
Paroxysmal pulmonary edema induced by intravenous chloroform.

Summary1) A method for production of acute pulmonary edema in unanesthetized rabbits and dogs, consisting of slow (60-120 min) intravenous injection of chloroform (0.1 cc/ kg) is presented. 2) Pulmonary edema, as determined by lung-body (L/B) index, occurred in all animals and was accompanied by congestion of liver. 3) Measurements of intracardiac pressures suggest that pulmonary edema is due to relatively greater drop in left than in right ventricular pressure, causing increased pressure in capillaries of lung. 4) Results are believed due to direct depressant effect of chloroform on the myocardium.
An Overview and Practical Guide to IRT Measurement Equivalence Analysis

This article provides an overview and guide to implementing item response theory (IRT) measurement equivalence (ME) or differential item functioning (DIF) analysis. We (a) present the need for esta...
The Comparison of Children’s Caloric Expenditure During Elementary Physical Education Class And Free-Choice Recess Time

The physical benefits of structured physical education (PE) classes and free-choice recess time in elementary school and how they compare to each other is unknown. National health objectives encourage 50% of PE class time being spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while no set standards for elementary recess exist. PURPOSE: To determine if a difference existed in the caloric amounts expended by elementary age children during structured physical education class compared to free-choice recess time. METHODS: Twenty-eight third and fourth grade children (male= 18, female= 10) were recorded, with a hip-placed accelerometer, during one day each of PE class and recess time. Each recording lasted exactly 30 minutes and they were taken a day apart. Data was collected during a three week period in which the PE class participated in tennis and badminton. RESULTS: A paired samples t-test compared differences in steps, total energy expenditure (EE), total EE in males, and average kilocalories expended per minute. Steps: t(26) = 3.79, p=.001; total EE:t(27) = 1.85, p= .075; total EE (males): t(17) = 3.78, p= .006; energy expenditure per minute: t(26) = 1.75, p= .091. The average percentage of time spent in MVPA during PE was 64.37%. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference in total EE in males and steps, with recess being higher than PE class. Further tests on the steps showed this also was only significantly different in the male children. It is important to note, on average, the children met the national objective and spent over 50% of the PE class period in MVPA.
Breeding of Three-line Japonical Hybrid Combination Jinjingyou 132

To improve the quality and increase the yield of the hybrid japonica rice in middle-early japonica rice region, a three-line hybrid japonica combination Jinjingyou 132 with high yield, good quality and multiple resistance was developed from the cross between BT-type CMS line Jinjing13 A and restoration line Jinhui 2. The average yield of Jinjingyou132 was 9.81 t·hm-2,10.5 percent higher than that of control in national multiple-location regional experiment during 2008—2009, and the average yield was 9.97 t·hm-2,13.7 percent higher than that of control in national rice productive experiment in 2009. Jinjingyou132 was registered by National Crop Variety Approval Committee in 2010 so that it can be planted in south Liaoning, Tianjin and Beijing. Jinjingyou 132 was the first national registered rice variety which attained the first class level of the national rice quality standard in north rice region.
Risk factors for wound complications after abdominoperineal excision: analysis of the ACS NSQIP database.

AIM The perineal wound following abdominoperineal excision (APR) is associated with a high complication rate. We aimed to evaluate the risk factors for wound complications and examine the effect of flap reconstruction on wound healing. METHOD The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was searched for patients who underwent APR for rectal adenocarcinoma. They were divided into two groups: primary closure of the perineal wound and flap reconstruction. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for deep surgical site infection (SSI) and wound dehiscence. RESULTS A total of 8449 (94%) patients from the database underwent primary closure and 550 (6%) underwent flap reconstruction. Patients who underwent flap reconstruction had a longer operation time, a higher incidence of deep SSI, wound dehiscence, more blood transfusion requirement and a higher rate of return to the operating room (all P < 0.001). Risk factors for deep SSI were African American race (OR 1.5, P = 0.02), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥ 4 (OR 3.2, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m(2) (OR 1.7, P = 0.006), weight loss (OR 2, P < 0.001) and closure with a flap (OR 1.9, P < 0.001). Risk factors for wound dehiscence included ASA classification ≥ 4 (OR 2.2, P = 0.003), history of smoking (OR 2.2, P < 0.001), history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.7, P = 0.03), BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) (OR 1.9, P = 0.001) and closure with a flap (OR 2.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Perineal wound complications are related to a patient's race, ASA classification, smoking, obesity and weight loss. Compared with primary closure, closure with a flap was associated with higher odds of wound infection and dehiscence and was not protective of wound complications in the presence of other risk factors. Therefore optimizing the patient's medical condition will lead to a better outcome irrespective of the technique used for perineal wound closure.
van Buuren, A., Eshuis, J., & van Vliet, M. (Eds.). (2015). Action research for climate change adaptation: Developing and applying knowledge for governance. New York: Routledge.

This publication on adaptation to climate change has several areas of focus. One is to consider possible approaches on how to address the issue of climate change adaptation. The issue that reduction of emissions will not be enough and that there needs to be a focus on adaptation to climate change has been addressed directly in this publication. The second is to provide additional scientific knowledge and to this effect, consider the processes of how to best collect and understand this research. The intent is to hopefully have an impact on practical applications and governance. Action research is emphasized as an appropriate approach to address the complexity and uncertainty of the problem and also serve to be practical in nature lending itself to a more streamline application of knowledge.
Plant competition for light analyzed with a multispecies canopy model : I. Model development and influence of enhanced UV-B conditions on photosynthesis in mixed wheat and wild oat canopies.

Competition for light among species in a mixed canopy can be assessed quantitatively by a simulation model which evaluates the importance of different morphological and photosynthetic characteristics of each species. A model was developed that simulates how the foliage of all species attenuate radiation in the canopy and how much radiation is received by foliage of each species. The model can account for different kinds of foliage (leaf blades, stems, etc.) for each species. The photosynthesis and transpiration for sunlit and shaded foliage of each species is also computed for different layers in the canopy. The model is an extension of previously described single-species canopy photosynthesis simulation models. Model predictions of the fraction of foliage sunlit and interception of light by sunlit and shaded foliage for monoculture and mixed canopies of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and wild oat (Avena fatua) in the field compared very well with measured values. The model was used to calculate light interception and canopy photosynthesis for both species of wheat/wild oat mixtures grown under normal solar and enhanced ultraviolet-B (290–320 nm) radiation (UV-B) in a glasshouse experiment with no root competition. In these experiments, measurements showed that the mixtures receiving enhanced UV-B radiation had a greater proportion of the total foliage area composed of wheat compared to mixtures in the control treatments. The difference in species foliage area and its position in the canopy resulted in a calculated increase in the portion of total canopy radiation interception and photosynthesis by wheat. This, in turn, is consistent with greater canopy biomass of wheat reported in canopies irradiated with supplemental UV-B.
Impact of social service and public health spending on teenage birth rates across the USA: an ecological study

Objective To examine whether greater state-level spending on social and public health services such as income, education and public safety is associated with lower rates of teenage births in USA. Design Ecological study. Setting USA. Participants 50 states. Primary outcome measure Our primary outcome measure was teenage birth rates. For analyses, we constructed marginal models using repeated measures to test the effect of social spending on teenage birth rates, accounting for several potential confounders. Results The unadjusted and adjusted models across all years demonstrated significant effects of spending and suggested that higher spending rates were associated with lower rates of teenage birth, with effects slightly diminishing with each increase in spending (linear effect: B=−0.20; 95% CI −0.31 to 0.08; p Conclusion Higher state spending on social and public health services is associated with lower rates of teenage births. As states seek ways to limit healthcare costs associated with teenage birth rates, our findings suggest that protecting existing social service investments will be critical.
Psychotherapy Interventions for Comorbid Sleep Disorders and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Sleep difficulties, including problems such as falling and staying asleep and recurring disturbing dreams, are some of the most frequently reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although efficacious treatments for PTSD, such as prolonged exposure (PE), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), are available, the extent to which these treatments address trauma-related sleep difficulties is unclear. This chapter provides an overview of evidence-based treatments for PTSD and interventions targeting sleep disturbance. There is some indication that insomnia and nightmares related to trauma may be resistant to PTSD treatments. However, approaches for trauma-related sleep disturbances, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), and exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy (ERRT), have been developed to address these symptoms. Research findings generally indicate that these approaches are helpful in reducing sleep difficulties and broader PTSD symptoms. These findings suggest that sleep disturbances should be conceptualized as co-occurring primary conditions requiring clinical attention, rather than symptoms secondary to PTSD. Potential methods for combining treatments for daytime and nighttime PTSD symptoms are discussed. Further research is needed to (1) more adequately determine changes in sleep and nightmares in response to treatments for PTSD; (2) examine predictors of positive sleep outcomes in response to PTSD treatments and sleep-specific treatments; and (3) examine optimal integration of approaches for treating both daytime and nighttime PTSD symptoms.
Amputations of the Lower Extremity

Non-traumatic amputations of the lower extremities are a consequence of various medical conditions. The two most common etiologies which lead to lower extremity amputations are peripheral arterial disease and infections. For patients with lower extremity pathology of an ischemic etiology, endovascular and reconstruction options are critical to favorable long-term outcomes. When these corrective measures are exhausted, amputations may become essential. Chronic soft tissue and osseous infections as well as acute infections in the unstable septic patient that require operative management increase the risk of lower extremity amputations. The patient populations most prone to develop both peripheral arterial disease and infections are those with advanced age, smokers, immune compromise, diabetes mellitus, and patients with renal disease. When peripheral polyneuropathy is encountered, patients are at the highest risk for lower extremity amputations. A thorough algorithm provides both the clinician and the patient with the opportunity to moderate disease, mitigate risk, and implement a management strategy that incorporates postoperative function and ambulation as the primary objectives.
Twelve tips for medical students to conduct a systematic review

Background: Medical students engaged in research develop general skills that are instrumental to clinical practice. The systematic review, a cornerstone of evidence-based medicine, represents an ideal starting point for student researchers. Aim and methods: To outline twelve tips on conducting a systematic review for medical students with limited research experience. Results: The tips in this article are practical, comprehensive, and informed by the authors experience as medical students. Conclusion: The twelve tips can help medical students contribute to the literature and build a valuable skillset for future research and clinical practice.
Assessing the Readability of Online Information About Hip Arthroscopy

Purpose To investigate the current readability of online information pertaining to hip arthroscopy. Methods The terms "hip arthroscopy" and "hip scope" were entered into the advanced search functions of Google, Yahoo!, and Bing on March 25, 2017, and results from the first 3 pages were analyzed. Results were required to be unique, accessible websites with information about hip arthroscopy conveyed primarily via analyzable text. Two reviewers applied inclusion criteria to the initial 97 results, discussing to reach consensus in cases of disagreement. Overall, 60 unique results were reviewed with 48 meeting inclusion criteria. Websites were categorized as physician-sponsored, academic, commercial, governmental and nonprofit organization (NPO), or unspecified. Readability was measured via 6 different indices: the Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL), Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Gunning Fog Score, SMOG Index, Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), and Automated Readability Index (ARI) along with an average grade level and readability classification score. Results Forty-eight unique websites were assessed for readability, with physician-sponsored webpages composing the majority (47.92%) followed by academic sources (35.42%). The webpages' average grade level, incorporating information from all 6 metrics, was 12.79 ± 1.98. Conclusions The current readability of online information pertaining to hip arthroscopy is at an inappropriately high reading level compared with the sixth-grade level recommended by the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health, thus introducing significant barriers to understanding for many patients. Online materials should be edited to reduce word and sentence length and complexity, use simpler terms, and minimize use of passive voice to facilitate patient knowledge acquisition and understanding of online information about hip arthroscopy. Clinical Relevance This study shows that the current readability of online information on hip arthroscopy exceeds the suggested sixth-grade reading level. It also emphasizes the need for simplifying written materials and offers specific suggestions on doing so to increase accessibility of information for patients.
Less than 7 hours of sleep per night is associated with transitioning to systemic lupus erythematosus.

BackgroundThe role of sleep in the etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has not been well studied. We examined whether sleep duration was associated with subsequent transitioning to SLE i...
Conformational switching in the coiled-coil domains of a proteasomal ATPase regulates substrate processing.

Protein degradation in all domains of life requires ATPases that unfold and inject proteins into compartmentalized proteolytic chambers. Proteasomal ATPases in eukaryotes and archaea contain poorly understood N-terminally conserved coiled-coil domains. In this study, we engineer disulfide crosslinks in the coiled-coils of the archaeal proteasomal ATPase (PAN) and report that its three identical coiled-coil domains can adopt three different conformations: (1) in-register and zipped, (2) in-register and partially unzipped, and (3) out-of-register. This conformational heterogeneity conflicts with PAN’s symmetrical OB-coiled-coil crystal structure but resembles the conformational heterogeneity of the 26S proteasomal ATPases’ coiled-coils. Furthermore, we find that one coiled-coil can be conformationally constrained even while unfolding substrates, and conformational changes in two of the coiled-coils regulate PAN switching between resting and active states. This switching functionally mimics similar states proposed for the 26S proteasome from cryo-EM. These findings thus build a mechanistic framework to understand regulation of proteasome activity.